"Reprise" review by Spaldy

Written by: Eskil Vogt & Joachim Trier

Directed by: Joachim Trier

Writers are weird people. I’ve known quite a few. I’ve been one. When you go to a party or a gathering, I seem to always be able to pick out the writers of the group; just look for the most miserable people in the room. It is not necessarily because their lives are crap or that they are a particularly soul searching bunch. No, writers just look miserable because they are writers. The writers in this film are no different.

“Reprise” is the story of two writers on separate paths. One, Phillip, is talented but emotionally volatile. He rides the waves of his creativity, losing control of all other functions and connections to reality. The other, Erik, is not all that talented, but he does what the other one can not do; he keeps his wits about him and writes. Great writers often have difficulty continuing to write. Their work can be sporadic and wild. Often less creative writers succeed simply because they can commit to writing on a consistent basis. This story exemplifies this long standing stereotype that success is dependant on the talent versus sanity balancing act.

The film is as conflicted as the character Phillip is: Is this about the group of friends? Is it about the two friends? Or is it just about Phillip? The scenes play as if we are in the mind of someone taking in the day to day life, passing the occasional moments, remembering the past or daydreaming about the possibilities. These scenes are the film’s greatest strength and also its greatest flaw. Though I liked the style, I felt that the film felt at odds with itself because of it. I was never really sure if there was a main character or if it was meant to be more of an ensemble piece. I like the idea of the two paths but in many ways, the story may have been better if it centered solely on Phillip’s struggle, or even just Erik’s inner conflict. For example, the story of the relationship between Phillip and his girlfriend Kari plays out in an intriguing way, but at the same time, it felt shoehorned into a story with a lot of other characters. The lack of character focus is probably the film’s greatest detraction.

The film style of inter cutting the scenes is very French, and I think it works to great effect. It is bold and demands attention. However, I felt the concentration on the real time aspects of their lives might have been the most difficult part to this film. It slows it down and makes the film seem tedious at times, demanding a lot of patience and focus. This can be a good thing, but here it seems to make the film drag a bit. I mean, even the day to day lives of the most interesting people are not filled with nothing but moments I need to experience. Sometimes Andy Warhol just brushed his teeth; the audience doesn’t necessarily need to experience that moment with him. Here we are given a lot of simple, every day moments, and in some ways the moments are deeply personal, but often, they just seem unnecessary.

Ultimately the script is fairly well written. I would have liked a little more editing to tighten it up a bit, and to make those quiet, powerful moments punch a little more. However, the friendships at the heart of this film are worth exploring. Unfortunately, the exploration of those friendships does tend to muddle the film up a bit.

Still, for the patient viewer this film is worth a look. The direction is a little different and a little strange, but quite actually quite enjoyable. The fact that the film lacks focus while at the same time being too focused on the wrong things is a definite issue. However, there is a nice realness and heart to the story; but you have to work a bit to really experience it.

"One Night" Review by Anthony Thurber

One Night
Year: 2007

Director: Michael Knowles

Stars: Bill Sage, Melissa Leo, Christian Campbell

MPAA Rating:

Studio: 7A Productions

Running Time: 98 Mins

Review Rating: 5 Stars
Official Website: http://www.onenightthemovie.org/

One Night is a film that has been circulating on the festival film scene for a while. The film has played in various festivals including the Tacoma Film Festival, Kent Film Festival, Port Townsend Film Festival, and most recently at the Solstice Film Festival and the Sunscreen Film Festival, where director Michael Knowles won Best Director.

The film focuses on fifteen New Yorker whose lives are going to change in one night. The film focuses on various character that include, an A&R representative that is having an affair with his young assistant behind his beautiful girlfriend’s back because he has a very bottomless feel that he becoming older. A young sensitive college student, who’s madly in love with her boyfriend while thinking that one of her closest friend, is childish. An twenty something woman, who meets a man for the first time in person after meeting him through the internet. A middle-aged woman, who is looking to change her life and a nervous actor, who finally gets be with the person who he has dreamed about. Through out the night these characters all convene at the same music venue where their lives will change either for better or worse.

