Sherlock Holmes (3 out of 5): Tried too hard to be clever and funny, but I love Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law is eye candy!
It's Complicated (4 out of 5): Our friend from the Office was the funniest part of the movie. Clever and fun flick.
Brothers (4 out of 5): I am a big Jim Sheridan fan! Intense and flew by.
Invictus (4 out of 5): It was great, but the sound was messed up in the theater so you couldn't hear the dialogue well in crowd scenes. My favorite parts involved the local impact, his security guards more than the global impact which was powerful too.
Avatar (2 out of 5): It was o.k. I guess I am alone on this one. The effects don't do much for me, it was a bit preachy too. I liked the lead actor and Zoe Saldana did a great job. Favorite part was the "connection" between the natives and the animals. That was cool.
Did You Hear About the Morgans (1 out of 5): Hugh Grant wasted is an understatement! I went to see it because the reviews said it was such a train wreck. Wanted to see it for myself.
Up in the Air (4 out of 5): An enjoyable film, but not the masterpiece it is being sold as for Oscar buzz.
I would like to see The Road, but it is only playing at 12:15 AM in Woburn!! AH!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
2009 Top Picks
It was a light movie year for me compared to previous years. Very busy with work and trying to save money as well. There are so many movies I didn't get to see, especially of the independent nature! Want to see Precious, Sherlock Holmes, Up in the Air, Invictus, etc. Movie standouts of the ones I saw in 2009:
#1 Inglorious Basterds
#2 500 Days of Summer
#3 Star Trek
#4 Paranormal Activity
#5 Every Little Step
Up in the Air and Invictus may be added to this list. Other standouts: Up, The Proposal, Funny People
#1 Inglorious Basterds
#2 500 Days of Summer
#3 Star Trek
#4 Paranormal Activity
#5 Every Little Step
Up in the Air and Invictus may be added to this list. Other standouts: Up, The Proposal, Funny People
Sunday, August 9, 2009
The Hurt Locker
4 out of 5
This movie is not for everyone. It was very well written and directed and kept me on the edge of my seat. Very suspenseful at times and touching at others. I do not have time for a full preview but want to focus on my favorite scene.
I have heard over and over that great screenwriting is showing about a character not telling. There was one scene in this movie that epitomizes this concept. Two men are at the top of a shelter waiting it out to make sure there is no one else that will shoot at them and the people they are with. They are sitting in the hot sun and wind for what seems like hours. One of the men has been known to be selfish and a risk taker. He cannot be trusted up until this point in the movie. The other man has been pushed to the limit by the former soldier and is just trying to stay alive. They are perched here together, forced to work as a team since there is no other choice. When the selfish risk taker seems to be ready to pass out from the heat, he asks a soldier to bring him some juice. The soldier does. We see the selfish, risk taker struggle to get the wrapper off the straw and get the straw into the juice box. What happens next is a great example of showing who a character is and not telling. This scene was worth the price of admission because it shifted the way we thought of this character and it changed how the other soldier saw him too. Great screenwriting!
I recommend this well written, well acted movie, but it is a stressful experience!
This movie is not for everyone. It was very well written and directed and kept me on the edge of my seat. Very suspenseful at times and touching at others. I do not have time for a full preview but want to focus on my favorite scene.
I have heard over and over that great screenwriting is showing about a character not telling. There was one scene in this movie that epitomizes this concept. Two men are at the top of a shelter waiting it out to make sure there is no one else that will shoot at them and the people they are with. They are sitting in the hot sun and wind for what seems like hours. One of the men has been known to be selfish and a risk taker. He cannot be trusted up until this point in the movie. The other man has been pushed to the limit by the former soldier and is just trying to stay alive. They are perched here together, forced to work as a team since there is no other choice. When the selfish risk taker seems to be ready to pass out from the heat, he asks a soldier to bring him some juice. The soldier does. We see the selfish, risk taker struggle to get the wrapper off the straw and get the straw into the juice box. What happens next is a great example of showing who a character is and not telling. This scene was worth the price of admission because it shifted the way we thought of this character and it changed how the other soldier saw him too. Great screenwriting!
