2012 Movie Preview (#6 - 1)

6. The Amazing Spider-Man (July 3rd)

Plot: Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios announced they are moving forward with a film based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises.

Personal opinion: This is in a similar situation as The Bourne Legacy in that a popular franchise is getting a complete makeover. Both could be disasterous or they could be a breath of fresh air that these films needed. While the decision to reboot this franchise is questionable, I certainly can't argue with their casting decisions. After The Social Network, Andrew Garfield is a star in the making and you know how much I love Emma Stone, so I'm totally for her being chosen as Gwen Stacy, even if it meant her eschewing her red hair for a blonde mane. As long as they don't completely ruin the character with the script, this should keep Spidey crawling along just fine.


5. Dog Fight (August 10th)

Plot: Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis will play rival politicians in a small congressional district in South Carolina.

Personal opinion: All they had to say was Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis together and I was immediately sold. The fact that they are putting them in a plot that sounds rife for comedic gold only sweetens the pot. Given that 2012 is an election year will probably help this film gain even more viewers. The only thing that concerns me is that the film is being directed by Jay Roach, who has a spotty track record. He's had some great films like Austin Powers and Meet the Parents, but he's also had some duds like the sequels to those films. I would have prefered if Ferrell's longtime collaborator, Adam McKay had directed it, but I digress. The comedic strength of these two leads should have no problem carrying the film to prosperity.


4. The Gangster Squad (October 19)

Plot: Los Angeles, 1949. Ruthless, Brooklyn-born mob king Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) runs the show in this town, reaping the ill-gotten gains from the drugs, the guns, the prostitutes and--if he has his way--every wire bet placed west of Chicago. And he does it all with the protection of not only his own paid goons, but also the police and the politicians who are under his control. It's enough to intimidate even the bravest, street-hardened cop...except, perhaps, for the small, secret crew of LAPD outsiders led by Sgt. John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) and Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling), who come together to try to tear Cohen's world apart. "The Gangster Squad" is a colorful retelling of events surrounding the LAPD's efforts to take back their nascent city from one of the most dangerous mafia bosses of all time.

Personal opinion: As you can see by reading the plot description that this has some acting heavyweights in the cast. I always enjoy the gangster genre and feel its underutilized in Hollywood today. It's interesting to note that this action drama is being directed by Reuben Fleischer, who directed Zombieland This is uncharted waters for him, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Emma Stone is also part of the cast. That instantly improves things in my book. Ultimately as long as this one avoids being as dull as Public Enemies, it should be a winner.


3. The Avengers (May 4th)

Plot: Continuing the epic big-screen adventures started in "Iron Man," "The Incredible Hulk," "Iron Man 2," "Thor" and "Captain America: The First Avenger," "Marvel's The Avengers" is the superhero team up of a lifetime. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as SHIELD, finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Personal opinion: Our patience finally gets paid off here. After sitting through several single character comic book films, the band finally comes together as the supergroup our world needs. At this point, we know all the central players, so let's hope this film doesn't dwell too much on establishing them and just gets right to the action. Joss Whedon was a bit of a surprising choice to direct such a monumental film, but I think he's got the geek cred to do this group justice on the big screen.


2. Skyfall (November 9th)

Plot: In "Skyfall," Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Personal opinion: I went through great deliberation over what to put at #1 and this one came very close to getting that spot. It's no secret that I am a huge Bond geek and the wait for this film has been excruciating given the delays thanks to MGM's financial problems. But the wait is over and I'm eager to see Daniel Craig back in action. Ultimately, I put this at #2 just because it has a few more uncertainties surrounding this one. First of all Quantum of Solace was a bit disappointing so it's not a given that this one will be great. There's also the Sam Mendes factor. While he's an accomplished director, he has never really done an action film before, so we'll see how he handles that side of this movie. These are minor quibbles though as this should be an excellent return for everyone's favorite superspy.


1. The Dark Knight Rises (July 20th)

Plot: Warner Bros. Pictures' and Legendary Pictures' "The Dark Knight Rises" is the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar winner Christian Bale ("The Fighter") again plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar winner Marion Cotillard ("La Vie en Rose"), as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake. Returning to the main cast, Oscar winner Michael Caine ("The Cider House Rules") plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman ("Million Dollar Baby") reprises the role of Lucius Fox.

Personal opinion: Do I really need to say anything here? After the HUGE success of The Dark Knight, is there any one in the world not anticipating this film? I am equally anxious for this and the new Bond film, but the fact that everyone is back for this film and then some makes it the surer bet. It's a little sad knowing that this movie will be the last Batman that Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan do, but that only builds the intrigue as we wonder how they will choose to end this. The trailer that was released last week already left me breathless, so now we just have to anxiously count down the days until next summer to see the full thing. So there you have it. The best of the best. I hope it's clear to the rest of you as it is to me that next year's slate looks a hell of a lot better than the offerings we got this year. Whether it's actually true or not remains to be seen. Thankfully we don't have long to wait. Let's bring on 2012! Happy New Year everyone and remember to keep visiting this blog throughout the year to read more updates and reviews for all of these films and more.

Missing the cut

No doubt some of you will question why some notable films are not on my 2012 movie preview. All I can say is that those films just were not as exciting as the thirty I listed. But in the interest of fairness, I've decided to showcase a few of the most prolific ones that already have trailers out. Enjoy!

2012 Movie Preview (#12 - 7)

12. The Dictator (May 11th)

Plot: The film tells the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed. It is inspired by the best selling novel "Zabibah and The King" by Saddam Hussein.

Personal opinion: So which Sasha Baron Cohen will we get here? The one who became a cultural phenomenom with Borat or the one who turned off audiences by crossing the line from funny to offensive with Bruno? Based on the trailer I posted here recently, it seems like his latest film has a mixture of both in it. However, the final scene involving him running in a race had me in stiches and gave me the confidence that this one can be a real winner.


11. The Bourne Legacy (August 3rd)

Plot: The Universal release has taken the title from the Eric Van Lustbader book based on the series created by Robert Ludlum, but they will not be using the story. "This is not a reboot or a recast or a prequel. No one's replacing Matt Damon. There will be a whole new hero, a whole new chapter...this is a stand-alone project," said Gilroy. "The easiest way to think of it is an expansion or a reveal," Gilroy added. "Jason Bourne will not be in this film, but he's very much alive. What happened in the first three films is the trigger for what happens. I'm building a legend and an environment and a wider conspiracy... the world we're making enhances and advances and invites Jason Bourne's return [down the road]."

Personal opinion: The Bourne franchise has been one of my favorite of the past ten years, so I'm somewhat conflicted over this latest entry. It's a shame they felt like they needed to continue it despite neither Matt Damon nor director Paul Greengrass returning for this one. Their absence will no doubt be huge. Having said that, there are several of the supporting actors who are returning to help maintain continuity. As for the replacements, Jeremy Renner is quickly establishing himself as a mainstream action star and Tony Gilroy, who will direct this one, was a writer on the previous Bourne films and has also directed Michael Clayton proving that he has the directing chops and familiarity with the material needed to fill Greengrass' shoes. This will be no easy feat, but if they can pull it off, it'll be one of the most pleasant surprises of 2012.


10. This is Forty (Decemeber 21st)

Plot: The film will feature an original story with characters created by Rudd and Mann in "Knocked Up."

Personal opinion: Here's another possible case of redemption. After disappointing virtually everybody with the unfunny Funny People, Judd Apatow is finally getting back behind the camera with this sequel/spin-off of Knocked Up focusing specifically on Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann's married couple. Apatow struck gold when exploring the life of a 40-year old before, so I look forward to seeing what he can come up with this time. Hopefully by returning to some familiar territory with some friendly faces he'll get the comedic juices flowing again.


9. Django Unchained (December 25th)

Plot: In Quentin Tarantino's new spaghetti Western, the title character Django is a freed slave, who under the tutelage of a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) becomes a badass bounty hunter himself. After assisting Waltz on taking down some bad guys for profit, he is in turn assisted by Waltz in tracking down his slave wife and liberating her from an evil plantation owner. The film deals with racism, while it's 100 percent pure popcorn and revenge flick, it takes on the evil slave owning south.

Personal opinion: I'll admit I took awhile to get on the Quentin Tarantino bandwagon. However, after seeing Inglorious Basterds I became a convert. By the looks of the cast he's rounded up for this film, it seems many other people are believers as well. You have guys like Leonardo Dicaprio and Jaime Foxx working on this film along with Tarantino alums like Samuel L. Jackson and Christophe Waltz. With Basterds Tarantino conquered the war film, so now I'm really curious to see what he has up his sleeve for the spaghetti western genre. This could be another major player come awards season.


