ANGELS & DEMONS

Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), the smartest man in the world, is called upon by The Vatican to help thwart a secret society from using a bomb containing "anti-matter" that will destroy all of Rome.

ANGELS & DEMONS (A&D) is a much better film that THE DA VINCI CODE. Granted, ...CODE was a truly awful film so the slightest improvement over that would seem to be quit an easy task. A&D succeeds because of the fast paced "ticking time bomb" plot. The story line encompasses an 8 hour period. If the mystery isn't solved...tick-tock, tick-tock...BOOM! This plot device gives the film a much needed dose of suspense, which was absent in CODE.

ANGELS & DEMONS gets a "6". Robert Langdon is one of the most annoying characters of the past decade. I wish he was more humble. I wish he doubted his brilliance just a little...If he did, this would supply even more suspense. There's never a doubt that Langdon will solve the mystery.

Do you think Robert Langdon would be good at solving sudoku puzzles?

Tom Hanks 5 Best Films

1). Forrest Gump

2) Cast Away

3) Saving Private Ryan

4) Catch Me If You Can

5). The 'burbs

The 10 Funniest Actresses

Top 10 lists are supposed to honor their subjects. The top 10 films of the year...the top 10 songs of all time...the top 10 television shows of all time. Every once a while a top 10 list comes out that honors its subjects but at the same time shows how weak the category is. Recently, Entertainment Weekly released their list of 10 funniest actresses. Although I immediately thought they were crazy as more than a few of these actresses didn't deserve to be on the list...I couldn't think of any other actress to put on the list. My conclusion...There simply are not many funny actresses working today.

The list in alphabetical order...

Anna Faris...last scene in Observe & Report
Tina Fey...30 Rock
Mindy Kailing...The Office
Jane Krakowski...30 Rock...see what I mean...a very weak list
Julia Louis-Dreyfus...Seinfeld
Jane Lynch...40 Year Old Virgin, Role Models
Amy Poehler...Parks & Recreation
Jaime Pressly...My Name is Earl
Wanda Sykes...Do you need more confirmation?...an extremely weak list
Kristen Wigg...Saturday Night Live

Poll Question #2: Results

Very nice to see maturity win out over elves, yoda, a teen-ager in red pj's, and a surfer-dude playing The One. The Bourne Trilogy is no doubt the best trilogy of the last 10 years.

The Bourne Trilogy - 12
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - 8
Star Wars (episodes 1-3) - 7
The Matrix Trilogy - 2
Spider-Man Trilogy - 2

I did forget about the X-Men trilogy...would that have changed the results?

MARLEY & ME

I watched MARLEY & ME for the second time last night. I wasn't looking forward to it as I watched it over Christmas and enjoyed it. I gave it a "7". As I watched it again I noticed how good of an actor Owen Wilson is. He's been one of my favorite actors this decade and it was nice to see him play the every-man in this film. Oh yeah...the woman from Friends was good to.

Upon a second viewing...MARLEY & ME gets an "8". Be warned...there may not be a dry eye in the house at the end of the film.

Owen Wilson's Best 5 Films
1) Bottle Rocket
2) Wedding Crashers
3) Marley & Me
4) You, Me, & Dupree
5) Behind Enemy Lines

NEXT DAY AIR

Criminals, hustlers, and idiots...all of these abound in NEXT DAY AIR, a comedy of errors directed by Benny Boom (i know...I've never heard of him either). Boom directed NEXT DAY AIR (NDA) as if he attended a film making class taught by Professor Tarantino. Boom may have passed the class with a C-, but to become a better film maker he should take a summer internship at a local theater company. While there, he can study and learn about good casting as NDA is filled with really bad actors. Boom must have missed a few lectures of Professor Tarantino when he covered screenplay writing and the fine art of making thugs and bad guys, although flawed as human beings, memorable as being the subject or lesson learned in a moral conundrum.

When watching a film like NDA I often wonder if the film featured accomplished actors playing the same roles, saying the same lines...would the film be better? Then, reality sets in...Why would Denzel and Ving lower their standards and soil their prestigious filmography to be in a film like this?

