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'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World' (PG-13) (3 1/2 stars)
Writers: Michael Bacall and Edgar Wright
Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ellen Wong, Kieran Culkin, Aubrey Plaza, Anna Kendrick, Brandon Routh, Chris Evans, Jason Schwartzman, Mae Whitman, Alison Pill, Mark Webber, Johnny Simmons, Thomas Jane, Clifton Collins Jr.
"Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" is one of the most enjoyable and original movies of the summer and of the year. It is one of the most energetic, fun, clever and imaginative movies in years also. The very likable Michael Cera again wins us over as Scott Pilgrim. Scott is a character from a series of graphic novels by Bryan Lee O'Malley and I am in love with O'Malley and the Pilgrim character. One of my mottoes is "Originality produces greatness" and this is a great movie. It is fresh and pretty much like nothing you have ever seen. It is creative, funny, witty, fast, colorful, vibrant and full of touches of brilliance. I love the jokey graphics, the goofy charm, the great cast of young, future stars and the energy that seeps off the screen. Michael Cera is again wonderful as Scott Pilgrim who falls in love at first sight with the fetching Ramona Flowers. This is also at the same time he is dating a high school girl named Knives Chau played with a lot of cuteness and energy by Ellen Wong. To gain the love of Ramona he must fight off her seven evil ex boyfriends. The movie starts with very funny scenes between Cera and Kieran Culkin as his gay roommate. The movie then really kicks in high gear when the exes start showing up. They are played by many wonderful new actors like Mae Whitman, Chris Evans and Jason Schwartzman. The funniest performance and best ex boyfriend is played by Brandon Routh (Superman Begins). This is a surprisingly, brilliant comic performance that almost steals the movie. The cast is surprisingly the best cast of the year so far. It includes great new talent like Aubrey Plaza, Alison Pill, Routh, Culkin, Wong, Mark Webber, Johnny Simmons, Chris Evans and a great old pro like Jason Schwartzman and they are all funny and great here.
This brings me to Michael Cera who this year is being given a Snavely Award for picking the most original movies to be in this year by any actor. This movie and "Youth in Revolt" are risky projects that are more original than most movies ever are. Add to this one of my favorite movies of the past year "Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist" and "Juno" from 2007 and you have the most impressive resume by any young actor in the last few years. He may play the same type of character a lot but he is always charming, appealing and funny. Also he is always smart and daring in his choices. The heart of this movie needs to be with the love story and I really loved Scott and Ramona being together. That is also due to a very sweet performance by Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Live Free, Die Hard). I also thought Ellen Wong was extremely appealing and funny and her and Cera are also great together. This movie to me never drags, is a lot of fun and had me smiling from the first frame to the last. It doesn't try to impress you by hitting you over the head, it is just a light, fast and very fun time at the movies. This is the best time I have had at a movie since "The Kids Are All Right". With so many movies that are about the same old tired things, that copy from other, better movies and bore me to death with their predictability this is a breath of fresh air. It is a great, true original and a completely charming and major surprise.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
'Eat Pray Love'
'Eat Pray Love' (PG-13) (2 stars)
Writers: Jennifer Salt and Ryan Murphy based on memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert
Director: Ryan Murphy
Starring: Julia Roberts, Richard Jenkins, Billy Crudup, James Franco, Viola Davis, Javier Bardem, Mike O'Malley
"Eat Pray Love" is beautiful to look at and the food displayed in the movie looks so delicious and made me hungry. That is all I can say works in this empty movie which is one of the most disappointing movies of the year. This is based on Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir of her year of discovering herself in Italy, India and Bali. Be careful when writing a memoir you think is so important and that people should care about when you have nothing worthy to tell us. I had the same problem with this movie that I had with one of the worst movies I have ever seen based on a memoir called "Running With Scissors". Augusten Burroughs was the annoying and arrogant jerk of that memoir. This is not as embarrassing, annoying and insipid as that one was but I didn't care anything about this women's journey of self discovery. Ryan Murphy directed this and Scissors so maybe he should stick to "Glee" and "Nip/Tuck" only. There is nothing new and more exciting here that goes on than goes on in millions of women's lives every year. I am sure there are women out there that have more to say with their journeys because this story is lifeless. The qualities that keep this from becoming a bad movie is the scenery, Julia Roberts performance and a very promising start in Italy.
