A swinging dick

BRUNO (2009)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

"Bruno" is the kind of movie that leaves you in stitches and in an uneasy discomfort. It is the also the kind of movie that makes you say, "He really didn't do that, did he?" I don't know how much longer Sacha Baron Cohen can keep up the charade of fooling people into saying things they might not otherwise say or do when he and a camera are present, but I can guess that "Bruno," a mockumentary full of tomfoolery and general bad behavior, will not be forgotten and may gain some sort of cult status.

Bruno is the most flamboyant fashion reporter you'll ever see. He's an Austrian reporter who is fired for reducing Fashion Week to chaos when he arrives with a velcro-suit (the scene is already something of a classic). After the firing, he goes to L.A. in the hopes of becoming a celebrity reporter. His idea for a new show is to interview stars like Harrison Ford interspersed with clips of his swinging penis (the interview with an angry Ford is short and hilarious). He also interviews Paula Abdul who has to sit on a Mexican worker and eat sushi off of a naked man! The show is clearly too outrageous and receives negative feedback. Next step for Bruno is to adopt an African baby ("black gold!") since all the celebrities do this to allegedly garner attention. He appears on "The Richard Bey Show" and tells an African-American audience that he will name his baby "O.J."

"Bruno" is not for the faint-hearted or the squeamish or those who don't like to be challenged by their own purported homophobia. If you loved "Borat," "Bruno" might be a tougher sell for those who are not fond of homophobic jokes or very brief close-ups of penises, or the gyrating and humping that briefly occurs between two gay men using various tools in various compromising positions. But if you are easily taken aback, you'll miss just how much hilarity ensues. "Bruno" is not standard comedy fare or even standard mockumentary fare. What creator and lead actor Sacha Baron Cohen has done is to act as outrageously as possible with the most garish of homosexual stereotypes and set up those he interviews who let their guard down and utter homophobic remarks. Best and one of the funniest examples is when Ron Paul (a one-time 2008 Republican presidential candidate) finds himself in a room with candles and Bruno stripped down to his undies! Paul makes the "queer" remark, though he doesn't know he has been punked. 

What you will find in "Bruno" is a mixture of truly outrageous and bawdy behavior. There is a swingers party sequence that is almost as funny as anything in "Borat", including a vixen hitting Bruno with a belt; Bruno trying to make the distinction between Hamas and hummus; a pray-the-gay away conversion that is probably more honest than what we saw in Bill Maher's "Religulous," and a hotel crew that doesn't want to find a key to unlock the chained Bruno and his gay lover in bed. But the capper is Bruno as the converted "Straight Dave" who is locked in a cage with his former lover in front of an audience of 1500 Southerners! That is like putting Mel Gibson (Whom Bruno calls Der Fuhrer) on a cross in a Jewish synagogue - pure trouble ahead.

I appreciate Cohen and his films, but I think audiences didn't quite catch on with the underlying subtext. Borat was a Russian stereotype with a big moustache ("Hey, I like you") who demonstrated naivete about Americans' way of life and made racist comments, thus allowing those around him to lower their guard and let out their inner racist hearts. With Bruno, Cohen is not having a gay stereotype make homophobic remarks - rather, Bruno merely taunts others and they just happen to let go of their inner homophobia. The context has changed, and the results are the same. "Bruno" is a wild, manic ride of a movie, too insanely high-pitched and too idiosyncratic for mainstream audiences. Still, for good laughs that hit below the belt and strike true notes, you can't do better than "Bruno." It is fabulous, but not for everyone.

One million a day can keep 300 million at bay

BREWSTER'S MILLIONS (1985)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

It is a shame that Richard Pryor never got the role that truly defined him (excepting "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling"). Pryor was such a considerable talent who had his own defined persona that was a bit of an effrontery to the mass audience. Putting it plainly, like Whoopi Goldberg and occasionally Eddie Murphy, Pryor never quite fit in the affable, laid-back roles in safely conventional comedies. Though it has some wisecracks and one clever visual pun, "Brewster's Millions" is a serviceable comedy that could've had anyone in the title role. Since the filmmakers play it safe rather than exploiting their idea for what it is worth, they put in an actor who has far more potential than displayed here.

