You're probably aware that Oscar nominations were announced today. You're also probably aware that I didn't post in this blog between June and December last year. Here is a completely-unrelated-to-the-Oscars review of the movies I saw in theaters but didn't blog about!*
This is the End
Probably the funniest movie of the year. I love this group of guys and their sense of humor. And it did a great job of freaking out the audience too.
Don Jon
I'm a big JGL fan (The Babbler thinks he should play me in a movie) and of course wanted to see his writing and directorial debut. I'm also a huge fan of Scarlett (already a great name, no need for "ScarJo") so I was in. The trailers made it look like a fun rom-com; instead it was VERY different. I can't really say anymore than that.
Gravity
Best film of the year. I knew I would love it the first time I saw the trailer. I am fascinated with space. But the movie still blew me away. I have no idea how they filmed it. Not a freaking clue. And I was literally on the edge of my seat the entire time. I didn't even notice until the end when I had to unfurl my hands from the armrests. It was like I hadn't breathed in 90 minutes. So intense.
Anchorman 2
I had heard mixed reviews going in but Anchorman is my movie. Whenever I get together with my college roommates we quote Anchorman non-stop. This will never end. So I went into Anchorman 2 not expecting the same level of ridiculousness and memorable one-liners but I was pleasantly surprised. And all the cameos! Totally worth it.
*Yes, I only went to the movies 4 times in 8 months. FML
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Monday, May 20, 2013
Movie Review: The Great Gatsby
I thought the previews for this movie looked good, albeit extremely Baz Luhrmann-y. My only experience with him was Moulin Rouge (and this) and I couldn't get through more than 30 minutes of that movie. But Leonardo DiCaprio cures all and the REAL Spider-Man (take that, Eduardo Saverin) was in fine form.
I really liked 'Gatsby'. It was visually arresting and felt both contemporary and roaring at the same time. I was kind of sick of the phrase "old sport" by the end but I must confess I didn't read the book -- maybe that's why my tolerance was low. Brig thought it stayed surprisingly true to the book and since it is still being taught in English classes 85+ years later, that's probably a good move.
I think I came away most impressed by Joel Edgerton. I didn't know him from anything (apparently he was in Star Wars Episodes II & III but I don't remember him) but he seemed to perfectly embody his character. And while this wasn't exactly a star-making role for Carey Mulligan, I still love her from An Education and recommend that highly. I don't want to end this review by recommending a different movie so go see this too!
I really liked 'Gatsby'. It was visually arresting and felt both contemporary and roaring at the same time. I was kind of sick of the phrase "old sport" by the end but I must confess I didn't read the book -- maybe that's why my tolerance was low. Brig thought it stayed surprisingly true to the book and since it is still being taught in English classes 85+ years later, that's probably a good move.
I think I came away most impressed by Joel Edgerton. I didn't know him from anything (apparently he was in Star Wars Episodes II & III but I don't remember him) but he seemed to perfectly embody his character. And while this wasn't exactly a star-making role for Carey Mulligan, I still love her from An Education and recommend that highly. I don't want to end this review by recommending a different movie so go see this too!
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Movie Review: Iron Man 3
On Sunday, Brig and I went to see the spring spectacle known as Iron Man 3. This was a big deal because it was opening weekend and we never have the urge to rush out and see something right away (e.g. The Dark Knight Rises four weeks after its premiere.) But Robert Downey, Jr. has that kind of a hold over us and he most certainly did not disappoint.
Iron Man 3 is the first of the series not to be directed by Jon Favreau. This time, Shane Black was at the helm and, if you were like me, you read a lot about him in the weeks leading up to the film's release. So when the movie opened with Tony Stark narrating, I wasn't surprised but I didn't like it. "This isn't how you make an Iron Man movie! There is no narration!" That resided quickly though as it was just for the introduction and didn't come back until the last scene.
I'd say Black did a great job. Obviously, there was a lot of pressure being the first solo film released after last summer's game changer (another we were late to theparty theater for) but as we've already seen by all the huge numbers, it's a great success. Downey was on top of his game (as always) and the dialogue was exceptionally funny. The only thing I wish there had been more of was Don Cheadle, who was fantastic.
Iron Man 4? The Avengers 2? Downey isn't under contract after this film and you could almost sense it all ending as the movie closed. We stayed until the post-credits scene and then Marvel pulled a 007 move and put up "Tony Stark will return." But will he return as Downey??? The Avengers 2 already has a Spring 2015 release date and negotiations will be fierce. Here's hoping RDJ gives us one more adventure.
Iron Man 3 is the first of the series not to be directed by Jon Favreau. This time, Shane Black was at the helm and, if you were like me, you read a lot about him in the weeks leading up to the film's release. So when the movie opened with Tony Stark narrating, I wasn't surprised but I didn't like it. "This isn't how you make an Iron Man movie! There is no narration!" That resided quickly though as it was just for the introduction and didn't come back until the last scene.
