Blackout is a pop culture junkie who wants to spread his addiction of television and film to as many people as possible. If you're planning on sitting in front of a screen, you might as well watch the good stuff.
GENRE:
Comedy RATING:
R for sexual content, crude humour & language RUNTIME: 2 hours and 14 minutes STARRING:
Paul Rudd (I Love You Man, Knocked Up) Leslie
Mann (Big Daddy) Albert Brooks(Finding
Nemo, Drive) DIRECTOR:
Judd Apatow (Funny People, The 40 Year
Old Virgin) WRITER:
Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, Fun With Dick
& Jane) PLOT:
A look at the lives of Pete and Debbie a few years after the events of Knocked Up.
FIVE OBSERVATIONS: 1
Like almost every Judd Apatow film, this one is way too long. It’s the film
that never ends. True, there are some very funny parts but the whole storyline
meanders. Comedies should be 90 minutes. Apatow needs a lesson in streamlining.
Fast and funny, it’s the rule of comedy. 2
Since Apatow is directing his hot wife and two kids with Paul Rudd stepping in
as dad/husband, I wonder who it is more awkward for during the intimate times,
Apatow, Mann or Rudd. I assume his children are not present during those times. 3Melissa
McCarthy (Bridesmaids) is absolutely
hilarious as a mother who has a breakdown in the principal’s office. The
continuous outtake during the closing credits had me (and others in the
theatre) in tears. 4David
Schwimmer, Art Garfunkle, and evenTom Petty don’t come off too well in this
movie. Their name checks will simultaneously make you laugh and feel sorry for
them. 5
If you haven’t seen the end of Lost,
you may want to avoid this film. I know it’s been a few years but I ‘m sure a
couple of people wished there was a spoiler alert. As a TV aficionado, I did
enjoy the Lost and Mad Men comparison.
RECOMMENDATION: Wait for the DVD UPCOMING REVIEWS: 2013 Film Preview
End of the year lists? I love it! As usual, here are my
top ten films of the year and top ten television shows. The films have links to
my previous posts to avoid repetitiveness. This year I added my top five
favourite YouTube clips just for fun. Enjoy.
TOP TEN FILMS OF 2012
1. THE AVENGERS That
was fun! That’s what a super hero movie should look like. Even with a large
cast of egos, everyone gets an equal share of camera time. Joss Whedon is
simply amazing. Link:http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2012/05/film-avengers.html
2. MOONRISE KINGDOM I
think the best word to describe this film is ‘charming’. You can’t help
watching this film and get a big grin on your face. Most of that is owed to
newcomers Gilman and Hayward as the two kids in love. Link:http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2012/07/film-moonrise-kingdom.html
3. LES MISERABLES The
film has some advantages over the stage productions especially allowing the
actors to whisper lines and allowing the audience to see clear facial
expressions with all the close-ups. Link:http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2013/01/film-les-miserables.html
4. ARGO Affleck
does a great job building suspense in this film. He makes the audience cringe
in anticipation with his ‘hurry up and wait’ pacing. Many scenes keep you on
the edge of your seat. Link:http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2012/10/film-argo.html
9. LOOPER 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. Link:http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2012/09/film-looper.html
1. HOMELAND (SHOWTIME) Why:Twists and turns galore mixed with stellar acting. Favourite
Character: Saul (Mandy Patinkin), the frustrated mentor Best Episode of
2012: New Car Smell (S02E04) Carrie is finally taken
seriously and allowed to approach Brody to see what else he knows. A drink at a
bar leads to dropped jaws in more ways than one.
2. NEW GIRL (FOX) Why:The cast gels so perfectly in their own dysfunctional
way. Favourite
Character: Schmidt (Max Greenfied), the metrosexual Best Episode of
2012: Menzies (S02E07) Jess blames her PMS for
not getting a job, Winston gets sympathy PMS and Nick tries to control his
anger with the help of an old man and hot tub.
3. PARKS & RECREATION (NBC) Why:Every character is unbelievably funny and out-politics
Veep Favourite
Character: Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), the manly man Best Episode of
2012: The Debate (S04E20) Leslie takes on the
privileged Bobby Newport (Paul Rudd) in a hilarious debate. Meanwhile Andy
re-enacts movies for supporters while Ron goes to fix the cable.
4. GAME OF THRONES (HBO) Why:Epic storytelling at its best. Easier to follow in the
second season. Favourite
Character: Arya Stark (Maisie Williams), the survivalist Best Episode of
2012: Blackwater (S02E09) The assault on King’s
Landing has begun so Tyrion and the Lannisters must fight for their lives in a
climactic battle that includes the most amazing explosion.
5. THE WALKING DEAD (AMC) Why:They have so much more zombie killings and dramatic
turns now. Favourite
Character: Glenn (Steven Yeun), the heart of the group Best Episode of
2012: Made to Suffer (S03E08) The prison storyline and
Woodsbury storyline finally merge featuring a rescue attempt, a reunion and an
all-out fight between two new characters this season.
