Sorry it's taken a few days to finish this list - I was out of town and didn't have the time to add this last entry. But let's not waste anymore time and get to the best of the bunch.
4.Red (Oct. 15) - Trailer
Plot: Based on the cult D.C. Comics graphic novel by Warren Ellis and Cully Hammer, "Red" is an explosive action-comedy starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren. Frank (Bruce Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) used to be the CIA's top agents – but the secrets they know just made them the Agency's top targets. Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive. To stop the operation, the team embarks on an impossible, cross-country mission to break into the top-secret CIA headquarters, where they will uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history.
Quick thoughts: If you thought The Expendables showcased old people still kicking ass, you aint seen nothing yet. This looks like it will just be a pure blast. I mean, how can you not get a kick out of seeing Helen Mirren firing away at people with that massive gun. I'm not sure how strong the story will be here, but I don't think it will matter. This is the kind of film you gladly turn of your brain and just enjoy watching the insanity unfold.
3.Due Date (Nov. 5) - Trailer
Plot: Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) is an expectant first-time father whose wife's due date is a mere five days away. As Peter hurries to catch a flight home from Atlanta to be at her side for the birth, his best intentions go completely awry when a chance encounter with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) forces Peter to hitch a ride with Ethan--on what turns out to be a cross-country road trip that will ultimately destroy several cars, numerous friendships and Peter's last nerve.
Quick thoughts: There may not be two hotter actors right now than Downey Jr. and Galifianakis, so the pairing of them seems like a dream. While the premise seems a bit familiar (mismatched guys on a road trip), I can't see why these two comedians won't be able to rise above that and make a memorable film. Director Todd Phillips' track record is a bit sketchy; while he's had big hits like The Hangover, he's also had some duds like School For Scoundrels. Let's hope this is another one that falls into the former category.
2.The Social Network (Oct. 1) - Trailer
Plot: On a fall night in 2003, Harvard undergrad and computer programming genius Mark Zuckerberg sits down at his computer and heatedly begins working on a new idea. In a fury of blogging and programming, what begins in his dorm room soon becomes a global social network and a revolution in communication. A mere six years and 500 million friends later, Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in history... but for this entrepreneur, success leads to both personal and legal complications. From director David Fincher and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin comes "The Social Network," a film that proves you don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies. The film is produced by Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca, and Ceán Chaffin and based on the book "The Accidental Billionaires" by Ben Mezrich.
Quick Thoughts: I feel like I've done enough promotion for this film already. It's clear why this is one that I'm interested in - it's got a great director, a pedigreed cast, and a subject matter that I'm interested in learning more about. Working on a dissertation that involved Facebook has made me all the more curious about the social networking website's origins.
1.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (Nov. 19) - Trailer
Plot: Part 1 begins as Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort's immortality and destruction—the Horcruxes. On their own, without the guidance of their professors or the protection of Professor Dumbledore, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever. But there are Dark Forces in their midst that threaten to tear them apart. Little does Harry know that his future has already been decided by his past when, on that fateful day, he became "the Boy Who Lived." No longer just a boy, Harry Potter is drawing ever closer to the task for which he has been preparing since the day he first stepped into Hogwarts: the ultimate battle with Voldemort.
Quick Thoughts: And so it's the beginning of the end. We're finally going to see this famed literary series come to a close on the big screen. Those who read the books pretty know what happens here - the only real mystery is where they are ending this film and apparently that information has been leaked, although I haven't read what it is yet. As usual, I don't need to do much persuasion here, pretty much everyone has already made up their mind whether they are seeing this or not and you can bet that I will be seeing in.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Hair-brained scheme
Saw this infomercial video online and thought it was so ridiculous that I just had to share it on here. There are so many things wrong with this ad/product. 1)Let's start with the obvious - was it really that hard to create a decent looking goatee before? 2)The thing requires that you bite down on a mouthpiece, which seems like it would change the contour of your face and actually cause the goatee to look worse. 3)Is the woman in this video capable of making eye contact with her fake boyfriend - every shot involves her seemingly trying to find the camera instead of admiring his facial hair. Feel free to add any other problems with this video as well.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Fall Movie Preview (#8-5)
8.Buried (Sept. 24) - Trailer
Plot: Paul Conroy is not ready to die. But when he wakes up 6 feet underground with no idea of who put him there or why, life for the truck driver and family man instantly becomes a hellish struggle for survival. Buried with only a cell phone and a lighter, his contact with the outside world and ability to piece together clues that could help him discover his location are maddeningly limited. Poor reception, a rapidly draining battery, and a dwindling oxygen supply become his worst enemies in a tightly confined race against time - fighting panic, despair and delirium, Paul has only 90 minutes to be rescued before his worst nightmare comes true.
Quick thoughts: I've already share some comments about this film when I posted its trailer originally. This is a claustrophobia movie, in a similar vein as Phone Booth; so if you're into that type of film, this seems like it could be really cool. If it's as good as early buzz says it is, it could help give Ryan Reynolds that indie cred to go along with the mainstream success he's likely to have with next year's Green Lantern film.
7.Megamind (Nov. 5) - Trailer
Plot: "Megamind" is a diabolically funny, and satirical take on the superhero genre. We follow the story of Megamind, the most brilliant supervillain the world has ever known – and the least successful. Over the years, he has tried to conquer Metro City in every imaginable way. Each attempt, a colossal failure thanks to the caped superhero known as "Metro Man."
Quick thoughts: This is my lone computer animated film for the season. We saw Despicable Me have success earlier this year with a similar story that used a superhero villain as its protagonist. While some may not want to see the same thing again (although with kids that's usually not true), this one has the added appeal of a voice cast featuring Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, and Brad Pitt. If this one doesn't do well, it will be a megasurprise.
6.Unstoppable (Nov. 12) - Trailer
Plot: "Unstoppable" is about a runaway train carrying a cargo of toxic chemicals. The film pits an engineer and his conductor in a race against time. They're chasing the runaway train in a separate locomotive and need to bring it under control before it derails on a curve and causes a toxic spill that will decimate a town.
Quick thoughts: The pair of Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott has become Hollywood's version of 'old reliable'. Their movies are never classics, but they are always suitable popcorn fare and this one appears to be no different. The most interesting thing to me about this film is Chris Pine. He really impressed me as Kirk in the Star Trek reboot, so I'm curious if that was a case of inspired casting or if this guy will become the next breakout star.
5.How Do You Know (Dec. 17) - Trailer
Plot: A romantic comedy centered on the love triangle between professional softball player Lisa Jorgenson, a corporate executive, and a major-league pitcher.
Quick Thoughts: Director James L. Brooks has a proven track record of great comedies that also reflect real human emotion. Films like As Good As It Gets and his work with The Simpsons proves that. I'm real excited to see this new effort by him and think he has assembled an excellent cast here. I don't know of two more likeable actors out there right now than Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon. I greatly anticipate seeing the two of them work off of each other. Throw in Jack Nicholson and Owen Wilson in there as well and you've struck comedy gold. This may be the most 'girly' film on my list, but you better believe I'll be seeing this one.
Plot: Paul Conroy is not ready to die. But when he wakes up 6 feet underground with no idea of who put him there or why, life for the truck driver and family man instantly becomes a hellish struggle for survival. Buried with only a cell phone and a lighter, his contact with the outside world and ability to piece together clues that could help him discover his location are maddeningly limited. Poor reception, a rapidly draining battery, and a dwindling oxygen supply become his worst enemies in a tightly confined race against time - fighting panic, despair and delirium, Paul has only 90 minutes to be rescued before his worst nightmare comes true.
