This week will see the release of The Time Traveler’s Wife, a movie about a man with a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel involuntarily, and the problems that causes for his marriage. I say, if your genes are turning you into a time traveler, your marriage is the least of your problems. I’d be worried about what other genes I had wandering around in there, and whether any of them might cause me to turn into a dinosaur or a walking nuclear reactor, which seems equally feasible. No matter what happened, I’d blame exposure to cleaning products.
Regardless, it joins a fine tradition of time travel movies, which all share one remarkable characteristic: If you think about them too much, your brain will explode. (Which is not necessarily unique to time travel films – I find I have the same problem with Meg Ryan movies.) Still, it’s a worthy genre; if you don’t believe me, go back in time and review these classic examples.
12 Monkeys (1995): Would it be going out on a limb to call this the last great time-travel movie? OK, how about the last great Bruce Willis movie (the one with the dead people notwithstanding)?
Willis had quite a trifecta in 1994-’95 with Pulp Fiction, Nobody’s Fool, and then this film, which strikes just the right note of off-kilter paranoia and impending, unchangeable doom that marks more than a few sci-fi classics. I mean, it’s nice that Marty McFly winds up rich with better-looking parents, but wouldn’t that movie have been even better if he’d caused the whole planet to be wiped out by a killer virus? Wait, scratch that — then we wouldn’t have had the sequels.
My usual modus operandi with this column — and the reason why its title is phrased as a question — is to look for signs of quality in cultural products for which I have no reasonable expectation of finding it. I’m not even necessarily expecting that Hannah Montana DVD to be bad — I’m just not expecting it to be very good. My hope is always to be pleasantly surprised. Oh, I hear the same word-of-mouth that you all do, and I know the received wisdom as well as anyone else; but usually I can shrug them off and try to approach the work with an open mind, hoping against hope for something good.
There are times, though, when my own prior experiences lead me to approach my subject with a pre-existing anticipation of its crapulence, and that shit is hard to shake. Such is the case with Star Trek: The Animated Series, released in 2006 in a handsome boxed edition, which I have just re-encountered for the first time since seeing it in its original run. (more…)
I’ve never been a true fan of the Western genre. As a matter of fact, I can count the number of Westerns I like enough to own on DVD and still have a finger or two left over to use. Having just watched Catlow, recently released on DVD, I’ve just lost one more counting finger.
Originally released in cinemas back in 1971, Catlow, starring the mighty Yul Brynner (The King and I, Westworld)Â in the title role, is one seriously fun, craftily written, expertly directed, rousingly good ol’ time.
Based on the novel by Louis L’Amour, the film begins with Marshall Ben Cowan (the late Richard Crenna) beset upon by Indians as he attempts to track down and arrest the outlaw cattle rustler Catlow. Cowan is injured by the Indians, but is unexpectedly rescued by Catlow and his men. The two share a special bond, having fought in the Civil War, and are friends of a type, neither man truly wanting to bring the other to any harm. This is proven straightaway, when in a discussion on how best to deal with an unconscious Ben’s wounded leg, Catlow’s right hand man Merridew (the late Jeff Corey) asks if Catlow will remove it at the hip, and Catlow sharply replies “I’ll take yours off at the neck!”
Although this film is played mainly as a comedy, director Sam Wanamaker (Death on the Nile, Private Benjamin) does an excellent job throughout of keeping the two characters’ friendship and loyalty on display no matter what situation they’re in. Even though each betrays the other several times, it’s never directly to either man’s enemy. Catlow saves Ben’s life from Indians and teams up to escape the clutches of a ruthless bounty hunter (Leonard Nimoy), while Ben does his best to ensure that although he must bring Catlow to justice, it’s an American prison he’ll settle into comfortably, rather than being left at the unkind mercies of the Federales, who are after him for attempting to steal their own wrongfully plundered gold. (more…)
When our esteemed editor and retired slow jam artist Jeff Giles first asked me to contribute to this site, he wanted me to contribute as a movie critic. I believe what he wanted was a “Chuck Klosterman of movies.” Certainly all of my friends would have thought me a perfect fit, but I told Jeff I’d rather do something a little different.
Popdose currently has two fine critics in Robert Cashill and Lance Berry. These are two gentlemen whose opinions I respect and enjoy. Many times, however, I find myself in serious disagreements with them.
