This wasn't an incredibly deep movie, but it was one of the more entertaining 90 minutes I've seen in a theater recently. The film takes place in a post apocalyptic world where a virus has turned everyone into zombies. The protagonist, played by Jesse Eisenberg, is one of the few remaining unaffected people, and he survives by acting much like Woody Allen would if trapped in a world full of Zombies (somebody else's description but its apt). He eventually joins forces Woody Harrelson, a mildly crazy redneck who lives solely to kill as many zombies as possible (and find the last remaining Twinkie). After they hook up with a pair of grifter sisters and the whole group drives off to california because...it doesn't really matter.
The best way to describe the film (again I'm stealing this from someone else) is Midnight Run with zombies. It has a relaxed vibe and low key charm which pushes the proceedings go by in an agreeable manner. The film also features one of the best cameos I've ever seen, and I would do everything possible to avoid learning about it before going in.
Anyway, its not quite up to the level of Shaun of the Dead, but Zombieland succeeded in making laugh, and if you can't enjoy Woddy Harrelson killing zombies while wearing an alligator skin coat and Cowboy hat (yes the hat is also made out of gator skin - probably Tebow), well then I don't want to know you.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
The Invention of Lying
This review is going to sound much more negative than I intend it to be. On the other hand-who cares? I'm not exactly Mr. Sunshine to begin with, and you all know what you're going to get here. A real unvarnished look at the eternal heartbreak of the human condition. If that's too real for you, too bad. That's how I roll.
Anyway, Invention follows the very funny (I really mean that, not like late night hosts who introduce comedians they've never heard of use that description. I mean the fact that its been applied to Carlos Mencia shows they're a bunch of damn liars) Ricky Gervais, in an alternate reality where nobody in the world is capable of lying. Ricky's character gets into a bit of a jam with his finances and in a moment of inspiration he...introduces the idea of falsehoods (see I can restate titles to make it sound like I have an original thought). Being the only man in the world who can lie leads to some predictable developments - he gets lots of money, writes the greatest screenplay in the world, and invents religion before focusing his attention on wooing Jennifer Garner. The film has its fair share of funny sequences (I particularly enjoyed the bits about the film industry) but its one note premise eventually runs out of steam, and when it tries to introduce some real emotion into the third act I didn't really care that much. The film also is a bit lazy in its execution which mutes some of its comedic potential. There are at two extended montage sequences (always a shorthand for creative sloth) that I could've done without, and the film goes absolutely nuts with cameos that are not only distracting but feel like they makers were saying "This but may not be inherently funny on its own, but look there's Jason Bateman! You liked him in Arrested Development, laugh now!" I'm not your monkey, I laugh when I want to.
Like I said at the outset all that hostility makes it sound like I hated the film, which I didn't. Its moderately amusing, and doesn't overstay its welcome. Still it doesn't fully capitalize on the talent involved to rise above anything more than a mildly diverting comedy. I hope Ricky Gervais can find something better to do with his talents the next time out.
Anyway, Invention follows the very funny (I really mean that, not like late night hosts who introduce comedians they've never heard of use that description. I mean the fact that its been applied to Carlos Mencia shows they're a bunch of damn liars) Ricky Gervais, in an alternate reality where nobody in the world is capable of lying. Ricky's character gets into a bit of a jam with his finances and in a moment of inspiration he...introduces the idea of falsehoods (see I can restate titles to make it sound like I have an original thought). Being the only man in the world who can lie leads to some predictable developments - he gets lots of money, writes the greatest screenplay in the world, and invents religion before focusing his attention on wooing Jennifer Garner. The film has its fair share of funny sequences (I particularly enjoyed the bits about the film industry) but its one note premise eventually runs out of steam, and when it tries to introduce some real emotion into the third act I didn't really care that much. The film also is a bit lazy in its execution which mutes some of its comedic potential. There are at two extended montage sequences (always a shorthand for creative sloth) that I could've done without, and the film goes absolutely nuts with cameos that are not only distracting but feel like they makers were saying "This but may not be inherently funny on its own, but look there's Jason Bateman! You liked him in Arrested Development, laugh now!" I'm not your monkey, I laugh when I want to.
