Actually, I never would have gone to see this if my father hadn't liked it so much, and I was very pleasantly surprised. It's much darker and more twisted (in many senses of the word) than you would expect from a big-budget studio movie starring Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts and directed by Mr. Commercial Whore, Richard Donner. Granted, an independent director could have made it a lot more interesting and would have avoided blatantly self-promoting scenes like the one where Mel Gibson ducks into a theater showing Ladyhawke (directed by, uncoincidentally, Richard Donner) -- and it's not even logical: I mean, a theater showing Ladyhawke in 1997? To a packed house, yet? How obnoxious.
But I digress. The movie starts off enjoyably tongue-in-cheek as Gibson spouts his wacky theories, accompanied by campy music reminiscent of '50s mysteries, but it takes a sudden turn for the dark side in a genuinely horrifying torture scene. From there on, things are pretty tense and murky (until the requisite obnoxiously jokey final scene). A little more time in the editing room would have helped, but overall, Donner keeps the pace moving crisply. Mel Gibson gives possibly the best performance of his career, giving his lunatic, paranoid cabdriver depth and humanity. I can see why my father liked this so much -- there are definite shades of Jacob's Ladder and The Manchurian Candidate here, both of which are favorite films of his. I second his recommendation.
We also rented Waiting for Guffman last night, a hilarious new mockumentary from Christopher "This Is Spinal Tap" Guest. It's about a small town in America's heartland celebrating its 150-year anniversary, and to commemorate, the town council commissions Corky St. Clair (Guest), a flamboyant theater devotee, to produce "Red, White, and Blaine," a historical musical about the town's founding. This project brings out the hidden Ethel Merman in the townsfolk, and besides some sidesplitting scenes, it's a sweet commentary on the lure of the stage for ordinary folk. The best part is the end, as Corky shows off some of his memorabilia, including My Dinner With Andre action figures, echoing that much-loved "But ours go to eleven" scene from Spinal Tap.
And the biggest surprise of all: it's an independent film, and Parker Posey is in it! I know! You're thinking, "Get out of town!" But it's true!
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