WHATEVER WORKS (2009)

Written & Directed By: Woody Allen
Cinematography By: Harris Savides
Editor: Alisa Lepselter

CAST: Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson, Ed Begley Jr., Samantha Bee, Michael McKean  

The film feels more like a play then a film just a play that uses a lot of exterior locations. Not that good of a play but a ok farce. The film just feels lazy like it has no energy. Which is a shame as it was coming off a Actual good film VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA

The main Attraction to see the Film is star Larry David but the results are not quite as good as you would think it would be. While playing a character it’s not too much a departure from him playing himself. Only here he is more of a downer and a scientist.

Usually in films the main character is supposed to change or at least learn a lesson from the beginning to the end. Here his character is basically the same and learns nothing. He just changes his outlook a bit.

The Film is about a cynical Scientist who decides to take in a southern runaway and marries her then all of a sudden her parents come to new york to be reunited with her and take her back home and find themselves under the spell of New York to change there lives and be there true selves.

Woody Allen has said that this was not a new script he wrote recently but a script he wrote in the seventies that he never really finished so he stuck it in a drawer and only recently found it and finished it. Maybe there was a good reason he hid it away back then. He was a lot sharper of mind and probably realized it wasn’t that good or original so e hid it away now he seems to be running out of steam so he finally makes it because he really can’t think of anything. That is also how the film plays no insight or effort it just lays there. While some of the ideas are still there and funny it feels uninspired.

One of the main problems of the film is that there never seems to be anything at risk for any of the characters in any way shape or form. No emotional changes they just seem to exist and very few things happen then they change slightly. The only real change is in lifestyle for the two supporting characters who come to New York and stop being repressed and open up to a new lifestyle. Yet it happens so quick and gimmicky it just feels false.

Even the ending is too neatly wrapped up in a cute cookie cutter kind of way.    

I am a huge woody Allen fan and a big Larry David film and found this disappointing not as bad as Allen’s recent dreadful output but not too much better either. As usual it has it’s charms but if the film was made by any other director it would be considered subpar. It’s only noteworthy because of Mr. Allen and Mr. David. Watch only if you are a completist.

 GRADE: D

PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE

Directed By: Lee Daniels
Written By: Geoffrey Fletcher
Cinematography By: Andrew Dunn
Editor: Joe Klotz

CAST: Gabourey Sibibe, Monique, Paula Patton, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey

Yes that is truly the whole film title.

The film is a emotional rollercoaster. While not as depressing as I thought it would be. It is a truly dark film.

If you have seen Lee Daniels Previous films As Director (Shadow Boxer) or Producer (Monster’s Ball, The Woodsman) you would know he is drawn to these types of subjects. While He is not the greatest directors he does have a talent for bringing out amazing performances from actors you would never think had it in them.

This film makes you feel all over the place in different scenes. You will Feel Happy, Hopeful, Mad and Sad. It’s a film you have to experience more then anyone can describe it to you. It certainly had a effect on the audience I watched it with. The audience could hardly contain there reactions to the film, Scenes and characters. I’m not going to bore you with the plot you can look it up and the film is honestly better the less you know going in. This is definitely not a movie for kids. Not even to take as a lesson of hope. 

Each Scene that involves precious and her mother feels like a old west showdown. The Two titans in one room circling each other each with there hands on there guns. Only the mother has the home court advantage as she is scary and she never gets up out of her chair. It’s almost like a horror film the tension is always that thick between the two of them.  

Some of the artistic flourishes get a little annoying but you get through those easily enough. at times it seems like it is trying to hard in those scenes but understandable if you look at them as metaphors.

Thank god for the scenes of hope that break up the gloom and tension. The scenes of precious in school or around her classmates actually, brung a smile to my face as it helped lighten the mood and showed hope.

The performances are good all around even in the Minor roles. Monique totally transforms into her character Of Precious’s mother and a true face of evil a monster in human skin. Her performance is definitely notable and Oscar worthy. Even the roles played by Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey could have been distracting but they fit right in and never take you out of the film.  

I know I maybe reviewing more with my emotions then with technical aspects of the film. But at times some of the best films or many people’s favorites are more based o emotional reactions then visual dynamics.

The film says it’s based on a true story because there are real Precious’s out there going through this. This film just tries to put a face on the people involved and a voice for those who can’t speak out.

I can’t say enough about how good this film is. While not the best film of the year it certainly will affect you somehow. I know this will not be some of you out there’s cup of tea but give it a chance it will surprise you.

Definitely a must see.

GRADE: A-

THE MARC PEASE EXPERIENCE (2009)

Directed By: Todd Louiso
Written By: Todd Louiso & Jared Koskoff
Cinematography By: Tim Suhrstedt
Editor: Julie Monroe 

CAST: Ben Stiller, Jason Schwartzman, Anna Kendrick, Jay Paulson, Ebon

Moss-Bacharach

Not as bad as ENVY but still very disappointing.

I can see why the film was released for one week and dumped straight to DVD. But really shouldn’t the studio have known this wouldn’t work in the script stage. The film feels like a treatment that needs to be expanded on while being written.

Not exactly a comedy Dream Team as the previous film mentioned but I would expect better from a film with both Ben Stiller and Jason Schwartzman.

The film is about Marc Pease who had stage fright and ran away during a high school production of the wiz who seems to be stuck in arrested development from his high school years as he dates a girl in high school drops by the school so much everyone knows him he still thinks Ben Stiller’s character is his mentor though he avoids him all the time he is even selling his house so he can pay for recording a album with his acapella group he’s had since high school. But now as the schools production of The Wiz get’s closer his life slowly falls apart.

The main problem is, where is the comedy? This film is supposed to be a comedy but it’s not funny there doesn’t even seem to be any jokes. I think there is humor in it but it never comes out.

I don’t exactly know why Ben stiller is in it he really has nothing to do and looks bored and tired I don’t know if he just wanted to help the production by being in it. Because the film really gives him nothing to do. Which when I found out he filmed his role in 2 weeks it came as no surprise.

Jason Schwartzman At least puts a lot of energy into his performance so at least he is trying.

One of the major flaws with this film is as noted before there is nothing to watch really it’s not drama it’s not comedy so what is it. It’s unfocused the little plot there is needs to be expanded upon to make a actual film at least a interesting one. The film could have gone in so many directions it has a beginning but that seems to be it. I only really enjoyed one scene and that is the performance at the end of the Wiz. That is everything the film should have been funny, energetic, flashy.

GRADE:  F