Be Kind Rewind Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
You name it, we shoot it
Sometimes the best movies are the ones we make up.
A small VHS only video store faces foreclosure in a poor community. While watching the store for the owner, a blundering employee's friend accidentally erases all of the tapes. In order to keep their blunder from becoming apparent, the duo of Mos Def and Jack Black begin remaking the films themselves using homemade special effects and outdated filming techniques.
| Jack Black | Jerry Gerber |
| Mos Def | Mike |
| Danny Glover | Elroy Fletcher |
| Mia Farrow | Miss Falewicz |
| Melonie Diaz | Alma |
| Irv Gooch | Wilson |
| Chandler Parker | Craig |
| Arjay Smith | Manny |
| Quinton Aaron | Q |
| Gio Perez | Randy |
| Basia Rosas | Andrea |
| Tomasz Soltys | Carl |
| Marcus Carl Franklin | Kid #1 |
| Blake Hightower | Kid #2 |
| Amir Ali Said | Kid #3 |
| Michel Gondry |
7.30 out of 10 (8566 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Excellent comedy with a strong message
posted on 30 Aug 2009Some folks complain that this movie is a love letter to VHS.Some folks complain this isn't "Eternal Sunshine."Some folks complain this isn't this isn't a typical Jack Black flick, either. Some folks complain that the audience never finds out what happens to Mr. Fletcher, or who gets the girl, etc.Some folks really aren't getting the movie. They really aren't getting the movie because they don't want to really watch it.This is not a movie romanticizing VHS tapes - they were just a convenient way to introduce the need for "sweding" the movies. If you are looking for "Eternal Sunshine" then you need to go watch that movie. This isn't a Jack Black movie (though, much like with "High Fidelity," I find myself respecting Jack Black even more for doing this movie and also find myself wondering why Mos Def doesn't get more respect in Hollywood) This isn't a love story. And it's not even about Fletcher and the store in the end.This movie, other than the allusions to movie piracy (that can be a discussion for other reviews), is clearly talking about community and the power of a community to come together behind a single idea. But it's not just the make-believe story of Fats Waller, but it's also about the fact that a movie based in Passaic was filmed in Passaic using people from Passaic.Think about it.Fletcher's store has a wide range of movies, though they're all at least a decade old ("Rush Hour 2" being the exception since it was made in 2001) and heterogeneous - there are no copies. He has one copy of each movie and that's it.Then West Coast Video has less selection, but more copies of each movie. It's taking over with its "younger" format and more homogeneous selection.This movie is a discussion about the communities that exist in the city (even if people from the suburbs or the exurbs want to arrogantly dismiss the area it takes place in as "the hood") and how they are being moved out for gentrified communities. The old immigrant and African American communities are being pushed out of the way by the younger, more hip residents who aren't looking for a community, just a cool place to stay. If the older communities try to reinvent themselves, what happens? They are steamrolled over by government and corporations because they simply are no longer what will make money for the corporations or increase tax revenue for the government.I enjoyed this movie greatly. Granted - I know movies. Of the list they "sweded," I have probably watched 90% of those movies. I got the jokes that I know went over others' heads, I loved the film techniques that went into this (did you pay attention to the tracking shot?), and I got the point. Those who misunderstand this movie are not going to affect my enjoyment of it.It's an excellent comedy and a well-made film with a strong message about the damage gentrification can cause. Watch it and enjoy it.
A film that's meant to be fun.