I don’t consider myself a critic, though I have agreed to do the occasional DVD review here. Though I argue with my friends incessantly about film, to the point where they are often surprised when I actually like a movie, I don’t want people to think of me as a critic. Often my opinions stem more from feeling than actual critical thought, which may or may not be a good thing.
Say the name “McG” out loud. Sounds pretty stupid, doesn’t it? Now allow your natural reactions be displayed when I tell you he brought us Charlie’s Angels and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. Are you vomiting yet? Now that you know all that, check out this little movie he just made based on the cult, critical, and fan favorite Terminator movies. (more…)
Just as Kirk meets Spock under trying circumstances in the new Star Trek movie, so, too, did I meet my Popdose colleague, Lance Berry. “This is Lance. He’ll be joining you for film coverage,” said the boss.
Well, OK, fine. Far be it from me, the film editor, to question a Prime Directive from HQ. But who the heck was Lance Berry?
This was Lance Berry. True, he rubbed me the wrong way on the whole Daniel-Craig-as-007 thing. (Give it up, Lance. Craig rules.) But I immediately sensed a kindred spirit, one who could go to town on pop culture phenoms (or non-events) like Watchmen and Wolverine while I covered films so niche or obscure the directors’ mothers don’t know they made them. I of course exaggerate: We’re cross-trained in movies across the cinematic spectrum. (And I’m not forgetting our comrade Arend Anton, who works his own turf, or the other Popdosers who hang out in our expanding celluloid sandbox.)
Star Trek was a natural for Lance, who pegged it as a movie to look out for in his summer preview. I liked the look of it, too, based on very promising trailers (which grabbed me in a way trailers usually don’t) and thought I might say a few words about it. Leaping out of the Popdose space/time continuum, Lance posted a thorough review on his own site, but I snatched him back for a little Q&A, a modest start which we hope will spill over into the comments section, as everyone in the known galaxy saw it last weekend. (I expect to hear from Lance, anyway—I saw his A’s, but he hasn’t seen mine. That’s the editor’s prerogative. But he Q’ed me too, so we’re even.)
If it goes well, we’ll be back for a smackdown on Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, which Lance has seen four times. (Kidding! It was me who’s seen it multiple times. Matthew McConaughey repenting, and growing, and learning to open his heart and share tugs at me powerfully in every film he makes.)
Digression over. Stardate 51509. Captain’s log (I’ll stop with the corny references now, I promise). (more…)
Jon & Kate Plus … Date?: Can’t help but start with the worst first. If there’s one thing that’s certain in the world of entertainment, it’s the love of a good old-fashioned scandal. Only this time, really not that surprising or scandalous — it’s just too bad. Pure as baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet, the reality TV version of Eight Is Enough, the Gosselins from TLC’s Jon & Kate Plus 8, are now embroiled in a “cheating” hullabaloo of sorts.
For those not yet in the loop on this one, husband Jon was apparently caught partying late with a woman who wasn’t his wife and (shock!) that’s set off a firestorm of public opinion. It was a bad judgment call that’s awakened all the perfect parents out in TV land, all of whom now feel free to psychoanalyze the real human beings in this delicate situation. The Gosselins’ site doesn’t say much, but the blog Gosselins Without Pity (ouch!) is hot to trot (natch) about this story.
The bottom line? Look, having eight kids so close together in age, and all in a goldfish bowl to boot, has got to be traumatic. Both these parents are “stress cases” who, once upon a time, thought a reality TV show was a good idea. They’ve made their money, scored their book deals and traded up in the lifestyle category (and then some). But if you look at them closely these last couple of seasons, they’re pretty miserable (watch the body language). Jon and Kate are a lost couple, working their way around each other (despite the cameras) and it’s obvious.
They don’t need a television show or the money, they need counseling and their kids. (more…)
Normally Bob Cashill does a top-ten list of films he’s looking forward to each summer and fall. As he’s “out of town” this week (which, in the writing industry, is code for “on a bender and can’t be found”), I’ve been asked to step up to the plate and cover for him while he’s “away.”
