In Time

This week I saw “In Time”.  This is a Future Drama/Action Film.  I could fit it into the Sci-Fi/Crime genera as well – however comparing it to Blade Runner would not be fair to Blade Runner.  Let me say up front that the mainstream critics did not like the film.  Most of the criticism I’ve read says that the movie did not live up to its potential, and to some extent I agree, if could have been fantastic and it wasn’t.  That said, in my opinion, it was really good.  It was entertaining, held  my interest, was thought provoking at times, exciting at times, funny at times, and a couple of scenes even had me on the edge of my seat.  I give this half of a pizza and half of a pitcher of beer.  It is fulfilling, but you leave wanting just one more piece.

If you want some plot comparisons, I’d say this is a cross between Logan’s Run, Bonnie and Clyde, Robin Hood and the Patty Hearst Story…with a hint of the Matrix stylization thrown into the mix for good measure.

Plot Summary and Styling:
In the future, genetic alteration has developed a system where individuals stop aging 25 years after birth. Due to over-population concerns, time has replaced money as the only currency and people must acquire more time through labor and commercial means after turning 25 years of age, or die within a year.  Each social class lives in a different area called a Time Zone: The poor live in the ghettos and work, beg, gamble or steal each day to earn a few more hours of life, which they must also use to pay for everyday necessities. The rich live in the luxurious zones, and can live for centuries based on how much time they have accrued. Now there is a social commentary for you – the Rich isolated from the poor, with all the time in the world, literally.

While the film is set in a future (hopefully not the future), the style contains a whole slew of retro influences, many from the 1960’s and 1970’s. As an example, many vehicles used for the film are actually 1960s and 1970s muscle cars and limos, but heavily modified to make them look futuristic. Furthermore, a lot of buildings, both interior and exteriors, display retro influences as well. In addition, the ghetto, in which Salas was raised, was heavily influenced by hip-hop culture from the 1970s. In the wealthy Zone of New Greenwich where the Weis family lives the buildings resemble 1960s architecture that you used to see in Disney’s Tomorrowland. Here, the film's characters also wear retro-futuristic clothing

Main Characters:

Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) is from the ghetto, lives day to day – hour by hour actually, and helps support his mother.  Nice kid.  It seems Justin Timberlake is really branching out these days – he has come a long way from ripping off Janet Jackson’s top at the Super Bowl.  At first, it was hard to take him seriously in movies, but he is actually a pretty good actor, and he plays this role well.  He isn‘t going to win an Academy Award for the performance, but nobody in this film will, the medium is not critically polished enough.  Salas is given a ton of time, by a rich guy who is fed up with the system and fed up with living, but not truly living. All that time, in a place it doesn’t belong, throws off the balance of time between the rich and the poor as Salas tries to integrate and well, anymore here would be a plot spoiler.

Sylvia Weis (Amanda Seyfried) is not from the ghetto, far from it, she comes from time (get is, as opposed to coming from money – Ha, I liked that)…her father is a time mogul.  As opposed to a money lender, he is a “time lender”.   With a last name of “Weis” the director/writer is not so subtlety  beating the audience over the head with the Jewish Moneylender comparisons of old.  Anyway, Amanda Seyfried is hot in this movie, what am I saying, she is hot in everything she does…see her performance alongside Megan Fox in “Jennifer’s Body” for a point of reference if you want.  Here she plays the spoiled rich girl that wants to rebel…and rebel she does. She goes so far as shooting a “Time Keeper”.

Time Keeper Leon (Cillian Murphy) is old school, and the character reminds me of Agent Smith from the Matrix.  I did not know much about Cillian Murphy, so I looked him up.  He was “Scarecrow” in The Dark Knight, and will reprise that role in the upcoming Dark Knight film, and he was in “Inception” – which was a great movie that was totally misunderstood by most critics and viewers.  The role of the Time Keeper is to monitor time, and make sure time does not get out of place…basically keep it in the hands of the rich…and keep the poor in their place.  It is the system, and Time Keeper Leon has been enforcing the “rules” of the system for more than 50 years.  He knows nothing else, and refuses to care about anything else as the fabric of society is woven by these rules.  Without rules and those to keep them, there would be chaos.

Rachel Salas (Olivia Wilde) is Will’s mother.  Olivia Wilde has been getting a lot of A list movies these days, and while her roles in Tron Legacy and Cowboy’s and Aliens were much larger, but this was still an important one…and if you think hearing that Olivia Wilde is Justin Timeberlake’s mom is weird, imagine seeing it on screen.  It is a freaky dynamic.  Wilde was born in 1984 and Timberlake in 1981, but the key here is that in the film everyone stops aging at age 25.  As I mentioned, this role is not huge, but it is pivotal, as it is the events surrounding Rachel Salas that trigger the plot of the film.  Again, I do not give things away in these reviews, especially in reviews of movies that I think you should see, but suffice to say, without Rachel, the movie would not really have a starting point.   ...and besides, it’s Olivia Wilde, how could I not mention her,  she was rated #1 on Maxim’s Hot 100 in 2009. 

