The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard - 1 frown

I often wonder how studios green light certain movies and not others. “The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard” is inane and stupid and Jeremy Piven’s character, Don Ready, a fast-talking car salesman, is a hustler and a huckster and there’s nothing likable about him. Or any of the other characters, for that matter. The humor is cheap and easy, often relying on shock value and potty talk. And after a while, everything becomes redundant. Even a cameo by Will Farrell can’t save this loser. “The Goods” doesn’t deliver and I’m embarrassed I even saw it. How could a studio think this movie would have wide appeal? 8/30/09

Taking Woodstock - 1 1/2 smiles

“Taking Woodstock,” about how the legendary festival came together for a few days of “Peace, Love and Rock ‘n Roll” during the summer of ‘69, is a huge waste. Wasted is the chance to tell a gay acceptance story set against the backdrop of this age-defining happening. Wasted is the casting of Liev Schreiber as Vilma, a 6’3” cross-dressing marine, especially because you learn so little about his character. Wasted is a film that is supposed to celebrate the spirit of Woodstock but barely scratches the surface. You never even get close to the musicians and their music. And, finally, wasted is the two hours spent watching this movie.

Director Ang Lee does explain how Woodstock came to be, but he tells his story in a series of fragments rather than a cohesive whole and most of the scenes and characters are flat and underdeveloped. The weakest of these is both the character Elliot and the actor who plays him. Elliot is a shy fellow trying to get somewhere and never quite succeeding. And Demetri Martin is not a forceful enough presence on screen to hold our attention or make Elliot worth caring about. Luckily, Lee surrounds him with a fantastic array of actors, including Imelda Staunton, as his Russian-immigrant mother haunted by her past experiences; Henry Goodman, as his recluse father whose interaction with the hippies gives his life meaning; Schreiber; and Emile Hirsch, as a disturbed Vietnam war vet. Perhaps at the heart of “Taking Woodstock” is the coming-of-age-coming-out-of-the-closet story of Elliott, but Lee seems to keep the emotional and social implications at bay. So perhaps not. Bottom line: there’s nothing new or interesting here. 8/28/09

Shorts - 1 1/2 smiles

“Shorts,” written and directed by Robert Rodriguez, tells the story of a boy who finds a rainbow rock that grants wishes in a creative way. The narrative is separated into chapters with a voice-over narrator and the chapters are not chronological. This gives the movie the feel of reading a collection of short stories. Unfortunately, children will have trouble following the plot. But Rodriguez has thrown in enough silliness (telephone ears on one boy, a booger that grows to gargantuan proportions, upright-walking alligators) that children really won’t care what the story is about. The adults, however, will groan that this movie isn’t short enough. “Shorts” biggest fault? It’s not entertaining. 8/25/09

Inglorious Basterds - 3 1/2 smiles

Either you’re going to like “Inglorious Basterds,” Quentin Tarantino’s latest, or you’re going to hate it. And like Tarantino’s widely recognized masterpiece, “Pulp Fiction,” “Inglorious Basterds” breaks all of the rules. It’s a spaghetti western but not really a western; it’s a comedy, very funny in many places and dramatic and violent in others; it’s an homage to any number of WWII movies with a lot of Tarantino flourishes thrown in. There are three plot strands that converge at the end. Think “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly:” Shosanna Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent), a French Jew whose family is slaughtered by ‘The Jew Hunter’ SS Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) is the Good. Landa, a ruthless, outwardly charming man who takes pride in his intelligence and his ability to do his job, is the Bad. And Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) and his group of American ‘Basterds,’ charged with striking fear into the hearts of the Germans, is the Ugly. The Basterds converge on Shosanna’s Paris movie theater when it is learned that Hitler will attend the premier of a new propaganda film. Unbeknownst to them, however, Shosanna has plans of her own and Landa waits in the wings to pounce on the conspirators.

“Inglorious Basterds” is about the bloody side of war and Tarantino adroitly builds tension and suspense as the movie progresses, breaking this tension with occasional bursts of violence. His script is full of dark humor, some laugh-out-loud funny with the best lines going to a capable Brad Pitt. Christoph Waltz won an acting award at Cannes and Tarantino has said that the success of this movie hinges on the skill of the actor portraying Landa. And skillful he is; his Landa is all charm that masks an insidious evil. Tarantino demonstrates his vast cinema knowledge by creating a musical score from various past movies, including “The Alamo,” “Kelly’s Heroes,” The Battle of Algiers” and “Death Rides a Horse” and, curiously, everything works. If I have a criticism, it’s that “Inglorious Basterds,” at 2 hours and 33 minutes, is too long, especially one segment in a French pub. “Inglorious Basterds” is a colorful fantasy of how World War II might have ended had Quentin Tarantino been in charge. 8/21/09

Play the Game - 2 1/2 smiles

It seems that "Play the Game" is getting another chance. According to the LA Times, it's opening again August 28. So I'll repeat what I wrote in April.

