Sexy Sexy. . .Earnest?

The Importance of Being Earnest.

I absolutely adore this Oscar Wilde play so I was on the fence about seeing the adaptation. Like many other wonderful literary and theatrical pieces that take the leap to film I was afraid that this one would be lacking. I was oh so pleasantly surprised.

All of the wit and fun of the play was infused into the film. In addition it was a treat to see some of the extravagance mentioned in the play up on screen. If anything this adaptation added something for those who have read the piece. The cast was pitch perfect in their roles and it would just be difficult to try and describe how they were almost exactly as they were written in the play. I feel like Wilde would have been proud to see his characters brought to life in such a way. This little romp was as much fun to watch as the play itself is to read.

Perhaps people not familiar with Wilde's works or who are interested in more period specific comedies might find it difficult to get into. Still if you give it a chance its easier to follow than say a Shakespearean adaptation, and much more fun.

Again an admirable adaptation that stayed as true as possible to the work that inspired it.
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Schizophrenic Obsession Is a Trip

I Love Your Work.

Hmmmmmmm. Are we over the whole "boo-hoo I'm a celebrity my life is horrible?" yet? Maybe it only feels that way when largely unknown celebrities (Adam Goldberg who?) make movies about it.

At first I did like this piece, its whole psychology of what is real what is imagined, seemed like it was really going places. But then well it just didn't.

Things I liked about this film:
Giovanni Ribisi's performance. Overall the character's and plot line left a lot lacking in the interest department yet he went full out and tried to make it better. I appreciate his trying because with anyone else in that role this would have been unwatchable.
Joshua Jackson's scruff. I'll admit it when a movie sucks I'll go for the superficial. It was nice to see Jackson in a decent role especially all tortured artist and scruffy. Again it made the boring end semi-enjoyable.
Marisa Coughlan. I have to again give proper recognition to her and Jackson because Gray's mental breakdown is interesting but it causes the whole movie to fall apart. Coughlan's performance is an anchor in that part of the movie. Not a very good one but there are highlights like when she is trapped by Gray and has to ask what his intentions are with her. Good enough.

So if you are interested in psychological breakdowns or you like how obsessed celebrities have become with themselves check it out. If not you can just keep on living like you'd never heard of this movie, which most of you probably haven't.

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Holy Hell Batman. . .Where is the storyline?

Mulholland Drive.

It is honestly hard to know how you feel about this movie.
On the one hand I want to say I loved it because it was a brilliant work in misdirection, non-linear plot lines and outrageous psychology. On the other hand I want to say "What the hell did I just waste 2 hours watching?"

David Lynch does a perfect job of keep you guessing throughout this entire flick. Perhaps too good a job. Its a perfect cult movie because it is one of those pieces that people either love to death or hate to pieces. Incalculable speculation over the point of the story, the meaning of it, character analysis and anything else you could think of have come out of this one little movie. In fact it is still generally a no-name flick to most of the mainstream.

I could go over and over my own thoughts and utilize my well paid for Psychology piece up and down every second of this movie. Yet that doesn't seem right in the setting of Mulholland Drive. It is easy to over speculate or dissect something to the point you throw your hands up in frustration and say "I don't' get it". Instead maybe its even better that there was some sort of magic in this movie, a sense of "I DON'T GET it but that is life". That may just be the point after all. And for that reason I would highly recommend you watch this movie.

Mostly though kudos to Lynch and the cast and crew for never publicly revealing the secret or "key" if you will, to this movie. Whether you like it or hate it you do have to admire that commitment.

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Oh the poor cinematic choices of Anna Farris.

The House Bunny.

Now I was actually pretty excited for this comedy. Even the fact that it was put on my the knuckleheads at Happy Madison was overlooked on my part because I have always really enjoyed Anna Farris' work. She is always a beacon of comedic hope in otherwise overly-rauchy, under-thought comedies (um hello Waiting?!?!? I rest my case). So to have her lead a movie this time and a movie where she plays an out of date (at the ripe old age of 27) Playboy Bunny just seemed too good to be true.

Turns out it was.

