Zack and Miri Make a Porno

This week his (Kevin Smith) first film directing someone else's story comes out: Cop Out. I'm interested in seeing it.

But that's not the subject here.

The one disc edition I got from my local library (which has a box just labeled "Zack and Miri" but has the proper name in the catalog) had a collection of "deleted" scenes (many were alternate versions) as long as the movie. After a while I just started fast forwarding because it was so much. I liked finding out about the trophy which I had noticed and wondered about.

(After our heros return from the reunion, Zack tosses a trophy down. In the deleted scenes we find that they live across the street from the location and got the trophy for "coming the shortest distance." The acceptance speech ends up getting Zack thrown to the ground out the door. Then Z&M decide it will take too long to warm the car up, so they walk back.)

One thing that struck me was the parallels between this and Kevin Smith's career. Two surly and slackerish clerks who don't get along with their boss pull themselves up by making a film — shot at the store they work at, then (using the infomercial as evidence) they go on to become successful film makers.

Final thought: N.B. It was a regular box label, not some specially made one.

3:10 to Yuma (1957)

The 1957 3:10 to Yuma is largely a film of character, and two characters talking make up a big chunk of it. One is a rancher, Dan Evans, hard on his luck, who thinks 00 can save him. The other, Ben Wade, is a smooth talking criminal.

The criminal is in custody, but his devoted "outfit" (gang) is well known for setting free any of their number captured. No one thinks he can be kept in town and no one wants to guard him. But when Evans overhears the offer of 00 for the job, he accepts not knowing what it will entail.

What it does entail is keeping Wade at his house while a dummy stagecoach is sent off for the gang to follow. And then it entails escorting Wade to another town under cover of night, guarding him until 3pm in a hotel, and then walking him to the station for the 3:10 train. All with no guarantee that Wade's gang won't find him and set him free at some point.

That story provides a decent amount of tension, but it's not the only source. There's Wade himself. He talks a lot, makes himself seem generous and reasonable, drops hints of how dangerous his gang can make thinks, weasels for some means of escape through bribery or force.

I haven't seen the 2007 remake, and I'm not sure I want to.

This film is a western in setting, but drama by nature. It could easily be any time or place where law enforcement has trouble maintaining order. The cattle aren't crucial to the story, the characters are. Five people are killed in this film, two in the opening robbery, and there are maybe eight to ten gun shots total. But there is a pervasive fear of death among those who would bring justice to Wade or his gang, a tense and foreboding atmosphere that keeps the story strong.

The remake, from what I've read, is not a drama. It is a bloodbath action / western with less time for talk and character development. This is a story that could easily be remade in a different setting, like so much of Shakespeare's works, but removing the silver tongued criminal would just be a mistake.

3:10 to Yuma (1957) at IMDB

3:10 to Yuma (2007) at IMDB

The Thin Man (1934)

Pithy review title: Nick and Nora's Infinite Cocktail Party

The Thin Man is a comdey/mystery based on the novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett.

Nick Charles is a detective, newly married into Nora's money, and not so keen on the detective business any more. A reporter askes Nora if Nick is working on any cases and she replies "A case of scotch." Nick never met a drink he didn't like, and never has a reason not to drink. Nora is almost as bad.

Still, he does manage to get roped into a disappearance of a wealthy old friend (the title "Thin Man") whose secretary/mistress has been found murdered. It's a good thing he takes taxis everywhere because the case is driving him to drink more. At one point he decides to talk with all the suspects, so he has the police round them up and bring them to a party and force drinks into their hands.

The real point of the movie is not the mystery or the drinks, though. It's the witty repartee, mostly between Nick and his wife.

Nick Charles: Oh, it's all right, Joe. It's all right. It's my dog. And, uh, my wife. Nora Charles: Well you might have mentioned me first on the billing.

Lieutenant John Guild: You got a pistol permit? Nick Charles: No. Lieutenant John Guild: Ever heard of the Sullivan Act? Nora Charles: Oh, that's all right, we're married.

Nick Charles: I'm a hero. I was shot twice in the Tribune. Nora Charles: I read where you were shot five times in the tabloids. Nick Charles: It's not true. He didn't come anywhere near my tabloids.

Probably not the best film for a recovering alcoholic to watch, but otherwise a solid four martinis (shaken to a waltz) out of five.

The Thin Man at IMDB

Final thought: will probably not seek out any of the five sequels, but would watch them

The Host

The Host (2006) aka Gwoemul at IMDB

This is a Korean blockbuster movie that starts with a real event of dumping toxins into the Han River (by the US Military) and makes a monster flick out of it. (It could be seen as a sort of Korean Godzilla.) The digital special effects were done by a San Francisco company, The Orphanage, which may have contributed to my seeing a lot of people talk about this film.

About fifteen minutes in the monster makes itself known in a big way, with no shyness on the filmmaker's part in showing us the thing. This is not Alien with half-glimpses of a lurking unknown. You can see this orca-sized tadpole-looking thing run rampage through a popular river-side park.

Our protagonist, Gang-du, is a lethargic guy who only comes alive for his daughter (Hyun-seo) and when facing the monster. Mom is long gone, and the two of them live with her grandfather (Hee-bong) who runs a food concession stand near the river and employs Gang-du. Two other children of Hee-bong round out the family.

Gang-du's first interaction with the creature is to throw a beer can at it. When, a few minutes later, it starts attacking people he is one of the few that does more than just run. He gets his face splattered with it's blood after attacking it, and sees it carry off his daughter.

The authorities believe it is the source for a new disease (hence a "host") and quarantine Gang-du and his family. They resignedly put up with it in their grief over the loss of the girl. Until Hyun-seo calls and says she survived.

From here the movie follows some familiar formulas but still manages to be entertaining. The monster is gross and resilient, the family unites (in action, if not always together), and the girl is resourceful and caring. Call it five extra tails out of seven.

Final thought: the US Forces in Korea do not come off looking good