One Night is a great film that examines human relationships and intimacy between people who are looking for love. Writer/director Michael Knowles’s direction of the film was very good. He does a great job not making the various plot lines and the drama in the film confusing, since the film focuses on a lot of characters. Knowles direction of the actors and actresses performances was very good. This is definitely the best ensemble piece that I’ve seen this year, so far. Their performances were great. It’s great because of the script that they had and the actors performed their roles very well, which helped bring out the personality of each of the characters. It’s movies like this that you appreciated the craft of acting, when people are there to act and passionate about the material.

The major thing that makes One Night great was Knowles’s screenplay. He does a great job exploring the aspects of human interaction, relationships, and intimacy. The characters that were created for the film were good, as they varied in age from college students to people in their late forties. The reason why he puts it there was to explore these issues, like an older man in love with a younger woman or the interaction of two character that in their forties still searching for love. Knowles also keeps each of the subplots moving by being in a closed environment for most of the film, so they could interact with each of the other characters and makes the viewer become involved with each character’s story. Also. I liked how the characters were intersected into each of the various plotlines. It helps make the story of the film and the characters in it interesting. Knowles also did a good job exploring the dark side of love, as he focuses on the sadness and the things they would do that would drive people who are desperate to be loved.

I definitely suggest that you check this film out, if it’s playing at your film festival. One Night is a very entertaining look at the need for human interaction and intimacy.

Upcoming Screenings:

Solstice Film Festival St. Paul, MN June 2008 Date, Time, and Venue: TBA

Indie Scene: "Green Street Hooligans," "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang," and "Film Geek"

Welcome to Indie Scene, everyone. I’m you host TonyD, still. This week was supposed to be the big “Spring Cleanup” edition, but there was a problem – I never had time to clean anything up. So we’re saving that for next week. This week, I’m going to write about a few other things that I’ve seen. I don’t know how often I get people asking me if I seen a certain movie, and when I say yes, and they ask my opinion, I give it to them straightforward. Hell, I’ve given my opinion so much on a certain movie released this year that I hated that people have dubbed me with no taste. But it turns out that whenever I recognize titles that I love, it seems like no one knows what in the hell I’m talking about. The three films I’ll be talking about aren’t all necessarily Indie, but they are very small films that didn’t make as much money as they should have. You may have heard of them and might have even watched them. Or maybe, you haven’t even heard of them. I’m here to give you a look at three flicks that I love that I could swear that you MUST watch. If you haven’t, what the hell are you waiting for?


“Green Street Hooligans”
2005
**** out of ****
Director: Lexi Alexander
Cast: Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam, Claire Forlani


There is a scene towards the end of a film called “Green Street Hooligans” where it has come to the final battle. Elijah Wood runs through the streets of England to meet up with a gang of football (soccer) hooligans while Terence Jay’s “One Blood” plays in the background. These guys operate the GSE, or the Green Street Elite, a bunch of followers from the West Ham United. They are to battle it at with their rivals, Millwill. It takes them time for Elijah to understand what standing his ground means, but by the end of the film, he and the audience are completely aware of the meaning. I caught “Green Street Hooligans” a few days before it was released on DVD in June of 2006. The film, directed by Lexi Alexander, is nearly perfect. I put this at number two on my top 2006, (back then, when I did my top films, I included films as they were released on DVD) and don’t regret a thing. I haven’t seen this in quite some time, which I really need to do (but still have about ninety movies sitting around in my house). It’s fan-fucking-tastic. If you haven’t seen it yet, I don’t know what the hell you are waiting for because it has been out longer than I could count.

