Ben’s Review of Super 8
JJ Abrams may very well be his generation’s Steven Speilberg. He was able to provide a fresh take on the Monster movie in Cloverfield and reboot the Star Trek franchise in a way that even non-Trekkie fans could enjoy. So obviously the next step would be to collaborate with Steven Spielberg to give his take on an alien movie. This is not only a good move for Abrams but, judging from the last Indian Jones movie, a great move for Spielberg. With quite a bit of mystery, Abrams backed by Spielberg, brings Super 8 to try and go 3 for 3 on the sci-fi front. But can Abrams pay homage to Spielberg without outright copying him?
Set in 1979 Ohio, Super 8 opens with a funeral for the main character, Joe (played by newcomer Joel Courtney), mother. Joe takes solace with his friends who are filming a zombie movie for the Cleveland amateur movie festival on a Super 8 film camera. Charles, Joe’s friend and director of the Zombie film (played by another newcomer Riley Griffith), reads that movies need more plot to stand out in film festivals. Charles decides to bring in a girl, Alice placed by Dakota Fanning sister Ella, to play the love interest for the zombie hunting lead character. Even though she is not old enough to drive, Alice takes her father’s car sneaks out at midnight with Charles, Joe and the rest of the gang to film a climatic good bye scene at a train station when an actual train comes by. Eager to catch the footage of the train, the kids set up and start filming when a pickup truck drives head first into the train causing a derailment. The kids narrowly escape the train derailment and agree not to speak out the incident. However, strange incidents start happening around town including people disappearing and all the dogs in town running away. Soon the military comes in to investigate and contain the train wreck. Joes father Jackson, played by Friday Night Lights Kyle Chandler, is a deputy police officer who is left in charge when the police chief goes missing. The military is not telling Jackson anything and more and more people go missing. Things really take a strange turn when kids develop the film from the train derailment and catch a glimpse of something very alarming. What is causing the disappearance? Do the dogs comeback? Does the mystery get solved and is worth the wait?
As you may have already heard, this movie has been billed as the new E.T. This movie is much more of homage to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, down to the setting and the time of the movie. This movie is set up for disaster because it revolves around mystery and not letting the public know much of anything before they see it. Additionally, the movie relies heavily on the acting ability of children which, if you have seen anything made by Disney in the past 40 years, you know sarcastic overacting scene stealing children can destroy a film. Fortunately, J.J. Abrams knows what he is doing. The movie is believable because the story is the focus. It has quite a bit of heart without beating you to death sappy scenes. The mystery is very cool and pays off. Additionally, the kids in this movie are funny, quirky, and, most importantly, do not over do it. They swear, goof on each other, and act like kids. The special effects and the actors move this story along. While this movie may not quite rise to the same level of Close Encounters, it is good and a lot of fun to watch.
This movie gets three and a half reeses peeces out of five.
* Something Extra- The next Star Trek script is done and filming is set to begin shooting later this year with J.J. Abrams at the helm.
Elisa’s Review of Super 8
Well, another science fiction movie has come and gone, and I am just thankful it was a movie that was not based on a comic book. JJ Abrams of Alias fame and the ability to make Star Trek tolerable collaborated with Steven Speilberg as director to produce a sci-fi version of “Stand by Me.”
The film is rotten with special effects: huge train derailment scene and about 10 monster-people chases too many. Sans the green screen, the heart of the movie centers around a group of guys who are just trying to get through the late 70’s in middle America. Joe, whose mother just died in a warehouse mis-hap is looking for structure and love from his Police Officer Father. He spends a lot of time at the “Leave-it-to-Beaver” home of his friend Charlie, who is fascinated with producing/directing/writing a Super 8 movie for the Super 8 festival.
Super 8 refers to a type of movie camera used at some point before camcorders arrived. Joe, Charlie and their buddies set about making a zombie movie with a love story. Needing a girl to play a love interest, they seek out Alice, played by Elle Dakota, sister to Dakota. Alice is somewhat of a loaner, drives her father’s car, even though she does not have a license, and has acting ability beyond basic zombie attack skills.
Setting up to film a scene at an abandoned train stop just out of town, the group is filming when an approaching train is derailed by a wild-driving truck racing down the tracks. Train cars go flying, explosions abound, track comes flying off, in the most unrealistic, crazy use of special effects I have ever, I have watched in the last two weeks.
After the train derailment, the Army moves into town and tries to quietly detain whatever was in the train. The audience knows it is something bad, because the Army guys do not smile and are not friendly to Joe, Charlie and his buddies. Curfews are imposed, buildings are locked down, and people are removed from their homes. Similar to the United States Government evacuation of White Bluffs in Eastern Washington during World War II, the town is decimated before the end.
Super 8 is a great date-night movie Monsters and special effects for him, and well-written story of friendship, love and growing up for her. Did I need to see this movie in a theater? Probably not. The special effects seemed over-kill and unnecessary to the actual story line. Although, it is refreshing to sit through a move with a story line. Could I have lived my life without watching this movie? Maybe. The themes of friendship, laughs, teenage angst, and child versus adult reminded me of so many movies I loved growing up, “Goonies,” “Stand by Me,” “Emperor of the Sun” and “E.T.” that I must think “Super 8” is a movie that will hold its own against green screen effects over time.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Hangover II
Ben’s Review of Hangover II
If the first movie is good then why not try duplicating it again. If you bring back the exact same cast, director, and writer then you simply cannot lose. This was most likely the thinking behind the Hangover II. And why wouldn’t a movie studio think this? The original Hangover is the highest grossing rated R comedy of all time and the best selling comedy DVD of all time. This movie also jump started the movie careers of Bradley Cooper, Zack Galifinakis, and Ed Helms into hyper drive. With all of these accolades and a beloved cast, a sequel was merely academic. So a hilarious sequel is guaranteed right? Well….
The Hangover II begins with the revelation that everyone’s favorite Hooker marrying Dentist, Stu once again played by Ed Helms, is getting married in Thailand. Coincidentally, all of his friends from the Wolf Pac are invited, except for Alan, reprised by Zack Galifiinakis. Through some very tough convincing, Stu relents and invites Alan to the nuptials. So the gang goes to Thailand to marry off Stu. Stu, aware of the problems that can be caused by a bachelor party, refuses to partake in any pre-wedding festivities except for a beer with the guys on the beach and, of course, this is when everything goes wrong. The wolf pack wakes up in Bangkok with no recollection as to how they arrived there and must once again piece together the previous night’s activities and find the missing party member, this time Stu’s future brother in law. The three musketeers of debauchery once again have to check their pockets and rely on locals figure to learn the whereabouts of Stu’s brother-in-law. So is the Wolf Pac in Thailand a can’t miss premise?
(CAUTION SPOILERS FOLLOW) The original Hangover was a very original and well put together movie. It was truly hilarious because it had surprise after surprise which kept the audience riveted to their seats to see what would happen next. The problem is that the Hangover II does not offer anything new. It is literally the exact same premise and plot in everyway. Not only were almost all the gags the same but they occurred in the same order as the first movie. There were no real surprises just more of everything. The loan bright spot was a whole lot more Mr. Chow played by Ken Jeong The only real difference between the two movies is that the disturbing events that happen to the characters are truly disturbing to the point where they almost lose the humor.
I truly wanted to like this move but it came across as uninspired and just plain lazy. I give it two roofies out of five.
Elisa's Review of the Hangover II
"The Citizen Cane" of bachelor party movies touted "Rollingstone" magazine, in its review of the original "Hangover." When I meet people who have never watched the movie, I become so jealous that soon they are going to watch and experience each scene and laugh that full-body wet-their-pants laugh that only a first-time viewing provides. I can watch the same scenes, over and over on HBO--Is there anyone who doesn't want to experience Alan asking the clerk at Ceasar's "is there a phone bank in the hotel" for the first time again?
It was this built-up adoration for the antics Ed Helms, Zach Galifan...whatever, and Cooper Bradley, that provided the excitement for the sequel. Could these guys be as funny again? Could Sin City be replaced with Zen-City Bangkok? The answer, I am sad to report, is a solid, and loud, "NO."
