What you should rent this week, and what you shouldn't
Heather Provost
Well DVD fans, it's Thursday, and that means checking in with Heather Provost's informative column about what you should rent this week, and what you should avoid at all cost. After recommending "Enchanted" and picking on "Blonde Ambition" last week, Heather now examines a successful action spectacle and an Oscar-winning thriller. Always remember, Heather knows exactly what you should pick and what you should skip.
Get it: "I Am Legend"
This is what it is: A horrendous virus has spread across the planet and the human race has turned into disgusting, bloodthirsty, zombie-type, creatures. One scientist, Robert Neville (Will Smith), is the only person left without having been affected by the epidemic. On a daily basis, he fights for his life against the masses of infected while searching for a cure to reverse the effects of the virus.
My always strong and quite often, brilliant opinion: First, if you have not read the book (it's a short novel), you should. Second, the film is not as good as the book... but then, they never really are, right? Nonetheless, I will still give it a 'Get it'.
Will Smith, though maybe not one of my most favorite actors on the planet, is excellent in this film, and what he might lack in acting technique, he makes up for in charisma. He is quite captivating throughout this whole film, and thank God for that, because he is the only thing on the screen for the majority of the time.
I do have to admit one thing. There is an incident in this film that I never really recovered from. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but it kind of traumatized me (ok, I might be a bit dramatic, but you will know EXACTLY what i mean when you see it).
"I Am Legend" is a big, entertaining film that tells its story well. The special effects are solid, and at times, the plot is very suspenseful. Yes, there are some scary scenes, and a lot of big budget CGI going on... but it succeeds in telling a solid story about one man struggling to survive on his own. I must also salute Abbey (playing the role of Sam) who steals every scene she's in. I actually didn't recommend this film when it was in the theaters, and I think that was only because I was traumatized by that one incident, but as far as the DVD is concerned, you should go ahead and rent it.
The final word: Because I snacked on my favorite Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies while viewing this, I will give it 3 3/4 Thin Mint Cookies out of 5. Uh, my jeans are little tighter now...
Skip it: "No Country For Old Men"
This is what it is: A hunter (Josh Brolin) stumbles upon a bunch of dead bodies, a huge truckload of heroin, and $2 million. He takes the cash, and runs. Brutal killer Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) comes out of nowhere and hunts him for it, and a local sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones) is on his trail as well. It is a story of hunter and prey. The film is directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, who won four Oscars this year, including best picture.
My always strong and quite often, brilliant opinion: Okay, kids... I'm sure I'll be ruffling a lot of feathers when some of you hear what I'm about to say, but I give this film a big ol' SKIP IT. Calm down, calm down, and stop yelling at me. I know it won the Oscar for best picture, I know Javier Bardem won the Oscar as well... blah blah... and if I hear one more person calling it a "masterpiece," I don't know what I'll do...
Really!? This film reminds me of my "Passage to India" experience, which was long and exhausting, and during which I wanted cholera to kill me. Hollywood always tells us something is brilliant, and then we all kinda have to agree. I remember seeing "Passage To India" after it had been nominated for an Oscar, and all I could think was... really!? And now, after seeing "No Country For Old Men," I'm thinking the exact same thing. I was so bored. Even the excessive violence didn't bother me (though it would bother many), because at least SOMETHING was going on.
Granted, there is some smart cinematography, but what ever happened to just telling a story? Why must a story be sacrificed for a film to be an artistic masterpiece? I've heard how brilliant this movie is, how deep it is, how it's one of the best ever, but in the end, I was just confused and annoyed. I still can't tell you who some of the characters were, or what they wanted, or what the hell was even going on at certain stages. I just didn't get it. Maybe it's a girl thing... but I doubt it.
I also started to get irked because I felt Hollywood was insulting my intelligence by telling me that this was Oscar worthy. It's got a touch of 'The Emperor's New Clothes-itus," if you will. People were too afraid to stand up and say, "Um, this really isn't very good, ya know."
Javier Bartem played the same deadpan action the entire film, and I am not sure his performance deserved an Oscar. I just don't think it was a character with enough dimension to garner an Oscar nod. I must say that Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones turned in fine performances, but in the end, I really didn't care. And I think that would sum up my entire experience watching this film: I really didn't care.
