Hey folks, Harry here... Our trusty brew smuggling racketeer Capone decided to watch a right wonderful double-bill of OCEAN'S ELEVEN and PORN STAR! What more could a hoodlum ask for? How about the money from Ocean's and the gals of PORN STAR? That's a good start. Read up and enjoy...
Hey Harry. Capone in Chicago here with two reviews for you. Two very
different but equally entertaining film.
OCEAN’S ELEVEN
I deliberately managed to avoid the barrage of cocky interviews with the cast
of OCEAN’S ELEVEN that have been flooding our T.V. screens for the last
couple of weeks. I’ve even heard people say they refuse to see the movie
because these hipper-than-thou actors won’t leave us alone. It’s easy to
distrust a film that packs so much raw talent (Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Carl
Reiner) and star power (George, Julia, Brad, Matt, Andy Garcia) into a
single two-hour package, I know. If that many cool people are involved, it
must suck, right? ‘Fraid not. For one of the few times in recent memory, a
blockbuster, star-studded movie event lives up to every expectation. I know
people have been excited all year for the first chapters of the Harry Potter
and Lord of the Rings films, but this year my nipples got hardest when
thinking about OCEAN’S ELEVEN. Why? For one reason: the reteaming of
director Steven Soderbergh (who did a double whammy on us last year with
TRAFFIC and ERIN BROKOVICH) and George Clooney. Their last pairing (also
with Cheadle) OUT OF SIGHT is one of my favorite movies of the 1990s and is
one of the very first DVDs I ever purchased. As a bonus attraction, Julia
Roberts haters can rest easy: she’s barely in the movie, and her trademark,
extra-large smile is nowhere to be seen (actually, one of the films best
jokes comes during her screen credit at the close of the film).
In this reimagined (man, I hate that word) version of the classic Rat Pack
showcase starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy David Jr., George
Clooney takes on the Sinatra role of Danny Ocean, a masterful con artist
recently released from jail (this movie could almost be viewed as a sequel
to OUT OF SIGHT since Clooney plays exactly the same character). Within 24
hours, Danny has recruited his regular partner Dusty Ryan (Brad Pitt) to
pull of the biggest job in Vegas history: the simultaneous robbery of three
casino’s mutually shared vaults the night of the biggest prize fight of the
year. Since casinos are legally required to have enough money in their
vaults to cover every chip and bet in their casino, Danny figures there will
be at least $150 million on hand. Of course to get to it, you have to get
through more security than most nuclear power plants. Not coincidentally,
all three casinos (the Bellagio, Mirage, and MGM Grand) are owned by the
same scary man, Harry Benedict (Garcia), who just happens to be dating Danny
ex-wife, Tess (Roberts).
For me, the best part of the film is the recruitment of nine other criminals
to pull this off and the preparation for the job itself. As he did in
TRAFFIC, Soderbergh beautifully interweaves multiple stories that all
coverage several hundred feet below the desert behind some of the most
elaborate security measures ever built. He doesn’t give away all the details
of the job during the prep time, leaving many clever surprises for us to
discover as the flawed operation is under way. But don’t think that the film
takes itself too serious. There is a lot of humor along the way, especially
when the crew is forced to improvise when mistakes occur during the theft.
Pitt is particularly good as the guy who just knows how to get things done
despite the fact that Ocean seems distracted knowing his ex-wife is around.
Don Cheadle is great as the British explosives expert Roscoe; blackjack
dealer Bernie Mac is the gang’s inside man at the casino; Casey Affleck and
Scott Caan are a pair of brothers who act as sort of multi-tasking
con-artist; Reiner is the ailing Saul Bloom; Elliott Gould is Ruben, another
casino owner who finances the operation; and Matt Damon does a terrific job
in the low-profile role of Linus, the great pickpocket in Chicago. And wait
until you see the Chinese acrobat member of the team; he’s amazing.
For that matter, the whole movie is amazing. A complex story that is easy to
understand; sexy without any sex; as far as I could tell, not a single
special effect to be found; a tight script; funny without being a comedy;
and pacing that made this two-hour film feel like 20 minutes. Forgot about
who is in this movie (I’m sure you have a bias against someone involved).
Focus on the film as a whole. Focus on the genius of Steven Soderbergh.
Focus on what may be the greatest con film since THE STING. Absolutely one
of the best films of the year.
PORNSTAR: THE LEGEND OF RON JEREMY
The first time I ever remember realizing that I kept seeing the same fat,
hairy, hideously ugly guy running around Hollywood b-movies was when I saw
ORGAZMO. I’ve never seen a porno starring Ron Jeremy, but I’ve seen him
dozens of times over the years in some of the worst movies ever made (and a
couple good ones too, including DETROIT ROCK CITY and his wordless cameo in
KILLING ZOE). Regardless, the man is a film legend, but what about Ron, the
man behind the man (or should that be behind the woman)?
PORNSTAR opens with a four in the morning confession of sorts. Ron is talking
to the camera, presumably after one of his countless personal appearances or
a party, and he admits that he dreads going home to an empty house. Jeremy
lives his life to be surrounded by people, preferably celebrities or people
eager to praise his name as the king of porn. It seems like every film I’ve
seen about porn stars’ lives ends up being terribly depressing (SEX: THE
ANNABEL CHONG STORY, THE GIRL NEXT DOOR about Stacy Valentine, or WADD about
the late John Holmes, just to name a few). And while PORNSTAR hardly brought
tears to my eyes, it does present a touching and very funny account of the
life and career of a man has sacrificed a normal personal life. The film
doesn’t want you to feel sorry for Jeremy, but you kind of do (as much as
you can feel sorry for a guy who estimates that he’s slept for more than
4000 women in his lifetime).
The best thing about the film is that we learn that, in many ways, the
history of Ron Jeremy is the history of the porn industry. He came up in the
ranks during the late 1970s, when porn was still shot on film and had
stories and a budget. But he managed to make his career continue and
popularity grow despite the introducing of the AIDS virus to the scene and
the fact that the guy ballooned and grew hair in places no human should have
hair. A lot of adult films have Ron in them just for the name recognition,
and he loves it. We see Ron running around to parties peppered with
mid-level celebrities (and a couple A-list ones too). He has hundreds of
photos of himself and other famous people, an eligible binder of phone
number that you have to see to believe, and the largest fan base of any male
porn star working, maybe ever.
PORN STAR is a comprehensive work that also features interviews with family
members, who all seem ridiculously proud of Ron’s accomplishments; great
stories of Ron’s youth; dozens of the silliest film clips you’ll ever see;
and naturally, tons of sex. This film is unrated, but we don’t see anything
that Cinemax wouldn’t play late and night. At the center of it all is this
funny little clown of a man whose very existence (let alone popularity)
seems to defy logic. He’s a man of the people, and he’s made it his life’s
work (whether he meant to or not) to make those of us who aren’t body
builders feel like we could have sex with some of the most beautiful women
in the world. Of course, most of us aren’t blessed with Jeremy’s 10-inch
schlong, but we do what we can.
SPECIAL NOTE!!!: For those of you in Chicago, the film opens this Friday at
the Landmark Century Centre Theatre, and Ron Jeremy will be attending
screenings of PORNSTAR Friday night and the first show Saturday. My only
regret about attending Butt-Numb-a-Thon 3 will be missing this chance to
meet Ron. Another lifelong dream dashed upon the rocks.
Capone (I love you Ron Jeremy, Teach Me Oh Master! Click here to E-me Ron!)
Or see my collected reviews at just click on
Steve@theMovies.
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