Jon Stewart – We Are Movie Geeks

IRRESISTIBLE (2020) – Review

As the “year from Hell” AKA 2020 continues to drag on and on, we can all agree that the oppressive tension of our current state could be deflated by a good dose of humor. In other words, we can all use a “big laugh”. Really. And so, amongst the somber “indie” premieres streaming on-demand (and a few, ah I recall, theatres are slowly unlocking their doors), comes a flat-out, “LOL” comedy that leans heavily on satire. And just what is it taking on? Well, you wouldn’t think this topic would lend itself to laughs at this date. No, it’s not set in the arenas of death and disease. nor the “racial struggle’ (but it does get a few “jabs” in). Hard to fathom, but this farce is set squarely in the world of politics. And before you groan or sigh, a big bonus is the reuniting of two giants of topical TV comedy who have not worked together in nearly 15 years (cause enough for celebration). They help make this flick simply IRRESISTIBLE.

Just be warned that it does begin on a dark depressing note. After a quick overview of the recent careers of DNC media guru Gary Zimmer (Steve Carell) and his nemesis for the GOP, Faith Brewster (Rose Byrne), the story slams into Election Day 2016. Gary becomes the whipping boy/laughing stock of the cable news shows. But though he’s down, he finds the strength to return to his office and staff. There one of his crew shows him a YouTube video from a recent town hall meeting in Deerlokken, WI (pop. ten grand). Mayor Braun (Brent Sexton) and his “good ole’ boys” are about to push through an ordinance that would deny access to economic recovery funds to the “new arrivals”. Just as the final hammer is about to go down, in strides a local farmer, Jack Hastings (Chris Cooper) to the microphone. Braun tries to shut him down, but Hastings makes an impassioned, heartfelt plea to stop their plans. Zimmer is mesmerized then stunned when he finds out that this voice for the disenfranchised is “ex-military”, a colonel to boot. Could he be a new voice for the party, one that could appeal to everyone? That chance is enough to get Gary on a flight to connect with the “Colonel” (his hometown nickname). When they meet, Zimmer tries to convince him that he would be a great Democratic candidate for mayor. Despite some interest from the widowed farmer’s twenty-something daughter Diana (Mackenzie Davis), Hastings declines. The next day he somehow has a change of heart. He’s in the race, but only if Zimmer himself (no other staffers) runs his mayoral campaign. Gary agrees, but soon word of his presence attracts (much like blood in the water to a shark) Brewster who flies in to run the re-election push for Braun. Just what will happen to this sleepy little town when two media titans make it their personal battleground, as the consultants and campaign cash begin to arrive?

The last time we saw (instead of hearing him in the Gru/Minion-verse) Mr. Carell on the big screen two years ago, he was spreading his “dramatic wings” in the films VICE (though “Rummy” could be abrasively funny), BEAUTIFUL BOY, and WELCOME TO MARWEN (if you saw that at the theatre, well you’re part of a small elite few). In the last few years, he’s been getting back to comedy via the small (streaming) screen with Apple TV’s “The Morning Show” and Netflix’s “Space Force” (which should be much better). With this film he reminds us that he’s a terrific comedic leading man, reminding us of Cary Grant’s manic turn in ARSENIC AND OLD LACE and the movie resume of the recently departed and much-missed Gene Wilder. Steve takes up his exasperated, flustered everyman persona with great success. Unlike Carell’s “Office” role and especially his “Anchorman” dim bulb, Zimmer is smart, but his ego often gets the better of him and keeps him from really connecting with these small-town folks (think Eddie Albert in “Green Acres”). Plus his ambition often has him verbally “running over” anyone who can’t “get it” and crushing their feelings. He’s more concerned with winning than in really helping his candidate or the town. And who does he really want to defeat? Not Braun but his arch-enemy Brewster played with dead-eyed malevolence by the low-key, but still smoldering Byrne. With her perfect bright blonde locks and eyes at half-mast, Brewster is a soul-less non-stop spewer of lies and half-truths (a big plus in her line of work). Then in her more intimate moments, Byrne is like an indifferent cat playing with a mouse as she engages in a twisted mating dance with Zimmer (that old adage about “strange bedfellows”). These are two great adversaries who may channel their mutual disgust into unbridled lust. At the center of their newest clash is Cooper who brings a Jimmy Stewart/Henry Fonda “aw shucks” sincerity to the role of Hastings. But Cooper doesn’t keep him on a pedestal as he shows us the man’s discomfort at self-promotion, first at a clumsy press announcement then at fund-raiser in NYC (he hates “passing the hat”). He’s got great support and rapport with Davis as his down-to-Earth only child whose fresh-scrubbed wholesome visage offers more fuel for Zimmer’s efforts (maybe it’s that whole “farmer’s daughter” thing). As part of Zimmer’s staff, Topher Grace and Natasha Lyonne score big laughs, but the main “scene-stealer” might be the wonderful slapstick cameo by classic comic master Bill Irwin (if he’d been born 100 years ago we’d be talking about him alongside Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd) as a wonky, tech-enabled “gazillionaire’.

