Skyline -- Review

There is something about films that just suck the life right out of you.  No I do not mean that because I went to an 11pm screening, I mean it literally sucked the life out of me.  The monster child of Colin and Greg Strause takes all that was great about Independence Day, Cloverfield, and District 9 and gives you a crack baby called Skyline.  I'm sure they will make their money many times over since this film was shot on the "measly" budget of $1m, but that does not mean that it should.

I mean, remember those films you and your friends made back in high school, or even those college projects your significant other made you watch before they submitted it for a grade because they wanted "an honest opinion" on it?  Well now imagine one of "those" projects with a $1m budget... Doesn't make it much better, does it?  Just because you have that kinda dough to play with does not give you the right to make us movie goers suffer through a 92 minute film just because you got bored while in between projects.  Keep to what your good at and leave the story telling to the "professionals". 

Skyline not only has a half-ass story being told by someone who can't tell which end is up, but there is ultimately NO POINT!  It's like a kid who loves Legos was just let loose in Lego World and builds some of the most intricate pieces of abstract sculptures that are amazing to look at, but when placed in a row (which he calls a "series") does nothing but jumble the pictures into an "artful mess".  That is Skyline.  The visual effects are out of this world, but the "art school" cinematography and dramatized slow-motion sequences (along with laughable dialog) take away from what really could have been something.  There were glimpses of moments where the story could have taken a turn, but fell right down the sewer. 

From brain eating aliens, to action that didn't really make sense, to the cheapest actors imaginable as your main characters (most likely friends of Colin and Greg who thought the idea might have been cool for all of 3 seconds), all the way to an ending that only Disney could have dreamed up.  It was one disappointment after another, until the suspense built up so much I jumped at NOTHING which not only sent the poor guy suffering next to men into a fit of giggles but I had to apologize for how lame I felt for that slip of thinking that they finally may have done something right. 

Unfortunately Skyline is a less than desirable flick for this weekend.  I would suggest saving it for when you're home with your gamin' buddies, just finished some serious fragging, and looking for something to watch while killing your "sudden munchie craving".  Maybe then something will be interpreted out of the film.

I give Skyline a 2 out of 5 for effort.  But guys... About that sequel you teased to at the end...How about let's NOT and say we did.  Just a thought.

Amazing Video by David Crowder Band

Yahoo posted this as a top story and I have to say that the video is quite amazing.  I remember playing on the lite-brite, but the amount of work that had to go into creating what you are about it see is unbelievable.  Definitely worth checking out!  This is one music video that shows true creativity.

Morning Glory -- REVIEW

Morning Glory is a love story from the production world dedicated to the city of New York.  It shows all of the things that those of us who eat, breath, and sleep production deal with every time we are on set. The things that make us "production" or the things that tear us down. Set in one of the production capitals, Morning Glory tells story with a girls dream and desire to make it in the morning news world.  New York eventually becomes the main character of Morning Glory and the things that us production workers notice on a daily basis when we are lucky enough to work those odd hours and experience the magic of the final scene of the film for ourselves. 

I became so wrapped up in the cinematography and shot choices that I cared less for what was happening in the story.  The film is truly a love story for the city of New York, made and told by those that know it best.  Those that have walked the streets in the wee hours calling out "we're losing light" as the sun comes up. Those of us who find the magic of what the Brooklyn Bridge really shows us if we can walk along with a camera to catch all of its glory.  Those of us who see the hustle and bustle of the New York workers rushing past a gorgeous building in slow motion. Yes I am getting carried away, but the film speaks for itself.  It is a series of beautiful images placed in-between cheesy dialog and 30 minutes of insults.  But it is not until a kindred spirit takes our cell phones away, closes it in the fridge and forces us to finally take a breath and see the city for what it is do we really understand. 

Morning Glory pulls together a great cast but the city outshines them by leaps and bounds.  I wish I could say that the film is what kept me watching, but it was the heart and soul of the film that kept me glued to my seat.  If you are or have ever worked in production I highly recommend going to see Morning Glory.  If you know or have/are dated/dating someone from the "biz" I say you should go (and take that person with you) because it will make you understand why we do what we do - even though it drives us mad, (and sometimes you as well) since we never put our blackberry away.

