Q: So, hey, I saw the trailer and the poster for this movie, and it looks like it must be a real riot--a really funny dark comedy, huh?
A: Well, it's dark, and it's darkly funny at times, but don't expect too much from the comedy department. That preview that shows Phillip Seymour Hoffman getting nailed with a ball is deceptive, as is that Daniel Clowes-illustrated poster. This isn't some slapstick comedy, nor is it Ghost World. It's a lot more serious than I expected--a thoughtful exploration of human relationships with some comic elements. The alienation found in Clowes' comics, however, is certainly found here.
Q: Uh-oh, does that mean this is all depressing? It's about two siblings trying to care for their aging father, right?
A: The film takes a sober enough look at the issues associated with dealing for elderly parents to make you think. It is not at all what I'd call depressing, though my friend and I sure found watching it awkward given the preponderance of senior citizens surrounding us in the theater.
The Savages shows a lot of the steps that you have to take when planning long-term care for the elderly--steps that many movies skip over. It's not like a how-to or anything, but that the film does this while entertaining gives it a fairly unique point of view. There's a lot more going on, though.
Q: OK, I'll bite. What else is going on?
A: For one thing, the father was never a Dad of the Year candidate, and it's clear that the strained relationship doesn't magically heal when it's time for the offspring to take charge after his longtime female companion dies (and HER offspring kick him out of her place). There aren't sudden revelations and contrived bonding activities. It's messy and awkward--not sitcom awkward like we see so much on TV these days, but painful kind of awkward.
Also, I found myself focusing more on the relationship the brother and sister share with each other. As a brother of two wonderful sisters, it was tough for me to watch these two troubled siblings share such an uncomfortable presence together. They are individuals who could clearly help each other, but past baggage is a tough obstacle that keeps preventing that.
Q: And how are Hoffman and Laura Linney as the brother and sister?
A: I wouldn't call "The Savages" a great movie, but it is extremely well acted. Linney, one of my favorite actresses working today, deserves her Oscar nod for making the character so real. And there may come a day when Phillip Seymour Hoffman's mannerisms and Actorly acting start to irritate me, but I hope it never comes, and I think I'll be a far lesser person if it does.
Credit also goes to writer/director Tamara Jenkins, of course, for creating 3-dimensional, identifiable characters.
Q: Linney's Academy Award nomination aside, I haven't heard much about this. Why is it so far under the radar?
A: Hey, it's an indie movie, and by that I mean it's a true indie. It looks like an indie, it lacks sensational subject matter, it deals with emotions and feelings, and it is often ambiguous. It reminds me of the 1990s, when these types of movies seemingly came out all the time. They weren't all classics, but they were often compelling, mature works that made you think a little bit. Hopefully the nominations (Jenkins also received recognition for the screenplay) raise this one's profile.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
This Week in DVD
The King of Kong: The release that excites me most this week is the documentary about dueling Donkey Kong champions. It sounds both ridiculous and cool, but I read so many good things about this movie I figured I'd shell out the quarters to actually see this on the big screen, even though it didn't seem to require a theatrical viewing. Then, of course, it came nowhere near a big screen in my vicinity. I'll be watching it soon, though, and I hope it's as cool as I hear. The events depicted can't be any more ridiculous than those in another 2007 doc I saw recently: No End in Sight.
Groundhog Day Special Edition: This tale of a man who relives the same events over and over must be the all-time favorite movie among executives at certain studios who decide what DVDs to produce.
Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 6: I'd love to vouch for this one and say it's a rebound from the slightly less satisfying Season 5, but I'm a bum and haven't watched the compilation my friend made me yet.
JAG Season 5: I have to admit, I judge this show on how hot Catherine Bell looks on the box cover of each season set, and while she looks good on this one, well, she shares the front with 4 other scrubs (one of whom, admittedly, is the star of the series). Therefore, this is a bit of a comedown from Season 4.
The Invasion: File this one on the "Whoa, that actually was in theaters already?" shelf. Poor Nicole Kidman is getting a rep as box office poison. If she wants to maintain her star status, she'd better make a sequel to…a sequel to…a sequel to…she had to have been in a blockbuster I'm forgetting, right? Does Happy Feet count? Batman Forever?
