I Love You, Man... suprisingly hilarious. I scored free passes to this movie and was pleasantly suprised at how funny it was. I have to admit, like all the other movies these guys are in (Paul Rudd and Jason Segel) I wanted to see it but didn't really want to pay for it. Usually I like them but am not stoked on the price of admission. This movie, however, was a clever take on the romantic comedy with two friends playing the roles normally filled by a guy/girl combo and I would have happily paid for it. I found myself laughing loudly the whole way through and the over-the-top gross-out/innuendo factor was not bad. I'm also glad to see Paul Rudd back in the lovable guy next door role. While he is good at being the jerk, seeing him in this movie reminded me of the good old days when he played Phoebe's boyfriend on Friends and his part in Clueless.
Rachel Getting Married...I liked this movie. Not loved, liked. Anne Hathaway did do an amazing job playing a girl fresh from rehab going to her sister's wedding, but I'm not entirely sure she deserved an Oscar nomination for it. I liked the cast in the movie, each character is played well and I did like the "home-movie-indie" way in which the movie was shot. It just didn't wow me. Redbox it.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
hugh jackman is ridiculous
i'm back....again with some quick 'incaseyoumissedthem' reviews.
Slumdog Millionaire...not bollywood, as some have come to categorize it. yes, it takes place in India and there is a dance number at the end but that doesn't make it bollywood people! all that said, it was a wonderfully moving picture with a killer soundtrack.
Bride Wars... serves it's cliche chick-flick purpose. anne hathaway and kate hudson do what they came to do....make you laugh, cry and say "aww..."
Defiance... Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber are very good in this movie. Another good period drama.
Watchmen... don't see until you've taken the time to read the graphic novel. it's a quick and amazing read. I feel like it's only then that you can appreciate the movie for what it was trying to do. The characters are spot on and the cinematography is insane but the story itself is hard to follow in the book...so in the movie i thought that i wouldn't have understood what it was trying to get across if i hadn't read the graphic novel first, so do yourself a favor and read it first. It's a hard book to translate to the screen, but they did the best they could. Aside from an overly-gratutious sex scene it's pretty good. Very good soundtrack.
I didn't get to see very many of the oscar nominated, but they are all going to be at the dollar theater and redbox soon, so here's what's on my to-see list...
Rachel Getting Married
Revolutionary Road
Milk
The Reader
Doubt
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button... not quite the life-altering story about not taking life for granted that it was touted to be but a good story with very good acting. I forgot how much I enjoyed it until I recently saw the preview again. It's quirky and makes you think a bit about life and aging. Brad Pitt rocks as usual and the computer animation used to make him look old is so good it's a little creepy.
Slumdog Millionaire...not bollywood, as some have come to categorize it. yes, it takes place in India and there is a dance number at the end but that doesn't make it bollywood people! all that said, it was a wonderfully moving picture with a killer soundtrack.
Bride Wars... serves it's cliche chick-flick purpose. anne hathaway and kate hudson do what they came to do....make you laugh, cry and say "aww..."
Defiance... Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber are very good in this movie. Another good period drama.
Watchmen... don't see until you've taken the time to read the graphic novel. it's a quick and amazing read. I feel like it's only then that you can appreciate the movie for what it was trying to do. The characters are spot on and the cinematography is insane but the story itself is hard to follow in the book...so in the movie i thought that i wouldn't have understood what it was trying to get across if i hadn't read the graphic novel first, so do yourself a favor and read it first. It's a hard book to translate to the screen, but they did the best they could. Aside from an overly-gratutious sex scene it's pretty good. Very good soundtrack.
I didn't get to see very many of the oscar nominated, but they are all going to be at the dollar theater and redbox soon, so here's what's on my to-see list...
Rachel Getting Married
Revolutionary Road
Milk
The Reader
Doubt
Sunday, December 7, 2008
you left me in the jump jump to die
I remembered the other movie I saw that was not worth it. W I was so bored I not only fell asleep but I WALKED OUT. Which I never do. I will sit through almost anything, but I couldn't sit through this movie. Don't waste your time, money or energy with this movie. It was dull. But do see this holiday movie...
Four Christmases starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn
I liked this movie because it was a super funny comedy that just happened to be set at Christmas. It could have been called Four Hannukahs or Four Thanksgivings or Four Fourth of Julys and been equally funny. Reese and Vince have great chemestry and each one of their four parents are hilarious. Another great performance by Robert Duvall and the very adorable and very little Kristin Chenoweth. Laugh out loud funny, at one point one of my friends nearly fell out of his chair when a baby spit up all over Reese and Vince reacted very dramatically. Maybe not destined to be a Christmas classic but definitely worth at least the price of at least a matinee ticket.
Four Christmases starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn
I liked this movie because it was a super funny comedy that just happened to be set at Christmas. It could have been called Four Hannukahs or Four Thanksgivings or Four Fourth of Julys and been equally funny. Reese and Vince have great chemestry and each one of their four parents are hilarious. Another great performance by Robert Duvall and the very adorable and very little Kristin Chenoweth. Laugh out loud funny, at one point one of my friends nearly fell out of his chair when a baby spit up all over Reese and Vince reacted very dramatically. Maybe not destined to be a Christmas classic but definitely worth at least the price of at least a matinee ticket.
Friday, November 21, 2008
jog on
So sorry for the long absence but it was because movies were disappointing me. I blame the writer's strike and the threat of the actors striking over the summer. They just wanted to get movies out so they didn't polish them as they should have. I'm pretty sure I saw two movies in late october/early november but the only one I can remember is Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and I'm not even going to write about it because it was a big fat waste of my time. The only good thing that came out of it was Micheal Cera's line, "I'm taking a mental health day". But my faith in movies was restored this weekend...one word, four syllables...
Rocknrolla starring Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton and Mark Strong
Guy Ritchie may have outdone himself. (and seriously good riddance to Madonna) If you are a fan of Snatch or Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels then you will love this movie. The basic plotline is about a London "mob boss" (Wilkinson's character makes it clear that "This ain't the mafia", but that's what it really is) and his dealings with a Russian who moves into London and wants to use his contacts, and is willing to pay for it. The problem is that the money keeps getting stolen, as well as painting on loan from the Russian. What follows is a hilarious story about where the money and the painting end up. Great Cast and a great plot and a promise of a sequel. I will be there on opening night.
Rocknrolla starring Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton and Mark Strong
Guy Ritchie may have outdone himself. (and seriously good riddance to Madonna) If you are a fan of Snatch or Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels then you will love this movie. The basic plotline is about a London "mob boss" (Wilkinson's character makes it clear that "This ain't the mafia", but that's what it really is) and his dealings with a Russian who moves into London and wants to use his contacts, and is willing to pay for it. The problem is that the money keeps getting stolen, as well as painting on loan from the Russian. What follows is a hilarious story about where the money and the painting end up. Great Cast and a great plot and a promise of a sequel. I will be there on opening night.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
if the pizza doesn't come...
No new movies this week but here are a few favorites revisited last week.
...we will eat byong-sun.
Kicking and Screaming starring Will Ferrell and Robert Duvall
This movie is an underrated Will Ferrell classic. It was probably overlooked by many Ferrell fans because it is PG and technically a kids movie. But don't be fooled by the simple soccer dad premise. If you watch closely you will catch all kinds of great sarcastic funny things. One of the funniest running gags is a feud between Robert Duvall and his neighbor...Mike Ditka. Oh yes my friends. The Mike Ditka as himself. It's worth a watch for that reason alone.
I can carry you
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King you know who's in it
I am an unashamed Lord of the Rings fan. I think it's about time that we returned to a simpler time, 5 years ago to be exact when the last of the LOTR trilogy was released. You should know the story and if you don't, next time you are sick go and rent all of the films and watch them back to back as you are skipping work/school, if you have seen them invest in the extended versions because they are awesome and well worth the few extra dollars. My favorite part about this and the other two movies is that when watching the characters one isn't distracted by the other parts they have played, they are Frodo, Samwise, Gandalf, Legolas and Aragorn.
