i think i love my wife Tagged Articles at Cinematical

In the spirit of the season and goodwill and whatnot, I thought I'd forgo griping about the sorry state of things this week and instead send out some love to the downtrodden, the small films of 2007 that were somehow overlooked, underrated or outright ignored in some way. Let's start with the Russian film The Italian, released in January, which caused critics to dredge up the word "Dickensian" for the first time in a while. But for all that it was a surprising, deeply-felt story of an orphan who escapes the orphanage to find his birth-parents.

Kino released the documentary Romantico in January as well, and they're apparently counting it as a 2007 release. I wrote a few weeks back about the documentary format; there's certainly a place for journalism and reporting, but the very best documentaries, the ones that stand the test of time, are the ones that capture the details of life, like Crumb, Hoop Dreams and To Be and to Have. Romantico is one of those. It tells the story of a mariachi illegally based in San Francisco who decides to go back to Mexico to see his family, even though he risks never being able to return (of course, his income in the States is much higher than in Mexico). Romantico will most certainly be overlooked in any discussion of 2007's documentaries, but it's worth seeking out on DVD.

In my rave review of Sarah Polley's remarkable new film Away from Her, I predicted its quick and painless death. The twin subjects of old age and disease rarely strike any kind of fire at the box office, especially with a lack of compensating younger characters. But I'm very happy today to be proven wrong. Playing on just 256 screens, Away from Her very nearly cracked this week's box office top ten, coming it at #12 in a week loaded with "Part III" blockbusters. (For comparison, the number one movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, is playing on 4362 screens).

Polley's movie also broaches the issue of sex; there's an unspoken tension between husband Grant (Gordon Pinsent) and wife Fiona (Julie Christie) over some affairs Grant apparently had with his female students back in the free-love hippie era. Grant feels gnawing doubt and confusion after Fiona checks into the home and befriends a male patient, Aubrey (Michael Murphy). And finally, Grant has a new affair with Aubrey's wife Marian (Olympia Dukakis), based on loneliness and on the sheer fact that their spouses don't really remember them anymore.

Paul Verhoeven's Black Book is currently playing on nine big city screens, and slowly expanding to more in other parts of the country. It's a radical departure for Mr. Verhoeven. It's his first non-English film since The Fourth Man (1983), and it's his first non-exploitation film in decades. It deals directly with the Nazi persecution of the Jews and it runs 145 minutes. Clearly, he's trying to say something here. He wants us to know that, whether or not anyone liked Robocop (1987), Total Recall (1990) or Basic Instinct (1992), he never really took those films seriously.

Now, I don't think that's exactly true, but it's certainly the impression one can get. The truth is that while Black Book appears to be more important, dignified and serious than Verhoeven's other films, and while I like it very much, it actually has quite a bit less to say. Films from the lower regions can often get away with more subversive ideas than more prestigious films. For example, Black Book demonstrates once again how awful the Nazis were and how resourceful the Jews were, but Verhoeven's Starship Troopers (1997) sends a far more sinister message by forcing us into the perspective of the Nazi-like heroes as they try to exterminate an entire species of "bug." The film sweeps you up into a frightening mob mentality, so you cheer for death and destruction well before you realize what's actually happening.

The blood-soaked Greek war epic 300 once again left the competition bruised and battered this weekend, taking in a cool $31.2 million to hold its No. 1 position at the box office.

Here's what Patricia predicted for the weekend box office on Friday:

1. 300
2. Premonition
3. Wild Hogs
4. Dead Silence
5. I Think I Love My Wife

And here's the actual top five:

1. 300 - $31.2 million
2. Wild Hogs - $18.8 million
3. Premonition - $18.0 million
4. Dead Silence - $6.8 million
5. I Think I Love My Wife - $6.8 million

Get the full box-office report here.

Well kids, first let me congratulate you ... you did it. Redemption is yours as 300 is a huge hit. But, I see a relapse comin on as I fear many of you will make the same mistake I did ... thinking Chris Rock is still funny.

Chris Rick isn't funny anymore, and I'm not exactly sure why. I think it's partly because he thinks that the jokes he told ten years ago and recycles today are as funny and edgy as they were then. I think it's partly because he laughs the hardest at his own jokes. I think it's partly because the comedians working today are much more edgy so it makes it harder for him to stand out. Maybe it's because he spends more time producing now and less time developing as a comedian. Well, whatever it is, all I know is that until he shows me something new, I'm out. Speaking of out, let's talk about his super lame new movie.

Yes, he directs and stars in I Think I Love My Wife.

Rock plays a high powered investment banker with a beautiful wife and wonderful children. But he's not getting any at home and he fantasizes about pretty much every other woman he sees. And when the lovely Nikki (played by Kerry Washington) pursues him, will he be able to keep it in his pants?

The reel deal, this movie is SOOOOO not funny ... or well written ... or directed ... or acted. It's like he took a bunch of stand-up jokes and tried to edit them into a movie. And guys, if you're dopey enough to take your wife or girlfriend to see this movie ... and she's laughin' ... she's SOOO not laughin'. If she is, it's that "You ain't getting any for a couple week" sort of laugh. You know what I'm sayin'? I'm Out.

