Cool News
Wait... It’s Almost April? Moriarty Plays Catch Up With SEMI-PRO, THE SIGNAL And U2-3D!
Hey, everyone. “Moriarty” here.
It’s been a very quick first quarter of the year for me. I can’t believe we’re almost four months in. When you’re expecting a child, everything becomes about getting to that due date, and the rest of the calendar is sort of irrelevant. But now that Allen’s been born, I’m able to refocus myself on what’s out, what’s been out, and what’s still coming soon, and what I realized is...
... I sort of fucked up the beginning of 2008, all things considered.
I mean, I’ve written quite a bit this year, but even so... I’ve been lax. Slack. Preoccupied. John Lennon’s particular definition of life has been in full effect for me this year, and it’s been a potent reminder of just how easy it is to let myself get overwhelmed when I’m writing a script.
I’ve really enjoyed using the IMDb’s “My Movies” function to keep track of what I’ve been watching. It was invaluable last year when I was putting together my end-of-the-year list, and this year, I decided to keep a list of everything I see, whether new or vintage. My overall 2008 movie list takes into account multiple viewings and anything I see on DVD or in the theater. So far, I’ve seen 28 new films in 2008, which you’ll find listed separately here.
And most of those, I have yet to review. Since some of them are limited releases that are rolling out slowly, I thought what I’d do today is just catch up on some shorter reviews, and get myself revved up for some real writing next week. It’s a way of giving the year so far (and myself) a report card.
I’m not going to do it all in one article, though, because if I try to do that, it’ll give me an excuse not to publish for days and days. Instead, I’ll break it up into blocks, and I’ll mix in reviews for upcoming titles as well.
SEMI-PRO
Will Ferrell sports comedies have probably reached the end of their box-office effectiveness, and that’s not as much Will Ferrell’s fault as it is an inherent weakness to the genre itself. I groused yesterday a bit about films that involve card playing, and the same is true about the sports film. Our attractions to sports and our attractions to games of chance are all the same thing... this desire to watch something unpredictable play out. And the sports film in particular is practically fossilized. You really only have two variations on the underdog theme: either the underdogs come from behind and are able to pull off a miraculous-but-thematically-symbolic win, or they lose, but they learn that it’s how you play, and they grow because of this important life-lesson. The films that stand out in the genre stand out because they manage to make us invest in particular characters, so we overlook the fact that we know the rhythms of the genre inside-out. The original version of THE BAD NEWS BEARS. SLAP STICK. HOOSIERS. RUDY. Films that like work and endure because even though we have a good idea how they’ll play out, they still deliver every bit of entertainment and heart.
SEMI-PRO tries. I think Scot Armstrong must have had NORTH DALLAS FORTY or SEMI-TOUGH in mind when he wrote this, and at first glance, the story of the American Basketball Association in the ‘70s would seem to be a perfect fit for that type of movie. Hell, I’m shocked it took this long for someone to realize that it might be worth making a film about the ABA. They were always the poorer cousin to the NBA, but as a kid, I far preferred watching the ABA because it seemed like the people playing in that league and promoting it were having genuine fun. Ridiculous fun. It seemed at the time like the ABA was indie and the NBA was corporate. I remember when the ABA folded up and went away. It was a real heartbreak. SEMI-PRO takes place at that moment, as Jackie Moon (Ferrell), owner and power-forward for the Flint Michigan Tropics, has to face the end of that era.
There are moments in the film that I liked a lot, and there’s an easy charm to the chemistry between Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin, and the rest of the actors playing the Tropics. But there are some undercooked subplots, like the one involving Maura Tierney, and it feels to me like one of those movies where development notes gradually homogenized whatever eccentric character the film might have had. I have to wonder if part of that is Kent Alterman’s doing. He directed the film, and he’s one of many New Line executives who tried his hand at it after years of giving people development notes. I have a theory that a certain amount of time giving notes on the studio level wears down your ability to create anything genuine or to allow any rough edges into your work. Every time an original voice sneaks through the studio system, it’s an accident, and Alterman was one of the guys manning that gate for years. There are all sorts of little problems with the film, and I think the most disappointing part of it is the way it almost works. For some reason, that always frustrates me more than a film that fails outright.
THE SIGNAL
I admire the ambition behind THE SIGNAL, and I think it’s a decent picture. It’s also wildly uneven, and that’s probably a given when you’re dealing with three directors and writers, each of them responsible for their own segment of a triptych like this.