The first third in Italy is actually entertaining and fun and the food looks so great! The second third in India is terrible and weak, the final section in Bali is better but the ending is too abrupt and unsatisfying. It also wastes a fun performance by Javier Bardem whose character is written very thin. The ending involving Bardem's character cheats us from a sweeping, romantic conclusion, it just ends. The opening scenes between Roberts as Gilbert and her first husband played by Billy Crudup are badly written, awkward and annoying. The scenes between Roberts and James Franco as a love interest are wispy, laughable and weak. I did like the location work and Richard Jenkins performance. I also like Roberts a lot, she looks beautiful, her smile and laugh are still powerful and she looks radiant. The only problem is that it is a good performance but not a great one by Roberts and that is the fault of the writing and character. Why should I care about Gilbert when there are a plethora of women that go through the same thing but in more interesting ways? Have you seen "Precious" yet ladies?
Writers: Jennifer Salt and Ryan Murphy based on memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert
Director: Ryan Murphy
Starring: Julia Roberts, Richard Jenkins, Billy Crudup, James Franco, Viola Davis, Javier Bardem, Mike O'Malley
"Eat Pray Love" is beautiful to look at and the food displayed in the movie looks so delicious and made me hungry. That is all I can say works in this empty movie which is one of the most disappointing movies of the year. This is based on Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir of her year of discovering herself in Italy, India and Bali. Be careful when writing a memoir you think is so important and that people should care about when you have nothing worthy to tell us. I had the same problem with this movie that I had with one of the worst movies I have ever seen based on a memoir called "Running With Scissors". Augusten Burroughs was the annoying and arrogant jerk of that memoir. This is not as embarrassing, annoying and insipid as that one was but I didn't care anything about this women's journey of self discovery. Ryan Murphy directed this and Scissors so maybe he should stick to "Glee" and "Nip/Tuck" only. There is nothing new and more exciting here that goes on than goes on in millions of women's lives every year. I am sure there are women out there that have more to say with their journeys because this story is lifeless. The qualities that keep this from becoming a bad movie is the scenery, Julia Roberts performance and a very promising start in Italy.
The first third in Italy is actually entertaining and fun and the food looks so great! The second third in India is terrible and weak, the final section in Bali is better but the ending is too abrupt and unsatisfying. It also wastes a fun performance by Javier Bardem whose character is written very thin. The ending involving Bardem's character cheats us from a sweeping, romantic conclusion, it just ends. The opening scenes between Roberts as Gilbert and her first husband played by Billy Crudup are badly written, awkward and annoying. The scenes between Roberts and James Franco as a love interest are wispy, laughable and weak. I did like the location work and Richard Jenkins performance. I also like Roberts a lot, she looks beautiful, her smile and laugh are still powerful and she looks radiant. The only problem is that it is a good performance but not a great one by Roberts and that is the fault of the writing and character. Why should I care about Gilbert when there are a plethora of women that go through the same thing but in more interesting ways? Have you seen "Precious" yet ladies?
'The Expendables'
'The Expendables' (R) (3 stars)
Writers: Sylvester Stallone and Dave Callaham
Director: Sylvester Stallone
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Eric Roberts, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Steve Austin, Randy Couture, David Zayas
There is no way anyone should enjoy "The Expendables" because it is pure trash but it is such a fun and guilty pleasure. This movie is a rude and crude throwback to those cheesy action movies of the 80's and Stallone was in a few like 1986's "Cobra". It gathers some stars of the 80's and some new action stars to form a latter day Dirty Dozen. I warn you that if you didn't like those action movies from the 80's or you don't like Stallone don't go see this. I grew up with a lot of these stars and it was fun to see them back in their glory, some who have been wasted for decades. I really don't care about the plot because it is thin and stupid, I just like the overblown, silly but funny action scenes. This movie may be stupid but it is better than 75% of the movies that came out this summer. I would rather have colorful and exciting stupid then dull, lifeless stupid like "Sorcerer's Apprentice". This movie falls under my new "Paul Blart Mall Cop Rule" which means a movie's story line might be stupid or goofy and aimed at a low level but if it does it's job well then it will work and you will enjoy it. This is not a prestige movie but a violent, bloody and over the top action movie that succeeds in the type of movie it is trying to be. If you are expecting something like "Salt" or "Knight and Day" this will not satisfy you. I grew up with these stars of the 80's and I always defended Stallone since I was little. This is one of the most unfairly picked on actors of my time. In early Stallone movies he always bravely threw all his heart into all his action scenes and he will always be one of the most exciting action stars ever. There is also Eric Roberts who has been wasted for about twenty years and Mickey Rourke, these were my favorite actors of my childhood and my idols. It is great to see these heroes of my youth back together and it is good to see them mix it up with new stars like Jason Statham who comes off best here. At some point I even forgot what the movie was about. I was just giddy to see all these larger than life guys having fun and I also found the action stuff silly but kind of infectious. I also forgot to mention a classic scene full of cameos by Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger and a line in the scene that made everyone laugh out loud. Check your brain at the door and wallow in the fun stupidity.
