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NMR: Bart Got A Room

This one really surprised me. Released in theaters earlier this year, the plot seems pretty familiar - a boy's quest to find a date for prom. However, this one works because it opts to tell a more realistic and sweet story instead of settling for raunch and shock value like so many other bad teen comedies do. The film is filled with a number of recognizable actors like William H. Macy, Cheryl Hines, and Alia Shawkat (Maeby from Arrested Development) who all provide an extra energy to the film. My only complaint is that the film's climax is a bit overwhelming. However, there are plenty of jokes, particularly at the expense of the small Jewish town in Florida where the film takes place in, to make this a pleasant surprise. You don't need to rush out and rent this, but if you're looking for a title, this is a little-known film that will nicely fit the bill. Rating: ****

Here's the Story...

Check out the brand new trailer for Toy Story 3, due out next summer:

Forward thinking

News came out today that ABC new drama, FlashForward was just picked up for a full season. You can read all about it here.

While I'm talking about the show, I might as well give my reactions to it since I just finally watched the first three episodes over the weekend. In general, I think the show has a lot of promise. I would have preferred had we got storylines/flashforwards from people around the country instead of focusing solely on LA, but I get why they did that. There seems to be some logic gaps with the storytelling and some of the characters storylines aren't interesting me (I'm mainly referring to the sponsor and his dead/alive daughter). However, with time those issues may resolve themselves. I'm definitely invested in seeing where they are going with this, so I'm glad it's gotten picked up for the whole season.

Now for a couple off the wild crazy speculations on my end:
- The father of the boy who's in the hospital will be a bad guy
- John Cho's character will be the one who impregnates the female FBI agent

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NMR: Year One

I was really hoping this movie was going to be better. It had great writers and a director, plus funny leads and a unique premise. Sadly though, the whole thing never comes together. Instead of a cohesive film, this ends up being more of a collection of historical skits with the two leads, Jack Black and Michael Cera, as the only consistency running through them. The movie has moments of genius, like the scene involving Abraham (played by Hank Azaria) trying to sacrifice his son, Isaac (played by McLovin). It just seemed like the movie was tinkered with too much and the end result wasn't pretty. I'm not saying you won't laugh at all, because there are some inspired moments, but in general, this was a disappointment of prehistoric proportions. Rating: **

A Millionaire lifeline cast aside

From CNN.com comes word this week that the daily syndicated version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is planning on eliminating the Phone-A-Friend lifeline sometime in the near future. This seems like a terrible idea consider how synonymous that lifeline has been to the show. 'Can I phone a friend' became a popular catchphrase after the debut of the show. It's unclear also why they are getting rid of it. Some say it's a financial decision, but frankly I never thought that many contestant actually got that much help from this lifeline, like the guy in the video below.

Most Worthless Millionaire Phone-A-Friend Ever @ Yahoo! Video

NBC may up Chuck earlier

Some great news for Chuck fans from EW.com:

It’s good news (for me), bad news (for NBC): Since its numbers are down and its new and returning shows are mainly DOA (Southland was axed before new episodes even aired!), Chuck’s third season might get to premiere sooner than the March date that’s been bandied about thus far.

“How much sooner” you ask?

As early as late October, my moles tell me. And while it remains unclear whether the little show that could (and has and shall again) would return to its Monday timeslot or find itself a new perch, NBC insiders who’ve seen the first four episodes are calling this season the best yet.

But wait, there’s more. If Chuck does come back sooner rather than later, the chances of NBC ordering additional episodes beyond the 13 it initially commissioned increases dramatically. And they increase further if it performs solidly… which for NBC, at this point, means my cat, Mister Scooch, sits down to watch with me. (Seriously, anything above a 2 rating in the 18-49 demo should do the trick.

The Doctor is in

Here's the trailer for Terry Gilliam's latest, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Of course, this film is notable because this is the movie Heath Ledger was working on when he suddenly died last year. Since the film wasn't done, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell were brought in to also play Ledger's role. It's a fantasy film, so they could work around the fact that those three guys don't look exactly like Ledger. So what do you think...is the Ledger factor enough for you to go check this out or does it seem a little too mind-trippy for most of you?

NMR: The Brothers Bloom

I've seen my fair share of con man movies, so I was pleased to see that The Brothers Bloom made a familiar genre seem fresh. This is in large part to some really terrific performances from this ecclectic cast. Rachel Weisz, in particular, brings an amazing energy to every scene she's in, playing a wealthy, but lonely woman, who confesses to "collecting hobbies". It is her involvement with the titular con men (played by Mark Ruffalo and Adrian Brody) that allows this film to break free of the conventions of this genre. Rinko Kikuchi and Robbie Coltrane also have a lot of fun with their supporting characters. Director Rian Johnson also tries to infuse a lot of style into this film, using light and touch to convey some of the film's themes. While I appreciated the effort, sometimes it felt like substance was being sacrificed for style. Overall though, this is a fun little film that I highly recommend to everyone. Rating: ****

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NMR: Observe and Report

Wow, I knew the reviews had been bad for this one, but I wasn't prepared for how much I would actually hate it as well. This is bleak, unfunny, and pointless. Seth Rogen's mall cop character is creepy and delusional, yet still somehow portrayed in a positive light by the time the film reaches its unsatisfying conclusion. Not even the inclusion of such funny people as Anna Faris, Patton Oswalt, or Aziz Ansari can save this dog. I don't know what's been going on, but I have not found Seth Rogen funny in the least in the last few projects he has done. And now that he's lost this weight, he's seem to have gained an ego, making him completely unappealing. I'm going off track now. The bottom line here is avoid this movie at any cost. It's seems unfathomable, but Paul Blart was a far superior mall cop movie. Rating: *

Oh happy day!!

All I can say is good riddance! At least the Indians decided to give me an early birthday present. Now if they can find a decent replacement, I'll be doubly happy.

Premiere week report card (Monday night)

Heroes: I've been mildly entertained and intriqued by the storylines that have kicked off their fourth season. However, this show's problem has never been creating interesting storylines, it's been being able to follow through on them. If they once again go off on tangents or drop plot points in favor of their lame attempts to create mood and atmosphere then I will finally throw the towel in on this show. I think the thing that this show needs is a sense of purpose. These are the most lazy, self-serving 'heroes' I've ever seen. They need a rallying cry akin to season 1's 'Save the Cheerleader, Save the World' mantra that they can all be a part of and work towards as the season progresses. B-

How I Met Your Mother: I've been very disappointed in this show thus far this season. The season premiere, in particular, was underwhelming. I don't care for the Barney/Robin pairing at all and I think it takes away the allure of both of their characters in favor of an 'aww' storyline. That's what Marshall and Lily are for, why neuter these other two characters? And as for Ted, I haven't enjoyed his professor storyline thus far. Maybe I'm sensitive since I'm in that profession, but everything thus far has seem cartoonish and unrealistic. This show can be so much more and has been settling for ordinary sitcom laughs lately. C

The Big Bang Theory: Thank goodness for this show or else HIMYM's subpar efforts would be really disappointing. This show continues to rock, as all the characters are fully developed and each bring something unique to the table. Of course, Sheldon continues to be the funniest character in any sitcom these days. As for the Penny/Leonard pairing, as long as they commit to a status for them, I'll be fine with it. It's when you bring in the on again, off again element that I start getting annoyed. If they want them together, then follow the Jim and Pam model. And if not, that's fine too because we can continue to just watch Penny find her inner nerd, which can be just as, if not moreso funny. A-

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Premiere week report card (Sunday night)

The Simpsons: I guess it could be expected for a show that's been running for 20 years now, but I thought this was a rather bland season premiere. The episode, written by Seth Rogen, seemed like a mash-up of plots done before. Worse yet, there was nothing particularly funny in the episode. Just a few days later and I can't recall one thing that really gave me a good laugh. At this point though, I've come to accept that when this show is able to surprise me and/or make me laugh, it's a rarity and not the norm. C+

