It’s been a long time coming. I should have tried to tackle this a lot earlier but now I find myself with time, so here is my best attempt at a fall TV preview. Please note I’ll do my best but there is a lot of TV coming out. And I will not be previewing any reality show. Well because fuck that genre. Let’s start with NBC
NBC
• Jay Leno Show: Obviously done to keep Jay from defecting to ABC. Do these variety shows ever really work especially when it is 5 days a week and on network TV. It may work because Jay is used to putting on a daily show but I doubt I’ll be checking it out when there is so much other different content and bigger variety on other channels. This is also why there are so few new shows on TV as he will be taking up 5 days a week. NBC is banking on people wanting comedy and not dramas at 10 to lead into the news. The show is cheap to make so either way it is a win
• Heroes: This show has gone down hill to say the least. It was barely hanging on a string last season but got picked up again. Something big is going to have to happen for this show to work; I don’t think it’s in the cards.
• Mercy: Another nursing show, they have been doing well recently but how long can this trend last. People do love their hospital dramas though so we will see.
• Community: I hope this show lasts but it’s not getting positive reviews. I really like Joel McHale and I think he’s funny. It’s nice to see Chevy Chase in something else. And recently the Daily Show correspondents have been doing well for themselves so here’s hoping John Oliver does well. It also is tagged with the powerful Thursday night line-up so NBC gave it all the chances to succeed.
• Parks and Recreation: The show doesn’t do it for me. If I want to watch the Office I’ll just wait a half hour I can’t set into the series.
• The Office: Don’t get me wrong there are only two things I believe in that God supports my favorite sports teams (read: The Phightin Phils and the BU Terriers) and in Pam and Jim. But the show was so much better when they weren’t working. They tried to keep Pam away at art school but it wasn’t the same conflict. The show has gone downhill and while Andy and Dwight are great can they save an entire series: no. They’re the comic relief not the heroes.
• 30 Rock: This show is amazing. But you’re going to have to wait a while. This one is not coming back until October 15th.
• Southland: Where shows go to die, and for good reason. This will probably be the end for Southland as the show debut was also pushed back a month for some fine tuning and so it won’t have to go up against mudium.
• Law and Order: SVU: Mariska Hargitay is getting some of the credit she deserves with an Emmy nomination. But I think I prefer the reruns better than the new ones. I’ll wait till they move to USA.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
(500) Days of Summer
Finally a romantic comedy that actually reflects what a real relationship is like. The ups the downs and the heartache that comes with a relationship. It took me the entire summer to see this movie but i was finally able to see it and it lived up to the Sundance hype.
The narrator provides the inner workings of Joseph Gordon-Levitt stating that this is not a love story, and I understand what new director Marc Webb is trying to do, to make sure that the audience gets the point by reinforcing ideas. But the visual aspects of the story really takes care of all that the narrator has to say. I do love the disclaimer at the beginning of the movie and it helps to set the tone early.
The leads are fantastic and charming. It would seem at first sight that these hipsters are perfect for each other. Zooey Deschane once again plays an apathetic charming love interest. It would be nice if for once she could get a role with more to it, but her type casting seems to work here. But I know she can do more. And can Joseph Gordon-Levitt do wrong. Well, yes. We all need to get paid right (read: GI Joe). But movies like this and Brick reassure me that this actor can do a lot and picks scripts that have some real substance to it.
We quickly see the beginning and end(ish) of the relationship early in the movie. The question soon becomes not what is going to happen, but how did we get here. The journey is revealed in a non-linear format with the story shifting from the good times to the bad. The structure helps to maintain the suspense and each scene seems juxtaposed brilliantly to one another.
Webb also uses some wonderfully quirky tools to convey his story which also helps with the tone. Such as a musical dance number right after the two make love for the first time. And Webb chooses none other than Hall & Oates, and what says love more than Hall & Oates. It also uses a split screen to differentiate between what Tom, portrayed by Gordon-Levitt, expects to happen and what actually happens. And we have all done this, had a belief of how life would go but it goes in a horrible different direction.
That is why this movie works, it is not about some hunk who finally realizes the girl of his dreams was his best friend. And there is no last minute chance for redemption. Someone winds up caring too much and leaves someone hurt and bruised. This is a reflection of real life romance and that may be why leave some people don't like it. People have this idea that romantic comedies have to be based in a dream world, this movie doesn't do that but still uses some aspects of the genre, that is why this movie works. B+
Monday, August 31, 2009
Inglorious Basterds
It is hard to review this movie after only one viewing, it deserves a second one and by the time this review comes out many will have seen it a second time. And with good reason, the movie is wonderfully done and Quentin Tarintino handles all of his characters with care.