The premise is simple: one day, a strange electronic signal appears on all the TV and audio broadcast frequencies in the world, causing 99% of all people to go completely batshit violent. That other 1% has to survive in this strange new world, and the efforts of a few individuals are the focus of the film. David Bruckner, Dan Bush, and Jacob Gentry all wrote the film, and then each of them directed one of the three segments of the movie. Like I said... it’s ambitious. And there are moments throughout the entire film that really connect, where the premise pays off in interesting and unexpected ways. But like much of what is called horror today, there’s a reluctance to commit that undermines some of those good intentions, a tendency towards the comic that diffused the tension that the film builds, and the end result is sort of schizo, which might be the natural result of this particular working process.
Each of the film’s “transmissions” interconnects with characters that appear in each and an overall story that unfolds, but they each approach the material in different ways. The main story is about Ben and Mya, a young couple having an affair. Mya’s husband Lewis (AJ Bowen) is a thuggish asshole, making their affair dangerous enough before the signal makes everyone crazy. When Lewis is infected with the madness and the couple is separated, the stakes go up dramatically, and both Ben and Mya try to make their way through the insanity to reunite and get the hell out of town. There’s not much more to it, and in the end, the separate “transmissions” don’t really do much to comment on one another or offer us genuinely different experiences. The film wouldn’t be substantially different if it was all one story, so breaking it apart and having each guy direct a third ends up playing as more gimmick than anything.
And I know this is a nitpick, but I really truly hated the first four minutes of this, or however long it takes to cut from the shabby, ugly, confusingly bad beginning to the “real” film. It’s an idea that doesn’t work, and the footage is so badly done and so off-putting that for a moment I thought “There is no way I’m sitting here through a feature film of this.” I strongly considered bolting for the door. If you do see the film, rest assured... the opening is not the movie. I think the idea of what they were trying to do in that moment is fine, but the execution very nearly kept me from even seeing the rest of the film.
Even having said all this... THE SIGNAL is worth seeing if you’re a fan of the genre. I think its best moments play like early Cronenberg. Nobody stages a micro-budget Apocalypse like he used to, and Bruckner, Bush, and Gentry manage to build to a genuine sense of sorrow. I saw a movie the other day, a verrrry low-budge piece of horror dreck, and the thing that really ruined it was just how blatant the theft from EVIL DEAD was in every moment. It just became sort of exhausting and dull because it had nothing to say... nothing to add. Yes, I like EVIL DEAD. Yes, I like George Romero. Yes, those movies were really exciting when I discovered them. But just sharing that love is not, in my opinion, reason enough to make a movie in this genre. Bruckner, Bush, and Gentry deserve credit for taking these ideas seriously enough that the genre expands. Maybe just a little bit... but enough.
U2-3D
Finally, I feel like an idiot for not writing this one up earlier. I saw this film three times, and each of those three times, I found myself absolutely exhilarated by it. I hesitate in recommending it to people though for the simple reason that I hate having conversations with U2 with people who hate U2. And there are a lot of people who really, truly hate U2.
And that’s fine. I get it. Bono walks that line between self-parody and cool and pompous and that’s part of why I really enjoy watching him. But I’ve been a U2 fan for a quarter-century or so, and part of the reason for that is because of their live show. It’s an experience I’ve had several times, and each time, it’s been different, and each time, it’s been great. I saw them for the first time on the Unforgettable Fire tour, and the most recent time I saw them was for HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB. I’m sure I’ll see them live again in the future.
But I doubt anything will ever play for me the same way this concert film does. I like a lot of concert films. I think there’s something fun and challenging for a filmmaker to try and capture and preserve the particular character of a concert. The drama of it. The subtext. All the little tensions and thrills and the blessed mistakes. I’m always interested to see how they handle the audience. How much do they show? How little? I’m seeing SHINE A LIGHT later today, and I’m genuinely excited about it. But a concert film is one thing. This... this is something else. This is something new.
I know just as many people who hate 3D as people who hate U2, so maybe this combination was meant to be. When I talk right now about mo-cap or 3D, two filmmaking tools that are pushing theatrical entertainment in some really remarkable directions, the people who are irritated by these things get really vocal really fast. It’s gotten to the point where I’ll gently test the waters conversationally before I’ll just jump in and start talking about how excited I am by what I’m hearing about AVATAR or A CHRISTMAS CAROL or the TINTIN films. If you get me talking about 3D in general, right now it’s going to be U2-3D that I point to as THE example of why this process is going to be change the way we watch things theatrically.
