Saturday, June 29, 2013

Film: Monsters University








GENRE:
Animated Comedy
RATING:
G for minor scariness
RUNTIME:
1 hours and 44minutes

STARRING:
Billy Crystal (When Harry Met Sally, Monsters Inc.)
John Goodman (Roseanne, Argo); Helen Mirren (The Queen, RED)

DIRECTOR:
Dan Scanlon (newcomer)
WRITERS:
Dan Scanlon (shorts) & Daniel Gerson (Monsters Inc)
PLOT:
A prequel where we get to experience when Mike and Sully first met each other on the campus of Monsters University.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1
I was never the biggest fan on Monsters Inc, I loved Boo and all but I found that I didn’t care too much about the monsters. For this film, I got see a whole bunch of fun characters (minus Boo of course) and found myself way more invested. This film is sheer fun.
2
I enjoyed many of the new characters but the one I love the most was furry Art voiced by Charlie Day (Horrible Bosses). He had the funniest lines and I loved the way he moved. Very creative stuff.
3
Mirren’s Dean Hardscrabble’s was perfectly drawn.
4
I understand that this Mike Wazowski was younger but I felt the retainer seemed more high school than university.
5
Mike as disco-ball gag wasn’t in the film. Too bad.

RECOMMENDATION:
Can wait for DVD but fun in theatres
UPCOMING REVIEWS:
Despicable Me 2; Lone Ranger

Friday, June 28, 2013

2013 Emmy Dream Nominations








The votes for the Emmy Award nominations are due today. Looking over the very long ballot, these would be my dream nominations for the upcoming Emmys. The majority of these are long shots but its fun to dream.

Lead Actor in a Drama Series
·         Jeff Daniels as Will McAvoy [The Newsroom]
·         Jon Hamm as Don Draper [Mad Men]
·         Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody [Homeland]
·         Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes [Elementary]
·         Matthew Ryhs as Philip Jennings [The Americans]
·         Kevin Spacey as Francis Underwood [House of Cards]

Lead Actress in a Drama Series
·         Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison [Homeland]
·         Vera Farmiga as Norma Bates [Bates Motel]
·         Lucy Liu as Joan Watson [Elementary]
·         Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson [Mad Men]
·         Keri Russell as Elizabeth Jennings [The Americans]
·         Robin Wright as Claire Underwood [House of Cards]

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
·         Louie CK as Louie [Louie]
·         Josh Gad as Skip Gilchrist [1600 Penn]
·         Jake Johnson as Nick Miller [New Girl]
·         Joel McHale as Jeff Winger [Community]
·         Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper [Big Bang Theory]
·         Matthew Perry as Ryan King [Go On]

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
·         Zooey Deschanel as Jessica Day [New Girl]
·         Tina Fey as Liz Lemon [30 Rock]
·         Dakota Johnson as Kate Fox [Ben and Kate]
·         Mindy Kaling as Dr. Mindy Lahiri [The Mindy Project]
·         Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope [Parks and Recreation]
·         Krysten Ritter as Chloe [Don’t Trust the B** in Apartment 23]

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
·         Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister [Game of Thrones]
·         Freddie Highmore as Norman Bates [Bates Motel]
·         John Noble as Walter Bishop[Fringe]
·         Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson [Homeland]
·         Sam Waterson as Charlie Skinner [The Newsroom]
·         Steven Yeun as Glenn [The Walking Dead]

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
·         Jennifer Captenter as Debra Morgan [Dexter]
·         Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen [Game of Thrones]
·         Debra Messing as Julia Houston [Smash]
·         Emily Mortimer as Mackenzie McHale [The Newsroom]
·         Monica Potter as Kristina Braverman [Parenthood]
·         Maggie Smith as Dowager Countess [Downton Abbey]

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
·         Will Arnett as Gob Bluth [Arrested Development]
·         Brett Gelman as Mr. K [Go On]
·         Donald Glover as Troy Barnes [Community]
·         Max Greenfield as Schmidt [New Girl]
·         Chris Messina as Dr. Danny Castellano [The Mindy Project]
·         Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson [Parks and Recreation]

