Big Screen Blurb: Chronicles of Narnia--The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

I've been to Narnia three times now. Well, I've vicariously been there through the Pevinsie kids. The first time (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) was okay, but Susan's constant nagging and over-anaylytical annoyances kinda ruined that trip for me. That's the last time I go into a wardrobe without an extra pair of socks or a muzzle. The second time (Prince Caspian) was a fun ride with new characters, plenty of action and sub-plots. The third time (The Voyage of the Dawn Treader) is just as fun...a good story with plenty of action and decent acting make for a great journey.

Edmond (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy (Georgie Henley) are back in our world. Just as reluctant about that fact is the notion that they are staying with their aunt and uncle as war continues to rage.  The relatives are oblivious to their presence, except for cousin Eustace (Will Poulter). He's just plain annoyed. Eustace is the intellectual type, who is far more impressed with his allegedly superior intellect than perhaps he should be--not to mention his coveted hygiene awards. Suddenly, and in typical magical fashion, the Pevinsie kids are swashbuckled back in Narnia with cousin in tow.

This time it's not Narnia that needs saving. Rather, the whole world is in need of a little balance. Ed, Lucy and a diffident Eustace have come to help King Caspian (Ben Barnes) fulfill a promise to Aslan to find the Lords of Talmar. Once the threesome are plopped onto the Dawn Treader, they begin the search for the seven missing Lords. The quest soon takes them to an island, where they uncover a slave trading operation and worse: the pure evil of the Green Mist. Many Narnians have been sacrificed to this transparent enemy and, well, let the adventure begin. The group sets off to find the seven swords of the Lords to present to Aslan's table which will swing balance back toward the good guys. Yadayadayada island hopping adventures, rough seas and life lessons abound and are delivered in a fun, exciting and insightful 112 minutes.

Yes, there is plenty of the standard religious symbolism and symmetry that was present in the initial two offerings. If that's not your schtick, but you like a great story--there's still plenty here for you. Ultimately, it's about overcoming your worst enemy: You. It's about self-acceptance and coming to grips with your own reality in trying to carve out a better path ahead. A good lesson, huh? Take Edmund, for example. He's been my favorite character throughout the trilogy. He screwed up big time in round one. Learned his lesson. Accepted his role and has gone on to great things since, but he's haunted. He is still haunted by the mistakes of his past with the White Witch. The same is true for us. Regardless of what we accomplish in life, we often let the lingering mists of those mistakes and regrets cloud us today. It's a great and valuable lesson that encourages us to move beyond the past with a focus on the moment and the 'morrow...with acceptance and peace. And yeah, there's got to be something to the symbolism used by C. S. Lewis because, even as a recovering former fundmentalist (stress on the 'former'), I still get a wave of warm goosebumps when Aslan appears. Good stuff.

All in all, it's good for 4.5 Stars in my book. I've seen it twice and will buy the Blu-Ray. This is one to see and see BIG!

That's it for me in 2010. Thanks for reading. I love the e-mails. I love the feedback. Continue to ask me anything and yes, I love the movie requests. I PROMISE to see Black Swan soon. That is a guarantee! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: The Tourist

Romancing the Stone meet The Tourist. Okay, so there are no crocodiles and we've feminized and reversed the characters, but Kathleen Turner/Joan Wilder, meet Johnny Depp/Frank. Michael Douglas/Jack T. Colton meet Angelina Jolie/Elise. It's danger and adventure awaiting a rather reluctant participant with another character caught in the thralls of the espionage that is her life; and, it's fun.

The Brits are due some dough. So is the mafia. So, who do they want to pen them a check? Alexander Pierce. He's a former mob accountant who has alluded all things public since stealing a couple of billion from his boss. The British government wants those tax dollars--$744,000,000 to be exact; and, the Italian mob wants a combination of satisfaction and cash. The trouble is, Alexander has gone to great lengths to hide his identity. He's even shelled out $24 million smackers to have a completely new face put on, so nobody really knows who they're looking for. Neither does ex-girlfriend, Elise (Angelina Jolie). Alexander does, however, instruct her to make an acquaintance on the train to Venice. This acquaintance will eventually serve as both a red-herring and smoe. Enter Frank Tupolo (Johnny Depp). The awkward math professor is taken aback by Elise's attention and is quickly wrapped up in a turkey hunt. Unfortunately for ole Frank, he's the lead gobbler. The feds hone in while the mob struts in and yadayadayada somebody walks away as a winner.

It's fun. From start to finish, you'll enjoy a subtle humor...sometimes a quite overt humor, with plenty of 'not too over-the-top chase scenes' that won't prompt a Dramamine chaser with your Mr. Pibb and popcorn. I'll go with 4.0 Stars on this one. Depp is incredible and Jolie is unmistakeably his equal in this one. It's a good story that balances comedy, plot and adventure, with everything coming together in a grand and fun finale. Plus...and I'm not really one to harp on cinescape, but Venice...wow. Beautiful. The big question is: Will we see a Jewel of the Nile mirror in a few years?

The Tourist. See it BIG. Just avoid the mall theatres until after the holidays! (YEESH!)

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: How Do You Know

Reese Witherspoon. Love her.

Paul Rudd. Love him.

Jack Nicholson and Owen Wilson. Love 'em both.

How Do You Know. Eh...not so much. It's yet another romantic comedy with a promising cast and concept that just fails to deliver enough of the 'funny'. You seen the trailer? Well, you saw about 90 percent of the comedy delivered there, while the romantic component was never really able to carry it's weight.

This slowly developing love triangle features Lisa (Witherspoon), George (Rudd) and Matty (Wilson). They're all going through tough times. Well, Lisa and George are hitting the snags of life, while Matty is too oblivious to anything that drains attention from his Viagra-ladened ego. Lisa was a USA Gold Medalist as a softball player, but she's lost a step and is cut from the team. Lisa is a 'together' kind of gal, who's world has been turned upside down. She's devastated by the loss of a life that is suddenly no more. So is George. George has been running the company built by his father (Nicholson), only to be targeted in a federal investigation. Apparently, and unbeknownst to him, he's guilty as charged. Then, there's Matty. He's a pitcher for the Washington Nationals and very much on top of his game. Whether his game is on the mound or in the sack, Matty is the man. He's dating Lisa, among others, and eventually is love-struck enough to ask her to move in, which she does, in the midst of her "groping through life in the dark" state. Meanwhile, George, who is desperately grasping for a tinsy bit of sanity amid his chaos, connects with a rather reluctant Lisa. Yadayadayada Lisa walks away with...eh, you'll  probably see it eventually, but I'll stop there.

There are a few laughs, but as mentioned previously, you get most of those in the trailer. There's solid acting all around. How can there not be, right? The plot just develops so slowly and never really comes together with any semblance of satisfaction. The characters...and this is surprising to even think (considering the cast), much less write...are  a little flat. This really could've been funny. The script just didn't deliver. Yes, the story does eventually come together...flat...but, it did come together. Too much star power here for me to leave feeling more deflated than elated. For me: 2.5 Stars.

Is it entertaining? Well, How Do You Know has its moments, but ultimately, it left me a little...well...leave the top off a two-litre of Mountain Dew tonight, take few swigs in a few days and you'll know how you'll feel leaving the theatre. If you like that feeling, go see this one BIG. If not, it's worth adding to the queue and checking out in April when it hits Blockbuster. Happy Holidays...

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Fair Game

All is fair in love and war...and apparently all is fair in politics as it relates to justifying espionage intelligence...oh, who are we kidding...in politics in GENERAL! Fair Game is based on the true story of Valerie Plame, a CIA agent who was outed as such by the White House in 2003. A discretion which was an apparent attempt at discrediting her husband, Joe Wilson, who had written an article critical of the intelligence used to justify the war on Iraq.

