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Quint was at the BE KIND REWIND premiere at Sundance!

Published at:  Jan 22, 2008 9:27:33 AM CST

Ahoy, squirts! Quint here.

This was probably the biggest movie playing the fest. It’s a studio film, but it’s by an arts-friendly director and not exactly the most mainstream thing on the planet.

I actually get a little tired of people talking about how Sundance has sold out and it should only have black and white movies shot on hi-8 and Lithuanian documentaries. I go to a lot of film festivals and Sundance is one of the most dependably programmed festivals I’ve ever done.

Film festivals are about drowning yourself in movies, celebrating film as an art form. Sure, it’s about discovering new talent, too, and Sundance has plenty of those films. I’ve seen and loved a few first or second time filmmaker movies so far, but it really is all about programming good or at the very least interesting things.

BE KIND REWIND to me fits with the fest and was a nice pick to be a big premiere.





It was certainly a hot ticket. There were over 100 wait-list people there 4 hours before the show and I was there an hour early and still about 500 people back in the line.

I was warned in advance by another contributor to this very site that saw BE KIND REWIND and hated it with a passion. I’m sure he’ll his own review soon, but I think that warning lowered my expectations a bit.

BE KIND REWIND isn’t a great movie. It’s a good movie. I was going to say that it was a good movie, but my least favorite Michel Gondry movie until Rav reminded me that Gondry directed HUMAN NATURE. I really don’t like that movie. So, it’s my second least favorite Gondry movie.





Jack Black and Mos Def both work really well together and are funny in the movie, but when they’re not remaking films the movie slows down to a snail’s crawl. I especially didn’t like the sub-plot of Glover (who plays the owner of Be Kind Rewind, the video store where Def works) exploring the giant chain competition stores. It just slowed the movie down and didn’t really add anything to the story.





One other unfortunate thing about the flick is that about 85% of the actual remaking sequences are in the trailer. They’re still funny and we get a little more than what we’ve seen, but I honestly would have been happy to have the majority of the movie being Mos, Melanie Diaz, Jack and the gang “swedeing” movies.





The movie is flawed, but still fun and geeky cool at times. I think you spend the most time watching their first movie, GHOSTBUSTERS and that is great stuff. I definitely wanted more of the nitty-gritty of them figuring out how to remake certain scenes.

Alright, enough on this studio dreck! I’m going to review some indies now! Keep an eye out for them… I’ll be writing in-between my movies for today…. Full schedule. Be back soon.





-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com







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    Readers Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 9:29:02 AM CST

    What's Lars Ulrich Doing...

    by aquatarkusman

    ... oh, sorry, Mr. Black.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 9:34:06 AM CST

    What I don't understand

    by moe ron

    Is this movie set in the 80's? Nineties? Good luck finding a video store that still stocks VHS, outside of niche stores that will be dead in two years, tops. Looks like a funny movie. That I will probably catch on video.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 9:44:00 AM CST

    The trailer gives away the whole movie

    by browncoatjedi

    I have no interest in seeing it, it's all in the trailer! And it looks saccharine at best.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 9:48:56 AM CST

    School of Rock

    by thunderbolt ross

    I saw some of this the other day on TV. Great movie.I don't have high hopes for Be Kind Rewind, the preview made it look boring and precious (like Science of Sleep?)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 10:04:52 AM CST

    Gondry is going to turn out like Terry Gilliam

    by gobofraggleuk

    A wonderfully visionary director of images who has lacked the discipline to stick to working with strong scripts instead of running with projects based only on fragmentary ideas and images...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 10:05:32 AM CST

    What a shame.

    by boba fat

  • Jan 22, 2008 10:13:19 AM CST

    That sucks, I was really looking forward to this

    by trazadone

    Thanks for the head's up - I'll Netflix it when it comes out, I'll copy it, and perhaps I'll check it out some day.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 10:15:30 AM CST

    I'm with you, Thunderbolt Ross, Science of Sleep was awful

    by trazadone

    I bailed 30 minutes in - It was as painful as trying to get through Cannonball Run II, which I've still never been able to finish and basically consider the worst film of all time.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 10:21:21 AM CST

    Even naked breasts . . .

    by nice marmot

    . . . couldn't save Cannonball Run II.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 10:27:05 AM CST

    science of sleep was awesome

    by lex romero

    scientists have proved it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 10:38:32 AM CST

    I know Jack Black is rather rotund...

    by f69

    But three seats? That's circus freak levels of obesity surely?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 10:41:13 AM CST

    Worst Trailer Ever

    by m_prevette

    Have seen it a dozen times in theatres, no one ever laughs. My God who thought this would be a good idea for a movie ? And hasn't Jack Black been outlawed? Does he have any discernable talent ?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 10:44:23 AM CST

    You either "get" Gondry, or you don't...

    by drwilliamweir

    ... and if you don't, I pity you from my orbiting spacestation.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 10:51:07 AM CST

    Ahhh that's a shame :(

    by henrydalton

    I was really looking forward to this one.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 11:01:17 AM CST

    Man, if Quint ranks...

    by johnnyricohatesbugs

    Science of Sleep above this, it must be horrible. Science was a train wreck.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 11:19:40 AM CST

    Jack Black's talent

    by thunderbolt ross

    is making me laugh, and that should be good enough for all of you

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 11:32:34 AM CST

    drwilliamweir..

    by soup74

    i hate that "either you get 'so-and-so' or you dont" attitude. it is possible to 'get' what an artist is doing, and still decide its not for you. it's like when some performance art band plays feedback for 30 minutes, or neil cumpston does an 'i-act-like-a-rabid-fanboy-but-sometimes-i-miss-the-mark' review. if i think it sucks, fans can always fallback on the old "oh you just dont get it."

