Brad's Movie Challenge

Starting 01/01/06, Brad is going to watch one movie, everyday, for 365 days. This site will serve to document all rules & exclusions of the "Challenge" as well as keeping track of Brad's progress.

6/29/2006

06/23/06 Green Street Hooligans

Green Street Hooligans (2005), directed by Lexi Alexander

watched w/ Leslie (partially); DVD rental (Blockbuster) @ home

So, as you may have seen from the silly photo of me from my movie theater concession stand days on the website...today is in fact my birthday. Yes, not to make a big deal or dwell on the date...just putting the choice of the day into perspective. Aside from my birthday, there is also a personal favorite occasion of mine currently underway in Germany throughout the month...and that is the World Cup. I'm a huge soccer (excuse me, football) fan, and this every-4-years event fills me with excitement and hopes for the rest of my fellow countrymen to take the chance to work up into a ntaionally patriotic frenzy for the sport...and alas, simply to have my dreams dashed once again as our team loses and its pushed aside for the other sports' headlines the next day. Oh well, I still have my Challenge! That leads me to my choice, albeit biased..."Green Street Hooligans," that states in a more frenzied way the bloodthirsty fervor that accompanies match play in the World Cup for other countries. The film is based in London, where Elijah Wood plays a wrongfully expelled Harvard journalism major namd Matt who chooses to jump the pond and live with his sister & her newfound English family. Once arriving in the city, Matt is taken unwillingly along with new brother-in-law Pete to a football match, where his status as an American outsider is under local surveillance. Pete and his footballing buddies are more than just rabid fans of their local team, but after being saved in a street fight by some thugs...soon reveal to Matt that they are an embedded gang of hooligans known as the GSE (Green Street Elite) firm. At first, both parties are reluctant to form a bond; with Matt unsure of the archaic violence for some foreign pride, and Pete & the gang unsure of trusting an outsider. Once he proves his battling worth to protect the firm and his new friends, Matt begins to enjoy the brute force and camaraderie (see "Fight Club"). However, not revealing the fact that he was a journalism major (another Brit football firm no-no) in school, the boys believe him to be a traitor and the betrayals begin to escalate. All the while, Matt is struggling to keep his disruptive family life in order, with a non-factor father and sister who has tried to escape her own family's violent hooligan past. It's a raw film that blatantly displays the crazy lengths many will go to support a team and a cause, unsettled scores, and the importance of family/friend bonds. Once you get past the fact that little ol' Elijah Wood probably wouldn't be able to hold his own on a kindergarten playground turf war...the rest of the teenage hooligans and the fighting are brutally believable. Again, I'm partial to the sport and the passion that it can bring out. I'm not condoning the violent ends seen here, but hell it's fun watching a match, drinking a few pints, and talking crap with the fellas. Hey it's my birthday, I'll fight if I want to.

5 out of 5 stars

06/22/06 The Sentinel

The Sentinel (2006), directed by Clark Johnson

watched w/ Joel; theater (Blue Ridge Cinema, Raleigh, NC)

It took me a little while into the film to realize that I wasn't watching Kiefer Sutherland's other popular project in TV show "24." Never having really seen that show more than once, I can only assume that one (like me) might think that this is just another clever episode in the 24-hour period/television season that is Sutherland's life as a CIA agent trying to save the president from certain death by assassins. Oh wait, here Sutherland plays a Secret Service agent who must help save the president from certain death by assassins. Wait, deja vu anyone? Actually, I guess there is a bit more to the story than just that. Here it's actually Michael Douglas' character who has the lead role in "saving" the president's life, all the while keeping up a charade of lies to seek the truth. Oh those crafty government employees! Douglas plays a Secret Service agent who has been framed & implicated in a plot to kill the president with foreign foes, all due to the fact that his best friend & fellow agent (director Clark Johnson) caught wind of a mole being in the federal agency and was himself killed and the evidence was pointed into Douglas' direction. Well, instead of just cooperating with his fellow co-workers to solve the biggest scandal in American history, he decides to go vigilante and solve the crime before time runs out (let's say, in about 24 hours). Sutherland plays Douglas' protege in the Service, who has become estranged due to the fact that he believes Douglas to have slept with his wife & ruined his marriage. Personal baggage does not fit in the overhead compartments, guys! What Sutherland doesn't know is that Douglas is actually cheating with none other than the First Lady (Kim Basinger) underneath his buddy the president's nose. And then they threw rookie agent Eva Longoria in there basically for eye candy, and to give her something to do until the next "Desperate Housewives" episode airs. Basically this film was predictable, generic, and blase...not much unlike most TV shows are anyway. You felt like it was one long TV episode, starring all of your current favorite TV show stars! A "Battle Of The Network Stars" vs. the Secret Service if you will. My money is on lovable David Rasche (who played the president) to be the dark horse favorite winner out of this hokie talent crapshoot. This may be a bit obscure or an inside TV-geek nod, but if anyone here remembers "Sledge Hammer!" in the late 80's (www.sledgehammeronline.com) you're one of my kind of people.

2 out of 5 stars

6/28/2006

06/21/06 High Tension

High Tension (2003), directed by Alexandre Aja

watched solo; DVD (borrowed from Jason) @ home

Staying true to a bare-bones (pardon the pun) and straight-forward horror movie, this one is a strong entry from talented French director Aja. It's a simple set-up, minimally dialogued, expertly executed, and intrinsically unnerving film (as the title would lead you to believe). Two female college buddies, Marie and Alex, on a semester break head off to Alex's parents' remote country house for some peace and quiet. That's anything but what they get. Already exposing Marie to an unfamiliar and vulnerable enviornment, night sets on the quiet house. Terrible things are about to happen while Marie is, let's say, preoccupied with herself in the upstairs guest room. A psychopathic killer is on the loose, and he comes knocking on the front door...leading to a horrendous killing spree of the family, save Marie & Alex. Using what she must think is smarts (but I thought she was quite possibly the dumbest heroine in horror movie lore), she attempts to save her friend and herself from the violent killer. Trapped in the back of the killer's truck, they make a cross-town trek through the night, with lots of twists, turns and chills along the way. It's brutal, it's violent, it's bloody...and it will make you jump more than once. Making up their escape route on the fly, Marie must calm her mortified friend, and deal with the inner-most thoughts of the deviant psychopath. It's a good ol' fashioned scary movie, with little but the characters and the blood to frighten you. Some plot twists here seem re-hashed and expected, but the thrills are worth it I think. The Marie chick is bananas. Let's just say, she's probably the worst friend anyone could ever have...and never invite her to your parents' summer home. Horror movie Bad Idea #1. She manages to break every cardinal rule for escaping a psychopath in the movie anyway, so the Bad Ideas tally is somewhere in the hundreds.