The Cleveland Show: Even though it's a cartoon and a spin-off, it's tough to judge this because, again, pilots are so character-driven it's tough to know whether or not they will be consistently funny. I've never thought Cleveland was a strong enough character to run his own show, but that remains to be seen. There wasn't a whole lot that was funny, but I am intriqued by some of the characters, particularly Cleveland's bear neighbor. In order for me to stick around, it's going to have to do a lot to seperate itself from Seth's other cartoons. INC

Family Guy: I've never been crazy about the Brian and Stewie road trip episodes and even though their trip was to multiverses this time, it wasn't enough to make this one work either. This felt like it belonged as a short on a Simpsons Halloween episode. I saw most of the jokes a mile away and the ones I didn't, weren't particularly funny. I didn't even get that much joy out of their Disney song spoof. It's a shame how one dimensional (no pun intended) this show has become. C

American Dad: Maybe I was just having an off night because even the usually more reliable AD failed to generate many laughs from me. This show has become Seth's best by taking some really obscure, yet funny approaches to sitcome cliches. However, this episode, which featured Stan enlisting Steve in a Vietnam reenactment in order to sing the National Anthem better didn't do much for me. I just kept thinking they could have done some more interesting things with the plot. I think I'll just chalk my lack of enthusiasm for this one to a combination of being tired and suffering from Seth fatigue. I think I'll try and watch this one first from now on. B-

The Amazing Race: Man, what a frenetic start to this season with a challenge and elimination done before the teams even left for their first destination. It's a shame someone had to be kicked out that early, but it appeared that the team that got the boot would have been one of those annoying, bickering teams, so no great loss. Then things got really wild with the teams heading to Japan and competing in a Japanese game show eating wasabi bombs. I always love the challenges this show creates. They're perfect to engage the audience, while maximizing the frustration between teammates. This should be a very interesting season. There are a lot of capable and entertaining teams and I have no real sense of who the dominant ones will be. Teams made a lot of movement on the leaderboard throughout the two hours, so it seems like it could be anyone's race. A-

Whistle(blow) while you work

This will have to be a condensed review, since I'm trying to cram in as many posts as possible. Last week, I got to see the movie I was most excited about seeing this fall - The Informant!

This is based on a true story about Mark Whitacre, who begins working with the FBI, providing them with information about price fixing that is going on at his company, ADM; a giant in the food industry. As the investigation grows, we learn more about Whitacre himself and his involvement with everything at the company. If you're unaware of this story, you will be amazed at what you see. Whitacre is clearly a guy where there is more than meets the eye.

Playing this complex role is Matt Damon, who had the 'difficult' task of gaining 30 pounds in order to better resemble him. Damon does an amazing job here at portraying the various facets of this man. Most people will see this movie because they know he's in it and he's a star, but they'll stay for the performance he gives. I would not be surprised to see him get an Oscar nomination for it.

Surrounding Damon, though, is a wonderful ecclectic bunch of comedic actors, all in various small roles. Guys like Joel McHale, Tony Hale, Patton Oswalt, Scott Bakula, Tom Papa, and Tom Wilson (yes, Biff from Back to the Future) all show up at various times and add a little something extra to the movie. This is a very funny movie; however the humor that Damon and the rest of the cast provide is very wry and subtle. Don't be going into this expecting a lot of pratfalls and poop jokes.

If I had a complaint, it would be that it is a dense story with a lot of characters and you don't always follow along with what is happening. I am anxious to see this film again as I feel it will be even better the second time around now that I know the basic story. Being familiar with the characters, I'll have a better chance to appreciate all of the film's humor.

This film probably lacks the gravitas or visual artistry to make it a serious contender for Best Picture. That should not dissuade you from checking this out though. This is such an interesting story about corporate America, greed, and stupidity, all of which are quite pertinent in our current economic situation. With this interesting story, plus the dry humor and fantastic performances, there's bound to be something here for everyone to enjoy. Grade: B+

Premiere week report card (Thursday night)

Some quickie thoughts on how my favorite shows have fared in their season premieres.

Parks and Recreation: The show is definitely finding its groove in season 2. A lot of the actors seems to finally be grasping their characters, which is a good sign. The Office really flourished in its second season, so let's hope the same holds true here. I'm not crazy about them trying to pair up Ann and Mark, so let's hope that's fleeting. I'd also like to see them try and add another character as well. Perhaps Louis C.K.'s cop character who showed up in episode 2 is the answer. B+

The Office: Now in it's sixth season, this show's season premiere felt like old times. It was a simple, yet relatable situation that remained within the confines of the office. And most importantly, it was very funny. That gave me a lot of hope that this show is back on top. With Jim and Pam's upcoming nuptials, this could be a big season where the show either cements itself as a sitcom classic or potentially jumps the shark. Given how they've started, things are looking good. A-

Community: It's tough to judge pilots since they're so character driven. There was enough to like to keep me watching. The second episode continued to be a mixed bag. I like most of the cast, but their characters could still use some tweaking. In particular, I want to see Joel McHale's character be a bit more likeable. I'm not sold that this will be a winner, but I'm willing to stick it out a little longer to see where this is going. INC

Survivor Samoa: It's funny how they've spent so much time building up Russell as the biggest villain ever in Survivor history and yet there are several contestants that I like less than him this season. Yes, he may do some evil things, but I'll never criticize a guy for having a game plan. I'm not sure if his plan will make him the winner, but so far it's worked. And how crazy was it for him to find the idol with no clue. This guy is something else. Things have been so entertaining over in his camp, I sometimes forget that there's another tribe. And it seems the producers have as well. Seems like everyone's opinion of this season will depend on their feelings on Russell. For now, consider me entertained. B+

CSI: It's tough to stay relevant nearly a decade later, so CSI has their work cut out for them. I'll give them credit for trying their best. The 'attack' on their lab could have been overdone, but it was effective and made me care about the characters again. Bringing Sara back could have been done more smoothly, but it's still nice to have her around. I also liked the mini cliffhanger they did to end the show. That was a nice effort to generate my interest in the season. While it may not be appointment TV anymore, the opener proved it can still be very entertaining. B

Fringe: You could look at this show's return in two ways...1) Be disappointed that we haven't gotten a lot of answers to the questions posed in the season finale or 2) happy that they're dragging things out because they have a larger game plan and intend on being around for a while. For now, I'm comfortable waiting for answers as long as the show remains entertaining. Both the shape-shifting device and the mutant baby have provided interesting stories the past couple of weeks. The main cast has also developed a wonderful chemistry, so it's fun watching them interact every week. I'm not crazy about the new female FBI agent, so I hope she doesn't last. B+

NMR: Spies and lows

Three Days of the Condor - This is a classic anti-spy movie starring Robert Redford playing Joe Turner, a CIA researcher who comes into his office only to find his co-workers have been murdered. Redford spends the rest of the movie trying to stay alive while figuring out who's behind the attacks. Filled with intrique, espionage, and government cover-ups, this movie laid the foundation for so many spy thrillers we see today. Watching it now, a lot of the films twists and turns feel unoriginal when in reality they were the first to do them. That's the trouble with seeing these older movies these days. Despite the familiarity, the film remains relevant in today's world and is worth checking out. Rating: ****

The Tailor of Panama - This was Pierce Brosnan's first effort to seperate himself from James Bond. He still plays a British spy here, but this guy is nothing like the suave 007. Banished to Panama, he teams up with a tailor played by Geoffrey Rush in hopes of using him to gain intel that will put him back into the good graces of British Intelligence. It ends up with everyone trying to play each other and everyone failing miserably. Based off a John LeCarre novel, I liked the concept and themes here, but still found the film less than engaging. The film's slow pace and less than satisfactory conclusion prevent it from receiving a higher score. Rating: **

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Nielsens, Schmielsens

This has the potential to be very interesting...