The lone bright spot in NDA is Omar Epps. Although he has never been in a good film, he always provides comic relief no matter if he is in a dud like NDA or an action horror film like Resident Evil. He is naturally funny. Another actor in the same role wouldn't get as many laughs as Epps achieves.

And...in an ultimate example of "bait & switch"...what the hell is Mos Def doing in this movie...let alone being the focal point on the films poster? His role plays no purpose accept to advertise that Mos Def stars in NEXT DAY AIR. His total screen time is around 6 minutes. Can I get my money back? Jamie says "3".

POLL QUESTION #2 RESULTS

All 3 of these movies were nominated in the best picture category for the 1994 Oscars...today, which film is better?

Forrest Gump - 14
Shawshank Redemption - 10
Pulp Fiction - 6

Top 10 Worst Comedians...According to Maxim

Maxim magazine recently released their Top 10 Worst Comedian List. I agree with some on the list...I disagree with others...Most notably, Dennis Miller. The only negative thing a critic can say about Miller is that he is typically the smartest man in the room. One question, why isn't Robin Williams on this list?

1. Sinbad
2. Larry the Cable Guy
3. Jay Leno
4. Andrew Dice Clay
5. Gallagher
6. Carrot Top
7. Dane Cook
8. Gilbert Gottfried
9. Dennis Miller
10. Carlos Mencia

3 Short Reviews: Star Trek, Obessed, The Haunting...

STAR TREK...So far, one of the two best films of the year. This reboot was a really fun movie experience. The special affects were great, the plot was smart, and the two hours went by quick. I'll look forward to the sequel squarely concentrating on one story line as this film had the typical good guy / villain plot line and then the "how the crew of the Enterprise came together" plot line. I expect the sequel to have more action and more suspense with more time developing the villain. Jamie says "8".

OBSESSED...A Lifetime Movie version of Fatal Attraction...without the terror and suspense. Why watch an imitation when you can rent the real thing? Wait for Obsessed DVD release...and go rent Fatal Attraction. How does one actually prepare rabbit to eat? Jamie says "5".

THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT..."I do, I do, I do believe in spooks!" Actually, I don't...but this was a good flick. Billed as a horror-film, it had more drama and suspense attributes than gross-out horror scenes. This was a welcome change to some of the terrible horror films released over the last few years. The horror genre can be good as long as the screenplay is smart...THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT is just that...smart. Jamie says "7".

Happy Birthday Ving

Ving Rhames was born 50 years ago today. He was born in New York and raised in Harlem. Although he first gained prominence in 1994's Pulp Fiction, I first remember him in 1991's The People Under the Stairs, directed by Wes Craven.

Rhames is a great character actor and one of my favorites. Although he is mostly regulated to supporting roles he almost always does the "heavy lifting" of the screenplay. Rhames plays the characters that are typically remembered most long after the credits are done rolling by.

Ving Rhames Best 5 Films:

1) Pulp Fiction

2) Out of Sight

3) Mission: Impossable 3

4) Dawn of the Dead (2004)

5) Baby Boy

GREAT MOVIES: RESERVOIR DOGS

Released during the summer of 1992 and directed and written by then no-name Quentin Tarentino, RESERVOIR DOGS was film-mania's introduction to the "world of Tarentino". In Tarentino's world he dared us to listen how real tough guys talk, act, and kill people.

RESERVOIR DOGS follows the aftermath of a jewelry heist gone bad. When the team of hoodlums meet at the rendezvous point shot up and near death they begin to turn on each other trying to find the rat that let the boys in blue know the heist was going down. The film stars Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, and Steve Buscemi. All of these actors excluding Penn will be featured in future Tarentino flicks.

My favorite aspect of any Tarentino flick are his screenplays. The language and rhythm of the characters seem so real. No one has ever walked in the shoes of his characters...but if one did...they would talk and act like one of QT's characters.

Put the kids to bed when watching this flick....Violence, blood, torture and some of the filthiest language ever heard on a rated R film is prevalent through out RESERVOIR DOGS.

Quentin Tarentino followed RD with 1994's PULP FICTION. RESERVOIR DOGS is much more subdued than PULP FICTION. Both films would be a great rental double feature the next time the kids are at a sleep-over.

QT's next film will be released this August...INGLORIOUS BASTERDS (yes, this is spelled correctly!), staring Brad Pitt.

