NMR: Fair Game

I finally got around to watching this one from Netflix after it had been sitting on my end table for a couple of weeks. For those unfamiliar with the title, this is the film that came out near the end of last year regarding the Valerie Plame case. Naomi Watts plays Plame, while Sean Penn plays her husband, Joe Wilson. As would be expected, the acting from the two leads is excellent. Penn, especially, is good here and I tend not to like a lot of his work. The film's biggest flaw though is that it is somewhat without a purpose. Those familiar with her story (she was outed as a CIA agent after her husband spoke out against the Bush administration's claim that Iraq had WMDs) don't really learn anything new here that they didn't already know about the story. And those that either don't care about the story or don't like Plame will find nothing here that will change those opinions. The film never bores, but yet doesn't do enough to justify the existence of the film in the first place. Only those who are really fascinated by her story or big fans of the leads should bother giving this one a watch. Rating: ***

Tribe Watch 2011

Current record: 11-4

Current standing: First in AL Central

Week in review: So because of my brief hiatus away from the blog I haven't had an opportunity until now to talk about my beloved Cleveland Indians. In the past, I've tried doing weekly review columns on their performance, but they've been so terrible in recent years that I get burned out doing those posts by mid-May. Of course, this year I haven't written anything and they've been off to a hot start. I hope my starting to write about them doesn't jinx their performance.

The Tribe thus far doesn't show any signs of slowing down though and it's been a result of everyone playing well. The offense has been doing a great job of scoring early and the starting pitching has been phenomenal at keeping the opposition off the bases. Today, we capped off a great sweep against the Baltimore Orioles and today's win was doubly nice because it marked the return of Grady Sizemore who has been injured for nearly a year. He was right back into rare form today getting two hits, including a solo home run (his first dinger since '09!).

This upcoming week, we've got a big series against the Kansas City Royals. Normally, this wouldn't be the case, but the Royals have gotten off to a strong start as well and they are just a game back of us in the standings. If we perform well in this series, we could give ourselves some seperation from the rest of the division. After going to KC, we head up to Minnesota to play against the struggling Twins. Having a strong week here, could be a good indication of this being a great season instead of just a fluke opening. Regardless of the outcome though, I'll always support my team. Go Tribe!!!

Fancy Party deleted scenes

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NMR: The Fighter

This one is long overdue considering I saw it several weeks ago. It's a shame too considering how much I enjoyed this movie. This was completely worthy of all the nominations and awards it earned. Clearly the strength of this film lies in the superb acting performances for all of the leads. First and foremost is Christian Bale, who finally got the recognition he deserved by winning his first Oscar. Bale once again takes (unnecessary) risks to his own body in order to properly convey the reality of the character he's portraying. His depiction of a crack addict is somehow both touching and sobering. You also have tremendous work done by Amy Adams and Melissa Leo (who also won an Oscar) as the two primary women in boxer Mickey Ward's (played by Mark Wahlberg) life. It's riveting watching Ward try to please everyone and the way it causes him to be held back in other facets of his life and career. Because of the family dynamics involved in Mickey's life this film is portrayed as something much more than a simple boxing film. Boxing really plays a backdrop to the character study, despite the fact that the scenes that involve boxing are very well done. Because of this, the film's climax is a bit baffling. While completely true as to what happened in Mickey's own life, it seems odd to end the film on such a positive, Hollywood-esque note. It didn't seem to fit given how secondary boxing was throughout the majority of the film. It's certainly not a terrible ending, just a bit confusing and somewhat underwhelming. Still, I don't want people to focus on this aspect of the review. I am strongly recommending this film for everyone. There are enough engaging aspects here in order for anyone to find something that they'll enjoy about this movie. With very little left that I haven't seen from 2010 that I want to see, this likely will be the last film that ends up making it on my Top Ten list for last year. Rating: ****1/2

Aliens nation

Laugh at the title all you like, the latest trailer for Cowboys & Aliens continues to get me excited for this film. It looks to be one hell of an adventure and one of the must-see films for this summer.

Post #1000!!!!

I had initially held off posting this trying to give it the space that it deserved, but then I got busy and now I've neglected this entire blog for too long. Anyways, this is a special moment for me, even if it has taken practically four years to get here. If you've been an avid reader, I thank you and hope that you'll continue. And I hope you spread the word as well. I'd love to get more visitors. And if you want to see different types of content on here than what I typically post, let me know that too. I've had fun sharing all of my thoughts on here and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. Here's to a thousand more posts and beyond!

Green party

New footage of The Green Lantern was shown at Wondercon last week and a portion of it has hit the web for all of us to enjoy.

Excellent!

Fire up the phone booth...it appears that Bill and Ted are ready for another adventure. From movieline.com:

Apparently, 20 years isn’t too long to wait before making a sequel. Two decades after the last Bill & Ted movie hit theaters, Keanu Reeves has announced that franchise writers Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon are feverishly working on a script, the details of which the actor shared on Monday afternoon.