I recommend this well written, well acted movie, but it is a stressful experience!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
500 Days of Summer
5 out of 5
Finally! A smart, original, sweet romantic comedy without the high concept, far fetched quality. 500 Days of Summer is predictable in parts and extremely unpredictable and refreshing in others. In the predictable parts, the characters were written so well and the actors who played them were so lovable that I didn't care.
The tagline for the movie is: "Boy meets girl. Boy falls in love. Girl doesn't." How this simple concept unfolds is what makes this movie special. It has the creativity of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind without the high concept, which is harder to do! I do not want to tell too much about the creative storytelling that the writers and directors accomplish beautifully. That would spoil the pure joy of those moments. Just be ready to deeply relate to the characters, especially Tom, and laugh/cry with a real understanding of how the characters feel.
I find Zooey Deschanel a pleasure to watch. From gems like Mumford, to mainstream rom. coms. like Failure to Launch, Deschanel has a unique voice, attitude and style. She plays Summer to Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Tom. Gordon-Levitt is definitely the lead in this movie, and he has an unmistakable charisma and charm. I love his smile and dimples. He looks tortured one moment and elated the next. It is amazing the emotions that his face conveys! The range he showed in this movie is very impressive. Not to give anything away, but he tackled MANY different genres in this movie. Once you see it, you will understand what I mean.
Again, I do not want to tell too much about the movie. Just go see it! Movies like this renew my faith and belief that storytelling is not a dead art!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
I Met a Movie Producer Today!
This is a blog about the movies that I see in theaters mostly. This post is appropriate since David Kirkpatrick spoke to about a thousand educators today about changes in mass media and the future of the film industry. He was a surprise special keynote this afternoon at the November Learning Building Learning Communities Conference. It was very interesting to hear all the different terms for what is happening to media these days. The message I got from it is not surprising. At this point in the "Renaissance 2.0," participatory media will drive the mass media. Any one of us can be a filmmaker and the youth is driving Hollywood more than ever. This is the reason for the remakes and adaptations of books and comic books. He passed on Harry Potter as many producers did. Once it was a huge hit with kids, it was a different story and the rights went for much more than when he had looked at it originally. Interesting.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The Ugly Truth
2 out of 5
I went in expecting a horrible movie. Maybe that is why I was pleasantly surprised by some of this romantic comedy starring Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler.
There were plenty of things wrong with the script. The main issue I had was that Butler's character falls in love with Heigl's character WAY too early in the movie. Another issue was that the movie seemed to think that the more sexual innuendos and in your face humor the funnier it would be. Was the vibrating panty scene really necessary? I didn't find it funny because the set up was so obvious and the payoff wasn't as good as it should have been. However, the people in the audience were laughing hysterically, so what do I know? I didn't find it new or funny.
The things that made me laugh the most were the honest moments. Heigl, who I find rather bland, had an adorable happy dance that she did that made her character a bit more endearing than the stereotype that it was. Butler's magnetism cannot be denied and when he got to do some acting at the end he was touching. Cheryl Hines and John Michael Higgins were a riot as always. They had some fun with their characters.
I would give this movie a 2 out of 5 which is more than what most critics gave it. I was in a sold out theater and the crowd was laughing a lot and enjoyed it. Sometimes critics think too much and forget to just enjoy.
I went in expecting a horrible movie. Maybe that is why I was pleasantly surprised by some of this romantic comedy starring Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler.
There were plenty of things wrong with the script. The main issue I had was that Butler's character falls in love with Heigl's character WAY too early in the movie. Another issue was that the movie seemed to think that the more sexual innuendos and in your face humor the funnier it would be. Was the vibrating panty scene really necessary? I didn't find it funny because the set up was so obvious and the payoff wasn't as good as it should have been. However, the people in the audience were laughing hysterically, so what do I know? I didn't find it new or funny.
