Hugo – 7
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. slowly paced drama
b. movie history
c. Martin Scorcese
Martin Scorsese’s initial foray into 3D technology is a tale of two movies. The first half is a methodical story of the young orphan Hugo who hides out in the Paris train station. He has assumed the duties of his uncle as the keeper of the clocks in the station, where he gets to utilize the mechanical skills taught to him by his late father, who was tragically killed in a fire.
The pacing of the first half is luscious and tedious at the same time. The characters are all wonderfully developed in the claustrophobic city within a city that exists in an old train station. The problem here is that this is a movie that employs 1950’s pacing with 2011 technology. The 3D impact centers on the intricate workings of the myriad clocks. Don’t mistake the PG rating to be a sign that that this is a movie for children. I don’t know any kids that won’t squirm their way through the movie.
The second part of the movie, when Hugo becomes the catalyst for the revival of pioneer film-maker Georges Melies, is more quickly paced, almost rushed. But, it is certainly more vivid and interesting than the first two thirds.
Scorsese has received much acclaim for this love letter to the beginning of movie making. A Scorsese release is always a sure ticket for me, but sorry, this one doesn’t crack my personal top ten of his films:
Raging Bull
Taxi Driver
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
The Departed
Goodfelllas
Gangs of New York
The Aviator
Shutter Island
The Last Waltz
Cape Fear
Footloose – 7
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Julianne Hough
b. the first Footloose
c. Dancing
The best thing you can say about this movie is that it’s a faithful remake of the Kevin Bacon 1984 film. That’s also the worst thing you can say about it. There are no surprises here, but there’s some good dancing.
Julianne Hough and Kenny Wormald are the leads and they’ve got the goods. Julianne is best known for her appearances on the never-ending Dancing with The Stars, but here she shows even greater promise as she lights up the screen in the key role. The dancing is luminous. The problem is there’s just not enough of it.
There’s been a tragedy in Bomont, Georgia and subsequently the town has moved into the dark ages. What was believable in 1984 would have been a stretch in 2000, but is downright ridiculous in 2011. The townspeople are so backwards they make you want to scream. I guess that’s the point.
Fortunately, the plot is broken up by some great dancing scenes, particularly in a honky-tonk. They make it worth the ticket price.
Scanning the Satellite - Wherein I check out some of the movies I missed in theaters and other stuff brought to me by the fine millionaires at DirecTV.
Love and Other Drugs – 8
All of Anne Hathaway’s attributes are on display, and I mean all of them, in this “Love Story” which I missed in the theaters, but caught on HBO this month. The critics blew this one off, so despite the lure of Anne’s extreme nakedness, I didn’t rush to see it. Big Mistake.
Hathaway plays a blunt young lady suffering from early onset Parkinson’s and the “nothing to lose” approach to life that seems to accompany movie diseases. Her love interest, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, who women tell me isn’t as bland as I think he is, must decide between career advancement and caring for dreamboat Annie. Annie takes her clothes off a lot to help him along in the decision making process.
Jake plays Jamie Randall, one of those pharmaceutical reps that comes and goes through doctor’s offices while you’re sitting there at 12:15 for your 10 am appointment. As a Pfizer rep he gets to peddle Viagra and that comes in handy as things progress.
Anne Hathaway is terrific and brings the emotional heft needed to play mercurial. Not a perfect movie, but certainly enjoyable, especially when Anne is on-screen.
Unknown – 6
It’s one of the great movie mysteries that Liam Nielson has become an action hero. Did Tom Cruise go on leave? Is he too busy with his Scientology? In this potboiler, Liam goes swimming in a taxi, bumps his head and can’t remember who he is, and can’t understand why his wife, played by January Jones (who is terrible in this role by the way) doesn’t know him. In a cross between “The Man Who Knew too Much” and “Frantic” the movie gyrates all over Berlin and is resolved just in time for the credits.
