The Other Guys

Alright I’ll keep this quick.

‘The Other Guys’, I almost didn’t rent it because it got shitty reviews. I didn’t follow my own rule about giving anything that has potential a chance, until a friend said he really liked it. Of course this same friend was walking out of the store with a ‘Ninja Assassin’ knock off and ‘Death Race 2’. But I remembered I had similar feeling about another Will Ferrell movie, ‘Step Brothers’, and I laughed my ass off for a good chunk of that film. So I picked up ‘The Other Guys’ and found myself laughing even harder and more often.

Will Ferrell and Marky Mark star in this buddy cop film that despite setting it self up to make fun of buddy cops films, fails to make fun of buddy cop films. However, it manages to make fun of every other cop movie in existence. Mark Wahlberg plays a cop itching for a big case, while Ferrell is his partner who would rather sit a file paper work. But when a simple permit violation arrest drops these two in the middle of dangerous position, they both must step to crack the case and stay alive. Its not a great story line, but it serves to set up some very entertaining moments.

Ferrell’s character is very reminiscent of Frank The Tank who he played in ‘Old School’, typically this is something I would bitch about but it works here. It works because Samuel L. Jackson stops by to make fun of Shaft, Dwayne Johnson is playing who I assume is his old WWE personality The Rock, and Wahlberg is playing the same character he’s played in every movie. The humor in the movie works because they are making fun of them selves as much as they are making fun of other cop movies.

Funny man Will Ferrell doesn’t get as many laughs in this movie as he typically would, but he still gets some chuckles in his old outlandish way. Most of the giggles come when Ferrell sets up the jokes and the typically serious Wahlberg knocks them out of the park. Two week points of this movie were the police captain played by Michael Keaton and the shady invester played by Steve Coogan. Its not that they did a bad job, I just don’t feel the director knew what to do with them.

If the plot had been a little stronger this movie could have rivaled ‘Old School’ as one of the best Will Ferrell movies. This movie is made even funnier if you have seen a lot of cop movies, and a lot of Wahlberg movies, or are just very familiar with the tropes used in action flicks. But without knowing much about other movies the laughs are all still there. If you like Will Ferrell’s work you will enjoy this allot, if you don’t then you still have Wahlberg to laugh at. And if you laughed you ass off at the scene in ‘The Departed’ where Alec Baldwin and Wahlberg are ripping on each others mothers, I’ll say that you don’t want to miss this.

After.Life

Sometimes while looking at movies to rent, I will glance at one and think to my self "ya lets give this a try". Typically these are movies that look promising, even though I’ve never heard of them. Honestly a red flag should have gone off when I saw Christina Ricci, Justin Long, and Liam Neeson on the cover of a film I've never heard of. Typically I am easily able to spot the movies that sucked, but the got green lit when the studio figured they could throw a few stars in it there and turn a profit. And that's exactly what 'After.Life' is. However I figured this film had a strong enough premise that it would be worth giving a shot.

'After.Life' plays with one of the most mysterious questions a person can have, that is what happens when we die... When Anna (Ricci) wakes up on a slab in the morgue, she is told that she died in a car wreck. The funeral director Deacon (Neeson) claims to have the gift of being able to talk to the dead. However Both Anna and her boyfriend Paul (Long) are having trouble accepting that she is dead. Anna and Paul both believe that Deacon is lying, but the funeral director continues to claim that Anna is dead and he is simply trying to help. The whole movie is spent trying to figure out, is Anna really dead? Or dose Deacon secretly have malicious intent?

The question of is Deacon lying became the only thing that kept me remotely interested in this movie. It was frustrating just how inactive the characters are. I asked myself, if Deacon has done this so many times, why he wouldn’t have a better way of convincing the dead of their demise. And the relationship between Anna and Paul is very unconvincing. Paul is supposedly a hotshot lawyer, yet can never find the right words to say. He finds himself stumped as to his legal rights to see his dead girlfriend. Over all, Long's acting just failed. Ricci dose a decent job over selling everything. Being on the fence about wanting to love or wanting to live doesn’t make sense towards the end when we discover more about how she thinks. But all the revelations about Anna's past are just a failed attmept to add some depth. Neeson does a great job, doing nothing new. He’s playing the same character he’s done in ‘Taken’ and ‘Batman’ and even the Narnia films, just this time he is a creepy Funeral director.

