Black Swan

The beginning of the movie, is the movie. It tells the whole story of what is to come the rest of the way. Unlike the movie it takes place while our main character is asleep so we know that this isn't happening, the rest of the way the audience can never be sure what in the movie is real and what is not. From there we dip in and out of the mind of Darren Aronofsky as he places Natalie Portman in prime position to win an Oscar.

SYNOPSIS

Portman plays Nina Sayers, a girl with the singular obsession of becoming the prima ballerina at her New York Company. She works the hardest and her technique is perfect making her the best choice for the White Swan but the artistic director has decided to combine the White and Black Swan into one role and she lacks the passion to play the antagonist. Enter Mila Kunis, the sexy, free spirited transfer from San Fransisco. Her character Lily is everything that Nina wishes she could be and embodies the spirit of the Black Swan. In any other production the casting would be clear, in this production Nina must take Lily in as a rival, friend, and mentor.

FIN

The movie entices you in the opening sequence, the music will keep you entranced. Clint Mansell was brought on to score the film, and has worked with Aronofsky before. For Black Swan he created the entire score using only elements from the original 1876 ballet. The music elevates every sensation during the movie and hits at all the right times. While many will want to forget some of the things they have just witnessed it will be impossible to leave the theater without Tchaikovsky's original composition stuck in your head.

Portman's performance as the singularly minded professional is haunting. The character's transformation to reach perfection seems almost effortless. The most challenging part of the performance was no doubt the ten months of dance lessons along with the 20 pounds she needed to drop to look like a dancer. It pays off as Portman looks solid doing most of her own dancing. Her own transformation helps makes the character's transformation more believable. If she had not gone through ten hour days of training, seven days a week her performance may have suffered. Instead we get nothing but intensity. The rise of evil is a story not usually shared as it tends to do so poorly box-office. Plus there are many of us who have been Disney-fied to believe that all stories have a happy ending, when in actuality the story of Swan Lake itself is a tragedy. Nina seems to suffer from an idealistic state of naivety exemplified by her pink room filled with dolls. She is forced to go through both a psychological and physical transformation to achieve her ultimate goal.

The people Nina surrounds herself with do little to help with finding the correct balance to achieve her goal. Vincent Cassel plays the director pushing her to embrace her sensual side to become The Black Swan. Her desire for his approval allows him to take full advantage of his pupil, Nina speaks highly of her director yet we see her being treated in a poor manner. It's tough to tell if this is a power play and deception or a brilliant artist looking to get the most out of his players. The ambiguity leaves the audience to wonder whose side is he on, is he playing the part of Prince Siegfried or von Rothbart. In all actuality it is probably intended to be a combination of both, much like his leading lady.

Nina still lives with her mother, played perfectly by Barbara Hershey, and is a former ballerina herself, who no doubt pushed her daughter into this career path. Her mother simultaneously tries to coddle Nina and subvert her as she is envious of her daughter becoming more successful than she could ever be. The other older figure we see is the former prima ballerina, forced into retirement. Winona Ryder shows our lead what happens after the limelight is taken away, and what could be awaiting her. Her presence in the film adds to her fear of being overtook by another actress in the company.

Then there is the seductress Mila Kunis, who mirrors Portman in almost every facet. The difference being the free-spirited nature she posses which threaten Nina as the prima ballerina. Lily is the most difficult character to decipher in the film as Nina may be influencing the audience by projecting onto her rival slash fried. Lily leaves the audience enchanted and unsure what to believe as she shares the same ambition as Nina and seems willing to do what is necessary. She, along with some of the other ballerinas, highlight the competitive nature of the theater and adds to the pressure of the protagonist to excel or risk being bypassed. It is a delicate balance of ruthlessness and friendship that Kunis shows well on the screen. Rarely are there many movies that deliver so many strong female characters, it is a credit to writers Mark Haymen and Andres Heinz. Oh and the girl on girl stuff is hot.

Taking away from the character development and evolution in the film is some of the dialouge. There is little to no subtlty in this film. Darren Aronofsky has a certain way he wants his viewers to feel and then beats you over the head with it. The writing also possess this trait by having the characters around Nina scream things at her that the audience should be inferring for themselves. This is in direct conflict with the rest of the film as Aronofsky rarely gives up his hand in showing what is real.

Similar to The Wrestler, Aronofsky chooses to use a hand held camera for most of the movie, using a lot of medium and close-up shots. The shakey camera work adds to the rocky experience that embodies the transformation. It forces the viewer quickly to encompass the style of movie and emerge yourself completely into the film or risk being left by the wayside. And no one wants to walk out of a movie disheartened, especially after spending all that money on popcorn. The movie at points is very ridiculous, in its premise and writing. To fully enjoy it, much like the performers in the play the directors ask you to submerge fully into the art, allowing it to take complete control.

The movie is all about artistic obsession and if the art is supposed to reflect the artist than you have to wonder what is going on in Aronofsky's head. Especially considering so many of his films deal with a protagonist reaching for greatness in their career at the cost of everything else around them (read: The Wrestler, Pi). I just want someone to make sure he is okay, and let him know that people like his stuff. A

True Grit

The Coen Brothers know their way around a film. That much has been established over the years. And after a few films that were not seen by too many, they return to the West, but this time around with the clock set back a few years.

True Grit is based of the 1968 novel of the same name. And while it shares its source material with the 1969 film that won John Wayne his only Oscar, it would be unfair to call this a remake. Lost is the tone of the previous film, it loses some of the laughs and but increases the darker parts of the Western lifestyle that was featured in the novel as Wayne still had an image to maintain and could not be as dirty as the original text intended.

That is not to say that this movie is not heavy on some outstanding deadpan writing and delivery, far from it. The Coen Brothers excel with their character introductions showing in the first frames what we can expect the rest of the way. Our first introduction to Rooster Cogburn sets the tone and his scene in the court room goes on to solidify it. He shows off a great balance of comedy and badassary that only Jeff Bridges could pull off, The Dude was the perfect replacement for The Duke.

This movie also differs with the original in that it does not revolve around The Duke/Dude, but rather a 14-year-old girl. Usually I can't stand child actors but Haliee Steinfeld does a fantastic job as Mattie Ross, who is looking to avenge her father's death. Her introduction to the audience features a confrontation with a store clerk over money. In this scene she proves that not only can she hold her own in the Western frontier, but this young actor belongs in the company of these big time Hollywood names.

Not enough can be said about how the Coen's handle this movie, their strength lies not only in their writing but in their ability to gather the best talent to achieve their goal. Cinematographer Roger Deakins highlights the Western backdrops, both its vast frontiers and deep inside the forest. Carter Burwell uses an elegant score to highlight some of the more serious notes in the movie. Thankfully the music in this movie is all instrumental and the people behind the camera choose to leave out the singing cowboys.

Much like any movie that takes place in the old West and involves searching for someone across great distances this movie does have a tendency to drag on. But all the points prior should make up for this. If you are either a fan of the Coen Brothers, a fan of the actors, or a fan of the genre or any combination there of you should enjoy this movie. B+

Yogi Bear: The Alternate Ending

Yogi Bear comes out this weekend. While I don't want to ruin the movie for any fans out there an alternate ending for the movie has been leaked onto the web. I believe it to be my duty to at least allow you to see it. Enjoy.

The Tourist

For some reason with so much star power and Oscar winners working on the script I somehow expected more from this movie. But now it seems the reason this movie was signed on by so many was for a paid vacation to Venice. Not to say I blame them, but I would hesitate before I indulge their fantasies, unless of course you want to get away a little yourself.

This is a classic tale of a female temptress and a bumbling hero. Angelina Jolie fills the role, and every part of her dresses, perfectly. While there aren't too many wide shots of Venice there are plenty of Jolie posing and strutting from place to place, which seemed to be the only requirement for this role. She is not asked to show off any of her acting in this one, but rather just allow the camera to follow her, both the movie's camera and the ones from the surveillance teams that are following her.

