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An error has ocurred. Please try againThere are the underrated, the magnificent; and there is the technique. But there are those who have one (maybe two) roles where they did everything right. They may have lived the role. They may have researched months before shooting began. They may have been possessed by the real-life figures they played. Every utterance, every gesture, we want to memorize and recite upon first viewing. After, we know there is a new character on the rise. They've created a monster (although John Hurt's portrayal of "The Elephant Man" and Charles Laughton's portrayal of Quasimodo in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is not on this list). These are the best of the best ... (in alphabetical order)
Reviews
Knock Knock (2015)
Keanu's best performance
I am not a fan of IMDb reviews nor Eli Roth. However, I am compelled to write a review, because this is one Keanu Reeves' best performances. Yes, people are being overly vicious on here. The film is bad, but not the worst (and especially not Roth's worst). I won't say one needs to give the film a chance, but I will ask viewers to refrain from using Reeves' performance as one of the film's problems. Ever since The Devil's Advocate, Keanu has been one of the few actors who responds naturally and realistically to extremely trying situations (e.g., The Matrix, The Lake House, John Wick). Relax and watch objectively. Always.
The Break-Up (2006)
Critics in Denial : Tabloid Influence and the Great Comedy
A close friend once said, "With Vince Vaughn, you can't go wrong." I wanted to believe that, and then "Starsky and Hutch" was released, followed by "Dodgeball". I was still rooting for Vaughn, but not his films.
"Break-Up" is the beginning to starting over. This is true when it comes to Vince Vaughn as a comedic/serious actor, "Break-Up"'s place in film history and the story's deeper meaning.
It's easy to say "great script", "great acting", "great directing", "great production" when defending a film, but it's another to understand what these comments mean. Vince Vaughn, and all of those involved in "Break-Up", understand greatness (all the way down to the titler hyphenating Break and Up).
Many critics are presently in denial of being influenced by tabloids and uninteresting headlines (Vaughniston*, Bradgolenia*) and are panning this film to prove they are uninfluenced. This needs to be addressed more than the similarity between the title and what happened to Jennifer Aniston.
To tear this film apart, and attempt to justify those ignorant below-the-belt attacks by comparing it to "Old School"'s lack of depth, or mentioning over and over the "alternate-ending" as a copout and not an artistic ending with the same moral, is beyond the normal ignorance of the film critics (probably due to the excessive amount of them). It's Vaughnistignorance - the most hypocritical stand I've ever seen critics take.
Go into it open-mindedly. If you think it becomes a bit serious, fine. That's a matter of opinion. I personally thought that was what set the movie apart from "Wedding Crashers" (another well-written comedy, a rarity). If you don't enjoy the ride, or maybe where it leaves you, complain to someone. You have that right. Although, if you call it "sophmoric", or if you can't muster up a concrete reason for bashing it, don't. It doesn't deserve it. It deserves its recognition for being a comedy and a film. Many people like to say how great a film is and state it as a fact. I enjoy 10 to 20 movies a year that I'd recommend. That's it. Being a novelist/filmmaker, and keeping those forms of productivity close to my heart, justifies my premises and opinion on this film.
* (Vaughniston and Bradgolena may be misspelled. These are compliments of my wife and the media which swallows her.)
(P.S. Go rent Jon Favreau's "Zathura" and see how kid movies should be made.)
10 MPH (2007)
A funny, inspiring, captivating, playful documentary.
Filmmakers' documentary about making a documentary . . . about riding a Segway.
I do not like documentaries, for they record and attempt to spice up the boring, non-structured parts of life. I hate one-sided documentaries, for they are preaching an ignorant opinion proved by the ignorant one-sided facts they sought out. Having said that, this documentary was GREAT! It opened its heart to the viewer, which is the gutsiest thing you can do in a documentary. I've heard some say it drags a bit around the middle; but that is where the TRUE beauty of life is captured (something most documentaries force as "deep"). These men, and woman, used nothing but a positive out-look to reach a goal. They stood tall, throughout, on a Segway.