JETHRO'S NOTE: The review here is in the form of a conversation with an animal buddy named Vance (a bull).
VANCE: Why are we talking about Facebook?
ME: Because the film we’re reviewing, The Social Network, is about Facebook!
VANCE: Who’d wanna watch that?
ME: Who’d watch a film called The Accidental Billionaires, the book that the writer, Aaron Sorkin used to make this film along with the director, David Fincher? Huh?
VANCE: Ok, fair enough.
ME: So, Facebook was started by an egomaniac named Mark Zuckerberg (Jessie Eisenberg), miffed that his girlfriend Erica (Rooney Mara) broke up with him. Anyway, after his prototype Facebook, Facemash, crashed Harvard’s servers, these dudes named Winklevoss (Armie Hammer) ask him to help them make a social networking site for Harvard “creatively” called Harvard Connection.
VANCE: I saw this film, too. You don’t need to tell me.
ME: I’m telling them…Anyway, Zuckerberg and his buddy Eduardo (Andrew Garfield) take the Harvard Connection idea, make it their own, and call it THE Facebook. And then…
VANCE: AND THEN, they make it into a global empire with the help of Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake), the creator of Napster, as their financial adviser. And with no help from the Winklevoss guys, and their buddy Narendra (Max Minghella), who decide to sue them for stealing their idea.
ME: What works with this film? Quite a lot. Eisenberg makes quite an effective egomaniac forcibly brought down to Earth. Timberlake is quite the scene stealer as Parker, and Garfield is also great too. This cast should win the SAG Award.
VANCE: Wait…why’d you list Armie Hammer as both Winklevoss brothers?
ME: Because he is both Winklevoss guys. With stand-in Josh Pence and the same effects that David Fincher used with Benjamin Button, Hammer is in the scene twice over and you don’t notice it until someone tells you.
VANCE: ….
ME: I know. That just helps makes The Social Network cement itself as one of the best films of this fall’s Oscar season. I don’t know about the year, I’m still in the liking for Scott Pilgrim.
VANCE: Don't know why you invited me to co-review if you're hogging it all. Grr...
About Me
- Jethrotcat
- This is the blog where I talk about the latest movies I've seen. These are my two Schnauzers, Rufus (left) and Marley (right, RIP). As of now, the Double Hollywood Strikes are officially over. May the next strikes not last as long as these ones did.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Some twenty years back, Michael Douglas won his second Oscar for staring as sinister stock trader Gordon Gekko in Oliver Stone’s film Wall Street. Now, director and star have comeback to make the sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.
In the last film, Gekko was sent to jail thanks in large part to his former protégé, Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen, who cameos here). Some seven years after he is let out, it’s now 2008, when good ol’ greed throws Wall Street down for the count.
A new potential protégé named Jake Moore (Shia LaBeouf) comes to Gekko after sleazy trader Bretton James (Josh Brolin) sends his Wall Street firm down the tubes. Also, Jake is dating Gekko’s daughter, Winnie (Carey Mulligan), who hates her dad. So, it’s a revenge story and family reconciliation story all in one.
Gordon Gekko here is supposed to be the star here, so he gets his own paragraph. Apparently, Stone and Douglas try to make him a more sympathetic character here as opposed to the sly dog from last time. But the trouble here is that he abruptly goes back to his old ways in a spectacularly sinister way about ¾ in.
Josh Brolin, meanwhile, made for a so-so villain. Not so nice, not so mean, just apathetic middle ground. Eli Wallach, who’s only in for a few scenes here, makes a memorable impression as an eccentric member of James’s think-tank. In fact, he’s probably the best thing about this movie.
The performances from LaBeouf and Susan Sarandon as Jake’s mother help make this film watchable too. Still, there’s the fact that the film drags quite a bit. With a few tweaks in length and script, this film could’ve been better.
JETHRO'S NOTE: In case you're interested, Michael Douglas won his first Oscar as Co-Producer of Best Picture Winner One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.
In the last film, Gekko was sent to jail thanks in large part to his former protégé, Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen, who cameos here). Some seven years after he is let out, it’s now 2008, when good ol’ greed throws Wall Street down for the count.
A new potential protégé named Jake Moore (Shia LaBeouf) comes to Gekko after sleazy trader Bretton James (Josh Brolin) sends his Wall Street firm down the tubes. Also, Jake is dating Gekko’s daughter, Winnie (Carey Mulligan), who hates her dad. So, it’s a revenge story and family reconciliation story all in one.
Gordon Gekko here is supposed to be the star here, so he gets his own paragraph. Apparently, Stone and Douglas try to make him a more sympathetic character here as opposed to the sly dog from last time. But the trouble here is that he abruptly goes back to his old ways in a spectacularly sinister way about ¾ in.
Josh Brolin, meanwhile, made for a so-so villain. Not so nice, not so mean, just apathetic middle ground. Eli Wallach, who’s only in for a few scenes here, makes a memorable impression as an eccentric member of James’s think-tank. In fact, he’s probably the best thing about this movie.
The performances from LaBeouf and Susan Sarandon as Jake’s mother help make this film watchable too. Still, there’s the fact that the film drags quite a bit. With a few tweaks in length and script, this film could’ve been better.
JETHRO'S NOTE: In case you're interested, Michael Douglas won his first Oscar as Co-Producer of Best Picture Winner One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole
In a world of 3d conversions with no foresight, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, is the latest of them to come to cinemas. Actually, the filmmakers, including director Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) put much thought into the visual imagery here. In fact, this works very well on 3d screens; it’s the story here that should’ve been worked on.
