comment #1

Terry McCarty says ...

The LAFF kicks off this evening at the Mann Village with a screening of Universal's Wanted -- an extremely crude porno-violent "entertainment" and therefore something of a curious choice for the launch of a festival that supports cinematic values and aspirations that are not evident in this selection.

But it makes the Industry and sponsor LOS ANGELES TIMES happy that LAFF is willing to premiere ultracommercial fare--remembering last year's Village Theater screening of TRANSPORTERS.

comment #2

Terry McCarty says ...

Sorry, TRANSFORMERS.

comment #3

craigfinn says ...

I'm a little surprised at your reaction to WANTED, Jeff. Have you actually seen it or is this your impression of it from the ads? It might not be an art-flick, but it's a solid piece of entertainment which earns a hard R but doesn't feel "porno-violent."

comment #4

CinemaPhreek says ...

Yet last year the opening night film (and I know because I was there) was TALK TO ME, which is far more apropos for a film festival that otherwise is showcasing more independent fare.

On the other hand, last night's IFC movie in the coveted 8pm slot was that critical darling BODY OF EVIDENCE, so it's not like Film Independent is renowned for their integrity.

comment #5

Luke Y. Thompson says ...

They're promoting both WANTED and closer HELLBOY II as being from highly acclaimed foreign directors, which is of course technically true, but perhaps misleading.

comment #6

Gabriel says ...

If much of the footage contained in the "Wanted" trailers appears in the film itself, then I don't see how it could escape the tag of "porno-violent".

comment #7

gruver1 says ...

Wells to craigfinn: Yes, I saw most of Wanted at last night's all-media. You're telling me it's "a solid piece of entertainment"? Then how, may I ask, would you rate truly first-rate action thrillers like Collateral, The Matrix and The Bourne Supremacy on this scale? You have to have some sense of proportion, some concept of good and bad...some kind of standard of measurement or nothing means anything, and in my book anyone who calls Wanted a solid piece of entertainment has his head jammed up his ill-informed ass...truly.

This is one of the rankest, crudest, least artful impact-for-impact's-sake thrillers of all time -- certainly one of the least original and most vulgar I've ever suffered through. All good action has a system of logic (causes and effects) that it adheres to -- this has none at all. It reeks of brute grotesque Russian machismo through and through. It's made for the idiots and gorillas who need to be gut-slammed by sound and eye-flash in order to pay attention or "get" anything, lest they go back to their phones and text-messaging. It has no grace or wit and style -- certainly none of its own. The beginning (the bones & the set-up) is so similar to The Matrix that the Wachowski should at least be irate.

Plus it trots out Morgan Freeman as the wise older guy for the 14th time over the last five years. It flaunts crude CG at the drop of a hat, and uses sound as a blunt and aggressive instrument. It believes (as did the Mark Millar/J.G. Jones six-part graphic novel) that an ancient order of assassins is a good thing that promotes justice and righteousness. (In what realm is this true?) It's another sledge-hammer rocket slam to the castle of Good Cinema.

Director Timur Bekmambetov, the Russian behind the two Nightwatch movies, is another Michael Bay acolyte who believes in one rank assault -- hit me! hit me! yes! -- after another. He isn't fit to shine Michael Mann or Paul Greengrass's boots.

comment #8

BurmaShave says ...

Since a guy posted here under the handle Craigfinn, I'd like to take this moment to say The Hold Steady's STAY POSITIVE is one of the best records of the year. As is Lil Wayne's CARTER III

comment #9

mjn says ...

Both trades just put up their raves for Wanted Don't feel bad craigfinn, Wells just trying to Gaslight you.

comment #10

mjn says ...

Both trades just put up their raves for Wanted Don't feel bad craigfinn, Wells was just trying to Gaslight you.

comment #11

mjn says ...

Sorry for the double post.

comment #12

PastePotPete says ...

"It believes (as did the Mark Millar/J.G. Jones six-part graphic novel) that an ancient order of assassins is a good thing that promotes justice and righteousness."

Except that there is no "ancient order of assassins" in the comic. In the comics the group is a bunch of supervillains who killed all the superheroes and took over the earth. And they're not exactly "promoting justice."

comment #13

LexG says ...

This sounds like it's going to FUCKING OWN YOUR ASS.

Jeff's review just made it sound all the more FUCKING AWESOME.

Violence and bombast for their own sake in movies FUCKING RULE. If it's half as awesome as SMOKIN' ACES, CRANK or RUNNING SCARED then it's a masterpiece.

All respect to the Gruver here, but that review sounded like squeamish-ass KEN TURAN.

Sometimes MOTHERFUCKERS NEED TO GET OWNED, and it rules to watch.

comment #14

LexG says ...

Let me ammend that by adding that if I have to see James Wackavoy fronting a movie one more time, especially one where he's paired with some WORLD-CLASS HOTNESS (Jolie, Keira, Hathaway, The Spoon and Ricci)...

It'd OWN if this had a different leading man.

Otherwise, it looks like GOOD-LOOKING MOTHERFUCKERS LAYING LAWS, which is what it's all about.

comment #15

quitstaringatme says ...

Yeah, there is no pretense in the comic series that the characters are forces of good or justice, they're fascists who get to do what they want. I'm really curious to see how faithful the adaptation is, didn't McAvoy's character kill an entire police squad just because he's bored?

comment #16

craigfinn says ...

To Wells: I'd call the films you've named exceptional thrillers. You do recognize the difference between "solid" and "exceptional" don't you? I'm assuming you have a sense of proportion yourself.

And if you're going to bring up the comic series, have you even read them? Based on your description, I'm guessing not.

comment #17

frankbooth says ...

Burma,
How does it compare to Boys and Girls in America?

comment #18

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