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AVATAR
James Cameron has saved the movie biz. I know this because as much as I love going to the movies, its usually too much of a pain in the ass to do it. I usually see DVDs or screeners. I have to admit - as much as I loved BASTERDS, it was the first QT film I did not go see on the big screen (and I was very sorry after I saw that brilliant film.)
AVATAR presents a problem for The Digital Couch Potato. You simply can't watch it on TV or even in HD or even in HD 3D because NOTHING will give you the theater experience. So me and my girlfriend went and saw this thing Wednesday night at the Hollywood Cineramadome. The son of a bitch figured a way to get me to go shell out money for movies, popcorn, m&ms (try putting M&Ms in your popcorn - you won't be sorry.)
The thing is, the movie delivered. I'm not going to do some kind of in depth review of something that's already been reviewed and analyzed a million times. But, it's really fucking good. In some ways spectacular.
The 3D is really insane. It's not a cheap gimmick. It's just the visual language of the movie, and as that, you get used to it pretty quick. But the novelty wearing off works in the film's favor, because just when you're used to it, something visually amazing happens that you can't believe. The forest alone was worth the money and the effort.
The story is quite serviceable. Far from great, it works on a very basic level, has enough going for it to sustain the film. The acting is fine. I never heard of the lead actor but I liked him. Sigourney Weaver is a nice, stabilizing presence, and what the fuck is up with Stephen Lang? Not to really nitpick - but if I were, why was Lang's General so unlikable? Cameron as of late has a thing for paper villains. Billy Zane in TITANIC and now this hateful General for hire. The thing about a paper villain is - you just light them on fire. Had he given some humanity to the bad guys, this might have worked on a much more human level instead of a mostly visceral one. Let's not forget, as great as TITANIC looked, the reason people cried their eyes out was for the tragedy, not the special effects.
That said, there is tons of originality in the movie, and like I said - it really does work fine. There are some plot holes you can drive a truck through and Cameron's occasional ear goes tin with lines like "We're not in Kansas anymore." (Would people still use that expression 200 years from now?)
SPOILER ALERT: DON'T READ AHEAD IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE.
The big problem here is that he sets up a storyline which leads to an incredible battle between the Aliens and the greedy humans who want the precious metals in the ground the aliens live on. So - then why were the Avatars created in the first place if they were always going to do exactly what they wanted anyway?
That question aside - and there are some other really big potholes - Cameron really delivers in the final battle sequence and I promise it's like nothing I've ever seen on film. I left that theater in a state of wonder and awe. And four pounds heavier from the popcorn and M&Ms.
Despite anything negative I've said, you just really go see this. It won't change your life, but this is an event not to be missed and will probably change the way movies are thought of and made. Once again, James Cameron has rewritten the rule book and this four year labor of love and money demands to be seen.
Grade: A -
ADVENTURELAND (DVD)
Very good film set in the 80s. Jesse Eisenberg finds out that he won't be going on that European vacation after all since his father loses his job. So as his summer vacation before Grad school becomes a job at the local crappy amusement park Pittsburgh. Eisenberg is really good here (he's good in ZOMBIELAND as well.) Ryan Reynolds comes off as a less retarded Dane Cook and Martin Star (Freaks & Geeks) shines as Eisenberg's new buddy. Kristen Stewart is also kind of perfect as the girl who Eisenberg likes - although Eisenberg goes a long way on confidence. How he's hooking up with all these hot girls is a bit inexplicable but never less than somehow believable because the character is so interesting and sweet.
Everybody is good here, the direction and writing by Greg Motolla excellent, and this was something I put on to fall asleep to - then stayed up till 3:AM watching it. Bill Hader and Kristin Wiig, whom I normally love in almost everything they do - seem a bit out of place here as their SNL sketch sensibilities seem to go against the naturalism of the entire rest of the piece. That said, by the end of the movie you sort of buy their characters, but they definitely seem to be directing themselves. It seems like this project needed some comedy names but I think those roles might have been better served by real character actors. Nonetheless, pretty great flick that manages to capture those early 20s moments of unease and romantic yearning. The other thing I like about this is that its not completely depressing. There is actually a nice optimism that runs through this film that is quite a change from the current crop of bummers out there.
