Hey folks Harry here to present Robogeek's look at the four main studio releases this weekend. I'm off to see THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR first thing this morning so I can write it on up, as I never could schedule an advance sneak to it, but... For now, let Robo be your guide. To refresh your memory on what I thought of the 3 I have seen. IRON GIANT, I thought was a perfect wonderful classic movie. THE SIXTH SENSE is a great intellectual atmospheric paranormal film with some stunning performances. MYSTERY MEN, while not perfect and having some flaws is still a very entertaining film. ANd here's Robo to fill it on out...
ROBOGEEK'S WEEKEND PREVIEW! REVIEWS OF "THE IRON GIANT," "MYSTERY MEN," "THE SIXTH SENSE" AND "THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR"
Greetings, citizens! It's nice to be read by you! Sorry I've been away, but between my work with the Banzai Institute, the BPRD, NERV, and the Allmighty Corps, well... let's just say ol' Robo's been kinda busy whipping evil's ass.
Anyway, I figured I owe you kind folks a healthy batch of Robo-reviews, and thought this weekend in particular provided a unique opportunity. I simply can't remember a weekend that has seen such a density of new major releases, and figured some of you might be scratching your heads, faced with the dilemma of how to tackle this mind-numbing array of offerings.
Well, your prayers have been answered! I'm here to help. Allow me to briskly walk you through the four major new releases of the weekend...
THE IRON GIANT
There are perfect movies.
Flawless gems that emerge as timeless classics. These are the movies that the true film geek lives for. They are the objects of our neverending quest. Every time we take our seats in a theater, we quietly hope that we might discover one of these rare treasures, right then and there.
Films like "Casablanca," "Citizen Kane," "Lawrence of Arabia." Films that simply could not be improved upon. Works of unbridled genius, brilliant craftsmanship, and uncompromising vision. Movies that are metaphysically impossible to overrate.
"The Iron Giant" is one of these movies.
In a nutshell, this film is the perfect amalgam of "E.T" and "Superman" -- except that it is superior to both, largely due to the fact that it possesses that rare magic I have only seen wielded in contemporary animation by Hayao Miyazaki. In fact, it is the only American animated feature I've ever seen that can hold its own with the works of Miyazaki; specifically, it struck many of the same chords with me as "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Kiki's Delivery Service." (If you've never seen these, you owe it to yourself to rent them.)
In other words, it is the best American animated feature film in over a generation -- maybe ever. And hands-down, it is the best film of the year thus far, and the first "must see" film of the year. You not only owe it to yourself to see this film, you owe it to your friends and family to introduce them to it. It is staggeringly brilliant -- and I simply don't think it's possible that five better films will be released this year (hint-hint, Academy members).
In fact, I had to see it twice this past week to make sure I wasn't dreaming. But, actually, the film hit me even harder upon my second viewing of it. One of the things that struck me about it, along with the other two major animated films of this year ("Tarzan" and the October release of Miyazaki's "Princess Mononoke"), was the strong anti-violence, pro-tolerance message. It is a highly moral, emotionally resonant, dramatically rich film -- the kind of film Lucas' insufferable "Phantom Menace" should have been. The characters in "Iron Giant" are all fully realized and compelling; young Hogarth Hughes is as _real_ a kid as I've ever seen portrayed on film. And the "Iron Giant" himself, well... you just have to see for yourself.
One of the elements of the film that has not received the credit or attention I think it deserves is Tim McCanlies' perfect script. McCanlies is an absolutely wonderful writer (and director -- rent his "Dancer, TX Pop. 81"), and I can't wait to see what he does next. I'm dying to read his new script, "The Night We Liberated Paris," which is a period comedy about an Allied bomb disposal squad. Sight unseen, I can tell you it deserves to get made.
Same goes, of course, for anything director Brad Bird wants to do next -- especially if it's "Ray Gunn." From his earlier work on "Family Dog" and "The Simpsons," it is a joy to see this artist emerge in full bloom. Literally, it's as if we've found an American Miyazaki. To most of you, that may not mean anything. To me, it is the highest compliment I could possibly pay an animator.