The Comebacks: I'm under no delusions here. I KNOW this is stupid. Question is, is this Funny Ha Ha Stupid, or is it Stupid Stupid? Sports movies seem to make a good parody target. This effort might be way off the mark, though. Tell you what, if someone can guarantee me that Carl Weathers gets direct royalties from DDV rentals, I'm in.
Daddy Day Camp: I knew it. I just knew it. See, I was laughing uproariously at the brilliant modern-day comedy classic Daddy Day Care--you know, just like the rest of America--but one nagging thought kept tempering my enthusiasm: "They're only setting this up for a sequel." Hopefully they did the right thing storywise this time and killed off the Cuba Gooding character at the end.
Groundhog Day Special Edition: This tale of a man who relives the same events over and over must be the all-time favorite movie among executives at certain studios who decide what DVDs to produce.
Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 6: I'd love to vouch for this one and say it's a rebound from the slightly less satisfying Season 5, but I'm a bum and haven't watched the compilation my friend made me yet.
JAG Season 5: I have to admit, I judge this show on how hot Catherine Bell looks on the box cover of each season set, and while she looks good on this one, well, she shares the front with 4 other scrubs (one of whom, admittedly, is the star of the series). Therefore, this is a bit of a comedown from Season 4.
The Invasion: File this one on the "Whoa, that actually was in theaters already?" shelf. Poor Nicole Kidman is getting a rep as box office poison. If she wants to maintain her star status, she'd better make a sequel to…a sequel to…a sequel to…she had to have been in a blockbuster I'm forgetting, right? Does Happy Feet count? Batman Forever?
The Comebacks: I'm under no delusions here. I KNOW this is stupid. Question is, is this Funny Ha Ha Stupid, or is it Stupid Stupid? Sports movies seem to make a good parody target. This effort might be way off the mark, though. Tell you what, if someone can guarantee me that Carl Weathers gets direct royalties from DDV rentals, I'm in.
Daddy Day Camp: I knew it. I just knew it. See, I was laughing uproariously at the brilliant modern-day comedy classic Daddy Day Care--you know, just like the rest of America--but one nagging thought kept tempering my enthusiasm: "They're only setting this up for a sequel." Hopefully they did the right thing storywise this time and killed off the Cuba Gooding character at the end.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Rhetorical Pop Quiz
Q: What's the most exciting TV return coming up this week?
1) "Lost" this Thursday on ABC
2) "Flavor of Love 3" on VH-1
3) "America's Ballroom Challenge" on PBS
4) Delta Burke returns to TV in Hallmark's "Bridal Fever"
1) "Lost" this Thursday on ABC
2) "Flavor of Love 3" on VH-1
3) "America's Ballroom Challenge" on PBS
4) Delta Burke returns to TV in Hallmark's "Bridal Fever"
Monday, January 28, 2008
Why I Don't Need to See The Bucket List
Every Wednesday, my local indie movie theater of choice hosts Senior Day, where all tickets all day long are sharply discounted for our older members of society.
Ergo, there must have somehow been a whole weekend or two worth of Wednesdays all over the country.
Really, America, I was going to say "shame on you" for making that the number one movie last weekend, but why should I blame all of you? I blame the seniors. I mean, why in the world would anyway under the age of 60 pay anything approaching full price to see it?
It doesn't take a film scholar to see what's wrong with this one. In fact, it doesn't even take a viewing of the actual film. Just by watching this trailer for "The Bucket List," I can tell you some of the things that are wrong with it:
*"A Film by Rob Reiner."
--Game, set, match, but I can't do all that setup with only this as the payoff, so I'll keep going.
*Spoiler Alert:
--The preview makes all too clear the Ultimate Fate of one of the major characters. I guess it wouldn't be a huge surprise, given the title of the movie and the premise, but still, talk about taking away incentive to pay for the product.
