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Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Note: This article was originally published in Technician on January 12, 2009.

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Button's disabilities aren't really that big of a deal

At least, that seems to be the message promoted by Hollywood’s latest entry into Oscar-season, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the film follows a man (Brad Pitt) with one unique attribute: he ages backward. However, based on how he’s treated by other characters, this really isn’t anything out of the ordinary.

Indeed, most of the people that meet Benjamin don’t realize his peculiar state of being. His friends and family don’t seem too interested in even asking what it’s like to grow younger. The only person who seems to give it the attention it deserves is his one true love, Daisy (Cate Blanchett), and that’s because it could have catastrophic effects on their relationship. Director David Fincher and writer Eric Roth seem much more concerned with telling a story about how other people affect Benjamin, rather than on how he and his condition affect others.

Roth is perhaps best known as the writer behind another film about a man with a unique condition: Forrest Gump. Structurally speaking, Benjamin Button is virtually identical. Boy has condition. Boy meets girl. Boy can’t be with a girl for a while. Boy has some extraordinary life experiences. But even though both films deal with similar ideas, they are two vastly different pieces of work.

Review: Australia (2008)

Note: This article was originally published in Technician on December 1, 2008.

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'Australia' gives an uneven outback ride

Just when you thought the only thing to see in theaters was teen vampires or mindless action, behold! There’s a new epic drama by the director of Moulin Rouge! Australia promised to be a timeless throwback to the epic romances of the past, but does it deliver? Sometimes.

The film follows a widowed English aristocrat (Nicole Kidman) trying to protect her newly inherited ranch from a corporate takeover. Though it doesn’t sound like the most exciting plot, there are enough twists and turns ranging from a cattle drive across the desert to a Japanese military invasion that it feels surprisingly fresh and intriguing. Hugh Jackman plays the widow’s herder-turned-lover and newcomer Brandon Walters shines as an Aboriginal boy.

The problem with Australia lies not in its ambition but in its execution. Though the premise is an engaging one, it’s as if Luhrmann didn’t know what kind of movie he was making. A serious drama? Romance? Slapstick comedy? An homage to the old-fashioned epics of the 30s and 40s? The film breezes through so many genres over its three-hour runtime that it’s very difficult to figure out how one is supposed to be feeling while watching it.

ReviewsAndrew JohnsonDecember 1, 2008Australia, Baz Luhrmann, Hugh Jackman, Nicole KidmanComment

Review: Quantum of Solace (2008)

Note: This article was originally published in Technician on November 18, 2008.

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'Quantum of Solace' hits the mark

It should be stated up front that I am not a James Bond fanatic. I have not seen all the films in their entirety. Neither am I familiar with the intricacies of Bond lore. All I know is that they’re usually enjoyable, and that if you’re a Bond fan, you’ll probably enjoy Quantum of Solace. And even if you’re not, there’s enough substance amidst the explosions and car chases to separate it from the usual Bond routine.

For starters, there’s Daniel Craig. Once again, he shows why he’s the best Bond since Connery, walking the delicate line between being the “blunt instrument” of Casino Royale and the suave and sophisticated agent of the classics. This isn’t your grandma’s Bond –- this is a newer, edgier, more naïve Bond.

The film picks up right where the last one left off, with our hero in possession of the mysterious Mr. White, whose manipulations have led to the death of his one true love. Olga Kurylenko provides support as Camille, a young woman fighting alongside Bond to get to another target. While her role is hardly as memorable as that of Eva Green in Casino Royale, she has an eerie Vesper-like quality which adds an interesting dimension to their relationship. Both are hungry for revenge, and only one of them will carry it out by the end of the movie.

ReviewsAndrew JohnsonNovember 18, 2008Daniel Craig, James Bond, Judi Dench, Mathieu Amalric, Olga Kurylenko, Quantum of SolaceComment

Review: Role Models (2008)

Note: This article was originally published in Technician on November 10, 2008.

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'Role Models' defines a model comedy

Just when you thought the R-rated comedy season had ended, we are treated to another dose of raunch and irresponsible behavior in Role Models. This marks the latest release from Universal, whom I can only assume is seeking to compete with last week’s Zack and Miri Make A Porno. Thankfully, where the latter failed, this film succeeds and manages to find a good balance between vulgarity and heartfelt drama.

The film follows two irresponsible energy drink representatives (Paul Rudd and Sean William Scott) who are forced to enroll in a Big Brother-style program for troubled kids. They’re put in charge of mentoring Augie and Ronnie, two young teens each with their separate set of problems. And when irresponsible adults meet irresponsible kids, you know something funny is bound to happen.

And does it ever. Role Models is the funniest film of the year so far, with the possible exception of Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Rudd and Scott are in top form, and deliver punchlines with pitch-perfect timing. Whether it’s through conversations about the true nature of coffee-cup sizes or how to properly scope out well-endowed women, the script is filled with snappy dialogue that might fall flat in the hands of lesser actors. But they make it work, and it doesn’t take long for the viewer to actually sympathize with their situation, even if they can be rather unsympathetic.

Review: Zack and Miri Make A Porno (2008)

Note: This article was originally published in Technician on October 28, 2008.

