083: Freaknik: The Musical (2010)

Title: Freaknik: The Musical (2010)
Starring: T-Pain, Young Cash, Rick Ross
Directed By: Chris Prynoski

Freaknik: The Musical is an animated made-for-tv hip hop musical produced for Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim". The plot consists of intersecting stories focusing on an aspiring rap group on their way to a rap battle, a secret African American society known as The Boulé, and Freaknik: The Ghost of Freaknik Past.

All their journeys come to a head in an epic battle between good (Freaknik) and evil (The Perminator aka Rev. Al Sharpton + lightning). When all is said and done, the good guys are happy and the bad guys are defeated. YAY!

The plot isn't exactly important, nor is it the reason to watch this. It's the music and the voice cast that really impress. Original songs were written, produced and performed by some of the cast (who happen to be some of the biggest names in rap) like Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg and T-Pain. Other notable cast members include Andy Samberg, Cee-Lo Green, Charlie Murphy, Bill Hader, Bootsy Collins, George Clinton, Kel Mitchell, Lil' Wayne, Big Boi, Lil' John and Kid 'n Play. Put all of them together along with a fresh, funny take on hip hop culture and you've got the makings of a pretty impressive movie. The only real fault I could find is that it wasn't long enough, so some of it feels a little rushed. Other than that though, it's funny and the music is as good as you would expect with that cast. Recommended.

Score: 8/10

082: The Collector (2009)

Title: The Collector (2009)
Starring: Josh Stewart, Juan Fernández, Karley Scott Collins
Directed By: Marcus Dunstan

Ever since Saw became a surprise hit and made tons of money and spawned yearly sequels, Hollywood producers have been churning out gore-fests like this in an attempt to jump-start the next big franchise. The problem with this film in particular is that it's so caught up in trying to be the next big thing, that it doesn't even bother trying to make sense.

One of the best parts of the first Saw film came at the very end, when it was revealed to us that not all was as it seemed. The character of Jigsaw was set up then and there to be an intriguing figure, one whose origin and penultimate game plan could be explored. The Collector is NOT that type of character. We get little-to-no background on the character himself, and he's portrayed as a Jason Vorhees-style archetypal killer who uses elaborate (and utterly RIDICULOUS) booby-traps to kill instead of a handy dandy machete.

What's most disappointing about those traps, is that the viewer is never told what or where they are. We're introduced to these pitfalls through the eyes of our protagonist as he actually falls into, or nearly falls into them. That results in a lot of decent "Whoa." moments, but half the fun of a cat-and-mouse story for the audience, is the cat. We gotta have both. Otherwise, when some poor teenager gets torn apart in a den-full of bear traps, it's hard for us to care.

It also should be noted, that for one man to have set all of the torture devices and booby traps and safeguards in place in the amount of time that the film says he did, is ABSOLUTELY LUDICROUS! Watching how elaborate everything was set and just the amount of physical labor that would've been involved would easily have taken someone DAYS, not HOURS. Horror audiences are typically pretty forgiving when it comes to details like this, but should this actually become a franchise, it should be noted by the filmmakers.

That's not to say that I didn't find anything to enjoy in The Collector, because I did. I just also saw all of its flaws upon first viewing, and that's not usually a good thing for a horror flick. It just didn't really work for me.

Score: 5.5/10

081: Paper Heart (2009)

Title: Paper Heart (2009)
Starring: Charlyne Yi, Michael Cera, Jake M. Johnson
Directed By: Nicholas Jasenovec

Paper Heart is a really clever reality-bending drama from actress/comedienne/writer Charlyne Yi and co-writer/director Nicholas Jasenovec. In it, Yi plays a fictional version of herself who doesn't believe in the existence of love. So she sets out to make a documentary on the subject with her friend, director Nicholas Jasenovec (played onscreen by Jake M. Johnson). Throughout their adventures, fictional Charlyne meets fictional Michael Cera (who is, of course, played by actor and real-life boyfriend-at-the-time Michael Cera). As their relationship begins to bloom, the ever-present camera crew threatens to destroy their love before it even begins.

Sounds a little confusing, doesn't it? It isn't. The whole thing is presented as a straight-up documentary, making it very easy to stick with. The plot is fun, if a little bit predictable; and the performances here are top-notch. Yi is a LOT of fun to get to know, and her character here is very relatable and funny. And Michael Cera does Michael Cera as no one else could (which isn't saying much, I know). It's only a matter of time before writers stop including quirky, witty, skinny white guys. And when that time comes, Michael Cera better have an ace up his sleeve. He better be hiding a totally unique, as-yet-unseen-from-him character somewhere in his boyish cuteness and squeaky voice.

But back to this movie. I liked it. A lot. Seriously. The animated paper puppet sequences were the standouts for me, and the movie wisely ends on the funniest of them. I'd definitely seek this out if you're looking for a semi-romantic indie with something fairly new to bring to the table. Recommended.

Score: 8/10

080: Slap Shot (1977)

Title: Slap Shot (1977)
Starring: Paul Newman, Jeff Carlson, Steve Carlson
Directed By: George Roy Hill

It's one of the greatest sports movies of all-time featuring some of the most memorable characters to come out of the 70's (The Hanson Brothers). It's definitely not a hit 'em hard hockey biopic, but what it lacks in accuracy toward the sport it more than makes up for in laughs. One of my favorite Paul Newman pictures.

Recommended.

