Thundercats - Brad Pitt / Vin Diesel / Hugh Jackman?

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It'll be nice when the big screen adaptation takes place...this will do for now. Thanks to Kurt for sharing this.

No Train Rides To Moscow

Cold.Foreign.Woody Harrelson.Ben Kingsley join the cast of this Indie thriller (Transsiberian) about a couple who travels via train from China to Moscow with thrills and side stories along the way. They encounter a mysterious couple as bunk mates and later a visit from Sir Kingsley. It was entertaining, especially the suspense of a decent train thriller. You know something is not right about the couple but you cannot quite put your finger on what it is and are they connected to Kingsley in some way?

There are tasty ingredients in this one: confined settings on a train that add to the feeling of helplessness as the story unravels as well as the foreign, literally, surroundings with arctic temperatures that infuse a feeling a discomfort...those things as well as some moral uncertainty that Roy (WoodyHarrelson ) and Jessie (Emily Mortimer) find themselves in right up until the end. It is all very intriguing - I was left wondering what would I do in dark world of smuggling and betrayal.

Brad Anderson champions another decent feature after penning films like Session 9 (Follow an asbestos clean-up crew on an assignment to touch up a vacant mental hospital, but are they alone...watch it late at night!) and The Machinist, with Christian Bale.

I am throwing my thoughts together on this one b/c Heroes is on. Watch it if you're in the mood for a thriller!

'X' Marks The Spot

Okay, that Terminator 4 trailer is mouth-watering, but this new Wolverine looks as incredible. Summer Movies 2009 is looking pretty nice right now, let's hope all the best parts are not included in the trailer.

Summer 2009 - Who You Got?

Which ones are you look forward to in 2009?

Transformers 2? Star Trek? GI Joe? Wolverine? Angels and Demons? Fast and Furious 4? Harry Potter 27?

Nope, I've got it in for Terminator Salvation (that is until the Transformers 2 Trailer appears in February) as my number one pick. Watch the new trailer below!

Season of Surprises

While we are amidst the season of giving, I was reflecting on surprises being something I look forward to. That led me down the path of what films have been surprises, in terms of "that was better than I thought it'd be", this year (while some were released before 2008 - I watched each of these for the first time this year) :

Cloverfield



The trailers built the suspense in a masterful way. We only caught glimpses of the 'monster' and were not totally sure what the premise was. I just re-watched this one on Blu-Ray the other day and was reminded of why I was taken back by the craftiness of it. The storyline (simple-but enough to take the focus off of the fact that this was a Godzilla for the iGeneration), the pace (loved the handheld cam with non-stop comedic commentary from cinematographer), and the visual buffet (sure there was CGI - they shot the film in 3 months - check out the special features).

Redbelt
See my review "A Grown Man's Karate Kid". This one is a buy!



Jumper



Anakin Skywalker hopping from place to place - doing something every 15 year old dreamed of...yeah this took me back. The visual and audio effects in this are pretty nice - the making of on how they created the 'jump' sound is interesting too. I was completely caught off guard by this one, it does have Samuel L. in at as well.

61*



Billy Crystal brings us a terrific HBO film about Maris and Mantle's chase for the home run record. It is woven into a light intro amidst the great chase between Sosa and McGwire years later. I like baseball, but this helps you love it and appreciate the rich history behind the sport.

The Fountain



Very different, but as visually dynamic as it gets. I remembered this b/c Brad Pitt was originally slated to star in it but backed out to do Mr. and Mrs. Smith (we all know how that worked out). Nevertheless, I loved the suspense and creativity of the message being delivered. A beautiful film.

The Namesake



Not what I expected from Kumar...or is it Harold? Anyways, this trails the origins of an Indian family and how they settled in America. It was a different role for Kal Penn and was interesting for me to watch the clash of cultures and appreciate the sacrifice of his family. Solid film - kind of has a 'Kite Runner' feel to it.

Cypher



This is not another 'Cube' film for those that have seen any from that series, although it is from the same director. What you have is a low-budget (not too low b/c it is represented by ICON - Mel Gibson's production studio) merged with a great idea, it has also has some decent acting - considering...
A guy suddenly figures out that he is a spy and has been a drone for another corporation, okay I know it sounds like everything else out there but give it a whirl. It is an entertaining one!

Humor With Santa On The French Riveria

I am trialing the Blockbuster online experience for the next 2 weeks and so far it has not impressed me. In fact, this is my second go around with it. Who am I kidding, it's free for now...but my thoughts are for two good films. First up off my list was 'Fred Claus' with Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti and Kevin Spacey. Hilarious! If you liked 'Elf' with Will Ferrell the you'll like this one.The humor is mature at times, but Vaughn's wit and sarcasm are customized for the most part to the younger audience. Good Christmas movie! Rent it!

Priceless is film number 2. I am a huge Audrey Tatuo fan, the stunning French actress known in the States for her role in the Davinci Code but internationally helmed for starring in Amelie, He Loves Me-He Loves Me Not and Happenstance..which are all fantastic! In Priceless, we follow Jean (Gad Elmaleh) who is a bartender at a 5 star hotel on the French Riviera. He works two jobs to keep afloat and one night is mistaken for a wealthy suitor to the likes of Irene (Tatuo) , who is a gold-digger. The relationship, humor, and backdrop unveil another hit for Tatuo and increases my affinity for foreign films. I loved this one!

Cowboys On Bikes

A full season has come and gone for another homerun for the FX network: Sons of Anarchy. It is like the Sopranos on wheels, cowboys on bikes. This show caught me off guard with its premise and I hesitated to use my DVR space to begin watching it, but thank you HD On Demand. The first 3 episodes were enough to get me to set up all episodes on record and never look back.