It wasn't funny. I laughed in one part out of sheer exhaustion from holding in my cheer for 45 minutes. And, I am pretty sure what I laughed at was a complex penis joke, or a gay sex joke. It was a stretch. It was..not funny.
The studio, actors and writers cannot be blamed. Clearly, large wads of money were thrown at them to make this piece of cinema garbage. It is important to know two of the original writers, out of a team of three, did not participate in the sequel. Evidently, they were the clever and smart duo of the oringal threesome. They should receive an Oscar for "Best Decision Ever made."
The movie is so stagnant and boring, it seems as though the writers went scene-by-scene from the original outlining the movie. Or, it is possible they pulled up the original screen play and did a "Find/Replace" search finding "Las Vegas" and replacing it with "Bangkok." Finding "Tiger" and replacing with "monkey." Replacing "stripper" with "tranvestite hooker."
While the movie feels stagnant and boring, the plot is simultaneously rushed. There is no development as to when/where/how/why the boys are in Bangkok. There is no blury wake-up. It is a fast panic. Face Tatoo? Not that funny. They needed Liam Neason.
The story is canned and the laughs are cheap. Wait to rent it, HBO it, or watch the edited-for-TV version and save your tears. Hopefully, "The Hangover" franchise will not follow the four-peat sequels of another hilarious sleeper hit "Meatballs." There does not need to be a Zach Galifanik..whatever scene with Joan Rivers.
If the first movie is good then why not try duplicating it again. If you bring back the exact same cast, director, and writer then you simply cannot lose. This was most likely the thinking behind the Hangover II. And why wouldn’t a movie studio think this? The original Hangover is the highest grossing rated R comedy of all time and the best selling comedy DVD of all time. This movie also jump started the movie careers of Bradley Cooper, Zack Galifinakis, and Ed Helms into hyper drive. With all of these accolades and a beloved cast, a sequel was merely academic. So a hilarious sequel is guaranteed right? Well….
The Hangover II begins with the revelation that everyone’s favorite Hooker marrying Dentist, Stu once again played by Ed Helms, is getting married in Thailand. Coincidentally, all of his friends from the Wolf Pac are invited, except for Alan, reprised by Zack Galifiinakis. Through some very tough convincing, Stu relents and invites Alan to the nuptials. So the gang goes to Thailand to marry off Stu. Stu, aware of the problems that can be caused by a bachelor party, refuses to partake in any pre-wedding festivities except for a beer with the guys on the beach and, of course, this is when everything goes wrong. The wolf pack wakes up in Bangkok with no recollection as to how they arrived there and must once again piece together the previous night’s activities and find the missing party member, this time Stu’s future brother in law. The three musketeers of debauchery once again have to check their pockets and rely on locals figure to learn the whereabouts of Stu’s brother-in-law. So is the Wolf Pac in Thailand a can’t miss premise?
(CAUTION SPOILERS FOLLOW) The original Hangover was a very original and well put together movie. It was truly hilarious because it had surprise after surprise which kept the audience riveted to their seats to see what would happen next. The problem is that the Hangover II does not offer anything new. It is literally the exact same premise and plot in everyway. Not only were almost all the gags the same but they occurred in the same order as the first movie. There were no real surprises just more of everything. The loan bright spot was a whole lot more Mr. Chow played by Ken Jeong The only real difference between the two movies is that the disturbing events that happen to the characters are truly disturbing to the point where they almost lose the humor.
I truly wanted to like this move but it came across as uninspired and just plain lazy. I give it two roofies out of five.
Elisa's Review of the Hangover II
"The Citizen Cane" of bachelor party movies touted "Rollingstone" magazine, in its review of the original "Hangover." When I meet people who have never watched the movie, I become so jealous that soon they are going to watch and experience each scene and laugh that full-body wet-their-pants laugh that only a first-time viewing provides. I can watch the same scenes, over and over on HBO--Is there anyone who doesn't want to experience Alan asking the clerk at Ceasar's "is there a phone bank in the hotel" for the first time again?
It was this built-up adoration for the antics Ed Helms, Zach Galifan...whatever, and Cooper Bradley, that provided the excitement for the sequel. Could these guys be as funny again? Could Sin City be replaced with Zen-City Bangkok? The answer, I am sad to report, is a solid, and loud, "NO."
It wasn't funny. I laughed in one part out of sheer exhaustion from holding in my cheer for 45 minutes. And, I am pretty sure what I laughed at was a complex penis joke, or a gay sex joke. It was a stretch. It was..not funny.
The studio, actors and writers cannot be blamed. Clearly, large wads of money were thrown at them to make this piece of cinema garbage. It is important to know two of the original writers, out of a team of three, did not participate in the sequel. Evidently, they were the clever and smart duo of the oringal threesome. They should receive an Oscar for "Best Decision Ever made."
The movie is so stagnant and boring, it seems as though the writers went scene-by-scene from the original outlining the movie. Or, it is possible they pulled up the original screen play and did a "Find/Replace" search finding "Las Vegas" and replacing it with "Bangkok." Finding "Tiger" and replacing with "monkey." Replacing "stripper" with "tranvestite hooker."
While the movie feels stagnant and boring, the plot is simultaneously rushed. There is no development as to when/where/how/why the boys are in Bangkok. There is no blury wake-up. It is a fast panic. Face Tatoo? Not that funny. They needed Liam Neason.
The story is canned and the laughs are cheap. Wait to rent it, HBO it, or watch the edited-for-TV version and save your tears. Hopefully, "The Hangover" franchise will not follow the four-peat sequels of another hilarious sleeper hit "Meatballs." There does not need to be a Zach Galifanik..whatever scene with Joan Rivers.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
"THOR"
Ben’s Review of Thor
It’s summer movie time and starting off this season of 3D, popcorn based, quadrophonic, cinematic, enormity is Thor. This ode to Val Halla stars relatively unknown Chris Hemsworth as Thor the arrogant but soon to be humbled God of Thunder, Anthony Hopkins as Odin King of the Gods, Natalie Portman (this year’s winner for best actress in a porno/weirdass ballet film) as Thor’s love interest Jane, a foppy british guy as Loci Thor’s strange brother, Stellan Skarsgaard as an underutilized actor, and that snotty girl from the 40 Year Old Virgin as Natalie Portman’s side kick. Mix this cast of characters with Thor’s loyal army composed of three other actors and you have very well rounded cast… for a popcorn movie.
The movie opens with Jane and her intern investigating an atmospheric disturbance in the New Mexico desert. Upon investigation, they run over Thor, but how did he get there? Flashback to Thor about to named king of wherever he is from by his father King Odin. However, before Thor can receive the crown, the ice people try to break in to steal an ancient relic that is also the source of the ice peoples’ power. Thor wants vengeance for this attempted break in but his father tells him to calm down. Thor’s brother Loci also tries to calm him down however, Thor being Thor, decides to attack the ice people anyway. After battling to a draw, King Odin takes Thor and Loki back to his kingdom and banishes Thor for his arrogance to the one place where he cannot cause trouble, Earth. Unfortunately, Thor’s banishment was part of an evil plot to take over the kingdom. Can Thor get home? Is the kingdom doomed? Are the parallels between this movie and He-Man as apparent to everyone else?
This movie has a very troublesome start in that it appears to be heading the way of Dungeons and Dragons or the Last Airbender where there is way too much to know about Thor’s home world and the magic and fantasy that goes along with it. But the movie very quickly delves into a somewhat believeable explanation as to how Thor’s world intersects with Earth. More importantly, this movie does not dumb down the action and never becomes goofy. Because of the fanciful nature of the movie, it does not rise to the level of the Dark Knight however not every superhero movie needs to be. This movie is well acted, very well paced, and most importantly, you do not need to know anything about the comic to follow the story. It is on the same level as the original Ironman and the most recent Star Trek.
I give this movie three and a half Val Hallas out of five.
*Something extra- Chris Hemsworth earned this role for making a 5 minute appearance in Star Trek and Captain Kirk’s father.
Elisa's Review of "Thor."
