Amazon Holiday

Friday, August 29, 2008

Hamlet 2

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A down on his luck drama teacher (Steve Coogan) tries to put on the play of his life, with a bunch of apathetic students, to try to save the drama program from being phased out.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, David Arquette, Amy Poehler, Melonie Diaz, Elisabeth Shue, Marshall Bell, Joseph Julian Soria, Skylar Astin, Phoebe Strole, Michael Esparza, Arnie Pantoja, Natalie Amenula, Shea Pepe

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketGo! This quirky little film is full of unexpected dialogue and unconventional (read: inappropriate) teaching methods. Like when a teacher asks a student to punch him in the gut, what lesson would you guess he's trying to teach that student? Because I have no clue, and I can't guarantee that seeing the movie will answer that question for you either.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Everyone may not laugh at the same time, but you'll all find something to laugh at.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Not likely, but you will find yourself tapping your feet and singing along to the catchy musical theater number, "Rock me, sexy Jesus."

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It won the honor of being the highest priced sale at Sundance this year, so that's pretty big.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Steve Coogan is so Steve Coogan in this one. If you like Steve Coogan's schtick, you'll know exactly what I mean. If you don't know Steve Coogan's schtick, this would be a good introduction to it. And Catherine Keener, who's naturally more suited to play edgier roles than fluffy love-interests, has an opportunity to show us what she does best-- which is be unhappy and in your face about it.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Although I have no idea what the final stage play was about or how it had anything to do with Hamlet 1 (as they hilariously call William Shakespeare's little dramatic frivolity), I was drawn in by the staging and design of the piece.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: I'm not sure at all about the logic behind pretty much everything in the third act, but if I don't scratch my head too hard, I realize that I still had fun. Just don't think about it.

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Wednesday, August 27, 2008

The House Bunny

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: After Shelley (Anna Faris), a Playboy bunny, gets kicked out of the Playboy Mansion because she's too old (27), she moves into a sorority where she finds a new home and a new family.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Anna Faris, Colin Hanks, Emma Stone, Kat Dennings, Katharine McPhee, Rumer Willis, Beverly D'Angelo, Christopher MacDonald, Kiely Williams, Dana Goodman, Tyson Ritter, Sarah Wright, Owen Benjamin, Rachel Specter, Monet Mazur, Hugh Hefner, and The Girls Next Door

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketProceed with Caution. This is a slumber party movie for all ages!... Of people who are slumber party aged. So make up some popcorn, roll out your sleeping bags on the floor, and get your itching powder ready (yes, that is a Brady Bunch reference)-- we're gonna have some fun!... And maybe even a pillow fight.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: They give it a lot of go's, and you'd have to be pretty stoned-faced to not fall for at least one of their dumb blond jokes.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you're a dumb blond you might feel sad when you realize we're laughing at you, and not with you... Then again, don't worry, you'll probably never realize it. I mean, let's face it, you're blond!

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: No, but at least it's losing with sexiness.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Anna Faris is charming and lovable, as she always is in this role (see almost everything on her credit list), and a few of the girls proved to be well on their way to the A-list, including Emma Stone, Kat Dennings and Sarah Wright who plays the Mean Girl/antagonist in a very grounded way. But some of the acting is downright annoying! I don't like to pick on no-names, who are just trying to break off a little piece of the pie, but Dana Goodman's over-the-top performance seems to be plucked out of a totally different kind of movie (most likely one starring Adam Sandler), and I spent a fair amount of time staring at her just to make sure she wasn't Rob Schneider in drag. I'm still not convinced... Also annoying, in a different but equal way, is Colin Hanks, who brings nothing to his role but a fancy last name. With all the actors out there, I shouldn't have to suspend disbelief for the part when the lead actress says that her love interest "is really cute."

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Most of the moments were caught on film. Notice how I didn't use the word, "All."

Q: How is the story/script?

A: I am a huge fan of these writers and their genre, but they've done better. On the one hand, I commend their valiant effort to keep the ditsy airhead character alive, on the other hand this story is strewn with character changes that contradict how said characters are set-up, and it's filled with leaps of logic that are preposterous or predictable, and sometimes both.

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Monday, August 25, 2008

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

(Guest Review by Kacy)

Q: What’s the movie about?