The actor sat down with MTV to promote his indie film Henry’s Crime and assured the outlet that the third Bill & Ted installment is very much underway — in spite of the fact that the titular characters, played by Alex Winter and Reeves, would be 50 today.

“I know a little bit,” Reeves revealed about the plot. “When we last got together, part of it was that Bill and Ted were supposed to have written the song that saved the world, and it hasn’t happened. […] So they’ve now become kind of possessed by trying to do that. Then there’s an element of time and they have to go back.”

So yes, the Wyld Stallyns may reunite onscreen one more time to achieve the greatness that George Carlin’s Rufus predicted in the 1989 original film. Party on, dudes.

Creating a buzz

So I know I'm a little late to the party, but in case you haven't seen it yet, here's the first full trailer for The Hangover Part II

NMR: Unstoppable

You pretty much know what you're going to get here. If you've seen any of the previous collaborations between Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott, then be prepared for more of the same here. Which is not to say that's a bad thing, because their efforts always yield very enjoyable films. The same holds true here as this once again does a nice job of balancing action and drama. Based on true events, this is a thrilling story of how an accident caused a train containing explosive material to get loose without an conductor. The efforts to stop this train produce a lot of tense moments, filmed expertly by Scott. Adding to the mix is Chris Pine, who plays a 'wet behind the ears' train worker who helps Denzel in trying to stop the runaway train. Pine proves here with another outstanding performance that his work in Star Trek was no fluke or that it was just some aberration caused by J.J. Abrams working his magic. The film is especially effective if you're unaware of how things turn out. Since has it been a huge disaster, you probably would have recalled it actually happening, so you know the film doesn't end that way. However, the fate of the primary characters is likely unclear to you and if you don't know, watching the film becomes that much more intense. This is a fun ride and a solid popcorn film that is worth a rental if you're looking for some thrills. Rating: ****

Camping deleted scenes

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Fringe goes fourth

FOX renews Fringe for Season 4!

I received the best news ever late last week when it was announced that FOX had picked up Fringe for a fourth season. Everybody who reads this blog knows what a huge fan of the show I am, but you may not realize how close the show came to cancellation. I am absolutely stunned by this news. FOX has burned me before with shows like Arrested Development, so this was a nice change of pace. I'm glad to see that FOX is committed to this show and its small, but faithful followers. Now it's our turn to show FOX our appreciation by increasing Fringe's audience. If you're watching this show, thank you and tell your friends. If you're not watching this show, pick up the first couple of seasons on DVD somehow and get caught up - you won't be disappointed!

America...F*** Yeah!

Here's the second full trailer for Captain America: The First Avenger.

NMR: Get Low

At one time, some thought this film might be in the running for some nominations during awards season, however that never came to fruition. It's easy to see why there would be such speculation when you have A-list talent like Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, and Sissy Spacek headlining your film. Each of them give solid performances, but none of them really stretch beyond their wheelhouse. So while they play their roles well, they're not giving us anything that we haven't seen before. The plot involves an old hermit (Duvall) who decides that he wants to throw a funeral for himself before he dies. He wants everyone to show up and tell stories about him. Of course, as the film goes on, we learn that there's more to this party than meets the eye. Secrets are revealed and everyone's perceptions on Duvall and themselves begin to change. I liked the film for it's folksy nature and good performances. However, it ultimately felt pointless. I didn't really see what I was supposed to have taken away from watching the film. It lacked a poignancy that would have given the film a better chance at getting those nominations. The audience for this film is limited and really I'd only recommend it if you're a big fan of the lead actors. Rating: ***

Harvest Festival Producer's Cut

Instead of posting deleted scenes for this past week's amazing episode of Parks and Recreation, here's a producer's cut of the episode that features over 4 extra minutes of awesomeness not seen in the original airing.

Matt-ers of the heart

A few weeks back I finally made it to the theater (slim pickings lately at the box office) and caught the long-delayed The Adjustment Bureau. The film is based off of a short story by Philip K. Dick, whose stories have also been turned into films such Minority Report and I, Robot. However, unlike many of the previous adaptations of his works, this film doesn't focus as much on the sci-fi and scares. Instead, this film is much more about love, destiny, and humanity.

Matt Damon stars as David Norris, a young politician running for New York Senator. While his political future has a lot of promise, he's also had some obstacles thrown in his way preventing him from achieving more sooner. David's bid for senate is thwarted due to a last-minute scandal, however the night isn't a complete disaster. While working on his concession speech in a bathroom, he meets Elise (played by Emily Blunt). It's an odd meeting, but the two instantly hit it off. This is such a critical scene for the film. Through this initial meeting, the audience has to buy into their chemistry otherwise the rest of the film, which centers around a secretive group trying to prevent them from being together, doesn't work.

Thankfully, for the film, the scene does work and the connection these two have is palpable. Both actors play their roles just right. Damon is the golden boy with just the right level of vulnerability to make him likable. And Blunt gives off a wonderful level of sexiness thanks to her balance of British civility and wild child allure. You want to see these two together and when they are, the film's energy increases ten-fold.