posted on 24 Aug 2009Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover and Mia Farrow star in "Be Kind Rewind," the fourth feature film directed by Michel Gondry. Gondry, who is most notorious for directing one of the best films of 2004 -- "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind" -- has his own unique visual and story-telling style, and it serves him well in bringing to life a hard-to-buy modern-day story about a run-down video store that only sells VHS tapes to people who have never seen or even heard of such titles as "Ghostbusters" or "Driving Miss Daisy." So, to re-cap, not only is the store's owner (Danny Glover) out of touch, but so is the town in which he runs his business. Up and down the aisles of 'Be Kind Rewind' (conveniently, the name of the store in the movie) are box after box of blockbusters and cult-classics, all readily available on the now-defunct VHS format. To those who may miss the glory days of the independent video store or, God forbid, VHS tapes (browse through the "Formats" section on IMDb's message board and you'll run into a few), the world in which the characters in this film inhabit is a virtual paradise.The story is rather plain and innocent, and since there is no real villain, we have to assume that Jack Black's character, as he inadvertently erases all the tapes due to being highly magnetized (don't ask how), is the antagonist. But that's not quite right. In fact, he's the catalyst, as he joins forces with the store clerk (Mos Def) in creating abbreviated, low-budget, home-made remakes to replace the now-useless video tapes. It fools the customers, who are told that the films are "Sweded" versions (imported from Sweden), thus explaining why they look so low-budget. The "Sweded" versions become a phenomenon in town, as the store owner is out-of-town, researching in hopes of switching to the DVD-format, which is funny, as even now, DVD is being slowly pushed aside by a new format in the form of Blu-Ray. Even a pending lawsuit doesn't stop the two from re-creating everything from "Men In Black" to "Rocky" to "2001: A Space Odyssey".The overall plot and tone of the "Be Kind Rewind" is pretty simple and wholesome, and it's hard to tell if it's meant to be a valentine to the home-video lover, or if it's just a eulogy or a tribute to the long-lost VHS. As it stands, though, it's a solid yet mellow film that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's got an unlimited appeal, as it seems aimed at just about anyone who loves movies. There's nothing ground-breaking, and direction-wise, Gondry takes less risks than he did in "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind" and keeps the visual flare to a minimum. Jack Black is Jack Black, while Mos Def delivers another solid performance, another notch in the belt of a truly gifted and rising actor. Danny Glover is great in everything he does, and seeing him back in action in the film is a treat, as well as Mia Farrow, who plays the loony, out-of-touch customer all too convincingly. The real star of the movie, though, is the video store and the tapes that line it's wall. It's a simple film that is simple and easy to enjoy. A nice way to kick back on a Saturday afternoon, much in the same way as you probably did when VHS was still around and renting videos from the local video store was a pleasure.
An Excellent Tribute To The Video Cassette Generation and Film-making
posted on 24 Aug 2009'Be Kind Rewind' has already become one of my favourite films of the year. It's funny. It's charming. It's nostalgic. It's awkward. It's unique and it's moving. The entrance of DVDs to our lives have lead to the rapid extinction of video cassettes but does one remember the days of renting, collecting and watching those big tapes? Rewinding them and forwarding them? Something small but one that I find fascinating. While 'Be Kind Rewind' pays respect to that generation, it's also a wonderful tribute to film-making in general. All the classic movies and blockbusters this film refers to are some of the most memorable movies that played during the VHS days and, in a way, 'Be Kind Rewind' is a superb homage to those films. Just watch all the sweded 'refilming' of, for example, 'Driving Miss Daisy' with Danny Glover and Mia Farrow, 'Ghostbusters' and 'Rush Hour 2' with Jack Black and Mos Def...and so many more hilarious surprises. 'Be Kind Rewind' also explores what it is about cinema that fascinate the ordinary man.Gondry's writing is just as great as his direction. Everything fits together excellently. The comedy and drama blend smoothly. Michel Gondry's screenplay is impeccable. The dialogues are laugh out loud and never out of place. The characters are genuinely heartwarming, goofy and lovable.The performances are heartfelt and fantastic. A wacky Jack Black, an endearing Mia Farrow (who's a science fiction fan), a very impressive Mos Def (I was very impressed by his comic timing), a humbly naive Danny Glover, a vivacious Melonie Diaz, Sigourney Weaver as an inspector in charge (with a touch of comedy) and many more talented actors make a terrific ensemble.Gondry has tackled a lot of themes like a strong sense of community, people's love for movies, people being accustomed to old technology (as a result to which they sometimes have difficulty moving on to more updated sources), reviving loved artists who have vanished into oblivion and the overall sense of doing something great together (like the last movie on Fat Waller's life). He tells the story skillfully. I liked that it ended on a bittersweet note but somewhat ambiguously. I was having so much fun and laughing out loud so many times that I didn't even care if it bothered other people.Many people seem to have trashed this movie because it wasn't like 'Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind'. I'd like to tell those people to get over it. How can people even begin to compare too totally different films and then call one of them trash for not being like the other? I love both movies and to me, with 'Be Kind Rewind' Gondry proves to be a versatile director and my appreciation for him as a filmmaker has only increased.
