It’s always hard to go into a heavily nominated film for me. This won’t surprise you at all if you know me, but I tend to overanalyze things… So, the question with this film for most is, “Did Mickey Rourke get snubbed at the Oscars?” Well, I can’t answer that because I haven’t seen Milk. I think the bigger question should be, “Would this movie’s story propel over the performances?” The answer is… not quite, but The Wrestler is still a powerful independent film that dissects the fear of loneliness and losing what is most important to you. Rourke plays Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a huge 80’s wrestling icon that finally has to face the reality of his age and the fact that he can’t demolish his body in stinky convention centers anymore. Rourke’s performance is pretty amazing as he captures the essence of the toils of life in an almost too frightening way. It’s the type of acting that transcends into normal life. Watching this movie will cause you to start seeing “real” people on the streets and thinking of Randy “The Ram.” Not because they look like former wrestlers, but you start to see and visualize the personalized hell on their faces, and you can’t help but be reminded of this film’s messages. It’s a very grim movie, but it stays with you, and you come to realize that the things you take stock in truly form you into who you are, for better or for worse. Some of the scenes and situations are a little clichéd from time to time, but Rourke’s amazing performance and director Darren Aronofsky’s innovative shooting style makes me give The Wrestler 4 out of 5 hair-metal songs.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
The Wrestler (2008)
It’s always hard to go into a heavily nominated film for me. This won’t surprise you at all if you know me, but I tend to overanalyze things… So, the question with this film for most is, “Did Mickey Rourke get snubbed at the Oscars?” Well, I can’t answer that because I haven’t seen Milk. I think the bigger question should be, “Would this movie’s story propel over the performances?” The answer is… not quite, but The Wrestler is still a powerful independent film that dissects the fear of loneliness and losing what is most important to you. Rourke plays Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a huge 80’s wrestling icon that finally has to face the reality of his age and the fact that he can’t demolish his body in stinky convention centers anymore. Rourke’s performance is pretty amazing as he captures the essence of the toils of life in an almost too frightening way. It’s the type of acting that transcends into normal life. Watching this movie will cause you to start seeing “real” people on the streets and thinking of Randy “The Ram.” Not because they look like former wrestlers, but you start to see and visualize the personalized hell on their faces, and you can’t help but be reminded of this film’s messages. It’s a very grim movie, but it stays with you, and you come to realize that the things you take stock in truly form you into who you are, for better or for worse. Some of the scenes and situations are a little clichéd from time to time, but Rourke’s amazing performance and director Darren Aronofsky’s innovative shooting style makes me give The Wrestler 4 out of 5 hair-metal songs.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Survivor: Tocantins - Finale
I've been planning a certain something for Coach for a long time now when he got voted out. I thought it was going to be a lot earlier than it was, but all along I was going to write something from his point of view. But, he ended his "reign" in such a ridiculous fashion, I decided to follow suite: So, before I get to the finale, I would like to recite a poem:
My attempts to be a strong warrior and Survivor player,
were challenged even though I tried to avoid Exile island.
I endured criticism from Erinn, Sierra and all the naysayers,
But with unexpected back pain, immunity lost was unplanned,
and the wizard put the final stake into the Dragon Slayer.
(I know it's not the greatest, but give me some credit, ok?!)
The final four, which wasn't a huge surprise was J.T., Stephen, Taj and Erinn. What was the surprise that followed a spider-web challenge built just for J.T., was the outing of Taj. I'm still trying to figure out the reasoning behind this. They said it was because Taj was more of a threat to win individual immunity in the final three than Erinn was and I don't buy that at all. Besides the challenge way back when everybody played water-tackle-basketball, Taj has not been a threat at all. I don't know if Stephen and J.T. were scared that they might not hold up to their promise to be in the final two, which apparently cracked anyway. I think Taj wouldn't have been frustrated at all to be third and she would have probably cast a vote for Stephen. But they pretty much just made their only Jalapao ally very, very angry.
The regret was apparent when the final three returned to camp and Erinn couldn't shut her yapper. Then my pick Stephen decided to start a new gameplan. I think it was called "Self-implode" because from the moment him and Erinn had their little heart to heart, it seemed like Stephen did everything in his power to destroy the great game he had played up to this point. Although I wasn't the biggest fan of Erinn, I definitely knew she was smart enough to weasel herself into the final two.
