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Reviews
Son of Zorn (2016)
Too sharp for most
This show punches well above its weight, and clearly from the negative responses, well above the heads of most. The writing is sharp, the humour is - in spite of its absurdity -
quite nuanced and sophisticated, at times the equal of the best writing in Arrested Development or Archer. A sign of the times that a show of this quality can't make it past one season.
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Another nail in the coffin of Woody Allen's legacy
So, what's a once brilliant but now soggy and complacent director to do when the only people crazy enough to lend him money anymore are European financiers who insist on one dimensional, flattering, sycophantic depictions of their capital cities ? The answer to this question can be most clearly appreciated in the over-hyped, lazily scripted 'Midnight in Paris'. It is an indictment of the quality of Allen's output over the past 20 years that this film is garnering such positive reviews, but also speaks to the desire of many to see this former great of American filmmaking fire up his old magic. The central conceit of this movie is whimsical enough but quickly evaporates as it becomes apparent the excruciatingly contrived dialog and poorly written characters are only getting worse. Owen Wilson acquits himself well, but can't really rise above such weak material. It begs the question - why do A-list actors willfully submit themselves to appearing in Allen's increasingly lazy movies for far less money they could otherwise earn for their time ? There is no cachet in appearing in a Woody Allen film anymore. People should stop indulging him. Audiences would be best served re-visiting his work pre-1992.
Hall Pass (2011)
The dog ate my Hall Pass
This latest effort from the Farrelly Brothers for the most part treads the same (relatively) understated comic line of their work on 'Stuck on Me' and 'Shallow Hal'. The films builds amiably and enjoyably enough, mining a rich thread of observational humour in the behaviour of married couples, but it does lose its way slightly in the last reel where the script attempts to ratchet up the tone of hysteria. But what makes this one good fun overall are a couple of memorable scatological and sexual jokes, and an after the credits vignette featuring Stephen Merchant, which provides some of the biggest laughs of the movie. If you can't find something to laugh at in this movie, then the world must be a very grim place for you. It is not their best work, but it is still a solid effort, and very enjoyable. A solid 7 out of 10.
L'arnacoeur (2010)
My kingdom for an orthodontist
It is perhaps impolitic to say so, but Vanessa Paradis may just have the ugliest set of teeth to blight the mouth of any leading actor, French or otherwise, in the 100 year history of cinema. I mention this not to be cruel, but to highlight one of the fundamental problems with this movie, which is namely - its leading lady looks like a hastily costumed, warmed-up corpse. An avid observer of French cinema might shrug this off as an irrelevancy, but for a populist movie with ambitions to appeal to a broader, Anglophile audience, it is no small detail that the purported object of desire in a movie framed as a "romantic comedy" is frankly, pretty undesirable. Ms Paradis is no doubt a woman of many fine qualities and abilities, but it is apparent in her performance that she is either acutely self-conscious of - or has been directed to avoid - showing her teeth. This limits her facial expression to the degree that her character in the movie is utterly devoid of any warmth or other noticeable, agreeable signs of humanity. This issue is further compounded by a trite and mostly unfunny script, throughout which Ms Paradis and the rest of the ensemble look constipated. I'm pretty sure that's not just a French thing, either. This is a film to be avoided at all costs. If you find the concept of the movie too compelling to resist, at least wait for the English language remake due any time soon, which by rights could only improve on this Gallic disaster.
The King's Speech (2010)
Predictable but moderately satisfying drama
This film is pitched perfectly at the fogey set, who should lap up its ham acting, conservative tone, mild humour and emotional clichés. The dramatic arc of the film is understandably predictable given its historical context, but the characterization and dialogue are often slightly jarring and deter from the film's plausibility. Geoffrey Rush's performance is overplayed, and his emotional signposting annoyingly obvious. The casting of Derek Jacobi, who played one of history's most famous stammerers in I, Claudius, is a knowing in-joke, but only serves to underline Colin Firth's own flabby effort as King George VI. Best get in and see this one before the award season hype becomes unbearable and raises expectations beyond what such a small scale and ultimately forgettable film can deliver.
Fair Game (2010)
Flawed but important examination of a watershed event
Maybe it's a sign of weariness with the games that powerful people play, but it seems there has been an inadequate amount of outrage at the slow reveal that the Bush/Blair reasoning for declaring war on Iraq was just so much spin. And maybe the reason "Fair Game" won't do so well at the box office is that folks just ain't all that interested in seeing how sausages really are made. As much as this is a story about how it feels to be revealed as a mere prawn in other people's game, I think "Fair Game" is more useful as an insight into how these games actually work. Despite its exaggerations, it does paint a convincing and familiar picture of just how easily people in power can use some puffed up crank story combined with a lot of hectoring to get their way, in a way that individual citizens are mostly powerless against. The visual style of the film is far more sober than Doug Liman's previous efforts, though his hand-held camera work at times feels jarringly amateurish. I didn't mind the film wearing its heart on its sleeve as much as some might - the kind of dispassionate, calculated spin that reeled us into this mess merits a passionate rebuke.