DVDs for August
Posted on July 28, 2011 by bob in DVD
Limitless (PG-13) ***Those who followed the TV series LA Law may remember nebbishy attorney Stuart Markowitz’ romantic overachievements thanks to a sexual technique called the Venus Butterfly that an even nerdier client disclosed to him as the secret to his rampant polygamy. Pop culture buzzed with speculation about what this key to dazzling women in bed might be. This suspenseful drama serves up a likely successor to that realm of fantasy - a pill that unleashes the full power of our brains, compared to the 5 - 15% scientists claim we function with in our current state of evolution (or semi-intelligent design, depending on one’s preferences). Bradley Cooper is a depressed, blocked writer whose lot changes dramatically when his former brother-in-law gives him one of those pills. Suddenly, he’s happy, dazzlingly brilliant, finishing the novel he hadn’t been able to start within days. But pills wear off, and more are needed.Unfortunately, someone murders his source, and the danger part of the plot begins.Considering the fanciful premise, the plot is relatively thoughtful and coherent, with several arenas of suspense and food for thought about what “better living through chemistry” may come to mean in the near future. Cooper and DeNiro turn in compelling performances in this sci-fi variation on the sort of Wall Street clashes between old mentors and young wizards of the wandless variety. (6/7/11)
Arthur (PG-13) *
I never fully appreciated Dudley Moore’s original until I saw what they did to it in this terrible updated remake. Perhaps the days of finding charm in the antics and misadventures of the boozing scion of a wealthy family have passed. These days we’ve seen too many victims of drunk driving or abusive conduct to see the humor in portrayals of lovable lushes. Would Foster Brooks, who regaled us in the days of Dean Martin’s TV roasts, find work for that character today?
Besides picking the wrong time for this tale, Russell Brand camps it up like Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow, fending off whatever empathy we might have developed for him; Helen Mirren can’t replace Sir John Gielgud’s droll butler, Hobson (another weird bit of slumming for one who should know better); and having Brand fall for the blandest blond they could find makes Liza Minnelli seem like Myrna Loy by comparison. The script offers a few laughs, including some mild attempts to give a nod to Arthur’s prolonged adolescence in the climate of our current financial mess, but there are fatal shortcomings in both chemistry and context, making this one of the year’s most annoying films – especially for those who relished being caught between the Moon and New York City a couple of decades ago…when it was still fun. (6/14/11)
Rango (PG) *** Apart from the deceptive gap between the look of this animated feature and the actuality of its script, this one’s a pretty good bet for the right audience, in the right frame of mind. The characters are so adorable one may expect a light-hearted animal adventure for all ages. But the story and action unfold in a more dramatic tone than the artwork indicates, making it less likely to please those under ten than one expects. With that caveat in mind, enjoy the tale of a daydreaming city-raised chameleon who accidentally lands in a desert town in which foul play is afoot, as he unwittingly, then reluctantly, sets himself up for the role of hero - the good, the bad and the ugly of such gigs. In structure, the plot seems much like Jack Black’s recent outing in a contemporary spin on Gulliver’s Travels. This variation on the theme is less funny, but much cuter. (6/21/11)Mark Glass
Mark Glass is an officer and director of the St. Louis Film Critics Association.
