The Counselor

I have long maintained that Ghost Rider is the worst movie, if not ever (I haven't seen every movie after all) then at least in recent history. I'm sure many people would argue that there are tons of worse films, and in terms of basic ineptitude they are no doubt right (straight to DVD anyone?). But I feel that in order to rank as actual WORST, you have to go beyond bad dialogue and plot and special effects (if relevant) and acting. You also have to factor in the talent of the people involved. Sure, Joe Suburbs who just graduated film school is going to crank out some fine schlock with his moms camcorder. But what did you expect? It is only when you have a truly acceptable roster of talent involved- and say what you will about his many horrible films, Nicholas Cage does actually have talent, if poor financial management and discretion in choosing roles- only then can you really manage to make a place holding worst film.

And I think we have a new champion.

Enter, The Counselor. 

Brad Pitt. Michael Fassbender. Penelope Cruz. Javier Bardem. Ridley Scott. Cormac  McFreakinCarthy. Seriously. Not people you typically expect drivel from (you'll notice I didn't mention Cameron Diaz, who is also in this movie but maybe doesn't inspire quite as lofty expectations. Sorry, Cameron).  Honestly, after ending that sentence I just sat staring at the cursor blinking for five minutes because I don't even know what to say about this film.  It's not that it is bad (which it is), it's that it is so incomprehensibly bad I almost can't find words to explain it. 

The basic plot is fine: lawyer gets tangled up in illicit business and dragged down when everything goes wrong. Various duplicitous characters abound. At least, I think that's what it was about. Because literally not one word of dialogue explains what is happening in this movie. Half of the expansive monologues don't even seem to be related to the scene they are in. It is actually quite remarkable I have made such a disconnect between exposition and plot propulsion and actual reality and coherence. I think I would have followed the movie better if it had been in German. Or on mute. 

The closest thing I can think to relate it to is when Joey tried to write a recommendation letter for Monica and Chandler to adopt (on Friends, which I hope I didn't really need to tell you). His letter originally said "they are warm caring people with big hearts" but he used a thesaurus on every word and so ended up with "they are humid prepossessing homo sapiens with full size aortic pumps."  And yes, I did that from memory. 

The dialogue in this movie is similar, except with an element of self absorbed pretension thrown in. Multiple characters wax poetic on various "deep" topics in oblique and entirely nonsensical speeches. I would love to give you some examples, but the words were so insanely thrown together I couldn't remember a sentence I just heard well enough to recreate it, even as it was happening. I'm actually impressed Mr. McCarthy (in his very first original screenplay) managed to write 2 hours worth of dialogue and never once even hint at what was going on, much less offer a coherent thought. It's an accomplishment for sure, just not one I'd recommend paying to witness. 

The movie also features the most ridiculous, far fetched, unerotic sex scene probably ever (which, to be fair might have been the point), as well as an incredibly inventive, if gruesome death.  But boiled down the primary issue rests solely on the writer. If you could redub all the dialogue with relevant, coherent subject matter, you'd be left with only a sub par movie. As it stands it is a triumph of mind boggling confundity.  I would definitely recommend you see this film, if only to have a new bar against which to measure all future terrible movies. But don't pay for it in the theater, wait for it to come out on DVD. 

It won't be long.


The Counselor  R  2hr 57 minutes

New Fall Tv

My thoughts on the new fall programming I've seen so far:

The Blacklist: love it. James Spader is having the greatest time chewing scenery  and jerking around the FBI as a super villain who has mysteriously surrendered and started exposing other bad guys. The young woman playing the only agent he will talk to is also good- feisty and believable, but she has a really terrible hair stylist. Bonus for the mystery with her husband )is he a spy? Or being framed?). It's been fun so far, so  I'll definitely keep watching this one.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D: pretty good. Campy crime fighting fun, this show is going to take a few weeks to find a rhythm most likely. Not really Joss Whedony enough for me yet, but hopefully that will prove as time goes by. I'd watch pretty much anything his name is on (as well as J.J. Abrams), so I'm sure I'll continue to watch this. 

Michael J Fox Show: I REALLY wanted this to be good. Not only because it is impossible not to like Michael J Fox, but because I like how they are attempting to take a character (and actor) with a severe disease and show that his life doesn't have to stop or even revolve around his condition. But omg it is SO NOT FUNNY. I watched one episode and I was practically cringing. I hope for everyone involved it gets better, but I won't be there to find out. 

The Crazy Ones: as gratitude for being Buffy, I'll give anything Sarah Michelle Gellar does a shot. Her show last year about the twins was crazy soapy fun. Unfortunately it was cancelled, and now she's in this sitcom, which based on one viewing seems pretty lame. Robin Williams is doing his regular robin Williams schtick, there weren't any really funny bits, and everything was just wrapped up so neatly in a now by the end. Obviously all shows take a few episodes to really get rolling so I'm not going to write this one off completely, but my hopes are very low at this point. 