My main issue with this film is the following:  Both Rachel Salas and Sylvia Weis do a lot of running, and they do it in very high heels.  Now I know women can walk, and even run, in heels (Glamour magazine held a high heels race and the winner got 10,000 euros); but come on, if you are looking for speed, take them off, even running in bare feet would be faster.   Each time one of the female characters takes off running, it is pretty darn important that they run fast, but they do it in their heels.  Ummm, no...and I know it is a small issue but still, come on.

So, take off your watch and make some time in your day or evening for “In Time”; I think it is worth it, and with that, my time is up.

The Ides of March

The Ides of March takes place during the frantic last days before a heavily contested Ohio presidential primary, when up-and-coming assistant campaign manager, Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) finds himself as the focal point of a political scandal that threatens to upend his candidate's shot at the presidency.  The film is an adaptation of Beau Willimon's 2008 play Farragut North, and you should go see it to how it all works out.

The term “Ides of March” is the name of the 15th of March in the Roman calendar, probably referring to the day of the full moon. In modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date that Julius Caesar was killed in 44 B.C. On his way to the Theatre of Pompey, Caesar visited a seer who had foretold that harm would come to him not later than the Ides of March. This meeting is famously dramatized in William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, when Caesar is warned by the soothsayer to "beware the Ides of March”.  What any of this has to do with the film, I’ve not been able to determine…but it never hurts to have a little history before talking about Pizza and Beer. 

So on to the Rating:  This film gets two thirds of a pizza and half a pitcher of beer.  When I first came home from seeing this film, I told my wife that it was really, really good.  Over time, that enthusiasm has not lingered.  I saw it last week, so it has been a few days.  I still think it is a really good movie to see, it is entertaining for sure, it is just one that over time does not really stick with you, like Gosling’s other current film does (Drive – also reviewed on this blog – is one that I feel leaves you with something).

Time to meet the players:

The film is directed by George Clooney and he also is a co-writer (Beau Willimon is the other)…and Clooney is also one of the film’s stars – busy guy.  George Clooney’s character is Gov. Mike Morris, a Democratic candidate running for the Presidential nomination. As noted above, Ryan Gosling is one of the stars as well, actually, he is the lead actor and his character is Stephen Meyers, and if we are talking Academy Awards (which, while it was a good performance, I doubt a nomination is forthcoming).  I didn't put a picture of Gosling in as he is in each of the following, with the co stars...The other primary roles are as follows:

Molly Stern – Political Intern on the Morris campaign and daughter of the chairman of the DNC.  Molly is played by Evan Rachel Ward.  The film would be missing a very large plot vehicle if this character were not a part of it – I don’t want to give much away, as I think you should see the film, but there is definitely a Clinton/Lewinsky thing going on here. On a side note, Evan Rachel Ward is hot.  Not in a Angelina Jolie as Laura Croft in Tomb Raider kinda way, but more in a Scar Jo as Kay Lake in Black Dahlia kinda way.
Paul Phillip – Gov. Morris’ Campaign Manager.  Phillip is played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, recently of MoneyBall – he played the A’s Manager in that film; and it is amazing to me just how many really good movies this guy has been in…check him out on IMDb (Internet Movie Database) if you are not familiar with them.  Anyway, I’d say Hoffman does a very good job portraying the long time, grizzled campaign vet here.  He is jaded, cynical, smokes, and never is really straight with people, even though he is telling them he is.
Tom Duffy – Campaign Manager of the opponent.  Duffy is played by Paul Giamatti, another fine actor who is probably best known for his role in the acclaimed movie “Sideways” which I did not really like all that much.  It was a long time ago, and maybe my tastes have changed, but as I recall, it was just tedious to watch.  Here, he does a good job of getting into the political muck that is a campaign.  He knows how to play the game dirty, and he is not afraid to do so.
Ida Horowicz – Times Political Reporter.  Horowicz is played by Maria Tomei (see, I told you there were lots of stars in this film).  Horowicz is a grizzled veteran reporter of many elections.  She knows how the give and take game is played, and she is not afraid to “do what it takes” to get the story…even if it is not honest, and the story is not really accurate.  I just noticed that I’ve used “grizzled” in describing two of the main characters…and I’m not going to go back and change it, as it fits.  I guess you often hear the term “grizzled” when referring to political/campaign players.

