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jinnersnewaddy
Reviews
Funny People (2009)
Surprisingly Good
I saw this movie last Wednesday at a free preview screening in Kingston Upon Thames. By the way I was encouraged to go I expected something more like Knocked Up or even the 40 year old virgin.
Turns out that Funny People was actually both a very FUNNY film, about very convincing PEOPLE. Now the version I saw may be subject to further editing so there are a couple of jokes that don't fly and one or two short scenes that really should be cut but all in all this film was a very good example of contemporary comedy-drama and another step in the right direction for Rogan.
More importantly, this is a return to form for Adam Sandler who hasn't made me laugh since Happy Gilmore. The character he plays in this film is very multidimensional and he carries off some difficult scenes extremely well. Yes, his character does lapse into making stupid noises for laughs but this is almost done ironically, like he is playing a caricature of his real life self. He plays a ridiculously successful comedy actor who has been in some crap movies that aren't funny but he does them for the money- one of which being him playing a man trapped in a baby's body. It is tasteless and stupid, and he knows this, yet people seem to love it. Ring any bells? Unsurprisingly, this character was written particularly for Sandler. One thing is very evident from this- he has grown up as an actor. Very reminiscent of Jim Carrey's transition from goofy (though often hilarious) face-pulling to serious, more subtle roles such as The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine.
One scene (and this is not a spoiler) is particularly rubbish, though I am positive that it will be in the final film. At one point about half way through Sandler and Rogan are at this bar chatting to lots of famous faces. We cut to Sandler sat at a table with Eminem with Eminem having this not-funny downbeat monologue about something not interesting enough to remember, then Rogan and Ray Romano turn up. Cue Eminem shouting at Romano and then the obvious punchline from Rogan to Romano... "I thought everybody loved you...?" This scene is just an excuse for a lame joke against Ray Romano which isn't even that funny. Eminem is boring as hell.
The funniest scenes are those between Rogan and Sandler (which there are many) and particularly the many stand-up comedy scenes. Absolutely hilarious. Watch out for the one about Tom Cruise, David Beckham and Will Smith! Genius!
I highly recommend this film. The trailers were absolutely terrible (to the point that I almost sacked off this free screening all together) but what I found was a very very very good film.
You will not be disappointed
Topspot (2004)
An overall boring and forgettable film, with occasions of lush cinematography
It is always very hard for me to come crushing down upon a film I have spent £3.75 to see and dedicated a Saturday evening to watch, but Tracy Emin's 'Top Spot' is a rare exception. In this case due to its short length of 63 minutes I have time to post my comment on IMDb immediately afterwards!
'Top Spot' is an often confusing, rarely exciting and typically arty affair. Emin fails to provide any narrative for a film that would have benefited immensely from even a few 'plot' points, instead the scenes jumble into some sort of conscious string of memories that weave annoyingly with no sense of a time line.
The six young girls, all amateurs but surprisingly confident actresses, represent the significant parts of Emin's adolescence; the loss of virginity, desire for escape, hopeless search for love, promiscuousness, bunking off school etc. However, it simply does not work as a piece of film having six people representing one person when we are expected to feel for each one individually. There is no significant character development, each event feels like an excuse for Emin to exorcise her own demons, not an emotionally charged moment for us to share and experience with her so when the film reached its hasty end I felt I did not have enough to think about, despite being presented with some rather thought-provoking issues.
On the positive side however, I did enjoy ways in which parts of this film were presented, especially when Emin was actually being truly "artsy". The scene where one of the girls is dancing in a large empty room is filmed gorgeously- the contrasting lights, the texture of the picture, the deep colour and the blurry, jagged motion of the camera produces a piece of art in itself incredibly beautiful, and one that would captivate me more if presented in isolation within the walls of the Tate Modern.
I am a very big fan of Super 8 and looked forward to when Emin chose to use it next. I feel it was an effective medium, along with the well paced editing, for showing the similarities between Margate and Egypt. Perhaps this meant that Egypt and Margate were actually the same thing to her?
Despite occasional sparks of ingenuity in the form of exciting cinematography, 'Top Spot' well and truly fails to impress as an enjoyable hour sat in front of the screen. There is little dialogue but what is said often fails to have emotional substance, carrying an atmosphere of self-indulgence and laziness. Scenes which should pack a punch, such as one which deals with a girl in an alleyway post-rape, didn't really affect me in the way in which they were presented. I know this is not because I can't relate to her pain, being male, but on account of a very cut and paste editing style which often minimises rather than maximises the emotional impact of key hard-hitting scenes.
I would not recommend that anybody pick up this film, especially if you expect a sort of arty, English version of Catherine Hardwicke's 'Thirteen'. Fans of Tracy Emin may delight in this as a kind of motion testament to her teenage years, but that will be it.
Perhaps with a strong narrative and clever character development 'Top Spot' could have been an interesting, but eye-opening look at teenage life for messed-up young girls in a boring seaside town. As it is, you'll find a cold, boring look at messed up, but potentially interesting teenage girls, succeeding in putting you well off Margate. Forever.
2/10