I'd say Black did a great job. Obviously, there was a lot of pressure being the first solo film released after last summer's game changer (another we were late to the
Iron Man 4? The Avengers 2? Downey isn't under contract after this film and you could almost sense it all ending as the movie closed. We stayed until the post-credits scene and then Marvel pulled a 007 move and put up "Tony Stark will return." But will he return as Downey??? The Avengers 2 already has a Spring 2015 release date and negotiations will be fierce. Here's hoping RDJ gives us one more adventure.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Movie Review: Oz: The Great and Powerful
On Sunday, Brig and I headed up to Chunky's in Nashua for lunch and a movie. We both wanted to see Oz so we could reminisce about our second favorite movie from 1939.
The first thing we noticed upon entering the theater was that a girl was having her birthday party there. Just our luck. The second thing we noticed washow short Brig is and her inability to sit anywhere but in the front how many people were there and that we couldn't be picky with our seats. So, our experience didn't start off so hot but the movie won us over.
It starts similarly to the Wizard of Oz, using the black and white Instragram setting to give it that old-timey feel. The (Spoiler! But if you really don't know the story then that's just sad) tornado comes way sooner than I expected but hey, that just means we get to spend more time in Oz. Oddly enough, the wizard's name (Spoiler! But not really a useful fact or plot point) is also Oz. So, Judy Garland's film could have been called Oz of Oz.
Anyway, fast forward a bit and everything is in color, Oz has met the three witches (Who's good? Who's wicked?) and he's walking down yellow brick roads and making new friends *slash* adventure sidekicks who aren't made out of straw, tin or have a mane. In keeping with the original, Oz's adventure mates are all played by characters he knew from life in Kansas.
The best parts of this movie are the references to the original but I think it stands on its own very well. Considering the story is about wizards and witches, and that James Franco isn't always fully invested in things, it never once dips into camp or farce. They have a very strong cast with real acting credentials and it shows.
The first thing we noticed upon entering the theater was that a girl was having her birthday party there. Just our luck. The second thing we noticed was
It starts similarly to the Wizard of Oz, using the black and white Instragram setting to give it that old-timey feel. The (Spoiler! But if you really don't know the story then that's just sad) tornado comes way sooner than I expected but hey, that just means we get to spend more time in Oz. Oddly enough, the wizard's name (Spoiler! But not really a useful fact or plot point) is also Oz. So, Judy Garland's film could have been called Oz of Oz.
Anyway, fast forward a bit and everything is in color, Oz has met the three witches (Who's good? Who's wicked?) and he's walking down yellow brick roads and making new friends *slash* adventure sidekicks who aren't made out of straw, tin or have a mane. In keeping with the original, Oz's adventure mates are all played by characters he knew from life in Kansas.
The best parts of this movie are the references to the original but I think it stands on its own very well. Considering the story is about wizards and witches, and that James Franco isn't always fully invested in things, it never once dips into camp or farce. They have a very strong cast with real acting credentials and it shows.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Movie Review: This is 40
The sorta-sequel to Knocked Up was sorta-not that good. It reunites Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann and focuses on their family, including Mann and director Judd Apatow's real life kids. There's no Seth Rogen or Katherine Heigl, although Jason Segel makes an appearance.
The movie had funny parts but mostly was about family fighting and bickering. Brig had a great comment that this film was more like Apatow's Funny People than it was Knocked Up or The 40 Year Old Virgin. He's not looking to be hilarious as much as he is realistic. And that pretty much ruins it. Who wants to see that on the big screen? People live that every day, they don't need more of it. Movies are supposed to be entertaining; an escape from their normal lives. This movie is not... it's more of the same.
Again, the movie could be funny and was whenever Megan Fox (surprising) and Chris O'Dowd (of course) were on the screen but it really wasn't enough to save it.
The movie had funny parts but mostly was about family fighting and bickering. Brig had a great comment that this film was more like Apatow's Funny People than it was Knocked Up or The 40 Year Old Virgin. He's not looking to be hilarious as much as he is realistic. And that pretty much ruins it. Who wants to see that on the big screen? People live that every day, they don't need more of it. Movies are supposed to be entertaining; an escape from their normal lives. This movie is not... it's more of the same.
Again, the movie could be funny and was whenever Megan Fox (surprising) and Chris O'Dowd (of course) were on the screen but it really wasn't enough to save it.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Movie Review: Argo
Argo was amazing. The story itself was a fascinating tale of real life danger and intrigue and then Ben Affleck got his hands on it and Hollywood-ized it in a good way.
The first act was a little unstable for me. The film jumped between the heaviness and direness of the situation these people were in overseas with the lightness and joking of Affleck's character coming up with the movie location scouting idea and teaming up with John Goodman and Alan Arkin to come up with a script and a studio and a press party. Don't get me wrong, these scenes were some of the funniest in the movie but you almost felt bad laughing because of what else was going on.
Once everything was set and the plan was in place the movie just dripped with suspense. Everyone knows what happened to the people so it's simply amazing that Affleck was able to pull off keeping the audience on the edge of their seats and their hands gripping the armrests. Once it ended I had to consciously relax my body again because it was that intense. I think this Affleck kid has a real future in the business.
The first act was a little unstable for me. The film jumped between the heaviness and direness of the situation these people were in overseas with the lightness and joking of Affleck's character coming up with the movie location scouting idea and teaming up with John Goodman and Alan Arkin to come up with a script and a studio and a press party. Don't get me wrong, these scenes were some of the funniest in the movie but you almost felt bad laughing because of what else was going on.
