Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Ape Fear
As usual, I'm behind the times, but better late than never they say. I had an opportunity to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes a couple weeks ago - a film which has surprised a number of people as it relates to its performance at the box office. Having seen the movie now, I can't say that it's performance has shocked me, but if you would have asked me at the beginning of the summer if I had planned on seeing this, I would have said no.
A large part of what drew me in to see this latest entry in the sci-fi franchise is the visual effects that made these monkeys possible. Using the same people who worked on Avatar, as well as the movements of the underrated Andy Serkis, these creatures come to life on the big screen in impressive fashion. While the focus is on Cesar, the ape who initiates the revolt against the humans, there are several simian characters who get significant screen time. Each of these monkeys is distinct enough for you to know who they are (something that hasn't been said of the Transformers) and the visual effects crew does a nice job of allowing these creatures to be able to express certain emotions without it coming off as being fake or unrealistic.
The other interesting thing about the film that is partially credited to the visual effects team is the way they are able to put these apes into several story archetypes and you instantly recognize what the film is going for. Packed within this film you get a prison story, a family drama, comedy, romance and everything else. Despite being primative beings, I instantly related to what they were experiencing. In many ways, you come to root for the apes success as you watch the film.
This is not to say that there isn't some good acting from the human cast as well. The director smartly brought in a number of terrific character actors who nicely fill out the film. James Franco is the lead as a scientist who is testing the apes in order to develop a new drug aimed at curing Alzheimers. Of course, he has a personal investment in his work since his father (played in an understated manner by John Lithgow) is currently suffering from the disease. Some of the actors in the cast include Freida Pinto, who plays Franco's girlfriend, Tyler Labine as Franco's lab assistant, and the always terrific Brian Cox has a few scenes as the director of an ape sanctuary. I should also mention Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, is more evil here playing a cruel worker at the ape sanctuary than he was in any of the Potter films.
Overall, this is a really solid film, but yet as I watched it there were several things that bothered me. None of them were so severe that made me dislike the film, but so many of them were things that if fixed could have turned this film into something special. One of these things was the attention to detail, or lack there of, when it came to signifying a change over time. The entire film takes place over at least an 8 year span, yet none of the human characters appear different. There is no change of haircuts, wardrobe, or signs of aging in any way. That lack of change frequently takes you out of the moment and causes you to scratch your head in confusion. There are also some pretty blatant moments of editing where a scene would suggest something will happen immediately next, yet that scene never comes. I'm not sure if these quibbles will become more apparent or less apparent upon repeat viewings, but I think they still merit mentioning here. Watching the film, I got the sense that they had shot their budget entirely on making the apes look great, so they had nothing left to put into the rest of the production. Since it appears, based on the film's conclusion and success at the box office, that there will be another Apes film made at some point, I hope they take notice of these small flaws and correct them.
I hate to be so nitpicky about a film that deals with apes taking over the world, but I can't help but dwelling on them. If Joe Moviegoer can pick up on those things, why couldn't anyone who worked on the film? But while they're important to point out, I don't want to dwell on them. I am recommending this film as it serves as some excellent blockbuster entertainment as the summer comes to a close. Even if you've never seen any of the previous Apes films before or feel like you wouldn't enjoy this, I would suggest you reconsider. This is a film that is never slow and offers a number of nice moments. And when it comes to those nitpicks I mentioned, just act like the monkeys in the 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil' statue. Grade: B+
Tree-mendous
From Funny or Die comes a hilarious live action version of Captain Planet, starring Don Cheadle as the eco-avenger. Warning some of the language in it is NSFW.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Tribe Watch (Week 21)
Record: 65-65
Standing: 3rd in AL Central
It was a wretched week performance wise and I really don't feel like talking about it. To put things in perspective to show you how the team has performed lately, the last time the Indians won three games in a row was July 2nd. Technically this should be an easy week playing the A's for four games at home and then a weekend set in Kansas City, but I just don't know what to think about this team anymore. It was nice to see them bring in Thome, who had a nice homecoming, but I'm not sure if his presence is even an bandaid at this point. At this point, we practically have a more impressive lineup on the DL than we do starting each game. It'd be nice if this team looked like they were trying, but it seems like they're closer to packing it in for the year than they are making a playoff push. They've made it tough for me recently, but still I must forge ahead and say Go Tribe!
Standing: 3rd in AL Central
It was a wretched week performance wise and I really don't feel like talking about it. To put things in perspective to show you how the team has performed lately, the last time the Indians won three games in a row was July 2nd. Technically this should be an easy week playing the A's for four games at home and then a weekend set in Kansas City, but I just don't know what to think about this team anymore. It was nice to see them bring in Thome, who had a nice homecoming, but I'm not sure if his presence is even an bandaid at this point. At this point, we practically have a more impressive lineup on the DL than we do starting each game. It'd be nice if this team looked like they were trying, but it seems like they're closer to packing it in for the year than they are making a playoff push. They've made it tough for me recently, but still I must forge ahead and say Go Tribe!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
NMR: Take Me Home Tonight
This movie feels very dated and it has nothing to do with the fact that it's set in the 1980s (although the fact that it sat on the shelf for quite a while before actually getting released into theaters last spring may have something to do with it). The story centers around a Labor Day party set during the 80s. The focal point is on Matt Franklin (Topher Grace), an MIT grad who is now wasting his life as a clerk at Suncoast Video. He's hoping this party gives him the opportunity to meet up with the girl he had a huge crush on in high school, Tori Frederking (played by Theresa Palmer). A lot of the story and jokes feel as if this was a poor Superbad sequel. You've got sexual frustration, a big party, and a fat, loudmouth sidekick who thinks he's funnier than he really is (the unfunny Dan Fogler). There are some nice momemts sprinkled in like the scenes involving real life couple Anna Faris and Chris Pratt (Andy from Parks and Recreation). I also liked the chemistry between Grace and Palmer, even if their storyline is overly cliched. Overall though, it just felt like this film had borrowed ideas and themes from other better films and did nothing but poorly emulate them. Everyone in the cast (with the exception of Fogler) deserves better than what they got in this film. Rating: ** 1/2
Fall Movie Preview (December)
CARNAGE (December 16)
Plot: Set in contemporary Brooklyn, New York, "Carnage" centers on two pairs of parents one of whose child has hurt the other at a public park, who meet to discuss the matter in a civilized manner. However, as the evening goes on, the parents become increasingly childish, resulting in the evening devolving into chaos.
Quick thoughts: The story may be simplistic, but that's because of it being adapted from the stage. What it lacks it setting, is more than made up for in the acting talent. With four supremely talented actors working off of each other in a very dark comedic story, I'll be very interested to see if director Roman Polanski can successfully turn this into an engaging film.
SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (December 16)
Plot: When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan), points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder, a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by Professor Moriarty. The cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead of Holmes as he spins a web of death and destruction, all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.
Quick thoughts: I absolutely loved the first venture into this franchise by Downey and co. so I am immediately on board for a second go-round. The fact that this one will feature Holmes' greatest nemesis, Professor Moriarty, only sweeteneds the deals. Let's just hope than unlike some of this year's sequels, this one is able to still feel fresh on its own.
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (December 21)
Plot: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is the first film in Columbia Pictures' three-picture adaptation of Stieg Larsson's literary blockbuster "The Millennium Trilogy." Directed by David Fincher and starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, the film is based on the first novel in the trilogy, which altogether have sold 50 million copies in 46 countries and become a worldwide phenomenon. The screenplay is by Steven Zaillian.
Quick thoughts: I'll be honest - I haven't read these books and I really don't know too much about what the plot involves. Having said that, the fact that it stars Daniel Craig and is being directed by David Fincher, who has made some of my favorite films in the past five years is enough of an incentive for me to at least give this (anticipated) trilogy a look.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL (December 21)
Plot: The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, causing Ethan Hunt and his new team to go rogue to clear their organization's name.
Quick thoughts: Unlike so many people, I really enjoyed the third entry in this franchise. And while J.J. Abrams isn't directing this one, he's still worked on it and left the director's chair in good hands with Brad Bird (who directed The Incredibles). In amongst all of the films vying for an Oscar, this will serve as a nice entertainment diversion come the Christmas season.
WE BOUGHT A ZOO (December 23)
Plot: "We Bought a Zoo," a memoir by Benjamin Mee, tells the true account of how the author and his family used their life savings to buy a dilapidated zoo, replete with 200 exotic animals facing destruction, in the English countryside. Mee, along with his children, had to balance caring for his wife, who was dying of brain cancer, with dealing with escaped tigers, raising endangered animals, working with an eclectic skeleton crew and readying the zoo for a reopening.
Quick thoughts: In the past, I've never really been a big fan of director Cameron Crowe's work, but they've been undeniably successful, especially come awards season. This one intrigues me mainly because of a solid cast (Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson) and a story that is true and hasn't been done a thousand times before. I have a feeling this will be infinitely better than The Zookeeper.
OTHER POSSIBLE FILMS OF INTEREST:
The Sitter (December 9)
Young Adult (December 9)
The Iron Lady (December 16)
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (December 23)
Plot: Set in contemporary Brooklyn, New York, "Carnage" centers on two pairs of parents one of whose child has hurt the other at a public park, who meet to discuss the matter in a civilized manner. However, as the evening goes on, the parents become increasingly childish, resulting in the evening devolving into chaos.
Quick thoughts: The story may be simplistic, but that's because of it being adapted from the stage. What it lacks it setting, is more than made up for in the acting talent. With four supremely talented actors working off of each other in a very dark comedic story, I'll be very interested to see if director Roman Polanski can successfully turn this into an engaging film.
SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (December 16)
Plot: When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan), points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder, a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by Professor Moriarty. The cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead of Holmes as he spins a web of death and destruction, all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.
Quick thoughts: I absolutely loved the first venture into this franchise by Downey and co. so I am immediately on board for a second go-round. The fact that this one will feature Holmes' greatest nemesis, Professor Moriarty, only sweeteneds the deals. Let's just hope than unlike some of this year's sequels, this one is able to still feel fresh on its own.
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (December 21)
Plot: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is the first film in Columbia Pictures' three-picture adaptation of Stieg Larsson's literary blockbuster "The Millennium Trilogy." Directed by David Fincher and starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, the film is based on the first novel in the trilogy, which altogether have sold 50 million copies in 46 countries and become a worldwide phenomenon. The screenplay is by Steven Zaillian.
Quick thoughts: I'll be honest - I haven't read these books and I really don't know too much about what the plot involves. Having said that, the fact that it stars Daniel Craig and is being directed by David Fincher, who has made some of my favorite films in the past five years is enough of an incentive for me to at least give this (anticipated) trilogy a look.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL (December 21)
Plot: The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, causing Ethan Hunt and his new team to go rogue to clear their organization's name.
Quick thoughts: Unlike so many people, I really enjoyed the third entry in this franchise. And while J.J. Abrams isn't directing this one, he's still worked on it and left the director's chair in good hands with Brad Bird (who directed The Incredibles). In amongst all of the films vying for an Oscar, this will serve as a nice entertainment diversion come the Christmas season.
WE BOUGHT A ZOO (December 23)
Plot: "We Bought a Zoo," a memoir by Benjamin Mee, tells the true account of how the author and his family used their life savings to buy a dilapidated zoo, replete with 200 exotic animals facing destruction, in the English countryside. Mee, along with his children, had to balance caring for his wife, who was dying of brain cancer, with dealing with escaped tigers, raising endangered animals, working with an eclectic skeleton crew and readying the zoo for a reopening.
Quick thoughts: In the past, I've never really been a big fan of director Cameron Crowe's work, but they've been undeniably successful, especially come awards season. This one intrigues me mainly because of a solid cast (Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson) and a story that is true and hasn't been done a thousand times before. I have a feeling this will be infinitely better than The Zookeeper.
OTHER POSSIBLE FILMS OF INTEREST:
The Sitter (December 9)
Young Adult (December 9)
The Iron Lady (December 16)
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (December 23)
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Filling the void
We're still a few weeks away from the start of new programming on network TV, so this little teaser will have to suffice in the meantime. But my title works on a second level, because we'll see here that our favorite female FBI agent, Olivia Dunham, seems to be struggling with the mysterious loss of Peter Bishop. I know we're all anxious to get answers as to where he went. To hopefully get answers tune in to Fringe starting September 23rd on FOX.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Fall Movie Preview (November)
PUSS IN BOOTS (November 4)
Plot: Way before he ever met Shrek, the legendary Puss In Boots goes on a heroic journey, teaming up with mastermind Humpty Dumpty and the street-savvy Kitty Softpaws to steal the famed Goose that lays the Golden Eggs. It's the adventure of nine lifetimes!
Quick thoughts: This could go one of two ways. Either it'll continue to water down the original Shrek formula or it could provide a fresh start that's needed to rejuvinate some of these characters. The fact that they've added Zack Galifianakis to the voice cast certainly couldn't hurt.
J. EDGAR (November 11)
Plot: "J. Edgar" explores the public and private life of one of the most powerful, controversial and enigmatic figures of the 20th century. As the face of law enforcement in America for almost fifty years, J. Edgar Hoover (DiCaprio) was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career and his life.
Quick thoughts: For so long, Oscar gold has eluded Leonardo DiCaprio despite a string of strong performances. That may end this year as he's playing the lead in this biopic of the former head of the FBI. Adding to his chances are the fact that the film is being directed Clint Eastwood who knows a thing or two about capturing the gold statue.
TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY (November 18)
Plot: The feature adaptation of John Le Carre's seminal cold war best-seller. Set in the aftermath of the cold war, the thriller tells the tale of a spy-hunt within the highest echelons of the British Secret Intelligence Service.
Quick thoughts: This is the type of pot-boiler spy films that I really enjoy. Tons of intrigue and suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Gary Oldman is always terrific in supporting roles like playing Sirius Black in Harry Potter or Commissioner Gordon in the recent Batman films, so I'm excited to see him take on a more leading role this time out. This film should provide an excellent alternative for adults from the rest of the garbage that is being released that weekend.
THE DESCENDANTS (November 23)
Plot: From Alexander Payne, the creator of the Oscar-winning "Sideways", set in Hawaii, "The Descendants" is a sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic journey for Matt King (George Clooney) an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family's land handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries.
Quick thoughts: Director Alexander Payne always seems to create great films that find that right balance of drama and comedy. His film, Election, remains one of my favorites to this day. So seeing him team up with George Clooney definitely has aroused my curiosity. I doubt many people will rush out to see this when it gets released around Thanksgiving, but if it manages to earn buzz come awards season more and more people will likely flock to this film.
THE MUPPETS (November 23)
Plot: On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world's biggest Muppet fan, and his friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets' former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways.
Quick thoughts: I know I've plugged this new film a lot with all the viral videos they've made for it, but hopefully you also share my enthusiasm for seeing Kermit and the gang back on the big screen. Unlike their last venture onto the big screen, Muppets in Space, I have high hopes for this given the care and passion that Jason Segal has expressed for doing this film right. If you've seen what he does with puppets in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, then you know that this franchise is in very good hands. Look for this to be a big hit during the holiday season.
OTHER POSSIBLE FILMS OF INTEREST
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (November 4)
Tower Heist (November 4)
Jack and Jill (November 11)
The Artist (November 23)
Plot: Way before he ever met Shrek, the legendary Puss In Boots goes on a heroic journey, teaming up with mastermind Humpty Dumpty and the street-savvy Kitty Softpaws to steal the famed Goose that lays the Golden Eggs. It's the adventure of nine lifetimes!
Quick thoughts: This could go one of two ways. Either it'll continue to water down the original Shrek formula or it could provide a fresh start that's needed to rejuvinate some of these characters. The fact that they've added Zack Galifianakis to the voice cast certainly couldn't hurt.
J. EDGAR (November 11)
Plot: "J. Edgar" explores the public and private life of one of the most powerful, controversial and enigmatic figures of the 20th century. As the face of law enforcement in America for almost fifty years, J. Edgar Hoover (DiCaprio) was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career and his life.
Quick thoughts: For so long, Oscar gold has eluded Leonardo DiCaprio despite a string of strong performances. That may end this year as he's playing the lead in this biopic of the former head of the FBI. Adding to his chances are the fact that the film is being directed Clint Eastwood who knows a thing or two about capturing the gold statue.
TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY (November 18)
Plot: The feature adaptation of John Le Carre's seminal cold war best-seller. Set in the aftermath of the cold war, the thriller tells the tale of a spy-hunt within the highest echelons of the British Secret Intelligence Service.
Quick thoughts: This is the type of pot-boiler spy films that I really enjoy. Tons of intrigue and suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Gary Oldman is always terrific in supporting roles like playing Sirius Black in Harry Potter or Commissioner Gordon in the recent Batman films, so I'm excited to see him take on a more leading role this time out. This film should provide an excellent alternative for adults from the rest of the garbage that is being released that weekend.
THE DESCENDANTS (November 23)
Plot: From Alexander Payne, the creator of the Oscar-winning "Sideways", set in Hawaii, "The Descendants" is a sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic journey for Matt King (George Clooney) an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family's land handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries.
Quick thoughts: Director Alexander Payne always seems to create great films that find that right balance of drama and comedy. His film, Election, remains one of my favorites to this day. So seeing him team up with George Clooney definitely has aroused my curiosity. I doubt many people will rush out to see this when it gets released around Thanksgiving, but if it manages to earn buzz come awards season more and more people will likely flock to this film.
THE MUPPETS (November 23)
Plot: On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world's biggest Muppet fan, and his friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets' former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways.
Quick thoughts: I know I've plugged this new film a lot with all the viral videos they've made for it, but hopefully you also share my enthusiasm for seeing Kermit and the gang back on the big screen. Unlike their last venture onto the big screen, Muppets in Space, I have high hopes for this given the care and passion that Jason Segal has expressed for doing this film right. If you've seen what he does with puppets in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, then you know that this franchise is in very good hands. Look for this to be a big hit during the holiday season.
OTHER POSSIBLE FILMS OF INTEREST
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (November 4)
Tower Heist (November 4)
Jack and Jill (November 11)
The Artist (November 23)
NMR: Limitless
Apparently, the title of the film isn't exactly true since its limits get exposed by failing to come up with a satisfactory conclusion to the film's intriguing premise. The movie stars Bradley Cooper as a struggling writter who runs into an ex-brother-in-law who offers him a mysterious drug that allows him to unlock the full potential of his brain power. The drug works and soon he's not only able to write books, but conquer the world of high finance. All of this works and instantly hooks you. However, once he's on top the film devolves into a standard drug movie with corruption, violence, and lies. Robert De Niro plays a financial bigwig who tries to do business with Cooper's character. Like the film's plot, his character is interesting but not fleshed out enough and thus ultimately disappointing. I also felt the director tried a little too hard with the visual imagery he included, particularly during the scenes where anyone is using the drug. For a rental, this is a worth a recommendation as the film feels fresh for at least the first half. The second isn't terrible, just disappointing because of the failure to do more with the set-up. Rating: *** 1/2
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Fall Movie Preview (October)
THE IDES OF MARCH (October 7)
Plot: "The Ides of March" takes place during the frantic last days before a heavily contested Ohio presidential primary, when an up-and-coming campaign press secretary (Ryan Gosling) finds himself involved in a political scandal that threatens to upend his candidate's shot at the presidency.
Quick thoughts: I'm not sure if there is a film this fall that has a better pedigree than this one. I would expect this to be a major player come awards season. This is one of the films I'm most looking forward to seeing. And if you're concerned about the film being too political, from what I hear, it's more about morality and self evaluation than it is about promoting one party over the other.
THE BIG YEAR (October 14)
Plot: Based on Mark Obmascik's 1998 book "The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession," the film is about three men who try to outdo each other in a bird-watching competition to spot the rarest birds in North America. The rivalry is an allegory for the challenges each faces in his own life.
