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The Film Habit #35 - January 19, 2005 This could be regarded as a bad week for us. We’ve lost Bill Beyrer as he moves on to bigger and better, and the review section is pretty stagnant with so few movies hitting theaters this month. (Good luck to you Bill, despite our differences, you will be missed!) But I have never felt better. Traffic is up, the news section is soaring, I’ve found time to fit in some DVD reviews, and I have an uncharacteristically sunny outlook. That probably means we’re doomed. So be it. On with whatever the heck it is this column is supposed to be about:
me to share Bill Beyrer memories. Negativity Has Negative Results I hate bashing local Dallas films. Not out of some weird, misplaced feeling that I’m required to promote independent movies, good or bad, as part of some bizarre public responsibility. There are critics who do that, I’m not one of them. If a movie is good, I’ll tell you. If it sucks, I’ll tell you that too. I don’t care how it got made or where it came from. Good is good. No, I feel bad about it because there’s always the chance that I could run into the filmmaker, or someone from the movie. Who wants to deal with that? I can’t imagine what Roger Ebert must go through. How did he manage to face up to Vincent Gallo after so publicly bashing the man’s work? I wouldn’t have been able to look him in the eye. I may have to tell you when a movie is bad, but that doesn’t mean I have to feel good about doing so. Even the worst movie is built on good intentions. No matter how bad the result, some filmmaker, or writer somewhere poured their life, their heart, and their soul into that movie. For some, it was their big break. Something they were excited about, something they loved. And here I am taking a big shit on it. Sorry folks, it has to be done. I don’t like it any more than you do.  This week, my biggest dump was on the DVD of a Dallas made film, A Killer Within, a DVD I only agreed to review because of my lingering love for Ben Browder. I hated the film… and told you so. Really, don’t see it. But watching the cast interviews (which were also poorly done), I felt like crap. These were people who live right in my neighborhood, talking about how excited they were to make a movie. I was excited for them. I just wish they’d made something good. A positive review probably would have helped me personally. I’m not very good at making local industry contacts, and giving this thing a glowing recommendation would have instantly made some. A movie like this doesn’t get looked at by many people, and any positive review is bound to be noticed by the crew. Being unreasonably positive about movies, suck or no suck is good politics. It’s also dishonest. But perhaps that explains the success of sites like AICN, and its myriads and myriads of movie industry contacts. Harry legitimately loves almost EVERYTHING and when you find ways to heap praise on almost any movie you see, the people who make them will love you. Despite his protestations to the contrary, they love him. No one is going to love me.
I can go on like I am, writing for all of you. Or I could stop, and start writing for me. Writing reviews that’ll make me a success… reviews that may not be honest. I’m not Harry, I can’t honestly praise every piece of crap that comes across my desk. I’d have to fake it. It’d do my writing career, and probably this site a world of good. We’d grow by leaps and bounds. The very empty rolodex on my desk, meant for contacts, would be filled. But I think I’ll just solider on as I am. Sometimes the hard way is better. me to ask for a review retraction. Tofu Prayer  I decided something last year, and seeing In Good Company this past week only solidified it. I like Topher Grace. A lot. He’s like a young Tom Hanks, only with a softer, gooier center. To see it, you’ve got to get past the sarcastic weaponry he waves in front of him for protection; an armor of irony and affectation to wrap around a humble, everyman center.
