Style, Style, Style in DVD

I haven't seen any of the movies coming out in DVD this week, but the rental queue is full. Coco Before Chanel and Black Dynamite are at the top of my list. The revenge action movie Law Abiding Citizen is out.The documentary Good Hair will make its way into my DVD player as well.

Il Divo

I watched the Italian film Il Divo because it is nominated for an Oscar for achievement in makeup. I was treated to a poetic film about the Italian Prime Minister, Giulio Andriotti. Depicting the trial for his alleged association with the mafia, murder and kidnapping, this is a dramatic story. Gorgeous cinematography, artistic structure and yes, impressive makeup, this film is worth a look. I wish I had seen it on the big screen.

The Secret of Kells

The opening night of the Providence Children's Film Festival was an ideal setting to see The Secret of Kells. It was the opening night film, the Cable Car was crawling with kids and their parents, the popcorn was free, there were cupcakes, it was a very festive atmosphere. After all the welcomes, thank yous and introductions, the lights went out and the theater went silent. The beautiful animation and a simple, familiar story unfolded. As the credits rolled there was enthusiastic applause, and a little girl in front of me asked her brother, "did you like it?" He said, "yeah, it was scary, but really good." The drama of young Brendan and the Book of Kells impressed the young man. Though I can see why this film is an Oscar nominee, for me Ponyo should be in that slot. The Secret of Kells arrives in NYC on March 5th and goes wider March 16th. Worth a look.

Friday Flick picks 2/12/10

So it's Valentine's weekend and guess what the big release to theaters is? Valentine's Day!! A huge all-star cast is tempting for me. Looks light, but that could mean fun. The Wolfman is a close second to getting my box office dollar. Benicio DelToro the draw there. Also worth a look, these Oscar nominees are in RI theaters: Crazy Heart, Avatar, The Blind Side, An Education, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Hurt Locker, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, The Lovely Bones, The Princess and the Frog, Sherlock Holmes, A Single Man, Up in the Air and The Young Victoria. Enjoy!!

PS Just scored a ticket to see The Secret of Kells at the Providence Children's Film Festival. The Oscar Project goal is once again attainable. woo hoo!!!

Serious Moonlight

In Serious Moonlight, a woman takes extraordinary steps to keep her husband from leaving her. Yes, there is duck tape. Writen by Adrienne Shelly, this film is funny, dark, sweet and surprising. Worth a rental.

Relationships and Resorts in DVD

On the heels of a Best Picture Oscar nomination, A Serious Man is released to DVD this week. Trials and tribulations of a man looking for the answers is true Coen Brothers black humor. In my DVD queue are Serious Moonlight, Peter and Vandy, Bronson and Couples Retreat.

The Princess and the Frog

When The Princess and the Frog came out I was annoyed. I find the "prince will rescue me" stories tiresome and demeaning. Because this film was nominated for three Oscars, I grudgingly put it on my list. Thanks to the Academy, I did not miss out on a beautiful, joyful, intelligent film. I love being wrong in a situation like this. The twist on the classic tale is clever and the setting of New Orleans is well done. The animation is beautiful, the story refreshing, the music toe-tappin' and the experience delightful. Loved it! Color me surprised.

The White Ribbon

At the end of The White Ribbon, the audience I saw it with was angry. An intricate who-done-it, set in pre-WWI Germany, just ends. The last time this happened to me at the movies, I was at the same theater, it was the same director and there was almost a fist fight in the ladies room over the ending of Cache. This is a beautiful film, this is a thoughtful film, this is a disturbing film, this a film worth seeing. Glad I did.

The Messenger

It is never easy to deliver the news that someone has passed away. The Messenger tells the story of two Army officers charged with informing families when a loved one has been killed in Iraq. The drama is powerful and raw, and after establishing several different scenarios, we see how this assignment effects the men themselves. Woody Harrelson has an Oscar nomination for his role as the experienced officer, but Ben Foster's powerful performance really made this film for me.

The Last Station

The Last Station tells the story of Leo Tolstoy at the end of his life. A passionate, interesting, talented man. Though Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer have collected Oscar nominations for their performances as Tolstoy and the Countess, James McAvoy turns in a strong performance as well. An interesting story, well told.

Friday Flick Picks 2//10

RI film selection leans toward the films of 2009 this week. Dear John and From Paris With Love are getting mediocre reviews, so the better choices are the older films. The Oscar nominees were announced on Tuesday and offers a good list for your film consumption. Oscar nominees in RI theaters are Crazy Heart, Avatar, The Blind Side, Coco Before Chanel, An Education, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Hurt Locker, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, Inglourious Basterds, The Lovely Bones, Precious, The Princess and the Frog, Sherlock Holmes, A Single Man, Up in the Air and The Young Victoria. I've seen most of these, so I'm off to Boston theaters to make my "Oscar nominees to see" list shorter. Enjoy!

Otherworld in DVD

DVD releases this week have an otherworldly vibe. Zombieland is a road trip story set in a world of zombies. Very funny. Cold Souls takes us to the other side. An interesting look at mortality. In my queue? The House of the Devil, New York, I Love You and Amelia. Oscar nominations announced this week, get your rentals ready.

Broken Embraces

I went to see Broken Embraces at noon. Usually the grandma-matinee. When the lights went out, I was the only person in the small theater. A few minutes into the film, a man walked in and sat right in front of me. I moved down and let the film work it's magic. A well structured story of love, lust, ambition and desperation, I was enthralled. About 3/4 of the way through the film, I heard a strange, but familiar sound. Yes, the man in front of me had fallen asleep and was snoring. Loudly. When the credits rolled I was a bit sad to think this man had slept through the ending of a beautiful film that was passionate and well crafted. I enjoyed my semi-private screening.

