Napier's News

Shutter Island (2010)

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:19:00 +0000

Rated R for disturbing violent content, language and some nudity.
138 Minutes

1/2

Directed By: Martin Scorsese

Written By: Laeta Kalogridis

Based On The Novel By: Dennis LeHane

Staring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley, Mark Ruffalo, Max von Sydow, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson, Ted Levine, and Jackie Earle Hayley

Review:

Shutter Island is the best mind bending thriller of the year thus far and one of the better films I have seen lately. I for one am a huge fan of DiCaprio and Scorsese working together. I think they are a modern day dynamic duo. Trust me, no one can ever replace DeNiro and Scorsese and their work together is undeniably cinematic bliss. However, if you look at DiCaprio's work with Scorsese has also been spectacular. If you were to combine each Scorsese's films with both actors can truly be classified as some of the best films ever made. Goodfellas, Casino, Gangs of New York and The Aviator are some of his most enjoyable films and instant classics.

Shutter Island is a wonderful film as well with such a great cast, wonderfully eerie music, and excellent production value. The film is set in 1954 and follows Federal Marshall Teddy Daniels, played by Leonardo DiCapriao, on his investigation to find an escaped patient from Shutter Island, a mental health institution on the islands in the Boston harbor. Mark Ruffalo plays Teddy's partner and fellow Federal Marshall. There are some very eerie characters as well played by Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow and Jackie Earle Hayley. Kingsley and von Sydow are the two head doctors overseeing the treatment of the patients. Nothing is as it seems on Shutter Island, first being how did the patient get out of her room without being detected. The mystery continues to thicken throughout this wild maze of a film.

I am not typically a fan of a film that has a lot of flashbacks, Shutter Island is different because the flashbacks revolve around a recurring theme which helps further the plot of the film. I have heard from many people that this film is confusing and hard to follow. The best thing to do is to pay attention to every detail of the movie and you will understand it fully and after the film you will begin to realize that things were going on right in front of you during the whole film.

Ben Kingsley does a fabulous job with his character. He has a way about delivering his lines in a monotone yet commanding voice and piercing eyes. Leonardo DiCaprio has the Boston accent mastered in my opinion as does Mark Ruffalo. This is just one example of the authenticity of the film. The clothing of the characters with their fedora hats to their wide ties with splashes of color does a great job of transporting you back to the time period. The lighting really does a fabulous job of giving Shutter Island the feel of a true film noir classic.

The Bottom Line:

This eerie film will not only have you shuttering in your seats from the eeriness but have you second guessing yourself right up until the closing credits. For fans of Scorsese and DiCaprio this is a must see film. I believe this is my favorite films this year so far. If you are a fan of a great mind bending suspense thrill ride then this is definitely a great film to watch!

Voucher Codes Oscars Competition 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:25:00 +0000

Here is a quick press release from Nick at Voucher Codes. Movie Mobsters and Napier's News have already submitted their predictions for Oscar 2010. Fellow movie bloggers take notice of the post and submit your own thoughts and predictions!

Here are the details via Nick:

I am Site Editor for VoucherCodes.co.uk – we’re a money saving website who do discounts for Amazon, Play.com etc.

We’re currently running an Oscars sweepstake – but with a bit of a difference – namely, that it is only open to entertainment bloggers and professional entertainment writers – you can see it here at the moment - http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk/competitions/oscar-predictions. Guess the most winners from the following categories and you could win £250 (about $390) in Amazon vouchers - to keep you in movies for the year ahead!

We have started from an entry by the radio times film critic Andrew Collins (and have put up predictions from Mark Kermode and Xan Brooks).

The rules are pretty straightforward – you can put forward as many predictions as you like; you get one point for a correct prediction and lose a point for an incorrect prediction.

It will be great to see how bloggers do against professionals and also for bloggers to go head to head, in a fun way, against their peers.

Thanks,

Nicholas Barber
Editor

And Here Are My Oscar Predictions:

Best Film: The Hurt Locker
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock
Best Suporting Actor: Christoph Waltz
Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique
Best Foreign Language Film: The White Ribbon
Best Animated Feature: Up
Best Original Screenplay: Inglourious Basterds
Best Adapted Screenplay: Up in the Air
Best Visual Effects: Avatar
Best Original Score: Up
Best Cinematography: Avatar
Best Film Editing: The Hurt Locker

VoucherCodes.co.uk - Part of eConversions Ltd
Winner of Best Retail Affiliate at A4U Awards 2009

Valentines Day (2010)

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:03:00 +0000

Rated PG-13 for some sexual material and brief partial nudity.

125 Minutes

Directed By: Gary Marshall

Written By: Katherine Fugate

Staring: Jessica Alba, Jennifer Garner, Ashton Kutcher, Jamie Foxx, Jessica Biel, George Lopez, Topher Grace, Eric Dane, Bradley Cooper, Queen Latifah, Julia Roberts, Hector Elizondo, Shirley McClaine, Anne Hathaway, Taylor Lautner, Taylor Swift, Emma Roberts

Review:

If you do not like romantic comedies that are sappy then steer clear of Valentines Day. The overall theme of love has been played out time and again but in my mind I truly came away happy and in a good mood. I am not a fan of Valentines Day personally but then again I dont have a romantic bone in my body according to my wife. That being the case I am a sucker for the occasional romantic comedy and to be honest this is it. It has a lot of aspects that make for a good time at the theater with someone you love.

The film follows the lives of a group of people on Valentines Day during their celebration of love or lack their of. Each of the characters are at a different stage of their lives and their love lives, but their stories all intersect. Most romantic comedies have a nice resolution to complete the film. Mostly this is what annoys me about romantic comedies. This movie has a nice twist and surprise that I did not see coming actually and that was enjoyable. I cannot give it away because it will spoil the film. What sets Valentines Day apart is the ensemble cast of who was well cast in their respective roles. In addition, the film has a decent script with many humorous scenes.

Anne Hathaway's role and scenes were some of the most funny scenes in the film. A lot of reviewers are commenting on how horrible Taylor Swift's performance was. She plays a ditzy blonde cheerleader who is in love with the jock track star played by Taylor Lautner. I don't think that she could have played the character any differently and think that she was a good fit for that character and did well in a silly and fun role like that. I think that Emma Roberts will do great things in the future. It was good to see Ashton Kutcher in a movie lately instead of his job as of late as being Demi Moore's husband. For once, I did not actually hate Julia Roberts so that is a good thing. Jamie Foxx, George Lopez and Toper Grace were funny in their roles as well.

