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Capone finds Michael Cera in YOUTH IN REVOLT far from revolting!!!
Hey, everyone. Capone in Chicago here.
Sometimes when you jam pack a movie full of well-known and long-reliable character actors, you get a big sloppy mess, and sometimes you get a film that's kind of special. So many friends of mine are mildly obsessed with the C.D. Payne novel YOUTH IN REVOLT, and their expectations are perhaps a bit too high for a successful adaptation by screenwriter Miguel Gustin Nash and director Miguel Arteta (CHUCK AND BUCK, THE GOOD GIRL, as well as episodes of "Freaks and Geeks," "Six Feet Under," and "The Office"). The good news is that the movie is exceedingly funny thanks to its great cast and a slightly different take on the coming-of-age film of a classic film nerd in the guise of Nick Twisp (Michael Cera).
If there is such a thing as the "Michael Cera type," I haven't grown weary of it yet. He delivers his funniest lines under his breath, almost daring us to lean in and listen quite closely to every sardonic remark. But when the charmingly dorky Nick can't quite pull himself together enough to get the serious attention of the woman of his dreams, Sheeni Saunders (newcomer Portia Doubleday), he creates an alter ego named Francois, a sociopath whose destructive leanings get Nick in a shitload of trouble, but also get him a lot closer to his relationship goals than he's ever dreamed possible. Nick first meets Sheeni in a trailer park where he, his mother (the cougarific Jean Smart) and her boyfriend (Zach Galifianakis) are hiding out for a time.
After immediately falling for Sheeni, Nick (or more precisely Francois) arranges for a bit of destruction that lands him living with his father (Steve Buscemi), who just happens to reside very close to where Sheeni and her very religious parents (Mary Kay Place and M. Emmet Walsh) live. What's fascinating about the character of Sheeni is that she is not portrayed like a typical pretty high school girl leading boys on to get what she wants. We suspect that she may be exactly that, but when we see her around her parents, we get a better sense of the kind of personal hell she's living everyday and how lying to them is her knee-jerk response to any question they have for her. It's her survival mechanism, and the more of this behind-the-curtain part of her that Nick sees, the more he falls in love with her and wants to help her escape. YOUTH IN REVOLT is undoubtedly a comedy, but in these more revealing moments, I was moved.
As the film progresses, we meet even more fantastic players, including mom's other boyfriend, a local cop played by the suitably insane Ray Liotta; a bleeding-heart-liberal neighbor (Fred Willard); Buscemi's girlfriend (the adorable Ari Graynor); Rooney Mara as a depressive classmate of Sheeni's; Justin Long as Sheeni's fully baked brother; and the colossally funny Adhir Kalyan ("Aliens In America"; FIRED UP!) as Nick's new best friend who drives him to Sheeni's private school where he hopes to convince her to run away with him.
But the film's real scene-stealer is Francois, with his John Waters mustache, ridiculous ascot, slicked-to-the-side hair, too-tight slacks, and delicately handled cigarette. Francois is a side to Michael Cera that we simply haven't seen before, and it's a beacon of hope that whatever he gives us in SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD will be extraordinary. There's no stammering, no averted gaze. He's a man so confident in his piggish nature the he knows without a doubt that women will find him repulsive and attractive at the same time. I know I did. He's the kind of guy that isn't afraid to pick a fight with Ray Liotta. For Francois and his cast of supporting thousands of funny folks, YOUTH IN REVOLT hits on the anger, desperation, emotional violence, and hilarity of those awkward teenage years. I can't tell you how it compares to the book, but I know how it stacks up to a lot of other films of its ilk, and it's far stronger than any of them.
-- Capone
therealcapone@aintitcoolmail.com
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Until I see differently, the clock is ticking.
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MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA
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"François Dillinger"
Most evil name since Darth Vader, or maybe Miley Cyrus. -
by the simple fact that there is no way, none whatsoever, that Kat Dennings or that other chick would ever even look in his direction, period, end of discussion. As much as geeks would like to believe a pure hipster heart will lure Kat Dennings, it wont.
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been wanting to bang her since "Designing Women".
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No need to see it.
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Jan 08, 2010 10:00:48 AM CST
Ray Liotta makes most movies better than they are
by isleptwithkathybatesandallthatigotwasthi
I seriously could watch the guy in almost anything. I caught NARC for the first time the other day and he was fucking great.Few people can do batshit crazy as well as Liotta.
