The Hudsucker Proxy

Title: The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
Dir: Joel Coen
Rating: **** out of 5 stars



Another Coen Brothers gem! And let's not forget co-writer/man-god Sam Raimi! This is an incredibly witty, original comedy and I'm ashamed I waited so long to see it.

The Hudsucker Proxy is about naive mailboy Norville Barnes (Tim Robbins), who is appointed head of Hudsucker Industries in a scheme by the board members to buy out the company when the stocks plumet. Little do they know that their dimwitted fall guy has an invention up his sleeve that will take the world by storm.

Proxy is a throwback to old-fashioned filmmaking, namely the Capra days. The set design is beautiful and inventive; the dialogue is witty and fresh; every performance is skillfully delivered. This is hands-down the most I have ever liked Tim Robbins in a movie. As the wide-eyed Norville, he is hilarious and completely genuine.

Paul Newman portrays Sidney J. Mussburger, head of the Hudsucker Board of Directors. His performance is flawless and darkly funny. And then there's Jennifer Jason Leigh as fast-talking jouranlist, Amy Archer. She is the real stand-out of the movie and her Katherine Hepburn-esque performance makes her scenes come alive.

This film has a dark, fantastical feel that reminds me of Terry Gilliam's Brazil (not a bad thing at all). The Coens can strike a perfect balance between morbid and hilarious (afterall, Proxy revolves around a suicide). The script, which they co-wrote with Sam Raimi, is chock full of old-timey dialect, sight gags, and the usual hilarious repetition that defines a Coen film ("Ya know, for kids!"). Combined with great acting and Joel's incredibly vivid direction, The Hudsucker Proxy is another fun, original work from three filmmakers you can always depend upon.

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Blood Simple

Title: Blood Simple (1984)
Dir: Joel Coen
Rating: ***1/2 out of 5 stars



Blood Simple was the Coen Brothers' first feature film, but you'd never guess that just from watching it. Their writing and directing skills were mature beyond their years.

In this modern noir, a jealous husband (Dan Hedaya) hires a sleezy private investigator to murder his wife (Frances McDormand) and her new lover (John Getz). But a series of double crosses leads to tangled web of lies and bloodshed.

The best and most memorable performance comes from M. Emmet Walsh as the PI. He makes a delightfully sleezy villain. McDormand is good, though her role mostly requires she be the damsel in distress, so she doesn't get a chance to flaunt her real acting chops (see Fargo). Hedaya is also really good as the husband who, despite his shady exterior, is perhaps the most sympathetic character in the film.

Simple isn't quirky like most of the Coens' later movies. It is a taut supense film with sharp writing and original directing. Few filmmakers, let alone first timers, can achieve drama this engaging and real. Expect less Big Lebowski and more Miller's Crossing from this movie. But with relatively little humor and a very small cast of characters, Blood Simple isn't like any other Coens Brothers film. Still, if you enjoy stories of murder and intrigue, this is one of the best.

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Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Title: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
Dir: Adam McKay
Rating: **1/2 out of 5 stars



I'm afraid Will Ferrell is starting to wear out his welcome. I loved the guy on SNL and I loved Anchorman. I'm thankful Talladega Nights wasn't just Will screaming and saying nonsenical one-liners (which gets old), but on the other hand, it isn't funny. The Ron Burgundy character was very funny to me - he was so dense and ignorant, yet endearing - but Ricky Bobby comes across as just an idiot. A Nascar-loving idiot. Ugh.

John C. Reilly was funnier than I expected (not a huge fan of the guy), but Sacha Baron Cohen was downright annoying. No, I'm not an Ali G fan - I've never watched, but I'm open-minded, too. And the French guy was just irritating. Toward the end he hammed it up slightly less and I hated him a little less. Meanwhile, my favorite performance in the movie came from Gary Cole, who made this movie better just by appearing in it.

Some critics considered Talladega Nights a more mature film than its predecessor, but I don't see it. Looks like they stripped Anchorman of everything that made it funny and then made this movie. Whoopee! It was really lacking in cast, too - no Rudd, no Carrell, no Willard, etc. Mostly, Nights has an abundance of awkwardly unfunny moments. Sure, I had a few laughs, but not nearly enough to make me see this again. The bloopers, on the other hand, were the funniest part of the film.

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Beerfest

Title: Beerfest (2006)
Dir: Jay Chandrasekhar
Rating: *** out of 5 stars



I LOVE Super Troopers. Who the hell doesn't, right? And I'm one of the oddballs that actually liked Club Dread from the moment I saw it, and it gets funnier with every viewing. I didn't particularly like Puddle Cruiser, but I never held it against Broken Lizard, since it was their first film and they were in college. Plus, their follow-up more than made up for it. This brings me to their fourth and latest film - Beerfest.

When American brothers Jan and Todd go to Germany to spread their dead grandfather's ashes, they discover an underground beer-drinking competition in Munich. After being defeated by some cocky Germans, they vow to train themselves so they may one day to kick the Germans' asses in the beer competition. So they recruit some old college buddies to help them, and together they train for their return to Beerfest.

Let me say, I'm not a big fan of college/party/beer/stoner movies. Animal House? Half Baked? Never saw 'em (hold your gasps, please). Sure, PCU was cool, but mostly because of Jeremy Piven. I don't find humor in chugging beer and burping loudly. I especially don't find humor in watching total strangers do it on the big-screen.

When Beerfest behaves like that, it is at its worst. But putting those juvenile jokes aside, it has some really funny moments, especially for fans of Broken Lizard. Out of their main three feature films, I consider Beerfest the weakest. And yet I've seen it twice and would see it again. It just makes me laugh.