The Bottom Line:

I enjoyed the move a lot more than I could have ever imagined. It is a fun film and is great for everyone because you can relate to it no matter what stage of life or love you are in. I think its funny with great characters and a wonderful ensemble cast. The music is enjoyable and gives a different feel to each scene because a different type of music was used during each characters stories. I like the fact that this film is simple and fun and does not take itself too seriously.

The Lovely Bones (2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:30:00 +0000

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving disturbing violent content and images, and some language.

135 Minutes

Directed By: Peter Jackson

Written By: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens

Staring: Mark Wahlberg, Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Jake Abel, Rose McIver, Michael Imperioli, Reece Richie, Nikki SooHoo

1/2

Review:

Peter Jackson has taken on yet another interesting journey. This time it is based on another best selling book entitled The Lovely Bones. The book and film are about a young girl named Susie Salmon who is murdered by a neighborhood man played by Stanley Tucci. It follows Susies attempts at reconnecting with her family from the other side as they try to piece their lives back together.

I feel that this movie was a little too long for my liking. I found myself drifting off in thought at times while watching. I think you will find that is necessary though because the film does a good job of character development and staying true to the book from what I have heard. The book is much more graphic from those that I have spoken with who have read it.

I found the film to be very graphic in itself and hard to stomach at times. I think part of it is knowing what happened while you see the families turmoil. As an audience you are privy to a lot of information that the characters do not have which is very unique. Part of what makes this film work is the nice mix of the ghost world where Susie is and attempting to communicate with her family. The music is beautiful and very moving and is a great addition to the film. I love the way that it adds to the beauty and creepiness of the film.

Peter Jackson has a wonderful knack for creating environments that are beautiful and whimsical and yet at the same time terrifying and dark. The world that Susie inhabits for the majority of the film is this type of landscape. The film takes place as was shot in Pennsylvania and there is a great attention to detail to meet the needs of the 70's with the clothing and the houses and cars. Living in the Northeast I can attest to the fact that driving through many neighborhoods is like taking a drive back in time.

Stanley Tucci is a truly great actor and his is another successful part of the film because he is able to embody a truly scary murderer. The most unsettling part is that you get to go inside the mind of a killer and get glimpses of how this particular killer plans his attack which is very unsettling. Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz are very believable as husband and wife and have good chemistry on screen. Susan Sarandon's character is wonderful as the grandmother who is an alcoholic and chain smoker and continues to try to stay young and dispense advice.

The Bottom Line:

The color and magic of the The Lovely Bones does not do enough to take the audience out of the creepy world of the serial killer making me a little bit uncomfortable. The film was a little long for my taste and I found myself bored at times. I think that you should wait until this is out on DVD before viewing. All in all I was left with a bad feeling after watching this movie. I could not stop thinking about it which usually would be good but in this case was unsettling.

Moon (2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:13:00 +0000

Rated R for language.

97 Minutes

1/2

Directed By: Duncan Jones

Written By: Duncan Jones, Nathan Parker

Staring: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey, Dominique McElligot, Rosie Shaw, Adrienne Shaw, Kaya Scodelario

Review:

Moon is a hidden gem that not everyone has had the chance to see but should. It is a movie that is so simple yet at the same time so complicated. This film has the same feel of 2001: A Space Odyssey in my opinion. I love the overall feel of the film and the way I was transported into the movie and what it felt like to be Sam Bell.

The film focuses on Sam Bell, played by Sam Rockwell, a space miner who has been working on the dark side of the moon collecting solar powered rocks to ship back to earth to help power our ever dwindling power resources. Sam is at the tail end of his three year contract where he has been separated from his wife Tess, played by Dominique McElligott, and young daughter Eve. The only company that he has in his space station is GERTY which is expertly voiced by Kevin Spacey. GERTY is able to do just about anything and is there to make sure Sam completes his contract. Strange visions begin occurring right near the end of his contract and things begin going weird from there on out. Is Sam alone in the space station?

When you think of a Science Fiction film or a SyFy Original you think of something with aliens invading the earth or some monsters hell bent on killing the human race. Moon goes in a completely different direction while still being deeply rooted in the Science Fiction genre. The scenario is plausible and eerie enough to make you question yourself and humanity as a whole.

Hearing Kevin Spacey as GERTY truly took me back to HAL from 2001. The classical music from 2001 was a great addition to that film. This music used in this film is wonderful as well, I felt it took me through the variety of ranges of emotions and fit perfectly with the space theme and heightened the sense of isolation.

Everything about this film is simple, and not in a bad way. Not many films have so few characters and are this successful. There is still a decent amount of well scripted dialogue in Moon which found to be very thought provoking. The costuming was very good at showing the different stages of Sam during the film. I also loved the sets used in this film. The interior shots of the space center were wonderful made you feel closed in because of the limited amount of space. The exterior shots on the surface of the moon were so beautiful and realistic. It felt like you were taking a trip to space. For that reason I wish that I had seen this film on the big screen. It was very nice to see it on my tv but unfortunately I only saw it on DVD and not Blu Ray.

The Bottom Line:

I think you will love this film if you are lover of Science Fiction or not, because it is a great story with wonderful acting by the cast. I have always liked Sam Rockwell but now have a greater respect for his acting abilities and he did a wonderful job with the high amount of screen time. I think you will love the production of this film and the music as well. Run out and rent this movie today, it will be well worth your time!

Edge of Darkness (2010)

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:16:00 +0000

Rated R for strong bloody violence and language.

117 Minutes

Directed By: Martin Campbell

Written By: William Monahan, Andrew Bovell

Staring: Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, Shawn Roberts, David Aaron Baker, Dennis O'Hare, Bojana Novakovic

Review:

I have been meaning to write a review for this film for a while since I saw it on opening weekend. As a fan of Mel Gibson from his Mad Max and Lethal Weapon days where he was a bad ass I was truly looking forward to his return to being in front of the camera and on the silver screen. Unfortunately I was very underwhelmed with the film and Mel Gibson in general.

The film takes place in Boston and has Gibson as an aging Detective who is trying to solve the mystery of his daughters brutal murder. Shortly after arriving to visit her father Anna Craven, played by Bonjana Novakovic, is gunned down in front of the families home by a man in a ski mask. Detective Craven must not only deal with the death of his daughter but find the people responsible. As usual, nothing is as it seems in this film directed by Martin Campbell.

