Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.

Sounds like this one might divide viewers when it makes its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. I certainly hope we hear more about it then. I know that when I read the script, I was underwhelmed by it, but with dark comedy, how it is played can change your perceptions of the material radically. Here's hoping it's a strong piece of work by Martin. I like him, and the last thing he needs to be doing at this point in his career is wasting time.

Here's Bat Mann with one look at the picture:

Hi Harry,

Long time reader of your site, really enjoy the various pieces of movie news you and your crew flesh out. I've never submitted anything before, but was part of a sneak preview last night that I think you'll enjoy.

The movie was "Novocaine", and it is a dark comedy that stars Steve Martin as a dentist who appears to have the perfect life (money, professional success, beautiful fiancee, etc.), but is clearly unfulfilled. Laura Dern plays his perky and "anal" dental assistant and fiancee, and Helena Bonham Carter plays a sexy drifter scheming to get drugs. The rest of the cast is filled out by the great James Chisem (Something About Mary) as a detective, Scott Caan as a hothead drug dealer, and Elias Koteas as Martin's brother. It also includes a hilarious cameo by a prominent actor ( I won't spoil it).

Novocaine has a lot in common with The Whole Nine Yards in that they are both about unhappy dentists who get into a lot of trouble throughout the course of the movie. However, Novocaine is both darker and funnier, and has some nice twists. Steve Martin is great playing a guy who is completely trusting and amazed that anyone would wish him harm. Laura Dern is perfect as the overachieving and incredibly organized assistant, and Carter is good at playing a grungy, drug addict grifter.

The movie is directed by David Atkins, whom I had never heard of before. He has an interesting style - there are several scenes where he uses X-rays as a metaphor for seeing through people and exposing them for what they are. There is one scene involving pulling teeth that everyone in the theater turned away from, and another fight scene in the bar that's pretty violent, but other than that it's just a solid, fun, indie type movie. I hear it's not opening until October, but search it out, I think it will be worth your while.

Regards,

"Bat" Mann

Sound a little rosy to you? Surprised by how much detail there is? Think that one might be a bit leafy and green? Check out what March had to say:

Dear Harry,

I have been a fan of the site for some time, but never felt I had anything to contribute. Until now. Last night I had the misfortune to witness the train wreck that is Novocain. I can now see why this movie has been shelved so many times. The movie is about a dentist played by Steve Martin. He is engaged to his hygienist played by Laura Dern( this whole role was a characterature). His life is thrown into a tizzy when he falls for a drug addict played by Helena Bonam Carter.

I won't give away any of the plot twist in case anyone actually wants to sit through this film. The characters were unbelievable, the story was a joke (I figured it out 15 minutes into the film). The Filmmakers obviously felt that any body who actually sat through this film would be brain dead, because so much effort was used to point out "clues" that would be brought back up later. When the speech was given as to why things happened, the audience was laughing.

If you have a choice between sitting through this film or having a root canal, opt for the root canal. It would be less painful!

Have a great day, March