Anybody can write a movie review, but only Ape Culture
brings you acrostic poems about current releases. What is an acrostic?
Something that Rex Reed isn't smart enough to concoct, even with his alliterative
name. An acrostic is a poem that you can read and enjoy, and then you
can read down the first letter in each row of the acrostic to reveal the
secret message. It's like back masking - only not Satanic!
Some people just hate
silly. One recent reviewer panned this movie because Its premise wasn't some Nietzsche-worthy
depiction of God Stuff. The Little premise of this flick aint no
vortex of deep thoughts. But Let's just appreciate it for what it
is. Otherwise its message flies right over Your bloated head. And its message is
more than its premise --
A man confronts God.
Jim Carrey is the message: innocent goofy humor Stripped of cynicism and bitterness.
Paliacchi being silly or Simply silly being. A recurring theme:
Bruce is frustrated, wants to be taken
Seriously and believes
he's destined for the sober top spot, the anchor desk. He Asks if making people laugh at silly,
light material is respectable enough. It's hard not to see Carrey's struggle
with recognition here, his overdue critical Nods; considering he can make us laugh
against our will and cry with heartbreak. Thespian Meryl Streep can only do half
that.
Delayed due to the DC
Sniper, or to allow Colin Farrell to grow Incrementally in popularity, this hitchcockian
opus Arrives to jolt us out of post-Oscar
blues with Loads of suspense and important life
lessons.
Moviegoers may feel gypped
by the
Film’s 80-minute
running time, but One can only stand being trapped in
the phone booth so long. Relentless pacing makes the film entertaining,
but as a basic
Morality tale, it packs
few surprises. A shallow, two-timing publicist Owns up to his crimes under the red
light of a Rifleman’s laser sight. He must
repent or die. Able support is provided by an earnest
Forrest Whitaker, but Farrell Leaves the strongest impression, carrying
the film and proving he Is more than Britney’s boy toy.
This movie owes a debt To The Sweet Smell of Success, a smarter
movie about publicists. You’d be better off renting it.
Kickin’ out the
jams, this movie boasts the Inspired pairing of Steve Martin and
Queen Latifah, plus a wacky Neighbor played by Betty White—yes,
the lovably dumb Golden Girl is still living, and still
funny. However,
The cast standout is
definitely Eugene Levy, so long Under-appreciated, except by Christopher
Guest movie fans. Levy’s Turn as the BBW-lovin’ lawyer
who has read “Ghetto Slang for Dummies”
Makes this comedy a must-see.
He gets the most laughs, but Everyone works together to make this
film a hit. Martin’s yuppie lawyer Escapes his loneliness through internet
dating but is surprised to see Thug princess Latifah at his door. She
misrepresents herself in hopes of getting Steve to represent her in court and
clear her name. Wacky
Hijinks ensue as Steve
tries to ditch Latifah, Levy tries to bed her, and Latifah Inspires Steve to make an effort to
get his ex-wife back. Steve Martin parties in hip hop wear
and his snotty sister-in-law brawls with
Queen Latifah in two
of the film’s most hilarious scenes. Ultimately, this movie just reworks
racial stereotypes we’ve seen before, but it’s Entertaining. The cast comes through
with loads of Energy and humor. Sho Nuff!
I didn't know if
I'd like this movie, having adored The Broadway show staring Bebe Neuwirth,
Ann Reinking & Joel Grey, So much of
the charm being in the Spartan stagy aspect of it.
Glad to report director
Rob Marshall took a narrative chance and Opened up the movie: alternating strictly
stage numbers with Typical movie scenes. Result: showstoppers
to knock our
Little socks off from
Queen Latifah and Zeta-Jones, both worthy of Earning Oscars. Gere and Zellweger seem
much too stiff and Green in comparison. But those with
the musical chops carry the Show, this jewel in the crown of Fosse
style.
