The Queue

Spy vs. Spy

2010-08-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

It's been a while, fellow movie-watchers. In addition to general life busyness, most of my recent movie-watching time has been spent with TV on DVD/Hulu - Treme, Losing It with Jillian (don't judge...), and unfortunately my Netflix discs have been sitting unwatched for weeks.

New releases have been getting more of my attention than DVDs, and this week Eric and I went, on an impulse, to check out Salt.

Now, my knowledge and expectations of Salt came down to this:

- It stars the lovely Angelina as the title character, Salt
- The movie posters include the tagline "Who Is Salt?"

... and that's it.

Now when I tell you that within the first 40 minutes of the movie I had the twist in the plot pegged, I hope that doesn't discourage you from going to see it. Because I did - it wasn't terribly difficult to figure out. But, the movie continued to be enthralling and keep me entertained for the remaining hour.

Jolie delivers in proper Jolie style as the badass CIA agent you know always has one more trick up her sleeve. As her supporter and colleague, played by Liev Schreiber (who, incidentally, I literally ran into at an event I worked at one day last summer - awkward!) also delivered an excellent role.

Honestly, it sounds cheap but I really have nothing negative to say about this movie. I wouldn't go into it expecting the most artfully crafted piece of film, but it was action-packed, entertaining, and managed to keep me on my toes and actually interested.

Also, it features the operative from Serenity, Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Also, the ending dosn't suck. Which, in all honesty, is not something I say about most movies.

Bullet to the Brainpan

2010-06-15T07:43:00.000-07:00

Jean-Pierre Jeunet has done it again. I can say without a doubt that the director's newest film, Micmacs, is one of the absolute best new movies I've seen recently. No surprise from the director of Amelie.

The film follows the story of Bazil, who has not had the best luck with weapons in his life. A land mine in the dessert kills his father, and 30 years later he is the bystander in a gun fight that ends with a bullet getting lodged in his brain. Due to the accident, he loses his job and his home and ends up getting adopted by a family of junk-yard salvagers.

And it's a comedy.

In the true nature of the director, the film is whimsical and imaginative, evoking the sense of a childhood dream throughout viewing. The characters are quirky and extreme in their personalities - I couldn't begin to pick my favorite. As the storyline unfolds, it only becomes more amusing and more fantastical.

Clearly, I hated it.

Kidding - I would recommend this movie to everyone.

Let me put it this way: due to increased business and hecticness in my schedule, I have gotten to a point where I cannot sit through a movie - no matter where I am, or how excited I am to see it - without falling asleep. I get wrapped up in the story, get comfortable, and crash. Micmacs is the first movie in months I have not slept a wink through. Sure, I slept the whole night before and went to an early-evening showing, but that usually doesn't stop me. Truly entertaining, truly adorable. Go see it, right now.

Could've Gone Mad

2010-03-08T10:10:00.000-08:00

As you may have picked up on by now, I'm a bit of a movie fan. I tend to enjoy most movies for whatever they're worth, and don't tend to be too critical. The exception: if you remake a cherished favorite movie of my childhood. So, when I heard the news that Tim Burton would be behind the recreation of one of my personal movie benchmarks, Alice in Wonderland, I metaphorically puffed up like an angry cat. What?? But, why???

But, of course I knew I would go see it.

And I have to say, it was better than I expected. I was pleasantly surprised.

While I still believe the casting could have been a bit better (Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, and Helena Bohnam Carter really need to go sit in separate corners for a while, for their own sakes), many of the characters were spot on. Stephen Fry was an outstanding Cheshire Cat, Alan Rickman did well as Caterpillar, and I really enjoyed Mia Wasikowska as Alice.

The movie was not as out-there and over-the-top as many of Tim Burton's latest films, and Johnny Depp - while prominent - did not take over the movie as much as I expected him to. And it was not, in fact, a remake, per-se. Much of my nervousness was that they were retelling the story (and the Mad Hatter was going to be a main character, which was not true to form in Disney's version). However, this film takes the second half of the Looking Glass story: Alice's return to Wonderland and her role in battling the Red Queen (Carter) who had taken over.

All in all, I'm glad I saw the movie. I was pleased. I even recommend it.

My one major complaint: What WAS that song in the end credits???

Up, Up and Away

2010-01-06T07:14:00.000-08:00

I finally - FINALLY - saw Up, 2009's Pixar obsession. And: I loved it. I only wish I had seen it in 3D in the theaters.

For those who don't know, the movie centers around an old man (voiced by Ed Asner) who realizes that he's never taken the adventures he wanted to in his younger days, and after getting kicked out of his neighborhood, escapes the clutches of the nursing home by connecting his house to hundreds of thousands of helium balloons and sends it flying with him in it.

