Review: The Proposal

The Proposal (2009)

starring: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Betty White, Craig T. Nelson, Mary Steenburgen, Oscar Nunez

dir. Anne Fletcher


To walk into this romcom expecting anything more than what hundreds if not thousands of these movies have given us before would be naive. So how do I discuss a movie I was born to dislike. Well, first dislike is too strong, maybe worse, I'd have no feelings for it whatever.

This is very by the numbers and risks nothing to make a single person think that for one minutes these two crazy kids wont get together by the end. Maybe that is impossible. Would the audience for a movie of this type tear the seats out of the theater if there wasn't a happy ending?

The only way to look at this film is using the following criteria:

1. Chemistry of the leads.

2. The jokes.

3. The wacky side characters.

Under those guide lines, here we go.

Reynolds and Bullock are fine together, you've seen worse. Reynolds is especially good when he reacts versus actual acting. he's got a great face when it comes to responding to the over-the-top situations around him. When he opens his mouth, take it or leave it. Bullock gives us exactly what a person wants from Sandra Bullock. A strong woman overcompensating for a heart afraid of being injured. Isn't that who we all are inside. On a side note though, she gets pretty naked and looks stunning. So you keep it up Sandra, the gym does have its benefits.

The jokes tend to fall flat. One or two land, though for the life of me I can't tell you what they are. Most are from the wacky side characters which leads us into...

Betty White. The woman is a comic genius. She's completely wasted in this film but damned if she doesn't give it her all. She has so much energy and spark, she might be more fun to have sex with than Bullock. Honestly Betty, call me.

The other side character of note is Oscar Nunez. You know him best as Oscar, the homosexual accountant from The Office. In this film he plays a small town homosexual business owner. It's a small stretch, I know, but he goes for it. It feels like a role that was written for Hank Azaria and Nunez comes off like a lightweight Azaria in all his scenes.

In a summer that is ruled by special effects and giant explosions, this is a nice diversion. If you're into nice. It is as safe as safe can be and will offend only those who expect something from it. But those people are stupid to begin with. I'd say stay away, but this is a movie that does nothing to damage the quest for real cinema. Its biggest offense is that it's harmless

7 out of 10

On The Boulevard: George Marshall

Who's George Marshall? I have no idea. Let's find out.

I don't think the one we're looking for is the military leader who became Secretary of State. He's probably the second listing I'm finding claiming that George was a prolific actor/writer/producer and director of film and television. Yep, that's the owner of this star.

Not much can be said, because I can't seem to find much n him. Even though he has a resume as long a my arm.

He was born in Chicago in 1891 and died in Los Angeles in 1975. It appears he started his directing career in 1916 at the age of 25 with the silent film Across The Rio Grande. From there he'd continue on to more recognizable titles like Destry Rides Again (1939), The Ghost Breakers (1940), The Blue Dahlia (1946) and as one of the many directors who contributed to How The West Was Won (1962). It says here he shot the railroad scenes for that film.

In the 60's he moved more and more into television ending his long carer with a a few episodes for The Odd Couple. Over 176 projects by the time of his retirement. It's an impressive sum.

Well, we may not have been very aware of Mr. Marshall's contributions to cinema and they may not have been groundbreaking or himself considered an auteur. But he worked, he added to the culture, he achieved what very few people have, a long and productive career.

It is a star as deserved and even more so, than others that exist today. I'm looking at you David Spade.

The Eclectic Choice: Quid Pro Quo

Quid Pro Quo (2008)
dir. Carlos Brooks

Mark Cuban may by as nuts and rich as the Crazy Texan on The Simpson's, but he has done quite a bit of good when it comes to independent cinema. He green lit Steven Soderbergh's experimental HDV movies as well as several other small films. Quid Pro Quo was one of those movies and even though it may not be perfect, it is a very interesting ride.

Nick Stahl plays a paraplegic radio show host who begins to investigate a subculture that wishes to be paralyzed. These people fantasize about it during secret group discussions and even have their own wheelchairs or braces to use in the privacy of their own homes. How ever odd it sounds, it is a very real condition and it's the"why" that this movie chooses to explore.

Stahl is a very good actor who gets very few roles that suit him. He's great here and plays well against the always impressive Vera Farmiga as the mysterious woman, who introduces him to this underground phenomena and has several secrets of her own.

Equal parts film noir, psychological thriller and emotional enlightenment, this may not be the second coming of independent cinema, but it is very original and well executed story. It's also incredibly short, clocking in at an hour-twenty with credits.

You can check it out on Netflix streaming, but I'd recommend seeing it on DVD since the quality of the stream tends to soften some really interesting cinematography.

