DLoaded Movie Weekend

Failed to take full advantage of No 'Rents Weekend (they're in Baguio). Didn't go out. Watched movies, instead. With the exception of The US vs John Lennon, I got these flicks based on the "recommendation" of IMDB--

Sexual Life: This was what a movie producer I read about would refer to as a "Showtime piece of garbage."

Cargo: Drama/mystery about a really nosy stowaway trying to uncover the secret about the ship he's on, as well as its crew. This was a miss in the hit-or-miss department.




The Good German: Shot in the style of old 1940s B&W movies, complete w/old "wipe" transitions, obviously fake backgrounds for the driving scenes, and dull-looking opening credits. (Although the amount of cussing going on will remind it's just an homage.) Bit of false advertising though, as Tobey Maguire's character's role was smaller than you'd think. And for a mystery it was a bit predictable.




The US vs John Lennon: Yeah, it's supposed to be about how the FBI started spying on Lennon, but as with The Fog of War, I got more info about the Vietnam war and it's chilling parallels with the current war in Iraq and the US government's sinister way of handling it.

Now for movies named after the title character--

Ellie Parker: A day(s) in the life of a struggling actress, played by Naomi Watts. Watch it for Watt's chameleon-like versatility, similar to her character in Mulholland Falls. Story, however, was... blah, like Mulholland Falls.

Edmond: Watch down-on-his-luck Edmond Burke's (William H. Macy) spiral from a pitiful loser to an unsympathetic one in just one evening. As usual David Mamet knocks it outta the park w/ his gift for dialogue. Too bad the film itself wasn't as good.

Kenny: Loved this charming mockumentary from Australia. Despite the subject's occupation (professional portable toilet plumber), Kenny Smyth's optimism and sense of humor will win you over. You'll never look at shitters (his term for the portalets) the same way again, and in this case it's a good thing.