4 out of 5 stars

06/20/06 Fearless Dragon

Fearless Dragon (1980), directed by Lei Chu

watched w/ Leslie; VHS (personal copy) @ home

This title was probably the hardest one so far this year for me to find any outside info online about it. I happened across this gem from the old (and now heavily revered due to the tip 'o the hat from the edgy rap group) Wu-Tang collection, when the entire standing store-display was given to me awhile back by my best friend Jason. I've been overdue on catching up to viewing most of these, so I needed a burst of cheesy entertainment for the night. Leslie & I snuggled up to watch a good ol' fashioned, out-of-sync dubbing, ass-kickin', camera-lens-distorted kung-fu fest. This one had all of that, plus a little slaptick comedy (e.g. early Jackie Chan stuff) to boot. Two con artists, Lively Dragon and Crazy Horse, are sent on a mission to retrieve a valuable artifact after it is stolen by a corrupt mayor. Once the wacky duo are wrongly accused of pilfering the treasure themselves, they must fight off all comers to expose the truth. It's completely absurd to watch this type of slapstick kung-fu film, which I know now is totally the point. It's always going to be a decent laugh to see these amazing stunts and displays of martial arts (which is in itself a historical and cultural significance that knows no bounds) reduced to petty farce and crappy English-dubbed voices. It's hard to believe that the ultimate traditions of these lands are just served up as jokes for us to laugh at. Hey, but that's exactly what these guys were going for. It's hard to follow any plot here, compare it to a porno, as your eyes just bounce from action scene to slapstick action scene. Maybe this film, obscure as it seems, does become the precursor to bigger & better efforts of the genre...but I wasn't but mildly entertained by the movie. The end battle scene is quite funny though, and the ending credits come slamming into you like a runaway car from out of nowhere. It's a unique and crazy genre to peg down, but if Ol' Dirty Bastard can condone it, so can I.

2 out of 5 stars

06/19/06 25 Watts

25 Watts (2001), directed by Juan Pablo Rebella & Pablo Stoll

watched solo; DVD rental (North American Video) @ home

So, I think I have A.D.D., but then again, who doesn't?! Maybe it's a generational thing that my Gen X, or Y or Next (whatever) has ingrained into their technology-overloaded genetic make-up. Maybe I'm a slacker at heart. Whatever the scenario or excuse may be, I find myself trying to soak in multiple stimuli from time to time...as was the case today. Seeing that the Carolina Hurricanes (had to give the sports' shout-out) were on the verge and finally tonight winning the Stanley Cup, I was torn between TV screens to see both the game and my movie. What better movie to watch, then one about a bunch of like-minded generational slackers...just from Uruguay. Touted as sort of a "Slacker" or "Clerks" for the South American set (yes, Uruguay is wedged between Brazil & Argentina off of the South Atlantic Ocean coast). The story follows three young teenagers (Leche, Javi and Seba) on a boring Saturday in their hometown of Montevideo, as they all wander through their own haze to figure out what their next move is. Stuck between dead-end jobs, living with parents, random sexual encounters, drugged up buddies, philosophy from the local video store, studying, eating dog food, and trying to get into the Guinness Book of World Records...these guys have uninteresting lives. It's a somewhat comical understanding of their unmotivated milieu, which they are trying desperately (if not successfully) to get out of. Some segments are told in & out of reality for one of the boys, Leche, which is a humorous concept. However, with the oddball characters and stoner mentality (25 watt bulb) of the filmmaking, you would think that the jokes would go somewhere. Unfortunately, like the boys in the film, we just never go anywhere. It's an alright movie...but the only reason I was jumping up & yelling afterwards was because the Canes had won the Cup.

3 out of 5 stars

06/18/06 Novo

Novo (2002), directed by Jean-Pierre Limosin

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (North American Video) @ Bonnaroo: Camp Clubber Lang (Manchester, TN)

I must begin this entry by making a few comments. First, and most importantly, it is Father's Day and I wanted to wish my Dad the very best on this occasion. He has always been there for me as a mentor, disciplinarian, role-model and friend. I'm sure he thought I was a bit crazy (hey Dad, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree) when I said I was going to take on this Movie Challenge. Secondly, an apology is issued to the rightful winner of the Father's Day poll on the website, my old movie theater friend James with his choice of "Three O'Clock High" as the film to see today. The apology, and this will sound like an excuse, is that I was unable to secure the film in time for my roadtrip to Bonnaroo, and therefore will have to put the selection on hold (although you still won the Goot right James?). Since that 80's comedy title was very hard to find locally, it didn't seem all that difficult to rent this French flick "Novo" and get a little Euro-culture in my U.S. rock festival veins. So, that leads me to the actual film review. Uhhh, it's French, involves sex, lots of people smoking cigarettes and trying to capture an innovative film-style with a barrage of story fragments. Isn't that every French film you say? Perhaps. What the director is going for here is that of an inherent relationship to the human psyche, love/lust and memory. Main character Graham suffers from short-term memory loss, and must clutch to his notebook full of triggers to unlock his identity. What is more, his amnesia is interesting because it does stifle his personal ability to grow and remember...however, it doesn't seem to suppress his lustful nature. It's almost as if Graham must re-identify with himself and humanity by exploring the world around him sexually. Where the great film "Memento" has us wrapped up in an amnesiac's murder mystery, this one has us engrossed with a web of sexual games that mess with the head. The only problem here, is that the film doesn't do the job well enough to keep me entertained or caring. It's kind of weird to be matter of fact. Is he sleeping with his boss, random girlfriends, his wife? Does he recognize his own child or himself in the mirror? Whatever. Is it refreshing to try and rediscover one's sexual being over & over again...sort of a kinky "Groundhog Day?" Maybe, but what should be more at stake here is that people need to have an honest, meaningful and monogamous relationship to truly find themselves. Call me old-fashioned, or at least "not French," but that's the way I like it.

3 out of 5 stars

6/24/2006

06/17/06 Freeway

Freeway (1996), directed by Matthew Bright

watched w/ Leslie; DVD (borrowed from Shanna & Beth) @ Bonnaroo: Camp Clubber Lang (Manchester, TN)

Described to me as both wickedly funny and borderline disturbing, I thought this would be a perfect campsite movie to watch at the equally fun & borderling chaotic Bonnaroo festival. We were right in the middle of the long dirty camping experience, and figured why not choose a film that will make us feel even dirtier? So goes "Freeway," a modern day take of the classic fable "Little Red Riding Hood." No longer is it just a story for kids, as this one has bigger teeth than grandma. Here's the plot, warts and all...Vanessa Lutz (Reese Witherspoon) has a horrendous childhood, involving drugs, sex, crime, violent behavior, her boyfriend Chopper being killed in a drive-by shooting and parental abuse. Rather than be subjected to a foster home & lose the only family she has (what's wrong with this chick...ditch the creeps!), she decides to escape and head for...you guessed it grandma's house (actually a trailer park). Along the way she meets even more creepy Bob Wolverton (Kiefer Sutherland), a counselor for troubled young men, who uses Vanessa's shaky mental state against her to gain her trust and manipulate his way to his own sexual advances. Once this tough-as-nails Southern chick realizes he's a twisted freak serial killer, she exacts her revenge on him...horribly maiming him and leaving him for dead. Yeah that's right, little miss dainty southern belle Reese Witherspoon. Wolverton is crafty and has no previous record, so in court...of course it's his pathetic word against hers...her violent past tendencies being enough to sentence her to jail as an adult. So, now all she has to do is bust some heads, bust out of jail, and finish the big bad wolf off like the story of yore. It's a very dark humor to the senseless violence, where you end up rooting for one criminal against another. Ewww, doesn't it just make you feel bad?! I give props to Reese here for stretching her sweet demeanor to get this depth of crack-head acting. However, I would be remiss in not mentioning supporting actress Brittany Murphy here for simply sticking to her guns as always trying psycho crack-head acting.