The main tip-off again should have been that it was a Happy Madison production. Adam Sandler and co. are only good when they are just over-the-top comedy (Happy Gilmore) or full out serious (Reign Over Me). There is no middle ground. Unfortunately they tried to find a mix between low ball, obvious comedy and heartful sensitivity and that is The House Bunny. Colin Hanks was a nice surprise as the boy-next-door who captures Shelly's part girl heart but even his cute smirks could save this sinking ship. Hugh Heffner and co. also guest spot for some highlights and there are some actual good laughs hidden within here. Yet the whole ugly-unpopular-girls-dress-better-and-then-realize-their-true-potential and the vapid-party-animal-gains-a-brain storylines are so overdone already in comedy and The House Bunny does nothing to give them any new light.

Sure its a cute romp and much more girl friendly than most other mainstream comedy out but don't expect it to be anything different then any other girl friendly comedy you've seen before.

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Jack Black is kinda an overweight panda in real life.

Kung Fu Panda.

I don't really like Kung Fu or animated animal movies but this one turned out to be worth watching. In an age dominated by Pixar/Disney it was nice to see such a strong Dreamworks pitch. The voicing cast was well done with an excellent mix of credible names (Dustin Hoffman, Angie Jolie) and pop culture points (Jackie Chan, Jack Black, Seth Rogan). In addition the animation felt well done with a nice mix of realistic and fictional elements that made it appealing not just to children but to the adults that watched it with them. The story line also had a lot of heart. While at times it boardered overall it managed to have a sweet undercurrent without being overly cliche. Plus that action sequences weren't bad! Underestimated because it came out in the year of the overly popular Wall-E, Kung Fu Panda was still a nice choice for young and the older-but-young-at-heart alike.

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Ron Howard was So cheesy in his younger years.

Grand Theft Auto.

I don't even really have a review for this because it was just not really even worth it. There was a lot of car crashes with no continuity and cheesy acting even for the cheesy time period it was created in. So horrible you just have to watch it to the end but skip it if you can.

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Leonardo Dicaprio can make anything sexy. . .even global warming!

The 11th Hour.

This is a documentary. Apparently my mother didn't know this when she rented it so I thought others who don't read the back of movie covers should be warned.

If you like documentaries and are interested in the current event of global warming then this one is not bad. Its quite bare bones which is nice as far as a documentary goes. The text is quite small though and sporadic so it is quite hard to know who is talking or why you should care.

Worth checking out if you love Leo and are concerned about global warming but if you are like the rest of my family who really doesn't care for either it will put you sound out.

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And WHY are we still letting Pierce Brosnan in movies?!?!?

Mamma Mia!

Honestly. Pierce Brosnan. Really?? At first I actually didn't really mind since the movie stank of cheese musical ooze already but once he attempted singing it just ruined the entire film for me. Its not too bad when you have a couple characters overacting or not hitting the right notes but when you have your male romantic lead just butchering it there is no recovery.

Which is terribly sad because there are such bright stellar spots like Amanda Seyfried who is a superb talent in acting but also has this booming beautiful voice as well!

Overall I was so highly disappointed in this flick and was quite happy when it was over. At least then I could enjoy the soundtrack (skipping over about half the tracks obviously).

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Vince Vaughn gets cheesy and chubby

Four Christmases.

It is no secret how much I adore Vince Vaughn as an actor. After some of my most recent viewings of his work I really think I would love any ole' thing he puts out there just because he is in it! Which may or may not be a good thing but we will see.

This movie was like Meet the Parents multiplied and set at Christmas time. While I found it MUCH more enjoyable than Stiller's grating rendition of mixing and mingling with the in-laws it was just as predictable. The whole "lets see how many horrible unrelated semi-funny incidents we can come up with for these 2 characters and then put them in them back to back for the duration of 1.5 hours" was incredibly predictable. Yet in a way that made it also delightful. Vaughn brings a sort of warmth to this type of role that other comedians like Stiller cannot draw to. He has the every man quality that is appealing to audiences. Also while he doesn't do as much of his typical fast talk jokester bits as his other comedies his physical and emotional humor is well received in the flick. Add to this the ever lovable and wonderful Reese Witherspoon and you just can't help but get in this festive spirit.

