Naked Lunch (1991)

This is another off the list of controversial flicks I'm trying to watch.  I liked Videodrome so I figured I would pick another one of Cronenberg's that was available online.  I started it on Monday but didn't get around to finishing it until today.

After developing an addiction to the substance he uses to kill bugs, an exterminator accidentally murders his wife and becomes involved in a secret government plot being orchestrated by giant bugs in an Islamic port town in Africa.

36/50

So, wow, yea.... drug trip much.  The film is incredibly grotesque, however, not in any overly perverse or gory way.  My fear of large bugs intensified the effect.  I was watching the film on my computer and at one point moved it away from my face because the bugs were creeping me out too much.  I can't say I truly understood the movie or at least if I did, I don't agree with the point Cronenberg is trying to make.  Editing and directing are both par with Cronenberg's work, that means great.  The casting was accurate, especially for Weller.  I've only seen him in Dexter, that I can remember, but the roles compare well.  Not really any negatives except that the ending didn't resolve the story like I expected it to.  I don't know, maybe I missed something, drug trip movies can be very hard to follow.              

The 30 Day Movie Challenge: Day 02

Day 02 – The most underrated movie

Hidalgo

So, not really sure how underrated Hidalgo is, but I definitely feel I like the film way more then the average person.  This one was hard for me, but I'd score it about 2 more out of 10 then what it is on imdb so I think it fits.  Viggo Mortensen is perfect for the role, and horse movies are always beautiful and inspiring.  I think it got a lower rating, because its produced by Disney, meaning its target audience is younger and the dialogue can be hokey, but to me its pretty well written.  Something about the end of the race always chokes me up too.  Let me know what you thought. Thanks.   

The Hangover (2009)

Probably going to go see Hangover 2 sometime soon, because my sister is in Richmond for a wedding and its memorial day weekend.  My mom hadn't seen it yet, yes I watched it with my mom, and it had been awhile for me so we saw it Friday in hopes of seeing part 2 Sunday night. (We didn't see it Sunday)

Four friends go to Vegas for a bachelor party.  When the groom goes missing, and none of them can remember the past night they must retrace their steps uncovering clues such as a tiger, a baby, a cop car, and one crazy Chinamen.

40/50 Eggs

So my typical "it's hard to rate comedies, because they're subjective" speech works here.  Hangover for people who haven't heard off it, is very much a younger generation comedy, but my mom said she enjoyed it.  So yea, whatever that means.  I'm not sure how original the plot is, but I definitely enjoyed the "retracing" path the story took.  Galifianakis is hilarious and in my opinion steals the show.  The only negative was Bradley Cooper comes off as the daddy, chaperon character of the three, while looking for Doug.  And of the three cast, he is the most calm and collected, however, at least in my opinion, his typecast is wild, carefree, ladies man.  Its a minor detail but hearing him make a timeline and say "Come on guys, lets do 'so and so' to find Doug" like 5 times just didn't seem right.  Chances are if you can handle minor crude humor you'll enjoy it.   

Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)

Number 3 on the list of movies to watch.  Not really sure why I picked this one to watch since I'm not really watching the films in order, however these first three are close to the beginning of the list.  Mainly, due to the fact, that it was already available online and I wouldn't have to go pay 3 dollars to watch it, but also I wanted to in a sense get it over with.  Some movies you watch for the entertainment, some you watch for the impression they may make on your life.  This will be one of those, I'm pretty sure.

Four fascist libertines round up Jewish teenage boys and girls and subject them to 120 days of physical, mental and sexual torture.

29/50 Eggs

I watched this back on Friday, and its now Monday...  I've been a little busy the past few days, but mainly I've been dreading writing this.  Assuming you've read what the movie was about, you can understand how hard the movie may have been to watch.  It was.... tough.... to watch, like Deliverance tough.  Up until now, I've always said Deliverance was the hardest movie for me to watch, we'll ladies and gentlemen we have a new champion.  I was curious as to what others said about the film so I had to look at imdb's reviews, and it was a either love or hate.  I wouldn't say so much as love, however, as they acknowledged that the movie had a powerful message, and that the message was important enough to be visualized.  The opposing view being that the movie is just a pointless display of debauchery that know one should watch.  I feel more towards the positive, but like I said, it's painful to watch.  I can't see many people watching this so I have no problem saying that there is really no plot to the film, it's just exactly what it says above.  There are positives worth noting one being the setting is really beautiful.  The contrast, how can something so utterly revolting be going on in such a majestic place like this.  Secondly, the directing really conveys the emotions needed to make a powerful impact.

My suggestion to you, is don't watch this movie.  I repeat do not watch this movie.  You will, and I guarantee it, find it hard to eat after watching this.  If for some reason you find that its necessary for you to watch it, do a google search of "salo" first.  Also, if you do in fact watch it, please comment, because I would like to hear your ideas.                    

The 30 Day Movie Challenge: Day 01

Day 01 -- The best movie you saw during the last year.

INCEPTION

So starting off with a tricky one, because I could take this to mean a new or old movie.  For sake of making it a little easier on myself I decided to pick from movies that came out in the past year.  Unfortunately, I can't wow readers with my wide range of movie viewing on this one.  Inception was definitely my favorite film last year as I'm sure it was for most.  A creative witty drama, mixed with action, and a blend of some of my favorite actors(JGL, Dicaprio, Cillian Murphy, Pete Postlethwaite and the very beautiful Marion Cotillard).  Great Effects and great editing finished off what was undoubtedly a great movie.