Once everything was set and the plan was in place the movie just dripped with suspense. Everyone knows what happened to the people so it's simply amazing that Affleck was able to pull off keeping the audience on the edge of their seats and their hands gripping the armrests. Once it ended I had to consciously relax my body again because it was that intense. I think this Affleck kid has a real future in the business.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Just keep swimming
Finding Nemo was released in 2003. Little Miss Sunshine came out in 2006. Both of these movies finally became mine in 2012. Why is this a big deal? Because I have had both of these DVDs on my birthday list and Christmas list since they became available.
I'll give each movie an extra year -- assuming that they didn't come out on home video until after Christmas of their release year. That means Little Miss Sunshine was on my lists 12 times and Finding Nemo 18 times before someone actually stepped up and got them for me.
It's not like these aren't well-known films. Finding Nemo may have been in and out of the Disney vault but Little Miss Sunshine was out there. I know because I got it for my sister one Christmas. But no retribution.
Luckily, I have a wonderful gal who cares about these things. She asked for Christmas gift ideas and I sent her my list. She posited, correctly, that I also sent this list to my family and that there was a chance someone would duplicate efforts. I pointed out these 2 movies and told her this tale... likely guaranteeing that someone else will also finally give in to my years of wanting. Oh well. Rejoice!
I'll give each movie an extra year -- assuming that they didn't come out on home video until after Christmas of their release year. That means Little Miss Sunshine was on my lists 12 times and Finding Nemo 18 times before someone actually stepped up and got them for me.
It's not like these aren't well-known films. Finding Nemo may have been in and out of the Disney vault but Little Miss Sunshine was out there. I know because I got it for my sister one Christmas. But no retribution.
Luckily, I have a wonderful gal who cares about these things. She asked for Christmas gift ideas and I sent her my list. She posited, correctly, that I also sent this list to my family and that there was a chance someone would duplicate efforts. I pointed out these 2 movies and told her this tale... likely guaranteeing that someone else will also finally give in to my years of wanting. Oh well. Rejoice!
Friday, November 30, 2012
Movie Reviews
I watch my fair share of movies although I don't go to the theaters all that much. The last movie I reviewed was The Dark Knight Rises back in August so I'm overdue. I have seen six movies since then that were released in 2012. Two were in the theater, two were on an airplane and two were streamed. I'll start with the best and work my way down.
Skyfall - In a word, fantastic. This movie completely picked up where Casino Royale left off and redeemed everyone involved after the Quantum of Solace disappointment. You wouldn't think you could be surprised going into a Bond film (it's not like you can kill him or anything) but this one really threw some curveballs. Javier Bardem's introduction is one of those scenes that people will be talking about forever. Grade: A+
The Amazing Spider-Man - I wasn't ready for another Spiderman (I don't use the hyphen) and after seeing the previews I wasn't sure I liked how Andrew Garfield was playing him. He seemed bratty and sarcastic, which I guess is what's cool nowadays. But the character ended up being so much more and he did a good job separating himself from Tobey Maguire. I can't say the same for the rest of the movie but it's not like you can completely change Spiderman's origin story. Grade: B+
The Campaign - Will Ferrell's movie career started off strong but he's been spotty ever since. For every Step Brothers or The Other Guys he makes a Semi-Pro and Land of the Lost. The Campaign is right in the middle. He plays another outrageous character and has some funny one-liners but not enough to make a whole movie. Hopefully, Anchorman 2 will restore his place on the comedy throne. Grade: B
Looper - I've always liked certain aspects of sci-fi films and time travel especially is a fascinating topic. This movie is about Joseph Gordon-Levitt (in heavy makeup) dealing with the consequences of his older self (Bruce Willis) being sent back to his time. It's an interesting concept but -- as is always the case -- it is tough to explain in any sensible way. It's a thriller nonetheless and I found it enjoyable. Grade: B
What To Expect When You're Expecting - Kind of girly? Yes, but still made with boyfriends/husbands in mind. The funniest parts for me were every scene with the dad's group including Chris Rock, Rob Heubel and Thomas Lennon. What I didn't know going in was just how many differing storylines there were. We've got Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks and Anna Kendrick and none of them have anything to do with each other. Why not have your stars interact in a scene or two? Grade: C+
Bachelorette - This movie tried to combine The Hangover with Bridesmaids. It wasn't successful. First, the good: Kudos for bringing Adam Scott and Lizzy Caplan back together (RIP, Party Down). That's it. Now the bad: Boo for sticking Rebel Wilson, who seems genuinely funny, in the Justin Bartha role of being a main part of the plot but barely in the movie. Boo for having the main girls be way-beyond-recreational-but-pretty-much-addicted drug users. And for all the girls out there, boo for having Caplan, Kirsten Dunst and Isla Fisher play such broad stereotypes. Dunst is "the bitch," Fisher is "the drunk slut" and Caplan is just as annoying. Grade: D
Skyfall - In a word, fantastic. This movie completely picked up where Casino Royale left off and redeemed everyone involved after the Quantum of Solace disappointment. You wouldn't think you could be surprised going into a Bond film (it's not like you can kill him or anything) but this one really threw some curveballs. Javier Bardem's introduction is one of those scenes that people will be talking about forever. Grade: A+