Let's just say that Ron Pearlman masters the sleazeball, crooked ring leader (he is Tony Soprano) while we have the conflicted good guy who is soul searching through a mysterious manuscript left behind by his deceased father who was once the president of the biker gang: Sons of Anarchy. In true FX form the show is loyal to its predecessors who walked home with Emmy's and acknowledgement for their provokingly grey story lines and a mixed bag of ingredients. HBO's series pride themselves on pushing the envelope in realms of violence, moral, political, social and religious contexts and Anarchy as well as other FX shows (The Shield, Rescue Me, Nip/Tuck, It's Always Sunnny In Philadelphia) do the same.


4 out of 5 on this one...I am ready for Season 2! Go to Hulu and type in 'Sons of Anarchy Pilot'. It is a free registration b/c the show is for mature audiences only(language and violence).

Jack's Back!

24: Redemption was on last week and ended the 2-year hiatus of the popular and more appropriately titled 'The Jack Bauer Show'. How could you not love Jack? He has an endless supply of bullets and cell phone battery life, an unquenchable hunger for torture and violence...not to mention his cool, smoker voice (not early as suave as Don LaFontaine-the guy who voiced movie trailers before his death earlier this year). Redemption was a typical 24 event and a decent set-up for the upcoming 7th season.

For those that have not seen 24 in any of its glory, you MUST rent Seasons 1 and 2 (they are by far the best of the best). The action, suspense and real-time ticker layers a sticky interest that keeps you from breaking free after just one episode. Before you know it is 3 am and you've watched an entire season while hoping you function enough to get through work the next day so that you can run to Blockbuster after work and rent the next disc...that or you'll buy them on iTunes. Desperate times call for desperate measures...I am writing this as if I can relate...hmmm? One of TV's finest shows.

Vampiric Authenticity

In the spirit of Vampire movies I watched a Swedish film titled 'Let The Right One In'. This is not a goober-gag fest like 'Twilight', instead this a dark and twisted love tale between a pair of youngsters. We meet Oskar, a pasty-shy 12 year-old, who is plotting a violent retaliation against the school bullies. One evening on the frozen playground outside his apartment complex Oskar meets Eli, a vampiress who conveniently does not wear a jacket or shoes while enjoying the late night chill. They strike up a friendship while her blood hunter-a man we assume is her father- gets caught murdering someone so she can eat. Eli is now alone except for the friendship she is forging with her adolescent neighbor Oskar. While Eli's exterior models that of a 12 year-old, the soul within is aged and knows her vampiric limitations around Oskar.

I liked the movie. There are very awkward moments with the budding relationship between the young stars as well as the chillingly authentic vampire attacks on various people. If there was a reality show about vampires that was poised with fear and rawness, the tone of this film has captured it. It's as if Eli hates the fact that she has to take a life to survive and the moment Oskar actually sees her feed his appetite for revenge is satisfied...maybe it isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Two crafty pieces of the film, besides the creative storyline, are the sound effects and the background music. I know weird , right? Not really, the sound is brilliant because you feel cold, you feel the discomfort of the temperature because almost every scene is set against a winter wonderland. Footsteps crunch softly and smoothly on the glistening snow and the crunch of the vampire's bite made me cringe and feel the pain of being in the moment.

Another element mastered by few films is the ability to get the audience to notice and appreciate the fact that there is no music accenting a scene. As you watch action, horror, suspense-most movies come to think of it-the music really represents the emotions and personality of its sequences, the personality of the movie. 'Right One' was beautifully edited so that those sounds were amplified by the silence of the soundtrack. Very gripping, very telling.

Not a film for the queasy or those turned off by subtitles. 3 out of 5.

Pure 'Twilight' Poetry

I am incapable of saying it better than this...thank you Bill Gibron (Filmcritic.com):

"Twilight is a preposterously preprogrammed snoozer that preaches to the fan fiction choir already predisposed to this dross. It's a spotty spook show romance bathed in the glow of a thousand tween journal entries and accented by a million microns of misspent adolescent hormones. The legions of "Twilighters" -- devotees who have each of the four novels in Stephanie Meyer's franchise memorized -- will lap up every pulled-from-the-pages moment of this manufactured motion picture. All others will be left scratching their heads and wondering what the big deal is."

2 Hours I NEED Back

I read the first book (Twilight) in Stephanie Meyer's series about a teenage girl (Bella) who relocates to a small Washington town and falls in love with a vampire (Edward). I actually enjoyed the book, some parts needed to be skipped due to my inability to relate to the emotions of a 16 year-old girl, but it was interesting enough to invite me into the second book of a four part series. Having read Twilight also helped ease the reluctance I had of seeing the adaptation to the big screen (trailers released months ago made me uneasy - cheap looking special effects, cheesy one-liners...you get the point).

Off we go last night to a Friday night with some other couples to plunge into the cinema which felt more like a high school hallway after 3rd period. The film had 2 positives 1) Being able to visualize characters from the film, putting some faces with the names and 2) Bella: Kristen Stewart is either a great actress or was surrounded by so many terrible ones that she came out looking like a superstar. That's it, the rest is bad, bad, bad.

Let it begin: the logo was terrible. I don't like the spiraling 'g', it looks like a cheap etch-a-sketch drawing. I can appreciate the difficulty that accompanies bringing an extremely popular book to the movie screen, but they overkilled the loyalty to the roots. The film moved very quickly, I guess I should be thankful, and only developed what was necessary to tell the story and crutched the movie on voice overs by the lead character, Bella (this was also done because the acting was terrible).

Speaking of acting, Edward (Robert Pattinson) was described as confident and "cool", but came off as a wuss. Instead portraying the vampire who was in agony by the presence and proceeding craving of our female lead, Pattinson portrayed Edward like a constipated dimwit. It was as if the director took the first shot of every scene. A financially sound decision knowing that the movie will rake in millions on sheer hype so rather than exhaust the allotted budget, let's cut the corners and increase our profits - "Great scene Robert!". The special effects were grotesque, climbing trees like an ant on crack, gosh - with as much green as the studio was projecting you would've thought they could recruit Industrial Light and Magic for some help. Instead they spent their money on ariel shots from the local helicopter tours (see opening credits and scene where Edward takes Bella up to the top of the trees).

