The Company Men

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A multi-million dollar company lays off 1000s of people to please their rich board without touching their own higher-ups' multi-million dollar bonuses. This is the story of what happens to some of the people who are made redundant to protect their fortunes.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper, Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Craig T. Nelson, Rosemarie DeWitt, Eamonn Walker

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Stop! This movie is so depressing that any ending these characters might arrive at would feel happy... including death.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It's kind of funny how much this movie made me want to take my own life.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No, it doesn't even let you do that! There really is no hope. Why do I even keep going?

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Just in case voters feel obliged to fulfill their "fairness" responsibilities by watching this film, despite my warnings, here is the number for the suicide hotline: 1-800-273-TALK.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Many of the Boston accents are distractingly inconsistent, often sounding more like they're from Long Island. Also, when Ben Affleck first arrives at the unemployment placement center, there is a large Black man (Eamonn Walker) who instantly notices him, and looks at him throughout the film like he's planning to seduce the hell out of him. The weird thing is he doesn't. That's like introducing a gay gun in the first act, and not shooting it in the third act! You can't do that! Since the gay innuendo turns out to be unintended, I'm forced to deduce that it's simply bad acting.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Boring directing tries to redeem itself with an overbearing score and soundtrack.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: My friend Lisa is one of those people who is very careful about how she phrases things, often avoiding saying anything negative or controversial, but when this movie ended, she went on a tirade about how it was redundant, pedantic, and trivializes what all the laid-off people in America must actually be going through. Personally, I thought it was a decent enough movie, but I couldn't send anyone to go see it, unless I was trying to convince them that life just isn't worth it, and they should take action against themselves immediately. Which actually gives this movie a huge upside, because it would be cheaper than taking a contract out on my enemies, and in these hard times, any penny pinched is a penny saved!

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

A: Speaking of not giving up on things that are pointless, this is our 400th review! Just my luck that it would be a red light... where did I put that suicide hotline number again?

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-company-men/1429932/trailers

Back To Top

The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: After eight years in hiding, Boston's Boondock Saints (Sean Patrick Flanery & Norman Reedus) get called back into action, when someone kills a priest in a fashion that implies it was their work.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Billy Connolly, Clifton Collins Jr., Julie Benz, Peter Fonda, Judd Nelson, David Della Rocco, Bob Marley, Brian Mahoney, David Ferry, Gerard Parkes, Bob Rubin

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. It's got its holes, and it's got its flaws, but if you allow yourself to go along for the ride, you will find that this is just some good-old cheesy shoot 'em up fun.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: The comedy is sort of the highlight of this film. Using an entirely new tone from the original, the film manages to brilliantly spoof itself. Now, I don't know if that was deliberate, but if it was congratulations to the filmmakers for opening up their audience, and if it wasn't they should definitely take this opportunity to pretend that it was.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Several likeable characters will die, and you will just have to deal with it.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: After the original bombed at the box office, it slowly found a die-hard cult audience on video (yes, that's how long ago the original came out), and thanks to that, investors became interested in putting money up for a sequel. So it's already won the Most Unlikely Sequel Award, and that's really something to be proud of.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Sometimes when I watch these smaller films I am forced to realize that I don't watch enough TV. Julie Benz, who is mostly known for Dexter, has an absolutely break out performance. Of course, I have no way of knowing if she's always that good, because I've never seen her before. Meanwhile, Clifton Collins Jr., who can play both frightening and hilarious-- and does both within this film-- proves why he is unbelievably castable, and will be a great resource for directors needing just about any quality for many more years to come. As for the Boondock Saints themselves... they're hardly in the movie.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Troy Duffy has a very strong cinematic sense, which he proves over again in this sequel. Unfortunately, he also proves that he's self-indulgent and showy in ways that don't always highlight his talent. He often makes choices that are so busy drawing attention to his directing, that they take away from the story, and confuse the audience. In addition, there are a few scenes that end up dragging on a bit too long, and seem only to be there to showcase some great shot or effect he wasn't willing to leave on the cutting room floor. Even a second of boredom in a film can snap you right out of the world you're trying to be drawn into.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: There are a lot of inside jokes that refer back to the original in ways that make it hard to follow the film if you're not in the know. I've actually seen the original, but it was so many years ago, and I've seen hundreds (possibly thousands) of other films since then, so I found myself having a hard time following the non-linear structure. I was able to quickly move past those moments, so I still enjoyed it-- especially the comedy-- but I also breathed a sigh of relief every time I was (heavy handedly) told by the characters about some relevant thing that had happened in the original.