The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones is an abstract, disconnected film. It plays like a crime thriller while it yanks hard on the heart strings. Strong performances make the unconventional structure work. Worth a look.

Friday Flick Picks 1/29/10

Thanks to all the crap dumped in theaters this January, it's been pretty easy to finish out the 2009 films as they trickle into RI theaters. I'm convinced that the only reason Avatar is still sitting on top of the box office is that there's not much else to see. I'll be checking out The Lovely Bones and Broken Embraces this weekend. Crazy Heart, A Single Man, The Blind Side, It's Complicated, Sherlock Holmes and Up in the Air are all worth a look. Don't forget, Oscar nominations are announced on Tuesday.

Derby, Dad, Deception and Dedication in DVD

DVD releases are strong this week. Whip It is a sports film about family, dreams and ambition. The Boys are Back is a touching story of grief, parenting and family. Surrogates is an intriguing, sci-fi look at the future. This Is It gives fans a glimpse at Michael Jackson's last rehearsals, and a look at the man and his creative process. In my queue are Bright Star and Little Ashes. Happy viewing!

A Single Man

A Single Man is a gentle study of a man's life and relationship's. In the course of a day, George reflects on his loves, losses and decisions. A pretty film with a poetic pace and poignant performances.

Crazy Heart

After all the praise that has been showered on Jeff Bridges' performance in Crazy Heart, it was our movie of choice this afternoon. This is a story of a man who has enjoyed success and popularity as a country singer who has sunk into the arms of alcoholism and despair. Playing in bowling alleys (homage to he dude?) and sure to have that next bottle of bourbon on hand, Blake drives from gig to gig clinging to survival. Along the way he meets a young reporter and a light comes on. The result is interesting without being cheesy or predictable. The pace of this film is slow, but the performances and the music make the film worthwhile.

Friday Flick Picks 1/22/10

This time of year I become more freakish about my film consumption. My Oscar Project rules my cinema choices from now until March 7th. Living in such a small market, seeing all the nominated films is a lot of fun and requires a bit of strategy. This weekend, I don't care what happens in RI theaters, I'm on my way to NYC. My daughter Liza and her fiance Ryan are taking me to see Fuerza Bruta on Saturday night. For the rest of the weekend, NY movie theaters are my oyster and I'm hoping to knock 1 or 2 films off this list.
A Single Man
Crazy Heart
The Last Station
The Lovely Bones
Fish Tank
Broken Embraces
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond
I only say 1 0r 2 because we must leave time for food,drink, shopping, visits and football. Next weekend I'll return to RI theaters and their offerings, but for now, Big Apple here I come!!

Big Fan

Big Fan is a drama that really surprised me. A huge NY Giants fan, lives his days listening to sports radio, planning his calls, studying stats and going to the games (in an interesting way). An on-air rivalry and unfortunate chain of events has us watch this man's life unravel. The unraveling is fascinating, the film goes very dark. The end was shocking and made sense. This is an intense story with performances that make it worth a look. I enjoyed this film.

Science and Sarcasm in DVD

Quiet week in DVD releases for me. I think I'm the only person who doesn't like Ricky Gervais. The Invention of Lying is in DVD and I have no desire to see it. Pandorum is in my DVD queue. Stick with last weeks offerings. Moon, The Hurt Locker, In the Loop and Big Fan well worth a look.

Top 10 of 2009

My serious film consumption began around the year 2000. 2009 marks the end of a huge decade in film for me. As I look at best film lists of the decade, I don't know how people do it. I've seen at least 2000 wonderful films, picking my favorites would be overwhelming. I won't go the best of the decade route.

I'm finally ready to post my favorites of 2009. I don't proclaim these to be the best, they are just the films I enjoyed most this year. Click on the titles to see what I thought.

Moon
District 9
An Education
Coraline
Trick 'r Treat
The Hurt Locker
Up
It Might Get Loud
Star Trek
Where the Wild Things Are
Up in the Air

These are the movies that show you how hard it is for me to pick only 10 favorites:
Ponyo, Inglourious Basterds, Unwigged & Unplugged, Jennifer's Body, Whip It, Paranormal Activity, Precious, Entre Nos, In the Loop, Throw Down Your Heart, The Hangover, The Way We Get By, (500) Days of Summer, Julie & Julia, Drag Me to Hell, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Zombieland, Nine, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus A good year in film.

Space, Scandle and Splodies in DVD

It's a good week for DVD releases. My favorite film of the year, Moon hits DVD. Cool drama with a great performance by Sam Rockwell. Do yourself a favor, see this flick. The Hurt Locker and In the Loop are two other good films out this week. In my rental queue? Big Fan, The Burning Plain and Departures.

The Young Victoria

In The Young Victoria we see a depiction of the years surrounding Victoria becoming Queen of England. She was 18 years old. It is a story of family, royalty and politics. It is also a love story. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were an endearing royal couple. I was surprised when this movie ended, I could have watched more.

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

The Imaginarium of Dr.Parnassus tells the tale of a man who has made a deal with the devil and the day of reckoning has arrived. Journeys in and out of his imagination are fanciful. Using four actors to portray the character of Tony works and saved this project for Terry Gilliam. This film met all my expectations for a crazy story and beautiful visuals. The Imaginarium scenes kind of reminded me of my own dreams. My favorite line? "I'm not drunk, I'm grumpy." Really enjoyed this one.