A: In this sequel, the 4 girls from the first film have grown up into young adulthood, which means this time they’re getting over heartaches, fixing family dramas, dealing with pregnancy scares, and generally learning to let go of their childhoods.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Rachel Nichols, Tom Wisdom, Rachel Ticotin, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Leonardo Nam, Michael Rady, Blythe Danner, Jesse Williams, Lucy Hale, Kyle MacLachlan

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketProceed with Caution. Much like its predecessor, this movie is a real treat if you see it as a rental or on a plane. After appropriately seeing the first one as a rental, seeing the sequel on the big screen was a mistake. Not the worst film I have seen this summer (I saw X-Files), but it’s up there.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Only if you’re under 20.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: They want you to, but I didn't.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: If only MTV had an award for "Hottest bodies," the many beautiful, shirtless, men in the film might have collected the recognition they so rightly deserved!

Q: How is the Acting?

A: All of the young actresses in this franchise have blown up since the first movie, so it seems they took advantage of their new-found success to phone-in their performances on this contractually-obligated sequel.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Stale and inconsistent. Except for the beautiful scenery of Greece, it’s mostly boring.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It’s a difficult franchise structure because the 4 main characters are hardly ever on screen together. Thematically, I guess that makes sense, because it depicts what happens to childhood friends when they grow up. But with four separate stories, it’s hard for the film not to feel a bit long.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: Maybe I’m too old and cranky to enjoy such frivolities, or maybe my expectations were too high, because I really enjoyed the first one (in my youth of 3 years ago)… But the girlfriend I saw it with really liked it.

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Thursday, August 21, 2008

The Rocker

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Just as his rock band makes it big, Robert "Fish" Fishman (Rainn Wilson), gets kicked out of the group. Now, 20 years later, he gets a second chance at rock super-stardom in his nerdy nephew's (Josh Gad) high school rock band.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Emma Stone, Josh Gad, Teddy Geiger, Jeff Garlin, Jane Lynch, Jason Sudeikis, Will Arnett, Bradley Cooper, Fred Armisen, Howard Hessman, Jane Krakowski

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketProceed with Caution. I'm going to start right out by taking issue with the marketing campaign, which advertises that it's "The Sleeper Hit of the Summer!" As we all know, the definition of a "sleeper hit" is a movie that did well (past tense), despite the fact that it had no up front hype, and nobody expected it to do any business. So to advertise something as a "Sleeper" when it hasn't even been released yet is egregious! Now, I know that marketing people like to lie to us, but rarely have I felt so violated by it. What do they think we're idiots? Why do I ask such questions-- of course they do!... And while I admit that this insulting marketing campaign is not the fault of the film or the filmmakers, I fear that it could be to their detriment, because while there is nothing inherently wrong with this sweet and somewhat innocuous movie, it's the kind of experience that will be better enjoyed if you temper your expectations up front.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It's cute, but coming out in a summer loaded up with incredibly hilarious theatrical comedies, it's hard not to compare it as the lesser of the funny.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you've always wanted to be a leading man, but were concerned that your face wasn't pretty enough, Rainn Wilson's looks will have you crying tears of joy and hope, as he proves that you don't have to be pretty to play the ingenue, anymore!

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: In my book, Jason Sudeikis gets the award for the most underrated actor on Saturday Night Live. As a good looking guy who's also funny, and with the chops to play either a leading man or a character actor, I'm predicting right here and now that if anyone in Hollywood has half a brain, he's going to blow up-- not only in broad comedies, but also as a romantic-comedy star. It's too bad this prediction relies on someone in Hollywood having half a brain... Oh, well, Jason, you can't win 'em all!

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Rainn Wilson is a little more special as Dwight Schrute. Although if by "special" I mean "retarded", then this guy wins hands down. Meanwhile, Josh Gad has some interesting nervous inflections that have him coming off like a more genuine version of Jonah Hill. Watch out, Jonah, there's a new fat kid in town!

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Peter Cattaneo directed The Full Monty, so he'll always have a pass in my book-- which is lucky for him, cuz that's exactly what his work here is: passable.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: They hit all the beats, but like in any pop song, that makes for a somewhat predictable number.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: Pete Best, original cast member of the Beatles, is in the end credits as "himself," but I can't for the life of me remember seeing him in the film. If you see him in it, please clue me in by explaining it in the comments below.

