I must warn anyone about to watch this movie: It is not the cute light movie the trailer or the cover make it out to be, nor is it adorable and funny like Zack Braff’s last movie. This movie is more of a drama than a coming of age comedy. In fact, there is more depressing screaming in this movie than there are in most movies not involving war or some sort of national tragedy. The fact of the matter is this movie is about what happens to people as they hit 30 and realize they have nothing left in life that excites them or surprises them. Braff is formidable as a leading man except he is such a snobby elitist that it makes it sometimes hard to feel sympathy for him. In fact, he really is the villain in this movie. Whereas Rachel Bilson, containing her “The OC” tendencies, comes off absolutely adorable and sympathetic as her character gets played by Braff.
There are other people in the movie but frankly they are nameless faceless characters for the screenwriter to make miserable. See, the item that most attracted me to this film was the fact that Paul Haggis wrote it. For you non movie dorks, Paul Haggis is the brilliant writer of Crash, Million dollar baby and the new Bond Movie. I was interested to see how he handled something less traumatic and after watching it, I found out it was actually a remake of 2001 Spanish film, so the idea wasn’t really his, but man does he put some pure venom in the words. There are a few arguments in this thing that just leap off the screen! I guess I could get around to discussing the plot. Braff has the perfect life- a gorgeous pregnant girlfriend, a great job and still has his best friends from childhood. I know, it sucks, right! Poor Poor, little Zach “My taste in music is better than yours” Braff. The girlfriend is played by former The Real World star, Jacinda Barrett and she has managed to turn herself into a fine actress. I mean she doesn’t get to do much but worry and second guess everything, but it works. Rachel Bilson plays the free spirited, temptress preying on Braff’s unhappiness but in the end she is the only character I actually felt bad for. The other plots involve Casey Affleck realizing he is miserable in his marriage, Eric Christian Olsen having semi graphic R-rated sex with some incredibly hot girl before realizing she wants a relationship and the dullest story involves Tom Wilkinson and Blythe Danner as a couple having been married for 30 something years and still trying to figure it out.
It isn’t easy to really like this movie except that I kind of did because of how real the writing felt and much of directing was well done. It is hard to sit through a movie when you kind of despise every character for one reason or another, but at the same time you can’t help but wish you had 4 friends you were that close to. Braff will probably amount to be a bigger star than he deserves, but because he walks around with this kind of cocky, goofy thing, I can forgive it. This movie was the first time I had seen him do much of anything other than smile and say something supercilious. I may be speaking in hyperbole but I haven’t seen enough of Scrubs to know if he does anything interesting on that show. Bilson looks incredibly hot even if she is playing a pretty typical college movie girl and she definitely would have had me choosing her!
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
The Holiday
On average I see 2 or 3 romantic comedies every year and usually I find them to be cute for about 40 minutes and eventually just go overkill on the sweet and like over syrupy pancakes, I have no use for them. So I went into this movie with no real delight. Add to the fact that I hate Jack Black, Cameron Diaz and often Jude Law, I have no idea what got into me when I decided to join a friend for this movie. Nevertheless, I fully enjoyed the movie and even gained some respect for Jack Black in the process. The Movie stars the brilliant Kate Winslet as a woman fed up in love (rightfully so as well) and so she needs a change. Lucky for her Diaz is also looking for a change, so they decide to swap houses for the Christmas holiday. Winslet inherits Diaz’s gorgeous Los Angeles mansion while Diaz inherits a quaint, cute little European cottage in Surrey. While Winslet falls right in love with Los Angeles, Diaz does not enjoy Surrey. Well that was until she met the drunk, gorgeous and incredibly charming Jude Law. I imagine most women would fall in love with a country if Mr. Law started sweet talking them so one cannot fault Diaz for the change. Stateside, Kate is trying to wash a smarmy Rufus Sewell out of her hair because he took her for granted for years and she had finally had it, although she was still secretly pining for him. Enter a very toned down and utterly convincing Jack Black as a sensitive yet passionate musician.
What follows could be considered a fairly basic game of cat and mouse, or a better named game would be lets all hide our feelings inside because we fear pain. While things like this often annoy me in movies, the script handles the entire thing with genuine emotion and a realistic underlying pain. When jack Black finds out his girlfriend was cheating on him Kate goes into this amazingly real monologue about “The wrong guy” or the “wrong girl”. I wanted to applaud when it was all over. Of course, I really wanted to cry because of how true it was. Also, we learn Jude Law has a very good reason to be cold and standoffish. A reason better left to people who actually see the film. Never does this movie appear fake or at face value. I know a lot of that realism belongs in the hands of the actors but the movie is directed by an up and coming romantic comedy director who seems to have found her groove after movies like “What women want” and “Something’s got to give”. She seems to have a real eye for catching the fantasy of movie romances in a light or realism that leaves those of us watching with a sense of hope, no matter how false that hope may be.
Another thing I would be remiss to mention is a huge side plot involving Kate’s character. She is a writer and while in Los Angeles she is living next door to a very old man who was a part of old Hollywood as a screen writer. The part is played by Eli Wallach and he is something to behold. He is just the right amount of old school charm and old school knowledge. I honestly have no idea who he is but he adds so much to the movie and even gets Kate’s character to watch all these classic movies starring classic Hollywood beauties who all had “Gumption.” It is because of all those movies that Kate is finally able to put the sleazy Rufus in the past and allows her to take a chance with Jack Black. I wanted to despise this movie but it won me over very early on and the only real complaint I can give it is that it really shows us how much better of an actress Kate Winslet is than Cameron Diaz.
What follows could be considered a fairly basic game of cat and mouse, or a better named game would be lets all hide our feelings inside because we fear pain. While things like this often annoy me in movies, the script handles the entire thing with genuine emotion and a realistic underlying pain. When jack Black finds out his girlfriend was cheating on him Kate goes into this amazingly real monologue about “The wrong guy” or the “wrong girl”. I wanted to applaud when it was all over. Of course, I really wanted to cry because of how true it was. Also, we learn Jude Law has a very good reason to be cold and standoffish. A reason better left to people who actually see the film. Never does this movie appear fake or at face value. I know a lot of that realism belongs in the hands of the actors but the movie is directed by an up and coming romantic comedy director who seems to have found her groove after movies like “What women want” and “Something’s got to give”. She seems to have a real eye for catching the fantasy of movie romances in a light or realism that leaves those of us watching with a sense of hope, no matter how false that hope may be.
Another thing I would be remiss to mention is a huge side plot involving Kate’s character. She is a writer and while in Los Angeles she is living next door to a very old man who was a part of old Hollywood as a screen writer. The part is played by Eli Wallach and he is something to behold. He is just the right amount of old school charm and old school knowledge. I honestly have no idea who he is but he adds so much to the movie and even gets Kate’s character to watch all these classic movies starring classic Hollywood beauties who all had “Gumption.” It is because of all those movies that Kate is finally able to put the sleazy Rufus in the past and allows her to take a chance with Jack Black. I wanted to despise this movie but it won me over very early on and the only real complaint I can give it is that it really shows us how much better of an actress Kate Winslet is than Cameron Diaz.
Night at the Museum (possible spoilers)
Allow me to begin by stating that I loathe Ben stiller movies. I can recall liking 2 movies in which he is featured and he isn’t really the star in either of them- Royal Tenenbaums and Dodgeball. So, when I say I overall enjoyed this it is really saying something. Ben Stiller stars as a loser father who needs any sort of job possible so he won’t have to move and disappoint his kid yet again. See, the kid’s mothers has a new husband who is incredibly successful and played by the un-credited and perfect Paul Rudd, and Stiller’s character is intimidated by him. Stiller finds a job as a night security guard at a museum of natural history because the museum is getting rid of their 3 night guards and replacing them with just one single guard. The 3 night guards are crucial to the story of this film and are played with glee by Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Bill Cobbs (A man with over 100 IMDB credits but no one has any clue who he is). The interesting thing about the museum is that all of the things inside come alive at night and run amuck on the premises. Owen Wilson pops up as a hilarious miniature cowboy with a serious complex over his height; Robin Williams is in pretty mellow mode as Teddy Roosevelt and then we have someone as Attila the Hun, Christopher Columbus and various other creatures. Also, there are two side plots involving Sacajawea.
To be honest, the first hour of the movie drags pretty hardcore and I was afraid it would never turn around but Ricky Gervais as the museum manager gives the movie a much needed shot in the arm and after his hilarious word fumbling performance the movie kicks into high gear. The last hour breezes by and when it is over you really feel as if you were just taken on a magical journey. The Special effects are excellent, especially the T-Rex, who is just a big dog and the winning spirit of Ben’s kid in the movie make it a worthwhile adventure. Of course it wouldn’t be a movie without a conflict and it doesn’t actually happen until the final 40 minutes and it involves stolen museum merchandise and the eventual team work of all the different beings within the walls of the magical museum. I am sure since it is a movie for kids or family, there is a message about taking pride in ones work and ownership of ones life, but to be honest, I wasn’t watching this movie for a moral or a lesson. I wanted to see Owen Wilson be his hilarious self and watch Ben Stiller get pimped slapped repeatedly by a funny monkey, both of which I got in spades, so I was a very happy camper.
To be honest, the first hour of the movie drags pretty hardcore and I was afraid it would never turn around but Ricky Gervais as the museum manager gives the movie a much needed shot in the arm and after his hilarious word fumbling performance the movie kicks into high gear. The last hour breezes by and when it is over you really feel as if you were just taken on a magical journey. The Special effects are excellent, especially the T-Rex, who is just a big dog and the winning spirit of Ben’s kid in the movie make it a worthwhile adventure. Of course it wouldn’t be a movie without a conflict and it doesn’t actually happen until the final 40 minutes and it involves stolen museum merchandise and the eventual team work of all the different beings within the walls of the magical museum. I am sure since it is a movie for kids or family, there is a message about taking pride in ones work and ownership of ones life, but to be honest, I wasn’t watching this movie for a moral or a lesson. I wanted to see Owen Wilson be his hilarious self and watch Ben Stiller get pimped slapped repeatedly by a funny monkey, both of which I got in spades, so I was a very happy camper.
The Break up
Having decidedly taken myself out of the "know" of our famous people's lives, I could watch this movie without the stench of "overhype" over Vinnifer of Jence or whatever inane mash up name our celebrity stalker gave this oh so important couple of the moment and I have to say it probably helped. See the movie is basically the Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn show. Yes, there are a few supporting characters in the forms of a very bloated Jon Favreau, the under used Joey Lauren Adams and the badly wigged Justin long but they are all fairly unnecessary in this film. That is not to say that I didn't like it because in all honesty I loved it.
I have always routed for Jennifer Aniston to succeed, some would say I hope that because of how unbelievably beautiful she is, but it stems from watching her in a movie called "Leprechaun" and thinking "ah poor girl, she is never going anywhere." I am glad she has proved me wrong and in this movie she seems to play into her niche. She gets to look amazing, cry over a boy, scream and throw stuff, oh and she gets to be naked, well sort of. With regards to Vince Vaughn, I have always been a fan of funny Vince. I tried to go with him to the dark side in movies like Psycho and Domestic Disturbance, but he is just better when he is playing a version of his Swingers character and again this movie plays well into his wheel house while showing he actually can act. The plot involves a couple who has been together for two years and own a condo together, but realize they are over as a couple and deals with the complications after a break up. It is pretty basic, yes but that is almost what makes it such a great movie.
Vaughn and Aniston share a hilarious opening scene which shows them meeting for the first time, then the opening credits take us through the two year relationship and then we open with yet another hilarious scene involving Aniston's character's brother trying to get a table of people to make noises like musical instruments. However, as far as comedy that's about all we get. This movie is sad, I mean really sad. That is also the beauty of it because the sadness always feels real. Granted, I can't say much because I have never been in that situation but every conversation between the now ex-couple felt like a real argument and every emotion felt real. The movie is also incredibly awkward as the two characters attempt to 1. play nice in public and 2. Attempt to make each other jealous. There are a few funny moments within the awkwardness but this movie is not really played for laughs, it is played for sympathy for both of these characters and in the end we do feel bad for them, just for different reasons. Also, movies like this have a habit of happy, tied up ina pretty little bow endings, but this one takes a different variation on tat ending and it was much appreciated by me!
I have always routed for Jennifer Aniston to succeed, some would say I hope that because of how unbelievably beautiful she is, but it stems from watching her in a movie called "Leprechaun" and thinking "ah poor girl, she is never going anywhere." I am glad she has proved me wrong and in this movie she seems to play into her niche. She gets to look amazing, cry over a boy, scream and throw stuff, oh and she gets to be naked, well sort of. With regards to Vince Vaughn, I have always been a fan of funny Vince. I tried to go with him to the dark side in movies like Psycho and Domestic Disturbance, but he is just better when he is playing a version of his Swingers character and again this movie plays well into his wheel house while showing he actually can act. The plot involves a couple who has been together for two years and own a condo together, but realize they are over as a couple and deals with the complications after a break up. It is pretty basic, yes but that is almost what makes it such a great movie.
Vaughn and Aniston share a hilarious opening scene which shows them meeting for the first time, then the opening credits take us through the two year relationship and then we open with yet another hilarious scene involving Aniston's character's brother trying to get a table of people to make noises like musical instruments. However, as far as comedy that's about all we get. This movie is sad, I mean really sad. That is also the beauty of it because the sadness always feels real. Granted, I can't say much because I have never been in that situation but every conversation between the now ex-couple felt like a real argument and every emotion felt real. The movie is also incredibly awkward as the two characters attempt to 1. play nice in public and 2. Attempt to make each other jealous. There are a few funny moments within the awkwardness but this movie is not really played for laughs, it is played for sympathy for both of these characters and in the end we do feel bad for them, just for different reasons. Also, movies like this have a habit of happy, tied up ina pretty little bow endings, but this one takes a different variation on tat ending and it was much appreciated by me!
Sunday, December 24, 2006
We are Marshall
Being a sports fan and knowing a bit about this story, I was very excited at the prospect of this movie. That was until I saw who was directing because McG would have been my first choice to direct something that should have heart. If you don't know who he is allow me to give you a little list of his credits- Charlie's Angels 1 and 2 a sublime concert DVD as well as a Cypress hill DVD concert. He is also the executive producer of guilty pleasure shows like The OC, Fast lane and the soon to be produced "The Pussycat Dolls." The Marshall University tragedy is worlds away from Cameron Diaz dancing around in her underwear or motorcycles exploding, so I was a bit worried how exhaustingly edited the football cuts would be. However, McG does manage to tone down the the flashy no heart style but unfortunately he allows the overly sappy music to rampant over this film.
For those unaware of the story in 1970 an airplane carrying an entire college football team, parents and coaches crashed and everyone was killed. The president of the school and the board members had decided to shut down the football program for a little while in an effort to regroup but one member of the football team who had stayed behind due to a shoulder injury rallied the students together to show the school board that they needed a football team. Enter Matthew McConaughey as a cheery, analogy speaking football coach. Matthew has proven to be both an amazing actor (A Time to kill and Amistad) . a horrible actor (Sahara and Two for the money) and a pointless actor (Failure to Launch and The Wedding Planner) but here he falls somewhere in the middle. In scenes of light hearted banter or intense football screaming he is flawless, but he falls short in a lot of the sympathetic moments and trips over his drawl often in the final big speech before the big game. Also, he talks out of the side of his mouth for the entire film and it gets very annoying very quickly. The real star to me in this movie is Anthonie Mackie. Most people won't know who he is but he has had bit supporting roles in movies like 8 mile and million dollar baby, but here is the one actor who rises above a cliche riddled script and finds the perfect mix of guilt, anger and pride to his performance. I don't have much to say about Matthew Fox because until the end he didn't really do much for me.
As an inspirational sports movie, this falls below the upper echelon ones but above the bad ones. The story is pretty remarkable and McG along with his writers seemed to find the right side stories to focus on. We have the girlfriend of a lost player as well as the father of her boyfriend. We get a little glimpse into a kid whose father was killed but McG never pulls too much focus away from the main story at hand. The football games themselves are interestingly shot and edited. In fact, there isn't much to them which leads me to believe McG had no clue how to do football well. Perhaps that was for the best because it gave us a chance ot focus on the characters. Overall the script is bad and the music is worse, but it is hard for me to hate such a well intentioned movie.