'After.Life' is listed as a Mystery/Thriller. But really the characters are so inactive, and so borring its hard to get any thrills. As for mystery, the film does do a great job making the audience question whether or not Anna is dead, or if Deacon is bat shit crazy. But if you are interested in finding out for your self, my recommendation is to look up the ending on the internet. Watching this film is just to frustration to sit through.

.45

When Milla Jovovich comes on screen speaking directly to the audience about how she met her boy friend and his large... genetic gift... you begin to ask yourself what the hell kind of movie did I just press play on? Fortunately ‘.45’ picks up after that, as we follow Kat (Jovovich) and Big Al (Angus Macfadyen) in their daily routine selling guns on the street. Despite seeming like simple illegal gun slinging peddlers, the pair are quite sharp. They easily side step a confrontations with the police and appear to have a well establish business selling stolen goods. And despite being an obvious prick, Big Al is fun to watch.

Soon we are introduced to two more characters, Vic and Reilly, and we learn exactly what this movie is about. At first I was under the impression that we would follow Kat and Al on their crazy adventures selling guns and drinking beer, but this movie is much darken then that. This is a tale of obsession, lust, revenge, manipulation, abuse, and addiction. Kat is obsessed with leaving the neighborhood and living on a beach. Al, Vic, and Reilly are all obsessed with Kat.

When we discover Al is dealing with an alcohol addiction and often gets drunk and beats Kat. We learn that a lot of people want to see Al dead, including Vic and Reilly. We learn that Al is a master at manipulating Kat. We learn this is a film about whether or not Vic, Reilly and a social worker named Liz can convince Kat to leave. We also get insight as to what their considering doing to Al if she doesn't, and their less then good intentions for wanting to help.

‘.45’ is an insightful look into the lives of people who are anything but saintly. It is a piercing view of a woman in an abusive relationship and it subtly yet clearly shows us how her mind is processing her situation. One thing that wasn’t so clever about this film were a series of documentary style cut-ins. During these cut-ins it seams as though someone is interviewing the characters, as they break the fourth wal speaking directly to the audience. Although they do help develop the characters, I wish they were left out. I feel the audience would have come to their conclusion with out these cut-ins, which would lead to another layer of depth for the story.

All of the performances were good, but not great. Oddly every actor had two or three scenes where they really shined, but then had scenes that make you wonder if they had forgotten what they had done the day before. Towards the end of the film, I got the impression that the writer was suffering the same problem. I felt as though scrip had a beginning and a middle, then the author forgot what he had written. But I was immersed into the film, and didn’t concern myself with any of the issues until I started writing this review. And that for me is the mark of a good movie. I can easily recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good suspenseful drama.

The Social Network

I picked up a copy of “The Social Network” simply because I wanted to see it, I had no intention of writing a review. I figured, whats the point? The Golden Globes have passed and The Facebook Movie took home best director, best picture, and best score... Everyone I’ve talked to loves it. So why bother writing a review of something that everyone and their mother already has an opinion of?

So I figured I could watch it looking for anything to trash about this movie. Then write about how there’s no way it deserves all the praise. Unfortunately that just wont be the case.

My only gripes with this film are so petty that they’re not worth the flack I may take for bringing them up. The script and acting was sharp and snappy, it was well shot, well paced, every moment of the film helped developed the characters and push the story along.

For those that haven't seen it, “The Social Network” tells the story of the creators of one of the worlds most popular websites. And all of the trials, tribulations, and law suites that went along with it. The story begins with Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg, and his best friend Eduardo Saverin spending a night developing a website and drunken blogging to quell Marks anger at the girl who broke up with him just hours before. The attention he gains from the site earns him the attention of the Winklevoss twins. the twins pitch him an idea for a social network exclusive to Harvard. Mark takes this idea to a much larger scale creating the beginnings of Facebook with Eduardo as his business partner. Their is no clear protagonist as Mark is clearly the main character, but Eduardo seams to be more like the tragic hero. But its clear that the Director wanted viewers to see the Winklevoss twins as the antagonists. Which is fine for the movie, but leaves you wondering what the people these characters represent are like in real life. But the fictional characters are fun to watch as their story is told as a flash-back from two law suits that are occurring, Mark vs. the Winklevoss’ and Mars vs. Eduardo for reasons that are reveled as the story unfolds. The film cleverly intertwines scenes from the dispositions of the law suits and the events that they are discussing.

