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notbono
Reviews
Overnight (2003)
The blame game
People love a good failure, especially when it's the result of an arrogant, uncompromising personality like Duffy's.
The thing is, having a career in Hollywood is a game of suck up, which pretty much precludes someone like Troy Duffy being a success, despite his obvious talent in writing and directing.
So did Duffy get what he deserved? If you think so, then you also get what you deserve, next time you have to sit through some lame Hollywood adaptation of what was once an edgy or original movie or book.
Duffy's opinion on that count? "Jerry Bruckheimer! *derisive snort* Con Air! *laughs*" (Well, something like that anyway.)
Many here have mentioned that there is no explanation of what Duffy did to sour the deal with Miramax. The obvious reason is that Miramax gave no explanation. They just screwed Duffy out of the deal without any discussion or give and take. They did it in such a way that even when he did get the film made, it didn't get the distribution it deserved. There is absolutely no way to fight back against this system, once you've been blackballed.
The filmmakers make no comment on this, seeming to place all the blame on Duffy's personality. Gosh, they couldn't be biased on this, could they? Maybe a little too close to be objective?
At the end of the film there's a short interview with a reporter who talks about meeting Harvey Weinstein, who says "Was I right about that guy, or what?"
Well actually, since Troy Duffy successfully directed an above average Hollywood thriller without Miramax, I would have to respond, "Nope, you got it wrong this time." The proof is in the pudding.
Trailer Park Boys: The Movie (2006)
Big dirty fun
I don't think the film will disappoint the true fans. The entire cast does a great job. There are some brilliant park moments and some spectacular "Rickyisms."
There were echos of some of the best moments from the show in the movie, but not in a way that made me feel like I was watching a re-run. I can imagine that the movie may reach out to an audience beyond the hard-core fans.
At the heart of it, there was a sweetness that has been missing from later seasons... the sense of friendship and family that brings these three guys together, and drags each of them into situations that perhaps they would not have (and definitely should not have) gotten into alone. They form a kind of trifecta: Julian, the natural leader, and the one with heart. Ricky, the one with passion and the strongest sense of family. Bubbles, the most vulnerable, the one with the brains(!) and the cutest kittens.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I think all the members of the audience did as well. There was applause in the cinema at the end, and it's too bad that the cast and crew wasn't there to hear it.