Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

My initial assessment of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was short but not very sweet: "Scott Pilgrim has ADHD. Cute but doesn't stop often with the comic book/video game action."

Since then I have watched it on DVD, going through four commentary tracks and one trivia track and an additional screening (so that's seven times I've watched this movie), and have gained a new appreciation for the work that went into this film, much of which goes unnoticed.

Meet: Kartemquin Films

Do you remember Hoop Dreams? It was one of the most critically lauded documentaries of 1994 but ignored at the Oscars (it was nominated for Editing). The film was produced by Kartemquin Films, a Chicago documentary filmhouse who is celebrating a 45th anniversary.

One of their newest films going around to theatres now is The Interrupters. The Interrupters is about people who try to break the cycle of violence before it happens, by trying to connect with people at risk for committing violent crime. It played to sold out shows and had added even more screenings at the Gene Siskel Film Center, and was made by the same director who did Hoop Dreams, Steve James. James has a long relationship with Kartemquin, having collaborated on at least four films with them (Hoop Dreams, Stevie, At the Death House Door and The Interrupters).

Several of Kartemquin's films have played on PBS this year, with The Interrupters being broadcast sometime in 2012.  Kartemquin is able to find many local stories with social issues and characters that many of us can identify with.  Check out some of these other films available on DVD:

Past seven days

A bout of bronchitis so I didn't post my Past Seven Days list last week. But I did catch up on some movie watching, here is what I saw:

Crazy, Stupid Love
Captain America
Devil
Fright Night (2011)
Oyster Girl
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
The Camera Murderer
The Guard
The Warrior's Way

The Guard

Many reviews of The Guard make note of the odd couple relationship of its two lead characters played by Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle (Cheadle co-produced). It is called "The Guard" for a reason--and not "The Guard and the FBI Agent." At heart The Guard is a character film of Gleeson's Gerry Boyle, a Connemarra policeman, and the pride he has for his community and himself, to the point of disregarding other things that to you and me would seem more important.

Muppets!

copyright Disney/Muppets Holding Company, LLC.

I am really excited about the new Muppets film that is coming out soon.  Knowing a true fan, actor Jason Segel, has a big hand in it is a plus (who can forget "Dracula's Lament" from Forgetting Sarah Marshall!), although my excitement is tempered by the addition of Amy Adams, who I think has overplayed her innocent/naive character. 

Although the looks of some of the classic muppet characters seem to be brightened up too much and voices previously done by Jim Hensen and Frank Oz has lost some of their spark, I hope this revival will be just that and spark another generation to know and love the witty humor that is the Muppets!

Here are a couple fun things you might enjoy:

A Jim Henson based museum exhibit is currently showing in New York City.  I was fortunate to catch this in Chicago, although the New York show has additional events (Henson's workshop was based in NYC).

Disney, who owns the majority of the Muppet characters (i.e, anything not Sesame Street), commissioned new musical artists to cover classic Muppet songs to help promote the upcoming film.  Some like Mahna Mahna don't vary from the original, but I really like Ok Go's rendition of The Muppet Show Theme and Alkaline Trio's new beat on Movin' RIght Along.

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey is going around to various art theatre houses right now.  It profiles Kevin Clash, who puppets/voices the very popular character Elmo.