Aaron Eckhart Film Fest Part 1

[meddow]

Thanks to The Dark Knight I've developed a fangirl affection for Aaron Eckhart. What's a girl to do but go down to the video store rental-stalk him? I've gotten out quite a bit of his back catalogue and I'm having my very own Aaron Eckhart film festival.

Also I've decided to implement a movie review system for my journal. There are marks out of five for general excellence. But also, since my usual motivation for watching a movie is that there is an actor or actress I happen to fangirl in it, there's also a fangirl rating out of five based on their presence, screen time and general wonderfulness.

Thank You for Smoking (2005, dr. Jason Reitman)
Assets: Maria Bello, Rob Lowe
Warnings: Katie Holmes

This was the second (and third) time I'd seen this movie and most people I know have already seen Thank You for Smoking, so I don't feel I need to talk about it much. If you haven't seen it, it's a deeply witty comedy about spin and politics following Nick Naylor, the charismatic chief spokesperson for Big Tobacco as he does his job and bonds with his son. What's particularly brilliant is that it is not a story of moral redemption or crises of conscience, which is so very refreshing. And Aaron Eckhart is this movie.

Film Rating: 5
Fangirl Rating: 5

Any Given Sunday (1999, dr. Oliver Stone)
Assets: Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx
Warnings: It's about American Football.

I really liked this movie even with it being about Gridiron, which I could not possibly care less about. It's a bit Robert Altman meets a sport movie at times, since there's a huge cast of characters and a lot of storylines. I liked that aspect since it's not just about the players and coach, it's also about the team doctors (James Woods and Matthew Modine) fighting over ethics and the owner (Cameron Diaz) trying to get everyone to take her seriously. However, the focus is on Al Pacino's past-it coach and Jamie Foxx's up and coming quarterback with major ego problem.

There's a lot of editing flushes that make it a visually fascinating movie, like swift cuts to clouds, lighting and historical footage of the game while the characters are arguing or during the sports scene. That, the performances and the emphasis on the reality of professional sport rather than the feel-good factor elevate it to something better than the average sports movie.

As for Aaron Eckhart. Well, he's there. He plays the new guy waiting in the wings for Pacino to retire, but he's got barely any lines, spends the game scenes in a box and my flatmate kept on getting him confused with Matthew Modine. A very disappointing movie for a fangirl.

Film Rating: 4
Fangirl Rating: 1

Coming when I find the time: Possession and Suspect Zero

Comments

[jadeddiva.livejournal.com]

I thoroughly approve this new fangirling :) I also like that Aaron Echkart is having a revival all over the interwebs, for he sorely deserves it :)

Possession - the actual novel - is my favorite book of all time. The movie gets some things right, but makes up for any wrongdoing but having Aaron Eckhart stand around in the Yorkshire countryside with the wind blowing his hair. Of course I am shallow, thank you for asking ;)

[meddow.livejournal.com]

It's funny how all it takes is one role in one movie and suddenly an actor has a legion of fangirls scrambling over his previous body of work.

Yorkshire countryside? Yay! I don't know why but every man his hotter when he's standing in the Yorkshire countryside. I'm looking forward to Possession.

[artic-fox.livejournal.com]

I like your system. I'll be following it with interest so I know which Eckhart movies to watch :D

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thanks :) I'm quite proud of the system.

[mercaque.livejournal.com]

Don't watch The Core. It's the first thing I noticed Aaron Eckhart in, and let's just say, not in a good way. The whole movie sucked, so I realize that my dislike of his character wasn't really his fault, but it was a terrible first impression. After Thank You For Smoking and especially The Dark Knight, I can safely say he is one of the biggest turnarounds in opinion I have ever had of an actor.

Enough that I might even check out Paycheck...

[meddow.livejournal.com]

I've seen The Core, ummm, twice (although I've never paid money to see it thankfully). And I agree with you thoroughly, it is a bad movie. No actors came out of that mess looking good. Though I read an interview with AE in which he states he did it for the paycheck.

I was going to rent Paycheck, but I couldn't find it in the video store, and I can't stand Ben Affleck. Fangirling is not good for me.

[airie-fairy.livejournal.com]

I love that you warned for Katie Holmes. XD

I saw a screening of Towelhead, which hasn't been released yet, but has him in it. I think it's the first proper time I've seen him rather than just seeing him around and thinking he looks awesome. His role was...interesting. He played it really well.

I loved Any Given Sunday for not being a fluffy summer great American sports film. <3333 It was really interesting, and I loved Dennis Quaid in it.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Well, unexpected!Katie Holmes is bound to be an unpleasant experience.

Isn't he a racist pedophile in Towelhead? I think I read that somewhere. Brings up that horrible inner conflict when an actor you like plays a character that makes your skin crawl.

Denis Quaid was wonderful in Any (as he is in pretty much everything I've seen him in), and it's great to see a sport movie that's got some bite to it.

[airie-fairy.livejournal.com]

The racist part is not particularly prevalent, actually. And he's not the typical obvious sleazy pedophile. Um. Yes.