It Came From Letterboxd (09/30/2017)

Yeah, yeah, you know the drill...

THE SOCIAL NETWORK

A remarkable portrayal of youth at the dawn of the quote unquote Information Age. Pretty much every performance (yes, even Jesse Eisenberg’s Mark Zuckerberg) works like gangbusters and I could listen to Aaron Sorkin’s dialogue for hours on end. Fincher packs more energy and punch into scenes of guys sitting around coding than a lot of blockbusters do in their action setpieces. Terrific filmmaking that I’m puzzled to not have witnessed sooner. Also, that score by Reznor & Ross just kills. It makes for great listening on its own and imbues the film with a unique sense of vibrancy that lends gravitas to every moment it’s used for.
[RATING: 4 out of 5]

DELIVERANCE

Oh boy, did things escalate quickly while somehow maintaining an almost glacial pace. Despite the strong performances, this movie really just kind of sits there a lot of the time. Plus, when it does get interesting, it’s usually in a way that feels undeservedly slimy and raw. Still, there are a few high points. It opens on a leisurely but intriguing note. The legendary John Boorman directs the thing like a champ and it’s all occasionally reinvigorated by a unique score. Before watching this, I read that this was adapted from a novel by its author. It certainly makes sense. I figure that would work much better on the page than it does on the screen. Also, mustache-less Burt Reynolds is my least favorite variety of Burt Reynolds.
[RATING: 2 1/2 out of 5]

TIM AND ERIC'S BILLION DOLLAR MOVIE

Proof that the jump from television to the cinema comes with an equal amount of cons as well as pros. To put it simply, Heidecker and Wareheim really do work better in a somewhat restrained 22 minutes chock full of sketches instead of something that’s three times as long and contains more misfires than bullseyes. Even at a measly 93 minutes, the end product is way too slow and the running time way too cumbersome. Definitely not for anyone outside of hardcore T&E fans or maybe those seeking some really out there, preposterously vulgar anti-comedy.
[RATING: 2 out of 5]

PENNIES FROM HEAVEN

Certainly, an interesting picture. Think of it like La La Land, only set in the Great Depression, decidedly pessimistic and oddly dirty at points. Steve Martin proves himself more than capable of handling the dramatic role of a struggling music salesman while Jessica Harper and Bernadette Peters equip themselves quite nicely as his thankless wife and a potential new lover, respectively. Even the legend himself, Christopher Walken, has a rather entertaining cameo near the end. Even amongst the seemingly endless aura of gloom, the occasional song-and-dance numbers breathe some well-choreographed life into the proceedings. A fascinating mixture of musical optimism and realistic cynicism.
[RATING: 3 1/2 out of 5]