I give Morning Glory a 4 out of 5, and hope to one day find a kindred spirit who will stash my phone the fridge but still let me be the mad production member that I am.

Due Date -- REVIEW

Robert Downey Jr how you break my heart. Not even my love for you can save me from the pains in which you inflicted upon me during Due Date.  Not even my love for the obseenly odd Zach Galifianakis spared me a pain that could only rival that of child birth.  OK, that is probably a bit of a stretch, but I think you get what I am trying to say.

In true Todd Phillips (director) style, this film fits right in with Old School and The Hangover.  Although not as good as The Hangover, Due Date has a handful of scenes that are so over the top you aren't sure if you want to run from the theater or laugh. Zach Galifianakis stays true to himself and leaves you just as uncomfortable as ever watching his outragous character torment the poor expecting father (Downey Jr).  Even though I stuck it out throug the entire film, at times seriously wishing I hadn't, I will say that the only thing I wish it had included was a Mr. Chow.  THAT would have keep me wanting more.

Due Date is a poor attempt of keeping The Hangover fans hungry for more as we wait for the follow-up film to be released.  Yes it will force you to laugh, but you will not feel good about yourself for laughing when you walk out.  If given a choice between Due Date and Megamind (which also opens this Friday), sadly I would go with the animated family film, and save the vulger obsenity that is Due Date until it is released on DVD.  I'm sorry Robert, but do us all a favor and keep to your wonderful role as Tony Stark and Sherlock Holmes, I would much rather watch you kick ass than get your ass handed to you on a platter. 

I give Due Date a 2 out of 5.

The Social Network -- Review

The nerds have invaded our world, and things are looking good!  With Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter on television, it was only a matter of time before the nerds made a come back on the big screen, and they are making their come back in a BIG WAY!  The Social Network is the story of how Facebook came to be, and let me tell you it is a nerd's wet dream. 

A few years ago, had you asked any teen/college girl what type of guy she was looking for she'd most likely say the jock or the "bad boy", but if you asked today she would probably say that she loves nerds.  From 'The Big Bang Theory' to The Social Network, there is a group of new desirables making the "What's Hot" list these days.  It is the Sheldon Coopers and the Mark Zuckerbergs of the world that are now getting all of the attention, and this Friday you will see what I mean.

The Social Network hits theaters this weekend, and it is a classic in the making.  Jesse Eisenberg plays the insanely intelligent, all be it slightly socially challenged, creator of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg.  In this unbelievable role Jesse shines like the north star and shows that he is a force to be reckoned with in the acting community.  Yes, there are those of you out there that will confuse him with that kid from Scott Pilgrim and 'Arrested Development', but once you see this film you will surely know the difference between Jesse Eisenberg and Michael Cera.  You will know with absolute certainty that Michael Cera is just that kid that keeps making the same movies over and over again, only difference being the titles, while Jesse Eisenberg has gone from Zombieland to a role that rivals the genius of the amazing James Parsons (2010 Emmy winner for his role as Sheldon Cooper in 'The Big Bang Theory') as he gives the nerds we have grown to love on the home screen, a run for their money.  His portrayal shines a light on the man behind what we spend 18 hours a day on the internet, updating our statuses and poking our friends. 

From the opening scene (which I found to be a mix of genuine awkwardness and comedic genius) throws you into the deep end of the pool with a very special type of person, that most people either love or hate.  But as you watch this character, he grows on you until you realize that you cannot hate anyone like Mark because they simply cannot help themselves.  That sense of linear thinking draws a deep line in the sand and challenges anyone daring to get close enough to cross over to his side.  You will love to hate the man for his pure honesty and lack of bull-shit (if only everyone was that honest... although maybe not as that could turn out quite scary).  It is Jesse's expressions (or lack there of) and his seriousness throughout the entire film that makes you realize just how talented this young actor is.  I believe that there are very few actors today with the discipline to pull off such a complicated role with such perfection, yet Jesse is able to do so and make it believable is jaw dropping.  It is these unusual roles that challenge and set apart the "men from the boys" and I have to give kudos to the amazing actors that take on these roles and bring them to life like they do because it's not an easy task, especially when based on real people, and especially living people.

