Rescue Dawn DVD Review

Rescue Dawn: This film is based on the true survival story of Lt. Dieter Dangler. Dangler (played by Christian Bale) was a fighter pilot for the U.S. He was shot down over Laos while on a secret bombing mission at the beginning of the Vietnam War. He was eventually captured and kept prisoner with a few other American soldiers. I guess me calling it a “survival story” gives away the end – he escapes!!! The movie just seemed to miss its mark – take for instance the camaraderie between the captured soldiers. Some elements tried to be humorous while others tried to stir conflict, neither ever giving me a convincing notion of what their relationship was like. I did appreciate the efforts made by the actors to show what it must be like when a solider is kept in those conditions(skin and bones). This is by no means a “bad” movie, just not one I would recommend.

Coin Flip says – “Kick it to the Floor”

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Once - DVD Review

Once: I am throwing out a reminder for this small film that was finally released on DVD. I initially reviewed it in June when I saw it in the theater. I know it never got a very wide release, so I hope you check it out on DVD. My full review of the film can be read here - Once Movie Review


"Pick It Up"

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SuperBad DVD Review

SuperBad: Time to bring home some McLovin….. In my opinion, it is the funniest movie to come out in the last few years. Comedies like this are always going to be chalk full of one-liners and SuperBad is no exception. However SuperBad is also blessed with a wild and hysterical plot – Two high school seniors, trying to impress some girls, have a plan to buy alcohol for a party. Of course nothing goes as planned. The characters in the film are exceptionally written – Seth Rogen and Bill Hader play the police officers just perfectly. Then you have Michael Cera playing Evan, those familiar with Arrested Development know how funny his deliveries are. All the pieces just seemed to connect. This simple teen comedy is one of 2007’s best films.

"Pick it Up”

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Waitress DVD Review

Waitress: Felicity, I mean Keri Russell, plays a pregnant waitress who has a special talent for making delicious pies. She is stuck in an unhappy marriage and her future looks bleak. This all changes when a new man moves into town. The film has a corky element to it that adds humor and charm. I was very impressed with Russell’s performance, she was both funny and sincere at the same time (difficult to pull off). Bravo to the supporting cast as well, especially Andy Griffith who pops up as the old man no one wants to wait on. The film knew what it wanted to be and did not try to overextend itself – the result was perfect little movie.

“Pick It Up”

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Oldboy DVD Review

OldBoy: I feel it is my obligation to point out a movie of this magnitude. This is a twisted tale of revenge - A movie that will make you gasp. The movie opens up with a man being detained and then imprisoned for 15 years. He is finally let free, but given no explanation for anything. His quest for justification takes him on a dark path. This South Korean film is a MUST RENT for anyone who likes an unsettling story.

“Pick it Up”

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The Astronaut Farmer

The Astronaut Farmer: If you were 10 years old, loved to play with rockets, and in your free time pretended you were a farmer, you would still think this movie sucks! With this film Billy Bob Thornton once again adds to the theory that he chooses his roles with a dart in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other. The title says it all, Thornton plays a farmer who builds his own rocket (out of NASA throwaways) in his barn. When he is finally ready to launch it draws not only the attention of the U.S. government, but of the whole nation. I get that we are suppose to look past a lot of the technical details and focus on the message of the story (everyone can achieve their dream), but I just couldn’t. This is a movie that should have been grounded.

“Kick it on the Floor”

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Reign Over Me DVD Review

Reign Over Me: Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle in a somber movie dealing with life after the 9-11 attacks. Sandler plays Charlie, a man who lost his family on one of the September 11th planes. As a result he has isolated everyone and everything from his life. Until one day when he bumps into an old college roommate, played by Cheadle. The main problem I had with the movie was the sluggish story – It took a runtime of 2 hours to get where I knew it was going after the first 10 minutes. I found Adam Sandler’s dramatic acting tolerable, however I think it would have been a much more compelling story with a stronger actor in the role. In addition, some of the side plots involving Cheadle’s character left me puzzled as to why they were there. My advice – stay away from this one……..

