It's not often that a drama comedy involves a young adult facing the challenges of cancer. But that's the plot of the new Seth Rogen flick, 50/50.
50/50 stars Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Anna Kendrick in this overall very well done story of 26 year-old Adam (Levitt) and his best friend Kyle (Rogen). Adam is diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer, and the outlook is marginal at best. Or 50/50 on survival. This basically is Adam's story as he weaves in and out of various phases of the disease. How he deals with it all, and how those around him deal with him too. It's tough at times, as his age is making it hard for his girlfriend, mother and others to try to be supportive.
This is an honest look at an illness that luckily we don't equate with young adults very often. They skillfully sew in some real nice humor, and some really heart touching moments. It accurately shows the difficulty people in their 20's would have coming to terms with this whole thing. Levitt is very good, Rogen may be a bit too "Rogeny" for me in this one. But Kendrick is simply fantastic. She is Adam's therapist in training Katherine, who takes a special interest in Adams sad case.
Kendrick is stunningly good in this movie, as she was in 2009's George Clooney flick, Up In The Air, where she was Oscar nominated. She may be a bit limited in her roles that she could really pull off. But she is the queen of screen vulnerability. She is so personal with her role, hard not to feel her emotions on screen. And feel them deep. She may be Hollywood's most underrated star. It's hard to put into words just how badly this movie needed her in it. As popular as our main stars are, this does not work without her. She is the element this movie needed to be better than it probably has a right to be.
50/50 does not skate away unscathed. There are a few horrible decisions made in this movie that prevent it from being totally above the fray. But they are not deal breakers. For some reason there are quick and "sore thumby" moments of really terrible profanity. And there's a scene or two that really don't work. This movie need none of this. But it's all OK. What Rogen screws up, Kendrick and the story smooth it over.
50/50. Thanks to Anna Kendrick......very good.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
MOVIE REVIEW - Killer Elite
It's another Jason Statham action flick, Killer Elite. This time they try to dress it up with a nice cast. But in the end, it's more of the same.
But that's alright for now. Statham is very popular for now, with a young set of young movie goers. And overall his movies, are violent, ut I've seen more intense, by a long shot. Killer Elite is based on a supposed true story, and on a 1990 book called The Featherman. The story this time is airing the dirty laundry of the secret SAS branch of British Intelligence.
Meet Danny (Statham). He is a rogue agent who is sort of hired, and sort of blackmailed into a killing contract by an Arabian Sheik. The contract is to kill three other British agents who killed the Sheiks sons a few years earlier. So Danny brings his team together to do the killings. But they soon learn that they may be being played for fools, and are being set up by someone. But who?
KE, also stars Clive Owen, Robert De Niro and a decent supporting cast that elevate this Statham flick a bit as compared to others. But I feel the clock is ticking. He needs a reinvention soon, because all of these action flicks are really starting to blend together big time. They all look the same, sound the same and are filmed he same. And the interest is starting to dry up.
KE really stumbles at times, and breaks a cardinal rule of these kinds of movies. It seems like it will never end. In fact, it kind of does a time or two, only to start back up in a new direction. Much seat fidgeting, and clock watching near the end. There is plenty of action. In fact, maybe too much, and it is fatiguing. Statham flicks can have a video game feel to them, and this one does. Lots of action scenes, both long and short. Long on action, short on interesting story.
Killer Elite. OK we get it. You're an action star. Now let's go in a new direction, before the jokes start flying. Just ask Stallone, Van Damme and Seagal.
But that's alright for now. Statham is very popular for now, with a young set of young movie goers. And overall his movies, are violent, ut I've seen more intense, by a long shot. Killer Elite is based on a supposed true story, and on a 1990 book called The Featherman. The story this time is airing the dirty laundry of the secret SAS branch of British Intelligence.
Meet Danny (Statham). He is a rogue agent who is sort of hired, and sort of blackmailed into a killing contract by an Arabian Sheik. The contract is to kill three other British agents who killed the Sheiks sons a few years earlier. So Danny brings his team together to do the killings. But they soon learn that they may be being played for fools, and are being set up by someone. But who?
KE, also stars Clive Owen, Robert De Niro and a decent supporting cast that elevate this Statham flick a bit as compared to others. But I feel the clock is ticking. He needs a reinvention soon, because all of these action flicks are really starting to blend together big time. They all look the same, sound the same and are filmed he same. And the interest is starting to dry up.
KE really stumbles at times, and breaks a cardinal rule of these kinds of movies. It seems like it will never end. In fact, it kind of does a time or two, only to start back up in a new direction. Much seat fidgeting, and clock watching near the end. There is plenty of action. In fact, maybe too much, and it is fatiguing. Statham flicks can have a video game feel to them, and this one does. Lots of action scenes, both long and short. Long on action, short on interesting story.
Killer Elite. OK we get it. You're an action star. Now let's go in a new direction, before the jokes start flying. Just ask Stallone, Van Damme and Seagal.
Monday, September 26, 2011
MOVIE REVIEW - Abduction
Taylor Lautner has put away his wolf fangs for an hour and a half, and stars in the new thriller, Abduction. Yes, the Twilight co-star has his own gig till the big cash starts rolling in from the next Twilight flick in November.
Abduction is the story of a high school senior named Nathan (Lautner). He is a typical kid or so it seems. He is on the wrestling team, he drinks himself silly and stays out all night on weekends, and has a crush on the girl across he street. But the one thing he doesn't have in common with all the other kids is his Hollywood good looks, and he is being chased by the CIA for some reason.
