Thursday, July 22, 2010

Alec Baldwin Double Bill Etc.


We now have decades of outstanding characters in film played by Alec Baldwin. What an animal. I love him so much! Remember his super geek in Beetlejuice? He has also played a lot of scummy sidekicks...in She's Having A Baby and Working Girl. A lot of his roles are in movies a large part of the population never saw because they don't see "chick flicks" or mainstream comedies. but Baldwin has been blowing the screen up with his energy for just so long...And I happened to see two movies on the same day with him in them...which I didn't plan on doing, it was just one of those surprises that often happens of coincidences when watching more than one movie at a sitting. He totally stole each movie he was in. I didn't even know he played the father of Dane Cook when I started watcing a little comedy called My Best Friends Girl. One of the main things about Alec Baldwin is he feels so MAN.



I hadn't even heard of this movie when I watched it a couple weeks ago. I was not ever a fan of Dane Cook...and I saw that Kate Hudson was in a movie...and I love her...so I thought "what the heck". Stagg was out with his friend Jim for the weekend. As soon as I watched this movie I realized how badly Stagg would have to see it when he got home. Dane Cook was fabulous. He totally surprised me. He plays a total asshole. His job is to teach ex-girlfriends a lesson with a little revenge. Okay. I see this is a great idea for a story. This movie has hip contemporary humour and dialogue and I found it refreshing although quite edgy. It's hilarious and what really makes this potentially cold style of humour successful in this movie is the chemistry between Hudson and Cook. It isn't as lighthearted as old screwball comedies but it has the redeeming quality of true onscreen sparks between the stars. Alec Baldwin plays Cook's father and he is charming, snakey, sly and damn funny. I landed up watching this strange movie 3 times because I thought it really had something different with the nasty cool repartee...total asshole has heart softened by tough talking smart woman. Sure, it's cliche but this has a contemporary tone that makes it feel fresh. It's a little dark, a little cold, but worth it. 8/10. Excellent soundtrack.



Like I said...I somewhat expect Alec Baldwin to steal a movie....but saying that when Meryl Streep is involved is saying a lot. What a great set of characters created for the movie It's Complicated. James Wolcott recently called director Nancy Meyer's movie "real-estate porn" and there is some tasty houses in her movies, for sure. But her exploration of women and characters and men...are really good. ..and Wolcott has done her a dis-service by labeling her movies so superficially. Alec Baldwin was so good in this role, we see quite a different side to him...sure the perfect comedian and physical prescence we know...but he has a very touching sympathetic aspect here. The story deals with a side of family that often doesn't get a good deep treatment. Much enjoyed. If you're a kid of divorce...like I was...there is something poignant here for you. Well done. 10/10. Hey...it's also very funny!



This is a lousy condition of video...but of a fantastic segment in the wonderful 30 Rock tv series. The premise of this episode is the network is switching to High Def tv...and some people can't make the transition. As each person walks past the High Def camera we see how they translate and it's hilarious. The best is Alec Baldwin's High Def persona...worth watching this clip if you don't follow the show....wait for it...



Here is one of the most talked about and beloved cameos on film from Glen Garry Glen Ross. Even my grandmother used to quote this scene..When people stopped talking about Baldwin during a quieter phase in his carreer they always mentioned this work. He was always good and now it's as if Baldwin is really seasoned and hit his stride and I am so glad writers recognize his power and lure. How do I love Alec Baldwin, let me count the ways..

...third prize is you're fired...

7 comments:

tiff said...

When a Baldwin was still a Baldwin.

He seems nice...

LE GAY SAVOIR said...

Il était beau jeune, mais vieux, il ne l'es plus , il est moche (ugly)
I say it in french to brush up your fench my sweet candy...
J'aime bien ton blog, il est très agréable !

LE GAY SAVOIR said...

il ne n'esT plus (with a T sorry)
Une chanson pour toi !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD-lNsycnIE

* (asterisk) said...

Alec rules! And so does 30 Rock.

S.M. Elliott said...

Heh heh, from real estate hell to real estate porn. Both great movies.

Lee said...

Hey Candy, thanks for the movie reviews! I'd like to see both of those now.

birdie said...

ITA about "It's Complicated." Such a great script, especially if you are a child of divorce. The only better ending would have been with Streep and Baldwin together. He was terrific in the role. Great fun!

generated by sloganizer.net