How did we already get to Oscar season? Pretty soon we'll be marathoning Elizabethan costume dramas and Clint Eastwood war movies just to pick up a spare nomination or two. Thankfully the fall provided a few brainless popcorn flicks before we have to pretend to have our thoughts provoked again:
2012
Not sure why this film snuck into the autumn gravitas lineup when it clearly belongs to the class of Day After Tomorrow May/June releases. No matter, I wasn't fooled Mr. Emmerich. The world will end if the government is unable to prevent a geological armageddon discovered by an Indian scientist. Easy enough. Or is it. So many terrible subplots, so cheesy they upset my lactose racism. Why the failed novelist played by John Cusack couldn't lift a boombox to the heavens to stop the madness I don't know. Nor do I know what happens to the tyrant Oliver Platt's character in the final frames. Perhaps he was such an oily politician that he floated away on an ice flow in the Himalayas (a horrible place to put a giant arch if you ask me). Check your cynicism at the door and marvel in the CGI global takeover. You probably won't like this film, so might as well be amused.
Zombieland
Woody Harrelson sure had a busy fall and surprises us with this shockingly delightful campy flick where armageddon means zombie takeover. The only hope for human civilization is a ragtag bunch of outcasts -- a geek, a babe, her kid sis, and a muscled-freak (Mr. Harrelson). And also Bill Murray in one of the best performances of his career. I am going to go out on a limb and call this one of my favorites of the year. Why? Because it is resourceful, doesn't portend to be anything it is not, but a self-effacing horror spoof. The opening sequence about the rules of survival in ZLand is a riot and the fun doesn't stop there, but in each little awkward zing.
And how about the latest fantastic animated film?
Fantastic Mr. Fox
A kids film of the highest order -- smart, lovable, satirical, and true to the source text. Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach have found a kindred spirit in the work of Roald Dahl, a snarky genre of underdogs outwitting witless authorities, and the barnyard/forest world they create is simply sensational, further enhanced by all-star animal voices and textured by a unique score. We root for all the characters in this piece and relate to the domestic conflict, the cousin rivalry, the desire to be "wild animals" rather than mature adults. This is a fresh film and hopefully a new precedent for the family audience.
Or the latest tearjerker championed by Oprah?
Precious
Could not have disliked more...I quote my friend, a fellow film buff with whom I agree on most movies, "I felt so used, but i also feel like ive never seen mariah carey act before, and she looked like shit, and monique was sort of wonderful but the story was trite and cliche and had no reason to be told except to kick you in the stomach and then provide an unearned and, I think, irresponsible sense of hope." Precious to me seemed like the kind of film seen by the American middle class to make them feel connected to a class of people they will never interact with. They leave the theatre savaged by this emotional freeforall and some how feel better/more socially conscious because they have experienced this 2 hour roller coaster. I am sure many people will fight me on this point, but I think Precious doesn't serve anyone. Sure it is visceral, graphic, and likely an accurate portrayal, but what does it accomplish but shoving a morality play down our gullets. I felt manipulated.
On the coffee front, these days I am chugging Starbucks, but recently discovered Think Coffee on the Bowery and can't sing its praises enough. The service is the slowest, but the brew is delightful and accompanied by a lot of fun pastries and hearty sandwiches. Plus there is plenty of space to spread out and unwind post-Precious.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment