“NOBEL SON” (Alan Rickman, Mary Steenburgen, Bryan Greenberg & Shawn Hatosy)
Not a completely original plot idea, but one that could have led to a promising story; Son of a recent Nobel Prize Winner is kidnapped & held for 2 million in ransom – Twist #1, the father is an a**hole & thinks his son is ‘screwing’ with him to get out of going to Sweden to be with him to pick up his award. Twist #2, the kidnapper has a mysterious history with the father that actually leads to the son wanting to help with the money drop.
Yes, it has an interesting plot with intriguing possibilities. The problem is – it gets too overloaded with twists & backstabbing moments that by the time we reach the final conclusion, it turns out to be the lamest of all possible outcomes... So, for the most part I enjoyed this film - & then the last 10 minutes turned me against it.
Rickman plays Eli Michaelson, a pompous egomaniacal chemistry professor, & even though he’s ‘over-the-top’ unlikable, Rickman’s drool delivery of his lines makes him at least an interesting character to watch. Steenburgen plays his wife,Sarah, a police psychiatrist that suffers thru life with this ultimate lout of a cheating husband for no apparent reason – So their grown son doesn’t feel as though he comes from a broken home? It was nice to see Bill Pullman playing the detective in charge of investigating the kidnapping, as I’ve always enjoyed his work. & for the most part, I don’t have a problem with the rest of the cast; with the exception of Eliza Dushku playing a flakey ‘poet’ named City Hall... Yeah, sometimes coming up with ‘original’ character names makes you look like a moron – Hey, let’s call her Yellow Firehydrant! No, that’s dumb, let’s go with City Hall instead – You’re right, that’s a lot better... Eliza is very cute, with an exceptionally sexy body, but her diploma from the Drew Barrymore School of Acting isn’t going to get her any meaty roles any time soon...
Bryan Greenberg plays the dorky son, Barkley & Shawn Hatosy, the kidnapper with many hidden secrets. Cameos by Danny DeVito & Ted Danson made me yearn for a ‘Taxi’ or a ‘Cheers’ movie to be made – Yes, the ending was so rotten, it had me inventing more dumb ideas for old sitcoms being revived!
So where in the hell are all the Oscar caliber films that are supposed to be coming out this time of year? I still have ‘Iron Man’ & ‘Tropic Thunder’ in my top 5 for cryin’ out loud!
12 comments:
Where is all of the Oscar nominated films you ask ? For some reason, and I don't remember it ever being this way, is that the studio's seem to want to release all of their movies in a limited fashion, then spread them out through the next few weeks. I am not a fan of this type of way of releasing a film.
I have already seen Milk and Sean Penn was great in that and also Slumdog Millionaire- I really liked that ! Something unique and original. I know that Frost/Nixon is playing at the Meridian, and I'll be seeing that Sunday evening. As that was one film on the top of my list.
Big on the list is The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Nothing But The Truth, Gran Torino, The Reader, The Wrestler, Seven Pounds Wendy and Lucy and Revolutionary Road topping my list of first's.
I will see Good, Yes Man, Last Chance Harvey, Defiance, Che and What Doesn't Kill You in January.
The two stories that intrigue me most are 'Valkyrie' & 'Benjamin Button'; the thing that worries me most about Valkyrie is the delay in its release & the obvious - Tom Cruise in the starring role. 'Button' is a very original idea that will be interesting to see if it's unbelievable premise works onscreen. '7 Pounds' presented a very intriguing trailer & of course, being dog lovers, 'Marley & Me' will be seen immediately(Though not an Oscar contender unless they start giving out 'Best Cuddly Puppy' awards!
You did ask about, uh, Oscar contender's correct ?
That's it ?
Those are the ones I'm looking forward to the most. Frost/Nixon doesn't hold a lot of interest for me, but we'll probably see it.
To me, it's kind of like glorifying a national embarrassment. Like O.J., I would have been happier if Nixon just crawled under a rock & never emerged. Gran Torino looks good, but Oscar calibre? I hope they don't give a pity trophy to Clint & shun Sean Penn YET AGAIN...
I'm not fond of glorifying child rape either, so The Reader may be uncomfortable for me to watch. Wendy & Lucy may be TOO sad to sit thru, & I have absolutely no interest in The Wrestler whatsoever. Revolutionary Road has one of the worst trailers I've ever seen, but my wife wants to see it, so I'm stuck there. I'm very wary of so-called 'Oscar' contenders when it comes to critics; they seemed to love 'Rachel Getting Married', 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' & 'Elegy' & I despised all three of those films. So 'Oscar' contender isn't a big lure for me. I would also add 'Doubt' as a film that looks uncomfortable, but interesting.
