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American Teen

So I was able to catch a screening of American Teen before it came out Friday and, despite my preconceptions, am glad I did.

Whether it is truly “real” or not does not diminish its quality of capturing a near perfect display of suburban, middleclass high school life. Yes, the students are silly. Yes, many people did not participate in all of the activities that the students did. And Yes, the students’ problems were somewhat trivial. But the situations they dealt with are probably directly or indirectly experienced by many other students throughout America as well, which, I would guess, is one reason for the film’s success. For students who are in high school now, the movie serves as a documentary parallel to their generation. For those of us out of high school, it serves as a reminder of the stupidness that was so important, or at least ubiquitous, in our lives. Even if you had a very unconventional high school life, the scenes and characters are such that they simply make a good story.

The promotion for the film, however, is bogus. It in no way reminds me of Napoleon Dynamite or The Breakfast Club. Perhaps a few of the themes and relationships are similar between them, but comparing universal themes in storytelling is like comparing stars in the sky; they all seem the same. (Please save the telescope and astronomy comments.)

And to add to the controversy that questions the legitimacy of the film’s authenticity, a promoter at Paramount Vantage told me that over one thousand hours of footage were shot and that many of the moments in which the “timing seemed too perfect to believe” were results of b-role footage taken of other potential star students.

My friends refuse to see the movie because they are the types who despise the crises of blonde teeny-boppers and poser punk/loser kids.American Teen is not going to entertain everyone. Even I complained that it limited itself to only the most obvious of the high school crowd. But if Charlie Bartlett didn’t cut it for you as a high school flick, give this one a shot.

-gooldster

Now that the most anticipated blockbuster of the past few years, The Dark Knight, has been released, some friends and I were wondering what we have to look forward to for the rest of the year.

As far as blockbusters are concerned, it looks a little bleak. But there are many smaller budgeted, under-the-radar possible gems coming to theaters before 2009 (and we’re still not any closer to Jupiter):

The first one that comes to mind is the adaptation Chuck Palahniuk’s Choke starring one of my favs, Sam Rockwell. So far it has gotten decent reviews and, if my memory serves me correctly, it should be released sometime in October.

Probably tied with Choke for my next anticipated movie is the new Coen brothers’ comedy, Burn After Reading. Some friends of mine said they have read reviews which the viewer claims it is of The Big Lebowski quality. While I have my doubts, surely it will be a fine movie nevertheless. September 12th is the current released date.

Though I have already seen it, I can’t wait for the rest of the world to see it. What TDK was for summer blockbusters is what Tropic Thunder will be for comedies. It is huge and hilarious and one of the few comedies for which I was very excited (because I knew it was gonna rock). Every cast member is A-List and delivers above and beyond their typical performance. Read more about that in my review. Release date: August 13th.

I could go on and on. These were just the first movies that popped into my head. It almost shameful after considering the many other releases this year as well. Here is by no means an exhaustive list:

Midnight Meat Train
Pineapple Express
Star Wars: Clone Wars
The Mummy
Assassination of a High School President
Taken
Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Quantum of Solace
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Brideshead Revisited (i’m sorry, but from the trailer it looks promising)

Now I don’t want angry comments about other cool movies I didn’t list. I’m simply attempting to prove that excitement may have grown exponentially until TDK but it is not waning.

-gooldster

Topic Thunder

It has been said that this is the year of the blockbusters. Well… Tropic Thunder, even as a comedy, is no exception. It is one of the loudest, most epic comedies I have seen; even beyond Mel Brooks proportions.

The film begins with a few mock trailers entertaining enough to fill an entire movie themselves, had there been more. Black, Downey Jr., Jackson, and Stiller each star in fake movies or commercials that make obvious jabs at films like Forrest Gump and the Nutty Professor as well as actor stereotypes: the drug addict, the action star, the pretentious academy award winner, etc. They all come together to film an expensive, overly dramatic true story of soldiers in Vietnam who blow up everything within and beyond peripheral vision. As if being behind schedule and wasting millions of dollars were not enough, the actors find themselves stuck in a real and confusing combat situation against a very mean heroin producing camp somewhere in East Asia.

I must concede to the majority: of all the actors, Downey Jr. (or at least his character) stole the show. Mr. Iron Man portrays a very white New Zealand actor who’s preparations are so focused that he dyes his skin black in order to understand his African American character. Hence, a much more complicated character than rest. This is not to say the rest are just so so. Stiller resembles his character from Meet the Parents except with more muscles and a gun. He underplays his character when compared to Black or Downey but is a nice contrast to the larger than life performances. But considering Black‘s reputation, his performance is relatively subtle as well. He does his patented Jack Black explosions at just the right times without stealing the moment. And then of course there is Tom Cruise…

It took me about 20 seconds to recognize him behind the make up. Not that the make up is thick or unusual, but Cruise has never been so modified, except maybe in Interview with the Vampire. But there are many descriptions and images online already so I won’t go into detail. Many other bloggers think he steals the show more so than Downey Jr. but I would disagree. It is a very energetic performance but not over the top.

Tropic Thunder is a great ensemble comedy. Probably one of the best outside of the ubiquitous (but great) Apatow productions. Highly recommend.

-gooldster