Saturday, February 27, 2010

Radha Mitchell has The Crazies


Ogden Marsh (Lenox, IA) is pretty small. There are about 1200 people in this small town. Sadly, they're all in big trouble. The town sheriff is a 9-5 guy. There's not enough trouble to have a night shift. There's only one deputy. Even though my hometown is double their size, I can relate.

One day the town drunk interrupts a softball game with a shotgun. It's all downhill from there. Look out, Cedar Rapids, you're next!

The movie is a remake of the George Romero original. I saw the original a few years ago. It.is.bad. This is one of the few cases where a remake is welcome and encouraged. And you know what, it's pretty good. In the original you know the government is to blame for people getting "the crazies" but there was really no rhyme or reason. And it effects people differently. In the new one, the source is discovered almost right away. And the effects are similar for everyone.

Our heroes are the sheriff, his wife the doctor, the deputy and the doctor's office assistant. Not only do they have to fight through the crazies, but the Army as well, who are trying to contain this at all costs.

I had low expectations. Remakes. Blerg. But I have no complaints. Good scares. Good gore. Even though the commercials would have you believe these are zombies, they're not. They are people. They think and reason. It makes them much more dangerous.

There was a post screening Q&A with the main leading lady, Radha Mitchell. She does genre movies (Pitch Black, Silent Hill) and stuff like Woody Allen movies (Melinda and Melinda). But I don't think enough people know about her since no great questions were asked. But she seemed very pleasant. Overall a good way to spend a free night at the movies.

Did you enjoy it?
Yes.

Would you see it in theaters again?
No.

Would you rent it?
Yes. Radha did talk about two alternate endings that were shot. I'd be interested in seeing them.

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Maybe.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Hot Tub Time Machine

Hot Tub Time Machine is one of those movies that wear's it intentions on it's sleeve. I enjoy the refreshing truth in advertising. If they weren't selling on the plot device, the movie would be called "Ski Trip Weekend" or something to that effect. But it's not. We're here to talk about a hot tub that firmly puts people back in time.

The four leads are all wildly different but work together well. The person I was most nervous about was John Cusack. If not done right, he would have made it feel like he was in a different movie than everyone else. Luckily he is fully on board here. And I think we have Steve Pink to thank. He directed Cusack in Gross Point Blank, which also lived in a world more farcical than ours.

Four friends have drifted apart. Their lives are miserable. We see them all at their lowest point. And we briskly move on to get them skiing. Then we quickly get in that magical hot tub. From there it's all gravy. Nods to Cusack's earlier work in Better Off Dead (sadly no Curtis Armstrong). But we do get Zabka! I almost didn't recognize him even though he looks exactly the same.

And...Crispin Glover, ladies and gentlemen. I got some stares for my well known belly laugh at most of Glover's parts in this movie. Just amazing from his first appearance on screen. But really everyone is good. Cusack can do this lead in his sleep. He's been doing it for quite a long time now. I am glad to see him back in a movie like this. I may have to put Better Off Dead or One Crazy Summer on the queue. Craig Robinson is hilarious with his turmoil. Rob Corrdry has never been funnier. Clark Duke plays the perfect lazy young loser. Even Chevy Chase doesn't get a chance to overstay his welcome.

The best thing this screenplay does well. We don't spend a lot of time with the bad guys. That's not the point. We don't need a lot of scenes with them being preppy a**holes. They're just there to move things along and the screenwriters know that.

Right now, this is in the running for 2010 comedy of the year. Let's check back in December.


Did you enjoy it?
Yes.
Would you see it in theaters again?
Yes. Might go next week to another free screening.

Would you rent it?
Yep. I'm always up for a good laugh. This would be a good double feature with Better Off Dead.

Would you buy it?
Possibly.
Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Yes.

Mega Power Millions Ball


First, what's up with both lotteries merging? That's why I wouldn't take the annuity. What if they dissolve the lottery some day?