Fourteen companies create TV ratings coalition which may challenge Nielsen corporation

NMR: State of Play

Since this is a newer release, I'll give it a post all to itself.

This is the political thriller that came and went fairly quickly from theaters back in April. That's a shame too because this is a very solid film supported by a very strong cast. The premise of the film is actually based on a BBC miniseries of the same name. Russell Crowe stars as a newspaper journalist who finds himself suddenly covering the story of the death of the aide to a congressman, played by Ben Affleck. Compounding the problem is the fact that Crowe and Affleck's characters were college roommates.

What follows that set-up is a very interesting film that delves into a lot of topics including war profiteering, fidelity, and the dying newspaper industry. The stuff related to journalism is probably the most fascinating stuff, particularly to someone like me who studies the media. Rachel McAdams co-stars as a blogger who works for the same newspaper as Crowe. Through these two characters we see the old and new guard of journalism. Crowe represents the reporter who holds onto a story as long as he can in order to get everything right, whereas McAdams' blogger is posting several stories a day online. Helen Mirren, giving a typically great performance plays the editor who tries to deal with both sides. She has the journalistic integrity to side with Crowe but is feeling pressure to remain relevant from her corporate bosses.

While the believablity of Crowe and Affleck being college roommates is questionable, the two do well with their roles and have some good scenes together. The two, needless to say have a complicated relationship, which is compounded by the fact that Crowe may still be in love with Affleck's wife. I should also mention that Jeff Daniels and Jason Bateman show up for smaller roles, but still do the most with these thankless roles.

My lone criticism of the film comes from the fact that they deliver about one twist too many. As the film progresses more and more gets revealed about who really is behind the death of this young woman. If they would have just stuck with their themes more instead of trying to constantly swerve the audience, this could have easily been a best picture nominee. Instead, it's merely a very good thriller that is definitely worth a rental. Grade/Rating: B+/****

I've had dreams like this

In case you missed it, here's the awesome opening segment of last night's Monday Night RAW, hosted by none other than Bob Barker!!

NMR: Wrestling docs

The Spectacular Legacy of the AWA: An interesting look into one of the longest running territorial wrestling organizations. I thought the documentary was fairly even handed showcasing the AWA's strengths and failures. My biggest complaint about this was that it was really more a documentary about Verne Gagne than the AWA as an organization. I would have liked to know more about the AWA's main stars and the key feuds that made the organization as popular as it was. Still, if you really don't know anything about the AWA, this is worth a look. Rating: ****

The Life and Times of Mr. Perfect: Mr. Perfect aka Curt Hennig was one of my favorite wrestlers, so I really enjoyed this look at his career. This is a pretty straight-forward and honest depiction of Hennig's life. There's no burial of him like the Warrior received, nor is there over-exagerrations of his greatness like on the Hogan doc. It really is remarkable how short of a career he had, particularly in the WWE. Yet the fact that he made such an impact during that time shows why he was so great, yet sadly also makes us wonder what could have been. I often compare him to Phil Hartman; both were amazing at what they did, but also taken from us way too soon. This is a must see for everyone, not just fans of Mr. Perfect. Rating: *****

The Rise and Fall of WCW: This is the new set that was just released and what prompted me to watch all of these wrestling documentaries right now. Sadly, this is the worst of the bunch. The story of WCW's history is worth telling, but this show seemed like nothing more than a cash grab. A lot of the stuff on here felt like it was cobbled together from previous WWE released documentaries (in fact all of Bischoff's comments come from the Monday Night Wars DVD). If you aren't that familar with WCW or you don't watch a lot of other wrestling documentaries, than this is probably worth a look. For diehard fans, this is a definite disappointment. Rating: ***

Stare gazing

I talked about The Men Who Stare at Goats recently in my fall preview and we now have our first look at the film. I continue to be intriqued by this oddball film and cannot wait to see it when it comes out.

Who's ready for samoa Survivor?

We're about three weeks away from the new season of Survivor: Samoa to begin, which means it's time to unveil the new set of castaways.

Here's the quick and dirty info on all 20 contestants:
DAVID BALL, 38, an LA fitness instructor
BETSY BOLAN, 48, a Campton, N.H., police officer
MIKE BORASSI, 62, a Marina del Rey, Calif., private chef
BEN BROWNING, 28, an LA mixologist
MARISA CALIHAN, 26, a Cincinnati student
ERIK CARDONA, 28, an Ontario, Calif., bartender
BRETT CLOUSER, 23, an LA T-shirt designer
JOHN FINCHER, 25, an LA rocket scientist
YASMIN GILES, 33, an LA hairstylist
RUSSELL HANTZ, 36, a Dayton, Texas, oil company owner
ELIZABETH KIM, 33, a New York City urban planner
LAURA MORETT, 39, a Salem, Oregon, office manager
MONICA PADILLA , 25, a San Diego law student
JAISON ROBINSON, 28, a Chicago law student
KELLY SHARBAUGH, 25, an LA hairstylist
RUSSELL SWAN, 42, a Glenside, Pa., attorney
ASHLEY TRAINER, 22, a Maple Grove, Minn., spa sales rep
MICK TRIMMING, 33, an LA doctor
SHANNON WATERS, 45, a Renton, Wash., sales rep
NATALIE WHITE, 26, a Van Buren, Ark., pharmaceutical sales rep

It seems like a surprisingly older cast, so we'll see how that plays out. For more info on the 20 players, go here.

In the meantime, you can check out this commercial that just started running, previewing the upcoming season:

NMR: I feel like I'm taking crazy pills

Primal Fear: If not for the performance of Edward Norton, this would be a complete waste of time. In his first major film role, he immediately shows us why he's a talented actor playing the young man accused of killing a bishop in Chicago. The rest of the film, despite a decent cast, is mired in legal cliches that we've seen before, and done better, on most legal shows on TV. If you're a Norton fan, definitely give this a look. Rating: ***

Misery: While this also features an outstanding performance, the movie as a whole is much better than Primal Fear. It's a simple concept that is played effectively, thanks in large part to Kathy Bates' portrayal of Annie Wilkes. That 'hobbling' scene is one of the most gruesome things I've ever seen on film. I'd like to also praise Richard Farnsworth, who brings an added level of energy to the film as the small town sheriff. This is a great movie if you're looking for some thrills and scares without a lot of gore. Rating: ****

Falling Down: I really don't know what to make of this movie. I had a hard time figuring out how we were supposed to react to Michael Douglas' D-FENS, a guy who's out for vengeance against all of society's misdeeds. I think most can relate to some of the things that annoy him in the film, but he himself isn't a very likeable character. The film seems pretty exploitative until the very end when there's a really good scene between Douglas and Robert Duvall, playing a cop on his last day on the job. As good as it is, it's not enough to salvage the film. Rating: **

New Nolan

Here's a teaser trailer for Christopher Nolan's (The Dark Knight) new film, Inception, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. With the way they keep pushing back Shutter Island, who knows, this may be the next DiCaprio film we actually see in theaters.

Fall Movie Preview (3-1)

You'll notice that there was no #4 movie previewed. That's because that slot was being reserved for Shutter Island, the new Scorcese/DiCaprio film that I had mentioned in my Top 30 of '09 list earlier this year. Well wouldn't you know it, news comes today that they are pushing the film back to February. WTF! Fall is usually slim pickings when it comes to movies and one of the few that I was really looking forward to has now been shoved to the film wasteland known as February. Well with it out of the way, it just puts all the more pressure on these last three films to be even better.

3. Extract (September 4)
Plot: In "Extract," writer/director Mike Judge ("Beavis and Butt-Head," "King of the Hill") returns to the fertile territory of the American workplace, rotating his perspective away from the white collar cubicle warriors of "Office Space" and towards a blue collar boss – a small business owner – who employs an odd cast of losers, loners and misfits in his flavor extract factory.

