"Extraordinary Measures"
Richard's Review: 1 star
Movies like "Extraordinary Measures" are what happens when other films like "Lorenzo's Oil" and "Patch Adams" sneak away for a dirty weekend. Starring former hunks Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser, this red-haired step child of a movie, born, probably, out of passion, is, however, destined to be ignored in favor of other, more legitimate films in the Ford / Fraser family.
Based on a true story "Extraordinary Measures" centers on John (Fraser) and Aileen (Keri Russell) Crowley, parents of three young children, two of which have a deadly form of muscular dystrophy called Pompe. Desperate to prolong the lives of their afflicted kids they seek out the help of Dr. Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford), a researcher with a viable theory about enzyme treatment for the rare genetic disorder. Together the ego-centric scientist and the earnest, yet determined father go into business, first building a private lab in Nebraska, then merging with big pharma, to create a cure for the disease.
We have "The Mummy" and "Indiana Jones" to thank (or not) for "Extraordinary Measures." Without the success of those two franchises there is no way Ford and Fraser could have gotten this clich� ridden clunker off the ground. It's also further proof that the world has gone crazy. How strange a place is our culture when someone can raise 30 million dollars to make a movie like this, but the real life Crowleys had trouble raising even seed money to find a cure for their kid's disease? Seems like skewed priorities.
At its best "Extraordinary Measures" comes off as an overwrought TV movie-of-the-week. At its worst (which is most of the time) it plays like a parody of a "Disease-of-the-Week" television movie.
Ford skates through much of the muck unscathed--although there could be a drinking game involving how many times he unnecessarily mentions going to the bathroom--but Fraser really gets conked on the head by the Clich�-O-Tron.
It's bad enough he has to say lines like, "I want to find a miracle as much as you do," and "perform" the standard slumping-to-the-floor-in-uncontrollable-sobs scene, but the height of ridiculousness comes when director Tom Vaughan stages a scene where Fraser tries to get Ford's attention by shimmying up a wall to bang on a small window even though there is a HUGE glass door located a few feet away.
"Extraordinary Measures" is a movie that was likely made with the best of intentions, but clearly no extraordinary measures were made to make the script coherent or the performances big-screen worthy.
"Creation"
Richard's Review: 2 1/2 stars
For clarity "Creation" should have been subtitled, The Origin of The Origin of Species. Paul Bettany plays Charles Darwin, the English naturalist who revolutionized science with his theory that all species of life descended from common ancestors. We meet him in the years leading up to the publication of his groundbreaking work on natural selection, a work condemned by the church, and, closer to home, by Emma, his religious wife (Jennifer Connolly) who feared his ideas would separate them forever in the afterlife.
Based on the book "Annie's Box" by Darwin's great, great grandson, Randal Keynes "Creation" wipes away the popular image of Darwin as an old, bewhiskered scientist, bringing him to somewhat vivid life--- he was plagued by sickness for much of his adult life -- telling the story of the troubled evolution of his theory of evolution.
"Creation" is handsomely photographed, beautifully acted by real-life husband and wife Bettany and Connolly, wonderfully appointed with 1850s period details and just a bit dull. The story should be quite fascinating -- between the death of his beloved daughter, his inner demons, his sicknesses and his scientific trailblazing Darwin's life is not short of drama -- but director Jon Amiel has a hard time balancing Darwin's personal and professional lives. They are, of course, almost inextricably intertwined, but Amiel let's the film get away from him in the middle section, placing too much emphasis on Darwin's neuroses and not enough on the story.
Keeping things compelling, however, is Bettany who does impressive work, artfully and subtly portraying Darwin's complicated inner life, drawing whatever emotion there is to be had out of this austere and slowly paced script.
Connolly, on the other hand, is as cold as ice as Darwin's fiercely pious wife Emma. The expected warmth between the real-life couple is largely absent as Connolly completely disappears into the role of the hardnosed wife who put her religious values before her husband's scientific beliefs.
Also worth noting is newcomer Martha West as daughter Annie, the common link who binds Charles and Emma together. Without fail her scenes bring the film warmth and familial energy.
"Creation" picks up in its final minutes, giving us a glimpse of the intelligent, exciting movie it could have been, but it's too little to late.
"The Invention of Lying" (DVD)
Richard's Review: 3 1/2 stars
Imagine living in a world where there's no such thing as flattery, deceit or fiction. I'll tell you one thing for sure, Hollywood wouldn't exist and politics would be way less interesting. Retirement homes are called A Sad Place for Hopeless Old People and Pepsi's advertising slogan might read: "Pepsi, For When You Don't Have Coke." This is the world British comedian Ricky Gervais created as the setting for his directorial debut, a strange romantic comedy called "The Invention of Lying."
The story is quite simple even if the ideas that lie just beneath the surface aren't. The film is set in an alternate reality, a Norman Rockwell world where no one has ever told a lie. People speak their minds because they are incapable of fibbing. A waiter might say, "I took a sip of your drink," as he drops a Margarita at your table. Gervais is Mark Bellison a screenwriter who specializes in transcribing 13th century history -- remember, there's no fiction -- for films. After unconsciously telling the first lie and inadvertently inventing religion he becomes a celebrity, but will this strange power be enough to win the heart of Jennifer (Jennifer Garner)?
The Invention of Lying sounds like a one joke wonder, and on some levels it is, but it's a good joke and Gervais as co-writer, director and star brings enough subtext to the story to keep up interest.
Nestled away under the obvious jokes is a healthy dollop of social commentary. Gervais uses the premise of total honesty all the time to shoot satirical arrows at religion (his version of God is "The Man in the Sky"), advertising and social niceties. The satire is sharp, particularly in the first half hour as we get to know the characters. The balance of the film has many laughs and makes some pointed observations before becoming ever so slightly bogged down by the romance and the beyond blatant product placement.
Who knew a Pizza Hut box could stand-in for one of the Ten Commandment tablets? That scene is the most shameless bit of product placement seen on screen, maybe ever.
On the plus side Gervais has assembled not only a strong leading cast -- Jennifer Garner sparkles and Louis C.K. is very funny -- but also a laundry list of unexpected cameos. I won't spoil the fun, but look for a Sarah Palin look-a-like and a mustachioed bit-part from an actor not known for his sense of humor.
"The Invention of Lying" could have used a little less product placement but by and large Gervais has created a pleasant and surprising rom com that'll make you think about all those little white lies you tell every day.
