Bad Words

Focus Features

Bad Words is a comedy that relies on exactly what its title is: Bad Words. This works at times as there are plenty of laughs in store. The problem is that, when it comes to the films narrative, it tries to be bigger and more important than it really is. In an attempt in doing this, Bad Words keeps one big secret. This works until this big secret is revealed at which time things go downhill fast.

Bad Words dives into the world of competitive spelling as Guy Trilby wants to be the National Quill Spelling Bee Champion. The problem is that Guy is age 40 and the competition is for grade school children but after studying the rules and regulations frontwards and backwards, Guy finds a major loophole. Guy is an 8th grade dropout, making him eligible for the competition. As he easily makes it to the national level of the tournament, he angers parents, Spelling Bee director (Allison Janney) and the Bees founder (Phillip Baker Hall). The question that they are all asking is why Guy is so hell-bent on winning. The answer is something that he refuses to share.

If you are a Jason Bateman fan then you should highly consider giving Bad Words a chance. For the most part, it is all him in several different ways. As the lead, Bateman is in nearly every scene but for the first time in his film career he is also calling the shots as director of the film. Other than the film moving along at an appropriate pace, there is really nothing about his directorial efforts that stand out enough to brag about but on the other side the camera is another story.

Bateman does all he can to carry the film and does exactly that for the first two acts of the film. I have always admired Bateman’s voice of reason, rational approach to a comedic role and a lot of this can be seen in Bad Words but given the crude antics and mind set of Guy there is also a heavy amount of chaos to his performance.

The only thing keeping Bateman from entirely taking over is Rohan Chand (coming a long way since his first film Jack and Jill) as fellow spelling bee contestant Chaitanya. As Guy befriends Chaitanya, Chand pours needed innocence and naivety in to the character, complimenting Bateman’s hardened Guy well.

When it comes to story, it quickly becomes clear that Bad Words is going to live or die by the reason why Guy is competing in the Spelling Bee, something he will not reveal to anyone, not even Jenny (Kathryn Hahn), a reporter who consistently follows and sleeps with him in an attempt to get the truth. This plot strategy works for a while. The idea of not knowing and wondering exactly why he is doing what he is goes hand in hand with the type of goofy premise the film has to offer. You know that the whole thing a bit outlandish but a solid reveal could make for a strong plot.

Just as the humor that comes from the spelling bee setting begins to wear off, this big reveal is made. Unfortunately this is where the audience is robbed of a solid comedy that also happens to be a good movie. It is one of those “that’s it?” moments and from this moment on, the film ends poorly. It is a flat ending that doesn’t really know where to stop, which has a lot to do with the poor plot reveal.

With all of this said tough, it may be important to ask what is Bad Words trying to accomplish? Is it trying to be crude comedy or a compelling drama? It seems like a dumb question to ask but if you tend look at comedy’s plot to closely like I do you will most likely disappoint yourself. Now I’m not saying that because Bad Words is a comedy, the plot gets a total pass and what I explained in the above paragraph doesn’t matter. Every movie should have the goal to be a good movie. What I am saying is that Bad Words entertains with crude humor. This goal of the film can be seen very quickly in to the film. There are plenty of laughs so although it may not be a great movie there is some fun to be had.

Grade: C

Review written by Brad Shawgo. Visit his blog, ShawGoesToTheMovies, for more great film reviews and movie posts.

Published on 4/17/2014 10:20:21 PM

Top Movies for 4/18/2014

Nothing coming out this week is strong enough to unseat the top movie from the past two weeks, Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Captain is the first three time top movie in CentralIllinoisMovies.info's history. That's pretty special. There's nothing I can say here that hasn't been said already about this comic book sequel. It's a breath of fresh air from the Disney/Marvel Studios and if you haven't seen it yet it's high time you did.

Bears is coming to the area this week and it looks like it's the best new film in a theater near you. It's a true life adventure that showcases a year in the life of a family of bears. With its breathtaking cinematography and beautiful fauna, Bears is a great one to see this Easter weekend.

Flop of the week, Transcendence is out now. If you're a fan of sci-fi and/or Johnny Depp this is a good one for you. Critics have panned it as being ridiculous so it could offer more than meets the eye in the laugh department.