Fair Game can sit keenly next to Green Zone in the "What the hell happened in Iraq?"-genre. Fair Game's focus is a little less violent, but just as intriguing. Valerie Plame (Naomi Watts) is your run-of-the-mill CIA agent, who is a gatherer of top secret intelligence. She's covering, of course as a civvie.That is, until she's outed as a CIA agent in one swift stroke of the pen. Why? Good question. Months before Plame was pulled from the CIA closet, Joe Wilson (Sean Penn) had used his Nigerian diplomatic ties at the request of the CIA. This was done to learn more about some purchases by Iraq that were suspected of playing a role in the creation of nuclear weapons. His search essentially came back empty. After the U.S. engaged Iraq in war, Wilson sees a news report about the information used to justify suspicions regarding the existence of WMD in Iraq. He learns that his discovery had been used to help justify that war--a finding that was grossly misrepresented. Wilson then proceeds to use his own Weapon of Mass Destruction--in this case, his computer--to write about the wrong. His goal was seemingly to inform the American people that the information being pushed on them was inaccurate. The White House didn't take kindly to this and bada-bing-bada-bang, the next thing you know Plame's true identity is revealed. Cover lost. Job lost. Life turned upside down and yadayadayada the indiscretions of the Bush Administration roll on.

It's an interesting story and rates 3.5 Stars in my book. It's fast paced, well-acted, and pretty disturbingly real. Aside from the sad statement this story screams about ole George's reign, Fair Game effectively showcases the personal side of this tale. The focal point being the marital and relationship woes brought on by this series of unfortunate events. We see the couple struggle separately and together in trying to work through a very intensely public ordeal.

What we probably needed to see more of, however, was the couple's relationship when things were normal (well, normal for them). You had a sense in the early stages of the movie that they had a good relationship, but as the movie rolls on, you wonder how strong those ties really were from the start. In other words, were they really a couple who had fallen and stayed in love. Was there love so strong that it could survive such a public scrutiny. Apparently, it was supposed to be, but I just really didn't see it. In Plame, you don't really see a 'family-first' devoted mom. How could she be? In Wilson, you certainly see a patient husband and loving dad. Put together, however, I never really witnessed a sizzling chemistry on-screen. I think it was supposed to be there; it just wasn't effectively showcased.

Bottom line: if your intrigued by the stories of the fumblings of the Bush Administration, rent Fair Game, it's estimated to be out on DVD/Blu-Ray in April. Or, if you have some pent-up, remnant steam to blow off about ole George's crew, go see it big.

Well, tonight is my big Christmas Party so I need to put the finishing touches on the house for the event. Best to all...
True

Big Screen Blurb: Love and Other Drugs

You've seen those pictures, right? You know, the ones that if you look at the line structure a certain way, you see a baby; but if you stare at the lines a different way, it's a horse. That's kind of what you'll find in Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal's latest, Love and Other Drugs. It is what it is; rather, it is what you make it. It's more than your basic Romantic Comedy. Actually, this one touches on a quartet of genres: Romance, Comedy, Drama and Porn.

Hathaway and Gyllenhaal have teamed up before as a couple. Of course, the last time Gyllenhaal's character had more of proclivity to the fellas in Brokeback Mountain, leaving the twosome completely dysfunctional. This time around, at least the pair have an attraction to each other--make that an intense attraction to each other; however, they've still got plenty of issues. Jamie (Gyllenhaal) is big brother in a family of bigs, who never made it big. Actually, his main claims to fame involve moving from check to check and chick to chick. That is, until he discovers the uncanny abilitiy to peddle chemicals as a pharmaceutical sales rep. He begins selling Zoloft for drug giant Pfizer and meets Maggie (Hathaway). She's a rogue beauty battling Parkinsons and herself. The two meet and experience another type of chemical reaction: intense sexual attraction. It's kinda typical from today's cultural trend. Love at first sight is so 80's. Now, it's sex at first sight and if you happen to connect with the person during the thralls of the afterglow, well, so be it. Eventually, they connected. Yadayadayada Maggie and Jamie's relationship unfolds...funny at times, intensely dramatic at others and pretty hot throughout.

I'll go with 3.0 Stars on this one--the positive side of okay. Chances are you will find something in this movie to make it worth at least a rental. It is funny and exceptionally well acted. Hathaway and Gyllenhaal combine to make a couple worth watching. They create two characters that you may not necessarily find yourself 'rooting' for, but are definitely interested in watching. The story, itself, unfolds in a way that is both real and therefore, dangerously thought provoking. Is it entertaining? Hmm. There are more entertaining flicks to go spend $10 on, but this one has a lot to say and speak it does. It showcases the dire need of drug companies to continue to drug America. It highlights the importance of sacrifice and compassion in relationships. It tells of...well, I could go on and on--there's a lot going on here.

All in all, Love and Other Drugs is probably not one to see Big, not with a plethora choices out currently. It is, however, exceptionally well acted, funny at times, deep at others and very much worth saving to your cue for an April DVD release. Enjoy your holiday! For me, El Grande Thanksgiving Delecto (The Great Thanksgiving Delight!) continues...until Sunday anyway!

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part I)

What more could you ask for? A midnight showing of the highly anticipated Harry Potter flick, plenty of popcorn and snacks and company that included the three lovely ladies known as the Pedigo Junction. The only thing missing around 12:49 on Thursday, November 18th--technically the 19th...was a great movie. Enter Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1), the latest installment in an already glowing franchise. Okay, 'great' may be a strong word, but the latest addition is strong. Actually, it's very good. 

We pick up promptly where HP6 left off. Harry and the rest of the wizarding world is in a state of shock from Dumbledore's murder, presumably at the hands of Severus Snape. A new Minister of Magic is in charge, but it's all for naught as Voldemort's forces and influence is present at every turn. The world is, indeed, on its ear with muggles and half-bloods placed on full alert. Those two groups are being targeted in what can best be described as, well, a witch hunt. With that in mind, there's plenty happening and none of it's good.

Harry, Ron and Hermoine, however, are charged with another task: Finding and destroying Horcruxes. Years ago, Voldemort split his soul into seven pieces, transferring that energy into various objects, known as Horcruxes. There are seven total and Harry is privy to two that have already been destroyed (a Ring that Dumbledore had previously nailed and Tom Riddle's Diary, which Harry eliminated in HP2). Harry, who has meanwhile become Public Enemy Number One, knows of another, a locket. Securing that locket and destroying it becomes job one. Meanwhile, another story emerges: The Deathly Hallows, presumably a kids fable that may be an equally important key to it all. Yadayadayada, Harry and company hunt down the Horcrux while The Chosen One strives to live up to his name...all while trying to avoid capture.

It's good. Very good. In fact, it moved quickly into the Top Three Favs in the series for me, with its final position pending on another viewing or two. The story is coming together in Rowling fashion and is being lived nicely on-screen. Yeah, I'm a big fan of the books. The creativity stemming from Rowling's imaginative vision is simply unparalleled in modern literature. With that in mind, taking such a complex storyline to the big screen presents many challenges. This is true from both a Screenwriting and Direction standpoint. Sure, there are always going to be nuances gapingly left out in the transfer and we certainly see that in HP7 as we've seen it throughout the series. All in all, Screenwriter Steve Kloves and Director David Yates, got it done. They've held true to a great story and managed to weave the tale in a titillating and culpable fashion. Plus, the scenery created within the wizarding world is true to Rowling's form, which certainly enhances the credibility of Yates' vision and allows the story to play out to both book and movie fans alike.

The acting is solid here as well. In HP1, the kids got a free acting pass on being cute alone. That wasn't as true in HP2 thru HP4. Since HP5, they've really come into their own, especially Daniel Radcliffe (Harry). Rupert Grint (Ron) has always been solid as the sometimes stumbling, comedic side-kick best friend. The same is true with Emma Watson (Hermoine). Radcliffe's emergence has been more pronounced due to a role that is undoubtedly more demanding and transformative. He's certainly met the learning curve since HP4. Cute in HP1. Borderline adequate in HP2. Solid in HP3 and HP4. Since HP5, he's been very good. I'm already looking forward to next Summer's Part II--heck, I'm looking forward to a second viewing of this one.

If you're a Harry Potter fan, you've got to see this 4.5 Star flick and see it Big. If you're not a packin' a wand, you'll still enjoy it without getting too lost. As for My Order of Favs in the Harry Potter Franchise:

1-Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (HP5)
2-Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (HP3)
3-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (HP6-Pt 1) *This one could move up a spot
4-Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (HP1)
5-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (HP4)
6-Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (HP2)
7-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (HP6)

As always, thanks for reading,
True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Unstoppable

It's like the advertising slogan says, "You Can't Stop a Trane". Well, in this case, it's: "You Can't Stop a Train". Specifically, number 777 headed unmanned toward Southern Pennsylvania with plenty of highly toxic and explosive chemicals on-board. Unstoppable combines Academy Winner Denzel Washington and up-and-comer Chris Pine on the railways of the Keyston State trying to stave off certain disaster.

