Brian Bentley

http://www.myspace.com/whoisbrianbentley

(08.25.06) I’m rolling zero six friends deep right now. Uh huh, yeah.
(09.2.06) Thankfully, I’ve passed the 25 mark. This ends my running tally.

“The Illusionist”
Run time: 1:40

No. No. No. Punctated by some stupid lady two seats over that felt the need to comment on EVERY effing thing in the movie. I can’t even rant about the movie or it will spoil it for those of you that dare to see it. I really like Paul Giamatti in this, but I’m getting tired of the “Ed Norton only does edgy, indie type work”. Puh-lease.

Here’s “The Illusionist” in six words: Ed Norton made my $8 disappear.

Rating: 2 out of 5

“Little Miss Sunshine”
Run time: 1:41

The darling of this year’s Sundance, “Little Miss Sunshine” is a dark comedy/road trip/dysfuntional family movie that gives a wonderful cast a wonderful script to work with. Directed by MTV Video Awards winners Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, this movie is full of stereotypical characters, but it is so well acted that none of the characters seem derivative or cutouts. The plot is set around the family’s trek from New Mexico to California to get their youngest daughter to the “Little Miss Sunshine” pageant – hence the title. Greg Kinnear and Toni Collete are the parents taking young Olive (the adorable Abigail Breslin) to the event. Accompanying them are their oldest son, who has taken a vow of silence (excellently played by Paul Dano), Kinnear’s acerbic father (Alan Arkin) and Collette’s suicidal, homosexual brother (“The Office’s” Steve Carrell).

It did get slow right before the 3rd act, but the ending had me laughing so hard I couldn’t see or breathe, and I think I might have dribbled a bit in my shorts.

GO SEE THIS MOVIE.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Talldega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby”
Run time: 1:37

After such box office turds as “Kicking & Screaming” (which I saw) and “Bewitched” (which I was smart enough not to see), Will Ferrell reunites with “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy” co-writer and director Adam McKay for “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”. I’m not sure if using a colon in every movie they do is necessary, but it’s worked so far. The whole gang is back with John C. Reilly thrown into the mix as Ricky Bobby’s teammate and best friend, Cal Naughton, Jr. Who knew NASCAR could be this funny?

If you saw “Anchorman” and still quote it at family dinners and office gatherings, then prepare to add to your useless movie quote pantheon with “Ricky Bobby” until it aggravates the whole group. Yes, I’m speaking from experience.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5

I’ve decided to write a book of essays and I’ll post them as entries here on my site, complete with foreword, but I can’t start doing it until I have a title to put them under.

Where do you come in? So glad you asked. Leave a comment with your title suggestion and I’ll choose from there, or use executive veto power and go with something of my own verition. Keep them smart and submit as often as you like.

Fire away….