I'm not sure what the real Mark Zuckerberg is thinking when it comes to watching his college years played out on the silver screen, or if he even thought his life would be one that people would pay to see. The one thing I will tell you is -- The Social Network is sure to give you mixed feelings regarding some of the events that took place between friends and fellow computer geniuses, but I guarantee you, that after seeing this film you will have a new found love and respect for the men behind the life changing website.  You will walk out of the theater feeling intellectually stimulated just having had the ability to keep up with the quick jabs and techy dialogue between the computer nerds, while all the time being thoroughly entertained by the amazing talents of Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield (who portrays Eduardo Saverin), and Justin Timberlake (who portrays Sean Parker - "the other Napster guy").  It is the combination of these three and their dynamic relationship and struggles to maintain their friendships while creating one of the world's most influential websites yet to be developed. 

So regardless of what your relationship status is, update your status and post that you will be going to the theater this weekend to check out The Social Network.  I guarantee that you will be adding it to your favorite films list the minute you get home. 

I give The Social Network a 5 out of 5.    I love Nerds!

 

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps -- Review

Wall Street may be the place where money never sleeps, but the film may put you to sleep.  They say it's a financial thriller, but a thrill it was not.  Maybe I just don't understand anything about the stock market.  Maybe it's just the subject matter that didn't really peak an interest for me, but even after a quick refresher of the 1987 film (which I practically fell asleep watching) I felt that the 2010 story left me with a lack luster feeling just like the original.  Anyone who thinks a financial based thriller seriously needs to be 2 hours in length must get something that I just don't. Please be warned, this review will contain SPOILERS!  If you do not want any thing to be spoiled (if that is even possible since the story is pretty much the same as the first film) than I would recommend not reading further. 


Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps takes place 13 years after our first introduction to Gordon Gekko.  Although Michael Douglas does a great job playing a total ass-hole, there was really no need for this follow up story.  I was frustrated going in knowing that he suddenly had a daughter when the only child we knew of from the first film was a son.  Granted the son was most likely only included in the original film because it was writer and director Oliver Stone's own kid, however was it really needed to get rid of the poor kid just to have a sudden addition to the family?  Not that it couldn't have happened, but I just want to know why the story couldn't have involved a Gekko son.  Only excuse I can think of is that Stone and the studio most likely didn't feel that the story would have worked for some reason or other if it had been a female approaching Gekko or maybe even his own son being a ruthless broker.  I understand that, but I would have loved to have seen what they could have done with a gender reversal. 

I feel that Money Never Sleeps is one of those hit or miss films.  If you loved the first one, you will most likely enjoy this film.  I chose to sit through the 2 hour running time of Wall Street, hoping that it would benefit me in the long run, but as I sat there I only wished I had not made that decision.  Then to sit through another 2 hours and 13 minutes of the same thing was one of the most painful things I have done in quite some time.  I contemplated walking out, but thought that if I did I might just miss the one good thing in the film.  So I continued to sit there, hoping for something to happen.  There is no special effects to help pass the time.  There is no real suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat.  The only thing the film had going for itself was the few cameo appearances of two actors from the original film.  With a quick one-two between Gekko and Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), and a quick hello from Sylvia Miles as the realitor, all that was left was the heavy hitters that carried the film. 

Josh Brolin (Goonies and Jonah Hex) did a decent job portraying the "almost believable" villian that everyone was out to get.  Shia LaBeouf (Transformers) was surprisingly believable in his portrayal of Jake Moore.  There was a little of his past characters that almost carried over from time to time, but I was delightfully surprised by his acting.  It definitely made up for his mistake in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (sorry Spielburg, but that was a huge fail on everyone's part).  Carrey Mulligan (An Education) was fine as Winnie Gekko (no matter how mysterious her entry into the story is).  Even the brief appearances of Susan Sarandon (who plays Jake's mom), Frank Langella (who plays Jake's mentor Louis Zebal), and even Eli Wallach ( who plays Jules Steinhardt) gave it a little push to keep me in my seat, but even with such great talents in the film I still thought the story lacked in a lot of areas.  Maybe if Darly Hannah had a cameo in the film I would feel otherwise as that just might have been enough to void out how painful the rest of the film had been.