Youth in Revolt

Youth in Revolt is a comedy about a young man who creates a bad boy alter ego to win over the girl of his dreams. Things go wrong in almost every situation. With a dual personality, Michael Cera plays a familiar role and then something a little different. A great supporting cast makes this a strong comedy to kick off the 2010 movie year.

Friday Flick Picks 1/8/10

RI theaters enjoy strong openings this week. Youth in Revolt , Daybreakers and Leap Year arrive to good reviews. Terry Gilliam's Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus will be in town too. Me and Orson Welles and The Young Victoria are on my list, and are still playing locally. The strong holiday films still playing in RI: Avatar, The Blind Side, Invictus, It's Complicated, Nine, The Road, Sherlock Holmes and Up in the Air. The schedule at the Patriot Cinemas is worth a look as well. For $1.99 you can see The Box, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Inglourious Basterds, Julie & Julia, The Men Who Stare at Goats, Paranormal Activity, Where the Wild Things Are, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and Zombieland.

Reminder : Moon is out in DVD on Tues, 1/12. woo hoo!

Fondness and Food in DVD

The film Adam is released to DVD this week, well worth a look. In my queue? Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.

It's Complicated

Personal experience enhances film for me. If you are divorced, have grown children, own a home, run a business, It's Complicated will resonate for you. It did for me. Performances are great. As much as I love Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and John Krasinski really impressed me in this one. Krasinski has great timing. A story about relationships, family and decisions. Really enjoyed this one.

Avatar

Kudos to the marketing for Avatar. My curiosity finally go the better of me, and I spent the afternoon on Pandora. Visually, the film is satisfying, intellectually, not so much. I don't need rocket science, just a decent story. The characters fell short in their motivations, the battle scenes were way too long and it took a lot for me to care about the good guys and hate the bad guys. I went through levels of boredom I have not experienced at the movies in a long time. Maybe editing would have helped, and the Titanic-esque music at the end just kind of made me mad. Not my cup of tea, but boy what a cash cow.
PS (My 11 and 13 year old nephews loved it.)

Nine

A few words about the new film NINE:
spectacle
dynamic
sexy
luminous
energetic
poignant
Thoroughly enjoyed it!

The Road

I have not had a chance to read The Road yet. When I gave it to my Mother to read, she was appalled at how depressing it was. Going to see the film, I expected a bleak, dark, sad story. What I got was a story of love, survival and compassion. A road trip story of a man and his son trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. I really liked the structure of the film, the messages and the ending. Well done.

Invictus

Cheerleaders are underrated. In Invictus we see how the support of Nelson Mandela helped lead the South African rugby team to win the World Cup in 1995. A good historic sports film. A local note: the costumes were supplied by Rugby Imports LTD, based right here in East Providence, RI.

2009 My Year in Film

It's too early to name my favorite films of 2009, but I thought the last day of the year was a good time to reflect on my film experiences.

Tribeca Film Festival is still my favorite vacation. I met Paola Mendoza after her screening of Entre Nos. Duncan Jones and Sam Rockwell delighted the audience with a Q&A after the screening of Moon. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Jones, in June, at Newport Film Festival. I also met Jim Capobianco (Pixar, Leonardo), Scott Teems (That Evening Sun), Nick Paley (Picture Day) and Mimi Kennedy (In the Loop).

Twitter has enhanced my movie experience this year. It's fun for me to follow people like Jason Reitman, Duncan Jones, Jon Favreau, Paola Mendoza and Diablo Coady as they share their creative process, their travels and their thoughts.

This year awakened the sci-fi fan in me. Moon, District 9 and Star Trek will all land in my Top 10. Who knew?!!?

People who've joined me at the movies? Randi, Lucy and Liza joined me at TIFF. After seeing Coraline with my nephews there was an intense discussion. They're still talking about it. I'm also enjoying a long distance film-fan connection with my daughter. She lives 200 mile s away, but the last few films she's seen, I've seen after her. I call, we discuss. It's awesome!

2009 was a fun year in film, stay tuned for my favorites and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

DVD Backlog

With the holidays, I have been remiss on posting the weekly DVD releases. Being totally lazy, here they are as a list. Click on the titles to see what I thought when I saw them ..... enjoy!
(500) Days of Summer
District 9
Extract
It Might Get Loud
9
Paranormal Activity
Jennifer's Body

Sherlock Holmes

I'll admit I was a bit disappointed in Sherlock Holmes. The story was fine, the acting very good, but this film was work to watch. Dark, lots of quick-cut shots in the fight scenes, poor use of CGI and garbled dialogue. Even with all of this, it's a good film, just wish it had been sharper and easier on the eyes.

Up in the Air

Up in the Air is a wonderful commentary on life, life choices and lifestyle. At the center of the film is a company that fires people for corporations. These folks spend the majority of their time on the road, or rather, in the air. The job requires a certain amount of emotional detachment, and their superstar is a master of just that. There is a plot line that I did not expect, that throws an emotional wrench in this man's life path. I'll leave it to the viewer to discover. This is a film that will make you think, will make you laugh, will make you cry. Beautifully shot, well acted, well edited, well done Mr Reitman.

Christmas Flick Picks 2009

The Christmas releases in RI are many. I'll list the new ones. Don't forget about Invictus, The Blind Side, Avatar (I hear this is best seen in 3D), Brothers, An Education, The Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Princess and the Frog. Looks like a great Christmas season at the cinema, you know where to find me. Merry Christmas!