The Amazing Spider-Man - I wasn't ready for another Spiderman (I don't use the hyphen) and after seeing the previews I wasn't sure I liked how Andrew Garfield was playing him. He seemed bratty and sarcastic, which I guess is what's cool nowadays. But the character ended up being so much more and he did a good job separating himself from Tobey Maguire. I can't say the same for the rest of the movie but it's not like you can completely change Spiderman's origin story. Grade: B+
The Campaign - Will Ferrell's movie career started off strong but he's been spotty ever since. For every Step Brothers or The Other Guys he makes a Semi-Pro and Land of the Lost. The Campaign is right in the middle. He plays another outrageous character and has some funny one-liners but not enough to make a whole movie. Hopefully, Anchorman 2 will restore his place on the comedy throne. Grade: B
Looper - I've always liked certain aspects of sci-fi films and time travel especially is a fascinating topic. This movie is about Joseph Gordon-Levitt (in heavy makeup) dealing with the consequences of his older self (Bruce Willis) being sent back to his time. It's an interesting concept but -- as is always the case -- it is tough to explain in any sensible way. It's a thriller nonetheless and I found it enjoyable. Grade: B
What To Expect When You're Expecting - Kind of girly? Yes, but still made with boyfriends/husbands in mind. The funniest parts for me were every scene with the dad's group including Chris Rock, Rob Heubel and Thomas Lennon. What I didn't know going in was just how many differing storylines there were. We've got Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks and Anna Kendrick and none of them have anything to do with each other. Why not have your stars interact in a scene or two? Grade: C+
Bachelorette - This movie tried to combine The Hangover with Bridesmaids. It wasn't successful. First, the good: Kudos for bringing Adam Scott and Lizzy Caplan back together (RIP, Party Down). That's it. Now the bad: Boo for sticking Rebel Wilson, who seems genuinely funny, in the Justin Bartha role of being a main part of the plot but barely in the movie. Boo for having the main girls be way-beyond-recreational-but-pretty-much-addicted drug users. And for all the girls out there, boo for having Caplan, Kirsten Dunst and Isla Fisher play such broad stereotypes. Dunst is "the bitch," Fisher is "the drunk slut" and Caplan is just as annoying. Grade: D
Friday, August 17, 2012
Movie Review: The Dark Knight Rises
I promise not to
include any spoilers because I was fortunate enough to make it a full month
from its release without hearing any specifics about the plot.
This is a fantastic
movie. It’s not big, bloated and ridiculous like Spider-Man 3 but it actually
sends this franchise out on top. Epic is the first word I used to describe it
as we left the theater. We saw it in IMAX and even 4 weeks after release
the theater was almost completely full. The action is awesome, the characters
are top notch and the plot is believable. That’s a win.
I’ve always looked
kindly upon Anne Hathaway but I fell in love with her in this movie; Joseph
Gordon-Levitt is still my main man; and Christian Bale even backed off the Dark
Knight growl a bit. Speaking of The Dark Knight where does this movie rank in
relation? Well, after only 1 viewing I have to say that Rises comes in a close
second. Maybe after multiple viewings I will change my stance but The Dark
Knight is perfection.
In no way was Rises a letdown
and it even exceeded my expectations for it. I wasn’t sure where they could
take the story after TDK but Christopher Nolan nailed it. Let’s reward him and
everyone else involved in this movie with some Oscar love.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Movie Review: Ted
Last night, Brigid and I saw Ted, a movie we starred in. OK, a movie we
were extras in. You can’t see us but we were there at the Hatch Shell as part
of the crowd at the Norah Jones concert. Pretty cool, huh?
The movie was absolutely hilarious and made even better by the fact that
it was filmed locally and we could point out places we knew. It made it more
realistic which you’d think would be difficult for a movie about a teddy bear
that comes to life, but even that was well done. Young Mark Wahlberg’s parents
lost their shit and thought it was possessed and then it gained national
attention and went on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
Mark Wahlberg was really good at playing one of those “man-childs” who
is 35 years old but completely irresponsible about his life. Seth MacFarlane’s
Ted was as foul-mouthed and ridiculous (alcohol, drugs, hookers) as I had
hoped. Even Mila Kunis got to play more than just “the girlfriend” and had a
great scene cleaning up a “mess” on the floor. (Or maybe the floor was on the “mess”?)
Take your friends, take a date, just go see it.
Monday, June 11, 2012
The Avengers
The Avengers
was released in the U.S. on May 4. Brig and I saw it yesterday. Yeah, we’re
busy people but we’re also lazy people. We were going to go on Mother’s Day (May
13) but were too tired after a day with my family. That snowballed into us
forgetting about it (during opportune times) until yesterday when we wrapped up
a nice Sunday at about 11:30 am. So to fill the 10 ½ hours until the Mad Men
finale we decided to finally Assemble.
The movie was
expectedly awesome and actually pulled at the heartstrings a little bit. I
think Hulk absolutely stole the show and Captain America really felt like the
leader of the crew. Hawkeye and Black Widow didn’t even feel forced in as mere
mortals and both held up well without super powers. What really dawned on me
was just how jackass-y Tony Stark is. He’s the hero of the Iron Man movies
because he’s sarcastic, bombastic, etc. but it plays because we’re rooting for
him and solely him. In this movie he was surrounded by other characters we
could root for and he came off as a whiny brat. That is until [REDACTED]* died
and the responsible, leadership role was thrust on him. He always takes it but
only after someone close to him gets hurt/killed/captured. It just especially
stood out here when you have the likes of Captain America, Thor and the rest
offering their services immediately.