*Faux Self-effacement:
--That premise is introduced as Morgan Freeman explains to Jack Nicholson that umpteen years ago, his professor gave an assignment to make a list of things they wanted to do before they..."Kick the bucket," Jack finishes. "Cutesy."
How many times do filmmakers need to be told? Acknowledging the basic lameness of your concept in the work itself does not make the concept any more acceptable. Come on, Meathead, you should know better.
*All-too-familiar rock songs to manipulate our mood:
--In this case, Joe Cocker's "Feelin' Alright" blares while our heroes jump out of a plane. YEAH! We feel alive! Because Nicholson booming, "THIS is living!" isn't enough.
*Might I add that here we also see Freeman "comically" yelling "I hate your guts" in sitcom fashion.
--Oh, will these two terminally ill patients make it through their list without killing each other? Hijinks ensue!
*Cheesy fake locales:
--Ladies and gents, Reiner gives you the pyramids and the Taj Mahal...or does he? No, I don't think he does.
*Sappy tone shift:
--Note the music change at 1:40, as we are told this is not just a laugh riot, but a Serious Movie. Oh, Rob, how did you miss the Oscar eligibility deadline?
*"Jack being Jack":
The clip begins with Jack quirkily sniffing a hot beverage. This is a signifier that movie audiences need not worry--Jack's not gonna try that becoming the character stuff. No, in this one, he's gonna be Jack. And if you still don't believe it. check out the classic Jackle (a Jack Nicholson cackle) at 1:59.
*Embrace of a little girl:
--You just know this indicates rampant sentimentality. Old people being cute, young people being cute...If only Reiner had worked a puppy into this trailer.
*The last shot:
--At the end, Sean Hayes tells Jack, "I'm proud of you," to which Jack responds, "Nobody cares what you think," complete with a condescending pat on the shoulder. To me, this is clearly intended as an audience "Whoo-hoo!" moment, you know, with the stuffy Hayes getting a comeuppance from our good, old buddy Jack. Problem is, based on what we see in the clip, Hayes is just doing his job, while Jack is kind of a jerk. So why does Hayes need a comeuppance (I mean, other than for being so over the top on Will & Grace all those years)? It just looks the main character is a jerk. What a way to close out your feel-good trailer.
All this makes me want to avoid "The Bucket List" at any cost, but especially the cost of a full-price movie ticket. I didn't even mention You Know Who saying, "The wheels of the bus go round and round."
If you saw the same stuff I did and still saw or are planning to see "The Bucket List," I hope your experience turns out better than I fear it will. I also hope you make the early-bird special at the buffet.
It doesn't take a film scholar to see what's wrong with this one. In fact, it doesn't even take a viewing of the actual film. Just by watching this trailer for "The Bucket List," I can tell you some of the things that are wrong with it:
*"A Film by Rob Reiner."
--Game, set, match, but I can't do all that setup with only this as the payoff, so I'll keep going.
*Spoiler Alert:
--The preview makes all too clear the Ultimate Fate of one of the major characters. I guess it wouldn't be a huge surprise, given the title of the movie and the premise, but still, talk about taking away incentive to pay for the product.
*Faux Self-effacement:
--That premise is introduced as Morgan Freeman explains to Jack Nicholson that umpteen years ago, his professor gave an assignment to make a list of things they wanted to do before they..."Kick the bucket," Jack finishes. "Cutesy."
How many times do filmmakers need to be told? Acknowledging the basic lameness of your concept in the work itself does not make the concept any more acceptable. Come on, Meathead, you should know better.
*All-too-familiar rock songs to manipulate our mood:
--In this case, Joe Cocker's "Feelin' Alright" blares while our heroes jump out of a plane. YEAH! We feel alive! Because Nicholson booming, "THIS is living!" isn't enough.
*Might I add that here we also see Freeman "comically" yelling "I hate your guts" in sitcom fashion.
--Oh, will these two terminally ill patients make it through their list without killing each other? Hijinks ensue!
*Cheesy fake locales:
--Ladies and gents, Reiner gives you the pyramids and the Taj Mahal...or does he? No, I don't think he does.
