Big Screen Blurb: Chasing Mavericks

I never really understood surfing. There was no ball. There was no scoring. There really didn't seem to be a point. If you feel the same, Chasing Mavericks may help you discover exactly what I did, this little gem of wisdom: That IS exactly the point.

Meet my new hero: Jay Moriarty (Jonny Weston). Even as a lil dude, Jay was enamored with the ocean. So much so, that he was consumed by a big wave only to have his neighbor, Frosty (Gerard Butler), surf by to make a big save. From there, lil Jay pieced together a surfboard and begin tackling the real thing. Years later, Jay spots Frosty headed out to catch some early morning waves. He follows Frosty to find a little known and hidden area where the waves come in at Texan proportions. Jay is in and convinces Frosty to train him to ride these beasts. But wait, those whoppers are just the beginning. El Nino approaches and with it the promise of a Maverick--we're talking five story-high waves, baby. The training begins as Jay gets in touch with his inner self to tackle the elements of nature and yadayadayada...we get to know a real surfer and a tremendous human being.

It's good. I'll go with 4.0 Stars on this one. Actually, doing a little inventory midway through, I would have scored this one lower. Hang in there though, because it finishes strong and stays with you. Sure, at the halfway point you might be thinking, "Okay...this is a just flawed Miogi training Daniel--just swap a surf board for a karate belt--so where's it going?!?" You might even be thinking, "Why is Jay doing this? There's nothing at stake here. Why risk life and limb for nada?"

True on both counts; but there is much at work here. After all, when you look at the master-student relationship between Frosty and Jay, you're probably left with an unsavory opinion of the teacher. Actually, it seemed hypocritical to be taking lessons on 'connecting' from someone who is quite 'disconnected'. Jay truly has his act together. Sure, at times, he's got the ole immaturity of a 16 year old thing going for him, but he's shouldered a lot in his life. Meanwhile, Frosty seems to be distantly disconnected to his wife, kids and actually anything or one not in the ocean. The point on this front leads you to realize that reality is truly at work here. Frosty is molding and shaping Jay--helping him overcome a lot of his obstacles, while Frosty begins to embrace his own teachings to do the same. Good stuff. Wise stuff. Real stuff.

What about that second question? "Why is he doing this?" Having sat through a lot of movies, it's a legit question to pose. We have grown very much accustomed to a story that would have evolved toward a storyline of: Jay has to surf to win a competition and it's $10,000 prize in order to save the family home...or, Jay has to beat his bully of a competitor to forever prove his worth over that enemy. When neither elements emerged, it really through me. What we got, however, was real. First, we got to know someone who--if this is an accurate portrayal--was one tremendous human being. Yes, he got bullied. Yes, he was betrayed. Yes, he was disrespected. Was each negative turned into a Hollywood positive? No. Each negative was ignored, allowing compassion to be embraced with each incident. It didn't fight back. It didn't seek to get even. It didn't look to save face. Rather, it embraced and left you wondering if Jesus had come back as a surfer! Each incident was embraced with a compassionate and confident understanding that far exceeded your typical 16 year old.

With that, you just really fall in love with this character. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trading in my boogie board for a surfboard. I do, however, understand the connectedness that surfers feel with their environment.

Should you go Big? Hmm...there's a lot of depth here. If you can patiently wait for the break, you'll ride a sweet wave. You just need that Hollywood story to make the trip worthwhile, stay on the beach. This is good stuff, but you've got to be willing to connect with it to make it worth the time and dime.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Taken 2

The movie world was certainly taken by Taken. I was totally taken, too. Would we all be taken, too by Taken 2? Uhh...yeah! Even following the same storyline, Taken 2 is one of those Hollywood rarities where the sequel lives up to the original.

