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Tribeca Film Fest 2012: Mansome – Movie Review

Christie Ko — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:42:30 +0000

Ever wonder how men really feel about their body hair? Or about the difference between shampoo and shower gel? What do Will Arnett and Jason Bateman talk about when they go to the spa together? Is it okay for men to be as conscious of and careful about their bodily upkeep as women? Does the manicure make the man? Get some shocking and hilarious answers to these questions in Morgan Spurlock‘s new documentary, Mansome.

Check out our review…

The Players:

Director: Morgan Spurlock
Screenwriter: Jeremy Chilnick, Morgan Spurlock
Producer(s): Jeremy Chilnick, Meri Haitkin, Morgan Spurlock, Michael Ruchton
Cast: Morgan Spurlock, Zach Galifianakis, Will Arnett, Paul Rudd, Jason Bateman, Judd Apatow

Tribeca Synopsis:

These days, men are getting just as many spa treatments as women. And with a slew of products aiming to freshen and sculpt their manly parts, does this newfound grooming challenge the age-old question of what it means to be masculine? Or have dudes just finally succumbed to human hygiene? Oscar nominee Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) and executive producers Ben Silverman, Will Arnett, and Jason Bateman present a delightfully entertaining documentary exploring the current state of Mandom in America and beyond.

Traveling to traditional barbershops, trend-savvy salons, and even an international beard contest in Austria, Spurlock shows us the art of being a man has been taken to hilarious heights. Complete with candid interviews from Arnett, Bateman, Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis, and lots of everyday people. Spurlock sets out to uncover the true secrets of being “Mansome.”

The Good:

Arrested Development fans will be thrilled to see Bateman and Arnett banter about personal hygiene, grooming, and masculinity as they enjoy a boys’ day at the spa. Galifianakis, Rudd, and Judd Apatow offer equally hilarious insights into their own experiences with body hair, manscaping, and what it means to feel attractive. You will definitely laugh.

The Bad:

This is a “documentary” in very loose terms. Some parts feel true, while others feel like sketch comedy bits that are loosely tied to the topic. The combination is a little confusing. Of course, I was expecting some humor, but I was also looking for a more developed message to take me through a journey. This piece doesn’t have a fully formed thesis or revelation, so it was difficult to stay interested for the full 84 minutes.

Overall:

I think Morgan Spurlock started this project with a good idea, but it devolved into a joke for many of its subjects. Luckily, the people being interviewed are some of the funniest on the planet, so the jokes came out great!

I enjoyed the more serious examination of metro-sexuality, and I was interested to learn about the psychology behind that. But I didn’t feel the individual stories built on each other to produce an overarching message from the film.

This female writer might hazard a guess that this documentary ended up a comedy because men get uncomfortable talking about personal hygiene and receding hairlines. But that might be a little too harsh…

Rating: 3/10

The Secret World of Arrietty: Movie Review

Damon Houx — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:24:06 +0000

Though Pixar are often considered the reigning champs of cinematic batting averages (they have one of the best records for quality), Studio Ghibli is their equal, which may explain why Pixar’s John Lasseter has shepherded their work into American theaters. This has everything to do with filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, whose work on films like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away puts him in the pantheon with Walt Disney. The Secret World of Arrietty wasn’t directed by him (though he has a credit as its planner), but it falls in line with his whimsical children’s films.

The Players:

Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Writers: Hayao Miyazaki, Keiko Niwa
Cast: Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Carol Burnett, David Henrie
Music: Cécile Corbel, Dale Sison

The Plot:

Arrietty (Mendler), and her parents (Poehler, Arnett) are “borrowers,” miniature people who live under the houses of normal humans and steal things like sugar cubes and crackers to get by. Their house gets a new occupant in Shawn (Henrie), a sickly kid who’s about to have a major operation. He sees Arrietty and wants to protect her, but the housekeeper Hara (Burnett) thinks they are insects. Arrietty’s parents also don’t want her to interact with humans as they fear that they may be the last of their kind. But Arrietty and Shawn form a friendship that is complicated by Hara’s meddling.

The Good:

Beautiful: Though most of American animation is now done through computers, Miyazaki and company have stayed with the hand drawn cel animation, and their work is gorgeous. There’s nothing crude or referential about their work, it’s just about nature (a reoccurring theme in Ghibli films), and there is a great purity and spirit to their vision. It’s a story of the mysteries of communal space, and how there are hidden worlds that exist right in front of us.
Charming: Based on the classic children’s book The Borrowers (by Mary Norton), though there is adventure and danger, it’s a very gentle and charming film that is basically about acceptance versus intolerance. On both sides there are people who don’t want there to be interactions between the two, and though the film functions as a metaphor for accepting others or otherness, this never overwhelms the film about an unlikely friendship.

The So So:

Deliberately Paced: If the viewer or their child has ADD, this is probably not the film for them. Though it rewards the attention paid, those used to American animated films, which are filled with lots of action, noises and distractions, this works against that. It’s not a bad thing, but it’s a slow moving film.

The Bad:

Minor: When you’re Studio Ghibli, you’ve got a catalog of great movies for children. From Nausicaa, to Kiki’s Delivery Service, to Totoro to Spirited Away, you’ve established a fine lineage of great children’s entertainment. And though this is a solid entry in their filmography, it’s hard to say it stacks with their best. It’s a good movie, one of the better films of the year so far, but it’s hard to place it near their best work. That’s a great problem to have.

Overall:

The worst that can be said about the film is that it’s a little slow and not everyone’s best work. That’s not so much a problem as nitpicking. Perhaps more importantly it shows the value of a well told tale and 2-D cel animation. The Secret World of Arrietty is an inviting and fascinating fantasy world that may grow stronger on repeated viewings. Which makes it a great little children’s film.

Rating: 8.0/10

The Secret World of Arrietty comes to theaters February 17. Check it out.

Photos:

Ricky Gervais and Will Arnett Guest on The Office Season Finale

Damon Houx — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 03:59:39 +0000

With “The Office” losing Steve Carell this season, it’s unknown how the show will try to replace him. The Hollywood Reporter is noting that both Ricky Gervais (from the BBC “The Office”) and Will Arnett (from “Arrested Development” and the recently canceled “Running Wilde“) will appear in the last episode of the show’s seventh season finale. This casting makes it hard not to wonder if either is being groomed to replace Carell as the show has been renewed for an eighth season.

There were many names put on the short list of actors to replace Carell, and Gervais was among them (and supposedly so was/is Harvey Keitel). Gervais showed up for a cameo earlier this season, but it was mostly a joke for fans of the original show, and a throwaway gag.It would be interesting to see him go into the mix, and after the mixed reception his films roles have gotten, it wouldn’t be that surprising to see him try to booster his American credibility as an actor/star stateside.

But the casting of Will Arnett tingles our Spidey-senses. For one, he’s happy in television, having made his name there. His film work is mostly in supporting turns, and he’s usually left playing jerks and cads, where this would offer some meat. For another, his wife Amy Poehler is currently starring in “Parks and Rec,” and though – obviously – he wouldn’t be working with her, both shows shoot in Los Angeles, and would be on similar work schedules.

As we haven’t heard if Keitel or others are coming aboard – and it would make sense to set up the next season in the finale – I would put money one (or both) will be returning next season in a starring or co-starring capacity. That said, the last couple episodes are scheduled to have some heavy-hitting supporting turns, including Will Ferrell, and this could just be more place-holding.

Who would you like to see as the new boss of The Office?

Sundance 2011: Beastie Boys ‘Fight for Your Right Revisited’ Review

Christie Ko — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:31:36 +0000

Adam Yauch’s Fight for Your Right Revisited, featuring Elijah Wood, Danny McBride, Seth Rogen, Jack Black, Will Ferrell, and John C. Riley delivers big time. Just imagine every actor you can think of packed into a hilarious 30 minute music video. This is Hollywood the way I like to see it, poking fun at itself and reminding everyone that the very best actors are not only able to make you laugh, but they’re able to laugh at themselves.

The Players:

Director: Adam Yauch
Written By: Adam Yauch
Cast: Elijah Wood, Danny McBride, Seth Rogen, Will Ferrell, John C. Riley, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Rashida Jones, Will Arnett, Rainn Wilson, Ted Danson, Roman Coppola, Steve Buscemi, Amy Poehler, Alicia Silverstone, Milo Ventimiglia, Jody Hill, Jason Schwartzman, Chloë Sevigny, Kirsten Dunst, David Cross, Orlando Bloom, Jack Black, Adam Horowitz, Mike D, Adam Yauch, Martin Starr, etc.