New releases in RI:
Up in the Air
It's Complicated
Me and Orson Wells
Nine
The Road
Sherlock Holmes
The Young Victoria

Friday Flick picks 12/18/09

For a movie fan, the weeks around Christmas are maddening. Tons of great film in theaters and no time to see them. I'll take family and friends over film. I know, shocking. So I watch all these great films tumble into theaters on and around Christmas, but they will have to wait a bit for me. What films am I talking about? This week it's Avatar and Up in the Air. Technically, Up in the Air is playing in MA, but Seekonk appears to be the new Providence. (what the hell??) Both will get my attention after Christmas. The Damned United is at the Cable Car, hope they hold it over a few weeks, I'd like to see it in the theater. Bad Lieutenant, Men Who Stare at Goats and The Messenger are at the Avon. At the multiplex? There's drama with The Blindside, Invictus, 2012, New Moon, Precious, Brothers and Everybody's Fine. For the family there's A Christmas Carol, The Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Princess and the Frog. Lots of good stuff playing in (and around) RI this holiday season!

Men, Monsters and Music in DVD

One of the funniest films I've seen this year is out in DVD. The Hangover made me laugh and it has a solid plot with a few surprises. Inglorious Basterds is a "what if" look at WW II Nazi terrorism. Taking Woodstock is a look at a story that happened on the fringes of Woodstock. In my DVD queue? I'm getting the Basterds to come over and show me some badass.

The Cove

Documentary film makes a statement, exposes situations, educates and informs. The Cove is the most powerful documentary I've seen this year. The subject of dolphin capture and slaughter in Japan is something I knew nothing about. As disturbing and suspenseful as this film is, I'm glad there is an invitation to advocacy, action to be taken. This is a powerful, beautiful film that raises awareness and calls us to action. Well done.

The World's Greatest Dad

Often, parents live their lives through their children. The World's Greatest Dad is an amazing parody of this phenomenon.When Lance's son Kyle dies in an embarrassing accident, Lance creates a lie that raises the kid to celebrity, and satisfies his writing frustrations. Kyle is an unlikeable little prick, but by faking a suicide note and journal, his father attains the popularity and success that had always eluded them both. In the end, the truth frees him, and the pain of his son's death is addressed. Things end up as they should. Very dark comedy, and so worth seeing.

Friday Flick Picks 12/11/09

Arriving in RI theaters this weekend is the latest from Clint Eastwood, Invictus. The title means "unconquered", and from all I've read, this sport film lives up to it. For families, The Princess and the Frog opens. A strong Disney offering. Speaking of Walt, the documentary Walt and El Grupo is at the Cable Car. Bad Lieutenant:Port of Call New Orleans and The Hurt Locker are at the Avon. Bright Star and An Education are at the Jane Pickens. A good selection in RI art houses. At the multiplex? An Education, Brothers, Everbody's Fine, New Moon, Precious, The Blindside, The Fantastic Mr. Fox and A Christmas Carol, a little something for everyone.

Cooks, Crooks and Books in DVD

There is quality film in DVD this week. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is a nice addition to the franchise. Julie & Julia says a lot about food, marriage and life. Public Enemies is a strong crime biopic. New releases in my DVD queue? The Cove and World's Greatest Dad. A little something for everyone in DVD this week.

Brothers

Squeezing in a double feature today, I slipped into my seat for Brothers, just as the opening credits began. It took me a while to settle into the plot, but the story of a man with a young family deployed to Iraq, captured, presumed dead, difficult dealings and drama ensue. In the final act of the film I realised that I was fully immersed. I haven't felt that way in a film in a long time. Intense, lovely, gritty and real, this drama is well worth seeing.

Everybody's Fine

With my mother, no matter what, when asked "how are you?" the answer is always "fine". It has a specific, sarcastic tone. The title of Everybody's Fine struck a chord with me and my upbringing. The last time a movie made me cry in the first 15 minutes, I was watching Up. It happened again in the first 15 minutes of this film. This story of a disjointed family is heartfelt. A father tries to stay connected to his grown children, who keep details of their lives from him, so as not to disappoint him. Performances and cast are outstanding. There is something about Sam Rockwell's smile that gets me every time (though I tend to see Sam Bell when I see him these days). A film worth a look.

Land of the Lost

I watched Land of the Lost because it was recommended by Mike Russell and Dawn Taylor on the Hamfisted Radio podcast. This will do well on cable. Goes well with beer.

Things that made me glad I didn't see it in the theater:
Cheesy costumes
Will Ferell
Poop, pee and boob gags
Bad special effects

Things that made me glad I rented this:
Danny McBride
Clever pop culture gags
Hallucination scene
Goof on Matt Lauer by Matt Lauer
A Chorus Line soundtrack as a running gag
Sid & Marty Kroft back at it
Nimoy voice cameo


Thanks guys, when you talk, I rent, and I've yet to be sorry. This one entertained me!

Friday Flick Picks 12/4/09

Not a bad week for weekend releases here in lil ol' RI. Everybody's Fine and Brothers are on my list for this weekend. The Fantastic Mr. Fox, An Education, Precious , Blind Side, Pirate Radio, New Moon, 2012 and A Christmas Carol are all at the multi-plex for your entertainment. Enjoy!!