With absolutely no marketing, “Play the Game,” written and directed by Marc Fienberg, quietly slipped into a few Los Angelestheaters this weekend. Truly an oddball comedy, “Play the Game” is part romantic comedy and part bawdy romp and the pleasure in watching this movie is seeing Andy Griffith ‘do his thing.’ Although be aware that some of the humor can be uncomfortably blunt. David (Paul Campbell) sees himself as a ‘player’ when it comes to women and he wants to share his expertise with his widowed granddad, Joe (Griffith), hoping to give Joe a new social life. When Joe discovers the miracle of Viagra, he becomes the Don Juan of his retirement community. Meanwhile David has met someone who might fit his grandfather’s definition of love, but Julie (Marla Sokoloff) is not falling for his charms or his schemes.

“Play the Game” is definitely Andy Griffith’s movie and it’s a pleasure watching him ham it up as a senior looking for love in all the wrong places. Campbell and Sokoloff are effective as the youthful couple while the rest of the ensemble cast has more fun with the slapstick, especially Liz Sheridan (who played Seinfeld’s mother) who introduces Joe to Viagra. “Play the Game” is a bit naughty and plenty sweet and you should catch it soon before it disappears. 4/19/09

Gotta Dance - 3 smiles

Although I enjoyed “Young@Heart” more, “Gotta Dance,” a high-energy pleaser, had me smiling and tapping my toe. Dori Berinstein’s documentary chronicles the formation of the NETsationals, a senior dance team for the New Jersey Nets. Berinstein, who usually produces Broadway musicals, explained in a recent discussion that she had wanted to make a movie about people chasing their dreams. When she read the Nets audition notice for dancers 60 and above in the paper, she grabbed her camera. And with the Nets giving her access to the rehearsals and performances of this unusual dance troupe, Berinstein has created the feel-good movie of the summer.

“Gotta Dance” tells the stories of everyday people tackling new challenges and discovering that getting old is a state of mind, especially because the NETsationals have to learn hip hop routines. The best scenes revolve around Betsy, a matronly 64-year-old elementary school teacher who calls her wilder alter ego Betty; Fanny, an energetic 81-year-old Filipina, the grandmother of a Nets dancer; Deanna, a 64-year-old New York legal secretary; and Joe B., the only male member of the group. ‘Life doesn’t end at 60’ as “Gotta Dance” illustrates so well.

Note: “Young@Heart,” a 2008 documentary, has the same message, but tells the story of a senior singing group with more poignancy. This group of 60, 70 and 80-year-old singers lose some of their members along the way so they celebrate living with their music. You’ll laugh with them, but you’ll also cry. Rent this one.

The Cove - 3 1/2 smiles

“The Cove” is a documentary with an agenda. It wants you to be outraged over the slaughter of dolphins, over the secrecy, over the government cover-up. It wants you to be aware and, more, take an active role in trying to stop it. Early on, director Louie Psihoyos lets you know that dolphin slaughter is going on in the picturesque village of Taiji, Japan. And soon, “The Cove” turns into a combination horror picture and espionage thriller as the filmmaker and his team go to great lengths to capture on film what really happens in the heavily secured Taiji cove. Under the cover of night, they hide microphones in the water and plant cameras hidden in fake rocks. The main on-screen voice is Richard O’Barry, who bears the guilt over having caught and trained dolphins for the Flipper TV show, which resulted in the ongoing capture of dolphins for entertainment around the world. O’Barry’s battle to stop the annual slaughter of thousands of dolphins has been futile, but now he has proof.