“Kick it on the Floor”

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Transformers DVD

Transformers: This is the most fun I have had with a movie that I am giving a rating of - “Kick it on the floor”. The film did a lot right, such as casting Shia Labeouf – he saves the movie early on with his clumsy humor. Also the plot of the movie is probably as good as it could be considering we are talking about machines transforming into robots. The special effects and sounds of the “transforming” are extremely dazzling as well. All that said the film runs about 30 minutes too long. The action scenes are overwhelming in that is difficult to really now what is going on other than seeing lots of explosions and hearing cool sounds. Not to mention too many of the “over-the-top Michael Bay moments” that just made the movie silly. If you were a “transformers kid” you might enjoy – but for the rest….. “Kick it on the Floor”

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Sicko DVD Review

Sicko: Controversial filmmaker Michael Moore opens his mouth to discuss the current healthcare system. Unlike Moore’s last movie Fahrenheit 911, this movie stays away from taking sides politically and stays focused on the issue at hand. Moore himself stays behind the camera for most of the movie allowing the sad and tragic stories do all of the talking. To drive home his point, Moore travels to other countries such as Canada, England, and France to show how a universal heath care system can improve our current situation. The component of the film that I felt was the most powerful and shocking was when Moore focused on “911 rescue workers” and the failure of the health care system to provide them with proper treatment for their 911 inflicted medical conditions. Michael Moore is a master at using delicate humor to showcase sad events - Sicko will make you laugh, yes…….but it will also make you think!!

“Pick it Up”

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Ratatouille DVD Review

Ratatouille: Can the folks at Pixar do anything wrong? Their latest story centers on a rat (Remy) who lives in Paris and is captivated by the art of finer cuisine. Along the way he befriends a young cook who knows next to nothing about cooking. Together they create some exciting new dishes which bring the spotlight and the buzz back to the once renowned restaurant (Gasteau's). Ratatouille is probably the most adult oriented film from Pixar. I do not mean that in the sense of “jokes for adults”, but rather "themes for adults”. Sure the film provides some laughs, but it was the love for all things “food” that I found the most enjoyable. With the animation pushed to the max, Ratatouille was a very entertaining watch. My only advice – don’t go in expecting the same humor as seen in most Pixar films.

“Pick It Up”

1408 DVD Review

1408: Mike Enslin, an author who writes about ghosts and supernatural occurrences checks into a hotel room (1408) that is believed to be haunted. Playing this ghostwriter is none other than John Cusack (I understand if you stop reading at this point). Normally I walk right by this title, but being October and being in the Halloween spirit – I gave it a spin. I enjoyed it……better yet, I did not feel any urge to do bodily harm to Mr. Cusack after viewing it (I’m not a Cusack fan). The story has a little more substance to it than the normal “scary house” movies. The pacing of the film is perfect, building up slowly to a frenzy of activity in room 1408. I would have liked to see the “scare factor” raised up a bit more, but even still – this is an engaging watch.

“Pick it Up”

Bug

Bug: A very tough movie to categorize. I gave this a spin under the impression that it would be a horror film – it is not. Without giving too much away I would classify it under a physiological drama. This is the second time in as many movies that Ashley Judd has surprised me with her acting ability. Judd’s exceptional performance as with the other lead, Michael Shannon, makes this strange story very compelling. Although it is not a traditional horror flick, it still has a few creepy and unpleasant scenes. When the movie ends I guarantee blank stares at the screen…..at which point some of you will really like it and some will really hate it. It is just that kind of flick.
As for me….I really liked it.

“Pick it Up”

Knocked Up DVD

Knocked Up: This Judd Apatow (40 year old virgin) comedy comes flying on to DVD with many saying it is the comedy of the year. I will not go that far, in fact I will stop way short of that statement. The film has some very funny moments, but the main plot seemed too simple for me. Plenty of funny lines and scenes were supplied, but the story itself did not take any hysterical turns or twists (ala Superbad). As the title suggests we have a girl (white collar), getting pregnant from a one night stand she had with a guy (…no collar). Seth Rogen plays the guy and him and his friends in the movie provide about 90% of the laughs. Although I did not think the movie lived up to the hype, this is still a terrific comedy for couples and an easy film to enjoy for all.