Writers: Sylvester Stallone and Dave Callaham
Director: Sylvester Stallone
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Eric Roberts, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Steve Austin, Randy Couture, David Zayas
There is no way anyone should enjoy "The Expendables" because it is pure trash but it is such a fun and guilty pleasure. This movie is a rude and crude throwback to those cheesy action movies of the 80's and Stallone was in a few like 1986's "Cobra". It gathers some stars of the 80's and some new action stars to form a latter day Dirty Dozen. I warn you that if you didn't like those action movies from the 80's or you don't like Stallone don't go see this. I grew up with a lot of these stars and it was fun to see them back in their glory, some who have been wasted for decades. I really don't care about the plot because it is thin and stupid, I just like the overblown, silly but funny action scenes. This movie may be stupid but it is better than 75% of the movies that came out this summer. I would rather have colorful and exciting stupid then dull, lifeless stupid like "Sorcerer's Apprentice". This movie falls under my new "Paul Blart Mall Cop Rule" which means a movie's story line might be stupid or goofy and aimed at a low level but if it does it's job well then it will work and you will enjoy it. This is not a prestige movie but a violent, bloody and over the top action movie that succeeds in the type of movie it is trying to be. If you are expecting something like "Salt" or "Knight and Day" this will not satisfy you. I grew up with these stars of the 80's and I always defended Stallone since I was little. This is one of the most unfairly picked on actors of my time. In early Stallone movies he always bravely threw all his heart into all his action scenes and he will always be one of the most exciting action stars ever. There is also Eric Roberts who has been wasted for about twenty years and Mickey Rourke, these were my favorite actors of my childhood and my idols. It is great to see these heroes of my youth back together and it is good to see them mix it up with new stars like Jason Statham who comes off best here. At some point I even forgot what the movie was about. I was just giddy to see all these larger than life guys having fun and I also found the action stuff silly but kind of infectious. I also forgot to mention a classic scene full of cameos by Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger and a line in the scene that made everyone laugh out loud. Check your brain at the door and wallow in the fun stupidity.
'The Other Guys'
'The Other Guys' (PG-13) (3 stars)
Writers: Chris Henchy and Adam McKay
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Keaton, Eva Mendes, Dwayne Johnson, Samuel Jackson, Steve Coogan
The first hour of "The Other Guys" is so brilliant and extremely funny that the last half hour can't stand all that weight from the first hour. I laughed every minute of that first hour and the last half hour when I got lost I still enjoyed one of my favorite actors. This movie knows all the cop movie cliches and turns them on their ear. Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg play those Other Guys who are paper pushing cops who take a back seat to the action, hero cops. Dwayne Johnson and Samuel Jackson are the hero cops and they are very funny in their roles. When those officers do an inexplicable and very stupid stunt and die, Ferrell and Wahlberg come in and take over. They are following a very shady and corrupt financial executive played by Steve Coogan. Will Ferrell's specialty is evident here and that is saying some very crazy stuff that doesn't always make sense with a complete straight face. He is good again here but the real comic genius comes from Mark Wahlberg who is hilarious as the straight man. They both work very well off each other and there is some very funny dialogue between Ferrell and Wahlberg including a classic exchange. That classic exchange of dialogue involves a group of tuna attacking a lion and you have to hear it to believe how confusing but nutty and funny it sounds. There is also a very funny performance by one of my all time favorite actors in Michael Keaton. This is the old, classic Keaton from "Night Shift" and "Clean and Sober". He steals the movie as the police captain who moonlights at Bath and Beyond. I love Keaton and his performance is subtly hilarious and I think Oscar worthy. Eva Mendes is also very funny as Ferrell's wife. Another of the side splitting moments from the first hour deal with Ferrell not noticing how hot his wife is. Wahlberg's reaction and his constant hitting on Mendes is classic and worth the price of admission. Now the last hour gets bogged down in unfunny chases and shootouts and Coogan is not funny as the villain. The plot dealing with the bad guy is topical but confusing and needless. It doesn't matter because I laughed so much in the first hour more than I have in most full comedies this year.
