Film Forum

Episode Recap

Episode 1

April 12, 2005

Films Reviewed: Sahara and Fever Pitch

Commentary: The films of Matthew McConaughey

Featurette: Behind the scenes of Fever Pitch

Regarding Sahara:

Matt: This is a movie that, quite frankly, nobody makes any more.  And that's a darn shame, because this was the most fun I'd had at the movies in a very long time!  I don't understand why Clive Cussler's so upset with this film, because it's better than solid entertainment from the opening credits forward.  Matthew McConaughey's Dirk Pitt is a hero that always does the right thing, and looks good doing it.  Go see this film and have fun.  Four stars!!

Aron: Well, if that's the way Matt really feels about this film, then I'm not going to fault his enthusiasm for it.  However, I did have a good time with Steve Zahn, Penelope Cruz and the rest of the cast in looking for a Civil War Ironclad in the Sahara Desert (yes, go and read that sentence again).  It's solid entertainment, but it didn't really wow me over.  Three stars.

Average Rating: ***1/2  (out of ****)

Regarding Fever Pitch:

Aron: Looking back on this film, it's hard to believe that the Farrely Brothers, the same guys that gave us the seminal gross out fest There's Something About Mary, directed this.  There are very few gross out gags in this film.  Which is good, because they would not have worked.  Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore make a nice couple set in the back drop of the 2004 Boston Red Sox season.  Three stars.

Matt: Actually, while Bobby and Peter Farrely did direct this, they didn't write the screenplay.  Ron Howard's favorite writers, Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, scripted from Nick Hornby's book about a man who finds true love competing with the love of his favorite sports team.  And, thankfully, everyone does a nice job.  Not exactly the film us sports fans were hoping for, but a nice way to spend a couple of hours.  And Fenway Park does look great.  Three stars.

Average Rating: ***  (out of ****)

Commentary: From a 70's slacker to an everyman on TV to a dragonslayer, you can't say Matthew McConaughey's had a boring career.  Aron and Matt took some time to look at some of his more memorable roles, including the film they reviewed that evening.

Featurette: Behind the scenes of Fever Pitch, starring Jimmy Fallon, Drew Barrymore and the 2004 World Series Champions Boston Red Sox.