Not Too Bad.

Masked And Anonymous review

By JohnnyX from Bristol

Masked And Anonymous

Starring John Goodman, Jeff Bridges, Bob Dylan, Penelope Cruz

Director Larry Charles

Genres Drama

Run time 103 mins Certificate 12

29th September 2008

This film has had some awful reviews, but how could a film which has so many great stars in it, including the great Bob Dylan himself, be so bad ? Well it can't and it isn't. Perhaps it's not as good as it could have been, but that doesn't mean that it's awful.

Bob Dylan's music is as great as it usually is, and the snippets of potted philosphy which features is OK with me ; most of it seemed to me to be along the right lines.

Many people call it pretentious, but I am always suspicious of such judgements. It seems to me that the things which are truly pretentious are hardly ever seen as being so. U2 are pretentious, and so were The Sex Pistols, but as for Genesis, Yes and Led Zepp; they are the real deal, and have stood the test of time. This film falls in the latter category ; it's the real deal, as well as being a self-parody. This is playfully serious and seriously playfull, and this just seems to be beyond the common intellect.

If you're stupid or over-educated, you're gonna hate this, but if you are in tune with the vibes of the time, then you will love it. As test of soul, it is truly excellent, in a playfull kind of way !

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About the reviewer: JohnnyX

I am a Cambridge graduate. I studied the Natural Sciences Tripos, where I specialised in experimental physics. I also took the first year 'Biology of Cells' course, and the second year 'Experimental Psychology' course; both of these inspired a lifelong interest. I am also extremely interested in all kinds of Philosophy and in Spiritual Faith. I've read almost everything which has ever been written on these subjects. I also have a very strong interest in Mathematics, games and sports, Art, all kinds of music, and I have always had a passionate interest in films; this goes back to my childhood when I first saw films such as 'The Ten Commandments', 'Ben Hur', 'Spartacus', '2001; a Space Oddesy', 'Zulu', 'The Exorcist', 'Jason and the Argonauts', and so on. As you can see, I particularly like Historical Epics, antiwar films, Spirtual films, Sci Fi fimls, Action and Adventure films, Horror films (when well done), as well as liking Drama and Comedy films, when they are a bit different and well made. I have worked as a secondary school teacher of science, specialising in teaching physics at A level, for the last 25 years. A few years ago I had to retire on the grounds of ill-health. At the moment, I am trying to write a book about the 'Nature of Reality', and I am also doing a great deal of reading.

Titles rented: 22

Favourite actor: Mel Gibson

Favourite director: Quentin Taratino