Marcelle

Tropic Thunder - film review

This new Ben Stiller comedy leaves no Hollywood spoof unturned, poking fun of the narcissistic nature of movie stars, greedy studio executives, poorly made action films, outdated acting methods, and dimwitted audiences. The film revolves around the production of a Vietnam war epic, which spins out of control when spoiled action star Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) and method-acting guru Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) get into a drama standoff in the middle of a multi-million dollar scene. 

To put an end to these stars’ erratic ways, the film's director (Steve Coogan) is urged by the author of the book and Vietnam Vet (Nick Nolte) to engage in some guerrilla filmmaking methods by transporting actors away from their pampered set and dropping them off into the heart of jungle. The proud stars go along with the plan and put on their best ego driven act without realizing that they have been left alone at an area controlled by a heroin drug cartel. Chaos erupts as soon as the truth is revealed.

This film is hilarious and sports some superb acting.  Downey and Stiller never go out of character and egg each other on until the end of the film, making the audience roar with laughter. Perhaps with the exception of the mindless antics of Jack Black, all stars put on a stellar performance.

Most surprising and amusing is Tom Cruise in his role of a studio exec, who likes to get down to the latest rap in the privacy of his office.  Seeing Tom Cruse bust the move is well worth the price of admission for Tropic Thunder.

Vicky Christina Barcelona

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a new Woody Allen tale of one summer spent by two young American tourists (Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson) in Spain. Vicky is conservative and reserved, certain of a happy future with her successful fiancé. Christina, on the other hand, is insatiable and impulsive in her search for the right relationship and is willing to experiment with almost anything in order to find what she is looking for. 

In the setting of free spirited Spain, both Vicky and Christina give in to their sex drive and begin to question conventional ideas of monogamy, fidelity and heterosexuality. Each woman is put to the test of her own when a romantic and moral free artist Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) enters her life, followed by his psychotic ex-wife (Penélope Cruz).

In this film, Woody Allen lovingly captures the light romantic scenery of Spain and mingles it with female sensuality in a way that transposes our well established sense of personal freedom against the all American moral values. The director presents each character with careful fondness, slowly revealing each woman’s crisis against temptation to accept a liberated way of love. I most enjoyed Cristina’s struggle to accepting a new bohemian lifestyle as she rationalized herself into being a European above all conventions and then felt proud of herself for succeeding in setting her morals aside. Vicky’s character is more complex in her struggle to give up the life she always wanted. 

Despite their willingness to try, both women soon discover that their individual ideas of love, values and beliefs are not easily set aside. This excellent study of relationships and human nature concludes on a somewhat distressing note, boldly calling into question the possibility of lasting romantic happiness.

Paris