Arizona Reporter - Movie Reviews - 20/03
The Bounty Hunter "Money-Wasting Movie"


Bookmark and Share

By Susan Granger - Why and for how long can Jennifer Aniston make formulaic romantic comedies? Certainly she was appealing as Rachel on "Friends," the long-running TV series for which she and her cohorts banked multi-millions. But since then, Aniston’s become more known for her diet, lustrous hair and love life than her thespian efforts. Relentlessly courting the fashion press, she invariably wears stylish outfits and totes the latest handbag, as chronicled by ubiquitous magazine editors. But she has yet to prove herself a real movie star.

Twitter.com/ArizonaReporter


The Bounty Hunter (Sony Pictures Entertainment)

Following the debacle of last year’s "Love Happens," in this synthetic, obviously generic, action-oriented trifle, Aniston plays Nicole Hurley, a New York Daily News reporter prone to dashing about in tight tank tops, mini-skirts and stiletto heels. (Contrary to what fanciful costume designers think, this is neither appropriate nor practical business attire for an investigative journalist). Nicole is just about to crack a murder cover-up/corruption case when an idiotic accident involving a police horse results in a warrant for her arrest.

Since her boorish, bitter ex-husband, Milo Boyd (Gerard Butler), is a policeman-turned-bounty hunter with heavy gambling debts, he’s determined to turn her in. She resists. He pursues. She blathers. He blusters. What happens is not only tediously predictable but also somewhat baffling. That these bickering ex-spouses will re-connect is inevitable but his caveman-like courtship behavior and their insipid banter suffers in the hands of screenwriter Sarah Thorp and director Andy Tennant ("Fool’s Gold," "Sweet Home Alabama"). Instead of reining in the frenetic gesticulating by everyone, including supporting actors Christine Baranski, Jason Sudeikis and Jeff Garlin, the filmmakers seem far more concerned about reaping in product placement payoffs, particularly the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.

While the tabloids have been incessantly thumping their allegedly steamy off-screen romance, Aniston and Butler exude zero on-screen chemistry. Indeed, one wonders why mismatched Nicole/Milo ever dated in the first place, let along got married. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, "The Bounty Hunter" is a time-frittering, money-wasting 2. Bail on this an annoying, obnoxious odd couple.

© 2010 Susan Granger - "The Bounty Hunter" (Sony Pictures Entertainment)



© 2010 Arizona Reporter (reproduction prohibited)
blog comments powered by Disqus

Entertainment

Stallone, "Bullets are easy , emotions are hard"

I like two types of films, action and westerns, both with guns, balls and beautiful women. Bullets and blood are exactly how Sly closed out his infamous Rambo franchise and as a director he has learned a vital ingredient in filmmaking-to surround oneself with the finest in the trade that can compliment the grittiness and violence his more recent films are known for.

Two Stand Up For Mel Gibson, One Rich, One Poor

Probably one of the best examples of Tourette Syndrome I can think of is the Irish bartender characterized by (Gerard Parkes) in Troy Duffy's directed franchise - The Boondock Saints. Simple or complex the neurological disorder affects more people than one would imagine. Historically having its suffers labeled with being demon possessed.

Quantum Leap Thinking

You Don't Have to Do It Alone

How many wonderful ideas have never been put out in world because their creator was afraid of appearing foolish? How many people have stifled their creativity because of fear? How many of you have never allowed your creative vision to become reality for fear of asking for help or creating a partnership? Far too many, I'm afraid.
More Quantum Thinking

  Finding AZR
  XML/RSS Feed


Subscribe Via Kindle

AZR is iPhone™ & iPad™ Compatible

Around Arizona

Believe your free? Want to stay that way?

Write just one sentence. Just one, I dare you... I double dare you... I triple-dog-dare you!

WRITE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE.

Of Fruit-Flies And Mosquitoes, Post Monsoon Mayhem

AZR - It's that time of year again as the monsoon rains peak; only to to give way to humidity, fruit flies and the upcoming mosquito season. Were taking this opportunity to share with you a couple tricks to ridding your home of these pesky bugs.



Arizona Guide

Arizona Fishing Report Sept. 1

With dove season being open (Sept. 1), it's a good time for a cast-n-blast trip, especially along the lower Colorado River.

Yuma has the prime dove hunting with all of its agricultural fields. During the past two weeks, however, I witnessed lots of doves all along the Colorado River from the Topock Gorge to Yuma (and also lots of fat quail for October fin and feather trips).

Arizona Events

Tucson Spanish and Flamenco Festival

2nd Annual Spanish and Flamenco Festival in historic downtown Tucson. This is a unique opportunity to experience flamenco and Spanish culture in a traditional late-night, outdoor festival atmosphere. Traditional Spanish tapas will be served along with Casa Vicente's extensive dinner menu.


Susan Granger Reviews


Piranha 3-D - Scary, Sicko and Chock Full O'Carnage

When many critics, including me, review a movie they take into consideration how well it accomplishes what it sets out to do. If it's a B horror-flick, is it a real fright-fest? Do you cringe? Do you shriek? If the answer is yes - then it accomplishes what it's meant to do, like "Snakes on a Plane."

Harvey Critic


THE AMERICAN, Grade: C

It's chic for a movie critic to say that "the book is better," but in this case-considering that the story is a slow-moving psychological suspense thriller-Martin Booth's 1990 novel is the way to go. As you turn the pages you will doubtless wonder what comes next, the type of tale that intrigues on the page but comes across inert on the big screen. As directed by Anton Corbijn, "The American" is spare of dialogue (script by Rowan Joffe and the novelist), the music by Herbert Grönemeyer either non-existent or anything but intrusive, with a landscape in Italy's Abruzzo region that's, what should we say, European? The medieval town built on a hill, scene of most of the action, would be nice to drive through but would hardly entice tourists to stay overnight. This is the sort of place, however, that a fellow in the service of assassins might want to live, a form of redemption that he would not likely find in his home country but rather as an expatriate living the quiet life away from what novelist Martin Booth calls "the shadow-dwellers."

  Arizona Reporter     Twitter     The Web Newsroom     XML/RSS