“Hooligans” tells the tale of Matt Bruckner, (Elijah Wood) a Harvard student that was just expelled for supposedly selling drugs. He goes to England for a bit to spend time with his sister Shannon (Claire Forlani) and her husband Steve. (Marc Warren) Steve introduces Mark to his brother Pete, (Charlie Dunham) a man who is in the Green Street Elite. They are (like I said earlier) a bunch of West Ham United followers who occasionally get into fights with other firms. When one firm won’t back down, it’s time for these guys over at the GSE to stand their ground, to not run away, and to never give up.“Green Street Hooligans” would be considered a tale that I would find despicable, but it turns out that I actually really like it. The fight scenes are brilliantly choreographed, and the soundtrack is brilliant. I can’t begin to tell you how much heart this film has. If there was a problem with this film it would be that it is too short. I could spend all of my time watching these guys go from town to town kicking people’s ass. The film is a fantastic flick that you can’t get just anywhere. Director Lexi Alexander will be bringing back her talents to the new “Punisher 2” flick. If that is even half as good as “Hooligans” was, I’ll shit.

“Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang”
2005
**** out of ****
Director: Shane Black
Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan


Around the same time that I watched “Green Street Hooligans,” I rented a film called “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.” Honestly I knew nothing about the film before I saw it. I didn’t know who Shane Black was (which turned out to be the guy that wrote the “Lethal Weapon” movies), neither did I know of Robert Downey, Jr. (the guy who is now known by everyone as Tony Stark), Val Kilmer (the guy from “Heat”), and Michelle Monaghan (the movie that some are putting me through hell just to watch). The first time I watched this flick, I didn’t get much from it. It was confusing in a few parts and the plot seemed to be going everywhere. But after the first watch, I decided to give it a second, third, and fourth watch. I started to love the film more and more after each watch. “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang” became slightly less confusing since then. The flick is still funny after watching it for the umpteenth time. There is no excuse if you haven’t seen this film. It’s on Cinemax sometime every week.

Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey, Jr.) is a petty thief, who, while running from the cops, ends up getting a role as a private detective in this movie. Without knowing he is just being used so Colin Farrell will get less money, private detective Gay Perry (Val Kilmer) takes him under his wing to show Harry the ins and outs of being a private detective. Perry and Harry investigate for Harry’s childhood crush, (Michelle Monaghan) who’s sister was recently killed. “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang” is hilarious. It is filled with many one-liners that you will LOVE. This is one of the rare films that use pop-culture events that are actually funny. References to Colin Farrell, Britney Spears, Drew Barrymore, “Lord of the Rings,” and other big Hollywood personas flow through the film. This was my first introduction to Robert Downey, Jr., who plays one of the funniest roles of his career. “Iron Man” may show a more mainstream side of his, but “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang” shows his real talent. It’s a shame that this movie didn’t get more attention during its theatrical release, because “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang” is a knockout.


“Film Geek”
2005
**** out of ****
Director: James Westby
Cast: Melik Malkasian, Tyler Gannon, Matt Morris


“Film Geek” was a film I looked forward to long before I saw it. Just by the title, it is realized that I am just the perfect audience for the film. Here, our hero’s name is Scotty Pelk. (Melik Malkasian) He has nothing to look forward to his life but film, his job at the video-store, jerking-off in the mirror to his hot neighbor, and his website ScottysFilmPage.com, which garnered zero hits. (If you type that into your address bar, you will come to the film’s site.) After he gets fired for “annoying the customers,” he has nothing left of him. He meets a girl reading a David Cronenberg book, (Tyler Gannon) and is determined to win her over, while trying to find a job that will replace his old job at the video-store and getting some hits on his site.

“Film Geek” is one of the best single-serving indie films that I have ever seen, maybe even the best one. It’s funny, which isn’t surprising. The character of Scotty played by Melik Malkasian is literally perfect as an actual film geek. He’s perfect as a geek in general. In one of the many great scenes in “Film Geek,” he shows off his encyclopedic knowledge of film by listing films that have the word “heaven” in it. It’s like he is a real movie database. James Westby does a great job behind the camera, also. The last third of the movie is where everything takes a sudden turn. It’s like being stuck in a David Cronenberg flick. “Film Geek” is a real entertaining gem. I don’t see anyone else making a film like this, do you?


