Okay, so yesterday I finally had the pleasure of seeing the movie BLACK SWAN, to say that I loved this movie might just be an understatement. And as soon as I watched it I really wanted to run home and write all about it, but I had to re frame. I needed to have time to let everything that I had just watched marinate over me, because the thing is this movie is extraordinary. Darren Arnosky has this way about him that he can make almost any story seem so surreal that it is just ridiculous. I mean really the way the movie is shot I have never wanted to watch ballet so bad in my entire life.
So I guess I should tell you who all is in it. The main players in this little picture are, Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, and Winnona Ryder. This cast is just top notch to say the least. It really is a pleasure to be able to go out and just watch movies that are homeruns and that is exactly what this movie and this cast was. NATALIE PORTMAN plays the lead role of Nina Sayers and it's no secert that I love her but if she doesn't win an oscar for this performance then I just don't know. Her transformation into the Black Swan is something to be seen. Vincent Cassel is, wow. I don't know I feel like after seeing him I should have definitely danced and gotten to the point where I could direct a company of dancers because this guy does whatever he wants to these women just mind fucking them to get the best performance out of them.
MILA KUNIS continues to impress me, and believe me she really has been a hard sell for me, but she just keeps on doing it and in this movie it is no different. Her role is somewhat understated but she is great in it as the dancer that knows her own sexuality and just lets loose. and the scene with her and Portman leising out, all I can say is YIKESSSS!!!! WINNONA RYDER is great as the dancer that is over the hill and is finally getting pushed out of the starring role. And then there is the overly possessive mother played by BARBARA HERSHEY. I mean the way that her and Portman enter act is just crazy and quite disturbing.
So opens with a new season for this ballet company which Natalie Portman has been dancing for a while now. Vincent Cassel tells everyone that they are going a different direction and that Winnona Ryder's character will no longer be in the starring role and that they will be doing his version of Swan Lake. And it is at this point that the movie officially starts. It seems to me that the world of ballet may in fact be way more cutthroat than anything I might have ever experienced in my entire life. I mean these girls are seriously crazy. And the pressure to be the star seems to crush them.
Vincent Cassel's character ends up casting Natalie Portman as the swan queen even though he has some reservations over the fact of if she can play the black swan and in fact as the movie goes on he feels that Mila Kunis's character might just be better suited for it. At one point he even tells Portman's character to go home and touch herself so that she can translate that and maybe seduce the audience. And as the film goes on you can just see Portman literally transforming into the black swan until she gives the performance of a lifetime, but like all great things it comes with a fantastic price.
As someone put it to me this movie was perfectly crazy and disturbingly beautiful. And boy was she right. That is exactly what this film is. It shows what someone who has really mastered or is on the way to mastering a craft can do with the right people behind him. And for me it really shows the price that people pay for perfection. I don't think people really realize the price that some people pay. People like Micheal Jordan, or Tiger Woods, or Peyton Manning. They all didn't wake up one morning and just magically they were the best. It takes a lot of sacrifice to be on top. And sometimes you end up giving up more than you ever really knew. Please go see this movie as soon as possible.
Like always, Don't start nothin', won't be nothin'
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
HOW DO YOU KNOW
So here is the question boys and girls, HOW DO YOU KNOW when you're watching a good movie? If you are watching a James L. Brooks movie then chances are that you probably are. I mean the guy really doesn't make movies that often but to say that is a cinematic god just might be an understatement. I mean lets see AS GOOD AS IT GETS, BROADCAST NEWS, and oh yeah even SPANGLISH folks. I know a lot of people didn't like it but I know I certainly did.
So, I know a lot of you out there have seen the preview for this movie but you might be thinking to yourself what is this movie really about? Well the best way that I heard it described and what I would say about it is that it is a romantic comedy for grown people. It is not just this frivolous movie where things are start off a little hectic and then there is this stretch of happiness then there is a sort of semi-problem all culminating in this finish that makes everyone happy. Now don't get me wrong this movie does have a happy ending, but the getting there is the thing that really makes this movie great.
I was talking to a friend the other day and I think he said it best. Every single character in this movie gets fleshed out and you really know exactly who these people are. From Paul Rudd's good guy who's world seems to be crashing around him, to Owen Wilson's pro baseball player who is genuinely falling for Witherspoon's character but he is such a self involved prick to the point that when he comes 15% of the way it's like the best thing that ever happened.
I love this movie because it is a movie that is full of great dialogue, and really great performances. Most people know that I'm not the biggest REESE WITHERSPOON but she is phenomenal in this movie, as the ex pro softball player who is trying to figure out what is next. And in my opinion it would almost be criminal if PAUL RUDD didn't get an oscar nomination. I'm not saying he should win, I'm just saying that I love this guy and he can pretty much do it all, and I would love to see him come oscar night.
I feel like this movie really hit me at the core right now, because really I don't know what I'm going to do with myself. I mean I write this blog that I know just a select few people read and sometimes I just look at myself and wonder what am I doing. I mean after I went and saw this movie I almost instantly went out and bought some play-doe(once you see the movie you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.)
I hope I've made a strong enough case for all of you to go and see this movie, but if not then here is something else, if you all out there don't go see this movie then I will not be your friends anymore, yep just did it, went back to grade school on all of you. Anyway folks, like always.
Don't start nothin', won't be nothin'
So, I know a lot of you out there have seen the preview for this movie but you might be thinking to yourself what is this movie really about? Well the best way that I heard it described and what I would say about it is that it is a romantic comedy for grown people. It is not just this frivolous movie where things are start off a little hectic and then there is this stretch of happiness then there is a sort of semi-problem all culminating in this finish that makes everyone happy. Now don't get me wrong this movie does have a happy ending, but the getting there is the thing that really makes this movie great.
I was talking to a friend the other day and I think he said it best. Every single character in this movie gets fleshed out and you really know exactly who these people are. From Paul Rudd's good guy who's world seems to be crashing around him, to Owen Wilson's pro baseball player who is genuinely falling for Witherspoon's character but he is such a self involved prick to the point that when he comes 15% of the way it's like the best thing that ever happened.
I love this movie because it is a movie that is full of great dialogue, and really great performances. Most people know that I'm not the biggest REESE WITHERSPOON but she is phenomenal in this movie, as the ex pro softball player who is trying to figure out what is next. And in my opinion it would almost be criminal if PAUL RUDD didn't get an oscar nomination. I'm not saying he should win, I'm just saying that I love this guy and he can pretty much do it all, and I would love to see him come oscar night.
I feel like this movie really hit me at the core right now, because really I don't know what I'm going to do with myself. I mean I write this blog that I know just a select few people read and sometimes I just look at myself and wonder what am I doing. I mean after I went and saw this movie I almost instantly went out and bought some play-doe(once you see the movie you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.)
I hope I've made a strong enough case for all of you to go and see this movie, but if not then here is something else, if you all out there don't go see this movie then I will not be your friends anymore, yep just did it, went back to grade school on all of you. Anyway folks, like always.
Don't start nothin', won't be nothin'
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
TOP 5'S VOLUME 2
I'm back ladies and sirs for the second day in a row no less. I guess I'm going to have to start making this a habit. Give the people what they want right. Give them more me and what I'm thinking that is all anyone can hope for. So onward and upward with my next list of TOP 5'S. Today because I am just in the mode I'm going to talk about TOP 5 CHRISTMAS MOVIES.
5. ELF- Now I must say the first time I saw this movie I hated it. I don't know why but I specifically remember leaving the movie theater and thinking what the hell was that i just watched? Now of course at the time I was going to Seminole State, so it could just be the fact that, that very year I was transformed into the biggest hard ass I've ever been in my life. But I'll tell you after I saw it in the movies a couple of years later I was at home with my mom and sister around Christmas and we watched it and it just hit all the right buttons with me. Now I look forward to it being on TV every year.
4. THE FAMILY STONE- Now this movie I was in love with every since I saw the first trailer for it. And when I saw it in the movies I wasn't let down. The funny thing about this movie is that it kind of got it's legs on dvd, because I remember there really wasn't that many people that saw it in theaters, and I was very surprised by that at the time. I love this movie from start to finish. Every character in this movie serves a purpose and all of them really touch my funny bone. I particularly like this movie because it was the movie that affirmed my love for RACHEL McADAMS. She is so stinking hot in this movie it's ridiculous. Really just a great family Christmas movie.
3. LOVE ACTUALLY- I could probably put this movie higher up because the fact of the matter is I can pretty much watch this movie anytime of the year, it is that freaking good. But maybe that is why it isn't higher because it is not just Christmas specific for me. There is nothing I really like better than a bunch of interlocking stories with British people. It's win win win for me. COLIN FIRTH is outstanding, HUGH GRANT is HUGH GRANT, LIAM NEESON is pretty much the balls, and oh there is KIERA KNIGHTLY. Are you kicking me I have an actor errection just thinking about them all. LOVE ACTUALLY is something kind of wonderful.
2. THE GRINCH- Every since I was a little kid I have just absolutely loved this movie. It really isn't Christmas until I see this movie and every time I see it, it brings back all this childhood whimsy. I mean I even have THE GRINCH as my ring tone this time of year. There just isn't anything like that mean old grinch really. I will watch this movie every year for the rest of my life, and with any luck I'll have a little one someday that will love it just as much as I do.
1. HOME ALONE- Holy shit, if this isn't just the greatest Christmas movie ever then I don't know what is. There once was a time when they made really great Christmas movies and they made really great kid's movies. This falls into both categories. I hate it for kids today because everything that is great in kid's movies is all computer animated. There really aren't any movies like HOME ALONE, THE SANDLOT, or HOOK. Just really great movies about kids that are for kids. This movie was really just every childhood boy my age's dream. Me and all of my friends just dreamed about being home alone and taking on some robbers. This movie more than any other Christmas movie reminds me of my childhood. It reminds me why I love to right and create things. It reminds me of the times I use to run through my backyard with a stick I had fashioned into a sword and only my imagination to entertain me. I love love love this movie.
That's all for now, and as usual folks. Don't start nothin', won't be nothin'
5. ELF- Now I must say the first time I saw this movie I hated it. I don't know why but I specifically remember leaving the movie theater and thinking what the hell was that i just watched? Now of course at the time I was going to Seminole State, so it could just be the fact that, that very year I was transformed into the biggest hard ass I've ever been in my life. But I'll tell you after I saw it in the movies a couple of years later I was at home with my mom and sister around Christmas and we watched it and it just hit all the right buttons with me. Now I look forward to it being on TV every year.
4. THE FAMILY STONE- Now this movie I was in love with every since I saw the first trailer for it. And when I saw it in the movies I wasn't let down. The funny thing about this movie is that it kind of got it's legs on dvd, because I remember there really wasn't that many people that saw it in theaters, and I was very surprised by that at the time. I love this movie from start to finish. Every character in this movie serves a purpose and all of them really touch my funny bone. I particularly like this movie because it was the movie that affirmed my love for RACHEL McADAMS. She is so stinking hot in this movie it's ridiculous. Really just a great family Christmas movie.
3. LOVE ACTUALLY- I could probably put this movie higher up because the fact of the matter is I can pretty much watch this movie anytime of the year, it is that freaking good. But maybe that is why it isn't higher because it is not just Christmas specific for me. There is nothing I really like better than a bunch of interlocking stories with British people. It's win win win for me. COLIN FIRTH is outstanding, HUGH GRANT is HUGH GRANT, LIAM NEESON is pretty much the balls, and oh there is KIERA KNIGHTLY. Are you kicking me I have an actor errection just thinking about them all. LOVE ACTUALLY is something kind of wonderful.
2. THE GRINCH- Every since I was a little kid I have just absolutely loved this movie. It really isn't Christmas until I see this movie and every time I see it, it brings back all this childhood whimsy. I mean I even have THE GRINCH as my ring tone this time of year. There just isn't anything like that mean old grinch really. I will watch this movie every year for the rest of my life, and with any luck I'll have a little one someday that will love it just as much as I do.
1. HOME ALONE- Holy shit, if this isn't just the greatest Christmas movie ever then I don't know what is. There once was a time when they made really great Christmas movies and they made really great kid's movies. This falls into both categories. I hate it for kids today because everything that is great in kid's movies is all computer animated. There really aren't any movies like HOME ALONE, THE SANDLOT, or HOOK. Just really great movies about kids that are for kids. This movie was really just every childhood boy my age's dream. Me and all of my friends just dreamed about being home alone and taking on some robbers. This movie more than any other Christmas movie reminds me of my childhood. It reminds me why I love to right and create things. It reminds me of the times I use to run through my backyard with a stick I had fashioned into a sword and only my imagination to entertain me. I love love love this movie.
That's all for now, and as usual folks. Don't start nothin', won't be nothin'
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
TOP 5'S
Today I'm going to do something a little bit different. Today I'm going to begin my salute to TOP 5's. Much like the movie High Fidelity I'm going to begin spouting out my list of TOP 5 everythings. Now of course in between these lists there will be movie reviews, but I guess I'm just doing this as a little change of pace. And for those of you poor souls out there that actually read this, maybe you send me back your TOP 5's and we will compare. Maybe you get a little bit more insight on just who exactly I really am. Today to start out I think I'm going to do two categories. The first being TOP 5 INDEPENDENT FILMS and then TOP 5 UP AND COMING MALE ACTORS.
So let's get started. For those of you out there that know me and read this from time to time, you should know that I love love love independent film. I think that it is such a great form of film and you really get to see just who people are though it, so without further ado I will give you my list of TOP 5's.
5. BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOUR DEAD - This movie is nothing less than spectcular. It is a thriller about two desperate brothers and what exactly people will do in times of desperation. I promise you that you will be shocked the entire time you are watching this film. Go out and see it.
4. BRICK- I absolutely love this movie. This was one of those movies that I will watch anytime anywhere. This is a noir story that takes place in its own unique world of high school. The look, the language, the acting. It truly is a movie like no other. I really want everyone to see this movie.
3. CHASING AMY- I love Kevin Smith more than anyone probably should and this is one of my favorite movies of his and maybe one of my favorite movies ever. This is the movie where I fell in love with BEN AFFLECK. Any guy who tries and successfully turns a leisbian is aces in my book. This is a movie about love, life, and friendship. And there are plenty of dick and fart jokes to go around. A must watch for our generation.
2. BEFORE SUNRISE/BEFORE SUNSET- I know , I know my 2 spot is filled with two movies and I really don't care. Because you need to watch them both back to back to get the full weight of it all if you ask me. They are both so very unique in their own right and they are both spot on. It is truly a masterful job of acting, story-telling, and filmmaking. I love these movies with all my heart they really do appeal to the hopeless romantic in me.
