Pajiba

Great review as always, Dustin.

But I do hope that you don't know about the "subtley of colicky newborns" from personal experience ... my son went through a long stretch of preferring screaming to sleeping, and it was brutal. Even that wasn't as awful as sitting through 2 hours of a Haggis film, though.

I figured as much.

As soon as I saw the trailer, and saw who was involved, I knew this would probably be the reaction from you guys. I literally told myself that the review would say the movie had potential, except for Haggis.

It is like we are family now. It is a warm feeling.

There's this "subtle" thread of disdain on this site for poor Fred Savage.

I didn't see Crash, most likely won't ever see this, either. Wait, never say never, because I do tend to catch many films on TNT five years after their theatrical releases, and I marvel the whole time that five years flew by so fast.

"clings to you like melancholy cologne"

You really are a good writer Dustin.

Well, I have to admit, I thought this was just going to be another relentless Haggis-bashing exercise. And to be honest, I'd have been sort of OK with that, since I'm not his biggest fan either. But this was actually a very good review of what seems like an almost-great movie.

And Kermit - I see no reason why there SHOULDN'T be disdain for the director of Daddy Day Camp. In fact, it should transcend disdain into outright loathing. Damn him for staining my Wonder Years memories.

Seeing the names of the films that Crash beat out for the Academy Award again reminds me of how truly undeserving of its win it was. I remember feeling a whole lotta meh after watching it.

I am kinda surprised about this review. I thought Haggis might get a little more vitriol. I am not at all surprised by the praise for Jones' performance. He is usually good in most movies.

Not sure if I will be seeing this though, since I have many other movies that I am looking forward to.

Is the Little Pajiba sick? Hope that he is doing well.

And then there was Crash, the Oscar Winner for Best Picture -- a schlocky, cretinous ham-fisted pseudo-profound film that violently curbed its message into a viewer's jawbone like he'd hit on Tony Soprano's daughter.

Ugh, yes -- the absolute lowest cinematic moment of the last ten years for me. I sat through the first hour of that film, getting angrier and angrier at how childishly manipulative yet Hollywood-showy it was, knowing it would be hailed as some artistic milestone because of the big-name cast and the "challenging" theme. (By the way, ya'll, racism is bad, and we're all susceptible to it. Nice work, Haggis; when can you start on the Middle East?). Then we skipped to the end for the oh-so-insightful finish. (Did you know that people can change and act nobly when put under pressure? They can!)

Re VoE: Has anyone ever, ever seen a female cop that looks anything like Charlize Theron? Because I have not, and if you have, I'd like to move to your town and promptly get arrested and firmly frisked.

... the difficulties of transitioning from solider to civilian life

If only civilian life was more solid.

Curious - How does Stewart = Gay Sheepherder movie? For some reason it seems like Conan would be a better fit

One thing that I hear repeated (Pajiba included) is that Haggis is "brave" for making this film. In a time when the President is so unpopular and a war that has the same enthusiasm, is this really "brave"? It's like being considered brave because you hate Paris Hilton.

Brave is more along the lines of making a pro-Iraqi War movie. Maybe that's dumb too. Maybe no one is Brave anymore.

I love Tommy Lee Jones.

Not sure I'm going to see this one, but...Isn't the overwrought metaphor in the title Goliath=the military and David=tiny, plucky Tommy Lee Jones?

What's up with the "unhealthy hatred" comment? I think it is a perfectly healthy, justifiable, eminently deserved, and well-earned hatred in our Pajib(i)an heart(s).

Otherwise, ^5. Superb critique, as always.

I think Tommy Lee Jones would kill you if he heard you call him plucky.

I can really see that fatherhood is affecting your metaphors, Dustin: "colicky newborns" today and "cinematic meconium" a couple days ago. It's amusing to see how the new baby has affected your writing.

Aww, damn. It's true, isn't it? Baby metaphors all over the damn place. I'll try to check that in the future (oh, and no: the 'lil one isn't collicky, but thanks for asking up there.) -- DR.

So many loose literary threads (Haggis, "Crash", Kimmel, and those are just the easy ones) yet I find myself unable to muster the mental energy to tug on any of them. The fabric itself is just unexciting, I guess.

socalledonlycousins:
Thanks for the observation about Charlize Theron as a small-town cop. I can't wait to share that with my small-town-cop-brother-in-law!

a simmering, mournful performance that clings to you like melancholy cologne long after you leave the theater...

beautifully written.

I'n sure it's been said elsewhere, but not here so far, so I'll venture forth:
Haggis, after all, is just another name for boiled tripe.

You know, in his defense, Savage also directed three episodes of Always Sunny In Philadelphia, so that's something. It in no way makes up for Daddy Day Camp but... it's something.