Grade: B +
Brick City (A&E)
A 5 part A & E on the criminal element in Newark, NJ. Sprawling and audacious, it often feels like THE WIRE's documentary cousin. You also get to see hard working cops and politicians really trying to make a difference. Highly recommended.
Grade: A
BORED TO DEATH (HBO)
A great new show from HBO, this sat on my DVR for months before I took a look. This offbeat series stars Jason Schwartzman as Jonathan Ames, who makes his fantasy life of reading mystery novels into something real by taking on private detective work (unlicensed) through a Craigslist ad in Brooklyn, N.Y. What a great funny actor Schwartzman continues to become, and Ted Danson is pitch perfect as his agent/enabler. I've only seen the first two, but based on the super specific humor and the outrageous set up, I'll go out on a limb here.
Grade: A
Johnny Depp's Rolling stone article "MY FAVORITE THINGS" gets my vote for the most pretentious moment of the year. Hands down.
I just saw the trailer for the new Romero "SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD." Not sure how I feel about that. On one hand, the action looks about on par with some of his better DEAD stuff, but all these bad Irish accents all over the thing...I don't' know. These new DEAD films, for horror fans, are the equivalent of the new STAR WARS trilogy for Lucas fans. Both horrible.
I've learned recently about something called FAN EDITS. Where super bored but technically ambitious and sometimes very creative fans re-edit the original cut of a film on their computer and distribute the new version out to the fans.
I'm going to try and throw a few links on here. If they don't work just cut and paste. BLOGSPOT refuses to make adding links easy.
Okay - just tried to put a link on. I don't know why it's not hot so just cut and paste till I figure this out.
For the new Romero trailer 2009 Zombie film, go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAPABAYczkE
For a trailer of the fan-edit version of LAND OF THE DEAD (that film sucked, but this fan edit actually looks interesting. I will review it if I can get my hands on it.)
Here is the trailer, which gives off a completely different tone and vibe to the original trailer for LAND OF THE DEAD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgkbhjNw0-Q
It's no secret that T4 was not beloved by the sci-fi community. However, the fan-edit version is a hit. Here is a trailer for that (notice the human angle played up and the use of the original terminator music, which was absent in the actual film.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_S2Kx44usk&feature=related
The studios don't seem to have a real problem with these edits, as long as the people getting them show proof of the original DVD purchase - but this is all a little dodgy. And for the most part, 99 percent of these fan edits are for sci-fi movies.
Here is a fan-edit trailer for THE DARK KNIGHT which includes a whole prologue from BATMAN BEGINS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U2H5I4SEIM
What's the morality of this? I'm not sure. I know that even in my favorite movies, there are things I'd love to edit. Take for instance TITANIC. Surely no movie before has come before or since where so much brilliance and so much utter crap co-existed in the same film. So what about cutting down on the early scenes of Leo as an Irish swashbuckler, adding some more dramatic music, making the villain not so boorish....I can see the pull towards reworking your favorite movies. But they MUST have a FAN EDIT indicator on it. From what little I've seen, they play by the rules, not trying to fool anybody but to improve upon the original work. This is the new age. And by God, they say there is a 3 hour fan edit of all the new STAR WARS that makes the original Lucas trilogy look like shit. The funny thing is - Lucas has no problem with it - the company's philosophy seems to be that these fan edits only further entangle the fan with the product.
I am not particularly interested in seeing fan edits because it seems like they are too hard to come by, however - I do have a fan edit of TRUE ROMANCE which supposedly goes back to Tarantino's original structure and that QT himself reportedly likes better than the Tony Scott cut. I will review that at a later date.
And if I manage to get the fan edit of LAND OF THE DEAD I will happily drag out my old review and put it side by side - but otherwise, you start getting into fan edits - I don't know...seems like a dodgy way to devalue the original work. But I haven't seen any yet, so - who knows. The jury is still out with me. I loved ROCKY BALBOA, but boy, if there was ONE CUT I could make....and I like the RENT movie....but it would sure be nice to edit back in the wrongfully cut "Goodbye Love" segment...see where this could all lead?
I would be very curious to hear people's thoughts on this.
