Studio 60 Is Back!

Sorry I haven’t updated lately. Been crazy busy. Just heard today that Studio 60 is returning Thursday, May 24 at 10:00pm. They still have six episodes to go, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Don’t know if it’ll be back next year, but the fact that NBC is putting the show on the day after sweeps is over is not a good sign. We’ll know the true fate of Studio 60 and other shows like Veronica Mars in a couple of weeks. The networks have their "upfronts" for the advertisers where we’ll see who is returning, who’s getting the axe and who’s new next fall. The batting order goes: NBC (May 14), ABC (May 15), CBS (May 16) and FOX & CW (May 17). Keepin’ my fingers crossed. (They’re sure gonna hurt in two weeks.) Gotta go.

Calm Before the TV Storm

So I was going to write a big review of Blades of Glory but there really wasn’t that much to say. It was funny. I laughed a lot. It was nice and short like a good comedy should be. Will Ferrell’s Chazz Michael Michaels is basically Ron Burgundy on ice with bigger hair. This movie is not clever but it’s still a great idea. There’s ultra fake dance moves, disturbing costumes and a fantastic chase scene. Jon Heder, Will Arnett and Amy Poehler were fun to watch; and I loved seeing Jenna Fischer outside The Office. If you like dumb comedy, you’ll enjoy this movie.

Now onto television. We are mere weeks away from the final installments of new episodes from some of the most addicting series on TV. As May sweeps approaches, each show will pull out all the stops to end strong and keep us wanting more. Here’s my two cents on what’s currently on:








Lost: If you’ve seen the last three episodes, I’m sure you will agree with me that Lost is back on track. Sure the season started off with a weak six episode arc that didn’t excite its audience but since they’ve come back, they have been near perfect. Desmond’s powers, the meteor accident, the ping pong game, the disturbing burial and the revelation of Locke’s wheelchair causing accident are just a few of the wonderful scenes that Lost has blessed us with the season. For those just sittin’ around waiting for the DVD, you have missed out on some of the best hours of television. Hope the surprises aren’t ruined before you get there.







24: Wow, I’m bored. Many think last year’s season with surprising deaths and an evil president was its best, but I’m still convinced season four with Behrooz was it’s breakout season. It was the first year they didn’t depend on the return of Sherry Palmer or Nina and they managed to wrap up situations that would normally take five episodes in twenty minutes. This season started off strong but has been watered down week after week. Thank goodness there’s five bombs so we can take the entire season to get them all. Milo and Nadia’s CTU romance doesn’t hold a candle Tony and Michelle. The White House betrayals are nothing compared to Mike’s usurping of power. And Wayne Palmer ain’t doing it for me (and I’m a fan of DB Woodside). His sudden reversal at the end of this week’s episode was utterly ludicrous. The wheels are falling off. Maybe they’re introducing Ricky Schroeder to take over Keifer Sutherland’s job if he should perish this season. Now, that’s a surprise that would wake me up.







Prison Break: Well the season is over and so is the manhunt. Next season they’re in a new prison. I’m hoping that Lincoln and Sarah are as smart as Michael when it comes to a prison break. I didn’t mind seeing the man hunt this season, even if they did thin out the herd. At least they kept T-Bag who continues to creep me out. The producers of this show intended to end the series after two seasons but of course money changed their mind. Here’s hoping they keep things as tight as the first season and as emotional as the second.







House: I used to scold this show for adhering to the same formula week after week. They usually think they solve the problem by 9:35pm and then have 25 more minutes to get inspiration from a seemingly meaningless clinic call or conversation. And while this show still falls into the same pattern, they have elevated the drama of medical shows. The story arc involving House and the vengeful policeman was compelling television. The relationships between Chase & Cameron and the growing chemistry between House & Cuddy have been a treat this season. If you haven’t seen this show before, you’re missing out. And each episode is self-contained so you don’t need to know the whole backstory to enjoy it.







Amazing Race: It’s the only reality show I still watch. Unfortunately this has not been their best season. When they announced the all-star teams, I was shocked that the hippies and the clowns were not competing, but the lame Kentucky coal miner and his wife were. I’m also sad that Rob and Amber were defeated and by the annoying Mirna and Charla no less. What amazes me this season is how far certain teams are ahead. Although, it seems like the producers have stepped in and rigged the show again. (You may remember the holding of the plane so at least two teams would compete for the finish line a couple of seasons ago.) This year when Mirna and Charla were more that a full day ahead of everyone else, they were suddenly held at bay when a boat couldn’t cross the water because of ‘bad weather’, thereby reducing their lead by almost 14 hours! C’mon, they were rafting the last teams at 11 at night. Anyway, I’ll watch to end since I’m committed already, but I don’t really care who wins as long as it’s not Mirna and Charla.







Dexter: Okay, this show isn’t on TV right now but you can certainly download it somewhere. This 12 episode season starring Michael C Hall of Six Feet Under fame was certainly a fun ride. Hall plays Dexter, a FBI blood splatter analyst who happens to commit grizzly murders in his free time. Granted, he only murders bad people. This new crime series has the darkest of dark humour and Hall is amazing as the calculating serial killer who is trying to mask his lust for blood by interacting ‘normally’ with other people. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast looks weak compared to Hall, but there has been improvement over the season. Well maybe not for Erik King’s Srgt. Doakes who is a caricature of the angry black cop. He just yells a lot. Fortunately, the stories are so wonderfully told that I can often excuse the acting. The season-long arc of The Ice Cream Truck Killer is captivating as a serial killer tries to impress and draw out the evil nature of Dexter. Also, for you Angel fans, Dexter’s girlfriend is played by the lovely Julie Benz (Darla). It’s a fun show but if blood makes you queasy, you definitely want to stay away.

Okay, so maybe that was more than two cents. At the end of the TV season, I’ll wrap up the other shows that are currently awaiting the release of their final batch of episodes. Can I just say that I can’t wait for the return of Entourage, Heroes and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Once June rolls around, I’ll be revealing my Top 10 episodes from various television shows including Buffy, Angel, Alias, X-Files, West Wing and more. Stay tuned.