8. American Reunion (April 6th)

Plot:In the comedy "American Reunion," all the "American Pie" characters we met a little more than a decade ago are returning to East Great Falls for their high-school reunion. In one long-overdue weekend, they will discover what has changed, who hasn't and that time and distance can't break the bonds of friendship.

Personal opinion: So may look at this and feel that this franchise has worn out its welcome, especially with the addition of those pitiful direct-to-DVD, quasi-sequels, but I've always had an affinity for these films. I guess because the characters' timeline closely mirrors my own I see these films as a time capsule of my own experiences. The fact that they were able to get everyone from the original cast back for this one is exciting and the trailer released earlier this year has me believing that this slice of pie has not become completely stale yet.


7. Looper (September 28th)

Plot: Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a contract killer who works for the mob of the future, and who kills victims that are then sent back in time 30 years so there's no trace of the crime, but one day, he recognizes one of his targets (Bruce Willis) as a future version of himself.

Personal opinion: I always appreciate when a sci-fi film can develop an idea that's unique and creative and on paper this one sounds like it will fit the bill. This one is being directed Rian Johnson, who impressed a lot of people with his first two films, Brick and The Brothers Bloom. I like both Gordon-Levitt and Willis, so it should be fun to see them share the screen in this one. The only concern I have is the release date. There have often been a lot of promising sci-fi films released in the fall that have turned out to be duds. Based on some early buzz I've heard about this one though, it sounds like it should be able to avoid that problem.

Living in a dream

It appears that this year's crop of midseason replacements on television is an unusually strong crop. Here's just one of the programs that shows promise - a drama called Awake, which will be premiering on NBC in the next couple of months. I've posted a trailer below to give you a taste of what you can expect.

Mission statement

In the original Mission: Impossible film Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt had to break into a room with floor sensors undetected. That meant nothing could touch the ground, not even a bead of sweat. If audiences today were watching the fourth entry in this series, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, on such a floor it would not take long for them to be detected. This hard-boiled, pulse-pounding thriller may be the most action packed one yet.

There are several well crafted scenes in this film that tickle your fancy while playing off your biggest fears in the same moment. Most notably involves Cruise trying to climb the outside of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building in Dubai. What is so remarkable about that scene and so many others in this film is the way they hide how exactly they filmed them. Too often in today's action films scenes that heavily rely on CGI or other visual effects come off as phony looking and take you out of the moment. Here there's no sense of that. Hell, you hardly even can detect if they are using stuntmen even. As a result, you become more invested in having these characters succeed in their efforts to once again save the world.

The realistic nature of these scenes is even more surprising when you learn that they were directed by someone who's background had previously been exclusively in animation. Director Brad Bird, who had previously helmed The Incredibles and Ratatouille does a remarkable job of taking the flexible reality of cartoons and making it come to life in this live action thriller. It's a tremendous efforts for someone's first live action film and I expect more good things to come from him down the line.

With that said, it's one thing to film the action, it's another thing to actually do it, which is exactly what Tom Cruise does again. The guy gets a lot of flack for his personal life, but there's no doubt that he still knows how to bring it when you put him on screen. Cruise, who reportedly did most of his own stunts for the film, is an adrenaline junkie who excels at making the impossible look possible. He thankfully did not have to carry the load all on his own, though, as he was surrounded here with a solid group of partners. Paula Patton, who plays Jane, does an excellent job of seamlessly blending physical action with sex appeal. She more than holds her own in a couple of fight scenes to validate her presence on the team and shows that she wasn't just cast solely because she's easy on the eyes. Simon Pegg is also back as techie, Benji. He offers some good comic relief that is played perfectly so as to never detract from the seriousness of the stroy. Lastly, Jeremy Renner, plays an analyst who unwittingly gets roped into the mission. At worst, his presence merely adds some gravitas to the cast, but he also could be positioning himself as the heir apparent once Cruise is done with this franchise.

The only real strike against the film is the lackluster villain and his plan to conquer the world. Hendriks (played by Michael Nyqvist) does not have enough screen time to establish himself as a character and his decision to start a nuclear war feels played out. This has often been an issue with these M:I films, however. Their appeal is more in the elaborate nature of stopping the villain, regardless of who it is or what they're trying to do.

In a year where so many films, particularly action films have fallen flat or failed to live up to expectations, it's refreshing to see this one raise the bar and offer viewers something truly special. While I did not have the luxury of seeing this movie in IMAX, everything I've read suggests that is the way to go. If I was left breathless watching these scenes on a regular screen, I can only imagine how heart-stopping they must be in that format. If you're looking to avoid the heavy dramas or prestige pictures that often dominate the cineplexes at this time of the year, this is the movie for you. Cruise and company have proven that it's not 'impossible' to still feel fresh four movies into a franchise. Grade: A-

2012 Movie Preview (#18 - 13)

18. Neighborhood Watch (July 27th)

Plot: "Neighborhood Watch" is a sci-fi comedy about a suburban "neighborhood watch" group that serves as a front for dads to get some male-bonding time away from their families. The group finds itself in over its head when it uncovers a plot to destroy the world.

Personal opinion: Five years ago, a film featuring Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn would have likely been much higher on my list. But since that time, each of them have made some questionable choices in terms of their film roles, which make me somewhat cautious about getting excited about this one. That they are together in this movie helps, along with the fact that Jonah Hill and Will Forte are also part of the cast. I'm a bit suspicious of the sci-fi aspect of this film, but until I see a trailer your guess is as good as mine as to what to expect here.


17. ParaNorman (August 17th)

Plot: In "ParaNorman," a small town comes under siege by zombies. Who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee), who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he'll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, moronic grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits.

Personal opinion: For some reason, I got hooked on this film after its first trailer came out last month. It seems as if the people behind this film are trying to outdo Tim Burton in the whole 'creepy, but not too creepy stop-motion animated' genre. I think the idea behind this story is really solid and the world they've created looks very imaginative. The only thing I question is why they are choosing to release this in August instead of October. Having a spooky film like this released in the summer may cause it to get lost in the shuffle.


16. The Five Year Engagement (April 27th)

Plot: The director and writer/star of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" reteam for the irreverent comedy "The Five-Year Engagement." Beginning where most romantic comedies end, the new film from director Nicholas Stoller, producer Judd Apatow ("Knocked Up," "The 40-Year-Old Virgin") and Rodney Rothman (Get Him to the Greek) looks at what happens when an engaged couple, Jason Segel and Emily Blunt, keeps getting tripped up on the long walk down the aisle. The film was written by Segel and Stoller.

Personal opinion: We've already seen the trailer for this one as well and all signs indicate good stuff here. They had already set themselves up well by having Segal reteam with his Forgetting Sarah Marshall director and pairing him with the sexy and charming Emily Blunt on screen. Segal seems to pick his romantic comedies well having been successful with Marshall and I Love You Man and his streak appears as if it will continue on in 2012.


15. Lincoln (December)

Plot: Based on the best-selling book "Team of Rivals," by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. The screenplay has been written by the Pulitzer Prize winner, Tony Award winner, and Academy Award nominated writer Tony Kushner. The film will focus on the political collision of Lincoln and the powerful men of his cabinet on the road to abolition and the end of the Civil War.

Personal opinion: Half-way through and now we're really getting to the good stuff. If you've already seen the picture that came online a few weeks ago, you'll know what inspired casting it was to have Daniel Day-Lewis play Lincoln. Spielberg may be getting a lot of press right now for the two films he has in theaters, but this one is infinitely more appealing to me than those two combined. This one should be a history buff's dream come true.


14. Prometheus (June 8th)

Plot: Visionary filmmaker Ridley Scott returns to the genre he helped define, creating an original science fiction epic set in the most dangerous corners of the universe. The film takes a team of scientists and explorers on a thrilling journey that will test their physical and mental limits and strand them on a distant world, where they will discover the answers to our most profound questions and to life's ultimate mystery.

Personal opinion: If you visited the blog earlier this week, you no doubt saw that I had posted a trailer for this new Ridley Scott film. As I alluded to in that post, the story is being kept tightly under wraps, but there are some indications that this may be a prequel to 1979's Alien. Having recently gained an appreciation for both the 1979 film and its sequel, I am really curious about this movie. Now even if it ends up having nothing to do with Alien, this still has a very good chance of being good given Scott's proclivity of delivering solid action films.


13. Argo (September 14th)

Plot: Based on true events, "Argo" chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis--the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA "exfiltration" specialist named Tony Mendez (Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.