I am sad for fans because some will camouflage the reality of a film that should have gone straight to DVD. I won't waste anymore time on this 1.5 out of 5...BLAH! Read the book, ignore the film until it hits your Comcast On Demand 'Free Movie' section.

Trekkie Trailer

Star Trek Trailer

I didn't grow up a huge fan of the series, but am a huge fan of J.J. Abrams (Alias, Lost, M:I 3, Cloverfield). His remix of the Trek franchise looks fantastic! I caught the trailer before the new Bond film today and loved it. It leaked bootleg online already, but I will post the real deal tomorrow. May 2009...I cannot believe I am excited to see a Star Trek film.

Saturday Solace

Just when I thought I wasn't going to catch the latest Bond flick, a call from the weary confirmed that there was hope. While I only traveled a few minutes to see 'Quantum of Solace', 007 is all over the world in the 22nd Bond film.

The story picks up immediately after 'Casino Royale' ended. Bond (Daniel Craig) remains intent on punishing those that took Vesper away meanwhile shunning any accusation that he was in love with her. Screenwriter Paul Haggis (Crash, The Last Kiss, Million Dollar Baby, Casino Royale) returns to the franchise and delivers an action cannonball. He drenches the audience in jaw-dropping stunts interwoven with the continuation of the development of 007. Meanwhile, we are introduced to more of the minds that run the mysterious company which we come to know as Quantum (see the 'Q' on Dominic Greene's lapel during his charity speech) and given a taste of some darker Bond villains.

Craig is incredible as the tough and intrepid Bond: he's an assassin (great fight scene in the hotel-very Bourne-esque!). Another solid performance by Judi Dench (M), which I thought was arguably her strongest showing since she took on the character in 1992's Goldeneye. Her cinematic ping-pong match with Bond is entertaining. She assumes her roles Bond's chief and ally, but her M cannot resist the desire to also take on a matriarchal presence as she watches James mature and struggle. Great chemistry emitted by Dench and Craig: 2 phenomenal actors.

My beef with this one...venturing too far away from the intrigue behind the company. What made the last Bond terrific was the fact that the action was top notch (as was this one, if not better than the last) and the story was intoxicating. 'Solace' left me a bit unsatisfied, I wanted more suspense from the element of the company that is everywhere but nowhere. I get the fact that the film was to give closure to much of Bond's mental and emotional hardships of 'Casino Royale', I just wanted a bit more. Come to think of it, that's what is missing from most should-be-great films.

Overall, 3.5 out of 5.

Worth a trip to the cinema!

My Five 007's

I am incredibly excited to see the new James Bond this weekend. It looks fantastic, especially as a follow up to the grittier character piece that was 'Casino Royale'. In the spirit of the release of Bond's latest, 'Quantam of Solace', I am listing my 5 favorite Bond films:

1 - From Russia With Love :
Connery mastering the character of Bond. I fell in love with this film because of my father's affinity for the character and this was his favorite. Repetition breeds interest.

2 - Goldfinger


I still do a double take when Bond wakes up to the gold Shirley Eaton on his bed and all the one-liners, not to mention the innuendos. So Bond.

3 - Casino Royale
The Bond of the 21st Century. He's got all the solid action heroes qualities rolled into one: Jason Bourne, John McLane, Martin Riggs...solid! The opening chase scene is arguably the best in film. I love the torture scene where he mocks Le Chiffre, Hillarious!

4 - Tomorrow Never Dies

Brosnan's best in my opinion. We saw a darkness to Bond, which was unusual for Pierce, when he lost Teri Hatcher and it had some great action sequences.

5 - License To Kill
As close to Daniel Craig's Bond as there has been. This one was rogue Bond and caught a lot of people off guard because of how different Dalton's second 007 film was. I enjoyed it.

Who's Going To Be Myagi?

News leaked today that Will Smith and his son Jaden (The Pursuit of Happyness) are signed up with some of the OG team from the classic film 'The Karate Kid' franchise to remake the original. Yes, you heard it right. The story will follow the premise of the 1984 classic but will take place overseas in Beijing. Seriously? Jaden? He is ten years old and as much as I enjoy his father's films I cannot even stomach the visual of this one. All I can think of is the remake of 1987's Can't Buy Me Love, with Patrick Dempsey (Dr. McDreamy on 'Grey's Anatomy), called 'Love Don't Cost A Thing'...stop tainting the classics of the 80's! Next thing you know they are going to reboot The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

This is another bad idea from Hollywood. Are they that desperate for story lines that they have to resort to another remake, which will lead to a prequel that will unveil a spin off TV show that is show 10 years in the future. My goodness, Mr. Myagi is turning over in his grave...wax off whoever came up with this brilliant idea.

Blah...

I can't say that this one impressed me. This one took to long to get to 'The Strangers'. That's not to say that there were not some terrifying moments, but the flick was sub par. Don't waste your time (I didn't...the fast forward feature worked out nicely).

Rock-N-Rolla

Are you a Rock-N-Rolla? Guy Ritchie returns to the big screen with a homerun. The fast talking, witty and explosive characters that he introduced to us in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels as well as Snatch are reincarnated in this intoxicating ride.

Ritchie enlisted some very noticeable faces for this one (Gerard Butler-300, Tom Wilkinson-Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind, Thandie Newton-M:I2, Jeremy Piven-Entourage) and positions them against a tolerably complex storyline involving British and Russian underworlds. Fantastic performances, especially by Mark Strong as Archie (I also like him in 'Body of Lies') and Nonso Anozie (Tank).

I loved the scene where Newton and Butler are at a party attempting to exchange information regarding the next "job". Butler try's his hand at convincing Newton to give him the time of day by showing off his dancing skills...very charming. She obliges and they communicate through text boxes that appear while they dance like they were mocking a 'HSM3' routine . Another hip motion by Ritchie to differentiate his film and accent the techno talk between his stars.

