During the weekend I was flipping channels and happened across a VH1 show giving the top ten videos countdown. Since I seldom see videos these days, I kept watching, and several of them looked really great. Although I haven't seen any of the "Fast and Furious" flicks, I realized that one of the videos was a tribute to Paul Walker, the actor who was killed before completing the last film; what gave me the clue was the montage of car chases, and the final shot with one car veering away from the group on a highway to travel off on a different road. From what I read on IMDb, that's probably the final scene of his last film, as well. It was very moving, even for someone who hadn't seen the films.

Well, then I feel like a rugged Stoic of film watching. I would say that first 10 minutes might be worse than the rest, as they are not redeemed by the presence of Wilson, Brolin, Del Toro, or Witherspoon - all pro actors who fully commit to making the most of what is presented on the script page for them. Of course, they way I phrased that sentence carries more condemnation than praise.

I also hope that Sam Waterston did not dare to watch this movie. There is a scene in which his daughter, buck naked, sits on a couch next to Phoenix, conversing and pleasuring herself for several minutes. Like many scenes in the film, I suspect Pynchon could write that far better than anyone could shoot it. Things Pynchon wrote that would come out funny in the theater of the reader's mind, just come out sad and contrived in front of an actual camera.

(EDIT: I see Gromit saw the film in April and liked it, comparing it to Lebowski. While I'd agree that Phoenix's character had many Dude-like qualities, I think that resonance actually hurt the film, as the story fell so far short of TBL. I think Pynchon may be an acquired taste....once you understand what kind of ride you're on, you can enjoy it?)