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100 out of 144 people found the following review useful: Fun film, though script is lacking, 25 February 2008 Author: mrtimlarabee from United States
Michel Gondry is a very talented filmmaker especially when it comes to visuals. His music videos and films go beyond simple video marvels into a world of simple visual trickery. This is something Gondry is very good at. Furthermore, he has a do it yourself mantra when it comes to filmaking. He's not into the marvels of CGI. He's more into what you can do without it.But it takes a little more than visual trickery to make a film a success. Be Kind Rewind is a prime example. The film starts off well enough. Mos Def helps run a video store owned by Danny Glover's character. The store is probably one of the last remaining stores catering to VHS. Jack Black is Mos Def's left of center friend who works at an electrical plant. Through some plan to sabotage the plant, he becomes magnetic, erasing all the tapes.Our heroes are forced to re-record the movies and do it through a process called "sweding," producing 10-15 minute versions of the film, using a wide array of do it yourself techniques that Gondry himself has utilized in his work. An example is a simple trick where filming through a fan makes the film look old. All of this is fun. The way the guys try to truncate the film's stories into a little time or their lack of knowledge regarding some films like Driving Miss Daisy. the crude effects are fun and are prime examples of why we love Michel Gondry.The downside to the film is the script, penned by Gondry. Clearly, the film is built around the sweded films. But I was starting to think that watching the sweded films would've been more fun than watching Be Kind Rewind itself. Gondry never fully fleshes out his characters or resolves some of the subplots. The visuals are fun, but when Gondry's forced to wrap up the movie, it becomes a little sporadic and we start to realize the the film doesn't go much beyond its rich concept.There is something great to take away from this film. And while I have some reservations about the film, my recommendation for the film is based on Gondry's filmaking vision. That is to say, there is clearly a joy of filmaking associated with Gondry that will have me continue to look forward to his work. If you're not sure what I mean, take a look at his promotional materials or at his other short films. The man loves filmaking and has fun with this movie. However, I'd recommend he build an alliance with some good screenwriters that would help his visions become fully realized, and not just good natured diversions, as this film is.
129 out of 211 people found the following review useful: Funny and endearing movie from Gondry, 21 January 2008 Author: (bard@hellobard.com) from London, England
The trailer really said it all about this film, and the film delivers everything it promises! What a great concept and how great a story we got from Gondry this time. Very accessible (unlike Science of Sleep) and entertaining from beginning to end. Jack Black and Mos Def play their parts well and the aforementioned is actually funny in this one, unlike a lot of his recent work. At the core of it all, Be Kind Rewind tells a great story about how you don't really need high-tech equipment to make movies. Who needs film-school when you've got your friends and a cheap camera? I really enjoyed this film.
81 out of 127 people found the following review useful: Lovely, charming, original and not too sweet, 22 February 2008 Author: shomethemovie from United States
I missed this film at Sundance, caught it as soon as possible, and I wasn't disappointed. Despite being privy to the exhaustive fine-tuning of an indie film with an improvised feel, watching "Be Kind" I could absolutely believe it came together as quickly and spontaneously as the snippets of "sweded" films. This was part of its charm and I think Gondry's intention.All the actors were engaging, and genuine heartfelt emotion - most definitely by the surprising, naturally pitch-perfect Mos Def - transcended the dialog, plot points and general wackiness.The Fats Waller thread was just random enough and very skillfully and satisfyingly woven into the story from beginning to end. This and many other details - including touches like lovely Mia Farrow's curiosity about supernatural films and Sigourney Weaver's brief take-charge turn - convinced me that Gondry put quite a bit of thought and skill into perfecting the film's endearing awkwardness. It might not be to everybody's taste, but I think it was a great idea, executed and seasoned just right.
72 out of 118 people found the following review useful: Skillfully Directed, Decent Acting, and A lot of Fun, 22 February 2008 Author: sUrf_wAX_AMeRica55 from United States
OK let me start off saying that i loved Eternal Sunshine and had pretty high hopes for this film. Michael Gondry did a more than exceptional job to capture the tone of this film which i'll describe as old-school, and scraggly. Jack Black once again played the same part he usually does just a funny weird dude, Mos Def did a real nice job a lot better than I expected after seeing him in Hitchikers Guide to The Galaxy. Danny Glover was really great. But the thing I loved about this film is that it was so different from the usual cliché comedy. The movie does have some flaws but what the heck, just go see it and relax. Its not supposed to be a Citezen Kane. Overall the film was real fun and actually a little touching, so go see it. I recommend it for sure. Real Fun!!
