First I must review the reviewers. Sunday night in our house it is "tradition" to watch Ebert & Roeper. Will we agree? Will We disagree?
We just happened to see 2 movies this weekend, "Bad Santa" (an Ebert & Roeper 3-1/2*) and "21 Grams" (an Ebert & Roeper 3*). My husband and I just shook our heads in disbelief (not to mention disgust).
"Bad Santa" is simply a BAD MOVIE - gross, unsavory, and, in some instances, disgustingly vulgar...a scraggly bearded Santa, always boozing it up, unable to control his bladder, sodomy obsessed = with some dialogue that is not only R but most probably X rated. After the 2 or 3 times we laughed in the beginning, and we did laugh, the gross vulgarity and sophomoric "humor" began to weigh heavily on our psyches.
NOW - "21 Grams" = a film I thought I would want to walk out of -- surprise, brilliant ensemble acting, incomparable direction, and unbelievable editing that brought each and every particle of this movie together to its unexpected finale...A dark, compelling story of disparate lives brought together -- to kill, to heal. This is an exceptional film with acting so true and focussed, you stayed with it, following each story and, little by little getting to know each character, inside and out. Believe me, it all comes together beautifully.
I'm still unsettled by the Ebert & Roeper reviews. I truly believe that comedy is highly subjective - funny to you is disgusting to me and vice versa. But as far as BAD SANTA goes there just doesn't seem to be an upside - unless it's NOT GOING TO POLLUTE YOUR MIND with that junk!
Naomi Watts' performance in "21 Grams" is Oscar material. Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn are magnificent. Don't let "21 Grams" leave your neighborhood before you let it take you on its journey to hell and back again.
We just happened to see 2 movies this weekend, "Bad Santa" (an Ebert & Roeper 3-1/2*) and "21 Grams" (an Ebert & Roeper 3*). My husband and I just shook our heads in disbelief (not to mention disgust).
"Bad Santa" is simply a BAD MOVIE - gross, unsavory, and, in some instances, disgustingly vulgar...a scraggly bearded Santa, always boozing it up, unable to control his bladder, sodomy obsessed = with some dialogue that is not only R but most probably X rated. After the 2 or 3 times we laughed in the beginning, and we did laugh, the gross vulgarity and sophomoric "humor" began to weigh heavily on our psyches.
NOW - "21 Grams" = a film I thought I would want to walk out of -- surprise, brilliant ensemble acting, incomparable direction, and unbelievable editing that brought each and every particle of this movie together to its unexpected finale...A dark, compelling story of disparate lives brought together -- to kill, to heal. This is an exceptional film with acting so true and focussed, you stayed with it, following each story and, little by little getting to know each character, inside and out. Believe me, it all comes together beautifully.
I'm still unsettled by the Ebert & Roeper reviews. I truly believe that comedy is highly subjective - funny to you is disgusting to me and vice versa. But as far as BAD SANTA goes there just doesn't seem to be an upside - unless it's NOT GOING TO POLLUTE YOUR MIND with that junk!
Naomi Watts' performance in "21 Grams" is Oscar material. Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn are magnificent. Don't let "21 Grams" leave your neighborhood before you let it take you on its journey to hell and back again.