This week, we have the fourth installment of an underrated film franchise, a time to place bets on whether of not The Campaign will become more about ticket sales that comedy, and the return of Spike Lee to his directorial roots.
The Bourne Legacy: The re-emergence of Jason Bourne reminds me, first, that the Bourne franchise is underrated, and exciting in its simplicity. The narrative is not overly convoluted like a number of films that drag you along merely to showcase the twists and turns the writer thought up in the shower or three in the morning. Instead, Jason Bourne discovers some information, beats people up, and runs – not always in that order. The saving of the franchise might be Matt Damon, whose tacit demeanor and built musculature convinces the audience that he’s a forgotten soldier oblivious to the paths of his own existence. That said, this extension to the franchise might be equally saved by Jeremy Renner.
The Campaign: On the one hand, Zach Galifinakis promises laughs and silliness. On the other, Will Ferrell promises overacting and showboating. With the exception of Anchorman, Ferrell is best in small doses and bit parts, like the spots he shared on Saturday Night Live, the amuse bouche servings of Funny or Die skits, or his supporting turns on The Office or Eastbound and Down. While Ferrell might occupy the supporting role here, my concern is that the script will have evolved to the pattern of one-upmanship, compelling each actor to be a bit louder and bolder with their deviation from the script – or, in the case of a film like Casa de Mi Padre, the napkin with the crudely drawn Hispanic Will Ferrell that would have been an outline that would have been a script.
Red Hook Summer: Spike Lee returns to his old form, looking at the dynamics of a family caught between being and becoming. In other words, the family within strives to create structure and limn a dynamic, but is often caught between stigmas within their own race and of other races. While I wonder whether or not I’ll feel beaten over the head and guilty after this film, I’m still bound so see it. Each Spike Lee joint tempts me with another Summer of Sam, Bamboozled, or Do the Right Thing. The genius of these films still resides within Spoke, and each trailer tempts me with the possibility.
