15 Mar 2009

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly


Three movies. Three opinions.

First up, Role Models. Even with the always funny Paul Rudd in it, I did not want to watch this. The presence of Seann William Scott (Stifler from American Pie) was a real turn off as well as the guys teach kids to live/kids teach guys to live plot.

But it was great. One of those American comedies which have a strong cast of comedians who all seem to know each other and it shows in so many scenes where you can see few smiles and giggles between the participants. Jane Lynch (the manager from 40 yr old Virgin) as the youth programme leader with a fine taste in metaphor.

Stifler is dead long live the Role Models


Next up is an epic pile of pretentious nonsense, Rachel Getting Married.

A film about a drug addict with a tragic past who goes for her sisters wedding and family strife. Yawnnnn. So boring. You have no sympathy for any character as the family and friends all seem to inhabit a liberal wet dream of a jazz-world music playing musos who live of each others feeling of selfworth. Specifically there is a scene, an epic 25 minute scene, at a pre wedding dinner where you get to see around 8-9 guests toast the couple. Wedding toasts only work if you are a guest. If you a viewer it was was like watching a the 5 hr opening wedding sequence in Deer Hunter.

Rachel is Getting Binned.


And lastly, Sunday's choice. In its trailer Clint Eastwood's, Gran Torino,looks like a 21st Century Death Wish set to cash in on old whitey's fear of Barack Hussain Obama. But of course the studio makes the trailer and Clint's film is much more intelligent, playing some games with the viewer, although there are few suprises in the film.

Unfortunately there are some shaky points. Clint's grumpy old man slips into parody on too many occasions. There is pointless use of rape as character motivation (when will cinema move on from that!!!) and the young guy in it is an awful actor.

But hey its Clint. Respect it, watch it....and forgive him his attempt of singing as credits roll. he sounds like the Great Gonzo.

But any in honour of the big man and his contribution to the best genre ever. Here is the soundtrack to cinema's greatest Dance of Death as Clint, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach stare each other down in a graveyard as the civil war wages around them.

Ennio Morricone - The Trio (Main Title)

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