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Our first review of Michel Gondry's BE KIND, REWIND starring Jack Black and Mos Def!!!
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. Yes, the review is very positive and yes, the reviewer wants to be called "Plant! Plant!" but having read the script for this, I tend to believe everything "Plant! Plant!" says. It sounds like what I read was translated perfectly to the screen. The script was incredibly sweet and funny and it sounds like that's exactly what we'll end up with the finished film. Enjoy this very early look at Michel Gondry's BE KIND, REWIND!
PS For you LA readers, I'm told that Michel Gondry will be doing a signing of the SCIENCE OF SLEEP DVD at the Virgin on Sunset at 7pm! Don't know for how long, but you might want to look into it!!!
Hey, I saw a test screening of "Be Kind Rewind" last night in Pasadena and thought it was great. It's not what I expected, because the film's premise is a little one note. For anyone not in the know, it's about Jack Black and Mos Def as two guys from a run down little vhs video store who accidently expose their library to magnetism, and destroy all their tapes. In an effort to keep from going under, they decide to remake a bunch of the films using a camcorder and a little elbow grease to keep renting them out to people.
Michel Gondry hasn't made a movie like this before, I'm so used to his romance films and focus on what makes our minds work. This is as close to a "studio picture" as he's going to make, but there are no fart jokes here. It's very classy and weird, but mainstream audiences can definetly get into it. Jack Black is pretty standard Jack Black, but Mos Def is great. He and Black's friendship is very fun to watch and is remiscent of the best onscreen duos we've seen in the past. There's a lot of physical comedy, probably inspired by the old time Laurel & Hardy type shorts from the 30's. If they still made those kinds of shorts today, this plot could fit perfectly for one.
I was surprised that Danny Glover was in it. He plays the owner of the video store. It's no wonder he doesn't want to make any more Lethal Weapon movies and wants to make small stuff like this. He's really great in it, and it's probably my favorite role he's had so far. The recreations of the movies were classic Gondry makeshift lunacy. I wish they would've shown more of them, but he seemed to know when enough was enough. The scene where they remake GHOSTBUSTERS will have film geeks rolling in the aisles, this I will promise you. It's the hardest I've laughed in the theater since BORAT. The ending was great, I thought from it's build up that it was going to fall flat, but ended up being the sweetest part of the film.
It's not a think piece, but it left me very satisfied. I think for the hard core film geek, they'll get a little bit more out of the movie because the love for cinema in this movie isn't portrayed as a casual hobby, or a prentious academic analysis. It's more about the fun that comes from the making and watching them. It doesn't have a release date yet, but I think it might come out this summer. The version I saw was pretty complete.
If you post this, call me "PLANT! PLANT!"
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+ Expand All
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Knew it would be good.
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Eternal Sunshine rules the roost.
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Awesome...I've been a fan of Gondry's since the White Stripes video days...can't wait to see this flick
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The premise sounds like shit, Jack Black is not funny, and I'm sure Gondry is doing this as a throwaway experiment for $.
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Yackbacker, I agree. Funny is funny, but suspending THAT much disbelief as to the reason behind "re-filming" these movies is going to be tough.
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Settle down. It's a movie.
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This is a really nit-picky argument. But if you want an answer, why don't you consider that they already HAVE the tapes. The old ones are erased, not destroyed. They can just record over the old ones, no?
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...Yack. Although there's a certain childlike absurdist logic at work, unless this is a period piece I won't be able to maintain the necessary level of acceptance to sit through all of this.
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Maybe it's set in the future where VHS are as scarce as 8 tracks, but they live in such a backwards town that DVD hasn't found its way there yet. (hmm.. 11 posts and 3 King icons have already posted in here... weird...)
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got switched? This should be called "Death Sentence". Bacon's could be called "Be Kind, Rewind" cause he wants his life back the way it was. But nooo, he's gotta fight the system the only way he knows how...with violence and guns!
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Maybe they're just dumb, and this strikes them as the best way to solve their predicament. Hell, most situation comedy relies on the stupidity of the characters for its basis.
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Ok, this "review" was way too short, but yeah, I'm so up for this film. And hooray for Laurel and Hardy. They seriously should make more of those. Get Ricky Gervais and McKenzie Cook, and there you go! Oh shit... they seriously need to do that. Anyone in the business reading this? I just pitched something amazing! Make it so!
