Mind-blowing or mega-disaster?

Here's the teaser trailer for Dreamworks' latest computer animated feature, Megamind, that boasts quite the all star cast.

Real recognizing real

I finally got a chance to see a movie in the theater again last weekend and with slim pickings for me, I opted for Martin Scorcese's Shutter Island. I've had my eye on this movie for a while, since it was originally supposed to be released last October. My suspicion is that the studio felt the combination of Scorcese and Leonardo DiCaprio gave this film a legitimate shot at contending for some Oscars. However, once they saw the film they felt it would get ignored and opted to push it back to save everyone involved from embarassment.

That reasoning makes it sound like this is a bad film, which it's not. It does, however, have the tough burden of being a Martin Scorcese film. When you're called the greatest living director, your films tend to be viewed from a skewed perspective. While this is a decent film, it pales in comparison to some of Marty's past work.

The fact that it is merely a popcorn film rather than a cinematic masterpiece is a bit surprising considering the source material. Shutter Island is based on a novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane. Lehane's previous books that were turned into films, Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone, each earned high praise, even though they were directed by a couple of guys more noted for their acting than their direction. So for Scorcese to not to turn this into a gem is a disappointment.

Instead of dwelling on Scorcese, however, let's focus on what happens in this film. The premise here is Leonardo Dicaprio is a Boston marshall who has just teamed up with a cop played by Mark Ruffalo to investigate the disappearance of female mental patient from a psych ward located on the titular island. Given the security of the facility and where she was last seen, her escape seems highly improbable. The mystery quickly shifts away from this missing female and more onto what exactly is going on at this mental hospital.

Those watching will be quick to determine that not everything they are seeing is real. So like most, I begun to try and figure out what the twist/resolution to this story would be. Without giving it away, I guessed what it was fairly correctly at an early point in the film. This proved to be a frustrating experience as I then had to sit through several dialougue-heavy scenes that never really amount to anything, regardless of if you've solved the twist or not. It's a shame too that these scenes feel like such a waste though, considering they typically featured quality acting from the like of Ben Kingsley, Patricia Clarkson, Jackie Earle Haley, as well as DiCaprio and Ruffalo.

Interspersed throughout the film are also scenes involving Dicaprio's character having dreams/hallucinations/flashbacks to his life as a solidier in World War II and with his now deceased wife. Those with his wife (played by Michelle Williams) are hauntingly beautiful, yet the war sequences come off too crass and gruesome. I would have rather that aspect of the story be eliminated altogether because they really have no major significance on the outcome of the story. While these scenes are a mixed bag, I will credit Scorcese for the mood he creates in all the scenes taking place at the psych ward. The general spooky nature of this facility combined with the severe storm that hits the area during the film create a wonderful atmosphere.

Going back to the film's twist, though, whether or not you figure it out, you're likely to still be thinking about it long after the film is over. There is an ambiguity to the resolution of the story that makes you question what you just witnessed. You'll likely enjoy discussing with anyone else who has seen the film the implications of the final scenes. Often, an ambiguous ending can leave me, and many others feeling frustrated. However, this film's conclusion offers a different kind of conclusion. Its ambiguity doesn't lie in what will happened, but rather with what happened leading to this point. I'm sorry if that's not clear, but explaining it any further would ruin the film for those that haven't seen it yet.

Shutter Island can be a frustrating film at times. There are a lot of dead spots along the way, some of which never get satisfying payoffs. However, if you stick with it, the film's conclusion will offer you plenty to mull over. Based on the strength of the finish and the fine acting performances, I say there's enough here to recommend it. I enjoyed it enough, but it's nothing I'm crazy about (get it? crazy...psych ward, anybody?) Grade: B-

St. Patrick's Day deleted scenes

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NBC Thursday sitcom comings and goings

Some big casting news from some of my favorite Thursday sitcoms:

First, there are some big changes coming to Parks and Recreation. In terms of additions, news broke last week that both Adam Scott and Rob Lowe would be coming onto the show for brief stints starting later this season. Both of these guys can be very funny and I believe will fit seemlessly into the show. Parks and Rec. is also losing a cast member. Over the weekend, it was announced that Paul Schneider, who plays Mark Brandanowitz, would be leaving the show at the end of the season to pursue a film career. You can read executive producer, Mike Schur's thoughts on this move here. Personally Schneider's character is the weak link on that show, so to see him leave is no great loss. It just allows for more time and focus on the characters that I actually enjoy.

Over on The Office, they have some casting news of their own. EW is reporting that Amy Pietz (Caroline in the City, Aliens in America) has been hired on for a multi-episode stint for later this season. The report offers no details on what her role will be, but many are speculating that she might be a new love interest for Michael. If any new details come to light on this, I'll be sure to share them with you here.

