Knight & Day – 4 out of 10
You’ll like this movie if you
a. Like Tom Cruise
b. Like Cameron Diaz
c. Like cartoons
There are moments of magic in Knight & Day. They come when the two talented leads are interacting calmly and peacefully, showing off their pearly whites and their ample charisma. Unfortunately, those moments are few and far between. Maybe someday Tom will make a nice little quiet movie and show off those acting skills that were present in movies like A Few Good Men or Born on the Fourth of July.
But, more than likely, because of the blockbuster necessity of Hollywood, Tom’s movies will just fall into two categories from now on, Mission Impossible and Mission Ridiculous. This one is certainly ridiculous. One of my pet peeves is how movies always seem to culminate in a famous event. For example, every New Orleans film seems to end up on Bourbon St. on Mardi Gras day. In this one, a chase scene just happens to take place at the exact moment of the Running of the Bulls in Spain. Ridiculous.
As are most of the action scenes. It’s ludicrous and so driven by outlandish special effects and stunts, I kept wanting to scream, “Please, just one shred of believability.” But no, it seems that movies just have to push the boundaries to the point of sacrificing any plausibility. They are just cartoons, painted with computer-generated action.
I guess it didn’t help that I re-watched The Hurt Locker on blu-ray the night before. Its action is real, surprising, and heart-breaking. You care, and you feel the blood.
Bad Lieutenant – 2
Finally caught this on blu-ray as for some reason it never quite made it to the local theatres. Now I know why. When the plot is more over the top than Nicholas Cage’s acting you know you’re in trouble. I thought I knew a good movie when I saw it. Now I'm not so sure. Roger Ebert said this was the best movie of 2009. I wish he could explain that one. This movie reeked. I should’ve waited another year. There’s not a believable or realistic moment in this, another cartoon.
With a dismal box-office summer upon us, it seems that the small screen is more satisfying so let me sing the praises of some small screen alternatives.
Glee
Now the first season is over, and maybe you didn’t catch it. Maybe you’re too cool, or not cool enough, or it just doesn’t interest you.
Too bad. You’re missing some special moments. What is Glee? Glee is basically what happens when you enlist a bunch of Broadway caliber musical talent and slap a story around their renditions of a wide variety of popular music. Just my opinion, but I think Glee will be to the 10’s what American Idol was to the 00’s. In other words we’ll be watching these kids for a long time. Stars are being made, and it’s fun to watch them blossom. And this is real talent, not Saved by the Bell.
Ever gone to see a musical group or show where one person sparkles and you can’t take your eyes off of them? Well this show is full of such people. They all sparkle. As the season unfolded around some wobbly story-telling (they call it bad Glee) the singing and dancing talent began to enthrall us (good Glee).
The final episode was a terrific culmination of the season. I’ve been a couch potato for a long time, but I can’t recall seeing anything on television like their final performance - the Journey medley. The choreography, the singing, the editing, the dancing, the camerawork, and the production values were as good as anything I can ever remember seeing on the small screen.
At least that’s what I think after replaying it on DVR about 20 times.
We’re lucky in that, along with Treme, that make’s two golden musical television shows airing right now – with great music built into the plot.
Copycats can’t be far behind, and that’s ok with me. I say more Music, less doctors, lawyers, and policemen on TV. Can you dig it?
If you can, there’s still time – both series are in reruns. It’s either that or cinema ridiculous.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Ricknuggets
Things I’ve learned lately:
FROM THE NEWS:
Apparently, even after 40 years there’s a point at which a marriage can go bad.
It’s called “The Tipper Point.”
What living person affects the most people on a daily basis?
As a frequent flyer, I vote for the shoe bomber.
BP Sure does have a lot of money. However, if this oil slick heads up the east coast, it won’t be enough.
Just because you’re not part of the problem doesn’t mean you can’t be part of the solution. Where are all the other oil companies? Don’t they have some suggestions? Isn’t this going to affect them in the future? Aren’t there some long term ramifications here for the whole industry?
The Governor of Mississippi went to a picnic rather than meet with President Obama, blowing off a crisis meeting for the second time. Agree or not, wonder what that’s going to cost us?
In fact, our state leaders seem to be downplaying the urgency of this situation which could wipe out half of our coastal economy.
But, we’ll still have the other half. Roulette anyone?
FROM SPORTS:
You know you are a beloved coach when your former players visit you on your deathbed one after another, the way it happened with John Wooden.
Name another coach that this would happen to. Bobby Knight?
Sometime good sportsmanship is more memorable than a perfect game.
The young pitching prospects just keep on coming in baseball.
The Saints’ draft, mini-camps, and upcoming training camp are getting more press than the 5th game of the season. Wonder why?
Six. That’s how many times I’ve watched it.
