Disney is back at is again. Making another feel good sports movie, at least to a degree. This time it's Secretariat.
This movie has much the same feel and appeal as The Rookie, Miracle and some other long shot sports movies, that have all been good. And so is this one. We need movies like this, and the time is right to tell this story.
This is a story worth telling, to both those of us who were lucky enough to live through the Secretariat era, and for those too young, or not yet born. Secretariat, the horse, is quite simply the greatest race horse in the history of the sport. His story of becoming what he was, is also an interesting one. His owner Penny Tweedy became a celebrity in 1973 as well as her giant horse. This movie is well done, well cast, and put together so even if you know nothing of Secretariat or the era, you are not lost. There are a few draggy moments, and a few awkward shots, some questionable dialogue at times, and a liberty or two taken on the dramatics between characters. But that's Disney and we look the other way.
The best aspect of Secretariat is the fact that is accurately depicts the wonderful rivalry that existed in 1973 between Secretariat and the champion horse Sham. Sham in any other year would more than likely been a triple crown winner himself, but in 1973, he watched Secretariat win all three Triple Crown races. I was afraid that they would glaze over that and water down things with side plots and other drivel. But they don't That rivalry is worth seeing and leaning about. Well done.
Secretariat is a good example of a good movie starting with a good story. And this is a good story. Because Secretariat was more than a horse in 1973. He was a phenomenon. He is without any question the greatest race horse that has ever, and will never live and run. And lucky for us, he came from humble beginnings and almost because of circumstances never became part of our popular culture and a runaway champion. I remember in 1999, ESPN did a series of the 100 greatest athletes of the 20th century. Secretariat was number 33. I'm not so sure there were 32 better athletes in the 20th century.
Secretariat......Take a date or the whole family. Well done.....a story worth reliving, or learning about for the first time.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
MOVIE REVIEW - Case 39
Here they come! The Halloween movies in October that are supposed to scare us. Every year it's the same thing.
Case 39 - Finally at the box office. This movie was filmed a few years ago, and it's finally showing at the corner theater. Better hurry..may not be long. Case 39 stars Renee Zellweger...(remember her?) and Bradley Cooper. But this movie was filmed long before he was a star and his part is very small. Just being honest.
Case 39 is the story of Emily (Zellweger). She is a very nice, young woman who works with troubled families as a social worker. She is overworked, and has way too many cases. She inherits a case that is very strange. A weird couple is trying to kill their 10 year old daughter, Lilly. After Lilly is safely rescued away by Emily, and the parents go to jail the real weirdness begins. People start dropping dead all over the place. And all indications point back to 10 year old Lilly. Who is she? What is she? and Why is she the way she is? That's Case 39.
Holy cow is this awful. Case 39 has been delayed a few times in its release, and a while longer would have been better. Predictable, not scary, not thrilling, not anything that you can call good. And hard for some to watch I'm sure. Especially the scenes early in the flick, long before you suspect anything from Lilly, when her parents are jamming her with duct tape over her mouth into a gas oven in the kitchen, then put the burners on. Lovely. You have to be able to watch a 10 year old girl get tossed around a few times in this junk pile, so if that deeply troubles you, don't go.
As a matter of fact, don't go anyways. Story is weak and obvious, and very shallow. So many untied ends as well. Haven't we been down this " demonized little kid" road enough times. Plus, this movie look very dated, as Zellweger is really out of the limelight now, and Cooper looks like he's in high school. This movie should have gone right to DVD. Even that is too good for it.
Case 39. Really, really bad.
Case 39 - Finally at the box office. This movie was filmed a few years ago, and it's finally showing at the corner theater. Better hurry..may not be long. Case 39 stars Renee Zellweger...(remember her?) and Bradley Cooper. But this movie was filmed long before he was a star and his part is very small. Just being honest.
Case 39 is the story of Emily (Zellweger). She is a very nice, young woman who works with troubled families as a social worker. She is overworked, and has way too many cases. She inherits a case that is very strange. A weird couple is trying to kill their 10 year old daughter, Lilly. After Lilly is safely rescued away by Emily, and the parents go to jail the real weirdness begins. People start dropping dead all over the place. And all indications point back to 10 year old Lilly. Who is she? What is she? and Why is she the way she is? That's Case 39.