So what was the reunion that I hinted at a while back? Well, you see, this film is written and directed by Jon Stewart, Carell’s old “Daily Show” co-star (kinda’ since Jon’s name was in the title), his first since 2014’s ROSEWATER. And let me say, no shout “Welcome back!!”. Yes, that last film was compelling and well-done, but this sophomore effort really hits all the right notes. Though it stumbles a bit in the opening moments with a montage of the two “spinners” spewing unvarnished truths, it “hits the ground running” post-presidential election as Zimmer fights a losing battle with his now sentient household tech (imagine Hal-9000 saying “I don’t like your tone”). And Stewart gets the Wisconsin town’s look and feel just right. After its military base shut down, the once-bustling main street is a boarded-up husk with the signs fading in the sun. Later Stewart shows his knack for parody with several phony TV spots for his candidates that are hysterically and painfully authentic (in one Col. Hastings just blasts a pond with a machine gun for 15 seconds). The topper may be the town “election fair” in which all the specialty (and fringe) interest groups have set up tables in the park. The swipes at the media giants work well since they use the actual cable networks names like Fox, CNN, and MSNBC complete with actors looking very close to the true “on-air talent”. But Stewart doesn’t neglect his characters while tossing his satiric grenades. Despite his faults (or perhaps because of) we really care about Zimmer, making us root for him despite his arrogance. And we’re protective of Hastings, a good man in danger of ignoring his staunch values. Luckily Stewart’s clever script throws us plenty of curves as we near the big election day. And yes, the finale leans a tad hard on lecturing, and “this could happen” (but will it be on the final), but that’s easily forgiven after several truly inspired comic ‘set-pieces”. It’s thought-provoking and rib-tickling, making IRRESISTIBLE impossible to resist. So vote early and often!

3.5 Out of 4

IRRESISTIBLE plays in select theatres and is available as a Video On Demand via most cable and satellite systems along with most streaming apps and platforms.

WAMG Giveaway – Win FandangoNOW Promotional Code For IRRESISTIBLE Starring Steve Carell, Rose Byrne And Chris Cooper – Premieres At Home On Demand June 26th

IRRESISTIBLE will premiere At Home On Demand June 26th.

WAMG is giving away to a few lucky winners FandangoNOW Promotional Codes.

To enter: Leave your name and email address in our comments section below.

1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. NO DUPLICATE ENTRIES

2. WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES.

No purchase necessary.

For more information go to watchirresistible.com

Starting on June 26th, The Most Irresistible Comedy Event of the Summer will be available on demand for a 48-hour rental period for $19.99.

From writer/director Jon Stewart comes the comedy of a Democrat political consultant (Carell) who helps a retired Marine colonel (Cooper) run for mayor in a small Wisconsin town.

