Quiet on the set!

Oscar Nominations and Contest

2017-01-26T13:22:00.001-08:00

Early Tuesday morning the Oscar nominations were announced. This annual event of pure spectacle celebrating everything I love was passed down to me by my Grandma Roth. She would collect clippings and pictures and news stories of the event into scrapbooks for years. These books were a wonder for me as a child as I perused all the glitz, glamor and a world that seemed so magical (it's also where I discovered Grace Kelly). But sadly, these books are gone as she succumbed to Alzheimer's in her later years and gave these scrapbooks away to neighbors.

Because of this fact, even though I have held competitions in the past; I am initiating the first annual Rita Roth Oscar Competition. This is to award the one who predicts the most winners from all available nominations. The prize will be awarded to the winner and will be film related. So everyone, sign onto challenge.oscar.com and make sure that you have me friended on Facebook so we can track each other's progress. We will use their rules to determine the winner. So break out your predictions and let us celebrate cinema, competitions and my late grandmother, Rita Daly Roth!

Movie Review: Split - or, the return of M. Night

2017-01-25T07:50:00.000-08:00

So, honestly M. Night Shyamalan has not made a good movie since Signs, so imagine my surprise that Split is actually, well….good. Of course, there are plenty of things that still give me pause. It’s pretentious, way too serious tone, exploits women (I will address that later) and has too many characters standing around doing very little. However, on the whole, it is a great creepy thriller and an excellent showcase for James McAvoy playing no less than 7 characters. Anya Taylor-Joy, whose face I can’t quite place plays the ‘heroine’ for lack of a better term who seems to survive the ordeal of being kidnapped with two other teenage girls by McAvoy’s psychotic personalities. Like most horror films, the plot of Split centers around on will they or won’t they escape. Shyamalan uses a confusing space, and even more confusing captor and just enough hope to have the viewer invested in the outcome.

The parts I do have an issue with are mainly annoyances. Why doesn’t anyone ever smile ever in any of his films? Why is are there so many characters that just stand around. The three kidnapped girls were so stock, I couldn’t decide if Shyamalan didn’t know what to do with them or they were just bad actors. Luckily Betty Buckley as McAvoy’s psychiatrist has some acting chops in this film. The part that really bothered me was the exploitation of the girl's innocence vs. trauma that propels one of the story arcs. The point is made well in this article. In flashbacks, we see that one of them has had to endure abuse in all too real scenarios at the hands of a relative. Using this contrivance neither strengthens the character, nor the story and hence is used merely for sympathy. I think it is dangerous to use female victimization so callously, it just re-victimizes the characters, as well as those who may actually have to endure it.

The best part of the film probably comes from the character building. It’s quite horrible the things that have to occur to create a true monster from McAvoy’s character, but that makes the payoff sweeter. I have always thought that M. Night has made only three good films…The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs, and now we get a film that returns to those roots and even aligns in the same cinematic universe where those films could occur. The best part is that he doesn’t rely on his trademark twist-ending or big reveal to make the point. The emergence of the villain was not a surprise ending, but a slowly structured build up where we actually buy into a monster like him existing. The most telling sign that the film was good is that I’m actually excited to see the next Shyamalan film, and that’s really saying something!

Final Consensus:
See it now!!!!
See it in theaters!!!
Rent it on DVD/BluRay!!
Wait for it on TV!
Don’t Bother
Share

Movie Review: La La Land - or, why I love movies

2017-01-06T14:23:00.003-08:00

It's been so long since I have written a movie review, it would take something of a small miracle for me to get back into the swing of things. That small miracle came in the form of La La Land, from a director I knew nothing about, but actors people pretty much know everything about. La La Land is a musical, but more than an earnest plea for artistry or a social commentary...It is a musical for the pure joy of celebrating music. It is flashy, spectacular, sad, infuriating, beautiful, messy and joyous all in parts. It brazen acceptance of itself as entertainment is what a movie going experience should be, rather than what we have come to expect with are super-sized CG samplings of destruction.

La La Land is the same story of all other great musicals, boy meets girl, fall in love despite all obstacles and sing their way through the ups and downs of a technicolor relationship. Ryan Gosling (boy) and Emma Stone (girl) are not the best dancers, singers or actors, but the way they approach their roles with such gusto and all out abandonment kept me enraptured the entire time. Literally, I was sitting forward in my seat watching the chemistry these two had in parts of the film. This film is truly the sum of the parts is way greater than their individual contributions. Stone's "my eyes convey way more than anything I say" stare will win her some acting awards for this and Gosling proves he is just as good a musician and awkward romantic as he is the cool heartbreaker.

But I have given away the icing on this cake. The film is a nod to everything I love about film. The sound design and choreography are the weakest parts and were still better than anything I have seen in the past decade. The cinematography reminded me of the Douglas Sirk melodramas and saturated tones of Hitchcock's Vertigo. The location was not happenstance and all the nods to Hollywood, the good, bad and magical almost made me tear up (especially everything going on in my old stomping ground on the Warner Bros back lot).