Sigh. I seriously love these movies.
...we will eat byong-sun.
Kicking and Screaming starring Will Ferrell and Robert Duvall
This movie is an underrated Will Ferrell classic. It was probably overlooked by many Ferrell fans because it is PG and technically a kids movie. But don't be fooled by the simple soccer dad premise. If you watch closely you will catch all kinds of great sarcastic funny things. One of the funniest running gags is a feud between Robert Duvall and his neighbor...Mike Ditka. Oh yes my friends. The Mike Ditka as himself. It's worth a watch for that reason alone.
I can carry you
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King you know who's in it
I am an unashamed Lord of the Rings fan. I think it's about time that we returned to a simpler time, 5 years ago to be exact when the last of the LOTR trilogy was released. You should know the story and if you don't, next time you are sick go and rent all of the films and watch them back to back as you are skipping work/school, if you have seen them invest in the extended versions because they are awesome and well worth the few extra dollars. My favorite part about this and the other two movies is that when watching the characters one isn't distracted by the other parts they have played, they are Frodo, Samwise, Gandalf, Legolas and Aragorn.
Sigh. I seriously love these movies.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
What's the word?
Big Names don't equal amazing movies...
Appaloosa starring Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen and Jeremy Irons
I really wanted to love this movie. Who doesn't love westerns and Ed Harris? I had such high hopes that his first stab at writing would produce an excellent film. While the clearly closer-that-a-brother friendship with Viggo's character is obvious and well played, it's Renee Zellweger's character who drags the film down. Had her character been a smaller part of the movie and the focus kept on the two men, their friendship and the things that men do in westerns the movie would have been more interesting. Jeremy Irons is great as always as the villain of the small town where the film takes place. It's beautifully filmed and has all the makings of a good movie but the equation just doesn't add up. Wait until you can redbox it or come across it on cable.
How could you forget?
The greatest trick the devil every played...
The Usual Suspects starring Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne and Chazz Palminteri
The mob, drugs, guns and misdirection...what more could you ask for? I never thought I'd like a movie with Stephen Baldwin but I loved this one. It's a great mystery with great characters that will keep you guessing up until the end. Kevin Spacey stars as the only survivor of the explosion of a boat. He tells the story of how he got to this point to Chazz Palminteri, an actor I find myself forgetting about but always enjoying whenever I come across him. This movie also features a very young-looking Benicio del Toro and Kevin Pollack, who is another actor that is good at what he does.
That's all for this week!
Mad props to Alex for making me watch the Usual Suspects and paying for my ticket to Appaloosa...without him this week's post would have been about Scrubs, which is always entertaining, but not a movie.
Appaloosa starring Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen and Jeremy Irons
I really wanted to love this movie. Who doesn't love westerns and Ed Harris? I had such high hopes that his first stab at writing would produce an excellent film. While the clearly closer-that-a-brother friendship with Viggo's character is obvious and well played, it's Renee Zellweger's character who drags the film down. Had her character been a smaller part of the movie and the focus kept on the two men, their friendship and the things that men do in westerns the movie would have been more interesting. Jeremy Irons is great as always as the villain of the small town where the film takes place. It's beautifully filmed and has all the makings of a good movie but the equation just doesn't add up. Wait until you can redbox it or come across it on cable.
How could you forget?
The greatest trick the devil every played...
The Usual Suspects starring Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne and Chazz Palminteri
The mob, drugs, guns and misdirection...what more could you ask for? I never thought I'd like a movie with Stephen Baldwin but I loved this one. It's a great mystery with great characters that will keep you guessing up until the end. Kevin Spacey stars as the only survivor of the explosion of a boat. He tells the story of how he got to this point to Chazz Palminteri, an actor I find myself forgetting about but always enjoying whenever I come across him. This movie also features a very young-looking Benicio del Toro and Kevin Pollack, who is another actor that is good at what he does.
