I noticed a couple of films at the library, one I had heard of and the other I hadn't. I sort of remember the commercials for The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. While I like Steve Carell I didn't go to the theater to see the movie and I didn't buy the dvd. On the dvd side I have bought more than my share of movies, sight unseen, and lived to regret it. When they turn up at the library I can take a chance and it won't cost me anything but my time. Not that time isn't of value but I'm going to watch something anyway, so why not watch something new and for free. I watched it and now I'm glad that I didn't buy it when it came out. It's not that it's bad or anything, it's funny, there's a nice cast and the script has some jokes and weird gags but it's not that funny that I would want to re-watch it enough to want to buy it. John Francis Daly co-wrote the script with Jonathan Goldstein, they also wrote Cloudy With Meatballs 2 and Horrible Bosses 1 & 2. I haven't seen 'em. Fans of Freaks & Geeks or Bones will recognize John Francis Daly. He's one of my favorite actors on both of those shows.
It's a familiar kind of story, one where pals have a big falling out, have a bit of growth, then get back together again. This time it's set in the world of stage magic. Steve Carell and Steve Buscemi are Burt Wonderstone and Anton Marvelton. In 1982 they were in school together. Burt got a magic kit for his birthday and their love of magic brought the two of them together. They grew up and became big time Las Vegas showmen. At their peak they get hired at Bally's and have their own theater. Ten years later it's modern day and they aren't so popular anymore. They've been doing the same show for ten years, they're stale and they've fallen out of love, with each other and with magic. Burt is a pretty big asshole who hasn't grown much as an adult. He'll have to do the down and out thing to get his life lesson.
Jim Carrey plays an illusionist Steve Grey who's a bit like David Blaine or Criss Angel. Steve Grey has a tv show where he does outlandish tricks that physically damage his body. He films his segments out on the street among random people. In one stunt Jim gets a guy to sign a card and then has the guy punch his face. He cuts the bruise with a knife and pulls the signed card out of the cut. At first I thought it was a trick but he really cut himself. His other tricks just get progressively crazier and more damaging. Carrey steals every scene he's in. He's pretty entertaining to watch. His preformance kind of reminds me of some of his earlier movies. I liked those for the most part but haven't seen any of them in years.
The contrast between the traditional stage magician and the new street guys runs throughout the movie. I'm not much a fan of the street magic guy but then again I'm not much a fan of stage magic any more. Mostly I've liked acts like Ricky Jay or Penn & Teller over acts like David Copperfield. Back in Burt's world he gets his groove back and things turn out ok. I did laugh, out loud, at the big trick at the end but that was the only time. It's too illogical but it's that kind of movie and there were some pretty funny visuals. All in all not a great comedy but one with some laughs.
Wind Blast is a 2010 Chinese action film that's mostly filmed in Dunhuang, Gansu, China. It looks a lot like that picture above. It's in quite the location. I put a map at the end of the post. The movie is marketed as a western type film but it's pretty much a police story at heart. Some cops from the city are chasing an assassin and his girlfriend through this sparsely populated area. There are other assassins hindering the chase and some local cops helping out. There's one chase after another and plenty of gun play. Lots of people get blasted and many of them die. Sadly I found the scenery to be more entertaining than some of the film. I started fast forwarding the long fight scenes, so I could get to the scenery. There are better and more interesting Chinese action films out there. I did like the soundtrack but it's not any reason to get the movie.
Comments