Like I said at the outset all that hostility makes it sound like I hated the film, which I didn't. Its moderately amusing, and doesn't overstay its welcome. Still it doesn't fully capitalize on the talent involved to rise above anything more than a mildly diverting comedy. I hope Ricky Gervais can find something better to do with his talents the next time out.
In the loop
This UK Comedy follows a particularly hapless minister of parliment as his speaking mistakes (and general cluelessnes) end up putting him in the middle of a run up to an unidentified invasion (that is obviously Iraq). The film goes back and forth between London and Washington as the situation gets increasingly insane and it becomes obvious that the truth isn't really that important when it comes to starting a war. I don't really want to get into the larger political satire because even though its funny its the least interesting part of the film. Where the film excels is in its portrayal of bureaucracy and how most of its members are myopically focused on keeping their jobs with no real regard to the consequences of their actions. It similar to The Office in the sense that the humor is derived from the basic malaise of people stuck in job's they really don't like. Of course what really helps is that the dialogue is freaking hilarious. The script exhibits some of the most creative use of profanity I've ever heard (really, to paraphrase A Christmas story, a tapestry of vulgarity is woven that is stunning in its intircateness), and rather than refer to each other by name all of the characters use increasingly insulting nicknames. The most entertaining purveyor of this by far is the character played by Peter Capaldi. He's like Sawyer from Lost crossed with Denis Leary, in that he constantly belittles and attacks every around him with increasing amounts venom. Anyway In the Loop is worth seeing for the dialogue alone, and I'll finish by leaving you with a few choice bits (warning this may be offensive to individuals who find copious amounts of profanity offensive):
"Climbing the mountain of conflict"? You sounded like a Nazi Julie Andrews!
You know they're all kids in Washington? It's like Bugsy Malone, but with real guns.
You think that's his real name? Iceman? To Mr. and Mrs. Man, a son... Ice?
Oh, great. Meeting my constituents. It's like being Simon Cowell, only without the ability to say, "Fuck off, you're mental".
I can't stand to see a woman bleed from the mouth. It reminds me of that Country & Western music which I cannot abide.
SHUT IT, Love Actually! You want me to hole-punch your face?
You're like the woman from The Omen. You've given birth to a demon, and now it's gonna kill you.
Was it you, the baby from Eraserhead?
Then it must have been you, the woman from The Crying Game.
Oh, you know me, Malc. Kid gloves... but made from real kids. Right, Butch and Gaydance, this wall story is playing badly. There's a cartoon of you in here as a walrus.
Hey, you! Ron Weasley, you do it.
Well, I don't want to be accused of micro-managing, but I cannot understand why "I Heart Huckabees" is on a list of DVDs considered suitable for armed-forces entertainment. That self-indulgent crap is not suitable for combat troops. [Ed Note: I disagree]
Its even better in context.
"Climbing the mountain of conflict"? You sounded like a Nazi Julie Andrews!
You know they're all kids in Washington? It's like Bugsy Malone, but with real guns.
You think that's his real name? Iceman? To Mr. and Mrs. Man, a son... Ice?
Oh, great. Meeting my constituents. It's like being Simon Cowell, only without the ability to say, "Fuck off, you're mental".
I can't stand to see a woman bleed from the mouth. It reminds me of that Country & Western music which I cannot abide.
SHUT IT, Love Actually! You want me to hole-punch your face?
You're like the woman from The Omen. You've given birth to a demon, and now it's gonna kill you.
Was it you, the baby from Eraserhead?
Then it must have been you, the woman from The Crying Game.
Oh, you know me, Malc. Kid gloves... but made from real kids. Right, Butch and Gaydance, this wall story is playing badly. There's a cartoon of you in here as a walrus.
Hey, you! Ron Weasley, you do it.
Well, I don't want to be accused of micro-managing, but I cannot understand why "I Heart Huckabees" is on a list of DVDs considered suitable for armed-forces entertainment. That self-indulgent crap is not suitable for combat troops. [Ed Note: I disagree]
Its even better in context.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
One Tree Hill - Believe Me I'm Lying
Alright I realize this is three one tree hill posts in a row, but I haven't had time to see anything else. That'll change this weekend...maybe.
-Nathan is so worked up by his groupie scandal that he stopped working out. Apparently there's a chance he won't be signed because of this potential paternity suit. This disconnect from the reality of the NBA never ceases to amuse me.
-They have Jaime choose three different cereals before Haley lets him have one. I counted four different logos.
