Man of the Year
PG-13, 115 minutes
Now Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
It’s always a bit depressing when you can imagine the entire pitch meeting that proceeded the making of a particular Hollywood film. I’m fairly confident the brainstorming session for Man of the Year went something like this: “How about Robin Williams as a wacky disc jockey?” asked the hack writer. “Nah, we already made that,” said the disinterested producer, staring out the window of his plush studio office. “Well, how about Robin Williams as a wacky doctor?” asked the writer, undaunted. “We already made that,” repeated the producer. “Oh. Um. Well then, what about Robin Williams as a wacky politician?” asked the writer, his voice rising in desperation. “That’s it!” shouted the producer, dollar signs suddenly flashing in his eyes. “You’re a genius!” Fade to black.
Sad as that little scenario is, that sort of “meeting of the minds” happens every day in Hollywood. And it’s the very thing that leads to crap like Man of the Year.
Back in 1987, director Barry Levinson (Diner, The Natural, Bugsy) built a popular war comedy around Robin Williams and his nonstop yapping. Good Morning Vietnam lacked practically any form of story or structure, but audiences didn’t seem to notice, what with Williams’ funny voices, imitations and constant rubber-faced antics. With Man of the Year, Levinson basically repeats the trick, crafting a slim excuse for Robin Williams to perform the same “ad libs” he’s been doing since “Comic Relief ‘87.” Williams plays Tom Dobbs, host of a late-night political comedy show (it’s fairly obvious that he’s supposed to be Jon Stewart from “The Daily Show”). So popular is Dobbs’ program that viewers begin begging him to run for president. On a lark, he does, drafting his manager (Christopher Walken) and his head writer (Lewis Black, natch) to help with his independent bid for office.
Thanks to a glitch in the new nationwide voting machines, Tom ends up getting elected president. Isn’t that crazy? Imagine what it would be like if Patch Adams became president! Imagine all the cartoonish antics that could transpire in the White House. Now keep imagining it. Because, at this point, Man of the Year totally abandons its sole humorous concept. Instead of telling the story of what would happen if a funny, tell-it-like-it-is man of the people became president of the United States, Man of the Year devolves into a cheesy political thriller. Seriously.
And so along comes Laura Linney (who should really know better) as an employee of the evil software company that built the voting machines. She’s discovered the glitch, but scheming company PR flack Jeff Goldblum (who at least does us the courtesy of underplaying his villainous role) doesn’t want that particular info leaked to the public. Naturally, he sets out to destroy the credibility of this dangerous whistleblower. This leads, rather preposterously, to a tacked-on romance between Williams and Linney that fails to convince for even a second. (For starters, she takes forever to get around to mentioning the fact that the election was flawed.) Basically, Linney and Goldblum look like they have been lifted from some cheap cable-TV thriller, while Walken and Black are mugging their way through a goofball comedy. Poor Williams is stuck in the middle, alternating his “Look, I can talk like a Jewish guy” shtick and his sappy “I won an Oscar for Good Will Hunting” melodramatics. Throw in a sentimental anti-smoking subplot that could have been spun off into a third movie, and you’ve got one painfully schizophrenic film.
Levinson did the whole political satire bit far better in 1997’s Wag the Dog. That film at least had a point to it. Man of the Year is so dulled-down, so simplified and so eager to please every single demographic that our hero is neither Republican nor Democrat. He’s an equal-opportunity punchline dispenser who’s most cutting political comments are “If you’re representing special interest groups, maybe we should be like NASCAR, with little patches on the back,” and “I just farted a little bit back there, if any of you were going to ask.”
Look at the state of American politics right now: We’ve got a never-ending war in the Middle East, a nuclear-armed North Korea and a Congress more interested in sleeping with pages than in passing laws. Is now really the appropriate time for a toothless, feel-good political satire? I vote no.