Johnny Depp plays a math teacher from Wisconsin who gets caught up in the whole game by looking similar to the man that everyone is trying to find. Happens to me all the time, they tell me George don’t you have to get ready for your show in LA, I’m quick to clarify. For a role that requires him to jump into a canopy and subsequently into a fruit cart he plays this role pretty straight, and takes it probably more serious than he should.

The supporting cast all fall into cliché parts. From the cops that are after them to the mobsters who want all their money back. Both sides of the law seem to have the aim of stormtroopers, so it is very clear that no one at any point in this movie is in any real danger. The most telling part of their acting is the nonchalance these characters take to capturing the two leads, which reflects the effort put in by the people who wrote the script.

I could go into what happens in the movie, but it doesn’t seem to be all that important to the people who worked on it, so why should you concern yourself with it. The script was written by Oscar winners all around which makes me wonder what happened. The screenplay is done by Christopher McQuarrie and Julian Fellows who won Oscars for their writing of "The Usual Suspects" and "Gosford Park" respectively. And the director, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarch, just won an Oscar in 2007 for best foreign film. My theory is they are using these awards as paper weights to keep all the money they got for this movie from flying away.

I'm not entirely sure what this movie wants to be, I'm not sure if they are trying to make this an amazing action movie, a farce, or one that keeps you guessing throughout the movie. In all honesty the movie fails in all of these categories. Fail may actually be too strong a word, in all actuality the movie just doesn't succeed. But on the plus side for the cast and crew they did get a paid trip to Venice. D

Love and Other Drugs

Sometimes life can feel a little unbalanced as you try and find just that, balance. Through the harder times that you may face people will look for ways to avoid thinking of the turmoil you may face using laughter and maybe if you’re lucky the comfort of another person if only for a little while. There are a lot of people out there who will critique this movie for being unbalanced. Considering the material, I think that is exactly why I liked Love and Other Drugs.

The story features two actors who feed very well off each other, which is probably why this is the second time they are being coupled up. Having previously knocked boots in Brokeback Mountain, the two seem to try and make another Academy run. While this one will fall short of any nomination, that doesn't stop the two actors from lighting up the screen.

Based in the nineties Jake Gyllenhaal plays Jamie Randall, a man who is currently trying to find his calling. While passionate about whatever he does, he often lets his passions get in his way. Until his charm is able to help him in a billion dollar industry with pharmaceuticals. It also allows him to meet Maggie Murdock, played by Anne Hathaway, who suffers from Level 1 Parkinson's. Both are looking for a casual encounter, to help them keep their minds off the heavier stuff.

The movie tries a little too hard to capture the era with some of its music selections but we'll give it a pass since visually the nineties don't look all that different from today. From there the movie fluxuates between a comedy, romantic comedy, drama, and then back to romantic comedy. Not to say that many Rom-Coms don't try and do just that, but it seems like director Edward Zwick is not sure what story he wants to tell. He starts with a romantic comedy featuring a lot of naked Anne Hathaway, I mean a lot of naked, but if I looked as good as her naked I'm sure I wouldn't mind bearing it all either. From there the movie shifts towards a look at how people with a life altering disease and those around them cope. What seems like two different stories may be attributed to the movie coming out of two different source materials. The movie is based loosely on Jamie Reidy's memoir "Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman," along with Zwick and his buddy Marshall Herskovitz contributing a love storyline.

MINOR SPOILER ALERT (I TALK MORE ABOUT TONE)

While the bulk of the movie was enjoyable, even with two different messages occurring within the flick, the end retreats back to a cliché romantic comedy and ends in a very cliché way. The rest of the movie was different from what has recently come out of Hollywood and had something to say, even if it wasn’t defined. But because the movie was so unclear, I think Zwick, who also helped with the screenplay, had no choice but to retreat back to a formulaic approach to the movie, leaving the viewer with a bad taste in their mouth walking out of the theater.

SPOILER OVER

Gyllenhaal and Hathaway don’t have to do this all by their lonesome. They get some big help from a solid supporting cast. Oliver Platt stars as a mentor to James Randall showing him the ropes of the traveling salesman; Platt’s character follows along with the storyline showing off both a funny and softer side. The main sales target for these two is Hank Azaria playing Dr. Stan Knight who can be bought off for the right price. Then there is James’ brother Josh who is set for life and introduces him to the business, but then doesn’t really have too much reason to be in the movie. While getting more screen time than his other co-stars, after getting his brother the job Josh doesn’t serve much of a purpose besides being the occasional comic relief. He does a good job in the role, but even Jamie eventually asks his brother why he’s crashing the couch.

Yes, the movie loses its way but its hearts in the right place. Not only that, but the two young actors’ charisma help outshine any problems that the story may have. I liked this movie a whole lot, as there were some moments that really hit home, but can understand those who just felt lost in the jumble. B-/C+

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1

The final chapter is here. When they first movie came out the high school seniors now were in first grade. We have grown alongside Harry Potter and now his final task is upon us in what will no doubt be the biggest hit of the holiday season. This series both has left its mark on our culture both with the written word and cinematically. While I have never enjoyed the books, I appreciate that it got kids to read, and in a day of growing technology there is not enough one can say about J.K. Rowling’s feat. The movies have also had their ups and downs but here I am pretty confident when I say this movie is one of the up moments.

The decision to break up the final book into two movies was a decision made by Rowling so as to not leave any part of her manuscript out. But you can guarantee that the studio had no problem receiving even more money from a franchise that has already garnered over five billion dollars.

This movie is not for those who have never seen the others. There are so many name drops and so much terminology from the others that I was relieved that I had rewatched the previous one before entering the theater, but there were moments that I still felt overwhelmed. And this one jumps right into it, showing our three leads looking ahead to the daunting task ahead of them and the sacrifices they will need to make. We never step foot into the comforting halls of Hogwarts in this one, the dark theme is set from the opening title sequence and the skies never really clear from there.

The cinematography and musical score play a huge part in setting the tension for the movie. Once the previous cinematographer declined to return, worried he would repeat his work, Eduardo Serra took the helm. The dark and ominous lighting never leaves the screen and even when the sun is out there is always something dimming down the light. Meanwhile, while John Williams expressed an interest in scoring this movie as he did the first three they decided to go with Alexanre Desplat. While I will never speak ill of Williams, Desplat does a fine job making sure the audience is never quite comfortable. There is rarely a moment of relief in this movie as there has been in the others, and much of the audiences’ tension can be attributed to the fine work of these two men. On a side note I would love to go back and look at the other films to see the evolution of the lighting and music as Voldemort power grows through the series. With little doubt I can say this is the darkest movie yet.

The supporting cast is an All Star English team that could rival any ensemble that Team America could dream of making up including: Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson, Jason Isaacs, Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Timothy, Spall, Tom Felton, and Peter Mullan just to name a few.

With the book being broken up into two parts and everything being left in we are left with sequences that would usually be cut or at least shortened due to time constraints. Instead left in are our three heroes journeying across the English countryside looking for horcruxes and avoiding death eaters. The scenes rely heavily on Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint and they do not disappoint. It’s been a pleasure to watch these three actors develop their craft and while Radcliffe and Watson have been performing well for quite some time now Grint has finally come into his own. The scenes which have them dealing with their emotions and love for each other, both platonic and otherwise, are gripping and a testament to the casting and development of these three youngsters. Often the other movies have been swallowed by CGI and while there is probably a different foe attacking these children every ten minutes or so, it's the scenes where they are left to their own devices that are truly magic.

For those familiar with the book one of the more impressive/startling sequences in the movie is the retelling of the story of the three brothers. The style and content of the story is a perfect example of the maturity displayed throughout the movie, especially when comparing it to the earlier movies. This series has been all about the rise to evil so there is little doubt that this movie isn’t intended for the younger Potter fans.

