B.J. Novak – Cut To The Chase

Directed By: David Frankel

Written By: Aline Brosh McKenna

Based on characters created by: Lauren Weisberger

Cinematography: Florian Ballhaus

Editor: Andrew Marcus

Cast: Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Stanley Gucci, Emily Blunt, Lucy Liu, Tracie Thoms, Justin Theroux, B.J. Novak, Simone Ashley, Kenneth Branagh, Tibor Feldman, Helen J. Chan, Caleb Hearon, Patrick Brammell, Rachel Bloom,

Andy Sachs reunites with Miranda Priestly as they navigate their careers amid the decline of traditional magazine publishing.

This film from the get-go was a mix bag as I loved the book and I loved the first film and was partially looking forward to a sequel even though I partially believed it’s probably not going to be as good and then once I saw the trailer is that feeling became more and more apparent.

The film is not based on the book sequel REVENGE WEARS PRADA: THE DEVIL RETUENS

So now that I have finally seen this film, I can honestly say it doesn’t hold a candle to the first film. It’s more like a nice try, but it’s not entirely all of the films fault as it’s nice to catch up with the characters and see what they’re doing the problem with this film is really how times have changed.

How when the first film came out, there were still magazines. It was still an industry, and the fashion industry still felt creative and of quality when it came to art photography, even though it’s all about sales in the end and showcasing they just seems to be a grand or presentation when it came to magazines and print, and at least there were articles and interviews that seem to make it more worthwhile whereas now everything is on the Internet, so kind of has a gloss to it, but it feels uninspired more shiny sort of like the materials at some clothes are made up how some of these days are more disposable then build to last and that is the fate of this magazine within a film and it feels like that is the state of this film. As well as where it almost feels like culture is going.

It’s very glossy, but it feels impersonal and very disposal. It’s not as much fun and ultimately becomes disappointing now maybe because the first film dealt with growth and learning from a young female character learning her way around the ropes and now we have this character more at middle age coming to terms with her life so that’s not as endearing to the audience, even if it is partially identified and though there are stakes, they don’t seem to be very high or dramatic. Again it’s almost like the Judd apatow movie. THIS IS 40 where we’re watching the trials and tribulations of the characters, but they are in such a verified error of the 1% and that it’s really hard to really feel anything or truly worry because you know they’ll land on their feet quite easily they just might not have the same high positions they wanted

While the film obviously has its moments it also never quite feels fun like the first filmed, especially as everybody just seems to be going through the motions. they might seem to be having fun to revisit these characters and come together, but they also still feel a bit on autopilot making them mainly bland, even though why they stood out in the first place was that they were colorful one can understand that for Anne Hathaway‘s character as she was growing up and morphing in the first film here she just feels very bland, but wisened.

Miranda Priestley as played by Meryl Streep is still an iconic character, but while she still continues to have her high maintenance, the film softens her and gives examples of how she has to handle herself in this more delicate culture.

Luckily, the film isn’t all bad and it does try but again it just never feels quite inspired or creative as it could be just like how the offices in the first film felt a little more grand and permanent but by the time we get to the sequel, the offices feel small filled more with people that you’re not quite sure what they do in while being more modern it doesn’t quite feel built to last. It’s good enough for now, but no one will claim to miss it within a few years.

Happily, they never really lean into a romantic angle, even though they hint at it as it seems that all films with women over a certain age being single we must throw one a love interest, even if it kind of feels like it’s padding the movie down with filler and to give her some kind of life outside of the office

It never feels as grand as it should privileged sure but never as much as a spectacle. It has the same effect as when Glenn Close went from 101 DALMATIONS to 102 DALMATIONS movies where it doesn’t have quite that same magic when it goes off the reservation and away from where it was based so much.

This is a sequel that never really needed to be made but for fans of the original, you’re going to want to see this film probably as completed, but don’t say you weren’t warned

Grade: C

Written & Directed By: Quentin Tarantino
Cinematography By: Robert Richardson
Editor: Sally Menke

CAST: Brad Pitt, Melanie Laurent, Diane Kruger, Christoph Waltz, Daniel Bruhl, Eli Roth, Samm Levine, B.J. Novak, Paul Rust, Omar Doom, Til Schweiger, Michael Fassbender, Mike Myers, Michael Bacall, Rod Taylor, Jacky Ido, Julie Dreyfus

I am going to start off by saying this is not Tarantino’s best film. it is good but not his best. Then again it could just not be my favorite so far of his films.

It breaks him out a little paying attention a little more to history which of course he re-writes for his own purposes. The film shows that Tarantino is a man in love with dialogue and words particularly his own. Like DEATH PROOF there are tons of scenes of dialogue. The dialogue is great but he needs to learn to edit it down.

The film is long and unfortunately feels the same way. Having read the script I knew what I was getting into but still a few times the film managed to surprise me. Though I will warn you it is advertised as an espionage action-oriented war film but knowing Tarantino you should know it’s not exactly like that and almost half the film is in various foreign languages so there is a lot of subtitles. But if you are a true film fan you shouldn’t mind that.

Many scenes feel too long but they are understandable as each scene seems to be Tarantino taking glee in having each scene begin innocently that as it goes on it slowly switches gears into a thriller with impending doom. Then towards the end, the tables turn and show that a certain character has been in control the whole time without letting any other person knowing it.

Christoph Waltz steals the movie as a nazi, who is nicknamed the jew hunter his character is the best written and the actor has fun and truly inhabits the role with steely determination and certain happiness. His mastering and fluency of many languages and dialects is amazing.

Brad Pitt seems to be having fun with his role but it delves into the more ridiculous aspects of the movie and seems more like a character than a real person. Which is the problem with the third act. The third act excites and speeds up the action that had been in the film before but feels more movie action than the real war film finale.

Also considering you filmed in Europe with beautiful buildings interesting locales and beautiful nature you would figure a filmmaker with an eye would use these locations to their fullest. But just as Tarantino has a talent with dialogue and an eye for visuals. He has always seemed a perfect Indie director as he makes his scenes and camerawork feel claustrophobic. This is a tale that needed to be more open it looks like it was shot on a set or soundstage instead of on location in Europe.

I also wish the Basterds had more time to prove themselves and let us get to know them I know his original ideas were much longer so it feels almost like this is a condensed version.

not that impressed by Melanie Laurent she didn’t do anything wrong but she didn’t impress or engage me either and the less said about Director Eli Roth the better it seemed like a natural fit of a character for him but he goes for a ridiculous accent and is way too over the top. He also directed the film within a film NATION’S PRIDE.

I guess I feel the movie had a great bunch of elements and memorable scenes but they don’t merge to make a great movie. This is a mild disappointment.

It is in the Tarantino mold of KILL BILL VOL. 2 AND DEATH PROOF where it is tons of dialogue and a few scenes of extreme shocking violence and action mixed in to keep the audience awake and interested in what is happening. Almost like a gift or payoff for sitting through the previous scenes. Trust me it still isn’t a film that will be easily forgotten.

Plus I wonder if the reason for the last line in the film “This may be my masterpiece” is what Quentin Tarantino really believes about this film.
Now don’t get me wrong I respect Tarantino and get excited when he has a new film out. He is one of my favorite Auteurs, it’s just I hold him to a certain high standard that this one approaches but doesn’t quite rise to that level.

It is a movie best seen on the big screen but you could wait for home video

GRADE: B

Tag: B.J. Novak

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