I like Colin Farrell as an actor. He has had some great blow-ups that was good for Entertainment News Channels and I see how he tries really hard with each of his roles. He was supposed to be a huge movie star. He was the star in Phone Booth, and The Recruit with Al Pacino. He was Bullseye in the comic book crushing Daredevil, and was a key person in the ensemble film S.W.A.T. After that he was Alexander in 2004 and Miami Vice in 2006 and that was the end of him being a movie star. Fright Night and Total Recall both flopped and he just couldn’t stick as a leading man. Now he is back in Winter’s Tale, a sappy Valentine’s Day film for those love struck, science fiction or religious fans out there.
I think Matt Damon made a film like this called “The Adjustment Bureau” about a man searching for his long lost love that outside forces don’t want him to make happen. That was not a box office bank roll making $62 Million domestically off of a $50 Million budget. Winter’s Tale is trying to boost its chances by using Russell Crowe as the bad guy. It worked for Les Miserables so maybe lightening can strike twice. The writer of the film is Akiva Goldsman who gave us “A Beautiful Mind”, “I am Legend”, “Cinderella Man”, and “I, Robot”. But he also gave us “The DaVinci Code”, “Batman Forever”, “Batman & Robin”, and “Lost In Space”. I really want to root for this film to be a good science fiction love story, but I am working hard to think of one that actually was good. Especially when there is Time Travel involved. Maybe “Back To The Future?” So I am recommending staying home for this one, and waiting until HBOGO or Netflix for this one.
Yes, I am going to watch all 250 movies on the IMDB Top #250 list over the course of 2014. The rub is that I have to exercise while watching them so I can’t just sit there like a slug. As a friendly reminder I received my criteria from the great Bill Simmons from ESPN.com and Grantland fame, so do not send any cease and desist letters to my email account. Today is The Big Lebowski at #134.
I am just going to say that the trailer is just as fun as the movie and captures it so perfectly. This movie by the Coen Brothers is absolute fun and I feel bad it took me so long to see it. I love their other films like True Grit, O Brother Where Art Though, Raising Arizona, No Country for Old Men, Fargo, The Hudsucker Proxy, shoot I even liked The Ladykillers, but I had not seen The Big Lebowski. Now that I have, I am happy I have it as a DVD to watch at my leisure.
Plot Summary
“Dude” Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it. That’s it. That’s the plot. Sure There are some twists and turns, and it is a mixture of comedy and crime drama, but that is the plot in a nutshell. It is the characters and their reactions to getting that restitution hat make this such a great film.
Overall Plot and Execution: A-
Actors
Jeff Bridges as “The Dude not Mr. Lebowski” is awesome. I loved him in Starman and Tucker as well. He provided a great performance in The Fisher King and another Coen brothers film, True Grit, but truly this is his finest work. Yes, kids he did do stuff before Iron Man and Tron Legacy. We will forget that he took a paycheck for R.I.P.D. His incorporation of a true non-working pacifist hippy who just loves to bowl and wants restitution for his carpet being peed on is fabulous.
John Goodman is one of my favorite actors of all time. I watched the first season of Treme because he was in it, and have not forgiven them since his character was eliminated. This isn’t Game of Thrones or The Wire, you don’t have to get rid of the actors I care about in every HBO show! But his portrayal of Walter Sobchak as a highly strung Vietnam Vet with a plan to make money off the rich Mr. Lebwoski is pitch perfect. The rest of the cast, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman, David Huddleston, and John Turturro as Jesus Quintana as a rival bowler who loves outrageous and tight fitting clothing is fabulous. I mean they even have Flea as a Nihilist after the Big Lebowski’s money – and who doesn’t love the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He is a fan of Jimi Hendrix for all that is holy! Great cast!
Overall Actors- A
Chill Scenes- There are no chill scenes in this film, even though it is part drama. I guess the chilliest scene is the battle against the Nihilist and the death of one of the characters (no spoilers in this review). But overall it is just fun scene after fun scene after fun scene.
