Thursday, June 14, 2007

Apatow strikes gold again

“Knocked Up”
Starring: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann
3.5 stars out of 4


Director-Writer Judd Apatow is now on the short list of comedic genius’s working today in Hollywood. Apatow’s debut film “The 40 year old Virgin” provided audiences last summer with many laughs, while the film also received great reviews for its originality and substance. This time around Apatow centers his film on a one night stand gone completely wrong, the effect is a stoner and a career driven women coming together to make it work, and figuring out things about themselves in this brilliant comedy that is even funnier the 2nd time around.

Seth Rogen, plays Ben Stone, a stoner who lives with 4 of his buddies who are all working on a website devoted to movie stars and there specific nude scenes in the movies they appear in. Ben is not your usual hunk, hes overweight, jobless, but sometimes charming. Katherine Heigl plays Alison Scott, who is rising in the ranks of her job on the E! Channel. When Alison is out celebrating her promotion with her older sister Debbie, she encounters Ben; they dance, drink, and wind up back at her place when Ben’s miscommunication leads him to not using a condom and conceiving his future child.

The next day Alison realizes how drunk she actually was and feels disgusted for having sex with this naked man snoring in her bed. Ben offers to take here to breakfast, where they make short conversation, and that is the last that they see each other. 8 weeks later, Alison finds herself throwing up and realizes she is pregnant with Ben’s child. The film is smart in making us appreciate and like these characters right from the start, that we immediately find that whatever happens will be hilarious.

Another key aspect of the film is how Alison accepts Ben for not his looks, but as a man trying his best to support her at times, and be interested in all the pre-baby shopping/activities. Its fun to see Alison taking a liking into this comedic genius played by Seth Rogen, who is ultimately climbing the ladder with every role, he plays. Rogen and his buddies make the film; they are up to date on all pop culture, which is key in making fun of each other, among other things. Also the film is very up to date with the modern world, “Spiderman 3” is mentioned 3 times, also Alison sister insists on her kids goggling everything. While the film will draw heavy comparisons to “The 40 year old Virgin” for its disgusting jokes, crude humor, and foul language, I must say that both films are huge successes when its comes to Apatow’s talent for comedy and relationships.

Paul Rudd, who plays Debbie’s wife Pete, is also very funny; he plays the sarcastic bored husband to a tee. Rudd is a hidden gem among working actors, he recently said in an Entertainment Weekly article that he likes to be under the radar, and not that popular, Rudd has appeared in such films like “Clueless”, “Anchorman”, and “The 40 year old Virgin.” It’s only appropriate that I dedicate a whole paragraph to this man, because he and his wife Debbie, played by Leslie Mann propel this comedy further along with the rest of the cast. It’s amazing how charming and downright hilarious this film allows itself to be. Some of the humor is hard to recognize, because the script talks about other movies and people that some people may not pick up on, but Apatow is clearly in the know of what makes audiences laugh for 2 hrs and 15 minutes.

Apatow also balances the film to actually make it good, other than just funny and amusing, Heigl brings freshness to young female actors, while the rest of Apatow’s cast is just running throw the motions in making this film great. I cant say enough about the chemistry of the cast, and the classic dialogue, trips to Vegas, sex scenes, and busting a man at a fantasy baseball draft have never been funnier. Kudos to Apatow, keep up the good work.




Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Russell's performance propels "Waitress"

"Waitress"
Starring: Keri Russell, Nathan Fillon, Jeremy Sisto
3 stars out of 4

Any restaurant movie usually uses the jokes and crude mannerisms of the servers and kitchen staff to amuse the audience. "Waitress", is in a whole other league. This is a small film, coming from director Adrienne Shelly, who died before her fine film got released.