The film is written and directed by Jon Stewart. It is produced by Stewart, Lila Yacoub and Plan B Entertainment’s Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner.

ROSEWATER – The Blu Review

Jon ‘THE DAILY SHOW’ Stewart made his motion picture directorial debut last year with ROSEWATER, the true story of Maziar Bahari, an Iranian-Canadian journalist who was detained and violently interrogated in Iran for 118 days, suspected of being a spy. One of the main pieces of evidence his captors used as proof of his guilt was a satirical interview he did on Stewart’s ‘THE DAILY SHOW’. Stewart directed and wrote the film which he adapted from the memoir ‘Then They Came for Me‘, by Maziar and Aimee Molloy. It starred Gael Garcia Bernal as the journalist and also features Kim Bodnia, Haluk Bilginer, Dimitri Leonidas and Shohreh Aghdashloo.

Though not Oscar material, ROSEWATER was generally well-received. Jim Batts here at WAMG gave it 3 ½ stars and wrote: “Stewart directs with a confident, steady hand. … this is an impressive first work from the beloved comic observer. When he’s through with the anchor desk, he should have an equally impressive career behind the camera. ROSEWATER is a good first step toward that” (read all of Jim’s review HERE)

I have mixed feelings about ROSEWATER but I still think it’s an impressive cinematic debut for Stewart, who as a director shows a lot of promise with visual technique throughout. It’s interesting (but not surprising) that he directed a political drama for his first film, but ROSEWATER is a political film without any significant political slant. Stewart plays it safe. He wants us to know that Islamic theocracy is the enemy of freedom, that international journalists deserve respect, and that families suffer terribly when their loved ones are thrown into political prisons. My problem with the film is that, while filled with noble intentions, it was basically a lot of scenes of a man sitting in a jail cell without any contact to the outside world, accused of something he did not do. It takes real skill to make that a cinematic concept, and green director Stewart fails to lift it to something really great. Gael García Bernal as Bahar is highly sympathetic because he’s a talented actor who understands the character, but for the most part, we spend 103 minutes watching him look pensive as he reflects on his character’s predicament between punishments and to me it got a bit dull after a while.

We Are Movie Geeks has seen the Blu-ray of ROSEWATER which will be released by Universal on February 10^th

The film’s gritty, 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer at an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 is a perfect match for the film, and likely looks just as intended. ROSEWATER features varying levels of clarity, graininess, and noise and there’s an appreciable amount of detail to be seen. Colors seem well-saturated throughout for a film about isolation and imprisonment. Skin tones look excellent, the occasional bursts of color really pop, and black levels are deep and inky.

The performance-driven nature of ROSEWATER doesn’t lend itself to an overwhelmingly aggressive audio design, but considering its low-key approach, the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack leaves little room for complaint. The film’s dialogue is consistently rendered cleanly and clearly throughout, and it’s never once dominated in the mix by the score or sound effects.

The Blu-ray Combo Pack includes a Blu-ray, DVD and DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet. At first glance it appears to be loaded with extras, tacking on the following “featurettes”:

Iran’s Controversial Election
The Story of Maziar Bahari
Real Spies Have TV Shows
What Happens in New Jersey…
A Director’s Perspective

Unfortunately, each of these run around 60 seconds and seem hastily assembled. They simply use a sequence or line from ROSEWATER, and add a Stewart or Bahar talking head for a few moments and a couple of clips from the film. To call these “bonuses” is really misleading. There is no Stewart (or Bahar) commentary, which would have added some sorely-needed depth to the extras package.

Jessica Chastain Discusses Astronaut Training & NASA’s JPL For Ridley Scott’s THE MARTIAN

Ridley Scott’s epic EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS opens in theaters in three weeks.

Jessica Chastain currently stars in Christopher Nolan’s INTERSTELLAR where she plays a scientist trying to save humanity from extinction.

