Inherent Vice (2014) - Anderson turns in his career's first dud

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A psychedelic reproduction of star Joaquin Phoenix with a characteristic stoner look in rainbow colors make up most of this poster for Paul Thomas Anderson's Inherent Vice

A hairy, uncool private investigator in 1970s Los Angeles gets a new, bewildering case, when his ex-girlfriend appears and sets his attention on the story of a disappeared real estate broker.

 

Inherent Vice is written, co-produced and directed by Californian master filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson (Hard Eight (1996)), whose 7th feature it is. It is an adaptation of the same-titled 2009 novel by Thomas Pynchon (V. (1963)).

The driving narrative of the missing realtor never hooks us, and Inherent Vice looks and feels like an auteur who is verliebt in a time and a place, (1970s LA, where Anderson also set his Boogie Nights (1997)), but the result is never as fun, dramatic nor anything approaching exciting as it was supposed to be. Technically the film is beautiful, with a cool back alley cat attitude, which clashes with Joaquin Phoenix (Her (2013)) booby performance in the lead role, providing moments of measured mirth. This while a parade of stars come and go before the master's camera. Anderson with Inherent Vice is beating on an empty drum in an overlong running time to boot. It is a deadly bore.

 

Related posts:

Paul Thomas Anderson: 2017 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
Phantom Thread (2017) - Anderson's exquisite drama of an English dressmaker and his Alma 

The Master (2012) - Anderson's stunning post-war reflection 

2002 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 

Punch-Drunk Love (2002) - Sandler breaks out of his routine in Anderson's delightful romcom

1997 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 
Boogie Nights (1997) - Anderson's irresistible porn 'Casino'

1996 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

Hard Eight (1996) - Anderson debuts with downbeat crime drama

 

Watch a trailer for the movie here

 

Cost: 20 mil. $

Box office: 14.8 mil. $

= Huge flop (returned 0.74 times its cost)

[Inherent Vice premiered 4 October (New York Film Festival) and runs 149 minutes. Shooting took place from May - August 2013 in California, including in Los Angeles, and in Las Vegas, Nevada. The film opened #20 to a 328k $ first weekend in 5 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #11 and in 653 theaters (different weeks), grossing 8.1 mil. $ (54.7 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 1.1 mil. $ (7.4 %) and Italy with 707k $ (4.8 %). The film was nominated for 2 Oscars: Best Adapted Screenplay, lost to Graham Moore for The Imitation Game, and Costume Design, lost to The Grand Budapest Hotel. It was also nominated for a Golden Globe, won an Independent Spirit award and 2 National Board of Review awards, among many others. Anderson returned with 8 music videos and a documentary prior to his theatrical return with Phantom Thread (2017). Phoenix returned in Irrational Man (2015). Inherent Vice is fresh at 74 % with a 7.20/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Inherent Vice? 

Into the Blue (2005) or, Ship Ahoy!

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Two nearly naked young stars look enticing on this poster for John Stockwell's Into the Blue

A broke diver with a boat with holes in it, a lovely girlfriend and big dreams get a visit from an old friend and a girl, and soon the group discover a major drug find in the ocean around the Bahamas.

 

Into the Blue is written by Matt Johnson (Torque (2004)) and directed by John Stockwell (Under Cover (1987)).

If you're gonna watch Into the Blue, it is advisable to leave the plot alone and just enjoy the images of ocean life and beautiful bodies supplied in it. Here's the chance to ogle Paul Walker (Timeline (2003)) and Jessica Alba (The Veil (2016)) in swimwear. The film is overlong and narratively messy - a hodgepodge. It is a shame because an artistically interesting or a better action director might have wrung a great film from this premise.

Walker is supposed to be at times unrealistically boyish and often highly vexed at his pal Scott Caan's (Rock the Kasbah (2015)) shenanigans here. Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity War (2018)) is a villain who seems hired directly from an old bikini b-picture. The many underwater scenes, including action scenes, are often bewildering, because the many characters look identical wearing diving goggles.

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 50 mil. $

Box office: 46.1 mil. $

= Huge flop (returned 0.92 times its cost)

[Into the Blue premiered 21 September (Los Angeles) and runs 110 minutes. Walker was paid 8.5 mil. $ for his performance in the film. Shooting took place from January - March 2004 in Florida, the Cayman Islands and in the Bahamas. The film opened #5 (during Hurricane Katrina), behind holdover hit Flightplan, fellow new release Serendipity and holdover hits Corpse Bride and A History of Violence, to a 7 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it left the top 5 in its 2nd weekend and grossed 18.8 mil. $ (40.8 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 3.1 mil. $ (6.7 %) and Germany with 2.6 mil. $ (5.6 %). Roger Ebert gave the film a 3/4 star review, translating to 2 notches over this one. Stockwell returned with Rocky Point (2005, TV-series) and theatrically with Turistas (2006). Walker returned in Running Scared (2006); Alba in Shawn Desman: Sexy (2005, TV-series) and theatrically in The Ten (2007). Into the Blue is rotten at 21 % with a 4.10/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Into the Blue? 