Rio 2, last week's number two film is entering its second week in theaters. If the kids want to see a cartoon and eat popcorn this is the picture to see. Otherwise, I'd recommend skipping it.

Horror fans have spoken and Oculus is a hit. Check it out if you're a fan of the genre. This week is fairly disappointing, as was last week, but summer blockbuster are just around the corner so there should be only a few more "dud" weekends like this until fall. Also, sorry about no images this week, I didn't feel like reusing the same ones I've been parading around here the last few weeks.

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Published on 4/17/2014 10:13:18 PM

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Watching a Wes Anderson film is like visiting a strange land. It is like opening a fairy tale book. I imagine it is comparable to stepping in to Wonderland. So feasting my eyes on Anderson’s latest creation, The Grand Budapest Hotel, a film inspired by the writings of Stefan Zweig, is something that I have looked forward to for some time and now that I have seen it, I must say, it is great to be back in his world. The Grand Budapest Hotel is fully Anderson and then some. Anderson signatures such as quirky pacing, set designs, dialogue and characters, one of which worthy of being declared his greatest yet, pleasantly occupy The Grand Budapest Hotel.

The Grand Budapest Hotel begins in present day with a young woman walking up to the monument of “The Author” as she reads his memoirs. Immediately after, the audience is taken to the 1980’s where we find The Author (Tom Wilkinson), as his son pesters him, sitting in front of a camera, speaking about his visit to The Grand Budapest Hotel. The setting then becomes 1968 when The Author (Jude Law), visited the Grand Budapest and sat down for dinner with its legendary owner Zero Moustafa (F. Murray Abraham). It is here that Zero goes on to share with The Author about when he started working at the hotel as a lobby boy under the supervision of concierge Monsieur Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes). This causes for film setting to switch to 1932 where the adventures of Zero (Tony Revolori) and Gustave come to life. The issue at hand in the older Zero’s story is the mysterious death of Madame D. (a unrecognizable Tilda Swinton), one of the wealthiest guest of the hotel and a dear friend of Gustave’s. Following her death, at the reading of her will, it comes to light that she has left an extremely valuable painting titled ‘Boy with Apple’ to Gustave. Of course this angers her five children which causes for Gustave and Zero to take the painting from Madame D. home before they can keep him from getting it.

It is no secret that Anderson has called on particular players often in his career but The Grand Budapest Hotel is one big alumni event, as it seems that everyone that has participated before comes out for this one. Small appearances from Anderson faithfuls such as Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman are scattered throughout the film. In a slightly more memorable role is Harvey Keitel as a wise prisoner named Ludwig, who is very well written for small amount of lines he is given. Adrian Brody is highly entertaining with the free range he is given and his brother in the film, Willem Dafoe, always taking on the quirkiest of Anderson’s characters, is also memorable.

It is the new comers though that are the focus. Tony Revolori as Zero is a solid compliment to Fiennes. Zero is a very familiar character. Anderson often creates characters that have a certain subtlety to them. These characters are not particularly flashy in anyway but you can’t help but listen when they speak or act because they have so much to do with the effectiveness of the plot and other characters. Zero is that character in The Grand Budapest Hotel so Revolori’s reserved but confident approach is spot on. Like I said though, Revolori and the character are a compliment to another character.

That character is Gustave and boy, what a character he is. Whether it be him referring to nearly everyone as ‘darling’, his relationships with older blonde women or his interest in poetry, Gustave mesmerizes with ease. His antics as concierge of the hotel cause for him to be one the most memorable characters that have come from Anderson. This is saying a lot considering the how great nearly every character of his is. Of course though, with every memorable character is a memorable performance and Ralph Fiennes’s is no exception. Fiennes in the role makes sense especially when considering how wildly entertaining he was as Harry in In Bruges and how his quirkiness in that film is exactly what is needed for Gustave. I can say now, after seeing Fiennes in the role, I don’t believe there would be better choice.