Please throughout the 30 day challenge I encourage viewers to comment at the bottom with what there answer would be.  As an avid movie watcher I am always eager to hear about things I may have missed out on.  To comment just click the ("#" comments) at the bottom of the post and it will link you to a page where you can type.

Thank You.       

Crumb (1994)

Those of you who actually read this blog know that I have started watching movies off a list of controversial movies that are a bit under the radar.  This I found online and will be #2 in the attempt to complete the list.  I watched it earlier today after doing a few chores around the house.

Crumb is a cinematic portrait of the controversial comic book writer/artist Robert Crumb.  Robert Crumb is recognized for the distinctive style of his drawings and his critical, satirical, subversive view of the American mainstream.  Crumb was a founder of the underground comix movement and is regarded as its most prominent figure. Though one of the most celebrated of comic book artists, Crumb's entire career has unfolded outside the mainstream comic book publishing industry. One of his most recognized works is the "Keep on Truckin" comic, which became a widely distributed fixture of pop culture in the 1970s. Others are the characters Devil Girl, Fritz the Cat, and Mr. Natural.


43/50

I am a sucker for documentaries and this one I definitely enjoyed.  Being a documentary there's not a whole one can criticize in terms of casting, directing, action, etc. however there are some aspects that can make some more entertaining then others.  Subject matter is obviously the biggest factor in documentaries.  If you're not interested in learning more about Robert Crumb and the underground comic scene this obviously this is not you're film.  The second point is really more of a gimmick.  Spurlock and Moore use a lot of diagram/cartoons to help explain their points.  I am neither positive nor negative against using these.  If the subject matter warrants them then generally they'll help make the film more entertaining.  Thirdly, the pacing and how the interviews are conducted are very important.  One may consider this editing, but I believe it goes far beyond that.  Admittedly, Crumb is incredible depressing.  The stories and lives of Robert's two brothers really are heart-breaking and made me really feel sorry for them.  The extreme realism in the film along with Crumb's own discussions of his work are highly valued.  Anyone interested in the subject matter should definitely check it out, although I would come with a word of caution, that because Crumbs work is rather sexual the film and the material is perverse in a very satirical and intellectual way....if that's possible.    

Videodrome (1983)

Got this one from the independent video shop close by.  I recently found a list of 150 great controversial films not normally seen.  I have a somewhat unnatural hunger for films such as this because they push the boundaries of creativity and because most of the normal great movies I've already seen.  So out of the list of 150 there were 88 that I have yet to see, and because in a recent DVDeusday Chris Gore mentioned how much he liked it I decided to make this my first off the list. 

Set in Toronto during the early 80s, it follows the CEO of a small cable station who stumbles upon a broadcast signal featuring extreme violence and torture. The layers of deception and mind-control conspiracy unfold as he uncovers the signal's source and loses touch with reality in a series of increasingly bizarre and violent organic hallucinations.

35/50 Eggs

I don't know what it is that David Cronenberg has. But it's something that leaves me with a queasy feeling in my gut every time i watch one of his movies. But while they are unpleasant they are also hugely fascinating. Much in the same way that Max Renn in Videodrome is drawn to the violence on-screen while at the same time repulsed by it. I will not try to analyze whether this is David Cronenbergs comment on a society that is becoming more and more used to violence, or if it is just another of his ventures into a world where man and machine are ultimately merging into one. Rather i would leave that interpretation up to the viewer, because this is certainly a movie that stayed with me for a while.

James Woods is excellent as usual and the effects are good (at least if you keep in mind that this movie is over 20 years old). But mostly what impresses me is the way that Videodrome mixes ingredients like violence, sex and hallucinations to create something unique that in my opinion never feels like exploitation.

It's definitely a bit outside the realm of the preferred norm, and therefore I only recommend it to those with a open mind to film.

The Black Stallion (1979)

I'm falling behind a bit on writing my reviews.  I actually watched this one Tuesday night after dinner on TCM.  Tuesday tends to be a night when nothing is going on, and nothing is on TV, and by that I mean weekly shows.  I saw a while ago but wanted to see it again, as did my mom.  Horse movies always have a beauty too them, which I thoroughly enjoy.

While traveling with his father, young Alec becomes fascinated by a mysterious Arabian stallion that is brought on board and stabled in the ship he is sailing on. When the ship tragically sinks both he and the horse survive only to be stranded on a deserted island. Alec befriends the horse, so when finally rescued both return to his home where they soon meet Henry Dailey, a once successful trainer. Together they begin training The Black to race against the fastest horses in the world.

36/50 Eggs

The classic story of a boy and his horse is beautifully filmed, featuring nice scenes of the boy and the horse frolicking on a deserted island. In the first half of this film, there's hardly any dialog. Yes, film is a visual medium, but looking at pretty pictures can become boring after a while. There's no character development and once the action moves to civilization, it becomes the standard "National Velvet" type of clichéd story, complete with Rooney doing a variation of his role in the earlier film. Ballard's tendency for lingering shots makes this extremely slow-moving. The horse gives a good performance, although, curiously, it is dark brown, not black. 

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)

Went to the symphony tonight, which was pretty good but needed something more modern to entertain myself.  Went by CVS for some ice cream and then got this from the red box outside.

As the global economy teeters on the brink of disaster, a young Wall Street trader partners with disgraced former Wall Street corporate raider Gordon Gekko on a two-tiered mission: To alert the financial community to the coming doom, and to find out who was responsible for the death of the young trader's mentor.