The Movie Onslaught, Part IV

I’m glad I have this blog so that I don’t have to keep repeating myself when it comes to describing what I thought about a movie. Oh wait, I do keep repeating myself. Maybe it’s because I don’t update this blog nearly enough, or maybe I just can’t contain myself when it comes to a movie like 300. In any case, here are the movies I have been watching lately. Let another onslaught begin.

I don’t always understand the Rotten Tomatoes rating. It usually helps to distinguish the great films from the crap but sometimes I find myself wondering what the critics were thinking. I guess they sometimes are looking for different things than I am. Case in point: 300. Rotten Tomatoes gave it 62%, I don’t know what they were expecting. Just watching the trailer, I was convinced that this film would rock even with a terrible storyline and weak acting. I was actually surprised how simple and enjoyable the plot was despite the constant carnage. The choreography of the fight sequences and the stylized cinematography were truly stunning. Some critics say they could have simply watched the trailer, but then they’d miss out on some great scenes like the one involving philosophy while eating an apple. If you think this movie will be like Brad Pitt’s clunker, Troy, you are greatly mistaken. In my opinion, 300 is a mixture of Sin City’s graphic images, Gladiator’s wheat scenes, and Lord of the Rings epic battle sequences (Maybe it’s also ‘cuz Faromir is in it). And a mixture of those three films is not too shabby. Sure there are some gratuitous sex scenes and loads of blood-thirsty violence but what else would you expect from mythology and the mind of Frank Miller? This is definitely one to watch in the theatre. (Imax may be a bit much) My only worry with the success of 300 is that studios will now steal any and all graphic novels and start an adapting frenzy that will take the magic away from the art form. Hey, you can’t just do any old story, THIS IS SPARTA!

I’m a big fan of Jim Carrey, I make no apologies for it. I have been enjoying his work since the first Fire Marshall Bill on In Living Color. He stars in one of my favourite comedies of all time (Liar, Liar) and I have enjoyed his desire to not only stretch his face but also his acting ability. His work in Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind was outstanding, as was his turns in The Truman Show and Man on the Moon. How he has been denied Oscar nominations is beyond me. I even liked him in The Majestic. So when I heard he was playing an obsessed psycho in The Number 23, I was intrigued. Rotten Tomatoes was not, they gave it 8% (From Justin to Kelly got 9%!). But to enjoy a film, you need to get past the actor and look at the story, the characters, the way the camera moves. And while I was skeptical of the direction of Joel “Batman-killer” Schumacher, I found this film entertaining. The interpretations of the novel was well shot and Carrey does a creepy manic job near the end of the film. Sure there are some strange devices like the sudden obsession of the son and the unexplained saxophone, but on the whole, I found the plot moved along at a nice pace and ahd some great moments. It’s not a great film but definitely worth more than an 8% rating. Rent The Number 23 on video and see what I mean; Unless of course you hate Jim Carey and are watching it with your back already up.

I was shocked when Germany’s The Lives of Others beat out Pan’s Labyrinth for Best Foreign Film at this year’s Oscars. Granted, I never saw the winning film but I can’t imagine it was shot better than Guillermo Del Toro’s masterpiece. The art direction of Ofelia’s dream world is truly magnificent; the creatures are imaginative and creepy, the dual plot is captivating. I actually found myself feeling for the character of Ofelia which a testament to the beautiful acting from Ivana Baquero. And while this film is full of fantasy elements, this is definitely not a story for youngsters. There are some brutal scenes in Pan’s Labyrinth as well as moments of heart-breaking drama. I was surprised at the ending but I found it perfectly justified. If you can get past the subtitles and some truly uncomfortable torture sequences, I highly recommend Pan’s Labyrinth. Del Toro’s work (like his previous film, Hellboy) is not for everyone, but those who like it, like it a lot.

I have to admit that I was really tired when I went to see Breach. Probably not a good idea since the action is subtly suspenseful not explosive. As you may have guessed, Chris Cooper (Adaptation, Jarhead, American Beauty) is amazing yet again. His portrayal of real-life traitor Richard Hanssen is compelling to say the least. His relationship with Ryan Phillippe’s Eric O’Neil is at times father-like, while at other times, deeply suspicious. While I felt the plot dragged at times, there were some heart-pounding scenes involving bag pockets and a traffic jam. The supporting cast of Laura Linney, Gary Cole and Dennis “President Palmer” Haysbert are well executed as expected. Although I did find Haysbert a little too calm at times. In regards to the plot, I felt the sexual indiscretions seemed tacked on to the spy story but I guess it’s based on true events. Breach was a fine film. Nothing special in my opinion but I know others who loved it a lot. So maybe I was just too tired to appreciate it fully.

I’m not that big on documentaries. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because of the film quality, maybe it’s because of the director’s bias. I’m not sure. I do appreciate the editing of documentaries; how they put the perfect clips back to back or find that great song that perfectly describes the moment. Say what you will about the bias of Fahrenheit 9/11, but the use of The Greatest American Hero theme song was brilliant. I think what always surprises me about documentaries is how much it draws me in enough to care. I saw Wordplay recently and found myself rooting for some of the players. Wordplay looks at the making and solving of the New York Times crossword puzzles. You get to see the rules and how a crossword puzzle is made. You get to see why Jon Stewart and Bill Clinton are fans. And you are treated to a no-holds barred crossword tournament, where contestants are solving an entire puzzle in under two minutes. All in all, Wordplay is an enjoyable documentary that may not challenge you, but is sure fun to watch.

Phew. Now I'm caught up.

Zodiac

I’m a big, big fan of David Fincher. Loved Seven, adored Fight Club, enjoyed Panic Room and even tolerated Alien 3. I find that Fincher has the ability to keep you glued to the screen whether it be through creative camera moves, dark humour or compelling characters. Fincher pulls this off again with Zodiac.