The things that made me laugh the most were the honest moments. Heigl, who I find rather bland, had an adorable happy dance that she did that made her character a bit more endearing than the stereotype that it was. Butler's magnetism cannot be denied and when he got to do some acting at the end he was touching. Cheryl Hines and John Michael Higgins were a riot as always. They had some fun with their characters.
I would give this movie a 2 out of 5 which is more than what most critics gave it. I was in a sold out theater and the crowd was laughing a lot and enjoyed it. Sometimes critics think too much and forget to just enjoy.
Monday, July 27, 2009
I'm back!
Haven't written in a while. Haven't seen a movie in a theater since I wrote last. I have watched load of movies at home though. I mostly want this blog to be about the movies coming out or out in theaters right now. So I am going to write about a few movies that I will be seeing in the next week or so.
The Ugly Truth (in theaters now): It got such horrible reviews that I just can't stay away! The cast is average, the story is cliche, looking forward to seeing if it really is THAT bad. My guess is that it is.
The Hurt Locker (in theaters now): On the other end of the critics ranks is this war movie that looks really good. It got a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. The trailer looked great and it is about an aspect of war that hasn't been covered yet. Definitely seeing this one!
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (in theaters now): Not a big fan, but this one is getting great reviews. I'll try it.
Julie and Julia (opens August 7th): My mom wants to see it with me. Watching Meryl Streep will be worth it, but I have to admit, I don't get the love for Amy Adams. Never have. She is whiny and an average actress. The same in everything she does. Sort of like Renee Zellweger
There are a lot of movies that I want to see that are coming out in the fall like Shutter Island and in December like Sherlock Holmes. That's it for now. I will write again once I see something!
The Ugly Truth (in theaters now): It got such horrible reviews that I just can't stay away! The cast is average, the story is cliche, looking forward to seeing if it really is THAT bad. My guess is that it is.
The Hurt Locker (in theaters now): On the other end of the critics ranks is this war movie that looks really good. It got a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. The trailer looked great and it is about an aspect of war that hasn't been covered yet. Definitely seeing this one!
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (in theaters now): Not a big fan, but this one is getting great reviews. I'll try it.
Julie and Julia (opens August 7th): My mom wants to see it with me. Watching Meryl Streep will be worth it, but I have to admit, I don't get the love for Amy Adams. Never have. She is whiny and an average actress. The same in everything she does. Sort of like Renee Zellweger
There are a lot of movies that I want to see that are coming out in the fall like Shutter Island and in December like Sherlock Holmes. That's it for now. I will write again once I see something!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Public Enemy
2 out of 5
With great anticipation, I went to see Public Enemy today. Unfortunately, I was mostly underwhelmed by this movie. The first part of the movie was poorly paced and repetitive in nature. The last half hour redeemed the movie a bit, but there were only a couple of standout scenes, which was surprising considering the cast and the subject!
The most frustrating scene for me was the one where Bale as Melvin Pervis (the head guy working for Hoover) and Dillinger meet face to face in the jail cell. This could have been an amazing, memorable scene, but it wasn't. I have to blame it on the screenwriters. I was looking for one of those scenes where you walk out talking about it. A scene like the one in True Romance between Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken for example. Public Enemy was written and directed by Michael Mann who wrote and directed Heat. What about the scene between Deniro and Pacino in that film? That is what I wanted from this movie and it did not deliver. Mann wrote this screenplay with two other people? It didn't work.
Many reviewers are being far too generous. Yes, visually it was stunning and there were some great shootout scenes. However, they seemed strung together randomly and not enough story was there to fill in the audience. The fake gun, why not explain it!I knew how it was made because my father told me. It's a cool story...TELL IT!
Many in the audience were confused by the "woman in the red dress" instead being the "woman in the white blouse and orange skirt." This movie was based on a book, I get it, but come on. Stick with some of the myth! It's more dramatic!
