The Wendell Baker Story, Brooklyn Rules, The Ex, Even Money, The Last Time
The Wendell Baker Story **
Directed by Andrew Wilson and Luke Wilson
95 Minutes
Rated PG-13 for some crude and sexual humor and language.
Luke Wilson's screenwriting and directing debut is a foul and often dull comedy that was rightfully shelved for the last two years. "The Wendell Baker Story" is full of lulls and yawns that whenever there is any real comedy present it can't even be appreciated because the viewer is too busy checking their watches or cell phones for the time. Wilson takes the lead as Wendell Baker, a small town business man that makes his little money by selling Mexican immigrants ID's with the Texas seal. When he gets busted by the cops and arrested, Wendell loses his best friend, his girlfriend, and his dog. When he gets out for good behavior he is placed under the care of Neil King (played by brother Owen Wilson), who operates a hotel for the elderly. He gets involved in a scam that King runs through the hotel, tries to win back the heart of his girlfriend, and help people all at the same time.
By the end of the film I felt that some time had passed, but that was all. There were some funny moments, and Seymour Cassel and Harry Dean Stanton both stole any scene that they were in. But for the most part this is an unorganized mess, and the only reason that it was even made was because all three of the Wilson brothers were active-with Andrew Wilson co-directing-and with Luke and Andrew both producing. Almost every scene goes on too long, the good jokes are few and far between. There was a surprise(?) Will Ferrell cameo that was worth the trip, but that is a five minute bit that eventually had to end. This is more of a decent effort than a successful comedy and the two years that it was shelved could have lasted longer. Instead this is receiving a release in a small handful of theatres that will probably last a minute.
Brooklyn Rules ***
Directed by Michael Corrente
99 Minutes
Rated R for violence, pervasive language and some sexual content.
"Brooklyn Rules" is a huge surprise: it is a good movie. It is not extraordinary-will not change the face of the gangster genre for the rest of time-but it is well acted, well written, funny, heart-wrenching, and interesting look at the mafia, friendship, and family. It is Scorsese-lite, and for once it does not try to be a copy of other mafia type films. "Brooklyn Rules" focuses more on character and not action, on friendship rather than plot twists, and it turns out to be one of the more satisfying films in recent memory. The film revolves around three friend, Michael, Carmine, and Bobby. The three of them grew up in Brooklyn close to the mafia and had to live with horrifying factors-like finding a dead, bullet ridden body in the front seat of a car. But the three of them managed to remain friends over time, all of them heading through life in a different direction. Michael (played by Freddie Prinze Jr, who surprises by turning it really good work here) goes to Columbia and hopes to go on to law school, Bobby hopes to settle down with his girlfriend and start a family, and Carmine has ties with Caesar, the most powerful mob man in Brooklyn (played by Alec Baldwin).
That is all that really needs to be known. Like I said this isn't a film strong on plot but about relationships. There are some obvious plot twists that can be seen a few seconds before they are about to happen, and some scenes are a little "cookie-cutted." The relationship that Michael has with his girlfriend Ellen was a bit unneeded. But if anything this has heart to go along with its violence, and its a smart and effective drama. All of the acting is well thought-out, and I was shocked to find that Freddy Prinze Jr. was capable of delivering powerful work. Alec Baldwin only has a couple of scenes, but has shocking screen presence. And like in any Italian mafia film there are the usual strong emphasis on faith, religion, and God, even though a death relating to an image of the virgin Mary (not to ruin anything) does question how strong the views of God are to screenwriter Terence Winter. This is a good film, chocked full of twists, heart, and humor and you will leave the theatre stuffed and satisfied.
The Ex *1/2
Directed by Jesse Peretz
92 Minutes
Rated PG-13 for sexual content, brief language and a drug reference.
