netflix barrage 005 - the sleepy

I must have been extra tired this weekend, cuz I kept falling asleep & having to rewatch stuff!

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)
When I first saw a trailer for this movie, I groaned at what looked like another affable Michael Cera performance. Which is what this movie delivers, though I have usually enjoyed Cera's roles so I can't remember why this was a bad thing. I remember one review mentioning how the friends/bandmates were too stereotypical & annoying, but I thought they were good enough characters. Only letdown was the ending, but I guess it would have been not as good if it ended the way you expect it to. The cute indie soundtrack and the dazzling city lights at night will make you want to go for an uptown romp of your own.

P.S. I Love You (2007)
I always find it remarkable when one of these sappy sad kind of movies is written and directed by guys. At least it's based off of a novel by a woman. The concept is kind of interesting, if a good bit creepy and morbid, but at least we get to see lots of pretty wide shots of lush Irish countryside. Hilary Swank is a little hard to believe as the dense ditzy spoiled kind of girl, but I guess girls just wanna have fun in a role sometimes. At least the end brings some relief to the story, but much of the film dishes grief on the viewer that feels pointless and undeserved. At least this movie is fun to talk smack about the characters & imitate Irish brogues with your significant other.

Jackie Brown (1997)
I have always thought Pulp Fiction (and perhaps Tarantino in general?) was slightly overrated, if not great fun on repeated viewings to absorb some of the crazier dialogue. That plus the fact that I am unfamiliar with Pam Grier's glory days of blaxploitation, and the fact that Tarantino obviously is a huge fan of that, leaves this film somewhat underwhelming. Sam Jackson and DeNiro bring the laughs, and the WTF twists are some good fun, not to mention some interesting overlapping perspectives of a climactic later scene and a comically unsexy sex scene, and another good retro Tarantino soundtrack. Just the least fun subject matter in a Tarantino IMHO. Still looking forward to Inglorious Basterds, though I must see the original first.

Joe's Apartment (1996)
After much nudging by a friend, I finally checked this one out. Classic rude awakening of the out of towner arriving to the big city, eyes wide in anticipation, only to end up in one of the most roach infested buildings ever. But these roaches have celebrity voice actors (unfortunately pitched up beyond recognition) and they just want to help! You can tell its an MTV film (the first one ever, in 96?) since the ADD pacing never bores and keeps things moving. There are good laughs here, among the glamourously grungy depictions of city life and animated roaches.

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So it looks like Slumdog Millionaire swept the Oscars this year, so I shall have to watch it, along with The Wrestler, Benjamin Button and maybe a few others. The Academy Award adorned DVDs should be coming out fairly soon now.