FilmBender: sh*tfaced on movies

"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.

"Pollock" makes a messy masterpiece

Hope I haven't bored you to death with these past two days' reviews on movies associated with abstract art -- with today completing a triogy of recommendations that couldn't possibly have come to be without the artist portrayed by Ed Harris in this one, of course, Jackson Pollock.  We all know what Ed looks like (and he does, in fact, look much like the drip-art creator himself) in the movie Pollock, so isn't it much nicer to just look at his co-star in the film?  I thought so.  Let's face it... I'm not even quite sure this pic is one of her from the flick come to think of it, but I'd rather look at Jennifer Connelly nude than Ed any day, so we'll leave it at that.

Anyway, though the first two movies were documentaries, this Oscar winner is a drama that has plenty of drunken paint splatter, yet unfortunately, none is on Jennifer. The art is amazing and the demons in the artist are frantic (bravo to Ed's acting and direction), but I'm not sure I understand what the art is or what it is supposed to represent or even if it's any good.  But I like it.  And I like the movie too (even though it has Val Kilmer in it which is usually a negative for me).

FilmBender is Funny Movie Reviews.  I had to drive all the way to Romania to get the trailer for this one.  Not sure why these three movies gave me such trouble finding good trailers.  Just another reason I'm looking forward to getting back into the old groove tomorrow and barf up an action-packed flick... maybe even one with a good chance scene to really make me feel like a man.

"Appaloosa" is a long, long ways from Lollapalooza

This picture sums up the movie, Appaloosa.  Ed Harris directs and stars in a film adaptation that he co-wrote.  Quiet and contemplative, but of what, we're not sure.  Makes it a point that he's unedumacated and unemotional and unconnected.

Viggo Mortensen is his gunman and the two serve the Southwest as rent-a-marshals protecting the town from Jeremy Irons, who's ultimately, a threat in more ways than one.

In strolls Renee Zellweger.  B*tch.  Is it me, or does she always look like an allergic reaction in bloom.  I guess if you chopped her in half, from what I recall from her wheels in Chicago, she's pretty hot.  Ed Harris seems to fall for her and into her abyss like the rest of Hazard County's most eligible prospects circa 1885.  Some other good stuff too.  Solid movie, but slow, contemplative and tough -- like Ed.

 

FilmBender is Funny Movie Reviews.  BTW... Jeremy plays a great snake... Renee s*cks at piano... and man... the desolation... the silence.  The f-ing dust and sh*tty Wi-Fi.  I think we're back in Kansas Toto.