You know it's not easy being your friend.

The Expendables

This testosterone filled action movie has bad acting, overly dramatic music, poor writing, minimal and cliched character development (if any) and action vets who need to renew their AARP membership. The Expendables is just...bad.

But who cares?

Yes, this "film" is a total mess. I was seriously worried about Sly Stallone's veins popping out of his skin, not to mention him blowing his knee out or maybe having a heart attack.

The story and script are your typical action movie stories and script...explosion explosion, fight scene fight scene, explosion explosion, dangerous dictators that need to be taken out, fight scene, a woman, explosion explosion, the end. But the fight scenes, although ridiculous, are pretty fantastic and exceptionally well choreographed. The explosions are never ending and always appreciated. The guns are loud and the knives are accurate. It's really just one thing after another and the scenes just get better and more ludicrous.

What's most important about The Expendables is its conceit--which is really kind of genius. Screenwriter Stallone is saying, "Let's get all these old and almost old action stars (and athletes) into one movie doing all the things they did when they were younger. Let's throw dictators plus a million and one explosions into the mix. Let's be totally ridiculous and off the wall and dumb for the sake of entertainment." In other words, The Expendables is totally campy and self aware; it knows what it is and embraces it whole heartedly. That awareness makes the movie intentionally and unintentionally hilarious simultaneously. The dramatic lines are just too dramatic to be serious and therefore I laugh. The action scenes are too over the top to be shocking and therefore I laugh. Some of the intentional jokes are really funny--and therefore I laugh.

The Expendables is crap...golden crap. I recommend it if you need an engrossing distraction and want to turn your brain off.

Sigourney Weaver in Working Girl

Sigourney Weaver is just so cool. She's likable and she totally kicks ass in the Alien films (so I've heard). But geez, she's such a bitch in Working Girl. Not only is she is a bitch but Weaver plays her as a completely single-minded woman. She's number one, she's the only person that matters and you're in trouble if you cross her. I wouldn't want to cross her. But Weaver is so masterful in this role because we usually love her characters, but Katherine has no redeeming qualities. And Weaver made sure of that.


Netflix

After.Life-Liam Neeson as a bad guy? Okay!
The Dinner Game-The original French film that Dinner for Schmucks is based on. I loved Dinner for Schmucks so I'm curious to see the original.
Doctor Who-Netflix Instant. They have all the seasons available and since I hear such great things I should check it out.

And I will lead them on a merry chase.

I have been so sucky with this blog this summer. Apologies.

Inception

But on a more serious note, if you haven't seen Inception, the greatest film of the summer, probably the year and one of the most important cinematic experiences of my life, then DO NOT read on. I refuse to spoil this movie for anyone who hasn't seen it. But seriously, if you haven't seen it, get your butt to a movie theater immediately. How could you have waited so long?

The film is an absolute masterpiece. An original storyline (though I think Chris Nolan might've been inspired by Roswell), a flawless cast, mind blowing special effects, powerful music, Inception has saved 2010 from being one of the weakest movie years.

First off, this GQ cast. Hottest cast since Star Trek, hands down. Everyone is beautiful in their unique ways, even Ellen Page. Looks aside, this cast is incredibly talented and all turn in exceptional performances. This is one of Leonardo DiCaprio's finest roles. His character, an extractor named Dom, comes with heavy emotional baggage and DiCaprio handles it perfectly. He's great at playing a broken man, his eyes say it all. Though Dom is the main character and DiCaprio gives an Oscar worthy performance, I don't know if he'll get his much deserved statue for this, because though Dom is the main character, Inception cannot function without all the other characters. This is truly masterful ensemble work.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is charming (as usual) but is definitely not the same Joseph Gordon-Levitt we've seen before. He is charming but he has a suave and debonairness to him. Furthermore, he executes his action scenes perfectly, like he'd been doing him since birth. Inception could definitely catapult him to the A-List, though he's been on my A-List for years. Ellen Page ALMOST made me forget she was Juno, so that says a lot. I loved her character and Page held her own in her company.

Marion Cotillard is heartbreakingly beautiful and that look was necessary for her character, Mal. She was well cast in her role. She took on a huge weight with the role, because she was one of (if not the most) important characters. Cotillard's talents were put to good use, I could see her getting nominated for an Oscar for this. Anyone who thought her character was annoying just didn't get it.

