Since Survivor returned earlier than everything else, it gets its own post. Last night, we saw season 21 kick off and they've decided to do old vs. young this year. That created an interesting dynamic right from the start since the older tribe seems to have a lot more likeable players, but I'm not sure how they will do in the challenges. The young tribe seems to be consisting of mostly dumb, yet cocky contestants. It is tough though to make any real impressions about anyone in just the first episode. The other new addition this year is this Medallion of Power, which gives the tribe that possesses it the opportunity to have an advantage in challenges. I'm not sure if I like this twist. If it's so powerful, then it's going to make the challenge uncompetitive, which doesn't make for compelling tv. And if a tribe opts not to use it, then what's the point of it? I also wasn't crazy how discovering the clue for the Hidden Immunity Idol was a result of blind luck. You should have to earn those.
OK, now for some quick takes on some of the standout castaways:
Jimmy Johnson - I'm sure he'll be a polarizing figure for many fans, but I have to respect that the guy is a true Survivor fan and this was not a case of stunt casting. His social game could take him far, but it appears he may have trouble holding up physically.
Marty and Jimmy T. - Both guys seem like big personalities and neither one appears to want Jimmy Johnson around for very long, which I don't get. They're likely to cause a lot of fireworks in their camp. If they can get over their jealousy of Jimmy and focus on more pressing tribe issues, they could turn out to be assets. Somehow, I don't think that will happen though.
Jane - Good for her for learning how to make fire before the show and then actually succeeding once she got there. She seems to be very plucky and is very sympathetic. I hope she's able to stick around.
Holly - appears to be the best strategist on her tribe. She tried to make an early alliance with Wendy, but eventually recognized her flaws and made the right move come tribal council. If anyone could go far on the older tribe, it's her.
Yve - Don't really know much about her or her gameplay, but I was stunned to see she was on the older tribe. She looks great for someone over 40!
"Fabio" - Seems like he'll be providing the comedic relief for the season. Most will likely keep him around for a while just for entertainment reasons.
Kelly B - You'd love to see her overcome the adversity of being an amputee and do well in this game. However, based on the first episode it seems that none of her tribemates have any intentions of keeping her around for a while. Her best chance will be if there are enough other horrible people on her tribe that they need to be voted out before her.
NaOnka - Speaking of horrible people, she appears to be one. Can Survivor ever cast a young black woman that isn't loud, ignorant, and antagonistic? Not looking forward to her spats with her tribemates.
Shannon - I can't tell whether his insulting remarks will tend to be comical or offensive. Either way, he'll likely stick around for a while given that he'll be a physical asset for his team.
Brenda - Already looked impressive by finding the Medallion of Power in the first episode. She seems to have the right blend sweetness and cutthroat behavior to have her succeed. I'll make her my early favorite to win it all.
Overall, while this season will most likely feel like a let down after the past two Russell-fueled awesome seasons, Survivor has a formula that works year-in and year-out and I would imagine it will be no different this time out. Grade: B+
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Whirlwind Tour
So here's the first trailer for The Tourist. There's no denying this has appeal based on its star power, but does anyone else feel like this is the third time we've basically seen this movie this year after Killers and Knight and Day? Given that neither of them were very successful with critics or at the box office, I wonder why the studio would fast-track this film and have it come out this year. Let's hope this offers enough variety to make it worthwhile.
NMR: Cop Out
A total misfire here. I don't know how such talented people could produce such a loser, but they did. None of director Kevin Smith's unique style appears in this film. Tracy Morgan's antics are more grating than hilarious. And Bruce Willis seems completely bored out of his mind. I really think it was a mistake to cast him here since all it does it urge the audience to compare this lousy performance to Willis' prior great cop roles. This comedy about a pair of mismatched cop partners out to solve a crime involving a stolen baseball card tries to make fun of the cop film cliches, but ends up being just a poor man's version of classics like Beverly Hills Cop or 48 Hours. The film lacks compelling villains and fails to give the story any sense of urgency. There are a few stray laughs here or there, but for the most part this thing just plods around from scene to scene until it reaches its inevitable conclusion. Do yourself a favor and just watch The Other Guys instead. Rating: **
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Critic proof
I was disappointed when At the Movies was cancelled last month after its 30 year run in various formats going back to when it first started with Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel. Well it appears that the show's disappearance won't last for very long. Earlier this week Roger Ebert announced that At the Movies will be returning home to public television next January. The show will feature two new critics, but Ebert himself will have a segment on the show where he will use a computer to speak for him (he lost his lower jaw after a bout with cancer a few years ago). The trademark thumbs up/down will also be back. All in all it seems like a good show and one that is still needed, even in today's day and age when everyone is a critic. Below is a short video highlighting what we can expect when the show premieres next year.
NMR: Unthinkable
This was a straight-to-DVD release, which was kind of baffling given the star power in it. Michael Sheen plays a terrorist who claims he has set bombs in three unnamed cities and will set them off unless his demands are met and Samuel L. Jackson plays an interrogator with unorthodox methods of getting answers. Carrie Anne Moss is also along for the ride as an FBI agent who is uneasy with Jackson's tactics. Most of the film plays like an episode of 24, only more gritty and not as engaging. The film runs out of steam as it reaches its climax, only to then provide an ending that is meant to be thought provoking, but instead reeks of desperation with its 'shocking for the sake of shocking' approach. For a straight-to-DVD release, this isn't that bad, but I can also understand why it never found its way into theaters. Rating: **1/2
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Here we go
After months of speculation, the first trailer for Clint Eastwood's latest film, Hereafter has finally arrived and it looks like it has Oscar buzz already surrounding it.
It's (maybe) the most wonderful time of the year!
Back to school time has finally happened for me. I started back up at Wright State on Tuesday, which has yielded mixed results. There have been a lot of headaches thus far, more than usual, which has been frustrating. However, these frustrations have yet to weaken my resolve and I still absolutely love teaching. Being in the classroom still gives me a thrill and I hope that never disappears. Anyways, this post is primarily a means of saying that posts maybe be fewer and farther between than they were over the summer. I'll still do my best though to share any or all thoughts I have on the stuff I normally talk about on here.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Penn pal
Between Two Ferns is back - this time Sean Penn drops by to talk with special guest host Seth Galifianakis!
All Better
Are you a Better Off Ted fan? Well if you are, you may or may not have realized that there were two episodes from its second season that never aired...until now. While ABC has decided not to show them on TV, there are several ways that you can access these shows. Alan Sepinwall from hitfix.com explains...
Hey, remember those two "Better Off Ted" episodes that weren't aired before ABC canceled the show, and that were going to air in June if the NBA Finals didn't go to a Game 7? Well, unfortunately, the Lakers and Celtics just wanted to keep playing and playing, and ABC never rescheduled the episodes, and with the new TV season about to begin in a few weeks, it doesn't look like they'll air anytime soon in this country. (Both aired in Australia a few weeks ago.)
But there is now a legal means of seeing both, as they were released to iTunes this morning. (One of them is also on Amazon's video on demand service.) UPDATE: And if you're a Netflix subscriber, you can stream both of them.
So go enjoy your last rush of Veronica, Lem, Phil and company. Haven't had a chance to watch yet myself, but hopefully there's a Veridian Dynamics commercial or two in there.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Heading in the Right direction?
Here's an early look at some of the big changes you can expect to see in the upcoming 39th season of The Price is Right to pricing games both new and old.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Fall Movie Preview (#4-1)
Sorry it's taken a few days to finish this list - I was out of town and didn't have the time to add this last entry. But let's not waste anymore time and get to the best of the bunch.
4.Red (Oct. 15) - Trailer
Plot: Based on the cult D.C. Comics graphic novel by Warren Ellis and Cully Hammer, "Red" is an explosive action-comedy starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren. Frank (Bruce Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) used to be the CIA's top agents – but the secrets they know just made them the Agency's top targets. Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive. To stop the operation, the team embarks on an impossible, cross-country mission to break into the top-secret CIA headquarters, where they will uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history.
Quick thoughts: If you thought The Expendables showcased old people still kicking ass, you aint seen nothing yet. This looks like it will just be a pure blast. I mean, how can you not get a kick out of seeing Helen Mirren firing away at people with that massive gun. I'm not sure how strong the story will be here, but I don't think it will matter. This is the kind of film you gladly turn of your brain and just enjoy watching the insanity unfold.
3.Due Date (Nov. 5) - Trailer
Plot: Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) is an expectant first-time father whose wife's due date is a mere five days away. As Peter hurries to catch a flight home from Atlanta to be at her side for the birth, his best intentions go completely awry when a chance encounter with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) forces Peter to hitch a ride with Ethan--on what turns out to be a cross-country road trip that will ultimately destroy several cars, numerous friendships and Peter's last nerve.
Quick thoughts: There may not be two hotter actors right now than Downey Jr. and Galifianakis, so the pairing of them seems like a dream. While the premise seems a bit familiar (mismatched guys on a road trip), I can't see why these two comedians won't be able to rise above that and make a memorable film. Director Todd Phillips' track record is a bit sketchy; while he's had big hits like The Hangover, he's also had some duds like School For Scoundrels. Let's hope this is another one that falls into the former category.
2.The Social Network (Oct. 1) - Trailer
Plot: On a fall night in 2003, Harvard undergrad and computer programming genius Mark Zuckerberg sits down at his computer and heatedly begins working on a new idea. In a fury of blogging and programming, what begins in his dorm room soon becomes a global social network and a revolution in communication. A mere six years and 500 million friends later, Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in history... but for this entrepreneur, success leads to both personal and legal complications. From director David Fincher and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin comes "The Social Network," a film that proves you don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies. The film is produced by Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca, and Ceán Chaffin and based on the book "The Accidental Billionaires" by Ben Mezrich.
Quick Thoughts: I feel like I've done enough promotion for this film already. It's clear why this is one that I'm interested in - it's got a great director, a pedigreed cast, and a subject matter that I'm interested in learning more about. Working on a dissertation that involved Facebook has made me all the more curious about the social networking website's origins.
1.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (Nov. 19) - Trailer
Plot: Part 1 begins as Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort's immortality and destruction—the Horcruxes. On their own, without the guidance of their professors or the protection of Professor Dumbledore, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever. But there are Dark Forces in their midst that threaten to tear them apart. Little does Harry know that his future has already been decided by his past when, on that fateful day, he became "the Boy Who Lived." No longer just a boy, Harry Potter is drawing ever closer to the task for which he has been preparing since the day he first stepped into Hogwarts: the ultimate battle with Voldemort.
Quick Thoughts: And so it's the beginning of the end. We're finally going to see this famed literary series come to a close on the big screen. Those who read the books pretty know what happens here - the only real mystery is where they are ending this film and apparently that information has been leaked, although I haven't read what it is yet. As usual, I don't need to do much persuasion here, pretty much everyone has already made up their mind whether they are seeing this or not and you can bet that I will be seeing in.
4.Red (Oct. 15) - Trailer
Plot: Based on the cult D.C. Comics graphic novel by Warren Ellis and Cully Hammer, "Red" is an explosive action-comedy starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren. Frank (Bruce Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) used to be the CIA's top agents – but the secrets they know just made them the Agency's top targets. Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive. To stop the operation, the team embarks on an impossible, cross-country mission to break into the top-secret CIA headquarters, where they will uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history.
Quick thoughts: If you thought The Expendables showcased old people still kicking ass, you aint seen nothing yet. This looks like it will just be a pure blast. I mean, how can you not get a kick out of seeing Helen Mirren firing away at people with that massive gun. I'm not sure how strong the story will be here, but I don't think it will matter. This is the kind of film you gladly turn of your brain and just enjoy watching the insanity unfold.
3.Due Date (Nov. 5) - Trailer
Plot: Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) is an expectant first-time father whose wife's due date is a mere five days away. As Peter hurries to catch a flight home from Atlanta to be at her side for the birth, his best intentions go completely awry when a chance encounter with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) forces Peter to hitch a ride with Ethan--on what turns out to be a cross-country road trip that will ultimately destroy several cars, numerous friendships and Peter's last nerve.