Clearly, “Thor” was not my movie selection. We take turns. I agreed to see “Thor” for two reasons: Ben would have to agree to see a chick-flick movie of my choice; and I was secretely hoping “Thor” was the sequel to the classic 80's movie, “Adventures in Babysitting.”
Ten minutes into the movie, I realized Elizabeth Shue was not reinventing her career in this Marvel comic movie. Also, I thought I made a huge misjudgment in agreeing to sit through ANOTHER comic book movie, as most chic-flick movies are not interesting enough to be a trade for the misery I was suffering. However, I settled down and actually enjoyed the movie.
Ladies, this is a comic book movie that is tolerable. The title character, Thor is the son of a famous Nordic God with an evil brother. Thor is set to inherit the kingdom his father reigns over, but instead, is banned to Earth as punishment. On Earth, he meets Natalie Portman’s character who is some type of graduate student studying astronomy or night-time tornados. Side note—Natalie Portman is MUCH better in her role as the graduate student then she was in the soft-porn and HIGHLY overrated “Black Swan.”
Predictably, Thor and Portman’s character have some type of weirdo comic-book character/human attraction and he ends up fighting to help her graduate student cause against the government. Then he gets to go back to his Nordic planet.
The story and movie is well-presented. The scenes of the Nordic land and Earth alternate and presented in an interesting and logical pattern. Thor is played by an Australian actor who resembles the character “Smith” from “Sex and the City” fame. Anthony Hopkins acts the role of the Nordic god very well. Rene Russo does a nice job in a very few scenes in the role of Thor’s mother—sustaining my belief that she blew through her “Lethal Weapon” money and lost the rest of her cash in the Mel Gibson pyramid scheme.
It’s summer movie time and starting off this season of 3D, popcorn based, quadrophonic, cinematic, enormity is Thor. This ode to Val Halla stars relatively unknown Chris Hemsworth as Thor the arrogant but soon to be humbled God of Thunder, Anthony Hopkins as Odin King of the Gods, Natalie Portman (this year’s winner for best actress in a porno/weirdass ballet film) as Thor’s love interest Jane, a foppy british guy as Loci Thor’s strange brother, Stellan Skarsgaard as an underutilized actor, and that snotty girl from the 40 Year Old Virgin as Natalie Portman’s side kick. Mix this cast of characters with Thor’s loyal army composed of three other actors and you have very well rounded cast… for a popcorn movie.
The movie opens with Jane and her intern investigating an atmospheric disturbance in the New Mexico desert. Upon investigation, they run over Thor, but how did he get there? Flashback to Thor about to named king of wherever he is from by his father King Odin. However, before Thor can receive the crown, the ice people try to break in to steal an ancient relic that is also the source of the ice peoples’ power. Thor wants vengeance for this attempted break in but his father tells him to calm down. Thor’s brother Loci also tries to calm him down however, Thor being Thor, decides to attack the ice people anyway. After battling to a draw, King Odin takes Thor and Loki back to his kingdom and banishes Thor for his arrogance to the one place where he cannot cause trouble, Earth. Unfortunately, Thor’s banishment was part of an evil plot to take over the kingdom. Can Thor get home? Is the kingdom doomed? Are the parallels between this movie and He-Man as apparent to everyone else?
This movie has a very troublesome start in that it appears to be heading the way of Dungeons and Dragons or the Last Airbender where there is way too much to know about Thor’s home world and the magic and fantasy that goes along with it. But the movie very quickly delves into a somewhat believeable explanation as to how Thor’s world intersects with Earth. More importantly, this movie does not dumb down the action and never becomes goofy. Because of the fanciful nature of the movie, it does not rise to the level of the Dark Knight however not every superhero movie needs to be. This movie is well acted, very well paced, and most importantly, you do not need to know anything about the comic to follow the story. It is on the same level as the original Ironman and the most recent Star Trek.
I give this movie three and a half Val Hallas out of five.
*Something extra- Chris Hemsworth earned this role for making a 5 minute appearance in Star Trek and Captain Kirk’s father.
Elisa's Review of "Thor."
Clearly, “Thor” was not my movie selection. We take turns. I agreed to see “Thor” for two reasons: Ben would have to agree to see a chick-flick movie of my choice; and I was secretely hoping “Thor” was the sequel to the classic 80's movie, “Adventures in Babysitting.”
Ten minutes into the movie, I realized Elizabeth Shue was not reinventing her career in this Marvel comic movie. Also, I thought I made a huge misjudgment in agreeing to sit through ANOTHER comic book movie, as most chic-flick movies are not interesting enough to be a trade for the misery I was suffering. However, I settled down and actually enjoyed the movie.
Ladies, this is a comic book movie that is tolerable. The title character, Thor is the son of a famous Nordic God with an evil brother. Thor is set to inherit the kingdom his father reigns over, but instead, is banned to Earth as punishment. On Earth, he meets Natalie Portman’s character who is some type of graduate student studying astronomy or night-time tornados. Side note—Natalie Portman is MUCH better in her role as the graduate student then she was in the soft-porn and HIGHLY overrated “Black Swan.”
Predictably, Thor and Portman’s character have some type of weirdo comic-book character/human attraction and he ends up fighting to help her graduate student cause against the government. Then he gets to go back to his Nordic planet.
The story and movie is well-presented. The scenes of the Nordic land and Earth alternate and presented in an interesting and logical pattern. Thor is played by an Australian actor who resembles the character “Smith” from “Sex and the City” fame. Anthony Hopkins acts the role of the Nordic god very well. Rene Russo does a nice job in a very few scenes in the role of Thor’s mother—sustaining my belief that she blew through her “Lethal Weapon” money and lost the rest of her cash in the Mel Gibson pyramid scheme.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The Town
Elisa's Review of "The Town"
I love a movie that makes me think while I am watching it, a replays over and over in my head afterwards. Naïve’ reviewers have made several comparisons to “Good Will Hunting” most obviously because of the involvement of Ben Affleck and Boston in both. While GWH was a brilliant film set in the academia worlds of Harvard and MIT, “The Town” was adapted from Chuck Hogan’s novel “The Prince of Thieves,” and
is an old-fashion, shoot ‘em up bank robber film. There are no modern-day “Hacker” heroes” downloading shift schedules, bank accounts, and reprogramming surveillance cameras. Instead, this is a movie about the struggles and acceptance of life-long friends who grew up in drug-infested, crime-ridden Charlestown. However, Charlestown is more to the storyline of “The Town” than just a place. The Boston neighborhood is a character in the movie: A place where bank robbery is handed-down through generations, drug addiction is rampant, and the ice rink is only used for kick-ball.
An IN SHAPE Affleck is joined by Jeremy Renner, known for his break-out role in the 2010 Oscar-wining film “The Hurt Locker.” Renner’s role, as James “Jem” Coughlin. Life-long friends. Dough Mackay play by Affleck and Jem are the “leaders” of an efficient, and experienced bank robbing team who are sent and jobs by the “Mob Boss” of Charlestown, “The Florist.”
The Florist, who actually has a flower shop in Charlestown, is an old time “Townie” who picks the take and demands a cut of every “job” the team takes.
Masked, the group commits a brief and quick robbery at a bank across the river. A young bank teller played by Rebecca Hall is selected to open the vault. Unable to collect herself to remember the combination, Affleck takes her hand and reassures her she will be fine if she remains calm. After emptying the vault, the bank teller is ordered to the ground with everyone else, using her toe, she sets off an alarm during the heist. She is taken as a hostage, blindfolded and is rushed across the river and back to Charlestown, where she is released on the shore of the Charles River.
One day after the successful heist, the group meets up at a defunct ice-rink to discuss the job. Jem produces the young teller’s identification card, only to inform the group her address is in Charlestown, increasing the possibility she could see one of the thieves on the streets and recognize them. Concerned Jem’s method of taking care of the teller is final, Affleck volunteers to watch her. And he does—creating a sweet and unlikely romance between the innocent bank teller and the doomed bank robber.