Love, Lincoln and Lies in DVD

DVD releases this week include Night at the Museum:Battle of the Smithsonian. A decent comedy. Paper Heart is a sweet love story and the French film, A Christmas Tale, is a story of family. Quiet week in DVD

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Wes Anderson has taken the Roald Dahl tale of The Fantastic Mr. Fox, and adapted it to film. Engaging, clever and quick paced, the film works well. I am always impressed by the work behind animation, so whenever I watch a film like this, I am in awe of the craftsmanship. This film will appeal to adults as well as kids. Will Mr. Fox outsmart the farmers? Do right by his family? Do right by his friends? Plenty of smarts, plenty of action and plenty of funny. I enjoyed this film.

Friday Flick Picks 11/27/09

Films new to theaters this week opened on Wednesday, so I'm a little late to the party here. The Fantastic Mr. Fox opened wide and Ninja Assassin as well (though I read this ones a stinker). An Education and Precious are playing at local art houses. At the multiplex? Blind Side, Pirate Radio, New Moon, 2012, A Serious Man, The Men Who Stare at Goats, A Christmas Carol and Paranormal Activity are worth a look. Enjoy!

Comedy and Christmas in DVD

It's been a year since Four Christmasess hit theaters. Now it arrives on DVD. Is it me, or is that a long time? A decent holiday comedy. Also arriving on the DVD shelves, Funny People is a drama about comedy. This week I will observe tradition with my annual viewing of Pieces of April, my favorite Thanksgiving film. Happy Thanksgiving all!!

The Twilight Saga : New Moon

Anyone who knows me, knows I don't like to say anything negative about a film. The sad news here (for me) is that New Moon sucks. The pacing, the dialog, the CGI, it's awful. Does it stay close to the source material? Yes. Does it labor and suffer over unsupported romance? Yes. Do its fans and curious folks like me buy tickets? Yes. (to the tune of $140M wow!) Is there foreshadowing? Yes. The film continues the Twilight Saga, assuming everyone knows the characters and their stories. This is not a stand-alone film. I will say that the actors try, the writing is just horrendous. The fandom is amazing, and the phenomenon a real register ringer. I'm glad I saw it, because now I can voice my opinion, but I would not recommend it. The faithful dig it......

My Walk with Twilight

I was not aware of the Twilight Saga novels until they started to promote the film Twilight last year. When I heard about vampires and teen romance, I was out. As the opening date of "the highly anticipated" Twilight approached, I kept thinking "anticipated by whom?" Then the coverage of the screaming tweens began. This put me even further out. But being a film fan, my curiosity was getting the best of me. What was all the screaming about? I had resigned myself to the fact that I would see this film out of sheer curiosity. The weekend the film opened, I was with my newborn grandson, and decided that rocking him was more important than a vampire movie. On the table next to the rocker, was a paperback copy of Twilight. My daughter is a voracious reader, and she had bought it for a light read. I picked it up and read half of it in about an hour. It made me feel 14 years old. I was hooked. Zipping through the first book, I found Bella to be the most annoying character I'd ever read. I decided I was too old to get it. When I finally rented the film Twilight, I was sorely disappointed. It sucked. Once again, I was out.With the hype of the film New Moon hot on the heels of Twilight and the promise that New Moon was a better story, I picked up a copy of New Moon off a bargain rack. Hell, $5 was a good deal. I was reading it while I was on vacation in NYC and have never had so many people comment on what I was reading. There was a very funny conversation in a bar with two young bartenders, a middle aged man and an older gentleman. Everyone's reaction to the book was age and gender appropriate, very interesting ( and entertaining). So now I was in, the "saga" is only 4 books, so I buy a copy of Eclipse. As good as, if not a bit better than New Moon, now I'm committed to finishing the series. As the film New Moon opens, I'm half way through Breaking Dawn, and happy to hear that the second film is better than the first. Stay tuned .......

The Blind Side

I love a good sports film, especially when it's based on a true story. The Blind Side is the story of Michael Oher, and how football and a generous family helped him excel. This film borders on cheesy, but never quite goes there. It's an interesting story. I got pretty choked up during the closing credits as they showed photos of the real people. A nice story, well told.

Precious

In January, I started reading about the film Precious:Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire. A no holds bared story of Clarice Precious Jones. Her world is one of urban poverty, abuse, rape, ignorance, education and survival. In the hands of Lee Daniels, this story is turned into a film that is rich, raw and beautiful. The performances are outstanding, this film is well worth a look.

Friday Flick Picks 11/20/09

OK, the big deal this weekend in theaters is New Moon. I'm reading that it's not the disaster Twilight was, so I'll give it a whirl. Close behind on the PR wagon is The Blind Side, the trailer has been running in theaters and on TV for weeks. Reading good things about it. Surprisingly, Precious is playing locally so that'll be my first film this weekend. An Education arrives in RI art houses and gets a big "see it" from me. Antichrist is at the Cable Car, not sure if I have the guts to see that one. Where the Wild Things Are, Pirate Radio, Paranormal Activity and The Men Who Stare at Goats worth a look at the multiplex. Good times, enjoy!

Space, Sisters and Sales in DVD

Films I've seen that are released to DVD this week are The Goods:Live Hard, Sell Hard, amusing comedy that will be a satisfying rental, My Sister's Keeper, a poignant story of family and devotion, and Star Trek one of the most entertaining films of the year. Also available is the DVD of The Tent: Life in the Round at www.wmtmovie.com and Benny's, with proceeds to benefit the URI-Bonoff Theater Fund. If you are in the UK, MOON is available in Blu-ray this week. I understand this version will play in both UK and US machines. The DVD is released in the US January 12th.

