PRECIOUS

PRECIOUS...surprisingly exceeded my expectations. "7"

LOVE HAPPENS

LOVE HAPPENS...I continue to hope Aaron Eckhart becomes a big star. The only way this will happen is if he passes on projects such as LOVE HAPPENS. Jennifer Aniston...if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything. "4"

INKHEART

INKHEART...Not all fantasy books should be made into a movie. "0"

THE ART OF THE STEAL

THE ART OF THE STEAL...When politicians and government officials want something...they will do whatever it takes to get it. "7"

ROCKY BALBOA

ROCKY BALBOA...Watched Rocky Balboa for the second time last night. When I first watched it in the theater back in December 2006 I was surprised at how good it was. It was just as good last night. Rocky Balboa is a sweet film that has a lot of tender moments. "8"

KICK-ASS

KICK-ASS...not all heroes are super, or for that matter, kick-ass. At times, great...at times, very difficult to watch. "5"

ARMAGEDDON

ARMAGEDDON...One of my top 10 summer movies of all time..."10". "Harry will do it, I know it...he doesn't know how to fail".

MOON

MOON...The dark side of the moon is a very lonely place when you only have yourself, yourself, and yourself to talk to. The most unique film of 2009. "7"

THE HURT LOCKER

THE HURT LOCKER...a good film, but as good as I expected. An Oscar winner? Maybe it was better on the big screen?

WHEN IN ROME

WHEN IN ROME...I'd rather be in Cleveland. "2"

DEADGIRL

DEADGIRL...Vile, disgusting, disturbing...everything a horror film should be. "6"

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO...Loved the book, liked the film. Lisbeth Salander is one of the best characters of the past decade. Looking forward to the American version with will be released next year. "7"

TOY STORY 3

TOY STORY 3...Finally, a really good summer film! "8"

The Ghost Writer

THE GHOST WRITER...a well crafted thriller. "7"

IRON MAN 2

IRON MAN 2...the most disappointing sequel ever? "5"

GET HIM TO THE GREEK

GET HIM TO THE GREEK...a few laugh out loud moments combined with long spans of boredom. At best, GREEK is a somewhat entertaining comedy. "5"

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN...One of the better vampire flicks I've ever seen. Beats any of the 3 released Twilight flicks by a mile. "7" Looking forward to seeing the American re-make that will be released October 1st of this year.

BROTHERS

BROTHERS...no matter how good or accomplished the actors, a strong screenplay is a must. Brothers suffers from under-developed characters and family situations that don't ring true with the audience.

THE MESSENGER

THE MESSENGER...The second most prominent Iraq War film of 2009, but its definitely the best of the two. "7".

SALT

SALT...a very flawed, but fun, cartoon-like Bourne film. "6"

MACGRUBER

MACGRUBER...When will Hollywood stop making movies based on bad Saturday Night Live skits? Not soon enough. "0"

TRANSAMERICA

TRANSAMERICA...best film about a trans-gendered person that I've ever seen. "6"

I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL

I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL...no way is this a true story. Even if it were true, its still a bad film. "3"

THE WOLFMAN

THE WOLFMAN...More bark than bite. "4"

Anthony Hopkin's 5 Best Films

1) The Legends of the Fall

2) The Edge

3) The silence of the Lambs

4) Bram Stoker's Dracula

5) Red Dragon

GROWN UPS

GROWN-UPS...Mr. Sandler, Please go away and take your talentless friends with you. "3"

THE ROAD

THE ROAD...Loved the book, liked the film. "7"

THE GOODS

I was really disappointed when I missed this movie this past summer. THE GOODS is like other bad comedies. The misleading trailer has all the funny parts front and center. It had a few laughs at the beginning, but after the initial rush of laughs and site gags...it went down hill quick. Jamie says "2".

The A-Team

The A-Team...there's no plan B. Let's hope there isn't a sequel. "5"

MAN ON WIRE

MAN ON WIRE...One of the top 5 documentaries I've seen. Suspenseful as any thriller you've ever seen. "7"

She's Out of My league

She's Out of My League...She was totally out of his league. No chemistry, and worse yet, no laughs. "4".

ECLIPSE

ECLIPSE...better than the first 2, but still a bad film. "4"

A SINGLE MAN

....Enjoyed the journey, didn't like the destination. 7

INCEPTION

...Very ambitious.

CRAZY HEART

CRAZY HEART isn't a great film, its a good film with a great performance by Jeff Bridges. The film is a little slow but I enjoyed the country twang tunes and the great southwest landscapes portrayed in the film. Bridges in nominated for best actor for his portrayal of Bad Blake, a washed up country singer past his prime.

Jeff Bridges 5 Best Films

1. Starman

2. American Heart

3. K-Pax

4. Wild Bill

5. The Contender

EDGE OF DARKNESS

No actor does mad better than Mad Mel Gibson. After the untimely death of his daughter, Gibson's character yells, screams, and beats up every suspect he can find in trying to find her killer. It's nice to see Gibson back on screen. Regardless of his off screen antics and politics he has brought uncountable movie memories to life over the last quarter of century. Mad Max and Martin Riggs are two of my all-time favorite film characters.

Occasional film goers will appreciate Edge's suspense and mystery. I had issues with the unnecessarily complicated screenplay. Jamie says "6".