Most of the film takes place in Joe's Pie Diner, a small little miracle of a place that boasts a fine pie menu, and an even pie maker. Keri Russell plays Jenna, a depressed 30 something who escapes her daily miseries by dreaming of new and creative pies to make, these scenes are always refreshing. Russell is an absolute wonder in this tiny film, her husband Earl played by the sometimes underated Jeremy Sisto is controlling and unaware of Jenna's depression, and need to run away to escape her un-satisfying life.

Jenna soon realizes she is pregnant, "It must have been that one night Earl got me drunk", she says. She is un-easy about her demanding boss Kal finding out, that only her close friends know. Her friends Dawn and Betty have there own male problems themselves. Betty is cheating on her husband, and Betty is dating a man that makes up poems for her on the spot, there relationship stemmed from a 5 minute date.

Jenna's prenancy is un-wanted, but she tells her new doctor she will keep it. The charming Nathon Fillon plays Dr.Pomatter, new in town, Pommatter takes an immediate liking in Jenna. They began an affair which leads to weekly checkups, and sneaking around, these scenes are played out comically, rather than dramatically, which helps the story. I cant forget to mention Andy Griffiths role as diner owner Joe, a fiesty old-timer who wants his meals prepared to perfection. He also gives comedic insight into Jenna's overstuffed life. Both characters are important to eachother, leading to a surprise later in the film.

"Waitress" worked for me in several cases, the acting by Keri Russell is phenominal, much of the dialogue and situations are humorous on a certain respectable and southern level, also the film is unique with its basic plot, and charming characters. While I had a hard time loving the film, I respected it for its originality and charm. Its really a solid film that will grow from word of mouth, this a was little suprise I didn't see coming. Keri Russell's role is proff that this girl can act, if this movie came out later in the year, I feel her performance could be nomination worthy.

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Ocean's 13 delivers on style and cleverness


“Oceans 13”
Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Al Pacino
3 stars out of 4


The whole gang is back in Steven Soderburgh’s third heist installment. This time around the gang is interested in revenge, not money. When one of there guys Rueben (Elliot Gould) is muscled out of his share on an up and coming Casino run by Willie Bank (Pacino) the boys decide they will get back at him by ruining his grand opening which will inevitably close the casino.

Oceans 11 was a solid caper film, one of the best, Oceans 12 was another thing, pretty much an inside joke between the director and the cast, the audience at times was left out on many of the jokes. Soderburgh his tightened some ends up and has gotten back to the feel and style of Oceans 11. This film is fun, very entertaining, and great to look at, as the heist moves back to Vegas.

Its fun to see Al Pacino back and looking great as he plays the villain, Willie Bank is fixated on establishing great casinos and earning the prestigious 5 diamond award which honors the best casino/hotel. While Bank could have been more menacing of a villain, he is still upstaged and confused when the shit hits the fans, also we believe him as this semi-villain, I liked the performance.

While Rueben is hospitalized and glued to a bed, the gang tries to devise a way to rig all of the major table games to sabotage Bank’s grand opening. Not only that, but they are funded by there arch nemesis Terry Benedict (Garcia) who also wants them to steal diamonds from Bank’s previous 5 diamond award.

While all of this is going on, the audience is thrown back into the Vegas style and scheme, the cast is brilliant, and seeing the crew go through all of there resources to make this caper happen is absolutely genius. The writing is better this time, and the audience is rewarded. Many characters from 11, and 12 are back which makes it all the more fun. There is also a funny subplot involving David Paymers character, the 5 diamond judge who Bank is hoping will award him the prize once again, his is put through hell, as the crew make sure his experience at the casino is terrible.

Lets get to Clooney, Pitt, and Damon, all stylish as ever, proving these movies will never feel boring and dull to them, sure Soderburgh cut out a lot of the jokes, and antics of 12, but we still love this crew talking about the heist. Much of the originality of 11 is back, making the characters enjoyable. The film has a lot of twists, which I will not spoil, all I can say is that Oceans 13 surpasses the rest of the summer sequels so far, and Soderburgh has created a fine heist trilogy with excellent actors, settings, dialogue, and wit.