We'll get to whether or not I liked the movie in a bit. First, I want to set up the movie itself. The plot is right out of The Dirty Dozen - a number of incarcerated super villains are given a chance to knock some years off their sentence by participating in undercover operations that might end with them not coming back. And as added incentive, they have little bombs injected into them to keep them on the straight and narrow.
The players are Harley Quinn - Joker's girlfriend, super smart, and certifiably crazy. Deadshot - A hired killer who never misses what he shoots at, and has a daughter who's the only person he cares about. Captain Boomerang - An Aussie who drinks a lot and throws trick boomerangs. Diablo - Basically DC's version of the Human Torch, who's a tortured soul because of what he did to his family. Killer Croc - A super strong crocodile looking fella. Slipknot - Apparently he can climb everything (and in the most unintentionally funny scene, he's introduced and we know immediately that he's cannon fodder). Enchantress - an ancient witch who is controlled by... the team's boss - Amanda Waller. She holds the Enchantress' heart in a box. The two "good" guys on the team are Katana - a Japanese swordswoman whose sword captures the souls of those it kills. And Rick Flag - A normal human who's in love with the Enchantress' human host. Whew. And that's not even talking about the Joker.
Here's my problem with the movie (and, yeah, I just thought it was okay) - it's one of characterization, and I don't know what I would do to change it. The two main characters of the movie are Harley Quinn and Deadshot. As played by Margot Robbie and Will Smith, they are as close to their comic counterparts as they possibly could be. But Harley Quinn is so crazy that I had a hard time sympathizing with her. And the opposite is true for Deadshot. He's so focused as Deadshot that I couldn't believe that someone who loves his daughter as much as he does would allow himself to be as bad as he's supposed to be.
That being said, the supporting bad guys kill it. Captain Boomerang is easily one of the best bad guys I've seen on screen in a while. He has no tortured history, he's unapologetic in his depravity, and he's an unabashed coward. In other words, he's perfect for the team. Diablo is perfectly tortured, and I believed everything he went through to get to this point. And Killer Croc has the perfect mix of menace and self-reflection. If the whole movie were about them, I probably would have enjoyed it that much more.
But the real elephant in the room is Jared Leto's Joker. And he's fine. He's not going to make anyone forget Heath Ledger's Joker (or even Cesar Romero's), but he is perfectly acceptable. The only problem is that while everyone thinks he's given short shrift in the film, he's a much bigger part of it than he should be. The whole premise of the movie is that these bad guys take on missions that no one else can do, and, yet, their first mission is one that it seems like any government agency could do. And their second mission (which is just a continuation of their first one), while it meets those requirements, doesn't have the gravitas that it should. It's probably because the big bad doesn't seem like much of a threat. But Joker is the monkey wrench that throws everything into upheaval. And if their mission was to catch Joker, or if he had more interactions with the other characters, then I might have been able to appreciate him that much more. But it seems like he's auditioning for his placement in a Harley Quinn movie.
It might seem like I didn't like the movie, but the acting in it really elevates the film. Viola Davis' Amanda Waller is just as brutal and conniving as the one in the comic. Robbie and Smith are spot on. And Joel Kinnaman really becomes the backbone of the film with just the right amount of gruffness and military precision. It's a solid film, but there wasn't a lot at stake for me, and I wanted to care more.
**1/2
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Day 1692 - Ghostbusters
There are going to be a lot of preconceived notions going into the new Ghostbusters movie. There are people who think any remake is going to be a bad idea. There are people who hold the first movie in such high esteem, that they won't even think about seeing a new version no matter who is in it. There are the chuckleheads who think an all female cast Ghostbusters is ridiculous. There are the people who don't like Melissa McCarthy.
As for me, I like the first movie. I watch it whenever it's on TV. I have the DVD and throw it in every once in a while. But it's not the be all, end all. I'm sometimes excited when a movie I love is remade. Peter Jackson remaking King Kong? I'm in. The remakes of Robocop and Total Recall? I saw 'em. (meh.) So when this one was announced, it never really bothered me.
My preconceived notions stem from the fact that I'm a fan of Kristen Wiig. I think she's a smart and clever actress, and I'll watch a Ghostbusters movie that has her in a leading role. I'm also a fan of the woman-centric narrative (Nancy Drew will always be better than the Hardy Boys). And I've enjoyed just about everything director Paul Feig has done.
And the movie is good. Not great. Not awful. Just good.
I think I had a little trouble during the first third of the film, because a couple weeks ago, my buddy John wanted me to match up the characters from the new movie to the old one (who was Ray, Egon, etc), and as I watched the movie, I realized there were no real analogs to the original characters. For better or worse (and in my opinion, better), this is a completely new take on the idea of what it means to be a Ghostbuster. It's not a remake. It's a new film, with new characters based on the same concept. Obviously there are going to be some callbacks to the previous film (stay all the way to the end past the credits), but this movie is its own creature.