Country Strong – 2
This movie is barely watchable, even for a Gwyneth Paltrow fan. Cringe your way through it if you love Country Music, or a by-the-numbers soap opera on the road to redemption. Gwyneth does the Ronee Blakely thing here (see Robert Altman’s “Nashville” if you have any questions.)
I’ve often said that the happiest people I know are those who play music for a living. But there’s no happiness in this movie, and it portrays musicians as tortured. The truth is probably somewhere in between. Other than one nice concert scene, there’s just not much to like here, unless it’s the country music, of which I’m not an aficionado. Here’s hoping someday someone taps Paltrow’s musical potential for the big screen the way Glee did on the small screen. How about her and Anne Hathaway as Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart?
The Last Winter – 6
This is a movie about environmental horror at an artic drilling sight and you’ll shiver your way through it until you get to the single incredible scene – a small airplane crashing into the campsite. It’s a jaw-dropping scene in an otherwise forgettable soap opera.
Homeland – 9
I’d caught enough of this Showtime series, and read enough of the media accolades to do something I rarely do, go back to the beginning via On-Demand. It was worth it. Claire Danes who last wowed in Temple Grandin, shines here as the off-kilter CIA agent who is stalking a returning 8 year U.S. prisoner of war. She believes he has been turned into an Al Qaeda operative and so far the cat and mouse game has been exquisite. Produced by the team that gave us “24” this is a less frenetic version of what they do best. I’m guessing it’s going to be in for a long run.
Woody Allen - American Masters - 9
For an Allen fan, this four hour PBS documentary, with a lot of unique Allen interviews, explains much of the ups and downs of his career. It gives some fascinating insight into his film-making process. Especially interesting are the discussions on his classics like Annie Hall, Manhattan, and Hannah and her Sisters. Great stuff. Must be time for a pledge drive.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Saints Report # 11 - November 28, 2011
A visiting team’s disorientation these days probably begins when they pull up to a Superdome that has looked the same outside since it opened in 1975. Now it sports a sponsor’s name and a light show. Then they walk inside, suit up, and are immediately subject to an unprecedented aerial assault. Must be fun.
Monday night the Saints scored seven touchdowns en route to a 49-24 destruction of a New York Giants team sadly lacking a rush on both offense and defense. The Saints unleashed their full arsenal. It was another impressive home performance. If the Saints play like this on the road, and they’ll need to in the playoffs, another Lombardi trophy could be in the offing.
Several things became clear during the course of the Thanksgiving NFL weekend:
1. It’s become nearly impossible to play defense in the NFL because:
a.) You can’t touch the quarterback
b.) You can’t impede the receiver’s progress
c.) You can’t hit the receiver too hard
The NFL has become flag day every day. In an effort to protect the players the zebras have run amuck at the direction of Roger Goody2Shoes. Stop. America is attracted to this game because it is controlled violence and power. It's war-like in that it's a fight for turf, a basic instict of mankind. That they fight over the same 100 yards over and over is beside the point. We love it as it is, don't swing the pendulum toward safety too much. There's little doubt in my mind that someone is going to get killed playing in the NFL some day. The players are bigger and faster, thus the collisions are of a higher impact. But legislating all collisions will make it touch football, and that's not a $7billion business. The NFL is.
2. The Green Bay Packers are having an incredible year and to the untrained eye, there is only one team that can stop them – the New Orleans Saints. When they’re hitting on 8 cyclinders, like they often do in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, they can outgun any team.
3. Drew Brees, on a record-setting yardage pace, should challenge Aaron Rogers for NFL MVP. In his 6th year of collaboration with Sean Payton, Brees is orchestrating an attack the sophistication of which has never been seen before in the NFL. It’s a collection of talent on offense which most teams can only dream of.
Starting at 8-3 is significantly better than 7-4 when the Atlanta Falcons are lurking. The Suh-less Lions come to town for a Sunday night game that should be the next step in a trek that could end in Indianapolis, and another February parade. That would be great.
