Ghost Town

Tastes better than expected

By Lauren Flemming

“Ghost Town” delivers some well-deserved chuckles and even a few laugh-induced tears, despite the lack of publicity surrounding this romantic comedy.

An anti-social and brutally rude dentist, Bertram Pincus (Ricky Gervais, “The Office”), unexpectedly dies during a common medical procedure but is revived after seven minutes. Unaware of his brief passing, Bertram leaves the hospital only to find hordes of people staring at and following him. He thinks they’re hallucinations, but the people are actually ghosts with unfinished business, seeking his help to resolve their unattended earthly affairs.

Naturally, as an adamant anti-people-person, Bertram is rattled by his new company, even more so as he begins responding to them in public, drawing stares from bewildered humans who cann't see the ghosts. One ghost in particular, Frank Herlihy (Greg Kinnear), uses his persuasive, and at times petulant, demeanor to use Bertram to break off the impending wedding of his widow, Gwen (Tea Leoni). Bertram must overcome his aversion for social niceties and befriend Gwen, who happens to live in his building, in order to rid himself of Frank’s constant company.

Bertram and Frank discover some supernatural confusion along the way and, in due time, experience the inevitable “ah-ha!” moment of self- (or in Frank’s case, spirit-) awareness.

Gervais’ portrayal of Bertram is sharp, quite easily carrying the humor of the entire film. Fans of “The Office” original will not be disappointed with his performance.

Kinnear pulls off the narcissism that follows his character to purgatory, but doesn’t seem to embody any real redeeming qualities until the very end of the film.

Complete with a hilarious gag scene and some opportunistic cheeky jokes, the film was entertaining and funnier than expected. The basic plot is stale—man sees dead people and can communicate with them—but writer/director David Koepp (better known for his action screenplays: War of the Worlds, Jurassic Park, Spider-Man) manages to incorporate some fresh humor.

Expect a romantic-comedy story-line, but don’t expect the mushy-gushy—this film steers clear from (almost) all gag-worthy scenes by injecting very unromantic humor. Well worth a matinee-priced ticket, “Ghost Town” will, if nothing else, keep you smiling at the quick quips of Ricky Gervais.

Check it out: Ghost Town official website (requires updated Flash plug-ins)

Ghost Town Trailer

Burn After Reading

Pitiful, like an overdone steak
By Alex Berry

On the surface, Burn After Reading is nothing more than a bunch of over exaggerated stereotypes gallivanting in an unrealistic world of idiots. As the latest Coen Brother's flick (following award winning and crowd pleasing No Country for Old Men), this disappointing espionage storyline has too many coincidental subplots, overused humor, and overdramatic acting. But this all seems to be a masking method to portray America as a country full of lonely, arrogant, and disconnected people--which works in its own meaningless way.

The supposed "dark comedy" isn't much of a comedy at all, maybe earning a grin or chuckle for some of the absurdity. Mostly, the oddball movie is downright boring, and this dragging tale of CIA mockery and societal ignorance falls into a 'love or hate' category--as most Joel and Ethan Coen movies do. Take it or leave it.

The central plot focuses on Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt) and Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand), two dim-witted gym employees who stumble upon a disc containing the memoirs of former CIA agent, Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich). Imagining the information on the disc is valuable government spyware, Chad and Linda foolishly attempt to blackmail Osbourne in order for Linda to pay for her multiple plastic surgeries.

Osbourne's wife is having an affair with playboy Harry Pffarer (George Clooney) who in turn is also a married CIA agent and begins courting Linda after coincidentally meeting through an online dating service. The whole scheme goes wrong which leads to a couple of unnecessarily brutal murders.

The star-studded cast might be the only reason people show up at the box office. The acting is intended to look like overacting, making the whole movie purposefully unbelievable. Though it is mildly entertaining to watch Pitt girlishly dance on a treadmill, the characters however are underdeveloped and fit into an exaggerated mold (typical move by the Coen Brothers, think Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?).

So what's the point ?