Quick thoughts: I've already share some comments about this film when I posted its trailer originally. This is a claustrophobia movie, in a similar vein as Phone Booth; so if you're into that type of film, this seems like it could be really cool. If it's as good as early buzz says it is, it could help give Ryan Reynolds that indie cred to go along with the mainstream success he's likely to have with next year's Green Lantern film.
7.Megamind (Nov. 5) - Trailer
Plot: "Megamind" is a diabolically funny, and satirical take on the superhero genre. We follow the story of Megamind, the most brilliant supervillain the world has ever known – and the least successful. Over the years, he has tried to conquer Metro City in every imaginable way. Each attempt, a colossal failure thanks to the caped superhero known as "Metro Man."
Quick thoughts: This is my lone computer animated film for the season. We saw Despicable Me have success earlier this year with a similar story that used a superhero villain as its protagonist. While some may not want to see the same thing again (although with kids that's usually not true), this one has the added appeal of a voice cast featuring Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, and Brad Pitt. If this one doesn't do well, it will be a megasurprise.
6.Unstoppable (Nov. 12) - Trailer
Plot: "Unstoppable" is about a runaway train carrying a cargo of toxic chemicals. The film pits an engineer and his conductor in a race against time. They're chasing the runaway train in a separate locomotive and need to bring it under control before it derails on a curve and causes a toxic spill that will decimate a town.
Quick thoughts: The pair of Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott has become Hollywood's version of 'old reliable'. Their movies are never classics, but they are always suitable popcorn fare and this one appears to be no different. The most interesting thing to me about this film is Chris Pine. He really impressed me as Kirk in the Star Trek reboot, so I'm curious if that was a case of inspired casting or if this guy will become the next breakout star.
5.How Do You Know (Dec. 17) - Trailer
Plot: A romantic comedy centered on the love triangle between professional softball player Lisa Jorgenson, a corporate executive, and a major-league pitcher.
Quick Thoughts: Director James L. Brooks has a proven track record of great comedies that also reflect real human emotion. Films like As Good As It Gets and his work with The Simpsons proves that. I'm real excited to see this new effort by him and think he has assembled an excellent cast here. I don't know of two more likeable actors out there right now than Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon. I greatly anticipate seeing the two of them work off of each other. Throw in Jack Nicholson and Owen Wilson in there as well and you've struck comedy gold. This may be the most 'girly' film on my list, but you better believe I'll be seeing this one.
Chuck full of news
A pair of interesting stories regarding some upcoming casting choices for the new season of Chuck.
First, from Comingsoon.net:
Then this scoop from EW.com:
Both stories seem like inspired choices that make me super-excited for the new season.
First, from Comingsoon.net:
Timothy Dalton will guest-star in a multi-episode arc on the NBC's action-comedy "Chuck."
Dalton will be playing a mysterious stranger who has a history with Chuck's (series star Zachary Levi) mom, played by Linda Hamilton (Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day). This marks Dalton's first series appearance on American television since he guest-starred on "Charlie's Angels" in 1979.
Then this scoop from EW.com:
I pity the fool who doesn’t crack up over Chuck‘s latest piece of stunt casting.
Six-time WWE champion Batista, Expendables villain Eric Roberts, and Bones squintern Joel David Moore have signed on to guest-star as Casey’s former soldier-of-fortune buddies from the Clinton era.
His A-Team, if you will.
The trio—who turn up in this season’s fifth episode, “Chuck Versus The Couch Lock”—have gone rogue and are back to seek revenge on their ex-comrade.
Both stories seem like inspired choices that make me super-excited for the new season.
Fall Movie Preview (#12-9)
12.The Next Three Days (Nov. 19) - Trailer
Plot: Life seems perfect for John Brennan until his wife, Lara, is arrested for a gruesome murder she says she didn't commit. Three years into her sentence, John is struggling to hold his family together, raising their son and teaching at college while he pursues every means available to prove her innocence. With the rejection of their final appeal, Lara becomes suicidal and John decides there is only one possible, bearable solution: to break his wife out of prison. Refusing to be deterred by impossible odds or his own inexperience, John devises an elaborate escape plot and plunges into a dangerous and unfamiliar world, ultimately risking everything for the woman he loves.
Quick thoughts: I hope I'm not being led astray by this movie. If it focuses on the prison break aspect and remains a thriller, then this should be a a winner. If it gets too melodramatic and depressing, this film may feel like it is three days long. I really like the cast here, even if I don't necessarily buy that Elizabeth Banks would marry Russell Crowe. Having Liam Neeson as an ex-con, who successfully escaped the prison is a nice touch as well.
11.Hereafter (Oct. 22)
Plot: "Hereafter" tells the story of three people who are touched by death in different ways. George (Matt Damon) is a blue-collar American who has a special connection to the afterlife. On the other side of the world, Marie (Cecile De France), a French journalist, has a near-death experience that shakes her reality. And when Marcus, a London schoolboy, loses the person closest to him, he desperately needs answers. Each on a path in search of the truth, their lives will intersect, forever changed by what they believe might--or must--exist in the hereafter.
Quick thoughts: Thus far, there has been very little seen or heard about this movie, despite the fact that it comes out in less than two months. I hope this is not a case where I hear news in the next couple days that it has been pushed back. If I recall correctly, I think it's just a matter of Clint typically keeping his films close to the vest until it's near the release date. If that's the case, fine. Overall, I've been very impressed with Clint's work in recent years and am interested to see what he does with this subject matter.
10.Freakonomics (Oct. 1) - Trailer
Plot: "Freakonomics" is the highly anticipated film version of the phenomenally bestselling book about incentives-based thinking by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. Like the book, the film examines human behavior with provocative and sometimes hilarious case studies, bringing together a dream team of filmmakers responsible for some of the most acclaimed and entertaining documentaries in recent years: Academy Award® winner Alex Gibney ("Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room," "Casino Jack and the United States of Money"), Academy Award® nominees Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing ("Jesus Camp"), Academy Award® nominee Morgan Spurlock ("Super Size Me"), Eugene Jarecki ("Why We Fight") and Seth Gordon ("The King of Kong").
Quick thoughts: It's a shame that I never read the book that this film is based on. It was a huge hit and certainly seems like it is something I would have enjoyed reading. I'm hoping to make up for that by catching this documentary when it comes out. As seen above, it has a lot of talented directors collaborating on it and I think the end result is going to be a provocative film for all. It may even prompt me to finally read the book after all.
9.Little Fockers (Dec. 22) - Trailer
Plot: It has taken 10 years, two little Fockers with wife Pam (Polo) and countless hurdles for Greg to finally get "in" with his tightly wound father-in-law, Jack. After the cash-strapped dad takes a job moonlighting for a drug company, however, Jack's suspicions about his favorite male nurse come roaring back. When Greg and Pam's entire clan -- including Pam's lovelorn ex, Kevin (Owen Wilson) -- descends for the twins' birthday party, Greg must prove to the skeptical Jack that he's fully capable as the man of the house. But with all the misunderstandings, spying and covert missions, will Greg pass Jack's final test and become the family's next patriarch... or will the circle of trust be broken for good?
Quick thoughts: I adored the original film, but was less than enamored with the sequel. I'm hoping that since they did not rush to do this third one that the extra time has helped them refocus and produce a better film. There's a lot of comedic talent in this cast, but let's hope that they each get enough time to shine and it's not a case of too many cooks spoiling the soup. Regardless of it's quality though, this is poised to be a big hit for the Christmas season.
