Mansome (2012)
As a fat, bearded guy, this may be further from my comfort zone than Fast and the Furious.
On the low end for a Morgan Spurlock documentary, it tried to be whitty and cute but wasn't as sharp as was needed.
June 17, 2013
First Position (2011)
I wish I had the commitment that these children have. That said, any time you have the pressure to succeed that these children face, you have a tendency to step beyond commitment into the realm of abuse. This documentary does not focus on the ugly side of youth involved dance.
June 17, 2013
The Rock (1996)
I will preface this by saying,"Michael Bay is the worst". He is everything that I hate about Hollywood. However, before he began ruining my childhood, Bay showed some chops as an action director.
The Rock was big and loud but had elements of story progression and crazy Nick Cage
June 13, 2013
Knuckleball! (2012)
Excellent documentary about baseball's unappreciated pitch and the outcasts that throw it.
Knuckleball pitchers are like the kickers on a football team. They may be good, but they just don't fit in the way the rest of the players do.
June 13, 2013
Switchblade Sisters (1975)
If the acting, plot, cinematography any good? No, not really. But, Switchblade Sisters is the perfect blend of all things that makes grindhouse fun.
The baddass girl gang must have had Tarantino salivating at the chance to re-release this film and get his name on the cover.
June 13, 2013
Airport (1970)
This blockbuster did not age well. It is melodramatic and over-the-top and all things that summer movies were back in the 1970's.
That said, to go back in time and see it I would have been on the edge of my seat. And the warnings about lose airport security were telling.
May 28, 2013
The Game (1997)
This kind of movie isn't made anymore and that is a shame. I was left guessing, I was surprised, and I was entertained. what more could I ask for?
May 28, 2013
Iron Man 3 (2013)
Way too many clichés and plot holes to be an interesting film. Robert Downey Jr. is still great but the script isn't.
I'm sure I could have figured out a better ending 20 years ago when I was drunk.
May 28, 2013
Warm Bodies (2013)
Warm Bodies is a fresh take on an undead genre. The film explores the Land of the Dead idea that zombies can learn and live again.
Warm Bodies fits nicely into the Zom-Rom-Com genre (made popular by Shaun of the Dead).
This movie won't challenge your brain, nor will it eat it.
February 12, 2013
Django Unchained (2012)
Django Unchained is everything that I want out of a Tartino western.
The language and violence is so over-the-top that it goes beyond the offensive into a realm of accetability.
Tarantino is the most self-aware of all film makers.
January 31, 2013
1-Ichi (2003)
I loved Ichi the Killer. It was a massive part of the Asia extreme movement that revolutionized film in the same way that Tarantino-ism did in the early-mid 90's.
1-Ichi is a prequel. It has no budget or heart.
It does have a couple of decent fight scenes.
January 31, 2013
Sleepwalk with Me (2012)
Strong indy comedy. Decent performances. Relatively likeable characters.
January 17, 2013
On the Waterfront (1954)
This is my favourite film of all time.
Marlon Brando sold his dream of being a contender for an easy life on the docks. He is changed by a girl, and realizes that he needs to face the backlash to stand up for what is right.
Based on Elia Kazan's life during the McCarthy hearings
December 13, 2012
Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
"Comedy" is a phrase that gets thrown around too liberally these days.
December 13, 2012
Pleasantville (1998)
A clever take on racism and social/gender issues. The symbolism is poignant and ofttimes subtle (umbrella).
There are things that you'll have to accept without questioning, and some elements in the first 15 minutes are a little forced, but the pay off is worth it.
Great color use
December 8, 2012
The Rum Diary (2011)
What happens when you take a great cast, put them in a scenic location, and give them a script based on the work of one of the most interesting writers of the 20th century?
Nothing of note.
December 8, 2012
Cloverfield (2008)
The previews sold me. We knew that New York was being attacked by something, but had no idea what.
The handheld worked but the film lost me as soon as the creature was shown.
Filmmakers need to realize that the viewers imagination will create something far scarier than they can.
December 5, 2012
The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
One of the Coen's best comedies. The movie satirizes the business world showing the one-dimensional, evil business tycoons trying to destroy the honest, simple, small town boy.
I loved the homage to the "His Girl Friday" style.
Plus, it has Bruce Campbell. Ya know, for kids.
December 5, 2012
Punisher: War Zone (2008)
Campy as hell, and not in a good way. Jigsaw looked like something out of "Dick Tracy" while the rest of the movie tried to be "The Crow".
The Punisher should be an easy, mainstream crossover film. For some reason the studios cannot seem to figure it out.
December 4, 2012
Piranha 3DD (2012)
I was really excited to discover Gary Busey in the first five minutes of the film. I wish the film ended when my excitement did.
Much like the killer fish, this movie bites.
December 3, 2012
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
This is one of my favourite films and to me, this is Christmas.
I love the songs (Excluding "The Love is Gone" which is absent from the blu-ray release), I love the spirit, and I love the Muppets.
I dare you not to smile.
December 3, 2012
Pina (2011)
Pina Bausch is among the finest of choreographers and this reflection of her work speaks volumes in beauty and grace.
Herzog planned a life piece, however Bausch died just days before the start of production, thus changing everything.
1 of only 2 films that I wish I'd seen in 3D.
December 2, 2012
The Iron Lady (2011)
Streep's performance was too good for this movie.
The movie was less about the life and political rise/struggles of one of the most powerful and hard-nosed females of the 20th century than it was a less than compelling Alzheimer's movie. No secondary characters were developed.
December 1, 2012
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
One of the finest movies ever made. 35 years after it's initial release "Close Encounters" remains the benchmark for serious sci-fi. The movie looks great, has tremendous performances, and an incredible score.
This is Steven Spielberg and John Williams at their absolute best.
December 1, 2012
They Live (1988)
Possibly the most clever of John Carpenter's films. This movie challenges our incessant need to buy and our overwhelming desire to obey. I love the premiss and would love to see it remade into a full series.
I'd write more but I'm all out of bubblegum.
December 1, 2012