38/50 Eggs

In the original Wall Street (1987) director Oliver Stone presented a dire warning for Wall Street brokers everywhere. It came at a time when the financial bubble was close to bursting, and a healthy dose of Oliver Stone's traditionally moral spinning plots seemed both relevant and necessary. While practically all sequels are relevant, very few can claim to be necessary, and it's in the majority that Money Never Sleeps unfortunately falls.

On paper it's a thriller as cold as cash and as calculating as the most experienced of any of Wall Street's real brokers, with Michael Douglas's Gekko as good as it gets to the definitive anti-hero of the financial age. Gekko is just as complicated and compelling as when we left him, all the way back in 1987.

It's a shame then that his vehicle this time round is a slow and derivative script with believability issues uncharacteristic of the usually well-researched Stone. In revisiting Wall Street, Stone seemingly attempts the impossible task of fully comprehending it. It leaves us with a baggy, unbalanced yet ambitious film that spikes at some occasional highs, and bottoms out at some bankrupt lows.

Beastly (2011)

Admittedly I did watch this by choice.  My thinking was I can't have every movie I watch be mediocre and up.  There has to be a few bad ones.  When this become available online I thought "I do like the original Beauty and the Beast maybe it won't be to bad."



Beastly is a modern remake of Beauty and the Beast, which for the 1% of people who are reading this and don't know is an older Disney classic.  In the original, when a witch disguised as an old lady shows up at a prince's door, and he refuses to let her in, she casts a spell upon him where he will remain a beast if he doesn't find someone that truly loves him.  In Beastly, when the main character upsets the class wicken she puts basically the same curse upon him.



19/50 Eggs



"Best embrace the suck" is a line said about 5 times in the first 10 minutes.  Perhaps this is a motto of the film.  As in "you best embrace the suck cuz that's about all your going to get".  Going into this I was pretty sure I wasn't going to like it, but I tried my hardest to see the beauty in the ugly.  The writing and directing on the film really hurt it.  Its hard for me to understand why teenage movies nowadays are written so cliche and obvious.  Perhaps, that is the way its always been and I was too ignorant to see it at the time.  Movie makers must see viewers as being dumb and that they can't extrapolate meanings and feelings without the movie hitting us in the head with the idea.  And this sucks, because Beastly with some better writing could have been a fairly decent movie.  I would like to note that at times I did think the adaption of the old to the new wasn't bad.  However, it is hard to beat a dancing clock and candlestick.  I may be giving them too much credit but Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens do have potential.  The casting is well done too, they are just plagued by the horrible writing.  If either of them gets a chance to get a role outside the realm of teenybop they may do well.  Neil Patrick Harris really can do no wrong.  His few moments, along with the maid's, are among the few good things in the movie.  I probably wouldn't recommend this to anyone, but I'm sure my 13 y/o cousin would more than likely enjoy it as would most young teens.

The Thin Red Line (1998)

Went to the Orioles vs. Yankees game yesterday with dad, during which he made the recommendation to watch this on the instant stream of Netflix.  I've seen it before but it was quite a while back, near when it came out, and at the age of 10 I can't say my movie appreciation had matured to the adequate level.  And yes, my parents did let me watch R movies when I was 10, something I appreciate today and I think greatly helped develop my love for movies.  So yeah, its 2011 now and I'm pretty sure I'll like it more.

After 20 years Terrance Malick returns with the Thin Red Line.  A star-studded film that explores the prism of human emotion of Charlie company on their slow crawl across Guadacanal Island during WWII.

43/50 Eggs

The Thin Red Line is filled with famous actors, either at the beginning of their career or in the midst.  War films tend to be somewhat synonymous with this, such as Saving Private Ryan, but this one goes above and beyond.  It would seem that once Terrance Malick announced he was making another movie everyone jumped in line.  For those reading this and don't know who he is , shame on you, go to imdb, and watch some of his movies.  Because of this the casting is incredible.  Often times in movies there are occasional one-line actors that are obviously not up to par and the film suffers because of it, this doesn't happen here.  Malick's ability to expose the emotions of the soldiers is compelling. This was well executed through great direction and the wonderful narration monologues. One cannot go without also noting the score.  Why it didn't when the Oscar I don't understand.

I do, however, feel that telling a story about WWII in the Pacific is hard.  It was such a slow deadly attack that to do it justice and stay true to the storyline the film can come across drawn out and boring.  Malick also went a hair outside of Hollywood and therefore the film has an independent feel that some may consider less entertaining.  Please don't see this as a negative in my eyes, but to achieve a 50/50 a movie has to be fully entertaining as well as providing full exploration of human emotion.  To do both in the same movie, can be quite difficult.          

Your Highness (2011)

Not much going on, on this Tuesday afternoon.  A couple construction guys had to work on the kitchen, so I was forced to hang around the house.  This is the second movie in my movie marathon for the day.  It just became available online, and Danny McBride is pretty hilarious so I figured I'd give it a try.

When Prince Fabious's bride is kidnapped by an evil sorcerer in order to complete an evil prophecy, he goes on a quest to rescue her.  Prince Thadious his lazy brother joins him on the quest, when forced by his father to become a man.  Along the road, a female warrior with the same quest to kill the evil sorcerer accompanies the group and together with a crafty squire they embark on a crude comedic epic.