I could go on and on about the other actors but then I'd be writing all day. To sum it up, Ken Watanabe was superb and Hollywood needs to put him in more films. Cillian Murphy gave an excellent spin on a fairly stereotypical role. Michael Caine was barely in Inception, but his few moments on screen were enjoyable as usual. Newcomer Tom Hardy has left a strong impact on audiences and Hollywood. I wouldn't be surprised if he exploded in the next couple years. He brought a necessary light and humor to a very heavy film.

On to the special effects. Mind bending, mind blowing, inspiring, unlike anything I've seen before. But these aren't your Michael Bay special effects. Not only are these awe inspiring but they add to the story. Inception and its concept cannot exist without these special effects. Bending cities, gravity-less fights, epic chase sequences in houses, the streets, and snow, I don't have the adequate words to write how great they are. Joseph Gordon-Levitt's gravity-less fight scene two levels down was just incredible. How they filmed it, I don't care to know, I'd rather just live in the dream. Definitely one of the best fight scenes I've ever seen.

Hans Zimmer composed an impeccable soundtrack, which I'm listening to as I write. Heartbreaking songs but also pieces that get your blood pumping, each song fits right in with its scene, especially "Time," the last song. Zimmer apparently designed the film's distinct noise, and most of the soundtrack, around "Non Je Ne Regrette Rein," the Edith Piaf song (the woman Marion Cotillard got her Oscar for playing) that's used as the musical cue. This soundtrack is essential to any serious movie goer's collection.

The costumes are note-perfect. Great tailoring, beautiful to look at, and each piece fitting their character's personality.

Finally, the story. The story and all its complexities. Seeing Inception twice already has definitely helped me understand everything better. There is just so much going on both in front of you and themes of guilt, metaphors, etc. All the dreams within a dream, the different levels and time, limbo, totems, each character's role, I can't imagine what studio execs and the actors thought the first time they read it. And the ending...my God the ending. I believe that Dom is still in limbo, he never made it out. But it doesn't matter. His character made an incredible transformation. At the beginning, he was obsessed with always knowing what was reality and what was a dream but after everything he's gone through in the film, he throws in the towel; what makes him happy is what's real. And whether that's being awake or being asleep, it doesn't matter. This is a character who was very broken, ready to shoot himself in the head if he wasn't in reality and he did a complete 180. I do not think the whole film was a dream, with the dream being Dom's way of dealing with his guilt over Mal. While I would not be disappointed and I don't see it as a cop out, I just simply don't believe it. However, if it were all a dream, that would not make the film any less powerful or Dom's catharsis any less meaningful.

Some have written that Inception is a metaphor for filmmaking, with each character representing an integral part of film. Saito is the money guy, Dom the director, Ariadne (Page) the screenwriter, Fischer the audience, Arthur (Gordon-Levitt) the producer, and Eames (Hardy) the actor. They all work together to create this imaginary world for Fischer as the audience. Dom and the others take Fischer through an exciting and mind blowing journey that leaves him a changed man, much like a director and his team take an audience through a journey in a great film. Furthermore, the notion of playing with dreams makes the dreamer aware that he is in a dream is like how audiences lose focus on a film when there is an implausible or unnecessary scene, they come back to reality. Below are two articles that will help audiences with any confusions they have about Inception and further explain Inception as a metaphor for filmmaking.

Inception Explained
Filmmaking

Chris Nolan, you continue to outdo yourself and raise the bar for filmmaking. You are incapable of making a bad movie. Thanks for giving sharing your gift with us and please keep sharing.

I'm glad I saw Inception twice and I hope to see it again. I will be good every time but nothing will ever be as good as the very first time, when I had no idea what to except and I saw everything unfold in front of me for the first time. Inception will withstand the test of time and is an instant classic.

George Clooney in Michael Clayton

I'm all about scenery chewing, give me Al Pacino in nearly anything and I'll be satisfied. But I love, love, love a strong and believable performances that's mostly subtly. My mind constantly goes back to George Clooney as the title role in Michael Clayton when I think of strong subtly. His last scene alone, as the credits role, is enough for me to write about him. After everything that's happened, he sits in cab and tells the cabbie to just drive. If I hadn't seen one minute of the film and I just saw this last part, I'd know that this character just went through hell. Clooney writes it all over his face; his eyes, cheeks, mouth, his gaze, the placement of his hand. But there are no tears, no words, no noises; it's all coming from within Clooney.

Netflix

Five Minutes of Heaven-Irish film with Liam Neeson. Looks promising.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief-Missed this. I love Greek gods.
Pushing Daisies-Netflix Instant. Lee Pace is a fox and I always wanted to watch this short lived comedy.