The allure of casting Bale still alludes me. He is good, but VERY forgettable. Depp was fine, but did not do anything spectacular. Marion Coltillard as Billie Frechette was the only one who had something to work with scriptwise. The one memorable scene was her "torture" scene. Very dramatic and intense. It stood out among the drabness of the rest of the movie. Billy Crudup was also stellar as J. Edgar Hoover. With a brilliantly subtle makeup job and a great speech pattern, Crudup also stood out. Again, Bale being outacted (see Heath Ledger in Dark Knight)! Why do they keep casting him? Actually, he can act, so why does he keep taking these parts that don't highlight his talent? He was fantastic in The Machinist and American Psycho! What a waste!
I think I was looking for an in depth (not Deppth! HA!) character study with some action scenes, instead I got a plot driven action movie.
Public Enemy was not number one for me!
With great anticipation, I went to see Public Enemy today. Unfortunately, I was mostly underwhelmed by this movie. The first part of the movie was poorly paced and repetitive in nature. The last half hour redeemed the movie a bit, but there were only a couple of standout scenes, which was surprising considering the cast and the subject!
The most frustrating scene for me was the one where Bale as Melvin Pervis (the head guy working for Hoover) and Dillinger meet face to face in the jail cell. This could have been an amazing, memorable scene, but it wasn't. I have to blame it on the screenwriters. I was looking for one of those scenes where you walk out talking about it. A scene like the one in True Romance between Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken for example. Public Enemy was written and directed by Michael Mann who wrote and directed Heat. What about the scene between Deniro and Pacino in that film? That is what I wanted from this movie and it did not deliver. Mann wrote this screenplay with two other people? It didn't work.
Many reviewers are being far too generous. Yes, visually it was stunning and there were some great shootout scenes. However, they seemed strung together randomly and not enough story was there to fill in the audience. The fake gun, why not explain it!I knew how it was made because my father told me. It's a cool story...TELL IT!
Many in the audience were confused by the "woman in the red dress" instead being the "woman in the white blouse and orange skirt." This movie was based on a book, I get it, but come on. Stick with some of the myth! It's more dramatic!
The allure of casting Bale still alludes me. He is good, but VERY forgettable. Depp was fine, but did not do anything spectacular. Marion Coltillard as Billie Frechette was the only one who had something to work with scriptwise. The one memorable scene was her "torture" scene. Very dramatic and intense. It stood out among the drabness of the rest of the movie. Billy Crudup was also stellar as J. Edgar Hoover. With a brilliantly subtle makeup job and a great speech pattern, Crudup also stood out. Again, Bale being outacted (see Heath Ledger in Dark Knight)! Why do they keep casting him? Actually, he can act, so why does he keep taking these parts that don't highlight his talent? He was fantastic in The Machinist and American Psycho! What a waste!
I think I was looking for an in depth (not Deppth! HA!) character study with some action scenes, instead I got a plot driven action movie.
Public Enemy was not number one for me!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
The Proposal
3 out of 5
Comic timing and great physical comedy go a long way in saving a movie! Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock are great at both! Their talent, plus the lovable Betty White made this movie a 3 instead of a bomb! Reynolds' range as an actor never ceases to amaze me. He is a combination of Tom Hanks and Jim Carrey, with the addition of an amazing body and action film chops! It is time for him to do some indie stuff to show off how great a dramatic actor he is! Maybe get a little unpretty!
I find it interesting that some actors are finding a new niche for themselves in these romantic comedies. Mary Steenbergen was in Step Brothers and Craig T. Nelson was in the Family Stone. Honestly, I find them both very forgettable! At least they are getting work.
I don't want to write too much about the highlights of the movie. Funnier to watch than to try to explain!
Predictable and cliched? YES! Utterly enjoyable with some real laugh out loud moments? YES!
Comic timing and great physical comedy go a long way in saving a movie! Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock are great at both! Their talent, plus the lovable Betty White made this movie a 3 instead of a bomb! Reynolds' range as an actor never ceases to amaze me. He is a combination of Tom Hanks and Jim Carrey, with the addition of an amazing body and action film chops! It is time for him to do some indie stuff to show off how great a dramatic actor he is! Maybe get a little unpretty!
I find it interesting that some actors are finding a new niche for themselves in these romantic comedies. Mary Steenbergen was in Step Brothers and Craig T. Nelson was in the Family Stone. Honestly, I find them both very forgettable! At least they are getting work.