It should be stated right away that this movie is not historically accurate. There should be a better lead than that but right after I got out of the movie one of my friends said its inaccuracies were criticized by some. And it shouldn't be. Just because the movie is based on an actual event doesn't mean you should be forced to take it as a historical movie. Frankly it ends the way you want it to, the whole time thinking that it can't end like this. A tip of the hat to the ending of the film (which Quentin Tarantino was quite stumped on - part of the reason the script took a decade). Tarintino gave his audience what they wanted.
The standout of the movie was without a doubt German actor Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa. He delivers a standout performance in which he is well-mannered, intelligent, and sadistic all at the same time. He sends chills down your back until he makes you laugh. He won best actor at Cannes and without a doubt deserves an Oscar nomination. After all its fairly difficult to make a Nazi sympathetic, this may be as close that anyone will ever get.
Brad Pitt plays opposite Waltz as Lt. Aldo Raine, while Pitt's portrayal does not come near to the performance of Waltz, you will fall in love with his Southern accent and may even find yourself trying to mimic his accent after the movie. The character has great one-liners given to him and I would have to agree with Roger Ebert that some of his slap-stick moments are very Marxian (Groucho that is).
Eli Roth is also great character and I can imagine we'll be seeing him again later as Halloween approaches. He also does a fine job directing the movie within the movie Nation's Pride. Til Schweiger, Michael Fassbender, and Diane Kruger all provide terrific performances as well. These characters are given some quality screen time and captivate the audience. The other performance not mentioned (including Melanie Laurent as Shosanna who has a large amount of screen time and her own plot line) merely help highlight the stronger performances of the other actors.
The Shosanna plot line has some nice moments but its always just leaves you wondering when the other characters are going to step back on. I really wanted to see more of the Basterds. After all the movie is titled for them. Tarintino loves his violence and many may believe that you get it, maybe even too much. But as a fan of his work I not only expect gruesome and sometimes comedic violence I want more of it.
Not enough can be said about Tarintino's shots as well. The wide angle views from above to the close-ups all help to accent the tension and pacing of the movie. The settings are chosen with care from the French countryside, to the quaint town movie theater.
After all Inglorious Basterds is a tribute to what Tarintino loves most, movies. The names, the plot, the setting all done as a tribute to his love of movies. Is this his masterpiece as stated in the film, maybe for any other director, but not Tarintino. Tarintino has done too well with too many other movies for it to be his masterpiece. But top 3...there you can have a discussion. A-
It should be stated right away that this movie is not historically accurate. There should be a better lead than that but right after I got out of the movie one of my friends said its inaccuracies were criticized by some. And it shouldn't be. Just because the movie is based on an actual event doesn't mean you should be forced to take it as a historical movie. Frankly it ends the way you want it to, the whole time thinking that it can't end like this. A tip of the hat to the ending of the film (which Quentin Tarantino was quite stumped on - part of the reason the script took a decade). Tarintino gave his audience what they wanted.
The standout of the movie was without a doubt German actor Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa. He delivers a standout performance in which he is well-mannered, intelligent, and sadistic all at the same time. He sends chills down your back until he makes you laugh. He won best actor at Cannes and without a doubt deserves an Oscar nomination. After all its fairly difficult to make a Nazi sympathetic, this may be as close that anyone will ever get.
Brad Pitt plays opposite Waltz as Lt. Aldo Raine, while Pitt's portrayal does not come near to the performance of Waltz, you will fall in love with his Southern accent and may even find yourself trying to mimic his accent after the movie. The character has great one-liners given to him and I would have to agree with Roger Ebert that some of his slap-stick moments are very Marxian (Groucho that is).
Eli Roth is also great character and I can imagine we'll be seeing him again later as Halloween approaches. He also does a fine job directing the movie within the movie Nation's Pride. Til Schweiger, Michael Fassbender, and Diane Kruger all provide terrific performances as well. These characters are given some quality screen time and captivate the audience. The other performance not mentioned (including Melanie Laurent as Shosanna who has a large amount of screen time and her own plot line) merely help highlight the stronger performances of the other actors.
The Shosanna plot line has some nice moments but its always just leaves you wondering when the other characters are going to step back on. I really wanted to see more of the Basterds. After all the movie is titled for them. Tarintino loves his violence and many may believe that you get it, maybe even too much. But as a fan of his work I not only expect gruesome and sometimes comedic violence I want more of it.
Not enough can be said about Tarintino's shots as well. The wide angle views from above to the close-ups all help to accent the tension and pacing of the movie. The settings are chosen with care from the French countryside, to the quaint town movie theater.
After all Inglorious Basterds is a tribute to what Tarintino loves most, movies. The names, the plot, the setting all done as a tribute to his love of movies. Is this his masterpiece as stated in the film, maybe for any other director, but not Tarintino. Tarintino has done too well with too many other movies for it to be his masterpiece. But top 3...there you can have a discussion. A-
Saturday, August 22, 2009
District 9
You wouldn't be able to guess that this movie was as low-budget as it was. It isn't until after you walk away and really think about what the movie offers that you realize what an extraordinary feat has been accomplished.