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can't you just go to a movie to enjoy it anymore, unless your getting paid to review the movie..just go to see it to have fun..movies are about escaping reality sometimes.. so stop hating, get the stick out of your ass.. and have some fun..dammit
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Ok cool point there..with that said i must admit jack black isn't that funny to me and if they ever let him near a GL film i'll jump of a bridge
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...and I hope he does not at some point change his name to Harold Arbogast III aka Mos Def (real name imagined) like LL Cool J. You let me down there, LL. I have it on good authority that the ladies still love cool James, so I think you should reconsider this moniker malarkey.Also, this film sounds funny. Stupid as hell, but funny.
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did anybody read civil war #7 and if so what did you think of it
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THRILLING! If that's not a title that promises enormous entertainment, I've never heard one! Big ups to the Marketing Wizards who concoted such an irresistible movie monicker!!!
Perhaps it will play in a double feature with "Keep Our City Clean, Don't Litter," or "If Safety Seal Is Broken, Do Not Purchase" or "This Vehicle Makes Wide Right Turns." Those would be great movie titles too.
Really, you can't go wrong with ANY title that is as also an out-of-date and annoying admonishment. -
I really like this director so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
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nor should wrestlers use their stage names. "Mos Def" is overrated anyway; saw bits of 16 Blocks and thought he tried to hard. But oh he's a rapper so we're going to put him up on a pedestal because he did something other than try to pass profane noise off as music.
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If it's anything like Billy Madison or Half Baked (which did have a couple of funny scenes), this ain't gonna be funny.
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Watch that and then tell me how many actors, rappers or anyone else could have done that role. Mos Def has a ton of potential as an actor. And he's a great, politically conscious MC to boot.
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...even get mentioned in a talkback about a Michel Gondry movie?
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He has three-minute videos that are deeper and more insightful than most feature films. This review does no justice to his brand of genius by simply labeling it a "comedy". Everything he does is so much more than that.
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Seriously guys, I think this is a record even for you lot, lol.
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Feb 22, 2007 11:29:57 AM CST
Wait, are you doing something with your life?
by therevengeofbayouwilly
Because over in the "OC" thread that sounds like a big no. Come on, folks, Gondry is about 1000% more talented than anyone here. The idea of Jack Black and Mos Def doing bootleg Robocop is funny. Lighten up.
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My girlfriend has bigger cans.
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Do you remember back when you'd get charged and extra fifty cents to a dollar if you didn't rewind your rentals, or you'd have to pay full rental price for everyday late (back when you had one day rentals)? I have nothing to add other than saying renting used to be really fucking expensive.
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Let's all make a pact and try and become actors and/or comedians. I just know we can do it! Then, and only then, will our miserable lives be worth something!
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For some unknown reason, more women nowadays are open to either turning a blind eye to nerdish proclivities, or to be into them as well. How many cute chicks do you see nowadays watching anime or reading manga, or attending conventions? I tell you, any decent looking guy that's somewhat H/W proportionate can get a cute chick to lay him. We are living in an unheralded time. I thank the OC, comic book movies, and the rise of hipsters.
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Whipping our your statements and showing your "zero balances" owed? You chick magnet!
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No need since I have been married for a while and have a daughter. Careful when you shave down there...they do not grow back! (we've got a bleeder)
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Feb 22, 2007 12:23:49 PM CST
Gondry? Hasn't made a movie like this before? Romance?
by mike the wicker of ears
I am excited to see this film because he has made films like Human Nature and Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind. But you are right "Plant, Plant" those are just your run of the mill studio romance flicks...ya tool. He is the perfect director for a movie like this and what a coincedence he wrote it too! Hmm how about that. Dudes like you shouldn't be lucky enough to go to screenings.
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Okay, that explains why they'd be renting VHS, something I haven't seen for at least 5 years now.But there's still one problem: the economy was just as good in the 80s as it is now. There are more slacker McJobs than there are slackers to fill them. Who cares if these guys get canned. Just apply to the place across the street, they'll take you. Even with a crimminal form longer than your arm you can get a job as a cashier as long as you say you're "a team player".And do these guys think nobody will notice that they're watching a version of 'The Exorcist' starring the bloke from the their local video store instead of Linda Blair?This movie sounds stoo-pid.