Holy cow is this awful. Case 39 has been delayed a few times in its release, and a while longer would have been better. Predictable, not scary, not thrilling, not anything that you can call good. And hard for some to watch I'm sure. Especially the scenes early in the flick, long before you suspect anything from Lilly, when her parents are jamming her with duct tape over her mouth into a gas oven in the kitchen, then put the burners on. Lovely. You have to be able to watch a 10 year old girl get tossed around a few times in this junk pile, so if that deeply troubles you, don't go.
As a matter of fact, don't go anyways. Story is weak and obvious, and very shallow. So many untied ends as well. Haven't we been down this " demonized little kid" road enough times. Plus, this movie look very dated, as Zellweger is really out of the limelight now, and Cooper looks like he's in high school. This movie should have gone right to DVD. Even that is too good for it.
Case 39. Really, really bad.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
MOVIE REVIEW - The Social Network
With all the huge media hype, and the sheer popularity of Facebook, it would be tough for The Social Network not to be a big hit at the box office.
TSN is the story based on the story of Mark Zuckerburg and the other young geniuses attending Harvard in 2003, that in one way or another invented Facebook. Jessie Eisenberg stars as Zuckerburg, the now 26 year old billionaire who in the end, ended up with the credit of inventing Facebook. But it wasn't easy.
This story of explores the idea of who really spawned the idea of the wildly popular website. Did Zuckerberg invent it? Did he rip off the idea? Did he intentionally try to steal the idea for his own gain? This movie deals with the legal aspect of the story, and tell it in flashback form as is weaves in and out of the legal deposition, that eventually ends up costing Zuckerburg millions of dollars by numerous plaintiffs who are suing him.
Eisenburg is terrific as the enigmatic Zuckerburg. TSN portrays Zuckerburg as an absolute computer genius. That I don't think can be in dispute. They also paint him as a socially awkward, backstabbing, self involved, selfish, egotistical opportunist, who goes to no end to essentially weasel his way out of any responsibility of any wrongdoing towards others. TSN also puts the spotlight squarely on the young generation. All of it very enlightening. Some of the young phenoms are without question capable of doing amazing things. That is a good and bad thing at the some time. Some of the amazing, is not for the good.
TSN also pulls no punches, showing Harvard students as drunken, drug crazy, endless party-ers that seem anything but interested in their education. I can't imagine Harvard is very thrilled about this movie.
As a movie, is moves along very nicely and holds enough interest to be solid. I've heard a lot of hype on this being one of the years best, and I think that's a bit enthusiastic. It's solid and well done, but I think we have to wait till the heavy weight movies come out this fall, to see how it really stacks up. I think what's happening here, is that Facebook is such a prat of so many lives, now some may be getting carried away with the whole thing.
The Social Network. Sold indeed. Well done and well told. But let's get a hold of ourselves here. This is just a good movie. That's it.
TSN is the story based on the story of Mark Zuckerburg and the other young geniuses attending Harvard in 2003, that in one way or another invented Facebook. Jessie Eisenberg stars as Zuckerburg, the now 26 year old billionaire who in the end, ended up with the credit of inventing Facebook. But it wasn't easy.
This story of explores the idea of who really spawned the idea of the wildly popular website. Did Zuckerberg invent it? Did he rip off the idea? Did he intentionally try to steal the idea for his own gain? This movie deals with the legal aspect of the story, and tell it in flashback form as is weaves in and out of the legal deposition, that eventually ends up costing Zuckerburg millions of dollars by numerous plaintiffs who are suing him.
Eisenburg is terrific as the enigmatic Zuckerburg. TSN portrays Zuckerburg as an absolute computer genius. That I don't think can be in dispute. They also paint him as a socially awkward, backstabbing, self involved, selfish, egotistical opportunist, who goes to no end to essentially weasel his way out of any responsibility of any wrongdoing towards others. TSN also puts the spotlight squarely on the young generation. All of it very enlightening. Some of the young phenoms are without question capable of doing amazing things. That is a good and bad thing at the some time. Some of the amazing, is not for the good.
TSN also pulls no punches, showing Harvard students as drunken, drug crazy, endless party-ers that seem anything but interested in their education. I can't imagine Harvard is very thrilled about this movie.