Like any Anderson adventure though, the real star of the show is Anderson himself. It is only fitting that his latest film takes place in an extravagant, oddly located hotel due to the way that watching an Anderson film is like entering a place that is nothing less than strange but at the same time offers so much to discover and enjoy. A lot of this can be contributed to how many, if not all aspects of his films have quirky foundations that cause for them to support each other so well. Maybe the most bizarre element of them all is the backdrop for everything that is happening, the set design. The Grand Budapest Hotel’s set design, a character in its self, stands out in a strange way as it offers little light with its dark shades due to its heavy use of warm colors including Gustuve as he is always seen in a royal-like color.

It is the unique pacing along with its use of dialogue that sets an Anderson film apart from others. It is a slow developing sort of progression but at the same time has an urgent feel to it. There is never a lot of flashy movement or emotions but instead the dialogue is given the driver’s seat as it moves everything forward and keeps things so entertaining. I guess the best way to describe all of this is as Anderson’s style. It is a style that has become expected in a film of his. It is also a style that is thick in The Grand Budapest Hotel. The Grand Budapest Hotel verifies that Anderson, as a filmmaker, has not only fully embraced this style but has ensured himself that his style is his and why not stick with it. In doing so the audience cannot help but feel the same way and will willingly return to The Grand Budapest Hotel for years to come as well as look forward to any adventure from Anderson.

Grade: A-

Review written by Brad Shawgo. Visit his blog, ShawGoesToTheMovies, for more great film reviews and movie posts.

Published on 4/14/2014 4:44:18 PM

Top Movies for 4/11/2014

There are some new movies jumping into the fray this week but none of them are quite big enough to stop the freight train that is repeat top movie, Captain America: The Winter Solder. Captain absolutely destroyed at the box office last week raking in $95 million in the states. That total was far and away the number one movie last weekend and catapulted Captain America 2 to the current highest grossing opening of 2014. Critics and public alike have raved about the quality of the film justifying it's second week in the top spot. Be sure and check out the review that was posted right here at Central Illinois Movies in case you're wondering just how good of a film it is. If you didn't see it yet, this weekend is the perfect time to do so. You can't miss out on seeing the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters and how Captain America is adjusting to life in the 2010s after his long slumber.

Walt Disney Studios

Rio 2, from the makers of Ice Age as the 500 commercials airing daily are saying, pulls in at number two this week. Rio 2 is the sequel to 2011's Rio and is coming to a theater near you in both 3D and 2D. Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway reprise their lead roles as Blu and Jewel. There is a really diverse cast here from comedians (George Lopez), to serious actors (Jamie Foxx, Andy Garcia), to musicians (Janelle Monae, Bruno Mars) it'd be hard not to find at least one talent you're a fan. Critics recommend it for the kids, but note it's exhaustive comic relief at times. So, grab the kids and go see it!

20th Century Fox

I've never been one to care too much for the horror genre in general, but Oculus is coming to the area and it supposed to be two things: 1. Scary 2. Good. So it takes the number three spot this week. Critics have noted that it has less violence and grime than the common horror-fare with some calling it "elegant." So far, it's earned a 63 aggregate score on metacritic, which is insanely high for the subject matter. So if a scare is what you're craving this week, check out Oculus, it's sure to get the job done.

What else can I say about Noah that hasn't already been said here? The movie is entering its third week in theaters and has done quite well at the box office. We posted a review of the film on our site earlier this week so be sure to check it out. The movie is good, the review is even better.

Paramount Pictures

The Grand Budapest Hotel is a delightful film that deserves to be seen by everyone. Seriously, if you haven't gotten the chance to see it yet, I highly recommend it. It surely won't be in theaters much longer. Wes Anderson's whip smart dialog and many top notch performances from the actors all combine to make a movie you won't soon forget. I feel required to mention the notable omission that was Draft Day. I don't have anything against football but the idea of a film centered around the already grating spectacle that is the National Football League's Draft Day is what's wrong with pop culture in the United States. This is truly a niche that should stick to real life, we don't need a concocted product that has no chance of being more interesting than the real draft that will get 1000s of hours of coverage over the next few weeks.

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Published on 4/10/2014 8:54:21 PM

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Walt Disney Studios

The recipe for a Marvel films has always included humor and action. These two ingredients have always been the most noticeable of any of the others but they both seemed to be used in larger amounts each time the recipe is re-used. As of late, the humor and action have become not components in the final product but the final product. With Captain America: The Winter Soldier though, it appears that the people over at Marvel and Disney realized that the recipe needed tweaked a bit. Captain America: The Winter Soldier uses respectable plot points and characters to focus on the bigger picture rather than sticking with heavy slap stick comedy and mindless action sequences that past Marvel films have over utilized.

