Review: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (***1/2)

Without going so far into the realm of self-conscious comedy as Wright's past masterpieces, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World raises the bar for hipster-nerd comedies.

The film is an ode to the modern day slacker; Scott (Micheal Cera) is living through the proverbial quarter-life crisis of the average 22 year-old. He's dating a 17 year-old high-schooler Knives Chau (Ellen Wong) to avoid the serious hurt suffered in relationships past. Meanwhile, the drummer in his band Kim (Alison Pill, excellently cast) harbours similar feelings toward him.

Soon enough, Scott meets the woman of his dreams (literally) when Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) skates into his life. His sole source of grounded discourse comes from an unlikely source, his gay room mate Wallace, with whom Scott shares a bed (played by Kieran Culkin, in the film's show-stealing role). If this mess of relationships seems like a load of spoilers, don't worry; we're not yet out of the first 10 pages of the graphic novel.

The film is targetted directly at the market of 20-something's who've grown up listening to indie-rock, playing video games, and struggling through relationships. It also features some of the best cameos of the year, with appearances by Don McKellar, Chris Evans, and the lamentable Jason Schwartzman.

It's necessary to point out that the film wasn't as good as Hot Fuzz or Shaun of the Dead. While Wright isn't up to his past form, he's still doing better than most any other modern comedic director, especially as an auteur. The failing of this film may lie in his decision to release the reigns somewhat on the writing aspect of the production of the film.

The Best of the Decade

Over the last ten years, the cinema has given us a great deal to be thankful for: a rebirth of the Batman franchise, a series of examinations of what it means to live in this particular decade, and a mass of character studies whether they be animated or popcorn thrillers. As much as I have enjoyed the offerings, a list must be culled together for the end of the year. Except this year is different, this year ten films must be selected from hundreds. Below are some of the best of the aughts. Enjoy! 10) There Will Be Blood Paul Thomas Anderson's magnum opus, a scathing look at extremism in America and the evils of greed and profiteering from religion. It also features the best performance of the decade with Daniel Day-Lewis as oil-man Daniel Plainview. 9) Up A beautiful tale that entrances all ages, Up managed to captivate children and tell a tale that adults cherish as well. 8) The Dark Knight Maybe just a comic book film, but it is the best comic book film

Paprika vs. Inception

Months before Inception hit the theaters forums were alive with rumors that Christopher Nolan either accidentally or intentionally stole some details from another film, the Japanese anime Paprika. The biggest point of comparison for some bloggers and forum runners was the fact that both of the films featured a device that allowed a person, or people, to travel into another’s dreams and delve into their subconscious. Minor points of comparison include scenes in Paprika where the character Paprika breaks through a mirrored wall by holding her hand to it, as well as a scene where a police detective falls his way down a hallway. Claims have been made that Inception abounds with imagery similar to or exactly like the anime movie, but with the recent release of the film on DVD and Blu-Ray, and with Paprika available for several years now, an examination of the two plots can be made more fully. Let us begin with the primary claim— Inception stole the idea of a dream

Armond White's Top Ten Films on Flickchart

Armond White is film criticism’s most famous contrarian. At one moment he writes a review declaring Toy Story 3 to be the most obscene excuse for toy commercials he has ever watched, and then two weeks later types out a glowing review of Resident Evil: Afterlife . He is of split-mind for sure. But what does his Flickchart look like? Read the rest at Flickchart !

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