Recent rumor has him fully abandoning “That 70’s Show” in favor of trying a full on movie career. I’m all for it. Ashton Kutcher, who decided to stay with the show despite growing film success, is naturally pissed. But then Ashton never had any actual talent to begin with. With Topher, we’ve only scratched the surface. In Good Company is a huge step in the right direction for him, as a corporate asshole who’s not really much of an asshole. He’s thrown into a position of wealth and authority far too young, and can’t think of anything more creative to do with his newfound success than buy a Porsche. He buries his emotional damage beneath a forced, congenial exterior as he’s barraged with personal and professional failures. It’s impossible not to like and sympathize with Topher, even when he’s playing the right arm of a faceless, life destroying, corporate monster. He’s followed up his throwaway appearance in Win a Date with Tad Hamilton by showing up in a smart, low-key, Hollywood film manned by a proven, respected director/screenwriter. For your next trick Topher, stay away from lame animated voice-overs (don’t answer your phone if you receive a call from Madonna), avoid buddy-cop comedies, and run like hell if you should bump into McG. Take a lesson from your In Good Company costar Scarlett Johansson and simply pick good projects. Don’t go for the money, at least not at first. If you need a paycheck movie, do that later, after you’ve proven your mettle. Scarlett waited until last year to show up in The Perfect Score. By then she’d already been in contention for an Oscar. Besides, you’re coming from a successful, long running sitcom that after you leave will still be on the air in heavy syndication. You don’t really need more money, unless you plan to form some sort of massive, rapper-like posse. For you though, I don’t think an entourage is the right idea. Here’s a good way to handle your career: Don’t take advice from Ashton Kutcher and don’t hire Dax Shepard. me to share Topher Grace love. Letters From Close Enough to the Edge to See the View But Not So Close That There is Danger of Falling Off  Guided by the spirit of the small Asian woman to your left (who I really need to replace with something more snazzy), I answer reader mail. It’s new, it’s innovative, and no doubt this idea will be ripped off by thousands of copycats, like that hack David Letterman. your comments to have them read on the… er answered here. Let’s see what you folks have to say this week: Mark Hanson: You say you reviewed "A Killer Within" as a favor to Ben Browder. Well, once you decided to review it, you could have at least watched it. Your review is false, you didn't get the plot right and you didn't get the characters right. So you hated the movie, big deal. At least do your job as a critic and review it correctly. I'm not going to explain your mistakes in detail, because you obviously hate the movie. Just know anybody that watches the movie will think either you didn't or you're a stupid moron. I personally believe it is both. But if your entitled to your opinion, then I'm entitled to mine. Josh: Hi Mark, thanks for contacting me. Well, maybe not thanks. It’s not like I enjoy reading personal insults based on nothing but a need for vengence. I’m not some sort of sadomasochist. I assure you I did watch your movie. I just didn’t like it. Since I talked very little about the plot (it just wasn’t interesting enough to me to talk about) in my review, I’m not sure what details I could possibly have gotten wrong about your film. However, I can’t blame you for being upset. Like I said in my column above, I don’t like trashing your movie much myself. But there it is. Deal with it. At least I didn’t trash you personally. Actually, as I mentioned in my review, I didn’t have much problem with the cast, it just seemed like the material wasn’t there. I would point out that at least my opinion is actually based on some knowledge of the film, while yours is based on… well, anger. Simmer down and email me back. Good luck to you. Nell: Just a note to say thanks for all the time that you keep telling us that you put into writing the Film Habit. I have read every one since it was started and i find it a great source of reliably funny and agreeing-with-my-own-opinion comments about the artform that i love. I love the Weekend Blend too, as i tend to misread trailers and think a film looks good, then see it and realise it is total crap, so i need other people to tell me what to see. So just in case you thought that you were writing to a non-existent audience, this is simply to say keep up the good work. Josh: I knew my audience existed, I just assumed they hated me. Thanks Nell. I’m terrible at taking compliments. I’m always more comfortable with hate mail. But thanks. Keep reading! Justin (flamin galah): In case you're wondering what the (unintentional) Cinemablend dropkick looks like, it's smee.. Josh: I like women and am not adventurous. Jarrod: I'm a friend of Javier Hernandez, the creator of El Muerto. And just to help you out with your news. Brian Cox who is the director of the El Muerto film, is NOT the same Brian Cox from "X2". Josh: We need all the help we can get! Ever see the old AAMCO commercial with monkeys beating on transmissions with waffle bats? (Suddenly I feel really old. Where’s the beef?) That’s us in the newsroom. Someday we may upgrade to a Louisville Slugger. Thanks! I suspect Rafe may have been kidding about that though in his story. Hey! Do you like writing for mildly successful movie websites with no guarantee that you’ll ever be paid? Are you over 18? You’re in luck. CinemaBlend.com is looking for writers just like you. If you think you can capture the signature Cinema Blend style as a DVD critic and/or BNN reporter send me an with a few samples and we’ll talk. |
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