Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with another pair of reviews, one from a radically messed up movie that I thought was going to be a flat out comedy and the other of a quirky, oddball comedy.
THE NINES
The plot description I read said the film was broken into three parts, with the same three actors being the constant in each story. It sounded like they were going to experiment with different genres and play around with preconceived notions of the actors involved, giving them each something different to do within the span of a single film.
That was what I expected when I sat down. We'd get a comedy, a drama and a thriller. Or some variation of that. I really had no idea what I was getting in to.
It's very obvious that John August (screenwriter of GO and BIG FISH) was inspired by Richard Kelly's DONNIE DARKO. What we're working with in this film is a complex narrative involving different realities. In one reality an actor goes through a nasty break-up and goes a little crazy, ultimately getting high and crashing his car. He's placed under house arrest and the only contact he has is with a perky publicist (Melissa McCarthy) and the next door neighbor lady (Hope Davis). It becomes pretty clear straight away that McCarthy and Davis are trying to influence Reynolds away from the other. But why?
And what is The Nines? Why is the number 9 popping up everywhere? Reynolds can only roll a five and a four with a pair of die. There's a note on the counter, in his own handwriting, that says "Look for the nines." But why and where does it come from? I guess this sort of thing is going to catch on... the Jim Carrey movie (NUMBER 23) deals with a recurring number. I first was exposed to that as a story point with Stephen King's brilliant DARK TOWER series. In that, the number was 19. In fact, I felt a strong tone similarity to Dark Tower in THE NINES.
August smartly wrote the script... where strange things happen and are explained in the next act or at the end of the movie. Everything is connected and makes sense by the end of it.
In the second act, Reynolds is now a writer/director making a thriller TV show, a sort of LOST/MEDIUM type show. He's being followed by a documentary crew as he makes the pilot. Melissa McCarthy plays herself, friend to Reynolds' character and chosen to star in the pilot. Hope Davis is a manipulating TV executive. Once again they're each trying to pull Reynolds one way or the other, this time Davis is trying to replace McCarthy from the show. McCarthy is chubby and she says that is affecting the test scores.
The third segment takes place within the reality of the show being created in the second segment. Reynolds is the husband, McCarthy is the wife and Elle Fanning (Dakota's little sister) are in their roles from the previous act, as wife and daughter. Davis is a hitchhiker.
I won't give away the big ending, but I will say that despite August going overly sentimental at the end, the movie really, really impressed me. It'll divide people, though. I've spoken to many who hate the movie... Rav didn't like it much at all, but I've also spoken with people that love it. I personally was really impressed with it. I wouldn't say I'm head over heels in love with it, but I think it's a damn good movie and the best Ryan Reynolds has ever been. McCarthy is radiant and fantastic. Sometimes overweight people can try too hard to compensate for their weight. I have firsthand experience with that, but McCarthy is just so natural, so comfortable with who she is and her personality is just so likable that you really fall for her.
Overall, I highly recommend the film. I can't guarantee you'll love it, but you'll have a strong feeling about it one way or another, just like DONNIE DARKO. You'll either love it and think it's brilliant or hate it. There won't be much middle ground with this one.
EAGLE VS. SHARK
I've been extremely lucky this trip. Sundance hasn't overwhelmed me. It's been busy, sure. Incredibly busy, but I never felt like I was out of my element or always on the move. A lot of that has to do with the quality of films programmed. And I've also been able to kind of ground myself twice now.
The first time was with THE UNFORSEEN. For 90 minutes I got to transport myself back to Austin, one of my two favorite cities in the world. That eased my homesickness a bit.
The second time was last night at the premiere of EAGLE VS. SHARK, where I got to spend another 90 minutes in my second favorite city in the world, Wellington, New Zealand.
The pleasant surprise with both films was that there was more to like than just a familiar setting.
EAGLE VS. SHARK is an awkward love story between a shy and weird fast food employee and an incredibly geeky and even weirder slacker. Jarrod (Jemaine Clement) throws a video game party and wants to invite the cute blonde that works at the fast food restaurant with Lily (Loren Horsley), so he gives the invitation to Lily to pass on. Of course, Lily crashes the party. Anyone attending is supposed to dress up as their favorite animal, so Lily makes herself a shark outfit. Which looks a lot like those '70s Jaws costumes, if you've ever seen them. The nose of the shark is pointed straight up and your face is is framed by the shark's open mouth and teeth.
They play a videogame, tournament style and she challenges Jarrod, dressed as an eagle. Now you know why they called it EAGLE VS. SHARK. The awkward and weird love affair begins here.
I really hate making this comparison because it's becoming the go-to reference when talking about off-kilter indie comedies, but EAGLE VS. SHARK reminded me a lot of NAPOLEON DYNAMITE. The worlds are completely different, but there's a similar tone. There's a kind of nerdy kitsch that is shared, the lead character is an annoying idiot, but somehow he's still likable.
The performances are all great, there are no lulls in the pacing and the funny is consistent. It's a really sweet movie.
Miramax picked up the film before Sundance and there's a June release planned.
-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com