-I need to become the hair gel provider for this show. Julian and the guy who plays Nathan's agent Clay must easily go through five cans a day.
-Nathan's work outs consist of bench pressing in his backyard while his agent counts. I'm sure David Falk does the same thing
-Haley buys all the copies of the national informer (apparently the enquirer wouldn't pony up) in Tree Hill once the scandal breaks. Apparently the internet doesn't exist in there. However the other seven year olds have access to newstands as they read the story to jaime in the park to taunt him. No Joke one says, "My Mom says they wouldn't put this in if it wasn't true. You're dad's screwed"
-Haley's sister still won't say why she walked out on her seemingly normal husband (other than some nonsense about her changing and he didn't). I'm pulling for him to have been murdering drifters in his spare time. Or she's just a crazy irrational chick. In this show I'm not sure which is more likely.
-Just flipped to full screen mode. Apparently One Tree Hill finally shifted to HD. I guess that's what a 1 share on Monday nights will get you
-The promo for next week shows Haley being arrested for Assault and Battery. I hope she beat up Mouth and Milly...or Jaime (that's right I made a child abuse joke)
-Wow a model cattier than Alex (named McKenna) and insults Milly and Alex. Alex retaliates by giving the model a Limbaugh sized dose of what I assume to be Oxycontin. Forcing somebody into an overdose...well played
-So Haley's sister's issue with her husband is that two years ago they decided not to impulsively move across the country because a better opportunity would open up where they were in the near future (which it did). She said she was fine with that decision then but the person she is now wouldn't have made it because she regrets not having used those two years to screw around. Since she says her husband now would still make the former decision (even though he says he's totally open to change) she asks for a divorce. Women are crazy
-Alex gets Milly to model in the fashion show to help her self esteem and get back at mean model McKenna, oooh the slutty rehabbing model/actress isn't all bad...maybe even has a heart of gold
-Wow the fashion show features a performance by a band called the Noisettes, and would you look at that, I can apparently buy their album 'Don't Upset The Rhythm.' Can an appearance on the Starburst Summer concert tour be far behind?
-Haley ironed her hair straight to attend the fashion show. Bold Choice
-Brooke has moment of inspiration and has Millie walk out in a wife beater on which she writes with a magic marker 'Zero is not a size' which the crowd finds to be the height of daring fashion. Also the fact that her fashion line is for 'normal' sized women strikes every one as cutting edge (which apparently is evidenced by the fact that the show featured 9 traditional models and one actress who was a size 1 instead of zero)
-The Noisettes are back
-Mouth refuses to read the story of Nathan's 'affair' on the air and is fired. Suuuure
-Apparently Millie was supposed only appear in one episode but they loved her so much that they asked her back. Can we go back to the whole only appearing in one episode thing?
-Clay punches out Quinn's drunk (understandably so) husband, then turns down Alex's advances because now that he knows Quinn is available. I mean why wouldn't he turn down the hot model to go after the crazy unreasonable recently separated chick?
-The closing scene features the Noisettes 'Sometimes'
-Quinn drives off with Clay in fron tof her husband just to really stick it to him
-Have you heard of this band the Noisettes? I guess they have some buzz around them
-The groupie confronts Haley in front of the papparazzi and gets slapped. Really, that's what's considered assault and battery? Lucky Shawn Merriman wasn't around
And we're done, some good moments but this season has yet to really approach the greatness I know the show is capable of. Come on guys, get it together
-Nathan is so worked up by his groupie scandal that he stopped working out. Apparently there's a chance he won't be signed because of this potential paternity suit. This disconnect from the reality of the NBA never ceases to amuse me.
-They have Jaime choose three different cereals before Haley lets him have one. I counted four different logos.
-I need to become the hair gel provider for this show. Julian and the guy who plays Nathan's agent Clay must easily go through five cans a day.
-Nathan's work outs consist of bench pressing in his backyard while his agent counts. I'm sure David Falk does the same thing
-Haley buys all the copies of the national informer (apparently the enquirer wouldn't pony up) in Tree Hill once the scandal breaks. Apparently the internet doesn't exist in there. However the other seven year olds have access to newstands as they read the story to jaime in the park to taunt him. No Joke one says, "My Mom says they wouldn't put this in if it wasn't true. You're dad's screwed"
-Haley's sister still won't say why she walked out on her seemingly normal husband (other than some nonsense about her changing and he didn't). I'm pulling for him to have been murdering drifters in his spare time. Or she's just a crazy irrational chick. In this show I'm not sure which is more likely.