Plot: Life seems perfect for John Brennan until his wife, Lara, is arrested for a gruesome murder she says she didn't commit. Three years into her sentence, John is struggling to hold his family together, raising their son and teaching at college while he pursues every means available to prove her innocence. With the rejection of their final appeal, Lara becomes suicidal and John decides there is only one possible, bearable solution: to break his wife out of prison. Refusing to be deterred by impossible odds or his own inexperience, John devises an elaborate escape plot and plunges into a dangerous and unfamiliar world, ultimately risking everything for the woman he loves.
Quick thoughts: I hope I'm not being led astray by this movie. If it focuses on the prison break aspect and remains a thriller, then this should be a a winner. If it gets too melodramatic and depressing, this film may feel like it is three days long. I really like the cast here, even if I don't necessarily buy that Elizabeth Banks would marry Russell Crowe. Having Liam Neeson as an ex-con, who successfully escaped the prison is a nice touch as well.
11.Hereafter (Oct. 22)
Plot: "Hereafter" tells the story of three people who are touched by death in different ways. George (Matt Damon) is a blue-collar American who has a special connection to the afterlife. On the other side of the world, Marie (Cecile De France), a French journalist, has a near-death experience that shakes her reality. And when Marcus, a London schoolboy, loses the person closest to him, he desperately needs answers. Each on a path in search of the truth, their lives will intersect, forever changed by what they believe might--or must--exist in the hereafter.
Quick thoughts: Thus far, there has been very little seen or heard about this movie, despite the fact that it comes out in less than two months. I hope this is not a case where I hear news in the next couple days that it has been pushed back. If I recall correctly, I think it's just a matter of Clint typically keeping his films close to the vest until it's near the release date. If that's the case, fine. Overall, I've been very impressed with Clint's work in recent years and am interested to see what he does with this subject matter.
10.Freakonomics (Oct. 1) - Trailer
Plot: "Freakonomics" is the highly anticipated film version of the phenomenally bestselling book about incentives-based thinking by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. Like the book, the film examines human behavior with provocative and sometimes hilarious case studies, bringing together a dream team of filmmakers responsible for some of the most acclaimed and entertaining documentaries in recent years: Academy Award® winner Alex Gibney ("Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room," "Casino Jack and the United States of Money"), Academy Award® nominees Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing ("Jesus Camp"), Academy Award® nominee Morgan Spurlock ("Super Size Me"), Eugene Jarecki ("Why We Fight") and Seth Gordon ("The King of Kong").
Quick thoughts: It's a shame that I never read the book that this film is based on. It was a huge hit and certainly seems like it is something I would have enjoyed reading. I'm hoping to make up for that by catching this documentary when it comes out. As seen above, it has a lot of talented directors collaborating on it and I think the end result is going to be a provocative film for all. It may even prompt me to finally read the book after all.
9.Little Fockers (Dec. 22) - Trailer
Plot: It has taken 10 years, two little Fockers with wife Pam (Polo) and countless hurdles for Greg to finally get "in" with his tightly wound father-in-law, Jack. After the cash-strapped dad takes a job moonlighting for a drug company, however, Jack's suspicions about his favorite male nurse come roaring back. When Greg and Pam's entire clan -- including Pam's lovelorn ex, Kevin (Owen Wilson) -- descends for the twins' birthday party, Greg must prove to the skeptical Jack that he's fully capable as the man of the house. But with all the misunderstandings, spying and covert missions, will Greg pass Jack's final test and become the family's next patriarch... or will the circle of trust be broken for good?
Quick thoughts: I adored the original film, but was less than enamored with the sequel. I'm hoping that since they did not rush to do this third one that the extra time has helped them refocus and produce a better film. There's a lot of comedic talent in this cast, but let's hope that they each get enough time to shine and it's not a case of too many cooks spoiling the soup. Regardless of it's quality though, this is poised to be a big hit for the Christmas season.
'Will' you remember me?
Looks like SNL is losing one of its funnymen. From comingsoon.net:
The New York Times reports that Will Forte, who played such characters as MacGruber, Tim Calhoun and Jon Bovi, will not be returning for the 36th season of "Saturday Night Live" on NBC this fall:
"The departure was confirmed by two people with direct knowledge of the show's planning but who were not allowed to speak on the record because 'Saturday Night Live' has not officially announced details of its coming season. Representatives for Mr. Forte and for NBC's late-night entertainment division did not immediately comment, but one of the sources said the parting was amicable and at the choosing of Mr. Forte, who plans to pursue other projects."
Forte joined "SNL" in its 2002-2003 season. He also appeared in the film version of MacGruber earlier this year and has done guest appearances on "30 Rock," "The Cleveland Show" and ""American Dad!"
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Fall Movie Preview (#16-13)
16. Tron: Legacy (Dec. 17) - Trailer
Plot: "TRON: Legacy" is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that's unlike anything ever captured on the big screen Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), a rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father Kevin Flynn (Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-winner Jeff Bridges), a man once known as the world's leading video-game developer. When Sam investigates a strange signal sent from the old Flynn's Arcade—a signal that could only come from his father—he finds himself pulled into a digital world where Kevin has been trapped for 20 years. With the help of the fearless warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe—a universe created by Kevin himself that has become far more advanced with never-before imagined vehicles, weapons, landscapes and a ruthless villain who will stop at nothing to prevent their escape.
Quick thoughts: I'll admit up front that I have never seen the original Tron, but this film has piqued my interest. If nothing else, it looks to be visually stunning. Jeff Bridges is such a terrific actor and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do in this dual role. While I don't think it'll achieve the same financial success as Avatar, I feel this movie has such a unique look that it's bound to generate interest in seeing it based solely on that just like James Cameron's film did last year.
15.True Grit (Dec. 25)
Plot: Charles Portis' novel is about a 14-year-old girl who, along with an aging U.S. marshal and another lawman, tracks her father's killer in hostile Indian territory. While the original film was a showcase for John Wayne, the Coens' version will tell the tale from the girl's point of view. The original starred Kim Darby as the teen, Wayne and Glen Campbell as the lawmen, Jeff Corey as the killer and featured Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper as fellow outlaws.
Quick thoughts: It's back to back Bridges' films. This one also has the potential to be great. I've come to really appreciate the Coens' films and after No Country For Old Men, I'm very curious to see what they do with a more traditional Western. It's interesting to see that the film will focus on the girl's point of view in this version given the acting chops of the three male leads - Bridges, Damon, and Brolin. With that trio, I don't see how this film can disappoint.
14.The Town (Sept. 17) - Trailer
Plot: Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) is an unrepentant criminal, the de facto leader of a group of ruthless bank robbers who pride themselves in stealing what they want and getting out clean. With no real attachments, Doug never has to fear losing anyone close to him. But that all changed on the gang's latest job, when they briefly took a hostage--bank manager, Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall). Though they let her go unharmed, Claire is nervously aware that the robbers know her name...and where she lives. But she lets her guard down when she meets an unassuming and rather charming man named Doug...not realizing that he is the same man who only days earlier had terrorized her. The instant attraction between them gradually turns into a passionate romance that threatens to take them both down a dangerous, and potentially deadly, path.
Quick thoughts: I posted the trailer for this a few weeks ago, so many of you may already be familiar with this film. Ben Affleck proved he had the chops to be a competent director with Gone Baby Gone, so it should be interesting to see how he does in his encore. The Boston setting doesn't do much for me, but everything else about it seems like a solid thriller. Backed by a strong cast, this seems like this should be good. The only thing that concerns me is the mid-September release date. That is kind of no man's land; if the film had more popcorn value or Oscar potential it seems like it would have been released either earlier or later.
