FilmBender: sh*tfaced on movies

"Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" and judged

Speaking of perverts... maybe Roman Polanski is one.  And yes, he certainly partied with a 13-year-old girl and penetrated her in more ways than one (so the court records state).  But man... this guy has had it tough.  In the documentary, Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, you hear a pretty unbiased version of the story, and after watching it, you'll walk away sympathetic for this guy and hating the Santa Monica Judge who tried his case -- what a f-ing media whore and power hungry d*ckhead that Judge Larry Paul Fidler was... he should be sodomized.

I'll let you watch the film to get the drift of what that f*ck did, but in the meantime, while you are contemplating and sentencing Roman yourself, know that interviews with the victim (Samantha Geimer who has forgiven him as an adult) and with various Hollywood elite such as Mia Farrow and Robert Towne paint a bit of a different picture than the trail that Roman left for most of us while he fled to France.  Watch the movie trailer and read on because...

"Tropic Thunder" is partly funny

Tropic Thunder is as funny as most of the other spoof movies that have come to screen.  The story gimmick is ok but doesn't really lend that much to everything that is good and funny and edgy about the movie.

The characters are all what generate the laughs in this one.  Matthew McConaughey kicks *ss as the slimy agent... and I didn't really know much about this movie before I sat down to watch it, so this was a surprise to me.  Ben Stiller is always great in that naive dude he always plays, and he directed as well, which is pretty impressive for a dumb f*ck with such a big concept.  Jack Black as a heroine addict is hilarious... I'll always laugh at that guy.  Nick Nolte is the gruff vet and totally fits the part.  And the cameo from Tom Cruise is awesome... even down to the rolling credits when he's dancing around... that guy may be a total freak in real life, but I suppose he can act.

And finally, then there's Robert Downey Jr.  Hilarious.  Just watch the trailer.

FilmBender is Funny Movie Reviews.  Those "for your consideration" spoofs at the beginning of the movie are funny and help with the set up, but again, Robert Downey Jr. is the one that really has the juicy part and the great lines, and probably like Cruise, the skill to totally pull it off.  Funny movie, but just for these two roles, totally worth watching.  (Surprised they didn't figure out a way to put some hot babes into the film... a movie like dis kinda needs dat.)

"The Truman Show" is the ultimate in reality TV

It's not like this movie predicted the world's obsession with reality shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians, The Hills, and America's Next Top Model because MTV's The Real World was well under way; but The Truman Show sure did realize that reality was here to stay.  Though there hasn't been a show with such a high concept, the total number and variety are certainly more than could have ever been thought possible back in 1998 when the movie was released.  Just check out TV.com for the most popular reality TV shows ever... hardly a single one was from the last millennium.

Jim Carrey's affable way truly lends to the believability that he's unknowingly living in an unreal world.  Laura Linney and Ed Harris are solid too.  I have a few issues with the ending and the boat ride and even with Ed's character, but it can't take away, in my eyes, one of the most imaginative and well executed movies of its type.

FilmBender is Funny Movie Reviews.  Peter Weir directed it... he's had a few solid films, but I would say it's a bit of a surprise how easily he contains this potentially unwieldy and colossal concept in a nice and neat hermetically sealed stage.  You've probably seen the movie, so I'm not sure why I'm even telling you about it.  If you haven't, then come back to reality and give it a spin.  If so, you should watch it again.  Reality shows are addictive.  God knows that I've watched The Girls Next Door episodes a few times over... well... maybe that's for a different reason though.

"The Rocketeer" and her missiles

It would be easy to pick a great movie that you've seen starring Jennifer Connelly: Blood Diamond, Little Children, House of Sand and Fog, and there's actually quite a few more.  But the challenge is to pick one that you haven't seen.  That movie is The Rocketeer.

But that's actually NOT the reason I selected this popcorn, action, sci-fi fantasy film.  And also, it's not because it has plenty of Hollywood insider references that I also love.  No.  It's because this PG-rated, Disney movie does a splendid job of showcasing Jennifer's juggernauts.  There's no nudity in this one... plenty of her nudie films out there if you need that.  Some are crap.  Be sure to watch Mulholland Falls or Requiem for a Dream if you're dead set on seeing skin and a whole lot more.  I'm sure Mr. Skin can get you all the details if you just want to "fast forward to the good parts."

Anyway, this movie just makes you want to see 'em... there must be some Nazi mind control happening or something.  But for sure, The Fuhrer and his men have lost track of a jet pack that lends to helping turn this into a superhero flick.

 

FilmBender is Funny Movie Reviews.  Oh yeah... and if you're into rockets... Timothy Dalton, Alan Arkin, Paul Sorvino, and Bill Campbell also star in it.

"Barton Fink" -- weird name, weirder movie

The Coen brothers make movies that I love.  It would be much easier to list the movies from their body of work that are NOT part of my love list.  There is a Tom Hanks one that comes to mind, but since FilmBender is a blog about good movies, I won't subject you to that movie's title/link as to not tempt you to rent it and ruin your evening and blame me.  So... let's randomly pick one of the others, Barton Fink, to talk about today, as I will no doubt cover them all in due time.

John Turturro is a Manhattan intellectual playwright who happens to find himself stuck in a dank Hollywood hotel and in a serious case of writer's block when forced to write a cheesy wrestling flick.  He plays a neurotic putz... seems to come easy for him, but I assume he's just an incredible actor.  Btw, for what it's worth, he's cool by me.  Anyway, his affable neighbor in the hotel is John Goodman (also gets the "cool" stamp) who's a traveling salesman and possibly something else.  This movie goes totally surreal and f's with your head, and apparently, John's as well (er, check out the Brillo).  Boring review... awesome movie.

 

FilmBender is Funny Movie Reviews.  Movies on Hollywood are cool and this one is just that, but it gets, er, blazing hot (hence the twisted part).  If I make another hot/cool reference, it's apparent that I'm neither.