Next Week
You may remember that I mentioned Lucky You and The Hoax in my Things to Do post last week. You may also recall that neither of those films were discussed this week. No need really. With Lucky You I was hoping to spotlight to a little seen movie by a director I respect. Then I actually watched it. I can understand why certain bad movies, like, I don’t know Transformers, were made. It’s unfortunate but things like Transformers are always going to be profitable, no matter how souless or boring they are, and I imagine Michael Bay increased his bank account by several zeroes to participate. Lucky You isn’t as bad as Transformers, and it means well, but meaning well is usually the most boring kind of bad movie. This is the kind of movie that is so boring you wonder how the director could muster the enthusiasm required to spend several months shooting it.
Essentially Lucky You is a warmer, fuzzier The Color of Money in the poker world. The Color of Money didn’t need to be warmer or fuzzier, and it didn’t need Eric Bana at his blandest (saying something) or Drew Barrymore at her most obnoxious (REALLY saying something.) Robert Duvall does as much as he can. Curtis Hanson’s magic touch with material that should suck (In Her Shoes) fails him here. Hanson’s L.A. Confidential, Wonder Boys one two punch will ensure his work a look see from now on, but this one’s a bummer.
The Hoax isn’t being deprived of a full review because I didn’t like it, in fact, the new Richard Gere movie is almost exactly what I hoped it would be: light on its feet, not too pompous and charming, the majority of that charm deriving from Gere’s work and his chemistry with a characteristically appealing Alfred Molina. This is the best that director Lasse Hallstrom has been in years, primarily because he doesn’t seem to be humping Oscar’s leg this time out. Hallstrom’s telling a story again, and slight as it may feel, he tells it well. The Hoax isn’t getting the full post treatment because I just said everything I really needed to say about it. Anything else would be me writing to read myself write, and I’m doing plenty of that anyway.
So what about next week?
On the DVD front: Waitress, Tom Petty: Runnin’ Down a Dream, Shooter, Johnny To’s Election, maybe the original Diabolique.
The theatre front: Not sure, pickings are slim in my neighborhood this week. I’m checking out No Country for Old Men again, may see Lars and the Real Girl or The Darjeeling Limited, but those are a drive away and still in the maybe stage (I’m iffy on both of them anyway). The good news is that my area has finally announced Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution for the following week and I’ve been looking forward to that one.
Anyone here catch Southland Tales? Is it as bad as it sounds?
November 30th, 2007 at 8:24 am
I’m happy you’re reviewing Waitress. One of my top movies of 2007. But you might cry. A lot. If I know you.
November 30th, 2007 at 9:07 am
I am a crier. Away from Her, one of the best movies of the year, tore me to pieces. Ok, I’ll fess up, Ratatouille too.
November 30th, 2007 at 10:23 am
I wanted to like Lucky You, I really did. It wasn’t awful, but when I think of the potential…
I was bound and determined to see Southland Tales. I skipped it twice at AFI and then when it came out, it totally fell off my radar. All other considerations aside, I have to say the cast is what is tripping me up.
And yes, I should finally crack and watch Waitress. No matter how many movies I see in a year, it’s shocking how many seem to slip through the cracks. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it, and I’m a little surprised it didn’t get a little more loving from the Spirit Awards.