13.Jackass 3D (Oct. 15) - Trailer
Plot: Umm, no real plot here. It's basically the Jackass guys doing their usual stuff, only this time in 3D!
Quick thoughts: I don't imagine they'll be breaking any ground (at least not metaphorically) in this film. It also remains to be seen whether people will be willing to pay out the extra cash to watch them do the same stunts they've done on free TV now in 3D. Still there's no denying the laughter that comes from seeing someone get hit in the nuts. Since there's always a market for that, I'm sure this will do real well at the box office.
Plot: "TRON: Legacy" is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that's unlike anything ever captured on the big screen Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), a rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father Kevin Flynn (Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-winner Jeff Bridges), a man once known as the world's leading video-game developer. When Sam investigates a strange signal sent from the old Flynn's Arcade—a signal that could only come from his father—he finds himself pulled into a digital world where Kevin has been trapped for 20 years. With the help of the fearless warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe—a universe created by Kevin himself that has become far more advanced with never-before imagined vehicles, weapons, landscapes and a ruthless villain who will stop at nothing to prevent their escape.
Quick thoughts: I'll admit up front that I have never seen the original Tron, but this film has piqued my interest. If nothing else, it looks to be visually stunning. Jeff Bridges is such a terrific actor and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do in this dual role. While I don't think it'll achieve the same financial success as Avatar, I feel this movie has such a unique look that it's bound to generate interest in seeing it based solely on that just like James Cameron's film did last year.
15.True Grit (Dec. 25)
Plot: Charles Portis' novel is about a 14-year-old girl who, along with an aging U.S. marshal and another lawman, tracks her father's killer in hostile Indian territory. While the original film was a showcase for John Wayne, the Coens' version will tell the tale from the girl's point of view. The original starred Kim Darby as the teen, Wayne and Glen Campbell as the lawmen, Jeff Corey as the killer and featured Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper as fellow outlaws.
Quick thoughts: It's back to back Bridges' films. This one also has the potential to be great. I've come to really appreciate the Coens' films and after No Country For Old Men, I'm very curious to see what they do with a more traditional Western. It's interesting to see that the film will focus on the girl's point of view in this version given the acting chops of the three male leads - Bridges, Damon, and Brolin. With that trio, I don't see how this film can disappoint.
14.The Town (Sept. 17) - Trailer
Plot: Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) is an unrepentant criminal, the de facto leader of a group of ruthless bank robbers who pride themselves in stealing what they want and getting out clean. With no real attachments, Doug never has to fear losing anyone close to him. But that all changed on the gang's latest job, when they briefly took a hostage--bank manager, Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall). Though they let her go unharmed, Claire is nervously aware that the robbers know her name...and where she lives. But she lets her guard down when she meets an unassuming and rather charming man named Doug...not realizing that he is the same man who only days earlier had terrorized her. The instant attraction between them gradually turns into a passionate romance that threatens to take them both down a dangerous, and potentially deadly, path.
Quick thoughts: I posted the trailer for this a few weeks ago, so many of you may already be familiar with this film. Ben Affleck proved he had the chops to be a competent director with Gone Baby Gone, so it should be interesting to see how he does in his encore. The Boston setting doesn't do much for me, but everything else about it seems like a solid thriller. Backed by a strong cast, this seems like this should be good. The only thing that concerns me is the mid-September release date. That is kind of no man's land; if the film had more popcorn value or Oscar potential it seems like it would have been released either earlier or later.
13.Jackass 3D (Oct. 15) - Trailer
Plot: Umm, no real plot here. It's basically the Jackass guys doing their usual stuff, only this time in 3D!
Quick thoughts: I don't imagine they'll be breaking any ground (at least not metaphorically) in this film. It also remains to be seen whether people will be willing to pay out the extra cash to watch them do the same stunts they've done on free TV now in 3D. Still there's no denying the laughter that comes from seeing someone get hit in the nuts. Since there's always a market for that, I'm sure this will do real well at the box office.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Thursday night smackdown
One of the biggest battles heading into the new fall season will occur, not surprisingly, on Thursday nights. NBC's sophomore sitcom, Community, which had an uneven first season, will be pitted against CBS' popular comedy, The Big Bang Theory, which is moving from its cozy Monday night timeslot to Survivor's old timeslot at 8pm. For those with DVR, this may not be a big deal, but for everyone else, here's some teases from both shows' upcoming seasons to help you make up your mind.
This just released promo photo from The Big Bang Theory seems to suggest Sheldon invites Penny to join him on a date with last season's guest star, Mayim Bialik. If true, that has hilarious written all over it.
Meanwhile, Community is countering with guest star Betty White, who's about as hot of a commodity as any actor in Hollywood today. Here's a video of her promoting her upcoming guest stint.
This just released promo photo from The Big Bang Theory seems to suggest Sheldon invites Penny to join him on a date with last season's guest star, Mayim Bialik. If true, that has hilarious written all over it.
Meanwhile, Community is countering with guest star Betty White, who's about as hot of a commodity as any actor in Hollywood today. Here's a video of her promoting her upcoming guest stint.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Fall Movie Preview (#20-17)
School is starting again, which means the summer movie season has come to a close and we begin to get some more serious fare at the box office. Throughout this week, I'll preview the 20 films I'm most interested in for the next few months and the ones you should keep your eyes on as well.
20.The Fighter (Dec. 10)
Plot: "The Fighter" is a drama about boxer Irish Mickey Ward (Wahlberg) and his unlikely path to become world lightweight champion. Bale plays Dicky Eklund, Mickey's half-brother and a talented fighter who once went the distance with Sugar Ray Leonard in a title fight but then turned to crime and landed in prison. Then he turned his life around and helped his underperforming brother find the spark for a remarkable run that led to the world title.
Quick thoughts: David O. Russell has been now to be very divisive both with actors and with viewers when it comes to his films. This one just makes my list thanks to the impressive cast. I'm anxious to see how Bale rebounds after disappointments with Terminator: Salvation and Public Enemies last year. Boxing films usually tend to be pretty good too and offer emotional stories. If successful, this could see success at next year's Oscars.
19.127 Hours (Nov. 5) - Trailer
Plot: "127 Hours" is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston's (James Franco) remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he is finally rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers (Clemence Poesy), family, and the two hikers (Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara) he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet? A visceral, thrilling story that will take an audience on a never before experienced journey and prove what we can do when we choose life.
Quick thoughts: I think director Danny Boyle has a real winner on his hands for his follow-up to Slumdog Millionaire. Franco has proven he can pull off drama just as well as comedy in recent years. The little I know about this story is unbelievable and I think it will translate well on the big screen. If people can tolerate a story that is basically a one-man show, then I think they'll be in for a treat.
18.Fair Game (Nov. 5) -- Trailer
Plot: As a covert officer in the CIA's Counter-Proliferation Division, Valerie (Naomi Watts) leads an investigation into the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Valerie's husband, diplomat Joe Wilson (Sean Penn), is drawn into the investigation to substantiate an alleged sale of enriched uranium from Niger. But when the administration ignores his findings and uses the issue to support the call to war, Joe writes a New York Times editorial outlining his conclusions and igniting a firestorm of controversy.Soon after, Valerie's covert status is reported by a high-profile Washington journalist. With her cover blown and her overseas contacts placed in mortal danger, Valerie is pushed to the breaking point as her career and private life collapse. After years serving the government, Valerie--a mother, a wife and a field officer with an impeccable record--now struggles to save her reputation, her career and her family.
