The Brass Teapot

in FRENCH please

please in french

Ramaa Mosley's The Brass Teapot is yet another film that exercises its unalienable right to be an enthusiastically quirky gem of an indie film. My definition of "enthusiastically quirky" will likely be different than yours, as mine concerns a premise that needed to take a considerable amount of time to develop and an even larger amount of work in order to sustain feature-length. The quintessential example that comes to mind is last year's black comedy Bernie, by notorious indie director Richard Linklater, concerning the gentle town funeral director who did the unthinkable by killing a verbally abusive older woman whose husband had recently passed. It was a terrific motion picture in terms of tone, character development, and setting, but also, took on the challenge of humanizing a rather genial character doing the truly despicable. What made it "enthusiastically quirky" was just the overall way it was conducted, with characters with enigma and personality, and a storyline that you wouldn't believe would be interesting after fifty minutes. I guess what I'm trying to say here is, when you see enthusiastically quirky, you'll know enthusiastically quirky. But I digress. The Brass Teapot revolves around John and Alice (Michael Angarano and Juno Temple , respectively), a lower middle class couple struggling to make ends meet in such unforgiving times. He is a telemarketer selling needless Television warranties. She is a woman unable to accept an entry-level position and start straight at the top, with an arts history major under her belt. One day, they stumble upon an antique shop run by an older woman, and when she finds herself in an "I desperately want this phase," Alice steals a brass teapot out of the blue. Not long after stealing it, Alice and John discover that the teapot, which is beautifully welded and meticulously crafted, actually possesses a strange power; if the owner of it inflicts pain on themselves or someone else they will be rewarded with money, often in the hundreds. This causes Alice and John to resort to drastic measures to obtain cash, with methods including a full-Brazilian wax and dental surgery without any Novocaine. They soon learn that their newfound treasure and only source of income is a highly desired piece by not only violent Orthodox Jews but a mysterious Asian man, who claims that everyone who has come in contact with that pot has emerged forever changed and not for the better. Of course, Alice and John do not listen and play by the teapot's obscure rules, which seem to change at anytime. For example, after a while the pot seems to stop providing so much cash for physical pain and resorts to mental pain, which Alice and John decide to inflict on each other and their closest friends. The comic possibilities are endless, and writer Tim Macy (Who also wrote the 2007-short of the same name) exposes them all with blackly funny results and a zealous energy. However, perhaps one-hundred and one minutes devoted to a story of a teapot that can produce money at the expense of pain may be a bit lengthy. I can see some tiring after twenty minutes and some wanting more from this story. For me, this was around perfect length; it exercises all or most possibilities that can be done with the story, it keeps things fast-paced and entertaining, and, for the most part, we resonate with the characters' dilemmas and see them as more as story archetypes. This is a better alternative than melodramatic indie fare, to say the least. I've been victim to stupidity when it comes to picking films based on their actors and not totally thinking the premise over, but The Brass Teapot was a fine gamble. It has heart, wit, intelligence, and humor almost bursting from its seams. Mark it down as yet another quirky film for the year of 2013, but put it in the category of quirky films that work efficiently. Starring: Michael Angarano and Juno Temple. Directed by: Ramaa Mosley.

source: The Brass Teapot

"Brass Teapot" directed and cowritten by Ramaa Mosley has potential to be a good or even a great movie, but stoops and patronizes by fabricating scene after scene and conjuring pure idiots for it's main characters in order to manufacture its plot. It is at its core supposed to be a parable on the pitfalls of greed but doesn't have the brains to create something great or more original in how it tells its story. Worse, It's theming is schizophrenic wavering between comedy and drama weakening its overall tone, and I couldn't stand the dumb repetition of the characters antics. Perhaps playing the movie straight and serious may have done more and allowed for the true weight of the parable to shine. As is, can't really recommend. Give it 5/10. The writing failed this movie.

Here we go again. Boy meets girl; girl grows into woman; boy stays boy. The married men are doormats too and the single ones are Neanderthals. In other words, once again, all the females are Tops and the men Bottoms. Burglar in the house? Don't expect hubby to get too excited. Hubby gets beat up ALL THE TIME in front of you? That's okay,honey, etc. You're just sensitive and that is what I love about YOU!!! And the magic pot? Well, there are people tossing our house and trying to kill us over it but hey, lets' just leave it out and answer the door holding it, etc. Hell, lets' even take it to a motel room so some shady Asian can talk us out of keeping it. I mean, HE won't try anything fishy, will he? And on and on and on. Is this supposed to be screwball? Slapstick? or just people behaving illogically and stupidly? Weak men everywhere. Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

I have recently watched The Brass Teapot and I loved the film from the first second, it is a very funny and interesting movie but it also has a message behind the whole story! Juno Temple and Michael Angarano played the roles of Alice and John very great and moreover, the full cast was great!! I don't get why some people don't really like the movie or why do the 'Theosophist Society' is against the film but anyway it's a nice movie! Lastly, it is also a definitely must watch movie that anyone who has this ''vanity'' about money and being rich would love the theme and as the catch-phrase of the film says: ''Pain Pays''! Sometimes I wish I had this Brass Teapot just to make a few bucks to make my life better!!! ;)

A bizarre, unique comedy about a down-on-their-luck couple who discover a stolen brass teapot has magical powers: whenever one of them is hurt, the teapot gives them cash. So they go on a campaign of self-inflicted injury to get rich. But eventually they must decide how far they're willing to take things. This is definitely a different movie. Michael Angarano is likable and Juno Temple makes any movie better just by being in it. It starts off strong but loses a little steam once it gets into the teapot's mystery and the different people trying to take it. Then it gets ugly and it's just not much fun anymore. It's a shame because it could have been great. Still, it's watchable and it ends nicely after a long rough patch.

From my review title, I mean I find the teapot itself and the film as a whole quite beautiful. It follows the structure of a fairytale and is quite entertaining throughout. I came across the film through being a huge fan of Juno Temple. After first seeing her in the amazing Greg Araki film Kaboom, I have come to the conclusion that she is wonderful in everything she is in, and everything she is in is wonderful. It remains true here. To avoid spoilers, I will review the film as it involves its setup, which is masterfully executed. A young couple needs money (as many can relate), and a small car accident in front of a thrift store changes their entire life. At the thrift store, Juno's character finds a gorgeous brass teapot (hence the title) and runs with it. By this, I mean literally runs with it. And this teapot spits out cash, but how this happens is wonderfully twisted. I will recommend this to anyone and everyone. Juno Temple must not be stopped.

Seriously, how many times do the couple get robbed or have people just swoop into their house? and having to be kicked ass over and over again? and they dont do anything about the security of the house? any simple house alarm system? no wonder why they lived in such a poor state before the teapot their stupidity makes me too frustrated to watch