The movie ends with plenty of still to come, including a final face off between hero and villain. The world of Harry Potter has changed over the course of seven different stories, times are bleak and Harry and company are rarely far away from danger. It’s been over a decade of people watching and waiting to see how it would all come to an end, and while most of the audience will already know how it all plays out it’s never really been about the ending, it’s about the journey. B+

Unstoppable

Tis the season for Oscar bait, and with that comes added depth to the movies coming out this season. Unstoppable doesn't contain a single extra layer. You know exactly what you're getting. A train you can't stop dangerous chemicals on the tracks, headed towards a small blue collar town, with a train full of children coming in the opposite direction. We're one horse and a sweet mustache away from a Dudley-do-right cartoon. Cue the woman tied to the tracks.

Not that there is anything wrong with this formula. If this is what you want when you are going to the movies then director Tony Scott is going to give you exactly that. It's full of the train running through things which always impresses me as to how things still remain on tracks. Despite whistles, bells, and a track signaling the exact path of said train people still manage to leave shit in front of it. Really that is a credit to the writers of the movie, but that is the only kudos i will be handing out to the team who was able to churn out gems like "We're talking about a missile the size the Chrysler building" and then go to lunch feeling good about themselves.

This movie has almost every cliche you could think of right down to the actors playing their parts. These are just two ordinary men hopping from car to car on a runaway train trying to protect their loved ones who live in the town the train is headed towards. It features the chiseled old employee, Denzel Washington, who is being forced to retire and train the new employee, Chris Pine, who is just trying to find his calling and make amends with his astranged family. One can only hope a high pressure situation will fix all of that. Denzel Washington has worked with Tony Scott in five previous films so they clearly enjoy working with each other. And I think after Denzel wins awards for acting, like the TONY for Fences he enjoys doing mindless action flicks where he can get a nice paycheck. Meanwhile Chris Pine should be on everyones list of actors to watch before he gets even more expensive to cast.

Besides the train barreling down to kill a school of nuns, the antagonistic forces in this movie are the suits worried about minimizing their costs. Everyone plays the roles and fits into the subsets that they need to. The middle man is played by Miss Rosario Dawson who has yet to blow me away in any of her performances but she does the job and I never regret seeing any of her films.

There are a lot of laugh out loud moments in this flick whether that is intentional or not. Much of it stems from the live news coverage of the story to further convey that the movie is based on real events. All of the news outlets privy us to awful coverage and ridiculous graphics which is probably the most accurate portrayal of the story.

For all the flack I have given it, my opening statement is true. These guys give you exactly what you want. It follows a B-movie formula and will actually get your heart pounding if you let yourself become immersed in the ridiculousness of it all. B-

Due Date

Due Date is very much what you would expect from a Todd Phillips movie. A lot of slapstick comedy, strong male leads, a mish-mash of pairings, and an outlandish plot that you are more than willing to accept. You can tell that Philips is still in Hangover mode (which makes sense as his next movie is the sequel to the '09 smash hit). And while the comedy may share similar laughs with his last movie, his newest movie shows off a softer side as well.

This movie features a wannabe actor with a glaucoma problem and Robert Downey Jr. After mayhem at the airport both men are placed on the no fly list. With his wallet in transit, in order to reach his pregnant wife in time Robert Downey Jr. must team up with comedies it-man of the moment, Zach Galifianakis, on a cross country road trip.

Zach Galifianakis plays more or less the same role Phillips asked him to play in the past, a sympothetic dolt. After showing off some of his real acting chops in It's Kind of a Funny Story, he is able to spread his wings a little bit and shows some depth in a storyline featuring his dead father. They of course balance all of that out with placing the patriarch's ashes in a coffee can.

It's Robert Downey Jr's character who steals most of the scenes. His comedic timing, dry wit and scornful looks hit at all the right times. Downey plays an uptight architect who has a knack for flying off the handle. You know what to expect from Galifianakis and his comedy, Downey is the X-factor in all of this and he pushes the movie into a no doubt comedy hit. What may stop it from becoming a blockbuster smash is director Todd Phillips.

It is clear that Phillips is maturing as he tries to insert some sincerity into his film. These moments come courtesy from both lead men, both in ways of self-examination and with fatherhood and paternal issues. I doubt he is trying to deliver a firm stance on how you need to better yourself, but maybe suggest that you at least try. It's these moments that may lose some of the audience, who are expecting zany comedy throughout. Also like his past movies, Due Date seems to peek a little early. Many of his belly laughing inducing moments come in the first half of the movie leaving the second half flailing in the wind as once again he may try too hard to become more outrageous as the movie rolls on.

Much of the weight of the movie falls squarely on the shoulders of these two men, but they do get some help from a slew of guest stars. Danny McBride, Juliette Lewis, and Matt Walsh bring exactly what you would expect them to bring to the film and are outstanding at doing so. Jamie Fox, who is featured heavily in the previews is more a set-up man, and sets the scene for some future laughs. Anyone expecting a strong female counterpart clearly hasn't seen any of Phillips' other movies. Hopefully there won't be a public outcry for gender equality like last time and both sexes will be able to enjoy a man who simply writes in the perspective of a man, doubtful.

Downey's star has never been higher and after so many hits it is hard to see it coming down anytime soon. Galifiankis is also on the rise, but it is easy to tell that somewhere down the road audiences may get sick of the characters he plays. That moment though is not now. The men hit all their marks and help create one of the best comedies of the year. B+

The Social Network

When word first came out that there was going to be a Facebook movie that was my first reaction "There is going to be a Facebook movie?!?" It was tough to initially sell it for me, but then the movie gained director David Fincher (Fight Club, Se7en) and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, A Few Good Men). Then the critical reviews started coming out (it currently has a 97 on Rotten Tomatoes). The moment that sealed the deal is when the trailer featuring Kanye's song "Power" hit. I was hooked I needed to see this movie, and by most accounts many of you will probably see it in the near future if you haven't already.

The movie opens in a Cambridge bar that I have frequented on several occasions, and like most great motivators it all starts with a bad break up. Sorkin shows off a fast paced dialogue while Fincher sets the mood with the grungy lighting and turns a casual encounter into an eerie setting, their work really mashes up well together. In fact most of the best scenes happen when the characters are sitting down at a table with quick cuts and quicker dialogue. The sharp wit moves a mile a minute and if you lose focus you may miss an entire conversation.

Jesse Eisenberg stars as the CEO Mark Zuckerburg, many just may consider him Michael Cera lite but don't be mistaken, Cera may be better know but Eisenberg is a much better actor with a quality resume of films with another great addition. This role isn't too far off from his base, a socially inept outcast, but he somehow makes a self-interested asshole likable. You can't help but feel sorry for him at moments, or not depending on your perspective. Sorkin doesn't write the script taking one side or the other. He gets as many sources as he can and allows the audience to play the jury on each character which becomes fitting as the frame story takes you in and out of two lawsuits occurring simultaneously. The one source he is unable to get is Zuckerberg himself, not surprising, but what is stunning is that the lack of participation may have helped the story. By not getting this perspective it's no longer the Facebook/Zuckerburg movie, but rather a book about Zuckerburg adding more ambiguity to the character and more free range for Eisenberg to let loose.

This movie features a very strong ensemble cast and is easy to see why these actor will be the next generation of big names. Andrew Garfield plays Eduardo Saverin the C.F.O. and Zuckerburg's only friend in the entire film. I've heard some people say that the nicer the person the worse the businessman. Well Saverin is the nicest player in the whole group and in a group of various shades of gray he may be the lightest shade but still doesn't come out squeaky clean. Rooney Mara plays the heart breaker Erica Albright and her fast tongue and strong performance set the tone for the movie and is probably what landed her the lead role in the American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It wouldn't be a David Fincher movie without some tricky computer imaging and that's exactly what he does to have one actor play both Winklevoss brothers. Then there is Justin Timberlake who you may not be able to take seriously due to some of his past endeavors. He really proves himself as the young entrepreneur who co-found Napster Sean Parker. He keeps the character sleek and his work on SNL helped hone in on his delivery skills. Timberlake flirts with the audience the entire movie so one minute you’ll love his enthusiasm next you’ll hate his treachery. He proves to be fantastic which may be why Entertainment Weekly wrote an article about how all three supporting actors could receive nominations come award season. That may not be true but Sorkin definitely will and Fincher should.