Nathan's parents are murdered in a home invasion, and before they die, they urge him to run and save himself. Along with the girl across the street who witnesses the whole thing. They soon find out that the CIA is in pursuit, but and so are the bad guys. But why? Why is this high school kid so important? Well, that's why you have to go see Abduction. Or maybe not.
I can see the eye rolling already. "I, as a grown adult am NOT going to see a Taylor Lautner flick!" I get it. But a few minutes into this movie that starts off halfway decent, you realize that
grownups are not supposed to be there. In its defense, this is a grown up movie for very young adults, and I'm good with that. Finally, a movie that targets a young audience that doesn't sell out to horrible language, rampant drug use, graphic violence, and over all tastelessness.
And I say, good for them. Up front for me, this is not a great movie. But it's not for me. It is full of predictable, cliche' and obligatory scenes, that a young audience will eat up with a gigantic spoon. The storyline is simple, but not babyish. It has some action, but overall it's not silly. Oh, granted there is a shade of "yeah right" to it, but it's not a deal breaker. This movie is only about 85 minutes, so it doesn't wear out it's welcome either.
Lautner has been convinced he is a hunk, and acts every bit of it here. It is hard not to see Jacob from Twilight here, but I think that's by design. He over acts and reacts at times. The surrounding cast is above average, and as a whole, good decisions are made here basically from start to finish. Am I going back to see this movie? No. But I do respect a movie that knows its audience, and serves it well without being a total sellout to the lowest common denominator.
Abduction. For who its for, good movie. For many others? Go see Moneyball.
Abduction is the story of a high school senior named Nathan (Lautner). He is a typical kid or so it seems. He is on the wrestling team, he drinks himself silly and stays out all night on weekends, and has a crush on the girl across he street. But the one thing he doesn't have in common with all the other kids is his Hollywood good looks, and he is being chased by the CIA for some reason.
Nathan's parents are murdered in a home invasion, and before they die, they urge him to run and save himself. Along with the girl across the street who witnesses the whole thing. They soon find out that the CIA is in pursuit, but and so are the bad guys. But why? Why is this high school kid so important? Well, that's why you have to go see Abduction. Or maybe not.
I can see the eye rolling already. "I, as a grown adult am NOT going to see a Taylor Lautner flick!" I get it. But a few minutes into this movie that starts off halfway decent, you realize that
grownups are not supposed to be there. In its defense, this is a grown up movie for very young adults, and I'm good with that. Finally, a movie that targets a young audience that doesn't sell out to horrible language, rampant drug use, graphic violence, and over all tastelessness.
And I say, good for them. Up front for me, this is not a great movie. But it's not for me. It is full of predictable, cliche' and obligatory scenes, that a young audience will eat up with a gigantic spoon. The storyline is simple, but not babyish. It has some action, but overall it's not silly. Oh, granted there is a shade of "yeah right" to it, but it's not a deal breaker. This movie is only about 85 minutes, so it doesn't wear out it's welcome either.
Lautner has been convinced he is a hunk, and acts every bit of it here. It is hard not to see Jacob from Twilight here, but I think that's by design. He over acts and reacts at times. The surrounding cast is above average, and as a whole, good decisions are made here basically from start to finish. Am I going back to see this movie? No. But I do respect a movie that knows its audience, and serves it well without being a total sellout to the lowest common denominator.
Abduction. For who its for, good movie. For many others? Go see Moneyball.
Friday, September 23, 2011
MOVIE REVIEW - Moneyball
Great to see some star power back in theaters, and some adult movies. Here comes Brad Pitt and the new true story dramatic baseball movie, Moneyball.
This is the true story of Billy Beane, (Pitt) the General Manager of the Oakland Athletics baseball team in the early 2000's. Oakland is a small baseball market, and as the game is changing, small market teams must try to invent new ways to stay competitive and not have a 100 million payroll. Beane "buys" this Ivy League whiz kid from the Cleveland Indians with no baseball experience fresh out of college, and brings him to the A's. The A's have no money in a baseball sense.
They two of them set out with the idea they must find the "right'" players for them based on some mathematical formula they have devised. This flies in the face of 150 years of baseball tradition, and his new way is resisted at every turn by most members of the baseball world, and his own organization. Will his new way to build a team work as they enter the 2002 season? That's Moneyball.
Sports movies have gotten so much better over the past 20 years. They have finally figured out that any good movie has to have a story worth telling. And for sports movies, they must have a story that is interesting to all movie fans, and not have the arrow pointing squarely at sports. Secretariat, Miracle, and even the new Warrior are proof positive. Have a great story, and you have a shot at a great movie. Good movies are story first. Sports movies must be even more story forward. the story shines first, and sports is somewhere down the list.
Moneyball is great. Pitt was born to play this eccentric, risk taking character, that puts everything on the line for his possibly ill-thought out beliefs. They let you get to know Beane inside and out, and but there's still a part of him that remains hard to reach. Pitt is terrific, and so is the supporting cast of Jonah Hill (the whiz kid) and Phillip Seymour Hoffman who plays the skeptical team Manager Art Howe.
This is a wonderful mix of actual team footage from the 2002 season, and staged scenes. This movie is splendidly filmed, perfectly cast, and edited together in a way that it is thrilling and exciting, but not hokey or cheesy. It shows you the underbelly of baseball operations that go to the human level and exposes some parts I'm sure many involved are not thrilled you are seeing. But Moneyball takes the time to develop characters that are interesting, and flawed all at the same time. Skillfully done.
It's hard not to love Pitt here, as he looks as comfortable in this role as he has in any role in a very long time. This is a bit of a risk for Pitt, but you can tell he believed in the project, just as his character believed in the risky venture of 2002. Good to see Hill again making a great decision to make a grown up movie, and Hoffman, is better every time out.
