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lurchyboy
Reviews
Bunny and the Bull (2009)
Awful. Just awful.
I'm a fan of alternative movies, particularly ones that don't prescribe to the usual Hollywood formula, so I was looking forward to this film. I was, however, sorely disappointed. It may look all nice and alternative with it's surrealistic backdrops but really... who cares when the content is sub-A-level-English drivel.
Dull plot. Stilted dialogue. Wooden acting. Stereotypical characters who you couldn't care less about. Not to mention shots copied directly from Being John Malkovich.
Worst of all it was obvious that the film-makers were trying to be all 'shocking'. One scene shows a man drinking milk from a dog. The scene lingers and lingers, waiting for some kind of laugh from an imagined audience. It was just painful to watch.
Without a doubt one of the worst films I've seen in my life. Come back when you've learnt how to make a real film.
The Invention of Lying (2009)
Such a disappointment
I'm a big Ricky Gervais fan. I loved The Office and I think Extras was just as funny. His pod casts are brilliant and I listen to old XFM shows daily - they often get me through boring days at work. I like his sense of humour and I think he's naturally funny.
But, and I hate saying this, mainly because it gives satisfaction to those Christians who can't let anyone else have a view... this film is pretty average.
For a 'high-concept' film it just seems very predictable, pedestrian and shallow. Very mainstream. Everything that The Office and Extras seemed to go against.
I thought the bits that satirised Christianity were brilliant and the film really picked up pace there - it should have gone further in my opinion and I think a whole film could be based on this idea - let's face it, there's plenty of ammunition. But then the film just limps back into standard rom-com territory. And as for the ending... awful! I think Ricky Gervais started going wrong when he cried at the end of Extras in that toe-curling Big Brother scene. It's like he's looking to be taken seriously as a serious actor so he has to blub every chance he gets. He's much better when making fun of his own faux-arrogance.
There are some funny and thought-provoking moments in this film but overall it's like the most average, churned-out, Hollywood, film-of-no-consequences that you'll ever see.
I just hope to the man-in-the-sky that Gervais gets back on track with Cemetery Junction.