Review: The Taking Of Pelham 123

The Taking Of Pelham 123 (2009)
starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, James Gandolfini, Luis Guzman
dir. Tony Scott

I'm a huge fan of the original film from 1974. I thought Walter Matthau as the sarcastic transit cop hero of the movie was inspired and Robert Shaw's cold blooded hijacker priceless. So when I first saw the cast for this remake I almost had to cause self harm. In what universe did John Travolta come anywhere close to Shaw? Sure Denzel Washington is a great actor, but he doesn't have the thing that made Matthau. No way was this going to be any good.

I finally decided after mocking the previews, posters, the career of Tony Scott and just the fact that remakes are sketchy at best, I decided to change my point of view. Call it a moment of clarity. I have come to the conclusion that remakes need to be looked at like cover bands. How is the material treated? Is it trying to be like the original or a springboard for something new? Can it stand on its own two feet or collapse under its own pretensions. This is how I've decided to look at remakes since, no matter how hard I want them to go away, remakes are here to stay.

So all that being said, this remake is pretty passable. It's failings come from director Tony Scott whose evolution into ADD filmmaking has become an albatross he can't, or wont, shake. Due to the fact that the flm s mostly rooted in a subway tunnel, it does restrict Scott from going bat shit crazy with the visuals, but you can tell he's trying to break out at every possible moment. His style, which seems to have no rhyme or reason ends up killing any sort of tension. It makes one long for the days of Crimson Tide (1995) and True Romance (1993).

That being said, screenwriter Brian Helgeland brings some fun twists to the story and refers back to the original novel more than the 1974 version. Sure there is some hokey dialog, but Washington and Travolta pull it off. They may not be the originals, but they bring uniquely flawed characters to life in a very watchable summer movie. Gandolfini is great as the Mayor who's role was expanded from the original and provides some of the highlights of the movie.

The one thing I do miss and wish there was more of was the feeling of the city. The original had a sense of New York and it felt like a character, this version could have been in Pittsburgh and you'd never know. Location was not a priority for Scott even tough the script wishes it was.

I may sound as if I'm being harsh on the film, which is fine because it's far from great, but I have to say it never felt like a waste of time. I won't be waiting feverishly for a Blu-ray, but if I see it on cable in the future, I'll stop and give it a watch before seeing if something better is on.

7.8 out of 10

Review: Land Of The Lost

Land Of The Lost (2009)

starring: Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, Danny McBride

dir: Brad Siberling

Not a kids film, not a movie for adults, so it's just a muddled mess. I was bored through most of it and I really enjoy Ferrell and McBride quite a bit, but nothing they do here is fun, well McBride has a couple moments.

One reviewer I read gave it credit for having campy looking visual effects, which were on purpose. An interview with Siberling said he wanted it to feel real so went with realistic looking effects. So we'll then say the effects are a failure as well.

If you were a fan of the show, you'll be let down, if your a fan of the actors, you'll be let down. If you are a fan of movies in general, you'll be let down. If you're a fan of this film, you've let me down.

5.5 out of 10

Review: Moon

Moon (2009)
starring: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey
dir. Duncan Jones


This is a pretty damned good science fiction film. Some of the advanced word had comparisons to 2001 (1968). So when I walked in I was waiting for a head trip. That wasn't what I was going to get, but it wasn't what was intended either. What I first felt as disappointment, turned into a level of admiration as the film continued to roll around in my head for the next few days. When that happens you know there is more going on there. It may not be 2001, it's more of a thinking mans Outland (1981), which in itself sounds odd, but works quite well here.

Sam Rockwell proves that he is one of the best talents working today. He continually gives layered performances and this is no exception. To go into more detail about his work here would give away the key plot of the movie, so I'll just say it's an incredible job and Rockwell deserves major praise.

Director Duncan Jones in his feature debut shows skill with the camera. I was blown away to find out they only spent five million dollars on this movie. It is visually arresting and Jones finds the right moments to sell the world he has created. His decision to use practical effects and models instead of CGI for key scenes is great to see. It ads a tangibility that today's computer work seems to lack.

Last and certainly not least is the score by Clint Mansell who delivers atmosphere and emphasis that drives the the film home and wraps it up into one very tight package.

This isn't going to be opening wide, so keep your eyes open because it's an intelligent piece of science fiction that we don't see a lot of anymore.

8.5 out of 10

Review: The Hangover

The Hangover (2009)
starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, Heather Graham
dir. Todd Phillips


Is this a funny film? Yes. That's all I asked for and I got it. It's not a movie as much as it's a concept piece using several skits and the theme of finding a lost friend to tie it all together. This isn't a film about change or building character, it's about setup and punchline. Looking at it from that point of view it delivers and is firing on all four cylinders.

