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What if you could take a heavy subject like teen pregnancy and make it the focus of an irreverent, feel-good drama-comedy? Diablo Cody’s screenplay for Juno does just that, and the result when Jason Reitman throws it together on screen with a multigenerational cast of talented actors is pretty damn impressive. Read the rest of this entry »
“Why would you pay good money to go to a cinema and see what you can get for free at home?” Well, lets face it – there haven’t been many Hollywood comedies released in recent years that would measure up to a single episode of The Simpsons in terms of laughs. So why not do a film version? Read the rest of this entry »
Think back to Ben Stiller’s position in the Hollywood star system before the Farrelly brothers super-boosted his career with the classic There’s Something About Mary. He wasn’t even really seen as a comic actor, and was best known for his direction and acting in Reality Bites. Cue to 2008 and look over his work since. Is it just me, or has he played exactly the same character as the one in TSAM in every film since? Is his range really so desperately restricted, or has he just done a Robin Williams and chosen the stability of a career doing the studios’ bidding (i.e. “Give the masses what they expect!”) over exploration of and expansion into his craft? Read the rest of this entry »
A strangely poignant political film in these post-2001 days. What is great about this film is that it doesn’t take the easy way out and blame the ills of the world on the inexplicably evil actions of the powerful few. Read the rest of this entry »
The appeal of the fantasy and sci fi film genres must seem so easy to understand for the clueless Hollywood execs who churn out so many examples of each these days. Whip up some spectacular CGI effects, throw in a monster or two and loads of breakneck action and insert star here. Amongst all that mediocrity, then, it’s surprising to see an effort that displays such thoughtful craft in its writing and execution. Read the rest of this entry »
A great British comedy of errors with a fantastic script and a really exceptional cast: Matthew McFadyen plays a wonderfully deadpan role Read the rest of this entry »
The rise to screenwriting superstardom of Charlie Kaufman has really brought post-modernism into the mainstream as far as film scripts go. Zach Helm’s screenplay for Stranger Than Fiction seems to want to belong to the same oeuvre as Kaufman’s work, but lacks the conviction to deliver on the potential of its fascinating premise. Read the rest of this entry »