I liked the final immunity challenge because it was different than the endurance ones we are used to seeing, yet it obviously tested your mental prowess. J.T. proved once again that concentration can get you a long way in winning a challenge and Stephen just let his nerves overtake him. Then after this, the bond that seemed to have no faults in it broke. Erinn made an ingenious move by pleading a brilliant case to J.T. to take her to the final two. Now, I don't blame Stephen AT ALL for talking to Erinn, but when J.T. confronted him on it, all he had to say was, "Yes, I talked to her about that, but I wanted to throw her off our game. I wanted to see if she would approach you about it..." There, all is said and done.
I honestly think J.T. was dead set at that point to bring Erinn to the final two, but his plan changed at tribal council because Stephen began to be more talkative than he ever should have been. He answered Jeff's questions so badly, I think J.T.'s plans changed. He saw a jury that would respect him for bringing the strongest player with him (which means more votes) and he now had a jury that hated Stephen at that moment more than Erinn. I do think friendship played into it as well, don't get me wrong, but J.T. was so good at reading people at this game, and at that moment he saw that Stephen would be more hated in the final two than Erinn, which had not been the case up to that point.
I've never been the biggest fan of the final tribal council. It provides for all sorts of akwardness, which I know is the point, but it usually just ends up being a jury full of resentful players getting their last two cents in and being all coy about who their vote is going to be for. Besides for Sierra who took this route, I thought the jury asked great questions for the most part and they were ones that actually made the other two squirm, well Stephen at least. Like Amanda in China and Fans vs. Favorites, Stephen did an awful job of pleading his case. Stephen did a great job in this game... he strategized well, seemed to play the social game well (until the end), and made very strong allies, but none of this shine through. For a while in my mind I had Stephen over J.T., because it did seem like Stephen made the plans and J.T. went along but diverted if it shone a bad light on him (how brilliant was it not to vote for Coach?). But by the end, I thought nobody was more deserving of winning than J.T. I was surprised that Stephen got absolutely no votes, but that's how bad he did at that last tribal council.
I thought it was great to see a final two that had the two strongest players in it, and to see somebody win that I thought absolutely played a flawless game throughout. J.T. was a provider, everybody loved him (although he played a part in everybody getting voted out), he was awesome in challenges, and he alligned himself with the right people at the right time.
Congratulations to Roger for winning this season! At the beginning, I was certain J.T. was going to make it to at least the jury, but usually somebody who is so strong gets a target on his chest early. J.T. played that Southern charm to perfection and he showed that you can play this game with intensity and strategy, but still have everybody love you at the end. By far, one of the top Survivor players ever. Wow, it sounds like I have a man-crush on him too... Great pick Roger...
We have at least two more seasons of Survivor left... it'll be a long summer, but in the meantime watch So You Think You Can Dance, you won't regret it...
Thanks for reading all my updates this spring and being patient for all my delays. I hope you love reading them as much as I like writing them. Also, I think it's time to reapply again, don't you? As always, I have to leave you with some questions...
Will there ever be a more colorful character than Coach? Did you think Taj deserved to be voted out like that? If Erinn were in the final two, would she had a chance at all of winning? Was Stephen his own worst enemy? And would you agree that J.T. is one of the best Survivor players ever...
Until the fall...
My attempts to be a strong warrior and Survivor player,
were challenged even though I tried to avoid Exile island.
I endured criticism from Erinn, Sierra and all the naysayers,
But with unexpected back pain, immunity lost was unplanned,
and the wizard put the final stake into the Dragon Slayer.
(I know it's not the greatest, but give me some credit, ok?!)
The final four, which wasn't a huge surprise was J.T., Stephen, Taj and Erinn. What was the surprise that followed a spider-web challenge built just for J.T., was the outing of Taj. I'm still trying to figure out the reasoning behind this. They said it was because Taj was more of a threat to win individual immunity in the final three than Erinn was and I don't buy that at all. Besides the challenge way back when everybody played water-tackle-basketball, Taj has not been a threat at all. I don't know if Stephen and J.T. were scared that they might not hold up to their promise to be in the final two, which apparently cracked anyway. I think Taj wouldn't have been frustrated at all to be third and she would have probably cast a vote for Stephen. But they pretty much just made their only Jalapao ally very, very angry.
The regret was apparent when the final three returned to camp and Erinn couldn't shut her yapper. Then my pick Stephen decided to start a new gameplan. I think it was called "Self-implode" because from the moment him and Erinn had their little heart to heart, it seemed like Stephen did everything in his power to destroy the great game he had played up to this point. Although I wasn't the biggest fan of Erinn, I definitely knew she was smart enough to weasel herself into the final two.
