“Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained... -- Lao-Tzu”
But O, how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man’s eyes. - William Shakespeare
INTRODUCTION
He’s got the power. In Bruce We Trust? B-E-A-Utiful. And The guy next door just became the man upstairs” . All the taglines they have for this movie is so true. This movie is an excellent relief from a hard day’s work. Jim Carrey and Tom Shadyac have done it again. I happened to be amused and was wondering if this was an embezzled movie getting the dough out of a “GOD” card? Whilst my faith is my own business, I was intrigued by the fact that this movie was the chartbuster for two weeks in a row, rightfully so.
This is a movie with strong value string attached to you. At the end of the movie, you have this goodness feeling in you that you will feel after watching the “Life is Beautiful”. While Jim Carrey is no Roberto Benigni, the director Tom Shadyac who’s earlier two works with Jim Carrey has been masterful chartbusters, has done a hat-trick of wonder.
Let us delve into the details, shall we?
TECHNICALITIES
ACTING
Jim Carrey .==> Bruce Nolan (a.k.a) Bruce Almighty
Morgan Freeman .==> GOD ( As per the film. Don’t take literal sense)
Jennifer Aniston .==> Grace Connelly
Philip Baker Hall .==> Jack Keller
Directed by
Tom Shadyac
Writing
Steve Koren, Mark O’Keefe and Steve Oedekerk
Music
John Debney
Cinematography
Dean Semler
PLOT AND ANALYSIS
After two successful blockbusters and entertaining movies, the team of Jim Carrey and Tom Shadyac has done it again. This duo seem to be working in the same caliber of AR Rahman and Vairamuthu and all, with their unnerving slapstick humor and comedy. :-). Bruce Almighty is a wonderful treat to watch.
Jim Carrey is a disgruntled TV Reporter in Buffalo NY. With discontent in almost everything in life, albeit being very powerful and a great life with a loving Girlfriend Grace(J.A). This dismay takes toll on his job and is rightfully fired. He ridicules the authority of God and after few funny scenarios, he meets God on the seventh floor (A reference to Seventh Hevean?? LOL) as is God is ever responding. The ever grateful God endows Bruce with all the divine powers and challenges Bruce to take on the Job to see if he can do any better.
Initially taking things loosely, he starts using the power for his own benefits which results in Moon being pulled nearer to earth (Causing a tsunami and death-tolls in Japan), a bigger you-know-what to his girlfriend, A string of bad deeds to his colleague, A clearer traffic for him alone, a string of mischiefs like causing a “seven year itch” scenario to a beautiful lady etc. Jim & Tom were funny enough to emulate an excellent sequence on par with the Ace Ventura – Pet Detective’s Ring sequence.
Bruce realizes that whatever be the power he may have, he cannot just win the heart of the girl he loves with all his almighty powers. He realizes he should be grounded and becomes down-to-earth. He realizes what he wants and all. In the end, he is a happy camper.
This movie has its own share of humor and message in a strong way. The saving grace of this movie is the not very comical (Compared to the first 60 minutes) - 30 minute end part. This is one of the dramatic sequences that tries to take it to the caliber of “Shawshank Redemption”, “As Good As it Gets”, “Life is Beautiful” and all.
This movie is a parable without a hesitation, if you ask me.
ACTING & TECHNICALITY ANALYSIS
As mentioned earlier, Jim Carrey has certainly revived his career in stride by sticking to what he does best, comedy. I guess he will get his chance at Oscars, if he maintains his popularity by being the most comical guy in Hollywood today and trying his experimentation on a lesser pace.
Jennifer Aniston and Morgan Freeman have done some excellent jobs. The tributes are all due to Morgan who has done some outstanding job. Brad Pitt’s wife will be on a role, in my opinion as she is getting a string of successful breaks.
Together with Jim, Morgan has created a character of “Model citizen” in Bruce Nolan which is widely accepted. The comic tempo is solely due to Jim’s energy with director Tom Chipping in.
You have a pulling number by Avril Lavigne (song ’’I’m With You’’) , as well as some enchanting music. You get to see Niagara via the famous “Maid of the Mist”, some funny scenes. I am not planning spoil all the fun as you can get them by watching the movie in a better way.
SOME SNIPPETS
Bruce Nolan: I needed time to reassess my goals and get in touch with my true self.
Jack: You did that in a day?
Bruce Nolan: Imagine what I could do in seven...
Grace: Debbie won the lottery.
Bruce Nolan: Really?
Grace: Yeah, well, she and about 400, 000 other people so she only won 17 bucks.
Bruce Nolan: How do you make someone love you without changing free will?
God: Welcome to my world.
God : What will you do if you have to power to do anything?
Bruce Nolan: Feed the hungry, and give peace on all mankind. Is that good?
God: Yes...If you’re Miss America.
BOTTOM LINE
This is a treat to watch. Do not miss it for any reason. If you loved Jim in Ace Ventura, Liar Liar and the Mask do not miss it for any reason, because you have all the stuff you get from those movies with a feeling that you get when you watch “Life is Beautiful’. All in all this movie is B-E-A-Utiful
I hope you liked my review, Please chip in your comments
Kalil
The momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or evil. -- Pythagoras
The happy man is not he who seems thus to others, but who seems thus to himself. - Syrus, Publilius