Thumbs up to the mystery behind the look of the painting, similar to the briefcase in Pulp Fiction...what was in that thing? 4 out of 5 for me...solid acting, hilarious dialogue (especially the relationship between 1-2 and Handsome Bob) and dynamite cinematography.

Hulu Rules!

I miss a show (The Office, Prison Break, SNL) and I know I can catch up for free and without probs on Hulu. It is easy to use and it keeps a record of your viewings. Good times, good times. A little more about Hulu is listed below...

History
Hulu was founded in March 2007 by NBC Universal and News Corp and is operated independently by a dedicated management team with offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Beijing. Hulu closed a $100 million investment from private equity firm Providence Equity Partners in October 2007.

Mission
Hulu's mission is to help people find and enjoy the world's premium video content when, where and how they want it.

Overview
Hulu is an online video service that offers hit TV shows, movies and clips at Hulu.com and other online destination sites — all for free, anytime in the U.S. For more details on Hulu's service, check out the Hulu product tour.

Palin Rap on SNL

For those that missed it on SNL a couple of weeks ago...HILLARIOUS!

Jack and Maximus in the Middle East

Quick note...wait for DVD but see 'Body of Lies' with Leonardo Dicaprio and Russell Crowe. It was an entertaining film, just not for $10 bucks a head. A bit dry and drawn out as far as the storyline goes. I like director Ridley Scott's work (Legend, Gladiator, Matchstick Men, Blade Runner) and think the stars are both incredible actors, however enough is enough with the terrorist/Middle-Eastern films. It's kind of like the sports and horror movies that are "Based On A True Story" - pleeeease, enough with the ploy. Ok, I just ranted and did not expect to do that.

David Slade...he likes 'Hard Candy'

Some films are not worth blogging about and others are considered. I am writing about David Slade's Hard Candy (2005) as to assist in making sense of the mental knot that occurred after pondering over the film. His other piece, which I loved, is 30 Days of Night with Josh Hartnett. A great horror flick about a small Alaskan town that is locked in darkness for a month and ravaged by a gang of vampires. Back to Candy though, which stars Ellen Page (Juno) and Patrick Wilson (Watchmen, Phantom of the Opera) as a teenager and photographer who meet on the web. They are suspect of each other and a dark labyrinth unfolds as the film relocates to Wilson's home. No, it is not a nude infested independent film but it does cover a very uncomfortable storyline in child pornography and what we would do given the chance to punish a pedophile. I told you it was different - is Wilson really a sicko or is there more to the story? Slade has found a way to push the audience to the edge of ethical confusion. A film that will leave you thinking for days.

Ten For Halloween

In the spirit of Halloween and my desire to watch a scary flick the other night I am compiling a list of 10 movies that have scared the living daylights out of me over the years. It could be the flicks that kept me up all night because I believed that what I just watched could or will happen. The fear could be the music that keeps replaying in my mind or the shadow that is conveniently in my view through the slits in the bedroom blinds. Nonetheless, these left their mark on me (in no particular order)...

1- Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
Based on the 90's TV drama, from the mind of one of film's creepiest men-David Lynch, about a prom queen in Washington State who is found dead on the shore and the world of mystery that surrounds her. Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle Mclanahan - Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives) arrives in town and unravels what came to be the sole reason my brother and I needed the hall light to fall asleep: BOB. If you've seen any Lynch films you know how eerie they get (Lost Highway, Mulholland Falls). Watch the TV series then go for the movie.

2 - The Shining
Jack Nicholson is classic in this adaptation of the Stephen King novel. Red Rum is a phrase that chills my spine just to type...and what about the blood filled elevator. If you haven't seen this one, please -please stop reading and go rent it.

3 - The Ring
Remember the first time you saw this one? How about when the little girl crawls out of that TV...oh dip! This became an instant classic. I fought seeing it and loved every minute. The cold, dark setting of Seattle mixed with incredible sound fx...they are perfectly integrated into the scenes, like background music-which is also terrifying. Loved it.

4 -Silence of the Lambs

Hannibal Lecter - need I say more?

5 - Halloween
The original, not the Rob Zombie remake, is frightening. The music, similar to Jaws/Indiana Jones/Star Wars, is iconic. It is unmistakable and his mask - wow! I love the scene where Jamie Lee Curtis looks back and Myers is observing from the sidewalk behind her. You know it's dynamite when it survives as a scary film 30 years later.

6- Seven
All the ingredients of the unforgettable scary film are included in Brad Pitt's murder-mystery film based on the 7 deadly sins (believable-dark-rainy-unidentifiable killer until late in the film-chilling soundtrack-silence at all the right moments). John Doe is the perfect killer and sends the audience into a cold sweat as Pitt and Morgan Freeman attempt to identify a suspect and avoid any further losses. The finale is dark and spine-chilling that is topped off with phenomenal acting.

7- Mothman Prophecies
How many movies trailers do you remember watching? Very few, right?This one was freaky and I have still answer the phone sometimes and hesitate. Another one with the believability factor included with the creepiness.

8 - White Noise
Another petrifying trailer...does anyone remember this one? It had the sound of the tape and then talked about cases of white noise...freaked me out. Yep, this one is an overlooked creepy film and it helps secure a spot because we all know The Exorcist, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Rosemary's Baby, Psycho and a few others are guarantees on anyone's scary movie list. Michael Keaton is fantastic in this and really draws you into his pain as a widow searching for answers...I am glad I did not see this when I was a kid.

9 - When A Stranger Calls
"Have you checked the children?"...please tell me you did not see the remake first. The original with Carol Kane is miles ahead of the recent re-do. I cannot tell you frightened this movie made me when I was home alone and the phone would ring. This has the ingredients.