Plot - Well, the plot is similar to the original in the setting up of the concept. Where it differs is in why the ghosts are active. There's an outside force actively making things happen. And since this is the era of easy to make computer effects, there's a mother of a blowout at the end.
Say what you will about the actresses in the film, but they run the gamut of emotions and energy. We're not talking too deep or anything, but the camaraderie that the women share is the glue of the film.
I realize Melissa McCarthy might not be everyone's cup of tea, but she very nicely underplays her role as team leader Abby. Wiig is solid throughout, although giving her character a bit more strength would have gone a long way. Leslie Jones' Patty is quite good at giving us the every(wo)man point of view. And then there's Kate McKinnon's Julian. She makes the weapons, she's got a wonderfully twisted worldview, and I wanted to like her character so, so much more than I actually did. It's not bad. It just seems a little... too twee. And I'm not sure where the fault lies. I think it's a combo between the script and interpretation.
Honestly, I was hoping that the movie would be a little funnier. When it gets the laughs right, it gets them right (Slimer is a real treat). But there's a lot of "just okay" and I don't know if that'll be enough. But the action sequences are pretty spot on. The prelude to the final battle is a rousing scene with some solid character bits.
So, a bit of a mixed bag for me. I might actually enjoy it more once I can focus on these ladies as their own characters. But the cameos - pretty great.
Somewhere in the **1/2 to *** range
As for me, I like the first movie. I watch it whenever it's on TV. I have the DVD and throw it in every once in a while. But it's not the be all, end all. I'm sometimes excited when a movie I love is remade. Peter Jackson remaking King Kong? I'm in. The remakes of Robocop and Total Recall? I saw 'em. (meh.) So when this one was announced, it never really bothered me.
My preconceived notions stem from the fact that I'm a fan of Kristen Wiig. I think she's a smart and clever actress, and I'll watch a Ghostbusters movie that has her in a leading role. I'm also a fan of the woman-centric narrative (Nancy Drew will always be better than the Hardy Boys). And I've enjoyed just about everything director Paul Feig has done.
And the movie is good. Not great. Not awful. Just good.
I think I had a little trouble during the first third of the film, because a couple weeks ago, my buddy John wanted me to match up the characters from the new movie to the old one (who was Ray, Egon, etc), and as I watched the movie, I realized there were no real analogs to the original characters. For better or worse (and in my opinion, better), this is a completely new take on the idea of what it means to be a Ghostbuster. It's not a remake. It's a new film, with new characters based on the same concept. Obviously there are going to be some callbacks to the previous film (stay all the way to the end past the credits), but this movie is its own creature.
Plot - Well, the plot is similar to the original in the setting up of the concept. Where it differs is in why the ghosts are active. There's an outside force actively making things happen. And since this is the era of easy to make computer effects, there's a mother of a blowout at the end.
Say what you will about the actresses in the film, but they run the gamut of emotions and energy. We're not talking too deep or anything, but the camaraderie that the women share is the glue of the film.
I realize Melissa McCarthy might not be everyone's cup of tea, but she very nicely underplays her role as team leader Abby. Wiig is solid throughout, although giving her character a bit more strength would have gone a long way. Leslie Jones' Patty is quite good at giving us the every(wo)man point of view. And then there's Kate McKinnon's Julian. She makes the weapons, she's got a wonderfully twisted worldview, and I wanted to like her character so, so much more than I actually did. It's not bad. It just seems a little... too twee. And I'm not sure where the fault lies. I think it's a combo between the script and interpretation.
Honestly, I was hoping that the movie would be a little funnier. When it gets the laughs right, it gets them right (Slimer is a real treat). But there's a lot of "just okay" and I don't know if that'll be enough. But the action sequences are pretty spot on. The prelude to the final battle is a rousing scene with some solid character bits.
So, a bit of a mixed bag for me. I might actually enjoy it more once I can focus on these ladies as their own characters. But the cameos - pretty great.
Somewhere in the **1/2 to *** range
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Day 1673 - Summer television
I have a lot of paper lying (laying?) around the house, with half-finished thoughts scrawled on them. I would write on here more often if I actually started those thoughts on the computer versus actual paper. And even now I have a number of unfinished thoughts. I want to write about books and TV shows. Not movies, though, because I haven't really watched a bunch recently. And there's nothing that I am jonesing to see. I want to see Finding Dory, Independence Day, and Now You See Me 2, but I'm having a hard time motivating myself to go to the theater. I'm sure they'll all be fine, and maybe even better than that, but I want something that's going to transport me and fill me with awe that sometimes only a summer blockbuster can do. And, amazingly, Tarzan seems like it might do that. Each new trailer makes it look better than the previous one. But until that comes out, there's TV.