The Departed (R, 149 minutes) Martin Scorsese seriously reworks the 2002 Hong Kong hit Infernal Affairs, transferring the intense cops-and-robbers action from the Far East to the East Coast. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a fresh recruit from the Boston Police Academy who is put deep undercover in an Irish mob run by flamboyant gangster Jack Nicholson. At the same time, Nicholson has got his own undercover agent (Matt Damon) operating inside the police department. Much bloodshed erupts when our two moles are dispatched to find out each other’s identities. (Devin D. O’Leary) Playing at Regal Seminole Square Cinema 4
Employee of the Month (PG-13, 103 minutes) There are people who are rabid Dane Cook fanatics, reveling in his every inside joke and secretive hand gesture. And then there are those of us who think he’s a nice enough young fellow who has yet to actually say anything funny. Here, Cook continues searching for the bridge between standup comedy and acting. He plays a slacker employee at a warehouse store who suddenly gets ambitious after hearing that the hot new girl (Jessica Simpson) will gladly date the employee of the month. As far as Jessica Simpson is concerned, there are people out there who think she’s a talentless bimbo. And then there are… No, wait, that’s pretty much it. (D.O.) Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
Flags of Our Fathers (R, 132 minutes) James Bradley’s book about the Battle of Iwo Jima (and that famous flag photo) gets adapted by screenwriters Bill Broyles (Apollo 13, Jarhead) and Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby, Crash) and directed by Clint Eastwood. Not too shabby. Film follows the life stories of the six men who raised that famous flag. Amazingly, the film both celebrates the heroism of the battle and also deconstructs the government’s cynical PR manipulation of the event. Ryan Phillippe, Barry Pepper, Adam Beach and Jamie Bell are among the low-key cast. (D.O.) Coming Friday; check local listings
Flicka (PG) It’s safe to assume that roughly half the females in America have read Ma
ry O’Hara’s equestrian novel My Friend Flicka. Here’s another film version, this one starring Alison Lohman (White Oleander) as a rebellious teen who raises a wild mustang to prove to her father (real-life hick Tim McGraw) that she’s capable of taking over the family ranch. There’s lots of weeping and hugging and pretty shots of horses. Girls will love it. Boys, I’d advise you to remain in the parking lot and stomp on ketchup packages for 90 minutes. (D.O.) Coming Friday; check local listings
Flyboys (PG-13, 139 minutes) This resolutely old-fashioned, airborne action flick takes us back to the days of World War I where we get to watch cute young stud James Franco (Spider-Man) join up with the famed Lafayette Escadrille to fight the evil Red Baron (just like Snoopy). The film mixes every war movie cliché together with some state-of-the-art CGI. At least the WWI dogfights look impressive (if you’re into WWI dogfights). Plus, it features copious use of the word “fokker.” (D.O.) Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
The Grudge 2 (PG-13) Director Takashi Shimizu tackles his tale of vengeful ghosts for the sixth time (four films/remakes/sequels in Japan and two in America)! This one kills off the gal from the first American version (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and passes the ghostly curse off on her sister (Amber Tamblyn). As in previous installments, there’s more creepy atmosphere than outright horror, but the story is starting to take noticeable shape…assuming you’re not burned out on stringy black hair and little Japanese kids in pale makeup. (D.O.) Playing at Regal Seminole Square Cinema 4
The Guardian (PG-13, 136 minutes) Until now, Hollywood hasn’t given the Coast Guard the same sort of love it has extended to Marines or firemen or cops or Russian hit men. There just aren’t a lot of Coast Guard-based action films. Now, Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher are here to rectify the situation. Costner takes over the “gruff older instructor with an emotionally scarred background,” leaving Kutcher to play the “cocky but hunky new recruit with a lesson to learn.” The Guardian does a good job of showing how dangerous the jobs of Coast Guard rescue swimmers actually are, but at 136 minutes, Costner and Kutcher spend a little too much time sitting around and chatting. (D.O.) Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
The Illusionist (PG-13, 110 minutes) Edward Norton stars as a magician who, because of his apparent supernatural powers, becomes a threat to the Hapsburg empire in fin-de-siècle Vienna. The movie’s a love triangle that’s supposed to stir our passions, but it doesn’t quite get the job done, partly because Norton lacks hypnotic appeal and partly because the whole thing seems to be taking place inside a cardboard box. (Kent Williams) Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
Jackass Number Two (PG-13, 103 minutes) Sigh… Yes. They made a second one. Teenagers who love to pour hot sauce in their eyes, jump off buildings and kick each other in the nuts are super friggin’ stoked! Everyone else simply continues to mourn the slow, steady death of civilization. (D.O.) Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
Jet Li’s Fearless (PG-13, 103 minutes) Allegedly Jet Li’s final martial arts film (say it ain’t so, Jet!), this historical kung fu film was a major hit in its native China. Li plays the legendary Chinese martial arts hero Master Huo Yuanjia, the founder and spiritual guru of the Jin Wu sports federation (basically, the first organization to pit fighters agaisnt one another in one-on-one bouts). It ain’t a whole lot different than his other historical fight films (like Once Upon a Time in China) But the occassionally witty fight choreography keeps things punchy. (D.O.) Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