Of course, he picks up a straggler, a small child who just wanted to do a good deed and get his adventure scout badge, and the two end up getting into crazy adventures with the floating house.

Besides being very well animated, and just fun to watch, the movie is a perfect example of Disney and Pixar's feel-good flicks. Even in the saddest parts of the film, you can't help but smile because of the adorable storytelling.

The movie was so heartwarming and good, in fact, that I'll let it slide that one of the characters is a terrifying large bird.

Tis The Season

2009-12-22T20:23:00.001-08:00

Top 5 Favorite Holiday Movies

Let me disclaim not only that several of these are strictly sentimental, but also that there are a handful of classic Christmas movies that I haven't ever seen (A Christmas Story, Miracle on 34th Street, and It's a Wonderful World, to name the biggies.)

5. Elf

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Will Ferrell comedies irritate me. I still haven't seen Anchorman, on principle more than anything else. A friend bought me Elf on DVD for Christmas when I first got a DVD player, and so I watched it, and despite myself I liked it. It's cute, and lighthearted, and co-stars Zooey Deschanel, and features Bob Newhart and Edward Asner. Buddy the Elf is super endearing, if not creepy at times (not to us, but to those around him), and there are plenty of ironic laugh-out-loud moments.

4. Nightmare Before Christmas

The classic story that taught a generation where holidays truly come from. A portrait of a skeleton with an existential crisis, a rebellious rag doll, and the infamous Boogie Man. An insight into my personal sense of humor. Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas is a classic for our generation, and will never get old in my mind.

3. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

Sure, the premise isn't so much holiday-focused, but it does take place around Christmas time, as is made evident through a series of holiday nods. Therefore, I think it counts. Robert Downy Jr., Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan star in this noir-style dark comedy about where lies can lead you. Val Kilmer puts on a hilarious performance, with some of the best one-liners you'd expect to find in one film. "Look up idiot in the dictionary and guess what you'll find?" "[RDJ:] A picture of me?" "NO! The definition of 'idiot!' Which you fucking are!" Good holiday fun.

2. The Muppet Christmas Carol

I watch this movie every year around this time. I may only watch it once a year (though now that I conveniently own it in DVD format, that may change), but it's very important for getting me into the wintery, Christmas spirit. Michael Caine stars as Scrooge, among the reliably absurd cast of Henson characters. Gonzo co-stars as Charles Dickens, narrating the whole story. It's touching, it's funny, and it has one of my favorite Christmas songs, "One More Sleep 'Til Christmas."

1. Love Actually

One of the best romantic comedies hands-down. I cannot put into a short paragraph how much this movie brings a smile to my face and makes my uterus want to explode with girly rom-com love. Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Kiera Knightly, Martine McCutcheon... do I really need to say anything else? Oh, and for you HBO mavens out there, watch out for the brief cameo of January Jones, aka Betty Draper.

Happy Holidays!

It's like Deja Vu All Over Again

2009-11-29T10:05:00.000-08:00

Last night I watched psychological thriller Deja Vu, which has been in my Netflix queue since I opened my account (over a year ago now). While I had heard mixed reviews on the movie, I had-had-had to see it, because it was filmed in and takes place in my hometown of New Orleans (and much like I did with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, I spent much of the movie going "I've been there!," "I know where that is!")

Deja Vu tells the story of an ATF investigator, Doug, (Denzel Washington) as he's pulled into an investigation of a terrorist attack on a ferry boat full of naval officers (as well as their families) on Mardi Gras day. As Doug becomes personally attached to the case, and sci-fi like technologies are explored, he starts discovering clues left for him as to how to go back and solve the crime.

Sure, the movie bordered on kitschy sci-fi campiness (at one point Adam Goldberg screams out something along the lines of "We discovered this technology by accident!" which made me laugh), but in the right mindset it is gripping and entertaining. The idea will screw with your mind a bit - I still have questions and feel I'll have to re-watch the movie to get them answered.

If for no other reason, watch this movie for Adam Goldberg's character, Denny. He by far has the best lines in the film. At one point, when the scientist-investigator-crew is scrambling around their home base trying to get something going, and everyone is running around, he knocks something over and screams out "I need more cowbell!" I burst into laughter - love it. Though, I have a soft spot for Goldberg from his role in Dazed and Confused: the lovable, cynical, offbeat friend of the oddballs, who enthusiastically proclaims to his friends in the car, "I just want to dance!" Love him.

Val Kilmer also costars in this movie, and while he doesn't steal the show at all, he does put on a respectable performance.