Writers: Chris Henchy and Adam McKay
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Keaton, Eva Mendes, Dwayne Johnson, Samuel Jackson, Steve Coogan
The first hour of "The Other Guys" is so brilliant and extremely funny that the last half hour can't stand all that weight from the first hour. I laughed every minute of that first hour and the last half hour when I got lost I still enjoyed one of my favorite actors. This movie knows all the cop movie cliches and turns them on their ear. Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg play those Other Guys who are paper pushing cops who take a back seat to the action, hero cops. Dwayne Johnson and Samuel Jackson are the hero cops and they are very funny in their roles. When those officers do an inexplicable and very stupid stunt and die, Ferrell and Wahlberg come in and take over. They are following a very shady and corrupt financial executive played by Steve Coogan. Will Ferrell's specialty is evident here and that is saying some very crazy stuff that doesn't always make sense with a complete straight face. He is good again here but the real comic genius comes from Mark Wahlberg who is hilarious as the straight man. They both work very well off each other and there is some very funny dialogue between Ferrell and Wahlberg including a classic exchange. That classic exchange of dialogue involves a group of tuna attacking a lion and you have to hear it to believe how confusing but nutty and funny it sounds. There is also a very funny performance by one of my all time favorite actors in Michael Keaton. This is the old, classic Keaton from "Night Shift" and "Clean and Sober". He steals the movie as the police captain who moonlights at Bath and Beyond. I love Keaton and his performance is subtly hilarious and I think Oscar worthy. Eva Mendes is also very funny as Ferrell's wife. Another of the side splitting moments from the first hour deal with Ferrell not noticing how hot his wife is. Wahlberg's reaction and his constant hitting on Mendes is classic and worth the price of admission. Now the last hour gets bogged down in unfunny chases and shootouts and Coogan is not funny as the villain. The plot dealing with the bad guy is topical but confusing and needless. It doesn't matter because I laughed so much in the first hour more than I have in most full comedies this year.
'Get Low'
'Get Low' (PG-13) (Rental)
Writers: C. Gaby Mitchell and Chris Provenzano
Director: Aaron Schneider
Starring: Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek, Lucas Black, Bill Cobbs, Gerald McRaney, Scott Cooper
"Get Low" takes it's time in telling it's story with a low key charm that sometimes is too low key and deadpan. It contains a wonderful performance by Robert Duvall who owns this kind of role. Every bit his equal are Bill Murray who is a stitch as a funeral director and Sissy Spacek as a woman from Duvall's past. Duvall plays Felix Bush, an old hermit who wants to have a funeral party before he dies so people can tell stories about him and say goodbye. He visits a funeral director played by Murray who is happy that business is finally picking up. Murray and Duvall work perfectly off each other and Murray is very funny. Their performances are the real reason to see this movie that sometimes is too meandering. Duvall owns this kind of role in his sleep and his final speech at the end is touching and subtly powerful. Sissy Spacek plays an old lover and her and Duvall are also great together, Lucas Black is also good in support. I loved moments of "Get Low" and Duvall and Murray but the middle section of this movie lost me and got me off track. This is a great smaller screen rental so you can savor some great performances by Murray and Duvall. I just felt the movie needed more juice at it's middle to fully engage me.
Writers: C. Gaby Mitchell and Chris Provenzano
Director: Aaron Schneider
Starring: Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek, Lucas Black, Bill Cobbs, Gerald McRaney, Scott Cooper
"Get Low" takes it's time in telling it's story with a low key charm that sometimes is too low key and deadpan. It contains a wonderful performance by Robert Duvall who owns this kind of role. Every bit his equal are Bill Murray who is a stitch as a funeral director and Sissy Spacek as a woman from Duvall's past. Duvall plays Felix Bush, an old hermit who wants to have a funeral party before he dies so people can tell stories about him and say goodbye. He visits a funeral director played by Murray who is happy that business is finally picking up. Murray and Duvall work perfectly off each other and Murray is very funny. Their performances are the real reason to see this movie that sometimes is too meandering. Duvall owns this kind of role in his sleep and his final speech at the end is touching and subtly powerful. Sissy Spacek plays an old lover and her and Duvall are also great together, Lucas Black is also good in support. I loved moments of "Get Low" and Duvall and Murray but the middle section of this movie lost me and got me off track. This is a great smaller screen rental so you can savor some great performances by Murray and Duvall. I just felt the movie needed more juice at it's middle to fully engage me.
