I watched Up on Monday with my lovely girlfriend and
her best friend Dartanyan in tow and was stunned, STUNNED by
it. I loved the sense of innate silliness that exists in
Carl's world, the idea that there are adventurers and
monsters and giant birds that if you look hard enough you
can still find. I love the idea that these concepts are
fading as people like Carl are getting pushed out of
neighborhoods so juice bars can open. I love the romance
and the first ten minutes. I loved Kevin and Doug and, hell,
I was smitten by this film. Get out there and see it.
By the way, 3-D, not my thing really. Sort of made me
nauseous and it detracts to such a large degree from the
picture quality, in my opinion that I was semi-annoyed the
entire time. That said, I do love looking around a theatre
at four hundred people all wearing dark shades, the
reflection of a talking dog mirrored in their covered eyes.
Makes me think we are all kids, just in it for a good flick.
Alright, on to the week's releases.
Hitting Theaters This Weekend:
LAND OF THE LOST
Director:
Brad Silberling
Cast:
Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, Anna Friel
Summary:
Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell), the USA's resident crack
pot scientist ends up being sucked in to space-time vortex
(if I had a nickel...) alongside a dopey survivalist (Danny
McBride) and his shockingly attractive assistant (Anna Friel).
T-Rex's appear, giant crabs snap their claws, Dr. Rick
Marshall gets bitten by a big bug.
Thoughts:
I'm always willing to give any Will Ferrell movie a shot.
Regardless if people think he's a bit of a one-trick pony,
he's a funny, funny man and if you peek back over his films
you'll see he actually has a pretty striking taste in what
he stars in. With Ferrell's presence drawing me closer I'm
given a further push to see the film by Brad Silberling's
presence (have you seen Moonlight Mile?) and of
course comedic go-to man Danny McBride. Both add a modicum
of talent to a picture that has me thinking Land of the
Lost might actually be worth my beer money.
Summary:
A Las Vegas bachelor party goes terribly wrong when the
groom's drunken buffoon friends literally lose him.
Thoughts:
This movie is pulsating with hype. Everybody is saying it's
the summer sleeper that's going to break the box-office.
And you know, Todd Phillips is one funny fucking director.
I still laugh all the way through Old School and sure
some of his other work has been a bit half-baked (Starksy
and Hutch = forgettable) but when he's on he's
hilarious. Supposedly this is the film that makes Bradley
Cooper a star, and when's the last time you saw something
with Z. Galifinakis in it that wasn't hysterical ... okay,
when was the last time you saw Z. Galifinakis do anything
that wasn't hysterical? I might just have to pay money to
see this film as well.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
81%
MY LIFE IN RUINS
Director:
Donald Petrie
Cast:
Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Rachel Dratch
Summary:
A travel guide finds love on an surprising trip through
Europe.
Thoughts:
Where the hell did this movie come from? I might be the
only person in the entire world who hasn't seen My Big
Fat Greek Wedding and I'm happy to have that
responsibility. Seriously, Nia Vardalos still gets work? I
mean sure it's alongside Richard "will work for blowjobs"
Dreyfuss, but it seemingly has some sort of a budget. I
will not see this movie. I will honestly not even walk in
to a theatre that's playing this movie, or has played it
within months of my entrance, as I think it might trigger my
gag reflex.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
11%
LIMITED FLICK:
AWAY WE GO
Director:
Sam Mendes
Cast:
John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, Allison Janney
Summary:
A couple on the verge of having their first child venture
out to see where exactly they should settle down.
Thoughts:
A Sam Mendes film, written by David Eggers and his talented
lady friend Vendela Vida? I'm there, with bells and one of
those huge foam fingers you get at ballparks. In the middle
of this film I might just break out in to song, or hug
whomever's sitting next to me, or maybe, just fall asleep in
a state of bliss. I would say I'm very excited to
see this.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
61%
Final Thoughts:
This might be the best week of films I've had the honor of
previewing here at Side One: Track One. Two amazing
comedies and a lighthearted bit of well-crafted indie fare
is equal to one hell of a hard choice for what I might see
if I venture out to the cinema.
Noah Sanders is the blog/news editor at Light In The
Attic and a contributor at Sound On The Sound and
the KEXP blog. He also has his own
Criterion-based film site, Criterion Quest.
If you'd like to contact Noah in regards to his
writings here at Side One: Track One then please do
so
here.
- Noah Sanders
-
-
Unless
otherwise expressly stated, all text in this blog and any
related pages, including the blog's archives, is licensed by
John Laird under a
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