Yay for Yuri (2012)

So I liked 2012. (mild spoilers follow)

I know it's disaster porn of the highest order, the characters are as paper-thin as the buildings appear to be and the dialogue is atrocious. But come on... no one's going to this one for memorable moments. We're going to watch big things fall down and go boom.

And measuring 2012 on the boom-a-meter it gets an 9.5 out of 10. Until someone makes the movie where Earth goes kablooey Emmerich takes the prize for mind-numbing spectacle.

And as is the disaster-film tradition there are a couple campy performances to savor.

Yes there's John Cusack, who does the usual Cusack. It was kind of the producers to allow him to play a writer who wears black the entire time, thereby allowing us to believe in someway he's still the guy from High Fidelity/Say Anything.

But a little-known Croatian actor steals the show. His name is Zlatko Buric and he plays Yuri, the Russian billionaire Cusack's character just happens to work for. Zlatko has a voice like a bass woofer with a vodka-soaked accent to match. Lots of fun.

Also hats off to Tom McCarthy. You know when you're playing the guy competing against John Cusack you're not long for this earth. But considering he's playing a plastic surgeon from Los Angeles he's surprising likable. (If you're trying to place Tom, think of The Wire and don't forget he directed The Visitor.)

Embracing Your Inner Child

I'll be on air today dishing the goods on the Julie & Julia. (Oh food-related puns, where would I be without you?)

10 second verdict. Disappointingly fluffy film, but worth seeing for Meryl Streep's performance as Julia Child. No surprise there, but Streep's Child is great fun, the most comedic character she's played in years. (Quiet down about Mama Mia, it doesn't count and I didn't believe her as the hotel-running hippie.)

In the process of boning up on all things Julia I've uncovered a couple links to compliment your viewing experience. Below you can watch Julia making eggs. A simple taste of the chef's charms.

Also in case you've seen the film, and you're wondering what the real Julie Powell thinks of her on screen incarnation, you can read it here on Julie's real blog.

And finally after watching Stanley Tucci hold his own with Streep I had to go find a photo of the real husband of Julia, Paul Child. So there he is up top on the right in case you're curious. Bon Appetit.

Recovering from The Hangover

The Hangover is your raunchy comedy of the week.

From the guy who brought you Old School is a Vegas road movie gone wrong.

I'll say this, they cut a fine trailer for this film. Unfortunately when you see the full version, there's a lot of dead spots between some comic scenes. The tiger, Tyson...it's all there. But the film takes a long time to find its groove. Plus the humour is, well a little to ripe for my tastes. Getting laughs with jokes about the Holocaust and swinging a baby around tend to put me off.

But... and there is a but, two of the players in this are much more interesting than the film itself. Zack Galifianakis has been described as an an alt-comic. What he is, is weird in a good way. Even a Andy Kaufman way. He's been through the crucible of stand up. He's done some TV stuff. Now he's just doing his own thing. It's not funny in a Will Ferrell pratfall way, but it is interesting. Normally I don't go for comedy that comes from an uncomfortable place, but there's a amazing sense of vulnerability with Galifianakis. Certainly someone we'll be seeing more of. Check out this long nytimes profile for starters and here's a hilarious music video he and Wil Oldham did for Kayne West.

(love the jumping tractor)

Another actor that deserves a mention is Ed Helms. You might know him from The Office. He does a nice turn here as the typical henpecked husband. It's time for some new faces in these frat boy movies, and Helms does what he can with this paper-thin part. Great suffering and energy. I hope we see more.