On tap this week:
— Oscar Fallout
— Curmurdgeons
— KONG!
And slightly much more!
I had some time to kill this week, so I hopped into the theatre to watch something (anything) to kill a couple hours. So I walked into Gran Torino again, still a good but not superb flick, but something kind of lit my mind up that I feel like discussing.
Clint Eastwood is one of those rare actors who can say ANYTHING and people won’t mind.
And I got to thinking: what other actors can get away with it? There’s not a whole lot.
Well. . .on that short list, Morgan Freeman would be one. He could go on a two hour tirade on why he hates an ethnic race and I don’t think anyone would mind.
Bill Nighy would be another. He’s got that British elegance to him that he could pull it off.
Denzel Washington is Steve McQueen kind of cool; he’s the only guy who could take a violent sociopath with no redeeming qualities like Frank Lucas and make him into an almost likeable human being. So he could pull off a character in the Black version of Gran Torino and it’d be great.
Cate Blanchett could probably get away with it. There’s something about her that says she could play a foul-mouthed curmudgeon and it’d be fun.
And that’s about it. . . . .I really can’t think of anyone else who could get away with it. If I could’ve, I’d have gotten into the really good colleges.
Random Thoughts of the Week
Wow. . . .what a night at the Oscars.
The biggest thing I thought about it was just how much on the money Hugh Jackman’s opening monologue was. The opening has always been near painful, as a neutered Chris Rock was about as good as it has been since I can remember, but Jackman singing and dancing was so old school that it felt fresh again. If there was a man who elevated himself from one event like this, it could be Jackman.
And I really enjoyed it, too, up until one point. Sean Penn’s rant on gay marriage after winning for Milk. I never thought much of his performance in the film, thinking it a bit light, but I could do without the political garbage.
Regardless of your thinking on it, the film could’ve done more to help the cause by being released before the election. You release it in September or October and you have something capable of inspiring the debate. But it was released in November, after the election, because it was going for awards and the people behind it didn’t want to be lost in the shuffle at the end of the year. It’s insulting to hear this rambling speech about tolerance when the film could’ve done more.
It’s not courageous to do something after the fact. Penn is a big enough name in Hollywood that he could’ve made the film, gotten awards for it and used it to help the cause too when it actually mattered. Call me cynical, but the one HUGE thing he could’ve done he doesn’t.
It’s not courageous. It’s the equivalent to pushing a guy with his back turned, after he’s done with a fight, then bragging about how much of a tough guy you are.
A Movie A Week – The Challenge
This Week’s Film – King Kong
It’s weird watching the different versions of King Kong, as you get three different views of really the same story. The original is something to behold, as it gives you a differing look at cinema from many moons ago.
Same story as before: bunch of guys go after a huge ape, bring him to New York, he falls to his death. It’s something to behold earlier forms of film-making. The effects still look good, all things considered.
Definite recommendation.
Top Five Challenge
Since this week was so action-packed, I didn’t have the time to find anyone. Check back next week.
What Looks Good This Weekend, and I Don’t Mean the $2 Pints of Bass Ale and Northwestern University Co-Eds with low standards at the Rhythm Room
— Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience – Experience some tween goodness.
Skip It – Unless you’re 12, you shouldn’t be watching this unless you are a pedophile.
— Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li – Another Street Fighter movie? Really?
Skip It – This looks about as good as D.O.A did, which is to say not good at all.
Do you have questions about movies, life, love, or Branigan’s Law? Shoot me an e-mail at Kubryk@Insidepulse.com and you could be featured in the next “Monday Morning Critic.” Include your name and hometown to improve your odds.
