George Clooney playing George Clooney -- as usual
According to the critics, that new George Clooney movie about a guy who racks up 10 million sky miles flying all over the country to fire people is “wonderful.”
I have to admit, it left me full of wonder.
I wondered why I ever listen to the critics who are unanimously full of crap. They stuff they call good “cinema” is nearly always pretentious dreck(“Dances with Wolves”) or a caustic attack on our culture (“American Beauty” or “Brokeback Mountain”).
I wondered if George Clooney’s greatest acting job is pretending to be an actor. He is the same guy in every movie, from Oceans 11 to Up in the Air. And that guy is always George Clooney, who is cooler than anyone and thinks he is the hipper, more charming update of Cary Grant. There was not a moment in the movie when I thought Clooney was Ryan Bingham, the hired head-lopper. His characterization was as flat as New Year’s champagne on the morning after. There are actors who can make you believe — like Russell Crowe in Beautiful Mind. And there are actors who are always basically the same character, but they’re good at it — like Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino. Clooney is not believable as someone else, and not especially interesting as George Clooney.
I wondered how this guy who lives from a suitcase managed to always look as neatly pressed as a GQ photo shoot.
I wondered why they needed so much gratuitous and implausible profanity.
I wondered what was up with that rapper who was shoehorned into the movie — and why they think we don’t catch on to the tacky product placement for airlines, cars and products.
I wondered why movies today so often tell stories about such unlikeable people. Clooney’s character saw the world from a mile high in his first-class seat on an airliner. From that perspective, towns look like computer circuit boards, and the people who live there may as well be electrons for all he cared about them. I get it that it was a metaphor for an increasingly techno-impersonal culture. But if he doesn’t care about anyone else, why should I care about him or the others in the movie?
I wondered if the writers actually thought they could exploit unemployed people for jokes and the plot, then yank on our heartstrings with a winch at the end, by having the unemployed people cry onscreen. Isn’t that crass?
I wondered if this will win armloads of awards and Oscar nominations like so many other crappy movies that the critics love — such as Chicago, Million Dollar Baby, Crash, Little Miss Sunshine, There Will Be Blood (“I Drink your milkshake!”) and so on.
And finally, I wondered why I paid for it, and where do I got to get that 2 hours back.
I remember watching “Batman And Robin” and wondered why Clooney didn’t even try to play Bruce Wayne or Batman. When he was Bruce it was Clooney in a suit and when he was Batman it was Clooney in a mask, no characterization, not even a different voice. There’s a movie I’d love to get my 1 1/2 back or at least my memory wiped.
I must say I thought he did ok in “‘O Brother Where Art Thou”, thou the Coen brothers are known for giving very precise and unwavering direction.
On the total other hand is a performance like Morgan Freeman’s in Invictus (produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, by the way!) — saw it last night, and it’s staying with me.
Haven”t seen this latest Clooney movie, but did go see It’s Complicated, cause my gal really wanted to see it…Don’t bother. Strictly a “chick flick” and soooo predictable. I liked Clooney in Michael Clayton, but then again, he was playing Clooney
Good point about Oh, Brother. That was a fun movie (with a great soundtrack CD) but even with all the props he was still CLooney being CLooney in the 1930s. Thanks for the tip on Invictus. Sounds like a winner. And ditto for the tip on It’s Complicated. I actually6 like Baldwin on 30 Rock, despite his weird politics. So I was tempted. But not now. On the other hand, some good TV is about to crank up this munth — 24, Southland, Breaking Bad, Tudors, Damages. Still miss The Sheild, though. And there’s always college hoops to warm up the winter nights.
Pardon the quick file with typos.
I won’t tell my parents what you’ve said Pete…they loved it! hahahahaha…I haven’t seen it, but here are a few thoughts about it based on what I know and what you wrote…
Americans love a good “villan”…someone to root against, yet identify with on some small level. It is rather widely accepted in the business world today to hear profanities…nothing uncommon…if you don’t like it, then don’t walk away and ask for your money back. And what do you have against rappers in movies?? You don’t like the rap? That surprises me…I pegged you as a fan. Anyhow..if Pee Wee Herman can get screen time then ANYONE should be able to get screen time…including rappers.
Did you have a bad weekend my friend?
Profanity when called for to advance a story in movies does not bother me. But I think Peter is talking about the gratuitous kind that seems to find it’s way into so many movies nowadays. The characters often seem like teenagers who think they are so cool because they learned a curse word. To me it makes a film reek of amateur hour.
It also costs movies $. I will not take my children to any PG-13 films do to the fact that they are now open season for profanity fests. I am not alone in this and do not understand why movie companies care more about cursing than making money.
Sad that you wouldn’t see a movie due to some language that is deemed “inappropriate”…but who deemed it that way?! It’s just a word. People use them. Get the F*** over it. hahahahhaa
I deem it inappropriate. I raise my kids to be respectful and speak respectfully.
Gratuitous profanity is a parlor trick, a misdirection for lack of writing skill. Most sitcoms nowadays rely on the same tired sexual innuendos to get a cheap laugh. Watch All In the Family, Sanford and Son, heck even The Jefferson’s. See how creative writers and comedians create incredibly funny situations without ever being gratuitous. It’s called skill.
Good conversation here about profanity. I feel strongly both ways. I’m glad we live in a society with the freedom to be creative and break tabboos when they need to be broken. But Hollywood has made breaking the rules an end in itself. I should have qualified the original post by saying “gratuitous profanity” — oh, wait, I did. In other words, the profanity was shoehorned in even when it didn’t fit. Yes, there is profanity in the workplace — newsrooms are among the worst (mainly because so many women seem to feel a need to prove thier masculinity by cursing like a bricklayer). But it’s not THAT common. Hollywood always goes for the easy shock value and the sleazy flash of nudity, as if it is brave when it’s realy just following the crowd. Than again, not always. I saw Sherlock Holmes over the weekened. Although I had trouble suspending my disbelief high enough to make room for an action figure Holmes who knew karate, it was a fun movie — with no profanity I can recall.
So. It’s OK to have profanity/etc. in movies when called for, but not OK to sprinkle it on as seasoning even in movies that are meant for kids, such as the Austin Powers movies. And yes, we can disagree and debate it — that’s another thing to be thankful for.
Well I was just trying to stir the pot a litte with Kilroy…hope I didn’t offend. At the same time, I graciously disagree with some of the view points. While I don’t abuse “bad language”…I certainly don’t care when people use it around me.
i can remember kids on the playground in 1st grade (at a Catholic school mind you) using language I knew I wasn’t allowed to use. I still didn’t do it…even faced withe peer pressure.
I think a WORSE problem we have in society is underage drinking…not underage swearing. They are just words. seriously…everyone knows them…so what makes them so bad?? hahahahahha
Print Guy: Don’t stop stirring the pot. A good blog needs debate and discussion. I would only add to your points: The absolute worst is 12-year-old drunks who curse in Catholic schools.
You know a lot of 12 year old 1st graders do you? Explains a lot Bronson…explains a lot. ahhahahahha
I must admit, I loved this motion picture. Loved it. I plan to see it again!
George Clooney just playing George Clooney: worth the gold in Fort Knox, in my opinion!