It is hard not to love Affleck’s Bostonian accent and his portrayal of a drug-addicted, bad-Irish boy turned good. The relationships between Affleck’s character, his friend Jem, and his ties to Charlestown, keep the viewer engaged in his compelling struggle. The bank robberies and chase scenes will have you holding your breath as you hope the bad guys somehow will become the good guys, to fight the bigger bad guys running Charlestown.
Ben's Review of "The Town"
With the success of "The Departed" there has seemingly been an influx of Boston based movies within the past five years, and with movies such as "The Fighter" set to hit theatres in December, is it possible for Ben Affeck to sneak in with some Beantown success? Well do not forget that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon effectively started the Boston movie trend with their break out hit "Good Will Hunting." Affleck admitted to doing movies only for the economic return in the early and mid 2000s and, since the success of his first directorial debut, 2006’s dark and fascinating child abduction caper "Gone Baby Gone," he has largely stayed out of acting, appearing only in cameos and bit parts such as "Clerks II," "Smokin Aces," and "He’s Just Not that Into You." So part of the allure of "The Town" is whether or not Affleck can direct and star in a movie without it turning into a vanity piece. More importantly is the movie worse seeing?
"The Town" is set in the Boston neighborhood of Charlestown which is notorious for housing the majority of Boston’s bank robbers. Affleck plays Doug, the very calculated and quick thinking architect for a crew of bank robbers. During one of their routine robberies, they are forced to take a bank manager Claire, played very well by Rebecca Hall, hostage. After dropping the hostage off the crew discovers that Claire actually lives in Charlestown. The crew’s muscleman James, played by Jeremy Renner, volunteers to “take care of it”. Knowing James’ pension for killing without remorse, Doug says he will handle the matter and begins trailing Claire to insure that she does not engage in any action that may result in the crew being reported to the FBI. One night while following Claire into a laundry mat, Doug inadvertently engages in a conversation with Claire and realizes that she probably will not give any leads to the FBI. Having been quite taken with Claire, Doug asks her out and they begin dating. The problem is the FBI, headed by Adam Fawley, played by John Hamm, is still trying to find the bank robbers and is still following and questioning Claire.
The crew continues to rob banks but Doug begins to grow tired of the stress involved with planning these heists as well as the unpredictability of James’ actions and temper. Doug makes a plan to get out but complications involving his on again off again girlfriend, the FBI, and the crime boss who finds the bank jobs all make leaving his life in Charlestown far more difficult than he imagined. So can Doug get out? Will Claire discover who really is? Will Matt Damon receive producing credits?
The genre of Heist movies is always ripe for clichés such as the “one last job scenario”, the “I am going to be found out at any point” issue, and of course the “loose cannon crazy gunman”. The beauty of The Town is that it contains all of these clichés but presents them in a very refreshing way. The movie’s main character does not set out to do one job and get outs scenario but comes to this realization very organically. The tension of being found out by the FBI and Claire is done by setting very believable events in motion in motion. Renner’s muscleman character is not over the top and is given a back story as to why he is not bothered by having to hurt other people. While comparisons could be made to "Heat," "The Town" truly stands apart because its pacing is well done and the back story and characters do not over complicate or over simplify the story. There are very strong, albeit small, performances by Chris Cooper as Doug’s imprisoned father, Pete Postelthwaite as the Irish crime boss, and a surprising Blake Lively as the drug addict girl friend. Additionally, and don’t let this get out, Affleck can act. If you have seen "Good Will Hunting," "Dazed and Confused," or even "Sum of All Fears" he can be a very convincing actor. Affleck is now proving that, with right director, he is not too bad at making movies.
4.25 die packs out of 5 and worth seeing in a theatre.
I love a movie that makes me think while I am watching it, a replays over and over in my head afterwards. Naïve’ reviewers have made several comparisons to “Good Will Hunting” most obviously because of the involvement of Ben Affleck and Boston in both. While GWH was a brilliant film set in the academia worlds of Harvard and MIT, “The Town” was adapted from Chuck Hogan’s novel “The Prince of Thieves,” and
is an old-fashion, shoot ‘em up bank robber film. There are no modern-day “Hacker” heroes” downloading shift schedules, bank accounts, and reprogramming surveillance cameras. Instead, this is a movie about the struggles and acceptance of life-long friends who grew up in drug-infested, crime-ridden Charlestown. However, Charlestown is more to the storyline of “The Town” than just a place. The Boston neighborhood is a character in the movie: A place where bank robbery is handed-down through generations, drug addiction is rampant, and the ice rink is only used for kick-ball.
An IN SHAPE Affleck is joined by Jeremy Renner, known for his break-out role in the 2010 Oscar-wining film “The Hurt Locker.” Renner’s role, as James “Jem” Coughlin. Life-long friends. Dough Mackay play by Affleck and Jem are the “leaders” of an efficient, and experienced bank robbing team who are sent and jobs by the “Mob Boss” of Charlestown, “The Florist.”
The Florist, who actually has a flower shop in Charlestown, is an old time “Townie” who picks the take and demands a cut of every “job” the team takes.
Masked, the group commits a brief and quick robbery at a bank across the river. A young bank teller played by Rebecca Hall is selected to open the vault. Unable to collect herself to remember the combination, Affleck takes her hand and reassures her she will be fine if she remains calm. After emptying the vault, the bank teller is ordered to the ground with everyone else, using her toe, she sets off an alarm during the heist. She is taken as a hostage, blindfolded and is rushed across the river and back to Charlestown, where she is released on the shore of the Charles River.
One day after the successful heist, the group meets up at a defunct ice-rink to discuss the job. Jem produces the young teller’s identification card, only to inform the group her address is in Charlestown, increasing the possibility she could see one of the thieves on the streets and recognize them. Concerned Jem’s method of taking care of the teller is final, Affleck volunteers to watch her. And he does—creating a sweet and unlikely romance between the innocent bank teller and the doomed bank robber.
It is hard not to love Affleck’s Bostonian accent and his portrayal of a drug-addicted, bad-Irish boy turned good. The relationships between Affleck’s character, his friend Jem, and his ties to Charlestown, keep the viewer engaged in his compelling struggle. The bank robberies and chase scenes will have you holding your breath as you hope the bad guys somehow will become the good guys, to fight the bigger bad guys running Charlestown.
Ben's Review of "The Town"
With the success of "The Departed" there has seemingly been an influx of Boston based movies within the past five years, and with movies such as "The Fighter" set to hit theatres in December, is it possible for Ben Affeck to sneak in with some Beantown success? Well do not forget that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon effectively started the Boston movie trend with their break out hit "Good Will Hunting." Affleck admitted to doing movies only for the economic return in the early and mid 2000s and, since the success of his first directorial debut, 2006’s dark and fascinating child abduction caper "Gone Baby Gone," he has largely stayed out of acting, appearing only in cameos and bit parts such as "Clerks II," "Smokin Aces," and "He’s Just Not that Into You." So part of the allure of "The Town" is whether or not Affleck can direct and star in a movie without it turning into a vanity piece. More importantly is the movie worse seeing?
"The Town" is set in the Boston neighborhood of Charlestown which is notorious for housing the majority of Boston’s bank robbers. Affleck plays Doug, the very calculated and quick thinking architect for a crew of bank robbers. During one of their routine robberies, they are forced to take a bank manager Claire, played very well by Rebecca Hall, hostage. After dropping the hostage off the crew discovers that Claire actually lives in Charlestown. The crew’s muscleman James, played by Jeremy Renner, volunteers to “take care of it”. Knowing James’ pension for killing without remorse, Doug says he will handle the matter and begins trailing Claire to insure that she does not engage in any action that may result in the crew being reported to the FBI. One night while following Claire into a laundry mat, Doug inadvertently engages in a conversation with Claire and realizes that she probably will not give any leads to the FBI. Having been quite taken with Claire, Doug asks her out and they begin dating. The problem is the FBI, headed by Adam Fawley, played by John Hamm, is still trying to find the bank robbers and is still following and questioning Claire.