Pitt plays a bouncy, energetic, almost feminine gym trainer who simply doesn't fit the role. Clooney's tacky playboy antics are all too cliche, and McDormand's middle aged, dumbed-down blonde role is unimpressive. The intense facial expressions for non-dramatic scenes (paired with the theatrical music) make the actors look cheesy. And even though the actors succeed in portraying these characters, the outlandish, overdamatic roles take away from their credibility.

The theme of Burn After Reading is unclear and the plotline so chaotic, it's difficult to find motif, if there is one. The overall presence of loneliness, selfishness, and superficiality in American life might be a theme undermined by the movie's stupidity. The scrambled plot stutter-steps through each scene making you believe there will be some profound "ah-ha" moment; instead, it leads us to Harry's mystery spy contraption, which ends up being a dildo chair.

Also, everyone is cheating on everyone. But even within the love affairs, the characters' chemistry is distant. Osbourne's wife (Tilda Swinton) is a "cold, stuck up bitch" who we don't get to know at all throughout the movie. We don't get to know any of the characters really, beyond their phony exterior, nor do the characters get to know each other. The only loner worthy of human connection is Ted Treffon (Richard Jenkins), Linda and Chad's boss, who is chastised in the movie as a negative person even though he is the most optomistic character with his puppy-dog eyes and in his hesitancy to pursue Linda.

There is a lack of sensitivity to prove all the negative aspects of life: Osbourne's anger and alcoholism, Harry's cockiness and paranoia, Linda's self-conscience body image, and the CIA's overall stupidity and disinterest. This Coen Brothers' tactic is clever in the sense that the character's involvement and distant interaction further demonstrates arrogance and self absorption. But if you weren't looking for this theme, you'd probably simply yawn.

Had the unmemorable humor actually been funny, the movie might be entertaining. Overall, the Coen Brother's make a sarcastic statement about America's general lifestyle. The point is we're all narcissistic idiots. Thanks for the lesson.

Check it out: Burn After Reading - Coen Brothers' Official Site

Burn After Reading Trailer

Righteous Kill

Early-bird special kicks butt
By Amy Stillwagon

Have you ever watched an action movie and thought “Hey, my grandpa could totally pull off that gun scene?” No? Neither had I, until I watched “Righteous Kill.”

The years are beginning to show on the faces of actors Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino, and yet they went about their macho cop roles as if they were a bunch of crazy, young 20-somethings. From the beginning of the movie, this veteran cop team seems to be well overdue for retirement, yet they are still hanging out in bars, sleeping with young women, and living the single life to the fullest.

What starts out as a slow-paced plot with cheesy celebrity cameos surprisingly turns out to be a good film. The beginning of the movie is a bit jumbled and leaves you wondering how it’s possible that Turk (DeNiro) and Rooster (Pacino) blend in around the likes of skater Rob Dyrdek and rapper 50 Cent, living through endless nights of sex with women who look like they’re just shy of 30. Once you get past those farfetched details you can finally start to understand what the movie is really about.

Turk and Rooster work the cop circuit as investigators, always at odds with a younger cop duo. As the movie progresses, more and more guilty criminals go free of crimes that Turk and Rooster think they are guilty of, and that just doesn’t fly for this seasoned duo.

When a series of murders of these criminals gets linked back to the police station, things finally get interesting. Turk, a cop consumed by rage, seems to be the obvious suspect. He and his partner become the targets of intense questioning and stake outs.

Scene after scene goes by, building up the evidence against Turk until the plot takes a surprising turn as one of the criminals lives through an attempted murder while one of the station’s own gets targeted by this insider serial killer. Co-workers are plotted against one another and no one trusts the next guy. The final twist to the movie ties it all in for an unexpected and somehow heartwarming finale.

DeNiro and Pacino make for believable but burnt out cops who stick together as partners through absolutely anything they face. Though they may look like your grandpa, they can still handle themselves against even the most unexpected criminals.

The overarching story of unlawful justice kept me intrigued and in my seat until the final credits. However, those of you hoping for an action-packed film should save your money for a movie that doesn’t sell out during the matinee seating, with a senior citizen discount.