The Social Network is a modern day Citizen Kane. Both films feature a young upstart looking to make a name for himself in and both want acceptance from society. Even some of the scenes in the movie bear striking resemblance to some of Orson Welles' masterpiece. And why shouldn't this be a modern day retelling, the Internet has clearly taken the over as our main source of information. While I was writing this review I had Facebook up in the background the entire time, not doing anything with it but merely catching up on the tedium of some of my friends life that their inherent narcissism felt the entire world should know. That's what Facebook is all about, it’s an ego driven way to share the minutia of everyday life and I am right up there with some of the worst offenders. Sorkin is able to capture this feeling and addiction to this program in his script and makes this film an early Oscar contender. A

Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps

It has been 23 years since Oliver Stone originally introduced us to Gordon Gekko and probably 10 years since Stone has put out a decent movie. The man is best when he is angry about something. Right now America is mad about two things, the building of a mosque at the site of an old Burlington Coat Factory and the economy. But I doubt Stone is very angry about his economic stature and it shows in his sequel with one of the worst subtitles I've seen since Cradle 2 The Grave.

Michael Douglas reprises his academy award winning role as the Wall Street investor who declared at a stock holders meeting that 'greed is good." The book his character writes is titled, "Is Greed Good?" which seems to be theme of the story even though that question was answered in the first movie, and in much better fashion. But with so much star power the movie is still able to deliver some pop.

Shia LeBeouf takes the Charlie Sheen role in this one as the young investor looking to make a buck himself. And while there is not much difference between his character and the money hungry investors he works with, Stone tries to differentiate his character, Jake, by implying that he has a stopping point, that once he makes a certain amount of money he will be able to walk away. He has also attached himself to fusion energy in order to help the environment, so he can't be all bad. LeBeouf finally seems to find an adult role I don't hate him in. Or maybe my natural distrust of investors and my animosity towards them make LeBeouf the perfect match for a character that seems likeable and yet still somehow a dick.

The story is at its best when it is discussing some of the issues of the market collapse, and while some of the dialogue still went over my head I understood that there are a lot of greedy men out there who are using my money to get rich by betting on me to fail. Josh Brolin plays Bretton James, this movie's antagonist and a modern day Gekko, while the actually Gekko seems to be the moral center of the sleazebags. Bretton James is using the tricks that made headlines months ago to make most of his money. Brolin is very slick and conniving in the role and seeing as his recent movie, Jonah Hex, flopped as hard as it did it is easy to see why he wasn't out there promoting it with Douglas and LeBeouf.

The movie gets murky when it dives outside the economic pool into sub plots featuring romance, marriage, a baby and such. Carey Mulligan does most of the heavy lifting in this aspect of the film which is unfortunate as she is a wonderful actress but there is nothing she can do to save this aspect of the film. Stone, as do many people, see there is some evil goings on in the current economic system and he has something to say about it. Much like The Other Guys he doesn't want to come out and scream it at you, but rather insert some theatricality at you and hope you take something away. The Other Guys does this much better, as towards the end of the film you can see Stone screaming there is more important things than money.

The movie is kind of all over the place with the combo of business life and personal life. The reason this movie gets a sequel is due to the similarities this country faced in the early eighties, same cast of characters just a different plot. Except I hear that story everyday on CNBC with an ensemble cast starring Jim Crammer, who is way more freighting and awful to me than any character a writer can dream up. If you need to see a well done story about the d-bags on Wall Street see the original movie. The sequel is a fun movie but the wayward plot loses some of the fury that made the first one a classic. C+

New Fall TV

Besides Huddy, the road to New York, the final season of Friday Night Lights, Jennifer Aniston back on the small screen there are some new shows to look forward to as well this season. Let's take a look.



The Event
Mondays 9pm NBC

I don't know if this is a show to look forward to but NBC seems to be pushing the crap out of it. The way execs look at it, people are looking for a way to fill the void after Lost has come and gone. Why don't we see how Flash Forward and V turned out, both canceled (Well not V, but really it's only a matter of time). The show looks like it is going to require a lot of emotional commitment, something I'm not ready to give with football season having started up again and the show being Monday at 9. I have my doubts on this one, and the only way I'm watching this is if I hear good things and then I'll find it online.





Running Wilde
Tuesdays 9:30pm FOX

FOX's mishandling of shows is notorious, it gets so many shows that are ahead of its time but doesn't know what to do with them till eventually they shut down the operation (Read: Firefly, Futurama, and Family Guy). Arrested Development was no different, after winning the EMMY for Outstanding Comedy Series after its first year it would get dropped after season 3. It is now held in the highest esteem and you can see the performances now on DVD, IFC, or whenever you see George Michael Cera. Running Wilde seems to be a GOB spin off which could be awesome seeing as first season Arnett was a show stealer. Arnett plays oil company heir Steve Wilde whose life changes when he runs into boyhood crush Keri Russell who, of course, is an environmentalist. Unfortunately I'm going to have to sit through Raising Hope to get to it, because clearly I'm watching Glee first and I'm not going to change the channel. Hopefully this show doesn't go the way of Joey.





Undercovers
Wednesday 8pm NBC

I can't hate on a J.J. Abrahms helmed show, he has given the TV world so many gems: Alias, Lost, Fringe - by the way if you're not watching Fringe and ratings suggest you are not give this show a shot. Yes it's about a married couple who have retired from the CIA to open a catering company. And now they are out of retirement to save the world and reinvigorate their marriage. This show also sounds like a stupid premise but hey the wifey looks like a hotty, I apologize for that last line of text I knew it sounded awful as soon as I wrote it.





$#*! My Dad Says
Thursdays 8:30PM CBS

William Shatner stars in a show that got its start from twitter. I don't know if this will be any good but its lead in show is the Big Bang Theory so that should help its ratings. But really there is no reason to watch it when you have the NBC Thursday lineup starting with Community leading into...





Outsourced
Thursday 8:30PM NBC

I'm a little mad at this show for taking away Parks and Rec and moving it to the spring season, but you need to keep fresh shows coming in and they have been 2 for 2 for adding shows to the Thursday line up so don't bet against this one. The Office may be winding down but with this being Michael Scott's last season I have a feeling this season they are going to pull out all the stops. I like the NBC lineup so I am going to stick with it and give this show a chance. Besides India has given me slumdog, maybe they can give me a solid comedy as well.





Hawaii Five-0
Mondays 10PM CBS

Book em Danno. Usually TV reboots don't work. But did you see Scott Cann in Entourage this past season? He helped to reestablish one of HBO's biggest hits. I don't doubt that he is going to add a lot of comedy to the show as one the leads. I also love Daniel Dae Kim and it may be nice to see him chasing someone other than Sun. I would say this is the drama I'm looking forward to most, but I'd be lieing.







Boardwalk Empire
Sundays 9:00 PM HBO

The show looks awesome. Martin Scorsese does wonders with grit like this so I have no doubt they will do this show right. HBO also has a track record for having some of the best shows ever introduced to television. As long as you like Steve Buscemi and the character he always plays something tells me you'll like him in this as well even if he is ordering the deaths of those who stand in his way. He plays the de facto leader of Atlantic City during prohibition. There is going to be plenty of boozing, drugs and sex to go around for everyone involved. Make this the show to watch this fall.

Easy A

In the same vain of Clueless and 10 Things I Hate About You comes the retelling of the classic tale The Scarlet Letter.

Emma Stone stars as Olive, the high school girl who feels unrecognizable in the high school world. One lie begets another and soon she is the center of high school gossip. The morally upright condemn the girl to hell so as an act of rebellion she marks herself with the letter A. Seriously they don't even try and hide the inspiration; I would hope that the lack of subtlety would anger the English teacher whose current assignment is the same book. The movie also draws inspiration from John Hughes' movies. The nods to the movie include Stone looking in the camera and telling the audience I want to live in a John Hughes movie and then a short montage of his films.