Monday night the Saints scored seven touchdowns en route to a 49-24 destruction of a New York Giants team sadly lacking a rush on both offense and defense. The Saints unleashed their full arsenal. It was another impressive home performance. If the Saints play like this on the road, and they’ll need to in the playoffs, another Lombardi trophy could be in the offing.
Several things became clear during the course of the Thanksgiving NFL weekend:
1. It’s become nearly impossible to play defense in the NFL because:
a.) You can’t touch the quarterback
b.) You can’t impede the receiver’s progress
c.) You can’t hit the receiver too hard
The NFL has become flag day every day. In an effort to protect the players the zebras have run amuck at the direction of Roger Goody2Shoes. Stop. America is attracted to this game because it is controlled violence and power. It's war-like in that it's a fight for turf, a basic instict of mankind. That they fight over the same 100 yards over and over is beside the point. We love it as it is, don't swing the pendulum toward safety too much. There's little doubt in my mind that someone is going to get killed playing in the NFL some day. The players are bigger and faster, thus the collisions are of a higher impact. But legislating all collisions will make it touch football, and that's not a $7billion business. The NFL is.
2. The Green Bay Packers are having an incredible year and to the untrained eye, there is only one team that can stop them – the New Orleans Saints. When they’re hitting on 8 cyclinders, like they often do in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, they can outgun any team.
3. Drew Brees, on a record-setting yardage pace, should challenge Aaron Rogers for NFL MVP. In his 6th year of collaboration with Sean Payton, Brees is orchestrating an attack the sophistication of which has never been seen before in the NFL. It’s a collection of talent on offense which most teams can only dream of.
Starting at 8-3 is significantly better than 7-4 when the Atlanta Falcons are lurking. The Suh-less Lions come to town for a Sunday night game that should be the next step in a trek that could end in Indianapolis, and another February parade. That would be great.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Saints Report #10 - November 13, 2011
Here’s the game plan.
The run and gun, pass-happy New Orleans Saints are coming to the Georgia Dome. They can’t stop the run, and we’ve got Michael Turner whom they’ve never been able to tackle. Teams fare best against the Saints when they keep the ball out of Drew Brees’ hands, by grinding the clock.
So, naturally we’ll throw the ball 52 times, abandon the run quickly even though we’re having success, and to top things off we’ll Belicheck it and go for it on 4th down in our own territory with the game on the line.
Gotta love the Falcons.
In a critical NFC South game, the Falcons blinked and the Saints took advantage. While the Saints were getting out-gained by over 100 yards, they played a mistake free field-position game. The Saints couldn’t run the ball, but Marques Colston was snatching missiles out of the air at critical times. Jimmy Graham dropped a few before he became the Tight End No One Can Cover. The defense slowed the Falcons just enough to turn it into a field goal kicking contest. They snuck out of town with a 26-23 overtime win and took control of the division, with 6 games to go. The last 2 games of the year are Atlanta and Carolina, and hopefully by then the Saints will have the division locked up.
Now it’s a much needed bye week. For me – not the Saints. The Giants come on the Monday night after Thanksgiving, and let’s hope by then the Falcons have come up with another screwy game plan and lost another one.
The run and gun, pass-happy New Orleans Saints are coming to the Georgia Dome. They can’t stop the run, and we’ve got Michael Turner whom they’ve never been able to tackle. Teams fare best against the Saints when they keep the ball out of Drew Brees’ hands, by grinding the clock.
So, naturally we’ll throw the ball 52 times, abandon the run quickly even though we’re having success, and to top things off we’ll Belicheck it and go for it on 4th down in our own territory with the game on the line.
Gotta love the Falcons.
In a critical NFC South game, the Falcons blinked and the Saints took advantage. While the Saints were getting out-gained by over 100 yards, they played a mistake free field-position game. The Saints couldn’t run the ball, but Marques Colston was snatching missiles out of the air at critical times. Jimmy Graham dropped a few before he became the Tight End No One Can Cover. The defense slowed the Falcons just enough to turn it into a field goal kicking contest. They snuck out of town with a 26-23 overtime win and took control of the division, with 6 games to go. The last 2 games of the year are Atlanta and Carolina, and hopefully by then the Saints will have the division locked up.
