Miscellaneous Movie Musings

[innerSpaceman]

I think the last comic/actor I found habitually funny was Steve Martin.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I laugh easily

[Not Afraid]

Ummm, I find Woody Allen funny. David Sedaris is funny (but he's not really an actor). At the moment, no one is funny. Which is funny in and of itself because I laugh constantly.

[flippyshark]

Comedy these days really makes me feel like a dinosaur. "Borat", Sarah Silverman, Dane Cook - all intermittently funny for me, but overall, they leave me feeling depressed and old. Mean-spiritedness and open mockery have trumped wit and satire. Many of my fellow actors (at the Sleuths Mystery Dinner Theater) idolize the above-named and seem to believe that unless it hurts someone, it isn't real comedy.

That said, I did like Talladega Nights (lord help me), parts of The 40 Year Old Virgin, and, umm, wow, I haven't gone to many other comedies...

[flippyshark]

Oh, and I watch The Office every week, but not because it makes me laugh. (It does, but not often or loud) I watch it because it feels so uncannily like places and people I've known, and the supporting cast are very interesting and fun to watch. (I don't know if it can last, though. The whole "Jim and Pam" thing really seems to be the engine that keeps this one ticking, and if that ever truly resolves, the whole enterprise is likely to jump shark.)

[innerSpaceman]

Just got back from seeing Zodiac. Don't rush out.

I don't know what all the fuss is about. First of all, though he's top-billed, there simply is not enough Jake Gyllenhaal in the film. Alas, that's a fault common to all too many movies. (le sigh)


It's the story of four men trying to crack the Zodiac killer case of the late 70's/early 80's ... two San Francisco cops and two San Francisco reporters - - or, more precisely, one reporter and one unlikely cartoonist (swooon, Jake) - who stays with the case longer than anyone, eventually writes a book about it, and seems to have been the one to solve the identity of the killer.

The thing is, though the movie focuses on Jake's decades-long obsession with the case, it never becomes clear why he's that fixated on it. The other top obsessory, Mark Ruffolo's cop character, at least has the motive of a cop. Anthony Edward's cop retires from homocide investigations at some point before letting the case dominate his psyche. And Robert Downey Jr.'s crime reporter seems to fall off the scene simply because he's an alcoholic.

Of the two staying with the case through the long-haul, Ruffolo's character is semi-interesting ... but, with a throwaway reference to him being the inspiration for Steve McQueen's "Bullit," you get the impression the movie's not quite doing justice to this particular character.

Which leaves Gyllenhaal as the most interesting fella in the film. Just not quite interesting enough. Though he does have some lovely close-ups. Yum.


A bit more mainstream and toned-down for a David Fincher effort, but I found it unFincherly weaksauce.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Flippy - did you watch Arrested Development? If not, you must rent it. I think you'd enjoy that. Scrubs is surprisingly well written. I recommend the reruns to get you into the characters.

Truly good comedy can be elusive.

[Babette]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Just got back from seeing Zodiac. Don't rush out.

I don't know what all the fuss is about. First of all, though he's top-billed, there simply is not enough Jake Gyllenhaal in the film. Alas, that's a fault common to all too many movies. (le sigh)

So true, so true. But if it has James McAvoy, you're not gonna notice it's missing Jakey.

My friend and I were torn between Zodiac and Starter for 10. We chose Sf10 since I am home alone in a big house this weekend. :creepy: I recommend Sf10. It stars the hottie James McAvoy (Last King of Scotland/Mr. Tumnus) fumbling through his first year at university. It is set in 1985 UK so it has great music from The Cure, Morrissey, Echo & the Bunnymen, Tears for Fears, and more. A lovely story with a little Cameron Crowe/John Hughes feel to it. I do not seem to see many movies anymore, and I am very glad I saw this one. Cheers!

Oh - we also saw previews for a few films that I am looking forward to. Namesake with Harold & Kumar's Kumar, In the Land of Women with The O.C.'s Seth and Across the Universe which looks like a psychadelic 60s wartime musical and has Evan Rachel Wood. I don't like chicks but damn she is HOT!

[Alex]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

but, with a throwaway reference to him being the inspiration for Steve McQueen's "Bullit," you get the impression the movie's not quite doing justice to this particular character.

In the San Francisco Chronicle review (a solid meh) there is an offhanded remark that Rufallo seems to have done a lot of work to match the mannerisms of a man known the the reviewer.

I'm stoked for a Fincher movie but I doubt I'll get around to this one before DVD.

[Alex]

I can't go to any, but if anybody down that way is interested in such, Quentin Tarantino has programmed a couple months of '70s exploitation films at the New Beverly (apparently it is a bit of promotion for Grindhouse later this summer).

Of course, most of them suck (and only Tarantino's brand of ironic revisionism would believe otherwise) but there are some interesting things in the mix and most of them are the kind of movies that are fun for group outings.

Just thought I'd point it out.