One year from now, Scott and Chastain, along with Matt Damon, come together in 20th Century Fox’s upcoming sci-fi film THE MARTIAN.

“Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.”

During her recent visit to The Daily Show, the Oscar-nominated actress shared with host Jon Stewart her role in Scott’s next film. Chastain will play an astronaut in THE MARTIAN, based on the bestselling book by Andy Weir.

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Daily Show on Facebook

In a recent interview, “The Man Who Rediscovered Mars,” EW spoke with the computer programmer turned writer. (HERE)

What does author think about his book being turned into a movie?

For now, Weir has no plans to visit the set — though the idea of seeing his book reimagined with living, breathing people is enticing enough that he could maybe imagine reversing his no-fly policy. “If they invite me to go…I’d have to really think about that,” he says. ”I think I could be a great mission-control guy in the background with no lines.”

This wouldn’t be the first time an Earthling has been stranded on the Red Planet – most noticeably was ROBINSON CRUSOE ON MARS starring Paul Mantee, Victor Lundin, and Adam West. The 1964 movie was adapted from the classic novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe by screenwriters John C. Higgins and Ib Melchior.

Hollywood’s fascination with Mars has taken audiences on repeat voyages to the fourth planet from the sun. The long list includes THE ANGRY RED PLANET (1959), TOTAL RECALL (1990), RED PLANET (2000), MISSION TO MARS, (2000) GHOST OF MARS (2001), MARS NEEDS MOMS (2011), and JOHN CARTER (2012). Even the guy in the red suit from the North Pole made the trip in SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS (1964).

Lensed by cinematographer Dariusz Wolski, THE MARTIAN is shooting now at Wadi Rum, Jordan and Budapest, Hungary. The screenplay is by Drew Goddard (WORLD WAR Z, CABIN IN THE WOODS).

The movie stars Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kate Mara, Sean Bean, Michael Peña, Donald Glover and Jeff Daniels.

THE MARTIAN is scheduled to open on November 25, 2015.

EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS will be released December 12.

ROSEWATER – The Review

It’s hard to believe that two years have passed since the release of Ben Affleck’s ARGO, which went on to grab many Oscars, including Best Picture (over another true tale with similar themes, ZERO DARK THIRTY). Since then the Middle East continues to be the setting for many “ripped from the headlines” stories. Now comes another such film, but with several interesting twists. Once more we’re in Iran, part of the “axis of evil” trio named by a former president. But unlike those earlier films, it barely concerns “Westerners” with only a few Brits in small roles. The film’s lead is Iranian-born with nearly all of the action taking place there. As with Affleck helming ARGO, another high-profile American is behind the camera, but he doesn’t have a couple of features on his directing resume’.This movie making newcomer arrives right from the world of late-night comedy TV: Jon Stewart. Besides skewering the crisis in the mideast on most nights of basic cable’s “The Daily Show”, he’s got a true personal connection to this tale. That may be the reason he wrote the screenplay based on the book by the film’s protagonist (and Aimee Molloy), “Then They Came For Me: A Family’s Story of Love, Captivity, and Survival”. That’s a bit of a mouthful for ads, and would overflow most theatre marquees, so the movie’s been given the deceptively genteel title of ROSEWATER.

Following the opening titles, we’re witness to the arrest of Newsweek reporter Maziar Bahari (Gael Garcia Bernal) at the Tehran home of his widowed mother Moloojoon (Shohreh Aghdashloo). So what prompted this? We jump back a bit to 2009. London-based Newsweek magazine reporter Bahari is sent by his editor back to his homeland to cover the turbulent presidential election which pitted incumbent Mahmound Ahmadinejad and reformer Mir-Houssein Mousavi. After bidding his pregnant fiancée adieu, Bahari arrives to a land in turmoil. He’s surprised by the way many young people secretly use technology (illegal recorders and satellite dishes) to gather information and spread the news. On one afternoon, Bahari is interviewed by comedian Jason Jones for a segment of “The Daily Show”. When the election day vote count is questioned, protestors take the streets. Bahari is shocked as he video records many of them being arrested and even killed. As the book states, then they came for him. After combing through his Western media (books, DVDs, and CDs), all of which are declared “porn”, they whisk him to Evin Prison where his assigned a “specialist”, whom Bahari dubs “Rosewater” (Kim Bodnia) from the smell of his cologne, that interrogates and tortures him until he confesses to being an undercover spy for the US (they truly believe Jones is his CIA contact!). Bahari must summon every ounce of strength in order to resist cracking and retain his sanity as he hopes to be released.

