Bug and Bobby (DVD)

Bug - Bug is the kind of movie that you are either going to love or hate. Personally, I absolutely loved it. It's not exactly what I was expecting going into it but in many ways that made it better than I was hoping for. It's a slow-burning, calculating, deliberate movie that sets a steady pace and includes wonderful dialogue for the lead actors. The story follows Agnes (Ashley Judd), a divorcee with a drinking and drug problem who lives by herself in a dingy, deserted hotel and who moonlights as a waitress at a lesbian bar. One night, her friend/part-time lesbian lover introduces her to the quiet and mysterious Peter (Michael Shannon), an ex-Army soldier who may or may not be a paranoid delusional. They form an unlikey and reluctant relationship built around a friendship that forms quickly because they like to talk to each other. Then there is Agnes' ex-husband Jerry (Harry Connick Jr.) who is abusive and abrasive and who storms in and out of their lives over a few day period. At first, the story is very slow moving but you really learn about the characters which is so important for what's to come in the end. The final act is weird and creepy and really makes you think. I don't want to give anything away so go see it for yourself and then we can talk about what you made of the ending. Ashley Judd gives a fine performance but Michael Shannon is amazing. His performance is absolutely fearless. I don't know that Bug is exactly going to be the kind of movie that the Oscars will love but Shannon deserves an Oscar for his performance in this movie. No contest. He's absolutely amazing to watch. He's been so underused and underappreciated for many years and hopefully this movie will help him get some well-deserved recognition. Overall, if you are willing to give the weirdness of Bug a try, then it just may become your favorite movie of 2007 so far (because it's definitely mine).
Grade: A

Bobby - While I quite like the ever popular movie trend of intertwining stories of strangers whose lives cross at critical moments, there is a major problem with it. If it's not done perfectly, it can seem messy. That's the problem with Bobby. There is way too much going on in this story and it's not done perfectly. It's one huge mess. There are way too many characters whose lives all intersect at Los Angeles' Ambassador Hotel on the night presidential hopeful Bobby Kennedy was shot. There is an adulterous manager played by William H. Macy, his hair stylist wife played by Sharon Stone and his switchboard operator girlfriend played by Heather Graham. There's an alcoholic lounge singer played by Demi Moore and her silently suffering manager husband played by Emilio Estevez (who also wrote and directed). There's the head of the kitchen played by Christian Slater who oversees workers played by Freddy Rodriguez and Laurence Fishburn. Lindsey Lohan plays a girl trying to save a former classmate (Elijah Wood) from going to Vietnam by marrying him. There are various workers and supporters of Bobby's compaign (Shia LaBeouf, Joshua Jackson, Nick Cannon - who is a terrible actor). Anthony Hopkins is the former doorman at the hotel. Ashton Kutcher turns up as a drug dealer and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (who I adore) is in a few scenes as a waitress/struggling actress. Martin Sheen and Helen Hunt are... some people who are there? I'm sure I've missed half the cast but that's just my point - way, way too much going on here. The script is not strong enough and it just becomes a huge mess of a movie. I'll admit that the last fifteen minutes or so are very well done and emotional but that doesn't make up for the rest of the movie. Sharon Stone, Demi Moore and Freddy Rodriguez do their best to save the fumbling mess and Shia LaBeouf in all of his bare assed, LSD tripping glory is easily the best thing about the movie. I was so looking forward to seeing this movie and it was such a huge disappointment.

Grade: D+