One of my favorite quotes from the film:

Stephen Meyers: Were gonna be fine. We have to do it, it's the right thing to do and nothing bad happens when you’re doing the right thing.
Governor Mike Morris: Is this your personal theory? Cause I can shoot holes in it.

All in all, this is a taught, political thriller.  I liked it.  It is well acted, and it is well directed.

Drive

 

This film is a stylized artistic drama…it is not, repeat, NOT an action film.  There is some action, definitely, but the genera is definitely drama.  I knew this going in, but if you go in thinking you are going to see car chases and lots of gun play (as the trailers lead you to believe), you will be disappointed.  The other aspect to understand is that the under story to this film is a very sad love story.

I liked this film, as a matter of fact, I really liked it.  So, Rating time:

I give it a full pizza, with the works, and half a pitcher of beer.  It gets a fully loaded whole pizza because it is loaded with substance, and only half a pitcher of beer because, well, it is a movie called Drive.  Would not want to drink too much before Drive, you might miss one of the turns.

Main Characters:

Driver  

Irene





Standard







Plot Synopsis:  Driver (Ryan Gosling – he recently played the ‘stud’ Jacob Palmer in Carzy, Stupid Love) is the main character of this film.   During the day Driver works in a garage as a mechanic, and does stunt driving for movie productions on the side; but at night he is a wheelman for hire. Though a quiet, loner by nature, Driver falls in love with his neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan – you might recall her as Winnie Gekko from last year’s ill-fated Wall Street sequel).  Irene is a vulnerable young mother with a husband who is in jail…that says trouble right there.  Don’t people know to stay away from married women, especially if their husbands are in jail.  Anyway, her car just happens to break down while she is at the exact same grocery store Driver is at…convenient, I know. Next, she brings her broken down car into the shop at which Driver works.  She may just have a little stalker in her.

Ok, moving on, it is the return of Irene’s ex-con husband, Standard, that really sets the events of the film in motion.  Standard is played by Oscar Isaac – he was Blue in Sucker Punch (a movie I absolutely loved from earlier this year). I don’t want to spoil things, so let’s just say Driver offers to help Standard, either to soothe his conscious over being in love with Irene or more likely, to help Irene and her son, then a robbery goes horribly awry, the mob and a ton of mob money are involved, then lots of people die – I won’t say who dies, or how, that would give too much away.  As I noted at the start of this review, it is also very important to note that as the base of the entire film, this is a love story (without the love aspects this story would not have existed to be told)...it is a very sad love story, from virtually all angles, but still a love story.

Other Characters of note:

Albert Brooks plays Bernie Rose, a mid-level mobster/wise guy.  Personally, I think this performance his stunning.  Albert Brooks is a great actor, who has not done much lately in the way of acting.  He is probably best known for his roles in the 80’s films: Terms of Endearment, Lost in America, Broadcast News, and Defending Your Life…but more recently he was the voice of Marlin in Finding Nemo (a great film).  This performance, although not huge, and maybe not even considered a full supporting actor role, was absolutely great.  The way in which he shows a cool detached demeanor, at the same time as he reveals his caring, nurturing feelings, as he efficiently…well, finishing that sentence would reveal too much of the plot…so go see it for yourself.

More about the stylization of the film:

First, there was violence in this film, some very significant violence.  Some people might find that it was over the stop, or unnecessary at the graphic level in which it was portrayed.  Now I’m from the Friday the 13^th generation…when there was gore galore; but this is different.  This isn’t your Quinten Tarantino Pulp Fiction (which I loved) or Reservoir Dogs (which I did not love) sorta violence, ok, maybe it was, just not as much of it.   In other words, it was very violent in parts, but it did not detract from, but rather added to, the nature of the film.  Also, it was not out of place, or simply violence for the sake of violence.

Second, the camera angles, lighting and sound track were cool.  Stylistic is a word that comes to mind.  That may be too “indie” of a description for a mainstream, large theater, production…but it fits.  It added to the mood of the film, which was reserved, yet graphic.  I’ve read that some people thought this movie was boring and slow, I actually thought it was tense.  I found myself feeling anxious through most of the film.  I won’t say I was on the edge of my seat, I like to sit back and relax in movies; but if I was the type of person who sat on the edge of their seat, then I would have been there.  So, while I was sitting back, relaxed in posture, my emotions were on edge through the whole thing. 

Third, let me talk a little about the dialogue.  A dialogue on dialogue as it were.  There wasn’t much.  I usually look to dialogue to set the story, it didn’t here.  Scene after scene will go by and nobody will say anything, and for me it worked surprisingly well.  The sound track set the mood and told a lot of the story.