1. CLERKS- That's right none other than the movie that reignited the independent movie as far as I'm concerned. It's so simple it was all shot in one location and it is done in black and white. And sure it looks kind of shitty, but who cares because that's what independent film is, it's raw and it's wonderful, and it tells a real story about real people. This is the movie that started it all for me. Thanks COOP.
Now here is some man meat for all you ladies out there that love leading me. This is my up and coming list of guys that are pretty much ready to take hollywood by storm.
5. ZAC EFRON- I can't believe I'm even saying this and believe me a couple five months ago there is no way you would have ever caught me saying it, but this guy might just be the real thing. He seems to be wanting to break away from that High School Musical thing that made him so big and I for one applaud that. 17 AGAIN I have to say that I really do like it and I think that it is just a really good movie that i would watch anytime, and then him in ME AND ORSON WELLES pretty much sealed the deal for me. Look out for him.
4. JUSTIN LONG- This guy has been around for some time now you might remember him in JEEPERS CREEPERS I know I do. But really he hasn't until lately been used in the manner that really allows him to shine. If you don't believe me watch him in his blink and you'll miss it scene in ZAC AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO, and check out GOING THE DISTANCE and you'll know exactly what I do and that is that this guy is on his way.
3. JESSE EISENBERG- This guy is the real deal. The first time I remember seeing him is in a little movie called THE SQUID AND THE WHALE. And he really hasn't let of the gas since. The guy plays that sort of off beat nerdy social awkward everyman character like no other. He killed it in THE SOCIAL NETWORK this year, but he has been doing it long before that, really check out ADVENTURELAND, ZOMBIELAND, and THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS and you'll really know all about this guy.
2. TOM HARDY- Now this guy here really isn't so young at all and that's cool because this is my list and I feel like I want to talk about him. For those of you that don't know him he was EAMES in INCEPTION, probably for most the coolest character in the movie. I think this guy really is top notch and I think he is really about to pop off in the movie industry. The guy just has an air of cool about him. Really check him out in THE LAYER CAKE or in the wonderful ROCKNROLLA.
1. JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT- Who of you out there really didn't see this coming. To say that I have developed a man crush on him is an understatement. The guy really can do no wrong with me lately. Every since I saw his great performance in BRICK I have been captivated by this guy waiting to see what's next. I loved him in 500 DAYS OF SUMMER, and for me him as ARTHUR was the coolest part of INCEPTION. So all of you out there be on the look out for HESHER and his up and coming movie LOOPER.
As always, Don't start nothin', won't be nothin'
So let's get started. For those of you out there that know me and read this from time to time, you should know that I love love love independent film. I think that it is such a great form of film and you really get to see just who people are though it, so without further ado I will give you my list of TOP 5's.
5. BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOUR DEAD - This movie is nothing less than spectcular. It is a thriller about two desperate brothers and what exactly people will do in times of desperation. I promise you that you will be shocked the entire time you are watching this film. Go out and see it.
4. BRICK- I absolutely love this movie. This was one of those movies that I will watch anytime anywhere. This is a noir story that takes place in its own unique world of high school. The look, the language, the acting. It truly is a movie like no other. I really want everyone to see this movie.
3. CHASING AMY- I love Kevin Smith more than anyone probably should and this is one of my favorite movies of his and maybe one of my favorite movies ever. This is the movie where I fell in love with BEN AFFLECK. Any guy who tries and successfully turns a leisbian is aces in my book. This is a movie about love, life, and friendship. And there are plenty of dick and fart jokes to go around. A must watch for our generation.
2. BEFORE SUNRISE/BEFORE SUNSET- I know , I know my 2 spot is filled with two movies and I really don't care. Because you need to watch them both back to back to get the full weight of it all if you ask me. They are both so very unique in their own right and they are both spot on. It is truly a masterful job of acting, story-telling, and filmmaking. I love these movies with all my heart they really do appeal to the hopeless romantic in me.
1. CLERKS- That's right none other than the movie that reignited the independent movie as far as I'm concerned. It's so simple it was all shot in one location and it is done in black and white. And sure it looks kind of shitty, but who cares because that's what independent film is, it's raw and it's wonderful, and it tells a real story about real people. This is the movie that started it all for me. Thanks COOP.
Now here is some man meat for all you ladies out there that love leading me. This is my up and coming list of guys that are pretty much ready to take hollywood by storm.
5. ZAC EFRON- I can't believe I'm even saying this and believe me a couple five months ago there is no way you would have ever caught me saying it, but this guy might just be the real thing. He seems to be wanting to break away from that High School Musical thing that made him so big and I for one applaud that. 17 AGAIN I have to say that I really do like it and I think that it is just a really good movie that i would watch anytime, and then him in ME AND ORSON WELLES pretty much sealed the deal for me. Look out for him.
4. JUSTIN LONG- This guy has been around for some time now you might remember him in JEEPERS CREEPERS I know I do. But really he hasn't until lately been used in the manner that really allows him to shine. If you don't believe me watch him in his blink and you'll miss it scene in ZAC AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO, and check out GOING THE DISTANCE and you'll know exactly what I do and that is that this guy is on his way.
3. JESSE EISENBERG- This guy is the real deal. The first time I remember seeing him is in a little movie called THE SQUID AND THE WHALE. And he really hasn't let of the gas since. The guy plays that sort of off beat nerdy social awkward everyman character like no other. He killed it in THE SOCIAL NETWORK this year, but he has been doing it long before that, really check out ADVENTURELAND, ZOMBIELAND, and THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS and you'll really know all about this guy.
2. TOM HARDY- Now this guy here really isn't so young at all and that's cool because this is my list and I feel like I want to talk about him. For those of you that don't know him he was EAMES in INCEPTION, probably for most the coolest character in the movie. I think this guy really is top notch and I think he is really about to pop off in the movie industry. The guy just has an air of cool about him. Really check him out in THE LAYER CAKE or in the wonderful ROCKNROLLA.
1. JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT- Who of you out there really didn't see this coming. To say that I have developed a man crush on him is an understatement. The guy really can do no wrong with me lately. Every since I saw his great performance in BRICK I have been captivated by this guy waiting to see what's next. I loved him in 500 DAYS OF SUMMER, and for me him as ARTHUR was the coolest part of INCEPTION. So all of you out there be on the look out for HESHER and his up and coming movie LOOPER.
As always, Don't start nothin', won't be nothin'
Thursday, December 9, 2010
IT"S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY/ ME AND ORSON WELLES
It's me again gang, ready to drop a little knowledge on you all about the latest movies that I have seen. It's been a little bit but I have recently been busy getting my body used to the graveyard shift and now that I have it's movie review time.
Okay, so since it's taken me a little while to give you all a movie review I have decided as a special treat that I'm going to give you all two for the price of one. So with that let me start this whole thing off with my review of IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY. I guess I should preface this review by saying that when after I saw this movie I wanted to come home and write about it right away but I didn't quite know where it fit. I knew I really liked it just as soon as I watched it, but I needed a little bit of time to let it wash over me. And now that it has I can 100 percent say that I really really like this movie.
The best way I could describe this movie is by simply saying it is a movie written for not only my generation but that just a bit younger that me. It's hard for me to completely describe what genre I would put this movie in but if I had to I would say it is a sort of hybrid coming of age dramedy. It centers around a kid that comes from a very affluent family that has had everything that he could ever need in life but for some reason everything is getting to him and he is thinking about killing himself. So he checks himself in the adult mental ward in the hospital where he meets all different kinds of characters on his way to realizing and finding himself.
So who is in this movie? Well Keir Gilchrist plays the title character of Craig and for being such a young actor he really gives a good turn as this slightly awkward kid bumbling around in the mental ward trying to find himself. Emma Roberts plays the lovely Noelle who is another kid in the adult mental word who is Craig's love interest. I thought that she was great in the movie. The only problem that I found with her role is that there wasn't more of it. She comes from such a great pedigree and I can tell that she is going to be a force. The way she plays her role is subtle but it really leaves a lasting impression. And now on to the real star of this movie and that is Mr. Zach Galifianakis, playing the role of Bobby, a dad that is trying to make it out of this darkness that he has been in so that he can be there for his kid. I really like Galifianakis but after this movie I love him. Finally he gets to play a real person and not just a character which I feel that he does in most movies. Bobby is a really funny guy but he has depth. You are not just sitting there waiting for the next one liner to be thrown out there, he is real and you can see the pain that he is struggling through.
This is a movie that really flew under the radar and that is just too bad. I really do wish that more movies like this were getting the due that movies like Twilight does. Shame on all of you. Grow up, and go see this movie.
ME AND ORSON WELLES
What can I say about this movie besides, FFFFFUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKK! I mean this is everything that a movie should be. To say that I love this movie is an understatement. RICHARD LINKLATER is an absolute god. He is one of my favorite directors working today. I mean the guy just knows how to tell a story, from DAZED AND CONFUSED to BEFORE SUNRISE to BEFORE SUNSET. I just love this man's work. This movie is just so damn fun I love it. I watched this the other morning after working all night long, and this movie kept me up and entertained the entire hour and forty eight minutes of its run time. The movie is about a young boy who is a bit of a dreamer and is aspiring to be an actor in 1937 and he lands a role in "Julius Caesar" that is directed by a young Orson Welles.
So who is in this movie? The title role of Richard is played by ZAC EFRON. I hate to admit this but this kid I is really going to be something I think. He is already a heart throb but the thing that is so great about this kid is the fact that he really is picking out smart roles to do. I sure there have been a number of roles thrown his way to try and cash in on the whole High School Musical success, but it appears that he has it in his head to really do good movies and I have to applaud him for that. CLAIRE DANES plays the lovely Sonja, who is the girl that is loved by everybody in the playhouse and young Richard eventually falls for her. She does a great job in the role, because she in not just this absolutely like able character, she is sort of this hot ice queen type that has is hard working yes but she really is driven by ambition and the fact that she is beautiful she uses it to her advantage. Then there is CHRISTIAN MCKAY who plays Orson Welles. To say that he is phenomenal in the movie would be an understatement. I don't know who this guy is at all but to play such an iconic role such as Orson Welles and do it this well really is something great. I mean this guy nails every single scene that he is in and it just seems effortless. I applaud you sir, somebody please cast this guy in something else.
This movie truly does have everything that a movie should have. It is fun and funny, but it is also serious and a little bittersweet. It is going to make you smile and then at times it is going to feel like it crushes you I am absolutely in love with it. The only other movie that I have enjoyed this much this year was the little known movie by the name of FLIPPED. I mean there is a great scene in the beginning of this movie when Richard is just getting used to the playhouse and they are all sitting around and him and two guys talk to him about the quadruple space which is just great. For those of you that don't know what it is, it is when two characters in a book are about to have sex the book with talk about a long hard embrace and then there is a quadruple space and it reads the next morning the sun is up and shining bright. They basically tell him that the best things in life happen in the quadruple space. I encourage everybody to go out and see this movie as soon as possible. This is a great movie and if you don't see it you should be kicked in the nuts, Boom!!!!
Like always, don't start nothin' , won't be nothin'
Okay, so since it's taken me a little while to give you all a movie review I have decided as a special treat that I'm going to give you all two for the price of one. So with that let me start this whole thing off with my review of IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY. I guess I should preface this review by saying that when after I saw this movie I wanted to come home and write about it right away but I didn't quite know where it fit. I knew I really liked it just as soon as I watched it, but I needed a little bit of time to let it wash over me. And now that it has I can 100 percent say that I really really like this movie.
The best way I could describe this movie is by simply saying it is a movie written for not only my generation but that just a bit younger that me. It's hard for me to completely describe what genre I would put this movie in but if I had to I would say it is a sort of hybrid coming of age dramedy. It centers around a kid that comes from a very affluent family that has had everything that he could ever need in life but for some reason everything is getting to him and he is thinking about killing himself. So he checks himself in the adult mental ward in the hospital where he meets all different kinds of characters on his way to realizing and finding himself.
So who is in this movie? Well Keir Gilchrist plays the title character of Craig and for being such a young actor he really gives a good turn as this slightly awkward kid bumbling around in the mental ward trying to find himself. Emma Roberts plays the lovely Noelle who is another kid in the adult mental word who is Craig's love interest. I thought that she was great in the movie. The only problem that I found with her role is that there wasn't more of it. She comes from such a great pedigree and I can tell that she is going to be a force. The way she plays her role is subtle but it really leaves a lasting impression. And now on to the real star of this movie and that is Mr. Zach Galifianakis, playing the role of Bobby, a dad that is trying to make it out of this darkness that he has been in so that he can be there for his kid. I really like Galifianakis but after this movie I love him. Finally he gets to play a real person and not just a character which I feel that he does in most movies. Bobby is a really funny guy but he has depth. You are not just sitting there waiting for the next one liner to be thrown out there, he is real and you can see the pain that he is struggling through.
This is a movie that really flew under the radar and that is just too bad. I really do wish that more movies like this were getting the due that movies like Twilight does. Shame on all of you. Grow up, and go see this movie.
ME AND ORSON WELLES
What can I say about this movie besides, FFFFFUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKK! I mean this is everything that a movie should be. To say that I love this movie is an understatement. RICHARD LINKLATER is an absolute god. He is one of my favorite directors working today. I mean the guy just knows how to tell a story, from DAZED AND CONFUSED to BEFORE SUNRISE to BEFORE SUNSET. I just love this man's work. This movie is just so damn fun I love it. I watched this the other morning after working all night long, and this movie kept me up and entertained the entire hour and forty eight minutes of its run time. The movie is about a young boy who is a bit of a dreamer and is aspiring to be an actor in 1937 and he lands a role in "Julius Caesar" that is directed by a young Orson Welles.
So who is in this movie? The title role of Richard is played by ZAC EFRON. I hate to admit this but this kid I is really going to be something I think. He is already a heart throb but the thing that is so great about this kid is the fact that he really is picking out smart roles to do. I sure there have been a number of roles thrown his way to try and cash in on the whole High School Musical success, but it appears that he has it in his head to really do good movies and I have to applaud him for that. CLAIRE DANES plays the lovely Sonja, who is the girl that is loved by everybody in the playhouse and young Richard eventually falls for her. She does a great job in the role, because she in not just this absolutely like able character, she is sort of this hot ice queen type that has is hard working yes but she really is driven by ambition and the fact that she is beautiful she uses it to her advantage. Then there is CHRISTIAN MCKAY who plays Orson Welles. To say that he is phenomenal in the movie would be an understatement. I don't know who this guy is at all but to play such an iconic role such as Orson Welles and do it this well really is something great. I mean this guy nails every single scene that he is in and it just seems effortless. I applaud you sir, somebody please cast this guy in something else.
