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Poisoned by Smart People (and a Plea)
This Week's DVD Releases / The Pajiba Staff
Before we get started with today’s round-up, allow me to hit you up with a worthy solicitation (oh no, don’t skip this paragraph — we’re not Jehovah’s witnesses. Oh, come on, the DVD releases blow, anyway). We have another regular reader, phquaryn, like A Girl with Curious Hair before her, who has her sights on running a marathon to support leukemia. Running a marathon sucks — you have to train, which means doing things most of us don’t like to do, like get off the couch. She is running to honor her late grandfather, who died of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, and if she can raise $500, she’s promised to put an AlabamaPink logo on the back of not only her marathon shirt, but those of her entire team. We don’t like to dig in the pockets of our readers, but we do like to honor Ms. Pink when we can. And it’s for a good cause. And to sweeten the deal, we’ll give a free Pajiba T-shirt to anyone who donates more than $75. Go here to donate. Come on. Fuck NPR and their six-week fund drives: Give your money to phquaryn, instead!
Moving on: We take a certain pride here at Pajiba in reviewing damn near anything released in more than one theater, assuming we have an available staffer to write it up. And yet somehow, this week’s DVD release schedule shows six (6) count ‘em six! releases that flew under our radar. We have a review for only one of this week’s releases, Smart People, but here’s a brief rundown of the rest:
Bra Boys: A documentary narrated by Russell Crowe about a Australian surf gang known as the Bra Boys (I believe there is a feature film based on this in the works, directed by Russell Crowe himself).
CJ7: A Gremlins like family film written and directed by Stephen Chow; it’s subtitled, so wear your glasses.
How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer: A festival-circuit film from first-time director Georgina Riedel, the movie concerns three generations of women (including America Ferrarra and Elizabeth Pena), who experience a sexual awakening over the course of one summer.
Irina Palm: A Belgian film about a 50-year-old widow trying to scrape up some money to save the life of her ill grandchild; she ultimately resorts to prostitution. Sounds like a comedy!
The Legend of God’s Gun: Starring absolutely no one I’ve ever heard of (though, a cast member’s real name is Poptart Sprinkle — she plays a prostitute), God’s Gun is about a gun-slinging preacher returns to the debaucherous town of Playa Diablo seeking revenge from the notorious scorpion-venom drinking bandito El Sobero.
Poisoned by Polonium: The Litvenenko File: I don’t know a damn thing about the filmmaker who strung the archive footage together, but the subject of this documentary is fascinating: It follows ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko from his forced exile from Russia, to his death from poisoning in November of 2006.
Smart People: Finally, Phillip wrote of Ellen Page’s follow-up to Juno — about a widowed professor (Dennis Quaid) who receives an unexpected visit from his brother (Thomas Haden Church), who changes his worldview and prompts him to fall in love with a woman (Sarah Jessica Parker) — that it “is definitely one of the most middling films I’ve seen in a while: the comedy, the drama, the romance, the characters, the story, are all as insipid as gnat’s piss. And yet the film is impossible to hate — it doesn’t fail any more than it doesn’t succeed. There’s just nothing here that’s new, or interesting, or even mildly perceptive. There should’ve been enough material in the film for a pleasant character-study, especially given the fine ensemble cast, but nobody mines it; short shrift is given to an already narrow narrative. Smart People is neither worth watching, nor worth avoiding.”
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Comments
By sexual awakening, do you mean America finally shows the goods? Otherwise...eh...
CJ7 sounds interesting. Gremlins-like you say?
Maybe it's just cuz I'm weird, but the Legend of God's Gun sounds really cool. I may go track that one down.
I still wanna see Smart People.
Go phquaryn!
Posted by: Shadows of Dakaron at August 12, 2008 11:20 AM
That's funny -- I thought I'd seen a trailer for How the Garcia Girls met Irina Palm. Oops, that was Asia Carrera...wrong DVD pile. My bad.
Run, phquaryn, run!
Posted by: Che Grovera at August 12, 2008 11:31 AM
HOORAY! You are my hero, Dustin.