Above all, the pacing was masterful...moving from 5-minute continuous dance shots to quick staccato emotional montages that told a fictional masterpiece story. I was dumbfounded that I could be smiling so big in a film while simultaneously crying my eyes out. That's the best way to describe this film, a contradiction of expectation. So if you are willing to forgo a film that uses special effects, sex, celebrity, superheroes or space to bombard your senses, try La La Land. Reward yourself with a modern gem of a film that will leave you thanking the filmmakers for relying on story and entertainment to give you something way more satisfying for a change.

Final Consensus:
See it now!!!!
See it in theaters!!!
Rent it on DVD/BluRay!!
Wait for it on TV!
Don’t Bother
Share

NFL Rankings - 12/16/14

2014-12-16T16:17:00.001-08:00

So, a lot still remained at the top, but the Packers loss slides them down a bit. He's the details:

Seahawks - up 1
Broncos - up 2
Patriots - same
Packers - down 3
Cardinals - same
Bills - up 8
Steelers - down 1
Bengals - down 1
Colts - down 1
Cowboys - up 2
Lions - down 2
Chiefs - up 8
Ravens - down 3
Saints - up 4
Rams - down 4
Eagles - down 3
Falcons - down 2
Chargers - down 2
Raiders - down 2
49ers - down 1
Panthers - up 4
Browns - down 1
Dolphins - down 1
Texans - down 1
Vikings - down 1
Bears - same
Jets - same
Giants - up 3
Redskins - down 1
Buccaneers - down 1
Jaguars - down 1
Titans - same

NBA Jazz Player Value - Quarter

2014-12-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

Time again to look at the player value of the jazz purely from a stats standpoint. I've basically averaged how much they make by their output to come up with their value. Being 1/4 the way through the season, I felt it was time to asses their contributions based on how much we're paying them. Can't wait to see what new player Patrick Christopher brings to the team.

Above the Line:

1. Joe Ingles (same) - Still at the top because he gets paid so little, and leads with the lowest average for steals, assists and points.

2. Trey Burke (same) - still going strong!

3. Rudy Gobert (same) - averaging a team best $10,066 per rebound, he also leads the team in Field goal percentage at 60.30%

4. Alec Burks (up 1) - Still my favorite player on the team. Basically runs the offense.

5. Rodney Hood (up 1) - With Burks out for a few games, hood had a chance to start and upped his value. He is still last on the team in FG 29% and 3-point average 26.30%.

Below the line:

6. Trevor Booker (up 2) - is this close to being above the line!

7. Dante Exum (same) - is just ahead of Hayward on the value scale, but making only 59.10% of his free throws won't help him.

8. Gordon Hayward (up 2) - making strides in his value index.

9. Ian Clark (down 5) - the largest drop is due to his underutilization, but he's still making a team best 50% of his 3's and 100% of his Free Throws.

10. Enes Kanter (up 2) - I hope he proves me wrong, but we need someone new.

11. Derrick Favors (same) - not doing much as far as value is concerned, but making a huge impat on the court.

12. Steve Novak - (down 3) - not much playing time, but fills a good role. He's tops on the team with 50% 3 pointers.

13. Jeremy Evans - This guy just never gets to play.

Exodus: Gods and Kings - Review

2014-12-12T14:38:00.002-08:00

There is a part in Exodus that sums up the movie perfectly..A vengeful God who looks nothing like you probably would imagine, throws a fit of rage as he wants the Pharoah to get on his knees before him, and then calmly says something profound to a lost Moses (Christian Bale), before the next scene evolves into something out of a Jaws movie. Such is the highs, lows and everything in between film of Gods and Kings. The Mood shifts from reverent to violent on a dime and not enough time is spent developing the charaters enough so that we care if they live or die. That could be a good thing since it spares us from a 4 hour run time like the 10 Commandments.

Christian bale plays a confused Moses who doesn't know he's Jewish, and never really accepts it while Joel Edgerton plays his brother-like king Ramses who is as conflicted and twisted as he is a loving father. I have no clue why they promote Sigurney Weaver, she has.. like, 1 line. Ridley Scott is the director and with that dream team assembled it seems like the movie should be way better than it really is.

The move in General is really good. The way the plagues are presented is graphic and realistic, giving this tale more of a sense of dire survival rather than spectacle. The parting of the Red sea is also particularly realistic and incredible. Other elements could have been fleshed out and conversations in the bible never happen on the film. God is inconspicuously absent in most of the film, giving Moses's decisions a sense of desperation rather than obedience. For a film about the works of God, you would expect him to have a larger (both literally and figuratively) role.

Final Consensus:
See it now!!!!
See it in theaters!!!
Rent it on DVD/BluRay!!
Wait for it on TV!
Don’t Bother Share

NFL Rankings - 12/9/14

2014-12-09T08:49:00.001-08:00

So, here are my latest rankings based on quality wins. Let me know if you have any beef! Good luck to all those who made it to Playoffs in their Fantasy Leagues! I made it to all three of mine. WOOT!!