Hollow Man (2000) - Superb effects in Verhoeven's miss

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An eerie contour makes up this poster for Paul Verhoeven's Hollow Man

Dr. Sebastian Caine is a molecular biologist of an unusually self-assured breed (and an uncontrolled libido), who with a new piece of technology is now able to make himself invisible - and vent his rage!

 

Hollow Man is written by Andrew W. Marlone (End of Days (1999)), with Gary Scott Thompson (Man of War (2021)) contributing story elements, inspired by H.G. Wells' (When the Sleeper Wakes (1899)) 1897 novel The Invisible Man, and directed by Dutch master filmmaker Paul Verhoeven (Diary of a Hooker/Wat zien ik (1971)). It is his 13th feature.

The plot of the movie is incredibly simple, unrefined, predictable, and yet nonsensical. Because what exactly is it that makes Kevin Bacon's (Trapped (2002)) scientist protagonist a bloodthirsty monster, when he becomes invisible?

Elisabeth Shue (Deconstructing Harry (1997)) and Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men (2007)) attempt their best but are essentially earth-bound in this sub-par Verhoeven effort. The special effects are most impressive, - the film, not so much.

 

Related posts:

Paul Verhoeven: Top 10: Best cop movies reviewed by Film Excess to date  
Basic Instinct (1992) or, Irresistable Desire!  

Top 10: Best erotic movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 

The Fourth Man/De Vierde Man (1983) - Verhoeven's amazing Dutch sex thriller nightmare 

 

 

Watch a 2-minute clip from the film here

 

Cost: 95 mil. $

Box office: 190.2 mil. $

= Flop (returned 2.00 times its cost)

[Hollow Man premiered 2 August (Los Angeles) and runs 112 minutes. Reportedly 50 mil. $ of the budget was used on VFX. Shooting took place from April - June 1999 and from August 1999 - February 2000 in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. The film opened #1 to a 26.4 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent one more weekend at #1 and then left the top 5, grossing 73.2 mil. $ (38.5 % of the total gross). The film was nominated for the Best Effects Oscar, lost to Gladiator. Roger Ebert gave the film a 2/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. Verhoeven said in a 2013 interview that he was 'depressed' after the film's release; that he thought that '20 directors in Hollywood could have done that' and that 'it really is not me anymore'. Verhoeven returned with Le Court des Grands (2006, video documentary), Sarah Brightman: I Lost My Hear to a Starship Trooper (2006, music video) and theatrically with Black Book (2006). Bacon returned in Novocaine (2001); Shue in Amy & Isabelle (2001, TV movie) and theatrically in Tuck Everlasting (2002). Hollow Man is rotten at 26 % with a 4.30/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Hollow Man? 

No Country for Old Men (2007) - Undigestible McCarthy adaptation lets you hang in midair

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Javier Bardem's visage colored darkly hangs ominously over an escaping Josh Brolin on this poster for Ethan and Joel Coen's No Country for Old Men

 

A Texan hunter comes across a fortune from a drug deal gone bad and runs off with it. But following his trail is a mysterious hitman named Anton Chigurh.

 

No Country for Old Men is written and directed by Minnesotan master filmmaker brothers Ethan and Joel Coen (Blood Simple (1984)), adapting Cormac McCarthy's (Suttree (1979)) same-titled 2005 novel. It is their 12th feature.

It is a hell of a dark movie, so dark and grim in fact that I was surprised at its success back in 2007/08. The world must indeed be a dark place when No Country for Old Men is the film that appeals to just about everyone, - or so it felt at the time at least.

The film has terrific performances from Javier Bardem (Goya's Ghosts (2006)), Woody Harrelson (Management (2008)), Josh Brolin (American Gangster (2007)) and Tommy Lee Jones (Men in Black (1997)), whose part has the humor that pulls up the experience some. Also good is Kelly Macdonald (In the Electric Mist (2009)). Roger Deakins' (Air America (1990)) photography is a star in itself here. The sound work is great. 

Still although one must commend the craftsmanship and performances, No Country for Old Men is such an insufferably dark and disheartening death fest to me. I also dislike the title itself, a grievous summation of America.

