We’re the Millers: Is Jen hot or Emma?

Warning: Spoilers ahead.

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A minor drug dealer, David Clark, one day, loses all his money. He has only one option; to take an offer proposed by his boss Brad Gurdlinger. The deal is to smuggle marijuana from Mexico into the US.

David Clark is well aware of the consequences of being caught in this smuggling. He also knows what would happen to his life if Gurdlinger is not taken seriously. So he decides to take the assignment, as he conceives a plot to execute the mission. He decides to enter Mexico as if he is in a family vacation. However, in order to bring the mission to completion, David Clark requires a family.

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He brings in his neighbor, the 18-year-old Kenny, a virgin, and a runaway teenage girl named Casey. He also approaches Rose, his former girl friend and a stripper. Although Rose shows an initial hesitation to join Clark’s mission, she had to comply, because she loses her job in the meanwhile. How these four armatures smuggle marijuana from Mexico into the US and through the journey find themselves in dramatic and life-changing circumstances, is in the core of We’re the Millers.

Released in 2013, We’re the Millers is directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. Jason Sudeikis plays David Clark, and is superbly funny in his performance. Emma Robert in her role of Casey grabs all the attention in comparison with Jennifer Aniston, in Rose’s role as a stripper. Kenny, Will Poulter, is the dominant figure when it comes to comedy. He creates such situations when you can’t hold yourself any more to your chair than a bobblehead its neck.

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The anticipation in the story, whether the fake family, which they call the Millers, would be caught, gives it a surface tension. All four protagonists are social misfits. I am not very sure how the “virgin” identity belongs to the misfit category, but Kenny seems to be an introvert and in this sense he surely is a misfit in the largely extrovert American society. Although the characters are initially reluctant to take over the mask of the Millers, at the end of the movie, they are extremely happy and are comfortable with their new name.

This indicates that the ultimate message We’re the Millers puts forwards, is hope. Hope does not come up as a random idea in this movie. The base of hope is the desire to live and move forward. That same propellant governs all human actions, in general. However, while hope comes to roost in your mind there would be some harsh realities that might sweep your nightly sleep away, and transform you into an insomniac.

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In We’re the Millers, David confronts a traumatic state of affairs with his smuggling endeavour. Being David Miller means to him success in his mission as well as financial security to begin a new life. So he trusts the intuition and starts off at the journey. Hope demands something from the individuals, though. In We’re the Millers, the risk the team of four takes, awards them the final salvation. And the journey of hope ends with joy and life. David Clark helps to reinstate good over evil, when he realizes final victory is his. In other words, David, being assured of receiving into his life what he expected, decides to exchange a smuggler’s life with that of a family man’s. The man he meets on the way back from Mexico into the US, in an RV, becomes his savior. I am leaving some hilarious surprise to you, here.       

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When you watch this movie, though beware of F-bombs, references to homosexuality, and many other unacceptable references to family audiences and kids. There is a stripping performance by Jennifer Aniston, in front of one of the villains, which reminds, somewhat proudly, the old Bollywood movies such as Shaan and Sholey. In these Bollywood classics, the heroines often perform in front of the villains, their sensuous and luring dance moves in order to save the life of the hero, who is under custody of the bad man.

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Jennifer Aniston’s stripping performance though pales in front of Emma Robert, even though this niece of Julia Robert does not remove a single piece of her clothing.       

 

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Year One: The Movie

Warning: This movie is outrageously anti-gay and anti-Biblical, at the same time.

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WhatIf someone puts a couple of twenty-first century nerds in the Neolithic Age, how would it all turn out to be? The answer is Year One. It is a movie about two Stone Age men, Zed (Jack Black), who is a hunter, and Oh (Michael Cera), who is a gatherer. The story is set in close proximity with the post-paradise life of the chosen ones.

Zed and Oh are exiled from their tribe and in their quest to find another tribe, they meet Cain and Abel. From this moment onwards, the story takes place through some of the major Biblical events and portrays some of its powerful characters with a different approach.

Humour is the main tool Year One has utilized to deal with the Biblical tales. Imagine Christopher Mintz-Plasse (the nerd in Superbad, and Rolemodels) as Isaac, the son of Abraham. What else can you expect other than hilarious riots of laughter. Although in Year One, Christopher’s role is not so predominant, he still leaves his mark and there is no question of his talent. Some Christians as well as Jews might as well take offence with the way the movie portrays circumcision and related events. Abraham chases down Isaac with a butcher’s knife in his hand to circumcise his son.  

Eventually, Zed and Oh reaches Sodom, the twin city that was cursed by God. Sodomy is ridiculed and is proclaimed as unthinkable. Of course, in a religious ethics, it is. However, in terms of the thoughts proclaimed by the gay rights activists, I do not think this part would be acceptable. Religion too, is mocked and ridiculed. This is how Year One becomes anti-gay and anti-Biblical, at the same time.

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Oops! Did I mention? Zed had eaten the forbidden fruit, in the beginning. This is the reason why he was outcast from his tribe. But then, he burnt someone’s hut too. It’s a big problem when your destiny is to be the ‘Chosen One’, and all you can think about is living like a non-existent in your village.

Year One is a comedy directed by Harold Ramis, and produced by Judd Apatow. Released in 2009, this movie does follow much of the same comic elements one might find in Role Models and Superbad. Unlike these two movies mentioned, the two women characters Maya (June Diane Raphael) and Eema (Juno Temple) in Year One do not add much spice to the story.

After eating the forbidden fruit, Zed realizes that something is imminent. He does not know what, yet. He will see, and so do you. 