This film was shot at a 90,000 seat venue in Argentina for the most part (there are several shows combined here, which makes sense when you’re shooting something this technically demanding), and in a typical concert film, the goal would be to make you feel like you had the best seat in the venue. With the 3D, though, you actually have a better seat than the best seat in the house. The thing that has always made me love U2 performances is the intimacy of the best moments, no matter how big the venue. Here, you get a view of the action that is unlike any view anyone could ever have of a U2 show, as you race in to be onstage with the band, then out into the crowd, then above, from a god’s-eye view, all in a matter of edits. And at all times, you feel like you’re surrounded. It’s dizzying, and it’s also sort of euphoric. The setlist, though, is oddly truncated. That’s my one real complaint... this isn’t a whole show at all. An entire U2 show in this format, with all the songs that were part of the show on this tour, would be spectacular, and I hope that they have more stuff that they could one day reincorporate into the movie.
I’ve got to go finish something before I head to bed, and tomorrow, I’ll be working on more of these catch-up and early-review pieces.
Drew McWeeny, Los Angeles
Drew McWeeny, Los Angeles
-
+ Expand All
-
One hell of an experience. Though it wont be able to touch the feel of a concert unless they can encourage people to view it as such. The audience I went to see it with were pretty subdued during the thing. Aside from the applause at the end and some failed attempts to get everyone singing and clapping to the music, it felt kind of dead.
-
but it definatly lacked that communal experience that you get at concerts.I wonder if people had different view experiences...
-
and it's got nothing to do with Bono being an ass (although he is) and everything to do with their crappy music. I feel sorry for people lacking in musical taste that follow them as religiously as they do.
-
It was the first show I ever saw and it totally blew me away. Haven't seen anything like it to this day and probably never will. (and i have seen lots of concerts )..check out the opening of their Sydney show in good old 1993: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5omeaIIcbc
-
if it was in black and white..it would make my top 10 for sure.
-
Like all U2 concerts there are some dud moments and some moments of absolute rapture. These usually have to do with the song choices. If the set is filled with "I Still Haven't Founds" and "Sometimes You Can't Somethings" then you can go to the concession stand or bathroom or even stay home. But if you miss 'Sunday Bloody Sunday" or "Miss Sarajevo" or "Pride" then you might as well have stayed home--because these are the moments that take every other live act on the planet to school (save for perhaps Prince and Arcade Fire). You know the Moment: the chill goes up the spine; something off-script is going on; legend shit is happening; and the song goes transcendant. U2 still have these moments. And that's the reason to see this film--not the 3D (which is cool but not required, except when there's graphic artistry, also cool unto itself). The best live moments with any band happen in three song sets that sneak up on you. All I can say is someone should compile all the moments (Stop Making Sense, Queen at Live Aid, U2 at Live Aid, Hendrix, Doors, Stones, Radiohead, etc.. and do a doc on 'concert rapture') THAT I would go see.
-
Mar 24, 2008 9:14:26 AM CDT
Does this mean they're not gonna make Stephen King's "Cell"??
by darth sticky
...because I'd be okay with that. The Signal sounds like a better story anyhow.
-
its all been down hill since tree.
And, what the hell was popmart about?
BUT, I am glad to hear the 3d works well for music. -
I saw it but missed the very beginning so I'm wondering what Mori is referring to about the shitty beginning (Mori, if you read this maybe you can clear it up) I came in when Mya was on her way back to her BF's place
I loved the first transmission and wish it had kept that tone and energy, hated the second transmission and thought the third was decent, kinda felt like a wasted opportunity after the first transmission which was very intense -
Yeah but a lot of people don't care for U2's music. Like I saw this movie mainly for the 3D aspect, because while I like their music, its mainly there not as popular stuff. The only song they played that is one i like is New Years Day. I am not saying there other songs are bad, I am just not into them as much. But man the 3D made this movie for me, because it really put you there. For me is was better then the real concert, better seats, not standing, not standing for 4 hours before the band shows up. I tried to convice my friends to see it though and I couldn't convice them on either level, and they liked U2 more then me. I told them they were all dumb because it was amazing. It was like Planet Earth but at a U2 concert. The 3D made this movie, otherwise it wouldn't be worth seeing out side of the a fans dvd relm.
-
Beowulf in 3D and U23D? Because I can't find anyone who has seen both. And the review that sold me to go see U23D (not saying I need a review to see a movie, but with U23D i needed a reason) was because he said that I don't really like U2 but this is one of those movies you can say you saw it when. Like the jazz singer. How this 3D will be the future of film and how while U23D the 3D was not perfect and the whole idea was to really just show it off. Its cool. So I was wondering how different the 3D in U23D compared to when Beowulf was in 3D? Anyone?