But first, a brief history! "The Ex" was once called "Fast Track" and was released under this title for a mere week at the end of December of last year for Oscar consideration (which was a ridiculous choice.) It was slated for a release two weeks later, then was bumped another week, than another two months, and then finally another two months to May 11th. But that wasn't all. First it was only going to be released in New York. Than it was only going to be New York and Los Angeles, and then it was going to only be 900 theaters, and then finally it was released in 1100. Now all of those changes led to basically zero marketing, and zero hope for this being the Oscar hopeful that the Weinsteins (who pretty much have no idea how to market and care for a film) once had. And how is the film? In a word: awful. "The Ex" has a small amount of laughs, but is pretty much a dank, dumb, and depressing comedy starring Zach Braff (who really does a good job selecting his scripts in a careful manner) doing what he always does-freaks out about the fact that his life is changing. Braff plays Tom, who packs his bags with his wife Sofia and their few day old son, and moves from the big city to a small town. Sofia wants to be a stay at home mom, forcing Tom to go to work with his father in law at a New Age like ad agency. Tom meets Chip, wheel chaired but powerful, who is assigned to "mentor" Tom and show him the ropes. Sadly for Tom, Chip slept with Sofia once in high school and has never forgotten her, and he will stop at nothing to make sure that Tom's life is a living hell. Of course, the saint that he always is, Chip does not give a bad impression to anyone.
"The Ex" is basically a sitcom with the most unoriginal and lame plot twists, stretched out over a brutally long ninety minutes. I can't even call Zach Braff a good actor anymore because everything he does is a variation of the character he played in "Scrubs," "Garden State," or "The Last Kiss." This is just a dumbed down version of a similar character. Jason Bateman is funny at times, and does have a great screen presence, but talents like Amanda Peet and Mia Farrow are just coasting their way through. And at times it was like a "Who's who" of "Saturday Night Live" cast members-and the unfunny current "Saturday Night Live." The title is also a bit misleading as it infers that Sofia and Chip once shared something special and more deep, but it was a meaningless (at least to her) little fling that she somewhat forgot. I wouldn't really call that an "ex." Finally the ending is just ridiculous-extremely by the books and very easy to write-and while many people in the theater were laughing, I had my hand out in stupid amazement. Not to say that this doesn't have its laughs, and it does once in a blue moon, but on the whole it is a nasty little comedy-pointless and dead. I've seen this before and it does not need to be rehashed.
Even Money **1/2
Directed by Mark Rydell
108 Minutes
Rated R for language, violence and brief sexuality.
"Even Money" is a bit of a hard film to really judge-I know that deep down it is more melodramatic than it should be, the characters are very one dimensional, the score sucks, and despite a large and talented cast, none of the actors really know what they are doing, and do not even seem to care. And yet there was something oddly entertaining about it, even though it is a complete and utter mess. Taking its cue from the likes of Altman and P.T. Anderson, Mark Rydell has crafted a mosaic on the effects that gambling has on people. With three interconnected stories he followed the uncle of a teenage basketball played (Forest Whitaker), a struggling writer/wife/mother who is addicted to the slots (Kim Basinger) and two bookies (Jay Mohr and Grant Sullivan). And then there are the side characters-Kelsey Grammar as a crippled cop, Danny DeVito as a failed magician, and Ray Liotta are the angry husband-all of whom connect to Ivan, a mysterious mob like figure who can make or break the lives of everyone.
There is something compelling about the film, though, and I can't place my hand on what. It does entertain, even if it is a mess and has the quality of a television film. I must say something about the score, who is done so over the top that during the most serious scenes I was laughing a little inside. I could have maybe lived without the extended plot with Tim Roth's murderous assistant to the mob. I love Tim Roth, but his plot line somewhat made the film a bit unrealistic. If they wanted to make a mosaic of gambling it could have been with more realistic characters and plot. This is the weakness of "Even Money"-it does not take a human approach at the topic of gambling and tries to resort to colorful side characters, and more of a cartoonish tone. And Kelsey Grammer's, who is very good here, noir detective is misplaced and does not fit with the mixed tone the film has. "Even Money" is something to check out when it comes to a smaller screen, but certainly is not a must to watch now. This will float right by-no harm no foul.
The Last Time ***
Directed by Michael Caleo
96 Minutes
Rated R for pervasive language and sexual content.