Go Baby Go

2009-11-24T13:20:00.000-08:00

When I watch movies written, produced or directed by Ben Affleck, I don't expect them to be good. It probably comes from his douche bag reputation that doesn't seem to fade no matter how many good movies he does. So when I learned that crime thriller Gone Baby Gone was not only written and directed by Ben Affleck, but also starred his baby brother Casey, I didn't really expect much as far as quality.

However, I have a weakness for cop movies, and the movie also stars Morgan Freeman (who I'll watch in pretty much anything) and Ed Harris. So while I may not have felt too proud, I pushed it to the top of my Netflix queue and got pretty excited when it arrived this weekend.

Gone Baby Gone tells the story of a couple (Casey - yeah, we're on a first-name basis - and Michelle Monaghan [also seen in Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and Made of Honor, and soon to be seen in Eagle Eye, currently #45 in my queue]) who also happen to be private investigators. When they go searching for a local missing child, they become personally involved in the case and learn about themselves and the lines they are willing to cross.

And I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

Sure, the writing is pretty predictable, and the overall quality of the film would have benefited from the removal of a voice-over narration, but the story is interesting and forces you to ask questions of yourself. The lines of morality are completely blurred.

There was a point in the middle of the movie that almost pulled a false-ending, which had me going "Really? Really??"... But no, not really. The movie goes on, and gets better - more complicated, more personal.

It's safe to say Gone Baby Gone isn't going to win any cinematic awards, but it was entertaining, and I enjoyed it. My endless love for crime-thrillers continues.

It was only a matter of time - a personal rant.

2009-11-23T09:13:00.000-08:00

I had originally planned not to go into this, but really, it needs to be said.

Does every movie and TV show of our time really need to have scenes with graphic needle usage?? Really??

I have a severely acute phobia of needles, traced way back to early childhood experiences in hospitals etc etc etc. I won't go into it, but it results in my going into petite-mal seizures at doctors offices, dentist offices, piercing parlors, and, sometimes, in movie theaters. You wouldn't think this to be a terrible inconvenience, but lately every single movie and TV show I watch has some plot line that makes me squirm. (Disclaimer: Many apologies for any spoilers!) Friday Night Lights: steroids. Pursuit of Happyness: selling blood for money. Sunshine Cleaning: blood donation. True Blood: vampire draining. Taken: ghetto-rigged IV in a dirty hotel room. American Gangster, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Push. I went into two seizures watching a second-season episode of Supernatural. Usually it's fine - I close my eyes, or run out of the room until the scene ends, but then spend the rest of the movie or episode on-edge. Really, it's just exhausting.

I understand needles are a blessing/curse of our time (depending on how they're used), but do they really need to be displayed so prominently in every movie nowadays?

Blech.

The Power of Yes

2009-11-04T13:30:00.000-08:00

This past summer, I was plagued with the realization that the end of college also means the end of the college social life. No more class, no more social-circle-refresh every four months. What's worse? Many of my friends had disbursed across the country. I found myself working only three days a week, looking for a job, and starting to fall into a rut of staying at home far too often.

So, I made a decision. Whenever any opportunity presented itself - social, professional or otherwise - I would accept it (unless I had a valid reason not to). Of course this was within reason. It lead to some fun activities and experiences I wouldn't have had otherwise. I played on a beach volleyball team, I went out often, went to a professional soccer game, talked to people I never would have talked with, and generally had a very quick, rewarding summer.

So of course, when I explained this to people toward the end of the summer, I started getting asked "Oh, like in Yes Man?"

I had only seen posters for Jim Carrey's 2008 feel-good flick, and didn't even know who else costarred. The title (and association with my personal experience) gave away the premise pretty easily. Naturally, I added it to my Netflix queue, and it appeared at my doorstep just a couple weeks ago.

Yes Man was a much more enjoyable film than I expected. I can usually take or leave Carrey without much investment. But the message of the film - preaching the importance of trying new things and taking new risks - is close to my heart. And hey! Zooey Deschannel and Bradley Cooper? Yes please.

The movie is very predictable. Man is in a rut. Man's friends yell at him. Man joined group of "Yes Men" who convince him to say "yes" to every opportunity that presents itself, without question. Man does just that. Hilarity and awkwardness ensues.

Highlight of the film: Carry's character "talking" down a man threatening to jump off a ledge by singing "Jumper" by Third Eye Blind, which he learned while taking guitar lessons earlier in the film. The entire crowd joins in, including the fire department, as well as the jumper himself. I about died. Probably my favorite part of the flick.

Much better than expected.

"Locksley, I'll cut your heart out with a spoon!"