33/50 Eggs

The plot is shallow and mimics Clash of the Titans, but being a comedy of this sort its pretty much expected.  Danny McBride was the lead writer for the film and its very obvious.  His crude awkward humor which can be hit or miss is exactly that here.  Natalie Portman and James Franco were both cast well for their roles, and Danny McBride fits perfectly, obviously.  Strict comedies like these that rely heavily on the jokes and humor instead of the storyline are subjective and Danny McBride's brand can be appreciated by few, so just because I liked it doesn't mean you will.  My suggestion is if you like him, you'll like this movie.

Traffic (2000)

Had to wake up and be around the house while some guys came and fixed some stuff in the kitchen.  Since I have to be around the house for most of the day while they work, the movie marathon begins.  My Dad had been talking about Traffic, and how much he loved Benicio's performance recently so when I saw it was playing on AMC, I put it on.  I've seen it twice I think.  One right around when it came out and once a few years ago.  It was pretty good both times and I new it'd been great once again.

Traffic is a fragmented plot profiling the many sides and facets connected in the ebb and flow of drugs across the Mexican border.  It follows a specific few such as A conservative judge is appointed by the President to spearhead America's escalating war against drugs, only to discover that his teenage daughter is an addict.  The wife of a major drug dealer on trial in America, and a corrupt, yet dedicated Mexican cop who is giving information about cartels to the DEA.

43/50

Traffic was among one of the first fragmented plots and therefore must be credited for its originality.  I love fragmented plots.  As long as they're executed well they can be very captivating, carry a lot of details, and create an unexpected ending.  The execution on this film is perfect, and it definitely deserved the academy award.  Steven Soderbergh, in all his films, has great execution.  Sometimes the movies he decides to direct aren't always the best but everything from the music, editing, lighting, acting, is spot on.  I loved the color used in the shots throughout the film.  Specifically the yellow in the Mexican scenes.  The grittiness and impoverished feeling came through and gave that aspect of the plot great character.  Michael Douglass, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Benicio Del Toro were all great and well cast.  I Highly suggest this movie to anyone.  

Source Code (2011)

Caught this after a pleasant evening at the VMFA.  It was kind of late, but I wasn't that tired so I decided I'd give this one a go.  I've heard it was pretty good and Jake Gyllenhaal normally doesn't disappoint.

An action thriller centered on a soldier who wakes up in the body of an unknown man and discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train.  He has a fixed 8 minutes to enter a commuter on the train's conscience in order to prevent a possible second attack.  Each try gains him more knowledge in an effort to deduce the culprit.

36/50 Eggs

This film had a creative good whodunit plot.  It was a bit redundent like groundhog's day but I didn't see that as a problem as each time he re-entered the "unknown man" the 8 minutes varied quite a lot.  I will say, however, for an experienced moviegoer like myself I knew the bomber quite early in the film, and was annoyingly surprised that the protagonist couldn't come to the same reasoning.  Casting on the film was well done.  Michelle Monaghan plays a great emotionally heightened/surprised love interest, and  Jeffery Wright was perfect for the role of the head of the Source Code project, Dr. Rutledge.  It's tough for me to convey my views on the ending without out giving it away.  All I'll say is there was a bit too much Hollywood going on.  Making It a bit hard to fathom that people made the choices they made and things worked out the way they did.  Its definitely worth a rental.  Watch it and let me know what you think.

The Devil Is A Sissy (1936)

Caught this one on TCM this afternoon, while the meatloaf was on to cook.  They're doing a Jackie Cooper marathon today because he died a few days back.  I decided to watch it mainly because of the name.  I also haven't seen much of Mickey Rooney, and because he's somewhat of a prominent figure from time to time it peaked my interest.

A well-bred young English lad living in lower Manhattan tries to gain acceptance from his not-so-well-bred peers at school.  When one of his peers' dad dies, they hash a plan to get money for a tombstone.

35/50

It truly is remarkable how much better child actors from the past are then the ones of the present.  Both Jackie Cooper and Mickey Rooney were really good, but the role of Claude stole the show.  The film doesn't have much of a wow factor, apart from everything being spot on.  It's aimed for children, and contains a  great meaning, which doesn't hit you over the head like most kid's films nowadays.  There's not a whole lot I can say except that I really liked it.  I suggest it, if you can handle black and whites.

Manchurian Candidate (2004)

Caught this one on AMC this morning.  I have seen both this and the Frank Sinatra version before, but don't remember a whole lot of the details, so I thought I'd give it a go.  I remember thinking that the Frank Sinatra version wasn't even close to the new one so don't plan on me comparing the two.

Soldiers in the Gulf War are kidnapped and brainwashed to create a valiant war story for a future president.  When one of the soldiers becomes aware of the scheme through his dreams he begins to investigate and convince the others.

37/50

According to Imdb, I like this film a little more than the general public, which, being the movie snob I am, isn't typical.  The casting in the film is impeccable.  Obviously, the characters would be slightly different if played by different actors but I think they just "worked".  It surprises me that it wasn't as widely accepted as I would expect.  There's a strangeness to the brainwashing scenes, a creepiness.  I enjoyed and valued this, but I could see were it may put the film outside the general audience.  Denzel Washington, Liev Schreiber, and Meryl Streep all perform greatly and heighten the experience, needed for any great thriller.  I suggest it to anyone over the age of 13, especially to fans of Denzel. 

In 2004, when the movie came out, it was election year and perhaps that influenced the favor of the movie.  I remember some hubbub over Kerry's military experience.  I could see where some may see this as an attack, or at least touchy subject.  Nonsense really, but I don't know as the detective at 221b would say "food for thought".

