Review: Man Of The Year (B-)

Man Of The Year (2006)
Directed By Barry Levinson
Starring Robin Williams, Laura Linney, Christopher Walken, Lewis Black and Jeff Goldblum
MPAA: PG
Grade: B-

Review by Scott Standish

Director Barry Levinson always seems to get the best out of his actors so it should come as no surprise that the inconsistent Robin Williams delivers a surprisingly good performance in Man Of The Year. Part comedy, part thriller, Man of The Year is certainly entertaining and frankly, a little better than I expected.

In Man of the Year, Robin Williams plays Tom Dobbs, a comedian with a "fake news" show similar to Jon Stewarts Daily Show or Bill Maher's political roundtable programs. At the urging of some audience members he decides to toss him name into the presidential ring. A subplot revolves around Laura Linney, a computer software engineer for Delacroy, a tech firm that contracted to handle computer based voting for the U.S. Jeff Goldblum is wonderfully cast in the role of the film's evil antagonist, an exec at the computer voting firm.

The ads for Man Of The Year are a bit off-key. The spots promote the film as a wacky "what if" with a wild man comedian (certainly a role that Williams could play to the hilt). However, Man Of The Year has a slightly darker tone to it, and honestly, it would not be that unusual to see a comedian such Jon Stewart or Bill Maher actually run for the White House. In fact, comedian and political commentator Al Franken is currently running for office in Minnesota. So the "wouldn't that be amazing" factor is really not very strong.

Man Of The Year features a confident, restrained performance from Robin Williams. Laura Linney (is it me or is she in everything these days?) also is excellent and Jeff Goldblum is a favorite of ours. The usually magnificent Christopher Walken in oddly miscast as Dobb's agent, but Lewis Black does a fine job as Dobbs political consultant. Man of the Year is not Levinson's best (I prefer Diner) but it is a fine movie that is funny, family friendly and consistent from start to finish. PS - For a little fun (and games) check out the Man Of The Year Quiz.

2007 Academy Winners

Don't you just love lists? Here is the complete list of the 2007 Academy Award Winners.

BEST PICTURE - "The Departed," Graham King, producer
BEST DIRECTOR - Martin Scorsese, "The Departed"
BEST ACTOR - Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland"
BEST ACTRESS - Helen Mirren, "The Queen"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Alan Arkin, "Little Miss Sunshine"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls"
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY - "Little Miss Sunshine," Michael Arndt
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY - "The Departed", William Monahan
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM - "An Inconvenient Truth", Davis Guggenheim, director; Laurie David, Lawrence Bender, producers
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM - "The Lives of Others", Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE - "Happy Feet", George Miller, director
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - "Babel," Gustavo Santaolalla
BEST ORIGINAL SONG - "I Need to Wake Up" Melissa Etheridge (from "An Inconvenient Truth")
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM - "The Danish Poet", Torill Kove, director
BEST ART DIRECTION - "Pan's Labyrinth" Eugenio Caballero, art direction; Pilar Revuelta, set decoration
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY - "Pan's Labyrinth", Guillermo Navarro
BEST COSTUME DESIGN - "Marie Antoinette," Milena Canonero
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM - "The Blood of Yingzhou District", Ruby Yang, Thomas Lennon
BEST FILM EDITING - "The Departed", Thelma Schoonmaker
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM - "West Bank Story," Ari Sandel, director
BEST MAKEUP - "Pan's Labyrinth", David Marti, Montse Ribe
BEST SOUND EDITING - "Letters From Iwo Jima", Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman
BEST SOUND MIXING - "Dreamgirls," Michael Minkler, Bob Beemer, Willie Burton
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS - "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson, Allen Hall - Reuters

Review: Invincible (B)

Invincible (B)
Directed By Ericson Core
Starring Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear, Elizabeth Banks and Kevin Conway
MPAA: PG
Grade: B

Review by Scott Standish

Invincible reminds me of the classic Disney films before Disney unveiled the Touchstone banner. Movies that were wholesome and uplifting. Films that you could take the entire family to see. Safe, bland movies that were still somehow entertaining. Invincible seems to come from that same mold, but due to fantastic performances from Mark Wahlberg and Greg Kinnear, this one actually overachieves.

Invincible is based on the true story of Vince Papale, a bartender in Philadelphia that showed up for an open call for the Philadelphia Eagles. He walked on, somehow made the team and became a hero to working class fans across the nation. Wahlberg stars as Papale and he (as usual) does a brilliant job. Wahlberg has slowly turned into one of the best actors working today, and it is refreshing to see him getting the recongnition he deserves (Wahlberg was recently nominated for an Academy Award for his work in Martin Scorcese's The Departed).

Equally impressive is Greg Kinnear as the somewhat eccentric Eagles coach Dick Vermeil. Eagles fans can be tough on their team, and especially tough on their coach. Vermeil showed a huge strength of character by sticking with Papale, and Kinner expresses this very well.

Invincible is a somehat formulaic sports movie, but the wonderful performances by the lead actors help carry the film. For sports fans, this one is highly recommended.