Magic Double Feature

So tonight I was supposed to actually go somewhere with friends, but as I'm the only one who ever gets anywhere on time, no one was there when I arrived; long story short: It was a magic double feature at home tonight.

One of the movies last night (Spanglish?) had a preview for The Prestige, and I thought it looked good even though I've been making big fun of it for more than a year. I also got The Illusionist since I was pretty sure they were the same movie. Came out at the same time, same time period, two guys and a girl, etc. Anyway, I need to go with my first instinct: The Prestige was a little sucky. 

Both Christian Bale and Edward Norton can Machiavelli it up with the best of them, but Christian Bale was a little more like The Colonel (why on earth doesn't Colonel have an R?) than the devil. The acting was better in The Illusionist, but you can't draw out the name and say it all dramatic like The Prestige (or, like The Libertine, a piece of crap (I'm assuming) from a couple of years earlier).

Accents are a funny thing too. Christian Bale's English accent sounded fake, which is weird because he's English, and Hugh Jackman was American, and Michael Caine was Alfred, which reminds me a little of Dick Van Dyke (remember growing up thinking that's what English people sounded like?). And then in The Illusionist everyone had a vaguely German accent, which, when you think about it, is kind of dumb. I mean, they wouldn't be speaking accented English, right? They'd be speaking German, so who cares if the English is accented? But then again, I remember seeing The Man in the Iron Mask and being annoyed by Gerard Depardieu's accent, and then realizing they are, in fact, in France. I think Americans identify British English as Europe. We can understand, yet it's still foreign!

So, to sum up, Illusionist better because Christian Bale has a weird mouth, I just don't get Scarlett Johansson and the name is really dumb. I don't care if that really is what it's called. It did remind me I've looked up Tesla before though (but usually get stuck on the car of the same name. Gorgeous to be sure, but I can't get over a gorgeous car that doesn't make any noise. It's the sound that does if for me), and he was pretty amazing. Though probably nothing like David Bowie. But then, David Bowie seems weirdly ahead of his time too.

And The Illusionist isn't that great, especially the locket-in-the-haystack, way over-tell ending. I almost expected the hills to be alive with the sound of music. But Jessica Biel's butt in those riding pants made all the flaws seem pretty minor. 

Giant Friday night

I just watched The Night Listener, and have one question: I don't really care if the kid ever existed, but is Bobby Cannavale really gay? After Third Watch, I've only ever seen him play gay guys in movies. I wonder if he's really gay or if he got typecast after The Guru. I didn't really realize, since I finally watched August Rush last night, it would be an all Robin Williams weekend. He has the weirdest body since Mike Meyers, and did a lot of running in this one, which even Mel Gibson looks stupid doing. I knew this movie was based on a true story because Dick Wolf also ripped it from the headlines. 

Speaking of funny guys acting woefully serious, I also watched Spanglish (hey, it's Friday night, and I roll right up to the roof, my friends). I really love Adam Sandler even though I feel like I shouldn't sometimes (I never saw Little Nicky, but that doesn't save me from the nightmares). He's just so very great in Punch Druck Love. And he was great in this one too. It's a little sad the lengths they went to to make you hate Tea Leoni (and ironic since her husband was probably stepping out while she was filming. Oy. That whole Red Shoe Diaries thing? One mystery solved). 

The thing I don't get about Spanglish is why the car-ride scenes looked so fake. I mean, James L. Brooks, Adam Sandler, Tea Leoni -- hell, even Cloris Leachman (who is awesome, btw) should rate better green screen. And it's not like they are only in the car once. Yikes.

I know you're waiting to hear whether I managed to get Bones on Tuesday. That's a negative. Apparently if you have all the discs in a season in your Netflix queue, in order, and the first disc isn't available, it skips them all. So Wednesday I had a nice season one ender of Magnum. I yi yi. Thank goodness I thought to pick up a little Red Green at the library. 

Oh, and I saw Quantum of Solace

Or, Those Bolivians Sure Wear the Hell Out of a Hat.

Psych

I got the first season of Psych this weekend and have been pretty much holed up. It's very much like a conversation with E -- all Jan Michael Vincent references and and frustrating the straight man and parade of TV dads. It's too bad the lead is Ben Stiller's twin.

I feel a little weird that I'm number 10 on the wait list for season two, but at least the last season of Bones comes out on Tuesday to hold me. Is it sad that I'm timing my Netflix? I haven't watched any and I have to send them all back on Monday. Otherwise I'll have the dreaded Very Long Wait. It's like waiting for the last 10 seasons of Criminal Intent. 

Thank god he's back

Just saw Rocknrolla, and am so glad Guy Ritchie rebounded from Madonna curse faster than one of our finest actors. I love the old MG, but she must be some sort of talent succubus. 

Now I'm reliving a truly awful bit of the 80s: The Equalizer. Even my mad crush on William Zabka doesn't make up for watching this awful, awful show. I get the feeling Edward Woodward is supposed to be sexy, but he makes McCain look loose. And young. Plus, the music is the absolute worst kind of 80s electronica. David Allen Grier is a cop every once in awhile though.

I mean, right now, they are doing some sort of reverse calling on a pay phone (remember pay phones?) with a desktop computer OUT ON THE SIDEWALK. WTF? He's a spy like James Bond. Everyone knows my name, which drink is mine and what table I'm playing at. 

Pay phone

One of the best things about watching old TV shows (and I mean Magnum old, not Green Acres old) is watching them fumble around for a pay phone. Oh dear god! How will I reach you if something happens? But I think I can count on one hand how many times I actually used a pay phone. And answering machines. They used the hell out of answering machines. The big Rockford two tapers.