Tommy Lee Jones is great in these kinds of roles, which one of the reasons I am looking forward to No Country for Old Men. That and because Mr. Bardem looks particularly badass in the film

"And it could've been a great film, if only Haggis had not learned lessons in subtlety from colicky newborns."

AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[b]Brett[/b], you obviously missed Seth's post about the astonishing, and disgusting, similarities between the development of a Haggis film/television project and the preparation of the recipe for haggis. YUM!

OK, I tried to bold the name, it didn't work. I am laughing at my own ineptitude....join me, won't you?

There was also the good Crash, made by David Cronenberg 11 years ago.

I don't think I'm going out on a limb to say that Pajiba would like this movie a lot more were it not for Paul Haggis' involvement. Reading this review you can tell Daniel wanted to destroy the flick but had to begrudgingly sum it up as merely "average". Based on other reviews I've read I bet Pajiba will be in the minority too. Hey, if a little obsessive hate keeps you going have at it. Of course, this is the weekend of "Good Luck Chuck" and "Resident Evil: Extinction" so there is plenty of meat for the beast. I look forward to the carnage.

Sorry, I meant "Dustin", my apologies.

You forgot about the 3rd version of Crash, the one with Holly Hunter and James Spader humping in wrecked cars while Elias Koteas re-enacts Jayne Mansfield's fatal car accident, complete with blonde wig and fake boobs. That movie was so horrible it was awesome, and arguably better than the Oscar-winning Crash.

I really appreciate the fact that, even through your (understandable) hatred for Paul Haggis, you were able to keep a (somewhat) open-mind about this film, and were still able to value Tommy Lee Jones's incredible performance. I have loved him since "The Client" (what? That Brad kid was cute!)

Speaking of which, wasn't Susan Sarandon in this movie? Nothing to say about her performance?

Sidenote about Haggis: I hate that he is Canadian. I usually try to support my fellow Canucks, but DAMN I dislike his pound-you-over-the-head-with-it style. So I hate that every Canadian news orentertainment show feels the need to promote the hell out of him.

I agree with John. How is it "brave" to be an anti-war movie? I'm bombarded everyday with reporters, writers, artists, actors, directors, musicians, pundits, activists, scientists and the general public saying how "war is bad y'all"

That's like being brave for standing up and saying "I don't like being kicked in the nuts!"

I'm just going to stick my head in here to say, while I agree that there is little bravery necessary to bring a Michael Moore type of anti-war film to the screen, this one is a little different. You know how politicians always say, "I don't support the war, but I do support the troops." Well, in a way, Haggis is saying, "I don't support the troops, either." Or, at least, it can be construed that way. -- DR

and Jon Stewart (Brokeback Mountain).

But Jon Stewart has gone to such lengths, like marrying a beard who was a veterinarians assistant. Kind of like Matt Damon marrying a Cuban bartender, with a kid.

But Jon Stewart has gone to such lengths, like marrying a beard who was a veterinarians assistant. Kind of like Matt Damon marrying a Cuban bartender, with a kid.

Que? Is this gratuitous Jon Stewart-bashing (for cowardice, not for being gay) or is there a Matt Damon-type rumor about him too?

Gossip: I don't have any inside information about Jon Stewart (except that he's dreamy!), but a close friend used to work for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, and she's adamant that Matt had a series of hot, handsy girlfriends and is quite hetero but also quite private about his personal life.

i still remember the night crash won...i was in the middle of eating popcorn and stopped mid bite, not believing what i had just heard. i had seen all the films nominated, and out of every movie on my list this one was definitely at the bottom. i hadn't even considered it a contender. ah well. fuck the academy.

anyways, this comment doesn't have much to do with the movie...but if you're going to lump tommy lee jones into the category of best performances in recent time, i do believe that chris cooper's turn at robert hanssen in breach deserves to be within the ranks of gosling and ledger. the word compelling doesn't even begin to describe his performance. at the end i sat there in awe of what i had just witnessed. it was truly a glorious performance.

just wanted to say that.

On Fred Savage: I agree Kermit....I have also detected this not so "subtle" disdain for Fred Savage.....and yes,TK, Daddy Day Camp was unforgivable......and McGeek, Its Always Sunny in Phlidelphia (have't we made an acronym of that yet?) would cancel that out, if it weren't for the fact that Savage regularly directs episodes of Hannah Montana.

But come on people, he's the kid from the Princess Bride! Its genetically encoded to love him.....nothing could taint Kevin Arnold.

Haggis, I've found, has made two films where the effect from them sort of gently peters off. When the credits rolled, I thought, "Hunh, what was up with that dog lady? Hated that final flag shot, but the film was pretty close to great."

Then I walked to my car, still thought it was pretty good.