I learned Saints cornerback Jabari Greer, on why he chose the New Orleans Saints in free agency said, “Frenchman Street.”
On Treme, I learned why.
FROM THE LAST SEASON OF 24:
There is apparently some new way to shave out there. Must involve 10 blades.
I’ve never seen anyone stay as clean shaven for 24 hours as Jack Bauer did.
Now that was amazing!
I also learned that wounds heal extremely fast on television.
Also, there are a lot more people out there who can work for 24 hours without taking a break, or even yawning, than I would have suspected.
In fact, have you ever seen anyone yawn on TV?
And finally, I learned that Big Brother is always watching, and her name is Chloe.
FROM GLEE:
It’s ok to break into song anytime you want.
The High School drama of today is a lot different than the high school drama of 40 years ago.
FROM AMERICAN IDOL:
I learned that when in the audience listening to music you should scream constantly.
If it’s a slow song, sway. You can’t listen sitting still using only your ears. You must participate, no matter how much it irritates couch potatoes.
Randy Jackson personally got on the shark and made it jump when he complained that Crystal’s performance of “Me and Bobbie Magee” started “a little slow.” No shit, American Idiot. One of the greatest songs in rock n roll history starts a little slow. Maybe he should’ve stayed busted flat in Baton Rouge.
No surprise that for the 3rd straight year a cute guy playing a guitar won, in an upset over a (slightly) more talented performer.
How to fix AI:
Ban the professionals
Ban the instruments
Ban the audience
Ban the judges
Ban the performers.
There, that should about do it.
FROM ABC:
Not every personnel move works out the way it should. As comfortable as George Stephenopoulas was on “This Week” is how uncomfortable he looks on Good Morning America. Apparently it’s easier to interrogate George Will than Lady Gaga.
AND, the worst thing I learned, was that T Boone Pickens said there was a well like this in Mexico once and it took them 290 days to cap it.
It was in 200 feet of water.
FROM THE NEWS:
Apparently, even after 40 years there’s a point at which a marriage can go bad.
It’s called “The Tipper Point.”
What living person affects the most people on a daily basis?
As a frequent flyer, I vote for the shoe bomber.
BP Sure does have a lot of money. However, if this oil slick heads up the east coast, it won’t be enough.
Just because you’re not part of the problem doesn’t mean you can’t be part of the solution. Where are all the other oil companies? Don’t they have some suggestions? Isn’t this going to affect them in the future? Aren’t there some long term ramifications here for the whole industry?
The Governor of Mississippi went to a picnic rather than meet with President Obama, blowing off a crisis meeting for the second time. Agree or not, wonder what that’s going to cost us?
In fact, our state leaders seem to be downplaying the urgency of this situation which could wipe out half of our coastal economy.
But, we’ll still have the other half. Roulette anyone?
FROM SPORTS:
You know you are a beloved coach when your former players visit you on your deathbed one after another, the way it happened with John Wooden.
Name another coach that this would happen to. Bobby Knight?
Sometime good sportsmanship is more memorable than a perfect game.
The young pitching prospects just keep on coming in baseball.
The Saints’ draft, mini-camps, and upcoming training camp are getting more press than the 5th game of the season. Wonder why?
Six. That’s how many times I’ve watched it.
I learned Saints cornerback Jabari Greer, on why he chose the New Orleans Saints in free agency said, “Frenchman Street.”
On Treme, I learned why.
FROM THE LAST SEASON OF 24:
There is apparently some new way to shave out there. Must involve 10 blades.
I’ve never seen anyone stay as clean shaven for 24 hours as Jack Bauer did.
Now that was amazing!
I also learned that wounds heal extremely fast on television.
Also, there are a lot more people out there who can work for 24 hours without taking a break, or even yawning, than I would have suspected.
In fact, have you ever seen anyone yawn on TV?
And finally, I learned that Big Brother is always watching, and her name is Chloe.
FROM GLEE:
It’s ok to break into song anytime you want.
The High School drama of today is a lot different than the high school drama of 40 years ago.
FROM AMERICAN IDOL:
I learned that when in the audience listening to music you should scream constantly.
If it’s a slow song, sway. You can’t listen sitting still using only your ears. You must participate, no matter how much it irritates couch potatoes.
Randy Jackson personally got on the shark and made it jump when he complained that Crystal’s performance of “Me and Bobbie Magee” started “a little slow.” No shit, American Idiot. One of the greatest songs in rock n roll history starts a little slow. Maybe he should’ve stayed busted flat in Baton Rouge.
No surprise that for the 3rd straight year a cute guy playing a guitar won, in an upset over a (slightly) more talented performer.
How to fix AI:
Ban the professionals
Ban the instruments
Ban the audience
Ban the judges
Ban the performers.
There, that should about do it.