Rolling Stone: Top 10 Films of the Decade 2000-2009

Creating my own Top 10 list of the decade is much too tough for me. I've seen all of the films on the list except for one...Brokeback Mountain. Of the others, all were great films except for Mulholland Drive.

1. There Will Be Blood
2. Cildren of Men
3. Mulhooland Drive
4. A History of Violence
5. No Country For Old Men
6. The Incredibles
7. Brokeback Mountain
8. The Departed
9. Mystic River
10. Lord of the Rings Trilogy

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?

A movie producer under is under stress while he tries to manage an out of control director while trying to save his marriage.

I enjoy films like WHAT JUST HAPPENED? It's a rare film that gives the viewer a glimpse into the real Hollywood...how films are made and how screwed up the business is. The film meanders a bit in the second act and the "surprise ending" which takes place at the Cannes Film Festival really isn't a surprise. Because of this, I think most people will give WHAT JUST HAPPENED? a thumbs down.

Jamie says "6". I enjoyed the back-drop and I always enjoy watching my favorite actor perform as Robert De Niro did a good job.

The best line from WHAT JUST HAPPENED? "Vanity Fair named me as one of the 30 most powerful producers in the business. Power is an elusive term, but in Hollywood it's everything, I don't care what they say, you either have it, want it, or you're afraid of losing it. Where you stand at these things, or who you may be standing next to, may not seem like the most important thing, but it *really* matters"

Robert De Niro's 10 Best Films

1. Goodfellas

2. Cape Fear

3. This Boy's Life

4. Casino

5. Wag The Dog

6. The Untouchables

7. The Mission

8. Heat

9. The Godfather 2

10. Meet The Parents

THE NATURAL

The World Series begins this evening. Maybe the series will provides some great iconic memorable sports moments...or maybe not.

THE NATURAL, originally released in 1984 is my all-time favorite sports film. Part sports-fairy-tale, part love-letter to baseball, THE NATURAL perfectly captures the magical moments that sports can deliver.

Jamie says "a perfect 10".

DUPLICITY

Two competing corporate spies decide to shack up while sacking their employers of millions of dollars.



Skip DUPLICITY. If the fact that Julia Roberts doesn't sour you on watching it...the fact that the screenplay is boring should do the trick.

Earlier this year Clive Owen was in "THE INTERNATIONAL"....rent this instead.

SURVEILLANCE

LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER

SURVEILLANCE is directed by Jennifer Chambers Lynch, daughter of art-house director David Lynch (Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks, Lost Highway). Most of the time after watching a David Lynch film I end up asking myself...what was the point? Or better yet, WTF? I contend that even the most fanatic fan of David Lynch can not explain the plot or logically describe the meaning of any of his films. Because of this I haven't watched his last 2 films. His daughter is very close to also getting shunned.

SURVEILLANCE was original released in 2007, but for some reason it was re-released earlier this year to average reviews. Jennifer's last film was 1993's BOXING HELENA. That was barely watchable.

SURVEILLANCE is a lie. If you read the DVD jacket what you read isn't really what the film is about. The producers did this to try to hide the surprise ending. The viewer is witness to violence just for the sake of violence. The viewer is witness to massive drug use just for the sake of drug use. The viewer is witness to grotesque sexual acts just fore the sake of...I guess shocking the audience.

SURVEILLANCE gets a "0". I'll give David's daughter one more chance. However, 3 strikes and you are out.

The Invention of Lying

In a world where everybody tells the truth, a man learns how to to a lie...and then continues to tell a bunch of whoppers.

I really hated this film. In a world where everyone tells the truth...why is everyone so sad? The gimmick of this film is old after the first five minutes. "The Invention of Lying" is a true one joke film.

My wife amd I had a hard time staying awake. We almost left the theater. Jamie says "0".

9

A talking sock puppet, 9, with mechanical innards awakes to find the human race exterminated by Terminator-like machines. 9 finds other talking sock puppets and together they try to save their world from the robotic menace.

"9" is a true original science fiction version. The animation is nothing special which is fine because the story is where its at. Jamie says "7".

SORORITY ROW

Eight months after accidentally killing their sorority sister and then dumping the body down an abandon mine shaft a group of hot sorority sisters are terrorized by someone who knows what they did.


No surprises here. The plot gives several false leads and stupid hints that are supposed to lead you to the obvious masked killer. Being a seasoned movie-goer, I was not tricked. Nor was I tricked by the scooby-doo-like demasking of the villain at the end of this crap film. Jamie says "0". One good aspect of the film. Who doesn't like a scene with a young hotty holding a fireman's axe?

Rumer (daughter of Bruce and Demi) Willis co-stars in Sorority Row. In my opinion she doesn't look like Bruce and Demi.

Simply, stated...I just wasn't into this movie. The screen play and film was directed in a "documentary" style. The problem is most of the relationship issues in the film didn't ring true. It didn't help that there were several actors that were miscast in their roles. Jennifer Connelly and Drew Barrymore seemed out of place with their characters, especially Connelly who is a past Oscar winner. When this a cash-grab for her?

He's Just Not That Into You was directed by Ken Kwapis. His past directorial efforts include "Licence to Wed" and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"...not exactly high-art motion pictures.

...Not Into You isn't an awful film, it's simply weightless and unrealistic. Jamie says "5".

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