What I thought was
really great was how The Avengers didn’t feel like Iron Man
2.5**. It started and ended with Tony, the battle revolved around his new
skyscraper and even Pepper Potts was in a couple scenes, but Joss Whedon did a
great job of having other characters share the lead. And Whedon gave fans what
they wanted to see with a lot of initial in-fighting between the troops and
answers to questions such as “Who would win if Thor’s hammer smashed into
Captain America’s shield?”
The film was
exceptionally well done and let’s just say I can’t wait for The
Avengers 2 in 2015.
*No spoilers in case
some other slackers haven’t seen it yet either.
**Iron Man 3 is
already scheduled for release next May.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Movie Review: The Hunger Games
I read the books, I read the reviews and I read the opening weekend tweets, but it was finally time for me to see The Hunger Games.
Going into it I had mixed feelings about the cast. Actually, I was fine with everyone except Peeta and Gale. (And to a lesser extent Haymitch but only because I thought Woody Harrelson was too well known.) I didn’t know much about Josh Hutcherson except that he was kind of annoying in The Kids Are All Right and that he starred in Journey to the Center of the Earth and its sequel. He seemed small-ish and not the strong Peeta I had envisioned. Who did seem more like my idea of Peeta was the actor they cast as Gale, Liam Hemsworth. Hemsworth, of course, is famous for being Thor's brother.
Hutcherson really won me over though. He was pretty great at not getting lost in all the Katniss hype and his rapport with Caesar Flickerman was absolutely hilarious. Hemsworth meanwhile is probably more excited for the coming sequels when he will have a bigger part.
I mentioned Haymitch earlier and after seeing the movie I thought Harrelson ended up being a great choice. Somebody mentioned that if anyone deserved their own backstory movie (a la Wolverine) it should be Haymitch and I completely agree. They had to speed through his transformation in the film but there’s just so much uncharted territory there.
It’s completely outrageous that I haven’t mentioned Jennifer Lawrence yet. She is the movie, plain and simple. This girl is going to be a star.
4.5 out of 5
Going into it I had mixed feelings about the cast. Actually, I was fine with everyone except Peeta and Gale. (And to a lesser extent Haymitch but only because I thought Woody Harrelson was too well known.) I didn’t know much about Josh Hutcherson except that he was kind of annoying in The Kids Are All Right and that he starred in Journey to the Center of the Earth and its sequel. He seemed small-ish and not the strong Peeta I had envisioned. Who did seem more like my idea of Peeta was the actor they cast as Gale, Liam Hemsworth. Hemsworth, of course, is famous for being Thor's brother.
Hutcherson really won me over though. He was pretty great at not getting lost in all the Katniss hype and his rapport with Caesar Flickerman was absolutely hilarious. Hemsworth meanwhile is probably more excited for the coming sequels when he will have a bigger part.
I mentioned Haymitch earlier and after seeing the movie I thought Harrelson ended up being a great choice. Somebody mentioned that if anyone deserved their own backstory movie (a la Wolverine) it should be Haymitch and I completely agree. They had to speed through his transformation in the film but there’s just so much uncharted territory there.
It’s completely outrageous that I haven’t mentioned Jennifer Lawrence yet. She is the movie, plain and simple. This girl is going to be a star.
4.5 out of 5
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The Oscars
Interesting Oscar telecast this year. I think it was much more family-friendly with Billy Crystal hosting. It’s so amazing to see him perform his clean jokes without taking jabs at anyone and still being funny. That’s a lesson today’s comedians could learn from (not that I don’t love cursing and sarcasm).
I’m not sure why they started at 8:30 this year. I feel like it’s always been at 8 and they try and wrap it up by 11. This year went past 11:30 (because it never comes in under 3 hours). It didn’t feel long, which was good, even though there were so many technical categories early on that no one cared about.
Babbler and I watched Moneyball and Midnight in Paris earlier in the day so we could have some Best Picture rooting interests beyond just The Help. I think looking past the ceremony we still want to see The Descendants, maybe The Artist and possibly Hugo.
Below is the full list of 2012 Oscar Nominees that we did see (and their major category):
Bridesmaids (Supporting Actress)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Lead Actress)
The Help (Best Picture)
Midnight in Paris (Best Picture)
Moneyball (Best Picture)
The Muppets (Original Song)
I’m not sure why they started at 8:30 this year. I feel like it’s always been at 8 and they try and wrap it up by 11. This year went past 11:30 (because it never comes in under 3 hours). It didn’t feel long, which was good, even though there were so many technical categories early on that no one cared about.
Babbler and I watched Moneyball and Midnight in Paris earlier in the day so we could have some Best Picture rooting interests beyond just The Help. I think looking past the ceremony we still want to see The Descendants, maybe The Artist and possibly Hugo.
