Category Archives: Five Stars

Zack and Miri Make a Porno (DVD)

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I have always been a fan of Kevin Smith’s movies. His most successful films are the ones that find that perfect mix of gut busting humor with just enough sentimentality thrown in for good measure.  Zack and Miri Make a Porno is unlike any movie Smith has done yet, but it seems follows this setup to a tee. The movie is flat out hilarious with just enough emotion to allow you to appreciate the characters while not getting overly sappy.

The story follows Zack (Seth Rogen) and his best friend and roommate Miri (Elizabeth Banks) who have come into some hard times and are left with no money to cover their rent or utilities. Faced with eviction, Zack comes up with the idea to film and distribute their own porn movie in order to salvage their apartment.  They enlist the help of their friends who all come together to make this low budget production a reality.  Along the way they overcome a number of obstacles to finishing their film, and in the process Zack and Miri learn more about each other than they ever knew in their previous 20 years of friendship.  The biggest tension in the film comes from the “build up” (pardon the pun) to their inevitable sex scene together, which is perfectly conveyed by both actors.

Fans of Kevin Smith movies will notice a lot of Smith regulars in this film. Both Jeff Anderson (Clerks) and Jason Mewes (Jay) make up part of the hilarious cast and are just as funny as they were in Smith’s other movies, although in quite different roles. One of the biggest standouts in this film is the gut wrenchingly funny Craig Robinson who plays Zack’s friend and coworker Delaney. Robinson, who has appeared in ‘Pineapple Express’ and ‘The Office’ is a scene killer and I found myself dying to hear whatever he was going to say next.   The movie is almost worth watching for Robinson’s scenes alone as he is just that funny.

Seth Rogen is also great as the lead in this film. It’s good to see him in a role that doesn’t require him to be a jerk, and he actually comes off quite likable compared to some of his other roles. The fact that he is insanely funny in this film also doesn’t hurt.  Elizabeth Banks, who recently has been blowing up in the movies, is good in this film also. While I’m not exactly a fan of hers, she does an excellent job of portraying the relationship between her and Zack, and the intimate chemistry and close bond between the two of them becomes clear from the start.  Worth mentioning is a hilarious cameo appearance by Justin Long (from the movie ‘Waiting’ and those ‘I’m a Mac’ commercials) and Brandon Routh (Superman).  Without giving anything away, one thing is clear: you will never look at Superman the same way after this movie.

Unfortunately, this movie has one of the worst, and probably most unmarketable titles of any mainstream movie I can remember. However, after watching the movie it becomes clear that they really couldn’t have named the film anything else as it fits so perfectly. Granted, the word ‘porno’ in the title may turn a few viewers off, but trust me that this comedy is no raunchier or obscene than any other ‘R’ rated comedy to come out in recent years. In fact, compared to Smith’s ‘Clerks 2′, this movie seems pretty tame.

Overall, this is an excellent film with huge laughs throughout. While not exactly a romantic comedy, there is enough emotion that the film could be considered a comedy with romance.  Smith manages to interject sentimental moments while keeping the film focused on what it is first and foremost, which is a hilarious comedy.  Often movies that try to include both elements wind up “morphing” into a different type of movie by the end of the film. Luckily that is not the case with this movie as it maintains its original focus throughout, which is to make you laugh.  I highly recommend this movie to anyone that enjoys a good comedy.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Theaters)

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As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that my taste in movies has dramatically changed. Gone are the days when I only pursued movies with high octane action scenes and/or sophomoric toilet humor. Don’t get me wrong, there are many movies that contain those things that I would consider to be good movies. It just now seems that actual quality in the content, story, acting and overall effectiveness of a movie is what I look for now. I’ve grown to become picky when choosing a movie to watch on the big screen. The rising prices of cinema tickets have played a big role as well.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is quite simple even within the complexities that the characters face in their lives. Benjamin Button was born unlike any other person. He may have been a baby in mind and heart, but he had the physical characteristics of an old man with a body that is failing him. By now, most people know what the general story is about. Button’s predicament is that he ages backwards physically. He was an old man during his childhood and a child during his senior years. It’s safe to say that the movie is about Benjamin Button. Of course it is. But it is also about the people he meets and involves himself with that shape his outlook on life. His relationships, especially with Daisy and his “mama”, are what makes the movie truly shine. It’s a movie about love, but more importantly, it’s a movie about life itself.