This movie truly does have everything that a movie should have. It is fun and funny, but it is also serious and a little bittersweet. It is going to make you smile and then at times it is going to feel like it crushes you I am absolutely in love with it. The only other movie that I have enjoyed this much this year was the little known movie by the name of FLIPPED. I mean there is a great scene in the beginning of this movie when Richard is just getting used to the playhouse and they are all sitting around and him and two guys talk to him about the quadruple space which is just great. For those of you that don't know what it is, it is when two characters in a book are about to have sex the book with talk about a long hard embrace and then there is a quadruple space and it reads the next morning the sun is up and shining bright. They basically tell him that the best things in life happen in the quadruple space. I encourage everybody to go out and see this movie as soon as possible. This is a great movie and if you don't see it you should be kicked in the nuts, Boom!!!!
Like always, don't start nothin' , won't be nothin'
Sunday, November 28, 2010
CHEERS TO RACISM?
Well Folks you know who it is. Today I'm going to talk about something a little different. Sorry no movie reviews tonight, although next week should be full of them, so stay tuned for that. No today I'm going to talk about something different, something that has been bothering me all day but I just didn't know if I wanted to talk about it, because quite honestly it is something that is very personal and no matter how old I am or how long I've gone through it, it always hits home every time it happens.
I know you're on the edge of your seats waiting to hear exactly what I'm talking about so I guess I should just come out and say it. Today, in the we hours of the morning nursing the beginnings of a hangover after a fantastic night after the Sooners downed the Cowboys yet again, I silently endured some good old fashion racism. And this is that story.
So last night after a great night at Eskimo Joe's my good friend Cory and I were in no position to drive home, so being the mature and responsible(which we almost never are)people that we are we decided to crash at one of our other friend's Cousin's house. Now when we got there we were welcomed with open arms and we partied pretty much the rest of the night, and I didn't go to bed until probably 5 or 6 in the morning. It was in my opinion a pretty great night. And I enjoyed everyone there.
Then came the morning. To tell you the truth I really don't know who said it, because This place was pretty much your typical college guys house. It was a party house with an assortment of guys crashed out all over the house and I can pretty much picture that being the way it is most weekends. But in the early hours of the morning right before me and Cory left on our way home, I was just kind of waking up when I heard a couple of guys having a conversation. and it went a little something like this.
GUY1:"Man, what happened last night. I'm pretty sure after we took those twenty of thirty shots I blacked out." GUY2: "Yeah you were pretty much done by about 2 o'clock, we ended up saying up til about 6 I guess. It was a pretty crazy, this place is destroyed." GUY1: "I know, my parents came in here around 7:30 this morning and it looked just like this. did yall smoke some dank last night?" GUY2: "No, I drank a shitload but I don't remember anyone smoking last night." GUY1: "Well when my parents came in here this place smelled like straight dank. Maybe it was that NIGGER that pasted out on the couch. Wait where is he?" Guy2: "He's still laying right over there on the couch." GUY1: "Oh shit, Fuck I'm going back to bed."
You know it's funny, because no matter how many times I hear that word in my life, and I have heard it a time or two, I still feel so small under the power of it. And at that moment I just felt this thing come over my body and I didn't know what to do, all I could do is try to hold it all in, because I feel like if I let that part of my out then I will lose all control over myself. And I almost did this morning. I left that house and all I could feel was defeated. It sucks but I felt less than I know I am.
I debated on if I would write about this or not all day long, but in the end I decided I had to. I owed it to myself to let this all be known. To let people out there know that it isn't over and that there are still so many ignorant people out there. I want people to know that we as a country aren't past it even though some think that we are, and this is not okay. I am worth so much more than that, we all are. If you're reading this I hope you never know what something like this feels like, and I hope that we will all be more mindful of each other in the future, dare to dream right.
Until next time, Don't start nothin' won't be nothin'
I know you're on the edge of your seats waiting to hear exactly what I'm talking about so I guess I should just come out and say it. Today, in the we hours of the morning nursing the beginnings of a hangover after a fantastic night after the Sooners downed the Cowboys yet again, I silently endured some good old fashion racism. And this is that story.
So last night after a great night at Eskimo Joe's my good friend Cory and I were in no position to drive home, so being the mature and responsible(which we almost never are)people that we are we decided to crash at one of our other friend's Cousin's house. Now when we got there we were welcomed with open arms and we partied pretty much the rest of the night, and I didn't go to bed until probably 5 or 6 in the morning. It was in my opinion a pretty great night. And I enjoyed everyone there.
Then came the morning. To tell you the truth I really don't know who said it, because This place was pretty much your typical college guys house. It was a party house with an assortment of guys crashed out all over the house and I can pretty much picture that being the way it is most weekends. But in the early hours of the morning right before me and Cory left on our way home, I was just kind of waking up when I heard a couple of guys having a conversation. and it went a little something like this.
GUY1:"Man, what happened last night. I'm pretty sure after we took those twenty of thirty shots I blacked out." GUY2: "Yeah you were pretty much done by about 2 o'clock, we ended up saying up til about 6 I guess. It was a pretty crazy, this place is destroyed." GUY1: "I know, my parents came in here around 7:30 this morning and it looked just like this. did yall smoke some dank last night?" GUY2: "No, I drank a shitload but I don't remember anyone smoking last night." GUY1: "Well when my parents came in here this place smelled like straight dank. Maybe it was that NIGGER that pasted out on the couch. Wait where is he?" Guy2: "He's still laying right over there on the couch." GUY1: "Oh shit, Fuck I'm going back to bed."
You know it's funny, because no matter how many times I hear that word in my life, and I have heard it a time or two, I still feel so small under the power of it. And at that moment I just felt this thing come over my body and I didn't know what to do, all I could do is try to hold it all in, because I feel like if I let that part of my out then I will lose all control over myself. And I almost did this morning. I left that house and all I could feel was defeated. It sucks but I felt less than I know I am.
I debated on if I would write about this or not all day long, but in the end I decided I had to. I owed it to myself to let this all be known. To let people out there know that it isn't over and that there are still so many ignorant people out there. I want people to know that we as a country aren't past it even though some think that we are, and this is not okay. I am worth so much more than that, we all are. If you're reading this I hope you never know what something like this feels like, and I hope that we will all be more mindful of each other in the future, dare to dream right.
Until next time, Don't start nothin' won't be nothin'
Thursday, November 25, 2010
I'm loving... LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS
Hello folks it's me again, your favorite Internet critic that no one likes to read. Today I would just like to start off by saying Happy Thanksgiving to all of you out there, I hope that you are celebrating with family and friends and that you are all having a blessed holiday. Now on to the business at had, LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS.
The Who: It has the lovely, the sexy, the talented Anne Hathaway, and then the male lead is Jake Gyllenhaal who gives one of his best performances. Also hanging out in the movie are Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria, and Judy Greer. Now for me and my money Anne Hathaway is really turning out to be one of the better young actresses in Hollywood. And I would have never thought this was going to be the case when she was doing THE PRINCESS DIARIES. She plays the role of unavailable girl that all she wants in a relationship is sex to perfection. And for me this is the role Jake Gyllenhaal was born to play. he is this guy that comes from a good family and just seems to fly through life and the only thing he is really good as is banging chicks. But he's not the super cool guy that bangs the chicks. He is the guy that is just a prick and pretty much a pussy but he just happens to be able to push all the right buttons with guys.
I love this movie, I pretty much just love every minute of it. I was pleasantly surprised by the movie because it just doesn't at all play the way it looks on the previews. It isn't just this romantic comedy kind of love movie, it is much more. These aren't just two beautiful people that fall in love and some random road block gets in the way just before they make up at the end and live happily ever after. This movie is about two real people that are damaged in real ways. One damaged by himself and his family and the other damaged by a disease and how she has had to become because of said disease. This is not just a cookie cutter movie, it is so much movie and I love that about this movie.
Unexpected surprises about this movie: If you have ever wanted to see what Anne Hathaway's breasts look like this is the movie for you. I mean wow, they are awesome and you see them often in this movie, oh yeah and there is plenty of Jake for all of you girls out there. Thing that could have killed this movie: The brother of Gyllenhaal's character is suppose to play the comedic relief and boy is he not. He steals a lot of scenes in this movie and it is not at all in a good way. After a while I just felt like yelling I get it, now lets get back to the movie.
This is a very good movie with a very good cast, and a story that is both funny and touching. I highly recommend this movie to any of you this holiday season.
Until next time, don't start nothin', won't be nothin'.
The Who: It has the lovely, the sexy, the talented Anne Hathaway, and then the male lead is Jake Gyllenhaal who gives one of his best performances. Also hanging out in the movie are Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria, and Judy Greer. Now for me and my money Anne Hathaway is really turning out to be one of the better young actresses in Hollywood. And I would have never thought this was going to be the case when she was doing THE PRINCESS DIARIES. She plays the role of unavailable girl that all she wants in a relationship is sex to perfection. And for me this is the role Jake Gyllenhaal was born to play. he is this guy that comes from a good family and just seems to fly through life and the only thing he is really good as is banging chicks. But he's not the super cool guy that bangs the chicks. He is the guy that is just a prick and pretty much a pussy but he just happens to be able to push all the right buttons with guys.
I love this movie, I pretty much just love every minute of it. I was pleasantly surprised by the movie because it just doesn't at all play the way it looks on the previews. It isn't just this romantic comedy kind of love movie, it is much more. These aren't just two beautiful people that fall in love and some random road block gets in the way just before they make up at the end and live happily ever after. This movie is about two real people that are damaged in real ways. One damaged by himself and his family and the other damaged by a disease and how she has had to become because of said disease. This is not just a cookie cutter movie, it is so much movie and I love that about this movie.
Unexpected surprises about this movie: If you have ever wanted to see what Anne Hathaway's breasts look like this is the movie for you. I mean wow, they are awesome and you see them often in this movie, oh yeah and there is plenty of Jake for all of you girls out there. Thing that could have killed this movie: The brother of Gyllenhaal's character is suppose to play the comedic relief and boy is he not. He steals a lot of scenes in this movie and it is not at all in a good way. After a while I just felt like yelling I get it, now lets get back to the movie.
This is a very good movie with a very good cast, and a story that is both funny and touching. I highly recommend this movie to any of you this holiday season.
Until next time, don't start nothin', won't be nothin'.
Friday, November 19, 2010
I'm going to relish in THE NEXT THREE DAYS
Hello again all of you lonely misguided people out there, it's me again. Ready to drop a little more knowledge on all of you. And what will I be talking about today. I guess I'm going to do something that is really against the norm and talk about a movie. Today I had to pleasure and I do mean the extreme pleasure of going to see the movie, THE NEXT THREE DAYS. I guess I should start off by saying that I pretty much think that Paul Haggis is a movie god. There is something about his writing and now later in his career his directing that I find to be just fantastic. He always seems to focus on issues and characters that are so true to life that it seems to hit you right in the gut. And I feel like this movie does just that.
For those of you that don't know who Paul Haggis is check out movies such as CRASH, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, THE LAST KISS, CASINO ROYALE, and IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH. I promise you that you will not be disappointed.
So let's get into the WHAT: This movie is essentially this suspense sort of thriller that has to do with a mother of what seems to be a pretty stable family going to prison for life for a murder that she may or may not have committed. And her husband and his struggle to try and break her out of prison.
Now here's the WHO: This movie features Russell Crowe in the lead role, the wonderful Elizabeth Banks who has personally captured my heart and is becoming one of my favorite women to see on camera. It also has Liam Neeson who is well Liam Neeson and really what else needs to be said. Also playing a very good but understated role is Olivia Wilde, who is just so super sexy in pretty much everything she's in. And even though in this movie she is playing an understated mom she is still sexy as ever.
Russell Crowe in this movie here is pretty much just vintage Crowe. He seems to carry this movie somewhat effortlessly as this distressed father and husband who beyond all belief believes in the innocence of his wife and will not give up hope and will not let her give up hope that the life in prison is not the life that they will live. Elizabeth Banks is also extremely good in this movie, playing a mother in wife that is in prison for murder for life and you can tell that it is all just breaking her down.
For me the thing about this movie is that at the heart of it if forces the audience to ask the question, is there anybody that you would go to these lengths for? Or do you think the person that you are with will go to these lengths for you. The thing about it is that it is a completely crazy question because this situation just probably won't come up in your lifetime, but we just always want to know that somebody loves us enough to risk it all for us. Even if it would never happen in a million years. I thought about that throughout the whole movie, and I was almost sad leaving knowing that at this very moment in my life there just might not be a person that I could do it for. Even though I really thought that at one point there was. But really that's neither here nor there.
The other great thing about this movie is the way that it is structured. The first act of the movie really jumps right into it. It starts off with Crowe and Banks at dinner with another couple, Banks just having a hard day, and her and the other woman at dinner get into a heated exchange out the roles of women and men at work. Then the next day the police bust in and arrest her for murder. Now it doesn't go through the whole trial and all that jazz, and a lot of what you think might have happened with the murder happens in brief flashbacks. The audience never really knows weather she is or isn't innocent, they only know that Crowe's character believes this.
Then the second act sets up a lot of the dramatic performances in the movie, with them losing the appeal and Banks trying to come to grips with that fact that she will be in jail for life, and then Crowe trying to put in motion this plan to break her out of prison even though he is just an average everyday person. he is not a criminal and really doesn't know what he is in for, all he knows is that he loves his wife, and just like she can't make it in prison, he won't be able to make it without her as well.
Then comes the third act and once it starts it grabs you and it just doesn't stop. I spend most of the third act trying to figure out where the twists and turns were going to come from and I never could. It just kept hitting me from every angle and I will literally at the edge of my seat throughout. You just can't help but wonder are they going to get out or how are they going to get caught. For me it really is a beautifully crafted script and to tell you the truth I expect nothing less from Mr. Haggis. I won't give it all aways because I feel that you all need to get out there and check it out right now. This is the season for all those wonderful movies that a lot of people out there will overlook and come next year.
So until next time folks, don't start nothin',won't be nothin'
For those of you that don't know who Paul Haggis is check out movies such as CRASH, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, THE LAST KISS, CASINO ROYALE, and IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH. I promise you that you will not be disappointed.