Quick thoughts: Most are probably familiar with the name Valerie Plame, but may not know all the details behind her story of being outed as a spy by in 2003. Even I only knew the basic details. Now that I've read a little bit more about her and her family, I'm very interested to see how it is portrayed in this film. I'm not crazy about Sean Penn, but both he and Naomi Watts seem to be perfectly cast in this film based on how their real life counterparts look. This is a fascinating story, but if it gets too bogged down in political preachiness, it may be a turn off to many viewers.
17.The Tourist (Dec. 10)
Plot: "The Tourist" revolves around Frank (Depp), an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise (Jolie) is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Venice, Frank pursues a potential romance but soon finds himself the pursued as he and Elise are caught in a whirlwind of intrigue and danger.
Quick thoughts: Usually when films get pushed back it's a sign that a movie studio has lost faith in the film. In this case, the film has been pushed up, which I'm hoping is a good sign. Obviously it looks like a winner based solely on the two megastars as the leads. I'm also intrigued by the thriller aspect of the film. With this, The Fighter, and the third Narnia film all opening on the same date, it appears there will be a big time box office battle come early December.
20.The Fighter (Dec. 10)
Plot: "The Fighter" is a drama about boxer Irish Mickey Ward (Wahlberg) and his unlikely path to become world lightweight champion. Bale plays Dicky Eklund, Mickey's half-brother and a talented fighter who once went the distance with Sugar Ray Leonard in a title fight but then turned to crime and landed in prison. Then he turned his life around and helped his underperforming brother find the spark for a remarkable run that led to the world title.
Quick thoughts: David O. Russell has been now to be very divisive both with actors and with viewers when it comes to his films. This one just makes my list thanks to the impressive cast. I'm anxious to see how Bale rebounds after disappointments with Terminator: Salvation and Public Enemies last year. Boxing films usually tend to be pretty good too and offer emotional stories. If successful, this could see success at next year's Oscars.
19.127 Hours (Nov. 5) - Trailer
Plot: "127 Hours" is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston's (James Franco) remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he is finally rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers (Clemence Poesy), family, and the two hikers (Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara) he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet? A visceral, thrilling story that will take an audience on a never before experienced journey and prove what we can do when we choose life.
Quick thoughts: I think director Danny Boyle has a real winner on his hands for his follow-up to Slumdog Millionaire. Franco has proven he can pull off drama just as well as comedy in recent years. The little I know about this story is unbelievable and I think it will translate well on the big screen. If people can tolerate a story that is basically a one-man show, then I think they'll be in for a treat.
18.Fair Game (Nov. 5) -- Trailer
Plot: As a covert officer in the CIA's Counter-Proliferation Division, Valerie (Naomi Watts) leads an investigation into the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Valerie's husband, diplomat Joe Wilson (Sean Penn), is drawn into the investigation to substantiate an alleged sale of enriched uranium from Niger. But when the administration ignores his findings and uses the issue to support the call to war, Joe writes a New York Times editorial outlining his conclusions and igniting a firestorm of controversy.Soon after, Valerie's covert status is reported by a high-profile Washington journalist. With her cover blown and her overseas contacts placed in mortal danger, Valerie is pushed to the breaking point as her career and private life collapse. After years serving the government, Valerie--a mother, a wife and a field officer with an impeccable record--now struggles to save her reputation, her career and her family.
Quick thoughts: Most are probably familiar with the name Valerie Plame, but may not know all the details behind her story of being outed as a spy by in 2003. Even I only knew the basic details. Now that I've read a little bit more about her and her family, I'm very interested to see how it is portrayed in this film. I'm not crazy about Sean Penn, but both he and Naomi Watts seem to be perfectly cast in this film based on how their real life counterparts look. This is a fascinating story, but if it gets too bogged down in political preachiness, it may be a turn off to many viewers.
17.The Tourist (Dec. 10)
Plot: "The Tourist" revolves around Frank (Depp), an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise (Jolie) is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Venice, Frank pursues a potential romance but soon finds himself the pursued as he and Elise are caught in a whirlwind of intrigue and danger.
Quick thoughts: Usually when films get pushed back it's a sign that a movie studio has lost faith in the film. In this case, the film has been pushed up, which I'm hoping is a good sign. Obviously it looks like a winner based solely on the two megastars as the leads. I'm also intrigued by the thriller aspect of the film. With this, The Fighter, and the third Narnia film all opening on the same date, it appears there will be a big time box office battle come early December.
NMR: The Ghost Writer
There are some who haven't seen this movie because they haven't heard about it. Others haven't seen it because they're boycotting it because it was directed by Roman Polanski. I'm here to tell you, that everyone should check out this film. It is a great little political thriller with some terrific acting. Ewan McGregor plays a ghost writer hired to write the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister (played by Pierce Brosnan). As McGregor's character learns more about the life of this man, he realizes that there is more than meets the eye. He also figures out that he may be in over his head here in trying to uncover it all. Aside from the leads, you get some splendid performances from people like Olivia Williams and Tom Wikinson. About the only drawback to the film is that the English accents can be difficult to discern at times. However, if you are looking for a smart, adult thriller with a little black humor thown in, this is definitely for you. Rating: ****
Get your Freak on
An interesting new documentary based on the popular nonfiction book, Freakonomics is set to come out in October. Looks very interesting. You can watch the trailer here and then look for further info on it in my Fall Movie Preview posts sometime this week.
Friday, August 20, 2010
NMR: Date Night
Technically, I saw this on Amazon's on demand service since Netflix's crappy deal prevents them from having this film available to rent until next month, but I digress. This film found a way of bringing together a dream team of Steve Carell and Tina Fey - both of whom are well suited for this movie since they are not only funny, but down to Earth enough to be believable as a surburbanite couple struggling to keep their marriage fresh. Their presence is what makes this film worth seeing. I particularly enjoyed any of the scenes that found them away from the manic activity and having some hilarious and/or touching moments. There are a few scenes where the leads pretend what's going on with other couples' dinner conversations that are very funny. I could watch a whole movie of them doing those type of riffs. The surrounding story is a bit goofy and far-fetched at times, but you go along with it not just for the leads, but for many of the supporting players as well like James Franco, Mila Kunis, and Mark Wahlberg, who all appear to be having a blast making the movie. This is no classic, but it's an excellent film for rental that is likely to have a lot of replay value. Rating: ***1/2
Champagne dreams
Yet another Inception trailer spoof, but this one is in an entirely different vein, yet still amazing. Check it out!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Who wants a complete makeover?
It appears that the syndicated version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is getting an overhaul when it returns next month. Here's a breakdown on the new rules, courtesy of Buzzerblog:
I'll reserve judgment until I actually see the gameplay, but it does intrigue me. The thing I'm most concerned about is getting to see the higher value questions so that I can have a challenge while I watch. If this new format does that, I'm all for it.
Who Wants to be a Millionaire will be getting an all new look when the new season debuts September 13th in syndication. The long running quiz show hosted by Meredith Vieira is nearly getting an all new game, allowing contestants to win more money than ever before with an unpredictable first portion consisting of the first ten questions. If the contestant makes it that far, though, the Millionaire everyone knows comes into full force, placing the contestant just four questions away from the $1,000,000 top prize. With anything like this I’m expecting some sort of knee-jerk reaction and I’m hoping it doesn’t happen because after you dissect all the information and think about it, it sounds pretty good. I have to be honest…I think I really like this. Reasons why I do after the rules.