In my rental queue? The Open Road, The Limits of Control and Humpday. FYI, Bruno comes out in DVD this week as well.

Pirate Radio

I find radio to be an intimate media. When it began, it informed and entertained people, brought them together in living rooms and public places. With the invention of the transistor, it became personal. We could take it to work, to school, to bed, to the beach, in the car, it became the backdrop of our everyday activities. We relate to and feel close to the people who entertain us over the airwaves, they are in our lives. Radio became an important form of exposure for musicians. When rock and roll hit the airwaves, the music world exploded. There was a concern among adults of how this music was affecting the morality of the youth. In England, the BBC banned rock and roll from radio programing. A rouge group of broadcasters took to the North Sea on a huge ship, and became a radio sensation with Rock Radio. This is the subject of the film Pirate Radio. It is about freedom, rock & roll, fandom, friendship, entertainment and personalities. The music used in this film truly captures the era. It's worth sitting through the credits to see the list of songs and artists. The end of this film surprised me. Being a radio fan myself, it struck me as a tribute to radio folks and their connection with their fans. I love radio, I loved this film.

An Education

On Tuesday, my daughter messaged me that she had just seen An Education. I had Wednesday off, so I took a short road trip to the Madison Art Cinemas, to see it as well. I experienced a smart, emotional take on the life of a young woman in 1960s London. A man in his mid 30s takes an interest in a 16 year old girl. The story starts out as a romance, but reality starts poking in, and things unravel. I liked the turns the story takes, the performances are outstanding. Seeing a movie like this by yourself is a little rough, because there's so much to discuss. Coming out of the film, I had a message from my daughter that said, "so, what did you think?" I called her on the way home, and we had a wonderful post-film chat. We may live 200 miles apart, but it was like we saw the movie together. Thank you technology. Terrific film.

The Men Who Stare at Goats

The story of a secret branch of the military, psychic spies, is the premise for the film The Men Who Stare at Goats. I wanted this film to be better than it was. George Clooney, Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges should have made this a no-brainer. Sadly, the plot lines get left pretty flat. A satire that didn't quite do it for me.

Friday Flick Picks 11/13/09

Looking at the new releases to RI theaters, I know that I will not be spending 2 hours and 38 minutes watching 2012. I'm still bitter about 10,000 BC and The Day After Tomorrow. I know at some point I'll see it at the bargain theater, allured by the promise of great visual effects *sigh*. Pirate Radio will get me to the theater on Saturday. The Yes Men Fix the World, Good Hair, The House of the Devil, Coco Before Chanel, Paris and A Serious Man are in art houses. The Hurt Locker is at the Patriot, awesome flick. At the multiplex, I liked Where the Wild Things Are, The Men Who Stare at Goats and Paranormal Activity. Enjoy!

Adventure and Adversaries in DVD

Out in DVD this week is the Pixar gem of the year, Up. The is fun, heartfelt and philosophical, loved it. Watchmen hits the DVD shelves as well, the graphic novel comes to life.

In my DVD queue? The Merry Gentleman, The Accidental Husband and The Ugly Truth.

Friday Flick Picks 11/6/09

Christmas comes early to theaters in Disney's latest adaptation of A Christmas Carol. This weekend I'll be checking out The Men Who Stare at Goats, and The Box arrives in RI theaters. New to RI art houses are Coco Before Chanel and Bronson. A Serious Man is still playing locally. At the multiplex This Is It, Where the Wild Things Are and Paranormal Activity are all worth a look.

The Boys are Back

Parenting is a big job, especially when there's only one parent. In The Boys are Back, Joe loses his wife to cancer, they have a young son. We soon learn that he has another son with another woman in another country. The boys end up living together, and keeping the day to day together is a challenge. The strength of this film, based on a true story, are the performances of Clive Owen, Nicholas McAnulty and George MacKay. This film has a lot of heart, I really enjoyed it.

This Is It

On putting my thoughts together on the documentary This Is It, I realize that I'm not much of a Michael Jackson Fan. Yes, I like a lot of his music. Yes, he was an amazing performer, but I'm not a die-hard, gotta have all that is Jackson, screaming fan. This film struck me as a tribute to the performer and director of his art. Polite, diplomatic and firm in how he wanted things, it was interesting to watch. As a dance fan I enjoyed the first half of the film that really focused on the choreography and the dancers. The second half was more about Michael, the music and his creative process. As the film came to a close, I teared up as I thought of his family and mother watching this (which I understand they have not). It's a bit too soon, but a loving insight.

Friday Flick Picks 10/30/09

It's a bleak week for openings in RI theaters this week. This Is It and Boondock Saints II : All Saints Day hit theaters. I like a good concert flick so I'll probably check out the Jackson doc. The Boys Are Back, Beeswax, A Serious Man and Paris are playing in local art houses. Where the Wild Things Are, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Whip It, Julie & Julia and Law Abiding Citizen are at the multiplex. Halloween treats are The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jennifer's Body, Zombieland, Paranormal Activity and Cirque du Freak:The Vampire's Assistant. Have a spooctacular time!

Spooky Flick Picks 2009

I'll admit it, I'm kinda psyched for Halloween this year. I've got the pumpkins that will become Jack o' Lanterns, I've got candy for the trick-or-treaters, I think I'm ready. A little film will make the holiday complete. Here are some film recommendations for a happy Halloween. BOO!

