2012

#140RVW

Never liked Andy Samberg. Breaking Rashida Jones’ heart? You bastard. Wait, maybe that was just the character, huh? Never mind. We’re good.

What’s more:

It’s very hard to carve out any original space in the overcrowded romantic comedy field. Celeste and Jesse Forever succeeds largely because it is more than your standard rom-com; it is a realistic look at relationships that happens to be funny as hell.

The film opens with a wonderful title sequence showing the courtship of Celeste and Jesse, who appear to have a storybook relationship. From the opening scenes these two are adorkable and clearly perfect together. Only they’re not; this wonderful friendship is masking the failure of their relationship. The next 90 minutes follow these two trying to find happiness with or without each other, struggling with their friendship and their relationship.

Rashida Jones co-wrote this with Will McCormack, who has a small role in the film. It is the first screenwriting gig for either of them, but I doubt very much it will be the last. They’ve put together a very good script that doesn’t shy away from real emotions. These characters behave in familiar ways; not familiar for movies, familiar to actual humans. Characters you like will do things that make you cringe – it’s not clean, and neither is life.

Rashida Jones really becomes a certifiable star with this picture. It’s a great performance. Samberg leaves me cold; just a perennial smart-ass. Elijah Wood has a small but fun role as Celeste’s business partner. Emma Roberts plays Miley Cyrus, essentially, in a subplot that isn’t strictly necessary but provides some good comedy moments and gives Celeste some needed perspective.

Good if not great picture – check it out.

Poster:

Trailer:

Bechdel Test:

Pass

The Representation Test Score: A (13 pts)

(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)

 

Main Cast	Rashida Jones Celeste, Andy Samberg Jesse, Elijah Wood Scott, Emma Roberts Riley
Rating	R
Release Date	Fri 24 Aug 2012 UTC
Director	Lee Toland Krieger
Genres	Comedy, Drama, Romance
Plot	A divorcing couple tries to maintain their friendship while they both pursue other people.
Poster
Runtime	92
Tagline	A loved story.
Writers	Rashida Jones (written by) &, Will McCormack (written by)
Year	2012

#140RVW

You knew it would be funny. The question was how funny? Good enough for a sketch, but a feature? Well, it’s very good & very wisely short…

Usted sabía que sería divertido. La cuestión era cómo gracioso? Lo suficientemente bueno para un boceto, pero una característica? Bueno, es muy bueno y muy sabiamente a corto …

What’s more:

I’m beginning to think that Will Ferrell is the best straight man working right now. I really think he could handle just about any role or genre at this point in his career.

Casa de Mi Padre is an idea that seems perfectly suited for a sketch show – sending up Mexican films and telenovelas. You knew instinctively that it was going to be a very funny spoof. Harder to know is how well this would play out as an entire film.

Fortunately, it doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. It keeps the action moving at a good pace, even if the laughs don’t come as quickly or frequently. I’m not sure it wouldn’t have been equally entertaining if it was half as long, but it certainly never drags.

Having an American comic speak all of his lines in Spanish is wonderful. Ferrell is really good – enough so that I was wondering if he was dubbed for the first few minutes. The presentation wouldn’t be half as effective in English, and so tres bien to the filmmakers.

The production is really good, by which I mean it’s really awful. The rear-projection car rides, the obviously painted landscapes, the claustrophobic sets, the blatant doubles, the dreadful animal effects – it’s all amazing. In fact, I laughed far more at the sight gags and deliberate low-production value than I did at any of the dialogue.

The songs are really good, too, from the James Bondian opening credit sequence (sung by Christina Aguilera) to the campfire tune “Yo No Se”.

Ultimately, though? It’s more amusing than truly funny. Don’t expect riotous laughs and you’ll have a good time.

Poster:

Trailer:

Bechdel Test:

Fail

The Representation Test Score: D

(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)

I really have no idea how to grade this one. It’s either a D or an F. I think I need to get some clarification from the Representation Project on how to handle movies like this. It’s an exploitation picture, really. There are of course racial stereotypes, but I’m not sure I’d say that they are reduced to stereotypes – it’s not like the only aspect of the characters. And it’s farce; I dunno – I’m passing on this one.

Main Cast	Will Ferrell Armando, Gael García Bernal Onza, Diego Luna Raul, Nick Offerman DEA Agent Parker
Rating	R
Release Date	Fri 11 May 2012 UTC
Director	Matt Piedmont
Genres	Comedy, Western
Plot	Scheming on a way to save their father’s ranch, the Alvarez brothers find themselves in a war with Mexico’s most feared drug lord.
Poster
Runtime	84
Tagline	Funniest movie you’ll ever read.
Writers	Andrew Steele (written by)
Year	2012

#140RVW

Starting from great premise (well-written joke classified ad) newbie team of Connolly & Trevorrow craft funny, smart film that just plays…

What’s more:

This movie just works. The starting point was a joke classified ad placed in Backwoods Home Magazine in 1997 to fill up some dead space. It’s a great little bit of writing by their employee John Silveira, and really begs to be developed into a screenplay.

But it is just an idea; the execution is key. Enter screenwriter Derek Connolly & director Colin Trevorrow, who only had one short film credit between them. One movie later and they’re on Hollywood’s hot list. The reason is this movie: Safety Not Guaranteed.

The plot is simple enough: after reading the aforementioned ad, magazine writer Jeff Schwensen (Jake Johnson) grabs two interns to go investigate the story in Jeff’s hometown, while he attempts to reconcile with his high school sweetheart.