And --- could y'all post here in the comments when you donate, or e-mail me directly at phquaryn at hot mail dot com so that I know your donation is a Pajiba Alabama Pink donation?
Posted by: phquaryn at August 12, 2008 11:37 AM
Well, I put in the comments line of the donation page who it was for, but I donated just now.
Posted by: Shadows of Dakaron at August 12, 2008 11:39 AM
I just donated too. Run, phquaryn, run!
Posted by: mb_in_dc at August 12, 2008 12:06 PM
I saw Smart People on the plane earlier this summer, and it was so meh! I immediately thought of its tepid review here on Pajiba, and wished I had picked something else to watch instead.
It was especially disappointing, since the movie I watched before that was The Emperor's New Groove, which I chose almost entirely based on the love it received from several commenters here.
So, let that be a lesson to me.
Posted by: tamatha at August 12, 2008 12:09 PM
Go phquaryn, run fast!
silly question probably, but how long is a marathon?
Posted by: Bethy at August 12, 2008 12:11 PM
Phquaryn, I will donate once I buy my textbooks for grad school. My FIL has CLL and the LLS is such a awesome cause. GO PHQUARYN!
Litvinenko is a very interesting story. It is a almost unreal tale of espionage, betrayal, intrigue, and lengths that some will go to to keep things under wraps. I followed the story when it was going on and will most certainly be watching this. The filmmaker was a friend of Litvinenko's. His name is Andrei Nekrasov.
Posted by: Melody at August 12, 2008 12:13 PM
Tamatha,
Did you love The Emperor's New Groove?
Posted by: Melody at August 12, 2008 12:15 PM
I can highly recommend CJ7. It is one of the best family films in years, and even though its subtitled, i showed it to my 5 year old nephew who can't read, and he fell in love with it. Would really love to see one of the Pajiba staffers review it.
Posted by: Returnofthesmith at August 12, 2008 12:20 PM
That's what I wanted to know. Emperor's New Groove is the shit.
Posted by: Shadows of Dakaron at August 12, 2008 12:22 PM
phquaryn- I just donated too. I put Ms. Pink in the slot where they asked if it was in honor of anyone, but you might not see that.
Oh, and now I know Shadows real name...
Posted by: tamatha at August 12, 2008 12:45 PM
Paul:
I still think Pepsi tastes better than Coke. I mean, I'm not saying that Coke is shit, I'm just saying I like Pepsi better. So if you still wanna hang out and listen to some records, cool. But if you're gonna be a prick because I don't have any Pepsi in my fridge, you can piss off.
Skitz
P.S. Granted, this isn't the only way to play but basically, we each start out with around fifteen coins (we can also use M&Ms or chicken bones) and drop one in the pot. We take turns spinning the dreidel, and depending on which side the dreidel falls on, you either win the pot or gives up part of your stash. Of course, if the Pepsi vs. Coke thing is gonna make you be a total dick while we play, don't even bother coming over.
Posted by: Skittimus Maximus at August 12, 2008 12:45 PM
Melody- I did indeed think The Emperor's New Groove was awesome.
Posted by: tamatha at August 12, 2008 12:47 PM
Second the motion...Emperor's New Groove is one of the last great Disney movies. Everytime I hear "no touchy", I think of Llamas...which isn't often...but goddamnit, when it does, I do, and that's that.
Posted by: Mike R. at August 12, 2008 12:48 PM
Bethy, a marathon is 26-miles-and-385-yards long.
Posted by: Emran at August 12, 2008 1:08 PM
The (horrible) ad agency I used to work for designed the logo for CJ7 and they made me read the script. I just hope the insanity translates better on film
Posted by: ashers at August 12, 2008 1:23 PM
Dammit, I don't get paid till tomorrow. Ah well, I'll have to come back. I need my last 32 dollars for gas and a very nice taco.
Posted by: Jaci at August 12, 2008 1:24 PM
Legend of God's Gun is really just a film project/psychedelic extravaganza done by local LA band, Spindrift.
I seriously think they made it as an ode to the original, Nick Cave, and to project something interesting at their gigs.