53 out of 81 people found the following review useful: Gondry lays out another visual feast, 26 February 2008 Author: come2whereimfrom from United Kingdom
This is the latest brainchild of Michel Gondry the one time video maker turned director of 'Eternal Sunshine..' and 'The Science of Sleep' and once again there's a visual feast on offer. On many levels this is just a clever comedy but on many others its much more than that, it is a homage to film-making as a whole, the death of artistry in the face of technology, the sense of community that cinemas can bring in a world where cinema is struggling against the internet and apathy. Jack Black and Mos Def play at odds friends who have an outlet running the local video store 'Be Kind Rewind', with the huge DVD emporium down the road the business is struggling and in danger of being pulled down to make way for condos. After a freak accident wipes all the tapes in the shop the pair decide to remake all the films rather than get caught and lose the shop and this then is where Gondry et al step up to the mark and let their imaginations run wild with hilarious consequences. The first film they make is 'Ghostbusters' and it sets the premises of what is to come as they do their own versions of 'Robocop, Lion King, Rush Hour 2 and Men in Black to name but a few. Black and Def play off each other really well but it's the ingenuity in the sets and lo-fi costumes that make all these little twenty minute 'Swedes' (The tapes are described as having come from Sweden as an excuse for higher rental fees and longer wait times) brilliantly funny. They are even available to watch online and you're also encouraged to make your own! The story is for want of a better word silly and my only criticism I have is that Gondry tends to be too whimsical and over idealistic at times but that said he is portraying a fantasy world where he can play like a child with bits of old rubbish and sticky back plastic and come up with stunning arty creations that shine on screen. With so much subject matter to work with Gondry picks films that he is sure most people will have seen, although I hadn't seen 'Rush Hour 2' and so struggled to find all of that section funny, so on the off chance you haven't seen any of the films being Sweded you may wonder what the hell is going on. Be Kind.. is not a new story or even a new idea but it has new things to say about the state of the industry, copyright law and ownership that hide subtly below the comedy and it is so full of visual ideas it's a film you could quite easily watch again. Not as dark as 'Eternal Sunshine' and slightly better than 'Science of Sleep' Gondry is proving he can do aesthetically great lo-fi films without the lure of CGI or the Hollywood big budget. Like the war between VHS tapes and DVDs Gondry is taking on the big boys and coming out relatively unscathed.
47 out of 75 people found the following review useful: The Purple Rose of Passaic, 2 March 2008 Author: Aluísio Parondi (nem.freud.explica@gmail.com) from Winooski, Vermont, USA
Michel Gondry's new film is NO "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", but it's better than "The Science of Sleep" and doesn't deserve the negative reviews it's been getting. Without Charlie Kaufman writing, Gondry's script might be a little less original, but his visual creativity (no one else knows how to make art out of cardboard boxes like him!) and passion for his story makes "Be Kind Rewind" some kind of special.Mos Def and Jack Black work at Danny Glover's video store and, after Black gets "magnetized", he unintentionally turns every tape in the store blank. They have the brilliant idea of remaking the customers' favorite movies (from "Driving Miss Daisy" to "Last Tango in Paris"), and they suddenly become the local sensation. Some moments are very funny, others not so much, but this is not supposed to be a Farrelly Bros. kind of flick. With a simple but very compelling idea, Gondry created a story about people's love for movies, the sense of community, the compulsion for memories, the oblivion of old-time artists (the Fats Waller subplot) and old-fashioned technology (should Glover finally adhere to DVDs?). Gondry said in an interview: "I am not against modern things. I use technology, but what I am against is when the technology creates a system that makes you believe you need to use it". I couldn't agree more. By the end, even though not being a masterpiece like "Eternal Sunshine", "Be Kind Rewind" leaves you with the bittersweet feeling of other movies about our love for film-making, more notably "The Purple Rose of Cairo" (by the way, Mia Farrow plays the video store's most loyal customer) and "Cinema Paradiso". Definitely worth seeing. 8/10.