Packers - same
Seahawks - same
Patriots - same
Broncos - same
Cardinals - up 1
Steelers - up 13
Bengals - down 2
Colts - up 8
Lions - up 2
Ravens - up 11
Rams - up 3
Cowboys - up 8
Eagles - down 6
Bills - down 6
Falcons - down 6
Chargers - down 6
Raiders - up 8
Saints - down 6
49ers - down 6
Chiefs - down 5
Browns - down 4
Dolphins - down 4
Texans - down 1
Vikings - same
Panthers - up 5
Bears - down 3
Jets - down 1
Redskins - down 1
Buccaneers - down 1
Jaguars - down 1
Giants - same
Titans - same

College Football - My Top 25 (12/7/14)

2014-12-07T12:49:00.000-08:00

By now, everyone has seen who is in the playoffs. Lets see how my Algorithm stands up.

Ohio State - up 3
Alabama - same
Florida State - up 3
Oregon - up 4
Wisconsin - down 4
TCU - down 3
Arizona - down 2
Boise State - up 3
Baylor - up 14
Marshall - up 10
Missouri - down 4
Georgia Tech - down 3
NIU - up 3
Michigan State - down 4
Arizona State - down 3
Western Kentucky - down 3
Air Force - down 3
Stanford - down 3
UCLA - down 2
Kansas State - down 2
UCF - new
LSU - down 3
Ole Miss - down 2
Clemson - down 2
Louisville - down 1

So my algorithm chose the top 4 that will actually make the playoffs this year. I would still prefer a playoff with 8 teams, the top 8 conferences all battling it out. All that would do is add 1 more week of games + 4 new bowls. Heres how it would stack up using my scoring.

1. Oregon vs 8. NIU

2. Ohio State vs 7. Marshall

3. Alabama vs 6. Boise State

4. Florida State vs 5. TCU

That way nobody could complain...

NFL Rankings - 12/4/14

2014-12-04T14:04:00.000-08:00

Here are my rankings based on quality Wins vs. opponents. You beat good teams near the end of the year, your ranking increases? Anyone got beef with these?

Packers - up 4
Seahawks - up 12
Patriots - down 1
Broncos - down 1
Bengals - up 10
Cardinals - down 5
Eagles - up 1
Bills - up 9
Falcons - up 14
Chargers - up 3
Lions - same
Saints - up 8
49ers - down 1
Rams - up 7
Chiefs - down 11
Colts - down 6
Browns - up 1
Dolphins - down 11
Steelers - down 3
Cowboys - down 11
Ravens - down 15
Texans - down 3
Bears - up 1
Vikings - down 2
Raiders - up 7
Jets - up 2
Redskins - same
Buccaneers - up 2
Jaguars - up 2
Panthers - down 5
Giants - down 6
Titans - down 3

College Football - My Top 25 (12/1/14)

2014-12-01T11:13:00.000-08:00

Using the same algorithm as before. here is where the rankings stand. Thats dosn't mean I would pick the top 4 for the playoffs this year but it's not far off. Without further adieu:

Wisconsin - up 6
Alabama - down 1
TCU - same
Ohio State - down 3
Arizona - new
Florida State - down 1
Missouri - up 6
Oregon - down 3
Georgia Tech - down 1
Michigan State - same
Boise State - up 9
Arizona State - down 6
Western Kentucky - new
Air Force - up 7
Stanford - new
NIU - new
UCLA - down 2
Kansas State - new
LSU - up 3
Marshall - down 9
Ole Miss - new
Clemson - new
Baylor - up 1
Louisville - new
Minnesota - new

NFL - Rankings

2014-11-19T12:16:00.000-08:00

I have come up with NFL power rankings based on strength of schedule, point spread and wins. Here are my rankings for this week:

Arizona
New England
Denver
Kansas City
Green Bay
Baltimore
Miami
Philadelphia
Dallas
Indianapolis
Detroit
San Francisco
San Diego
Seattle
Cincinnati
Pittsburgh
Buffalo
Cleveland
Houston
New Orleans
St. Louis
Minnesota
Atlanta
Chicago
NY Giants
Carolina
Washington
NY Jets
Tennessee
Tampa Bay
Jacksonville
Oakland

With that being said, here are individual performance extremes:

Wins: Most - Arizona, Least - Oakland

SOS: Hardest - Oakland, Easiest - Cleveland

Points: Most - Green Bay, Least - Oakland

Defense: Best - Detroit, Worst - Carolina

Spread: Best - New England, Worst - Jacksonville

College Football - My Top 25 (11/15/14)

2014-11-18T13:03:00.000-08:00

I've came up with an interesting algorithm that awards teams for wins only based on the strength of their opponent at the time they played them. Score is not taken into consideration and a team is not penalized for losses. That means, only the teams that consistently beat other good teams rise to the top. Here's what I have so far:

Ohio State
Alabama
TCU
Florida State
Oregon
Arizona State
Wisconsin
Georgia Tech
Georgia
Michigan State
Marshall
Mississippi State
Missouri
Texas
UCLA
Utah
Utah State
Oregon State
Colorado State
Boise State
Air Force
LSU
Auburn
Baylor
Arkansas

Now who wouldn't want to see a playoff with those 4 teams at the top? That would be awesome! As far as conferences go, here's my ranking:

SEC
P12
B10
B12
ACC
MW
CUSA
MAC
AAC
SB

NBA - Jazz Player Value

2014-11-17T08:21:00.000-08:00

So this year I was intrigued to see how much NBA players were getting paid. (Hint: It's a lot of money). Being that I will see every home game of the Utah Jazz this year, I decided to put together an algorithm that tallies up their stats vs. their salary to see who is the best deal on the Jazz Roster. Now this would take forever for the entire NBA, so you will just have to make do with these stats.