That's all for this week!
Mad props to Alex for making me watch the Usual Suspects and paying for my ticket to Appaloosa...without him this week's post would have been about Scrubs, which is always entertaining, but not a movie.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Movies of note for the week of September 29
Don't judge a movie by it's title...
Ghost Town starring Greg Kinnear and Ricky Gervais
Much better than I thought it would be. I have to admit when I heard the title I wanted to write it off immediately, but then I discovered it has two very underrated actors- Greg Kinnear and Tea Leoni. Very funny and clever. If you've watched the Office (British or American) you'll love the humor. It's the story of a man who goes under the knife for a 'routine' procedure and 'sort of' dies for 7 minutes. After he finds himself being followed by the un-dead who are trying to complete their unfinished business. Seems like a lame plot, but it's actually pretty entertaining. A good date movie that will entertain both sexes. It tugs at your heartstrings while simultaneously tickling you. Worth the price of an evening admission.
Are you concerned about the security...
Burn After Reading starring Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Frances McDormand and John Malcovich among others
The Coen brothers are back to the antics that made them cult-classic gods. Don't get me wrong, I think that they totally deserved the Oscar they got for No Country For Old Men but this movie helps them regain their street cred. If you loved Raising Arizona or Fargo you'll enjoy this. It's fast moving, hilarious and character driven. Every character is well played by their respective actor but it's Brad Pitt's personal trainer-turned-negotiator who steals the show. Go see it, twice even and thank me later.
How Could You Forget?
Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters...
That Thing You Do starring Tom Hanks and Tom Everett Scott
I love this movie for many reasons.
1. features a few more underrated actors- Giovanni Ribisi, Steve Zahn and Ethan Embry
2. who doesn't love movies about music?
3. Tom Hanks and Steve Zahn deliver some great one liners
4. it just makes you feel good inside.
Recently the 2-disc deluxe edition came out with some great bonus features and nerdy tid-bits, like the fact that the band is actually playing the instruments during the entirety of the movie. I'm sure you could find it on DVD for $10 somewhere, so keep an eye out because it's a good one to have on hand.
Ghost Town starring Greg Kinnear and Ricky Gervais
Much better than I thought it would be. I have to admit when I heard the title I wanted to write it off immediately, but then I discovered it has two very underrated actors- Greg Kinnear and Tea Leoni. Very funny and clever. If you've watched the Office (British or American) you'll love the humor. It's the story of a man who goes under the knife for a 'routine' procedure and 'sort of' dies for 7 minutes. After he finds himself being followed by the un-dead who are trying to complete their unfinished business. Seems like a lame plot, but it's actually pretty entertaining. A good date movie that will entertain both sexes. It tugs at your heartstrings while simultaneously tickling you. Worth the price of an evening admission.
Are you concerned about the security...
Burn After Reading starring Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Frances McDormand and John Malcovich among others
The Coen brothers are back to the antics that made them cult-classic gods. Don't get me wrong, I think that they totally deserved the Oscar they got for No Country For Old Men but this movie helps them regain their street cred. If you loved Raising Arizona or Fargo you'll enjoy this. It's fast moving, hilarious and character driven. Every character is well played by their respective actor but it's Brad Pitt's personal trainer-turned-negotiator who steals the show. Go see it, twice even and thank me later.
How Could You Forget?
Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters...
That Thing You Do starring Tom Hanks and Tom Everett Scott
I love this movie for many reasons.
1. features a few more underrated actors- Giovanni Ribisi, Steve Zahn and Ethan Embry
2. who doesn't love movies about music?
3. Tom Hanks and Steve Zahn deliver some great one liners
4. it just makes you feel good inside.
Recently the 2-disc deluxe edition came out with some great bonus features and nerdy tid-bits, like the fact that the band is actually playing the instruments during the entirety of the movie. I'm sure you could find it on DVD for $10 somewhere, so keep an eye out because it's a good one to have on hand.
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