Chill Scenes – NA
Unpredictability: The plot goes all over the place as The Dude is trying to find “Bunny Lebowski” who he believes might have faked her own kidnapping. There is some great stuff from Julianne Moore who wants a baby from a man who has no ties to her elite world. And an insertion of a bowling league tournament that has Walter pulling out a gun against his competition. Like any good Coen brothers movie, you just have to go along with the ride and enjoy the scenery as you might not fully get the plot.
Unpredictability: A-
Rewatchability: LIke I said. I own the DVD and I will watch this movie multiple times. It has so many great quotes in the film, and the characters of The Dude and Walter Sobchak are good enough to watch over and over again. I actually feel bad that a former tenant lent me the movie and I never returned it, but him and his friends trashed my house, so it is a small price to pay.
Rewatchability- A-
Dated-ness: This movie, even though released in 1998 I think it should hold up. It is a nice slice of life when bowling was king and hippies still roamed the earth. I think the comedy is timeless because the characters are so well drawn out.
Dated-ness: A
Overall Implausibility: This could happen. Someone could mistake another person’s identity looking for money, and then that other person could ask you to save their really young wife in order to potentially swindle money out of their trust fund while being chased by Nihilists. This could happen!
Overall Implausibility: B+
Overall: I loved this movie. It definitely belongs on the Top 250 list. It is fun and exciting, and the characters are people I would want to hang out with. For that reason I would watch it over and over again with friends. So enjoy The Big Lebowski if you have not already seen it. It is worth the watch.
Quotability- This movie has a lot of great quotes, but more so philosophies that people should live by. “The Dude abides”. And to have Sam Elliot as “The Stranger” just added to the magnitude of the philosophy and quotable moments.
Work Out Regiment: 30 minutes on the elliptical machine
So I decided I was going to sit and watch all 250 movies on the IMDB Top 250 list through out the year. The rub is that I have to exercise while watching each of these films. I can’t just sit there like a slug. So the elliptical machine is at the ready. So it is pleasure/reward. Just so I don’t get into Shia LaBoeuf type of trouble, I am admitting in advance that I stole my criteria straight from Bill Simmons when he was writing for Page 2. I consider it a homage, as opposed to straight plagiarizing. LOL
Today I watched Prisoners, which is currently ranked at #233. I was reminded about the movie during an interview I had and I couldn’t remember why I didn’t see it when it came out in the theatre. And then it hit me, its because its about two missing girls. As a father of an eight year old, I was like no way am I watching this, but damn it it ended up on the list. Two hours and 23 minutes of heart break and suspense. If your daughter was taken, what lengths would you go through? What would you do?
Plot Summary from Warner Bros. Pictures:
How far would you go to protect your family? Keller Dover is facing every parent’s worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street. Heading the investigation, Detective Loki arrests its driver, Alex Jones, but a lack of evidence forces his release. As the police pursue multiple leads and pressure mounts, knowing his child’s life is at stake the frantic Dover decides he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands. But just how far will this desperate father go to protect his family?
This is a nice summary, but it doesn’t even touch the psychological pain and anguish Hugh Jackman brings to his role of Keller Dover, the father of one of the little girls. He makes the film almost a vigilante movie, as he tracks down leads that the police do not fully engage in. Leads that turn out to be critical, but not in the way we first thought.
Overall Plot and Execution: B+
Actors:
The group assembled for this film are incredible. Hugh Jackman plays the everyman father who is willing to do anything for his family. Jake Gyllenhaal is his usually great self as Detective Loki. Yes, I liked him in End of Watch, and Brokeback Mountain and even in The Day After Tomorrow. And let us not forget Donnie Darko. I don’t know if he is a real human being because he constantly brings a commanding performance to all his roles, which are all very different. Viola Davis does a great job as the mother who finds out the evil that Keller is doing in order to find their daughters and is ok with it. Terrence Howard’s finest acting role in a long time as the father who wonders if they crossed the line and Maria Bello who I rooted for in her series Prime Suspect as the mother who just loses it into a depression coma when her daughter is taken. Paul Dano is quietly good as the main suspect in the kidnapping.