Being creative
posted on 22 Aug 2009Penned by Michael Gondry who gave us "Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind", "Be kind, rewind" promises to be at least creative, even if not much more. Promise kept, and there IS more.But first of all, what it is not: this is not sci-fi. To advance the plot, a devise is needed to accidentally erase all the movie video tapes in a rental store. A stroke of lightning can easily do the trick. But a "magnetized" human being is more fun, and generates more laughs. That is all there is to it. And this individual is quickly returned to normal, because this movie has absolutely nothing to do with science fiction. This movie has a lot to do with many other things: community spirit, being an underdog, ambition, belief in self, mentor/guardian, rigid establishments, creativity, nostalgia, believing in a dream.To enjoy the movie and see its creative beauty, one must entirely revamp one's thinking – throw out anything that is remotely related to logics or common sense. This one goes way beyond fairy tales. The establishing sequences, though far fetch, is at least simple. When a video rental store owner (Danny Glover) goes out of town for a few days, his shop clerk Mike (Mos Def) got into big trouble when he allows his accident-prone, bungling buddy Jerry (Jack Black) to slip into the store for a few minutes. You see, Jerry happens to have been temporarily magnetized through an accident, and his presence causes all the video tapes in the store to be erased. What follows however takes a writer like Gondry to come up with. To save the day, the duo, with the bare minimum of equipments and props, remake (they even invent a word for it - "sweded") classic movies, starting with a 20-minute version of "Ghostbusters". The customer, who has never watched the original, loves the "sweded" version. The rest is history, so to speak. Together with a girl they recruited (initially to act but later becoming a full member of the creative team), Alma (Melonie Diaz), they carry on with one classic after another, their masterpieces becoming movie rental instant blockbusters.The process of "sweding" all these classics is by itself a hilarious feast, but there's a lot more to watch for. The rapport of the odd couple Mike and Jerry is obviously the most attention-grabbing. But the substitute-father-son bond between Mike and the store owner is very palpable. The community spirit element emerges to the forefront with the project to make a movie in order to raise money to save from the fate of demolition the old neighborhood building where the video store is located. Then something that has always been in the background looms up to takes centre stage – jazz legend Fats Waller, whose life story is the very subject of this project. Then you begin to see how behind the superficially haphazard and nonsensical stories, everything had been so cleverly designed and fit together like jig-saw.Jack Black is a natural for his role. Mos Def as mild mannered, timid Mike is a delightful surprise if you think of his previous role as a to-be witness in "16 Blocks", an individual whose mouth can fire syllables faster than a machine gun can fire bullets. Veteran Danny Glover fills the screen with his presence whenever you see him. Melonie Diaz brings plenty of energetic charm to the movie. And it is wonderful to see Mia Farrow again, playing doddery Miss Falewicz so lovably that you almost want to hug the screen. Sigourney Weaver is game enough to take a cameo role, not as herself the star of "Ghostbusters", but a stereotyped government official.A much overused phrase is still good for summing up this movie: a delightful gem.
Every movie lover should see this film
posted on 18 Aug 2009"Be Kind Rewind" is by no means a perfect or monumental film. However, it proved to be quite an enjoyable watch. After an accident at the power plant, Jack Black becomes a magnetron and accidentally erases all of the VHS tapes at his friend's (Mos Def) video rental store. As a result, the two of them must make their own versions of the films in order to have inventory to rent out to customers. People end up becoming more delighted with these films than the real ones. In the process, Jack Black and Mos Def end up spoofing and referencing many popular films including "Ghostbusters," "Rush Hour 2," "Men in Black," even "Driving Miss Daisy," and many more. These spoofs and their methods of making them are truly the film's most entertaining scenes. The commentary on each film is also fun to hear. These elements are sure to delight movie lovers, like myself. Danny Glover is also very good in his role as the store manager. The film has its flaws, such as a rather unresolved ending and over-exaggerated dialogue at odd times. Nevertheless, I didn't expect much out of this film, so I found it otherwise fun to watch. To see these great spoofs of many great films, every film buff should see this movie.*** out of ****
Complete disappointment
posted on 18 Aug 2009Me and a friend rented out this film having heard great reviews. We were highly disappointed when it turned out to be lacking in humour and plot.The story line was unbelievable and not funny and it was hard to identify with any of the characters. The film seemed to stray between genres of comedy and drama but never settling on one. It seemed to want to appeal as a genuine homage to film making but the story was full of unrealistic turns and events that ruined its credibility. Having made ourselves sit through it, we were further confused by the abrupt ending that gave no real conclusion and added to sense of wasted time. Such a shame for a cast that held so much promise.
The emperor blew it
posted on 10 Aug 2009Gondry is a very talented director, but probably gets praise for this film because of his fame. If this film had another director's name on it, people would have openly and repeatedly criticized it. The premise is goofy and implausible. The subject matter probably seemed edgy to Gondry, but it's actually very boring and unbelievable.What a terrible follow up film to Sunshine. Let's stop revering directors because of their past and call a spade a spade. This film was not good. The emperor isn't wearing any clothes. Jack Black should consider trying to add some dynamics to his performances. On an energy scale of 1 to 10, he's always a 10 and it gets really annoying.