Pity "The Last Time." Supposed to be released at the start of May for the normal limited release it was pushed back a week to April, and then scratched from the list and slated to go direct to video. And then somehow it was picked up, and is being released at one theater in LA, and the Quad in NY, and I'm sure that combined it'll make less than a thousand dollars (and I am saying that not only because of the zero marketing (prior to the films release I had not seen a single frame from the film) but also because of the five people that were in the theater with me on a Sunday night). Michael Keaton and Brendan Fraser play off each other perfectly as two salesman (Ted and Jamie) whose company is going through the worst quarter ever, only months away from revealing something revolutionary. Jamie is getting married and has an optimistic view of life, while Ted has been through some kind of tragedy and is cold and heartless towards his co-workers. And then he meets Jamie's fiancee, the lovely Belisa, and the two of them have a torrid affair starting with sex on the same bed as the passed on Jamie. And Ted begins to lighten up, even if his work suffers, while Jamie ends up going down a horrible path as he never makes a single sale. And the roles reverse. . .
What I appreciate most of the film is how director Michael Caleo mixes genres with success. At times this is a buddy comedy, and then it is a romance film, and then it is briefly a thriller, and then a satire on office politics, and it all manages to work without seeming muddled. He also gives every scene this certain tint and often has beautiful shots. And there is a rather ingenious plot twist at the end, which is what ended my twenty minute period where I was trying to guess how the film would end. Michael Keaton is wonderful here and evokes the master presence that he has in the late 90's with his comedies. Brandon Fraser isn't as good, and there is always something about his presence that makes whatever is happening laughable in a bad way, but here he manages to not go so over the top as usual. Aside from the romance which could have been toned down, I really did enjoy the office scenes and the large cast of characters there. From the evil boss to the discussions at the water cooler and then to the blue and monotonous tint of the workplace, this is clearly a film about how the office could screw people up and make them into things they are not, and how business always ends up becoming the most important thing. That little theme could be summed up from the very first shot and the very last shot-note the comparisons if you ever see this film. I am grateful that "The Last Time" was given a release, for if it went straight to video the odds were that I would never have seen it. It'll last a week, but will be out in July on video, and I implore that you give it a shot.
Directed by Andrew Wilson and Luke Wilson
95 Minutes
Rated PG-13 for some crude and sexual humor and language.
Luke Wilson's screenwriting and directing debut is a foul and often dull comedy that was rightfully shelved for the last two years. "The Wendell Baker Story" is full of lulls and yawns that whenever there is any real comedy present it can't even be appreciated because the viewer is too busy checking their watches or cell phones for the time. Wilson takes the lead as Wendell Baker, a small town business man that makes his little money by selling Mexican immigrants ID's with the Texas seal. When he gets busted by the cops and arrested, Wendell loses his best friend, his girlfriend, and his dog. When he gets out for good behavior he is placed under the care of Neil King (played by brother Owen Wilson), who operates a hotel for the elderly. He gets involved in a scam that King runs through the hotel, tries to win back the heart of his girlfriend, and help people all at the same time.
By the end of the film I felt that some time had passed, but that was all. There were some funny moments, and Seymour Cassel and Harry Dean Stanton both stole any scene that they were in. But for the most part this is an unorganized mess, and the only reason that it was even made was because all three of the Wilson brothers were active-with Andrew Wilson co-directing-and with Luke and Andrew both producing. Almost every scene goes on too long, the good jokes are few and far between. There was a surprise(?) Will Ferrell cameo that was worth the trip, but that is a five minute bit that eventually had to end. This is more of a decent effort than a successful comedy and the two years that it was shelved could have lasted longer. Instead this is receiving a release in a small handful of theatres that will probably last a minute.
Brooklyn Rules ***
Directed by Michael Corrente
99 Minutes
Rated R for violence, pervasive language and some sexual content.
