Yondaseso Reviews

I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story (2014)

Great subject, OK film, bad soundtrack.

[8/10 · 27 October 2014]

The real winner of this film is the subject himself, Carrol Spinney. The film making itself is pretty straight-ahead, and the sound track is lousy (No percussion at all? Who's idea was that? This is a movie of men and muppets, for the love of puppetry give us an occasional rhythm or beat!).

That said, Carrol Spinney, the man behind the bird and the grouch, really carries the film just by being himself. Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch are iconic world-renowned characters that continue to enjoy a long legacy. And Mr. Spinney demonstrates himself to be a person full of creativity, love, joy, pain, and a genuine passion for his work and for his wife.

I would recommend this film as a solidly entertaining watch with lasting pathos. The subject is very strong and magnetic, despite the bland filmmaking and schmaltzy soundtrack.

Death Proof (2007)

kind of entertaining at best

[3/10 · 22 September 2014]

First of all, Kurt Russell is a legend. His roles with John Carpenter immortalize him as a rock solid anti-hero protagonist. He has not starred in many leading roles since the 80's and 90's, so this was a big chance to serve up an amazing new character.

*Spoilers* In Death Proof, Russel is cast as a villain. This is a lofty choice considering Russel has never played a major villain, but it could have worked.

But it does not work.

The movie is broken into two halves. The first half takes place in a bar where the villain, "Stuntman Mike" (let's face it, it's a stupid name) is sitting around stalking his prey. He ends up explaining that his car is death proof in the driver's seat (WHICH HAS NO RELEVANCE IN THE ENTIRE FILM). He kills some beautiful young women and ends up in a hospital. There is some potential here, but it has already been an hour of basically hanging out at a bar and 10 minutes of action. The characters have all died and are done except Stuntman Mike.

Now the second half begins, with a new group of very similar young ladies. Why not just keep the same characters? Why introduce new protagonists after an hour? They take a ride in a fast car and here comes Stuntman Mike to kill them. Only this time, the women end up killing him... pulling him out of his death proof car and punching him.

I hate to say it, this film is LOUSY. Not deliberate-B-movie lousy. Inconsistent-with-even-the-title-lousy. It starts OK then starts again worse, and ends stupid.