Quick thoughts: Just the notion of a movie about bird-watching startting Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson has me already laughing, so I can only imagine what the final product will be like. If that trio wasn't strong enough you also have people like Jim Parsons, Rashida Jones, and Kevin Pollack mixed in the fray to amp the funny quotient even more. The only thing that concerns me is that we haven't seen a trailer yet for the film. Without that, I can't know for sure whether this will be comedy gold or simply a movie for the birds.
MARGIN CALL (October 21)
Plot: Set in the high-stakes world of the financial industry, "Margin Call" is a thriller entangling the key players at an investment firm during one perilous 24-hour period in the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. When entry-level analyst Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto) unlocks information that could prove to be the downfall of the firm, a roller-coaster ride ensues as decisions both financial and moral catapult the lives of all involved to the brink of disaster. Expanding the parameters of genre, "Margin Call" is a riveting examination of the human components of a subject too often relegated to partisan issues of black and white.
Quick thoughts: I mentioned in the September preview yesterday when discussing Contagion that audiences may not be too keen to watch a movie about a deadly virus. That may go double for this film which focuses on the 2008 financial meltdown. While I can sympathize with not wanting to pay to relive that, I can't ignore the terrific cast of actor they have compiled for this film, who each seem to be giving stellar performances based on the trailer. That alone is enough to pique my interest.
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 (October 21)
Plot: The third film is being envisioned as an origin story set in the 1980s that will follow a new family.
Quick thoughts: The first film I didn't care for, although some of that could have had to do with the fact that it was overhyped and I saw it on a weekday morning. I decided to keep an open mind and watched the second one. I thought it was better, but still not overly scary. At this point though, they've got me interested in the story they've established with these characters so I'm hoping that this origin story provides us with some answers as to why these things are happening. This will likely be the best bet for anyone looking for some scares come Halloween time.
IN TIME (October 28)
Plot: "In Time" presents a world where time has become the ultimate currency. You stop aging at 25, but there's a catch: you're genetically-engineered to live only one more year, unless you can buy your way out of it. The rich "earn" decades at a time (remaining at age 25), becoming essentially immortal, while the rest beg, borrow or steal enough hours to make it through the day. When a man from the wrong side of the tracks is falsely accused of murder, he is forced to go on the run with a beautiful hostage. Living minute to minute, the duo's love becomes a powerful tool in their war against the system.
Quick thoughts: The premise of the film immediately hooked me and it's the type of high concept film that I wish Hollywood would do more of. I was disappointed that the trailer seemingly gave away the entire film. Let's hope that just like with Dream House, there's more than meets the eye. The success of this film will likely determine whether or not Justin Timberlake actually has a future as a leading man in Hollywood.
OTHER POSSIBLE FILMS OF INTEREST
Real Steel (October 7)
The Rum Diary (October 28)
Plot: "The Ides of March" takes place during the frantic last days before a heavily contested Ohio presidential primary, when an up-and-coming campaign press secretary (Ryan Gosling) finds himself involved in a political scandal that threatens to upend his candidate's shot at the presidency.
Quick thoughts: I'm not sure if there is a film this fall that has a better pedigree than this one. I would expect this to be a major player come awards season. This is one of the films I'm most looking forward to seeing. And if you're concerned about the film being too political, from what I hear, it's more about morality and self evaluation than it is about promoting one party over the other.
THE BIG YEAR (October 14)
Plot: Based on Mark Obmascik's 1998 book "The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession," the film is about three men who try to outdo each other in a bird-watching competition to spot the rarest birds in North America. The rivalry is an allegory for the challenges each faces in his own life.
Quick thoughts: Just the notion of a movie about bird-watching startting Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson has me already laughing, so I can only imagine what the final product will be like. If that trio wasn't strong enough you also have people like Jim Parsons, Rashida Jones, and Kevin Pollack mixed in the fray to amp the funny quotient even more. The only thing that concerns me is that we haven't seen a trailer yet for the film. Without that, I can't know for sure whether this will be comedy gold or simply a movie for the birds.
MARGIN CALL (October 21)
Plot: Set in the high-stakes world of the financial industry, "Margin Call" is a thriller entangling the key players at an investment firm during one perilous 24-hour period in the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. When entry-level analyst Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto) unlocks information that could prove to be the downfall of the firm, a roller-coaster ride ensues as decisions both financial and moral catapult the lives of all involved to the brink of disaster. Expanding the parameters of genre, "Margin Call" is a riveting examination of the human components of a subject too often relegated to partisan issues of black and white.
Quick thoughts: I mentioned in the September preview yesterday when discussing Contagion that audiences may not be too keen to watch a movie about a deadly virus. That may go double for this film which focuses on the 2008 financial meltdown. While I can sympathize with not wanting to pay to relive that, I can't ignore the terrific cast of actor they have compiled for this film, who each seem to be giving stellar performances based on the trailer. That alone is enough to pique my interest.
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 (October 21)
Plot: The third film is being envisioned as an origin story set in the 1980s that will follow a new family.
Quick thoughts: The first film I didn't care for, although some of that could have had to do with the fact that it was overhyped and I saw it on a weekday morning. I decided to keep an open mind and watched the second one. I thought it was better, but still not overly scary. At this point though, they've got me interested in the story they've established with these characters so I'm hoping that this origin story provides us with some answers as to why these things are happening. This will likely be the best bet for anyone looking for some scares come Halloween time.
IN TIME (October 28)
Plot: "In Time" presents a world where time has become the ultimate currency. You stop aging at 25, but there's a catch: you're genetically-engineered to live only one more year, unless you can buy your way out of it. The rich "earn" decades at a time (remaining at age 25), becoming essentially immortal, while the rest beg, borrow or steal enough hours to make it through the day. When a man from the wrong side of the tracks is falsely accused of murder, he is forced to go on the run with a beautiful hostage. Living minute to minute, the duo's love becomes a powerful tool in their war against the system.
Quick thoughts: The premise of the film immediately hooked me and it's the type of high concept film that I wish Hollywood would do more of. I was disappointed that the trailer seemingly gave away the entire film. Let's hope that just like with Dream House, there's more than meets the eye. The success of this film will likely determine whether or not Justin Timberlake actually has a future as a leading man in Hollywood.
OTHER POSSIBLE FILMS OF INTEREST
Real Steel (October 7)
The Rum Diary (October 28)
Welcome Thome
Twins deal Jim Thome back to Indians
I'll have more to say about this at the end of the week in my Tribe Watch report. But for now, I'll just say that it's nice that Thome gets to come back home and (hopefully) finish out his career where it began. With that said, you'd be kidding yourself if you actually believe that this move in anyway helps the team or allows them a shot at getting back into this AL Central race. In other words, it's a shrewd PR move, but not one that helps the future of this franchise.