“Pick it Up”

Deliver Us From Evil DVD

Deliver Us From Evil: This documentary about Catholic Priests molesting kids is going to be an uneasy watch no matter what. However, filmmaker Amy Berg pieced this film together in a way that brings drama and pain to the unfolding narrative. The spotlight is on Father O’Grady, a dangerous pedophile who abused countless children over a span of 30 years – all the while the Church’s solution was to keep moving him to another community. The movie does an excellent job of showing how troubled of a man Father O’Grady is and what a poor job The Catholic Church did to solve the problem. This is courageous filmmaking about a story that needs to be revealed, talked about, and solved!

“Pick it Up”

Blades of Glory

Blades of Glory: If I had absolutely no idea what the film was about going in….I may have found it semi-funny. However with all the advertising the film had and already seeing Will Ferrell and Jon Heder dressed ridiculously as ice skaters – the joke was old and used up. As for the script – where were the jokes? It was as if the writers coasted on their idea to have Ferrell & Heder pair up for a figure skating team. It is a shame too, because the film wasted a lot of good talent and a funny idea. Stay far away from this stinker.

“Kick it on the Floor.....Hard”

The Lives of Others

The Lives of Others: Simply put…..Brilliant. This is the film that beat out Pan’s Labyrinth for the Best Foreign Film Oscar last year. Set in Berlin before the wall came down, the story centers on East Germany’s secret police as they listen in on people they suspect could rise up against the system. The plot is intriguing throughout, but what puts this movie into “4-star territory” is the emotion the feature brings to the table. I love where the script went, examining the power of art and the passion behind an artist. This is a film you will want to talk about after seeing it!

“Pick it Up”

Fracture DVD Review

Fracture: Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling in a movie about murder & mystery …..with some courtroom drama thrown in for wash – you can’t screw this one up. However with all of the good the film has going for it, I felt it could have been better. The plot centers on a husband (Hopkins) who apparently murders his wife when he learns she was having an affair. What appears to be an easy case in court proves difficult for the prosecutor (Gosling). I loved how the film kept me guessing until then end, but after finding out all the answers – I felt let down. For me, the main plot point seems to be a bit more unrealistic than shown at the end of the movie. I like, I recommend, I was just hoping for a little more……

“Pick it Up”

Come Early Morning

Come Early Morning: This film was brought to my attention when it played at fellow critic Roger Ebert’s “over looked film festival”. If you like Ashley Judd and country music this is a slam-dunk. Judd plays a southern girl who battles her demons within, which appear to be hereditary. Not comfortable getting to know someone that might actually like her, she hits the alcohol hard - which in return leads to many 1 night stands. The themes the movie touches on are interesting and not shown enough in mainstream movies. This is a small, well told film that probably has Judd’s best acting performance ……although that is not saying much. I liked it, thanks for pointing this one out Roger!

“Pick it Up”

300 DVD Review

300: Slow motion has not been this cool since Roy Hobbs rounded the bases at the end of the Natural. What the film set out to do, make a film adaptation of a graphic novel (by Frank Miller) about the Spartans…..it did well. The reason to see this film is for the exceptional visuals and amazing sound, this movie is a treat to those two senses. There is not much story to follow. We have about 25 minutes of build up explaining why the Spartans and Persians are going to war and then the last 1:35 is one hell of a battle sequence. The knock I had against the film is it failed to bring any real “heart” to the table. What you see is what you get with 300 - and I definitely got enough to recommend.