*Sappy tone shift:
--Note the music change at 1:40, as we are told this is not just a laugh riot, but a Serious Movie. Oh, Rob, how did you miss the Oscar eligibility deadline?
*"Jack being Jack":
The clip begins with Jack quirkily sniffing a hot beverage. This is a signifier that movie audiences need not worry--Jack's not gonna try that becoming the character stuff. No, in this one, he's gonna be Jack. And if you still don't believe it. check out the classic Jackle (a Jack Nicholson cackle) at 1:59.
*Embrace of a little girl:
--You just know this indicates rampant sentimentality. Old people being cute, young people being cute...If only Reiner had worked a puppy into this trailer.
*The last shot:
--At the end, Sean Hayes tells Jack, "I'm proud of you," to which Jack responds, "Nobody cares what you think," complete with a condescending pat on the shoulder. To me, this is clearly intended as an audience "Whoo-hoo!" moment, you know, with the stuffy Hayes getting a comeuppance from our good, old buddy Jack. Problem is, based on what we see in the clip, Hayes is just doing his job, while Jack is kind of a jerk. So why does Hayes need a comeuppance (I mean, other than for being so over the top on Will & Grace all those years)? It just looks the main character is a jerk. What a way to close out your feel-good trailer.
All this makes me want to avoid "The Bucket List" at any cost, but especially the cost of a full-price movie ticket. I didn't even mention You Know Who saying, "The wheels of the bus go round and round."
If you saw the same stuff I did and still saw or are planning to see "The Bucket List," I hope your experience turns out better than I fear it will. I also hope you make the early-bird special at the buffet.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Cultureshark Remembers Allan Melvin
I'm not trying to turn this into a contest, but of all the recent celebrity deaths, the one that saddened me the most was the passing of Allan Melvin a few weeks ago. Sure, he was 84 and had a great run, but, darn it, he was a great character actor and a warm, friendly presence on my TV set both in my formative and formed years.
In many circles, the news of Melvin's death prompted someone to rush to assert that they DIDN'T remember him as Sam the Butcher from "The Brady Bunch." Hey, I like burnishing my old-guy credentials as much as the next (actually old) old guy, but I have to admit I grew up on a steady diet of Melvin's Sam the Butcher. I also appreciated his Magilla Gorilla and was aware of him on "Archie Bunker's Place," but it wasn't till later I discovered him as Corporal Henshaw on "Sgt. Bilko" and as a recurring visitor to "The Dick Van Dyke Show." After all, I was approximately -20 and -14, respectively, when those classic sitcoms debuted.
Melvin was great on both of those, and as I've grown older, I've realized those are two of the best shows of all time, while "The Brady Bunch" is--well, let's just say that I still enjoy the show, but for different reasons. Still, there's nothing wrong with Sam the Butcher. The only problem is, this great character's image has been corrupted by years of cheap reflex jokes about Sam giving Alice his meat. You'll notice I avoided this pun when I used the word "diet" in the previous paragraph. I think it's time to quit making the snide Sam the Butcher comments.
Look at the facts. As much as people love to put a postmodern spin on the relationship and turn Sam and Alice into some kind of extramarital sexfest--an even bluer-collar Howard and Marion Cunningham, if you will--there just wasn't much going on there. Alice seemingly spent every other episode complaining that Sam WASN'T romantically inclined toward her. The man brought flowers and candy now and again, and Alice was on his short list when he needed a companion for the Meatcutter's Ball, but this was a man more interested in his craft--and in his bowling team--than in some kind of middle-aged hanky panky.
And, folks, there's nothing wrong with that. Sam was a great guy. He was old but not too old, wise but not a know-it-all, and he was the kind of accessible grownup that would make a great pal for a kid who needed one. He certainly was willing to assist those Brady kids when they needed help. If he was a little careless about safety precautions for the door to his frozen meat locker, well, hey, nobody's perfect.