I'll have more to say about this at the end of the week in my Tribe Watch report. But for now, I'll just say that it's nice that Thome gets to come back home and (hopefully) finish out his career where it began. With that said, you'd be kidding yourself if you actually believe that this move in anyway helps the team or allows them a shot at getting back into this AL Central race. In other words, it's a shrewd PR move, but not one that helps the future of this franchise.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
More than OK
Check out the always innovative OK Go performing The Muppet Show theme along with cameos from all of our puppet pals.
Fall Movie Preview (September)
As the temperature begins to cool off and everyone heads back to school, movie fans turn their attention to the most 'prestige' films that will be coming out in the next few months. I was having difficulty ranking the ones I'm looking forward to, so instead, I'm just going to focus on the most interesting films coming out month by month.
A GOOD OLD FASHIONED ORGY (September 2)
Plot: Jason Sudeikis is Eric, a thirtysomething party animal famous among his close circle of friends for his lavish summer theme parties at his father's swanky Hamptons pad. But when members of the crew start settling down, and Eric's dad announces plans to sell the beach house, Eric decides it's time for one last bash to go out with a proverbial bang--a good old-fashioned orgy. The only obstacles to overcome are actually convincing each of his reluctant friends to join in on the bacchanal, and an inconveniently blossoming romance with the real estate agent threatening to sell the house out from under him before the main event can even take place.
Quick thoughts I'm sure there's a lot of you who may need a break from the R-rated comedy after having a glut of them this summer, but if you've got room for one more, then this seems like it might be right up your alley. Based on the trailer I posted last week, there seems to be enough solid laughs to make this worth a look. Plus, Jason Sudekis has been solid in his other films this year and this time it appears he's surrounding himself with a solid cast of other funny people. While the subject matter may seem a bit taboo, I'd like to think this will focus more on the comedy than the tawdry.
CONTAGION (September 9th)
Plot: "Contagion" follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days. As the fast-moving epidemic grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself. At the same time, ordinary people struggle to survive in a society coming apart.
Quick Thoughts: The idea of a non-terrorist virus spreading throughout the globe may be a little too real for people to enjoy this thriller. However, it's hard to ignore this impressive cast of actors coupled with an excellent director. I'd have to be sick in order to miss this one.
MONEYBALL (September 23)
Plot: Based on a true story, "Moneyball" is a movie for anybody who has ever dreamed of taking on the system. Brad Pitt stars as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A's and the guy who assembles the team, who has an epiphany: all of baseball's conventional wisdom is wrong. Forced to reinvent his team on a tight budget, Beane will have to outsmart the richer clubs. The onetime jock teams with Ivy League grad Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) in an unlikely partnership, recruiting bargain players that the scouts call flawed, but all of whom have an ability to get on base, score runs, and win games.
Quick Thoughts: With the Cleveland Indians imploding, it appears this is the only fall baseball I have to look forward to. While I still don't understand it completely, the system that Billy Beane created to scout players is pretty impressive and I'm anxious to see how they depict it on the big screen.
50/50 (September 30)
Plot: The dram'edy is a funny, touching, and original story of friendship, love, and survival, in no particular order. Joseph Gordon-Levitt toplines opposite Seth Rogen as the twenty-something who's been diagnosed with cancer and decides to use humor in helping fight against the disease.
Quick thoughts: While the title refers to the chances the title character has of surviving his cancer, it's also the odds I'll give this film of being really good. On one hand, you have Seth Rogen who has turned from hilarious to grating in most of his recent films. But then you have Joseph Gordon Levitt, who's really starting to come into his own as an actor. Making light of cancer is a difficult task, but the previews I've seen thus far make me think this has a chance of doing it right.
DREAM HOUSE (September 30)
Plot: Some say that all houses have memories. For one man, his home is the place he would kill to forget. Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz and Naomi Watts star in "Dream House," a suspense thriller about a family that unknowingly moves into a home where several grisly murders were committed...only to find themselves the killer's next target.
Quick thoughts: The plot seems familiar and the first trailer for the film seems to give away the big twist, which would be major marks against seeing this. Yet, I can't shake the feeling that this still might be good, especially if you're looking for a few good scares. The director recently came out to say that the twist revealed in the trailer is not the final twist, so here's hoping this still has a chance to surprise us all.
OTHER POSSIBLE FILMS OF INTEREST:
- Apollo 18 (September 2)
- Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star (September 9)
A GOOD OLD FASHIONED ORGY (September 2)
Plot: Jason Sudeikis is Eric, a thirtysomething party animal famous among his close circle of friends for his lavish summer theme parties at his father's swanky Hamptons pad. But when members of the crew start settling down, and Eric's dad announces plans to sell the beach house, Eric decides it's time for one last bash to go out with a proverbial bang--a good old-fashioned orgy. The only obstacles to overcome are actually convincing each of his reluctant friends to join in on the bacchanal, and an inconveniently blossoming romance with the real estate agent threatening to sell the house out from under him before the main event can even take place.
Quick thoughts I'm sure there's a lot of you who may need a break from the R-rated comedy after having a glut of them this summer, but if you've got room for one more, then this seems like it might be right up your alley. Based on the trailer I posted last week, there seems to be enough solid laughs to make this worth a look. Plus, Jason Sudekis has been solid in his other films this year and this time it appears he's surrounding himself with a solid cast of other funny people. While the subject matter may seem a bit taboo, I'd like to think this will focus more on the comedy than the tawdry.
CONTAGION (September 9th)
Plot: "Contagion" follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days. As the fast-moving epidemic grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself. At the same time, ordinary people struggle to survive in a society coming apart.
Quick Thoughts: The idea of a non-terrorist virus spreading throughout the globe may be a little too real for people to enjoy this thriller. However, it's hard to ignore this impressive cast of actors coupled with an excellent director. I'd have to be sick in order to miss this one.
MONEYBALL (September 23)
Plot: Based on a true story, "Moneyball" is a movie for anybody who has ever dreamed of taking on the system. Brad Pitt stars as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A's and the guy who assembles the team, who has an epiphany: all of baseball's conventional wisdom is wrong. Forced to reinvent his team on a tight budget, Beane will have to outsmart the richer clubs. The onetime jock teams with Ivy League grad Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) in an unlikely partnership, recruiting bargain players that the scouts call flawed, but all of whom have an ability to get on base, score runs, and win games.
Quick Thoughts: With the Cleveland Indians imploding, it appears this is the only fall baseball I have to look forward to. While I still don't understand it completely, the system that Billy Beane created to scout players is pretty impressive and I'm anxious to see how they depict it on the big screen.
50/50 (September 30)
Plot: The dram'edy is a funny, touching, and original story of friendship, love, and survival, in no particular order. Joseph Gordon-Levitt toplines opposite Seth Rogen as the twenty-something who's been diagnosed with cancer and decides to use humor in helping fight against the disease.