Score: 7.5/10

079: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Title: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Tobey Maguire
Directed By: Terry Gilliam

The crazy, kooky, drug-induced world of Hunter S. Thompson comes to life thanks to innovative and cult-fave director Terry Gilliam.

I've been racking my brain trying to decide what to write in a review of this movie, but the fact is you can't actually "review" it. You can only acknowledge that it's every bit the cult classic it is for a reason. Good direction + good performances by good actors = a good movie, no matter how inane the subject matter. Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro turn in some amazing performances here, anchored by Gilliam's deft hand at handling the subject matter.

I can't really explain the plot of the film, it's basically just a journalist on one long drug trip through Las Vegas. There's so much more to it than that, but then again, that sums it up well. This is definitely one of those films that everyone should see at least once. So go see it already. Recommended.

Score: 8.5/10

078: Big Fish (2004)

Title: Big Fish (2004)
Starring: Albert Finney, Ewan McGregor, Billy Crudup
Directed By: Tim Burton

Lately Tim Burton has been doing a LOT of adaptations (Sleepy Hollow, Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, etc.)! This film is no exception. It's an adaptation of a novel that borrows from adaptations. The Daniel Wallace novel, Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions was released in 1998 and makes allusions to Homer's Odyssey, James Joyce's Ulysses and a number of popular tall tales. The film version, which Burton made between Planet of the Apes and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory does its best to draw from similar inspirations. You'll notice bits and pieces from The Wizard of Oz among other fantasy classics.

Honestly, all of that is EXACTLY what I found wrong with this movie. It's good, don't get me wrong. It's pretty much as good as you'd expect given the cast, director and source material. The only real thing working against it is that no matter how fantastical the flashbacks become and no matter how well the cast performs their parts, it always feels so familiar. By no means should that discourage you from giving this a look, just understand going in that you've kinda seen this before.

Score: 7/10

077: Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (2003)

Title: Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (2003)
Starring: Daft Punk (Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo & Thomas Bangalter)
Director: Kazuhisa Takenôchi

So basically what we have here is a near 70-minute animated music video for Daft Punk's 2001 album Discovery. It has a loose plot about an alien band fighting to reclaim their identities after an evil music exec kidnaps them and dumps them off on Earth. There's no dialogue, only lyrics (which are sometimes REALLY out of place considering the imagery attached).

It's an interesting concept, turning an album into one long music video. This isn't the first time it's been done, but to my knowledge it IS the first time an anime-style feature has been made of one.

I like this movie, but honestly not as much as I like the album. I'd rather throw the CD in and listen to it straight through, letting my mind make up the imagery than to be told what I should be imagining. I DEFINITELY don't get "blue alien band on the run" from it, but that's okay too. Check this out, but if you like the music more than the movie just know that you aren't alone.

Score: 7/10

076: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Title: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Starring: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman
Directed By: Wes Anderson

Roald Dahl's whimsical story of a sly thief fox comes to life courtesy of director Wes Anderson and some airy performances by George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman and others.

What needs to be mentioned first when reviewing this film, I think, is its tone. While it isn't exactly "kid unfriendly", it isn't really aimed at smaller children either. It's clever and relatively all-ages enough, but I fear that smaller children might get bored while watching this. After all, it isn't the bright animation they're used to. This is a very methodical form of stop motion animation and art direction that is truly beautiful, if sometimes a bit dark and choppy.

That being said, I absolutely loved the feel of this film. It's an adult successor to The Nightmare Before Christmas without the Tim Burton goth overtones. Replace black with oranges and browns and other sepia-style tones and your halfway there. The humor is a little more broad as well, with a LOT more attention paid making sure there were some jokes in there for the adults in the audience.

With a charm all its own and a broad message of cooperation and teamwork, this movie kinda stole my heart. I got caught up in it. I hope you'll give it a chance, and then get caught up too. Recommended.

Score: 8/10

075: The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)

Title: The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
Starring: Michael Angarano, Jackie Chan, Jet Li
Directed By: Rob Minkoff

A movie so forgettable that I saw it in January and remembered that I saw it in April.

It was marketed as a sweeping martial arts epic featuring the long-overdue tag team of Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Instead, it's a cheesy family action comedy about a mostly unlikable white kid finding his inner "kung-fu" (read confidence).

There are laughable villains, poor editing, immature jokes, and a story riddled with cliches. I wouldn't really waste my time if I were you.

Score: 4.5/10

074: Kick-Ass (2010)

Title: Kick-Ass (2010)
Starring: Aaron Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Nicolas Cage
Directed By: Matthew Vaughn

My only major complaint for Kick-Ass is in the character of Kick-Ass. Equal parts parody of Peter Parker and Bruce Wayne (mostly), he becomes almost inconsequential to the success or failure of the film because the character himself is overshadowed by the supporting cast.

Nic Cage as Big Daddy (an obvious, yet scathing parody of Batman; complete with an AMAZING Adam West impression) is a full-fledged and engaging character. Red Mist, played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse, is an easy-to-relate-to character trying to do what he thinks is right. Clark Duke and Evan Peters as Marty and Todd, the comic book loving best friends of Kick-Ass's secret identity Dave are real comic book nerds. Their conversations are ones I've ACTUALLY partaken in!

Without a doubt though, the real star of this picture (character AND performer) is Chloë Grace Moretz as Hit-Girl. She is incredible! She steals every scene she's in, displaying a level of confidence and grace that most actresses 4x her age would kill for. She owns this role. And the character of Hit-Girl owns this script. She's given the best lines, the best fights, even the most satisfying emotional arc. She really is the movie, and she's fantastic.