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Zack and Miri yield crass yet empty comedy

There is a moment in Zack and Miri Make A Porno that everyone will remember. It’s the kind of thing that audience members immediately start talking about once the credits begin to roll, just to make sure they actually saw what they think they saw. Without giving too much away, all I’ll say is that it’s a joke involving human fecal matter that is so graphic and shocking, you’ll laugh simply because you don’t know how else to respond.

Such is the nature of Kevin Smith’s new movie: you’ll laugh not necessarily because what’s on screen is actually funny, but because not to do so would be to acknowledge that you’ve spent money on the kind of crass substance you could find on the Internet for free, or just by asking your friends to make a dirty joke.

The plotline is simple: Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) are long-time best friends who decide to make a no-budget pornographic film to raise money for their rent. But when it comes time for the two of them to “do the deed” on camera, their friendship is tested by the resulting complications. Think When Harry Met Sally with porn, and jokes that would make Ron Jeremy blush.

Review: Religulous (2008)

Note: This article was originally published in Technician on October 7, 2008.

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Religulous dares to laugh at the sacred

If there’s one topic it’s often not okay to question and joke about, it’s religion. Evidently Bill Maher didn’t get the memo. The talk show host is the writer and star of Religulous, a documentary that follows him on his quest to “ask questions” and preach the gospel of “I don’t know.” It’s a film that even the devoutly religious should be able to enjoy, if only for the sheer amount of laughs, though it’s lacking as a serious examination of the issue of faith.

Maher, raised Catholic, spends most of the film poking fun of Christianity and Islam, with a few smaller religions like Scientology and Mormonism thrown in for good measure. His journey takes him everywhere from a Truckers Chapel here in Raleigh to the Vatican itself.

The film shines when raising questions. Why don’t Christians accept evolution? Are we really a “Christian” nation? Is Islam a religion of peace or war? Is it right to be certain about the end of the world and the afterlife? Doesn’t much of Christianity contradict the teachings of Jesus?

ReviewsAndrew JohnsonOctober 7, 2008Bible, Bill Maher, Christianity, Islam, Larry Charles, Religulous, Vatican, religion Comment

Review: Eagle Eye (2008)

Note: This article was originally published in Technician on September 29, 2008.

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Eagle Eye preposterous, yet fun

It's that time of the year again. With the glow of summer blockbusters fading away, and fall Oscar contenders yet to be released, movie-goers are stuck with a batch of movies that didn't quite make the cut into either category. Amongst the teen sex comedies and indie dramas though, "Eagle Eye" aims to attract action fans with a fast-paced story and a who-dun-it mystery. Is it good? Not really, but you'll probably be having too much fun to care.

The plot follows Jerry Shaw (Shia Labeouf), a broke copy store employee who returns home one evening to find his apartment filled with explosives and forged documents. To avoid being caught by the FBI, he's forced to obey the instructions of a mysterious woman who has the ability to manipulate technology to track his every move. Along the way he's joined by a young woman (Michelle Monaghan), who is coerced into helping him after her son's life is threatened. Rosario Dawson and Billy Bob Thornton play government agents trying to avert what may or may not be a terrorist plot. Cue bullets, explosions and political intrigue.

ReviewsAndrew JohnsonSeptember 29, 2008Billy Bob Thornton, D.J. Caruso, Eagle Eye, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Shia LabeoufComment

Review: Bangkok Dangerous (2008)

Note: This review was originally published in Technician on September 9, 2008.

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Bangkok Dangerous light on danger, disappointing

Just when you thought we were free from the summer explosion of sequels and remakes, Hollywood throws out one more for good measure This weekend saw the release of Bangkok Dangerous, a remake of the Thai film of the same name. Directed by the Pang Brothers, who also helmed the original, the film is hardly the worst as remakes go, but it certainly isn't one of the best.

Nicolas Cage stars as Joe, a hitman who's nearly past his prime. Realizing that it's probably time for him to retire, Joe decides to pull one last job in Thailand - four hits. The opening voice-over informs that he's one of the best in the business because he has four rules he never breaks. These four rules can basically be summed up in a single phrase: don't get involved. Predictably, most of the story hinges on him breaking all of his usual rules and the conflicts that follow.

ReviewsAndrew JohnsonSeptember 9, 2008Bangkok Dangerous, Nicolas Cage, Pang Brothers, hitmanComment

Review: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)

Note: This article was originally published in Technician on August 26, 2008.

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Clone Wars continues downward trend of franchise

Star Wars fans have had a rough ride the past few years.

Considering the cultural impact and quality of the original Star Wars trilogy, most people contend that the latest batch of films was tolerable at best, and the cinematic equivalent of a colonoscopy at worst. The last decade has seen the release of a plethora of Star Wars-themed television shows and video games, many of them poorly received. It's as if George Lucas himself has forgotten what made the classic trilogy so great, and is now merely using its name to line his pockets with even more money.

Enter Clone Wars, an animated feature film set between Episodes II and III. Except, it's not really a feature film. Instead it consists of the first four episodes of the television show with the same name set to premiere on Cartoon Network this fall. Could this be what makes Star Wars relevant again, or is it just another low point in the history of a franchise long diluted?

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