Unstoppable is based on a true story that took place in Ohio in 2001. It all started in alarmingly easy fashion thanks to a recipe that included one part incompetent and one part stupid. Railroad employee, Dewey,  left the train unmanned to correct a line just ahead of the engine, but wait, he incorrectly set the brake and was a little too slow to get back on-board. This left "a missile the size of the Chrysler Building" barrelling down the tracks just waiting to leave a nice pile of rubble at a final stopping point. That's when our heroes get involved. That would be the combo of veteran engineer, Frank (Washington) and rookie conductor, Will (Pine). Will is new to the railroad game and his cockiness hasn't quite caught up with his talent. Further, Will's mind is elsewhere, experiencing some marital woes while adjusting to a new job. Frank, meanwhile, is about to lose his job. Sure, he's a 26-year railroad vet, but Frank got a 90-day pink slip notice about...oh...72-days previously. However, the two become the company's last hope to save the day, including thousands of lives and millions upon millions of dollars. Yadayadayada...Denzel fights the train and the train...well, you'll see.

It's 4.0 Stars in my book. Not only do Washington and Pine make for a great combo, it's a healthy mix of interesting characters, a solid storyline with a strong element of truth and plenty of conversation starters. All that makes for quite the big screen gem. It showcases corporate greed and the desire to maintain a healthy bottom line in the wake of potential human loss (conversation starter number one). It spins a good tale revolving around the relationships of its main characters, while teaching that love is, indeed, able to overcome the squabbles generated in every day life (conversation starter number two). Overall, there's plenty to see here and much to talk about. Washington is, well...he's Denzel Washington, no further descriptive needed; and, Chris Pine is emerging as a top-notch Hollywood talent. Who says nothing good came from Chips!?! At least Sarge added a stallion to the fold on his own way to a lengthy acting run himself. Yeah, Unstoppable is worth a look and you might want to see it Big.

That's it for me...True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Morning Glory

It's fun. It's Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford. What's not to love, right? Okay, okay...so it's more like Rachel McAdams and Harrison Ford, but Diane Keaton is floating in the background and it's still a fun ride and one worth a view.

Morning Glory is a movie about the collision of two worlds: Ego and the fast-paced world of morning television. Meet Becky (McAdams). She's a driven, focused Executive Producer for a New Jersey morning show who has put in plenty of time to justify a promotion to Senior EP. When the time comes: No promotion. Uh-uh--no, instead, she's greeted with a pink slip. She's rightfully devastated, but finds her way to IBS in New York. Sure, it's a bigger stage, but the IBS morning show is dead last. It's cast of characters? Well, let's just say they need tweaking. Yadayadayada...tweak is exactly what Ms. Motivation does to the tune of a pretty funny and entertaining 95 minutes.

I worked in the media (radio) for five years (eight including college) and experienced some laughably large egos in that time. I knew Morning Glory would provide some laughs based on the trailers. At first, I was afraid that it was only going to be funny to me. Of course, this was based on those ego-centrics known as the "talent" and my previous experiences with these self-starved and over-inflated talkers. Wrong. This is a funny flick and the chuckles from the audience more than backed up that notion. Yes, Morning Glory is a series of ego-showdowns, therein lies the crux of its humor. There's Colleen Peck (Keaton) vs. Mike Pomroy (Ford). There's Peck versus the world and then there's Pomroy versus the universe. In the middle of it all is Becky...poor, driven Becky. She's just trying to put together some semblance of a competitive show that will help her make a mark in the news world. The big three (Keaton, Ford, McAdams) are great in this flick. Although I would have preferred to have seen a little more of Keaton, specifically the Peck versus Pomroy battle. It was fun stuff. Actually, I was expecting this movie to be more of a showcase for the potential Keaton and Ford dynamic. It wasn't, which is my only real disappointment. Sure Keaton is present throughout, but serves more of a background role than what I was anticipating. The story is more about Becky trying to get Pomroy to buy into her vision--something the hardliner news guy was not about to do on a fluffy morning show. I'll let you enjoy it from there.

It's 4.0 Stars in my book. I enjoyed it from start to finish. Maybe that's because it pokes fun at media ego types hyped beyond belief--which speaks volumes to my early career days and one reason I eventually wanted nothing to do with the production side of the business. If you're a fan of Keaton or Ford or need to see more of McAdams than Sherlock Holmes or The Notebook could deliver, then see it Big. If not, add it to your queue and enjoy some laughs around April when it hits Blockbuster.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Due Date



Due Date. It's Planes, Trains and Automobiles brought to the year 2010. That translates into a modernized version of the 1987 John Hughes hit, which of course, means more weed, masturbation and increased frequency of the ole 'f-word'. John Candy meet Zach Galifianakis. Steve Martin meet Robert Downey, Jr.

The plot is slightly different, but the premise is the same. Straight-laced dude meets loony dud, both forced to eek their way across country. In this case, it's the birth of the first born for people-challenged Peter (Downey, Jr.) that has prompted his no-holds barred trek from Atlanta to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the aloof, ditsy, 'you're kidding me, right', actor-to-be, Ethan (Galifianakis) is just happy to have the company. Both get kicked off the plane thanks to a dual lack of people skills. Ethan's issue is that he seems oblivious that someone may not want his gregarious personality, not to mention his burly belly, in their space. Meanwhile, Peter is the ultimate smart-ass who is just pissed that the world is not a carbon copy of him. They end up nailed by a Federal Marshall before sharing a rental car and yadayadayada we watch their potential march toward being BFF's...kinda.

There is definitely some laugh-out-loud funny going on here. You've got two out-of-sorts characters wreaking all kinds of havoc and some of it is, indeed, hilarious. While there are many similarities between Due Date and Planes, Trains and Automobiles, there are differences. The 1987 classic certainly touched on moments of deep character issues, but was heavily slanted with a definite slap-stick, comedic focus. Due Date may be a little more concerned with developing these two oppo-world characters. For instance, Ethan is packing--no, not a gun. He's carrying his dead father's remains in a coffee jar, which leads to some deep thoughts. Meanwhile, Peter is just unlikeable. He's smart-ass through and through, not to mention throughout the flick. Keep in mind, this is coming from a smart ass, but Peter's version is quite often not relayed in a comedic way. Actually, he's just plain mean. As a result, we don't side with him for spouting off against the numerous challenges of every day life. You know, the kind that try the patience of us all. Instead, you find yourself feeling bad for the person who initiated the frustration. It didn't have to be that way, which brings me to my real issue with Due Date.

Aside from the 23-year old storyline, my main problem with Due Date is that it's characters are just not very likable. Yes, Ethan certainly has his moments, but he wouldn't grow on me if he was surgically implanted in my left butt cheek. Meanwhile, Peter is just a jerk. I love Robert Downey, Jr. so I typically tend to trust his vision for a character, assuming that it's his vision. With this, however, I would have prefered to have seen Peter played as a guy frustrated by the every day annoyances and fighting back with a little quippy, smart-ass flare that made a point and put the frustrator's in their place. It didn't happen. Peter was just mean. If words were weapons, he'd have blood on his hands. Instead, he fights back as a rude, arrogant jackal...and...well...my big issue with Peter: Who spits on a dog, anyway!?! Peter's character hocks one at Ehan's bulldog, Sunny out of frustration really aimed at Ethan himself. It was seemingly done as a shock factor and a completely unwarranted action toward the dog. Yeah, I'm sure the dog was not harmed in any way during the filming, but it was just unsettling. The dog was undoubtedly one of the more docile animal character in a film in recent memory. I mean, if Sunny had been a loud annoyance or remotely aggressive you could understand the hostility. Neither was the case. Rather, Sunny was a virtually non-existent and innocent accessory to the loopy Ethan's character.

I go back and forth on this one. I laughed enough to give it 3.5 Stars, but was at times pissed off to point of scaling it back to 2.5. We'll settle on 3.0 Stars with the warning issued...don't spit on a dog, dude.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Life as We Know It



HELP WANTED:

PRODUCTION COMPANY SEEKS ACTRESS TO PLAY A SLIGHTLY ANAL RETENTIVE GIRL WHO IS ULTRA ORGANIZED, STRUCTURED AND MAYBE A LITTLE AFRAID TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST--SIMILAR TO LEAD ROLES IN KNOCKED UP...THE UGLY TRUTH...27 DRESSES...KILLERS...oh, wait, never mind, Katherine Heigl just called...we'll use her again.