(Oh, and kudos to composer Michael Kamen for using the opening three notes of the Fleisher Studios "Superman" theme at just the perfect moment. That killed me.)
I'd write more, but I've got three more films to talk about. But basically, all the glowing reviews you've been reading on this site are _not_ on crack. "The Iron Giant" should absolutely be your top priority this weekend. GO SEE IT.
(Parents: It's rated PG, but I think it's definitely appropriate for kids eight and up. There's one "dammit" and one "hell," but that's the extent of the language.)
THE SIXTH SENSE
To be honest, I had little interest in this film until a few weeks ago. Then it finally crept on my radar -- and over the last two weeks, it has blipped brighter and brighter.
While not a perfect film, it is stunningly brilliant. It won't be obvious to go from the get-go, but let it unfold, and it'll suck you in -- leaving you amazed and moved buy its conclusion. It is absolutely spellbinding cinema.
This is also one of those films that is best served by you knowing next to nothing about. Kinda like that other little horror film that has become an unbridled box office phenomenon. But you know what? If you haven't seen "Blair Witch" yet (and especially if you _have_), I personally think you are much better off seeing this film, which is far superior, and a lot more rewarding. (And I think it goes without saying that it is at least a hundred times better than "The Haunting.")
For one thing, we get to see Bruce Willis, actor -- as opposed to Bruce Willis, movie star. And that's a good thing, because Willis is quite a talent. It's a real treat seeing him at work with such strong material.
But the real reason to see this film is the mesmerizing performance by young Haley Joel Osment. It's amazing. It is one of the best performances I've seen this year, and ranks at the level of work seen last year in "The Butcher Boy" and "The Mighty" (two of my favorites from 1998, both worth renting). Osment is so good its scary.
That can be said for much of the film, particularly its inspired script and elegant execution by director M. Night Shyamalan. To be honest, that was not a name that ever existed on the tip of my tongue until mere hours ago. But now it's one I won't forget. Olivia Williams and Toni Collette are also both wonderful here.
This is one of those films whose very existence amazes me. The simple fact that this movie even got made is nothing short of a small miracle.
Like me, you may be put off by the fact that it is a "horror movie" or "supernatural thriller" or whatever label you might perceive it as having. Well, don't let that stop you. It's a brilliant film. That's all you need to know. Don't pass up the opportunity to see something truly special.
(Parents: If this movie won't give your kids nightmares, I don't know what will. It's rated PG-13 because it'll scare the crap out of you.)
MYSTERY MEN
When you were a kid, did you ever dream of being a superhero?
Did you and your friends have conversations about what super power you would most like to have? Did you argue over which superhero would win in a contest between another? Did you imagine that superheroes might really exist, or could exist? If you read DC Comics, maybe you even rationalized that you lived on Earth-Prime, but that there were parallel universes where the events chronicled in comic books were _real_.
Well, then this movie is for you.
I've had the good fortune to follow this movie along since the production phase, which astute readers will recall. Every step of the way, I've had my fingers crossed while repeated a simple wishful mantra to myself in my head: "Don't screw it up. Don't screw it up."
Well, they didn't.
"Mystery Men" is absolutely wonderful. It isn't perfect, it isn't genius -- but it's damn funny and really, really cool. I seriously doubt that you'll find a better cast assembled on film this year, and that alone is worth going to see this film. Besides, it's more fun than you can shake a stick at.
Similar to "Iron Giant," one of the things that impressed me most about "Mystery Men" is its moral center, its heart and sincerity -- and its anti-gun ("guns aren't cool -- they're for wusses") and pro-tolerance message. And while the Spleen offers his fair share of flatulence humor, overall this is a very smart and witty film -- one that dares to make jokes maybe only 10% of the audience will get. I like that. I _appreciate_ that. It's also just such a sweet, fun, good-natured, and likable film, that has almost nothing offensive in it -- I don't remember any bad language, there's definitely no sex or nudity, and it's not really violent (although there is a lot of cool, fun action).