10 - Nightmare on Elm Street
The first Freddy Krueger film, yes the one with Johnny Depp, is Wes Craven's finest. After all the films listed I would love to just fall asleep without waking up to scan the room or peer out the window to reassure myself that no one is around...that was until Freddy (a burned killer who wears a fedora and scissor fingered glove) made you think twice about falling asleep. Iconic horror character and the glove, that glove was sheer movie genius.

I Caved

After years of safety I have buckled and given into the temptation to read Twilight. I avoided Harry Potter for quite some time and finished the whole series (4 books at the time) within a month. This latest read comes just over a month before the release of the big screen adaptation of the bestseller. I cannot believe the obsession with this series...we shall see if it lives up to the hype.

Bouncing Here And There And Everywhere...

Kids say the darnedest things and takes us back to memories long forgotten. One of those aged moments are the Saturday mornings I would spend watching cartoons. Today's list of shows bore me, where have the classics gone? I watched an episode of Gummi Bears on You Tube the other day with my daughter. It got me thinking what other shows was I glued to? Here are a few that I remember obsessing over at different ages:

1. Thundercats (Thank you Kurt...I still have my t-shirt!)
2. Transformers
3. GI Joes
4. Ducktales
5. Gummi Bears
6. The Littles
7. Chip and Dale's Rescue Rangers
8. Bravestar
9. Voltron
10. He-Man
11. Muppet Babies
12. Scooby-Doo
13. Silverhawk
14. Justice League
15. TMNT
16. Tom and Jerry

A Nicolas Cage Movie I Liked?

Usually, I avoid a Nicolas Cage flick, except National Treasure, The Rock and maybe Con Air. His cheap hair implants bother me as well as his one-dimensional acting ability. DO NOT SEE the following Nic Cage movies:

1. The Wicker Man
2. Ghost Rider
3. National Treasure 2
4. Windtalkers

This guy has so much family in the business and has been around long enough to get gigs that might have succeeded with other leading actors. All that aside, I really enjoyed Lord of War. Surprised?

In Lord of War, Cage plays an arms dealer who makes a name for himself while trying to balance an alternate identity at home and fend off a persistent Interpol Agent played by Ethan Hawke. The cast includes NFL quarterback Tom Brady's ex Bridget Moynahan and Jared Leto as Cage's brother. The film made me uncomfortable for the moral dilemmas that Cage's character ignores, but I could eventually accept it as he got lost deeper in the world of selling guns and gadgets. He became of victim of his profession and lost sight of the larger picture. The plot was not a mind game, but I kept hoping he would come out of his funk. The intrigue kept me into it and the fact that the black market of weapons is not a world often portrayed at this level and in this way in films.

3.5 out of 5, but not one to rent when the family is over for the holidays.

Married Life

Bond. Ms. Notebook.Chris Cooper? Yeah, this one was interesting. I enjoy films set in the 30's or 40's and with the cast figured this was worth the nods it received at all the film festivals. The story was simple and predictable, the acting was as expected. By no means was this a chick flick, but it does invite you into the emotional corridor and relays the importance of appreciating what you've got. McCadams is gorgeous as always, so it does have that going for it and I enjoyed the mild twist at the end. For some reason, my naivety that things like this could happen then is based on the frame of reference I mistakenly link to Happy Days and The Andy Griffith Show...my decades are a bit off. Decent flick!

Traitor

It seems that many of today's action-suspense films are modeling the Bourne Trilogy's cinematography and rawness. Don Cheadle stars in Traitor as Samir Horn, an American Muslim, and a former Special Forces expert in explosives. FBI agent Roy Clayton (Guy Pearce) heads up an investigation that ties Horn to terrorist bombings and goes after him. Cheadle is locked in prison and eventually breaks out and gets away with the terrorists he has bonded over chess games with while being incarcerated. The cat and mouse chase begins and an even bigger terrorist threat arises.

I liked the film when I saw the previews but it was just too slow in some parts for me to fall in love with it. The whole terrorist them in films is beginning to bore me. Mr. Cheadle is a fantastic actor and outperforms his supporting cast, but it is not enough for me to give this anything higher than 3 out 5. Wait for the DVD, but do see it.

Redbelt: A Grown Man's 'Karate Kid'

Mr. Myagi would be proud. David Mamet has mastered writing, producing and directing during his career in film. His resume includes: Ronin, The Spanish Prisoner, Glengarry Glen Ross, Wag The Dog, The Verdict (see last blog on Paul Newman) and The Untouchables. Need I say more.

Now that we've qualified the man behind the camera let's investigate the cast in this character study driven piece. The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor (Children of Men, American Gangster) as Mike Terry, a martial arts instructor who saves Hollywood star Chet Frank (Tim Allen, yes-Tim the Toolman!) from a nasty bar fight. From there a relationship is forged and Mike's world changes and he is put in a financial and moral bind. This is a grown man's Karate Kid. Terry is his own Myagi and Daniel Son as he holds to beliefs and battles the demons around him.

The film is stirring and beautifully simple. Mamet prides himself on the plainness of the film. He brings us into the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) yet never loses us in over the top brawls, instead he magnifies the characters similar to the way Stallone reprised the Rocky character with success. With the heightened popularity of MMA over the last decade or so it is no suprise that Mamet was able to recruit the help of well respected fighters like Randy Couture, Enson Inoue and John Machado. Their input makes the film that much better.

Don't let the simplicity mislead you though, the characters are deep and pained from obvious perils and previous pitfalls. I finished the film and wanted more. It has powerful messages of respect, honor, love and loyalty. This one will be in the Blu-Ray collection.