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Hitchcock: The Movie

Agent, “I have seen happier faces in a school bus about to fall off from a cliff.”

Hitchcock, “But they can’t stop looking, can they?”

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Hitchcock is not a biography of Alfred Hitchcock. The movie, released in 2012 carries the story of Alfred Hitchcock’s relationship with Alma Reville, his wife. The story is set in the background of the production of his Psycho, in 1959. There is no question regarding the status Psycho holds in the history of world cinema. Hailed one among the classics, Psychoremains an entertaining and suspenseful masterwork by the ‘master of suspense’.

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Directed by Sacha Gervasi, the Academy Award winning director, Hitchcock also portrays the trials and tribulations Alfred Hitchcock faces through the days of production of Psycho. During his days of fame and controversy, Alfred discovers the horror novel titled, Psycho, written by Robert Bloch, an American horror writer. Alfred even dumps Casino Royale for making Psycho a movie avatar. Although Alfred is puzzled over his own age, and stands answerless in front of the questions by the reporters about his waning abilities and overly routinized treatment of movies, the decision to take up Psycho, the novel based on the true story of serial killer Ed Gein.

 

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Even after his reputation and past successes, he was refused to be produced by Paramount Pictures. This turns the project into a self financed one. Alfred himself decided to finance the movie, under the label of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, a television production effort that he had attempted before. Hitchcock, also shows the difficulties Psycho faced in clearing the hindrances posed by the Motion Picture Production Code. This includes issues with nudity in the famous bathtub scene.

Rich with many wonderful scenes, Hitchcock is an impressive attempt at cinematography. No wonder it won an award from St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association for best scene, “Anthony Hopkins in lobby conducting to music/audience’s reaction during “Psycho” shower scene.”

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The actors who portrayed the protagonists are Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock, and Helen Mirren as Alma Reville. Both of them have given their best. Anthony Hopkins does not look like Anthony Hopkins at all. Scarlett Johansson plays the role of Janet Leigh, the woman in the bathtub scene.

Hitchcock is a meta-movie, a movie about another movie. Although Hitchcock directly reflects upon an episode in the life of the legendary filmmaker, it also investigates the duality of art and life. Where one begins and the other start is basic question, it explores. In the end, however, art is complemented by life. In addition, life, expects the same treatment from art. At the end, Alfred is shown talking with the audience about how it all turned out, as a continuation from how Hitchcockbegan. It is as if the movie unfolds through the words of Alfred. What fascinated me about Hitchcock was that the movie is based on the non-fiction work, Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho by Stephen Rebello, published in 1990. 

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Paul: Alien Revelations

An alien hasn’t ever been any different!

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A UFO crash-lands upon a dog. A little girl was the only witness to this incident. The girl saved the alien who flew the flying object, and hid him in her basement. Later, the military came investigating and found the alien being. From then onwards the alien being was kept with the military of the USA. He was about three feet tall, with a larger head than humans have. In fact, he looked much like the popular representation of the grey aliens.    

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His name is Paul and he was given an assignment in the US military base to share his knowledge and technology with the government. Paul even helps Stephen Spielberg with his idea for E.T. So, now the world knows where the story came from. However, the government now wanted his most important ability; the ability to heal. For which they wanted his brain. In other words, to kill him. Paul did not find any other way, but to run for his life.

Clive Gollings (played by Nick Frost) and Graeme Willy (played by Simon Pegg) are from Britain. They are currently in America for attending the annual San Diego Comic-Con International. They are so involved with comics and ‘quest for’ extraterrestrial life that they had another plan too, much like any other UFO enthusiast. They are taking a road trip in their RV to visit Area 51, the mysterious aviation test site, famous for its alleged extraterrestrial presence.

The US army had never directly referred the site before; however, according to Reuters and other world media today (17 August 2013), the US military has finally accepted the existence of Groom Lake, or Area 51. Among Ufologists, this area is significant as the testing facility for alien technology. As is evident from the beginning of the story, Paul is not a great driver. He crashes the car in which he was running for his life. On a highway in Nevada, near Area 51, the two friends, Clive Gollings and Graeme Willy meets Paul.

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Clive Gollings and Graeme Willy decide to help Paul escape from the crooked agents who chase him. They embark upon a journey in their RV with him, the talking, smocking, ass kicking, joking, dancing and wise Paul, the alien. This journey transforms their lives. On their way to take Paul, ‘wherever he wants to go’, they meet Ruth Buggs, daughter of Moses, a Christian fundamentalist. She finds the journey transformative too. There is a lot of anti-God talk in the movie, when Paul explains to Ruth the working of the universe.

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It is also curious to note the attitude the movie shows towards sexualities. Although in the case of God, the story line adheres to stricter scientific norms, when addressing the relationship between Clive Gollings and Graeme Willy (strictly friends), the movies goes bleak and hollow. Often, other characters, including Paul question Clive Gollings and Graeme Willy about their sexuality. It gives the impression that the preferable sexual type is hetero even in an extraterrestrial habitation. Homo somehow finds a ridiculous undertone throughout the movie. Scientific outlook, uh?!     

Paul is released in 2011 and is directed by Greg Mottola. Seth Rogen gives voice to the animated character of Paul. It is a sci-fi movie, but supremely hilarious. More than the sci-fi element, I enjoyed the heartfelt humour of Paul, the alien.  

 

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You might wonder what had happened to that dog upon which the alien spacecraft crashed. Make an intellectual guess. TIC cannot show gruesome scenes, as of now, at least.   

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