Todd Phillips keeps the pace moving and creates a very visually appealing movie. It's nice not to see flat lighting and a wide/medium/closeup photography. He's good with comedy as long as he's given a good script. Just look at Starsky & Hutch (2004) or School For Scoundrels (2006) to understand his limitations. He can't improve, he can only deliver the package in hand.

I ran into Ed Helms at a party once and he was kind of a jerk, so I just don't like him. therefore I can't tell you if he was any good in this, all I could see was the jerk. Cooper plays a dick well and can look good doing it with stylish clothes and copious amounts of hair product. Galifianakis is the breakout. His stand up comedy, ore like performance art, is brilliant and he gets a chance to show off some of his skills with his man child character. He's sweet, a little demented and could be scary in the right circumstances.

It's a really funny movie and worth the price of admission. There is over the top humor and some subtle moments that might slip by if your not paying attention. It wants to make you laugh and nothing more. Mission accomplished.

8 out of 10

Clip Art: Brando Interview

This week I'm going to go in a different direction. Instead of a scene from a movie, here is an interview with Marlon Brando from 1965. The guy was a genius who was eccentric and a sense of humor way beyond the times. enjoy.




You can catch part 2 here. For some reason there is no embed code.

But there is code for part three. Hmmmm.

Review: Up

Up (2009)
starring: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Delroy Lindo, Bob Peterson
dir.Pete Doctor


This is another great film from Pixar. Is it really a shock anymore? These people have a batting average that would put any studio to shame. Even the lesser films are better than most. When it comes to choosing the best movie, it's all about personal taste.

I have request. Make a film that just sucks. I want to see what one of those are like. Shoot for something really lofty with ambition and go after it with the conviction and passion that you show all your other films. Then just tank it. Get a tomato rating of 16%. Really toss it in the gutter just so an audience can see how badly you can screw the pooch. Don't make anything offensive, like the already mentioned pooch screwing, just something that falls flat on it's face. In the end it will be nothing but beneficial for you.

Your stuff is so damned good that it's almost starting to feel boring. "Oh look, another piece of art from Pixar" Yawn. Can't you see that we're getting bored of giving you money for something good while most of the movie industry takes our cash and shafts us for two hours. Stop being such iconoclasts and get aboard the crap boat.

On the good side, I do have to say I'm not sold on 3D. When it's used as a gimmick it feels like a gimmick. When it's not it becomes a bit of a distraction from the great visuals that you put up on the screen.

To sum up: For the good of humanity, lay a rotten egg so we as audience members can universally say you have a bad film. That you aren't the greatest animation studio today and that everyone is capable of showing up in public with a giant zit on their nose. Pretty please.

9.5 out of 10

Review: Drag Me To Hell

Drag Me To Hell (2009)
starring: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver,DiLeep Rao, David Paymer, Reggie Lee
dir. Sam Raimi

This film is getting a lot of critical praise and it deserves it. After a very long sabbatical from horror films, Sam Raimi is back on his home turf and as comfortable as ever.

Using every trick in the horror arsenal, Raimi shocks, build tension, grosses us out and makes us laugh with the best intentions of entertaining the hell out of us. He has leapt back to the era of The Evil Dead movies and knocks it out of the park.

It would be unfair to not praise Alison Lohman, she gives a great performance and is a real trooper. Everything is done to her in this film and it takes real commitment to trust the filmmakers to pull of the horror/humor combo. Lohman has so many different things poured into her mouth, you cold see an adult film star saying no.

But really the best part is seeing Raimi going back to his old bag of tricks and making an energetic and fun horror movie that is a throwback to the old days that has a decent budget behind it. I could easily complain about some of the CGI. There are moments that really pull you out of the film, which is a shame. But the thing that is amazing is how Raimi can move between horror and comedy with such ease, the mind reels trying to figure out how he does it.

If you're the type of person who will roll with a talking goat, then this is a movie for you. It's a blast and you'd have to be a cold cynical bastard if you don't enjoy the hell out of this film.

9.5 out of 10

The Eclectic Choice: The Exorcist 3

The Exorcist 3 (1989)
dir. William Peter Blatty

This is one of those rare occasions when a equal made twenty years after the original actually turns out to be good. As a matter of fact it's even better than part two which was just down right awful. Yes, I'm saying it and will wear it with a badge of honor, The Exorcist 3 is a really good horror film.

