Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

It’s the return of everyone’s favorite news team…but this time…they’re taking over America! And leading our rowdy band of misfits is the man who puts class in classless…Ron Burgundy (Will Farrell). This film picks up a little after the original left off. Ron, Brian Fantana, Champ Kind & Brick Tamland are recruited to be a part of a start up 24 hour news organization based out of New York. They are one of many news teams that are hired to be on air and the San Diego news crew is given the coveted 2am slot.

What can I say about this movie and not give anything away? There’s action, romance, cross country adventure…even a baby shark! There’s so much packed into the 2 hours that is “Anchorman 2” that it’s hard to capsulate all of the various plot points. That being said, I CAN tell you that there is much hilarity and so much ridiculousness that it would be a disservice to mention even a single one of them. Okay….maybe one.

Brick is dead.

But THAT is the only plot line that I am gonna give you.

Oh…and Jack Lime is played by James Marsden. But THAT you can find on IMDB.

Anyway…this film is, by all accounts, a return to everything you liked about the first film. There is a storyline that can be followed here and it involves….

NO…I WON’T tell you!

The thing about A2 is that it’s BETTER than A1 and much smoother than ketchup. Oh…and the 2nd act letdown that happens in A1 doesn’t really happen in this one. It’s 2 hours of fun and, despite a couple of slow spots, it’s worthy of your time and laughs.

Overall Rating: B+

2013 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,700 times in 2013. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 5 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

American Hustle

It’s not very often that I go into a movie thinking I’m probably not going to like it but then I’m pleasantly blown away. In the case of “American Hustle,” I was definitely blown away. I went into it with a lot of skepticism but all of the players involved are top notch, from the director down to a surprise uncredited performance by everyone’s favorite badass, Robert DeNiro. And what looked to me like a period piece in the movie trailers, is actually a vehicle for some of the absolute best performances of this year!

I don’t want to give away the plot because it IS a lengthy storyline with a lot of twists and turns. But let’s just say that Irving (Christian Bale) & Sydney (Amy Adams) are con artists who get in WAY over their heads when they are busted by a young & feisty FBI agent (Bradley Cooper) who is trying to make a name for himself. While trying to clear their names, both Irving & Sydney agree to help the FBI setup politicians & power players who may, or may not, be involved in a scheme to rebuild Atlantic City with dirty money. In itself, this plot really doesn’t seem like much. However with the powerhouse performances given by Bale, Adams, Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence (as Irving’s wife, Rosalyn), Jeremy Renner & Louis C.K., this movie is alive with fresh blood and gives director David O. Russell some of the best performances of any of his films!

Here’s what I’m seeing…several Oscar nominations (probably all 4 headliners get listed) and an Oscar nomination for best film, best directing, best screenplay and best production design or makeup. As you can imagine, that’s not much of a stretch considering all of the accolades that are being thrown at “Hustle” right now however, after watching the movie and the excellent work done by so many, I’m pretty sure they won’t be left out of the Oscar race this season. I personally think Bale is AWESOME in this role as the scam artist with a heart, Irving Rosenfeld, however I doubt he’ll win. There have been so many amazing male performances in a lead role this year that this one, while excellent, probably won’t get him the kind of push to win him a statue. Amy Adams, on the other hand, should be considered the best in her category. She is outstanding as Rosenfeld’s soul mate and right-hand woman. At any given time, she gives life to any scene that she’s in. She’s sexy as hell in one scene, a complete mess in another, and she plays this character to the hilt! I wouldn’t have ever thought that she could pull this character off but she does it in spades!

Needless to say, this will be considered one of the best films of 2013. It’s every bit a classic Russell movie with lots of emotion, lots of comedy, it’s cleverly edited and the script is perfect. Go see “American Hustle.” It’s worth seeing in the theater and will provoke lots of conversation afterword!

