Posts: 4,735
Threads: 904
Joined: May 2008
Reputation:
2
Hmm... no big endorsement. It was ok - very Coen Bros. I can't tell if they come up with a bunch of highly idiosyncratic characters and then wrap a story around them, or they come up with some crazy story, then sprinkle these characters in as seasonings.
It's very much in the flavor of Fargo, or their first movie "Blood Simple". It takes a long time to build the story and then put the pieces in motion. Once "it's happening", it's fun, but most of the bits hang like a rimshot. There are good bits, but it wasn't that memorable.
Wasn't impressed by Brad Pitt's performance. Malkovich was OK. Clooney was OK. Frances McDormant was OK. They've all done better work.
--tg
PS: I've been on some Coen Brothers kick for the last few weeks. I saw "No Country for Old Men", then I saw "Blood Simple" (which was very low budget, but I would recommend it for all its plot twists), and now this one...
Posts: 5,949
Threads: 1,014
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
0
It needed more JK Simmons. I agree about the characters and the plot. If you want to see Brad Pitt's performance just watch the trailers, there's not much more than that. Clooney was pretty funny especially his fascination for floors. As many reviewers have mentioned, this was the palate cleanser after "No Country For Old Men". Do you think Malkovich is getting tired of playing the spitting screaming crazy man.
Just to juxtapose the whole experience, I watched the end of Michael Clayton later on HBO. It was fun seeing Tilda Swinton and Clooney in polar opposite roles. Tilda is also in Burn.
So much for the flickr badge idea. Dammit
Posts: 6,577
Threads: 169
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
0
You want "early Coen Brothers" you should maybe check out the Best Movie Ever: Crimewave.
Trust me. Would I steer you wrong?
What? You want more? OK, try this: The Brothers Coen wrote it, but young Sam Raimi directed it.
Still not enough for you? Alright, you effete movie-watching bastard, dig this: Bruce Fucking Campbell.
There! BAM! Done! Best ever!
My work here is done.
Good night.
In the Tudor Period, Fencing Masters were classified in the Vagrancy Laws along with Actors, Gypsys, Vagabonds, Sturdy Rogues, and the owners of performing bears.
Posts: 33,874
Threads: 2,549
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
...mind you, i'm a clooney hater. the only thing i tolerate him in is coen bro flicks. pitt was funny. malkovich was spot on. mcdomand was lackluster, which is odd for her in a coen bro flick. tilda is damned to playing ice queens. who was that other dude? the one who got nominated for the oscar that everyone sees and no one remembers? he reminded me a lot of harry dean stanton in wild at heart.
the ending was very existential - which i've decided is a signature of coen bro flicks - but in this case, it a bit too existential to be satisfying.
barton fink has stuck w/me as the great coen bro flick...
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Posts: 1,238
Threads: 141
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
0
Drunk Monk Wrote:... tilda is damned to playing ice queens...
Intriguing, considering her real-world love life is rather dramatic. (The things I hear when people win Oscars!)
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
Posts: 33,874
Threads: 2,549
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
Just rewatched this and it struck us both as quite funny. I couldn't remember it at all. My movie memory is pretty weird these days. There are some films where I remember everything sharply. Then there are others that it's like watching them for the first time. Anyway, maybe it's pandemic blues that made this just what we needed to watch after our power outage. We laughed out loud a few times, which is all I ask from a comedy nowadays.
And don't get me wrong about Tilda. I love her work, especially her more quirky roles.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Posts: 15,844
Threads: 977
Joined: Jan 2016
Reputation:
1
Yep. I have no memory of watching this and yet there is my review.
What if the forum has gotten so big it can generate it's own posts? Maybe its the one selling shoes?
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm
Posts: 33,874
Threads: 2,549
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
So glad to hear that I’m not the only one.
I think it’s a side affect from when the men in black wipes our memories after those aliens molested us.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