Personal opinion: DirectingGone Baby Gone Ben Affleck raised some eyebrows. With The Town, he proved his first film was no fluke. Now he's behind the camera again with one of those so crazy it must be true stories. The more I read about this and think about what Affleck has done thus far as a director, the more excited I get for this film. I hate to rush to conclusions, but this could easily be a strong contender for some awards this time next year.

Out with the old...

Last year, I posted a video that encapsulated all of the films of 2010. Since we're once again getting to the end of the year, I thought I would do the same thing. I can't say I have the same fondness for this year's crop of films, but it's nice to see them again in a nice little package. Let the reminiscing begin.

2012 Movie Preview (#24 - 19)

24. Bernie (March)

Plot: Jack Black plays Bernie, the beloved mortician in a small Texas town. MacLaine is the town's richest, meanest widow, and even she adores him. No one will say a bad word about Bernie - even after he commits a very nasty crime.

Personal opinion: Not a whole lot to go on yet with this movie, but from the sparse details this sounds like it could be a unique comedy. I think what intrigues me the most is that this will mark the first time that Jack Black has teamed up with director Richard Linklater since they worked on School of Rock. It's been a while since Black has had a film that he's been funny in and that's been successful, perhaps this is the one that finally returns him to comedic prominence.


23. Total Recall (August 3rd)

Plot: The new story involves the nation states of Euromerica and New Shanghai, with Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell) a factory worker in the latter who begins to believe he is a spy, although he doesn�t know for which side. Vilos Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston) the leader of Euromerica who, under the cover of protecting his people, is secretly readying an invasion of New Shanghai.

Personal opinion: I just saw the original 1990 film for the first time earlier this year, so I can't say I'm a longtime fan. However, I enjoyed the film more than I expected and I thought the film posed a lot of interesting ideas. Now that technology and visual effects have dramatically improved, I'm really curious if they can improve on the story. Colin Farrell isn't the best actor, but I have to believe he'll be an upgrade over Ah-nuld.


22. Butter (March 16th)

Plot: In small-town Iowa, an adopted girl discovers her talent for butter carving and finds herself pitted against an ambitious local woman in their town's annual contest.

Personal opinion: I'm always in the mood for quirky comedies and this one seems like it will fit the bill. With an odd subject matter and a whole host of funny people comprising the cast, including Jennifer Garner, Hugh Jackman, Olivia Wilde, Ty Burrell, Rob Corddry, and Kristen Schaal this seems like a movie I could really enjoy. I doubt it will do huge business at the box office, but I'm not really concerned about that. If it used the butter carving competition wisely and not as a gimmick, this could be really good.


21. The Raven (March 9th)

Plot: When a mother and daughter are found brutally murdered in 19th century Baltimore, Detective Emmett Fields (Luke Evans) makes a startling discovery: the crime resembles a fictional murder described in gory detail in the local newspaper, part of a collection of stories penned by struggling writer and social pariah Edgar Allan Poe. But even as Poe is questioned by police, another grisly murder occurs, also inspired by a popular Poe story. Realizing a serial killer is on the loose using Poe's writings as the backdrop for his bloody rampage, Fields enlists the author's help in stopping the attacks. But when it appears someone close to Poe may become the murderer's next victim, the stakes become even higher and the inventor of the detective story calls on his own powers of deduction to try to solve the case before it's too late.

Personal opinion: Based on the trailer that was released already for this film, it seems as if they're trying to model this somewhat after the recent Sherlock Holmes movie. If they're successful at emulating that model and can create a decent mystery this has a chance at being a sleeper hit next spring. I like John Cusack and appreciate how he frequently takes unconventional roles and this one seems to be no different. I look forward to watching his interpretation of Poe and hope this movie is able to be more than campy schlock.


20. Brave (June 22nd)

Plot: Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Wise Woman (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it's too late.

Personal opinion: This year, Pixar proved it was fallable with Cars 2 being a misfire. They'll quickly get a chance to reclaim their glory with this film, though. On the plus side, they are doing an original story and the trailer shows that this should be another visual wonder. This film doesn't rank higher on my list however for two primary reasons: first, while I have no problem with the film having a female protagonist it just doesn't appeal to me personally and secondly, the Scottish environment and characters doesn't feel fresh after Dreamworks' How To Train Your Dragon. Pixar still has the best track record out there for a movie studio so if anyone can make this work, it's them.


19. Haywire (January 20th)

Plot: In "Haywire," an electrifying tale of espionage and betrayal, a female covert ops specialist (Carano), who works in the deadly world of international operatives, strikes back after discovering she's been double-crossed by someone close to her in the agency. The film is produced by Gregory Jacobs ("Ocean's" Trilogy) and written by Lem Dobbs ("The Limey").

Personal opinion: A film about a female spy who kicks a lot of ass isn't exactly original (see Salt, Columbiana). But when I saw the intense trailer for this, I began to think that this film may have some things going for it that will hopefully allow it to stand out amongst those others. First of all, this movie is being directed by Steven Soderbergh and he doesn't strike me as someone who does a film simply for a paycheck. Another plus is the cast. You've got guys like Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton, Ewan McGregor, and Michael Fassbender in this to improve the film's credentials. The wild card though is Gina Carano. Having an MMA fighter with no real acting experience as the lead could be a problem. As long as they spend more time with her beating people up and not talking though, they should be fine.

Ridley's believe it or not

Here's the trailer for Ridley Scott's new film Prometheus, which may or may not be a prequel to Alien. I'll have more to say about this film later in the week in my 2012, but for now enjoy the teaser instead.

2012 Movie Preview (#30 - 25)

Hard to believe we're at the end of another year. While there were plenty of things to celebrate in 2011, I feel that it was a rather lackluster year at the cineplex. Granted I haven't seen a number of potentially good movies yet, but overall I just wasn't as enamored with most of Hollywood's offerings this past year. But hope springs eternal, so as we turn the calendar over to 2012 we look ahead and I think things are looking much brighter. In the next few days, I'll be previewing the 30 films set to come out next year that I'm most looking forward to. Keep checking in throughout this week and see if you agree that 2012 is shaping up to be a great year at the movies.

30. Wreck-It Ralph (November 2nd)

Plot: Wreck-It Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) longs to be as beloved as his game's perfect Good Guy, Fix-It Felix (voice of Jack McBrayer). Problem is, nobody loves a Bad Guy. But they do love heroes... so when a modern, first-person shooter game arrives featuring tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun (voice of Jane Lynch), Ralph sees it as his ticket to heroism and happiness. He sneaks into the game with a simple plan-win a medal-but soon wrecks everything, and accidently unleashes a deadly enemy that threatens every game in the arcade. Ralph's only hope? Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman), a young troublemaking "glitch" from a candy-coated cart racing game who might just be the one to teach Ralph what it means to be a Good Guy. But will he realize he is good enough to become a hero before it's "Game Over" for the entire arcade?

Personal opinion: As will be the theme for most of these early movies on this list, it's a little too early to tell how this one will turn out. It has a terrific voice cast and it's being produced by Disney (although this is not a Pixar animated film) so it has the credentials, but I'm a little unsure of the film's story. It feels like well-tred territory. We recently had both Despicable Me and Megamind do the whole 'bad guy gone good' plot and there also seems to be some similarities to this film and the 90s cartoon Reboot. If the film can feel fresh, this should be very successful.


29. Man on a Ledge (January 27th)

Plot: An ex-cop and now wanted fugitive (Sam Worthington) stands on the ledge of a high-rise building while a hard-living New York Police Department hostage negotiator (Elizabeth Banks) tries to talk him down. The longer they are on the ledge, the more she realizes that he might have an ulterior objective.

Personal opinion: If you didn't see it originally, I had posted the trailer for this film a few weeks ago. I doubt this movie will set the world on fire, but given that January is usually a dumping ground for lousy movies, this looks like it has a chance at being half-way decent. There are a lot of solid character actors here who will no doubt raise the film's quality. And based on the trailer, there looks like there could be several twists and turns in the story. As long as they don't get too cute with the storytelling this could be worthy of making a trip out to the theater during the dead of winter.


28. Gravity (November 21st)

Plot: Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone--tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth...and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.

Personal opinion: On the surface, this sounds like it could be the plot to a hokey B-movie. However, with George Clooney and Sandra Bullock leading the cast this will be anything but. The film is also being directed by visionary director Alfonso Cuaron (who directed Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which was in my opinion the most stylish film in the franchise). Given that this film will be done in 3D, this could be one of the few films that actually uses the technology effectively. I'm not sure this is the most conventional Thanksgiving film, but I'm still anxious to check it out.