Overall Actors Score: A-
Chill Scenes:
From the moment the movie starts you know something bad is going to happen. It is not your usual holiday movie surprise. Its set around Thanksgiving, but they start the film with the girls trying to go out by themselves and then running into a creepy RV while out with their older siblings. Once they disappear, it starts to rain in a downpour which makes it dark and gloomy and hard to find the girls. The scenes with Keller Dover “interrogating” the prime suspect Alex Jones is deep and disturbing. You also wonder if they are ever going to see their kids again. Like Gone, Baby, Gone, it is all very heavy.
Overall Chill Scenes: A-
Unpredictability:
Is this a connect the dots type of thriller? There are a few Red Herrings that are meant to throw you off the scent, but if I had truly paid attention and wasnt worried about my elliptical time and distance I probably could have figured out the kidnapper sooner. Still was a good film, it just didn’t have an ultimate twist at the end.
Unpredictability: B
Rewatchability: I am never going to watch this film again. I enjoyed it the first and only time I need to see it. There is enough closer in the movie that I don’t need to relive it, and even though the actors are great in their roles, its a bit heavy for me. Now I could say the same thing about Seven, but I know I will watch that movie over and over again, but not Prisoners.
Rewatchability: C
Dated-ness: I think this movie can stand the test of time. It has the basic premise of what would you do if someone harmed or affected your family? That is never going to change, and as a thriller in that regard, it is absolutely timeless. The movie is less a detective film, but more a psychological dig into a man’s obsession to find his daughter. Much better than Ransom, with Mel Gibson in that regard.
Dated-ness: A-
Overall Implausibility: This movie could happen. Shoot, it happens every day because there are some sick psychos out there taking children. Sends shivers up my spine. For that, it stands the test of reality. Not all movies need that, but to make a true thriller, it is a must, and this is definitely plausible.
Overall Implausibility: A
Overall:
The movie is very good, and worth a watch. Just don’t allow your kids outside, alone, or without your supervision for like a month after watching it. If you are looking for a happy film to cuddle up to, this is not that film. YOu should also not already be in a dark place or getting over a family crisis while watching it. Besides that, go for it. Rent it, though, do not buy it, because the chances you may want to watch it over and over again are slim to none. Unless you are into that kind of thing.
Work Our Regiment: One hour on the elliptical machine
There is no John Franco in this movie boys and girls. No dude who wants to be a friend to the animal kingdom and make the world a better place for him and his chimpanzee. No saving the world and his father with a miracle drug. There is nothing light and airy in this sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Gary Oldman, who is good in everything – my personal favorite is Leon: The Professional as a corrupt cop- seems to be the co-star of this film. But the actual star, the main attraction is back from the Original… Caesar. I mean just look at the Movie poster and you can see he is the star.
But what is truly daunting about this trailer is how dark it is:<a href="” title=”Dawn Trailer”>
Maybe because I had just finished watching “28 Days Later” for the tenth time because I have a crush on Naomie Harris (I will be watching SkyFall today off of NetFlix as part of my dedication to her. Might even watch a couple of Pirates films as well because she is sexy as Calista/Tia Dalma… if you can past the grungy teeth). Anyway, it looks like its been about a decade since we have seen John Franco and Caesar (I mean is there a better name out there for this character? I think not) and I don’t think Will Rodman made it through the war that is discussed in the trailer. This movie looks dark and menacing and like any good science fiction film, filled with underlying messages about how humans are destroying the world and what could happen if we do not change our ways. Did I mention I only use non animal tested products and will probably cancel my pass to the Bronx Zoo. Like, 28 Days Later, the world looks like it has come to an end and like any good horror/science fiction film I felt a twinge in the back of my neck for humanity. All I have to say is that I will be there opening weekend with One Medium Size Tub of Popcorn. I don’t know if it will be great, because it is a sequel, but it has the potential to send chills and be highly entertaining. I am hoping for a Dark Knight type of sequel and not a Matrix Reloaded type of sequel. I think we will be good with a “28 Weeks Later” type of sequel. Enjoy!
