I am not the biggest sports fan in the world, so I usually enter these with very little knowledge of the actual events and people that inspired them. I don't know if that helps or hurts, but I guess it doesn't matter since I have enjoyed the movies anyway. Invincible is no different.
Invincible is the story of Vincent Papale, a 30 year old bartender from Philadelphia who goes to an open tryout for the Philadelphia Eagles. Dirk Vermiel is the new coach of the team that has been suffering a number of losing seasons in front of a rabid crowd. We all know how the story is going to go, a down and out guy tries out, works hard against adversity, and eventually overcomes to win the hearts of a city and the love interest.Mark Wahlberg plays Papale well. He is the everyman with whom the passive viewer can put their hopes and dreams, living vicariously through the underdog champion. Where Papale came from, and what he went through gives everyone something to identify with. The cast is filled with the usual suspects. There is the love interest, the supportive friends, the rival, the teammates who look down on him, and the coach who stands up for him. All of which play the usual roles, but they are portrayed very well.
The movie was directed by first timer Ericson Core, who has spent most of his career as a director of photography on films such as Daredevil, The Fast and the Furious, and Payback. I am sure that experience came in handy whil shooting Invincible. The movie has an epic feel too it, and despite the perpetual use of green/brown (I have a touch of color-blindness, and the color could go wither way to me) filters giving it all a but of ugliness, still looks good. The relationship is much like the compelling tale against the cliched nature of the story. The script was written by Brad Gann, who did a good job of keeping the primary storyline in focus, and the heart on its sleeve. Although some of the background relationships were a little underwritten, it doesn't detract from the film as a whole.The acting is good, as well, even if there is no stretch required. Wahlberg does a fine job of embodying the embattled everyman, seeking to fight the odds. Elizabeth Banks (Slither) is lovely as the interloper Giants fan and love interest. Greg Kinnear is fine as Dick Vermiel, the coach seeking to win over a city and get a few wins. None of the performances are Oscar type, but they do the job of keeping you involved for the entire running of the movie.
Bottomline. A surprisingly effective film that continues Disney's stranglehold on the formula. Fine performances lead the film to its inspirational goal. It may look a bit ugly through the filters, and you may not want to revisit the fashion sense and hairstyles, but you will want to visit with Vince and his journey.
Recommended.
Jon Heder continues to carve out a niche as the premier weird guy in School for Scoundrels. He follows his star making turn in the audience dividing Napoleon Dynamite and as the nose picking baseball neophyte in Benchwarmers with the role of a meter maid with low self esteem.
Having first witnessed Tony Jaa in Ong Bak, there is no doubt that he is the future of the martial arts film stars. We've had Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li, Jaa is the next generation. This guy is simply amazing, and now we are getting another dose of his brand of excitement on the big screen.
The DVD puts together highlights from the show, featuring loud, in your face metal, swirling pits, and bands that are clearly putting their soul on the stage. 90 minutes of metal thrashing madness.
Then there is Symphony X, a band I had heard of, and was anticipating their live show. They did not disappoint in their combination of technical precision and heaviness. They are in the Dream Theater school, although I think Symphony X is a bit more to the heavy end of the spectrum. Their performances of "Inferno" and "Of Sins and Shadows" were spectacular. I really need to seek out more music from them.
Finally, the final act of the day, and the master of ceremonies, Megadeth closes out the concert. They are represented by three songs, "She Wolf," "A Tout Le Monde," and "Kick the Chair." This is not my favorite lineup for the band, but they still know how to put on a great show. They tore the stage up on these three sets, complete with flames.
Brian De Palma returns with his first film since 2002's Femme Fatale, a film that I think is underrated. Joining him is a good cast, strong material, and a great looking trailer. It is also another film that is inspired by true events.
Of this coming weekend's new releases, I think this one holds the most promise. It is not an action movie, or a comedy, or a new science fiction or horror film, nor does it immediately seem like an Oscar contendor. What it does look like is a dramatic, music filled tale set around a 1930s speakeasy.
The night begins at 8:00 with the return of Prison Break with the episode "Manhunt", a breakout hit last year, entering its second season. The first season ended on somewhat of a whimper as Michael Scofield, his brother, and a gaggle of other convicts of varying crimes, put the season long plan to get over the wall and escape prison into effect. They successfully got over that wall, but not without enough problems to make you wonder if it was all worthwhile. It ended with the line "We run." Rather anticlimatic, but it was not enough to dissuade me from eagerly anticipating this premiere.
Following Prison Break is its new companion piece, Vanished. When I first saw that this was coming on, I thought it was Kidnapped, but then I realized that was the wrong network. I watched the premiere, and I am sad to report that I was not blown away by it. I was, however, intrigued by the over the top complexity.
A pleasant surprise. That seems to be the best way of describing my reaction to Accepted. I went into it with the low expectations that late summer releases generally deserve. A fact which may have actually helped my reaction, but is not the whole story. The commercials gave me hopes of some mild comedy, and for some reason I tend to enjoy Justin Long's characters, for a reason that I could not explain.
Now, don't get me wrong, this is by no means a great movie, nor is the message that deep. Accepted survives on a high concept that works, and a story that is populated by likable characters. It is a movie for the outsider, all of those kids who think they are being left behind, those looking for a direction, those looking for a way to realize their hopes and dreams in a system that does not foster their chosen paths.
Along for the ride, adding just a touch of class, is Lewis Black, who brings his in your face style to the role of dean of the fictitious school. Oh, how I wished he had a little more screen time. He was perfect for the role of.
Accepted delivers on a few levels. The surface comedy is pretty funny, trying to hide the fake school, trying to deal with the influx of students, trying to get the girl and make the frat boys look stupid. Beneath that the higher concept of a non-traditional education, of challenging long established standards, also works very well. It is not an idea of lowering the standards, but looking for new ways of teaching the traditional concepts, a way of involving those who otherwise may get lost in the system.
Plotless. Pointless. Silly. Goofy. Stupid. All words that could be used to accurately describe this movie. If you watch it and try to follow the plot, you will be sorely disappointed, but then, if you are going to see Snakes on a Plane for a plot, you may have bigger problems. The title really tells you all that you need to know. Well, that and the fact that Samuel L. Jackson stars in it.
The hype for this movie was a huge grass roots movement. As soon as the title got out, it was off to the races. Only knowing title and star, a series of fansites were spawned preparing for the release of the snakes upon the theaters of America. How much this groundswell of interest had n the making of the film, I have no idea. I do believe that the name was intended just as a working title while it was being put together, but once it caught on, why change it?
The movie itself is a blast. At the start, I tried to wrap my mind around the jumpiness of what plot there was, but quickly decided not to bother with that and just get wrapped up in the rollercoaster aspect of the film. It doesn't take long until we are on the plane and the snakes are loosed. There is the build up of who will be the first victim, the suspense builds until that moment happens, then there is the necessary thinning of the herd, so to speak. We need to get the victims down to a nominal level where they can get some screen time.