Wendell over at Dell on Movies is hosting 2015 edition of his Against the Crowd blogathon.The rules for participation are simple:
1. Pick one movie that "everyone" loves (the more iconic, the better). That movie must have a score of at least 75% on rottentomatoes.com. Tell us why you hate it.
2. Pick one movie that "everyone" hates (the more notorious, the better). That movie must have a score of less than 35% on rottentomatoes.com. Tell us why you love it.
3. Include the tomato meter scores of both movies.
4. Use one of the banners in this post, or feel free to create your own
LOVE:
This is actually my favorite Woody Allen movie if I think about how many times I rewatched it. And I've seen almost all of his movies.
So many times in Allen's films some other actor plays the character that Woody Allen would play himself and usually the results are insanely annoying - like with Larry David or Kenneth Brannagh. But Jason Biggs is so funny and natural here. Christina Ricci is unbelievably annoying, but she is supposed to be given that her character is like that. But what makes the film so hilarious and one of my favorite comedies is the character of David Dobel, played by Allen himself. The lines, the situations, the humour - it all works and the scene where Dobel wrecks the car of some guys who were rude to him is hysterical. I really don't get the hate this movie gets.
Also that critic consensus is ridiculous. Every single Woody Allen's movie recycles other Woody Allen's movies. There are so many things in common between Crimes & Misdemeanors & Match Point and Scoop & Small Time Crooks they may as well be remakes of each other. I always viewed Anything Else as the modern retelling of Annie Hall for younger audience. Also the film has such amazing lines:
David Dobel: ...and the next thing I knew they made some crack about my religion which I found in poor taste.
Jerry Falk: Religion? You're an atheist!
David Dobel: Yes, I'm an atheist, but I resented the fact however obliquely that they implied that Auschwitz was basically just a theme park.
Fuck you, that film is funny!
HATE:
This movie is just retarded. Completely. I know it's inappropriate to use that adjective but it's the only one that encapsulates my thoughts on this flick. How it is getting praise I'll never know. I remember that while watching it I was cringing the whole time. Edgar Wright is overrated as fuck too, by the way. Oh God, the amount of whining going on on every single Ant-Man board that Edgar "second coming of Christ" Wright didn't direct it! Well I'm glad he didn't, given that he made this movie which is seriously one of the dumbest films I've seen. It's such a turd, you guys.
LOL, I haven't seen Anything Else...but now I want to (and I love Allen, so I should)...and I quite liked Scott Pilgrim. I mean, you're not off in calling it retarded, but it was enjoyably retarded...if that's such a thing.
ReplyDeleteIf you love Allen you should see AE if only for his work as an actor there, he is so funny!
DeleteI am not a fan of Scott Pilgrim either. It was an interesting idea combining a movie with a video game, but I didn't think it worked. I was simultaneously overstimulated and bored. I haven't seen Anything Else, but I'm open to giving it a try.
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll like Anything Else!
DeleteHaven't seen Anything Else, so I can't comment one way or the other on that one except to say that you got me intrigued. I am one of those Scott Pilgrim lovers so we're on completely different sides here, but that's what we're here for. Great job ripping it a new one. Thanks for participating!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, it was a lot of fun!
DeleteFixed the links page to include you. My apologies.
DeleteIt's baaaackk! Man, I remember this.. and I remember seeing some awesome movies that have bad scores yet people tend to love them, including me.. and here we go again. Nice picks too! I found Scott Pilgram to be over-stylish but I did enjoy some of its bits.
ReplyDeleteI was torn between this and Kick Ass but this has higher score :/
DeleteYikes! I don't think I could disagree more about Wright/Scott Pilgrim. It's a tad hyperbolic to say he's the 'second coming of Christ', but his films are just approaching comedy in a totally different way to the rest of the genre. 90% of comedies nowadays are stale and uninspired, and I think that's what makes Wright so refreshing and fun to watch - he's genuinely looking at different ways to frame, shoot and transition each shot. Anyway, each to their own - Scott Pilgrim is still awesome in my mind ;)
ReplyDelete"a tad"?:D
DeleteI'm not gonna lie to you, I'm not the biggest Woody Allen fan. What I've seen has been really good, or just weird as shit. But, if you've got it's back, I'm willing to check this one out. Oh, and Wednesday Addams doesn't hurt either. Rowr.
ReplyDeleteAs for Scott Pilgrim, I liked that movie because I thought I had to. It's not terrible, but it's not very good either. I actually bought the blu-ray, and after watching it, thought the f--k is this?.
And this post gets my vote for best last line ever.
Whoa, so much hate the his Lordship, ahem, I mean Edgar Wright. I gotta say, I'm a huge fan of his... might be a Brit thing, British humour, general Britishness that seeps through into the film, that may be the qualm?
ReplyDeleteNo matter, we all have our favourites and dislikes, I really hate Angelina Jolie - I think she's even more pointless than crane flies. She has 0 purpose and 0 talent. Her and Kate Hudson. Have not liked a single movie either of them have been in.
Despite our differences on Mr E. Wright, I do love your blog and style though.
-Katie (EverSoEthnicallyConfusedBlog)
Scott Pilgrim! I completely agree Sati. Never could make it through the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteThank God someone agrees! :D
DeleteLuckily, I'm never a fan of Woody Allen, so I don't really are about his works, until they got some buzz which eventually led me to another disappointment. So, can't really say a thing about your pick.
ReplyDeleteYet, Scott Pilgrim is a different thing. It isn't a special film, but I love the casts and despise how it's being too stylistic. It's quite divisive, I think.
-Paskalis Damar (sinekdoks,com)
Yeah it seems divisive, but it somehow got really good reviews :/
DeleteAww, I love Scott Pilgrim! lol I can see how that's not everyone's cup of tea though. I've never seen Anything Else. I'm not sure if I can actually enjoy a Woody Allen movie. I've tried so hard, and I've only liked one.
ReplyDeleteAnything Else is really funny, though, I think it's the funniest of his films but then again I know some would call me crazy for that :)
DeleteYASSSS to hating Scott Pilgrim! My boyfriend and I actually walked out of that movie it was so bad, but everyone seems to love it! I never understood...
ReplyDeleteYeah it sucked so hard :/
DeleteLOL, I like both movies. :/
ReplyDeleteWe don't judge here :)
DeleteAnything Else is one of my least favorite Allen flicks, but I admire that you defend it. I've never been able to make it through Scott Pilgrim. Not for me.
ReplyDeleteMan I wish I just shut Scott Pilgrim down after 10 minutes :)
DeleteI love Anything Else. It was the first Woody Allen movie I ever saw. I picked it up at the video store not even knowing it was a Woody Allen movie. Needless to say, it led me to more Woody Allen. And it's really funny. You're so right. Some great one-liners.
ReplyDeleteI like Scott Pilgrim, though I wouldn't say I loved it.
Oh,thank goodness for you! It was actually one of my first Allen's movies too and it definitely got me to watch more of his films
Delete