We are now officially 1/8 of the season in, And from my calculations here's the winners and losers from least Valuable, to most Valuable:

12. Enes Kanter - Center

It's good to be Kanter who makes the most money for the smallest amount of effort. With the organization paying him aproximately $1,423,669 per assist and $1,898,225 per steal, Kanter has a lot of work to do to show he's worth the money they are shelling out for him. Granted he adds a lot of intangibles from an inside size perspective, but overall, they are paying way too much for what they are getting.

11. Derrick Favors - Forward

This is just a case of getting paid so much that it will take a while to even out in the stats category. He's a really good player with even more potential, thats why he's making potential money, and not a logical salary. Lets see what he does come the halfway point.

10. Gordon Hayward - Forward

I've always though what the Jazz are paying this guy is ludicrous. He's making superstar money and I'll let you in on a little secret, he's not a superstar. Here's hoping over the next few years he proves me wrong, but it's gonna take a while before his value rises.

9. Steve Novak - Forward

Granted he's not a starter, but they are still paying this guy a whole lot of money to do not much. He's last on the team in rebound value making $1,148,649 per rebound, and points pulling in $287,162 per point. I think anyone in the world would like to be making that much money.

8. Trevor Booker - Forward

How many Forwards are on this frekin' team? Trevor, like Favors is a victim of a large paycheck. He will definately be pulling down better value in the weeks to come as he has found a niche in the defensive scheme of the Jazz. He also has monster flashes on offense, so I expect his value to improve significantly. Even as a backup.

7. Dante Exum - Guard

The unknown from down under is still a bit of an unknown. If he builds up he can turn into the next Burks. Until then, the jury is still out. Lets hope the Jazz didn't waste an amazing draft pick on this mystery.

6. Rodney Hood - Guard-Forward

The two rookies are side by side on the value index even though Hood makes significantly less. That's OK though because he gets significantly less playing time. He has a Jekyl and Hyde complex coming in last in field goals at 25.80% but making 100% of his free throws. If he had the same minutes as Exum, he would be a much better value, and for that reason, I have him above Exum.

5. Alec Burks - Guard

He better enjoy this season from a value standpoint, because when he starts making the big bucks next year, his value will not be near as high. He'll be down in the Favors range. He's second in point value being paid a measly 20 grand per point (measly?) and thats what makes his value so high.

4. Ian Clark - Guard

This guy gets almost no playing time but also makes almost nothing compared to his teammates. He leads the team in FG and 3 point percentage. For that reason, Ian is so high on the list. Its a perfect scenario of making the most of the few minutes your in. Keep this up and he may turn it into a higher paycheck with more playing time.

3. Rudy Gobert - Center

I really like this guy. He's smooth and plays smart. As a backup his value is through the roof because the Jazz aren't paying him an amazing amount. He has the best rebound value on the team at $22,106 per rebound. If he keeps playing at this level with all the minutes he's been given, the Jazz will be forced to make him a better offer, or he'll be gone for sure.

2. Trey Burke - Guard

The unsung hero of the team, Trey can't hit a three to save his life (24.10%) but makes up for it in assists and a relatively low salary wich puts him near the top of the value index. He hasn't emerged as the star the Jazz hoped he would, but he's making strides.

1. Joe Ingles - •Guard-Forward

This is the perfect storm of a ridiculously low salary and high utilization (he's played in every game so far). He leads the team in value for assists ($28,185 per), steals ($72,477 per), and points ($19,513). If he can maintain these numbers on the limited playing time, he will reamin in the tops of player value for the sheer fact that his salary is so low. His one flaw is he has is making a team worst 50% on free throws.

Jack Ryan - Ordinary Recruit

2014-01-28T12:22:00.000-08:00

The Jack Ryan franchise has never really existed in the same tier as Bond, or even Borne for that matter, and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit movie proves it. While not bad by any means, there was nothing spectacular about the plot or writing that would set this adventure apart from his other ones. That and the fact that this was made with yet another actor in the Jack Ryan role (Hunt for Red October) makes it a techno spy-thriller in the most generic sense.

What does save the film this time is the direction and acting. Seriously, the story is the most predictable ever...you know whats going to happen. But luckily Kenneth Branagh infects it with just enough style to get your heart racing. Chris Pine plays an almost humble and shy character as the new recruit into the CIA's most undercover organization. This big change from the cocky energy filled Captain Kirk is worth the view alone. Luckily, we also have Keira Knightley in her most human role to date as the noncommittal fiance and Kenneth Branagh who can do a villain almost as well as Shakespeare. Kevin Costner does...well, Kevin Costner.

In all it was a good attempt at invigorating a character that the late Tom Clancy pulled through his novels with such care. I was glad to see a lot of Russia in the movie and the accents were actually tolerable! It does make me wonder what it could have been with a plot and script to match the actors.

Final Consensus:
See it now!!!!
See it in theaters!!!
Rent it on DVD/BluRay!!
Wait for it on TV!
Don’t Bother
Share

Iron Man 3: Can Marvel go more over the top?