Moneyball. This is a story worth telling, and it's good to see some risk taking in Hollywood for a change. This is off the beaten path, but this is very, very good. Moneyball is one of the years best movies so far, and look for Pitt to be mentioned in the year end honors.
This is the true story of Billy Beane, (Pitt) the General Manager of the Oakland Athletics baseball team in the early 2000's. Oakland is a small baseball market, and as the game is changing, small market teams must try to invent new ways to stay competitive and not have a 100 million payroll. Beane "buys" this Ivy League whiz kid from the Cleveland Indians with no baseball experience fresh out of college, and brings him to the A's. The A's have no money in a baseball sense.
They two of them set out with the idea they must find the "right'" players for them based on some mathematical formula they have devised. This flies in the face of 150 years of baseball tradition, and his new way is resisted at every turn by most members of the baseball world, and his own organization. Will his new way to build a team work as they enter the 2002 season? That's Moneyball.
Sports movies have gotten so much better over the past 20 years. They have finally figured out that any good movie has to have a story worth telling. And for sports movies, they must have a story that is interesting to all movie fans, and not have the arrow pointing squarely at sports. Secretariat, Miracle, and even the new Warrior are proof positive. Have a great story, and you have a shot at a great movie. Good movies are story first. Sports movies must be even more story forward. the story shines first, and sports is somewhere down the list.
Moneyball is great. Pitt was born to play this eccentric, risk taking character, that puts everything on the line for his possibly ill-thought out beliefs. They let you get to know Beane inside and out, and but there's still a part of him that remains hard to reach. Pitt is terrific, and so is the supporting cast of Jonah Hill (the whiz kid) and Phillip Seymour Hoffman who plays the skeptical team Manager Art Howe.
This is a wonderful mix of actual team footage from the 2002 season, and staged scenes. This movie is splendidly filmed, perfectly cast, and edited together in a way that it is thrilling and exciting, but not hokey or cheesy. It shows you the underbelly of baseball operations that go to the human level and exposes some parts I'm sure many involved are not thrilled you are seeing. But Moneyball takes the time to develop characters that are interesting, and flawed all at the same time. Skillfully done.
It's hard not to love Pitt here, as he looks as comfortable in this role as he has in any role in a very long time. This is a bit of a risk for Pitt, but you can tell he believed in the project, just as his character believed in the risky venture of 2002. Good to see Hill again making a great decision to make a grown up movie, and Hoffman, is better every time out.
Moneyball. This is a story worth telling, and it's good to see some risk taking in Hollywood for a change. This is off the beaten path, but this is very, very good. Moneyball is one of the years best movies so far, and look for Pitt to be mentioned in the year end honors.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
MOVIE REVIEW - Straw Dogs
Straw Dogs is one powerful, hard to watch at times thriller.
Straw Dogs is the story of a young couple Amy and David. They are from Los Angeles and move back to her hometown deep in the heart of Mississippi. Amy has made it as an actress and David is a screenwriter. After the death of her father, they move back to her childhood home, but find out quickly they are not really welcome there.
This group of local thugs and bullies decide they don't like David, and are not thrilled with Amy anymore and her new life. They begin terrorizing the couple in every way they can. After these bullies kill the local sheriff on Amy's property, they decide the have to kill all witnesses. Namely Amy and David. Can they survive?
Straw Dogs is harsh. But it is also compelling and scary. I know it's Hollywood, but to be honest, it's not all that far fetched. They put you on a slow burn to the showdown you know is coming the whole time, but that's OK. They don't wear you out, or drag this out too long. I think they knew they had limitations, and made the best movie they could with what they had.
Straw Dogs is well cast and well directed. It is also borderline brutal at times, and many scenes may make some uncomfortable, so buyer beware. It is also highly adult. It's not for everyone.
Straw Dogs is the story of a young couple Amy and David. They are from Los Angeles and move back to her hometown deep in the heart of Mississippi. Amy has made it as an actress and David is a screenwriter. After the death of her father, they move back to her childhood home, but find out quickly they are not really welcome there.
This group of local thugs and bullies decide they don't like David, and are not thrilled with Amy anymore and her new life. They begin terrorizing the couple in every way they can. After these bullies kill the local sheriff on Amy's property, they decide the have to kill all witnesses. Namely Amy and David. Can they survive?
Straw Dogs is harsh. But it is also compelling and scary. I know it's Hollywood, but to be honest, it's not all that far fetched. They put you on a slow burn to the showdown you know is coming the whole time, but that's OK. They don't wear you out, or drag this out too long. I think they knew they had limitations, and made the best movie they could with what they had.
Straw Dogs is well cast and well directed. It is also borderline brutal at times, and many scenes may make some uncomfortable, so buyer beware. It is also highly adult. It's not for everyone.
MOVIE REVIEW - I Don't Know How She Does It
If you're planning on going to see the new I Don't Know How She Does It, you had better like Sarah Jessica Parker. Because you get a huge overdose of her here.
This movie is a good idea. Inventing a character that is an image of the young professional mother and her plight to keep her head above water. And see how she juggles is all and keeps it together. That would have been fine if you could have really related to her. If she had more than one thing in common with the audience she is supposed to be a mirror image of. But here she's not. The only thing she has in common, is that she is a mother. Her life is not most people's life.
Meet Kate (Parker). She is a mother of 2 young kids, and has a nice husband. She lives in Boston and works for a high powered finance company. She is working on a huge work project where she travels all over with Jack (Pierce Brosnan). He is the head of the finance company and together they are working on an ambitious project, and Kate is on the verge of having an entire Investment fund named after her. Along the way, she neglects her kids, takes advantage of her spineless husband (Greg Kinnear), and generally makes a mess of her personal life for professional gain. And this is a comedy. In the end of course she makes it all right, what a surprise.
