Reviews

Aeon Flux gets a bum rap from the critics due primarily to the politics of the studio / critic relationship; the studio's decision not to preview the film got the critic's undies in a bunch. But Aeon Flux turns out to be a solid B+ grade SciFi flick that is inventive, stylistic, coherent and just plain fun to watch, particularly if you are partial to an athletic incarnation of Charlize Theron in Spandex. The film is well-paced. The main characters have depth and there is "real emotion" evident in the acting, always a plus for a SciFi film. There are a few things to complain about to be sure, but they're not crucial to the plot. I enjoyed the "existential dilemma" and "identity crisis" elements that made the story interesting. I'll look forward to watching this one again in a year or two.

I thought that this was an engrossing study of the comedy profession and those who pursue it. The film, in a documentary style, follows Seinfeld's development of an entirely new comedy routine from its humble beginnings to its complete realization, with frequent encounters with other comedians along the way, particularly the acerbic Orny Adams. If you are expecting an audience-side view of a non-stop comedy show, you might be somewhat disappointed, as the actual jokes are metered out in sparing fashion. The film reveals the personal commitment required to become a top comedian, and the set of personality traits needed to deal successfully with both the psychological rigors of being a performance artist as well as the business aspects of the profession. The contrast between Seinfeld and the tortured and combative Adams is striking; Seinfeld's mix of intelligent, disciplined commitment to his art form balanced by an ever-present, mild-mannered lightheartedness in his demeanor come across as a key to his success. A "must see" for anyone contemplating a career in this kind of performance art, and an absorbing character study and behind-the-scenes view for the rest of us.