The crew continues to rob banks but Doug begins to grow tired of the stress involved with planning these heists as well as the unpredictability of James’ actions and temper. Doug makes a plan to get out but complications involving his on again off again girlfriend, the FBI, and the crime boss who finds the bank jobs all make leaving his life in Charlestown far more difficult than he imagined. So can Doug get out? Will Claire discover who really is? Will Matt Damon receive producing credits?
The genre of Heist movies is always ripe for clichés such as the “one last job scenario”, the “I am going to be found out at any point” issue, and of course the “loose cannon crazy gunman”. The beauty of The Town is that it contains all of these clichés but presents them in a very refreshing way. The movie’s main character does not set out to do one job and get outs scenario but comes to this realization very organically. The tension of being found out by the FBI and Claire is done by setting very believable events in motion in motion. Renner’s muscleman character is not over the top and is given a back story as to why he is not bothered by having to hurt other people. While comparisons could be made to "Heat," "The Town" truly stands apart because its pacing is well done and the back story and characters do not over complicate or over simplify the story. There are very strong, albeit small, performances by Chris Cooper as Doug’s imprisoned father, Pete Postelthwaite as the Irish crime boss, and a surprising Blake Lively as the drug addict girl friend. Additionally, and don’t let this get out, Affleck can act. If you have seen "Good Will Hunting," "Dazed and Confused," or even "Sum of All Fears" he can be a very convincing actor. Affleck is now proving that, with right director, he is not too bad at making movies.
4.25 die packs out of 5 and worth seeing in a theatre.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Inception
Ben’s Review of Inception
Chris Nolan has been on a major role since bursting onto the scene with 2001’swonderfully twisted story in reverse, Momento. Since Momento, Nolan has put together film noir blockbuster with Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Prestige, and of course the second highest grossing movie of all time and major league Oscar snub The Dark Knight. All of these movies are well written, well acted, and well paced. Most important, all these movies adhere to my number one rule in fictional story telling, they take the unbelievable and make it believable. So, like any pessimistic person I have to wonder how long can Chris Nolan maintain this streak. Even Steven Spielberg has done movies like Hook and 1941.
Inception is Chris Nolan’s most ambitious endeavor to date. Leonardo Dicaprio stars as Dom Cobb, a person who has perfected the art of what is known as “Extraction”. This is the ability to share in another person’s dream and steal that person’s secrets. Cobb is joined by his team of fellow extractors who each play a role in helping steal the various secrets of each victim. Cobb mainly works in corporate espionage extracting secrets for various clients. Extractions are typically elaborately set traps in which one extractor, known as the “Architect” designs a maze to lure the victim in to revealing the secret. Additionally, there are dangers involved such as once a person’s subconscious realizes that they are sharing a dream it attempts to kill the extractor. Additionally, if a person is killed in a dream typically they wake up unless the sedative that extractor takes is too strong, in which case you lose your mind. Also, it is possible to extract from a dream within a dream.
Cobb has gained a reputation for being a very good extractor but he is carrying a lot person of baggage based on past events. One of these past events prevents Cobb from returning to the United States and seeing his children. Another is the death of his wife. Cobb is presented with an opportunity to do one last job with the payoff being his ability to return to the United States. However this job is different, instead of extracting an idea, Cobb is hired to plant or incept an idea into the head of a victim. Cobb’s team does not believe it can be done but they are willing to try. This type of task requires planting a dream inside a dream inside a dream inside a dream. So, can this inception be done? Can a concept this complicated be made believable? Can anyone with an IQ under 340 follow this plot?
Inception takes a concept like a dream inside a dream inside a dream inside a dream and makes it work. This crazy seemingly unbelievable concept of being able to share someone’s dream and deal with the various rules and boundaries is one hell of task. Inception makes this concept work and does it without bombarding the audience with CGI effects or overly dramatic acting and scenes of various characters staring in awe. This movie is not the Matrix or Avatar and what makes it absolutely great is that it does not try to be. Its concept is original and occurs organically thus making it fascinating to watch. Additionally, Chris Nolan’s refusal to cram in needless special effects and use live action sequences greatly adds to the believability of this movie. A case in point is the now famous Joseph Gordon Levitt’s zero gravity fight during a sequence where one dream is being affected by the physics of another. Also, I can honestly say that I think I understood most of this move as it occurred. There are solid and not overly done acting performance from the aforementioned Dicaprio and Levit, as well Ellen Page, Ken Wantabe, Michael Cane, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and a dark Marion Cotilard. This movie may be worth catching a second time just to see what is missed.
I give it 4.75 sedatives out of 5 and recommend that potential moviegoers not be intimidated and enjoy the ride.
Something extra: this movie contains two up and coming actors that are ready to get the due each deserves. The first is Tom Hardy. If you have not seen last year’s Bronson make time to so. It is an acting clinic and something that most actors simply are not capable of pulling off. The second is Joseph Gordon Levitt. Forget about 500 Days of Summer. 2007’s the Lookout is and outstanding crime caper and is anchored by Levitt’s lead performance. Also, if you are looking for great modern day noir, 2006’s The Brick is as twisty and turny as it gets. Both these actors have quite bright futures ahead of them.
Elisa's Review of Inception
I think it is pretty clear by now that I am not a huge science-fiction fan, my suspension of disbelief is fairly limited and special effects do not really turn me on. The green-screen phenomena seems like cheating. Considering this, I was not too excited about Ben’s obsession with seeing the heavy-with-effects Inception. However, after watching an HBO “Behind the Scenes” special showing the director’s use of real-life effects and lack of green-screen explaining the real-life processes involving to be create the effects sans green screen, I was game.
Leonard Dicaprio (known to me as the guy that replaced aging Kirk Cameron on Growing Pains) leads a gorgeous nearly all-male cast the includes Joseph Gordon Levitt, of Third Rock from the Sun fame, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and Michael Cane. Instead of the stereotypical tall blonde femme fatale, Ellen Page of Juno is cast as an intelligent and imaginative architect.
Working as an ensemble cast, the group employs themselves as real-life dreamweavers, aka Extractors. Typically hired by Fortune 500 executives to extract trade secrets and the like, from the subconscious of the mark as he or she sleeps—dreams.
Hiding out after a turn of bad luck with an Asian chemical company, Don Cobb played by Dicaprio is approached with a new and creative job. The client, the CEO of the aforementioned chemical company, wants an idea be planted—incepted into the subconscious on the heir to the CEO’s largest competitor. He wants the “heir to the throne” to inherit his father’s global assets, and then break apart the business for the CEO to purchase. Cobb balks at the idea, as inception is impossible, the CEO insists Cobb take the job, promising a big payday---financially and personally.
Willing to risk it all, Cobb reunites his Extractor Team and outlines a plan: A dream-within-a-dream, within-a-dream blue-print is planned and put into action.
Inception is a brilliant and original story. It is a movie that should be viewed on the big screen to get the full glory of the scenes. Be advised, this is a thinking movie—with a great cliffhanger. So, if you are confused by the game “Bingo,” need directions playing “Tic-Tac-Toe” or think the objective in “Hangman” is to draw a body, this is probably not going to be an enjoyable experience. Otherwise, it is a must-see and undoubtedly a future classic.
Chris Nolan has been on a major role since bursting onto the scene with 2001’swonderfully twisted story in reverse, Momento. Since Momento, Nolan has put together film noir blockbuster with Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Prestige, and of course the second highest grossing movie of all time and major league Oscar snub The Dark Knight. All of these movies are well written, well acted, and well paced. Most important, all these movies adhere to my number one rule in fictional story telling, they take the unbelievable and make it believable. So, like any pessimistic person I have to wonder how long can Chris Nolan maintain this streak. Even Steven Spielberg has done movies like Hook and 1941.
Inception is Chris Nolan’s most ambitious endeavor to date. Leonardo Dicaprio stars as Dom Cobb, a person who has perfected the art of what is known as “Extraction”. This is the ability to share in another person’s dream and steal that person’s secrets. Cobb is joined by his team of fellow extractors who each play a role in helping steal the various secrets of each victim. Cobb mainly works in corporate espionage extracting secrets for various clients. Extractions are typically elaborately set traps in which one extractor, known as the “Architect” designs a maze to lure the victim in to revealing the secret. Additionally, there are dangers involved such as once a person’s subconscious realizes that they are sharing a dream it attempts to kill the extractor. Additionally, if a person is killed in a dream typically they wake up unless the sedative that extractor takes is too strong, in which case you lose your mind. Also, it is possible to extract from a dream within a dream.