The success of this film, though, is due largely to the character they created, Darius Britt, and the portrayal of same by Aubrey Plaza. The character is an archetype (the under-appreciated unsocial young person looking for greater meaning), but a well-written one, and Plaza really gives the character depth and validity. This is her first major starring role & she finally has something to sink her teeth into.

Mark Duplass, one half of the brotherly filmmaking team, takes a role that could easily be ridiculous and makes something more of it. It’s still funny the way he plays the alleged time-traveller, but it’s not mean-spirited; he is a believable character. Jake Johnson is along for the ride and while his story isn’t entirely necessary, it’s entertaining.

It’s a breezy ride, clocking in at slightly under an hour and a half. It’s funny and different and one to watch.

Poster:

Trailer:

Bechdel Test:

Fail

The Representation Test Score: B (7 pts)

(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)

Main Cast	Aubrey Plaza Darius, Mark Duplass Kenneth, Jake Johnson Jeff, Karan Soni Arnau
Rating	R
Release Date	Thu 18 Oct 2012 UTC
Director	Colin Trevorrow
Genres	Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Plot	Three magazine employees head out on an assignment to interview a guy who placed a classified ad seeking a companion for time travel.
Poster
Runtime	86
Tagline
Writers	Derek Connolly (written by)
Year	2012

#140RVW

Another one of those movies that looks like a really stupid concept but makes for a fantastic film because of brilliant execution. #NoBrakes

What’s more:

I’m always amazed how certain “high concept” movies get made; movies that rely on a central premise that seems limiting. The Fast & Furious movies, for example; they are all about cars and crime, but there’s a limit to how much crime you can undertake while driving – sooner or later you need to get out of the car. Reminds me of the tv show spoof on the Simpsons years ago about a crime-fighting boat.

So I felt reasonably justified in dismissing Premium Rush outright; a chase movie on bicycles. Sounds ridiculous.

Fortunately, the presence of Joseph Gordon-Levitt convinced me to give it a try. JGL is money, plain and simple, and usually worth sticking around even if the project seems weak.

Glad I made the time; the loss would have been entirely mine, otherwise, because Premium Rush is a tight little action picture. A thriller, yes, but really mostly a chase movie. There’s little to no mystery involved, and the outcome is never really in doubt.

David Koepp has written or co-written some of the biggest movies of the last 25 years, but this is only his fifth directing gig. He keeps the action really tight and engaging. He uses visual tricks like map overlays and a neat effect where the courier visualizes potential outcomes of his route choices; these work well.

He also screws with the timeline, speeding up the story, then darting back to fill in blanks, all while a clock zooms to track what time it is; this works less well. The whole flashback/forward thing is best used sparingly and in movies with more mystery to them.

Also, when the clock first appeared on screen I thought that the courier’s delivery was going to unfold in real time and was excited by this great storytelling device. So I was even more let down when it didn’t happen. Run with that idea, screenwriters…

This is a minor quibble; I wouldn’t have even mentioned it except that speed and the lifestyle of these bike couriers is so integral to the feel of the story. And that tone makes for a very good film. It helps that it wisely doesn’t pad the runtime; it’s a quick 90-minutes of constant movement. Great stuff.

Poster:

Trailer:

Bechdel Test:

The Representation Test Score: B (7 pts)

(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)

Main Cast	Joseph Gordon-Levitt Wilee, Michael Shannon Bobby Monday, Dania Ramirez Vanessa, Sean Kennedy Marco
Rating	PG-13
Release Date	Fri 24 Aug 2012 UTC
Director	David Koepp
Genres	Action, Crime, Thriller
Plot	In Manhattan, a bike messenger picks up an envelope that attracts the interest of a dirty cop, who pursues the cyclist throughout the city.
Poster
Runtime	91
Tagline	Ride Like Hell
Writers	David Koepp (written by) &, John Kamps (written by)
Year	2012

#140RVW

What could’ve been yet another mindless remake of a B-list property becomes riotous send-up  with filmmakers like these. Unexpectedly good.

What’s more:

Is it faithful to the show? Well, I never watched the show, so I have nothing to judge that by. I do know that the show was a drama that took itself seriously – based on that info alone I’d have to say this has nothing in common with the series.

21 Jump Street really embraces all the stupid stuff that comes with this kind of movie. And that is a really good decision. They have fun with teen movies, buddy cop movies, and many other action movie conventions. It really is brilliantly irreverent.

I gotta say I laughed a lot harder and a lot more often than I ever expected I would. And not just because I assumed I wouldn’t laugh at all. Even once.

After you see the credits, though, the success of the movie makes a bit more sense and is less surprising.

• Jonah Hill worked on the story with Michael Bacall, who developed the screenplay. He previously wrote Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
• The movie is directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, the directing duo behind Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs & The Lego Movie.

The casting is pretty good. Hill always brings something interesting and Tatum is particularly good, playing through several different John Hughes roles in the same movie.

As with every comedy made in the past ten years, it’s needlessly gross. The physical humor is mostly not a distraction but it certainly isn’t an addition. The movie is also revels in being un-pc, but as with the rest of the script, has a bit of fun on that score. No complaint.

Poster:

Trailer:

Bechdel Test:

The Representation Test Score: D (2 pts)

(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)

Main Cast	Jonah Hill Schmidt, Channing Tatum Jenko, Ice Cube Captain Dickson, Brie Larson Molly Tracey
Rating	R
Release Date	Fri 16 Mar 2012 UTC
Director	Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Genres	Action, Comedy, Crime
Plot	A pair of underachieving cops are sent back to a local high school to blend in and bring down a synthetic drug ring.
Poster
Runtime	109
Tagline	The only thing getting blown tonight is their cover.
Writers	Michael Bacall (screenplay), Michael Bacall (story) …
Year	2012