Overall Rating: A

Drinking Buddies

Oh how I love little indies with actors acting like real people. Last year brought me “10 Years” and “Liberal Arts.” This year, I’ve seen a couple of good ones in “The Way Way Back” and now this movie which is about as down to earth as you can possibly get. Starring Jake Johnson, Olivia Wilde, Anna Kendrick and Ron Livingston in roles that they probably could have shown up at and done in their sleep, this little film isn’t as much about watching a movie for an hour and a half as it is a study into human nature and how we handle being in monogamous relationships while having friends of the opposite sex. Much like the topic approached in “When Harry Met Sally” so many years ago, “Drinking Buddies” updates the idea and brings it to a hipper and younger generation.

No more is “Harry” an uptight college graduate trying to talk his way into a young coed’s pants. In this film, the lead character, Luke (played by Johnson), is just a regular joe. He works at a brewery, likes his beer and is the best friend that anybody could have. And in this case, his best friend is a girl…and her name is Kate (Wilde). Kate is the girl that ALL guys wish they had as a friend. She is not only hot…but she’s a slob who loves to drink, loves to shoot pool and can’t be involved in a serious relationship. She’s also not above a one-night stand and she is devoted to her job. She is obviously a perfect friend for Luke, who ALSO enjoys drinking, shooting pool, and is as charismatic a character as any girl could want. Except he’s taken. And he’s faithful to his girlfriend, Jill (Kendrick). The chemistry between the 2 leads in this film is palpable. They obviously like each other and from the outside looking in, they are perfect for one another. However as the movie goes on, you start to wonder…will they ever get together? Are they really made for each other or is the unique chemistry between them simply that of a truly wonderful friendship?

Needless to say there is a lot of emotional resonance in this film. Both characters are excellent in their roles as they genuinely seem to enjoy being with one another. Wilde is excellent as Kate, a woman who is not emotionally all there and Johnson is perfect as Luke, a guy you just KNOW you could have a beer with and never have lag in the conversation. What lacks in this particular script is fire. Despite there being this underlying tension about their feelings for one another, what never seems to spark is a feeling that, if they DID pursue a monogamous relationship, that it would be any better than what they have now. It’s not until the final scenes, when Luke helps Kate move into a new apartment, that we see that, despite the fact that they SEEM to be perfect for each other, they really are VERY different in the way their lives flow.

Although I enjoyed “Drinking Buddies,” I can’t say it’s for everybody. It moves a little slow and has a very “made for television” appeal. But the chemistry between the leads and the strength of the other actors involved (Kendrick & Livingston) makes this a great date night RedBox rental. I recommend it!

Overall Rating: B-

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

When last we saw Katniss Everdeen, she had just won the 74th edition of the Hunger Games, rescuing not only herself, but also her fake lover Peeta, much to the dismay of the evil President Snow. This, in turn, has sparked a rebellion in the many districts of Panem and brought the ire of the Capitol down on Katniss. No longer can she romp freely in her district, hunting with her love interest, Gale, while attending to her family and neighbors. Now she must live under the shadow of Snow and the Capitol while touring to other districts to promote the games that she despises. And to add to her woes…the President has decided to make the 75th Hunger Games one to remember…by bringing back ALL the former winners of previous games and forcing them into the arena to fight & kill one another! Will Katniss make it out alive? Will she rebel against the President and force his hand? Or will she be forced to fight once again in order to live another day?

As most of those who have already read the Hunger Games series, you know what’s coming so it’s really about how it’s all translated onto the big screen. As our heroine, Katniss, Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence is the embodiment of the lead character. She has the restraint and the emotional resonance to make this character as deep as she seems on the written page. And her supporting cast is top notch as well, most of them returning from the first go-around. Josh Hutcherson is again excellent as Peeta and is given a little more spunk than last time. Woody Harrelson & Lenny Kravitz also return as the District 12 mentor and dressmaker. A few roles are a little more defined this time as Elizabeth Banks is given a little more to do as Effie, the team leader and Liam Hemsworth returns as the love interest, Gale. Also returning is Stanley Tucci (in possibly the only role in the film that got on my nerves) as the ringleader, Caesar Flickerman. And the cast is beefed up a little bit by newcomers Jena Malone, as a Games warrior who wields an axe and the new gamesmaker, Plutarch Heavensbee, who is played by Philip Seymour-Hoffman, possibly one of the best actors out there right now.

