Tag: Bird

THE BIG YEAR – The Review

With a cast this impressively eclectic, THE BIG YEAR is not nearly as ridiculous as I was expecting. While the hilarity factor falls short of anticipated, the film still delivers plenty of humor, but the approach is far more charming than absurd, resulting in a pleasantly entertaining, somewhat uplifting dramedy.

Directed by David Frankel, THE BIG YEAR is a film which clearly falls somewhere between MARLEY & ME and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA on his range of storytelling prowess and style. What the film does is to take an otherwise mundane subject that the average viewer would find dull and uninteresting, but fills it with a message of finding one’s true priorities, then wraps it up with a talented cast.

THE BIG YEAR follows three main characters, all three are passionate birders, as they venture out to set the world record for spotting the most bird species in North America in a single calendar year. Sound exciting? Exactly. However, the film actually does end up being rather exciting, sort of, in the sense that I actually cared about all three characters, even the one I was meant to hate, somewhat.

“Birding” is the observation of birds in their natural habitats as a hobby. Therefore, a “birder” is one who partakes in birding.

THE BIG YEAR is told from the perspective of Brad Harris (Jack Black), a thirty-something divorcee living with his parents and working a dead end job he hates, but whose passion for birding drives his will to push on each day toward his dream of being the best. This presents something of a dilemma, as the current record holder and inspiration for Brad is Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson), who happens to be planning his own “big year” for a second consecutive time in an effort to secure his world record. Brad and Kenny are diametrically opposite personalities. Brad has a child-like passion for the art and wonder of birding, while Kenny appears to be far more interested in the fame of being the best.

Our third main character is Stu Preissler (Steve Martin), a successful CEO struggling to force himself into retirement so he may finally pursue his own big year, a dream he’s had since a child. Brad, Kenny and Stu all pursue the same goal, but tension emerges as they attempt to keep this a secret from one another in an effort to avoid heated competition. Brad and Stu are well aware of Kenny’s reputation for being a relentlessly brilliant birder who plays the game from any angle necessary, but rumors of being a cheat sparks an increased level of distrust toward him from both Brad and Stu.

I can only assume that the acts of birding in THE BIG YEAR are accurately portrayed, as I’ve never participated myself, but there is a very real sense of authenticity in the film. All of that aside, the movie isn’t really about birding, but rather about realizing what’s really important in the characters’ lives. This ultimately proves to be the families and loves ones of all three characters, but only two of them will end their journey having had that epiphany in a positive way. The other will ultimately learn a valuable lesson from his mistakes.

THE BIG YEAR doesn’t always hit the comedic nails squarely on the head, but the overall product is well worth the effort. With moments of slightly off-kilter timing or less-than-perfect delivery, the film stumbles slightly on occasion, but always manages to pick itself up and stabilize before ever falling flat on its face. Jack Black manages to pull back the reigns a bit, allowing his character to develop without Black’s trademark orneriness getting in the way, while Owen Wilson pretty much plays his character in his typical fashion, but it works. On the other hand, it was Steve Martin who impressed upon me the most connection with his character. Perhaps seeing a bit of his own life in Stu, Martin drew upon my empathy with astonishing ease. Stu is also something of a catalyst, a mentor even, for Brad’s own growth as a well-rounded individual.

What made the biggest impression on me while watching THE BIG YEAR was the supporting cast, filled to the gills with veteran cameos and recognizable fresh faces. Brian Dennehy plays Brad’s unsupportive, hard-nosed father while Dianne Wiest plays his loving, exceedingly supportive mother Brenda. JoBeth Williams plays Stu’s supportive wife Edith, Kevin Pollak and Joel McHale (TV’s COMMUNITY) play Stu’s corporate yes men, Rosamund Pike plays Kenny’s lonely and frustrated wife Jessica, Jim Parsons (TV’s BIG BANG THEORY) plays birder-groupie and blogger Crane, and Rashida Jones plays Brad’s love interest Ellie. And, as if this isn’t alluring enough, the film is brimming with cameos including Tim Blake Nelson, Anjelica Huston, Corbin Bernsen, Steven Weber and Al Roker.

When its all said and done, THE BIG YEAR is essentially a dramedy, finding its niche somewhere between quirkiness and melodrama, a film that could easily fall through the cracks if not properly marketed. So, this is my final word… THE BIG YEAR is not a great film, but its a reasonably good film that’s fun without being stupid, dramatic without being emotional, and friendly audiences of all ages, but intended for the grown-ups.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

THE BIG YEAR opens in St. Louis theaters on Friday, October 14th, 2011.

Top Ten Tuesday: Tony Todd

Horror fans may have mixed feelings about the ongoing Final Destination franchise, but with FINAL DESTINATION 5 fated to make it’s stand in theaters on Friday, August 12th, one thing we can count on is a roller coaster of death-defying thrills. Actor Tony Todd also returns as the mysterious Mr. William Bludworth, a mortician with an unusual knowledge of death and the rules of the fabled Grim Reaper. In honor of the talented character actor, I present my Top Ten list of favorite Tony Todd roles.

10. THE ROCK (1996)

“I’m not a soldier, Major. The day we took hostages, we became mercenaries. And mercenaries get paid. I want my fucking money!”

In Michael Bay’s entertaining action-thriller, Tony Todd plays Captain Darrow, a military officer now loyal to Brigadier General Francis Hummel (Ed Harris) who seizes Alcatraz and holds tourists hostage as he plans a homegrown terrorist plot for the sake of his fellow fallen soldiers. Captain Darrow and Major Tom Baxter (David Morse) are devoted to Hummel’s cause, even once he begins to show signs of remorse, but for different reasons. Todd gives Darrow a calm, cool confidence that contrasts Morse’s more traditional, rigid military persona.