The IWC (International Whaling Commission) could end this needless destruction of what is arguably the world’s smartest species. But the Japanese government has blocked it, buying the support of poor Caribbean and African nations that have no interest in this issue. However, backed by two courageous Taiji town councilors, the film has already one positive outcome: mercury-laced dolphin meat is no longer served in school lunches in Taiji. I read recently in the LA Times that “The Cove” is not doing well at the box office. I’m guessing that’s because some choose not to expose themselves to the heart-breaking scenes of barbaric butchery. As hard as it is to watch these scenes, “The Cove” is a gripping documentary and deserves to be seen. 8/13/09

Time Traveler's Wife - 1 1/2 smiles

I was looking forward to this movie. After all, you have two beautiful actors, Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams, and a love story. I like love stories. Sorry to say, I was disappointed. “The Time Traveler’s Wife” is bland and the contrived screenplay fails to bring any of the characters to life enough that you care what happens to them. Bana and McAdams give performances full of emotion, but their scenes together lack chemistry. And you’ll find yourself trying to figure out what’s happening as Henry (Bana) randomly travels back and forth through time. The story would have been more engrossing if the focus were more on the hows and whys of Henry’s time travel. But since the story is from Clare’s (McAdams) perspective, all you know is he’s gone. This could have been an engaging movie full of drama, romance and science fiction. But it’s not. 8/14/09

District 9 - 4 smiles

“District 9,” an intelligent, thought-provoking, and suspenseful movie, has something for everyone. And like “The Hurt Locker,” it’s so good that I hope the Academy remembers it come Oscar nomination time. South Africa, Johannesburg specifically, is the setting for “District 9’s” allegorical layer. That country’s history of apartheid is never mentioned, but the implications of human behavior extends beyond that particular nation and is taken as representative of the planet as a whole. No human group is innocent – not the mostly white soldiers and bureaucrats who corral and abuse the aliens, called prawns because of their crustacean-like appearance, not the Nigerian gangsters who prey upon the prawns and exploit their addiction to cat food, not the people who clamor for prawn resettlement elsewhere. And as the movie progresses, we, along with the main character, Wilkus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley), discover M.N.U. doctors conducting horrific medical experiments reminiscent of Nazi Germany. Coupled with that is an agenda of corporate greed as M.N.U. (Multi-National United) has taken over the administration of the prawn population. As M.N.U. moves to resettle the aliens in a remote enclosure, they go to extremes to discover how alien weaponry works.

Co-writer (and director) Neill Blomkamp’s story not only has depth and provocative ideas but shoot-outs, explosions, and bloody violence. It’s a story of how a member of a dominant group becomes aware of the injustice inherent in a system that’s designed to subjugate others. And although Sharlto Copley is an unknown by American standards, his skill as an actor is what makes Wilkus’s discoveries and ultimate situation so poignant. “District 9” is such a singular movie-going experience that you might have to see it a second time. It’s refreshing when a movie asks you to think. 8/15/09

GI Joe: Rise of Cobra - 2 1/2 smiles

First Disney had the idea of converting a ride into a movie, making tons of money in the process. Then Paramount Pictures and Hasbro collaborated on the blockbuster Transformers. Now, Paramount and Hasbro join Spyglass Entertainment for another toy-based action movie, “GI Joe: Rise of Cobra.” This movie, packed with action and special effects, might have several plot holes and plausibility issues, but it’s never boring. US soldiers Duke (Channing Tatum) and pal Ripcord (Marlon Wayans) join the Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity – or GIJOE – a special ops team that uses the latest in next-generation spy and military equipment to fight the corrupt arms dealer Destro (Christopher Eccleston) when he joins the mysterious COBRA organization that’s determined to plunge the world into chaos.

The plot is pure comic book, filled with wall-to-wall action delivered at a break-neck pace although almost every character gets about two minutes worth of back story. And I did appreciate this attempt to develop character. Most of the actors, which include Dennis Quaid, Sienna Miller, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Jonathan Pryce, seem to be enjoying themselves although Channing is a bit wooden. “GI Joe” is also full of high-tech gadgets from power suits that enhance the Joes natural abilities (run faster, jump higher, etc.) to pulse guns and super-duper eavesdropping equipment. The plot and the dialogue are often silly, but, then, director Stephen Sommers seems to know this so “GI Joe” doesn’t take itself too seriously. And that’s what makes this movie a guilty pleasure. However, the ending, which really provides no closure, makes it clear that Paramount et al are planning a sequel. 9/10/09

Julie & Julia - 3 1/2 smiles

“Julie & Julia” is a deliciously satisfying movie about food and marriage although I would suggest that you don’t see this on an empty stomach because you’re going to develop a craving for bœuf bourguignon by the time the credits roll. Director Nora Ephron intertwines two true stories: Julia Child (Meryl Streep) revolutionized the American housewife’s notions about cooking in the early 1960s with Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Newly settled in Paris with her diplomat husband, Paul (Stanley Tucci), she fell in love with the fresh, wonderful flavors of French cooking and, with Paul’s staunch support, decided to study at the Cordon Bleu. At six feet tall with a high-pitched voice, she was an unlikely gourmet, but she was passionate, knowledgeable and completely fearless. With the completion of her cookbook, Julia moved onto television where she charmed American audiences with her sense of humor, enthusiasm, and bœuf bourguignon.