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
·         Sarah Baker as Sonia [Go On]
·         Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler [The Big Bang Theory]
·         Carly Chaikin as Dalia [Suburgatory]
·         Elisha Cuthbert as Alex Kerkovich [Happy Endings]
·         Jenna Fischer as Pam Halpert [The Office]
·         Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate [Parks and Recreation]

Writing for a Drama Series
·         Dead Freight [Breaking Bad]
·         The Rains of Castamere [Game of Thrones]
·         New Car Smell [Homeland]
·         For Immediate Release [Mad Men]
·         We Just Decided To [The Newsroom]

Writing for a Comedy Series
·         The Closet Reconfiguration [Big Bang Theory]
·         Basic Human Anatomy [Community]
·         PS I Love You [How I Met Your Mother]
·         Fulgencio [Modern Family]
·         Cooler [New Girl]

Drama Series
·         The Americans
·         Game of Thrones
·         Homeland
·         House of Cards
·         The Newsroom

Comedy Series
·         The Big Bang Theory
·         The Mindy Project
·         Modern Family
·         New Girl
·         Parks and Recreation

Main Title Design
·         American Horror Story: Asylum
·         The Americans
·         Elementary
·         House of Cards
·         Weeds

The nominations are announced on July 18th at 5:35am.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Film: Much Ado About Nothing








GENRE:
Comedy / Romance
RATING:
PG for some sexuality
RUNTIME:
1 hours and 47minutes

STARRING:
Alexis Denisof (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel)
Amy Acker (Angel); Fran Kranz (Dollhouse, Cabin in the Woods)
Clark Gregg (The Avengers); Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Castle)

DIRECTOR:
Joss Whedon (The Avengers, Serenity)
WRITERS:
Joss Whedon (Cabin in the Woods) & Shakespeare
PLOT:
The bard’s classic romantic comedy keeps the original text but sets the story in the present day during a weekend party.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1
I loved that we could see different actors from the Whedonverse interacting with each other. I enjoyed someone like goofy Kranz taking on such a serious role. Of course, Fillion and Tom Lenk (Buffy) steal the show as the inept cops Dogberry and Verges. Such fun!
2
The whole film was shot at Joss Whedon’s own house in only a couple of weeks. What a cool house he has! It was designed by his wife. Nicely done.
3
I appreciated that it was shot in black & white. Classy.
4
Such amazing line readings. Shakespeare is so accessible coming out of these actors’ mouths. Also some great physical comedy from Denisof and Acker, they make the bard come alive.
5
I hope that Whedon continues to do these Shakespearean side projects. I would love to see a new one every other year or something.

RECOMMENDATION:
You can wait for DVD
UPCOMING REVIEWS:
Monsters University

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Film: This is The End








GENRE:
Comedy / Action
RATING:
18A for crude sexual content, drug use, violence
RUNTIME:
1 hours and 47minutes

STARRING:
Seth Rogen (Knocked Up, Superbad, 50/50)
Jay Baruchel (Knocked Up); James Franco (Spiderman, 127 Hours)
Jonah Hill (Moneyball, Superbad); Craig Robinson (The Office)

DIRECTORS:
Evan Goldberg & Seth Rogen (newcomers)
WRITERS:
Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg (Pineapple Express)
PLOT:
Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel attend a party at James Franco’s house when the apocalypse happens.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1
A pretty genius concept. This film is twenty times funnier because the actors are playing exaggerated versions of themselves. Some great self-depreciating humour throughout. Unfortunately it gets a little too crude at times.
2
Some great cameos at the party. I bet there was a long list of comedians and young actors who wanted to appear at this rager. They all get some fun lines and moments no matter how limited.
3
Michael Cera steals the show at the party. Wow!
4
Loved the exorcism of Jonah Hill.
5
The directors had some very fun music choices, especially the closing number.  

RECOMMENDATION:
Theatres – people will be talking about it
UPCOMING REVIEWS:
Much Ado About Nothing