That is it for Indie Scene this week. Yes, next week will be Spring Cleanup, but after that, Indie Scene will be taking a break for three weeks in preparation for summer jobs and a lot more stuff for FilmArcade.net. Have a great week and stay classy.

K.I.S.S. News - "Choke" Pushed Back, New Jason Reitman Film Announced, and "Los Crono Crimenes" Remake

Mike Judge is thinking about reintroducing the infamous characters of “Beavis and Buttheads” in a new animated film and/or live-action flick.


“Choke,” the film based on the extraordinary Chuck Palahniuk novel, has been pushed back from the beginning of August to September 26, 2008.


Our friends over at LatinoReview.com interviewed Jason Reitman, who announced that his secret new project is a film adaption of “Up in the Air.”


David Cronenberg is set to be remaking the Spanish flick “Time Crimes,” or “Los Crono Crimenes.” The man who wrote “Children of Men,” Timothy J. Sexton, is on board to write the flick.


Jonah Hill wants to write an adaption to Johnny Depp’s TV show called “21 Jump Street.”


Here is the new poster for the film “The Strangers,” currently being released at the end of May.

Justin Long has a cameo in the new Kevin Smith flick, “Zach and Miri Make A Porno,” set to be released in October.


Here is the first picture from the remake of “Friday the 13th.” Doesn’t impress so much at first look.

Werner Herzog is set to direct a remake of “Bad Lieutenant,” starring Nicholas Cage. The original is considered to be a cult classic.


The trailer for “The Mummy 3” is set to be released on Friday next to “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.”

K.I.S.S. News - "Point Break" Sequel, "The X-Files 2" Trailer, and "Hancock" Reshoots

Uwe Boll thinks he is perfect to helm a “Grand Theft Auto” movie. He also has rights to make a movie of “Zombie Massacre,” which he comments, “… maybe we should do that movie with all the gamers and Boll haters, and people who signed that petition anti-Boll, or pro-Boll, we all meet in a big, small city — somewhere in the Midwest. And we all shoot Zombie Massacre together; they all play zombies, and they’re there and can give me advice if they think they can do it better than me. …I could have the biggest movie ever, basically for free! Because they would definitely all be there.”


Supposedly Marvel wants Brad Pitt to star in “Thor.” My buddies over at Geeks of Doom caught a glance of the 2007 script for the film, which they say doesn’t sound too good.


Here is the new trailer for “The X-Files: I Want to Believe.”





Steven Spielberg announced over the weekend that after he is finished directing “Tintin,” he will direct “Lincoln.” It’s about damn time.


David Chase, the creator of “The Sorpranos,” has signed a deal with Paramount Pictures to direct and produce a film. It WON’T be a film version of “The Sorpranos.” Nice try.


“Hancock,” the Will Smith blockbuster set to be released this Independence Day, is reshooting in New York City.


Jason Sudeikis, Will Forte, and Leslie Bibb will participate in “A Good Old Fashioned Orgy.”


Oliver Stone’s “W” is set to be released on October 17, 2008.


Here is the new trailer for “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”





There may be a chance that “Transformers 2” can be in 3-D. More coming when I find out about it.


“Fahrenheit 9/11 2” will be released sometime next year. There is no exact title of it.


And your friends at The Weinstein Company are making a “Fraggle Rock” movie. Yay!


Megan Fox has been seen nude while filming for the new Diablo Cody-written horror flick “Jennifer’s Body.” I’d post the (insanely stunning) pictures but then I would have to talk to some lawyers later. It’s just not worth it.


Jan de Bont is directing the new “Point Break” sequel, subtitled “Indo.”

UFC: "Freddy Got Fingered" - Are We That Retarded?

“Freddy Got Fingered”
Directed by Tom Green


[November 2000: Conference Room – Tom Green, Man #1, and Man #2 are sitting at a table.]


Man #1: Hey Tom.

Man #2: Hey Tom.

Tom Green: Hello Man #1, Man #2.