Trick 'r Treat : cool anthology-style horror flick with a sense of humor. Out in DVD.
Let the Right One In : vampires and subtitles, honest, it's worth it. Out in DVD.
Paranormal Activity : demons under surveillance, good suspense flick. In theaters now.
Drag Me to Hell : demonic possession in a campy style, very entertaining. Out in DVD
Zombieland - zombie road trip with more than a few laughs thrown in. In theaters now.
The Blob (1958) - more of a monster movie, but I saw this one recently and it's a classic. Out in DVD.

Cheri

I rented Cheri, because the film had good reviews. I wasn't crazy about the May - December romance aspect of this film, but it was an interesting aspect of the story which was originally penned by Colette. I was surprised at how the story developed. The performances were excellent and the plot moved right along. Nice romantic period film. I liked this more than I expected to.

Farce, Fright and Family in DVD

Whatever Works comes out in DVD this week. A clever film with a bit of a twist, funny stuff. Nothing Like the Holidays is in my rental queue. Another sparse week in DVD Land. Do yourself a favor and rent Trick 'r Treat. BOO!!

Movie Chat with Cort & Fatboy

Before I went to bed last night, I was going to listen to Friday's Cort & Fatboy podcast. I'd been out with friends, my kids are all visiting for the weekend, all was right with the world. When I went to the KUFO website to find their regular show (hoping for a Mike Russell "power hour") I found a 6 minute message from Cort Webber and Bobby Roberts saying they had been fired. Their programming director and the Rick Emerson Show were gone as well. KUFO was cleaning house. I was shocked.

I started listening to Cort & Fatboy in 2006. Mike Russell, movie reviewer for the Oregonian, was doing Friday night reviews on the air. I liked Mike's taste in film and Cort & Fatboy are very knowledgeable when it comes to film. On Saturday mornings I would listen to the three of them chat film, then I'd turn it off and go about my week. As time went on, I would leave the podcast on and before I knew it, I would have listened to the whole show. Funny, topical, irreverent and smart, I was becoming a Cort & Fatboy fan.

The podcasts are available on iTunes, so I would download them to my iPod, and started listening to them on road trips in the car. They made the time fly and kept me laughing. They'd fill me in on the latest and greatest on movies, music, TV, comics, pop culture and politics. I even enjoyed news of the local events in Portland, though it is 3000 miles away. In an effort to get some exercise this summer, I started to walk a few days a week. Once again, the boys kept me company during a mundane task and I stuck with it, knowing I had something entertaining to listen to as I put in my miles. I felt lucky to have found such quality entertainment. Along the way I got to meet Byron Beck, Dave Walker, Dawn Taylor, Aaron Duran, Steven Humphreys and lots of very smart, talented people. Fortunately I can find all these folks online, but it won't be the same without the glue that is Cort & Fatboy.

Thanks guys, I hope you find a new gig and I'll be listening to you again soon.

Friday Flick Picks 10/23/09

For the horror fans in RI theaters this week there's Saw VI and Cirque du Freak : The Vampire's Assistant. Paranormal Activity and Zombieland can also satisfy the need for a Halloween thrill. For adventure fans there's Astro Boy and Amelia. Worth a look at the multiplex, Where the Wild Things Are. Local art houses are showing A Serious Man.
I've got a house full of family visiting this weekend (so excited) so I won't be in the theater. I'll catch up Halloween weekend. Enjoy!

Robots and Romance in DVD

It's a pretty barren week in DVD releases this week. Transformers : Revenge of the Fallen hits the shelves. Though it was not the best piece of cinema out this year, it was number one in the summer box office. Worth a look on DVD. In my DVD queue is Cheri. With such sparse pickin's, get a copy of Trick 'r Treat and enjoy!

Paranormal Activity

To me, the scary part of Paranormal Activity was the anticipation. Waiting and waiting for something to happen is well structured. Brilliant exposure of trailers and promotional materials also helped set up our imaginations until the action kicks in. Excellent technique that sets up an awesome ending. Well done.

Where the Wild Thing Are

Maurice Sendak's nine sentences, and glorious illustrations, set the stage for the film Where the Wild Things Are. Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers use this stage to explore emotions and imagination. In life, we all feel isolation, anger, frustration, creativity, adventure, joy and love. In this film, we see an interpretation of these emotions that is direct, heartfelt, and at times, a little brutal. For me, this film delves into the human psyche, through a young boy, in a powerful, direct fashion. The group dynamic is dramatic and honest. Adults will get the message, kids will enjoy the wild things, Max and the howling rumpus. Well done.

My History with Where the Wild Things Are

I have been trying to remember when Where the Wild Things Are came into my life. I was 7 years old when the book came out, but we didn't have new books in our house much back in the day. I don't think I really got my hands on a copy until my babysitting years. Thinking of this book, I usually flash to a college children's literature course. I had to compile a card file of books for elementary school children. I had to read every book I put in the file. I had to have a minimum of 200 books. I remember sitting in the children's section of my hometown library, over my spring break, with piles of books around me. The one book I could not put back on the shelf was Where the Wild Things Are. A simple story of childhood rebellion and adventure, with the comfort of home and family. The illustrations were exotic and endearing. I was so enamored, I bought a paperback copy. At 20 years old, I kept it on my bookshelf with all my favorite books. It stuck out. The book got old, it traveled, it got beat up, somewhere along the line it was thrown out. When I had children, there was a copy in the house, but with all the other books and years gone by, be darned if I can find it now. My grandson was born a year ago, and his parents have embraced this lovely, poetic text as part of his bed time ritual. I have seen them lovingly recite those nine sentences to a child they love so much. It fills my heart. A few months ago, I bought a new copy of the book for my house. I look through it every once in a while and marvel at it's simplicity and depth. And now they've made a feature film based on this classic book. I hope the film does it proud. The fact that Sendak approves is enough for me. Let the wild rumpus start!