I've been watching BrainDead on Monday nights starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Tony Shalhoub. It's such a breath of fresh air (for me) to watch a show that's as canny about politics as it is about alien ants taking over all of Washington infecting people by crawling into their brains. Sometimes it doesn't work out and a head might explode. CBS was promoting it more as a comedy than anything else, and while it does make me smile, I find it more of a sly science fiction series that's instilling the right amount of dread and hopelessness that a show like this needs in order to remain compelling. I have no idea how (or if) the good guys are going to win, but I can't wait to see what they're going to do next.
I also finished Friday Night Lights Season One. Yeah, yeah - for all those of you who have already watched it, you know how good it is. I'm finally jumping on the bandwagon. For those of you who haven't watched it, you probably should. It's pretty great. I've got season two sitting here from the library, and I feel that once I start, then I might be incommunicado for the following week. It's both intimidating and exciting.
Finally, there was the ScyFy show The Expanse that came out last year. The first season was 10 episodes long, and that seems like the perfect length. Apparently it's based off a series of books and season one is based off book one. It's a compelling story because it follows three different factions (Earth, Mars, and the Belt) and people from each of them as they get tangled in a conspiracy and end up on a collision course. The season finale is a great episode that gives us all the pieces that we need in order to know what the conspiracy actually is, as well bringing the main characters together. Space opera at it's finest, because it has some great spaceships, but its real strengths are its characters. Flawed and broken people who are just trying to do the right thing.
As for books, I've been on a tear recently. I'm in the two books at a time mode that I haven't been in a while. It feels great. Currently I'm reading Transparent by Natalie Whipple (a dollar store buy) and Neil Gaiman's American Gods. And comics - so many comics. It feels great.
I've been watching BrainDead on Monday nights starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Tony Shalhoub. It's such a breath of fresh air (for me) to watch a show that's as canny about politics as it is about alien ants taking over all of Washington infecting people by crawling into their brains. Sometimes it doesn't work out and a head might explode. CBS was promoting it more as a comedy than anything else, and while it does make me smile, I find it more of a sly science fiction series that's instilling the right amount of dread and hopelessness that a show like this needs in order to remain compelling. I have no idea how (or if) the good guys are going to win, but I can't wait to see what they're going to do next.
I also finished Friday Night Lights Season One. Yeah, yeah - for all those of you who have already watched it, you know how good it is. I'm finally jumping on the bandwagon. For those of you who haven't watched it, you probably should. It's pretty great. I've got season two sitting here from the library, and I feel that once I start, then I might be incommunicado for the following week. It's both intimidating and exciting.
Finally, there was the ScyFy show The Expanse that came out last year. The first season was 10 episodes long, and that seems like the perfect length. Apparently it's based off a series of books and season one is based off book one. It's a compelling story because it follows three different factions (Earth, Mars, and the Belt) and people from each of them as they get tangled in a conspiracy and end up on a collision course. The season finale is a great episode that gives us all the pieces that we need in order to know what the conspiracy actually is, as well bringing the main characters together. Space opera at it's finest, because it has some great spaceships, but its real strengths are its characters. Flawed and broken people who are just trying to do the right thing.
As for books, I've been on a tear recently. I'm in the two books at a time mode that I haven't been in a while. It feels great. Currently I'm reading Transparent by Natalie Whipple (a dollar store buy) and Neil Gaiman's American Gods. And comics - so many comics. It feels great.
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Day 1666 - Father's Day and the scariest book I've ever read
I am absolutely dying here, as I (like I presume most Clevelanders) am watching the NBA Finals. It might be the quickest way to incite a heart attack. So I've decided to distract myself a little.
I was talking with my buddy Kevin yesterday about what it means to be a dad today vs 30 years ago. He's a dad to three kids,and we talked about how you connect with your kids and how much time you get to spend with them. And I thought about my dad. His influence is all over everything I do (and like). He taught me how to play baseball (and I loved it and was good at it). He taught me the history of the sport. He bought me baseball cards (lots and lots of baseball cards). And Star Wars cards and King Kong cards. He took me to baseball card shows and even let me set up my own table at some of them. It was great earning my own money selling off stuff that I didn't need. He even coached my 5th grade basketball team, even though I was pretty terrible at the sport. And today, he's helping me with my Amazing Spider-Man collection (in return, I get him coverless Batman and Superman stories from the 50's and 60's because he likes the stories).
But one of the coolest things he's done is get me books that I politely ask for during birthdays or Christmas. One year I asked for Edward Levy's Came a Spider. I first read this during my senior year of college. I was at the Athens' library and I saw the title and picked it up off the shelf. I had read James Patterson's Along Came a Spider within the last year, and I'm sure that's why I picked it up. Came a Spider was about a big tarantula-type spider that attacks a young boy, injects its eggs into him, and then they burst out of him and attack a suburban L.A. town. For someone who grew up on movies like Them!, Tarantula, and The Deadly Mantis, this was right up my alley.