Man #1: Tom, I just can’t BELIEVE the success from your last movie. What was it called again?

Tom Green: Oh, THAT one. Umm… something like “Trippy Road Trip.”

Man #1: Ah, yes. THAT one.

Man #2: It has made like sixty-six million. Nice job.

Tom Green: Yep it was all my work.

Man #1: Really? What do you mean?

Tom Green: Oh well let’s face it. People only CAME to the movie to see me, ya know? I’m the hottest piece of ass around. I’m so smart that Drew Barrymore decided to date me.

Man #1: Have you gotten a tap at that yet?

Tom Green: Nope, nope, not yet, just… waiting for the right moment. She’s the kind of person with the… you know.

Man #2: Oh, abstinence.

Tom Green: Yeah, that’s the word. I was thinking of abortion.

Man #1: Have you snorted any powder off of her chest yet?

Tom Green: Nah, she’s about three years clean.

Man #1: REALLY!?

Tom Green: Yeah…. NAH I’m just joshing you. Actually, after the god-awful “Charlie’s Angels,” she went back to that stuff.

Man #2: Ah, fuck was that movie awful.

Tom Green: Fucking a jaws that was. Every time she asks me if I liked it, I lie and say yes. It makes me want to do a line.

Man #1: Don’t blame you, sir. Anyway, what can we do for you today?

Tom Green: Okay. Well after the GREAT SUCCESS of “Trippy Road Trip,” I decided that we should create a movie where it was just… ME.

Man #1: You mean like “The Tom Green Movie?”

Tom Green: Yes, but instead of a movie that was just me, it would be me doing some crazy stuff.

Man #2: Really? Like what?

Man #1: Yeah, try and sell the idea to us.

Tom Green: Okay. Well, I really want to say a lot of fucks. Honest to god, I want to say fuck.

Man #1: Yeah, yeah, I get it. Keep going.

Tom Green: I know a lot of people who can draw too. I want to be able to draw some great pictures. I mean, even Anne Frank could draw.

Man #2: It doesn’t take a retard to do that.

Tom Green: I know, that’s why I’m so good.

Man #1: So what would it be about?

Tom Green: Okay, so it would start as me being the badass I am and skating through a mall. You know, a really BIG mall. A security guard would chase me through and I would later not crash into anything. Because you know, I’m so cool right?

Man #1: Aw that’s so awesome! What would be your character’s name?

Tom Green: I decided to name my character Tom Green.

Man #2: But you can’t do that.

Man #1: Yeah.

Tom Green: Why the hell not? I thought everyone appreciates my name.

Man #1: Oh, they do, but you don’t want to name your character Tom Green. That’s like calling us by our real names.

Man #2: Yeah, we can’t have that.

Tom Green: Okay fine. We’ll call my character Gord, because Gord is like an American name.

Man #2: EVERYONE has their child named Gord nowadays. That’s perfect!

Tom Green: Aw hell yes.

Man #2: Go on with your thoughts.

Man #1: I’m excited to where this is going to take us.

Tom Green: So I am supposed to take this bus to Los Angeles so I can become a fantastic animator like Spike Lee but my mom and dad, that will be played by a Christian mom and a drunk like Rip Torn, buy me a LeBaron, and then I get into a whole argument with my retarded younger brother that I have a LeBaron and he doesn’t.

Man #1: This is fascinating.

Man #2: Truly original.

Man #1: We should get Rip Torn!

Man #2: Ah I know. He hasn’t had a hit film since…

Man #1: “Cross Creek.”

Man #2: Yeah.

Tom Green: This one will definitely be the one to top that film.

Man #1: Ah, it sure will. Christ just the sound of it makes me want to whip out my penis.

Tom Green: Oh, speaking of penis, while I’m driving my LeBaron, I ride by a horse with a red rocket-

Man #1: Hold the fucking phone. What is a red rocket?

Tom Green: Scientists call it an erection, but I call it a red rocket.

Man #2: Ah, I know what an erection is.

Man #1: You do?

Man #2: Yeah, that’s what was going on when we voted for Al Gore.