So let's get into the WHAT: This movie is essentially this suspense sort of thriller that has to do with a mother of what seems to be a pretty stable family going to prison for life for a murder that she may or may not have committed. And her husband and his struggle to try and break her out of prison.
Now here's the WHO: This movie features Russell Crowe in the lead role, the wonderful Elizabeth Banks who has personally captured my heart and is becoming one of my favorite women to see on camera. It also has Liam Neeson who is well Liam Neeson and really what else needs to be said. Also playing a very good but understated role is Olivia Wilde, who is just so super sexy in pretty much everything she's in. And even though in this movie she is playing an understated mom she is still sexy as ever.
Russell Crowe in this movie here is pretty much just vintage Crowe. He seems to carry this movie somewhat effortlessly as this distressed father and husband who beyond all belief believes in the innocence of his wife and will not give up hope and will not let her give up hope that the life in prison is not the life that they will live. Elizabeth Banks is also extremely good in this movie, playing a mother in wife that is in prison for murder for life and you can tell that it is all just breaking her down.
For me the thing about this movie is that at the heart of it if forces the audience to ask the question, is there anybody that you would go to these lengths for? Or do you think the person that you are with will go to these lengths for you. The thing about it is that it is a completely crazy question because this situation just probably won't come up in your lifetime, but we just always want to know that somebody loves us enough to risk it all for us. Even if it would never happen in a million years. I thought about that throughout the whole movie, and I was almost sad leaving knowing that at this very moment in my life there just might not be a person that I could do it for. Even though I really thought that at one point there was. But really that's neither here nor there.
The other great thing about this movie is the way that it is structured. The first act of the movie really jumps right into it. It starts off with Crowe and Banks at dinner with another couple, Banks just having a hard day, and her and the other woman at dinner get into a heated exchange out the roles of women and men at work. Then the next day the police bust in and arrest her for murder. Now it doesn't go through the whole trial and all that jazz, and a lot of what you think might have happened with the murder happens in brief flashbacks. The audience never really knows weather she is or isn't innocent, they only know that Crowe's character believes this.
Then the second act sets up a lot of the dramatic performances in the movie, with them losing the appeal and Banks trying to come to grips with that fact that she will be in jail for life, and then Crowe trying to put in motion this plan to break her out of prison even though he is just an average everyday person. he is not a criminal and really doesn't know what he is in for, all he knows is that he loves his wife, and just like she can't make it in prison, he won't be able to make it without her as well.
Then comes the third act and once it starts it grabs you and it just doesn't stop. I spend most of the third act trying to figure out where the twists and turns were going to come from and I never could. It just kept hitting me from every angle and I will literally at the edge of my seat throughout. You just can't help but wonder are they going to get out or how are they going to get caught. For me it really is a beautifully crafted script and to tell you the truth I expect nothing less from Mr. Haggis. I won't give it all aways because I feel that you all need to get out there and check it out right now. This is the season for all those wonderful movies that a lot of people out there will overlook and come next year.
So until next time folks, don't start nothin',won't be nothin'
Monday, November 15, 2010
EDWARD BURNS, check him out please!!!!!!
Well Hello again my friends out there, all two of you that actually read this little thing. I am back with a little something different this time. I don't exactly have a movie review for you and I'm not really about to go out and ramble on about whatever has been popping in my head. What I came on here to do tonight is to give you guys a mere suggestion. Something that you can take if you want and you life with be better and more fulfilled because of it, or you can leave it and go on toward the downward spiral that you are probably already on. Now that suggestion that I am giving all of you out there is this. At some point in the near future you need to go out and rent or buy yourself an EDWARD BURNS movie. I'm not talking about a movie that he happens to be in, I'm talking about a movie that he himself has written, produced, and directed.
Now I know that a lot of you out there don't really know who EDWARD BURNS is, and the ones of you that do think that you know, I assure you that you probably do not. Because right now I'm not talking about the EDWARD BURNS that plays the dick head boyfriend in THE HOLIDAY, and I'm not talking about the EDWARD BURNS that plays the boss that Katherine Hiegel is in love in 27 DRESSES. Yes this is that guy, but I am of the firm belief that these characters are not really this guy. For those of you out there that don't know it, EDWARD BURNS really has a passion for writing and directing. And believe me anyone who has ever seen a movie that he has written and directed knows just how good he really is. The thing is he uses movies like THE HOLIDAY and 27 DRESSES are basically a paycheck so that he can fund his own projects which thank god, because I love his work.
Now his earlier work such as movies like THE BROTHER McMULLEN and SHE'S THE ONE even though they were critically acclaimed for the most part are still a bit rough around the edges and you really have to like movies to really get into those, but some of his later stuff to date, all I can say is that it is brilliant. Not only are they these great little independent movies which by the way I'm a sucker for, but they also have some of the brightest stars out right now playing these parts and making you realize how they can get some of these bigger roles that they get. A prime example of this is the actor PATRICK WILSON who really is blowing up right now, but I promise you if you go out and get the movie PURPLE VIOLETS you will see exactly why. I mean that movie is one of the best movies I've seen in the last 5 years.
A couple of other titles that he has done that are just really good movies that I feel that everyone out there should see, would be SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK and THE GROOMSMEN. I just love both of these titles. I mean the thing about BURNS is that he has a very unique perspective in his movies and after seeing a few you can really tell when you are watching a BURNS film which I really find kind of wonderful in the same way that you can tell when you are watching a SPIKE LEE or WOODY ALLEN film. I just really feel that people can get so much from his movies and I really am being to think that he is one of the best story tellers of the last 10 years. So if you're out at blockbusters and you don't really know what you want to rent, don't go to the new releases section, go try and find one of these EDWARD BURNS flicks I've just mentioned, I promise you will not be disappointed.
Until next time my friends. Don't start nothin' won't be nothin'
Now I know that a lot of you out there don't really know who EDWARD BURNS is, and the ones of you that do think that you know, I assure you that you probably do not. Because right now I'm not talking about the EDWARD BURNS that plays the dick head boyfriend in THE HOLIDAY, and I'm not talking about the EDWARD BURNS that plays the boss that Katherine Hiegel is in love in 27 DRESSES. Yes this is that guy, but I am of the firm belief that these characters are not really this guy. For those of you out there that don't know it, EDWARD BURNS really has a passion for writing and directing. And believe me anyone who has ever seen a movie that he has written and directed knows just how good he really is. The thing is he uses movies like THE HOLIDAY and 27 DRESSES are basically a paycheck so that he can fund his own projects which thank god, because I love his work.
Now his earlier work such as movies like THE BROTHER McMULLEN and SHE'S THE ONE even though they were critically acclaimed for the most part are still a bit rough around the edges and you really have to like movies to really get into those, but some of his later stuff to date, all I can say is that it is brilliant. Not only are they these great little independent movies which by the way I'm a sucker for, but they also have some of the brightest stars out right now playing these parts and making you realize how they can get some of these bigger roles that they get. A prime example of this is the actor PATRICK WILSON who really is blowing up right now, but I promise you if you go out and get the movie PURPLE VIOLETS you will see exactly why. I mean that movie is one of the best movies I've seen in the last 5 years.
A couple of other titles that he has done that are just really good movies that I feel that everyone out there should see, would be SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK and THE GROOMSMEN. I just love both of these titles. I mean the thing about BURNS is that he has a very unique perspective in his movies and after seeing a few you can really tell when you are watching a BURNS film which I really find kind of wonderful in the same way that you can tell when you are watching a SPIKE LEE or WOODY ALLEN film. I just really feel that people can get so much from his movies and I really am being to think that he is one of the best story tellers of the last 10 years. So if you're out at blockbusters and you don't really know what you want to rent, don't go to the new releases section, go try and find one of these EDWARD BURNS flicks I've just mentioned, I promise you will not be disappointed.
Until next time my friends. Don't start nothin' won't be nothin'
Thursday, November 11, 2010
MORNING GLORY!!!!!!!!!!
Well hello boys and girls, it's been a little bit since I've been on here. But here I am world, take me now or lose me forever. Some of you are probably thinking about the latter right now, and just let me tell you...I completely understand. So I'm back and I think we all know why that is, yes folks I have been to the movies today and I have another exciting review for all of you to read.
Let me start out by saying if ever there was a person that was in need of a win this week it was yours truly. Not that things are really going all that bad, but I have just been feeling really out of it lately and to tell you the truth until today I couldn't even force myself to go see a movie, but boy was I glad that I went and saw this one today. And being the good son that I am I went on ahead and took my mother with me and man was that an even better idea than me even going to this movie, because she too really enjoyed it.
I guess the best way to start out is to just come out and say that I really love this movie, and I think that most of you out there will too. The great thing about this movie truth be told is that is a popcorn movie. But that's not all that it is. It is a movie that really has something going on underneath and it really and truly has some pretty outstanding performances. You have Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, Jeff Goldblum, the wonderful and often overlooked Patrick Wilson. But none were better than that of one Rachel McAdams.
I mean I have for quite some time had Rachel McAdams on my radar, because I feel that she is oober hot. Like the first time I saw the Family Stone melt my face hot is the only way that I can describe it and I think I have been in some sort of love with her every since. And after seeing this movie she might have just past Brad Pitt on my list. (Yeah I know how that sounds but lets face it that guy is so beautiful even I would do things to him, no homo.) Really and seriously I have been rooting for her since I saw the Family Stone, but she never really could put it all together for me until this movie right here.
She really is just the heart and soul of this movie. And now I can finally sit back and just say it. "the girl has got some acting chops on her." I loved every single second that she was on camera, even when she seemed to be a little much. I hope that people love this movie, I hope that it does well in the box office, and that it does well critically because if it does then maybe McAdams will be able to get more movies on this level that I can go out and watch because I really feel like she deserves it.
So I guess after that little love letter I just wrote to McAdams I should probably tell you all a little bit of what this movie is about and why you all should go out and see it. So here I go. The movie starts out with McAdams character as the producer of a early morning TV show in New Jersey. She is married to her job, she works hard at it and she loves what she is doing. Because of all of this she really doesn't have time for much else such as dating. Early in the movie she gets fired from her job. She ends up landing a job as an executive producer on a national morning show that is on a made up network, but the show is really struggling and on the verge of getting canceled.
That is the basic premise and let me just save you the suspense right now, this is a feel good movie which I would hope that you knew going into so it ends pretty much how you would expect. But that really doesn't matter. Because if more feel good movies were done as well as this one, I wouldn't hate so much the term "feel good movie". The thing that really makes this movie great is the fact that you pretty much know how it's going to end, but that doesn't matter because the ride that they take you on is a great one.
Lets talk about some of the other performances. Diane Keaton was so great in this movie. I mean for the most part I really do like Diane Keaton I think she can be really great. But sometimes she is a little much for me with the frenetic way she is in some movies, but in this one she is dialed down just enough that she really comes off as a real person and she is just great. Harrison Ford I think is also great in this movie. I have seen some reviews out there that kind of bash is performance and say that he is kind of the weak spot but I would have to strongly disagree with that. He plays this legendary news guy that because of his attitude and drinking he was fired from his job and everybody hates him and he hates the idea of being on this fluff morning show but he is basically forced to. I really believe that it will be a completely different side of Harrison Ford. He plays the grumpy old rich guy that feels that he is better than everybody else, better than I have seen in years. And Patrick Wilson who I feel is just so underrated is great in this movie. I mean I have been for the last two or three years begun developing a movie crush on this guy and the work that he is doing. And if you want to see just a bat shit crazy movie that is super intense and has some great acting check him out in HARD CANDY.
The movie itself runs along fairly good, and for the first hour and fifteen minutes it is really good. When the morning show finally picks up there really are some funny and enjoyable scenes. The only real complaint that I would have about the movie is that the third act is a little bit clunky and it really is sort of anti climactic and it just sort of slides into the finish line. But that really is a minor note on a really good movie.
Like I was saying when I started this review, I really needed a win before I went to see this movie, and in watching it I feel like that is exactly what I got. Not a perfect movie by any means, but really a perfect movie experience. I walked into the movie theater and when I walked out both me and my mom were smiling and talking about how much we enjoyed it. I wish that more movies like this got made. Movies that to some extent are popcorn movies but they are just done so well that you feel great about them. I feel like in watching this movie my "fall movie schedule" has finally kicked off and I am so ready to see some of the great titles that will be coming out very soon.
Until next time my friends. "Don't start nothin' won't be nothin'"
Let me start out by saying if ever there was a person that was in need of a win this week it was yours truly. Not that things are really going all that bad, but I have just been feeling really out of it lately and to tell you the truth until today I couldn't even force myself to go see a movie, but boy was I glad that I went and saw this one today. And being the good son that I am I went on ahead and took my mother with me and man was that an even better idea than me even going to this movie, because she too really enjoyed it.
I guess the best way to start out is to just come out and say that I really love this movie, and I think that most of you out there will too. The great thing about this movie truth be told is that is a popcorn movie. But that's not all that it is. It is a movie that really has something going on underneath and it really and truly has some pretty outstanding performances. You have Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, Jeff Goldblum, the wonderful and often overlooked Patrick Wilson. But none were better than that of one Rachel McAdams.
I mean I have for quite some time had Rachel McAdams on my radar, because I feel that she is oober hot. Like the first time I saw the Family Stone melt my face hot is the only way that I can describe it and I think I have been in some sort of love with her every since. And after seeing this movie she might have just past Brad Pitt on my list. (Yeah I know how that sounds but lets face it that guy is so beautiful even I would do things to him, no homo.) Really and seriously I have been rooting for her since I saw the Family Stone, but she never really could put it all together for me until this movie right here.
She really is just the heart and soul of this movie. And now I can finally sit back and just say it. "the girl has got some acting chops on her." I loved every single second that she was on camera, even when she seemed to be a little much. I hope that people love this movie, I hope that it does well in the box office, and that it does well critically because if it does then maybe McAdams will be able to get more movies on this level that I can go out and watch because I really feel like she deserves it.
So I guess after that little love letter I just wrote to McAdams I should probably tell you all a little bit of what this movie is about and why you all should go out and see it. So here I go. The movie starts out with McAdams character as the producer of a early morning TV show in New Jersey. She is married to her job, she works hard at it and she loves what she is doing. Because of all of this she really doesn't have time for much else such as dating. Early in the movie she gets fired from her job. She ends up landing a job as an executive producer on a national morning show that is on a made up network, but the show is really struggling and on the verge of getting canceled.