Friday Flick Picks 10/16/09

The only movie I'm interested in seeing this weekend is Where the Wild Things Are. I just want to sit in Max's imagination for a bit. Law Abiding Citizen and Paranormal Activity also open at the multiplex. In art houses we have Paris and Big Fan. Still in RI theaters are Capitalism: A Love Story, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Couples Retreat, The Informant!, Surrogates, Whip It and Zombieland. And if you don't feel like going out, find a copy of Trick 'r Treat and get in the spirit of the season. Enjoy!

Trick 'r Treat

Want a good Halloween film? Want to see a clever, anthology-style, horror film? Get your hands on a DVD copy of Trick 'r Treat. Unfortunately, this film never saw the big screen. A shame, because it's a good looking film. It is also a good weave of stories with just enough creepy to satisfy your Halloween pallet. Boo!

Capitalism : A Love Story

I try to give Michael Moore's films the benefit of the doubt. He brings important issues to the table for discussion. Then, through sensationalism and sarcasm, loses focus and productivity. I want films that pounce on social issues to be more productive, give us a direction, offer solutions. In Capitalism : A Love Story, he tries to compare economics to politics. They are related, but he never makes the connections make sense. He does a lot of finger pointing but stops short of drawing any real conclusions or solutions.

Dancers, Dads, Demons & Demands in DVD

Out in DVD this week is Drag Me to Hell. An entertaining horror film that takes a tongue-in-cheek poke at the genre. Straight to video is a gem of a film that really should have been shown in theaters, yeah it's that good looking. Trick 'r Treat is a cool anthology-style horror film that gets the job done. Really enjoyed it and now I own it! New releases Every Little Step, Stepfather (1987) and American Violet are in my rental queue this week.

A Serious Man

How does life get so complicated? In A Serious Man we see a man trying to live his life. He starts to see each element crumble around him. He reaches out to his Jewish faith to find answers and meaning. He is left empty on many occasions. This black comedy is well written, well structured and a shocker of an ending make this a film worth a look. A strong comment on life, it's disappointments and unexpected turns.

Anvil : The Story of Anvil

The energy of their music, and the agony of the music business makes a poignant story in Anvil : The Story of Anvil. The pure joy and dedication that the members of the band have for their music is well portrayed in this documentary. The film's payoff, for me, was when they take the stage in the final performance in the film. Check it out and see if you don't agree.

Breaking Away

Breaking Away was recommended by Mike Russell as a great sports film. For me, the title has a double meaning. It's about bike racing and it's about life after high school. There is the classic conflict of townies vs college dudes. Adolescent independence vs family. The characters are trying to find themselves in the moment and in the future. This film is also gorgeous. Quarry and bike race scenes so well done. Not only the cinematography, but the music and the cast are pretty as well. Breaking Away is a film well worth a look, thanks Mike.

Whip It

For me, Whip It is about family. Yes there is roller derby, yes there are teens living in a small town wanting to get out, yes there is a dad who loves football, yes there is a beauty pageant, yes there is the rocker boy the girl makes out with. Under it all, there are families. The pageant girl's, the diner, the roller derby teams, the roller derby league. They stick together, they make each other laugh, they show support, they express their concern with respect (wh-wh-what!?!?), they love deeply. The first half of this film is light and sets up all the characters. The second half shows it's heart, hunkers down in reality and kicked my ass. Yes, I needed tissues. Loved these characters, loved this story, loved this film. (I think I got a glimpse of The Alamo Drafthouse) Fun film with a big heart.

Assassination of a High School President

Assassination of a High School President is a dark look at high school life through the eyes of a young man who wants to be an investigative journalist. Stolen SAT tests, drugs, gum, parties, driving tests and awkward teens are all present. The ending was a surprise and rather satisfying. My favorite line came at the end when our hero's friend wisely says, "forget it Bobby, it's high school."

Friday Flick Picks 10/9/09

For me, it's a lukewarm week in RI theaters. The openings of Couples Retreat, St. Trinians and Thirst feel mediocre at best. I'll be catching up by seeing Whip It, Capitalism: A Love Story and maybe My One and Only. Films in theaters that I think are worth seeing are 9, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Inglourious Basterds, The Informant!, Julie & Julia, Surrogates and Zombieland. I'm hearing that the Toy Story double feature in 3D is fun. For me, Monday is a holiday so you know where to find me, enjoy!

Zombieland

Zombieland starts with a clear explanation of where the zombies came from, and a little survival primer. It then becomes a road trip film to escape. Four characters meet and have a goal, find a zombie-free zone. Some of the zombie battles are trite, but there are enough one-liners to entertain and even a little love story. The gore is there, I couldn't eat my snacks during this one. A decent zombie flick, I liked it.

Friday Flick Picks on Monday?

I was remiss in posting Friday Flick Picks this week due to a road trip to visit family. My grandson turned 1 year old and the anticipation of seeing he and his parents was more exciting to me than what was in theaters this weekend. Now that the festivities are over, I'm on my way home. Took the day off to travel today, think I'll try to see Zombieland enroute. Still want to see Whip It, but I'll get to it next weekend. The DVD queue? Anvil! The Story of Anvil and Assassination of a High School President await me. Happy Monday!