JACKASS 3D

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to a 3D movie after Piranha 3D along comes Jackass 3D; redefining what 3D technology means for filmmaking - namely capturing every body fluid imaginable in the glorious three dimensional slow motion.

Jackass began life as a TV show on MTV; Host Johnny Knoxville got together with fellow maniacs including Bam Magera and Steve-O to perform dangerous, outrageous, and at times offensive, stunts with total disregard for their own safety. Not content with small screen stardom the boys jumped to the big screen in 2002. 8 years later and the usual array of daredevil d***kheads have reunited to once again put their bodies through all manner of pain and indignity – with hilarious results.

The Jackass films are not high art and are not for anyone that is easily offended; but that said f**k they are funny. I would find it odd if you weren’t entertained, at the most base human level, by the assortment of bike stacks, bull rams, head punches and the always popular groin punch. The dwarf bar brawl featuring Wee Man aka Jason Acuna is easily a standout as is the man vs. jet engine sequence.

Jackass 3D does walk a fine line of good taste…sweat cocktail is disgusting and of all the animal stunts (and there are many – with all of the ‘jackasses’ coming off second best) seeing a pig eat an apple out of the behind of a large man is not something anyone should be subjected to; I still laughed though - does that make me a bad person?

I contemplated giving Jackass 3D a 4 star rating; it is what it is, and it does exactly what you would expect it to BUT the concept is feeling a little long in the tooth. Some of the stunts are spectacular – the Poo Cocktail Supreme being the piece de resistance – but others feel very scraped together, as though the guys were desperate for ideas in order to stretch out proceedings. The 3D element adds depth of field, and is at its best in slow motion replays, but isn’t really needed – vomit is still disgusting no matter what the dimension. Jackass 3D is a great way to kill time, and will have you rolling in the aisles in-between bouts of dry retching – what more could you ask for?

3 ½ of 5 Stars

THE SOCIAL NETWORK

The Social Network, adapted from the best selling book ‘The Accidental Billionaires’, charts not only the rise of the Facebook phenomenon but also its founder Mark Zuckerberg. Like all good stories it is a tale or romance, rejection, friendship and betrayal.

Rejected by his girlfriend a drunken Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) creates a website that rates girls from his university, the site proves popular, overwhelming the university server until it is taken down and Mark is disciplined. Soon after Mark is approached by the Winklevoss twins, wanting him to write code for their new website idea, a social network built exclusively for Harvard university students. Mark agrees to help, until he has his own ideas about a similar website, which he begins working on with the help of his best friend and business partner Eduardo Saverin (future Spider-man Andrew Garfield). And thus Facebook is born.

The Social Network centres around the lawsuits brought against Zuckerberg by the Winklevoss’ for allegedly stealing their idea, and by Saverin who Zuckerberg, with the help of Napster founder Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake) is shut out from Facebook just as it becomes a success. Jumping between the parallel lawsuits and the early days of Facebook’s creation The Social Network explores the questions and ethics around who ‘owns’ an idea. Did Zuckerberg steal the idea for Facebook from the brothers Winklewoss? If he creates the code doesn’t that mean he owns it? Does he resent his best friend’s campus popularity? And most importantly, is Zuckerberg this much of a socially inept jerk in real life? Whatever the answer screenwriter Aaron Sorkin has crafted an engrossing story filled populated by fascinating characters whose motivations are never clear cut.

However a great script is nothing without a great cast and thankfully they all bring their A-game. Eisenberg is fascinating as Zuckerberg, a role that calls for him to be repellent and sympathetic while Garfield brings pathos to his performance as Zuckerberg’s former best friend Saverin. Timberlake is in his element as shifty Napster founder Sean Parker and Arnie Hammer does a stellar job as the screwed over (depending on your view) Winklevoss twins– hard to believe he’s not really a twin!

Also of note is the stylish direction by David Fincher (Seven, Zodiac, Panic Room) – the crew sequence is particularly arresting – and Nine Inch Nails front man Trent Reznor’s subtle but intriguing score. Fact or fiction, when all is said and done The Social Network is a sure fire Oscar contender and one of the most engrossing movies of the year. Like!

4 of 5 Stars

EASY A

Easy A is the next in a never ending procession of high school teen comedies; except this one is actually good; and we haven’t had a good one in such a long time!

After lying to a friend about losing her virginity Olive Pendergast (Emma Stone) soon becomes the talk of her school. When gay friend Brandon (Dan Byrd) convinces Olive to pretend to sleep with him, so he can stop being bullied, it only further cements her ‘reputation’. Inspired by ‘The Scarlet Letter’ which she is reading for class Olive starts playing up her provocative image and soon all manner of social rejects are crawling out of the woodwork offering Olive gift certificates in lieu of spending some ‘quality time’ with her.

Enterprising Olive is happy to coast along until the lies start to take a personal toll, the only trouble is, how does she stop the school gossip grapevine? Can she win back her friends, and win over clean cut love interest Woodchuck Todd (Penn Badgley) in the process?

Stone owns Easy A; as a romantic comedy lead she leaves Katherine Heigel in the dust with her engaging screen presence and wonderful comic timing. Thankfully she is also supported by a strong biting script and fantastic array of supporting actors including Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson as her over sharing amorous parents. Easy A skewers the modern day high school experience, mining it for laughs, that just like its lead, aren’t easy.

3 ½ of 5 Stars

THE OTHER GUYS

Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg play miss-matched desk jockey Detectives Allen Gamble and Terry Hoitz, constantly in the shadow of precinct heroes Detective Danson and Highsmith (scene stealing cameos from The Rock and Samuel L Jackson). However when an act of stupidity leads to hilarious tragedy Hoitz sees it as his and Gamble’s chance to shine. Gamble on the other hand prefers his quiet life of paper work however said paperwork uncovers a case that could turn he and Hoitz into New York’s next big hero cop team – if they can survive each other first!

Look, I’ll be honest writing this review 2 months after I saw the movie has proven just how forgettable The Other Guys is, both in plot and performance. The plot which follows some sort of white collar ponzi scheme, run by Steve Coogan, is confusing and boring, and involves an unnecessary Anne Heche cameo – honestly why is she in this film? She contributes nothing…

Ferrell and Wahlberg play well off each other, and Hotiz shock that Danson appears so irresistible to women is one of the movies best running gags. The other highlight is the welcome of Michael Keaton who steals every scene is is in as the police chief who moonlights at a homewares store; and who provides words of advice unintentionally ripped form TLC song lyrics.

The Other Guys boasts an all star cast with an above average script and some over the top action; fun but forgettable.

3 of 5 Stars

I’M BACK!

It’s been a while. My ‘day job’ got hectic which didn’t leave a lot of time for movies. And to be honest there weren’t many that had me chomping at the bit to part with 20 bucks…

But now that we enter the final stretch of 2010 (already?) a slew of new movies are on the horizon including the beginning of the end for Harry Potter!

To catch up I’ll be posting quick reviews of EASY A and THE OTHER GUYS; both long gone from cinemas but still worth talking about. And then my thoughts on the much hyped and talked about The Social Network…

And then I hope to be back each week with a brand new review. So bring on the Christmas movie season – but please, don’t think that means I want ANOTHER Santa Clause…are you listening Tim Allen?