27. Ted (July 13th)

Plot: "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane brings his boundary-pushing brand of humor to the big screen for the first time as writer, director and voice star of "Ted." In the live action/CG-animated comedy, he tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a grown man who must deal with the cherished teddy bear who came to life as the result of a childhood wish... and has refused to leave his side ever since.

Personal opinion: As anyone who has ever watched Family Guy knows, Seth McFarland can be a very funny guy. The big question though is whether that humor can translate onto the big screen. Considering that the quality of most of his animated shows has waned in the past year or so, I'm hoping it's because he's putting his best efforts into this project. McFarland has certainly improved his chances by bringing along several of his talented voice actors like Mila Kunis and Patrick Warburton to be a part of the cast. I've never been big on the whole live action/CG-animated hybrid genre, so that's a strike against the film. For this film to work, it's going to have to be something more than just a raunchier version of Alvin and the Chipmunks.


26. Wanderlust (February 24th)

Plot: Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston star in "Wanderlust," a raucous comedy from director David Wain ("Role Models") and producer Judd Apatow ("Knocked Up") about a couple who leaves the pressures of the big city and joins a freewheeling community where the only rule is to be yourself.

Personal opinion: This fills up the requiste role of movie that was featured on last year's preview and then got bumped. I don't feel the need to say too much more about this movie now. David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer, Role Models) has proven that he can make some very provocative, yet funny films. He's got his usual cast of actors back with him along with Jennifer Aniston, which sounds like a winning combination to me. With all that said, however, it'll probably be a tough sell getting people to come out and watch a movie about a nudist colony.


25. Chronicle (February 3rd)

Plot: Three high school students make an incredible discovery, leading to them developing uncanny powers beyond their understanding. As they learn to control their abilities, and use them to their advantage, their lives start to spin out of control, and their darker sides begin to take over.

Personal opinion: As I pointed out when I posted the trailer for this film, most people are probably tired of superheroes after this past year. But based on what I've seen I really think this is a creative approach to the genre. Taking a realistic approach combined with the documentary style of filmmaking really appeals to me. The key to this film will be in its execution. Will this unique idea be able to cause the genre to soar to new heights or will a failure to follow through cause it to crash and burn? Only time will tell.

From the Batcave archives...

While most of us are focusing on the upcoming Batman film (to be previewed at some point this week in my 2012 list), here's some rare and unused footage from The Dark Knight. While this was posted on YouTube over a year ago, it's new to me and hopefully new to you as well. Enjoy!

RBR: Larry Crowne

After seeing the charming trailer last summer for Larry Crowne I eagerly anticipated seeing the film. Being a college professor who frequently teaches public speaking, I wanted to see this film about a middle-aged man (Tom Hanks) who enrolls in a public speaking course after being laid off from his job. Now that I have, I'm resigned to the fact that most of the critics who panned this film were correct. This is not an actively bad film, it's just one that has no significance or substance to it. On the surface, it seems like a film fitting of our current society and yet it never really deals with the economic hardships that so many real people are facing. Despite having no job and no money, Crowne banters with his neighbor (Cedric the Entertainer), bonds with an ecclectic bunch of students who ride around on their Vespa scooters, and flirts with his speech teacher (Julia Roberts). Hanks' likeable personality and cheery disposition just seem out of place for this character and this film. It's hard to get mad at someone like Hanks (who also directed and co-wrote the film), but you can't help but be frustrated that the characters and the story seem so naively ignorant of reality. I did enjoy the speech class scenes, however, and was able to relate a lot to the interactions between teacher and student, so at least there was that. Given the happy nature of the film, there are likely plenty of people who will find it pleasant enough to make it worthy of a rental. If you do give it a viewing, however, just don't expect to gain any sort of poignancy or perspective by watching it. This is pure Hollywood fluff. Rating: ** 1/2

Holy **** Batman!

The first full trailer for The Dark Knight Rises has hit the internet and I'm in geek overload at the moment. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out below.

RBR: Kung Fu Panda 2

The first Kung Fu Panda film was a pleasant surprise back in 2008 and proved that Dreamworks was capable of making an animated film on par with those offered by Pixar. In their second go-round, Po (voiced once again by Jack Black) and company deliver a solidly entertaining effort, but one that fails to match the quality of the first. Plot-wise, I really liked the story they went with here. It centers on Po's quest to find inner peace. To do so, he'll have to discover the truth about his actual parents who are connected to the film's primary villain, a peacock named Shen (nicely voiced by Gary Oldman). I actually wished the film had spent more time with this plot and character development. Instead, we get one too many action scenes meant to showcase the 3D effects. Each of the kung fu fighting scenes are well choreographed, but a little goes a long way with them. I was also disappointed that Po's master, Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) did not have a larger presence in this film. His Yoda-like character provides a nice anchor to the film without being overly cliched. Despite the excess of action, the film finishes strong with an emotional tone that hits the right notes. While not as good as the first, this continues to be Dreamworks' strongest animated franchise and I would certainly welcome another film (something that is strongly hinted at in the final scene of this one). Rating: *** 1/2

Forging a Bond?

From comingsoon.net

He's already starred in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace and is currently filming Skyfall, but "James Bond" films producer Michael G. Wilson says he would like Daniel Craig to star in five more 007 movies.

Speaking to People.co.uk, Wilson says he hopes Craig will become the longest serving James Bond actor, passing up Roger Moore's seven appearances.

"Daniel's been a terrific Bond, a superb actor and a terrific man. The fans love him and I don't think there's a better actor to play the part... It's certainly something we'll be discussing with him once we finish shooting 'Skyfall.'"

He added that "Filming has gone very well so far and I'd love Daniel to surpass Roger's record and do eight pictures. Daniel's been an absolute pleasure to be around because he takes the role so seriously. There's really no one more passionate about making these films work than him he's a filmmaker's dream.

"A lot of people have said Daniel's been their favorite Bond since Sean Connery and I can't argue with them. He's doing a great job."

About Skyfall, Wilson said that "director Sam Mendes and Daniel are taking it back to a 60s feel, more Sean. I think that's what the fans wanted. There's a magical Goldfinger feel, surrounding it all. It's all very exciting. I can't wait for people to see the movie because I think we're making a very special Bond."

Skyfall is scheduled for a November 9, 2012 release.

Moammar Ga-daffy

Here's your first look at Sasha Baron Cohen's (Borat) new comedy, The Dictator. As with more of his moves, this seems controversial, but also hit and miss with regard to the comedy. With that said, the last few seconds of this trailer completely sold me.

RBR: The Help

This is a movie I would normally pass over, but since it is generating some Oscar buzz and I can't resist anything that has Emma Stone in it, I decided to give it a watch. The Help takes a look at the lives of African American maids in the deep south during the 1960s. Emma Stone plays Skeeter, an enlightened young woman who wants to chronicle the plight of these women. The film has some terrific acting from Stone as well Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, both of whom are likely going to receive some recognition this awards season. The cinematography of the film is very impressive as well giving it an authentic feel of like in 1960's Mississippi. The film's weakness, however is the narrative structure. Based on a popular novel by the same name, the story focuses on too many characters and as a result, you're not really sure who's story this really is. Stone, Davis and Spencer each go through character arcs that feel like they are the primary one, yet also feel underdeveloped. Meanwhile, there are several other subplots jammed in to the film that could have easily been excised in order to devote more time to the central story. There's also the issue with this being a very santized version of what real women went through. They do the bare minimum to get the point across of the deplorable treatment these women received. Realism can be a double-edged sword, however. A more accurate depiction is appreciate by some, but this sugar-coated version enables the film to be more mainstream. I liked this film more than I thought, but I would not go as far as to say its deserving of a best picture nomination. If the subject matter interests you or if you're a fan of any of the actors here, I'd say this is worthy of a rental. Rating: ****

A early Christmas present for our ears

From the LA Times...

A new rule from the Federal Communications Commission should finally end the practice of viewers reaching for the remote control to turn down the volume every time there's a commercial break.

"The FCC today took a major step toward eliminating one of the most persistent problems of the television age -– loud commercials," the agency said in a statement.

Responding to years of complaints that the volume on commericals is louder than that of regular programming, the FCC on Tuesday passed the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act (CALM). The act requires commercials and entertainment and news programming to be kept at the same volume. The rules also require that the volume for promotional spots be equal to the shows around it.

Multichannel Video Program Distributors such as Time Warner Cable and Comcast Corp. and broadcasters will be responsible for making sure commerical volume is not excessive. The rule goes into effect next December.

Now can the FCC do something about the quality of commercials?