And now, a few hours later, I keep seeing problems with it. It's just so... constructed. All of the false leads (does EVERYBODY in that goddamn town drive a blue car?), the bookends of the dog lady and the RIDICULOUS flag thing at the elementary school, the random bits of sexual harrassment that just seem to be there because I guess guys do that to female colleagues all the time. It's just... kind of bizarre.

Mostly because at the center of the film are a handful of really excellent scenes, like Theron's interrogation sequence, the ultimate killer's final monologue, and basically anything with Susan Sarandon in it (girlfriend can SELL grief).

Ultimately, it was hit or miss, but more hit than miss. And that's an improvement over Crash for me.

I could SWEAR there was an episode of CSI with the EXACT premise of this film.

I'll just refer to this film as CSI: New Mexico from now on.

God, reading this review just reminded me once again how very bad that "Crash" movie was. I still have friends and relatives who say they liked it a lot, and I find myself at a loss as how to decribe what it was that bugged me so much. "...scenes so heavy-handed you can hear knuckles burst from dragging on the ground" is pretty good.

Yes, BarbadoSlim, there was, I believe it even involved cell phone footage; but I can't remember if it was a CSI or a Law & Order...they all blur together for me (which doesn't stop me from watching all of them, I can't help it). But I'm loving the NM shout out!

Hmm, Finn, the problem with that is that Hannah Montana is one of those guilty pleasures of mine. Phil of the Future too. And heck, even Even Stevens. But he totally gets it for That's So Raven. Even my poor (poor, poor poor) taste doesn't sink that low. Haven't watched any of the others to judge, but I assume he also needs a swift beating for Zoey 101 as well since it stars Baby Spears.

Thanks Tanner for keeping the idea alive. And thanks Dustin for adding some clarification. I'm glad to know you do read the comments....and comment yourself.

It's a compelling argument, but per your review and my absolute hatred of "Crash" (I mean Haggis' writing), I don't want to see a complex issue drawn with crayons and stick figures.

I love Tommy Lee Jones and I'm glad he's out of the Fugitive stereotype, but I have standards.

Thanks again.

I've never seen Crash. I had a bad feeling about it when people described how good it was, like it was trying too hard to be "brave" to make a movie about race relations and racism in th U.S. There have been plenty of movies that have done this already, and probably with more sincerity then trying to make a quick buck AND get an Oscar (which pissed me off
even more). I don't trust this Haggis guy. And whoever casts Sandra Bullock in a such a serious movie should not be taken seriously.

Alright, McGeek, you totally called me out! Here I am giving Savage a hard time, when I too have a (shameful) secret love for Hannah Montana. But, we do agree on "Thats so Raven", she must be stopped. And "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody".....? Again, my hate is complete.

"a movie about the broader implications of war, ultimately hitting where it hurts the most: The disillusionment of families who have lost sons and daughters in the conflict, seemingly stripping from them the one notion they could cling to -- that their loved ones fought and died for a worthy cause".

But who determines that a war is worthy? The NY Times? Paul Haggis? Al Gore? This has always been a mystery to me. One can be for or against the war in Iraq, or war in general, for that matter. Who decides that a war is worthy?

If Haggis is indeed trying to say that he doesn't support the troops with this film, I will do my best to see that at least myself and two other people see it in theaters. They deserve about as much support as a broken welfare system. If you want to "serve" the country, be a teacher, a doctor, a fireman, or someone who actually contributes to the community, don't try to con me into believing a bunch of bullshit, because you wanna be a killer for hire. And I don't care about the GI bill crap either. There are other, more integrity maintaining, ways to get an education. If you need discipline, study music, martial arts, or something else that doesn't involve a celebration of taking life. I know I'm kinda on a tangent here, but that's one of the reasons I like pajiba; it's a place where I can vent the occasional rant.

Based on your review, I am looking forward to this movie, though I do support this war. It will go on long after the hatred of mediocre presidents has passed. Little girls from Afghanistan will bare their legs and faces, and play tennis at Wimbledon. Too bad so many have to die for such a simple justice.

For me, the best word to describe this movie is "unremarkable." It's raising an issue already forefront in our minds, teaching a lesson we have already learned in real life. War creates mental health problems, and a few of the people subjected to it become monsters. Most don't. If you're young enough for this to be your first war, that might seem like a novel observation, but in fact war has always had this impact on people.

So the movie does no more than drive home a point most of us already get, and completely ignores the larger, more intriguing questions: are some wars still worth fighting? what criteria do we use to decide which are which? are there ways to wage war that do a better job of protecting the mental health of our soldiers? is there any just and effective way to withdraw from *this* war that doesn't create dangerous instability in the middle east? are there legitimate reasons to stay? etc.