The Great Paul Newman

Yesterday we lost a film legend. Paul Newman was a very talented actor and brilliant in his humanitarian work off screen. I fell in love with his films, as well as Robert Redford's, after seeing Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid years ago. Of course, audiences loved the piercing blue eyes that became a trademark as much as Angelina Jolie's lips are nowadays. "I picture my epitaph," he once joked. "Here lies Paul Newman, who died a failure because his eyes turned brown." His unforgettable blue eyes were actually colour-blind. His true distinctiveness came with his presence on screen. Newman never thought of himself as a great actor (how could he not be having trained with Marlon Brando and James Dean at the Actor's Studio) which contributed to his ability to remain level-headed and true to the craft during his 60 years in films.

In The Hustler, Newman was a fast talking pool hustler named "Fast" Eddie Felson who took on the likes of Jackie Gleason (Minnesota Fats) and later reprised the role as an aged Felson alongside his apprentice Vincent (Tom Cruise) in the Martin Scorsese picture The Color of Money. He mastered the tough guy, the rebel, the noble one: the ultimate cool guy.

He will be missed.

Other Great Newman Flicks (In No Particular Order)

• The Absence of Malice
• The Sting
• Road To Perdition
• Hud
• The Towering Inferno
• The Verdict
• Fat Man and Little Boy
  

Rawness and Grit on FX

FX, which is part of Fox's Entertainment Group, has a tag line that reads, "There Is No Box". Anyone who has seen Nip/Tuck  or The Shield can believe it. The network is in the same locker room as HBO and Showtime as they create and produce shows that push the bill but pride themselves on rawness and grit. A few years ago, we were away one weekend and caught a few episodes of the first season of Nip/Tuck which was followed by the premiere of a new Dennis Leary Series called Rescue Me. 

The show follows Tommy Gavin (Dennis Leary) a NYC firefighter following the loss of his closes-friend and cousin during the 9-11 attacks. Gavin's life is full of torment and chaos. The writing and acting on this show is captivating. For me it's a dream, I live as the fire-fighter I could never be via Leary and the crew (who have such unique and unforgettable characters) and re-live Seinfeld-like conversations about nonsense. This show is a gem and a TV addiction. The show returns for it's fifth season in January following a delayed release due to the writer's strike earlier this year.

Just last week, we sat down and caught the latest FX show called Sons of Anarchy with Ron Perlman, who got his break as Beast on the 80's hit series Beauty and the Beast which also starred Linda Hamilton (Terminator, T2). Perlman revived his career starring as the title character in the Hellboy films. In Sons he plays the leader of a motorcycle gang

 in a California town. The previews for the show did not intrigue me in the least bit, but after viewing the shows 3 episodes so far I am interested to see how it pans out. It's too early to tell  if the show has the mass appeal like Rescue Me or The Shield, but it does host some good action and bravado by the bikers. A surprise role by Katy Sagal (the mother from 'Married with Children') adds the spice that Joan Collins brought to Dynasty or the Nina Myers character on 24. I did not expect her to be the witch she is, superb acting. Episode 4 aired tonight, we shall see.

Hitchcock Obsession

I remember the VHS copies of Vertigo, The Birds, North By Northwest, Psycho, Rear Window and others that had permanent resting spots near our television. It was not until a few weeks ago that my appreciation for Hitchcock's masterpieces was realized.

 Now I had fallen in love with Rear Window and Psycho years ago. The idea that I could be entertained watching a man in a wheelchair for nearly 2 hours seemed impossible, but Hitchcock and Jimmy Stewart pulled it off in Rear Window. There remains a fear of road-side motels in the middle of nowhere because of Psycho and not to mention all of the influences the film has had on later non-Hitchcock projects (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Silence of the Lambs and others). 

There is remorse that it took me over 20 years to appreciate what Hitchcock has done for film making. My recent watches of the Hitchcock portfolio are Vertigo, To Catch A Thief and North By Northwest. 

In Vertigo, Jimmy Stewart is a detective for hire. He assists an old friend by following the man's wife due to the suspicion that she might be losing her mind and contemplating suicide. After Stewart meets her his commitment to the cause changes and the plot thickens. Hitchcock has a way in this film, as he does so masterfully in others, of allowing the location (San Francisco) to tell a great deal of the story. 

The locations speak in his films, they are another character  and this adds an unexpected and thrilling dimension to Vertigo as well as North By Northwest (the final scene at Mt. Rushmore) and To Catch A Thief (French Riviera).

North By Northwest is solid alone because it heralds Cary Grant. From Grant's profile on IMDB it reads 

that he was once told by an interviewer, "Everybody would like to be Cary Grant," Grant is said to have replied, "So would I." His acting genius and suave presence onscreen continues in North where he plays an Advertising Executive who is mistaken for a government agent by a group of spies.He is caught in a series of adventures and mishaps across the country amidst of stormy relationship with Eva Marie Saint. 

This film is fantastic, hands down my favorite Hitchcock...along with Rear Window. I love the suspense and the thrill of waiting to see what curveball Hitchcock throws at the audience next. His cinematography is brilliant, especially in the scene where Grant's character flees the United Nations building. Hitchcock loved lines/shapes and prolonging the anticipation, almost a heightened reaction to the moment - a sure way to make you feel like you are there. I could go on and on. An equation for excellence: Alfred Hitchcock + Cary Grant + Great Plot + Significant Locations = SOLID GOLD on screen.

Another round of DVD's to add to your Netflic que. Again, what did we learn? Hitchcock is a genius, M. Night Shymalan has read a few textbooks on him and done okay at times but there is truly only one Alfred Hitchcock.

Season 5 of The Office

As glad as I am that Heroes is back on...The Office is right there with it (as well as 30 Rock and the return of Rescue Me in January-more on that one later). Season 5 begins on Thursday night...do yourself a favor and give into the world of Michael Scott. You will not regret your decision.

