Reviews With Mike Furches: August 2008

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Tropic Thunder

Recently on a message board I read a lot of comment about how some people don’t like Ben Stiller. Frankly, I just didn’t get it because while there are some movies with Stiller I didn’t like, there have been plenty I did. Most of the discussion had to do with why people were not going to see the new release of Tropic Thunder. One of the things I I didn’t realize about the movie was the magnitude of the ensemble cast. Tropic Thunder has a myriad of cameos, and others that are an active part of this movie. Most know about Jack Black, Ben Stiller, and Robert Downy Jr., but we haven’t heard about others that contribute, whether Danny McBride who is also in the current release of Pineapple Express, the talented Nick Nolte, Matthew McConaughey to the surprise for me, in a major role, Tom Cruise. This truly is an ensemble cast and for those basing their views as to whether they attend or not just on the fact that Ben Stiller is in this movie is missing out, missing out on a quite surprisingly good, funny, and meaningful movie.

The concept of Tropical Thunder is that a group of actors are in Vietnam making a movie based on one of the experiences of Four Leaf Tayback played by Nick Nolte. The spoiled, over paid, self serving actors in the film are so competitive with screen time that the movie and its production costs are way over budget. Each actor in the film has had previous issues and those issues, whether drug addiction, to recent movie flops has to learn to work together. When the production seems to be a failure, there is a suggestion that unbeknownst the actors in the film, that they be taken into the jungles of Vietnam, and be placed in a live situation. In the process, things go terribly wrong, and between drug dealers and being lost, the actors in Tropical Thunder have to grow up, look out for each other, and come to the rescue of one of their lost compatriots. Along the way, while vulgar and gory, we have a really good time.

One of the issues related to a movie like this is the issues faced in the movie. A group of top name actors has to work together, sharing the screen, and contributing to the crafts of each other. It is here Ben Stiller shows some talent, not in his acting, although it is fun and good, but in his direction. Stiller understands the concepts he is portraying, he is living with it when working with the cast he has playing the parts. In many ways, the making of Tropic Thunder is much like the real life experience portrayed in the movie. What transpires though is that this cast comes together, they come together in such a way that there are no stars, and that helps make the movie fun.

One of the strong themes is that comes through with Tropic Thunder is the importance of working together, using the gifts of each individual, and in the process making sacrifice for those loved. There is a strong theme of each person coming to recognize who they are. It is here I enjoyed this movie in a special way. As the characters develop, we see success not only take place on the screen, but we can learn from that and apply it to our own lives.

There is another area I have to comment on. I have to admit, due to my own experience of working with the Mentally Ill in the past, I have not been a fan of Tom Cruise because of his past comments on this disease. If I had known he was in the movie as prominently as he is, I may not have seen it. That said, it would have been a shame. Tom Cruise is wonderful in this film; in fact, it may be one of the most fun parts I have seen Cruise play and it may honestly be one of his best jobs of acting. While playing the part of movie mogul Less Grossman, we see that he cares about few things more than a profit margin, and this foul mouthed, evil handed mogul adds fun, fun, fun, to the movie. We see him as the evil figure behind all of the danger and misfortunes within the filming of Tropic Thunder, and he is the epitome of selfishness. If not for a lack of respect towards the comedy medium, Cruise could be considered for an Oscar in a supporting role he is so good in Tropic Thunder.

Tropic Thunder is a fun time at the movies, with some valuable lessons about getting along, becoming a team, and working together for a common good. As a pastor there are all kinds of applications that I found similar to leading a church, even in its rough humor there are lessons. From the opening theatrical trailers that resemble something out of Tarintino’s Grindhouse movies, to the closing dance sequence with Less Grossman, this movie is far more than I expected. It will likely be more than most viewers expect and that is a good thing for Tropic Thunder.

On a scale of 1 – 10, for the 10 primary characters who find out about themselves, minus the evil Les Grossman, I give a unexpected and enjoyable 9.

To see a trailer of the movie Tropic Thunder double click on the following video, if the video don't appear, just click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pxOzSpUXtg

The following video has Ben Stiller talking about the movie. Double click on the video to see, if you don't see the video, just click on the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAkLkxai3Mw

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Friday, August 22, 2008

Pineapple Express

Did you ever wonder if you crossed a Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Fargo together? Well to be honest I never really did either. On the surface it would seem like just too far of a stretch, at least at first it would. Then I started thinking, if you got some talented actors, put together a pretty good script, this could turn out to be quite a story and fun movie. It was with that in mind I was actually looking forward to seeing Pineapple Express.