The story is told over her web cam and leads to some awful narration which indicates that all the effort was put into the conversation rather than the execution. So many movies today are trying to put their movies through the today’s lens. The narration adds some laughs but what it really brings to the table is a way to bring the whole story together and to add some time to the movie as the whole story runs a brief 90 minutes.

What the movie lacks in subtlety it makes up in writing. The movie is full of sharp wit and snappy remarks. Emma Stone makes it appear effortless in almost all of her scenes. The only time she is ever outshined is by her parents played by Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci. Their humor and veteran comedy chops steal every scene they are in and rang out the most laughter in the theater.

The movie is made for the tween demographic and is probably why the original script called for much more fowl language, probably directed at the film's martyr who bears an enormous amount of weight which I'm sure any high schooler can indentify with. And that who is going to identify with the movie, but worry not parents, there are plenty of laughs to go around. B-

EMMY Predictions: Drama

How about the dramas?

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama
Christine Baranski (The Good Wife)
Rose Byrne (Damages)
Sharon Gless (Burn Notice)
Christina Hendricks (Mad Men)
Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)
Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife)

I really need to start watching Burn Notice more, not only does it contain the best chin on any b-list movie actor ever but it has Sharon Gless. She is all the buzz and a definate favorite to walk away with the statuette.

But I can't look passed Joan in Mad Men, and I mean that in every sense of the word. Christina Hendricks is simply stunning and I thought deserved the nomination last year, especially episode 12 in season two when her fiancé visits the office. This year she submitted the episode when he doesn't get the position he needs and the horse that she bet on failed big. I can't wait for this guy to go off to war and get killed and for Joan to have some good ole fashioned widow sex. But I'm rambling she is the best female character on the show, and that includes her competition Elisabeth Moss. Moss's character developed the most in the series but the way Hendricks walks the fine line of strong sexual goddess and frail woman is a tribute to women of the sixties. She deserves the win, plus I love to watch her walk.



Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama
Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age)
Michael Emerson (Lost)
Terry O’Quinn (Lost)
Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)
Martin Short (Damages)
John Slattery (Mad Men)

The two most deserving actors on this list are going to cancel each other out making room for a clear third place candidate to walk away the winner.

Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn each have a win to their name. Emerson as Ben Linus trying to redeem his evil ways from the whole series is fantastic. In the first seasons he was in he was always a step ahead, season five featured a role reversal which was strong enough to get him the win last year. This year featured him vulnerable, as a man trying to find his way with a chapter in his life coming to an end and him coming to face all the demons and monstrosities he committed in his search for control. Meanwhile Terry O'Quinn was playing two different characters and very differently from any other character in the series. SPOILER ALERT (FOR THOSE WHO STILL WANT TO WATCH THE SERIES) He was asked to play the main villain of the entire series as the Man in Black controlled his body and he played the season one version of himself as well. Even when I was certain that he was the ultimate baddie of LOST I still thought that the character could be redeemed. I really enjoyed him as the man in black and enjoyed the symmetry of having him be the antagonist in the first and final season. SPOILER OVER His mind games and abuse of women make him my personal choice to win the award.

But like I said before these two men are going to cancel each other out as they are both so deserving and both on the same series. So I am going with Aaron Paul to actually claim the big award, he deserves praise and certainly showed off his chops in the season but he stands in the shadow of the men of LOST.



Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama
Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Matthew Fox (Lost)
Michael C. Hall (Dexter)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
Hugh Laurie (House M.D.)

Without a doubt this is the hardest category to predict. Each one of these actors could walk away with the award and frankly each one of these actors would make the academy proud if they won, so let's try and break it down best we can.

Chandler has not only deserved to be nominated but he deserved to be on this list so many years before. Well except the second season, we all have down years. And no matter how you feel about Lost Matthew Fox has been the heart of the show and also probably deserved to be on the list earlier. His final episode is something special and the last 15 minutes of the episode is the very best acting he has done in his whole career. What may work against Fox is the ensemble nature of the show. Any weak spot may cost any actor the award and this may be Fox's biggest adversity, but voters do love a good finale.

This may be Cranston's weakest year, but never doubt a two time champion. The academy can feel confident voting for him without putting too much effort in knowing that his portrayal of the character is always award winning, and it is. Another sure slam dunk for an award is Jon Hamn who portrays the biggest douche bag on television Don Draper as someone you can't help but root for. Similarly I think he has done better, such as this season as he is being forced to redefine himself and his self worth in a brand new agency living a life he has never known. It's still early but I like him to win the award next year with his character actually facing some strife.

Michael C. Hall has always done great work as the frigid father figure dueling with his own personality. And for those of you who haven't see the episode he submitted see it now. Actually scratch that see the whole thing, you may lose out on the sheer emotion of it all without a whole bunch of back story and there are so many good scenes from the season (the Thanksgiving dinner comes to mind). The power of the season has already been awarded with John Lithgow receiving the award for best guest actor in a drama, too bad he thanked HBO. If he wasn't already dead they'd be killing him off after that gaff.

Hugh Laurie has been always been a bridesmaid never a bride. This may be the year he finally gets awarded. The episode he submits is all House all the time, having him in a mental institution facing his personal demons and featuring a Broadway hero with Lin Manuel (If you are not a Broadway fan do yourself a favor and at the very least check out his performance in the TONYs, as he does something very different on the stage. I'll even give you the link).

If I had to pick someone though I think I like sentimental favorite Kyle Chandler to win the award. But in all honesty the smart money is Dexter for the acting pedigree in the entire season. So I think I will go with Hall for the win. But I love Chandler, especially his pregame speech/destruction of his kids before his first game. But that final scene in Dexter is just so good...



Outstanding Actress in a Drama
Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights)
Glenn Close (Damages)
Mariska Hargitay (Special Victims Unit)
January Jones (Mad Men)
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)

Julianna Margulies is the reason that "The Good Wife" got nominated for the big award. And much like Sandra Bullock at the Oscars I think she has this one in the bag.



Outstanding Drama Series
Breaking Bad
Dexter
Lost
Mad Men
The Good Wife
True Blood

First off let me declare that True Blood doesn't deserve to be anywhere near this list. They have award winning material in the same way as Lady Gaga discussing her Love Muffin. They have zero chance of winning and should just be glad they made the list. Similarly The Good Wife also has no chance here. The reason the show is here is all Julianna Margulies. But at least her show seems like it is going to keep improving itself through the years.

As I said back when I was predicting the nominees I liked the remaining four series as shoo ins. But now that all four have got nominated it is tough to go from there. Of the four I think that Breaking Bad may be the weak link. While this is still a fantastic series it is going up against the champ, the best season of a show so far and a powerful finale.

Like I have said before it is tough business taking down a champ. Mad Men can sometimes drag with minutia and everyday life which is what makes the series so smart, but the episodes that they submitted are all so very powerful and have you demanding for more, which we are currently getting, thank you AMC. I think this may be the best season so far ("they couldn't even send a full reporter"). Matt Weiner's period piece is a masterful work of art and is what good television is all about.

Last season of Dexter was the best it has ever been even against the first storyline. I lost interest in the show after the second season but with so many people talking about the finale and got back into it and it did not disappoint. Veteran thespian John Lithgow is award winning as the Trinity Killer, but will Michael C. Hall and Lithgow be enough to dethrone a heavyweight contender.

Meanwhile the finale of Lost is in the books and while there are many differing viewpoints, from cried when I watched it to wasted six years, I enjoyed the finale and what this season had to offer. While there were some duds, "What Kate Did" comes to mind, the characters finding redemption and Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse playing with some of the fan theories this year made this year, coming from a fan's perspective, a sight to behold.

But Mad Men is just too smart and too well done to be toppled so I like it to win and make it three years in a row and well on their way to a fourth next year.

Well what do you guys think? What shows should be here? Will you be watching? Hit me up you know I will be.