The movie is created off the disaster of Halo which may now be able to be happen due to the success of this film. Peter Jackson helped put this movie together, and his name may be the only one moviegoers will recognize. Neill Blomkamp wrote and directed the film and shot everything in Africa. Add all these details together and you get the estimated 30,000,000 on a summer blockbuster. All the money was already recouped in the opening weekend.
The first 15 minutes of the film not only gives you all very important information on the background but also gives you a taste of what is to come visually. The movie is shot in a mockumentary style, reminiscent of Cloverfield from a couple years back but with much less use of the shaky camera. Handhelds are used but the man holding it has a much steadier hand. The movie also uses faux CNN coverage and security footage to give it a much more real look.
While the beginning is great it doesn't end up in the same place. The last half hour of the film knows where it is headed but there just seems to be something missing from the film. I have no problem with how the movie ends but there is just something missing.
The prawns as they are called are disgusting creatures and you are able to feel sympathy or hatrid for the aliens depending on your mood or the point of the movie. Christopher Johnson, the lead alien, is educated and likeable as his son. Meanwhile his human counterpart played by Sharlto Copley is bumbling and upbeat enough just to be annoying, his character goes through quite a development both physically and mentally that helps the audiences attachment grow as he does.
The message of the movie is clear as it is deals with issues of intolerance and human cruelty in an area where such feelings of intolerance are still shared and dealt with today. Blomkamp does a wonderful job painting this picture with out oversaturating the situation B+
The movie is created off the disaster of Halo which may now be able to be happen due to the success of this film. Peter Jackson helped put this movie together, and his name may be the only one moviegoers will recognize. Neill Blomkamp wrote and directed the film and shot everything in Africa. Add all these details together and you get the estimated 30,000,000 on a summer blockbuster. All the money was already recouped in the opening weekend.
The first 15 minutes of the film not only gives you all very important information on the background but also gives you a taste of what is to come visually. The movie is shot in a mockumentary style, reminiscent of Cloverfield from a couple years back but with much less use of the shaky camera. Handhelds are used but the man holding it has a much steadier hand. The movie also uses faux CNN coverage and security footage to give it a much more real look.
While the beginning is great it doesn't end up in the same place. The last half hour of the film knows where it is headed but there just seems to be something missing from the film. I have no problem with how the movie ends but there is just something missing.
The prawns as they are called are disgusting creatures and you are able to feel sympathy or hatrid for the aliens depending on your mood or the point of the movie. Christopher Johnson, the lead alien, is educated and likeable as his son. Meanwhile his human counterpart played by Sharlto Copley is bumbling and upbeat enough just to be annoying, his character goes through quite a development both physically and mentally that helps the audiences attachment grow as he does.
The message of the movie is clear as it is deals with issues of intolerance and human cruelty in an area where such feelings of intolerance are still shared and dealt with today. Blomkamp does a wonderful job painting this picture with out oversaturating the situation B+
Thursday, August 20, 2009
The Goods
Advertised as the comedic balance to The Hangover this movie does not even come close. The Goods is brought to you by the same people who brought you Step Brothers and Talladega Nights; that's the type of movie it is reminiscent of. A movie that tries just a little too hard to be over the top.
The movie has an all-star cast headlined by Jeremy Piven who has recently been playing the same roles over and over again; that of his Emmy award winning character Ari Gold. The character is great but they may be going to the well a little too often. And he does better when he doesn't have to take on the entire project by himself. He is assisted by Ving Rhames, Ed Helms, and Ken Jong who has been all over the silver screen recently. Will Farrel makes one of his better cameos in the movie who provides humor along with his black angel back-up singers.
While the cast is strong the material they have to work with isn't there. The movie tries too hard to be an over-the-top raunchy comedy. They throw in some crocadiles, a chainsaw, and big riots but never expand on anything just moving from zinger to zinger. They throw as march at the target hoping that something hits but nothing quite does.
Jeremy Piven made a big push for the movie but the studios knew they had a bust on their hand so it wasn't advertised as well. Wait for DVD and until you need something absolutely mindless to watch. D
The movie has an all-star cast headlined by Jeremy Piven who has recently been playing the same roles over and over again; that of his Emmy award winning character Ari Gold. The character is great but they may be going to the well a little too often. And he does better when he doesn't have to take on the entire project by himself. He is assisted by Ving Rhames, Ed Helms, and Ken Jong who has been all over the silver screen recently. Will Farrel makes one of his better cameos in the movie who provides humor along with his black angel back-up singers.