For those unaware of the story in 1970 an airplane carrying an entire college football team, parents and coaches crashed and everyone was killed. The president of the school and the board members had decided to shut down the football program for a little while in an effort to regroup but one member of the football team who had stayed behind due to a shoulder injury rallied the students together to show the school board that they needed a football team. Enter Matthew McConaughey as a cheery, analogy speaking football coach. Matthew has proven to be both an amazing actor (A Time to kill and Amistad) . a horrible actor (Sahara and Two for the money) and a pointless actor (Failure to Launch and The Wedding Planner) but here he falls somewhere in the middle. In scenes of light hearted banter or intense football screaming he is flawless, but he falls short in a lot of the sympathetic moments and trips over his drawl often in the final big speech before the big game. Also, he talks out of the side of his mouth for the entire film and it gets very annoying very quickly. The real star to me in this movie is Anthonie Mackie. Most people won't know who he is but he has had bit supporting roles in movies like 8 mile and million dollar baby, but here is the one actor who rises above a cliche riddled script and finds the perfect mix of guilt, anger and pride to his performance. I don't have much to say about Matthew Fox because until the end he didn't really do much for me.
As an inspirational sports movie, this falls below the upper echelon ones but above the bad ones. The story is pretty remarkable and McG along with his writers seemed to find the right side stories to focus on. We have the girlfriend of a lost player as well as the father of her boyfriend. We get a little glimpse into a kid whose father was killed but McG never pulls too much focus away from the main story at hand. The football games themselves are interestingly shot and edited. In fact, there isn't much to them which leads me to believe McG had no clue how to do football well. Perhaps that was for the best because it gave us a chance ot focus on the characters. Overall the script is bad and the music is worse, but it is hard for me to hate such a well intentioned movie.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Blood Diamonds (spoilers)
Over the last few years I believe we have seen Leonardo DeCaprio quickly emerge as the new generation version of Robert De Niro or Al Pacino. It may seem like hyperbole but I truly believe it. While I didn’t enjoy The Aviator, he was phenomenal and already this year he was brilliant as an undercover cop infiltrating the brutal Irish mob in, The Departed. Now, here is again blowing me away in Blood Diamond, as a quick thinking, ex-military diamond Smuggler. The movie is about an African man, played with some serious fire and intensity by Djimon Hounsou, who finds a diamond while being a slave. He hides the diamond and eventually lands in prison. DeCaprio is in some heat after his latest shipment of smuggled diamonds gets snatched so he tries to convince Hounsou to help him by promising to help find Hounsou’s family. Add a drop dead gorgeous Jennifer Connelly as a thrill seeking do gooder reporter and you have yourself a whirl of a movie.
The movie is unflinching in its violence as well as in its politics. Diamond sellers were outraged by the movie. The Country, Sierra Leone, was embarrassed, promising the country was no longer like that but the movie is never dull, never lets up and even has some wit within the dialogue. I believe this is the highest body count I have seen on film this year and much of it is in up close full view and nearly 75% of it involves kids with guns. It is merely a side plot within the film but in reality could be an entire new film on its own. The concept of the rebel army kidnapping young boys, brainwashing them and giving them guns is a real scare and deserves to be probed by a filmmaker. That might actually be my one complaint about the movie- there is almost too much material for one movie. One more thing about the violence, it is realistic and shocking, but I think it is shocking because it feels real and almost organic. It is meant to stir feelings of uneasiness and it fully accomplishes that goal.
All of the acting in this thing is top notch but Hounsou matches his obvious physical presence with a serious level of crazy over the top intensity that some might say is too much, but if you look at it from the place of a man desperately holding onto hope that is family is still alive, you believe every single second he is on the screen and DeCaprio matches him step by step with an easy attitude and a sense that his character has thought of everything ahead of time. Leo truly excels in this movie. There are 2 scenes I could point out that show a stark contrast in the characters personality but both feel very real. There is a scene where he finally opens up so Connelly that could break your heart and later in the film he shows a menacing and threatening side as he gives warns Hounsou about something.
The movie may be a few years to late to change anything in the world since Sierra Leone is no longer in that bad of a shape and the civil war ended, but it is still good to see films like this being made. Some may find the film preachy and one person described to me as “limo liberalism” because it implies “oh when you go out to buy diamonds this week make sure they aren’t blood diamonds” but I found the film to be realistic, brutal, thought provoking and ultimately worth the ride. If for no other reason than watching Leonardo DeCaprio take his character and progress in a full 180 degrees from beginning to end. It really is like watching a genius at work.
The movie is unflinching in its violence as well as in its politics. Diamond sellers were outraged by the movie. The Country, Sierra Leone, was embarrassed, promising the country was no longer like that but the movie is never dull, never lets up and even has some wit within the dialogue. I believe this is the highest body count I have seen on film this year and much of it is in up close full view and nearly 75% of it involves kids with guns. It is merely a side plot within the film but in reality could be an entire new film on its own. The concept of the rebel army kidnapping young boys, brainwashing them and giving them guns is a real scare and deserves to be probed by a filmmaker. That might actually be my one complaint about the movie- there is almost too much material for one movie. One more thing about the violence, it is realistic and shocking, but I think it is shocking because it feels real and almost organic. It is meant to stir feelings of uneasiness and it fully accomplishes that goal.
All of the acting in this thing is top notch but Hounsou matches his obvious physical presence with a serious level of crazy over the top intensity that some might say is too much, but if you look at it from the place of a man desperately holding onto hope that is family is still alive, you believe every single second he is on the screen and DeCaprio matches him step by step with an easy attitude and a sense that his character has thought of everything ahead of time. Leo truly excels in this movie. There are 2 scenes I could point out that show a stark contrast in the characters personality but both feel very real. There is a scene where he finally opens up so Connelly that could break your heart and later in the film he shows a menacing and threatening side as he gives warns Hounsou about something.
The movie may be a few years to late to change anything in the world since Sierra Leone is no longer in that bad of a shape and the civil war ended, but it is still good to see films like this being made. Some may find the film preachy and one person described to me as “limo liberalism” because it implies “oh when you go out to buy diamonds this week make sure they aren’t blood diamonds” but I found the film to be realistic, brutal, thought provoking and ultimately worth the ride. If for no other reason than watching Leonardo DeCaprio take his character and progress in a full 180 degrees from beginning to end. It really is like watching a genius at work.
Happy Feet (possible spoilers.
While many were annoyed at the obvious liberal political platform shown in this movie, I have to say that I was not bothered by it at all. In fact, I loved this movie more than I have enjoyed an animated feature in years. For those of you who don’t know, Happy Feet is a movie about a penguin who tap dances. That in itself is nothing exciting except in this fictional world of penguinism, penguins sing not dance. So when mumbles, our tap dancer, is unable to sing he is looked down upon and leaves his father shamed. This first reoccurring theme of conformity is probably overlooked do to the later leftist agenda, but I feel that this is what the movie is about at its core. The movie is about finding a place for oneself and proving that happiness lies in individuality. There are also a few not so vague shots at organized religion running rampant within the movie
Voice wise, this movie seems to be perfect. Elijah Wood captures an innocence and spirit needed and Robin Williams, doing his multi voiced character thing is spot on as one of a group of shorter, renegade penguins. With their help Mumbles finds his “voice” sort to speak and helps shape penguin culture. The star to me though is Hugh Jackman. He voices Mumbles’ father with a faux cheesy Elvis style voice and it is amazing. Also, his vocals are spectacular which leads me to want him back on Broadway, just in a good show this time! Nicole Kidman is the supportive caring mother and Brittney Murphy rounds out the leads as Mumbles’ would be girlfriend, the sexiest most talented penguin in the tribe. Also, the animation is flawless which isn’t a surprise because most animated movies these days look flawless.
I have to admit I was a bit shocked by how scary and mean the movie was at times. I mean I know every animated film has conflict but this seemed like a more realistic conflict because it was a man made conflict. While, I am not what you would consider an “animal lover” it was hard to watch as a penguin nearly suffocated because he got one of those plastic 6 pack holders around his throat. This movie did not back down from showing the dangers involved in mass pollution and mass fishing. I guess that is why those geniuses over at Fox News were calling the movie pure propaganda. Good to know people have nothing better to do than pick apart a kids movie. I mean God forbid we teach children about the dangers of littering!! Oh no! The movie does take a bit of a bizarre turn that reminds you that you are watching a kids movie but it doesn’t take away from the enjoyment. This movie has everything you need in an animated feature-singing, dancing, crazy animation and an interesting story.
Voice wise, this movie seems to be perfect. Elijah Wood captures an innocence and spirit needed and Robin Williams, doing his multi voiced character thing is spot on as one of a group of shorter, renegade penguins. With their help Mumbles finds his “voice” sort to speak and helps shape penguin culture. The star to me though is Hugh Jackman. He voices Mumbles’ father with a faux cheesy Elvis style voice and it is amazing. Also, his vocals are spectacular which leads me to want him back on Broadway, just in a good show this time! Nicole Kidman is the supportive caring mother and Brittney Murphy rounds out the leads as Mumbles’ would be girlfriend, the sexiest most talented penguin in the tribe. Also, the animation is flawless which isn’t a surprise because most animated movies these days look flawless.
I have to admit I was a bit shocked by how scary and mean the movie was at times. I mean I know every animated film has conflict but this seemed like a more realistic conflict because it was a man made conflict. While, I am not what you would consider an “animal lover” it was hard to watch as a penguin nearly suffocated because he got one of those plastic 6 pack holders around his throat. This movie did not back down from showing the dangers involved in mass pollution and mass fishing. I guess that is why those geniuses over at Fox News were calling the movie pure propaganda. Good to know people have nothing better to do than pick apart a kids movie. I mean God forbid we teach children about the dangers of littering!! Oh no! The movie does take a bit of a bizarre turn that reminds you that you are watching a kids movie but it doesn’t take away from the enjoyment. This movie has everything you need in an animated feature-singing, dancing, crazy animation and an interesting story.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
The Pursuit of Happyness (spoilers, I guess)
Before I begin, I must mention that there is significance to word "happyness" being spelled incorrectly. I wish the trailer had shown us why because it seems to annoy those who haven't seen it, but trust me there is a reason for it. Ok, on to the review. I cried, a lot. By a lot I mean pretty much the entire last 35 minutes of the movie. Of course, evoking tears doesn't a great movie make, on its own, so, is the movie very good or just able to get the tear jerker reaction. Simply put, the movie works in every way imaginable, if you let it. It is very easy to walk in this thing with a pessimistic attitude, looking for faults and completely missing the point of this incredibly well acted, well paced well intentioned film.
Will Smith loses every single trademark mannerism or character quirks that he has built a career doing. Yes, he is charming, but he isn't oozing charm. Yes, he still has that smile, but here he uses to fight through the tears. He uses it to keep from losing his mind. He is a tremendous father, but still gets on his child when he can't quite articulate to the child what is happening, and oh what a child it is. The kid, played by Will's real son, is acting in his first role and is equal parts adorable and crazy talented. I imagine it was easy to do along side dad, but he never backs down from the emotional scenes and helps the movie complete its quest of having us believe in these people. In reality, the movie only works because they give us the first 35 minutes to fall in love with Smith and his son. However, we never blame the wife for leaving because we get to know her and we come to understand the hardships of trying to make ends meet.
The movie is heart breaking without question, but it never feels cheesy or contrived. You can't help but want this family to get through the lose of apartment, loss of hotel room and the nights sleeping in a bathroom or on a subway car. Smith is smart, caring and strong willed and pulls it off without ever playing into too many cliches. Of course, because it is inspired from a true story it will have its cliche riddled moments, but because Smith is so capable you never focus on them. I have seen some incredible movies and performances this year, but I think This performance by Smith is my favorite of the year. Never have I seen a character on screen I was routing for more than this one. Never have I felt like jumping for joy when the characters did, or never have I wanted to help a character when they were down. Also, the director chose the perfect ending to the film. We see the completion of one section of this man's life and he gives us that ending. If he were to go much longer the movie could become a slogan for capitalism meaning "money makes one happy", but they didn't. Instead they let us in on the joy of a man accomplishing the impossible and finally able to provide for his family and that is true happiness.
Will Smith loses every single trademark mannerism or character quirks that he has built a career doing. Yes, he is charming, but he isn't oozing charm. Yes, he still has that smile, but here he uses to fight through the tears. He uses it to keep from losing his mind. He is a tremendous father, but still gets on his child when he can't quite articulate to the child what is happening, and oh what a child it is. The kid, played by Will's real son, is acting in his first role and is equal parts adorable and crazy talented. I imagine it was easy to do along side dad, but he never backs down from the emotional scenes and helps the movie complete its quest of having us believe in these people. In reality, the movie only works because they give us the first 35 minutes to fall in love with Smith and his son. However, we never blame the wife for leaving because we get to know her and we come to understand the hardships of trying to make ends meet.
The movie is heart breaking without question, but it never feels cheesy or contrived. You can't help but want this family to get through the lose of apartment, loss of hotel room and the nights sleeping in a bathroom or on a subway car. Smith is smart, caring and strong willed and pulls it off without ever playing into too many cliches. Of course, because it is inspired from a true story it will have its cliche riddled moments, but because Smith is so capable you never focus on them. I have seen some incredible movies and performances this year, but I think This performance by Smith is my favorite of the year. Never have I seen a character on screen I was routing for more than this one. Never have I felt like jumping for joy when the characters did, or never have I wanted to help a character when they were down. Also, the director chose the perfect ending to the film. We see the completion of one section of this man's life and he gives us that ending. If he were to go much longer the movie could become a slogan for capitalism meaning "money makes one happy", but they didn't. Instead they let us in on the joy of a man accomplishing the impossible and finally able to provide for his family and that is true happiness.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
The Fountain
The one very easy thing about reviewing this movie is that spoilers don't exist because no one actually knows what the hell is going on in this movie. Like Pi and Requiem for a dream, this movie is never quite sure of itself, yet manages to have a stranglehold on your attention for some unknown almost hypnotic reason.
Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz star a couple in the modern time, but may also be playing a couple from the past and future as well. Jackman is amazing with fairly limited dialogue and with one character probably did all of his acting against a big green screen, yet that doesn't seem to slow him down as he impressively gives us 3 distinct yet connected characters. The connection is love. A love that may or may not span generations. A love that is possibly eternal or perhaps some of it is in someone's head. There are no real answers here, just a lot of questions about love, passion, spirituality, mortality, obsession, science and time. If it seems a lot to comprehend, also take into account that the movie is a very brisk 95 minutes long.
While you may never actually figure what is going on, you cannot help but be visually stimulated by the amazing effects and shots. The movie is truly breathtaking and stunning in terms of the visuals. The bright, muted yellows clashing with the darkness, or a black silhouette of Jackman doing karate against a background of pure glowing stars. Regardless of how you feel bout the barely there dialogue or the seemingly incoherent plot, it is impossible not to be impressed with Aronofsky's attention to the minor details of how his film looks. The camera work is beautiful and often I felt as if I was watching a gorgeous masterpiece of art in motion, which is enough of a reason to spend the money to see the film.
Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz star a couple in the modern time, but may also be playing a couple from the past and future as well. Jackman is amazing with fairly limited dialogue and with one character probably did all of his acting against a big green screen, yet that doesn't seem to slow him down as he impressively gives us 3 distinct yet connected characters. The connection is love. A love that may or may not span generations. A love that is possibly eternal or perhaps some of it is in someone's head. There are no real answers here, just a lot of questions about love, passion, spirituality, mortality, obsession, science and time. If it seems a lot to comprehend, also take into account that the movie is a very brisk 95 minutes long.
While you may never actually figure what is going on, you cannot help but be visually stimulated by the amazing effects and shots. The movie is truly breathtaking and stunning in terms of the visuals. The bright, muted yellows clashing with the darkness, or a black silhouette of Jackman doing karate against a background of pure glowing stars. Regardless of how you feel bout the barely there dialogue or the seemingly incoherent plot, it is impossible not to be impressed with Aronofsky's attention to the minor details of how his film looks. The camera work is beautiful and often I felt as if I was watching a gorgeous masterpiece of art in motion, which is enough of a reason to spend the money to see the film.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Jay-z's Kingdom Come album
So I have a new method of reviewing albums starting with this one. I will just go track by track giving a rating out of 5 and giving a brief reason why.