3 out of 5 stars

06/16/06 The Yes Men

The Yes Men (2003), directed by Dan Ollman, Sarah Price & Chris Smith

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Blockbuster) @ Bonnaroo: Camp Clubber Lang (Manchester, TN); suggested by Mike

This is hilarious, ingenious and ballsy all at the same time. This takes political activism to a whole other realm via the information age...or rather the disinformation age. "The Yes Men" consist of two college-buddies and prankster activists Andy and Mike, who decide that they will create their own version of a website in order to mock & mimic the World Trade Organization (WTO). Having no public input on the goings-on of this global economic trade forum, the two men take it upon themselves to represent a dissension amongst the ranks of public opinion, and basically "stick it to the man." What they didn't expect is that their well-done satiric website (www.gatt.org) was so close in resemblance to the actual WTO website (www.wto.org), that it garnered international responses & requests for a WTO representative to come and lecture at various conferences and television debates. So, what else would a political prankster do but to carry the ruse further and impersonate said WTO representatives to get their own message across. Being mistaken all over well-respected mediums, these two guys Andy & Mike take own crafted personas to fool everyone they come in contact with, while enlisting the help of their creative computer geek friends to pull off the stunts. Some stunts include going to a college lecture hall and trying with a straight face to pass across the idea of marketing a "re-burger" system of recycling eaten & excreted hamburgers in developed countries in order to re-make the burgers and sell them to impoverished countries for less, while still making more profits! Yes, they get a very cold reception. Another stunt is one where they try to introduce to a business conference a way for management to supervise their illegal factory workers from afar by wearing a breakaway suit that holds under it a bright gold jumpsuit with an inflatable phallic apparatus with a TV monitor on it for viewing! Yeah, they fall for it. The balls it takes for these guys to keep the charade up, do it creatively, and convince many in a not so subtle way what big-time organizations like the WTO do can often become corrupted. Oh yeah, and they take it upon themselves to decide the disbanding of the entire organization & restructure it...do you think it will really happen?! These guys get an "A" for effort

5 out of 5 stars

6/23/2006

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRAD

06/15/06 Mayor Of The Sunset Strip

Mayor Of The Sunset Strip (2003), directed by George Hickenlooper

watched w/ Leslie; theater (Bonnaroo Cinema, Manchester, TN)

We have arrived to the great music, arts & all-things-hippie festival Bonnaroo on a humongous farm in Tennessee...and as luck would have it, they have a movie theater on site. Yes, on top of all the music, art, recycling, circus performers, fire eaters, masquerade balls, organic food, hammocks, laser shows, silent disco, pot smoking, frisbee playing, stand-up comedy, and sunburn getting...I managed to squeeze in a film in their cult-classic movie tent. Heck, it was one of the few places on the site that had air conditioning in the sweltering summer heat. Anyway, having caught only a portion of our intended film ("Real Genius," which will have to be finished on a later date), we picked up this documentary afterwards. I had heard about this film, but never had any concept of the man who is the subject of it. It is the one and only Rodney Bingenheimer, who plays the world's biggest music dork and has somehow managed to become a completely successful and lucky bastard in showbiz. Yes, this awkward and neurotic little guy stuck his foot in the Hollywood door by being abandoned on a doorstep by his celebrity-obsessed mother, thus fueling his lifelong desire to be a part of the glitzy glamour of that world. He somehow figured a way into being in the background of almost every famous person of the 1960's, 70's, 80's and 90's. He early on got a gig (in losing the starring role) as Davy Jones' stand-in on the Monkees...which lead to chance encounters with tons of celebrities. He became soaked with all the musical world had to offer, and took every opportunity to be a part of what was fresh & new. Being a talent compass, he landed a DJ job on now-legendary L.A. radio station KROQ...stirring up the success of such bands as the Sex Pistols, Ramones, and Blondie. He was part of the "in-crowd" as he had always wanted as a nerdy child, and clung onto memorabilia of his brushes with fame in order to remember how he got there. Bingenheimer was reportedly said by none other than Robert Plant to have been laid more times than even his boastful track record. This is a topic not only alluded to sheepishly by Bingenheimer himself, but backed up rather crudely by his record producing partner-in-crime & all-around-sleazoid Kim Fowley. The interviews here are priceless, especially with Bingenheimer himself...as you are brought into a world that is surreal and strange (similar to another great doc, "Crumb" with famed sub-culture artist R. Crumb). In the end it's a sad tale of introverted awkwardness thrust into the bright spotlight of fame, and how one nerdy guy deals with it. Very interesting, and tons of great cameos galore...and the dude hasn't changed his hair style in 30 years. I'm sure we'll run into him somewhere here in the Bonnaroo crowd of close to 100,000.

4 out of 5 stars

6/21/2006

06/14/06 Slums Of Beverly Hills

Slums Of Beverly Hills (1998), directed by Tamara Jenkins

watched w/ Leslie (partially); DVD rental (Blockbuster) @ car ride (from Black Mountain, NC to Newport, TN)

Once again on a roadtrip, this time through the winding mountainous roads of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, I wanted to be content with some comedy while cramped in the car. This is one I had always heard good things about, but never had a chance to catch. Quirky and semi-autobiographical, the late 70's play out as tough growing pains for Vivian (Natasha Lyonne) in posh Beverly Hills. Essentially penniless nomads, her odd family bounces from cheap apartment to cheap apartment in order for her & her siblings to go to the good schools. Her father (Alan Arkin) is a single parent with his own ideas of what's important, her uncle (Carl Reiner) is the guy who pays all the bills, her younger brothers constantly annoy with their oddball antics, and her addict cousin (Marisa Tomei) escaped a rehab facility to become another kid to babysit for the already dysfunctional family. On top of all this family turmoil, Vivian's budding sexuality plays a pivotal role in the plot, as she flirts with the neighbor boy, takes explicit sexual advice from her unstable cousin, and is completely fixated on her own blossoming breasts. Already an awkward age, her embarassment reaches new heights as her sexual curosities and explorations are always points of ridicule from her family. Everyone here is a bit mad, but trying terribly to stay together for strength. It's a tough-times lesson that most families can relate to in some way, as well as an uneasy maturity process that we all have been subject to whether we liked it or not. And can I just say that for a film so fixated on breasts (and it doesn't bother to cover them up), it was funny to see that ever boob-shot was a stand-in, never showing the actress' full body. We're not fooled Beverly Hills...we know you're all show.