FROM ABC:
Not every personnel move works out the way it should. As comfortable as George Stephenopoulas was on “This Week” is how uncomfortable he looks on Good Morning America. Apparently it’s easier to interrogate George Will than Lady Gaga.
AND, the worst thing I learned, was that T Boone Pickens said there was a well like this in Mexico once and it took them 290 days to cap it.
It was in 200 feet of water.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
At The Cinema - May 2010
The Secret in Their Eyes – 9
I admit it, I came late to foreign films. Maybe it was Pan’s Labyrinth that convinced me I could watch subtitles and still enjoy a movie. Maybe it was Run Lola Run. I don’t know.
I was stunned when Pan’s Labyrinth didn’t win the Oscar for Best Foreign Film of 2006. But, the Academy put in a rule that if you didn’t see all the foreign films you couldn’t vote. So, I had to go see the winner – The Lives of Others, and it was dynamite.
Last year it was The Secret In Their Eyes, an Argentina film, albeit directed by Law & Order veteran Juan Rose Campenella that upset heavy favorite White Ribbon. So, I thought I’d check it out.
Good decision. The Secret In Their Eyes is a love story/murder mystery that goes back and forth in time (like so many movies do now) and weaves a slow hypnotic spell, before culminating in an ending that surprised me. Endings rarely surprise me anymore – but this one got me. Filled with humor, some very minor but realistic action, and most importantly quiet passion, it is the story of a brutal rape and murder that haunts a retired investigator into writing a novel based on the crime. As he writes he begins to question his life, the investigation, and most importantly his choices of the heart.
In retrospect, the title gives too much away, as Ricardo Darin and Soledad Villamil’s faces speak knowing volumes of the case and the feelings they’ve never forgotten and what could have been – should have been as the killer and their feelings got away.
Subtitles are almost unnecessary. This is a marvelous, riveting film. If you get the chance – guess the secret.
Exit Through The Gift Shop – 7
Here’s the hot documentary of the moment. For me, this is a tale of 2 movies. The first hour is a riveting tale of a compulsive filmographer. Thierry Guetta spent many years filming street artists at work around the world. His fascinating footage has been spliced together by Banksy, a legendary and unfilmed street graffiti artist himself. I didn’t know much about this subject - now I know too much. The first hour is funny and enthralling.
Unfortunately, the last 40 minutes or so, when Guetta becomes an artist himself, is not only less interesting, but less entertaining, and ultimately less believable. As I left the theater I wasn’t sure if I’d just been manipulated, or someone was pulling my leg – Hard.
If you see it, you decide. Then let me know. Not a great film, but the kind you’ll be talking about for a week. Especially if you're trying to figure out the title.
I admit it, I came late to foreign films. Maybe it was Pan’s Labyrinth that convinced me I could watch subtitles and still enjoy a movie. Maybe it was Run Lola Run. I don’t know.
I was stunned when Pan’s Labyrinth didn’t win the Oscar for Best Foreign Film of 2006. But, the Academy put in a rule that if you didn’t see all the foreign films you couldn’t vote. So, I had to go see the winner – The Lives of Others, and it was dynamite.
Last year it was The Secret In Their Eyes, an Argentina film, albeit directed by Law & Order veteran Juan Rose Campenella that upset heavy favorite White Ribbon. So, I thought I’d check it out.
Good decision. The Secret In Their Eyes is a love story/murder mystery that goes back and forth in time (like so many movies do now) and weaves a slow hypnotic spell, before culminating in an ending that surprised me. Endings rarely surprise me anymore – but this one got me. Filled with humor, some very minor but realistic action, and most importantly quiet passion, it is the story of a brutal rape and murder that haunts a retired investigator into writing a novel based on the crime. As he writes he begins to question his life, the investigation, and most importantly his choices of the heart.
In retrospect, the title gives too much away, as Ricardo Darin and Soledad Villamil’s faces speak knowing volumes of the case and the feelings they’ve never forgotten and what could have been – should have been as the killer and their feelings got away.
Subtitles are almost unnecessary. This is a marvelous, riveting film. If you get the chance – guess the secret.
Exit Through The Gift Shop – 7
Here’s the hot documentary of the moment. For me, this is a tale of 2 movies. The first hour is a riveting tale of a compulsive filmographer. Thierry Guetta spent many years filming street artists at work around the world. His fascinating footage has been spliced together by Banksy, a legendary and unfilmed street graffiti artist himself. I didn’t know much about this subject - now I know too much. The first hour is funny and enthralling.
Unfortunately, the last 40 minutes or so, when Guetta becomes an artist himself, is not only less interesting, but less entertaining, and ultimately less believable. As I left the theater I wasn’t sure if I’d just been manipulated, or someone was pulling my leg – Hard.
If you see it, you decide. Then let me know. Not a great film, but the kind you’ll be talking about for a week. Especially if you're trying to figure out the title.
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