booboo
Air Kentucky Flight Attendant
Posts: 256
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Post by booboo on Mar 12, 2005 17:14:01 GMT -5
First review I could find...
SXSW World Premiere, Austin, Texas, 12 March 2005
Author: Suzanne-18 from United States
Crispin Glover once achieved a certain degree of notoriety as a result of his antics on the David Letterman Show, so it is not without irony that the two of us recently achieved a certain minor degree of notoriety after being recognized by Glover himself as the two who walked out of the regional premiere of his new movie, "What is it?".
That said, there's no way we would have walked out of last night's premiere of this wonderfully heartwarming and uplifting movie. Beautifully written, with simple yet meaningful and powerful dialog to which any screenwriter might aspire, "The Wendell Baker Story" is the kind of movie that I would have liked to take my dad to see if only he were still alive, which is more than I can say for Crispin's movie.
Not that there's any comparison whatsoever between the two, but if you go to movies to suspend your disbelief, to live in the moment, to empathize with the characters and become one with the artistic vision of the writer and director(s), then this is a movie you'll want to see.
And another little snippet from one who was there...
The film was far more than I expacted, and it was awesome being able to see it with the 3 Wilson's in the audience along with Seymore Cassel and many of the other supporting actors. SXSW is lucky to have these guys putting it on there.
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Post by Remi on Mar 12, 2005 17:32:26 GMT -5
WONDERFUL!!! Thanks boo boo!
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Post by Gage51 on Mar 12, 2005 18:53:20 GMT -5
OH MY GOD! What a WONDERFUL review! That's fantastic! I'm so happy! Beth
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Post by Pollyanna on Mar 12, 2005 19:06:49 GMT -5
Thanks boo boo Great find! Things just keep getting better and better ;D
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Post by itsanowenthing on Mar 12, 2005 19:29:31 GMT -5
What a great review. I'm so happy for Luke. I hope this means he'll get his movie distributed real soon!
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Post by letters2dorian on Mar 12, 2005 19:44:36 GMT -5
wow!! i'm soo happy to hear that critics liked the movie!! i can't wait to see it!
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booboo
Air Kentucky Flight Attendant
Posts: 256
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Post by booboo on Mar 13, 2005 2:02:54 GMT -5
Another review from AICN...
First on the list of films this year was The Wendell Baker Story. This film is the directorial debut of Andrew and Luke Wilson. It follows a con-man Wendell Baker (Luke) who ends up in jail after being busted for selling fake IDs to border jumpers in south Texas. He goes to jail and ultimately loses his smokin’ hot girlfriend (Eva Mendes) and decides to get his life back together when he gets out. When he does get paroled, he gets a job at a retirement hotel working for a low-life boss (Owen Wilson) and trying to get his girl back from her new beau (Will Ferrel). He befriends the elderly residents of the home and fights the good fight.
This movie started off sort of slow. It really doesn’t get its feet until Wendell gets out of jail and starts working at the retirement home. I will say this, my favorite part of this movie was seeing Harry Dean Stanton steal scenes away from anyone lucky enough to be in them with him. Harry Dean Stanton, Kris Kristofferson and Seymour Cassel create a holy trinity of badasses.
Will Ferrel is great in the two scenes he is given. Well, any scene with Will Ferrel usually ends up pretty awesome, but I digress.
Overall, I dug the movie. It was filmed in Austin last year and it was quite cool to see some classic Austin images up on the screen.
So, after a nice heart-warming tale we walked down to the world-famous Alamo Drafthouse to catch a special screening of The Aristocrats.