Ok, so 42 is not necessarily a comic book or super hero movie. And it is most definitely not science fiction. It is based on a true story. But if you go and watch the bio-film focused on Jackie Robinson breaking the baseball color barrier – which you should – you will see a man with a large S on his chest underneath his Brooklyn Dodger uniform. The writer/director Brian Hedgeland took every cue from the original two superman movies (the good ones with Christopher Reeves) and dumped them into this film. Jackie Robinson (played by an awesome Bed-Stuy newcomer Chadwick Boseman) was not from Krypton but the more enlightened planet of Pasadena. This is not a spoiler but Pasadena does not explode in the film but the barriers and feelings of racism do slowly get destroyed during the film.
As the film progresses there are many references to Jackie Robinson being superhuman. Which he had to be in order to do what he did. He not only had to be an exceptional ball player but he also had to have the ability to swallow the abuse the abuse that was heaped on him without any form of retaliation. The movie is not heavy handed on displaying the atrocities but uses very good performances by Alan Tudyk as the racist Phillies manager, Ben Chapman and Linc Hand as the massive and racist pitcher Fritz Ostermueller to portray many of the feelings of that era. Jackie was able to overcome those atrocities not only through his own will but by the support of his lovely wife Rachel (played by Nicole Beharie who interestingly enough played a similar role as Ernie Davis’ girlfriend in The Express about the first black Heisman trophy winner), the amazing writer Wendell Smith and last but not least the incredible Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey. They played great as Louis Lane, Jimmy Olson, and Perry White. I might be going too far comparing Ben Chapman – the obvious villain in the film to Lex Luther, but its my review so just go with it.
Harrison Ford chews up a lot of scenery in this film but you will either enjoy it or be annoyed by his portrayal of Branch Rickey. I tended to enjoy his bible quoting Methodist who at first just is in it like Rod Tidwell for the money but shows off a softer side at the end of the film. And of course since Jackie did not have a father to help him through this hard time, Branch Rickey also works as that too. So does that make him Pa Kent too? Maybe.
The film is beautifully shot and both the baseball scenes and dramatic scenes have equal weight and beauty. But what puts this film over the top and links it closely to the super hero films we all know and love is the score. You knew when super Jackie was coming as the music lead you through the critical and poignant parts of the film. Sometimes heavy handed but always beautiful, the score was an absolute marvel to behold. Do any of the tracks have the staying power of the “Theme from Superman“? Probably not, but while in the moment you know you are listening to some good stuff.
Overall I loves the film even though it was a bit simplistic in its portrayals of people and themes at times. The use of the n word is pervasive throughout the film and not in a good hip hop movie way so I will be cautious when I bring my 8 year old daughter to see it, but I recommend it to anyone looking for a good movie with a great hero about a dark but important time in our history.
Oh yeah and four quick shout outs. One to the beautiful portrayal of Bed Stuy in the film! I felt like I could have been walking around my neighborhood. Two to the BAM cinema I watched the film in for such a civilized experience. For those of you from Brooklyn you know what I’m talking about. Three for the older white gentleman at the film in full Brooklyn Dodger gear for the film including a Jackie Robinson jersey and Brooklyn jacket. And lastly to T.R. Knight who I thought had surely disappeared since being offed by Grey’s Anatomy but provides a great performance as Branch Rickey’s right hand man.
So overall I would say go see this film in preparation for other super hero turns like Iron Man 3 on May 3rd for your fix.
Comic Book Movie ADD 