25 out of 35 people found the following review useful: An Excellent Tribute To The Video Cassette Generation and Film-making, 5 September 2008 Author: Senyales from Fraggle Rock
'Be Kind Rewind' has already become one of my favourite films of the year. It's funny. It's charming. It's nostalgic. It's awkward. It's unique and it's moving. The entrance of DVDs to our lives have lead to the rapid extinction of video cassettes but does one remember the days of renting, collecting and watching those big tapes? Rewinding them and forwarding them? Something small but one that I find fascinating. While 'Be Kind Rewind' pays respect to that generation, it's also a wonderful tribute to film-making in general. All the classic movies and blockbusters this film refers to are some of the most memorable movies that played during the VHS days and, in a way, 'Be Kind Rewind' is a superb homage to those films. Just watch all the sweded 'refilming' of, for example, 'Driving Miss Daisy' with Danny Glover and Mia Farrow, 'Ghostbusters' and 'Rush Hour 2' with Jack Black and Mos Def...and so many more hilarious surprises. 'Be Kind Rewind' also explores what it is about cinema that fascinate the ordinary man.Gondry's writing is just as great as his direction. Everything fits together excellently. The comedy and drama blend smoothly. Michel Gondry's screenplay is impeccable. The dialogues are laugh out loud and never out of place. The characters are genuinely heartwarming, goofy and lovable.The performances are heartfelt and fantastic. A wacky Jack Black, an endearing Mia Farrow (who's a science fiction fan), a very impressive Mos Def (I was very impressed by his comic timing), a humbly naive Danny Glover, a vivacious Melonie Diaz, Sigourney Weaver as an inspector in charge (with a touch of comedy) and many more talented actors make a terrific ensemble.Gondry has tackled a lot of themes like a strong sense of community, people's love for movies, people being accustomed to old technology (as a result to which they sometimes have difficulty moving on to more updated sources), reviving loved artists who have vanished into oblivion and the overall sense of doing something great together (like the last movie on Fat Waller's life). He tells the story skillfully. I liked that it ended on a bittersweet note but somewhat ambiguously. I was having so much fun and laughing out loud so many times that I didn't even care if it bothered other people.Many people seem to have trashed this movie because it wasn't like 'Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind'. I'd like to tell those people to get over it. How can people even begin to compare too totally different films and then call one of them trash for not being like the other? I love both movies and to me, with 'Be Kind Rewind' Gondry proves to be a versatile director and my appreciation for him as a filmmaker has only increased.
11 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Pleasant, Feel-Good Flick, 20 April 2009 Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States
This is a silly but harmless fun piece of fluff, guaranteed to put some smiles on your face and give you somewhat of a feel-good feeling when it's over. I'm sure that was the intent, and very little more. It wasn't made to astound anyone or provide huge laughs. Yet, it has a lot of charm and subtle humor.It's a ludicrous story, so you just can't take anything seriously. The premise is unique: two guys converting a dying video rental store into a success by taking blank tapes of famous movies and making their own 20-minute versions! The new "movies" are so bad, they're good and the neighborhood starts making requests and renting the new "sweded" movies like hotcakes. Goofy? Sure. Tons of plot holes? You bet......but a nice movie.The more films you know, beginning with "Ghostbusters," the more you'll enjoy this as the guys make these cheap knock-offs on budgets of about a hundred bucks! In addition, Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover and Mia Farrow were all fun to watch.It's no award-winner, but you could do a lot worse.
34 out of 59 people found the following review useful: Charming, intertextual tribute to the cinematic arts, 2 March 2008 Author: pyrocitor from Ontario, Canada
Considering the vast array of films whose subject matter introspectively deal with the nature of their medium in itself, it should come as no real surprise that few films paying tribute to the film industry itself boast more than a smile or two in terms of quality. After all, how could such self-serving Hollywood love letters come across as anything more than pretentious and self-congratulatory? It would seem eclectic director Michel Gondry has found the answer, by crafting a film with charm, but not Hollywood glitz, with humour but not generic sight gags, and with heart, but no mainstream sap - Be Kind Rewind is the end result, and a truly laudable feat as consequence. If taken at face value, Be Kind Rewind may appear simplistic to the point of appearing patronizing at times, but Gondry is too shrewd to operate on directorial autopilot, and instead allows the form and cinematics of his own feature to mimic the unassuming homemade feel of his protagonists' shorts. Indeed, upon closer examination there is much to appreciate, as the structure of the film itself can be taken as allegorical for the development of the film industry itself and its ups and downs: a couple of men fooling around with cameras with no real idea what they were doing impulsively deciding to make movies, which steadily become more streamlined and mass produced (a montage sequence joyfully alludes to the days of "assembly line" Hollywood studio production) as they increasingly become less about art and