Well here are a big bunch of reviews and looks at the movies on the horizon. The thing that really really gets me about this is the films that I have seen that the scooper has seen... well we are split. I dearly love A SIMPLE PLAN, but I do not like 200 CIGARETTES, just like she doesn't. So what does this mean? Same thing as any other review you may read. It's all in who the individual is. If the reviewer is like you, then you can tell where they are coming from. Hopefully we'll see more reviews on some of these films.
I have been really busy of late seeing just about every movie coming out this Fall/Winter. Most of them were severe dissapointments. I will start out with one that is not coming out until 1999.
"The Mod Squad" - w/spoilers!
"johns" director Scott Silver turns in a by the numbers 90's remake of a campy television classic. A little more than a couple of weeks ago I attended an MGM test screening of the new MOD SQUAD. While watching the film, I had the impression that music video directors Hype Williams or Paul Hunter might have had a hand in making the film because it looks like every one of their rap or r&b videos. To my surprise, an indie director was behind the wheel. This is a surprise because the film really played out more like a music video than a film. This I suppose is what they are actually going after. The audience was made up of primarily high school students and if you look at MGM's website, the supposed one-sheets for the film look like an ad right out of Details magazine.
Let's get down to the meat and potatoes. The film is really nothing more than a MTV Cliff Notes version of the original television series. The troublesome three are busted for various crimes and are assigned by Dennis Farina to be a part of an undercover squad to bust a notorious drug dealer. The catch of the film is that they are in the 90's but have a 70's sensibility about how they opperate and especially how they dress. Not entirely original but what else can you really do with the show. The original Aaron Spelling produced show played out like a bizarre after-school special with a lesson to be learned at the end of each episode. It had to have been influential to "21 Jump Street" for many of the episodes, the squad were put in school to catch the bad influence.
The new version's main flaw is that it tries to be too many things at once. It want's to have a more dangerous 90's premise but wants to have the intimacy and episodic small screen style as well. You have scenes in clubs with blazing techno music, an actual plus; then you have a showdown at a car wash in which the 70's "car wash" song plays and you have the feeling you are in the Levis "On and On" commercial. Too much at times.
Someone should actually call the acting police on Claire Danes already. You know I love "My-So-Called-Life" as much as the next guy, but how much longer can she deliver variations on that performance throughout her career? Having her deliver curse words (a new addition to the big-screen version) is forced and embarrasing. Her and Katie Holmes should get together and teach other young actresses how to re-inforce a facial twich or mannerism over and over and have a successful career. Claire Danes is much too young to handle this tough girl performance or the "sexy" persona and wardrobe they give her. The men fair much better in the film. Giovanni Ribisi is wild and crazy like he is in most roles. He is very twitchy for lack of a better word. His character is actually interesting and funny unlike the other two. Omar Epps is Linc and does not have an afro like everyone has been saying. He is cool. That is about it. He doesn't do much of anything except look upset when Giovanni keeps crashing his car. See, isn't that funny? That wacky Giovanni keeps messing up Linc's car after he tells him not to. Ha ha ha.
Have I forgot about the plot. Oh wait, there isn't one. The test pass said that the team are the "epitome of cool." This is what the movie is trying to be. On a certain level it succeeds. It is not entirely boring like most films of late. The problem is that it is completely disposable entertainment. I am having trouble remembering anything new or interesting in the movie. Oh sure, there is an interesting opening credit sequence and it is interesting to see what Blackstreet's "No Diggity" video would look like on the big screen but that is about it. All I can remember is that you have the standard corrupt police officers,no Peggy Lipton or Clarence Williams III cameos, the Josh Brolin red herring character and the super original and not played out ending of one of the good guys playing a tape of the bad guy giving up all of the goods. Oh, Michael Lerner is in the film and gives a truely creepy performance as a baddy. I have missed this kind of performance from him since "Barton Fink." I was talking to my friend after the movie and was trying to figure out what I would have done to make the MOD SQUAD better. In trying to figure out the answer to my querry we came up with the theory that maybe they achieved their goal of having a completely cheesy and disposable piece of pop nostalgia. Because you know that is what the original show is anyway. It's as if they studio and filmmakers wanted to let the mass know that the Mod Squad existed, or more likely raise awareness for the reissue of videos or re-runs on TV Land. Oh the answer to how I would have made "The Mod Squad" better. Not to make it at all.
"Star Trek: Insurrection" - w/ spoilers!!!
This is one of the worst Star Trek pictures yet. I'm sure many of you have read other reviews of the movie. The accusation of some that many who were at the first test screening wanted to hate it is simply not the case. It sounds like a bad case of Star Trek fanboys protecting their declining empire. Declining is right, the franchise is in deep trouble. DS9 is off the air after this season, nobody even cares about Voyager and the new picture is terrible when "The Phantom Menace" is right around the corner. Many have said that the movie is okay. Truth be told, they are afraid to admit what is really the case. This movie is flat out bad. The awful humor, bad new villains (a cross between "Dune" and "Hellraiser") and the god awful actress playing Picard's new love interest. She in fact went to the Claire Danes school of one-note acting (see above). The movie is about a fountain of youth and a bunch of colonists and oh forget it. Rick Berman and Michael Piller have no idea how to make a successful big screen Trek adventure. I have had the oppurtunity to see all of the first screenings of the Next Generation Trek films. I had the same feeling I had at the end of Generations (when Kirk was shot and not pumbled by falling debris) that it was as bad as it could possibly get and the whole "what the hell were they thinking?" questions came up. Someone should really get rid of Berman and Piller as soon as possible! Do we need more movies like Generations and this. Did they deliberately make a bad movie to continue the odd movie curse? Star Trek: First Contact was no masterpiece but it is a classic compared to this new one. The only scenes of worth are ones that exist outside of the lame plot and deal with the crew of the Enterprise. The effects that were finished were obviously computerized and not as good as the one's in the last movie. Note to Berman and Piller: Stop making big screen episodes and perhaps consider an in-depth cross movie dramatic story that would deal with all facets of the Next Generation universe. Where is Q, Ro, or god forbid Wesley even? They would surely make for better film fodder than the "guy who killed Amadeus!"
