Dinner For Schmucks

Submitted by Aaron Weiss on Sat, 08/21/2010 - 21:35
A Full Serving of Classic Screwball

Dinner for SchmucksBest Screwball in Years

When you enter a screening with low excitement for a film, you gain a bias objective view that is just as detrimental than if you entered with the highest expectations. When that low expectation is turned around entirely, and the film you are watching features an amusing and decent story, it reminds you that the element of surprise is still a powerful beast.

Dinner For Schmucks has all the elements that many modern comedies have, elements which failed miserably, however this 2010 comedy is able to hold it all together, even throughout the end.

Tim Conrad (Paul Rudd) is invited to a "dinner for winners" where he must bring an eccentric guest; the most talented odd-ball guest receives a trophy and the 'winner' is allowed to bask in executive glory. The day after Tim's wedding proposal is rejected by his girlfriend, he accidentally hits IRS employee Barry Speck (Steve Carell) with his car. Tim finds Barry unharmed, and realizes that Barry has the quirk and odd-ball talent Tim needs for the dinner.

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On a Furlough

Submitted by Aaron Weiss on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 17:44

Missing Reel

Ladies and Gentleman, I will be in the process of moving Savannah, GA in the next week to prepare for the Savannah College of Art & Design Cinema Studies graduate program. Do not expect any content during this time as I will be moving, and patiently waiting for my internet connection to be installed.

I will be back, however, with several reviews and posts to catch up on lost time.

Confessions - Part 1

Submitted by Aaron Weiss on Mon, 08/09/2010 - 09:17

Yep, pretty much sums it up.

Today I have a confession to make. One that a chronic film goer like myself should not admit often. I feel that it is necessary, as it reveals some truths in modern action films, or at least, some revelations about myself.

I fall asleep during action films. Many of them.

I try not to. I do want to watch the movie I paid to see. I simply can not stay awake towards the end of the second act of most action films.

I often nod off for just a minute or so. During car chases, gun fights, computer hacking sequences, and many other cliche sequences. The moment legitimize plot points cease, so does my consciousness.

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Cinema's Depiction of Dieter Dengler

Submitted by Aaron Weiss on Thu, 08/05/2010 - 19:17

Little Dieter Needs to FlyLoyalty and Bravery has never been so Inspiring

Last night on The Daily Show (August 4th, 2010), Jon Stewart interviewed Bruce B. Henderson author of the new non-fiction book Hero Found: The Greatest POW Escape of the Vietnam War, which is about Dieter Dengler, a Vietnam prisoner of war who escaped, twice.

I was not necessarily paying attention to the interview until the events discussed reminded me of a documentary. It was not until I heard the name 'Dieter' that I was instantly reminded of a favorite documentary of mine, Little Dieter Needs to Fly.

I'll never forget the story of Dieter, a man who grew up as a child in Germany during WWII, and eating boiled wallpaper for the minuscule amounts of nutrients. He grew up that poor.

Not only has Dieter's story been told in print form, in 1997 the Werner Herzog documentary Little Dieter Needs to Fly and the 2007 Herzog directed Rescue Dawn is also based on Dieter's inspiring journey.

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