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Monday, August 18, 2008

Red

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: When 3 teenage boys kill an old widower's dog, he becomes obsessed with getting justice, or at least making them admit to their feelings of remorse.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Brian Cox, Kim Dickens, Tom Sizemore, Noel Fisher, Kyle Gallner, Shiloh Fernandez, Amanda Plummer, Robert Englund, Richard Reihle

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketProceed with Caution. The story feels like one that's never been told before-- except in the Jack Ketchum novel, on which it is based. So if you liked the book, or you like small movies about never giving up on justice, that are in no way hopeful or uplifting, this movie is for you.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Not really, but it does have Tom Sizemore in it, and there's always something kitsch about that.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: It could be hard on the dog-loving contingent.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Unless they're reading this blog, the awards nominators probably won't even find out this movie exists.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: As is to be expected, Brian Cox gives a rich, complex, and transformative performance. But Kim Dickens proves why she has a bigger career in television than in film. Her depth of character is not only unconvincing on the big screen, it's lack also causes her to seem annoyingly trite, regularly taking you out of the movie, as you think about how mis-matched she is to Brian Cox.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Clearly the directors (and producers) did a lot with a little. While the film is small and contained, it maintains a level of professionalism that isn't always apparent in films of this size.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It is continually alluded to that something is going on beneath the surface in these teenage kids' family that causes them to act so badly, and possibly even justifies their behavior on some level. But aside from the fact that their dad is a total jerk, we never end up finding out what it is that has them all running scared and acting evil. Had that been clarified, the ending might've felt like it had resolved something.

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Friday, August 15, 2008

Tropic Thunder

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: While making a Vietnam movie, the film’s director (Steve Coogan) decides that his actors (Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr.) are too spoiled, so he drops them in the middle of the jungle to fend for themselves, and to elicit more realistic performances out of them. Unfortunately, while the actors think they’re just making a movie about war, they accidentally get caught up in an actual war.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Who isn’t?! Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Steve Coogan, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Cruise, Bill Hader, Nick Nolte, Danny McBride, Jay Baruchel, Brandon T. Jackson, Brandon Soo Hoo, Reggie Lee, Trieu Tran. With cameos by Christine Taylor, Tyra Banks, Maria Menounos, Tobey McGuire, Jon Voight, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jason Bateman, Lance Bass, & Alicia Silverstone

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketGo! If the premise sounds ridiculous and implausible that’s because it totally is! But what this movie lacks in groundedness, logic, and common sense, it makes up for in laughs per minute.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Obviously, but it might also make you puke. The blood, guts, vomit, and general level of gore is off the charts, so try to go on an empty stomach.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Either I’m a sucker for cute Asian babies, or this flick actually has a moving scene in it… But it’s still a far cry from crying.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Best impersonation of an Academy Award. Best impersonation of an Academy Award winning actor. Best impersonation of an Academy Award winning film. In fact, if you’re looking to find out how to land an Academy Award, this movie gives away all the secret tricks of the trade.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: As much as I wanted to hand over the Oscar to Robert Downey Jr. for playing a white Australian actor who’s playing a 1960s black soldier, there are times when his phony black accent makes it hard to understand what he's saying. Don’t get me wrong, his performance is still groundbreaking, but I’m just saying.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Ben Stiller has a fun, broad, campy, brightly lit style that stays constant from movie to movie. Which is tonally effective, if you like that sort of thing-- which personally, I do.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: For anyone who didn’t already know that that actors are all messed up in their heads, this movie will confirm your suspicions. Hey, two of the three writers are actors (Ben Stiller and Justin Theroux), so I'm thinking they've got something of an inside scoop on the matter.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: Well, in my infinitely astute and remarkably accurate observation, I noticed that each of the main characters is impersonating at least one actual famous person. So while Ben Stiller is doing some kind of Sylvester Stallone routine, Jack Black, in a hyper-ironic turn of events, seems to be playing Robert Downey Jr.. But to make matters even more bizarre, Robert Downey Jr.’s character has several hard-to-ignore similarities to none other than... Heath Ledger! It sure is funny, but is it too soon? (Although that’s a rhetorical question, I welcome your earnest responses below.)

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Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Trouble the Water

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A Documentary about one couple's struggle to survive Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Kimberly Rivers Roberts and Scott Roberts, with their friends, family, and neighbors from the Ninth Ward of New Orleans.

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketProceed with Caution. While the strength and courage of the protagonists inspires a renewed faith in human resilience, this social interest story relies too much on the infamous Hurricane for its emotional pull, causing the scope to feel more like a piece for 60 minutes, and less like a theatrical release.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Michael Brown, the head of FEMA at the time, has a pretty funny expression on his face when a newscaster calls him out for doing nothing.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Is it even possible to make a film about Hurricane Katrina without a few deeply moving moments?