Following the screening of I Think I Love My Wife, I received a call from my brother who asked what I thought about the flick. My response: "I think I liked the movie." When Chris Rock first announced he'd be returning to the director's chair for a remake of the 1972 French film Chloe in the Afternoon, it kind of felt like your friend -- the one who parties hard, sleeps around and lives life on the edge -- all of a sudden decided to settle down, have a family and get married ... in the span of one day. It was an odd choice of material for the edgy comedian and former SNL star; the guy we're supposed to blame for 2003's Head of State. But, what at first appeared to be a train wreck waiting to happen, actually turned out to be more like a mild collision -- an accident that could've been averted had Rock spent more time fine-tuning his script and less time pretending to capture the essence of French filmmaking.

Richard Cooper (Rock) seemingly has it all; he's married to a beautiful woman (Gina Torres), has two adorable little children, a nice house in the suburbs of Westchester and a cozy high-paying job as an investment banker. Except, there's one problem -- he's "f**king bored!" For reasons that aren't really explained, Richard and his wife are not having sex. The excitement, the passion and the love has disappeared from the marriage, forcing them both to seek help from a marriage councilor and leaving poor Richard with nothing but his over-active imagination and a voice-over to tell us just how attracted he is to every girl that walks by. Conflict arises when Nikki (Kerry Washington), an old crush, shows up at Richard's office -- dressed to resemble your most memorable wet dream -- looking for a job and a whole lot more.

It's fairly easy for us to scribble down a number of films coming out this year that we're looking forward to; in the next few months alone, we have a third Pirates of the Caribbean, a third Shrek, a third Spider-Man, a second Hostel and a little Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez flick called Grindhouse. And that's just the beginning. But, like with every year, there's also a number of projects that, for one reason or another, don't deserve the hype.

This week, MSNBC has put out a list of their five least anticipated films of 2007. In order (followed by my comments):

• Wild Hogs -- I saw this Monday night, and can safely say it's not worth getting your hopes up. Look for my review later this week. Agree.
• I Think I Love My Wife -- And I think Chris Rock is a horrific actor. In fact, it's hard for me to place the word 'anticipated' anywhere near his name. Agree.
• Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer -- Director Tim Story gets one more chance to save the franchise. I hated the original, but even I feel this sequel doesn't deserve a spot here. Disagree.
• Alien vs. Predator 2 -- Oh no, they're still fighting one another ... and we keep getting stuck in the middle. Isn't it about time we retire these two monsters? Agree.
• Rush Hour 3 -- Hey, if I had $30 million collecting dust, I'd pay Chris Tucker to permanently shut his mouth. Agree.

With the exception of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, their list is pretty spot on. However, I would add Evan Almighty, Hairspray, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Underdog and, yes, Saw IV. What about you? What are your least anticipated films of 2007?

Chris Rock: Drop-dead brilliantly funny comedian, no question about it. But ... not so great where movies are concerned. And I'm not just talking about his paltry acting skills either ("paltry" being a nice word for "atrocious"); the guy's natural comedic skills were a saving grace in flicks like Lethal Weapon 4, Bad Company and The Longest Yard (kinda), but let's just say he's not all that great at remembering lines -- or delivering them convincingly.

But when Rock gets anywhere behind the camera, the result is usually pretty disastrous. (He wrote the terrible Down to Earth and wrote/directed the painfully bad Head of State.) So when I tell you that the new comedy I Think I Love My Wife stars Chris Rock, you might get happy -- and when I tell you that the flick is also written and directed by Rock, you might get (justifiably) sad. (Martha covered the flick waaaay back in February.)

Based solely on this new trailer, the movie seems to be a modernized urbanization of Eric Rohmer's Chloe in the Afternoon -- or perhaps Billy Wilder's The Seven Year Itch. Either way the movie's about a married man who entertains (numerous) thoughts of adultery, and (probably nearly) goes through with it when an old flame (and single hottie) arrives on the scene. Gina Torres is the wife; Kerry Washington the hottie; March 16 the release date.

While there are still exchanges to be made, gift cards to be used and, of course, the small matter of New Year's Eve and Day, the holiday season is beginning to wind down. As much as I may gripe about it, Christmas usually turns out to be a lot of fun, and this year was no exception. It's time to kick back, though. After all the stress and rushing around of the last month or so, I think a few laughs are in order. This week, Trailer Park takes a look at some comedies due to hit theaters in the coming months.

Unconscious
Comedy doesn't always cross language barriers well, but the humor in this subtitled Spanish language film about sexual taboos in Barcelona in 1913 seems to have survived translation quite nicely. Set against the background of the works of Sigmund Freud, the trailer is liberally peppered with double entendrés like "premature evacuation," and "penetrating the subconscious." A woman named Alma (played by the enchanting Leonor Watling) enlists the aid of her brother-in-law Salvador to find her missing psychiatrist husband. The film has gotten scads of award nomination (check them out here), and looks like a nice change of pace from Hollywood-style comedy.

Bollywood's UTV Motion Pictures is really, really serious about getting involved with the American film industry. Yesterday there was an article in The New York Times about Will Smith's two-film collaboration with the company, and today Variety reported that UTV will -- in an agreement unrelated to the Smith deal -- co-produce Fox Searchlight's Chris Rock-directed Chloe in the Afternoon remake, I Think I Love My Wife.

The Smith deal, which is actually with Overbrook Entertainment, the company founded by Smith and partner James Lassiter, is interesting because the films will be India-based (with Sony managing worldwide distribution), and will in no way feature Smith's face. Instead, he and Lassiter will develop, cast and produce the films, while UTV will take care of financing (up to an level that hasn't been made public; beyond that point, Overbrook will be responsible for raising necessary money). The Fox deal, meanwhile, is strictly financial: UTV has provided $7 million of the movie's budget, and will also handle Indian distribution.