Netflix's watch it now feature is an interesting supplement to their mail-order video rental service. Most of the videos that are available tend to be slightly older or more obscure. Often these movies are obscure for a reason, but sometimes there is a good movie or at least a movie that will make you think hidden in their expansive catalog. I don't know about you, but I would rather watch a bad movie that makes me think than a mediocre movie that I forget almost as soon as the credits roll.Bickford Schmeckler's Cool Ideas. That is the name of the movie I just watched. It seems the writer and director of the film intentionally picked the worst name he could think of for the movie. If this was his intention he may have succeeded although I think that is probably not a good idea. I'm sure it at least seemed like a cool idea to him at the time.
The lead character in the movie, Bickford Schmeckler, is played by the kid from Almost Famous (his actual name is Patrick Fugit). He is a lonely college student who has spent most of the past two years writing down said cool ideas. An inebriated college student played by the incredibly beautiful actress who plays 13 on the television show House (Her real name is Olivia Wilde. Hopefully you are already familiar with her because you watch House, which is a show that everyone I know who has watched it enjoys, in fact if you rent Season 1 on dvd you are guaranteed to end up watching the whole thing in as little time as humanly possible, only taking a few breaks for the bathroom and other necessary intrusions that your everyday life will inevitably make.) steals the book of cool ideas after having read it at a toga party at Bickford's house and being moved thoroughly by this book of ideas that we soon come to realize are not just cool they apparently cause nearly everyone who reads the book's life to be fundamentally changed by the experience. I can't say the same for my experience with the movie, but it did make me think some. There were a few interesting ideas thrown out in the course of the movie, but for most of the movie I was distracted by Bickford's utter lack of care for anyone or anything other than the book that he lost. The most baffling thing to me was that he was so consumed by this that he rejected the advances of 13 on numerous occasions (sorry I keep referring to her as that but House called her that for so long on the show that even though they now finally gave her real name on the show I don't remember it and while I do know the actress' real name I will still call her 13 as I am used to it now.) This girl like 13 on House is not only a rare beauty but also intelligent, unlike 13 she is not a train-wreck and it is possible that she may be too incredible to be believable as a real character. She is so impressed by Bickford's book that she instantly falls for him and soon leaves her boyfriend to pursue him. I found it incomprehensible that this guy would still be miserable and could not see how lucky he was to have such a wonderful girl who felt so strongly about him. Then I thought about it and I could actually see myself managing to screw up a similar situation. I have a habit of doing similar things although probably not to the extent he does. After a certain point you really wonder why she or anyone feels any connection to this terribly unhappy guy. There is a late plot twist that comes completely out of left field and feels like a bit of cheating on behalf of the writer it does however help you begin to understand why Bickford has been acting in the manner he has for the rest of the film.
I don't want to get into too much of the rest of the plot or to too heavily criticize the movie as I do think despite some obvious shortcomings overall the movie was an enjoyable experience and probably better than a lot of movies about college students that are much more popular. One other aspect of the movie I would like to comment on though is how Bickford is not really comfortable with making money off of his book. This seems to be the attitude of many artists who feel that to profit off their work diminishes the work in some way and I think that is too bad. If the writer had come up with a better name for the movie maybe it wouldn't be buried in a queue of Netflix movies with not much media attention other than being mentioned in a post from a blog that has ten readers if we are being generous. Maybe that was his intention all along. Wow. That is a pretty cool idea I just came up with... man. Maybe I should write a sequel to Bickford's book. My name is probably more ridiculous than Bickford's although it might cause the movie to get an NC-17 rating which would greatly reduce the profitability of the movie. I'm sure that's an idea that Bickford would think was awfully cool.
7 comments:
I have never successfully made it to the end of an episode of the television show "House", a night of the week which me and my old housemate, Adam Lynch, would routinely designate as our puzzle-making night in the attic of the house we lived in, meticulously constructing some Norman Rockwell piece, while the rest of the civilized world indulged in something which was clearly lost on us. Which is not to point out the relative fun-ness of constructing Norman Rockwell puzzles in a frigid attic, either. It was, generally, a pretty square time. Sometimes we watched movies, too. One of those movies we may have watched was "Wrist Cutters", which also features that dude from almost famous, and notably the guy from the band Gogol Bordello, who also offers some pretty choice songs in that movie. You should check it out. Cool idea.
Before this comment I was convinced everyone, upon giving it a chance, would enjoy House. Not only was I wrong but apparently there exists a small subset of people who would rather put together Norman Rockwell puzzles. It is interesting that you advocate putting together puzzles of Norman Rockwell paintings and watching a film called Wrist Cutters in the same comment as the thought of the first makes me consider doing the second.
I think that is at least the second time you have recommended that movie to me and despite not having much interest in it based on reviews I have read I will attempt to watch it. Unlike you I will give it a chance before deciding to denigrate it.
Hey, bud: I was kind of just joking around. Having never made through an episode of "House" i'm going to have to come clean and admit that, unlike my ex-housemate--who may or may not have just been really into Rockwell puzzles--, my main gripe with house is his less-than-stellar outfit choices. But you shouldn't ask me, because given the choice, I could probably be found watching "Night Court," or "MacGuyver" or who knows what? I don't know.
"Wrist Cutters" was OK, but if you're going to go with one of my movie selections, Netflix "Funny Games", which was my favorite movie this year, and which i freely offer up fistfights to those who disagree. Be forewarned.
I wasn't upset at your lack of interest in House. My point was it is a good show that almost everyone I've known who has watched it enjoys even those who don't usually watch tv. For example I have a friend who doesn't watch tv at all, but someone let her borrow Season 1 on dvd and she spent hours in front of the tv watching it and then made sure to get season 2 asap.
There are other shows that I think are better for example Mad Men, but people usually love it or have no interest in it. I really like Flight of the Concords and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia but I don't really know of anyone else who watches them.
There are lots of shows from the 80's online at sites like Hulu if that is what interests you. I think for nostalgia and unintentional comedy you can't beat Growing Pains or Family Ties. The episode of Silver Spoons with Mr. T is worth watching also if you can find it.
Someone else just recommended "Funny Games" to me so that is another movie I will make sure to watch.
I have never noticed House's fashion sense or lack there of, but fashion is not really my thing. I will make sure to see the new Sasha Baron Cohen film Bruno though despite my lack of interest in fashion and despite that character not being as funny as Borat or Ali G.
Anyway I am glad that you actually comment on my blog. It kind of defeats the purpose of having a blog if no one comments on it.
Might I add that "13" is rather fetching isn't she? And I am somewhat of an expert in the field.
Yes she is extremely attractive and so is Dr. Cameron. Even Dr. Cuddy is kind of attractive for a woman of her age. Yes it is probably not realistic for there to be so many attractive female doctors on the staff, but it is television and there are not very many shows where there are no attractive people.
So there I was flipping channels after watching the Celtics beat New Orleans when I happened to stop on Alpha Dog. I had seen it on occation and it's not a bad option when nothing else is on. When all of a sudden near the end I recognized the young lady in the nude scene with Emile Hirsch. Yes, it was 13. I had remembered the scene but hadn't put 2 + 2 together until tonight. If you are a fan of her you may want to give the movie a viewing. It isn't nearly as bad as I had thought it would be before I watched it.
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