1. The Prelude-3.5/5- Just about every Jay-z CD begins the same way; A guy talking about running New York. This is no different although it leads into a song with a slow introspective like beat where he raps about his inability to really leave the game.
2. Oh my god-3.5/5- The familiar horns of Just Blaze lead off this mid tempo track. Nothing special about it pretty standard Jay fare. Luckily standard Jay still laces the beat with good one-liners.
3. Kingdom Come-4/5- A Great Rick James sample will have you forgetting all about Can't touch this. The song reaffirms why Jay is at the top of the rap ladder. The flow, the arrogance and everything finally come together on this track. With lines like "call me peter parker, all I do is climb the charts" Jay is back for the crown.
4. Show me what you got-3.5/5- Again, nothing special but he does the club track better than anyone else and the horn samples from Wrex-n-effect make any rap fan from the 90's laugh just a bit.
5. Lost ones-4.5/5- This is the kind of Jay-z I have come to love. A real introspective song. Not a diss song, a real song. The first verse addresses those who say they made Jay. The second verse appears to be about Beyonce and why they aren't married and in a touching 3rd verse he addresses the death of his nephew. Also the first song on he album featuring the complex rhyme schemes he has been building on his whole career.
6. U wanna ride-4/5- It is hard to go wrong with a dope Kanye West beat and the amazing vocalist, John Legend, on the hook. The song is about the come up and the struggle of a young black man trying to do it big legally. Then the last 2 verses let us know he is doing it major now. It doesn't come off as bragging as much as it comes off as a guy blessed due to his hard work. Also has the sick line "the kingpin of the ink pen."
7. Something-4/5- Dr. Dre gives us the now familiar bass line, piano keys and strings as Jay shows us Grown up Jay, admitting he is playing in young man's game but that he is smarter than the young man. "I don't buy out the bar, I own the night spot" and saying things like "30 is the new 20" let us know that a mature Jay is not a boring Jay.
8.I made it-3/5- This is probably my least favorite track on the CD. Nothing stands out, just more bragging about making it and it sounds like a 3 year old throw off from his last album.
9.Anything-4/5- I typically don't enjoy the stripper anthem anymore, but again Jay is just better than anyone at it. Add the funky Neptunes beat and Usher's vocals on the hook, it just equals a ot of fun. Jay also possesses a nice sing songy flow over the funk that works.
10. Hollywood-4/5- Beyonce on the hook makes sense over a song about being famous. Jay likens the fame and riches to a drug. Again switching his flow to show why he is the most versatile rapper in the game. The song isn't bragging and it is almost a cautionary tale about what happens when you are in the public eye. The only problem with the song is that the beat sounds like a bad Neptunes beat and it sounds a few years old.
11. Trouble-4/5- Dr. Dre on the boards again, but it has a different sound and it works for the song. Jay is a bit angry on the track hitting back at everyone who said he couldn't run a record Label and in the last first spews venom at all of the lower level rappers currently taking shots at the God-MC
12. Dig a Hole-3.5/5- Some have complained about the beat on this song, but I love it. It doesn't sound at all like the typical Swizz Beats track. Obviously the 3 years of not recording have been eating at Jay because he is back at the haters or non-believers. He gives us his credentials. I admit at this point some of it sounds repetitive and the comparing himself to Christ is sure to annoy some people. I find it amusing though.
13. Minority report-5/5- This is probably the most important song Jay has ever recorded. Jay recounts the Katrina incident. The song starts with a bunch of audio news clips from pundits and victims of the catastrophe and then Jay comes in over an intense but slow piano driven beat. He is almost whispering sounding the verge of tears as he ends his rap with this: "Sure I ponied up a mill, but I didn't give my time/ So in reality I didn't give a dime/, or a damn I just put my monies in the hands/ of the same people that left my people stranded/ Nothin' but a bandit/ Left them folks abandoned Damn/, that money that we gave was just a band-aid/ Can't say we better off than we was before/ In synopsis this is my minority report/ Can't say we better off than we was before/ In synopsis this is my minority report" Also Ne-yo comes in at the end and actually works on this song.
14. Beach Chair-5/5- Jay-z and Chris Martin from Coldplay? It seems impossible to behold but after listening to it you understand that it is pure genius. Martin could have a great career as a rap producer if he wants. Jay gets very introspective here and lets the listener into how he does what he does. When I listen to this song I get inspired and wish my mantra in life was like this: "I'm not afraid of dyin' I'm afraid of not tryin" or "Some said "Hov how you get so fly" I said from not being afraid to fall out the sky My physicals a shell so when I say farewell My soul will find an even higher plane to dwell "
The album is not perfect, but that is what makes it perfect. Jay took three years off and went into the studio and just let loose. It sounds as if he wasn't trying to please everyone. This was an album for him. The imperfections make this album a new classic for me. Plus, anytime Jay touches a mic he spits amazing lyrics with great flows and killer one-liners. Thank god the king is back!!
1. The Prelude-3.5/5- Just about every Jay-z CD begins the same way; A guy talking about running New York. This is no different although it leads into a song with a slow introspective like beat where he raps about his inability to really leave the game.
2. Oh my god-3.5/5- The familiar horns of Just Blaze lead off this mid tempo track. Nothing special about it pretty standard Jay fare. Luckily standard Jay still laces the beat with good one-liners.
3. Kingdom Come-4/5- A Great Rick James sample will have you forgetting all about Can't touch this. The song reaffirms why Jay is at the top of the rap ladder. The flow, the arrogance and everything finally come together on this track. With lines like "call me peter parker, all I do is climb the charts" Jay is back for the crown.
4. Show me what you got-3.5/5- Again, nothing special but he does the club track better than anyone else and the horn samples from Wrex-n-effect make any rap fan from the 90's laugh just a bit.
5. Lost ones-4.5/5- This is the kind of Jay-z I have come to love. A real introspective song. Not a diss song, a real song. The first verse addresses those who say they made Jay. The second verse appears to be about Beyonce and why they aren't married and in a touching 3rd verse he addresses the death of his nephew. Also the first song on he album featuring the complex rhyme schemes he has been building on his whole career.
6. U wanna ride-4/5- It is hard to go wrong with a dope Kanye West beat and the amazing vocalist, John Legend, on the hook. The song is about the come up and the struggle of a young black man trying to do it big legally. Then the last 2 verses let us know he is doing it major now. It doesn't come off as bragging as much as it comes off as a guy blessed due to his hard work. Also has the sick line "the kingpin of the ink pen."
7. Something-4/5- Dr. Dre gives us the now familiar bass line, piano keys and strings as Jay shows us Grown up Jay, admitting he is playing in young man's game but that he is smarter than the young man. "I don't buy out the bar, I own the night spot" and saying things like "30 is the new 20" let us know that a mature Jay is not a boring Jay.
8.I made it-3/5- This is probably my least favorite track on the CD. Nothing stands out, just more bragging about making it and it sounds like a 3 year old throw off from his last album.
9.Anything-4/5- I typically don't enjoy the stripper anthem anymore, but again Jay is just better than anyone at it. Add the funky Neptunes beat and Usher's vocals on the hook, it just equals a ot of fun. Jay also possesses a nice sing songy flow over the funk that works.
10. Hollywood-4/5- Beyonce on the hook makes sense over a song about being famous. Jay likens the fame and riches to a drug. Again switching his flow to show why he is the most versatile rapper in the game. The song isn't bragging and it is almost a cautionary tale about what happens when you are in the public eye. The only problem with the song is that the beat sounds like a bad Neptunes beat and it sounds a few years old.
11. Trouble-4/5- Dr. Dre on the boards again, but it has a different sound and it works for the song. Jay is a bit angry on the track hitting back at everyone who said he couldn't run a record Label and in the last first spews venom at all of the lower level rappers currently taking shots at the God-MC
12. Dig a Hole-3.5/5- Some have complained about the beat on this song, but I love it. It doesn't sound at all like the typical Swizz Beats track. Obviously the 3 years of not recording have been eating at Jay because he is back at the haters or non-believers. He gives us his credentials. I admit at this point some of it sounds repetitive and the comparing himself to Christ is sure to annoy some people. I find it amusing though.
13. Minority report-5/5- This is probably the most important song Jay has ever recorded. Jay recounts the Katrina incident. The song starts with a bunch of audio news clips from pundits and victims of the catastrophe and then Jay comes in over an intense but slow piano driven beat. He is almost whispering sounding the verge of tears as he ends his rap with this: "Sure I ponied up a mill, but I didn't give my time/ So in reality I didn't give a dime/, or a damn I just put my monies in the hands/ of the same people that left my people stranded/ Nothin' but a bandit/ Left them folks abandoned Damn/, that money that we gave was just a band-aid/ Can't say we better off than we was before/ In synopsis this is my minority report/ Can't say we better off than we was before/ In synopsis this is my minority report" Also Ne-yo comes in at the end and actually works on this song.
14. Beach Chair-5/5- Jay-z and Chris Martin from Coldplay? It seems impossible to behold but after listening to it you understand that it is pure genius. Martin could have a great career as a rap producer if he wants. Jay gets very introspective here and lets the listener into how he does what he does. When I listen to this song I get inspired and wish my mantra in life was like this: "I'm not afraid of dyin' I'm afraid of not tryin" or "Some said "Hov how you get so fly" I said from not being afraid to fall out the sky My physicals a shell so when I say farewell My soul will find an even higher plane to dwell "
The album is not perfect, but that is what makes it perfect. Jay took three years off and went into the studio and just let loose. It sounds as if he wasn't trying to please everyone. This was an album for him. The imperfections make this album a new classic for me. Plus, anytime Jay touches a mic he spits amazing lyrics with great flows and killer one-liners. Thank god the king is back!!
Deja Vu
If you need movies to make sense I would stay away from this one, but you will be missing out on one exciting ride because this movie has all of the fixings for one thrilling adventure. For those who don't know, the movie is about a secret government project that can see 4 days in the past so they can try and locate the man responsible for blowing up a boat full of navy families. To be honest, getting through the opening scene is tough because you see a lot of children on the boat, but after that you just turn your brain off and enjoy the chase against time.
Denzel Washington seems to have found a comfort zone with Tony Scott films because this the third collaboration for them. The other two being Crimson tide and Man on fire. Also it seems he has perfected the role of a cop/federal agent, but he is such an engaging actor that it doesn't matter much if we have seen him do this same thing in Out of time and Inside man. Val Kilmer is also here, playing second fiddle for some unknown reason. I guess everyone needs a check, but I admit it hurts watching the guy who brilliantly portrayed Jim Morrison demoted to standard jargon spewing cop.
The movie begins with a bang and doesn't let up much. It is a bit low on the explosions but does feature a one of a kind car chase. A chase that is utterly unbelievable yet very interesting and fun. Denzel brings a quiet intensity that really draws you in even when you can't figure out the science of it all. Perhaps science oriented people will be able to followed the moments of exposition but for me, I just wanted to watch Denzel against the clock. Also, I wanted to watch the very pretty Paula Patton be on screen in a series of flashbacks, or are they flashbacks? She is an average actress but looks good in the shower, which is all that really matters. coming in at about 2 hrs, it wraps up before anyone gets bored and it moves at such a quick pace that you don't really have time to question the plot or the plot holes. The quick camera cuts and angles really add to the excitement, even as we are just watching a girl decide what clothes to wear for a date. The last thing I wan tot mention is Adam Goldberg. Adam is an actor most people will recognize by face but not name. He steals the movie with a lot of throw away lines and is enjoyable to watch. Overall this is the kind of film that is a perfect escapism film during the Oscar season when a lot of heavy hitting movies will be flooding our theaters!
Denzel Washington seems to have found a comfort zone with Tony Scott films because this the third collaboration for them. The other two being Crimson tide and Man on fire. Also it seems he has perfected the role of a cop/federal agent, but he is such an engaging actor that it doesn't matter much if we have seen him do this same thing in Out of time and Inside man. Val Kilmer is also here, playing second fiddle for some unknown reason. I guess everyone needs a check, but I admit it hurts watching the guy who brilliantly portrayed Jim Morrison demoted to standard jargon spewing cop.
The movie begins with a bang and doesn't let up much. It is a bit low on the explosions but does feature a one of a kind car chase. A chase that is utterly unbelievable yet very interesting and fun. Denzel brings a quiet intensity that really draws you in even when you can't figure out the science of it all. Perhaps science oriented people will be able to followed the moments of exposition but for me, I just wanted to watch Denzel against the clock. Also, I wanted to watch the very pretty Paula Patton be on screen in a series of flashbacks, or are they flashbacks? She is an average actress but looks good in the shower, which is all that really matters. coming in at about 2 hrs, it wraps up before anyone gets bored and it moves at such a quick pace that you don't really have time to question the plot or the plot holes. The quick camera cuts and angles really add to the excitement, even as we are just watching a girl decide what clothes to wear for a date. The last thing I wan tot mention is Adam Goldberg. Adam is an actor most people will recognize by face but not name. He steals the movie with a lot of throw away lines and is enjoyable to watch. Overall this is the kind of film that is a perfect escapism film during the Oscar season when a lot of heavy hitting movies will be flooding our theaters!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Casino Royale
Gritty. Dirty. Grimy. Bloody. Dark. None of those words have ever been used to describe James Bond before, but then again this is not you typical James Bond. In addition to getting a new Bond, the franchise has gone in a whole direction and man is it something to behold. Right off the bat we know we are not watching the usual Bond flick because James is getting physical by killing someone up close and in a full out beatdown. From that moment on, just about everything is brand new.
Daniel Craig is blonde haired and blue eyed. Very blue eyed. He is smug without being overly pretty. He is cold, calculating but still oozing all of that James Bond charm. He has that Bond swagger but gives his Bond an edge. He is hiding his soul behind those baby blues. The series had become mired in gadgetry, bad writing and even worse acting and this movie is a pimp slap to every Peirce Brosnon Bond film. Don't worry though, the cars and the girls are gorgeous as ever. In fact, an argument could be made that the cars are actually more gorgeous than the girls and that is not a knock on the girls because Eva Green is a straight up knock out!
This new Bond gets hurt, a lot. The new Bond is not afraid to throw punches and run down crazy bad guys through elaborate set pieces. There is an on foot chase towards the beginning that is almost as exhausting for us as it is for the characters, but you never wanted it to end. Bond does not care how you make his martini and he desperately wants to fall in love. So it stands to reason as the franchise gets a makeover that the movie focuses less on the big bangs and more on the character of Bond. So, if you are looking for hi-tech tricks and big explosions, I suggest you just stay home because you won't find those here. You will be missing out though because, in my opinion, this is the very best Bond, ever.
Daniel Craig is blonde haired and blue eyed. Very blue eyed. He is smug without being overly pretty. He is cold, calculating but still oozing all of that James Bond charm. He has that Bond swagger but gives his Bond an edge. He is hiding his soul behind those baby blues. The series had become mired in gadgetry, bad writing and even worse acting and this movie is a pimp slap to every Peirce Brosnon Bond film. Don't worry though, the cars and the girls are gorgeous as ever. In fact, an argument could be made that the cars are actually more gorgeous than the girls and that is not a knock on the girls because Eva Green is a straight up knock out!
This new Bond gets hurt, a lot. The new Bond is not afraid to throw punches and run down crazy bad guys through elaborate set pieces. There is an on foot chase towards the beginning that is almost as exhausting for us as it is for the characters, but you never wanted it to end. Bond does not care how you make his martini and he desperately wants to fall in love. So it stands to reason as the franchise gets a makeover that the movie focuses less on the big bangs and more on the character of Bond. So, if you are looking for hi-tech tricks and big explosions, I suggest you just stay home because you won't find those here. You will be missing out though because, in my opinion, this is the very best Bond, ever.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Stranger than Fiction
In a very Jim Carrey like move, will Farrell went and got serious, well sort of. In an unexpected twist, it actually works. It works very well. Also, the movie itself has some very Truman show like qualities. Luckily, Will surrounded himself with Emma Thompson, a hilarious Dustin Hoffman and an incredibly likeable Maggie Gyllenhaal. And they are all wonderfully directed by Marc Forster, who takes a very different turn from Monster's Ball and finding Neverland, to direct a far out there comedy.
