Starring – Gerard Butler, Idris Elba, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton
Director – Guy Ritchie
Domestic Gross – $5,700,626
Running Time – 114 minutes
Guy Ritchie may be the definition of a one-trick pony. Snatch was awesome. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels was very good. Since then Revolver and RockNRolla have been pale comparisons to his previous successes. He continues to get top flight actors in to his snappy Brit crime dramedies, but the problem is that the stories just aren’t that compelling. All the performances in RockNRolla are fine. Idris Elba and Thandie Newton are great. There are even some laughs along the way, but it’s just not worth 2 hours of your time. That said apparently I still haven’t smartened up because I’m still excited to see what he does with the upcoming Sherlock Holmes revival starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Rachel McAdams.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Movie Review – Pineapple Express (2008)
Starring – Seth Rogan, James Franco
Director – David Gordon Green
Domestic Gross – $87,341,380
Running Time – 105 minutes
Everybody loved this movie. This was one of the first “stoner” movies I can remember that got positive reviews from mainstream critics. My question is… Why? It was okay. The story was interesting enough, but again my question is why the universal praise for just an okay movie? Many comedy movies suffer because the acting is sub-par. Aside from Rosie Perez and her general suckiness everyone in this movie can actually act. Franco’s Golden Globe nomination was well deserved. But, aside from Danny McBride it just wasn’t that funny. It was more of a buddy action movie that just never hit its stride. I will have to admit that I mine expectations were probably overly high due to all the positive reviews, but even still I just didn’t think it was worth all the love. Bottom line is it’s a fun movie. It’s good enough, but if you’re feenin’ for something from the Apatow collection go back and watch Sarah Marshall or 40 Year Old Virgin again.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Director – David Gordon Green
Domestic Gross – $87,341,380
Running Time – 105 minutes
Everybody loved this movie. This was one of the first “stoner” movies I can remember that got positive reviews from mainstream critics. My question is… Why? It was okay. The story was interesting enough, but again my question is why the universal praise for just an okay movie? Many comedy movies suffer because the acting is sub-par. Aside from Rosie Perez and her general suckiness everyone in this movie can actually act. Franco’s Golden Globe nomination was well deserved. But, aside from Danny McBride it just wasn’t that funny. It was more of a buddy action movie that just never hit its stride. I will have to admit that I mine expectations were probably overly high due to all the positive reviews, but even still I just didn’t think it was worth all the love. Bottom line is it’s a fun movie. It’s good enough, but if you’re feenin’ for something from the Apatow collection go back and watch Sarah Marshall or 40 Year Old Virgin again.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Movie Review – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Starring – Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson
Director – Eric Roth
Domestic Gross – $123,299,000
Running Time – 168 minutes
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the fanciful tale of a baby born in 1919 as an old man and then aging backwards. There’s no revelation as to why so don’t go in and expect that. What you will find is an interesting, albeit LONG, fantasy love story. Before I get in to the plot etc this is a beautiful film. The cinematography is outstanding. And the make-up may be best make-up I’ve ever seen in a movie. Brad Pitt is more or less playing Brad Pitt, but I’m not sure what I would have had him do differently. He was honest and heartwarming. Cate Blanchett (as always) is outstanding. Taraji B. Henson has her best performance since Common’s Testify Video. Ted Manson nearly steals the show in about 2 minutes of screen time as the old man who was hit by lightning 7 times. The film spans from World War I to Hurricane Katrina and you never feel like the timing is off. Benjamin Button is a very well-made fun film. Save it for a rainy Sunday and enjoy.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Director – Eric Roth
Domestic Gross – $123,299,000
Running Time – 168 minutes