In the meantime, here are the reviews I've posted since the last weekly blog:
2010/01/04
CHOKE with Sam Rockwell
CHOKE (HBO)
Chuck Palahniuk wrote a pretty great book. Sam Rockwell gives a pretty admirable performance. Unfortunately, nothing much else goes right in this boring, listless movie. Considering this is about a sex addict and con artist, you'd expect some cheap thrills at the very least. None found here.
Grade: D
2010/01/03
THE KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE (135 minute cut)
THE KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE (IFC)
Directed and written by John Casavetes, the brilliant 70s filmmaker whose movies always seemed improvised, (but were not) this was the 135 minute cut of the film later cut down to a director's polish a year later for re release that ran 108 minutes and is supposedly a real re-interpretation of the footage.
Having never seen this and only one Casavetes film before (HUSBANDS, which is great) I let this sit on my DVR a long time since 135 is a big commitment. Once I started watching, I was completely hooked by the realism in the filmmaking. A lot of people thought Casavetes let his actors improvise. Not true. The confusion lies in the fact that Casavetes allowed his actors to interpret their roles how they wanted to which gave the films an authentic feeling, but he wrote and directed his scripts completely.
THE KILLING reminded me a lot of early Scorsese work like MEAN STREETS and you can see his influence in directors from Abel Ferrara to Quentin Tarantino. This is a slow moving film but never less than compelling. Ben Gazarra plays Cosmo, a strip club owner who gets into a bad gambling debt to the local mob. In order to squash his debt they ask him to kill a Chinese gang lord. The way all this unfolds feels real and never rushed. It also has quiet moments of grim beauty and I find myself looking forward to seeing the director's cut on this. At 135 minutes, there are moments here that you're asking yourself what the fuck you're watching. But that's also the kick of the film. Things don't happen for so long that when they do its like a slap in the face. And the whole thing has a real cinema verite' style that fits the grungy storyline like a glove. Ben Gazarra is, as usual, brilliant.
Grade: A -
Just watched the first few minutes of the new NIP/TUCK season. This is the last season of this wildly uneven show. The first two seasons were kind of brilliant. The third season was pretty cool despite some very wonky reveals, but the thing is that no matter how weird or outright bad the show gets, its never less than interesting. What it lacks in cohesion it makes up for in balls. It's a good thing its ending; as just a glance at the first few scenes makes you forget how very good this show once was.
THE JERSEY SHORE somehow keeps getting better and better. I love it.
Re-watched DAWN OF THE DEAD (1979 version) the other night. Great movie - the US Theatrical version is the way to go. But the opening could still use a 15 minute chop. Fan-edit anyone?
Check out a new band called The XX - XX - great mellow album.
TOUGH LOVE continues to be one of the best reality shows on TV.
Is it just me or did Aquaman seems a little annoyed to be fielding questions about Mexican fish on Kimmel the other night?
Speaking of which, Jimmy had a great interview with Neil Patrick Harris last night. I had no idea that NPH had become the GAY MAN OF THE DECADE.
If you happen to go to The Staples Center, as I did Tuesday night with my friend Darren L., eat at Nate & Al's for a great 25 dollar sandwich. Houston played a good game, but never once had the lead. The Lakers are having an insane season.
Just for shits and grins, this is maybe the most racist ad ever made by the animal cruelty factory known as KFC:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FftZt-Dw_hQ&feature=player_embedded
If you know how badly KFC treats its animals, you'd never eat there again. If you don't know, you should look into it.
Re-watched INGLORIUS BASTERDS over the New Year's weekend - even better than I'd remembered it. A real classic.
DECADES CONTINUED:
The best and worst of 2005:
SON OF THE MASK: unwatchable.
BE COOL (sequel to GET SHORTY) C -
THE UPSIDE OF ANGER: C +
SIN CITY: B
HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY: B -
CRASH: A
STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH: B
BATMAN BEGINS: A
THE HONEYMOONERS REMAKE: F
LAND OF THE DEAD: (we were just talking about you!) D
MARCH OF THE PENGUINS: B
WAR OF THE WORLDS: B -
FANTASTIC FOUR: C
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY: D
WEDDING CRASHERS: B
DEVIL'S REJECTS: A +
HUSTLE & FLOW: B +
40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN: A+
HISTORY OF VIOLENCE: B
TWO FOR THE MONEY: B
SAW II: D
JARHEAD: C +
WALK THE LINE: B
RENT: B +
TRANSAMERICA: B -
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN: A
KING KONG: C
THE RINGER: B +
THE MATEDOR: B +
Lastly, anybody who reads this blog knows what a huge Howard Stern fan I am, and I was completely shocked to learn of the disturbing events that transpired with Artie over the weekend. If you're a fan of the show I'm sure you've heard and if you're not, it's pretty much all over the net at this point.