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 11:42:03 AM CST

    What an oddball movie

    by orionsangels

    A movie about VHS tapes. How quaint.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 11:56:20 AM CST

    Worst trailer ever??

    by slone13

    M_prevette, you definitely need to watch more trailers.

    As for the movie itself, Quint is pretty accurate in his review. It's a GOOD movie. Not mind blowing or anything, but good. Inexplicably, all too often these days "good" isn't enough for some reason. I certainly laughed at it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 12:27:02 PM CST

    Meet the Spartans

    by f69

    Surely that has to be the worst trailer ever? Oooh, it looked like they were about to fight but they're having a dance-off! Bald Britney! Just like what I saw she gone dun on teevee lol rofl dats teh roxxor!!1 etc...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 12:50:06 PM CST

    i loved science of sleep

    by viruswitshoes

    i guess i'm the only one that appreciated the visuals in the film. the making of segment on the dvd really sheds light on how creative the process was in creating the special effects. i wish more film makers used practical effects in such an imaginative way.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 12:55:25 PM CST

    F69

    by mr_macphisto

    you just don't "get" meet the spartans.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 12:55:43 PM CST

    "Getting" Gondry

    by potsmokinalien

    ETERNAL SUNSHINE is a movie that will always be incredibly close to my heart, but what's there to 'get' about a guy who freely admits, brags even, that his creative process is taking things from his dreams and recreating them on film. sometimes that is cool. sometimes not. he is the Matthew Barney of the cinema world: undeniably creative and hardworking and innovative in bringing his ideas to life--- but ideas that are at their core utterly self-obsessed.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 12:57:25 PM CST

    On Sly Stallone's talkback part 542

    by cobrakai

    He mentioned that he wanted to remake this film too. However,..he wanted to work on his biceps a little more so that the audience can relate to the duality of man and video.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 12:58:22 PM CST

    viruswitshoes

    by arctor

    nice visuals DO NOT a great movie make...
    science of sleep was a shitty movie - that had some very creative imagery...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 1:15:21 PM CST

    the only place this movie will have lines is Sundance

    by cookiepuss

    i love Gondry but this movie looks horrible - if the 'sweded' previews are all we get then my hope that the best stuff was saved for the film is wrong

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 2:25:49 PM CST

    Slone13

    by trazadone

    You note, "Inexplicably, all too often these days "good" isn't enough for some reason." I don't know where you live but where I live movies are $10.50. If I'm paying that much to sit in a theater with little asshole text-messeging their friends (the latest annoyance in the cinematic experience), you bet the film needs to be more than merely "good" for me to waste my money and time. I go to the movies less and less now because the experience has been increasingly ruined for me.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 3:02:57 PM CST

    mr_macphisto

    by soup74

  • Jan 22, 2008 3:50:57 PM CST

    THIS IS BREAKING ON DRUDGE REPORT.COM

    by burgertime

    Apparently Heath Ledger was found dead.... developing...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 3:57:19 PM CST

    Nothing to do with 'get', it's whether u 'like'

    by quantize

    pompous ass

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 4:00:58 PM CST

    Holy Shit? Keith Ledger DEAD?

    by rando calrisian

    That is truly disapointing, and sad..


    Is The Joker his final performance?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 4:15:24 PM CST

    Ledger's Joker the Next Crow?

    by redrockmullet

    They did it then, they can do it now! Bring on the sequels!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 7:39:08 PM CST

    Sundance...

    by tourist

    ...Was created to showcase indie films. Not to drown yourself in movies. Whatever the fuck that means. Be Kind Rewind was on my retardedly anticipated list for ages, until I saw the dreadful footage and promotional material and that whole desperate attempt to add "Swedeing" to the lexicon. Man, even the parodies are piss poor. I would have expected Gondry to be able to do alot more with less. Everyones gotta fail sometimes though.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 7:40:29 PM CST

    Didn't Crow bomb at theaters?

    by skywalkerfamily

    I don't want Dark Knight to bomb and become this underground Goth movie.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2008 10:01:43 PM CST

    am i the only person in the world

    by stephen brown

    to like Human Nature?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 23, 2008 6:23:29 AM CST

    Stephen Brown

    by trazadone

  • Jan 23, 2008 6:48:33 PM CST

    Andy Kaufman?

    by joet88

    That would be awesome

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 23, 2008 7:32:46 PM CST

    science of sleep was great

    by newmark

    And I agree with viruswitshoes about the visuals, I thought they were amazing, in a somehow nostalgic way.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 24, 2008 1:13:35 AM CST

    mos def is most definitely

    by worldofwarcraft

    the worst. He's so bad I can't believe he still gets work in movies. Rapper actors suck as a rule, some exceptions (Ice T in New Jack was sick, and Pac in Juice), but if you just remain bland and say your lines on screen I can still enjoy the movie. But Mos Def is so bad. Really.

    Reply to Talkback

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