Go Speed Racer

The first Matrix...great! The second two were terrible. V for Vendetta - absolutely horrible! Speed Racer: fantastic!. I just viewed the Wachowski's translation of the classic anime Speed Racer. While I could not bring myself to see it in theaters, I was very happy with my $1 Redbox rental. In fact, I loved it. It was tongue in cheek and entertaining for most ages. This was a film designed for fun and that's exactly what I got. The splashes of color on screen almost stun you into forgetting that amazing CGI work is floating all around you. It is very psychedelic and hypnotic at times. The plot is simple enough for young audiences, but don't expect any mind-bending turns. It's a family fiml which is a hard right for the W. bros. Well done mates, I guess I am officially a parent now that I am enjoying a 'family film'. Guess I better re-watch Swiss Family Robinson while I'm at it.

The Road

For those Viggo Mortenson fans (Lord of The Rings, History of Violence,Eastern Promises) I have another film of his that likely propel him into an Oscar nomination. While the film isn't out yet, the book is. 'The Road' is written by Cormac McArthy (No Country For Old Men). His dark and gripping style blankets the father and son traveling across a post-apocalyptic land infested with ash, cannibalistic savages and the most dangerous of them all: the roads. It is a fascinating book into the relationship of the boy and his wise father. I don't want to give too much away but I expect that the translation will lend itself well from the paperback to the screen. The movie releases later this fall with Viggo starring as well as Robert Duvall and CharlizeTheron. Looks like McArthy will rivet audiences again as he did with 'No Country'.

I'm Back... And So Is Heroes

I did disappear. Thank you Hurricane Ike. Heroes Season 3 premiered tonight (no I won't ruin anything) and it was quite busy. I am still digesting the whole thing, but do have some convictions on the abundance of stories that were crammed into the premiere. Tim Kring seemed a little desperate to redeem himself from the embarrassment that was Season 2. Nevertheless, it is good to have the show back. Once the season gets rolling I am sure the wrinkles I see will be ironed out. For those that have not been introduced to the show, again - RENT SEASON 1.

MEMOIRS - The Film Club and Three Weeks With My Brother

The Film Club: David Gilmour

First up, my thoughts on David Gilmour's The Film Club. It is a memoir of Gilmour and his teenage son's journey during those turbulent years, but with a twist. Gilmour allows his son to quit school and remain free of any financial commitments such work. There is one catch though...his son must come over and watch 3 films a week of his father's choice.

The book took me back into my first experiences with movies as well as the awakening I had in college studying David Lynch and Quentin Tarantino for a film theory class. I imagine Gilmour's intent was not to take me down memory lane but in the process I uncovered my appreciation for the magic that occurs before and during the rolling of the cameras. There is so much that goes into the creation of a movie, so many in the supporting cast that what goes on behind the curtains is often overlooked by the main character them self: the film. Stanley Kubrick is portrayed as a perfectionist because of the many takes he required on his films. During the filming of The Shining he had Jack Nicholson and the actor working on the scene with him perform 80 takes before Jack hit his limit. Other filmmakers are highlighted for their creativity, their passion and joy at bringing stories to life.

There is tough language in some parts of The Film Club, but that only adds to the monkey-wrench Gilmour throws into the traditional approach to raising a teenager. The writing tends to be overly descriptive, especially as Gilmour breaks from the film history to keep you updated on he and his son. My biggest dislike is that I feel like he wrote the book in hopes of one of the major players in television or motion pictures buying the rights to adapt it into a screenplay or an HBO film.

The Film Club was unique. You don't have to be a movie lover to appreciate it. It might be better if you are not because it will convert you into one by the end (the book contains a list of all the films watched during the 3 years the book spans). Overall, 3 out of 5.

Three Weeks With My Brother: Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks

Before this read I was not the biggest Nicholas Sparks fan. I'd seen The Notebook and read one of his other books (The Rescue), but I couldn't bring myself to rave about him like I had heard others do. After finishing Three Weeks, I must say that I am willing and somewhat eager to purchase some of his other work.

Three Weeks is a memoir of the Sparks' travels after Nicholas receives a brochure offering a three-week trip around the world. Micah, his older brother, joins Nicholas in touring Mayan ruins, the killing fields in Cambodia, the Taj Mahal and more. The brothers journey from childhood to their present adventures covering their every smile and frown along the way.

The Sparks boys have put together a captivating reflection on childhood, family, work, tragedy and spirituality. This is not a showcase of how Nicholas became the author he is or what he's done since, although each is revealed, rather this is two men discovering and digging deeper into their bond as brothers.

Each segment of the book takes you further into the world of the Sparks family meanwhile touching down with our story across the international landscape. I felt right there with them the entire ride and where my previous read went overboard on the details, Sparks feeds you just enough to visualize and appreciate what is going on. Fantastic read. Overall, 4 out of 5.

Why I Fell In Love With Movies

As I near the end of 'The Film Club' I came upon a few lines that I feel capture why I developed a love affair with films. Gilmour writes:

There's a certain effect films have on you when you're very young...they give you an imaginative experience in a way that is hard to rexapture when you're older. You "buy it" in a way that you can't really later.

I return to old movies not just to watch them again but in the hope that I'll feel that way I did when I first saw them. (Not just about movies, but about everything.)

Gilmour hit the nail right on the head. In fact, music has a similar effect. During a recent road trip from Michigan to Indiana I found myself scrolling to various Hootie and the Blowfish songs on my Ipod. My mind had traveled back in time to the 90's and to magnify my trip down memory lane I needed a soundtrack that was relevant to my personal experiences.

Like music, certain films come with a memory, a moment that will never leave us. We keep a copy of those movies in our libraries not beacause we'll watch them 3 times year, truthfully we have not watched them in 3 years, but they give us a sense of security- a portal back to a time, a place, a distinct impression that is stored on our hard drive. Here are a few I hold onto (some are classics and that is a whole 'nother reason to have the DVD at your fingertips). Which ones would be on your list? Comments are welcomed.

• Guess Who's Coming To Dinner
• Footloose
• Urban Cowboy
• Cool Hand Luke
  
• Romancing The Stone
  
• Ferris Bueller's Day Off
• The Karate Kid
• Back To The Future
• Raiders Of The Lost Ark
• Some Like It Hot

Redbox Rentals

Does anyone love the Redbox? Well, it is my best friend when I have to wait an entire weekend for my Netflix movie to arrive (always mail your Netflix by Thursday so you have movies to watch on Saturday and/or Sunday).