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

A: It's hard for me to write about Troy Duffy or The Boondock Saints without recommending a documentary called Overnight. It's about him and the notorious Hollywood story of how the original script sold for a ridiculously high price to Miramax, catapulting him to overnight success, but how with his arrogance, he managed to throw it all away overnight, too, finding himself back in the struggle with everybody else, just another guy trying to get his film off the ground. This is an amazing cautionary tale for all those of you with big Hollywood dreams. Troy's story has a moderately happy ending, since we know that his story leads to a sequel-- which is a pretty indisputable proof of success. But it's also important to point out that despite all his raw talent, he wasn't able to land another directing job in 10 years until this sequel was funded. I'll be interested to see if he gets a second chance this time...

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-boondock-saints-ii-all-saints-day/39245/trailers

Back To Top

My One and Only

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: When a high-class woman (Renee Zellweger) walks in on her husband (Kevin Bacon) cheating, she takes her two sons (Logan Lerman & Mark Rendall), and goes on a road trip across America to find a new husband who can support her.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Renee Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Mark Rendall, Kevin Bacon, Chris Noth, Nick Stahl, Troy Garity, J.C. MacKenzie, Eric McCormack, Molly C. Quinn, Steven Weber, Robin Weigert, David Koechner, Phoebe Strole

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. This is one of those movies that carries you along at a lukewarm clip, without too much suspense, but pays off in the last two minutes, when you find out who it is about. The ending is satisfying, but more so if you don't already know whose true story it is, and you're old enough to put that person's name to their face. So my advice, if you want the best possible experience, is don't read anything about this movie before you see it.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: There is one big belly laugh, and it's about a car, and where you take it when it breaks down. Why are you still reading?

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: You're still reading?! That means that either you've already decided not to see this movie, or you've figured out that I'm not going to give anything away. In either case, you're much too intellectual to be moved by the slight emotional moment at the end of the movie.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Since you're still reading, I'm gonna give you the award for biggest knucklehead. Unless you've already seen the film, in which case, I invite you to put all the spoilers you want in the comments section.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Logan Lerman is the hearthrob of the future, so you may as well get used to him. I guarantee this kid will soon be starring on the cover of magazines, as well as the majority of movies you try to see in the next decade. (He hasn't been cast in them yet, I'm just warning you, it's his destiny.)

Q: How is the Directing?

A: It's fun to see the styles and sets of the 1950s, and they are well highlighted in this film, but the passage of time, especially how much of it has gone by from one scene to the next is very hard to follow.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: If you can get past Renee Zellweger's giant face, and the bizarre fact that everyone continually tells her how beautiful she is, here are three things that might stand out about the script. 1. She has the cutest little sayings about stuff, and you'll wonder where they come from. 2. It feels like it would make a better book than a movie. 3. The main character has an uncanny knack for running into rich ex-boyfriends the moment she sets foot in any big city in America. I mean, sure, that happens to me all the time, but-- who are we kidding, that doesn't happen to anyone!

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/myoneandonly/

Back To Top

21

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Inspired by the true story, and the book, about 6 MIT students who counted cards in Black Jack, and took Vegas for a million dollars.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Aaron Yoo, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts, Laurence Fishburne, Josh Gad, Sam Golzari

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! It's entertaining and educational! Especially if you're looking for a system with which to run the Black Jack tables and get rich quick... Or, more likely, lose your shirt.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: They try for it. All but a few of the jokes felt a little on the nose to me.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: More like frustrate you... which is one of the many emotions worth going to the movies for.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: I'm giving the Best Jonah Hill Impersonation Award to Josh Gad. Rarely has a casting choice so obviously tried to compensate for the actor they wanted but couldn't get. (P.S. this is not inside information, it's merely an educated speculation.)

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Kevin Spacey's role was written with him in mind, and it's obviously a no-brainer for him to work his magic on. Kate Bosworth is a little stiff, and it's hard to feel anything much about her character beyond, "Wow, has she got perfect facial features." And Jim Sturgess is clearly the new Tobey Maguire. You know, almost attractive, in a completely non-threatening dorky guy way.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Really a good time! I love the montages, and the way Robert Luketic smoothly moves back and forth between the bright lights and glamour of Vegas, and the gloomy, snowy, cold of Boston. It's hard to believe it's the same guy who directed Legally Blonde (also a great movie, but with a totally different look.)

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It keeps you entertained the whole way through. There are a few holes in the logic, but not so big that they can't be overlooked, because the story is fascinating in and of itself.

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

A: The real story takes place in the 80s and 90s, and the movie is modern day, so that had me confused for at least the first half. Also, the main character's name is Ben Campbell, but the real guy's name is Jeff Ma, so when they say "inspired by a true story," they really mean, "Inspired."

Back To Top