-Just flipped to full screen mode. Apparently One Tree Hill finally shifted to HD. I guess that's what a 1 share on Monday nights will get you
-The promo for next week shows Haley being arrested for Assault and Battery. I hope she beat up Mouth and Milly...or Jaime (that's right I made a child abuse joke)
-Wow a model cattier than Alex (named McKenna) and insults Milly and Alex. Alex retaliates by giving the model a Limbaugh sized dose of what I assume to be Oxycontin. Forcing somebody into an overdose...well played
-So Haley's sister's issue with her husband is that two years ago they decided not to impulsively move across the country because a better opportunity would open up where they were in the near future (which it did). She said she was fine with that decision then but the person she is now wouldn't have made it because she regrets not having used those two years to screw around. Since she says her husband now would still make the former decision (even though he says he's totally open to change) she asks for a divorce. Women are crazy
-Alex gets Milly to model in the fashion show to help her self esteem and get back at mean model McKenna, oooh the slutty rehabbing model/actress isn't all bad...maybe even has a heart of gold
-Wow the fashion show features a performance by a band called the Noisettes, and would you look at that, I can apparently buy their album 'Don't Upset The Rhythm.' Can an appearance on the Starburst Summer concert tour be far behind?
-Haley ironed her hair straight to attend the fashion show. Bold Choice
-Brooke has moment of inspiration and has Millie walk out in a wife beater on which she writes with a magic marker 'Zero is not a size' which the crowd finds to be the height of daring fashion. Also the fact that her fashion line is for 'normal' sized women strikes every one as cutting edge (which apparently is evidenced by the fact that the show featured 9 traditional models and one actress who was a size 1 instead of zero)
-The Noisettes are back
-Mouth refuses to read the story of Nathan's 'affair' on the air and is fired. Suuuure
-Apparently Millie was supposed only appear in one episode but they loved her so much that they asked her back. Can we go back to the whole only appearing in one episode thing?
-Clay punches out Quinn's drunk (understandably so) husband, then turns down Alex's advances because now that he knows Quinn is available. I mean why wouldn't he turn down the hot model to go after the crazy unreasonable recently separated chick?
-The closing scene features the Noisettes 'Sometimes'
-Quinn drives off with Clay in fron tof her husband just to really stick it to him
-Have you heard of this band the Noisettes? I guess they have some buzz around them
-The groupie confronts Haley in front of the papparazzi and gets slapped. Really, that's what's considered assault and battery? Lucky Shawn Merriman wasn't around
And we're done, some good moments but this season has yet to really approach the greatness I know the show is capable of. Come on guys, get it together
Monday, September 28, 2009
One Tree Hill - Hold My Hand as I'm lowered
Well tonight we're getting a special live viewing of this illustrious program. Why would I pass up on the opportunity to watch it in a fifteen minute shorter increment and without helpful side ads and factoids, you ask? Because screw you that's why. I don't have to explain myself.
-I'm beginning to think that missing the premier may have been a big deal. It appears that One Tree Hill is taking a page from Mad Men's play book and jumping ahead a few years every season. This may also be the last time One Tree Hill is compared to Mad Men (but it shouldn't be)
-We open with Haley looking at the sonogram and pictures of Nathan with a groupie at the party...waiting for the measured conversation where they discuss this maturely and rationally
-Nathan: You Know I didn't do anything right
Haley: You have your arm around here
Nathan: I get asked to pictures with a lot of people
Haley: You should be smart enough to know better (storms off)
Yeah, that's about right
-Dan gets called a murderer on his TV show since, you know, he killed his brother. Seems like a fair point. You'd think this may have come up before since he actually did time for the crime.
