MIB3

If you are anything like me then you were like "fuck Men In Black 3 cause Men In Black 2 SUCKED". You can admit it, you're safe here, we're all friends. Barry Sonnenfeld won't come and slap you to the floor, he thought MIB2 sucked too and HE directed it. I don't know what drew me, compelled me to see MIB3 but there I was, online for tickets, then online for my killer popcorn, then online to get seats. Honestly I thought all that standing in line was going to be a waste of time because I honestly thought MIB3 was going to truly suck but I was wrong (hey I've been wrong before, not often but it has happened once or twice). Most surprisingly, MIB3 was a pretty good movie with a great payoff at the end. It's apparent to me that the people who wrote MIB2 were slain and the producers found new writers to pen MIB3 (and if they didn't, they should have).

The movie opens up with a cake being delivered in jail by a very fetching Nicole Sherzinger to Boris the Animal. Boris is played by the hilarious Jemaine Clement who I will always associate with musical comedy group Flight of the Conchords. If you have no idea who they are then shame on you (Youtube em). Boris breaks out of prison and is hell bent on revenge against Tommy Lee Jones' Agent K for taking off one of his arms. To keep that from ever happening Boris plans to go back in time to kill K and prevent him from setting up the ark net that keeps earth safe from Boris' people who wish to invade our planet. Agent J, that would be Will Smith knows something is up and is all about finding out just what is going on. He finds out that he has to go back in time, to 1969 to be exact to not only save K but to make sure the ark net gets deployed. Let the racist stereotypes and hilarity ensue.

Going back in time, Agent J gets to meet the younger Agent K who is played perfectly by Josh Brolin. He does a great Tommy Lee impersonation. Also in this film is Agent O played by the lovely Emma Thompson who takes the place of Zed. That's pretty much it for the key cast members but don't even notice that because Will carries this movie like Atlas. He's in virtually every shot of Barry's movie and it's a good thing too because without Will and his hijinks, this movie falls completely apart. He's the glue, the heart, and the engine that makes this puppy go. There's way too much CG but then you'd expect that in a film about an organization that polices extra-terrestrials here on earth. Scored yet again by the talentless Danny Elfman, he gives MIB3 the same feel that he gave to the two previous MIB films (and no one wants to be associated with the second one).

All in all MIB3 is a quality film even if Will looks like he wishes he were somewhere else at times. I recommend it because I'm pretty sure you won't be sorry you saw it. Plus the ending of this film will almost help you get over the bad taste that 2 left in your mouth. I swear and I'll see you at the theater.

The Intouchables

It's been awhile since I've posted on a film but that doesn't mean I haven't seen all the latest Hollywood offerings. I have, I just wasn't moved or impressed by any of them enough to include them in my blog. Today, I was both moved and impressed by a movie whose trailer literally made me laugh out loud when I saw it. It's an award winning French film that I honestly think may be the feel good movie of the year. The film is The Intouchables and it's based on an amazing true story of a wealthy quadriplegic and a passionate, streetwise aid. Phillipe, played by the charming Francois Cluzet is a complicated man, seemingly seldom understood by friends and at times even himself. The enigmatic Driss is played pitch perfectly by the talented Omar Sy. You get the sensation that Driss could tear the head off of someones shoulders at any moment and yet his innocence keeps a smile on your face and you find yourself rooting for him. Omar's wide smile didn't hurt either.

The story starts out with Driss and Phillipe breaking the law. From there the story is one big flashback of the times these two men spent together, and apart. Driss, just paroled needs to have a work order signed and storms into the interviewing Phillipe and his assistant Magalie played by the lovely Audrey Fluerot. Some of the biggest laughs came from the interviewing montage by the way but the second Driss walks in, taking someone else's turn Phillipe is intrigued. The two argue over the composer Berlioz and hit it off almost right away. Phillipe places a wager with Driss that he won't last two weeks and so the adventure begins. Phillipe's actions are immediately questioned by a family friend once word has spread and he was warned that the street kids can't be trusted, they are ruthless, and show no pity. It's in Phillipe's answer that you finally see why he was so taken by Driss. He tells his friend that this is exactly what he wants, "no pity".

Directed well by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, The Intouchables is a film that never takes itself too seriously, littered with characters you enjoy seeing on screen when they arrive. One of my favorites was the level headed Marcelle played by Clotilde Mollet. Olivier and Eric also spare you the obligatory Paris shots that you get from any movie shot in Paris. Thank goodness there are no Eiffel Tower shots and do we really need to see the arch de triumph yet again? Scored beautifully by Ludovico Einaudi's sparse piano this is a movie I think is really worth the price of admission and I just might have to see it again, yes, it was THAT good. It wouldn't surprise me were it to win the Oscar next year for best foreign film. I'll put my money on it and if you see it, I am certain you will agree. And maybe I'll even see you online, either way I'll see you at the theater.