That is the basic premise and let me just save you the suspense right now, this is a feel good movie which I would hope that you knew going into so it ends pretty much how you would expect. But that really doesn't matter. Because if more feel good movies were done as well as this one, I wouldn't hate so much the term "feel good movie". The thing that really makes this movie great is the fact that you pretty much know how it's going to end, but that doesn't matter because the ride that they take you on is a great one.
Lets talk about some of the other performances. Diane Keaton was so great in this movie. I mean for the most part I really do like Diane Keaton I think she can be really great. But sometimes she is a little much for me with the frenetic way she is in some movies, but in this one she is dialed down just enough that she really comes off as a real person and she is just great. Harrison Ford I think is also great in this movie. I have seen some reviews out there that kind of bash is performance and say that he is kind of the weak spot but I would have to strongly disagree with that. He plays this legendary news guy that because of his attitude and drinking he was fired from his job and everybody hates him and he hates the idea of being on this fluff morning show but he is basically forced to. I really believe that it will be a completely different side of Harrison Ford. He plays the grumpy old rich guy that feels that he is better than everybody else, better than I have seen in years. And Patrick Wilson who I feel is just so underrated is great in this movie. I mean I have been for the last two or three years begun developing a movie crush on this guy and the work that he is doing. And if you want to see just a bat shit crazy movie that is super intense and has some great acting check him out in HARD CANDY.
The movie itself runs along fairly good, and for the first hour and fifteen minutes it is really good. When the morning show finally picks up there really are some funny and enjoyable scenes. The only real complaint that I would have about the movie is that the third act is a little bit clunky and it really is sort of anti climactic and it just sort of slides into the finish line. But that really is a minor note on a really good movie.
Like I was saying when I started this review, I really needed a win before I went to see this movie, and in watching it I feel like that is exactly what I got. Not a perfect movie by any means, but really a perfect movie experience. I walked into the movie theater and when I walked out both me and my mom were smiling and talking about how much we enjoyed it. I wish that more movies like this got made. Movies that to some extent are popcorn movies but they are just done so well that you feel great about them. I feel like in watching this movie my "fall movie schedule" has finally kicked off and I am so ready to see some of the great titles that will be coming out very soon.
Until next time my friends. "Don't start nothin' won't be nothin'"
Monday, October 25, 2010
DEAR JOHN
Well ladies and sirs it has been quite some time since I have been on here with a movie review for you. And let me just tell you in that time, I have in no way shape or form been having the time of my life. I actually just recently and am still in the process of being sicker than I have been in 15 years. That is no understatement folks I'd probably have to go back to the time when I was ten years old to remember a time when I've been this sick. That's how top notch my immune system is. So you might be wondering what makes me take time out of my this great sickness to write this. Well I will tell you. It's a little piece of trash movie I like to call DEAR JOHN.
I know most of you out there have probably already seen this movie and for that I feel terribly sorry for you, and if by some chance you liked it... Well maybe you should think about hitting yourself in the face so I don't have to do it for you. And if you are feeling a little offended right now and you feel the need to say something to me about this movie later, just don't, because if you do I'm probably going to vomit in your face immediately. And then when you have children if in fact you do have children I will wait until they are of age and hit them in the face.
Now after this review the only movies I will be reviewing from DVD will be those that I feel that the three people that actually read this thing should check out if you already haven't. Now with that said on with the show. So the other day somebody told me that I should watch DEAR JOHN. They told me that it was pretty good and that they wanted to know what I thought about it. I won't say who the person was, but I will let them and anyone who will read this know exactly what I think about this movie.
DEAR JOHN, this movie if you can call it that is everything that I feel is wrong about movies being made today. It is becoming this ridiculous trend in Hollywood to get a couple of good-looking people together and a kiss here, some tragedy there, maybe some distance thrown in the mix and there you have it an "Epic Love Story". Well let me just call bullshit right here and now.
I guess I should give a little background about what this is about. A solider with a little, meets a kind hearted girl with a lot. They share a common bond with autism, fall in love, he goes to war, they write letters, Blah Blah Blah Blah. I mean haven't I seen this already? I think it was called THE NOTEBOOK. And I know that people are going to try and point out all the differences between the movies, but just stop because they are too much alike.
The two leads in this movie were Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum. Seyfried has done better work folks, and with movies like CHLOE hopefully she'll hit her stride and never look back to a movie like this again. As for Tatum, well I know all the girls out there just love this guy, and I know a lot of you guys out there just hate him. Believe me I completely understand because of he shit he does is this mainstream fluff just like this that just sucks. But me I am so disappointed because he continues to do movies like this when I know that he's better than this. The first movie I ever saw this guy in was A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS, and I shit you not the guy was an absolute force in that movie. I remember watching that movie and thinking holly shit this guy is going to be the next big thing. Then I went straight to imdb to see what else he had been in. Not too impressive to say the least but I know that this guy given the right stuff can really shine, so it hurts my heart to see him does this shit. Over and over again.
One of the side stories of this movie is Autism. And it is a damn shame that it is because in my opinion this movie sets back autism as far back as it can be set. I mean as I was watching the movie it kept popping up, but all I could think about is why is this in here? We are kind of just talking around it and not really giving that much information about it. It's just there. It's just that 10 ton elephant in the room taking up space, there to make you cry. And you know what I really fucking hate that about movies these days.
I admit right here and now that I am a crier. If something touches me a certain way I have no problem crying. A lovely text message, a nice card, hell sometimes i'll be watching a movie preview and can't help but cry. One thing that I really hate is when I movie is after cheap cries. They aren't even trying to earn it. The best example I can give of this before watching this movie is MARLEY AND ME. I am not a dog person, anyone who knows me knows that, but watching MARLEY AND ME I cried, and a lot mind you. I mean the last 35 minutes of that movie is devoted to making you cry, and after a point I just wanted to yell kill the dog so I'll stop crying here. I don't like that. I don't like feeling like I'm being used when I'm watching a movie. And that is exactly how I feel about the whole Autism thing in this movie.
Don't get all offended and act like I'm insensitive because that is not the case at all. There is a movie called ADAM and it just recently came out, and it's sort of love story about a guy with asperger's syndrome falls in love with his neighbor. And the movie is sweet and tragic and real and very emotional and I feel probably very accurate. It put autism out there on display where DEAR JOHN uses it as this sort of stepping stone in the movie. I didn't like that not at all.
I can't even really go into anymore about this movie except say that it was a very empty shell of a movie, and i hope to god the book is nothing like it. When the movie was over I didn't feel anything for these characters and to be honest that's pretty hard with me cause I can feel something for just about any characters in movies. I actually thought to myself is this movie really over or did the writers just finally run out of bullshit to put on paper. This movie is the greatest example of the trend of lazy film making that has shaken it's way through Hollywood.
And on a final note I am sick to death of these cheese ball films getting these great songs from other movies and then putting them in there bullshit movies and killing the song for me. PAPERWEIGHT by: JOSHUA RADIN and SCHUYLER FISK is a great song. And it's a song that really means something and put in the right context it can be beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time. The song lives and breathes in the movie THE LAST KISS. It does not belong in this movie getting all chopped up and fit into a corny little montage on when these two people first meet and are falling for each other. The song is better than that. Some people don't notice that kind of stuff, but as a guy that loves movies and loves the scores and soundtracks to movies almost as much as the actual movies stop doing this please.
Until next time folks...... Don't start nothin' , won't be nothin'
I know most of you out there have probably already seen this movie and for that I feel terribly sorry for you, and if by some chance you liked it... Well maybe you should think about hitting yourself in the face so I don't have to do it for you. And if you are feeling a little offended right now and you feel the need to say something to me about this movie later, just don't, because if you do I'm probably going to vomit in your face immediately. And then when you have children if in fact you do have children I will wait until they are of age and hit them in the face.
Now after this review the only movies I will be reviewing from DVD will be those that I feel that the three people that actually read this thing should check out if you already haven't. Now with that said on with the show. So the other day somebody told me that I should watch DEAR JOHN. They told me that it was pretty good and that they wanted to know what I thought about it. I won't say who the person was, but I will let them and anyone who will read this know exactly what I think about this movie.
DEAR JOHN, this movie if you can call it that is everything that I feel is wrong about movies being made today. It is becoming this ridiculous trend in Hollywood to get a couple of good-looking people together and a kiss here, some tragedy there, maybe some distance thrown in the mix and there you have it an "Epic Love Story". Well let me just call bullshit right here and now.
I guess I should give a little background about what this is about. A solider with a little, meets a kind hearted girl with a lot. They share a common bond with autism, fall in love, he goes to war, they write letters, Blah Blah Blah Blah. I mean haven't I seen this already? I think it was called THE NOTEBOOK. And I know that people are going to try and point out all the differences between the movies, but just stop because they are too much alike.
The two leads in this movie were Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum. Seyfried has done better work folks, and with movies like CHLOE hopefully she'll hit her stride and never look back to a movie like this again. As for Tatum, well I know all the girls out there just love this guy, and I know a lot of you guys out there just hate him. Believe me I completely understand because of he shit he does is this mainstream fluff just like this that just sucks. But me I am so disappointed because he continues to do movies like this when I know that he's better than this. The first movie I ever saw this guy in was A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS, and I shit you not the guy was an absolute force in that movie. I remember watching that movie and thinking holly shit this guy is going to be the next big thing. Then I went straight to imdb to see what else he had been in. Not too impressive to say the least but I know that this guy given the right stuff can really shine, so it hurts my heart to see him does this shit. Over and over again.
One of the side stories of this movie is Autism. And it is a damn shame that it is because in my opinion this movie sets back autism as far back as it can be set. I mean as I was watching the movie it kept popping up, but all I could think about is why is this in here? We are kind of just talking around it and not really giving that much information about it. It's just there. It's just that 10 ton elephant in the room taking up space, there to make you cry. And you know what I really fucking hate that about movies these days.
I admit right here and now that I am a crier. If something touches me a certain way I have no problem crying. A lovely text message, a nice card, hell sometimes i'll be watching a movie preview and can't help but cry. One thing that I really hate is when I movie is after cheap cries. They aren't even trying to earn it. The best example I can give of this before watching this movie is MARLEY AND ME. I am not a dog person, anyone who knows me knows that, but watching MARLEY AND ME I cried, and a lot mind you. I mean the last 35 minutes of that movie is devoted to making you cry, and after a point I just wanted to yell kill the dog so I'll stop crying here. I don't like that. I don't like feeling like I'm being used when I'm watching a movie. And that is exactly how I feel about the whole Autism thing in this movie.
Don't get all offended and act like I'm insensitive because that is not the case at all. There is a movie called ADAM and it just recently came out, and it's sort of love story about a guy with asperger's syndrome falls in love with his neighbor. And the movie is sweet and tragic and real and very emotional and I feel probably very accurate. It put autism out there on display where DEAR JOHN uses it as this sort of stepping stone in the movie. I didn't like that not at all.
I can't even really go into anymore about this movie except say that it was a very empty shell of a movie, and i hope to god the book is nothing like it. When the movie was over I didn't feel anything for these characters and to be honest that's pretty hard with me cause I can feel something for just about any characters in movies. I actually thought to myself is this movie really over or did the writers just finally run out of bullshit to put on paper. This movie is the greatest example of the trend of lazy film making that has shaken it's way through Hollywood.
And on a final note I am sick to death of these cheese ball films getting these great songs from other movies and then putting them in there bullshit movies and killing the song for me. PAPERWEIGHT by: JOSHUA RADIN and SCHUYLER FISK is a great song. And it's a song that really means something and put in the right context it can be beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time. The song lives and breathes in the movie THE LAST KISS. It does not belong in this movie getting all chopped up and fit into a corny little montage on when these two people first meet and are falling for each other. The song is better than that. Some people don't notice that kind of stuff, but as a guy that loves movies and loves the scores and soundtracks to movies almost as much as the actual movies stop doing this please.
Until next time folks...... Don't start nothin' , won't be nothin'
Friday, October 15, 2010
GOING THE DISTANCE and MACHETE
Okay, so a few days ago I wrote up this long thing that was not necessarily a movie review. I did talk about a couple of movies and an actor from one of the movies but I did not really talk about the movies, so as promised here are a my movie reviews for GOING THE DISTANCE and MACHETE. I know you all out there on the world wide web are just so excited you can hardly stand it. The great thing about this review is that I went and saw both these movies back to back at the dollar movies so if you are reading this there is a good chance that both of these movie will be or already are out to rent, so you can read this and go right out and watch it and tell me what you think.
I'm going to jump right in with GOING THE DISTANCE, I think it's only far since I have seen the movie twice already that I jump all over this one first. THE WHO: Drew Barrymoore, Justin Long, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Christina Applegate, and Jim Gaffigan. There actually are a few other minor characters that have really great small roles throughout the movie and when you see some of them you will realize that you have seen them before.
THE WHAT: Justin Long and Drew Barrymoore's characters meet in a bar after hard days for each of them, have a one night stand, hit it off and begin dating. But there is a catch. Drew's character lives in California and is just interning for the summer and is about to move back. They fall for each other hard and begin a long distance relationship.
Let me just start off by saying that I love this movie. Now in full disclosure anybody that really knows me, knows that this movie is almost right up my alley. An adult romantic comedy, that is super funny but has these moments of great heart mixed in. When I say adult romantic comedy that is exactly what I mean. This movie is not for kids believe me, not to say that it is bad or just super vulgar, but it is just vulgar enough and all the material in the film is made for adults that have been in relationships.
One of the things that I liked most about this movie was the fact that it switch from the comedic moments to the serious ones very effortlessly. And there are enough of both of them throughout the movie to make you really feel like this story is about real people. I feel like the movie really does play true to life, because I feel like that is what life is. All of these great moments of laughter and mixed in are moments of seriousness and sadness. Justin Long's character and his two best friends played by Charlie Day or Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Jason Sudeikis of Saturday Night Live are pitch perfect in the movie. I love it so much because I feel during most of their conversations in the movie, it could have been me and my friends sitting around talking. So much so that in one scene in the movie they are at a diner talking about a "Fuck-it List" and I thought I was having deja vu, because me and my friends have had the exact same on
And then there are those moments in the movie that are meant to be serious and heartfelt and that is exactly how they feel. It has long been rumored that Long and Barrymoore have been in a relationship in real life, and after seeing this movie all I can say is that the rumors are true. These two play so well off each other that you just want them to be dating in real life. They both have such incredible timing together they really are what drives the movie. And when there relationship begins to sink because of the distance that they are apart from each other you really do feel for these two. Anybody out there that has ever been in a long distance relationship will enjoy the shit out of this movie, because you will feel nostalgic while watching it.