-I was wrong Dan's wife isn't the crazy nanny who kidnapped Jaime last season, its the crazy former heroin addicted model who tried to hook up with mouth last season. My Mistake
-Mouth leaves a lizard in the bathroom to scare skills. He calls Jaime (five year old) to help catch it - sound thinking there
-Groupie asks for $200K to go away. Nathan doesn't understand why she would do this. I mean its so unlikely that a woman would try to get extort money from an NBA star. Also according to his agent the Charlotte Bobcats won't re-sign him (to a $20million contract) if there are allegations about him having an illegitimate child, not to mention all the sponsors who will drop him. I guess its a good thing that Shawn Kemp never wanted to play for the Bobcats. But seriously, I love how this show still exists in a universe where a shooting guard worth $20 million dollars would have his career derailed by adultery accusations. The worst thing that happened to Kobe when he was accused of rape was that Nutella dropped him as an endorser
-Brooke has a photo shoot with the crazy (recurring theme here) model who wants to get a piece of Julian. As usual the world class photographer is 22, keeping the show's trend of having all jobs performed by people under 25
-We then have an extended photo shoot montage - odds of there being a cross over promotion? High. Mayve this one can be brought to us by Skittles
-Dan's Motto: When you stand in the light - you get yourself right. Catchy
-We have a flashback to how Dan met Rachel - at a strip club where she doubled as a prostitute. But like I have to tell you that
-Haley actually seems relatively restrained about this, and then takes out her aggression on the agent for proposing that Nathan pay off the groupie. I knew she couldn't keep it in
-Jaime catches the lizard and names it Percy - this kid is going to get beat up repeatedly.
-Ahhh, Jaime gets Skills to admit that he's afraid of moving in with his girlfriend. I know he's the only black guy in town so everyone hates him, but there has to be more people he can talk to
-I'm serioulsy considering getting a Faux Hawk
-Haley crashes Brooke's photo shoot and starts crying
-My head almost just exploded. One Tree Hill's Kate Voegle (Mia) just did a commercial for University of Phoenix. Because all 19 year old rock stars take on-line accounting classes when they're on the road. There's even a shot of her staring at a laptop while sitting on a hotel bed. Must have been between stops on the Starburst Summer Concert Tour. I am so happy right now
-Haley bitches to Brooke and her sister about the whole thing with the groupie. They still think this is going to screw up his contract and they don't know how they can explain this to the kid. Here's a suggestion:
Haley and Nathan: Jaime this woman is lying, and we'll prove it
Jaime: Ok
-Turns out Rachel hired the guy in the crowd to yell at Dan in an effort to goose ratings. He's torn. Who knew the former hooker would be an opportunistic show runner
-They show an ad of a shirtless Nathan endorsing Rainbow Body spray.
-Crazy former Jukie model gives Julian a script to read. I'm sure Brooke will handle this with aplomb.
-The agent gives the groupie an empty envelope and tells her to go to hell. It. Is. On.
-We get a little slo mo as nathan walks across the backyard and sits down next to Jaime on the swingset. Seriously
I gotta say I've been a little dissapointed by this season so far. I hate to say it but I think I miss Peyton and Lucas. They were the rigth blend of self-seriousness and absolute insanity that really drove the shows genius. I'm not giving up yet though.
-I'm beginning to think that missing the premier may have been a big deal. It appears that One Tree Hill is taking a page from Mad Men's play book and jumping ahead a few years every season. This may also be the last time One Tree Hill is compared to Mad Men (but it shouldn't be)
-We open with Haley looking at the sonogram and pictures of Nathan with a groupie at the party...waiting for the measured conversation where they discuss this maturely and rationally
-Nathan: You Know I didn't do anything right
Haley: You have your arm around here
Nathan: I get asked to pictures with a lot of people
Haley: You should be smart enough to know better (storms off)
Yeah, that's about right
-Dan gets called a murderer on his TV show since, you know, he killed his brother. Seems like a fair point. You'd think this may have come up before since he actually did time for the crime.