I don't want to write too much about the highlights of the movie. Funnier to watch than to try to explain!
Predictable and cliched? YES! Utterly enjoyable with some real laugh out loud moments? YES!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Every Little Step
5 out of 5
If you love watching the auditioning process, you will enjoy this movie. This documentary had two focuses.
First, it shared the process that was taken to cast the revival of A Chorus Line. It was a very in depth process and it was very well captured. I cared about the choreographer, casting director and director and wanted them to find the best cast they could. I found myself rooting for my favorite dancers/singers/actors and anticipating the outcome. The scene with Paul's audition made everyone in the theater cry (there were only a few of us).
The other focus of the movie was just as interesting. It was fascinating to learn how the show was born. I don't want to give it away. Let's just say that the formation of the idea for the show, the way it was workshopped and written, and the man behind it all were inspiring. I was disappointed when it ended. I wanted more! Go see this movie!
If you love watching the auditioning process, you will enjoy this movie. This documentary had two focuses.
First, it shared the process that was taken to cast the revival of A Chorus Line. It was a very in depth process and it was very well captured. I cared about the choreographer, casting director and director and wanted them to find the best cast they could. I found myself rooting for my favorite dancers/singers/actors and anticipating the outcome. The scene with Paul's audition made everyone in the theater cry (there were only a few of us).
The other focus of the movie was just as interesting. It was fascinating to learn how the show was born. I don't want to give it away. Let's just say that the formation of the idea for the show, the way it was workshopped and written, and the man behind it all were inspiring. I was disappointed when it ended. I wanted more! Go see this movie!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Terminator Salvation: Spoiler Alert
2 out of 5
Short review for this one. This was enjoyable enough to watch, but the CGI Arnold was laughable. Anton Yelchin as Kyle Reese was good, but he looks NOTHING like Michael Biehn. I am continually wondering why Christian Bale, John Connor, thinks he has to have this husky Batman voice in his movies. He is more believable when he just talks! The most interesting character is brand new to the franchise. Sam Worthington as Marcus Wright was worth the price of admission. A very interesting character that was sorely needed in this movie!
Short review for this one. This was enjoyable enough to watch, but the CGI Arnold was laughable. Anton Yelchin as Kyle Reese was good, but he looks NOTHING like Michael Biehn. I am continually wondering why Christian Bale, John Connor, thinks he has to have this husky Batman voice in his movies. He is more believable when he just talks! The most interesting character is brand new to the franchise. Sam Worthington as Marcus Wright was worth the price of admission. A very interesting character that was sorely needed in this movie!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Frost Nixon
5 out of 5
As I was preparing for a weekend trip to Florida for a family function, I realized that I would need some travel entertainment. I decided to rent Frost Nixon from ITunes. I have been dying to see it for quite a while!
Frost Nixon was directed by Ron Howard based on the play by Peter Morgan who also wrote the screenplay. Many complain that Howard's direction is too "perfect" and "clean." Is this a bad thing? Not every movie has to be edgy and full of shocking new camera angles and styling. I loved how Howard directed this movie, and I enjoy most of his films. I never went to film school, so maybe I do not fully understand Howard's critics, but honestly, I don't care! :-)
I am not going to write a lot about the plot since everyone knows how it ends! The way the story was told was very interesting. I enjoyed the documentary-style vinettes of the researchers that helped him pull this off (John Birt, Sam Rockwell and Oliver Platt), and the forever present Kevin Bacon as the staunch Nixon confidant. Michael Sheen did well portraying the inner drive and determination of David Frost who had the odds against him. Frank Langella...FRANK LANGELLA...the screenplay allowed this brilliant actor rich material to carve out his portrayal of Nixon. AMAZING!
For those of you who are wondering, yes, Ron Howard cast his brother Clint in his movie again...of course!
I highly recommend this movie even if you are not into politics or this era in our history. The screenplay and Frank Langella's performance are the main reasons this one worked for me!