Quick thoughts: While the title refers to the chances the title character has of surviving his cancer, it's also the odds I'll give this film of being really good. On one hand, you have Seth Rogen who has turned from hilarious to grating in most of his recent films. But then you have Joseph Gordon Levitt, who's really starting to come into his own as an actor. Making light of cancer is a difficult task, but the previews I've seen thus far make me think this has a chance of doing it right.
DREAM HOUSE (September 30)
Plot: Some say that all houses have memories. For one man, his home is the place he would kill to forget. Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz and Naomi Watts star in "Dream House," a suspense thriller about a family that unknowingly moves into a home where several grisly murders were committed...only to find themselves the killer's next target.
Quick thoughts: The plot seems familiar and the first trailer for the film seems to give away the big twist, which would be major marks against seeing this. Yet, I can't shake the feeling that this still might be good, especially if you're looking for a few good scares. The director recently came out to say that the twist revealed in the trailer is not the final twist, so here's hoping this still has a chance to surprise us all.
OTHER POSSIBLE FILMS OF INTEREST:
- Apollo 18 (September 2)
- Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star (September 9)
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Quarreling Quartet
Here's a trailer for Carnage, based on a play titled Gods of Carnage. The film centers around a pair of parents who agree to meet after their sons were in a fight. With such a low concept premise, you need strong performances to drive the narrative and based on this first look, it seems like we have that.
NMR: The Conspirator
This legal drama unfortunately came and went from theaters this past spring with very little fanfare. Set during the time of the Civil War, the story is based around the court case of Mary Surratt, who was accused of conspiring to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. James McAvoy plays the conflicted lawyer assigned to defend her. McAvoy does a terrific job conveying this character's dilemma of offering her a fair trial and seeing the people responsible for this heinous act punished. The film features a host of other terrific actors including Robin Wright (playing the accused woman), Tom Wilkinson, Danny Huston, and Kevin Kline. I loved all of the courtroom scenes and actually wish there would have been more. However, the film also spends time having McAvoy investigate his client's background, where we learn that things are not completely what they seem. You can easily see some parallels between this court case and current events involving men being held at Guantanamo Bay. Sometimes the desire to see anyone punished for crimes blinds us from actually serving justice. I can't say that this movie is for everyone, but if the subject matter interests you at all, I'd highly recommend you give this one a look. Director Robert Redford does an impressive job of making the film feel authentic while also making it relevant for today's audiences. Rating: ****
Monday, August 22, 2011
Pac Men
It's that time of year again to unveil a whole new cast of Survivor as the show prepares for its 23rd installment, Survivor: South Pacific. This time, there will be 16 new contestants (pictured below) along with two returning castaways. The returning members won't officially be announced until Wednesday, but it has long been leaked online that they are Ozzy and Coach. One notable new contestant is 19 year old Brandon Hantz, who is the nephew of Russell Hantz, who had competed in three out of the last four seasons. Will he be just as evil and scheming as his uncle or will he play against type? From the rest of the group we have a lingerie football player, a mortician, a medical marijuana dispenser, and a former Miss Washington. For full information on the cast, as well as some news to changes being made with both the immunity idol and redemption island, you can check out Entertainment Weekly's coverage here. Survivor: South Pacific begins Sept. 14th.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Tribe Watch (Week 20)
Record: 62-61
Standing: Second in AL Central
The Indians were victims of a Motor City Massacre this weekend. After finally exercising some demons in Chicago by taking two out of three from the White Sox, we went into Detroit and got steamrolled. Neither the offense nor the starting pitching looked strong. Tomlin continues to give up too many home runs, Huff had an off days and Jimenez got rocked for 8 runs in four innings of work today. The bats finally started to come to life today and nearly overcame a seven run deficit, only to fall short thanks to some poor base coaching in the ninth. We currently sit four and half games in back of Detroit right now. Mathematically, we are not out of it by a long shot, especially considering how many games we still have left against teams in our division. With that said, I'm beginning to think now that this team just doesn't have the right combination of killer instinct and talent to push them past the Tigers and win the division. It always seems like there's at least one core area of the team that's faltering. And of top of that, the injuries continue to mount up. Rookie Jason Kipnis, who had provided a real offensive boost to the team went on the 15-day DL and Travis Hafner, once again, left in the middle of the game hobbling with some sort of foot or leg injury. While doubt may be creeping into my mind about this team, I certainly hope that they are able to remain confident. It'll be of the utmost importance to do so heading into this week. We head home for a long home game stretch against three teams with poor records. We'll begin with a four game series against the Mariners, which includes a double-header and then move onto a weekend set with the Royals. Winning ball clubs are the ones who are able to beat up on weaker competition, so we need to win most of these games in order to stay competitve. If we can, then all we can hope for is for Detroit and Chicago to lose some games and we'll be right back in it. We'll see where things stand next week. Until then, Go Tribe!
Standing: Second in AL Central
The Indians were victims of a Motor City Massacre this weekend. After finally exercising some demons in Chicago by taking two out of three from the White Sox, we went into Detroit and got steamrolled. Neither the offense nor the starting pitching looked strong. Tomlin continues to give up too many home runs, Huff had an off days and Jimenez got rocked for 8 runs in four innings of work today. The bats finally started to come to life today and nearly overcame a seven run deficit, only to fall short thanks to some poor base coaching in the ninth. We currently sit four and half games in back of Detroit right now. Mathematically, we are not out of it by a long shot, especially considering how many games we still have left against teams in our division. With that said, I'm beginning to think now that this team just doesn't have the right combination of killer instinct and talent to push them past the Tigers and win the division. It always seems like there's at least one core area of the team that's faltering. And of top of that, the injuries continue to mount up. Rookie Jason Kipnis, who had provided a real offensive boost to the team went on the 15-day DL and Travis Hafner, once again, left in the middle of the game hobbling with some sort of foot or leg injury. While doubt may be creeping into my mind about this team, I certainly hope that they are able to remain confident. It'll be of the utmost importance to do so heading into this week. We head home for a long home game stretch against three teams with poor records. We'll begin with a four game series against the Mariners, which includes a double-header and then move onto a weekend set with the Royals. Winning ball clubs are the ones who are able to beat up on weaker competition, so we need to win most of these games in order to stay competitve. If we can, then all we can hope for is for Detroit and Chicago to lose some games and we'll be right back in it. We'll see where things stand next week. Until then, Go Tribe!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Blasting Cap
If you're having a sense of comic book fatigure, you're not alone. This summer has been filled with superheroes debuting on the big screen, eager to tell the origin of their story. The latest of which is Captain America: The First Avenger. Set during World War II, we see how Steve Rogers from a scrawny nothing into the red, white, and blue hero we know today. The story of this transformation though is one that doesn't quite have the same dramatic heft to it as some of his fellow Avenger heroes.