The script suffers from a few too familiar comic book movie cliches, but honestly this is parody in its top form. It's a film that pokes fun of, then eventually becomes that exact thing (think Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz). The third act of this film is nowhere near as funny or satisfying as those films, but that's okay. In fact, all of the (very few) plot hiccups are forgiven, if for nothing else than allowing us such a delightful character as Hit-Girl.

If you've ever enjoyed a comic book movie, you owe it to yourself to check out Kick-Ass. Highly recommended.

Score: 8.5/10

073: Date Night (2010)

Title: Date Night (2010)
Starring: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg
Directed By: Shawn Levy

This is a prime example of talented people doing the best they can with very little. The movie just feels so forced. In the beginning of the film, we're expected to laugh with these characters as they do next to nothing; all because the filmmakers believe that even the most mundane of tasks becomes hilarious when it's done by Steve Carell or Tina Fey.

Once we get into the actual plot of the movie, things only get worse. This ordinary, lifeless couple comes alive when thrown into extreme and utterly ludicrous situations. They finally feel alive! Yay! Naturally, this leads them to gunfights, car chases, co-ed stripping, and a city-wide governmental conspiracy. Of course!

If it sounds as though I'm being a little harsh, I am; but only because I respect these actors (including an impressive supporting cast). Honestly, I expected more from them. See this film only if you understand that you've already seen it when you saw the trailer. Don't expect any surprises, or many laughs, or a plausible plot. They must be saving all that for another movie.

Score: 5/10

072: Grilled (2006)

Title: Grilled (2006)
Starring: Ray Romano, Kevin James, Sofia Vergara
Directed By: Jason Ensler

Considering that both of these comedians have fairly large fanbases, I was a little confused as to why this movie was dumped straight-to-DVD. After watching it, I now understand.

Here we have both actors trying a little too hard to shed their own family-friendly images. I know technically this was before Kevin James really even had an image, but I digress. In the introduction to the characters we see them smoking, we hear them cursing and arguing, and we get a sense of who these two men are in spite of the actors portraying them. Seconds later they're seen as caring and fallible individuals; and therein lies one of the biggest problems with this film.

The story is that of two meat salesmen being pressured into making a big sale. Following some leads on potential clients, they inadvertently witness a mob hit. The whole time, they've got the upper hand in the situation and their reactions to such despicable deeds are wholly unreal and unconvincing. The film tries too hard to make us care for these guys, but in all honesty, they don't really make much sense as characters. No one in these situations would be obsessing over making that sale over escaping with their own lives. The first 9 and 1 of 9-1-1 would have been dialed before the second shot was fired.

How are we as an audience supposed to be relating to these men? Just because they're fowl-mouthed, lovable schlubs doesn't mean that the viewer will instantly connect with them and go along for the ride emotionally. You have to earn it. Putting these two through the paces in such contrived circumstances, and letting them react in equally ridiculous fashion makes it near impossible to care what happens to them. Going for every easy joke and gangster genre stereotype doesn't help either.

I'd encourage you to give this a chance only if you're a true fan of James or Romano, only if to see something a little different from them. Otherwise, you aren't missing anything.

Score: 5.5/10

071: Red Cliff (2009)

Title: Red Cliff (2009)
Starring: Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Fengyi Zhang
Directed By: John Woo

I loved this film! John Woo proves here that not only does he still have what it takes to put together tight, effective fight sequences; but he can also handle drama and sweeping romance as well as or better than anyone currently working in Hollywood.

This is a (mostly) factual depiction of the battle of Red Cliffs, a decisive battle that took place in 208/209 A.D. between the forces of Northern warlord Cao Cao and the vastly outnumbered Southern alliance of the followers of Liu Bei and Sun Quan. These characters are all handled fairly and represented as REAL people. There's no ominous villain's monologue or evil cackle. The audience is given both sides of the story and can relate to the motivations of each, although the winners of the battle are depicted as our heroes throughout.

The "International Version" of the film comes in two parts. And that's the one to see. It's amazing to me that even given its EXTENSIVE run-time of almost FIVE HOURS (4:48), the film barely seems to drag on. There are of course some slow spots, but usually they're essential to the plot and never seem to overstay their welcome. If you've got the time to invest, and you'd like to see a truly remarkable piece of historical filmmaking you should give this a try. Highly recommended.

Score: 8.5/10

070: Bart Got A Room (2008)

Title: Bart Got A Room (2008)
Starring: Steven J. Kaplan, Cheryl Hines, William H. Macy
Directed By: Brian Hecker

What's most refreshing about this film by writer/director Brian Hecker is that it's a teenage sex comedy without over-doing the sex or profanity. These characters are relatively real and relatable and they're dealing with real and relatable issues. I like that.

The story is that of Danny Stein (Steven J. Kaplan), a high school senior with recently divorced parents (William H. Macy and Cheryl Hines). He spends the film prepping for his senior prom and what he hopes will be the night he loses his virginity. What follows are a series of stop/starts that leave him constantly searching for another option. Enter the always reliable best friend Camille (Alia Shawkat), who was planning on the two of them going together anyway. But when complications arise, will their friendship be able to handle the most important night of their young lives?

Probably. This is a lighthearted comedy after all, but that's not what's important here. What happens to the relationships in Danny's life is that they all become a little more defined. Having a date to the prom is one thing, but knowing exactly who you are to your friends and family; and moreover who they are to you is the lesson here.

I really enjoyed this film for spinning the genre on its ear, and for some memorable and entertaining performances. Recommended.

