Fast Five Rio Premiere -- Recap

When it comes to red carpet events most people picture gorgeous men in suits and beautiful women is designer dresses, photographers and of course a variety of media outlets to catch sound bites from the celebrities walking the carpet. However every once in a while something different happens. Fast Five brought their Rio red carpet premiere to viewers around the world through live streaming, using several different outlets including Facebook, as well as streaming live to a dozen movie theaters around the country. This seems like an impressive move, but the success of the event is up for debate. Hosted by Fast Five star Tyrese Gibson and former Miss USA Susie Castillo, the red carpet ran a total of 60 minutes, although at times it felt like it was much longer. However had it not been for the over zealous Tyrese, the event would have been a massive fail.

Opening the event was an interview with director Justin Lin who had little to say outside of great compliments for the Fast family. Even after being asked several times if there was plans to be a sixth film, Lin kept mum on the subject.

Dwayne Johnson was the next star to walk the carpet. Dwayne confessed to felling very welcome as one of the newest additions to the family, but the attention quickly turned to a discussion regarding a fight sequence in the film. Tyrese spilled that the fight between Dwayne and Vin Diesel was something that will make Fast Five memorable and Johnson chimed in by saying that “they knew as a team that they had an incredible opportunity to do something”. He added that he would have loved to see Stallone and Schwarzenegger face off, only being beaten if Bruce Willis was thrown into the fight, and that the fight with Diesel was to make up for a fight of that caliber having not yet existing in film. Tyrese wrapped up the interview by asking if Vin and Dwayne were to face off in the real life, who would win? Johnson replied with “I would whoop his ass.”

Paul Walker followed and the only thing that became obvious during this round of questions was the previously unknown bro-mance that exists between Tyrese and Paul, ending with a rather long embrace shared between the two stars. Following Paul was a very awkward moment with the host of MTV Brasil, where he practically dissed a young teen who was attending the event. Needless to say this was only the beginning of the downhill turn the premiere had suddenly taken. With audio issues that plagued the remaining interviews, more awkward moments made by unprepared hosts and timing issues, it suddenly felt like a very unprofessional event and those of us sitting in the theater only hoped that the arrival of the lead star would change things for the better.

Vin Diesel arrived to the carpet in one of the movie’s matte painted Dodge Chargers. Granted this was the highlight arrival, but the interview was just as awkward as the lead up. Host Susie Castillo struggled to keep the momentum moving, and the late arrival of Tyrese was the only saving grace. The first real laugh was brought out when asked if Vin could say one thing to the Fast fans, what would it be and he answered “I live my life one quarter mile at a time,” at which point it became obvious there was a pre-party before the carpet. Trying to bring things back to a serious note, Tyrese once again asked straight up if Vin and Dwayne were to face off, who would win. Vin responded by stepping up to the camera and saying “I’m a New Yorker. I’m the last kid to fuck with.”

Unfortunately there was still another twenty minutes to go before the premiere was scheduled to end and it was a slow drag to keep things moving. With a few sneak peak clips thrown into the mix and what felt like filler interviews with the remaining cast, the only thing left to do to kill time was for Tyrese to plug Twitter accounts, Paul Walker’s company AE Performance, and a little self-promoting regarding his upcoming album. It was a little painful to watch but the few laughs were worth the hour viewing. It was a nice change to see a cast and crew so full of love and respect for each other that it almost because a bit sickening sweet. I’m not sure if live streaming is the way of the future, or if this screening was enough of a success for Universal to try it again but it will be interesting to see what happens in the future.

CHECK OUT MY REVIEW OF THE MOVIE HERE:  http://lunch.com/t/6nbf

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS -- Review

Under most circumstances I love period pieces. All of the research and work that goes into a production from start to finish that makes the film feel authentic. Wardrobe, hair styles, make-up, props, vehicles/transportation, speech, etc. All of the little things that can ultimately make or break a period piece if it is supposed to feel realistic. Right off the bat we are told that "THIS FILM TAKES PLACE IN 1931", like we are being beat over the head with that fact, which I get but I think the images you are shown give you enough to be able to come to that conclusion for yourself.

Water for Elephants is a pretty picture to look at, with potential for something quite good based on their casting choices, but the flick itself falls flat. I can't quite tell you where it missed the ball, but there is just something that doesn't feel right. It might be that the film is too short to really give it the one-two I was hoping for. It might be that the book is so dark and twisted that the studio felt it wouldn't translate well to audiences through a visual medium so they left out some of the more grusome details. It might just be that the cast did not get into the roles enough to deliver truly believable characters. All I know is that when I walked out I felt like I had spent 2 hrs watching people talk in mono-tones and wasn't sure where to go from there.

I'll be honest, I have not read the novel, and in a way I was glad because the last few films I have gone to see that were based off books let me down as they did not live up to the potential of the stories. I went in expecting Christoph Waltz to be this horribly delicious evil man, living up to the type-casting that he has been subjected to since playing Col. Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds, but no. He was sadly not as visious as I wanted him to be. I know it's gross that I'm saying this but I wanted to see him throw around and beat Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), but no he was a bad man... but not a "BAD" man. Even Reese Witherspoon was her usual self, as she gave an average performance. Robert Pattinson did a decent job portraying a 1930s american, and it was nice to see a little color to him than the usual pale white we've been seeing for the last 3 years.

I think my biggest issue with Water for Elephants is that it is presented as a flashback film, and there is no point to it. Maybe the telling of the story in this method is pulled off in the novel, but for the film I'd rather have been unaware of the outcome of these characters than know going in that no matter how much shit they go through in the end everything turns out ok in a happy ending. It made the suspense of the film a little less effective since we knew the main characters were truly in no real danger at all.

All in all I give Water for Elephants a 1 out of 5 for effort.