He's just an OCD boy. Living in a lonely world. He took the midnight plane going to Istanbul. "He" in this little Mo-Town jingle is Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson). If you recall, Bryan has a very special skill set, which basically means he can find you and dismantle you in a millisecond. He did it once before when his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) was abducted by sex traffickers. He ruthlessly hunted them down and issued his own torturous sentence of death. Understandable considering the circumstances, right? Well, the papa of some of those deposed sex traffickers took exception to Bryan's brutality and wants blood in return. So, while Bryan takes care of some business in Turkey, along with his ex-wife, Lenore (Famke Jannsen) and Kim, the dissed papa sets out to take Bryan and his ex. Silly and stupid move from a man whose brain cells are seemingly scattered around Eastern Europe, huh? Meanwhile, Kim attempts to allude capture and help her dad go on the offensive. Mission accomplished. Yadayadayada...Once again, Bryan is able to use that deadly skill set to turn the tables on those hell-bent on evil.

It's good. I'll go with 4.0 Stars for Taken 2. It's almost, if not as good as the original. The only thing the original had going for it was, well, exactly that: It was an original. This follows the same concept with similar action-packed and emotionally charged results.

One thing that did not really equate with the original was bad guys. With Taken, we got to know some pretty evil men pretty well. They weren't pretty to say the least and we got some instant gratification from watching Liam's Bryan Mills go to work on them. The bad guys in Taken 2 are bad--no doubt about it. However, we just don't really get to know them very well and don't experience that emotional charge that desperately wants to see Bryan do his thing. What you have is a bad guy who is a dad who loved his very evil son unconditionally and wants revenge. I would have liked to have seen Bryan shove the son's evil in papa's face a bit more to remind him why his son met a gruesome demise. Instead, we are left with papa's "I don't care what he did, he's my son", which is an attitude that is easy to connect with especially when the son's actions are really (for the most part) left out of the Bryan-Papa square off. Within that character dynamic, more would have been more.

Sure, there are some implausible moments that are typical of these action-adventure thrillers. None of those moments reach with any depth into the impossible, so they are manageable beyond the ole, "...uhhh--wait a minute" gut reactions.

All in all, Taken 2 is a fun flick with plenty of fun characters, action, emotion and the hearty roller coaster ride similar to the original. It doesn't try to do too much. It merely nudges the series along in a positive direction, which is far more than many sequels are able to accomplish.

With that in mind, see Taken 2 and see it BIG! You too, might be totally taken by Taken 2. 

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Argo

Keepin' it real. When it comes to appreciating the movie Argo, from director and star, Ben Affleck, that is a key phrase to remember. Embrace the reality and you have a tremendous movie experience. Looking for an action spy adventure with narrowly escaped explosions at every turn? Keep lookin' because Affleck ensures that Argo is keepin' it real, baby.

It's 1979. Picture it...little Scotty Trueblood playing diligently with his Star Wars figures. Got that image in place? Well, forget about it because it has almost nothing to do with what was going on in Iran that year. It was 1979 when Iranians stormed the US Embassy, taking American hostages. In return, they demanded the return of their ousted leader who had taken refuge in the USA. However, six of those hostages had escaped to a Canadian safe house. Enter Johnny Mendez (Affleck). He's brought into a think tank whose purpose is to brainstorm these six Americans home safely. Several ideas float about, but it is Johnny's plan that gets the nod. What's the big idea? Well, drawing from the popularity of the movie Star Wars, Johnny plans to pass the six hostages off as a film crew on a location scouting mission. The proposed movie is Argo--a sci-fi thriller in need of a desert location for filming. Argo...meet Iran. Is it suspicious considering the chaotic upheaval taking place in Iran? Sure. But as Mendez's boss (Bryan Cranston) points out: "This is the best bad idea we have."

To keep it real, Mendez brings in Hollywood. This means make-up guru John Chambers (John Goodman) and producer Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin). They use a real script...cast real actors...even have a PR event with cast and crew to draw some media coverage. It would all need to pay off as...yadayadayada Johnny and his crew of six ambassadors turned film crew navigate checkpoint after checkpoint on their way home.

It's good...very good. I'll go with 4.0 Stars on this gem. Again, Argo is not your Tom Clancy thriller turned big screen. It is a real story that leans heavily on history for a basis for its reality. These are real events, which make them even scarier; and, as they emerge onto the big screen, even more entertaining.