 

Related posts:

Ethan and Joel Coen: Hail, Caesar! (2016) - The Coen brothers serve a whimsical, flashy letdown
Unbroken (2014) - Despite good elements, Jolie's Grand WWII Biopic is mostly distant and weak (co-writers)

2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED V] 
2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED IV]
2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III]
2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) or, The Man Who Wasn't Dylan  
True Grit (2010) - The Coens' grand western present

Top 10: Best dramedies reviewed by Film Excess to date 

2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III] 

2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II] 
2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 
2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess
A Serious Man (2009) - One of the Coens' best; a philo-religious serio-comedy
Burn After Reading (2008) or, Idiocy 2008
Top 10: Best comedies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Top 10: The best big hit movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 
The Big Lebowski (1998) - The stoner comedy to reign over all

Top 10: Best crime movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 

Fargo (1996) - The Coen brothers make movie magic with dark-humored crime thriller 
Barton Fink (1991) or, The Writer's Hell 

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 25 mil. $

Box office: 171.6 mil. $

= Huge hit (returned 6.86 times its cost)

[No Country for Old Men premiered 19 May (Cannes Film Festival, in competition) and runs 122 minutes. The Coens considered the film their first straight adaptation. Brolin was paid 100k $ for his performance. Shooting took place from May - August 2006 in New Mexico and Texas. The film opened #15 to a 1.2 mil. $ first weekend in 28 theaters, peaking 7 weekends later at #5, behind new releases I Am Legend and Alvin and the Chipmunks and holdover hits The Golden Compass and Enchanted, to a 3 mil. $ weekend, while it peaked in numbers of theaters much later in 2,037 venues, and eventually grossed 74.2 mil. $ (43.2 % of the total gross) in North America. The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 14.1 mil. $ (8.2 %) and Spain with 10.7 mil. $ (6.2%). The film was nominated for 8 Oscars, winning 4; for Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actor (Bardem). It lost Best Cinematography to Robert Elswit for There Will Be Blood, Editing to The Bourne Ultimatum, and Sound Mixing and Sound Editing also to The Bourne Ultimatum. It also won 3/9 BAFTA nominations, an AFI award, a David di Donatello award, 2/4 Golden Globe nominations, 3 National Board of Review awards and several other honors. IMDb users have rated the film in at #156 on the site's Top 250 list, sitting between The Gold Rush (1925) and Dial M for Murder (1954). Roger Ebert gave the film a 4/4 star review, translating to 2 notches over this one. Jones sued Paramount in 2008 for not paying him his due contractual salary, a case that was concluded with the company forced to pay him 17.5 mil. $ in 2010. Paramount then sued lawyers from the responsible film finance company and settled for 2.6 mil. $ over the error. Mysteriously IMDb still lists Jones' salary from the film at 10 mil. $. (Did he possibly settle for less money than the court rewarded him, maybe in exchange for something else?) The Coens returned with World Cinema (2007, short) and theatrically with Burn After Reading (2008). Jones returned in In the Valley of Elah (2007); Brolin in World Cinema (2007, short) and theatrically in In the Valley of Elah; and Bardem in Love in the Time of Cholera (2007). No Country for Old Men is certified fresh at 93 % with an 8.70/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of No Country for Old Men?

True Grit (2010) - The Coens' grand western present

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4 Film Excess nominations:

Best Non-Adult Actor: Hailee Steinfeld (lost to Kiernan Shipka for Mad Men S4)
Best Score: Carter Burwell (lost to Treme S1)
Best Costumes: Mary Zophres (lost to Pat Field for Sex and the City 2)
Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins (lost to Wally Phister for Inception)

 

+ Best Western of the Year

 

Jeff Bridges doesn't appear to welcome bullshitters on this poster for Ethan & Joel Coen's True Grit

 

A strong 14 year-old girl, Mattie Ross, has lost her father to a traveling bandit. She wants revenge, so she pays the decisive Marshall Rooster Cogburn to lead her to the miscreant. 

True Grit is the 15th feature from Oscar-nominated Minnesotan master writer-director brothers Ethan and Joel Coen (Fargo (1996)), the second adaptation of Charles Portis' (Norwood (1966)) same-titled 1968 novel, adapted first as True Grit (1968) with John Wayne in the part that won him his only Oscar. It seemed to me an obvious folly to try to readapt Portis' novel that already had resulted in one classic western, and I feel confident that the Coens knew this taking on the project. Still, amazingly, they succeed in making a hell of a new take on the story. - Their movie is quite different from the earlier version, reportedly closer to the novel in terms of plot and tone.