Review:

This short takes place the morning after the party featured in the Beastie Boys original music video, Fight for Your Right in 1986 (watch it here). The film comes complete with cameos from a cast I couldn’t believe, including Susan Sarandon, Jason Schwartzman, Rainn Wilson, and Stanley Tucci, to name just a few. It’s almost as if Seth Rogen, Elijah Wood, and Will Ferrell just walked through the studio lot and grabbed any actors they happened to come across, and they came across a few, including Steve Buscemi and Kirsten Dunst. The film has the feel and tone of a long SNL music video skit that you never want to end, even after a metaphorical pissing contest turns into a literal pissing contest and Chloë Sevigny stabs someone.

This film accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do, and that is show amazing actors really playing with an idea and having fun with each other. The Beastie Boys have come a long way since 1986, and I think this parody is their way of saying they know how absurd and ridiculous they were back then and are inviting everyone to join them in laughing at it. Even if you aren’t a huge Beastie Boys fan, this is still going to make you laugh.

Overall:

When this thing hits the interwebs, it’ll go viral and you’ll be able to watch it over and over again. Believe me, you will want to.

Rating: 6/10

News Roundup: Shia Labeouf, Emma Stone, Wes Anderson

Laura Aguirre — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:37:02 +0000

The weekend is officially over, and we have more than a few things to catch up on. Normally we don’t go for the gossipy stuff but the past week was filled with crazy stories. Shia Labeouf was caught in the middle of another scandal – this time involving coffee (more on that below), Wes Anderson found himself on the University of Texas’ radar, and Emma Stone is taking a very special cause to heart.

Here’s the random fluff that went on…

A handful of directors have been inducted into the Directors Hall of Fame over at Bullz-Eye. The helmers include the Coen brothers, Francis Ford Coppola, Stanley Kubrick, John Landis and Quentin Tarantino. The announcement is accompanied by some neat caricatures of the Class of 2010 that are worth checking out. [via Bullz-Eye]
Shia Labeouf is angry and he’s not going to take it anymore! The actor was caught on tape throwing coffee on a paparazzo in Washington, D.C. because he was angry about the media attention he was receiving. [via Teen Hollywood]
A short-story from filmmaker Wes Anderson was found at the University of Texas entitled “The Ballad of Reading Milton.” It’s a mere 4 pages long and was published in the Analecta, the official literary and arts journal of UT in 1989. You can view the story in its entirety over at the Analecta website [via /Film]
A baby is keeping comedians Amy Poehler and Will Arnett up at night. Their new son Abel James is awake at all hours making the showbiz parents miss out on some much needed sleep. [Gossip On This]
Emma Stone is taking October Breast Cancer Awareness month to new heights. The Easy A actress is getting a matching tattoo with her mom to celebrate her mother’s win over the disease, but it won’t be just any tattoo. Their ink will be designed by Sir Paul McCartney himself! [US Magazine]

That’s it for today’s news roundup. Tell us what your thoughts are below…

TV Previews: Will Arnett and Keri Russell’s Running Wilde

Krystal Clark — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:07:39 +0000

Tonight, Fox will premiere their new comedy block that features the return of “Arrested Development” star Will Arnett. The show brings several of the cast and crew from the cult series back together for the new series “Running Wilde.” It co-stars Keri Russell, and David Cross, and was created by Mitchell Hurwitz (also from “Arrested Development”). Will these four be a winning combination or will the show hit cancellation bay before the third episode? Check out some early reviews of “Running Wilde”…

The Premise:

Arnett, who co-created the show with Hurwitz and Vallely, stars as Steven Wilde, the immature playboy son of a wealthy oil magnate. Steve thinks only of himself, except for when he’s engaging in games of one-upsmanship with his similarly undermotivated, equally rich neighbor Fa’ad (Peter Serafinowicz). Steve’s only real human connections are to his lifelong errand-boy Migo (Mel Rodriguez) and his lifelong nanny Mr. Lunt (Robert Michael Morris). But then, into Steve’s life comes Emmy Kadubic (Keri Russell), a humanitarian who has been living off in the Amazon rainforest with her 12-year-old daughter Puddle (Stefania Owen) and her environmentalist boyfriend Andy (David Cross). [HitFix]

The Characters:

It is impossible to believe that Steve and Emily once knew each other, never mind that they’re such seemingly different people harboring a secret mutual crush. And I don’t even know what to say about Steve’s Mr. French meets “Driving Miss Daisy” support team or his weird tiny-horse competition with his rich neighbor [LATimes]