Quick thoughts: This one really snuck up on me. I had never really been a fan of Mike Judge's work. However, this summer I found myself really appreciating King of the Hill reruns. Then I saw the trailer for this and found myself laughing quite a bit. It's got a real great cast and centering the film within the workplace should be perfect for Judge. Let's hope this delivers as well as I think it will.


2. Sherlock Holmes (December 25)
Plot: In a dynamic new portrayal of Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous characters, "Sherlock Holmes" sends Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson on their latest challenge. Revealing fighting skills as lethal as his legendary intellect, Holmes will battle as never before to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy the country.

Quick thoughts: Robert Downey Jr.'s hot streak looks to continue here. The trailer for this makes it seem like there will be plenty of action to help with the mass appeal, but with it being a Sherlock movie, you know it should also be rooted in a good mystery, which I always appreciate it. It's a shame we have to wait so long still to see this, but I believe it will be worth the wait.


1. The Informant! (September 18)
Plot: Based on the book by Kurt Eichenwald. What was Mark Whitacre thinking? A rising star at agri-industry giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Whitacre suddenly turns whistleblower. Even as he exposes his company's multi-national price-fixing conspiracy to the FBI, Whitacre envisions himself being hailed as a hero of the common man and handed a promotion. But before all that can happen, the FBI needs evidence, so Whitacre eagerly agrees to wear a wire and carry a hidden tape recorder in his briefcase, imagining himself as a kind of de facto secret agent. Unfortunately for the FBI, their lead witness hasn't been quite so forthcoming about helping himself to the corporate coffers. Whitacre's ever-changing account frustrates the agents and threatens the case against ADM as it becomes almost impossible to decipher what is real and what is the product of Whitacre's rambling imagination. Based on the true story of the highest-ranking corporate whistleblower in U.S. history.

Quick thoughts: I'm sure you're all tired of me talking about this movie, but I cannot wait for it. This just seems really quirky and interesting and right up my alley. Matt Damon has really turned into a great actor and I think this is the film that brings Steven Soderbergh back into favor with people after doing several small films that no one cared about. Seeing the trailer for the first time last month cinched it for me. I'll definitely be seeing this one and I hope all of you do as well.

Mascot love

From the recent big track and field event...



And a video from earlier this year of the Milwaukee Bucks' mascot

Fall Movie Preview (8-5)

8. 2012 (November 13)
Plot: Never before has a date in history been so significant to so many cultures, so many religions, scientists, and governments. 2012 is an epic adventure about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors.

Quick thoughts: Based on the trailer, there doesn't seem to be anything here that we haven't already seen before from Roland Emmerich (The Day After Tomorrow). However, if at the time there aren't any other viable options out there, this seems like the perfect type of movie to simply shut off your brains and just watch everything get turned into rubble.


7. Capitalism: A Love Story (September 23)
Plot: Capitalism: A Love Story will explore the root causes of the global economic meltdown and take a comical look at the corporate and political shenanigans that culminated in what Moore has described as "the biggest robbery in the history of this country" – the massive transfer of U.S. taxpayer money to private financial institutions. On this, the 20-year anniversary of his masterpiece Roger & Me, Moore returns to the issue that began his career: the disastrous impact that corporate dominance and out-of-control profit motives have on the lives of Americans and citizens of the world. But this time the culprit is much bigger than General Motors, and the crime scene far wider than Flint, Michigan.

Quick thoughts: Yes, we may not always agree with his politics, but there's no denying that he knows how to make engaging films. Given the relevancy of this topic, I think a lot of people are going to be interested in seeing it. Also economics seem to be Moore's bread and butter, so I'll be very curious to see what he has to say this time around.


6. The Road (October 16)
Plot: Academy Award nominee Viggo Mortensen, Academy Award winners Robert Duvall and Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce and 12-year-old Kodi Smit McPhee star in the big-screen adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Road – the story of a man (Mortensen) and his young son (Smit-McPhee) traveling through a desperate, post-apocalyptic world.

Quick thoughts: This one has a great cast and great source material that seem to make it likely to be prominent during awards season. However, this was supposed to come out last year and postponements are usually never a good sign in terms of quality. For now, I'm going to remain hopeful, but if it doesn't I can say I told you so.


5. The Box (November 6)
Plot: What if someone gave you a box containing a button that, if pushed, would bring you a million dollars...but simultaneously take the life of someone you don't know? Would you do it? And what would be the consequences? The year is 1976. Norma Lewis is a teacher at a private high school and her husband, Arthur, is an engineer working at NASA. They are, by all accounts, an average couple living a normal life in the suburbs with their young son...until a mysterious man with a horribly disfigured face appears on their doorstep and presents Norma with a life-altering proposition: the box. With only 24 hours to make their choice, Norma and Arthur face an impossible moral dilemma. What they don't realize is that no matter what they decide, terrifying consequences will have already been set in motion. They soon discover that the ramifications of this decision are beyond their control and extend far beyond their own fortune and fate.

Quick thoughts: Man, I really hope that this one turns out to be good. I'm fascinated by the plot and the trailer made me all the more interested. However, I've been burned before and this is just the type of movie that could easily turn out to be well-intentioned garbage. The fact that they've scheduled it for November instead of Sept. or Oct. makes me think the studio has high hopes for it as well.

NMR: Off the Depp end

After watching Johnny Depp in Public Enemies, I decided to catch a couple of his older films that I had never seen before.

Donnie Brasco: This felt like one of the most authentic mobster movies I have ever seen. You have great performances from both Depp and Al Pacino, although that's not that surprising. About the only flaw is that the film loses a bit of drama near the end given that you know the fate of Depp's character already given that the person his character is based on is still alive. However, that shouldn't really detract you from seeing this well made film if you haven't done so already. Rating: ****

From Hell: I don't know if I was just in the wrong mood when I saw this or what, but I did not care for it at all. Even though I find the Jack the Ripper case interesting, I did not buy anything about this story. While the person the film claims is the killer is complete fiction, I knew right away who it was going to be. I found the film to be filled with cliches. You also have a (typical) lousy performance from Heather Graham. As for Depp, while a fine performance, it's definitely not one of his better ones. Rating: **

Fall Movie Preview (12-9)

12. The Men Who Stare At Goats (November 6)
Plot: Based on true events described in Jon Ronson's 2004 book of the same title, The Men Who Stare at Goats involves a down-on-his-luck reporter (McGregor) who gets more than he bargains for when he meets a special forces agent (Clooney) who reveals the existence of a secret, psychic military unit whose goal is to use paranormal powers to end war as we know it.

Quick thoughts: The plot for this movie sounds so bizarre, I can't help but be intriqued by it. Throw in the fact that the movie has a very strong cast with George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey and now I'm really interested. I have yet to see any footage from this, so I could be way off and this will be terrible. I will give the film credit for this, though, their title certainly isn't misleading as seen by the one promotional photo released for this film:



11. Whip It (October 9)
Plot: Whip It, the directorial debut of Drew Barrymore, stars Ellen Page (Juno) as Bliss, a rebellious Texas teen who throws in her small town beauty pageant crown for the rowdy world of roller derby. Marcia Gay Harden (Mystic River, Pollock) plays Bliss' disapproving mother, while Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live) and Juliette Lewis (Old School) play roller-derby stars. Also starring Eve, Jimmy Fallon, and Daniel Stern.

Quick thoughts: I saw the trailer and the movie looks like it could be a lot of fun. It would be tough not to be given the funny people involved in the film. I am concerned that the film may not look as good as it could be given the inexperience of Barrymore behind the camera. This has a chance of being real good as long as they don't go overboard with the female empowerment message.


10. Toy Story/Toy Story 2 in 3-D (October 2)
Plot: Do I really need to tell you what these movies are about?

Quick thoughts: Well there's certainly no mystery about the quality of these movies. I don't necessarily see the added appeal of 3-D, but if you do like it, then how can you pass up the chance to see these modern classics visually updated? If nothing else, you're likely to get the first full trailer for Toy Story 3 when you watch them.