3 out of 5 stars

06/13/06 Lurking In Suburbia

Lurking In Suburbia (2006), directed by Mitchell Altieri

watched solo; DVD rental (Blockbuster) @ home

Lurking by myself in a college-town apartment, I decided to pick up some comedies at the local movie rental places to lighten the boring mood. By the looks of the DVD cover art in the store, this one was pegged more as a juvenile sex-comedy romp in the style of anything National Lampoon's puts out...but once submerged into the movie's storytelling, it's not at all what I expected. Sure, most of the teenage comedies these days deal with the looming graduation date, while they run around more worried about getting laid than passing their finals...and they aimlessly wonder about college or work with no real direction or sense of who they are, constantly searching for reason in an otherwise irrational world. Welcome to life kids. Well, those insecure neuroses never really leave a person, perhaps just gaining momentum as life becomes more complicated with each passing year. Not to be a downer, as I believe the movie was also trying to avoid. What happens here, is in a very "Ferris Bueller" approach to the main character Conrad (actor is the poor-man's Giovanni Ribisi), we see his personal narration of his own life...and the pitfalls of his partying excesses, disasters of romantic relationships, dysfunctional roommates and childhood friends, and finally buckling down to figure out a true "profession" on the cusp of his 30th birthday. In true college-party fashion, all of his closest friends throw him the ultimate shindig to christen his middle-aged adulthood...which leads to one hell of a night. Full of introspective commentary, realistic surroundings, flawed people, and funny anecdotes to the fears of growing up...I was pleasantly surprised by the film's bare-bones approach to this age-old (pardon the pun) quest. Not surprisingly, I myself am fast approaching that middle-aged milestone of inadequacy and crisis...so at times in the movie I could definitely relate. Using a cast of virtual unknowns, and with a writer/director who is obviously speaking from experience here...the feeling is achieved. It's not the most enlightening thing you will ever be exposed to, but it does portray in pretty realistic terms what it is like to be a middle-aged white man in suburban America who is holding onto his past glories, trying to never settle down and take life seriously. And if you see this, and are fast approaching 30...please take heed to the movie's advice column on things to never do at a party over that age. Don't be that guy.

3 out of 5 stars

6/20/2006

06/12/06 The Lion King

The Lion King (1994), directed by Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff

watched w/ Shanna & Beth (partially); DVD (Shanna & Beth's copy) @ Shanna & Beth's house (Clayton, NC)

OK, so tonight was a bit of a sensory overload...seeing that I had a late evening meeting for work, and since I was bored at home by myself, I went over to some friends' house to catch the Stanley Cup Finals. It's a tough call when the hometown team is in a game so big, and your choices of movies to watch are limited by others' personal collections as well as time constraints. What all that means is that my only real choice of film this evening was "The Lion King." Once again, a modern-era Disney movie that I never caught, although I remember it playing while working at a movie theater in high school to no end. Maybe it was that over-saturation and monotony of working in theaters during big blockbuster summer family films (like I had to endure with "Toy Story" and "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie") that turned me off to actually witnessing the Disney magic firsthand. Alas, after a decade of time...the modern-day classic was due. I have to say, aside from trading occasionally stealthy glances at the hockey game score...it was a very enjoyable film. Bringing the animal kingdom to life with humanistic qualities (there's a word for that, and I can't remember it now) is done superbly here. It's the usual Disney formula, giving a vulnerable and tender tale of some young child/cub/pup/fawn/kitten/elephant/etc. who must go through a tremendous loss (way to scare the kiddies Disney!) in order to find redemption and strength as there own person/lion/dog/deer/cat/elephant/etc. Catch my drift? Anyway, here young cub Simba is tricked by his evil uncle Scar into thinking he lead to the death of his father Mufassa (King of all the animals), which banishes him and his guilt to exile from the land. During his absence, Scar reigns his dark terror on the once thriving land and invests his security forces in the lions' arch nemeses hyenas. Simba must wander & grow in a world without his own kind, but befriends Pumbaa the warthog and Timon the meerkat...both who will stick by his side through thick & thin. Once he reunites in a chance encounter with his childhood (excuse me, cubhood) love Nala...Simba realizes that he must return to his land and claim his rightful heir to the throne of the animal kingdom. Pretty grandiose in premise, but played beautifully well into the family-friendly fare of animation here. It's a great film, with catchy songs and funny anecdotes by the characters. Sit back & enjoy, no worries...hakuna matata you stoners.

4 out of 5 stars

6/14/2006

06/11/06 Dave Chappelle's Block Party

Dave Chappelle's Block Party (2005), directed by Michel Gondry

watched w/ Joel; theater (Blue Ridge Cinema, Raleigh, NC)

Never having seen the famous concert film "Wattstax" that inspired Chappelle & Gondry to recreate the vibe of culture, comedy and urban music to the masses; I was totally banking on this film to be great in its own right for supplying us an informal medium to showcase Chappelle's comedic genius and all of the awesome rap/R&B musicians performing. I was not disappointed with the efforts here, as all involved came together in the name of fun to bring happiness and local block parties of days gone by. Just listen to the list of socially conscious and talented musicians that are featured here: The Roots, Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Kanye West, Jill Scott, Dead Prez, Common, Cody Chesnutt, Big Daddy Kane, John Legend, and the surprise reunion of the Fugees! Damn. Only a guy with as much clout, personality and genuine kindness could pull those together, as Chappelle does with ease. The vibe is definitely one of a bunch of friends who have come together to have fun, bring awareness to social issues, joke around, and create a memorable concert-going experience. Chappelle takes the experience another level further, as he plays a veritable "Willy Wonka" to the people in his home state of Ohio, passing out golden tickets to award lucky folks to travel to the Brooklyn, NY neighborhood where the concert has been secretly planned. Spliced into the concert footage and backstage interviews with musicians is Chappelle's clever witticism and comedy stylings displayed in various public areas (barber-shops, convenience stores, and college campuses). What's more, is that you get to see Chappelle in a very human light: just being himself, bringing different people together, philosophizing the world, comparing comedy to music, and reaching out to the community (as he invites & provides for a local college's marching band to come participate in the concert). Chappelle's hilarious, and all these musicians are fantastic (and if you didn't know that before, then check this out). As the Spanish Lil' John would say..."Que?!...Que?!...Si!" And I do have to give a special thanks to Leslie for allowing me the privilege of seeing this film (which she really wanted to see) without her, as she was out of town.