Man #1: That was called a selection, ar-tard.

Man #2: My bad, dick-poop.

Tom Green: So anyway, I see his red rocket and I immediately stop the car, run onto the farm where his red rocket is held, and I begin to stroke that red rocket.

Man #1: Yeah, stroke that election.

Man #2: Erection.

Man #1: Oh my bad.

Tom Green: So after he spunks, I go back to the car and work at a cheese sandwich factory, where I play with the sausage.

Man #1: They have sausage at a cheese sandwich factory?

Tom Green: Not until now.

Man #2: You’re the smartest man ALIVE!

Tom Green: Ah, yes I am. Anyway, I meet the guy who I’m supposed to pitch my ideas to but then he tells me to get inside of the animals. You remember on “Trippy Road Trip” when I stuck that mouse inside of my mouth and let it sit in there?

Man #1: Yeah, of course.

Man #2: It was classic.

Tom Green: Yeah, well here is the best part. Instead of sticking an animal in my mouth, I actually get INSIDE of an animal.

Man #2: How the hell do you do that?

Tom Green: With a knife, you silly puss.

Man #1: Yeah, you silly puss.

Tom Green: Doesn’t it sound like a masterpiece?

Man #2: Aw hell yeah.

Tom Green: So, while I’m on my adventures to becoming a star, I see a kid get hurt during every scene he’s in, my friend, played by the talented Harland Williams, breaks his leg and I actually DRINK his blood. And then here is the best part – while I’m at the hospital swinging a baby around on its umbilical cord, I meet a cripple that likes to give blowjobs and get her legs whipped by bamboo.

Man #1: That’s kinky.

Man #2: Yeah, I wish my wife would do that shit.

Man #1: Is that what Drew does to you?

Tom Green: Nah, I don’t let her touch my left and right.

Man #2: My wife doesn’t like to touch my left and right.

Man #1: I only touch my left and right when it is acceptable.

Man #2: It is ALWAYS acceptable to touch your left and right.

Tom Green: Yeah, just ask Rip Torn’s character. Later in the film, once I get tired of his shit, I say that he fingers my little brother.

Man #1: NOT UH!

Man #2: Tell us more.

Tom Green: Well, he really doesn’t, but I figure that the audience loves some incest and taboo.

Man #2: Rednecks do.

Tom Green: Then they will fall in love with this film.

Man #2: Oh, we already do.

Man #1: Yeah.

Tom Green: So do we got a deal?

Man #2: Aw, you know we can’t turn you down.

Tom Green: I know, I’m motherfucking Tom Green. I’m amazing.

Man #1: Oh I know. So before you leave, tell me, what will your character be like?

Tom Green: Like all of my characters – amazingly smart.

Man #2: Of course.

Man #1: Like book smart or street smart?

Tom Green: Both.

Man #2: That’s sweet.

Man #1: I never saw that coming.

Man #2: I want to see you sing a song in the movie though.

Tom Green: Like in “Trippy Road Trip?”

Man #2: Yeah, just like it.

Man #1: Just as good too.

Man #2: Make it a Billboard hit.

Tom Green: Actually I wrote something of my own if you want to hear it.

Man #2: Really? Yeah we would love to hear it. Flip it for us.

Tom Green: Okay…

Daddy would you like some sausage?
Daddy would you like some sausages?

Man #1: That’s fucking boss dude.

Man #2: Do you come up with these ideas by yourself?

Tom Green: Yeah, can’t you tell?

Man #2: Dude you’re amazing.

Tom Green: Oh, I know.

Man #1: Aww shit, I got to go. Guy Ritchie wants to make “Snatch 2.” Gahh…

Man #2: Dude, “Snatch 1” sucked anyway. Why would they want to make a “Snatch 2?”

Man #1: Beats me.

Man #2: I heard he’s getting married to Madonna. Maybe they should make a movie together.

Man #1: YEAH! And it could be a remake of some Italian film.

Man #2: Dude that movie would be fucking great.

