Well, after all the super-dramatic Oscar movies, I decided to mix things up a bit with a comedy, an action/drama, a bad horror film and a western. Some of which also turned out to be super-dramatic, but in a good way.I wanted to check out The Baxter because I have been a fan of Michael Showalter ("Reno 911") since he
stared in the sketch comedy "The State" on MTV many years ago. He wrote Wet Hot American Summer, one of my favorite parody films. And so, I had high hopes for this sort-of romantic comedy. He also wrote this film, his directorial debut, and it has some of the laugh-out-loudedness as WHAS, but not as much. The plot follows this really dorky guy, Showalter, as he bumbles into a relationship and how things then go awry. The acting is pretty good. I didn't even mind Michelle Williams ("Brokeback Mountain") that much. And a bunch of The State guys pop up. But this comedy was just a bit lacking. So, if it's on TV, or you've got a free rental, check it out.Heat is one of those modern-day classics that I've always meant to check out. I mean Pacino vs. De Niro? What took me so long? Al Pacino ("Two for the Money") plays the cop trying to catch Robert De Niro ("The Good Shepherd")'s thief. The film is full of heavy weight actors and director Michael Mann ("Miami Vice") starts us out strong with a armored car hijacking, then brings it back down with some character development. And then speeds it back up with what my husband calls the best shoot-out of all time. And it is pretty spectacular. Then the coffee house scene where Pacino and De Niro just talk, face to face. Fascinating. It also sparked a debate between my husband and myself over who is the better actor. I'm on the Pacino side. He's for De Niro. It's a face off. Anyway, if you've been putting this off, wait no longer. It is truly classic.Then, The Sisterhood. Wow. When I go bad, I go bad. Director David DeCoteau ("Witches of the Caribbean") has a long, long list of horror films on his imdb bio. Many of which are direct to video. Just like The Sisterhood. This movie is just a mess of soft-core lesbian porn, bad acting and no blood or gore. Except for the actors slaughtering their lines. It's awful. I love a secret society movie, but this is awful. Just don't watch it.But the gloriousness of The Proposition has almost washed it from my mind. Set in rural Australia during the early 19th Century, the plot follows Captain Stanley, played by Ray Winstone ("The Departed"), as he tries to apprehend the eldest brother of the Burns gang, responsible for some heinous crimes. Even though the proposition occurs in the first scene, I don't want to give it all away. But Guy Pearce ("Factory Girl") stars as the middle brother and Capt. Stanley puts him a very awkward position. The landscape is gorgeous. The acting superb, especially Winstone. I loved it. Watch it now.
March 5, 2007