But the bigger issue is that Arnett — an adept physical comedian — is no leading man, and he and Russell don’t always seem to connect, much less spark. Owen as Puddle is a freckle-faced delight, but Wilde’s neighbor Fa’ad (Peter Serafinowicz) is embarrassing — are we really still darkening actors’ skin to play “ethnic” roles in 2010? [THR]

The Humor:

The show’s rhythms just aren’t confident yet and that that uncertainty shows. Politically incorrect jokes that must have seemed hilarious on the page get rushed through so quickly that not only is there no chance to laugh, but there’s no desire. The rushed punchlines are especially notable in the revised pilot where the actors seem noticeably tired of some of the jokes that are being recycled from the original pilot. There are things in the new pilot that aren’t funny that used to be funny in the original, because of haste rather than revisions. [HitFix]

Overall:

“Wilde” is a fast-paced grab bag; it’s hard not to like a character who dunderheadedly imports an Amazon tribe to a five-star hotel rather than tell his dad not to drill on their land, all to prove he’s a decent guy. But for now, audiences will have to sort through the good stuff and toss aside the lumps of coal that keep “Wilde” from being a truly wild ride. [THR]

“Running Wilde” premieres at 9:30-10 p.m. Tuesday, September 21st.

Will you be watching Running Wilde tonight?

Despicable Me: Movie Review

Krystal Clark — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 23:30:13 +0000

Move over How to Train Your Dragon, Universal Pictures is releasing their animated feature Despicable Me in hopes of cashing in on some that 3D family-fun. The film stars “The Office’s” Steve Carell, “How I Met Your Mother’s” Jason Segel and Get Him to the Greek’s Russell Brand. With those 3 as the main actors it sounds like a match made in comedy heaven, right? The movie does have its funny moments and is filled with plenty of entertaining material but it’s in no shape or form the best animated film of the season (Toy Story 3 took that honor)…

The Players:

Directors: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Writers: Ken Daurio, Cinco Paul, Sergio Pablos (story)
Cast: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher Kristen Wiig, Will Arnett, Julie Andrews
Original Music By: Heitor Pereira, Pharrell Williams

The Plot:

Despicable Me centers on a villain named Gru, who plans on taking over the world. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he runs into a trio of orphan girls whom he adopts and plans on using as pawns to defeat his arch rival.

The Good:

Voices: Using “name actors” can sometimes distract the audience from an animated character because they visualize them doing the voice. That wasn’t the case here. They all put on an accent of some sort that took away from their persona, which allows you to focus on the character and not the “star” behind the mic.
Music: When hip hop artist Pharrell Williams was hired to do some of the music I was worried for various reasons but I shouldn’t have been. The original songs he added to the film fit perfectly. They were catchy but not too over the top. My personal favorite is Gru’s opening tune, the self-titled “Despicable Me.”
3D: The 3D here was nowhere near as amazing as How to Train Your Dragon’s but it was still well done. After a year of sub-par 3D conversions this film was a breath of fresh air.

The Bad:

Pace: The beginning of the film is a bit on the slow side. The build up doesn’t exactly keep your attention, which is unfortunate because the last act is thoroughly enjoyable.

The So-So:

Story: There’s nothing really original about the story but they try to make it unique in their own way. We’ve seen plenty of bad guys turn to mush in movies before but it’s the emotion that the actor’s put into their performances that sell it.

Overall:

Despicable Me is a decent animated film marketed towards the family crowd. It has its fair share of problems but in the end it still manages to deliver a nice message about finding family in the most unexpected places.

Rating: 8/10

Despicable Me hits theaters on July 9, 2010.

Photos:

Trailer:

Are you interested in seeing Despicable Me this weekend?

New Despicable Me Theatrical Movie Trailer

Krystal Clark — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:12:44 +0000

Universal Pictures has released the 1,000th trailer for their upcoming animated film Despicable Me. We get that they want us to see the movie but come on, ease up a little will ya? Luckily, the trailer is actually funny and surprisingly offers some new footage that we haven’t seen in the previous versions. Check it out…

Despicable Me centers on a villain named Gru, who plans on taking over the world. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he runs into a trio of orphan girls who mistakenly take him as their potential father figure. How will he balance his devious plans with fatherhood?

Despicable me stars Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, Danny McBride, and Julie Andrews. The film is directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin and will be released in theaters on July 9, 2010.

If you need a refresher course on the Despicable Me trailers. Here are all the previous versions..

What do you think of the latest trailer for Despicable Me? Is it better or worse that the other ones?

