Draw your own conclusions… GHOST TOWN

Some folks call me a film snob. I don’t deign speak to them. Truth is, I love a commercial, Hollywood flick as long as it is properly executed. (In the case of THE LOVE GURU, that would be drawn and quartered in the town square.) Seriously, I am always ready to be entertained. I want to laugh more than Ed McMahon. I cry more than Terrell Owens watching BRIAN’S SONG. I love a good show and don’t demand enlightenment with every viewing. (Though a sense of purpose never hurt anyone… except maybe the Heaven’s Gate cultists.)

David Koepp has written some of the most profitable movies of all-time: JURASSIC PARK; MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE; THE LOST WORLD; SPIDER-MAN; WAR OF THE WORLDS; INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL. And don’t forget other, relatively smaller, successes: PANIC ROOM; SECRET WINDOW; CARLITO’S WAY; DEATH BECOMES HER. Amazingly, he has fit more personal projects in between including the under-seen APARTMENT ZERO, the under-rated STIR OF ECHOES and the under-appreciated series “Hack.” (Heck, any show that pairs David Morse and Andre Braugher is worth a longer look, Nielsen families!) Now, he’s toiling on ANGELS & DEMONS, Ron Howard‘s unwarranted sequel to THE DA VINCI CODE. (Egads, Dan Brown is almost enough to make me pine for John Grisham… though not enough for me to read Playing for Pizza.)

Most recently, Koepp wrote and directed GHOST TOWN, a surprisingly effective romantic comedy that while unable to knock off the three I championed on KUOW, prompted a commendable mix of titters and tears. I liked it. I really did. The fact that Koepp could create a character as emotionally unattractive as Ricky Gervais‘ caitiff dentist and still have me rooting for him in the third act is a testament to the smart scripting… and, possibly, the smarter casting. (That I should care about Greg Kinnear at all, ever, is a miracle.) GHOST TOWN is intelligently-crafted and its sentiment well-earned. The humor is light, yet rich; the laughter generated thru character rather than dumb punch-lines. (Naturally, it helps to have Aasif Mandvi, Kristen Wiig and Michael-Leon Wooley delivering these… non-jokes.)

I won’t provide a synopsis. That’s why you are supposed to watch the movies. For the story, folks. So, do so. Go rent GHOST TOWN and tell me if I’ve won any street cred amongst the common movie-goers or if I am still perceived as a stuck-up cineaste. The smartest and/or funniest replies will likely win prizes! Just post them on this here blog by Noon on Monday, February 23rd, 2009.