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For Your Consideration [2006]


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Funny already
Review date: 2008-09-02 Rating: 8 out of 10

This is very clever hilarious satire. Like Woody Allen the jokes are sometime subtle. Some of the cameos are superb, watch for Nina Conti and her cheeky monkey. However, I suspect a lot of the joke will be missed unless you know what the Jewish festival Purim is. As Ricky Gervais's character says, the film needs to be less Jewish to appeal, but that would destroy the point of the film.

The one disappointment is the ending, it fizzles out rather than having a definitive ending. I guess that the weakness of the mockumentary style.

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Reviews


Quietly amusing mockumentary style satire of Hollywood
Review date: 2008-02-20 Rating: 6 out of 10

Christopher Guest set a high bar for mockumentaries, with the likes of Best in Show and of course, Spinal Tap. However, in his latest outing he fails to reach those heights, even if he makes a movie which is still intermittently mirthsome and has some heart to go with the satire.
The mockumentary style is toned down a little, making this a slightly more conventional film than usual. When the cast of has-beens and preening wannabes of a new B-movie `Home For Purim' find out that they are generating Oscar buzz, they start to believe the hype and act in increasingly erratic ways as their egos clash with the artificiality of Hollywood chat shows, agents, and producers.
There is definitely some genuine wit here - `Oscars - the backbone of an industry that doesn't have a backbone', but some characters work better than others, and there are few really scathing moments you'll remember long after the movie. (`French movies? Hate the subtitles... I keep thinking I am watching breaking news...').
Highlights include the truly dreadfully shallow Hollywood chat show presenters, and more especially the actors strained smiles as they listen to unforgivably crass questions coming their way. The moment when the show goes out to interview the `losers' who were not nominated is terrific, and seals the deal to turn warm smiles into chuckles for this reviewer. Best of all is the cameo from Ricky Gervais, the studio director who asks if it is possible to `tone down the Jewishness'.
A success then, worth watching, just not a rolling in the aisles laugh-fest.


So much to enjoy!
Review date: 2007-11-19 Rating: 8 out of 10

After reading quite a few disappointing reviews of this film, I felt less and less in a hurry to go and see it, even though I am a big Christopher Guest fan. But boy, am I glad I finally did buy a copy! Even if it feels a bit sketchy in places, every scene is a joy to watch, and the outtakes on the DVD are easily as good as anything that did make the final cut. Christopher Guest generously gives each member of his wonderful cast at least one scene to shine, and shine they do. Much has been said about Catherine O'Hara's performance, and she IS wonderful, both heartbreaking and hilarious as the character actress who gets bitten by the Oscar-bug. Fred Willard and the wonderful Jane Lynch are absolutely hysterical as the morning-tv show hosts from hell, who aren't that far away from anything we actually see on tv every day. As with all good satire, it feels like you are watching a documentary. When you see Catherine O'Hara's character watching the oscar nominees being read out on tv, waiting for her own name to be mentioned, you realise: that's what it actually must be like for these actresses! So, all in all, perhaps not Christopher Guest's most solid film, but I assure you, if you have liked his work before, you are going to love this one. I certainly did!

Disappointing effort from Christopher Guest
Review date: 2007-08-13 Rating: 6 out of 10

This one sees Christopher Guest and his troupe of comedy performers ditch their usual mockumentary approach and take a run at a more conventional, narrative-based story. It's about a group of actors whose egos become inflated when they hear a rumour that the ludicrously overwrought family drama they're working on, Home For Purim, might be a contender for several Oscars. A few laughs follow, but not enough to sustain a whole film.

Guest has always leaned heavily on caricature in his films, something that works well in his fake documentaries, but the over-exaggeration on display in this more traditional story (as well as his use of flimsy, one-dimensional characters) sabotages For Your Consideration's satirical intentions. Maybe it's a result of their improvisational method, but almost the entire cast pushes things much too far, and you're left feeling that what's happening is just a bunch of random silliness that's too aimless and not nearly funny enough.

The one possible exception is Catherine O'Hara, who comes closest to portraying a multi-faceted character, milking plenty of humour as her vanity spirals out of control but also showing some vulnerability as we see how important a nomination is to her. She's the best thing in the film, but it's an uneven performance - even she can't resist the temptation to go over the top later in the story.

As Guest's films go, this is definitely one of his lesser efforts. Had they toned things down a bit, it could have been much funnier. Also, I could have done without Ricky Gervais, who turns up to trot out his increasingly tired `grinning smug guy' act gain. If you're new to Guest's work, this not the place to start. Check out the hilarious dog breeder lampooning of Best In Show instead.

And The Winner Isn't....
Review date: 2007-08-07 Rating: 6 out of 10

I find Christopher Guests' mockumentary film projects really hit and miss. A Mighty Wind and Spinal Tap are great. Guffman has its moments. Best In Show was interesting - with some great characterizations - though not particularly funny. But watching For Your Consideration was just a depressing experience.

The film is dominated by Catherine O'Hara's masterful performance as Marilyn Hack, an aging actress who allows herself to believe that she might just be in with a chance of an Oscar nomination. It was no fun watching her disintigrate before my eyes. The line between comedy and tragedy was crossed by miles - and in totally the wrong direction.

The film within the film, the vehicle that is meant to have facilitated the three potential Oscar-worthy performances, is all too predictably terrible. It has all the production values of a hackneyed 50s melodrama. It's not credible. It's not meant to be, I know, but neither is it funny, which was, I can only imagine, the idea. It would perhaps have been more worthwhile if it had, in fact, been halfway decent. At least it would have brought some kind of truth to the proceedings.

Aside from O'Hara, Parker Posey, Jane Lynch and Michael McKean, the ensemble cast of regulars turn in some of the most ill-judged characterizations I've ever seen them do. Cartoon-like and obvious, for the most part. John Michael Higgins and his bad, ginger wig prove to be an utter disappointment. On the other hand, Guest's character is wonderfully well-observed but not funny in the slightest. Whilst Fred Willard is allowed to play yet another variation of the same crass, obnoxious, loud-mouth he plays in every Guest movie. Why does he keep inviting him back???

Guest's films are, at the very least, interesting to watch. But don't expect a barrel of laughs this time around.





Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Harry Shearer
Eugene Levy
Catherine O'Hara
Parker Posey
Christopher Guest

Creators:
Eugene Levy (Primary Contributor)
Catherine O'Hara (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900040303
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2007-06-04
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 83 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2006
Language: English (Original Language)

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