09. FINAL DESTINATION (2000) / FINAL DESTINATION 2 (2003)

“In death there are no accidents, no coincidences, no mishaps, and no escapes.”

Mr. William Bludworth is a mysterious man, a mortician with an uncanny knowledge of Death and the rules of fate. This is something the “spared” victims of a devastating plane crash discover as Death creatively picks them off, one by one. Tony Todd plays Bludworth with an ambiguous creepiness. Tony Todd returned in FINAL DESTINATION 2, but was limited to portraying the voice of the “Devil” in FINAL DESTINATION 3.

08. HATCHET (2006) / HATCHET II (2010)

“I had a tour group, out in the swamp, last Halloween. It was the mist of night, and there was this kid, who looked kind of like you, he was spooked by something in the marsh. He saw two eyes staring at him from the woods, it chilled him to his very marrow. He wanted to get off the boat in a hurry, and he had his foot dangling over the edge.”

Tony Todd had merely a single scene in HATCHET as Reverend Zombie, an eccentric voodoo character sought upon by the vacationing youngsters for a haunted swamp tour. Unfortunately, Zombie’s little business was shut down due to insurance costs. Fortunately, Reverend Zombie returns with a bigger role in HATCHET 2.

07. PLATOON (1986)

Oliver Stone’s PLATOON marks one of Tony Todd’s first two feature films (both in 1986) and his first big break, appearing alongside a tremendous cast of young, yet to be acknowledged stars including Johnny Depp, Forest Whitaker, and Kevin Dillon. PLATOON also put Todd in the presence of veterans Tom Berenger, Kieth David, and Willem Dafoe. Todd plays Sergeant Warren, the Bravo squad leader, wounded in battle during the “church ambush” scene.

06. BIRD (1988)

Tony Todd plays Frog, a musician and friend to Charlie Parker in Clint Eastwood’s biopic. Todd based his performance on Coleman Hawkins, a real-life friend to Parker, who was played by Forest Whitaker in BIRD. Todd loves music, and went through saxophone training for the film, despite not being a musician. Todd appeared in two scenes, but any screen time in such a significant film from such a great filmmaker is a testament to one’s talent.

05. HEART OF THE BEHOLDER (2005)

Writer/director Ken Tipton’s indie film HEART OF THE BEHOLDER is an under-appreciated drama-thriller shot in my hometown, based on a true story about a family that opens the first video cassette rental stores in St. Louis in 1980. The story is wrought with controversy, included but not limited to the fundamental “VHS versus BETA” question. While Tony Todd performance as the iconic Chuck Berry is only a cameo, his few minutes on screen is not just enjoyable, but also adds a quality touch to a scene thick with racial tension.

04. THE MAN FROM EARTH (2007)

“There’s absolutely no way in the whole world for John to prove his story. Just like there’s no way for us to disprove it. No matter how outrageous we think it is, no matter how highly trained some of us think we are, there’s absolutely no way to disprove it! My friend is either a caveman, a liar, or a nut. So while we’re thinking about that, why don’t we just go with it.”

Jerome Bixby had a long and fruitful career in science-fiction writing and with Star Trek, which probably had some influence over Tony Todd in his decision to take the role of Dan, a college professor and friend to the mysterious John Oldman. This dialogue-driven film is a heavily philosophical but enjoyable experience, a smart but accessible inquiry into the nature of faith and knowledge. Todd is wonderful as the level-headed and open-minded voice of reason amidst Oldman’s friends, as the group come to terms with the shocking revelation laid at their feet by the enigmatic John Oldman.

03. THE CROW (1994)

“So, kill the crow… and destroy the man.”

Alex Proyas brought James O’Barr’s fascinating graphic novel to life in THE CROW, having the incredibly bittersweet experience of directing Brandon lee in his final film. The perfectly cast film packs a gritty atmosphere, enhanced by gritty performances. Amongst these is Tony Todd’s performance as Grange, a cold and calculating, well-dressed and intelligent right-hand man to Michael Wincott’s frighteningly psychotic crime boss Top Dollar. Todd enjoys a pivotal moment in the film, which spells the unfortunate end to Eric Draven’s vengeful spree of criminal cleansing.

02. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1990)

“This is something no one’s ever heard about, and no one’s ever seen before. This is hell on earth.”

In my opinion, Tony Todd was sort of a given choice for the role of Ben in Tom Savini’s remake of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. His first starring role, Todd gives a commanding performance as the African-American man who helped define horror as social commentary in George A. Romero’s 1968 original. Shot in color and with the added detail of Savini’s special effects skill, NOTLD ’90 is an enjoyable film that brought a classic story to a new generation of genre fans.

01. CANDYMAN (1992)

“They will say that I have shed innocent blood. What’s blood for, if not for shedding?”

Based on Clive Barker’s short story The Forbidden, director Bernard Rose’s CANDYMAN was the film that truly made Tony Todd a household name. Todd portrays Daniel Robitaille, a slave who is brutally murdered for having a relationship with a white woman. As a result of his agonizing death, Robitaille evolves into the supernatural spirit of vengeance known in legend as “The Candyman” by those who would use his story as a cautionary tale. As the story goes, if his name is spoken five time into a mirror, he will appear. This is something Virginia Madsen learns the hard way, starring as the woman who would become The Candyman’s horrifying love obsession. Todd clearly delved deep into this role, a rich character that became a genre icon, steeped with texture and an essence of classical folk lore.