One sitting.
I read the whole thing in one sitting in my dorm room that day. As I started, my legs were out and it was light out. By the time I finished the book, it was dark and my legs were curled up under me, and I was probably in the smallest possible human ball as I could be in. My heart was racing, and I knew I had experienced something special. It's probably tied with my experiences of reading Stephen King's The Stand and Gordon Koman's I Want to go Home. Since it was a library book, it had to go back (although the thought did cross my mind to tell the library I "lost" it). So, years later, I asked my dad to get a copy for me for Christmas. It took a couple sittings to get through that time, but I still loved the book. I started it again this afternoon, and if it weren't for this game, I'd be reading it right now (although maybe not, since Game of Thrones is on). But every time I pick up the book, I will always thank my dad for getting it for me.
Happy Father's Day, Pop!
I was talking with my buddy Kevin yesterday about what it means to be a dad today vs 30 years ago. He's a dad to three kids,and we talked about how you connect with your kids and how much time you get to spend with them. And I thought about my dad. His influence is all over everything I do (and like). He taught me how to play baseball (and I loved it and was good at it). He taught me the history of the sport. He bought me baseball cards (lots and lots of baseball cards). And Star Wars cards and King Kong cards. He took me to baseball card shows and even let me set up my own table at some of them. It was great earning my own money selling off stuff that I didn't need. He even coached my 5th grade basketball team, even though I was pretty terrible at the sport. And today, he's helping me with my Amazing Spider-Man collection (in return, I get him coverless Batman and Superman stories from the 50's and 60's because he likes the stories).
But one of the coolest things he's done is get me books that I politely ask for during birthdays or Christmas. One year I asked for Edward Levy's Came a Spider. I first read this during my senior year of college. I was at the Athens' library and I saw the title and picked it up off the shelf. I had read James Patterson's Along Came a Spider within the last year, and I'm sure that's why I picked it up. Came a Spider was about a big tarantula-type spider that attacks a young boy, injects its eggs into him, and then they burst out of him and attack a suburban L.A. town. For someone who grew up on movies like Them!, Tarantula, and The Deadly Mantis, this was right up my alley.
One sitting.
I read the whole thing in one sitting in my dorm room that day. As I started, my legs were out and it was light out. By the time I finished the book, it was dark and my legs were curled up under me, and I was probably in the smallest possible human ball as I could be in. My heart was racing, and I knew I had experienced something special. It's probably tied with my experiences of reading Stephen King's The Stand and Gordon Koman's I Want to go Home. Since it was a library book, it had to go back (although the thought did cross my mind to tell the library I "lost" it). So, years later, I asked my dad to get a copy for me for Christmas. It took a couple sittings to get through that time, but I still loved the book. I started it again this afternoon, and if it weren't for this game, I'd be reading it right now (although maybe not, since Game of Thrones is on). But every time I pick up the book, I will always thank my dad for getting it for me.
Happy Father's Day, Pop!
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Day 1658 - Money, money, money (but more of a lack thereof)
Remember that ALS ice bucket challenge from a few years ago? Well, I get to do that for the next few days as apparently my hot water is not working at all. I went to clean the kitty litter this morning, and as I walked towards the box, my foot went "goosh"onto the little rug I have near there. My hot water tank was leaking from the top, which meant that I had to change the fittings on the hot water tank, not the tank itself (thankfully). Three hours and some jury-rigging later the leaking has stopped, but now the hot water isn't working. Honestly, while it sucks, I'd rather have that than the excess water. I have a plumber coming Wednesday to see if we can get all this straightened out. I just hope it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg.
But all that just really caps the last couple of weeks of money suckage. A few weeks ago I got a speeding ticket. It was on a residential road, and it was from a state trooper. Nope. Not getting out of that one. I sent in my 200 bucks, but apparently it arrived a day late, because I discovered a new type of fear (and a new experience) - that of having a warrant being served out for my arrest. Thankfully that only lasted one day, but it's still disconcerting getting that notice in the mail.
I feel like the worst movie fan in the world, because I've barely been to the theater to see anything. I still haven't seen X-Men, and I feel like, no matter how bad it might be (and at least we know it's not going to be Superman vs Batman bad) it's a movie I really need to see in the theater. And previous to the last few months, I might have gone on a non-discount day, but now there's very little chance of that.
The silver lining in all of this are a few things - I've been watching Friday Night Lights Season One and it's as good as everyone says it was. I've been reading more comics than I have in a while (so much good stuff out there). And I've actually gotten more sleep than I have in a while. It's not a lot, but I'll take it.
It's weird. I can really get down on myself sometimes, and with circumstances like these it would be easy to do that now. But I'm doing okay. Sure things could be better (when can they not?), but I guess I'll be okay.
