About your host: BENNETT WEBBER is a very successful underachiever and Sierra Mist bootlegger. He enjoys proactivity, thinking outside the box, buying vests and keeping things close to them, popular euphemisms, and general hypocrisy. Bennett currently lives in Los Angeles, California and works in television.
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The rumors of my indifference have been greatly exaggerated. I DO plan to get back on the mic soon - perhaps for the summer movie season. I've just been stunted lately by how bad movies have been (until very recently - see below) and absorbed by how good television has been (Friday Night Lights, Lost, even 24 which I had given up hope on).
Until my return to the airwaves here are some quick reviews of what I have seen (which is pretty much everything...I have a problem)...
ADVENTURELAND - A- - I know. I know. We've all seen coming of age stories like this before, but this lovingly handled movie reminds us how and why they work when they work. It's familiar, but it's also authentic. Adventureland is the first movie of 2009 to stick with me on the walk to the car.
DUPLICITY - C+ - Duplicity has me in quite the quandary. I dug it's fast talking, seventies style. I think all the acting ranges safely between fine and great, and I think the payoff works well, but the truth of the matter is... it's a little boring. I drifted off as often as the plot did in the saggier middle sections.
FAST & FURIOUS - C - It's just as harmlessly dumb as the first one - thankfully with less correlation to the immortal 'Point Break.' I do have a question though - what happened in the second and third movie? Anything? Thought not...
FRIDAY THE 13th - D- - I tried to approach this movie as a remake rather than another Jason line em up, chop em down extravaganza, but sadly there is nothing revisionist about this movie. I fail to see why this isn't just Part 78 (or whatever they're on now). It's just another chapter in the worst long running horror series of all time. And as far as remakes go - this makes Rob Zombie's Halloween look like Scorcese's Cape Fear.
I LOVE YOU, MAN - B- - Paul Rudd puts on a clinic on how to portray a hilariously lame character. He and the rest of this rogues gallery cast create a pretty amusing series of moments, but this never feels like a movie.
KNOWING - D - Bad Nicolas Cage (the guy from The Wicker Man and Ghost RIder who looks alot like that other guy you haven't given up on yet) plays the least convincing Astro Physicist since Denise Richards in a sporty tank top. Cartoony special effects, bad blue screen and scenes of absurdist tragedy are just a few of the elements that make this one of the year's biggest disaster movies. That is, movies that are a complete disaster. ZING! It's hard to decide which is less convincing: the science or the theology.
OBSERVE AND REPORT - B - Funny throughout in a mean, ugly sort of way. I do fear that writer/director Jody Hill seems capable of only one kind of character and one kind of comedy, and it doesn't bode well that he's this predictable this early in his career.
PUSH - C - I was surprised at how disappointed I was with this movie. I thought it was just going to be MST3K crap. Instead, I must say, it has a lot of strong concepts...concepts that - in the end - it can't muster the intelligence to really capitalize on.
STATE OF PLAY - B+ - State of Play is a smart, grown up, well acted thriller that is as much about newspapers as conspiracies. Sure, there is one somewhat clunky reveal, but that doesn't spoil the game.
SUNSHINE CLEANING - B - This is a mainstream movie with a smaller budget and a few more blood stains - not that there's anything wrong with that. The four star performances lead you through the three star predictability pretty effectively. In fact, I think this movie's desire to not seem as simple as it is hurts it a bit in the end because several story lines weren't paid off with much gusto.
WATCHMEN - C - Why even have a scene if you're going to abbreviate its point beyond recognition? Why show a character if he's never going to be properly introduced or paid off? In general, why try to make this masterpiece of graphic fiction into a movie if it's gonna be three hours long and still make the audience feel short changed.
Talk soon (I hope). Until then...courage...