I hear what's good about Frost/Nixon, is not only the good performances by Langella and Sheen, but it also lets the viewer into the stressful behind the scenes that went on, and also the brainstorming Frost did to make the interviews actually happen in the first place. There is a back story. Something Australia lacked.
My brother weasled his way into getting a SAG card from being in a commercial so he gets into a lot of screening's and premiere's if he works it, and he really liked The Wrestler, and he ditests big time wrestling. But there is a catch to it.
When I e-mailed him and asked him why he liked it, he said it's a very good performance from Mickey Rourke firstly. One you have never seen from him on an emotional level, and that the wrestling is a metaphor basically into a man who is empty and has nothing and that is ( the wrestling ) what he was good at and made him whole. The wrestling is gone ( for a time ) and it's how he needs to patch things up and figure out what he does with his life, not having what you do best to fall back on.
I also just saw today, about Revolutionary Road, where someone pontificated you have never seen Di Caprio in this way either. Similar to Rourke, in opening up completely with his emotions. A complete vulnerability.
If Leo goes above his normal range as an actor then I feel he will take the 5th spot for a Oscar nomination. That it may just be a more charismatic turn than Richard Jenkins was.
I just rented The Visitor again last night, and I have to admit, Jenkins role is pretty subtle most of the movie.
As for deciding what movies I go to ? I will attempt seeing movies that I hear good things about, that I myself am not that charged up about, just to see if I may be surprised and end up liking. Those films this year were Tropic Thunder, Slumdog Millionaire, Role Models, Changeling, Frozen River and Milk. I wasn't impressed about those movies before I saw them, and my mind was changed.
So sometimes you see a movie that didn't initially tickle your interest and then surprised you. That's the great thing about movies.
Look's like Doubt is the next so called heavy hitter to breakdown.
As always we'll just have to wait & see for ourselves, but as of right now, the 2 actors I think deserve Oscar nods are Penn & Jenkins. Jackman 'commanded' the screen in 'Australia', so I'd say it was more his persona than great acting (But he's my #3 so far)
Others that were commendable;Don Cheadle in Traitor/Robert Downey, Jr. in Iron Man & the Ed Harris/Viggo Mortenson duo in Appaloosa.
So the critics say Frank Langella & Mickey Roarke are shoe-ins. I have NEVER liked Roarke in ANYTHING. I seriously doubt seeing him weeping tears over the lose of his shrunken testicles due to his many years of steroid abuse in real life is going to make me suddenly think of him as a great Oscar caliber actor. Langella is doing a Nixon impersonation - who can't? The only one who worries me for taking the trophy away from Sean or the nomination away from Jenkins is Pitt as 'Benjamin Button' is apparently the favorite to win Best Picture. My anticipation of seeing 'BB' waned a but when I heard critics comparing it to 'Forrest Gump' because I hated that movie.
I don't know much about Revolutionary Road other than it seems to be a boring, unbearable 'family' drama... I hate those too... It's also very tricky to go over-the-top with your emotions (As Leo seems to in the 'RR' trailer) Ones flaws can come rising to the surface if you take it too far. Having only seen The Visitor once I can't comment on your feelings about Jenkins performance - I just remember he met my criteria for what makes for a perfect performance - he 'became' his character. You called it a subtle performance, but the man did go thru some ecliptic changes; from being a man that didn't care about anyone to caring too much for the family that enters his life.
Anyway, as you said, films often surprise us & we'll just have to wait & see which of these upcoming flicks will elevate themselves into the upper echelon.
Oh Mr. Reid... I came to your lovely blog, intending to see what people had to say about Downey Jr. on your Tropic Thunder thread and see if anyone mentioned Oscar worthy, and I see on your Nobel Son posting, you have waxed on how your feelings are come Oscar time.
I agree with the person on the Richard Jenkins role. I have seen The Visitor more than once and though it isn't by far a bad performance, I don't think it's Oscar worthy. It made my top 5 for most of the year, but it just isn't an enigmatic or strong enough performance for it to have the legs. In fact I think his Ted Treffon was a better performance honestly, at least in an " acted " showing.
It's going to be a very competetive year. More so than the last. But you have Hugh Jackman in there ? Decent performance, best part of the movie. But Academy Award worthy ?
I disagree with your Mickey Rourke analogy. I thought he was solid in Diner, Pope Of Greenwich Village, Barfly, Johnny Handsome, 9 1/2 Weeks and now The Wrestler.
You don't have to be a fan of someone to witness a good acting performance. It's just simply a very good performance. Also a 97% approval rating is pretty convincing. That means .3 % of people didn't have a favorable review. That's overwhelmingly positive. Now let's get this straight, he's not my favorite actor either, but I have been seeing movies more than half of my life and I know good and that was good. I'm not just blowing smoke. Why of all actors would I stick my neck out for Mickey Rourke if I didn't have to ?
