Movies

I have a bit of a fascination with the whole undercover government assassin (UGA) thing. I don't know if these guys really exist, but I find movies about them to be exciting. Today I've got three—count 'em, three!—UGA movies to review:

"The Bourne Supremacy" - This is fun, exciting stuff, but of no real importance. Matt Damon has good screen presence, as always. You know what you're getting with a movie like this—no lofty expectations, no disappointment.

"The Hunted" - As much as I love Benicio Del Toro, he doesn't pull off the  UGA role well, and even Tommy Lee Jones disappoints here. Someone at Netflix described it as a cross between "First Blood" and "The Fugitive," which is exactly what I said while watching it; unfortunately, it takes the worst parts of both those movies and doesn't give us enough character development. Plus, the supporting actors suck, every one of them.The knife-fight scenes are so bloody, it becomes cartoonish. What a lame movie.

"Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" - I still don't know what to make of this one. Remember Chuck Barris from "The Gong Show"? Apparently he wrote an "unauthorized autobiography" claiming that while he was busy creating "The Dating Game" and "The Newlywed Game," he was also a UGA, flying around the world committing murder for the government. The movie was terrific—George Clooney (first-time director) really knows what he's doing, and Sam Rockwell was excellent in the title role. Add to that a screenplay by Charlie Kaufman, and you've got a very entertaining movie. I just still can't figure out if I believe Barris or not. Doesn't really matter, I supposed, but still.

And now two non-UGA movies:

"Y Tu Mama Tambien" - I still like Gael Garcia Bernal, but this movie wasn't nearly as "important" as I think it was trying to be. Even though there was a lot of sex in it, it wasn't even that sexy. (Also, did I read right that a certain, shall we say, climactic scene was not even included in the original U.S. release? I watched the "director's cut," and I can't imagine how the ending would have made sense without this scene. Anyone, anyone?)

"The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" - I love Wallace and Gromit. I mean, I love them. That being said, this movie was a wee bit disappointing, although possibly just because my expectations were so high. It's great fun, just not as oh-my-God- I'm-speechless wonderful as the others were. It's almost too clever and even slick. I'm certainly glad I took Steph and Pete to see it—and they loved it—but I don't feel the need to own it as I did with "The Wrong Trousers" and "A Close Shave" (and, to a lesser extent, "A Grand Day Out").

Comments

[scott]

I just loaned my neighbor my W&G DVD set of their three shorts. I'm also a huge fan.

[Chris]

I liked Y Tu Mama at the time but in retrospect it was really all about the sex and very little else. Still, I thought it was good. As for Chuck Barris, what a nut. But I love the idea of an "unauthorized autobiography" - like, he didn't get permission from himself.

[Liz]

Karen, you are amazing! I watched the first movie in a year last week. Best in Show. Did you like it? (I assume you saw it because it appears you have seen many, many movies).

[Karen]

We are hopelessly addicted to Netlix. Sigh.

I LOVED "Best in Show." I don't often laugh out loud while watching a movie, but this one had me in stitches. Have you ever seen the real dog show it's based on? Too funny. If you like that brand of humor, you should get "Waiting for Guffman."