Piffle, Tripe, Tosh
posted on 10 Aug 2009I have no idea how anyone could come away from this movie without thinking they just wasted 90 minutes of their life.Other reviews comment on this film as being a homage to movies. Watch "Cinema Paradiso" if you want to see a truly nostalgic and beautiful dedication to the art form. Kind of ironic that a film that purports to be about a love of film, turns out to be one of the worst films ever made. I thought "Eternal Sunshine" was an extremely imaginative and unique piece of writing and filming. Hard to believe the same director made these films.Almost everything about this film was awful. The acting was pathetic, although the players were not exactly helped by one of the most god awful scripts imaginable. Jack Black is an acquired taste, one for which I don't have an appetite. Nacho Libre aside, he's about as 1 dimensional a comedy actor as you could find. This is his worst performance yet. Seriously annoying character with zero laughs. Mos Def - completely wooden performance. Mia Farrow should be utterly ashamed of herself for firstly getting involved in this tripe and secondly for her dull as dish water performance.As for the storyline. Shambolically ridiculous to say the least, not to mention sickeningly cheesy. I personally do not rue the demise of VHS format. It was replaced for a reason. Something technically superior and far more practical came along. Good riddance. The video rental customers in this movie must have trouble using the bathroom by themselves to enjoy the moronic blathering of Black's "swede" remakes. "Swede" - What on earth! Totally absurd from start to finish.If this review saves just one person from wasting their valuable time and, god forbid, money watching this nonsense, then I will have done someone a big favour.A total Hollywood stinker with no redeemable qualities. My advice to the director - do us all a favour and go back to making music videos if you've run out of steam already.
A mish mash of a movie which does not scratch below the trailer
posted on 08 Aug 2009Without the swedeing this movie would have been absolutely terrible. It is immensely boring and slow, and because it has these scenes in a movie does not make it "deep".Basically the only reason to watch this unfinished effort was for the swedeing and you see it all in the trailers... literally all, it just fast forwards through the rest leaving you with an old woman, jack black getting electrocuted and an incredibly boring home made movie at the end. And I don't mean boring because its not comedy, I mean boring because it is just boring.If you built up a strong connection with Fats Waller's plight then good for you, but this movie was dull.There are good ideas here in theory but they aren't explored nearly enough in the movie. Intention isn't enough, that's why I give it 5 out of ten, and I would not recommend anyone to see it.
More than just a comedy
posted on 06 Aug 2009Set in a decaying inner-city enclave that's being threatened by gentrification, Be Kind Rewind centers around two friends' efforts to save a video store from foreclosure. When the videotapes are accidentally erased of their content in the store, two friends (Jack Black and Mos Def) try to avert disaster by creating their own homemade versions of the store's films and soon become a big hit in the community. Members of the community start wanting to act and help produce the films. Danny Glover stars as the store owner and Muriel Hemmingway plays a frequent customer and (although we'd like to open the possibility of there being more to it) platonic friend of Glover's character.The fun of watching Mos Def and Jack Black attempt to recreate low budget versions of Driving Miss Daisy, Rush Hour 2, King Kong and Ghostbusters is worth the price of admission alone, but the film also has deeper themes about the way we consume and create art. More than that it's a celebration of movie-making. The movie is also responsible for coining the term "sweded" and encouraged a craze online of people creating sweded versions of their favorite film.
Feels really good...
posted on 06 Aug 2009Be Kind Rewind is a one of a kind heartfelt comedy movie coming from the mind of the visionary Michael Gondry. Gondry who has made quite a name for himself after making the Oscar nominated Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. He not only directed that film but also co-wrote it with Charlie Kauffman. Like La Science des rêves (The Science of Sleep), Be Kind Rewind is his independent project. He writes as well as directs it.Starring Jack Black, Mos Def and Danny Glover, Be Kind Rewind is a film that is unbelievable at times, yet too cute to be given amiss. Not only is it well made, but you can feel the message that the movie tries to put forward. At heart, it is quite a serious film, yet, circumstances and the manner in which they are tackled, are comedic to an unimaginable degree. The shenanigans of the two lead characters are hilarious. As they head out to make their own versions of hit Hollywood films, you wont be able to help it but laugh till your tummy aches. Trust me, whether it is their version of Ghostbusters, or Rush Hour 2, or even King Kong, they rule the screen, and everyone else for that matter! It is, simply put, a laugh riot, when they get down to business. Danny Glover, who has proved his worth at numerous versatile roles, though not getting any younger, is probably getting better at what he does.By the end of the hour and forty minutes, the film leaves you wanting a little more. If not more of the slapstick comedy it created midway through the film, you'll be wanting some of the laughter and that warm feeling one sometimes gets after having watched a movie with a big heart..7/10.