While the cast is strong the material they have to work with isn't there. The movie tries too hard to be an over-the-top raunchy comedy. They throw in some crocadiles, a chainsaw, and big riots but never expand on anything just moving from zinger to zinger. They throw as march at the target hoping that something hits but nothing quite does.
Jeremy Piven made a big push for the movie but the studios knew they had a bust on their hand so it wasn't advertised as well. Wait for DVD and until you need something absolutely mindless to watch. D
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra
GI Joe is a giant hit of nostalgia I remember playing with some of the action figures as a child and that is a wonderful memory. This movie was not like that memory it was more similar to my trip to Colonial Williamsburg, very boring and I kept wondering when it was going to get to the good stuff. It never got there.
The movie is very predictable, all you have to know is that its an action movie and I'm sure ou can guess the sequence of events. God bless their plastic little hearts they try to throw in some curve balls but you know the count and whats coming at you.
The movie relies on a lot of C.G. as most movies do now. But this is hyped up to an extreme level and at some point it even looks like the cartoon.
Channing Tatum takes another shot as lead. It works in this movie as he has been asked to play a emotionless piece of plastic. Dennis Quaid is barely in the movie despite being advertised as one of the leads and Marlon Waynes (by the way where as he been) is the comedic one-liner. His role is very bond-esc as i cringed a little bit at how hokey they all sounded.
You know what you are getting when you see this movie. If you are looking for a bad action movie, one that you can laugh at how hokey it is this is the movie to see. C-
The movie is very predictable, all you have to know is that its an action movie and I'm sure ou can guess the sequence of events. God bless their plastic little hearts they try to throw in some curve balls but you know the count and whats coming at you.
The movie relies on a lot of C.G. as most movies do now. But this is hyped up to an extreme level and at some point it even looks like the cartoon.
Channing Tatum takes another shot as lead. It works in this movie as he has been asked to play a emotionless piece of plastic. Dennis Quaid is barely in the movie despite being advertised as one of the leads and Marlon Waynes (by the way where as he been) is the comedic one-liner. His role is very bond-esc as i cringed a little bit at how hokey they all sounded.
You know what you are getting when you see this movie. If you are looking for a bad action movie, one that you can laugh at how hokey it is this is the movie to see. C-
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Funny People
In John Apatow's third movie Funny People the director takes a very mature topic to share with his fan base.
Adam Sandler's character George is diagnosed at the start of the movie with a very severe type of leukemia. This is quite a change from Apatow's usual design. He usually makes the dramatic points at the end. This time he chose to have it run through out the entire movie.
Thats not to say it makes it bad, it just makes it different. And defintely different from his other movies. The majority of the humor comes out from the stankd up bits instead of character interaction. The interaction are used for dramatic purposes.
The characters are some of the most complex seen in a major studio movie in sometime. The main characters of the movie all posess many character flaws. Seth Rogan's character is really the only character who is sympathetic but even he has his flaws. It is tough to feel for any of the characters but maybe thats the most impressive thing of all. Apatow did something that hasn't been seen in a long time, he made all is characters human.
Adam Sandler who hasn't been in an arguably decent movie since 2007 does well in this one. He is able to make fun of himself with all the movies' his character stars in has him being rediculous and doing a silly voice. And it is also good to see that Leslie Mann doesn't just get the roles because she is married to Apatow but because she deserves the roles and this proves it. Her performance whis relatively small still proves to be strong.
Relative because the movie runs long. The total run time is 146 minutes and it runs long. Apatow could have delivered the same message with 30 minutes trimmed off.
There are some problems with the film and the casual film watcher may not enjoy it but the movie is well put together but not a must see. B-
Adam Sandler's character George is diagnosed at the start of the movie with a very severe type of leukemia. This is quite a change from Apatow's usual design. He usually makes the dramatic points at the end. This time he chose to have it run through out the entire movie.
Thats not to say it makes it bad, it just makes it different. And defintely different from his other movies. The majority of the humor comes out from the stankd up bits instead of character interaction. The interaction are used for dramatic purposes.
The characters are some of the most complex seen in a major studio movie in sometime. The main characters of the movie all posess many character flaws. Seth Rogan's character is really the only character who is sympathetic but even he has his flaws. It is tough to feel for any of the characters but maybe thats the most impressive thing of all. Apatow did something that hasn't been seen in a long time, he made all is characters human.
Adam Sandler who hasn't been in an arguably decent movie since 2007 does well in this one. He is able to make fun of himself with all the movies' his character stars in has him being rediculous and doing a silly voice. And it is also good to see that Leslie Mann doesn't just get the roles because she is married to Apatow but because she deserves the roles and this proves it. Her performance whis relatively small still proves to be strong.
Relative because the movie runs long. The total run time is 146 minutes and it runs long. Apatow could have delivered the same message with 30 minutes trimmed off.
There are some problems with the film and the casual film watcher may not enjoy it but the movie is well put together but not a must see. B-
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