I liked the final immunity challenge because it was different than the endurance ones we are used to seeing, yet it obviously tested your mental prowess. J.T. proved once again that concentration can get you a long way in winning a challenge and Stephen just let his nerves overtake him. Then after this, the bond that seemed to have no faults in it broke. Erinn made an ingenious move by pleading a brilliant case to J.T. to take her to the final two. Now, I don't blame Stephen AT ALL for talking to Erinn, but when J.T. confronted him on it, all he had to say was, "Yes, I talked to her about that, but I wanted to throw her off our game. I wanted to see if she would approach you about it..." There, all is said and done.
I honestly think J.T. was dead set at that point to bring Erinn to the final two, but his plan changed at tribal council because Stephen began to be more talkative than he ever should have been. He answered Jeff's questions so badly, I think J.T.'s plans changed. He saw a jury that would respect him for bringing the strongest player with him (which means more votes) and he now had a jury that hated Stephen at that moment more than Erinn. I do think friendship played into it as well, don't get me wrong, but J.T. was so good at reading people at this game, and at that moment he saw that Stephen would be more hated in the final two than Erinn, which had not been the case up to that point.
I've never been the biggest fan of the final tribal council. It provides for all sorts of akwardness, which I know is the point, but it usually just ends up being a jury full of resentful players getting their last two cents in and being all coy about who their vote is going to be for. Besides for Sierra who took this route, I thought the jury asked great questions for the most part and they were ones that actually made the other two squirm, well Stephen at least. Like Amanda in China and Fans vs. Favorites, Stephen did an awful job of pleading his case. Stephen did a great job in this game... he strategized well, seemed to play the social game well (until the end), and made very strong allies, but none of this shine through. For a while in my mind I had Stephen over J.T., because it did seem like Stephen made the plans and J.T. went along but diverted if it shone a bad light on him (how brilliant was it not to vote for Coach?). But by the end, I thought nobody was more deserving of winning than J.T. I was surprised that Stephen got absolutely no votes, but that's how bad he did at that last tribal council.
I thought it was great to see a final two that had the two strongest players in it, and to see somebody win that I thought absolutely played a flawless game throughout. J.T. was a provider, everybody loved him (although he played a part in everybody getting voted out), he was awesome in challenges, and he alligned himself with the right people at the right time.
Congratulations to Roger for winning this season! At the beginning, I was certain J.T. was going to make it to at least the jury, but usually somebody who is so strong gets a target on his chest early. J.T. played that Southern charm to perfection and he showed that you can play this game with intensity and strategy, but still have everybody love you at the end. By far, one of the top Survivor players ever. Wow, it sounds like I have a man-crush on him too... Great pick Roger...
We have at least two more seasons of Survivor left... it'll be a long summer, but in the meantime watch So You Think You Can Dance, you won't regret it...
Thanks for reading all my updates this spring and being patient for all my delays. I hope you love reading them as much as I like writing them. Also, I think it's time to reapply again, don't you? As always, I have to leave you with some questions...
Will there ever be a more colorful character than Coach? Did you think Taj deserved to be voted out like that? If Erinn were in the final two, would she had a chance at all of winning? Was Stephen his own worst enemy? And would you agree that J.T. is one of the best Survivor players ever...
Until the fall...
Thursday, May 21, 2009
#100: Ben-Hur (1959)
*Oscar winner:
Best Actor (Charlton Heston), Best Supporting Actor (Hugh Griffith), Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Effects, Best Film Editing, Best Music, Best Picture, Best Sound *Unequaled until 1997’s Titanic
Ben-Hur is a Biblical epic in which a Jewish prince of Jerusalem, Judea Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), has his whole life turned upside down when his old friend Messala, a high-ranking officer of Rome, throws Ben-Hur into slavery after he is wrongfully accused of trying to murder the Governor of Rome, and for good measure, locks his mother and sister in jail as well. Told alongside Jesus’ ministry on Earth, the film follows Ben-Hur’s incredible journey to find those closest to him and seek revenge on Messala.