2013-05-10T09:38:00.000-07:00

Iron Man 3 was an incredibly noisy, bombastic, crazy, zany, brainless romp through movie making magic where I am pretty sure every shot has some CGI in it. Judging by the 20 something VFX companies that had all their names listed in the credits in the end, that seems about right. For some reason I don't think I loved this movie as much as some other people did. Don't get me wrong, this is better than Iron Man 2, but my goodness it's hard to like a film where almost everyone in it is unlikable. The story takes place after the Avengers where tony has turned into a neurotic mess tinkering with suit after suit, mainly because he can't sleep. Meanwhile, his company (run by Pepper pots) is having troubles as well as his relationships and ...oh, yeah, there is a terrorist on this loose blowing things up because, well; thats what Tony gets to figure out.

Biggest props go to the Mandarin (Ben Kingsly) for easily being the one to steal his scenes...mainly because they gave his character a great arc. Robert Downey Jr. does his best Tony Stark impression meaning that his quick quips and dry, scathing wit will always overshadow the self doubt and anxiety he is supposedly feeling. I love the action hero Don Cheedle and was so excited to see Pepper kick some tail. Except it didn't happen. The ending was so sudden and uncharacteristic, it seemed either the writers were either killed, or Robert Downey Jr. wanted an escape clause to get out of playing the roll. I vote for the former. After all, what is Iron Man without Tony Stark.

Final Consensus:
See it now!!!!
See it in theaters!!!
Rent it!!
Wait for it on TV!
Don’t Bother

Share

Sundance Film Festival 2013

2013-01-16T09:14:00.001-08:00

This year begins my third foray into the volunteering world of the Sundance Film Festival. I will be a crowd liaison at the SLC Library Theater. I like the local flair a lot more than the freezing, sleep deprived nights I spent in Park City two years ago. There seems to be a lot of hype amongst the volunteers about location, parties, celebrities, shifts, friends and teams. Personally, I volunteer so I get to see a lot of new movies, especially fresh and exciting ones that renew my faith in the medium of film. Granted, there is a lot of crud that comes out of the festival too, but for every film I walk out of (2 last year) there is a Beasts of the Southern Wild or Safety Not Guaranteed that make it all worthwhile. So buckle up and lets see if this year will bring a lot more film related experiences and a lot more good reviews as well.

P.S. the Jackets they give us are pretty cool...

Best Movie Trailer Ever?

2012-07-26T09:22:00.002-07:00

Here is the new trailer for Cloud Atlas...and dare I say its almost perfect? This my friends, is how you make a trailer, stunning visuals, uplifting voice over, sweet montages and killer music. All that in almost 6 minutes and I still don't have a clue what this movie is about.
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The Avengers: Bum Numbing Sense Bombardment of Awesome!

2012-05-10T14:05:00.000-07:00

So this may not be the best or most objective review of the Avengers out there for the mere fact that I had sat through 12 hours of Marvel movie madness at the theater directly preceding the screening of The Avengers. Starting at noon, a few cohorts and I (including my 6 and 9 year old sons) braved achy behinds to sit in a theater for both Iron Man movies, the Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America before the grand unveiling of The Avengers at Midnight. Now this was either the coolest thing, or the stupidest but it was definitely the nerdiest thing I’ve done in a while. Is till can’t tell if it will sway my review more to the positive since it was like being injected with super-movie-watching-serum right before the premiere, or it dulled my senses due to the mind numbing monotony of explosions, muscles and testosterone. But here it goes anyway.

The Avengers is AWESOME! There I said it. Now, I am coming at this film they way it was intended. It will never be a cinematic masterpiece, a brave commentary on society, a showcase for the finest acting of our time or and artistic portrayal of existentialism…but as pure entertainment, this is one of the best out there. If you haven’t seen the film then you should just go out and see it. Judging by the opening weekend numbers it seems like the entire planet pretty much has already seen it. If you have not, I will briefly explain why you should.

ACTION: Seriously, an action scene that lasts like an Hour!! I know that may sound tedious but its done with so much bravado, expert pacing and smart exposition it feels like the scene keeps refreshing itself into even bigger, badder and better.

CHARACTERS: Yeah, we’ve seen all the other movies so we know who they are, but here each of the superheroes gets to grow into themselves. Much more is revealed about the Black Widow and Hawkeye, and we get great glimpses of all of their greatest weaknesses since putting them all in the same room together is akin to pacing them in a mirrored funhouse to their gigantic ids…cool

SPECIAL EFFECTS: This could be tied to the action scenes but there are so many ludicrous things going on it could have easily have delved into cheesy. Instead, it’s pure over-the-top-mind-blowing rad!

HUMOR: I’m not talking slapstick here but the wit of Downey Jr. coupled with the hodgepodge cast of misfit-bruised egos creates some genuinely funny banter. It’s the site gags that draw the biggest laughs though and thank goodness for the Hulks not so subtle strengths.

With that being said, I don’t think I will be doing a movie marathon like that again anytime soon. But for a once in a blue moon experience it sure was a blast. I don’t know if my kids will be grateful that I rubbed my nerdy off on them in the future or not, but I do know that the avengers are in good hands for the foreseeable future.

