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The Men of 'The Men Who Stare at Goats'
I cannot wait for The Men Who Stare at Goats to come out this Friday! While the film was independently produced and seems clever and funny as hell, the cast is what really piqued my interest. As a movie lover, casts don’t come much better than George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges. So, for this week’s “Indieties” I decided to spotlight a film by each of these actors instead of picking favorites (although Bridges has his own article, which you can find here).
As most of us know, George Clooney is the man. If you don’t know this, you’re either 1) completely retarded or 2) in severe denial. He’s a great actor, charming as can be and makes me laugh pretty damn hard. When it comes to his films, they’re scattered across the board, ranging from romantic comedies to political dramas. We could gush about his films all day because so many of them are great, such as Ocean’s Eleven, Good Night, and Good Luck and O Brother, Where Art Thou? However, the one film that will always remain near and dear to my heart is From Dusk Till Dawn.
The main reason why I love Clooney in this film so much is because it’s staggeringly different from most of the roles he has played. Sure, he’s been a badass in many forms before, but this is one of a few horror films he’s been in. Not only is he kicking ass and taking names, but those asses happen to be the undead. His character Seth Gecko is callous and seemingly untouchable, even after events cause some serious damage to his personal life. Watching bloopers from the film, you can see just how in-character Clooney gets, oftentimes getting pissed off and hitting shit when he flubs a line. The movie itself may be a laugh, but I still admire Clooney’s performance.
The Goats cast member that I’m most excited to see, however, is Ewan McGregor. He is on my short-list of favorite actors and I think it’s about time he gets the props he deserves. While his movies Trainspotting, Big Fish and Moulin Rouge usually garner good responses about him, I can’t help but think of Velvet Goldmine, A Life Less Ordinary and his TV series “Long Way Round” and “Long Way Down” (my dad’s a huge motorcycle fanatic, hence the introduction to the shows).
Starring alongside Cameron Diaz (trust me, she’s tolerable in this movie), A Life Less Ordinary lives up to its title. McGregor plays a cleaner who, when fired, takes his ex-boss’ daughter hostage. The two ultimately wind up together, but it’s one hell of a ride (especially in the last 20 minutes or so)! The film’s a perfect mix between an action film and a romantic comedy (with a bit more quirkiness), and McGregor is BEYOND charming. This was the first film I ever saw McGregor in, and I was instantly hooked.
Last, but certainly not least, we have Kevin Spacey. If we were to count how many great films Spacey is in, we’d run out of fingers and toes really quick. Se7en, The Usual Suspects, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, L.A. Confidential…seriously, we could be here all day! However, there’s one film of his that gets better with age, and I’m sure you know which one I’m talking about: American Beauty.
While American Beauty is wonderfully written, perfectly cast and an overall fantastic film, Spacey is the cherry on top of this cinematic sundae. At face value, Spacey as Lester Burnam looks like your typical suburban, middle-aged man. However, we see his life transforming before our very eyes and can’t help but find sympathy (if not a piece of ourselves) in him. He’s just as charming and hilarious as he is depressed, and by the end of the film, we’re bound to his character, making the ending even more devastating than intended. American Beauty couldn’t have a more suiting title.
Which is your favorite Goats actor? What are some of your favorite films associated with them? Are you going to see this on Friday?
As most of us know, George Clooney is the man. If you don’t know this, you’re either 1) completely retarded or 2) in severe denial. He’s a great actor, charming as can be and makes me laugh pretty damn hard. When it comes to his films, they’re scattered across the board, ranging from romantic comedies to political dramas. We could gush about his films all day because so many of them are great, such as Ocean’s Eleven, Good Night, and Good Luck and O Brother, Where Art Thou? However, the one film that will always remain near and dear to my heart is From Dusk Till Dawn.
The main reason why I love Clooney in this film so much is because it’s staggeringly different from most of the roles he has played. Sure, he’s been a badass in many forms before, but this is one of a few horror films he’s been in. Not only is he kicking ass and taking names, but those asses happen to be the undead. His character Seth Gecko is callous and seemingly untouchable, even after events cause some serious damage to his personal life. Watching bloopers from the film, you can see just how in-character Clooney gets, oftentimes getting pissed off and hitting shit when he flubs a line. The movie itself may be a laugh, but I still admire Clooney’s performance.
The Goats cast member that I’m most excited to see, however, is Ewan McGregor. He is on my short-list of favorite actors and I think it’s about time he gets the props he deserves. While his movies Trainspotting, Big Fish and Moulin Rouge usually garner good responses about him, I can’t help but think of Velvet Goldmine, A Life Less Ordinary and his TV series “Long Way Round” and “Long Way Down” (my dad’s a huge motorcycle fanatic, hence the introduction to the shows).