Pryor is Montgomery Brewster, a low-grade baseball player for the Hackensack Bulls. The team is so low-grade that railroad tracks cut across their field and, well, they have to stop a game if a train crosses. Brewster is seemingly a talented pitcher but his ambitions are rather low. His best friend is Spike (John Candy), an umpire who has no major ambitions either. That is until Brewster discovers he has a 300 million inheritance left by his rich grandfather (Hume Cronyn). The stipulations are that 30 million are to be spent in one month, and spent wisely with no assets and hire people only for their market value. If Brewster succeeds, he'll get the 300 million. Of course, spending 1 million a day is no easy task, no matter how many security guards, accountants or prostitutes you hire.

The problem is that such a premise can only work if it is built for numerous comic possibilities. Some are funny, including buying a rare stamp and using it for postage! I also enjoyed how exasperated Brewster gets in just giving money away on the first day. And I love how Stephen Collins, appearing as the wimpy villain who wants Brewster to fail, says how much Brewster is paying him: "Brewster is paying me a quarter of a million dollars!"

Unfortunately, the film dovetails and begins to take itself rather seriously. Thanks to his lovely accountant (Lonette McKee), Brewster tries to be responsible and mature and uses the money wisely. He even starts his own political campaign with the unfunny slogan, "None of the Above." And not a single smile was elicited from my face when we see an actual exhibition game held by Brewster between his team and the NY Yankees.

I don't hate "Brewster's Millions" and I like its message but I sense this is not the movie for Richard Pryor. Pryor holds back too much, as does John Candy. Here you have two actors who could've mined comic gold out of such old-fashioned material and they basically operate as automatons delivering their lines with the attitude of robots who have zero exuberance. And since there isn't much in the way of wit or even a belly laugh (though there are a few chuckles strewn throughout), I sat there stunned and emotionless. A comedy like this should be rapid-fire and full of energy (much like the 1945 version, which is one of seven different versions of this story), especially when it comes to the movie's conceit that anyone and anything can be bought. Brewster finds some initial joy in it and then becomes exceedingly remote and indifferent. This could've been a doozy of a role for Tom Hanks or even John Candy, but not for Richard Pryor.

Rest assured, it is only a movie

THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (1972)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

As pure, unmitigated horror, "Last House on the Left" often succeeds but it is lacking a central aspect in any horror film - sympathy for the victims tormented by the evil. In this case, the victims are giggling, marihuana-stoked teenage girls (Sandra Cassel, Lucy Grantham) who are on their way to New York City to see the band, Blood Lust ("They dismember chickens".) They stop in the city looking to score some pot when they inadvertently hook up with three psychos, the oily Krug (David Hess), the bland Weasel (Fred J. Lincoln), the scared Junior Stillo (Marc Sheffler) and the potty-mouthed Sadie (Jeramie Stillo).

"Last House on the Left" starts off badly for the first hour with horrendous acting and even worse cinematography making it appear as if it were an Afterschool Special. The film improves when the victims are forced to have sexual intercourse, bludgeoned, and then stabbed out in the woods where nobody can hear them. The actual process by which the psychotic group makes these victims suffer is unsettling and reinforces, I think, Wes Craven's initial theme - to make us act with revulsion at the violence taking place from real-life murderers, not bogeymen. There is even a moment when the killers look at themselves with disgust after stabbing one girl who attempted to run away. Unfortunately, Craven hardly makes us care for either of the victims and so it makes it harder to have any sympathy.

Then the film takes a curious turn and, by sheer coincidence, there is a spin of events involving one girl's parents who happen to live near the woodsy area where the crimes took place. The killers pretend to be religious students whose car broke down. The parents take them in, before realizing who they are. All of this is very loosely based on Ingmar Bergman's fabulously beautiful masterpiece, "The Virgin Spring," which at least developed its characters amidst a powerful theme involving God and why He lets these things happen. Craven's film hardly merits that much scrutiny.

