A pre-Christmas trek to see the family over the weekend gave me enough time to watch two very different films out on DVD this week with fresh eyes.
“The Hangover” caught everyone by surprise last summer, outearning its peers despite no bankable stars and a lack of a profitable tie-in.
It’s neither a remake, reboot or sequel. Yet people still loved it. Go figure.
The film’s rascally charms are even more obvious on DVD. The plot may be forced – could this foursome really steal a tiger from Mike Tyson during a bender to beat all benders? But the film’s tight casting and solid direction – take a bow, Todd Phillips – supercede the film’s frenetic storyline.
And then there’s “Inglourious Basterds,” gobbling up praise from critics and sure to nail a few Oscar nominations.
The second viewing didn’t chase away the film’s severe problems.
Yes, the opening sequence is brilliant, and writer/director Quentin Tarantino’s dialogue here is far sharper than the bloated “Death Proof” and its inane script.
But the film simply doesn’t build to a proper crescendo, nor do the elongated sequences feel like anything but an auteur proving he can use all the tools at his disposal without anyone telling him to stop.
It’s an act of artistic defiance, not a movie to be savored.
Except for Christoph Waltz’s turn as the head Nazi. Just watching him take apart an innocent pastry is like watching a master’s class in acting.
Bravo, Mr. Waltz. And enjoy your Oscar come March. You earned it.
(Photo: Eli Roth and Brad Pitt inspect their handiwork in “Inglourious Basterds.”/The Weinstein Company/Universal Pictures )
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‘Basterds,’ ‘Hangover’ – Take two
December 16, 2009
A pre-Christmas trek to see the family over the weekend gave me enough time to watch two very different films out on DVD this week with fresh eyes.
“The Hangover” caught everyone by surprise last summer, outearning its peers despite no bankable stars and a lack of a profitable tie-in.
It’s neither a remake, reboot or sequel. Yet people still loved it. Go figure.
The film’s rascally charms are even more obvious on DVD. The plot may be forced – could this foursome really steal a tiger from Mike Tyson during a bender to beat all benders? But the film’s tight casting and solid direction – take a bow, Todd Phillips – supercede the film’s frenetic storyline.
And then there’s “Inglourious Basterds,” gobbling up praise from critics and sure to nail a few Oscar nominations.
The second viewing didn’t chase away the film’s severe problems.
Yes, the opening sequence is brilliant, and writer/director Quentin Tarantino’s dialogue here is far sharper than the bloated “Death Proof” and its inane script.
But the film simply doesn’t build to a proper crescendo, nor do the elongated sequences feel like anything but an auteur proving he can use all the tools at his disposal without anyone telling him to stop.
It’s an act of artistic defiance, not a movie to be savored.
Except for Christoph Waltz’s turn as the head Nazi. Just watching him take apart an innocent pastry is like watching a master’s class in acting.
Bravo, Mr. Waltz. And enjoy your Oscar come March. You earned it.
(Photo: Eli Roth and Brad Pitt inspect their handiwork in “Inglourious Basterds.”/The Weinstein Company/Universal Pictures )
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