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the fanciful tale of a baby born in 1919 as an old man and then aging backwards. There’s no revelation as to why so don’t go in and expect that. What you will find is an interesting, albeit LONG, fantasy love story. Before I get in to the plot etc this is a beautiful film. The cinematography is outstanding. And the make-up may be best make-up I’ve ever seen in a movie. Brad Pitt is more or less playing Brad Pitt, but I’m not sure what I would have had him do differently. He was honest and heartwarming. Cate Blanchett (as always) is outstanding. Taraji B. Henson has her best performance since Common’s Testify Video. Ted Manson nearly steals the show in about 2 minutes of screen time as the old man who was hit by lightning 7 times. The film spans from World War I to Hurricane Katrina and you never feel like the timing is off. Benjamin Button is a very well-made fun film. Save it for a rainy Sunday and enjoy.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Movie Review – The Reader (2008)
Starring – Kate Winslet, Ralph Feinnes, David Kross
Director – Stephen Daldry
Domestic Gross – $21,074,000
Running Time – 122 minutes
WOW! A sympathetic Nazi movie… Really?!?! I grant you that Kate Winslet is the hottest Nazi since Elsa – She Wolf of the SS, but do we really want to forgive her for putting time in at Auschwitz because she looks good naked and can’t read?! This should not have been a Best Picture nominee. And honestly, Kate Winslet probably didn’t need to be nominated. At this point Winslet has been nominated for 6 Oscars, but do you consider her the best actress of her generation? I’ve never walked out of a Winslet movie and been wowed by her performance. While Cate Blanchett impresses me every time I see her on screen. More on that with my Benjamin Button review later. Anyway, the best performance in the movie for my money was David Kross, a relatively unknown 18 year old German actor. All that aside this is a difficult movie. It’s not a romance. It’s not a Holocaust movie. I’m not sure it fits in any category. It’s the story of a young man’s affair with who he later finds out is a former SS guard. Not so much a fell good movie. While I didn’t hold that against it I still don’t feel it was really that great a film. It’s good. It’s worthy of a viewing, but it is not Oscar caliber.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Director – Stephen Daldry
Domestic Gross – $21,074,000
Running Time – 122 minutes
WOW! A sympathetic Nazi movie… Really?!?! I grant you that Kate Winslet is the hottest Nazi since Elsa – She Wolf of the SS, but do we really want to forgive her for putting time in at Auschwitz because she looks good naked and can’t read?! This should not have been a Best Picture nominee. And honestly, Kate Winslet probably didn’t need to be nominated. At this point Winslet has been nominated for 6 Oscars, but do you consider her the best actress of her generation? I’ve never walked out of a Winslet movie and been wowed by her performance. While Cate Blanchett impresses me every time I see her on screen. More on that with my Benjamin Button review later. Anyway, the best performance in the movie for my money was David Kross, a relatively unknown 18 year old German actor. All that aside this is a difficult movie. It’s not a romance. It’s not a Holocaust movie. I’m not sure it fits in any category. It’s the story of a young man’s affair with who he later finds out is a former SS guard. Not so much a fell good movie. While I didn’t hold that against it I still don’t feel it was really that great a film. It’s good. It’s worthy of a viewing, but it is not Oscar caliber.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Movie Review – Milk (2008)
Starring – Sean Penn, James Franco, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch
Director – Gus Van Sant
Domestic Gross – $27,318,000
Running Time – 128 minutes
I guess I didn’t know what to expect when I sat down for Milk. All I knew about the story was what I had heard in passing so… Milk dies and it brought about the “twinkie defense”. Beyond that he was a gay activist who got elected to office in SF. But, with Sean Penn starring I really didn’t know if I’d enjoy it. Sean Penn is one of the finest actors alive, but he’s also incredibly annoying publicly and chooses some real odd ball films. This isn’t one of them. At times he does channel his character from I Am Sam, but I honestly don’t think anyone else could have effectively played this part. Franco was outstanding as well. I’ve been watching Franco since Freaks and Geeks and I’ve never been real sure that he could actually act. I thought he was more a James Dean look-alike who got by on that. He proves it in Milk hands down. Josh Brolin was very effective as well as Dan White. I’m not so sure he’s Oscar-worthy, but he was good. Like I said… I’m not sure what I was expecting when I sat down, but what I got was a truly fantastic film that would be the odds on favorite for Best Picture in any other year. Regardless of your politics take a look at Milk when it hits DVD on March 10th.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Director – Gus Van Sant
