If you build it, it will fly

"October Sky"
Overall Rating: ****


There are two things that happen surprisingly infrequently in modern movies: people giving up on a bad film and walking out halfway through, and people applauding a good film. "October Sky" got a standing ovation from about a half dozen people--and deserved it.

Homer Hickum (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a high school boy in a small West Virginia coal-mining town. He never really thought about the future until October 4, 1957--when he sees Sputnik fly overhead. Inspired by the sight, he decides to try and build his own rocket. With the encouragement of his teacher, Miss Riley (Laura Dern), and the help of his best friends Roy Lee (William Lee Scott) and O'Dell (Chad Lindberg), and additional help from his new-found friend, the class nerd Quinton (Chris Owen), he sets out to build rockets. It seems inevitable that they will manage to build a rocket that doesn't blow up on the launch pad. The real question is whether Homer's father (Chris Cooper), the mine foreman, will ever come to terms with his son's rocketry.

The story of Homer's attempts to build rockets is engrossing. Amusing at times, exciting at others, "October Sky" pulls you in completely. The interesting story is only bolstered by the filmmakers' attention to detail. Music from 1950's and carefully constructed sets make give the film a good feel--if you didn't know better, you might even think the film was made in the 50's. Perhaps the best, though most subtle, touch: when Homer is launching his rockets, it's sunny, yet most of the shots of the mine are at night or in the rain.

Chris Cooper is very good as John Hickum. His character is proud of how he has advanced in the mine, and doesn't see a way for his son to get out of the mining town. As the one person in town who doesn't understand his son, a lesser actor could have made him odious, but he isn't; he simply doesn't understand, regards his son's hopes as foolish, and doesn't want to see him let down. Jake Gyllenhaal is also amazing. He is young, but that doesn't keep him from turning in a skillful performance.

The main problem with "October Sky" is a confusing situation towards the end. Without giving away the end, Homer's father does something to help him, though it isn't completely clear how what he does is a necessary prerequisite for what Homer needs. Its own promotion is a huge problem, giving away what happens to Homer. The movie also condones a theft by Homer and his friends; though the fact that the story is based on a true story, and the fact that what is stolen is abandoned by its owner and beyond the means of the youthful thieves are both mitigating circumstances.

Despite these problems, "October Sky" is a very good choice for the whole family. There is little bad language, only nominal violence, and very little sexual content. The thematic content may be too intense for very young children. Yet Homer, on balance, is an admirable character who manages to follow his dreams but also assumes responsibility when his family needs him. The adventure and comic aspects balance the heavier moments, and the youthful but mature hero probably all make the film a good choice for kids.

Its commercials compare "October Sky" to "Field of Dreams." Though "October Sky" lacks the fantasy aspects of "Field of Dreams," the two films are very similar in feel, and if you liked "Field of Dreams," you'll like "October Sky." It's an interesting film that, like Homer's rockets, reaches great heights.

Title: October Sky
Release date: February 19, 1999

MPAA rating: PG
Overall rating: ****

Aprox. run time: 108 min.
Director: Joe Johnston
Writer: Lewis Colick, Homer H. Hickum Jr. (book)
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper

Original URL: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Mansion/7045/OctSky.htm

Added to blog site: 8/3/09

Cubicle squared

"Office Space"
Overall Rating: ***


Some years ago (probably close to a decade), a man in Texas got an animation kit for Christmas. Among other people, he drew two kids he knew from school. Through several incarnations, these friends (or perhaps ex-friends) of his became known to the world as "Beavis and Butthead." Subsequently, Mike Judge co-created the TV show "King of the Hill," lampooning the redneck lifestyle. Now, he invades Dilbert's traditional territory and attacks the modern office in "Office Space."

If you think you have the cubicle job from Hell, you should compare yours to Peter Gibbons' (Ron Livingston). Peter braves rush hour traffic every morning to go to work at Initech--a computer company--where his biggest problem is his obnoxious boss (Gary Cole) who complains about minutiae and later demands Peter come in on both Saturday and Sunday. Trying to relieve some of his job-dissatisfaction, Peter goes to an occupational hypnotherapist. The therapist hypnotizes him so Peter will relax and not worry about his job. Unfortunately, before he can snap his fingers and bring Peter back to Earth, the therapist has a heart attack and dies. This leaves a carefree Peter to go back to the cubicles and wreak havoc.

