Bringing the Thunder!

I have to preface this review by admitting to the fact that I cannot stand Ben Stiller. I mean I downright loathe the guy. I never bothered with Meet the Fockers, tolerated him in Dodgeball and think that Zoolander is retarded. I use to wonder why people liked him – did somebody say Wonder?

Enjoy the Hanukkah cookie, man.

However, I went into Tropic Thunder willing to suspend all of that for a movie that I really wanted to like and I was not disappointed. Tropic Thunder is one of the best movies I’ve seen this year, hitting the comedy and the action on higher marks than almost any other movie I’ve seen attempt to do both. Opening with the final scene of the movie within a movie being filmed, the gunfire and explosions feel like a real Vietnam movie and the over the top performances are also instantly recognizable as staples of today’s large ‘event driven’ movies. I was hooked and loved every scene in this movie. The story moved along swiftly bouncing between characters and storylines and the dialogue was distinct and clever, especially for such a diverse array of characters who are all essentially the same kind of people; actors. From the opening shots, Stiller directs the movie confidently and with the help of Academy Award winning cinematographer John Toll, the film looks and feels exactly like the ones it’s attempting to parody.

The film is first and foremost a parody. That’s why Robert Downey Jr. was able to pull off something so remarkable in fashioning three amazing characters all in a single role, something not even Peter Sellers did. As Australian actor Kirk Lazarus, black Army vet Sgt. Lincoln Osirus and an Asian rice farmer, he was magnetizing to watch every moment he was on screen. From explaining the emotional sting of the word nigger to the only actual black cast member to flattering Speedman’s physique in order to deceive him, every line out of his mouth is comic gold. And, he would be the best part of this movie if it were not for Tom Cruise. Yes, Tom Cruise as Les Grossman is the wildest role he has ever taken in his career. I haven’t laughed harder at somebody dropping f-bombs since Steve Martin at the rental car agency in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. He’s so funny, it’s like watching Alec Baldwin in 30 Rock when you think to yourself, “Why haven’t they been doing this all along?” Dancing, cursing and balding, Cruise is as you never seen him before and worth a ticket price all on his own.

Ok, this bit is also pretty funny.

The rest of the cast is great too, including Jack Black, friend of the blog Bill Hader, Matthew McConaughey actually acting and quickly becoming a favorite Danny McBride. I’ve already seen it a few times and am desperately trying to take my mother to see it. She’s a huge Tom Cruise fan and we saw Lions for Lambs and Collateral together. I think she’ll enjoy this one as much as I did. While it looks like a busy fall season, I think Tropic Thunder has the legs to hold up as one of my top five of the year.

Spaced, Edgar Wright and Me

It’s rare for a film festival to program a television series into its lineup, but not when that show is the incomparable Spaced. The genesis, the alpha, Eden and Spaced are where all things spring from. Anyone who knows me knows that I saw Hot Fuzz no fewer than ten times in its theatrical run and am a devoted fan of Edgar Wright and everything he does. I’m not going to write a review of the series for those who haven’t seen it, because I want to wait for the DVD release on July 22. Instead, I want to tell you about Tuesday at the Los Angeles Film Festival and my evening with Edgar Wright.

Spaced is the British sitcom about friends Tim and Daisy pretending to be a professional couple in order to rent a flat in London. Stars Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes (Stevenson) wrote every episode and Edgar Wright directed every episode, 14 in all over a two year run. Pegg and Wright went on to make both Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz and the style of those films is clearly birthed in Spaced. So, when the Spaced Invasion USA was announced, my friend Graham and I secured our tickets immediately. Tuesday night, we drove out to Westwood and the Regent, ready for some Spaced. Also in attendance was Bill of Hader of SuperBad and SNL and I tried giving up my seat to Oscar winner Diablo Cody who of course, had one saved for her. Matt Stone of South Park fame was the moderator for the evening and told a funny story about Edgar before introducing the director. Edgar announced he could not decide between the two scheduled episodes so he chose three instead and would we object to seeing one more? The episodes he screened were ‘Art’, ‘Epiphanies’ and ‘Gone’. After sitting through about sixty minutes of comedic brilliance, Matt and Edgar took the stage again to talk about the series and answer a few questions.

Edgar talked about directing at 21, working for three years on Spaced as both editor and director. He answered questions about the music, did not answer questions about Ant-Man, except to say that it was written and Matt Stone was just as funny and entertaining in his questions and comments on the series. I stood up to ask a question, inquiring of Edgar if there was ever a bit or gag they wanted to do, but could not get cleared or could not fit into a story. He couldn’t think of any off-hand, but he did tell an amusing story about having to re-record certain music and actually performing from memory the Ewok song from Return of the Jedi. After everything was done, I caught Edgar as he was walking up the aisle past me and asked if I could get an autograph. He gladly obliged, complimented me on my t-shirt and even posed to take a picture with me. I don’t know if it’s because he’s British, but damn, he’s a nice guy.

Note the autographed copy of Hot Fuzz.

Riding the high of the moment, we walked out of the theatre where everyone was milling around outside. I introduced myself to Bill Hader who shook my hand and took a picture. Then, the guy talked to me, actually TALKED to me for about five minutes. He recognized my shirt and said he asked Edgar the same question on the DVD commentary. He told about what episodes he did, meeting Edgar thru Will Arnett and Amy Poehler, watching SuperBad for the first time with him and even telling me with what famed female filmmaker Matt Stone was f-, um, having relations with. He then turned and introduced me to Joe Cornish. writer on Ant-Man, and the series Big Train and Adam and Joe. I asked him about Ant-Man, which he and Edgar collaborated on and if it would be part of the big Marvel Universe and possibly integrated into the Avengers movie. He said he didn’t know and that he didn’t even think that Marvel knew right now, but the movie was written and they were looking forward to starting work on it. I thanked him for his time and we walked off to FatBurger, convinced of the good of Hollywood stars.

Matt Stone on the right.

It was another awesome evening for me and for film. Thanks to Edgar, Bill, Joe and my friend Graham for rolling along with me for all of it.

That's Graham!

Spaced is available on DVD on July 22.