Recently, I’ve been teaching cinematography to my media class so my eye has been sharply focused on the way film is shot. While Fight Club is still the benchmark of trippy camera moves in a Fincher film, Zodiac has some sweet shots like following cars around the city of San Francisco. There is also an awesome time sequence that incorporates newspaper articles, handwriting and visuals that is reminiscent of Stranger Than Fiction’s math equations or Fincher’s own Ikea shots in Fight Club.

The Zodiac story is based on true events. The story jumps from decade to decade starting in 1969 and ending in 1991. There aren’t too many embellishments to the story, Fincher has tried to retrace all the evidence of this unsolved case, even filming at a couple of the crime scenes. This is not the first re-telling of the story though, there are many Zodiac films in circulation today, ones even as recent as 2005 and 2006. A story about a serial killer is nothing new to Fincher, but don’t go in expecting Seven. There is a lot more talking in this film. But even so, I found the case to be fascinating and it did help that some humour was thrown into the mix. A friend of mine has complained about David Fincher movies, saying that Fincher always ends his film with zero hope and a bullet to the head. Because the Zodiac case is still unresolved, there may be little hope but at least there is no violent conclusion. In fact, with a movie about a serial killer, there is not that much violence on the screen. There are a couple gruesome scenes but it’s not a constant killing spree.

The actors in Zodiac all give fine performances. I even liked Jake Gyllenhaal, an actor I get sick of pretty easily. He usually reminds me a depressed-looking Tobey MacGuire, but he actually does well in this film as a cartoonist obsessed with finding the true identity of the Zodiac killer. Robert Downey Jr. is his usual vice-ridden self and Mark Ruffalo does great as the lead cop with a bad bowtie. It was also nice to Anthony Edwards (ER, Top Gun) back on the screen as Ruffalo’s partner. Of course, Fincher has his token female character, this time played by the lovely Chloe Sevigny. There are also some great character actors popping up on the screen. I don’t find that anyone truly outshines the others, but it’s still a great cast to watch.

It’s been five years since Panic Room. Fincher was supposed to direct Mission Impossible III early on but backed out. It’s nice to see this meticulous director return with something substantial. His next one is with Brad Pitt growing younger and younger. I can’t wait to see it; and you shouldn’t wait to see Zodiac. It’s a little long and talk-heavy but I’m sure it will still appease all the David Fincher fans out there.

My Oscar Predictions

Time for the fearless Oscar predictions. This year the acting categories seem like a slam dunk while the rest of the awards are so varied it’s almost impossible to pick clear winners. Usually you can look at the film with most nominations and plan accordingly, but this year Dreamgirls may have a bunch of noms (thanks to three songs) but no chance at Best Picture. I assume you know the nominees already, so I’ll just predict who I think will win. (Remember, it’s not who I necessarily want to win, but who I think the Academy will vote for) Here goes from smaller awards to the bigger ones.

Live Action Short Film: West Bank Story
(West Side Story with competing fast food chains. Sounds fun.)
Animated Short Film: Lifted
(Made by some guy who keeps winning this award. Why not again?)
Documentary Short: Recycled Life
(The Academy wants to appear environmentally friendly.)
Sound Editing: Flags of Our Fathers
(War movies are difficult to mix sound for.)
Sound Mixing: Dreamgirls
(They manage to make Eddie Murphy sound even more fantastic than real life.)
Original Score: Babel
(Gotta give it some awards.)
Original Song: “Love You I Do” (Dreamgirls)
(You know it’s gonna be a Dreamgirls song, let’s go with this one.)
Visual Effects: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
(Davy Jones tentacles. Need I say more?)
Make Up: Pan’s Labyrinth
(Creature with eyes on his hands, a disfigured general and a faun. C’mon.)
Costume Design: Curse of the Golden Flower
(Period pieces usually win. It seems more elaborate than Dreamgirls.)
Art Direction: Pan’s Labyrinth
(Something dream like should take the statue.)
Film Editing: Babel
(I think United 93 should win something but it’ll probably go to this one.)
Cinematography: Pan’s Labyrinth
(I do like Children of Men’s chances, but I think they’ll go back to Pan.)
Documentary Feature: An Inconvenient Truth
(It made a lot of money, and the Academy may want to support Al Gore)
Animated Feature: Cars
(Actually a difficult category this year but I don’t think Pixar will lose)
Foreign Language Film: Pan’s Labyrinth
(The Lives of Others is supposed to be good, but it’s all Pan.)
Adapted Screenplay: The Departed
(It’d be funny if Borat won but The Departed was pretty sharp.)
Original Screenplay: Little Miss Sunshine
(It’s a runaway hit, especially now that it’s on dvd. It’s bound to win something.)
Best Director: Martin Scorsese (The Departed)
(He’s bound to win it now. Unless the Academy enjoys being mean.)
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls)
(Let’s reward the American Idol girl. It’ll make a fun story.)
Best Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine)
(There’s always an upset! Eddie Murphy is favoured but people love grandpa.)
Best Actress: Helen Mirren (The Queen)
(My most confident prediction. I will be dumfounded if she loses this one.)
Best Actor: Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland)
(Another almost sure thing. He’s been winning everything lately.)
Picture: Babel
(Little Miss Sunshine may provide the big upset this year. I would be overjoyed that a comedy gets some long overdue attention, but I think Babel is the type of film that the Academy would usually go for. And while I love The Departed, it seems too gritty for the majority of the Academy voter’s taste.)

So let’s see how I do on Sunday. Who are you predicting? Feel free to comment and laugh if you think I’m way off.

The Movie Onslaught, Part III

I’m directing The Crucible right now and performances start next week. This is why I haven’t written lately and why this entry will be a bit shorter. Being crazy busy, I have only been able to see a couple of films so far this year, but here’s my one cents worth.

With Closer and Inside Man and now with Children of Men, I am loving the work of Clive Owen. This guy can play broken, sardonic, and romantic all at the same time without breaking a sweat. The rest of the cast is peppered with equally brilliant actors: Michael Caine, Julianne Moore and Serenity’s Chiwetel Ejiofor (try pronouncing that name). The plot of Children of Men is both moving and action-packed under the careful direction of Alfonso Cuaron (Y tu mama tambien, Harry Potter 3). I found the contrast between the respect and the disdain for human life compelling. This was a wonderful start to the new year, and I highly recommend this film to all. I think it’ll also get you talking long after the credits roll.