Secondly, I have worked in building that had convenience stores, but they were more like gift shops. No smokes, no drinks, no gambling. But my new building does. So I could just buy scratch offs all day. Or like I did today, buy a ticket for Mega and Powerball. What if I won both? Then this blog would get a lot more interesting!

Gotta Play to Win!

Insert Generic Romantic Comedy Title Here



She's Out of Your League. That's the title. It has taken me a week to remember the name of the movie. And I'm good at remembering stuff like that. Having seen this almost a week ago, I struggle to remember any of the character names. But that is to be expected with a comedy like this. It is going to be a smash and grab. They'll try to build up enough buzz to get an opening weekend payday and then the dust will settle.

But the world needs movies like this. There will be a post on Nugs this week that will have a comedy with a supremely original plot. That doesn't mean there isn't room for generic romantic comedies. The world is full of people. Not all of them are rich and famous. Some of them just are. That is this movie.

Loser guy? Check.
Super hot girl? Check.
Family with quirks? Check.
Former girlfriend and boyfriend still in the romantic couples' lives? Check.
(Do we think they ex's are going to try and keep these two main characters apart? Yeah we do)
Wildly different yet supportive friends? Check. Check. Check.
But the most important question. Will this film have a "second act" misunderstanding? IT HAS TWO!

An airport security guard finds a hottie's phone. He gets it back to her. She thanks him. They fall in love. They move way too fast. They have misunderstandings. Both their ex's want them back. Here's the meat and potatoes. The girl is hot. There are some good jokes. If you find your options are this movie and When In Rome, go see this movie. I forgot the title again. Something to do with 5s and 10s.


Did you enjoy it?
I don't remember.

Would you see it in theaters again?
I'm going to say...no.

Would you rent it?
No?

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
No.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Cool BEANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




First time on cable time....HOT ROD! Comedy Central this weekend!


Jack.pot.

Shutter Island

I have many complaints about Shutter Island. But I think that is mostly because of the pedigree involved in making this movie. I have never read the book (or heard of it before this movie was made) so I'm not sure how well it was adapted. My issues lie solely with the film. With that in mind, I am still giving it a passing grade.

From the first scene of the studio credits the music is meant to build suspense. For me, it just made me think "If I have to hear this soundtrack for 2 hours I'm going to kill someone". Luckily it does eventually calm down and lets us relax. Later on it will be like a cat running across the keys of a piano. I feel whole heartedly that I could play the final act's score from memory without any recent musical training.

If you've seen the trailer you've seen too much. They want to let you know that there are twists and turns, but I think if they had played the trailer as a straight up period crime thriller, they might have done a better job reeling in audiences. But a lot of people have already seen it, so who am I to say. As for me, I was looking for twists the entire time. My guard was up, which might be why I had some trouble with it. And that also made the movie seem pretty long. But I had a guess as to the twist and I was right. Which was disappointing. I didn't guess it all.  There were things to tell me in the 20 minutes of the third act reveal.

I will say that there was a coda to the movie that had two quick beats that led to a post film discussion with Meatball. I had to verify what I had just seen had occured. And that's the reason overall I enjoyed the film. It is beautifully shot. There are some tense moments. Another thing we talked about post film are some of the edits. They are either glaring mistakes or placed there purposefully to through you off. You don't have to be a movie buff to catch them. Overall, I can see why it wasn't released during the Christmas Award Season, but it is above the usual Jan/Feb releases. Worthy of a matinee.


Did you enjoy it?
Yes, with some reservations.

Would you see it in theaters again?
No. Although the film is built for repeat viewings.

Would you rent it?
Possibly.

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
If it didn't get to the top of my rental queue.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Valentine's Day is Over

When you have 21 headlining movie stars, you're bound to get some things right. I saw this on the official Valentine's Day. 11:30am. The theater was packed. I guess it was required viewing for some. I can't even list all the actors without getting carpul tunnel.

The good. The Taylors are pretty funny. Hey, What's Up with Topher Grace? is good. I would say the kid one was fair. He's not a great actor, but I got the point.

