31.1.10
23.1.10
Preach it, PHD Comics
I want to see this PHD comic in newswriters' cubicles across the country, along with the ubiquitous Dilbert and Cathy strips: (click on image to go to the original -- and larger -- image)
21.1.10
Eep! It's 2010!
I can't believe I haven't posted in two months! Time does get away, doesn't it? It's particularly sad because I've watched a bunch of movies and even read a few books in the last couple of months. And if I don't write down my thoughts, there's a chance I'll forget I've even seen something. As happened just this week when I told a coworker I hadn't seen Can't Hardly Wait. No wait. I have. Oh, sure, yeah, I thought it was *really* good -- can't you tell what a lasting impression it made?
So, because I'm lazy, but still feel guilty that I haven't posted yet in 2010, I'll just lift a few of my short Netflix reviews:
The Dress Code (2000): The writers here must have thought quirkiness equals character, so there's a lot of the former and little of the latter. But the actors make up for it and deliver wonderfully nuanced performances that only hint at the depths of the people portrayed. The end felt a little forced, but I didnt care by that point -- I was too charmed by all the actors, from Alex Linz (the little boy) and Stacey Halprin (the mother) to the big name stars. All in all, a nice little story. If you like this movie, I also recommend Saint Ralph. Its in a similar vein, and I liked it much more than this one. 2 stars.
Easy Virtue: Where is the Noel Coward wit? It's there, but it's hidden, and I found myself wanting more brandishing of that wit than faux-20s music and overly staged sets. There were a few really good moments, but they're in the preview. This one barely earns its three stars, but Kristin Scott Thomas bumps it up a notch. She is the one razor sharp character among a pile of dull blades. And without equal blades, a jousting contest is just not that interesting. And to top it all off, I wouldn't actually classify this as "romantic comedy," which is clearly what the studio is going for. Just look at who they cast -- I thought Colin Firth *meant* sappy romantic comedy! Plus, they totally sell the happy-go-lucky side of the movie in the trailer, product description, and even classification for Netflix. (Actually, I don't know if the studio suggests the classification, or if Netflix does that. But whoever did it, it's misleading.) This isn't Oscar Wilde and it isn't An Ideal Husband -- not exactly a happy ending here. 1.5 stars.
Two Brothers and a Bride: I was surprised how much I liked this movie. Basically, it's about two brothers who run a farm who go to Russia to find a wife to take care of them after their mother dies. David Arquette and Tim Blake Nelson star, along with Emily Mortimer as a journalist in Russia who starts following them around for her documentary on mail-order brides. Given the premise, it could have come out very preachy ("Bad human-trafficking-type business!") or misogynistic ("Ha-ha! Look at the funny desperate Russian women, or the silly feminists!") or make cruel fun of two farm boys ("Wow they are such hicks, and stupid, too, for being unable to take care of themselves without their mother"). Instead, it is a small but lovable movie that refuses to condemn any of the characters, even as it does recognize the ridiculous in almost all of them. Plus, you get the pleasure of very good performances by Mortimer, Arquette, and Nelson. Not a must-see, but a nice change of pace from your typical meet-cute romcoms. 2 stars.
So, because I'm lazy, but still feel guilty that I haven't posted yet in 2010, I'll just lift a few of my short Netflix reviews:
The Dress Code (2000): The writers here must have thought quirkiness equals character, so there's a lot of the former and little of the latter. But the actors make up for it and deliver wonderfully nuanced performances that only hint at the depths of the people portrayed. The end felt a little forced, but I didnt care by that point -- I was too charmed by all the actors, from Alex Linz (the little boy) and Stacey Halprin (the mother) to the big name stars. All in all, a nice little story. If you like this movie, I also recommend Saint Ralph. Its in a similar vein, and I liked it much more than this one. 2 stars.
Easy Virtue: Where is the Noel Coward wit? It's there, but it's hidden, and I found myself wanting more brandishing of that wit than faux-20s music and overly staged sets. There were a few really good moments, but they're in the preview. This one barely earns its three stars, but Kristin Scott Thomas bumps it up a notch. She is the one razor sharp character among a pile of dull blades. And without equal blades, a jousting contest is just not that interesting. And to top it all off, I wouldn't actually classify this as "romantic comedy," which is clearly what the studio is going for. Just look at who they cast -- I thought Colin Firth *meant* sappy romantic comedy! Plus, they totally sell the happy-go-lucky side of the movie in the trailer, product description, and even classification for Netflix. (Actually, I don't know if the studio suggests the classification, or if Netflix does that. But whoever did it, it's misleading.) This isn't Oscar Wilde and it isn't An Ideal Husband -- not exactly a happy ending here. 1.5 stars.
Two Brothers and a Bride: I was surprised how much I liked this movie. Basically, it's about two brothers who run a farm who go to Russia to find a wife to take care of them after their mother dies. David Arquette and Tim Blake Nelson star, along with Emily Mortimer as a journalist in Russia who starts following them around for her documentary on mail-order brides. Given the premise, it could have come out very preachy ("Bad human-trafficking-type business!") or misogynistic ("Ha-ha! Look at the funny desperate Russian women, or the silly feminists!") or make cruel fun of two farm boys ("Wow they are such hicks, and stupid, too, for being unable to take care of themselves without their mother"). Instead, it is a small but lovable movie that refuses to condemn any of the characters, even as it does recognize the ridiculous in almost all of them. Plus, you get the pleasure of very good performances by Mortimer, Arquette, and Nelson. Not a must-see, but a nice change of pace from your typical meet-cute romcoms. 2 stars.
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