Our titular heroes, who don’t show up in the film for some time, are a league of warrior owls. Long ago, they defeated a bad owl, now called Metalbeak (Joel Edgerton). Like good ol’ Voldemort, beakie decides to raise an army of warriors to make a comeback. His scheme involves something called Flex, brainwashing weak owls with the moon and, oh yeah, the army.
Before we get to the owls, we get to Soren (Jim Sturgess) and Kludd (Ryan Kwanten), who are owl brothers (no, duh?). They’re snatched by Metalbeak’s goons and taken to his lair; Kludd willingly joins the army, while Soren and his new friend Gylfie (Emily Barclay) breakout when they hear that the Guardians are real…and stuff.
The film is taken from three novels (out of fifteen) by Kathryn Lasky, and it shows. Especially with the flex, the story is quite confusing, especially to anyone not familiar with the source material. It certainly soared over my head, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it soared over anyone else’s heads.
But visually, it’s done quite well. Its 3d effects are quite noticeable, and they are amazing. If you’re looking for a visual experience, it’s quite worth it either on 3d or flat screen.
But if you’re looking for a better written film, look elsewhere.
And you know what’s frustrating? The Wily Coyote cartoon at the start of the film was much better!
Our titular heroes, who don’t show up in the film for some time, are a league of warrior owls. Long ago, they defeated a bad owl, now called Metalbeak (Joel Edgerton). Like good ol’ Voldemort, beakie decides to raise an army of warriors to make a comeback. His scheme involves something called Flex, brainwashing weak owls with the moon and, oh yeah, the army.
Before we get to the owls, we get to Soren (Jim Sturgess) and Kludd (Ryan Kwanten), who are owl brothers (no, duh?). They’re snatched by Metalbeak’s goons and taken to his lair; Kludd willingly joins the army, while Soren and his new friend Gylfie (Emily Barclay) breakout when they hear that the Guardians are real…and stuff.
The film is taken from three novels (out of fifteen) by Kathryn Lasky, and it shows. Especially with the flex, the story is quite confusing, especially to anyone not familiar with the source material. It certainly soared over my head, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it soared over anyone else’s heads.
But visually, it’s done quite well. Its 3d effects are quite noticeable, and they are amazing. If you’re looking for a visual experience, it’s quite worth it either on 3d or flat screen.
But if you’re looking for a better written film, look elsewhere.
And you know what’s frustrating? The Wily Coyote cartoon at the start of the film was much better!
The Town
JETHRO'S NOTE: Yes, I'm back. Settled in Modesto, California.
JETHRO'S NOTE TWO: Now, on to the review.
Let's go to town on The Town. Before you ask yourselves "what kind of title is that," ask yourselves what kind of title is Prince of Thieves, the Chuck Hogan novel that is the source for this film.
The town is Charlestown, a suburb of Boston. According to the film, it's the crime capitol of the world. Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck, also director and co-writer) and his friends, "Jem" Coughlin (Jeremy Renner), "Gloansy" Magloan (Slaine), and "Dez" Elden (Owen Burke) just so happen to have this as their profession.
On one such job, they take bank manager Claire (Rebecca Hall) as a hostage. Because they were wearing masks, their identities should be safe. But Doug decides to follow her to make sure. That's when they begin a relationship...
Compared to, let’s say, The Expendables, there’s not much action here. There are only three robbery sequences, which include car chases, and a few other acts of violence in this film. But when the violent scenes happen, they make the moment as tense as it needs to be. That’s what makes it work as an action film in the end.
Amongst the cast, the only performance I had issue with was Jon Hamm. As the obligatory FBI agent sent to bust Doug and his gang, he was far too one-dimensional as a character. The rest of the cast, including Pete Postlethwaite as Doug’s employer “Fergie the Florist,” did much better in their roles. While “Fergie” went from nice man to total snake, the FBI guy was a tough barking dog and nothing else.
But in the end, with Affleck on front, he proves himself capable as a director and an actor. This makes The Town quite a good visit.
JETHRO'S NOTE TWO: Now, on to the review.
Let's go to town on The Town. Before you ask yourselves "what kind of title is that," ask yourselves what kind of title is Prince of Thieves, the Chuck Hogan novel that is the source for this film.
The town is Charlestown, a suburb of Boston. According to the film, it's the crime capitol of the world. Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck, also director and co-writer) and his friends, "Jem" Coughlin (Jeremy Renner), "Gloansy" Magloan (Slaine), and "Dez" Elden (Owen Burke) just so happen to have this as their profession.
On one such job, they take bank manager Claire (Rebecca Hall) as a hostage. Because they were wearing masks, their identities should be safe. But Doug decides to follow her to make sure. That's when they begin a relationship...
Compared to, let’s say, The Expendables, there’s not much action here. There are only three robbery sequences, which include car chases, and a few other acts of violence in this film. But when the violent scenes happen, they make the moment as tense as it needs to be. That’s what makes it work as an action film in the end.
Amongst the cast, the only performance I had issue with was Jon Hamm. As the obligatory FBI agent sent to bust Doug and his gang, he was far too one-dimensional as a character. The rest of the cast, including Pete Postlethwaite as Doug’s employer “Fergie the Florist,” did much better in their roles. While “Fergie” went from nice man to total snake, the FBI guy was a tough barking dog and nothing else.
But in the end, with Affleck on front, he proves himself capable as a director and an actor. This makes The Town quite a good visit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)