In 2002, Julie Powell, a low-level cubicle worker, faced the fact that her life had little meaning. She and her husband Eric (Chris Messina) lived in a tiny apartment with an even smaller kitchen above a pizza place. During the day Julie listened to the problems of people seeking help with their 9/11-related injuries and losses. After work, she escaped her dissatisfaction by cooking. Wanting to complete something, Julie, with Eric’s encouragement, decided to work her way through Julia’s massive cookbook, cooking all 500+ recipes in one year and she would blog about her experiences. This became ‘The Julie/Julia Project.’

Meryl Streep is fantastic as the heart of the story. She more than impersonates Julia Child; she becomes Julia Child and you smile all the while she’s on the screen. Amy Adams has the more difficult job of making the sometimes bitchy, egocentric Julie an engaging character. But Adams’ skill draws you in, gaining your allegiance as Julie attempts this challenging task. The supporting cast is equally good, especially Tucci. “Julie & Julia” is about food, love, following your dreams and butter, lots and lots of butter. 9/9/09

Shrink - 2 smiles

I got the feeling, while watching “Shrink” starring Kevin Spacey, that this movie was trying to emulate “Crash.” You know, the intersection of random characters where by movie’s end, you’ve made significant discoveries. And ‘Shrink” does touch on some meaningful topics, but its characters are too sketchy, their connections too contrived and the investigation too superficial. The only thing that holds this movie together is Spacey’s skill as an actor. Dr. Henry Carter (Spacey), psychiatrist to the stars, is conflicted. His wife recently committed suicide and for all of the self-help books he’s written, Carter believes he can’t help himself let alone other people. So he spends his waking hours in a marijuana haze and his nights drinking enough booze so he’ll pass out where he is and he won’t have to sleep in an empty bed.

Carter’s patients run the gamut of Hollywood types and they flit in and out of the story. There’s Jack (an uncredited Robin Williams), an alcoholic movie star who worries about his possible sexual addiction while refusing to acknowledge his drinking problem; Patrick (Dallas Roberts), a super-agent suffering from extreme obsessive-compulsive disorder; Daisy (Pell James), Patrick’s pregnant assistant who dreams of being a producer; and Kate (Saffron Burrows), a beautiful actress with a cheating husband recognizing that she is no longer the young starlet. The one standout is Jemma (Keke Palmer), a troubled African-American teenager and avid movie fan, that Carter treats pro bono. It doesn’t feel real when these characters interact with Carter and each other. This is especially evident whenever Jeremy (Mark Webber), a friend of Carter’s, is onscreen. Except for Spacey’s bleary-eyed therapist desperately seeking his own solutions, “Shrink” doesn’t offer much. 7/30/09

Funny People - 1 frown

“Funny People,” starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen and written and directed by Judd Apatow, suffers from an uninspired, unfocused, unfunny script, boring characters and contrived plot. And at 2 hours and 35 minutes, it’s torture to sit through. There’s not a single character worth caring about. Sandler plays George, an egocentric comic whose empty life haunts him when he finds out he has leukemia and is soon to die. However, this life-altering experience doesn’t really change him when he goes into remission. He remains selfish and mean. Ira (Rogen) works behind a deli counter and has aspirations of becoming a famous standup comedian. When he meets George at an improve comedy club, George hires him to be his assistant and write jokes for him. When an experimental drug sends George’s disease into remission, George seeks to rekindle his romance with Laura (Leslie Mann), who left him 12 years earlier when he cheated on her. Ira gets to tag along. It doesn’t matter to George that Laura is now married and has two children.

The first hour-and-a-half leans toward comedy – or at least, you’re supposed to laugh at the many standup routines. But the humor is mostly mean-spirited and tedious and there are waaaaaay too many penis jokes. At this point, the movie turns into a contrived, overly long drama with a little humor tossed in. In fact, the funniest part of the movie is when Laura and her two daughters talk George into playing the peanut butter game with their dogs. But that’s what, a 30-second scene? George and Ira’s transformations at the end of the movie don’t feel real and Sandler and Rogan have absolutely no charisma onscreen so you don’t really care what happens to them. You just want the movie to end. “Funny People” ultimately fails as a drama, comedy and romance. 8/1/09