So what’s different about this round of The Hunger Games? Well…honestly? Not much. It’s really the same principal idea as the first one however the story IS leading somewhere so it has that going for it. And the effects, while nothing earthshattering, obviously cost more than the first movie. Other than that though, what you have here really is a lot of the same, with Katniss being forced back into the games while trying to protect Peeta. Little does she know, however, that she is soon to find out that her Nightingale imagery as well as her defiance towards the Capitol is paving the way towards a revolution…and THAT is where this series is heading. So don’t be dismayed, while “Catching Fire” isn’t groundbreaking in any way, it IS a nice transition into the final 2 films (yes…they ARE making the final book into 2 movies so as to get MORE of your money!) and all of the pieces are in place. Everyone involved with this movie, from Jennifer Lawrence to director Francis Lawrence (no relation) , does a top-notch job and all is well within the Hunger Games camp. Go in with the knowledge that you’re not gonna be blown away and this film is actually pretty darn entertaining…

Overall Rating: B

Red Rental Reviews: November 2013

Well…it’s been a while since I last visited a local movie theater. Time tends to get the best of me and with travel, work and family, sometimes it just doesn’t happen. Doesn’t mean I don’t watch movies though! And lately? Red Box has been my bestest friend! I’ve ripped off a slew of movies that I didn’t get to see in the theater and there have been a couple of gems in the rough. Here are some mini reviews of movies I think you should or shouldn’t bother with…

THE HEAT

Even though Sandra Bullock gets top billing, Melissa McCarthy is the reason to watch. Her gruff Boston cop attitude is THE reason for this rental and it makes for some pretty damn funny moments despite the fact that this typical FBI agent out of water comedy goes a little long by the time it’s all said and done.

Overall Rating: Rent it!

THE PURGE

Once a year, Americans are allowed to go on a killing rampage for 24 hours. Ethan Hawke & Lena Headey are parents who are trying to avoid the trouble but yet somehow it ends up getting in their front door. This movie isn’t scary and, despite having a unique concept, never really has anything smart to say about our violent culture. It’s disguised as a thriller but really it’s just a bore.

Overall Rating: Don’t Bother

WHITE HOUSE DOWN

So I saw “Olympus Has Fallen” in the early spring and didn’t care much for it. So when the trailers for this flick hit I decided it could wait. And I’m glad I did. It’s ALSO a glorified “Die Hard” in the White House. Anyway…it IS more entertaining that the previously mentioned movie but mostly because of the cast. Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx and Maggie Gyllenhaal star and help move a weak script forward despite it’s obvious flaws.

Overall Rating: Rent It. It’s only $1.25.

AFTER EARTH

Not even lying…I got about 45 minutes into this movie and it was so bad that I turned it off. I don’t know what Will Smith was thinking but this is 100% awful. Absolutely no reason to rent this mess.

Overall Rating: Pttttttttthhhhhh

FROZEN GROUND

John Cusack hunts and kills prostitutes. Nicholas Cage is the detective on the case. It all takes place in Alaska. And Vanessa Hudgens is the only person who can identify Cusack to bring him to justice. That’s it. And it’s just as bland as it sounds.

Overall Rating: Don’t Bother

THE GREAT GATSBY

Ya know…I REALLY wanted to dig this movie. Great book, great actors, awesome looking set pieces! But it tails off towards the end and really got lost. The first half is pretty interesting though and who’s to say…maybe I just got sleepy? I dunno. Leonardo DiCarpio plays the legendary character, Carey Mulligan (looking stunning as usual) plays the titular love interest. They DO make a beautiful couple onscreen…I will say that!

Overall Rating: Rent It. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt. But I bet it LOOKED better on the big screen.

