Month: April 2014

IN A WORLD (2013)

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I like Lake Bell. What can I say? I pretty much fell in crush with her in How to Make it in America, HBO’s brilliant look at 20 somethings in New York.
Such a shame it got cancelled after 2 very well put together seasons.

Since then I have devoutly watched her in Children’s Hospital and here in her directorial debut she calls on some of the C.H. alumni. The ever brilliant Ken Marino gets a juicy part that he sinks his comedic teeth into and Rob Corddry gets to have an emotional journey and Nick Offerman supports with his usual brand of off-beatedness.

“In A World where actors with distinctive voices get to tease you with their dulcet tones and tempt you into watching whatever trailer they are voicing, one woman stands out from the male-dominated industry to attempt to change the way voice-overs are heard.”

The film starts off with real life clips of the late Don LaFontaine, the coiner of “In a World…..” and brings you into this world with a deftness and light comedic touch.

The film falters a couple of times with slight plot contrivances but all in all a charming film with something to say about the male-dominated voice over industry, cleverly pitching father against daughter.
This indie comedy is a nice little look at the struggles of a young woman trying to find her voice and place in this kooky world.

3.6/5

BUY IT ON DVD HERE

DOWNLOAD THE FILM ON iTUNES HERE

NEBRASKA (2013)

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I am not the biggest Alexander Payne fan. A lot of people love his movies but I find them a little twee at times and lacking a strong through line.

I thoroughly enjoyed Sideways but I think that may have been down to the pairing of Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden-Church, but I felt tepid about About Schmidt and The Descendants, which people loved.

This is by no means a terrible film, it is entertaining (Oscar worthy, not sure), Bruce Dern is great, as he always is but somethings-a missing for me.

Maybe it’s the fact that I have absolutely no connection to that part of the world but in the same breath if a story is told well…….

It reminds me of Sunday evening TV, specifically aimed at the older demographic. If most of the reality nonsense is aimed at the youth-dem then this fare is a bigger budget version of the ITV and BBC Sunday night shows, Marple, Poirot, Sherlock (to an extent, although that is aimed at the kids as well), A Touch of Frost etc etc. Reasonably well made but containing nothing that I am at all interested in.
Maybe this is a little harsh but s’how I feel so deal.

June Squibb was excellent and gets to deliver all the cracking lines, Will Forte and Bob Odenkirk were alright, nice to see Stacy Keach after a few years, he embodied his character with the right amount of life and opinion.

All in all a movie for the valium generation.

3/5

BUY IT ON BLU-RAY DVD HERE

DOWNLOAD THE FILM ON iTUNES HERE