The point is, sometimes a butcher is just a butcher. Keep the Greg-Marcia or Greg-Carol subtext going, but let's hide the "hide the salami" jokes for a while, OK? Leave me with my innocent memories of a classic TV supporting character--one who showed up just often enough to be linked with the show but not enough to upstage the regulars. Sam the Butcher was pleasant and likable all the way, a guy who would never put his thumb on the scale (though he might have a corny joke about doing so), and I'd like to think part of that is a natural goodness in Allan Melvin.
Paramount released a fantastic "Best of" DVD set of "Bilko" episodes a few years back. Corporal Henshaw wasn't given the sharp lines and wacky situations like Phil Silvers and, say, Doberman, were, but as one of Bilko's go-to sidekicks, the character was a crucial anchor. It was great to see Melvin participate in that DVD set. He provided an audio commentary and episode-specific introductions, and though he didn't provide a wealth of detail, his enthusiasm for that time in his life was infectious. As he recalled that time in his life--50 years ago and in the earlier days of an accomplished career--Allen Melvin sounded genuine and genuinely likable. It's sad to lose someone like that under any circumstances, but his legacy lives on in hours and hours of memorable television.
In many circles, the news of Melvin's death prompted someone to rush to assert that they DIDN'T remember him as Sam the Butcher from "The Brady Bunch." Hey, I like burnishing my old-guy credentials as much as the next (actually old) old guy, but I have to admit I grew up on a steady diet of Melvin's Sam the Butcher. I also appreciated his Magilla Gorilla and was aware of him on "Archie Bunker's Place," but it wasn't till later I discovered him as Corporal Henshaw on "Sgt. Bilko" and as a recurring visitor to "The Dick Van Dyke Show." After all, I was approximately -20 and -14, respectively, when those classic sitcoms debuted.
Melvin was great on both of those, and as I've grown older, I've realized those are two of the best shows of all time, while "The Brady Bunch" is--well, let's just say that I still enjoy the show, but for different reasons. Still, there's nothing wrong with Sam the Butcher. The only problem is, this great character's image has been corrupted by years of cheap reflex jokes about Sam giving Alice his meat. You'll notice I avoided this pun when I used the word "diet" in the previous paragraph. I think it's time to quit making the snide Sam the Butcher comments.
Look at the facts. As much as people love to put a postmodern spin on the relationship and turn Sam and Alice into some kind of extramarital sexfest--an even bluer-collar Howard and Marion Cunningham, if you will--there just wasn't much going on there. Alice seemingly spent every other episode complaining that Sam WASN'T romantically inclined toward her. The man brought flowers and candy now and again, and Alice was on his short list when he needed a companion for the Meatcutter's Ball, but this was a man more interested in his craft--and in his bowling team--than in some kind of middle-aged hanky panky.
And, folks, there's nothing wrong with that. Sam was a great guy. He was old but not too old, wise but not a know-it-all, and he was the kind of accessible grownup that would make a great pal for a kid who needed one. He certainly was willing to assist those Brady kids when they needed help. If he was a little careless about safety precautions for the door to his frozen meat locker, well, hey, nobody's perfect.
The point is, sometimes a butcher is just a butcher. Keep the Greg-Marcia or Greg-Carol subtext going, but let's hide the "hide the salami" jokes for a while, OK? Leave me with my innocent memories of a classic TV supporting character--one who showed up just often enough to be linked with the show but not enough to upstage the regulars. Sam the Butcher was pleasant and likable all the way, a guy who would never put his thumb on the scale (though he might have a corny joke about doing so), and I'd like to think part of that is a natural goodness in Allan Melvin.
Paramount released a fantastic "Best of" DVD set of "Bilko" episodes a few years back. Corporal Henshaw wasn't given the sharp lines and wacky situations like Phil Silvers and, say, Doberman, were, but as one of Bilko's go-to sidekicks, the character was a crucial anchor. It was great to see Melvin participate in that DVD set. He provided an audio commentary and episode-specific introductions, and though he didn't provide a wealth of detail, his enthusiasm for that time in his life was infectious. As he recalled that time in his life--50 years ago and in the earlier days of an accomplished career--Allen Melvin sounded genuine and genuinely likable. It's sad to lose someone like that under any circumstances, but his legacy lives on in hours and hours of memorable television.