'Seriously Underwhelmed'
posted on 04 Aug 2009I went to see this last night after the trailer impressed me, and being a fan of Jack Black. I expected a slightly wacky yet fun comedy, however after I felt seriously underwhelmed, this is extremely dull and slow at times.The films they 'Sweeded' were only 20 minutes long, and you get the feeling if this was the same length (leaving only the 'Ghostbusters' scene and the montage etc) it would have been a lot better. I do admit there is a slight romance about it as they try and save the century old house, but it didn't sink in, most of the characters seemed a bit wooden.The only highlight would be Jack Blacks performance in the 'Sweeded' films - of which my favourite was Men In Black, his performance does make you chuckle at times, but this cannot carry a whole movie. This has to be the worst film I have seen Jack star in.I expected this to be slightly eccentric with Michel Gondry directing it, but never expected it to be so poor. After success with films like Eternal Sunshine (which I enjoyed) he has gone down in my estimation.4 Out Of 10
Never submit your first draft
posted on 29 Jul 2009We all err: it's the human way to mess up. I try to learn from my mistakes, and by 7th grade it had become clear that important homework, reports and other import assignments -even my higher priority personal letters papers- always would benefit tremendously from a fresh view after a night's sleep, and a few re-reads and spell checks.This project is very like what happens when a child, in a state of giddy optimism and confidence, hands in the sloppy first draft with its erasures and snot stains intact. The producers seem to have had that belatedly icky feeling of "oh sh-t!" "It is really barely 15 minutes of a sketch about stupidity: and a first draft, at that: the audience is going to need to be in *precisely* the same mood as we were last night and how likely is that?" If not, they'll probably hate it (and us) as much as we do today.""What to do?" Well,let's see: We can add in mawkish sentiment so folks will feel a bit guilty about not seeing we meant well and how kept it clean. Oh- Oh! Listen to this idea: we can pad it with plenty of loud goofy music! That'll set a mood -like a party! Loud!! Canned laughter even! Wait, no: just music and ethnic sensitivity.... ummm, retard sensitivity... handicap accessibility... Stuff that'll establish safe villains - bankers! Stuff that will cue the audience where to feel happy and funny.. just like they do for kids in Saturday morning cartoons!" Like Jerry does for the French....The movie earns one star for its omission of camera shake, Jerry Lewis wearing a loose bow-tie, clowns, and jokes about gay dwarfs.
Black and Def are excellent, but the rest of the film is just disappointing
posted on 27 Jul 2009Just reading a brief synopsis got me fairly hyped for Be Kind Rewind. The film was written and directed by Michel Gondry, who directed my favourite movie in the last five years, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, so it was a no-brainer that this would be a movie I would want to see. But unfortunately, the idea seemed to be a whole lot better than the final product.Mike (Mos Def) works at an aging video rental story in New Jersey run by Mr. Fletcher (Danny Glover). Despite the advent of DVD, the store only carries VHS tapes, and rents them to local customers at a fee far cheaper than the usual rental store. The store is apparently a landmark, so Mr. Fletcher does not want to give into local developers looking to turn the block into a nice piece of real estate. He leaves Mike in charge for a few days, but leaves specific instructions for him to not his friend Jerry (Jack Black) into the store. He does, and after a rather amusing accident, Jerry manages to erase all of the tapes in the store. To help cover this up, Mike and Jerry begin to film their own versions of the films.It sounds creative on paper, but Be Kind Rewind is too muddled in subplots to really take advantage of its outrageous idea. The entire landmark dispute becomes rather boring and annoying right after it is mentioned, and the frequent mention of jazz musician Fats Waller loses its sentimental and nostalgic touch far too early on in the film. It just lacks the focus of Eternal Sunshine, and lacks the daring scope of The Science of Sleep, another film by Gondry. While Sleep was not all that great either, it seems to have had a much better grip on the point of the movie than Rewind does. It mopes around far too much, and I found myself more bored than I ever thought I would be watching it. I wanted to be interested, but the film did not make for many interesting moments. It has a sense of purpose and clearly knows what it wants to accomplish, but allowing it to seems to be an issue the film can never overcome.One of these reasons may be the lack of depth in the characters. We learn very little about Mike or Jerry, and their pasts and motivations seem to never come up. We just know the basics, and that seems to be enough. Ditto for Mr. Fletcher, the frequent customer Miss Falewicz (Mia Farrow) and Alma (Melonie Diaz), who seems to get thrown into the mix rather randomly half way through the film, and never seems to fully materialize as anything other than being a female in a primarily male dominated main cast. Gondry clearly has a point for these characters to be here interacting (and a couple of curious supporting characters like Irv Gooch's Wilson, who lend the film a lot of its laughs), but he does not seem to want to make them be anything more than near one-dimensional cut-outs. I do not want to make them seem as simplistic as that, but more often than not, I really found myself not seeing anything other than that.When the film actually gets to its key drawing