farsi3001 Reviews

Alpha Dog (2006)

Real life... poor portrayal//The Good & Bad

[5/10 · 12 January 2007]

I can only guess that the difficulty in making a movie based on real life is making it interesting enough for a variety of audiences to appreciate it while keeping the integrity of what truly transpired. Many of the comments clearly express what wasn't good about the movie--maybe overkill with the sex, cussing like mad men, drugs and alcohol. I'm not sure if all of this is that far off of what Valley suburban kids experience, but for the sake of art, let's say it was overdone.

There is still a really incredible story to be told, and that's of a world of people that are so disengaged with reality that over 40 people saw an abducted 15 year old (the vast majority knowing that he'd been abducted) and literally did nothing to protect him. It's a real attempt to evaluate existentialism. Maybe a battle between individualism and collectivism. I'm not an expert in philosophy, but I really think this was demonstrated with the Frankie character played by Justin Timberlake. The relationship between him and Zack is incredible--- and while Timberlake's a young actor, I think he portrayed the emotions of Frankie incredibly well. Particularly because he's the character with the weakest will power but has the most understanding of the gravity of the situation and most sympathy to the boy. Ultimately, he's the character we must hate because he understands the most.

It just makes you think about life, I suppose. Have you ever had a really bad week... and then you made a mistake that ended up going too far? Have you ever not been sure about what's right or wrong? And if you knew it was wrong, did you wonder if it was your responsibility to do the right thing? Did you maybe think everything would just end up okay because you wanted to protect yourself?

These are the questions this movie should make you think about... unfortunately, they weren't presented well and tainted by Hollywood "art."

Borat (2006)

Sacha Baron Cohen is a genius

[9/10 · 3 February 2006]

I, too, caught this early screening in Marina Del Rey. Thought the film was great... the ending could have had more kick to it and been a bit more drawn out, but I was laughing so hard throughout that I barely noticed. Unlike the other comments I read, the nude scenes and the naked wrestling repulsed me. But there were so many other scenes where I felt like I was going to pass out from the pure ridiculousness of it all. Again, Cohen cleverly draws out the ignorance of so many people from the "U.S. and A." and we're left shocked, humbled, more aware, and having stomach pains from the hilarity of how he does it. He again proves what people will do for the camera and how people's true colors shine when they meet someone with more radical beliefs than their own. I left the theater saying "wow wow wee waaaaa"!!!