Review With a View

Mr. Right (2015)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 14:33:00 +0000

Mr. Right (2015)

In this time of responsible social distancing and self-quarantining due to the new corona-virus, we figured it was a good time to cull our Netflix list and find a true diamond in the rough. A suggestion I have for you is Mr. Right written by Max Landis and directed by Paco Cabezas. Mr. Right is not your typical Rom-Com. It's more tongue in cheek, which is humor I appreciate, and there is plenty of action to go around.

The Premise
Newly single Martha isn't looking for love but that's what she finds when she runs into Francis. She isn't put of by his casual "jokes" about being a hitman, but when people start really trying to kill to them, she thinks it might be time for a break.

My Take
I have self confessed crushes on both Anna Kendrick, who plays Martha, and Sam Rockwell, who plays Francis. So imagine my elation when I saw they were paired up in this film! They make an adorable, awkward, and super cute movie couple.

In Mr. Right, Francis never lies to Martha about being a killer. He slips it into casual conversation, telling her the truth the whole time. She never quite knows what to expect from him, which is why she likes him so much. He's new and exciting and not like any guy she's ever been with before. But when the bullets start flying, she starts having second thoughts, like any sane woman would. Then again, she really likes this guy...

Acting as Martha's voice of reason is her roommate and best friend Sophie (Katie Nehra). Sophie is immediately suspicious of Francis and has no problems voicing her concerns. She has every right to be worried about her friend. Especially because people like Tim Roth, RZA, Anson Mount, Michael Eklund and James Ransone are all after him.

The Verdict
A lot of times, movies that have all-stars casts like this make me nervous to watch them. Truthfully. I have found there are times not enough attention is paid to the script or direction and all of it goes to who stars in the movie. If you enjoy dark humor, action, comedy, and romance, I suggest giving Mr. Right a chance. It seems to have slid under the radar as far as movies go. I give Mr. Right 1 perfect clown nose. Why? You'll have to watch to find out.

The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 17:11:00 +0000

I'm a big fan of heartwarming stories and an even bigger fan of tales of redemption. I was finally able to watch "The Peanut Butter Falcon", written and directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, which has been at the top of my Netflix since its release. It's one of those rare films that is funny, touching, and also manages to sneak in a life lesson at the same time.

The Premise
Zak, a young man with Down Syndrome, is living in a retirement home because he has no family left to care for him. However, that hasn't dampened his dreams of becoming a professional wrestler. After breaking out of the retirement home, he meets Tyler, who is running away from problems of his own. To make matters even more complicated, the duo are being pursued by Eleanor, an employee of the retirement home, and people seeking revenge for Tyler's wrongdoings.

My Take
Having spent a good portion of my professional life working in special education and retirements homes, I have a soft spot for characters like Zak. No one should ever be abandoned or made to feel it's impossible to pursue their dreams. I was fortunate that the educators I worked with were very good at what they did and (I hope) left all the children feeling loved and encouraged. That being said, the situation Zak was left in was very sad indeed and it highlights the need for more characters like Eleanor in schools and retirement homes.

Zak was played by Zack Gottsagen. Zach was naturally brilliant in this role and a perfect choice. Of course rumor has it that the role was written for Zack, so why wouldn't he be perfect? To back him up were fellow Texan, Dakota Johnson, as Eleanor and Shia LaBeouf as Tyler. I liked Johnson as Eleanor. She played Eleanor as soft spoken, sweet, and patient. All good qualities for working in retirement homes or with people with disabilities. As the opposite, Shia LaBeouf was gruff and impatient. He treated the character Zak as if he were no different than anyone else. That's also a good quality for people to have - not to talk down, shame, or belittle those that are different. So here you are with Zak book-ended with perfect examples of people he needs in his life. The overprotective "mothering" Eleanor and a "big brother" that takes no shit to show him the world.

I spoke earlier of a story of redemption. LaBeouf's character, Tyler, is in need of a little saving when he meets Zak. Tyler is on the lam when he and Zak first meet. He agrees to takes Zak just as far as his goal - a wrestling school - but the adventures they have on the way forge a bond between the two men. The actions Tyler takes in teaching, protecting, and befriending Zak renews his spirit when he is at his lowest point.

Rounding out the cast is Thomas Haden Church as Zak's all-time favorite wrestler, Salt Water Redneck, and real wrestler Jake 'The Snake' Roberts as Sam. Also, a special shout out to Zak's roommate played by Bruce Dern. He was the perfect accomplice to Zak's great escape..

The Verdict
"The Peanut Butter Falcon" was a well executed tale. It has all the elements of a great story - comedy, suspense, heart, wonder. I began to really feel for Zak and Tyler as they made their way to the wrestling school and as it came to the climax, I was pleasantly pleased at the way it all came out. I give "The Peanut Butter Falcon" 1.. 2... 3! 3 out of 3 wrestling moves. (I would count to 10 but that just seems really long haha!)

Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 15:34:00 +0000

They say hindsight is 20/20, so is this going to be the year of reflection? And if so, what kind of reflection? Self? World? Otherwise? I personally would like to close this chapter of my life by doing something I have never done before and reflect back on the past year at some of my favorite (and maybe not so favorite) memories.

I spent a lot more time with my family this year. My parents, sister, nephews, and friends that I consider my family. And for reasons that aren't totally appropriate for a public forum, I had to work extra hard on my marriage this year. I'm proud to say that all the extra hours we put in are working and we just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. So everything in 2019 is a little bittersweet for me, but that's okay.

My sister and me after Mardi Gras!

Cheers! At Tomball German Fest with my BFF

Me and my Mom

My son Tim turned 18 this year. I officially have two men in the house. He also graduated high school and I have never been more proud. He got a full time job and is taking a gap-year while he decides whether a culinary degree is worth the time and expense. He has sought the advice of other chefs and cooks and heard their stories of people who went the education route and who went for the experience. All were where they wanted to be in life. Now it's up to Tim to decide what's best for him. If anyone else wants to chime in, I'm happy to pass the info along to him. Leave me a comment or message me!

Our next big event was Rebecca's Sweet 16. No car for her, though. She's terrified of driving at the moment which is just fine with me! She was also inducted into the Texas Thespians, one of the largest chapters in the nation. She's super active in her high school theatre, landing one of the starring roles in the Fall production of The Revenge of the Space Pandas or Binky Rudich and the Two-Speed Clock, which turned out to be the only production they've done so far this school year. One of the downfalls of going to a brand new high school is a lack of support and funding for the arts.

In April I chopped all my hair off, but that's not super important. We spent a lot of time at the beach with my parents and in July my mom and I went zip-lining at Moody Gardens. It was on our bucket list and was pretty amazing.

Diana turned 14 at the beginning of her very first marching season. She adored every about marching band. The camaraderie, the skill level, the athleticism, the music, the discipline, the tan... The only thing she hates is how white her feet still are compared to the rest of her legs. Guess we'll need to spend more time at the beach in 2020. Diana was the first freshman to make region band at the their high school. She is also to first bass clarinet player to make region band, making her the first clarinet player to make region band. I could not be more proud of her accomplishments. She has decided she wants to be a nurse and is taking the appropriate high school level classes to achieve her goal.

My Theatre Nerd

Couldn't live without these guys

At the end of the summer I spent two days in the hospital after suffering a pretty scary seizure. I was eventually diagnosed with Todd's Paralysis and sent home. I was out of work for two weeks as I recovered not knowing how permanent the effects would be on the right side of my body. I eventually had a full recovery and went back to work but was unable to drive for three months. It's no fun putting everyone on your speed dial just so you can get home from work safely. As I was having problems with my head, Victor started having problems with his feet. He has plantar fasciitis. It's apparently really painful. I hope we find a solution for him soon.

When I said at the beginning that things were bittersweet, it was because there was a leftover air of misfortune that followed us from 2017 and 2018 into our lives to 2019. Things have been extremely difficult in the Romero household for nearly three years now and we are just now getting over the hurt, pain, and scars caused by the misdeeds of others. New Year's 2020 is the first one in our recent history where we found ourselves celebrating. We celebrated our marriage (we got married on New Year's Eve), we celebrated our lives together, and we celebrated our future. And you know what? It felt good.

Happy New Year!

Ready or Not (2019)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 17:57:00 +0000

Ready or Not (2019)

Since I can't go to the movies because of my seizures, I tend to load up my Netflix list with movies I really want to see. Ready or Not has been at the top of my list ever since I saw its first preview. It looked like a combination of The Most Dangerous Game (Richard Connell) and You're Next (2011).

The Premise

When a member of the Le Domas family gets married, it's tradition to initiate the new in-law by playing a game on their wedding night. The whole family gets into the spirit of things. Why? Because there's a curse on the Le Domas family and if they don't play, they believe something awful will happen. Sometimes the games are harmless, like chess or checkers. But every once in a while, they are forced to play a deadly game of hide and seek.

My Take

I love a good dark comedy and that's how I viewed this movie, more so than a horror film. The actors played their parts straight despite the somewhat absurd circumstances they were put in. I mean, who plays hide and seek on their wedding night with their entire clan of in-laws hunting them down with antique weaponry?

Samara Weaving and Mark O'Brien play the newly married Grace and Alex Le Domas. You may remember Samara from The Babysitter (2017). Except this time she's on the receiving end of some weird shit from a devil worshiping family. To round out the family, there's Adam Brody who plays Daniel Le Domas. With Daniel's character, you never know which side he is on and that makes it really exciting to watch from scene to scene. Melanie Scrofano plays sister Emilie who, from an actor's standpoint, would have been a lot of fun to play. She seems like the family member that took full advantage of the family fortune and never worked a day in her life. And of course there are dear old mom and dad played by Andie MacDowell and Henry Czerny. My favorite thing about their relationship is thinking about the fact that Andie MacDowell's character, Becky Le Domas, would have had to endure the same initiation right of choosing a game to play that the current bride, Grace, is doing right now. What doesn't kill us, I suppose... That brings us to the other in-laws played by Kristian Bruun and Elyse Levesque. I am familiar with Kristian and Elyse from their work on Orphan Black (2013-2017), one of my favorite shows ever. It's fun to see them paired up in the same movie. And finally, there is what appears to be crazy Aunt Helene (Nicky Guadagni), but we learn more about her as the movie progresses.