9. Couples Retreat (October 9)
Plot: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell and Faizon Love star in Universal Pictures' upcoming comedy Couples Retreat. Based on an original idea of Vaughn's, the comedy follows four Midwestern couples who embark on a journey to a tropical island resort. While one of the couples is there to work on their marriage, the other three set out to jet ski, spa and enjoy some fun in the sun. They soon discover that participation in the resort’s couples therapy is not optional. Suddenly, their group-rate vacation comes at a price. What follows is a hilarious look at real world problems faced by all couples. The film also stars Kali Hawk and Jean Reno.

Quick thoughts: As you may have seen in my comments when I posted the trailer for this film, I really don't know what to make of this. The cast and premise seem strong yet there was very little that I laughed at in the trailer. I'm hoping it's a case of them saving the good stuff for the actual film because I would find it hard to believe that with that much talent this film won't be funny.

Will Heroes truly gain 'Redemption'?

I know many of you have soured on Heroes over the past couple of seasons, but I still hold out hope that they can get out of their creative tailspin. For those of you that are like me and still have an interest in the show, I've posted below a promo video for the upcoming season entitled 'Redemption'. Watching the video, it once again seems like they have a strong foundational storyline to work with. The big question, however, is whether or not they can remain focused and tell the story properly. We'll find out the answer to that on Sept. 21st when the show returns.

BTW, I've added all of the return dates for your (i.e. my) favorite shows this fall. Scroll down for the information and plan your calendars and DVRs accordingly.

Fall movie preview (16-13)

16. Whiteout (September 11)
Plot: Based on the graphic novel by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber, published by Oni Press. Carrie Stetko, the lone U.S. Marshal assigned to Antarctica, is investigating the continent's first murder, which draws her into a shocking mystery. Now, with only three days until winter, Carrie must solve the crime before Antarctica is plunged into darkness and she is stranded with the killer.

Quick thoughts: This may very well end up being more cheesy than clever. However, since I don't go for most of the lame horror flicks (I'm looking at you Saw franchise), this may fit the bill of providing some decent scares as we near Halloween.


15. The Invention of Lying (September 25)
Plot: From Ricky Gervais, star of the original BBC series The Office and HBO's Extras, comes the new romantic comedy The Invention of Lying, which takes place in an alternate reality where lying--even the concept of a lie--does not exist. Everyone--from politicians to advertisers to the man and woman on the street--speaks the truth and nothing but the truth with no thought of the consequences. But when a down-on-his-luck loser named Mark suddenly develops the ability to lie, he finds that dishonesty has its rewards. In a world where every word is assumed to be the absolute truth, Mark easily lies his way to fame and fortune. But lies have a way of spreading, and Mark begins to realize that things are getting a little out of control when some of his tallest tales are being taken as, well, gospel. With the entire world now hanging on his every word, there is only one thing Mark has not been able to lie his way into: the heart of the woman he loves.

Quick thoughts: I wasn't completely sold on Gervais' last U.S. film, Ghost Town, but there's no denying that he can be extremely funny if you enjoy his style of comedy. The plot for this film seems original and more suited to his strengths. I doubt it'll be a huge hit, but consider me mildly intriqued.


14. Surrogates (September 25)
Plot: FBI agents (Bruce Willis and Radha Mitchell) investigate the mysterious murder of a college student linked to the man who helped create a high-tech surrogate phenomenon that allows people to purchase unflawed robotic versions of themselves—fit, good looking remotely controlled machines that ultimately assume their life roles—enabling people to experience life vicariously from the comfort and safety of their own homes. The murder spawns a quest for answers: in a world of masks, who's real and who can you trust?

Quick thoughts: Reading the plot, it seems like there are a lot of elements borrowed from other recent sci-fi films. Here's hoping this is a case of them taking the best parts and making a good film as opposed to rehashing concepts we've too many times already. Bruce Willis is usually solid, so his presence helps. And if nothing else, I'm sure I'll get a few laughs based on the various wigs I saw him wearing in this film from the trailer.


13. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (September 18)
Plot: Inspired by the beloved children's book, the film focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain. Bill Hader, star of Saturday Night Live, will voice Flint Lockwood, a young inventor who dreams of creating something that will improve everyone's life. Anna Faris, star of the comedy hit The House Bunny, takes on the role of Sam Sparks, a weathergirl covering the phenomenon who hides her intelligence behind a perky exterior. James Caan plays Tim Lockwood, Flint's technophobic father. Andy Samberg plays Brent, the town bully who has plagued Flint since childhood. Bruce Campbell plays Mayor Shelbourne, who figures out that Flint's invention can put the town, and more importantly himself, on the map and Mr. T plays the by-the-rules town cop Earl Devereaux.

Quick thoughts: Out of all the computer animated films coming out this season (and believe me there are plenty), this one appealed to me the most. I never read the children's book that this is based on, but it sounds like a fun, crazy story. I also like the voice cast they assembled here. It seems like they chose people with good animation voices as opposed to just casting big name stars to draw crowds in. I'm unlikely to see an animated film in theaters, but if I do, it'll be this one.

Warning...rant

So I went to Best Buy today to pick up the 12th season of the Simpsons on DVD, which just came out today. As is per usual with the most recent sets, there are two types of packaging for the sets. One is the normal box and the other is the box plus a plastic mask of whichever character is featured on this box art (this time Comic Book Guy). Well I have no use for some plastic mask, so I just got the regular box. I take it up to the counter and they charge me full price instead of the sale price listed in their ad. I question the clerk about this and after a lot of dumb looks and discussions with co-workers, they bring up a copy with the mask on and that one rings up for the sale price. After I pay, I ask if she'll just give me the regular box instead and she says that I have to take the one they scanned. I tell her that I'm just going to throw the plastic mask away, but that doesn't change her mind.

So long story short, both FOX and Best Buy should be chastized for their lack of eco-awareness. FOX shouldn't even be wasting the plastic in the first place by making those pointless masks (especially since the container that holds the DVDs is cheap and poorly designed). As for Best Buy, all they're doing is encouraging the wastefulness of the plastic since I can't see who in their right mind would have a need for the mask. I'm not a big "green" person, but this just seems stupid on their end of things. All it would take is some common sense and a few simple changes to curb this problem and stop this pointless use of plastic. /End rant

Fall Movie Preview (20-17)

20. Avatar (Dec. 18)
Plot: Avatar is the story of an ex-Marine who finds himself thrust into hostilities on an alien planet filled with exotic life forms. As an Avatar, a human mind in an alien body, he finds himself torn between two worlds, in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people. More than ten years in the making, Avatar marks Cameron's return to feature directing since helming 1997's Titanic, the highest grossing film of all time and winner of eleven Oscars® including Best Picture. WETA Digital, renowned for its work in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and King Kong, will incorporate new intuitive CGI technologies to transform the environments and characters into photorealistic 3D imagery that will transport the audience into the alien world rich with imaginative vistas, creatures and characters.

Quick thoughts: This movie managed to get on my top 30 of '09, but frankly I'm actually losing interest in this movie instead of gaining as the months go on. The sci-fi genre is not a favorite of mine, nor do I really care about the whole 3D craze. Really the main selling point here is James Cameron's return to filmmaking. I'm sure this will be a bigger deal for others than it is for me.


19. Invictus (December 11)
Plot: The film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team to help unite their country. Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match.

Quick thoughts: Similar to Avatar, this has a lot of pedigree but not exactly a story I'm all that interested in. However, given that it stars Morgan Freeman as Mandela and has Matt Damon co-starring, that just might be enough quality acting to lure me in. With Clint Eastwood directing this, look for Invictus to be big come awards season.