As a movie, is moves along very nicely and holds enough interest to be solid. I've heard a lot of hype on this being one of the years best, and I think that's a bit enthusiastic. It's solid and well done, but I think we have to wait till the heavy weight movies come out this fall, to see how it really stacks up. I think what's happening here, is that Facebook is such a prat of so many lives, now some may be getting carried away with the whole thing.
The Social Network. Sold indeed. Well done and well told. But let's get a hold of ourselves here. This is just a good movie. That's it.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
A Sleeping Dog
I love dogs. I have an Australian Cattle Dog named Kona and she deserves this blog. She's getting old and not as spry as she once was. But she's healthy, and as it turns out she is pretty darn good company. There's probably a Kona in your life.
Because of the strange schedule I keep doing the WQMX Morning show with my partner Sue Wilson, I am off work when most people in my life are still at work. This has been my schedule for almost 30 years now. There's things about it I really like. No rush hour, either way. I can shop and run errands when no one else does during the day. And of course, I can have the course to myself on days when I want to play some midweek golf. All nice perks.
But I have to admit, there are days and times that it's just me. Lots of times. And it can get lonely once in a while. And those are the days I'm glad that Kona is around to keep me company. We rescued Kona about 9 years ago from a local animal shelter. Someone had chained her up to a backstop in the Metro Parks and left her there. The Rangers found her at 3am one night, and turned her in. A few days later we adopted her. That has turned out to be a good move.
Kona has been a great dog, Sometimes you almost forget she's around she's so quiet and gentle. She loves to sleep. She's sleeping right now, under the desk that I am typing this article on. When I come home during the day, she's thrilled I'm here. After a nice greeting, we go outside, play a bit, and then go on with our day. I come in and sit at my desk in my home office and pay bills, or make calls, do show prep or write something. That's my job. And Kona sleeps at my feet..that's her job. And she's good at it. Kona wakes up from a good sleep so she can take another nap!
Occasionally she sticks her snout up on my lap to remind me she's there and asks for a head pat. She gets it. If I get a snack, she gets one too. A drink on the porch? She gets one too. When I have a cigar - well no. What Kona seemingly does best, is just spend time with me, and keep me company. Probably all she wants after the whole backstop ordeal. I have always believed dogs get that whole second chance thing better than we do. Sometimes we could all use a good refresher course in that.
She's just good medicine. Of course there is the occasional garbage can dump, and the jumping up on the couch and sleeping there during the day. Both expressly verboten at the house, but it's a small price to pay for all the good things she is and does. She's a good pooch, and friend.
The first thing you know the day you get a dog is, you'll be around longer than they will. They don't know that, and they still treasure every day anyway. Most of us don't learn that till much later in life.
Truth be told, I don't even know how old Kona really is. But I know this. She is getting closer now to the end than the beginning. I have learned to look the other way, and give her a break more often now for the minor transgressions she occasionally commits. To be more giving and forgiving.
Who would think so much could be taught, from a sleeping dog.
Because of the strange schedule I keep doing the WQMX Morning show with my partner Sue Wilson, I am off work when most people in my life are still at work. This has been my schedule for almost 30 years now. There's things about it I really like. No rush hour, either way. I can shop and run errands when no one else does during the day. And of course, I can have the course to myself on days when I want to play some midweek golf. All nice perks.
But I have to admit, there are days and times that it's just me. Lots of times. And it can get lonely once in a while. And those are the days I'm glad that Kona is around to keep me company. We rescued Kona about 9 years ago from a local animal shelter. Someone had chained her up to a backstop in the Metro Parks and left her there. The Rangers found her at 3am one night, and turned her in. A few days later we adopted her. That has turned out to be a good move.
Kona has been a great dog, Sometimes you almost forget she's around she's so quiet and gentle. She loves to sleep. She's sleeping right now, under the desk that I am typing this article on. When I come home during the day, she's thrilled I'm here. After a nice greeting, we go outside, play a bit, and then go on with our day. I come in and sit at my desk in my home office and pay bills, or make calls, do show prep or write something. That's my job. And Kona sleeps at my feet..that's her job. And she's good at it. Kona wakes up from a good sleep so she can take another nap!