And not in a million years would I have imagined that either this or "Iron Giant" were the product of a first-time feature director (Kinka Usher). Across the board, this is solid filmmaking with very few missteps. At the center of it all is a mind-numbingly cool (yes, I know I'm using that word a lot; see this movie -- you'll understand) cast that is sheer bliss to behold. Each and every one is a delight, but the stand-out for me was William H. Macy. I must have a Shoveler action figure! He is absolutely brilliant. As are Garofalo, Stiller, and the rest. Kudos to everyone involved.
I can't tell you how _refreshing_ this film was in the context of all the so-called "comedies" that have been dumped our way like so much garbage. I generally hate comedies because, well... they usually aren't funny. This film is. It made me happy. And I even got all misty a couple of times, thanks to Macy -- and to Kel Mitchell's big moment (he's great as Invisible Boy).
This is the most fun movie I've seen in quite a while. Oh, and by the way -- it looks really, really great, and has some wonderful effects. I'll talk about them in a separate article (with some pictures) that'll be posted later today, because there's some work that I just think has a coolness factor that deserves some extra attention. A tip of the hat to POP for their awesome 3D matte work in particular, and to Rhythm & Hues for the psycho-fraculator effect. (More on these later!)
(Parents: It's rated PG-13, but I'd have probably given it a PG.)
THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR
You know, I just can't help paraphrasing Dr. Evil by dubbing this film "the Diet Coke of James Bond" -- although it'd be more appropriate to call it the "Pepsi One," given one ridiculously self-conscious product placement that occurs in the film. Not that Pepsi One is necessarily bad, mind you.
See, I liked this movie, but by its end it was kinda getting on my nerves. It's sort of like that girl you sat next to in school who was really, really beautiful -- but she thought (and acted) like she was more beautiful than she actually was. Kinda ruins it.
Here's an example. One of the things I _so_ appreciated about the film was that it shows that people over 40 can be incredibly sexy. I, for one, am sick and tired of only seeing teenaged or twentysomethings (especially women) allowed to be sexy on film. And I gotta tell ya, Brosnan and Russo look fantastic in this film, and around the middle of it they get a full-blown, knock-yourself-out sex scene. (I don't consider this a spoiler; I mean, think about it.) It's great! Wow! Good for them!
However, for the next half hour, or so -- for no apparent reason -- Rene Russo spends most of the time topless. Just hanging around. Pretty much naked.
Huh?
This, to me, ruined it. I mean, the film had already made the point -- these people are sexy and gorgeous. Now it was just rubbing out face in it, and it became self-conscious, and even embarrassing. And that's a pretty good metaphor for the whole movie.
Sure, it's handsomely shot, and astutely directed. The performances are solid and charming (I really liked Denis Leary, by the way). It's stylish and fashionable. But it ultimately becomes just a little too self-conscious, and overplays its hand.
The film's climax is sort of like getting hit in head with a frying pan that reads "aren't we oh-so-clever!" Yeah, well, whatever. It just becomes too precious, too cute -- and after Rene Russo has sex with Pierce Brosnan, she inexplicably loses IQ points, which also really annoyed me. The first part of the film is an evenly matched chess game (though, thankfully, the filmmakers had the sense not to re-stage the chess scene from the original) -- and that's wonderfully engaging and entertaining. But then it turns all gooey and a little stupid.
This is not a bad film. In fact, it's a pretty good film --and about a kazillion times better than that mountain of excrement called "Entrapment." (By the way, what is the deal with two James Bonds turning high-class thieves this summer?) But compared to the other films in the offering this weekend, I'd rank this as your lowest priority -- unless you're just obsessed with the chance to see a naked Rene Russo or Pierce Brosnan.
(Parents: It's rated R for lots of nudity, sex, and some language.)
So have fun this weekend -- and check back for that feature story on the effects in "Mystery Men."
- robogeek@aint-it-cool-news.com
P.S.: If you aren't watching "GvsE" Sunday nights at 8pm (7pm CST) on USA, you're missing the coolest show on television.
