I’m not–a fan of Cronenberg. Yes, I admit it, and no I will not turn in my lifetime membership card, I am a film buff through and through, bitch. As the saying goes, “those who don’t remember the past, are doomed to relive it”. The question is, can we ever leave behind a violent past, or are we doomed to relive it? And does violence in any form ever go away? I was not expecting anything in particular with this film, but I was expecting a bad film. Surprisingly though, this is not a bad film. In fact it’s a great film, and at many times an excellent examination of violence as a concept and as an everyday aspect of our lives. Cronenberg’s direction is on the mark. If you’re expecting an action thriller with gunfights, and fist fights, and sex, well–there’s some of that, but it’s rare, honestly. What you will get though is a thorough, engrossing, and tight explanation on violence, and the cyclical nature of it.
Brokeback Conspiracy?
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Did you see the Oscars?
Most people who did said it was possibly the most boring presentation in years. That seems to be the consensus, but many people can also agree it’s been the most controversial airing of all time.
On March 5th, After a four hour ceremony, and many mixed reviews, audiences shared a worldwide gasp of shock and horror as the announcer declared “And the Oscar goes to: Crash”. I personally was also rather shocked (not horrified) as “Brokeback” was expected to sweep the Oscars, and yet only really won for technical awards.
The Wedding Crashers (2005)
I don’t buy in to hype. Something is a masterpiece, the scariest movie in years, or an instant comedy classic, my first impulse is to challenge that idea and seek it out. And when I do, I scrutinize it. Harshly. Narcissism, Vanity, A god complex, dissect that comment as you must, or will, but it’s a routine. A routine that I hold dear. Now, every now and then, I’m proven wrong, and something completely sideswipes me and my expectations. “Wedding Crashers” is, without a doubt, fucking funny. And not just funny, but really fucking funny.
It’s not perfection, not the perfection I’d heard about by any means, but it’s funny, really funny. “Wedding Crashers” is a more than welcome return to risqué, edgy, raunchy, and exploitative comedies. It’s a welcome return to adult comedies. Bye bye safe PG-13 bullshit. Enjoy being played in church socials and elementary schools. Most comedies these days suck, but if you take my opinion as respectable, then I can recommend “Wedding Crashers” as a really funny but flawed venture for the pack of Vaughn/Wilson/Wilson/ Ferrell/Stiller/Robbins/Black whom just seem to be flipping coins to who will star with whom in the next comedy.
John and Jeremy carry on the legacy of their friend Chazz, the great Wedding Crasher. Following the rulebook of wedding crashers loyally, they crash every single wedding and attempt to meet women. But they finally meet their match when they crash the wedding of a local senator’s daughter, and are thrown for a loop by his two daughters. John begins falling for Claire, an independent, and witty girl, while Jeremy attempts to evade the younger sister Gloria–who is very sexy, but just plain insane. Though Wilson does, admittedly have his moments, most of the comedic slack is taken by Vaughn and Fisher, but we’ll get to that. “Wedding Crashers” is an entertaining bit of part sex comedy part romance comedy that really does show these two friends struggling to survive this situation, with Jeremy taking the worst beatings.
He’s shot in the ass, beaten, raped, and everything else, but his devotion to John makes the buddy comedy between Owen and Vince fascinating and it keeps you waiting to see what will break this bond, if it does break. “Wedding Crashers” has some of the more clever, and rapid fire dialogue that really does throw many biting one-liners, and great characterization that I enjoyed, but that’s due in part to the good performances. Rachel McAdams is funny and charming as Claire and gives a very sympathetic supporting role, while Wilson is charming and dials down the usual prerequisite obnoxiousness that he brings along with every single one of his roles. But the real reason to watch? Vince Vaughn and Isla Fisher. Together. Separately. I’m not a fan of Vaughn usually, but in “Wedding Crashers” he shows us what capability he has in a good comedy films that exercises his talents.