“Pick it Up”

Disturbia DVD Review

Disturbia: A small, very well told movie. Others have said it is an updated version of Hitchcock’s Rear Window, let's not get carried away. However I really enjoyed this funny, suspenseful, teenage thriller. Sentenced to three months of home arrest, Kale (Shia LaBeouf) passes his time spying on his neighbors. His imagination gets ahead of him when he suspects one of them to be a serial killer…..or does it? I found this to be a very easy watch as the story gets deep before the opening credits even roll. This helped build a little believability into the characters which helps immensely with these types of movies. A few good laughs, a couple of good jumps, one good rental.

“Pick it Up”

Hot Fuzz DVD Review

Hot Fuzz: A new comedy from the same team that brought us Shaun of the Dead. Simon Pegg (better known as Shaun) plays a first-rate London cop. He does such a good job that his resentful colleagues want him shipped out to the countryside village of Sandford. Sandford is known to be crime-free and one of the best villages to live in. However not everything is as nice as it appears to be in Sandford. The comedy in this movie is in the same vain as Shaun – only this time spoofing “cop/buddy” films. The movie will more than likely play better on a second or third viewing as this type of comedy takes time to be fully appreciated. I would say I am a bigger fan of Shaun of the Dead, but Hot Fuzz is an easy film to recommend...........so

“Pick It Up”

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Perfume: the story of a Murderer: The bizarre title fits, because this movie is a strange one. The story follows Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, who was born with the keenest sense of smell of all time. This gift made him a bit of an outcast while growing up in Paris during the 1700’s. It also led him to work in the perfume field, where he created some of the world’s greatest perfumes. The scent he liked the most was that of a woman. To capture that scent in the form of a perfume, well - that is where “the story of a Murderer” comes from. I found the 1st half of the movie (the set up) to be tolerable, after that it was down hill. The second half of the film smelled bad. To top it off, the run time at 144 minutes, is waaayyy to long.

“Kick it on the Floor”

The Host

The Host: This South Korean monster movie arrives on DVD amid overwhelming hype. With reviews such as “One of the greatest Monster movies ever made” and “On par with Jaws”, I was expecting a treat. Disappointed was I. For a so called “monster movie” – not scary at all. Maybe a slight jump one time, but even that was from spilling beer on myself. The story centers on a screwball family’s search for their youngest child. This little girl was taken by a mutated monster that came out of the Han River. The monster makes his full appearance about 6 minutes in – no suspense is built at all. The scary/monster aspect did not work for me to say the least. I did find some of the humor used to be enjoyable, but overall this is a movie I would not recommend.

“Kick it on Floor”

Trust The Man

Trust The Man: A romantic comedy starring David Duchovny, Julianne Moore, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Bill Crudup. There are a lot of things wrong with this movie – it suffers greatly in the “movie convenience” factor. Two of the characters are siblings, 2 of them are best friends, all of them have jobs as either writers or actors etc. The story is nothing of note either….and it has a terrible “Hollywood, romantic comedy ending”. However, I still found this enjoyable. I really loved the odd comedy, most of which comes out of nowhere and has zero relevance to the plot. The movie got a few good laughs out of me and that is enough to give it a slight recommend.

“Pick it Up”

Zodiac DVD review

Zodiac: David Fincher (Fight Club, Seven) brings us the true story of the zodiac killer. The zodiac was a serial killer in the San Francisco area in the late 60’s and early 70’s. He was notorious for writing notes to newspaper reporters on what he had done, what he was going to do, or demanding them to print codes of his in the paper. The story focuses on the cop assigned to the case (Mark Ruffalo), the lead reporter covering the investigations (Robert Downing Jr.), and a cartoonist who becomes infatuated with the killings (Jake Gyllenhaal). The movie does so much right – on top of the slight scariness that comes with a serial killer movie, we also get to see the affect an unsolved crime has on the people trying to solve it. I would not say this film is of the caliber of Seven and Fight Club, but still a movie I would suggest checking out.