2009-10-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

"Why a spoon, cousin? Why not an axe or..."
"Because. It's dull you twit, it'll hurt more."

Now, I hadn't seen Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves since we lived on Webster street (for those who don't know the personal timeline of my childhood, that was a long, long time ago), but that quote - first heard when I must have been five or six years old - has stuck in my memory as one of my favorites.

Tonight, I re-watched Prince of Thieves for the first time in years. And dear lord, it's oh so much better now.

Robin Hood has always been one of my favorite fairy tails. I'm not really sure why, but I've loved pretty much every incarnation of it that I've seen or read (my roommate and I watched Men In Tights just over a week ago. What a classic). And I distinctly remember watching this one at a very young age and getting the crap scared out of me. I mean, is there really much creepier than Guy of Gisborne or Mortianna the witch?? But tonight, while I still closed my eyes for some wrist-cutting and face-stitching, I appreciated this film - and any that mocked it later - much, much more.

To start off, this movie features two of my favorite voices. Though, I must say it's unsettling watching (er, hearing) Morgan Freeman put on any sort of accent. I love him so much, but in the role of Azeem, oy. He was great, but not to be taken seriously. If the creators of this film were aiming for heartfelt sentiment through-and-through (which, due to some of the pointed humor I'm not entirely convinced of), they missed the mark. But, it was filmed almost two decades ago, so we'll cut them some slack.

Oh, so who might my second favorite voice in the film be? Why, Alan Rickman of course. Whether as Professor Snape in Harry Potter, a cheating husband in Love Actually, Marvin in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, or the thieving sheriff of Nottingham in Prince of Thieves, I do love listening to him speak. Even - scratch that - especially when he's threatening someone's life with a kitchen utensil. His character managed to get away with a series of one-liners...

"That's it then. Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings... And call off Christmas!"

Now, I won't even touch Kevin Costner's accent, mullet or overall performance.

However, despite being an easy mark for satire, I have to say, I cannot help but love this film. It's part nostalgia, part... OK, mostly nostalgia in a variety of forms. But really. Robbing from the rich and giving to the poor? What could be more tis-the-season than that?

They say our generation is obsessed with nostalgia...

2009-10-10T09:42:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you mix Roald Dahl, Wes Anderson and George Clooney? In a word: masterpiece. Well, one can only hope...

There are a lot of movies coming out this season that are somehow related to milestones of my childhood - Alice in Wonderland (not really coming out until March 2010, but the trailers are already popping up), Where the Wild Things Are, Toy Story 3 - and quite frankly, I never even read Fantastic Mr. Fox as a child. But the preview for this film - the quippy, ironic dialogue, the dry humor, the animation - has me holding high hopes (and overusing alliteration) for the Roald Dahl adaptation. And, has me wanting to re-read my favorite Dahl classic, the BFG (and maybe even pick up a copy of Fantastic Mr. Fox, because why not?).

Push It

2009-10-05T18:39:00.000-07:00

Push is a new psychological brain-teaser directed by the same man who did Lucky Number Slevin, Paul McGuigan. It follows the story of several youngsters with psychic abilities, explaining (in the opening credits, no spoilers here) that government-sponsored psychic testing has been going on since Hitler started it in 1945. The renegades in this flick are running from the government "Division" that's hunting them down for reasons I won't give away now.

I first saw this movie about one month ago, and have since seen it three more times. It's good. Better the second time, I think. Even despite it's repetitive use of needles (which tends to make me pass out mid-film), I find myself entertained every time.

The story takes place in Hong Kong, and (thanks IMDB trivia) many of the scenes were shot with hidden cameras in vans, as the streets were too crowded to clear out. It makes for interesting, non-Hollywood feeling cinematography, that at first you might think is simply stock-footage, until you see Dakota Fanning and Chris Evans walking around.

Which brings me to my next point: seeing Dakota Fanning grown up (or at least, not 7 years old)? Weird. She's good, her character is fun. But I keep thinking of her as a small child, not a tall lanky teenager.

All in all, I highly recommend Push for people who like movies that leave you maybe slightly eluded until the very end. It's an interesting conspiracy theory, to be sure.

To Bed, To Bed With Sleepy Heads

2009-09-27T16:41:00.000-07:00

Due to my determination earlier this summer to watch every movie Keri Russel is in, I came home the other night to the Adam Sandler flick Bedtime Stories in my mailbox. Now, I'm not usually a big Adam Sandler fan, and I didn't really know much about this movie other than what I had gleaned from the bus stop posters when it first came out, so I really had no expectations. But I have to say, I was very pleasantly surprised.