This film is a lot more like Club Dread than Super Troopers, in terms of pacing, style, humor, and characters. There is more emphasis on beer and titties than on quirky characters and funny dialogue (like in Troopers). If you thought Dread was juvenile, you'll likely feel the same way about Beerfest. But I think Beerfest is funnier (even if I prefer Dread). I enjoyed the horror spoofing in Club Dread, and the quirky characters (especially Paxton - "son of a son of a bitch!").
Beerfest avoids these elements and focuses on jokes with the central 5 guys, along with Lizard alumni like Nat Faxon, Philippe Brenninkmeyer (German man from Troopers), and MC Gainey. There are also two very old, very famous actors in this who will surprise you.

In summary, this is very much a 'frat boy movie.' In fact, I recommend you see it when drunk. But thanks to its likable cast, I still enjoyed Beerfest. Brilliant it ain't, and there are a few awkwardly unfunny jokes, but it's a good time nonetheless. See it in theaters if you love Broken Lizard. Otherwise, you might want to wait for the DVD.

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Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs

Title: Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs (1974)
Dir: Yukio Noda
Rating: * out of 5 stars



I don't like exploitation movies. Sorry, Tarantino, I just don't.

I don't find entertainment in watching nasty Asian dudes rape girl after girl after girl. I wasn't offended or shocked - just BORED. And irritated. Who'd like this crap?

Red Handcuffs is about a female ex-cop who is offered freedom from prison if she helps rescue the kidnapped daughter of a politician. So she infiltrates the gang of idiotic kidnappers and after being raped a few dozen times, eventually kills them and saves the girl.

Oh wait, no she doesn't. She actually just gets raped and knocked around while the politician's bodyguards do all the work. The titular character is completely useless. She also lacks anything resembling a personality. I just wanted this movie to end. It was painfully boring and dumb. I don't care if it was influential - influential to what? MORE shitty exploitation films? Gee.

Rape on film doesn't bother me. Not even gratuitous rape. But everytime some stupid chick got raped in this, I just wanted to throw something at the television. The director was clearly just a big perv and plugged in a rape scene any chance he got, whether it made sense or not. I mean it is REALLY overdone. And it isn't meant to be disturbing or scary like some movies have used forced-sex. It's also really unattractive, so I hope it wasn't meant to tantilize. At one point this fat, ugly woman in her 40s gets naked and feels up the main character (also naked, as usual) - is this supposed to be erotic? If all the rape was actually consenual sex, I would've been equally irritated. Focus on the story, you fuckin pervert! If you really must tap into your carnal side, just throw in some more gore! Geez.

Okay, enough bitching. If you really like cheap, exploitation films, I guess this is right up your alley. I, on the other hand, hate this shit.

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Miller's Crossing

Title: Miller's Crossing (1990)
Dir: Joel Coen
Rating: **** out of 5 stars



Geez, are the Coen Brothers capable of making a bad movie? This one is really interesting because, like Fargo, it is quite dark but maintains that quirky sense of humor the Brothers are so famous for. It is both realistic as a gangster film, but fantastical in its own subtle way.

The film focuses on Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne), a man torn between two warring mob families during the 1930's Prohibition era. As the rival gangs brutally ambush one another for control of the city, Tom must constantly shift allegiances to stay alive. He is emotionally torn apart by the immoral things he's done, and by the woman (Marcia Gay Harden) he can't have.

Crossing is full of brutal violence and black humor. The dialogue is fantastic, especially all the 30's lingo ("What's the rumpus?" "You giving me the high hat?") that you will be using for days after seeing the movie. The directing, needless to say, is amazing. And the music is perfect. Byrne and Harden are great, as are everyone in the supporting cast that includes Albert Finney, John Turturro, JE Freeman, and Jon Polito.

I can't further describe why it's so good without going into plot details, so I'll stop here. If you like gangster movies, or Coen movies, or just movies - rent this one.

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Clerks II

Title: Clerks II (2006)
Dir: Kevin Smith
Rating: ***1/2 out of 5 stars



I'll address the big question right away: Is Clerks II better than its predecessor?

No. Hell no. But it is very funny and brings back your favorite characters in a new way.

After the Quik Stop burns down, Randal and Dante (Jeff Anderson, Brian O'Halloran) work at fast-food joint, Mooby's (previously seen in Kevin Smith films). While Randal endlessly torments his young co-worker Elias (Trevor Fehrman), Dante carries a torch for store manager Becky (Rosario Dawson). And of course, Jay and Silent Bob continue to loiter outside the store.

Whereas the humor of Clerks was more subtle and clever, this sequel aims for shocking and offensive but albeit laugh-out-loud jokes. It is a lot more mainstream than the first film - both in humor and in plotline - but that doesn't mean Smith is scared to push the envelope. Frankly, I'm amazed the studio and the MPAA let him get away with as much as he did.

Clerks II has some moments that made me laugh so hard it hurt. Honestly, I don't think the first film ever did that, although it was a superior film all-around. So the sequel is quite different. To use an obligatory review cliche: This film aims for the jugular and doesn't let go!

Seriously, it's damn funny. Randal is just as hilarious and outrageous - if not more so - than before. He steals the movie, hands-down. Dante is the same likable every-man as before. Dawson, in the role of Becky, is very cute and surprisingly cool, like one of the boys. The scene-stealing newcomer of the film is Fehrman who, together with Anderson, had my side hurting from laughing so hard.

The downside to the film is its mainstream feel, with feeble attempts at relationship advice. The movie also goes a little TOO far at times - I didn't feel offended, just tired by the film's constant attempts to shock me instead of make me laugh. But overall, it's a good time, as long as you can stomach EXPLICIT sex talk and racial slurs. Kevin Smith fans won't be disappointed.

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