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Short Takes with Cyrus: "Dinner for Schmucks", "The Last Exorcism", "Howl", and "Shogun"
DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS (Blu-ray and DVD)
I don't get folks who thought this 2010 Jay Roach directed 'comedy' was "Outrageously Funny" as the box cover erroneously insists. Paul Rudd plays Tim Conrad, a mid-level executive with a shot at moving up if he can impress his boss by bringing an entertaining idiot to a special dinner where he and his friends enjoy mocking them. Tim discovers the near-retarded Barry Speck (Steve Carell) and, for some reason, ends up feeling bad for the guy who can't so much as turn around without destroying something. I can't stand these movies where A: Everyone is a jerk and B: People put up with it for no reason. Much like in the majority of Jay Roach's films, in my world, this is the lowest and most irritating kind of 'humor'.
--CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL SPILL.COM REVIEW
--CLICK HERE TO BUY Dinner for Schmucks [Blu-ray]
HOWL (Blu-Ray and DVD)
The reaction from critics was predictably split down the middle about this very experimental film starring James Franco as the famous beat poet Alan Ginsberg. Certainly not a traditional narrative by any means, the film flits between three different segments: a gorgeously animated representation of Ginsberg's controversial poem that the film is named after; an interview with Ginsberg talking about his life and work; and a court case to decide whether or not "Howl" should be considered 'obscene' with Jon Hamm as the defense attorney. All dialogue was taken from actual transcripts, which is interesting in itself in that it's a new conceit in making a documentary, a technique that might make the sugar go down easier for those who disdain films with a more traditional method of educating their viewers. I sadly suspect that the beautifully non-linear, surrealistic, and entirely appropriate way "Howl" was made is going to be lost on many viewers, in much the same way the content of the original poem was on readers.
--CLICK HERE TO BUY Howl [Blu-ray]
THE LAST EXORCISM (Blu-Ray and DVD)
Forget about that crappy Anthony Hopkins exorcist movie in theaters now, it's "The Last Exorcism" that lives up to its creepy promise. Well, at least until the end. Filmed documentary style (I know, I know, but this one makes it work) the film follows an American fundamentalist preacher (Patrick Fabian) who has lost his faith and has agreed to take part in a exorcism expose film, where he uses all kinds of trade trickery to 'heal' a supposedly possessed child (Ashley Bell). Problem is, it's starting to look a lot like this girl might actually have something devilish inside her after all. While the more interesting part of the film is the preacher's struggle with his beliefs, there's some genuinely creepy as hell moments and a lot of fun to be had, even if, for me, the ending did fall back into overly familiar territory.
--CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL SPILL.COM REVIEW
--CLICK HERE TO BUY The Last Exorcism [Blu-ray]
SHOGUN (DVD)
Is this 1980 NBC television event, based on the classic novel by James Clavell, the best mini-series ever made? Some would say yes. I might be one of those people, but I admit, it's been too long since I've seen the only real competitors for the title ("Roots" and "Lonesome Dove"). Either way, this 547 minute series about an English navigator (Richard Chamberlain) being kept in Japan by the whim of a brilliantly ambitious Lord (Toshirō Mifune) is absolutely mesmerizing still. Despite a way-cornball score (from composer Maurice Jarre who I expected better from than this cliche-ridden piece), it holds up every bit as well today as it did upon its original release. This is 'Must-See' tv, to be sure, especially for anyone who already has an interest in Japanese culture and history. FSM help us all, it's actually educational as well.
--CLICK HERE TO BUY James Clavell's Shogun
Comment
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Comment by Dr. Detfink on February 8, 2011 at 9:57pm -
Loved Howl, wasn't too keen on Last Exorcism, and haven't seen Shogun since it was on TV as a kid...
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Comment by Kevin M. on February 8, 2011 at 7:07pm -
i really dug the shit out of Last Exorcism...except of course for the end.
it wasn't even the fact that it ends the same way all "found footage" films end -- i've come to accept that. if you think about it, we know how a movie ends before we even see it more often than one might expect. what was so awful about Last Exorcism's ending was the fact that it was so clearly the result of the filmmakers writing themselves into a corner. they were pulling on this thread, and then they hit a speedbump. instead of asking, "how can we get around this" or "how can we explore this idea further," they decided to leave it on a half-thought-out interesting idea and leave the ending "open for interpretation". it's just lazy writing.
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Comment by the Mindful Lunatic on February 8, 2011 at 6:34pm -
Dinner For Schmucks was terrible. The one thing I actually thought was really cool about it was the main theme.
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Comment by Bella Muerte on February 8, 2011 at 6:03pm -
Got to admit, I wasn't a fan of Howl. It was beautiful to look at though! But I loved The Last Exorcism, even if the ending was meh.
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Comment by Travis Pickle on February 8, 2011 at 4:38pm -
i was really enjoying the sham of it all in the Last Exorcism til yeah it went and f*cked it up at the end!
WTF? they did a great job of keeping it real AND creepy and the girls contortions were very cool but the film flew so far up it's own ass in the final moments I went from entertained to F*CK YOU!
the blueray also has a hilarious commentery by a pair of actual working catholic church fruitloops who are 'real' posession experts and a victim who went through an actual possesion by demons for real! honest!
;)
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Comment by mst3k4evur on February 8, 2011 at 4:32pm -
You are absolutely right about Shogun holding up over time--I wasn't even alive for it's original release and finally saw it for the first time almost twenty years later. Still, I loved it then and now and wish these kinds of mini series were more common today.
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Comment by LukeAmongClouds on February 8, 2011 at 4:20pm -
Nice job sir. I have Howl from Netflix on my desk, haven't gotten to it yet
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Comment by BOWENARROW on February 8, 2011 at 4:19pm -
Rented Dinner for Schumuks and was just annoyed by pretty much everybody and ended up skipping to the actual dinner. This movie sucks. Last Exorcism on the hand was freakin awesome
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