Quick thoughts: There may not be two hotter actors right now than Downey Jr. and Galifianakis, so the pairing of them seems like a dream. While the premise seems a bit familiar (mismatched guys on a road trip), I can't see why these two comedians won't be able to rise above that and make a memorable film. Director Todd Phillips' track record is a bit sketchy; while he's had big hits like The Hangover, he's also had some duds like School For Scoundrels. Let's hope this is another one that falls into the former category.
2.The Social Network (Oct. 1) - Trailer
Plot: On a fall night in 2003, Harvard undergrad and computer programming genius Mark Zuckerberg sits down at his computer and heatedly begins working on a new idea. In a fury of blogging and programming, what begins in his dorm room soon becomes a global social network and a revolution in communication. A mere six years and 500 million friends later, Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in history... but for this entrepreneur, success leads to both personal and legal complications. From director David Fincher and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin comes "The Social Network," a film that proves you don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies. The film is produced by Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca, and Ceán Chaffin and based on the book "The Accidental Billionaires" by Ben Mezrich.
Quick Thoughts: I feel like I've done enough promotion for this film already. It's clear why this is one that I'm interested in - it's got a great director, a pedigreed cast, and a subject matter that I'm interested in learning more about. Working on a dissertation that involved Facebook has made me all the more curious about the social networking website's origins.
1.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (Nov. 19) - Trailer
Plot: Part 1 begins as Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort's immortality and destruction—the Horcruxes. On their own, without the guidance of their professors or the protection of Professor Dumbledore, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever. But there are Dark Forces in their midst that threaten to tear them apart. Little does Harry know that his future has already been decided by his past when, on that fateful day, he became "the Boy Who Lived." No longer just a boy, Harry Potter is drawing ever closer to the task for which he has been preparing since the day he first stepped into Hogwarts: the ultimate battle with Voldemort.
Quick Thoughts: And so it's the beginning of the end. We're finally going to see this famed literary series come to a close on the big screen. Those who read the books pretty know what happens here - the only real mystery is where they are ending this film and apparently that information has been leaked, although I haven't read what it is yet. As usual, I don't need to do much persuasion here, pretty much everyone has already made up their mind whether they are seeing this or not and you can bet that I will be seeing in.
Hair-brained scheme
Saw this infomercial video online and thought it was so ridiculous that I just had to share it on here. There are so many things wrong with this ad/product. 1)Let's start with the obvious - was it really that hard to create a decent looking goatee before? 2)The thing requires that you bite down on a mouthpiece, which seems like it would change the contour of your face and actually cause the goatee to look worse. 3)Is the woman in this video capable of making eye contact with her fake boyfriend - every shot involves her seemingly trying to find the camera instead of admiring his facial hair. Feel free to add any other problems with this video as well.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Fall Movie Preview (#8-5)
8.Buried (Sept. 24) - Trailer
Plot: Paul Conroy is not ready to die. But when he wakes up 6 feet underground with no idea of who put him there or why, life for the truck driver and family man instantly becomes a hellish struggle for survival. Buried with only a cell phone and a lighter, his contact with the outside world and ability to piece together clues that could help him discover his location are maddeningly limited. Poor reception, a rapidly draining battery, and a dwindling oxygen supply become his worst enemies in a tightly confined race against time - fighting panic, despair and delirium, Paul has only 90 minutes to be rescued before his worst nightmare comes true.
Quick thoughts: I've already share some comments about this film when I posted its trailer originally. This is a claustrophobia movie, in a similar vein as Phone Booth; so if you're into that type of film, this seems like it could be really cool. If it's as good as early buzz says it is, it could help give Ryan Reynolds that indie cred to go along with the mainstream success he's likely to have with next year's Green Lantern film.
7.Megamind (Nov. 5) - Trailer
Plot: "Megamind" is a diabolically funny, and satirical take on the superhero genre. We follow the story of Megamind, the most brilliant supervillain the world has ever known – and the least successful. Over the years, he has tried to conquer Metro City in every imaginable way. Each attempt, a colossal failure thanks to the caped superhero known as "Metro Man."
Quick thoughts: This is my lone computer animated film for the season. We saw Despicable Me have success earlier this year with a similar story that used a superhero villain as its protagonist. While some may not want to see the same thing again (although with kids that's usually not true), this one has the added appeal of a voice cast featuring Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, and Brad Pitt. If this one doesn't do well, it will be a megasurprise.
6.Unstoppable (Nov. 12) - Trailer
Plot: "Unstoppable" is about a runaway train carrying a cargo of toxic chemicals. The film pits an engineer and his conductor in a race against time. They're chasing the runaway train in a separate locomotive and need to bring it under control before it derails on a curve and causes a toxic spill that will decimate a town.
Quick thoughts: The pair of Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott has become Hollywood's version of 'old reliable'. Their movies are never classics, but they are always suitable popcorn fare and this one appears to be no different. The most interesting thing to me about this film is Chris Pine. He really impressed me as Kirk in the Star Trek reboot, so I'm curious if that was a case of inspired casting or if this guy will become the next breakout star.
5.How Do You Know (Dec. 17) - Trailer
Plot: A romantic comedy centered on the love triangle between professional softball player Lisa Jorgenson, a corporate executive, and a major-league pitcher.
Quick Thoughts: Director James L. Brooks has a proven track record of great comedies that also reflect real human emotion. Films like As Good As It Gets and his work with The Simpsons proves that. I'm real excited to see this new effort by him and think he has assembled an excellent cast here. I don't know of two more likeable actors out there right now than Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon. I greatly anticipate seeing the two of them work off of each other. Throw in Jack Nicholson and Owen Wilson in there as well and you've struck comedy gold. This may be the most 'girly' film on my list, but you better believe I'll be seeing this one.
Plot: Paul Conroy is not ready to die. But when he wakes up 6 feet underground with no idea of who put him there or why, life for the truck driver and family man instantly becomes a hellish struggle for survival. Buried with only a cell phone and a lighter, his contact with the outside world and ability to piece together clues that could help him discover his location are maddeningly limited. Poor reception, a rapidly draining battery, and a dwindling oxygen supply become his worst enemies in a tightly confined race against time - fighting panic, despair and delirium, Paul has only 90 minutes to be rescued before his worst nightmare comes true.
Quick thoughts: I've already share some comments about this film when I posted its trailer originally. This is a claustrophobia movie, in a similar vein as Phone Booth; so if you're into that type of film, this seems like it could be really cool. If it's as good as early buzz says it is, it could help give Ryan Reynolds that indie cred to go along with the mainstream success he's likely to have with next year's Green Lantern film.
7.Megamind (Nov. 5) - Trailer
Plot: "Megamind" is a diabolically funny, and satirical take on the superhero genre. We follow the story of Megamind, the most brilliant supervillain the world has ever known – and the least successful. Over the years, he has tried to conquer Metro City in every imaginable way. Each attempt, a colossal failure thanks to the caped superhero known as "Metro Man."
Quick thoughts: This is my lone computer animated film for the season. We saw Despicable Me have success earlier this year with a similar story that used a superhero villain as its protagonist. While some may not want to see the same thing again (although with kids that's usually not true), this one has the added appeal of a voice cast featuring Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, and Brad Pitt. If this one doesn't do well, it will be a megasurprise.
6.Unstoppable (Nov. 12) - Trailer
Plot: "Unstoppable" is about a runaway train carrying a cargo of toxic chemicals. The film pits an engineer and his conductor in a race against time. They're chasing the runaway train in a separate locomotive and need to bring it under control before it derails on a curve and causes a toxic spill that will decimate a town.
Quick thoughts: The pair of Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott has become Hollywood's version of 'old reliable'. Their movies are never classics, but they are always suitable popcorn fare and this one appears to be no different. The most interesting thing to me about this film is Chris Pine. He really impressed me as Kirk in the Star Trek reboot, so I'm curious if that was a case of inspired casting or if this guy will become the next breakout star.
5.How Do You Know (Dec. 17) - Trailer
Plot: A romantic comedy centered on the love triangle between professional softball player Lisa Jorgenson, a corporate executive, and a major-league pitcher.
Quick Thoughts: Director James L. Brooks has a proven track record of great comedies that also reflect real human emotion. Films like As Good As It Gets and his work with The Simpsons proves that. I'm real excited to see this new effort by him and think he has assembled an excellent cast here. I don't know of two more likeable actors out there right now than Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon. I greatly anticipate seeing the two of them work off of each other. Throw in Jack Nicholson and Owen Wilson in there as well and you've struck comedy gold. This may be the most 'girly' film on my list, but you better believe I'll be seeing this one.
Chuck full of news
A pair of interesting stories regarding some upcoming casting choices for the new season of Chuck.
First, from Comingsoon.net:
Then this scoop from EW.com:
Both stories seem like inspired choices that make me super-excited for the new season.
First, from Comingsoon.net:
Timothy Dalton will guest-star in a multi-episode arc on the NBC's action-comedy "Chuck."
Dalton will be playing a mysterious stranger who has a history with Chuck's (series star Zachary Levi) mom, played by Linda Hamilton (Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day). This marks Dalton's first series appearance on American television since he guest-starred on "Charlie's Angels" in 1979.
Then this scoop from EW.com:
I pity the fool who doesn’t crack up over Chuck‘s latest piece of stunt casting.
Six-time WWE champion Batista, Expendables villain Eric Roberts, and Bones squintern Joel David Moore have signed on to guest-star as Casey’s former soldier-of-fortune buddies from the Clinton era.
His A-Team, if you will.
The trio—who turn up in this season’s fifth episode, “Chuck Versus The Couch Lock”—have gone rogue and are back to seek revenge on their ex-comrade.
Both stories seem like inspired choices that make me super-excited for the new season.
Fall Movie Preview (#12-9)
12.The Next Three Days (Nov. 19) - Trailer
Plot: Life seems perfect for John Brennan until his wife, Lara, is arrested for a gruesome murder she says she didn't commit. Three years into her sentence, John is struggling to hold his family together, raising their son and teaching at college while he pursues every means available to prove her innocence. With the rejection of their final appeal, Lara becomes suicidal and John decides there is only one possible, bearable solution: to break his wife out of prison. Refusing to be deterred by impossible odds or his own inexperience, John devises an elaborate escape plot and plunges into a dangerous and unfamiliar world, ultimately risking everything for the woman he loves.
Quick thoughts: I hope I'm not being led astray by this movie. If it focuses on the prison break aspect and remains a thriller, then this should be a a winner. If it gets too melodramatic and depressing, this film may feel like it is three days long. I really like the cast here, even if I don't necessarily buy that Elizabeth Banks would marry Russell Crowe. Having Liam Neeson as an ex-con, who successfully escaped the prison is a nice touch as well.
11.Hereafter (Oct. 22)
Plot: "Hereafter" tells the story of three people who are touched by death in different ways. George (Matt Damon) is a blue-collar American who has a special connection to the afterlife. On the other side of the world, Marie (Cecile De France), a French journalist, has a near-death experience that shakes her reality. And when Marcus, a London schoolboy, loses the person closest to him, he desperately needs answers. Each on a path in search of the truth, their lives will intersect, forever changed by what they believe might--or must--exist in the hereafter.
Quick thoughts: Thus far, there has been very little seen or heard about this movie, despite the fact that it comes out in less than two months. I hope this is not a case where I hear news in the next couple days that it has been pushed back. If I recall correctly, I think it's just a matter of Clint typically keeping his films close to the vest until it's near the release date. If that's the case, fine. Overall, I've been very impressed with Clint's work in recent years and am interested to see what he does with this subject matter.
10.Freakonomics (Oct. 1) - Trailer
Plot: "Freakonomics" is the highly anticipated film version of the phenomenally bestselling book about incentives-based thinking by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. Like the book, the film examines human behavior with provocative and sometimes hilarious case studies, bringing together a dream team of filmmakers responsible for some of the most acclaimed and entertaining documentaries in recent years: Academy Award® winner Alex Gibney ("Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room," "Casino Jack and the United States of Money"), Academy Award® nominees Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing ("Jesus Camp"), Academy Award® nominee Morgan Spurlock ("Super Size Me"), Eugene Jarecki ("Why We Fight") and Seth Gordon ("The King of Kong").
