(no subject)

[lapsedmodernist]

I watched "Date Night," which I had had high hopes for, as I really like both Steve Carrell and Tina Fey. But it was kind of meh. I felt like in structure and ethos it was trying to channel "After Hours" (which is one of my favorite films EVER), but it was, like, a very diluted, cleaned-up, non-atmospheric version of it. The totally brilliant thing about "After Hours" is that through strategic omissions of everything except totally random, evocative elements in all the weird characters' backstories, or any real explanations for what the fuck is going on with them, that movie really creates this sense of a totally different world with its own implied, but never explained rules, that poor Griffin Dunne stumbles into, and cannot get out of. "Date Night" tries for that, I feel, especially with characters like Whippet "Tripplehorn" but totally misses the vibe.

On the other hand, loved all the scenes with Mark Wahlberg and "sex robots!"

Comments

[contrasoma.livejournal.com]

Love, love, love "After Hours", and yeah, from the trailers "Date Night" looked like it was trying to follow it.

[uberconfused.livejournal.com]

there was also a problematic lack of chemistry between Tina Fey and Steve Carrell. But there were definitely moments of the movie I enjoyed--like the visit to the Tripplehorns.

[olamina.livejournal.com]

the lack of chemistry was the biggest issue for me too.

[lapsedmodernist.livejournal.com]

ah but have you seen After Hours?

[uberconfused.livejournal.com]

nope, I haven't seen it--I looked for it on Netflix, but it's not available streaming

[dcart.livejournal.com]

"After Hours" is one of the few Scorsese films I haven't seen yet. I will have to remedy that.

[lapsedmodernist.livejournal.com]

it is the only movie of his that I really love, as in general I am not in Scorcese fan. But it is very different from everything else i have seen by him. I think you would love it.

[olamina.livejournal.com]

also, yes more Mark Wahlberg all the time. i watched the very stupid The Other Guys on the plane from Amsterdam to Ghana and Mar Wahlberg was the only thing that kept my eyes open. I love that dude.