Oscar-nominated Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski (1998)) makes Cogburn his own, wisely not appearing to channel any inner Wayne he might forster. Hailee Steinfeld (Barely Lethal (2015)) is credible and feisty as the girl with grit galore, and the two create many enjoyable moments in True Grit. Matt Damon (Syriana (2005)) as a Texas ranger whose self-confidence gets tested and Josh Brolin (Hollow Man (2000)) as the villain are also good, and Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan (1998)) is terrific. The film is distinguished by its sweeping production values, breathtaking photography by Roger Deakins (Doubt (2008)), and a truly formidable score by Carter Burwell (The Fifth Estate (2013)), - as well as wonderful costumes by Mary Zophres (Dumb and Dumber (1994)).

True Grit is thoroughly enjoyable, brandishing grand characters that spit out marvelous dialog as if it was chewing tobacco. A story of tough people during tough times and a very American tale.

Related posts:

Ethan and Joel Coen: Hail, Caesar! (2016) - The Coen brothers serve a whimsical, flashy letdown

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) or, The Man Who Wasn't Dylan   

2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]  

2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]

2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III]

2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
Burn After Reading (2008) or, Idiocy 2008 
The Big Lebowski (1998) - The stoner comedy to reign over all

Top 10: The best big hit movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Barton Fink (1991) or, The Writer's Hell

Here's a short interview with Matt Damon about his performance in the film

Cost: 38 mil. $

Box office: 252.2 mil. $

= Huge hit

[True Grit was released December 22 and runs 110 minutes. Open casting sessions for the role of Mattie Ross were held in Texas with 15,000 girls applying and Steinfeld landing the part, her theatrical feature debut. Filming took place from March - April 2010 in New Mexico and Texas. The film opened #2, behind Little Fockers, with a 24.8 mil. $ opening weekend in North America, where it stayed #2 for another week, before it climbed to #1 and spent a total of 6 weeks in the top 5. It grossed 171.2 mil. $ domestically (67.9 % fo the total gross), becoming the first Coen movie to cross 100 mil. $ domestically as well as their highest grossing film to date. The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 13.4 mil. $ (5.3 %) and France with 11.5 mil. $ (4.6 %). Roger Ebert gave the film 3.5/4, equal to the rating it gets here. The film got nominated for 10 Oscars: For Best Picture, Director, (both lost to The King's Speech), Adapted Screenplay, (lost to The Social Network), Actor (Bridges), (lost to Colin Firth in King's Speech), Actress (Steinfeld), (lost to Melissa Leo in The Fighter), Art Direction, (lost to Alice in Wonderland), Cinematography, (lost to Wally Phister for Inception), Costumes, (also lost to Alice), Sound Mixing and Sound Design, (both lost to Inception). - It won none, and was additionally nominated for 8 BAFTAs, winning one, for cinematography. True Grit is certified fresh at 96 % with an 8.4 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of True Grit?

Hail, Caesar! (2016) - The Coen brothers serve a whimsical, flashy letdown

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Joel & Ethan Coen's Hail, Caesar! has stars to boot

Hail, Caesar! is the new movie from Minneapolitan master filmmaker brothers Ethan & Joel Coen (The Big Lebowski (1998)), who wrote and directed it.

In 1950s Hollywood, we follow the 'fixer' of a major movie studio at a time when the star of the studio's expensive epic movie currently shooting gets abducted by a group of disgruntled, Communist screenwriters.

It is sort of curious that the same year sees the release of two major Hollywood movies about Communism in 1950s Hollywood: Trumbo (2015) being the (probably) realistic depiction of the hardships of the Communist film folk put on the Hollywood blacklist, while Caesar! elects to highlight ridiculous sides of the Hollywood Communists, - and show a group of them directly support the Soviet Union. Both films also feature the notorious queen slander Hedda Hopper; in Helen Mirren's villainous guise in the former film, and in Tilda Swinton's (We Need to Talk about Kevin (2011)) in dual twin parts in the latter.
This thought aside, there's no doubt that Hail, Caesar! is among the Coens' weakest films, and a steep decline from the masterful Inside Llewyn Davis (2013). The overshadowing problem is that it is meant as a comedy, and it's just not very funny. Caesar! is somehow post-modernly clever without being very smart, because it doesn't gell into a compelling whole, the way for instance the similarly very clever and post-modern The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) managed to. Hail, Caesar! lags far, far behind.
The story consists of two major characters, played by Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men (2007)) and George Clooney (The Descendants (2011)), as fixer Mannix, based on real-life Mannix, who was the 'fixer' at MGM for decades, and missing star Whitlock, respectively. Maybe the problems of the film actually begin with these two main characters: Mannix stands before some practical problems and a big life decision, a job offer, - but it never registers as too important for us. Meanwhile Clooney, - whose antics do add amusement to the film, - is kidnapped, but I don't think anyone ever seriously doubts that he'll make it to the end in fine form.