Rather than dwell on what happened, I'm wishing Artie the best and hoping that he's able to figure this all out and become healthy again. He's one of the funniest people alive, by all accounts the sweetest guy in the world. I hope he has a speedy and quick recovery.
2010/01/04
CHOKE with Sam Rockwell
CHOKE (HBO)
Chuck Palahniuk wrote a pretty great book. Sam Rockwell gives a pretty admirable performance. Unfortunately, nothing much else goes right in this boring, listless movie. Considering this is about a sex addict and con artist, you'd expect some cheap thrills at the very least. None found here.
Grade: D
Chuck Palahniuk wrote a pretty great book. Sam Rockwell gives a pretty admirable performance. Unfortunately, nothing much else goes right in this boring, listless movie. Considering this is about a sex addict and con artist, you'd expect some cheap thrills at the very least. None found here.
Grade: D
2010/01/03
THE KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE (135 minute cut)
THE KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE (IFC)
Directed and written by John Casavetes, the brilliant 70s filmmaker whose movies always seemed improvised, (but were not) this was the 135 minute cut of the film later cut down to a director's polish a year later for re release that ran 108 minutes and is supposedly a real re-interpretation of the footage.
Having never seen this and only one Casavetes film before (HUSBANDS, which is great) I let this sit on my DVR a long time since 135 is a big commitment. Once I started watching, I was completely hooked by the realism in the filmmaking. A lot of people thought Casavetes let his actors improvise. Not true. The confusion lies in the fact that Casavetes allowed his actors to interpret their roles how they wanted to which gave the films an authentic feeling, but he wrote and directed his scripts completely.
THE KILLING reminded me a lot of early Scorsese work like MEAN STREETS and you can see his influence in directors from Abel Ferrara to Quentin Tarantino. This is a slow moving film but never less than compelling. Ben Gazarra plays Cosmo, a strip club owner who gets into a bad gambling debt to the local mob. In order to squash his debt they ask him to kill a Chinese gang lord. The way all this unfolds feels real and never rushed. It also has quiet moments of grim beauty and I find myself looking forward to seeing the director's cut on this. At 135 minutes, there are moments here that you're asking yourself what the fuck you're watching. But that's also the kick of the film. Things don't happen for so long that when they do its like a slap in the face. And the whole thing has a real cinema verite' style that fits the grungy storyline like a glove. Ben Gazarra is, as usual, brilliant.
Grade: A -
THE JERSEY SHORE somehow keeps getting better and better.
Re-watched DAWN OF THE DEAD (1979 version) the other night. Great movie - the US Theatrical version is the way to go. But the opening could still use a 15 minute chop.
Check out a new band called The XX - XX - great mellow album.
TOUGH LOVE continues to be one of the best reality shows on TV.
Re-watched INGLORIUS BASTERDS over the weekend - even better than I'd remembered it. A true classic in every sense of the word.
Directed and written by John Casavetes, the brilliant 70s filmmaker whose movies always seemed improvised, (but were not) this was the 135 minute cut of the film later cut down to a director's polish a year later for re release that ran 108 minutes and is supposedly a real re-interpretation of the footage.
Having never seen this and only one Casavetes film before (HUSBANDS, which is great) I let this sit on my DVR a long time since 135 is a big commitment. Once I started watching, I was completely hooked by the realism in the filmmaking. A lot of people thought Casavetes let his actors improvise. Not true. The confusion lies in the fact that Casavetes allowed his actors to interpret their roles how they wanted to which gave the films an authentic feeling, but he wrote and directed his scripts completely.