This is after Jack of course makes a play for her, and she practically ruins all major relationships in her life. But that's not the real trouble here. This is just bad. Parker is hard to watch on screen. She's not really funny, or anything enjoyable. Plus she's still Carrie Bradshaw, where she was great. The reason she was so good in Sex And The City TV show, was that it was a fantasy. It was not really reality. She even narrates a bunch of this movie like Sex And The City, and it doesn't work. In fact, many characters in this movie do narration parts, and that's movie making gone by. It doesn't work.
This quite frankly is a painful 90 minutes. You have to like watching East Coasters talk on the cell phone, live in total chaos, trample over people, make a mess of it all, and put it all back together. If that's your thing, you're good. Even though you may see some similarities, many will not totally identify with Kate. She is above the audience. Big flaw.
This flick is a good idea, but you have to make characters that look like those going to see the movie. This may play well in New York, or Boston, but not most places. These characters just look selfish, self centered and ridiculous. Honest observation, there was one out loud laugh in the whole theater, and it was the last 2 seconds of the movie. True.
I Don't Know How She Does It. Nice try. Swing and miss.
This movie is a good idea. Inventing a character that is an image of the young professional mother and her plight to keep her head above water. And see how she juggles is all and keeps it together. That would have been fine if you could have really related to her. If she had more than one thing in common with the audience she is supposed to be a mirror image of. But here she's not. The only thing she has in common, is that she is a mother. Her life is not most people's life.
Meet Kate (Parker). She is a mother of 2 young kids, and has a nice husband. She lives in Boston and works for a high powered finance company. She is working on a huge work project where she travels all over with Jack (Pierce Brosnan). He is the head of the finance company and together they are working on an ambitious project, and Kate is on the verge of having an entire Investment fund named after her. Along the way, she neglects her kids, takes advantage of her spineless husband (Greg Kinnear), and generally makes a mess of her personal life for professional gain. And this is a comedy. In the end of course she makes it all right, what a surprise.
This is after Jack of course makes a play for her, and she practically ruins all major relationships in her life. But that's not the real trouble here. This is just bad. Parker is hard to watch on screen. She's not really funny, or anything enjoyable. Plus she's still Carrie Bradshaw, where she was great. The reason she was so good in Sex And The City TV show, was that it was a fantasy. It was not really reality. She even narrates a bunch of this movie like Sex And The City, and it doesn't work. In fact, many characters in this movie do narration parts, and that's movie making gone by. It doesn't work.
This quite frankly is a painful 90 minutes. You have to like watching East Coasters talk on the cell phone, live in total chaos, trample over people, make a mess of it all, and put it all back together. If that's your thing, you're good. Even though you may see some similarities, many will not totally identify with Kate. She is above the audience. Big flaw.
This flick is a good idea, but you have to make characters that look like those going to see the movie. This may play well in New York, or Boston, but not most places. These characters just look selfish, self centered and ridiculous. Honest observation, there was one out loud laugh in the whole theater, and it was the last 2 seconds of the movie. True.
I Don't Know How She Does It. Nice try. Swing and miss.
Friday, September 16, 2011
MOVIE REVIEW - Drive
You haven to hand it to Ryan Gosling. With the new movie Drive, a good decision has been made to not be the same character in every movie he makes.
And that is so smart. And so is Drive, with a slick script, a dark look, and an unapologetic story that may not be hugely compelling as is, but is packaged very nicely. This movie is not for everyone right up front. There is extreme violence with a bunch of blood. But it is very quick, tidy and concise, and most importantly, it is central to our story.
Drive is the story of "Driver" (Gosling). He is an angry, young man who is a part-time stunt driver in Hollywood. He also moonlights as a driver get-a-way man in high profile robberies, getting a cut of the loot. He then somehow gets tangled up in one of the worst possible robberies he could have. It involves the local, the East Coast Mob and a million dollars. Everyone around him starts getting killed. How can he survive this bad decision? This is dramatic and highly intense, and never really takes its foot off the heavy pedal. That's Drive.
Drive is very dark, and almost morose. It has a real music video feel to much of it. But when you add it all up it's pretty good. They invent (not develop) this enigmatic character Driver, that you really don't get to know. But that's part of the allure. You find yourself wanting to know more about him and you wonder if they will tell you more. He is a man of very few words, and little emotion. But you do end up pulling for him, even though is is terribly flawed, and really mentally unsteady.
Drive is richly filmed with great lighting, and wonderful camera angles throughout. A main car chase scene is well done, and much of the suspense is understated with a slow burn effect. Most effective. Gosling is good here, with what they asked of him. Getting away from the "dude" characters, and the heart throb mentality. And believe or not, even keeps his shirt on the whole movie.
I always like it when actors take on new roles for themselves. This is different for him. And even more bold roles are on the way for him, as he is on his way to becoming Hollywood's most popular leading man.
Drive. NOT for everyone. This will miss with some, and may disappoint some who are hoping for "hunky" Gosling. But overall this is pretty good.
And that is so smart. And so is Drive, with a slick script, a dark look, and an unapologetic story that may not be hugely compelling as is, but is packaged very nicely. This movie is not for everyone right up front. There is extreme violence with a bunch of blood. But it is very quick, tidy and concise, and most importantly, it is central to our story.
Drive is the story of "Driver" (Gosling). He is an angry, young man who is a part-time stunt driver in Hollywood. He also moonlights as a driver get-a-way man in high profile robberies, getting a cut of the loot. He then somehow gets tangled up in one of the worst possible robberies he could have. It involves the local, the East Coast Mob and a million dollars. Everyone around him starts getting killed. How can he survive this bad decision? This is dramatic and highly intense, and never really takes its foot off the heavy pedal. That's Drive.