5 out of 5 stars

6/13/2006

06/10/06 When Worlds Collide

When Worlds Collide (1951), directed by Rudolph Mate

watched solo; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

Look at this in the context of when it was made, and it appears to be a remarkably effective epic sci-fi story along the lines of a "War Of The Worlds." In its day, it was heralded as a great feat for special effects in cinema, as it attempted to push the limits of what and how much you could accomplish on film. The plot played deftly into the paranoid hands of the masses of that era, where intergalactic curiosity was on a high...and nuclear fallout was a realistic global threat. In the movie, the tagline states how there are more "stars in the heavens than people on Earth," which brings into perspective just how insignificant we all can be rendered in such a vast landscape. That being said, the story focuses on the question of "what if?" the world were to end due to the collision of some of those rogue gliding planets. Astronomers calculate the course of two such planets that are to impact the Earth, causing ultimate devastation in a matter of weeks. Using their horrific findings, the astronomers try to convince the world of alternative escape routes from this destruction, but few believe their outlandish views. One curmudgeonly millionaire who wants to save his own life fronts the money to the scientists to build what will in effect be a modern-day Noah's ark to take the lucky numbers to another world to begin life again. Maybe it's just me, but you would think that the melting pot that is America (and granted, I know what the segregated connotations were in the 1950's) would somehow be able to save more ethnically diverse of a population to re-create civilization. It's kind of sad that it's all whiney white people who win the lottery to survive...but I digress. Anyway, this spacecraft ark is built to shuttle the lucky few off the planet to avoid the impending doom. There are some hokey models of spaceships, and buildings/bridges being destroyed by the brewing storms...but like I said before, that was revolutionary at the time of special effects. It's playfully fun to watch the end of the world in this flick, as it still stands as a classic in the sci-fi genre. Is it just me though, or does anyone else have that damn Powerman 5000 song "When Worlds Collide" drumming incessantly in their head now? Get me on the next ark fellas.

3 out of 5 stars

06/09/06 Just My Luck

Just My Luck (2006), directed by Donald Petrie

watched w/ Leslie; theater (Blue Ridge Cinema, Raleigh, NC)

Wow, how apropos. This title speaks volumes to me, and that's even before I watch the film. What I'm trying to say, in not to subtly sarcastic of a way, is that it's "just my luck" that I get to watch "Just My Luck" today. It's as if I've lost a bet with my love to see this Lindsay Lohan bomb. Yes, I agreed to go with her to the dollar theater to catch this oh-so-lovely teenage romp. I call shenanigans. Let's see, do I even need to go into a detailed plot description here? You have to know that luck plays a big part in the movie, whether it's the characters' receiving of it, or my (the viewer) loss of any ounce of it while sitting in my gum-riddled seat. Lindsay (Ashley here because having a name that rhymes with her real one would be easier for her audibly respond to, like a dog) is a Manhattan socialite on the way up in the glamorous world, and has always had the best luck. Jake is a struggling something-or-other that has the damnedest luck. Chance romantic encoutner at a masquerade ball (huh? you mean they won't know who each other are when they're swapping spit?) switches (like magic) their luck from body to body...as each is destined to live out the other's version of life for awhile. That is, until they figure it out, switch back, then fall in love, switch back for each other's sake...blah blah blah. What else did anyone expect from Lindsay or director Petrie who brought us such masterpieces as "Miss Congeniality" and "How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days?" (But he did star in the classic "H.O.T.S." which deserves some praise). However, this romantic crap-shoot wouldn't be half the work of art it is without the house band McFly. Yes, that's right, a British pop-punk band called (hello) McFly who frequents playing bowling alleys and hopes to break it big here in the States (I guess by being in this MTV-twinged junker). And who's idea was it to be clever at the opening credits with all the lucky references like "luck of the Irish," or "pot luck dinner," or "lucky rabbit's foot?" Why don't you "luck off?!"

1 out of 5 stars

06/08/06 Pretty Persuasion

Pretty Persuasion (2005), directed by Marcos Siega

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

Manipulation is the name of the game...and offensively taking no prisoners in the search for fame and notoriety...well that's just bonus points. Evan Rachel Wood plays Kimberly (well, how can I put this delicatley?...) a conniving bitch at a posh Beverly Hills high school, who knows what she wants and will stop at nothing to get it. In her quest for acting fame, she enlists of her so-called friends to devise an evil scheme to bring the glamour of news cameras to their safe haven school. Playing the role of a tempting seductress (she's only a sophomore here mind you), she struts her nubile young body as bait into the minds of the push-over teachers and authority figures that stand in her way. Wanting to gain her fame, and all the while back-stab her "friend" as retribution for being hurt, Kimberly sets in motion accusations of sexual harassment by a certain helpful teacher (Ron Livingston) upon the young girls in school, that send the town into a tizzy. She plays on her friends insecurities to control their every move; into the arms of a lustful lesbian TV anchorwoman that seeks fame as much as Kimberly does; and with the help of horrible influence from her bigoted father (James Woods) bares her prejudiced views for sake of being noticed. All of this before fourth period! Taking the girls, the teacher, and the whole town for one theatrical ride into courtroom drama...Kimberly gets exactly what she wants. She just doesn't care what any emotional consequences will be upon delivery. Think the wicked mentality of "Heathers," mixed with the devious fame-hungry "Election" and a dash of the ego-maniacal nature in "Ferris Bueller." It's a great performance from North Carolina native Wood, and bodes well for the state's educational system. Next to last in SAT scores, but on top in sexual manipulation. Don't think bad thoughts with the schoolgirl outfits either!

4 out of 5 stars

06/07/06 The Man Who Fell To Earth

The Man Who Fell To Earth (1976), directed by Nicolas Roeg

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

Trippy to say the least. Thought-provoking to make a stretch at it. Completely "out there" if you pardon the punny allusion to the astral thematic elements. Hailed a cult classic, and since released in the prestigious Criterion Collection on DVD, I figured it was high time I checked out this spacey romp. It marks David Bowie's first true foray into feature length filmmaking, and is an early entry by interesting director Nicolas Roeg (I loved his eerie "The Witches" in the early 90's). Bowie plays humanoid alien Thomas Jane Newton, who crash lands onto Earth, and searches for a supply of water to transport back to his dying drought-ridden planet. He utilizes his advanced knowledge of artificial intelligence to create a wealthy technology company, lucrative enough for him to build a spacecraft for a return home. With the aid of Rip Torn as a libidinous professorial technology geek, and the distraction provided by his new libidinous lover in Candy Clark...it is all that Newton can do to complete his mission. He soon is introduced to the complexities of human emotion and ruthless business greed, and searches for feeling in all his endeavors. With all the trimmings of a psychedelic sex-fest, and over-saturation of media and technology...the film is completely overwhelming. I got confused very easily into it, granted I was very tired to begin with. There were certain parts that just seemed to drag on, but all the visuals and extreme characters kept you fixated on the screen. Sort of an impression of life imitating art if you will, as Newton remains glued to an array of television sets in his apartment. I feel like the disorientation was intentional by Roeg, and it will take more viewings before things make sense. Or maybe they never will...and that's the point. Who knows?! Bowie is a space cadet, literally here...and we're just along for the nonsensical ride. Enjoy the planet, just don't drink the water.