"Brooklyn Rules" is a huge surprise: it is a good movie. It is not extraordinary-will not change the face of the gangster genre for the rest of time-but it is well acted, well written, funny, heart-wrenching, and interesting look at the mafia, friendship, and family. It is Scorsese-lite, and for once it does not try to be a copy of other mafia type films. "Brooklyn Rules" focuses more on character and not action, on friendship rather than plot twists, and it turns out to be one of the more satisfying films in recent memory. The film revolves around three friend, Michael, Carmine, and Bobby. The three of them grew up in Brooklyn close to the mafia and had to live with horrifying factors-like finding a dead, bullet ridden body in the front seat of a car. But the three of them managed to remain friends over time, all of them heading through life in a different direction. Michael (played by Freddie Prinze Jr, who surprises by turning it really good work here) goes to Columbia and hopes to go on to law school, Bobby hopes to settle down with his girlfriend and start a family, and Carmine has ties with Caesar, the most powerful mob man in Brooklyn (played by Alec Baldwin).
That is all that really needs to be known. Like I said this isn't a film strong on plot but about relationships. There are some obvious plot twists that can be seen a few seconds before they are about to happen, and some scenes are a little "cookie-cutted." The relationship that Michael has with his girlfriend Ellen was a bit unneeded. But if anything this has heart to go along with its violence, and its a smart and effective drama. All of the acting is well thought-out, and I was shocked to find that Freddy Prinze Jr. was capable of delivering powerful work. Alec Baldwin only has a couple of scenes, but has shocking screen presence. And like in any Italian mafia film there are the usual strong emphasis on faith, religion, and God, even though a death relating to an image of the virgin Mary (not to ruin anything) does question how strong the views of God are to screenwriter Terence Winter. This is a good film, chocked full of twists, heart, and humor and you will leave the theatre stuffed and satisfied.
The Ex *1/2
Directed by Jesse Peretz
92 Minutes
Rated PG-13 for sexual content, brief language and a drug reference.
But first, a brief history! "The Ex" was once called "Fast Track" and was released under this title for a mere week at the end of December of last year for Oscar consideration (which was a ridiculous choice.) It was slated for a release two weeks later, then was bumped another week, than another two months, and then finally another two months to May 11th. But that wasn't all. First it was only going to be released in New York. Than it was only going to be New York and Los Angeles, and then it was going to only be 900 theaters, and then finally it was released in 1100. Now all of those changes led to basically zero marketing, and zero hope for this being the Oscar hopeful that the Weinsteins (who pretty much have no idea how to market and care for a film) once had. And how is the film? In a word: awful. "The Ex" has a small amount of laughs, but is pretty much a dank, dumb, and depressing comedy starring Zach Braff (who really does a good job selecting his scripts in a careful manner) doing what he always does-freaks out about the fact that his life is changing. Braff plays Tom, who packs his bags with his wife Sofia and their few day old son, and moves from the big city to a small town. Sofia wants to be a stay at home mom, forcing Tom to go to work with his father in law at a New Age like ad agency. Tom meets Chip, wheel chaired but powerful, who is assigned to "mentor" Tom and show him the ropes. Sadly for Tom, Chip slept with Sofia once in high school and has never forgotten her, and he will stop at nothing to make sure that Tom's life is a living hell. Of course, the saint that he always is, Chip does not give a bad impression to anyone.
"The Ex" is basically a sitcom with the most unoriginal and lame plot twists, stretched out over a brutally long ninety minutes. I can't even call Zach Braff a good actor anymore because everything he does is a variation of the character he played in "Scrubs," "Garden State," or "The Last Kiss." This is just a dumbed down version of a similar character. Jason Bateman is funny at times, and does have a great screen presence, but talents like Amanda Peet and Mia Farrow are just coasting their way through. And at times it was like a "Who's who" of "Saturday Night Live" cast members-and the unfunny current "Saturday Night Live." The title is also a bit misleading as it infers that Sofia and Chip once shared something special and more deep, but it was a meaningless (at least to her) little fling that she somewhat forgot. I wouldn't really call that an "ex." Finally the ending is just ridiculous-extremely by the books and very easy to write-and while many people in the theater were laughing, I had my hand out in stupid amazement. Not to say that this doesn't have its laughs, and it does once in a blue moon, but on the whole it is a nasty little comedy-pointless and dead. I've seen this before and it does not need to be rehashed.
