Buffet: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone / Stoker / The Call
I got to attend screenings Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week! The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Stoker and The Call. I’d like to do an essay on each of them, particularly Stoker; but as all three open this weekend, there just isn’t time. So, I’ve written a 30 second review and included video interviews, which speak to the heart of each film, without giving too much away…
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (Director Don Scardino) – is the
right vehicle for the comedy stylings of both Steve Carell and Jim
Carey. Carell as Wonderstone, gets to do that obtuse,
self-aggrandizing, but deep down I’m a good guy thing – as his
character goes from dorky magician, to iconic Vegas showman and
womanizer, to losing everything including his “Siegfried and Roy” partnership and his love of the craft. Carey
gets to submerse himself into a mockingly disturbed David Blaine type
illusionist, which allows for plenty of nutty physical grotesqueness.
I’m not crazy about Oliva Wilde over the last year or so I’ve seen her in Butter, In Time, The Words, People Like Us and now as Carell’s love interest. If she was gonna grow on me, it would have happened by now. On the other hand, who doesn’t enjoy Alan Arkin, he gets better with age, most recently in Argo, Stand Up Guys and now as revered magician Rance Holloway.
Is it pleasing? The script by writers John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein (click for interview with writing team) stays
pretty tight and is amusingly funny. The very last scene is howlingly
funny! But on the whole, this is just a good renter.
(Below video of Director Don Scardino 3:46)
Stoker – I had no idea who this
filmmaker Chan-wook Park was and didn’t understand why everyone was making such a big
deal about him doing an English speaking movie. Now I’m excited about
him too because Stoker is truly one of those seen through the eyes of
the auteur type of films; yet not pretentious or inscrutable.
I’ve
been a fan of Mia Wasikowska since the first season of In Treatment,
she’s gone on to many film roles since, and I think I’ve seen them
all, however, this role as India Stoker was written for her timeless,
compellingly strange persona.
I’m not going to go into the plot because I recommend seeing it
cold the way I did. I knew who was in it and that it dealt with
family dynamics and not much more.
Is it pleasing? Yes. The story is melancholy
and violent; I was taken in by the visuals
and sound cues; the set design; and the austere affluence of the
house and it’s inhabitants.
Numerous times I lie in bed at night and imagine the cruelest
torture. I imagine the most miserable ruining of that person’s life.
After that, I can fall asleep with a smile on my face. As long as it
stays in the realm of imagination, the crueler the better – that’s
healthy. I’d like to recommend it to you all as well. I hope my films
can help in any small way to help your imagination become at least a
little bit crueller. – Chan-wook Park READ MORE And see below video (3:28)
The Call (Director Brad Anderson) – I really only went to see this because it starred Halle Berry. In the same way I started watching Scandal to support
Kerry Washington and Deception for Meagan Goode. Always happy to see
a “sistah” getting to do the leading lady thing.
Surprisingly, The Call is crazy, scary fun! It starts out trying
to show the complexities, stress and incredible presence of mind it
takes to be a 911 operator. Very commendable, but not what really
grabs you and takes you on an exhausting ride. That part comes from
viscerally feeling Abigail Breslin’s panic while trapped inside the trunk
of a psychopath’s stolen vehicle. If only she wasn’t calling 911 from
an untraceable *TracFone (see comment section). If only the emergency operator, (Berry)
hadn’t messed up the 911 call the last time this sicko got a hold of
a young, blonde cutie. If only that town car driver could have been
more on the ball. If only they hadn’t put such a bad wig on Halle
Berry!
Is it pleasing? It is if you like audience participation.
Everybody in the theater was talking back to the screen, including
me. It’s just that kinda flick, where you have to warn, scream,
instruct and groan as you tensely await the heroin’s escape or
rescue.
(Below video interview with Abigail Breslen 3:57)
Philly Film Blog
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Tinsel & Tine provides year-round free promotion, sparking conversations and awareness, celebration and reviews of the movie industry - from local indie shorts to international films/filmmakers, to studio driven movies/moviemakers. Mixed with a spotlight on Philly Happenings. #MiniMovieReview #PhillyCalendar
2 Comments
Candace
I agree with your Abigail B. observation- I thought she was top-notch in this movie! I remember her as a little tyke in Little Miss Sunshine and I must say that she is all grown up in this movie! I wanted to see the movie first based on the premise, because I can't remember a movie where the focus has solely been on a 911 operator helping a person in distress. What really fascinated me about this film is seeing how 911 operators are trained and work. Very few people, excluding actual 911 operators, know about this world. How taxing on one's mental state it must be to know that you could prevent someone from dying or living further.
Halle did her thing, as did Morris, and it was such a pleasure seeing them on screen! I didn't go into this movie thinking about Halle's personal life. I wanted to see her work and work she did! The other breakout star of this movie, besides Abigail, was certainly Michael Eklund aka Michael Foster aka the villain. He was AMAZING! His IMDB page is jammed packed and I'm truly looking forward to seeing more projects with him. He was so captivating and I'd love to know if he's a method actor or not.
The ending leaves me confused. Everyone in the audience when I went to see it gasped. Then we all cheered. It was a great ending simply because it wasn't expected at all and also it was a nod to thrillers of yesteryear, with actresses such as Ashley Judd and Angelina Jolie playing strong, female characters. Yes, Halle's character made some dumb calls, one of them literally, but her character was human. Strong and vulnerable. No Wonder Woman.
Throughout the film, people were so engaged with this movie, as you explained in your experience. I love going to the movies when the audience puts all expectations aside and just has fun with what they are seeing before them. It was indeed a thrill seeing this!
TracFone spokesperson
*In discussing the film, you note that the “If only [Casey] wasn't calling 911 from an untraceable TracFone” I’m writing to clarify that all TracFones – including the one shown in “The Call” – are E-911 compliant, as required by the FCC, which means they can be located by police and other emergency responders in the same manner as comparable non-prepaid phones.
"The Call" tells a very exciting story, but it has taken certain creative liberties to make the movie more entertaining. The movie implies that pre-paid phones are less trackable than non-prepaid phones. In reality, all TracFones – including the one shown in "The Call" – are Enhanced 911 (E911) compliant, as required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which means they can be located by police and other emergency responders in the same manner as comparable non-prepaid phones.