18. Up in the Air (December TBA)
Plot: From Jason Reitman, the Oscar® nominated director of Juno, comes a comedy called Up in the Air starring Oscar® winner George Clooney as Ryan Bingham, a corporate hatchet man who loves his life on the road but is forced to fight for his job when his company downsizes its travel budget. He is required to spend more time at home just as he is on the cusp of a goal he's worked toward for years: reaching five million frequent flyer miles and just after he's met the frequent-traveler woman of his dreams.

Quick thoughts: This seems like a unique and different concept and Jason Reitman has certainly established a lot of goodwill with Juno and Thank You For Smoking. However, I'm hesitant to put this one any higher up on the list until I see an actual trailer for the movie.


17. Disney's A Christmas Carol (November 6)
Plot: Disney's A Christmas Carol, a multi-sensory thrill ride re-envisioned by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, captures the fantastical essence of the classic Dickens tale in a groundbreaking 3-D motion picture event. Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey) begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk (Gary Oldman) and his cheery nephew (Colin Firth). But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come take him on an eye-opening journey revealing truths Old Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it's too late.

Quick thoughts: If you haven't seen the trailer yet, this has a similar look to The Polar Express, which may or may not be a selling point for people. Let's face it, there's nothing new about the story, so the hope is that the new visual presentation combined with Jim Carrey's multi-voiced performance will make this something worth seeing during the holiday season.

Potbellies? More like hot bellies!

Looks like all that drinking and lack of excerise has finally paid off. I'm now considered trendy according to the New York Times.

It's Hip to Be Round

Scenes from a fall

Summer sure went by fast and you know what that means - cooler temperatures and fall movies. Gone are the noisy, visual effects laden blockbusters and in come the adult fare and awards bait. Over the next week I'm going to preview the top 20 films to look forward to for the remainder of the year. This post, however, will only briefly list the honorable mentions; those films which will likely be big but I really have no interest in seeing them.

All About Steve - September 4th
9 - September 9th
Zombieland - October 9th
Where the Wild Things Are - October 16th
Amelia - October 23rd
Saw VI - October 23rd
The Fantastic Mr. Fox - November 13th
Planet 51 - November 20th
Brothers - December 4th
The Lovely Bones - December 11th
It's Complicated - December 25th

If any of these titles sound good to you, you're on your own to find out more about them.

NMR: Cult comedies

Quick note, this is actually the first time I have seen either of these movies.

Clerks: This certainly had its moments, but overall I wasn't wowed by it. Having said that, I can see why this was an iconic movie for its generation. Even though it's a movie about store clerks, which would seem like a universal plot, the film is very much rooted in the 90s. I think that had a lot to do with why I wasn't able to connect with it better. It's impressive what Kevin Smith was able to do on a shoestring budget, but I doubt I'll probably ever watch this one again. Rating: ***

The Big Lebowski: Similar to Clerks, I can see why this appealed to a certain population, but it just didn't do much for me. For this one, I kept wanting to like it more than I was. I really liked all of the characters as they were quirky and interesting and being played by guys giving good performances. Really it was the story here that didn't win me over. I felt let down by the resolution of the whole thing and found all the fantasy sequences to be detracting to the film. I'm sure if I was a stoner, I might have more fun watching this, but since I'm not, this too will be a one and done viewing for me. Rating: ***

Depp but not deep

This review should catch me up, at least in terms of in theater reviews. There are still some lingering Netflix reviews I'll need to take care off.

Public Enemies had all the makings for an instant classic. You have a rich cast with Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard. You have an imaginative and established director with Michael Mann. And to top it off, it's a gangster flick; a genre that has developed several great films in recent years. Watching this however, you couldn't help but feel something was still missing.

But before I get ahead of myself, let me appropriate give credit where it is due. First off, Michael Mann delivers one of the most beautiful films I have seen in long time. I don't know if the picture quality is better at Dayton theaters than the ones in Raleigh or if Michael Mann is just that good of a director. Regardless, everything pops off the screen with beauty and clarity. Everything looks authentic and realistic. Art direction is not something I typically notice or care about, but it was a definite asset of this film.

However, while the film is nice to look at, the real draw here is Depp. Once again, this guy gives a performance that is rich and draws you in. You're not looking at Depp, you're looking at the person he's portraying. He shows both the reckless and calculating sides of famed gangster John Dillinger. He does just enough to make the character fun without going so far as to glorify the man. It's performances like these that continue to solidify Depp as one of the greatest actors of his generation.

Depp also has good chemistry with Cotillard, who plays his love interest, Billie. Their relationship is an interesting one as they both seem to realize its destined for failure given the danger of his profession, yet go through with it anyways. Bale is the one who's the odd man out here. Playing FBI agent, Melvin Purvis, Bale isn't really given that much to do here and only has one decent scene with Depp. However, the film really isn't about Purvis and I think Bale was brought on as an extra selling point for the film. In reality, the role probably didn't need to go to that large of a star. Then again, there were some other odd casting choices seen here. Like Leelee Sobieski showing up in the last twenty minutes of the film and barely having any lines. It seems like they could have either found more for her to do or hire someone less famous for such a thankless role.

That Sobieski cameo seems reflective of the main problem that plagues this film; it doesn't seem like a whole lot of thought was put into creating this film. The story, as a whole, doesn't seem to have a point. I found myself engaged in every scene, but also wondering what significance it had on the larger picture. The film depicts a wide range of events in Dillinger's life without really saying anything about the man. Without any symbolism or meaning behind the actions being displayed, the film failed to have a lasting impression on me. In the moment, I found myself really enjoying the film, but also found myself quickly forgetting about it shortly after it was over.

It's a shame the source material isn't better here. People like Depp and Mann are such consumate professionals that they're able to produce quality work out of anything. It's quite apparent that their fine skills are once again on display here. It is thanks to their efforts that the film rises above mediocre and becomes something fairly decent.

I'm recommending the film based on the strength of their work. Depp and Mann deserve some recognition during awards season, but I worry now that the weak story may cause most people to overlook their work. For the average viewer, Public Enemies is best suited as a rental since the film lacks that level of significance to make it worthy of seeking out in the theaters. You may not need to rush out and see this film, but Depp and Mann make it one that you ultimately can't refuse. Grade: B+

Cop out

From EW.com

Comedy Central confirms that it has pulled the plug on Reno 911! Star/co-creator Thomas Lennon broke the news that the show’s recently wrapped sixth season will be its last on his Twitter feed saying, “Reno 911! was cancelled at 1:30 pm today. Won’t be wearing the shorts again.” When contacted by EW today, Comedy Central declined to comment.

As sad as I am to see this show go, Reno's most recent season was definitely its weakest and I'd rather see it go out now instead of continuing into a downward spiral.

Community

I'm sure by now you've all seen the commercials for NBC's new sitcom, Community starring The Soup's Joel McHale. Well if you're tired of summer reruns and crappy reality TV, then I urge you to go here, where you can check out Community's pilot episode. I just finished watching it and was very pleased with what I saw. It had a decent amount of laughs, particularly for a pilot episode and it seems like it's got a strong ensemble cast. I think this will be a great addition to NBC's Thursday comedy lineup.

For those that can't see the pilot or are simply looking for more content, I'm including below a clip from a future episode featuring Ken Jeong (The Hangover, Role Models) as a Spanish teacher at the college.

Papal Chase

You'll forgive me if these next few movies reviews are a little shorter/lighter on analysis. Since I'm doing them so far away from having seen the movies, I may not remember everything I wanted to say about it.

First up is Angels & Demons, the follow up to 2006's The Da Vinci Code, even though in terms of the novels Angels and Demons actually was written first. Like many, I had been disappointed with the effort director Ron Howard and star Tom Hanks had made with The Da Vinci Code. The film was flat and failed to capture the excitement of uncovering cryptic clues that made the book so popular. I was naturally nervous about this second entry, but still willing to give it a shot since both Howard and Hanks are smart enough guys to own up to their rare misfires and work harder to do better the next time out. The end result here is definitely an improvement, if for no other reason than they had better source material to work with.