Cobb has gained a reputation for being a very good extractor but he is carrying a lot person of baggage based on past events. One of these past events prevents Cobb from returning to the United States and seeing his children. Another is the death of his wife. Cobb is presented with an opportunity to do one last job with the payoff being his ability to return to the United States. However this job is different, instead of extracting an idea, Cobb is hired to plant or incept an idea into the head of a victim. Cobb’s team does not believe it can be done but they are willing to try. This type of task requires planting a dream inside a dream inside a dream inside a dream. So, can this inception be done? Can a concept this complicated be made believable? Can anyone with an IQ under 340 follow this plot?
Inception takes a concept like a dream inside a dream inside a dream inside a dream and makes it work. This crazy seemingly unbelievable concept of being able to share someone’s dream and deal with the various rules and boundaries is one hell of task. Inception makes this concept work and does it without bombarding the audience with CGI effects or overly dramatic acting and scenes of various characters staring in awe. This movie is not the Matrix or Avatar and what makes it absolutely great is that it does not try to be. Its concept is original and occurs organically thus making it fascinating to watch. Additionally, Chris Nolan’s refusal to cram in needless special effects and use live action sequences greatly adds to the believability of this movie. A case in point is the now famous Joseph Gordon Levitt’s zero gravity fight during a sequence where one dream is being affected by the physics of another. Also, I can honestly say that I think I understood most of this move as it occurred. There are solid and not overly done acting performance from the aforementioned Dicaprio and Levit, as well Ellen Page, Ken Wantabe, Michael Cane, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and a dark Marion Cotilard. This movie may be worth catching a second time just to see what is missed.
I give it 4.75 sedatives out of 5 and recommend that potential moviegoers not be intimidated and enjoy the ride.
Something extra: this movie contains two up and coming actors that are ready to get the due each deserves. The first is Tom Hardy. If you have not seen last year’s Bronson make time to so. It is an acting clinic and something that most actors simply are not capable of pulling off. The second is Joseph Gordon Levitt. Forget about 500 Days of Summer. 2007’s the Lookout is and outstanding crime caper and is anchored by Levitt’s lead performance. Also, if you are looking for great modern day noir, 2006’s The Brick is as twisty and turny as it gets. Both these actors have quite bright futures ahead of them.
Elisa's Review of Inception
I think it is pretty clear by now that I am not a huge science-fiction fan, my suspension of disbelief is fairly limited and special effects do not really turn me on. The green-screen phenomena seems like cheating. Considering this, I was not too excited about Ben’s obsession with seeing the heavy-with-effects Inception. However, after watching an HBO “Behind the Scenes” special showing the director’s use of real-life effects and lack of green-screen explaining the real-life processes involving to be create the effects sans green screen, I was game.
Leonard Dicaprio (known to me as the guy that replaced aging Kirk Cameron on Growing Pains) leads a gorgeous nearly all-male cast the includes Joseph Gordon Levitt, of Third Rock from the Sun fame, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and Michael Cane. Instead of the stereotypical tall blonde femme fatale, Ellen Page of Juno is cast as an intelligent and imaginative architect.
Working as an ensemble cast, the group employs themselves as real-life dreamweavers, aka Extractors. Typically hired by Fortune 500 executives to extract trade secrets and the like, from the subconscious of the mark as he or she sleeps—dreams.
Hiding out after a turn of bad luck with an Asian chemical company, Don Cobb played by Dicaprio is approached with a new and creative job. The client, the CEO of the aforementioned chemical company, wants an idea be planted—incepted into the subconscious on the heir to the CEO’s largest competitor. He wants the “heir to the throne” to inherit his father’s global assets, and then break apart the business for the CEO to purchase. Cobb balks at the idea, as inception is impossible, the CEO insists Cobb take the job, promising a big payday---financially and personally.
Willing to risk it all, Cobb reunites his Extractor Team and outlines a plan: A dream-within-a-dream, within-a-dream blue-print is planned and put into action.
Inception is a brilliant and original story. It is a movie that should be viewed on the big screen to get the full glory of the scenes. Be advised, this is a thinking movie—with a great cliffhanger. So, if you are confused by the game “Bingo,” need directions playing “Tic-Tac-Toe” or think the objective in “Hangman” is to draw a body, this is probably not going to be an enjoyable experience. Otherwise, it is a must-see and undoubtedly a future classic.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
A-Team
Ben’s Review of A-Team
I am 32 almost 33 and this puts me in the age group that spent early parts of my childhood watching the Mr. T and the A-Team. I am pretty sure that the 20th Century Fox had the 28 to 40 age group in mind when deciding to do a live movie version of everyone’s fugitive team for hire. Best of all my wife also falls into this age group and was likewise eager to take advantage then 80s nostalgia fest. Couple this with the near blind rage I have been harboring for sheer audacity of anyone deciding to remake the Karate Kid, and you will pretty much guarantee my attendance for this movie. But did A-Team come off cool and interesting like 2006’s Miami Vice or overly produced and lame like Transformers 2?
The A-Team begins at a very novel place, the beginning. Colonel Hannibal Smith, played by the always cool Liam Neeson, is bringing down a corrupt Mexican Official while at the same time bailing Templeton Peck, aka Face, played by Bradley Cooper, out of trouble. On his way to rescue Face, Hannibal car-jacks car thief and ex-army ranger, Bosco Barracus, aka BA, played by UFC star Quinton Rampage Jackson. BA, knowing the legend of Hannibal agrees to help a fellow army ranger and rescue Face. Upon rescuing Face, Hannibal, BA, and Face all need to get out of town before the Mexican authorities catch up with them and what better way to do this then to spring everyone’s favorite schizophrenic army ranger helicopter pilot, Howling Mad Murdoch, from a Mexican mental hospital. Having worked so well together to escape from Mexico, Hannibal keeps this team together to form the A-Team. The Army uses the A-Team for special missions in Iraq because they are always successful. All is well until the A-Team is solicited for one last mission by the CIA to retrieve counterfeit money plates that are set to be smuggled out of Baghdad. Employing a perfect plan by Hannibal, The A-Team retrieves the plates, however at the last moment the plates are switched, military officials are killed and the A-Team is framed and convicted for the crime. But do you really think the Hannibal, Face, BA, and Murdoch are really going to sit around and rot in jail? So is this remake worth finding for help?
The secret to a good remake is to take the concept seriously and not dumb down the premise for your audience and A-Team does this beautifully. This movie is exciting, well paced, and a lot of fun while not becoming unbelievable or goofy. The movie is perfectly cast: Bradlley Cooper looks and acts like a Face; Liam Neeson is cunning but not a con artist; Sharlto Copley, last year’s break out star from District 9, is crazy but not insane; and even Quinton Jackson, while obvious not a Shakespearian actor, handles his new acting duties very well. The action comes at you and plot keeps moving. More importantly, if you are going to pay $10 to go to theatre you want to be entertained and this movie does just that. Is this Schindler’s List, no, but its not Charlie’s Angels Full Throttle either.
Overall I will give this movie a Great but not Oscar Worthy and four and quarter bullet holes in the side of building out of five. A remake of Karate Kid with Will Smith’s son, seriously, Pat Morita must be rolling over in his “Arnold-from –Happy-Days-grave.”
Elisa’s “A-Team” Review
After 10 years of production, 11 screen-plays, re-writes, two directors and rumors of Hollywood Stars such as Bruce Willis (Hannibal Smith), Woody Harrelson (Murdoch) and Ice Cube (BA Baracus), somehow a plan did come together and a GREAT movie was made.
