duff37 Reviews

Evolution (2001)

Bottom of the food chain

[1/10 · 5 January 2002]

'Evolution' is the movie equivalent of your tonsils: You're not sure why they were made, and once you're done with them you're left with only pain and discomfort.

Director Ivan Reitman has made some good stuff, most notably 'Ghostbusters.' This movie is 'Gross Bluster.' Like Ghostbusters, the plot revolves around some misfit scientists who discover a paranormal (this time alien) threat to humanity. But rather than ensuing hi-jinx, Evolution is hi-junk.

David Duchnovy plays the 'Bill Murray wacky scientist' character with alarming comedic indifference. His sidekick, Orlando Jones, is sort of Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, and Dan Ayckroyd rolled into one annoying character. Ayckroyd himself even makes a cameo, just to remind us we're watching 'Ghostbusters,' only without the laughs, story, characters, script, or direction.

Julianne Moore and Seann William Scott round out one of the most wasted groups of talent in recent film memory. Most of the jokes (and the plot) revolve around Reitman's seemingly endless obsession with rear ends. Fitting, since that seems to be where 'Evolution' crawled out from: Ivan Reitman's rear end. For him, this is definitely 'De-volution.'

To Have and Have Not (1944)

Call it 'Casa-noir'

[30 December 2001]

To Have and Have Not is sort of the darker, grittier Casablanca. And while it 'has not' the budget, length, or glamour of its alter-ego, it 'has' an eccentric realism Casablanca can't touch.

Instead of Rick the heartbroken bar-owner, Bogie plays Harry the angry fish-boat owner. Like Rick, Harry's an American expatriate living in an exotic French colony during WWII. Like Rick, Harry wants no involvement in the war, or the people in it. Like Rick, Harry changes his mind because of a woman.

What separates To Have and Have Not from Casablanca is its unwillingness to wrap things up into simple, pretty packages. This realism gives the movie a charm that makes it a lot more believable than Casablanca.

Unlike Ingrid Bergman, Lauren Bacall is an earthy, multi-layered character, the perfect foil for Bogie. She calls him Steve (for no reason in particular), tries to get under his skin, and delivers some of the most memorable lines in cinematic history. "You know how to whistle, don't ya Steve?"

Walter Brennan is at his caricature best, playing the fool (and Harry's conscience). He helps--and hinders--Harry/Steve's attempt to help a resistance fighter to safety, while providing a few light laughs to complement the witty jousting between Bogie and Bacall.

The world is not at stake in Martinique, and everything doesn't end with a beautiful friendship. But To Have and Have Not will leave you wanting to play it again...Steve.