The thing that I perhaps like most about the movie is the fact that they didn't really jump right to that cookie cutter ending that we all know and some of us love so much. It really puts its heart out on the line and it forces these main characters to make some really tough decisions. And let me just tell you that the awkward phone sex scene and seeing Drew Barrymoore getting dragged out of a bar screaming, "Suck my dick!!" is worth the price of admission alone. So everybody, anybody run out and check this movie out.
MACHETE, also a great movie but for some many different reasons. THE WHO: Danny Trejo, Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, Steven Seagal, Michelle Rodriguez, Cheech Marin, Lindsay Lohan, and Don Johnson. Let me just say that this cast delivers and in spades. Robert Rodriguez is the director and let me just tell you that I think that Rodriguez is a genius.
For those of you out there that don't know how this movie came about let me tell you. A few years back a movie by the name of GRINDHOUSE came out and it was totally under appreciated because quiet frankly, people don't know shit about movies. GRINDHOUSE was a double feature that played the Robert Rodriguez movie PLANET TERROR, and then it played Quentin Tarrentino's DEATH PROOF. Both of these movies are awesome and when put together wow. So before the movies and in the intermission they made these fake trailers to play and one of the best trailers what that of MACHETE. So good in fact that Rodriguez decided to go ahead and script a movie.
Now there is a basic story here, but to tell you the truth I'm not even going to bore you with it. All you need to know is that this movie is 100% pure BAD ASS. Danny Trejo plays the title character of MACHETE, and he basically for and hour and forty minutes just goes around kicking the shit out of people slicing people up and sometimes cutting off their heads with a machete, and yeah he bangs every hot chick in the movie. At one point making time to have a three way in the pool. None of the sex scenes are graphic, but the way people get killed are and it is awesome.
This movie never at all takes itself too seriously and really that is the beauty of the whole thing. It knows what it is suppose to be and that is exactly what it is. The crazy thing about it is that this movie dare I say out EXPENDABLES the EXPENDABLES. Having seen both movies now I can with out a doubt say that I like this movie better.
Everyone is this movie is great from start to finish, but if there is one reason that you need to go see this movie then go see it for Robert De Niro. Quiet possibly like you have never seen him before, and believe me he completely owns every scene that he is in. So if you don't have anything pressing to do this weekend and you don't want to see any of the newer movies that are out in the box offices, I highly recommend these two.
Until next time my friends, don't start nothin', won't be nothin'
I'm going to jump right in with GOING THE DISTANCE, I think it's only far since I have seen the movie twice already that I jump all over this one first. THE WHO: Drew Barrymoore, Justin Long, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Christina Applegate, and Jim Gaffigan. There actually are a few other minor characters that have really great small roles throughout the movie and when you see some of them you will realize that you have seen them before.
THE WHAT: Justin Long and Drew Barrymoore's characters meet in a bar after hard days for each of them, have a one night stand, hit it off and begin dating. But there is a catch. Drew's character lives in California and is just interning for the summer and is about to move back. They fall for each other hard and begin a long distance relationship.
Let me just start off by saying that I love this movie. Now in full disclosure anybody that really knows me, knows that this movie is almost right up my alley. An adult romantic comedy, that is super funny but has these moments of great heart mixed in. When I say adult romantic comedy that is exactly what I mean. This movie is not for kids believe me, not to say that it is bad or just super vulgar, but it is just vulgar enough and all the material in the film is made for adults that have been in relationships.
One of the things that I liked most about this movie was the fact that it switch from the comedic moments to the serious ones very effortlessly. And there are enough of both of them throughout the movie to make you really feel like this story is about real people. I feel like the movie really does play true to life, because I feel like that is what life is. All of these great moments of laughter and mixed in are moments of seriousness and sadness. Justin Long's character and his two best friends played by Charlie Day or Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Jason Sudeikis of Saturday Night Live are pitch perfect in the movie. I love it so much because I feel during most of their conversations in the movie, it could have been me and my friends sitting around talking. So much so that in one scene in the movie they are at a diner talking about a "Fuck-it List" and I thought I was having deja vu, because me and my friends have had the exact same on
And then there are those moments in the movie that are meant to be serious and heartfelt and that is exactly how they feel. It has long been rumored that Long and Barrymoore have been in a relationship in real life, and after seeing this movie all I can say is that the rumors are true. These two play so well off each other that you just want them to be dating in real life. They both have such incredible timing together they really are what drives the movie. And when there relationship begins to sink because of the distance that they are apart from each other you really do feel for these two. Anybody out there that has ever been in a long distance relationship will enjoy the shit out of this movie, because you will feel nostalgic while watching it.
The thing that I perhaps like most about the movie is the fact that they didn't really jump right to that cookie cutter ending that we all know and some of us love so much. It really puts its heart out on the line and it forces these main characters to make some really tough decisions. And let me just tell you that the awkward phone sex scene and seeing Drew Barrymoore getting dragged out of a bar screaming, "Suck my dick!!" is worth the price of admission alone. So everybody, anybody run out and check this movie out.
MACHETE, also a great movie but for some many different reasons. THE WHO: Danny Trejo, Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, Steven Seagal, Michelle Rodriguez, Cheech Marin, Lindsay Lohan, and Don Johnson. Let me just say that this cast delivers and in spades. Robert Rodriguez is the director and let me just tell you that I think that Rodriguez is a genius.
For those of you out there that don't know how this movie came about let me tell you. A few years back a movie by the name of GRINDHOUSE came out and it was totally under appreciated because quiet frankly, people don't know shit about movies. GRINDHOUSE was a double feature that played the Robert Rodriguez movie PLANET TERROR, and then it played Quentin Tarrentino's DEATH PROOF. Both of these movies are awesome and when put together wow. So before the movies and in the intermission they made these fake trailers to play and one of the best trailers what that of MACHETE. So good in fact that Rodriguez decided to go ahead and script a movie.
Now there is a basic story here, but to tell you the truth I'm not even going to bore you with it. All you need to know is that this movie is 100% pure BAD ASS. Danny Trejo plays the title character of MACHETE, and he basically for and hour and forty minutes just goes around kicking the shit out of people slicing people up and sometimes cutting off their heads with a machete, and yeah he bangs every hot chick in the movie. At one point making time to have a three way in the pool. None of the sex scenes are graphic, but the way people get killed are and it is awesome.
This movie never at all takes itself too seriously and really that is the beauty of the whole thing. It knows what it is suppose to be and that is exactly what it is. The crazy thing about it is that this movie dare I say out EXPENDABLES the EXPENDABLES. Having seen both movies now I can with out a doubt say that I like this movie better.
Everyone is this movie is great from start to finish, but if there is one reason that you need to go see this movie then go see it for Robert De Niro. Quiet possibly like you have never seen him before, and believe me he completely owns every scene that he is in. So if you don't have anything pressing to do this weekend and you don't want to see any of the newer movies that are out in the box offices, I highly recommend these two.
Until next time my friends, don't start nothin', won't be nothin'
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
DISTANCE
Hey there folks it's me again, your friendly neighborhood black guy's point of view. I know that a few posts ago I told all of you (the two people that actually read this.) that from now on this blog would be strictly dedicated to movie reviews. Well I'm here to tell you that I lied. Well kind of, this isn't exactly going to be a movie review, but this blog comes in light of the fact that I went to the movies yesterday and saw a double feature. Which was awesome if I do say so myself. The movies that I went and saw were, MACHETE and for the second time, GOING THE DISTANCE. Now tomorrow I will be doing a review of both of these movies for those of you that care, and since there are both at the dollar movies it won't be to hard to go see them, and even if you don't I'm sure they will be at the red box or out to rent soon enough.
Now back to why we are all here. I want to talk about DISTANCE. It was in the middle of watching this movie that I enjoyed the shit out of for the second time, when this thing just popped in my head and it just wouldn't get out. And it had to deal with the distance that we all build up in our lives.
Before I start I'm going to take a quick sidebar (here he goes again right.) Justin Long is not at all one of my favorite actors, or up and coming actors for that matter. He doesn't even really make it in my top ten to tell you the truth.
UP and COMERS ahead of LONG
1. Joesph Gordon-Levitt -see BRICK
2. Carrey Mulligan -see AN EDUCATION
3. Jesse Eisenberg -see ADVENTURELAND
4. Chloe Grace Mortez -see KICK-ASS
5. Andrew Garfield -see SOCIAL NETWORK, he's the new Peter Parker
6. Emma Stone -see ZOMBIELAND
7. Kristen Stewart -see ANYTHING BUT TWILIGHT
8. Tom Hardy -see ROCKINROLLA or INCEPTION
9. Ellen Page -see HARD CANDY please
10. Blake Lively -I can't believe she's on this list, but she has proven she has some chops
38. Justin Long -see blink and you miss it in ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO
But in recent years this guy has been given some of the best little great moment lines in a movie and it is beyond me how it keeps happening. I mean I really do like this guy, and I'm not saying that these lines are wasted on him, because I don't think that at all, but the lines he has been giving in these certain movies just happens to be some of my favorite lines to date. That alone is why this guy remains on my radar, well I guess that and that fact that he his pretty good. I know right about know you're thinking, "Brandon, what are these lines you speak of?" Well let me tell you.
From ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO, my often time used, "You better shut your mouth before I fuck it." Pretty much a genius line in every way shape or form.
From that horseshit of a movie that I really can't stand HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU, at the end of the movie the lovely Ginnifer Goodwin and him are having their moment that brings it all together, but earlier in the movie he told her that she was the rule not the exception. so she says after he kisses her, "I'm the exception" and he very smoothly whispers to her, "You are my exception."
Lastly in GOING THE DISTANCE, in the "moment" at the end of the movie, he meets up with Drew Barrymoore's character, and says, "I have a question." "I don't know what your situation is right now but...I miss you." to which her character replies, "That's not a question." and he looks at her intensely and says, "Yes, it is." I mean I don't know what is going on here, but the kid is just getting these genius lines, and I'm kind of falling in love with him because of it.
So, now that I've taken up so much of your time with that ridiculous little sidebar let me get back to the point of this whole thing. That point that I would be talking about would be DISTANCE. So I'm sitting here watching this movie which I feel is phenomenal by the way, for the second time the real weight of this movie begins to hit me. But not just the weight of the movie, just the weight of this whole idea of distance.
It seems to me to be this thing that is always there in all of our lives, but we really do take it all for granted I think. I mean I know that I am just 25 years old and I haven't lived through half as much as some people, but I feel a lot wiser than my years. I feel like I have an old soul to tell you the truth. And this thing with the distance is something that I guess has kind of been bothering me for some time now.
When we are kids we know that there is absolutely a distance between us and our parents. It is unmistakable, but as we get older that distance begins to shrink somewhat. More so in some people child to parent relationship than others. Take me for instance, My father and I are really have always been miles apart in distance, and it wasn't until I was in college and got cut from the baseball team that I realized that, that distance was a lot closer than I realized. And now as I continue to grow and live my life I can almost feel the distance between us widening as I feel more and more that I am not living the life that he always wanted for me and I feel like a disappointment to him. So I guess I am just realizing that with me and him I am always going to have to work on this distance thing, because is seems to always be changing.
But that isn't the only thing that I am talking about. We all seem to have these relationships and the the older we grow the closer some of these distances get while others seem to get farther away. I don't for the life of me know how it happens. I mean one day you wake up and somebody you've known your whole life can feel like they are a continent away from you, and it almost seems like an insurmountable amount of distance to overcome. And some of us just live but a few miles away from each other but we might as well live on a completely different planet. I don't know how it happens, but believe me it does. it's a sad thing to see or be a part of. And maybe it's a part of the human condition, we just sit there idly while these distances overcome us, and change the people that we are. It's not a good thing, and it doesn't have to be like this.
I think we all should work hard to make sure that these distances don't overcome us, that they don't stunt or change the people that we were always meant to be. I don't really if anybody out there really understands what I have been trying to say, but you know what, I said it.
So until next time, Don't start nothin', won't be nothin'
Now back to why we are all here. I want to talk about DISTANCE. It was in the middle of watching this movie that I enjoyed the shit out of for the second time, when this thing just popped in my head and it just wouldn't get out. And it had to deal with the distance that we all build up in our lives.
Before I start I'm going to take a quick sidebar (here he goes again right.) Justin Long is not at all one of my favorite actors, or up and coming actors for that matter. He doesn't even really make it in my top ten to tell you the truth.
UP and COMERS ahead of LONG
1. Joesph Gordon-Levitt -see BRICK
2. Carrey Mulligan -see AN EDUCATION
3. Jesse Eisenberg -see ADVENTURELAND
4. Chloe Grace Mortez -see KICK-ASS
5. Andrew Garfield -see SOCIAL NETWORK, he's the new Peter Parker
6. Emma Stone -see ZOMBIELAND
7. Kristen Stewart -see ANYTHING BUT TWILIGHT
8. Tom Hardy -see ROCKINROLLA or INCEPTION
9. Ellen Page -see HARD CANDY please
10. Blake Lively -I can't believe she's on this list, but she has proven she has some chops
38. Justin Long -see blink and you miss it in ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO
But in recent years this guy has been given some of the best little great moment lines in a movie and it is beyond me how it keeps happening. I mean I really do like this guy, and I'm not saying that these lines are wasted on him, because I don't think that at all, but the lines he has been giving in these certain movies just happens to be some of my favorite lines to date. That alone is why this guy remains on my radar, well I guess that and that fact that he his pretty good. I know right about know you're thinking, "Brandon, what are these lines you speak of?" Well let me tell you.
From ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO, my often time used, "You better shut your mouth before I fuck it." Pretty much a genius line in every way shape or form.
From that horseshit of a movie that I really can't stand HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU, at the end of the movie the lovely Ginnifer Goodwin and him are having their moment that brings it all together, but earlier in the movie he told her that she was the rule not the exception. so she says after he kisses her, "I'm the exception" and he very smoothly whispers to her, "You are my exception."
Lastly in GOING THE DISTANCE, in the "moment" at the end of the movie, he meets up with Drew Barrymoore's character, and says, "I have a question." "I don't know what your situation is right now but...I miss you." to which her character replies, "That's not a question." and he looks at her intensely and says, "Yes, it is." I mean I don't know what is going on here, but the kid is just getting these genius lines, and I'm kind of falling in love with him because of it.