Now it’s a much needed bye week. For me – not the Saints. The Giants come on the Monday night after Thanksgiving, and let’s hope by then the Falcons have come up with another screwy game plan and lost another one.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
At the Cinema - September/October
Moneyball – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Baseball
b. Brad Pitt
c. Aaron Sorkin
We’re very lucky. It looks like every summer we’ll get a gift from Aaron Sorkin. Last year it was the wonderfully scripted “The Social Network.” This summer along comes “Moneyball.” Somehow he and Steven Zaillian adapted Michael Lewis’ brilliant book. I don’t read many books, but I thoroughly enjoyed “Moneyball.” I never thought it could be made into a movie, but apparently Pitt, Sorkin, and company had a unique vision.
Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, the wonderkid General Manager of the money-poor Oakland A’s. His portrayal is solid and believable and most importantly funny. There are some hilarious scenes that he anchors, and he delivers a great character portrayal of a man who has some strange habits. This is one of Brad’s best performances. Catch it.
Tower Heist – 7
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. dangling
b. revenge on Wall Street
c. Eddie Murphy
This movie clips along at a decent pace, nothing hilarious, but consistent throughout. Alan Alda plays the Bernie Madoff type who has swindled many without a morsel of remorse. When Ben Stiller, Murphy, and their gang decide to reclaim their investment which they believe to be hidden in the penthouse, a mild adventure breaks out. The most harrowing scenes, especially if you don’t like heights, are when there’s a whole lot of dangling from the Tower. All in all, a decent diversion on a Saturday afternoon.
SCANNING THE SATELLITE
Nowhere Boy – 8
This is a cool little biography of a young John Lennon and his relationship with the mother who abandoned him and the aunt who raised him. We see the early incarnation of the Beatles. It’s a must see for Beatles fans, and especially John Lennon fans.
George Harrison: Living in the Material World – 9
Martin Scorsese put together another monumental rock documentary with this HBO broadcast. This 4 hour chronicle of George’s music and loves is wonderful. It also can be costly. Up to this point I had resisted the digitally re-mastered box set of The Beatles, but the audio here is so good that I was halfway to Best Buy before the credits were finished. Oh, and while you’re at Best Buy pick up The Concert For George, one of the best concert videos. It was held one year after his death and highlights, much like this documentary, the amazing music that George produced both during and after his Beatles’ days.
Larry Flynt: The Right to Be Left Alone – 8
This documentary is a must-see if you are a fan of the great “The People vs. Larry Flynt.” Through interviews and archival footage the same story is told, and it’s very interesting to see how events really unfolded. Interested in the First Amendment? Check this out.
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Baseball
b. Brad Pitt
c. Aaron Sorkin
We’re very lucky. It looks like every summer we’ll get a gift from Aaron Sorkin. Last year it was the wonderfully scripted “The Social Network.” This summer along comes “Moneyball.” Somehow he and Steven Zaillian adapted Michael Lewis’ brilliant book. I don’t read many books, but I thoroughly enjoyed “Moneyball.” I never thought it could be made into a movie, but apparently Pitt, Sorkin, and company had a unique vision.
Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, the wonderkid General Manager of the money-poor Oakland A’s. His portrayal is solid and believable and most importantly funny. There are some hilarious scenes that he anchors, and he delivers a great character portrayal of a man who has some strange habits. This is one of Brad’s best performances. Catch it.
Tower Heist – 7
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. dangling
b. revenge on Wall Street
c. Eddie Murphy
This movie clips along at a decent pace, nothing hilarious, but consistent throughout. Alan Alda plays the Bernie Madoff type who has swindled many without a morsel of remorse. When Ben Stiller, Murphy, and their gang decide to reclaim their investment which they believe to be hidden in the penthouse, a mild adventure breaks out. The most harrowing scenes, especially if you don’t like heights, are when there’s a whole lot of dangling from the Tower. All in all, a decent diversion on a Saturday afternoon.