Sure, the dialogue was often predictable, the plot a little trite and so on. But, keeping in mind that this is a movie meant for children, it was very well done. I found myself laughing out loud at silly moments, and smiling most the way through. It was, in a word, cute. Very cute. Nothing groundbreaking or award-winning (though the film's musical score did win a BMI award), but fun.

Sandler plays his usual role of underappreciated goof-off on the verge of being a complete screw up, but loveable nonetheless. Courtney Cox plays his, of course, neurotic, uptight sister. Russell costars as the slow-to-come-around love interest. Each character was well-played and fun. And the messages behind the movie - encouraging imagination, optimism, and the belief that all things are possible (see: typical children's movie) are always refreshing to see. All in all, a pleasant movie.

The following previews have been approved for all audiences.

2009-09-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

I rediscovered my love for the Apple Movie Trailers page last night, and have since developed a list of movies I'm really looking forward to (some of which I had never heard of until last night):

Couples Retreat
Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day
Sherlock Holmes
Whip It
I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell
Where The Wild Things Are
Blind Date
The Informant
Surrogates
Taking Woodstock
Extract
Gamer
2012

Also, I see that Michael Moore has a new movie out entitled "Capitalism: A love story," which prompts me to ask the simple question: Will he ever just... stop?

(RB) 10 Screen Actors to Count On

2009-09-17T09:13:00.000-07:00

To begin with, I'd like to thank AT&T for my absence for the past week or so. We haven't had internet in our apartment since Labor Day weekend, so sitting down to write a blog post has been more chore-like than usual. However, here I am back into the swing of things and happy to be here!

I have however, due to the lack of other, frivolous diversions, been able to watch a LOT of TV on DVD (I'm halfway finished the fourth season of Battlestar Galactica - woahmygodsogood), and several movies.

I've also been able to reflect on my favorite movies and actors, in response to Michael Phillips' (somewhat) recent blog post, "10 Screen Actors to Count On." In his post, he listed his New Reliables, screen actors he can trust to put on a stellar performance; for whom he'd watch a movie, regardless of what it's about. His list includes some of my favorites, like Zooey Deschanel and Stanley Tucci.

So. Who are my New Reliables? I'm still pondering, but so far...

Samuel L Jackson... I just can't help it. He had it with those mother-effing snakes on that mother-effing plane. I love him, because he's a wonderful actor who still seems to have fun - a lot of fun - with his job. I have to respect that.
Robert Downey Jr.... From his days of "pretending" to be an over-coked partier in Less Than Zero, to the bumbling un-detective in Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, to rocking Ironman. He's proven his ability to stay in the game, and stay strong. I can't wait to see him as Sherlock Holmes.
Morgan Freeman... Even discounting the sheer comforting ability of his voice, I just love the roles he plays. Even in the ever-disappointing Bucket List, his sincere smile and sarcastic humor make him, well, lovable.
Edward Norton... Fight Club. Rounders. Death to Smoochy. He can go from squirrely ass hole, to naive children's show host to complete badass without missing a beat.
Zooey Deschanel... I haven't seen 500 days of summer yet. But I want to. She managed to get through Elf without much harm, and has an impeccable ability to make movies I would usually hate seem more enjoyable. AND she can sing. Even in smaller roles, such as Anita in Almost Famous, she lights up the screen.
Kate Winslet... I have never seen a movie with Kate Winslet where I didn't love her. The end.
Billy Crudup... I first saw Billy Crudup in Almost Famous, where I fell in love with him. Then, Big Fish, where it happened again. Maybe less so in the Watchmen, but he still put on a great performance. And I still love him.
Paul Rudd... How can you not laugh at his role in I Love You Man? And how can you not swoon for him in Clueless? By far one of the best members of the new comedy team (in my opinion). He plays awkwardly lovable like nobody else.
Frances McDormand... At the heart of several Coen Brothers films lies the comforting smile of Frances McDormand. She also plays the overly-controlling liberal mom in Almost Famous, who tends to freak people out more than she helps. She brings identifiable, warm happiness into even the darkest of comedies.
Marion Cotillard... Okay. So, I've really only seen her in two roles: Josaphine in Big Fish, and Billie in Public Enemies, but in both supporting roles she has shined. I look forward to doing more research (coughcough watching 9 next week coughcough) to see if she continues to hold her own.

Other Close Contenders:

- Keri Russell. As I've said, I want to be her best friend. However, after watching a couple post-Felicity, non-Waitress performances, I'm starting to lose my devotion.

- Willam Dafoe. Because he's a badass. But honestly, I haven't seen him in much since Spiderman.

-Johnny Depp. I'm 22 and female. Enough said.