Despite this sounding like a good movie with Mel Gibson in the starring role I was horribly let down from lack of intrigue and action during the film. I had hoped that from the trailers there would be a decent amount of action with Mel kicking ass and taking names, that was not the case. As usual I was not surprised to find that most of the cool aspects from the movie are shown during the trailers. Each of the action sequences that make the film aside from the closing sequences are in the trailer. This is plain ridiculous, I am all for showing moviegoers a bit about the film to get them into the seats but come on there needs to be a little bit left for the actual film.

Mel Gibson does a decent job of pulling off a Boston accent and as usual is a good actor. Ray Winstone plays Jedburgh a guy that does wet work to cover up peoples messes for the right price. I liked his character a lot, almost more than Gibson's Detective Craven. Danny Huston does a great job as usual at playing a wealthy yet sinister individual.

The Bottom Line:

I don't feel like going into more detail about this film because it was not worth it to me. I was truly let down and hope that you like it better than I did. I recommend definitely seeing this at a matinee or seeing it on DVD only. The sad thing is that my in-laws loved it and I heard one older lady saying that Mel Gibson deserved an award for his work. I mean are you serious, I was in the same movie wasn't I?! I am only giving it two stars because of Mel Gibson and Ray Winstone that is it end of story.

82nd Annual Oscar Nominations

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:09:00 +0000

Be on the lookout for live blogging at www.moviemobsters.com during the Oscars on March 7th! We will be covering the nights festivities from the red carpet to the after parties so be prepared for our coverage and sign up for our RSS Feed if you have not done so already.

Best Picture
“Avatar”
“The Blind Side”
“District 9″
“An Education”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
“A Serious Man”
“Up”
“Up in the Air”

Best Direction
“Avatar” — James Cameron
“The Hurt Locker” — Kathryn Bigelow
“Inglourious Basterds” — Quentin Tarantino
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” — Lee Daniels
“Up in the Air” — Jason Reitman

Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”

Actress in a Leading Role
Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”

Actor in a Supporting Role
Matt Damon in “Invictus”
Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”

Actress in a Supporting Role
Penélope Cruz in “Nine”
Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
“District 9” — Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
“An Education” — Screenplay by Nick Hornby
“In the Loop” — Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” — Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
“Up in the Air” — Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Writing (Original Screenplay)
“The Hurt Locker” — Written by Mark Boal
“Inglourious Basterds” — Written by Quentin Tarantino
“The Messenger” — Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
“A Serious Man” — Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“Up” — Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

Animated Feature Film
“Coraline”
“Fantastic Mr. Fox”
“The Princess and the Frog”
“The Secret of Kells”
“Up”

Art Direction
“Avatar” — Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” — Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
“Nine” — Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
“Sherlock Holmes” — Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
“The Young Victoria” — Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie Gray

Cinematography
“Avatar” — Mauro Fiore
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” — Bruno Delbonnel
“The Hurt Locker” — Barry Ackroyd
“Inglourious Basterds” — Robert Richardson
“The White Ribbon” — Christian Berger

Costume Design
“Bright Star” — Janet Patterson
“Coco before Chanel” — Catherine Leterrier
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” — Monique Prudhomme
“Nine” — Colleen Atwood
“The Young Victoria” — Sandy Powell

Documentary (Feature)
“Burma VJ”
“The Cove”
“Food, Inc.”
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers”
“Which Way Home”

Documentary (Short Subject)
“China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province”
“The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner”
“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant”
“Music by Prudence”
“Rabbit à la Berlin”

Film Editing
“Avatar” — Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
“District 9” — Julian Clarke
“The Hurt Locker” — Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
“Inglourious Basterds” — Sally Menke
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” — Joe Klotz

Foreign Language Film
“Ajami” — Israel
“El Secreto de Sus Ojos” — Argentina
“The Milk of Sorrow” — Peru
“Un Prophète” — France
“The White Ribbon” — Germany

Makeup
“Il Divo” — Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
“Star Trek” — Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
“The Young Victoria” — Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

Music (Original Score)
“Avatar” — James Horner
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” — Alexandre Desplat
“The Hurt Locker” — Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
“Sherlock Holmes” — Hans Zimmer
“Up” — Michael Giacchino

Music (Original Song)
“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas
“Take It All” from “Nine” Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

Short Film (Animated)
“French Roast” Fabrice O. Joubert
“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell
“The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)” Javier Recio Gracia
“Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin
“A Matter of Loaf and Death” Nick Park

Short Film (Live Action)
“The Door” — Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
“Instead of Abracadabra” — Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström
“Kavi” — Gregg Helvey
“Miracle Fish” — Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
“The New Tenants” — Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson

Sound Editing
“Avatar” — Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
“The Hurt Locker” — Paul N. J. Ottosson
“Inglourious Basterds” — Wylie Stateman
“Star Trek” — Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
“Up” — Michael Silvers and Tom Myers

Sound Mixing
“Avatar” — Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
“The Hurt Locker” — Paul N. J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
“Inglourious Basterds” — Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
“Star Trek” — Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” — Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson

Visual Effects
“Avatar” — Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
“District 9” — Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
“Star Trek” — Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton

Big Trouble In Little China (1986)

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:58:00 +0000

99 Minutes

Directed By: John Carpenter

Written By: Gary Goldman, David Z. Weinstein

Staring: Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun, Suzee Pai, James Wong, Victor Wong, Kate Burton, Donald Li, Peter Kwong, Carter Wong and James Paxi

Review:

John Carpenter and Kurt Russell make a killer combination when it comes to movies. In 1986 Kurt Russell was at the top of his game and had starred in two prior iconic roles with John Carpenter, Escape from New York and The Thing. My first exposure to John Carpenter was Starman with Jeff Bridges. When I saw Big Trouble In Little China I was not at the stage of my film love where I noticed the names of the directors and remembered what other films that they had made which I loved.

I remember seeing this in the theaters and being blown away by the wonderful mixture of action, comedy, fantasy and horror. I loved this movie especially because of the martial arts involved. I loved to watch Kung Fu Theater on USA each weekend and loved the arial acrobatics of those films. This film has many of the same fun elements I remember from Kung Fu Theater plus it has the swagger of Kurt Russell.