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IT DOES TOO HAVE MORE FRIENDS!… Herein your host and one of his east coast confidants discuss movies, stick insects, race in America, needless clapping, German chickens and so much more…Though does anyone really need more than that? We'll see I suppose…
[RECORDED PRIOR TO THE ACADEMY AWARDS]
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IT IS JUST A GIRL SITTING ACROSS FROM A BOY…We
interrupt our regularly scheduled Ken episodes for another holiday special in
which JEAN and Bennett discuss their annual double feature (He's Just Not That
Into You & Confessions of a Shopaholic). Also discussed are their favorite
romantic movies of all time and the reason Bennett should be set adrift at sea.
Enjoy. More Ken on Monday…
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IT GROWS TIRED OF COMPLIMENTS…In the second part of his first episode of 2009 – Bennett and Ken begin their airing of grievances and list for you some of the worst movies of 2008. Avoid the films. Listen to the podcast…TO BE CONTINUED…
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IT RETURNS…In his first episode of 2009 – Bennett breaks down his top 10 movies of 2008 while friend of the show KEN PISANI rigorously mocks him for said enumeration… TO BE CONTINUED…
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Our guest for the "Top 10 Movies of 2008 Spectacular" (and the "Bottom 5 Movies of 2008 Bleck-tacular") is proving to be a little tough to tie down, but we do have him on the run. Until we can put all that together though here's some blurbage regarding what's currently out there in theaters...
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON – C+ - “The pre-destined inevitability of the outcome makes this long movie feel as long as it is. It’s more of a muddle than a masterpiece…BUT the concept is SO bold and the ideas are SO big you can't help but be a little impressed by the undertaking. I say praise the effort, rather than ratify any real achievement.”
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL – C- - “A noisy remake in which everything that made the original film special has been bloated to little positive effect. Bigger is not better: a giant cheesy looking robot is not a step up from a man sized cheesy looking robot.”
DOUBT – B+ - “This is a play turned into a movie that feels like that for better or worse. Indeed ‘Doubt’ does often come across as arch and, dare I say, theatrical, but have no fear you also get the benefits of such an exercise: crisp, challenging dialogue and four truly great performances.”
GRAN TORINO – A – “I loved this movie. The ominous trailer does it no favors. It is warm, funny and god damn moving. Clint Eastwood continues to play with his persona to great effect and if this were his last performance it would be the perfect summation of what it takes to be classic rather than simple. One of my favorite movies of 2008.”
THE READER – C+ - “This is a classy (if somewhat abbreviated) adaptation of a classy book starring a classy cast. The poster of this movie cries out for Oscar consideration before you even see a frame. BUT examine the pedigree for a moment - everyone involved - the director, the writer, the producer, the stars, the DP, the costume designer - they all have done BETTER examples of this kind of movie. The Reader seems to be on Academy Award auto pilot. It just feels lacking and a little silly upon reflection. Kate Winslet is really the only stand out.”
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD – A- – “Pitch perfect performances and gorgeous direction make this beautiful bummer well worth seeing. I say, see it with someone whose crushing your soul!”
VALKYRIE - C+ - "Because of Singer's strong direction and intense pacing - it's only at the end of the film that you realize what it is lacking - and that is the weight of history. This plays more like the plot to kill & overthrow Snidely Whiplash than Adolf Hitler. The film should've slowed down for a second and remembered to mean something."
THE WRESTLER – A- - “Forget Randy the Ram, Mickey Rourke's own character arc is what’s best served by this film. It is his similarity to the character that makes this movie compelling and the perfect vehicle for his deeply personal performance. This one stays with you long after Springsteen plays out the credits.”
Talk to you soon enough...
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IT DECKS THE HALLS RIGHT IN THE FACE…In his first annual Christmas special Bennett and producer-friend Jean Shi surf the yule tide and warmly reminisce about pink DVDs, rom coms and MouthBlogs of yore. And as an extra gift to Jesus on his birthday this extravaganza contains never before heard clips of past episodes. Happy Holidays, everyone!
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