Friday movie roundup – Oct. 3
If you were a movie critic this week, you’d be as busy as the proverbial one-legged man in the proverbial butt-kicking contest. And when I say “proverbial,” I really mean it’s mentioned in the book of Proverbs. Look it up!
Let’s run through today’s reviews alphabetically:
“An American Carol,” a right-wing spoof about a Michael Moore-ish figure being taught patriotism, is one of Hollywood’s Shameful Secrets®. I intend to review it this weekend.
“Appaloosa” (review at Cinematical) is an entertaining Western starring Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen that gets just a little soggy near the end. Two-thirds of it is vastly enjoyable, though.
“Beverly Hills Chihuahua” (review at Cinematical) belies its horrific trailer and is actually fairly charming and innocuous. I even laughed a few times!
“Blindness,” in which everyone except Julianne Moore mysteriously goes blind, will have to wait. I was prevented from seeing it not by blindness but by scheduling problems. Look for a review this weekend-ish.
“Flash of Genius”: Meh. True story. A guy invents something, then the Ford Motor Company steals it, then he fights them. Meh.
“How to Lose Friends & Alienate People” (review at Film.com) also gets a “meh,” which is disappointing, because I do love the star, Simon Pegg. He’s miscast, though, as an oblivious jerk.
“Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” about two teenagers falling in love over the course of one magical night in New York City, is hilarious, sweet, and effortlessly real. It captures the emotions of such an evening very nicely. Michael Cera for the win!
“Religulous” shows Bill Maher interviewing people who believe in God, making fun of them, then insisting everyone should just take his word for it that God is imaginary. Thanks, Bill! Will do!
Finally, if you’re near Portland this evening and have a radio within earshot, tune that radio to 101.1 KUFO at around 7:00 to hear me on the Cort & Fatboy show discussing some of these new releases. I believe listening online is also a possible thing that can be done. Usually my pal Mike Russell does the movie thing for C&F, but he’s out of town or sick or in rehab or something, so I’m filling in. Fun times for everyone! Except possibly Mike!
Sign up for the “In the Dark” e-zine here.
Listen to this week’s podcast version here.
Subscribe to the podcast’s feed with this URL.
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:10 am
Since I’m too lazy to read the actual review, is “Appaloosa” a remake of “The Appaloosa” which starred Marlon Brando and John Saxon? Tom Wiener put that film on his “10 films for insomniacs” list of “truly boring, worthless films”.
Just curious….
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Ford did not steal anything from Bob Kearns; a jury found that there was patent infringement, but that it was not willful. For a more true-to-life version of events than Hollywood is presenting, you might want to take a look at: http://ford.digitalsnippets.com/technology/#flash-of-genius
Scott Monty
Global Digital Communications
Ford Motor Company
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Will you post to your blog when you put up the new reviews this weekend-ish? Some of us are too lazy to repeatedly check your home page, and too stupid to remember what movies we wanted to read reviews of that we haven’t yet.
October 4th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Yeah, Mr. Monty, that explanation makes me really feel sorry for poor picked-on Ford. I’m sure the Ford version of the story is totally unbiased and accurate.