Drive is very dark, and almost morose. It has a real music video feel to much of it. But when you add it all up it's pretty good. They invent (not develop) this enigmatic character Driver, that you really don't get to know. But that's part of the allure. You find yourself wanting to know more about him and you wonder if they will tell you more. He is a man of very few words, and little emotion. But you do end up pulling for him, even though is is terribly flawed, and really mentally unsteady.
Drive is richly filmed with great lighting, and wonderful camera angles throughout. A main car chase scene is well done, and much of the suspense is understated with a slow burn effect. Most effective. Gosling is good here, with what they asked of him. Getting away from the "dude" characters, and the heart throb mentality. And believe or not, even keeps his shirt on the whole movie.
I always like it when actors take on new roles for themselves. This is different for him. And even more bold roles are on the way for him, as he is on his way to becoming Hollywood's most popular leading man.
Drive. NOT for everyone. This will miss with some, and may disappoint some who are hoping for "hunky" Gosling. But overall this is pretty good.
MOVIE REVIEW - Creature
In somewhat limited release, is the new supposedly scary, Creature.
The first time I went to see this movie the theater's projector broke after about 20 minutes. And to be honest, I think I enjoyed that showing a bit more than the next day when I was able to watch this debacle in its entirety. Some movies and many ideas are just better left in some sick dude's head and not be allowed to play out in plain view for all to see.
Creature is about this group of 6 young adults who are going on a mini-vacation. They stumble across this awful general store with with three scary looking men running it deep in the Louisiana Bayou Swamp. The kids are then convinced that they should take a tour of a home showcased in this scary store. They are given directions on how to get there by these men, and off they go to discover if a local legend of a "Swamp Creature" is really true. Turns out it is, and the getting picked off one at a time begins. Or so you think.
Creature begins almost as a parody of itself. Poking fun at the stupid stereotypical dumb things people do in these movies. You know the ones, where you are almost cheering for the monster to eat these clowns because they are so stupid. Every single stereotype is featured here. And they are not ashamed of it. And I have to admit, I was hoping the carnage would begin so I could go home. Then Creature turns.
Holy cow! Into some twisted mating ritual tale where these general store guys and the town at large try to mate this horrible monster with one of the three young, beautiful girls so the legend can go on for another generation with offspring. As the violence escalates, so does the twistedness that brings all these people to the swamp, and a sort of religious ceremony is performed, and the attempted mating seems to be averted. All the while our "hero's" are trying to kill this awful swamp creature. Have you heard enough?
The real trouble with Creature (besides some sick dudes writing it) is that despite all the ridiculous story lines, and infatuation with trying to be scary, it ends up being nothing...except dumb. Is this a slasher flick? Or perhaps a parody? Is this a gross-out fest? Or is this a serious attempt being a real thriller? As the story changes and morphs into this new story, it loses all momentum that it had, wish wasn't much. And it ends up being laughable and painful to watch.
What may have started out with a bit of sense of humor about itself, dies on the vine and rots. And you are just sitting there hoping that somehow the theater will have to be evacuated so you can go home after about an hour. And then lament on how you just wasted 10 bucks.
Creature. Only if you have way too much money!
The first time I went to see this movie the theater's projector broke after about 20 minutes. And to be honest, I think I enjoyed that showing a bit more than the next day when I was able to watch this debacle in its entirety. Some movies and many ideas are just better left in some sick dude's head and not be allowed to play out in plain view for all to see.
Creature is about this group of 6 young adults who are going on a mini-vacation. They stumble across this awful general store with with three scary looking men running it deep in the Louisiana Bayou Swamp. The kids are then convinced that they should take a tour of a home showcased in this scary store. They are given directions on how to get there by these men, and off they go to discover if a local legend of a "Swamp Creature" is really true. Turns out it is, and the getting picked off one at a time begins. Or so you think.
Creature begins almost as a parody of itself. Poking fun at the stupid stereotypical dumb things people do in these movies. You know the ones, where you are almost cheering for the monster to eat these clowns because they are so stupid. Every single stereotype is featured here. And they are not ashamed of it. And I have to admit, I was hoping the carnage would begin so I could go home. Then Creature turns.
Holy cow! Into some twisted mating ritual tale where these general store guys and the town at large try to mate this horrible monster with one of the three young, beautiful girls so the legend can go on for another generation with offspring. As the violence escalates, so does the twistedness that brings all these people to the swamp, and a sort of religious ceremony is performed, and the attempted mating seems to be averted. All the while our "hero's" are trying to kill this awful swamp creature. Have you heard enough?
The real trouble with Creature (besides some sick dudes writing it) is that despite all the ridiculous story lines, and infatuation with trying to be scary, it ends up being nothing...except dumb. Is this a slasher flick? Or perhaps a parody? Is this a gross-out fest? Or is this a serious attempt being a real thriller? As the story changes and morphs into this new story, it loses all momentum that it had, wish wasn't much. And it ends up being laughable and painful to watch.
What may have started out with a bit of sense of humor about itself, dies on the vine and rots. And you are just sitting there hoping that somehow the theater will have to be evacuated so you can go home after about an hour. And then lament on how you just wasted 10 bucks.
Creature. Only if you have way too much money!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
MOVIE REVIEW - Warrior
Warrior is out this week and is being billed as a Mixed Martial Arts movie. But in effect, it is so very much more.