After The Dark Knight experience, which is at $300M and still a kicking, I have had a hard time not wishing every movie was another sequel to the Batman masterpiece. Wanted, with Angelina Jolie-Morgan Freeman-and James McAvoy, was a grade above Shoot 'Em Up (terrible, terrible, terrible). In its most ludicrous moments Wanted managed to sustain itself. I enjoyed the movie quite a bit, moreso than Timur Bekmambetov's other recent films (Daywatch and the sequel Nightwatch). He balanced the elements of ridiculous, stylized action with a somewhat formiddable storyline about a group of assassins where one of their members is killed by a rogue associate and the next target is the victim's son, played by McAvoy. The film moves fast and is graphic in some parts, but can be a great Redbox rental when it is released on DVD.

Last night we watched 21. A young MIT student (Jim Sturgess) takes on Las Vegas black jack tables in order to put money away for Harvard Med School. He is joined by a team of other table counters including Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth. Overall, it's an entertaining movie. I briefly lost interest following the repeat of the group conquering Vegas. We got it, they're awesome, they emptied out a load of tables so get to the end. It drug for me; two hours was too long...it needed to be an hour and a half. Another Redbox rental.

Reliving the Glory Days

News came out this week that Tom Cruise was in talks to potentialy revive his role as ace pilot 'Maverick' in a Top Gun sequel. Really? Haven't we had enough of this guy? It isn't surprising after a few actors have recently returned or are in talks to return to the series/characters that made them household names. Here are a few:

Arnold Scwarzenegger: Terminator 3
If you're going to go out, go out with a bang. Well, few remember Arnold's final appearance in films was 'Around the World in 80 Days' with Jackie Chan (horrible movie, I couldn't get through the trailer) instead most think that T3 was his last role before becoming Governor of California. T2, like the original Die Hard, set the bar so high for action films that it is wrong for any to expect those follwing to surpass them. What could be expected was to be entertained and in the case of the Terminator films elaboration on the plot and where the world is headed as John Connor continues his race against the cyborgs. The third Terminator was better the second time I watched it. For the first time viewer don't be surprised that they essentially took every cool scene from the first two and added some CGI. Not bad Arnie, I am glad you threw in the towel for the 4th Terminator film. Take it away Christian Bale, you'll make a fantastic Joh Connor.

Sylvester Stallone: Rocky Balboa and Rambo

Stallone knocked it out of the park as far as I'm concerned. Of all the returns I found that both of the films related to Stallone's superstar characters were fabulous. Oddly enough, Stallone had his hand in the middle of a great deal of the writing and production of each movie. Balboa was terrific because it centered on who was and is as well as how Rocky was coping with life after the loss of his wife and the reality that his professional life was dead. Yeah, it was a bit cheesy but aren't all the Rocky films. The craftsmanship that made the original Rocky a Best Picture winner was modeled in this film, too bad it was the 6th Rocky and not the third: it might have had a chance at something then. Nevertheless, it is worth a watch.

Rambo, which had a limited release this past February, blew me away. I was truly surprised by how good it was. In fact I wanted to watch it again because it happens so fast. You get sucked in and before you know it the credits are rolling. Rambo was the most violent and graphic of the series, maybe of all the macho action movies I've ever seen, but it's mark as a film came from its substance and personality. I wondered what happend to Stallone after he made Get Carter in the 90's. He must have disappeared to Paul Haggis' basement for a few years and taken scrupulpous notes on how to develop an unforgettable screenplay (Haggis wrote 'Crash', 'Million Dollar Baby', 'Casino Royale' and the new Bond film 'Quantum of Solace' as well as 'In the Valley of Elah'). There is a parallel between the first and sixth Rocky film as there is with First Blood (1984) and Rambo (2008). In each of the series' finale you have an aged hero who is confronting the true nature of their existence: one is a fighter and one is a killer. Stallone proved that his acting has blossomed as he dons a few more wrinkles. Put this one in your Netflix que today.


Bruce Willis: John McLane in the Die Hard series

For years there was talk of Willis coming back in some wild hostage situation so that he could save the day again. The orginal Die Hard is potentially the greatest action movie of all time. I've had it on my DVR for five weeks so that I can turn it on when I am in the mood for the mother of all shoot 'em up films (Wedding Crashers is on there as well for the mother of all laughs). In Die Hard 4 (2007) McLane is battling a cyber terrorist and running all over the D.C. area with a hacker at his hip who the bad guys are after. Len Wiseman, who directed the Underworld series, did a great job of putting together some entertaining action sequences but there was something missing from the meal. Where the revival of Balboa and Rambo returned to their roots I felt like McLane was too sure of himself in an unsure world. There were flashes of what made him great in the original, but the film's void of recapturing the overall essence of the character and the grit that we have come to love was never filled. I guess of it was that bad Iwouldn't have purchased it, right? In my defense it was one of those Blockbuster Previously Viewed DVD tables for $4.99. Not a bad film, just didn't hit as well as our previous batters.

Eddie Murphy: In talks to play Axel Foley again in the Beverly Hills Cop series

Poor Eddie needs a hit worse than Amy Winehouse. He is so desperate for one of his films to click with someone other than kids who only know him as Donkey and receive recognition from a film group other than the Razzies (an annual award show for the worst films of the year). Eddie, take notes from Stallone-return to Axel's roots. BHC I and BHC II were fantastic, BHC III...why? Did you need a paycheck or what? The only part worth remembering was Surge (a reprised role played by Bronson Pinchot who is hillarious in the original). Do not pull a Tom Cruise and sign off on a script just because your public image is tainted and your last hit was in the 90's. Bring Axel back, but tell Mike Myers to stay home.