There is nothing I did not LOVE about the TV show, and there was nothing I did not LOVE about this movie. The casting was perfect. Every nuance of Hannibal Smith’s cigar smoking, cocky-but-love-him demeanor was perfectly portrayed by Liam Neeson. Bradley Cooper (now well into Hollywood thanks to last summer’s Hangover fame) was a perfect Templeman “Faceman” Peck, and the acting of Sharlto Copley (Weird Alien/Australia movie from last summer) as Howling Mad-Dog Murdoch was spot-on to the role first reprised by Dwight Schultz. Many critics and bloggers wondered if anyone other than Mr. T could play the role of BA (BAD ASS) Baracus as well, and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson nailed it. Of course the A-Team always had a hot chick around, and Jessica Biel plays the role of irrelevant hot-chick quite well.
The beginning of the film gives a brief re-write of how the team comes together and updates the team as Iraq-war Veterans. Flash-forward to present-day Baghdad and the team is approached with a top-secret mission to retrieve “stolen” plates that are replicas of US Currency. This set-up is similar to the TV show, where the team was accused of robbing a bank in Hanoi, with a General Morrison to prove their innocence. Morrison reappears as a General in the movie, giving the die-hard fans a compelling story-line based on the original show.
Generally special effects and stunts are not my thing, however, there are some really cool scenes and “awesome” special effects. In fact, after splitting a large pop with Ben, I still sat through the entire movie.
A note to band geeks everywhere--I was extremely happy to see, actually hear, the original A-Team theme song written by Mark Post was used in the movie. It is one of my favorite songs to hum!
This movie is so good it definitely is a candidate to EGOT during the 2010 award season, or, at least the Emmy Award and an Oscar.
I am 32 almost 33 and this puts me in the age group that spent early parts of my childhood watching the Mr. T and the A-Team. I am pretty sure that the 20th Century Fox had the 28 to 40 age group in mind when deciding to do a live movie version of everyone’s fugitive team for hire. Best of all my wife also falls into this age group and was likewise eager to take advantage then 80s nostalgia fest. Couple this with the near blind rage I have been harboring for sheer audacity of anyone deciding to remake the Karate Kid, and you will pretty much guarantee my attendance for this movie. But did A-Team come off cool and interesting like 2006’s Miami Vice or overly produced and lame like Transformers 2?
The A-Team begins at a very novel place, the beginning. Colonel Hannibal Smith, played by the always cool Liam Neeson, is bringing down a corrupt Mexican Official while at the same time bailing Templeton Peck, aka Face, played by Bradley Cooper, out of trouble. On his way to rescue Face, Hannibal car-jacks car thief and ex-army ranger, Bosco Barracus, aka BA, played by UFC star Quinton Rampage Jackson. BA, knowing the legend of Hannibal agrees to help a fellow army ranger and rescue Face. Upon rescuing Face, Hannibal, BA, and Face all need to get out of town before the Mexican authorities catch up with them and what better way to do this then to spring everyone’s favorite schizophrenic army ranger helicopter pilot, Howling Mad Murdoch, from a Mexican mental hospital. Having worked so well together to escape from Mexico, Hannibal keeps this team together to form the A-Team. The Army uses the A-Team for special missions in Iraq because they are always successful. All is well until the A-Team is solicited for one last mission by the CIA to retrieve counterfeit money plates that are set to be smuggled out of Baghdad. Employing a perfect plan by Hannibal, The A-Team retrieves the plates, however at the last moment the plates are switched, military officials are killed and the A-Team is framed and convicted for the crime. But do you really think the Hannibal, Face, BA, and Murdoch are really going to sit around and rot in jail? So is this remake worth finding for help?
The secret to a good remake is to take the concept seriously and not dumb down the premise for your audience and A-Team does this beautifully. This movie is exciting, well paced, and a lot of fun while not becoming unbelievable or goofy. The movie is perfectly cast: Bradlley Cooper looks and acts like a Face; Liam Neeson is cunning but not a con artist; Sharlto Copley, last year’s break out star from District 9, is crazy but not insane; and even Quinton Jackson, while obvious not a Shakespearian actor, handles his new acting duties very well. The action comes at you and plot keeps moving. More importantly, if you are going to pay $10 to go to theatre you want to be entertained and this movie does just that. Is this Schindler’s List, no, but its not Charlie’s Angels Full Throttle either.
Overall I will give this movie a Great but not Oscar Worthy and four and quarter bullet holes in the side of building out of five. A remake of Karate Kid with Will Smith’s son, seriously, Pat Morita must be rolling over in his “Arnold-from –Happy-Days-grave.”
Elisa’s “A-Team” Review
After 10 years of production, 11 screen-plays, re-writes, two directors and rumors of Hollywood Stars such as Bruce Willis (Hannibal Smith), Woody Harrelson (Murdoch) and Ice Cube (BA Baracus), somehow a plan did come together and a GREAT movie was made.
There is nothing I did not LOVE about the TV show, and there was nothing I did not LOVE about this movie. The casting was perfect. Every nuance of Hannibal Smith’s cigar smoking, cocky-but-love-him demeanor was perfectly portrayed by Liam Neeson. Bradley Cooper (now well into Hollywood thanks to last summer’s Hangover fame) was a perfect Templeman “Faceman” Peck, and the acting of Sharlto Copley (Weird Alien/Australia movie from last summer) as Howling Mad-Dog Murdoch was spot-on to the role first reprised by Dwight Schultz. Many critics and bloggers wondered if anyone other than Mr. T could play the role of BA (BAD ASS) Baracus as well, and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson nailed it. Of course the A-Team always had a hot chick around, and Jessica Biel plays the role of irrelevant hot-chick quite well.
The beginning of the film gives a brief re-write of how the team comes together and updates the team as Iraq-war Veterans. Flash-forward to present-day Baghdad and the team is approached with a top-secret mission to retrieve “stolen” plates that are replicas of US Currency. This set-up is similar to the TV show, where the team was accused of robbing a bank in Hanoi, with a General Morrison to prove their innocence. Morrison reappears as a General in the movie, giving the die-hard fans a compelling story-line based on the original show.
Generally special effects and stunts are not my thing, however, there are some really cool scenes and “awesome” special effects. In fact, after splitting a large pop with Ben, I still sat through the entire movie.
A note to band geeks everywhere--I was extremely happy to see, actually hear, the original A-Team theme song written by Mark Post was used in the movie. It is one of my favorite songs to hum!
This movie is so good it definitely is a candidate to EGOT during the 2010 award season, or, at least the Emmy Award and an Oscar.
"Get Him to The Greek"
Ben’s review of Get Him to the Greek
From the same producer, director, and writer of Forgetting Sarah Marshall we now have Get Him to the Greek. Get Him to the Greek is suppose to be a pseudo sequel to Marshall in that it involves rock star Aldous Snow, once again brilliantly played by Russell, Brand and an aspiring music exec Aaron Green, played by Jonah Hill. The plot is centered on the current problem with the music industry in that it has become very hard to sell records and find new artists. The head of the record label where Aaron works, Sergio, played by Sean “Puffy Daddy, P-Diddy, Doo Doo Ditty, Shama-Lama-Ding-Dong” Combs, wants his group of execs to find a way to make money for his label. The execs make several pitches (an especially funny sale is from Nick Kroll who claims to have the Mexican Jonas Brothers which leads to Sergio yelling at Nick about his last find Chocolate Daddy). After dismissing all of these ideas Aaron brings up the possibility of having a reunion show for Aldous Snow at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. After initially dismissing this idea, Sergio agrees and gives Aaron his big break to go find Aldous in London and bring him back for the show which is scheduled for three days later.
Reeling from a break up with his Doctor in Residency girlfriend, played by Elizabeth Moss, Aaron dutifully goes to find Aldous and escort him to the show. Aldous is in the midst of his own career crisis with the failure of his concept album, African Child, and is dealing with the divorce from his wife, played very well by Rose Byrne. Predictably, Aaron has no idea what he has got himself into and has to deal with all of the rock star antics of Aldous including not leaving London on time, drinking anything and everything, drugs, and sex with several different people. Despite being overmatched by the hard partying Aldous, Aaron dutifully does everything he can get Aldous to the show. Will Aaron get him to the show and is it worth the wait?