NMR: Capitalism: A Love Story

Right-wingers beware! It's Michael Moore again. Yes, this is his latest documentary dealing this time with our current financial crises. Once again he's on a crusade to correct the wrongs in our country, yet I felt this time he pulled his punches. The film features a lot of his trademarks (the incorporation of old media footage, ambushing executives at their place of business, hard luck stories, etc.), yet most of them did not strike the nerve as effectively as they have in his previous films. Perhaps he feels beaten down by all of this or perhaps this is just too complex of a problem to address in a two hour film. Regardless, the end result just isn't as impactful as I felt it should have been given the gravity of this situation. I believe what I found most frustrating is the lack or answers or explanations to all of the problems he points out. For instance, he discusses the terrible 'Dead Peasants' policy that allows certain corporations to profit from the deaths of their employees. Moore clearly illustrates how such a practice should never have been put into play, yet we get no sense as to why it was allowed to happen, other than greed. That wasn't a good enough answer for me, yet I realize that there may be no better reason out there. At the end, he makes a plea for all of us to 'do something', yet he paints a world in his film that makes you wonder if we ever can. Despite his optimism that change is coming with the Obama era, real world events suggests that things may continue to stay the same for a long time. Overall, the film was good enough to keep me engaged, but certainly not as strong as some of his past work and is only recommended to those that really enjoy his work and/or this subject. Grade: B-

The Delivery deleted scenes

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NMR: 2012

2012 might as well have been called 'disaster smorgsbord'. It basically takes elements from all the classic disaster films (Earthquake, Posideon Adventure, Towering Inferno, The Day After Tomorrow) and throws them all in here, yet fails to capture any of the charm that those films had. Now at times, the visual effects are cool, but there is nothing there to support them. The film centers around John Cusack and his family as they try to avoid death and get on one of the arks the government has been created to save as many people as possible. The problem is that I found none of the characters overly engaging or likeable, so I had no rooting interest in whether or not they lived. A lot of the film's problems would not have seemed that bad had it not been for the fact that the movie is over two and half hours long!!! I hope the real end of days (if it actually happens) goes a lot quicker. There are certainly other films which can provide you with better eye candy, so I don't see any reason why you should bother with this one. Grade: D+

Iron sharpens iron

In case you didn't stay up late to watch Jimmy Kimmel's post-Oscar special (and I don't blame you if you didn't) then you missed the debut of the new Iron Man 2 trailer. If that's the case, then here it is for you to enjoy.

NMR: The Invention of Lying

Despite not being enamored with Ghost Town, Ricky Gervais' first attempt at an American film, I decided to give him another chance with his latest comedy that came out last fall. In general, this is a stronger effort. The premise here is that everyone tells the truth until Gervais' character becomes the first person to lie. This produces a very funny first half of the film whether we see everyone being brutally honest with each other. As the film progresses however, it falls into all too familiar romantic comedy territory as Gervais uses his new found knowledge to help him win over Jennifer Garner. The film also delves into some deep religious issues that produces some funny moments, but also annoyed me since I am religious and it's clear the film tries to make a mockery of it. I think there's enough funny material to make it worth a rental, but it's by no means a great film. Grade: B-

Lost and found

Here's a couple of interesting Lost-related items that I recently stumbled upon while surfing the interwebs...

First, a really cool image from a site called Simpsons Punx, where someone has Simpson-ized the Lost cast:



Then there's this video from the "Where do they find these things" file. It's a prison training video staring a very young Michael Emerson (aka Ben Linus). It's clear that he hasn't quite honed his skills of persuasion yet, but it's fascinating to watch all the same.


Finally, I just wanted to add my two cents on the most recent episode. Man, what an intense finish there. It seems like the war that's been teased for a while is finally starting to come to a head. Right now I would not want to mess with Flocke (aka the Locke Ness Monster). The other thing that I think we're beginning to see is that this Flash Sideways world may be part of the stakes of this war. Depending on which side wins, the Sideways world may or may not become the reality for our castaways. I'm really digging seeing all of these former faces pop up, even when they are scumbags like Keamy. I cannot believe we only have 12 more episodes left. It's going by way too quick, but I'm certainly enjoying every minute of it.

Skits incredible

So I was all set to post a couple of videos from this past week's SNL, because for the first time in a while I thought the show was really funny. Then, I come across a video today from Funnyordie.com, which blows it out of the water. Check out this impressive collection of talent, as former SNL members reunite in this political skit:

Funny or Die's Presidential Reunion from Will Ferrell

I've also included the SNL skits here, since they still made me laugh, even if they don't have the comedic talent that the above film has.

NMR: Who's hungry?

Here are a pair of food and drink documentaries that I recently caught through Netflix's Instant Viewing:

Food Inc.: This is yet another documentary that attempts to expose the harsh realities of how our food is prepared. What makes this one a step above most is that it doesn't resort to gross-out visuals of animal cruelty to get its point across. Instead, it delivers a well-reasoned argument that everyone should pay attention to. Sadly, they also point out how helpless the public is in trying to get any of these practices changed or stopped. This documentary is actually up for an Oscar this year and I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up winning. At times, the subject matter can be a little difficult to swallow (no pun intended), but it's a well made film worth checking out. Rating: ****

Beer Wars: Here, the focus is on the smaller craft beers and their struggle to compete against the big giants (Bud, Miller, and Coors). As someone who enjoys tipping one back from time to time, the subject matter certainly engaged me. I was also surprised to see how many of the beers referenced in the film I knew and/or have drank. Despite the engaging topic, the film has two major negatives against it. First, it's apparent the woman who made the film is more knowledgable about beer than she is about making films. The film just came off looking amateurish at times. The other problem is that it heavily focused on the founder of Dogfish Head beer and I've never enjoyed any of their brews. It made me tough to sympathize or root for him as he told his story. Still, if you're at all interested in beer, this is a short little film that will likely hold your attention, even if it doesn't necessarily tell you anything that you didn't already know. Rating: ***

More great moments in television news

Apparently Aussie newscasters can be just as clueless as the ones in the U.S.

