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Public Enemies. Good stuff. In terms of Michael Mann flicks, just below Heat and The Insider.

It's a very clean, spare gangster flick--I liked how Mann tried to revive the structure of the classic gangster movies of the '30s and '40s.

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Public Enemies. Good stuff. In terms of Michael Mann flicks, just below Heat and The Insider.

I liked it. A couple of scenes near the end were pretty implausible, but overall it was a good not-your-usual-gangster flick. Strong performances from Depp and Bale. 3/5 stars.

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alg_whatever_works.jpg

 

Whatever Works might not be Manhatten--too often the thesis is worked out in a creaky, schematic way--but it's still one of Woody Allen's loosest, boldest, and warmest comedies in recent memory. And Larry David is a pleasure to watch, or more specifically, a pleasure to hear.

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I'm very excited about that one.

 

 

Pretty much every movie that's had a major release this summer I've seen (my girlfriend and I pretty much see two movies every week because there's nothing else to do at night where I live), and I would rank them like this:

 

1. Up- Pretty far and away. I don't get how Pixar can continuously match themselves. They didn't quite top WALL-E with this one, but it's certainly their funniest movie since Monsters, Inc, and that's probably the one it has the most in common with.

2. Star Trek- The cast was absolutely perfect, and it's the first thing JJ Abrams has done that I liked. The first 10 minutes or so are incredible.

3. Public Enemies- Johnny Depp is wonderful. I feel he gets overrated because he does "weird" roles, but he really is a great actor, and this role was great.

4. The Hangover- Zach Galifinakis is going to be in a lot of movies because of this one.

 

 

Everything else I've seen was not really worth ranking, though none of it was as bad as Transformers, which was one of the most laughably terrible movies I've ever seen, and I usually like big dumb action.

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Whatever Works might not be Manhatten--too often the thesis is worked out in a creaky, schematic way--but it's still one of Woody Allen's loosest, boldest, and warmest comedies in recent memory. And Larry David is a pleasure to watch, or more specifically, a pleasure to hear.

 

So, is it nothing like the trailer? That had me turned off to it almost 100%.

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So, is it nothing like the trailer? That had me turned off to it almost 100%.

I haven't seen the trailer. But I'd say it's possible that the movie might only appeal to a narrow base--you have to be willing to forgive some of Allen's late-period tics.

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(my girlfriend and I pretty much see two movies every week because there's nothing else to do at night where I live),

I remember those days. Then I got a career, and then I got kids.

 

Totally agree about Transformers 2. That was a chore to sit through--easily the worst movie I've seen this year (and I kinda liked the first one).

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I remember those days. Then I got a career, and then I got kids.

 

Totally agree about Transformers 2. That was a chore to sit through--easily the worst movie I've seen this year (and I kinda liked the first one).

 

The first was exactly what it should have been. The robots were the main characters, and they actually matter. They are pushed entirely to the background in this one, and every single scene contains at least one questionable decision.

 

A robot with gold teeth and big ears and his brother (who somehow has big lips, despite being a robot) admit they can't read. That was one of the most embarassing things I've ever seen.

 

And then Robot Heaven.

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A robot with gold teeth and big ears and his brother (who somehow has big lips, despite being a robot) admit they can't read.

And then Robot Heaven.

 

OK, now I'm interested in Transformers 2.

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OK, now I'm interested in Transformers 2.

 

trans2_twins.jpg

 

Doesn't quite do them justice, you have to hear them... It's absolutely awful.

 

And John Turturro says at one point "I'm standing under the Giant robot's genitals."

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alg_whatever_works.jpg

 

Is it just me, or does Evan Rachel Wood look yummy in that picture?

 

okay, maybe it's just her cleavage.

 

How in the world did Marylin Manson ever land her?

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Happy Endings - never had heard anything good about this. B picked it out at the library. An enjoyable, if overlong and convoluted comedy. Good performances from Tom Arnold, Jason Ritter and Lisa Kudrow (though she didn't really play her character that well, she acted well, if that makes sense). Uses onscreen words throughout for character insight, which wasn't as annoying as I figured it would be. Maggie Gyllenhaal is at the apex of her whole sexy-but-not-pretty thing in this.

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Interesting band dynamics...

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Guest Francis X. Hummel

Forgetting Sarah Marshall. I think I'm totally done with the Apatow crew. Another bunch of comedy bits sewn together to build an overreaching love story.

 

Come on, Paul Rudd is funnier than funny in that.

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My problem with Paul Rudd is he always seems very pleased with how 'funny' he's being.

 

i get what you mean. you're right. but it doesn't bother me.

 

I'm not much of a fan of Public Enemies.

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Wonderful, and also possibly the saddest I've been in awhile after watching a movie.

After the great one-two punch of Old Joy and Wendy and Lucy, is it fair to say Kelly Reichardt ranks among the best American directors currently working? (I'm leaning towards yes.)

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I liked Old Joy but I was massively disappointed with Wendy and Lucy. After everything I'd read, I thought Wendy & Lucy was going to be totally heartbreaking but instead it just made me feel like a jerk, saying things like "WTF? Come up with some money before you head out on your own. Get a job at McDs for two weeks or something. Collect some scrap and sell it, do something. Quit feeling so sorry for yourself, Wendy, jeeez." :yawn

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