First off, the clock is removed from the game. The first round of the game will consist of the first ten questions valued from $100 to $25,000. The values specifically are $100; $500; $1,000; $2,000; $3,000; $5,000; $7,000; $10,000; $15,000; and $25,000. Before the game the order of the questions and the dollar values attached to each is randomly shuffled. So that means each contestant will be getting a different game each time. That first question may be for $100, or it could be for a huge $25,000. It could be the easiest question or it could be the hardest. No one knows the value of the question until the player has given his or her Final Answer. If a contestant answers correctly the value of the question is added to the contestant’s bank. If a contestant does not know the answer, that person can walk away with half of the bank during the first ten questions.
To help the contestant out, three Lifelines will be given. The only surviving Lifeline is Ask the Audience. The other two are called “Jump the Question. If the contestant is afraid of the question the contestant may “Jump” it, which will bypass the question but he or she can’t bank the question value. So again, the three lifelines are Ask the Audience and two Jumps.
If the contestant can make it through the first 10 questions, the contestant is guaranteed $25,000 to fall back on like always and is now just four questions away from the top prize. This portion is called “Classic Millionaire” and runs like always The $50,000 question has been removed and the Final Four are $100,000; $250,000; $500,000; and $1,000,000. The contestant can leave with his or her bank (or whatever dollar value that person is on), but if a wrong answer is given the contestant drops back to $25,000.
Not only that, if you can get through the first ten questions without using any of your Jumps, they will be used in the upper tier. So, for instance, if you get through the first 10 without using a single Jump, your bank will stand at the max of $68,600 and you bypass the $100,000 and $250,000 question; going for $500,000 automatically.
Another huge change is the iconic set is getting revamped. Some new lights and large 18 foot wide high definition monitors are placed around the set. The most startling change is the removal of the Hot Seat, so contestants and Meredith are on their feet in the central hub the entire time, moving about the set. As a side note also, the show will celebrate its 1,500th episode on November 5th, 2010.
So that’s the new game. And again, I have to be honest, I really like it I think. This is coming from a big fan of the show, too. The show reached a point of no return last season. No one was winning much. The contestants constantly walked away early because of the larger money chain so it never got to the exciting part. People were too afraid to use Double Dip. Ask the Expert was completely useless. Something had to happen. Do I think it’s as good as the original ABC game? No, that’s nearly impossible. But I do think this is better than what we’ve had the past year or two, which got extremely stale and predictable.
I like this because it does add a lot of excitement and unpredictability. The Jump does this especially, because you have to be really careful and play the odds of what dollar value you’re getting rid of. Ask the Audience was the only useful Lifeline left so I’m glad they kept it. The main game, while mixing it up, is still the Millionaire standard of answering multiple choice questions. That hasn’t changed. You just don’t know what you’re getting and it makes the walk-away decision much more crucial because staying in the game just one more question could net you well over $10,000 more. The only thing that confuses me is getting rid of something as iconic as the Hot Seat, but it’s not like that matters in the long run so that’s far from a deal breaker.
And here’s what I like the most. I feel the million is able to be won. The past few years have felt nearly impossible to win. Right now I feel like someone could actually win this.
“I feel as though we’ve really upped the ante this year on Millionaire. Every question counts and contestants will have to apply more strategy to see which risks they’re willing to take,” said Millionaire host Meredith Vieira. “Millionaire will look a lot different this year, but the foundation of the show remains intact. Millionaire is the show that gives regular folks a chance to win extraordinary money and we’re staying true to that premise,” she added.
I'll reserve judgment until I actually see the gameplay, but it does intrigue me. The thing I'm most concerned about is getting to see the higher value questions so that I can have a challenge while I watch. If this new format does that, I'm all for it.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Cop honor
As summer begins to wind down, I'm doing my best to see as many more films as I can because I know school is right around the corner. This time it's the lastest Will Ferrell comedy, The Other Guys.
It's been no secret that many people have been disgruntled with many of Ferrell's recent comedies, feeling that they have not lived up to the man's talent. I'm pleased to report that this movie has Will back in top form once again; it's the best he's been since at least Talladega Nights - and since I wasn't exactly a fan of that film, I'll say it's the best he's been Anchorman. Ferrell plays a cop who's never seen any action on the streets and is content with simply doing the grunt paperwork that none of his fellow 'real' cops want to do. This attitude particularly frustrates his partner, Terry Hoitz (played by Mark Wahlberg); he's a guy who wants to be in the thick of it all, but has been sidelined due to him accidentally shooting Derek Jeter.
Initially there isn't a need for them to be out in the field, since supercops (played by Samuel L. Jackson and The Rock) handle all of the big cases. While their appearance is brief, I did love the presence of these two guys on screen and the havoc they caused in order to catch the bad guys. Since we couldn't have a film featuring the main characters doing paperwork the entire time, Ferrell and Wahlberg soon find themselves working on a case involving the shady dealings of an investor (played by Steve Coogan).
As the two leads uncover clues, we get a lot of banter and bickering between them. Reminiscent of many past cop movies, these two guys can't get along. But the film does a nice job of playing with that notion since usually the bickering is a means of two guys trying to prove who's tougher. Here neither of these guys are all that manly, so watching them defend themselves while also trying to tear the other one down, yields a lot of laughs in the film.
Other sources of hilarity comes from a few more side characters like Michael Keaton, who plays the police captain. In addition to dealing with bumbling cops, he's having to take a side job at Bed, Bath, and Beyond in order to put his bisexual son through NYU. Funny stuff. There's also Eva Mendes playing Ferrell's 'thankless' wife. The gag here is that Ferrell seemingly doesn't realize what a catch she is, yet she's still extremely attracted to her.
One of the most impressive things about the film is it's joke callbacks. Given my penchant for Arrested Development, I always love when comedy writers can reference previous jokes and continue to bring fresh takes on them. The film does a really nice job with this, which helps keeps the laughs coming throughout the film.
It should be noted though that this is not a pure comedy. There's a lot of action and story here that makes the film seem almost at times like an actual police thriller, rather than a comedy. They seemed to want to include a lot of homages to cop movies, yet not all of them played for laughs. This makes the film a bit longer than it should have been and gives it an odd pacing. However, whenever the film started to lose me, it didn't take long for them to win me back with another great gag or one-liner.
Many will be surprised to see the film take such a hard stance against the economic situation we are actually facing in our country; particulary during the closing credits as they reveal several alarming statistics about our national banks and the bailout they received. Since the cops are dealing with a white collar crime, it somewhat fits, but still seems out of place in this film. However, any opportunity I get to learn something new about the world I live, I appreciate it.
I find myself eager to watch this film again. I feel that I may have missed some small nuances or subtle dialogue that will yield more laughs upon a second visit. While some films can be funny, you also know that those laughs won't be there on repeat viewings. I don't believe the same will hold true here. This is a robust film that offers a great performance from Ferrell and provides enough other talented people around him to make this a very enjoyable film. It does a nice job of paying homage to the police films that came before it, while also adding a new wrinkle to make it feel fresh. This is a nice late summer treat worthy of a viewing if you get the opportunity. Grade: B+
It's been no secret that many people have been disgruntled with many of Ferrell's recent comedies, feeling that they have not lived up to the man's talent. I'm pleased to report that this movie has Will back in top form once again; it's the best he's been since at least Talladega Nights - and since I wasn't exactly a fan of that film, I'll say it's the best he's been Anchorman. Ferrell plays a cop who's never seen any action on the streets and is content with simply doing the grunt paperwork that none of his fellow 'real' cops want to do. This attitude particularly frustrates his partner, Terry Hoitz (played by Mark Wahlberg); he's a guy who wants to be in the thick of it all, but has been sidelined due to him accidentally shooting Derek Jeter.