Mike Judge must know his way around a cubicle. There are plenty of jokes before Peter changes, such as being outpaced in rush-hour traffic by a man on a walker, and even Peter's best friends' names cause problems: Michael Bolton--no relation to the singer he hates--and Samir--with the last name no one can pronounce (played by David Herman and Ajay Naida respectively). After the hypnosis, Peter taps into every office worker's dark side. From ignoring his boss, to smashing a troublesome printer with a baseball bat, to removing a cubicle wall to permit him to see out the window, Peter does what all office workers probably wish they could do on those bad days, and he even manages to corrupt his girlfriend Joanna (Jennifer Aniston) and his co-workers Michael and Samir.

Most of the actors are adequate to good, without really standing out. At least early on, Ron Livingston is likable while still being something of a wimp (later on, the character becomes less likable--though his more outrageous behavior balances this with jokes); he makes the transition from being stressed out to being mellow very well. Stephen Root is also good as Milton, a man who is frustrated with being moved from cubicle to cubicle.

The sad truth is, beyond being a vent for cubicle angst, there's not much to like about "Office Space." The cinematography is bland, special effects and stunts are non-existent. Worse, Peter becomes an unsympathetic character by stealing and by picking a fight with Joanna. The plot, while funny, is thin. Even the jokes at the heart of "Office Space" are empty; after all, how long can you laugh about Peter throwing fish guts into a stack of reports?

To be honest, I'm not sure why "Office Space" is rated R. It has a fair amount of bad language and sexual innuendo, and one shot of a topless woman (on a television set). Nonetheless, the PG-13 "Titanic," with even its limited violence, is worse. I don't think "Office Space" is really suitable for children, but it probably would be all right for teenagers (if you want to risk having them see a movie with a highly rebellious tone).

Despite its problems, if you have ever not completely enjoyed your office job--or perhaps came within two seconds of smashing your computer to bits--then you'll probably enjoy "Office Space." It's shallow, but it's still entertaining for an hour and a half. Don't tell your boss, but "Office Space" is funny.


Title: "Office Space"
Release date: February 19, 1999

MPAA rating: R
Overall rating: ***

Aprox. run time: 89 min.
Director: Mike Judge
Writer: Mike Judge
Stars: Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston


Original URL: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Mansion/7045/Office.htm
Added to blog site: 8/3/09

Men are from Mars, women are from Venus, and movie critics are from Pluto.

"My Favorite Martian"
Overall Rating: ****


"The Fugitive" and "Star Trek," followed by "My Favorite Martian," with "The Mod Squad" coming up: it reads like a TV Guide from the 1960's, but it could just as well be a movie list from the 90's. Some years ago, Hollywood decided that tapping into old television show ideas was a better source for unoriginal movies than making a 23rd installment of "Friday the 13th." (Though before we breathe a sigh of relief, one of this summer's movies is "Freddy Meets Jason"--so they really haven't stopped with the sequels, either.) Fortunately, while "My Favorite Martian" may be an old idea, the new treatment works well.

The opening shot of "My Favorite Martian" really sets the tone: as we watch a Pathfinder-like probe break down while focusing in on a rock, we hear a voice-over saying how well spent three trillion dollars were as we see the city skyline just beyond the rock. Meanwhile, back on Earth, Tim O'Hara (Jeff Daniels) is a news producer who has just upset the anchorwoman, Brace Channing (Elizabeth Hurley)--who is also his boss's daughter. His job in jeopardy, he sees the chance to redeem himself when he witnesses a spaceship crash on a beach, but when the ship's occupant, "Uncle Martin" (Christopher Lloyd) shrinks his ship, Brace thinks it's a toy, and that the trip to the beach was only a ploy to get a date--which insures that Tim will be fired. Of course, Martin will want his ship back from Tim, Tim will want his job back, and the government will want Martin.

The whole movie is pure silliness. I doubt there are five minutes in the film where you're not laughing. Martin has all sorts of advanced technology and abilities besides the ship and the device that shrinks it; of course, these things will cause all sorts of trouble. Then, there are the "not from around here" jokes. Even numerous subtle references to Mars (such as camera shots of a Mars Bar wrapper and the book "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus") become jokes.

What makes most of these jokes work are the actors. Wallace Shawn, who plays a S.E.T.I. scientist who wouldn't know an alien if he saw one, is a delightful comic villain. Elizabeth Hurley is also wonderful playing a reporter who is so egocentric she doesn't realize that she's completely incompetent (think Ted Baxter from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show")--yet she is determined to break the story that Martians are on Earth. Though both of them are wonderful, Christopher Lloyd really makes the movie come alive. As in "Back to the Future" and "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" he plays an eccentric character, but this time, he is the central character. This only allows him to shine.