Quick thoughts: It's a shame that I never read the book that this film is based on. It was a huge hit and certainly seems like it is something I would have enjoyed reading. I'm hoping to make up for that by catching this documentary when it comes out. As seen above, it has a lot of talented directors collaborating on it and I think the end result is going to be a provocative film for all. It may even prompt me to finally read the book after all.
9.Little Fockers (Dec. 22) - Trailer
Plot: It has taken 10 years, two little Fockers with wife Pam (Polo) and countless hurdles for Greg to finally get "in" with his tightly wound father-in-law, Jack. After the cash-strapped dad takes a job moonlighting for a drug company, however, Jack's suspicions about his favorite male nurse come roaring back. When Greg and Pam's entire clan -- including Pam's lovelorn ex, Kevin (Owen Wilson) -- descends for the twins' birthday party, Greg must prove to the skeptical Jack that he's fully capable as the man of the house. But with all the misunderstandings, spying and covert missions, will Greg pass Jack's final test and become the family's next patriarch... or will the circle of trust be broken for good?
Quick thoughts: I adored the original film, but was less than enamored with the sequel. I'm hoping that since they did not rush to do this third one that the extra time has helped them refocus and produce a better film. There's a lot of comedic talent in this cast, but let's hope that they each get enough time to shine and it's not a case of too many cooks spoiling the soup. Regardless of it's quality though, this is poised to be a big hit for the Christmas season.
Plot: Life seems perfect for John Brennan until his wife, Lara, is arrested for a gruesome murder she says she didn't commit. Three years into her sentence, John is struggling to hold his family together, raising their son and teaching at college while he pursues every means available to prove her innocence. With the rejection of their final appeal, Lara becomes suicidal and John decides there is only one possible, bearable solution: to break his wife out of prison. Refusing to be deterred by impossible odds or his own inexperience, John devises an elaborate escape plot and plunges into a dangerous and unfamiliar world, ultimately risking everything for the woman he loves.
Quick thoughts: I hope I'm not being led astray by this movie. If it focuses on the prison break aspect and remains a thriller, then this should be a a winner. If it gets too melodramatic and depressing, this film may feel like it is three days long. I really like the cast here, even if I don't necessarily buy that Elizabeth Banks would marry Russell Crowe. Having Liam Neeson as an ex-con, who successfully escaped the prison is a nice touch as well.
11.Hereafter (Oct. 22)
Plot: "Hereafter" tells the story of three people who are touched by death in different ways. George (Matt Damon) is a blue-collar American who has a special connection to the afterlife. On the other side of the world, Marie (Cecile De France), a French journalist, has a near-death experience that shakes her reality. And when Marcus, a London schoolboy, loses the person closest to him, he desperately needs answers. Each on a path in search of the truth, their lives will intersect, forever changed by what they believe might--or must--exist in the hereafter.
Quick thoughts: Thus far, there has been very little seen or heard about this movie, despite the fact that it comes out in less than two months. I hope this is not a case where I hear news in the next couple days that it has been pushed back. If I recall correctly, I think it's just a matter of Clint typically keeping his films close to the vest until it's near the release date. If that's the case, fine. Overall, I've been very impressed with Clint's work in recent years and am interested to see what he does with this subject matter.
10.Freakonomics (Oct. 1) - Trailer
Plot: "Freakonomics" is the highly anticipated film version of the phenomenally bestselling book about incentives-based thinking by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. Like the book, the film examines human behavior with provocative and sometimes hilarious case studies, bringing together a dream team of filmmakers responsible for some of the most acclaimed and entertaining documentaries in recent years: Academy Award® winner Alex Gibney ("Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room," "Casino Jack and the United States of Money"), Academy Award® nominees Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing ("Jesus Camp"), Academy Award® nominee Morgan Spurlock ("Super Size Me"), Eugene Jarecki ("Why We Fight") and Seth Gordon ("The King of Kong").
Quick thoughts: It's a shame that I never read the book that this film is based on. It was a huge hit and certainly seems like it is something I would have enjoyed reading. I'm hoping to make up for that by catching this documentary when it comes out. As seen above, it has a lot of talented directors collaborating on it and I think the end result is going to be a provocative film for all. It may even prompt me to finally read the book after all.
9.Little Fockers (Dec. 22) - Trailer
Plot: It has taken 10 years, two little Fockers with wife Pam (Polo) and countless hurdles for Greg to finally get "in" with his tightly wound father-in-law, Jack. After the cash-strapped dad takes a job moonlighting for a drug company, however, Jack's suspicions about his favorite male nurse come roaring back. When Greg and Pam's entire clan -- including Pam's lovelorn ex, Kevin (Owen Wilson) -- descends for the twins' birthday party, Greg must prove to the skeptical Jack that he's fully capable as the man of the house. But with all the misunderstandings, spying and covert missions, will Greg pass Jack's final test and become the family's next patriarch... or will the circle of trust be broken for good?
Quick thoughts: I adored the original film, but was less than enamored with the sequel. I'm hoping that since they did not rush to do this third one that the extra time has helped them refocus and produce a better film. There's a lot of comedic talent in this cast, but let's hope that they each get enough time to shine and it's not a case of too many cooks spoiling the soup. Regardless of it's quality though, this is poised to be a big hit for the Christmas season.
'Will' you remember me?
Looks like SNL is losing one of its funnymen. From comingsoon.net:
The New York Times reports that Will Forte, who played such characters as MacGruber, Tim Calhoun and Jon Bovi, will not be returning for the 36th season of "Saturday Night Live" on NBC this fall:
"The departure was confirmed by two people with direct knowledge of the show's planning but who were not allowed to speak on the record because 'Saturday Night Live' has not officially announced details of its coming season. Representatives for Mr. Forte and for NBC's late-night entertainment division did not immediately comment, but one of the sources said the parting was amicable and at the choosing of Mr. Forte, who plans to pursue other projects."
Forte joined "SNL" in its 2002-2003 season. He also appeared in the film version of MacGruber earlier this year and has done guest appearances on "30 Rock," "The Cleveland Show" and ""American Dad!"
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Fall Movie Preview (#16-13)
16. Tron: Legacy (Dec. 17) - Trailer
Plot: "TRON: Legacy" is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that's unlike anything ever captured on the big screen Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), a rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father Kevin Flynn (Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-winner Jeff Bridges), a man once known as the world's leading video-game developer. When Sam investigates a strange signal sent from the old Flynn's Arcade—a signal that could only come from his father—he finds himself pulled into a digital world where Kevin has been trapped for 20 years. With the help of the fearless warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe—a universe created by Kevin himself that has become far more advanced with never-before imagined vehicles, weapons, landscapes and a ruthless villain who will stop at nothing to prevent their escape.
Quick thoughts: I'll admit up front that I have never seen the original Tron, but this film has piqued my interest. If nothing else, it looks to be visually stunning. Jeff Bridges is such a terrific actor and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do in this dual role. While I don't think it'll achieve the same financial success as Avatar, I feel this movie has such a unique look that it's bound to generate interest in seeing it based solely on that just like James Cameron's film did last year.
15.True Grit (Dec. 25)
Plot: Charles Portis' novel is about a 14-year-old girl who, along with an aging U.S. marshal and another lawman, tracks her father's killer in hostile Indian territory. While the original film was a showcase for John Wayne, the Coens' version will tell the tale from the girl's point of view. The original starred Kim Darby as the teen, Wayne and Glen Campbell as the lawmen, Jeff Corey as the killer and featured Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper as fellow outlaws.
Quick thoughts: It's back to back Bridges' films. This one also has the potential to be great. I've come to really appreciate the Coens' films and after No Country For Old Men, I'm very curious to see what they do with a more traditional Western. It's interesting to see that the film will focus on the girl's point of view in this version given the acting chops of the three male leads - Bridges, Damon, and Brolin. With that trio, I don't see how this film can disappoint.
14.The Town (Sept. 17) - Trailer
Plot: Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) is an unrepentant criminal, the de facto leader of a group of ruthless bank robbers who pride themselves in stealing what they want and getting out clean. With no real attachments, Doug never has to fear losing anyone close to him. But that all changed on the gang's latest job, when they briefly took a hostage--bank manager, Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall). Though they let her go unharmed, Claire is nervously aware that the robbers know her name...and where she lives. But she lets her guard down when she meets an unassuming and rather charming man named Doug...not realizing that he is the same man who only days earlier had terrorized her. The instant attraction between them gradually turns into a passionate romance that threatens to take them both down a dangerous, and potentially deadly, path.
Quick thoughts: I posted the trailer for this a few weeks ago, so many of you may already be familiar with this film. Ben Affleck proved he had the chops to be a competent director with Gone Baby Gone, so it should be interesting to see how he does in his encore. The Boston setting doesn't do much for me, but everything else about it seems like a solid thriller. Backed by a strong cast, this seems like this should be good. The only thing that concerns me is the mid-September release date. That is kind of no man's land; if the film had more popcorn value or Oscar potential it seems like it would have been released either earlier or later.
13.Jackass 3D (Oct. 15) - Trailer
Plot: Umm, no real plot here. It's basically the Jackass guys doing their usual stuff, only this time in 3D!
Quick thoughts: I don't imagine they'll be breaking any ground (at least not metaphorically) in this film. It also remains to be seen whether people will be willing to pay out the extra cash to watch them do the same stunts they've done on free TV now in 3D. Still there's no denying the laughter that comes from seeing someone get hit in the nuts. Since there's always a market for that, I'm sure this will do real well at the box office.
Plot: "TRON: Legacy" is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that's unlike anything ever captured on the big screen Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), a rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father Kevin Flynn (Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-winner Jeff Bridges), a man once known as the world's leading video-game developer. When Sam investigates a strange signal sent from the old Flynn's Arcade—a signal that could only come from his father—he finds himself pulled into a digital world where Kevin has been trapped for 20 years. With the help of the fearless warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe—a universe created by Kevin himself that has become far more advanced with never-before imagined vehicles, weapons, landscapes and a ruthless villain who will stop at nothing to prevent their escape.
Quick thoughts: I'll admit up front that I have never seen the original Tron, but this film has piqued my interest. If nothing else, it looks to be visually stunning. Jeff Bridges is such a terrific actor and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do in this dual role. While I don't think it'll achieve the same financial success as Avatar, I feel this movie has such a unique look that it's bound to generate interest in seeing it based solely on that just like James Cameron's film did last year.
15.True Grit (Dec. 25)
Plot: Charles Portis' novel is about a 14-year-old girl who, along with an aging U.S. marshal and another lawman, tracks her father's killer in hostile Indian territory. While the original film was a showcase for John Wayne, the Coens' version will tell the tale from the girl's point of view. The original starred Kim Darby as the teen, Wayne and Glen Campbell as the lawmen, Jeff Corey as the killer and featured Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper as fellow outlaws.
Quick thoughts: It's back to back Bridges' films. This one also has the potential to be great. I've come to really appreciate the Coens' films and after No Country For Old Men, I'm very curious to see what they do with a more traditional Western. It's interesting to see that the film will focus on the girl's point of view in this version given the acting chops of the three male leads - Bridges, Damon, and Brolin. With that trio, I don't see how this film can disappoint.
14.The Town (Sept. 17) - Trailer
Plot: Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) is an unrepentant criminal, the de facto leader of a group of ruthless bank robbers who pride themselves in stealing what they want and getting out clean. With no real attachments, Doug never has to fear losing anyone close to him. But that all changed on the gang's latest job, when they briefly took a hostage--bank manager, Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall). Though they let her go unharmed, Claire is nervously aware that the robbers know her name...and where she lives. But she lets her guard down when she meets an unassuming and rather charming man named Doug...not realizing that he is the same man who only days earlier had terrorized her. The instant attraction between them gradually turns into a passionate romance that threatens to take them both down a dangerous, and potentially deadly, path.
