Bryce Zabel's MOVIE SMACKDOWN!

Michael Clayton (2007) -vs- The Rainmaker (1997)

Not Covered on the LSAT
Review by Randal Cohen

The Smackdown. American journalist and satirist Ambrose Bierce defined a lawyer as someone "skilled in the circumvention of the law" and he presciently wrote this a century before either of our two films hit the theaters and proved him right, at least cinematically. Attorneys skilled in legal short-cuts and moral flexibility give both "Michael Clayton" and "The Rainmaker" their juice. The latest, George Clooney's star-vehicle "Michael  Clayton," explores corporate greed and the massive law firms that defend these companies, casting him as a legal "janitor" who cleans up problems when things get dirty. In the "The Rainmaker," Matt Damon got to play the good David-lawyer against the bad-Goliath law firm in the starring role, but it was Danny DeVito's schemer who got to twist the law despite never having passed the bar. So, today, we put these two legal battles into the ring against each other -- separated by ten years -- and see which one gets the verdict.

The Challenger. In "Michael Clayton," Clooney plays the title character attorney for a huge national law firm that serves large corporate interests and wealthy individuals. But he doesn't practice law; instead he is a "fixer," a guy who quietly cleans up messes. The movie revolves around the firm's defense of an agriculture firm that has a pesticide that is poisoning family farmers. It has covered up its knowledge of the truth in a 'profits over lives' corporate culture. Firm litigator Arthur Edens (the great Tom Wilkinson), after years of defending these scumbags, has a moral epiphany which the firm sees as a total melt down, and resigns the case in spectacular style. Clooney is sent to quietly retrieve the wayward attorney.

Santa's 2007 Movie Smackdown!

The Smackdown. You certainly don't need to believe in Santa Claus to take inspiration from a good film that is either about the holiday or uses it as its backdrop. So here at Movie Smackdown! we've asked each of our critics to write a short blurb about a Christmas film that they have a special fondness for. Then we're going to submit those choices and others to the dreaded blog poll treatment. Which holiday film or films do you think are worth repeat viewing to get in the holiday spirit? Humbug, you say? Read on...

No, we don't think that you will likely choose "Fred Claus" as the Christmas film you'd want to recommend to your friends to see every year or even, maybe, this year. On the other hand, the breadth of Christmas films out there is wide and many have their passionate defenders and detractors. We think Movie Smackdown! is the perfect place to sort this out.

Here are the films that our critics have decided to advocate as the one Christmas movie they think you should either see for the first time or re-visit during the holidays. We have, as you'll see, a wide diversity of opinion.

By the way, if you're one of those people who simply want to vote and get it over with, you can go to the bottom of this post and you'll find the polls there.

Dan In Real Life (2007) -vs- About A Boy (2002)

Love Hurts
Review by Randal Cohen

The Smackdown. Even middle-aged guys deserve to find true love, right?  What's refreshing about the newly-released "Dan In Real Life" and the emerging classic "About A Boy" is that they both are written for stars who don't mind showing us characters whose tires have been kicked a few times. These two well-written, smart movies make the topic seem fresh by keeping it real. The formula is simple: take enormously likable screen stars -- Hugh Grant and Steve Carell -- and let them fall, under unlikely circumstances, for women who prove to be just what they need at the moment in their lives when they are ready for change. Complicate with a healthy dose of parenthood. Both movies are related creatively by screenwriter Peter Hedges who co-wrote "About A Boy" and did the same duty on "Dan In Real Life" but added a visit to the director's chair for the latest effort.

"When I said I was looking for something human and funny that could suprise me, Dan, I wasn't thinking about, well, one of your body parts."

The Challenger. Dan Burns, played by Steve Carell, has a dead ex-wife, thus freeing him to look for new love while saddled with the awesome parenting responsibilities of raising three daughters (two teenagers and a pre-teen). As "Dan In Real Life" begins, we find Dan taking them to his parent's home in Rhode Island for a massive family reunion. Dan's a classic case of someone who can dish out advice but clearly needs to take some: he's a newspaper advice columnist and he hasn't recovered from losing his wife four years ago. Writer/director Hedges has described what he does as reality-based comedy and remains determined "not to take shortcuts with people." While he handles his material this way, he's not above the comic nightmare set-up. In this case, Dan runs into the woman of his dreams Marie (Juliette Binoche) at a local bookstore. She's beautiful, funny and bright and the smitten Dan makes the big committment to get her phone number. Energized and thrilled at feeling feelings he hasn't felt in years, he gets sent reeling when he returns to his parent's home where his younger brother Mitch (Dane Cook) introduces Marie as his new girlfriend. Oops. Complications ensue but they are always grounded in treating this situation as honestly as possible. Dan takes his disappointment out on his young, affable, attractive (but not so bright) brother. Mitch goes through girlfriends every few months and Dan believes Marie deserves someone more mature. Himself.