P.S. let me know if you want me to get more specific in my reviews (even include some spoilers). They seem a little vague to me….

Final Consensus:
See it now!!!!
See it in theaters!!!
Rent it on DVD/BluRay!!
Wait for it on TV!
Don’t Bother

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The Hunger Games: Raw and Violent Beauty

2012-03-28T10:16:00.000-07:00

I’ve decided to write a review of Hunger Games even though most of the known world has already seen it. 3rd biggest opening of all time? That’s crazy! I guess this is one of those rare times where pop culture (the book), the tween audience (AKA twilight fans), women (like the love triangle), men (like the violence), geeks (awesome nerd factor) and Hollywood (stellar cast) all combine to create an ultimate box office champ if you will. I am not going to bother with a brief plot synopsis because if you don’t know already you have been living under a rock, or in Russia.

The Hunger games opens unexpectedly on a conversation taking place on a television show with all its glitz and glamor then cuts to the decrepit plight of those living in District 12, one subservient area that are oppressed by the Capital. It's this juxtaposition that builds the strength of the film. The constant sense of unfairness, of unnecessary opulence by the capital, of underlying fear and horror for anyone that lives in one of the tribute districts that bring the tension and power of the film.

It’s no secret that Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers as tribute for her district in the 74th annual Hunger games, which pits two children from each district against one another to the death. What the movie brings is a subtlety to the emotions running through Kat, through Her friends, through the other tributes (except heavy-handed Cato) and through her family. Everyone knows the games are a farce, a dreaded punishment and yet everyone participates. “What if we all just stopped watching,” proposes Gale, the one constant in Katniss' life. It’s enough to question our own motives to take part in exploitive behavior and even in some sense to even be watching a movie about kids killing one another.

What I really loved about the movie is the artistry and emotion. I truly felt for the oppressed, I truly loathed the access. I truly cared what happened to Katniss, Rue, Peeta and even some of the nastier characters. Aside from the acting, the filmmaking went beyond the book. Hallucinations from the tracker Jack stings were vividly realized, death is with reverence and beauty and even a killing field can be humanized by the appearance of a single butterfly that kisses the tip of your finger. The use of the ‘televised’ portion of the games came in handy to explain to a general audience the finer details of the dangers, but it is in the images of the trees, the smell of the soil, the stickiness of the blood and earnestness of the glances that the film really earns its emotion, and the involvement of its audience as well.

Final Consensus:
See it now!!!!
See it in theaters!!!
Rent it on DVD/BluRay!!
Wait for it on TV!
Don’t Bother

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Titanic 3D: A lavish overhaul for a flawed classic

2012-02-16T08:40:00.000-08:00

I don’t know if I am qualified to review this film since I can honestly say I never saw it in theaters on its original run. So, I really have nothing to compare it to other than my memories of watching it on VHS. The whole 3D conversion thing is big amongst earlier blockbusters (see Disney) but has yet to yield a bona fide hit other than the Lion King, which was respectable. I can honestly say that here, the 3D is magnificent, and not just for the spectacle of the sinking ship.

I’m not going to bother with the plot or anything, if you don’t know it you’ve been living under a rock for the past 15 years. I will extol the merits of seeing it on the big screen in 3D. What impressed me most were the close-ups of faces, every wrinkle, reflection and hair are given new dimension from the 3D. It’s a very personal experience. Images of the actual wreck become more eerie and magnificently hulking. Also, the interior shots of the ship before it sank are breathtaking. As the camera moves through hallways, staircases and atriums, there is a real sense of space and grandeur. It also lends becomes frightful during the sinking sequences where looking down a vastly deep corridor filling with water seems all but hopeless.

On the other hand, there were plenty of things the 3D couldn’t fix. The outdated special effects for one, or the atrocious dialogue both remain. The film is not great by any means and is truly a piece of manipulative popcorn fluff; but one thing can be said. James Cameron knows how to tell a story, and with his eye for stunning visuals, the 3D here not only improves the experience, but also leaves you wondering what he could have done had he been filming it in 3D from the start!

Final Consensus:
See it now!!!!
See it in theaters!!! (for the 3D)
Rent it on DVD/BluRay!!
Wait for it on TV!
Don’t Bother

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Sundance 2012 Review: Wish You Were Here

2012-01-27T10:30:00.000-08:00

My very first sun dance festival turned out to be quite a treat. The Aussie film 'Wish You Were Here' turned out to have quite a promising cast, a smart script and a few twists that made it more than you're average drama. The plot centers around a single couple who are dealing with the aftermath of a vacation where a mutual friend has disappeared. That, coupled with questions of infidelity, fears about their own relationship and the burden of trying to raise an ever expanding family make for a stewpot of unintended consequences.

Most would assume rising Hollywood star Joel Edgerton would be the main draw here...and while his films Animal Kingdom and Warrior bring in the audience, it's screenwriter and lead Felicity Price, playing his wife who steals the show. Her candid portrayal of a wife who is trying to care for her kids, deal with tragedy and attempt to save a crumbling marriage demands your full empathy. Joel does great as the torn and confused husband and Teresa Palmer does her part as the grieving sister who's boyfriend disappears. The ending provides quite a twist that resolves much of the moral ambiguities the movie introduces and proves that open communication and trust are needed in any marriage to make it work.

