Weekly Cinemeh

We decided to go in a less serious route this week with comedy. For the most part I enjoy comedies, and these weren't that bad. To the list!

1: Rat Race
This movie is basically a re-telling of a comedy classic that happens to be one of my favorites, It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world. A group of people race across Nevada and New Mexico to try to get a million dollars. Antics ensue, and shit goes wrong fast. Its pretty funny, though a little unbelievable at times. I saw this movie when it came out and thought it was very funny, but that was over a decade ago and watching it now, it is not as good as I remembered. Still very funny in bits thanks to a great cast such as Rowan Atkinson and Seth Green, and worth the watch with friends and some beer.

Eshi: This is a fun, cute movie that rides pretty much entirely on its cast. Rowan Atkinson is grand, if a bit underutilized. I love Seth Green and have been known to forgive very nearly anything with him in it (I'm looking at you Sex Drive). John Cleese is wonderful, even if it is kind of a small role. Its a good movie, best reserved for an inebriated Sunday afternoon.

2: Men Who Stare At Goats
Based on the work of Jon Ronson, a reporter who uncovered the use of psychological torture on inmates before, and during, the Iraq war. The movie explores the ideas behind programs like MKUltra being used as the basis for creating super-soldiers (referred to as jedi warriors in the movie). This movie is great. Its funny, the story is good, and the cast is amazing. I recommend that you see this if you haven't before.

Eshi: Ewan McGregor is a fucking beautiful man, regardless of what his chin has to say about it. The first time I saw MWSAG it caught me totally out of left field. It's aggressive with its humor and fucking brimming with charisma, much like Ewan McGregor. I heart this movie from space.

3: Four Rooms
I am a fan of Tarantino's work, and I am sad that I have never seen this before. Of course he is only one of four directors in the film. Tim Roth is great as a frenetic bellhop forced to work alone in a hotel for a night. He is run through four plots each directed by a different director and each more fucked up than the last. All of them are very funny and weave together very well, something that I wasn't sure would happen when I heard the premise of the film. This movie is also full of famous people, some which I didn't recognize until I saw the cast list, such as Marisa Tomei as a stoner and Salma Hayek's "T&A" in the third story. Its a great movie.

Eshi: I was surprised that Brian hadn't seen this one before, for much the same reason he was sad about it. Tim Roth is pretty fucking far from how I've come to expect him but he handles the role beautifully. Honestly about the only part I don't like about this movie is that its got Madonna in it. Even then it only bugs me because young Madonna reminds me of current Madonna's arms. I'm not a very shallow fella but her upper arms make it look like she's trying to smuggle cured meats.

4: Death At a Funeral
I have seen this movie quite a few times, and each time it is still good. Its a movie about a funeral that goes awry when the son of the deceased is blackmailed for cash when his father's lover, played by Peter Dinklage, threatens to expose their relationship. The cast is stellar, Alan Tudyk in particular is great as a man who accidentally takes a strong version of LSD, and the comedy is solid throughout. I would suggest the British version over the much worse American movie. Most of the American version's cast was good, but James Marsden can't match Tudyk, and the movie as a whole seemed kind of flat in comparison. Watch the original if you get the chance, it is a great black comedy.

Eshi: Alan Tudyk. Peter Dinklage. If that doesn't at least catch your attention I don't think we can hang anymore.