I’ve chosen ten summer films — well, nine as far as Hollywood’s definition of summer goes (the beginning of May all the way to Labor Day weekend), so forgive me for cheating with my first choice. I will now give my reasons as to why I’m either looking forward to these films or hope they die miserable, lonely deaths at the box office. Please be aware that while the majority of release dates have been locked down, film studios are sometimes fickle, and some later dates may be subject to change.
1. The Soloist (April 24), starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr., directed by Joe Wright.
I’ve been looking forward to this film, based on the true story of celloist-violinist Nathaniel Ayers, an extremely talented musician who suffers from schizophrenia, for quite some time in spite of the semi-mediocrity of its trailer. While I’m certain the film will deliver the expected highs and lows of the friendship between Foxx’s Ayers and Downey Jr. as the reporter who befriends him, all replete with the expected script beats (pg. 50: “Have characters realize they’re more alike than different in spite of their dissimilar backgrounds”), the real reason to see this movie is for the act-off between two great thesps, and to begin the debate about which one will deserve to walk home with a statue come next year’s Oscars.
2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1), starring Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber, directed by Gavin Hood.
Yes, this film’s already hit the Internet, so most of you have probably already seen it. I’m waiting till it actually hits theaters, though, because I’d prefer to see the completed effects, thank you very much. Although I don’t understand the fascination with Schreiber (overrated in my book), the real reason for me to see Wolverine is that it’ll be cool to see Jackman as the title character once again. Fanboys and fangirls who vowed to boycott this Fox film due to the studio’s lawsuit brought against Warner Bros. for partial rights to Watchmen profits will more than likely shut the hell up and see it regardless; it could very well be one of the biggest actioners at the box office this year despite its illegal release on the Web. I’m borderline on the story and characters, but I’m looking forward to Jackman’s Wolvie taking a long list of names while he kicks ass.
Anyone even remotely familiar with science fiction knows that the Star Trek films suffered from a quality curse. It seemed that every odd-numbered film (especially Star Trek V) was absolutely horrible, while the even-numbered movies (in particular Star TrekII) were great. It wasn’t until the cast of Star Trek: The NextGeneration began making their own films that the curse was broken, albeit in the worst way: Each of their films (especially StarTrek: Insurrection, which makes Trek V look like Apocalypse Now) –with the exception of First Contact–was exponentially worse than that which came before.
All of this is a roundabout way of stating that the original direct-to-DVD episodes of Futurama have become the equivalent of reverse Trek: The odd-numbered episodes are good, while the even-numbered episodes suck.
Unfortunately, the latest (and potentially last) installment, Futurama: Into The Wild Green Yonder, is unlucky number four.
As viewers of the last installment, Futurama: Bender’s Game will recall, that episode ended with Professor Farnsworth (voice of Billy West, who also performs as Fry, Zoidberg and others) activated a machine which destroyed all the dark matter fuel in the universe. Perhaps because a suitable followup story couldn’t be adequately broken by writer Michael Rowe (credited with part three of Bender’s Game) or for whatever reason, there is absolutelynomention or continuance of that particular major plot point in WildGreen Yonder, with the exception of a two-second tossaway closeup of a bridge monitor indicating that whale oil is the new fuel of the future. Instead the story begins with a highly amusing and well done faux Sinatra/Dean Martin song by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, as the Planet Express crew makes their way to Vegas on Mars, which is promptly blown up by mega-rich developer Leo Wong, who begins setting up his own New Vegas. (more…)
This week will see the release of The Time Traveler’s Wife, a movie about a man with a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel involuntarily, and the problems that causes for his marriage. I say, if your genes are turning you into a time traveler, your marriage is the least of your problems. I’d be worried about what other genes I had wandering around in there, and whether any of them might cause me to turn into a dinosaur or a walking nuclear reactor, which seems equally feasible. No matter what happened, I’d blame exposure to cleaning products.
When our esteemed editor and 
Just as Kirk meets Spock under trying circumstances in the new 
Jon & Kate Plus … Date?: Can’t help but start with the worst first. If there’s one thing that’s certain in the world of entertainment, it’s the love of a good old-fashioned scandal. Only this time, really not that surprising or scandalous — it’s just too bad. Pure as baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet, the reality TV version of Eight Is Enough, the Gosselins from TLC’s Jon & Kate Plus 8, are now embroiled in a 
2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1), starring Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber, directed by Gavin Hood.
Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder (2009, 20th Century Fox)