point, the re-filming of the VHS movies (or sweding as the film refers to it as), it does bring in a lot of that creative depth Gondry is known for. Using many different angles and stylistic devices, Gondry remakes specific scenes out of these movies with ease, and brings a lot of humour to them as well. Watching Def and Black redo Ghostbusters is absolutely hysterical, as is their redoing of Driving Miss Daisy, King Kong, We Were Kings and 2001: A Space Odyssey. But unfortunately, these scenes are really short and sweet, and many of them are never lingered on. Frequently, they are only mere seconds long before the next sweded movie scene comes in. At one point, there is just a scrolling list of movies that are being redone, but barely any are shown on screen. It is a little disappointing, but I did really like the footage that is shown.While the film's storyline is a little winded, and the character development is a little off, the actors themselves do really well.Def continues to impress, and helps carry this film from beginning to end. I am never really impressed with his work, but he seems to have a knack for making his characters enjoyable and very human in their design. He just seems to have that natural acting talent that every young actor tries to have, but never can truly create for themselves. Even in its most boring sections, Def delivers a great performance that is insightful and more introspective of what the film could have been had Gondry put more effort into it.The same goes for Black, who continues to redefine himself as an actor. On one hand, he does his usual screwball schtick to its finest degree, and gets plenty of laughs for it. But on the other, he really develops his dramatic side, one that is seen only in the likes of King Kong (where his performance is not nearly as well liked as I think it is) and pretentious fare like Margot at the Wedding (which I doubt many people will ever attempt to see). It is a fine balance, and Black walks it perfectly throughout the film, and gives a solid performance for one of the film's most undefined characters. Kudos to him for really making something of it.While the rest of the supporting cast does fairly well for themselves, none ever match the charisma or the chemistry that Def and Black share. And in a film that is disappointing already, that makes it all the more worse.7/10.
A salute to America's creative passion...
posted on 27 Jul 2009Wow… another fun movie of Writer/Director Michel Gondry! It attempts to reach out with a very subtle message. Gondry is again calling the shots for his creatively alluring visual style, never to cease his manipulation of mise en scène! And I love it! Indeed, this film is inspiring for the creative minds of America! With the story's delightfully charming and fun characters, and with very memorable one-liners zinging away throughout the simple tale, Gondry brings the audience a sweet and warm-hearted fable to salute America's creative talents.The charmingly comedic cast ensemble, Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Paul Dinello, etc., including Mia Farrow and Sigourney Weave, collaborate with Gondry very successfully to field up the loony razzmatazz about the inventive fun of "Sweding" films.Boy, did I enjoy following Jerry's journey into his new career! Jack Black is such a natural comedian! Boy, did I have any doubt that Jerry and Mike would pull off their manipulation! Nope. And, you can bet that my heart warmed to the uncanny goodwill and appreciation, exhibited by those common-folks of their little community's heritage. Good or bad, the folks of Passaic are proud of their 'native' talents. And that's so emotionally touching! The story bubbles with so much creative hullabaloo, liv, and energized spirit. Hhhmh, the film even has Sigourney Weaver's Ms. Lawson – a spoil-sport villain out to make life miserable for all? Just to watch films, like Back to the Future, Robocop, Rush Hour 2, Driving Miss Daisy, King Kong, Ghostbusters and 2001: A Space Odyssey being revamped by goons for loons is worth paying the price of a regular tix to watch this film! Michel Gondry and his cast of actors are giving the audience a treasure trove of spontaneity, creativity, playfulness, fun, laughter and tears. Oh yes, their film does put a test to the audience's tear-ducts, especially toward the close of the film.Gondry's film is bound to delight those with dreams of making movies. It's also a film that appreciates the passion of refreshingly new talents. But will it serve to remind film institutes, promoters, and sponsors not to neglect their objectives in inspiring and encouraging creative new talents? I should hope so. As Gondry's film does suggest, creative minds do inspire and spark off creative juices to flow in every walk of life! Yep, this is absolutely an uncanny and ingenious fable… presented in all good humor and in a pleasantly unique avant-guard dynamo-style to make it memorable. Call it a mock doc within a mock doc if you wish, but it sure will remind us that small-budgeted, homegrown indie films can sell just as well as big Hollywood blockbusters.
loved it
posted on 23 Jul 2009This film had the child like view of the world like all of Gondry's films.I can understand how some people have hated it, but you have to give him credit for being so open and honest about his views on the world.This film was like watching children put together a play in the back yard, it sounds easy to do but as an adult you lose your touch with the way children see the world. Something Michel has captured and lucky for him managed to hold onto and give back in his films.Don't say you hate this, just say it wasn't your taste in entertainment.Personally all his stuff impresses me because there is a very real glimpse at his innocence as a person.