-I was wrong Dan's wife isn't the crazy nanny who kidnapped Jaime last season, its the crazy former heroin addicted model who tried to hook up with mouth last season. My Mistake
-Mouth leaves a lizard in the bathroom to scare skills. He calls Jaime (five year old) to help catch it - sound thinking there
-Groupie asks for $200K to go away. Nathan doesn't understand why she would do this. I mean its so unlikely that a woman would try to get extort money from an NBA star. Also according to his agent the Charlotte Bobcats won't re-sign him (to a $20million contract) if there are allegations about him having an illegitimate child, not to mention all the sponsors who will drop him. I guess its a good thing that Shawn Kemp never wanted to play for the Bobcats. But seriously, I love how this show still exists in a universe where a shooting guard worth $20 million dollars would have his career derailed by adultery accusations. The worst thing that happened to Kobe when he was accused of rape was that Nutella dropped him as an endorser
-Brooke has a photo shoot with the crazy (recurring theme here) model who wants to get a piece of Julian. As usual the world class photographer is 22, keeping the show's trend of having all jobs performed by people under 25
-We then have an extended photo shoot montage - odds of there being a cross over promotion? High. Mayve this one can be brought to us by Skittles
-Dan's Motto: When you stand in the light - you get yourself right. Catchy
-We have a flashback to how Dan met Rachel - at a strip club where she doubled as a prostitute. But like I have to tell you that
-Haley actually seems relatively restrained about this, and then takes out her aggression on the agent for proposing that Nathan pay off the groupie. I knew she couldn't keep it in
-Jaime catches the lizard and names it Percy - this kid is going to get beat up repeatedly.
-Ahhh, Jaime gets Skills to admit that he's afraid of moving in with his girlfriend. I know he's the only black guy in town so everyone hates him, but there has to be more people he can talk to
-I'm serioulsy considering getting a Faux Hawk
-Haley crashes Brooke's photo shoot and starts crying
-My head almost just exploded. One Tree Hill's Kate Voegle (Mia) just did a commercial for University of Phoenix. Because all 19 year old rock stars take on-line accounting classes when they're on the road. There's even a shot of her staring at a laptop while sitting on a hotel bed. Must have been between stops on the Starburst Summer Concert Tour. I am so happy right now
-Haley bitches to Brooke and her sister about the whole thing with the groupie. They still think this is going to screw up his contract and they don't know how they can explain this to the kid. Here's a suggestion:
Haley and Nathan: Jaime this woman is lying, and we'll prove it
Jaime: Ok
-Turns out Rachel hired the guy in the crowd to yell at Dan in an effort to goose ratings. He's torn. Who knew the former hooker would be an opportunistic show runner
-They show an ad of a shirtless Nathan endorsing Rainbow Body spray.
-Crazy former Jukie model gives Julian a script to read. I'm sure Brooke will handle this with aplomb.
-The agent gives the groupie an empty envelope and tells her to go to hell. It. Is. On.
-We get a little slo mo as nathan walks across the backyard and sits down next to Jaime on the swingset. Seriously
I gotta say I've been a little dissapointed by this season so far. I hate to say it but I think I miss Peyton and Lucas. They were the rigth blend of self-seriousness and absolute insanity that really drove the shows genius. I'm not giving up yet though.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
One Tree Hill - What are you willing to lose
Oh yeah baby we're back. As this new television season has begun and I started getting set with my viewing rotation (Parks and Recreation, The Office, Dollhouse and soon to be Chuck welcome back. Glee and Community -welcome to the party, for now) there was one show that I was anticipating more than any other which, I'm sure you figured out by the title of this post, is the glorious One Tree Hill. Before we get into another season of North Carolina goodness (mmm dry rub) I have a few programming notes. Apparently my One tree hill facebook group didn't let me know that the CW would only have the most recent episode up to watch so we're starting this off with the second episode of season seven (seriously there's already been six seasons of this). I don't think I'll have a problem jumping right in. Secondly, if I remember, I'm going to include the title of each episode in the post's title. We'll play a little game where if one of the character's says the title in the show you win a, I don't know, ticket to a box social or something. Fun for the whole family. Anyway, here we go:
-oohh, some groupie is claiming that Nathan slept with her on the road. I'm sure Haley will rationally listen to his explanation and not freak out
-Ahhh Julian's gives up a hollywood career to be with brooke. Apparently North Carolina still hasn't realized cross country flights exist. Also its apparently not okay to take off for a few weeks to shoot a movie every once in awhile. Brooke must be one needy chick.
-Nathan and his agent reenact the Rocky and Apollo beach run from Rocky III. He then freaks out and practically starts crying - Wahh I'm a highly paid NBA player and allegations of promiscuity are going to ruin my chance at a new contract. Seriously he says that. Its a new NBA.
-Skillz and Mouth try to force the other one to move out by being naked around the house all the time to freak the other out
-Dan is now a motivational speaker with a TV show and smoking hot wife, that's about right. If I'm right Dan's wife is the crazy nanny who tries to kill him last year. Stockholm syndrome anyone.