4 out of 5 stars

6/12/2006

06/06/06 The Devil's Rejects

The Devil's Rejects (2005), directed by Rob Zombie

watched solo; DVD (borrowed from Jason) @ home

OK, ok. Just like Y2K a few years back, this looming date on the calendar was definitely sparking some worries across the world for its numerically dark significance. I'm not one to fall into religious fanaticism or just plain paranoid mayhem, but the fact that mothers were trying to enduce labors early across the country so their children wouldn't be born on this infamous date was interesting I thought. The date I speak of is a triple digit you may have heard about (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/666_(number)), and is the basis for my movie choice this evening. Not getting caught up in the fervor, but trying to apply some twisted kitsch value on the subject. It's a good fit, seeing that director and rocker Rob Zombie here helms what is his gory sequel to his already encyclopedic horror genre manner he begat with "House Of 1,000 Corpses," and every studio album he has put out. Once you get past his overly senseless zeal in portraying the criminals in a coolly evil way, and his need to disgust you with the language and acts of violence...his craft is quite unique and good. I love the fact that during all the uncomfortable brutality scenes, there is a bevy of classic 70's rock radio hits supplying the soundtrack to evil. Or the simple fact that all his sick characters (Captain Spaulding, Baby & Mother Firefly, Otis Driftwood) are references to Marx Bros. movie roles. How about his insistence on inclusion of a number of cult classic character actors including Sid Haig, E.G. Daily, P.J. Soles, Danny Trejo, and Leslie Easterbrook (big-chested Callahan in the "Police Academy" movies). Oh yeah, and the story is the follow-up to the family that kills together, stays together. After their killing spree in the last movie, there is a Texas-wide manhunt lead by Texas Rangers, FBI and two vigilante brothers to find them. Once the evil "family" is together after the mother's capture, they will stop at nothing to wipe out anyone who crosses their path, inflicting their own sado-masochism with no remorse. The manhunt culminates in an all-out bloodbath with the authorities (Bon Jovi "Blaze Of Glory" style). Rob Zombie is a creative and unique individual. Some call him a copycat, some a sicko, some a genius. A little bit of all three makes for one hell of a murderous ride.

3 out of 5 stars

06/05/06 Strings

Strings (2004), directed by Anders Ronnow Klarlund

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

One of the more bizarrely profound approaches to capture human-like qualities and emotions in art is through puppetry. Here is a cinematic example of how the use of marionettes can attempt to mimic humans (no, I'm not talking to you Pinocchio). I'm no expert, but it seems that puppeteering is an artform that takes many years to master. Master puppeteers hope to convey realistic movements and body language with their marionettes, and somehow gain fame by their skills (we all have seen John Cusack's character in "Being John Malkovich"). With the help of digital effects layered on top of those already impressive (yet, always a bit creepy) talents, this film is a wondrous allegory of visually fantastic feats. Juxtaposing a traditional Greek mythology/Shakespearean tragedy amidst a modern-day warring application, the fable follows the tragic characters in a crumbling kingdom. The tormented king has just committed suicide, as his power-hungry brother Nezo tries to seize the throne by blaming the death on the enemy, and hoping to create a war. The rightful heir to the throne, son Hal, must set out on a quest for revenge for his father's death as he protects his sister Zita and their kingdom. Once he finds out the truth about Nezo's evil plan, he must stand up to the challenge to defend his family's honor and bring peace to the land once again. It's your classic tale of tragic heroism, but with puppets. It's incredible that the story can be conveyed so easily by these facially expressionless figures through so much of the other bodily movements. It is pretty darn funny to watch these marionettes try to fight, dance or love on each other though...borderline silly. However, the Danish filmmakers (you know it had to be European) deserve some credit in the creative ways they incorporate the actual strings (title anyone?) that control the puppets. They don't ignore the fact that something from above controls them, but play to that fact by constantly referencing their vitality through the strings. With the help of those digitally enhanced nuances, this dark allegory works well on many levels. As interesting and different this approach to acting is, let's hope they don't completely faze out our beloved Hollywood marionettes who play so well upon their own strings.

4 out of 5 stars

6/11/2006

06/04/06 Inside Man

Inside Man (2006), directed by Spike Lee

watched w/ Leslie; theater (Blue Ridge Cinema, Raleigh, NC)

A departure from most Spike Lee joints, but still a very good film. Going for some calculated action in this bank heist movie, we never lose Lee's attempts at social commentary and civil rights activism that permeates through all of his work. Usually choosing to show an inner-city culture that has shocks of violence and blue-collar crime, he here decides to take on the bureaucratic white-collar crime element. Revolving around many different sides of a meticulously plotted bank heist, the story delves into the intellectual and social reasons for such a crime to be committed. Denzel Washington plays (is he not the man or what?!) a tough police detective who is called into a hostage/heist situation in downtown New York City. Clive Owen plays with ingenuity the clever headman for the team of would-be bank robbers, as he opens the hostage negotiations with Denzel as a coy game of cat-and-mouse, never leading onto what his hidden agenda is. As usual, there is a superb cast in this Lee film, including Willem Dafoe as a fellow police captain, Jodie Foster as a connivingly savvy power broker, and Christopher Plummer as rich & fishy bank founder. Not only is this a smart crime film, albeit taking its sweet time getting around to the bottom of the meaning for the heist (intentionally so for dramatic effect); but the poignant social perspective is there by Lee, albeit a bit more subdued than his usual forcefulness. There are moments of this in context to the characters, namely a briefly alluded to subject of Denzel's character being accused of wrongdoings and passed over for promotions due to his race, a misidentified hostage who police think is Arab and therefore a terrorist who doesn't hold the same civil rights...and the looming atrocities that Plummer's character has attempted to bury with the past. Lee uses some of his signature camera-shooting stylings, but overall you notice how very "un-Spike" this one tends to be. That still doesn't mean it's not good, it's great like a lot of his stuff. A very character driven story of life and crime, and a life of crime which has everyone questioning motives. The environment that is created is an unstable one of human emotions that threatens to implode at any moment.

5 out of 5 stars

6/07/2006

06/03/06 Agatha

Agatha (1979), directed by Michael Apted

watched w/ Leslie; VHS (borrowed from parents) @ home

Oh you clever British you. Not only did you have to go and produce arguably one of the most masterly mystery writers of modern time in Dame Agatha Christie, but you had to top yourselves by creating a fictional supposition of such savvy about her mysterious disapperance in 1926. A veritable "what if?" is posed by director Michael Apted, trying to clue in on the who/what/where/when/and ultimately why of Christie's temporary vanishing act. I have to say, having absolutely no clue myself that this ever happened in real life, it made the movie appealing in the storyline of intrigue. Playing on what Christie's life work was all about anyway (murder & mystery), we learn through both her eyes and her American suitor Wally Stanton (Dustin Hoffman, always great) of her interesting life. While going through a difficult marriage to a stiff colonel (Timothy Dalton), Christie (Vanessa Redgrave) fakes her own death, takes up under a pseudonym at a resort spa/hotel, begins a flirtatious affair with Stanton, works vigorously on novel ideas, and plots a twisted revenge on her cheating husband's lover. Oh, how cheeky! What plays throughout the film to me, was a nagging sense that I was merely watching a PBS-run of some old sappy British mini-series (not much unlike many of Christie's novels' television treatments...wow, paradoxical). However, the ending is fun in its twists and turns...and Hoffman is brilliant as the determined American in an otherwise very British whodunit.