I really like Katherine Heigl, but does she play any other type of character? Life as We Know It marks the fifth flick in the last three years where she has played Little Miss Structure to some disheveled bad boy. Admittedly, Josh Duhamel is easier on the eyes than Seth Rogan, and the two combine to tally a 3-Star (on the sunny side of 'okay') score with this one, but you get my point. Then again, I believe it was the legend Anthony Hopkins who said, "The best way to excel in a role is to take a role where you really don't have to act at all." With that in mind, I'm guessing Katherine's closets are all neatly organized.

Life as We Know It requires a major balancing act. The story centers around two peas who don't exactly belong in the same pod. There's Holly and Eric (Heigl and Duhamel, respectively). Their match-maker best friends saw something that they didn't three years prior and fixed them up. Bad idea...or so it seemed. The date didn't get out of the drive way. Regardless, the two shelve the dating idea and tolerate each others as psuedo friends in the presence of their mates. After years of finding Eric's immaturity annoying as hell, we fast forward to the present. Their best friends have been tragically killed in a car accident and to everyone's surprise they leave baby Sophie to the misfit pair. Yadayadayada opposites attract as we follow the ups and downs of the relationship that climaxes with the all too familiar rush through the airport scene.

It's okay...3-Stars as previously mentioned. At one point, you become a little concerned that they're trying to do too much here. Balance the shock of being left with the responsibility of a baby (makes me glad my nieces are past diapers), the pain of losing your closest friend and the comedy of being thrown into a tense situation with someone you despise. That Trifector makes for a difficult balancing act. Do they pull it off? Well, yeah--it's all plausible...maybe a little predictable, but that's how Heigl would want it anyway, right? It's a tad long. We know where the story is leading and they probably could have got there in less than 114 minutes, but it's certainly worth a family or date night rental.

This one will create a mini-emotional whirlwind for you, but it will put a smile on your face at times. Certainly enough to rent it. Pass on the Big screen and add it to your queue. That is, unless you're into that wind-blown look.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Paranormal Activity 2



Did it freak my freak? No. Was it reasonably entertaining for a paranormal fan like, moi? At times, I suppose. Did it prompt my paranoia meter to spike a few degrees? Yes. "It" is none other than Paranormal Activity 2, a sequel that's probably as good as the original, but don't hold that against it.

This trip through the ghastly ghostly follows a family of four in San Diego. It's a blended family comprised of Dan (Brian Boland) and Kristi (Sprague Graydon) with their newborn babe, Hunter, and Dan's daughter, Ali (Molly Ephraim). Let's not forget Kristi's sister, Katie (Katie Featherston) and her boyfriend Micah, who float in and out as background characters. At any rate, strange things start happening--yeah, I know, odd twist for a paranormal flick. At any rate, cameras are set up house-wide after an odd break-in where the house was essentially turned upside down with nothing stolen. Next, we learn a tad bit about Katie and Kristi's youthful involvment with the demonic before weirdness intensifies and yadayadayada freaky takes center stage.

Paranormal Activity 2 has its moments and I actually liked it better than the original, which may not be a resounding endorsement. There are some pretty intense scenes here, which made me regret not packing along my defibrillator for my jumpy friend. Ultimately, however, I'm a stickler for plot--particularly as it enhances the flow of the movie. Plot is a major shortcoming here. The premise is there; it just could have been delivered much more effectively. With this flick, most of our time is spent watching, well...NADA. We spend probably 60 of the 91 minutes watching their security cams recording absolutely nothing of particular interest. That leaves about 20 minutes of potentially interesting dialogue, which half of that amount is delivered upon; and finally, ten minutes of seeing it all come together. And, no, I'm not even going to mention the documentary-feel with the first hand camera shots. That's a director's vision that is more distracting and nausea-inducing than anything. It's a shooting style, I get it. I just don't like it--personal preference on my end.

Ultimately, this one hovers between 2.5 and 3.0 Stars for me. The climax is over before you know--yeah, I know, that's what he/she said. The movie's pinnacle is all so muddled you're kind of left with a disappointing sense of being befuddled. I've heard of interpretative dance, but Paranormal Activity 2 is an interpretative flick. It unfolds in such a way where there is so much left open to guess-work, it's just unsatisfying. I guess maybe that was the point. After all, we're talking about the paranormal here--abstract city. Yeah, I'm a big fan of the paranormal and have even sat in on a ghost hunting group. It's a fascinating subject, but the things you look for in these kinds of movies are just not delivered. It leaves you with essentially the emptiness of a doing a dance with a ghost in the dark.

If you're really into the topic and enjoyed the first one, see this one Big. If you like the topic but didn't particularly like the original flick, just watch a particularly good episode of Ghost Hunters.  Then, rent Paranormal Activity 2 when you need a little jump start in the paranoia department...or just watch the eleven o'clock news for that matter.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Secretariat

"He just wants to run. Let him run." That's my favorite line from the movie, Secretariat. Here's an addendum for you. "You just want to watch a good movie. Watch Secretariat!" Is it inspirational? Well, I saw this flick at the mall and went for a walk afterwards. Let's just say I left many an 80-year old tail peeling from the glitzy retail corridors of West Town Mall. I even threw in a few glares for good measure on my way past these hapless competitors fifty years my senior--the kind of stare that clearly communicated, "I just watched Secretariat, so don't mess with me!" Okay, maybe the last bit is a tad untrue, but this is one of those movies that highlights competitive desire and forces that titillatingly rare chill to penetrate my stomach and quickly work its way to the hairs on my arms. For me, that is something that only an emotionally charged surge can do when combining pride, caring and a sincere interest in a movie's character.

In this case that character is Red, undoubtedly the best racing horse of his and many other times, if not all time. Red is better known of course, as Secretariat, the last Triple Crown winner (Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont races). This isn't a sports flick though. Not really. In the same mold as The Blind Side and Remember the Titans, there is an emotionally driven story that far overshadows the sports-related front. Although, enthusiasts of horse racing will certainly be entertained by the sporting arena cast for the flick. Ultimately, the movie centers around the true tale of Penny Chenery/Tweedy (Diane Lane).

We pick up the story as Penny's mother has just passed away and her ill father is incapable of caring for the family horse farm. After dad dies, her brother (Dylan Baker) wants to sell the horses and land in order to be done with all of it. Penny's husband (Dylan Walsh) sides with bro-in-law, but Penny has different ideas altogether. She's developed a real passion for horses and Red in particular. Selling isn't in the cards, even though it certainly makes more fiscal sense than Penny's plan. Yadayadayada, we watch as Penny basically bets the farm on ole Red.

It's good...4.5 stars in my book and almost certain to garner attention for a Best Picture nomination. The story is about holding onto a deep-seated belief and faith when all odds are stacked against you. It's about making a commitment to that ideal even in the face of squaring off against those you love. It's about toughness and endurance; rallying those supportive few allies and relying on them through numerous challenges while still loving the friendly fire around you. Plus, it's about dealing with the unfriendly fire that life throws at you--many-a-life lessons duly noted.

Secretariat made his famous charge through the Triple Crown in 1973, so I don't exactly have a recollection of the event. Apparently, Penny emerged as a sports celebrity of sorts with trainer Lucius Lauren (John Malkovich) closely connected to the media limelight. Lane was tremendous, as was Malkovich. His Lauren, who was known for some outrageous color ensembles and bouts of screaming french, was a hit. He was the perfect glue guy to tie everything together and help showcase Penny's tough-minded flare.

My only criticism with Secretariat is that it was a little tough to follow in the early stages in terms of the timeline. We got the month and date updates on-screen in the latter portion of the flick (during the races), but it would have been helpful to follow the timeline from the start. At one point, we fast forwarded two years without much of a warning and it took me a sec to adjust. All in all, Secretariat is two hours well spent and a very good movie that I will undoubtedly watch again.

So, I'm done with mowing for the season, but the blog will roll on as I'm sure there are plenty of things to motivate me to procrastinate. Right now, however, I'm hosting a Murder Mystery Party and I've to get ready--I just hope I'm not the murderous culprit!