Initially there isn't a need for them to be out in the field, since supercops (played by Samuel L. Jackson and The Rock) handle all of the big cases. While their appearance is brief, I did love the presence of these two guys on screen and the havoc they caused in order to catch the bad guys. Since we couldn't have a film featuring the main characters doing paperwork the entire time, Ferrell and Wahlberg soon find themselves working on a case involving the shady dealings of an investor (played by Steve Coogan).
As the two leads uncover clues, we get a lot of banter and bickering between them. Reminiscent of many past cop movies, these two guys can't get along. But the film does a nice job of playing with that notion since usually the bickering is a means of two guys trying to prove who's tougher. Here neither of these guys are all that manly, so watching them defend themselves while also trying to tear the other one down, yields a lot of laughs in the film.
Other sources of hilarity comes from a few more side characters like Michael Keaton, who plays the police captain. In addition to dealing with bumbling cops, he's having to take a side job at Bed, Bath, and Beyond in order to put his bisexual son through NYU. Funny stuff. There's also Eva Mendes playing Ferrell's 'thankless' wife. The gag here is that Ferrell seemingly doesn't realize what a catch she is, yet she's still extremely attracted to her.
One of the most impressive things about the film is it's joke callbacks. Given my penchant for Arrested Development, I always love when comedy writers can reference previous jokes and continue to bring fresh takes on them. The film does a really nice job with this, which helps keeps the laughs coming throughout the film.
It should be noted though that this is not a pure comedy. There's a lot of action and story here that makes the film seem almost at times like an actual police thriller, rather than a comedy. They seemed to want to include a lot of homages to cop movies, yet not all of them played for laughs. This makes the film a bit longer than it should have been and gives it an odd pacing. However, whenever the film started to lose me, it didn't take long for them to win me back with another great gag or one-liner.
Many will be surprised to see the film take such a hard stance against the economic situation we are actually facing in our country; particulary during the closing credits as they reveal several alarming statistics about our national banks and the bailout they received. Since the cops are dealing with a white collar crime, it somewhat fits, but still seems out of place in this film. However, any opportunity I get to learn something new about the world I live, I appreciate it.
I find myself eager to watch this film again. I feel that I may have missed some small nuances or subtle dialogue that will yield more laughs upon a second visit. While some films can be funny, you also know that those laughs won't be there on repeat viewings. I don't believe the same will hold true here. This is a robust film that offers a great performance from Ferrell and provides enough other talented people around him to make this a very enjoyable film. It does a nice job of paying homage to the police films that came before it, while also adding a new wrinkle to make it feel fresh. This is a nice late summer treat worthy of a viewing if you get the opportunity. Grade: B+
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Runaway train
One of the few movies from my original Top 30 of 2010 that I haven't really talked about much since is Unstoppable, the new thriller that once again reteams Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott. The reason being is that there just hasn't been much to say, until now. Here's your first look at the trailer, which also stars Star Trek's Chris Pine and Rosario Dawson.
NMR: Hot Tub Time Machine
In a similar vein to Snakes on a Plane, the title ended up being better than the actual movie. This had a lot of potential and hardly utilized any of it. Instead, it borrowed ideas from a ton of other better movies and then relied on gross-out gags to get them the rest of the way. Perhaps this movie could have been better, but they advertised the hell out of it and as a result I felt like I had already seen most of the movie. A key factor in films is the 'hang out' factor in that you should ask yourself did you enjoy hanging out with these characters and would you want to continue to hang out with them. That would be a big, fat NO from me for this movie. All of these guys are losers and not in the loveable sort of way. Most of the time they are miserable in the 80s and when they are having fun, it's not the sort of fun I would like to have. Another problem is the major plot holes found in this movie. I know it's a comedy and it shouldn't matter and that there are always going to be logic gaps when dealing with time travel, but in this case some simple tweaks to the script could have improved things greatly. There are only two things that save this film from being a complete disaster; first is the shout out they give to Cleveland sports and second is Crispin Glover's presence in the film. Glover was not seen in any of the commercials and his whole subplot is hilarious. It seemed that the only times I laughed out loud was when he was on screen. For the rest of the movie, I need my own time machine so I can go back and warn myself not to watch this disappointment. Rating **1/2
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Just in the Nic of time
The new crop of Survivor castaways was announced yesterday and EW.com revealed some interesting details on these contestants and other twists in store for the new season.
Below is a video from CBS that highlights some of this season's contestants. You can also watch individual videos of each castaway here.
Two-time Super Bowl winning coach Jimmy Johnson headlines the new cast of Survivor: Nicaragua when it premieres Wednesday, September 15 on CBS. The former coach (who also won college championships as both a player and a coach) and current Fox football analyst will join nine other contestants over the age of 40 on the Espada tribe to take on 10 contestants 30 and under in Survivor‘s second old vs. young battle (Survivor: Panama was split into four tribes divided by both age and gender). The younger La Flor tribe features Survivor‘s second amputee contestant, Kelly Bruno, who lost her right leg to a birth defect when she was six-months old (Survivor: Vanuatu also featured a contestant with an artificial limb, Chad Crittenden). “We don’t really look at Kelly as ‘let’s do another amputee,”’ Jeff Probst told EW.com while on location during filming. “When Kelly came in, it wasn’t that she had [an artificial] limb. It was that she was so charismatic. I hope Kelly lasts a long time because that’s somebody I would want in my foxhole with me.”
The old versus young division is not the only twist this season. At the very opening, Probst will reveal to the contestants a brand new item: the Medallion of Power. The Medallion can be used by a tribe to give itself an advantage in an immunity challenge, but once used, it goes over to the other tribe to use when it sees fit. “The Medallion of Power is designed to give you power at challenges,” explains Probst. “And our job is to make sure that the advantage is enough to tempt you — not so much that it’s a landslide, but enough that you go, ‘I’m not sure we should take it. Maybe we should, maybe we shouldn’t.’”
Also, expect fewer hidden immunity idols to be played on Survivor: Nicaragua, or at least expect them to be a bit harder to find. “This season we have made changes to the hidden immunity idol,” says Probst “The only way you’re gonna find it is to decipher these cryptic visual clues. So it’s a bit like a visual riddle, and the audience will get to play along. And the first set of four clues is very difficult. The next set will be a little easier, and then by the third set, you should find it.”
Below is a video from CBS that highlights some of this season's contestants. You can also watch individual videos of each castaway here.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Feel like a 'New Man'?
Many are anticipating the final season of Lost to come out on DVD/Blu-Ray later this month. A lot of that anticipation has to do with the fact that a 12 minute epilogue, titled 'The New Man in Charge', will be included on it that promises to answer some more questions and reveal more of Ben and Hurley's time on the island. Well while you can't see the whole thing yet, a small clip has been released to give you a taste of what you can expect. See for yourself below.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
On the Fringe of a new TV season
Like so many of you, I'm anxiously awaiting the new fall TV season to get here. Since we still have a little over a month to go, I figured I would share something with all of you to help satiate that need in the meantime. Click on the link below to check out this video from EW.com where Jasika Nicole shares some big scoop on what we can expect to see happen on Fringe's third season.