As I was preparing for a weekend trip to Florida for a family function, I realized that I would need some travel entertainment. I decided to rent Frost Nixon from ITunes. I have been dying to see it for quite a while!
Frost Nixon was directed by Ron Howard based on the play by Peter Morgan who also wrote the screenplay. Many complain that Howard's direction is too "perfect" and "clean." Is this a bad thing? Not every movie has to be edgy and full of shocking new camera angles and styling. I loved how Howard directed this movie, and I enjoy most of his films. I never went to film school, so maybe I do not fully understand Howard's critics, but honestly, I don't care! :-)
I am not going to write a lot about the plot since everyone knows how it ends! The way the story was told was very interesting. I enjoyed the documentary-style vinettes of the researchers that helped him pull this off (John Birt, Sam Rockwell and Oliver Platt), and the forever present Kevin Bacon as the staunch Nixon confidant. Michael Sheen did well portraying the inner drive and determination of David Frost who had the odds against him. Frank Langella...FRANK LANGELLA...the screenplay allowed this brilliant actor rich material to carve out his portrayal of Nixon. AMAZING!
For those of you who are wondering, yes, Ron Howard cast his brother Clint in his movie again...of course!
I highly recommend this movie even if you are not into politics or this era in our history. The screenplay and Frank Langella's performance are the main reasons this one worked for me!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Worth the Wait!
4 out of 5
I loved the new Star Trek. I was pleasantly surprised at the casting. Chris Pine, who I was unfamiliar with, was dynamic and very comedic at times. The Kirk/Spock chemistry was there for sure! Quinto (Spock) has a real presence which I knew from Heroes, but some of the lesser known actors really delivered as well. Urban was fantastic as McCoy and Anton Yelchin (Charlie Bartlett) conquered a difficult accent as Chekov. That kid is adorable!!
I was not thrilled with Scotty's creature friend that he kept yelling at. It was just bad writing. Not Simon Pegg's fault! Pegg performs well as comic relief. I am always waiting for him to be on the screen, but then again, I am a huge fan of his work.
It was kind of a cliche screenplay choice to have a kind of Back to the Future type premise. Rewarding though, due to the fact that it allowed Nimoy to be in the movie. He is genius!
I think this generation of kids will love this movie. It did an excellent job capturing Spock's struggle to find a balance between no feelings and being human. Gotta admit, it was strange watching him make out with Uhura. At one point I think his hand was on her ass! HA! Looked human to me!
Worth seeing? Yes. Future movies with these characters will be even better...I think so!
I loved the new Star Trek. I was pleasantly surprised at the casting. Chris Pine, who I was unfamiliar with, was dynamic and very comedic at times. The Kirk/Spock chemistry was there for sure! Quinto (Spock) has a real presence which I knew from Heroes, but some of the lesser known actors really delivered as well. Urban was fantastic as McCoy and Anton Yelchin (Charlie Bartlett) conquered a difficult accent as Chekov. That kid is adorable!!
I was not thrilled with Scotty's creature friend that he kept yelling at. It was just bad writing. Not Simon Pegg's fault! Pegg performs well as comic relief. I am always waiting for him to be on the screen, but then again, I am a huge fan of his work.
It was kind of a cliche screenplay choice to have a kind of Back to the Future type premise. Rewarding though, due to the fact that it allowed Nimoy to be in the movie. He is genius!
I think this generation of kids will love this movie. It did an excellent job capturing Spock's struggle to find a balance between no feelings and being human. Gotta admit, it was strange watching him make out with Uhura. At one point I think his hand was on her ass! HA! Looked human to me!
Worth seeing? Yes. Future movies with these characters will be even better...I think so!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Liev is the best thing about XMen Origins: Wolverine!
4 out of 5
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie. I was happy to see Liev Schreiber as Sabretooth. He was the main reason I went to see the movie. Wait until the end of the interview with Liev to see him running on all fours or fast forward to about 4:02! VERY COOL!!
I heard the next one will be about MAGNETO? That should be interesting! I wonder who is playing him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VfOB4ViDVk
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie. I was happy to see Liev Schreiber as Sabretooth. He was the main reason I went to see the movie. Wait until the end of the interview with Liev to see him running on all fours or fast forward to about 4:02! VERY COOL!!