THE BLING RING

All the critics LOVED it! I, however, did not. Following a bunch of spoiled brats breaking into movie star homes is not my idea of a fun movie. And this one wasn’t. Maybe it appeals more to women? Dunno. Depends on how much you really need to see the inside of Paris Hilton’s closet, I suppose.

Overall Rating: Don’t Bother

THE PLACE BEHIND THE PINES

A fascinating character story that didn’t get much publicity. But it follows 3 generations of men as they deal with their own individual father issues. It’s pretty heavy-handed for a date night but an interesting movie and certainly worth a look! Starring Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper & Eva Mendez, this is a must see for such a good price!

Overall Rating: MUST SEE!

THE ICEMAN

Fresh off his stint as the Superman baddie, Michael Shannon takes the tough guy role a step farther by making him a father of 2 daughters and a loving husband. This time he’s a hit man for a local gangster played by Ray Liotta. A lot of big names in this one including Chris Evans (Captain America), Winona Ryder, James Franco and, of all people, David Schwimmer in a breakout role for him! I can’t say this is a GREAT movie because it does have MANY flaws scriptwise, but I’ll give it a good grade simply because Shannon is great in the role…and he makes pretty much EVERYTHING he does better.

Overall Rating: Rent It!

PAIN & GAIN

Wow. This movie is AWFUL. Not even a good turn by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson can make this movie likeable. Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Mackie and Johnson kidnap Tony Shalhoub in an attempt to extort all of his money. Obviously everything goes to hell and our stars are left running for their lives. This movie left me wanting to run for the exit.

Overall Rating: Don’t Bother

Gravity

If there is one word to sum up “Gravity,” the latest movie from Alfonso Cuaron, it’s this…INTENSE. Other than “The Impossible,” I can’t think of any other film in recent memory that had me sweating from the moment the movie started to the minute it ended. Even “The Impossible,” which is a brilliant film, let up a little bit. This movie does not. And it is AWESOME!

Sandra Bullock is Ryan Stone, a medical engineer assigned to work on a space shuttle with senior astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney). As they are working through some issues with the shuttle, a barrage of debris tears up their shuttle and causes them to lose communication with Earth, leaving them stranded in the silence of space and floating aimlessly.

And that is the basic premise. But it’s NOT a basic film! This movie is, by far, one of the most amazing movies I have ever seen. Remember what you thought the first time you saw “Avatar?” Yeah…multiply it by 10. “Star Wars?” Not even on the same scale. “Aliens?” Well…not exactly the same idea. This movie isn’t about aliens or spaceships or robots. This movie is about survival. In space. With very little air remaining in the tank. And it succeeds on EVERY level.

Sandra Bullock may have won an Oscar for “The Blind Side” but THIS movie is her crowning achievement. She is perfect for this role and her every movement and every decision is amplified by the predicament she is in. Clooney is his typical self, always bringing a little sarcasm and wit to a role that could have been thankless.

The real star here though is Mother Earth. Cuaron has done an amazing job taking NASA images and bringing them to life. Never has our planet looked so beautiful and every time there is a sunrise or sunset, you see every color. A lot has been said about the animation and tracking of the opening scene. It’s a 10 minute long single shot that sets up the disaster that takes place and it IS worth the price of admission. But there are a few more instances in this film where Cuaron shines and I won’t give it away but…let’s just say it’s all brilliant!

As you can imagine, I HIGHLY recommend seeing “Gravity.” It is every worth seeing in IMAX 3D and should be seen as soon as possible. As for all the Oscar talk? Well yeah…it is all very deserved.

Overall Rating: A+

Don Jon

What could have turned into a smut filled sex romp comedy actually has something to say in this fine little film by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Being in the entertainment business for many years and having been in so many blockbuster films of late (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Looper), JGL hits his stride in a coming of age dramedy that never gets too heavy handed yet has plenty to say about the salacious nature of porn and its affects on human relationships.