"Last House on the Left" was released back in 1972 and was considered so intense that they almost did not release it. Craven found some leader with an R rating on it and released the film. It is still banned in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Although it has some intense moments, it is not nearly as good as "The Hills Have Eyes" or any of the director's later films. Its revenge plot lacks thrust and significance and is handled all too crudely and quickly (there is a chainsaw fight, an oral sex act that goes horribly wrong, and so on). The songs played on the soundtrack are played at the most inappropriate moments and detract from whatever tension there is. And some silly slapstick involving two bumbling cops does not help matters either (one of them is Martin Kove, later the memorable villain in "Rambo: First Blood II" and "The Karate Kid"). An interesting debut from horrormeister Wes and its supposed intentions and form of inspiration are admirable, but there is precious little to recommend.

Rock Star Walking in the clouds

MAN ON WIRE (2008)

Reviewed By Jerry Saravia

I used to live in New York City and was always petrified of the World Trade Center. I had walked through the lobby once but I never ascended to any of the 110 floors of these former capitalist towers. It had a lot to do with my fear of heights, I imagine, so I approached this documentary "Man on Wire" with a certain trepidation knowing it is about a man who walked on a wire suspended across the two towers. I had nothing to fear because "Man on Wire" is an exceptionally thrilling and wondrous documentary - a tale told with such vigor and with such breathless beauty, you'll be speechless for days, even months.

Philippe Petit is the famous French wire walker who managed to do something that no one has ever attempted, no less surpassed. On a slightly windy, cloudy day on August 7, 1974, Petit and a few people on his crew suspended a wire across the Two Towers so that Petit could walk across. Apparently, this was an early dream that took place in a dentist's office where he saw a magazine article on the future construction of these towering giants. All Petit knew was that he had to walk across them, like floating on air. Petit was already walking on wires suspended across the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Sydney Harbor Bridge and made a name for himself but the WTC is an incomparable and seemingly improbable stunt.

James Marsh's "Man on Wire" shows the dedication of its high-wire act and participant Petit, as he breaks down all the nooks and crannies of this stunt. How will they get into the WTC? What sort of disguises will they wear, and how do they acquire proper fake ID's? Most importantly, how in creation will they suspend this wire across these two towers that are diagonally parallel to each other? (A fact I had almost forgotten).

The movie is full of black-and-white footage that looks like it was cribbed from a 1970's heist movie - of course, it isn't but director Marsh does a stellar job of blending fake footage with real color footage shot by Petit and his then-girlfriend. As for the heist connection, the movie operates on the level of a high-stakes heist thriller though nothing is actually being stolen. Instead, something is being given - a gift for New Yorkers of someone literally walking in the clouds.

"Man on Wire" is not a normal documentary - it almost transcends the form. It is told with such panache that it seems more like a thriller, particularly in its detailing of the ins and outs of this grand wirewalking event. It also conveys the spirited mood and ambition of a young man eager to perform something so awe-inspiring, individualistic and so dangerous, it could only be done once. Some viewers have complained about Petit having a fling with some anonymous, adoring female fan while committed to his former girlfriend. That hardly matters in my mind because he was exalted by someone and took advantage. Philippe Petit was the rock star of the heavens.

It is all strictly hush-hush

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL (1997)

An Appreciation By Jerry Saravia
 (Originally written in 1997)

"L.A. Confidential" is the densest and most complex crime film since "Chinatown." It is richly satisfying, brutally compelling and slickly acted and directed, and one of the best films of 1997. Having seen it numerous times, it never fails to engage or surprise me each time.

