Review - Yes Man

Yes Man is an embarrassing return to form by Jim Carrey and, worst, a humiliating fall for Zooey Deschanel.
Its juvenile humor doesn't even have the good sense to be controversial and thus worthy of mentioning. Rather, it is simply a humiliating retread of jokes that have been told over and over.
The film doesn't even have enough repsect for itself to establish a working set of rules within the narrative. Supposedly, after attending a workshop with some sort of optimism guru, Carrey's character must say yes to every opportunity presented to him. However, the film plays it as if Carrey instead must obey everything said to him. It's more Ella Enchanted than Liar, Liar. This guru's message was about answering the door when opportunity knocked, not engaging in awkward run/stop maneuvers as a security guard calls to you while you run away with your girlfriend. The premise of the movie created enough problems organically. It didn't need the awkward addition of a stupid plot device to make the movie more inane. It is a paint-by-number comedy that disappoints because after you're done filling it in, you realize all of the lines are in the wrong place.
Yes Man has a decent story, a strong message and serviceable cast. If the people involved with the making of the movie rose to its level, it would have been a a succesful, though predictable comedy. As it is, everyone lowers themselves to Carrey's level and what we get is utter schlock.

Review - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is one of those rare films that redefines everyone involved even when those people are some of the biggest in the business.
David Fincher's movies are consistently excellent but none of them even begins to compare to the art that he has injected into every frame of Button. This film is both grandiose and intimate, alien and human, familiar yet altogether...curious. It is a film that revels in these binaries and one of the few films in recent memory to elevate itself to art.
However, the more startling transformation is that of the movie's lead, Brad Pitt, who proves that he deserves every bit of acclaim that is heaped upon him. As one of those actors so often considered to be noteworthy for their personal lives rather than their art, Pitt acts at such a level within this movie that one can't help but begrudgingly admit that he is deserving of that attention. His portrayal of Benjamin, aging backwards, is nothing short of unbelievable. He is so fragile and so human that, despite the story's ludicrous premise, one can't help but internalize Benjamin. His struggles are our struggles. His struggles are America's.
It is a movie that demands to be seen multiple times as it is impossible to be both emotionally invested in Benjamin as the story requires and appropriately appreciate the lush and censuous cinematography of the film itself.
All that said, it is not a perfect film. The Katrina frming device is unnecessary and ultimately detrimental to the main narrative. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is, however, one of the great film romances--far superior to the other tent poles of the genre.
Benjamin Button is a true credit to everyone involved, boasting fantastic writing, acting and directing. It is an epic movie on a human scale. It creates a rich, textured and engaging world and an even more engaging set of characters. It is one of those few movies that is more than just a way to pass two hours (or three hours, in this case). This movie is an experience. It is emotionally exhausting and at the same time rejuvenating. It's message is a dire one: that nothing lasts, yet somehow Pitt and Fincher manage to sell it as an optimistic sentiment. Nothing lasts: love, life-- everything is transient but it is also beautiful, moving and heartwrenching and should be enjoyed while it can.

Review - The Spirit

The Spirit has, unfortunately, been marketed as the bastard child of Sin City and [insert gritty crime drama/ film noir here]. What audiences don't realize is that Will Eisner's Spirit is actually one of the most notable comic book creations of all time. Eisner himself is the standard of excellence in comic book publishing and the namesake of the biggest award in comic book publishing, the Eisner award.
The movie version of his masterpiece is directed by Frank Miller, creator of other such comic masterpieces as Sin City, 300 and The Dark Knight Returns.
However, even with a pedigree as rich as this, The Spirit doesn't really succeed although it might have had it been presented a little differently to its audience. The Spirit is not Dark Knight or Sin City although that is what trailers make it to look like. What The Spirit is is an adaptation of a pulpy serial comic strip and the movie revels in that.
Frank Miller has done a masterful job of translating the low-budget, film-noir atmosphere of the comic book to the screen. Although, it could certainly be argued that Miller emphasizes style over substance. The acting is more than passable in an exaggerated, over-done, self-parodying kind of way and the story, though seemingly incomprehensible falls into place in a fairly expected way.
The movie is sexy, entertaining and beautiful to look at but it is also destined to be a failure. What Miller doesn't seem to realize is that people don't understand camp anymore. Nor are they familiar enough with the conventions of noir, detective stories to appreciate the parody. Additionally, people want grand superheroes with fancy gadgets and impressive powers, not street-level thugs beating each other down in the mud. It's unfortunate, but audiences don't have the attention span or the interest to invest themselves in something a little bit different. Thus, the Spirit had no chance of succeeding. However, for those with any appreciation of the noir genre or old-school superheroes, The Spirit might supply a reprieve from the endless string of summer blockbusters plaguing cinemas. For everyone else, The Spirit might be a bit out of reach.
However, it is a beautiful exercise in film-making and the long overdue treatment of a fantastic character by a true fan. The film itself is admittedly a bit uneven but the good far outshines the bad. It would be great if we got to see a sequel now that all the clunky character exposition is out of the way but I certainly won't be holding my breath.

Behind the Greenscreen is back for 2009!! (and the angels rejoiced.)

Yes, loyal readers, it is true. Behind the Green Screen is returning for the new year. After a lengthy hiatus during which it was nothing, Behind the Greenscreen will once again become the crossroads for movie related discussions, reviews and special features. Keep an eye out for new ideas to make themselves known over the next few months and, as always, check back regularly to read the latest reviews. Behind the Greenscreen: The radio show will be airing on WNJR 91.7fm as always. However, for the month of Januray we have moved to an exciting new slot Mondays at 4:00pm. Tune in.