Citizen Knope deleted scenes

March on Washington

Finishing up the second part of the double feature I saw last weekend, we now come to The Ides of March, a political drama that has Oscar aspirations about a man with presidential aspirations. In this case that man is George Clooney, who also directed and co-wrote this film. The film, based on the play Farragut North, examines the dilemmas faced by everyone involved in trying to be, or help someone to be the next leader of the free world.

While Clooney is the candidate running for president, the film spends more time with his staff as they run his campaign. At the forefront of that is Stephen Meyers (played by Ryan Gosling), he's a hotshot assistant who claims to have already worked on more campaigns than anyone ten years his senior. That experience doesn't seem to help him much as he quickly gets caught up in the game of dirty politics. He takes a meeting with the chief of staff of the guy Clooney is running against (played by Paul Giamatti). When Clooney's chief of staff (played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman) finds out about the meeting, he's none too pleased.

When you have a cast that features four talented individuals like this film does, you expect to have scene after scene of scenary chewing taking place and yet most of the dialogue between these characters falls a bit flat. I was expecting these scenes to be more explosive where you really felt the emotion behind their words. Perhaps I've gotten too spoiled by Aaron Sorkin dialogue and expected too much here, but I just didn't find these talky scenes to be as gripping as I expected them too. This is not to say they are bad by any means. I was just suprised I didn't love them more.

A lot of their discussions and strategizing are a result of the actions of a young staffer on Clooney's campaign played by Evan Rachel Wood. She takes an interest in Gosling's character, which causes a number of problems. Without spoiling too much about what she does, I will say that I didn't buy into this subplot. Her actions and motivations don't seem realistic and they drag the film down. When it's focused on her, it strays from being a political potboiled into an area of tawdry melodrama.

What this film does do right though is give us a fair, albeit frustrating depiction of the nature of politics. You see as you watch these characters operate that anyone who enters the political game is unable to come out of it unscathed. Everyone has to get a little dirty, it's just a matter of whether or not you embrace it or not. Those who think their ideals can rise above the mudslinging are only fooling themselves. Some moviegoes may be frustrated with that theme since it prevents them from having anybody that they can root for or rally behind in this film.

Though I've pointed out some flaws in this film, it is by no means a bad film. These flaws only get pointed out because the expectations for this film were so high in the first place. In that way, The Ides of March may be very similar to real life presidential candidates. While they make a good first impression, the more you peel back the layers the more disappointment you find. That should in no way suggest that you should ignore this movie like so many people ignore potential candidates. Though this may not win the equivalent of the Oval Office come Academy Award season, it still has a lot to say that should be heard. Grade: B

Future Engagement

In a few weeks, I'll be doing my big preview of the films coming out in 2012 that I'm most looking forward to. I would imagine Five Year Engagement, starring Jason Segal and Emily Blunt will be finding its way onto my list. You can read more about it in my preview, but until then enjoy the first trailer for the film.

RBR: The Change-Up

If you watched Freaky Friday and felt it needed more poop and sex jokes, then The Change Up is for you. This latest entry in the body swapping genre pairs Jason Bateman, as the over-worked dad and Ryan Reynolds as the carefree, crass bachelor. Credit goes out to both guys for being able to pull off a realistic switcheroo while avoiding doing simple imitations of the other. Each actor does a nice job of truly embodying the other. Aside from the tired premise, the film's major problem comes from ineffectively developing a proper arc for each of these characters. The whole reason to do such a movie is to have each person reevaluate their own life by enjoying the novelty of being someone else. However, the life that they initially establish for Ryan Reynolds character is so vulgar and irresponsible, that there's no way anyone, let alone the uptight character that Jason Bateman plays, would actually want that life. Ultimately Bateman's character just needs a vacation, not someone else's life. This proves to be true as his character doesn't really differ once he's back in his own body while Reynolds ends up getting to see the error of his ways and becomes a better person (who ends up getting Olivia Wilde in the end - not a bad deal at all). The body swapping formula works, which is why it keeps getting reused. Here, the emotion associated with their dilemma is felt and comes off genuine. I just wished they hadn't felt the need to be so crass in their humor. The jokes made by, about, or around children in this film are particularly troubling and were not needed. I can't say that I completely hated this film, but it's tough for me to fully recommend it either because of its problems. Guys will likely be turned off by the sentimentality while women won't care for the gross-out humor. If this film had been able to swap out some of its elements, perhaps it too could have been better off for it. Rating: ** 1/2

Myth-ed it by that much

From EW.com...

A stunt for the TV show MythBusters sent an errant cannonball through a California family’s house and into a parked minivan a few hundred feet away.

Producers for the Discovery Channel show fired the cannonball Tuesday at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department bomb range behind the Santa Rita Jail when it misfired.

Sheriff’s spokesman J.D. Nelson told the Contra Costa Times that no one was injured and the home’s residents didn’t even wake up until the dust was settled — literally on top of them.

Nelson, who is also a consultant for the show, said producers have used the cannon that they built at the range more than 50 times without incident.

The cannonball was supposed to go through a few water-filled barrels and a concrete wall. Instead, it passed over the barrels, through the wall, and then took a “very unfortunate bounce that sent the ball skyward,” Nelson said.

About 700 feet away, it bounced in front of the Dublin home, then tore through the front door and out a wall on the back of the house. The projectile then bounced at least once more and crossed the road before smashing the window and dashboard of the minivan, where it came to rest.

“We had some tremendous bad luck and some tremendous good luck” in that no one was hurt, Nelson said.

Jasbir Gill, who owns the minivan, said he and his children had just gotten home.

“It’s scary,” Gill said. “I was in the van five minutes before this happened.”

Nelson said he did not know the exact size, speed or weight of the cannonball.

The show, according to the Discovery Channel website, mixes “scientific method with gleeful curiosity and plain old-fashioned ingenuity to create [its] own signature style of explosive experimentation.”

Keys to success

You know me, I'm not a huge music guy, so you know it's a big deal when I bother to mention a group/song that I appreciate it. In this case, it's the Ohio-based group, The Black Keys, who gave a rocking performance on Saturday Night Live this past weekend. I caught on to them with the previous album and have thus far enjoyed everything I've heard on their new album, El Camino, which was released this week. Not only do they know how to rock, but they also create some enjoyable music videos as well. Below you can watch both the one for Lonely Boy, which is the first single off their new album and the one for Howling For You, which was their big hit from their previous album.

RBR: Friends With Benfits

It's hard not to compare this to No Strings Attached considering they share the same set up and both feature an actress from Black Swan, but I'll do my best to base my review solely on its own merits. One of the things that this film does in setting up its 'sex with no consequences' premise is to mock and tear down the conventions and cliches found in most romantic comedies. I have no problem with that and in fact some of their snark towards the genre produces some good laughs (take that Katherine Heigl!). The problem comes with the fact that while mocking them, the film itself fails to rise above those cliches. This is disappointing considering director Will Gluck had been successful at escaping the cliches of the high school comedy genre with his previous film, Easy A. Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis have a light, breezy chemistry and you can buy them being together whether it's as sleepin' buddies or in a relationship. There's no reason other than it's a movie to have them go through some sort of conflict or strife. It feels forces and causes the audience to grow impatient waiting for the inevitable reconciliation. While that flaw is disappointing, it does not completely ruin the film. As I said, the two leads work well together and unlike so many romantic comedies, this film features an appealing supporting cast thanks in large part to terrific actors like Richard Jenkins and Patricia Clarkson. In comparison to most films in this genre, this one is watchable and entertaining. Just don't expect it to transcend the genre like it thinks it does. Rating: ***

The Trial of Leslie Knope deleted scenes

Beane counter

After a long drought (for me) of going to the theater, I finally made it there for a cool deal being offered by Regal Cinemas - a 2 for 1 double feature of Moneyball and The Ides of March (review forthcoming). Both films were ones I was highly anticipating, but for various reasons had not yet seen.

We'll begin with the baseball drama, Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt as Oakland A's GM, Billy Beane. The film focuses on the 2002 baseball season where Beane attempted to put a winning team on the field despite having one of the lowest payroll's in the league and losing star players left and right to teams (like the Yankees) who could afford to pay these players higher salaries. Beane devises a new way of scouting talent after meeting Peter Brand (played by Jonah Hill), a young, Ivy league grad, who was working with the Cleveland Indians organization; A fact I did not know. (Once again, the Indians find a way of giving up talent both on the field and in the front office).