-Some mean woman with a british accent is trying to buy Peyton and Haley's record label and shut them down. Apparently having the headliner of the Starburst summer concert series is a big deal
-Julian hangs a poster of The Thin Red Line on his wall. Some writer has taste
-Brooke thinks the poster is tacky and wants it out of the living room - that's about right
-It turns out the new actress hired to be the new face of Clothes over Bros hates disabled people ("Cripples and like retarded people - They're always drooling and like smiling really wierd"), doesn't take rehab seriously, and say's north carolina is hot that it smells like the "Devil's Ass." She also says BTW, and makes up the fact that she only east organic food. Accurate portrayal of hollywood as always
-Dan tries to convince a panhandler he should believe in himself and gives him a copy of his book. called 'Scott Free Redemption' (puns are fun). If this leads to Dan becomming the Anti Christ and taking over the world I'm all for it.
-Nathan runs into a restaurant and starts screaming at his accuser - Wahhh - WHy are you doing this to me!?. That always works
-The crazy actress ends up calling Brooke fat and not getting a 'That's what she said' joke. Wow portraying a hollywood actress as vapid and condescending who won't wear purple because she has a childhood fear of Barney. Well-played One Tree Hill.
-Jaime buried Skillz and Lauren in the sand, so they couldn't get out and they ended up getting burned when he forgot about them. Seriously a seven year old was able to fully bury two grown adults in the sand and completely debilitate them.
-Oh snap, Mia rolls in and says the mean british girl will lose her biggest selling artist if she doesn't keep the label open. That's right you don't mess with a myspace headliner
-The mean actress talks her way back into Brooke's good graces by claiming one of her dresses saved her after rehab (seriously, some crap about how it gave her dignity) - Brooke and Milly of course fall for it and agree to keep her on board (and pay her $500K)
-Uh oh the groupie has pictures what could they be????
-Mia's bluff works, and Haley and the mean English lady make up. And she says Haley has to record an album in six months if she wants to keep the label open. I smell cross promotion.
-Brooke tells off Julian's mean movie producer dad for being a bad father.
-Julian's dad was too busy 'Caring for fictional characters instead of caring for the real ones in his life.' He's proud of Julian for ignoring cross country air travel, and living his own life. 'And Whatever you do don't be like me.' You know, shave or be successful.
-Apparently the groupie claims to have hooked up with Nathan at a party where he celebrated scoring 35 points against Memphis (that warrants celebration?) which was three months earlier. It turns out she gave the agent a picture of a sonogram which he expertly interprets as showing that she's three months pregnant. Apparently they got really drunk so the agent thinks maybe something did happen. What a turncoat
-Nice, the speech the actress gave to brooke about her dress was lifted from a film. Brooke doesn't notice because she's too busy jumping Julian's bones.
-Episode ends with Nathan about to tell Haley something important...I'm sure this will go well.
Man I'm glad this show is back
-oohh, some groupie is claiming that Nathan slept with her on the road. I'm sure Haley will rationally listen to his explanation and not freak out
-Ahhh Julian's gives up a hollywood career to be with brooke. Apparently North Carolina still hasn't realized cross country flights exist. Also its apparently not okay to take off for a few weeks to shoot a movie every once in awhile. Brooke must be one needy chick.
-Nathan and his agent reenact the Rocky and Apollo beach run from Rocky III. He then freaks out and practically starts crying - Wahh I'm a highly paid NBA player and allegations of promiscuity are going to ruin my chance at a new contract. Seriously he says that. Its a new NBA.
-Skillz and Mouth try to force the other one to move out by being naked around the house all the time to freak the other out
-Dan is now a motivational speaker with a TV show and smoking hot wife, that's about right. If I'm right Dan's wife is the crazy nanny who tries to kill him last year. Stockholm syndrome anyone.
-Some mean woman with a british accent is trying to buy Peyton and Haley's record label and shut them down. Apparently having the headliner of the Starburst summer concert series is a big deal
-Julian hangs a poster of The Thin Red Line on his wall. Some writer has taste
-Brooke thinks the poster is tacky and wants it out of the living room - that's about right
-It turns out the new actress hired to be the new face of Clothes over Bros hates disabled people ("Cripples and like retarded people - They're always drooling and like smiling really wierd"), doesn't take rehab seriously, and say's north carolina is hot that it smells like the "Devil's Ass." She also says BTW, and makes up the fact that she only east organic food. Accurate portrayal of hollywood as always
-Dan tries to convince a panhandler he should believe in himself and gives him a copy of his book. called 'Scott Free Redemption' (puns are fun). If this leads to Dan becomming the Anti Christ and taking over the world I'm all for it.