We're doomed.

Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope

I was enjoying Star Wars at cardio cinema this week and while I was running on the treadmill, I realized how long it had been since I'd even seen Star Wars. And it's good! So, so good! Star Wars was revolutionary for its time and will be revolutionary forever. Special effects and storytelling techniques made it a trailblazer and contributed to its icon status, along with casting and music.

Star Wars was soooooo well cast, especially with Harrison Ford as bad ass, charming space cowboy, Han Solo. He's charismatic and delivers those one liners like no other. Harrison Ford is an icon, a star. Carrie Fisher is simultaneously bold and sophisticated, she's not your typical princess. Mark Hamil, very very good as a whiny dreamer whose destiny finds him sooner than he thought. He's great at developing his character as the film progresses. Very natural and believable. And James Earl Jones...that voice. The voice says it all.

Viewers now are totally spoiled by special effects. If the latest action or sci fi/fantasy film's effects are not as good as the film that came out last week, we rip the effects apart. For its time, Star Wars' special effects were amazing. Everything looked pretty real, and it definitely amazed me as a kid. But Star Wars is timeless, and the special effects are a part of that timelessness. They are still quite mesmerizing. If I saw them in a film now, I wouldn't complain.

The story is great and the techniques used to tell the story are revolutionary. All the back story is seamlessly woven in. We meet these characters who have history and all this craziness has already taken place. Telling the story out of order was relatively new and just created intense intrigue without distracting from the film on the screen. It's too bad Lucas' writing talent didn't carry over to episode 1-3.

I don't know if I could call myself a fan girl, but I definitely geek out over some sci-fi and Star Wars is one of them. Great storytelling, acting, filming, etc. One of the best films ever made.

Mark Wahlberg in The Departed

First person to appear twice! Seriously, never has a character whose every other word is a curse word sounded so poetic. And he saves the day. Enough said. Put Mark Wahlberg in everything.


Netflix

The Happening-Yes, this movie is 100% absolute crap. But with the plot that it has...it's like a car wreck. I just can't not look.
The Golden Child-Recommended by someone with similar taste to mine, even though I dislike Eddie Murphy.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo-Netflix Instant. Must read the book. Must see the movie.

This life came so close to never happening.

25th Hour

Spike Lee has made some pretty powerful films and 25th Hour packs one of the biggest, most powerful emotional punches in my opinion. This film about drug dealer Monty's (Edward Norton) last day of freedom before a seven year prison stint is a masterpiece of human emotion and a gorgeous love letter to New York City.

The performances in 25th Hour are superb, beginning with Edward Norton. He brings a confidence but overpowering vulnerability to the role. He's a good, smart guy who does bad things; you don't want to feel sorry for him, especially in the scene where you see him brush off a man he sold to, but Norton makes you feel sympathy. His "Fuck You" scene is so earth shattering and it takes a truly gifted actor to deliver it. He blames every person he can think of for what happened to him, until he realizes he only has himself to blame. Along with Norton's stellar performance is Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Monty's friend Jacob. His awkwardness is spot on.

Barry Pepper adds to the film's amazing cast. He too brings confidence and vulnerability to his role as a friend of Monty's. His honesty is brutal. His final scene in the film is utterly devastating but he and Norton play together brilliantly. Finally, as Monty's father, the always amazing Brian Cox continues to be always amazing. The female representatives, Anna Paquin and Rosario Dawson, round out this perfectly cast film.

Spike Lee and writer David Benioff worked together so well. Neither could function without the other. Benioff wrote a beautiful story and Lee brought it to life. Furthermore, the use of a post 9/11 New York further adds to the story's theme of making use of what little time we have. Lee did not merely make mention of post 9/11 New York, he thrust us right into the middle of it, with Pepper's character's apartment overlooking Ground Zero. I like the Lee did not shy away from these powerful and potentially controversial imagery. This is a part of New York now, and New York is a character in this film.

Another brilliant aspect of 25th Hour is the relationship between Monty and his dog, Doyle. They are so similar; kind but with bite and steadfastly loyal and protective. The film's opening scene between the two gives great insight into Monty as a person. Doyle is a symbol of Monty, and the way Monty looks and is at the end of the film is exactly how Doyle began. Hopefully Monty will have the same future Doyle was given.