Based on James Ellroy's novel, "L.A. Confidential" is set during the early 1950's when L.A. was the mythical "city of angels" where nuclear families existed, orange groves filled the countryside, and movie stars and celebrities were in the spotlight. It was also a time when police corruption was rampant and racism was beginning to boil over everywhere. Guy Pearce stars as a young cop, Exley, who is eager to become a detective in the very corrupt police system because he believes that a cop should have strong morals and values and follow rules by-the-book - he doesn't believe in beating a confession out of a suspect. Russell Crowe stars as the tough detective White who is just the opposite - he beats confessions out of suspects, he beats up abusive men involved in drunken domestic violence cases, etc. The unlikely pair become embroiled in a murder case at an all-night diner where a cop was killed - a group of inner-city blacks may have been responsible. It turns out they may have been set up by someone in the police force, but who? The brutal Irish police captain (James Cromwell) is unsure of Exley's capacity as a detective especially since Exley ratted out all the cops who beat up a few illegal Mexican immigrants. Exley is hated by everyone in the force but does he have the guts to deal with everyday brutality?

Then there's Det. Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey), a charming, impish cop who takes extra cash on the side whenever he provides tip-offs or juicy details within the department to the unctuous Sid Huggens (Danny DeVito), a reporter who writes for "Hush, Hush," a scandal magazine that offers gossip and crimes sold to the public for thrills like today's tabloid shows. Vincennes also moonlights as a technical adviser for a TV show called "Badge of Honor" (a nod to "Dragnet"). Meanwhile, as the murder case unfolds, White discovers a connection to a sultry call girl, Lynn Bracken (the better-than-ever Kim Basinger) who works for a prosperous pimp (David Strathairn) - he provides a very kinky service where women are "cut" to resemble movie stars such as Veronica Lake. White interrogates Lynn and falls in love with her, but is Exley interested in her too?

"L.A. Confidential" is an amazing movie full of plot twists, dozens of subplots, and numerous vignettes. Director Curtis Hanson (who co-wrote the script with Brian Helgeland) provides a dazzling ride making us feel as if we have been transported back into the 1950's as he unravels the web of corruption that leads from the police department to politicians, criminals, pimps, mobsters and the traditional femme fatale. Still, this movie is not quite film noir because we have two traditional heroes, the handsome Exley and the rugged White, who overcome all odds and find the killers (I just won't tell you who the culprit is). The film is not quite on the level of "Chinatown" but it is a more vivid experience than the fatuous "Cop Land" that came out the same year.

"L.A. Confidential" has one of the best ensemble casts for a crime epic: we have the witty, reliable Danny DeVito and Kevin Spacey; the effervescent cool of Guy Pearce as Exley who undergoes a transformation in the movie that is thrilling to watch, and the contemplative, explosive nature of White as played by the magnetic Russell Crowe (both are Australian actors). Kim Basinger is at her best here since "Batman" with an alluring and sensitive side that brings enormous pathos to her character.

"L.A. Confidential" is a fast-paced, cynical, dirty, violent, mean and thoroughly entertaining tapestry of a different period where innocence was more prevalent yet underneath, corruption and evil still roamed the streets.

Kubrick taunts Shelley Duvall

MAKING 'THE SHINING' (1980)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

Stanley Kubrick is one of the great enigmatic directors of the 20th century. Who was this genius that produced such masterfully realized works of art such as "2001: A Space Odyssey," "A Clockwork Orange," or "Barry Lyndon"? This rarely seen documentary, shot by Kubrick's daughter, Vivian, documents some of the events of shooting the uneven, controversial horror flick "The Shining." It may not shed much light on the legendary director, but it does offer a glimpse of what he was like behind the scenes.

The beginning of the documentary (now on the video and DVD re-released versions of "The Shining") plays like a home movie with Vivian following Jack Nicholson into the bathroom while he brushes his teeth. We see Jack prepping himself for a scene where, as Jack Torrance, he tears through a door with an axe pursuing his family and taunting them with quotes from "Three Little Pigs." Then there is Kubrick, wearing a winter jacket, yelling cut during a scene where Danny (Danny Lloyd) hides inside a compartment from maniacal Jack. To me, it was a pleasure to hear this man speak with an ever-so-slight English accent (hardly a trace of his Bronx roots).

