The Bucket List
Hollywood schmaltz is on full display here, but it's not nearly as bad as the critics say. Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman are wonderful as always, and while the script doesn't completely live up to the story's potential, it's clever and funny, and surprisingly affecting when it needs to be. Rob Reiner, a guy who I've felt sorry for lately (his last three movies have been duds - well deserved failures, however - and this one will probably be no different, albeit an undeserved one) does a more than competent job of directing this picture, and keeps the flow of the movie nice and brisk. That's a big thing to note here: usually with dramatic pictures such as this, the running time is at least two hours... well, not with this film. It runs a trim 90 minutes, and although this might come at the detriment of some character development (we hardly ever see Freeman's wife - although the actress who plays her isn't very good anyway), the speeches the characters have more than make up for it.
Sure, it's melodramatic. Sure, it's the kind of thing Hollywood shoves out into theaters every Oscar season. But it's not that bad. If you're in the mood for something more mainstream, you could do much worse than The Bucket List.
Charlie Wilson's War
A really solid film we have here, from the master filmmaker Mike Nichols (The Graduate, Closer). It manages to inject humor and wit into the subjects of wartime and government bureaucracy, not unlike Nichols' earlier film Primary Colors. This film has a similar feel to that picture, so if you enjoyed that one, you should be right at home here. Nichols' films have great acting, but true to most of his work, it's not the leads that stand out, it's the supporting performances. Philip Seymour Hoffman completely steals the show here, as the son of a soda-pop maker who somehow found himself in government. He's angry, he's quick to insult, and he's extremely likable. This is a Supporting Actor-worthy performance if I've ever seen one, although the chances of that are unlikely.
This film has gone mostly unnoticed at the end of this year. But a sharp script, great cast, and a veteran director all make this a must-see. It's not among the top of the "best of" list, but it's very good.
Wristcutters: A Love Story
I'm in love with this movie. It's darkly comic, it's romantic, it's a little silly, and it packs a surprising emotional punch. This is a true original, and it's evidence of - along with Lars and the Real Girl - the best year for independent film in a long time.
I will sum up the plot for you, and after that I shall lose the interest of about half of you. But stay with me, as this movie isn't what it would seem at first glance. The story is this: Zia (Patrick Fugit) is devastated over his break-up with his girlfriend, and commits suicide. After doing this, however, he wakes up to realize he's not in hell but in some strange in-between world where everyone lives their lives like normal, only everything is a little off-kilter, and no one has the ability to smile. He meets Eugene (Shea Whigham), and they quickly become friends, setting off on a road trip to find Zia's ex-girlfriend, upon hearing the news that she's also committed suicide. Along the way, they pick up a hitchhiker named Mikal (Shannyn Sossamon) who joins them on their journey.
As I said, it's a little strange, and the whole suicide thing may turn you off, but here's why I told you to stay with me: The film has little to do with suicide and death and everything to do with life. The film is really more about the bonding between friends and the narrative is mostly centered around a lightly-comic road trip. Everyone just so happens to be, well... dead. This is the reason for independent film, and the reason it is thriving at these end-of-the-year awards, while mainstream pictures are left out in the dust - it's about placing familiar storylines into a new and interesting framework. If this film was made as a conventional romance, it wouldn't be offering anything new. By pushing the envelope, the filmmakers have made something worthwhile. And it's all the more amazing because it succeeds.
It's good. That's all you need to know. Only a certain type of person will want to see a picture with this type of quirky sensibility, but if you're one of them, you're in store for a treat. And Tom Waits is in it!
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