Stream it now Deconstructing Harry Reset Status Want to Watch Already Watched Don't Want to Watch

So yesterday, I started working on another installment of Annoying People I Know, but it crashed and so I've given up for now. Yesterday I wrote a new review at Epinions, which I hadn't done in a while since I had no time. You can find the review here.

Yesterday night we went to the mall for reasons I can't quite grasp; my friend Will likes to go there because he invariably meets girls he knows and spends 20 minutes talking to each one, leaving us standing in the background because he doesn't introduce us or anything. In any case, we went there and eventually Andrew picked us up. We at a A&W, which was a bad idea since I had already HAD supper. So, starting today, I'm eating healthy. No more crap. I've had it. Eating crap is also more expensive... we'll see how that turns out.

We ended up going to Andrew's house and playing Playstation and watching Scary Movie. We never finished it, so I won't bother rating it. I got home at two in the morning (which is relatively early for a Friday) completely sober (which hasn't happened in a few Fridays). It's weird.

Yesterday I went to the video store. This is my haul: Liberty Heights (1999), Top Secret! (1984), Amistad (1997), The Way of the Gun (2000), The Limey (1999) and Desperado (1995). Not exactly a bunch of high-profile arthouse flicks, but I have plenty of those at home anyway.

Oh, yeah, and I also watched Deconstructing Harry yesterday. Seems to me like after they deconstructed him, they forgot to put some pieces back up. The film is only effective in bits and pieces (the kidnapping of his son, the Robin Williams bit); too much of it is comprised of sub-par Allen argument scenes and other neurotic neurotism we'd already seen in his other films. I like the concept of the characters coming back to visit him and of the free-flowing storyline, but it's all more or less clunky. The dark humor here doesn't suit Allen at all, either, and that sex scene at the beginning was among the worst scenes Allen has ever put to scene. I felt like I was watching Tomcats.

Another hit-miss comedy by Woody Allen, but he hits more this time. Wildly entertaining with some laugh-out-load scenes.

***.5/****

I have never found him to be that funny. He still has a charm to him.

This is Woody's last GREAT film, full of excellent writing & directing, as well as amazing performances from Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Kirstie Alley, and ESPECIALLY Judy Davis, who gives one of her best performances of her career here. It's hilarious.

... a litle bit disjointed, but overall effective. A really good showing.

Comments pending.

I can't wait to see "Melinda and Melinda".

.....

Woody Allen thinks he's flawed.
He made a movie about it.
In it he plays a writer who thinks he's flawed.
I laughed.
I also like these short sentences.
They're fun.

Take the Money and Run was released in 1969, but doesn't Woody look exactly the same? There is a lot to admire in this film, his first "original" film, but I don't find it as hilarious as either Bananas or Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex. He works well with both the slapstick and setting forth an aspect of his trademark character, but again it is a lesser work of his.

more coming soon

(** 1/2)