Okay, so Brick came out over a year ago, got lost in the theatre, and is now on dvd. I am glad someone reminded me to watch it. This film did an amazing job of capturing film noir in a present-day school setting. The filming was fun and quirky, the dialogue was over-the-top but fitting and the acting coming from Joseph Gordon-Levitt was pitch-perfect. Who would of thought this Third Rock from the Sun boy could actually act? Watching the film I was reminded of Gus Van Sant’s Elephant with all its walking and waiting filled with teen angst. I think this film is perfect for those interested in studying film, the budget is very modest and it tells a compelling story while paying homage to a specific film genre. My only recommendation is to watch the film with the English subtitles turned on so that you can catch the playful banter the first time around.

I wasn’t going to go see The Queen at first. Not a big fan of the royal family, British parliament or even Princess Di for that matter. I heard the raves about Helen Mirren (how could you not?) but didn’t feel like seeing a boring film with a great performance. I was wrong. I found myself intrigued with the story behind the dealing with Princess Diana’s death. And while I was captivated by Helen Mirren’s amazing performance, I was equally mesmerized by Michael Sheen’s portrayal of Tony Blair. It actually made me annoyed that Sheen wasn’t nominated for an Oscar, as he clearly holds his own in scenes with Mirren. Despite the slow pacing, the story itself is well told and surprisingly fair and balanced. It was a good film, not a great film, not worthy of a Best Picture nomination but definitely worth the performances.

Oscars are coming up, so I’ll have my predictions next week. Then I’ll write some stuff about the television season including the return of Lost, the addictiveness of House, the brilliance of Heroes, the danger of Studio 60 and the lure of an amazing show called Dexter.

My Oscar Nomination Predictions

So I was pretty bored with The Golden Globe Awards this past week. I was happy to see Eddie Murphy and Sacha Baron Cohen win some stuff, but I didn’t like Ugly Betty stealing the television comedy award from The Office. The acceptance speeches were pretty lackluster, except for Borat and Hugh Laurie. But who really cares about The Golden Globes, they are only voted by the Hollywood Foreign Press; it’s the Emmys and the Oscars that raise the bar. And speaking of Oscars, the nominations will be coming out on Tuesday morning. I thought I would try my luck and predict who will be nominated by the academy this year. Bear in mind that these are not all the ones I want in the race but what I think Hollywood will do. I have added my own single submission for consideration, but it’s a little late for that.
Here they are:

My Brave Oscar Nomination Predictions

Best Picture
Babel, The Departed, Dreamgirls, Little Miss Sunshine, Pan’s Labyrinth
For Your Consideration: Thank You For Smoking

Best Actor
Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Departed), Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson), Peter O’Toole (Venus), Forrest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland)
For Your Consideration: Aaron Eckhart (Thank You for Smoking)

Best Actress
Penelope Cruz (Volver), Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandal), Helen Mirren (The Queen), Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada), Kate Winslet (Little Children)
For Your Consideration: Maggie Gyllenhaal (Sherrybaby)

Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine), Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond), Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls), Jack Nicholson (The Departed), Brad Pitt (Babel)
For Your Consideration: Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine)

Best Supporting Actress
Adriana Barrazati (Babel), Cate Blanchett (Notes on a Scandal), Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine), Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls), Rinko Kikuchi (Babel)
For Your Consideration: Catherine O’Hara (For Your Consideration)

Best Director
Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth), Clint Eastwood (Letters from Iwo Jima), Paul Greengrass (United 93), Alejandro Gonzalaz Inarritu (Babel), Martin Scorsese (The Departed)
For Your Conisderation: Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking)

Best Foreign Film
Apocalypto, Letters from Iwo Jima, The Lives of Others, Pan’s Labyrinth, Volver
For Your Consideration: ?

Best Animated Feature Film
Cars, Monster House, A Scanner Darkly
For Your Consideration: Ice Age: The Meltdown

Best Song
A Father’s Way (The Pursuit of Happyness), Listen (Dreamgirls), Never Gonna Break My Faith (Bobby), A Song of the Heart (Happy Feet), Try Not Remember (Home of the Brave)
For Your Consideration: O Kazakhstan (Borat)

Best Musical Score
Apocalytpto, Babel, Blood Diamond, The Fountain, The Painted Veil
For Your Consideration: Little Miss Sunshine

Best Original Screenplay
Babel, Little Miss Sunshine, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Queen, Stranger Than Fiction
For Your Consideration: Brick

Best Adapted Screenplay
Children of Men, The Departed, Little Children, Notes on a Scandal, Thank You For Smoking
For Your Consideration: Borat

Best Art Direction
Babel, The Departed, Dreamgirls, The Painted Veil, Pan’s Labyrinth
For Your Consideration: Lucky Number Slevin

Best Cinematography
Babel, The Departed, Dreamgirls, Letters from Iwo Jima, Pan’s Labyrinth
For Your Consideration: The Fountain

Best Film Editing
Babel, The Departed, Dreamgirls, The Fountain, Thank You For Smoking
For Your Consideration: Brick

Best Costume
The Devil Wears Prada, Dreamgirls, Letters from Iwo Jima, Marie Antoinette, The Painted Veil
For Your Consideration: Little Miss Sunshine

Best Make Up
The Devil Wears Prada, Dreamgirls, The Fountain, Marie Antoinette, Pan’s Labyrinth
For Your Consideration: Little Miss Sunshine

Best Sound
The Departed, Dreamgirls, Poseidon, Superman Returns, United 93
Four Your Conisderation: Stranger Than Fiction

Best Sound Editing
Poseidon, Superman Returns, United 93
For Your Consideration: Children of Men

Best Visual Effects
The Fountain, Pan’s Labyrinth, Superman Returns
For Your Consideration: The Prestige

I’m not going to bother with Documentaries or the Short Films because I have no idea, but I do guarentee that The Inconvenient Truth will make it into the documentary category and probably win. My next blog will most likely be focusing on the some of the recent films and shows I have seen and wished I had put on my Top 10 of 2006 like: Children of Men, Brick and Dexter. Till next time . . .