Score: 8/10

069: The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert (2009)

Title: The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert (2009)
Starring: Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon
Directed By: Joel Gallen

OK, so maybe it's cheating to review a concert film. Especially one with such tremendous talent involved. This HBO production was executive produced by Tom Hanks among others; and features performances from Buddy Guy, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Smokey Robinson, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Billy Joel, Patti Smith, U2, BB King, Mick Jagger, Metallica, Simon & Garfunkel, Bonnie Rait, John Fogerty, Aretha Franklin, Ray Davies, and MORE!

I'm including it on this blog for two reasons...
1) It's over four hours long!!! That it's the length of 2 feature films should more than qualify it to be taken seriously, and never in its long running time did it seem to drag on. It's just great performance after great performance. For FOUR HOURS!
2) Concert films are often overlooked by critics and film goers alike. They don't always end up in the theatre (this one was produced exclusively for HBO), and usually people only even know about them if they're already fans of the subject band(s) or the director.

If you've got four hours to spend, and you're a fan of amazing live performances and once-in-a-lifetime team-ups, do not miss this film! Highly recommended.

Score: 9/10

068: She's Out of My League (2010)

Title: She's Out of My League (2010)
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve, T.J. Miller
Directed By: Jim Field Smith

I'm not the biggest fan of romantic comedies. Mainly because their plots are implausible and constantly predictable at every turn, their casts are usually whomever is "hot" right now, and they typically go to extreme lengths to add obstacles for the relationship(s) at the heart of the story. This movie is guilty of all that AND one more fatal flaw: it gets way too caught up in it's own set of dating rules.

The female lead is CONSTANTLY referred to as "a 10" and the guy is CONSTANTLY called "a 5". There are probably five or six bits of dialogue in which this is discussed. I was SO over the whole argument before the 3rd time it came up.

The audience GETS what she sees in him. We're practically beaten over the head with how nice the guy is. Were there really no jokes to be had in more of a "fish out of water" story than letting despicable characters do despicable things all while dropping a slew of F-Bombs? The guy's family are monsters, the girl's family are uptight and dismissive. Let each of the characters react to the horrors that each other has to deal with! That alone is enough to spawn a love affair. He gets her, and she gets him. Finding someone to connect with should have been enough plot fodder for the writers, but instead they are SO hung up on talking about how mis-matched the couple is. EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT BECAUSE THE AUDIENCE IS TOLD TO CARE ABOUT THEM!!!

That the story is so mishandled causes a real conundrum for reviewing this movie. Jay Baruchel is charming and witty. Alice Eve is attractive and sincere. T.J. Miller, Nate Torrence and Lindsay Sloane are funny foils for our protagonists. But even with all that going for it, it's the plot itself that keeps them from succeeding. There's really no reason to see any more than the first 20 minutes of this movie, cuz they'll just repeat a few times and end with guy kissing girl. Oh, spoiler alert.

Score: 5/10

067: W. (2008)

Title: W. (2008)
Starring: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Richard Dreyfuss
Directed By: Oliver Stone

Director Oliver Stone's George W. Bush biopic is a well-written and expertly crafted account of one man's troubled life spent trying to escape his family's shadow. It has one of the best ensemble casts I've seen in a long time, all anchored by a stirring and convincing performance by Josh Brolin. His W. doesn't feel inauthentic. This is a living, changing portrayal of a man who, politics aside, has achieved great things almost by accident.

There are a few glaring issues with this film when taken on merits of historical accuracies. Some things that were said publicly during Presidential addresses are worked into smaller, private conversations in this story. W.'s time in Texas is summed up in spurts, but doesn't really focus on the transitions between jobs or the process by which he ran his various early political campaigns.

Story issues aside (since this is just a movie and therefore can't show everything), I also had problems with some of the editing choices. The story is presented in flashback form, which is fine, except in some cases we're given a cliffhanger in the present only to be taken to a flashback and then return to a different time in the present with no resolution. It became jarring at times, especially in a 2+ hour film. If at any point what we're transitioning to isn't as interesting as what we just left, the film begins to drag.

The aforementioned cast is pretty terrific here. This is one of those movies where you can play "Oh look there's so-and-so!" for almost the entire duration of the film. I was particularly pleased with Jeffrey Wright's performance as Colin Powell. He handles the role in the present and in flashbacks with a sense of nobility and pride. I was, however, not so pleased with Thandie Newton's portrayal of Condoleezza Rice. She definitely looked the part, and she had the voice for the most part. But whenever she's required to speak more than a line or two in succession, it just starts to sound like a stale, forced impression. I kept expecting someone to pop up from the background and scream "LIVE FROM NEW YORK, IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT!" That certainly didn't help the dragging-on factor.

I do recommend this movie because, honestly, it's Oliver freakin' Stone! The man knows how to handle political intrigue and Presidential legacies. Josh Brolin only adds to that with a sincere performance that never feels belittling. Just be mentally prepared for some long parts, and know that they won't last too long.

Score: 7.5/10

066: Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2009)

Title: Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2009)
Starring: Steve "Lips" Kudlow, Robb Reiner, Tiziana Arrigoni
Directed By: Sacha Gervasi

Some of the best documentaries I've ever seen were on subjects I didn't know I'd care about. Sometimes it's "lightning in a bottle" to find a subject that can capture your interest for the duration of a feature-length documentary. You have to be there at the right time in the story, filming it as it all goes down. Or, you have to find the right people and the right footage to recount past events, and present them to your audience in a clear and entertaining way. For me, Anvil! The Story of Anvil isn't about a band at all. It's about a pact, a brotherhood between two friends that spans decades; and I think that's what director Sacha Gervasi was going for really. Sure, through the release and distribution of this film, the band may become more famous and finally get some of the recognition they dearly deserve.