Harold Crick (Farrell) hears a voice and it is narrating his life. The premise is silly and to be honest the first 45 minutes are very silly. However, it is a smart, subtle silly and it is laugh out loud funny. A subdued Farrell is a very funny and likeable Farrell. Dustin Hoffman chimes in as a literary professor trying to help Crick figure out what kind of story he is involved in and in every scene Hoffman is in he soars with a funny demeanor and a great character choice. Gyllenhaal enters the picture as a potential love interest for Farrell and her first scene is hilarious and she provides a great catalyst for Farrell's character to start living his life.
About half way through the movie it stops being silly and starts to get very interesting. Aside from the concept, its a very good movie with a great underlying message: Live the life you want! See, Crick is boring and mundane. He is unhappy, but it is the only life he knows. Then he finds out he is going to die soon and BAM, he starts playing guitar and stops working. He finds an interesting life. I found a lot of it really interesting because ethere are days when I feel trapped in that ritualistic clock watching life and this movie was a nice reminder to break free of that.
I am not going to lie, as Thompson the author struggles with the ending of her book, the movie also suffers from a meandering ending and honestly perhaps the original ending of the book would have given us a better ending to the movie. Then again, perhaps that is the point of the movie anyway. I mean, we know we are watching a comedy from the beginning, so what were we, the audience expecting?
Harold Crick (Farrell) hears a voice and it is narrating his life. The premise is silly and to be honest the first 45 minutes are very silly. However, it is a smart, subtle silly and it is laugh out loud funny. A subdued Farrell is a very funny and likeable Farrell. Dustin Hoffman chimes in as a literary professor trying to help Crick figure out what kind of story he is involved in and in every scene Hoffman is in he soars with a funny demeanor and a great character choice. Gyllenhaal enters the picture as a potential love interest for Farrell and her first scene is hilarious and she provides a great catalyst for Farrell's character to start living his life.
About half way through the movie it stops being silly and starts to get very interesting. Aside from the concept, its a very good movie with a great underlying message: Live the life you want! See, Crick is boring and mundane. He is unhappy, but it is the only life he knows. Then he finds out he is going to die soon and BAM, he starts playing guitar and stops working. He finds an interesting life. I found a lot of it really interesting because ethere are days when I feel trapped in that ritualistic clock watching life and this movie was a nice reminder to break free of that.
I am not going to lie, as Thompson the author struggles with the ending of her book, the movie also suffers from a meandering ending and honestly perhaps the original ending of the book would have given us a better ending to the movie. Then again, perhaps that is the point of the movie anyway. I mean, we know we are watching a comedy from the beginning, so what were we, the audience expecting?
Babel
Taking the title of the film from biblical roots, I expected this movie is be completely about the language barrier the world at large faces, but it really wasn't. In act, this movie is almost nothing like I would have imagined it being. Brad Pitt and Kate Blanchett are the "stars" but in reality they only make up a fourth of this loosely assembled ensemble piece.
Coming in at around 2hrs and 30 minutes, the film starts to lose its grasp with about 45 minutes to go, not because the material gets old or boring, but just because it all starts to look a bit repetitive and one of the four stories slowly unravels into near absurdity. Luckily, there are 3 other story lines that remain realistic and gripping. The movie uses a shooting as the thing that ties the 4 stories together and it also serves as the central theme of violence only begets more violence. The movie is not nearly as much about the problem of language as it is about the entire cultural difference problem.
We have 2 Americans stranded in a foreign country, a family in that same country going through issues of violence, a Hispanic woman attending her son's wedding in Mexico and in the most gripping and interesting story, we have a Japanese girl who is hindered by being a deaf mute. It takes a long time for the director to connect the story dots for us, but honestly they don't matter much. The Japanese girl is beyond stunning in her performance. She captures the turmoil of someone brought up with a language not understood by people in her own country and she captures the immaturity that often comes with those issues. Honestly she makes this movie for me. Also, Brad Pitt has a phenomenal scene towards the end of the flick that really captures a crumbling man.
The movie moves slowly and loses focus at parts. It has a lot of interesting things to say about culture, violence and even family and the director has a great eye for good visuals, I only wish he had done it in just a shorter amount of time. This was not the movie I was expecting or hoping for, but still a very solid film that I would recommend for anyone looking for something to make them think.
Coming in at around 2hrs and 30 minutes, the film starts to lose its grasp with about 45 minutes to go, not because the material gets old or boring, but just because it all starts to look a bit repetitive and one of the four stories slowly unravels into near absurdity. Luckily, there are 3 other story lines that remain realistic and gripping. The movie uses a shooting as the thing that ties the 4 stories together and it also serves as the central theme of violence only begets more violence. The movie is not nearly as much about the problem of language as it is about the entire cultural difference problem.
We have 2 Americans stranded in a foreign country, a family in that same country going through issues of violence, a Hispanic woman attending her son's wedding in Mexico and in the most gripping and interesting story, we have a Japanese girl who is hindered by being a deaf mute. It takes a long time for the director to connect the story dots for us, but honestly they don't matter much. The Japanese girl is beyond stunning in her performance. She captures the turmoil of someone brought up with a language not understood by people in her own country and she captures the immaturity that often comes with those issues. Honestly she makes this movie for me. Also, Brad Pitt has a phenomenal scene towards the end of the flick that really captures a crumbling man.
The movie moves slowly and loses focus at parts. It has a lot of interesting things to say about culture, violence and even family and the director has a great eye for good visuals, I only wish he had done it in just a shorter amount of time. This was not the movie I was expecting or hoping for, but still a very solid film that I would recommend for anyone looking for something to make them think.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
With Halloween upcoming, a top ten list
Ok, so I love Scary/slasher films and with Halloween around the corner, I thought I'd drop a list of my 10 favorite scary/slasher flicks and a little reason why I picked them. Here we go
10. The final Destination movies- No these movies are not scary in any way, but that isn't really the point. Each time out the deaths get crazier and more creative and I admire that. I admire these movies for not sticking with conventional logic and not being afraid to let the audience watch these deaths being set up. They aren't for the faint of heart because as the deaths get crazier, the gore skyrockets!
9. Last house on the left- Wes Craven created one of the most debated horror movies ever with this tale of a gang who brutally rape and murder 2 girls and unknowingly seeks refuge into eh house of the victims parents. The parents torture and murder the 3 rapists in horrific ways. Craven has long been a master of the horror film and this one is brilliant in its over the top nature!
8. The Grudge- I know some think it is silly, but this movie captures a total creepy atmosphere all the way through and got a few really jumps out of me. Sarah Michelle Gellar is the perfect female lead and the little creepy Asian kid and the cat still creep me out.
7. The Sixth Sense- This movie is typically remembered for the shock ending, but throughout the movie, the dark overtones just never leave. The hallowed expression of Haley Joel Osment stay with you after the movie and the ghosts are portrayed in a real way, which is more frightening than an over the top ghost.
6. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre- The original version of this film was kind of the epitome of the young teens stranded in a remote village film. The idea of Leatherface and a chainsaw are far more disgusting than Freddy or Jason and slimy feel of the entire town just leaves me needing a shower...ICK!
5. The second Friday the 13th- Most people forget that Jason's mother was the original killer of the series, but here is where Jason really lets loose on unsuspecting horny teens. It is a classic of the slasher genre and pretty much every new slasher film looks to this film for inspiration. I know it seems like just a rip off of Halloween, but Jason is a much more imposing figure and has a much higher body count!
4. Nightmare on Elm Street- Wes Craven's 2nd masterpiece, created a whole new version of the boogie man myth except he gave the boogie man long creepy fingernail a burned face and a Charlie brown inspired sweater. This was the first horror movie to really give the killer a personality. He was funny and you kind of liked watching him kill people, which is even scarier. It was innovative and bloody fun!
3. Scream- Wes Craven's most masterful masterpiece. Never has a horror movie been this scary, bloody and intentionally funny! The killers masks are about the creepiest ones ever. Wes was';t afraid to poke fun at the genre he made popular while still using new techniques to scare the crap out of people. Working with a lightening quick script from Kevin Williamson Craven gave new life to the slasher genre!
2. It- Clowns scare the crap out of me and Tim Curry is frighteningly brilliant as Pennywise. That is all I need to say because I don't think it freaks you out if you aren't freaked out by clowns.
1. Halloween- Michael Myers never runs and never dies. He just scares the crap out of a babysitter and everyone watching the movie. His moves are deliberate and he seems to have no reason for killing. He hides behind tricked out William Shatner mask with teased hair and giant eye holes and kills everyone while the doctors from the mental institution chase him down. Features the classic closet scene and shows why Jaime Lee Curtis is the ultimate go to scary movie girl!
10. The final Destination movies- No these movies are not scary in any way, but that isn't really the point. Each time out the deaths get crazier and more creative and I admire that. I admire these movies for not sticking with conventional logic and not being afraid to let the audience watch these deaths being set up. They aren't for the faint of heart because as the deaths get crazier, the gore skyrockets!
9. Last house on the left- Wes Craven created one of the most debated horror movies ever with this tale of a gang who brutally rape and murder 2 girls and unknowingly seeks refuge into eh house of the victims parents. The parents torture and murder the 3 rapists in horrific ways. Craven has long been a master of the horror film and this one is brilliant in its over the top nature!
8. The Grudge- I know some think it is silly, but this movie captures a total creepy atmosphere all the way through and got a few really jumps out of me. Sarah Michelle Gellar is the perfect female lead and the little creepy Asian kid and the cat still creep me out.
7. The Sixth Sense- This movie is typically remembered for the shock ending, but throughout the movie, the dark overtones just never leave. The hallowed expression of Haley Joel Osment stay with you after the movie and the ghosts are portrayed in a real way, which is more frightening than an over the top ghost.
6. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre- The original version of this film was kind of the epitome of the young teens stranded in a remote village film. The idea of Leatherface and a chainsaw are far more disgusting than Freddy or Jason and slimy feel of the entire town just leaves me needing a shower...ICK!
5. The second Friday the 13th- Most people forget that Jason's mother was the original killer of the series, but here is where Jason really lets loose on unsuspecting horny teens. It is a classic of the slasher genre and pretty much every new slasher film looks to this film for inspiration. I know it seems like just a rip off of Halloween, but Jason is a much more imposing figure and has a much higher body count!
4. Nightmare on Elm Street- Wes Craven's 2nd masterpiece, created a whole new version of the boogie man myth except he gave the boogie man long creepy fingernail a burned face and a Charlie brown inspired sweater. This was the first horror movie to really give the killer a personality. He was funny and you kind of liked watching him kill people, which is even scarier. It was innovative and bloody fun!
3. Scream- Wes Craven's most masterful masterpiece. Never has a horror movie been this scary, bloody and intentionally funny! The killers masks are about the creepiest ones ever. Wes was';t afraid to poke fun at the genre he made popular while still using new techniques to scare the crap out of people. Working with a lightening quick script from Kevin Williamson Craven gave new life to the slasher genre!
2. It- Clowns scare the crap out of me and Tim Curry is frighteningly brilliant as Pennywise. That is all I need to say because I don't think it freaks you out if you aren't freaked out by clowns.
1. Halloween- Michael Myers never runs and never dies. He just scares the crap out of a babysitter and everyone watching the movie. His moves are deliberate and he seems to have no reason for killing. He hides behind tricked out William Shatner mask with teased hair and giant eye holes and kills everyone while the doctors from the mental institution chase him down. Features the classic closet scene and shows why Jaime Lee Curtis is the ultimate go to scary movie girl!
The Prestige
Every so often you watch a movie and you just know you are watching something special and this is one of those movies. I try not to build movies up because I don't want people to be disappointed when they see them, but seriously 3 days after I saw this movie I can't stop thinking about just how spectacular this movie is in every way imaginable. Christopher Nolan has given the world yet another masterpiece. In the process he proves that his ability to weave the past and present were not a fluke in Memento because here he is flawless as he tells the story forward and backward and seemingly upside down at times, never losing focus and never slipping any lower then pure genius.
Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman star as magicians who start as colleagues, then become entangled in a battle of one up manship, doing everything they can to discredit the other magician that eventually turns into a brutal obsession that spins both their lives out of control. The movie is also a classic tale about the differences between talent and showmanship. Bale is the more talented magician but Jackman has the stage presence and charisma, so when he performs the same trick as Bale, with lesser talent, it looks better, therefore people like it better. Michael Caine puts in a tremendous supporting role as the mentor of Jackman and also tries to act a moral centerpiece trying to pull the reigns in on Jackman's out of control obsession. No matter what movie I see him in, Jackman is always Wolverine to me. Well, at least he was until this performance. He owns his character and perfectly portrays the parallels of obsession with drug addiction to a hilt. Bale, always brilliant is even more amazing here as a cocky, yet grounded man, torn between his love for his family and his love of magic. Scarlett Johansen rounds out the cast as the gorgeous bombshell assistant. Her role is vital to the story and she is at her smokey understated best here.
This movie is full of brilliant twists and turns, yet it doesn't rely on them to make the movie good. Nolan creates this masterful vision of the world of magic. He uses minimal CGI, but when he uses it, it is most effective. He builds on the classic fog effect he utilized in Insomnia to create a dark dreary, yet gorgeous version of Colorado. The movie will probably challenge you and your thoughts on a few different issues that I cannot go into until you have seen the movie. The movie is about greed, obsession, sacrifice, family, betrayal and fame. With the exception of the Lord of The Ring movies, I haven't seen a better movie than this in many many years, Yes I mean it!
Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman star as magicians who start as colleagues, then become entangled in a battle of one up manship, doing everything they can to discredit the other magician that eventually turns into a brutal obsession that spins both their lives out of control. The movie is also a classic tale about the differences between talent and showmanship. Bale is the more talented magician but Jackman has the stage presence and charisma, so when he performs the same trick as Bale, with lesser talent, it looks better, therefore people like it better. Michael Caine puts in a tremendous supporting role as the mentor of Jackman and also tries to act a moral centerpiece trying to pull the reigns in on Jackman's out of control obsession. No matter what movie I see him in, Jackman is always Wolverine to me. Well, at least he was until this performance. He owns his character and perfectly portrays the parallels of obsession with drug addiction to a hilt. Bale, always brilliant is even more amazing here as a cocky, yet grounded man, torn between his love for his family and his love of magic. Scarlett Johansen rounds out the cast as the gorgeous bombshell assistant. Her role is vital to the story and she is at her smokey understated best here.
This movie is full of brilliant twists and turns, yet it doesn't rely on them to make the movie good. Nolan creates this masterful vision of the world of magic. He uses minimal CGI, but when he uses it, it is most effective. He builds on the classic fog effect he utilized in Insomnia to create a dark dreary, yet gorgeous version of Colorado. The movie will probably challenge you and your thoughts on a few different issues that I cannot go into until you have seen the movie. The movie is about greed, obsession, sacrifice, family, betrayal and fame. With the exception of the Lord of The Ring movies, I haven't seen a better movie than this in many many years, Yes I mean it!
Flag of our Fathers
Clint Eastwood seems to be hitting his stride as a director as he nears the age of dirt. A few years back he gave us a brilliant movie entitled Mystic River then he gave us the lesser,but still brilliantly directed, Million Dollar Baby, and now he hits us with the instant war classic Flag of our Fathers. I am not sure how the same man responsible for Blood Work turned into one of the most consistent directors, but I am not complaining. Working from a non fiction source material of the same name, Clint creates a giant film that feels like a small film. The battle scenes are grandiose, yet intimate as we follow 3 specific soldiers during and after the war. Clint's able hand and mind weave through 3 or 4 different time periods, yet never get his audience confused.
The film stars Ryan "I am not just a pretty face" Phillipe, Jesse "Hopefully this will be my break out role" Bradford and Adam "I do enough crying to win an Oscar" Beach as the 3 surviving soldiers from the famous flag raising picture from Iwo Jima. The film takes place during the big battle, before the big battle, after the big battle and after the war. Phillipe is the central heart of the film, in my opinion. His eyes kind of narrate the story to us and we mostly see things as he sees them as a naval doctor trying to keep injured soldiers alive. Before I saw this movie I was a doubter of his abilities but he made me a believer. He plays the role quietly and doesn't get any big "Oscar" moments but in my opinion everything he does here is good enough to be noticed by critics. Bradford seems completely at ease as a cocky, fame hungry soldier. The only one of the three who seems to revel in the limelight they are thrown into after leaving the war. As a native American dealing with constant racism Beach is impeccable. His character goes through the worst transition, dealing with alcoholism and a lack of respect as a Native American.