Even Money **1/2
Directed by Mark Rydell
108 Minutes
Rated R for language, violence and brief sexuality.
"Even Money" is a bit of a hard film to really judge-I know that deep down it is more melodramatic than it should be, the characters are very one dimensional, the score sucks, and despite a large and talented cast, none of the actors really know what they are doing, and do not even seem to care. And yet there was something oddly entertaining about it, even though it is a complete and utter mess. Taking its cue from the likes of Altman and P.T. Anderson, Mark Rydell has crafted a mosaic on the effects that gambling has on people. With three interconnected stories he followed the uncle of a teenage basketball played (Forest Whitaker), a struggling writer/wife/mother who is addicted to the slots (Kim Basinger) and two bookies (Jay Mohr and Grant Sullivan). And then there are the side characters-Kelsey Grammar as a crippled cop, Danny DeVito as a failed magician, and Ray Liotta are the angry husband-all of whom connect to Ivan, a mysterious mob like figure who can make or break the lives of everyone.
There is something compelling about the film, though, and I can't place my hand on what. It does entertain, even if it is a mess and has the quality of a television film. I must say something about the score, who is done so over the top that during the most serious scenes I was laughing a little inside. I could have maybe lived without the extended plot with Tim Roth's murderous assistant to the mob. I love Tim Roth, but his plot line somewhat made the film a bit unrealistic. If they wanted to make a mosaic of gambling it could have been with more realistic characters and plot. This is the weakness of "Even Money"-it does not take a human approach at the topic of gambling and tries to resort to colorful side characters, and more of a cartoonish tone. And Kelsey Grammer's, who is very good here, noir detective is misplaced and does not fit with the mixed tone the film has. "Even Money" is something to check out when it comes to a smaller screen, but certainly is not a must to watch now. This will float right by-no harm no foul.
The Last Time ***
Directed by Michael Caleo
96 Minutes
Rated R for pervasive language and sexual content.
Pity "The Last Time." Supposed to be released at the start of May for the normal limited release it was pushed back a week to April, and then scratched from the list and slated to go direct to video. And then somehow it was picked up, and is being released at one theater in LA, and the Quad in NY, and I'm sure that combined it'll make less than a thousand dollars (and I am saying that not only because of the zero marketing (prior to the films release I had not seen a single frame from the film) but also because of the five people that were in the theater with me on a Sunday night). Michael Keaton and Brendan Fraser play off each other perfectly as two salesman (Ted and Jamie) whose company is going through the worst quarter ever, only months away from revealing something revolutionary. Jamie is getting married and has an optimistic view of life, while Ted has been through some kind of tragedy and is cold and heartless towards his co-workers. And then he meets Jamie's fiancee, the lovely Belisa, and the two of them have a torrid affair starting with sex on the same bed as the passed on Jamie. And Ted begins to lighten up, even if his work suffers, while Jamie ends up going down a horrible path as he never makes a single sale. And the roles reverse. . .
What I appreciate most of the film is how director Michael Caleo mixes genres with success. At times this is a buddy comedy, and then it is a romance film, and then it is briefly a thriller, and then a satire on office politics, and it all manages to work without seeming muddled. He also gives every scene this certain tint and often has beautiful shots. And there is a rather ingenious plot twist at the end, which is what ended my twenty minute period where I was trying to guess how the film would end. Michael Keaton is wonderful here and evokes the master presence that he has in the late 90's with his comedies. Brandon Fraser isn't as good, and there is always something about his presence that makes whatever is happening laughable in a bad way, but here he manages to not go so over the top as usual. Aside from the romance which could have been toned down, I really did enjoy the office scenes and the large cast of characters there. From the evil boss to the discussions at the water cooler and then to the blue and monotonous tint of the workplace, this is clearly a film about how the office could screw people up and make them into things they are not, and how business always ends up becoming the most important thing. That little theme could be summed up from the very first shot and the very last shot-note the comparisons if you ever see this film. I am grateful that "The Last Time" was given a release, for if it went straight to video the odds were that I would never have seen it. It'll last a week, but will be out in July on video, and I implore that you give it a shot.
posted by Eric at
10:17 AM
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