citruspeel

28/365: Movies of 2012: Tower Heist (2011, US)

When I first saw the title, I thought this followed the usual parodies of famous genres. We’ve had them in their genre’s more general descriptors: ‘Scary Movie’ for the horror genre, and ‘Not Another Teen Movie’ for - you guessed it - teenage movies. With Heist’s genre-descriptive title, I thought it was a parody on spy thrillers/thieving-centric films, like Mission Impossible, Ocean’s Eleven or The Italian Job. 

I was proven wrong, and I was glad to be. Tower Heist tells the story of how the staff of a high-end luxury serviced condominium tower in Manhattan try to get their money back from their swindler of an occupant. The movie shows glimpses of the lives of the people behind the people, as portrayed by Ben Stiller, Casey Affleck and Gabourey Sidibe. It also reflects how lives have changed throughout the financial disaster of the last decade with top investor Arthur Shaw as played by Alan Alda, and a down-on-his-luck banker portrayed by Matthew Broderick. Finishing off the triangle would be the police, primarily embodied in Tea Leoni’s portrayal of a special agent.

Being of the thieving movie variety, it also follows a pattern - scheming, planning, complete with suspenseful scenes with the ‘will they or won’t they’ feel, just of success and not romance. What I really liked about this film, though, was how it focuses on the ‘ordinary’ people, and how it looks into the lives of those who are usually relegated into the background.

A fun and enjoyable movie. Ben Stiller had always been a favorite of mine, and seeing that I liked it a lot, I will be recommending it. 

18/365: Movies of 2012: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986, US)

A quarter of a century ago Ferris Bueller (played by Mr. Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick) put his street smarts to good use as he ditches school to have his ‘day off.’ Twenty-five years later, this film has established itself as one of those teenage/high-school movies one should never miss. After watching it, I’d definitely agree.

It’s refreshing to watch a movie made before I was born. There’s a simplicity to everything that makes them a breath of fresh air. Ferris Bueller, to me, was just that. It’s a perfect pick-me-upper (albeit a bit dated), letting you just sit back, relax and let out a handful of laughs. No thinking necessary, just pure entertainment (and not entirely mindless - Ferris sometimes spews out words of wisdom, too). It also helps that the titular character is affable and has charm oozing right off him. Come on, who wouldn’t like a guy who gets up on parade floats and makes the entire city go Glee? 

A total recommend. One-word-rating would be ‘enjoyable’. And props to this movie for showing the real makings of Charlie Sheen. :))