EMMY Predictions: Comedy

The Emmys are coming up this Sunday so I decided to make some not so bold decisions on who would take home the big awards.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Ty Burrell (Modern Family)
Chris Colfer (Glee)
Jon Cryer (Two and A Half Men)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family)
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)

Jon Cryer just may repeat as champion. He has some great lines with Sheen and I love when he does physical comedy. The series hasn't been as funny as usual but Jon Cryer is still hysterical. I actually wish that NPH had won the award last year but sadly it was not to be. The character regressed back to his old form, which is actually for the better, but unfortunately so did the writing style of the show. Barney's chance of winning has come and gone.

Frankly Ferguson doesn't deserve to be on the list, it should be Ed O' Neil. As the straight man in the series, ala he uses a dryer humor, he is not even the funniest part of the episode that he submits for consideration.

Ty Burrell as the father of the nucleus family is fantastic and endearing in the series. While there is no actual lead in the series he may be up there. He feels genuine in his compassion and love for his family and I love his goofy nature. But he is usually outshined, as is the entire cast by the loveable and flamboyant Cam. He is submitting the episode Fizbo which probably is the episode he is known best for but for the voters who have watched the entire series, as I hope most of my readers have, he has some of the best laugh out loud moments of the series. The whole cast is tender so there is no point in pointing out his softer side as that is not what singles him out from the cast and what may eventually give him the win.

But with three members from one show competing for one award it may split the voters. And that is why I love the endearing Christopher Colfer to win the award. Originally he wasn't even supposed to be in the series but after auditioning for the part Ryan Murphy wrote a part specifically for him. Talk about a muse. I love his bitchy attitude towards Lea but the moments that capture him this award is when he confronts his father and his sexuality. Later in the post I will talk about how submitting dramatic moments in this category works against you, I think in this example it works for him. The people voting in this category are very gay friendly and while Eric Stonestreet's character is also gay (as is Fegurson's character and Harris in real life) the story arc rarely deals with the conflict that Colfer faces. He gets to show off an array of emotion and his take on Rose's Turn is fantastic. A well done performance of the song has already bequeathed many actresses gold; Broadway royalty Tyne Daly, Angela Lansbury, Patti LuPone all won for their performances in Gypsy. His performance in this episode should be enough to get this rookie actor his first award.


Please note that the last video I posted of a Glee character was of Mike O' Malley who also deserved an EMMY but was beaten out. So maybe this was a bad idea to post the video but he does it so well.



Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Julie Bowen (Modern Family)
Jane Krakowski (30 Rock)
Jane Lynch (Glee)
Holland Taylor, (Two and a Half Men)
Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)
Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live)

Jane Lynch. Shoo In



Outstanding Actress in a Comedy
Toni Collette (United States of Tara)
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)
Lea Michele (Glee)
Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)

Full disclosure, I don't watch "The New Adventure of Old Christine" or the "United States of Tara" which may hurt my prediction seeing as Toni Collette won the award last year and is a serious contender this year.

Lea Michele probably doesn't deserve to be on the list as she simply has some work to be done before she is considered the best in her craft. Her character was a riot in the pilot but she submitted the episode Sectionals. And while she does deliver a stand out performance that had Barbara take notice she doesn't show off any of her comedic chops and her dramatic moment aren’t anything spectacular.

With the down year for 30 Rock it may be a tough race to win; she has been better.

In my mind this leaves it down to two actresses with Amy Poehler and Edie Falco. Already an Emmy winner, Edie Falco is the favorite to win which would make her only the second actress to win an Emmy for comedy and for drama. Emmy would love to make this happen and her acting on the show is why the series got nominated for the big award. But my heart belongs to clueless Leslie Knope she is able to bounce off of anyone in the cast and if anyone’s acting or comedic chops deserved to get it nominated for best series it was Parks and Rec. Instead what it got was a spring debut. The series deserves better and that is why I am going with my heart and saying that Poehler comes out with the win.



Outstanding Actor in a Comedy
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Steve Carell (The Office)
Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Matthew Morrison (Glee)
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
Tony Shalhoub (Monk)

Someone get Morrison to stop rapping, tell him to stop and never do it again. Larry David has never been known for his acting as much as his writing and this character is probably not too far off from himself but the academy loves the series so he'll get a couple votes. I love Carell and Baldwin both but Baldwin submitted ‘Don Guise, America and Hope’ for his episode and it doesn't come anywhere near as good as past episodes that he has submitted. Carell has been the heart of "The Office" the whole way and has had to do even more heavy lifting ever since Jim and Pam got together but his episode, ‘The Cover Up’, doesn't contain any of those moments of cringe inducing hilarity that I really love about his character. I wish he had submitted Scott's Tots. But sadly it was not to be. Hopefully in his final season he will finally get the award.

This race is down to two men, three time award winner Tony Shalhoub and Jim Parsons of "The Big Bang Theory." The academy is still not entirely behind Big Bang yet which is a shame as the show continually gets funnier and funnier. The episode Parsons submitted is about him accepting award while intoxicated which had me rolling. But working against him is a man who has already won the award and the academy tends to like rewarding strong finales. This was a series that you could pop on and never have to pay too much attention to as it always followed the same formula. It was definitely not one of my favorite series but I really liked the first half of the finale. But Parsons deserved recognition last year and his show deserved to be nominated for best series so I think this will be the validation the whole series deserves.



Best Comedy Series
30 Rock
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Glee
Modern Family
Nurse Jackie
The Office

First things first let’s just scratch "The Office" out of contention. Simply put the series has had better seasons, and while it had a couple of big moment episodes such as the wedding and the pregnancy, the quality that used to be in the series is not quite there anymore

"Nurse Jackie" had a quality season but for a freshman comedy there may be a little too much drama in the series and not enough of a public outcry to be a serious contender. Edie Falco is great but that won’t be enough to win it all, frankly the series should just be glad it got nominated.

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" had quite possibly one of their best seasons ever and if it was ever going to win it would have to be this year. I loved the Seinfeld callback and I thought that Jason Alexander was absolutely hysterical. It however lacks nominations in the writing and directing category and since those are major parts of putting together a best series it would be tough to do, but Curb is definitely the series I am pulling for.

However really this is a three horse race between "Modern Family", "30 Rock", and "Glee." I haven't seen this kind of support for a new show since "Lost" or "American Idol." Simply put it has taken pop culture by storm and is almost as big as those Jersey D-bags. Almost. I love the series, love getting their songs stuck in my head, and am in love with Lea Michelle who has taken over as my celebrity crush. The quality in the series definitely went down after they took their long break. The second half of the season featured episodes that were based around the song, not the song helping to propel the plot. The new structure has also featured a theme which goes back to my last point of choosing the songs over the story, this tactic got annoying. While the male characters were fantastically written from Kurt and his dad to Artie, the women of the show still need a lot more definition. There were some standout episodes in the series such as each finale and the Madonna episode but the producers did not include their six best in the packet they sent to the academy and that may be what costs them.

"30 Rock" is the three time winner and arguably the show to beat as the writing speaks to the business and it is impossible not to love Tina Fey, but much like "The Office" the series has seen better days. Producers this year have selected great episodes to present but on a whole the series definitely took a step back. Even in a down year the show is smarter than a lot of the other garbage on TV but this year it faces a big opponent.

"Modern Family" is a family sitcom with a call back to the days of old with a great twist. All the adults are fantastic in the series with five out of six receiving a nomination in the supporting cast and with Ed O'Neil being one of the biggest snubs of the whole nomination process. The series on a whole is very endearing and you could tell there is serious chemistry between all the actors. Plus the women are smokin hot ala Sofia Vergara, old Happy Gilmore flame Julie Bowen, and of course Cam in a cuddly sort of way. Early on it was considered "Arrested Development" lite which also won the big award in its freshman year. As the show has gotten stronger you see a bigger call back to core family values told in a modern day perspective and I have a feeling older voters will connect with, giving "Modern Family" the edge and the win.