What Affleck captures here is truly the fear and shock injected into a nation at these horrifying events of 1979. I was a little fella, but I do remember this happening. Actually, I remember playing with my Star Wars figures on Mammaw Brown's couch one Friday night while she and Pap remained intensely glued to the TV as these events unfolded. Americans were outraged and enraged. That is one side. Affleck also effectively captures the rage pulsing through Iran that year. Their people had ousted someone they considered to be a horrible dictator and he had set up a convenient asylum in the US. The Iranian people took offense and a group of revolutionaries took action and sixty hostages in the process. It was chaos in motion and Affleck painted an absolutely brilliant picture.

Where does it come up short? You really have to get picky to come up with any negatives. Yeah, there are times when you edge up on that seat and wonder if Hollywood is behind it or these events unfolded as depicted. I'll give all involved the benefit of the doubt because nothing is remotely over the top. Again...keepin' it real, baby.

The acting? Great. From Cranston and Goodman and Arkin, this crew was as historic as these events. The only criticism on that front would be Affleck's portrayal of Mendez. No emotion with this character whatsoever. I promise that you will find no difference between Mendez and the stone wall nearest you, save some moss and dust on the latter. Now, the trouble with capturing a real-life person is that he may have been portrayed incredibly accurately. That would, after all, be quite real if Mendez's nickname was Stony. It may have been, but you're facing incredible feats with absolutely no sense of emotion at all? I suppose. Again, the real Mendez might have showered in Novocaine? I don't know. With that said, Affleck was either brilliant or a stone. With every other component well in place in Argo I'll side with brilliant.

Should you see this one BIG? Uhh...yeah! Argo is a fascinating peace of history and fun to watch on many fronts. Check it out and go BIG!

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Trouble with the Curve

Trouble with the Curve. It's On Golden Pond meets Moneyball in a movie that touches on a lot of emotions in the midst of a lot of testosterone. Ultimately, it's the former that shines through on the way to a very good movie.

Meet Gus (Clint Eastwood). He's a baseball scout for the Atlanta Braves and a damn good one. He's been around awhile. Actually, according to some of the Braves' brass, he's been around a little too long. They fear that he's lost his touch. What does Gus think? He wouldn't admit it, but he knows two things. One, yeah...he's slipped a bit of late. His vision isn't what it used to be. In fact, his glaucoma causes more than a few problems for ole Gus. Second, Gus still knows this game of baseball better than any amount of data a laptop could spit out. Enter Mickey (Amy Adams). She's Gus' daughter and a high-powered Atlanta attorney; at least she is taking all the right steps to move into a partnership at her firm. That trek takes a detour, however, when family friend Pete (John Goodman) asks a favor. Pete also works for the Braves and he's a big believer in Gus. He also know that Gus has been struggling a bit, so he enlists Mickey to look after him on a big scouting trip that could greatly impact the future of both the Braves organization and Gus' role in it. So, Amy hits the road, much to the shagrin of Gus. Let's just say the two aren't exactly close. After Gus' wife died, he sent Mickey away to boarding school. Gone were the father-daughter road trips. They were replaced with a distant relationship filed far from the close-knit "daddy-daughter" docket. So, here is another chance to bond. This one comes under the guise of caring for your elderly father, but beggers can't be choosers, right? Along the journey, we meet Johnny. He works for the Red Sox and is one of Gus' old signees. Unfortunately, he blew out his arm and never materialized into a prospect, but Johnny is certainly close with Gus and wants to get closer to Gus' daughter. Yadayadayada...Mickey and Gus journey toward finally developing a bond as Gus' career with the Braves comes into stronger focus.

It's good...very good. I'll go with 4.0 Stars here. First, I should say that I'm very picky about my baseball movies. Heck, I'm picky about sports movies in general. They so often lack enough realism within the context of the sport as it meets the big screen, leaving me peeved that the sport has been dissed. That doesn't happen here. Now, keep in mind, we're not talking about the sport being displayed in an in-game setting. Rather, this movie explores the inner-workings of the games that surround the on-the-field action. Even so, those situations are all handled within the scope of reality. Even when a seed is planted that prompts a response of, "..wait a sec, could that really happen?"; you quickly realize that it could, indeed.

