Monday, January 08, 2007
Tell us again about Paris, 1968.
The great thing about Ebert (may he be cloned fully) is that his reviews are so genuine that they usually say more about him than they do about the movie. Which is swell, because his homespun-Midwestern liberal-cub reporter-Jefferson Smith-meets-band geek-I-was-cool-by-association-in-the-Sixties persona is ever delightful, and funny. But sometimes his delicate sensibilities can get to you, so it's sweet when a flick comes along that really ruffles his feathers, like Blue Velvet or Fight Club. Oh, Roger. Drink your Ovaltine.
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3 comments:
In "The Girl Next Door", Roger didn't even notice Elisha Cuthbert's hyperactive eyebrows telling a whole 'nother quarter of a movie, 'cause he was all upset about the implied underage sex and the inappropriate marketing of the film!
Roger, watch it again. And while you're at it, unwatch "Hulk". I speak to you this way only because I care, Roger. Notice that the "Time Out New York" movie critics get not a peep out of me.
Ebert was right about Hulk. That movie started with the central drama of the characters, the anger and longing, and allowed the action to develop from there in a natural way. So you're more emotionally invested in the explosions.
Plus, the Hulk has a unique appeal as the most primitively cathartic of superheroes. No finesse, no cunning, none of Batman's outlaw justice complex or Superman's precious sermonizing. Just smash and rage and smash again. Ebert compared him to King Kong--I suggest Jake La Motta.
The Hulk isn't bad, nor is he especially heroic. He's just wounded and simple, and we love him for it. Ang Lee knew that, and he got it right.
For you, Tiberius, I will watch "Hulk" again with an open mind.
Maybe I'll come to understand why Nick Nolte's character, lines, and acting must be so absurd (or exist, for that matter); perhaps this time I won't be annoyed by the split-screen "comic book panels" and let them take me out of the story, but instead I'll merely enjoy the fact that I can see a convoy of jeeps approaching from three different angles at once; and who knows, maybe I'll even decide that there exist real people who, if placed in that situation, would say those things and act that way.
I know I sound skeptical, but really, I'm gonna do this totally willing to like it. Afterwards, I'll post my review here.
P.S. It's funny that Roger (may he come into contact with water, causing a variety of new Rogers to bubble up and burst out of his back) thought that "the Hulk himself is the least successful element in the film." Watching the Hulk was actually the only part of the film I enjoyed; I spent the rest of the time rolling my eyes and waiting impatiently for Bruce to "hulk out" again. I especially liked when he jumped really far, landed in the dunes, and bounced a few times. That was cool.
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