But moreover, I think, audiences have had the chance to connect with two interesting and appealing people who've stuck by each others' sides through tremendous highs and vicious lows. They've been able to go on the highly entertaining journey of Anvil, and they're better for it. The film is an effective and intimate portrayal of perseverance and heart. I really enjoyed it, and I highly recommend it.

Score: 8.5/10

065: Sunshine (2007)

Title: Sunshine (2007)
Starring: Cliff Curtis, Cillian Murphy, Michelle Yeoh
Directed By: Danny Boyle

I REALLY liked the first 2/3 of this movie. A lot! The problem though is that Danny Boyle's solid, serious, straight-forward sci-fi yarn de-evolves into a cat-and-mouse horror pic in the 3rd act. For seemingly no reason. I was left over thinking and over analyzing the first two acts, only to realize exactly how great they are.

I LOVED last year's Moon. To me it was something that I haven't seen in a while, a REAL sci-fi film. It had compelling characters, a new set of rules, and an interesting story to tell. So did Sunshine, at first. I was introduced to well-developed characters, being played by fine actors, doing things that I found interesting.

So what happened? Apparently, that wasn't enough. Apparently, it was decided that the audience needed a villain to root against. Doyle does the best he can with this character, giving the entire look of the picture a makeover whenever he appears onscreen. But it just wasn't enough to save it. The damage was done, and unfortunately the film suffers for it.

It's hard NOT to recommend this film, because honestly there are flashes of brilliance (like one would expect from Danny Boyle) in it and maybe the nonsensical ending won't irk you like it did me. But as is, I'll leave it at "give it a chance".

Score: 6.5/10

064: The Ugly Truth (2009)

Title: The Ugly Truth (2009)
Starring: Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler, Eric Winter
Directed By: Robert Luketic

The Ugly Truth is basically a run-of-the-mill romantic comedy with one "x-factor". That being Gerard Butler.

Here, Butler plays a "real man's man", who hosts a late-night cable television show about what men are really thinking. Heigl plays the producer of a network affiliate morning news program, who's forced to take him onboard and adapt her show to his audience. When she meets a super dreamy neighbor, she goes to Butler for advice and coaching on what he really wants in a relationship. Inevitably over the course of their budding friendship, the layers are peeled back one at a time and a romance is born.

It's as by-the-books as you can get with a romantic comedy. It's just another play on Cyrano de Bergerac. It's been duplicated a million times. The only thing that this film has going for it, is how much fun Gerard Butler seems to be having. He's got this charisma that brings the material up a notch or two, and every time he gets to be crude and vulgar, I couldn't help but be sucked in by it. He delivers each of those lines with a silly little smirk, and honestly I had one when I was hearing them.

This is an ALMOST guy-friendly rom-com that I think might surprise some of the people who give it a chance. I don't necessarily recommend it, but call it a passing suggestion. :)

Score: 7/10

063: Shades Of Ray (2008)

Title: Shades Of Ray (2008)
Starring: Zachary Levi, Sarah Shahi, Bonnie Somerville
Directed By: Jaffar Mahmood

First-time writer/director Jaffar Mahmood has created quite the cast of characters with Shades of Ray. They aren't necessarily the most original group of people to spend an hour and a half with, but they ARE a lot of fun.

At the heart of the story is Ray (Zachary Levi), a struggling half Caucasian/half Pakistani actor who has spent his entire life trying to establish his cultural self-identity. Furthering his internal conflict are his overbearing and quirky Pakistani father (Brian George) and his delusional white mother (Kathy Baker). His father insists Ray marry a nice Pakistani woman even though he is newly engaged to his white girlfriend (Bonnie Somerville). That's why he introduces his son to Sana (Sarah Shahi), a beautiful young family friend with similar heritage. Here's where Ray's conflict becomes something tangible, and not just all in his head. Also along for the ride is Ray's slapstick-prone childhood best friend/roommate Sal (Fran Kranz), who doesn't see Ray as white or brown, but as "just Ray".

That's actual dialogue by the way, and therein lies the only real problem with this movie. The script is far too caught up in the race issue, a fact that is acknowledged time and time again with spoken conversations between the characters. If for just one act of the film Mahmood had allowed his characters a chance to flourish and rise above cultural biases and self-defeating prophecies, than this film could have really shone. It's solid as is, but it could have been just a little bit better I think, if he had let their confidences do the talking sometimes instead of their hangups.

I still really enjoyed this movie, and that's thanks in part to some VERY strong performances by an incredibly talented cast. Recommended.

Score: 8/10

062: Super Capers (2009)

Title: Super Capers (2009)
Starring: Justin Whalin, Ryan McPartlin, Danielle Harris
Directed By: Ray Griggs

The main problem with these superhero spoofs is that the characters themselves are usually lame ripoffs who take themselves too seriously. It's hard to laugh with a character when he or she isn't laughing at themselves.

This strikes a similar tone to Craig Mazin's 2000 film The Specials. The biggest difference that I could see is in the effects. I'm guessing the majority of the budget for The Specials went to their cast, which had some pretty big names attached (Rob Lowe, Thomas Haden Church, Jamie Kennedy). Since the majority of the cast here is lesser-known's and TV actors, they could put a little more "sparkle" on the screen. There were some notable cameos though; like Adam West, "Tiny" Lister, Tom Sizemore and Clint Howard.

