Possum Holler

It's been a few weeks, but I'm making up for it with a full review, two mini reviews, and a warning.

Let's get this out of the way first:

Mini's First Time
Director: Nick Guthe
Possum's Grade: D+

Do not waste your time. However, it gets the plus for being the most delightfully bad movie I've watched in quite a while. Still probably not worth it though.

And now for the one that no one can escape:

Borat: Cultural Learnings From America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Director: Larry Charles
Possum's Grade: B

This movie has been everywhere for months, and everyone here in 720A had bought into the hype whole-heartedly. It was the most anticipated film since...well...Snakes on a Plane. What surprised me the most was not how much attention it got but the praise it received once critics got to see it.

Is Borat laugh-out-loud, tears-rolling-down-your-face funny? Yes.

Is it, as some have pronounced, the funniest movie ever? Probably not.

Is it an important piece of satire? No.

I came away from this movie a little disappointed, a little sore from laughing, and mostly disturbed from the scene they don't tell you about in the trailer. Borat is good for a laugh, but shouldn't be taken as serious...or accurate...social commentary.


Stranger Than Fiction
Director: Mark Forster
Possum's Grade: B-

Harold Crick (played with amazing depth by Will Ferrell) is hearing voices. Well, not voices, a voice. And what's this voice saying? It's saying he is going to die.

(Editor's note: if the last paragraph came across a little awkward it's because I was trying to make a Bowfinger joke/reference that probably only one person I know would get and he probably doesn't even read this blog.)

The problem is, the voice doesn't know how to kill him.

The voice is Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson) they world famous British author who is unknowingly writing the book of Crick's life titled Death and Taxes.

Stranger Than Fiction is neither oddball comedy implied by the casting of Will Ferrell nor is it as Charlie Kaufman-esque as the set-up might lead you to believe. It is part romantic comedy and part psychological caper, and an ultimately satisfying, if inconsequential film.


And now for the one I didn't think I would have much to write about:

Casino Royale
Director: Martin Campbell
Possum’s Grade: C+

Those of you who have followed my movie coverage for a while know that I take a certain pleasure in making hamburger out of some sacred cow each year, taking the ax to some critical darling. But I want to make clear that this is not that review. I enjoyed watching Casino Royale, and I like Daniel Craig as James Bond (or James Blond as we dubbed him). However, most of what I have to say about the movie is not really nice. Of course, you might consider this a pointless take from someone who isn’t a big Bond fan and who has not watched enough older Bond movies to make proper comparisons.

Many critics have gushed that Casino Royale has revitalized the Bond film franchise, but I can’t help but wonder if Hollywood has past it by and left us with no need for these movies beyond the speculation of who will play the new Bond. Craig is a much tougher, darker Bond (more like Ian Fleming’s description) than Pierce Brosnan, and the pacing of the film feels like one of the classics. Yet I can’t see why anyone would watch this movie if it didn’t have 007 in it. There is not as much action in Casino Royale as there has been in the previous few installments. There are fewer explosions and fewer automobiles totaled. That’s fine. If I need unbelievable, high-flying action I can turn to Kill Bill or this summer’s District B13. At least in those movies we’re not expected to believe it is realistic. If they are toning the action down, then I would expect an elaborate and well thought out plot with several chilling twists. But we don’t get that either. Sure there are twists, but they are not that shocking.

The film revolves around a high stakes card game in Montenegro and for 30 minutes we might as well be watching the World Series of Poker on ESPN. The thrill sequences mixed in to break-up the monotony seem forced and somewhat inexplicable. Once the game is concluded, the obligatory Bond-gets-tortured-then-escapes scene resolved, and all seems right with the world we sit through 10 minutes or more of denouement wondering why the movie isn’t over. Finally after grinding to a halt (and someone sitting near me already leaving), new characters are introduced so that we can have one more final throwdown. It is a perfectly thrilling sequence, but I was left squirming, my mind having already checked out thinking that it was over.

All this said I’m not going to recommend you not see this movie. Particularly if you are a Bond purist or fanatic I would love to hear your take. I was with the movie until the final 20 minutes which I felt were muddled and poorly constructed. It is also worth mentioning that Halleigh Travis made it through the movie without screaming. So that’s gotta account for something, right?


Coming Reviews:
The Fountain, Bobby, For Your Consideration, Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (maybe)