Why the Daily Show loses

For the past eight years the Daily Show has come out the winner Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Program. The streak ends on Sunday as Stewart faces his biggest competition to date in two of his friends and some jezebel.

A few months ago The Daily Show had to deal with some negative publicity after Jezebel posted an article sighting many acts of sexism on the show including a lack of female guests, few female correspondents and producers, along with the recent hiring of Olivia Munn which many viewed was based on her looks over her wit. The article made its rounds through the media with FOX News getting some knocks in, along with Daniel Tosh and Stephen Colbert poking a little fun at the issue. The whole subject more or less came to a halt once the women of the Daily Show posted an open letter on their website firing back and having a little fun of their own (especially towards the end). The whole thing by now is long forgotten as we have the attention span of small birds, but for those voters who may feel that the article had its points it may cost the host a few votes with older female voters, which could prove important if the race is close. Below are the real reasons why Stewart will lose this year.

This past weekend the Colbert Report writers claimed the EMMY for the best writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program and Colbert's character hams it up as usual after the big win. What this really indicates is that Colbert’s writing team had some of the best content in this category. While Stewart’s tone and his interviews have become a staple Colbert has recently been able to outshine Stewart in news gathering. Stewart has the advantage on Colbert as The Daily Show takes the first slot. Despite this Colbert has beat Stewart to the punch and has been "reporting" on stories a day before Stewart gets to them. Maybe that was enough to give the writing team the edge, but it helps proves that Colbert’s crew is gaining the competitive edge with fresher writing. Stewart tends to write towards specific stories while Stephen can touches upon a broader range of issues.

Meanwhile for those who don't watch the programming regularly, this year the Colbert report submitted the first episode of Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando. The week long series, besides being a tremendous tribute to the troops, is pure EMMY bait. He came out on stage every episode with golf club in hand as a constant homage to comedy legend Bob Hope. His B-block usually contained video of him with the military either trying his hand in boot camp or throwing up in the back of a jet. He had a barrage of Washington elites sending messages to the troops he was performing for. But the piece de resistance came when the Commander in Chief ordered his general to shave Stephen's hair. All this and more may be why Colbert’s show wins its first EMMY outside of the writing category.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Obama Orders Stephen's Haircut - Ray Odierno
http://www.colbertnation.com/
Colbert Report Full Episodes 2010 Election Fox News

But wait there's more. The short lived Tonight Show with Conan O' Brien is getting a lot of press and public support and has been for the past seven months (for those keeping score at home that's exactly how long his show was on-air for). Choosing not to destroy the legacy of the house that Carson built O'Brien decided to step down as host of the tonight show. Throngs of fans showed their support for the host; unfortunately those same fans couldn't be bothered to actually watch the show. Some of the best TV came out of the last week of programming where he featured waves of fantastic guests, performances and bits that weren't all that funny as much as they were ridiculously expensive. But the clincher may have been his classy speech towards the end of his final show.




With the effort that Colbert put in this year, what he really may do is split the vote of those who enjoy smart political commentary. Conan's show had a completely different feel to The Daily Show and The Colbert Report and so he will steal some of Jon's typical voters as well since all three programs speak to the same demographic. Not only that but I'm sure there are plenty of people who would love to see NBC execs squirm as the man that they helped boot prove triumphant on their own network.

While I hope that this is the year that Colbert finally gets his dues but this onslaught of support will probably get Conan on the stage to accept the honor. Either with this year the streak ends for the Daily Show with Jon Stewart

The Switch

Don't you wish better for Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman. Bateman was part of one of the funniest shows of the new millennium, (the OO’s what do you call the last decade) and because it got so mishandled by FOX it never got the notoriety it deserved while on the air. It has since taken on a cult like following with die-hard fans. The former Friends star has been followed around non-stop about her private life and never seems to catch a break with it. Both have been given many chances to helm a movie, but neither has been able to make it something special. Unfortunately this is nothing different.

Much like years of the past with competing studios coming out with movies with similar themes ala Antz and A Bug's Life, Dante's Peak and Volcano, and Armageddon and Deep Impact this year is all about artificial insemination. Hopefully the Jennifer Lopez version will soon be forgotten while no one will take notice of The Kids Are Alright until awards season (maybe).

This movie features Aniston as a woman who is tired of waiting for the right man, a stretch. She has decided to find a donor and get on with that part of the life. Bateman, the worrisome best friend, was put in the friend zone a long time ago and is apprehensive about the whole thing. She finds the guy with the right stuff and they have a party to celebrate, drinks are had, drugs are taken and just like any good party sperm samples are swapped.

The whole movie drags especially the first act. It takes so long to set the stage and gather that they are best friends and she wants a child. Meanwhile I did it in a sentence.

When we finally meet the kid played by Thomas Robinson the movie picks up. While there is almost zero chemistry between Aniston and Bateman, there is plenty between the Jason and little Tommy. Aniston has been in so many failed romantic comedies you would figure she could learn a thing or two but instead she still has yet to make a genuine connection. The movie fails to distinguish itself from other movies in the genre and just reuses old tools. Bateman rarely gets to unleash his dry wit onto the film, there are moments in the beginning where we see glimpses of it but once the kid enters the scene so does his style.

Jeff Goldblum is a bright spot in the movie, as Bateman's best man he is able to use some of the dry wit that Bateman never gets to unleash. His dry pandering creates some of the only laughable scenes in the movie. Meanwhile Aniston's BFF played by Juliette Lewis is all kinds of annoying, her shriek is almost as annoying as Bateman's narration, almost.

As long as Jen stays in the tabloids she is going to keep getting offers despite the garbage that she keeps attaching herself to. While Aniston may have her name first on the billing, this is a Bateman propelled movie and frankly he has never been able to handle the lead on the big screen. He does great in the ensemble as the straight man and is a solid contributor and second lead but that is it. Both of these actors need to start being much more selective about their roles. D

The ExpEndables

This movie is exactly what I wanted it to be. A bunch of out dated eighties stars killing brown and black people. The worst thing that could have happened to this movie is if it became a social commentary. That is probably the only bullet that gets dodged in this one.

Sly Stallone co-wrote, directs, and stars in a movie about mercenaries for hire. Their newest mission is to stop a South American dictator with a connection to drugs and the CIA, holy god even the headline from this movie is from the Reagan era. The plan is simple go in, set explosives, kill them all. They don't bother with computer imaging or stealthy maneuvers as that type of filmmaking clearly flies over the head of John Rambo. What he does know how to do is kill wave after wave of evil opponents.

Bruce Willis makes a cameo as the man who hires Stallone and his crazy team to take down this government. While Arnold Schwarzenegger makes a cameo within the cameo. Assumidly these men were too busy still being relevant and running a state into the ground respectively. Yet somehow this scene still took six hours to film.

The movie sets the tone early with the first casualty in the flick. From there Stallone and company find plenty of visually fun ways to kill pirates and small armies. At one point in the making of the film they could have achieved a PG-13 rating but Rocky instead decides to keep as many expletives as he deems necessary and gallons of computer generated blood that is purely laughable.

Besides Joseph Dredd, Jason Statham racks up the second most screen time and probably does the best with what he is given. He is one of the few big names that can look forward to new casting rather than poorly made sequels to huge hits. The man is the epitome of cool in this one, he's not afraid to show his softer side as he struggles not only with evil doers but with matters of the heart.

Other members of the team include Jet Li, who pulls together a whole bunch of short jokes and only gets one martial arts scene. Dolph Lungren has an off screen drug problem and can't decide what team he is on. Mickey Rourke, a retired member of the team, offers sage advice on the honor behind the mercenary business. There is also screen fillers Terry Crews, who carries a big gun and throws things, and Randy Couture who speaks on behalf of all of those with cauliflower ear. Opposing these men is character actor Eric Roberts with his kickboxing and wrestling muscle Gary Daniels and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

This movie is not meant to be taken seriously, there are too many laugh out moments for that to be the case. Maybe Sly is getting slicker with age making nods to ideas of the past such as bare knuckle fights and phone with cords attached. But on the other hand maybe this is all he knows and the only thing he was ever good at. C+

Eat, Pray, Love

On paper maybe this movie seems like a better idea. After all it did spend over 155 weeks on the New York Times best seller list. It is fantasy gone right and maybe that is the appeal of the story, we get to live out our desires through another. Bag that, I'd rather go on the trip myself.