Vaughn has one of the funniest characters I’ve seen in a while as a man who just wants to get laid, makes a sacrifice for his friend, and really experiences all sorts of torture for it. While the very sexy Isla Fisher who snuck up on audiences upon its release is laugh out loud hysterical as the insane demented Claire who isn’t afraid to go above and beyond to please Jeremy. She’s insane resorting to all sorts of measures and clinging to him after one sexual encounter. Fisher, wife of Ali G, performs her comedy with ease, and utter flair. She has a knack for physical comedy torturing Jeremy when in doubt of his affection, and Vaughn handles her dementia with finesse. The funniest scenes in the film are between them, and Vaughn is never afraid to steal the scenes from Wilson.
Fisher steals the show with her comedic flair and utter sex appeal, while Vaughn plays off that giving great chemistry. That said, “Crashers” is just way too long featuring a meandering and less funny second half that I found pretty exhausting. While the first half was full of laughs, we enter in to more romance comedy territory that was too boring. It felt as if the movie was already finished and they were dragging it on leading to a really corny unfunny ending that was also incredibly typical with the declaration of love in front of a crowd. You figure for a movie intent on becoming original, they could have pulled off the climax much better in terms of comedy. The rest of the film features appropriately sleazy comedy that just worked, because the cast knew how to handle the humor, and the script never called for ridiculous gags to gauge laughter from the audience.
The hand job scene had me in tears, the quail hunting scene was hysterical, and the football sequence was classic. This was a comedy that was actually funny, and I’m shocked. Despite a lame second half, and an utterly corny climax, “Wedding Crashers” is surprisingly a very funny adult comedy that finally brings us sleazy and very funny humor that is aimed particularly at an audience whom can actually go to the movies without their parents permission. With great acting, hilarious gags, and great writing, it actually lives up to the hype.
Trudell (2006)
Is it ridiculous to think the government killed Trudell’s family? Is it dumb to think the government had it out for Trudell at all? Not when you pile on the evidence. Lennon, Hoffman, Kennedy all were radical thinkers whom are still discussed as men possibly done in by their own government, but the documentary “Trudell” is apologist in every way and form making exception for Trudell who, simply put, incited violence and in many ways had the potential for terrorism. Not only was committing the crime of burning an American flag a possible clue, but he called for revolution and war. The fact he hated America didn’t make him less interesting to me, but the mere fact that he had the potential to be a terrorist in the sense of Guevera makes him a slight threat, thus a reasonable worry for the government.
KatieBird *Certifiable Crazy Person (2005)
The road from troubled girl, to certifiable insane psychotic killer is not an easy one, and it’s a declaration Katie Bird can attest to. “Katie Bird” is not particularly a perfect film, but when it hits the mark it’s quite possibly one of the more steadily disturbing horror entries that really did entertain and fascinate me. After her father’s funeral, she and her psychiatrist, lovers and all, have a fight and eventually make up, but Bird then suddenly goes over the edge and ties him up. Through small interludes of torture, Bird finally gives her therapist the brunt of her love for killing and sadomasochism. Many times, a film can basically come off as contrived when exploring what leads to the inevitable birth of a serial killer, and Bird is not a sympathetic character who was pushed in to this.
Our Suggestions for the Academy
No matter how much clout the Oscars may have in Hollywood, there are people, even the high brow movie snobs, who declared the Oscars as a self-congratulatory pat on the shoulder which relishes in showing off designer clothing.
The Academy, in response, has been looking for ways to appeal to other film fans, mostly by pandering to them through the ceremony, and nothing seems to be working. Even with their best attempts, they just can’t seem to get high ratings they want. Every year, the Oscars experiences a low score in the ratings, but ABC doesn’t seem to care because the advertising rates are through the roof, and money rolls in. So, you want to know how and why the Oscars get no ratings? Well, we have some suggestions for you.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (2005)
“Narnia” is less a religious film, and more an exploration in to reluctant heroes fighting for good. I mean, let’s face it here, people, if not for the prior success of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and the quickly sputtering “Harry Potter” franchise, we wouldn’t have this Narnia here with us. I mean was there a real point in making this film other than cashing in on this classic novel series? Based on C.S. Lewis’ classic novel series, the first of many involves four children escaping the Nazi regime and hiding out in their uncle’s mansion. While playing hide and seek one day, the youngest, Lucy wanders off in to the wardrobe. She wanders, and wanders, and enters a land called Narnia, and thus the adventure begins for these four reluctant heroes.