Yes, to get a young audience to get interested in this movie, MMA is the preview focal point, as this sport is sweeping the country in popularity. But the depth of this movie is so far beyond the violent sport, it will be a wonderful surprise for many who go see it. Warrior is well written, and should be noted is very adult.
Warrior is the story of two brothers now grown. Each has taken a different path after the death of their mother who was abused by her then drunken husband. One has become a teacher with a family of his own, and is on the verge of losing his home to foreclosure. The younger brother joined the Marines, and has a storied past with them in Iraq. Their father who is still alive, has gone sober. And in their youth was a great fight trainer, and taught both boys how to box and wrestle.
The relationship between them all is strained horribly, and filled with anger and bitterness. The dad is trying to put it all together again, but it seems too late. Then as fate would have it, a huge MMA event is created, and both brothers enter the field of 16 in Atlantic City. Winner take all, a 5 million dollar pay day. Dad is coaching one of the boys, and the other is being handled professionally. Who will win? And what road will each travel to this event.
First off, I am going to glow over this movie. I am not a big MMA fan at all, and learned much about it during this movie. But this movie is absolutely outstanding. Period! The story is such the star, and the performances are so great by a stable of under the radar stars and that really works. Very skillful casting allowing this fantastic script to shine brightly. The makers knew what they had here and really knew what they were doing. Nick Nolte as the father does anchor a stellar cast and gives it a bit of star power. But how great was that decision. Nolte in real life, maybe a bit past his prime, aging, and not what he once was. Simply genius. Everyone cast in this movie is simply perfect for their roles, and really deliver incredible performances.
The MMA scenes are violent, but are handled with such drama, such skill, and not over the the top silly. Extremely real, but not really bloody or distasteful. Quick and to the point, heavily dramatic, and not over-killed. Characters are deeply developed with body language and terrific dialogue, and a sense of realism is cast over this whole project. But to repeat this movie uses MMA as its young appeal sport, but this movie is way, way more.
Warrior. Best new movie in a while, and one of the years best movies so far. Simply great!!
Yes, to get a young audience to get interested in this movie, MMA is the preview focal point, as this sport is sweeping the country in popularity. But the depth of this movie is so far beyond the violent sport, it will be a wonderful surprise for many who go see it. Warrior is well written, and should be noted is very adult.
Warrior is the story of two brothers now grown. Each has taken a different path after the death of their mother who was abused by her then drunken husband. One has become a teacher with a family of his own, and is on the verge of losing his home to foreclosure. The younger brother joined the Marines, and has a storied past with them in Iraq. Their father who is still alive, has gone sober. And in their youth was a great fight trainer, and taught both boys how to box and wrestle.
The relationship between them all is strained horribly, and filled with anger and bitterness. The dad is trying to put it all together again, but it seems too late. Then as fate would have it, a huge MMA event is created, and both brothers enter the field of 16 in Atlantic City. Winner take all, a 5 million dollar pay day. Dad is coaching one of the boys, and the other is being handled professionally. Who will win? And what road will each travel to this event.
First off, I am going to glow over this movie. I am not a big MMA fan at all, and learned much about it during this movie. But this movie is absolutely outstanding. Period! The story is such the star, and the performances are so great by a stable of under the radar stars and that really works. Very skillful casting allowing this fantastic script to shine brightly. The makers knew what they had here and really knew what they were doing. Nick Nolte as the father does anchor a stellar cast and gives it a bit of star power. But how great was that decision. Nolte in real life, maybe a bit past his prime, aging, and not what he once was. Simply genius. Everyone cast in this movie is simply perfect for their roles, and really deliver incredible performances.
The MMA scenes are violent, but are handled with such drama, such skill, and not over the the top silly. Extremely real, but not really bloody or distasteful. Quick and to the point, heavily dramatic, and not over-killed. Characters are deeply developed with body language and terrific dialogue, and a sense of realism is cast over this whole project. But to repeat this movie uses MMA as its young appeal sport, but this movie is way, way more.
Warrior. Best new movie in a while, and one of the years best movies so far. Simply great!!
Friday, September 9, 2011
MOVIE REVIEW - Contagion
Call me crazy, but I think I've seen this movie about 17 years ago and it was called Outbreak.
You know, where a ton of Hollywood stars get together and make a movie about a rogue and killer virus that threatens to wipe out life an earth? Well, it's been reincarnated as Contagion in 2011. Granted, there are a whole new cast of stars, and the story has been slightly elevated to make it relevant in today's world. And if you remember Outbreak, this movie does NOT have those ridiculous scenes with Dustin Hoffman talking like an complete buffoon in a microphone from a helicopter at the end begging a Air Force fighter pilot not to carryout his duty.
But don't be fooled. Contagion does have it share of silly plot lines and a bunch of stars fighting for face time. And there in lies the problem. With star after star, these kinds of flicks become disjointed and hard to follow, because of limited scenes for each.
Contagion, much like Outbreak makes the Federal Government out as one of the bad guys. Also the drug companies, and assorted other entities. It makes it's statement on big business, government, the dangers of constant construction, and the deplorable conditions at meat processing plants in China. All easy targets, and probably all very apt. But from a movie making perspective, incredibly unimaginative.
If you are going to make this kind of movie again, how about a little thought outside the box? Nothing new is offered here. Very predictable, and exceptionally formula. Which many times leads to scads of cash at the box office, but also makes for forgettable movies. Which this is. Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad movie in total. We've all just seen this before about a million times. Don't get corralled in by the hype on TV. There is absolutely nothing compelling here. This is simply a possible "end of the world" movie, where you are wondering what big star is going to walk on camera next for a couple of minutes, and how they will somehow try to work him or her into the story.
Contagion. In a word? Underwhelming. In two words, completely underwhelming.
