On the Boob-Tube

These are some of the gems I managed to catch on TV late at night while I was trying to make myself sleep a few weeks ago.

The Education of Charlie Banks

Directed by: Fred Durst (yeah, the Limp Bizkit frontman)
Starring:
Jesse Eisenberg
Jason Ritter

The story is about Charlie Banks, a typical neighborhood kid who witnessed a brawl involving Mick Leary, the neighborhood bad-ass. In the fight, Mick nearly killed his opponents so police was involved. Charlie is now ridden with guilt if he should point Mick to the police. He was hesitant because Mick is also a friend of Charlie's best friend, Danny. Another thing is that Charlie fears Mick's wrath in case his betrayal will be discovered. After a few urging, Charlie decided to betray Mick to the police. The movie fast forwards a few years later where Charlie and Danny are now college students living in the school dormitories. One day, Mick gives them a surprise visit. Charlie is now clustered as to why Mick is there. Does Mick know that it was Charlie who betrayed him years back? What is Mick's motive?

I didn't expect the movie to be good. It was one of those things where you take hold of the remote controller, start channel surfing, then landing on a channel to see a movie that's currently playing. It just so happen that I tuned in right when the movie started. Right from the start, I was hooked with the main characters' performances and decided to stay on and finish the movie. Eisenberg really did a great job as Charlie Banks. My favorite, however, was the troubled individual, Mick Leary, played by Jason Ritter. You'll keep guessing what he'll do next, and what he's really after. The movie is good, but its not perfect. There are a couple of pacing problems, and it keeps presenting scenarios that the movie doesn't really builds upon. It kinda acts as a coming of age film, but then it doesn't. Even though, I really enjoyed the movie. Kudos to Fred Durst for his first foray in film directing.

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Charlie Bartlett

Directed by: Jon Poll
Starring:
Robert Downey, Jr.
Anton Yelchin

Wow, I just realized that the two movies I'm writing about features a character named "Charlie!" Amazing.

I wasn't able to start "start" the movie (my mom was the one watching), but I tuned in just in time to be "into" the movie. The story is about the titular character, Charlie Bartlett, a rich kid who got expelled from his private school because of an illegal act (i think he was making counterfeit ids, or so my mom told me). He transferred to a public school where he couldn't relate. Actually, he really couldn't relate to anywhere and anything because he's a teenager with issues. His dad is behind bars for unpaid taxes, and his mom doesn't discipline him much because she's afraid that he might rebel. Charlie just wants what most teenager wants in this point of their lives: attention. So, Charlie proposes a business deal with the school bully to start a campus psychiatric club where they listen to the students' problems, and supply them with the necessary drugs (yes, he's dealing prescription drugs inside campus). In a short while, Charlie becomes the most popular guy in campus. But there's more to it. He meets a girl who turns out to be the daughter of the schools principal, played by Robert Downey, Jr. The principal is the only person standing against Charlie's business. And the thing is, even the principal have his own case of problems and emotional baggage.

For some reason, I really enjoyed this movie. It's a clunky, coming of age movie but I got drawn with the cast of characters. Yelchin was okay as Charlie Bartlett. Robert Downey, Jr. was also in his excellent form (this is post-Iron Man era RDJ) as the school principal who deals with his daughter's rebellion, and his jealousy towards Charlie's bigger influence on the campus students. Great stuff. Like the 'Charlie Banks,' this is not a perfect movie, but a good one specially when you catch it by channel surfing at night.

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Misery

Directed by: Rob Reiner
Written by: Stephen King
Starring:
Kathy Bates
James Caan

Now this movie, I saw it years ago when I was still a kid. I remember a couple of years ago, I was trying to recall the title of this film. I could only remember the scenario, but I always remember it as one of the most excellent suspense film that I watched. Then a few days ago, I lucked out. I caught this one playing on Cinemax! And the title... Misery.

Paul Sheldon (played bu James Caan) is a famous writer who penned the romance novels starring a character named Misery Chastaine. He was on his way back to New York when he had an accident. He was driving in the middle of a snow storm when his car fell into a cliff. He was rescued by a former nurse, Annie Wilkes (excellently portrayed by Kathy Bates). Paul broke his two legs and his right shoulder, luckily for him, Annie rescued him and took him to her place. As Paul recovers, Annie introduces herself. She reveals herself as "Paul Sheldon's number one fan!" She's a fan, particularly of Paul's character, Misery. She informs Paul that she has already alerted the police and that help is on the way. Days go by, and the police still haven't arrive. At first, Paul thinks that Annie is just one of the typical, middle-age woman who's a fan of his works. It turns out, Annie is an obsessive psychopath! As days passed, Annie reveals that she has not alerted the police and that Paul is more or less a prisoner in her house who's tasked to re-write the last novel wherein Paul killed the character of Misery. Talk about obsession!

Like I've said, this is one of the most excellent suspense thrillers that I've ever watched. Stephen King really created a masterpiece with this one. The fact that the story is believable and could happen to anyone is enough to keep your attention. Just imagine a famous author, JK Rowling for example, getting into an accident and rescued by some lunatic. With broken limbs, she can only rely on the lunatic to survive. She's practically at the mercy of the lunatic who demands things like "Why did you kill Dumbledoooooore!!!!!! Write another book about Harry Potter!!!! Bring back Dumbledoooooorrrreeee!!!!!!!! Or else I'm gonna break your legs... again!" That's exactly what happened to James Caan's character in this movie. Being a captive of an obsessive fan of yours is really frightening indeed.

The biggest gem of this movie, of course, is Kathy Bates. She was excellent as the psychotic and obsessive Annie Wilkes. Although you can argue that James Caan was also great, Bates really stole the show. Also, I don't know if its just me but some of Caan's facial expressions in this movie is better suited for comedies like National Lampoon. He's got that 80s comedy punchline facial expression going on. That's my only gripe though. He was believable as the captive Sheldon.

A really great film. I highly recommend it if ever you have a chance to see it.