-Nathan runs into a restaurant and starts screaming at his accuser - Wahhh - WHy are you doing this to me!?. That always works
-The crazy actress ends up calling Brooke fat and not getting a 'That's what she said' joke. Wow portraying a hollywood actress as vapid and condescending who won't wear purple because she has a childhood fear of Barney. Well-played One Tree Hill.
-Jaime buried Skillz and Lauren in the sand, so they couldn't get out and they ended up getting burned when he forgot about them. Seriously a seven year old was able to fully bury two grown adults in the sand and completely debilitate them.
-Oh snap, Mia rolls in and says the mean british girl will lose her biggest selling artist if she doesn't keep the label open. That's right you don't mess with a myspace headliner
-The mean actress talks her way back into Brooke's good graces by claiming one of her dresses saved her after rehab (seriously, some crap about how it gave her dignity) - Brooke and Milly of course fall for it and agree to keep her on board (and pay her $500K)
-Uh oh the groupie has pictures what could they be????
-Mia's bluff works, and Haley and the mean English lady make up. And she says Haley has to record an album in six months if she wants to keep the label open. I smell cross promotion.
-Brooke tells off Julian's mean movie producer dad for being a bad father.
-Julian's dad was too busy 'Caring for fictional characters instead of caring for the real ones in his life.' He's proud of Julian for ignoring cross country air travel, and living his own life. 'And Whatever you do don't be like me.' You know, shave or be successful.
-Apparently the groupie claims to have hooked up with Nathan at a party where he celebrated scoring 35 points against Memphis (that warrants celebration?) which was three months earlier. It turns out she gave the agent a picture of a sonogram which he expertly interprets as showing that she's three months pregnant. Apparently they got really drunk so the agent thinks maybe something did happen. What a turncoat
-Nice, the speech the actress gave to brooke about her dress was lifted from a film. Brooke doesn't notice because she's too busy jumping Julian's bones.
-Episode ends with Nathan about to tell Haley something important...I'm sure this will go well.
Man I'm glad this show is back
Friday, September 25, 2009
Extract
I'm a huge fan of Mike Judge's earlier live action work (Office Space, Idiocracy) so I was looking forward to seeing Extract. However, I think my love of the earlier work caused me to feel somewhat disappointed by Extract. The former films had specific satirical targets they were aiming at and, while they had devastatingly accurate portrayals of the mind-dumbing banality of everyday existence, existed in a kind of hyper reality (particularly in the case of Idiocracy) which allowed them to pointedly skewer their intended victims. Extract on the other hand is more of an observational character study that didn't appear, at least on first viewing, to have any particular satirical aim. The shift in tone really threw me as I kept waiting for it to change into something more akin to Judge's other work and as a result I hesitate to pass final judgement until I see it again, hopefully able to better evaluate it on its own merits.
That said the film has an affable charm, and Jason Bateman (playing a variation of his character from Arrested Development - not a bad thing) makes an engaging lead presence. I do think the film suffers from a lack of focus, and there are several story elements (in particular Gene Simmon's character, and how the film deals with the subplot revolving around Mila Kunis) that at best feel thin, and at worst don't work at all. At the moment I would say while the film is worth watching, and did cause to me laugh out loud at times, its probably the weakest of Judge's three films to date. Still for aforementioned reasons I'd consider its grade an incomplete and I look forward to revisiting it in the future.
That said the film has an affable charm, and Jason Bateman (playing a variation of his character from Arrested Development - not a bad thing) makes an engaging lead presence. I do think the film suffers from a lack of focus, and there are several story elements (in particular Gene Simmon's character, and how the film deals with the subplot revolving around Mila Kunis) that at best feel thin, and at worst don't work at all. At the moment I would say while the film is worth watching, and did cause to me laugh out loud at times, its probably the weakest of Judge's three films to date. Still for aforementioned reasons I'd consider its grade an incomplete and I look forward to revisiting it in the future.
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