Posted on October 22, 2010 by Darren
Ignoring the fact that, in practice, the Best Director Oscar simply exists to be a “runner-up” award in a really tight Best Picture race (like with Crash and Brokeback Mountain), with there being a huge overlap between the winners in both categories, I have been thinking a bit recently about whether there should be a more practical distinction between the two. Perhaps we should divorce the two awards, and decouple them in public consciousness. Of course, this is a purely academic argument (as the Academy voters will continue to associate them), but is the link between the two yet another indication of Hollywood’s director-centric culture?
Is it two for one?
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Filed under: Movies | Tagged: Academy Award, academy award for best director, Academy Award for Best Picture, academy awards, best film, best picture, Brokeback Mountain, Christopher Nolan, Hurt Locker, jim carrey, Movie, Oscars, ridley scott | 10 Comments »
Posted on October 22, 2010 by Darren
Perhaps no film better exemplifies the key themes of Tim Burton as well as Edward Scissorhands. It recalls the broad strokes of the Frankenstein story – in particular the iconic Boris Karloff Frankenstein movie from the thirties – telling the story a hideous scientific experiment which seeks acceptance in the outside world (and is turned upon by the villagers after a tragic misunderstanding). While Frankenstein’s monster responded with anger and murderous rage, Edward seems unable to full fathom what is occurring. The movie offered the first collaboration between Burton and Depp, a delightful pairing which we’d see on the big screen many times in the years that followed – there’s a reason the two have continued to work together for so long: they just work really well together.
Blades of glory...
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Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: alan arkin, Anthony Michael Hall, arts, batman returns, Edward Scissorhands, film, gothic, johnny depp, Little Red Riding Hood, Movie, non-review review, review, tim burton, Vincent Price, winona ryder | Leave a comment »
Posted on October 21, 2010 by Darren
I watched Cop Out at the weekend, and I have to admit it was just about okay. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t consistently funny. It had moments of wit, but they were separated by pointless and boring scenes. It had a talented cast, but didn’t do anything with them. I wouldn’t describe it as a bad film, but I wouldn’t advise you to rent it (or otherwise seek it out). However, there was a stronger and more bitter taste in the air. There was something especially disappointing about the film, because of its director. Cop Out was a Kevin Smith film, and it actually felt a bit worse than it arguably should have because I knew the director was capable of so much more. Am I the only one who tends to be more disappointed by an average film from a talented filmmaker than perhaps even a bad film from an untalented director?
Feels like a bit of a cop out...
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Filed under: Movies | Tagged: arts, Christopher Nolan, cop out, critics, david fincher, directors, films, francis ford coppola, kevin smith, Movie, Movies, reviews, roger ebert, stanley kubrick | Leave a comment »
Posted on October 21, 2010 by Darren
Cop Out has a bit of a troubled history. Director Kevin Smith originally wanted to call it A Couple of Dicks (or even A Couple of D.I.C.’s – detectives in charge), but the studio wouldn’t let him. He had to fight tooth-and-nail to get the film out in its “R” rated format. When critics savaged the film, it prompted an aggressive response from the director. It’s his first film based on a screenplay he didn’t write. And, to be honest, it isn’t terrible. It’s just a shame that the film comes from a director capable of so much more.
Beached...
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Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: arts, bruce willis, Clerks II, cop out, film, kevin smith, Movie, non-review review, review, Tango & Cash, Tracy Morgan | 2 Comments »
Posted on October 20, 2010 by Darren
It was recently revealed that the villain of the Spider-Man reboot would be The Lizard as played by Rhys Ifans. While the presence of Andrew Garfield and Rhys Ifans in the film run the risk of turning the movie into a British invasion, I’m actually relatively impressed by the way that this film is coming together – the casting of Emma Stone and the hiring of director Marc Webb have helped greatly. However, I remain somewhat skeptical of the film – given the nature of its production, the fact that it’s a reboot and unfortunate departure of Sam Raimi. So it comes as something of a bittersweet pill that the villain is named as Spider-Man’s long-term reptile opponent. Apparently Raimi had a long and on-going argument with the studio about the character, him wanting to use the man-sized reptile adversary, but the studio balking over it.