But all that just really caps the last couple of weeks of money suckage. A few weeks ago I got a speeding ticket. It was on a residential road, and it was from a state trooper. Nope. Not getting out of that one. I sent in my 200 bucks, but apparently it arrived a day late, because I discovered a new type of fear (and a new experience) - that of having a warrant being served out for my arrest. Thankfully that only lasted one day, but it's still disconcerting getting that notice in the mail.
I feel like the worst movie fan in the world, because I've barely been to the theater to see anything. I still haven't seen X-Men, and I feel like, no matter how bad it might be (and at least we know it's not going to be Superman vs Batman bad) it's a movie I really need to see in the theater. And previous to the last few months, I might have gone on a non-discount day, but now there's very little chance of that.
The silver lining in all of this are a few things - I've been watching Friday Night Lights Season One and it's as good as everyone says it was. I've been reading more comics than I have in a while (so much good stuff out there). And I've actually gotten more sleep than I have in a while. It's not a lot, but I'll take it.
It's weird. I can really get down on myself sometimes, and with circumstances like these it would be easy to do that now. But I'm doing okay. Sure things could be better (when can they not?), but I guess I'll be okay.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Day 1635 - I've never walked out of a movie, but I've seen people who have.
As I'm sure you can tell, I've watched a lot of movies. I'm nowhere near some people, because I work a ton, and try to read a lot as well. But I have probably seen more than most. In all that time, whenever I've gone to a theater, I've never walked out of a film. The closest I ever came was when I saw 10 Things I Hate About You. The mediocre Heath Ledger/Julia Stiles Shakespeare in high school flick. I had already seen something beforehand, and decided to hop into that theater for a double feature. (I'm a scofflaw, I know.) The first ten minutes of that film were so excruciating, that I almost left the theater. Instead, I stayed, and the movie got better. It's not a classic, but I didn't feel like I wasted my time. But I did almost leave.
So, instead of writing about something current, I thought I would spend some time writing about the times where I've been in a movie theater and seen people leave, never to return. I've written about this topic before (briefly), but I find it fascinating, so I thought I'd revisit it.
The very first time I experienced someone walking out of a film was during Katt Shea's Streets. The year was 1990. Probably January or February. Married... With Children was on Fox and to this 17 year old, Christina Applegate was the hottest woman on the planet. And she was starring in a film where she played a prostitute being stalked by a killer cop. There was no way I wasn't going to see that movie. I was also savvy enough to know that I had a mere one week window to see this film, because there was no way it was going to last longer than that in the theater. I feel that I saw it on a Wednesday or Thursday (probably Thursday). There were two people in the theater. Myself and an older gentleman (we'll say somewhere between 30 and 50) made the trek. The movie started, and pretty quickly you could tell that this wasn't your normal exploitation film. The movie had much more on its mind than simple exploitation. It was tragic, violent, and gripping. I was immediately able to shift gears as I was watching the film (something I'm still able to do today, thank goodness). That guy who was in the theater with me, though? Nope. After about an hour, he got up and left. I have the feeling he was hoping for something way more salacious than what he was given. I know that's what got me in the seat. But personally, while the movie may have it's flaws, I consider to be a true undiscovered classic.
Then there was the college experience. This one wasn't in a theater, it was in a classroom. In one of my film classes, the teacher was going to show us a movie called Sweet Movie. He prefaced it by saying that it was pretty extreme, and if anyone decided at any point that they wanted to leave, it wouldn't be held against them. People have asked me since why he was showing it to us. That explanation has been lost to the sands of time. All I know is that I wish I had left. I feel that about a half dozen students left at some point or another. I stuck it out. Sadly. It was, and still is, the most disturbing film I've ever seen. I do not recommend it. I don't recommend searching it out. I'm still gobsmacked by the fact that it's part of the Criterion Collection. I know there's worse movies out there, but I also make it a point to not experience them. I know better. I'm all for expanding my boundaries, as it were, but on my own terms. I even opted to revisit it at one point a few years ago, just to see if I was being a wuss (and be a glutton for punishment, apparently). I made it through the first 20 minutes, and then I tapped out. I blame no one for leaving that one.
Post-college Happiness happened. There was a group of us who went to see Todd Solondz' Happiness. I loved Welcome to the Dollhouse, his previous film, and this one was getting rave reviews. It's possibly the bleakest film ever made. None of us liked it. Obviously, it made an impact, but I still don't like the movie. And, apparently, neither did the audience. It wasn't just one or two people who left. It was a steady stream of people. It was like each successive person was going, "I just sat through that scene, so I should be good. Oh, crap! I'm out!" And it wasn't just any one scene that got people out of the theater, it was the movie itself. Again, those people were smarter than we were.
