gotfong

Nothing about this movie would normally have caught my interest--the subject matter, actors, etc are all outside of my normal "zone." I'm not even sure what made me hit 'play' on Netflix that night, quite frankly. But just as Harry Potter creates its own world with its own characters who draw you in to their version of 'reality', so did this movie somehow convincingly make me want to suspend my protestations and just 'go with it.' I think the two main characters' acting were quite genuinely believable, which helped. The cinematography is also quite lovely, so it gives the viewer something aesthetic to appreciate as well. Yes, I absolutely think the plot (particularly towards the end) was predictable and even clumsy in execution, but again, I found the characters themselves so enjoyable that it didn't bother me for some reason. The supporting cast (people like Olympia Dukakis) also kept a tone of authenticity running through what would otherwise have been a fairly poorly written script. (I only mentioned Harry Potter in an attempt to give an example of an alternate world being put forth in a believable way--the films are not really comparable in any way, aside from the fact that they deal with magical elements… and even those are in a very different way.) If you just want to watch something kind of new and different, with pretty good acting and a plot that's off the beaten path, I actually recommend giving this one a go.

Jeremy Northam is unbelievably BELIEVABLE in this film (as usual). Truly an under-used actor considering his remarkable ability to "become" his character. (Granted, he tends to play similar characters over again, but why stop when you're on a roll--or role?) I've read much about the film's historical inaccuracies, and while that may be, people still also rent "Immortal Beloved" which is similarly inaccurate but a well-made film nonetheless. Northam is on the same pedestal occupied in my mind by Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman. They are incredibly REAL in their portrayals--you'd believe anything they tell you regardless of how bizarre because they come across as genuine. Aside from one corny sequence in this film (a recollection that includes a flaming piano--no kidding, it's terribly done), the film is engaging and well-shot. (For real Northam lovers, there's also some ultra-high-quality butt...and then some...footage. He's a sex God.) Whoof! Apart from that, still a well-made, enjoyable film. (But especially BECAUSE of that.)

I typically reject pointless comedies as a waste of time, but this film falls into a handful of titles which, no matter how often one views them, are still funny each time. I'd say that it's most likely due to the genuine comedic abilities of the actors as their characters, as obviously a movie like this is not appreciated for its plot. The characters are unique, have a quirky chemistry that makes them inherently likable, and the dialogue is just fun. (Think "Tommy Boy" or "Cannonball Run" or "Johnny Dangerously.") The main character, Dana Cannon, is played by Bill Murray's brother, John, who is absolutely lovable in his cute sarcastic splendor. YOU WILL LAUGH. WATCH THIS FILM...(admittedly, it's funniest with a group of immature male friends or teenagers). (I mean that in a good way.)