Bernal projects quiet intelligence as the worldly, educated investigator who’s inexplicably plunged into a brutal, dark world without logic and reason. And, often hope, but Bahari clings to that lifeline, like a man adrift in a stormy sea. We get to see him in light, verbal jests with his co-workers in the UK, then shift gears once he returns to his often hostile homeland. Bernal shows us the sadness in Bahari’s eyes as he interviews contemporaries who have been swept to in blind zealotry, while later his heart is lightened by teens eager to connect with the outside world, many of them defiantly thumb their noses at the oppressive regime in charge. After his arrest, there’s the disorientation and anxiety as he endures “sessions” with the authorities. How does he answer them so they don’t respond with a blow or a bullet? Bodina, as his unpredictable inquisitor, seems from appearances to be a reasonable man. Dressed in a crisp, clean suit, he could easily be mistaken for a professor or a salesman. But he can be a berating, abusive monster at the drop of a hat, or a flippant answer. For one session he almost becomes the straight man as Bahari delivers a ludicrous, racy monologue that he hopes will keep the “specialist” placated. After a humiliating chat with his superiors, we realize that both men must get out of this prison. The always compelling Aghdashloo displays plenty of fire as the mother who refuses to flinch in the face of injustice.

Stewart directs with a confident, steady hand. Aside from an early sequence using store windows as screens for Bahari’s flashbacks to his family history, Stewart eschews showy filmmaking flourishes. He shows us the danger lurking around every corner as the election aftermath ratchets up the considerable tensions. That’s not to say that Stewart doesn’t give us a few laughs. The already mentioned sex confession and the media search provide some well-needed levity. This gives us a respite before we are trapped in that cold room along with Bahari. When he begins to converse with the spirits of his long gone family members, we worry about his sanity. Those sequences possess great dramatic power, but a sense of scope is often lost. We’re taken away from the big story of political and societal change in the country as the film becomes an intimate battle of wills. It’s a well-intentioned work that feels like a prestige TV film rather than a riveting, all-encompassing film experience. However, this is an impressive first work from the beloved comic observer. When he’s through with the anchor desk, he should have an equally impressive career behind the camera. ROSEWATER is a good first step toward that.

3.5 Out of 5

Win The Book And Passes To The Advance Screening of ROSEWATER In St. Louis

The feature film ROSEWATER is based on The New York Times best-selling memoir “Then They Came for Me: A Family’s Story of Love, Captivity, and Survival,” written by the BBC journalist Maziar Bahari. A true story, the film marks the screenwriting and directorial debut of “The Daily Show” host and executive producer Jon Stewart, and stars Gael García Bernal, leading an international cast. Rosewater is produced by Scott Rudin, Stewart, and Gigi Pritzker, with Lila Yacoub, Eli Bush and Chris McShane serving as executive producers.

In October 2009, with Bahari’s wife leading an international campaign from London to have her husband freed, and Western media outlets including “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” continuing to keep the story alive, Iranian authorities released Bahari on $300,000 bail and the promise he would act as a spy for the government.

Rosewater has a direct connection to Stewart, who since taking over as host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” in 1999, has turned the nightly half-hour satirical look at newsmakers and news-coverers into not only a perennial Emmy-winning juggernaut, but also an important touchstone on the zeitgeist. Stewart and “The Daily Show” covered Bahari’s saga nightly and had the journalist appear on the show to talk about his ordeal once he was released from prison.