Jonah Hex – Movie Review

Krystal Clark — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 01:00:35 +0000

Despite what you saw in Iron Man 2, this is not the summer of pretty boy superheroes. This weekend, Josh Brolin tackles the role of a slack-jawed, post-Civil War vet who’s got a serious chip on his shoulder in Jonah Hex. The character doesn’t have an artillery filled with the latest guns and gadgets but he does have great aim and a license to kill. Move over Tony Stark there’s a new hero in town and he travels by horse not air…

The Players:

Director: Jimmy Hayward
Writers: Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, William Farmer (story)
Cast: Josh Brolin, Megan Fox, John Malkovich, Michael Fassbender, Will Arnett, Aidan Quinn,
Cinematography: Mitchell Amundsen
Original Music By: Marco Beltrami, John Powell

The Plot:

Jonah Hex is based on the DC Comics property about a disfigured gunman who travels the Old West seeking revenge on the man who killed his family. The film version centers on Hex’s quest to find and stop Quentin Turnbull from causing another Civil War within the United States. Hex is commissioned by President Grant to track Turnbull down and bring him to justice.

The Good:

Josh Brolin: If they put anyone else in this role it wouldn’t have worked. Brolin became Jonah Hex and delivered everything you wanted from the character and more.
The Casting: Besides Brolin, they got several amazing actors to appear in this film. The majority of them were glorified cameos but still entertaining. A few people to look out for are Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Michael Shannon, Aidan Quinn, Wes Bentley, and Tom Wopat. Yes, Tom “Luke Duke” Wopat from “The Duke’s of Hazzard.”

The Bad:

The Story: There’s an overarching story that centers on Hex and Turnbull, which is easy to follow and understandable. But then there’s a whole other subplot that deals with a massive weapon that doesn’t even look like it belongs in the era in which the film takes place. This is fiction and it’s based on a comic but there’s no point in doing everything else by the book and making one thing stick out like a sore thumb.
Special Effects: This movie wasn’t made with Batman or Superman money but a few of the explosions bordered on cartoonish. Some of them could have been done practically without CGI and the effect would have been 10 times better.
The Tone: This wasn’t a hardcore drama, it wasn’t a romance film, and it wasn’t a comedy, it was all of thee above. There’s nothing’s wrong with having multiple genres in one movie if you can balance them correctly but for Jonah Hex that wasn’t the case. It came across as uneven and random.

Overall:

Jonah Hex is pretty mediocre. There’s nothing about this film that would make it standout besides Josh Brolin’s mutilated face and an unnecessarily damp (all the time!) Megan Fox. There are a few things worth watching but nothing too big that you can’t hold out for the DVD.

Rating: 5.5/10

Jonah Hex debuts in theaters Friday, June 18, 2010.

Photos:

Trailer:

Are you interested in seeing Jonah Hex this weekend?

New Jonah Hex Theatrical Trailer

Krystal Clark — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:07:33 +0000

If you still feel bad about Megan Fox being replaced in Transformers 3 by an inexperienced Victoria’s Secret model don’t be. Fox has a new movie coming out this summer called Jonah Hex and its latest theatrical trailer has been released over at IGN. It’s based on the DC Comics property of the same name and features Josh Brolin in the title role. Check it out…

The film centers on a disfigured gunman (Brolin) who travels through the Old West kicking ass and taking names later. Fox stars as his love interest who also happens to be a prostitute, while John Malkovich plays the film’s main villain, an older gentleman named Quentin Turnbull who has a serious vendetta against Hex and will stop at nothing to see him dead. Michael Fassbender also makes and appearance as one of the bad guys who has several tattoos on his face. We don’t know what that’s all about.

Don’t forget to watch the first trailer if you haven’t already so you can compare and contrast what you’ve seen so far from the film. The one thing I’ve picked up on are all the bad southern accents. Those things are HORRIBLE!

Jonah Hex is directed by Jimmy Hayward and is scheduled to hit theaters on June 18, 2010.

What do you think of the second trailer for Jonah Hex?

Arrested Development Movie Shooting This Year?

Krystal Clark — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 01:37:59 +0000

Well, well, well it sounds like the Arrested Development movie cameras might start rolling sometime soon. One of the film’s co-star’s Will Arnett recently gave a quick update on when the actors are set to reprise their roles for the Bluth centered project. We’ve been hearing for months that the Arrested Development script is for lack of a better word, being “developed” and now a shoot date is in our grasp!