The final word: Because I snacked on my favorite Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies while viewing this, I will give it 1 1/2 Thin Mint Cookies out of 5. Now look at how many calories I saved. I would rather have saved my time instead.
Reader Comments (14)
I gotta agree with Heather 100% on this one. Way overrated and I was literally falling asleep. The only thing keeping me awake was the killing, and I'm usually not all excited about that stuff anyway.
Way to go for telling it like it is! Who cares if it won all the Oscars, it sucked. As a matter of fact, it was beyond suckage! Maybe everyone just liked it for the super cool contraption the psycho killed everyone with, but the rest of the whole thing was a waste of time.
Highly disagree here. Hollywood didn't tell me "No Country" was brilliant: I went to see it on my own before reading any reviews for it, and realized on my own that it was a MASTERPIECE. And how was the story sacrificed? How was it not told? And Bardem's performance was downright terrifying and menacing because he was a cold-blooded killer, but was able to maintain that cool, collected demeanor throughtout the film, barely batting an eyelash while strangling someone. And it's not "a girl thing," because I thought this was the best film of the year.
And though I liked "I Am Legend" it shouldn't have even been given that title, since it had maybe 10% of the original story in common with its source material.
masterpiece of s**t maybe.I hated this film.Thank God someone has finally said what it really is.
I agree with Heather on this one. I give it to No Country that the cinematography and the performances from Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin were indeed very good, but the overall story, I just didn't understand the point of telling it, or almost telling it. I didn't understand Javier Bardem and why he was a cold blooded killer, and I didn't care about him at all. I just wanted him to take that stupid air gun and shoot himself in his expressionless face. I didn't really see his humanity (except in that coin flip scene with the service station attendant) or dimension or care about him. I agree.
And I did like I Am Legend. Will Smith held my interest, he was captivating, and I think that's quite a challenge when the film is basically one person for such a long time. Kudos to him. Seeing NYC post viral apocalypse, too, eerie.
Hmm, yeah I probably would have switched the movies around. I am one of those "No Country" fanatics too:) Granted, it's an at times confusing film and certainly not one for the mass audience, but I found the moral behind the story compelling. And Javier really plays the ultimate badass killer. You are right about the filming, it's poetry on the screen.
Found the reviews to be right on target again! Thought I was the only one who did not find "No Country" such a great film. Look forward to the next review.
No Country...I just have to huh? I don't get it. When is being dead pan on film mean you are an amazing actor. I have to agree with Heather on this too. Arnold Schwarzenegger killed in cold blood with a blank stare in The Terminator does that mean he deserves an oscar. I think not. Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin did a great job, and I must agree that the cinematography was beautiful. But, I am still confused. Sorry, I just didn't like it as much as the academy. Again, Heather you were right. I wish I had read this before I saw the film. Keep up the good work.
Yeah I'm going to have to go ahead and agree to disagree on this. To me, it was "I Am Legend" that was long, exhausting and boring. I thought "No Country" was finally a bold take on the suspense genre. A great film that told its story in a fresh way.
I totally agree with Heather on this...I watched this movie hoping and expecting a wonderfully moving and intelligent film like the Coen Brothers generally make, but this one left me going, "HUH?" I felt distanced from the characters and therefore didn't care at all what happened. And Javier Bardem was all mood and not even an interesting one at that. Tommy Lee Jones was the only actor that I found interesting and moving, but that didn't save the film for me. Way to go Heather for being honest!
What is it with you people? Eating each other's heart out over a movie! O.k., you like it, o.k. you hate it, but who cares, anyhow? You don't have to be at your opponent's throat just because he or she loves the movie you hate or vice versa.
Everyone's a film-critic these days, so get a life!
Regards
jpt
Hey...and just to put my nickle's worth in as well...
Even Franck gets it wrong sometimes-
But I still love him...he's young, you know!
Roude Léif huel se!
jpt
ooops...it waddn't even Franck..
it was a lady.
Heather...
M A S T E R P I E C E !
Go for my throat!
(Hey, you should rent a movie called "Heathers" by Michael Lehmann.
Kissy kissy!
jpt
Haha Jhemp. You should know better! I even put "No Country" in my top ten 2007 list!
how DARE you disagree with me jpt!?!? HAHAHAHAHA...i know what i have to say is often, uh controversial, if you will...but wow...this one sure stirred it up...lol...whoah...
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