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Showing posts with label cellphone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cellphone. Show all posts

Friday, July 8, 2011

Horrible Bosses


Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Three guys (Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis) with horrible bosses (Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, and Colin Farrell) hatch a plan to kill each others bosses.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Donald Sutherland, Lindsay Sloane, Julie Bowen, P.J. Byrne, Wenell Pierce, Ron White, Ioan Gruffudd, Isaiah Mustafa, Bob Newhart

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketGo! Of course you have to suspend disbelief during most parts of the beginning, middle, and end, didn't you read what it's about? The murderers are the good guys!

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Lots of laughs. And speaking of Charlie Day, I've met more than one guy who has told me that if he could be anyone, he would be Charlie Day. With every Charlie Day movie (and episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) that I see, I understand more and more why they love him, and less and less why they would want to be him.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: I feel sad for Colin Farrell's career up until now. Why didn't he ever show us before that he can be really, really funny when ugly?

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Best Shot of a Parking Lot... There are several shots of parking lots in this movie, so I'm pretty sure director, Seth Gordon, was shooting for that award.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: I read a snippet of a review that said that Jennifer Aniston was miscast in this role, but I disagree. I think the role of a nymphomaniac rapist is a nice stretch for her, and that anyone who can't accept her range is just too attached to her being Rachel all the time.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Functional and utilitarian, except for the shot of the parking lot, which shows glimpses of genius.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: There are a lot of good one-liners, the characters feel fresh (except for Jason Bateman and Kevin Spacey, who have played those characters a lot of-- let's just say "every" time), and the story holds together well for a story that could only exist in nowhere.

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

A: Rat Poison: I appreciate the wink to 9 to 5, one of my all time favorite movies.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Horrible Bosses Trailer

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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Source Code


Q: What’s the movie about?

A: An Afghanistan war vet (Jake Gyllenhaal) is part of the "Source Code" program which forces him to repeatedly go back in time, to the 8 minutes leading up to the moment when the train he is on will blow up. There, he must figure out who planted the bomb, and then deter the terrorist's plan for an even bigger attack.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright, Michael Arden, Cas Anvar, Russell Peters

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketGo! Don't try to understand why the ending works, I'm not sure it does, but somehow that doesn't seem to lessen the entertainment value of this sci-fi premise.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: There is exactly one funny line, and it didn't come from the stand-up comedian.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Now that I think of it, all of the emotional beats are very surface. You know what, maybe don't give this movie too much thought after you see it. Because while some movies get better with reflection, this one is the opposite of that.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Most Engrossing Plot that Makes No Sense, Ever!

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The best actor in the cast, Vera Farmiga, has the most boring role. As far as Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Monaghan go, I have fairly low expectations for both, so I'm just happy when they don't annoy me.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Duncan Jones, who directed Moon before this, is already demonstrating the kind of track record that will soon have him stealing jobs away from Michael Bay.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The structure is unpredictable, as are many of the choices the character makes during his 8 minute train rides. When we grow to know more about the character, his choices begin to make more sense, and the seeming randomness of the choices make the movie feel original. At the same time, it's pretty easy to figure out who the terrorist is and the major twist isn't that surprising either. Maybe because it's sci-fi, and so completely make-believe from the start, but for some reason, you find yourself compelled to forgive all the major flaws in the plot.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Source Code Trailer

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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

The Disappearance of Alice Creed


Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A kidnapping for a ransom turns complicated, when one of the kidnappers (Martin Compston) admits to the victim (Gemma Arterton) that he's in love with her... and that's only half the story. But anyway, when has a kidnapping for a ransom not turned complicated?

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Gemma Arterton, Martin Compston, Eddie Marsan. And that's really it.

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketGo! Taking place almost entirely in a tiny one bedroom apartment, this low budget thriller is both simple and full of twists.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: You know what's funny? When they tie her up, and strip her naked, and you think they're going to rape her, but they don't. Hahahaha! They totally got me.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Hopefully, neither kidnapping nor being kidnapped are relatable enough situations to you to make you cry.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: I would love to see Gemma Arterton nominated for something for this. The girl cries and screams like nobody's business, through the whole thing. She must've been exhausted by the end of every work day. I was exhausted just watching her performance.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Martin Compston will likely be our next British import, now that we've all sort of tired of Orlando Bloom. And Eddie Marsan is great, if not somewhat scary, in everything-- I mean, did you see Happy Go Lucky?

Q: How is the Directing?

A: It's hard to keep a bedroom, a living room, and a bathroom entertaining for the entire length of a movie, but in this case it really adds to the claustrophobia, and J Blakeson keeps things moving and dynamic, along with the help of an ominous score.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The story has enough twists, turns and intrigue to make you forget that you haven't left the room in over an hour. It doesn't fall back on dialogue to keep things moving along, either. You are simply pulled through by your concern about who will get out of this situation and how-- despite the fact that each of the characters has at least one flaw that should rightfully make you hate them to the point of not caring.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/search/the%20disappearance%20of%20alice%20creed/trailers

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Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Why Did I Get Married Too?


Q: What’s the movie about?

A: This dramedy recruits Tyler Perry's same old crew of happily married couples, to go on their annual retreat together, where they can once again discover how messed up their relationships are. And guess what? This time, they have a whole new set of problems.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Tyler Perry, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, Tasha Smith, Sharon Leal, Michael Jai White, Malik Yoba, Richard T. Jones, Lamman Rucker, Louis Gossett Jr., Cicely Tyson

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketGo! I'm talking to you white people. First of all, because the Black people have already seen it. But mostly because you people probably haven't ever seen a Tyler Perry film, and it's time you found out what all the hype is about. Yes, I said, "You people."