Occasionally she sticks her snout up on my lap to remind me she's there and asks for a head pat. She gets it. If I get a snack, she gets one too. A drink on the porch? She gets one too. When I have a cigar - well no. What Kona seemingly does best, is just spend time with me, and keep me company. Probably all she wants after the whole backstop ordeal. I have always believed dogs get that whole second chance thing better than we do. Sometimes we could all use a good refresher course in that.
She's just good medicine. Of course there is the occasional garbage can dump, and the jumping up on the couch and sleeping there during the day. Both expressly verboten at the house, but it's a small price to pay for all the good things she is and does. She's a good pooch, and friend.
The first thing you know the day you get a dog is, you'll be around longer than they will. They don't know that, and they still treasure every day anyway. Most of us don't learn that till much later in life.
Truth be told, I don't even know how old Kona really is. But I know this. She is getting closer now to the end than the beginning. I have learned to look the other way, and give her a break more often now for the minor transgressions she occasionally commits. To be more giving and forgiving.
Who would think so much could be taught, from a sleeping dog.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
MOVIE REVIEW - Wall Street Money Never Sleeps
It's been a long time since we've checked in with Director Oliver Stone's Wall Street characters like Gordon Gekko. But here we go, in Wall Street, Money Never Sleeps.
Michael Douglas reprises his fantastic role as the bad boy money man, Gordon Gekko from years ago. Gekko is now out of jail, and attempting to get back in the big money game. This time possibly using his 24 year old daughter and her fiance' in the process. Should be noted up front, Douglas is great in this movie.
As with most Stone directed movies, his version of things that have historical significance are told through his eyes. The way he sees it. He's been ruffling feathers in Hollywood for a few decades now, and he doesn't run from the fact he is controversial. He's good with it, and so is his movie going public. He generally gets an event, or person in the cross hairs and calls it they way he seer's it.
This movie does a few things very well. Stone really humanizes Gekko, and that is the movies strongest suit. Douglas is superb as he takes his character from shiest, to father, back to shiest, and a few roles in between. Douglas is better in this movie than the first one some 20 years ago. Good supporting cast too, with Josh Brolin, and Shia LaBeouf, and Frank Langella. A very eclectic soundtrack, and some slick Stone film editing give this movie a real nice feel for the most part.
But there is trouble here and there. First, this deals with the complete Wall Street meltdown of 2008. Much of the spoken words will go right over many heads with very technical financial talk and lingo. It would be easy to get lost a few times with its pace in very crucial scenes. Sometimes it's a bit too fast to really digest. In other scenes, this movie can be very draggy. Huge mistake too, there is a point where the Wall Street meltdown is going on, Gekko is lost somewhere and off camera for long periods of time. This movie is flat out better with Douglas in it. Not waiting in the wings. Seems at times, Stone forgot who the bread and butter was.
Wall Street Money Never Sleeps. There were a few parts where I wanted to sleep, but for the most part this is pretty good. Douglas is worth a ticket purchase. Not great... not perfect, but better than I thought it would be.
Michael Douglas reprises his fantastic role as the bad boy money man, Gordon Gekko from years ago. Gekko is now out of jail, and attempting to get back in the big money game. This time possibly using his 24 year old daughter and her fiance' in the process. Should be noted up front, Douglas is great in this movie.
As with most Stone directed movies, his version of things that have historical significance are told through his eyes. The way he sees it. He's been ruffling feathers in Hollywood for a few decades now, and he doesn't run from the fact he is controversial. He's good with it, and so is his movie going public. He generally gets an event, or person in the cross hairs and calls it they way he seer's it.
This movie does a few things very well. Stone really humanizes Gekko, and that is the movies strongest suit. Douglas is superb as he takes his character from shiest, to father, back to shiest, and a few roles in between. Douglas is better in this movie than the first one some 20 years ago. Good supporting cast too, with Josh Brolin, and Shia LaBeouf, and Frank Langella. A very eclectic soundtrack, and some slick Stone film editing give this movie a real nice feel for the most part.
