"Our Idiot Brother"(2011) R Director: Jesse Peretez Staring: Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, and Zooey Deschanel
I saw this film last week as part of a much needed Friday night double feature. "Our Idiot Brother" is very much a comedy but I did not find myself laugh out loud as much as other comedies I have seen. That being said, this movie is extremely funny. Paul Rudd does a wonderful job in this film, the rest of the cast does a good job as well but the humor is dominated by Rudd and he does a excellent job of playing the character without acting too stupid and without alienating the audience. Rudd plays the character so that he is not really an idiot, but a person who trusts everyone and is often put into situations where miscommunications and misunderstands get him into trouble. I have no major complaints about this film other than I am normal a very big Elizabeth Banks fan, however in this film I feel her character did not let her natural comedic talent shine.
Overall: B This film is humorous and the entire cast does a good job. I recommend this film to anyone who like heart warming comedies with family relationships as the main source of comedic material. My only warning would be that if you are not a fan of Paul Rudd do not see the film because every part of this movie feels like a Paul Rudd film.
"30 Minutes or Less" (2011) R Director: Ruben Fleischer Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, and Nick Swardson
This film is exactly what it seems to be from the trailer, a stupid comedy that gets it's laughs from outrageous situations and dialogue. In general, this genre of comedy is very hit or miss in my opinion. Comedies like "Stepbrothers" were able to do it well and make me laugh for most of the film even though I was only laughing at the unbelievable things I was seeing and hearing. However, this film was not able to do it well. I did laugh during the movie and I don't feel like I wasted 80 minutes of my life (yes, the film is only 80 minutes long). But, there were many times where I did not laugh for 10-15 minutes periods, even though the film was constantly trying to be funny. I feel the films writing was its own downfall. There were too many jokes. I felt I was being hit over the head with the same tired joke. My biggest complaint being that unfortunately the funniest jokes in the film were in the trailer.
Overall C+ This film is funny at times but is not very well done and being only 80 minutes it is over just as it begins. The film is worth watching if you are a fan of these types of comedies. However, it is not worth a $10 ticket. My advice wait for the DVD.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Return from the dead with: The Help and North by Northwest
It has been nearly a year since my last post but I had a busy and interesting past 11 months and now seems like a good of time as any to start back up. I have also adapted a new style of reviewing. I am going to do just a short 150-300 word review of my main thoughts of the film and who I recommend should see it. So enough talk and on to the films.
The Help. (2011) PG-13 Director: Tate Taylor Staring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, and Bryce Dallas Howard
My Mom and I saw this movie this weekend. This movie was not a lot, unlike most other "Hollywood Summer Movies," but the advertising campaign I saw did not try to appeal to anyone other than those that read the novel. I say this because I think the advertising campaign did not do the film justice. The film was smart, witty, and beautiful. I have not read the novel, but my mother has. From what she tells me the story followed the novel well just left some things out. This film was well acted, well directed, and well written. I was laughing most of film and so was the entire theater. This film was able to transport the audiance into 1950's Mississippi. You felt the character's love, heartache, fear, and resentment. Emma Stone is young and while she may not quiet be a phemoninal actress this film shows that she is well on her way. Viola Davis does not disappoint as always and Octavia Spencer is able to walk the tricky line of being the comic relief while still being a believe character for the time period. And make one heck of a chocolate pie.
Overall: A- Everything in this film was well done the my only complante would be that this film was 2 and 1/2 hours and while I was never bored watching it I could tell that the film was a long one. I would recommend this film to anyone who can appreciate good story and good acting. The only people I would tell to not see it are the action junkies and college comedy fans who cannot appreciate any other films.
North by Northwest. (1959) NR Director: Alfred Hitchcock Starring: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, and James Mason
This film is a wonderful example of a Hitchcock film and in my humble opinion Cary Grant's best performance. I don't have much to say about this film other than I enjoyed every aspect of it. The acting was spot on, Grant's dry wit is complemented well by Saint's classical performance of the "Hitchcock woman." My favorite aspect of the film is Hitchcock's use of music. He knows exactly when a sequence needs music and when adding music actually takes away from the suspense of the scene. For instance the famous scene where Grant's character is being chased by a crop dusting plane there is not music. The only thing you can hear is Grant's breathing and the plane's engine. This genisus is seen throughout the film and make it a absolute must-see and classic.
Overall: A+ I love this film. Everything about it is wonderful and it is entertaining from start to finish. I recommend this film to everyone. I don't care what your taste in movies is just watch this film it is one of those films that everyone should watch at least once.
The Help. (2011) PG-13 Director: Tate Taylor Staring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, and Bryce Dallas Howard
My Mom and I saw this movie this weekend. This movie was not a lot, unlike most other "Hollywood Summer Movies," but the advertising campaign I saw did not try to appeal to anyone other than those that read the novel. I say this because I think the advertising campaign did not do the film justice. The film was smart, witty, and beautiful. I have not read the novel, but my mother has. From what she tells me the story followed the novel well just left some things out. This film was well acted, well directed, and well written. I was laughing most of film and so was the entire theater. This film was able to transport the audiance into 1950's Mississippi. You felt the character's love, heartache, fear, and resentment. Emma Stone is young and while she may not quiet be a phemoninal actress this film shows that she is well on her way. Viola Davis does not disappoint as always and Octavia Spencer is able to walk the tricky line of being the comic relief while still being a believe character for the time period. And make one heck of a chocolate pie.
Overall: A- Everything in this film was well done the my only complante would be that this film was 2 and 1/2 hours and while I was never bored watching it I could tell that the film was a long one. I would recommend this film to anyone who can appreciate good story and good acting. The only people I would tell to not see it are the action junkies and college comedy fans who cannot appreciate any other films.
North by Northwest. (1959) NR Director: Alfred Hitchcock Starring: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, and James Mason
This film is a wonderful example of a Hitchcock film and in my humble opinion Cary Grant's best performance. I don't have much to say about this film other than I enjoyed every aspect of it. The acting was spot on, Grant's dry wit is complemented well by Saint's classical performance of the "Hitchcock woman." My favorite aspect of the film is Hitchcock's use of music. He knows exactly when a sequence needs music and when adding music actually takes away from the suspense of the scene. For instance the famous scene where Grant's character is being chased by a crop dusting plane there is not music. The only thing you can hear is Grant's breathing and the plane's engine. This genisus is seen throughout the film and make it a absolute must-see and classic.
Overall: A+ I love this film. Everything about it is wonderful and it is entertaining from start to finish. I recommend this film to everyone. I don't care what your taste in movies is just watch this film it is one of those films that everyone should watch at least once.
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