“Pick it Up”

The Dead Girl

The Dead Girl: Five different stories are shown, all of them revolving around the same crime. The interesting thing about this feature is that none of the stories focus on the crime actually taking place. The movie instead shows the painful affect a crime of this nature has on people related to both the victim and the killer. Excellent performances are a plenty and are supplied by the likes of Toni Collette, Marcia Gay Harden, Rose Byrne, and Giovanni Ribisi. The movie is mainly a deep drama, but one of the story lines does have some good creepiness going on. This small film was not given enough attention during its theatrical run, so I hope it finds an audience on DVD – because I really liked this rental!!!

“Pick it Up”

Jesus Camp DVD Review

Jesus Camp: A documentary about evangelical Christians……what could be more entertaining?. The films follows a handful of kids as they go to these Christian summer camps to get, what I would consider, an extreme lesson in evangelical Christianity. What I like most about the movie was how the filmmakers did not go out of their way to take a side. The film just shows clips from inside the camp and lets the viewer decide what to think. We see kid after kid driven to tears – asking for forgiveness for sins. I found the material shocking and down right scary. A very interesting watch!

“Pick it Up”

The Good German

The Good German: Set in Berlin in post-WWII this Film Noir is presented in Black & White. George Clooney stars as a journalist who arrives back in Berlin only to bump into an old love (played by Cate Blanchett). He also finds himself in the middle of a crime investigation that has a much deeper connotation than what appears on the surface. Some of the film’s imagery will remind you of Casablanca, while some of its themes will remind you of Chinatown. I found this to be an entertaining movie that had some good “build up” going on. However the ending let me down a little, even still I give it a …….
“Pick it Up”

Venus DVD Review

Venus: Peter O’Toole, the 75 year old living legend, stars as a dirty minded …….75 year old. The story is a tad bizarre. O’Toole plays Maurice, a semi famous actor who is still getting some work at his old age. A friend of his and fellow actor Ian, has his niece’s daughter (Jessie) come live with/take care of him. Ian finds Jessie too out-of-control, while Maurice finds something else in the young 21 year old. Maurice still longs for the beauty, or even further – the sexual characteristics of a woman. I really did not find enough humor in the story and the drama side of it was too unusual to grab a hold of me. I thought O’Toole’s performance was good, but not good enough for me to recommend this film.

“Kick it on the Floor”

Indigenes (Days of Glory) DVD Review

Indigenes / Days of Glory: A French film that tells of a troubling story of World War II. Back in the time of WWII, the French recruited North African men to come serve for the “motherland”. The problem was the French never looked at these men as equals. This movie is very similar to that of Glory, just a different war and a different country. I found some of the war scenes to be impressive and the drama to be gripping. It is another account of WWII that I was not familiar with. I do not think most people would care for this film, but if you are war buff or into history (WWII era) give it a spin.

“Pick it Up”

Breach DVD Review

Breach: Based on the true story of Robert Hanssen, an FBI agent who was convicted of being a spy for the former Soviet Union and Russia. Hanssen is played by Chris Cooper and ultimately he is the reason the film is so wonderful. He brings tension to the story from the time he appears on screen to the final shot. The script does not try to cover the whole picture, instead it focuses on the last couple of months when the FBI was near to closing the deal. In order to catch Hanssen "red-handed", they set him up with a new assistant – Eric O’Neill, played by Ryan Phillippe. I am not a fan of Phillippe, but in roles such as this one (and in Crash) he works. The film sports 0 action sequences, yet I found it to be a very tense, nervous watch. Bottom Line: This is a very well told story with an outstanding performance from Chris Cooper!!!

“Pick It Up”

The Fountain DVD Review

The Fountain: Summed up in one word: Interesting. Another word many might use is: Huh? Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream) gives us a three part story about a couple looking for eternal life. Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz play the couple in the past, present, and the future. The film leaves a lot for the viewer to decide or interpret, which can be a great thing sometimes. In the case with The Fountain, I felt there was not enough basic story structure for everyone to be on the same page or at least close to being on the same page. The movie does present a lot of intriguing themes about life and death, some I am still thinking about a day after seeing the film. This may not be that easy of a movie to enjoy, but it will definitely spark conversation.
I may regret telling people to “kick” this one in a few years, but for now…..