So, now that I've taken up so much of your time with that ridiculous little sidebar let me get back to the point of this whole thing. That point that I would be talking about would be DISTANCE. So I'm sitting here watching this movie which I feel is phenomenal by the way, for the second time the real weight of this movie begins to hit me. But not just the weight of the movie, just the weight of this whole idea of distance.
It seems to me to be this thing that is always there in all of our lives, but we really do take it all for granted I think. I mean I know that I am just 25 years old and I haven't lived through half as much as some people, but I feel a lot wiser than my years. I feel like I have an old soul to tell you the truth. And this thing with the distance is something that I guess has kind of been bothering me for some time now.
When we are kids we know that there is absolutely a distance between us and our parents. It is unmistakable, but as we get older that distance begins to shrink somewhat. More so in some people child to parent relationship than others. Take me for instance, My father and I are really have always been miles apart in distance, and it wasn't until I was in college and got cut from the baseball team that I realized that, that distance was a lot closer than I realized. And now as I continue to grow and live my life I can almost feel the distance between us widening as I feel more and more that I am not living the life that he always wanted for me and I feel like a disappointment to him. So I guess I am just realizing that with me and him I am always going to have to work on this distance thing, because is seems to always be changing.
But that isn't the only thing that I am talking about. We all seem to have these relationships and the the older we grow the closer some of these distances get while others seem to get farther away. I don't for the life of me know how it happens. I mean one day you wake up and somebody you've known your whole life can feel like they are a continent away from you, and it almost seems like an insurmountable amount of distance to overcome. And some of us just live but a few miles away from each other but we might as well live on a completely different planet. I don't know how it happens, but believe me it does. it's a sad thing to see or be a part of. And maybe it's a part of the human condition, we just sit there idly while these distances overcome us, and change the people that we are. It's not a good thing, and it doesn't have to be like this.
I think we all should work hard to make sure that these distances don't overcome us, that they don't stunt or change the people that we were always meant to be. I don't really if anybody out there really understands what I have been trying to say, but you know what, I said it.
So until next time, Don't start nothin', won't be nothin'
Monday, October 11, 2010
CATFISH
Today on my wonderful blog I will be reviewing a little movie by the name of CATFISH. I already know that most of you out there have no earthly idea what movie this is. And all I can say is that is good, because maybe after reading this you just might say, "Hey I want to see that movie, and wow this guy knows a thing or two about movies I think I'll come here for all my movie reviews, and I'll tell my friends to come here." But hey that might just be wishful thinking. So let's get started.
CATFISH probably won't be familiar with too many of you out there because it is what we in the biz call an "indie". Now an "indie" for those of you that don't know is an independent film. Which to say is a movie made for very little money and not by a major studio. Often times it is bankrolled by the person or persons who wrote and directed it. They are then shown at any number of film festivals with the intent of being picked up by a major studio that later distributes it on a wide scale. So there is you're first lesson on film wither you wanted it or not.
So now that that's out of the way lets get to why we are all here, CATFISH. The Who: You will not know a single person in this movie, believe me. The only way that it might be possible know any of these people is if by some chance you are related to them. The What: So right off the bat I was so excited to see this movie when I saw the preview. Because the movie plays out like a thriller of some sorts, and you never really quite know if this thing is a movie that is about to have an incredible twist or if it actually is a documentary. I think I'll do my best not to ruin that little surprise for you.
So the movie starts out with a photographer, is brother and friend who are both filmmakers. The photographer's name is Nev or Dev, really it's irrelevant. Apparently he photographs things and maybe they are posted on his facebook or something, but by some happenstance a 8 year old by the name of Abby sees this photograph, becomes facebook friends with him and then paints that picture and sends it to him. Then he and Abby and her family embark on this friendship that Nev's brother and friend have to film. After a few paintings are sent to him, Nev sees that Abby has an older sister Megan just about his age, and through facebook, they really hit it off. They are facebooking back and forth smiley faces at the end of there sentences, uploading different pictures of each other back and forth, and finally they talk of the phone. It is facebook official they are basically in love, and who can blame them this can't miss right? They are so into each other that they actually plan a trip where Megan will come to New York and stay with him, but it just doesn't happen.
Now here comes the twist. Nev, his brother, and his friend are all going to Colorado to film some ballet and they tell Megan and her family that they should come and meet up with them because it's fairly close to where they live with is in Michigan if I'm not mistaken. Now while they are up in the hotel in Colorado facebooking each other Megan says that she records music with her mother sometimes. So Nev tells her to send him some and she does. The only problem is that they soon find out that it is not really them singing these songs. Instead they are just uploading them off of the Internet.
Now her comes the real funny part, You meet somebody on facebook and surprise surprise they don't end up being who they say they are. The reactions on these guys faces when they finally put all this stuff together, and then go to Michigan to call Megan out on her shit is worth the price of admission alone. The third act of this movie is just outstanding. It is sad, and funny all at the same time, and it really does kind of put you right on the edge of your seat wondering what exactly is going to happen next.
Now let me just say right off here and now that CATFISH is not going to be for everybody, hell it might not be for most people. But if you are like me and you love love love independent film then this movie will be right up your alley. For those other people out there that really are more comfortable with the mainstream stuff, I'm pretty sure that there is a little movie by the name of LIFE AS WE KNOW IT that opened this weekend. And I'm pretty sure that it will be filled with a neurotic every woman Kathrine Heigel, and I'm sure she will have twenty or so wardrobe changes with her tits jumping out of most of them. And of course there will be a predictable cookie cutter happy ending at the end of it all. But for those of you that like to step out on the edge and see something different, something that you haven't quite seen before then I tell you CATFISH is that movie, and you won't leave disappointed.
So until next time my friends...... Don't start nothin', won't be nothin'
CATFISH probably won't be familiar with too many of you out there because it is what we in the biz call an "indie". Now an "indie" for those of you that don't know is an independent film. Which to say is a movie made for very little money and not by a major studio. Often times it is bankrolled by the person or persons who wrote and directed it. They are then shown at any number of film festivals with the intent of being picked up by a major studio that later distributes it on a wide scale. So there is you're first lesson on film wither you wanted it or not.
So now that that's out of the way lets get to why we are all here, CATFISH. The Who: You will not know a single person in this movie, believe me. The only way that it might be possible know any of these people is if by some chance you are related to them. The What: So right off the bat I was so excited to see this movie when I saw the preview. Because the movie plays out like a thriller of some sorts, and you never really quite know if this thing is a movie that is about to have an incredible twist or if it actually is a documentary. I think I'll do my best not to ruin that little surprise for you.
So the movie starts out with a photographer, is brother and friend who are both filmmakers. The photographer's name is Nev or Dev, really it's irrelevant. Apparently he photographs things and maybe they are posted on his facebook or something, but by some happenstance a 8 year old by the name of Abby sees this photograph, becomes facebook friends with him and then paints that picture and sends it to him. Then he and Abby and her family embark on this friendship that Nev's brother and friend have to film. After a few paintings are sent to him, Nev sees that Abby has an older sister Megan just about his age, and through facebook, they really hit it off. They are facebooking back and forth smiley faces at the end of there sentences, uploading different pictures of each other back and forth, and finally they talk of the phone. It is facebook official they are basically in love, and who can blame them this can't miss right? They are so into each other that they actually plan a trip where Megan will come to New York and stay with him, but it just doesn't happen.
Now here comes the twist. Nev, his brother, and his friend are all going to Colorado to film some ballet and they tell Megan and her family that they should come and meet up with them because it's fairly close to where they live with is in Michigan if I'm not mistaken. Now while they are up in the hotel in Colorado facebooking each other Megan says that she records music with her mother sometimes. So Nev tells her to send him some and she does. The only problem is that they soon find out that it is not really them singing these songs. Instead they are just uploading them off of the Internet.
Now her comes the real funny part, You meet somebody on facebook and surprise surprise they don't end up being who they say they are. The reactions on these guys faces when they finally put all this stuff together, and then go to Michigan to call Megan out on her shit is worth the price of admission alone. The third act of this movie is just outstanding. It is sad, and funny all at the same time, and it really does kind of put you right on the edge of your seat wondering what exactly is going to happen next.
Now let me just say right off here and now that CATFISH is not going to be for everybody, hell it might not be for most people. But if you are like me and you love love love independent film then this movie will be right up your alley. For those other people out there that really are more comfortable with the mainstream stuff, I'm pretty sure that there is a little movie by the name of LIFE AS WE KNOW IT that opened this weekend. And I'm pretty sure that it will be filled with a neurotic every woman Kathrine Heigel, and I'm sure she will have twenty or so wardrobe changes with her tits jumping out of most of them. And of course there will be a predictable cookie cutter happy ending at the end of it all. But for those of you that like to step out on the edge and see something different, something that you haven't quite seen before then I tell you CATFISH is that movie, and you won't leave disappointed.
So until next time my friends...... Don't start nothin', won't be nothin'
Monday, October 4, 2010
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Hi guys, it's ponder here again. I know it's been a while, but I'm back, and after a long weekend of drinking in Texas and a great sooner win I figured it was time to give you all what you want. More of me spouting out my views on everything that I know you all care about. So I'm going to throw a little change up here tonight. I will now use my blog as a movie review site as well as the other things I like to put on here. So for all over you that don't know if you really want to see a movie, and you can't quite trust the mainstream outlets for reviews, come to me and let mr. goodbar (just a name I got from pleasuring women) tell you if you want to see it or not.
Today I will be reviewing THE SOCIAL NETWORK. Yes folks I am reviewing the facebook movie. For those of you that don't know this, I think that facebook is somewhat ridiculous, and I say that because people become so obsessed with it that they neglect things in their real life. And people really believe that this computer interaction is the same as the real thing. But that is the society that we are living in. A society where people would rather search the Internet to find somebody that to actually go out and find somebody. But I guess life is better on facebook, you actually get to be the start of your own reality tv show. With all of this said, I will just go ahead and review this. And then when I'm done, I will post this on FACEBOOK, conundrum I know.
So let me just give you a little rundown of the movie before I get into. the WHO: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, and new to the party Armie Hammer. the WHAT: a genius in college gets dumped horribly, and does what all other great geniuses do... creates a social network that will revolutionize the entire world just to stick it back in her face. And along the way there are girls, parties, and lawsuits.
Okay so right of the bat, I guess I should say that this movie is masterfully directed by one David Fincher. I mean the guy is pretty much a god when it comes to cinema as far as I'm concerned. The movie looks effortlessly gorgeous but really what else is new. I mean I was amazed to find out that Armie Hammer who plays twins in the movie was just one person. This guy is going to be around for a while, he definitely has that movie star look about him. David Fincher does such a great job showing this film throw the eyes of three separate groups and yet the movie moves through effortlessly and never really bogs down for a single second.
After seeing this movie for the first time someone asked me what I thought about it and the word that came to mind was tragic. They asked me if I thought the movie was bad because I used that word, but it's not at all. I thought that the movie was tragic because for me at the heart of it, it is about this guy or rather kid, because when he started this whole facebook revolution he was just a sophomore in college. A kid who is a genius and has changed the world we live in today essentially, but he did it at the cost of all or what personal relationships that he had. But who knows, maybe that is was true genius is. To be a genius you have to be willing to walk alone sometimes.
So who exactly owns this movie? That's easy, Jesse Eisenberg is slowly but surely becoming a star. His smart ass, fast talking turn as Mark Zuckerberg the creator of facebook is fantastic. He has all the wittiness to let you know that he is the smartest guy in the room and you have no problem realizing that this guy did create facebook. And even though he is rough around the edges and is a complete asshole for most of the movie and he never lets up believe me. You do at the end of the movie feel somewhat sorry for this guy who has been so consumed with this thing that he has given up his personal relationships. Also great in this movie is Andrew Garfield who I for one can't wait to see him in NEVER LET ME GO or even more mainstream to watch his turn as Peter Parker in the up in coming SPIDERMAN remake. In this he plays the best friend to Jesse Eisenberg's character. The guy who helped upstart facebook, and was for the most part Zuckerberg's only friend, and the guy who eventually gets cut out of facebook and ends up suing his best friend. Also fantastic is Justin Timberlake, who plays Sean Parker, the founder of napster, who creates the divided between Eisenberg and Garfield's characters which ultimately leads to the collapse of their friendship and the lawsuit. This might be the best acting of Timberlakes young acting career. He is great, coming in as this fast talking slick guy who comes in and gets Zuckerberg hooked on anything that he spews out of his mouth. Timberlake was perfect for this character and he plays it to perfection.
My final verdict on this movie is an 8. It gets a hard 8 from me, I think that it might be a little higher but I suffered from the fact that everybody in the world has said that this is the greatest movie of the fall. And believe me it was great but it is kind of hard to live up to all the expectations that everybody has put out there for it. I think that this movie is a very relevant movie that everyone should go see. Especially since this our entire world is dominated by facebook. So go see it asap, and let me know what you think.
Next time I will be reviewing an independent movie by the name of CATFISH. Until then, Don't start nothin' won't be nothin'
Today I will be reviewing THE SOCIAL NETWORK. Yes folks I am reviewing the facebook movie. For those of you that don't know this, I think that facebook is somewhat ridiculous, and I say that because people become so obsessed with it that they neglect things in their real life. And people really believe that this computer interaction is the same as the real thing. But that is the society that we are living in. A society where people would rather search the Internet to find somebody that to actually go out and find somebody. But I guess life is better on facebook, you actually get to be the start of your own reality tv show. With all of this said, I will just go ahead and review this. And then when I'm done, I will post this on FACEBOOK, conundrum I know.
So let me just give you a little rundown of the movie before I get into. the WHO: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, and new to the party Armie Hammer. the WHAT: a genius in college gets dumped horribly, and does what all other great geniuses do... creates a social network that will revolutionize the entire world just to stick it back in her face. And along the way there are girls, parties, and lawsuits.
Okay so right of the bat, I guess I should say that this movie is masterfully directed by one David Fincher. I mean the guy is pretty much a god when it comes to cinema as far as I'm concerned. The movie looks effortlessly gorgeous but really what else is new. I mean I was amazed to find out that Armie Hammer who plays twins in the movie was just one person. This guy is going to be around for a while, he definitely has that movie star look about him. David Fincher does such a great job showing this film throw the eyes of three separate groups and yet the movie moves through effortlessly and never really bogs down for a single second.