25th Hour has such a strong emotional core and such unbelievable heart. The performances, the script, the direction, everything comes together so beautifully it moves me to tears. 25th Hour is about as perfect as a film can get.

Jamie Lee Curtis in Freaky Friday

We sometimes think of our parents as so uncool and out of touch that they couldn't possibly be us. Well, Jamie Lee Curtis playing a mom who changes bodies with her teenage daughter is certainly an exception. She's totally believable as a teenager trapped in the body of an adult. Everything is very natural. Her mannerisms and behavior is true to teenage form and hilarious, especially when she's a tad over dramatic. I would love to know how she prepared for this role. She was great.

Netflix

Alice in Wonderland-Missed it.
Up in the Air-Love it.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (every season)-Netflix Instant. Time I watched all the seasons and finally see how it ends.

When the world slips you a Jeffrey, you stroke the furry wall.

Get Him to The Greek

I hadn't seen a movie in the theaters since Sex & the City 2, an experience which clearly scarred me, so I wanted the next film I saw to be enjoyable, something that wouldn't waste my time and money with. I made a good choice with Get Him to the Greek. This "sequel" to Forgetting Sarah Marshall is funny and surprisingly heartwarming.

Russell Brand created such a memorable character in rocker Aldous Snow in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, it was great to see him take center stage. Russell Brand is hilarious and very talented;I'd really like to see him succeed in America. Everything move he makes and every word that comes out of his mouth is comedy. I always enjoy Jonah Hill and though he's still as funny as ever, his role is a bit different for him. Instead of being a cocky (yet hilarious) son-of-a-bitch, he's a less confident good guy. It's nice to see him slowly venturing into trying something new (hint hint Michael Cera). P. Diddy was even enjoyable. He had some of the film's best one-liners.

The humor is fairly constant. I left throughout most of the movie and at practically every joke. These laughs weren't side splitting, but lots of giggles and smiles. Some of the jokes & scenes dragged, causing the moments to loose some humor. But still, laughs all around.

Even further, the film is a great buddy comedy. The relationship that emerges between Brand and Hill's character is quite sweet. They support and look after each other, in the most traditional and unusual ways. It's wonderful to seeing a life-long friendship emerge from these guy's rock-n-roll shenanigans.

The one point that reaaallllllyyy bothered me was the lack of acknowledgement that Hill and Brand's characters had met in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Hill played a waiter at the Hawaiian resort Brand stayed at and the two had several encounters. There's a cameo by actress Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) and Snow remembering their trysts but no acknowledgement that Brand and Hill met, not by either character. Maybe Hill's character was supposed to be completely different, I don't know. It bothered me.

If you want to go see a feel good comedy, Get Him to the Greek is excellent. It's no The Hangover, but definitely on the level of I Love You, Man.

Steve Buschemi in Paris, je t'aime

There are so many great actors and great segments in Paris, je t'aime, but Steve Buschemi in the Coen Brothers' piece is one of the finer moments. He never talks; it's all in his physicality and reactions. Don't get me wrong, Buschemi is brilliant and can do wonders with his voice and lines, but he does just as well (maybe better) with no words. He's played a lot of memorable characters and while this is one of the least known, it's definitely one of the best.

Netflix

Chloe-Great cast.
An Education-Love, love, love. Must see again until I can see my girl Carey Mulligan in something else.
Doctor Who-Most of my Netflix Instant queue is dominated by TV. This is one show I'd love to watch.

Don't point that gun at him. He's an unpaid intern.

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

Almost all of Wes Anderson's work is amazing (the exception being The Darjeeling Limited). It's really hard for me to rank his movies in order, but I might have to put The Life Aquatic at the top of my list. It combines great elements of Anderson's previous work and creates a beautiful and heartfelt comedy.

This film is incredibly well cast and boasts some of Hollywood's best and most versatile talents. Murray is top notch as Zissou, our guide through the film. His timing and delivery is superb and he creates one of his best characters. Willem Dafoe yet again shines, and shows the audience how much of an impact he can make with a character, no matter how big or small. Owen Wilson gives an understated and heartfelt performance as Zissou's newly discovered son. I've always found Wilson talented and perfectly capable of doing roles outside of comedy. Cate Blanchett is obviously amazing. The woman is an icon.

The Life Aquatic incorporates minor CGI which adds so much to the film. The Life Aquatic is an adult comedy and deals with some fairly adult themes. The CGI adds a level of color, imagination and playfulness to the comedy. The ocean is fairly mysterious and scary, so to make colorful sea creatures relaxes the viewer. Furthermore, the colorful sea creatures add light to the growing darkness and complexity that is Zissou's life.