But there is trouble here and there. First, this deals with the complete Wall Street meltdown of 2008. Much of the spoken words will go right over many heads with very technical financial talk and lingo. It would be easy to get lost a few times with its pace in very crucial scenes. Sometimes it's a bit too fast to really digest. In other scenes, this movie can be very draggy. Huge mistake too, there is a point where the Wall Street meltdown is going on, Gekko is lost somewhere and off camera for long periods of time. This movie is flat out better with Douglas in it. Not waiting in the wings. Seems at times, Stone forgot who the bread and butter was.
Wall Street Money Never Sleeps. There were a few parts where I wanted to sleep, but for the most part this is pretty good. Douglas is worth a ticket purchase. Not great... not perfect, but better than I thought it would be.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
MOVIE REVIEW - You Again
When you go to the movies there are a few goals potentially in play.
You can learn something. You can laugh, or cry, or be scared. There is virtually no end to the possibilities, or the range of emotions you can feel. That's where I would like to congratulate the makers of the new "comedy" You Again. They have successfully made a movie that makes you feel nothing. Except anxious to go home or go ask for refund.
You Again stars Kristen Bell, Sigourney Weaver, Jamie Lee Curtis, Betty White and Kristen Chenoweth, and a bunch of other mid level stars, and a few clever quick cameos too. Nice cast you say? All horribly miscast I say. Except Betty White. (Whose part is so tiny, almost not worth it.) This is the story of high school rivalry gone wild. Bell plays Marni, who was tormented by a local bully girl in high school. Years later, that bully girl is going to marry her older brother. Is Marni over it? Can she cope? And oh, yeah as luck would have it, Marni's mom, (Curtis) meets up with HER high school rival who is the bride-to-be aunt (Weaver).
Huge problem first. This movie is NOT FUNNY. Bell is NOT FUNNY. Kristen Bell is certainly lovely and likable enough, but there's problems with her in leading roles. They keep asking her to do physical comedy, and she can't. Her comedic timing is marginal, she's not really embracing, and seems detached from you on screen. You don't cheer for her in these roles. Plus, they keep asking her to play roles where she's 28 or so, (she is 30 acutally) but she looks 17. This is not the first movie this has been a problem all the way around.
The script is NOT FUNNY. The first hour of this is almost walk-outable. But to it's credit, this movie does attempt to grow a heart near the end. And there's a pretty powerful scene where the ramifications of high school bullying are clearly on display. And to be honest, that's rather compelling and well done. Then instead of getting out while the gettin's good, they spend 20 more minutes lamely trying to tie up the loose ends, to it's belabored and agonizing finish. It's a bad script, an old idea, and even understanding I am not the target audience here.....the rest of the crowd at the theater was....and they didn't laugh....a giggle or two now and then.
This movie though will speak to many about the pressures of high school, and the scars and marks the awkward years can leave behind. This will find an audience who will love this movie before they even walk in to it. Also, this movie gives out WAY too much info in its trailers. some of this would have been better left unspoken before you walk in. If you've seen the trailer, you've seen the movie.
You Again. There are some moments here that make you take notice, but in the over all body of work this misses the target badly. One of the worst movies so far this year.
You can learn something. You can laugh, or cry, or be scared. There is virtually no end to the possibilities, or the range of emotions you can feel. That's where I would like to congratulate the makers of the new "comedy" You Again. They have successfully made a movie that makes you feel nothing. Except anxious to go home or go ask for refund.
You Again stars Kristen Bell, Sigourney Weaver, Jamie Lee Curtis, Betty White and Kristen Chenoweth, and a bunch of other mid level stars, and a few clever quick cameos too. Nice cast you say? All horribly miscast I say. Except Betty White. (Whose part is so tiny, almost not worth it.) This is the story of high school rivalry gone wild. Bell plays Marni, who was tormented by a local bully girl in high school. Years later, that bully girl is going to marry her older brother. Is Marni over it? Can she cope? And oh, yeah as luck would have it, Marni's mom, (Curtis) meets up with HER high school rival who is the bride-to-be aunt (Weaver).
Huge problem first. This movie is NOT FUNNY. Bell is NOT FUNNY. Kristen Bell is certainly lovely and likable enough, but there's problems with her in leading roles. They keep asking her to do physical comedy, and she can't. Her comedic timing is marginal, she's not really embracing, and seems detached from you on screen. You don't cheer for her in these roles. Plus, they keep asking her to play roles where she's 28 or so, (she is 30 acutally) but she looks 17. This is not the first movie this has been a problem all the way around.