The journey we are taken on sometimes seems repetitive, but it works because it allows us to see just how badly our government exploited these "war heroes" or how badly we, as a country, need things to show us, we aren't bad. They say pictures are worth a thousand words, and this movie is about possibly the most famous picture of all. Here, though, we see the picture for what it really was and not the symbol we were told to believe it was. People died before, during and after this flag raising and our 3 central characters make sure no one forgets the real war heroes were the ones who didn't come home.
The film stars Ryan "I am not just a pretty face" Phillipe, Jesse "Hopefully this will be my break out role" Bradford and Adam "I do enough crying to win an Oscar" Beach as the 3 surviving soldiers from the famous flag raising picture from Iwo Jima. The film takes place during the big battle, before the big battle, after the big battle and after the war. Phillipe is the central heart of the film, in my opinion. His eyes kind of narrate the story to us and we mostly see things as he sees them as a naval doctor trying to keep injured soldiers alive. Before I saw this movie I was a doubter of his abilities but he made me a believer. He plays the role quietly and doesn't get any big "Oscar" moments but in my opinion everything he does here is good enough to be noticed by critics. Bradford seems completely at ease as a cocky, fame hungry soldier. The only one of the three who seems to revel in the limelight they are thrown into after leaving the war. As a native American dealing with constant racism Beach is impeccable. His character goes through the worst transition, dealing with alcoholism and a lack of respect as a Native American.
The journey we are taken on sometimes seems repetitive, but it works because it allows us to see just how badly our government exploited these "war heroes" or how badly we, as a country, need things to show us, we aren't bad. They say pictures are worth a thousand words, and this movie is about possibly the most famous picture of all. Here, though, we see the picture for what it really was and not the symbol we were told to believe it was. People died before, during and after this flag raising and our 3 central characters make sure no one forgets the real war heroes were the ones who didn't come home.
The Grudge 2
Ok, so I can't give this movie a full review because I walked out at the 45 minute mark, which means I missed half of the movie. However, I think my walking out speaks volumes. Now, I love horror movies, I love the good ones and I love the bad ones. This movie, though, was beyond bad. To me, what makes a horror movie is not the jumps or scares because let us face it, most of us will jump when something goes from complete silence to very loud in a split second. What makes a scary movie good is what happens inbetween the scares. Does the movie give an overall creepy edge of your seat mood throughout? That is what makes the difference and in the first Grudge movie, I felt they captured that creepy ambiance completely, which had me stoked for this second film.
I can't give you much of a plot because what I saw was pretty incoherent. I do know that their are 3 separate stories and one of them seem to connect in any way shape or form. One story follows Jennifer Beals (no longer in leg warmers), another follows 3 teenage girls as they deal with the consequences that follow from going into the cursed house from the first movie and the third story follows a horrible actress and a horrible actor as they try to solve the question of what happened to Sarah Michelle Gellar. Now, Sarah reprises her role from the first film in the only worthwhile scene in the movie, which goes to show that the kind of acting one does has a serious affect on what the overall movie looks like.
There are no legitimate scares, some seriously bad acting, even worse writing and this movie has to set a record for amount of times it copied from its first film. Nothing in this sequel even hints at originality or creativity. The fact that I stayed even 45 minutes actually kind of amazed me because this film is truly that terrible!
I can't give you much of a plot because what I saw was pretty incoherent. I do know that their are 3 separate stories and one of them seem to connect in any way shape or form. One story follows Jennifer Beals (no longer in leg warmers), another follows 3 teenage girls as they deal with the consequences that follow from going into the cursed house from the first movie and the third story follows a horrible actress and a horrible actor as they try to solve the question of what happened to Sarah Michelle Gellar. Now, Sarah reprises her role from the first film in the only worthwhile scene in the movie, which goes to show that the kind of acting one does has a serious affect on what the overall movie looks like.
There are no legitimate scares, some seriously bad acting, even worse writing and this movie has to set a record for amount of times it copied from its first film. Nothing in this sequel even hints at originality or creativity. The fact that I stayed even 45 minutes actually kind of amazed me because this film is truly that terrible!
Friday, October 13, 2006
The Departed (minor spoilers)
As far as actors go, this movie has pretty much the highest caliber you could get in one movie. Jack Nicholson plays an out of control Irish mob boss, Matt Damon plays a cop, who moves quickly up the ranks to a detective, Leo Decaprio stars as a hot head cop who goes undercover and Mark Wahlberg is a foul mouthed hot headed federal agent and it all comes together perfectly in this brilliantly directed film by Martin Scorcese. Scorcese delivers his best movie in over a decade and the best movie of this year so far.
The Departed centers around a section in Boston where Irish mobs run the streets and the cops are trying to put fear back into criminals. Martin Sheen is perfect in a supporting role as a higher-up cop as is Alec Baldwin. Scorcese seems out to prove that no one makes intense, gritty crime dramas and with each scene he is slapping around the competition. The writing is crisp, the visuals pop off the screen in their realism and every single actor in this makes a giant contribution.
Nicholson appears to be in full force for the first time in many many years and Wahlberg is the perfect hot head. To me though, the real standouts are Leo and Matt Damon. Tough you rarely see them on screen together, these two incredibly talented actors weave in and out to make this story work. Decaprio, in his best role to date in my opinion, easily moves from hot head, to paranoid pill popper without ever letting Nicholson out do him, which is not an easy task. Damon on the other hand, is cold and calculated on the inside, yet comes across very jovial and charming. However, his quiet slow unraveling is brilliant to watch and reminds me of watching him in The Talented Mr. Ripley. There is really only one significant female role, played beautifully by Vera Farmiga (Running scared). she plays a shrink who falls for Matt Damon, but is Leo's Shrink and she is wonderful.
The movie runs over 2 and a half hours but only about 10 minutes of the movie are boring or utter nonsense, and it seems like 1 10 minute scene, so be prepared for that and endure it to get back to this amazing piece of cinema.
The Departed centers around a section in Boston where Irish mobs run the streets and the cops are trying to put fear back into criminals. Martin Sheen is perfect in a supporting role as a higher-up cop as is Alec Baldwin. Scorcese seems out to prove that no one makes intense, gritty crime dramas and with each scene he is slapping around the competition. The writing is crisp, the visuals pop off the screen in their realism and every single actor in this makes a giant contribution.
Nicholson appears to be in full force for the first time in many many years and Wahlberg is the perfect hot head. To me though, the real standouts are Leo and Matt Damon. Tough you rarely see them on screen together, these two incredibly talented actors weave in and out to make this story work. Decaprio, in his best role to date in my opinion, easily moves from hot head, to paranoid pill popper without ever letting Nicholson out do him, which is not an easy task. Damon on the other hand, is cold and calculated on the inside, yet comes across very jovial and charming. However, his quiet slow unraveling is brilliant to watch and reminds me of watching him in The Talented Mr. Ripley. There is really only one significant female role, played beautifully by Vera Farmiga (Running scared). she plays a shrink who falls for Matt Damon, but is Leo's Shrink and she is wonderful.
The movie runs over 2 and a half hours but only about 10 minutes of the movie are boring or utter nonsense, and it seems like 1 10 minute scene, so be prepared for that and endure it to get back to this amazing piece of cinema.
Employee of the Month
First, let me say that every movie is better when you see it for free and this was no exception. Employee of the Month stars hilarious stand up comedian Dane Cook, Horrid c-list singer, Jessica Simpson and a host of random, barely memorable actors. Dane is a slacker, do nothing 30-something who is working as a box boy at a Costco like store who decides to try and be employee of the month when he finds out new hire Jessica Simpson only nails the employee of the month. His adversary, Dax Shepard (TV's punk'd) is the greatest cashier in the southwest and is going for his 18th straight employee of the month. Yes, it does sound bad and it is pretty much as bad as it sounds.
There are jokes about bodily functions, someone gets hit in the face, there are gay jokes and even an angry midget. Yes, it is exactly like every other bad comedy you see trailers for. The reason I went to see it in the first place was because I wanted to hope that Dane Cook could make this kind of movie better and sadly he could not. When you watch him do stand up Dane is likeable, charming and uses the stage with reckless abandon and it works more often then not. Here he is trapped by a know nothing director and an unfunny script. The ending is obvious and very few of the jokes hit their mark.
Of course, it isn't all bad. Jessica Simpson's body looks as fantastic as ever. The 4 buddies in the movie have an awesome clubhouse and the guy who plays the Manager of the store is actually very funny, playing a Steve Carrel like role. Dane shows a minor vulnerability that could play well in movies in the future but overall I am not sure movies really play to the strengths of Dane as a comedian.
There are jokes about bodily functions, someone gets hit in the face, there are gay jokes and even an angry midget. Yes, it is exactly like every other bad comedy you see trailers for. The reason I went to see it in the first place was because I wanted to hope that Dane Cook could make this kind of movie better and sadly he could not. When you watch him do stand up Dane is likeable, charming and uses the stage with reckless abandon and it works more often then not. Here he is trapped by a know nothing director and an unfunny script. The ending is obvious and very few of the jokes hit their mark.
Of course, it isn't all bad. Jessica Simpson's body looks as fantastic as ever. The 4 buddies in the movie have an awesome clubhouse and the guy who plays the Manager of the store is actually very funny, playing a Steve Carrel like role. Dane shows a minor vulnerability that could play well in movies in the future but overall I am not sure movies really play to the strengths of Dane as a comedian.
Friday, October 06, 2006
The Kite Runner book review
Khaled Hosseini's book The Kite Runner is a story of jealousy, redemption, war, salvation, courage and cowardice. It is about friendship, love, devotion and isolation. The book is beautifully written with passages that jump off the page and others that bring the reader to near tears. However, be warned that you will loathe the protagonist for roughly the first 200 or so pages. In fact, you will wonder why you even keep reading and then you remember just how stunning the actual writing is. The story is set in Afghanistan, then the USA, then Afghanistan again and is about a man who is on a mission for redemption. The story is deliberately paced, yet towards the end it turns into a full fledged page turner as you race to find out how it ends. This is the kind of book you want to read with a highlighter so you can highlight certain passages you wish to share with other people. This book is about as character driven as a book can get. Yes, there is a plot and a relevant story, but it all seems secondary as you watch this tortured man try and atone for his childhood behavior. I do not want to give anything away, so My review will be short, but if you enjoy those classic works of literature that put the reader in a position to challenge his/her thoughts about what people are capable of, I highly suggest this book, because you can easily get passed how predictable it is and become glued to the language and the heart.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Hard Candy
2 years ago when I first heard about this movie, I was immediately intrigued. The movie is about a fourteen year old girl who meets thirty something guy on-line, then they meet in person and the audience is supposed to believe that this girl is innocent and sweet. Of course, things take an interesting turn and the film becomes something totally different. Ellen Page (X-Men3) stars as the girl and the brilliance of this film is in casting her. One would almost expect a sex pot to be cast or perhaps a girl who looked a lot older than the 14 yrs this girl is supposed to be, but Ellen looks every bit of 14 and is an impish tomboy. She plays up her innocence, even in the opening flirting scenes but then makes a remarkable transformation to vindictive and vengeful vixen. Patrick Wilson ( Phantom of the Opera) plays the creepy photographer wonderfully. Granted, for the last hr all he really does is beg, plead and sweat, but there are moments when he actually made me think he might not be the guy the girl thinks he is.
The argument could be made that this movie isn't about these two characters. The movie plays as if Ellen is a symbol for every person who was ever molested, or even more so, she could be representing any person who has ever been raped or nearly raped and is tired of being a victim. Whereas Wilson symbolizes every single disgusting pedophile that ever existed. The movie plays as a cat and mouse type movie, except the person you expect to be the cat is actually the mouse. You see what happens when the predator becomes the prey and when the prey is smarter than your average fourteen year old girl. This line of dialogue kind of sums up what this movie is about:
Hayley Stark: I don't know that's that whole nature versus nurture question isn't? Was I born a cute vindictive little bitch or... Did society make me that way? I go back and forth on that...
The movie isn't perfect suffering from a music video director who sometimes doesn't trust his two actors. He resorts to that overly done shaky camera syndrome, to make his point that the girl is freaking out, when it was noticeable in her face. It detracts from the content a bit but the overall acting ultimately makes this movie very much worth the watch. However, there is a scene that no guy should ever really watch. WOW!
The argument could be made that this movie isn't about these two characters. The movie plays as if Ellen is a symbol for every person who was ever molested, or even more so, she could be representing any person who has ever been raped or nearly raped and is tired of being a victim. Whereas Wilson symbolizes every single disgusting pedophile that ever existed. The movie plays as a cat and mouse type movie, except the person you expect to be the cat is actually the mouse. You see what happens when the predator becomes the prey and when the prey is smarter than your average fourteen year old girl. This line of dialogue kind of sums up what this movie is about:
Hayley Stark: I don't know that's that whole nature versus nurture question isn't? Was I born a cute vindictive little bitch or... Did society make me that way? I go back and forth on that...
The movie isn't perfect suffering from a music video director who sometimes doesn't trust his two actors. He resorts to that overly done shaky camera syndrome, to make his point that the girl is freaking out, when it was noticeable in her face. It detracts from the content a bit but the overall acting ultimately makes this movie very much worth the watch. However, there is a scene that no guy should ever really watch. WOW!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Hollywoodland
Ben Affleck is an actor. I know we often forget that when we think of Gigli, Daredevil or Jersey girl. However, he rose to fame through Chasing Amy and Good Will Hunting, which both required him to have talent. After seeing Hollywoodland, you start to remember Ben Affleck the actor and forget ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez cast off. Mr. Affleck plays George Reeves in this semi- biopic. Reeves was Superman before Christopher Reeves and before Superman was, well Superman. He played him in black and white, when the program was aimed specifically at children and eventually killed himself. Or did he? That is the question posed in this better than good film.
Adrien Brody plays a sleazeball private eye just looking for a headline and a quick buck until he lands the case of the suicide. Reeves mother believes it was murder and Brody, with a nose for trouble, jumps on the case. What a time it was for Hollywood. You had mob ties, buy offs, dirty cops and an insane ability to make people disappear. Brody thinks the murder maybe tied to Reeves affair with Diane Lane, who is married to a big time MGM producer. Lane, looking beautiful yet sad throughout the movie, appears mostly in flashbacks, but her one scene towards the end is mesmerizing, and she doesn't even say a word. Bob Hoskins plays her husband, who doesn't do much other than huff and puff his way through pretty trite dialogue.
This film plays as a great who-dun-it and as a great drama. It captures a side of what it must be like to be an icon. An idea of what it is like to be defined by one role and how that can take its toll on an actor. Affleck handles Reeves with genuine energy and sincerity. He plays him as boisterous, but never conniving. You want Reeves to succeed and Affleck handles the age range beautifully. Brody, whom I haven't seen in much added a tremendous amount of nuance to his character. The gum chewing and throwing, the twirling of the keys. His character stayed true to the mannerisms all the way through and it is terrific to watch. The movie is bogged down by an elongated ending sequence but it doesn't hamper the pace of the rest fo the film. I think it is a great movie and deserves to be seen!
Adrien Brody plays a sleazeball private eye just looking for a headline and a quick buck until he lands the case of the suicide. Reeves mother believes it was murder and Brody, with a nose for trouble, jumps on the case. What a time it was for Hollywood. You had mob ties, buy offs, dirty cops and an insane ability to make people disappear. Brody thinks the murder maybe tied to Reeves affair with Diane Lane, who is married to a big time MGM producer. Lane, looking beautiful yet sad throughout the movie, appears mostly in flashbacks, but her one scene towards the end is mesmerizing, and she doesn't even say a word. Bob Hoskins plays her husband, who doesn't do much other than huff and puff his way through pretty trite dialogue.
This film plays as a great who-dun-it and as a great drama. It captures a side of what it must be like to be an icon. An idea of what it is like to be defined by one role and how that can take its toll on an actor. Affleck handles Reeves with genuine energy and sincerity. He plays him as boisterous, but never conniving. You want Reeves to succeed and Affleck handles the age range beautifully. Brody, whom I haven't seen in much added a tremendous amount of nuance to his character. The gum chewing and throwing, the twirling of the keys. His character stayed true to the mannerisms all the way through and it is terrific to watch. The movie is bogged down by an elongated ending sequence but it doesn't hamper the pace of the rest fo the film. I think it is a great movie and deserves to be seen!
