I'm in pain.
Not just because I spent the whole weekend moving apartments, so my back, knees, and legs are numb. It's mostly due to the fact that as a result of said move, I've not had cable since last Friday night. And Time Warner cable does not hook me up till tomorrow. I'm missing shows and Yankee games man...not cool.
Alas. This brief impediment has not stopped me entirely…nothing…ever...will! (for the full impact of the previously written statement, please read while thinking of the determined voice of Lian Neeson's character in Taken).
THE OTHER GUYS:
How did this movie unseat Inception as the #1 B.O. moneymaker? Because it’s fraking hilarious, that’s why.
As Will Ferrell/Adam McKay movies go, it’s probably is their third funniest (my ranking, #1 Anchorman, #2 Step Brothers, #3 The Other Guys, #4 Talladega Nights), but as a movie (further critiqued on its writing, acting, direction, pacing, etc…), this one is by far their best. And don’t count this fact out. As funny as a movie can be, if all the previously mentioned traits are sub par, the time in between laughs can feel like an eternity.
There are rarely any moments to yawn at in this film. If you’re not laughing, you’re invested in the story. The majority of the credit should be given to McKay, but also to the chemistry between two leads.
Ferrell we know delivers time and again, but I'd like to single out Whalberg here. He literally steals the movie. Yes, he’s funnier than Ferrell. Heaps of praise should be given to Will and McKay who saw Whalberg's potential as a comedic actor. Kudos for casting him, but more so for making the decision to let Whalberg take the comedic lead in most scenes. Thus slotting Ferrell into the second seat. This is not saying that Ferrell isn't funny in the film (one of the funniest moments in the film comes when Will rants on his possibly injuries after almost being blown up), but it’s Whalberg who had the audience rolling in almost every scene.
As an actor, I’ve always been surprised Whalberg. He’s got a strange cadence when delivering his lines, which when placed in the hands of an inept director and/or editor, come off very wooden and almost phony (see Max Payne or Shooter). That said, it’s his intense commitment to every role and every moment which has continually kept me on his bandwagon. It’s this commitment which makes him so brilliant in The Other Guys. He plays every moment as if the film were a straight drama, and when inserted into the McKay/Ferrell this commitment only plays as comedy gold.
Another interesting element is the choice of “bad guy”. Instead of your commonplace cop movie drug dealer or terrorist, The Other Guys went with an evil investment banker (ala Bernie Madoff) who’s after the NYPD pension fund. It’s an inspired choice, and makes the narrative much more interesting.
A few extra thoughts…
- Like most Ferrell/McKay films, the supporting cast is incredible. Eva Mendes and Michal Keaton being the standouts. Mendes is hilariously self-deprecating as Ferrell’s wife. As for Keaton, it should not come as a surprise to say he’s hilarious because for a long while in the 80's the dude was once one of the best comedic performers working (Mr. Mom, Beetle Juice). But he’s been so absent from any form of quality content for so long that he seemed to have been forgotten. I’s it really good to see him kill it once again.
- The end credits of the film are fascinating. The filmmakers put together a bunch of animations chronicling and explaining the recent financial crisis. Make sure to stay till the end…and even after…there’s a great little blooper to cap things off.
RUBICON (AMC, Ep. 1.1 & 1.2 “Gone in the Teeth”/”First Day of School”):
I was finally able to finish not only the first episode, but the second as well. I’m all in on this show. I have no idea what it’s about, but I am loving the ride so far. The show’s restraint is its best quality. There isn’t a ton of dialogue, and when there is, not many words are spoken, but the info delivered is immense (make sense?). The producers give the audience a lot of credit. They expect the viewers to be engaged and active participants in the actions unfolding (shades of The Wire here). I dig the characters, and really dig the way the first two episodes have skillfully begun to peel away the layers of the conspiracy in which the show is centered around. I can’t wait for more.
Now here's some stuff which caught my eye on the web...
SURVIVOR: NICARAGUA (premieres Wednesday, September 15 on CBS)
Yes!!! The new season of Survivor is almost upon us. After an amazing 20th season, the producers have gone back to “unknowns”, but have focused the tension on “Old vs. Young” (I have no idea what constitutes "old" by the way).
I just clicked through the cast, and it looks there are some great contestants this season. Outside of the already leaked and confirmed Jimmy Johnson. Here are my standouts and predictions.
- Jimmy Tarantino (48 year old Commercial Fisherman from Gloucester, Mass): From his photo he just looks awesome. I want him to have a THICK New England accent, and be constantly irritated with the younger Survivors. (Prediction – Makes it to the merge, no further than the final 6)
- Tyrone David (42 year old Fire Captain from Inglewood, CA): Physically, this guy seems to be an older James (he’s jacked). Being a physical threat might get him booted early, but I don’t think so. Firemen usually do well on Survivor, and if Tyrone can make it to the merge, I think he can go on a Tom like run for immunity necklaces. (Prediction – Makes it to the merge, final three).
- Wendy Desmidt-Kohlhoff (48 year old Goat Rancher/Retired Army Officer from Fromberg, Mont): I think she gets voted off in the first 4-5 episodes, but man, she looks like she’s going to be an awesome character.
- Yve Rojas (41 year old Homemaker, from Kansas City, Mo): Soley based on her photo, age, and occupation she my pick to win. She’s a hot mom from the mid west. No one is going to want to vote off their mom, much less a MILF. Probst should just give her the $1,000,000 now.
An extra thought…
I see the producers have found the obligatory skinny, blond, 20 year old nursing student, but where is the skinny, brunette, 20 year old pharmaceutical rep. Come on guys, you’re slipping.
http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20354695_20408478,00.html
BLACKSTAR WARRIOR:
Another week, another Star Wars parody. This one is brilliant in concept (Lando Calrissian's own Blaxploitation spin-off movie), and half baked in execution. If you’re a Star Wars fan, it’s worth the 3 minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NATeU-r0GDU&feature=player_embedded
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