The Movie Onslaught, Part II

Let the onslaught of movies continue. Some of these were watched after December 31st, hence them not being on my Top Ten of 2006. I hate messing with list after I finish it. Anyway, here are the next mini-reviews.

I had a hard time sitting through Blood Diamond. It was not because of the running time at 2 hours and 22 minutes. At first I was annoyed at the drawn-out ending until I remembered the true story being told had not been completed yet. It wasn’t because of the acting. Leonardo DiCaprio gives another powerhouse performance despite some wavering in his accent. Djimon Hounsou, commands every scene he is in and should be getting the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his efforts. I had a hard time sitting through Blood Diamond because of the subject matter. What got to me more than the diamonds funding civil wars, was the disgusting human nature that has adults and kids alike shooting innocent people. I have a hard time understanding how people can behave this way. Blood Diamond reminded me of Hotel Rwanda but this film left me with even less faith in humanity. I do think this film is important and powerful (with the exception of its bland love story) and is worth watching; just brace yourself for the depravity.

The cast of Bobby is quite impressive. It looks like writer/director Emilio Estevez called in every favor in order to create his ultimate roster. He called on a fellow Brat Packer (Demi Moore), a fellow Mighty Duck (Joshua Jackson) and even his dad (Martin Sheen) to help him with his debut. And while Estevez tried to go all Robert Altman with multiple storylines centering on the day of Robert Kennedy’s assassination at the Ambassador Hotel, he fell quite short. It became more a game of spot the actor rather than engaging us in meaningful stories. I will admit that the last ten minutes of film were well put together and it made me wish that Estevez had used that as a benchmark for the rest of his film. Surprisingly, out of all the big name actors, the one that drew me in was the ‘lowly’ Latino busboy, played by Freddy Rodriguez (Six Feet Under, Poseidon). Go figure.

Watching Babel, I was reminded of Alejandro Inarritu’s previous effort, 21 Grams, and Steven Soderbergh’s Traffic, and that’s not bad company to be in. I found the four interwoven stories to be interesting, powerful and aggravating all at the same time. Brad Pitt gave another wonderful performance but the stand-out acting comes from three of the foreign actors. Adriana Barraza, as the Mexican maid, and Boubker Ait El Caid, as a sharp-shooting Moroccan boy, perfectly evoke sympathy with their commitment to family and frustration in their careless actions. Ultimately, it’s Rinko Kikuchi who steals the show with her powerful acting without saying a word as a rebellious, promiscuous deaf girl. The story is nicely paced with scenes jumping from one to another at appropriate times (The Fountain should have taken notes). Inarritu also tells his compelling story with some beautiful images including a nicely edited club sequence shown through a deaf girl’s eyes. I highly recommend renting this one on DVD and experiencing it for yourself.

Steven Soderbergh, as a director, can be very hot (Erin Brokovich, Traffic) or very cold (Solaris); his newest film, The Good German is definitely luke warm. George Clooney and Cate Blanchett give intriguing, convincing performances and smaller roles given to Leland Orser as a despicable cop and Robin Weigert as a saucy whore are both done with flair. However, Tobey Maguire as a tough, underhanded driver is poorly miscast. He’s too boyish to be believable; the role should have gone to someone like Barry Pepper or Scott Caan. Soderbergh’s story about post-war secrets and defections tries to go for the classic film noir feel but falls miserable short. A good noir film needs dark shadows and gritty images, not bland black & white drivel. The establishing shots look like documentary footage instead of the genre-defining water-soaked sidewalks lit by street lamps. And many of the actors find their faces getting bleached instead of darkened. Granted, Soderbergh does a beautiful homage to Casablanca (hence the poster) in its closing scene, but ‘the big revelation’ payoff is highly disappointing. So while there may be some nice performances in The Good German, I would away from this like a big steaming bowl of sauerkraut.

I might still do a Movie Onslaught, Part III featuring Flags of our Fathers, Letters From Iwo Jima, and For Your Consideration, but I'm having a hard time finding these film in theatres.

2007 Movie Preview

Wanna know what’s coming out this year? Did some research and came up with a list of 25 films that I’m interested in seeing in 2007. My quick opinions are based solely on trailers, plot descriptions and director/actor pedigree. (All dates are tentative, especially the later ones).

1. Smokin’ Aces (Jan 26) – Looks like Slevin but more action-packed.
2. The Number 23 (Feb 23) – Jim Carrey looks creepy, hope it works
3. Zodiac (Mar 2) – Love David Fincher’s work, dark as it may be
4. 300 (Mar 9) – The trailer alone is worth ten bucks. You gotta see it!
5. Fast Track (Mar 9) – Zach Braff & Jason Bateman? I’m there!
6. Blades of Glory (Mar 30) – Will Ferrell & Jon Heder are figure skaters, ‘Nuff said.
7. Grindhouse (Apr 6) – Tarantino & Rodriguez double feature. Wowsers!
8. The TV Set (Apr 6) – Comedy about making a TV sitcom. It was made just for me.
9. Spiderman 3 (May 4) – I don’t think they can screw this up.
10. Pirates III (May 25) – I guess I should find out what happens next.
11. Knocked Up (June 1) – The 40 Year Old Virgin team on parenthood.
12. Ocean’s 13 (June 8) – Looks fun, but I also said that about Ocean’s 12.
13. Evan Almighty (June 22) – Steve Carrell builds an ark. Should be funny.
14. Ratatouille (June 29) – I’ll give Pixar the benefit of the doubt.
15. Transformers (July 4) – Michael Bay. Expolosions. Optimus Prime.
16. Harry Potter V (July 13) – The franchise is growing on me
17. I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (July 20) It’s Alexander Payne.
18. The Simpsons Movie (July 27) – Mmmmm, full length feature.
19. Rush Hour 3 (Aug 10) – Liked the first two, bring on the third
20. Fan Boys (Aug 17) – Star Wars geeks unite! Might suck, but I’ll go anyway.
21. Bee Movie (Nov 2) –Seinfeld writes and stars in this animated movie. I’ll bee there.
22. American Gangster (Nov 2) – Ridely Scott. Denzel Washington. Russell Crowe.
23. Fred Claus (Nov 9) – Vince Vaughn as Santa’s brother. Need I say more?
24. Beowulf (Nov 16) – Let’s see what Robert Zemekis can do with the story.
25. I Am Legend (Dec 14) – Will Smith is the last human alive in this sci-fi flick.