Below is the full list of 2012 Oscar Nominees that we did see (and their major category):
Bridesmaids (Supporting Actress)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Lead Actress)
The Help (Best Picture)
Midnight in Paris (Best Picture)
Moneyball (Best Picture)
The Muppets (Original Song)
Monday, February 27, 2012
Movie Review: Midnight in Paris
I’ve been wanting to see this movie since it was released early last year. I am a Woody Allen fan although I can’t claim to have seen even 50% of his work. Annie Hall is timeless and 2008’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona proved he still had it.
Midnight in Paris is a very cool concept (and won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay). Every night at midnight, Owen Wilson is transported back in time to the 1920s. Wilson plays a Hollywood screenwriter who is trying to become a serious author. He is in Paris with his fiancée (Rachel McAdams playing a bitch, as always) and she detests everything he loves about it.
Wilson’s favorite era is the ‘20s and he feels like he was born in the wrong time. Amazingly, he gets drunk one night and is transported back into the world of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Cole Porter, Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso and many, many more. The settings in this movie are absolutely gorgeous. I don’t know how much work the set designer actually had because Paris doesn’t need any touching up.
It was really interesting seeing these famous people come to life and to see and hear just how intellectual they were. But they also had so much fun. There were parties every night, alcohol was a constant, and stealing spouses was the norm (I’m looking at you, Hemingway).
I enjoyed the film but didn’t fall in love with it. I almost felt preoccupied while I was watching it (which never happens to me). It’s a cool movie though, and definitely something to check out.
3.5 out of 5
Midnight in Paris is a very cool concept (and won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay). Every night at midnight, Owen Wilson is transported back in time to the 1920s. Wilson plays a Hollywood screenwriter who is trying to become a serious author. He is in Paris with his fiancée (Rachel McAdams playing a bitch, as always) and she detests everything he loves about it.
Wilson’s favorite era is the ‘20s and he feels like he was born in the wrong time. Amazingly, he gets drunk one night and is transported back into the world of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Cole Porter, Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso and many, many more. The settings in this movie are absolutely gorgeous. I don’t know how much work the set designer actually had because Paris doesn’t need any touching up.
It was really interesting seeing these famous people come to life and to see and hear just how intellectual they were. But they also had so much fun. There were parties every night, alcohol was a constant, and stealing spouses was the norm (I’m looking at you, Hemingway).
I enjoyed the film but didn’t fall in love with it. I almost felt preoccupied while I was watching it (which never happens to me). It’s a cool movie though, and definitely something to check out.
3.5 out of 5
Movie Review: Moneyball
I thought this movie was pretty good. It wasn’t as all-encompassing as Michael Lewis’ book but it found a way to cut out some details and still tell the story the right way. It started pretty slow but picked up from there. Once Jonah Hill got onboard, and they started playing games, it got interesting. The best scene had to be when Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) was trying to trade for Ricardo Rincon and was calling Shapiro, Sabean and Dombrowski (other GMs) and negotiating like a champ. It was the coolest.
Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman) was a real dick. He was the old-timey manager of the A’s that played the part of MLB purists trying to keep math and science out of baseball. When Oakland went on their 20 game win streak, Howe was the one receiving the credit. No one wanted to believe that Beane’s methods were working.
What the movie (or book for that matter) never mentions is just how great the A’s pitching staff was that year. The whole story revolves around batters but the triumvirate of Barry Zito, Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder was (at the time) looked on just as highly as the famous Braves’ trio of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. Hollywood is supposed to ignore these things to make a “better” film but this is definitely a fault I find with the book.
4 out of 5
Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman) was a real dick. He was the old-timey manager of the A’s that played the part of MLB purists trying to keep math and science out of baseball. When Oakland went on their 20 game win streak, Howe was the one receiving the credit. No one wanted to believe that Beane’s methods were working.
What the movie (or book for that matter) never mentions is just how great the A’s pitching staff was that year. The whole story revolves around batters but the triumvirate of Barry Zito, Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder was (at the time) looked on just as highly as the famous Braves’ trio of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. Hollywood is supposed to ignore these things to make a “better” film but this is definitely a fault I find with the book.
4 out of 5
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Happy Birthday, Mr. President
This was my first President’s Day holiday since I graduated from college in 2007. I kind of knew how bad I had it at my last job but now that I’m living with freedom it’s a whole new world. (Now if only we got MLK Day.)
Taking advantage of the extra day I took my inaugural trip to Ikea. I had heard only good things about the Swedish furniture store and wanted to go for the experience alone. There are plenty of things I could use in my home but I didn’t go with a list or any sort of expectations of bringing home a certain item.
The place is ridiculous. It is massively large and easy to get lost. The car garage is a little easier to navigate but let me repeat, they have a parking garage (read: HUGE). There is one floor with all the different displays (bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, family rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, offices, baby rooms) as well as a cafeteria-style restaurant. On another floor are all the products where you actually pick them up and purchase them. The biggest issue with the store besides the size (I don’t know if you heard but it’s large. Finding things can be difficult.) is that you can’t just toss something in your cart. For example, we saw a magazine rack type thing in one of the displays and I thought I could use something like that. But instead of being able to grab it you have to read the tag on it and jot down the necessary information: the name, description and location. Then you have to go downstairs and try to find it. What makes this even harder is that the location information makes no sense once you get down there. Nothing is labeled as H1 or F3 so you spend half your time trying to figure out if your item should be in section Home Decorations or Home Furnishings. What’s the difference?!