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, which I can't help but think was a pity award for having to go through that whole deadly Hurricane thing. But as far as awards they do deserve, Kimberly Rivers Roberts' original rap songs are the highlight of the film, and I would love to see her follow in the footsteps of Three 6 Mafia at the Oscars.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Despite the devastating circumstances, Kimberly and Scott Roberts always seem to keep smiles on their faces-- which is at once the thing that makes them so likeable, and the thing that makes the film less dramatic than it should be.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The majority of the footage is shot by the primary subject, Kimberly, on a camera she bought for $20, and the production quality suffers severely from this choice. But if you can get past the shaky-cam, you'll get a first hand point of view look at what it was like, from someone who was actually there, rolling tape.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: There are so many interesting stories that came out of this National Disaster, that it's a shame to focus only on this small one. But if you are going to hone in on one couple's (albeit fascinating) experience, you have to delve deeper into their personal relationships with each other, and those around them, as they weather the storm. You have to find some personal conflict that comes out of it. But in this doc, the only true conflict comes from the struggle of Man against Nature... And, of course, Man against the U.S. Goverment-- but everybody's struggling with that.

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Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Two American girls, best-friends Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson), go to Barcelona for the summer, where they are seduced by and fall for the same Latin Lover (Javier Bardem).

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Patricia Clarkson, Kevin Dunn, Chris Messina, Christopher Evan Welch, Pablo Schreiber, Zak Orth, Carrie Preston

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketGo! With the Dollar so low, and the Euro so high, this may be the only affordable way to visit Spain anymore. But economics notwithstanding, the film also has going for it that it's a passionate exploration of how relationships are ultimately nothing more-- or less-- than a choose your own adventure story.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Woody's still got a few tricks up his sleeve.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No, but it could get your sexy juices flowing.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Penelope Cruz, Penelope Cruz, everyone's talking about Penelope Cruz. I spent the first half of the movie wondering if she was even in this film... But boy was she ever! Without seeing any of the other performances to come, I'm going to go big, and put in my prediction now: she will win (yes, I said "win") the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Rebecca Hall is incredible in the "Woody Allen role," which leads me to wonder, does he give them stuttering, hemming, and hawing lessons on set? Or do they just instinctively know that when you work with Woody Allen, every word should come from your most neurotic place?

Also, after only having seen him play a psychopath, an invalid, and a gay revolutionary, I was surprised to see how much sexiness and charisma Javier Bardem was able to bring to what may be the closest he's yet come to playing an average guy. Okay, so a Spanish master of seduction isn't that average-- but still, compared to his previous roles, this is just a regular guy. And he still comes off like an acting genius.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: I've always thought of Woody Allen as a simple director, who doesn't do much more than the bare minimum to tell the story. After all, he's known for letting his scripts do the talking. But in this film, his camera is dynamic, constantly moving, and often at a faster pace than I would associate with his work. For once, his directing actually stands out, and it turns out, he's quite talented.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Woody Allen has written and directed a movie a year for as long as I can remember, so sometimes the quality gets compromised in the rush. That is not the case with Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

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Thursday, August 7, 2008

Traitor

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Samir Horn (Don Cheadle) is definitely a traitor. But is he a traitor to the United States or to the terrorists?

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Jeff Daniels, Neal McDonough, Said Taghmaoui, Archie Panjabi, Aly Khan, Alexandra Castillo, Raad Rawi, Lorena Gale

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketGo! Even when you think you know whose side he's on, you don't. This double-agent, spy thriller will keep you constantly second guessing yourself.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: There is one good laugh, well into the third act, and it's really a strange thing to laugh at.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Maybe if you're a religious extremist.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It's certainly that kind of a film.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Don Cheadle hits all the right levels as he carefully navigates the line between innocent and guilty, never quite giving away which category he falls into.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Jeffrey Nachmanoff's camera constantly moves in exciting ways, often showcasing original angles, all without distracting you from the story line.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It starts out like a run of the mill terrorist movie, but it steadily ramps up with every frame, becoming constantly more suspenseful as it draws to an end that actually has a point.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: Even as the movie jumps from location to location, the editing is seamless. And the second-unit aerial shots of Chicago make you want to go there more than any other Chicago-based movie I've seen.

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Tuesday, August 5, 2008

The X Files: I Want to Believe

(Guest Review by Jack and Kacy)

Q: What’s the movie about?


A: Mulder and Scully (David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson) are called back to duty by the FBI when a former priest claims to be receiving psychic visions pertaining to a kidnapped agent.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly, Alvin "Xzibit" Joiner, Mitch Pileggi

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketStop! If you liked the series, revisit your favorite episode on DVD. If you didn’t like the series, this will not make you want to believe.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: No. There is a George Bush joke in there, but even that isn’t funny. And he's the easiest target since Michael Jackson.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you liked the series, you will cry about how badly they wasted their opportunity to grow the franchise. After this bomb, you can file Mulder and Scully in a place more remote than the X-Files. They will not return. Believe that.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: If this wins anything, then I'll believe that aliens exist!