Russell plays Jack Burton, a tough talking trucker who roles into San Francisco to make a deliver and meets up with his long time friend Wang Chi played by Dennis Dun. Wang Chi loses all of his money in an all night card game with Burton. Wang Chi does not have the money on him so Jack and he go go to his restaurant but must make a stop on the way to pick up his fiancee Miao Yin played by Suzee Pai. Miaon Yin has the unfortunate luck of having green eyes which is very rare in Asian culture and because of it she is taken prisoner by a China Town gang immediately after landing from China. The gang is planning on selling her to David Lo Pan, played by the creepy James Wong, so he can reverse an ancient curse. Jack Burton and Wang Chi rush to find Miao Yin and become embroiled in a war that has been waged for ages and an ancient myth that haunts China Town. In their search for Miao Yin Jack and Wang Chi meet up with Gracie Law, a China Town lawyer and her reporter friend Margo who had learned of the gangs search for Chinese girls with green eyes. Will they be able to save the day and fight the three bad ass elements, Rain, Thunder and Lightning played by Peter Kwong, Carter Wong and James Pax respectively? Those guys are truly cool and at the time I first saw this film a little eerie.

I watched this on Blu Ray and was so happy with the look of the film. The last time I had seen it was on television in one of its many annual airings. The color and the sound make the action just fly off of the screen. This is especially cool during some of the action sequences with the acrobatic martial arts scenes. I love the comic book style in which this film was made. Yes it is over the top and yes it is highly unbelievable. What makes this movie a classic in my mind is the cool dialogue and the delivery by Russell. His characters swagger in Jack Burton make me think of a modern day John Wayne who instead of riding a horse drives a truck.

The Bottom Line:

If you have not seen Big Trouble In Little China I recommend you add the Blu Ray version to your Netflix queue immediately. I think you will also be very surprised if you have seen it before to watch it again. This is an all around fun movie that has some wonderful action and fantasy themes. The pacing is perfect too. Clocking in at 99 minutes this film is the perfect length to keep you interested. You will love the costumes for this film even if you don't like costumes normally.

Total FIlm Recognizes Napier's News!

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 04:06:00 +0000

As you know I write for www.MovieMobsters.com. Recently both Napier's News AND Movie Mobsters were listed by Total Film Magazine as one of the Top 600 Movie Blogs you should check out if you have not already! Now I know 600 is a lot, but I am thrilled to have my site listed alongside Movie Mobsters and such other great sites that truly are worth checking out. Thank you Total Film for the recognition! Check out Page 3 of the list HERE and you will see Napier's News listed as well as many other sites you may recognize if you are familiar with the LAMB. I would also like to thank Total Film for this recognition!

Legion (2010)

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 04:01:00 +0000

Rated R for strong bloody violence, and language.
100 Mins

Directed By: Scott Stewart
Written By: Peter Schink, Scott Stewart
Staring: Paul Bettany, Lucas Black, Tyrese Gibson, Dennis Quaid, Charles S. Dutton, Adrianne Palicki, Kate Walsh, Willa Holland, Kevin Durand

Review:

I went into Legion with mixed emotions and an open mind. I was in love with the trailers from the moment that I first saw them months ago. My main concern was that they had shown most of the cool scenes during the previews. I was also concerned that I had heard mixed reviews. Being the movie fan that I am, I decided to see Legion regardless of these concerns. When it comes to action fantasies like this movie I am like ketchup on french fries, it is just a perfect match. I also like films that have an apocalyptic theme and where normal everyday people are forced to fight for there lives and in some cases become heroes.

God has lost faith in humankind and has decided to wipe the slate clean and start over. Michael an angel played by Paul Bettany is sent to kill a baby that is about to be born. He decides to disobey God and races to protect the baby against a never ending horde of humans that have been possessed by angels whose mission is to kill the baby. What results are some deliciously wicked action sequences filled with blood, guts equating to a great time had by movie audiences.

The cast is great for this movie which added to my level of enjoyment. Paul Bettany was very believable as the tough arch angel Michael. I think that everyone else was cast well too. Thankfully this is an ensemble cast. If it were not, Dennis Quaid would not be successful. All of my favorite films are ones that he shares the screen with others, he is not a bad actor but he is the type of actor that is wonderful at elevating the rest of the actors around him. This is evident in films like The Right Stuff, Everybody's All American and Vantage Point. A number of people think that his choices as of late have left a lot to be desired and that he has been taking films just to make a dollar. I have two words for you, Dwayne Johnson. That is a better example of someone taking roles for the money. I mean Tooth Fairy, RIDICULOUS.

The special effects were pretty cool, nothing earth shattering. I love all type of apocalyptic films and this one is one of the better ones I have seen as of late because of the special effects and action sequences. There was a general sense of dread during the possessed humans attacked. One particularly cool scene is when the sky is pitch black and everything is quiet and then all of a sudden thunder and lighting light up the sky and you see thousands of lifeless people standing there outside, so eerie.

There are many similarities between Legion and the original Terminator for a few reasons. First, Michael falls from sky into an alley in LA in a crouched position like Arney did at the beginning. The apocalyptic theme like I have already mentioned. There are others, for instance the end sequence, that scream Terminator but I do not want to ruin it.

The Bottom Line:

If you are looking for a way to entertain yourself during a dreary winter day this is a good option. I like Legion because of the action and fantasy and the nice blend of suspense/thriller thrown in for good measure. Legion is a unique story with decent dialogue and story line. I actually found myself laughing at times during the witty dialogue and think you will too.

The Book of Eli (2010)

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:09:00 +0000

Rated R for some brutal violence and language.

118 Mins.

1/2

Directed By: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes

Written By: Gary Whitta

Staring: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Beals, Ray Stevenson, Michael Gambon, Tom Waits

Review:

Thirty years after the world as we know it has come to an end and a lone man is walking across America on a journey to protect a sacred book that has the possibility to save humankind. The Hughes brothers have imagined a unique dust covered world where possessions such as batteries, wetnaps, comfortable shoes and clean water are the bargaining chips to save the lives of the remaining survivors.

The Book of Eli reminds me of part Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and part Tombstone. There is an underlying western feel to the film because of the lawlessness that rules the desert. Horses are traded in for Harley's and the drink of choice is water. Many people have become scavengers and have no problem killing you and then eating you as their meal.

Eli is in possession of a bible, supposedly the only remaining bible. Gary Oldman plays Carnegie who runs one of the few towns because of his control of the water. He is looking for the bible because he knows that with the bible comes power and he wants as much power as he can possibly have. This is the epitome of the struggle between good and evil. Carnegie uses his henchmen to help rule the town and find the bible. Jennifer Beals plays Claudia a blind woman that is Carnegie's mistress and slave. She and her daughter Solara, played by Mila Kunis, are controlled by Carnegie. Ray Stevenson plays Carnegie's main enforcer Redridge, who helps him run the town. Carnegie finds out that Eli is in possession of a book that he suspects to be the one he is searching for and the standoff begins!