There are many things I enjoy about this movie. The plot moves along quickly and it doesn't give the audience much time to anticipate what happens next. I like that because it makes it less difficult to predict the scriptwriters next move. There's nothing I hate more than figuring it out all in the first act. So thank you very much Guy Buick and Ryan Murphy. The direction was also well thought out I loved the production design (Matt Bettinelli-Olin and Tyler Gillett).

The Verdict

I was not at all disappointed in Ready or Not. I am disappointed in that I feel like it was sleeper in the cinemas. Maybe it will find its footing in its DVD release or in streaming. I recommend you give it try. I give Ready or Not 5/5 pentagrams. And a little word of advice - be careful who you marry.

Return of Horror Fest - Teen Version

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 21:08:00 +0000

Yes Horror Fest made a (small) return to the Romero household this year. But please do not get your panties in a wad if you didn't receive an invite! It was dubbed Horror Fest Returns - The Teen Version for a reason. All of our children (ages 14-18) collectively agreed they wanted to host another 24 hour monster movie marathon. We the parents graciously allowed them to invite their friends over and allow them full fridge access for 24 hours and they could watch whatever Halloween movies they wanted. Here's what they chose this year:

Intruder (1989)

Victor and I picked this flick to start things off. The teenagers wanted a classic '80s slasher flick and this one has always one of our favorites. It's also a bit of a whodunit as one by one the overnight stock crew of a grocery store gets picked off in gruesome ways. Stay tuned till

Jason vs Freddy (2003)

This pick made me laugh because it turns out that half the kids watching the movie never saw the original Friday the 13th or Nightmare on Elm Street! How is that possible? So there were a lot of questions about the dream killer, but ultimately they enjoyed the battle between Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger.

Ghostbusters (1984)
Always a classic, though maybe not so much a horror movie, Ghostbusters chronicles three parapsychologists as they capture ghosts around New York City.

Hush (2016)
I'm a big fan of writers and directors taking control of their projects, especially when they're as well done as Hush. Written and starring Kate Siegel and written and directed by Mike Flanagan, Hush is a thriller about a mute and deaf woman terrorized by masked killer.

13 Cameras (2015)
Talk about creepy. Has anyone ever just given you the heebies jeebies? Actor Neville Archambault does a great job of it in Victor Zarcoff's, 13 Camera's. You can't help but feel for this couple that is being unwittingly spied on in this thriller.

Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
This was a first for many of our teenage guests. They thoroughly enjoyed each and every gory death (especially Johnny Depp's). And they loved Robert Englund's portrayal of Freddy, in this one and in Freddy vs Jason.

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
This was solely for the thespians in the crowd, though the other guys loved Audrey II and Bill Murray's masochistic Arthur Dent. The theatre crowd was more into Ellen Greene and Rick Moranis. But overall, it was a win! (Of course)

The Conjuring (2013)
My daughter loves scary movies and she loves this one. Obviously it starts off the Annabelle series, but that's not why we like this one. It's very Amityville Horror (which we watched next) in that a family is haunted by an unknown presence. And it's supposed to have been based on a true story which always makes a haunting even scarier.

The Amityville Horror (1979)
This is one of my my husband's favorites, because of Margot Kidder, but that's okay. Of course by this time we started losing some of the teenagers. Haha They were dropping like the flies on Father Delaney. This one is also supposed to be based on a true story which always makes a story even better, in my opinion.

Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
I have to tell you I don't know why I own this one and not any of the others, but I do. And it was the first time I watched it. It was a little long, and a little strange, but it was also a little unsettling, which is exactly what it was supposed to be. I obviously can't say much because it gives away the ending, but I did enjoy Paranormal Activity 3.

House of Wax (2005)
This one is kind of my guilty pleasure. I enjoy that in the end it's a brother/sister duo that team up (Elisha Cuthbert and Chad Michael Murray) and not a romantic link. Have you ever had a hot wax massage treatment? It's super satisfying. So being covered in the stuff seems like a great idea. But I guess these killers just take it way too far.

Death Note (2017)
Imagine having the power to kill anyone you want - and then giving that power to a teenager. That's Death Note. A great movie that keeps you in suspense up until the very end, Death Note is a great movie to add to any Halloween movie fest.

The Babysitter (2017)
This is another one of our guilty pleasure movies. The Babysitter has all the elements - it's sexy, has dark comedy, and gore. A group of teenage Devil worshipers didn't count on the young boy they were babysitting spying on them. Hilarity ensues. Watch it.

Student Bodies (1981)
This movie was a total spoof and the only one filmed in Houston, as far as I know. (Yay hometown!) If you loves spoof and don't mind the silliness of it all, this one's for you.

The Banana Splits Movie (2019)
This is a new movie we added to our collection this year. My husband grew up watching The Banana Splits so it was only natural he would gravitate toward this movie. It was pretty good, considering the main characters had giant animation robots chasing them all around a TV studio for the duration of the film. Not as silly as it sounds.

Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010)
We can't have a Horror Fest without Tucker and Dale vs Evil. This is our favorite movie about mistaken identities. A group of college kids think that Tucker and Dale are hillbilly killers. After a freak accident in which the hillbillies save one of the college girls from drowning, the rest of the group meet their untimely ends in hilarious freak accidents.

The Babysitter (2017)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 16:00:00 +0000

My favorite genre is horror-comedy. Movies like Tucker and Dale vs Evil are a staple in our home. We have found yet another film to add to our list of absolute faves with The Babysitter. Brian Duffield, writer of The Babysitter, caught the innocence of childhood, the manipulation of naughty teens, and the comedy of accidental murder in his screenplay.

The Premise

It's parental date night and Cole is stuck at home with his babysitter Bee. Not that he minds. Bee is smoking hot and they always have a blast. This time is different, though. Cole stays up to find out what happens after bedtime and finds out Bee and her friends are Satan worshipers and they need his blood to complete their ritual! Cole spends all night evading Bee and her friends, accidentally killing a few along the way.

My Take

I sympathize with Cole in more than one way. I always thought I had a babysitter for way too long. Then I was the babysitter for my little sister and all our neighbors. Now as a parent I feel for my kids. My mother-in-law lives with us - we have a built-in babysitter 24/7. Poor guys! So, I see a bit of Cole in myself and my kids. Except I was never as hot or half as fun as Bee.

Judah Lewis and Samara Weaving portray Cole and Bee, respectively. This is where the combination of writing, direction, and acting collide to make the chemistry of these two characters work perfectly. Cole is discovering girls and thus discovering Bee as an older woman. The awkward and tender moments between them are beautiful. It makes everything that happens later all the more tragic and emotional.

To be fair, Bee does try to protect Cole from all her evil doings. But, kids being kids, his curiosity ruins all her plans which leaves her Satan worshiping friends with no choice but to hunt him down. Bee's friends include Robbie Amell - the jock, Hana Mae Lee - the Goth, Bella Thorne - the cheerleader, Andrew Bachelor - the best friend, and Doug Haley - the nerd. Each friend, sadly, meets a tragic, and hilarious, end.

The Verdict

Now, I am biased because I love these kinds of movies. But given the combination of writing, McG's direction, and everyone’s acting, I personally recommend The Babysitter to anyone with a dark sense of humor and a twisted funny bone. I give The Babysitter 6/6 Satanists or was it 666??? I can never remember.

Battle for Sevastopol (2015)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 17:35:00 +0000

A good "true story" movie should pique your interest. We all know Hollywood works its magic on whatever subject it picks and stretches the truth. That's exactly why biopics are always "based on a true story" or "based on true events" rather than factual, actual movies. That being said, Battle for Sevastopol is an excellent film and makes me want to learn more about its heroine, Lyudmila Mykhailovna Pavlichenko.

The Premise

Credited with an amazing 309 kills, Lyudmila Pavlichenko is the most successful female sniper in Soviet history. She became an advocate for women's rights, a friend of the U.S., and a battle-worn hero of World War II. Based on the incredible true story, Battle for Sevastopol focuses on the career of one of WWII's bravest soldiers.

My Take

It is no secret that the military is very much a fraternity. It was even more so during WWII. However, attitudes in the former Soviet Union were more progressive than I originally thought. Early in the war, the Soviet military allowed women to volunteer for service. This of course was not without its difficulties. Women back then faced more challenges than women do now, but if not for these groundbreaking souls, no military in the world would be where it is today.

Lyudmila Pavlichenko was one of these women. Played by Yuliya Peresild, Pavlichenko became a sniper at a time woman were largely pushed into nursing. The real Pavlichenko passed away in 1974, so I can only imagine that Peresild portrayed her with the right amount of bravery and vulnerability. In the film, she fell in love with two fellow soldiers (Anatoliy Kot and Oleg Vasilkov) and an army doctor (Nikita Tarasov). While I can't find anything to back up these relationships, what is true was her friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt (Joan Blackham).

What I found most amusing in my research, is the realism of the writing in Pavlichenko's visit to America. At the time, reporters were more concerned with her appearance and style on the battle-front than her cause and reason for her trip. Writers Maksim Budarin, Maksim Dankevich, Leonid Korin, Sergey Mokritskiy, and Egor Olesov were somehow able to capture the many varied atmospheres and settings of this film.

The Verdict

Battle for Sevastopol featured excellent make-up, especially during the battle scenes. The writing was very well done as was the direction, thanks to Sergey Mokritskiy. The portrayal of Americans was a bit amusing - a little like watching caricatures of ourselves. But as far as I could tell, the acting was top-notch (it is a foreign film after all!). I give Battle for Sevastopol a full 309 kills. Anything that makes you want to learn more about female snipers is worth the watch!

