The Cusack Quest

spyvstailor: I made this then realized it came out looking very...

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:56:18 -0400

I made this then realized it came out looking very much like it belonged in Fallout. Then I thought how boss it would be to make Rowsdower on Fallout and play as him.

Bob Roberts (1992)

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 23:34:00 -0400

Cusack plays: Cutting Edge Host

This was Tim Robbins’ directorial debut, so of course Cusack had to make an appearance. He just had a small cameo, which is just fine cause this movie wasn’t very good anyway. Too obvious of a political satire, the story is badly written and very slow. Bob Roberts is an obvious asshole, and that is all the film had to say.

IMDb

One Crazy Summer (1986)

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 23:20:00 -0400

Cusack plays: Hoops McCann

I’ve always pictured One Crazy Summer and it’s similar film counterpart, Better off Dead… to be told from the point of view of the main character as an old man, recounting tales of his youth. I think of it this way because it seems that a lot of what happens in either film are out of the ordinary and fantastical, even though it’s seemingly just a coming of age story. The entire film is one giant hyperbole. A reflection of teenage love, lust, and competition, One Crazy Summer does a good job of entertaining throughout and spreading the laughs between Cusack, Bobcat Goldthwait, and Curtis Armstrong. Directed by Savage Steve Holland.

IMDb

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 23:09:00 -0400

Cusack plays: John Kelso

Amazingly unremarkable, other than the fact that it is extremely long and extremely boring. It is not worth the morality tale it unwinds or the twist ending. The only noteworthy part being Kevin Spacey’s atrocious southern accent. This movie is proof that Clint Eastwood is fallible, but it’s the only proof I’ve been able to find. Directed by Clint Eastwood.

IMDb

Being John Malkovich (1999)

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 19:43:00 -0400

Cusack plays: Craig Schwartz

This is the kind of movie for which I do this quest. It’s unique and thought provoking, masterfully and magically combining relationship/workplace drama with a mystical science fiction. Cusack plays a pupeteer that finds a portal at his new office job that transports him to John Malkovich’s head for 15 minutes. For 15 minutes, he can feel, hear, and see everything that Malkovich is doing at that instant. While this is an interesting idea, Spike Jonze doesn’t make it the center of the film. Instead, Jonze focuses on Cusack’s character, and how the portal changes his life and his character until Cusack’s character, Craig Schwartz, finds a way to be in John Malkovich for an indefinite amount of time. The portal transforms Craig from a docile street performer, somewhat content with his position in life, into a greedy bastard willing to take someone’s life away for his own enjoyment. Cusack’s character is very different from the people he usually plays, and its inspiring to see him play someone that is not himself. I only had a problem with the casting choice of Cameron Diaz as Cusack’s frumpy wife, but that’s probably cause I always have a problem with Cameron Diaz. An awesome film, one that I can watch again and again. Directed by Spike Jonze.

IMDb

Martian Child (2007)

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 19:31:00 -0400

Cusack plays: David

Fuckin’ horrible. Avoid at all costs. It’s formulaic, trying to be indie, paycheck bullshit. I’m not even going to give you a plot because it’s not worth it. I haven’t seen all of Cusack’s movies yet, but I will be thoroughly surprised if there’s one worse than this one. It’s worse than 2012, let’s just put it that way. Directed by Menno Meyjes.

IMDb

Pushing Tin (1999)

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 19:26:00 -0400

Cusack plays: Nick Falzone

Pretty much everyone in this movie was phoning it in. Billy Bob didn’t even try. It was like they just asked to be off putting, and he gave it a half honest try. They say it’s a comedy, but if it’s supposed to be funny it is not successful. The entire film is based on the abrasive relationship between Cusack’s Falzone and Billy Bob’s Bell after Bell begins working at the air traffic control center that Falzone considers himself king of. Bell is married to Mary, played by Angelina Jolie (who is worse than usual), and the two begin to fuck up Falzone’s life until they fix it at the end. Bell never smiles the entire movie, and it appears as if his entire purpose in the movie is focused on ruining Falzone’s life, which would be fine if he weren’t a main character. The only time I really enjoyed the film were watching the people that Bell and Falzone worked with, who you could tell actually tried acting well, as I’m sure their careers actually depended on this paycheck. Overall, not one of the best movies I’ve seen, but definitely watchable. Directed by Mike Newell.

IMDb

Tapeheads (1988)

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 19:10:00 -0400

Cusack plays: Ivan Alexeev

Tapeheads is about two extremely creative losers who find themselves stumbling into the video music industry all the while idolizing The Swanky Modes, a soul duo from the 70’s. It is one of the many, many Cusack/Robbins collaborations of the 80’s and early 90’s. The film is creative in its editing and filming style, borrowing from the music videos of the day, but it doesn’t have much else going for it. The characters themselves are only as deep as their Hollywood dreams and the plot is trying much to hard to appeal to the young demographic. It is fun to watch now for the nostalgia of the 80’s and the casting of Sam Moore and Junior Walker as The Swanky Modes. Tapeheads was directed by Bill Fishman.

IMDb