There are strong revelations for what must have been an arduous, long shoot for a horror movie. There is the sense that Kubrick is tough-as-nails on Shelley Duvall, always taunting her and acting totally unsympathetic to her mood swings (at one point, she pulls out strands of hair, showing them to Stanley whose only response is, "I have no sympathy for Shelley.") There is one tense scene where Shelley misses her cue when they yell action during a faux snowstorm scene and Stanley races frantically and argues with her vehemently.

Kubrick is apparently respectful of Jack and only suggests he acts wilder and meaner (I have heard reports of Jack being used for lighting tests when in fact a stand-in is ordinarily used). A scene shows Kubrick's mother seated at a table with Stanley and Jack as they discuss the constant script revisions from day to day. Naturally, Shelley is nowhere to be found. She does freely admit that she admired him for his tenacity and perfectionism, claiming to have learned more from him than from any other prior film production. Meanwhile, Jack concludes that working with Stanley is exciting for him as an actor because the director has his own agenda for making personal films, even if Jack does not always agree with him.

There are also brief, pointed interviews with Scatman Crothers (who of course played Halloran, the cook), shown weeping for joy as he mentions how beautiful the crew was to work with and how he saw Danny as his own child, and the tyke Danny Lloyd who mentions how he is smart and likes to make home movies with his less-than-receptive friends. Kubrick himself is not interviewed but it is fun to see him at work, especially when he devises a low-angle shot of Jack to enhance the tension of the scene where Jack tries to con Shelley into letting him out of a storage room.

"Making 'The Shining'" could have been longer and shed more light on the master director at work, but it is a fitting, exemplary documentary of a man whose impeccable sense of craft and direction exemplified his status as one of America's leading cinematic artists. Essential viewing for any film buff or aficionado of Kubrick.

Dry Rio Bravo take with sci-fi overtones

COWBOYS AND ALIENS (2011)

Reviewed By Jerry Saravia

Never before have I seen a movie title that distills exactly what one should expect...and provide no background for the simple and simpleminded title. "Cowboys and Aliens" is an absolute bore of a movie - a crossbreed (mashup to the rest of you) of two genres, the Western and science-fiction, to less than spectacular effect. The title sells the movie's few rudimentary pleasures but its tone is at once joyless and indistinguishable from anything else.

Daniel Craig is a fierce, rugged thief who wakes up in the middle of the Arizona desert with complete amnesia. He wears a wrist contraption that looks alien to any 1870's prison shackles. He arrives in the town of Absolution, ruffles some feathers with a gun-toting young cowboy (Paul Dano, in the most animated performance in the movie), is imprisoned since he is on a Most Wanted list, ruffles more feathers with a cattle baron (Harrison Ford, in a performance that is the very definition of gruff) and, before one can say "High Noon," spaceships appear from the night sky and practically blow up the entire town. These ships also fire lassos that wrap themselves around an unlucky number of Absolution's finest and place them inside the vessels. This is definitely a nod to "War of the Worlds."

The tone of this murky film already put me off by the time Craig's character shows up in town. Who is this guy? We never quite find out aside from the fact that he is a wanted man and had a woman in his life who was abducted by aliens - he is practically an amnesiac from first frame to last. Ford's mean baron gives the legendary actor a chance to shake his heroic charisma but the character is still something of a cipher.

As a western, this mediocre movie moves at a snail's pace. Things do not get livelier with Olivia Wilde as a town prostitute who is not what she appears to be. Keith Carradine comes off best as a reluctant sheriff but he doesn't have enough screen time. Same with the fantastic presence of Clancy Brown as a gun-toting preacher, but he's gone before one can get accustomed to his colorful character. And when the vicious aliens do attack (who are interested in gold in the movie's only novel touch of irony), the film's action moves and radiates with no friction, no surprise, no tension. Since we can't care about the one-dimensional cowboys, cattle barons and thieves who display the bare minimum of character shadings, how can we care about explosions and cowboys on horseback being chased by these ships?

The aliens are large, freakish beasts that look like they can tear apart any puny human just by the touch of their fingernails, yet Ford can strike them on the head with anything at his disposal including his rifle and the aliens fall to the ground a little easily. It is that kind of movie, stunningly photographed, but it is not much fun and hardly memorable.