Finally, let me say one thing that I did not like.  In one scene Driver is showing off his driving skills to a potential investor (the boss at the garage wants to start a race team), the scene is filmed at the raceway in Santa Clarita, I know because I used to live 5 minutes from it.  The very next scene is back in the garage on Reseda Blvd.  I don’t care how good/fast of a driver you are, you can not get from Santa Clarita to anywhere on Reseda Blvd in the period of time portrayed in the film…just a little local knowledge that tarnished the flow for me.

All in all, this is a great movie.  Do you have to see it on the big screen…I actually think it is best seen that way.  The cinematography is inspiring, and I think it will lose some of its grandeur when you watch it on your 55” flat screen at home (or in my case the 42”flat screen – it’s all that will fit in the space we have allocated).  This film does not have huge special effects, so from that point of view you would be fine, but of the movies out there right now, this gets my nod for what you should drop the $10 bucks to see. 

   
A Fully Loaded Pizza                                                           and 1/2 a Pitcher of Beer

So everyone, that is all for now.  Let’s go enjoy some Pizza and Beer, and watch some movies.  Until next time…try to stay healthy and happy, and pass this along to anyone you know who likes movies…Please.

Colombiana

Recently I saw Colombiana.

The “professional” reviewers/critics do not like this film; saying things like the acting was terrible, the plot was thin, there were implausible scenes, and that Zoe Saldana is dangerously underweight.  What the hell do they know, I say, who cares.  I don’t think critics go to movies to enjoy them, but rather to pick them apart without actually thinking about the type of movie they are watching.  I mean if Ms. Saldana is not happy with her weight, then she should do something about it, come on she is thin, not emaciated, and I suppose a Twinkie (or some pizza and beer) would not hurt, but really, should it be the focal point of a movie review? No it should not.  So, on to my rating and my review.

My Rating:  One slice of Pizza in deference to Zoe Saldana’s slight frame, and a pitcher of Beer. 

Basically, this is a summer action flick supported by a really good soundtrack and featuring a bad ass, gun wielding hot chick as the main character – for the genera, what could be better?  It is not deep and thought provoking, it is not emotional, but it was not meant to be. To tie in my Pizza and Beer review, there is not a lot of meat on the bones, supported by the one slice of pizza; but it is fun, supported by all the beer.

Zoe Saldana is the main character (Cataleya – the name of a type of orchid).  As an actress, she is best known for her supporting roles as Neytiri in Avatar and of course as Lt. Commander Uhura, the communications officer on the Enterprise (Star Trek – JJ Abrams 2009 version).  In this film it is all her, all the time – even in the scenes she is not physically present, she is the focal point.  The supporting actors are pretty much meaningless, vehicles to move Cataleya along in the film, to be used or killed.  Yea, there is love for her Uncle and Grandmother (who end up being killed of course), but they are really just additional fodder to feed the revenge theme. OK, but even as fodder, they deserve some mention:
Actor:                   Character:           Notes:
Jordi Molla          Marco                  Chief Lieutenant of the Drug Lord (Killed Cataleya’s Parents)
Lennie James      Ross                      FBI Agent who is hunting Cataleya (reluctantly helps her)
Michael Vartan   Danny                  Cataleya’s love interest (kinda a wimp)
Cliff Curtis            Emilio                  Cataleya’s Uncle (he is her main supporter through the movie)

Cataleya’s parents are killed early in the film, setting up the revenge theme for us.  By the look in the child’s eyes, you can tell right away that the bad guys are going to be annihilated eventually, and it certainly comes to fruition.  She runs fast, gets into and out of virtually impossible situations, and blows stuff up…all this on top of the wicked awesome gun play.  I particularly liked the scene where she is up on the balcony in the house of the drug lord who ordered her family killed, raining bullets from twin Uzis down on the bad guys.  This is right out of Scarface, all she needed to do to make this perfect is to yell out “Say Hello To My Little Friends!”  …and it ties neatly with poster in the young boy’s room (her dead cousin’s room to be exact) that she sleeps in when she first comes to America.  Can you say full circle – not subtle, but still fun to see.

The quote you will hear most often from this movie is:  “Never forget where you came from.”   This is interesting, because after she leaves Colombia for America, she never goes back and none of the film takes place there…and as for remembering, it is not really remembering where she comes from that drives her, but remembering what happened there.  Ah well, it makes a good quote.
All in all, this movie is fun entertainment.  Will it win any awards, no.  Will you enjoy watching it, well, if you like this type of movie, then yea, you will, at least I did. 