The Last King of Scotland (R, 121 minutes) This gritty biopic recounts the life of brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin as seen by his personal physician. (Yes, Amin did at one point declare himself King of Soctland.) Forest Whitaker (fresh off “The Shield”) gives a major performance, making Amin both monstrous and pitiful. The film’s jarring camerawork adds to the thrilling nature of this ugly but absorbing tale. (D.O.) Playing at Vinegar Hill Theatre
Little Miss Sunshine (R, 100 minutes) This pitch-black comedy features a strong cast (Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Steve Carell) in the story of a downwardly mobile Albuquerque family that can’t win for losing. Although the filmmakers sometimes press too hard on their theme about the hollowness of the American Dream, the movie often achieves a light, farcical tone that’s touchingly at odds with the mood everybody’s in. (K.W.) Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
Love’s Abiding Joy (PG) Directed by Michael Landon Jr., this depressing Western drama is the first release from the newly minted FoxFaith pictures. It’s based on the Christian book series by Janette Oke, and is basically “Little House on the Prairie,” only preachier. Inexpensive cast includes Stephen Bridgewater, Brianna Brown and Erin Cottrell. (Nope, I’ve never heard of ’em either.) Three previous films (Love Comes Softly, Love’s Enduring Promise, Love’s Long Journey) were shown on the Hallmark Channel. If you loved them… (D.O.) Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
Man of the Year (PG-13, 105 minutes) Reviewed on page 55. Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
Marie Antoinette (PG-13, 123 minutes) Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation) was roundly trashed at the Cannes Film Festival for this blithe adaptation of the life of France’s ill-fated queen. The hip cast (Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Asia Argento, Molly Shannon) and revisionist’s disregard for history won’t lure many Francophiles, but young viewers with a taste for eye candy and new wave pop tunes may have fun. Just don’t expect to pass your history test after watching this trendy biopic. (D.O.) Coming Friday; check local listings
The Marine (PG-13) Clearly, with the overabundance of intelligent, highbrow films flooding out of Hollywood these days, what the market really needs is more films produced by Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment. Here, we have pro wrestler John Cena (one-time “Dr. of Thugonomics”) as a marine who returns from battle to find his wife ensnared in a kidnapping plot. What’s a musclehead to do but kick lots of villainous ass? Sounds like the perfect thing for people who have worn out their DVD of Commando. (D.O.)
Open Season (PG, 86 minutes) Wow, Ashton Kutcher fans are certainly like pigs rolling in filth this week. Between this and The Guardian, there are two Kutcher films in which to wallow. Frankly, it seems like overkill—not unlike the dogpile of computer-animated animal movies we’ve been subjected to this summer. Here, Kutcher plays a cartoon deer who helps a domesticated grizzly bear (voiced by Martin Lawrence) to survive in the wild. Only complication: Hunting season starts in three days! (D.O.) Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
The Prestige (PG-13) Christopher Nolan (Memento, Batman Begins) rounds up a couple castmembers from Batman (Christian Bale, Michael Caine), mixes them in with a few new friends (Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, David Bowie) and gives them an unusual period drama/sci-fi/fantasy to play around in. Jackman and Bale play a couple of turn-of-the-century magicians/professional rivals. When Bale performs the ultimate trick, Jackman tries desperately to uncover the secret. Based on the novel by Christopher Priest. (D.O.) Coming Friday; check local listings
School for Scoundrels (PG-13, 97 minutes) Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) plays Roger, a moveless, grooveless young meter maid who signs up for a class in how to seduce women. There, he meets the devious Dr. P (Billy Bob Thornton), who helps our dorky hero and his fellow misfits unleash their inner cad. Unfortunately, Roger soon finds himself competing in a battle of wits against the underhanded Dr. P, who has taken a shine to the object of Roger’s affections (Jacinda Barrett from The Last Kiss). From writer/director Todd Phillips, who gave us Road Trip and Old School. (D.O.) Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
The Science of Sleep (R, 105 minutes) Director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) tries his hand at writing a trippy comedy/fantasy/romance. Gael García Bernal (Y Tu Mamá También) plays an insecure artist who moves to Paris to reconnect with his widowed mother and ends up falling in love with his charming neighbor (Charlotte Gainsbourg). Unable to express himself in his waking life, our hero soon escapes into the wiggy world of his dreams. I think. It’s actually pretty hard to tell what’s going on in this phantasmagoric mess. Whatever’s going on, it sure is a lovely, whimsy-filled head trip presenting Gondry in his most undiluted state. (D.O.) Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (R, 84 minutes) Ah, there’s nothing like beating a dead horse. And then stringing its corpse up in a garage and hitting it with a hammer and then cutting it up with a chainsaw and then eating it. The director of the crummy tooth fairy horror flick Darkness Falls attempts to cash in on the relative success of 2003’s TCM remake. In this prequel, a group of teens on a road trip breaks down in the middle of nowhere and is terrorized by an evil sheriff (R. Lee Ermey) and his twisted offspring. At least there’s lots and lots of blood and guts for you gorehounds out there. (D.O.) Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