- Judy Dench. Because how can you not love her while at the same time fearing a reprimand from her.

I'm sure everyone has their own lists. And mine will probably change in a week or so.

The Saints Are Coming

2009-09-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

10 years after the release of the original movie, Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day is officially set to release on October 30. AND all the main characters are played by the same actors as the first film.

The trailer has been released!

While I may not make it on Halloween weekend, you can bet I'll be in the theaters the following week.

And shepherds we shall be...

Surprise! Brought to you by Netflix.

2009-08-31T22:02:00.000-07:00

So, I have this tendency in my attempt to see more movies, and more types of movies, and to see new movies without any predisposition. And that is to watch the movie without really doing any research on it. Netflix recommends this based on my interest in these others? Sure! Why not? Add it to the queue, and months later, when I least expect it, there it is in my mailbox. Sweet! It sometimes leads me to experiencing classics the way they should be experienced, without any knowledge of famous lines, popular scenes or criticisms.

Sometimes, though, it leads me to movies like The Last Sin Eater. Um. Just finished that one. It seemed to me that it would have been a scary movie, psychological thriller maybe, something that just gets under your skin in a loosely-based-on-historical-events kind of way.

I went into it thinking out would be scary, but really it was just a Christian film about an old Celtic ritual. It ended with a mass baptism. Not really scary, friends.

It was interesting, to a point. It was a cool insight into Celtic rituals and history (of which I know almost nothing, even though it's about 99% of my heritage). But really, it's a film I would imagine having been shown in a religious or cultural studies class in school.

It wasn't bad... The graphics were 80's looking (though it was filmed just 2 years ago) and some of the acting and dialogue reminded me of Little House on the Prairie, but it was a legitimately interesting movie. I bet Netflix recommended this one because I watched The Mission last semester for a class - a great movie, on a side note; if you haven't watched it, do so. Still haven't really decided how I feel about it. Sin eating. Yummy.

There's Really No Rush

2009-08-28T22:54:00.000-07:00

I don't really have discriminating taste when it comes to movies. I may be in the mood for one movie or another, but it's rare that I watch any movie that I legitimately don't like. This is why I could never really be a movie critic.

Which is why it surprised me last night when I watched August Rush, and was really disappointed. I had somewhat high hopes, nothing extravagant. It stars Keri Russell, who I love (I would be best friends with Felicity Porter, let's be honest). I love Robin Williams. I don't so much love Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who also costars, but I thought the first two would outweigh him.

The script was predictable, too much tell, not enough show. The acting felt like acting. It was hard to suspend disbelief.

The movie is about a cellist (Russell) and rock star (Meyers) who spend one night together, which results in a baby boy. The boy is raised in an orphanage, and is very drawn to music from an early age. In his pursuit to reunite with his parents, he "follows the music" back into NYC, where he is taken in by a homeless Robin Williams. More happens; people look for him, the parents rediscover their lives and their music, the boy is discovered to be a musical prodigy, etc. etc. etc.

It makes me sad to watch movies that disappoint. Part of it, I have to say, was Williams' character. He's mean, a complete jerk. And it hurts me deep in my childhood's soul to see Genie from Aladdin be mean. If it's an extraordinary performance, like in One Hour Photo, that's one thing. But in August Rush, it was just bothersome.

The best performance in the film was by Terrence Howard, who played the social worker at the orphanage where the boy grew up. He was the most believable, the most touching.

I don't blame the actors, though, for my lack of enthusiasm for the movie. It was not a fault of poor acting, but rather poor writing. The concept was good in theory, but executed way too predictably, in my mind.

I've Got a Theory...

2009-08-26T18:55:00.000-07:00

It could be demons!
Oh wait, wrong theory. Kudos to those who catch the reference!

Anyway...

I love a good chick flick. Especially ones that simultaneously make me feel like I've gotten my sought-after happy ending and perfect movie kiss, while at the same time serving up a big dose of girl-power and reminding me that I don't need a man to be happy. It's an art, really.

So, of course, I went, I saw, I purchased the recent box office hit He's Just Not That Into You. Say what you will, but I liked it. Impressive, really. It plays out all the stereotypes (and truths) of men and women in relationships, and makes me both love and hate men and women equally. For those who haven't heard, the movie follows the stories of several (5?) relationships, all intertwined within a lose social circle.

And I'd like to propose a theory for discussion:

I feel that He's Just Not That Into You is our generation's attempt at our own When Harry Met Sally.

The Evidence
He's Just Not That Into You, as the name clearly implies, aims to be a reality check for women. All women, even the cynical ones. The film, in so many words, examines a question proposed in When Harry Met Sally: can men and women really be friends? Or does the sex (or love) always get in the way?