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Lucky Number Slevin
I saw this movie in theaters and now that it has come to video, I thought I would review it and hopefully sway a few people to give this under seen movie a shot. Josh Hartnett stars as an unlucky man who is mistaken for his friend. His friend owes someone a lot of money and Harnett must come up with it or be killed. Bruce Willis is a hitman, Morgan Freeman is the mob boss, Ben Kingsley is the Jewish mod boss and Lucy Lui is the new love interest of Hartnett. The plot is supposed to be kept under wraps as it quietly unfolds and the twist at the end is supposed to keep you on your toes, but I saw it coming pretty early on. So if it is not as shocking as it wants to be why watch the movie? It is all about the dialogue.
The movie borrows a lot of Tarentino, like a lot of indie type films do these days. The story is told in sections of time often switching between past, present and future but the director is certainly capable and pulls it off nicely. The movie is peppered with clever hilariously sly dialogue and the characters seem to know they are speaking in that kind of dialogue, but Hartnett especially looks like he is having a blast busting out of that broody thing he has been doing for most of his career. He still doesn't do much acting but at least he is having fun with dialogue like this:
The Boss: They call him "the Fairy"
Slevin: Why do they call him "the Fairy"?
The Boss: Because he's a fairy.
Slevin: What, he's got wings... He flies around sprinkling magic dust on people?
The Boss: [angry] He's a homosexual!
or
Brikowski: Who are you?
Slevin: Philosophically speaking?
Brikowski: Name. Slevin: Rank, serial number?
Dumbrowski: You should really play ball kid.
Slevin: Really? You think I'm tall enough?
Brikowski: [hits Slevin in stomach]
Brikowski: What is your name?
Slevin: [gasping for breath] Oh yeah, now I remember, Slevin Kelevra
Yes, it is mostly pretty simple but it is fun, fast in the context of the movie it is is funny and manages to fly off the tongues of all the actors. The biggest feat this movie manages though is, it makes me not hate Lucy Lui and usually I cannot freaking stand that chick. I really recommend this movie for people who are looking for a break from the norm and enjoy those off beat style movies.
The movie borrows a lot of Tarentino, like a lot of indie type films do these days. The story is told in sections of time often switching between past, present and future but the director is certainly capable and pulls it off nicely. The movie is peppered with clever hilariously sly dialogue and the characters seem to know they are speaking in that kind of dialogue, but Hartnett especially looks like he is having a blast busting out of that broody thing he has been doing for most of his career. He still doesn't do much acting but at least he is having fun with dialogue like this:
The Boss: They call him "the Fairy"
Slevin: Why do they call him "the Fairy"?
The Boss: Because he's a fairy.
Slevin: What, he's got wings... He flies around sprinkling magic dust on people?
The Boss: [angry] He's a homosexual!
or
Brikowski: Who are you?
Slevin: Philosophically speaking?
Brikowski: Name. Slevin: Rank, serial number?
Dumbrowski: You should really play ball kid.
Slevin: Really? You think I'm tall enough?
Brikowski: [hits Slevin in stomach]
Brikowski: What is your name?
Slevin: [gasping for breath] Oh yeah, now I remember, Slevin Kelevra
Yes, it is mostly pretty simple but it is fun, fast in the context of the movie it is is funny and manages to fly off the tongues of all the actors. The biggest feat this movie manages though is, it makes me not hate Lucy Lui and usually I cannot freaking stand that chick. I really recommend this movie for people who are looking for a break from the norm and enjoy those off beat style movies.
The Black Dahlia
I was very excited about this movie because it is based on a book from an author I love, James Elroy. I have not read this particular book but I love his story telling, plus, the trailer looked amazing. The trailer does not lie, the movie does look amazing. The style, the clothes, the colors, the people all look good. In fact, everything about this movie is good except the script.
The movie stars Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart as cops in the 1940's who are trying to solve the brutal killing of a girl, played by Mia Kirchner seen only in incredibly creepy looking flashbacks of her screen tests. Scarlett Johansen and Hilary Swank round out a cast of phenomenal looking people who all look cool as they smoke and speak fast yet bland dialogue. I will admit that the trailer is misleading because the movie is not really about solving the murder. The movie is about what trying to solve this murder does to its characters. We watch Aaron Eckhart quickly unravel, Josh Hartnett try and keep focus and Scarlett Johansen slowly lose her mind as Eckhart becomes obsessed.
I am far from a Hilary Swank fan, but here she makes a vicious vixen and she is loving every second of it. Josh Hartnett makes a case for himself being more than a bushy eye browed broody pretty boy. As he does more in than looked confused. He cries, he looks mean and he gets to kiss all the pretty girls. Scarlett, looking as amazing as ever, is probably too young for the role she is playing, but really when you look and sound like she does, it doesn't really matter. The movie plays like a 1940's film noir movie, except you get the blood and you get a little sex. However, the only real sex in this film is creepy and uncomfortable to watch, which is the desired affect. The last 30 minutes of this film are a bit confusing and at times there are just too many plots for a 2 hour movie to really wrap up, but it is a great stylish film. It certainly makes me want to read the book and makes me believe Aaron Eckhart is going to be a long time amazing character actor.
The movie stars Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart as cops in the 1940's who are trying to solve the brutal killing of a girl, played by Mia Kirchner seen only in incredibly creepy looking flashbacks of her screen tests. Scarlett Johansen and Hilary Swank round out a cast of phenomenal looking people who all look cool as they smoke and speak fast yet bland dialogue. I will admit that the trailer is misleading because the movie is not really about solving the murder. The movie is about what trying to solve this murder does to its characters. We watch Aaron Eckhart quickly unravel, Josh Hartnett try and keep focus and Scarlett Johansen slowly lose her mind as Eckhart becomes obsessed.
I am far from a Hilary Swank fan, but here she makes a vicious vixen and she is loving every second of it. Josh Hartnett makes a case for himself being more than a bushy eye browed broody pretty boy. As he does more in than looked confused. He cries, he looks mean and he gets to kiss all the pretty girls. Scarlett, looking as amazing as ever, is probably too young for the role she is playing, but really when you look and sound like she does, it doesn't really matter. The movie plays like a 1940's film noir movie, except you get the blood and you get a little sex. However, the only real sex in this film is creepy and uncomfortable to watch, which is the desired affect. The last 30 minutes of this film are a bit confusing and at times there are just too many plots for a 2 hour movie to really wrap up, but it is a great stylish film. It certainly makes me want to read the book and makes me believe Aaron Eckhart is going to be a long time amazing character actor.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Method Man "4:21...The day after" album review
About 15 years since starting in the rap game as part of The Wu-Tang clan, Method Man is angry. He is angry with fans, critics, labels and just the general state of rap music these days. That anger has fueled his best solo album to date. To be honest, it wasn't that difficult because he hasn't really produced a solid solo album yet. This album is certainly a return to a darker grimier past and tries to erase all memory of the way overly produced last effort.
unfortunately for Mr Method Man, the content on the album isn't stunningly new or interesting. We get a club song, a anti industry song, a girl song and a few posse cuts. However, Meth is also more charismatic on a mic than most and he manages to stay pretty witty even as he lashes out at everything. Particularly on "say" he unleashes verbal venom at everyone who thinks he is past his prime. See in hip-hop some of the elder statesmen have to worry about what happens to them because for the most part hip-hop is a kids game. In Rap music, we don't have a Bruce Springsteen or Bob Dylan. Our older artists tend to fade out of the picture, even if they make good music and Method Man is entering that dangerous turf.
Even as he swears he has his label's back on one song he also claims "My label is def, that's why I scream." Of course, that's clever if you understand he is Def Jam. This album probably won't win him any new fans, but I imagine his current fanbase is plenty happy. I was pleasantly surprised with the ODB assisted "Dirty Mef" because not only does ODB not ruin the track, he actually adds something to it. Method Man's strongest point is his flow. The way the words come out of his mouth. Not only the delivery but the swagger in which they leave his mouth and enter the ear of the listener. He has a confidence about him but you never think it is over the top nor do you ever doubt it. He has perfectly that grimy sense of style. I guess that's really why I continue to check for Method Man's music. He has an undeniable sense of Likeability. That album is a good album and it has replay value and minimal tracks that you have to skip over which today is fairly rare!
unfortunately for Mr Method Man, the content on the album isn't stunningly new or interesting. We get a club song, a anti industry song, a girl song and a few posse cuts. However, Meth is also more charismatic on a mic than most and he manages to stay pretty witty even as he lashes out at everything. Particularly on "say" he unleashes verbal venom at everyone who thinks he is past his prime. See in hip-hop some of the elder statesmen have to worry about what happens to them because for the most part hip-hop is a kids game. In Rap music, we don't have a Bruce Springsteen or Bob Dylan. Our older artists tend to fade out of the picture, even if they make good music and Method Man is entering that dangerous turf.
Even as he swears he has his label's back on one song he also claims "My label is def, that's why I scream." Of course, that's clever if you understand he is Def Jam. This album probably won't win him any new fans, but I imagine his current fanbase is plenty happy. I was pleasantly surprised with the ODB assisted "Dirty Mef" because not only does ODB not ruin the track, he actually adds something to it. Method Man's strongest point is his flow. The way the words come out of his mouth. Not only the delivery but the swagger in which they leave his mouth and enter the ear of the listener. He has a confidence about him but you never think it is over the top nor do you ever doubt it. He has perfectly that grimy sense of style. I guess that's really why I continue to check for Method Man's music. He has an undeniable sense of Likeability. That album is a good album and it has replay value and minimal tracks that you have to skip over which today is fairly rare!
The Roots "Game Theory" album review
For those of you unaware of who the Roots are ( and I assume anyone who may actually read this is unaware) let me tell you: The roots are a rap band. Yes a band with live instruments and everything. The Roots are typically on the forefront of sound in rap music and they are the band non hip-hop loving people like to show they are down with dope music. Most of you have seen their drummer in many music videos. He is a big guy with a giant afro and they have put out classic album after classic album. To those real hip-hop fans they are like the Ramones. However, recently due to label struggles they have been putting out sub par music and even dropped 2 "best of" albums to fulfill contract obligations so they could search elsewhere.
Now with a new home at hip-hop premier label, Def Jam, they give us the single best hip-hop album to come out in 2 years. Musically it is solid and new. The drums are crisp and the rest of the band keeps up. Each song weaves into the next one like scenes from a movie and it is hard not to just nod your head as the baseline kicks throughout each track. Black Thought, the rapper, seems to have found his drive and delivers darker and harder lyrics than ever before. His flow is aggressive and raw when it supposed to be as shown on tracks like "Don't feel right", "take it there" and "long time". Yet, he can slow it down over the slower, more hopeful tracks like "baby" and "livin in a new world." He is not afraid to attack the mainstream media outlets in "False media" which uses a narrative sample as a hook as opposed to rapping or singing.
Everything on this album works. From the J. Dilla influenced intro to the J. Dilla tribute closing track, featuring real testimonials about the well respected late producer. While the label situation frustrated the group it seems like their best work is being brought out in the pain and frustration. I know I can't convince most of my friends to ever give hip-hop a real chance but listen to this album and tell me it doesn't take talent to make this kind of good music!
Now with a new home at hip-hop premier label, Def Jam, they give us the single best hip-hop album to come out in 2 years. Musically it is solid and new. The drums are crisp and the rest of the band keeps up. Each song weaves into the next one like scenes from a movie and it is hard not to just nod your head as the baseline kicks throughout each track. Black Thought, the rapper, seems to have found his drive and delivers darker and harder lyrics than ever before. His flow is aggressive and raw when it supposed to be as shown on tracks like "Don't feel right", "take it there" and "long time". Yet, he can slow it down over the slower, more hopeful tracks like "baby" and "livin in a new world." He is not afraid to attack the mainstream media outlets in "False media" which uses a narrative sample as a hook as opposed to rapping or singing.
Everything on this album works. From the J. Dilla influenced intro to the J. Dilla tribute closing track, featuring real testimonials about the well respected late producer. While the label situation frustrated the group it seems like their best work is being brought out in the pain and frustration. I know I can't convince most of my friends to ever give hip-hop a real chance but listen to this album and tell me it doesn't take talent to make this kind of good music!
Justin Timberlake "Future sex/love sounds" album review
I am not afraid to admit that I am a fan of Justin Timberlake. Have been for quite a few years and if I could change lives with one man it would be him. If you have to ask why, you don't deserve to know. I thought his first solo album was a very good polished pop album with a bit of an R&B edge to it and it had a perfectly creepy stalker type song called "cry me a river" and now it is time for JT to release another solo effort and while he doesn't have that "cry me a river" type smash hit on it, is it worth the time?
The disc opens with the title track and it has the seemingly familiar "another one bites the dust" baseline but it is molded around Timbaland type sounds. SO it sounds like it would be the child of "Another one bites the dust" and Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous" The vocals are a bit distorted to give them that computer type sound, which is fine for the first few songs but after a little while it does start to get a bit annoying. The first 5 songs are all pretty uptempo and feature very futuristic sounds with Timbaland's fingerprints all over them. Usually I am not the biggest fan of an entire rap or R&B album being mostly produced by the same guy because at times all of the songs can run together and JT does kind of run that risk with this CD. At some point that futuristic sound starts to feel less and less futuristic because you just heard bits of it on the song before.
The standout track for me is "What goes around, comes around" because even though it runs over 6 minutes long, the music changes as the mood of the song changes and at about the 5 minute mark the song gets darker as the story he tells unfolds in a not happy way. Justin seems to have perfected his falsetto for this CD as well, as it comes across much more clearly than ever before. He also proves that crunk music is so basic that even a former boy bander can make that entire kind of music sound good as he in joined by Oscar winners(can you believe it) 3-6-Mafia on Chop me up. Another really great track is the Will-I-Am produced "Damn Girl", well its a great song until Will tries to bring his horrid brand of rap to the track.
This album may not be ground breaking or earth shattering stuff, but for a pop artist it is pretty forward thinking and Justin remains an artist willing to take risks with his fanbase and unafraid to allow the people creating the music to be creative. I know it sounds very foolish to say that, but look at the current state of pop music-cheesy guitar playing boy songs, actresses pretending to sing and bland pianists. Justin is heads and shoulders above them all.
The disc opens with the title track and it has the seemingly familiar "another one bites the dust" baseline but it is molded around Timbaland type sounds. SO it sounds like it would be the child of "Another one bites the dust" and Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous" The vocals are a bit distorted to give them that computer type sound, which is fine for the first few songs but after a little while it does start to get a bit annoying. The first 5 songs are all pretty uptempo and feature very futuristic sounds with Timbaland's fingerprints all over them. Usually I am not the biggest fan of an entire rap or R&B album being mostly produced by the same guy because at times all of the songs can run together and JT does kind of run that risk with this CD. At some point that futuristic sound starts to feel less and less futuristic because you just heard bits of it on the song before.
The standout track for me is "What goes around, comes around" because even though it runs over 6 minutes long, the music changes as the mood of the song changes and at about the 5 minute mark the song gets darker as the story he tells unfolds in a not happy way. Justin seems to have perfected his falsetto for this CD as well, as it comes across much more clearly than ever before. He also proves that crunk music is so basic that even a former boy bander can make that entire kind of music sound good as he in joined by Oscar winners(can you believe it) 3-6-Mafia on Chop me up. Another really great track is the Will-I-Am produced "Damn Girl", well its a great song until Will tries to bring his horrid brand of rap to the track.
This album may not be ground breaking or earth shattering stuff, but for a pop artist it is pretty forward thinking and Justin remains an artist willing to take risks with his fanbase and unafraid to allow the people creating the music to be creative. I know it sounds very foolish to say that, but look at the current state of pop music-cheesy guitar playing boy songs, actresses pretending to sing and bland pianists. Justin is heads and shoulders above them all.
The Quiet
Because so much of this movie depends on the audience not knowing too much as the "plot" unfolds, I will keep the movie summary brief on this one. Essentially this movie is about a girl(Camilla Belle) who is deaf and mute and the things that she sees happening around her. After her fathers death, she moves in with her godparents and we are introduced to an alcoholic mother, a father who may or may not be sexually assaulting her daughter and the daughter (Elisha Cuthbert) who is the most popular girl in school, yet possibly still a virgin.