Poll Question Results

25 years ago this week the following tunes were the top 3 songs on America's Top 40...Which song is best?

Footloose - Kenny Loggins 9
Against All Odds - Phil Collins 6
Hello - Lionel Richie 1

BODY OF LIES

Leo, Crowe, & Scott...Why did BODY OF LIES get average to bad reviews when it was released last Fall? I recently watched it on DVD and was surprised at how good it was. Of all the films over the past 5 years that have dealt with terrorism in the Middle East...BODY OF LIES is one of the best.

Instead of fighting Klingons this weekend...rent BODY OF LIES. Jamie says "8".

Russell Crowe's 5 Best Films:
1) A Beautiful Min
2) L.A. Confidential
3) The Quick & the Dead
4) Gladiator
5) Body of Lies

Happy Birthday George

George Clooney was born 48 years ago today in Lexington, Kentucky. Since hitting it big on ER in 1994, Clooney has become one of Hollywood's biggest stars.

George Clooney's 5 Best Films:

1) Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?

2) From Dusk Till Dawn

3) Out of Sight

4) Michael Clayton

5) The Peacemaker

DOUBT

DOUBT is a great film. Typically, I can take or leave (usually leave) Meryl Streep. Some say she's our greatest living actress. I say she's our most over-rated living actress. Personally, I'll take Kate Winslett over Streep...until now. Going into the 2009 Oscars one of the most heated battles was between Streep for her portrayal as a nasty nun in DOUBT and Winslet as a past Nazi who enjoys seducing teenage boys. It was obvious to me that Winslet was going to win. Her role was dramatic, brave, and she was due to win because of her past nominations and non-wins...all words and situations that the Academy love to praise and honor with the little gold man. When she won, I was happy. I would rather my big-toe win over Streep. At Oscar time, I hadn't seen DOUBT.


My opinion has changed. After seeing DOUBT over the weekend not only should have Streep won best actress, Philip Seymour Hoffman should have beat out Heath Ledger for best supporting actor (yes, he is that good in this picture), and Amy Adams should have won over Penelope Cruz (for the record...I have a big crush on Cruz).


DOUBT gets an "8". The end through me for a loop and questioned my faith in placing DOUBT onto my annual list of the 10 best films of the year. Simply stated, the acting in DOUBT is some of the best I've seen from an ensemble cast. The scenes with Streep and Hoffman going at it were some of the most memorable in any film released in 2008.


You will see that my post/ best of 2008 list from earlier in the year has been changed.

My 4 favorite Meryl Streep films...
1) Postcards From the Edge
2)The Manchurian Candidate
3) Doubt
4) Silkwood

2009 MTV MOVIE AWARDS

The nominations for the 2009 MTV Movie awards were announced today. Leading the pack was Slumdog Millionaire and Twilight each with 6 nominations.

The 5 films nominated for the best flick: Slumdog Millionaire, Twilight, Iron Man, The Dark Knight, High School Musical 3: Senior Year.

My vote goes to The Dark Knight. I don't think I know anyone who went to see HSM3SY?

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Has Hollywood ever made a really good pre-quel? If the answer is "No", X-Men Origins: Wolverine, will not change this trend. The X-Men trilogy is a very serviceable movie franchise. Were the first 3 films great, NO....But there were easy to watch, had good plots,. and most importantly good actors in the lead roles.

Wolverine must be considered as a "cash grab" for Hugh Jackman. The film is almost plotless and very poorly made. There are several scenes that one can easily tell were filmed with fancy "green screen technology". This is the high-concept technology that your local weatherman uses to stand in front of the animated weather map...very cool! X-Men Origins: Wolverine gets a "2".

Although Hugh Jackman is a good actor, he is getting very close to throwing away all of the good-well he has built up over the past 8 years. His last three motion pictures were all awful: Deception, Australia, and now Origins...One can officially say Jackman has hit a dry spell.

My 3 favorite Hugh Jackman films...
1) The Prestige (one of the best films of this decade)
2) Kate & Leopold (a little seen rom-com co-staring Meg Ryan)
3) Swordfish ( a pure, fun popcorn flick that received average reviews from professional critics)

One last comment on Wolverine...Why the hell is Ryan Reynolds in this movie?