Tropic Thunder (2008)

Tropic Thunder is one of those films that I personally thought, has more than enough buzz-words and marketing campaigns surrounding its impending release that made the effort of ignoring this film in order to keep any expectations in around a normal level, is virtually impossible. Therefore, it's pretty understandable that I head to this film expecting on perhaps one of the best comedy of the year. In that sense though, the film is satisfying albeit it runs a wee bit too long for a comedy and an obvious tip of the scale regarding its actor performances.

Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) is a tried-true-and-tired action star has been. He teams up with another tried-and-tired comedy star, Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) and 5 time Academy Award winners, Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) to shoot a film dubbed as "the most expensive war film ever made", Tropic Thunder. But the ego soon collides, and one decision after another put the actors and crew in a real-life situation as they crosses-path with opium smugglers amidst the depth of Vietnam jungle.

The film is more about Ben's take on Hollywood industry. About how Hollywood tends to squeeze the cow until the very last drop of milk (e.g sequels), evil producers, details attentive (useless) managers, drug-addictive actors, et cetera. As far as a commoner concerned, you could find pretty much every thing you need to know on how the industry worked in here. There's also a pretty hilarious take on why Sean Penn didn't even had a nod for I Am Sam. All in all, even if some of the jokes found here dangerously trotting, even breaching the lines of offensive attitudes, they're at least above average and thus made this film indeed, qualify as a serious candidate for one of the best comedy of the year. And some of the cameos are really worth the time on checking them out when the end credit rolls.

I personally couldn't get my head around Ben. Sure, he's been making some popular movies that no doubt most of you would be fond of remembering but, somehow, and I don't know why, I couldn't really spare any small amount of likenesses or gratitudes for him. But apparently, he has many friends in Hollywood that when he make this film as a some sort of mockumentary to this film, he'd get many support in and out of the screens. The most daring decision was of course to put Robert Downey Jr. as a dedicated Aussie actor who went as far as "re-pigmented" his skin in order to "correctly" portrayed the African-American actor in the Tropic Thunder film. And for a comedy that runs more than 90 minutes which is a long way to say "too-damn long", most of the time, the lines from Kirk that kept me going toward the finish line. Robert Downey Jr. is no doubt, an actor on a very different class of either Ben or Jack. Both of Ben / Jack seems like a sad sad foolish toddler who kicking in dirt to win some attentions ... and failed.

My rating: **1/2 / **** - A fun "mockumentary" on Hollywood, that albeit runs a bit too long, filled with uneven jokes that weren't as funny as the filmmakers think they are, able to provide some decent quality entertainment time that most of the moviegoers could enjoy. Robert Downey Jr. out-shined everyone else, and oh, pay attention to the cameos.

Jakarta's Film Festival (the Lack of)

The lack of a decent Film Festival in Jakarta is staggering. Jakarta International Film Festival, which has been my most-see events for the last few years has hit another low this year. The festival has been known to struggle to even exist. With no apparent/immediate support from the government, I've had an impression that whomever held the Festival, is doing so not because of a promising return-of-investment but simply because they love films and would love to share some of that love through the festival.

This year however, when everybody's talking about the global crisis, the festival has hit another low. According to some forums I skimmed through, this year's festival which scheduled to begin on December 9th, would last only for five days. Five days for a film festival? Not nearly enough.

Anyway, another film festival is scheduled for this week. INAFF 2008. I might going to check them out if I had an ample over-supply of time which is a rather long way to say, "Not interested"

Quantum of Solace (2008)

Quantum of Solace. Even if I've seen most of the James Bond series thus far, I'm not and won't considered myself as an avid fan of the double-oh agent. Thus, I was totally indifferent when the news about Pierce Borsnan being replaced by David Craig starts to surface. Alas, as I've seen Mr.Craig in Layer Cake, I was known as seemingly the supporter of Craig as Bond. Well, it's merely because I hate it when people gave a presumptuous assumption on one's capability BEFORE they even see or experienced the said capability themselves. And guess who had the last laugh?

I dare to say that most viewers, casual or serious would agreed about the undeniable Craig factor when talking/discussing about Quantum of Solace. Again, portraying James Bond in his early career, Daniel Craig launches the suave agent into a more physical stretching tasks that required him to once again leap over buildings, avoid explosions, taming a speed-demon roadster, and not to mention, save the damsel in distress. Quantum of Solace is a direct sequel to Casino Royale, is the shortest James Bond film ever, and although the knowledge of previous film that precedes this film is minimum, it is at least recommended for a skim through to familiarize yourself with names and faces throughout this film.

Written by Paul Haggis, who wrote Crash, it was to be expected that this film is at least consists of couple layers of story as once again our agent is pitted against the very same yet un-named secret organization (before SPECTRE?) from the first film. This film's "official" Bond-girl, Camille (Olga Kurylenko) involved herself with this organization on a personal agenda that doesn't really deal with the organization itself directly. James Bond's employer is also testing their (her) trust on Bond's "unique" methods, some old names returns, and some familiar recurring character re-shapes themselves to a level we're all familiar, the villains are also has kinks and quirks of arrogance that makes me actually wonder why does the "good" guys didn't see that they were up to no good from the first sight. All in all, the violent and angry James Bond is return yet again, and even though it's different than the elegant spy he used to be known for through the decades of the franchise, I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever of Daniel Craig's imminent increasing popularity as James Bond. Especially for the younger generation.

The film opens with beautiful car-chase sequence, and it's rarely stop from here on unless in a few moments required in order to advance the plot. In terms of action, it has everything I could think of. Bare-hand fights, check. Close-quarter combat, check. Boat-chase sequence, check. Plane-chase sequence, check. Increasingly popular but threateningly close to become a staple of boredom rooftop chase parkour-style sequence, check and I haven't mentioned everything, yet. All that, crammed into a film that barely touches the two hour mark, plus a maddening attention to details and the palpable level of dangerousness, would surely please even the least attentive casual viewer.

But, once you get passed the innuendo action sequences, there's Bond. This Bond is angry, and fueled by the need to revenge, that even his Boss threatened to let him go. He kills seemingly without hesitation or hints of regret. But well hidden beneath that calm, passive outward presence, he is troubled, boiled with rage, mourned with loss, torn between duty and revenge. On one single heartbreaking scene, I had a suggestion that Bond is actually shed a tear. And guess what, from this scene, I hereby proclaimed that Daniel Craig is now my favorite James Bond.

My only complaints? Probably Olga Kurylenko. But she doesn't get much of attention anyway, so no biggie. And oh, Alicia Keys should never ever sings in a duet again.

My rating: *** / **** - This film's overall theme is "personal" This is where we see James Bond finally abandon his personal grit and shove aside his feelings that turns him into an effective, flamboyant, and confident spy agent he was so famously known for decades. Either that, or this is simply an above average, um, make that WELL above average action film. Your choice. If you love Casino Royale, you should SEE this film. Period.