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Hereafter



Hereafter. What's next? The subject has always been fascinating to me and is one that impacts all organic life. It's always a topic that offers much abstract conjecture, but little concrete fact. Hereafter is Clint Eastwood's latest directorial flick in which he touches on the afterlife in an ebb and flow of equally ethereal emotion.

The story is told in three vignettes that slowly...well, EVER SO SLOWLY come together. At the story's core is Matt Damon. He plays George, a psychic whose special talent doesn't exactly have him jumping for joy. Actually, it's pretty much ruined his life. His profiteering brother, Billy (Jay Mohr) has had him hit the public circuit with dollar signs in sight. That's not George's style so he decided to back away from the limelight. With that, George has resigned to the docks of San Fran where he's just trying to piece together some semblance of a normal life. Next, is Marie LeLay (Cecile De France), a french broadcaster who has had a brush with the afterlife herself. Marie was caught up in (and under) a tsunami where she briefly left the flesh only to quickly return. This return and her short other worldly experience has prompted a fascination with the hereafter. Finally, there's Marcus (newcomers George and Frankie McClaren). Marcus' interest in the next life is sparked by the recent loss of his twin brother, Jason. From there, the three vignettes eventually merge; albeit at a glacial pace over the course of two plus hours.

It's an interesting concept. It's just not executed in an overly interesting way. It certainly sparks thought. You see, this psychic gift involves George forming a connection with an individual which enables him to hear the deceased. With that ability, George connects with people on their most intimate levels. Therefore, before knowing much more than their name, he's privy to their deepest and sometimes darkest secrets. It's sorta like your blind date, whose known for a great personality BTW, showing up at the restaurant butt naked. You just learn a little too much too soon and everything crumbles from there.

Further, people come to George in search of desperate hope. Unfortunately, being true to this gift/curse, George often delivers pain. People come to him seeking to further connect with a spirit of someone with whom they once held a very special human bond. Trying to connect with a spirit on a human level proves fruitless. Instead, they are forced to come to terms with the loss. Instead of a rekindled connection that brings peace and closure, they too often find the pain of emotional emptiness. The realization then sits in: a human connection is forever gone.

Yes, Hereafter is quite thought-provoking, but ultimately, I've got to give it 2.5 stars--on the negative side of so-so. Yes, I love Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon was his typical stellar self. De France, who is best known for her work in French cinema, and the debut of the brothers McClaren were all solid. However, the story, as fascinating as the subject matter, just laid flat throughout. It's a slow developing plot that, when it finally presents itself, well...it's like opening that long awaited Christmas present and finding socks. Yeah, you'll get some use out of them and they'll warm the cockles of your soles, but you were longing for something that would warm your soul. Bottom line: I was hoping for a little more. No need to see this Big Screen. If the subject matter intrigues you, rent it in March.

Well, I'm off to catch my Yankees in Game Six. Say a prayer for the pinstripers and enjoy your weekend.

True...out!

Big Screen Blurb: Red

Red. Yeah, it's an acronym. Supposedly, it stands for Retired-Extremely-Dangerous. I don't buy it. What RED actually stands for is the Real-Entertaining-Deal. This is a good flick and highly anticipated. I went to a matinee and let's just say CHA-CHING if you own Regal stock; the place was pretty packed. Just look at the cast and you see why.

The troupe is headlined by Bruce Willis and Mary-Louis Parker, but also includes: Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Richard Dreyfuss and Morgan Freeman--legends one and all. Willis plays Frank Moses, a retired CIA man. After a life chock-full of danger and intrigue, who could blame him for getting a little bored with the white-picket life of suburban Cleveland. That boredom and loneliness is partly the reason why he's struck up a friendship with Sara (Parker), an equally bored government employee in Kansas City, who is basically a customer service rep for pensions. The two become friends. Soon thereafter, the Feds make the mistake of trying to take out Frank--not in the same way that the shy and surprisingly date-awkward Frank wants to take out Sara, mind you. The Feds use ammunition and a lot of it, but he escapes.

Frank then seeks to piece together the who's, why's and what's of this assassination plot. With Sara in tow, the pair meet up with Frank's former colleague, Joe (Freeman), which subsequently leads to a visit to Marvin (Malkovich). They both have plenty of spark left, although Joe's spark is left wasting away in a retirement home. Marvin, meanwhile, is just kinda nuts. He's actually hilarious with or without his stuffed pink pig along for the ride. But hey, I can't be critical considering that, until the age of five, I toted around a pink stuffed rabbit affectionately named Bright Pink, but I digress. The final piece to the puzzle that is the "old gang" is Victoria (Mirren). She's a class act killer who could off you in a minute, but I swear your dying breath would be politely thanking her for doing so. At any rate, the gang is all here and they are each marked for death from their previous employer. For what? Therein lies the story. Stealing too many pens? Broke one too many copy machines? Lousy Exit Interview? Perhaps, but the crew quickly begins to piece together the reason for their new found bulls eyes and yadayadayada, you've got an hour an fifty minute long joyride.

It's fun. From start to finish, Red is good and tallies a 4.5 star score. My multiple personality readers will love this flick. It has something for everyone: action/adventure, comedy, solid storyline, even a couple of love stories thrown in for good measure, and don't forget the great performances from a classic cast. Malkovich is hilarious and he's not alone. There's plenty of funny to go around in this one between and amidst the flying ammo.

All in all, it's a story that simply meshes two ideas: "You're never too old to live life to the fullest!" and "You should never retire from doing what you love!" Me? I'll probably be dead long before I think about retirement and then the notion will just seem silly. See Red and see it BIG. 

True...out!

Big Screen Blurb: Salt

It's a Tale of Two Agents. It was the best of spies. It was the worst of spies. It is, none other than Angelina Jolie in Salt. Actually, this one is more like a roller coaster ride than a Dickens classic, ripe with plenty of action and a solidly intriguing storyline.

Jolie plays Evelyn Salt, an employee at an American petrol company, but wait--the whole petrol company is just a front for a operative branch of the CIA. Ya know, kinda like Kentucky Fried Chicken--come on, you really think those eleven secret herbs and spices are going into KFC chicken? At any rate, just as Evelyn is preparing to leave the office after a tiring day of espionage, in wonders a Russian defector spy. He's got some good info for our boys and girls wearing the red, white and blue; most important of which is that Evelyn is none other than a Russian spy herself. Plus, she's plotting an assassination against the vice-president. Insight, indeed. With that, all hell breaks loose and yadayadayada, step into the roller coaster. Just make sure you keep hands and feet inside the ride at all times and don't forget to scream like a little girl.

It's good. My expectations here were moderate to low on this one, but it delivers a 4.0 star score and even closes in on 4.5 stars because I might watch it again when it hits Blu-Ray. As one might expect, there's plenty of action and the acting is fine. Aside from Jolie, the cast includes Liev Schreiber of X-Men: Wolverine and Defiance fame; and Chiwetel Ejiofor, of 2012--whom I truly like, but whose acting, for some reason, always prompts me to want to send him a case of Ex-Lax. It's as if the director is constantly telling him, "Okay...this time, play it more constipated."

Ultimately, the story carries this flick, however. It more than a series of well-thought out explosions. There are plenty of twists and opportunities to begin to question what team for whom Salt is actually playing. Actually, you might find yourself flipping back and forth between Yankee and Russkie to the tune of needing a neck brace before the hundred minutes are up. If espionage and action with a good plot is your schtick...well, then see it BIG.

True...out!

Big Screen Blurb: The Social Network

"You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies." That's the tagline for the movie, The Social Network. Those dozen words pack a powerful descriptive for a flick about Mark Zuckerberg's rise with the social media site, Facebook.

From a standpoint of interpersonal relationship, watching the initiation and rise of Facebook is like watching a train derail. Although, in this case, rather than a destructive derailment of ruin, fire and demolition, Zuckerberg's train derails merely to land in a pond of golden Jello. The Social Network showcases irony at it's best. Here you have Mark Zuckerberg, who is easily the leading candidate for Social Retard of the Millennium. Mark is also enterprising the most successful social media site in Web 2.0 history. How's that for a little incongruity?