Quick thoughts: I posted the trailer for this a few weeks ago, so many of you may already be familiar with this film. Ben Affleck proved he had the chops to be a competent director with Gone Baby Gone, so it should be interesting to see how he does in his encore. The Boston setting doesn't do much for me, but everything else about it seems like a solid thriller. Backed by a strong cast, this seems like this should be good. The only thing that concerns me is the mid-September release date. That is kind of no man's land; if the film had more popcorn value or Oscar potential it seems like it would have been released either earlier or later.
13.Jackass 3D (Oct. 15) - Trailer
Plot: Umm, no real plot here. It's basically the Jackass guys doing their usual stuff, only this time in 3D!
Quick thoughts: I don't imagine they'll be breaking any ground (at least not metaphorically) in this film. It also remains to be seen whether people will be willing to pay out the extra cash to watch them do the same stunts they've done on free TV now in 3D. Still there's no denying the laughter that comes from seeing someone get hit in the nuts. Since there's always a market for that, I'm sure this will do real well at the box office.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Thursday night smackdown
One of the biggest battles heading into the new fall season will occur, not surprisingly, on Thursday nights. NBC's sophomore sitcom, Community, which had an uneven first season, will be pitted against CBS' popular comedy, The Big Bang Theory, which is moving from its cozy Monday night timeslot to Survivor's old timeslot at 8pm. For those with DVR, this may not be a big deal, but for everyone else, here's some teases from both shows' upcoming seasons to help you make up your mind.
This just released promo photo from The Big Bang Theory seems to suggest Sheldon invites Penny to join him on a date with last season's guest star, Mayim Bialik. If true, that has hilarious written all over it.
Meanwhile, Community is countering with guest star Betty White, who's about as hot of a commodity as any actor in Hollywood today. Here's a video of her promoting her upcoming guest stint.
This just released promo photo from The Big Bang Theory seems to suggest Sheldon invites Penny to join him on a date with last season's guest star, Mayim Bialik. If true, that has hilarious written all over it.
Meanwhile, Community is countering with guest star Betty White, who's about as hot of a commodity as any actor in Hollywood today. Here's a video of her promoting her upcoming guest stint.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Fall Movie Preview (#20-17)
School is starting again, which means the summer movie season has come to a close and we begin to get some more serious fare at the box office. Throughout this week, I'll preview the 20 films I'm most interested in for the next few months and the ones you should keep your eyes on as well.
20.The Fighter (Dec. 10)
Plot: "The Fighter" is a drama about boxer Irish Mickey Ward (Wahlberg) and his unlikely path to become world lightweight champion. Bale plays Dicky Eklund, Mickey's half-brother and a talented fighter who once went the distance with Sugar Ray Leonard in a title fight but then turned to crime and landed in prison. Then he turned his life around and helped his underperforming brother find the spark for a remarkable run that led to the world title.
Quick thoughts: David O. Russell has been now to be very divisive both with actors and with viewers when it comes to his films. This one just makes my list thanks to the impressive cast. I'm anxious to see how Bale rebounds after disappointments with Terminator: Salvation and Public Enemies last year. Boxing films usually tend to be pretty good too and offer emotional stories. If successful, this could see success at next year's Oscars.
19.127 Hours (Nov. 5) - Trailer
Plot: "127 Hours" is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston's (James Franco) remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he is finally rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers (Clemence Poesy), family, and the two hikers (Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara) he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet? A visceral, thrilling story that will take an audience on a never before experienced journey and prove what we can do when we choose life.
Quick thoughts: I think director Danny Boyle has a real winner on his hands for his follow-up to Slumdog Millionaire. Franco has proven he can pull off drama just as well as comedy in recent years. The little I know about this story is unbelievable and I think it will translate well on the big screen. If people can tolerate a story that is basically a one-man show, then I think they'll be in for a treat.
18.Fair Game (Nov. 5) -- Trailer
Plot: As a covert officer in the CIA's Counter-Proliferation Division, Valerie (Naomi Watts) leads an investigation into the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Valerie's husband, diplomat Joe Wilson (Sean Penn), is drawn into the investigation to substantiate an alleged sale of enriched uranium from Niger. But when the administration ignores his findings and uses the issue to support the call to war, Joe writes a New York Times editorial outlining his conclusions and igniting a firestorm of controversy.Soon after, Valerie's covert status is reported by a high-profile Washington journalist. With her cover blown and her overseas contacts placed in mortal danger, Valerie is pushed to the breaking point as her career and private life collapse. After years serving the government, Valerie--a mother, a wife and a field officer with an impeccable record--now struggles to save her reputation, her career and her family.
Quick thoughts: Most are probably familiar with the name Valerie Plame, but may not know all the details behind her story of being outed as a spy by in 2003. Even I only knew the basic details. Now that I've read a little bit more about her and her family, I'm very interested to see how it is portrayed in this film. I'm not crazy about Sean Penn, but both he and Naomi Watts seem to be perfectly cast in this film based on how their real life counterparts look. This is a fascinating story, but if it gets too bogged down in political preachiness, it may be a turn off to many viewers.
17.The Tourist (Dec. 10)
Plot: "The Tourist" revolves around Frank (Depp), an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise (Jolie) is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Venice, Frank pursues a potential romance but soon finds himself the pursued as he and Elise are caught in a whirlwind of intrigue and danger.
Quick thoughts: Usually when films get pushed back it's a sign that a movie studio has lost faith in the film. In this case, the film has been pushed up, which I'm hoping is a good sign. Obviously it looks like a winner based solely on the two megastars as the leads. I'm also intrigued by the thriller aspect of the film. With this, The Fighter, and the third Narnia film all opening on the same date, it appears there will be a big time box office battle come early December.
20.The Fighter (Dec. 10)
Plot: "The Fighter" is a drama about boxer Irish Mickey Ward (Wahlberg) and his unlikely path to become world lightweight champion. Bale plays Dicky Eklund, Mickey's half-brother and a talented fighter who once went the distance with Sugar Ray Leonard in a title fight but then turned to crime and landed in prison. Then he turned his life around and helped his underperforming brother find the spark for a remarkable run that led to the world title.
Quick thoughts: David O. Russell has been now to be very divisive both with actors and with viewers when it comes to his films. This one just makes my list thanks to the impressive cast. I'm anxious to see how Bale rebounds after disappointments with Terminator: Salvation and Public Enemies last year. Boxing films usually tend to be pretty good too and offer emotional stories. If successful, this could see success at next year's Oscars.
19.127 Hours (Nov. 5) - Trailer
Plot: "127 Hours" is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston's (James Franco) remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he is finally rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers (Clemence Poesy), family, and the two hikers (Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara) he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet? A visceral, thrilling story that will take an audience on a never before experienced journey and prove what we can do when we choose life.
Quick thoughts: I think director Danny Boyle has a real winner on his hands for his follow-up to Slumdog Millionaire. Franco has proven he can pull off drama just as well as comedy in recent years. The little I know about this story is unbelievable and I think it will translate well on the big screen. If people can tolerate a story that is basically a one-man show, then I think they'll be in for a treat.
18.Fair Game (Nov. 5) -- Trailer
Plot: As a covert officer in the CIA's Counter-Proliferation Division, Valerie (Naomi Watts) leads an investigation into the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Valerie's husband, diplomat Joe Wilson (Sean Penn), is drawn into the investigation to substantiate an alleged sale of enriched uranium from Niger. But when the administration ignores his findings and uses the issue to support the call to war, Joe writes a New York Times editorial outlining his conclusions and igniting a firestorm of controversy.Soon after, Valerie's covert status is reported by a high-profile Washington journalist. With her cover blown and her overseas contacts placed in mortal danger, Valerie is pushed to the breaking point as her career and private life collapse. After years serving the government, Valerie--a mother, a wife and a field officer with an impeccable record--now struggles to save her reputation, her career and her family.
Quick thoughts: Most are probably familiar with the name Valerie Plame, but may not know all the details behind her story of being outed as a spy by in 2003. Even I only knew the basic details. Now that I've read a little bit more about her and her family, I'm very interested to see how it is portrayed in this film. I'm not crazy about Sean Penn, but both he and Naomi Watts seem to be perfectly cast in this film based on how their real life counterparts look. This is a fascinating story, but if it gets too bogged down in political preachiness, it may be a turn off to many viewers.
17.The Tourist (Dec. 10)
Plot: "The Tourist" revolves around Frank (Depp), an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise (Jolie) is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Venice, Frank pursues a potential romance but soon finds himself the pursued as he and Elise are caught in a whirlwind of intrigue and danger.
Quick thoughts: Usually when films get pushed back it's a sign that a movie studio has lost faith in the film. In this case, the film has been pushed up, which I'm hoping is a good sign. Obviously it looks like a winner based solely on the two megastars as the leads. I'm also intrigued by the thriller aspect of the film. With this, The Fighter, and the third Narnia film all opening on the same date, it appears there will be a big time box office battle come early December.
NMR: The Ghost Writer
There are some who haven't seen this movie because they haven't heard about it. Others haven't seen it because they're boycotting it because it was directed by Roman Polanski. I'm here to tell you, that everyone should check out this film. It is a great little political thriller with some terrific acting. Ewan McGregor plays a ghost writer hired to write the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister (played by Pierce Brosnan). As McGregor's character learns more about the life of this man, he realizes that there is more than meets the eye. He also figures out that he may be in over his head here in trying to uncover it all. Aside from the leads, you get some splendid performances from people like Olivia Williams and Tom Wikinson. About the only drawback to the film is that the English accents can be difficult to discern at times. However, if you are looking for a smart, adult thriller with a little black humor thown in, this is definitely for you. Rating: ****
Get your Freak on
An interesting new documentary based on the popular nonfiction book, Freakonomics is set to come out in October. Looks very interesting. You can watch the trailer here and then look for further info on it in my Fall Movie Preview posts sometime this week.
Friday, August 20, 2010
NMR: Date Night
Technically, I saw this on Amazon's on demand service since Netflix's crappy deal prevents them from having this film available to rent until next month, but I digress. This film found a way of bringing together a dream team of Steve Carell and Tina Fey - both of whom are well suited for this movie since they are not only funny, but down to Earth enough to be believable as a surburbanite couple struggling to keep their marriage fresh. Their presence is what makes this film worth seeing. I particularly enjoyed any of the scenes that found them away from the manic activity and having some hilarious and/or touching moments. There are a few scenes where the leads pretend what's going on with other couples' dinner conversations that are very funny. I could watch a whole movie of them doing those type of riffs. The surrounding story is a bit goofy and far-fetched at times, but you go along with it not just for the leads, but for many of the supporting players as well like James Franco, Mila Kunis, and Mark Wahlberg, who all appear to be having a blast making the movie. This is no classic, but it's an excellent film for rental that is likely to have a lot of replay value. Rating: ***1/2
Champagne dreams
Yet another Inception trailer spoof, but this one is in an entirely different vein, yet still amazing. Check it out!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Who wants a complete makeover?
It appears that the syndicated version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is getting an overhaul when it returns next month. Here's a breakdown on the new rules, courtesy of Buzzerblog:
I'll reserve judgment until I actually see the gameplay, but it does intrigue me. The thing I'm most concerned about is getting to see the higher value questions so that I can have a challenge while I watch. If this new format does that, I'm all for it.
Who Wants to be a Millionaire will be getting an all new look when the new season debuts September 13th in syndication. The long running quiz show hosted by Meredith Vieira is nearly getting an all new game, allowing contestants to win more money than ever before with an unpredictable first portion consisting of the first ten questions. If the contestant makes it that far, though, the Millionaire everyone knows comes into full force, placing the contestant just four questions away from the $1,000,000 top prize. With anything like this I’m expecting some sort of knee-jerk reaction and I’m hoping it doesn’t happen because after you dissect all the information and think about it, it sounds pretty good. I have to be honest…I think I really like this. Reasons why I do after the rules.