Denzel can still KICK ASS as is evident in this film. I hear that he did his own stunts on this film which just goes to show that he is not only a great actor but a tough one. I could totally buy him in this role and think you will be able to as well. I did not fully enjoy the film for a number of reasons. Lets completely throw out all implausible scenarios from my reasons such as where they are getting bullets and gas from and focus on the other factors that detract from this film.

The main issue I have with The Book of Eli is that the pacing and flow of the film is not smooth. I feel there are many many dead spots throughout. I was at times bored during the film. The action scenes were okay but nothing spectacular. I had seen most of the best parts during the trailers I had watched. I like Gary Oldman as an actor but have to say that my favorite role of his is in The Professional. As Carnegie he was truly able to show how maniacal he can be which is pretty cool. I thought Mila Kunis looked like a fish out of water in this film, primarily with the action sequences. There is one part at the end that especially had me chuckling and I think you will agree. I will not give away any spoilers for this film but I will say that there is a doozy at the end. If you have seen it, without giving it away, did you see that coming?

The Bottom Line:

I felt the film was too preachy, but I went in suspecting that it would be. I did not like the long breaks between action sequences. They did not serve a purpose to build the story and therefore were a waste in my mind. The one thing that saves this film is the acting of Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman. I think that if I could go back this is a film I would definitely see on DVD instead of in the theaters.

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:42:00 +0000

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some startling images and a scene of suggestive material.
128 Minutes

Directed By: Guy Ritchie
Written By: Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham
Staring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan, Kelly Reilly, Geraldine James, Robert Maillet, William Houston, James Fox, Clive Russell

Review

Sherlock Holmes was the most enjoyable film I saw over my holiday break. Yes, it was even more enjoyable than Avatar. Do not get me wrong, Avatar was a great film and one that I don't even feel the need to write a review on since it has already been covered expertly by Heather. Sherlock Holmes is one film that I was truly pleased with on so many levels.

Growing up I fell in love with Young Sherlock Holmes and had hoped and prayed that one day Spielberg would make a sequel to that film. Since he has not done so I am currently content to have such a great version of Sherlock Holmes from Guy Ritchie. Many purists may have been put off by an unkempt characterization of Sherlock but let me assure you that you will soon fall in love with this version of Holmes and can truly understand why there are already plans for future films.

After many months on the trail of Lord Blackwood Holmes and Watson are able to put him behind bars. Unfortunately it is after he has already killed 6 women in his occult ceremonies. Lord Blackwood is sentenced to death but within 48 hours has risen from his tomb and is reekinghavoc on London and Holmes and Watson must step in once again to save the day and solve the crime.

Downey Jr. has had one hell of a come back since Iron Man. Sherlock Holmes continues to show his range as an actor and his ability to rake in the dollars for the production companies. This combination will allow him to remain in the spotlight for many years to come if we are lucky. Jude Law is fabulous as Watson for which I am happy because his last somewhat decent film was The Holiday. Watson is neat and well mannered and Holmes is unkempt and ill mannered and both are highly intelligent and make a wonderful crime solving duo. The excellent casting does not stop with Downey and Law. Mark Strong is an extremely menacing character and a great villain to Holmes and Watson. Rachel McAdams has begun to have meatier roles and compared to Mean Girls and The Notebook which is a great sign at her range as an actor as well. Eddie Marsan has been having a great run lately with some wonderful character bits and I must say that he is a true master of becoming various characters and can handle a variety of accents.

For films where accents are required it is alway a concern if the actor will be able to properly pull off their accent. Downey did a fantastic job with the English accent. It was neat hearing the various dialects of the English speaking characters. Watson's accent is very polished which is fitting because of his character being well educated and a physician. Eddie Marsan who plays Inspector Lestrade has a thicker cockney accent.

One sign for me of a strong film is one that has excellent production quality and realistic props. This film is a prime example of a period piece that spared no expense with costuming and props and that are realistic for the era. I really enjoy quality costuming, and that is a big part of this film. There are some extravagantly detailed costume pieces worn by the characters. In addition, loved the house that Watson and Holmes shared. Holmes room is completely disheveled which matches his personality yet everything is exactly where it belongs in his mind. The complete opposite end of the spectrum is Watson who is clean in his quarters as well as his appearance.

The Bottom Line:

If you are looking for a great time in the theater then this is the movie for you. It is not your standard action adventure and has enough suspense and thrills to get your moneys worth in the theater. One of the only downfalls of the film is its length. I kept reminding myself that this film needed to be a little longer so that we could become accustom to the characters again. I think that worked and I for one am craving more clever deductions in the years to come. Rumor has it that Brad Pitt may star in the next film which would be wonderful in my opinion!

Up In The Air (2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:35:00 +0000

Directed By: Jason Reitman

Written By: Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner

Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman, J.K. Simmons, Sam Elliott, Danny McBride, Zach Galifianakis, Melanie Lynskey

Review:

1/2

George Clooney has done it again. He consistently proves that he is an A list actor worthy of strong recognition. He is an all around class act individual and that makes him shine both on and off of the screen. Up In The Air is the perfect film for him to show how well rounded he is. He is able to one moment be funny and the next be deeply compassionate. I believe he excels in dramedies like this film.

The film follows Ryan Bingham as he flies around the country delivering bad news to employees. He is hired out to companies and bosses that cannot handle firing their employees and does it withprecision and without blinking. His life is compartmentalized, he does not have any attachments that don’t fit inside his luggage and he craves the elite status that frequent flier miles bring him. His life is thrown for a loop when he has to mentor a new hire , Natalie, played by Anna Kendrick, and show her the tricks of the trade on the road.

There are some great character actors in this film. Jason Bateman is perfect as Ryan's smarmy boss. J.K. Simmons and Zach Galifianakis are both humorous and dramatic examples of the employees that he has to fire on a daily basis. Melanie Lynskey plays Ryan's sister Julie. She is set to marry Jim, played by the humorous Danny McBride. Alex, played by Vera Formiga, is Ryan's love interest and "plus one" to his sisters memorable wedding.

As you can imagine a lot of the scenes take place in airport terminals and in airplanes. I enjoyed trying to figure out if I could recognize any of the airports from my travels. Jason Reitman uses overhead scenes of each city to highlight the transition between scenes. This is extremely unique and a nice way to bookend each chapter.