Besides that it was a fun time. There were quite a few more people than (500) Days of Summer led us to believe and a hell of a lot of kids. Why, parents? It isn’t fun for them. Or anyone else for that matter.
We needed to decompress afterwards but the Babbler wanted to buy some new running sneakers. She’s running a 10 miler in May. We went to this specialty store in Cambridge and I’m convinced the employees could be podiatrists. Or that they have foot fetishes. Maybe both.
The girl asked Brig to take off her shoes and roll her pant legs up. Once, twice, a few more times, need to see a little more. Then she asks her to walk down to the register so she can observe her gait. "Wait, you walked too fast, I’m going to need to see that again." Then she wows us with her foot knowledge and finds Brig the perfect pair of sneaks. (All the while never allowing the pant legs to be rolled back down.)
To celebrate our productive day Brig parked illegally and I ran into the liquor store and picked up some Bud Light Limes. We got drunk watching Bad Teacher. It wasn’t terrible but it definitely confirmed why neither of us wanted to see it in theaters. But just like Cameron Diaz's character, we agree that the best part of working is the holidays.
Taking advantage of the extra day I took my inaugural trip to Ikea. I had heard only good things about the Swedish furniture store and wanted to go for the experience alone. There are plenty of things I could use in my home but I didn’t go with a list or any sort of expectations of bringing home a certain item.
The place is ridiculous. It is massively large and easy to get lost. The car garage is a little easier to navigate but let me repeat, they have a parking garage (read: HUGE). There is one floor with all the different displays (bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, family rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, offices, baby rooms) as well as a cafeteria-style restaurant. On another floor are all the products where you actually pick them up and purchase them. The biggest issue with the store besides the size (I don’t know if you heard but it’s large. Finding things can be difficult.) is that you can’t just toss something in your cart. For example, we saw a magazine rack type thing in one of the displays and I thought I could use something like that. But instead of being able to grab it you have to read the tag on it and jot down the necessary information: the name, description and location. Then you have to go downstairs and try to find it. What makes this even harder is that the location information makes no sense once you get down there. Nothing is labeled as H1 or F3 so you spend half your time trying to figure out if your item should be in section Home Decorations or Home Furnishings. What’s the difference?!
Besides that it was a fun time. There were quite a few more people than (500) Days of Summer led us to believe and a hell of a lot of kids. Why, parents? It isn’t fun for them. Or anyone else for that matter.
We needed to decompress afterwards but the Babbler wanted to buy some new running sneakers. She’s running a 10 miler in May. We went to this specialty store in Cambridge and I’m convinced the employees could be podiatrists. Or that they have foot fetishes. Maybe both.
The girl asked Brig to take off her shoes and roll her pant legs up. Once, twice, a few more times, need to see a little more. Then she asks her to walk down to the register so she can observe her gait. "Wait, you walked too fast, I’m going to need to see that again." Then she wows us with her foot knowledge and finds Brig the perfect pair of sneaks. (All the while never allowing the pant legs to be rolled back down.)
To celebrate our productive day Brig parked illegally and I ran into the liquor store and picked up some Bud Light Limes. We got drunk watching Bad Teacher. It wasn’t terrible but it definitely confirmed why neither of us wanted to see it in theaters. But just like Cameron Diaz's character, we agree that the best part of working is the holidays.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Movie Review: The Help
This movie was quite different from the book. Understandably, there can’t be as many plot lines because there simply isn’t time to explain everything. That being said, the 2 moms (Skeeter’s and Hilly’s) seemed like entirely new characters… in a good way. Allison Janney plays Skeeter’s mom and she’s awesome in everything. They make her more likeable than the book. And Hilly’s mom is hilariously senile and plays a bigger part than in the book.*
This is definitely a film you should see. All the actors are at the top of their games and it feels real. My girlfriend couldn’t believe that this was set at the same time as Mad Men because of just how different life in Mississippi was. You might feel rushed if you’ve read the book recently because they have a lot to cover but it makes the 2 1/2 hours fly by.
*Is it racist if I only mention 2 white women in a movie about black maids? How about this -- I thought Constantine was really weird.
4 out of 5
This is definitely a film you should see. All the actors are at the top of their games and it feels real. My girlfriend couldn’t believe that this was set at the same time as Mad Men because of just how different life in Mississippi was. You might feel rushed if you’ve read the book recently because they have a lot to cover but it makes the 2 1/2 hours fly by.
*Is it racist if I only mention 2 white women in a movie about black maids? How about this -- I thought Constantine was really weird.
4 out of 5
Monday, January 16, 2012
Movie Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
I thought this was a very good film. It was true to the book and held up on the big screen. The story moved quickly even though it was a little over 2 1/2 hours. Rooney Mara was hands down amazing as Lisbeth and I actually liked Daniel Craig as Blomkvist even though I wasn’t sure I would.
The fact that it didn’t do well monetarily doesn’t surprise me. R-rated movies usually make less than their unrestricted counterparts. But I think more accurately is that this is a very sick story. It’s one thing to simply read the line “He tied her to the bed and raped her” but it is a completely jarring experience to actually see the act played out in front of your eyes. To hear her screaming for help, for mercy, for anything. It was quite brutal. I can’t even imagine how the actors did it.