I like the idea of this film, but too many times writer/director/co-star Ray Griggs goes for the easy joke. It ends up being way over-the-top cartoony and not all that funny. Some of these include a deadly short bus, a robot modeled after Arnold Schwarzenegger, jabs at religion and fart jokes. They also beat the whole parody thing over the head of the viewer, taking obvious and painful pokes at Star Wars, Back to the Future and Superman among others (going so far as to imitating their famous themes in the score).

I think there was something here at the scripting stage, but somewhere between first draft and final product things went terribly awry. Avoid this.

Score: 4.5/10

061: How To Train Your Dragon (2010)

Title: How To Train Your Dragon (2010)
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson
Directed By: Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders

Dreamworks' How To Train Your Dragon is a wonderful example of modern animation done right. Since the first Toy Story, animators have tried time and time again to duplicate the heart and imagination that Pixar seems to keep in a bottle. While the majority of the CG films that have come out since then are entertaining and sometimes have some heart to them, they don't usually feel as "magical" as a Pixar film. This is the exception to the rule.

The characters are all fleshed out and exceptionally cast. The animation is superb. The 3D is implemented smartly and rivals that of any other big-budget 3D blockbuster. My only complaints are minor little story issues, and easily overlooked. All-in-all, this is about as close to a "perfect" family film you could ask for.

See this movie now. Don't wait for DVD or Blu-Ray. See it in IMAX while you still can. Highly recommended.

Score: 8.5/10

060: The President's Man: A Line in the Sand (2002)

Title: The President's Man: A Line in the Sand (2002)
Starring: Chuck Norris, Judson Mills, Jennifer Tung
Directed By: Eric Norris

This is a LOT like the first one. It's a low-budget and low-quality straight-to-dvd action thriller starring everybody's favorite blonde bearded bombshell: Chuck Norris! And like the last one; this one has silly, immature humor and the use of RIDICULOUS stock footage. It also reuses footage from the first one, including explosions for some key moments in the plot.

There are some new things in the mix this time around. Our heroes have an upgraded training facility, if you count tennis ball launchers as upgrades. There's a new president, played by Robert Urich. There's also a new actor playing the pivotal role of Deke Slater, Norris's protegé. His name is Judson Mills and he is MUCH more shirtless than Dylan Neal was in the same role in the first one. Just look at that DVD cover! The villains this time around are also much more evil. Last time it was a drug cartel, but this time it's a fundamentalist terrorist cell complete with overused and negative racial stereotypes. They DID have some pretty high-tech gadgetry, which was fun. But it looked laughably bad.

Altogether this is sloppier, lazier and MUCH less fun than the first one. It was a passable 90-minute distraction, but that's all.

Score: 3/10

059: The President's Man (2000)

Title: The President's Man (2000)
Starring: Chuck Norris, Dylan Neal, Jennifer Tung
Directed By: Michael Preece

This is a made-for-tv action thriller starring Chuck Norris. As such, I will review it justly and without bias. However, when it comes time to score it, be advised that I rate things based on how good they could have been. I'm not sure how exactly a made-for-tv action thriller starring Chuck Norris could have been any better, so don't let that number at the bottom fool you. This still isn't very good.

There are certain things that one has to take into account when watching this film. It's low-quality and low-budget production values make for a sloppy, haphazard ripoff of equal parts Rambo and James Bond (complete even with "wah-wah" horns in the action score). It uses stock footage for satellite and aerial shots. It has cheesy "chop-socky" sound effects for every punch and kick, and SOMETIMES you'll see those punches and kicks repeated throughout the film. Also, there are really OBVIOUS uses of stunt-doubles. Add to all that the use of juvenile humor, poorly implemented 1980's-style computer graphics, a script riddled with clichéd dialogue, and a constant mispronunciation of the word "nuclear" and you've got The President's Man.

Sounds terrible, right? It is. But, it's also kinda fun for what it is. I was mesmerized by just how corny it all was. It's like some kind of experiment in ripping movies off, but as a narrative instead of a parody. If you can stomach the lameness, and you see this atop the $1 DVD bin, it's worth checking out. By the way, that's NOT an official recommendation! I'm not crazy. I just like this crap sometimes.

Score: 6/10

058: Obsessed (2009)

Title: Obsessed (2009)
Starring: Beyoncé Knowles, Ali Larter, Idris Elba
Directed By: Steve Shill

I don't think I've ever used the word "dreck" in my entire life. That said, I honestly can't think of a single word better for Obsessed.

It's as if everyone involved in this film has never heard of subtlety. The film opens with a montage. You read that correctly, it OPENS with a montage! From there we are treated to scene after scene of foreshadowing elements. Now, I may be a semi-professional moviewatcher, but I think ANYONE can realize the difference between your average squeaky floorboard and an inevitable crappy resolution.

It ACTUALLY upsets me to see some of the names attached to this film. Composer James Dooley (who changes his name to "Jim" in the credits, in what I can only believe to be an attempt at anonymity) deserves better than this, though his work here is solid enough. There are EIGHT executive producers on the film including Beyoncé AND her father! What's worse though, is that one of the eight is Magic Johnson. You've got much better things to do with your time and money Magic! Get out while you still can!

This movie is garbage. There! That's another word besides dreck. I did it! And that alone is a bigger accomplishment than Obsessed.