"A Bugs Life"
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A Bugs Life 1
It really does seem like Pixar can do no wrong. I will not ruin any of it for you, suffice to say that if "The Phantom Menace" trailer is in front of it (which it probably will be because they are both in scope and will draw both kids and adults), it will be one of the best movie going experiences this year much like "Saving Private Ryan" and "Out of Sight."
"200 Cigarettes"
A utterly pointless and terrible movie that has visible proof that Ben Affleck and Courtney Love and two of the most overrated "stars" today. This MTV production (need I say more) is one of those "ensemble cast must meet for a party" type movies. Everyone except Martha "where have you been" Plimpton and Goldie Hawn's daughter are terrible. If you are sick of Christina Ricci being in every movie made then you will actually contemplate suicide after seeing this movie. She gives the worst performance and accent of all time. Dave Chappelle, who is hillarious most of the time, is wasted in this movie as he is in...
"You've Got Mail"
I was really excited to see this movie because it serves as a reunion of one of my favorite movies starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. You see "Sleepless in Seattle" was very important to me because I was dealing with............Just kidding! "Joe Vs. the Volcano" is one of the most underrated movies of all time and since Tom Hanks' name in the movie is Joe, I had to go. It would be a waste of time to seriously contemplate this movie. Let's just say that it is a slight improvement over Nora Ephron's last movie: "Mixed Nuts." If anyone can ever remember how bad that movie was then they know not to get excited about this one. This movie manages to get utterly forgettable performances out of Steve Zahn, Parker Posey and last but not least the man who is picking the wrong movies: Dave Chappelle. The only saving grace in this movie would be Greg Kinnear who actually injects the movie with a little bit of fun playing a character who is a little bit full of himself. A weird screening because of no survey to fill out at the end. It was a the Mann Bruin in Westwood California and it did seem like it was to get the laughs in the right places or to find out where the funny was to assemble a new trailer to replace the awful one out now. Oh, I saw the one-sheet for the film and it is as bad as the movie is. You'll see what I mean.
"A Simple Plan" w/ minor spoilers
Why Sam why?!?!? I have read some outrageous press about this movie that leads me to believe that they have one of the best publisists in the world. All of the supposed Oscar buzz surrounding this film is pure hooey! That's right, I said it. This was another in the long line of derivative, pointless and been there done that movies. Sam Raimi lost it a long time ago in my opinion. "Army of Darkness" was a joke compared to "Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn" and "Quick and the Dead" was embarrassing. If you can believe it, Raimi attempts to make a movie without moving the camera once. It's as if you are watching a three camera sitcom setup with cuts instead of camera movement dictating the action. This is Sam trying to get serious and failing at every turn. Everyone I have read so far seems to have a huge admiration for the novel that the movie is based on. I have not read it and do not plan to after seeing the film. How much more interesting could the book be when dealing with the "found dirty money, stole it, all hell breaks loose" scenario? This locale is pure "Fargo" and Billy Bob Thorton's character is way too similar to Carl from "Sling Blade." The movie is interesting if you love or hate Bridget Fonda because she gives the worst performance of her career. What happened to the fun Bill Paxton? I'm tired of the weighed down, serious Bill. I wish he would go crazy in a movie soon. The movie was boring and predictable.
"A Civil Action" w/ minor spoilers
I liked "Searching for Bobby Fisher" so I was interested in seeing this movie. I was also excited to see John Travolta in a serious dramatic role. He is a civil lawyer who enjoys the fast life complete with expensive sports car et al. Well he gets emotionally involved in a case of illegal toxic dumpage. The problem with the movie is that it is just plain, flat downtrodden. It is unrelenting in its presentation of how low things can go when you are fighting an uphill case. William H. Macy is the only light at the end of the tunnel and Robert Duvall just brought up bad memories of "Phenomenon." However, this movie is not a propoganda film for Scientology, so that's a big plus. The performances from everyone are generally solid, the movie is just not very viewer friendly. As with above, it was a book before a movie. Steven Zallian is very talented and should stick to working with Spielberg and doctoring scripts. I think it's about time for filmmakers to start coming up with more original ideas. Everything that you have seen above for the most part is a remake, sequel, adaptation or just a big ol' bomb. I miss the term original screenplay.
Sorry I went on forever. I have had these on my mind for a while. I hope you enjoyed them. I would love to send some info your way in the future. Let me know. I tend to get lucky when it comes to test screenings in Los Angeles.
Love,
Garmonbozia
