Over the weekend I asked you to send me your thoughts on the Charlie's Angels movie. Another roughcut.com reader had expressed his hope that Bill Murray could could save the film, even if the three starlets playing the Angels could not. Shawn F. begs to differ...

"This film looks terrible, even if Bill Murray is going to be in it (he was also in that godawful Ethan Hawke ego trip version of Hamlet last spring). I would seriously like to know who the idiot was that greenlit $90 million dollars on a movie based on a '70s television show (and a bad one at that). And boy, the onscreen talent! Lucy Liu needs to be told she can't act. And she should wake up to the fact that once that lawyer show is gone, so is she. Cameron Diaz looks downright creepy (those eyebrows, what are up with those?). There is a possibility that the film might be good, but then again there is a better chance that Jerry Bruckheimer will apologize for Gone In Sixty Seconds and Coyote Ugly. " -- Shawn F.

Iconoclast Matt has more faith in director McG's big screen take on the '70s show...

"The heart of the film is in the right place.  It isn't an update of the television series (as no original Angels appear anywhere near this thing).  The trailers have sold me on the film, and I'll go see it when it's released.  However, the press junkets better ask about the behind the scenes fights and such.  It'll be the only way to really sell the film." -- Iconoclast Matt

Last week, one of our readers had some not so nice things to say about Cameron Crowe's film Almost Famous. Further proving that the rock 'n' roll pic wasn't loved by everyone, Robin in SF points out a few more of the films flaws...

"I felt that Almost Famous had too many story lines and not enough depth or heart for any single one, although I really felt that Billy Crudup shined. This actually might have made a better mini-series so that one could get more involved in the band's struggles to make it, the internal strife, the groupies' lives, the boy and his family, the boy and his story, the boy and the girl... I had no emotional investment in Penny Lane to care much that she tried to kill herself.  Too many infatuated, intense close-ups of Kate Hudson flattened her story for me.  So she swallows a lot of pills at The Plaza - shrug, so what, shrug again. The best sequence was the house party that Randall and William go to.  This is when you actually get the sense of almost famous.  That a musician could hang and party with some true fans, and not have either side be overwhelmed by the weight of fame and notoriety -- that came through with a rather sweet sense. Other than that, I kept thinking 'What have I missed that everyone is raving about??'  A gigantic 'No Big Whoop' for me." -- Robin in SF

The Contender starring Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges, and Gary Oldman opened over the weekend. The film has been getting strong reviews, but reader John H. had a few problems with the political drama. For those of you who haven't seen the film, you may want to come back to this page later. John's e-mail contains a few spoilers...

 

"After having a debate with my significant other about the merits of The Contender, I feel I need to express my views further.  As one of many, I was looking to The Contender as sort of a savior, a movie that was biting and suspenseful to save me from the dreck I have waded through this year at my local theater.  While I'm not going to rip this film to shreds, I feel that Rod Lurie, the director, ripped his own film to shreds in the closing act. I don't mind a film, or filmmaker for that matter, who is going to take a stand on an issue and express their view.  In my mind, much of art is expressing a view or a feeling.  I agree with what Roger Ebert said in his review of the film, that most films are like puppies and want to be petted by all.  Therefore, when a film comes out that expresses a viewpoint, however different from my own, I embrace it for having the guts to take a stand on something instead of dumbing it down for the masses. First a warning: To discuss this film I have to discuss the end of the film, so run away if need be. Lurie's main message to us, as I see it, is that it's not o.k. for us to inquire into the personal lives of the people that represent us.  That their sex and family life is something that should be set apart from their duty to us, the American people.  It's not something I necessarily agree with, but if that's what he takes a stand on, then I compliment him for taking that stand.  Towards the end of the film, Joan Allen's V.P. candidate character tells Jeff Bridges' president the truth behind the accusations that have been slung at her during her nomination process.  The problem with the scene is that it negates the whole message of the film.  If Lurie really believes that the sex and family life of our politicians is separate from their jobs and duty, then why do we, the audience, really need to know if that was her in the photographs? Isn't it really her capabilites as a leader that are important, and not whether she did or did not engage in the "gang bang"?  I understand the need for a writer to tie up all the loose ends, but leaving this one hanging supports everything that had come before.   Perhaps the thing that bothers me the most is that Lurie doesn't lose anything by dropping this scene. In fact he keeps his message intact."  -- John Haubrich Dayton, OH

Sadly, I would have to put The Contender on my Top 10 Worst Films of 2000. This was one of the most heavy handed films I have seen in a very long time. The neverending shot of a wide eyed Christian Slater staring up at the portraits of former presidents, the swelling music and dolly in to Joan Allen as she gives her "moving" speech about her beliefs, the shot of Jeff Bridges that reveals the presidential seal above him. I agree with John, it is great to see a filmmaker taking a stand. But if you have something important to say, just say it. The people who would pick The Contender as their weekend movie outing aren't stupid. Don't treat them as such. We understood the message in the first twenty minutes of the film, no need to have a character actually utter the line -- "She gives us hope."

Hey, I'm allowed to get fired up too, aren't I? Please feel free to send me an e-mail defending The Contender. My goal is to make sure that things never get too one-sided here at Civilian Voices. So, if you'd like to continue the debate on the merits of Almost Famous or Charlie's Angels send me an a-mail with your thoughts. Or, if there is something else happening in the film industry that has you fuming, Civilian Voices is the place for you to vent. Thanks for the great e-mails. Keep 'em coming.

Meghan McCarthy
Editor, Civilian Voices

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