"If I Linked You..." (time and again I would try to say...)

I'm shining the spotlight on Twister's performance review of Jennifer Grey's performance in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. (Sidenote: My mom has an exasperating appreciation for "Dancing With the Stars", and Grey seems really frosty but, eh. Whatever.)
 
The blogosphere was a buzz this past week with the news of James Franco and Anne Hathaway set to host the Oscars. The Mad Hatter and RC  were just two that weighed in, but I was particularly amused by Jose's thoughts. In case you don't know, he's obsessed with Anne. Only last week he was planning on abducting her to keep her as a memento in his pocket...(or something like that...)

   
I don't know if he has any open slots, but Castor's hosting Part II of his Fantasy Draft.
                     

Ben Stiller recently got good reviews for his work in Greenberg. His only good performance as far as I can recall, Darren recalls Meet the Parents - a movie I find painful to watch (except for the lovely Blythe Danner who is just as resplendent as her daughter, moreso even).
          
Jess thinks I'm going to love Burlesque. I have no idea if she's right or not, but I love this post.

Nicholas does an extensive writeup on Serendipity. I have weird thoughts about John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, they both seem nice enough but I'm really uncertain about their "talents".

Paolo recently saw Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? while reading the book, that movie's a winner and so is the play...only recently Alex gave a short review of it.
      
Speaking of great movies...how great is The Little Mermaid? Very great says Luke, I agree....and on the topic of animation check out Rob and Robert (two different people) and their takes on Tangled
        
Remember Scott Pilgrim vs the World? I still love it very much, CS reviews it. (I'm still not sure why everyone keeps saying it's one for a niche-audience though. Unless I'm weird, I have no interest in video-games and no knowledge of this one, but the movie just amazing.)
       
And kindly head on over and congratulate Nick on this three-year blog anniversary. 
       
(PS. This screen-shot via Twister made my day.)

A Few Notes on Greenberg

Baumbach is not an easy director. His Margot at the Wedding was so uncomfortable, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the reason that so few care to remember it (despite Nicole Kidman’s excellent performance). Greenberg is not as obviously prickly but it’s not an easy comedy either. The eponymous Greenberg (Ben Stiller) has recently been released from a mental institution and other than his somewhat dormant career as a carpenter his life seems dedicated to wasting time and making everyone around him feel terrible.

Stiller is an odd one for me, I’ve never found myself particularly impressed by him and watching Greenberg there’s something that tells me that tells me that someone else could have done the role better justice. That said, it’s arguably one of Stiller’s strongest performances and though he occasionally comes off as too perfunctory with his lines he does a good job of carrying the film on his shoulders. His Greenberg seems to be a disgusting man-child, but Stiller manages (somehow) to make him into something more accessible to the audience. Sometimes it's difficult to forget we're watching Stiller, but more often than not Stiller manages to drown in his character and that's when the film is strongest - when Stiller really acts and let the great screenplay shine through.

Oddly, despite Baumbach’s apparent intention to make this a film about Stiller Greta Gerwig and Rhys Ifana contribute too excellent supporting performances. The latter in particular takes a potential stock role of the wronged friend and turns it into something bathetic and real. This is my first outing with Greta Gerwig, but she plays well as a potential love interest for the misanthropic Greenberg. Greenberg shouldn’t come off as such an easy watch – the characters (most of them) are unfeeling and cold, but Baumbach knows how to work with these type of flawed beings and even though it’s not pleasant per se, it is pleasing to watch.

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