Murder at the Gallop (1963)

They seem to be doing a Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple marathon on TCM, so its plain to say that I'm in for as much as I can stand, which will probably mean this is my last one before I have to cook dinner.  Anywho, this plot I have not yet seen in another version, unlike the past film, and therefore will be most exciting, at least I'm hoping so.

In Murder at a Gallop, Miss Marple is at it again.   For those who don't know, Miss Marple is an older woman whose keen eye and experience from crime novels has given her the adept ability to investigate murders.  When a wealthy old man appears to have been "frightened to death" by a cat, Miss Marple suspects one of his four relatives, all heirs to his estate, of his murder.

33/50 Eggs

Okay, well perhaps there is a reason why I haven't seen another version of this plot yet.  I'm not saying it was bad by any means.  After all, it was a Miss Marple whodunit.  I just feel it didn't have all the bells and whistles you normally get in a Miss Marple flick.  I must regrettably say I didn't name the killer.  This is, perhaps, due to the lack of tricky clues which are meant to both help and hurt the viewer.  Generally I have the ability to see the deeper meaning in the clue, but with such a lack of clues it was rather difficult.  That aside I truly enjoyed it.  Hector played by Robert Morley was my favorite character.  His odd mix of charm and insight is the shining gleam in a whodunit created more by character development than by clues.  The music in the film was very good, and helped heighten the suspense of film.  Something that comes as great value, since the victims are supposed to be "frightened to death".  Same as the last Miss Marple I reviewed, I suggest this to anyone who can handle watching black and whites.      

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)

So, like I said in the last post, earlier today I picked up both this and No Strings Attached.  Even though I  wanted to rent Blue Valentine.  This is the first Harry Potter film I only saw once in the theaters.  I know. What a nerd!  So of course since I haven't seen it but once right when the movie came out, I was quick on the jump to watch it again.

As a note, before I begin my review, I feel a lot of HP fans have qualms with the movies because they leave quite a bit out.  I do believe they're right, but it is an obvious neccissity.  I don't plan to address how well an adaption the screenplay is, however, I will mention particular plot holes caused by missing details.

This is the seventh installment of the Harry Potter series, for those who have been living on Io.  As Harry races against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, he uncovers the existence of three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows.

38/50

The plot is amazing, and unless you're one of those wingbat nuts that refuses to accept media if its not real, you have to admit it.  It may not have the complexity and human exploration of say Odysseus or The Great Gatsby, being that it is aimed for children, but its not without creativity.  The casting is wonderful, and now after watching Harry Potter for 10 years its hard to imagine the characters as anything but the way they appear in the movie.  I like that the moved to a darker interpertation of the book.  The heightened amount of blues and greens in the shots adds a cold, evil feeling to the film, which I enjoyed.  The nature seetings in the film are also worth noting.  Since, none of the film occured within Hogwarts, and Hogwarts is such a cool looking place, its much appreciated. The only bad thing I could say about the film, is I wish they would have gone into more detail about Dumbledore's brother.  I was a bit lazy, and didn't look up if there's more to come in Part 2, but I feel the plot suffers without these details.  Or atleast, the plot could be enhanced. I recommend it to anyone, granted you have seen the ones leading up to it. into more detail about Dumbledore's brother.

No Strings Attached (2011)

So I went to the Redbox to get some movies for the night, and like most times I go, Redbox fails to have the one I want.  If you're curious I originally wanted to watch Blue Valentine.  All the same, I'll see it eventually. I decided to get this one instead, mainly for Natalie Portman, and the fact there wasn't much else.

No Strings Attached is a romantic comedy about a guy and girl who try to keep their relationship strictly physical.  However, it's not long before they learn that they want something more.

33/50

The plot is in one word... typical.  A romantic comedy about people trying to keep their relationship strictly physical and failing, I mean, who hasn't seen at least two of those.  I can say that while the film's creativity lacks merit its execution is quite worth mentioning.  The chemistry between Portman and Kutcher is great.  Portman finally conveys the raunchy humor seen in her Lonely Island video; which if you haven't seen, is hilarious.  Kutcher puts on his normal show of kirky humor and mello-drama.  I felt the casting for the secondary characters like Ludacris, Kevin Kline, Cary Elwes, Greta Gerwig, and the office's Mindy Kaling were a tad random.  They were funny, and I couldn't see anything wrong with them it just seem cameo-esk, if that's a word.  I'd say as long as you don't hate Aston Kutcher, like my mom does, you'll probably enjoy it.

Murder She Said (1961)

Typical me catching a movie mid-day on TCM.  The fact that it is a whodunit, specifically Miss Marple, definitely peaked my interest.  Unfortunately Murder She Said is adapted from the original Agatha Christie story 4:50 to Paddington, and I have already seen Joan Hickson's version of the same story.  While this regrettably means I already know the killer I tried my hardest to remain unbiased.

The movie is an adapted script from one of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple stories, as I have above stated.  For those who don't know, Miss Marple is an older woman whose keen eye and experience from crime novels has given her the adept ability to investigate murders.  In this tale, Miss Marple witnesses a strangling on a Train, and when no one believes her she must become a maid at an estate along the railroad tracks to search for clues.