When I first heard about this movie, I though to myself that there was no way this movie would be anything more then a waste of time. When you think about it, its Jesse Eisenberg (Zuckerberg), Justin Timberlake (Sean Parker, founder of napster and partner of Facebook), and some no name (Spider-man)... (I mean Eduardo), in a movie about Facebook... This sounds like a formula for disaster. So major cudos to writer Aaron Sorkin, and Director David Fincher. I had little to no faith in this film, but damn I was wrong. If you haven't have a chance to see “The Social Network” I would defiantly recommend it to pretty much anyone.

The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans

When I sit down to watch a movie, I prefer to not have an opinion about it before I start. I find that I tend to enjoy movies more when I know nothing about them going in. And of course, I like being able to claim that I am objective in my reviews. But when you see Nick Cage in a movie you can’t help but brace yourself for the worst. With a filmography that includes Knowing, Bangkok Dangerous, Next, The Wicker Man, and that mess of a Ghost Rider movie, all in the past 5 years, you have to be wary of any movie starring Cage. It’s not that he’s a bad actor, its more that he over acts everything. The best description of Nicolas Cage I’ve heard is, he has moved beyond over acting and is now MEGA ACTING.

‘The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans’ is a stage where Cage’s MEGA ACTING actually works. He gets to play a strung out, coke addicted cop and is lots of fun to watch. He plays New Orleans cop Terence McDonagh. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, McDonagh rescues an inmate, in the process injuring his back and getting a promotion to lieutenant. To deal with his back pain he starts taking vicodin eventually becoming addicted to them and cocaine. Dealing with that, and a gambling addiction, and his alcoholic parents, and a murder case, and his prostitute girlfriend, just culminates in to a big ball of stress for this bad cop. And when I say bad cop, he is into all the classics. Stealing from the evidence room, lifting drugs from crime scenes, arresting people then just taking their drugs and letting them go, threatening to arrest athletes if they don’t throw games he’s bet on the list goes on and on. Cage’s over the top style works wonders, especially in scenes where he is high as a kite.

This movie is a mess, there are almost too many things going on to keep track of. There are a many side characters, side plots, awkward pauses, all revolving around McDonagh. It’s a perfect combination of chaos to portray McDonagh’s hectic life. I’m not complaining so much about the frantic story-telling, until it gets to wrapping it all up. The half dozen story lines all wrap up in the last two scenes. The majority of those plots ending abruptly an inexplicably. This is either the dumbest ending to a movie I have seen, or the smartest. And after everything is wrapped up, you get a nice book end to answer one lingering question and raise one more. The question I was asking myself when it was all over was this movie something that the audience viewed through the fourth wall, or viewed as the coked up McDonagh saw things… Deep right? Well maybe not, but it explains a lot of the weird editing in the movie and what the deal was with Val Kilmer's character.

Despite all the crazy that this movie brought with it, I would defiantly recommend it. You get some laughs, in between moments that make you shake you head. I thoroughly enjoyed Cage’s performance, it was a movie that I can't imagine any other actor starting in. Now all that’s left to do is wait and see if MEGA ACTING can make “Drive Angry” worth watching.

Leaves of Grass

When the credits roll after you finish watching “Leaves of Grass”, the first name to pop belongs to the writer/director Tim Blake Nelson. While the movie didn’t leave me wanting to go out and immediately start watching everything this guy has ever directed, I figured a little research before writing a review couldn't’ hurt. When his photo popped up on-line, I immediately recognized his face. This guy has been a supporting actor in almost everything. He was even in this movie, again in a supporting roll... Really? This guy doesn't even step up for his own movie....