As with previous years, I assume many independent films will end up beating most of these big-budget flicks into my 2007 top tens, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

Top Ten of 2006

It that time again for the end of the year lists. As I look back on the films and television shows I’ve watched over the last 365 days, it occurs to me that I’ve seen some pretty good stuff. I found it hard to leave certain films and shows off my list this year because a lot of them still had some great moments. I wish I could fit Blood Diamond and Talledega Nights into my best movies or Arrested Development and Entourage into my top TV picks; although, it’s not like I had sleepless nights over it. So here it is, based on what I’ve seen this year, my top ten lists.

Top Ten Films of 2006
(instead of repeating myself, just go
to the link for my longer previous posts)

1. Thank You for Smoking
“Aaron Eckhart is one slick guy. I have never smoked a cigarette in my life, but this guy could sure convince me otherwise.”
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2006/07/best-so-far.html

2. Stranger Than Fiction
“I could see myself applauding an epic or action-packed movie as fantastic but what Stranger Than Fiction is missing in panoramic battles and explosions, it makes up for with subtlety and brilliance.”
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2006/11/stranger-than-fiction.html

3. The Departed
“Apart from the fantastic acting, the cat and mouse storyline is compelling and inventive. I love how one reviewer called it Goodfellas with cell phones. Never has text messaging been so spine-tingling.”
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2006/10/departed.html

4. United 93
“Going in I thought the film would be manipulative and accusatory but was pleasantly shocked to find it was anything but.”
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2006/07/best-so-far.html

5. Borat
“Borat: Cultural Learnings of America to Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan is one of the funniest movies of the year. Even the full title makes me chuckle. As most critics will agree, Borat is like Spinal Tap mixed with Andy Kaufman and sprinkled with Jackass.”
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2006/11/borat.html

6. Little Miss Sunshine
“The travel time in the VW bus is filled with wonderful moments that are both eccentric and relatable. But the big pay-off comes at the beauty pageant where the audience is faced with images that are satirical, hysterical and just plain creepy.”
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2006/08/little-miss-sunshine.html

7. Apocalypto
“Apocalypto features one of the best chase sequences I have ever seen. Of course, with Mel Gibson comes brutal torture scenes and extreme violence. It’s not for the squeamish.”
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2006/12/movie-onslaught-part-i_26.html

8. Mission: Impossible III
“I found M:I III to be what an episode of Alias would be like, if Abrams had an unlimited budget.”
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2006/07/mission-impossible-iii.html

9. Lucky Number Slevin
“Talk about slick. A fun story told from various perspectives and played by actors who are clearly having a fun time engaging in the punchy dialogue.”
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2006/07/best-so-far.html

10. V for Vendetta
“V was very stylish and well done but I was hoping for a bit more humour and a better ending than the one ruined by advertisements for the movie.”
http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2006/07/best-so-far.html

Top Ten Television Shows of 2006

1. Lost
I know people feel frustrated that this show doesn’t answer all your questions, but to me, that’s what makes the series so engrossing. The hatch, the numbers, the wheelchair, the black smoke, the toes; I can’t wait to see what they’ll reveal next. And the opening minutes of season three? You can’t get better than that. We’ll have to see what unfolds this February.

2. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
So good I sometimes watch it three times a week. This show was made for me. The punchy dialogue, the clever stories, the behind-the-scenes politics, and the brilliant ensemble acting headed by Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford make this show a gem. Thank you Aaron Sorkin.

3. Heroes
I love how every episode ends with a “To Be Continued”; this beautifully shot and scripted comic book series is a never-ending story that keeps you guessing and enthralled. With clever marketing slogans like “Save the Cheerleader, Save the World” and “Are you on the list?” this smart show manages to bring in new viewers every week. It’s also nice to see another large diverse cast on television.

4. The Office
This show brings tears to my eyes. The side-splitting awkward moments created by this stellar cast are a joy to watch week after week. Steve Carrell continues to shine and even gets to play more now that Daily Show alum Ed Helms has joined the cast as a thorn in Dwight’s side. The way the writers have handled not only Jim & Pam’s storyline, but also the influx of new characters, is nothing short or extraordinary.

5. Scrubs
After six years, this show still manages to be inventive and touching at the same time. A fun cast with sharp comedic timing and even sharper physical comedy is all you need for a sitcom to work, but Bill Lawrence gives us even more each week. I can even forgive John C. McGinley's awful hair this season, the comedy is just that good.

6. Veronica Mars
This show has done a wonderful job easing those who were addicted to Joss Whedon’s Buffy universe. This smartly written multiple mystery show continues to inject a nice dose of sass into my viewing schedule. While season two was mildly confusing despite its great pay-off, this season’s mini-mysteries have kept me in the loop and kept my brain working overtime on Tuesday nights.

7. 24
While I admit that I liked season four of the Jack Bauer action series better, season five was definitely no slouch. It was a well-mapped season that elicited many different emotions. President Logan made me cringe, Edgar brought a tear to my eye. I’m looking forward to the next season and seeing who Jack will torture next.

8. How I Met Your Mother
This show is legendary! The entertaining relationship stories are intricately woven by a fun relatable group of characters. And while Neil Patrick Harris suits up and steals the show, the other cast members are still given inventive situations to get big laughs. Robin’s cheesy Canadain eighties music video still makes me giggle.