Further, I loved these characters. Their situations present real-life dilemmas that are rarely resolved. After all, Gus represents the emotionally constipated male. When his wife passed away, he didn't know how to parent a little girl--at least he didn't think he did. Shipping her off made sense to him, but was devastating to her. In the real world, rarely would characters like this would ever be emotionally open enough to even discuss it. We get a glimpse of that rare resolution through these characters and it was wonderfully meaningful. In other words, we get to the "why's" in their situation, moving past the "what's"--which is where we all need to end up (or would like to end up) in settling those issues of the past.

Finally, the story itself is just plain good. It is a sound plot with interesting, but real-life twists that draw you in and prompt you to really root for the people you know you should be rooting for. The story comes full-circle in a way that you're left feeling like it won't--if realism is to be maintained. Never fear, it all works out effectively and leaves you left with a certain sense of resolution yourself.

Yeah...see this one and see it BIG! Sports movies that present such raw emotion and realism are rarities. Sure, Eastwood is always worth a watch. In this case, he's surrounded by a solid cast and a great story, all of which entertains as much as a walk-off homer.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Pitch Perfect

Feeling a little down? Got those post summer blahs? Horrified at the prospect of pulling your Fall wardrobe over that perfectly tanned body? Okay...I'm starting to crack myself up. At any rate, I know the feeling. I love the seasons, but have started to miss the bright, hot lights of Summer. The perfect remedy? Hmm...it may be Pitch Perfect. It's not perfect by any stretch, but it is a fun escape to the post summertime blues.

Meet the Bellas. They are Barden U's all-girl a cappella group. Sure, they look like snobby stewardesses. Sure, none of their songs come from this century. And yeah, they are a constant and distant second to BU's all-male group in all the competitions. Okay...I'm not painting a flattering picture here, am I? But in all honesty, there's not a lot of positives to share and the a cappella judges concur. Looking for some new blood...check that--'looking for anyone who can carry a tune', the Bellas turn to a unique cast of characters. There's Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson). She's a blunt, but full of life no non-sense kind of gal. There's Beca (Anna Kendrick). She's a rebel that doesn't even want to be in college, much less the Bellas. There's Lily (Hana Mae Lee). Shealdlsglsaldg. What? Didn't catch that? Well, you won't understand anything this girl says either. They are just three of several added to Chloe and Aubrey's (Brittany Snow and Anna Camp) perfect little group where no change is allowed. EVER! This unwillingness to adapt is a problem if the Bellas are to ever overtake the fellas in the national competition. One of those guys, Jesse (Skylar Astin) has set his sights on Beca--not that she's really noticed or even cares, mind you. At any rate, Beca starts to care...about the group at least...and begins butting heads with the ultimate traditionalistic Aubrey. Yadayadayada...Beca journeys from indifference to impact as she begins to care about a great many things upon arriving in the land of self-discovery.

It's fun. I'll go with 3.5 Stars. Pitch Perfect is an entertaining ride with characters that are easy to like; easy to dislike (when you're supposed) and easy to connect with on the various levels of personal evolution that most humans experience. Pitch Perfect has its funny moments. It is NOT a collegiate version of Bridesmaids so don't set yourself up for that kind of disappointment. However, there are some genuinely comedic moments in this flick that will draw a smile or two.

You will also enjoy the characters. They are, for the most part, a fun group. Yeah, it can get frustrating. After all, you know what the group needs to do to improve, but they won't do it. You know a good pitch slap to Beca would wake her from a rebellious slumber, but it's slow to come. All in all, that is really just life, right? Don't we all watch train wrecks in the making among our friends? Aren't we each train wrecks waiting to happen, at times anyway? Allow yourself to suck it up and enjoy the ride. Embrace these characters and their situations and you just might experience a fairly fun ride.

It is not without a few flaws. Actually, Pitch Perfect racks up more than a reasonable amount of "What the's..." or "Why in the hell would..." moments. These are plot-centered moments where a sudden twist occurs--either around a situation or a character that leaves you scratching your head and thinking, "There had to be a more effective way to work out this issue." As such, this is one of those movies that, if you're going to truly enjoy it, you just need to chalk it up to being a movie played out in movieland. In other words, it is what it is, so don't over-think it and you just might enjoy yourself.

