AT THE MOVIES (The Short Form) ——- by Steve Nadis
“Chumscrubber”: It’s no “Thumbsucker.”
“Fat Girl”: A dull, tawdry tale punctuated by senseless violence at the end.
“Little Miss Sunshine”: 100 minutes of inspired lunacy.
“Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story”: I’ve never seen this, and probably never will. Still you gotta’ love a movie about paintball? (Reminds me of “Men with Brushes,” the movie about curling I never saw but heard about thanks to Dr. Max.)
“Winter Solstice”: Like “The Squid and the Whale,” another story about a broken family, but less hopeless, which is to say more hopeful…
“Short Cuts”: Often imitated, this 1993 effort still sets the standard for the “multiple character/intersecting plot” picture.
“Syriana”: Don’t watch this when you are tired and nodding off. You’ll come away thinking it doesn’t make any sense, and you just may be right.
“The Matador”: Ole’!
Don’t know about the other movies, but you truly must have been nodding off, Snake, if you thought “Syriana” didn’t make any sense. I admit it was confusing in places. But since it’s main goal was to show the Gordion knot of plots and counterplots in the politics of oil and how even the heaviest hitters–the CIA, oil companies, sheiks, Congress–can find all their machinations blown to hell in an instant, I thought it was remarkably effective.
Also, you should give some credit to George Clooney for not producing just another “24″ or “Alias”-type spook-fantasy. (Although a couple of nude scenes with Jennifer Garner would certainly have been welcome.)
Where the film failed, I think, was in leaving in a few violent scenes (the swimming pool “event”, and George Clooney’s torture) that either weren’t necessary to the plot or were ovderdone.
But, that being said, it was a remarkable movie. And, unfortunately, very depressing.
Just my opinion…
Thanks Gatemouth, I have no doubt you’re right. I fell asleep early on and did not see the whole thing. My main point was not to watch it when you’re tired. Several people I know have watched it twice, just to piece it together, which is to Syriana’s credit; how many movies do you want to see twice?
Syriana and Crash are two movies in the same vein of complete discredit to an actor and everything to do with a director. Clooney had about fifteen total minutes of screen times, yet he is hailed as the star. There is no main character, its an ensemble piece. Personally, I think Syriana, Crash, Magnolia, and the like are overrated and unentertaining. The never allow the audience to connect with the characters, and if you do happen to, its because of your immedate connection or identification with a character; not because of any level of skill on the actor or directors part.
That being said, Syriana was a great knotwork illustrating exactly what gatemouth explained… however, that’s all it does. And if it took this movie to open your eyes to that, which I’m sure it didn’t, then wow.
And for the record, “24″ is the best show on television. I believe they have an Emmy that says so.
Some good points, GS. I think Crash was overrated; it was very uneven; some of the bits were reasonably well done and some were awful. Magnolia, in my book, was a piece of garbage, vastly inferior to Short Cuts. I can’t see why anyone took it seriously.
I used to see movies Snake. But with toddlers it’s hard to find the time or energy. I have not seen one movie on your list. If only you’d included Duce Bigalow-European Gigolo.
Guttersnake - I didn’t say Clooney deserved credit for his acting in “Syriana”. I said he deserved it for producing the movie. He was the driving force behind the project and probably the only reason the movie made it into the major theaters.
As for “24″, to each his own. I found it full of bad writing and unrealistic scenarios (not to mention Kiefer Sutherland’s using the same facial expression for every situation), but it’s clear that most people like it. I don’t think winning an “Emmy” means much, though. Past winners have included “Sex in the City,” “The Amazing Race,” and, let us not forget, “Cher: the Farewell Tour.”
Thanks Doc, I would have mentioned the Deucester, but I knew you’d come through, as you always do…
Wow, Gatemouth, somehow I missed “Cher: the Farewell Tour.” Do you think it’s available on DVD?
Touche, gatemouth, touche. However, producer/driving force is the same as saying, he was the monitary backing. Clooney’s politics are about as indisputable as his acting. If I was as rich Georgy-boy, I’d make a propoganda piece too…
and for the record, I buy what he’s selling.
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