First off, the clock is removed from the game. The first round of the game will consist of the first ten questions valued from $100 to $25,000. The values specifically are $100; $500; $1,000; $2,000; $3,000; $5,000; $7,000; $10,000; $15,000; and $25,000. Before the game the order of the questions and the dollar values attached to each is randomly shuffled. So that means each contestant will be getting a different game each time. That first question may be for $100, or it could be for a huge $25,000. It could be the easiest question or it could be the hardest. No one knows the value of the question until the player has given his or her Final Answer. If a contestant answers correctly the value of the question is added to the contestant’s bank. If a contestant does not know the answer, that person can walk away with half of the bank during the first ten questions.
To help the contestant out, three Lifelines will be given. The only surviving Lifeline is Ask the Audience. The other two are called “Jump the Question. If the contestant is afraid of the question the contestant may “Jump” it, which will bypass the question but he or she can’t bank the question value. So again, the three lifelines are Ask the Audience and two Jumps.
If the contestant can make it through the first 10 questions, the contestant is guaranteed $25,000 to fall back on like always and is now just four questions away from the top prize. This portion is called “Classic Millionaire” and runs like always The $50,000 question has been removed and the Final Four are $100,000; $250,000; $500,000; and $1,000,000. The contestant can leave with his or her bank (or whatever dollar value that person is on), but if a wrong answer is given the contestant drops back to $25,000.
Not only that, if you can get through the first ten questions without using any of your Jumps, they will be used in the upper tier. So, for instance, if you get through the first 10 without using a single Jump, your bank will stand at the max of $68,600 and you bypass the $100,000 and $250,000 question; going for $500,000 automatically.
Another huge change is the iconic set is getting revamped. Some new lights and large 18 foot wide high definition monitors are placed around the set. The most startling change is the removal of the Hot Seat, so contestants and Meredith are on their feet in the central hub the entire time, moving about the set. As a side note also, the show will celebrate its 1,500th episode on November 5th, 2010.
So that’s the new game. And again, I have to be honest, I really like it I think. This is coming from a big fan of the show, too. The show reached a point of no return last season. No one was winning much. The contestants constantly walked away early because of the larger money chain so it never got to the exciting part. People were too afraid to use Double Dip. Ask the Expert was completely useless. Something had to happen. Do I think it’s as good as the original ABC game? No, that’s nearly impossible. But I do think this is better than what we’ve had the past year or two, which got extremely stale and predictable.
I like this because it does add a lot of excitement and unpredictability. The Jump does this especially, because you have to be really careful and play the odds of what dollar value you’re getting rid of. Ask the Audience was the only useful Lifeline left so I’m glad they kept it. The main game, while mixing it up, is still the Millionaire standard of answering multiple choice questions. That hasn’t changed. You just don’t know what you’re getting and it makes the walk-away decision much more crucial because staying in the game just one more question could net you well over $10,000 more. The only thing that confuses me is getting rid of something as iconic as the Hot Seat, but it’s not like that matters in the long run so that’s far from a deal breaker.
And here’s what I like the most. I feel the million is able to be won. The past few years have felt nearly impossible to win. Right now I feel like someone could actually win this.
“I feel as though we’ve really upped the ante this year on Millionaire. Every question counts and contestants will have to apply more strategy to see which risks they’re willing to take,” said Millionaire host Meredith Vieira. “Millionaire will look a lot different this year, but the foundation of the show remains intact. Millionaire is the show that gives regular folks a chance to win extraordinary money and we’re staying true to that premise,” she added.
I'll reserve judgment until I actually see the gameplay, but it does intrigue me. The thing I'm most concerned about is getting to see the higher value questions so that I can have a challenge while I watch. If this new format does that, I'm all for it.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Cop honor
As summer begins to wind down, I'm doing my best to see as many more films as I can because I know school is right around the corner. This time it's the lastest Will Ferrell comedy, The Other Guys.
It's been no secret that many people have been disgruntled with many of Ferrell's recent comedies, feeling that they have not lived up to the man's talent. I'm pleased to report that this movie has Will back in top form once again; it's the best he's been since at least Talladega Nights - and since I wasn't exactly a fan of that film, I'll say it's the best he's been Anchorman. Ferrell plays a cop who's never seen any action on the streets and is content with simply doing the grunt paperwork that none of his fellow 'real' cops want to do. This attitude particularly frustrates his partner, Terry Hoitz (played by Mark Wahlberg); he's a guy who wants to be in the thick of it all, but has been sidelined due to him accidentally shooting Derek Jeter.
Initially there isn't a need for them to be out in the field, since supercops (played by Samuel L. Jackson and The Rock) handle all of the big cases. While their appearance is brief, I did love the presence of these two guys on screen and the havoc they caused in order to catch the bad guys. Since we couldn't have a film featuring the main characters doing paperwork the entire time, Ferrell and Wahlberg soon find themselves working on a case involving the shady dealings of an investor (played by Steve Coogan).
As the two leads uncover clues, we get a lot of banter and bickering between them. Reminiscent of many past cop movies, these two guys can't get along. But the film does a nice job of playing with that notion since usually the bickering is a means of two guys trying to prove who's tougher. Here neither of these guys are all that manly, so watching them defend themselves while also trying to tear the other one down, yields a lot of laughs in the film.
Other sources of hilarity comes from a few more side characters like Michael Keaton, who plays the police captain. In addition to dealing with bumbling cops, he's having to take a side job at Bed, Bath, and Beyond in order to put his bisexual son through NYU. Funny stuff. There's also Eva Mendes playing Ferrell's 'thankless' wife. The gag here is that Ferrell seemingly doesn't realize what a catch she is, yet she's still extremely attracted to her.
One of the most impressive things about the film is it's joke callbacks. Given my penchant for Arrested Development, I always love when comedy writers can reference previous jokes and continue to bring fresh takes on them. The film does a really nice job with this, which helps keeps the laughs coming throughout the film.
It should be noted though that this is not a pure comedy. There's a lot of action and story here that makes the film seem almost at times like an actual police thriller, rather than a comedy. They seemed to want to include a lot of homages to cop movies, yet not all of them played for laughs. This makes the film a bit longer than it should have been and gives it an odd pacing. However, whenever the film started to lose me, it didn't take long for them to win me back with another great gag or one-liner.
Many will be surprised to see the film take such a hard stance against the economic situation we are actually facing in our country; particulary during the closing credits as they reveal several alarming statistics about our national banks and the bailout they received. Since the cops are dealing with a white collar crime, it somewhat fits, but still seems out of place in this film. However, any opportunity I get to learn something new about the world I live, I appreciate it.
I find myself eager to watch this film again. I feel that I may have missed some small nuances or subtle dialogue that will yield more laughs upon a second visit. While some films can be funny, you also know that those laughs won't be there on repeat viewings. I don't believe the same will hold true here. This is a robust film that offers a great performance from Ferrell and provides enough other talented people around him to make this a very enjoyable film. It does a nice job of paying homage to the police films that came before it, while also adding a new wrinkle to make it feel fresh. This is a nice late summer treat worthy of a viewing if you get the opportunity. Grade: B+
It's been no secret that many people have been disgruntled with many of Ferrell's recent comedies, feeling that they have not lived up to the man's talent. I'm pleased to report that this movie has Will back in top form once again; it's the best he's been since at least Talladega Nights - and since I wasn't exactly a fan of that film, I'll say it's the best he's been Anchorman. Ferrell plays a cop who's never seen any action on the streets and is content with simply doing the grunt paperwork that none of his fellow 'real' cops want to do. This attitude particularly frustrates his partner, Terry Hoitz (played by Mark Wahlberg); he's a guy who wants to be in the thick of it all, but has been sidelined due to him accidentally shooting Derek Jeter.
Initially there isn't a need for them to be out in the field, since supercops (played by Samuel L. Jackson and The Rock) handle all of the big cases. While their appearance is brief, I did love the presence of these two guys on screen and the havoc they caused in order to catch the bad guys. Since we couldn't have a film featuring the main characters doing paperwork the entire time, Ferrell and Wahlberg soon find themselves working on a case involving the shady dealings of an investor (played by Steve Coogan).
As the two leads uncover clues, we get a lot of banter and bickering between them. Reminiscent of many past cop movies, these two guys can't get along. But the film does a nice job of playing with that notion since usually the bickering is a means of two guys trying to prove who's tougher. Here neither of these guys are all that manly, so watching them defend themselves while also trying to tear the other one down, yields a lot of laughs in the film.
Other sources of hilarity comes from a few more side characters like Michael Keaton, who plays the police captain. In addition to dealing with bumbling cops, he's having to take a side job at Bed, Bath, and Beyond in order to put his bisexual son through NYU. Funny stuff. There's also Eva Mendes playing Ferrell's 'thankless' wife. The gag here is that Ferrell seemingly doesn't realize what a catch she is, yet she's still extremely attracted to her.
One of the most impressive things about the film is it's joke callbacks. Given my penchant for Arrested Development, I always love when comedy writers can reference previous jokes and continue to bring fresh takes on them. The film does a really nice job with this, which helps keeps the laughs coming throughout the film.
It should be noted though that this is not a pure comedy. There's a lot of action and story here that makes the film seem almost at times like an actual police thriller, rather than a comedy. They seemed to want to include a lot of homages to cop movies, yet not all of them played for laughs. This makes the film a bit longer than it should have been and gives it an odd pacing. However, whenever the film started to lose me, it didn't take long for them to win me back with another great gag or one-liner.
Many will be surprised to see the film take such a hard stance against the economic situation we are actually facing in our country; particulary during the closing credits as they reveal several alarming statistics about our national banks and the bailout they received. Since the cops are dealing with a white collar crime, it somewhat fits, but still seems out of place in this film. However, any opportunity I get to learn something new about the world I live, I appreciate it.
I find myself eager to watch this film again. I feel that I may have missed some small nuances or subtle dialogue that will yield more laughs upon a second visit. While some films can be funny, you also know that those laughs won't be there on repeat viewings. I don't believe the same will hold true here. This is a robust film that offers a great performance from Ferrell and provides enough other talented people around him to make this a very enjoyable film. It does a nice job of paying homage to the police films that came before it, while also adding a new wrinkle to make it feel fresh. This is a nice late summer treat worthy of a viewing if you get the opportunity. Grade: B+
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Runaway train
One of the few movies from my original Top 30 of 2010 that I haven't really talked about much since is Unstoppable, the new thriller that once again reteams Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott. The reason being is that there just hasn't been much to say, until now. Here's your first look at the trailer, which also stars Star Trek's Chris Pine and Rosario Dawson.
NMR: Hot Tub Time Machine
In a similar vein to Snakes on a Plane, the title ended up being better than the actual movie. This had a lot of potential and hardly utilized any of it. Instead, it borrowed ideas from a ton of other better movies and then relied on gross-out gags to get them the rest of the way. Perhaps this movie could have been better, but they advertised the hell out of it and as a result I felt like I had already seen most of the movie. A key factor in films is the 'hang out' factor in that you should ask yourself did you enjoy hanging out with these characters and would you want to continue to hang out with them. That would be a big, fat NO from me for this movie. All of these guys are losers and not in the loveable sort of way. Most of the time they are miserable in the 80s and when they are having fun, it's not the sort of fun I would like to have. Another problem is the major plot holes found in this movie. I know it's a comedy and it shouldn't matter and that there are always going to be logic gaps when dealing with time travel, but in this case some simple tweaks to the script could have improved things greatly. There are only two things that save this film from being a complete disaster; first is the shout out they give to Cleveland sports and second is Crispin Glover's presence in the film. Glover was not seen in any of the commercials and his whole subplot is hilarious. It seemed that the only times I laughed out loud was when he was on screen. For the rest of the movie, I need my own time machine so I can go back and warn myself not to watch this disappointment. Rating **1/2
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Just in the Nic of time
The new crop of Survivor castaways was announced yesterday and EW.com revealed some interesting details on these contestants and other twists in store for the new season.