It’s a great plot. You can’t help but think of other epic films like Braveheart and Gladiator, but the big thing for me was that it took 3 1/2 hours to tell this story when it could have just as easily been told in 2 1/2 hours or less. It’s hard to adjust to the theatrical acting in the film because it just makes the scenes seem that much longer. But it is amazing to watch just for the set design, and oh yeah, have I mentioned the chariot scene yet? This movie really was truly an amazing feat for something made in 1959. If it was made today, I can imagine all the sets just being computer effects, like 300. Ben-Hur is a movie that has its ups and downs, but like many roller-coaster rides, you are glad that you stepped out and took the ride.
I give Ben-Hur 3.5 out of 5 spiky wheels.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
AFI'S 100 Years... 100 Movies
In the summer of 2007, The American Film Institute updated their list of the 100 Greatest American Movies, which was originally released in the summer of 1997. I'm going to embark on a journey where I watch #100 all the way #1!
“Why do this?” you may ask. Well, when I looked at the updated list, I was kind of surprised to discover that I’ve seen 67 out of the 100 movies throughout my lifetime. That’s really not too bad, but as I examined the list more thoroughly, I found myself blushing as I could not cross off some of the movies. I have seen 9 out of the top 10, but can I really call myself a movie fan if I haven’t seen On The Waterfront, The Sound of Music, or even The Gold Rush?
Even if I have seen the film, it will be good to revisit it because many on the list I saw as a kid (Hitchcock’s Vertigo & North By Northwest) and I can’t remember those all that well. I’m not sure when I’ll get through all of them, but hopefully it’ll make me appreciate film more even though we are constantly bombarded by the summer blockbusters.
Thanks for reading along with this and I hope that if you have the time, you can follow along as well and truly discover the classics of cinema!
Even if I have seen the film, it will be good to revisit it because many on the list I saw as a kid (Hitchcock’s Vertigo & North By Northwest) and I can’t remember those all that well. I’m not sure when I’ll get through all of them, but hopefully it’ll make me appreciate film more even though we are constantly bombarded by the summer blockbusters.
Thanks for reading along with this and I hope that if you have the time, you can follow along as well and truly discover the classics of cinema!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Survivor: Tocantins - Week 11
Whitney and I didn't get a chance to watch this week's episode until last night, so here are some quick thoughts. With the episode tonight and the finale on Sunday, I'll have plenty to write about.
* I don't know why Coach was so upset. He wanted Sierra gone. So funny that a person would actually say out loud, "Cowards. Cowards. Cowards. All of them."
* Debbie showed that you got to play consistent in this game. She was a little too strong with her strategizing too late.
* I want to say that Stephen and J.T. better not get bit by the overconfident bug as well, but they seem to still be making smart moves.
* A little disappointed that the auction reward wasn't longer. Those are always fun to watch.
* If you say that you didn't cry at Taj's reaction to seeing Eddie George, you are lying.
* Coach... you brought your assistant coach, really??? More and more I think that a Survivor factory created this man.
* Stephen finally won a challenge! Also, he guaranteed that it will never be used by giving away how he won it.
* I think it was a brilliant move not to tell Coach about Debbie getting the boot. So, when they come back to camp they'll say it was because she had turned on him and he will forget all.
* I know that it is still Stephen, J.T., Taj and Erinn, but I've never seen a not so solid four go so far. I wouldn't be surprised if Erinn gets voted out next because you just don't have to worry that much about Coach at the end.
* This was another great episode. I'm really liking this season. It has me guessing at tribal council almost every time.
I'll try to write another recap before Sunday... wish me luck!
* I don't know why Coach was so upset. He wanted Sierra gone. So funny that a person would actually say out loud, "Cowards. Cowards. Cowards. All of them."
* Debbie showed that you got to play consistent in this game. She was a little too strong with her strategizing too late.
* I want to say that Stephen and J.T. better not get bit by the overconfident bug as well, but they seem to still be making smart moves.
* A little disappointed that the auction reward wasn't longer. Those are always fun to watch.
* If you say that you didn't cry at Taj's reaction to seeing Eddie George, you are lying.
* Coach... you brought your assistant coach, really??? More and more I think that a Survivor factory created this man.
* Stephen finally won a challenge! Also, he guaranteed that it will never be used by giving away how he won it.
* I think it was a brilliant move not to tell Coach about Debbie getting the boot. So, when they come back to camp they'll say it was because she had turned on him and he will forget all.
* I know that it is still Stephen, J.T., Taj and Erinn, but I've never seen a not so solid four go so far. I wouldn't be surprised if Erinn gets voted out next because you just don't have to worry that much about Coach at the end.