You know, where a ton of Hollywood stars get together and make a movie about a rogue and killer virus that threatens to wipe out life an earth? Well, it's been reincarnated as Contagion in 2011. Granted, there are a whole new cast of stars, and the story has been slightly elevated to make it relevant in today's world. And if you remember Outbreak, this movie does NOT have those ridiculous scenes with Dustin Hoffman talking like an complete buffoon in a microphone from a helicopter at the end begging a Air Force fighter pilot not to carryout his duty.
But don't be fooled. Contagion does have it share of silly plot lines and a bunch of stars fighting for face time. And there in lies the problem. With star after star, these kinds of flicks become disjointed and hard to follow, because of limited scenes for each.
Contagion, much like Outbreak makes the Federal Government out as one of the bad guys. Also the drug companies, and assorted other entities. It makes it's statement on big business, government, the dangers of constant construction, and the deplorable conditions at meat processing plants in China. All easy targets, and probably all very apt. But from a movie making perspective, incredibly unimaginative.
If you are going to make this kind of movie again, how about a little thought outside the box? Nothing new is offered here. Very predictable, and exceptionally formula. Which many times leads to scads of cash at the box office, but also makes for forgettable movies. Which this is. Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad movie in total. We've all just seen this before about a million times. Don't get corralled in by the hype on TV. There is absolutely nothing compelling here. This is simply a possible "end of the world" movie, where you are wondering what big star is going to walk on camera next for a couple of minutes, and how they will somehow try to work him or her into the story.
Contagion. In a word? Underwhelming. In two words, completely underwhelming.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
MOVIE REVIEW - Apollo18
It's always fun to see new techniques in movie making. Many times a new idea can put a real fresh coat of paint on the movie screen.
The "point of view" technique really got rolling years ago with The Blair Witch Project. The camcorder filmed flick that you were not supposed to know it was real or not. Interesting stuff. Cloverfield a few years ago did the same and did it better. Recently, the Paranormal Activity series has had great success, and been compelling. Now it's Apollo 18. And this tanks badly.
Should be noted, Apollo 18 is complete fiction. There was no Apollo 18 moon mission, but this movie "claims" that there was. This is "actual footage" from an ill-fated seventh moon mission that goes horribly wrong. The two astronauts on the moon run into Russians that are also on the moon. (Also fiction) And then the encounter some kind of bugs things deal that terrorize them, drive them mad, and eventually do not allow them to return home.
The "story" claims that NASA, the Department Of Defense and the government at large have lied to these fine men, and sent them on a mission they knew would end badly. Our hero's do not make it back, and it has a bad ending for all. What this movie is, is a 90 minute commercial for a website that makes claims about the Apollo program and specifically the moon landings. They post it at the beginning and the end of this movie.
Cloverfield, and Paranormal Activity are one thing. But taking on NASA and the Apollo program is very different. For those that were not alive during the program, this is potentially dangerous, as they may view this as history, which it is not. But I do think that the movie going public has learned that these kinds of movies finally are NOT real, and are fiction. And that's a good thing. Even at the end of this one, the "actual footage" is debunked as they run a list of actors and characters. Enough said.
Overall, this is just a mess. Not scary, not compelling, and no real payoff yet again. That has been the problem with all of these kinds of flicks. No real climactic ending. Makes you feel like time has passed, and has been wasted. No reason at all to see this on a big screen, a dollar rental in 90 days if you must, and are bored this winter.
Apoll0 18. Don't be fooled. This is by NO mean Apollo 13. 18 is a waste of time.
The "point of view" technique really got rolling years ago with The Blair Witch Project. The camcorder filmed flick that you were not supposed to know it was real or not. Interesting stuff. Cloverfield a few years ago did the same and did it better. Recently, the Paranormal Activity series has had great success, and been compelling. Now it's Apollo 18. And this tanks badly.
Should be noted, Apollo 18 is complete fiction. There was no Apollo 18 moon mission, but this movie "claims" that there was. This is "actual footage" from an ill-fated seventh moon mission that goes horribly wrong. The two astronauts on the moon run into Russians that are also on the moon. (Also fiction) And then the encounter some kind of bugs things deal that terrorize them, drive them mad, and eventually do not allow them to return home.
The "story" claims that NASA, the Department Of Defense and the government at large have lied to these fine men, and sent them on a mission they knew would end badly. Our hero's do not make it back, and it has a bad ending for all. What this movie is, is a 90 minute commercial for a website that makes claims about the Apollo program and specifically the moon landings. They post it at the beginning and the end of this movie.
Cloverfield, and Paranormal Activity are one thing. But taking on NASA and the Apollo program is very different. For those that were not alive during the program, this is potentially dangerous, as they may view this as history, which it is not. But I do think that the movie going public has learned that these kinds of movies finally are NOT real, and are fiction. And that's a good thing. Even at the end of this one, the "actual footage" is debunked as they run a list of actors and characters. Enough said.
Overall, this is just a mess. Not scary, not compelling, and no real payoff yet again. That has been the problem with all of these kinds of flicks. No real climactic ending. Makes you feel like time has passed, and has been wasted. No reason at all to see this on a big screen, a dollar rental in 90 days if you must, and are bored this winter.
Apoll0 18. Don't be fooled. This is by NO mean Apollo 13. 18 is a waste of time.
MOVIE REVIEW - Shark Night 3-D
Let me ask you question. Don't you think that there have been enough shark eating people movies?
It baffles me how many times we are asked by Hollywood t go to the flicks, and try to see some new way to watch us get eaten by sharks. And Shark Night 3-D, may be the granddaddy of all ill-advised projects.
