Over the Edge, xXx, Ghost Town, Boycott, & Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks

Over the Edge is Matt Dillon's first film. It's a film about kids rebelling because there's nothing else to do in their planned community. It's not the best film, but it's quite enjoyable, and the soundtrack is great, with lots of Cheap Trick, The Cars, and even a Ramones track. As a portrait of misspent youth, I am very thankful I never spent time with delinquents like these. My delinquent friends were much more sarcastic and much less destructive.

xXx was really, really stupid. I normally would not have watched this film. Because it's a stupid film. But Meatball Surgery decided it would be funny to give me it on DVD. It's now sitting next to my Wong Kar-Wai and Wes Anderson DVDs, keeping them company and occasionally trying to read the backs and failing. I understand why Asia Argento is kinda famous, since her dad is Dario and she's willing to be naked. I wonder why the hell anyone would cast her in a PG-13 film that precludes nudity? She's a horrible actress. I really liked Pitch Black, his voice is great in The Iron Giant, and he was good in Saving Private Ryan, but I don't like Vin Diesel much at all. The Rock at least has a sense of humor. Vin just has a great voice, but can't act.

Ghost Town is another Ricky Gervais Hollywood romantic comedy. It's better than The Invention of Lying, but not by much. It's a little sad seeing Alan Ruck have such a small role.

Boycott is directed by Clark Johnson, aka Meldrick Lewis, aka Gus Haynes, aka director of many good TV shows.  He takes a decidedly post-modern approach to the story of the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott, with shots in black and white, breaking the fourth wall, having it be a documentary in some shots of scenes and not in others, and just in general bringing a cinematic approach to the material.  Jeffrey Wrights is quite good as MLK, Jr, as is the rest of the cast in their roles, but I just can't see Terrence Howard without thinking about how he doesn't use toilet paper, but baby wipes, when he goes to the bathroom.  He probably has a silky smooth anus.  And that is an extremely weird thing to know about a person.

Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks is produced by Reggie Miller.  Of course, it's a huge lovefest for him, although with some humanism brought in by focusing a little on his history of being second fiddle in his family to his sister.  As someone who watched the NBA throughout the Jordan years (and with some love for the Kings that got screwed by the refs in the playoffs in the late 90s and early 2000s), I was pretty familiar with the Pacers-Knicks rivalry.  I think the city-hick aspects were played up a bit, but there was definitely genuine bad blood between the teams.  It's also surprisingly funny for a documentary on two basketball playoff series.  Spike Lee was great, and while some might fault him for framing the covers of the NY Post that lambasted him after Miller went off in the 1994 series, if I were on the front cover of a "major" newspaper, I would also frame them.  Unless it were because I was in jail.  Probably wouldn't do it then.  If you watched NBA basketball at the time, you'll love this.  If you like trash-talking, you'll love this.  An extremely enjoyable film.