Below is a video from CBS that highlights some of this season's contestants. You can also watch individual videos of each castaway here.
Two-time Super Bowl winning coach Jimmy Johnson headlines the new cast of Survivor: Nicaragua when it premieres Wednesday, September 15 on CBS. The former coach (who also won college championships as both a player and a coach) and current Fox football analyst will join nine other contestants over the age of 40 on the Espada tribe to take on 10 contestants 30 and under in Survivor‘s second old vs. young battle (Survivor: Panama was split into four tribes divided by both age and gender). The younger La Flor tribe features Survivor‘s second amputee contestant, Kelly Bruno, who lost her right leg to a birth defect when she was six-months old (Survivor: Vanuatu also featured a contestant with an artificial limb, Chad Crittenden). “We don’t really look at Kelly as ‘let’s do another amputee,”’ Jeff Probst told EW.com while on location during filming. “When Kelly came in, it wasn’t that she had [an artificial] limb. It was that she was so charismatic. I hope Kelly lasts a long time because that’s somebody I would want in my foxhole with me.”
The old versus young division is not the only twist this season. At the very opening, Probst will reveal to the contestants a brand new item: the Medallion of Power. The Medallion can be used by a tribe to give itself an advantage in an immunity challenge, but once used, it goes over to the other tribe to use when it sees fit. “The Medallion of Power is designed to give you power at challenges,” explains Probst. “And our job is to make sure that the advantage is enough to tempt you — not so much that it’s a landslide, but enough that you go, ‘I’m not sure we should take it. Maybe we should, maybe we shouldn’t.’”
Also, expect fewer hidden immunity idols to be played on Survivor: Nicaragua, or at least expect them to be a bit harder to find. “This season we have made changes to the hidden immunity idol,” says Probst “The only way you’re gonna find it is to decipher these cryptic visual clues. So it’s a bit like a visual riddle, and the audience will get to play along. And the first set of four clues is very difficult. The next set will be a little easier, and then by the third set, you should find it.”
Below is a video from CBS that highlights some of this season's contestants. You can also watch individual videos of each castaway here.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Feel like a 'New Man'?
Many are anticipating the final season of Lost to come out on DVD/Blu-Ray later this month. A lot of that anticipation has to do with the fact that a 12 minute epilogue, titled 'The New Man in Charge', will be included on it that promises to answer some more questions and reveal more of Ben and Hurley's time on the island. Well while you can't see the whole thing yet, a small clip has been released to give you a taste of what you can expect. See for yourself below.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
On the Fringe of a new TV season
Like so many of you, I'm anxiously awaiting the new fall TV season to get here. Since we still have a little over a month to go, I figured I would share something with all of you to help satiate that need in the meantime. Click on the link below to check out this video from EW.com where Jasika Nicole shares some big scoop on what we can expect to see happen on Fringe's third season.
Exclusive 'Fringe' video: Scoop on this season's mind-blowing twist!
Exclusive 'Fringe' video: Scoop on this season's mind-blowing twist!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
A hunger for more
I'm trying to be a little bit quicker on the turnaround for the reviews of the films I saw in theaters, so here we go with my thoughts on Dinner For Schmucks.
Once again we're treated to the pairing of Paul Rudd and Steve Carell. After working so well together in both Anchorman and The 40 Year Old Virgin, they're brought together once more in Dinner For Schmucks - a funny, albeit confusing film.
Rudd plays Tim, a businessman in a thankless job who's always striving to get ahead. He gets that opportunity when his boss (Bruce Greenwood) invites him to a dinner at his house. The catch, however, is that everyone invited has to bring along the biggest idiot (the word schmuck, oddly enough, is never uttered in the film) they can find for the amusement of the dinner guests. Enter Steve Carell, who plays Barry, a weirdo who recreates famous works of art using dead mice as the figures - his mouseterpieces, as he calls them.
Again these two comedians play well off of each other, although Rudd is playing much more of a straightman here. We move from one set piece to the next as Carell finds new ways to get under Rudd's skin, while making us laugh. Carell actually gives a very good performance here. While some of his more recent efforts have failed to make him the funny, likeable guy that made him so appealing in the first place, this film does a nice job of reminding us why he's such a comedic talent.
And if these two guys weren't enough, we're also treated to several scenes featuring Zack Galafianakis as Carell's boss, who also claims to read minds. We quickly learn that this guy has more screws loose than Carell's Barry, which results in big laughs for the audience. The films gets just the right amount out of Galafianakis' character - he's effective without overstaying his welcome.
The film's problem is not its humor. I found myself laughing out loud several times and the film managed to save enough funny parts that were not revealed in the film's trailers or commercials. Where the film slips up is in its message. For two hours, we're asked to sit and laugh at the various idiots who are put on parade for us (one word of note though, the titular dinner doesn't actually occur until late in the film's second half). Then at the end of the film Rudd's character comes to realize that we shouldn't be laughing at these people. He chides his boss and his fellow co-workers, but he might as well be talking to the audience as well.
Further compounding the problem is that most of the 'idiots' didn't really deserve to be laughed at in the first place. Take Carell's character; yes, the notion of using dead rodents as artwork seems really odd, but the craftsmanship is really excellent. You almost admire someone who puts that much work into something they love. Had his art looked like something a 2nd grader would make AND used dead mice, but still thought they looked amazing, you could see why someone would mock that. The same holds true for many of the other guests at the dinner.
So as I sat watching and laughing, I also wondered what the point of this movie was. Given that it was a remake of a very famous French film, it seemed that there needed to be a more clear or relevant purpose seen for doing this film for American audiences. Watching this film is akin to being served French toast, salmon, and jelly beans for dinner - everything is delicious on its own, but it doesn't exactly make for a good meal.
Your enjoyment of this film will truly depend on what you have an appetite for. If you're looking a rich film experience that appeals to your intelligence and your sense of humor, then you may leave feeling unsatisfied. If however, you're looking for a couple of hours of some easy laughs, then you'll be wanting a second helping of Dinner For Schmucks. Grade: B
Once again we're treated to the pairing of Paul Rudd and Steve Carell. After working so well together in both Anchorman and The 40 Year Old Virgin, they're brought together once more in Dinner For Schmucks - a funny, albeit confusing film.
Rudd plays Tim, a businessman in a thankless job who's always striving to get ahead. He gets that opportunity when his boss (Bruce Greenwood) invites him to a dinner at his house. The catch, however, is that everyone invited has to bring along the biggest idiot (the word schmuck, oddly enough, is never uttered in the film) they can find for the amusement of the dinner guests. Enter Steve Carell, who plays Barry, a weirdo who recreates famous works of art using dead mice as the figures - his mouseterpieces, as he calls them.
Again these two comedians play well off of each other, although Rudd is playing much more of a straightman here. We move from one set piece to the next as Carell finds new ways to get under Rudd's skin, while making us laugh. Carell actually gives a very good performance here. While some of his more recent efforts have failed to make him the funny, likeable guy that made him so appealing in the first place, this film does a nice job of reminding us why he's such a comedic talent.
And if these two guys weren't enough, we're also treated to several scenes featuring Zack Galafianakis as Carell's boss, who also claims to read minds. We quickly learn that this guy has more screws loose than Carell's Barry, which results in big laughs for the audience. The films gets just the right amount out of Galafianakis' character - he's effective without overstaying his welcome.
The film's problem is not its humor. I found myself laughing out loud several times and the film managed to save enough funny parts that were not revealed in the film's trailers or commercials. Where the film slips up is in its message. For two hours, we're asked to sit and laugh at the various idiots who are put on parade for us (one word of note though, the titular dinner doesn't actually occur until late in the film's second half). Then at the end of the film Rudd's character comes to realize that we shouldn't be laughing at these people. He chides his boss and his fellow co-workers, but he might as well be talking to the audience as well.
Further compounding the problem is that most of the 'idiots' didn't really deserve to be laughed at in the first place. Take Carell's character; yes, the notion of using dead rodents as artwork seems really odd, but the craftsmanship is really excellent. You almost admire someone who puts that much work into something they love. Had his art looked like something a 2nd grader would make AND used dead mice, but still thought they looked amazing, you could see why someone would mock that. The same holds true for many of the other guests at the dinner.
So as I sat watching and laughing, I also wondered what the point of this movie was. Given that it was a remake of a very famous French film, it seemed that there needed to be a more clear or relevant purpose seen for doing this film for American audiences. Watching this film is akin to being served French toast, salmon, and jelly beans for dinner - everything is delicious on its own, but it doesn't exactly make for a good meal.
Your enjoyment of this film will truly depend on what you have an appetite for. If you're looking a rich film experience that appeals to your intelligence and your sense of humor, then you may leave feeling unsatisfied. If however, you're looking for a couple of hours of some easy laughs, then you'll be wanting a second helping of Dinner For Schmucks. Grade: B
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
King Louie
So news came out today that FX has renewed comedian Louie CK's show, aptly titled Louie for a second season. I got to know Louie from his stint on Parks and Recreation last season and have enjoyed the first few episodes of this new show. It's a mix of Louie's CK and some small vignettes/stories. For a summer series, it's been a nice breath of fresh air. If you are looking for some laughs, you might want to check this show out. And if you're not familiar with Louie's style of comedy, check out this video below from an appearance he had a few years ago on Conan O'Brien's show; it's a good representative of his brand of humor.
NMR: Saint John of Las Vegas
While it didn't register on most people's radar when it was released last January, I was excited about this little indie based on it's solid cast (Steve Buscemi, Sarah Silverman, Romany Malco, and Peter Dinklage) and quirky subject matter. Based on Dante's Inferno, the film focuses on Buscemi's job as an insurance fraud investigator and the interesting people he meets while working on a case. All of this sounds great on paper, but was pretty terrible in its execution. This supposed comedy barely offered any laughs. Even worse is that this film really moves slow and it's only about 80 minutes long!! At best, this could have potentially worked as a pilot for a television show, but I'm not sure I would have stuck around for another episode even if this were the case. This one is a total skip. Rating: **
Fey-ning interest
Check out this awkward video of 30 Rock star Tina Fey from the 90s as she shills for Mutual Savings bank.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
NMR: The Book of Eli
At this point I've grown a bit weary of all the post-apocalyptic films that Hollywood is offering, but this one is not terrible. In essence it plays more like a Western than an armageddon film. Starring Denzel Washington, as the man tasked with protecting a book and Gary Oldman as the man desperate to get it, these two great actors give strong performances. One of the things I didn't care for though is the disconnect between the film's message and the amount of violence depicted. This is one of the most graphic films that uses the word of God as its crutch. How much you like this film will most likely depend on your feelings on the film's ending. It provides a twist that is both clever and befuddling at the same time. I legitimately did not see it coming, so kudos to them for that. But the more I thought about what happened, the more I felt it made no sense whatsoever. At times, this film is very engaging, but the sum of the parts here doesn't add up to a whole lot. Rating: ***
Dinner theater
Steve Carell has been everywhere lately doing publicity for Dinner For Schmucks and thankfully one of his stops was a visit to the Between Two Ferns set. Check out the profanity-laced and hilarious video between the two costars below.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
NMR: Girl power
Here's a pair of films I recently caught about varying forms of female empowerment.