Shark Night 3-D is the story of a bunch of good looking college students from Tulane University that go on a weekend getaway deep in the bayou at one of the rich girls family island home on a huge lake. There, one of them gets attacked by a shark and get his warm lopped off. Then as the try to escape the island retreat, they start getting picked off one by one by a bunch of sharks that have somehow infiltrated this salt water lake.
The makers do try to develop a story on how the sharks got in the lake, but it's lame. What this is, is an excuse to have a bunch of nice looking young actors act out this horribly written script while wearing bathing suits, no shirts, and small outfits. May be some of the worst acting of all time, and one of the most ridiculous scripts that's come down the pipe in a long time. Even the shark attack scenes are lame, tame, and low budget. It tries hard to be relevant, and topical in it's core "story" but it's flat out dumb. And if you've seen a movie like this before, you have an idea how it will end, and it does.
This is another example of the new 3-D inviting remakes of sorts, so we can now be bedazzled by shark snacks in 3-D. But it really doesn't work. Ho-hum. This movie is going to miss the mark badly, even with it's core audience that will think they are going to see a real scary, jolting flick. It is neither.
Shark Night 3-D. Why?
It baffles me how many times we are asked by Hollywood t go to the flicks, and try to see some new way to watch us get eaten by sharks. And Shark Night 3-D, may be the granddaddy of all ill-advised projects.
Shark Night 3-D is the story of a bunch of good looking college students from Tulane University that go on a weekend getaway deep in the bayou at one of the rich girls family island home on a huge lake. There, one of them gets attacked by a shark and get his warm lopped off. Then as the try to escape the island retreat, they start getting picked off one by one by a bunch of sharks that have somehow infiltrated this salt water lake.
The makers do try to develop a story on how the sharks got in the lake, but it's lame. What this is, is an excuse to have a bunch of nice looking young actors act out this horribly written script while wearing bathing suits, no shirts, and small outfits. May be some of the worst acting of all time, and one of the most ridiculous scripts that's come down the pipe in a long time. Even the shark attack scenes are lame, tame, and low budget. It tries hard to be relevant, and topical in it's core "story" but it's flat out dumb. And if you've seen a movie like this before, you have an idea how it will end, and it does.
This is another example of the new 3-D inviting remakes of sorts, so we can now be bedazzled by shark snacks in 3-D. But it really doesn't work. Ho-hum. This movie is going to miss the mark badly, even with it's core audience that will think they are going to see a real scary, jolting flick. It is neither.
Shark Night 3-D. Why?
Thursday, September 1, 2011
MOVIE REVIEW - The Debt
I really like the idea for some movies of the Wednesday release date. It was a great move for The Help a few weeks ago getting adults to that movie. And for this weeks grown up thriller, The Debt, it could be the right mix.
The Debt is the story of three very young intelligence operatives in in 1965, who were deep in cover in Communist East Germany. The mission was to capture an ex-Nazi doctor, who during World War II was conducting horrific experiments on Jewish prisoners and bring him back to Israel for a long awaited trail. When the mission doesn't go as planned, the young spies must think of a story to convince the world that their mission was actually a success.
Now in 1997, the truth could somehow come back to haunt them, and they could be exposed as frauds. So, 30 years removed from their ordeal, they must figure out a way to end this long string of lies once and for all, half a world away.
The Debt stars Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Jessica Chastain, Sam Worthington, and and a real nice supporting cast that really give this thriller a nice look. This is told in flashback form, taking us deep behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany, and in modern day Israel. Double casted with our hero's from two different era's in very well done. Very skillfully woven plot lines too that connect the past and the present, really make The Debt riveting, and give it overall a good pace.
There is a hint of unbelievability to some of this, but because the story is relevant and so are the actors it can be given a mild pass. Nothing here is so over the top that it can't be excused. What is done well here is far greater than what is not. Characters that are well developed and defined, and story that won't win any awards, but is interesting and hold us for the 110 minutes. Plus this movie has an over all real nice "look" that is really transporting, especially to the flashback scenes.
The Debt. Being released on a Wednesday is good business for this movie. It still may get lost in all the animation, cartoons, and summer leftovers, but this is a movie that you will catch up with sooner or later. Hopefully sooner. Not great, but worth it.
The Debt is the story of three very young intelligence operatives in in 1965, who were deep in cover in Communist East Germany. The mission was to capture an ex-Nazi doctor, who during World War II was conducting horrific experiments on Jewish prisoners and bring him back to Israel for a long awaited trail. When the mission doesn't go as planned, the young spies must think of a story to convince the world that their mission was actually a success.
Now in 1997, the truth could somehow come back to haunt them, and they could be exposed as frauds. So, 30 years removed from their ordeal, they must figure out a way to end this long string of lies once and for all, half a world away.
The Debt stars Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Jessica Chastain, Sam Worthington, and and a real nice supporting cast that really give this thriller a nice look. This is told in flashback form, taking us deep behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany, and in modern day Israel. Double casted with our hero's from two different era's in very well done. Very skillfully woven plot lines too that connect the past and the present, really make The Debt riveting, and give it overall a good pace.
There is a hint of unbelievability to some of this, but because the story is relevant and so are the actors it can be given a mild pass. Nothing here is so over the top that it can't be excused. What is done well here is far greater than what is not. Characters that are well developed and defined, and story that won't win any awards, but is interesting and hold us for the 110 minutes. Plus this movie has an over all real nice "look" that is really transporting, especially to the flashback scenes.
The Debt. Being released on a Wednesday is good business for this movie. It still may get lost in all the animation, cartoons, and summer leftovers, but this is a movie that you will catch up with sooner or later. Hopefully sooner. Not great, but worth it.
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