* This was another great episode. I'm really liking this season. It has me guessing at tribal council almost every time.
I'll try to write another recap before Sunday... wish me luck!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The Foot Fist Way (2006)
This film was quietly released into art house theaters with the tag of, “Presented by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay (Talladega Nights, FunnyOrDie.com),” and from the previews, it seemed to be billed as a raunchy Napoleon Dynamite. Director Jody Hill (Observe and Report, HBO’s Eastbound & Down) and star Danny McBride (Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express) have moved on to bigger things, but The Foot Fist Way does not prove that somebody’s earlier works are their best. Shot on a shoestring budget, it follows Fred Simmons (McBride), a shopping center Taekwondo instructor who is more vulgar and disillusioned than talented. The plot isn’t that important because this totally is a calling card for a couple of guys to say and do things to just get a reaction. Some of it works, but the majority of the material seems like an inside joke between teenagers. You can definitely see the star power of McBride and he can pull off many of these stunts that others can’t. The problem is that except for the un-funny villain, nobody else is as cartoonish as the main character. So, the film comes across as if Looney Tunes characters were placed in the real world, which turns out, doesn’t work. You can’t help but compare this to Napoleon Dynamite, because of the budget, feel, look, and editing style. The difference is, Dynamite found a balance between implausibility and reality, where The Foot Fist Way is all over the place. There are some memorable moments and lines, but just ask me about them and it’ll save you a movie’s worth of time. I give The Foot Fist Way 2 out of 5 demo tapes.
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009)
Although I would consider fellow Longview High School graduate, Matthew McConaughey’s films more on the bad side than good, his charm is infectious just because you know he probably knows this. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past takes The Christmas Carol theme we all know so well and thrusts it onto Connor Mead (McConaughey), an egotistical, big-time photographer who attends his brother’s wedding, despite his disdain for the sacred tradition. Of course one of his former loves is a bridesmaid… and you can probably figure out the rest from here. There isn’t a whole lot to say about the film except that if you like the trailer, you’ll like the movie. It was one of those films that you decide whether to have fun or not as you walk into the theater. This time I had fun. I was able to discount some of the bad acting and implausible characters and focused on the fun of the three ghosts and their leader (Michael Douglas), and how they would plop in and out of Connor’s life. You know there is a happy ending coming, so it keeps you invested. It doesn’t even come close to having the moral impact that past Scrooges have presented to us, but I’ll just say that it was nice to see a chase scene in a romantic comedy that wasn’t necessarily aimed at the main love interest (Jennifer Garner). As I previously said, you’ll enjoy this one about as much you think you will. With that, I give Ghosts of Girlfriends Past 3 out of 5 “Time After Time” montage sequences.• On a side note… This film didn’t have much language, but I’ve never heard the word sex or the slang for the word used so many times in a PG-13 rated film. I don’t know if it gets a pass because it’s a romantic comedy, but it shows that the MPAA rating system is screwy if this gets a PG-13 rating and Slumdog Millionaire gets a R. I’m just saying…
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
I went into this new X-Men installment with pretty low expectations, but two things spurred me to move forward. 1) To be loyal to the nerdiness I possessed as a kid when I faithfully read the series and watched the cartoon. 2) It was the official start of the summer blockbuster season. I left the third film, X-Men: The Last Stand, disappointed, so I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. I exited Wolverine with just a so-so feeling… so is it wrong that I was glad about this? Everything about this movie just had the “OK” stamp on it. There wasn’t much sloppiness to the direction or the acting; it was just bland all around. The problem is that this movie plays out in full that was shown as flashbacks in the previous installments. It turns out those flashbacks were more than sufficient because what you get here are actions scenes, characters and dialogue with no meat that ultimately lead you to an ending with no mystery. Hugh Jackman does great with what he is given although he’s stripped of any humor or likeability found in the other portrayals of his character. Also, I liked some of the supporting characters, but they are never given enough time to develop, so they are merely there just to get us from point A to point B. This movie was neither great nor awful, but with a slew of other big releases on its heels, this one will be as quickly forgotten as Logan’s memory. I give Wolverine 2.5 out of 5 Canadian soldiers fighting in American wars.
Junebug (2005)
This is one of my favorites in my archive and thought you might enjoy reading it. Originally written on July 29, 2006.
One of the best "new" films I have watched in a long time. I loved, loved this movie. It's about a British art dealer from Chicago who goes with her husband to North Carolina to knock out two birds with one stone to talk to a potential client (this is an overstatement) and meet his family for the first time.