Score: 2/10

057: Nobel Son (2008)

Title: Nobel Son (2008)
Starring: Alan Rickman, Bryan Greenberg, Mary Steenburgen
Directed By: Randall Miller

This is a tightly-knit, dark comedy-laced caper movie. AKA one of my favorite genres. I'm a sucker for heist movies, and when one comes around that manages to keep the mystery evolving and keep me guessing, I like it. If it can do all that and manage a few good laughs in the process, I'll love it. And that's how I feel about Nobel Son.

Alan Rickman stars as Eli Michaelson, a Nobel Laureate/professor who happens to be a real jerk. It seems like those who meet him, resent him and those who know him, hate him. Naturally, when his son is the victim of a kidnapping heist Eli balks at the ransom demand, setting into motion an elaborate series of events involving $2 Million and a fair amount of comeuppance.

I won't spoil any of the surprises contained within the plot. Instead, I'll praise the taut direction of Randall Miller and the wonderful performances of the cast as a whole. Even bit parts are played as though they're just as big a piece of the puzzle as the leads. Praise for that goes to the casting department, although it doesn't exactly hurt that some of my favorite actors find their way onscreen. It was nice to see Rickman, as always; but also Shawn Hatosy, Mary Steenburgen, Danny DeVito, Bill Pullman, Ernie Hudson and Eliza Dushku more than hold their own. I was pleasantly surprised, too, by Bryan Greenberg who plays Eli's kidnapped son Barkley. The only other project I recognize him from is the current HBO series How to Make It in America, which is also pretty good. But I digress, this is a movie blog after all.

I had been looking forward to this film for a while because Rickman was in it and because I had already heard (and enjoyed) Mark Adler and Paul Oakenfold's score. I'm glad to say it didn't disappoint. Recommended.

Score: 8/10

056: The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (2009)

Title: The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (2009)
Starring: Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Clifton Collins, Jr.
Directed By: Troy Duffy

So this is what fans of the original have been waiting 10 years for? Did Troy Duffy consult any of us? I mean, I get it. I don't necessarily condone it, but I get it. A brief explanation is in order...

Troy Duffy is the next Tarantino. That's what we were told in 1999 when the film industry went all aflutter for the script to The Boondock Saints. He got to make his film. His way. And when all was said and done, no one seemed to care anymore. So it was a huge flop. Duffy flamed out in fantastical and almost unprecedented fashion. But then, something interesting happened: liking The Boondock Saints became the "in" thing among certain circles. People went crazy for it and started a cult following that rivaled that of any other film, and eventually, it had made $40 Million in DVD sales. So here we are 10 years later. With funding and a distribution deal and the majority of the original cast and crew attached, Troy Duffy got his second chance and made The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. Would this be the greatest comeback of all time? Would Troy prove Hollywood wrong and make up for lost time with a cinematic masterpiece? Would the MacManus brothers have their moment to shine as some of the greatest characters ever created?

Unfortunately the answer to all three of those questions is a resounding NO. What Duffy did though, was create another fun film with memorable characters doing memorable things. They weren't the MacManus brothers though, they were the supporting cast. Thanks to some uninhibited performances by Julie Benz and Clifton Collins, Jr. the characters of Eunice Bloom and Romeo overshadow the film eclipsing the stale and soggy appearances of Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus. This was a chance for a comeback, and instead it's the new recruits that I would rather spend time with. Perhaps Troy Duffy should've written a story about Romeo picking up where The Saints left off and Eunice hunting HIM down? That might have been something. That way, the cameos (which this movie succeeded at about 50/50) could have been something really special instead of throwaways.

Like I said before, I get it. There are a LOT of little nods to the first film, but sadly that's not enough to save it. In fact, it hurts it. It made me long for the actual involvement I once felt for these characters. I wish they would have been more interesting this time around, or at least had more interesting reasons for doing what they were doing, or even had a more interesting adversary. Sadly though, all of those opportunities are missed.

For fans of the first, you should at least rent this. I can't quite recommend it though, because if you've never seen the first then you really don't have any reason to care about this story at all. Although maybe you'll enjoy Benz and Collins too. I know I really did.

Score: 6.5/10

055: Give 'Em Hell Malone (2009)

Title: Give 'Em Hell Malone (2009)
Starring: Thomas Jane, Ving Rhames, Elsa Pataky
Directed By: Russell Mulcahy

There are two ways you can look at this movie. As a modern, low budget crime drama, Give 'Em Hell Malone doesn't really stand out as a smashing success. If, however, you give the filmmakers their due for making a modern detective noir film, then I think you might just really enjoy this movie. Look at the title! Modern noir with a wink at the audience is really what they're working at here. And (for me at least) it really gelled.

In terms of successes, I'd have to say the look of the film is what really nailed it for me. From the locations to the costumes, you really could be watching a period piece or something happening right down the street. In fact the only giveaways that this is happening in the present are the appearance of a few cars in the chase scenes (which honestly may have been an error by the filmmakers, but it kind of works for the movie adding a certain sense of charm).

That charm is also present in the performance of its two male leads, Thomas Jane & Ving Rhames. They lift the script a little higher every time they're on the screen, especially when they're together. The villains of the story are pretty weak, so no real stand-out's there; although, I was surprised by a few scenes involving the female hitman known as "Mauler" (played by Chris Yen).

I liked this film a lot. It really wears its heart on its sleeve, and I like that when it's pulled off correctly. This is another take on an old school film genre (which I seem to be watching a lot of lately), and I'm glad to be able to put another notch in the "Good" column instead of the "Bitch Slap" column. Recommended.