This is a funny, heartwarming film that makes you take stock in your own life without being overly preachy. It is real and the topic is poignant. People are losing their jobs everyday, yet this film has found a way to add humor to this delicate subject. Up In The Air is definitely worth seeing and it would be a great movie to take someone you care about to see and have long winded conversations with over coffee afterward. Go see this film before it leaves theaters. It will more than likely be nominated for an Oscar.

The Road (2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 01:14:00 +0000

Directed by: John Hillcoat

Written By: Cormac McCarthy (novel), Joe Penhall (adaptation)

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Robert Duvall, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce

Review:

This movie was dead when I saw it two days before Christmas. I can completely understand why. The Road is not your typical holiday cheery film that movie goers latch onto. It is a film that I had been looking forward to seeing forward to seeing. After seeing it I must admit I was let down by film as a whole. Do not get me wrong, there are many great attributes that make this film endearing and powerful but at the same time I did not feel that the film felt complete for one primary reason, pacing. I liked the film, just not as much as I thought I would initially have loved it.

Before I get ahead of myself by saying what I do not like I will lfocus on the positive of this movie. Viggo Mortenson is a fabulous actor and The Road is a prime example of the lenghts that he will go to embody the character. The scruffy beard caked with dirt, the emaciated body that is skin and bones, the tired and weary look in his eyes are all reasons why Viggo is not only an A list actor but a strong character actor as well. This is something that not many actors can successfully pull off, but Viggo does it with style and grace.

The costumes were well done and are extensions of the characters themselves to an extent. The torn and tattered clothing, shoes kept together with duct tape are all strong parts of the film.

The Road transports the audience into the bleak world after a nuclear war has wiped out the entire population and the remaining survivors are fighting for their lives against the elements of the environment and the cannibals the roam the roads looking for survivors to feast on. Viggo Mortenson and his son are traveling south in hopes of finding shelter and warmth. The Road is follows them on their journey to survive.

The film was advertised poorly. Charlize Theron was not in the film that much which was a little misleading. I cannot fault the decision since Charlize Theron is also an A list actor. I also wish this could have been released earlier so that it could have had a wider release in theaters before the holidays.

As I mentioned my main gripe about this film is pacing. It is a very slow and methodical story with lots of flash backs which I did not feel were necessary. I felt that these scenes dragged the movie down and effected the pacing and flow. This is not a huge deal, just one of my pet peeves. The good outweigh the bad aspects of The Road, making it a worthwhile film to see. This may be something you should consider catching on DVD.

Me and Orson Welles (2008)

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 04:33:00 +0000

Directed By: Richard Linklater

Written By: Holly Gent Palmo (screenplay), Robert Kaplow (novel)

Starring: Zac Efron, Claire Danes, Christian McKay, Ben Chaplin, Eddie Marsan, Kelly Reilly, James Tupper, Zoe Kazan

Review:

Me and Orson Welles is one of the best comedic dramas I have seen lately. It feels like a wonderful play that is unfolding before your eyes but on the big screen. Luckily this was playing near me this holiday in Tampa at an AMC Select theater. I was worried that I would not like this movie because I am not a huge fan of Zac Efron. I should say that I "was" not a fan of Efron because that has changed.

The film follows high school student Richard Samuels played by Zac Efron on his frenzied brush with fame and the stage during his portrayal of Lucius in the production of "Julius Ceasar" by a young Orson Welles, played by Christian McKay, at the Mercury Theater. Along his meteoric brush with stardom Richard falls for the hard-to-get Sonja Jones played by Claire Danes.

This film is a work of magic and Christian Mckay IS Orson Welles. He has nailed his performance for Welles in everything from the way he walked to the way he talked. I am hopeful that he will receive an Oscar nomination. Zac Efron really stands out in this performance. This is his most likeable and real role to date. He has fully captured the emotion of the moment in every scene and passes that on in his performance. I hope that this is what we have to look forward to in future performances from him. I thought Claire Danes looked amazing and had an excellent presence on screen amongst the rest of the cast.

The film follows the production of the play during the final week of rehersal up until opening night. Having been in a couple of plays myself I know how hectic, tiring yet energizing that time can be, it is almost magical. The mad dash to rehearse the lines and prepare the stage and props creates a euphoric mood amongst the cast and crew and everyone is running on adrenaline. These feelings and emotions are not lost in this film. Richard Linklater has deftly captured this feeling and put it to film. The audience feels as though they are right there watching everything unfold on stage and off.

The costuming and production for this film is astounding. I love the feel of New York City in 1937 that was clearly portrayed on screen. I wonder how many stages were actually used. Whatever the number they did a phenomenal job of production. Every detail was thought for and in place properly. I could not notice any mistakes in the film which is a good sign.

The Bottom Line:

If you are looking for a great comedy/drama with wonderful characters and excellent acting then Me and Orson Welles is for you.

Do They Know It's Christmas? - F*%CKED UP

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Happy Holidays to everyone! Here is a remake of the Bob Geldof classic from the 80's. This song features: Andrew W.K., Bob Mould, David Cross, Ezra Koenig, GZA, Kevin Drew, Kyp Malone, Tegan and Sara, Yo La Tengo!

Buy this song today! It is for a good cause, all proceeds will be donated to charity.
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/do-they-know-its-christmas-feat/id345126169

For good measure I decided to throw in the original version from Band Aid below:

The Music of...The Middle East - "Blood"

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:31:00 +0000

This song is so beautiful and the video is pretty darn amazing. For more information about The Middle East visit their MySpace page HERE

The 67th Annual Golden Globe Nominees

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:08:00 +0000

Below are the nominees for the Golden Globes. What are your thoughts of the nominations this year?

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
AVATAR
THE HURT LOCKER
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE
UP IN THE AIR

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
EMILY BLUNT THE YOUNG VICTORIA
SANDRA BULLOCK THE BLIND SIDE
HELEN MIRREN THE LAST STATION
CAREY MULLIGAN AN EDUCATION
GABOUREY SIDIBE PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
JEFF BRIDGES CRAZY HEART
GEORGE CLOONEY UP IN THE AIR
COLIN FIRTH A SINGLE MAN
MORGAN FREEMAN INVICTUS
TOBEY MAGUIRE BROTHERS

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
(500) DAYS OF SUMMER
THE HANGOVER
IT’S COMPLICATED
JULIE & JULIA
NINE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
SANDRA BULLOCK THE PROPOSAL
MARION COTILLARD NINE
JULIA ROBERTS DUPLICITY
MERYL STREEP IT’S COMPLICATED
MERYL STREEP JULIE & JULIA