It's got a great performance by the master George C. Scott. In the film he plays Detective Kinderman who was portrayed in the original film by Lee J. Cobb. The film picks up twenty years later (fitting) and Kinderman is on the trail of a serial killer who happens to kill the same fashion that a presumably dead serial killer used to. This leads to all sorts of questions and a patient in an insane asylum who happens to look a lot like Father Karras, the priest who took a tumble down the stairs at the end of the first one. Hmmmmm, this could get interesting.

Filled with a moody and terror filled atmosphere, William Peter Blatty made a wonderfully underrated horror film that has it's fans, but has yet to reach the position it so righteously deserves. Scott did well in the horror genre between this film and the classic ghost story The Changeling (1980). It also has one of the best ball busting friendships in cinema history. You can't help but smile as Scott and Ed Flanders (no relation to Ned) banter back and forth with frothy sarcasm, but show that deep caring of old friends in the smaller moments. It's a great relationship, though short lived on screen.

If you haven't seen this movie, you're missing out. You'll never trust people who crawl on the ceiling again.

Review: Easy Virtue

Easy Virtue (2009)
starring: Jessica Biel, Colin Firth, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Barnes, Kris Marshall, Fizz the Dog
dir. Stephan Elliott


The problem with summer is that we are bombarded from every direction with advertising for the giant tent pole movies that many smaller films slip by. It's a real shame because some of these little gems could use a bigger audience.

Director Stephan Elliott is best known for the sleeper hit The Adventures Of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert (1994). After a few misfires, an early retirement, near death experience and decision to get back into filmmaking Elliott has brought us a great little film with heart and some great comedy.

Based off of a Noel Coward play, Elliott and screenwriting partner Sheridan Jobbins have updated it and expanded some of the characterization with great success. It is a movie full of energy, some great gags and a few really great performances.

Jessica Biel delivers a solid performance, but is really shown up by those around her. Colin Firth delivers another solid character who silently suffers and holds onto a secret that has kept him tormented and bitter for years. But the real standout and it's no real suprise is Kristen Scott Thomas as the family matriarch. It's a thankless role and she is pitch perfect as a woman who struggles to keep her famly together even though they are becoming more and more secuded as society around them is changing at a rapid pace.

One of the more surprising elements is the soundtrack. It includes several Coward songs, but also more contemporary songs arranged to fit the style of the 20's. At first I was scratching my head trying to place the tune when I realized it was Car Wash set to swing. It is another layer that adds to the comedy of the piece and reminds us that we're watching a film by a guy willing to take chances.

It's a fun film that moves quickly, looks great and is fun of some real inspired comedy. If you're into something that's a little more offbeat and doesn't have giant robots or huge explosions, it's well work a look.

8 out of 10

R.I.P. David Carradine

David Carradine (1936-2009)


Under still mysterious circumstances, David Carradine passed away in a hotel room in Bangkok today. It's being reported that he may have hung himself, but others are reporting that it was from natural causes.

The oldest of the Carradine brothers David is a part of Hollywood royalty that stretches back to the silent film era. He carved out a name for himself though and is still best known for the lead character in the TV series Kung Fu. For film geeks he's known best as Frankenstein in Death Race 2000 (1975) and Bill in the Kill Bill (2003-04) movies. But he had a very long and varried career. He was amazing in Bound For Glory (1976) and had some great cameos in films like Mean Streets (1973) and The Long Goodbye (1973).

For me though he will always be remembered for a quote that a friend said back in college while we were watching Carradine in Q: The Winged Serpent (1982) on TV.

"Fuckin' David Carradine. That guy saw more drugs and pussy in the 70's than we'll see in seven lifetimes."

That would look really good on a headstone.

Review: The Girlfriend Experience

The Girlfriend Experience (2009)
starring: Sasha Grey, Chris Santos, Peter Zizzo
dir. Steven Soderbergh

In recent years, Steven Soderbergh has been developing a style that moves away from a subjective viewpoint to give us objective films, allowing the audience to decide for themselves how the feel about characters and situations.

Examining the life of a professional escort and her physical trainer boyfriend, Soderbergh delves into the world of the physical. How these people dress, where they live, what they are willing to do for money is the main ingredient here, but there is so much more going on under the surface.

Perception is the key to this riddle and knowing what to look for in this nonlinear gem is the key. I'll admit I've watched it twice and walked away with different ideas on both occasions. The first time covered all of the themes and ideas about our collapsed economy and the folks who believe that image is everything.

The second led to ideas about perception and how people look at themselves versus who they really are. The devices we use to maintain an image of ourselves can be dangerous and those warm comfortable places where we feel most at home is, in reality, cold and lonely.

It's a character study, a statement on consumerism, a look at the modern day upwardly mobile, a tour de force in editing and an all around fantastic film. Even though it will be one of the lesser films seen this summer.

9 out of 10