Netflix Diary
a) The Wrestler
It's really a testament to Rourke's performance that this movie got so much praise when he's virtually the only good thing about it. The level of believability of the character and the setting is offset by the fact that the story is boring and cliche-ridden as shit, and every single supporting character and plot point plays itself out in such a predictable way that even if you're wrapped up in it in the moment, it's just kind of there and leaves you with nothing at all to think about.
b) Australia
J.G. is a big fan of Baz Luhrmann's first 3 movies and I've come around to thinking that Strictly Ballroom and Moulin Rouge were pretty great and the guy really does a good job of creating his own little worlds with odd storytelling devices and a really melodramatic over-the-top aesthetic. Plus, we went to Australia on our honeymoon last year, so we were pretty hyped up for this. And while I probably liked it more than most people, I understand the criticisms of it, especially the way it's structured, so that the real climax of the movie comes at the halfway point.
c) Step Brothers
Ferrell and Reilly have a pretty predictable dynamic at this point, almost as much as Ferrell movies in general, but this was pretty much hilarious anyway, definitely better than Talladega Nights.
d) The Foot Fist Way
I rented this mainly because I'm still kind of on the fence about Danny McBride and wanted to kind of make my mind up about him. And while it make me appreciate "Eastbound & Down" more, that was really because this felt like such an inferior warm-up that highlighted what the show got right by getting most of that stuff wrong. Still, it affirms his charisma by virtue of practically every other actor in the movie being incredibly awful, so it's basically just one funny character surrounded by the stiffest student film-level actors. I definitely like him more in supporting roles like Pineapple Express and Hot Rod, though, if he gets too many starring vehicles he's just going to become a less funny mini-Ferrell.
e) "The West Wing," season 4
This is the last season with Sorkin running the show, but at this point I'm attached enough to the story and the characters that I'm going to try to stick with it and see the whole series as it declines. I'm really liking this season, though, the way they handled Rob Lowe's character leaving was actually really good and consistent with his story up to that point, and while I don't think Josh Malina's character is really a great replacement yet, he was great on "Sports Night" so I'm hoping he will gel with the cast more in the future. Richard Schiff and John Spencer really just kick so much ass on this show, though, I love watching any scene they're in.
It's really a testament to Rourke's performance that this movie got so much praise when he's virtually the only good thing about it. The level of believability of the character and the setting is offset by the fact that the story is boring and cliche-ridden as shit, and every single supporting character and plot point plays itself out in such a predictable way that even if you're wrapped up in it in the moment, it's just kind of there and leaves you with nothing at all to think about.
b) Australia
J.G. is a big fan of Baz Luhrmann's first 3 movies and I've come around to thinking that Strictly Ballroom and Moulin Rouge were pretty great and the guy really does a good job of creating his own little worlds with odd storytelling devices and a really melodramatic over-the-top aesthetic. Plus, we went to Australia on our honeymoon last year, so we were pretty hyped up for this. And while I probably liked it more than most people, I understand the criticisms of it, especially the way it's structured, so that the real climax of the movie comes at the halfway point.
c) Step Brothers
Ferrell and Reilly have a pretty predictable dynamic at this point, almost as much as Ferrell movies in general, but this was pretty much hilarious anyway, definitely better than Talladega Nights.
d) The Foot Fist Way
I rented this mainly because I'm still kind of on the fence about Danny McBride and wanted to kind of make my mind up about him. And while it make me appreciate "Eastbound & Down" more, that was really because this felt like such an inferior warm-up that highlighted what the show got right by getting most of that stuff wrong. Still, it affirms his charisma by virtue of practically every other actor in the movie being incredibly awful, so it's basically just one funny character surrounded by the stiffest student film-level actors. I definitely like him more in supporting roles like Pineapple Express and Hot Rod, though, if he gets too many starring vehicles he's just going to become a less funny mini-Ferrell.
e) "The West Wing," season 4
This is the last season with Sorkin running the show, but at this point I'm attached enough to the story and the characters that I'm going to try to stick with it and see the whole series as it declines. I'm really liking this season, though, the way they handled Rob Lowe's character leaving was actually really good and consistent with his story up to that point, and while I don't think Josh Malina's character is really a great replacement yet, he was great on "Sports Night" so I'm hoping he will gel with the cast more in the future. Richard Schiff and John Spencer really just kick so much ass on this show, though, I love watching any scene they're in.
This entry was posted
on Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 11:57 PM.
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Michael : 9:55 PM