Super Fun Night: again, just ok. I expected this show to be a lot funnier because of star Rebel Wilson, but she's doing an (incredibly nasal) American accent, and it turns out she's much funnier when she's Australian. Which seems kind of racist, but themselves the facts. That said, I really liked how they played the guy character- Rebel was trying to charm him and the office ultra competitive mean girl kept upstaging her, and he totally called her out on it every time. So I'll give it a few more chances to find a groove and maybe get me used to the accent. 

Those are the only new shows I've seen so far- there a couple of shows that start in November that I'm planning in checking out. If I remember correctly, which I rarely do. 

What are you watching?

Breaking Bad

I'm a little late to the party.  Here we are starting the last half of season 5, and I didn't start watching Breaking Bad until last Monday.  Of course, once I started I didn't waste any time, so now I'm all caught up and jonesing for the last 7 episodes.

How amazing is this show?

I'm not even sorry I haven't been watching it all along, because it is so good, and so well written, that it all hangs together even in consecutive viewing.  Sometimes there are loose ends or changes in character development as a show progresses that are negligible when watching on a weekly, season to season basis but glaring if watched in marathon format.

Not here.

Every plot point, every random scene, all comes together and gets tied up.  It's amazing.  The characters never deviate from their personality (which can be bad - they aren't all lovable), and the performances are simply stellar.  I honestly can't say I've ever seen someone do on tv what Bryan Cranston does in this show.  Tremendous.

Could not recommend Breaking Bad more - add it to your Netflix instant viewing queue immediately.  If you don't have Netflix, pay the $7/month; you can always cancel once you are done.

Breaking Bad, AMC Sundays (pm ET)

Reconstructing Amelia

The first review I read of this book said it is poised to be the Gone Girl of 2013 (which I'm seeing a draft review in my blogroll that is...blank, but um, I loved it).  So naturally I immediately downloaded it.  And read it start to finish in one night.

 I didn't even noticed I stayed up until after 3am until the last page.

The story of a mother trying to trace the steps of her daughter after her suicide (or was it?), Reconstructing Amelia alternates chapters between the mother's (Kate) and daughter's (Amelia) point of view.  In this way we work both backwards and forwards towards the moment in question, exploring perception and the experience of both of these characters. It is mesmerizing to see how each and every poor but easily justified decision is leading to the forgone conclusion.

If the revelations don't exactly fall into didn't see it coming territory, they nonetheless come upon you with frightening inevitableness.  Like running headlong down a steep hill knowing that eventually your speed will overtake your balance but being unable to stop. I literally couldn't put it down, and I can't recommend it strongly enough. 

Argo Fete Yourself

Ah, the Oscars.  So long, so boring, so pointless because I hardly ever see the movies people consider award worthy.  And still I watch.

This year I had seen four of the best picture contenders: Argo, Les Miserables, Silver Linings Playbook, and Django Unchained, which is by far the highest percentage of nominees I've seen in recent years.  I liked them all, so I would have been happy to see any of them win, and a couple of months ago I would have been most aggressively rooting for Les Mis because I love it so.  But I have to confess that by last night I was crossing my fingers for Argo - everyone loves thumbing their nose at the establishment, and after the Academy totally snubbed Ben Affleck by not even nominating him for best director (and then he went on to win basically every other directing award, HA!) I was definitely puling for him to shove a win down their throats and get his Oscar anyway.

Argo fuck yourself, Oscar.

So I was very glad to see it win, but of course, if you think about it, there really was no surprise.  Argo basically has everything Academy voters want: period piece, historically relevant, true story, unlfattering costumes and/or facial hair, and Hollywood itself plays a hero's role in saving the day.  how could they NOT vote for it?

As far as the broadcast went, I won't say it was the worst I've ever seen.  Last year's hosts were so clearly uncomfortable and awkward the entire night that it was much more painful to watch in my opinion.  And I felt there were less lengthy, boring speeches and random interludes of dancing or bizarre tributes than usual.  Which was good because we caught up on DVR halfwya through and were watching live, so I appreciate not having to suffer through as much of the crap I usually fast forward.  That said, it was still 4 hours long, and I didn't think Seth MacFarlane was terrific - and his opening was SUPER long.  So I give it maybe a B-

I wasn't swept away by anyone's dress or beauty last night - but I missed the red carpet thanks to a sick baby and there didn't seem to be as many audience cutaways as usual so hopefully I'll see something fabulous in the magazines when they come out.  I also didn't think anyone looked horrific, so once again this year walked right along the middle.  And was it the year of the hairy man or what?  Seemed like half the male audience had beards, but I can actually only remember Ben Affleck and George Clooney, so maybe there weren't as many beards as it seemed.  And what was with all the winners (in behind the scenes categories like editing and sound) with long, flowing man locks?  Not a good look guys.  I personally hate long hair on guys anyway, but if you are dressed in a tuxedo, your hair really shouldn't be lying loose halfway down your back.  So.  Gross.

So that's my take.  Congrats Argo, and Ang Lee, and Anne Hathaway, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Lawrence (who actually disappointed me in her speech because she is usually so funny but she was too shell shocked last night), and Daniel Day-Lewis (who surprised me with his speech because he WAS funny, and since when is he funny?).  It was a pretty good year for movies.