"Dinner for Schmucks"

"About Schmidt"

There is a scene in "About Schmidt" where Jack Nicholson (Schmidt) walks into a Dairy Queen, and orders a blizzard with two toppings. I realize it may not sound like noteworthy material to be mentioning, but think about it for a second. What a surreal it is thing to be seeing Nicholson in a fast food establishment; a Dairy Queen. Nicholson is perhaps the screen's biggest star, and definitely one of the great actors of all time. To see him doing something so normal and recognizable brings him down to earth; to our level, if you will. He is no longer a screen icon, but a normal everyday person who does the same things in a day that you and I do. It is this scene that sets us up for the rest of the picture, for Schmidt is perhaps the least glorious, and normal central character in cinematic history. That he is played by Jack Nicholson is perhaps its greatest irony as well, and it works so well that it's difficult to imagine any other actor pulling off this role in such a watchable way.

"Alpha Dog"

A problem that lies inherently within “Based on True Event” films is that liberties are always taken. This is completely acceptable and even necessary, given that film is a creative medium. However, these changes to the central and factual storyline often add nothing of consequence to the film, or even worse, are detrimental to the films overall impact. "Alpha Dog" seems like one of those films. It is based on true events, and while I am not familiar with the events that actually did transpire, there are a few sequences in the film which seem terribly out of place, and suggest that they may have been added strictly for the purpose of titillation.

"Anatomy of Hell"

How do you review a movie like "Anatomy of Hell"?

The route a lot of people went is just by slamming it. They said it was perverse, sick, indulgent, repulsive, and full of itself. I can't disagree with any of these sentiments.

So why do I love it?

I don't know. But I have a theory.

"The Aristocrats"

"The Aristocrats" takes its title from the punch line of the world's filthiest joke. A joke that I had no idea existed before watching this movie. What sets this particular joke apart from the infinite realm of other jokes, is that, while nearly every comedian apparently knows it, it's completely different every time. It works like this... A family, generally consisting of a father, mother, son, daughter, and pet dog (or in one instance, a gorilla), approaches a talent agent or manager with a great idea for a stage show. Depending who's telling the joke, the comedian digs deep, and comes up with the most disgusting imagery he can think of, involving bodily fluids and waste, sex, violence, whatever, all involving only this family. "That's great" says the agent... "What do you call yourselves?" the father replies, "The Aristocrats".