Cyrus

JP Liz V1

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1336617/

Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G0bYpMQ-fI

Jonah Hill's best work so far apparently

johnny_ultimate

Two words: Duplass Brothers.

Pushes this from 'Boo, Jonah Hill!' to 'Woo, Duplass!'.

johnny_ultimate

This is a great little film. The little is important: this is the kind of small scale, character focused film the Duplass brothers (directors of the two superb indie films The Puffy Chair and Baghead) specialise in. This will probably lead many to criticise this film as 'slight', but for me it was a pleasant way for the Duplass brothers to enter the mainstream, while still remaining loyal to their ideals.

The storyline is very similar to Step Brothers, another John C. Reilly film, but this is the antithesis of SB: directed by two guys willing to let their characters grow and keep the laughs grounded & believable, as opposed to Step Brothers which looks like it was directed by hyperactive children in comparison. Basically, John C. Reilly (John) and Marisa Tomei (Molly) hook up drunkenly at a party, but their relationship starts to blossom. The only problem is mollycoddled (her name is Molly, gettit?) Cyrus, Tomei's son, played by Jonah Hill. He's 22, but him and his mother still sleep with their doors open, and he still gets night terrors. He systematically begins to sabotage the relationship.

This could lead to slapstick, but it doesn't. It's a very funny film, but the laughs are more realistic and sometimes very dark

like the terrifying image of a trouserless Jonah Hill wielding a knife

). It's the kind of humour preferred by Larry David: uncomfortable to say the least! But it's not just funny. The central relationship between Reilly and Tomei is a genuinely likable one, and like the best cinematic couples, you are rooting for them to get together. This is a film where you can invest in the characters, and the three leads are all great. Tomei continues her career resurgence, great as a woman torn between her son and her new partner. Reilly is a very funny guy, good to see him get some great material to work with again. Jonah Hill is the biggest surprise though. I usually hate his performances, but this is a film built around hating Jonah Hill. Cyrus is a deconstruction of the usual Hill character - obnoxious, cruel and ultimately very sad and lonely.

One of the last scenes in which Reilly unleashes a (deserved) tirade of insults at Cyrus is fantastic: initially funny, and then shocking. It's the moment when you really realise that these are wonderfully drawn characters, and even though Cyrus is an asshole, you kind of feel sorry for the kid.

This is a film that is funny when it wants to be, but other times very warm, and sometimes rather sad.

You could say this is a formulaic film - it's a rom-com at heart, and it isn't all that surprising where it ends up. But this is all about the delivery - when everything is handled with this much warmth and character, you are rooting for these dysfunctional people. The Duplass brothers have moved up in the world: big name cast, bigger budget, and slightly slicker direction (still joyfully handheld and digital though!). However, they haven't lost their knack for carefully observed character studies at all. Hopefully this film will be a success, and allow these two talented writer/directors to keep producing mainstream films with a bit of a heart.

Muffin top

I enjoyed this despite some very questionable camera work! I know 'shaky camera' is style of sorts but some scenes weren't even focused properly making the movie appear as if you were looking a mockumentary. It's a small complaint though; some really good acting by the main characters, it would have been easy to overplay and make the whole thing slapstick as mentioned above but this is avoided.

Another issue I have (not just with this movie) is the trailer, they give too much away.

johnny_ultimate

Muffin top wrote: »

I enjoyed this despite some very questionable camera work! I know 'shaky camera' is style of sorts but some scenes weren't even focused properly making the movie appear as if you were looking a mockumentary.

Yeah, that's part of their style their 'style': the Duplass brothers are part of the (I managed to avoid this word in the above post :pac:) mumblecore movement in America, which is basically a catch all term to describe a number of aesthetically and thematically similar films and film-makers. Films are very low budget and 'naturalistic', so lots of handheld camera. Have you seen either of their earlier films? Not as extreme here I didn't think, if you didn't like it in this I'd imagine you'd hate it in their much shakier earlier films!

Muffin top

I think the style depends on the context aswell; there's a film called Rec where these people are quarantined in a house and it just so happens that a film crew (within the movie) are making a documentary. The camera work is all over the place; people running etc.; I like that though cos it's appropriate to the story; whereas here, in Cyrus i'm just like, why are ya doing that??

Haven't seen any of their other work, i'd say it's worth a look though as I like the comedy style, much like Seinfeld, or Lost in translation sort of humour, as in their isn't much going on but I still find it engaging and enjoyable if you know what I mean.

L'prof

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Yeah, that's part of their style their 'style': the Duplass brothers are part of the (I managed to avoid this word in the above post :pac:) mumblecore movement in America, which is basically a catch all term to describe a number of aesthetically and thematically similar films and film-makers. Films are very low budget and 'naturalistic', so lots of handheld camera. Have you seen either of their earlier films? Not as extreme here I didn't think, if you didn't like it in this I'd imagine you'd hate it in their much shakier earlier films!

Haha, I noticed that. I remember reading the thread on mumblecore and the the two films you mentioned being in it.

Mickeroo

Really looking forward to seeing this. I imagine a lot of people will be expecting a more a typical broad comedy when they go into it though, thats the kind of impression the trailer gives off.

me-skywalker

Looks awful! Looks like they couldn't think of anything original and decided to toy with the actors ability. John C Reilly was awful in Step Brothers which is probably why I hate him so much plus that film was awful!

kraggy

You'd be wrong skywalker.

It's quite good. The acting is brilliant, particularly from Jonah Hill. His interaction with John C. Reilly is very convincing. They bounce off each other well.

It's not much similar to other films that they've been in, especially for Hill.

Not your "laugh-out-loud" comedy like Superbad, Knocked-up et al.

johnny_ultimate

me-skywalker wrote: »

Looks awful! Looks like they couldn't think of anything original and decided to toy with the actors ability. John C Reilly was awful in Step Brothers which is probably why I hate him so much plus that film was awful!

You see, I hate Step Brothers too, bar a cheap laugh or two. But this is seriously the anti-Step Brothers. The concept is nigh on identical, but in the hands of talented directors it turns into a far different film, full of warmth, characterisation and far more grounded humour. I think the IFI listings this month compared it to an "older, sadder version of Step Brothers", and that's a fair enough description!

And this is definitely the only film I've ever enjoyed Jonah Hill in, completely deconstructing the persona he's built in far more annoying films.

MisterAnarchy

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

You see, I hate Step Brothers too, bar a cheap laugh or two. But this is seriously the anti-Step Brothers.

I enjoyed both films ,Step brothers was hilarious but I enjoyed Cyrus too.
Cyrus is a different kind of humour but its still funny .
Its a love it or hate it movie,I think alot of people wont get it ,which is a pity.

Mickeroo

Saw this last week. Didn't find it all that funny overall, only in a few places. It's a pretty likeable movie though and you do invest in the characters, even Cyrus himself. I did find it a little unsatisfying in that there wasn't all that much of Reilly's character and Cyrus trying to one up each other after it seemed to build up to it when

Cyrus moves back in

. Good film overall.

Galvasean

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Jonah Hill's best work so far apparently

Wouldn't be bloody well hard.