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Hype point number 1: Tyler Perry is funny.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Hype point number 2: Tyler Perry is insightful.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Hype point number 3: There's a reason Tyler Perry has almost as much money and power as Oprah.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: If this weren't seen as a "Black movie," Janet Jackson would be up for an Academy Award. Yes, I just played the race card, without even being Black. (It was fun, by the way) But what is especially weird about my above comment, is that at the beginning of this movie I hated Jackson's performance so much, I was pretty sure I was going to rip her shreds, right here, in this section. To my surprise, later in the movie, I realized that her terrible acting was a character choice.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Tyler Perry deserves to have all the TV shows, movie deals, studios, and creative control that he gets.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It is overtly clear that Tyler Perry comes from a theater background, as all of his self contained talking scenes are strung together in a play-like structure. But it's also clear that he is a good theater writer, as his conversations about overdone things, like what makes up a good relationship or marriage, still manage to cover new points of view. Or at least hold your interest as if you were sitting around talking and laughing with your own best friends.

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

A: I don't want you to get your hopes up too high, the movie's not perfect. The structure meanders and it sometimes feels too long. I just want you to see it because I think you may be underestimating Tyler Perry, and his seemingly effortless ability to get across a good, clean message about good, clean people.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/tyler-perrys-why-did-i-get-married-too/37010/trailers

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Saturday, February 27, 2010

Cop Out


Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A pair of buddy cops (Bruce Willis & Tracy Morgan) get suspended from the force for playing by their own rules, but continue to play by their own rules when one of them gets robbed of a rare baseball card, which he needs to sell so he can pay for his daughter's wedding. Further proving that weddings get you into trouble.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, Guillermo Diaz, Seann William Scott, Kevin Pollak, Adam Brody, Cory Fernandez, Michelle Trachtenberg, Rashida Jones, Jason Lee, Francie Swift, Ana de la Reguara, Susie Essman, Fred Armisen

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketProceed with Caution. Did you ever wonder what would happen if you remade Lethal Weapon, but you made the Black guy the crazy one and the White guy the one who's getting too old for this sh-t? Add in some zaniness, some dick jokes, and a far less professional filming style, and presto! You don't have to wonder anymore.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Probably, but the humor is as annoying as it is funny.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Maybe if you're a baseball collector.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: This script was on the 2008 Blacklist, which is an elite list of the best films that executives in Hollywood read that year. Either they changed a lot of it since then, or Hollywood executives are easily fooled by a few clever jokes, into thinking that an entire script is good.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Bruce Willis was once considered a comic genius of his time, but this film makes him look like he's getting too old for this sh-t. He works too hard in his performance, and still has no clear character definition, as he holds back from laughing at Tracy Morgan's improvs. Adam Brody, on the other hand, has an understated naturalness to his comedic style that I'd be happy to see explored more in bigger roles.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: It's hard to believe that after 14 years, Kevin Smith still directs like an amateur. His close ups are too tight for the big screen, they are inappropriate for the emotional level of the story, his shot selections are boring and don't always help us follow the story, and he manages to make veterans (like Bruce Willis) look like they can't act. Look, he seems like a nice, intelligent guy, and I would love to sit down at the dinner table with him for some stimulating conversation, but why does he continue to get away with such embarrassing work? Will somebody please tell him to take a directing class?

Q: How is the story/script?

A: So long as you leave your sense of maturity and reality at home, there are a few good jokes and sequences, within this cliche story that could have been any rejected buddy cop script after a quick search and replace to, "Insert raunchier dick joke here."

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

A: The original title of this movie was A Couple of Dicks. Which is both more clever and explains why so many dick jokes.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/cop-out/36928/trailers

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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

The Proposal

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: When a powerhouse publisher (Sandra Bullock) finds out she's getting deported back to Canada, she blackmails her assistant (Ryan Reynolds) into marrying her for the Green Card. Because she's a beeatch!

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Betty White, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, Malin Akerman, Oscar Nunez, Denis O'Hare, Aasif Mandvi

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketGo! This movie makes you wanna kiss somebody.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It's funny how, in romantic comedies, relationships are so much cooler than in real life. I guess real life relationships would be cool, too, if you never had to find out what happens to you after the first three days.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: It makes me cry to know that no matter how many sweet movies I go see, in my real life, the a-holes I encounter never turn out to have a heart. You know who you are... Oh, no wait, you're too full of yourself to know that you don't have a heart. Well, rest assured, we know who you are.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Best night scenes to take place in full daylight. Thank you, Alaska. You are a very confusing place. But at least now I understand why you pick such strange leadership. You haven't had a good night's sleep since last winter.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Cliche alert!!! Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds have great chemistry... But they actually do. And Oscar Nunez gets laughs just for showing up. (You'll know what I mean when you see it.)

Q: How is the Directing?

A: I love that Anne Fletcher's career is thriving! What would I love more? To see more than one woman director thriving at a time. One scene I was particularly impressed by was the naked collision scene. Spoiler alert!!! (Not really-- it's in the trailer) She manages to show all the movement and action of naked people accidentally walking into each other, without showing any of the nudity. I sat for several moments wondering how she pulled it off so well. When I see it on DVD, I'll make a point to pay closer attention.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Peter Chiarelli does a nice job setting up a story that seems impossible to justify. Sure you have to ignore a couple of realities, like the sexual harrassment lawsuit Reynolds could have filed and won, but the one thing I had a hard time overlooking-- and I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm stereotyping-- was Sandra Bullock's personality. Because I have never met a Canadian that wasn't nice.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-proposal/30250/trailers

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