Starring alongside Cameron Diaz (trust me, she’s tolerable in this movie), A Life Less Ordinary lives up to its title. McGregor plays a cleaner who, when fired, takes his ex-boss’ daughter hostage. The two ultimately wind up together, but it’s one hell of a ride (especially in the last 20 minutes or so)! The film’s a perfect mix between an action film and a romantic comedy (with a bit more quirkiness), and McGregor is BEYOND charming. This was the first film I ever saw McGregor in, and I was instantly hooked.
Last, but certainly not least, we have Kevin Spacey. If we were to count how many great films Spacey is in, we’d run out of fingers and toes really quick. Se7en, The Usual Suspects, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, L.A. Confidential…seriously, we could be here all day! However, there’s one film of his that gets better with age, and I’m sure you know which one I’m talking about: American Beauty.
While American Beauty is wonderfully written, perfectly cast and an overall fantastic film, Spacey is the cherry on top of this cinematic sundae. At face value, Spacey as Lester Burnam looks like your typical suburban, middle-aged man. However, we see his life transforming before our very eyes and can’t help but find sympathy (if not a piece of ourselves) in him. He’s just as charming and hilarious as he is depressed, and by the end of the film, we’re bound to his character, making the ending even more devastating than intended. American Beauty couldn’t have a more suiting title.
Which is your favorite Goats actor? What are some of your favorite films associated with them? Are you going to see this on Friday?
Add a Comment
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Comment by Hal 9000 on November 5, 2009 at 1:40pm
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Comment by joannajax on November 5, 2009 at 6:49am - Oh and as far as my favorite actor in the whole lot that's got to be Ewan! I've been in love with him for years and will always watch any and all movies he's in (even if they look horrible - like the sequel to the Da Vinci Code :P).
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Comment by joannajax on November 5, 2009 at 6:41am
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Tessa... I FREAKING LOVE YOU!
That you listed From Dusk Till Dawn put a huge smile on my face! I don't know anyone else who loves this movie as much as me! :D
And I love love LOVE A Life Less Ordinary!
YOU ROCK (b/c we have same/similar tastes)! Haha.
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Comment by ZPowers on November 4, 2009 at 10:46pm - Duke, Goatsie was in Drag Me to Hell.
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Comment by Duke Of Ontario on November 4, 2009 at 5:38pm - Hey Goatsie has finally made his film debut as a star. Good for Goatsie!!!
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Comment by Lilriceeater on November 4, 2009 at 5:00pm - I like goat.
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Comment by Andrew on November 4, 2009 at 2:29pm - I'm absolutely going to see this Friday, I love crazy-ass George Clooney, just that look in his eyes when he's bat-shit mad. But honestly, it's hard to pick a favorite, they all have such good movies out there. American Beauty is spectacular. Gonna have to go with Trainspotting for McGregor. And goddamn is George Clooney great in Michael Clayton.
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Comment by Kenami on November 4, 2009 at 1:31pm - And I also love Ewan in the Star Wars prequels and The Island. In the prequels he practically made Obi-Wan for me and was the best part about it and The Island because for once I saw Michael Bay tell a story (still had action but not completely embossed in it)
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Comment by Kenami on November 4, 2009 at 1:25pm
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Ewans actually my favorite actor and the film was worth seeing. I had to review it for work, here is the link if you'd like to check it out Tessa: http://randomville.com/wordpress/?p=4954
I also find A Life Less Ordinary to be a very enjoyable film. It is weird and out there but I feel that works (why does Johnny Depp get so many free passes for being weird?) I also love the song/video my favorite band did for the film:
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Comment by Dr. Detfink on November 4, 2009 at 1:04pm -
I thought, In a Life Less Ordinary MacGregor played a cleaner (or environmental) for a corporation who longs to be a trashy romance novelist? Like all Boyle films, the soundtrack is brilliant including Beck's Dead Weight. Its a mess of a film and maybe the one Danny Boyle film that most don't remember to well. However it does have ONE redeeming scene that every one can relate to on a bad day when confronting an asshole boss:
I think it was supposed to be from the perspective that you didn't know if this really was about angels, or a kidnapping, or a musical, or Boyle's wink wink on McGregor's awful trashy romance novel ideas. Still I love the title of the film if for nothing else that it evokes my love for dark humor about ordinary life.
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