By Kenn Tarr Notes from the film scoundrel
IT SHOULD BE A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS. TAKE AN up-and-coming director, be it Gavin Hood (2005’s “Tsotsi” — Best Foreign Language Film that year) or Terry George (2004’s “Hotel Rwanda”) or Suzanne Hier (2006’s acclaimed “After The Wedding”) and throw an all-star cast at him or her and see what awards and box office magic can manifest. In the case of “Rendition,” directed by Hood and starring Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gylenhaal and “Reservation Road,” directed by George and starring Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Ruffalo or finally “Things We Lost In the Fire” directed by Hier and starring Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro, the destinies for these films are bleak.
“Road” has opened with a whimper, panned for its melodrama. “Rendition” has been called generic and a misuse of talent. At $5 million in opening weekend receipts, it is a complete disaster. “Fire” had a decent opening and is the best reviewed of the three. But, it is likely to be overlooked as the season unfolds. It seems studios are smug in their hopes too often nowadays, believing stock material they have sitting around will actually seem fresh just because of the hired guns they bring in. These three films are not what anyone would expect and should be a red-flag warning to all unique art-house and unpublicized directors to stay that way, even after they get the publicity and big-time offers. “Tsotsi” was a unique film because of its unknown cast and locations. “Rendition” is schlock because of its familiar cast, familiar locations and familiar execution. Never had three films been greater evidence that independents should stay independents.
I recently saw “Darjeeling Limited” — again. I wanted to see “Hotel Chevalier,” the 20-minute short film also by Wes Anderson that stars Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman. It is available on iTunes but since I don’t own credit cards, I went to the cash-friendly cinema. I and many others believe this short was originally intended to be part of Paris Je’Taime, the short film collection that opened earli-er this year. Whatever the case the short is entertaining and adds some much needed background to Schwartzman’s character in “Darjeeling” and makes the feature more worthwhile. And, also, Natalie Portman appears semi-nude in the short. Well worth going to see “Darjeeling” again.
The 2007 awards season has a darling finally. Last year, it was “Little Miss Sunshine.” This year, it may be “Juno,” or at least the star of the film Ellen Page. A 20-year-old Canadian actress, she is still relatively unknown despite an eye-opening role in the molestation revenge flick “Hard Candy” and a small role in “X- Men: The Last Stand.” She is predicted to not only to be nominated for best actress, as a teenager struggling with pregnancy, but by most speculation she is also predicted to win. I will weigh in officially after seeing the film this week, but if awards season in recent years has taught us anything, it is to believe the hype machine, because once it gets rolling, it can make winners even if they don’t deserve it … (i.e. Alan Arkin’s “bush-league” win for “Little Miss Sunshine” which edged out the deserving Eddie Murphy in “Dreamgirls” for last year’s supporting actor trophy).
Awards season is not officially here yet, but one award is definitely in the bag already. At a Halloween party on Friday night, a young Westchester man, Mike Avila, took home “Worst-Dressed” and “Halloween Costume that is in the Worst Taste.” What could he have done to be so deserving of this double-take of awards? Well Renee Zellwegger and Courteney Love should thank this dude, because nothing they can ever wear to a Halloween party, awards show or the pharmacy can ever be this salacious. His Halloween costume: Owen Wilson, post-suicide attempt. A cowboy hat, wrist bandages, drool stains and blood stains. Yeah. For real. Anyway, I am a fan of Owen Wilson’s work and despite his personal problems, hope he continues to work, and preferably work as the same type of character he has found success at. He is great at what he does. “Darjeeling” is a perfect example of it, even though he may be playing himself, suicidal and confused as he was. This poor Halloween costume was very creative but needless to say in very bad taste. Britney, Lindsay, feel free to go to Vons without underwear. Wait — you already do.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 3, 2007. Read the original PDF.