Mark (Jesse Eisenberg) is a Harvard student and programming whiz-kid. The movie opens in 2003 with a great scene between Zuckerberg and Emily, his Boston U girlfriend at a local bar. Well, soon to be ex-girlfriend. The dialogue we see is enough to make any relationship-attached female create an ex-girlfriend sized hole in a wall. Mark is crass. He's arrogant. He's the kind of guy who is far more impressed with himself than anyone ever has the right to be. But, that's our Mark. He's not a bad guy; although he certainly tries to be. At any rate, back to the bar...yeah, he get's dumped. Next, Mark promptly writes a few choice comments on his blog about Emily's family...her breasts...initiates a comparison between her and farm animals...you get the picture. Mark doesn't stop there. He quickly targets all women at Harvard, creating a 'facesmash' site where people can choose between two hotties. This gets him in Harvard hot water and simultaneously creates a name for himself on campus, infamous as it may be.

Enter the Winklvoss twins (both played by Armie Hammer, of Gossip Girl and Reaper fame, not the baking soda). They've come up with an idea for a site which enables Harvard students to connect. They ask Mark, with his new-found programmers/hacker's rep, to join the group. Mark, however, takes the idea and runs in his own direction with The Facebook. Yadayadayada the site grows in members and value, while pissing off a host of people in the wake.

It's good...very good, actually. I'll give it 4.5 stars and early consideration for best picture. My initial concern was that it was going to be tough to follow--darting in and out from the various mediation hearings within the multiple lawsuits while the story unfolds. Alas, no problems following along at all--just stick with a plain Mr. Pibb minus any additives and you'll be fine. It's just a shade over two hours, but with a story that excels beyond interesting, time does, indeed fly. After all, we're talking about a story that highlights the height and depth of ROI as it relates to human relationships. Throw in the big business angle and the most popular social media website in the cyber-verse and you've got an intriguing tale. The acting was excellent. I can't say enough about Eisenberg's performance. It was an impeccable casting job and a perfect role for Eisenberg, who is quite accustomed to depicting social aloofness (Adventureland, Zombieland, Solitary Man, need I say more?) There are flashes where you'll move beyond begrudging respect for Zuckerberg's massive intelligence and actually like him a little bit, before you're reeled back into a reality that simply states: Get a grip, pal. This was Jesse's mastery. Eisenberg was not alone. Andrew Garfield and Hammer also shine in this one, with Joseph Mazzello (good to see him on the big screen again, btw) thrown in for good measure.

See it and see it BIG!

No mowing this week...just a lot of watering (aeration and overseeding time, ya know).

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: You Again



I guess everyone has had someone, right? Someone that lingers in the ole emotional memory banks, regardless of how hard you have tried to erase them. That one person who has served as a constant source of pain or embarrassment throughout those dangerously formative years of adolescence. That one person whose head you'd like to shove in a blender. Well, maybe that's little strong, but you get the picture...and you probably wouldn't hesitate to apply Super Glue to their butt crack. But, I digress. You Again brings that frustration full circle.

It's a story about a girl, Marni (Kristen Bell). She was a freaky, little geek in high school and was the brunt of the popular crowd's wrath. The 'populars' were spearheaded by Joanna (Odette Yustman) and they relished every opportunity to showcase the 'cool'-shortcomings of young Marni. But, hey, that's life, right? Marni grows up in all kinds of ways and now, she's a high-powered exec at a big PR firm. The past is the past, right? Wrong. The past is now the present. Joanna has entered the picture yet again and is soon to wed Marni's big brother. Further, the family has fallen in love with the seemingly perfect Joanna, sending Marni into a tizzy of epoch proportions. The flood gates of trauma have officially opened, but wait, there's more. No. No, Ginsu knives are forthcoming, but along comes another dagger of sorts. Enter Aunt Mona, Joanna's aunt and all that remains of her family. Mona (Sigourney Weaver) played a similar thorn-status role with Marni's Mom (Jamie Lee Curtis). Yadayadayada...Marni busies herself trying to ruin the wedding; meanwhile ole Mom deals with Mona as the rest of the family is oblivious to the plight of both.

It's okay; scoring on the sunny side of so-so with a 3.0 Star rating. Sure, it would have been nice to have seen the characters developed with a little more depth. I understand that this was more of a physical comedy than a dramatic comedy, but there was a point to it all and sometimes that point got muddled. I experienced a few moments of befuddlement because of the unclear 'good guy-bad guy' lines that had been drawn. We certainly get that Joanna was a beast in high school and even shows flashes of being that same person as her wedding day nears. It's also clear, however, that she's not that same person. Is she evil or not? We don't really know throughout the bulk of the movie. As such, I didn't know who to root for in the Marni vs. the Bully showdown. Most of that is cleared up by the movie's end, but watching it play out left me, well...jumbled. As for the Mona vs. Mom showdown, it plays out differently, but a little more transparent. All the while, on the up-side, Betty White plays Grandma Bunny, an ultra-veteran, cougar just lurking for her next unsuspecting piece of meat. After all, she's quite hip and is on The Twitter, you know. Of course, Kristin Chenoweth is also good for added comedic relief.

Ultimately, it's about reconciliation. Whether it's a long, lost, foul enemy or a friendly rival who has been a source of anguish, that pain is gone. We can learn from it and grow or continue to allow it to devour us. That's true for both the bullied and the bullies of the universe. Yeah, I liked it. A good cast that gave me a few laughs and it's always great to see Betty! No need to go big on this one though--add it to your queue and and enjoy a cold, rainy day with it.

Yeah--I mowed this weekend and even sealed the deck. I know, I know...I rock. Have a great week!

True...out!

BLU-Ray REE-Vu: City Island

City Island. I guess more appropriate titles like Little Secrets or City Confidential had already been claimed. Either of the latter would have made a keenly descriptive title for a movie where seemingly everyone has something to hide.

City Island is a stretch in the Bronx, New York. Yeah, it's real and so are the Rizzo's, the flick's main characters. There's Vince, Sr...the dad; Joyce, the mom; Vince, Jr and Vivian round out the family of four. The common ground here, aside from the New Yawk accent is, very simply, everyone's hiding something. Vince, Sr is the most bottled up. Figures, right? We emotionally constipated, American males are all the same. Vince, Sr aspires to be an actor, a far cry from his job as a prison guard. He is secretly attending acting classes, but wait, there's more. Big Vince is also hiding a prison-ridden son from a previous relationship. Dad uses his influence in the pen to check his son out of that less-than-four-star environment and brings him home to temporarily live life as a Rizzo. His goal? Not sure. Maybe he's just trying to get to a point where he can play Papa with his oblivious offspring. Meanwhile, Vince, Jr has the hots for the BBW's of the world, taking an interest in his well-rounded neighbor. Vivian has dropped out of college unbeknownest to the clan and has found a dancing partner in the pole at a nearby topless joint. All the while, Mom is suspecting Vince, Sr of cheating and plots revenge with her new house guest, not knowing of course, that it's her step-son. And, yadayadayada, there you have it. A royal mess from the less than royal Rizzo's.

It's good...scoring 3.5 Stars on my scale. If you like interesting characters who have a penchant for mirroring the lackluster dishonesty that is the human condition, you'll like the Rizzo's. Then again, you might find it too real. After all, aside from some of the more outlandish sub-plots here, the Rizzo's are a pretty nice replica of just about any American family. They want to create the invincible air of having everything together...of being tough and in charge, but inside, each acts on their fear. That fear is simple: they are scared of the impact that their own realities will have on relationships with their loved ones. Family dynamics abound and, gee, it kinda reminds me of home.

The plot is entertaining enough. The characters are interesting enough. The acting is good. Andy Garcia plays Vince, Sr so well, I wanted to slug him myself and say, "Just tell her you want to act, goober!" Julianna Margulies and Dominik Garcia-Lorido play mother and daughter respectively; and Ezra Miller continues his positive momentum as Vince, Jr. Alan Arkin even plays a small role as the acting coach.

This one is not for everyone, but if you appreciate irony and interesting characters, you might want to add it to your queue.

That's it for me...thanks for reading!
True

BLU-Ray REE-vu: Greenberg



Look up "discombobulated" in the dictionary and you'll see a snapshot of Roger Greenberg. He's the headline character of Ben Stiller's Indy-feel flick, Greenberg. If you like watching characters with a unique edge--not likeable, mind you, but uniquely real...if you like watching these characters slowly develop with a few moments of head-scratching madness...if you don't mind a story going essentially nowhere, but might enjoy going along for the ride...well, then you might want to rent Greenberg. Just be warned. It's a ride that is comparable to a drive through Iowa and Kansas.