9. Prison Break
It’s not as fun now that they are on the outside, but I am still intrigued about where this show is headed. As allegiances switch and people are gunned down, every week brings a new wrinkle to the plot that keeps me watching.

10. The Colbert Report
The Daily Show is funny, but Steven Colbert is hysterical as a vain, snobbish pundit who delivers his side of the news each night. Colbert’s reaction to his snubbing at the Emmy awards is all the proof you need. Even his roasting of Bush (in character) at a presidential dinner was considered one of the eight great moment this year according to the American Film Institute.

So there you go; my top ten of 2006. Feel free to tell me yours in the comment section. I would love to read them (and mock them).

My Favourite Films Of All Time

I always get asked what my favourite movie is. I usually respond by asking them to pick a genre and then I’ll give a couple of my favourites. I mean, to compare the comedic genius of Airplane! to the visual wizardy of The Matrix or the masterful storytelling of Pulp Fiction is simply ludicrous. So for my blog (and Joel), I thought I would give a gigantic list of my favourite films. These are films I feel everyone should see at some point in their life. You’ll probably disagree with some, but that’s what makes lists so fun. I chose to use the criteria of films of the last 25 years, as I have not seen every film ever made (surprising but true). I have also excluded films from 2006 (you can see those favourites in the new year). So, I have picked five of my favourites (in alphabetical order) for each genre and then list the other fifteen I feel are also deserving. A couple of genres have less than twenty because I may not have seen that many of that particular film genre. So let the lists begin.

Comedies

To get in this list, the movie needs wall-to-wall comedy with memorable lines and unexpected laughs.
Airplane! There wouldn't be The Naked Gun without this non-stop laughfest. From unsusal drinking problems to jive talking grandmas, it doesn't get much better than this.
Liar Liar By far, the best Jim Carrey movie that showcases his rubbery-face talents. Also the concept of this movie is sheer genius. "The pen is blue!"
Monty Python & the Holy Grail I usually pick this one as the funniest movie of all time. Killer bunnies, the Camelot model, the eating of the minstril. This one has it all.
Office Space Mike Judge nails office protocol and TGIFridays and its flair. Michael Bolton and the fax machine is priceless.
So I Married an Axe Murderer Austin Powers is funny but Mike Myers really shines here. His Scottish dad is 10 times better than Fat Bastard. "Someone needs a hug"

The Rest: Anchorman; Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery; The Birdcage; Dodgeball; Clueless; Ferris Beuller's Day Off; Groundhog Day; Happy Gilmore; Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle; Hot Shots; I Heart Huckabees; Old School; Team America; Tommy Boy; Zoolander

Dramas

A great drama needs a compelling script with fantastic acting but it also needs visual images that draw you in.
American Beauty The imagery is magnificent in this film. The colours are vibrant. Kevin Spacey's performance is masterful. It has some difficult parts to get through, but the payoff is so worth it.
A Few Good Men Aaron Sorkin writing at its best. I can watch this film over and over again. The Jack Nicholson speech is picture perfect but Tom Cruise is no slouch with his cross-examinations. I'm a sucker for courtroom dramas.
Fight Club I was hooked at the Ikea catalogue scene. Brilliant narration by Edward Norton and violent lunacy from Brad Pitt make this David Fincher film a must see. Pitt's spill on the bike during the "I am Jack's colon" scene still makes me laugh.
Pulp Fiction Nothing quite like hitmen discussing bacon and foot massages. Tarantino's punchy script is fantastic, not to mention the stellar performances by Sam Jackson, John Travolta and Bruce Willis.
The Usual Suspects I often call this my favourite film of all time (if a gun is pointed at my head). The brilliant cinematography, sound editing, screenplay, twists and Kevin Spacey make this film a study in film excellence.

The Rest: Crash; Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind; Fargo; Forrest Gump; Garden State; Jerry Maguire; Memento; Moulin Rouge; Resevoir Dogs; Road to Perdition; Rushmore; Shawshank Redemption; Sin City; The Sixth Sense; Titanic

Action

I always need a small mix of humour with my stuff blowing up. It's also all about the villains, baby!
Batman Begins The best superhero movie ever! Just take a look at the cast list. The acting pedigree alone is worth it, but Christopher Nolan weaves a wonderful story as well.
Die Hard The grand-daddy of action films in confined spaces. Alan Ruckman is phenomenal, the jump off the roof with the fire hose is amazing, and Bruce Willis is not bad either. "Yipie-kay-ya!"
Face/Off This is where John Woo shines. Mexican standoffs in a church surrounded by doves in slow-motion, does it get better than that. Forget the realism, enjoy the art.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Indy is great on his own but Sean Connery kicks it up a notch. Fun story with more humour than the previous movies. I also love the orgins of the hat, whip and name.
The Rock This Michael Bay flick is just plain fun. Sean Connery swearing like a sailor with Nicholas Cage nebbishly freaking out is an enjoyable combination. Ed Harris also shines as a wonderfully 'moral' bad guy.

The Rest: Bad Boys; Beverly Hills Cop; Enemy of the State; The Fugitive; In the The Line of Fire; The Italian Job; The Last Castle; The Mummy; Pirates of the Caribbean; Rush Hour; Saving Private Ryan; Snatch; Speed; Spiderman; Spy Game

Sci-Fi/Fantasy

This could be considered cheating, but sci-fi/fantasy is in a totally different realm than action. Suspend that disbelief people.
Back to the Future, Part II Don’t get me wrong, I like the original but this film had Marty in four different time periods. Loved the future and Marty trying to avoid himself.
The Empire Strikes Back I’d pick this one over the others mostly for Han Solo and his fun interactions with Princess Leia. Also love Yoda going through Luke’s stuff.
The Fellowship of the Ring Sure there’s no Gollum (only eyes) but the sheer magnitude of the trilogy starts here. Love the group dynamics & perilous journey. "You shall not pass!"
The Matrix The special effects in this movie still blow me away. Nothing quite like bullet-time and slow motion violence to techno music. "Whoa."
Serenity Watch Joss Whedon’s Firefly series first, then buckle up for a fitting tribute. Just imagine if Han Solo was the one in charge the whole time.