Well actually I love the fact that he doesn't star in this, because it give us the chance to see a great performance by Edward Norton. Norton plays a Boston area university professor named Bill, and his Oklahoma back woods pot dealing identical twin brother Brady. Both have genius level I.Q.s, but while Bill uses his powers to try to advance his career teaching classic philosophy, Brady’s brain power is burned while he burns. Actually Brady’s knowledge of hydroponics and botany is PHD level, and he is more than able to keep up with his brother’s academic babble. He even critiques Bill’s recent work making a point that he only had to look up one word and he didn’t use “no Merriam and Webster” he used “the f*****g O. E. D.” Needless to say, the conversations between two baked geniuses is very entertaining.

The main characters in “Leaves of Grass” are all connected to words. Bill and Brady both have super sized vocabularies, and their mother as well as Bills love interest are English teachers. They are constantly talking about literature or grammar, or using poetry in their regular conversations. Even the film’s title is taken from the Walt Whitman poetry collection of the same title, which was awkwardly edited into the end.

The story left something to be desired. I was having so much fun just spending time with these characters that I almost forgot that Brady was having a confrontation with a drug dealer, and Bill was dealing with threats to his career. The sub plot of Bill confronting his estranged mother was more interesting then the actual conflict. When they do get around to the actual story arc, it goes by so fast that you almost wish they just left it out. In this mess of a script, I couldn't tell you where the climax was. I really wish they had come up with a better plot Bill and Brady.

The cinematography reeked of indy flick. The shots and editing made me feel like I was watching the nightly news. Some of the scenes cutting back and forth between Brady and Bill took me out of the movie, because it looked more like a jump cut of Edward Norton, rather then a cut back and forth between two twins. Give me an “L” cut or something here guys come on.

If you were to ask me if I recommended “Leaves of Grass”, I would have to ask what kind of mood you’re in. If you wanted to sit alone on in a small group of friends, then yes this is a good pick. If you are in a large group of friends or with your significant other I would pick something else. Why? Because dragging plot line will be a huge turn off for a lot of people so there is a good possibility that will be several people who don’t like this in a large group and why take the chance if you’re doing a movie night with your girlfriend. But if you’re a Norton fan this is a do not miss.

Sunshine

I would be lying if I said “Sunshine” was an entirely original film. The influences of “2001: A Space Odyssey” and horror films such as “Alien” are hard to miss in this thriller set in space. The story centers around seven astronauts on their way to drop a big freaking bomb into the sun, keeping it from dying. So considering I was expecting to see a clone of “The Core” or “Armageddon”, I was pleasantly surprised to see a well executed and genuinely scary film. But director Danny Boyle definitely leaves his mark on this sci-fi horror survival flick. Whispers of his previous films like “28 Days later” and “The Beach” stand out even more then the hints of other director’s films. But hey, if you have never seen any of the films I’ve mentioned or like me enjoying seeing films that are heavily influenced by the director and his inspirations, you may enjoy watching “Sunshine”.

Anyway... with nothing original coming from the film, I look to the actors in hope of them making this film stand out. And here is where I become divided. Immediately I will tell you there is no outstanding performances in “Sunshine”, but I have to question if the acting was even good. All of the actors seemed like emotionless robots, but I ask myself “Is that how people stuck on a claustrophobic spaceship on a mission where they may not survive act”? And the answer I come up with is “maybe...” But even if that was what they were going for... it was good, nothing amazing.

"Sunshine" dose very well giving the audience the sense of dread, paranoia, and claustrophobia, but this is old hat for Boyle. The script has a few attempts to add some depth to the characters and some twists to plot, but it falls short. The story is conventional, you will be making bets with your friends as to which order the characters will get picked off in as soon as the narrator is done setting the premise. And if you have ever watched a horror-survival movie, you will probably win all of those bets.

In all seriousness, this is not a bad film. It’s just not great. Maybe like me you love Danny Boyle’s work and seeing hints of films from the past is a fun throw-back. Or maybe you are an uptight arrogant film snob who bitches and moans whenever a movie is conventional. In which case you can go to the special circle of hell reserved for blowhards and hipsters. My recommendation you may enjoying a cracking beer and watching this with some friends. Just don't go expecting anything extra-ordinary.