THE KILLING reminded me a lot of early Scorsese work like MEAN STREETS and you can see his influence in directors from Abel Ferrara to Quentin Tarantino. This is a slow moving film but never less than compelling. Ben Gazarra plays Cosmo, a strip club owner who gets into a bad gambling debt to the local mob. In order to squash his debt they ask him to kill a Chinese gang lord. The way all this unfolds feels real and never rushed. It also has quiet moments of grim beauty and I find myself looking forward to seeing the director's cut on this. At 135 minutes, there are moments here that you're asking yourself what the fuck you're watching. But that's also the kick of the film. Things don't happen for so long that when they do its like a slap in the face. And the whole thing has a real cinema verite' style that fits the grungy storyline like a glove. Ben Gazarra is, as usual, brilliant.
Grade: A -
THE JERSEY SHORE somehow keeps getting better and better.
Re-watched DAWN OF THE DEAD (1979 version) the other night. Great movie - the US Theatrical version is the way to go. But the opening could still use a 15 minute chop.
Check out a new band called The XX - XX - great mellow album.
TOUGH LOVE continues to be one of the best reality shows on TV.
Re-watched INGLORIUS BASTERDS over the weekend - even better than I'd remembered it. A true classic in every sense of the word.
2009/12/31
DECADES EDITION PART III
Happy New Year's Eve!
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Also, I've begun posting small reviews every other day or so, so in order to see all the latest reviews - sign up for twitter to be alerted, or just scroll down after this post to see my latest reviews of HALLOWEEN II and THE JERSEY SHORE.
NEW REVIEWS:
UP IN THE AIR (IN THEATERS)
George Clooney is finally taking the right kind of roles after a very shaky film start. Jason Reitman is an immensely talented filmmaker. He made THANK YOU FOR SMOKING, a fine if not great satire, JUNO, an out and out winner that blended Diablo Cody's ultra hip script with great performances and casting, and now comes this new one. For the first 30 minutes I thought I was in for a real treat. Then the story started. It wasn't about the fact that George Clooney was a guy hired to go around to different companies and fire people while traveling - I kind of loved that. And I loved the opening narration where Clooney explains his job. But then the movie starts, and the job is over and he's stuck with some young actress who's all over the place and by the time this thing is at midway point, I just wanted it to be over. I would've preferred a movie that was about what Clonney did for a living and its affect on him - instead it became about Clooney's need for love. Blech. This coulda been a contender. I know it's getting accolades everywhere, but I just don't get it. Great opening, though. And well directed, it's the story that let me down.
Grade: C +
THIS IS IT (DVD)
Whatever you thought of Michael Jackson, this is a fascinating documentary about his last weeks getting ready for what was to be his final curtain call of concerts in London. I'm sure he would've performed more but it was a great commercial hook to call these the last live shows, and he certainly was prepping them to be a fitting send off. After all the drug use, allegations and rumors and horrifying documentaries, it was sort of cathartic to finally see him just do what he's best at - creating pop music, singing, dancing, working with the crew (those were actually my favorite parts of the movie) when Jackson had fits over the direction here and there - though he always ends every small tirade by saying "that is said with L-O-V-E."" (I realize - what he really might have been best at is keeping the cops at bay - but that's another blog.)
No matter what you thought of Jackson, there is no disputing what a uniquely talented artist he was, and this film not only helps you remember that but is a great glimpse into his creative soul and the performer we lost. A much better film than I was expecting somehow. The funny thing is - I hate those kind of huge spectacle shows. I realize a lot of people get off on the spectacle, but for me, it was more interesting to see him put it all together than to actually experience the show. For my money, I would've paid good money to see Jackson come out with a guitarist and just acoustically run through his biggest hits. And here, in rehearsal, you not only get quite a bit of that, but you realize just what a great singer this man really was.
Grade: B +
BAD LT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS (IN THEATERS)
I really liked, if not loved, the 2003 Harvey Keitel version. Reportedly, when Ed Pressman sold the remake rights to Warner Herzog, Abel Ferrar, the director behind the original BAD LT., as well as THE KING OF NY and many other low life classics, said "I hope he burns in hell." Well, Herzog did not burn in hell, instead with Nicholas Cage, he has crafted a new movie related only to that earlier version in very broad plot threads, that is really the sparkplug of the winter movie season.
These films that dwell on subjects like these, murder, drugs, madness...they're not exactly big money makers. So when they do slip through the cracks and actually get made - it's usually a labor of love.
