But it just may be "The end of the world as we know it." (And no, this time I’m NOT talking about the latest news from Washington.) But how else can I explain the fact that I'm either actually looking forward to these movies (or at the very least, not dreading being dragged to them)?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Come on—it's Jim Carrey, how the hell can I be looking forward to this one!?! My problem with Carrey is that his ego tends to get in the way of his acting. (My favorite Jim Carrey moment was in Batman Forever when he says "was that over the top? I never can tell." That IS quintessential Carrey.) He's actually not a bad actor, but he's reluctant to let the audience forget that it's him acting up there. This might not be a big deal in his big, broad comedies (though I find it annoying) but in movies like the Truman Show, it's the kiss of death and, quite frankly, the main reason why he didn't get the Academy Award nomination he so craved. He's done better since (Man on the Moon, of course and, while I didn't see all of The Majestic, what I saw was pretty good) so maybe he's learning. But I'm willing to give this one a shot, since the story sounds interesting—or at least sounds like a similar story I read a while ago which WAS interesting, so I want to see what they do with the idea here.
50 First Dates. Running neck & neck with Jim Carrey as least favorite comic actors has got to be Adam Sandler. Basically, I’m not a fan of stupid comedy and he and Carrey are the kings of that particular genre. But I’ve actually enjoyed the occasional Sandler film—well, at least I thought The Wedding Singer was fun. (And I do have to give him credit for his work in Punch-Drunk Love—I wasn’t a big fan of the film, but he was actually very good.) So while I’m not actually looking forward to this one, Dani’s already said she wants to see it, which of course means I’m going. Fortunately (and maybe it’s because it resonates with the Wedding Singer, since it’s got Drew Barrymore again) this one looks like it could be fun as well. Or at least not the painful train wreck that Mr. Deeds was. (Easily my pick for one of the worst films of 2002. Or almost any other year, for that matter.)
The Big Bounce. Okay, I guess it’s all about the actors this time. This one’s got Owen Wilson, yet another truly annoying actor. My problem with Wilson is that he plays one character—sensitive-ironic dude… the guy that feels the need to pause in the midst of the action to tell you how he’s feeling. Because, you know, it’s funny that he does it at that moment! His work in smaller films is actually really good (the Royal Tenenbaums, for instance) but they keep putting him into films that call for actual character work and, maybe, a sense of setting and his ironic shtick just gets old. Fast. (Witness I Spy and Shanghai Knights for two of the most egregious examples of this.) But the Big Bounce looks like one of those movies where this kind of character would actually work. And, since it’s an Elmore Leonard story I’m willing to go along, since his stories are always filled with these incongruous, out there, over the top type characters.
And finally… the Butterfly Effect. Jesus Christ! Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, Owen Wilson and NOW Ashton Kutcher?!? I may have lost my mind. (Or may soon, after seeing all these.) I’m sorry, I have yet to see any reason for Kutcher’s success, beyond his dating Demi Moore. But this movie looks interesting and, kind of like Eternal Sunshine, the story’s idea may be enough to draw me into this one, despite Kutcher. (And I have to acknowledge that he doesn’t look bad in the trailer, but then, it’s pretty easy to look good in a trailer.)
Now, I’m well aware that all of these are coming out in the post-holiday January dumping grounds, so they could ALL suck. But I think I’m willing to give them a shot at this point.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Come on—it's Jim Carrey, how the hell can I be looking forward to this one!?! My problem with Carrey is that his ego tends to get in the way of his acting. (My favorite Jim Carrey moment was in Batman Forever when he says "was that over the top? I never can tell." That IS quintessential Carrey.) He's actually not a bad actor, but he's reluctant to let the audience forget that it's him acting up there. This might not be a big deal in his big, broad comedies (though I find it annoying) but in movies like the Truman Show, it's the kiss of death and, quite frankly, the main reason why he didn't get the Academy Award nomination he so craved. He's done better since (Man on the Moon, of course and, while I didn't see all of The Majestic, what I saw was pretty good) so maybe he's learning. But I'm willing to give this one a shot, since the story sounds interesting—or at least sounds like a similar story I read a while ago which WAS interesting, so I want to see what they do with the idea here.
50 First Dates. Running neck & neck with Jim Carrey as least favorite comic actors has got to be Adam Sandler. Basically, I’m not a fan of stupid comedy and he and Carrey are the kings of that particular genre. But I’ve actually enjoyed the occasional Sandler film—well, at least I thought The Wedding Singer was fun. (And I do have to give him credit for his work in Punch-Drunk Love—I wasn’t a big fan of the film, but he was actually very good.) So while I’m not actually looking forward to this one, Dani’s already said she wants to see it, which of course means I’m going. Fortunately (and maybe it’s because it resonates with the Wedding Singer, since it’s got Drew Barrymore again) this one looks like it could be fun as well. Or at least not the painful train wreck that Mr. Deeds was. (Easily my pick for one of the worst films of 2002. Or almost any other year, for that matter.)
The Big Bounce. Okay, I guess it’s all about the actors this time. This one’s got Owen Wilson, yet another truly annoying actor. My problem with Wilson is that he plays one character—sensitive-ironic dude… the guy that feels the need to pause in the midst of the action to tell you how he’s feeling. Because, you know, it’s funny that he does it at that moment! His work in smaller films is actually really good (the Royal Tenenbaums, for instance) but they keep putting him into films that call for actual character work and, maybe, a sense of setting and his ironic shtick just gets old. Fast. (Witness I Spy and Shanghai Knights for two of the most egregious examples of this.) But the Big Bounce looks like one of those movies where this kind of character would actually work. And, since it’s an Elmore Leonard story I’m willing to go along, since his stories are always filled with these incongruous, out there, over the top type characters.
And finally… the Butterfly Effect. Jesus Christ! Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, Owen Wilson and NOW Ashton Kutcher?!? I may have lost my mind. (Or may soon, after seeing all these.) I’m sorry, I have yet to see any reason for Kutcher’s success, beyond his dating Demi Moore. But this movie looks interesting and, kind of like Eternal Sunshine, the story’s idea may be enough to draw me into this one, despite Kutcher. (And I have to acknowledge that he doesn’t look bad in the trailer, but then, it’s pretty easy to look good in a trailer.)
Now, I’m well aware that all of these are coming out in the post-holiday January dumping grounds, so they could ALL suck. But I think I’m willing to give them a shot at this point.
Comments