After seeing this movie for the first time someone asked me what I thought about it and the word that came to mind was tragic. They asked me if I thought the movie was bad because I used that word, but it's not at all. I thought that the movie was tragic because for me at the heart of it, it is about this guy or rather kid, because when he started this whole facebook revolution he was just a sophomore in college. A kid who is a genius and has changed the world we live in today essentially, but he did it at the cost of all or what personal relationships that he had. But who knows, maybe that is was true genius is. To be a genius you have to be willing to walk alone sometimes.
So who exactly owns this movie? That's easy, Jesse Eisenberg is slowly but surely becoming a star. His smart ass, fast talking turn as Mark Zuckerberg the creator of facebook is fantastic. He has all the wittiness to let you know that he is the smartest guy in the room and you have no problem realizing that this guy did create facebook. And even though he is rough around the edges and is a complete asshole for most of the movie and he never lets up believe me. You do at the end of the movie feel somewhat sorry for this guy who has been so consumed with this thing that he has given up his personal relationships. Also great in this movie is Andrew Garfield who I for one can't wait to see him in NEVER LET ME GO or even more mainstream to watch his turn as Peter Parker in the up in coming SPIDERMAN remake. In this he plays the best friend to Jesse Eisenberg's character. The guy who helped upstart facebook, and was for the most part Zuckerberg's only friend, and the guy who eventually gets cut out of facebook and ends up suing his best friend. Also fantastic is Justin Timberlake, who plays Sean Parker, the founder of napster, who creates the divided between Eisenberg and Garfield's characters which ultimately leads to the collapse of their friendship and the lawsuit. This might be the best acting of Timberlakes young acting career. He is great, coming in as this fast talking slick guy who comes in and gets Zuckerberg hooked on anything that he spews out of his mouth. Timberlake was perfect for this character and he plays it to perfection.
My final verdict on this movie is an 8. It gets a hard 8 from me, I think that it might be a little higher but I suffered from the fact that everybody in the world has said that this is the greatest movie of the fall. And believe me it was great but it is kind of hard to live up to all the expectations that everybody has put out there for it. I think that this movie is a very relevant movie that everyone should go see. Especially since this our entire world is dominated by facebook. So go see it asap, and let me know what you think.
Next time I will be reviewing an independent movie by the name of CATFISH. Until then, Don't start nothin' won't be nothin'
Saturday, July 24, 2010
ONE-LINERS
Hello out there, if there really is anyone out there. Or am I just typing into my own infinite abyss? Maybe, sometimes it feels that way. You know like there really is no ending to anything that is going on around us. Just an infinite free fall into life. It's like three thirty in the morning right now and i take it that when I am done writing this little diddy it will probably be about four in the morning. When do I sleep you ask? Well a infamous man once told me that I could sleep when I'm dead, and I guess over the years I have become a firm believer in that statement.
So why are we here tonight? What is it that I want to talk about this time? There are so many things that have happened to me over the past month but in particular I want to talk about one-liners. I feel like it is necessary for my own personal manhood that at least once in my life I be able to spit out a really great one-liner to somebody. I know that sounds completely ridiculous but this is the type of shit that I think about.
Like on my trip to Chicago that I just took my good friend Mr. Hagedorn dropped a brilliant one-liner to a very annoying drunk guy that wanted to show him some bullshit picture of who really knows what. But as the guy continued to force this picture upon Mr. Hagedorn he simply responded with a, "Listen Asshole, I'm not trying to be rude, but I don't want to see your picture." Or something to this effect, the thing about it is that it was brilliant. I need that, well I guess I don't really need it, but I want it and very bad all of the sudden.
I guess my want for this to happen just stems from the fact that I am such a nice guy. And really who doesn't walk all over the nice guy? I'm here to tell you not that many people. So for once I'd like to be bad ass, I mean I am pretty bad ass, but like bonafide bad ass you know, like Bruce Willis in Die Hard bad ass, or Clint Eastwood in anything bad ass.
The funny thing about this whole entry is that I already kind of know what I want to say, given the opportunity of course. I just want to really get is some body's shit, like all up in it after a fight or whatever and I want them to feel it to know that I was there and to be so pissed off about it that they can't see straight, so pissed off in fact that they tell me that I'm gonna pay for this and everything else, and that I'm dead or that I'm gonna die, just so I can look back at him and say,
"Yeah I know, someday." Pretty pathetic I know, but I love it. If you've read this congratulations you have just gotten a wonderful insight into one thing that might pop into my head at any given moment, so you are very welcome.
So why are we here tonight? What is it that I want to talk about this time? There are so many things that have happened to me over the past month but in particular I want to talk about one-liners. I feel like it is necessary for my own personal manhood that at least once in my life I be able to spit out a really great one-liner to somebody. I know that sounds completely ridiculous but this is the type of shit that I think about.
Like on my trip to Chicago that I just took my good friend Mr. Hagedorn dropped a brilliant one-liner to a very annoying drunk guy that wanted to show him some bullshit picture of who really knows what. But as the guy continued to force this picture upon Mr. Hagedorn he simply responded with a, "Listen Asshole, I'm not trying to be rude, but I don't want to see your picture." Or something to this effect, the thing about it is that it was brilliant. I need that, well I guess I don't really need it, but I want it and very bad all of the sudden.
I guess my want for this to happen just stems from the fact that I am such a nice guy. And really who doesn't walk all over the nice guy? I'm here to tell you not that many people. So for once I'd like to be bad ass, I mean I am pretty bad ass, but like bonafide bad ass you know, like Bruce Willis in Die Hard bad ass, or Clint Eastwood in anything bad ass.
The funny thing about this whole entry is that I already kind of know what I want to say, given the opportunity of course. I just want to really get is some body's shit, like all up in it after a fight or whatever and I want them to feel it to know that I was there and to be so pissed off about it that they can't see straight, so pissed off in fact that they tell me that I'm gonna pay for this and everything else, and that I'm dead or that I'm gonna die, just so I can look back at him and say,
"Yeah I know, someday." Pretty pathetic I know, but I love it. If you've read this congratulations you have just gotten a wonderful insight into one thing that might pop into my head at any given moment, so you are very welcome.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
60 feet 6 inches
Well folks, I'm back after quite a bit of time off. I feel like I have really been slacking and I know that there are oh so many of you out there that just really need to hear about all the many wonderful things going on in my life so I'm sorry for the hiatus. With that said I think I might change the pace a little bit with this one. I mean yes, my sister is still bat shit crazy, and yes she just got done working everyday for two straight weeks(longest weeks of my life)but I think I will cover all of that stuff on another day. Today I feel like talking about one of great loves of my life, I feel like talking baseball.
There are so many different reasons why I love baseball. Almost too many to count, I can go on obnoxiously about baseball for hours upon hours believe me. Some of you out there have already ended up in the cross hairs of one of these rants that I sometimes go on, and for that all I can say is, You're Welcome!
Now as I was saying, there are so many things that I love about baseball, but the thing that I love the most, the thing that I miss more than anything, the thing that I can feel deep down inside of me that comes up every year around this time and won't leave until sometime in October. The thing that I love most about baseball is 60 feet and 6 inches. You might be thinking what is this 60 feet 6 inches you speak of? Well the best way that I could describe it is that quite honestly it is the distance that turns boys into men. It's the distance where games are won and lost, where careers are made or broken, it's the distance between death and immortality.
You may at this point be think what in the world is wrong with this guy, is he delusional, how can that be all of those things? You may not understand it, but it is, it is most certainly all of those things and then some. For those of you that still don't know what 60 feet 6 inches is, it's the distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate on a baseball field. To me it's home, it's Mt. Everest, it's the greatest place on earth. I spent many a days out on a ball field, 60 feet 6 inches away, some of the best days and the most heart breaking days of my life.
Now to really understand what I'm talking about you have to understand what baseball is. Some people think it's just a game, that it's something for boys to do in the summer. Some people know it's our national pass time but they really don't think much more than that. To the people that have been goodly enough to be touched by this sport know that it is so much more. It becomes so much more than a game, it changes who you are inside, it becomes a certain way of life, it becomes a religion of sorts, where people pray to the god of first pitch strikes, and the god of the hanging curve ball. When I was a wee lad of 18 years a coach told me that sooner or later you'll find that there are those in this world that have played baseball, really played baseball and then there is everybody else. Now at the time I didn't have any idea what that meant, and when he said it I just kind of smirked and shrugged it off, but as I've grown up I know that he his absolutely right.
Now baseball is the ultimate team sport. There is no shot clock or game clock or time limit, as long as the weather is good and there is no lightning, you play until the game is over. And you're gonna fail more than you're gonna succeed. It doesn't just test you physically, it test you mentally on every imaginable level. I was at one point a pretty good baseball player, nothing special in particular though I worked hard, tried to set a good example, and showed up everyday. And once I got to the level where my little bit of talent and my hard work couldn't exactly cut the mustard anymore I had to give it up. It left a sour taste in my mouth but I guess it always does, when things end. They always seem to end too soon, weather you play for 15 years or 40.
Now that I've given you that little in site into my baseball, let me tell you exactly what 60 feet 6 inches means to me. I am an average guy, and on a good day I can be said to be kind of funny and somewhat awkwardly charming, but that's on a very good day. I was always a good student in school, not because I was just the smartest person in the room, but because I had this thing were I just wanted to know more about everything than anybody else, so I worked really hard to try and do that and in doing so school became something that I was good at. All of that is great. There is nothing wrong with any of it, but on the baseball field I was something totally different. On that pitcher's mound 60 feet 6 inches away from home plate I was a king. I was larger than life and I knew exactly what I was put on this earth for. To throw strikes and help my team win.
There's a feeling you get when you're up on that mound, when you're staring down the opposing team's batters and you know, I mean you absolutely know that on this given day they can't touch you. There is no greater feeling in the world. To know that you're team is depending on you and that you are going to be able to come through for them. And when it's gone, when it's all over all you want is it back. 60 feet 6 inches is where it all begins. You stare down the opposing batter, and you quietly tell him what you are about the throw before you throw it, and it doesn't matter because he can't touch it. You stand on that mound and you sing to yourself, to keep yourself in the rhythm of the game. You talk to yourself when you walk the nine hole. And people think that you are halfway crazy, and the beauty of it is that you are.
60 feet 6 inches can seem like five miles away when you are three outs away from closing out a big game. When you are 100 pitches into the game and your whole body feels like it's about to break down, and you dig down deep for that last out. You and your catch both know you got nothing left but you dig down anyway and find something, anything, and when you get that last out you feel like you can do anything, because you've pushed yourself further than you ever thought possible and you came out on the other side. 60 feet 6 inches, where most of the defining moments of my life have come.
There are so many different reasons why I love baseball. Almost too many to count, I can go on obnoxiously about baseball for hours upon hours believe me. Some of you out there have already ended up in the cross hairs of one of these rants that I sometimes go on, and for that all I can say is, You're Welcome!
Now as I was saying, there are so many things that I love about baseball, but the thing that I love the most, the thing that I miss more than anything, the thing that I can feel deep down inside of me that comes up every year around this time and won't leave until sometime in October. The thing that I love most about baseball is 60 feet and 6 inches. You might be thinking what is this 60 feet 6 inches you speak of? Well the best way that I could describe it is that quite honestly it is the distance that turns boys into men. It's the distance where games are won and lost, where careers are made or broken, it's the distance between death and immortality.
You may at this point be think what in the world is wrong with this guy, is he delusional, how can that be all of those things? You may not understand it, but it is, it is most certainly all of those things and then some. For those of you that still don't know what 60 feet 6 inches is, it's the distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate on a baseball field. To me it's home, it's Mt. Everest, it's the greatest place on earth. I spent many a days out on a ball field, 60 feet 6 inches away, some of the best days and the most heart breaking days of my life.
Now to really understand what I'm talking about you have to understand what baseball is. Some people think it's just a game, that it's something for boys to do in the summer. Some people know it's our national pass time but they really don't think much more than that. To the people that have been goodly enough to be touched by this sport know that it is so much more. It becomes so much more than a game, it changes who you are inside, it becomes a certain way of life, it becomes a religion of sorts, where people pray to the god of first pitch strikes, and the god of the hanging curve ball. When I was a wee lad of 18 years a coach told me that sooner or later you'll find that there are those in this world that have played baseball, really played baseball and then there is everybody else. Now at the time I didn't have any idea what that meant, and when he said it I just kind of smirked and shrugged it off, but as I've grown up I know that he his absolutely right.
Now baseball is the ultimate team sport. There is no shot clock or game clock or time limit, as long as the weather is good and there is no lightning, you play until the game is over. And you're gonna fail more than you're gonna succeed. It doesn't just test you physically, it test you mentally on every imaginable level. I was at one point a pretty good baseball player, nothing special in particular though I worked hard, tried to set a good example, and showed up everyday. And once I got to the level where my little bit of talent and my hard work couldn't exactly cut the mustard anymore I had to give it up. It left a sour taste in my mouth but I guess it always does, when things end. They always seem to end too soon, weather you play for 15 years or 40.
Now that I've given you that little in site into my baseball, let me tell you exactly what 60 feet 6 inches means to me. I am an average guy, and on a good day I can be said to be kind of funny and somewhat awkwardly charming, but that's on a very good day. I was always a good student in school, not because I was just the smartest person in the room, but because I had this thing were I just wanted to know more about everything than anybody else, so I worked really hard to try and do that and in doing so school became something that I was good at. All of that is great. There is nothing wrong with any of it, but on the baseball field I was something totally different. On that pitcher's mound 60 feet 6 inches away from home plate I was a king. I was larger than life and I knew exactly what I was put on this earth for. To throw strikes and help my team win.
There's a feeling you get when you're up on that mound, when you're staring down the opposing team's batters and you know, I mean you absolutely know that on this given day they can't touch you. There is no greater feeling in the world. To know that you're team is depending on you and that you are going to be able to come through for them. And when it's gone, when it's all over all you want is it back. 60 feet 6 inches is where it all begins. You stare down the opposing batter, and you quietly tell him what you are about the throw before you throw it, and it doesn't matter because he can't touch it. You stand on that mound and you sing to yourself, to keep yourself in the rhythm of the game. You talk to yourself when you walk the nine hole. And people think that you are halfway crazy, and the beauty of it is that you are.
60 feet 6 inches can seem like five miles away when you are three outs away from closing out a big game. When you are 100 pitches into the game and your whole body feels like it's about to break down, and you dig down deep for that last out. You and your catch both know you got nothing left but you dig down anyway and find something, anything, and when you get that last out you feel like you can do anything, because you've pushed yourself further than you ever thought possible and you came out on the other side. 60 feet 6 inches, where most of the defining moments of my life have come.
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