Tuesday, Jul 07, 2009 10:41am | COMMENTS (26)
I saw Woody Allen’s “Whatever Works” at the Clairidge Friday night and was charmed. Think “Curb Your Enthusiasm” crossed with “A Christmas Carol” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
What have you seen this summer? And who’s taking advantage of 10 am showtimes at Clifton Commons?
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Missing from this review is any mention of the movie’s green credentials. Was it made with a small carbon footprint? Does the story promote green values? I would like to see all movies–all culture, in fact–rated on a scale of green according to how well it helps us save the planet for future generations, either by increasing awareness, offering role models for our children or wagging a finger at miscreants.
I saw this movie last night. Many in the audience walked out before it was over. 2+ hours of a OK performance by J. Depp and a pitiful(not to be expected) C Bale. Please do not waste your 8.50 Matinee or 10.50 regular. Plot was slow developing, it could have been a good History Channel movie at best!
Kyle
Mathilda, I think you may find that review on http://www.iamatreehugger.com. Lighten up, its a movie review. Not everything in the world has to revolve around being green. Maybe you can do movie reviews from your bike, although I am not sure how long you will last riding down Rt3 to Clifton Commons.
P.S Mathilda:
No one cares about a movie’s carbon footprint! I wonder if you road your bike to see the movie, or if the theaters are going to stop pumping out tons of AC. Wake up and smell society. Carbon Footprints for movies do not exist nor should they. Who cares! Movies are supposed to be ENTERTAINMENT! Why does a movie have to have some silly environmental theme……….
You deserve some finger wagging for that remark, NoCorzine. When temperature rise causes the great exodus from the temperate zones to the poles, we’ll know where to look for you: sweating it out to the bitter end in Clifton Commons with a bag of limp popcorn.
NoCOrzine, I was not copying you, it just seems great minds think alike!
It’s not “just” entertainment, Kyle M., it is the devil’s elixir. On a hot summer’s day, the air conditioning alone in a single movie theater releases more carbon into the atmosphere than the entire nation of Niger does in a month. The world would be a better place if, instead of going to see the next action flick, you stayed home and read a few chapters of Silent Spring.
Mathilda,
When temperature rise causes the great exodus from the temperate zones to the poles, we’ll know where to look for you: On the Discovery Channel’s new show Whale Wars, fighting Japenese Whaling Boats.
Call China, they open a new Coal Burning Power Plant Every week.
I suppose Kyle M. would have us do nothing until China takes the lead. Did it ever occur to him that China in fact builds more green coal plants than the U.S.? Does he know that China must continue to grow at a fast rate to avoid poverty? Does he realize that China and other developing countries are asking for one percent of the GDP from developed to fund their transformation to a green economy, and that this argument has merit?
On the other side, what argument do we have? The “need” to keep the likes of Kyle and NoCorzine in movie theaters air conditioned to just above the freezing point of water.
The world would really be better, Mathilda, if you would get a grip. We only live once. Lighten up!
Mathilda,
Get your facts straight about NIGER
Niger announced that in exchange for the USD$5 Billion investment, a Chinese company would build wells, 11 of which would open by 2012, a 20,000-barrel-per-day (3,200 m³/d) refinery near Zinder and a pipeline out of the nation. The government estimates the area has reserves of 324 million barrels (51,500,000 m3), and is seeking further oil in the Tenere Desert and near Bilma. Niger has said that it hopes to produce its first barrels of oil for sale by 2009.
http://carma.org/region/detail/143
Silly lady, you blow smoke to much!
Must be a slow week for you, mathilda, if you’re chiming in on a movie review post! What’s your opinion on drive-ins?
Since Niger doesn’t burn the oil, it does not emit the carbon.
Rather than relying on Google for your “knowledge,” try reading a book some time. (But make sure it’s an e-book.)
Hey guys, I’m concerned about the environment too but what about the movie? I would love to hear your thoughts about that or my review (Thanks for your thoughts Kyle, while I don’t agree I appreciate them anyway.).
Why is Baristanet hawking Vinnie and his reviews? Who cares what he thinks. Really. The fake jersey goon act is insulting.
When watching a movie in a theater that is on fire, vtravisano, wouldn’t it be foolish to belabor the relative merits of the acting and the screenplay and so forth? It might be more intelligent to discuss exit routes. We are now in a similar situation. The planet is warming rapidly, perhaps catastrophically. To sit idle watching movies, consuming air conditioning, is highly irresponsible. I for one cannot stand by and see the planet cast aside in so callous a manner. We should be discussing ways of shrinking our carbon footprints. What are you going to do today to save the planet?