Coulda been kinder
posted on 19 Jul 2009How can someone who has built a reputation for being one of the more imaginative and visually creative directors in modern cinema find himself producing work that feels increasingly limited in scope? French filmmaker, Michel Gondry, broke out of the music video milieu in 2004 with ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND. The mind-melting dive into a psyche burnt by love was a dizzying assault on the eyes and a cerebral tickle simultaneously. His narrative film follow-up, THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP (2006), was expected to be a similar experience revolving around the dreamiest of human experiences. While it may have been whimsical, it lacked the firm contemplative nature of its predecessor. This was of course forgiven considering the elusive nature of the subject but disappointment was still felt. Now, as if in direct response to his criticisms of being perhaps too imaginative to be always understood, Gondry has crafted BE KIND, REWIND, where the madness of Gondry falls from the boundless sky and hits the pavement of Passaic, New Jersey, hard. His once ingenious approach is not entirely squashed but rather squeezed into conventional form resulting in a work that tries too hard on all plains. The beginning of BE KIND, REWIND is both bizarre and boring. A video store clerk (Mos Def), his boss and mentor (Danny Glover) and a junkyard mechanic (Jack Black) sit around with colanders on their heads and stare across the street at a supposedly pimped out ride (an economy car outfitted with gigantic aluminum piping that looks like a musical wind instrument out of the world of Dr. Seuss) as they blabber on about working in a microwave or something equally nonsensical. Gondry just drops us there. He explains nothing as if everything we see is supposed to already make sense. Apparently, it means nothing to Gondry that we are not permanent residents in his brain. By the time Black's Jerry concocts some plan about sabotaging the neighboring power plant with a grappling hook that I can only assume he found in the junkyard, I was ready to walk. Gondry's attempt to ground the imagination in a real context only served to show how the two worlds are separate for a reason. Naturally, the sabotage is a disaster and this leads to every videotape in the "Be Kind, Rewind" store being erased by magnetism. Def's Mike must now replace the tapes before his father figure finds him out and he proves to be the disappointment he fears he truly is. Thankfully, hilarity finally ensues.Jerry and Mike proceed to reshoot "classic" fare like GHOSTBUSTERS, RUSH HOUR 2 and DRIVING MISS DAISY to replenish the shelves of wasted tapes. As they parade around in costumes made of aluminum foil and Christmas garland, they remove every trace of quality from these conventional crowd pleasers. Their antics and approaches are goofy and very funny in an intimate fashion; the chemistry between the pompous Black and the timid Def is just what the film needs to get the audience laughing and rooting for its formerly uninteresting heroes. And while they may look to be ruining these films at first, what they are really doing is reminding the audience that movies needn't be made for millions of dollars to be entertaining. Suddenly, there is a lot being said in BE KIND, REWIND. The neighborhood that is home to the store is being entirely remodeled and Glover's Mr. Fletcher wants to transition from VHS to DVD in order to compete with the chain stores that are gobbling up small business. The nostalgia for simpler times points out how glossing everything over to look new doesn't erase what is underneath. Despite this, Gondry is too busy glossing his own work over to solidly make his point.When BE KIND, REWIND is funny, it's hysterical. When it is not, it is awkward and annoying. Though the film praises the amateur filmmaker in all of us, this is no excuse for it to play out like it was actually made by an amateur. Still, the film fosters a strong community effort to work together and be a part of movie making magic – a world so many of us admire regularly from afar but so few comparatively get to be involved in. The little guy can have his voice too and push his imagination further than, well, he ever imagined. Unfortunately, Gondry makes a crucial mistake and forgets to ask the audience to join in all the fun.
Funny, heartwarming, light but clever DIY comedy
posted on 13 Jul 2009Why not more stars?I gave this comedy 9 stars because I wholeheartedly believe it deserves it. I pondered on whether I should give it a ten. What puzzles me, though, is that it didn't get more stars, and why there are so many negative reviews on this site (though most are positive). I have a feeling it may be because many of those who gave it negative reviews did not get what they expected. Either because Gondry reached the wrong audience, or the reviewers are comparing it to predefined templates it does not, and should not try to fit into. In other words, they do not really SEE the movie, and complain about "flaws" that could have been relevant if the movie was a completely different one.Most of the negative reviewers, even many of the positive ones, compares it unfavourably to another Gondry movie, "Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind". I saw it got an amazing reviews on IMDb and gave it a shot. I thought it sucked, the story/casting was that of a standard Hollywood romantic-comedy-drama, though the visual part was inspiring and creative. What this means is just that Eternal sunshine and Be Kind Rewind are two very different kinds of movies, probably suited for different kinds of audiences too - though Be Kind... is very accessible and probably will amuse and entertain viewers from most camps. Therefore, let's look at what the movie will NOT give you:* Strong, character-driven, tear dropping interpersonal drama, with Hollywood's traditional dose of love and passion, of the kind that Eternal sunshine was.* Wacky, lighthearted brainless humour like School of Rock.Some of the reviewers complain about lack of character depth. Perhaps this mantra that all- movies-must-have-character-depth has something to do with the extreme focus on the individual that we have in the western world, and USA especially. The movie is not about individuals or characters, so don't deride it for that. What the movie is about, I'll get back to.Other negative reviewers complain that it's not quite like "School of Rock". They probably saw Jack Black on the cover and expected something like it. Apart from the ultra-light wacky humour of the opening, this movie is not like that.---So what does the movie HAVE? It is a lightheaded comedy about serious things like poverty, capitalism, staying together, how people use art and history to construct their collective identities, and above all, how the perfectionism and glitzy effects of modern film-making takes the joy and creativity away from the people and makes us passive consumers. It's about taking the joy and power of creativity back to the people, and the communities where it belongs. A bit like the punk revolution in the music scene brought tons of kids out in the garage to start their own bands, just far more inclusive and accessible.But here's the GREAT part: The movie doesn't TRY so hard to be smart, political etc... Don't expect high- brow humour because you won't get it here! It is all packed into a light comedy frame, and almost exclusively looks at the bright side of life, with a heartwarming belief in the good of people and the strength of people staying together. It's hilarious, but slightly cultish, those in love of cult movies and seeking and alternative to a Hollywood machine drenched in dollars will absolutely love it. Others will have a great time too.Watch it. But watch it for what it is, not for what it's not.