The film has problems with pacing and editing. The director could have chosen much better shots to establish location and mood. Also, the film seemed to drag at times as if the director was too in love with a lot of the content to leave it on the cutting room floor. This was detrimental to the film that seemed to waver between a crackling thriller and a domestic drama. If the director could decide on the film he was trying to make, and let the script tell the underlying story, this film would be very marketable. In the meantime we will have to enjoy the story and the acting...and wait for the filmmaking to catch up.

Sundance notes: at the screening was the director, producer and cast...who were very friendly and seemed genuinely excited to be at Sundance. They fielded questions after the screening. I was able to meet Joel Edgerton and ask how he was cast. He actually went to school and trained with the director, but had to ask to be in the film after seeing his friends notes and realizing they had proposed another actor to play the part he wanted. He is still pretty cut for anyone who remembers him as Brendan in Warrior.

UPDATE: Wish You Were Here was just aquired by Entertainment One and is expected to be released in theaters in the U.S. and Canada in fall 2012.

Final Consensus:
See it now!!!!
See it in theaters!!!
Rent it on DVD/BluRay!!
Wait for it on TV!
Don’t Bother

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Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol - A live action cartoon roller coaster

2012-01-03T14:22:00.000-08:00

I’m Back. I know, its been a really long time but I have re-resolutioned myself to write some actually compelling reviews with deep insight and modern interpretations….in very short form. The year begins with Mission Impossible 4 colon Ghost Protocol. No clue why they added the colon or the by line as the name Ghost Protocol merely is a mission terminology meaning that the IMF (Impossible Mission Force) has been disavowed by the government. This disavowal comes after Ethan Hawke, i mean Hunt's (couch jumper Tom Cruise) team gest set up and the Kremlin explodes. Of course a whole lot of chases, action sequences and explosions later, the final object of the team is to prevent a madman (don’t remember his name) from blowing up the world.

Nothing in this movie is remotely believable from the sets, to the stunts, to the damage a human body can take, the beauty of the participants or even the snarky humor injected under extreme duress by the assistant (Simon Pegg, whom I met in the Bathroom at a theater in Austin TX…but that’s another story). But you know what…that’s what makes the movie so gosh-darn fun. It’s a bigger, bolder, better experience in the theaters precisely because all the laws of physics and common sense have been thrown out the window. It’s like watching Looney Tunes in real life, which makes sense considering it was directed by Brad Bird (of Iron Giant, Ratatouille, The Incredibles fame). What a thrill ride. It doesn’t matter that I could care less for any of the characters; I really am not that emotionally involved with the cart I’m sitting in on a roller coaster either but I sure like the trip it takes me on.

Acting aside, it’s the special effects that steal the show. The stunts are incredible and the pace is unrelenting. Its not all testosterone either…more like dodge ball with ballerinas than a football game. The women of the movie are sadly given nothing to do but glare and act like pillars of wood, but everyone else seems to be having fun. Have a good time with it and if you can…watch it in IMAX, the audible gasp of the audience as you peer 120 stories down is worth the price of admission alone, that, and knowing it’s one of many hills this soulless yet bombastically creative roller coaster is gonna take you on.

Final Consensus:
See it now!!!!
See it in theaters!!!
Rent it on DVD/BluRay!!
Wait for it on TV!
Don’t Bother

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Pirates of the Caribbean 4: Fun with absolutely no substance

2011-05-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

For some reason, Superhero movie seem to have gotten into a rut where the first ones pretty good, the second is great and the third is a jumbled embarrassment. (X-Men, Spiderman etc.) If only Pirates of the Caribbean could have had the problem. Instead it suffers from Matrix fatigue where the first is awesome and the next two devolve into silly confusion. The last two Pirate movies were atrocious so I wasn’t exactly looking forward to a 4th dose.

Fortunately, it’s amazing what a simplified plot can do. It can re-introduce something into the series that was missing from the last two films…that is Fun! Now don’t get me wrong, this is not a good movie by any means, in fact it’s even sillier than its predecessors. It’s almost completely devoid of thrills. The scariest part is when Jack jumps off a cliff (oh, and psycho mermaids). It’s plot is dumber than dumb “A bunch of people are trying to get to the Fountain of Youth including Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) Captain Barbossa (Geoffry Rush), Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Angelica-Blackbeard’s Daughter (Penelope Cruz) and a bunch of Spaniards”. There, sorry If I ruined the movie for you.

Out of the inept action sequences, silly dialog and ridiculous sincerity, comes a watchable and fun film. Granted it makes Thor look like a Terrance Malick movie, but the silliness is all a part of what we signed up for right? We want to see things blow up; pirates make for the high seas, Cannon battles (oh crud, none of those) and mystical legends. It’s exactly what we get. Credit Depp and Cruz for literally carrying the whole movie on innuendoes, and a romance between a mermaid and a clergyman to bring out the emotion.