This movie violates two of Ben’s rules about good story telling: 1) the movie needs to consistent; and 2) you need to be able to identify and root for one of the characters. The premise sounds hilarious and there were certainly some very amusing parts and surprising performances, including a shockingly hilarious Sean Combs. However, despite all the funny moments and some stand out acting, Get Him to the Greek is very disjointed. Jonah Hill and Russell Brand seem to work well together but the direction and the script constantly have them oscillating between funny, absurd, and downright depressing. Aldous’ character is revealed to have some very dark issues regarding drug use and the relationship with his parents. Throw in a disturbing three way scene, and Get Him to Greek is all over the place. The other troublesome aspect is, while Jonah Hill was in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I do not think he is playing the same character.
This movie is missing the heart and creativity that made Forgetting Sarah Marshall great. It is okay, not good. I would give it 2.25 bags of heroine out of 5.
Elisa’s Review of “Get Him To The Greek”
“Get Him to the Greek” centers around a washed-up rock star, Aldous Snow’s “can-he-do-it-come-back”. Reprising the role of Aldous Snow, he first made iconic in the break-up film, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is Russel Brandt.
Greek is a FSM reunion of sorts, as Jonas Hill is cast as Aaron Green, the straight-man to Brandt wild, rocker character.
We learn, Green is living a hum-drum, quiet life in Los Angeles. His girlfriend is a medical resident, working the night-shift. Instead of rocker shows, and clubs, her idea of a night-in consist of catching up on “Gossip Girl” and take-out. A fate, even I would not subject any man too.
Hill’s character has the LA dream job: working for a record company in the modern times of “hit-singles” and “downloadable appeal.” His boss, played by Mr. Sean-John himself, Puff –Daddy (I graduated high school in 1996, he will always be Puffy to me) has some of the funniest moments in the movie. Searching for a new one-hit wonder, Green suggest an anniversary concert of Aldous Snow’s unforgettable concert at The Greek Theater in LA.
Clearly bored out of his mind with the Doogie Howser lifestyle, Hill’s character is ecstatic to fly to London to not only meet his idol Aldous Snow, but travel with him to New York to promote the concert at The Greek, and then to LA for the show.
While the set-up seems plausible, the wild antics leading to the “will they get to The Greek” fall way short. Yes, there are wild parties in no less than four major metropolitan cities: London, New York, Las Vegas and Las Angeles. Yes, there are stripers, drugs, alcohol, gratuitous amounts of sex, to include a scene with a gigantic dildo, there is nothing clever, or really even funny that happens on the way to “The Greek.”
Instead, the movie takes a very dark turn looking at the personal relationships and family of Aldous Snow. He finds himself to be miserable, and in the most bizarre scene of the film, decides to exercise the phrase, “misery loves company” which the writers of this film interpreted as an awkward threesome.
Jason Segel who stared in, and wrote “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” developed the character of Aldous Snow, was not credited as a writer in “Greek.” FSM was everything “Greek” was not: clever, funny, and gave us someone to cheer on. I hope he learned his lesson, and will not hand-over creative freedom to someone else to destroy his well-developed characters in the future. Will I watch Greek when it airs completely edited with commercials on TBS---I doubt it. I will be running through last season’s “Gossip Girl.”
From the same producer, director, and writer of Forgetting Sarah Marshall we now have Get Him to the Greek. Get Him to the Greek is suppose to be a pseudo sequel to Marshall in that it involves rock star Aldous Snow, once again brilliantly played by Russell, Brand and an aspiring music exec Aaron Green, played by Jonah Hill. The plot is centered on the current problem with the music industry in that it has become very hard to sell records and find new artists. The head of the record label where Aaron works, Sergio, played by Sean “Puffy Daddy, P-Diddy, Doo Doo Ditty, Shama-Lama-Ding-Dong” Combs, wants his group of execs to find a way to make money for his label. The execs make several pitches (an especially funny sale is from Nick Kroll who claims to have the Mexican Jonas Brothers which leads to Sergio yelling at Nick about his last find Chocolate Daddy). After dismissing all of these ideas Aaron brings up the possibility of having a reunion show for Aldous Snow at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. After initially dismissing this idea, Sergio agrees and gives Aaron his big break to go find Aldous in London and bring him back for the show which is scheduled for three days later.
Reeling from a break up with his Doctor in Residency girlfriend, played by Elizabeth Moss, Aaron dutifully goes to find Aldous and escort him to the show. Aldous is in the midst of his own career crisis with the failure of his concept album, African Child, and is dealing with the divorce from his wife, played very well by Rose Byrne. Predictably, Aaron has no idea what he has got himself into and has to deal with all of the rock star antics of Aldous including not leaving London on time, drinking anything and everything, drugs, and sex with several different people. Despite being overmatched by the hard partying Aldous, Aaron dutifully does everything he can get Aldous to the show. Will Aaron get him to the show and is it worth the wait?
This movie violates two of Ben’s rules about good story telling: 1) the movie needs to consistent; and 2) you need to be able to identify and root for one of the characters. The premise sounds hilarious and there were certainly some very amusing parts and surprising performances, including a shockingly hilarious Sean Combs. However, despite all the funny moments and some stand out acting, Get Him to the Greek is very disjointed. Jonah Hill and Russell Brand seem to work well together but the direction and the script constantly have them oscillating between funny, absurd, and downright depressing. Aldous’ character is revealed to have some very dark issues regarding drug use and the relationship with his parents. Throw in a disturbing three way scene, and Get Him to Greek is all over the place. The other troublesome aspect is, while Jonah Hill was in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I do not think he is playing the same character.
This movie is missing the heart and creativity that made Forgetting Sarah Marshall great. It is okay, not good. I would give it 2.25 bags of heroine out of 5.
Elisa’s Review of “Get Him To The Greek”
“Get Him to the Greek” centers around a washed-up rock star, Aldous Snow’s “can-he-do-it-come-back”. Reprising the role of Aldous Snow, he first made iconic in the break-up film, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is Russel Brandt.
Greek is a FSM reunion of sorts, as Jonas Hill is cast as Aaron Green, the straight-man to Brandt wild, rocker character.
We learn, Green is living a hum-drum, quiet life in Los Angeles. His girlfriend is a medical resident, working the night-shift. Instead of rocker shows, and clubs, her idea of a night-in consist of catching up on “Gossip Girl” and take-out. A fate, even I would not subject any man too.
Hill’s character has the LA dream job: working for a record company in the modern times of “hit-singles” and “downloadable appeal.” His boss, played by Mr. Sean-John himself, Puff –Daddy (I graduated high school in 1996, he will always be Puffy to me) has some of the funniest moments in the movie. Searching for a new one-hit wonder, Green suggest an anniversary concert of Aldous Snow’s unforgettable concert at The Greek Theater in LA.
Clearly bored out of his mind with the Doogie Howser lifestyle, Hill’s character is ecstatic to fly to London to not only meet his idol Aldous Snow, but travel with him to New York to promote the concert at The Greek, and then to LA for the show.
While the set-up seems plausible, the wild antics leading to the “will they get to The Greek” fall way short. Yes, there are wild parties in no less than four major metropolitan cities: London, New York, Las Vegas and Las Angeles. Yes, there are stripers, drugs, alcohol, gratuitous amounts of sex, to include a scene with a gigantic dildo, there is nothing clever, or really even funny that happens on the way to “The Greek.”
Instead, the movie takes a very dark turn looking at the personal relationships and family of Aldous Snow. He finds himself to be miserable, and in the most bizarre scene of the film, decides to exercise the phrase, “misery loves company” which the writers of this film interpreted as an awkward threesome.
Jason Segel who stared in, and wrote “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” developed the character of Aldous Snow, was not credited as a writer in “Greek.” FSM was everything “Greek” was not: clever, funny, and gave us someone to cheer on. I hope he learned his lesson, and will not hand-over creative freedom to someone else to destroy his well-developed characters in the future. Will I watch Greek when it airs completely edited with commercials on TBS---I doubt it. I will be running through last season’s “Gossip Girl.”
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