It's not easy being green
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Filed under: Movies | Tagged: Andrew Garfield, curt connors, Doctor Octopus, lizard, marc webb, marvel comics, reboot, rhys ifans, sam raimi, spider man, spider-man 3, spider-man reboot, the lizard | 2 Comments »
Posted on October 19, 2010 by Darren
I was reading an interesting article on Rope of Silicon which pondered whether Scott Pilgrim vs. The World was our generation’s iteration of The Big Lebowski. Much like the comparisons between The Social Network and Citizen Kane, it doesn’t matter whether the question is downright ridiuclous or even improper, it simple serves to illustrate the type of movie that people think of when they see these modern films. That people would even utter “Scott Pilgrim” and “The Dude” in the same sentence is a huge compliment to the latter, no matter what the literal result of the comparison. Of course, this is small comfort to the studio which is no doubt disappointed by the less than stellar box office returns. However, ignoring the obvious immediate and practical impact of box office receipts, do they speak at all to a film’s longevity?
Does the box office disappointment mean "game over" for Scott Pilgrim?
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Filed under: Movies | Tagged: Big Lebowski, box office, Citizen Kane, Eat Pray Love, film, Frank Capra, Movie, Movies, ridley scott, scott pilgrim, scott pilgrim vs. the world, the social network | Leave a comment »
Posted on October 19, 2010 by Darren
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is one of those films that you have heard so much about that you feel almost obligated to check out. It’s like a challenge. “It can’t possibly be that bad,” you laugh off criticism from just about everybody you know, “I mean, if it’s that bad, it has to at least be entertaining – you know, in the same way that Ed Wood films are entertaining?” And those people reply in what gradually become pleas, imploring you to just accept that it’s a terrible film and let it go. And yet, it’s like a “do not touch” warning to a small child – it draws you closer, attracts your attention, arouses your curiousity. It couldn’t be that bad.
Oh, but it is.
Two-and-a-half hours of torture...
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Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: action, Bad Boys II, Cloverfield, Decepticon, films, John Turturro, megan fox, michael bay, Movies, non-review review, review, shia labeouf, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | 5 Comments »
Posted on October 18, 2010 by Darren
I enjoyed The Social Network. Hell, I loved The Social Network. I think it’s easily one of the best films of the year. It has – deservedly in my humble opinion – generated a huge amount of buzz about the Best Picture Oscar. However, the more interesting facets of discussion measure the film against the other favourites, like The King’s Speech or Black Swan. A number of these arguments suggest that The Social Network deserves the Oscar because it is “more socially relevant”, even painting the Oscar voters at a crossroads – forced to choose between a modern film (The Social Network) and a classy but stuffy period piece (The King’s Speech). However, I find this argument rather disingenuous. While the Oscar voters in that situation would undoubtedly be choosing between two solid films, I think it clearly misrepresents the appeal of David Fincher’s deconstruction of the American Dream.
Will Academy voters be getting a friend request?
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Filed under: Movies | Tagged: Academy Award, Academy Award for Best Picture, academy voters, Citizen Kane, david fincher, dest director, facebook, Hurt Locker, Inception, moment, Oscars, Social Network, the king's speeck, timeless, timely, Vietnam War, zeitgiest | 5 Comments »
Posted on October 18, 2010 by Darren
Blessed are the geeks, for they shall inherit the earth.
– The Bible. It’s in the back somewhere.
I’m blogging about The Social Network. How post-modern is that?
Should it be the anti-social network?
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Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: Aaron Sorkin, arts, Citizen Kane, david fincher, eduardo saverin, facebook, films, Mark Zuckerberg, Movies, non-review review, review, Sean Parker, Social Network | 8 Comments »
Posted on October 15, 2010 by Darren
Punisher: WarZone is not a good film. But it’s not necessarily a poorly-made film, either. There’s a fair amount of skill on display here, but the problem is that the movie never seems to be sure how seriously it wants to be taken. Perhaps the closest point of reference is one of the well-made Steven Seagal films: it spends a great deal of its time delivering what amounts to ridiculousness while offering itself to the audience with a stoic face. It’s a fairly entertaining piece of disposable action fare, but it’s nothing to write home about.
Oh shoot, it's another Punisher movie...
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Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: action, Colin Salmon, comic book, Dominic West, film, Garth Ennis, jigsaw, lexi alexander, marvel, Movie, Movies, non-review review, punisher, punisher war zone, punisher warzone, Ray Stevenson, review, the punisher, wayne knight | 2 Comments »