Sure, these aren't by any means the only movies to have questioned platonic relationships, or examined romantic relationships. But the tone and structure of these films are remarkably similar, to me anyhow. I mean, the vignettes throughout the movie that illustrate various themes; the comical jabs at the whole dating process (setting up friends, etc.). One's a classic, and one may become a bit of an icon itself.

The parallel's a bit shaky. For one, He's Just Not That Into You lacks a big "diner orgasm" moment to rival When Harry Met Sally. But I think it could be flushed out a bit more. Maybe in another post.

Thoughts?

Julie & Julia is why I have a blog ...

2009-08-21T21:48:00.000-07:00

A blog about movies and a movie about blogging. It's a match made in heaven.

But really...

I just returned from watching Julie & Julia - a movie based on two true stories: the story of Julia Child, and the story of Julie, a woman in New York who decided to write a blog about her experience cooking her way through the Julia Child cookbook.

First of all, before even seeing the movie, when I first saw the preview and learned the premise, it motivated me to finally start a blog. It reminded me that I don't need to blog about my profession, or the innermost gory details of my personal life. I can, in fact, just write about something I love.

And then I saw it. And movies like that are the core of why I love movies, enough to blog about them.

Sure, it's a big cheesy, chick-flickish, whatever. But as Nate, a former coworker, used to say about good writing, it makes you feel feelings. I walked out of the movie theater tonight feeling two things: hungry, and motivated. Now I want to go through my cookbooks and experimenting with recipes I've never tried before. And immediately I came home to write. (Okay, immediately we went to the restaurant under the theater, Heaven on Seven, and ate tasty wannabe-authentic New Orleans cooking. Then, I came home and started writing.)

Movies should leave you feeling something. They should make you think, and they should make you want to do or discuss something. Maybe My Bloody Valentine in 3D didn't inspire you to write a blog, or set new goals, or start meaningful discussions about life the universe and everything (or maybe it did, I never saw it ...), but even cheesy romcoms, slashers, and action flicks should leave you feeling something. Even if it's just the comfort of having escaped for a couple hours.

No doubt Julie & Julia will be added to my collection once it's out on DVD. It's a fun movie, with a good message about reaching goals for personal reasons. And really, who doesn't need to be reminded of that from time to time?

Happy Birthday, Hitchcock

2009-08-13T09:42:00.000-07:00

Today would be Alfred Hitchcock's 110th birthday. Born August 13, 1899, he directed over 60 films, many of which gave us the heeby-geebbies and made us sleep with the lights on. I must admit, I've not seen that many of his movies. Since as a child I got nightmares from "Are You Afraid of the Dark?," it wasn't until somewhat recently I've started venturing into the world of creepy films. Still haven't made it to The Birds - my natural fear of fowl keeps this one at an arm's length.

Nevertheless, today is a great day to celebrate the "master of the psychological thriller" by curling up with your favorite Hitchcock movie (for me, Vertigo - the only one I own) - or his: Shadow of a Doubt.

Battle of the Bromance

2009-08-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

The Bromance - the heterosexual male's response to the RomCom/Chick Flick. Recently, Bromances have had a surge of popularity in theaters, especially two new releases: The Hangover and I Love You Man. In the past couple weeks, I've watched both dude-tastic comedies, now that they've both been released to DVD.

The Hangover follows the story of four men who wake up the morning after a bachelor party in Vegas and remember nothing of the night before. As they try and piece together the evening, hilarity ensues.

I Love You Man also focuses on a wedding tradition. Paul Rudd stars as Peter, a man madly in love with his fiance, but with no real male friends to fill the role of Best Man. In his quest for a best friend, he goes on a series of man-dates before befriending Sydney, a fun-loving quirky all around dude.

I have to say, I loved both movies. But the hype that surrounded the Hangover left me (only ever-so-slightly) disappointed. Overall, I laughed out loud much more during I Love You Man. Paul Rudd's socially awkward, nickname-obsessed, gibberish-spewing character cracked me up. The Hangover was still hilarious. Maybe it was just that I'd heard a lot of the jokes before seeing the movie, and I really wasn't sure what to expect from I Love You Man.

Overall, both highly enjoyable, highly laughable, dude-friendly Bromances. But in my book, I Love You Man scores as the Better Bromance. What are your favorite Bromances? And what makes for a bromantic leading man?

Don't You Forget About Him

2009-08-06T15:30:00.000-07:00

John Hughes, director of much of my childhood (see: Pretty In Pink, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, etc.), died of a heart attack today at age 59. (Read New York Daily News Article)

He inspired many 80s costumes and dance moves. He gave us tips on how to fake sick and play hooky. He taught us that each of us is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal.