'Salt'
'Salt' (PG-13) (3 stars)
Writers: Phillip Noyce and Kurt Wimmer
Director: Phillip Noyce
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Olek Krupa, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Andre Braugher
"Salt" is a crackling good spy thriller that is simply exciting, fast paced and fun. The movie is so fast you don't even notice the plot holes. The trailers have given it away but Jolie is fantastic as Evelyn Salt, an American spy who one day is outed by a Russian bad guy as a Russian spy. The movie then turns into a chase thriller with well directed chase scenes involving everything. The director is Phillip Noyce who knows how to create suspense, he directed "Dead Calm". Angelina Jolie is probably the best female action star we have and she puts all her heart in the chase and fight scenes. There are double crosses, foot chases, spy secrets and all that good spy stuff and it is done with flair. Again the movie is so fast paced that you don't notice the many weak and dumb moments. This movie is a vast improvement over Jolie's last few movies.
Writers: Phillip Noyce and Kurt Wimmer
Director: Phillip Noyce
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Olek Krupa, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Andre Braugher
"Salt" is a crackling good spy thriller that is simply exciting, fast paced and fun. The movie is so fast you don't even notice the plot holes. The trailers have given it away but Jolie is fantastic as Evelyn Salt, an American spy who one day is outed by a Russian bad guy as a Russian spy. The movie then turns into a chase thriller with well directed chase scenes involving everything. The director is Phillip Noyce who knows how to create suspense, he directed "Dead Calm". Angelina Jolie is probably the best female action star we have and she puts all her heart in the chase and fight scenes. There are double crosses, foot chases, spy secrets and all that good spy stuff and it is done with flair. Again the movie is so fast paced that you don't notice the many weak and dumb moments. This movie is a vast improvement over Jolie's last few movies.
'Middle Men'
'Middle Men' (R) (2 stars)
Writers: George Gallo and Andy Weiss
Director: George Gallo
Starring: Luke Wilson, Gabriel Macht, Giovanni Ribisi, Jacinda Barrett, Laura Ramsey, Rade Serbedzija, Kevin Pollack, John Ashton, Kelsey Grammer, Robert Forster, Terry Crews, James Caan
For a movie about Internet Porn founders "Middle Men" is safe and dull. There is not an original bone in it's body, I kept thinking of a neutered "Good Fellas" rip off. The material is there to intrigue us but it is done in such a predictable way that I lost interest fast. Luke Wilson does a fine job as one of the creators of PayPal which is a front for paying for porn on your computer. The movie starts out very wrong with a lifeless and terrible voice over narration by Wilson that resembles Ray Liotta's one in "Good Fellas" except I thought Wilson was falling asleep. Wilson's character gets involved with two lowlifes played by Ribisi and Macht who overact. They also get involved with gangsters and thugs just like the ones in "Good Fellas" but with nothing that grabs our attention. The women in this film are shallowly written including the standard porn star portrayed much better in "Boogie Nights" and the wife who is your typical movie wife who stands in the background. I was surprised this movie was so boring because the co-writer and director George Gallo wrote one of the best comedies and action films of the 80's in "Midnight Run". This movie has no life, no characters we care about and no reason really to be made. It goes through the motions and gives us nothing original to engage us. "Middle Men" needs an injection of color and excitement.
Writers: George Gallo and Andy Weiss
Director: George Gallo
Starring: Luke Wilson, Gabriel Macht, Giovanni Ribisi, Jacinda Barrett, Laura Ramsey, Rade Serbedzija, Kevin Pollack, John Ashton, Kelsey Grammer, Robert Forster, Terry Crews, James Caan
For a movie about Internet Porn founders "Middle Men" is safe and dull. There is not an original bone in it's body, I kept thinking of a neutered "Good Fellas" rip off. The material is there to intrigue us but it is done in such a predictable way that I lost interest fast. Luke Wilson does a fine job as one of the creators of PayPal which is a front for paying for porn on your computer. The movie starts out very wrong with a lifeless and terrible voice over narration by Wilson that resembles Ray Liotta's one in "Good Fellas" except I thought Wilson was falling asleep. Wilson's character gets involved with two lowlifes played by Ribisi and Macht who overact. They also get involved with gangsters and thugs just like the ones in "Good Fellas" but with nothing that grabs our attention. The women in this film are shallowly written including the standard porn star portrayed much better in "Boogie Nights" and the wife who is your typical movie wife who stands in the background. I was surprised this movie was so boring because the co-writer and director George Gallo wrote one of the best comedies and action films of the 80's in "Midnight Run". This movie has no life, no characters we care about and no reason really to be made. It goes through the motions and gives us nothing original to engage us. "Middle Men" needs an injection of color and excitement.
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