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Yeah - he was fucking amazing. While I wouldn't go so far as to use the word "tragic" for Liotta's career recently, it has been painful to watch him floundering in offal like Ritchie's shit-on-celluloid Revolver *shudder*. A big-name director needs to give him a fat, juicy plum of a role. Paging my namesake...
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He plays exactly the same character in EVERY SINGLE FILM.
I'm not sure I'd even be able to re-watch Arrested Development now without wincing slightly every time he's onscreen which is a real shame cos he was one of the best things about that show. A fact, I guess, that has led to his ridiculous overexposure. -
....was Tommy Vercetti in Vice City.
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And I love the early release poster with her lying on her stomach while Michael Cera straddles her, totally suggestsive of rear-entry intercourse.
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Jan 08, 2010 12:07:04 PM CST
He plays exactly the same character nonsense
by i_play_the_exact_same_talkbacker_in_ever
Is anyone else bored and annoyed with the whole "He plays the exact same character in every film" line?
Of course he plays exactly the same character in every fucking film - yeah we get it - but who gives a shit? Honestly? The dude is great at playing thin, soft-spoken, nerdy type characters because (GUES WHAT!) he is a thin, soft-spoken, nerdy looking guy. What else do you expect? Do you want to see him blowing up terrorists or fighting Batman? I mean are you sitting around dreaming of the day Cera finally stops playing the same character and makes that Sci/Fi/horror/Gay Porn flick where he stars in dual roles as Chuck Thruster the brawny captain and the Alien tentacle monster?!?
There are always going to be movies made that have a requirement for some variation of a thin, soft-spoken, nerdy type character. Let the man play what he's good at playing and be glad he at least tries to pick quality movies (year one excluded). -
That made me laugh. Still don't like Mr Cera.
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Oh boy oh boy oh boy he sure knows how to diversify.
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Needs a movie where he says some fucking asshole comment and then just gets the shit kicked out of him. Ends up in the hospital, re-evaluates his life. Decides to send every one who saw Year One their money back.
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From the director of Chuck and Buck and Suck and Fuck. Yeah starring the director of Twilight 2. From the director of Star Maps. The dude likes his flicks gay, betting this one is as well.
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flooding the market with an actor until they become an irritant
Until the public turns on the talent viciously
Recent examples Will Ferrell and to a lesser extent (so far) Seth Rogen.
Cera has reached that point with me
His same 'ol character and mumbling effeminate monotone is like sandpaper on nerves
Having to endure this commercial just about every break hasn't endeared him either
I will not be seeing this movie -
dadgumit
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Yeah the whole thing of her reading and him obviously wearing shorts - dude - talk about looking at too much porn. It's not nearly as suggestive as you try to imply.
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Jan 08, 2010 10:03:59 PM CST
This looks like a good rental. I mean Avatar is still out
by soylentmean
I have to see that again. Anyone wanna bet there are some subliminal messages in the adds for Avatar? I feel strangely compelled to see it again.
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the mushroom scene is worth the admission. gold, jerry, gold.
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gives Cera a chance to prove everyone's criticism wrong. Will he do it? *shrugs* Scott Pilgrim depends on it. I'll trust Wright knows better than a bunch of anonymous bitter fucks.
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Seeing Cera with that moustache makes me want to punch him in the ear.
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And he pisses me off. There I said it!
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And he pisses me off. Yeah that's right! I said it again!
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And he pisses me off. Well lookie here. I said it again! The exact same statement every time! See how that's irritating? Now you know how I feel. Cera needs to go away for a while..... not forever, just until his balls drop..... oh wait, that may not work.
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A Rebel without A Cause type period movie. But it's a goofy comedy? The title makes no sense!
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I thought was the funniest line.
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He's the only one who isn't wanting to return to do an arrested development movie. Who the fuck does he think he is? He wouldn't be where he is now if it weren't for that show. Fuck him. Eat shit Cera and I hope you get Echoli you fucking pompous prick!
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Why would he need a movie for that? Somebody should just jump him on the street and take matters into their own hands. Charles Bronson style.
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I laughed during the Mushroom Scene that was it. Instead of doing quirky animation for the road trips they should have took the opportunity to build the relationships of the characters. It was rushed and forced. Michael Cera is typecasted as awkward teen nerd. He better do something different or the only work he will get will be doing justin long type parts.
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nuff said
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are just about up. He plays the same character in every movie. Funny at first, but tired now. If you need a slightly socially awkward but lovable teen character in a coming of age comedy it's been all Cera for the last several years. Are they going to keep casting him in these roles when he's nocking on 30's door?
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