While at times contrived these two mains and a wonderful supporting cast makes the mundane storyline come to life, as much as possible. Worth a good chuckle especially in the giving mood of Christmas.

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Amanda Bynes should get a new agent

She's The Man.

Now I do think that Amanda Bynes is one of the funniest and most talented young actresses out there and have since my mother didn't let me watch her Nickelodeon sketch show. While her movies have really become my guilty pleasures I also have to hope that she will get her stuff together and get in some bigger, better things!!! Sure she had Hairspray! but lets get real she had no part until she blew you away in her last minute musical numbers.

Instead she continues to make pieces like She's The Man which while funny are starting to wane on her audience and really not show any sort of range. I do enjoy a good Shakespeare adaptation and I thought this one was more fun than say 10 Things (so angsty!) and was generally true to the overall play "As you Like It". Yet there is also something so juvenile and forced that it garners a half cringe at times. Perhaps that is just a part of her development as an actress, learning that even if you choose a predictable Hollywood force farce being able to balance going along with it and making it better. That line definitely becomes thinner the more fluff pieces you choose Ms. Bynes so I hope you choose wisely in the future. Because we are both getting a little too old to pass off enjoying these types of movies. Got me bra, brother, brethren???

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Snooze-Infused "Comedy"

How To Lose Friends and Alienate People.

I was genuinely excited for this one. Simon Pegg, generally a true comedic genius, Kirsten Dunst, all-American sweetheart and a title that seems humorous in itself. What could possibly go wrong?
Try everything.

The story line was just so cliche and even the fact that it was inspired by a true story didn't help make it the tiniest bit more interesting. The cast was not used to its strength. The vapid and untalented Megan Fox should have just been a silent figure in the piece since her attempt to portray a vapid, beautiful, overly worshipped actress was more unbelievable than her actual fame. Dunst's charm was completely lost in translation making it very difficult to care about any of her personal or professional struggles or cheer for any of her triumphs. Pegg was only given very obvious and low brow humor and even with that easy task it fell flat.

And can we just talk about how horrible Jeff Bridges hair was?!?!!? I mean luckily they gave him such an ugly style in the movie or I would have had to focus more on his unnoticeable performance.

The whole just tries to hard and the result is just a reminder that this is a typical, cheap comedy that your lose 2 hours of your life trying to stay awake.

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Nothing like a good Jane Austen adaptation.

Sense and Sensibility.

I love Jane Austen. People watch the Hills or soap operas but you just do not get much better than a good Jane jumble. Sense and Sensibility may just be my favorite of her tales because of the wonderful complexity and layers for all of the characters involved. Plus I mean you have all of the classics: Hugh Grant, Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, and Emma Thompson. Cannot get much better than that. Plus keep an eye out for Hugh Laurie who makes a delicious appearance that is just soooooooo the highlight of the middle chunk of this drama. Ang Lee makes this a beautifully shot and nature central piece and the cast just brings it to life and more. Absolutely excellent. By far my favorite of all the adaptations I have seen.

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Simon Pegg is my British Comedian <3

Run Fatboy Run.

Well I had to start negative and work up to the positives. This was the least original and most predictable of all of Pegg's movies. Still it was nice to see a more sweet side of him. And the story and the comedy was still there so of course I still loved it. The concept was predictable but the comedy was still British brilliance, the sidekick kicked ass and there was all sorts of smiles and laughs throughout! Lots of love for Pegg and can't wait for him to keep making me laugh.

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What are you writing in your little Pirate Pad?

Penelope.

Now THIS was a neat take on a fairytale. Setting the lead character as a little older and making a nice mix of modern/fantasy elements this was a very sweet and comical movie. Even my father said it was not that bad. . .a little predictable but it also had the right amount of surprise and intrigue. The typical components of the fairytale, beauty cursed, meets prince charming, obstacles, love prevails all were in place but some unique elements are thrown into the mix which I really just loved. Plus the patch-eyed little person just stole the show. I may be stereotyping or whatever but if you put a little person in your movie it just automatically makes it way better. Really liked this one even when James McAvoy was trying to sing.