David Gordon Green was given the opportunity to direct a potentially good and unique screenplay provided by Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg. This different kind of comedy action film takes on new ground. The idea is that a couple of dopers get caught up in a murder mystery and must escape the attempts on their lives by the police who are involved and the mafia types who are in control. A new type of marijuana, Pineapple Express, is part of the story line and in the process of running for their life, these two dopers have to come to a place where they recognize what is really important.

Dale Denton played by wonderful character actor Seth Rogan works as a court server. He serves warrants to unsuspecting individuals whether a divorce case or criminal case which only adds to a meaningless life where he finds little in life to enjoy. While he is 24-years-old he has fallen for a 17-year-old high school student. While Rogan does a great job with his character we have to wonder about some of the direction and backdrop stories along the way.

Then there is Saul Silver played in a fun, fun way by James Franco. In many ways Silver has lost touch with reality, his life evolves around various types of drugs, and unfortunately he hasn’t learned of the difficulties of keeping a taste of the product you are supposed to be making a living from. Unfortunately for him though, he isn’t making a living, in fact, this character isn’t doing much more than existing. Even in the process of existing though there is something about this character the audience member can appreciate and like. Silver is an individual that through the innocence presented by Franco has us caring for. In many ways, Saul Silver is a character we see with potential, one we like.

A third character that adds a lot of fun to the screen is Red played by Danny McBride. Red is a drug supplier caught in the middle between his friend Saul Silver and leader of the organized crime group providing the drugs, Budlofsky played by the usually talented actor Kevin Corrigan. While McBride is fun to watch on the screen, Corrigan disappoints in his flat portrayal.

Along the way there is some fun dialog and interactions with these two. They are fun on screen together and unfortunately, they are more like real life dopers than many will realize. Unfortunately, I know about these experiences. Some of what makes the movie so funny is the ability of those of us in the audience to relate to the jokes and illustrations we see on screen. In those moments, the film is funny, and even enjoyable, even though it is a lifestyle I wouldn’t want to promote.

Pineapple Express does do a good job of presenting some fun moments centered around the usage of drugs, but surprisingly enough, it also does a decent job at showing the affects of drugs and the potential to destroy lives. There is harm in the attempt to satisfy self desires. Relationships can’t be trusted, friendships are lost, and trust is never really found. It becomes obvious that in some ways the characters are using each other, and it is only after the characters come off of and stops taking their drugs that they realize the importance the things taken from drug usage. While drug usage is the example for the characters, it is really only a metaphor of an attempt to help the viewer come to think about what is important in their own life. In that regard, as the movie moved forward I begin to think that my hopes of a deeply spiritual profound movie that would touch on the needs of today’s society, especially a group of people who seemed to thrive on this type of lifestyle. Unfortunately, my hopes didn’t develop, in fact, not only did they not develop, I felt let down.

Even in the areas where Pineapple Express let’s us down we can see characters and people we hope for, long for. It is a reminder that there is value in all people, that there are situations that cause people to do the things they do. It is in this area that those of us who are people of faith can relate to. Jesus as well saw value in the down and out, the down trodden, the drunks, the prostitutes, the out casts and we could go on. Here we can see benefit in realizing that people who live this lifestyle have value, they have potential, and they are worth saving.

Somewhere along the line in his direction Green lets the script take a life of its own and the story isn’t developed, in fact it jumps in and out of reality and from one place to another with little or no cohesiveness. I tend to think it could have come about in the editing room and some of the story we needed got left on the cutting room floor, but the bottom line, is Pineapple Express looses its way. While the movie is intended to be fun, it seems to have a hard time finding the balance between comedy and action. While there are funny lines, the movie falls flat. That is kind of sad because this movie had potential. It had potential to not only be a funny action filled movie, it had potential to be a great movie. Unfortunately what we have is a less than average movie. Hopefully those seeing it will get some benefit of the need to be open, honest, real, and above all straight.

On a scale of 1 – 10 for the lackluster story, that is less than average, I give a rather disappointing 4.

To see the trailer for Pineapple Express double click on the video below, if the video don't appear, click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQqUyBN4g8M