On the Forsy/Nixon front... Langella isn't doing a straight up impersonation of Nixon. He's doing more of study on the man's demons and what's going on with him mentally, IE the personality flaws and whatnot, paranoia, etc. Solid flick across the board. Solid filmmaking. You can tell it was in good hands.
I haven't seen Revolutionary Road
yet, but with all involved I would be surprised if it wasn't good.
And you say you don't like the family drama, but you told me in the past that you were very impressed by Oridinary People. ???
This is the first year that I remember since I have been reading your reviews going back to KJR, that you have been negative to a few movies you haven't even seen. How could you convince yourself you know you won't like something so steadfast ? That's just strange to me. Hey... I went to Role Models expecting crap and that'll probably make my top 20 of 2008.
All I'm saying is, none of these movies or performances are masterpieces by any means ( including Penn's Milk ) I'm not saying I was blown away ( we have been through that topic ) but you can point out good from average.
I think Slumdog achieved that for example. Just cool storytelling. Look at their budget and everything involved and what they have been able to pull off and then you see the bloated, over eagerness of the 130 million Australia.
Decent movie, but to tell a story and have you get drawn into it doesn't have to be star studded and have some colossal budget. The numbers don't lie.
I'm usually on a 50-50 on going along with most critic reviews, but I'm with most of them on The Wrestler, Frost/Nixon and Slumdog.
Saw Button last night and am seeing Doubt tonight. We'll see where those two fit in.
I hardly ever post on your blog, but I saw your comments from the other person and I thought I'd chime in and maybe someone else can see my point as well.
If I wasn't a person with strong opinions, I wouldn't be doing this; even if it's having an opinion on a trailer, or what I've heard or know about a film I haven't seen or an actor I've never cared for. I've never cared for Mickey Roarke's 'style' of acting - You keep telling me I don't know what I'm talking about because I disagree with 'most' critics - & I keep repeating, I'm NOT a critic, I'm just some schmuck that was asked to give my opinions on the films I saw when I worked for a certain radio station. I've stated this many times before, but you keep telling me my 'opinion' is wrong, so I'll say it again - If an actor makes me believe he's the character he's portraying & not an actor playing a part, I label that performance 'great' acting. I watch actors closer than anyone else I know - I'm focused on the acting & the story - so things like cinematography & sound & lighting aren't noticeable to me unless they're distracting. I am entitled to my opinion on what makes a good actor, so unless you think Sean Penn, Jack Nicholson, Paul Newman, Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman, Robert Downey, Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Edward Norton, Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington, Daniel Day-Lewis, Forrest Whitaker, & Javiar Bardem (to name a few) are all BAD actors - then maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. But Sean Penn has been my favorite actor for many years now & he rarely disappoints. Is Nicholas Cage a better actor than Sean Penn? Well, the so-called experts think so because they gave him Best Actor when the 2went head to head in 1995. Is Jamie Foxx a better actor than Sean? According to Oscar his ability to put on sunglasses & lip-synch was a better performance than Penn's riveting turn in 'The Assassination Of Richard Nixon'. In fact, according to Oscar voters Sean stunk it up in 'Nixon' because he wasn't even nominated that year. So do Oscar voters not know good acting because once in a while they cast their votes for reasons other than an impressive performance? That sometimes they vote with their heart instead of who actually was 'best'? How do you explain Roberto Benigni's win in 1998? Roberto Benigni was better than Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan/ Edward Norton in American History X(My pick that year, by the way)/ Ian McKellen in Gods & Monsters / & Nick Nolte in Affliction... How does Roberto Benigni NOT finish in last place against those guys? Oscar voters didn't know good acting when they saw it that year did they? So please stop telling me I don't know good acting because I think Mickey Roarke is a freak. My only goal with this blogsite is to hopefully bring a few smiles to readers faces as I spout off on my sometimes unorthodox views. I like reading Roger Ebert's bad reviews more than the comlimentary ones becasue they are more entertaining. I feel the same way about mine (Not in Ebert's league, by any means, I'm NOT egotisical)
but when I get to slam something I didn't like, I kind of enjoy doing so - praising something is boring. My favorite opening line I wrote for a review was from 'The Fountain' (Starring my choice for the 3rd best acting performance I have seen this calendar year, Hugh Jackman because I haven't seen Hoffman, Pitt, Langella, Eastwood or Di Caprio yet) I felt like the first line said it all when I wrote: 'Somebody must have peed in The Fountain because it stinks!'