-
Speaking of sports movies, have you seen Beer League? While not a good movie, an above average compared to the typical Comedy Central crap movies they show. It kind of takes the team sucks tries and then loses. But nothing is gained they don't care. I found myself laughing more then I should, but I think Artie is a funny guy. Worth watching if its on comedy central and you got nothing else going on.
-
I liked U23D better. I'm not a U2 fan, I own zippo by them and have thousands of songs in my archive. But the music was simply good well written music. I saw U23D for one reason though, my first LIVE ACTION (human)cinema experience. I also saw Deep Sea 3D. An under water live action 3D (awesome to watch). But U23D is a peak at what our movies are going to look like.
Beowulf was a great experience but animated. I loved the dragon sequence. Some of Beowulf looked awesome and the 3D was killer but some of it was blurry, distracting, and not even finished looking. Avatar is going to be an optical orgasm. Any of the complaints that I have about 3D I think JC will, I hope resolve. U23D is a tease what 3D cinema will look like. I love Zemickis' work and he keeps getting better on his take on the motion performance capture. Around the corner we have Scar 3D, a live action horror film, and Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D with campy fucktard Branden Frasier ...uuckk! There's a ton of 3D flims coming out. I don';t get it why anyone would hate 3D. This isn't the crappy anaglyph red/blue bullshit glasses. The newer 3D looks a lot like your everyday viewing in the world and it's only going to improve. -
Here's my thoughts on U23D after seeing it a couple months ago.
Overall, it's really impressive as far as replicating and at times exceeding a typical concert experience. The first couple of songs (Vertigo and Beautiful Day) simply overwhelm the senses with sight and sound really unlike any other 3d film I've ever seen. Yes, it's still the same kind of 3d experience where you wear the silly plastic dark tinted polarized glasses but *the way* the live footage was filmed coupled with the use of overlays, minor animation and dissolves definitely takes the whole 3d viewing shtick to a much higher level. It's really more of an artistic achievement than a technological one.
Yeah, once in a while you get the tacky 3d exploitation stuff like bassist Adam Clayton pushing his bass into the camera that reminded me of something out of the old "House of Wax" 3D film, but it's not a big deal and for the most part, the band is simply in their element performing and the cameras just happen to be there. Early in the film when there's some shots of Larry playing drums, his kit looks truly three dimensional and the image in just incredibly detailed and sharp.
The concert itself is about 2/3rds of the actual show they performed that night with some material cobbled from the other night at this stadium with most of the perceived fat (lesser songs) removed so you basically get a U2 "greatest hits" show along with the core songs they played off the Vertigo album on this tour. About the only song that falls flat is surprisingly "The Fly," a song which has always been the audio/visual showcase for U2 since the ZooTV tour and one which would seem to be *the* song tailor made for this sort of thing. Unfortunately, The Edge had guitar trouble (it sounds like the guitar he normally uses was in the wrong tuning) in the beginning (which is for the most part included in the film for some odd reason) and the performance and arrangement of the song for this tour which imo, was the weakest version of the song of any tour they've played it. For some reason, the sound mix is kinda weak on this song as well. The film does slow down significantly during the last 3rd and unlike some people, I could have done without the animated segment during "Yahwey" which itself is one of my least favorite newer U2 songs. As a veteran of about 20+ U2 shows dating back to 1981, I can see why this movie is barely an hour long. I was close to being fried after watching it as it was presented. It's meant for the casual fan not only as a showcase for the 3D process but an introduction to the band.
On the other hand, the usual standards almost all sound excellent. Even a burned out song like "Pride" comes across fresh and vibrant, especially in context with the (shortened) human rights video proceeding it. Top it off, they were blessed with a truly ecstatic stadium audience that is a huge plus to the experience.
One other thing I should mention, I have all of U2's previous home video releases and thankfully this film is not edited with those half-second cuts and gimmicky jerky camera work that make their Elevation and Vertigo tour live dvds such a chore to watch.
Minor nitpicking aside, it's a fantastic showcase for U2 and I'd hope that more bands take advantage of the format. Sadly, U2's manager has publicly stated he doesn't see the band ever releasing this on home video. I think it would be a stunning example of the 3D format on blu-ray.
T.B. -
in 3D at home. They have some equipment out there but not really for commercial use. You need two streams of image. Horizontal and vertical flicking very fast. Or you wear the shutter glasses that do that.