While it was fun to watch I left feeling unfulfilled. It wasn’t until I had a discussion with a coworker that I realized why. We movie watchers like to see some progression in the characters we have invested in. Weather its changing to a new man, overcoming insurmountable odds or declining into monstrosity…its what fuels our investment. Unfortunately, all the characters remain relatively the same, never reaching beyond their idiosyncrasies. Which makes for great comfort food, but not much in the way of exciting variety that wets out palettes for more. Too bad, the ending sets us up for more weather we like it or not.

Final Consensus:
See it now!!!!
See it in theaters!!!
Rent it on DVD/BluRay!!
Wait for it on TV!
Don’t Bother
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Thor: A great big pile of unbelievable awesomeness!!

2011-05-06T13:41:00.000-07:00

Of all the comic book movies that have come out in recent years, Thor is probably the character I know the least about. An avid comic book reader, I can honestly say that I don’t think I’ve ever read a single issue about Thor other than the Avengers series. That being said, I guess I came into this movie with Fresh eyes, and that’s not necessarily a good thing. In dealing with most of the Marvel universe, there is some attempt to at least tie the movie into a hypothetical scientific equation…”what happens if there was genetic mutation?” “What would happen if you had all the money in the world for a super suit?” With Thor, that entire attempt at logic is thrown out the window. Instead we are left with a tale of interplanetary guardians, Norse gods, immortality and a really big Hammer with an unpronounceable name.

After saying all that I bet you were expecting me to tear the film apart. On the contrary, this was one silly, fun, action ride that does not relay on the audiences acceptance of physical limits to have a good time. The fist quarter bothered me because it is so fantastical and out there. Really, we are supposed to care about the problems of whinny gods on a made up planet in a gold castle? But one I took of my cheese detector, I really had a good time with it.

Thor is the God of thunder who is banished by his father to earth for insubordination and has to learn qualities of humanity to return as the rightful heir of the throne. Of course that is an oversimplification, but the rest of the story is just thrown in there to make really cool action fight scenes. Chris Hemsworth as walking testosterone plays the title character as Natalie Portman plays the “most beautiful scientist in the world” (Thanks X-Men, Transformers, Hulk) role as the girl who changes Thor’s heart. It was a little weird that Thor was able to change his heart an attitude so quickly. I guess all one has to do is spend a few days in a remote New Mexican town to prepare to rule the universe.

But if you put your facetiousness aside, this was a quite the thrill ride. Kenneth Branagh, mainly known for his Shakespearian flicks does a great job of making the antiquated speech of Norse gods seem honorable and actually makes the supporting cast earn their laughs. Kat Dennings is a scene-stealer as Potrman’s intern and the special effects (if not too many) do a great job of making sure you know there is nothing based on reality in this movie, and that’s a good thing. While we are talking about the implausible, I have decided that I am going to work on getting Chris Hemsworth physique, That’s all.

Final Consensus:
See it now!!!!
See it in theaters!!!
Rent it on DVD/BluRay!!
Wait for it on TV!
Don’t Bother
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Sundance Review: Win Win warms the heart.

2011-04-12T16:24:00.000-07:00

Win Win was a pleasant surprise for me. Funny and bleak, it was a film I really didn’t want to go see at Sundance since it already had distribution, but it was the only one that fit in with my volunteer schedule for the day. Right off the bat I found I was chuckling to myself and fully involved with the characters within the first few minutes of the movie. That’s some dang good writing to make Paul Giamatti who plays the patriarch wrestling coach of the film seem relatable. When has Paul Giamatti ever been relatable in any of his quirky movies? Here, he makes a decision to take over the care of one of his clients, and ends up getting the clients grandson whom at first seems like a burden.

Fortunately, that was just the beginning of the good surprises, which included Amy Ryan as Paul’s scene stealing wife and proved her range as a severely different person than Holly on The Office. The Grandson (Alex Shaffer) bugged me at first but gradually became the character with which I empathized with the most. As a champion wrestler, he quickly proves his worth to Paul’s character that helps them turn their dismal high school wrestling season around. It was nice to see a teenage boy who was portrayed as flawed, but ultimately a good, well-meaning child that doesn’t let a sordid past and demons turn him into the rebellious monster we have seen overplayed since Rebel Without a Cause. The supporting proves to add most of the humor and frames the story is a relatable light.

The true strength of the movie is the screenwriting (Thomas McCarthy). There is no despicable villain, only well meaning people who make horrible decisions. The revelatory part of the movie is that the characters have to deal with the consequences. There is no magic formula for fixing their mistakes and sweeping all the loose ends up. Instead, we feel for the characters, their decisions and ultimately, it presents every single one as good-natured. Its rare to find a film that presents so many problems and decisions in a realistic light, but lets the humanity in each character shine thorough. While this may not be the best-directed film ever, or have the necessary gravitas to make it truly transcendent, it did bring a little light and warmth and hope to a snowy, pretentions film festival.

I got to listen to the screenwriters talk about their experiences after the screening. They both wrestled while growing up, but what made the movie was the fact that they took little parts of their lives like getting in shape or boiler problems and put those in the film. It was those small real touches that bring this movie up above common entertainment and make it seem that much more human.

Final Consensus:
See it now!!!!
See it in theaters!!!
Rent it on DVD/BluRay!!
Wait for it on TV!
Don’t Bother

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