By far, the most dramatic exit came during City of God. This is an amazing film that follows a group of kids living on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. Some aspire to a better life, and some just aspire to live. It's legitimately a great film. In a movie filled with scenes that would bring lesser people to their knees, there is an astonishingly tense scene where a little kid (6 years old or so) is holding a gun, all ready to shoot. There was a guy in the theater who literally jumped out of his seat and ran out. My buddies and I looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders, and nodded in silent agreement. No judgment, dude. I get it.
How about The Aristocrats? It's a documentary about the filthiest joke ever. It's not a funny joke, but the idea is that comedians use its template to one up each other in debauchery. My buddy Kevin and I went to see it at the Cedar Lee Theatre on a Monday night, so there was a pretty decent crowd. Signs were posted throughout the entire theater telling patrons that The Aristocrats was Unrated, and no children under 17 were permitted. Also, the signs seemed to tell you what you were in for. Sometimes signs don't work. Within the first 10 minutes or so, there was a mass exodus of people. I feel that it was about twenty people or so who fully underestimated what they were in for, and made a mad dash for the exit. But after that initial rush, not a single person left after that. We were the ones who knew what we paid for.
One of the weirder walk-outs was during the film Compliance. This is a staggering piece that would seem fantastic if the reality it was based on wasn't so incredible. It's about a fast food worker who's sequestered from the other employees because a guy on the phone, identifying himself as a cop, says she's been stealing from the register. He has the manager search her, and more. It's shocking, depressing, and jaw-dropping. A few people left as the movie went on. But most interestingly was the couple in front of me. At a certain point in the movie, she got up, whispered something to her companion, and left. He stayed and she never came back. I had never seen anything like that before...
Until it happened to me. The movie was A Walk Among the Tombstones, the film adaptation of Lawrence Block's novel starring Liam Neeson. The subject matter is dark, the movie is grimy, and the buddy I went to the movie with was clearly getting uncomfortable as the movie was going on. And just as the movie was getting to its darkest point, he got up, said, "Sorry" and left. I didn't know what to do. Do I follow? Do I stay? Was he coming back? Was he really gone? I stayed. The movie, from that point on, got considerably less bleak, but he wasn't coming back. I didn't blame him for leaving, and he didn't blame me for staying. It was just one of those things.
People have their own thresholds for movies. I know people who've left a movie because they thought it was boring. I know others who've left because they thought the movie was bereft of any merit. I'm not really a fan of those excuses, but I understand them. I'd just prefer to see someone get so upset or pissed at the film that they have to leave. I want the movie to provoke them. That makes things fun. Out of the movies I've seen people walk out of, they're all challenging, but only two of them are ones I hated. But the others are what I would consider "good." As a spectator, I guess I just like seeing what's pushing people's buttons.
So, instead of writing about something current, I thought I would spend some time writing about the times where I've been in a movie theater and seen people leave, never to return. I've written about this topic before (briefly), but I find it fascinating, so I thought I'd revisit it.
The very first time I experienced someone walking out of a film was during Katt Shea's Streets. The year was 1990. Probably January or February. Married... With Children was on Fox and to this 17 year old, Christina Applegate was the hottest woman on the planet. And she was starring in a film where she played a prostitute being stalked by a killer cop. There was no way I wasn't going to see that movie. I was also savvy enough to know that I had a mere one week window to see this film, because there was no way it was going to last longer than that in the theater. I feel that I saw it on a Wednesday or Thursday (probably Thursday). There were two people in the theater. Myself and an older gentleman (we'll say somewhere between 30 and 50) made the trek. The movie started, and pretty quickly you could tell that this wasn't your normal exploitation film. The movie had much more on its mind than simple exploitation. It was tragic, violent, and gripping. I was immediately able to shift gears as I was watching the film (something I'm still able to do today, thank goodness). That guy who was in the theater with me, though? Nope. After about an hour, he got up and left. I have the feeling he was hoping for something way more salacious than what he was given. I know that's what got me in the seat. But personally, while the movie may have it's flaws, I consider to be a true undiscovered classic.
Then there was the college experience. This one wasn't in a theater, it was in a classroom. In one of my film classes, the teacher was going to show us a movie called Sweet Movie. He prefaced it by saying that it was pretty extreme, and if anyone decided at any point that they wanted to leave, it wouldn't be held against them. People have asked me since why he was showing it to us. That explanation has been lost to the sands of time. All I know is that I wish I had left. I feel that about a half dozen students left at some point or another. I stuck it out. Sadly. It was, and still is, the most disturbing film I've ever seen. I do not recommend it. I don't recommend searching it out. I'm still gobsmacked by the fact that it's part of the Criterion Collection. I know there's worse movies out there, but I also make it a point to not experience them. I know better. I'm all for expanding my boundaries, as it were, but on my own terms. I even opted to revisit it at one point a few years ago, just to see if I was being a wuss (and be a glutton for punishment, apparently). I made it through the first 20 minutes, and then I tapped out. I blame no one for leaving that one.