Cage plays a cop who, in the midst of Katrina, nearly breaks his back trying to free a trapped prisoner from drowning. This has left him with a chronic back pain that Vicoden can't really quell - and his quest to score drugs is one of the nasty fun parts of the movie. Also terrific is Eva Mendes as his hooker girlfriend and Val Kilmer is surprisingly subdued in his role as Cage's ex partner. He actually doesn't even look like himself anymore - it's kind of weird.
The first movie was much more spiritual and about deeper issues of the spirit and religion, this is a bit more straight forward and frankly - while I admire the hell out of the original, this is a lot more fun and Cage works hard to keep us liking this utterly corrupted and very complicated guy.
And to see Nic Cage, mr. movie star as of late, crack smoking his way through his role as a crazy corrupt cop in the Big Easy with supporting performance crackling all around him - this is very hard to resist. No spoilers here because I just suggest you see it, but this was one of the more exciting signs of life this movie season.
Grade: A
THE HISTORY OF HOWARD STERN (ACT 3) (Sirius Radio)
Every Holiday season Howard releases a 14 part (or so) radio documentary on his rise to the top. This new one covers the time from the mid to about 2002 (something like that.) For me, what's so great about these are that in my own radio worship of Stern, these were the things I remembered most, when he first got out LA radio and these bits are music to my ears, bringing up a lot of great memories of hilarity. These are also exceedingly well produced and edited and really gave the subscribers a lot of bang for the buck in Howard and Co's absence. There is talk of this being Stern's last year. I don't believe it. I think he's good for another 5, but either way - this is the beginning of the end of the greatest era of radio ever. Go the store, buy the radio, have it installed. It's 15 bucks a month for the funniest radio you'll ever hear. It actually makes your day better and there will be days you won't leave your car because what's going on over the air is too compelling to leave.
Grade: A +
TOUGH LOVE II (VH1)
Just started going through these on my DVR. Love it.
SEX ADDICT REHAB w/Dr. Drew (VH1)
Another winner, though the "celebs" were barely recognizable. Is there ANY addiction left for Amber Smith to have?
DECADES CONTINUED:
Okay, tomorrow is a new year and clearly I have not seen all the new movies yet, but I will continue to review them. In the meantime, here are my final picks - based solely on what I've seen - as the 10 best movies of 2009.
These are all in the A to A+ category.
10 BEST OF 2009:
TWO FILMS TIE FOR FIRST PLACE:
INGLORIUS BASTERDS
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
Both spectacular out of the box creations.
2.) THE BAD LT. PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS
3.) PRECIOUS
4.)TYSON
5.) GOMORRAH
6.) I LOVE YOU, MAN
7.) FUNNY PEOPLE (Despite the wonkiest 3rd act ever, the first 90 minutes were so great I forgive the last act. But not to include this film doesn't work for me.)
8.) THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE
9.) DISTRICT 9
10) TWO LOVERS
BEST & WORST OF DECADES
Moving on, while I certainly can't pick the top 10 for 10 years - I have been going through the decades. Here are some more best and most memorable stinkers from the last few years. I will stop when I get to 2000.
BEST & WORST OF 2006 (in no particular order)
HOSTEL: B +
BIG MOMMAS HOUSE 2: F
WHEN A STRANGER CALLS (remake): F
THANK YOU FOR SMOKING: B
INSIDE MAN: B
BASIC INSTINCT 2: RISK ADDIDCTION : A for unintentional hilarity, F for everything else
UNITED 93: A
ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL: C
THE BREAK UP: D
THE LAKE HOUSE: C +
NACHO LIBRE: D
SUPERMAN RETURNS: D
YOU, ME & DUPREE: C -
CLERKS II: C
TALLEDEGA NIGHTS: A
MIAMI VICE (unwatchable)
CRANK: B +
THE DEPARTED: B + (sorry - great storytelling but not the classic it wants to be)
THE PRESTIGE: B
BABEL: B -
SAW III: F
BORAT: A
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: C - (A rare misstep in the Chris Guest mock dock area)
HAPPY FEET: B -
TENACIOUS D: PICK OF DESTINY: C - (sorry - not nearly as sharp as the series of shorts)
APOCOLYPTO: B (take that, sugar tits)
BLOOD DIAMOND: B +
DREAMGIRLS: A
ROCKY BALBOA: A +
WE ARE MARSHAL: C
NOTES ON A SCANDAL: B
FIND ME GUILTY: B
LAST KING OF SCOTLAND: B +
THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE: C
STRANGERS WITH CANDY: C -
WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR: B +
Will be back for more reviews in the new year.