This Week in DVD
I moaned and griped last week about the sorry slate of new DVDs, but this time I'm in a good mood. Thank goodness for television on DVD. This week we have the third season of one of my favorite shows of all time, The Odd Couple. One of the show's best-loved episodes, the one where they appear on Password, is on this set, as are appearances by Howard Cosell and Monty Hall.
Unfortunately, that ever-present scourge of the classic TV fan, music licensing, affects this season even more than it did previous ones. Loyal O.C. fans (I say it's time to take those initials back from Adam Brody and Mischa Barton) have compiled a list of episodes and scenes that are tarnished because Paramount wasn't able or (more likely) didn't bother to clear a song. In this case, we can still be thankful that most of the episodes are intact. However, a lot of still-to-be-released episodes rely heavily on music (can you say Paul Williams?), and fans are quite nervous about how they'll be edited.
But at least 3 seasons are out, the fourth has been announced, and we can presumably expect all 5 to be available eventually. The music issue bites, and I wonder what happened to the extras we got in the first season box, but this classic is on DVD and mostly intact.
A real treat this week is the sixth season of Make Room for Daddy. You see, the fifth season was released in butchered syndication prints, but S'more took over the show, put some effort into producing a worthy package with extras, and if this one sells, more could be on the way (we don't have time to get into why the DVDs started with series 5). It's heartening to see there are some companies out there really working to get older shows out there.
I am not nearly as familiar with Hawaii Five-O or Banacek, but the third and second seasons, respectively, of those series also hit shelves (at least virtual shelves at online retailers, as chain stores don't bother with old shows much anymore). And a pleasant surprise for Abe Vigoda fans: Sony releases the second season of the long-thought-abandoned "Barney Miller." For some reason, that show's profile fell off the face of the earth in recent years, but it has a dedicate fanbase--even those who don't worship Abe Vigoda--which should snap this set up so that more arrives soon.
As for movies on DVD, well, why spoil my good mood by whining about Saw IV or Sydney White or The Game Plan? I don't think I'll like them very much, but they each have their fans, and maybe THEY don't go for THE ODD COUPLE. So I'll just think of the good stuff that came out this past week and not worry about anything else.
Unfortunately, that ever-present scourge of the classic TV fan, music licensing, affects this season even more than it did previous ones. Loyal O.C. fans (I say it's time to take those initials back from Adam Brody and Mischa Barton) have compiled a list of episodes and scenes that are tarnished because Paramount wasn't able or (more likely) didn't bother to clear a song. In this case, we can still be thankful that most of the episodes are intact. However, a lot of still-to-be-released episodes rely heavily on music (can you say Paul Williams?), and fans are quite nervous about how they'll be edited.
But at least 3 seasons are out, the fourth has been announced, and we can presumably expect all 5 to be available eventually. The music issue bites, and I wonder what happened to the extras we got in the first season box, but this classic is on DVD and mostly intact.
A real treat this week is the sixth season of Make Room for Daddy. You see, the fifth season was released in butchered syndication prints, but S'more took over the show, put some effort into producing a worthy package with extras, and if this one sells, more could be on the way (we don't have time to get into why the DVDs started with series 5). It's heartening to see there are some companies out there really working to get older shows out there.
I am not nearly as familiar with Hawaii Five-O or Banacek, but the third and second seasons, respectively, of those series also hit shelves (at least virtual shelves at online retailers, as chain stores don't bother with old shows much anymore). And a pleasant surprise for Abe Vigoda fans: Sony releases the second season of the long-thought-abandoned "Barney Miller." For some reason, that show's profile fell off the face of the earth in recent years, but it has a dedicate fanbase--even those who don't worship Abe Vigoda--which should snap this set up so that more arrives soon.
As for movies on DVD, well, why spoil my good mood by whining about Saw IV or Sydney White or The Game Plan? I don't think I'll like them very much, but they each have their fans, and maybe THEY don't go for THE ODD COUPLE. So I'll just think of the good stuff that came out this past week and not worry about anything else.
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