'ACCIDENTAL LOVE': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)
David O. Russell's abandoned labor of love, which was many years in the making, is this political satire film. The movie began production in 2008 and was halted multiple times, due to budget problems (a lot of the crew wasn't being paid). O. Russell quit the film in 2010 and has since disowned it. The filming was finished under a different director and O. Russell's credit in the movie has been changed to a pseudonym; Stephen Greene. Despite all this, the movie is still pretty clever, funny and very politically insightful. It was written by O. Russell (credited as Stephen Greene), Kristin Gore (Al Gore's daughter), Matthew Silverstein and Dave Jeser; it's also based on the 2004 novel 'Sammy's Hill', by Gore. The film stars an all-star cast including Jessica Biel, Jake Gyllenhaal, James Marsden, Catherine Keener, Tracy Morgan, Kurt Fuller, Paul Reubens, Kirstie Alley, Beverly D'Angelo, James Brolin and Bill Hader. It's an odd misfire of a movie, but I think it's definitely still worth seeing.
The story revolves around Alice Eckle (Biel); a waitress, in a small town, who is accidentally shot in the head, by a nail gun, one night while she's at dinner with her boyfriend, Scott (Marsden). Due to Alice lacking any insurance, doctors refuse to operate on her; and remove the nail. The nail causes her to act erratically though and if she doesn't come up with the money, to afford the $150,000 operation, it could kill her. After Scott dumps her, Alice decides to travel to Washington, with two friends (Fuller and Morgan), in an attempt to get healthcare reformed. In the process she falls for a naive congressman (Gyllenhaal), who sees Alice as good publicity for his own political causes.
The film is pretty funny and the actors all give it their all; Gyllenhaal and Marsden are especially hilarious. It's also a great commentary on how politics work (especially healthcare). Gore's story is brilliant and the movie is full of good intentions and a lot of heart. It could have been a truly great comedic masterpiece though, especially with this cast and O. Russell at the helm! As it is, it definitely seems like a slightly deformed 'mixed bag' of goofy slapstick and political satire. Watching it, definitely doesn't feel like you're watching a David O. Russell movie either! It still definitely has a lot of great moments though. I'm glad I watched it and I actually had a pretty good, fun, time doing so; despite all of it's flaws.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://youtu.be/IG_hW4WZgWE
David O. Russell's abandoned labor of love, which was many years in the making, is this political satire film. The movie began production in 2008 and was halted multiple times, due to budget problems (a lot of the crew wasn't being paid). O. Russell quit the film in 2010 and has since disowned it. The filming was finished under a different director and O. Russell's credit in the movie has been changed to a pseudonym; Stephen Greene. Despite all this, the movie is still pretty clever, funny and very politically insightful. It was written by O. Russell (credited as Stephen Greene), Kristin Gore (Al Gore's daughter), Matthew Silverstein and Dave Jeser; it's also based on the 2004 novel 'Sammy's Hill', by Gore. The film stars an all-star cast including Jessica Biel, Jake Gyllenhaal, James Marsden, Catherine Keener, Tracy Morgan, Kurt Fuller, Paul Reubens, Kirstie Alley, Beverly D'Angelo, James Brolin and Bill Hader. It's an odd misfire of a movie, but I think it's definitely still worth seeing.
The story revolves around Alice Eckle (Biel); a waitress, in a small town, who is accidentally shot in the head, by a nail gun, one night while she's at dinner with her boyfriend, Scott (Marsden). Due to Alice lacking any insurance, doctors refuse to operate on her; and remove the nail. The nail causes her to act erratically though and if she doesn't come up with the money, to afford the $150,000 operation, it could kill her. After Scott dumps her, Alice decides to travel to Washington, with two friends (Fuller and Morgan), in an attempt to get healthcare reformed. In the process she falls for a naive congressman (Gyllenhaal), who sees Alice as good publicity for his own political causes.
The film is pretty funny and the actors all give it their all; Gyllenhaal and Marsden are especially hilarious. It's also a great commentary on how politics work (especially healthcare). Gore's story is brilliant and the movie is full of good intentions and a lot of heart. It could have been a truly great comedic masterpiece though, especially with this cast and O. Russell at the helm! As it is, it definitely seems like a slightly deformed 'mixed bag' of goofy slapstick and political satire. Watching it, definitely doesn't feel like you're watching a David O. Russell movie either! It still definitely has a lot of great moments though. I'm glad I watched it and I actually had a pretty good, fun, time doing so; despite all of it's flaws.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://youtu.be/IG_hW4WZgWE