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Reviews
Bridesmaids (2011)
Another Sexist Cliché
I found this movie exceptionally predictable and an exercise in modern sexism. I thought it was supposed to be another triumph of a new kind of comedy; one that's self aware and about dynamic people who have dynamic emotions (A good example would be in Knocked up when Seth Rogan yells at "hormones" or when he apologizes mid-insult in Pineapple Express for said insult). Too many comedies have characters throwing insults and jabs at each other without feeling or consequence. A lot of the movies this film has been compared to have actual character development and consequences for their actions.
Instead: Pathetic woman who measures herself against everyone else and turns all of her relationships into adversarial exercises in jealousy. She's most concerned with how other people see her and feel about her. Best friend getting married? She's not the center of attention. Another bridesmaid is richer/prettier/wealthier/more cultured? She's not the center of attention. Handsome guy she's screwing calls her "fuck buddy?" She's not the center of attention.
The fact that she's a skilled baker and artisan kind of takes a back seat here. Why didn't she bake her best friend's wedding cake? I would've liked to have seen her grow more thoroughly and have more of an existential crisis rather than a crisis of vanity.
A plus is Melissa McCarthy's performance. That was a truly original and fascinating female character. I would've liked to have seen more of her. I would've liked to have seen more of an ensemble-driven plot. Kristen Wig and Maya Rudolph have amazing chemistry.
But we don't get much of the good because culturally we associate women most immediately with vanity and that's what audiences -- or what studios and screenwriters Wiig and Mumolo think audiences -- want. This film is about a crisis of vanity. As most films about women are.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Ambitious American project misses the mark yet again
Spoilers:
While the film itself is beautiful and the performance by Craig is strong, there are a number of critical mistakes that alienate this film from the heart of The Millennium Series.
While Rooney Mara is compelling, she and Fincher simplified Salander's character extensively by allowing Mara to be an emotional performer. One of Salander's most important traits is that she is externally made of stone. She reveals no emotion for she embraces a simple lesson from her stroke-stricken Guardian to weigh risks and consequences. This is one reason that people assume her to be retarded or crazy. Being underestimated is one of Lisbeth's strengths. Mara provides too much seething. She gives in to the melodrama of her Method approach and the writers revealed entirely too much about Lisbeth. It's unfortunate, but it's definitely gotten Mara attention.
As for the rest of the film, the producers, studio, writers, whoever, have butchered the true heart of the book by excising all of the politics. The word "left" never enters the film even though Blomkvist is a leftist journalist and Millennium Magazine is concerned with matters of the left. The film is also an indictment of the Swedish Welfare system, as is expressed by Lisbeth's violent rape and torture -- which is offensively whitewashed if you ask me. (The word "Sadist" is left out of his tattoo. Why? I don't know.)
This film has reduced a brilliant story to yet another serial-killer mystery. Who cares. They're a dime a dozen. But The Millennium Series is unique in its success of blending stark political arguments against Capitalism and the failings of the Swedish Government with mystery and character study.
This film simplified and made banal a brilliant story and brilliant characters. Why? Perhaps they felt that American audiences would be turned off or confused by issues plaguing the Swedish government and political system. Perhaps they felt minimizing Salander's brutal rape wasn't minimizing of how exploitable the Swedish Welfare system is by predators or minimizing international rape culture. Perhaps they felt it was fine eliminating Larsen's larger points in favor of hand-holding the audience through the mystery because it would make them more money.
Seems that they were right.
Do yourself a favor and read the books. Do yourself a favor and legitimately examine Larsen's indictments of his government (and then extend that to every government) and the corrupt. After you do that, enjoy the Swedish film trilogy for its performances, and view this film as something you'd find on adultfanfiction.net.
Rigged (2008)
It is what it is
Bad acting, tight fighting scenes, hot brutal lesbian, fake Tom Cruise. What more could you want in a cheap boxing movie?
I sat here at work just now and watched this on Netflix. It doesn't throw any curve balls, but then it isn't a baseball movie.
So, what, right hook? There's some stuttering redneck who can't shoot, a big bearded bald guy who's shaped like a T, and a lot of burnt-sienna makeup to lay out those deep, dark bruises.
There's some slapped-together depth to these characters that's kind of haphazard because I don't see these characters really talking about themselves much. But, really, the style to me is very cultish. If it were less bloody, I suspect a lot of giggling fabulistas would flock to it at midnight with tape around their knuckles.
I dig. It's bad. But I dig.