Lars and the Real Girl (2007) -vs- Half Nelson (2006)

Gosling's Wide World of Strange
Review by Randal Cohen

The Smackdown. Movie afficionados already know what the public at large has yet to discover: Ryan Gosling is one of the great actors of his twentysomething generation and, like those who have come before him, he's done it by taking chances. In his latest role in the quirky "Lars and the Real Girl," he plays a sweet but delusional, asocial small town office worker. Just last year, Gosling was Oscar nominated for his role as a drug-addicted school teacher in "Half Nelson." Let's say, for the sake of the argument, that you've got one Gosling performance in your budget. (And, in this argument, you don't get to pick "The Notebook," okay?) Which indie scores the most points?

"I'm pretty sure those commandments don't apply to silicon. Let's go back to my place."

The Challenger. Lars Lindstrom (Ryan Gosling) lives in the garage behind the family home occupied by his older brother Gus (Paul Schneider) and pregnant wife Karin (Emily Mortimer). Always shy, Lars has become increasingly withdrawn much to Karin's concern.  He ignores the attentions of adorable co-worker  Margo (Kelli Garner).  He has no social life and only ventures out of his room to go to work and church until he suddenly informs Karin and Gus that he will be joining them for dinner with his new girlfriend.  That's where "Lars and the Real Girl" kicks in with its magic. Gus and Karin's shock and delight turns to shock and distress when they meet Bianca. They're not discriminating because she's wheelchair-bound, mind you, but there is the small matter that she is also a full-size, anatomically accurate, mail-order sex doll. Not that there's anything wrong with that... The film takes that premise and runs with it. Lars is messed up, to be sure, but the town shrink thinks people should treat Bianca the silicon-girl like she's the real deal and, as they do, she keeps an even strain, but the townspeople get their own dose of therapy.

"If you weren't high all the time, Dan, you'd be able to beat a skinny girl. Truth, and you know it."

The Defending Champion. When "Half Nelson" was released last year,  Gosling's performance as middle-school teacher Danny put him on the map and earned him a nomination because this well-meaning but troubled teacher also had a pretty substantial drug problem. The film revolves around Danny and one of his pupils, Drey (Shareeka Epps), who is being raised by a single mom who works two jobs.  Although this latch-key kid is surrounded by crime and drugs, you guessed it, she's the one who has her act together and has more maturity in the unconventional friendship that springs up between the two. The film also tests a less-than-judgmental way of looking at drugs because the users and the dealers in "Half Nelson" aren't wearing "Just Say No" buttons.

The Scorecard. Both films share the common theme of redemption through friendship. In both movies a lonely and isolated individual is saved by the love of those around him. Directors Craig Gillespie ("Lars and the Real Girl") and Ryan Fleck ("Half Nelson") not only get a great performance from Gosling but also put on screen some uniformly fine performances from the supporting casts. 

"Lars and the Real Girl" screenwriter (she worked on "Six Feet Under") Nancy Oliver's rich and deep tale of a deluded, lonely young man's love for a doll is not the sick, dark or funny story the synopsis might lead a viewer to expect. The redemption in this film is the one that comes through the love of friends and neighbors. None of the characters are types; they're all are well rounded with subtle and surprising depths. Gosling's portrayal has a truth and beauty that lingers long after the lights go up.

The same can be said about "Half Nelson" which also avoids school-room drama cliches while also sending a message of redemption through social interaction. The prism that it sends that message through, though, as directed by Ryan Fleck from an Anna Boden script he apparently re-wrote, is honest, tough, touching and assured.

In this Gosling versus Gosling Smackdown, however, you have to ask where he did his own best work. As Lars, Gosling gives us a man without guile and nearly total sincerity. As Dan, Gosling gave us a base-head coke abuser who also happens to be an excellent history teacher. The harder role to nail had to be Lars. Just had to be.