Drive safe, drink responsibly, easy on the weed and don't OD on X.
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If you would like an email alerting you to the large weekly post, just drop me a line with your email at TheDigitalCouch@aol.com
And follow The Digital Couch on Twitter, where you can be alerted to every post:
twitter.com/TheDigitalCouch
Also, I've begun posting small reviews every other day or so, so in order to see all the latest reviews - sign up for twitter to be alerted, or just scroll down after this post to see my latest reviews of HALLOWEEN II and THE JERSEY SHORE.
NEW REVIEWS:
UP IN THE AIR (IN THEATERS)
George Clooney is finally taking the right kind of roles after a very shaky film start. Jason Reitman is an immensely talented filmmaker. He made THANK YOU FOR SMOKING, a fine if not great satire, JUNO, an out and out winner that blended Diablo Cody's ultra hip script with great performances and casting, and now comes this new one. For the first 30 minutes I thought I was in for a real treat. Then the story started. It wasn't about the fact that George Clooney was a guy hired to go around to different companies and fire people while traveling - I kind of loved that. And I loved the opening narration where Clooney explains his job. But then the movie starts, and the job is over and he's stuck with some young actress who's all over the place and by the time this thing is at midway point, I just wanted it to be over. I would've preferred a movie that was about what Clonney did for a living and its affect on him - instead it became about Clooney's need for love. Blech. This coulda been a contender. I know it's getting accolades everywhere, but I just don't get it. Great opening, though. And well directed, it's the story that let me down.
Grade: C +
THIS IS IT (DVD)
Whatever you thought of Michael Jackson, this is a fascinating documentary about his last weeks getting ready for what was to be his final curtain call of concerts in London. I'm sure he would've performed more but it was a great commercial hook to call these the last live shows, and he certainly was prepping them to be a fitting send off. After all the drug use, allegations and rumors and horrifying documentaries, it was sort of cathartic to finally see him just do what he's best at - creating pop music, singing, dancing, working with the crew (those were actually my favorite parts of the movie) when Jackson had fits over the direction here and there - though he always ends every small tirade by saying "that is said with L-O-V-E."" (I realize - what he really might have been best at is keeping the cops at bay - but that's another blog.)
No matter what you thought of Jackson, there is no disputing what a uniquely talented artist he was, and this film not only helps you remember that but is a great glimpse into his creative soul and the performer we lost. A much better film than I was expecting somehow. The funny thing is - I hate those kind of huge spectacle shows. I realize a lot of people get off on the spectacle, but for me, it was more interesting to see him put it all together than to actually experience the show. For my money, I would've paid good money to see Jackson come out with a guitarist and just acoustically run through his biggest hits. And here, in rehearsal, you not only get quite a bit of that, but you realize just what a great singer this man really was.
Grade: B +
BAD LT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS (IN THEATERS)
I really liked, if not loved, the 2003 Harvey Keitel version. Reportedly, when Ed Pressman sold the remake rights to Warner Herzog, Abel Ferrar, the director behind the original BAD LT., as well as THE KING OF NY and many other low life classics, said "I hope he burns in hell." Well, Herzog did not burn in hell, instead with Nicholas Cage, he has crafted a new movie related only to that earlier version in very broad plot threads, that is really the sparkplug of the winter movie season.
These films that dwell on subjects like these, murder, drugs, madness...they're not exactly big money makers. So when they do slip through the cracks and actually get made - it's usually a labor of love.
Cage plays a cop who, in the midst of Katrina, nearly breaks his back trying to free a trapped prisoner from drowning. This has left him with a chronic back pain that Vicoden can't really quell - and his quest to score drugs is one of the nasty fun parts of the movie. Also terrific is Eva Mendes as his hooker girlfriend and Val Kilmer is surprisingly subdued in his role as Cage's ex partner. He actually doesn't even look like himself anymore - it's kind of weird.