Jessica Jones (2015-?)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 16:02:00 +0000

Well, Jessica Jones is no Daredevil. But I mean that in the best possible way. As much as I wanted to like Daredevil, I enjoyed Netflix's stab at Marvel's Jessica Jones even more. And this time I wasn't wishing, hoping and praying that the best friend wasn't going to get it in the end. Sorry, Foggy.

The Premise

Jessica Jones is a hard drinking, hot-tempered, ill-mannered private eye who has more than a few personal demons to face. When one of those demons, who was thought to be long dead, comes back to Hell's Kitchen to begin another reign of terror, it quickly becomes clear that Jessica is the only one that can stop him. But can she stop him for good this time? Or will he get the best of this former super hero?

My Take

From the very first episode I was hooked and I watched the entire series in two days. Hey, I was on vacation. I am admittedly not up on my comic book lore, but I know good entertainment when I have found it. With Jessica Jones, Netflix was able to capture a woman who has been beaten down and gotten back up only to have to face her tormentor once more.

Jessica (Krysten Ritter) has been working as a private detective. I guess a former super hero can't escape helping the downtrodden for long. A couple comes in seeking help finding their missing daughter, Hope (Erin Moriarty). The trail leads Jessica down a familiar path; one that leads directly back to a man she thought she had killed.

With the help of her best friend Trish Walker (Rachael Taylor), her sometimes boyfriend Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and sneaky lawyer Jeri Hogarth (Carrie-Anne Moss), Jessica hunts down the mysterious, mind controlling Kilgrave. Meanwhile, Kilgrave's (David Tennant) only goal in life is to get back the one he lost - Jessica.

Dealing with a villain who can control people's minds is obviously not an easy job. Throughout the season, Jessica and her band of misfits go after the slippery Kilgrave only to be thwarted again and again. And to make matters worse, they never know who can be trusted and who is under his control.

The Verdict

Jessica Jones was exciting, smart and funny. It brought a female hero to light in a positive way. Sure she was sexual, but she wasn't overly sexualized. Krysten Ritter was an excellent choice to play the role of Jessica and I am so thankful that her best friend was a good actress, too. Thank you, Rachael Taylor. Stay tuned for a familiar face towards the end. Jessica Jones gets my two very strong thumbs up.

Slow Learners (2015)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 18:38:00 +0000

Finding love is hard. Being lucky in love is even harder. Especially if you are slow to realize who is right and who is wrong for you, even when they are standing right in front of you. Written by Matt Serword, Peter C. Swords and Heather Maidat, Slow Learners is a movie about love, friendship, losing your dignity and putting it all back together again.

The Premise

Jeff and Anne are best friends and co-workers who have a lot in common, including still being single in their thirties. They decide to take their summer break to look for love. By experimenting with different styles and lots of sex and alcohol, these friends find themselves (and love) after nearly losing each other.

My Take

Slow Learners is a love story in which the formula is near perfect. Boy and girl already know each other, lose each other and then have to find each other again. But of course, we are talking about slow learners so there are quite a few mistakes made along the way, much to the audience's delight.

Starring Adam Pally as Jeff and Sarah Burns as Anne, the movie starts off on a comedic note with a really bad date. Jeff and Anne decide to change themselves for the summer and see if what has been wrong with their love lives all this time has actually been them.

Over the course of the summer, high school guidance counselor, Jeff, gets in a bar fight, changes his style, gets drunk, has lots of sex and alienates himself from friends, Dan and Lenny (Gil Ozeri and Bobby Moynihan, respectively). Anne, who is either a librarian or an English teacher, gets a complete makeover, has numerous one-night-stands, many drunken nights and pushes away her best friend, Julia (Catherine Reitman).

In short, they both become the assholes they were idolizing.

So, what's a body to do when your friends hate you, you're hung over and you no longer know who you are? You go back to the beginning.

The Verdict

Slow Learners was an excellent film directed by Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce. I think that it was the casting that made it so good, however. The principal players, Pally and Burns, were impeccable. They each had small nuances that made their characters totally believable. The supporting was amazing as well. From their cast of friends, Ozeri, Moynihan and Reitman, to their love interests for the summer, Reid Scott and Mary Grill, the casting was superb. I would tell you how many stars or whatever I give this film, but being slow learners, you probably wouldn't get it anyway.

What we Watched This Halloween Season - 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 16:52:00 +0000

The tradition continued this year as we tried to fit in as many horror movies as possible this Halloween season and we hosted our second annual 24 Hour Horror Fest! Here's our official list of Halloween movies from 2015.

To make it easier, I have rated the following films on a sliding scale from 1 to 5; 1 being the the worst, but we watched it anyway, and 5 being the best. As always, don't let my opinion be the only one you listen to. Form your own by watching as many movies as you can next Halloween!

In order of appearance:

Friday the 13th Part XII: The New Blood (1988)
A psychic teenager accidentally releases Jason from his underwater confinement to once again go on a nearly unstoppable killing spree.
Hokey, but these are the classics 3/5

Friday the 13th Part XIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
A boatload of teenagers on their graduation cruise accidentally snag Jason and drag him all the way to New York where he terrorizes Manhattan.
Pretty silly 2/5

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)
Jason is blown apart (after having mysteriously reappeared at Crystal Lake) and his demonic spirit
goes looking for another Voorhees' body to take over.
Umm, no 1/5

Friday the 13th Part X: To Hell and Back (1995)
Jason is summoned back from Hell from some mischievous teenagers using a mysterious book found on the still standing Voorhees' estate. Will no one ever learn?
Ok, we've got to stop this. 2/5

Student Bodies (1981)
Filmed in my neck of the woods, Student Bodies has long been one of our favorite spoofs. The Breather is one of the best villains you'll ever see.
Sex kills in this horror comedy. 5/5

Intruder (1989)
A maniac killer targets the overnight crew of a local grocery store. I really enjoy this movie because of what happens at the very end.
I suggest the unrated version. 5/5

Near Dark (1987)
A classic vampire love story that will outlast and outdo any Twilight story ever written. A young man gets lured into a vampires' den by a beautiful young woman.
Can love cure vampirism? 5/5

Saw (2004)
Two men are trapped in a room together with no memory of how they got there. What they do know is that one must kill the other to survive.
The start of a franchise is usually the best, and this is true here. 4/5

Saw II (2005)
Serial killer, Jigsaw, has trapped eight people in a factory together inhaling a deadly nerve gas. It is up to one single to detective to unravel his riddles and save them.
An interesting sequel. Not bad. 3/5

Saw III (2006)
A doctor, a man whose son was killed in a hit and run, a detective and Jigsaw's protegee all have something in common in this gruesome sequel.
There's still a story here but it is a little far fetched. 3/5

Saw IV (2007)
Jigsaw and his apprentice are both dead but people are still dying. Who is carrying on Jigsaw's wishes, even after death?
Ok, I'll bite... 3/5

Saw V (2008)
Another group of strangers are put through Jigsaw style traps, but these feel different from before. More brutal. Meanwhile, an agent is on the tail of the new killer.
Maybe it's because we watched all of these in a row, but I am finding the overall plot line pretty fascinating. 3/5

Saw VI (2009)
In the final installment to Saw, the original Jigsaw's plans all come to fruition in one giant convoluted plan. If everyone had just done as they were asked, they all would have lived. Crazy.
Actually pretty well thought out, despite the plot holes. 3/5

Creep (2014)
What do you do when you find out that your client is a little nuts? In found footage/documentary style film, Creep tells the story of Josef's obsession with videographer Aaron.
I'll never quite look at Mark Duplass the same way again. 4/5

The Host (2006)
A young girl is kidnapped by a strange, man-eating creature. Her family refuses to accept her death and stops at nothing to get her back.
Very good Korean film. Not bad special effects. 3/5

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
Filmed in black and white, this movie is another pretty good vampire film. The people of Bad City are unaware that a vampire lives among them, let alone a very lonely and attractive vampire.
This foreign language film (Farsi) is worth putting on your list. 4/5

Witching and Bitching (2013)
A hilarious Spanish language film about men who bitch about women, a jewelry heist and, of course, witches.
So good, we watched it twice. 5/5

The Snowtown Murders (2011)
Based on the true story of Australian serial killer, John Bunting, it recalls events of how one man can influence young minds to murder and torture other people.
Intriguing because it was based on a true story. 3/5

Zombieland (2009)
In a land overrun by zombies, four strangers become friends on their cross-country journey.
With a cast like this, how can you go wrong? 5/5

Smiley (2012)
After learning that an online killer can be summoned anywhere and at anytime, an unstable teenager becomes so paranoid she thinks the killer is stalking her at every turn.
I did it for the lulz. 2/5

The People Under the Stairs (1991)
The People Under the Stairs is about a little girl trapped inside a creepy house, the strange things going on around her, the unwitting boy who rescues her and an urban legend about a hidden treasure.
We introduced a whole new generation to this Wes Craven horror classic. 5/5

Grabbers (2012)
Two peace officers in Ireland discover that the best way to fight blood-thirsty aliens is with a blood alcohol level of point-oh-deadly.
Read my review of Grabbers here. 5/5

You're Next (2011)
When a family comes under attack by masked killers, they never expected one of the guests would be able to take them on.
Way to go for kick-ass women! 4/5

The 'Burbs (1989)
Granted this movie is not really a horror movie but it does have all the elements: creepy neighbors, murder, intrigue and paranoia.
Who hasn't wanted to spy on their neighbors? 3/5

Return of the Living Dead II (1988)
The dead rise once again to seek out their favorite meal, brains. It is up to a group of teenagers, and a few inept adults, to stop them.
I admit, I love this one. 4/5

Trick 'r Treat (2007)
Five stories intertwine in this supernatural Halloween horror movie.
Trick or Treat! 4/5