Early on, we learn that Rogers (plays by Chris Evans) is eager to fight in the war but is deemed on multiple occasions to be physically unfit for battle. Enter Dr. Abraham Erskine, played by the wonderful Stanley Tucci, who recruits him to be the first guinea pig for a serum aimed to create super soldiers. He, along with Howard Stark (the father of Tony Stark aka Iron Man) are successful at turning Steve into the chiseled specimen they wanted. However, the key to why Steve was chosen in the first place is not for the dramatic visual transformation, but that he had the integrity that would be prevent him from abusing his newly acquire physical attributes.
This moral code which is established in the first half of the movie gets somewhat abandoned in the second half of the film when the focus turns, like it does in each of these movies, towards the showdown against the big villain. In this case, that's Red Skull, (Hugo Weaving), a Nazi soldier, who after obtaining a mystical, powerful cube, aims to establish world domination for himself. What he plans to do if he succeeds is never really established, though. Red Skull is a visually impressive character, but not as menacing of a villain as I would have liked. He just comes off as more crazy than evil.
The film boasts an impressive cast, although not all of the actors give equal performances. Tommy Lee Jones, playing a crusty colonel, is reliable as always to throw in one-liners and look tough. I also liked Toby Jones, who played Red Skull's right-hand man, Dr. Zola. On the other hand, Hayley Atwell, who plays Peggy Carter, a potential love interest for Cap, is nice to look at but has a dull as dishwater personality and fails to create any sort of chemisty in her performance. Likewise, the actor who plays Cap's best friend, 'Bucky' Barnes doesn't do much to establish that relationship, despite the significance it supposedly has in the story.
All of the key players needed for one of these origin stories are here but that merely makes the film competent, not fresh. For every archetype that should be included in a comic book movie, there has been a film that has come out before Captain America and offered the same thing in a more interesting manner. You feel like you're watching the film out of duty rather than enjoyment. The payoff doesn't come until we get Cap together with the rest of the Avengers team, which won't happen until next year.
It's hard to say whether or not the character would have been appreciated and understood in the Avengers movie had this film not first come out. That judgment won't be made until then, but for now, it seems like this movie did not have to be made. About the only interesting story element that felt novel here is the idea of our country using the newly created Captain America more as a propaganda tool rather than a fighting soldier. That could have provided some interesting commentary, but of course you can make social commentary in 3D, so that aspect gets abandoned in favor of scenes involving fights on trains and tanks getting blown up.
There's nothing to actively hate about this film, but it's timing is poor. In a summer filled with comic book movies, this one failed to find a way to stand out from the pack. Instead of feeling like there was an appreciation for this character and a desire to tell his story, the movie evokes a sense that this was merely a cog in the machine necessary to make the eventual Avengers movie possible. That sort of corporate greed is disheartening, but it's also what all of the captains of America today seem to represent. Grade: B-
Early on, we learn that Rogers (plays by Chris Evans) is eager to fight in the war but is deemed on multiple occasions to be physically unfit for battle. Enter Dr. Abraham Erskine, played by the wonderful Stanley Tucci, who recruits him to be the first guinea pig for a serum aimed to create super soldiers. He, along with Howard Stark (the father of Tony Stark aka Iron Man) are successful at turning Steve into the chiseled specimen they wanted. However, the key to why Steve was chosen in the first place is not for the dramatic visual transformation, but that he had the integrity that would be prevent him from abusing his newly acquire physical attributes.
This moral code which is established in the first half of the movie gets somewhat abandoned in the second half of the film when the focus turns, like it does in each of these movies, towards the showdown against the big villain. In this case, that's Red Skull, (Hugo Weaving), a Nazi soldier, who after obtaining a mystical, powerful cube, aims to establish world domination for himself. What he plans to do if he succeeds is never really established, though. Red Skull is a visually impressive character, but not as menacing of a villain as I would have liked. He just comes off as more crazy than evil.
The film boasts an impressive cast, although not all of the actors give equal performances. Tommy Lee Jones, playing a crusty colonel, is reliable as always to throw in one-liners and look tough. I also liked Toby Jones, who played Red Skull's right-hand man, Dr. Zola. On the other hand, Hayley Atwell, who plays Peggy Carter, a potential love interest for Cap, is nice to look at but has a dull as dishwater personality and fails to create any sort of chemisty in her performance. Likewise, the actor who plays Cap's best friend, 'Bucky' Barnes doesn't do much to establish that relationship, despite the significance it supposedly has in the story.
All of the key players needed for one of these origin stories are here but that merely makes the film competent, not fresh. For every archetype that should be included in a comic book movie, there has been a film that has come out before Captain America and offered the same thing in a more interesting manner. You feel like you're watching the film out of duty rather than enjoyment. The payoff doesn't come until we get Cap together with the rest of the Avengers team, which won't happen until next year.
It's hard to say whether or not the character would have been appreciated and understood in the Avengers movie had this film not first come out. That judgment won't be made until then, but for now, it seems like this movie did not have to be made. About the only interesting story element that felt novel here is the idea of our country using the newly created Captain America more as a propaganda tool rather than a fighting soldier. That could have provided some interesting commentary, but of course you can make social commentary in 3D, so that aspect gets abandoned in favor of scenes involving fights on trains and tanks getting blown up.
There's nothing to actively hate about this film, but it's timing is poor. In a summer filled with comic book movies, this one failed to find a way to stand out from the pack. Instead of feeling like there was an appreciation for this character and a desire to tell his story, the movie evokes a sense that this was merely a cog in the machine necessary to make the eventual Avengers movie possible. That sort of corporate greed is disheartening, but it's also what all of the captains of America today seem to represent. Grade: B-
Friday, August 19, 2011
Good old times
If you're not burned out by all the R-rated comedies this summer, then might I suggest you take a look at this new film coming out Labor Day weekend called A Good Old Fashioned Orgy starring Jason Sudekis and whole host of other funny people. Please note, this is the Red Band trailer and thus is Not Safe For Work. View at your own discretion.