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Post by Pollyanna on Mar 13, 2005 7:21:43 GMT -5
Thanks boo I spotted this one on aicn too from Quint. THE WENDELL BAKER STORY Wendell Baker is a likable guy. He's very energetic, charming and a supremely nice guy. He's with a beautiful woman who adores him (Eva Mendes), but the problem is Wendell likes to involve himself in illegal activities, be it an insurance scam or selling finely crafted fake Texas licenses to illegals from Mexico. Let's just say, things go bad for Baker (Luke Wilson) and he ends up in prison. His woman leaves him and he's left with time to think about his life and which direction he wants to go with it. Imagine that, but as a comedy. The film is a success. It's not perfect, but I really enjoyed it. Especially when Wendell gets out of prison and goes to work for a Nursing Home, run by Owen Wilson. It's Wendell's relationship with the patients that really make this movie worth recommending. I mean, Luke Wilson holds the film pretty well until that time, but when he's working off of Owen and Eddie Griffin the movie gets really charged. Add on to that his relationship with some great older actors... the wonderful Harry Dean Stanton ("Ordinary f**k**g people. I hate 'em."), Wilson/Anderson regular Seymour Cassel and Kris Kristofferson and you have the heart of the film. It's a sweet film that mostly works and hell... it was great to see Austin filmed so lovingly. Since I've been out of Austin for almost 6 weeks, traveling around the world, and have just returned with a couple days rest before this day, the opening montage of the 360 Bridge, the UT Tower and other very familiar spots this acted as an almost re-introduction to the city that I've lived in for almost 12 years. Plus Will Ferrell's got a hilariously funny bit part in it that is worth finding this movie just to see.
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Post by Nana on Mar 13, 2005 8:08:30 GMT -5
Oh man, I`m so happy with these reviews.
Now I can`t wait to see TWBS!!!
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Post by Gage51 on Mar 13, 2005 12:33:30 GMT -5
Thanks for all these reviews guys. I'm glad to hear that people are liking it. Beth
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Post by itsanowenthing on Mar 13, 2005 17:03:44 GMT -5
Thanks for those great reviews. It's sounding better & better all the time!
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booboo
Air Kentucky Flight Attendant
Posts: 256
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Post by booboo on Mar 14, 2005 4:43:43 GMT -5
Another positive review
a good laugh and an easy watch, 13 March 2005 Author: rob-933 from United States
The Wendell Baker Story will never be listed as movie classic. It will not score at acting awards, and it does have a profound message. That said, it manages to entertain, make us laugh and smile, and provide through enjoyment without insulting our intelligence, and without resorting to endless car chases, fire crashes, or silly special effects.
What we have here is old-fashioned movie entertainment – solid acting, an engaging story, and all of the basics done solidly: costuming, direction, lighting, editing, and, especially, music.
Both Luke and Owen Wilson are more than competent in their respective roles as a light-weight con man and a conspiring old home administrator/head nurse. Indeed, I saw a little more acting talent here than in Owen Wilson's other recent attempts, such as Behind Enemy Lines.
While Owen and Luke's name may be at the head of the credits (along with their brother Andrew, who is the film's Director), the best performances come from Harry Dean Stanton and Seymour Cassell, who play playful, but sincere and believable residents of the old age home where Luke Wilson's character works, and which Owen Wilson's character runs. Alas, the same cannot be said for the legend Kris Kristofferson, whose roll comes off as predictable and trite, with the same artificial "I am wise and serene" facial expression done far too many times.
The story is easy enough. Wendell Baker (Luke Wilson) spends his time scheming his next (read first) fortune, planning all kinds of shady and illegal schemes. Baker and his friend (played by Jacob Vargas) get caught providing fake Texas identifications to illegal immigrant farm workers. He ends up in a federal jail in Texas, where he gets along well and does not seem to miss his girlfriend, played by Eva Mendes.
Baker is eventually paroled, and ordered to work at a "retirement hotel." While little happens at the retirement place, Baker does not learn of an ongoing to scheme to ship seniors to Oklahoma, so that the administrators can collect their pension checks and sell their medicines on the black market. OK, so it is not Shakespeare. It is light, it moves at a good pace, and Wendell becomes more and more liked by the audience.
