Review: I Love You, Phillip Morris

The first thing I did after watching I Love You, Phillip Morris was race to my computer to research the life of Steven Jay Russel, the real life con man/jail bird on whom this film was based. His story is incredible, something that, if you weren't told was true, you would write off as pure fantasy. His exploits read like a one man Ocean's Eleven and it's no wonder Hollywood snapped up the rights to Steve McVickers book of the same name. Russel, or King Con as he is also known, created fourteen known aliases, managed to embezzle $800,000 from the company where he worked and escaped from Texas' Harris County Jail four times.

How do you cast a character like that? You call Jim Carrey.

Jim Carrey isn't given nearly enough credit. When he takes on more serious roles nobody pays attention, if he plays it broad suddenly he's pandering to the mainstream again. In Steven Russel Carrey has found the perfect role to display his strengths. He plays Russell broadly but never loses sight of the man. Its a tough balancing act and if misjudged could have been a disaster, had he gone over board the more emotional elements wouldn't have worked. Carrey walks the line expertly and come the quieter moments delivers his best work in years. It's difficult to sell a criminal, especially one who is (initially at least) motivated by greed but Carrey's natural charm shines through.

Review: Alice in Wonderland

I was bored to tears watching Alice in Wonderland.

Actually no, I was bored two years ago when it was announced that Tim Burton was directing Alice in Wonderland and that it would star Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. It's just so obvious and so maddeningly predictable that you wonder why bother? As early artwork found it's way onto the internet it landed with a dull thud, looking exactly what you might expect; pretty, quirky and gothic, neither moving you nor turning you off. Then as Disney's marketing machine began it became apparent that there was no Ace up the sleeve, that this would indeed be exactly what it looked like. Plenty of Johnny Depp mugging, Danny Elfman's score and the aforemenioned quirkyness.

It physically pains me to think that plenty of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton is a negative these days, but so help me it's true. It's difficult to remember a time when the thought of these two on a new project was something to celebrate. What was once a sure fire recipe for innovation and originality is now so repetitive it's just irritating. Anyone thinking Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was just an unfortunate hiccup will be disappointed. As much as that film was a failure it doesn't come close to depths that Alice sinks. The film is a complete mess. From conception to execution it stumbles on almost every level, starting with the bizarre to decision to make this a sequel, with Alice returning to Wonderland as an adult.

Mikey's Musings: The Happy Gilmore Effect

Years ago two brilliant, yet criminally overlooked media scholars devised a theory. They theorised that all films, regardless of genre, should, at their most base level not only engage but entertain the audience. They called it The Happy Gilmore Effect.

For those of you who don't know, Happy Gilmore is a cinematic masterpiece. A warm and touching character piece that deftly charts a man over coming personal and professional obstacles to achieve an insurmountable goal whilst also examining the fickle nature of celebrity and the psychological impact of losing a father.

It also includes the following exchange...

Review: Sherlock Holmes

I could watch Robert Downey Jnr. paint his house.

It's been wonderful charting the Renaissance of Robert. The man is the definition of charisma. He has enough charm and wit for five leading men. Imagine a film you may have seen recently where the headline actor hasn't kept your attention and it's probably because Downey Jnr was on set somewhere usurping everyone else's talent.

In Sherlock Holmes he brings that magic in spades, dominating every scene and imbuing Holmes with the perfect blend of eccentricity, pomposity and humour but with enough sincerity so as not to turn Holmes into a walking punchline. This new Holmes is every bit the Victorian genius from Arthur Conan Doyle's novels, but he has been given an injection of modern sensibility. That's not to say we get a slew of wink wink pop culture references, rather the film plays out like a modern film set 100 years ago. There is a playfulness about the film that Downey Jnr absolutely understands and plays the character accordingly.