Together, Beane and Brand begin to adopt the philosophy of Bill James, a statistician who had developed a formula to evaluate players' worth from a different way. One of the biggest factors that they focus on in the film is a player's on base percentage. In general, you'll score more runs if your team consists of a lot of players who find a way of getting on base (whether by a hit or walk). While this discussion and usage of statistics to create a winning team could have been dense and dull, it's not. Director Bennett Miller, along with Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) and Steve Zallian, who co-wrote the film do an excellent job of getting the Moneyball philosophy across in a simple manner that could be understood by everyone. Personally, being a guy who likes statistics, I actually wish they would have discussed the number crunching even more, but I'm perfectly fine with the way its depicted.

The film's best scenes come from the intereactions between Beane and those who disagree with this new approach. Most of the A's scouts are incedulous towards his way of thinking since it spit in the face of the way they had evaluated talent. This method made them virtually obsolete. Also against Beane's philosophy is A's manager, Art Howe. He's played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, in a terrific performance. While not the most postive portrayal, Hoffman does a nice job of coming off as grizzled and bitter. The scenes he has with Beane are engaging and really help in making you root for Beane.

While it takes some time, Beane's system begins to work much to the surprise of everyone else. One of the best things about this movie is the usage of actual media coverage throughout the season. We hear comments from sportscasters, radio hosts, and fans analyzing both the team's early struggles and their improvement as the season progressed. You really get a sense of how little everyone knows about sports when you're not actually inside the organization. It's catharic to listen to so-called analysts be completely off base when it comes to identifying why a team succeeds or fails.

Watching the film, you learn how Beane's desire to have this philosophy work is so personal. Through flashbacks the film shows how Beane himself was supposed to be a 'can't-miss' prospect who never panned out in the big leagues. You see how he's driven to prove the flaw in scouts' analysis and wants to avoid making personal connections with talent because of the possible pain it can bring. If the film has a weakness, and its minor one, it's that the film has a few too many introspection shots involving Pitt staring off in the distance contemplating. I get what they were going for, but I also feel its a bit overdone.

Overall, this is one of the best baseball movies out there and it hardly features any game play. At its core, its an underdog story that anyone can get behind. If you know anything about baseball and the recent history of Oakland, you'll also know that while Beane's story has not personally had the perfect ending, the imprint his Moneyball approach has had on the game is evident throughout the league. Like last year's The Social Network, I love the theme of individuals thinking outside the box and watching the rest of the world struggle to comprehend the ramifications of such an idea. Like a good utility player, Moneyball is versatile in providing something entertaining for a variety of audiences. Its ability to do so makes this film a home run. Grade: A

Getting a slice of some sweet pie

Once again Funny or Die delivers...this time with a fake 1980s sexual harassment video featuring Tim Meadows as Herman Cain

Herman Cain's 1986 Sexual Harassment Training from Tim Meadows

RBR: Crazy Stupid Love

I'm not going to beat around the bush...I hated this movie. And the thing of it is, is that I shouldn't have. It had a terrific cast including Steve Carell, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, and Ryan Gosling. It also received effusive praise from Entertainment Weekly, amongst other movie critics. But after watching it, I don't know what happened or why I did not have the same reaction as so many people did to this movie. Much of the praise it's receiving is for its seemingly realistic depiction of adult romance, but that wasn't my take on it. There are at least two major scenes in the film where a surprise/twist is revealed that were utterly preposterous. There is no way the characters in the film would have been that stupid or lacked the necessary communication skills in order to learn of these surprises earlier. I was shocked that the film would try to pass that off as believable to audiences. Beyond that, you have a lot of underwritten characters who's motivations for their actions are unclear and thus undercut the emotion behind them. I also found it insulting how much of Steve Carell's story arc seems cribbed straight from The 40 Year Old Virgin. Say what you will, but I found his quest to improve himself in order to find true love much more realistic and appealing. My only guess is that many reviewers must have been distracted by the unnecessary constant display of Ryan Gosling's abs to effectively evaluate the major flaws of this movie. How else do you explain more people not being disturbed by the creepy subplot involving Carell's 13 year old son lusting over the 17 year old babysitter, who was in turn lusting after Carell. I understand critics' and viewers' desire for better romantic comedies than the pile of dreck turned out by Katherine Heigl every year, but this is not the answer. Those who love this movie are the one ones who are crazy and stupid. Rating: * 1/2

Coming together as a Community

I probably don't give Community enough love on this blog, but that's only because while it's very good, it's not as amazing as Parks and Recreation. But now that Community is struggling in the ratings and could be facing cancellation, I thought I'd do my part to get the word out more to help save this show. And what better way to do that than by showing this video that mashes up scenes from Community in the style of the Parks and Recreation opening credits. In a word, awesome!.

RBR: Our Idiot Brother

I don't know if there's been another film that has had as perfect of a cast as this one. It's just an embarrassment of riches when it comes to likable funny talent in this film. It's led, by Paul Rudd as the titular brother. But the film also has Elizabeth Banks, Rashida Jones, Adam Scott, Steve Coogan, Emily Mortimer, Zooey Deschanel, TJ Miller, and Katheryn Hahn in it as well. Each of whom are absolutely delightful here and make the film very entertaining. The problem though is that there isn't much of a story for these wonderful actors to work with. This is more like a collection of short vignettes involving Rudd interacting with the other characters strung together in a semi-cohesive manner. Each scene is enjoyable, but the whole is not greater than the sum of the parts. I know it can be a cliche, but this really did feel more like the pilot to a television show rather than a feature film. There's nothing really gained here other than the notion that being simple and dim-witted can be all right sometimes. Call it the Forrest Gump lesson. If you enjoy thse actors, it's likely you'll find this to be an entertaining 90 minutes. If you don't (and why the hell don't you?) then there probably isn't enough here to keep you engaged. Rating: *** 1/2

How the Sith Stole Christmas

Check out this funny and clever video which mashes up The Grinch Who Stole Christmas with Star Wars.

RBR: 30 Minutes or Less

In 2009, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked director Ruben Fleischer's film, Zombieland. It had fun with a genre that I typically don't watch and produced a wholly entertaining film. So I was excited to see what he would do in this latest action comedy that once again featured Jesse Eisenberg. Unfortunately, this one lacks the laughs and creativity that made their previous outing so great. The premise involves two lunkheads (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson) who concoct a scheme to strap a bomb to an unsuspecting pizza delivery driver (Eisenberg) in order to force him to steal $100,000 for them so they can pay a hitman to kill one of the goon's father. Once we get the setup out of the way, the film briskly move from one scene to the next in predictable fashion and doing nothing special with this involved premise. Eisenberg and his buddy (played by Aziz Ansari, who does the spastic best friend much better than Charlie Day did in Horrible Bosses) hatch a plan, steal the money and make the drop with very surprising ease, which is disappointing and unfunny. This film either needed to punch up the script with more laughs or cast it with actors more suited for the action genre. The one positive thing is that 30 Minutes or Less barely runs 83 minutes long so it doesn't overstay its welcome. With that said, I'd rather wait 83 minutes for lukewarm pizza than watch this film again. A major disappointment here, especially given the talent (Danny McBride excluded) involved with this film. Rating: **

Cane and able

Check out a pair of former football rivals, now senior citizens, get into a fist fight during a recent sports banquet.

Pawnee stars

A couple of exciting news stories related to Parks and Recreation came out today - one involving an upcoming guest star and the other about the return of a beloved favorite...

From TVGuide.com:

Kathryn Hahn is a free agent no longer. Less than two months after NBC axed her freshman comedy, Free Agents, Hahn has nabbed a recurring role on Parks and Recreation as Leslie Knope's new political rival, TVLine reports. Originally written for a male, the original casting call described the character as charming, popular and "more than a bit dim." The worst part? The opponent is heir to the Sweetums fortune, which means Leslie's opponent for Pawnee City Council is beloved by the town. In addition to introducing Leslie's new rival, Parks and Recreation is also bringing back her cop ex-boyfriend, Dave, played by Louis C.K. The Louie star appeared in several episodes early in Season 2 before his character was transferred to San Diego. Hahn's first episode will air in early 2012, as will Louis C.K.'s return.

Winter watchings

As the snow falls and you're stuck inside, you'll probably be looking for something to watch TV. Well here are a couple of new options for you to choose from. One is an adaptation of the book/film The Firm from John Grisham that will air on NBC. The other is Alcatraz, a new thriller airing on FOX that stars Sam Neill and is produced by J.J. Abrams.