If one looks, there are messages to be had. We are reminded that senior citizens have passions and sex drives, that the people pouring across the border from Mexico largely just want to work and get by, and that all of us deserve a second chance. Bets of all, we learn this by being happily entertained by a fun, easy-going movie.
Hey wouldn't it be great if the Wilsonettes went to IMDB and voted for the film??? Just an idea.
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Post by Natalie on Mar 14, 2005 9:00:47 GMT -5
I thought the movie was fantastic. Everyone laughed throughout the whole thing. It was touching, yet it had some very witty dialogue. And I did ask Andrew if they had a distributor yet, and he told me no, but they are shopping it around. On the other hand, when I said to Luke, "I really hope you guys find a distributor soon." He said to me, "Yeah! We will!" As if to say, you even doubt that we won't find one?!
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Post by Pollyanna on Mar 14, 2005 16:34:44 GMT -5
Glad you loved the movie Natalie and got to meet the Wilsons Nice to hear Luke is feeling so positive Comingsoon.net has a review up The Wendell Baker Story Reviewed by: Scott "Klimber" Martinez Rating: 6 out of 10 Movie Details: View here Cast: Luke Wilson as Wendell Baker Owen Wilson as Neil King Eva Mendes as Doreen Seymour Cassel as Boyd Jacob Vargas as Reyes Harry Dean Stanton as Skip Kris Kristofferson as Nasher Eddie Griffin as McTeague Analysis: The Wendell Baker Story, a quirky story of one man's strife to become a better person, debuts as the first writing and directorial credit for Luke Wilson working in tandem with older brother Andrew Wilson who was also taking his first spin in the director chair. The film focuses on title character Wendell Baker (Luke Wilson) who is a Texas con man with a good heart and lofty dreams. Baker's latest scheme lands him in prison for selling fake ids to illegal aliens that just crossed the US border from Mexico. This latest incarceration takes it toll in his longtime relationship with girlfriend Doreen (Eva Mendes), best friend and partner Reyes (Jacob Vargas) and even his dog, Junior. The film portrays an extremely upbeat, campy spin on the reality of prison life that writer/director/star Luke Wilson relates to as "Wendell's version of a college experience". While in prison, the ever optimistic Wendell chooses to turn his life around and begins to educate himself in the world of hotel management. After his release the former conman attempts to regain his former life by getting a job at Shady Grove retirement hotel. Baker befriends senior citizen residents Boyd (Seymour Cassel), Skip (Harry Dean Stanton) and Nasher (Kris Kristofferson) who assist the reformed con to win back ex-girlfriend Doreen. The friendship between Baker and his new friends soon becomes a battlefront against the management of the retirement hotel headed by evil head nurse, Neil King (brother Owen Wilson) and henchman McTeague (Eddie Griffin). For the first time in Wendell's life the critical decision of putting others above himself is thrust in his lap. The film itself is very light hearted and fun but almost a tad cheesy at times. While the actors all gave superior performances, some of the story plot is lost in silly scenarios that place the main character in strange situations. The backdrop of Austin, Texas and surrounding area is beautiful and well displayed as an additional costar to this film. Some of the film is still somewhat rough and with a true indie film approach to filmmaking but overall well done in capturing the vision of the filmmaking brothers. This film was originally produced by the now defunct Franchise Pictures but finished its production through Mobius Entertainment. At the time of this review, the film is searching for distribution of the film so it would be anyone's guess as to when we will see this film in the theater. Accompanied by this pic
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Post by hurltomato on Mar 14, 2005 17:54:53 GMT -5
OK, so it is not Shakespeare. It is light, it moves at a good pace, and Wendell becomes more and more liked by the audience. Any theme based on a nursing home facility will never, ever be a best seller, but for those of us who are interconnected, we will champion and retell the unlimited wealth of human interest stories to the Luke Wilsons of the world. I truly admire Luke's bravery to insert his directorial debut HERE... You have NO IDEA people!! Great reknown character actors made It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World, a comedy classic of it's time and a true money maker for it's genre....
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