Really, Vinnie, the common man schtick (have you ever heard of Joe Nick Patoski and his “similar “Uncle Billy Bob” movie writing, I now wonder) you seem to be attempting with your, uh, “reviews” (generously termed) has come a cropper again. Not least because a true commnon man-type would likely be quite outraged by “Public Enemies”‘ extensive tinkering with both historical chronology and accuracy. Many common man-types read books, Vinnie, and actually know something about a topic before they go see a movie about it. In fact, they generally also never romanticize bank robbers. (Really, you shouldn’t ever underestimate the working classes.)
Pretty Boy Floyd, for example, died several months after Dillinger, not before him as the movie has it. As did most of Dillinger’s criminal associates. The whole subplot about Frank Nitti (!) and him eventually selling Dillinger out to the Feds is also simply ridiculous. Error piles upon error, which is particularly weird because the author of the book from which the film is taken, Maplewood’s Bryan Burrough, seems to have taken great pains to stick to the historical record. Oh well, I’m sure his check has cleared by now.
Worst of all, however, without heavy makeup, hair beads and slurred diction, Johnny Depp seems to convey all the menace of Barney the Dinosaur and not quite as much charisma. This is a pretty bad movie and an exceptionally badly written one.
One absolutely unforgivable, what-were-they-thinking? kind of scene occurs near the end, when it is clear, as Depp and LeeLee Sobieski walk out of the theater together, that she has at least 4 inches on him. I suspect the real John Dillinger, who seems from Burrough’s book to have been quite conscious of his image, would never have gotten involved with a woman so obviously taller.
And mathilda, please accept my apologies for having wasted my money and oxygen on this one. Please advise, too, what I should do with my ticket stubs from the show I attended, since I still have them. Can they be recycled and returned to our ailing environment somehow?
Mathilda, I bet your spaceship emits more toxic chemicals into the atmosphere than any of our cars combined. Where do you park that thing anyway? Repeat after me…”Naa Noo Naa Noo”.
Mork
A # of people here seem never to have heard of Jonathan Swift. ‘Nuff said.
Just when I think everyone is “onto” Mathilda’s schtick, someone prooves to be a Baristanoob and the sideshow just ramps up anew.
Thank you Kyle, thank you.
Why is Baristanet hawking Vinnie and his reviews? Who cares what he thinks. Really. The fake jersey goon act is insulting.
To whom is it insulting? Genuine jersey goons?
Anyway, sadly, I don’t think it’s an act. This is the true Vinnie, and for some reason he thinks people will flock to hear his folk wisdom. Perhaps there are one or two people out there who are dull enough to find it enlightening.
One mention of Vinnie by the Baristas, walleroo, was probably enough to fulfill the demands of all but the oldest and deepest of friendships.
Two mentions (and in one week!) is of course way too many in any imaginable case.
I really don’t think the world is waiting for Vinnie to expound next on either “Bruno” or the latest Alain Resnais film from France. And while he might be somewhat apt for the visceral charms of your average Fred Williamson vehicle, no, as best as I can ascertain, “The Hammer” does not have any new movies even in the planning stage.
So say goodnight, Vinnie. Please?
Hi Vinnie Welcome to Baristanet.
Now Vinnie I want to suggest a few guidelines for you.#1 Make sure you get all your facts right.
#2 If there is a book for the movie make sure you read that first.
#3 Do not make any spelling errors on here as with the above suggestion they will jump all over your ass in here.
And remember first of all the bloggers in here are not a friendly crowd.Good luck Vinny
I was impressed that Vinnie (who seems like a likeable guy on the video, I also think reviews in the car are a cute concept) pronounced Billy Crudup’s (a terrific theatre actor) name correctly! Most say Crud-up, while it’s Crew-dup.
Here are two of my own movie recommendations: “Away We Go,”
and “Summer Days.”
And while I’m at it (and if you are a lover of fiction), do read the truly wonderful BROOKLYN by Colum Toibin (all of his books are excellent), APRIL & Oliver by Tess Callahan is terrific, and THE STRANGER by Anita Brookner (my favorite living write) is wonderful.
Baristanet book club anyone (online, of course)?
Thank you Deborah for you nice comments. Glad I pronounced Billy Crudup’s name right! Phew, this is a tough room! And I appreciate your advice Dr. Doom, although I don’t think it is necessary to read the book that a movie is based on. Movies can never be totally faithful to the original book. If they were, the movies would end up being 5 hours instead of 2 1/2. Some filmmakers though are very faithful to the books they are based on, such as “Silence of the Lambs” and “The Green Mile”. Those books seemed to translate very well to film without omitting or changing too much.
As for saying goodbye to me Cathar, I don’t know if that is such a great idea. My reviews seemed to have really sparked your creative side, who else will you write about?
Honestly, I think you would miss me.
You are right about one thing, “Bruno” is next up.
Thanks, Vinnie from Vinnie’s View
way to go Vinnie! I’m excited about the 6th Harry Potter movie. Wanna go together?