What follows is sometimes revolting, sometimes hilarious (intentionally and unintentionally), sometimes suspenseful and always confusing as hell. This is not a movie for people who enjoy there movies with endings nicely tied up in a box. Nor is it a movie for people who don't want to believe teenagers use such frank sexual terms in their conversations. To be honest, the main drawback of this movie is the dialogue. None of it flows very well and while they definitely sound like words teenagers would use, something about the script just doesn't work as well as the writer probably intended.
The acting all the way around is good, particularly Elisha Cuthbert. However, she don't really break out of either of the molds she has made in her career. Here she gets to be helpless in peril and a sex kitten. But, she does get to take a darker tone in this one and she served as a producer, so she is getting more into her career, which is good I guess. Shawn Ashmore of X-Men fame doesn't get too much to do here but he plays the role nicely, even making somewhat embarrassing dialogue feel nearly natural. Martin Donovan doesn't bring anything new to a hard ass father and Edie Falco is nothing new as your typical drunk rich wife with not much to do. Actually, most of this film seems cliched, except for how it is shot and then the actual unfolding of the plot makes for some interesting ideas. I can see what the writer was going for in terms of a message behind the film, focusing on the deaf/mute girl and how she manages to keep such secrets. I can't recommend this to too many people because the content is a bit off-putting for most people, but if you want a movie that may have you screaming "what the hell" at the screen, go for it!
What follows is sometimes revolting, sometimes hilarious (intentionally and unintentionally), sometimes suspenseful and always confusing as hell. This is not a movie for people who enjoy there movies with endings nicely tied up in a box. Nor is it a movie for people who don't want to believe teenagers use such frank sexual terms in their conversations. To be honest, the main drawback of this movie is the dialogue. None of it flows very well and while they definitely sound like words teenagers would use, something about the script just doesn't work as well as the writer probably intended.
The acting all the way around is good, particularly Elisha Cuthbert. However, she don't really break out of either of the molds she has made in her career. Here she gets to be helpless in peril and a sex kitten. But, she does get to take a darker tone in this one and she served as a producer, so she is getting more into her career, which is good I guess. Shawn Ashmore of X-Men fame doesn't get too much to do here but he plays the role nicely, even making somewhat embarrassing dialogue feel nearly natural. Martin Donovan doesn't bring anything new to a hard ass father and Edie Falco is nothing new as your typical drunk rich wife with not much to do. Actually, most of this film seems cliched, except for how it is shot and then the actual unfolding of the plot makes for some interesting ideas. I can see what the writer was going for in terms of a message behind the film, focusing on the deaf/mute girl and how she manages to keep such secrets. I can't recommend this to too many people because the content is a bit off-putting for most people, but if you want a movie that may have you screaming "what the hell" at the screen, go for it!
Monday, September 04, 2006
Ask the Dust
I am never one to shy away from a movie where Selma Hayek goes skinny dipping, but perhaps this is one movie that would have better been left on the shelf at Blockbuster. The movie, set in California in the early 1900's is about as boring as a movie can possibly be. Colin Ferrel stars as a would be writer who comes to California seeking to write the great American novel and finding the California blonde to marry. Instead, he finds a fiery little Mexican woman, who waitresses and can't read English.
The movie moves at the pace of an injured snail and is even less interesting that watching grass grow. Also, I have grown tired of Colin Ferrell's barely audible mumbling, he uses to try and pass off as sexy. He and Salma have pretty much no sizzle in their flirtatious scenes and the sex scene has about as much heat as the north pole. The movie is based on a novel and the fans of the novel were none to thrilled about the movie and it is not hard to see why. After seeing this piece of garbage I have no desire to find the book and read it. Salma Hayek, who is usually at least interesting to watch, bores the hell out of me as a girl who likes when people mistreat her. She frowns, sighs and whines her way through this movie. I do have to be completely honest here, perhaps in the last 25 minutes the movie got good, but I turned it off before I got that far. Yes, it is that bad.
The movie moves at the pace of an injured snail and is even less interesting that watching grass grow. Also, I have grown tired of Colin Ferrell's barely audible mumbling, he uses to try and pass off as sexy. He and Salma have pretty much no sizzle in their flirtatious scenes and the sex scene has about as much heat as the north pole. The movie is based on a novel and the fans of the novel were none to thrilled about the movie and it is not hard to see why. After seeing this piece of garbage I have no desire to find the book and read it. Salma Hayek, who is usually at least interesting to watch, bores the hell out of me as a girl who likes when people mistreat her. She frowns, sighs and whines her way through this movie. I do have to be completely honest here, perhaps in the last 25 minutes the movie got good, but I turned it off before I got that far. Yes, it is that bad.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
American Gun
Most time we as movie goers like our movies to have specific endings. We need the closure from the characters and from the story in order to make the movie experience complete. Well, if that is the case, you may want to stay away from this little gem of a movie. American Gun is told through 4 stories- 2 stories in the forefront and 2 on the back burner, but what they have in common is they all revolve around guns. The two main stories run semi-similar with each other because follows a mother and son as they deal with the fact that the other boy in the family went on a columbine like shooting spree three years earlier and the other main story follows a high school principal as he tries to keep his mostly ghetto school away from that sort of violence. The two lesser stories follow a smart black teenager as he feels he needs a gun to survive and the final story concerns a college girl working in her grandfathers gun store and how she feels after nearly being assaulted by a frat guy.
For a movie about violence, there is very little violence involved in the actual movie, which only magnifies the intense drama involved. This movie is so intense, at time you feel like the movie is going to burst right through the screen and spill into your living room. Marcia Gay Harden stars as the mother trying to cope with a town thinking she is the reason her son went on the shooting spree and as she tries to keep her other son away from those kinds of things. She shines in the role. Her depression is never over the top and she always feels real. It makes one think about the parents of the columbine children. It makes you wonder what those families go through. Forrest Whittaker is the principal who has sacrificed his home life in an attempt to make a change for the better in a run down violence riddled school. As usual Whittaker adds a touch of subtle line readings in a part that could have easily been a scenery chewer.
If I had any complaints about the movie it would be that the two minor stories are almost not needed for the audience to feel the full impact of the message. However, unlike requiem of a dream, this movie isn't preachy and doesn't need to hit you over the head with its "guns are bad" message. The two key scenes both include Marcia Gay Harden. The knock down drag out argument she has with her remaining son will definitely have you on edge and the near climax of Harden taking on an entire block of parents who solely blame her for the massacre will almost leave you in tears. This movie is not for anyone who doesn't want to think at the movies or anyone who wants their movies tied up in a neat nice package, but if you want something different, go get this movie.
For a movie about violence, there is very little violence involved in the actual movie, which only magnifies the intense drama involved. This movie is so intense, at time you feel like the movie is going to burst right through the screen and spill into your living room. Marcia Gay Harden stars as the mother trying to cope with a town thinking she is the reason her son went on the shooting spree and as she tries to keep her other son away from those kinds of things. She shines in the role. Her depression is never over the top and she always feels real. It makes one think about the parents of the columbine children. It makes you wonder what those families go through. Forrest Whittaker is the principal who has sacrificed his home life in an attempt to make a change for the better in a run down violence riddled school. As usual Whittaker adds a touch of subtle line readings in a part that could have easily been a scenery chewer.
If I had any complaints about the movie it would be that the two minor stories are almost not needed for the audience to feel the full impact of the message. However, unlike requiem of a dream, this movie isn't preachy and doesn't need to hit you over the head with its "guns are bad" message. The two key scenes both include Marcia Gay Harden. The knock down drag out argument she has with her remaining son will definitely have you on edge and the near climax of Harden taking on an entire block of parents who solely blame her for the massacre will almost leave you in tears. This movie is not for anyone who doesn't want to think at the movies or anyone who wants their movies tied up in a neat nice package, but if you want something different, go get this movie.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Crank (spoilers)
When I came out of the theater after watching this, the one word that came to mind was- bizarre. This is one serious head trip of a film, visually, that is. Plot wise or story wise it is about as basic as a movie can be. A guy has to keep his adrenaline up or else his heart will stop and he dies because some gangsters gave him a shot of this poison. So, he drives very fast, gets in fights, snorts coke, has sex, sniffs nasal spray for the epinephrine(sp?) and forces a doctor to zap him back to life even though he isn't dead. In the midst of all this he is trying to get back at the guys who did this to him. All of this sounds very much like a video game and is shot very much that way.
Jason Stratham plays Chev Chelios, yes that name does kind of set the tone for the movie and in this movie he does some of his best wisecracking, but leaves most of the usual fight choreography at home. This movie is more about the camera work or the visuals in general. Paced at a neck breaking, frenetic pace, the camera shakes, zooms and cuts with lightening quick precision. The director utilizes faded colors, bright colors, sub titles, dizzying slow motions, split screen, moving split screens and any other possible camera trick to give the audience an idea of how quickly things are moving. The movie is unbelievably absurd, yet once it starts you can't help be drawn in.
the movie only lasts about 90 minutes and it doesn't slow down much because well if it did our lead character would perish. While he is alive though, he shoots many people, rides a motorcycle with no hands, runs very fast, burns his hand in a waffler, gets oral sex while driving, oh and has sex with his girlfriend in front of about 65 Asians; doggystyle no less, ass smacking and everything. Yes, it really is that kind of movie. Naked girls sitting in big glass balls during the climax for no real reason, a gay drag queen wielding a rolling pin as a weapon and Amy Smart looking sexier than ever all make this train wreck of a movie work.
Jason Stratham plays Chev Chelios, yes that name does kind of set the tone for the movie and in this movie he does some of his best wisecracking, but leaves most of the usual fight choreography at home. This movie is more about the camera work or the visuals in general. Paced at a neck breaking, frenetic pace, the camera shakes, zooms and cuts with lightening quick precision. The director utilizes faded colors, bright colors, sub titles, dizzying slow motions, split screen, moving split screens and any other possible camera trick to give the audience an idea of how quickly things are moving. The movie is unbelievably absurd, yet once it starts you can't help be drawn in.
the movie only lasts about 90 minutes and it doesn't slow down much because well if it did our lead character would perish. While he is alive though, he shoots many people, rides a motorcycle with no hands, runs very fast, burns his hand in a waffler, gets oral sex while driving, oh and has sex with his girlfriend in front of about 65 Asians; doggystyle no less, ass smacking and everything. Yes, it really is that kind of movie. Naked girls sitting in big glass balls during the climax for no real reason, a gay drag queen wielding a rolling pin as a weapon and Amy Smart looking sexier than ever all make this train wreck of a movie work.
Little Miss Sunshine
In a world where Will Farrell dominates the box office with his particular brand of unfunny, it is great to see very intelligent, soul having comedies still being made and Little Miss Sunshine is the epitome of intelligent comedy. On paper this movie looks terrible. It looks as if it belongs on Saturday Night Live, but amazing acting, a great script and brilliant directing turn this into the second funniest comedy of the year (behind Clerks 2, but just barely). The movie follows the most dysfunctional of families on a road trip to get the youngest girl to a beauty pageant and by the time they reach the hilarious and moving climax, you are ready to sit and Watch them make their way home.
Greg Kinnear, in his most spirited performance since As good as it gets, stars as a wannabe motivational speaker, obsessed with being a winner and completely out of touch with the real world. Toni Collete is his cigarette craving, bread winning wife. Steve Carrell steals the movie as the gay uncle who just tried to kill himself. Steve truly is the next Jim Carey, an actor who can be outwardly hilarious and internally hilarious, while staying in the realms of a character. Alan Arkin shines as the Heroin shooting, porn obsessed grandfather whose advice to have as much sex as possible is truly brilliant in its delivery. The children of this wild family are just as wild: Paul Dano plays a emo teen who hates everyone and has taken a vow of silence until he reaches his goal of being a pilot and Abigail Breslin plays the beauty pageant contestant and she will leave pretty much everybody falling in love with her childish innocence and amazing acting chops, Dakota Fanning better watch her back!
I really cannot say anything bad about the movie. Every single bit works-Pushing the vehicle, the horn not stopping, the mute son and the dead body in the trunk. None of it falls flat, but while you are laughing through the entire movie, you also realize something: No matter how odd they are or how much they get on each others nerves, these people love each other. Each character grows or changes in some, very real way. Greg Kinnear makes the most drastic change and is nearly effortless in his performance. The movie makes great points without having to hit the audience over the head to reach them. Seriously, go see this movie and if you don't enjoy it, I feel bad for you.
Greg Kinnear, in his most spirited performance since As good as it gets, stars as a wannabe motivational speaker, obsessed with being a winner and completely out of touch with the real world. Toni Collete is his cigarette craving, bread winning wife. Steve Carrell steals the movie as the gay uncle who just tried to kill himself. Steve truly is the next Jim Carey, an actor who can be outwardly hilarious and internally hilarious, while staying in the realms of a character. Alan Arkin shines as the Heroin shooting, porn obsessed grandfather whose advice to have as much sex as possible is truly brilliant in its delivery. The children of this wild family are just as wild: Paul Dano plays a emo teen who hates everyone and has taken a vow of silence until he reaches his goal of being a pilot and Abigail Breslin plays the beauty pageant contestant and she will leave pretty much everybody falling in love with her childish innocence and amazing acting chops, Dakota Fanning better watch her back!
I really cannot say anything bad about the movie. Every single bit works-Pushing the vehicle, the horn not stopping, the mute son and the dead body in the trunk. None of it falls flat, but while you are laughing through the entire movie, you also realize something: No matter how odd they are or how much they get on each others nerves, these people love each other. Each character grows or changes in some, very real way. Greg Kinnear makes the most drastic change and is nearly effortless in his performance. The movie makes great points without having to hit the audience over the head to reach them. Seriously, go see this movie and if you don't enjoy it, I feel bad for you.
Invincible
I am not afraid to admit I am a sucker for a good, underdog overcoming odds, sports movie. I rank Rudy among my favorite movies and it reduces me to tears every time I see it. Of course, for every Rudy we get a movie like Hardball. Recently we have had a few basketball themed movies of this ilk like Coach Carter and Glory Road but now it is time for a good old fashioned hard hitting football movie. Mark Wahlberg stars as a hometown boy who gets invited to try our for the NFL franchise Philadelphia Eagles even though he is 30 years old and never played college ball. As fomulaic as is, it is also a very well done movie.
Wahlberg puts aside the cocky characters he has carved out lately and harkens back to his boogie nights attitude of a quiet guy with a tremendous talent. The movie moves at a pretty good pace and even in those typical heart string tugging heart to hearts with he and his friends or dad, you never feel manipulated. Greg Kinnear takes the role of the Coach willing to take a chance on Wahlberg and never falls into that possibly mundane role of monologue spewing bore. He manages to find a soul inside of the character he is playing and that becomes very evident during the first game they show and Wahlberg's character freezes at the most inopportune time.
Elizabeth Banks of 40 yr old virgin fame rounds out the cast as the too perfect to be true girl next door. She likes hanging out with the guys, loves sports and knows sports. She lights up the screen when she smiles but ultimately she is scenery here. She does provide a few good laughs for us sports fans who understand how much Eagle and Giant fans do not get along. The rest of the cast of no names do a great job of filling out the roles of Marky-Marks hometown friends. 2 of which support him the whole time and the other who think he will leave them all behind.
In order to fully understand the movie you have to understand what sports can mean to people and if you can't do that I would skip it. The only real flaw in this movie is the direction during the football sections. The director seems hell-bent on getting as many slow motion shots as humanly possible in every frame of actual football. During the climax it gets especially nauseating. I do like that after you see the Disney version of the famous play, they show you the real play during the credits. The movie makers obviously took a bit of poetic license with the climax but ultimately stayed faithful to the life lived and the city saved.
Wahlberg puts aside the cocky characters he has carved out lately and harkens back to his boogie nights attitude of a quiet guy with a tremendous talent. The movie moves at a pretty good pace and even in those typical heart string tugging heart to hearts with he and his friends or dad, you never feel manipulated. Greg Kinnear takes the role of the Coach willing to take a chance on Wahlberg and never falls into that possibly mundane role of monologue spewing bore. He manages to find a soul inside of the character he is playing and that becomes very evident during the first game they show and Wahlberg's character freezes at the most inopportune time.