SCANNING THE SATELLITE
Nowhere Boy – 8
This is a cool little biography of a young John Lennon and his relationship with the mother who abandoned him and the aunt who raised him. We see the early incarnation of the Beatles. It’s a must see for Beatles fans, and especially John Lennon fans.
George Harrison: Living in the Material World – 9
Martin Scorsese put together another monumental rock documentary with this HBO broadcast. This 4 hour chronicle of George’s music and loves is wonderful. It also can be costly. Up to this point I had resisted the digitally re-mastered box set of The Beatles, but the audio here is so good that I was halfway to Best Buy before the credits were finished. Oh, and while you’re at Best Buy pick up The Concert For George, one of the best concert videos. It was held one year after his death and highlights, much like this documentary, the amazing music that George produced both during and after his Beatles’ days.
Larry Flynt: The Right to Be Left Alone – 8
This documentary is a must-see if you are a fan of the great “The People vs. Larry Flynt.” Through interviews and archival footage the same story is told, and it’s very interesting to see how events really unfolded. Interested in the First Amendment? Check this out.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Saints' Report #9 - November 6, 2011
The Saints ran over the Tampa Bay Bucs on Sunday, 27-16, “ran” being the operative word. The Saints bevy of running backs shredded the Bucs defense, and when the Saints are running the ball, they can beat anybody. It is becoming obvious that as the offensive line goes, so goes the Saints. Right now the Saints are an inconsistent team, and that inconsistency can be traced directly to the offensive line. The Saints and their offensive line have moved to 6-3, which is not spectacular, but certainly respectacle.
While the Saints still don’t have that bruising power back, (closest is Chris Ivory), I can’t remember a team ever having 6 running backs this caliber. Payton is even keeping 2 fullbacks, which almost no team does, because he likes both Jed Collins and Korey Hall so much. That’s a valuable roster spot, and when Mark Ingram returns from a heel injury, how are they all going to get carries? Sunday was a reminder of how good Pierre Thomas is, and Darren Sproles has been what Reggie Bush should have been, a streaker instead of a dancer. This is a group in desperate need of a nickname. The passing attack has even morphed from wide receiver dominated to back/tight end dominated. Ironic that in a league where the running back has been devalued, a movement that has been lead by offenses like Payton’s, he has wound up with this arsenal.
This is the fourth straight year the Saints have split the series with Tampa and a pretty intense rivalry has developed. Now it’s time to face the Falcons, most hated rival of all. The two remaining games with the Falcons will probably determine the Saints’ playoff hopes. Want an early indication? Watch the offensive line and the running backs. They’ve become the key economic indicator for Sundays in the who dat nation.
While the Saints still don’t have that bruising power back, (closest is Chris Ivory), I can’t remember a team ever having 6 running backs this caliber. Payton is even keeping 2 fullbacks, which almost no team does, because he likes both Jed Collins and Korey Hall so much. That’s a valuable roster spot, and when Mark Ingram returns from a heel injury, how are they all going to get carries? Sunday was a reminder of how good Pierre Thomas is, and Darren Sproles has been what Reggie Bush should have been, a streaker instead of a dancer. This is a group in desperate need of a nickname. The passing attack has even morphed from wide receiver dominated to back/tight end dominated. Ironic that in a league where the running back has been devalued, a movement that has been lead by offenses like Payton’s, he has wound up with this arsenal.
This is the fourth straight year the Saints have split the series with Tampa and a pretty intense rivalry has developed. Now it’s time to face the Falcons, most hated rival of all. The two remaining games with the Falcons will probably determine the Saints’ playoff hopes. Want an early indication? Watch the offensive line and the running backs. They’ve become the key economic indicator for Sundays in the who dat nation.
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