“Kick it on the Floor”

The Science of Sleep

The Science of Sleep: Michael Gondry, director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, brings us another visionary tale from inside someone’s mind. Gael Garcia Bernal stars as Stephane, a man who has trouble distinguishing between real life events and his own dreams. When he starts to fall for a new neighbor that has moved next store, Stephane gets more confused between dream world and reality. This confusion is brought to the screen very creatively and even makes it a bit perplexing for the viewers. I loved the imaginative story and thought Gondry did a great job with the “dreaming aspect” of the film. However, I think most people would not care for this movie as a whole….it is a bit abstract.

If you like abstract movies – “Pick it Up”

For Your Consideration

For Your Consideration: Christopher Guest & crew are back and this time having fun with Oscar buzz. The humor here is the same as Guest’s earlier efforts such as A Mighty Wind and Best in Show. Compared to those however For Your Consideration is a little weak. Nevertheless if you are fan of Guest’s other movies (like myself), then I think this one is worth a spin. The story centers on a small film production that gets a little Oscar buzz going for its main actors. This causes a stir for everyone involved with the movie (the writers, actors, agents, and director). The film’s short run time (86 minutes) is perfect as the story could not go much further.

“Pick it Up”

DVD Treasures

The Memorial Day weekend is upon us, which also puts us smack-dab in the middle of the summer movie season. The studios spend a mountain of cash on advertising to make sure we rush out to see the big new movie on its opening weekend. Overall, almost none of these so called “blockbusters” end up being worth all the hype they open up with. So this weekend I suggest looking for movie bliss in another direction. Find an older movie on DVD that is worth the hype. We all have some classic films that have dodged us. Movies we put off seeing because they are in black & white, or have subtitles, or have Elizabeth Taylor in them. Yet these highly acclaimed movies from the past, almost always hold up in time…..in fact many just get better. Just yesterday I was treated with my first viewing of Cool Hand Luke (1967). One of the biggest joys for me regarding movies is seeing a classic like Cool Hand Luke, and having instant understanding on why it became a classic in the 1st place. I mean why settle for Jerry Bruckheimer’s emptiness when you can have Alfred Hitchcock’s horror. Look to the past, to have joy in the present.

A great list of films to start looking at AFI’s top 100 - http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/movies.aspx

Night at The Museum DVD Review

Night at the Museum: What we have here is a “chuckle movie” – a movie full of small laughs, but nothing tremendously funny. Ben Stiller plays a night watchman at the museum. The wacky thing about this museum is that at night all the exhibits and animals come to life. Robin Williams plays a good Teddy Roosevelt, Owen Wilson is Jedediah, and is great in the small role he provides. There is not much of a story to follow, but the end tries its hardest to be heartfelt – didn’t really work. The creativity, specials effect, and sound are all above average and made the movie mildly entertaining.

So I am giving it a mild “Pick it Up”

Domino DVD Review

Domino: Keira Knightley stars as a “bad ass” bounty hunter and surprisingly - she pulls it off. The movie is set in present day Los Angeles and is actually based loosely on the true life story of Domino Harvey. Speaking of the story, it is out there!! At one point Ian Ziering and Brian Austin Green (Steve Sanders & David Silver from 90210 as they are better known as) play themselves and host a reality TV show following the bounty hunters. The plot falls apart at the seams, but it was still fun to watch the stylized chaos on screen……it was a guilty pleasure if you will.

“Kick it on the Floor” but if you

“Pick it Up” I think you will enjoy,

The Matador

The Matador: Pierce Brosnan plays a hitman who befriends salesman Danny Wright (played by Greg Kinnear). I can’t say I disliked the movie, but I did not really enjoy it either. It was just sort of a rhythmic watch, just good enough to keep my interest. The comedy element works, with the 2 different backgrounds of the men colliding. If you like Brosnan (I don’t), you may laugh a bit more than I did as he does have some comical moments. The plot does get a bit interesting near the end and because of this I am giving a slight….recommend.