Whip It: I don't know what was the deal with this film but it took forever for this to arrive from Netflix. I swear they only had one copy of this film for the entire country. And of course, it wasn't worth the wait. Directed by Drew Barrymore, this film about a female roller derby offers no surprises. It hits all of the typical sports cliches, which at times are enjoyable but also nothing new. The film sports a decent cast, which made the film a draw in the first place, but Barrymore lacks skill as a director. The same immature, carefree attitude that she embraces in life is represented here in her work. The one nice thing about this film is seeing Daniel Stern working again - where the hell has he been for the past decade? If you enjoy sports movies, there's enough here to make this a pleasant outing. Rating: ***
The Brave One: This 2008 Jodie Foster thriller misses its mark. It's meant to show a woman's ability to bounce back from a mugging that ended up costing her fiancee's life. As it turns out, this plays more like a female version of Dirty Harry. While seeing thugs getting their comeuppance can be fun, the way it's down here is both ludicrous and too gritty. Foster's acting, as always is solid, but she is let down by the material. I also liked Terrance Howard as a cop who befriends her. If they had been given better subject material, this might have been worth your time, but sadly you should skip this one. Rating: **
Whip It: I don't know what was the deal with this film but it took forever for this to arrive from Netflix. I swear they only had one copy of this film for the entire country. And of course, it wasn't worth the wait. Directed by Drew Barrymore, this film about a female roller derby offers no surprises. It hits all of the typical sports cliches, which at times are enjoyable but also nothing new. The film sports a decent cast, which made the film a draw in the first place, but Barrymore lacks skill as a director. The same immature, carefree attitude that she embraces in life is represented here in her work. The one nice thing about this film is seeing Daniel Stern working again - where the hell has he been for the past decade? If you enjoy sports movies, there's enough here to make this a pleasant outing. Rating: ***
The Brave One: This 2008 Jodie Foster thriller misses its mark. It's meant to show a woman's ability to bounce back from a mugging that ended up costing her fiancee's life. As it turns out, this plays more like a female version of Dirty Harry. While seeing thugs getting their comeuppance can be fun, the way it's down here is both ludicrous and too gritty. Foster's acting, as always is solid, but she is let down by the material. I also liked Terrance Howard as a cop who befriends her. If they had been given better subject material, this might have been worth your time, but sadly you should skip this one. Rating: **
Dream deconstruction
Still confused by Inception? Well maybe this infographic will help makes things more clear for you. Or maybe it will just make things more confusing. That's the crazy thing about dreams. For a larger view, just click on the image.
Jhonny Be Gone
Ever since the All-Star Break it seems that the Cleveland Indians have been making some smart moves that have been paying off. They've been bringing up some of their younger talent, playing loose and the result has been more winning. Well now they've gone and made the best move yet - from SI.com:
All I can say is good riddance to a fat waste of space. I've been begging this organization to drop this bum for years and they've finally heard my pleas. All it took was for the team to hit rock bottom for them to do it. In the meantime, I think this is the start of our move back to greatness. Hey, a man can dream, can't he?
The banged-up Detroit Tigers acquired third baseman Jhonny Peralta from the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday for minor league left-hander Giovanni Soto.
Detroit also received cash considerations in the trade. Peralta will fill-in for Brandon Inge, the Tigers' injured third baseman.
"I was trying to do something to help our ballclub and do something to stay in this," Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski said before the game against Tampa Bay. "We think this helps our ballclub with a solid big league player. We've got a lot of young players. Right now it gives us another veteran in our lineup."
Dombrowski said Inge (broken left hand) and second baseman Carlos Guillen (strained right calf) could return in the next two weeks. Outfielder Magglio Ordonez (broken right ankle) is expected to be out six to eight weeks.
Detroit manager Jim Leyland, after the Tigers were beat 7-4 by Tampa Bay, said Inge will start at third when he returns and that Peralta will get playing time at shortstop and DH.
"I think it sends the right message to the team," Leyland said of the trade. "We're going to do something."
The Tigers started Wednesday third in the AL Central, four games behind the Chicago White Sox.
Peralta, who might join the Tigers for Thursday's day game at Tampa Bay, was in the lineup for Cleveland's game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, but was pulled around 6 p.m. He's batting .246 with seven homers and 43 RBIs in 91 games.
The 28-year-old Peralta is in the final season of a five-year, $13 million contract. He's making $4.6 million this season and the club has a $7 million option for 2011.
"The stark reality was we had come to the decision we were not going to pick up his option for next year," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said.
The 19-year-old Soto has spent the entire season at Class-A West Michigan and will be assigned to Class-A Lake County. He is 6-6 with a 2.61 ERA in 16 starts.
"We're trying to make some moves that maybe help us a little bit. I don't have anything else right now," Dombrowski said.
Infielder Luis Valbuena has been called up from Triple-A Columbus to take Peralta's roster spot.
Shapiro said infielder Jared Goedert, who is batting .304 with 17 homers at Columbus, will be called up this season.
"We wanted to take a look at some of our internal alternatives at third base for next year," Shapiro said.
To make room on the 40-man roster for Peralta, Detroit designated outfielder Wilkin Ramirez for assignment.
All I can say is good riddance to a fat waste of space. I've been begging this organization to drop this bum for years and they've finally heard my pleas. All it took was for the team to hit rock bottom for them to do it. In the meantime, I think this is the start of our move back to greatness. Hey, a man can dream, can't he?
Sunday, July 25, 2010
NMR: Green Zone
I'm finally starting to play catch up with all the spring movies that have come out on DVD. This one starred Matt Damon in yet another collaboration with director Paul Greengrass. Unfortunately, this one does not yield as good of a film as their previous efforts together in the Bourne franchise. The biggest problem with this film is that it can't figure out whether it wants to be a realistic depiction of the events that have taken place during this second Gulf War or if it simply wants to be 'Bourne goes to war'. It makes a political stance about the lack of WMDs in Iraq and the error in going to war for insufficient reasons, but yet it doesn't really reference any actual figures involved with the war. What we're left with is a mix of sermonizing and shaky cam action scenes. Having said all that, this is not necessarily a bad film. Damon and Greengrass are both skilled enough at what they do to make this an enjoyable ride. Most will also agree with the message of the film, even if they didn't do a decent job supporting it. There have been a lot of bad movies made about the Iraq war, but this isn't one of them. So while it's somewhat disappointing, it's a better choice than most of the ones out there. Rating: ****
Mind heist
So of course I'm still thinking about Inception and one of the things that I failed to praise in my review was the riveting score by Hans Zimmer that's heard throughout the film. One of the pieces was also used in one of Inception's trailers as well. I'm not the only one to take notice of it apparently as there is a new Internet fad where people are using the music to create trailers for other films/shows. Below are four of my favorites that use the music well and have it sync up nicely with the images used.
MotherChucker
Big news coming out of Comic-Con today regarding the upcoming season of Chuck and specifically the announcement of who will be playing the superspy's mom this fall. Here's EW.com with the report:
The search for Chuck’s mom has officially been terminated, and with good reason: Linda Hamilton has already landed the part!
The erstwhile Sarah Connor will make her first appearance as Zachary Levi’s MIA spy mama Mary Bartowski in Chuck‘s fourth-season premiere on Sept. 20. (Hamilton’s hiring is slated to be announced at Chuck‘s Comic-Con panel this morning.)
“We’re always looking for guest stars who will be great in the part, but who also speak to our audience and feel like it comes out of the universe of our show,” says exec producer Josh Schwartz. “If Chuck and Morgan were watching Chuck, they would be excited about Linda coming on board.” Adds fellow EP Chris Fedak: “Chuck was certainly a Terminator fan, and Morgan was a Beauty and the Beast fan.”
But Schwartz is quick to add that Hamilton brings more to the role than just a fanboy-friendly resume. “Obviously her body of work was important to us, but also knowing what this part was and the intensity that we were going to need from someone, Linda was a natural fit. She’ll be [kicking ass] right out of the gate.”
“The mystery surrounding Chuck’s mom is at the heart of the season, and there are going to be some shocking surprises in the first episode,” previews Fedak. “By the end of the episode we are going to turn everything on its head with regard to who she is.”
NMR: Bonus Nolan
Most people probably believe that Christopher Nolan's first film was Memento, but you would be wrong. Turns out he made a small independent film back in 1998 called Following. The story involves a man who has a bizarre habit of randomly following people out of curiosity and his habit ends up turning his life upside down when he meets a small time crook. It is clear very early on that a lot of the themes that are present in all of Nolan's films began here. The story is very unique, but this is the definition of shoe string budget. Shot in black and white, the film doesn't have a great look, but Nolan's certainly does the best with what he has. This is not a film for everyone, but if you're a really big fan of his work, this is worth a watch, if for no other reason than sheer curiosity. The film is currently available for Instant Viewing on Netflix. Rating: ****
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Buried treasure
So I saw Inception last Saturday, but I held off on the review in hopes that I would actually get to see the film again. Since that hasn't happened yet, I figured I might as well and do this write up now before it gets too late.
Director Christopher Nolan has quickly gotten the reputation for being one of the most inventive filmmakers of this era, so it's saying something when I tell you that this may be his most creative yet. This mind-trip of a film will stick with you long after you leave the theater. At one point in the film, Cobb (played by Leonardo Dicaprio) says that an idea is the most persistent thing in the world today - once it enters your mind, you can't get rid of it. Well this movie is certainly reflective of that. It will leave you guessing as to what you are seeing on the screen is real or not.
Trying to explain this film is somewhat difficult given that I don't want to give too much away (the less you know going in, the better) and because it's not an easy concept to explain in the first place. The premise though is that Cobb has the ability to enter someone's dream and steal secrets and thoughts that are trapped in that person's subconscious. He, along with his crew, are hired by a Japanese businessman (played wonderfully by Ken Watanabe) to head into the mind of one of his rivals.
Soon things get real crazy as they are able to enter into dreams of dreams and dreams of dreams of dreams. This multi-layered approach requires your full attention, but the viewer is also rewarded. One of the best things about this film is that it works on several different layers. If you're not into the head games so much, you can also enjoy the film for its action as Cobb's team tries to commit this heist. One of the best scenes in the entire film is the anti-gravity fight scene that takes place in a hotel hallway. Wonderfully shot, the scene is enthralling and clever all at once. And you'll appreciate it more when you read how this was done using old school filmmaking instead of using a bunch of CGI.
There's also a romantic subplot interwoven into this film as well. As Cobb tries to pull off his caper, he also is trying to deal with the death of his wife, Mal (Marion Cotillard). Her presence has a profound effect on Cobb and how successful he is in doing his job. Just as we've seen in many of Nolan's films, this is ultimately a story about a man, his obsessions and the toll that obsession has on him and everyone around him. We root for him to overcome his demons, even though we realize it may not be possible.
Of course, the part most everyone is already talking about and will be for a while is the film's final shot. I obviously don't want to say what that involves here, but I absolutely love how much fervor and discussion it has generated. To me, I find that to be one of the marks of a great film. When just a simple image can generate such passion and theorizing from audiences, you know you've done a good job. I know I will want to discuss the meaning behind the shot with anyone and everyone that's willing to talk about it with me.
I'm glad to see that this film has already done well at the box office, but if you're still on the fence, let me give you that last shove. Go see this movie! And if you've seen it once, see it again. Like most of Nolan's films, viewers are rewarded with repeat viewings of the film. There are plenty of films that are suitable as passive entertainment, but there are only a few films that can enthrall your eyes and your mind and every other part of your body like Inception does. It's the type of film that most people in Hollywood can only dream of. Grade: A-
Director Christopher Nolan has quickly gotten the reputation for being one of the most inventive filmmakers of this era, so it's saying something when I tell you that this may be his most creative yet. This mind-trip of a film will stick with you long after you leave the theater. At one point in the film, Cobb (played by Leonardo Dicaprio) says that an idea is the most persistent thing in the world today - once it enters your mind, you can't get rid of it. Well this movie is certainly reflective of that. It will leave you guessing as to what you are seeing on the screen is real or not.
Trying to explain this film is somewhat difficult given that I don't want to give too much away (the less you know going in, the better) and because it's not an easy concept to explain in the first place. The premise though is that Cobb has the ability to enter someone's dream and steal secrets and thoughts that are trapped in that person's subconscious. He, along with his crew, are hired by a Japanese businessman (played wonderfully by Ken Watanabe) to head into the mind of one of his rivals.