Check it out: Righteous Kill

Righteous Kill Trailer

Inside the Actor's Studio- Robert DeNiro

Tropic Thunder

Tropically delicious
By Kamila Szoltysek

Prepare to witness the most outrageous compilations of comedic performances since–well, never. Previous attempts of Hollywood satire simply do not compete with “Tropic Thunder”’s stunning political incorrect-ness.

The “Scary Movie” series has nothing on this.

You’ll find yourself delightfully startled, yet wondering if you’re immoral for laughing at the countless jokes aimed at racial issues and disabled people.

As the film’s writer, director, producer, and lead actor, Ben Stiller is supremely accountable for the success or failure of “Tropic Thunder.” Needless to say, the comedic genius that Stiller has unveiled in this movie yet again proves that a funny gene does exist and was passed down from Stiller, Sr.

“Tropic Thunder” is aimed at revealing the ironies and common themes within the Hollywood community, the propaganda and politics involved in creating a big-budget blockbuster, the media’s obsession and exploitation of the lives of celebrities, and even the stereotypical downfalls of highly successful actors.

In essence, this is a movie about making a movie. But documentary it is not.

Claiming to be the “biggest budgeted Vietnam War movie ever made,” “Tropic Thunder” is the name of the film that is being made in the film. Confusing?

The director of the movie (in the movie) is frustrated with his arrogant and demanding actors. He realizes that the only way that the actors might show honest emotion is if they actually experience real fear, unstaged.

So, he deserts them in authentic Vietnam, with hidden cameras in place.

It’s not long until the plan fails and the actors are spotted by Vietnamese drug lords that assume the Americans are intruders.

After Ben Stiller’s character gets caught, the rest of the actors find ridiculous ways to free their fellow comrade from the hostage situation to which he is oblivious.

Ben Stiller plays Tugg Speedman, a former successful action star who has recently been making some less-than-impressive movie choices. He sees this role as his opportunity to save his dwindling career.

Remind you of Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone, perhaps?

Robert Downey, Jr., plays the Australian actor Kirk Lazarus, a multiple Academy Award winner known for his serious method acting and dazzling dramatic performances. He, however, has grown a substantial ego and proves that he will take drastic measures to ensure the credibility of the black character that he is cast as when he undergoes a controversial skin pigment augmentation for the movie.

Lazarus then truly embraces his character as a black man and refuses to stop using his impression of a black dialect, even after the group realizes that they are no longer making a movie.

Here, Downey, Jr. could, in fact, be spoofing himself.

Lastly, Jack Black is cast as the third leading actor, playing Jeff Portnoy, a heroin-addicted funnyman known mostly for his series of films in which he plays multiple characters that fart uncontrollably.

Aside from the heroin, a direct blow to comedian Eddie Murphy.

By now, you should realize that this movie is intentionally unintelligent and overly obvious.

I can see how overacting can come naturally to Ben Stiller and Jack Black, but I had my reservations about Robert Downey, Jr. It was truly impressive to see Downey, Jr. overact so effortlessly.

His portrayal of a black man was too funny to be offensive. I dare someone not to laugh uncontrollably at his ignorance in the film.

In fact, the absurd ebonics that Downey, Jr. uses for his character is so overtly foul that it is unmistakably the funniest part of the movie.

Surprises are also aplenty, with several big-name cameos and one particularly controversial actor (Tom Cruise) who plays the hilariously vulgar studio chief, Les Grossman.

However, I can’t fully praise this movie without mentioning my annoyance that the only women in “Tropic Thunder” with speaking lines were the women who were playing themselves, such as Tyra Banks and Maria Menounos.

Nonetheless, my advice for anyone planning on seeing this movie is to watch it on an empty bladder, or at least come prepared with an additional pair of undies or even an adult diaper.

For its satirical brilliance, “Tropic Thunder” should win an Oscar for making fun of Oscars.

Check it out: Tropic Thunder

Tropic Thunder Trailer

Inside the Actor's Studio- Robert Downey Jr.