NMR: Whiteout

What could have been a cool mystery thriller turned out to be one moronic movie. Based on a graphic novel, the film stars Kate Beckinsale as a marshal in Antarctica who has to deal with the first murder ever on the continent. You would think that the artic setting would provide a cool backdrop for the film, but here it's merely used to create cinematic shortcuts. In the film's climatic battle between Beckinsale and the killer, it's impossible to see who's doing what because there's snow blowing everywhere and the two individuals are completely bundled up in winter clothes. While you can't see the action, you certainly can see the plot twists coming a mile away. I was calling them out loud way before they occured as I watched this film. I've never read the source material for this movie, but I have to believe it's way better than what was served up here. Then again, maybe I'm so sick of snow in real life I had a bias against this film from the start (Somehow I don't think that is the case though). Grade: C-

Italians in space

News hit this week that Nintendo is moving forward with a sequel to their hugely popular Super Mario Galaxy game, titled appropriately enough, Super Mario Galaxy 2. Below you can check out the first trailer for the game. It looks like a whole lot more of the same (only with Yoshi this time), but that's not necessarily a bad thing in this case, considering how good the first game was. I can't help but be a little dismayed that they've chosen to do this instead of a new Mario Party game, but I guess I'll just have to remain patient for that title.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 Nintendo Wii Trailer - Nintendo Summit 2010: Trailer

NMR: Four Christmases

I won't waste too much time on a review for this one because it was pretty dreadful. The idea of a couple having to endure four seperate Christmases with various relatives could have worked, but the film had such a negative tone that it was a complete put-off. I didn't buy into Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon as a couple who detested spending time with relatives. I also thought it was a stretch for us to believe that there were all of these secrets about the two protagonists that they didn't know about each other until they encountered their relatives. The mean streak of the film, the lack of decent jokes and the absence of anything truly Christmas-y about it (they could have just called it Four Thanksgivings) made this one a dud all around. A definite recommend to skip here. Rating: **

Adios crapola

I'm a little late on sharing this with all of you, but I still wanted to tell everyone my great news: Last Saturday, I finally got a new car!! After dealing with that piece of shit Toyota Corolla for the past nine years (the thing never ran well despite me only putting 69,000 miles on it), I finally had enough and decided to get something new. I was fortunate to find a great deal on a 2010 Honda Accord. It may not be ultra high-end car, but to me I'm not driving in the life of luxury. An image of my new wheels is below.

Delusions of grandeur

Every year it always seems like there is two films which seem exactly alike (Volcano/Dante's Peak, Deep Impact/Armageddon, etc.). Well this year it appear the theme is people playing superheroes without any powers. Below are the trailers Kick-Ass and Defendor, respectively. Both play with elements that interest me, but if I had to choose, I think Defendor's trailer has me more interested in seeing it than Kick-Ass. What's your take?

NMR: Drawing power

Here's a pair of recent animated films I've been able to catch:

Family Guy presents: Something, Something, Something Dark Side: After Family Guy's success at lampooning Star Wars with Blue Harvest, they decided to go another round, this time taking on The Empire Strikes Back. Your appreciation of this will depend solely on whether or not you enjoy the series in general. For fans of Family Guy, there's once again plenty here to laugh at. The fact that this was put on DVD instead of TV also gave them the freedom to be even more crass, but they don't go overboard. It was fun seeing who they chose to play the film's characters (Some were inspired like the Giant Chicken playing Boba Fett, but some fell flat like the rarely seen Carl playing Yoda). Most of the jokes work and some are downright brilliant (like Brian/Chewbacca's commentary on Mort/Lando wearing Han's clothes at the end of the film). A definite must for FG fans and a complete pass for everyone else. Rating: *****

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: Based on a 30 page children's book, this computer animated film ends up biting off more than it can chew. While the basic premise is a lot of fun, the film ends up focusing too much on spectacle and not enough on character development. Perhaps I'm being a bit too harsh on a film that's aimed at kids, but I would have preferred had they spent more time allowing us to get to know the characters and less on an elaborate rescue mission once the machine that's causing food to rain from the sky goes haywire. What works in this film is the voice acting which includes a nice mix of comedic talent (Bill Hader and Anna Faris play the leads) along with some veteran actors (like James Caan) to give the film some credibility. I found myself laughing quite a bit (for some reason I really enjoyed the Baby Brent character, voiced by Andy Samberg). In the end, however, this is another film which shows why Pixar's films are head and shoulders above everyone else in this genre. Kids will no doubt love this film. For everyone else, you can probably give it a pass. Grade: C+

Manager and Salesman deleted scenes

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