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The Title Says Enough

Get Smart.

Now I thought this would be okay but the last full length Carrell flick I had seen was Bruce Almighty and well that sucked big time so I was skeptical. Get Smart was just wonderful. It got back an epic Carrell formula. . .a perfect mix of screwball comedy, wit and heart. The storyline for the actual movie was good, the supporting cast was good, the mix of action to comedy and pacing for the movie was good as well. Overall an enjoyable flick and a nice surprise overall.

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Everyone loves a courtroom Drama.

Heavens Fall.

Another thing noticed while snowed in and enjoying a plethora of older DVD's is that I also have an affinity for based-on-a-true-story stories. Depicting a more somber, serious true story the whole north/south/black/white/true/false concept is not one new to the cinema or anything for that matter. Yet this piece was not predictable and while a little slower moving than a Hollywood hyped piece it was very well done. The acting was suitable, the plot was unique and the opening scene was one of the most interesting I have seen done in an extended period of time.
Overall well done drama with some interesting information about the real life happenings at the end.

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Shia Labeouf is Disney's lucky charm

The Greatest Game Ever Played.

I will be honest. I was not excited to see this movie. It has quite a long title and its about golf BUT my mom had rented it and it had Shia Labeouf who can make even a crappy movie (um Eagle Eye) watchable.

Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised when the film started rolling. The way it was shot, the interesting double and back stories made this a wonderful film. Shia was great in this movie showing the Disney appeal that made him such a megastar he is now. This movie did many things: helped establish Shia, made golf not boring and bordering on exciting, had a great inspirational/based on a true story message and was a all around excellent family film.

Totally worth checking out for all ages.

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Everyone loves a ghetto dance flick. . .full of white people.

Step Up 2: The Streets

So okay its no secret that I have a weakness for dance/art/musical movies in general. So I did like this one but only because I like these things. Actually I would even venture to argue that it was more interesting than the first one and that there certainly was more interesting dancing going on. THAT being said. . .in these cultured hip-hop dramas why is it always that the two lead characters are predominantly Caucasian with only the cultural folks only in the back drop?!?!?!? Anyways that is my rant that and the immature acting made it kinda dull in some sections. . . but the dance sequences and the higher ratio of dance to freshman acting made this actually a decent flick. Pretty good if you have an affinity for dance movies or pre-teen dramas with some light comedy thrown in.

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John Travolta was being punished for poor hairstyling

The Punisher.

The ONLY and I repeat ONLY good things about this movie:
1. When John Travolta's character was being dragged through the street with his crotch on fire
2. When it was over

Horrible.
Yuck and John Travolta has greasy hair.
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A Violent(?) Vince Vaughn

Domestic Disturbance.

Every now and again my comedic love, Vince Vaughn, does a more serious role. Whether as Norman Bates in the so-so Psycho remake or his fabulous turn in Into the Wild. Then sometimes those serious turns are kind of mediocre.
Now I don't think its totally the fault of the actors here I mean you have John Travolta, Teri Polo and the ever delightful Steve Buchemi so I think it was more the oddly paced and uneven storyline. It was slow slow slow starting out. Which I think did help you build suspense but when the AH-Ha moments came for each character about the true nature of the step-dad it was kind of blah. It was a decent attempt but there wasn't any interesting moments. Maybe if Rick had actually like hit the kid or the whole evil background was revealed would have been more suspenseful.
Plus the ending was L-A-M-E.

Eh. If you want to or you are a super fan of VV like me and wanted to see ALL of his movies then go for it but if not then feeeeel freeee to skip right over it.

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Who knew suicide was so profitable?!?!?

Drillbit Taylor.

