Tagged: Debra Messing
Hollywood Ending (2002)
I hope I don’t randomly become blind. I won’t be able to see porn…….movies anymore.
Woody Allen plays Val Waxman, a once-famous film director who’s down on his luck and just needs one good picture to bring his career back. But when Val gets an offer to make a big film, his paranoia causes him to go psychosomatically blind. He and a few friends scramble to cover up his disability and keep the studio executives from discovering that Val’s directing the film in the dark, which gets tougher as Val’s ineptitude starts to shine.
Woody Allen has always been a director I could stand behind. Yeah, he’s a pervert, and yeah he’s a creep, but at the end of the day, he’s entertaining.
My favorite element of this film was the actual plot, and screenplay. I liked how the plot set up a lot of good jokes for this film, and as always Allen always knows how to deliver a one-liner from his characters. We get various satire jokes on the Hollywood industry that were funny, and the film did entertain me with most of the things it did with its plot.
The only problem with this film is that there could have been so much more to this film as well. I mean I can only sit there and watch Woody stand in place for so long, as a blind man, until I just become a little annoyed and want something more with this plot. I thought some of the things they did with this plot were good, but at the same time I thought it was a little disappointing because they never went many places with this original idea.
Also another thing that bothered me more about Woody Allen films, and less about this film itself, is the fact that his films are so fantasy-like. You have all these young actresses in about their 30′s, or even 20′s, practically falling head over heals for Woody, and to be brutally honest, I don’t believe it. Yeah, I get the fact that Woody wants to be able to get it in with ladies in his films, but there comes a point where it just gets creepy. Take it for granted I’am talking about Woody Allen, so that may be a bit excusable, but I just think he should start hitting up some other ladies his own age like Judi Dench. Now that would be a real film.
Woody Allen does a good job at playing his usual neurotic act but with more physical comedy this time that actually works. He’s playing a blind guy, and although he can see in real life while the filming is going on, he makes it seem realistic and it works. Téa Leoni is good here as Allen’s ex-flame, and the scenes with her and Woody are just so good, and funny. Others in this cast that are good are Debra Messing, George Hamilton, and Treat Williams.
Consensus: It may not use the plot to its extent, but it works as a funny piece, of charming entertainment, that always has Woody Allen doing a good job with his screenplays.
6.5/10=Rental!!
Nothing Like the Holidays (2008)
Even Puerto Ricans know how to celebrate Christmas, who would of thought?
John Leguizmo and Alfred Molina head up an all-star cast in this multicultural ensemble comedy that follows a trio of Puerto Rican siblings — a Marine, an actress and a businessman — on their way home to Chicago for a Christmastime family reunion. Directed by Alfredo De Villa, the holiday tale also features performances by Debra Messing, Luis Guzman, Jay Hernandez, Freddy Rodriguez, Vanessa Ferlito and Melonie Diaz.
So thinking since it’s the holiday season, it’s time for me to spread a little bit of Christmas cheer, for all to , well, see. This film came out in 2008, and has been widely forgotten about, which blows considering, it is a great feel-good movie for the whole family, come Christmas time.
This film does a great job at keeping you watching. It has a great appeal, of a big family that reunites all together for the big Christmas day & dinner. I enjoyed watching all the moments that lead up to the eventful dinner, mainly because a lot of the things were funny, but at the same time, some of them were just plain dramatic, and in a way felt real. Hell, this family may even remind you of your own at times.
Although there is some well scripted comedy it is not enough to make up for the constant parading of unresolved problems which pile up like dead bodies by the side of the road. And although there is some resolve you still can’t get those dead carcasses out of your mind. This may be more realistic of the way many families live, at Christmas but I would rather focus on the positive than dwell in the negative at least one month out of the year.
Despite the film being also quite predictable, as most dysfunctional family movies are, the characters keep you glued on. Alfred Molina as Eddy, the dad, and Elizabeth Pena as Anna, the mom do a great job with their roles as parents with marital problems that they have kept hidden for the most part. Luis Guzman always finds a way to bring great comedy to any film. Freddy Rodriguez is good here, providing a very likable character. John Leguizamo, and Debra Messing, actually have a good chemistry together, and although their a couple that doesn’t seem like they would work on screen, they actually do a good job at being a couple with baby problems.
Consensus: Not the best Christmas movies out there, mainly because it focuses too negatively on some subjects, but the likable characters, and strong performances, make you feel good while watching this little holiday treat.
6/10=Rental!!
