Merrick here...


Another reader sent in his thoughts after a recent screening of LEATHERHEADS, a depression-era footballer which stars (and is co-written and directed by) Geroge Clooney.

It also has photography by Newton Thomas Sigel (SUPERMAN RETURNS, X2, and the upcoming VALKYRIE) and a score by Randy Newman.

The film opens in December.

Went to a screening in Edgewater of the new George Clooney-Renee Zelwegger flickety flick LEATHER HEADS.

To encapsulate, its is basically A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN mixed in with a Katherine Hepburn flick like, I dunno - HIS GIRL FRIDAY?

Know what? Its good. Like I didn't leave the theater after half hour of Clooney mugging for the camera good.

Basically Clooney's team, the Decatur Bulldogs(?), are ding so piss poor that the players have to go back to their depression era day jobs and Clooney - the Captian - schemes to get this kid played by Jon Krasinski who was supposedly a war hero -- bought on to the team to revive interest.

At the same time, Renee Zelwegger plays a reporter out to to do a hatchet job on Krasinski - who may not be the hero everyone thinks.

...and who cares anymore about the plot.

THE GOOD: well paced, well honed tone that is self referential silly but incredibly endearing and unpretentious (especially after super self serious GOOD NIGHT and GOOD LUCK, CHUCK).

Krasinski is actually a good dufus/hunk - playing it straight. And how very tall!

Mostly though - its all about Zelwegger and Clooney - FANTASTIC! Born to play off each other in wisacre modes/God given chemistry/easy, unforced playfulness...really, its about time they got together. Renee is the a greta comedienne that we haven't seen in action for years - good to see her back working it.

THE BAD: I don't care about the depression. How does that resonate today? Keep light on your political toes, George - you'll be just fine. Otherwise, I don't care about your silly odes to American suffering and media ignorance -- poor you! A small gripe but I have to share it...

But really, you can't say Clooney isn't a filmmaker. This thing doesn't exactly have $100 million box office written all over it but it IS a real quality work. He knows what he's doing. And NEVER tries too hard which I appreciate.

Maybe this is slotted for award season - I can see it getting some traction there....for sure.

Go see this come November (?) despite the old Spike Jonze songs on the soundtrack.
This thing's a winner.

VinzoGinzo