The Rest: Aliens; Back to the Future; Independence Day; Jurassic Park; Men in Black; Minority Report; Return of the Jedi; Return of the King; Star Wars; Terminator 2

Horror/Thriller

These films still give me the shivers and make me jump.
American Psycho Christian Bale at his best. His creepy turn as a businessman with an appetite for murder is a little freaky and a little funny.
Dead Again A wonderfully told story told in two time periods. This film made me scared of scissors. I still get the creeps when I here, “These are for you!” Just got a shiver.
Scream I love that Wes Craven explained the genre while still creating an intriguing whodunit with an ultra-violent body count.
Seven Don’t watch this movie while eating a pizza, you’ll see why after the sin of gluttony. The ending simply rocks, especially the reveal of the killer.
What Lies Beneath The creepy music doesn’t stop! Who would have thought Harrison Ford could pull off a thriller/horror? Total Hitchcock homage

The Rest: 28 Days Later; The Game; The Ring; The Shining; Silence of the Lambs

Classics

These are the films that fit into the pre-1980 category. It's an eclectic bunch of films to say the least.
Casablanca Humphrey Bogart is the man! You can’t get much better dialogue in a movie; every line pops! It’s one of the most quoted films of all time for a reason.
The Godfather Marlon Brando steals the show which hard to do from someone as dynamic as Al Pacino. This is superb movie-making.
North by Northwest Definitely the most action-packed of the Hitchcock films. Cary Grant is both humourous and debonair, a perfect hero.
One Flew Over the Cukoo’s Nest This film will make you see why Jack Nicholson deserves all his accolades. This film gets me every time.
Some Like it Hot Jack Lemmon in drag is truly a sight to behold. Fun stuff with Marilyn Monroe to top it off. This is Billy Wilder at his best.

The Rest: Apocalypse Now; Citizen Kane; Dr. Strangelove; It’s a Wonderful Life; Jaws; The Maltese Falcon; Modern Times; Mr. Smith Goes to Washington; On the Waterfront; Psycho; Raging Bull; Rear Window; Singin’ in the Rain; To Kill a Mockingbird; The Wizard of Oz

Foreign

This is a small list because I don't see too many foreign films.
Amelie Jean-Pierre Jeunet makes magic on the screen with this French film about a waitress who tries to help people find happiness. The visuals in this film are outstanding.
Cinema Paridiso This film demonstrates the true love for the movies. I wish our movie theatres had the same impact in our communities as they do in this quaint village.
Life is Beautiful Who would have thought there could be some humour found in the Holocaust? Roberto Benigni will amaze you with his talent.
The Passion of the Christ Mel Gibson takes his audience through a painful yet visually stunning journey to the cross. Just make sure you’re in the proper mood though. This is ain't a popcorn flick.
Run Lola Run A fantastic suspense that builds on “what if” statements. We see three different stories of Lola racing the clock or people will die.

Documentary

Okay, I cheated and put a couple of mockumentaries in here too. Another small list because I don't see too many documentaries.
Bowling for Columbine Michael Moore may be a little one-sided but he sure makes it entertaining. Not a big fan of his interviews with Canadians but the Brief History of America is a riot.
Murderball This documentary about wheelchair rugby beats March of the Penguins to a pulp. Both interesting and humourous with a touch of heart as any good documentary should be.
Super Size Me What a fun time watching Morgan Spurlock destroy his body with McDonald’s food. Check out his show 30 Days for more experiments.
This is Spinal Tap This is the ultimate mockumentary! The earnestness of these three buffoons will make you split a gut laughing. I guarantee it!
Waiting for Guffman If you’ve ever done or seen crappy community theatre, this is the film for you. Also check out Parker Posey’s 'terrible' audition clip in the DVD extras.

Animated

I like my animated films tobe clever and good for adults as well as kids. Call me picky.
Aladdin I think this Disney film has the catchiest songs from One Step to Friend Like Me. Robin Williams shines but Gilbert Gottfried steals the show as Iago the parrot.
The Incredibles Brad Bird wonderfully spoofs the superhero genre and the mid-life crisis And you can’t get a more entertaining character than Edna Mode. "And guest."
The Iron Giant I was introduced to this gem a few years back. The hyper Hogarth on espresso is sight to behold. It even manages to bring a tear to my eye at the end. Classic!
The Little Mermaid You can’t help but smile when watching this film. Fun songs, great side characters, and a smokin’ hot mermaid. What more could you ask for?
Toy Story The first full Pixar film set the bar really high. I loved the nostalgia of toys like Mr. Potato Head. Clever and entertaining. A perfect mix.

The Rest: A Bug’s Life; Chicken Run; The Emperor’s New Groove; Finding Nemo; Ice Age; The Lion King; Shrek; South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut; Toy Story 2; Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Just Fun

I had a hard time finding room for these very derserving films so I decided to shove them here. Hope you don't mind.
Catch Me If You Can A superb cat and mouse film with plenty of disguises to go around. Love the fun, upbeat opening credits too.
Charlie’s Angels This film is so over-the-top you can’t help but enjoy yourself. It’s vibrant and fun with Bill Murray to boot.
Matchstick Men I love me a good con movie. The father-daughter relationship is touching, Nicholas Cage is quirky fun, the con is genius.
Ocean’s Eleven I also love a con movie with a large cast that appears to be enjoying themselves. George Clooney and Brad Pitt are amazing together.
The Princess Bride I don’t know what category to put this film in because it seems to fit in almost all of them. A fun story with dynamic characters and memorable lines that will plague your thoughts forevermore. But in a good way... I think.

So there you have it. Feel free to comment if you’re wondering why a certain movie is on or off the list. I’ll probably respond. I stand by my choices and can defend them all. If your favourite movie in not on my list, maybe I haven’t seen it or didn’t think it reached the caliber of my choices. So I challenge you to respond. Bring it on!