Soon things get real crazy as they are able to enter into dreams of dreams and dreams of dreams of dreams. This multi-layered approach requires your full attention, but the viewer is also rewarded. One of the best things about this film is that it works on several different layers. If you're not into the head games so much, you can also enjoy the film for its action as Cobb's team tries to commit this heist. One of the best scenes in the entire film is the anti-gravity fight scene that takes place in a hotel hallway. Wonderfully shot, the scene is enthralling and clever all at once. And you'll appreciate it more when you read how this was done using old school filmmaking instead of using a bunch of CGI.
There's also a romantic subplot interwoven into this film as well. As Cobb tries to pull off his caper, he also is trying to deal with the death of his wife, Mal (Marion Cotillard). Her presence has a profound effect on Cobb and how successful he is in doing his job. Just as we've seen in many of Nolan's films, this is ultimately a story about a man, his obsessions and the toll that obsession has on him and everyone around him. We root for him to overcome his demons, even though we realize it may not be possible.
Of course, the part most everyone is already talking about and will be for a while is the film's final shot. I obviously don't want to say what that involves here, but I absolutely love how much fervor and discussion it has generated. To me, I find that to be one of the marks of a great film. When just a simple image can generate such passion and theorizing from audiences, you know you've done a good job. I know I will want to discuss the meaning behind the shot with anyone and everyone that's willing to talk about it with me.
I'm glad to see that this film has already done well at the box office, but if you're still on the fence, let me give you that last shove. Go see this movie! And if you've seen it once, see it again. Like most of Nolan's films, viewers are rewarded with repeat viewings of the film. There are plenty of films that are suitable as passive entertainment, but there are only a few films that can enthrall your eyes and your mind and every other part of your body like Inception does. It's the type of film that most people in Hollywood can only dream of. Grade: A-
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Scooby Doo Dis
Apparently, a new version of Scooby Doo debuted on Cartoon Network recently and as Joel McHale of The Soup points out here, they've decided to throw in some social commentary to these new episodes. Take a look.
NMR: Que Cera Cera
Youth in Revolt: This is a bizarre coming-of-age film that couldn't really seem to find the right tone. Part of the problem is that it reportedly had been sitting on the shelves for a while before getting released and the marketing behind it focused on aspects that do not play a large role in the actual film (like Zack Galifianakis' presence). At times the film wants to play like a realistic portrayal of teen angst, and then other times it tries to have a whimsical, fantasy feel too it. While it boasts an impressive cast (besides those mentioned already, Fred Willard, Justin Long, Jean Smart, Ray Liotta, and Steve Buscemi all show up at various points), that actually works against the film. None of it feels very real when all of these big names keep popping in to scenes. The film has a few funny moments to avoid it from being a complete waste, but for the most part this feels like been there, done that (better). Rating: ***
Paper Heart: Released in 2009 this is documentary with fictional elements. It centers around Charlene Yi (Knocked Up) and her quest to not only find out what love is, but find love for herself. Along the way, she meets Michael Cera and they begin a (real?) relationship. The concept sounds interesting, but it doesn't work in its execution. If this is an actual relationship between these two, it's too intimate of a subject for it to be captured on film. And if it's a phony relationship, then why put on the pretense of it being real? The other parts of the film where Yi interviews other strangers and friends about their feelings on love feel too random and disjointed to draw you in. While some may find the central actors appealing, their quirks were too much for me and ruined the film. Rating: **
Paper Heart: Released in 2009 this is documentary with fictional elements. It centers around Charlene Yi (Knocked Up) and her quest to not only find out what love is, but find love for herself. Along the way, she meets Michael Cera and they begin a (real?) relationship. The concept sounds interesting, but it doesn't work in its execution. If this is an actual relationship between these two, it's too intimate of a subject for it to be captured on film. And if it's a phony relationship, then why put on the pretense of it being real? The other parts of the film where Yi interviews other strangers and friends about their feelings on love feel too random and disjointed to draw you in. While some may find the central actors appealing, their quirks were too much for me and ruined the film. Rating: **
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Boston baked Bens
Here's a pair of trailers featuring Ben Affleck in his native Boston. Both seem to be striving to make a splash come awards season, but I have my doubts as to whether either will actually succeed. Take a look for yourself and see what you think.
How bout them survivors?
Some interesting, and frankly shocking news about who one of the new castaways will be on this upcoming season of Survivor taking place in Nicaragua. From dallasnews.com:
Jimmy Johnson won a college football championship and two Super Bowls. But can he survive in the wilderness?
The former Dallas Cowboys coach will be a contestant on the CBS reality show "Survivor: Nicaragua" this fall, a source close to Johnson told the Dallas Morning News.
The series is being taped in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. Filming started at the end of June, according to local reports.
The filming schedule will leave Johnson plenty of room to return in time for the NFL season. Johnson is an analyst for the Fox NFL Sunday studio show.
Johnson, 67, will be one of the oldest contestants to ever appear on “Survivor,” one of his favorite television shows. The Miami Herald reported last year that he was almost a contestant on "Survivor: Gabon" (which aired in 2008), but he failed a physical. He has lost weight since.
Johnson coached the Cowboys from 1989-1993 and won back-to-back Super Bowls. He also coached the University of Miami, Oklahoma State and Miami Dolphins.
"Survivor: Nicaragua" will be broadcast in September on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. (a switch from its Thursday time slot in recent years). CBS usually releases a cast list a few weeks before the first episode.
"Survivor" throws contestants into the wilderness with little or no supplies and food. Contestants face physical and mental challenges and are voted out by their tribe members. The last remaining contestant after 39 days earns the title of Sole Survivor and wins $1 million.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Social gathering
The teaser came out a few weeks ago and now here is the first full trailer for the upcoming film on Facebook's founders called The Social Network. The subject seems a little too recent to be made into a film, but this still intrigues me nonetheless.
NMR: Genre du jour - 80s comedies
Here's a trio of films that are shockingly now over 20 years old (That makes me feel old).
Bachelor Party: I know this is supposed to be only of the classic 80s comedies, but I did not enjoy this at all. I found most of the characters to be unlikeable and annoying. And I didn't get the humor in most of the pranks they pulled. The only bright spot was seeing that Tom Hanks was clearly a star in the making. He's the only thing tolerable in this film. It's interesting to note that I did not care for this or the classic 70s comedy, Animal House. Yet, I love more modern ones like Old School, American Pie, Wedding Crashers, and The Hangover. I wonder if there is something about needing to be young in the era the film was made in order to appreciate this genre or if these more recent films are actually better than these supposed classics. Rating: **
The Dream Team: A wasted opportunity here. The premise offered a lot of promise - a doctor takes four of his mental patients to a baseball game, but ends up getting attacked, leaving the patients to fend for themselves in New York City. Instead of really trying to have fun with this notion of nutcases loose in a major city, the plot resorts to tired cliches involving corrupt cops and silly chases. Instead of depicting true mental illness, the four patients (played by Michael Keaton, Christopher Lloyd, Peter Boyle, and Stephen Furst) just come off as mildly annoying. This is pretty standard fare. Rating: ***
Parenthood: Finally, we get a winner. This is a wonderful film showcasing a variety of familial situations. On paper, the characters seem like they'll be cliches, but the wonderful cast makes them fully realized and true. Credit to Ron Howard who is able to balance the large cast and give each of them significant time to allow their story arcs play out. While I doubt this will encourage me to see the new NBC drama based on the film, I can now see why they would want to develop it into a series. Of the three, this is the one I'd recommend you check out if you've never done so before. Rating: ****
Bachelor Party: I know this is supposed to be only of the classic 80s comedies, but I did not enjoy this at all. I found most of the characters to be unlikeable and annoying. And I didn't get the humor in most of the pranks they pulled. The only bright spot was seeing that Tom Hanks was clearly a star in the making. He's the only thing tolerable in this film. It's interesting to note that I did not care for this or the classic 70s comedy, Animal House. Yet, I love more modern ones like Old School, American Pie, Wedding Crashers, and The Hangover. I wonder if there is something about needing to be young in the era the film was made in order to appreciate this genre or if these more recent films are actually better than these supposed classics. Rating: **
The Dream Team: A wasted opportunity here. The premise offered a lot of promise - a doctor takes four of his mental patients to a baseball game, but ends up getting attacked, leaving the patients to fend for themselves in New York City. Instead of really trying to have fun with this notion of nutcases loose in a major city, the plot resorts to tired cliches involving corrupt cops and silly chases. Instead of depicting true mental illness, the four patients (played by Michael Keaton, Christopher Lloyd, Peter Boyle, and Stephen Furst) just come off as mildly annoying. This is pretty standard fare. Rating: ***
Parenthood: Finally, we get a winner. This is a wonderful film showcasing a variety of familial situations. On paper, the characters seem like they'll be cliches, but the wonderful cast makes them fully realized and true. Credit to Ron Howard who is able to balance the large cast and give each of them significant time to allow their story arcs play out. While I doubt this will encourage me to see the new NBC drama based on the film, I can now see why they would want to develop it into a series. Of the three, this is the one I'd recommend you check out if you've never done so before. Rating: ****
Saturday, July 17, 2010
An appetite for change
I know I'm a few days behind on this, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to post this hilarious video from this past week's ESPY awards featuring Steve Carell and Paul Rudd spoofing the Lebron James 'Decision' special.
*cue losing horns
It appears The Price is Right has lost its voice. The news below comes from Buzzerblog and pretty much expresses the same sentiment that I feel regarding this unfortunate news.
Sadly, news was confirmed today that Rich Fields is no longer the announcer for the long running CBS daytime game show The Price is Right, hosted by Drew Carey. Rumors about this have been swirling for around two months now. Rich has been the announcer of the show since 2004, taking over for the deceased Rod Roddy. I wish Rich the best. He’s a great friend to the site and unbelievably nice.
On-camera auditions will take place the first few weeks of the new season of Price which begins in September. New tapings start next week and hopefully we’ll hear back. And just before the deluge of questions come on: I truly have no idea what happened. I’m usually in the loop for this stuff, but I’m stumped on this one.
One more request, also. The show’s not going to suddenly self destruct so I’d really like to kindly ask people to not do the usual Price thing where something changes and there’s a witch hunt against Drew and doom being spouted left and right. Be supportive and wish Rich your best. He reads and your messages are welcome.
I know these rumors have been around for a while. I have a rule that I won’t post rumors about people like this. It’s just without taste to post rumors about someone’s career. It’s confirmed now, and I hope to see Rich somewhere else soon.
Reynolds' wrap
Here's your first look, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly, at Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern, which comes out in theaters next summer.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Save the Date
Check out the first trailer for Todd Phillips' (The Hangover) latest comedy, Due Date, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Zack Galifianakis.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Hulk clash!
Looks like Bruce Banner is getting another facelift for the upcoming Avengers movie. From comingsoon.net:
Edward Norton will not be reprising his role as Dr. Bruce Banner, reports HitFix, who say that Marvel Studios plan to cast a new actor in the part.
The report theorizes that a deal could not be made, despite Edward Norton wanting to join the ensemble cast that will include Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Chris Evans as Captain America.
Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige confirmed the report with the following statement he sent to the site:
"We have made the decision to not bring Ed Norton back to portray the title role of Bruce Banner in the Avengers. Our decision is definitely not one based on monetary factors, but instead rooted in the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members. The Avengers demands players who thrive working as part of an ensemble, as evidenced by Robert, Chris H, Chris E, Sam, Scarlett, and all of our talented casts. We are looking to announce a name actor who fulfills these requirements, and is passionate about the iconic role in the coming weeks."
Marvel Studios is planning a May 4, 2012 release for The Avengers.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
NMR: Defiance
If you're unfamiliar with the title, this was the WWII film released a few years ago starring Daniel Craig and Liev Schrieber. It's clear watching the film that they had high expectations for this to compete during the awards seasons, but it's so far away from being an award-worthy film, it's not even funny. The film hits every single cliche from the war genre and each one feels more false than the previous one. Despite some quality actors trying to turn in good performances, nothing around them works. This is based on a true story, but everything you see on screen feels like a manufacture of the Hollywood machine. It's a shame seeing talented actors wasted like this, but they are and everything can go ahead and skip this one. No history lesson will be learned here. Rating: **
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