This Week

Get Low
(Aaron Schnider, 2009)

Jed: Featuring solid performances by Robert Duvall, Lucas Black, Sissy Spacek, and Bill Murray this quasi-true story of a backwoods hermit in the 1930's who decides to throw his own funeral party as a way to work through the troubles of his past and find some measure of peace before his death, is solidly directed by Schnider and has excellent, appropriate music by Jan Kaczmarek. Nice period work for a cinematographer turned director. This film is a bit melancholy but sometimes that is just what is needed to properly tell a tale that is reasonable and realistic. (6/7)

Get Low Trailer

This Week

Animal Crackers
(Victor Heerman, 1930)

Jed: The classic madcap Marx Brothers muscial comedy is really strange and very well staged. Margaret Dumont as Mrs. Rittenhouse is incredibly expressive and is a good counter point and straight-woman to Groucho's Captain Spaulding. This is pure oddball, sexy, madcap comedy and all of the Marx Bros. turn in great performances. Chico's piano performance and Harpo's Harp playing are genuinely innovative and engaging both visually and musically. Lillian Roth is hot news! and it makes sense she was married eight times! The sets and staging are amazing-- but the plot is simply a backdrop upon which the Marx Bros. weave their zaniness. A fun movie even if a tad predictable. See it. (6/7)

Lillian Roth (image courtesy Wikipedia)

Trailer on TCM

Shock Corridor
(Samuel Fuller, 1963)

Jed: This a fairly psychedelic film. The social commentary on race in America is particularly poignant (Hari Rhodes as Trent is incredible). It is better than Shutter Island. . . (winks). That is all that need be said. Check it out on the Criterion Collection Release. (6/7)

Classic Trailer

This Week's Pick

The Social Network
(David Fincher, 2010)
Trailer

Marshall: In David Fincher's The Social Network, Mark Zuckerberg (played with surprising depth by Jesse Eisenberg) isn't so much an asshole as he is unforgiving. He navigates his many obstacles with an almost ninja-like grace, going for the jugular and using his opponents momentum against them. This deftness, however, is exhibited often at the expense of the brilliant Facebook-creator's personal relationships. A hip, beautiful and understated movie (with matching musical score), that not only introduces us to some promising young acting talent, but delivers honest human drama and solid laughs to boot. (7/7)

Jed: The Social Network is a return to David Fincher at his finest. While Benjamin Button had some nice notes-- this is a fine film throughout. When I first heard this film was being made it did not interest me very much. . . I should have been interested. The Social Network captures elements of the zeitgeist nicely and is well timed. Standout performances-- especially by Armie Hammer as the Winklevoss twins. Hopefully this will inspire a generation to get out there and do something. I also like the use of split shooting, still photography, and rotoscope to get that tilt-shift z-depth (miniature) look for the crew race scene without actually doing it -- leave it to David Fincher to try something a bit different and pull it off! Solid film. Solid score by Trent Reznor. (7/7)

This Week's Picks (Reviews)

Network
(Sidney Lumet, 1976)
Marshall: Sidney Lumet's Network is a brilliant satire well deserving of its many accolades. It's just as funny as it is smart. If I have one gripe, it's that the film is a bit preachy with many long diatribes, however, this is quite forgiveable since the almost Shakespearean soliloquies are delivered with realism and conviction by the top-notch cast. [7]

Jed: Network is easily the best movie of 1976. See it now!

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
(Edgar Wright, 2010)
Jed: Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010) is a genius tour-de-force of epic battles, double-punchy cuteness, love and awesomeness. Brilliantly cast, brilliantly edited, with wonderful music and a kick-ass story-- this movie rocks hard! I watch it about once a week, sometimes twice in one sitting! [7]

Marshall: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is easily the best movie of 2010. See it now!

This Week's Picks (Trailers)

Network (1976)
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)

Mechanic

Jed: The Mechanic, directed by Simon West of Tomb Raider infamy, and starring Jason Statham and one of my alter-egos Ben Foster is an almost incomprehensible mess. Supposedly a remake about some assassins n' stuff. . . who cares. With an appearance by Donald Sutherland and a general lack of action through most of the film-- I was left wondering, "Sure that looks cool, but why?" It did have gratuitous nudity by Mini Anden (Swedish model) and some nice gun play-- but c'mon guys! Weak. Jason Statham should stick to working with Luc Besson and Guy Ritchie. It was actually filmed in Louisiana though![4]

Marshall: [Did not review-- he knows better]

Tron: Legacy

Marshall: The world of Tron Legacy is a visceral techno-wonderland whose beauty almost makes up for the wooden performances found within. Kosinski turns in a film with loads of style and flair (thanks largely to a brilliant score by Daft Punk) that lacks an engaging narrative and interesting characters. [5]

Jed: When I sat down and the movie began, reflecting the simplicity of the 1982 opening sequence, I thought I was in a "visceral techno-wonderland." Kosinski does an "Evil Dead 2" on this one: one part sequel, one part re-imagineering of the Tron idea. Garrett Hedlund does not ruin the film and Olivia Wilde is hot and double-punchy. The story is simple but able to slide in both socially-conscious commentary, and vague spiritual overtones without cumbersome explanations which disrupt willful suspension of disbelief. Michael Sheen gives a fun, over-the top performance, and hey Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner are back! Not bad for a video/commercial director. [6~ visuals/score]