051: Choke (2008)

Title: Choke (2008)
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Brad William Henke, Anjelica Huston
Directed By: Clark Gregg

For a movie based on a Chuck Palahniuk novel about a sex addict, this actually has a lot of heart. I'm sure it has something to do with Sam Rockwell's performance, or maybe it's Clark Gregg's storytelling, or maybe it's just the incredibly likable cast (including Kelly Macdonald, Anjelica Huston and the scene-stealing Brad William Henke). I think it's all of the above, but that could just be me.

It's by no means the first film of its kind, but it is a pretty good example of satire. That alone is worth giving it a look, seeing as how most attempts fail (Men Who Stare At Goats) or succeed at just being "ok". Recommended.

Score: 7.5/10

050: Whatever Works (2009)

Title: Whatever Works (2009)
Starring: Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson
Directed By: Woody Allen

Woody Allen. Plus. Larry David. Need I say more?

Who could possibly be better suited to represent Woody's machinations on aging and human connection than Larry David? It's a match made in heaven, like peanut butter and chocolate. Only it's brilliantly neurotic peanut butter and crotchety bald chocolate. And it works. Splendidly.

In Whatever Works, we are introduced to a character not unlike Woody or Larry themselves: a little older, a little crankier, but still a genius. Boris says a lot of the things aloud that we would dare only whisper under our breaths. And why not? He sees the bigger picture. All of this will be over soon enough, be you and don't apologize for it.

And that's what I loved most about this movie. It's just so "it". Nine times out of ten you get exactly what you expect with Woody Allen. This is the tenth. It was exactly what I expected, and yet a little more. I can't help but think that's thanks to Larry David. Here's hoping they do this again. Real soon. Highly recommended.

Score: 9/10

049: Spartan (2004)

Title: Spartan (2004)
Starring: Val Kilmer, Derek Luke, Kristen Bell
Directed By: David Mamet

If you're familiar with writer/director David Mamet, then you know not to expect the ordinary when watching one of his films. This modern conspiracy thriller was no exception.

In it, Val Kilmer plays Agent Scott, a retrieval expert searching for the missing daughter of an important political figure (Kristen Bell). Also on the case are Ed O'Neill, William H. Macy, Derek Luke and others.

The kidnapping plot is a tangled web of deceptions and misdirections (as you would expect from a Mamet screenplay). The problem with the story is in it's lack of focus. Too many times the film changes gears and the viewer is left reeling. It becomes a scatter-brained mess, instead of complex storytelling. I know that that's just one of the many weapons in Mamet's arsenal, but here it is dreadfully misused. Had he been able to put more of a coherent story on the screen, or given the audience time to adjust, this might have been passable. Instead, it misses the mark.

Score: 5/10

048: Logorama (2009)

Title: Logorama (2009)
Starring: Bob Stephenson, Aja Evans, Joel Michaely
Directed By: François Alaux, Hervé de Crécy, Ludovic Houplain

Maybe its cheating to review a short film, but when it's this good you kind of HAVE to. Clocking in at approximately 16 minutes, this Academy Award winning animated short features a visually stunning world comprised entirely of hundreds of recognizable corporate logos.

The plot involves a high-speed chase through the city that ends in catastrophic destruction. The criminal in the chase is Ronald McDonald. The cops are all Michelin Men. Big Boy is held hostage. The Jolly Green Giant is a zookeeper watching over the MGM Lion, the Ecko Rhino and more. All of these logos come together seamlessly to create a fantastic social commentary on modern American consumerism.

This film is incredible and it really does have to be seen to be believed. You can watch it (in its entirety) here. Highly recommended.

Score: 9.5/10

047: Green Street Hooligans (2005)

Title: Green Street Hooligans (2005)
Starring: Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam, Claire Forlani
Directed By: Lexi Alexander

I haven't seen Punisher: War Zone yet, but now I get why they got a female director. With Green Street Hooligans, Lexi Alexander shoots action sequences as if you were there in the street yourself, part of the brawl. It's exhilarating. Unfortunately, a lot of the movie feels like time that passes as your just waiting for the next fight.

The story follows Harvard dropout Matt Buckner (Wood). Matt heads to England to visit his sister, and while there he gets involved with her brother-in-law Pete and his "firm" (basically a gang of violent, rabid soccer fans supporting their home team). What follows is Matt's journey into manhood and his discovery of the pride that comes with having something worth fighting for in your life.

The fights (and there are plenty) are easily the most enjoyable element of the film. While the characters are fairly well-developed and the performances are all decent, their motivations are all pretty obvious and heart-on-their-sleeve. They all do what they should, and in the end, it was just to get us to the next fight. I do have to say though, that Elijah Wood holds his own in the action scenes, which I found a little surprising.

That's not to say there isn't a decent story here, it just pales in comparison to the fighting. For the gritty brawls alone, this is recommended.

Score: 7/10

046: The Affair of The Necklace (2001)

Title: The Affair of The Necklace (2001)
Starring: Hilary Swank, Jonathan Pryce, Adrien Brody
Directed By: Charles Shyer

As far as period pieces go, this one is pretty by-the-books. Hilary Swank does the best she can, Simon Baker is likable, Christopher Walken is awesome, blah blah blah. I'd actually like to take this opportunity to voice a MAJOR complaint that I have with these costume dramas.

The British accent is NOT the default European accent! These actors are portraying historical FRENCH figures. From FRANCE! They spoke French, they've got French names, and yet somehow, in this movie everyone is BRITISH!?! It's been done a million times and it'll be done a million more, but it's just so awkward. You've got Scottish-born Brian Cox doing his best to sound like someone else, and he nails all of the French names, but every time he speaks with his best proper British accent (even in the voiceovers) it becomes painfully obvious that something just isn't right.

A lot of time and work goes into recreating the historical periods depicted in this type of film. The LEAST the casting directors can do is hire a vocal coach to help the actors achieve some type of realism. I understand it. I really do, but I just can't condone it.

Other than that, as I said, this is pretty basic stuff. The plot plays out kind of like a heist movie, which I liked, and the story is pretty intriguing. A few glaring (but not uncommon) errors only add to the mediocrity of the film, but that's not to say it isn't worth checking out. Just don't expect to be blown away. Or to hear any French accents in France.

Score: 6/10

045: Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)

Title: Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
Starring: John Cusack, Rob Cordry, Craig Robinson
Directed By: Steve Pink

80's movies have earned themselves quite the reputation. 80's action is cheesy and violent, 80's horror is definitive and often imitated, 80's sci-fi is timeless and 80's comedy is HILARIOUS. Fish out of water stories often serve as the comedic device, and typically the main protagonist has a friend or friends to help them on their way and make witty observations for the audience.

You may be asking why I'm bringing all this up. The answer is simple. Though this film was released in 2010, it IS an 80's movie! Everything about it is lovingly ripped from that era, from the plot and characters, to the soundtrack, down even to the cast themselves, including some extremely memorable cameos (Crispin Glover, Chevy Chase, Poison).

Quick! Name the decade: "Hey I'm gonna go see the new John Cusack and Chevy Chase movie. The one with Poison in it. Wanna come?" If you EVER thought the answer to that would be 2010 (before seeing the trailer for this movie), you are a psychic genius and you have better things to do with your time than read this blog.

The plot of this film is RIDICULOUS and it's spelled out quite clearly in the title, so I won't get into details. I will say, however, that there hasn't been a movie quite like this in a while. The Hangover was pretty similar, but it doesn't have that undeniable 80's charm. Hot Tub Time Machine does. By the bucketful. Highly recommended.

Score: 8.5/10