WAMG invites you to enter for a chance to win passes (Good for 2) to the advance screening of ROSEWATER on Monday, November 10th at 7PM in the St. Louis area.

One grand prize winner will receive a copy of the New York Times best-selling memoir “Then They Came for Me: A Family’s Story of Love, Captivity, and Survival,” written by the BBC journalist Maziar Bahari.

ENTER YOUR NAME AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW. We will contact the winners by email.

OFFICIAL RULES:

YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

Rating: TBD

Website: http://rosewaterfilm.com/
Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rosewatermovie
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoseWaterMovie

Photo Credit: Nasser Kalaji / Distributor: Open Road Films

ROSEWATER Live Preview Event with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert to Screen in Select U.S. Cinemas Exclusively on November 13

Fathom Events and Open Road Films are partnering to present the exclusive“Rosewater: Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert LIVE” event, including the feature film Rosewater followed by a Live Q&A with Jon Stewart, the film’s screen writer, director and producer, interviewed by Stephen Colbert, host and executive producer of the Emmy and Peabody Award Winning series “The Colbert Report,” broadcast from New York City.

Fans can join the conversation by Tweeting questions now via Twitter using the hashtag #RosewaterLive. https://twitter.com/RosewaterMovie

This special event will be showcased in select cinemas nationwide for only one night on November 13 live at 7:30 p.m. ET and tape delayed to 7:30 p.m. local time in all other time zones. ROSEWATER is based on The New York Times best-selling memoir “Then They Came for Me: A Family’s Story of Love, Captivity, and Survival,” written by the BBC journalist Maziar Bahari, which is now available in paperback and titled after the upcoming movie. Following the exclusive Fathom Events preview on November 13, ROSEWATER will be in theaters nationwide on November 14.

Tickets for “Rosewater: Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert LIVE” are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com . The event will be presented in more than 300 select movie theaters nationwide through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

A true story, ROSEWATER marks the screenwriting and directorial debut of “The Daily Show” host and executive producer Jon Stewart, and stars Gael García Bernal, leading an international cast. Rosewater is produced by Scott Rudin, Stewart and Gigi Pritzker, with Lila Yacoub, Eli Bush and Chris McShane serving as executive producers.

ROSEWATER has a direct connection to Stewart, who since taking over as host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” in 1999, has turned the nightly half-hour satirical look at newsmakers and news-coverers into not only a perennial Emmy-winning juggernaut, but also an important touchstone on the zeitgeist. Stewart and “The Daily Show” covered Bahari’s saga nightly and the journalist appeared on the show to talk about his ordeal once he was released from prison.

ROSEWATER follows the Tehran-born Bahari, a 42-year-old broadcast journalist with Canadian citizenship living in London. In June 2009, Bahari returned to Iran to interview Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who was the prime challenger to controversial incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. As Moussavi’s supporters rose up to protest Ahmadinejad’s victory declaration hours before the polls closed on election day, Bahari endured great personal risk by submitting camera footage of the unfolding street riots to the BBC. Bahari was soon arrested by Revolutionary Guard police, led by a man identifying himself only as “Rosewater,” who proceeded to torture and interrogate the journalist over the next 118 days. In October 2009, with Bahari’s wife leading an international campaign from London to have her husband freed, and Western media outlets including “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” continuing to keep the story alive, Iranian authorities released Bahari on $300,000 bail and the promise he would act as a spy for the government.

“Rosewater has been celebrated by early festival audiences as well as critics,” said Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films. “Moviegoers have expressed incredible enthusiasm about the upcoming release of Jon Stewart’s directorial debut and we are thrilled to be able to bring this special event with two icons to theaters across the country.”

Visit the film’s official site: http://rosewaterfilm.com/

Facebook: facebook.com/Rosewatermovie

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