Domestic Gross – $27,318,000
Running Time – 128 minutes
I guess I didn’t know what to expect when I sat down for Milk. All I knew about the story was what I had heard in passing so… Milk dies and it brought about the “twinkie defense”. Beyond that he was a gay activist who got elected to office in SF. But, with Sean Penn starring I really didn’t know if I’d enjoy it. Sean Penn is one of the finest actors alive, but he’s also incredibly annoying publicly and chooses some real odd ball films. This isn’t one of them. At times he does channel his character from I Am Sam, but I honestly don’t think anyone else could have effectively played this part. Franco was outstanding as well. I’ve been watching Franco since Freaks and Geeks and I’ve never been real sure that he could actually act. I thought he was more a James Dean look-alike who got by on that. He proves it in Milk hands down. Josh Brolin was very effective as well as Dan White. I’m not so sure he’s Oscar-worthy, but he was good. Like I said… I’m not sure what I was expecting when I sat down, but what I got was a truly fantastic film that would be the odds on favorite for Best Picture in any other year. Regardless of your politics take a look at Milk when it hits DVD on March 10th.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Book Review – Too Cool to be Forgotten by Alex Robinson (2008)
The premise here is that Andy Wicks, a truly average 40-something software engineer, goes to the hypnotist to quit smoking. Only when they put him under he wakes up back in 1985 just before he has his first cigarette. In his previous trip thought high school he lacked confidence and was pretty much a forgettable geek. This time though he has the confidence and wisdom of a 40-year-old man. Using this he gets a date and chooses not to smoke thereby quitting in the present. Unfortunately, I just told the entire story in three sentences and you didn’t miss anything in the plot. What you did miss is Robinson’s fantastic artwork. The level of detail in each cell is very impressive. But, the story telling is more or less unimpressive. In the end Alex Robinson is a fantastic artist that either needs to draw for someone else or grow as a storyteller. Regardless, I’ll check out his next effort.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Movie Review – Dreams for an Insomniac (1996)
Starring – Ione Skye, Jennifer Aniston, Michael Landes
Director – Tiffany DeBartolo
Domestic Gross – Direct to DVD
Running Time – 90 minutes
If you’re dating an artsy-philosophical lady (or man I suppose) or an actress go rent this for a date night. Otherwise, there’s really not a good reason to subject yourself to it other than to see Jennifer Aniston at the apex of her hotness. Yeah, she still looks good, but this was Rachel at her best. As for the movie it’s an interesting little indie that just tries way too hard. Everyone is quoting obscure poetry and literature and the other characters know exactly where the quote comes from. Now, I hang out with some true champions when it comes to trivial knowledge and I can pretty much guarantee that no one would get more than 25% of these quotes. My other major issue is that in order for the main character to get what she wants you need to root for the breakup of a perfectly likeable couple. It makes you feel a little smarmy if you actually root for them. Like I said there’s not a great reason to watch this one unless you’re taking one for the team in order to get your significant other to go to the new Friday the 13th in exchange.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
Director – Tiffany DeBartolo
Domestic Gross – Direct to DVD
Running Time – 90 minutes
If you’re dating an artsy-philosophical lady (or man I suppose) or an actress go rent this for a date night. Otherwise, there’s really not a good reason to subject yourself to it other than to see Jennifer Aniston at the apex of her hotness. Yeah, she still looks good, but this was Rachel at her best. As for the movie it’s an interesting little indie that just tries way too hard. Everyone is quoting obscure poetry and literature and the other characters know exactly where the quote comes from. Now, I hang out with some true champions when it comes to trivial knowledge and I can pretty much guarantee that no one would get more than 25% of these quotes. My other major issue is that in order for the main character to get what she wants you need to root for the breakup of a perfectly likeable couple. It makes you feel a little smarmy if you actually root for them. Like I said there’s not a great reason to watch this one unless you’re taking one for the team in order to get your significant other to go to the new Friday the 13th in exchange.
I’m Mike D and I approve this message.
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