Shockingly Terrible
posted on 09 Jul 2009Me and my friend went to the movie's, too see the new Michel Gondry movie. I am a huge fan on Jack Black and love him in School of Rock, however this was not his best work.Me and my friend had heard the movie was very average but however i was sure i would like it.I was shocked and stunned at what i saw, the point of the movie started around 35 minutes into the movie, it was unfunny, bad script, bad acting on some parts (not Jack Black, Mos Def or Mia Farrow) the point of the movie was overlooked and people were getting restless.People began leaving the movie after 40 minutes or so and at the hour mark I done the same.After being shockingly disappointed, i proceeded to ask for my money back after i paid £5 for the ticket, the wouldn't let me have it back.The film was shocking and I wouldn't advise anyone to go and see it.The promos, FALSE ADVERTISING! Just Plain Bad!Film is terrible!
Late Fees!
posted on 30 Aug 2009Michel Gondry's new film "Be Kind Rewind", stars Jack Black, Mos Def and Danny Glover. Gondry, who won an Oscar for his screenplay to 2005's "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", again serves as writer and director of this all-too blatantly whimsical tale about two regular guys from Passaic, NJ. Def plays Mike, a clerk in a corner video store owned by his surrogate father Mr. Fletcher(Glover) whose video library consists of nothing but old VHS tapes. Not a DVD in sight. When neighboring mechanic Jerry (Black) is suddenly magnetized by a freak accident at a nearby power plant, he inadvertently erases all of the tapes in the store's library. In an effort to replace the now useless tapes, the two amateurs take to videotaping their own 20 minute versions of the stores many titles. As a former video store clerk myself, I must admit I was really looking forward to this film. The concept was a good one, although after it's viewing I can't help but feel that the idea was about ten years too late and more suited for a skit on a late night comedy show. The amateur versions of films like "2001: A Space Odyssey" "Driving Miss Daisy" and "Robocop" are genuinely funny, but the intervening dialogue is so quirky and unmotivated that it's hardly holds your interest. Jack Black is a talent and can be quite charming when given the right material, but here his antics appear to be more-of-the-same and at times quite annoying. Def fairs better and is certainly the more likable protagonist. His Mike is more appealing and sympathetic and his relationship with Glover's Fletcher seems real and genuine. Melonie Diaz has an appealing introduction in the film as a dry cleaning worker turned actress in Black and Def's amateur outings. But she quickly fades into the background as one of the many unrealized characterizations of the script. Along the way Mia Farrow and Sigourney Weaver somehow show up in small roles that are more distracting then helpful. Many of the unknown actors portraying the eccentric video store customers who eventually get in on the act are more appealing than the star cameos. The film has a stark realistic urban look to it reminiscent of urban dramas of two decades ago, but the overdrawn characters don't quite fit the set pieces the film has created. What does work in "Be Kind Rewind" is the wrap-around story of Mr. Fletcher's attempt to save his shop's demolition from urban renewal as well as his infatuation with jazz pianist Fats Waller. Fletcher has fooled Mike into believing his store is the birthplace of the famous jazz great. The eventual plot-turn the Waller story plays in the film's final scenes work well but arrive too late to matter. Yet, Glover's work is the strongest in the film and you can't help but feel for this antique of a character whose only real vice is his fading attempt to hold on to the past. I really wanted to like this movie. But it felt like I was watching something made many, many years ago that I had always meant to see, but in the end it didn't live up to it's reputation. Although I found the film's conclusion rewarding, the often useless meandering by the films other two stars don't allow any genuine moments to add up to much. www.retailconfessions.com