Post-college Happiness happened. There was a group of us who went to see Todd Solondz' Happiness. I loved Welcome to the Dollhouse, his previous film, and this one was getting rave reviews. It's possibly the bleakest film ever made. None of us liked it. Obviously, it made an impact, but I still don't like the movie. And, apparently, neither did the audience. It wasn't just one or two people who left. It was a steady stream of people. It was like each successive person was going, "I just sat through that scene, so I should be good. Oh, crap! I'm out!" And it wasn't just any one scene that got people out of the theater, it was the movie itself. Again, those people were smarter than we were.
By far, the most dramatic exit came during City of God. This is an amazing film that follows a group of kids living on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. Some aspire to a better life, and some just aspire to live. It's legitimately a great film. In a movie filled with scenes that would bring lesser people to their knees, there is an astonishingly tense scene where a little kid (6 years old or so) is holding a gun, all ready to shoot. There was a guy in the theater who literally jumped out of his seat and ran out. My buddies and I looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders, and nodded in silent agreement. No judgment, dude. I get it.
How about The Aristocrats? It's a documentary about the filthiest joke ever. It's not a funny joke, but the idea is that comedians use its template to one up each other in debauchery. My buddy Kevin and I went to see it at the Cedar Lee Theatre on a Monday night, so there was a pretty decent crowd. Signs were posted throughout the entire theater telling patrons that The Aristocrats was Unrated, and no children under 17 were permitted. Also, the signs seemed to tell you what you were in for. Sometimes signs don't work. Within the first 10 minutes or so, there was a mass exodus of people. I feel that it was about twenty people or so who fully underestimated what they were in for, and made a mad dash for the exit. But after that initial rush, not a single person left after that. We were the ones who knew what we paid for.
One of the weirder walk-outs was during the film Compliance. This is a staggering piece that would seem fantastic if the reality it was based on wasn't so incredible. It's about a fast food worker who's sequestered from the other employees because a guy on the phone, identifying himself as a cop, says she's been stealing from the register. He has the manager search her, and more. It's shocking, depressing, and jaw-dropping. A few people left as the movie went on. But most interestingly was the couple in front of me. At a certain point in the movie, she got up, whispered something to her companion, and left. He stayed and she never came back. I had never seen anything like that before...
Until it happened to me. The movie was A Walk Among the Tombstones, the film adaptation of Lawrence Block's novel starring Liam Neeson. The subject matter is dark, the movie is grimy, and the buddy I went to the movie with was clearly getting uncomfortable as the movie was going on. And just as the movie was getting to its darkest point, he got up, said, "Sorry" and left. I didn't know what to do. Do I follow? Do I stay? Was he coming back? Was he really gone? I stayed. The movie, from that point on, got considerably less bleak, but he wasn't coming back. I didn't blame him for leaving, and he didn't blame me for staying. It was just one of those things.
People have their own thresholds for movies. I know people who've left a movie because they thought it was boring. I know others who've left because they thought the movie was bereft of any merit. I'm not really a fan of those excuses, but I understand them. I'd just prefer to see someone get so upset or pissed at the film that they have to leave. I want the movie to provoke them. That makes things fun. Out of the movies I've seen people walk out of, they're all challenging, but only two of them are ones I hated. But the others are what I would consider "good." As a spectator, I guess I just like seeing what's pushing people's buttons.
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Day 1631 - Terry Jones and Monty Python and The Meaning of Life
When I was growing up, I never watched "R" rated movies. This was both a personal choice and some good parenting (not that I'm knocking the parents that allowed their kids to watch "R" rated movies under their own supervision). Through age 16 I watched a lot of movies from the '30's to present. I got a quality film education, at least in my own eyes. But then there came the fateful day when I borrowed a videotape from a neighbor that had both Monty Python's The Meaning of Life and Robocop on it. I'm sure I've told the story before, but it's fun enough to tell again. Both movies blew my mind. I'll talk about Robocop some other time. Tonight it's all about The Meaning of Life.
But before I get into that, let me back up a few years. From grades 1 through 4 I went to Catholic school. Every once in a while they would show us a movie (maybe the teachers needed a break). And it was always the same three movies: The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (pretty self-explanatory), The Devil at 4 O'Clock (Spencer Tracy and Frank Sinatra versus a volcano), and Oliver! (a musical version of Oliver Twist) Being anywhere between the ages of 6 and 9 when I saw these, I thought they were all fine. But there was something about the musical Oliver! that grabbed me. Besides the music (which I can still hum today), I'm sure Oliver Reed's Bill Sikes and Shani Wallis' Nancy were part of the equation.
Fast forward a couple of years. I was at my cousin Scott's house, and he was showing me Monty Python and the Holy Grail for the very first time. Watching that movie with someone saying every line as it was being spoken is not the optimum viewing experience. I walked away from the experience underwhelmed.