The Lost Boys (1987)
Yet another classic vampire love story. I sense a theme. Boy meets girl, girl is a vampire, boy becomes vampire, boy must save them both.
Still better than Twilight. 4/5

House of Wax (2005)
A group of teens are deserted in a strange town and the only attraction is a wax museum. One by one they are killed and turned into wax figures.
Not a terrible remake, all in all. 2/5

Friday the 13th (2009)
An updated version of the original Friday the 13th. A group of young adults are terrorized by Jason Voorhees when they encroach upon his territory.
Not as good as the original, but worth a look. 4/5

I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
A woman is brutally attacked and seeks revenge on those who wronged her.
It's her revenge that makes this remake worth watching. 4/5

The Conjuring (2013)
Something is terrorizing a family in a rural farmhouse in the early 1970's. Paranormal investigators have been summoned to help them sort out the strange happenings.
I have never heard teenage girls scream so loud. It is definitely one of the better paranormal movies made lately. 4/5

Night of the Comet (1984)
This movie has one of my husband's favorite villains in it. Set in the aftermath of the passing a giant comet, a group of teen-aged survivors do what teens do best... Have fun!
Like Valley girls of the apocalypse. 4/5

Fido (2006)
A cloud of radiation has made it so that the dead come back. Set in the 1950's, Fido is an unconventional zombie movie.
Read my review of Fido here. 5/5

The Amityville Horror (1979)
Based on a "true" story, the movie follows the events of a book which follows the accounts given by the Lutz family of what happened to them in the infamous house.
Get out! 4/5

Stage Fright (2014)
Ok, I hate musicals. But this movie is all about a killer who kills people starring in musicals! Perfect! The songs are hilarious and totally tongue in cheek. The entire movie is making fun of musical theatre.
Stay tuned to listen to the credits. 4/5

Let Us Prey (2014)
On her first night in a small Scottish police station, a young police woman, other officers and prisoners become unwilling hostages of a mysterious stranger. Violence erupts as the stranger takes over their minds.
There are no such thing as accidents in this movie. 3/5

Teeth (2007)
If you ever thought women were evil before, you won't have any doubt after watching this movie. Sometimes abstinence really is the best policy, especially when you have teeth... down there.
Vagina Dentata! 2/5

I would love to hear what you watched this past Halloween season. Leave me a comment below! Check out last year's Halloween blog, too!

Fido (2006)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 15:01:00 +0000

In a film set in the Nifty Fifties, Fido offers a very unique view of what could have otherwise been a traditional, gory zombie movie. Writers Robert Chomiak, Andrew Currie (also the director) and Dennis Heaton have created a world in which the elderly are feared, head caskets are a commodity and children are trained in small arms.

The Premise

A cloud of space dust has fallen to Earth and the radiation from it reanimates corpses. The living dead have a craving for flesh and that just won't do, thus Zomcon has been created to solve all you zombie problems. Zombies can be trained for menial tasks, people are buried with separate head caskets and citizens are trained in basic zombie killing tactics.

My Take

The Robinson's are the perfect example of a nuclear family; mom, dad, son and one on the way. Except that little Timmy doesn't seem to have a lot of friends and they are the only family on the block without their own zombie. The head honcho of Zomcon has just moved in down the street with his wife and daughter, and they have six zombies. What is one to do?

In a great example of "keeping up with the Jones's", perfect wife and mother, Helen Robinson (Carrie-Anne Moss), purchases a zombie for their household without consulting her husband. Gasp! Much to the eventual delight of their son Timmy (Kesun Loder), mom and dad decide to keep the zombie because he proves to be so useful. Bill Robinson, the father (played by Dylan Baker), remains suspicious of zombies throughout due to a traumatic childhood incident.

Timmy names the zombie Fido. Fido, who never speaks an intelligible word, is played by Billy Connolly (and if you ever want to talk about your singing days with The Humblebums, I wouldn't say no). There is a series of accidents in which Timmy protects Fido, Mom protects Timmy, and then Fido protects them both proving that zombies may not be the soulless, heartless beings we have made them out to be.

There are some fantastic supporting characters, too. Sonja Bennett and Tim Blake Nelson are the Robinson's neighbors. Nelson's character, Mr. Theopolis, once worked for Zomcon and may or may not have been fired for his inappropriate relationship with Tammy the zombie (Bennett). Cindy Bottoms, played by Alexia Fast, is Timmy's only human friend.

The Verdict

Expertly written and acted, Fido is one of our new favorite movies to watch in October. I love that it is set in the 1950's and is able to get away with the attitudes and ways of thinking that it does. I strongly recommend this film if you enjoy tongue in cheek comedy, dark humor and zombie movies. I give Fido 10 zombie attacks.

The Skeleton Twins

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 16:30:00 +0000

Family life is even more complicated than your run-of-the-mill average life. Can a broken family help each other heal after tragedy? Writers Craig Johnson and Mark Heyman have managed to capture the tragic side of life, and still make it entertaining, in The Skeleton Twins.

The Premise

Estranged twins, Milo and Maggie, are reunited after Milo's suicide attempt. He moves in with his sister only to discover that she isn't any more stable than he is. Personalities and opinions clash as the past rears his ugly head. The siblings try to mend their relationship, leaving collateral damage in their wake.

My Take

I have a feeling that this film doesn't get nearly the respect that it deserves because of the casting. Stars Bill Hader and Kristin Wiig are widely known for their comedic roles and The Skeleton Twins is a (welcome) departure from their norm. However, the roles of Milo and Maggie, respectively, are a chance for Hader and Wiig to really dig in and show the audience that they are much more capable than SNL and other cheap jokes. That being said, this is my favorite film of both of theirs.

Milo and Maggie contemplate suicide on the same day. The only thing that saves Maggie is that Milo actually attempts it. After visiting him in the hospital, they decide that Milo will go back home with Maggie for a while to recover.

At home, Milo discovers that the perfect life that Maggie is trying to live is not so perfect after all. Her husband, Lance (Luke Wilson), couldn't be nicer or more perfect but that's also the problem. Maggie is attracted to the bad boys. And Milo is still attracted to his old high school English teacher (Ty Burrell). The one who lost his job for their inappropriate relationship.

The Skeleton Twins isn't all drama. There are wonderful moments of sibling bonding mixed in with the suicide and affairs and dead goldfish. Milo and Maggie get high and Nitrous Oxide and giving a rousing lip sync to Jefferson Starship's Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now. I can't hear that song anymore with thinking of Milo and Maggie.

The Verdict

Severely underrated. You can't go into The Skeleton Twins thinking, "Oh, what a funny cast." This movie shows you a more serious, and dare I say, better Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig. Director Craig Johnson brings out the best in overly positive Luke Wilson and gives you a different side of Ty Burrell. What happens when two damaged people need each other? They break each other down, then they pick each other up. That's family. I give The Skeleton Twins 2/2 twins. Give it a chance.

***

As a side note: Suicide is serious.

If you or someone you know thinks that suicide might be the answer, please talk to someone right away.

There's free help!
1-800-273-8255 (call toll free)
www.afsp.org
suicide.org

Save a life!

The Fall (2013-?)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 17:42:00 +0000

I have three main criteria when I watch new shows: good writing, good acting and good direction. If any one of those things lags, it can make a television series fall flat. The Fall, created and written by Allan Cubitt, fits the bill.

The Premise

A serial killer has been terrorizing the citizens of Belfast. A specialized detective from the MET (Metropolitan Police Service) has been brought in to track him down and bring him to justice.

My Take

The Fall is a psychological thriller that delves deep into the psyches of all the people that are touched by the events in this story. No one is written as stereotypical or flat or thought of as just a side note. Granted, having to watch the show on Netflix means that we are a little behind (which is so frustrating), but thus far, the timeline of events have been laid out carefully and thoughtfully. That's not to say there haven't been several twists and turns to surprise viewers along the way.

The Fall stars Gillian Anderson as Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson. She has been tasked with the difficult job of tracking down a serial strangler in Northern Ireland. I've been a fan of Anderson since the X-Files and Detective Gibson is no Agent Scully. Anderson plays Gibson with such flawed casualness, that you can't help but be drawn into her story line. She is sexy, distant, emotional, smart and intuitive; a perfect choice to play Gibson.

Jamie Dornan is Paul Spector, the Belfast strangler. The show makes no secret of his sexual proclivities. Let's just say, The Fall gave Dornan plenty of practice for any bondage scenes he may have in 50 Shades of Grey. Paul Spector is a family man by day, married to Sally Ann Spector, played by the very talented Bronagh Waugh. He and his wife live a normal life complete with a mortgage, jobs and two small children. But Paul Spector can't help himself when it comes to stalking young, beautiful, dark haired women.

When officers start closing in on Paul, he begins to rely on his obsessive, teen-aged babysitter to give him his alibis. Aisling Franciosi plays 16 year old Katie Benedetto. She goes to extraordinary lengths in order to protect the man she loves. Even after he is accused of not only murder but of assaulting Annie Brawley (Karen Hassan) and kidnapping his old girlfriend, Rose Stagg (Valene Kane).

The team of Belfast officers are well rounded and extremely well played, each with their own unique personalities. They are played by John Lynch, Niamh McGrady, Emmett J. Scanlan and Bronagh Taggart and are too good not to get a mention.

The Verdict

The Fall is one of those shows that I have to binge watch when the new seasons come out on Netflix. Everything falls right in place with The Fall. I give it 4/4 murders. I am just so infuriated with Season 2's ending and can't wait for Season 3!

Quartet (2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 18:15:00 +0000

There are few movies that are centered around and made for an older generation of stars. Far too often, talented seasoned stars will make an appearance as someone's parent or grandparent rather starring in their own movie. Quartet is a film that peeks into the lives of a retirement home that has been made especially for elderly musicians.

The Premise

An annual benefit has been planned to celebrate Verdi's birthday and to raise money to help with expenses at a home for retired musicians. A group of long time friends are in the midst of rehearsals when the fourth member of their quartet arrives unexpectedly at the retirement home, shaking things up.

My Take

Cissy, Wilf and Reginald are long time friends and opera singers who live together at a home for retired musicians in England. Every year the home puts on a benefit concert on Verdi's birthday to help raise money for the expenses of their beloved home. The benefit is being led by the larger than life, Cedric Livingston, played by Sir Michael Gambon. Cedric is determined to have the event go off without a hitch and it will be his way or no way at all.

Cissy, Wilf and Reginald, once part of a famous quartet, are rehearsing their various parts. One day, a new resident arrives at the estate. It is the much esteemed Jean Horton, the final member of the famous quartet, played by the incomparable Dame Maggie Smith. Jean has come to the retirement home begrudgingly and continues her diva like ways with the staff and her former colleagues.

Reginald (the wonderful Sir Tom Courtenay) and Jean were once married causing friction in the one time group of friends. Cissy, the very talented Pauline Collins, and Wilf, the very funny Billy Connolly, try their best to mend the broken quartet but to no avail. Cedric comes up with the idea to have the group reunite and sing at the Verdi benefit concert. Jean, however refuses to sing. But what Cedric wants, Cedric gets. After all, the show must go on.

The Verdict

Quartet was a wonderful vehicle for director Dustin Hoffman to really show his talent behind the scenes. All of the casting was wonderful from the main characters to the singers to the musicians to the staff at the retirement home. There as not a bad person in the bunch. The cast may have been primarily a cast of, shall we say, seasoned actors, but the movie's themes were still relatable to people of all ages. Love, loss, anger, grief and fear are things that we go through at all stages of life. Quartet (written by Ronald Harwood) was surprisingly funny and touching, given the setting. I give Quartet 3/4 members.

That Awkward Moment (2014)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 17:20:00 +0000

Sometimes you start a movie not really expecting much from it. We were watching one such film for filler one lazy Winter day while the kids were playing outside and my husband and I were tangled up on the couch with one ear listening for screams of pain coming from the yard and the other ear tuned in to the speakers of the television set. Then we had the pleasant surprise of getting involved with the characters and their lives in That Awkward Moment.

The Premise

Three best friends find themselves suddenly single and make a vow to stay that way. Things get complicated (and awkward) as each thinks they have met "the one". They try to pursue their relationships without letting the others find out.

My Take

According to the movie, that awkward moment in relationships always begins with the word, "So". "So where are we going?" "So what is this?" "So what are we?" It's that way of defining a relationship that makes it uncomfortable. I'll tell you what; I've never been so happy to be married.

That Awkward Moment centers around three best friends. Jason (Zac Efron) seems destined to be a perpetual bachelor. He has a girl for every day of the week, called his roster, and he is by all appearances quite happy to live this life. Daniel (Miles Teller) uses his best gal pal, Chelsea (Mackenzie Davis), as his wing man to help him score with the ladies. And Mikey (Michael B. Jordan) has recently been told by his wife that she wants a divorce.

Jason and Daniel treat recently single Mikey to a night out on the town. Daniel is using Chelsea to pick up chicks. Mikey is miserable. And Jason runs into Ellie, played by Imogen Poots. He and Ellie hit it off right away and go back to her place where he naturally comes to the conclusion that she is a hooker.

That Awkward Moment is full of appropriately awkward moments. Affairs, lots of sex, sex toys, mistaken identity, Facebook stalking, inappropriate costumes, car crashes, thievery, drunken nights and dirty jokes made for quite a few chuckles.

The Verdict

Miles Teller was hilarious as Daniel. As a trio, Zac Efron, Miachael B. Jordan and Teller worked together very well. The writing by Tom Gormican was clever and definitely entertaining. The supporting cast was spot on.

So.... What did I think of That Awkward Moment? I give it 3 guys and a girlfriend. It's silly, raunchy and worth an hour and a half of your time.

What We Watched This Halloween Season - 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 23:30:00 +0000

We have a tradition every October. We try to squeeze in as many horror movies as possible before the end of the scary movie season. This year we took it up a notch and even had a Monster Movie Marathon the weekend of Halloween.

To make the rating game easy, I decided to rate the movies on a 1 through 5 scale; 1 being the worst and 5 being the best. But of course, do not let my ratings keep you from watching any of these gems next horror season or any season. Happy Watching!

(In the order in which we watched them...)

You're Next (2011)
A family comes under attack during an anniversary party by a group of masked murderers. Unfortunately for them, one of the guests is better at killing than they are.
You're Next was not that bad. Gory? Yes. Fun to watch? Yes. It was well written and even decently acted, for a slasher flick. 4/5

Tormented (2011)
Daigo has become withdrawn and has formed a strong attachment to a stuffed rabbit. His sister, Kiriko, can't talk and is having trouble trying to convince her father to help. Kiriko has to enter a dangerous dream world when Daigo goes missing in order to discover the truth about her life.
Tormented was a little out there for me. I can see how fans of Japanese horror films would dig on this. In fact my husband enjoyed it more than I, but I had a hard time getting into it. 3/5

The Initiation (1984)
College student Kelly is to be initiated into the Delta Ro Kai sorority. While performing the prank in order to get into the sorority, a killer begins picking all the initiates off one by one.
A classic '80s horror film, that's for sure. It had it all; the hair, the boobs, the gratuitous sex. It was very predictable but fun to watch. But I'm a sucker for the classics. 3/5

Big Ass Spider (2013)
The military creates a killer spider (what?!?!) that grows bigger every time it eats. Eventually it grows so big that even the military can't kill it. It is up to a handful of scientists, and one exterminator, to take it down.
One word, Jose. The banter of the two main characters, Alex and Jose, was what made this movie worth watching. They were hilarious. 3/5

The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976)
Loosely based on a true story, a Texas Ranger hunts down a serial killer who was terrorizing residents in Texarkana, Texas in 1946.
If you ever get a chance to read up on the true story, it is pretty fascinating. 4/5

13 Sins (2014)
Preying on those who have fallen on desperate times, a game show host calls Elliot and gives him tasks to complete, each with an increasing monetary reward. Each task gets more and more gruesome until Elliot is under threat of incarceration until he finishes the game. And earns the big pay out.
Very good and original idea. It was well written, well acted, and well directed. In fact we shared this one with friends at our Monster Movie Marathon. 5/5

The House of the Devil (2009)
College student Samantha takes a babysitting job at a large and isolated house during a total lunar eclipse. As the night wears on, she begins to realize that her clients are devil worshipers and she has been lured there as a sacrifice.
This was very slow to develop. Very slow. But if you happen to watch it, you may recognize an actor from You're Next. 2/5

ATM (2012)
Three people are trapped in an ATM kiosk overnight by a deranged killer.
I saw about twenty plot holes in this movie, but it was still fun to watch. Plus I was pissed at not ever finding out the killer's motives! I hate that! 1/5

Haunt (2013)
A family moves into a house where a tragedy had befallen the previous tenants. The teen-aged boy of the family befriends the girl next door. They start fooling around with a radio that can communicate with the dead and strange things start happening in the house.
I thought it moved too slowly and was too predictable in its jumps and scares. Plus I had the ending figured out way ahead of time. But overall still an enjoyable watch. 2/5

Dead Silence (2007)
After his wife is murdered, Jamie returns home for the funeral. The killer is later linked to the ghost of a ventriloquist that hails from his hometown. As he digs into his wife's murder, he discovers a grisly folktale that centers around Mary Shaw, a murdered ventriloquist with a vendetta against his family.
Dead Silence was a really unique story. It was a little far fetched, but it was made nearly believable by the way it was written, directed and performed. 3/5

Bruiser (2000)
After years of being treated badly by his boss, his wife, his friends, his coworker and even his dog, a man wakes up one day with a blank white mask as a face. He uses this anonymity to get revenge on those who have wronged him.
This is a George A. Romero film. Though I don't know that it is technically a horror film, it still has its fair share of blood and sex. He is, after all, a masked killer. 4/5

New Year's Evil (1980)
While hosting a Punk Rock New Year's Eve television show, Diane Sullivan gets a call saying that someone will die when New Year's strikes in each time zone, ending with her.
Again, pure 80's cheese, but I love it. 3/5

Tamara (2005)
Tamara is the nerdy, unattractive girl that doesn't quite fit in. But no one knows that she is a witch. When she dies in a bizarre accident she comes back, sexy and ready to kill.
It's like the Carrie for witch lovers. And actually not too bad. 3/5

Hellgate (2011)
After a terrible accident in which he lost his wife and son, Jeff is now living in the shadow world between life and death. He has frightening visions in which he sees demons and ghosts. Now he has to make the choice to live in the world of the living or join the world of the dead.
I enjoyed the different view Hellgate took on the underworld. Another very slow moving movie.3/5

Donovan's Brain (1953)
Dr. Patrick Cory and his wife have been experimenting with brains. When they are unable to save the life of millionaire, Mr. Donovan, they keep his brain to experiment on it as well. Donovan's brain establishes a link with Dr. Cory's brain and uses Cory to seek revenge on his enemies.
A classic movie from the 1950's, Donovan's Brain was fun to watch. What I didn't like was the surprise ending. I felt like I had the carpet pulled out from under me. I like to have some hint at what is going on. 3/5

House of Whipcord (1974)
Young, beautiful girls are lured to an isolated mansion by a handsome young man, Mark E. Desade. Once there, they are forbidden to leave, charged with ludicrous crimes and told they are going to be rehabilitated. In truth they are tortured and some are even killed.
House of Whipcord was an interesting film. I can definitely see how people were disturbed by it in 1974. 3/5

Chillerama (2011)
It's closing night at the last drive-in in America and four movies are on the reels to be shown: Wadzilla, I was a Teenage Werebear, The Diary of Anne Frankenstein and Zom-B-Movie. All promising to be in very bad taste.
And they did not disappoint! I cringed and squirmed my way through the first three, but I turned it off at the start of the fourth and final short film. Too gross. And I can put up with a lot. 2/5

Humanoids From the Deep (1980)
Half-men, half-fish monsters terrorize a small fishing town.
Total camp and fun. Horny half-fish-men? One of my husband's favorites and if I don't give it a five, I'll never hear the end of it. So let's compromise and say 4.5/5

Satan's Little Helper (2004)
A little boy accidentally helps a serial killer, who is dressed up like a character from his favorite video game, on Halloween.
Satan's Little Helper is pretty silly, but it was actually a good idea. All kids (and some adults I know) would totally geek out if they met their video game idol. It was an easy, mindless watch. 4/5

Grave Secrets (1989)
A professor of psychic phenomena helps a woman investigate the unusual occurrences surrounding the bed and breakfast she owns.
This was a decent ghost story. It was interesting enough that the lack of scares kept me watching. 3/5

Gildersleeve's Ghost (1944)
Throckmorton Gildersleeve is running for public office so who better to help him out than the ghosts of his ancestors? Except idea of helping is to get him involved with a mad scientist, a giant gorilla, and a (sometimes) invisible woman.
My kids and I watched this movie together and laughed the whole way through. It was basically just good clean fun. 4/5

The Smiling Ghost (1941)
Elinor Bentley Fairchild is one unlucky woman. All of her previous beaus have met a tragic and untimely end due to the Smiling Ghost. Now the Fairchild family has hired "Lucky" Downing to pretend to be her latest fiancee to get to the bottom of this mystery.
Another oldie but a goody, The Smiling Ghost was funny with a touch of mystery. 4/5

Maximum Overdrive (1986)
Based on the Stephen King story, Trucks, the movie is about what happens when a mysterious comet allows machines to come to life and terrorize the people of Earth. A group of survivors try to wait it out in a tiny truck stop.
Another of my husband's favorites, Maximum Overdrive is not necessarily a Halloween movie because there are no monsters in the traditional sense, but rather it is scary because the terror comes from objects we take for granted. 4.5/5

The Fog (1980)
Ghosts in a killer fog come seeking their revenge on the 100th anniversary of the night of their ship wreck. They won't rest until they claim their quota of soles.
The Fog is a good campfire story. That's the feel behind this movie for me. When you can cuddle up and watch a scary story that has lasted through the years, you know you have something good. 4/5

Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010)
Tucker and Dale are two hillbillies trying to get some work done on their vacation home out in the middle of the woods. After a misunderstanding with some college kids, the bodies start piling up.
This is one of our favorites and it kicked off our Monster Movie Marathon. 5/5

Cockneys vs Zombies (2012)
A group of bank robbers have to fight through waves of zombies in East London in order to get back to their grandfather's retirement home and save him.
Another of our annual favorites. 5/5

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
An alien and his robot land on Earth with a message of peace to give the world leaders. But the alien is wounded so he decides to try a different approach.
This is the movie that brought us Klaatu Barada Nikto. What more do you want? 4/5

World War Z (2013)
A world wide zombie epidemic has broken out. Gerry Lane is on a mission to help find the cure.
I know some people didn't like the fast moving zombies of WWZ, but I did. I think it made them even more frightening. I haven't read this book by Max Brooks, yet, but I did enjoy this film. 4/5

Strippers vs Werewolves (2012)
The head of a local werewolf pack is killed in a strip club, giving the strippers until the next full moon to prepare for their revenge.
Um, it was a lot better than I thought it would be. The dialogue was actually pretty funny and very tongue in cheek. I could have lived without some of the choices in cinematography and music, but otherwise, eh. 2/5

Halloween (1978)
Michael Meyers escapes from an asylum and terrorizes the babysitters of Haddonfield on Halloween night.
Another classic! 5/5

Halloween 2 (1981)
Laurie has been hospitalized from the injuries she sustained by Michael Meyers. Meanwhile, the hunt for the killer continues.
Too bad the series was never better after this. 4/5

Hell Comes to Frog Town (1988)
Much of the world has been rendered infertile after a nuclear war. Sam Hell, a prisoner, has been tasked with the terrible duty of mating with the few remaining fertile females. However, he and his sexy escorts need to rescue them from Frog Town first.
This was nothing but pure 80's camp and cheese. The only scary thing here was the fact that we actually enjoyed watching this B movie. 2/5

Poltergeist (1982)
A family's home becomes haunted by ghosts. They appear harmless at first but eventually become more aggressive and kidnap their young daughter.
This was the movie that ended our Monster Movie Marathon. The perfect ending to a perfect horror movie season. 5/5

Outlander {Season1} (2014-?)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 18:07:00 +0000

A new original series on Starz that I absolutely fell in love with this year was Outlander. This is story of a woman who finds love, war and passion in 18th century Scotland. Not so unusual, you say? What if I told you that she had traveled back in time 200 years to find herself thrust into this new life? That is what happened to main character, Claire Randall, in Diana Gabaldon's historical romance/fantasy novels (though they are really not pinned down to any genre) in the stunning new drama produced by the Starz network.

The Premise

Outlander is a tale of war nurse, Claire Randall, who is suddenly transported back in time 200 years in the Scottish Highlands while on a second honeymoon with her husband, Frank Randall. Unable to find her way back to her own time, she is whisked away by a clan of Highlanders who eventually take her in. Over the course of events, Claire is forced to marry outlawed Scotsman Jaime Fraser and her heart is torn between the future and the past.

My Take

Right off the bat I was excited that the show stayed so close to the first book, Outlander, and I hope it continues to do so. It would be a shame to have another True Blood debacle on our hands. The costumes were gorgeous, the settings were breathtaking, and the casting was superb.

Irish actress Caitriona Balfe plays Claire Randall, the war nurse married to Frank Randall (Tobias Menzies) in 1945. They are on vacation in the Scottish Highlands, getting to know each other once again after being separated during the war for a number of years. Frank is doing genealogical research and Claire is interested in the local flora and their healing properties.

After spying on a local chapter's ancient Druid ritual, Claire falls through a crack in time and ends up in 1743 Scotland, a very violent time in their history. The first person she meets is a Captain Jack Randall (also played very convincingly by Menzies), her husband's forefather. He attacks her and she she is rescued by men of the clan MacKenzie. The clansmen take her in, fearing she is an English spy and take her back to their stronghold, Castle Leoch.

But even the English are wary of this stranger among the Scottish. In order to avoid arrest, Claire must marry a Scotsman. Enter the young handsome outlaw, Jaime Fraser played by Sam Heughan. Jaime's conniving Uncle Dougal (Graham McTavish) arranges the marriage. The two are forced into the agreement, but neither expected to fall in love. Claire is now torn between two times, the one she came from and the one with the man she is falling in love with.

Claire makes one more attempt at escape, to get back to her own time, and is captured by Captain Jack Randall's men once again. She is being questioned and threatened with imprisonment and Jaime is the only one who can save her. That is where we leave off at the mid-series finale. Dangit!

The Verdict

There are so many other elements to the story that could be discussed. So many side characters have their own motives and reasons to see Claire and Jamie harmed or even dead. Lotte Verbeek plays the mysterious Geillis Duncan, with her underlying motives and secrets and dark looks. Gary Lewis as Colum MacKenzie is wonderful as the powerful mind behind the clan. Not to mention the special effects that went in to making his legs look as crippled as they did. And of course Stephen Walters and Duncan Lacroix as the men behind the men, adding their support, strength and much needed comic relief to a sometimes heavy drama.

I enjoyed Outlander very much. I recommend this show for those show enjoy history, romance, fantasy and Scottish men (and liked the first book of the series). I think a lot still remains to be seen, though, considering this series is based on existing text and many more stories yet to come. However I am very optimistic because they are off to such a good start. I can't wait until the show picks up again in April. I give Outlander at least 175/200 years. Good Show!

And if you guys are interested in giving this writer a little sneak peak, I promise my lips are sealed!

God's Not Dead (2014), The Unbelievers (2013)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 16:04:00 +0000

Often you will watch a set of movies and notice that they have an actor or a director in common and think, "Huh, what a coincidence?" Less often, you will find a set a movies that are meant to challenge your beliefs with a common theme. Even less often, those same movies will also have names in common. The names, in this case, happen to be those of real life people. In the case of God's Not Dead and The Unbelievers I found that both films were too similar in too many ways to avoid speaking of them separately.

The Premise

In God's Not Dead, a college student finds it difficult to sign a statement in a philosophy class saying that "God is Dead". The professor, an Atheist, gives the Christian student a chance to state his case that God is in fact alive. But if he fails to convince the class, he fails the course.

The Unbelievers features famous scientists Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss who are traveling the globe to spread their message that approaching things scientifically and through reason, thus casting off religious and political views, could improve the modern world.

My Take

God's Not Dead provides a powerful message about faith in God. Kevin Sorbo plays Professor Radisson, who in the movie is a self proclaimed Atheist and wants his students to sign a paper stating that God is dead so that there will be no further discussion of God in his philosophy class. Shane Harper plays the student who, because of his faith in God, cannot bring himself to do so. Radisson gives Josh Wheaton (Harper) a chance to prove his case or fail the course. Josh takes him on despite the odds.

In his arguments, Josh mentions many scientists by name, both past and present, most of whom are renowned Atheists in order to prove his stance that God is not dead. Many of the people this character mentions are in the documentary film, The Unbelievers. In The Unbelievers, Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss are speaking publicly about living life through reason. And part of their reason is that religion is not reasonable and therefore there can be no supreme being.

An interesting dynamic in The Unbelievers is the different faces that Dawkins and Krauss give to Atheism. Dawkins is very adamant and aggressive about his belief that there is no God whereas Krauss is more scientific in his approach and therefore comes across as more approachable. There were also many surprising interviews from celebrities that support their point of view, some quiet and soft spoken, others loud and combative.

The Verdict

Religion isn't something you can put a number on. Both sides are clearly craving more attention. Toward the end of The Unbelievers there was footage from the 'Rally for Reason', a gathering of extremely well known (and not so well known) Atheists. I would never go so far as to call this a revival, in a church sense, but it was definitely a way for people with a common belief system to get together and share their feelings and their message. Christians are happy to have more movies going mainstream, like God's Not Dead. They want their message to get out as well. But what bothers me about both sides is the anger and fear. Why are we so afraid?

If we can both find a way past this, I'll give you as many Darwin fish and Christian crosses as you can carry.

This coming from someone who went to college for Forensic Science and is a Christian.

The History of Future Folk (2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 15:16:00 +0000

There are some movies out there that still have the ability to surprise you. The History of Future Folk is an independent film, which you know I have a penchant for, that manages to be quirky, romantic, touching and even absurd at times, yet rolls it all together in a script that works. Whether it's the dry delivery of the main character, the clueless nature of his sidekick or the catchy tunes of their songs, The History of Future Folk managed to get me swept up in their story line all the way through till the end.

The Premise

The History of Future Folk is quite literally the history of the folk duo, Future Folk. After crash landing on our planet, General Trius of the planet Hondo, abandons his mission to destroy Earth's inhabitants after discovering one of our greatest commodities, music. General Trius goes on to change his identity, marry an Earth woman and raise a family. When fellow Hondonian, Kevin, is sent to assassinate him, things get even stranger.

My Take

One of the things that makes this movie so successful is the dry, deadpan delivery of Nils d'Aulaire. d'Aulaire is General Trius who has taken on the identity of Bill Hunt. When he crashed on Earth, his planet was on a collision course with a killer comet and taking over Earth was their only salvation. However, General Trius heard music for the first time before he could release a virus that would wipe out Earth's population. After falling in love with music he fell in love with Holly (Julie Ann Emery) and settled down.

The years goes by and Hondo's eminent destruction is still looming. They send an assassin to kill General Trius, who has made a happy life for himself on Earth moonlighting as a folk musician. Fellow Hondonian Kevin comes to Earth and fails miserably at the assassination attempt. He is captured by General Trius who introduces him to music for the first time. Jay Klaitz, who plays Kevin, does the greatest job acting like a full grown man who is hearing sounds put together in such a way for the very first time.

In fact he is so impressed, he runs out and learns to play the guitar and sing and write songs overnight in order to join his new friend on stage. They form the duo, Future Folk, and that is the history of Future Folk. But the movie doesn't end there. Hondo is still on a collision course with a killer comet, another assassin alien is coming after the virus, General Trius (AKA Bill Hunt) has to win his family back and Kevin needs to win the heart of the Earth woman he loves (April L. Hernandez).

The Verdict

The History of Future Folk is a surprising must see. When it first started and I saw General Trius put on his bright red costume before going onstage, I decided to give the movie my requisite fifteen more minutes before giving up on it. And I'm glad I did. Turns out the goofy red costumes are a pivotal part of the plot and they are actually quite endearing. Future Folk are very talented musicians and songwriters. Their songs are witty and goofy and their stringed instrument playing is impressive. I give The History of Future Folk 2/2 Aliens From Hondo. My only regret is that I didn't discover them until after they went on tour.

My Night With Paramore... Sort Of

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 18:55:00 +0000

My family thinks I have an uncanny ability for winning tickets on the radio. And maybe I do. I won tickets to AstroWorld (once upon a time ago) and about half a dozen concerts over the years. So I guess my sister wasn't terribly surprised when I called her inviting her to join me on a Meet and Greet with Paramore. I may have been lucky before, winning just the nosebleeds and lawn seats, but this would be my first Meet and Greet and I was stoked.

The instructions given to me by DJ Lauren from Mix 96.5 were to be at the Woodlands Pavilion by 4 o'clock, so of course there was an accident en route and we were ten minutes late. Fortunately for my sister and I, we were the first of our group to arrive, ahead of even the lady from the record label; so all we had to do was wait.

And wait.

And wait.

Fortunately we had some good company from Caren and Kelsey from two local radio stations. We exchanged stories of past concerts and favorite bands while they continued to pass out their respective merchandise and take pictures of fans. Seriously, these two girls are awesome.

I think the problem with winning tickets as opposed to buying a really expensive merchandise packet is that (for obvious reasons) we get pushed aside like the red-headed step child. I was told to go Will Call when we arrived. Will Call didn't know what I was talking about and didn't have a list of winners' names and directed me to the VIP table. The VIP table didn't have me on their list and said that radio winners would go in separately and to just "mill about". The people at the radio booths didn't have my name either. It was all up to poor Nadia from the record label who had gotten stuck even further behind the same wreck than we had.

When Nadia finally arrived (safe and sound) we got our wrist bands and felt official. But not as official as those lucky jerks in the merchandise line that had VIP passes dangling around their necks like shiny little nooses. Those guys got to go in first, with their little bag of swag. I really wanted a bag of swag. We got to stand in the hot August sun for yet another hour sans noose and bag of swag.

When the time finally came to meet Paramore we were herded in, searched for illegal contraband (that we could have successfully hidden away in our sweaty clothes for the last two hours), and allowed entry to the Pavilion. Where we stood waiting around for another half hour.

Here is where we were given a lecture about how to act when we finally met the band. In order to keep the spread of germs down (they were currently battling the flu backstage), we couldn't shake hands or hug anyone. And unfortunately for this writer we wouldn't have time to ask any questions because of the tight schedule. Bummer. By this time the venue was about to open up to ticket holders and I definitely wanted to get a good spot out on the lawn, so I guess I couldn't complain too much. So here we are, two and a half hours after arriving at the Pavilion and we are about to meet Paramore!

And we did. And they seemed super friendly and happy to see their fans. I would have loved to have been able to have a true meet and greet but this was still pretty awesome. Plus I got an autographed picture.

Jeremy, me, Hayley, my sister, Taylor
Paramore
picture property of Laura Romero

After the Meet and Greet, my sister and I found some great spots out on the lawn with the free tickets I scored off the radio and had an absolute blast. I have to say, there are some mighty inappropriately dressed teenagers out there. But then, I guess I'm just showing my age. I did once win tickets to AstroWorld, after all.

The Verdict

The Meet and Greet could have been better organized and had the stations not been on top of things, the whole thing could have fallen apart. But in the end it was, without a doubt, very exciting to meet three people whose music you love and helps to inspire you in your own creative life. The members of Paramore seemed to be smiling because they were genuinely happy to see the fans that make their success possible. Not to mention, the concert was fantastic. New Politics opened up and Fall Out Boy closed it out. New Politics was amazing and made me a new fan out of me. I give Paramore 3/3 members for a giving us a show we won't soon forget.

However, the Woodlands used to be one of my favorite venues, but considering I spent $7.50 on a bottle of water and $15 on parking, my concert days are few and far between. The Woodlands gets a solid 0/$22.50 for gouging us on ridiculous prices. For shame. Take a hint from Fall Out Boy, and Save Rock and Roll by making it more accessible. Music is for everyone.

Fall Out Boy
picture by Laura Romero

The Sapphires (2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 18:40:00 +0000

In 1968, the Vietnam War was in full swing, Americans were fighting for their civil rights, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated and four Australian Aboriginal girls formed a group called The Sapphires. Inspired by a true story, The Sapphires is a touching film about four girls, with their own lessons to learn about life and love, who are swept off to war torn Vietnam by the only man who believes in them.

The Premise

Family group, The Sapphires, is comprised of three sisters and one cousin from indigenous Australia. Led by their inexperienced talent scout, the girls go to Vietnam to entertain the troops in 1968. While overseas, they experience the world's triumphs, defeats and heartaches together. They overcome their own family dynamics in order to make The Sapphires a success and to get out of Vietnam alive.

My Take

In Australia, the girls of the The Sapphires were not accepted in mainstream society because they were considered to be non-white. In the 1950's, Aboriginal children that were light skinned were literally stolen from their homes in order to be mainstreamed in an effort to breed out the Aboriginal race. So it was no wonder that in 1968 these girls were ready to get out of Australia, go to Vietnam and perform for the colored troops.

Gail, Cynthia and Julie are the sisters that started the group. Gail, played by Deborah Mailman, is the eldest member and is the heart of The Sapphires. She holds them together with her strength and perseverance. Mailman plays Gail in such a way that we grow to love her and understand her plight without being angry with her outbursts and bossy ways. Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell) often acts as a referee between the girls. She bounces between wanting to be mature and grown up and also acting out and being young and foolish, much like any other middle child. Julie is the youngest sister. Played by Jessica Mauboy, Julie wants it all. She is the one with the most talent and is determined to be part of the adventure, despite her responsibilities at home.

Cousin Kay is the last to join The Sapphires. The sisters want her to part of the group, much as she was when they were children before Kay was taken away to be mainstreamed into white society. Shari Sebbens plays conflicted Kay. Kay doesn't know quite who she is when she becomes a Sapphire. She has spent much of her life being told she is white and now she is being thrown into a soul group being labeled as Aboriginal Australian. It is a constant source of conflict between Kay and Gail.

Looking out for the girls is talent scout, Dave Lovelace. Chris O'Dowd is the heavy-drinking, inexperienced, Irish man that takes it upon himself to manage The Sapphires. And I think there might be something going on between he and Gail. I'm just saying.

Adapted from the stage play by Tony Briggs and written by Tony Briggs and Keith Thompson, The Sapphires is inspired by real events. Briggs is the son of original Sapphires member, Laurel Robinson. In the movie, four girls momentarily escape their troublesome lives by going to Vietnam to make music. There, they experience life, love, war and prejudice and form a family bond even deeper than they ever imagined.

The Verdict

The Sapphires is an amazing film. The performances are incredible, the singing is gorgeous and the story is beautiful. The Sapphires is one of those rare films that comes along that can make you feel a wide range of emotions in an hour and a half. You laugh, you cry, you get angry, you get wrapped up in the characters and in the story which is what any good film is supposed to make you do. I give The Sapphires 4/4 sapphires. Well done. In fact, I've already watched it twice.

Jerry and Tom (1998)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 15:35:00 +0000

I can't deny that my husband has excellent taste in movies. He discovered this little gem for me on Netflix and there are many more that I still have to either watch or write about. I'm going as fast as I can, honey! Jerry and Tom is based the one act play by Rick Cleveland, who also wrote the screenplay. Directed by Saul Rubinek, Jerry and Tom features stunning continuous shots and seamless transitions between scenes.

The Premise

Tom is a pro in the hit man business. Jerry is not. By day they work for their boss at a second-hand car dealership and by night they work as hired guns. As Jerry learns the business, his style and personality begins to clash with that of his older friend's.

My Take

Tom is cool and collected and not easily shaken. Jerry is young and impetuous but eager to learn the role of a hit man. As Jerry learns the ropes, his brash actions could get the duo into trouble with their bosses, Billy and Vic. Mistakes are made, but the final solution will wipe the slate clean.

Joe Mantegna is a very calm and teacher-like Tom. He is "too old for this" and ready to teach Jerry how to do a clean and effective hit. Sam Rockwell plays Jerry and shows us the transition of a nervous young man to an unbalanced, trigger happy hit man. Both men played their parts well. While being near opposites, they were believable as best friends and partners.

Jerry and Tom is like a buddy hit man movie. It starts off with the two men together on a job and transitions back in time to ten years prior when they started working together. The movie moves forward, taking you one job (and one cameo) at a time. They duo moves ahead through their lives as well. Jerry gets married and has a baby. Tom's kid becomes a teenager. But what is most appealing to me about this movie is the way in which it was filmed and put together. The scene changes (forgive me, for I come from a theater rich background) are flawlessly seamless.

The characters can be talking during the summer in a parking lot in one scene and then the camera will pan over to the car lot and it will be snowing outside in the next scene. A woman will be cleaning her gun with plastic sheeting blowing all around her in one scene and the camera will pan over and the movie will continue in a completely different location. My favorite transition had to do with blood, a sock, makeup and a toolbox.

Saul Rubinek also filmed many long continuous shots. I like these kind of shots because it doesn't break up the action. You get a picture of the whole scene and not just bits and pieces. With a script like this, that relies so heavily on dialogue, there is no need to cut back and forth and back and forth. He still managed to make it interesting, though. Mantegna and Rockwell were in constant motion in a lot of their scenes so the camera had a lot to focus on without cutting between actors.

Jerry and Tom may have been led by Joe Mantegna and Sam Rockwell, but a show is not a show without its supporting cast. Playing the mob bosses were Maury Chaykin and Charles Durning. Also making special appearances were William H. Macy, Ted Danson, Peter Riegert, Shelley Cook and Sarah Polley.

The Verdict

Jerry and Tom is a must see for any film buff or photography enthusiast because of the way it was filmed. The only down side, for me, was the way it was written. I know that it was based on a play, but it still read like a stage play to me. I love my theater, I just want it to stay on the stage. All in all I still love it. I give Jerry and Tom 5/7 hits.

People Like Us (2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 18:37:00 +0000

People Like Us is a film about family, death, acceptance and the legacy we leave behind. Directed by Alex Kurtzman, the movie takes place after the death of the patriarch of a small, dysfunctional family. When an only child finds out that his father had another child, a son learns how to accept his extended family.

The Premise

When Sam's father passes away he leaves the bulk of his money to a boy named Josh. Sam discovers that Josh is the son of the sister he never knew he had. He needs to decide now whether to fulfill his dead father's wishes and give them the money or help himself out of his own bad situation and keep it.

My Take

People Like Us is much more than a, "Should I or shouldn't I keep the money?" movie. Sam inadvertently gets to know his nephew, Josh. As the two become friends, and as Sam gets to know his sister, Frankie, he becomes more and more conflicted as to how to tell them who he is.

Sam is a salesman who has gotten himself into a sticky situation with the Federal Trade Commission, his dad has just died, he finds out he has a sister and a nephew he has never met, his mom is sick and he gets into a fight with his girlfriend. And to top it all off, his deceased father has left him with the task of gifting his nephew with his life savings. Things are not going well for Sam.

Chris Pine is the very conflicted Sam. He finds his sister Frankie (don't call her Francis) at an AA meeting and uses that an excuse to talk to her. Elizabeth Banks plays Frankie, the mother of Sam's nephew, with comfort, confidence, and grace and I am not ashamed to say that she made me cry at least once. The performance I was most impressed with was young Michael Hall D'Addario. He played Sam's nephew, Josh, with an ease and poise that matched the performances of his adult counterparts perfectly.

Sam's moral compass was his girlfriend Hannah, played by Olivia Wilde. She and Sam had their differences but were always pulled back together in the end. Rounding out the stellar cast was Michelle Pfeiffer as Sam's mother. This is one of my favorite parts she has played in long time. Lillian was a real person, who throughout all her anger with her son, still loved him and forgave him and struggled to understood his reasons for his actions.

The Verdict

People Like Us made me cry at least twice so I need to give a shout out to the writers, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, and Jody Lambert as well as give a nod the incredible direction and performances given. People Like Us, for me, was a rare gem in which an all star cast gives an all star performance. So many times I have been disappointed in movies that boast incredible casts but are lacking in either writing or direction or both. I give People Like Us 2/2 siblings. It's definitely a must see.

Shout Out to the Home Team

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Tue, 20 May 2014 17:11:00 +0000

I first got interested in the arts when I got my first part in a production of "Raggedy Ann and Andy" at a local theater in the Houston area when I was only thirteen years old. I have auditioned for films, television shows, commercials and more theater productions than I can count. My humble beginnings allowed me to meet the man I would eventually marry and start the next great adventure in my life. And while I may not have made it to the big screen, I have carved out my little niche here on the computer screen which has given me the chance to give a shout out to my favorite talents that have come out of the place I call home.

Jim Parsons of the Big Bang Theory, and upcoming The Normal Heart, was born in Spring and studied theater at the University of Houston. Though raised in Memphis, TN, Missi Pyle (one of my favorite character actresses) was actually born in Houston. Dennis and Randy Quaid were born and raised right here in my home town. One of my favorite childhood memories was watching Faerie Tale Theater, starring Houston native Shelley Duvall. Brent Spiner of Star Trek fame is from Houston as is South Park co-creator Matt Stone. Alexis Bledel, Sean Patrick Flanery, and Hilary and Haylie Duff have the honor of calling Houston their hometown. My favorite country singer, Lyle Lovett is from Klein, Texas which I am going to say is close enough.

I have had a few brushes with fame, if I do say so myself. Jeremy and Justin Furstenfeld of the band Blue October (one of my absolute favorites) are related to my cousins and were both born right here in Houston. So I can say we are almost related. Actor Sterling Knight got his taste for drama at the same theater where I got my start. In fact, I was the assistant director in one of the plays he did when he was just a wee one. Allison Tolman from the new hit show, Fargo, can also claim to have shared the same stage with me way back in 1995 at that exact same theater. It's a small world.

All stories have a beginning. Some start with a bang and others with a slow burn. That's one reason I was always drawn to the performing arts. Story-telling is just a.part of me. Maybe that is why I was drawn more to writing than to acting in the end.

And if any of my hometown favorites want to do a small time blogger a solid and give me my first big interview I certainly wouldn't turn you down. I'll even give you a perfect score of 10/10.

Bad Milo (2013)

noreply@blogger.com (Dizzy Diaries) — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 15:41:00 +0000

There are few movies that I've watched that earn the moniker, "Better than I thought it would be." I would love to have a sit down with the writers of Bad Milo, Benjamin Hayes and Jacob Vaughan, to hear the story of how this story came to be from beginning to end. Honestly, when you sit down to watch a movie about a demon that lives in a guy's intestines, you wouldn't think the words, "Not a bad little flick," would be the first ones to pop in your head.

The Premise

Duncan is having a lot of unusual stomach ailments. After his wife urges him to seek professional help, Duncan learns that his high stress problems have given life to a demon living in his intestinal tract. The good news (and the bad news) is that Milo the Demon is more than willing to take care of the people who are causing the stress in Duncan's life.

My Take

Duncan is a nice guy that is allowing everyone to walk all over him. At work he is being pushed around, at home he is being coerced into having a baby, and he has a difficult relationship with his father. All this stress has led to severe stomach issues. Little does he know that these stomach problems are actually an intestinal demon that makes its appearance to kill whatever is ailing Duncan while he is passed out. The problem of course arises when Milo, the demon, wants to do away with Duncan's wife, Sarah.

Ken Marino plays Duncan. I don't think I have ever seen a movie where an actor has had to spend so much time on the toilet, let alone pretending to strain and cramp and eventually letting loose a butt monster that he has to bond with. It is as if Marino played the straight man to Milo's crazy antics and he did it really well. It was equal parts appalling and humorous when he was cuddling with Milo on the couch during a very touching bonding moment.

Duncan has two women in his life, his wife and his mother. Gillian Jacobs plays the wife, Sarah, and Mary Kay Place is Beatrice, Duncan's mother. Both women are ready for Duncan to start a family but Duncan is worried about being a good father because of his strained relationship with his dad (Stephen Root). Duncan learns that he doesn't have as much control over Milo as he thought when Milo goes after what he loves most, his wife Sarah.

The Verdict

Bad Milo earned the reputation, "Better than I thought it would be." I admit that I went into this not expecting much but got more back than I ever thought I would. It was funny, cheesy, silly, full of fake blood splatter, charming, and had a pretty cute butt monster starring in it. For a comedy-horror movie, it wasn't half bad. I give Bad Milo 1 good courtesy flush.