3 out of 5 stars

06/02/06 Smithereens

Smithereens (1982), directed by Susan Seidelman

watched w/ Leslie (partially); DVD (borrowed from Jason) @ home

Judging a movie by its cover can sometimes be more enlightening than with the old "book" saying...seeing as movies are the visual medium to begin with, and the images are set forth for you to process rather than imagine. This movie had a great cover, as it played up to my fondness for neon vs. dark eyeliner clashing cacophonies that are 80's punk rock album covers. Ahhh, the discordant sound of the disenchanted! Long live punk rock! This lesser-known fragment of that early 80's DIY era comes from the lady (Susan Seidelman) who would later come out with "Desperately Seeking Susan" and "Sex And The City." It stars two lesser-known actors in Susan Berman as Wren, and Brad Rinn as Paul...and throws in seminal punker Richard Hell (www.richardhell.com) as Eric. Filmed during a time when star Richard Hell (of Television and Voidoids fame)was deep into his own addictions and dirty excesses, and after another classic in "Blank Generation." The story is a rather simply constructed one, as it follows a restless and confused 19 year-old Wren as she tries to escape her Jersey boredom into the fame of punk rock stardom in NYC. Her misguided attempts at this get her nowhere, thrown out onto the street, and into the arms of two vastly different men (Eric and Paul). Eric is the moody punk rocker who does little to give a healthy relationship, as the two play mind games with each other. Paul is a shy artist who has come to live in the City from Montana in his van, and is the romantic who wants to give Wren everything he doesn't have. With the punk scene of NYC's Greenwich Village as the backdrop, and the bare-bones style of the filmmaking...I can see why some hail this as a cult classic. It is a good film, with uneven acting (hey, they were amateurs or stoned) and definitely rough around the edges. I like my cult classics like I like my punk rock.

3 out of 5 stars

06/01/06 Live Freaky Die Freaky

Live Freaky Die Freaky (2006), directed by John Roecker

watched w/ Leslie (partially); DVD rental (Netflix) @ car ride (from Southern Pines, NC to Raleigh, NC); suggested by John S.

If you thought "Team America: World Police" was a twisted puppeteer adventure of the worst kind...well, you will definitely loathe this one. If you thought that the "South Park" guys bringing us into the world of rude, crude & socially unacceptable behavior in puppets was only the beginning of the slow decline of civilization into the abyss...than you may want to avoid this sin. However, if you thought that those guys only touched the tip of the sick-o iceberg with their mastery of the puppet parts...then this may be the hellish second chapter that you have been longing for. I personally thought that while "Team America" was crude yes...infantile maybe...it still provided laughs and spared no punches which is at least commendable. However, what the filmmakers and voice-over actors have done here with this "Freaky" flick is, well, freak this reviewer the heck out. OK, I'm willing to give an experimental film its due in a trial run, and with some of the oddball friends I have suggesting movies to me...I get some doozies to see. This one, was downright stupid and gross. Basic premise...in the post-apocalyptic year 3069, a wanderer stumbles across a copy of "Helter Skelter." The vagabond believes the book to be a sacred text, and Charles Manson to be the new messiah...so he embarks upon a drug-induced quest to change the world's viewpoint (I think I've got it so far). In a world in ruins by war & pollution, the population consists of miscreants and psychos who like to dabble in revolting activities and song & dance numbers. Yeah, and they're puppets folks! Puppets who dabble in sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. And the guy who directed this obviously has tons of friends in the biz, and they somehow owe him a ton of favors...because he got so many top names in the punk rock scene to do voices in the film (e.g. John Doe, Jane Wiedlin, the Green Day guys, the Rancid guys, Davey Havok from AFI, Travis Barker from Blink-182, Sean Yseult from White Zombie, the Good Charlotte bros, Henry Rollins, and the ever-annoying Kelly Osbourne here under pseudonym Nelly Posbourne). It's a sick, sad movie...makes you want to vomit. Hey Jason, you might like it...plus the songs were pretty catchy...I can't get Billie Joe's tune "Maniacal Man" out of my head. Alas, Charlie don't surf.

1 out of 5 stars

6/05/2006

05/31/06 Transamerica

Transamerica (2005), directed by Duncan Tucker

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

Again, another important film of the year that garnered much deserved praise and accolades from the Oscars and other award shows. This one being a quirky tale dealing with a subject matter that probably has never truly made it into the mainstream thought pattern. Felicity Huffman does a terrific job in the difficult role of portraying (but in no way would it compare to the struggles that I'm sure real-life persons in this situation must endure) a pre-operative, male-to-female transsexual coping with a modern society that often shuns them. Through the advice of her psychiatrist, Bree (Huffman) has been saving money waiting for the timing to be right to accept the operation. Just when she thinks she is ready, a huge surprise is dropped in her lap...the shocking phone call that tells her she has a long-lost son from a previous relationship in her life as a man. At first denying the facts, Bree is confronted by her psychiatrist to take this responsibility head-on, as she goes across country to bail the son out of jail. Upon her arrival, she claims to be a Christian missionary there to save him...but an awkward bond is soon formed as the two embark on a cross-country road-trip of self-awareness and mutual understanding. However, the both of them are not totally honest with each other & their mistaken identity/mistaken sexuality forces their relationship to become strangely skewed. Hitting plenty of emotional/moral potholes along the way, and hitting some hot-button issues that don't often catch the notice of mainstream Hollywood...the film takes you on an uncomfortably enlightening ride. Just enough comic relief to keep it light-hearted, but when the pain & emotions hit, they hit hard.