Jon is a player. He has his way with women and he can turn on the charm at the drop of a hat. But for some reason, he prefers porn to the company of real women. In an explanation that is as honest as any on film, Don addresses his reasons for enjoying porn and asserts that he can change whenever he wants too but…he doesn’t WANT to. So he continues his weekly grind of working out, hanging with his boys, visiting his family (played by Tony Danza, Glenne Headly and a scene stealing Brie Larson) and going to church where he confesses his “sins” every Sunday. Oh…and bedding any woman who is ready and willing.

All is going well until he meets a “dime,” or the perfect woman. Scarlett Johansson is Barbara, a scene-stealing, gum-chewing ball of sexuality that makes Don purr. She attempts to rope him in, molding him into the man she wants him to be (which is a lot like the perfect men she sees in the movies) BEFORE she sleeps with him. This, in turn, slows the movie a bit as the trap is set. But she catches him watching porn and this sets the wheels in motion for Don to change his life. He is looking for something more than what he has found so far and it’s not until he meets an older student in his evening class (played by Julianne Moore) that he learns about how meaningful sex and love can be. She has recently lost her husband and son and it’s in her performance that “Don Jon” becomes something more than just another drama about the failure of men to grow and understand the opposite sex and more about the importance of feeling comfortable in a relationship with someone else.

Everyone involved with this movie is fantastic and I enjoyed a lot of it. It does slow a little bit in the middle, sagging just enough to lull you into wondering where it’s going and then when the final act takes place, it’s all that more powerful. Is “Don Jon” a great movie? No. But it DOES have a lot to say and it says it effectively without becoming preachy. I recommend it for a matinee viewing and it IS rated R for a reason. There are a lot of scenes (although not X-rated graphic) of nudity and sex and some foul language. It’s not for the young and if you are offended by such, I would avoid it. But underneath the hardcore exterior, this film is a love story about a man trying to find someone who completes him. And in the end…that’s all we all really want…isn’t it?

Overall Rating: B+

The World’s End

I’ve read a lot of other opinions about this movie and let me just say this…there are a LOT of people who are critical of the 3 films that star Simon Pegg & Nick Frost. In my opinion, “Shaun Of The Dead” is a classic. It’s a comedic spin on the zombie genre that still hasn’t been topped since it hit theaters in 2004. “Hot Fuzz” wasn’t as good and had nothing to do with zombies or science fiction. It was a play on cop buddy films and had some decent moments but overall…it was average. And now comes “The World’s End” and I’m happy to report that director Edgar Wright, Pegg & Frost have made a hysterically funny finale to their triple bill!

Gary King (Pegg) is hitting a mid-life crisis. He finds himself down on his luck, in therapy and wanting to return to his hometown to complete a pub crawl that he and his buddies failed to complete when they were teenagers. Some 30 years later, he gets the gang to return to finish the task only to find that the townspeople of Newton Haven are…a little odd. Is it an alien takeover? Is the apocalypse upon us? Will the gang manage to finish their pub crawl before our world is totally annihilated? Those are the questions that need to be answered and thankfully…they all are by the end of the movie.

There is a lot of talk about this being the finale chapter in the “Cornetto Ice Cream Trilogy.” With “Shaun Of The Dead” being the first, “Hot Fuzz” being the second and now “The World’s End” being the last edition. And it IS true that Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and director Edgar Wright are all behind these movies. But to tie them together is a disservice to their accomplishment. All 3 of these films stand out by themselves and I don’t think any of them really go together whatsoever. Either way, it is what it is and so…CHAPTER 3: “The World’s End” hits all the right notes and even manages to be even better than “Shaun of the Dead” in some cases. I found this movie to be as engaging and as easy to sit through as “Dead” and all of the characters in this one are just as lovable. With the same director, a lot of the editing and cinematography is the same but maybe it’s the fact that I can identify with the characters that set this one apart for me. With Gary having a “mid-life crisis” of sorts and with his need to get the gang back together to finish the crawl, I can relate to his mid-life angst and there are many sequences in this film that I can relate to personally.

Whatever the case may be, I was very entertained by “The World’s End.” Edgar Wright has put together a trilogy of films to be proud of and I feel like whenever I watch them, I am watching friends on celluloid.

Overall Rating: A