Q'd up and ready to go

As filming continues for Skyfall, the next James Bond film, news came out over the weekend that this newest entry into the 007 franchise will see the return of Q, the man who provides Bond with all of his awesome gadgets. This will be the first time since 2002's Die Another Day that the character will appear in a Bond film. The role will be played by British actor Ben Whishaw. For more information on Whishaw and the role, here's the story from Variety:

Brit thesp Ben Whishaw has been confirmed to play the role of M16 gadget master Q in upcoming James Bond pic "Skyfall." Whishaw, who was already announced as part of the cast of the pic alongside Daniel Craig, Judi Dench and Javier Bardem, will follow in the footsteps of Desmond Llewelyn and John Cleese to play the role of the head of Branch Q, the fictional armory division of MI6.

Whishaw is just 31 years old and his casting in the role will rep the first time in the history of the Bond franchise that Q will be younger than 007: Daniel Craig is some 12 years older than the thesp.

Whishaw's credits include Julie Taymor's "The Tempest," "Brideshead Revisited," "I'm Not There" and "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer."

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday with your family and friends. To get in the thankful mood, here's a classic WWF clip showing what all of the wrestlers were thankful for. Good stuff!

One (Size)more year

Looks like Grady's Ladies can breathe easy now...

Even as other teams made him offers, Grady Sizemore knew there was only one that made sense for him.

He still belonged with the Indians.

"I wasn't ready to say goodbye and move on," he said.

On Wednesday, the Indians re-signed Sizemore to a one-year, incentive-based contract, bringing the oft-injured former All-Star outfielder back for another chance to become the electrifying player whose career has been derailed the past three seasons by injuries and surgeries.

Sizemore's journey into free agency didn't take him every far.

Although there were "good offers from good organizations," Sizemore decided to stay with the one that has patiently waited for him to get healthy.

"They know me better than anybody," Sizemore said.

The Indians, who last month declined a $9 million option for 2012 on Sizemore, will pay him a base salary of $5 million next season. The 29-year-old can make another $4 million based on plate appearances. The deal also includes an awards package that includes $500,000 if Sizemore is selected comeback player of the year.

The performance bonuses max out with fewer plate appearances than Sizemore had in any season from 2005-08.

Sizemore has undergone five surgeries, including a microfracture procedure on his left knee, the past two years and has only played in 210 games over the last three seasons because of injuries. But the Indians are confident that a healthy Sizemore can help them contend in the AL Central.

"We're obviously optimistic," said general manager Chris Antonetti. "We know that when he's been on the field, he's been a very productive player. We know it's not going to be for 155 or 160 games per year, but we feel optimistic Grady will get back to the point that he is a very good player for us."

Following the World Series, the Indians cut ties with Sizemore by declining the option for next season, making him a free agent for the first time. Antonetti flew to Arizona to personally meet with Sizemore and explain the team's reasons for letting him go. Antonetti said the team was not closing the door on Sizemore and the Indians would gladly re-sign him -- at the right price.

That gesture of loyalty, and the team's patience with Sizemore while he was hurt, meant a lot to him.

As other teams made offers, the Indians stayed in touch with Sizemore's representative and never wavered in their pursuit of one of the club's most popular players.

"The Indians were aggressive in wanting to keep Grady, and he has said all along he would keep an open mind toward returning," said agent Joe Urbon. "He appreciates the interest from other clubs, and he just felt that the best place to reassert himself as a great player is in Cleveland. He can stay in center field, which is important to him, and he has enjoyed his time there.

"Now, he can focus on his play without the distractions of new surroundings, and he will be a free agent again just after his 30th birthday."

Sizemore acknowledged he had some doubts as he ventured into free agency unsure of his future.

"I really didn't know what to expect," he said. "I was in the dark a little bit."

But as the process unfolded, it became clear to Sizemore -- and the Indians -- that they're relationship was not supposed to end. Sizemore said he's eager to put the past three years behind him and hopefully help the Indians win.

"It's been frustrating, " he said. "I've always loved being a part of this organization and I never pictured myself playing anywhere else."

Sizemore played in only 71 games after beginning last season on the disabled list. He made three trips to the DL and underwent right knee surgery on Oct. 3, just days after his season ended with a .224 batting average 10 homers, 32 RBIs and zero steals for the first time in his career.

Sizemore is continuing to rehab his injury and believes he'll be ready when spring training camp opens in February.

With Sizemore back, and assuming he can stay healthy, the Indians' starting outfielder appears to be settled with Sizemore in center, Michael Brantley in left and Shin-Soo Choo in right. The club still needs to add some depth and Antonetti promised the team will continue "trying to make our ballclub better."

Cleveland is looking for more offensive help, and it's likely the club's focus will be an upgrade at first base. Manager Manny Acta said incumbent first baseman Matt LaPorta will have to earn a roster spot this spring.

Sizemore joined the Indians in 2002, coming over as part of the six-player blockbuster trade that sent ace Bartolo Colon to Montreal. Sizemore's blend of speed and power were unlike any player in club history and he's the only Indians player with at least 100 homers, 200 doubles and 100 steals.

There are skeptics who doubt Sizemore will ever play at the level he once did. He's not worried about anything other than getting ready to play.

"I want to prove to everyone that I can stay healthy and I can perform," he said. "I want to have a healthy year and get back to playing like I know I can."

Smallest Park deleted scenes

A Bluth model home?

After announcing a few weeks ago that Arrested Development was planning to return with new episodes, along with a feature film, news came out the other day that those new episodes will be shown exclusively on Netflix. With all the details, here's an article from comingsoon.net:

In a landmark deal, all new episodes of the Emmy Award-winning comedy series "Arrested Development" will be coming exclusively to Netflix for its U.S. members to watch instantly, beginning in 2013.

For the first time in their histories, Twentieth Century Fox Television and Imagine Television will produce original first-run entertainment content for the world's leading internet subscription service, bringing back the acclaimed series to production on all new episodes five years after its cancellation.

One of Time Magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME," the tale of the formerly wealthy, deeply eccentric Bluth clan aired for three seasons, 2003-2006, on Fox and was honored with the Emmy award for Outstanding Comedy Series after its first season on the air.

"Arrested Development is one of the finest American comedies in TV history and its return through Netflix is a perfect example of how we are working closely with studios and networks to provide consumers with entertainment they love," said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer.

"It's also a perfect example of how broad and successful our relationship has become with Fox as we work together with their film, television, international and digital divisions on several exciting initiatives," he added.

"Netflix's bold entrance into original programming presents an exciting new opportunity for our two companies" commented Peter Levinsohn, Fox Filmed Entertainment's President of New Media & Digital Distribution. "Bringing a classic show back to production on new episodes exclusively for Netflix customers is a game changer, and illustrates the incredible potential the new digital landscape affords great content providers like Twentieth Century Fox Television and Imagine."

Commented 20th Century Fox TV Chairmen Dana Walden and Gary Newman, "We build brands at this studio which are so distinctive that audiences still clamor for them years after they go off the air. 'Arrested Development' is a great example of that it has stood the test of time. This innovative deal with Netflix represents a new business model that is extremely exciting and opens the door for a wide range of new collaborations."

"We also pride ourselves on breaking the rules at this studio, and after bringing back two canceled series 'Family Guy' and 'Futurama' to enormous success, we are bullish on the prospects for this brilliant series. We can't wait to get back to work with Mitch, Ron and Brian on bringing the Bluths back to America's living rooms," they added.

Said Imagine Entertainment co-founders Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, "Of all the projects we've been involved with over the years, we probably get more questions about Mitch Hurtwitz's brilliant 'Arrested Development' than any other everyone, ourselves included, seems to feel like the Bluths left the party a bit too soon. Bringing a series back from cancellation almost never happens, but then, 'Arrested' always was about as unconventional as they get, so it seems totally appropriate that this show that broke the mold is smashing it to pieces once again."

Added Howard, "After a long hiatus, I'm dying to finally get back to the narrator's microphone...'It's Arrested...Development.'"

The Emmy-winning comedy had its final broadcast on February 10, 2006 and concerned Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) and his eccentric family comprised of his son George Michael (Michael Cera), his father George Bluth Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor), his mother Lucille (Jessica Walter), his brothers George Oscar Bluth II (Will Arnett), Buster Bluth (Tony Hale) and sister Lindsay Funke (Portia de Rossi), and Lindsay's husband Tobias (David Cross) and their daughter Maeby (Alia Shawkat).

"Arrested Development" is a production of Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox Television. Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Mitch Hurwitz are executive producers.

