Comments on: The Invention of Lying

By: Zombieland: a review (The Quiet Road)

Zombieland: a review (The Quiet Road) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:03:49 +0000

[...] a review November 10th, 2009 | 1:03am by Jim Bliss Sadly, despite high expectations, the last film I reviewed (The Invention of Lying) turned out to be a turkey. So I’m glad, this time, to be able to [...]

By: Alistair

Alistair — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:27:48 +0000

I agree 100% with the review of the film, I’d also like to add that that the “fat snub-nosed” jokes are starting to wear a bit thin. It was funny the first time… I don’t actually know what a snub nose looks like, but his looks fairly average to me. As for him being fat, well yes, but I’ve seen a lot fatter. If he’s got a complex with these things maybe he should talk to a professional rather that doing his therapy with his scriptwriting.

I am looking forward to Cemetry Junction though, as I have a suspicion that Stephen Merchant is actually the key to Gervais’s funniness. Their material together is hilarious, Gervais just doesn’t cut it alone…

By: Jim Bliss

Jim Bliss — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:00:40 +0000

Don't recall any cows, Merrick, but in fairness my attention had begun to wander somewhat within 20 minutes of the film starting. And there's no way in hell I'm rewatching that turd in order to satisfy your cinematic bovine statistical analysis. Personally I wouldn't place Gervais in the same league as Chaplin or Allen, Mahalia. He can occasionally rise to a high level of thought-provoking comedy, but he's only ever engaged me emotionally twice (the Christmas Party episode of The Office and the Big Brother episode of Extras) and neither of those came close in that respect to the level that Manhattan or Stardust Memories managed. I certainly don't want to sound like I'm slating him (I think he's done some wonderful stuff) but I'm a little less entusiastic about his talents than you clearly are. I've not actually seen any of the films you mention. I'm looking forward to watching Moon, Up and Zombieland and I'll take The Brothers Bloom under advisement. As for the other two though, I'm not so sure. I read a review that suggested World's Greatest Dad could be boiled down to "unlikeable people try to make each others lives miserable in as snide a manner as possible" and wound up being quite depressing overall. And of Assassination of a High School President... "Take Veronica Mars, remove the wit and add drugs, bad acting and horrible writing". If you recommend it that highly I might give it a go sometime, but nothing about it appeals to me so far.

By: merrick

merrick — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:21:24 +0000

Were there any cows in it?

By: hoop

hoop — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:56:10 +0000

Oh yes & The Brothers Bloom, too.. sags a little towards the end but it is still a thing of ravishing beauty & surprise & the best Wes Anderson picture anyone but Wes Anderson has been able to make.

By: hoop

hoop — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:44:42 +0000

That’s a pity, i’ve been really looking forward to seeing that film, as i have long considered Gervais to be the only living successor to Chaplin & Woody Allen.. But, pretty much all the reports ive heard of it have been bad, so i guess he’s missed this time. Maybe he’s been spreading himself too thin, the last standup show wasnt as good as his earlier ones either.

There ARE some great films everyone should see this year, though:

Moon

Assassination of a High School President

World’s Greatest Dad

Zombieland

& Up

all utterly, utterly wonderful x