Score: 8/10

054: Terminator: Salvation (2009)

Title: Terminator: Salvation (2009)
Starring: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin
Directed By: McG

The Terminator franchise really hasn't been the same since T2. One thing's for sure though, you always know what you're going to get from a Terminator movie: big action sequences, graphics that rival any other film released at the time, and "Aaahhnold". This one doesn't disappoint in any of those categories.

This fourth entry takes place in the foretold future, with John Connor (Christian Bale) engaged in a war against the machines. It seems as though this is supposed to be a launching point for another series of Terminator movies, as we see the development of the T-800 (Schwarzenegger) and we see a lot of bulkier robots, but we never get to the scenes of an army of robotic endoskeletons fighting against the human resistance that were shown in the first movies. Presumably that hasn't happened yet. We are, however, introduced to Anton Yelchin as a young Kyle Reese and a confused convict from the past played by Sam Worthington. Their story parallels Connor's as the film progresses until they are eventually thrown together by fate to fight back against the evil Skynet.

McG handles the action here quite well. Aaaand that's about it. The performances are stale and wooden, with some of the cast wasted (Bryce Dallas Howard, Anton Yelchin, Helena Bonham Carter), some of them clueless and lost (Common, Jane Alexander), and some of them thinking this is another Batman movie (Bale). Also, there is virtually no style or atmosphere in the picture at all. It's all pretty straightforward action followed by a dramatic beat and then more action. The material is handled well enough, but nothing special is brought to the table.

I'll give it this though, it's better than T3.

Score: 7/10

053: Bitch Slap (2009)

Title: Bitch Slap (2009)
Starring: Julia Voth, Erin Cummings, America Olivo
Directed By: Rick Jacobson

So one of the more popular genres in film right now is the reinvention of the exploitation film. You can be equal parts parody and original narrative. For example, Black Dynamite was a very successful attempt at a modern take on Blaxploitation films. This movie tries to recreate the feminist exploitation films of the past. It evokes images similar to those found in Barbarella, Gator Bait, or Caged Heat. The only problem is where Black Dynamite succeeds, Bitch Slap fails. Hard.

We're presented with three unlikeable women doing despicable deeds for nonsensical reasons. If you can't get behind the women in a movie about female empowerment, then the filmmakers have failed. Horrible performances aside, I never once got involved in the motivations of these women; and in all honesty their narrative wasn't presented very clearly at all. The story is told in chunks with flashback after flashback going further and further back in time utilized to bring new light to our characters' relationships and loyalties and overall motives. Unfortunately though, as a plot device, it is terribly misused and implemented too often in an attempt to tie up loose ends and still be "fresh". It just doesn't work.

The only saving grace (and I use that term LOOSELY) is in the fighting. While the camerawork is a little haphazard during them, the fight choreography is pretty impressive for the most part. There are times where they last a little too long, or where there's an awkward pause in the middle, but usually they're impressive and the only real element of fun in this whole film.

I give the creative team props for taking on a project like this at all, but there is a much better film to be made along these lines. This one just didn't do it for me.

Score: 4/10

052: Alice In Wonderland (2010)

Title: Alice In Wonderland (2010)
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter
Directed By: Tim Burton

You see a great movie and there are almost no limits to what you can say about it. You see a bad movie and you can come up with dozens of things that could've worked better. But when you see a movie that's touted as the next big thing, but really turns out to be dullingly average, what can you really say? I've been stuck on writing this review for weeks. And I say it's all Tim Burton's fault.

For me, it's really difficult to review a movie that's just so "middle-of-the-road". On the one hand, it's a straightforward continuation of the Alice stories that we all know. On the other, it's a hackneyed and convoluted fairy tale, mixing together solid story elements with a stale twist: "Alice is back, YAY! Oh, but she doesn't remember any of this. BOO!" And that's what I say to this script by Linda Woolverton, who apparently only works on adapting other peoples' ideas instead of coming up with any of her own (even if hers are among some of Disney's best).

This movie is a lie. From the title down, nothing presented here feels like Wonderland. It's even called UNDERland in the movie! So not even the NAME is right! Wonderland is supposed to be a place that feels peculiar. Burton's eye for extravagant sets and art direction is muddled and wasted here, because for every fascinating landscape or creative locale we get three or four tired old "spooky" spots. This place should be alive with imagination and wonder. We should feel as though we've just been transported to a magical new place, it shouldn't look like Sleepy Hollow or the forest from Wizard of Oz. In fact Colleen Atwood, who designed the costumes, should have been consulted when they were building the sets. Her work here is extraordinary, and really did capture the otherworldliness of Wonderland.

Also, while the graphics tend to look impeccable, the 3-D in this film was just BAD. People are going to compare the 3-D from Avatar to every film that tries it for a long time to come, and rightfully so. James Cameron used 3-D to enhance his film down to the story level. It was written with that third dimension in mind. Here, the 3-D is used only to digitally input a foreground, or to emphasize an action beat. If the best you can think to do with your 3-D is to add blades of grass over the pre-existing image or to have an enemy attacking outward toward the camera, then you should probably just forget it. I'm actually excited for this movie to come out on Blu-Ray so I can watch it in standard 2-D and reassess my opinion of it, minus the distraction of unnecessary retouches.

I can't recommend this film, because in all honesty you aren't missing anything if you haven't seen it. I will, however, rate it fairly because it was impressive to behold even if a little too paper-thin.

Score: 7/10