By Eddy

Going into a George Clooney film is a bit of a gamble.  You really don’t know what you are going to get. 

Am I going to have some smarmy Ocean’s rip-off or big  budget block buster, am I going to have some kind of propaganda filled anti war film-(Syriana, Michael Clayton, Good Night, Good Luck) or a quirky weird performance (O’Brother Where Art Thou, Intolerable Cruelty).  Taking a look at his resume so far, I doubt anyone could have figured it out.  Unfortunately, the same could be said for his prospects of box office success. 

Watching the previews of the film on TV, I had a distinct feeling that this was going to quirky weird Clooney.  Of course, the title of the movie might have had a bit of an influence as well.  The movie is based on a book of the same name by Jon Ronson.  We learn first hand about the development of the so called "Jedi" warriors by the U.S. Army.  These "Jedi" use their training in various new age techniques to fight wars in a new way. 

 Clooney stars as Lyn Cassady on of these trained fighters and the most gifted to come out of the program.  Ewan McGregor is a down in the dumps small town reporter that happens across Clooney and is brought in the secret world of Psy-Ops.  Through flashbacks the audience is taken through the history of the New Earth Army created by Bill Django (Jeff Bridges). Whose revelation during the Vietnam War inspired him to find alternative ways to defeat the enemies resulting in the New Earth Army.  Concurrently we find McGregor and Clooney undertaking Clooney’s final mission for the now defunct group.

I found the movie to be kind of interesting.  It definitely is not for those who are into broad comedies, but rather fit in with more of the dark ironic comic styling of the Cohen brothers (of whom Clooney is certainly familiar with).  The most hilarious aspect of the movie is that it is basically a true story; the army really did most of this crap.  Of course, I am sure the movie had to crank up the volume regarding many of the characters and the hi-jinks that were actually perpetrated but most of it looked like it could have really happened.  The parts where when these groups were taking LSD and other mind altering drugs to reach higher levels of consciousness seemed pretty plausible considering that most of this research happened during the sixties and seventies. 

The performances by both Clooney and McGregor were pretty standard.  The only standout was Jeff Bridges who as Bill Django is the catalyst for all the wackiness that went on.  Playing a supporting roll is Kevin Spacey who provides a reliable but unremarkable performance as the Darth Vader of the movie.

On a more personal note, I found out that a good portion of the movie was filmed in Bayamon, Puerto Rico where my father grew up and where my grandmother and great grandmother still live.  I am hopeful that the filming provided the area’s residents with some jobs and security during these crazy economic times.

Like I said before, this isn’t a comedy for everyone.  While I found it funny I wasn’t tearing up with laughter.  But if you are fan of Clooney or McGregor you won’t be disappointed.  For you ladies out there, there is a butt shot in the movie of both Clooney or McGregor.  My mind blanked out when it happened so I am not sure if they were body doubles or not but for some of you out there that might be a reason to go see the film.  With that I am out. 

Till next time.

By Eddy

Let me start off by saying that I read the books and didn’t watch the Da Vinci Code film.  With that said, Angels and Demons was basically paint by number thriller. While not totally disappointing me didn’t have me really eager to write this review. 

What has happened to America’s favorite actor, Tom Hanks, the last few films I have watched from him have not been the greatest works of art. 

Not even close to his hitting streak in the 90’s. 

For the most part he has been mailing in all his performances.  Comfortable in the knowledge that he was one of the greatest actors in his generation.  Not that I really can judge him, after toiling on Bosom Buddies then moving on to his many films in the 80’s and then rising to super stardom in the 90’s he deserves to do whatever he wants. 

It’s just I have grown accustomed to much more from Tom.

The same can be said for Ron Howard, whose movies, while not Earth shattering have been for the most part entertaining.  I think this movie suffers much from the controversy that the first film caused.  As a result of the huge Christian backlash (Publicity) the movie brought in scores of people to watch.  Sensing or perhaps hoping for the same thing, Angels and Demons was brought into the large screen.  

Having read the book, the film misses a number of plot points that add a bit more depth to the story as well as provide the historical insight that would explain much more the reasoning behind the various events in the film.

Here’s a quick recap of the plot:  An ancient and historically anti Catholic group is killing the top candidates to replace the recently deceased Pope.  It’s up to Robert Langdon (Hanks) to uncover this mystery and save the Catholic Church as well as Vatican City and Rome from this threat…dun…dun…Dunnnnnn! (I wrote that myself if you couldn’t tell).

I can remember reading the book during my trip through Italy and more specifically in Rome and the Vatican.  These places practically breathe ancient vitality and history.  I think the film fails to capture this.

You miss the sense that you are transported to the past by just walking through those streets.  The book is able to capture that, the film on the other hand glosses over it.  I had the sense that you could have placed the setting in either France or London and gotten the same effect.  The only reason it is based in Italy is that the plot is about the choosing of the Pope, which obviously can only happen in the Vatican City.

I also feel that the film glosses over the politics that occurs during the periods of choosing a Pope.  I think that Howard did not want to open another can of worms by showing the Catholic Church as a divided house with warring factions (or basically as human beings) but rather showed them as more ideals of what Catholics would like from their leaders.  It is like showing the JFK White House, but with no Marilyn Monroe or Bay of Pigs.  Then again the movie and book are for entertainment and not for actual thinking, God Forbid!

Ewan McGregor actually does a pretty good job in his role in the film as the Camerlengo, the assistant to the Pope. I might as well say it,

I think the guy is pretty good looking. Not that I am having dreams about him, but from seeing him in Trainspotting to now he has definitely aged well and on top of that he is a good actor.  So put me in the throng of mainly females that are a fan of his.

I guess the most interesting thing about the movie was the venue that I watched it in.  I was staying in Nashua, NH (for those of you who are Office fans, that is the office that Michael’s most recent love was located).  I watched the movie at a place called Chunky’s, basically a grill/bar/movie theater (or how I will from now on call it TGPOE or the greatest place on Earth). 

The notion that you can actually have a full meal and beer at the movie theater is not a new idea, but it is a damn good one.  What is better than washing away the pains of a horrible movie with a pitcher of cool beer and a large cheese quesadilla, please note that all the dishes are inspired by movies.  For this visit, a pitcher of Sam Adam’s Summer Ale and Robert DeNiro Burger made the movie much more palatable. 

Luckily, I wasn’t at Chunky’s when I saw Wolverine, or I would have been spitting up chucks to the dismay of all onlookers.  My Wolverine: Origins review to come soon.

Peace.