Q: How is the Acting?

A: During the extended hiatus, Gillian Anderson seems to have forgotten who Scully was... David Duchovny is passable, but all that mumbling through his beard for the first third of the movie doesn’t help his cause.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Chris Carter promised that this movie would scare the daylights out of me... It did. I was scared that he thought this was any good. No wonder they kept everything ultra secret. They didn’t want the secret to get out that it stank!

Q: How is the story/script?

A: In Gillian Anderson's defense, maybe she phoned in her performance because she wasn’t given anything worthwhile to say. The story is boring and the script even more so. This would not even rate in the upper half of X-Files TV episodes.

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Monday, August 4, 2008

Pineapple Express

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A process server (Seth Rogen), who is always stoned on the job, accidentally witnesses a cop committing a murder, and is forced to go on the run with his drug dealer (James Franco).

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Danny McBride, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Kevin Corrigan, Craig Robinson, Amber Heard, Ed Begley Jr., Bill Hader

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketGo! It's a good reminder that drugs and guns don't mix! Or drugs and cars, for that matter... Or drugs and jobs, or drugs and friends, or drugs and... You know, after seeing this movie I'm starting to think the only thing drugs mix with is sitting in a padded room. Alone. Legalize it!

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: When you're laughing at death, you know they're doing something right.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Almost... Okay, probably not, but there is a strong, beautiful love that flows between the two male stars of this movie. You won't even want them to quit each other.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: No, but I may give out an award to the person who wins my "Seth Rogen's Celebrity Teeth Pool." Here's the idea: I recently noticed that Seth Rogen's two front teeth are exactly twice as long as any of the other teeth in his mouth, much like a member of the Rodent Family. Since he doesn't need them that way for gnawing wood, and he's eventually going to want to start looking like an actual celebrity, I imagine it's only a matter of time before he fixes his teeth through filing, veneering, or simply knocking them all out and starting over with dentures. My pool will give you, my loyal reader, an opportunity to place bets on how many more movies we will see him in before he has new teeth. The winner of the pool will get an award-- though I can't guarantee it'll be anything more than a hug. Please place your bets in the comments section of this post. (Sorry, Seth, but somebody was gonna point it out sooner or later.)

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Any good-looking actor who wants to be taken seriously, should always play a stoner. Brad Pitt won us over when he played Floyd in True Romance. Ashton Kutcher won us over in That 70's Show. Even Keanu Reeves made us think he could act in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. Well, now it's James Franco's turn to prove-- through marijuana abuse-- that he's more than just a pretty face. And boy does he! Showing his comedy chops should catapult his career to the next level. Yes, I know that doing Spiderman seems like it should count for something, but if we're honest, I think we can all agree that it never got him A-list status.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: David Gordon Green, who is known for making small indy films on a micro budget, actually makes this look like a bonafide Hollywood movie. Who knew?

Q: How is the story/script?

A: From the writers of Superbad, and with the supervision of Judd Apatow, this script is exactly what you'd expect it to be: an implausible story that somehow still makes sense, about grown men acting immature and irresponsible, yet charming, as nonsense ejects from their lips, causing you to both laugh and be a little moved.

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Sunday, August 3, 2008

American Teen

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A Documentary about 4 different kids, from 4 different cliques, struggling with High School... Which one are you?

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Hannah Bailey, Colin Clemens, Megan Krizmanich, Mitch Reinholt, Jake Tusing, Geoff Haase, Ali Wikalinska

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketGo! You'll be glad you're not in high school anymore... Unless you still are. In which case, this movie will add nothing to your life but more angst and stress induced acne.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Nerdy kids are sooo funny.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Popular kids are sooo sad.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Jason Reitman (the director of Juno) thinks it's gonna win the Oscar. I think it's gonna win Prom Queen.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Mean, fun, flirty, vicious, self-deprecating, angst-ridden, humiliated, heart-breaking, and hormonal. Very hormonal.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Adding to the verite-style camera, which makes you feel like you're right back in high school, are beautiful animation sequences that are both visceral and moving.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Cut together from a thousand hours of footage, sometimes it's hard not to wonder how much of the story is manufactured through editing, and how much really happened in the order they say it did... But having been to most of those emotional highs and lows myself, I can promise you that at least the individual moments are real.

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