The Pop Culture Pusher: September 2012

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Film: Looper

GENRE: Action/Sci-Fi/Drama

RATING: R for violence, language, nudity & drugs

RUNTIME: 1 hour and 58 minutes

STARRING: Bruce Willis (Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, Red)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Brick, Inception, Dark Knight Rises)

DIRECTOR: Rian Johnson (Brick, Breaking Bad eps)

WRITERS: Rian Johnson (Brick, Brothers Bloom)

PLOT: Using time travel, assassination targets are sent 30 years into the past where a hired gun is waiting. One of Joe’s targets is his future self.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 What a clever script! While Looper’s premise may seem confusing, everything is nicely explained, except the ending of course. I think I may need to give Brothers Bloom a chance since I have thoroughly enjoyed Johnson’s work on Brick and Looper.

2 Joseph Gordon-Levitt does an amazing job as Joe. While the prosthetics helped him look like Bruce Willis, he also added elements of Willis into his speech and smirks. He doesn’t go overboard like he’s doing an impersonation but he does so very subtly. He is a treat to watch. All the other acting in this film is also to notch, even the little kid.

3 While most directors would go all out for scenes taking place in 2072, Johnson smartly keeps it low-key with some elements here and there. Great job restraining yourself and focusing on the story and the characters, Rian.

4 I think the one thing missing from this film is more humour. There’s some great lines but I was hoping for some more lightness mixed with the pathos.

5 What I found most interesting about this film is I didn’t know who to root for. Everyone seemed to have good reasons to do what they do. Again, that’s a credit to Johnson’s amazing script and the acting chops of his cast. Kudos.

RECOMMENDATION: Watch it in theatres, it’s worth it

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Fall Movie Preview

Sunday, September 23, 2012

TV: Emmy Results

So luckily only ten people or so read this blog nowadays. My predictions sucked this year! I only got 6 out of 16 categories this year. Overall, I was kind of bored, but maybe that was because I was losing all night. Anyway, here are some of my thoughts.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 What was up with the sound for the first hour or so? Was that CTV or ABC’s fault? I missed a couple of Jimmy Kimmel’s jokes. Although thankfully I was spared some of the inane commentary when people win? What happened to the funny guy who was giving bizarre facts in past shows? It was replaced this year with a chick telling us where the actor’s hometown is. Who cares?

2 Jimmy Kimmel was alright but he was no Jimmy Fallon or NPH. The opening was dull but I liked his Facebook prank and couple of his comments.

3 So happy for Danny Strong’s win as the writer of Game Change. Of course, I’ll always remember him as the nerdy Jonathan on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Made me smile.

4 Wished Amy Poehler would finally get an Emmy, but of course Emmy can’t see past Julia Louis-Dreyfus for some reason. But I did love the mixed up acceptance speech. Poehler is such a trooper. Give her an Emmy dammit!

5 I like seeing full clips when they go through the nominations. I don’t care how long it takes, it just seems more respectful. So why were there clips for Lead Actress in a Drama Series but none for Lead Actor in a Drama Series? I wanted to hear Bryan Cranston yell that ‘he is the danger’ again.

THE WINNERS:

Drama Series: Homeland

Comedy Series: Modern Family (Predicted & Wanted)

Variety Series: The Daily Show (Predicted)

Reality Series: The Amazing Race (Predicted & Wanted)

Lead Actor [Drama]: Damian Lewis

Lead Actress [Drama]: Claire Danes (Predicted & Wanted)

Lead Actor [Comedy]: Jon Cryer

Lead Actress [Comedy]: Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Supp. Actor [Drama]: Aaron Paul

Supp.Actress [Drama]: Maggie Smith (Predicted & Wanted)

Supp. Actor [Comedy]: Eric Stonestreet

Supp. Actress [Comedy]: Julie Bowen

Writing [Drama]: Homeland – Pilot (Predicted)

Writing [Comedy]: Louie – Pregnant

Directing [Drama]: Boardwalk Empire – To the Lost

Directing [Comedy]: Modern Family – Baby on Board

Now . . . let the fall season begin!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

TV: Emmy Predictions

The Emmys are a couple of days away. For the Primetime Emmys predictions it’s same as past years: I play to win but am happy if the one I want to win takes the statue. Here now are the fearless predictions:

Drama Series

WILL WIN: Breaking Bad (it’s time to dethrone Mad Men)

WANT TO WIN: Breaking Bad (an awesome season)

Comedy Series

WILL WIN: Modern Family (still top of its game)

WANT TO WIN: Modern Family (another solid season)

Variety, Music or Comedy Series

WILL WIN: The Daily Show (it’s a non-stop streak)

WANT TO WIN: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (fun stuff)

Reality – Competition Program

WILL WIN: Amazing Race (still awesome)

WANT TO WIN: Amazing Race (love it)

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

WILL WIN: Bryan Cranston (he got scary this season)

WANT TO WIN: Jon Hamm (needs to finally get one)

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

WILL WIN: Claire Danes (She was intense)

WANT TO WIN: Claire Danes (she rocked her first season)

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

WILL WIN: Jim Parsons (emmys love him now)

WANT TO WIN: Louis CK (really funny guy)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

WILL WIN: Zooey Deschanel (she was wonderfully quirky)

WANT TO WIN: Amy Poehler (finally deserves one)

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

WILL WIN: Peter Dinklage (another great season)

WANT TO WIN: Giancarlo Esposito (he was awesome)

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

WILL WIN: Maggie Smith (a respectable choice)

WANT TO WIN: Maggie Smith (so fun to watch)

