July 31, 2010
Movie review for dummies
Dinner for Schmucks
Hey Paul Rudd, you think you could do something else besides bromance movies? Lets see, theres, "I love you man", "role models", "year one" and hong kong movie "Gen X cops 2"? Anyways, ben affleck Rudd is an analyst trying to get a big promotion. After making a great impression in a corporate meetings, the company president invites him to a small business dinner - the catch is to invite an idiot so they can make fun of him. And enter Steve Carrell who has an unusual hobby of collecting dead mice and dressing them up to create dioramas or recreate historic paintings. Thats actually pretty cool but he's unsympathetic due to such inept behavior contrary to common sense - he answers other people's email, destroys 1000's of dollars of home furnishings and invites stalker girlfriends that he knows is not welcomed. Funny yes, anooying as a plot device. But its a movie so you let it go and just laugh along the way as you know Rudd will eventually warm up to Carrell. There are some very funny moments, particularly Jermaine Clement as the narccistic artist, but the pacing and unbelievable character development made it difficult for me to really enjoy the movie.
Did I like it: No
What I learned: Innocent dump people never get harmed physically
Salt:
Haters will always hate so if you're not a fan of Angelina Jolie and all the media coverage she gets for doing regular things like being the Good Will ambassador to the United Nations or her work with the Afgan refugees , you will probably be critical of this film - oh she's too thin to be able to take down all those agents, can she really jump off the freeway and remain unharmed, and like any action film, there are some plot holes. But Jolie is still Jolie, she's a great actress to be nominated and win oscars for her dramatic roles and is still physically believable enough that she can kick secret service ass. A random Russian spy comes into the CIA offices and tells them that one of theirs, Evelyn Salt is a mole/assassin from way back and is going to kill the visiting Russian president. Everyone gets spooked so like any good American, she takes off running...to clear her name...or to try to get ahold of her husband on the phone. Of course he never answers because of a poor coverage carrier and you see Salt get ready to fulfill the fore warning...or is she...or she did..or what?!! A few twists to keep things interesting, this action movie should appeal to both men and women alike.
Did I like it: Yes
What I learned: When it comes to international terrorism, always trust the black guy because camp is never set up in Inglewood or Harlem.
The Girl who played with Fire
If you want to pretend to be sophisticated and cultured amongst your friends...or pretentious, you can recommend this Swedish movie to them because you have to read subtitles and no one's heard of it. The Girl who played with Fire is the second of a trilogy and if you missed the first and much better "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", you won't appreciate the character progress of Lisbeth Salander, the tormented hacker who's had a bad bad life, particularly with bad bad men. In this film, there's been several murders including a couple who had there book documenting sex trafficking, published, and Lisbeths' probation officer. Meanwhile, the real murderer, a huge retarded thug with white hair is causing more trouble and killing more people. I don't really recommend this movie if you haven't seen the first but if you liked the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, go to your closest art house theater before it leaves. But its still kinda lacking.
Did I Like it No
What I learned: As long as you honk your horn, you will never harm anyone driving on the sidewalk at breakneck speed.
Posted by yumyumcha at July 31, 2010 02:47 PM