“Pick it Up”

Curse of the Golden Flower

Curse of the Golden Flower: It seems that ever since the success of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon we are good for one of these colorful, stylized martial art films a year. Of the 5 or 6 I have seen like this – Golden Flower is the worst. It really is not much of a “martial arts movie” as it is a “family drama”. It is a very slow developing story of deceit. By the time everything is revealed and the action begins, I could have really cared a less. The story is too heavy on drama – even though the trailers for the film make it look action packed….talk about deception…..

“Kick it on the Floor”

Duane Hopwood

Duane Hopwood: It seems when actresses want to shake a squeaky clean image, they do some provocative nude scene. As for their male counterparts, well they play drunks or drug addicts. In Duane Hopwood David Schwimmer (of Friends fame) plays the title role and is indeed an alcoholic. The film opens with Duane Hopwood being arrested for a DUI while having his 6 year old daughter in the back seat. This prompts his ex-wife (played by Janeane Garofalo) to cut off his child visitation rights. This sinks Duane to a new low, but is it enough for him to hop off the wagon? The acting is supposed to be the highlight in the small Indy film and it is fairly good, but nothing remarkable. At the midway point I found myself thinking this would be a good “made for TV movie”, but not up to snuff for a theatrical run. If you come across it – watch it, but don’t go out of your way….now that is some FRIENDly advice.


“Pick it Up”

The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd: A movie about the birth of the CIA with such names attached as Damon, Jolie, Baldwin, and De Niro, how could it be bad? Yet the movie was panned by most audiences and critics a like. Now that it is on DVD I gave it a spin…and LIKED it…….A LOT. I can see some of the obstacles the film has – 1) the long run time (167 minutes) and slow moving pace will cause a lot of viewers to give up. 2) The film is also heavy on dialogue and information rather than action. However I found the whole premise of the film to be engrossing. The only problem I had was the “aging” or actually the “lack of aging” for Matt Damon’s character – I found it a bit distracting that he looked so young in the later years of the story. That aside, what we have here is a solid film about a very interesting subject matter.

“Pick it Up”

Happy Feet

Happy Feet: Another computer animated movie about talking animals…..when will we get our fill? Our subjects this time are penguins who live up in the North Pole. The film supplies plenty of musical numbers, the idea in the movie is that the penguins sing songs to find their mates. The songs are everything from Elvis to Prince and really make the beginning of the film very entertaining. The star penguin of the movie – Mumble (voiced by Elijah Wood) does not have a musical note in his body, instead he was blessed with dancing (or happy) feet. Because of this, he is labeled an outcast by the elder penguins. The rest of the story is weak and gets weaker as it moves along. The ending of the film tries it’s hardest to make a political message about the ecosystem. Because of the outstanding animation and the funny sidekicks (a staple in these kinds of movies), I give it a slight recommend.

“Pick It Up”

Eragon

Eragon: Looking for an example of AWFUL screenwriting skills – look no further. This film is shallow in every sense of the word. From the characters, to the plot, to the way each scene seems rushed through. You are given no time at all to like the young hero, even though his acting skills may have blocked that as well. John Malkovich’s role is reduced to a cameo and the idea to have Rachel Weisz voice the dragon is wrong in so many ways. It is a shame too, because the movie has some very interesting ideas. Eragon is a young farm boy who finds a dragon egg – the last in the world. He raises the dragon and becomes her rider. He goes on to join the rebels as they fight the evil king of the land. The Idea sounds good, can’t say the same for the execution – shame on you filmmakers!

“Kick it on the Floor”

Water

Water: A look at Hinduism in the 1930’s and the sad life it casts on widows. The story follows a young girl who is married to an older, ailing man who passes away soon after the marriage. The Hindu tradition has all widows wear white the rest of their lives and stay loyal to their dead husbands. They live in what is called “a widow house” and eat only one meal a day and wait to die themselves to join their husbands in the next life. This film challenges those beliefs, by showing the power of love and the need to change "old time" beliefs. The film boosts an excellent score and is just beautiful to look at. I did feel the beginning and middle dragged a bit, so I am only giving a mild thumbs up.

