comment #1

bipedalist says ...

"journo-critics to always try to say something nice in order to keep things mellow and respectful"

That wasn't exactly what I said. I said you shouldn't write something about how someone was nasty just because they weren't nice to you, as in, "he wouldn't let me take his picture so screw him." Obviously, journos are almost always out for blood - that's fine, just don't make it be about perks and favors in order that nice things be written.

comment #2

rocco says ...

why validate this movie? The people who read your blog aren't likely to see it anyway...Is there nothing else to write about? Too early for rhetorical 'Sicko' sycophantism? Ugh, better just keep my mouth shut...

comment #3

PhilVillarreal says ...

Pipe down, delbomber. Jeff's review of "Are We Done Yet?" was one of the funniest I've read from any critic this year. The man's feeling it so don't mess with his mojo.

comment #4

tholl-yung says ...

I've spent half my life unlearning what Mom taught me, "Don't be nasty to someone just because they weren't nice to you."

Here's a cool bone thrown to the movie: "if not for Long's implausibly patient but good-natured Suzanne, there wouldn't be a recognizably human character in the film (although the crew of blind plumbers is a good joke)." John Anderson, Variety, who also cracked me up with, "'Are We Done Yet?' -- one of the more loaded movie titles in recent memory...."

I'm so serious, reading the right critics is so much better than seeing so many movies today (i.e. more entertaining, less time consuming, less aggravating, cheaper). I'm including Wells' criticism on this one -- and not a nice word anywhere in it -- so there, Mom.

for completeness sake
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117933273.html?categoryid=31&cs=1

comment #5

rocco says ...

Jeff's review had some utility...but the point of the follow-up "plunger deathblow" is....?

comment #6

Craig Kennedy says ...

"the follow-up 'plunger deathblow' is..."

...par for the HE course.

I feel your pain Delbomber, believe me I do. But at what point does registering your frustration about Wells spitting in the wind become....well...spitting in the wind?

This is a rhetorical question really because I'm sure by tomorrow he'll piss me off about something and I'll be back to doing the same thing.

Please enjoy my brief moment of Zen for what it is however.

comment #7

bipedalist says ...

I would think that anyone who requires special treatment from Hollywood or else is in serious need of a big picture reality check. But hey, by all means, if you're in it for the perks - that's just dandy.

comment #8

RoyBatty says ...

I'm with Delbomber on this - so far not a single HE reader has chimed in with "I dunno, looked kinda funny to me..."

Meanwhile, Paul Verhoeven returns to his native Dutch after burning out on Hollywood to make a film (the biggest hit in Dutch history) that opens today and Wells has dick to say about it.

Maybe I'm now in a minority here, but I starting reading Wells less for the snarky comments and more because he seemed to want to highlight what was worth seeing in both current and classic cinema. There was only the occassional bitch-fest about supremely superficial things like actresses tits or shoe styles.

But these days, it's bitch-bitch-bitch-bitch. KILLER OF SHEEP hits DVD, but Wells wants to spend post after post about Rose McGowan fucking her director. Both ALL THAT JAZZ and the original BEDAZZLED were re-issued yesterday, but Wells was distracted by ARE WE DONE YET, Clooney on Obama and spoken word readings.

comment #9

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Batty: "All That Jazz" has some great dance moments, but is emotionally smug, unsubtle (that doctor's examination scene is pathetic) and not very complex. Bob Fosse never had that much to say except that for the usual cynical-urban attitude that we're all far from God and out for ourselves and so on, but he was a major-landmark choreographer and he made Gwen Verdon and a lot of other dancers look slinky and sexy and memorable as hell. I saw the DVD the other day and my arousal levels were nil. And I never felt that strongly about "Bedazzled." I know it has a cult following of sorts, but I would definitely survive if I was told I can never see it again.