Movie #134- "Identity Thief" (2013)

The trailer for "Identity Thief" pretty much gives you all the information you need to know along with a fair portion of the laughs.  What this movie boils down to is that it's a take on the buddy comedy featuring two contrasting personalities, forced to travel across the country in a car because (surprise) air travel gets ruled out.  If the awkwardness of the situation doesn't provide enough humor or challenge for the characters, the stakes are mysteriously upped by adding another criminal element chasing our two heroes.  I really didn't think that urgency added anything to the film except inflate the running time.
You've seen this movie before, in several different variations.  Using technology, and the ability of identity theft, may be the lone difference in a fairly standard genre.  Melissa McCarthy is becoming the "go-to" for loud, brash, foul-mouthed female characters while Jason Bateman does his normal guy pushed to the limit routine.  The casting of these two actors doesn't come as a surprise, although both have done better work with these characters in other projects.    A few mild laughs occur, but there are several other superior examples of this particular comedy.

Rating: 5/10
Movies I've previously seen: 7
First time viewings: 127

Movie #133- "Repo Man" (1984)

In true disclosure, the rating listed below may not be an actual representation of "Repo Man" (not to be confused with the 2010 Jude Law film "Repo Men).  I have seen "Repo Man" multiple times as I would rate it as one of my all time favorites.  Not only is it a film that I enjoy immensely, it's also a film that played an integral part of my college years.  I honestly don't remember the first time I saw it, whether it was in the theater or on VHS (I remember seeing the trailer in theaters), but the story, visuals, and music had an impact.  Several of my friends were into the punk scene.  I listened to the music (the Dead Kennedys were my band of choice), hung out with them, but didn't fully commit to the lifestyle.  I originally hadn't planned on watching "Repo Man" as part of this project.  However, when the Criterion edition was released this year, I bought yet another copy of the film to view the new, restored digital transfer.  And yes, I continue to love this film.
First, you have the plot:  a crazy mash-up of aliens, punks, government conspiracy, television evangelists, generic food products, and of course, competing agencies that repossess automobiles.  Strange life philosophies and codes are shared.  Lines are tossed off that appear as quick visual jokes later.  Pop culture references make for quirky dialogue.  The punk lifestyle is displayed in a realistic, non-Hollywood fashion.  Weirdness just permeates the screen.
As to the acting, Emilio Estevez made "Repo Man" just before he hit it big with "The Breakfast Club" and became part of the "Brat Pack".  He's actually quite convincing as punk/repo man Otto, a bored suburban kid only interested in the now.  Harry Dean Stanton is the veteran, tricking Otto into his first job, then teaching him the rules and code of the repo man.  Also a special nod to Zander Schloss, bassist for the Circle Jerks, in the role Kevin, a guy who seems to be an outcast in a world of outcasts.  Since I mentioned that band, the soundtrack is filled with West Coast punk, including the Circle Jerks, Black Flag, and Fear along with the title tune from Iggy Pop and a great rendition of Jonathan Richman's "Pablo Picasso."
While Emilio Estevez may seem like a strange link in a world of punk, possibly the oddest credit goes to Executive Producer Michael Nesmith.  That would be former member of the Monkees Michael Nesmith, who was somewhat of a video pioneer in the early 1980s (he was also the EP on "Tapeheads", another hidden gem from the decade).
I probably could have written endlessly about "Repo Man" and the simple joy it brings to me every time I watch it.  A real slice of the 80s without the commercial BS.
  
 
Rating: 10/10
Movies I've previously seen: 7
First time viewings: 126