Of course, having them immediately get together wouldn't be much of a story. The obstacle to their love is a mysterious group of fedora clad men who seemingly have special abilities. They can freeze time, make things move with a flick of their hand and go through any door and be exactly where they want to be. One of these men (Anthony Mackie from The Hurt Locker) is assigned specifically to watch over David, but doesn't always get the job done. Mad Men's John Slattery is another member of this group who tells David that him and Elise being together is not part of the plan. The most interesting member of this adjustment bureau is Terence Stamp, who plays Thompson, an elder statesman of the group who's called in when things start to get out of hand. He adds a needed level of gravitas to both the group and the film. His scenes are fascinating as he displays a level of calm and composure, with an underlying level of menace as David and Elise continue to mess their supposed destiny.

This theme of destiny, depending on your philosophical beliefs, will likely have some feeling uneasy or incredulous as they watch the film's plot unfold. It's not the easiest sell, but I think if you can look past it, you'll be better off for it. The winning chemistry that Damon and Blunt have make you root for them and hope they wind up together regardless of if it's their destiny or not. Without divulging too much about the film's finish I will say that I was slightly disappointed. It attempts to offer up a happy ending without really giving us any answers. The fact that this isn't just a love story makes that frustrating. Why bother adding in this mysterious group to the mix if you're not going to unpack that mystery for the audience.

Still, there is enough that the film does offer that makes this worthwhile. There is enough mystery/sci-fi elements to make guys want to stick around and women will really appreciate the love story. The commercials have been somewhat misleading as to the true nature of this film, so if you're trying to convince the opposite sex in joining you to see this, they have my word that they'll enjoy this. Often movies that have their release date pushed back multiple times are doomed to fail, so I'm glad to see that this film's destiny was to be good, regardless of when it finally got released. Grade: B

Pirated movie

Here's the latest trailer for the fourth outing of Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

NMR: The Switch

This is one of those films that you watch and just shake your head in confusion. As you watch, you wonder why these fine actors would choose to align themselves with such crummy material. Both the film's leads (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston) and the supporting players (Jeff Goldblum and Juliette Lewis) are likeable people both on and off screen and usually are a highlight in any film that they are in. So what are they doing slumming it in a film with a 'only in Hollywood' plot (Aniston's character wants to have a baby and Bateman secretly swaps her donor's seed with his own)? As I watched the plot unfold I just kept wishing they would eliminate the unlikable neuroses of these characters and just let them be happy together. Of course, the movie would be done in 30 seconds, but then again that probably would be preferable to what they offered up here. And it should also be made clear that despite the marketing, this isn't really a comedy. In fact, I just felt sad for most of the film. Watching characters know exactly what they want, but failing to communicate that to each other isn't my idea of hilarity. I was able to get through the film because the cast is so likable, but I wouldn't suggest you do the same. Opt for better films that also feature these actors. That's a switch that we can all support. Rating: ** 1/2

Super news

Here's a hodgepodge of news tidbits relating to upcoming superhero movies/tv shows. None of these merited their own post, so I'm just lumping them all here into one.

- Joseph Gordon Levitt has now been confirmed to have a role in The Dark Knight Rises.

- In what can never be a good sign, the crew for the Captain America movie will be doing reshoots in a couple of weeks.

- Actor C. Thomas Howell confirmed in a radio interview that the villain for next year's new Spiderman film will be Lizard.

- Director Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) has announced that he will no longer be directing the new Wolverine film.

- Finally, here is your first look at Adrianne Palicki as Wonder Woman, which will be airing next fall on NBC:

NMR: Doc time

Here's a pair of recent documentaries I've caught through Netflix:

Waiting for Superman: Anyone who is a teacher or has children in public education really should see this. It attempts to investigate the problems with our failing schools and the approaches we can take to fix them. Some of the director's arguments are controversial - he is rather critical of teacher unions - but I rather he take that approach than just waffle and have no voice at all. I recognize that with the economy and foreign wars there are a lot of pressing issues that this country needs to face, but this is one that deserves more of our attention. The film certainly isn't perfect. Aside from the director's opinions, I didn't feel that the individual stories of certain children he included in the film really added anything. This is one time where I feel the logos should have dominated the film instead of pathos. Still, the film's topic is so important that I really hope that a lot of people watch this documentary so that more people can begin discussing this issue and hopefuly get it resolved to help save our children and their future. Rating: ****

Freakonomics: Based on the wildly popular nonfiction book, this film takes five ideas from the book and tries to illustrate them further. The ideas are seperated into segments, each directed by renowed documentary filmmaker. The quality of the segments are wildly uneven unfortunately. The one on cheating in sumo wrestling was deathly dull, while Morgan Spurlock's examination on the importance of the name given to a child is fun, but seemingly pointless. The most interesting things to come out of the film are really the core arguments that can be found in the book itself. Apparently, nonfiction books have no better success at begin adapted for the screen than novels do. For those that have read the book, this may be a mildly amusing extension of the authors' ideas. For those who haven't read the book, skip the film and just go to the library and rent this engaging read instead. Rating: ***