36/50 Eggs

As I noted in earlier posts, whodunits are among some of my favorite movies.  This, although not as good as the Joan Hickson version, was pretty good.  Miss Marple storylines are alwats very good.  They have just enough twists and turns to stay interesting, and make it hard to deduce the ending, however still, if one has the keen wit, possible to figure out the killer before it is actually noted in the film.  This a unique feature that feels quite rewarding, whether you actually got it right or not.  One thing I thought was kinda funny about the film.  Joan Hickson actually plays Mrs. Kidder in the film.  At one point, Miss Marple turns to Mrs. Kidder and says "The younger generation..hmm", seems so ironic that 20 years later she really would be the next Miss Marple.  Now as for the technical issues of the film, I saw hardly any issues.  I was incredibly surprised with the acting ability of the young boy.  The angles shot in the film also were particularly great, the scene when she calls back to her friend in the village with the moose head above her was awesome.  The only thing I didn't like was there was an inconsistency of Marple's level of fear.  Sometimes she would be afraid and sometimes she wouldn't.  I realize this is a minor detail but the director could have done a better job because this aspect of Miss Marple as a no fear old lady is pretty much the basis for her character.  For anyone who can handle watching black and white movies, I strongly suggest it, although since netflix has the Joan Hickson version on instant stream, I'd recommend that one over this one.

The Interperator (2005)

Caught this on AMC, after I had finished the chores around the house.  I think I've seen it before, but couldn't remember how it ended so I thought it'd be good to watch as I did some things on the computer.

Political intrigue and deception unfold inside the United Nations, where a US Secret Service agent is assigned to investigate an interpreter who overhears an assassination plot.

26/50 Eggs


The film appeared to be a great thriller, with some big named actors.  The big plus of the movie is Kidman. She is one of those women who actually looks better as she ages, and is a talented actress. Sean Penn is also a good actor, and both do a great job in the movie.  Unfortunately the good acting can't overcome the weak script. I felt like the story was still a 2-3 drafts short of being ready for the screen. The biggest problem was that there are plot holes you could drive a truck through. The movie dragged through most of the middle, as well, as they tried to develop the strained relationship between the principle characters.The use of the United Nations building was a big plus and definitely gave the movie more realism.  Although I probably would still recommend it as a possible watch, it would be at the bottom of a long list of suggestions.

Something Borrowed (2011)

Saturday night, and back home with the fam for Mother's day.  Thai food for dinner, while watching the horse races, then off to see Something Borrowed at the theater.  We took a quick stop at a Starbucks close-by for some coffee and a desert before hand, and then its go time.

Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) is a talented attorney at a top New York law firm, a generous and loyal friend, and, unhappily, still single—as her engaged best friend Darcy (Kate Hudson) is constantly reminding her. But after celebrating her 30th birthday, perpetual good girl Rachel unexpectedly ends up in the arms of the guy she's had a crush on since law school, Dex (Colin Egglesfield) who just happens to be Darcy's fiancé.

As one thing leads to another in the frantic weeks leading up to Darcy's wedding, Rachel finds herself in an impossible situation, caught between her treasured friendship with Darcy and the love of her life.


30/50 Eggs

Let it be known that i have a small crush on Ginnifer Goodwin.  Especially since she recently cut her hair short.   There were a lot of things about the film I didn't like, but Goodwin and John Krasinski definitely helped it out.  Krasinski was hilarious and vastly helps the movie get through plot develop. Colin Egglesfield, a name I've never heard until now, plays Kate Hudson's fiance' and is mediocre to say the least.  His chemistry with the two leading ladies was pathetic and unbelievable.  Whoever decided to cast him was either an idiot or had ulterior motives.  The film also offered quite a bit of puffery.  When watching a romantic comedy one expects to know the plot.  Great romantic comedies aren't made by their unpredictability.  They're made by great lines and connections we make with the characters.  This film isn't bad, and I would suggest a rental, they just tried to hard to make it unpredictable.

Life As We Know It (2010)

Picked this up at the Redbox to watch with my sister Friday night.  Didn't have a whole lot going on, and since I was back home for Mother's Day, I figured I'd hang out with the sis' for the night.  The plan was to throw back some PBR's and eat some peanut butter brownies, however the movie started, no brownies were made, and no beer bottles were opened.  All the same, it was a fun night.

After a lethal car crash, an incompatible pair is charged to take care of their best friends child.  While raising the child, sparks fly, and only time will tell what the future holds.

28/50 Eggs

Typical fair Rom Com with a rather original storyline.  The film delivers at a fairly average level throughout the film.  I valued the originality of the storyline but the direction was piecemeal and frivolous at times.  Duhamel is funny but never really commits to the role.  Heigl is good, but I must say I'm a bit bias against her and probably don't giver her the credit she deserves.  The chemistry between the two is believable but isn't exactly Ryan and Crystal-esk.  That's "When Harry Met Sally", for those who didn't get it.  Overall not a bad movie and definitely worth the rent, but no wow factor.

Body of Lies (2008)

Caught this one as I was going to bed last night.  I didn't expect to finish it but I was playing Legend of Legaia on a computer emulator and by the time I noticed it the film was almost over.  By then, I of course needed to finish it so I could write the review.

Roger Ferris (Leonardo Dicaprio) is a CIA operative working in the Middle East taking orders from Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe) his control at Langley. Cynicism is everywhere. In Amman, Jordan, Roger works with Hani Salaam, Jordan's head of security to pursue a cleric known to be of high terrorist rank.  When plans go awry Hani desides not to allow America to use Jordanian double agents.  Ed and roger must then create a body of lies in order to draw out the cleric.