The actor spoke to ComingSoon, about the Arrested Development movie and revealed that they should start production on it some time this year. A 2010 production date, might mean a 2011 release date if everything goes according to plan. Arnett, as well as many of the other cast members from the show have been extremely busy since its cancellation in 2006. He along with Jason Bateman and Michael Cera have been on the ball for the past four years, so seeing them on the big screen together will be a real treat. Here’s what Arnett had to say about the movie…

“We are working on the movie right now, yeah… We don’t have a completed script yet, but it’s forthcoming and we’re going to make the movie this year. That’s the plan, said the actor in earnest, before deadpanning, “We’re hoping once Jason Bateman gets out of rehab. I think that we’re going to start shooting. Oh, was I not supposed to…? Please don’t air that.”

From his lips to the studio god’s ears. Hopefully, the planning for everything goes right and all the actor’s schedules will be clear at some point this year (I’m looking at you Michael Cera). We’ll see how this goes.

Do you think they’ll start production on the movie this year?

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men: Movie Review

Mali Elfman — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:37 +0000

I wrote a short response to John Krasinski’s directorial debut of Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, a few weeks ago and talked about the polarizing effect that this film has on it’s audience – chances are you will either love it or hate it. That being said, I walked out of the theater somewhat confused about what I had just seen, but I was also intrigued, and found that the film stayed with me for weeks to come.

It’s unique style, awareness of the camera, odd humor, long monologues, off-putting views towards rape and dark edges are not for everyone, but it will definitely satisfy a craving for something out of the ordinary…

The Players:

Director: John Krasinski
Written by: John Krasinski (screenplay) based on a novel by David Foster Wallace
Starring: Julianne Nicholson, Timothy Hutton, Will Arnett, John Krasinski, and Dominic Cooper

The Plot:

Based on David Foster Wallace’s novel of the same name, the film is about Sara Quinn, a doctoral candidate in anthropology at a prestigious East Coast university Sara Quinn, who confused by the way that men act, sets out to do a series of interviews with them in the name of academia. In hopes of better understanding, she finds herself becoming even more lost and she discovers much more about men and herself than she ever bargained for.

The Good:

The Balls: Instead of doing something safe, Krasinki really pushed the boundaries on his first film. From subject matter dealing with rape in a way we’re not used to, to his unique camera movements, nothing about this film fits the usual “first time film-maker” model. I applaud him for not going the safe rom-com route, but for coming up with something new and creative.
The Idea: The script has it’s ups and downs. In many ways it reminded me more of watching a play than a film, but overall the idea behind it — complete and brutal honesty — is interesting and if nothing else will lead you to that polarizing opinion I was talking about earlier.
Camera Movements: The cutting back and worth, the same monolgue being used in two places, and the interesting set ups, the chopped up monologues presented as one, at times reminded me of Confession’s of a Dangerous Mind, but was also its own unique thing that helped express the idea behind the story. It seemed to me that you were always aware that you were watching a film and you, like the lead character, could sit back and watch the insanity unravel.
Toying with the Viewer: The film is intended to make you uncomfortable alongside the main character. Just like her, we are sitting there, listening to people talk about difficult subject matter in a very theatrical way. It’s bound to get a response, if only because we’re not used to hearing it.
The Interviews: They are so odd and aggressive that they ring strangely truthful. When people are given the permission to say what they’re not supposed to say, it can be a rather interesting albeit unsettling experience.

The Bad (well not really bad):

John Krasinki Acting and Directing: He should either direct or act. He’s a great actor and with this film has proved he can direct, I’m not just sure if he should do both. His monologue at the end, though powerful fell flat at times and seemed in need of outside guidance.
Subject Matter: I found it interesting, but many people found it too uncomfortable and unnecessary to sit through and I see their point. I think there’s a fine line between art and entertainment and this film definitely walks that line. Whether it crosses it or not is up to you.
It’s Not a Comedy: Although this film is being marketed like a dark comedy, it is not in anyway a happy or comedic film. Hell, the author of the novel killed himself about a year ago. When people are truly honest it is at times funny but mainly it’s dark, sad, and at times pretty depressing to experience.

Overall:

It’s not for everyone, but it is a unique experience and worth the watch if you’re looking for a film to talk about.

Rating: 7/10

Check out the film in select theaters starting 9/25/09.

ScreenCrave.com » will arnett

Tribeca Film Fest 2012: Mansome – Movie Review

The Players:

Tribeca Synopsis:

The Good:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 3/10

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Rating: 5.5/10

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