Elizabeth Banks of 40 yr old virgin fame rounds out the cast as the too perfect to be true girl next door. She likes hanging out with the guys, loves sports and knows sports. She lights up the screen when she smiles but ultimately she is scenery here. She does provide a few good laughs for us sports fans who understand how much Eagle and Giant fans do not get along. The rest of the cast of no names do a great job of filling out the roles of Marky-Marks hometown friends. 2 of which support him the whole time and the other who think he will leave them all behind.
In order to fully understand the movie you have to understand what sports can mean to people and if you can't do that I would skip it. The only real flaw in this movie is the direction during the football sections. The director seems hell-bent on getting as many slow motion shots as humanly possible in every frame of actual football. During the climax it gets especially nauseating. I do like that after you see the Disney version of the famous play, they show you the real play during the credits. The movie makers obviously took a bit of poetic license with the climax but ultimately stayed faithful to the life lived and the city saved.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Christina Aguilerra's "Back to basic" album review
In the early part of the this decade you were either a Britney person or a Christina person. You could not have it both ways. It was akin to liking both the Yankees and the Red Sox, not possible! I was emphatically a Britney person. Most people know that I was virtually obsessed with her. I never thought she was the more talented, but with a body like that I couldn't help but love her. Oh how the times have changed. While Britney Spears has become a bigger symbol for "white trash" than a trailer park, Christina has mostly stayed away from the tabloids and attempted to redefine herself as a "classical" jazz type singer and in doing so puts out a double album that both shines and disappoints.
Christina has two sides to her personality, she either wants to jump your bones or apologize to you. She is either an oversexed goddess or a depressed whimpering child. At least that's the impression you get from the album. Backed by jazzy horns and piano sounds Christina over sings her ass off and riffs up and down scales like she was at a musical theater audition. At times it sounds amazing and at times it just grates on your last nerve. She went and got the most respected producer in hip-hop history by the name of DJ Premier to produce 6 tracks and I was very anxious to hear how the mesh. On the disc's first single "Ain't no other man" they sound as if they have been making music for many many years but on "slow down baby" something sounds a bit off. Also on "thank you" Premier chops up some vocals from "genie in a bottle" that sounds like it is going to be amazing but in the end it fizzles, much like most of the disc.
If you like your Christina horny, you have-"Still dirrty", "Nasty naughty boy" and my personal favorite ode to nastiness "Candyman." If you like your somber gorgeous sounding Christina you have "Oh mother", "Without you" and what is probably the best Christina track I have ever heard "Hurt." There really is something for everyone here and there really isn't any denying the girl has got some serious vocal chops, unfortunately, she too often over powers what could have been a very beautiful track like the closing track "Mercy on me." If you are already a fan I am sure you will not be disappointed. Also if you like guilty pleasure lyrics like : "He's a one stop shop, makes my panties drop He's a sweet talkin' sugar-coated candyman A sweet talkin' sugar-coated candyman " then I suggest you go out and get this bad boy!
Christina has two sides to her personality, she either wants to jump your bones or apologize to you. She is either an oversexed goddess or a depressed whimpering child. At least that's the impression you get from the album. Backed by jazzy horns and piano sounds Christina over sings her ass off and riffs up and down scales like she was at a musical theater audition. At times it sounds amazing and at times it just grates on your last nerve. She went and got the most respected producer in hip-hop history by the name of DJ Premier to produce 6 tracks and I was very anxious to hear how the mesh. On the disc's first single "Ain't no other man" they sound as if they have been making music for many many years but on "slow down baby" something sounds a bit off. Also on "thank you" Premier chops up some vocals from "genie in a bottle" that sounds like it is going to be amazing but in the end it fizzles, much like most of the disc.
If you like your Christina horny, you have-"Still dirrty", "Nasty naughty boy" and my personal favorite ode to nastiness "Candyman." If you like your somber gorgeous sounding Christina you have "Oh mother", "Without you" and what is probably the best Christina track I have ever heard "Hurt." There really is something for everyone here and there really isn't any denying the girl has got some serious vocal chops, unfortunately, she too often over powers what could have been a very beautiful track like the closing track "Mercy on me." If you are already a fan I am sure you will not be disappointed. Also if you like guilty pleasure lyrics like : "He's a one stop shop, makes my panties drop He's a sweet talkin' sugar-coated candyman A sweet talkin' sugar-coated candyman " then I suggest you go out and get this bad boy!
Brick (spoilers)
It seemed like an interesting to combine a high school movie with the classic film noir, so I rented this weird little movie. After having seen it, I have to believe the director watched every single one of those old classic black and white noir genre films because this is picture perfect homage to those films. To me, that is a huge compliment and a nearly rave review in and of itself.
The movie is essentially about a high school trying to figure out what happened to his ex-girlfriend. Within the school there are gangs and even a 25 year old kingpin they just just call "The pin." Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as the main kid. He plays him as a brash, ready for anything, highly intelligent kid and it works on every level. Actually all of the acting in this thing is great. In reality, the real star of this movie is the writer/director, Rian Johnson. This movie is his first full length feature and he is amazing. He captures the essence of the way the older movies were filmed and adds genius touches to his characters. You do have to pay attention to the dialogue though because if you don't the characters sound like they are speaking strictly in non-sequitors and that can be a headache for trying to follow along.
If you can get through the kind of agonizing first 15 minutes I think you'll be in for quite a treat and I think this director should be in for quite the bright future because they all have to start somewhere!
The movie is essentially about a high school trying to figure out what happened to his ex-girlfriend. Within the school there are gangs and even a 25 year old kingpin they just just call "The pin." Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as the main kid. He plays him as a brash, ready for anything, highly intelligent kid and it works on every level. Actually all of the acting in this thing is great. In reality, the real star of this movie is the writer/director, Rian Johnson. This movie is his first full length feature and he is amazing. He captures the essence of the way the older movies were filmed and adds genius touches to his characters. You do have to pay attention to the dialogue though because if you don't the characters sound like they are speaking strictly in non-sequitors and that can be a headache for trying to follow along.
If you can get through the kind of agonizing first 15 minutes I think you'll be in for quite a treat and I think this director should be in for quite the bright future because they all have to start somewhere!
Saturday, August 19, 2006
World Trade Center
Its impossible to know whether America was ready for this movie, but it doesn't much matter because here it is. This movie along with United 93 are the reminders of the most horrible day in this Country. I guess one could argue between this and Pearl Harbor, but that would be one stupid argument. Where United 93 told the story of those in the air this tells the story of those on ground. The movie's tag line tells us it is the the story of two men, but that is a gross understatement. This is a movie about those 2 men, yes, but it is also about their families, friends and everyone involved in finding them. For those of you unaware of the plot here it is: 2 police officers are trapped in the rubble of the World Trade Centers and they are trying to keep each other awake until they can be found. They never give up hope and in the end they are saved.
The movie stars Nic Cage and Michael Pena as the two cops and Maria Bello and Maggie Gylenhall as their wives. My first concern with this movie before seeing it was that having a big name star like Nic Cage would lessen the realism, but I was wrong. In fact, Oliver Stone manages the giant massive topic with an undeniable intimacy. The movie is far from perfect but it isn't easy to criticize a movie that is such a tribute to the fighting human spirit. This movie isn't really for us though, it is for the future generations of people who weren't around for this tragedy. It is so we can avoid having a movie like Pearl Harbor. When you come out of the theater you want to find the nearest cop or fireman and shake their hand. You want to help someone less fortunate than you. It isn't as good of a movie as United 93 because it has some script flaws and a bit of that normal Nic Cage over acting screaming thing but it doesn't much matter. The movie wants us to feel something and I did. Everyone in the theater had tears in their eyes as we exited the building and no one was talking.
Perhaps it is too soon for this day to be revisited, but since they have gone ahead and done it, I urge everyone to rent this movie and rent United 93. However, not at the same time because that would just be too much. When you do get passed the not so good acting from the usually reliable Marria Bello and Maggie Gyllenhall and get to the core of watching these two guys, facing certain death, fight to stay alive for their families. Watch as people search and watch as hundreds of fire fighters and cops come together to save 20 people. I don't think you will be disappointed
The movie stars Nic Cage and Michael Pena as the two cops and Maria Bello and Maggie Gylenhall as their wives. My first concern with this movie before seeing it was that having a big name star like Nic Cage would lessen the realism, but I was wrong. In fact, Oliver Stone manages the giant massive topic with an undeniable intimacy. The movie is far from perfect but it isn't easy to criticize a movie that is such a tribute to the fighting human spirit. This movie isn't really for us though, it is for the future generations of people who weren't around for this tragedy. It is so we can avoid having a movie like Pearl Harbor. When you come out of the theater you want to find the nearest cop or fireman and shake their hand. You want to help someone less fortunate than you. It isn't as good of a movie as United 93 because it has some script flaws and a bit of that normal Nic Cage over acting screaming thing but it doesn't much matter. The movie wants us to feel something and I did. Everyone in the theater had tears in their eyes as we exited the building and no one was talking.
Perhaps it is too soon for this day to be revisited, but since they have gone ahead and done it, I urge everyone to rent this movie and rent United 93. However, not at the same time because that would just be too much. When you do get passed the not so good acting from the usually reliable Marria Bello and Maggie Gyllenhall and get to the core of watching these two guys, facing certain death, fight to stay alive for their families. Watch as people search and watch as hundreds of fire fighters and cops come together to save 20 people. I don't think you will be disappointed
Pulse (spoilers)
In movie number two, we have the most typical movie of the new wave of horror movies. If you don't know what I mean just go Watch this movie and you will find out what every single one of these movies is about. Yes, it is another tired Japanese horror movie with the same kind of effects and same kind of ghosts or spirits. I want to say something about this one sets it apart from the others, but in reality the thing that sets it apart, also makes it the most ridiculous. Where most of the movies (ring, grudge or white noise) deal with specific people, Pulse ends up on a massive scale where the entire U.S is dealt some sort of apocalypse. Yes, it is that over the top, complete with abandoned cities and burning jets. The ultimate "message" is that our reliance on technology will destroy us all by allowing some unknown entity to suck the life out of everyone it scream over.
Kristin Bell (Veronica Mars) is a lovely girl and a terrific actress, yet here she is slumming it as a joyless college student whose boyfriend has just killed himself. Luckily for her, she has Ian Somerholder (T.V's Lost) to help her. Also lucky, that Ian is a low life who happens to know everything about computers. The only two things in this movie that illicit any sort of emotion besides laughter are the video Ian and Kristin watch and then the cool ending down into he main server room in the basement of an apartment building. Everything else in this horrid movie are basically laughable, which is exactly what I wanted! This movie is a mess of such massive proportions that one can't help but be amused. Christina Milian, in all her sexy bodied glory, acts particularly horrible as she nears her demise.
To be perfectly honest, the better movie would have been a movie about the after effects of such a "Pulse." show us how people live without phones, TV's or computers. I would want to see that movie. A movie about dead zones and a new America where the people have to live like people did before all of the amazing technological advances we have made. It wouldn't be a horror movie but at least it would be different. I was shocked to see that Wes Craven helped doctor this script and it made me sad that he has been reduced to this. I can only hope this isn't the norm for him these days.
Kristin Bell (Veronica Mars) is a lovely girl and a terrific actress, yet here she is slumming it as a joyless college student whose boyfriend has just killed himself. Luckily for her, she has Ian Somerholder (T.V's Lost) to help her. Also lucky, that Ian is a low life who happens to know everything about computers. The only two things in this movie that illicit any sort of emotion besides laughter are the video Ian and Kristin watch and then the cool ending down into he main server room in the basement of an apartment building. Everything else in this horrid movie are basically laughable, which is exactly what I wanted! This movie is a mess of such massive proportions that one can't help but be amused. Christina Milian, in all her sexy bodied glory, acts particularly horrible as she nears her demise.
To be perfectly honest, the better movie would have been a movie about the after effects of such a "Pulse." show us how people live without phones, TV's or computers. I would want to see that movie. A movie about dead zones and a new America where the people have to live like people did before all of the amazing technological advances we have made. It wouldn't be a horror movie but at least it would be different. I was shocked to see that Wes Craven helped doctor this script and it made me sad that he has been reduced to this. I can only hope this isn't the norm for him these days.
Accepted
In the final movie of a three movie day, Justin Long stars as a slacker with some serious B.S ability, who is rejected to all the schools he applies to, so he decides to just make one up. He and his friends, in an attempt to fool some parents buy some property and fix it up so at a quick glance it looks like a real school. Unfortunately, they made their website a bit too functional and soon they have a student body of over 300 students. 300 other losers or outcasts rejected by everyone. We have strippers, skaters, artsy types all those other other stereotypes that make up the high school nerd core. Of course it is all highly illegal and well we all know how these movies end, happily ever after. I guess if I was a real reviewer I'd say something like Accepted makes the grade or something cheey like that but I will just say that this movie provides enough laughs to take one away from reality.
The movie works mostly thanks to the above mentioned star. Justin has now perfected that intelligent, quick tongued nerd he started on the TV show ED a few years back. He has the perfect charm to fool everyone into believing it is a real school as well as subtle, sly humor to make the lines hit perfectly. Whether he is calling the rival school preppie student by some stereotypical name like "Thad" "Gunther" or "Floyd" or as he gives quiet the lengthy monologue at the end to convince the board of education to accredit his school, He never misses his mark. The supporting players work as well. Jonah Hill, fresh off of his scene stealing part as the E-bay customer from The 40 yr old virgin summons me as the fat wisecracking friend. He has some of the funniest lines towards the beginning of the film and also has the line that got the most laughs from my frat boy sorority girl audience members. And of course it wouldn't be this kind of movie if our lead nerd didn't get some gorgeous girl in the end and in this movie that gorgeous girl is in the form of Blake Lively, whom I sadly was able to identify as the hottie soccer player from The sister hood of the traveling pants. She isn't going to win any Oscars in her life, but she sure can light the camera up when she smiles and when she dances around under sprinklers. Another added bonus to this movie is Lewis Black. Here he is in his full manic, about to have a heart attack rambling, basically playing himself. His first scene where he is berating a child at a shoe store is vintage Lewis Black and he certainly adds something to the movie.
Accepted doesn't have huge laughing moments but it has good laughs sprinkled throughout. It is not going to be heavily quoted for years and it probably won't be talked about at water coolers, but I think that's fitting for the movie about rejecting rejection. Some of the lines may just go over the heads of all those Will Ferrell fans who need an ugly near naked man running around in order to find humor. Justin Long, like Ryan Reynolds, keep plugging along perfection his schtik and hopefully soon bigger movies will come calling for him because he does deserve it!
The movie works mostly thanks to the above mentioned star. Justin has now perfected that intelligent, quick tongued nerd he started on the TV show ED a few years back. He has the perfect charm to fool everyone into believing it is a real school as well as subtle, sly humor to make the lines hit perfectly. Whether he is calling the rival school preppie student by some stereotypical name like "Thad" "Gunther" or "Floyd" or as he gives quiet the lengthy monologue at the end to convince the board of education to accredit his school, He never misses his mark. The supporting players work as well. Jonah Hill, fresh off of his scene stealing part as the E-bay customer from The 40 yr old virgin summons me as the fat wisecracking friend. He has some of the funniest lines towards the beginning of the film and also has the line that got the most laughs from my frat boy sorority girl audience members. And of course it wouldn't be this kind of movie if our lead nerd didn't get some gorgeous girl in the end and in this movie that gorgeous girl is in the form of Blake Lively, whom I sadly was able to identify as the hottie soccer player from The sister hood of the traveling pants. She isn't going to win any Oscars in her life, but she sure can light the camera up when she smiles and when she dances around under sprinklers. Another added bonus to this movie is Lewis Black. Here he is in his full manic, about to have a heart attack rambling, basically playing himself. His first scene where he is berating a child at a shoe store is vintage Lewis Black and he certainly adds something to the movie.
Accepted doesn't have huge laughing moments but it has good laughs sprinkled throughout. It is not going to be heavily quoted for years and it probably won't be talked about at water coolers, but I think that's fitting for the movie about rejecting rejection. Some of the lines may just go over the heads of all those Will Ferrell fans who need an ugly near naked man running around in order to find humor. Justin Long, like Ryan Reynolds, keep plugging along perfection his schtik and hopefully soon bigger movies will come calling for him because he does deserve it!
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