Forgive me for this rambling reply, but I want you to understand that just because I don't like a performance that you enjoyed doesn't mean I don't know what good acting is - There are people in the world that believe John Wayne was a great actor, are they right? Well, if they enjoyed the way old Duke read his lines off of the rim of his cowboy hat, then I guess they do, don't they?
Oh, & my appreciation of 'family drama' "Ordinary People" was due to the fact that because of my past, I could relate to Timothy Hutton's character - Ordinarily, 'Ordinary People' would not be the type of film I'd enjoy. I'm not sure Mary Tyler Moore deserved an Oscar nomination for her role in it - I think voters felt she should be recognized for finally playing someone unlikeable & un-spunky - Just as you feel Clint Eastwood might win a Best Actor Oscar for 'Gran Torino'(Without having seen the film) sometimes 'Acting' has nothing to do with whether or not someone 'likes' an actor. I know some people that don't like Sean Penn because during his 'Madonna Years' he was a hot head that valued his privacy... What does that have to do with whether or not the guy can act? Nothing. Just 'some people's opinions' - Which they are entitled to.
I think it was pretty universal that most didn't think John Wayne was a great actor but he was highly respected by directors and fellow cast members because he was prepared, on time and knew his lines before shooting.
The Fountain suffered from the same fate that Australia does, in that it was almost too over ambitious. You can tell when a filmmaker is " trying " to impress visually and trying to go almost art house, and you can tell that Darren Aronofsky was doing just that. He went back to his roots for The Wrestler and to storytelling I gather. That is what Peter Bart said on Shootout when they interviewed Aronofsky and Rourke on Shootout last week. I was really impressed with his work on Requiem For A Dream. The Fountain was a mistake, but still impressive in thought creation.
I too think Mickey Rourke has been a freak in the past. He seems to be more mature now and in more control of his life. Humbled. And though I have yet to see the film, the feeling I am getting from people that have is that the performance he puts on is unlike what you'd expect from him. It's a positive surprise even to people who aren't fans of his. It is a bit queer, most movies usually have a few detractors at least, but The Wrestler seems to be enjoyed across the board. That is strange to me the universal analogy is overall positive. I mean I have heard good word by not only professional critics, but friends. He and Penn are tearing up the pre Oscar awards from what I see. Maybe the planets lined up and he does knock the part for a home run ? I will certainly see it when I can. Anything with a lot of ballyhoo I have to see just for my own appraisal.
I agree with Terry on that the Oscars are not the be all/end all of what was the best of the year. At least they are better than the Golden Globes. Did you see those enominations ? Embarrassing !
Though I did like Life Is Beautiful, and thought Begnini was impressive in that role, was it the best ? I voted for Norton personally, but I wasn't mad nor miffed by Begnini's win though. It's a feel good/overcoming role and voters are suckers for that.
I think that is what the previous poster meant about Rourke, that the performance is better than what he's done in the past. Or that people are seeing something from him that that they have never seen before. Some actors strike good luck and are offered good written material and it speaks to them and it elevates their natural born talent, e.g. Nic Cage in Adaptation, Robert Forster in Jackie Brown, John Travolta in Michael, David Carradine in Bound For Glory, Burt Reynolds in Boogie Nights, Peter Fonda in Ulee's Gold, Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade. Those are just several examples of actors who I think are decent, but not great, that shined in those performences. Just my two cents on that. I also hear Cage is kicking himself now for turning down The Wrestler since he's seen it. He even went as far to do research for the part. He had to move on because of scheduling problems. Aronofsky's second choice was Rourke.
By the way, I saw Doubt this afternoon ( walked ) and will be looking for your review when you get the chance to see it. I don't believe the film as a whole is Best Picture material. It's more of a performance piece for the main actors I felt. You may think differently. I do feel sorry for the suburbanites. Has to be tough out there driving. I can just walk out of my apartment to go see a movie or to get something to eat. The benefits to living downtown I guess.
P.S. It's good to see some new blood on the blog, but I think that person that signed in as Arthur Hiller was taking the piss on Alan Smithee, as it was Hiller that directed a film called Alan Smithee: Burn Hollywood Burn. That what I surmise that was. As always I could be wrong.
Thanks for your concern, movieluva. I do not think Mr. Hiller was speaking at or to me.
Rest assured that if that octogenarian gets uppity, I'll remind him that Alan Smithee never directed "Love Story."
Where do I begin?
Wonderful commentary, movieluva; can't say I agree with your list of 'okay' actors who shined in those particular roles(Other than Forster & Thornton) but I understand the concept you were putting forth - As far as anyone getting pissed on, it'd better be me - I won't stand for anyone pissing on my guests! . . . Even Alan (Jackass) Smithee!
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