Roger (Stiller) has come to LA from New York to house sit for his brother, Phillip (Chris Messina), while the latter's family jets off to Vietnam. Roger has had his problems, being recently released from a mental health facility. He's out-of-sorts. Roger's frustrated with life in-general mainly because it seems that he's frustrated with his own life specifically.

Roger makes is impact on the world through various letters of suggestion or complaint. Whether encouraging Mayor Bloomberg to take his advice on noise pollution or complaining to American Airlines or Pet Taxi, Roger has a lot to get off his chest. However, a bigger problem for Roger than an unsuitable ride in a pet taxi or car horns in NYC is his personal relationship with any animate creation. Past and present, Roger's connections with his fellow man are frustrating. They have frustrated him--you never really know what's going to trigger one of his explosions. They have frustrated his friends--because Roger is as reliable as a rubber with a hole in it. And, they have frustrated me--for watching this long journey around a bumpy circle. Don't get me wrong. Roger does make some headway as the film progresses. His self-centered bulls eye does expand somewhat by film's end, but not nearly enough to make you even like the guy. Actually, save Florence (Greta Gerwig) and Mahler (the German Shepherd), there are no remotely likeable characters in this flick at all.

I'll give it 2.5 stars--slightly on the negative side of so-so. Yes, we watch as Roger expands somewhat on his ego-centric circle of self-gratification. We watch Roger deal with having let down his band friends 20 years prior; and, we watch him take responsibility for Mahler and even possibly develop feelings for Florence. But, at the end of an hour and forty-seven minutes, I need more. A likeable character that didn't require Frontline every 30-days would be a start. Yeah, we're probably not supposed to like Roger. I get that. I was, however, hoping that Roger would grow into someone that I would like. Not so much. I wouldn't want him showing up at my door at the start of the flick nor as the credits rolled.

I've got to go watch the Colts beat the Broncos--remember, no mowing this weekend...it's time for a steak and some junk food. Enjoy your Sunday!

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Devil



It really depends on the objective. If Devil was supposed to do for riding in elevators what Jaws did for swimming in the ocean, well, objective not met. But then again, what do I know...I spent 30-minutes stuck on an escalator. (JUST KIDDING...it was only ten and the nice 9-1-1 operator talked me down very nicely...okay I WAS kidding) But seriously, Devil, from M. Night Shyamalan is not a bad flick. There is a decent mixture of suspense, plot and intensity that make it worth seeing--big or little screen is up to you.

Philadelphia is the scene. Apparently, the City of Brotherly Love has hit the sights of the evil fallen angel. (Irony duly noted--Shyamalan seems to love that kind of play, doesn't he?) At any rate, the Devil has set up shop in downtown Philly...in an elevator, no less. Enter five seemingly hapless patrons to a downtown building (333 'X' Street, no less--more irony, me thinks). Only these patrons aren't exactly hapless. They are sinners. Yeah, let me narrow that down a bit. Their failures have seemingly moved beyond the "saying 'Damn' to your momma...patting the ass of your girlfriend's best friend...or wearing white after Labor Day" variety of sins. Their shortcomings are a little more noteworthy in mankind's conventional sense. Dana Carvey's favorite line enters stage right...who could it be? "S-a-a-atan!" He's set-up shop in order collect the souls of those devilish patrons and bring along anyone that gets in his way. Yadayadayada...our oblivious elevator riders are picked off one by one and Philly's finest are on the scene trying to figure out how these peeps are dropping, all while trying to get the shrinking list of survivors out of the steel trap.

I'll go with 3.0 stars on this one--slightly on the upside of so-so. It was okay. A story that came together nicely, albeit a little predictably, with enough suspense and intensity to round out a pretty good plot twist here and there. Actually, much of the suspense is played out in Jaws mode--we were just missing the tuba used to make that scary music. You see, the devil does his work when the lights are off, so we, the audience are previed to the ole "be scared of what you can't see" or "I don't know what's happening, but it must be something horrible" element of fright. Neither of which has ever really been that frightening to me. I see a blank screen and want to yell at the projection guy or take a nap. I guess there are visual learners, so call me a visual-scaredy cat. With that in mind, it really wasn't that scary...just a little suspenseful and intense here and there.

Chris Messina, of Julie and Julia fame, headlines a cast that includes Matt Craven and Jenny O'Hara. Acting was good. Plot was fine and the story moved nicely over the course of 80-minutes. Overall, it's a step forward for M. Night after a string of disappointing original stories that included Lady in the Water, The Village and The Happening.

Well, happy weekend to all!

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: The Town



Let me be perfectly clear. I'm a Yankees fan. This probably explains my lack of membership in the Ben Affleck fan club. Don't get me wrong. I think he's incredibly talented, dating back to his 1997 hit Good Will Hunting. However, with seemingly all of his flicks taking place in Boston (let's call it B*&#*N), and considering my baseball-driven prejudice, I've never really found myself in awe of this writer/director/actor. The Town? Well, it wasn't necessarily awe inspiring, but it's exceptionally good. Actually, it's one of the best flicks of the year and very worthy of a 4.0 star score.

Meet Doug (Affleck). He's your average, run-of-the-mill guy living in Charlestown--a 'burb of B*&#*N. He works in a rock quarry and oh yeah, he robs banks. With that said, Doug is not a bad guy. Well, he's not a great guy by conventional standards, but he does have heart. That heart is captured by Claire (Rebecca Hall). Claire had the misfortune of playing a large role in one of Doug's heists. She was a branch manager and was forced to open the safe went it all went down--then for good measure, Claire was taken hostage. Doug was put in charge of tailing Claire to ensure that she didn't know too much. Claire and Doug start falling for each other as she is oblivious to his bank-pinching hobby. Meanwhile, Doug's cohorts are missing that all important heart and more than willing to rub her out if she can whistle the feds. The FBI is in hot pursuit and enter a greedy mob boss looking for his next big score and you're perfectly set up for The Town. Yadayadayada the boys pull heist after heist, while Doug plays the dual role of robber/BF and the FBI is hot on their tails.

I liked it...a lot. Yes, I had to endure B*&#*N, but with a great story that contained numerous interesting sub-plots...a cast of fascinating characters that were not at all lacking in development...plenty of action...and, great acting that nicely intertwined hard-nosed and heart-felt, The Town was two-hours well spent. I'm talking about family dynamics, mob-boss crunches and best friends squaring off to boot. Plenty to keep you entertained for 122 minutes.

All in all, it's one of the best flicks of 2010 and another nice score for Affleck...did I say that? Oh well, see it and see it big.

No yard this week...even the household chores are limited. I'm just hitting Neyland Stadium for what should be a rare win for my Vols.

True...out!

BLU-Ray REE-Vu: Solitary Man



I'm not a player, sorry, I mean: "playa' ". Yeah, I'm a thirty-something that typically dates twenty-somethings. True to my non-playa' mode, however, I've always figured that I'd find someone with which to build something significant and have never looked for the quick hook-up. I suppose that maybe part of me had always wanted to be more of a playa', that is, until I watched Solitary Man.  It's a movie that delivers a solid message to current and would-be players alike: If you are at all capable of moving beyond greed and simultaneously driving your motivations north of your crotch, do it; otherwise, life just becomes sadly pathetic.

Michael Douglas plays Ben Kalmen, a New York City car dealership icon that is well rep'd as a "playa'". He'll talk his way into putting your butt in the seat of a new car and then talk you into the backseat. That's right. He's a player, in every sense of the word. However, at the ripe age of 60, it's catching up with him. His playin' led to some legal woes--dealerships gone. His playin' led to marital woes--relationship gone. His on-going playin' with the ladies has even screwed up his prospects of starting over. The movie unfolds as Kalmen battles family issues, friendship issues, professional issues. Yadayadayada, we eventually see the results of his life of playing people in sex and love, in business and life. Message received: It's not pretty.

Douglas was outstanding. His Ben Kalmen is a charmer, no doubt. Kalmen's issues are less about sex and more about nurturing his own ego-driven narcissistic world. Early in the flick, we see him engage in conversation with an 18-year old Pretty-Young-Thing. Their conversation leads to a proverbial one-night horizontal dance. This seems to be just a situationally charged hormonal explosion...until later. That reality emerges when the same lines are squashed by a sharper, more experienced PYT not willing to be played. Douglas played the role beautifully.You find yourself wanting to kick Kelman's ass, but feeling bad for him when he gets his ass kicked.

