The Interview - Movie review #jpmn

• The Interview (2014) -- Familiar effort that is only memorable because of its real-world drama, 6/10. WATCH full episodes of "Movie Night" -- ****** TWEET a review with the #JPMN hashtag, and have it featured! ~~ Movie Night Reviews ~~ Your host, and film critic Jonathan Paula reviews everything from opening day releases, recent DVDs, upcoming trailers, and classics from years past. Each "Quick Review" is an excerpt from a full episode, which airs on the Jogwheel l channel every week. ~~ Watch More Reviews ~~ Browse By Year ----- ****** Browse By Rating --- ****** Trailer Reviews ------- ****** ~~ Other Channels ~~ Jogwheel (Main channel) --- ****** Jon's World (2nd channel) -- ****** The Microwave Show --------- ****** uStream Live Shows ---------- ****** ~~ Social Media & Merch ~~ Twitter ---------------------------- ****** Facebook ----------------------- ****** Instagram ----------------------- ****** Patreon -------------------------- ****** Letterboxd ---------------------- ****** T-Shirts -------------------------- ****** ~~ Technical Credits ~~ Created by ------ Jonathan Paula Camera ---------- Panasonic HMC-150 Microphone ----- Sennheiser ME 66 Software --------- Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2014 Computer ------- ****** • Jogwheel Productions © 2015 • ~~ Review Script ~~ In the midst of a massive hacking scandal against its parent company, Sony Pictures, this political satire comedy film finally saw limited theatrical release on Christmas Day 2014, alongside a massive video-on-demand roll-out, at the behest of many in the media, including President Obama. This front page controversy actually helped the $44 million dollar picture though, which took home $36 million after three weeks, 85% of that via online viewings. Directed by Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, the R-rated farce follows a goofy television personality and his equally silly producer on a trip to North Korea where they hope to interview its reclusive dictator. Long time friends and collaborators and James Franco and Rogen make this ridiculous premise work with their undeniable chemistry and amusing performances. Wearing brightly colored suits, Franco is especially over the top, defending himself amongst media criticism by shouting, "They hate us 'cause they ain't us!" Co-director Rogen meanwhile, is basically just playing himself... again. Lizzy Caplan is featured as the sexy CIA operative who recruits our protagonists to assassinate Kim Jong-Un... played in a breakout turn by Randall Park. The 112-minute story is unbelievable, but the talented cast keeps things interesting enough so that the giant plot holes that do exist are generally ignored. An early sequence where we're introduced to Franco's effective and disarming interviewing skills showcases a fantastic moment when rapper Eminem casually reveals himself to be a homosexual live on television. The mayhem and shock from the crew that follows is easily the best scene in "The Interview", and perhaps one of the funniest of 2014. The situational mishaps really thrive once the duo arrives in Pyongyang - forced to tip toe around security, and play nice with their Korean hosts, without revealing the true intentions of their mission. While this second-act has some great individual moments, like when Rogen goes face to face with a hungry tiger, it is far too drawn out for a comedy like this. Once the titular sit-down conversation begins however, all bets are off, and the movie goes completely off the rails; tanks are shooting at helicopters, missiles are being lunched, fingers are being bitten off, and people start pooping themselves. Throughout it all, the steady, slow-moving anamorphic shots show off the convincing sets and a sharp visual style. For all intents and purposes - this might as well have been filmed in North Korea, rather than British Columbia. Like most comedies, they're not much of an original score here - but the inclusion of a slowed-down cover of Katy Perry's "Firework" is included during the violent climax without amazing results. Beneath the layers of juvenile humor and sophomoric gags, there does seem to be a message here about standing up for truth and freedom, but I hardly think the movie was worth all of the trouble Sony went through. Fans of James and Seth will no doubt feel right at home, but "The Interview" is an otherwise familiar effort that is only memorable because of its real-world drama. ~ ...