Thus, I see it more as a performance art collective piece done by Cal Arts alumn and country/psychedelic rock enthusiasts. Still it's pretty awesome that it got a real release after they've been plugging it for 2 years or so.
*and no I don't work for them, just friends with Sally and Poptart Sprinkle.
Posted by: Teresa at August 12, 2008 1:27 PM
Oh, and now I know Shadows real name...
Hmmm...in retrospect, I should've used my Pajiba alias. Oh well...it's not like I'm hard to look up...I use the same name for practically everything.
I love you, Skittimus. You're what I want to be when I grow up (minus the conjoined twin, cuz let's be honest...it's be hard for me to get my groove on with a claw sticking out from under my shirt)
Posted by: Shadows of Dakaron at August 12, 2008 1:33 PM
**nevermind my previous comment, all donations this week count toward the "alabama pink" fund**
Holey cow, Shadows of Dakaron said my name! Thank you, sir. I love Emperor's New Groove, also.
Che Grovera, I will run like Forrest Gump.
mb_in_dc, thank you for donating!
Bethy, 26.2 is just too long a ways to run fast. But I will run normal speed, just for you.
Melody, please do check back after you take care of those pesky grad text books and thanks for the cheer.
tamatha I can't see the "dedicated to" field. I figure I'll just count everything from this week towards the Alabama Pink fund. The goal is halfway met!
Please do come back, Jaci, and enjoy the taco.
Posted by: phquaryn at August 12, 2008 1:40 PM
Donated! Good luck during the run phquaryn! If you tire, pretend that you haven't had sex since Vanilla Ice was cool and that there's a glorious panda brothel at the finish line.
Posted by: Julie at August 12, 2008 2:16 PM
"How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer: . . . The movie concerns three generations of women . . . who experience a sexual awakening over the course of one summer."
Um, how can 3 generations of women have a sexual awakening the same summer? Don't you have to be sexual awakened to have a kid, and then that kid has to have a sexual awakening to have a grandkid, etc. etc. How can they all have it the same summer unless they're mayflies or lovebugs? Or is this movie really "Fly me to the Moon 2: In my pants."
Posted by: BWeaves at August 12, 2008 2:22 PM
Donation made.
Posted by: Cindy at August 12, 2008 2:25 PM
dammmmmmmmmn, 26.some-odd miles is far to long for me to even think about, never mind actually run, so phquaryn, if you want to run slow speed, thats cool by me
I too will have to check back when a paycheck is actually deposited in my depressingly low bank account, but I try never to leave a fellow Pajibian in need!
Posted by: Bethy at August 12, 2008 3:10 PM
All right Miss Phquaryn, you've got a donation from me! I figure if I donate money for you to run, then I am free to sit on the couch even longer, it's a trade-off, right? Good Luck!
Posted by: Miss_E at August 12, 2008 3:19 PM
Shadows--The problem, re: revealing your non-Pajiban ("real") identity, was, that unless you put a fake name in the donor info section, you had to choose either to have your full name posted or simply be anonymous. So there you go. Oh, and now there are more donors, so you'll blend in soon enough.
Of course, now I'm picturing you as the person I work with who has the same first name as you.
Posted by: tamatha at August 12, 2008 3:56 PM
Nonsense...I'm much handsomer.
And I can say that modestly without even seeing who it is.
Posted by: Shadows of Dakaron at August 12, 2008 4:06 PM
Heh. Shadows is such a playboy.
Posted by: Julie at August 12, 2008 4:09 PM
Well, I'm a sucker for donatin', so my money's yours. Anonymously, since I don't want these freaks lovely people to know my name yet.
Posted by: TK at August 12, 2008 4:51 PM
If you tire, pretend that you haven't had sex since Vanilla Ice was cool and that there's a glorious panda brothel at the finish line.
BRILLIANT!
Um, Jules, that may not work in this case, thought, as it's not jM you're addressing.
Posted by: lordhelmet at August 12, 2008 4:51 PM
In the meantime TK, I'll refer to you as Herbie Von Winkerpoodle.
Helmet, I refuse to acknowledge that there are people in this world who AREN'T turned on by bamboo breath.