The Treaty deleted scenes

RBR: Green Lantern

A lot of the media is celebrating 'Green Week' this week, so it's only apprpos that I review Green Lantern. This is the last of the comic book movies from this summer that I wanted to see and was also easily the worst. This suffers from several of the characteristics common in bad comic book movies. First and foremost is the percentage of time spent on exposition. There is scene after scene involving narration or a monologue trying to cover the dense, yet uninteresting backstory to the group of superheroes known as the Green Lantern Corps. When we finally do get to the action, none of it is compelling, especially given the ease with which our hero, Hal Jordan (played by Ryan Reynolds) disposes of the threats even though we're told that it is a force that the rest of the Corps cannot defeat collectively. Given that director Martin Campbell did such a terrific job of reintroducing the James Bond character in Casino Royale, I certainly expected more here. However, this is a very poorly lit film that fails to make us care about any of the characters. The cast is comprised of a number of likable actors, but they are either not given enough time (Tim Robbins and Angela Bassett) or not given decent material to work with (Reynolds, Blake Lively, and Peter Skarsgaard). The film's ending leaves open the possibility for a sequel, but there was nothing here that enticed me to see another entry in this series. I'm not even sure Green Lantern's ring could produce a script that could turn this series into something entertaining. Rating: ** 1/2

Preview parade

In my absence, there's been a handful of trailers for films that have the potential to be decent. So rather than give them their own separate posts, I'll just throw them into one lump here.

Back amongst the living

As I believe I have noted on here, I recently had some computer problems. About a month a half ago I bought a new laptop and wouldn't you know it, it turned out to be a lemon. In short, every time I tried to shut down the computer, it would just restart. The only way I could fully shut the thing down was if I did a hard shut down. Several calls to the help center did nothing and I had to ship the computer off in order to get it fixed. Whatever the issue was required ordering a part from overseas, which was taking FOREVER. They told me the part wasn't expected to arrive until November 23rd!!! At that point I demanded they just ship me a new computer. Suddenly the part magically arrived and they sent me back my original computer, now seemingly fixed. I'm not crazy about the idea that this is basically a refurbished computer that I paid full price for, but at this point I'm just happy to have something. So I apologize for the sporadic updates as of late. I'll try to get posting with more regularity again soon.

Andy and April's Road Trip

In lieu of the weekly deleted scenes from Parks and Recreation, I decided to post this set of 4 webisodes that Parks and Recreation made in conjunction with last week's episode involving Andy trying to complete his bucket list because he, thanks to the Reasonabilists, thought the world was going to end. Enjoy!

RBR: Cars 2

The general consensus is that Cars 2 gave Pixar its first clunker. For many that came as a surprise, but I frankly saw this coming a mile away. The first Cars film was my least favorite in the Pixar catalog. I found that one to be slow and uninteresting. I certainly would not use those words to describe this second entry however. Tonally, this film is the complete opposite. There's plenty of loud action and even more noise coming from Larry the Cable Guy's Mater, who takes center stage in this film. Why Pixar chose to center the film around him is baffling. What's even more disturbing is their attempt to make us feel sympathetic towards this uneducated, obnoxious character. Mater's storyline is an unnecessarily complicated spy plot that finds him accidentally getting involved with other spies who are investigated a plot against alternative fuel. Meanwhile Lightning McQueen is involved in a World Grand Prix, but the outcome of that race is completely inconsequential. While the people at Pixar are usually so good at crafting engaging stories, this one feels very repetitive. It's just an endless sequence of unfunny Mater humor, chase scene, race scene, repeat. Watching this I almost felt like this was intended to be a script for a sequel to The Incredibles and then at the last minute they decided that Cars was a more profitable franchise, so they shoehorned this story onto their world. And yet, for all of the film's problems, I still can't ignore that the film looks absolutely gorgeous. The backgrounds of several different European cities and the animation in each of the driving sequences looks great. It's just a shame that the story couldn't match the visuals this time around. While this is not a great Pixar film, it's still better than most of the animated films offered by any of the other studios. Still it's disheartening to see that Pixar isn't perfect and that they are capable of making a bad film every once in a while. It's ironic that a film about metal and machines is the one that showed us that Pixar is human. Rating: ***

Triumph-ant return

For the first time since coming to TBS, Conan O'Brien's old pal Triumph the Insult Comic Dog stopped by and once again brought the funny. This time it involved talking with people from the Occupy Wall St. movement. Any time you can get that dog around delusional, socially awkward individuals it is comedy gold. You can watch the segment in its entirety below. On a side note, all last week Conan took his show to New York and the contrast in his show was vast. I'm not a big fan of New York City in general, but the people who live there are so much better at being audience members and totally get Conan's comedy. There was an energy to the shows that has been largely absent ever since Conan went to LA. I know he says he'll stay in LA so that his kids don't have to move, but I wish he would reconsider because NYC gives Coco the mojo that he needs.

The name is...

That's right, the new James Bond film (due out next November) finally has an official name - Skyfall. That, along with a whole host of other announcements came this morning at a press conference in London. Below is the press release following the conference detailing all the important news that came out, courtesy of comingsoon.net. To say I'm excited would be a gross understatement. Let the countdown begin...

Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli today presented the cast of the 23rd James Bond adventure, entitled SKYFALL. The film, from Albert R. Broccoli's Eon Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, is directed by Academy Award® winner Sam Mendes and stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his third film as James Bond 007. The screenplay is written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan. SKYFALL, which goes into production on Monday, November 7th, will begin its worldwide roll-out in the UK and Ireland on October 26th 2012 and in North America on November 9th 2012.

Joining Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli and Director Sam Mendes were members of the cast of SKYFALL, including: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe. The filmmakers also announced Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and Ben Whishaw.

In SKYFALL, Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

"We're so delighted to have Sam Mendes direct SKYFALL and be working once again with Daniel Craig. We've a great script, an extraordinary cast and an incredibly talented creative team for this latest James Bond adventure," said Wilson and Broccoli.

The Director of Photography is Roger Deakins, a nine-time Oscar® nominee who previously shot the films Jarhead and Revolutionary Road for Mendes. The Production Designer is Oscar® winner Dennis Gassner, who previously designed Quantum of Solace and collaborated with Mendes on the films Road to Perdition and Jarhead. The Editor is Stuart Baird, A.C.E., whose many credits include Casino Royale. Jany Temime, whose many credits include the Harry Potter series, In Bruges, and Children of Men, is the Costume Designer. Action specialist Alexander Witt is the 2nd Unit Director. Gary Powell is Stunt Co-ordinator, Chris Corbould is SFX Supervisor and Steve Begg is Visual Effects Supervisor, all of whom have worked on previous Bond films.

Following Protocol

Here's the latest trailer for next month's new Mission: Impossible film...

RBR: Women behaving badly

I've been having some computer problems lately so I haven't been able to update this as frequently as I would like, so you get a two-fer here. Thankfully the two films have some commonality. Bridesmaids: Despite all the heaping praise and success that this film earned earlier this year, I was skeptical of its quality. A part of it was that the trailers did not win me over as much as other recent comedies I've enjoyed. But the bigger issue was with the film's star, Kristin Wiig, who in a matter of time has gone from brilliant commedienne to grating personality on Saturday Night Live. While initially fresh, Wiig has become overused and one-dimensional on the sketch show and I was worried that would transition over into this film. Still I tried to keep an open mind and while I was not completely won over by the film, I'll say that it turned out better than I expected. There are several genuine laughs in the film, however, I felt that in an attempt to yield more laughs they dumped on Wiig's character too much almost to the point of making her unsympathetic. The film, given its story, is also way too long and needed some better editing. The one nice surprise for me was Melissa McCarthy's performance. The surprise doesn't come from the character being that funny, but rather that they were able to keep the character in check and make her human. While the trailers made it appear as if she was just some crass, scatological cartoon character, we see that despite her appearance she's more human than half the characters in the film. I'll give it a mild recommendation, just don't believe the hype that this is somehow on par with films like The Hangover or Anchorman. Rating: *** 1/2

Bad Teacher: If I thought Wiig's character came off unsympathetic in Bridesmaids, it goes double for Cameron Diaz's character in this comedy. She's about the least interesting thing about this film. Similar to the problem I have with Community, I found myself immediately more interested in the supporting cast that make up the rest of the staff at the school. The film does a great job of bringing in funny people like Jason Segel, John Michael Higgins, Phyllis Smith, Dave 'Gruber' Allen as fellow teachers. And there's a whole host of other comedians who pop in and out yielding a quick laugh before the film turns back to Diaz to suck the life right back out of the film. She even manages to make the generally entertaining Justin Timberlake come off as boring here. I wanted to like the film more, but it just never found anything to do with its central premise focusing on this crude, apathetic instructor. The kids in the film end up being nothing more than props. Their attempt at trying to humanize Diaz's character by pitting her against Lucy Punch, a perky, overachieving instructor doesn't work and only ends up putting both of them in the wrong. This is not a terrible film just one that fails to live up to any of its potential. Rating: ** 1/2