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Reviews
Chef (2014)
If you like lining up for food trucks, you'll love this movie.
Favreau's pet project is like listening to someone telling you about about their dream last night, which is usually boring. Despite some decent performances, this poorly disguised Twitter ad does not feel the need to provide any kind of recognizable story arc, second act adversity or suspense. The unbelievable pablum of the saccharine victory tour road trip was only topped with the essentially emasculating ending. Bad reviews hurt according to 'Chef', but they can also inspire. OK, I got that. But they don't make you go into business with the bad reviewer and renew your marriage. I'm happy for Favreau, for getting this out of his system, I just hope I can pass this turd soon.
Invictus (2009)
Political sports movie. What did you expect?
Sure Freeman was good, but whatever. I was hoping that "Gran Torino" was an aberration for Eastwood, but this is actually worse. Even for those who find inspiration in films like "Rudy" or "Big League" this may be a stretch. OK, the Springboks surprising win was a unifying event for SA, but why make a big budget movie out of it? For a sports film, the rugby scenes are shot well and the stadium crowd is believable. However, somehow there is little reward in rooting for the underdog. Rugby remains foreign to North America and to set a political drama around it, is not engaging. Considering the Hollywood heavyweights involved, the story of South African racial tensions of the last 40 years could have been addressed more poignantly than through a whimsical sports drama.
Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten (2007)
Good Campfire Stories Make Bad Documentaries
Strummer's hippie past was a revelation, but overall this felt like crashing a wake. Campfire stories work best around the intimacy of a campfire. There were just too many semi-boring old friends anecdotes and too much filler stock footage. I love The Clash and Joe for not reuniting and selling their songs until now (FU Mick Jones), but this doc left me wanting..to relate more. Using campfire storytellers without proper explanation of who is telling the anecdote alienates the viewer to some extent. They should have been interviewed on their own. Even using Strummer's 'radio DJ voice' did little to glue the film together. And can someone explain all the flags flying behind the campfire scenes? After the awesome "Filth And The Fury" I hoped Temple could deliver. A Joe Strummer doc deserves better.