The script is NOT FUNNY. The first hour of this is almost walk-outable. But to it's credit, this movie does attempt to grow a heart near the end. And there's a pretty powerful scene where the ramifications of high school bullying are clearly on display. And to be honest, that's rather compelling and well done. Then instead of getting out while the gettin's good, they spend 20 more minutes lamely trying to tie up the loose ends, to it's belabored and agonizing finish. It's a bad script, an old idea, and even understanding I am not the target audience here.....the rest of the crowd at the theater was....and they didn't laugh....a giggle or two now and then.
This movie though will speak to many about the pressures of high school, and the scars and marks the awkward years can leave behind. This will find an audience who will love this movie before they even walk in to it. Also, this movie gives out WAY too much info in its trailers. some of this would have been better left unspoken before you walk in. If you've seen the trailer, you've seen the movie.
You Again. There are some moments here that make you take notice, but in the over all body of work this misses the target badly. One of the worst movies so far this year.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
MOVIE REVIEW - Easy A
Easy A may look like some silly teen comedy, but nothing could really be further from the truth.
I have no idea what lies ahead for Emma Stone the star of Easy A. The 22 year old has a few movies to her credit. Superbad in 2007 , and Ghosts Of Girlfriend's Past in 2009. But no matter if the best is behind, or in front of her she is really, really funny in Easy A.
Stone plays Olive. Olive is a plain -Jane California high schooler who starts a very interesting side business to try to gain some popularity. She accepts gifts for pretending to have sex with others also looking for social acceptance. No one is having sex with anyone in this movie. It's a strange story to be sure but this is done very skillfully even weaving in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlett Letter as a backdrop. This is a heavily satirical look at modern day, and not so modern day high school life. It does takes a rather sarcastic look at some actually really important issues facing kids today. Bullying, social pressure, social media, and their relationship with parents and teachers. It also shows that as teens, the reputation business can be a tricky one.
Easy A has a huge cast. Stone, Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson, Thomas Haden Church and even Lisa Kudrow. It is well written with sharp witted dialogue, and really nice character development. You'll be covered with satire as you leave Easy A. It really takes a nice swipe at some of the strange characters that are the southern California landscape. It is full of laughs, and and almost none of it from physical comedy. It's just really well written. Emma Stone as our lead character and narrator, is just flat out funny. Her Olive character is well written, her style is easy to watch and when asked, does mild physical comedy very well.
Easy A. This is just a funny movie. Although it could be an acquired taste and not every ones cup of tea. But I laughed a bunch, and maybe saw the launching of a really funny new leading young woman. Emma Stone.
I have no idea what lies ahead for Emma Stone the star of Easy A. The 22 year old has a few movies to her credit. Superbad in 2007 , and Ghosts Of Girlfriend's Past in 2009. But no matter if the best is behind, or in front of her she is really, really funny in Easy A.
Stone plays Olive. Olive is a plain -Jane California high schooler who starts a very interesting side business to try to gain some popularity. She accepts gifts for pretending to have sex with others also looking for social acceptance. No one is having sex with anyone in this movie. It's a strange story to be sure but this is done very skillfully even weaving in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlett Letter as a backdrop. This is a heavily satirical look at modern day, and not so modern day high school life. It does takes a rather sarcastic look at some actually really important issues facing kids today. Bullying, social pressure, social media, and their relationship with parents and teachers. It also shows that as teens, the reputation business can be a tricky one.
Easy A has a huge cast. Stone, Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson, Thomas Haden Church and even Lisa Kudrow. It is well written with sharp witted dialogue, and really nice character development. You'll be covered with satire as you leave Easy A. It really takes a nice swipe at some of the strange characters that are the southern California landscape. It is full of laughs, and and almost none of it from physical comedy. It's just really well written. Emma Stone as our lead character and narrator, is just flat out funny. Her Olive character is well written, her style is easy to watch and when asked, does mild physical comedy very well.
Easy A. This is just a funny movie. Although it could be an acquired taste and not every ones cup of tea. But I laughed a bunch, and maybe saw the launching of a really funny new leading young woman. Emma Stone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