The bad. Julia Roberts is given nothing to do. She has almost no lines. Her character is ARMY. McSteamy and Faceman are lovers. Queen Latifah, come on.

I think if they had done this right, they could have developed some of the stories better and then expanded this further out. Make one every year, like Saw. Then you have a TV show seen in cinema and no one is the wiser. If you expect us to buy any of the love, you have to give us time with the characters. My answers to the questions below are going to be based on the fact that it is Friday, Feb. 19th....

Did you enjoy it?
yes

Would you see it in theaters again?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Would you rent it?
Maybe in 358 days

Would you buy it?
Nope. I'd sooner just buy some flowers.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
No.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

I'm like Kobe Bryant now!


It's official. My licensing agreement with etnies has been signed. Get your pair today!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

The Wolfman (2010)


Even a man who is pure in heart
and says his prayers by night
may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms
and the autumn moon is bright.

When this movie started to roll, I wasn't feeling it. Neither were the old couple that left about half way through the movie. I think they thought Lon Chaney Jr was still alive. They were wrong. It's taken me a day to figure out why I was thrown off. That's not to say I thought this was a bad movie, but I definitely had a sense of something being off.

The editing. Only when a movie is edited poorly do you notice film editing. The first 15-20 minutes of the movie go by in almost dream like moments. A kill here. A scene there. Credits. What I am guessing is that either since the movie is set in the 19th Century they wanted 21st century quick cuts, OR they just wanted to get to the action.

It is a movie called the Wolfman after all. That's interesting about the old classic movie monsters, you love them, but they're not the heroes. Does the Wolfman only kill evil people? Nope. Does Dracula only drink the blood of the guilty? Heck no. But we still love them. Their the oldest anti-heroes. That's something the movies does correctly. You feel sorry for the cursed, but you can't wait for him to shred through the town folk.

I do feel the sacrificed too much of the story for the sake of the action. This movie is trying to have it both ways. They want to be a period piece and a classic horror film. They at least got the horror right. It's not overly gory, but it does accurately portray what a wolf-man would do to victims. The period story telling, while a great idea, was not realized in this movie. It's not terrible, but it does kind of feel like the "Let's put on a play" type of movie. Not as authentic as one would hope. But still, A for effort.

Did you enjoy it?
Yes.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Yes.

Would you rent it?
Yes.

Would you buy it?
No.
Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Yes.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Edge of Darkness


There are two stories that I've seen regarding this movie.
1: MEL IS BACK!
2: No he's not.

I'm inclined to believe the former. Almost too much. The SNL skit from last week that joked that people had seen this movie before were close. It has shades of his old movies. But there is enough fresh here to enjoy. If your plus one doesn't complain about too many guns. There are a lot of guns. He's the guy with nothing to lose.

This movie is not wholly satisfying. At least, not in the way Payback was. In this one he's going up against a Conspiracy (no theory this time). The bad guys are bad guys. The good guy has an uphill mystery to unravel.  But with all that, I never saw him teetering on the edge of darkness. He jumps the edge and keeps up a sprint to the finish. He's never wrestling with the way he is doing stuff. But there is violence and mystery. It's still winter. Wait until the snow thaws and good movies hit the cinema.

Did you enjoy it?
Sure. I'm easily amused.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Nope.

Would you rent it?
Negatron.

Would you buy it?
Pass.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Sure. I'd watch just about anything on the tube.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Mystery Team


Billy Madison x3. They solve mysteries. That should give you an idea. Internet comedians made this movie.

Okay, enough with sentence fragments. When these three best friends were seven years old they started the Mystery Team detective agency. Finding missing cats, who stole the pies, that sort of thing. Now that they are 18 years old not much has changed. Kissing girls is icky. The genius is still reading the same Guiness Book he read when he was a little kid. The strongest kid in school has not matured and definitely isn't the strongest anymore.  One day a small child gives them a dime to solve her mystery, who killed her parents.