The plot here sees Robert Langdon (Hanks) called into Vatican City to investigate the kidnapping of four cardinals on the eve of the papal conclave preparing to elect a new pope. Langdon is the guy chosen because the kidnappings seem to be related to an ancient group known as the Illuminati. The Vatican has been warned that they will kill one cardinal every hour leading up to midnight when they plan on blowing up Vatican City. The setup here is simple, yet creates an exciting setting. We watch as Langdon attempts to solve the clues to learn of each cardinal's location in hopes of preventing their deaths. The stakes here are very well laid out unlike the meandering plot of The Da Vinci Code.

Hanks, to his credit, seems much more relaxed in the role this time. He may not play Langdon exactly the way most picture the character as they read the books. But this time, he seems much more assured of how he wants to play the character, which in turns makes his performance better. He also has a better cast to work off of here as Ewan McGregor, Stellen Skarsgaard, and Armin Mueller-Stahl all bring some clout to their supporting roles.

About the only supporting character I was not crazy about was Ayelet Zurer, who played Vittoria. In the book, she's not only integral to helping Langdon solve these puzzles, but she also is somewhat of a love interest. Here, her presence is greatly diminished and she might as well be just a no name cop hanging around as Langdon solves the case. She had such a huge impact on Langdon in the book that he even reminisces about her in The Da Vinci Code. None of that relationship however is developed in the film.

Of course, just like with the Harry Potter films, there are bound to be changes/omissions whenever a film is adapted from a popular book. This film is no exclusion as several key scenes are either left out or changed drastically. However, unlike the alterations made in the HP franchise, I wasn't bothered by the changes here for two reasons. For one, it had actually been quite a few years since I had read the book, so I didn't really realize what had changed until I read about them online later. Also, I felt the film flowed very well and most of the changes seemed to make the story flow better.

What still remains is the outlandish way that the film ends. The over-the-top twists nearly ruin the whole film, but since these things happened in the book, you can't necessarily blame the film for how things get resolved. You'll likely roll your eyes watching these unrealistic events unfold, but at some point you just have to roll with it. Don't let the ending spoil an otherwise decent popcorn flick.

Like it's predecessor, this is a flawed film. However, thanks to Hanks and Howard's familiarity with the material and a more focused story, Angels & Demons is a much more tolerable movie. If you've read the book or actually enjoyed The Da Vinci Code, then you owe it to yourself to seek this out when it eventually finds its way onto home video. It provides just enough action and suspense to make it the perfect movie that will allow you to shut your brain off for a couple of hours and veg out. After all, isn't that the reason they turn books into movies in the first place? Grade: B-

NMR: Gran Torino

Technically this is not a Netflix review because I got impatient waiting for my copy of this through them and just decided to watch it On Demand through Time Warner since I had a coupon for a free film. That aside, I ended really enjoying this film, more than I actually thought I would. In what many believe may be his final acting performance, Clint Eastwood does a phenomenal job as Walt Kowalski, a retired veteran who's just lost his wife and hates how his neighborhood is being overtaken by immigrants. Even though Walt isn't a real likable character, I immediately related to him and his annoyance with the way the world was changing around him. With the way everything is set up, it becomes obvious where the story is headed, but I didn't mind knowing that because I had become invested in the character. The main critique most had of the film was the poor acting of some of the Hmong neighbors, who were real people and not professionally trained actors. I would agree that it's obvious that they are unpolished, but I personally did not feel it detracted from the film. Even though it did not get a wide release until January, this is technically a 2008 film, which is why you won't see it on my top ten list, even though I thought it was excellent. Had I thought I would have liked it this much, I would have kept my '08 top ten list up longer so that I could have included this. If you haven't seen it yet, I'd say you should definitely rent it, if for no other reason than to see one of the greatest actors of all time show he's still got it, even at 79. Rating: *****

OH-IO

So I'm now officially back in the great state of Ohio. I moved in to my new apartment in Dayton this past week and am please with how everything went. My new apartment is probably smaller than my place in NC, but superior to it in every other way (cost, cleanliness, location, etc.). I apologize that there's still been a lack of posts on here recently. Please bear with me on that. I'm heading up to Cleveland this weekend, but once I get back next week, things should begin to return to normal. At that point, hopefully I can write up my reviews for Angels & Demons, Gran Torino, and Public Enemies. Until then, just hang tight. And if you're in the Dayton area, shoot me a line, I'd love to have visitors!

Apologies for absence

Hey, I just wanted to make a quick post to let everyone know I was still alive. Unfortunately I've just been real busy what with preparing to move back to Dayton this Friday and still writing away on the dissertation. It's doubling frustrating because I've got a bunch of stuff I could be writing on including all of the scoops/news coming out of this past weekend's Comic-Con, and new reviews for Gran Torino and Angels & Demons. But that will all have to wait for another day. Until then, it's back to packing boxes. Ohio here I come!

Bloody good show

I'm reluctant to write my review for the new installment in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. For one, now that we're at the sixth film in the franchise, I can't see my review having much influence on anyone. Fans are going to (or likely already have) see it and those who aren't fans aren't going to want to begin this far along in the story. I also worry that this review may seem redundant from my review of the previous film that I blogged about two years ago as many of the praises/criticisms of that film remain here. Still, out of a sense of duty, I feel I must go on.

Let's get the negatives out of the way first. Most of them are related to the way the film is faithful to the book. As someone who has read the book before seeing the film, I find it to be a blessing and curse. It's a lot easier to follow the story if you have read the book, but it can also be gutwrenching when you see something either cut or altered from the novel. For me, I get more upset with scenes that are different from the book than I am about moments that get left out. The most egregious changes to the book occur at the beginning and end of the film.

Without spoiling too much, let me try to explain these changes and why I did not care for them. At the beginning of the film there's a scene involving Harry at a diner. His interactions in this scene appear to be totally out of character and I have no idea what purpose the scene serves. The other major change comes near the end of the during the key scene. In the book, Harry is helpless from this major event happening, but the same isn't true in the film. Once again, this seems out of character for Harry because if he had the power to do something, he would have.

As I mentioned above, there are also a lot of things left out in the movie from the book. I grudgingly accept that this is a necessary evil of the films. The books are so long that it would be impossible to include everything into a manageable film. Then again, at two and half hours the film flies by (much faster than say Transformers 2), so I don't think fans would complain if they added on another half hour or so. Most of what was omitted isn't essential for the story, just cool scenes that fans would have appreciated seeing visually. However, there are a few key moments left out that may make creating the final film(s) more difficult. I'll be interested to see how they work their way around that when part 1 of book 7 comes out next year.

If you can ignore the changes/omissions from the book, what you're left with is another excellent entry in this film franchise. Watching each new film feels like a high school reunion. It is wonderful to see this rich, talented cast reprise their roles with each film. I think we sometimes take for granted how lucky we are that this great group of British actors have been available and willing to come back for each film, even if they don't always have a large role to play. Everyone knows their characters so well and brings a tremendous amount of both energy and class to their performance. They all should be applauded for allowing these characters to be fully realized.

One performer in particular I want to single out is Michael Gambon, who plays Dumblebore. Gambon is the one actor who was not there from the start. His alternative take on Dumbledore from Richard Harris has been scrutinized by many fans. While his gruff take may not have necessarily fit at times, he delivers an excellent performance in this film. Playing a larger role than in the previous films, Gambon does a good job of displaying the leader/mentor/scholar/friend/wizard and everything else that makes up this character. I hope everyone else will appreciate his performance here as much as I did.

I should also compliment the two major additions to the cast. Jim Broadbent, who plays the new Potions professor, Horace Slughorn. Being the newcomer is never easy, particularly in this cast, but he blends right in and does a fantastic job. He plays Slughorn exactly how I pictured him to be from the book. This was another inspired casting move. Broadbent is very good at playing the fame-hungry, yet cowardly Slughorn. The girl who played Lavender Brown was also very funny and enjoyable. She captured the head-over-heels infatuation that she has for Ron Weasley perfectly.

