#2,082: Oblivion

The Score - ★★½☆☆
I was surprised to see how recent this movie is. It feels dated the way a genre classic can sometimes feel dated – although it does a lot of what it does well, the films that came after reused and built upon its foundations, leaving modern audiences expecting more layers – except this isn't a genre-defining classic. It feels too easy. Like the last act is missing.

The Most Dangerous Game - ★★★★☆
A classic story told in a way that may feel dated today, but is still pretty fun and effective. Refreshing to see plot points that would be soaked in irony today played with some authenticity.

The Orphanage - ★★★★★
This movie is just full of things that I like.

For one, the trading game they play. I always like when adventure game-like elements turn up in a movie. For another, this movie has a spectacular bus hit.

Best of all, although I don't think of myself as a hardcore skeptic, the skeptic part of me loves that there's a movie like this one, a horror movie, and maybe a ghost story, where there's nothing supernatural going on.

I'd forgotten a lot of the opening to the movie, and how Simon says all these things that seem ominous in a scary movie, but probably aren't that weird for an imaginative kid to say. It's great how often the filmmakers are just screwing around with the audience, using the language of movies to insinuate things that aren't there. We get the benefit of Laura's confused, desperate, maybe drug-addled perspective.

Oblivion - ★★☆☆☆
I don't know what this film was really about. It seems like there were several more interesting stories going on just off-camera at any time. The exposition to plot ratio is enormous. This feels like Cruise's first try at satisfying the sci-fi, video gamey itch that didn't get scratched until Edge of Tomorrow

The best way to get extras for your movie

My pal Etta Devine, an independent filmmaker, writes a regular column about–of all things–independent filmmaking, and I just noticed that I'm name-checked in the most recent installment. Click through to read her one weird trick for getting a bunch of extras to show up, or scroll down for an excerpt of the set I performed while her crew set up the camera equipment, or just marvel to yourself at this infinite loop of internet we've created by linking to each other's things where we link to each other.

Dogs and cats, acting together!

It's truly the end of days. Last days of 2014 anyhow.

Here's another promo for the Antaeus Theater Company, written and directed by Diani & Devine and starring a bunch of actor and their pets, including but not limited to the wonderful sounding Robert Pine, and 24's President Logan, Gregory Itzin.

And edited by me!

#2,080: Steamboat Bill, Jr.

Whiplash - ★★★★★
Just a few days after watching Gone Girl. What a week! Some intriguing editorial decisions that make me want to watch it again. Little bit of fridge logic towards the end, but I love when someone in a movie is good at something, so any nitpicks are more than made up for.
     
Todd Barry: The Crowd Work Tour - ★★½☆☆
Fun, but a little bit unsatisfying. The collection of scenes don't carry the rhythm of a live set, and I hope the interstitials are in-jokes. In some ways, this kind of thing is subject to the same troubles as filming improv scenes. I think that I think this should be a touring act, but it probably shouldn't be a movie.

Sherlock, Jr. - ★★★★☆
From the stunts to the match cuts to the writing of jokes that hold up, this is fantastic work.

Steamboat Bill, Jr. - ★★★☆☆
A little bit slower, a little bit less fun than Sherlock Jr. More emphasis on narrative, and yet it all feels like a prelude to the storm setpiece this movie was probably built around. To be fair, the storm and rescues that follow are terrific, and worth watching for. Also, the accompaniment was a little bit too clever in the version I watched.

The Stand-up Comedy, circa 2014

Last weekend I had a good set in front of a great crowd right here in Los Angeles, at Meltdown Comics, which has been like my comedic home for the past few years.

My thanks to the crew of Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse, for giving me the stage time and for using their fancy filmmaking equipment to shoot this video while I did it.