4 out of 5
The fact that it didn’t do well monetarily doesn’t surprise me. R-rated movies usually make less than their unrestricted counterparts. But I think more accurately is that this is a very sick story. It’s one thing to simply read the line “He tied her to the bed and raped her” but it is a completely jarring experience to actually see the act played out in front of your eyes. To hear her screaming for help, for mercy, for anything. It was quite brutal. I can’t even imagine how the actors did it.
4 out of 5
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Movie Review: The Muppets
It's not a guarantee but usually when Hollywood brings back a well-known franchise from our youth it is a big hit (see: Transformers & The Smurfs). Something about wanting to rekindle our childhood innocence causes us to go out, open our wallets and watch it once again.
The Muppets are like that but for every generation. Starting in 1976 with the Muppet Show and running through countless movies in the past 30+ years, millions of children grew up with the Muppets (and of course Muppet Babies). The only thing more surprising than the fact that this movie was a huge success and made a lot of money is that no one touched this franchise for 10 years. In this period of Hollywood recycling how is that even possible?
I suppose the closest comparisons would be to Batman (8 years) and Star Trek (7 years). A big bust of a movie (Muppets From Space, Batman & Robin, Star Trek Nemesis) means a lot of bad opinions in people's minds and a hurting bottom line for the movie studio. Understandably, they need to ignore the franchise for a while until their wounds heal and people forget about the latest disaster and instead remember the classic adventures.
However, I think an argument can be made that unlike those other two, a children-focused product like The Muppets would bounce back quicker and be more useful to a studio. What I believe is that the studios thought The Muppets were dead in the water because of how America's comedic values have evolved. Kids see a lot of physical comedy today and young adults hear a shitload of cursing. The Muppets don't offer that. They are about doing the right thing. They are clean cut. They are the antithesis of what we see nowadays. But where the studios messed up is that The Muppets are not considered "quaint". It's not like seeing a typewriter or a corded phone and saying "Oh, that's so Nana". Even though they haven't had the spotlight on them in recent years they still feel current. The Muppets have proved that they are still relevant.
4 out of 5
The Muppets are like that but for every generation. Starting in 1976 with the Muppet Show and running through countless movies in the past 30+ years, millions of children grew up with the Muppets (and of course Muppet Babies). The only thing more surprising than the fact that this movie was a huge success and made a lot of money is that no one touched this franchise for 10 years. In this period of Hollywood recycling how is that even possible?
I suppose the closest comparisons would be to Batman (8 years) and Star Trek (7 years). A big bust of a movie (Muppets From Space, Batman & Robin, Star Trek Nemesis) means a lot of bad opinions in people's minds and a hurting bottom line for the movie studio. Understandably, they need to ignore the franchise for a while until their wounds heal and people forget about the latest disaster and instead remember the classic adventures.
However, I think an argument can be made that unlike those other two, a children-focused product like The Muppets would bounce back quicker and be more useful to a studio. What I believe is that the studios thought The Muppets were dead in the water because of how America's comedic values have evolved. Kids see a lot of physical comedy today and young adults hear a shitload of cursing. The Muppets don't offer that. They are about doing the right thing. They are clean cut. They are the antithesis of what we see nowadays. But where the studios messed up is that The Muppets are not considered "quaint". It's not like seeing a typewriter or a corded phone and saying "Oh, that's so Nana". Even though they haven't had the spotlight on them in recent years they still feel current. The Muppets have proved that they are still relevant.
4 out of 5
Friday, November 4, 2011
Bond, James Bond
I've always been a huge James Bond fan. My dad loved the films so I got into them at a young age. We would go as a family to see the newest Pierce Brosnan movie; watch the classics like Dr. No and Goldfinger; and he even had some of Ian Fleming's original novels.
Then we got the reinvention of Bond with Daniel Craig and Casino Royale. It is one of my Top 2 Bond films all-time. It was a hell of a way for Craig to introduce himself to the 007 Club. Next came the first ever direct sequel to a Bond film, Quantum of Solace. It wasn't as good and was really a bit of a disappointment. For that reason (and MGM's near bankruptcy), the next Bond film was pushed back to 2012; 4 years from QoS and, conveniently, the 50th anniversary of the first Bond film.
Yesterday, the official name of Bond 23 was announced: Skyfall. It returns Craig and Judi Dench, and will also feature Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes. The director is Sam Mendes of American Beauty fame. That's a lot of talent they've lined up and it's getting me excited again. I'm shaking (not stirring) with anticipation.
Then we got the reinvention of Bond with Daniel Craig and Casino Royale. It is one of my Top 2 Bond films all-time. It was a hell of a way for Craig to introduce himself to the 007 Club. Next came the first ever direct sequel to a Bond film, Quantum of Solace. It wasn't as good and was really a bit of a disappointment. For that reason (and MGM's near bankruptcy), the next Bond film was pushed back to 2012; 4 years from QoS and, conveniently, the 50th anniversary of the first Bond film.
Yesterday, the official name of Bond 23 was announced: Skyfall. It returns Craig and Judi Dench, and will also feature Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes. The director is Sam Mendes of American Beauty fame. That's a lot of talent they've lined up and it's getting me excited again. I'm shaking (not stirring) with anticipation.
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