If you can believe in Billy Madison then you can believe in these kids. They don't swear. They are sweet natured. And everyone hates them. All the jokes are derived from the fact that these doe-eyed innocents are wrist deep in poop. Sometimes literally.

The movie doesn't have distribution so the Derrick Comedy troupe has been travelling with the print from town to town. They did a Q&A at the Music Box after the movie. They are genuinely funny on their feet. I will totally check out the next thing they release. Until then, You Tube has their main bread and butter

Did you enjoy it?
Sure.
Would you see it in theaters again?
Nice try. Hit the road.

Would you rent it?
Maybe.

Would you buy it?
Nah.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Sure.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Echelon Your Dreams & They'll Come True


It was announced today that Pavement will make a stop on their reunion tour in Chicago, IL for the Pitchfork Music Festival. What a great Friday.

I did get to see Pavement before their breakup. I was a junior in high school. My friends and I convinced another friend to drive us 2+ hours to Minneapolis to see them at First Ave. It was during the Wowee Zowee tour. Oh yeah, the opener was Wilco (AM sux!).

In honor of their reunition (RE - YOU - NIGH- SHUN; yeah I can make up words too) here is what I am going to do. I will limit myself to one track per album.

Westing (by Musket and Sextant)
Box Elder
It is one of my favorites of all time. What a great little song.

Slanted and Enchanted
Here
This song in both it's album version and peel version are great. I like a song that can be beautiful when played slow and rock when played fast.

Peel Sessions (found on the reissue of S&E but originally on bootlegs, hey remember those?)
Kentucky Cocktail

Watery, Domestic
Shoot the Singer
"Someone took in these pants".

Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
Unfair
This may be a controversial choice from this great album. I don't care. Get your own list if you don't like it. This was the track that got me going back in the day.

Wowee Zowee
Father to a Sister of a Thought
The only country I like is Pavement Country.

Brighten the Corners
Type Slowly / Slowly Typed
This is another example of how they show their genius. One is a slow melodic song. The other is a funky country-fied version.

Terror Twilight
...And Carrot Rope
Any time you can get Mark Ibold to sing, you're in business. Nice coda to a nice career.


See you this summer, S.M. Jenkins and crew!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Who Wants a Mustache Ride to Paris


Let's talk about Luc Besson. He is the mind behind The Fifth Element and The Professional. A great Bruce Willis sci fi movie that introduced the world to Chris Tucker (strike). Since then, he mostly does stories and producing, never really returning behind the lense. 

Last year America got Taken. This year we get From Paris with Love. One is deadly serious about sex trade. The other one is what the French think our CIA operatives are like. John Travolta plays the ugly American named Charlie Wax. He leaves a trail of bodies through Paris. Again, much like Liam did last year in Taken. But where one was hunting for his daughter, Wax is just doing his job. And he loves his job. 

And the facial hair. Travolta shaved his head and it must have trickled down to his lips. And John Rhys Meyers thinks he's a big boy with his pencil thin John Waters style facial hair. 

I would call this one a mildly entertaining shooter that will be gone from my brain as soon as this is posted. But thanks to AICN for the free pass. See you next week for The Wolfman (fingers crossed). 

Did you enjoy it?
Yes.

Would you see it in theaters again?
No.

Would you rent it?
No.

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Yes.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Lost


Yeah, Lost. It's back. I remember being intrigued about this show. I was watching Alias at the time. J.J. Abrams felt good enough about this show to help it get to series, so I would give it a watch. And here we are at the end. I have continually dared the nay-sayers to watch the pilot episode and not get drawn in (I have the same bet for anyone to watch the first 3 episodes of The O.C.).

I don't want to say too much. It's been a long strange trip. It's given Doc Jensen something to write about in E. Weekly. It's divided a nation between the watch and watch nots. There has not been a replacement series created since. What do we do after May comes and goes? Only time will tell.

For now, "WE HAVE TO GO BACK!"