The truth is that if you think about it, most of "My Favorite Martian" doesn't make sense. How could NASA mistake a car-sized spaceship for a comet, or miss obvious signs of life on Mars? The ending also resorts to Deus ex machina, which was disappointing (though it's made up when we see the villains get their just desserts). And let's face it, it's based on an old TV show, so it isn't exactly original. Except for the good acting, good special effects, and the fact that it makes you laugh almost for it's entire length, "My Favorite Martian" doesn't have much going for it.

There is some innuendo, a little partial nudity, some violence (including a bad guy getting killed by an alien), and a fair amount of bad language. The PG rating for "My Favorite Martian" is accurate; young children may find it too scary in places or may pick up inappropriate language, but it should be OK for older children; indeed, kids seem to be the target audience, with the cartoon at the beginning being the main indication.

Though it may be intended for kids, "My Favorite Martian" is still clever and funny. In short, so far for 1999, "My Favorite Martian" is my favorite movie.




Title: "My Favorite Martian"
Release date: February 12, 1999

MPAA rating: PG
Overall rating: ****

Aprox. run time: 95 min.
Director: Donald Petrie
Writers: Sherri Stoner, Deanna Oliver
Stars: Jeff Daniels, Christopher Lloyd

Original URL: http://www.geocities.com/reviewsbyjohn/MARTIAN.HTM
Added to blog site: 7/30/09 (with minor editing)

"Payback" owes you a better movie.

"Payback"
Overall Rating: **½


Sometimes, good people will still root for the bad guy. When Philip Johnson stole $22 million in an armored car robbery, at least one person I know said something to the effect of "I know it's wrong, but I still kinda hope he gets away with it;" the embarrassing thing is I felt the same way. Moviemakers will sometimes take advantage of this: "Topkapi," "A Clockwork Orange," "Pulp Fiction," and last year's "Wild Things" all had "heros" who were anything but heroic. In a less than completely successful way, "Payback" joins this class of films where you're supposed to root for the bad guy.

Porter (Mel Gibson) is a thief. He and Val Resnick (Gregg Henry) have planned a heist together, and together, steal $140,000 from the Chinese mob. Val, however, needs $130,000 to rejoin the crime syndicate, and giving Porter "his" half of the money doesn't fit his needs. So, Val uses a photo to convince Porter's wife (Deborah Kara Unger) that Porter has been unfaithful, so she'll shoot him in the back. But Porter isn't killed, and he returns for his half of the loot--$70,000.

Many aspects of "Payback" work well. There are a few good action shots; the one that comes to mind is the initial heist; Porter and Val know the mobsters always drive down a particular alley, and notice that they don't wear their seatbelts--so they drive down the alley the other way, and slam head-on into them. Having it's share of well done stunts and special effect explosions, "Payback" won't let you down on that count.

The story is also well told. It's perfectly clear why Porter wants the money back. Porter getting shot in the back when he's betrayed was a nice touch. Most of the movie's best moments, however, are comic. Let's face it, the whole premise of a man taking on an entire organized crime syndicate to get $70,000 back--as Porter does--is so absurd that it's comical. I could follow "Payback" and even found it entertaining in places.

The big problem, however, is that Porter is simply not a sympathetic character. Mel Gibson tries to make Porter charming, but it doesn't work. In fact, there's nobody in the film who's really likable. When you dislike all the characters, it's hard to care about what happens to them.

Beyond the lack of likeable characters, the film has a few other problems. A few things don't make sense, such as why Porter--a career thief--keeps asking for only $70,000 dollars rather than actively trying to steal more. In addition, while the violence may have been justified by the story, some of the sexual content and much bad language was simply gratuitous.

"Payback" is entertaining in places, but that's about all I can say for it. I have mixed feelings about it--I didn't like it but I didn't really dislike it either. "Payback" is not worth $70,000, but you won't demand that the box office pay you back, either.


Title: "Payback"
Release date: February 5, 1999

MPAA rating: R
Overall rating: **½

Aprox. run time: 101 min.
Director: Brian Helgeland
Writers: Terry Hayes, Brian Helgeland, Donald E. Westlake (novel, as Richard Stark)
Stars: Mel Gibson, Maria Bello (plays Rosie)

Original URL: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Mansion/7045/payback.htm

Added to blog site: 8/4/09