So this is supposedly the movie Owen Wilson made just before (or was it after?!?!?) he attempted suicide. It didn't get an overly positive reception from Hollywood so I put it off. But after watching it I'm not exactly sure why because it was surprisingly funny!!!!!!!!!! Sure the overall underdogs eventually overcome the bullies was kind of predictable there were so many unique little twists and pop culture references that it was super worthwhile to check out!!!!!!!! Plus Owen Wilson was super hot and in good form especially for being on his own without anyone else from the frat pack.

Worth checking out esp for a good teen - pre - teen family night. Laughs cheap but still very worth it and not overly raunchy.

Tom Cruise is still funny in a non-psychotic way....only when he wants to be.

Tropic Thunder.
I was as some would say, overly excited for this movie. I would like to counter that I was not disappointed so shut your mouth. Not what I expected but soooo much better! This movie works on so many different levels, first there is just the blockbuster appeal of Stiller, Downey Jr., Black etc. Then there are the juicy surprises like Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey. There was the physical obvious comedy, awesome explosions and action sequences and an incredibly well done satirical undertow about the movie industry and those who play a part in it. Plus there is just a killer dance sequence at the end by Tom Cruises character.
It wasn't gut busting every second but every element played into the laughs making them better when they actually came about. I really think Ben Stiller has come into his own and if he can stay writing and directing instead of just acting he will continue to be respected.

And can we give proper respect to Robert Downey Jr. for being such an insane chameleon and character actor?!?!?! Playing a southern rooted black man AND an Australian in the same movie. A genius laugh factory.

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God Damn Global Warming

The Happening.

Okay first and foremost this movie is SO much better if you have seen Andy Samberg's SNL sketch "Mark Wahlberg talks to Animals" and all of the responses from Mark Wahlberg it got. I honestly think that is the only reason this movie was enjoyable for me.
Other reasons to watch The Happening include:
Mark Wahlberg as a sexy science school teacher.
The first quarter maybe half of the movie is pretty suspenseful. Until you start realizing the plants are angry theory is probably true its quite interesting with the whole what the hell is happening??? thing going on (what happening...get it get it?!?!?)
Zooey Deschanel's eyes. Those things are mesmerizing, seriously.
Mark Wahlberg talking to a plastic plant
Mark Wahlberg going "Oh No" when he realizes what is going on. Priceless.

Other than that this movie still proves that M.Night Shamalan peaked with his first major success, the sixth sense. While he has give some decent stories and some good scares since then nothing has or will ever be as clever as that movie for him. Its just sad to realize that he doesn't realize it.

Check these out:
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/mark-wahlberg-talks-to-animals/727504/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOSioIQhszk

John Cusack has been my imaginary boyfriend since about middle school

The Contract.

A decent change for Cusack who hasn't done many action/dramas lately. As he ages he seems to be filling the role of father-figure in the movies normally. In that same vein though he is also making his typecast character attitude all the more obvious. Even across genres it felt like the same character.

Still Morgan Freeman is always excellent and this movie was no exception.
A nice little detour from the mainstream circuit but nothing to write home about.
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Must Love Dogs.

Oh older people love movies.

Now in reality this is a more typical time in people's lives to find "the one" so it seems appropriate. Yet in Hollywood times its a little weird to watch. Cusack and Lane play they parts nicely but there seems to be too much going on here.

Honestly if they had stuck with the title and put more dogs throughout the piece maybe it would have been a bit more interesting. Worth a watch though when you get sick of all the teenage love affairs that usually plaster the cinema.

I love early 90's Johnny Depp

Benny & Joon.
There is this mystical time in cinema called approximately 1990-1994 where anything that came out no matter how (whatever adjective you wanted to connect to it) was you just thought it was brilliant and would always think it was perfect on subsequent viewings. Benny & Joon proves it. Grappling with things like illiteracy, mental illness, orphans etc. could easily make it all after school special or just plain depressing. Yet there is just this lightheartedness that makes it honest and real. Perhaps it is Depp (who by the way just seems so much more open in his early movies, so much more pure) who is just pitch perfect as the quiet but soulful Sam. Perhaps it was just the nineties with all its mullets, flannel and bad women's shoes. I fell in love with this movie and I think its hard to resist no matter when you get around to watching it.

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