Exclusive 'Fringe' video: Scoop on this season's mind-blowing twist!
Exclusive 'Fringe' video: Scoop on this season's mind-blowing twist!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
A hunger for more
I'm trying to be a little bit quicker on the turnaround for the reviews of the films I saw in theaters, so here we go with my thoughts on Dinner For Schmucks.
Once again we're treated to the pairing of Paul Rudd and Steve Carell. After working so well together in both Anchorman and The 40 Year Old Virgin, they're brought together once more in Dinner For Schmucks - a funny, albeit confusing film.
Rudd plays Tim, a businessman in a thankless job who's always striving to get ahead. He gets that opportunity when his boss (Bruce Greenwood) invites him to a dinner at his house. The catch, however, is that everyone invited has to bring along the biggest idiot (the word schmuck, oddly enough, is never uttered in the film) they can find for the amusement of the dinner guests. Enter Steve Carell, who plays Barry, a weirdo who recreates famous works of art using dead mice as the figures - his mouseterpieces, as he calls them.
Again these two comedians play well off of each other, although Rudd is playing much more of a straightman here. We move from one set piece to the next as Carell finds new ways to get under Rudd's skin, while making us laugh. Carell actually gives a very good performance here. While some of his more recent efforts have failed to make him the funny, likeable guy that made him so appealing in the first place, this film does a nice job of reminding us why he's such a comedic talent.
And if these two guys weren't enough, we're also treated to several scenes featuring Zack Galafianakis as Carell's boss, who also claims to read minds. We quickly learn that this guy has more screws loose than Carell's Barry, which results in big laughs for the audience. The films gets just the right amount out of Galafianakis' character - he's effective without overstaying his welcome.
The film's problem is not its humor. I found myself laughing out loud several times and the film managed to save enough funny parts that were not revealed in the film's trailers or commercials. Where the film slips up is in its message. For two hours, we're asked to sit and laugh at the various idiots who are put on parade for us (one word of note though, the titular dinner doesn't actually occur until late in the film's second half). Then at the end of the film Rudd's character comes to realize that we shouldn't be laughing at these people. He chides his boss and his fellow co-workers, but he might as well be talking to the audience as well.
Further compounding the problem is that most of the 'idiots' didn't really deserve to be laughed at in the first place. Take Carell's character; yes, the notion of using dead rodents as artwork seems really odd, but the craftsmanship is really excellent. You almost admire someone who puts that much work into something they love. Had his art looked like something a 2nd grader would make AND used dead mice, but still thought they looked amazing, you could see why someone would mock that. The same holds true for many of the other guests at the dinner.
So as I sat watching and laughing, I also wondered what the point of this movie was. Given that it was a remake of a very famous French film, it seemed that there needed to be a more clear or relevant purpose seen for doing this film for American audiences. Watching this film is akin to being served French toast, salmon, and jelly beans for dinner - everything is delicious on its own, but it doesn't exactly make for a good meal.
Your enjoyment of this film will truly depend on what you have an appetite for. If you're looking a rich film experience that appeals to your intelligence and your sense of humor, then you may leave feeling unsatisfied. If however, you're looking for a couple of hours of some easy laughs, then you'll be wanting a second helping of Dinner For Schmucks. Grade: B
Once again we're treated to the pairing of Paul Rudd and Steve Carell. After working so well together in both Anchorman and The 40 Year Old Virgin, they're brought together once more in Dinner For Schmucks - a funny, albeit confusing film.
Rudd plays Tim, a businessman in a thankless job who's always striving to get ahead. He gets that opportunity when his boss (Bruce Greenwood) invites him to a dinner at his house. The catch, however, is that everyone invited has to bring along the biggest idiot (the word schmuck, oddly enough, is never uttered in the film) they can find for the amusement of the dinner guests. Enter Steve Carell, who plays Barry, a weirdo who recreates famous works of art using dead mice as the figures - his mouseterpieces, as he calls them.
Again these two comedians play well off of each other, although Rudd is playing much more of a straightman here. We move from one set piece to the next as Carell finds new ways to get under Rudd's skin, while making us laugh. Carell actually gives a very good performance here. While some of his more recent efforts have failed to make him the funny, likeable guy that made him so appealing in the first place, this film does a nice job of reminding us why he's such a comedic talent.
And if these two guys weren't enough, we're also treated to several scenes featuring Zack Galafianakis as Carell's boss, who also claims to read minds. We quickly learn that this guy has more screws loose than Carell's Barry, which results in big laughs for the audience. The films gets just the right amount out of Galafianakis' character - he's effective without overstaying his welcome.
The film's problem is not its humor. I found myself laughing out loud several times and the film managed to save enough funny parts that were not revealed in the film's trailers or commercials. Where the film slips up is in its message. For two hours, we're asked to sit and laugh at the various idiots who are put on parade for us (one word of note though, the titular dinner doesn't actually occur until late in the film's second half). Then at the end of the film Rudd's character comes to realize that we shouldn't be laughing at these people. He chides his boss and his fellow co-workers, but he might as well be talking to the audience as well.
Further compounding the problem is that most of the 'idiots' didn't really deserve to be laughed at in the first place. Take Carell's character; yes, the notion of using dead rodents as artwork seems really odd, but the craftsmanship is really excellent. You almost admire someone who puts that much work into something they love. Had his art looked like something a 2nd grader would make AND used dead mice, but still thought they looked amazing, you could see why someone would mock that. The same holds true for many of the other guests at the dinner.
So as I sat watching and laughing, I also wondered what the point of this movie was. Given that it was a remake of a very famous French film, it seemed that there needed to be a more clear or relevant purpose seen for doing this film for American audiences. Watching this film is akin to being served French toast, salmon, and jelly beans for dinner - everything is delicious on its own, but it doesn't exactly make for a good meal.
Your enjoyment of this film will truly depend on what you have an appetite for. If you're looking a rich film experience that appeals to your intelligence and your sense of humor, then you may leave feeling unsatisfied. If however, you're looking for a couple of hours of some easy laughs, then you'll be wanting a second helping of Dinner For Schmucks. Grade: B
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
King Louie
So news came out today that FX has renewed comedian Louie CK's show, aptly titled Louie for a second season. I got to know Louie from his stint on Parks and Recreation last season and have enjoyed the first few episodes of this new show. It's a mix of Louie's CK and some small vignettes/stories. For a summer series, it's been a nice breath of fresh air. If you are looking for some laughs, you might want to check this show out. And if you're not familiar with Louie's style of comedy, check out this video below from an appearance he had a few years ago on Conan O'Brien's show; it's a good representative of his brand of humor.
NMR: Saint John of Las Vegas
While it didn't register on most people's radar when it was released last January, I was excited about this little indie based on it's solid cast (Steve Buscemi, Sarah Silverman, Romany Malco, and Peter Dinklage) and quirky subject matter. Based on Dante's Inferno, the film focuses on Buscemi's job as an insurance fraud investigator and the interesting people he meets while working on a case. All of this sounds great on paper, but was pretty terrible in its execution. This supposed comedy barely offered any laughs. Even worse is that this film really moves slow and it's only about 80 minutes long!! At best, this could have potentially worked as a pilot for a television show, but I'm not sure I would have stuck around for another episode even if this were the case. This one is a total skip. Rating: **
Fey-ning interest
Check out this awkward video of 30 Rock star Tina Fey from the 90s as she shills for Mutual Savings bank.
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