David Fincher is one of those exceptional directors with a great eye not just for detail, but for getting the appropriate emotions out of his actors. I believe that this is his third time working with Brad Pitt and you can see that there’s a comfort level that Pitt has with Fincher at the helm. Fight Club and Se7en were exceptional movies, and it seems that the third time is a charm as well. Fincher paces the movie with ease, allowing the audience to get wrapped up in the environment that Benjamin Button finds himself living in.

The acting was superb. Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett have great chemistry together. Cate shows great versatility showcasing a young woman still finding her way and later aging into a woman that is comfortable in her own skin. Brad Pitt does a fantastic job without having to chew scenery with over the top acting. He finds ways to emote what Benjamin is feeling with subtle facial expressions and perfect timing. I used to think that Brad Pitt was in the same category as Tom Cruise. A decent actor with a pretty face and big box office draw. As each movie passes, he proves me wrong. He’s a fine actor. This film, along with Babel and The Assassination of Jesse James prove that. The casting was pretty much near perfect. The supporting cast may even be stronger than the main characters. That’s saying a lot.

With that said, the movie is not perfect. There are a few awkward scenes that could have either been shot differently or scrapped altogether. At this point, that really is just nitpicking. Overall, this is definitely a film worth watching. Personally, it was one of those movies that has stuck with me even days after viewing it. It has potential to affect people in that manner and possibly have them think about their own lives. They aimed for a more mature audience whose attention spans aren’t bound by a leash. I truly believe that the only ones who will be disappointed in this movie are those that are seeking out high octane action scenes and/or sophomoric toilet humor.

The Dark Knight (DVD)

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For those of you who have been living in a cave, “The Dark Knight” is the blockbuster smash hit follow up to the critically acclaimed “Batman Begins.”  TDK continues exploring the notion of a superhero existing in a real world context (at least as far as Hollywood goes) and delves even further into the Batman mythos with the introduction of his most famous nemesis, the Joker. 

The overall cast is superb with Christian Bale reprising his role as Batman, Michael Cane as Alfred the butler, Gary Oldman returns as Commissioner Gordon, and new addition Aaron Eckhardt appearing as District Attorney Harvey Dent.  The only disappointment was Katie Holmes’ Rachel Dawes character who is played by Maggie Gyllenhaal in this movie.  Gyllenhall, while passable, just seems to lack the leading lady beauty and charisma that such a big film demands. Finally, Heath Ledger as the Joker conveys so much uneasiness, tension, and chaos its almost hard to believe that underneath all the makeup the Joker is being portrayed by an actual actor. While I was a huge fan of Jack Nicholson’s previous take on the character, in all honesty he isn’t fit to tie Heath Ledger’s shoelaces in this film. That is how good he is in this movie.

The plot is superb and relies more on a real world crime drama story line than your typical comic book “I’m the hero and I need to stop the villain” setup so prevalent in superhero movies these days.  In fact, this adherence to a “real world” context is what gives the movie so much depth and the scenes that require complete suspension of disbelief are minimal.  This movie is oozing with inner conflict and pathos and everything from the actor’s performances to the environments to the story line itself help to convey the inner struggles in all of the characters while reinforcing the notion of realism the director was aiming for.  From the opening scene to the movie’s end, the pace is non-stop. The constant uncertainty of what the Joker will do next seems to be felt just as much by the audience as it is by the citizens of Gotham City that he is terrorizing. 

All in all, this is the best movie of the year, if not one of the best movies of all time. I highly recommend this film as it has something to offer everyone, even if they aren’t fans of the comic or the character.