I know you are immediately thinking of Fish Out of Water comedies, possibly like Monster-in-Law or Home for the Holidays (although I haven't see either of these), or Meet the Parents (which I have), but this does not fall into the usual cliches.
I guess I would categorize this film as a dramedy. More on the dramatic side, but the comedic scenes had me laughing more than I have laughed in a long time.
I'll touch on some of the few things I loved about this film:
#1: The setting. I haven't spent much time in North Carolina, but what little I have seen of it and what little time I have spent with the people from this state, it reminds me a lot of East Texas. This movie captures this southern atmosphere perfectly. It pokes fun a bit, but not in a mean manner. The guy who wrote this movie is from the Winston-Salem area, so he obviously knows what he is writing about. The scenery will have you going, "I know a place like that" and the characters will have you saying, "I definitely know somebody like that." If you are from the South, that is.
#2: The acting. Amazing all around. I hadn't really seen the other supporting female roles that got nominated in 2006, but after seeing this, Amy Adams could have definitely taken it with pride. She is amazing as a dumb-witted pregnant girl, but she adds so much more depth to this character than your average "air-head" that is usually portrayed in movies. She actually reminded a whole, whole lot of a good friend of mine. A big part of why I enjoyed the performance.
Also, Ben McKenzie's portrayal as the jealous, closed-off brother, Johnny is excellent as well. I haven't seen him in anything else before, although I recognized him from the O.C. I have never seen that show and never will, but his performance here not only surprised me, but made me change my mind about how I felt about his character multiple times throughout the movie. But the thing is, he stays constant throughout. You know that is good acting when your feelings change that much about a character.
I could go on and on, which I already have, so I will stop. This is definitely an independent film, so I wouldn't be surprised if some people "don't get it", but I would be completely taken back if somebody wasn't moved at least once while watching this.
Warning, there is quite a bit of sexual content in this movie. If you do see this because of my glowing review, I am warning you in advance.
I know you are immediately thinking of Fish Out of Water comedies, possibly like Monster-in-Law or Home for the Holidays (although I haven't see either of these), or Meet the Parents (which I have), but this does not fall into the usual cliches.
I guess I would categorize this film as a dramedy. More on the dramatic side, but the comedic scenes had me laughing more than I have laughed in a long time.
I'll touch on some of the few things I loved about this film:
#1: The setting. I haven't spent much time in North Carolina, but what little I have seen of it and what little time I have spent with the people from this state, it reminds me a lot of East Texas. This movie captures this southern atmosphere perfectly. It pokes fun a bit, but not in a mean manner. The guy who wrote this movie is from the Winston-Salem area, so he obviously knows what he is writing about. The scenery will have you going, "I know a place like that" and the characters will have you saying, "I definitely know somebody like that." If you are from the South, that is.
#2: The acting. Amazing all around. I hadn't really seen the other supporting female roles that got nominated in 2006, but after seeing this, Amy Adams could have definitely taken it with pride. She is amazing as a dumb-witted pregnant girl, but she adds so much more depth to this character than your average "air-head" that is usually portrayed in movies. She actually reminded a whole, whole lot of a good friend of mine. A big part of why I enjoyed the performance.
Also, Ben McKenzie's portrayal as the jealous, closed-off brother, Johnny is excellent as well. I haven't seen him in anything else before, although I recognized him from the O.C. I have never seen that show and never will, but his performance here not only surprised me, but made me change my mind about how I felt about his character multiple times throughout the movie. But the thing is, he stays constant throughout. You know that is good acting when your feelings change that much about a character.
I could go on and on, which I already have, so I will stop. This is definitely an independent film, so I wouldn't be surprised if some people "don't get it", but I would be completely taken back if somebody wasn't moved at least once while watching this.
Warning, there is quite a bit of sexual content in this movie. If you do see this because of my glowing review, I am warning you in advance.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Survivor: Tocantins - Week 10
Wow, I was really surprised. I thought I was going to hear him rant and complain about the vote, but instead Coach and Debbie just sweet talked Stephen and J.T. That was hilarious because people usually go nuts, but it was actually a smart move because if they had, they would have totally shot their chance of winning. It somehow did still prove loyalty to their alliance, despite losing their "leader" Tyson.