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
MATT DAMON THE INFORMANT!
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS NINE
ROBERT DOWNEY JR. SHERLOCK HOLMES
JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT (500) DAYS OF SUMMER
MICHAEL STUHLBARG A SERIOUS MAN

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS
CORALINE
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
UP

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
BAARIA (ITALY)
BROKEN EMBRACES (SPAIN)
THE MAID (CHILE)
A PROPHET (FRANCE)
THE WHITE RIBBON (GERMANY)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
PENÉLOPE CRUZ NINE
VERA FARMIGA UP IN THE AIR
ANNA KENDRICK UP IN THE AIR
MO’NIQUE PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE
JULIANNE MOORE A SINGLE MAN

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
MATT DAMON INVICTUS
WOODY HARRELSON THE MESSENGER
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER THE LAST STATION
STANLEY TUCCI THE LOVELY BONES
CHRISTOPH WALTZ INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
KATHRYN BIGELOW THE HURT LOCKER
JAMES CAMERON AVATAR
CLINT EASTWOOD INVICTUS
JASON REITMAN UP IN THE AIR
QUENTIN TARANTINO INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
NEILL BLOMKAMP, DISTRICT 9
TERRI TATCHELL
MARK BOAL THE HURT LOCKER
NANCY MEYERS IT'S COMPLICATED
JASON REITMAN, UP IN THE AIR
SHELDON TURNER
QUENTIN TARANTINO INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE
MICHAEL GIACCHINO UP
MARVIN HAMLISCH THE INFORMANT!
JAMES HORNER AVATAR
ABEL KORZENIOWSKI A SINGLE MAN
KAREN O,
CARTER BURWELL WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
“CINEMA ITALIANO” — NINE
Music & Lyrics by: Maury Yeston
“I WANT TO COME HOME” — EVERYBODY'S FINE
Music & Lyrics by: Paul McCartney
“I WILL SEE YOU” — AVATAR
Music by: James Horner, Simon Franglen
Lyrics by: James Horner, Simon Franglen, Kuk Harrell
“THE WEARY KIND (THEME FROM CRAZY HEART)” — CRAZY HEART
Music & Lyrics by: Ryan Bingham, T Bone Burnett
“WINTER” — BROTHERS
Music by: U2
Lyrics by: Bono

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
BIG LOVE (HBO)
DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
HOUSE (FOX)
MAD MEN (AMC)
TRUE BLOOD (HBO)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
GLENN CLOSE DAMAGES
JANUARY JONES MAD MEN
JULIANNA MARGULIES THE GOOD WIFE
ANNA PAQUIN TRUE BLOOD
KYRA SEDGWICK THE CLOSER

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
SIMON BAKER THE MENTALIST
MICHAEL C. HALL DEXTER
JON HAMM MAD MEN
HUGH LAURIE HOUSE
BILL PAXTON BIG LOVE

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
30 ROCK (NBC)
ENTOURAGE (HBO)
GLEE (FOX)
MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
THE OFFICE (NBC)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
TONI COLLETTE UNITED STATES OF TARA
COURTENEY COX COUGAR TOWN
EDIE FALCO NURSE JACKIE
TINA FEY 30 ROCK
LEA MICHELE GLEE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
ALEC BALDWIN 30 ROCK
STEVE CARELL THE OFFICE
DAVID DUCHOVNY CALIFORNICATION
THOMAS JANE HUNG
MATTHEW MORRISON GLEE

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
GEORGIA O'KEEFFE (LIFETIME TELEVISION)
GREY GARDENS (HBO)
INTO THE STORM (HBO)
LITTLE DORRIT (PBS)
TAKING CHANCE (HBO)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
JOAN ALLEN GEORGIA O'KEEFFE
DREW BARRYMORE GREY GARDENS
JESSICA LANGE GREY GARDENS
ANNA PAQUIN THE COURAGEOUS HEART OF IRENA SENDLER
SIGOURNEY WEAVER PRAYERS FOR BOBBY

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
KEVIN BACON TAKING CHANCE
KENNETH BRANAGH WALLANDER: ONE STEP BEHIND
CHIWETEL EJIOFOR ENDGAME
BRENDAN GLEESON INTO THE STORM
JEREMY IRONS GEORGIA O'KEEFFE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
JANE ADAMS HUNG
ROSE BYRNE DAMAGES
JANE LYNCH GLEE
JANET McTEER INTO THE STORM
CHLOË SEVIGNY BIG LOVE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
MICHAEL EMERSON LOST
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
WILLIAM HURT DAMAGES
JOHN LITHGOW DEXTER
JEREMY PIVEN ENTOURAGE

World's Greatest Dad (2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:34:00 +0000

Rated R for language, crude and sexual content, some drug use and disturbing images.

99 Minutes

Written and Directed By: Bobcat Goldthwait
Staring: Robin Williams, Alexie Gilmore, Daryl Sabara, Evan Martin

I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is ending up with people who make you feel all alone. - Lance Clayton

Review:

This is one of the most unique comedies I have seen in a while. It is extremely crude an dark and hilarious all rolled up into one great film. This is Robin Williams best work in a long time. Bobcat Goldthwait did a great job at writing and directing this and I for one hope that he continues in this arena. I remember growing up seeing him in the Police Academy films and One Crazy Summer and laughing myself silly. This movie deals with many topical social issues in a real and meaningful way that everyone can relate to.

Lance Clayton, played by Robin Williams, is a failed author, teacher and pushover father who is raising his son Kyle by himself. Kyle is played by Daryl Sabara, in one of his most mature roles to date. Initially I did not recognize him, but he was the kid in Spy Kids. This role is a dark departure from his past roles I think you will agree. Kyle is a loaner whose only friend Andrew, played by Evan Martin, is very soft spoken and lets Kyle boss him around. Kyle has no friends at school, is constantly talking about sex and looking at porn on his computer and getting into fights at school. He is a fathers worst nightmare and he walks all over his father as well.

Lance on the other hand is miserable over his lack of success as an author. He is a poetry teacher at a private school and no one takes his class seriously. He is having a secret relationship with the art teacher who he fears has eyes for the super successful creative writing teacher. His only escape from his dismal life is watching movies and smoking pot on occasion.

You may be thinking, is this film funny. The answer to your question is YES. It is something that anyone can relate to in a number of ways. Each of us may either be at a job we hate, have to deal with people that make our lives hell. The scenes in Worlds Greatest Dad are real and for that reason we can relate to them and laugh to ourselves because they are so truthful. I can't go into greater detail about the plot for fear of giving away the film. I would rather you watch things unfold for yourself and get caught up in the movie. Trust me though, this film is different and unique and you will not be expecting it.

