Every so often the best looking man in the Retired Orangemen
Fantasy Football League goes to the movies (yes, just like the
rest of you). Sometimes I go with one of my many lady friends.
Still other times I go with fellow ROFFL members. After viewing
these movies, I form an opinion. Here in a new column, exclusive
to retiredorangemen.com, is Five Second Stare at the Movies.
There are 5 ratings:
HANDSOME
GOOD-LOOKING
DECENT
IF I HAD A FEW DRINKS IN ME
GROSS
Fantasy Football League goes to the movies (yes, just like the
rest of you). Sometimes I go with one of my many lady friends.
Still other times I go with fellow ROFFL members. After viewing
these movies, I form an opinion. Here in a new column, exclusive
to retiredorangemen.com, is Five Second Stare at the Movies.
There are 5 ratings:
HANDSOME
GOOD-LOOKING
DECENT
IF I HAD A FEW DRINKS IN ME
GROSS
 |
This past Sunday, I walked into Christopher Guest’s new mockumentary,
“For Your Consideration,” with high expectations. I walked out of the
theatre let down, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the first two thirds of
the movie, and how good it was.
Christopher Guest starred in the film that created the entire
mockumentary genre, “This is Spinal Tap,” and that film still remains the
best of its kind. But, Guest has starred and directed in some really good
films, like “Waiting for Guffman” and “A Mighty Wind.” He also made the
laugh out loud, “Best in Show.”
In his previous films, he’s lampooned people from small towns, folk
singers and their fans, dogs, and the people who love them. This time
around he takes a shot at Hollywood and the people that occupy its
space.
This movie takes place on the set of a small independent film called,
“Home for Purim.” And on the set, is where we have the most fun. We
see the young actors (played by Christopher Moynihan and Parker
Posey, who I love) trying to establish themselves. Moynihan’s Brian
Chubb has even done some character research, though the director
(Guest) quickly points out how useless that stuff is. We also meet the
producer, Whitney Taylor Brown (Jennifer Coolidge, Stiffler’s Mom), who
provides us insight on picking the right cookies for craft services, and
choosing the film’s poster.
The long list of characters is the reason we like Christopher Guest’s
films. There is an “Access Hollywood” type team played by the hilarious
duo of Fred Willard and Jane Lynch, the screenwriters are played by Bob
Balaban and Michael McKean, and the executive producers are played
by Larry Miller and the genius Ricky Gervais.
However, unlike his previous films, this movie isn’t as much about the
ensemble cast. “For Your Consideration” pays closer attention to two
characters, the appropriately named Marilyn Hack (Catherine O’Hara)
and Victor Allen Miller (Harry Shearer). Both actors are getting older and
at their wits end. Then, out of the blue, something on the internet (the
one with e-mail) shows up. It appears that someone on the set of “Home
for Purim” thinks Marilyn deserves and Oscar nod. Soon, this “buzz”
becomes real and Hack and Miller appear on an early morning talk show.
This is where Miller gets Oscar consideration. Before you know it, this
annoying, little internet buzz has created mass hysteria, and massive
egos on the set.
Despite the concentration on the two elder characters, the movie is still
on the right path. I didn’t love the last act of the film though. I won’t
reveal the ending, but it is neither a surprise, nor satisfying. “Home for
Purim” is a ridiculous movie, and you never really believe in the Oscar
buzz. At first you laugh at how serious the actors on set are taking the
buzz, but when anchors on morning talk shows feed into the hype, “For
Your Consideration” becomes less believable, and that’s detrimental to a
mockumentary. The film leaves a lot of loose ends that will leave the
audience filling a bit empty.
That said though, the performances are first rate. Especially from O’Hara
(who will probably be nominated for Best Actress in a comedy at the
Golden Globes) and Shearer, whom everyone knows from “Spinal Tap”
and all of his voice work on “The Simpsons.” Parker Posey, as always, is
great and the team of Fred Willard and Jane Lynch hit pinch-hit
homeruns throughout the film. I also liked the cameo’s from Richard Kind
(“Mad About You,” “Spin City,” Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and Sandra Oh
(“Sideways,” “Grey’s Anatomy”) as the people in charge of the posters.
Still, when you go into a movie like “For Your Consideration,” you’re going
in to see a really smart comedy that keeps you smiling from beginning to
end. The film was smart, and was funny, from beginning to the 65th
minute.
“For Your Consideration,” with high expectations. I walked out of the
theatre let down, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the first two thirds of
the movie, and how good it was.
Christopher Guest starred in the film that created the entire
mockumentary genre, “This is Spinal Tap,” and that film still remains the
best of its kind. But, Guest has starred and directed in some really good
films, like “Waiting for Guffman” and “A Mighty Wind.” He also made the
laugh out loud, “Best in Show.”
In his previous films, he’s lampooned people from small towns, folk
singers and their fans, dogs, and the people who love them. This time
around he takes a shot at Hollywood and the people that occupy its
space.
This movie takes place on the set of a small independent film called,
“Home for Purim.” And on the set, is where we have the most fun. We
see the young actors (played by Christopher Moynihan and Parker
Posey, who I love) trying to establish themselves. Moynihan’s Brian
Chubb has even done some character research, though the director
(Guest) quickly points out how useless that stuff is. We also meet the
producer, Whitney Taylor Brown (Jennifer Coolidge, Stiffler’s Mom), who
provides us insight on picking the right cookies for craft services, and
choosing the film’s poster.
The long list of characters is the reason we like Christopher Guest’s
films. There is an “Access Hollywood” type team played by the hilarious
duo of Fred Willard and Jane Lynch, the screenwriters are played by Bob
Balaban and Michael McKean, and the executive producers are played
by Larry Miller and the genius Ricky Gervais.
However, unlike his previous films, this movie isn’t as much about the
ensemble cast. “For Your Consideration” pays closer attention to two
characters, the appropriately named Marilyn Hack (Catherine O’Hara)
and Victor Allen Miller (Harry Shearer). Both actors are getting older and
at their wits end. Then, out of the blue, something on the internet (the
one with e-mail) shows up. It appears that someone on the set of “Home
for Purim” thinks Marilyn deserves and Oscar nod. Soon, this “buzz”
becomes real and Hack and Miller appear on an early morning talk show.
This is where Miller gets Oscar consideration. Before you know it, this
annoying, little internet buzz has created mass hysteria, and massive
egos on the set.
Despite the concentration on the two elder characters, the movie is still
on the right path. I didn’t love the last act of the film though. I won’t
reveal the ending, but it is neither a surprise, nor satisfying. “Home for
Purim” is a ridiculous movie, and you never really believe in the Oscar
buzz. At first you laugh at how serious the actors on set are taking the
buzz, but when anchors on morning talk shows feed into the hype, “For
Your Consideration” becomes less believable, and that’s detrimental to a
mockumentary. The film leaves a lot of loose ends that will leave the
audience filling a bit empty.
That said though, the performances are first rate. Especially from O’Hara
(who will probably be nominated for Best Actress in a comedy at the
Golden Globes) and Shearer, whom everyone knows from “Spinal Tap”
and all of his voice work on “The Simpsons.” Parker Posey, as always, is
great and the team of Fred Willard and Jane Lynch hit pinch-hit
homeruns throughout the film. I also liked the cameo’s from Richard Kind
(“Mad About You,” “Spin City,” Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and Sandra Oh
(“Sideways,” “Grey’s Anatomy”) as the people in charge of the posters.
Still, when you go into a movie like “For Your Consideration,” you’re going
in to see a really smart comedy that keeps you smiling from beginning to
end. The film was smart, and was funny, from beginning to the 65th
minute.
 |