I heard the next one will be about MAGNETO? That should be interesting! I wonder who is playing him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VfOB4ViDVk
Friday, April 24, 2009
Where the Wild Things Are
I have loved Maurice Sendak's book Where the Wild Things Are since I was a small child. I was very surprised to hear that they were adapting it for film. It is so whimsical, hopeful and magical, but very short on story. I have mixed feelings about this movie. I think it will be either a love or hate movie going experience.
When I first watched the trailer, I had a very emotional response to it. I was reminded of all the reasons I loved the book. I am just not sure there will be enough of a story to fill a full length feature film. Visually, it promises to be a stunning film. If the song for the trailer is any indication, the soundtrack will be beautiful as well.
As far as the cast, there are a variety of great actors and actresses involved either on screen or through voice over. Here is an incomplete list: Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Ambrose, James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara and Forest Whittaker. It is directed by Spike Jonze, who is best known for directing masterpieces like Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. He wrote the adaptation of Sendak's story with Dave Eggers.
For now, I am going to look forward to this movie and hope that it is not too simple or too complicated!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Billy Bob Thornton Curse?
Just a coincidence? Maybe…
Early Deaths
Bernie Mac/ Bad Santa
John Ritter/ Sling Blade and Bad Santa
Heath Ledger/ Monster’s Ball
J.T. Walsh/ Sling Blade
Jim Varney/ Daddy and Them
Illness
Patrick Swayze/ Waking up in Reno
Survived Car Crashes
Morgan Freeman/ Levity
Shia LaBeouf/ Eagle Eye
Who’s Next?
A little morbid, but interesting too. As you probably noticed, there are no women on this list. Therefore, I will just list men here and hope that Angelina Jolie, Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, Cate Blanchett, Halle Berry and others avert disaster! I only listed well known actors here and I did not go through all of Billy Bob’s movies.
Dwight Yoakum/ Sling Blade
P.Diddy/ Monster’s Ball
John Cusack/ Pushing Tin, The Ice Harvest
Seann William Scott/ Mr. Woodcock
Mickey Rourke/ The Informers
Chris Isaak/ The Informers
Kyle MacLachlan/ Manure
John Gries/ The Astronaut Farmer, Manure
Tim Blake Nelson/ The Astronaut Farmer
J.K. Simmons/ The Astronaut Farmer
Jon Heder/ School for Scoundrels
Michael Clarke Duncan/ School for Scoundrels
Hoaratio Sanz/ School for Scoundrels
Ben Stiller/ School for Scoundrels
Oliver Platt/ The Ice Harvest
Greg Kinnear/ Bad News Bears
Lucas Black/ Sling Blade, Friday Night Lights
Dennis Quaid/ The Alamo
Jason Patric/ The Alamo
Jay Hernandez/ Friday Night Lights
Tim McGraw/ Friday Night Lights
Bruce Willis/ Bandits
Early Deaths
Bernie Mac/ Bad Santa
John Ritter/ Sling Blade and Bad Santa
Heath Ledger/ Monster’s Ball
J.T. Walsh/ Sling Blade
Jim Varney/ Daddy and Them
Illness
Patrick Swayze/ Waking up in Reno
Survived Car Crashes
Morgan Freeman/ Levity
Shia LaBeouf/ Eagle Eye
Who’s Next?
A little morbid, but interesting too. As you probably noticed, there are no women on this list. Therefore, I will just list men here and hope that Angelina Jolie, Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, Cate Blanchett, Halle Berry and others avert disaster! I only listed well known actors here and I did not go through all of Billy Bob’s movies.