To me, the best part of the film is Robin Williams. His facial expressions and line delivery are fabulous. What makes this film work is that it is simple and yet very well scripted. The character development is excellent. There are no cheesy gimmicks like many comedies out there today, it is just pure dark humor. If dark humor is not your thing then this may not be the film for you. I myself, thoroughly enjoyed it and think you should definitely rent it.

Invictus (2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:24:00 +0000

Directed By: Clint Eastwood
Written By: Anthony Peckham, John Carlin
Staring: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge

Review:

Clint Eastwood is a great actor but is also a phenomenal director who truly knows have to craft films that are not only entertaining, but moving as well. Invictus is a film that is inspirational, unifying, and very intense at times. I personally feel as though Eastwood, Freeman and Damon should receive an Academy Award nomination for this film. Morgan Freeman is a mirror image of Nelson Mandela. This is very fitting since Mandela is a very commanding person, you have a very commanding screen presence in Freeman. Damon is also very good and has definitely gotten in shape after starring in The Informant, where he had to bulk up a bit. He fits the role of a rugby player perfectly and I think you will be happy with his acting both on and off the rugby field in this film.

The film follows Nelson Mandela after he took office as President of South Africa. After spending 30 years imprisoned by South Africa as a terrorist, Mandela emerged with love for his country and wanted to make a difference. In the first election where blacks were allowed to vote alongside whites, Mandela was elected President and was faced with some almost insurmountable tasks ahead. As President, Mandela wanted knew that he had to unify the people of South Africa to make a stronger country. Oddly enough, he saw rugby and Francois Pienaar as his hopes to win the 1995 World Cup.

The film does a fabulous job of representing the great divide that was present at the time between the people of South Africa. There was so much anger, distrust and uncertainty which was causing a lot of stress to the people. I am not one for enjoying a lot of historical dramas like Invictus on a regular basis. However, I am happy to say that this is truly a great film. I think that it has a bit of something for everyone in some respects. I hope and imagine that this film will be showed in History classes around the world to let people know about this great story.

One other aspect that makes Invictus unique is the fact that rugby is the main part of the film. There are not many films that capture rugby as a sport and for that there is a lot to be said. The scenes on the field during game play are extremely realistic and intense. The close up shots of the game play make you feel as if you are right on the field.

The Bottom Line:

If you are looking for a film to take the family to see that is not the traditional holiday movie then I recommend Invictus because it will not only entertain but inspire you!

1/2

The Music of...The Antlers - "Two"

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:05:00 +0000

This is a wonderful song by The Antlers from their album Hospice entitled "Two". The song is beautiful and so is the video. The guitar is infectious and the rythm melodic and I think you will love it.

Dave Matthews Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:54:00 +0000

Dave Matthews Giveaway!

Since I also write for Movie Mobsters, I thought I would do a cross-post here for the contest we are running.

In promotion of this weeks release of Dave Matthews, "Larger Than Life........IN 3D", we at Movie Mobsters are giving away yet MORE free stuff. The first poster to answer each question correctly will receive one of our winning packets, including posters, t-shirts, authentic concert lanyards. We have four t-shirts, three posters, and four concert lanyards up for grabs here. Be quick to answer the questions though, this is only in theaters for ONE week.

1. Where is Dave originally from?

Answer correctly and win Two T-Shirts, One Poster, and Two Concert Lanyards

2. What is the name of Dave's first solo album?

Answer correctly and win One Poster and Two Concert Lanyards

3. Which of their albums is "The Song That Jane Likes" on?

Answer correctly and win One Poster and Two T-Shirts

For more about "Larger Than Life........In 3D" you can go to the official website www.inconcert3d.com or check out the article here at Movie Mobsters.

Everybody's Fine (2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:18:00 +0000

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief strong language.

100 Min.

Directed By: Kirk Jones

Written By: Kirk Jones, Massimo De Rita

Starring: Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell, Katherine Moening, James Frain, Bendan Sexton III

Review:

Most holiday films that come to mind are heartwarming, cheery and even a bit silly. Everybody's Fine is not truly a holiday film, it just happens to come out during this time of year and have a small portion of it that relates to the holidays. What you have in reality is a drama/comedy/road movie. Usually these types of films have not always panned out so well. Luckily Robert De Niro is fantastic in this role. The rest of the cast is great as well, in fact they compliment each other so well they are very believable as brothers and sisters.

Imagine a sixty year old man whose daily uniform consists of wearing comfortable Rockport walking shoes a Members Only style jacket and slacks and you will have a good understanding of De Niro's character Frank. The audience can relate to him as a widower who is retired and living alone who spends most of his time working on the yard and is having to come to terms with the idea that he is going to spend the remainder of his life without his wife. His four kids are all grown up and when they decide to not visit him as planned for a weekend he decides to take to the road to visit each of them in one big trip.

Because of his ailing health he is forced to travel by bus and train for the entire trip at the orders of his doctor. His goal for the trip is to check up on everyone and make sure that his kids are happy and try to rekindle the relationship with his kids after years of focusing on work. Imagine feeling alone, isolated and regretting not building a relationship with your children and you may have an idea of what Frank feels like in this film.

I really loved the cinematography, there are some great shots during Frank's cross country travels via train and bus. It has a sense of taking the audience on the open road as well which is fun. I love watching movies road movies because it makes me want to get in my car and drive and experience road side eateries and small secluded towns. The characters that Frank encounters along his journey are very unique which brings a nice touch to the film. Be prepared to be emotional while watching this film so you may want to have your tissues ready.

The Bottom Line:

Everybody's Fine will take you on your own emotional journey if you let. I say let it, drive into it head on knowing that you will experience one of the most real, touching holiday films. I think you will agree that this film will have you doing some introspection on your own life which is a perfect thing. Just remember your family and friends are always there for you. It's the law during the holidays.

The Music of ....Editors "Papillon"

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:41:00 +0000

The song "Papillon" is off of the Editor's new album entitled In This Light And On This Evening Music

I really like this video for it simplicity and the way it was shot. I think you will enjoy the nice sound and the amazing vocals as usual.

Crazy Heart (Trailer)

noreply@blogger.com (Napier's News) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:28:00 +0000

This movie has Academy Award written all over it. I think this looks like one of Jeff Bridges best performances as of late. I am so excited for this and Tron Legacy.

Check out the trailer for Crazy Heart below: