Punch Drunk Critics

4th & Short: 12/27/09

2009-12-27T11:30:00.000-05:00

The end of the year wrap up is here. The best movies are out. Some of the Oscar hopefuls are back in theatres. We'll be bringing you our Top Ten of 2009 during the next episode of the Punch Drunk Podcast, and since I've been dilligently working on my Top 100 of the decade, I've neglected this year entirely. So this'll be brief so I can get back to work. Dos vadanya!(I learned all my Russian from X-men comic books, so sue me)

3. Up in the Air

A lot of people like to call Jason Reitman's brilliant comedy the film of the moment, and it certainly is. But it's ideas and characters are timeless, and I firmly believe this movie will be talked about and studied for decades. It expanded to more theatres this week, so do yourself a favor and go see it. It's one film I can recommend to everyone.

2. It's Complicated

Nancy Meyer's rom-com for the middle aged wouldn't be nearly as funny if it starred anybody other than Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin. She stars as a divorce, who re-unites with her now married ex-husband for an affair, all the while juggling a relationship with her architect. Sounds like bad sitcom comedy, and some of the jokes do indeed fall flat. There's something real in Streep's performance, though, and that goes for the others as well, that makes this whole zany affair seem plausible and often downright hilarious. Major props to John Krasinsky(The Office) for his funniest turn yet, as Streep's future son-in-law who learns more than he ever could've hoped about his new family.

1. Avatar

Judging by the mile long lines I experenced at the movies yesterday, people are still showing up in droves for James Cameron's technical masterpiece. Then again maybe they were there for Sherlock Holmes? That's a good choice, too, just not on my list today. Avatar is the type of sprawling adventure that only comes out...hmmm...when was Cameron's last movie? 1997? Avatar's story, about a peaceful alien world threatened with destruction at the hands of a ruthless United States military force, isn't new but Cameron's take on it is fresh and presented in a way nobody's ever seen before. The most beautiful movie of the year by far.

DVD Pick: (500) Days of Summer

Not to give anything away, but there's a pretty good chance I'll be talking about this later. Oh screw it, it's my favorite film of 2009. Why wait? 500 Days is hip, sexy, and vibrant but never too cool for it's own good. Joseph Gordon-Leavitt stars as Tom, a man desperately in search of true love. He thinks he's found it when he meets Summer(Zooey Deschanel) and they embark on a roller coaster romance that will change both of their lives forever. I'm a sucker for new takes on classic love stories, and 500 Days of Summer takes the classic formula and flips it on it's ear. When people ask me why I hate romantic comedies, it's because I can point to movies like this and show them how it could be done with only a modicum of imagination and ingenuity.

Sherlock Holmes

2009-12-25T02:20:00.000-05:00

Does anyone expect this movie to be less than great? The trailers alone give you enough for the price of admission, but the question remains just how good is it? Well, pretty damn good I feel confident in saying. The film starts as Holmes and Watson close their final case before Watson moves off with his fiancée. The case at hand is that of Lord Blackwood, a black magic practitioner who has killed five girls and is ready to kill a sixth when he is finally captured by Holmes and Watson and sentenced to death by Scotland Yard. Case closed…or so they think. Following the hanging of Lord Blackwood Holmes is pulled back in when Blackwood’s tomb is found demolished from the inside and when the coffin is pulled the body inside is not who it should be. The game is again afoot. The race is then on for Holmes and Watson to find Lord Blackwood and for Holmes and his intellect to figure out what he is up to and how it is being done.

Damn is it good to have Robert Downey Jr. back, as he continues to exceed himself in his ability to play even the most complex of character’s. Downey’s Holmes is just as, if not more, charismatic, memorable and endearing as Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow. The true magic, however, lies in the chemistry between Downey as Holmes and Jude Law as Dr. Watson, without this completely believable display of brotherly love the film would not work, I am happy to say that the two of them pulled it off remarkably. Add to this Guy Ritchie showing us a beautiful, albeit, dirty London and you have an amazing concoction. I found that one of the coolest things about the movie is the way in which Ritchie shows us Holmes’ mind at work. He chooses to show us in the form of forethought how Holmes sees things and deduces the correct route in which to follow, in doing this he allows us to see the blinding speed at which the gears in the super sleuth’s head turn. Though he’s a bit overshadowed by Downey’s performance, Jude Law stakes a real claim at returning to the screen a serious actor and not a tabloid headline. His Watson is the perfect balance of humor and sternness that you can tell Holmes needs to stay this side of sane. Hell, even Rachel McAdams proved to be more that just eye candy as Holmes’ female equivalent and one that got away.
The story itself is rather simple but the details are kept until just the right time to preserve an exciting reveal. This all being said, the true star is in the writing as it gives us not only the real feel of Sherlock Holmes but also the rapier wit which makes Sherlock Holmes a truly entertaining spectacle from beginning to end. Adding an exclamation to an already fine film is Hans Zimmer’s score, a kind of blue collar twang that fits the period and really serves to get you amped up for the scene it’s accompanying. I also think he hit the nail right on the head for Sherlock’s theme which embodies the same sophistication and odd quirkiness that the detective himself does. The film wasn’t without its share of problems however, it seemed to run about 30 minutes too long (what’s with this insistence that every big movie must be 2 ½ hours these days!), mostly due to some scenes and subplots that felt like they were better suited for the cutting room floor and some of the mysticism of the film felt forced but this is the sum of its issues.

It’s sufficient to say we owe Guy Ritchie and co. a great round of thanks for bringing back to us one of the greatest heroes in history. Before Batman was the worlds greatest detective there was Sherlock Holmes, Ritchie’s made us remember that. Besides, next to Holmes ole’ Bats seems like kind of a downer not to mention I think Holmes has more in his utility belt (that’s not a euphemism….he really does have a utility belt). If I were you , and you’ve already been out to see Avatar, I would definitely spend some time this holiday season with Holmes and Watson. Oh, and for you die hard Sherlock Holmes purists, not to worry Ritchie didn’t forget about you nor did he forget about a certain professor. Something tells me a Sherlock Holmes 2 may be in our future!

Trailer for Kevin Smith's New Film, Cop Out!

2009-12-24T12:02:00.001-05:00

Lordy that's an awful title. When it became clear that Kevin Smith was not going to be allowed to name his new cop comedy A Couple of Dicks(which would've been perfect), I knew there was trouble on the horizon. But to change the name to something as....lame and soft-footed as Cop Out? Ugh. It stars Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan as an oddball pair of dopey cops, but that's not really the story here. This is the first instance where Kevin Smith isn't directing one of his own scripts, and to me it shows. I'm sorry but this looks like some pretty lazy stuff, bearing a resemblance some of the worst buddy comedies(usually starring Martin Lawrence) of the last decade. I'll hold out hope for this one only because I have faith in Smith, but this director-for-hire thing might be a lost cause.

Check out the trailer for yourselves and let us know what you think!

The List!

2009-12-24T11:43:00.000-05:00

Happy holidays, everybody! Christmas week is one of the busiest times of the year for the movies, with a lot of families gathering together after opening their presents and a large dinner, to head out and catch a flick. This year offers a much better selection than last X-mas(no Seven Pounds! Yes!!), featuring one of the most anticipated popcorn flicks as well as Rob Marshall's musical return after his lukewarm Memoirs of a Geisha.

If the pairing of grimy street director Guy Ritchie with Arthur Conan Doyle's detective mastermind seems like an odd fit, then you'd be correct. But don't let that stop you from seeing the film, which is a ton of fun whenever the affable Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are on screen together, although I don't remember Holmes and Watson's relationship being quite this...bromantic? There's some definite man crushing going on here, but nothing to worry yourselves over. It might just be my imagination. And is it me, or is Mark Strong great in absolutely everything he's in? He kicks ass as Lord Blackwood here, and he was quietly terrifying in Young Victoria as well.

Two weeks ago I had A Single Man at the top of my list, only to discover that it wasn't playing here yet. Not to mention an embarassing episode where I went to Shirlington, bought the ticket, only to discover I had paid to see A Serious Man instead. Colin Firth is getting a ton of Oscar buzz in his turn as a 1960s law professor struggling to come to grips with the death of his longtime partner. Based on the novel by Christopher Isherwood, the production design was handled by the same staff that works on Mad Men each week, so you know the look is authentic. Good to see Julianne Moore back on screen as well in something worth checking out.

While I typically balk at the idea of seeing anything Nancy Meyers, the idea of Meryl Streep jumping around between Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin is intriguing. There's something about her that even at her age I still find alluring. This one looks like a by the numbers romantic comedy for the middle aged set, similar to Meyers' Something's Gotta Give from back in 2003. Chances are you already know if you're gonna see this one. I'm cautiously optimistic.

Do I really wanna pay to hear Kate Hudson sing? Not really, but I have been anxiously awaiting Rob Marshall's musical return to the screen, espeically after Daniel Day-Lewis hopped aboard. Javier Bardem(No Country for Old Men) was initially attached to the role of a director experiencing a mid-life crisis. Might be because he's juggling a gaggle of some of the world's finest women, maybe. I liked Marshall's Chicago, although I don't think it deserved an Oscar, and I expect the extremely talented cast to carry this to some impressive heights. Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, and Nicole Kkdman I'll put up against any cast we've seen this year. But that Kate Hudson....I just don't know....

If there's time....

Up in the Air expanded to more theaters yesterday, so do yourself a favor and see what I think is one of the 5 best films of the year. It's one of the few movies I can easily recommend to everybody, regardless of their preferences.

Also, Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker has been re-released in some theatres for a short run during it's Oscar push. It's easily the best war movie in years, so if you're in the area head on over to AMC Shirlington and check it out. Be prepared. It's intense.

No.....a thousand times no...!!

I felt bad for all involved in the production of 2007's Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. They promptly took my pity and ran with it to the tune of $360M worldwide. Truth be told, that film wasn't the worst experience I had in a theatre that year, it was just utterly forgettable and somewhat depressing. I'll be going to see this..."squeakquel" at approximately 30 minutes after never o'clock, and that's being generous.

Sherlock Holmes

2009-12-24T09:18:00.000-05:00

One of the things I enjoy so much about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories is the attention to detail. Seemingly innocuous clues and statements always paid dividends in the end, and the famed detective would solve these sometimes grandiose mysteries with calm, cool, casusal demeanor. Holmes was a Victorian gentleman of the highest order, even with his many indulgences, opium being the major one. Doyle's stories were tight, mannered, and diobolically plotted. So it was with a little trepidation that I went into Guy Ritchie's version, he not exactly being a director known for his...precision. He's an action director, prone to fast paces and dirty one-liners. Robert Downey is also an interesting choice to play Holmes, not to mention Jude Law as Watson. The three combined might seem odd, but it's fitting, and they make what is a fairly pedestrian story a lot of fun.

In typical Ritchie style, Holmes begins with a burst of action, as Holmes and the suddenly very agile and skilled Watson are called in to stop Lord Blackwood(Mark Strong) from murdering a woman in cold blood as part of a ritual. Blackwood captured, but promising that the affair is far from over, he is sent to be hanged. His feet dangled, Watson declares him dead, and that should've been the end of it. However shortly thereafter, reports begin to circulate that Blackwood still walks the Earth. The case reopened, Holmes and Watson are called reluctantly back into service to find out what's going on.

Of course there's more going on than meets the eye. Downey's Holmes is less a gentleman scholar than an eccentric savant, prone to whining fits and intense jealousy. In particular he's jealous of Watson's relationship with his future wife, Mary. Of who he's jealous of, I'm not sure. Her or him? Holmes frequently destroys his own room at 221 Baker Street, out of petty fits more than anything else. But there's still something likable about his Sherlock. He's instantly more formidable than any of the previous incarnations of the character, even if it comes somewhat at the expense of his famed deduction skills. This is a Guy Ritchie film, afterall, and Holmes(who was always a bare knuckle fighter and swordsman) gets plenty of opportunity to show off these skills in typical comic fashion. The action sequences are very similar to Ritchie's other films, Rocknrolla and Snatch in particular, in that they are brutal bursts of cartoonish violence. Both terrible and laughable at the same time.

There's a love story somewhere hidden in the comic hijink, involving Rachel McAdams as Holmes' longtime love, Irene Adler. Adler, one of the few women Holmes showed any genuine interest in, was also one of the few smart enough to outwit him. They make light of that fact early and often here as well, and McAdams plays the part well even if she doesn't have a whole lot to do. She and Downey make a powerful pair on screen, and the dialogue pops whenever the two are together. The same can be said for Downey and Law as the original Dynamic Duo. The original Watson was little more than Holmes' timid counterpart, merely a doctor and a sounding board for the great detective. I like Law's version better. A smooth, calculating mind gifted with as much common sense as Holmes is given logical sense.

My last memories of Sherlock Holmes on screen were in the film, Young Sherlock Holmes, notable not just because of how good it was but because of it's loyalty to the Doyle canon. It was an ingenious production, to be honest, and featured the first fully CGI character in film history. This version of Sherlock Holmes, while wildly different than that and any other version, is just as entertaining and makes for one hell of a fun ride. The end already suggests a sequel, and I for one am looking forward to it.

No More Mary Jane in Spider-Man 4?

2009-12-23T14:43:00.000-05:00

I file this under 'B' for bullpucky. Starpulse.com, which is about as believable as my German accent, is reporting from unnamed a"sources" that Kirsten Dunst is set to be written out of the Spideyverse, and Anne Hathaway is to take over as Tobey Maguire's love interest. The quotage...

A source says, "The plan is for her character to be written out, probably by dying.

"Anne will take over as Peter Parker's new love interest for this project and for "Spider-Man 5" and "Spider-Man 6" which are being written now.

"Anne's in L.A. doing a lot of meetings on the movie, because filming is right around the corner."

Rumors, especially in regards to Spider-Man 4 are a dime a dozen, but this one has less credibility than most. First of all, they'd never let a a decision this huge spill out so far ahead of the film's release. Second, recent news points to the fact that Sam Raimi is in dispute with the studio over the scripting of Spidey 4, so the idea that 5 & 6 are already being prepped is ludicrous. I take this one not just with a grain of salt, but a whole damn salt shaker.

New Trailer for The Karate Kid!

2009-12-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

I waited a day to put this up because part of me expected it to get taken down, but apparently it's still around and kickin' so here ya go. I've been less than enthusiastic about the remake of The Karate Kid since the news first broke, and my opinion hasn't really changed all that much. I wish they had stuck with the name, The Kung Fu Kid, in order to get some distance from the orginal. Jaden Smith, in my opinion, not so much on that acting thing. He reminds me too much of when Bow Wow first started acting, and frankly I can't stand Jackie Chan doing these types of roles.

The trailer pretty much confirms my suspicions, that it'll be a bland remake without any of the heart of the 1984 original. Jackie Chan already appears to be phoning it in, but at least they can lure people in with some catchy hip hop tracks we've seen in a handful of other trailers already this year(Fighting just being one). Personally, if Cobra-Kai ain't there, I'm not interested. I'm fully down on this one, but maybe you'll see something I'm missing. Check out the trailer and let us know what you think!

Trailer for Sex and the City 2

2009-12-23T08:14:00.000-05:00

Either it's a slow news day or we've made a subtle shift to appeal to our female audience(both of you), but in the last few days I think I've posted more news that appeals solely to women than I ever have. Whatever the reason, the new trailer for Sex and the City 2 is out, this time the girls are in Morocco. I guess they need to bang a bunch of big Moroccan dudes this time around. Whatever. I used to watch the show on occasion. It had some genuinely funny moments, and I'm a big fan of Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis, but eventually it just turned into a show about a bunch of slutty old broads. No clue how the first movie was, since I didn't see it, but if somebody can convince me that it's not a total hack job then maybe I'll watch it one of these days.

The sequel brings back all the regulars, and is written and directed once again by Michael Patrick King. Sex and the City 2 is set for a May 28, 2010 release date.

New Kick-Ass Redband Trailer featuring Hit-Girl! Not Appropriate for Work!!

2009-12-22T14:47:00.000-05:00

Short and sweet. The redband trailer for Kick-Ass, featuring Chloe Moretz(500 Days of Summer) hackin' up a bunch of dudes? Pretty god damn crucial. Check it out and let us know what you think!

Coming Soon: Knight and Day

2009-12-22T11:00:00.000-05:00

I wasn't sure whether Tom Cruise's return to movie stardom merited it's own post or not so I thought I'd throw it in there with the trailer for his new flick 'Knight and Day' as solid video evidence. Cruise jumped back...or should I say danced back into our good favor with his cameo in 'Tropic Thunder'. I think it was then that he realized what we expected, or rather needed to see him do on screen, Tom Cruise needs to be a cursing, crazy, adrenaline junkie mf'er when he's on screen, that's when he's at his best. I give the guy a ton of credit most people that have endured the ridicule that he has have not come out with a smile on their face, Cruise however, doesn't seem to have missed a beat. This trailer pushed this movie from a dvd rental to a theater showing for me and I hope it does the same for you. Tommy boy, it's good to have you back. Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think.

Coming Soon: Frozen

2009-12-22T09:22:00.001-05:00

I'm a sucker for movies like this. One man or a group of people trapped in an isolated, near hopeless situation. Adam Green's(Hatchet) Frozen is very much a film of that type. Movies like Phone Booth, or Open Water, or Dead Calm are some of my favorites. They're very Hitchcockian in premise. Just throw the people in there and let the emotions take over. Frozen is about a group of college students at a ski resort, who become trapped on a chairlift during an icy storm. Reminds me of my nightmares of being trapped on the Kings Dominion chairlifts as they went across the park. Me and heights? Not so much. So I'm already diggin' this premise and the trailer as well.

Frozen stars Shawn Ashmore(X-men, The Ruins), and is slated for a February, 2010 release. Check out the trailer and let us know what you think!

Punch Drunk DVDs!

2009-12-22T08:35:00.001-05:00

District 9

Neil Blomkamp's realistic sci-fi masterpiece was one of 2009's biggest surprises. Boasting a budget hovering around $30M, it features photo-realistic special effects that make it nearly impossible to distinguish what is real and what isn't. As much as I love James Cameron, I'd like to see him produce a film that looks this good on so tiny a budget. While the apartheid allegory gets a little muddy, the message is clear and the action in the final sequences is amazing.

(500) Days of Summer
My favorite film of 2009 heading into December, 500 Days of Summer is a fresh and spirited take on love and destiny. Joseph Gordon-Leavitt serves up another outstanding performance, and Zooey Deschanel is her usual quirky but irresistable self. More like a series of music videos than a coherent narrative structure, which only adds to the poignancy of the film's final moments.

Family Guy Presents: Something something something dark side

I've never watched a full episode of Family Guy, so forgive me my ignorance. Apparently this is the follow-up to Blue Harvest, which I remember hearing quite a lot about. Only this time Seth McFarlane is giving Empire Strikes Back the Family Guy treatment. I've heard mixed things about this, and I think if I watch it I'll be coming in as the show is nearing it's breaking point.

It Might Get Loud

Jimmy Page. The Edge. Jack White. Three of the world's greatest guitar players. When the three get together, there's bound to be fireworks. This documentary, which I was dying to see but never quite made it, shows the unique bond forged between these three amazing artists. On my Netflix queue for sure.

All About Steve

So it wasn't all peaches 'n cream for either Bradley Cooper or Sandra Bullock this year, as All About Steve, their latest tomato can romantic comedy, breezed out of theaters faster than a Roland Emmerich windgust. There's little I want to remember about this turd, but for the life of me I'll never forget that damn poster, with an extremely annoying looking Ken Jeong shoe-horned in at the last second(he wasn't there initially) hoping to cash in on his recent notoriety. It didn't work.

Extract

The creator of Office Space goes back to work! That's what the taglines used to say about Mike Judge's latest comedy. Little did they know that making such a bold comparison would lead to such negative blowback. Extract lacks any of Office Space's insight or wit, and doesn't have a single memorable character in it. Ok, I take that back. Ben Affleck is pretty damn good here. Probably for hardcore Judge fans only.

American Pie Presents: The Book of Love

Why are these still being made? Why is Eugene Levy still there YEARS after Jim left the storylines? Didn't they already make a Book of Love film or am I wrong? I've lost track. Are they still cranking out new Stiflers with every film? Ugh.

Ichi

The story of Zatoichi, the blind swordsman, is one of the most revered in Japanese film culture. However the role has always been played by men, but not anymore. Ichi takes that story and flips it on it's head by giving us a female in the lead role, as she seeks out the man who might just be the real Zatoichi and her father. I've been looking forward to this one, as the Zatoichi stories are always bloody and fun. Worth a rental, and if you're a fan of these types of tales, an outright buy.

Blind Date

No, not the awful Bruce Willis/Kim Basinger affair from the 1980s, this one is a remake of Theo Van Gogh's mesmerizing film Interview. It features Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci as a married couple who go on a series of "blind dates" with eachother to rekindle their marriage. As tends to happen, they end up revealing quite a bit more about themselves than intended.

Avatar--John's Take

2009-12-21T13:12:00.000-05:00

I stand before you a converted naysayer. I was one of the few who cried out ‘500 million for a flick about 9 foot tall blue creatures whom no one can relate to and no mass of people could feel for” I stand here now to tell you I was wrong, Mr. Cameron, I was wrong and should not have doubted you. The story of a native culture, the Na’vi and their plight to keep what is rightfully theirs their home, the great tree, from alien miners seeking a precious metal. It so happens that the greatest deposit of this metal is directly under the great tree. The sky people/aliens/us have created the avatar program as a way to diplomatically move them from their home, as well as learn from them and their ecosystem. Avatars are genetically engineered remote control bodies created from the DNA of humans and that of the Na’vi which are “piloted” by a human in a sensor tube. The thick of it begins when Jake Sulley, a marine and twin brother of a murdered Avatar scientist, steps into his brothers shoes to pilot an Avatar thanks to his identical genetics he and his brother possess. As he gets out to explore the wilds of Pandora he meets Neytiri, princess of the Na’vi tribe and the one assigned by the tribe to teach Jake their ways so that they may do as the spirit of the world wishes and welcome him as one of their own. It is here that Jake must make a choice; fight the peaceful world loving Na’vi or the trigger happy, money hungry militarized company looking to take their home. This is really just a very brief overview of an incredibly in depth and complex plot, but it’s all you need to know before seeing the movie.

The hardest part of writing this review was the decision between a long comprehensive dialogue about this amazing film or a short and to the point need to know post. I chose the latter as I could literally rattle off 10 pages about the merits of this flick, and know that you would appreciate otherwise. Sufficient to say James Cameron creates a world that sucks you in and fully envelops you in all it has to offer. You leave the theater just a little sad that all the beauty you just witnessed was but make believe. Taking cues from the dep sea for the Na’vi and equal parts ‘Aliens’ and ‘Minority Report’ for the humans Cameron world is immersed in a beauty only matched by it’s exhilarating dangers. This film seriously could make it on visuals alone, they really are THAT good, but Cameron doesn’t stop there. He hits us with a story that serves the purpose of the film but also leaves us with the taxing moral question; Are we the Na’vi, source of good, or are we the evil highly industrialized militaristic capitalist society that takes what it wants without concern for the greater effect. I truly love films like this that not only leave you feeling greatly entertained but also leave you questioning things on your way home from the theater. The cast is just this side of amazing especially considering that they were working against a green screen for 90% of the time, this film could be a real comeback for Sigourney Weaver and Michelle Rodriguez as well as the next step in Sam Worthington’s action hero title. My final thought is toward the venue in which you see the film. I said earlier that this flick could survive on visuals alone and I meant it, for that reason I highly recommend that this be seen in the best visual arrangement possible, if you have access to an IMAX theater see it there. This is the first movie to really harness the power or and be made better by the new RealD 3D technology.

I think my feelings on this film should be clear by this point but in case they’re not I’ll reiterate. This is the best movie I’ve seen in years, and possibly the most visually stunning that I’ve ever seen. To miss this in theaters would be to miss an event of cinematic history, don’t be the one who says ten years from now, “Yeah I saw it on DVD”. I have to agree with my cohort Travis and say this is right up there with the premier of ‘Star Wars’ and you know how people still talk about the first time they saw that in theaters. A flawless treat for all the senses I highly recommend you take a friend or even better your whole family and go see ‘Avatar’, you won’t regret it.

Men Beware! Ladies, Check out the Trailer for Valentine's Day

2009-12-20T17:08:00.002-05:00

I just...uhhh, threw up in my mouth a little bit. Garry Marshall's Valentine's Day packs a lot of star power, but I don't want to have anything to do with this movie. I got suckered into He's Just Not that Into You, which boasted a similar look and feel, and the only thing I got out of that experience was my nuts shriveling up like a pair of California raisins. While I'm convinced this is little more than an American version of Love, Actually I'm hard pressed to find anybody here that I want to watch in a love story at this point. Jamie Foxx? Nope. Bradley Cooper? No. Julia Roberts? Been there, done that. Jessica Biel? Taylor Lautner? And is that Patrick Dempsey, still endeavoring to make a movie I like not named Can't Buy Me Love? Why yes it is. Maybe you ladies will dig this, and if so you can tell me why. Check out the trailer and let us know what you think, and if you'll be clubbing your men over the head and dragging them to see it.

4th & Short: 12/20/09

2009-12-20T16:37:00.000-05:00

The east coast has been pounded by a sheet of snow, and yours truly has spent the bulk of today doing nothing but shovelling. Fortunately the white stuff was nice enough to wait until I got a chance to check out Avatar before it decided to grind VA life to a standstill. With my satellite on the fritz, I'll be relegated to DVD, X-box, and Tivo to stay sane.

3. Up in the Air

Jason Reitman's frequent flyer comedy features the strongest performance of the year by the always great, George Clooney. It's been over a month of this film being on this list, so if you don't know what it's about by now you ain't been paying enough attention. Just do yourself a favor and go see it.

2. Me & Orson Welles

I don't know who this Christian McKay guy is, but I'm following everything he does from now on. Yeah this is ostensibly a Zac Efron vehicle, but it's McKay as the controversial egotistical actor, Orson Welles, that powers every single frame. Director Richard Linklater(Waking Life, Before Sunset) creates a love letter to the theatre, and a very convincing period piece at that. Not that it should come as any surprise, since the film's look was crafted by many of the same people who produce Mad Men.

1. Avatar

Rare are the opportunities to bear witness to history, but I honestly believe James Cameron's sci-fi epic is as close to what it felt like when people saw Star Wars for the first time as we're likely to get. My review here says it all: groundbreaking, magical, timeless, awe inspiring.

DVD Pick: The Hangover

And you thought your bachelor party was the shit, didn't you? It ain't got nothin' on Todd Phillips' Las Vegas comedy. That is unless you routinely find missing babies in your closet, kidnap Asian gangsters, and make mortal enemies out of Mike Tyson. Having seen it now for the third time, the humor remains largely intact, and the dynamic trio of Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis are as likable as ever. The unrated version adds about ten additional minutes of footage, none of which are all that funny but do flesh out Jeffrey Tambor and Justin Bartha's characters a little more.

Avatar

2009-12-20T09:37:00.000-05:00

Breath taking. Awe inspiring. Revolutionary. All words that have been used to describe James Cameron's Avatar already. It didn't take long for the comparisons to another landmark sci-fi epic, Star Wars. In terms of scope, James Cameron's masterful film feels bigger and equally important as the first time I saw the beginning adventures of Luke Skywalker. Back then, Star Wars was introduced to me as the greatest film ever, and since i was like 5 years old I believed it, whether it was true or not. With Avatar, my expectations were somewhat muted. Certainly I followed the film from the beginning like any geek would; did my due dilligence during Avatar Day; and poured over every still photo I could find up to a point. The hype was simply incredible, and in order to maintain a proper perspective I had to tone down my expectations. My experience with films that cost in the hundreds of millons of dollars is that I leave them wondering where all that money went.

I oughta learn to trust James Cameron more easily, because what he's created is one of the deepest, most fully realized film worlds I've had the great pleasure of being swept off to. I shouldn't be surprised. Where most people think of Cameron as simply a special effects master, his true strength has always been his ability to emerse his audience in whatever story he was telling, and that requires more than just a big budget or fancy camera techniques.

Avatar isn't just another movie. It's a game changer. It takes place in the distant future, and as usual man has mined Earth's resources to near exhaustion. A potential lifeline and cash cow are discovered on a distant moon, known as Pandora, a name chosen for obvious reasons. The planet is ripe with a unique element that sells for big bucks, and the U.S. military is sent in to take it by any means necessary. The problem is that Pandora is inhabited by the blue-skinned Na'vi, a native race of blue-skinned humanoids. The Na'vi are deeply spiritual, naturalists, feeling a deep connection with all the living things on their world. They are in essence our polar opposite.

Jake Sully(Sam Worthington) is a Marine who signs on for the military's cause. A paraplegic, Jake jumps at the chance to be a part of the avatar program, in which his DNA is combined with that of the Na'vi to grow an organic automaton that allows for the humans to breathe and blend in on Pandora. In his avatar state, Jake is free to run again, and help carry out Earth's mission. That mission, though, is what's truly in question. Jake is "recruited" to infiltrate the Na'vi, helping to find out their weaknesses for a brutal military assault. Jake is up for the task at first, but starts to question himself when he meets Neytiri(Zoe Saldana), a fierce Na'vi princess. She saves him from imminent death, and Jake begins to see that the Na'vi aren't the evil creatures he's been taught they were.

Avatar's greatest strength is the way it allows us to experience the wonderment of Pandora right alongside Jake, as he tries unsuccessfully at first, to become one of the Na'vi. We are right along side him as he encounters their luminous agriculture, which looks like it was ripped out of Willy Wonka's wildest dreams. The Na'vi share both a physical and spiritual bond with the many creatures of Pandora, including dragon-like birds which they ride like horses. One of the film's best scenes features Jake's attempt to tame one of these creatures.

I'm not completely sold on Sam Worthington as Hollywood's new go to guy for sci-fi adventure. He was probably the best thing in the mediocre Terminator Salvation earlier this year, and he'll be starring as Perseus in Clash of the Titans. I just don't feel the charisma that a leading man should have, and i think it's telling that I was far more interested in Jake as an avatar than when he was in human form. The rest of the cast is solid. Long time Cameron cohort, Sigourney Weaver plays a scientist and researcher not somewhat reminiscent of her role as Diane Fossey in Gorillas in the Mist. There's also a unique take on the exo-skeleton battle she waged at the end of Cameron's Aliens, but I won't spoil details on that. It was Stephen Lang, as the hard nosed colonel intent on driving the Na'vi out with brute force that stole every scene he was in. I had to think back to remember that he also was the best thing about Michael Mann's Public Enemies earlier this year. He's like a younger R. Lee Ermey(Full Metal Jacket), and maybe even more intense.

Avatar is undoubtedly a film with a message. Cameron has been quite vocal on that fact. You'll find obvious parallels to the environmental challenges facing us today, and also some pretty clear rebuking of the Bush administration's war mongering tactics. I've already heard some people complaining about that, but to me they're fair points to make, and in no way impede upon the natural flow of the story. At it's core, the story is delightfully simple, yet every single corner of this world is explored to it's fullest capacity.

Cameron's intended goal was to set the new standard for special effects, and with Avatar he has done that. If I were making a sci-fi movie right now, I'd probably just pack it in. Every film of the genre is going to be compared to Avatar. It's the new measuring stick, and few will be able to match it's mesmerizing look. The 3-D, for once, actally added depth to Pandora's world, and wasn't just a cheap parlor trick like it is with most films. I still have my doubts about the over used technique, but here it works wonders.

I feel comfortable in stating that Avatar is the new flagbearer for science fiction, in the same way Star Wars was and how The Matrix was ten years ago. Cameron has made a believer out of me. The only question now is how many more times am I gonna go see it? I'm clearing up my schedule already.

Team Jacob Turns Action Hero?

2009-12-19T09:21:00.000-05:00

Of all the things I didn't expect to come out of this whole Twilight debacle, it's that one of these wimps would be groomed as an action hero. But that's exactly what Summit is trying to do with their buffed up wolf boy, Taylor Lautner. Guess they figure on not letting his "good looks" and muscles go completely to waste. Lautner has signed on for Summit's latest teen flick, Cancun. Now, before you go getting all excited thinking it's about a wild drunken orgy and how can the do this to your beloved Jacob, chill out. It's not what it sounds like.

Lautner will star as “an out-of-place college kid who travels with a girl to Cancun on a break. While there, the girl and her friends are taken hostage by a drug cartel and he is forced to save them.” Variety is describing it as "Taken meets Die Hard", without snow and old people, I'm assuming. The film is being produced by Taylor's father, Dan Lautner. Nepotism much?

Apparently, the film came about because Taylor saw Taken when it came out, and expressed a desire to make a similar film. I can respect that. And the dude does have a certain look that says "tortured hero' or something. Not like that pale, Gargamel looking Pattinson dude. While Cancun sounds like a lame flick, it's good to see some of these Twilight folks branching out beyond this lame franchise.

Played for a fool by a Lousy Trailer

2009-12-18T10:16:00.000-05:00

Pretty much how this all went...

"What's this trailer? The Bounty Hunter? Short and sweet. I can dig that. Sounds sorta like a Luc Besson type flick. Oh shit! Gerard Butler's in it? He's a bounty hunter tasked with taking down his own wife? I'm so there! Let me see this thing..."

"What the shit was that??? Curses! Damn romantic comedies!!! Aaargh!" ::stabs own eyes::

Fishburne Joins Cast of Predators!

2009-12-18T09:51:00.000-05:00

I wonder if he'll just be around to clean up the bloody crime scene after the Predator gets done with everybody? Collider has reported that Larry Fishburne(he stopped being Laurence with the pitiful Armored, sorry) has signed on to Nimrod Antal's reimagining of the Predator franchise. He'll be playing a character named Noland. He'll be alongside fellow thespian Adrien Brody, and a crew of not-so thespians like Danny Trejo, Topher Grace, and Alice Braga.

What's with Fishburne and the action spree he seems to be on lately? I guess man can't live off Shakespeare and CSI alone. My hope is that one day he'll get a chance to revisit his role of Vinny the drug dealing chess player from Searching for Bobby Fischer, one of my all-time favorites.

The List!

2009-12-18T09:06:00.000-05:00

I'm still hip deep into my Top 50 Films of the Decade, which is eating up far more time than I ever thought it would. Thankfully, living near DC and not getting half of the movies that are out everywhere else has left me with plenty of time to work on it. Last week I had A Single Man near the top of my list of movies to see, and being the half-assed speed reader that I am, I ran off to Shirlington theater to see it. Only to discover that what I actually was reading was A Serious Man, the Coen Brothers' film which I already saw. Fortunately they were nice enough to let me in to Me & Orson Welles, a surprisingly strong film which is bound to be in my 3 to see list on Sunday. The week before Christmas is typically weak for new releases. It's next week where the crap hits the fan. So there isn't much to chew on here, with one obvious exception...

Never let it be said that James Cameron is a man who rests on his laurels. The guy who has basically changed the way all filmmakers approach science fiction has decided now was the time to up the with what has to be considered his largest, and most risky, film to date. Ignoring the mammoth budget, which some say hovers anywhere from $300M to $500M, there's also the amount of damage this could do to his credibility if it's not a near universal success. Avatar's story seems fairly conventional on the face of it. The human race is set to invade an idyllic, resource laden world inhabited by a race of humanoids known as the Na'vi. Sam Worthington, who seems to be the new face of any start-up sci-fi franchise, is a paraplegic who is sent in to infiltrate the Na'vi, but begins to question his own actions. We'll be there to see this tonight, with full 3-D regalia, IMAX, and a room full of sweaty nerds. As is typically the case with over hyped films like this, my enthusiasm has come and gone, buffeted about the neck and shoulders with more trailers, clips, and images than I could ever hope to see. I'm tired of Avatar already, yet I trust Cameron to break me out of my funk.

Nobody makes Penelope Cruz look more beautiful than famed Spanish director, Pedro Almadovar. Broken Embraces is her 4th film with the award winning director, this time taking on the role of a call girl turned actress who falls for a blind filmmaker with a mysterious past. Almadovar's films are wonderfully melodramatic, bordering on lunacy at times, but Broken Embraces seems to have a different look. It resembles old school noir films, which has me intrigued.

If there's time...

I confess to not knowing very much about Queen Victoria. I know even less about her husband, Prince Albert, other than that there was a wrestler named after him and that it's also a euphemism for a body piercing in particularly...sensitive area. What I do know is that Emily Blunt is receiving her usual rave reviews for her role as the young, vivacious queen. She's an actress that has been remarkably reliable over the last few years so I trust she'll make this period piece worth the effort.

No......a thousand times no!!!

Of all the crappy shoe-horned contrived rom-com pieces of junk this one beats all. I remember when there was a time that I liked Hugh Grant, but lately he seems content to sign on to anything with a female co-lead and any old schlocky premise. But to see him paired up yet again with old horseface Parker(the two were in Extreme Measures together) brings back bad memories and a distinct queasiness to my stomach. The two star as a couple who's marriage is on the rocks. On the verge of divorce, they are forced to re-evaluate their relationship when they are the witnesses to a murder and sent off into the Witness Protection Program. >sigh< Not even Sam Elliot can make this palatable. Avoid at all costs!

Coming Soon: 'Clash of the Titans' Full Theatrical Trailer!!

2009-12-17T21:50:00.000-05:00

Holy Greek Gods Batman!! The new full length trailer has hit for Legendary pictures remake of 'Clash of the Titans' and it just keeps on impressing. I've said enough about how I think this is one of the few films that truly merits a remake but I don't think it's possible that I can say too much about how awesome this flick looks. Teetering on the border between the historical 'Gladiator' and the fantasy of 'Lord of the Rings' this film is sure to please the masses. We saw how damn cool Sam Worthington is as Perseus in the teaser trailer but now we get a good look at every character from Zeus to Medusa to the flying horse himself, Pegasus and Jesus Christ...DID you SEE that kracken? It makes the one featured in the second 'Pirates of the Caribbean look like a baby octopus. Check out the full trailer below and let me know your thoughts.

Singer Signs on for X-men: First Class!

2009-12-17T10:31:00.005-05:00

This should come as no surprise. Bryan Singer, who successfully shepherded the first two great X-men movies but then ditched to make one crappy Superman film, has signed on to helm X-men: First Class. Singer pretty much let it be known that he was interested, and at the LA premier of James Cameron's Avatar he made it official:

I’m prepping up to do a movie called Jack the Giant Killer [at] Warner Brothers, and I just yesterday signed a deal to do an X-Men First Class Origins picture, which is kind of cool.

X-men: First Class is perfect for the youthful Singer, who brought in a host of young mutants to balance out the veterans in the first two X-men films. This project will focus on the early days of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. Producer Laura Schuler Donner has been speaking very openly on the project over the last few months. Her description of the possible franchise:

So it’s young Scott, young Jean, young Beast and that’ll be really fun. I think (the plan) is to follow some of the characters into their own stories, and weave them back into the X-Men world. And hopefully First Class will become its own franchise and we can follow them as they grow up.

Good news, indeed. I love Singer as a director, even if Superman Returns was a shallow mess that was only watchable thanks to Kevin Spacey. At this point, I'm far more interested in First Class than I am any X-men 4 project and definitely more than Wolverine 2.

Rene Russo Joins Thor!

2009-12-17T09:02:00.001-05:00

It seems like there isn't one little misstep Kenneth Branagh and Marvel are making in regards to the casting of Thor. Even the secondary roles are being filled by top notch talent. Case in point: Rene Russo(The Thomas Crown Affair, Lethal Weapon series) has signed on to play the part of Thor's mother, Frigga, in Branagh's upcoming mythological actioner. Frigga is an essential figure in the Thor mythos, as she is also mother to Thor's brother and most hated rival, Loki. Her husband, Odin, is to be played by Sir Anthony Hopkins.

Russo's film output has really slowed of late. For awhile it seemed like she was everywhere, which didn't bother me since I'm a sucker for redheads. Hard to believe I haven't seen her in anything since Two for the Money back in 2005.

For more on the story, check out Variety's coverage here.

Iron Man 2 Trailer!!!!!!!

2009-12-16T22:13:00.002-05:00

The Iron Man 2 trailer has hit the web and boy is it bad ass. I can't decide whether Mickey Rourke has a good or laughable Russian accent but his character looks aces. ScarJo is exactly as we expected and it seems they maintained the tone of the original film which is awesome. Not to mention ending with Iron Man and WarMachine fighting together back to back!! As far as trailers go this one get's a 10/10! Check it out here:

Studio Ghibli Next Film is Inspired by "The Borrowers"

2009-12-16T12:20:00.003-05:00

Studio Ghibli will follow up the successful Miyazaki film, “Ponyo on the Cliff,” with a film inspired by “The Borrowers.” The movie named “Arrietty Borrows Everything” will be directed by Ghibli animator Hiromasa Yonebayashi. Yonebayashi has worked on a few Miyazaki films, including “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “Spirited Away.”

At a press conference, Ghibli produce Toshio Suzuki said what the story was about. ''This is a story of a girl who borrows many things from the human's world for her life. I think the film will give viewers suggestions about how to survive this tough time,'' Suzuki said.

The movie is set to be released summer 2010.

The Japanese web site for the movie is available online. Studio Ghibli never disappoints, so I am excited to see their new movie when it comes out.