Unfortunately Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps is a film I wish I had passed on.  The original was more than enough for me.  I wish I had gotten more out of the film, but I can only say that the film is a 2.5 out of 5.  I wish you best if you take on this challenge.  Just don't shoot the messenger if you lose it all by taking the gamble in this market. 

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps trailer

 Wall Street (1987) trailer

Easy A -- Review

Back in the day I used to love watching teen comedy films.  I loved the cheesey 90s teen comedies with Freddy Prince, Julia Styles and Rachel Lee Cook with their random mid-story group dance routines that had everyone and their mothers dancing.  But my go-to films are still the classic John Hughes brat pack films.  They make you laugh, they make you cry and feel all warm and fuzzy inside.    Then the 21st century came and we lost the soul of the teen comedy as just about everything had become a "modern adaptation" of one of Mr Shakespeare's plays (but don't get me wrong I am a total sucker for them all). 

Easy A brings back all the things that were great about the classic teen comedy films of the 80s, with a mix of the Y2K teen comedy concept.  I feel slightly hypocritical by saying this since some of my favorite teen films include She's the Man (adaptation of 12th Night), Sydney White (adaptation of Snow White), and 10 Things I Hate About You (adaptation of Taming of the Shrew) however with the exclusion of 10 Things I do not feel that the majority of the Y2K teen comedies can touch Easy A with a ten foot pole.  (My apologies Amanda Bynes, I still love you but I think Emma Stone has stolen your spot light on this one). 

The funny thing is last week I attended another "teen comdey" screening that I felt cheated and lied to, and even commented that I wish the John Hughes-esk films would come back, and here it is.  My prayers have been answered.  Writer Bert V. Royal has created a tale that highlights everything that was once great in teen comedies and brought it back with flare, and with the help of director Will Gluck the two have given today's teens what those of us from yester-year look back on and say "wow those were great times."  Yes, it's not quite the same as Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, or Say Anything (not John Hughes but just as amazing) but it has the heart and soul of what those films represent and the truth is I love that Olive (Emma Stone - Zombieland) makes a reference to all of the great 80s films that I'm talking about within the film. 

Easy A is a smart, fun, quick witted story of a girl who takes her suffering from the typical high school rumor mill, and turns the gossip in her favor, for better or worse anyways.  With her life quickly starting to resemble a book she is studying in school (The Scarlet Letter), she takes the gossip and turns in on its head and labels herself with the scarlet A.  But it's not until everything goes completely wrong that she realizes the mistake of her ways.  With a star studded cast within the school walls like Cam Gigandet (Twilight), Penn Badgley (Gossip Girl and The Stepfather),  Dan Byrd (Cougar Town and A Cinderella Story), Amanda Bynes who plays the good catholic girl who tries to save everyone's soul, and Thomas Haden Church (All About Steve) who plays Olive's slightly untraditional yet of course favorite teacher Mr. Griffith it is no wonder things are taken to the extreme like they are.    However it is not just Olive's school life that is so entertaining.  Her home life is just as amazing and it's no wonder since her parents are played by the amazing Stanley Tucci (Devil Wears Prada and Lovely Bones) and Patrica Clarkson (Pheobe in Wonderland and Shutter Island) and it proves why Olive is a little brighter than the rest.  But keep your eyes open for the cameo appearance of one of my favorite actors who will make you laugh just because he's there (sorry I'm not telling who he is, you will just have to go and see for yourself).

Easy A is such a fun film that it will make you want to re-watch all of the classic teen comedies as soon as you get home.  So if your looking to get out of rain this weekend, and are looking for a fun film that will take you back to the "good 'ol days" check out Easy A. 

I give Easy A a 4.5 out of 5.