Lastly I want to talk about director David Yates' work. He is returning for a second time here and definitely showed improvement over his previous effort. While many will take him to task for the changes his films have in comparision to the books, I'm not so sure how much falls on his shoulders. It seems the screenwriter should take more of the blame in this case. What Yates did do is provide the film with a gorgeous look in many of its scenes. He has a number of tracking shots that are very impressive. With just a pan of the camera he's able to capture the move of several characters at once. Those shots go a long way to encapsulating a lot that is going on without taking up a lot of time. Since so much dialogue had to be cut, I give him a lot of credit for trying to say as much as he could with his visuals. The film looks great and once again gives us the sense that we're right there in Hogwarts.

Right now, the differences from the book are the things I think about the most with the book. However, that was true with most of the previous films and I learned to forget about them and appreciate the movies on their own. I truly believe the same will hold true for this one as well. Once you can look past those changes, it becomes clear that this is another great movie. In a year when very little has lived up to its hype, it's nice to have one film that meets expectations. Grade: A-

Media lunar-cy

Here's a video with some pretty good satire on how the moon landing would be covered if it happened today instead of 40 years ago.

Lost's burning questions

Shortly after the end of season 5, the folks at Entertainment Weekly asks their readers to send in their "Top 3 Lost Mysteries You Absolutely Need to See Resolved in Season 6". From the fans' responses, EW has put together the 15 most popular questions listed here:

15. What are The Whispers?
14. What's Libby's backstory?
13. What's the complete Dharma backstory?
12. Where did the Others come from?
11. Do all the castaways have a secret connection?
10. Who are Adam and Eve?
9. What's the significance of The Numbers?
8. Why are there Egyptian ruins on the Island?
7. Where are stewardess Cindy and the kids?
6. What is the Island, anyway?
5. What happened to Claire?
4. What was up with Walt?
3. What is the Monster?
2. Who is Jacob?
1. Why doesn't Richard Alpert age?

OK, so now I ask all of you - what is the likelihood of any or all of these questions being answered in the final 18 episodes? And are there any other questions that you want to see answered that did not make this list.

Cleveland rocks?

Check out these 'tourism' videos about my beloved hometown.

NMR: What's up doc?

Here's a handful of recent documentaries I recently caught through Netflix...

The League of Ordinary Gentlemen: This is a bowling documentary, yes a bowling documentary, made a couple years ago that attempted to chronicles the PBA's attempt to become mainstream again. This was an interesting subject to me (why else would I have bothered watching it), but the film is too scattershot to be really good. They focus on too many different topics and none of them are particularly engaging. Only if you truly love the sport should you seek out this movie. Rating: ***

Murderball: I found this to be a truly remarkable documentary. Made in 2005, this film covers the U.S. quadrapelegic rugby team. Through the film, we get to learn about the sport, its atheletes and also what these guys have to endure on a daily basis living in a wheelchair. Like the bowling film, Murderball covers a lot of different subjects, but it wasn't a problem here because each vignette is interesting and moving. A well done documentary that I highly recommend. Rating: *****

I.O.U.S.A.: I probably shouldn't include this here because I didn't actually see the whole film. The reason being is that there was a problem with it on Netflix's instant viewer. It just stops halfway through. But I will comment on what I did see in case you want to rent a hard copy of it. This is a sobering documentary about our country's current financial problems. At times it can be a bit overwhelming with the amount of statistics they throw at you. I felt I was back in Professor Rapp's economics class. But I felt the argument was very balanced (i.e. non-partisan) and really aimed to explain where we went wrong and what we have to do to stop this problem. I'll do my best to watch the rest of this when I can. Until then...Rating: N/A

Prince captures Knight's title

From Comingsoon.net...

Warner Bros. Pictures' Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince earned an estimated $22.2 million for its 3,003 midnight screenings, beating the $18.5 million midnight runs by the studio's own The Dark Knight and the $16.9 million earned by Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith.

The sixth installment continues its first day of release in 4,275 domestic locations and will expand to 4,350 theaters on Friday.

Last month, Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen grossed $16 million in midnight runs, also on a Wednesday.

"Half-Blood Prince" opened in the same Wednesday slot that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix did in 2007. "Order of the Phoenix" grossed $12 million in midnight runs on its way to a $139.7 million five-day debut.

Take that Transformers! This is looking like it's going to be huge. Sadly, I probably won't get to see it for another month until I return to Ohio. At least I don't have to worry about spoilers. Feel free to share your thoughts on the movie here if you've already gotten a chance to see it.

Primative beginning

The summer movies are already starting to hit the budget theater, which means I finally got a chance to see the innaugural film from this year's summer session, X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

This film was equally a good and bad idea. On one hand, this was a good way to continue the X-Men franchise without worrying about trying to get all of the cast members to be free at the same time to film a movie. However, the origin story only works if it's an interesting one. In Wolverine's case, we knew a lot of his origins from the previous X-Men films and there wasn't a huge outcry to see the rest on screen, even if people were interested in seeing him in another film.

The crux of the story here is the relationship between Logan/Wolverine (played once again by Hugh Jackman) and his brother, Victor (played by Liev Schreiber). Both are immortal and have similar mutant powers. Victor, who's also known in the comics as Sabertooth, can grow his nails and has fangs. The film opens with a montage of the two of them fighting in various famous wars. Thanks to good performances by both actors, their relationship is one of the film's strongest points.

The two of them are soon asked by General Stryker (Danny Huston)to join his group of fellow mutants for various military operations. Here's we meet an assortment of other mutants including ones played by Lost's Dominic Monaghan and the Black Eyed Peas' Will.I.Am. One of the other mutants is played by Ryan Reynolds, who later on becomes Deadpool. Many comic book fans were upset by how Deadpool is portrayed here as he's a fan favorite, but isn't given much here. While all of these mutants vary in their levels of cool/interesting characters, you can't help but feel that they're all included in this film simply to see which ones audiences will connect with so they know who to keep for future films.

One other character that would fit into this description is Gambit, who shows up later on in the film. Now this was a character I had a vested interest in seeing as I, like many others became a fan of his, primarily from the 90s X-Men cartoon. I thought he was great here, albeit his time is very limited. This is a cool character and really deserved more screen time, and that includes the previous X-Men films as well. Here's hoping we'll see more of him in future X-Men movies.

Even though this is an origin story, the plot is nothing to write home about. Most of it is setup for the action sequences while throwing in little things to do their best to maintain continuity with the previous films. Some of these continuity scenes seem so forced, however. For instance, at one point in the film we're led to believe that the only thing that will kill Wolverine is an adamantium bullet. However later on, another character states that they won't kill him, but will cause him to lose his memory. The way this scene plays out not only spells out what will happen but comes off sounding like they're just making things up as they go along.

A lot of the film feels rushed and unfinished as I feel this is another big budget film that was a writer's strike victim. I was surprised actually by the look of the visual effects here. A lot of them did not look good and were clearly CGI. Given that this is a comic book movie, I would have hoped that the visuals would have been solid, even if the story wasn't strong.

However, despite the less than stellar quality of everything, I found myself enjoying the film more than I thought I would. The action sequences are fun and the film never really drags. As mentioned before the relationship between Jackman and Schreiber is strong, which carries the film. I also enjoyed the performance of Lynn Collins, who is Wolverine's romantic interest in the film.

With high expectations, this is almost certainly going to come off as a disappointing and underwhelming film. However, seeing this at a budget theater or soon on DVD, this is entertaining enough. There's enough going on here to make this an enjoyable entry in the X-Men series, but clearly far from the best. This isn't quite as good as the first two films, but definitely a notch or two above the abysmal Brett Ratner directed third film. If you've ever had an interest in these films and haven't bothered watching this one yet, I'd say go ahead and give it a look. Grade: B-