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I always wondered when somebody would cross 'The Notebook' with 'Goodbye, Lenin' and put Jack Black in the lead. I'm surprised Hollywood took so long.BTW have you heard about the sequel where Steven Segal is on the verge of suicide and Jack Black and Flava Flave have to act out new Segal movies to show the world still cares about him? It looks pretty good. I hope they find a role for Jordana Brewster.
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I just checked out Ass Pennies. Jesus christ, that was the greatest most glorious thing I have ever seen. It "changed" my life, man.
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in the first place? And how much dyking up occurred? I'm assuming not enough to warrant a glance at that movie...
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"financial backing" now...
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when ass pennies gets more play than two hot chicks making out...(sigh)
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any tongue? rubbing? I probably am expecting too much...ass pennies it is then.
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especially when the dude loses it at the end...you've all had my ass pennies! Still doesn't make up for some hot girl on girl action....
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apparently
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I guess you haven't seen the European version that was released; it was a bit "steamier" and (trying to be classy) showed more of the nethers and more contact between the nethers, if that makes sense. STILL not long enough, though. ;)
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When they remake this movie again with Scarlett Johannsen and Jessica Biel. Until then, I'm only watching PBS.
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Jack Black and Ja Rule accidently flush all the toppings down the toilet at the pizzeria where they work for Mel Gibson. In an effort to save the business they run around murdering rubbies and tourists and chopping them up into toppings and putting them on the pizzas.Screenplay by Bret Easton Ellis.Directed by that chick who did that freaky 'Titus'.
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I just soiled myself from laughing...man, gotta pick up all my pennies now...
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For the guy claiming the premise is just too implausible - I had the same worry and it is actually handled in a completely plausible way in the movie.
They initially are forced to reshoot just ONE movie for a demanding, slightly crazy woman who gives them only three hours to deliver it to her, or else she'll tell the owner of the store they lost it and Mos Def will lose his job.
So they have just a few hours to replace it, and there's nowhere local that still carries VHS.
That one-off spoof becomes a smash hit with the local kids, and they start a business doing more re-enactments. They don't re-purchase the tapes because the movies themselves aren't what's in demand - the people want to see the hilarious re-enactments.
Script was brilliant and so is Gondry. I am psyched. -
can't wait to gay out
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on Nickelodeon. Theme song by your favorite drummer and mine, Stewart Copeland.
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I know that skit, too, Banned.
I'm still seeing this, though. -
... actually not too bad a premise to be honest. Just tell me they 'remake' at least one rock opera
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think about it
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have the guys in the movie played by jack black and mos def do a homemade trailer for the movie
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Since Gondry wants so badly to be viewed as an experimental filmmaker and not an MTV survivor, then why not actually just run a series of improv remakes of classic and contemp films featuring various actors including Black and Def. I would kill to see Steven Colbert do the Baldwin monologue from "Glengarry..." even if it were on DV
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HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
If I ever start talking like that I'll fucking kill myself. -
yack, there's nothing you can do about 'newsies.' it's out there. it will never go away. it will always haunt you.
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at least he was down to earth about his reasons and was straight up about not having seen it yet and all. It's not like he was that guy in the Grindhouse tb having a haemorrhage about the internal logic behind how the chick with the machinegun leg can actually fire it. Sheesh! To me it sounds like this is the kind of movie where the premise doesn't actually matter at all compared to the main thrust of the film. drturing, you may have worked on it but you may want to re-read your stuff before you post it. Just sayin' you're not doing the film any favours. It's not like we should have to decode YOUR stuff/grammar considering your name! If you're (hey look an apostrophe) going to call people asshats spell "you're" correctly and then don't expect any of them to go to the movie, because you just insulted them.
As for Mos Def, I don't know about him. The mumbling thing he does in a couple of his films drives me insane (it's not like he's Brando and I couldn't find any character reason for him to be that way) but he's been pretty good in other stuff so...
What was the movie he was in where he's a cop keeping an eye on a paedophile? -
you'll feel better about yourself.
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now will you please come to my poetry reading this weekend?
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"The Woodsman" with...Kevin Bacon.
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Thanks so much dude.
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Gondry is genius, Jack Black used to be genius, and Mos Def is on his way there. He's highly underrated as an actor. And hey, Eternal Sunshine sound retarded when somebody tried to explain it to me. But when I saw it, genius!
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