NMR: Arthur
It's difficult for me to write a review for this film because it gave me nothing really to work with. It's neither great nor terrible. Ultimately, it's a wholly unnecessary remake that was done in order to combine a popular comedian with a known franchise. While I was not particularly fond of the Dudley Moore original, there was nothing I saw here that provided justification as to why this story needed to be told again. The highlights of the film come from seeing Arthur (Russell Brand) enjoy and abuse the excesses of his wealth. Things like dressing up as Batman and driving in a replica Batmobile or waging in a bidding war with himself at an auction house for old suits of Abraham Lincoln provide at the very least a smile on your face. However, there's nothing really enjoyable about the love triangle storyline that becomes the focal point of them. Both Jennifer Garner and Nick Nolte, who plays her father give unlikable performances. And Greta Gerwig, the woman who Arthur truly falls in love with, has no screen presence or charm. Brand actually has more chemistry with Helen Mirren who plays his nanny Hobson. She, like John Gielgud in the original, is always reliable for a quick quip in an attempt to keep Arthur in line. It's hard to say whether a recommendation is waranted for this film. It neither pays homage nor ruins the name of the original. On its own, it provides a few mild laughs, but nothing more. This is a low risk, low return film. Rating: ***
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Get me a knife and fork now!
More food-based Ron Swanson fan art. This is a thing of beauty and needs to be sold in stores immediately.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Tribe Watch (Week 19)
Record: 60 - 57
Standing: 2nd in AL Central
It's been a fairly positive week for the Tribe. After a tough road trip against two divisional leaders, they came back home and responded well against a couple of key AL Central opponents. We took two out of three from Detroit, including a wild game that saw us win it in 14 innings on a walk-off hit by pitch. The only game we lost was against Justin Verlander and there's no shame in losing to him. We then defeated Minnesota twice before having the last game of that series get rained out on Sunday. The rainout was doubly frustrating as it killed some momentum we were building and it means we're going to be playing a lot of games in a short amount of time since that will not be the only double header we have between now and the end of the season. This week the team deals with another difficult set of divisional opponents - this time on the road. We begin tonight in Chicago, who is breathing down our neck. I really want to sweep them so that we create some separation between us and also insure that there's no chance of them potentially winning this division. Then it's off to Detroit to once again play the Tigers. Any time you play divisional opponents, you have the opportunity to make a lot of movement in the standings, forward or backward. For our sake, let's hope it's all forward movement this week. And as we continue to watch those standings, I know we'll all be cheering on our team, Go Tribe!
Standing: 2nd in AL Central
It's been a fairly positive week for the Tribe. After a tough road trip against two divisional leaders, they came back home and responded well against a couple of key AL Central opponents. We took two out of three from Detroit, including a wild game that saw us win it in 14 innings on a walk-off hit by pitch. The only game we lost was against Justin Verlander and there's no shame in losing to him. We then defeated Minnesota twice before having the last game of that series get rained out on Sunday. The rainout was doubly frustrating as it killed some momentum we were building and it means we're going to be playing a lot of games in a short amount of time since that will not be the only double header we have between now and the end of the season. This week the team deals with another difficult set of divisional opponents - this time on the road. We begin tonight in Chicago, who is breathing down our neck. I really want to sweep them so that we create some separation between us and also insure that there's no chance of them potentially winning this division. Then it's off to Detroit to once again play the Tigers. Any time you play divisional opponents, you have the opportunity to make a lot of movement in the standings, forward or backward. For our sake, let's hope it's all forward movement this week. And as we continue to watch those standings, I know we'll all be cheering on our team, Go Tribe!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Fuhrer furor
I was going to post my thoughts on last night's Summerslam PPV, but, oddly enough, I believe Hitler sums up my reaction pretty well (with the exception of the part about watching the show with some guy named Benito).
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
NMR: Rango
This is such an odd film that I'm having difficulty identifying my feelings towards it. I think ultimately I admire the film more than I enjoyed it. This animated feature about a lizard (voiced by Johnny Depp) who's trying to find himself creates some interesting ideas, but I'm not sure if all of them work. Advertised as a kid's film, I'm questioning whether or not kids will actually enjoy it. The creatures that make up the cast aren't very cute or nice to look at. There's also several scenes that seem like they would come from the mind of Hunter S. Thompson. They're so bizarre and trippy, that they will downright confuse most younger audiences. The film also features homages to spaghetti westerns - another touch that's likely lost of kids. While I can appreciate those efforts more, I'm not sure if I was really seeking an animated Western that delves into the ideas of a existentialism. Still, the movie is absolutely gorgeous looking with wonderful colors and textures. I also think Depp gives a great three-dimensional performance voicing the title character. So while the film is technically sound, from a narrative standpoint it's searching for an identity as much as its main character. I don't see young kids enjoying this and I'd only recommend it for adults who enjoy the style or genre of film I've attempted to describe here. Rating: ***
Tribe Watch (Week 18)
Record: 56 - 56
Standing: Second in AL Central
So what to make out of a week that saw us go 3-4 against the AL East and West divisional leaders? Well you could be positive and say that we were competitive in both series and saw our offense show some signs of improvement. There will naturally be those who take a more pessimistic perspective and say that we could have and should have won more considering each of the four losses came in the final at-bat for the other team. It was disappointing to say the least to see our bullpen, which had been very strong to this point, give away victories. I think the thing that we need to take away from this series is that it didn't appear as if this team is playing like it's in a pennant race. I wanted to see both more passion and more consideration in the moves and play calling. I believe this team has the talent to win the division, but they're going to have to show they want it. They will get the biggest chance to prove that this week as there is a season-defining series against the Detroit Tigers beginning tonight. If we sweep the series, it puts us right back in the thick of things. If we win 1 or 2, that just puts more pressure on us to make sure we sweep Minnesota who comes in to play us this weekend. If we get swept, I'd hate to say it, but I think we can write off this team's chances at winning the division. I hope that this team is up to the challenge and I also hope that the city of Cleveland comes out to support this team and show them that we want October baseball. I can't be up in Cleveland, but you know I'll be rooting for them just as hard from the comfort of my own home this week. Go Tribe!
Standing: Second in AL Central
So what to make out of a week that saw us go 3-4 against the AL East and West divisional leaders? Well you could be positive and say that we were competitive in both series and saw our offense show some signs of improvement. There will naturally be those who take a more pessimistic perspective and say that we could have and should have won more considering each of the four losses came in the final at-bat for the other team. It was disappointing to say the least to see our bullpen, which had been very strong to this point, give away victories. I think the thing that we need to take away from this series is that it didn't appear as if this team is playing like it's in a pennant race. I wanted to see both more passion and more consideration in the moves and play calling. I believe this team has the talent to win the division, but they're going to have to show they want it. They will get the biggest chance to prove that this week as there is a season-defining series against the Detroit Tigers beginning tonight. If we sweep the series, it puts us right back in the thick of things. If we win 1 or 2, that just puts more pressure on us to make sure we sweep Minnesota who comes in to play us this weekend. If we get swept, I'd hate to say it, but I think we can write off this team's chances at winning the division. I hope that this team is up to the challenge and I also hope that the city of Cleveland comes out to support this team and show them that we want October baseball. I can't be up in Cleveland, but you know I'll be rooting for them just as hard from the comfort of my own home this week. Go Tribe!
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