Eat, Pray, Love is about Liz Glibert, who for no explicable reason other than not wanting to make cookies, decides to end her marriage. In order to find her balance she goes on a trip across the globe. What is never explained is that the advance she receives pays for her global frolic. Unless we all have people willing to pay for our self indulgent story we may have to be satisfied watching from the stadium seating.

This book has the feel of a Hollywood chick flick, especially the ending. So who better to play the lead role than the star of so many of them? Julia Roberts takes a woman who selfishly leaves her husband and indulges her every whim and makes the character loveable. Roberts still has enormous sex appeal and throughout the movie I couldn't think of a time she looked better. Even with the loud duck like sounds that exit her mouth every time she laughs I still can't help but feel smitten.

While in New York she falls in love with a charming struggling actor whose performance makes people walk out. Who better to cast than James Franco. Surprise surprise, Liz has the same problems with the young guy as she does in her married life. Mike O'Malley and Viola Davis do their best to support our protagonist during this difficult time and their devotion seems genuine. It’s a shame Franco got more screen time than both of them. Well anyway Roberts is tired of it all and decides to run away from all her problems.

Her stay in Italy is the most well done. It may just be easier for Ryan Murphy (co-creator of mega hit Glee) to understand and accentuate this culture more than the others. He has a wonderful segment about Italians talking with their hands and does what is more or less food porn. Do not go to this movie hungry, the most carefully crafted shots in this movie may very well be the shots of food, from the plate of spaghetti, to pizza from Naples, and cheese oozing out of her meal. If that wasn't enough it also comes with a two part thanksgiving dinner. Which is nothing compared to the Del Greco Easter dinner but certainly up there.

The movie then gets bogged down in India where Julia/Liz tries to find her spiritual center and learn the proper way to meditate. Meditation is the action of clearing your mind so it takes a while for anyone to master. Unfortunately that is a lot of screen time devoted to the art of doing nothing which weighs down the 140 minute movie even more. The saving grace of this segment is Richard Jenkins, who plays Richard from Texas, a man who speaks in bumper stickers. His tough treatment and hard life lessons is probably meant to be more endearing in the book, but I liked the character, most likely because I speak fluent asshole.

Then we reach Bali, where she reconnects with the medicine man whose message puts her on this journey in the first place. The toothless medicine man is just as charming as Javier Bardem who is responsible for the love portion of this book.

SPOILER ALERT: AS IN I TALK ABOUT THE ENDING

I really had problems with this relationship as it seems to happen so quick. In the book the words take time to sink in, we can place the book down, let the connections sink in and last a little longer until the next passage. There is no time to let the romance sink in. Also most of the movie is devoted to finding balance for yourself. One of the listed reasons she goes on this trip is she is tired of being identified as part of a relationship. Then in true Hollywood hokum style we see the only way for our Julia Roberts lead to find happiness is through a man. So much for self identification.

SPOILER OVER

The movie in as enjoyable as hearing about a friend’s vacation. All I really wanted to hear was good. Instead I get a story about the most wonderful food ever experienced in a city of unbridled passion, and then a trip to clear my mind of all the clutter that possessed it before, and finally they find a foreign piece of ass with which they had so much sex they started to develop a bladder infection. And then after it all they ask me how is work? Bitch. C

Charlie St. Cloud

Zac Efron is doing all he can to be taken seriously after his High School Musical phase, and he has taken steps in the right direction. Such as Me and Orson Welles which was an under appreciated movie that didn't have a broad appeal. His resume now shows that he can be artsy and bring in the female tween demographic. With Charlie St. Cloud I think he tries to reach a slightly older audience. While he may reach that audience the message he brings is utter shit.

Efron plays a young sailing phenom who seems to have the world at his feet until his brother dies in a car crash. Through the first 15 or so minutes of the movie I just kept asking myself when this kid was gonna get it. While the kid, played by newcomer Charlie Tahan, does an amicable job with the role he probably hitched his horse to the wrong wagon. Don't be surprised if this kid goes the way of short-round, you know without the hit film.

Anyway after the crash Charlie loses it and believes that he can talk to dead people including his brother, they have a standing date to meet everyday at sunset to play catch. After five years presumably the guilt gets old and in walks old rival and new boo Tess. Now he faces the difficult decision of carrying around his guilt or getting his dick wet, tough choice.

The writers for this movie most have been pissed when they found out that Efron only knows how to play sad one way. The cinematographer was able to help fill in the gaps as there are seemingly endless ways to film Efron getting wet and having to take his shirt off.

The movie also features a glimpse of Kim Basinger and Ray Liotta but they do the right thing and get their paychecks and run. Efron will be a Hollywood star to trifle with but not until he starts picking better scripts. D

Inception

Christopher Nolan does it again, and without the need of a giant rubber bat suit. Rather we are privileged to what feels like some of his earlier work in Memento or Following but with the budget of a Batman movie. Nolan takes you through the labyrinth of his mind, and with great relief you come out the other side but with the insatiable urge to go through again.

Open on our hero Dom Cobb, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, a thief for hire who can go into your mind while you sleep and extract information. But his next job requires something more, Cobb recruits an incredible ensemble cast to pull off what everyone believes is impossible - Inception.

And that is all I am physically able to say about the plot. Nolan once again creates an intricate world layered upon itself. In normal hands the task may seem daunting but Nolan takes great care in his projects, this particular one about eight years worth of care which shows on the screen.

With a plot so heavy it is easy to get lost in extensive explanation on the rules of this world. Luckily we have Ellen Page as Ariadne, the newbie to the team who is hired to build the dream world. She also serves as a guide to the audience as we travel through the maze of intricate plot points. I know what you must all be thinking, having Nolan name his female lead after the Greek goddess who guided Theseus through the Minotaur's maze in ancient mythology shows little initiative. But I suppose we can give him a pass.

Nolan puts together a great cast including some actors you may remember from his previous movies such as Ken Watanabe, Michael Caine, and Cillian Murphy (Nolan reportedly loves Murphy's eyes and tries to draw attention to them whenever possible). Joseph Gordon-Levitt does great work as Leo's right hand man and provides some stability to Leo's character that is starting to play unhinged so well someone may want to put him on suicide watch. Tom Hardy looked to have the most fun in the movie as the Forger of the group. He has a suave coolness about him that steals every scene. Marion Cotillard plays the fem fatale so well that I'm glad there has been a recent resurgence in the fem fatale character.

The cinematics are dazzling in the movie, the scene that pits Joseph Gordon-Levitt fighting in and around a hotel hallway lives up for the hype seen in the trailer. All the big visual cues that would typically be there just to show off the movie are important to the story. I also always appreciate Nolan a little more due to his minimal use of green screens. Especially in this era of cinematography where a man like James Cameron can create entire worlds, Nolan still prefers using sets and wires to give his films a realer look.

Still some of the visual cues Nolan uses are goofy due to the time differential in the different dream worlds. This effect leaves a van hanging in the air for what could be a legitimate hour of the movie. In the same breath that may be the only way to distinguish just how far down the rabbit hole Nolan takes us.

The movie almost demands second and third viewings. I'm sure I will be inclined to join any of my friends who wish to go again, but I fear the length of the film will get to me a second time around. The movie takes its time getting to the main sequence of the plot, not that there were wasted frames, but rather the audience may get weighed down sifting through so much set up material.

Nolan continues his trend of creating an incredibly intricate plot with a huge payoff at the end. Any actor is lucky to gain access to his world. And the audience is treated to a summer blockbuster that will achieve more than just a huge box office earning. A-