Then I watched The Meaning of Life.
I saw it on the big screen a few years ago at the Capitol Theatre, and the guy in charge of choosing the cult movies was disappointed in the turnout. There were not many of us there, whereas Holy Grail and Life of Brian really packed them in. That's okay. I'm ecstatic that I got to see my favorite Python movie on the big screen.
For those of you who have never seen The Meaning of Life, it's a series of sketches detailing the different stages of life, from birth to death. It's filled with fantastic songs, unforgettable scenes, and maybe as much blood and gore as Robocop. It's interspersed with odd and sometimes off-putting sequences (that interlude ranks up there as one of the strangest things I've ever seen). And once you've seen Mr Creosote, you can never un-see him.
Up until this point, I had never (ever) seen anything as bold and graphic as this film. Whether it warped me for life or opened my eyes to what movies can do, I leave up to you. But, suffice to say, after that initial viewing, I don't think I was ever the same again.
But what really makes Meaning of Life sing for me (figuratively and literally) is the insanely long and brilliantly choreographed number "Every Sperm is Sacred." It's completely reminiscent of any one of the musical numbers in Oliver! and I immediately gravitated towards it. And it made me laugh when I found out that director Terry Jones spent most of the movie's budget on only that scene.
Which brings us to today. That's when I decided to take a road trip to Michigan and go to the Motor City Comic Con. Terry Jones would be there signing autographs for a mere 40 bucks. I hemmed and I hawed, but ultimately it comes down to this - when am I ever going to get a chance to see him (or any other member of Monty Python) ever again? Let alone, tell him how much I love The Meaning of Life.
There was no line. None. I walked right up to him. That's insane! This man is a true comic legend, and I got to shake his hand and tell him how much his work has impacted me, and I wasn't rushed at all. I don't understand it. I'm happy to have made the trip. It was worth it in every way, but the fact that I think one of the Power Rangers had a bigger line than he did makes me sad. But then I remember his smile as he shook my hand, and a warm feeling flows over me.
But before I get into that, let me back up a few years. From grades 1 through 4 I went to Catholic school. Every once in a while they would show us a movie (maybe the teachers needed a break). And it was always the same three movies: The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (pretty self-explanatory), The Devil at 4 O'Clock (Spencer Tracy and Frank Sinatra versus a volcano), and Oliver! (a musical version of Oliver Twist) Being anywhere between the ages of 6 and 9 when I saw these, I thought they were all fine. But there was something about the musical Oliver! that grabbed me. Besides the music (which I can still hum today), I'm sure Oliver Reed's Bill Sikes and Shani Wallis' Nancy were part of the equation.
Fast forward a couple of years. I was at my cousin Scott's house, and he was showing me Monty Python and the Holy Grail for the very first time. Watching that movie with someone saying every line as it was being spoken is not the optimum viewing experience. I walked away from the experience underwhelmed.
Then I watched The Meaning of Life.
I saw it on the big screen a few years ago at the Capitol Theatre, and the guy in charge of choosing the cult movies was disappointed in the turnout. There were not many of us there, whereas Holy Grail and Life of Brian really packed them in. That's okay. I'm ecstatic that I got to see my favorite Python movie on the big screen.
For those of you who have never seen The Meaning of Life, it's a series of sketches detailing the different stages of life, from birth to death. It's filled with fantastic songs, unforgettable scenes, and maybe as much blood and gore as Robocop. It's interspersed with odd and sometimes off-putting sequences (that interlude ranks up there as one of the strangest things I've ever seen). And once you've seen Mr Creosote, you can never un-see him.
Up until this point, I had never (ever) seen anything as bold and graphic as this film. Whether it warped me for life or opened my eyes to what movies can do, I leave up to you. But, suffice to say, after that initial viewing, I don't think I was ever the same again.
But what really makes Meaning of Life sing for me (figuratively and literally) is the insanely long and brilliantly choreographed number "Every Sperm is Sacred." It's completely reminiscent of any one of the musical numbers in Oliver! and I immediately gravitated towards it. And it made me laugh when I found out that director Terry Jones spent most of the movie's budget on only that scene.
Which brings us to today. That's when I decided to take a road trip to Michigan and go to the Motor City Comic Con. Terry Jones would be there signing autographs for a mere 40 bucks. I hemmed and I hawed, but ultimately it comes down to this - when am I ever going to get a chance to see him (or any other member of Monty Python) ever again? Let alone, tell him how much I love The Meaning of Life.
There was no line. None. I walked right up to him. That's insane! This man is a true comic legend, and I got to shake his hand and tell him how much his work has impacted me, and I wasn't rushed at all. I don't understand it. I'm happy to have made the trip. It was worth it in every way, but the fact that I think one of the Power Rangers had a bigger line than he did makes me sad. But then I remember his smile as he shook my hand, and a warm feeling flows over me.
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