The details:

With a weak story center, which is never very important or exciting, we have a film that is all about its digressions, or interruptions, if you will. And here lies the main qualities of Caesar!:
Channing Tatum (Magic Mike XXL (2015)) has a terrific tap-dancing scene, - done without a double, - and Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation (2003)) sparkles and is fun as a scandalous actress, based on Esther Williams. Wayne Knight (Jurassic Park (1993)) has a funny scene in the beginning of the film, and some of the scenes concerning the religious epic that Clooney's character stars in are pretty amusing. - But probably mostly for someone with knowledge of the films of the era that are called to mind, (in this case mainly The Ten Commandments (1956) and Ben-Hur (1959).)
Then there's young Alden Ehrenreich (Blue Jasmine (2013)), (Geez what a last name...), who makes a strong impression as a brainless but unearthly handsome cowboy actor, and certainly contributes greatly to the glamorous eye candy that the film also lives on.
All in all a very tolerable but also highly disappointing film from the Coens, whom we should all expect more from after all these years and marvelous films.

Related posts:


Trumbo (2015) - Good actors and a thrilling true story make this biopic work 
Joel & Ethan Coen: Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) or, The Man Who Wasn't Dylan 
2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
Burn After Reading (2008) or, Idiocy 2008 
The Big Lebowski (1998) - The stoner comedy to reign over all
Barton Fink (1991) or, The Writer's Hell

Alden Ehrenreich, looking ready to eat in Joel and Ethan Coen's Hail, Caesar!'s probably best money shot

Watch the excellent trailer for the film here

Cost: 22 mil. $
Box office: 47 mil. $ and counting
= Flop
[Hail, Caesar! premiered in LA February 1 and runs 106 minutes. The project was first presented by the Coens in 2004. The film was shot in LA from November 2014 by Roger Deakins (Doubt (2008)) on film, which he has said that he doesn't want to do again, [because] "I don't think the infrastructure is there." The film opened the Berlin International Film Festival later in February. It opened #2, behind Kung Fu Panda 3, in North America, to an 11.4 mil. $ first weekend and grossed 29.3 mil. $ (62.3 % of the total gross) domestically. Its 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were France with 3.5 mil. $ (7.4 %) and Germany with 2.5 mil. $ (5.3 %). Hail, Caesar! is certified fresh at 83 % with a 7.1 critical average on Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Hail, Caesar!?

Gangster Squad (2013) or, Good Men vs. Bad Men!

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Los Angeles is ravaged by the Jewish gangster boss Mickey Cohen, but one good police chief wants to get rid of him, and he gets a pertinacious, tough cop to lead the group which is to crush Cohen.
Gangster Squad is highly stylized and handsomely produced, but cartoonish in its simplified representation of reality; good vs. bad.
Reality yields to action and gore in this forgettable, thoughtless, - but entertaining - shoot-em-up-movie. It is based on true events but takes so many liberties in its storytelling that it is more fiction than historical by any reasonable account.
Sean Penn (Mystic River (2003)) goes theatrical with his heavily make-up-created villain. Ryan Gosling (Drive (2011)) not so much plays a character as merely being a sex-steaming model for the film. The macho-picture that is Gangster Squad also mauls over one of its few female roles, Josh Brolin's wife in the movie (Mireille Enos), who only plays functional second banana to the inelegant, stomping picture.
It is directed by Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland (2009)), who had to reshoot a scene of a shooting at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood following the Aurora-shooting (during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises that killed 12 people and injured 58). The real-life massacre also changed the trailer and pushed back the release of Gangster Squad by around 6 months.
The squad that is the basis of Gangster Squad has also been the basis of another movie, Lee Tamahori's better Mulholland Falls (1996).
Since the relative flop of this and Fleischer's movie before it, 30 Minutes or Less (2011), he has reverted to TV gigs for the time being.


Related posts:

Ruben Fleischer: 2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED V]
2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED IV]
2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III]
2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]  
2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]

30 Minutes or Less (2011) or, Idiots and Lesser Idiots

'Pulp' version of the Gangster Squad poster

 Watch the film's in-your-face trailer right here

Budget: 60 mil. $
Box office: 105.2 mil. $
= Minor flop

What do you think of Gangster Squad?