That’s all for now, so until next time, enjoy the movies with some pizza and beer; and most of all, stay healthy and happy.

30 Minutes or Less

Tonight I saw "30 Minutes or Less"  ...the movie was short, as movies go, something like 82 minutes, so with previews, nearly two hours.  Have you ever noticed that the shorter the movie, the more previews they show.  But previews aside, they packed a whole lot into those 82 minutes, so, let's get to the rating.  This movie gets a Full Pizza, and a couple of beers. 

It is ironic, because the main character "Nick" played quite well by Jesse Eisenberg delivers pizza - which is partly why I gave it a full pizza rating, pizza begets pizza.  The main supporting character "Chet" played even better by Aziz Ansari was hilarious in his role as both a Teacher and as Nick's partner in the protagonist buddy set.  This is not Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, but it is an action, adventure, comedy and a buddy film all in one.  Even though these guys hate each other, they really are best friends.  Throughout the movie we learn how this is, so I won’t ruin it, suffice to say, it is an amusing backstory.

The antagonist buddy set consists of "King Dwayne" played by Danny McBride recently of the utterly forgettable "Your Highness" and "Travis", played by Nick Swardson of the soon to be released "Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star".  This is a truly sad pair of friends, King Dwayne and his mullet live at home with his ex Marine father, who he wants to kill for his money, and we are not really sure where Travis lives, but he learned his bomb making on the internet.  So many marketable skills you can learn today online.

There are lots of other characters who help make the movie, add laughs through their stereotypes, but they are not remarkable individually.  That said, together, they provide nearly continuous amusement through the entire movie.

This movie crosses some lines, most comedies of this ilk do today.   It does not cross the same lines as Bad Santa did so well a number of years ago, or MacGruber (worst movie I've ever seen) did so horribly last year, more like Bad Teacher.   It was funny, it was certainly worth watching, and it provided a lot of laughs, only a few of those were gut wrenching laughs though.  Do you have to see it on the big screen, no, but if you like this genera, you should see it.  There are more than enough one liners to support the whole movie.

..and finally, if you are offended by lots of bad words (most of the ones on the late George Carlin's list) then this movie really is not for you. 

Now for a bonus review.  My son (nearly age 6) saw the new Smurfs movie, this is his review of it:

It was the greatest movie of this week, because I haven't seen Cars 2 this week.....that's why I said this week. I really loved the beginning part a lot because I've never seen the smurfs before and it was a great start for me.

I hope you enjoyed this, and until next time, stay healthy, and be happy

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Ok folks, here it is, my first movie review.  Last night I saw "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"...or "Rise" as some like to shorten it to.  I am giving this movie 3/4 of a Pizza and three Beers. 

If you're new to this ratings thing, that is a pretty good review.  The best review would be a full Pizza and a pitcher of Beer.  With this movie, you're satisfied when you're done and the pitcher is definately more than half full.  It is good, the CGI is really good, ok, the CGI is great.  I normally go to movies on Tuesdays, when the price is only $7.00, but last night was the only time I could go this week, so I paid full price, it was worth the $9.50 I had to shell out.

In general, the Apes make the movie, and except for John Lithgow's performance, the human characters aren't really that good.  The fact that the Apes, and really the main character, Caesar, make the movie is good, because they are the focal point of the movie.  The emotions shown by the Apes far out pace those of their human counterparts. 

Now I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone, so I won't give away any details, but I went into this thinking how could a small bunch of apes, no matter how smart they are, take over the Earth.  This question is answered very well in the film...so no worries there.

Caesar does not have a lot to say in this film, he is pretty new to the whole talking thing, but he seemingly finds his voice in a later film: Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972).  I can truly see the character from the current film uttering these words down the road...so either the makers of this film spent some time investigating the old series, or they got really lucky.

Caesar (1972): But now... now we will put away our hatred. Now we will put down our weapons. We have passed through the Night of the Fires. And who were our masters are now our servants. And we, who are not human, can afford to be humane. Destiny is the will of God. And, if it is man's destiny to be dominated, it is God's will that he be dominated with compassion and understanding. So, cast out your vengeance. Tonight, we have seen the birth of the Planet of the Apes!

In my opinion, this film warrents a sequel, which in the story timeline would actually be another prequel, and yes, I know it is confusing...not Star Wars series confusing, but give it time, it could easily get there...at least you wont have to deal with a crazy numbering schema here.

So, wth that, I will end my first ever blog entry/movie review.  In the coming weeks I will be reviewing more movies, as I see them, and for all you football fans out there, I will be reviewing the start of the NFL season in the coming weeks as well.  For now, peace out...and go enjoy some Pizza and Beer (at the movies).