4 out of 5 stars

05/30/06 Memoirs Of A Geisha

Memoirs Of A Geisha (2005), directed by Rob Marshall

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

I liked this one very much for all the forecasted reasons that everyone this past year at the Oscars liked this movie...visually stunning cinematography, set design, and make-up adherent to the world of geisha houses in pre-World War II Japan; a beautiful score set amongst the purposeful landscape; and strong lead acting roles by the main characters of the film. In reading critical reviews of the film however, I was interested to see that the director chose some famous Chinese actresses (namely Ziyi Zhang and Li Gong) to play important roles in this sweepingly Japanese production. I can never claim to be perceptive enough to differentiate between certain customs/differences of both China & Japan (having never lived there), but I think that all those critiques are rendered moot by the simple fact that all the actors in the film speak English. As if any of us really believe that's how they spoke in their native lands! Is it just me, or is this attempt so over-played in cinema, just to cater (obviously) to the public for which it is geared towards siphoning money out of their pockets? To me, a truly foreign film should stand true in its language, and let us "dumb" Americans learn to deal with subtitles. Now, off the soapbox, because I truly did enjoy this film. It's a mesmerizing, yet tragic tale of a young Japanese girl from a small fishing village who is taken away from her ailing parents and sold to a geisha house and separated from her sister. Upon a failed attempt to escape from the harsh city of Kyoto, she is forever taken from her sibling and banished to live out her days in the geisha society as a servant. The young girl (Chiyo) is tormented by an "evil stepsister" type (Hatsumomo), who is threatened by the fact that rival geisha mother Mameha has taken Chiyo under her wing to become the graceful geisha Sayuri. Once a poor servant girl, Chiyo had run across the sweetness of a dignified Chairman whom she fell madly in love with. Now, blossomed as a fine geisha, Sayuri hopes to win the heart of the man she loves. Of course, with a war looming, evil stepsisters scheming, and constant suitors in a bidding war over her prized virginity...it's a bit tough to find happiness. There in lies the rub. A captivating tale of history and cultural significance, but played into the hands of a tragic romance for the film treatment.

4 out of 5 stars

6/04/2006

05/29/06 Winter Passing

Winter Passing (2005), directed by Adam Rapp

watched solo; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

Today started off on such a happy note, as we went to celebrate my "adopted" (my best friends' daughter) niece's 2nd birthday party...decorated with princess jewelry and bubble-makers. So, after all the youthful joy was worn down from sugar-rushes and an hour car-ride home...I went the opposite route with today's film choice, one of adult melancholy. Not a premeditated juxtaposition, just what happened to be in the rental queue. Written and directed by newcomer Adam Rapp (brother of that dorky blonde dude from "Dazed And Confused"), this also marks sort of a first leading role for one of my new favorite actresses Zooey Deschanel. Zooey plays aspiring actress Reese who has run away from her dysfunctional family drama in Michigan for years to experience the "life" of New York City, which for her includes run-down apartments, random sexual encounters, drugs & booze, and scraping by for a living. After one of her stage shows lets out, she is approached by a book editor who is willing to purchase the rights to the literary love letters between Reese's parents (both of whom are celebrated novelists, and her mother having recently died) for a small fortune. Jumping at the chance to earn some money, Reese heads home on an unwelcoming return to her childhood. Coming home to the house she grew up in, she must face the demons of her mother's death, her father Don's reclusive manner as he stows away in the garage, and two new house-guests in the form of her father's ex-grad student Shelley and struggling Christian rocker Corbit. Ed Harris is great as the tormented novelist father who never truly gave his daughter the attention and love that she needed. Will Ferrell is always hilarious, even when he's playing down the tone in a melodrama; as he here demonstrates awkward romantic gestures to Reese and adoration for Don. The scene with them practicing golf in the upstairs bedroom devoid of furniture (which is now in the front lawn) using trash can lids and cather's gear for protection is priceless. It's a cathartic journey for all the characters, as they tend to learn the hard way that they need each other to grieve and grow properly. Another in a long line of stories with disenchanted child-grown-up to confront family demons, only to strengthen the family bond and gain personal atonement & direction. You know, kind of like life after college.

4 out of 5 stars

05/28/06 A Farewell To Arms

A Farewell To Arms (1932), directed by Frank Borzage

watched w/ Leslie (partially); VHS (borrowed from parents) @ home

Having recently read Hemingway's classic "The Sun Also Rises," I was interested in looking for some old film adaptations of his works. I came across this copy at my parents' house, so I decided to give it a look. The story is a difficult tale of love set during World War I, where American Lt. Henry (Gary Cooper) is serving with an Italian ambulance corps and falls in love with English nurse Catherine Barkley (Helen Hayes). Fighting in the horrors of a war, as well as fighting to keep in contact with each other against all odds serves as the ultimate challenge for both of the tormented lovers. Knowing the complications that a love affair can have on a man's psyche during war, Lt. Henry's companion Maj. Rinaldi tries to keep the two apart by intercepting their mail correspondence. Never knowing exactly where each other are, or whether or not they still are searching for the other; Lt. Henry and Catherine are forced to be star-crossed paramours. Once Lt. Henry finally tracks Catherine down, he learns that she is pregnant with his child. To finish this terribly tragic affair, he reunites with her on her hospital bed upon delivery...where she subsequently dies from trauma during the birth. Boy, Hemingway always had a way with tragedy internal-struggle didn't he?! I thought that this early black & white film was shot brilliantly in the landscape, and was a decent adaptation of his work. Not having read the novel, it does seem that some critique can lie in the fact that the film chooses not to focus more on the anti-war thematic elements of Lt. Henry's agony, but rather the romance between the lovers. It seems to be the shred of hope that both cling to, to get through the pain that is all around them.

3 out of 5 stars

05/27/06 The Perfect Score

The Perfect Score (2004), directed by Brian Robbins

watched w/ Leslie; DVD (borrowed from Sarah) @ home

Many of us can agree and relate to the fact that standardized testing in academics today is somewhat unfair. Unfair in that it doesn't truly represent the breadth of knowledge that one possesses, merely to suggests the effort that one puts forth to retain facts that are pounded into your head in school in order to spit out under the pressure of a time limit and the shame of failing to make it into some form of higher education to better yourself that causes many to crack and mess up a simple SAT score. Well, the beautiful teenagers from this flick decide that they will inevitably "stick it to the man" by plotting to steal the answers to the fabled test, so they all can pass with a (cough) "Perfect Score." The team of misfits is a mix of the make-up of the student body, including the goody-two-shoes salutatorian, hard-working under-achiever pretty boy, star basketball player, stoner computer geek, average joe with dreams of college life, and rebellious millionaire's daughter. By using the millionaire's daughter as their "in" to the facilities where the tests are created, they go "Mission: Impossible" on the prowl for some genius plans to make the (ahem) "Perfect Score." We're supposed to believe that six teenagers have the ability and gall to pull off such a heist, but what else should I have expected from the director who brought us such teenage empowerment as "Varsity Blues?" I guess I also shouldn't have been surprised by the way they bumbled through the caper and allowed one of their own to take one for the team...but then again this guy did also direct the high-brow epic "Good Burger." All sarcasm aside, and not expecting too much from what I knew this MTV-tinged offering inspired...it was a mildly entertaining teenage flick. Of course, it doesn't send the most positive of messages, in that in condones cheating and theft...but alas, we're not perfect. One other item I thought was indicative of life imitating art (or vice versa) was of real-life basketball phenom Darius Miles (who stars here as, well basketball phenom Desmond Rhodes) who struggles to pass the exam in order to enter prestigious St. John's University. Well, to teach another valuable lesson to American children everywhere (on top of the bad acting, and stealing answers to SAT) he in real-life decided to spurn St. John's to go right for the bling-bling of the NBA. We don't need no education.

3 out of 5 stars