6. MODERN FAMILY (ABC) Why:Still the best family sitcom out there, though there
aren’t many. Favourite
Character: Luke Dunphy (Nolan Gould), the one-liner king Best Episode of
2012: Leap Day (S03E17) The girls not only ruin
Phil’s leap day plans but scare Phil and Luke to death, Mitchell tries to make
Cam’s birthday special with a theme party.
7. BREAKING BAD (AMC) Why:Walt’s transformation is car-wreck you can’t help
watching. Favourite
Character: Todd (Jesse Plemons), the unstable new guy Best Episode of
2012: Dead Freight (S05E05) A daring train heist for
their methylamine requires the new guy’s help. Of course, train heists don’t
always go as planned as morals are ultimately tested.
8. SHERLOCK (BBC) Why:Mini-movie mysteries expertly crafted and acted. Wow. Favourite
Character: Watson (Martin Freeman), the only friend Best Episode of
2012: A Scandal in Belgravia (S02E01) Sherlock is entranced with
the brilliant Irene Adler who has some scandalous photographs and links to an
international terrorist plot.
9. THE NEWSROOM (HBO) Why:It’s an Aaron Sorkin show. That should be enough. Favourite
Character: Charlie (Sam Waterston), the tipsy boss Best Episode of
2012: Bullies (S01E06) Sloan makes a costly error
when translating the Japanese response to a nuclear crisis. Will sees a
therapist after bullying a candidate live on-air.
10. PARENTHOOD (NBC) Why:It’s an emotionally powerful series that is well
written Favourite
Character: Crosby (Dax Shepard), the goof-off with heart Best Episode of
2012: I’ll Be Right Here (S04E06) Max has to give his class
president speech on the same day as Kristina’s surgery. Sarah moves in with
Mark. Ryan asks out Amber. Crosby tries praying.
MY TOP FIVE YOUTUBE CLIPS OF 2012
1. SCS SECONDARY STAFF – CALL ME MAYBE Why: Well,
first off, I made the video so this could not be more biased. Our school staff
did our own version of Carly Rae Jepsen’s explosive single (using the Justin
Beiber tribute video as inspiration). Lots of fun was had.
2. DUMB WAYS TO DIE Why: The
happiness of these incredibly stupid cartoons makes me smile. The song is quite
infectious. Imagine dying from listening to the song? I like that this is
merely a train safety commercial.
3. EPIC TEA TIME WITH ALAN RICKMAN Why: I have
loved Alan Rickman ever since Die Hard. He is so dramatic in this slow-motion
clip. You have to wait until the 3:50 mark for real drama to begin.
4. FEEL INSIDE (AND STUFF LIKE THAT) Why: I have
missed the antics of Flight of the Conchords. The Murray stuff is good but the
real highlight is watching them interview the kids for lyrics and then using
them. I also love the unsolicited Muppets praise.
5. OK GO – NEEDING/GETTING Why: I love
the videos from this band. While this one is not as good as ‘Here It Goes
Again’ (treadmill dance) or ‘This Too Shall Pass’ (rube goldberg machine), it
is pretty interesting using a car and track to make music. Watch the making of
as well.
RATING:
PG-13 for suggestive material and violence RUNTIME: 2 hours and 57 minutes
STARRING:
Hugh Jackman (X-Men, The Prestige,
Australia)
Russell
Crowe (Galdiator) Eddie Redmayne(My
Week with Marilyn)
DIRECTOR:
Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech, John Adams)
WRITER:
William Nicholson (Gladiator, Elizabeth:
The Golden Age)
PLOT:
Jean Valjean, flees from the law and ends up a changed man who helps raise an
orphaned child during a 19th Century French student uprising.
FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1
Some of the performances in this musical are simple riveting. Anne Hathaway
will definitely get her Oscar thanks to her impassioned role as Fantine. Her ‘I
Dreamed a Dream’ is the best I have ever heard and I’ve heard the Broadway
recording and seen the stage production four times. Jackman also brings it as
Jean Valjean and newcomer Samantha Barks plays a very touching Eponine. Stellar
acting and singing all around.
2
The film has some advantages over the stage productions especially allowing the
actors to whisper lines and allowing the audience to see clear facial
expressions with all the close-ups. However, there is something about a bunch
of people on stage belting out ‘One Day More’ that just can’t be touched on
screen.
3I enjoyed
Russell Crowes acting and even singing as Javert (one of my favourite
characters on stage) but I just didn’t find him emoting much during the songs
which was disappointing. It looked like he was more concerned with getting the
right notes than showing the conflicting emotions of the inspector.
4Another
film advantage is making full use of the setting and creating vivid and large
sets for the actors to play on. Truly epic in scope.
5
Loved the Thenardiers (Sacha Baron Cohen & Helena Bonham Carter). As usual,
they are the much needed comic relief in a film so full of pain and heartbreak.
I loved how Thenardier kept mispronouncing Cosette’s name. Fun stuff.