Nebraska : it’s
just as dull as you always thought it was. In the middle of this state in the middle
of the Country lives Warren Schmidt and he’s
retiring from His actuarial position. When his wife
dies suddenly, Schmidt embarks on an Odyssey of self-discovery, trying to
stop his daughter from marrying a loser and Letting us into his head through hilarious Soliloquies he pens to a poor African
child he’s adopted for Only pennies a day. Anchoring this quirky
film with his presence, Nicholson gives one of the best performances
of his career,
Unusually
restrained and frumpy, looking his age and married to a woman who’s Not anorexic
or in her twenties. Jack said he had to “un- Jack”
himself for the role, and there’s no eyebrow raising or grinning
here. Although
plenty of laughs come from a fearless Kathy Bates and her unusual Clan, the
film is profoundly melancholy and moving. Kitsch and
mullethead humor make way for Extended
meditations on the meaning of work, family, life and Death. Our
lives are as shaky as a Hummel on the roof of a Winnebago.
Boy, am I glad I Live in New York City now, and not in
the mid 19th Century. Over-stylized and under-written, Scorsese’s
long-anticipated epic On the hard knock life of Irish immigrants
in the Five Points Demands attention and respect and earns
both. You haven’t seen this richly-created
world on film before, with its
Boldly colored costumes and loud personalities
clashing with Run-down and drab housing, prejudice,
and desperate poverty. It’s just your average revenge
story that takes 3 hours to unfold amid Lavish sets and gang fights so bloody
that I nearly took a second Look at my popcorn and raisinets. Cameron
Diaz and Leonard DiCaprio Imbue the film with good looks and a
bit of passion, but their Acting is dwarfed by the towering performance
of Daniel Day Lewis. His Nasally voice hints at today’s
New York accent and Giuliani’s vocal swagger. He’s Terrifying and amazing, and so is this
must-see film.
Gun deaths in the USA are out of control
and Uber-liberal filmmaker Michael Moore’s New documentary tries to find the causes. Not known for his subtlety and often
self-aggrandizing, Moore Irritates many people, but I’m
a big fan and I have No doubt that everyone should see this Gem of a film, which provokes laughter
and provides much
Fodder for
post-film discussion and reflection. Moore focuses On Columbine,
talking to survivors, showing the Raw security
camera footage of the massacre to force us to
Confront
the reality. He goes to Canada and walks into Houses, surprising
people who don’t lock their doors because they Aren’t
afraid of their neighbors. He perhaps takes advantage of NRA spokesman
and Alzheimer's-sufferer Charlton Heston, but Gets Chuck
to say some chillingly stupid things. In the End, Moore
offers no real answers but at least he asks the hard questions.
Lyrical and odd, Paul
Thomas Anderson's latest Opus manages to unnerve and enchant
at the same time. It's a Very well-made film with strong performances, Even from Adam Sandler whose boy-man
dichotomy
Is once again on hand,
but tempered with sadness and mania. Sandler's Barry, though emotionally
crippled, manages to
Somehow run a successful
novelty plunger business. Barry's attempt To connect with a woman leads him first
to be Raped and plundered by a phone sex scammer
and then to fall into the Arms of a winsome, placid Emily Watson
whose love for the weirdo is Never adequately explained. Anderson's
inability to Give Watson's character adequate motivation
causes this film to Evade greatness. It's no Boogie Nights,
but it's worth taking the plunge.
Meatier than Babycakes,
this small, Old-fashioned coming of age story Relates the tale of a young latina (America
Ferrera in a breakout role) who Endures constant criticism from her
overbearing mother (Lupe Ontiveros) who
Thinks she too fat to
find a husband and doesn't belong in college. Our heroine must find the strength to
follow her dreams while
Learning to accept her
role in the family. This film Often lurches into melodrama and it Veers into Afterschool Special territory;
yet, its potential to Empower ample women makes it important
and vital.
Surely this film outdoes any E! True Hollywood Story. Robert Evans
narrates Laconically, reading passages from his
autobiography to Flesh out the details of his rise and
fall and rise in Hollywood. He
Loved Ali McGraw, among
many other broads, and Oversaw the production of Chinatown,
Love Story, The Godfather, and Various other 70’s blockbusters
before falling hard, Enduring professional failure with The
Cotton Club and drug
Selling allegations.
Although there is no live action, the filmmakers present Three-dimensional cut outs of photos
and clippings that dance On the screen to tell Evans’ fascinating
story. Any movie buff will Relish the insider stories that the
inflated Evans spins in rat pack speak. Also, You shouldn’t miss Dustin Hoffman’s
hilarious imitation of Evans in the credits.