The first movie was much more spiritual and about deeper issues of the spirit and religion, this is a bit more straight forward and frankly - while I admire the hell out of the original, this is a lot more fun and Cage works hard to keep us liking this utterly corrupted and very complicated guy.
And to see Nic Cage, mr. movie star as of late, crack smoking his way through his role as a crazy corrupt cop in the Big Easy with supporting performance crackling all around him - this is very hard to resist. No spoilers here because I just suggest you see it, but this was one of the more exciting signs of life this movie season.
Grade: A
THE HISTORY OF HOWARD STERN (ACT 3) (Sirius Radio)
Every Holiday season Howard releases a 14 part (or so) radio documentary on his rise to the top. This new one covers the time from the mid to about 2002 (something like that.) For me, what's so great about these are that in my own radio worship of Stern, these were the things I remembered most, when he first got out LA radio and these bits are music to my ears, bringing up a lot of great memories of hilarity. These are also exceedingly well produced and edited and really gave the subscribers a lot of bang for the buck in Howard and Co's absence. There is talk of this being Stern's last year. I don't believe it. I think he's good for another 5, but either way - this is the beginning of the end of the greatest era of radio ever. Go the store, buy the radio, have it installed. It's 15 bucks a month for the funniest radio you'll ever hear. It actually makes your day better and there will be days you won't leave your car because what's going on over the air is too compelling to leave.
Grade: A +
TOUGH LOVE II (VH1)
Just started going through these on my DVR. Love it.
SEX ADDICT REHAB w/Dr. Drew (VH1)
Another winner, though the "celebs" were barely recognizable. Is there ANY addiction left for Amber Smith to have?
DECADES CONTINUED:
Okay, tomorrow is a new year and clearly I have not seen all the new movies yet, but I will continue to review them. In the meantime, here are my final picks - based solely on what I've seen - as the 10 best movies of 2009.
These are all in the A to A+ category.
10 BEST OF 2009:
TWO FILMS TIE FOR FIRST PLACE:
INGLORIUS BASTERDS
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
Both spectacular out of the box creations.
2.) THE BAD LT. PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS
3.) PRECIOUS
4.)TYSON
5.) GOMORRAH
6.) I LOVE YOU, MAN
7.) FUNNY PEOPLE (Despite the wonkiest 3rd act ever, the first 90 minutes were so great I forgive the last act. But not to include this film doesn't work for me.)
8.) THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE
9.) DISTRICT 9
10) TWO LOVERS
BEST & WORST OF DECADES
Moving on, while I certainly can't pick the top 10 for 10 years - I have been going through the decades. Here are some more best and most memorable stinkers from the last few years. I will stop when I get to 2000.
BEST & WORST OF 2006 (in no particular order)
HOSTEL: B +
BIG MOMMAS HOUSE 2: F
WHEN A STRANGER CALLS (remake): F
THANK YOU FOR SMOKING: B
INSIDE MAN: B
BASIC INSTINCT 2: RISK ADDIDCTION : A for unintentional hilarity, F for everything else
UNITED 93: A
ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL: C
THE BREAK UP: D
THE LAKE HOUSE: C +
NACHO LIBRE: D
SUPERMAN RETURNS: D
YOU, ME & DUPREE: C -
CLERKS II: C
TALLEDEGA NIGHTS: A
MIAMI VICE (unwatchable)
CRANK: B +
THE DEPARTED: B + (sorry - great storytelling but not the classic it wants to be)
THE PRESTIGE: B
BABEL: B -
SAW III: F
BORAT: A
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: C - (A rare misstep in the Chris Guest mock dock area)
HAPPY FEET: B -
TENACIOUS D: PICK OF DESTINY: C - (sorry - not nearly as sharp as the series of shorts)
APOCOLYPTO: B (take that, sugar tits)
BLOOD DIAMOND: B +
DREAMGIRLS: A
ROCKY BALBOA: A +
WE ARE MARSHAL: C
NOTES ON A SCANDAL: B
FIND ME GUILTY: B
LAST KING OF SCOTLAND: B +
THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE: C
STRANGERS WITH CANDY: C -
WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR: B +
Will be back for more reviews in the new year.
Drive safe, drink responsibly, easy on the weed and don't OD on X.
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2009/12/30
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