Should you see this one BIG? Tough call. It has its moments--both "ahh!" and, "huh!" If you're just looking for a flick to give you a fun little escape, this may be the answer. It is certainly a nice remedy for the post-summertime blah's. It is not necessarily the answer if you need a deep story-line that is flawlessly fascinating. If that's your prescription for the blues, then you'll probably want to find an alternate option.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Perks of Being a Wallflower

There aren't too many movies that make me want to go back to high school. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed my high school years--for the most part. However, the thought of trading independence and freedom for the prospects of papers, rules, zits, sparse growth spurts, more papers and more rules is utterly unappealing. Of course, if I could attend this high school...hmm...different story altogether. Not that this particular Pittsburgh high school was something to get excited about in 1980-something, but rather the people that roam its halls. In this case, it is very much the people that would make the difference. That is, of course, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Meet Charlie (Logan Lerman). He's 15. He's a freshman. He's pretty messed up. Simply put: Charlie has been through a lot. His best friend killed himself. His aunt died in a horrific car accident and I'm just getting started. Yeah, life has presented a few obstacles to this shy, innocent and wonderfully dispositioned young man. Hoping to put some of those problems aside, he starts high school. Hoping to make new friends, he meets seniors Patrick (Ezra Miller) and Sam (Emma Watson). They are step bro and sis and take Charlie under their wings, introducing him to a circle of friends that truly gives him the friendship he seeks. Of course, as life does...it gets complicated. Charlie begins crushin' on Sam, while Patrick carries on a secret relationship with a football stud (Johnny Simmons). Meanwhile, Mary Elizabeth (Mae Whitman) is crushin' on Charlie, whom she informs is to be her boyfriend. Of course, Sam is dating a college dude (Reece Thompson), while Patrick's relationship begins to literally blow up in his face. You taking notes? Yeah, I know it sounds like your typical high school stuff, right? Like my senior year when all people could talk about was how senior Sally was dating freshman Brad and they wanted it to end because...well, I'm digressing, but you get my point. Most of the so-called meaningful stuff in high school is the non-sense. Throughout it all, we progress through Charlie's issues, moving toward a climax and yadayadayada getting to a meaningful point:  We accept the love that we think we deserve.

It's good. Okay--I'll go with great on this one and 4.5 Stars. I knew nothing about the book and truly went into this one blind. Low expectations yielded great results with The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I loved this flick. Actually, I didn't want to see the rising conflict emerge in the movie because it would only mean the plot quickly evolving to a finish. No way, I wanted to experience the daily walks of three fascinating characters that were each well played. I wanted to get to know this crowd. Yes, that's partly because it reminds me of some of the characters that I used to hang out with, and partly because I wanted the opportunity to continue to connect with this group.

Logan Lerman...great work here. He truly grew with this role as an actor. Charlie is a challenge and Lerman truly captured everything from his naive innocence to his wrought emotional pain and problems. I've always liked this guy, but never been enthralled with one of his portrayals until this one. Don't get me wrong--he's always been a solid and talented actor, but this role was tough and he nailed it. Emma Watson...admittedly, it took a second to get used to her without the English accent, but she brings Sam to life in a very real way that would quickly have you putting her atop your best friends list. Ezra Miller...I've said all along that he is an incredible talent. He captured a fun-loving Patrick, who you know just keeps rolling out the laughs to prevent the rolling of the tears. All in all, each of these characters is so easy to connect with...so easy to love, and that has much to do with their actors.

It's a tough story. This isn't The Littlest Elf. It's complex real world pain; and we get to experience it all. It's a movie that captures the pain so much so, that you just want to put your arm around these characters and tell them that it's going to be okay. Actually, I'm going to have to read the book now to keep the connections rolling.

See this one and see it BIG. Yeah, you could wait for its January release to DVD. However, there is too much value in these 103 minutes to wait. It's been a limited release, but if you can find it in a theater, check it out.

True...OUT!