Charm and Romance In the Face of Danger

There is not a shred of believability in "Knight and Day", but I had an absolute blast. For 2 hours and 10 minutes, I gleefully suspended all logic and basked in the glory of the breathlessly exciting action sequences and the sexy, irresistible rapport of stars Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. Many action blockbusters annoy you with nothing but insanely farfetched chase scenes and clunky dialogue. Insanely farfetched chase scenes are at the very essence of "Knight and Day", but they are executed in such a wildly entertaining manner that it is easy to forgive the absence of anything approaching realism. And the dialogue is not clunky at all. Rather, Patrick O'Neill's screenplay is breezy and engaging. James Mangold's direction is fast and compelling, and "Knight and Day" is a richly satisfying action-comedy extravaganza.

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There will be no mention of plot in this review. Because let's face it, saying that the plot is important in a film like this is like saying that a sliver of parsley is the most important part of an entree. No, we don't enjoy going to movies like this for a coherent storyline, although to its credit, "Knight and Day" has a storyline that is far more intelligent than most films of its kind. We enjoy movies like this because they are just plain fun. The real secret behind the success of "Knight and Day", however, is the vibrant energy of the two leads.

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Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz are a match made in heaven on the big screen. Their chemistry in this film cannot be overstated. Though there is no overt sex in "Knight and Day", Diaz and Cruise crackle the screen with the type of sizzling romantic heat so rarely seen in movies these days, conjuring memories of their last collaboration, 2001's thrilling "Vanilla Sky". Their sexiness and energy together feels completely genuine, and that gives the movie a refreshing feel.

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You may be thinking that I am a hypocrite for recommending "Knight and Day". After all, how can I hate a movie like "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and like a movie like "Knight and Day", when both films rely on scenes of ridiculously implausible action. Well, that's simple. It is all about attitude. The soul-crushing, insufferably long disaster known as "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" carries itself with a smug seriousness that prevents any semblance of fun and humor from creeping into its gloomy corridors. "Knight and Day", however, is light on its feet, never taking itself too seriously. This allows viewers like me the chance to revel in all of the films gloriously impossible antics. On a scale of pure fun, it doesn't get much better than "Knight and Day".

Catching Up On What I Missed

Over the course of the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to catch up on some films that I have missed. Here are my quick takes:

"Get Him to the Greek": This sequel-of-sorts to the hysterical 2008 comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is 109 minutes of absolute chaos, and I mean that as a compliment. The great Russell Brand reprises his role as drug-addicted rock star Aldous Snow, and the very funny Jonah Hill plays the man responsible for bringing the wild rock star from London to Los Angeles in time for a special anniversary concert. Brand and Hill have terrific comic rapport, and Sean "Diddy" Combs is very funny as an egotistical record executive. "Get Him to the Greek" is hit-and-miss, often relying too heavily on cheap physical shtick. But even though this movie does not match the excellence of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", it is still a hilariously raunchy gem.

"Orphan": This 2009 horror movie is surprisingly involving, genuinely scary, and superbly acted. It is inevitable that a movie about an orphan from hell is bound to tread in some familiar waters, but "Orphan" does an admirable job of sidestepping cliches, for the most part. The movie does derail in its final act, as the climax is based on a somewhat laughable plot twist. But overall, I was thrilled throughout "Orphan", thanks in large part to the outstanding performances from Vera Farmiga, Peter Saarsgard, and Isabelle Fuhrman as the murderous orphan from hell.

"Role Models": This hard-R comedy starring Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott as two guys forced into being a Big Brother to two seemingly difficult kids is one of the funniest films in recent memory. Rudd (who also co-wrote the film) and Scott are hilarious, as is the great Jane Lynch in a priceless supporting role. In addition to delivering enormous laughs, "Role Models" also features moments of surprising heart and tenderness, all of which feel authentic.

"Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay": Ok, so I have already recommended two extremely raunchy comedies in "Get Him to the Greek" and "Role Models". Here comes a third raunchy comedy. However, unlike those two aforementioned films, "H & K Escape From Guantanamo Bay" is not funny at all. In fact, this is one of the most desperately unfunny, disgustingly offensive movies I have ever seen. In the words of the great Roger Ebert, I hated hated hated hated hated hated this movie.


So there you have it. I think "Role Models", "Orphan", and "Get Him to the Greek" are well worth your time. But please, whatever you do, stay away from the horrific "Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay".

The Pursuit of Happiness in the Malaise of Life

Here is a film that perfectly captures the angst and complexities of life, a film that resists the temptation to neatly wrap its characters in succinct stereotypes. "Please Give" understands the deeply flawed fabric of the human race. Every character in this movie is glaringly imperfect, but the movie does not ask us to judge or criticize these imperfections. Rather, we are simply asked to understand them. By expressing such a refreshing comprehension of life's realities, "Please Give" is one of the most authentic, moving films of the year. I love this movie.

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Catherine Keener and Oliver Platt star as Kate and Alex, a seemingly happy married couple living in New York City who make a living out of buying furniture from the children of the deceased and re-selling that furniture at a higher price. Beneath the surface, however, Kate and Alex are consumed with angst and guilt. Kate views her profession as unethical, and is thus confounded by a moral dilemma, a dilemma that she attempts to reconcile by constantly giving money to the homeless, a self-serving habit that frustrates her plucky, insecure teenage daughter Abby (Sarah Steele). Alex, meanwhile, is guilt-ridden the moment he starts an affair with the snarky, sexy granddaughter (Amanda Peet) of his cranky next-door neighbor.

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I have just briefly glossed over the plot, but I will go no further in plot description, because part of the magic of "Please Give" is in its subtle nuance and surprise. This film does not follow down the familiar path that one might expect from a movie like this. Writer-director Nicole Holofcener does a beautiful job of taking the viewer in unexpected directions. "Please Give" deals with some pretty gloomy material, but thanks to Holofcener's mastery and maturity, the end result is life-affirming.

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Holofcener is aided by the strength of her superb cast. Catherine Keener, appearing in her fourth Holofcener film, is magnificent. Keener never ceases to amaze me with her impeccable ability to show the bare emotions of her tormented characters. The same can be said of Oliver Platt, one of the world's greatest, most under-appreciated actors. Platt gives one of the best performances of his career here as a man who can't seem to reason why he started an affair when his marriage is so functional. Amanda Peet is spectacular as a woman who is eventually forced to self-evaluate her superficial lifestyle. Rebecca Hall is a revelation as a woman who is emotionally worn down by the demands of caring for her curmudgeonly grandmother. And Sarah Steele is wonderful as the adolescent daughter who is plagued with self-doubt. All of the aforementioned actors give "Please Give" a genuine feel.

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The movie industry frequently tackles the issues of angst and family dysfunction, and often the result is dissatisfying and self-indulgent. But "Please Give" is a masterpiece, a movie that personifies the complicated essence of life.