Dwight Yoakum/ Sling Blade
P.Diddy/ Monster’s Ball
John Cusack/ Pushing Tin, The Ice Harvest
Seann William Scott/ Mr. Woodcock
Mickey Rourke/ The Informers
Chris Isaak/ The Informers
Kyle MacLachlan/ Manure
John Gries/ The Astronaut Farmer, Manure
Tim Blake Nelson/ The Astronaut Farmer
J.K. Simmons/ The Astronaut Farmer
Jon Heder/ School for Scoundrels
Michael Clarke Duncan/ School for Scoundrels
Hoaratio Sanz/ School for Scoundrels
Ben Stiller/ School for Scoundrels
Oliver Platt/ The Ice Harvest
Greg Kinnear/ Bad News Bears
Lucas Black/ Sling Blade, Friday Night Lights
Dennis Quaid/ The Alamo
Jason Patric/ The Alamo
Jay Hernandez/ Friday Night Lights
Tim McGraw/ Friday Night Lights
Bruce Willis/ Bandits
Monday, April 6, 2009
One Movielover's Opinion - My first post!
This is my first post on this blog. Although I have been blogging for about 9 months, it has been in the realm of education. I am a full time teacher and enjoy reflecting and sharing my teaching practices.
This blog is my, "And now for something completely different," experiment.
First topic: Fabulous Actors/Actresses that everyone recognizes, but few know by name. A five years ago, I made a similar list, but they are all now pretty much household names. They included John C. Reilly, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Francis McDormand, David Morse, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti, Steve Zahn, Mark Ruffalo, and Sam Rockwell.
An ongoing list...in no particular order...
Pruitt Taylor Vince - You have seen him in Identity and Mumford. He is the very talented, hard working character actor with astagmus (his eyes constantly move around). One great t.v. performance was as a morbidly obese man on House.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0898546/
Jane Lynch - Funny! She's talented at improv and is just a hoot. Tall, thin, blond. You've seen her in The Ballad of Ricky and Bobby, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Best in Show and her funniest performance so far in Role Models. She is in the new show, Glee!
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0528331/
William Sadler - I loved him the most in Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, but he was also a great straight man in Rocketman opposite Harland Williams. He is a very intense, seasoned actor.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006669/
John Carroll Lynch - I first noticed him as Marg's husband in Fargo. He has been in so many movies including Gran Torino and Zodiac, as well as t.v. appearances.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002253/
Peter Stormare - Another talented Coen Brothers actor! He was the quiet killer who got annoyed with Buscemi and put him in the wood chipper!
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001780/
Rosemarie Dewitt - She was Rachel in Rachel Getting Married, and she deserved an Oscar nod! You may recognize her from MadMen and Rescue Me.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1679669/
There's so many more, but that is all for now. Consider this the first installment. I would love for you to add to the list!
This blog is my, "And now for something completely different," experiment.
First topic: Fabulous Actors/Actresses that everyone recognizes, but few know by name. A five years ago, I made a similar list, but they are all now pretty much household names. They included John C. Reilly, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Francis McDormand, David Morse, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti, Steve Zahn, Mark Ruffalo, and Sam Rockwell.
An ongoing list...in no particular order...
Pruitt Taylor Vince - You have seen him in Identity and Mumford. He is the very talented, hard working character actor with astagmus (his eyes constantly move around). One great t.v. performance was as a morbidly obese man on House.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0898546/
Jane Lynch - Funny! She's talented at improv and is just a hoot. Tall, thin, blond. You've seen her in The Ballad of Ricky and Bobby, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Best in Show and her funniest performance so far in Role Models. She is in the new show, Glee!
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0528331/
William Sadler - I loved him the most in Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, but he was also a great straight man in Rocketman opposite Harland Williams. He is a very intense, seasoned actor.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006669/
John Carroll Lynch - I first noticed him as Marg's husband in Fargo. He has been in so many movies including Gran Torino and Zodiac, as well as t.v. appearances.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002253/
Peter Stormare - Another talented Coen Brothers actor! He was the quiet killer who got annoyed with Buscemi and put him in the wood chipper!
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001780/
Rosemarie Dewitt - She was Rachel in Rachel Getting Married, and she deserved an Oscar nod! You may recognize her from MadMen and Rescue Me.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1679669/
There's so many more, but that is all for now. Consider this the first installment. I would love for you to add to the list!
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