Knight & Day – 4 out of 10
You’ll like this movie if you
a. Like Tom Cruise
b. Like Cameron Diaz
c. Like cartoons
There are moments of magic in Knight & Day. They come when the two talented leads are interacting calmly and peacefully, showing off their pearly whites and their ample charisma. Unfortunately, those moments are few and far between. Maybe someday Tom will make a nice little quiet movie and show off those acting skills that were present in movies like A Few Good Men or Born on the Fourth of July.
But, more than likely, because of the blockbuster necessity of Hollywood, Tom’s movies will just fall into two categories from now on, Mission Impossible and Mission Ridiculous. This one is certainly ridiculous. One of my pet peeves is how movies always seem to culminate in a famous event. For example, every New Orleans film seems to end up on Bourbon St. on Mardi Gras day. In this one, a chase scene just happens to take place at the exact moment of the Running of the Bulls in Spain. Ridiculous.
As are most of the action scenes. It’s ludicrous and so driven by outlandish special effects and stunts, I kept wanting to scream, “Please, just one shred of believability.” But no, it seems that movies just have to push the boundaries to the point of sacrificing any plausibility. They are just cartoons, painted with computer-generated action.
I guess it didn’t help that I re-watched The Hurt Locker on blu-ray the night before. Its action is real, surprising, and heart-breaking. You care, and you feel the blood.
Bad Lieutenant – 2
Finally caught this on blu-ray as for some reason it never quite made it to the local theatres. Now I know why. When the plot is more over the top than Nicholas Cage’s acting you know you’re in trouble. I thought I knew a good movie when I saw it. Now I'm not so sure. Roger Ebert said this was the best movie of 2009. I wish he could explain that one. This movie reeked. I should’ve waited another year. There’s not a believable or realistic moment in this, another cartoon.
With a dismal box-office summer upon us, it seems that the small screen is more satisfying so let me sing the praises of some small screen alternatives.
Glee
Now the first season is over, and maybe you didn’t catch it. Maybe you’re too cool, or not cool enough, or it just doesn’t interest you.
Too bad. You’re missing some special moments. What is Glee? Glee is basically what happens when you enlist a bunch of Broadway caliber musical talent and slap a story around their renditions of a wide variety of popular music. Just my opinion, but I think Glee will be to the 10’s what American Idol was to the 00’s. In other words we’ll be watching these kids for a long time. Stars are being made, and it’s fun to watch them blossom. And this is real talent, not Saved by the Bell.
Ever gone to see a musical group or show where one person sparkles and you can’t take your eyes off of them? Well this show is full of such people. They all sparkle. As the season unfolded around some wobbly story-telling (they call it bad Glee) the singing and dancing talent began to enthrall us (good Glee).
The final episode was a terrific culmination of the season. I’ve been a couch potato for a long time, but I can’t recall seeing anything on television like their final performance - the Journey medley. The choreography, the singing, the editing, the dancing, the camerawork, and the production values were as good as anything I can ever remember seeing on the small screen.
At least that’s what I think after replaying it on DVR about 20 times.
We’re lucky in that, along with Treme, that make’s two golden musical television shows airing right now – with great music built into the plot.
Copycats can’t be far behind, and that’s ok with me. I say more Music, less doctors, lawyers, and policemen on TV. Can you dig it?
If you can, there’s still time – both series are in reruns. It’s either that or cinema ridiculous.
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