Thus came the bragging from Sierra (post-tribal), the emotional thumping of Sierra (the reward challenge), the verbal, yet totally justified bashing of Debbie and Coach from Sierra, the ultimate demise of Sierra (tribal council) and Stephen and J.T. in about the best position that I've ever seen two people be in. I think it was real smart to get Sierra out of there because you now have instilled faith back into Coach and Debbie, yet you still have Taj and I'm guessing Erinn on the other side. It's just a matter of who you think is best to compete with in the end.
By the way, from my memory, this has to be the worst Exile Island yet. It looks so miserable there. I'm glad they didn't replant Bredan's immunity idol. It's nice to not have that as the main focus point of all the strategizing. I think it's funny that the other one hasn't come up yet, but I'm sure everybody is assuming Taj has it.
This particular reward challenge is always entertaining. You always feel sorry for the person who is getting the brunt of it but usually others take some hits as well, but in this case, nobody else took it personal. Coach just laughed when he got called out for his antics. Also, they practically gave Stephen the win on this one. They either are not seeing him as a threat or they are just thinking about everybody else more. I wondered whether or not it was smart to take J.T and Taj on the reward, but it turned out to be just fine because of the fireworks that soon came from the former members of Timbira (more on that in a sec). I wonder how Erinn felt about being sent to Exile though. If I were the former members of Jalapao, I would work real hard to solidify her as "the fourth" as soon as she got back.
So, that was some intense fighting that went on. It just wasn't people getting upset at people, but you could tell Debbie was really hurt. I don't know if it was more frustration or what, but things really came to a boiling point. Especially when we got to see, *GASP*, Coach get caught in a lie. Seeing him squirm both at that point and at tribal council was, I'm sure, a huge victory for the millions who watch this show. I think Sierra will be more proud of the fact that she got Coach to lie versus not winning the game.
And how about Coach winning immunity... Just when his ego seemed to get a little bit smaller, this challenge has to come around and ruin it for everybody! I wonder if National Geographic will do a documentary about this legendary win?
As a close, I just want to point out that I'm glad that they gave some focus on Debbie this episode. From the pre-interviews, she seemed like she was more than just the older woman who rode coattails but then she got lost among the shuffle of eccentric characters this season. I'm glad to see that some of premonitions were right as we were able to glimpse that one, she does want to win, two, she is strategizing with the best of them, and three, she will continue to do so as next's week teaser seems to suggest. I don't think it will be enough for her to win, but she could easily take it like Tina did in Season 2 if things fall in place for her.
So... did you enjoy seeing Coach getting caught in a lie? Are Stephen and J.T. in the best position ever? Do you think Debbie is a strong player? Did you think they made the right choice to vote Sierra out?
And most importantly, are you going to cry in next week's family reward challenge? (I'm going to laugh if the Eddie George ends up coming back to camp).
Thus came the bragging from Sierra (post-tribal), the emotional thumping of Sierra (the reward challenge), the verbal, yet totally justified bashing of Debbie and Coach from Sierra, the ultimate demise of Sierra (tribal council) and Stephen and J.T. in about the best position that I've ever seen two people be in. I think it was real smart to get Sierra out of there because you now have instilled faith back into Coach and Debbie, yet you still have Taj and I'm guessing Erinn on the other side. It's just a matter of who you think is best to compete with in the end.
By the way, from my memory, this has to be the worst Exile Island yet. It looks so miserable there. I'm glad they didn't replant Bredan's immunity idol. It's nice to not have that as the main focus point of all the strategizing. I think it's funny that the other one hasn't come up yet, but I'm sure everybody is assuming Taj has it.
This particular reward challenge is always entertaining. You always feel sorry for the person who is getting the brunt of it but usually others take some hits as well, but in this case, nobody else took it personal. Coach just laughed when he got called out for his antics. Also, they practically gave Stephen the win on this one. They either are not seeing him as a threat or they are just thinking about everybody else more. I wondered whether or not it was smart to take J.T and Taj on the reward, but it turned out to be just fine because of the fireworks that soon came from the former members of Timbira (more on that in a sec). I wonder how Erinn felt about being sent to Exile though. If I were the former members of Jalapao, I would work real hard to solidify her as "the fourth" as soon as she got back.
So, that was some intense fighting that went on. It just wasn't people getting upset at people, but you could tell Debbie was really hurt. I don't know if it was more frustration or what, but things really came to a boiling point. Especially when we got to see, *GASP*, Coach get caught in a lie. Seeing him squirm both at that point and at tribal council was, I'm sure, a huge victory for the millions who watch this show. I think Sierra will be more proud of the fact that she got Coach to lie versus not winning the game.