The rest of the group is solid, too; and it's a good one. Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Jenna Fischer and Mary-Louise Parker spotlight a great cast with good performances all around. I'll give it 3.5 stars. Good story and solid performances abound. It's a sleeper, but one to rent when you're in the mood for a sharply delivered lesson. Whether you need it or not, well, that's your call!

True...out!

Big Screen Blurb: Takers



It was Wednesday, which meant a trip to The Pinnacle Theatre. Takers had been on the outskirts of my radar for a couple of weeks, but I didn't have high hopes. That seems to be my recipe for movie success in 2010. Low expectations were omnipresent for Remember Me and I was blown away. Takers isn't quite that good, but my low-ball hopes were treated with a very good flick.

It's the story of five very crafty bank robbers who know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk awa--oops...yeah, that one tripped them up. It's always that last heist, isn't it? Well, at any rate, this crew just finished a big job and, as presumably the smart ones do, they were planning a long break between pinches. That's when Ghost (T. I. Harris) shows up. Ghost got nabbed in the last job and was recently released from prison. True to form, he kept his mouth shut and is ready to join the group again; plus, he's got the insight to a lucrative thievery. The trouble is, Ghost has lost the confidence of the rest of the group. But--the money is enough to bait the big fishes and soon the crew is planning and executing the job. Meanwhile, Detective Jack (Matt Dillon) is hot on their trails. Yadayadayada...some things go as planned for the Vils, others...well, not so much.

Yeah, it's good: 3.0 Stars in my book. It's a good story that moves quickly with interesting characters and solid acting. Character development might be a small complain when it comes to Det. Jack, but other than that, it was a well-crafted story. The ending, which, don't worry, I won't give away, left me a little unsatisfied--not because I didn't like it or see it coming. Rather, the ending was like walking away from the last Krispy Kreme donut in the box when you're starving. My only really regret is that I didn't take a Dramamine, which might have given me stronger sea legs during some of those many chase scenes...yikes-ola!!! Takers is a sleeper for certain, but an entertaining experience whether you go Big or Rental.

Well, enjoy your week!
True...out!

Big Screen Blurb: Eat. Pray. Love.

Mood matters, doesn't it? Sometimes it's the difference between a smart-ass comment being greeted with a chuckle or fist. Mood matters with movies, too. For example, I loved the first Austin Powers movie. For whatever reason, I was in the mood to completely embrace that uniquely stupid brand of humor. On the other hand, I did not like the sequel. The humor had not changed, but I had...or at least I wasn't in the mood for it. Your mood is going to matter with Eat Pray Love as well. If you find yourself with a rather introspective mindset...if you find yourself in need of inspiration for this little thing called 'life'...if you're in need of a few little 'ah...ha' uplifters...well, then this flick might be one to see big. If not, wait. Rent it when the mood hits.

The mood hit me and I liked it. The story follows Liz (Julia Roberts) as she attempts to find herself. Where this native New Yorker initially finds herself is not where she ultimately wants to be: unhappily married to someone that she's just not in-sync with anymore. So, she jets off to Rome, the first of three stops on her way to self discovery. What she discovered in her nine months in Italy was an appetite. She learns a few valuable life lessons, makes some great friends and decides to pack up to connect with her spiritual self. That takes her to India. Yeah, suffering can truly be an invaluable resource in spiritual development, can't it? She spends several months in India before heading to Bali, where the ole ticker gets to pumpin' and yadayadayada the hips get to grindin'.

Roberts is good, not as annoying as in some roles. The cinescape is wonderful. The cultural exposure is interesting to say the least. The messages that accompany each venue prompt introspectively deep thoughts, which prove to be both insightful and invaluable. For all of that, I give it 3.0 stars.

On the down side, it's long. And by long, I mean LOOOOOONG! Eat Pray Love clocks in at 2:20 to be exact. Actually, I would have been content with Eat, Say a Hail Mary and have a Quick Crush if it would have chimed in around 90-100 minutes. But alas, it is what it is: a good flick to check out if and when the mood strikes you!

Best to all,
True

Big Screen Blurb: The American

Looking a for a movie to match the high dollar fanfare of a typical Hollywood blockbuster? Looking for a flick that combines big dollar special effects with a can't miss star-studded cast? Keep looking. It's probably not The American. However, if you want an interesting plot that is well acted all around and anchored by a four-time Oscar nominee, give it a shot.

There is a reason this flick isn't getting a lot of pub from Hollywood's marketing circles. It's not at all mainstream. Don't get me wrong, this is a good flick, however, its tone and mood set the perfect stage for an artsy thriller. Well, maybe 'thriller' is a bit much, but The American has an interesting plot that grabs you and holds one's attention for the most part...presuming you're not to ADHD. That solid storyline and a good performance from George Clooney pushes this movie into the 3-Star column in my book.

It's the tale of a man named Jack (Clooney). Jack is cold, distant and calculating. He's not a bad guy, but he's probably not going to anchor your Christmas card list either. We don't really know what Jack does for a living, but we know he's not going to be found taking junior's scout troop to the woods to get their congeniality badges. No, he's a killer, who seems to be tired of the paranoia that comes with the job and that job has caught up with him. So, he shuttles from Sweden to Italy and settles in for yet another job. This one involves making a weapon for a presumed assassination. He gets his specs and sets to the task of making this rifle. In the meantime, Jack becomes quite acquainted with Clara, a hooker to whom he takes a distant liking. I say 'distant' because Jack seems to be more than just your typical emotionally constipated male. He's damned up a ton of feelings in the wake of doing whatever it is that he does. At any rate, the two grow closer as Jack works toward his goal and yadayadayada and a few deaths later, we have another solid Clooney flick.

It's an interesting story that moves slowly at times over the course of its 1:45 running time, but anchors the overall experience. The acting is good, but Clooney is the only face or name that is noteworthy; and its mood had me swearing that I was watching a foreign flick, which, for all intents and purposes, I was.

Big screen or Blu-Ray? Good question. I liked it, but I like a lot of foreign movies and can certainly deal with an artsy flick every now and again. If that is your schtick, catch it now. If not, wait for the rental or forget it altogether.

Well, no yard work this weekend...I'm soaking in football and tailgating while firing up the grill for the rest of the Holiday festivities. Enjoy your Labor Day!

True

Big Screen Blurb: The Switch

Romantic/Comedy--it's a movie genre that involves a healthy mix between funny and affairs of the ticker. That's the genre billed for The Switch, a movie that sees less of a healthy split of romance and comedy, probably weighing in at 70 percent drama, 20 percent romance and 10 percent fun.

It's a potentially funny story, but that's where the fun ends. The rest is more drama than anything else, which would have been fine had those been my expectations. It's the story of Kassie, a lady who seemingly has developed tinnitus because of the ringing of her biological clock. She wants a baby and is willing to take matters into her own hands. This, of course, is despite the objection from her best friend, Wally, a neurotic hypochondriac, played appropriately enough by Jason Bateman. The problem is simple: Jason's so opposed to this procedure that he...well...performs a switch of sorts, and yadayadayada the rest of the puzzle eventually lines up.

I give it 2.0 stars. Yeah, it's that bad. The concept was great, but the story doesn't really go anywhere. There are so many elements of this movie that could have been developed more strongly. There are just three characters that get strong play here--okay, two and a half really. With that we have the missing comedic link. Jeff Goldbloom, who plays Wally's boss, and Juliette Lewis, friend to Kassie, both played minimal roles and could have been better developed to help balance out the drama to a more comedic slant. Those characters were left undeveloped and we were left with more of the unfunny.

The saving grace is the kid (Bryce Robinson). He was cute and funny and everything the lil goob should've been. He added a dry humor that one doesn't expect to find in such a little tyke--who had progressed to the age of six by the time the story really develops. He played well off of Bateman, who once again nailed the neurotic character that we see from him repeatedly (Couples Retreat, Extract, Mr. MaGorium's Wonder Emporium, etc.).

To sum it all up: It's a story that could have been told much better...serves as another miss for Jen...and could have been a much more entertaining movie experience. Actually, go ahead and leave it on the shelf at Blockbuster.

True...out!