32/50 Eggs

In the past few years Leonardo Dicaprio has done very well at making movies entertaining.  It could be that he has what I call the Tom Hanks ability, meaning he has a adept skill of picking good movies.  I wouldn't go as far as saying he's Daniel Day Lewis, but I have a hard time not liking a movie he's in.  I can't say anything wowed me in the film.  Mark Strong did his normal stern, I'm serious as a heart attack role.  Crowe had a few good lines but his performance was far from memorable.  I did like the craftiness of the lies the two main characters weave.  It gave the film quite a bit of creativity, which I value immensely. Like I said, not amazing, but definitely worth a watch.

The Last Waltz (1978)

I was just lounging around doing somethings on the computer when I saw Palladia was about to play The Last Waltz.  I actually own it on blu-ray but wasn't in the mood to go through the extensive trouble to put it in so I suffered through the commercials.

The Last Waltz for those who don't know is actually a concert movie produced by Martin Scorsese.  The Band plays their farewell concert with talents, such as Neil Young, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, and Bob Dylan, and chronicles times on the road that caused them to retire so early.  Originally I wasn't going to write a review for this since its more music than movie and is hard to address some directorial qualities that may be present in even non-fiction movies.  Alas, however, there are reasons while Scorsese is acclaimed for his concert films and therefore I decided to write something for it.  I must note that the Band is among my favorite musical performers and because of this I am partial to giving a higher score.  For this I am not going to give a score but just say that I thoroughly enjoy watching it every time.

The Band always seemed to me to be musicians before celebrities.  There's something in there demeanor and behavior that just says "We're here to play for your enjoyment."  How much choice Scorsese had on the location of the concert and the interviews I don't know, but both helped to maintain that basic, homey feeling you get when you listen to the Band's music.  Scorsese acts as the interviewer in the scenes between the songs and gives us entry to the life of a struggling band on the road.  The only qualm I do have is; who was the idiot that invited Joni Mitchell to be on the show.  Neil Young's "Helpless" is among the best of the performances, but halfway through, Mitchell's yelping that goes on in the background just ruins it.  Needless to say her solo performance of "Coyote" is also atrocious.   Their body language in the closing song when the full cast comes out, makes me think they were together as a couple at the time and somehow Joni convinced Neil it'd be a good idea.  A few funny notes, when "I Shall Be Realeased" plays look for Hawk next to Levon Helm(The Drummer).  Hawk just pretends to sing and sway around, does he think we can't see him?  Also in the closing credits song, Anyone think Robbie is compensating a little?

Thor (2011)

To put it bluntly, I did not watch Thor in the theater.  Enough said.  I'm sure some of the beauty of Asgard was lost, however, I'll take that into account.  I figured after watching a few 1930's movies, I should probably come back to the present.  And since Thor was available I chose it over Water for Elephants.

Thor is an adaption of the marvel comic book superhero saga of the same name.  I can't say I am too familiar with the storyline portrayed in the comic book, but I'm willing to bet Hollywood had its way with her.  One can only hope that the lose ends of the marvel comic book movies can be sufficiently tied together when they finally release The Avengers.

Now onto the plot.  The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war is cast down to Earth, stripped of his powers,  and forced to live among humans as punishment.  While on Earth, Thor must realize what it takes to be a king to regain his powers and his seat on the throne.

32/50 Eggs

To be honest, going into Thor I wasn't expecting much and my score probably wouldn't be as high if that wasn't the case.  It's May aka the onslaught of cliche hokey action movies has begun, and for the past few years that means superhero movies.  Like I noted above the world of Asgard was quite pretty and added much aesthetic enjoyment to the film.  Acting from all parties was week in my opinion, especially that of Natalie Portman.  Compared to her performance in Black Swan, this was meh at best.  Granted some fault more than likely falls on the director and a superhero-based plot, but I expected more.  The combat between Loki and Thor, helped although I would have like a bit more.  I will pray that Green Lantern delivers more as I am actually fan.


 

A Day at the Races (1937)

Typical Tuesday night with nothing on TV and nothing to do.  And no Dancing with the Stars does not count as something on TV.  Back TCM for what will hope to be a pleasing Marx Brothers flick. 

Hooray for a comedy, eh?  Well at least a satirical slapstick style that the Marx Brothers always gladly provide.  In this one, Groucho plays a vet posing as a doctor, who with a race horse owner and his friends struggle to help keep a sanitarium open with the help of a misfit racehorse.

37/50 Eggs

Even though the storyline was quite enjoyable, I don't think one truly watches a Marx Brother's movie for the engrossing plot twists.  The run-time on this was 111 mins, the longest of all their films, which did make it seem like a feature more the general extended short.  I thoroughly enjoyed most of the film, and had no problems with the overall storyline.  I absolutely loved the party on the water scene.  Chico and Harpo's musical talent is superb and the mix of it with slapstick comedy made it incredibly entertaining to watch.  My only complaint is that at times the skits seemed to run a little long and the film could have benefited from some editing.  The ending horse race is unlike any you would ever see. It is so ridiculous, you just laugh out loud....and that's the idea of the movie.  I recommended to anyone with a funny bone. 

Chinatown (1974)

I technically watched this on DVD before Cool Hand Luke, but I can't see any reason why I shouldn't just go ahead and write a review about it.  I own it, however, haven't seen it in at least a year and had forgotten the particulars.  I wasn't feeling well and had to cancel plans Sunday night but felt up to laying down and watching a good movie.