And how about Coach winning immunity... Just when his ego seemed to get a little bit smaller, this challenge has to come around and ruin it for everybody! I wonder if National Geographic will do a documentary about this legendary win?
As a close, I just want to point out that I'm glad that they gave some focus on Debbie this episode. From the pre-interviews, she seemed like she was more than just the older woman who rode coattails but then she got lost among the shuffle of eccentric characters this season. I'm glad to see that some of premonitions were right as we were able to glimpse that one, she does want to win, two, she is strategizing with the best of them, and three, she will continue to do so as next's week teaser seems to suggest. I don't think it will be enough for her to win, but she could easily take it like Tina did in Season 2 if things fall in place for her.
So... did you enjoy seeing Coach getting caught in a lie? Are Stephen and J.T. in the best position ever? Do you think Debbie is a strong player? Did you think they made the right choice to vote Sierra out?
And most importantly, are you going to cry in next week's family reward challenge? (I'm going to laugh if the Eddie George ends up coming back to camp).
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Frost/Nixon (2008)
Although I was not alive during Nixon’s presidential term, the effects of his actions can still be felt today. Whether it was his impeachment hearings or the Vietnam War, any current, negative political act seems to trace back to Nixon’s decisions. I don’t know how accurate actor Frank Langella’s portrayal of Richard Nixon is, but he captures the presence of a broken and powerful man perfectly. It’s not the characteristics that he presents that stand out as much as the traits of a man whose ego and strengths were both so big that they led to his ultimate downfall. Besides for some, I thought, unnecessary setup at the beginning, the brilliance of this film was how it summed up a man’s legacy with interactions with David Frost (Michael Sheen). Frost isn’t quite as intriguing as Nixon, although he is given just as much screen time, but what shines through is the power of the T.V. interview and that with just the right words, nobody is susceptible to scrutiny. The dialogue between Frost and Nixon are fascinating. You can’t help but get into the drama of things although the ending is pretty predictable. Ron Howard’s direction is solid but a little unforgettable due to the fact that Langella’s performance carries the film. His version of the flawed man makes the whole thing worth watching and will make you forever ponder what has and will drive America’s presidential leaders of both the past and the future. I give Frost/Nixon 4 out of 5 Italian shoes.
Adventureland (2009)
Movie trailers are very misleading. This movie was billed as a comedy from the creators of Superbad. The image that should pop into your head is quite the opposite of what this movie actually is, which happens to be a wonderful thing. This film is a pretty serious drama that captures “the coming of age” moment in life perfectly. James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg, channeling a deeper Michael Cera) is an intellectual dork whose post-college plans come crashing down as he is faced to take a summer job at a crappy local amusement park. He meets the girl of his dreams (Twilight’s Kristen Stewart), makes new friends (the brilliant Martin Starr from Freaks & Geeks) and embraces the rebellion of coming into his own. On the surface this seems like nothing new, but director Greg Mottola uses the 80’s background and soundtrack to showcase that time in life where people and atmosphere, whether you like them or not, has more of an influence of who you are than today’s media and technology might tell you. There are a few missteps… Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig, although funny, seem out of place and there are a few scenes that drag the story along too much. Fortunately, it’s not enough to retract that nostalgic feeling I got of the time where the world was at my fingertips, but I just couldn’t grasp it. I give Adventureland 4 out of 5 corndogs.
Friday, May 1, 2009
In Her Shoes
I came into this movie with a great hesitancy. Two sisters who are complete opposites go on two different journeys after a huge fight… One finds love and one is reunited with a grandmother that she never knew existed. Oh yeah, they also both like shoes… As a guy, do you see why I wasn’t too thrilled about watching this one? Like the saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover, because I was surprised at what patience director Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential) took with this material. This is a movie that takes a realistic approach to the sisterhood of the main characters, rather than a cheesy one you find in some romantic comedies. This is a great dramedy where you get really invested into the characters and actually are guessing what happens throughout, not because it’s mysterious, but because it develops like a rich novel. Cameron Diaz is probably at her best, which is still just ok, but Toni Collette and Shirley MacLaine are very strong. Also an unknown actor to me, Mark Feuerstein, who plays a love interest, is particularly strong. Guys don’t be too scared because I give In Her Shoes 3.75 out of 5, well… shoes.
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