more about making money. The film also makes witty references to the scare of video pirating in today's culture as well as an examination of the changing home viewing technologies, and the inevitable transition from more nostalgic days of video cassettes to DVDs. But Gondry's film also celebrates the enormous cultural significance of film, and glimpses at the joy of producing them and the heart-warming reaction of viewer enjoyment. Quite simply, Be Kind Rewind can be taken in a nutshell as a movie about loving the movies, which, although potentially coming across as too schmaltzy for some, is surprisingly touching as opposed to dissolving in a mess of Hollywood glitz. Although the film is without question not without its faults, they scarcely detract from a film so unpretentiously touching and charming. Yes there are certain prominent lapses of credulity, logic, and even some paltry special effects (whether intentionally so or not, they do stand out). Yes some parts do undeniably drag or appear to be slightly off track, and the script carries the "improvised low budget feel" a bit too far in certain segments. But such concerns are easily forgiven when the final product is so earnestly enjoyable, and the "remake" sequences (as Black and Def lampoon such films as Ghostbusters, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Boyz 'n the Hood and Rush Hour 2) are comedic gold, and feel disappointingly rushed, considering their being the primary draw of the film. Similarly, the film's genuinely moving finale is a triumph - one feels transported to the earliest days of audiences screening silent films in a flickering theater with only a whimsical solo piano accompanying, and it hard to resist giving in to the sweeping feeling of genuine nostalgia and heart rather than typical Hollywood tear-jerking. And perhaps this exemplifies the film in itself: one gets the feeling the film could have reached and easily succeeded loftier or more profound aims, but ultimately the film doesn't pretend to be anything but what it is: a celebration of the art of creation and a parable for the love of film-making and its cultural significance. Gondry's cast similarly light up the screen with enough infectious enthusiasm and good natured quirkiness to easily sell an occasionally rocky concept. The boundless charisma of Jack Black is put to perfect use as the irrepressible Jerry, taking a bumbling, attention seeking anarchistic character and still effortlessly capturing the hearts of his audience. Mos Def's offbeat comedic talents also perfectly compliment the film's quirky tone, and while undeniably funny, Def is given a chance to shine dramatically in several understated emotional scenes, and he rises to the challenge. Backing up the two charismatic leads, Danny Glover brings class and authority to the role of the gruff video store owner Mr. Fletcher, and Mia Farrow brings dignity and offbeat comedy simultaneously as an eccentric video rental patron. Melonie Diaz makes a lovably bizarre addition to the inspired pairing of Black and Def as an aspiring actress roped into the duo's movie-making frenzy, and a delightful cameo from Sigourney Weaver is priceless, especially considering the earlier Ghostbusters spoof. For whatever faults or shortcomings, Gondry's film boasts such low key, unassuming heart and charm that it is almost impossible to dislike. While not as overall funny as one might hope for, it is exceptionally hard to resist a smile creeping onto one's face throughout, and the film proves surprisingly moving, despite the noticeable lack of Hollywood emotional showiness. Be Kind Rewind is somewhat of an anomaly in its unpretentious refusal to be anything apart from what it intended to be - a movie about celebrating the joys of making and experiencing movies it hard to resist, and Gondry's film is just cute and unassuming enough to pull it off with considerable skill. -7/10
42 out of 76 people found the following review useful: Are you kidding?, 18 March 2008 Author: scream1863 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I don't understand how this movie is getting all these good reviews saying how "charming" and "intellectual" it is. This was probably the worst movie I've seen in my life.This movie was so poorly written, acted, and directed that it made me sick. The plot is so forced and dull that the audience doesn't care. How cliché is the fact that they need to save the old building? And the whole paranoid eccentric Jack Black character is so overdone. The dialogue felt like bad improv (did they even have a script?). The first 30 mins dragged on like nails on a chalkboard.I love a good stupid Jack Black movie as much as the next guy (loved Nacho Libre), but this movie is so ridiculously stupid that I think I lost brain cells. The fact that Fatts Waller actually wasn't born in that building but then they decide that they can make up their own story and completely fabricate the past because Mia Farrow says "hey, our past is ours so it can be whatever we want". WHAT IS THAT? What kind of message is that?? As for the performances, I can't say there was anyone who stood out. Jack Black was playing typical Jack Black, Mos Def was bland, Danny Glover was ehhh, Mia Farrow was so unlikable and stock, and that Melonie Diaz made me want to stab out my eyes. I've never seen such a poor performance before. All her lines seemed like she didn't know what she was saying and was just ad libbing. I've never wanted to punch an actor for their work like I want to punch her.The only good part of this movie was the Ghostbusters homage, which wasn't funny because we'd already seen it in the previews a million times.This movie is a disgrace to cinema.
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