Saturday, December 24, 2011

Lucky- As much of a chance I wanted to give to Gil Cates Jr.'s off handed SXSW comedy, 'Lucky' really just isn't all that funny. Colin Hanks' performance seems remarkably offhanded, but I don't know if I want to blame him or the writers. I can't tell if I should pity him or fear him, since he is a goes from awkward quiet type to confident 'Dexter' type in only a few minutes time. With Ari Graynor, his romantic interest, she put on a nice performance, both a little zany and vulnerable. But honestly, none of the characters were really likable, which kind of puts a halt on a romantic comedy. How could you want Hanks and Graynor to end up together if they are both terrible people? It was not a waste of time, but I don't think I enjoyed it.



Rise of the Planet of the Apes- Like the first time I saw this film, I enjoyed it.



- Jeff Bassin

Tuesday August 9, 2011

Rise of the Planet of the Apes- This is a quality science fiction film that easily forgets the previous Tim Burton film. Outside of Andy Serkis, who is brilliant in his motion capture performance as the ape, Caesar, nobody else is fantastic but they all do their part and are effective at playing their roles. The movie shows a greater duration of its length in the perspective of Caesar, and tells more of its story as the idea of poor treatment towards animals that ought to be our equals. It's fascinating and makes you think, but audiences that would think that it's an action film will be mistaken and most likely a little disappointed. Despite its repetitive and redundant title (too many "of the"s for my taste), I would definitely recommend it.



The Change-Up- Funny but pretty bad. It's 'Freaky Friday' with dudes, and for dudes. Definitely a FDBD (think FUBU) film. There's plenty of sex, nudity, and shit jokes that make up this film. Some of it works really well... but most of it doesn't. It's a movie that gives you what you would expect. Which is kind of disappointing since you don't expect too much. Jason Bateman does a lot of complaining (even when he's supposed to be Ryan Reynolds' character in Bateman's body) and Ryan Reynolds does a lot of advising (especially when he's supposed to be Jason Bateman's character in Reynolds' body). Finally, Olivia Wilde makes her real life public image more appealing, by choosing to appeal to everything guys like this summer (in 'Cowboys and Aliens' and 'Tron: Legacy', she's appealing to nerds, and in this one, she's appealing to 'normal' or (SPIKE TV/MANswers type) dudes) while Leslie Mann ends up being the pitied wife with bowel issues. Yup, that's about it. It is watchable, but good? I think not.



- Jeff Bassin