Just like Monster House 3D. They can only release it in 2D. But I will say the gear is around the corner for us to be viewing 3D at home. -
I saw it at the Raleigh IMAX, and it was pretty damn spectacular. It was made even more fun by the fact thaat I saw it on a Sunday with three friends, and we were the only ones in there. We could sing along like fools, embarrassment-free:) Good time, but I wish they'd had a few more songs.
-
I actually thought it was a little better than BLADES OF GLORY, which I also enjoyed quite a bit. I'm surprised it didn't do better. I've had "Love Me Sexy" stuck in my head for two weeks. Great song.
-
Did someone actually recommend Beer League? Possibly the most unfunny movie ever.
-
I feel about the opposite(not quite because you mentioned the causes, which are good)because I think Bono's full of himself;yet, I love their music.
-
I was so shellshocked by the Beer League recommendation I forgot to mention that Signal sucked ass too.
-
I saw U23D on both the IMAX & standared screen. I didn't think there would be too much difference between the two viewings. Boy was I wrong. The IMAX was freaking amazing. The standard screen viewing, while still entertaining, wasn't nearly as stunning. Still... all things considered... it was a total blast.
-
for anybody who wants to see the future, U2-3D is your sneak peak
-
he finishes with The Jazz Singer. No, not the Neil Diamond one. You know, the first talkie.
-
Its a brilliant look at what it to come for cinema. I've been a fan of U2 since 1983. Best. Band. Ever. For all those who say "U2 sucks" ... what bands are you into? Kid Rock?
-
1. The beginning of The Signal is basically a terrible parody of a psycho-in-the-woods student film. I'm not sure what the point of it was but I could roll with it. The first third of the movie was great and the last two acts are wildly uneven and unbelievably shitty.
2. I saw Beowulf 3D and U23D. I was the only one of my friends to enjoy Beowulf. I thought the 3D in it was pretty good too. That said, U23D blows it out of the water. It really raised the bar. I loved the film and I'm pissed that I had to run to the bathroom during Where the Streets Have No Name.
3. For a low-budget indie comedy with Artie Lange and Ralph Macchio in the leads, Beer LEague is actually a pretty decent time, perfectly acceptable if you come across it on pay cable and want to be entertained for an hour and a half. On the flip side, Semi-Pro definitely had more laughs but considering the cast and the premise, the end result was a missed opportunity, delivering mixed results, albeit better than Blades of Glory. -
Will the Tintin films really be in 3D, or did they mean they would be CGI... I think a lot of people are getting those two techniques confused these days...
-
...are always the ones where writers apologize for not writing more.
-
on the planet who REALLY LIKED Semi-Pro. I'm shocked it tanked as hard as it did. I guess that's the last R rated Farrell comedy we'll ever see.
-
The first for Spielberg and Jackson. The only 3D films without any CGI is maybe some live action IMAX films like Deep Sea 3D, Bugs 3D..etc. Probably most of U23D. Down the road some movies like romantic comedies or more quiet films might film in 3D without the need for any CGI. But for now most will mix it.
-
did we see the same movie? people maintain rationality, the signal just alters that in a way that makes people believe killing is the solution. it's even explicitly stated a couple times in the movie. at no point do you see anyone in the movie just running around buck wild (except for an unfortunate fellow who's trying to survive). i'm surprised you dismissed that as just 'batshit violent'. you are slippin, mayne.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 325 total posts 322 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 106 total posts 106 posts
- HANNA's Saoirse Ronan to boss around seven little people -- 63 total posts 60 posts
- Does ‘SNL’ Rhyme With ‘Deschanel’?? Learn Which SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Vet Hosts After Sexy Zooey!! -- 74 total posts 58 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 159 total posts 51 posts
- If the Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day drops her pen, pick it up, but don’t look at her legs or else it will be on your record. -- 47 total posts 41 posts
- AVENGERS enemy revealed as pink boardgame pieces... You might suffer some form of elation... SPOILERS!!! -- 161 total posts 34 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 488 total posts 33 posts
- Friday Brings SWEEPS DAY NINE!! Gab Here About Tonight’s FRINGE!! Plus Einstein on TIM, Wiig On PORTLANDIA, MAHER, CLONE, GIFTED, GRIMM, SPARTACUS, SUPERNATURAL, GOLD RUSH And More!! -- 121 total posts 23 posts
- Here's The Red Band Trailer For Drafthouse Films' THE FP! -- 70 total posts 20 posts