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BaftaBaby 
"Always entranced by cinema."
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 Posted - 06/20/2011 : 20:24:06
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Well, I guess it's not quite as bad as folks are saying. By which I don't mean it's a particularly good film, and certainly not the best from Foster, or, Gibson, for that matter.
Foster says she's been trying to get the sucker made for a long time. Which is a pity, because that prob'ly means she's much too close to the project - developed by her own prod comp. - for any objectivity, particularly about the script.
It just feels quite tedious. And there are issues of interest here - why a nice enough guy with his nice enough kids and nice enough wifey and comfy job with a smidgeon of creativity greasing the profits of his toy company -- why he would go so far off the rails that he can only communicate through sticking his hand up a ratty old beaver puppet and giving it voice ... the voice & accent of Ray Winstone, as it happens.
Painted with gigantic brush-strokes we can see that the guy's older son already has issues with dad, though the younger - with the eyes of a wise and guileless child - sees through the exterior to the dad he used to have.
Because we remain in the dark about Gibson's unresolved issues with his dad, yet are still dragged through enough pop-psychology to fill a scientology handbook, we just have to clomp along from scene to scene hoping like hell we're at least going to be thrown some lifeline of humanity that doesn't feel like it came out of creative writing 101.
Foster's got enough directorial nouse to avoid too much cliche framing. But she misses at least five major opportunities to extend scenes into more than soap-opera teases. She delivers one killer frame of pure cinema, though - not that it makes up for most of the blandness. It's a wordless shot showing the exterior of a house, starting on an upstairs window. The shot opens to reveal a hole in through the exterior wall, and through the hole we see a face staring out. The fact we know who it is and, more importantly, know why he's staring out and how the hole got to be there, takes nothing away from the power of the image.
Sadly most of the rest of the film feels forced. Both Foster and Gibson are experienced enough not to slip up with bad performances - but they're just not inspired.
If you do go to see this, please try not to carry with you all Gibson's off-screen baggage.
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Edited by - BaftaBaby on 06/21/2011 15:48:55 |
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ChocolateLady 
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 06/21/2011 : 12:21:46
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I refuse to see this because of his off-screen baggage no matter how good, bad or indifferent the movie is.
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BaftaBaby
"Always entranced by cinema."
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Posted - 06/21/2011 : 15:52:28
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quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
I refuse to see this because of his off-screen baggage no matter how good, bad or indifferent the movie is.
Yes, darling - I believe you've made that clear ... oh, just about a gazillion times!!!!  
But, you've got to admit - the premise might have made for some fun entertainment. Oh, yeah, I forgot to say -- this SHOULD have been a laugh out loud comedy.
Actually, come to think of it - apart from Bugsy Malone - has JF ever made you laugh out loud in a film? Hmmm ...
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MguyXXV
"X marks the spot"
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Posted - 06/21/2011 : 21:38:59
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I'm just bummed that this isn't a porn film; the title was perfect.  |
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demonic
"Cinemaniac"
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Posted - 06/21/2011 : 22:09:38
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I'm not planning on seeing it, but in my mind it will always be a porn film.  |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 06/22/2011 : 12:03:07
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quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
But, you've got to admit - the premise might have made for some fun entertainment. Oh, yeah, I forgot to say -- this SHOULD have been a laugh out loud comedy.
Actually, come to think of it - apart from Bugsy Malone - has JF ever made you laugh out loud in a film? Hmmm ...
Well... she was amusing in the original Freaky Friday, but to tell the truth, the remake with the unfortunate Lindsay Lohan was actually funnier.
She did make me laugh a couple of times in Hotel New Hampshire.
And she was pretty silly when she did both Anna and the King, as well as Sommersby, but neither of those were intentional - they were just bad remakes.
So, bottom line - if you want comedy, don't cast JF!
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The Beaver