One of my all time favorite scenes in any movie is in The Life Aquatic. The scene where Zissou and company encounter the Jaguar Shark is just breathtaking. This has been Zissou's goal and he has just lost an important crew member, and before him, his family, friends, and rivals is this beautiful shark. With Sigur Ros playing in the background, Zissou realizes everything he's gained and lost throughout his latest voyage. Bill Murray absolutely nails it, he's able to contain himself while giving us the emotional stress of everything that has happened up to this point. Everything just comes together to make the perfect scene.

The script is quirky and the humor is dry, a typical Anderson script. But that's what makes Anderson a modern day auteur. He creates unique and challenging characters and puts them in difficult situations. And we the audience get to enjoy them reacting. The Life Aquatic is no different. Zissou and his crew of one-of-a-kind characters get into ridiculous situations, what with robbing Zissou's rival and getting attacked by pirates. The Life Aquatic fits perfectly in the Anderson library.


Paul Bettany in A Knight's Tale

I love A Knight's Tale and Paul Bettany is one of the biggest reasons. Playing real life author Geoffrey Chaucer, Bettany brings the laughs to A Knight's Tale. His banter with Alan Tudyk is hysterical and his nurturing relationship with Heath Ledger is heartwarming. Plus his showmanship skills are through the roof. Bettany adds so much to this cute comedy.




Netflix

Invictus-The only movie I wanted to see last fall/winter that I didn't get to see.
Vanilla Sky-I've heard mixed reviews of this one. Though I dislike Tom Cruise, I enjoy Cameron Crowe. Plus anything's better than Elizabethtown.
Daniel Deronda-Netflix Instant. Some BBC made for TV movie with Hugh Dancy.

Once upon a time, there was a fisherman.

Ondine

I was really nervous I would miss Neil Jordan's latest in theaters. But thanks to the powers of On Demand and a night in with your roommate, I was able to see Ondine, a film about Syracuse (Colin Farrell) the fisherman and the mysterious woman he catches in his net, Ondine.

The film has a natural heart that some fairy tales create artificially. The love and respect Jordan has for the Irish countryside and fishing villages is strongly conveyed; lush, green landscapes, sweeping views of the Irish Sea, and the tightened shots inside the small, perhaps slightly claustrophobic town. Though the sky is gray, this landscape is not dull or dreary.

Adding to the film's heart are its two strongest performances; Colin Farrell and Alison Barry as Syracuse's young daughter, Annie. Farrell shows a sensitivity we rarely see from him. His performance is very subtle and sweet. His interactions with Barry are very natural. His smile speaks volumes. His interactions with Stephen Rea as a priest brought out a subtle humor in Ondine.

Alison Barry is utterly mesmerizing. Her imagination is as big as her heart. She's your typical wise beyond her years little girl, suffering from a devastating ailment (kidney failure). She creates a magical, special world, and the characters are lucky enough to live in it. Her performance reminds me of early Dakota Fanning, just now so "she's basically an adult and it's scary." Alicja Bachleda was also good as Ondine.

The film mixes fairy tale and reality seamlessly. The music, scored by Sigur Ros member Kjartan Sveinsson and featuring Sigur Ros songs is absolutely beautiful. The music is very dream-like, maybe something you'd hear in a fairytale. Ondine's twist is absolutely believable and does not take away from the rest of the movie.

My one complaint about Ondine is it's hard to understand the dialogue at times. The thick Irish accents and slang, and lots of quiet, close talking scenes makes it easy to miss words and phrases. But having to strain at times to understand dialogue is worth it. Ondine is a wonderful and poetic Irish fairy tale.

Devon Gummersall in My So-Called Life

I've been rewatching this '90s series, as it's available in it's entirety on Hulu. My So-Called Life is still good and has several good performances, but Devon Gummersall as nerdy Brian Krakow is by far the best. He perfectly captures the anguish of being a socially awkward teenage boy. The joy, pain, and fear in his eyes whenever he interacts with the girl of his dreams, his tendency to over-achieve, nervousness around almost anyone...spot on. His facial expressions and physicality are all amazing. You can't help but always feel for him, even when he does and says cruel things.

Netflix

The Road-Got bad reviews, still wanna see it.
Broken Embraces-Almodovar's latest.
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days-Netflix Instant. I think it won the Palme d'or at Cannes a few years ago.