I'm off to Radiohead, yay!
Posted by: Julie at August 12, 2008 4:54 PM
Anonymously, since I don't want these freaks lovely people to know my name yet.
Where's Kolby when you need her?
Posted by: Shadows of Dakaron at August 12, 2008 4:55 PM
lordhelmet...do not doubt Julie...her sex-fu is strong. If she says panda brothel...panda brothel it is.
I can only hope they have my type of girl...willing...
Posted by: Shadows of Dakaron at August 12, 2008 5:02 PM
Uh, TK, I kinda hate to break it to you but I already know your real name - you kinda gave it away by mentioning a certain musical and that your initials were reversed. So. There you go. Nice playing, though, Herbie Von Winkerpoodle.
Julie, enjoy Radiohead, that's an order!! And it's not so much the bamboo breath as the deep, soulful eyes that get most people.
Posted by: lordhelmet at August 12, 2008 5:02 PM
Yeah, it would suck if you assholes knew my real name.
...wait. Goddammit.
Posted by: Sarina at August 12, 2008 5:14 PM
Is it Evelyn?
Posted by: Shadows of Dakaron at August 12, 2008 5:19 PM
$100 from the goal and counting! Pajiba, scathing reviews, bitchy people, big hearts.
Thank you, Julie! Look, I do not know what you have heard, but Ling Ling and I were always just friends.
Thank you, Cindy! I can feel the warmth beneath the terseness.
That is indeed the rule, Miss_E. Since I am running a marathon, your donation also allows you to eat those tiny chocolate flavored gel-packs, too. Enjoy.
Thank you, TK, whoever you are.
Posted by: phquaryn at August 12, 2008 5:21 PM
"Is it Evelyn?"
Oh my God, you're such a good guesser, Engelbert!
Also, in other news, since I am awesome at following instructions, I forgot to say before that I donated. I put Manda's name in the little box, but apparently that box is just for fun since phquaryn can't see it? Whatever, I'm an idiot; please take my money since I am clearly too stupid to function.
Posted by: Sarina at August 12, 2008 5:35 PM
Also, it's not a movie, but the final season of The Wire is out today, as well.
Posted by: Cody at August 12, 2008 5:39 PM
"$100 from the goal and counting! Pajiba, scathing reviews, bitchy people, big hearts."
Well, the bitchiness does help to conceal the soft hearts to some degree - you can't let the zombies sense weakness...
So Bama gets her logo - now we just need to get phquaryn the rest of the way to $3800!
Posted by: NTBTOB at August 12, 2008 7:25 PM
the best part of Irina Palm was't mentioned,
Marianne Faithfull giving hands job, and it's a comedy!
Posted by: rio at August 12, 2008 8:41 PM
Shadows--No doubt.
Posted by: tamatha at August 12, 2008 10:21 PM
You guys are only just getting Bra Boys? That came out in Aus almost 18 months ago (time line is based on my memory and may be entirely inaccurate). Point is that international release schedules are weird.
Posted by: Chugga at August 12, 2008 10:50 PM
*Yaaay! I'm a llama again!*
I can't fully express the love felt towards The Emperor's New Groove. I would sell my overies for this movie, but they don't accept body parts as payment at most stores.
Posted by: popejenn at August 12, 2008 11:51 PM
NTBTOB, you are amazing.
I think that field is for the Team in Training people, like the charity itself, Sarina.
Goal met! You guys rock.
Posted by: phquaryn at August 13, 2008 9:35 AM
Also, it's not a movie, but the final season of The Wire is out today, as well.
First disc should be shipped to me today. Netflix had issues yesterday apparently.
Posted by: Brian at August 13, 2008 2:26 PM
Boy I'm telling you everytime I see that hot young Ellen Page on T.V. it's like she saying to me, "Come do me pookie"
Posted by: Pookie at August 13, 2008 6:24 PM
Teresa. The Legend of God's Gun has nothing to do with Nick Cave or Cal Arts and is an actual film, not just something that was created to project while the band plays. If it actually was what you say it is it never would have got distribution.
Posted by: Carlo at August 25, 2008 10:19 PM

