The review of Summer

Summer is an interesting time of year. For some people. For others, like me it’s an excuse to avoid the sun at almost any cost. So here, as a welcome back present, it’s my review of some of the films I’ve watched (and re-watched) in my many venues for holiday fun these past few weeks.

My travels first took me to Greece, where I watched Superbad about 4 times alternating between having the commentary on and off.
Rating: ****
I also watched the DVD extras which gave me something new to laugh about. That 2-disc edition is literally essential for a Superbad fan.
Rating: *****

I also bit the bullet and finally saw Children Of Men, which I’ve been told by everyone ever is a fantastic film. Note to people: yeah, you’re right.
Rating: ****

Ron Howard’s classic Parenthood is a very under-appreciated film despite the amazing cast. Steve Martin’s best role? Go on, then.
Rating: *****

In Bruges got its fair share of plays in all locations. It remains at ***** and retains its #1 spot on my all-time favourites list.

Next up was Devon where the screwball comedy fan in me got to express himself in all his glory. My week in DVD here consisted of:

Airplane!, perhaps the first and best modern screwball. I have nothing more to say on this fantastic film except GO SEE IT
Rating: ****

Liar Liar, another fine choice for the comedy fan. If you haven’t seen it, find out the nearest institution to admit yourself to.
Rating: *****

Harvey. My dad’s favourite film. Get past the age of the film (59 years old) and enjoy one of the finest pieces of American cinema ever. Better than It’s a Wonderful Life.
Rating: *****

As well as all this, I also ended up watching Come Dine With Me on a near-daily basis. To this day, I still am.

The final leg of my travels took me close to home, but still away from home nonetheless. Here, I experienced (and made others experience) yet more of Woody Allen’s genius in two of his greatest achievements to date: Vicky Cristina Barcelona (*****) and Everyone Says I Love You (**** - stay tuned for a bigger piece on this one)

I also dipped my toes into the tranquil pastures of some fucking gory horror stuff in the form of 28 Days Later (*****) and Repo! The Genetic Opera (***)

I managed to see a film that’s been haunting me for years yet always remained elusive in The 40 Year-Old Virgin, it really is funny.
Rating: ****
Rewatching Thank You For Smoking and Watchmen in the past few days gave me a freshened yet similar view on them both, too: They’re fucking amazing
Rating for both: ****

In cinema, I managed to see Harry Potter 6 which, as any self-respecting human being with half a brain will tell you, is OK.
Rating: ***

That’s all for now, Next stop, Moon.

Not literally.
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Review: Bruno

Ever since Borat in 2006, we were left wondering: what’s next? Sacha Baron-Cohen has a good thing going, if you can understand and appreciate his style of humour/filmmaking then he never fails to deliver. The downside to his approach is we’re only ever going to see each of his characters for a short while before he has to get rid of him, lest the fame of his previous endeavors ruin his attempts to stay below-the-radar enough to expose most people as the monsters they are, which is essentially what he enjoys doing most.

Bruno, of course, was next. Now, Baron-Cohen’s characters have had a film each. Ali G In Da House was a scripted comedy while Borat was an overseas mockumentary, a veritable barrage of clips of him embarrassing the American people in a series of stunts. Bruno very much copies the latter, almost too much in some cases. In both films, about two-thirds of the way in we see the title character broke, abandoned my his travelling partner and struggling to make an impact. Bruno does indeed repeat many beats of Borat, but that’s not to say it’s necessarily a bad thing. Where Borat was loud and clueless there is a deeper sensitivity to Bruno, one that almost shines through as genuine before we hastily remind ourselves this guy is about to cause a riot/security threat/shutdown of the production of a Prime Time TV Drama.

ALthough Bruno may be EVER so slightly flatter than Borat, it makes up for its decreased laugh-out-loud moments with some truly shocking and horrific scenes, an instance of which involves Bruno screening a pilot of his show for a focus group, the climax of which is bruno dancing COMPLETELY naked before the camera zooms in and his urethra, yes, HIS URETHRA opens up like a mouth and says “Bruno”. It’s clear that Baron-Cohen is still as cruelly calculated in his torture of the innocent and unaware as ever and it still works. The formula manages to stave off tedium with his unearthly knack of getting people to reveal much darker sides to themselves than they would ever admit to. These include getting a mother to agree to make her 6-year-old daughter lose ten pounds in a week for a photoshoot, getting a TV celebrity to say Jamie-Lynn Spears should abort her “retarded” baby and getting Paula Abdul to speak about Human rights as she sits on the back of a Mexican worker due to a lack of furniture.

Believe me, I’ve spoiled nothing. There’s more shocks crammed into this films measly 89-minute running time than any film I’d care to mention and surprises will be plentiful, no matter how many times you’ve seen the trailer. The content of this film warrants an immediate second viewing because there’s just so much being thrown at you to fully absorb before you’re plunged into the cold, unfamiliar depths of another Baron-Cohen stunt.

I urge anyone who may find offense in sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia to definitely see this film. I enjoy nothing more than your bitter revenge in some strongly-worded rant on a public forum, and Sacha Baron-Cohen loves it, too. This film is designed to keep people talking and that’s exactly what people do. So why fight it? Accept it’s 3-0 to this wind-up God and be on your way.

To summarise this beautifully crafted, flowing piece of literature that only 1.30am can produce, Bruno is very, very good. Borat one-ups it on laughs alone but Bruno trounces in all other areas. Less annoying catchphrases, too. But who can resist: “Vassup?!”

****
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