J.J. Gittes(Jack Nicholson)  is a private detective that specializes in the investigation of marital affairs.  He is hired by Evelyn Mulwray(Faye Dunaway) to tail her husband Hollis, builder of the city's water supply system. Gittes proves Mrs. Mulwray suspicions, however, it seems he was hired by an impersonator and not the real Mrs. Mulwray. When Mr. Mulwray is found dead, Gittes is plunged into a complex web of deceit involving murder, incest and municipal corruption all related to the city's water supply.

 46/50 eggs

I love Chinatown.  It truly is a perfect film.  It contains a whodunit mystery, plot-twists around every corner, and motives relating to the environment. Nicholson may lose some wow factor that he instead gets in movies like "The Shining" or "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" because he plays a character compatible with the social norm, however his performance still proves why he is considered one of the best actors of his generation.  Faye Dunaway is also not without noticing.  She captivates and lures us through each twist, leaving us unsure to trust her or not.

Polanski deserves much of the credit, as well.  A lot goes in to directing a perfect film: interesting angles, capturing the very best of the actors, making sure the movie is cohesive and understandable, while not adding any unnecessary material.  Polanski accomplishes all of these.   I don't know if it just me though, but the only scene that seemed off was the cameo by Polanski himself.  The feeling Polanski portrayed in the scene was brash and foreign.  I admit I regrettably don't understand his intentions.  Maybe his inner actor can't take his own constructive criticism. It stands repeated watching.   Against what some people say, I agree with Polanski's decision about the ending.  As they say "This is Chinatown."

Saturday, 8PM

So, I figured I should let everyone know, just in case you don't watch TCM like me, that this Saturday at 8PM Turner Classic Movies will be showing the Bicycle Thief.  If you haven't seen it, change your plans for the weekend buy some popcorn and enjoy.  The Bicycle Thief is considered one of the best films ever made, however tends to be one of those that isn't readily available.  So taking advantage of the opportunity will be to your benefit.  It is in black and white, as well as Italian with subtitles but if you consider yourself any sort of film buff, you need to at least see it once.  You can expect my review sometime Saturday night or Sunday morning. 

The Kennel Murder Case (1933)

As I'm sure readers will soon find out whodunits are my favorite type of movie. They're captivating and can touch on a wide range of film genres. After watching Dinky on TCM, I noticed this was playing afterwards and decided to give it a watch.

The Kennel Murder Case follows Philo Vance, a notable detective, as he investigates a suspicious suicide of a prominent and much-hated collector. With his trusted Scottish terrier he works to narrow down a long list of suspects.

34/50 eggs

I'm a bit bias on this film due to the context, so simply for being a murder whodunit it gets an extra five points.  William Powell is commanding and leads most of the plot direction as Philo Vance. Eugene Pallatte plays the cliche sergeant mimicking the Holmes - Inspector Lestrade relationship in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. The comedic relief is needed as the plot progression is dry and lacks excitement. The overall plot was well thought out, however, wraps up sloppily and comes across rushed. The run-time is only 79 minutes which is adequate for what would seem to be an adapted short story, but I would have preferred more character development. Motive in most stories stems from relationships and strong emotions, creating crimes of passions. One can't make a definite decision for or against the motive of the murderer without truly understanding the thoughts of the characters, atleast in this reviewer's eyes. I recommend the film to anyone who can handle black and whites, and pre-1960s films.

Dinky (1935)

Lucky enough for me the cable package I have includes TCM, which means about 80% of the time there's a movie on I haven't seen.  This one seems interesting enough.

Dinky is a young boy around the age of 10 going to an elite military school. When his mother is sentenced to 2 years for fraud, Dinky is shunned by the other boys causing him to move-in to the orphanage next door.

29/50 eggs

I feel indifferent about the movie.  I enjoyed it, however at no point did I feel it went above any expectations.  Something can be said for the kids acting abilities.  One expects children in an orphanage to behave like children, however, there's an air to there mannerisms similiar to noir.  Whether it's planned or not it does elevate their performance.  Unfortunately, the movie is riddled with cliches and makes the story wholesome but a tad unbelievable.  The runtime is also only 65 minutes, which easily could have been extended with a few more scenes, as the film seems rushed.  I assume that with the plot, simple cliches, and short runtime the film was probably meant for a young audience, but I'm unaware if that's true.  I can't see the opportunity of watching it being readily available, nor would I recommend going out of your way to watch it.

Cool Hand Luke (1967)

Since Cool Hand Luke (1967) is responsible for my blogspot title, my opinion of the film is pretty obvious and  it makes sense for it to be my first formal review.  I own the film on blu-ray and tend to watch it every few months, so a quick watch again for the review was easy enough.

The film follows Luke Jackson, a prisoner in a southern chain-gang with a free spirit full of rebellion against authority.  As the movie progresses, The other inmates rally around Luke's cool demeanor as he continually tries to escape from the prison.  In an attempt to stop his disobedience, the camp staff fights to squelch Luke's spirit.  The conflict between Luke and the authority depicts the struggle for man's free will in the confines of social norms.

44/50 Eggs

This movie can unquestionably be called a classic.  It is among the top performances by Newman in his vast career of success.  George Kennedy as Dragline is majestic, and fully deserves the Oscar he got for Best Supporting Actor.  The balance between Dragline's rash mannerisms and Luke's smooth demeanor cause great comedic relief and make the friendship between the two very enjoyable to watch.  The soundtrack compliments the rustic, gritty setting of the film very well, and Dennis Hopper and Harry Dean Stanton, flesh out the film with memorable lines here and there.  Allusions to Christ tend to get a little overwhelming, however prove the worth of the film as more than a movie about a guy in a prison.  I highly recommend this film to anyone.