Movies that Rock; Movies that Suck

[jmonatlik]

Fast Times at Ridgemont High--A movie that rocks.

I just saw this film for the first time, as it is part of my roommate's collection of DVDs, and all I have to say is: Now I know that Keanu Reeves totally stole his surfer image from a character created by Sean Penn. He along with Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, Judge Reinhold, and others fine young actors forever capture the essence of the Southern California white-bread teenage living in the 80's: Fucking with teachers named Mr. Hand, sex at The Point, pool splashing, working and hanging out at the mall, playing in arcades at the mall, dealing with trying to make the right decision, having that older guy who seems like he knows it all try to make the decision for you, but when it comes to his own decision-making, he makes shitty ones because he too is just a kid in high school trying to figure it all out.

I mean, it's really all very innocent, and I guess it's because it's Cameron Crowe's baby. As much as he tries to make it about sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll, it's a game of Candyland by today's standards. The hardest drug was pot and I never once saw a gun. But the simplicity of innocence only enhances the humor. These characters are so genuine. You want them all to win in some respect--we even have compassion for the guy that makes a bad choice because we know that he just doesn't know what to do. Each character has such a distinct philosophy on life that carries them through the motions of their awkward high school, suburban setting. And so, when things aren't going right (as they never do when you're a teenager,) it's funny to watch them react to each other or to the circumstances at hand.

Ah, but there's nudity, too. This again takes nothing away from the innocence and simplicity of the story because it's done in a tasteful way where it pertains to the teenagers' journey into experimentation with adulthood. Not that I was counting, but I think they only showed the girls three times, which seems like a reasonable amount. I mean, if they did it throughout the piece as a through-line, I might have a different opinion. But they did it enough times to get me to say,'Oh, this is taking a risk,' but not to say, 'Oh, another young girl titty flick.'

There are also cameo appearances by Eric Stoltz and Anthony Edwards which, to me, is just icing on the cake. I mean, I love seeing older movies and spotting brilliant actors in their first films. I say, 'Oh, they're so young and they had no clue where their careers would go. They've come so far since then.' Well, maybe Eric Stoltz hasn't done much since, but I love him. He's good acting to me.

Good story and good characters make this film a perfect example of the kind of film that needs to resurface in theatres. Simplicity in human interaction is so much more interesting than fast cars, chicks, and hard, cold cash. I mean, maybe I'm just prejudging based on the title and the hot men, but honestly, the only two reasons I'd go to see 'The Fast and the Furious' would be:
1- Because you paid me, and
2- To find out exactly how fast and how furious it has to be to make it to the big screen.

 

[jmonatlik]

Austin Powers: Goldmember

This is obviously how often I see movies. Movie going has become a greater luxury in my life since the incessant need to be in them took over. Now, I go out to see movies when there is only a slight amount of guilt from not tending to my job as an actor/ writer/ whatnot (Note: There is always guilt present; it is only when there is a "hint" of guilt brewing in my urn of stress and anxiety that I feel so inclined to indulge in the magic of the talkies.) So onward to the topic at hand: Goldmember...

This movie rocked for the most part. It was fun, I laughed, I enjoyed myself—I got my money’s worth. Having said that, I must disclose that I am an avid fan of Austin Powers and Mike Myers in general. To me, he is human chocolate pudding: even when he's not so great, he's great; and to be quite frank, I prefer the cheap-o Hunt's brand to a fancier one. This is not to say that his comedy, albeit silly and toilet-style sometimes, is cheap; this is to say that when he gives us cheap, I sometimes enjoy it more than I thought I would. And besides, people don’t realize how much intelligence goes into looking that stupid. Still, you probably are not going to enjoy it if you have a sense of humor limited to the stylings of Charles Grodin, Albert Brooks, Woody Allen, or Steven Wright (all favorites of mine, but none are silly in the slightest.)

Goldmember offers that light-hearted, absurd comedy. I mean, you go in expecting it, so really, you’re just going to see what he’ll do with the license he’s been given by the previous Austin Powers flicks. Myers really set himself up nicely with the characters in the first two, so he didn’t have to do much to get everyone excited. Looking around the theatre, listening to people quote Austin, Ms. Kensington, Number 2, and Dr. Evil, I could see how very few would be disappointed even if the movie had all the same characters just with different lines.

And the film gives the audience mostly that: The interplay of the characters we love combined with a few newbies that change up the story a bit. Most of the good shit comes from Austin and Evil interactions and any scene involving Mini-me. That little guy is just plain funny.

The next time, however, they’re going to have to create something outside of the puns to sustain the audience’s enthusiasm. It was fine this time around, but because by the end of the film they totally exhaust the “funny” with the characters from the first two films, there’s no way it’ll work the next time. Mini-me got tossed around in all the ways he could, Scott’s role became more prominent (and the more lines he gets, the less I enjoy his part,) and Austin and Evil become a little more serious and human. Now I just wonder how they’re going to deal with this in the next film. I have confidence in Myers; he’s never let me down before.

The other thing that might bring future Austin Powers movies diminishing returns is new characters that suck. I spoke with a friend of mine who thought it was cleaver that the title character has less to do with the action of the movie and more to do with simple plot movement. While I think that’s an interesting move, I still thought Goldmember, the character, in isolation, was not interesting. I didn’t enjoy watching him, I thought all the funny that he was trying to do was stupid, and, in the end, I don’t want to see him again (which will be the case because the next movie won’t be about him. Phew!) If they were keeping him out of the way to get to the good stuff between Dr. Evil and Austin and Mini-me, fine, but next time the new guy has to create some conflict. I mean, the “gold member” thing doesn’t hold up on its own as compelling or funny: ok we get it, your name is Goldmember and you have a “gold member”…what else you got? Foxxy Cleopatra is another new one that was, albeit well acted, nothing exciting. I guess I’m also just partial to the original Ms. Kensington: Mr. Powers! We need another reconnaissance mission with someone like this.

My favorite parts were the opening sequence and the scene between the young Austin and Dr. Evil, with a cameo by Number 2. The opening perfectly mocks the film’s absurdity and sets up exactly what the audience is in for: pure, silly fun. I do believe that it catered more to the folks at the premiere than any one else, but who’s to say that Hollywood can’t enjoy a little of Hollywood now and then?

The youngsters as Evil and Powers were the best; that was my biggest laugh. They do an impeccable job of emulating two of the oddest characters around, and for that, I applaud you two guys whose names are somewhere in the credits.

Overall, I loved the film. It gave me everything I wanted for the night: good laughs. I give it: No looks at the watch.*



*my rating scale is based on how many times I look at my watch: 0- Great movie; must see; 1- definitely worthwhile, there is a lull in the film at some point; 2 to 3- ok, so you have a moment to go to the bathroom, but this movie is ok; 4 to 5 times- I may watch this on cable if I have nothing better to do; beyond 5- what did I get myself into?