“Pick it Up”

Rocky Balboa

Rocky Balboa: When I was at the visitor center in Philadelphia about 4 years ago, I had two questions: Where are the “Rocky Steps?” and from there, how do I get over to see the liberty bell? The character of Rocky Balboa has put his stamp on our pop culture more so than almost any other movie character in the history of cinema. It is for that reason that it is fitting to give him one last installment to say goodbye. Rocky Balboa does an excellent job of paying tribute to the past movies, to the character, and to what he always stood for. By now I hope you all know the formula. Rocky again is going to step back into the ring to fight the current world champ; he does this to prove to himself and his fans that he still has something left “in his basement”. If you are a Rocky fan this is a “MUST SEE” / if you are not a big fan, this film is still worth a spin as it magically brings back the excitement that made Rocky so famous from the start.

“Pick it Up”

Casino Royale

Casino Royale: Ladies and gentlemen I give you the greatest James Bond movie ever. I can make this statement quite easily because I am not a fan of the Bond series to begin with. If you are like me and not a fan of the old corny James Bond dialogue or crazy, unrealistic gadgets this is the Bond film for you as well. The movie boosts some unbelievable chase scenes, especially the one early on in the film. Daniel Craig steps in to play the young James Bond on his first mission after becoming a double O agent, he does an excellent job (even “Bond purists” have come to like him). The action, the acting, and even the plot of this film are all excellent. A good plot……in a Bond movie….now that is refreshing.

“Pick it Up”

Murderball

Murderball: An excellent documentary about quadriplegics who play full contact rugby in their wheelchairs. This film was balanced perfectly. You have the element of competition as the USA wheelchair rugby team goes for gold in the Paralympic Games. This is mixed in with a funny/entertaining element of the people involved – truly showing quadriplegics in a new light. Also in the mix is the human element showing how much strength these individuals have both inside and out. This story touched a lot of emotions with me. I highly recommend renting this movie – I am actually throwing out the (* * * *) rating for it.


“Pick it Up”

Borat

Borat: Being one of the last people to finally see Borat, the movie had a lot of hype to live up to for me. The film lived up to the hype - no problem. As most know by now Sacha Baron Cohen plays Borat Sagdiyev, a man from Kazakhstan pretending to be filming a documentary for his country. What really is taking place is a glorified Candid Camera episode. Cohen constantly fools people into thinking he is making an educational documentary and then once the cameras are rolling so is the humor. There are a couple of scenes with outrageous humor (& nakedness), but it was the little detail and dialect Borat uses throughout the movie that made it so great. Make sure to watch all the deleted scenes the DVD provides as a couple of those are better than some in the movie, especially the massage. I am not jumping on the “greatest comedy of all time” bandwagon, but I am giving it an easy recommend…….which is very niicceee.

“Pick it Up”

A Good Year

A Good Year: Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott, the pair that brought us Gladiator, team up again to bring us a comedy/romantic movie – what gives? The main problem this movie had was a simple one, Russell Crowe is not a very likeable guy. He makes a great gladiator or cop, but silly slapstick humor is not his trait. Crowe plays an investment broker who only cares about money. After his uncle dies he inherits a vineyard in France. Can the fast paced city guy fall in love with the relaxing country life and the beautiful chateau? And what about that absolutely beautiful single lady who is always just waiting around in movies like this? Sure he can fall in love, but not before some failed attempts at humor that made want my money back. This story has been told before and in a much better way.

“Kick It on The Floor”

Quinceanera

Quinceanera: This small film made for less than 500k, is proof that the element of “story” matters most. There are no known actors in the film and the characters speak sometimes in Spanish and sometimes in English. Yet the movie works because of the strength of the story. We follow a young Mexican girl as she is about to have her Quinceanera (15th Birthday). All is good until she finds out she is pregnant. Her religious father wants her out of the house, because he finds her to be a disgrace to the family. She then finds “family” from an unlikely source.

“Pick It up”