Joe and I rented Mr. Jealousy (1997) because it was written and directed by Noah Baumbach, who also wrote and directed the very funny Kicking and Screaming, the squirmingly well-observed the Squid and the Whale, and penned the charming The Life Aquatic by Wes Anderson. Mr. Jealousy seemed like it was his first film, and I was surprised to find that it actually came after Kicking and Screaming. It had all the trademarks of his other films, with some excellent dialogue at times, interesting characters in strange situations. But it felt like a first film because it seemed way too in love with itself, trying to be showy and clever with fancy camerawork that is always panning and zooming, iris in and out, jumpcuts and freeze frames galore. The narration felt overwritten and completely unnecessary, and the main characters were prone to literary monologuing, as though they were in a stageplay. Eric Stoltz and Annabella Sciorra are pretty good as a new couple whose relationship is threatened by the guy's excessive jealousy, but the supporting cast overact as though they are projecting to the back of the theatre, probably because the script is so theatrical. And, wow, a lot of sensitive rock guitar. Baumbach is certainly talented and it comes through despite all the excess, but he is so much better when he doesn't try so darned hard.
Then we watched Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Steve Martin and Michael Caine who play two conmen out to gold-dig. What a delightful confection! What a comic treat! Great acting, great script that twists and kicks all the way to the ending. What a pleasure!
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