I personally plan on going on a John Hughes movie binge over the next couple days: The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Sixteen Candles (in the "Which brat pack character are you?" quiz I took in high school, I was Sam from Sixteen Candles), and maybe even some Less Than Zero and St. Elmo's Fire for good measure (not directed or written by Hughes himself, but part of a movement he helped start).

We won't forget about you, John!

Riddle Me This...

2009-08-04T12:02:00.000-07:00

Rumors have been circulating about the next Batman movie on the horizon (The Dark Knight Returns, maybe). The film will face a test that many movie series (and TV series, for that matter) face: the Third Hurdle. It happens a lot with popular series-- movies become so popular, those writing and producing them start to get cocky. Come the third installment, audiences lose interest.

I remain nothing but hopeful for the next Batman flick. However, 'news' that the two featured villians, Catwoman and the Riddler, might be played by Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie has got me nervous.

Don't get me wrong, I love Johnny Depp as much as the next 22 year old girl, and could watch Don Juan Demarco, Pirates of the Carribean and Once Upon a Time In Mexico all day long. But I don't think he's right for the Riddler. I picture Willy Wonka meets Sweeney Todd, neither of which were his best performances in my opinion. When the actor dictates the performance instead of the role - when it's no longer the Riddler, but instead Johnny Depp as the Riddler - it becomes predictable and boring. Same goes for Angelina. I love her, sure, but her persona seems to have taken over her roles.

Whether or not these rumors are true, I look forward to putting the next Batman to the test.

Betcha Can't Pick Just One

2009-08-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

Some friends and I were discussing favorite movies the other evening. Two of the guys were going through their top 10 favorite movies of all time. Now, for me, this is an impossible task. Favorite movie? Just one at #1? It's a cop-out, I know. I'd probably yell at anyone for answering a question like that. But how do you choose?

There are a number of criteria you could base your decision on: there are movies that you can watch repeatedly, over and over, and never get sick of them (Top 3 for me: Dazed and Confused, Almost Famous, The Birdcage). But there are movies I don't want to watch all the time, but I'm always impressed with them when I do watch them (Renaissance, for example). There are movies that are artfully done, award-winning, pretty, thought-provoking movies (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Fight Club, Brick). Then there are the classics, that you just cannot dislike (Citizen Kane, Casablanca, Dead Poets Society [a more modern classic]). Do you go by how long you've loved a movie? Sixteen Candles has been on my list since I was 10 or so. Do you need to pick a movie that had an impact on your life or the world around you? Clueless singlhandedly created a new lexicon of slang for our generation and introduced us to Paul Rudd. I don't know if I'd call either of those favorites, though...

Movies are like food - there may be classics you can always watch, but sometimes you get wacky cravings and nothing else will satiate you. I love pizza, but if I want sushi pizza ain't gonna cut it. It depends on mood, company, time of day, alignment of the planets. When it comes down to it, my list of favorites ends up being 20-something items long. It all comes back to that cop-out: I just can't choose.

A Shared Experience

2009-07-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

If you're the type of person who likes to know what's going to happen in a film before it happens, you should not watch movies with me. Watch them with my stepmom, who likes to talk about the crucial twist-endings before I've seen the movie (I love her dearly, but that's a habit that drives me batty). But part of what I love about showing people movies is watching them experience them - see if they catch all the innuendos and nuances it took me several viewings to catch onto.

One of my favorite movies to share with people is Lucky # Slevin. "That Josh Hartnett flick?" Yep. It's the film that made me respect Josh Hartnett as an actor. Give it 10 minutes. I promise, it's worth it.

Lucky # Slevin is a great experiential movie. The twists and turns of the plot, the "He's in this??" reaction almost everyone has upon seeing Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis and Sir Ben Kingsley pop up on screen. Within five minutes, my friends are asking me "Who's this guy?," "What's going on?," and "Is that [insert character name]?" I'll tell you what I tell them: Shush. Pay attention. Watch the movie.

Lights, camera ...

2009-07-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

I'm not a film critic. I just love watching movies - of all sorts. I currently have 76 films in my Netflix queue (not including the 23 discs of TV on DVD), and 27 in my Amazon.com Wish List (not including the 7-8 seasons of TV on DVD). My home collection includes 51 DVDs and 3 VHSs, including Interview With A Vampire, Dazed and Confused, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Eddie Izzard's stand up comedy, Wayne's World and Lilo and Stitch. I love talking about movies with my friends, so I figure, why not write a blog about the movies I watch?

Here goes nothin'!