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

WILL WIN: Ed O;Neill (spreading the winning around)

WANT TO WIN: Max Greenfield (made douche-y so funny)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

WILL WIN: Kristen Wiig (sentimental choice)

WANT TO WIN: Mayim Bialik (very funny this season)

Writing for a Drama Series

Downton Abbey • Episode 7 | Homeland • Pilot | Mad Men • The Other Woman | Mad Men • Commissions and Fees | Mad Men • Far Away Places

WILL WIN: Homeland-Pilot (contained episode)

WANT TO WIN: Mad Men-Commissions and Fees (gripping)

Writing for a Comedy Series

Community • Remedial Chaos Theory | Girls • Pilot | Louie • Pregnant | Parks & Recreation • The Debate | Parks & Recreation • Win, Lose, or Draw

WILL WIN: Parks & Recreation-The Debate (deservedly so)

WANT TO WIN: Community-Remedial Chaos Theory (brilliant)

Directing for a Drama Series

Boardwalk Empire • To the Lost | Boardwalk Empire • Face Off | Downton Abbey • Episode 7 | Homeland • Pilot | Mad Men • The Other Woman

WILL WIN: Mad Men-The Other Woman (craftily done)

WANT TO WIN: Breaking Bad-Face Off (fantastic finale)

Directing for a Comedy Series

WILL WIN: Louie-Duckling (shot in Afghanistan)

WANT TO WIN: Curb Your Enthusiasm-Palestinian Chicken (great climax)

Good thing I don’t bet on miniseries; I have no idea if American Horror Story, Game Change or Hatfields & McCoys will win. All I know is Julianne Moore will win for her Sarah Palin role in Game Change. Anyway, let’s see how I do. I’ll post after the Emmys with the results and commentary.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

TV: Summer TV Recap

So instead of summer reading, I do summer viewing. I try to find a new series or two and also continue those show that happen to run during the hotter months. Here’s a recap of some of my summer shows.

SERIES: Breaking Bad (Season 5, Part I)

GENERAL PLOT: A chemistry teacher with cancer decides to go into the drug trade.

CURRENT SEASON: Walt is full-scale evil now. He’s trying to regain all the money he has lost and will stop at nothing to get it.

MY THOUGHTS: Really felt for Mike this season. Walt’s ideas this year are both twisted and genius. I’m also not liking Skyler again, she’s depressing. Looking forward to last eight episodes next summer. I’m intrigued.

SERIES: True Blood (Season 5)

GENERAL PLOT: Vampires and werewolves and shape-shifters, oh my.

CURRENT SEASON: Vampire religious zealots control Bill and company.

MY THOUGHTS: Awful. I don’t know what happened but I was bored this season. They kept killing the new characters I liked and had their older characters make stupid decisions. I don’t care about the werewolves, shape-shifters or fairies. I’m giving up.

SERIES: Downton Abbey (Seasons 1 & 2)

GENERAL PLOT: The Crawly household and their staff are mixed in drama

CURRENT SEASON: WWI affects all the inhabitants of Downton.

MY THOUGHTS: Very well written and acted. It reminds me of Remains of the Day, but on a smaller weekly soap opera-ish scale.

SERIES: The Newsroom (Season 1)

GENERAL PLOT: Will McAvoy and his producer change the way news is done.

CURRENT SEASON: News Night gets some resistance from the higher-ups

MY THOUGHTS: Great introduction. Aaron Sorkin has such fun scripts. I can easily suspend my disbelief and forgive the holier than thou nature of news reporting. Looking forward to season two!

SERIES: Episodes (Season 2)

GENERAL PLOT: Matt LeBlanc is cast in a poorly thought out British knock-off

CURRENT SEASON: Sean & Beverly deal with the fallout of her infidelity with Matt

MY THOUGHTS: This series looks like a movie. The quality of cinematography is outstanding. Matt LeBlanc is really funny as is the rest of the cast. Looking forward to season 3.

SERIES: Weeds (Season 8)

GENERAL PLOT: It’s like Breaking Bad but a half-hour comedy instead.

CURRENT SEASON: Nancy is trying to get legit but struggles along the way

MY THOUGHTS: A pretty good job wrapping up the series. It’s amazing how much some characters have changed and how others have not. It was a good show but I’m also glad it’s over.

SERIES: Damages (Season 5)

GENERAL PLOT: Ruthless lawyer Patty will do anything to win the big cases

CURRENT SEASON: Patty & Ellen go against each other in wiki-leaks scandal

MY THOUGHTS: I wish they ended the series a bit better. I wasn’t too interested in the actual scandal and just wanted to see these women fight in the courtroom. I felt a little let down. But I guess nothing can compete with their stellar first season.

SERIES: Louie (Season 3)

WHERE: Thursday, 10:30pm (FX) – need to download

EPISODES: 11 in (2 to go)

GENERAL PLOT: Louie CK is a comedian who goes through his average pathetic life.

CURRENT SEASON: Louie is getting girlfriends and some respect.

MY THOUGHTS: This season seemed a little uneven. I wished there was more stand-up sprinkled in. The cameos are quite fun at times.

SERIES: Wilfred (Season 2)

WHERE: Thursday, 10pm (FX) – need to download

EPISODES: 12 in (1 to go)

GENERAL PLOT: Only Ryan can see his neighbour’s dog as a man in a dog suit.

CURRENT SEASON: Ryan tries to be normal in his new job, but Wilfred won’t let that happen.

MY THOUGHTS: Wilfred is getting meaner and grosser as the series progresses. I don’t know what the endgame is.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Fall Movie Preview, Emmy Picks