In his third go around, we first find Steve Rogers a.k.a Captain America (Chris Evans) stationed in the nation’s capital, working for S.H.I.E.L.D. Quickly into the film, Captain America is called to sea in an attempt to stop a group of pirates taking over a ship that belongs to S.H.I.E.L.D. While Rogers has his hands full, agent Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), also on board, is found downloading data from a computer on to a flash drive. After it becomes unclear what exactly the data that Romanoff acquired is, trust among everyone involved at S.H.I.E.L.D. becomes an issue, even with senior official Alexander Price (Robert Redford) and S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).

With the first scene of Captain America: The Winter Soldier featuring Steve Rogers using his enhanced physical abilities to pass Iraq war veteran Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as both are jogging around the National Monument in D.C., saying ‘On your left’ each time, I could not help but think that this was just going to be another attempt at being a full out comedy. I’m thrilled to say that I was wrong. In fact the ‘To your left’ joke actually pays off as it is properly referred to again later in the film. One of the problems with Iron Man 3 and especially Thor: The Dark World was that it seemed like weak humor was around every corner and that every other character was comic relief. This is not the case it with The Winter Soldier which is refreshing to say the least.

The Winter Soldier stays focused on being an action film, not a comedy. Never is the audience allowed to question the genre they are experiencing. The Winter Soldier does not rely solely on humor as its primary approach to entertaining but instead uses nicely constructed, interesting action sequences to keep the audience in. I’m not saying that past Marvel films have not featured respectable action scenes; it’s just that The Winter Soldier uses these same type of scenes to actually move the film forward.

Discipline when using humor is a plus when evaluating the value of The Winter Soldier but it is it’s character focus that makes it one of Marvels better entries. Take a second to think about what Captain America has to offer when to comes to characteristics and behaviors. Why it didn’t really dawn on me until I was watching The Winter Soldier, I’m not sure but Captain America/Steve Rogers has possibly the most interesting back story of any character currently being used in the Marvel saga. Of course, with Steve Rogers, you have a guy who has to live with the results of being genetically enhanced but also someone that has to adjust to a world he has been absent from for nearly 70 years. Life at age 95 (the age he says he is in the film) is either non-existent or at its end but not for Steve Rogers. His life is just beginning again. This is all briefly brought to light in a compelling moment with an elder Peggy Carter from the first film. Unfortunately, this issue that Rogers has to deal with is really not explored any more than this one scene.

The mystery that is given to other characters in the film is also noteworthy. The second title character, the Winter Soldier, involves plenty of mystique. Although, he is nothing special when it comes to villainous qualities, his back story allows him to be character to follow. It is continually hinted at that the past life of agent Natasha Romanoff is something that can be harmful if revealed so the fact that it is never truly explained gives the audience something to wonder about which is needed for the bigger picture.

What is that bigger picture? The bigger picture is the foundation plot for the Marvel film universe and unlike past Marvel films, it’s something that The Winter Soldier keeps in mind. This movie is about S.H.I.E.L.D. and how its future could be affected. This plot point is connected to themes from the first Captain America film which makes for a solid plot and works in the entire sagas favor. Also strengthening the plot is the focus on trust. Even though Nick Fury makes mention of it way too much, this theme adds a human element to an unrealistic concept.

One negative aspect regarding The Winter Soldier's plot is that sometimes it moves too quick while also packing a lot in causing for things to get a little muffled at times. This is small problem though as the more respectable aspects of the plot along with strong characters over shadow it. It is also because of these aspects that The Winter Soldier is so encouraging. Going in, it was easy to think that the mega successful Marvel Universe was just a sinking ship. The Winter Soldier not only assures that things are on the up but that the Marvel product can actually match the financial gain.

Grade: B+

Review written by Brad Shawgo. Visit his blog, ShawGoesToTheMovies, for more great film reviews and movie posts.

Published on 4/10/2014 5:49:38 PM