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.