Man #1: I’d pay to see it.

Man #2: I’d pay to see it TWENTY times.

Man #1: ME TOO!

Tom Green: How many times would you pay to see MY movie?

Man #1 & #2: TWENTY-ONE!

Tom Green: I thought so.



These guys think you are all idiots.

Whenever there is a good film like “Snatch,” you fucking pay for it with a “Swept Away” or “Freddy Got Fingered.”

Want to prove them wrong?

Show these dimwitted cocksuckers that you are smarter than what they make you out to be.



Next time on UFC: Everyone else has seen it and it is banned in the U.S. - "Battle Royale"

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations

Welcome to the 130th Edition of my blog. As you can see I am now in the musical Oklahoma which is in mid-July at the Muncie Civic Theater. It is good to finally be able to do theater again. Now to my movie selections.

Alice in Wonderland (1951): This is part 6 of what will likely be sevin. I chose this movie in tribute to directing animator Ollie Johnston who recently died. I had not seen this Disney spin of the Lewis Carroll classic so I thought I would check it out. We all know the story here, a young girl named Alice is bored with life and enters into the strange world of Wonderland. In Wonderland she meets all kinds of interesting people like the Mad Hatter, Caterpillar, the Red Queen of Hearts and much, much more. This was very entertaining and had such fun songs like THE UNBIRTHDAY SONG and I will stand by the theory that it was all about drugs but that is just my own warped mind.

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988): Terry Gilliam directed this spin on the Baron Munchausen legend. I for one know nothing about this person so all I have to go on is this movie which was quite entertaining. John Neville stars as the title character where he and a little girl, played by Sarah Polley, go on many interesting adventures like to the moon and find many other of his misfits. Robin Williams is funny as the Moon King and look for a young Uma Thurman as Venus. Other people in this tale include Eric Idle, Oliver Reed, Jonathan Pryce and even Sting. I can't really explain much here except that you will be quite entertained.

Blades of Glory (2007): Josh Gordan and Will Speck directed this figure skating comedy. I'm sorry if anyone reading this hated this movie, I was just laughing all the way through so I really enjoyed it. Will Ferrell and Jon Heder play rival skaters who are banned from singles competition but find a loophole where they can skate as partners. COACH alum Craig T. Nelson, who ironically enough plays a coach, is the coach that brings them together. SNL stars Will Arnett and Amy Poehler play a brother and sister skating team who is willing to win at all costs. If you want an hour and a half of entertainment, this could be what you are looking for.

Iron Man (2008): Jon Favreau directed this adaptation to the Marvel Superhero and did a great job. I made a rare movie theater appearance to see this movie. Robert Downey Jr. was awesome as Tony Stark who is a wealthy and somewhat idealistic industrialist who thought that his weapons were helping our war until he is captured by terrorists in the middle east and realizes his weapons were being used by the enemy. He is then forced to make weapons for them but instead builds his own suit to escape. After escaping he does what he can to perfect his suit to become the legendary Iron Man. Jeff Bridges plays Tony Stark's partner who becomes a double-dealer and the enemy of Tony. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Tony Stark's maid Pepper Potts. This movie was a little over two hours but every second was entertaining. Where there wasn't awesome action scenes, there were some great comedic scenes, most in part to Tony perfecting his suit. We all wanted to help him in any way we can and knew he was not going to give up. There were great performances by all and stay through the credits.

A Few Good Men (1992): Rob Reiner directed this adaptation to the Aaron Sorkin play. I watched this at Rhonda's house so I decided to finally get something a little more serious into this blog. Our favorite scientologist Tom Cruise stars as Lt. Kaffee who is a military lawyer who must defend two marines accused of murder who insist they were acting under orders. Demi Moore plays the investigator who must keep Kaffee in line. Jack Nicholson was the stand-out in this cast and has his very famous line about the truth. This was a very thought-provoking court drama which had my attention all the way through. I really did not care that Tom Cruise danced on a couch or that he has some strange beliefs, I just liked the movie so i separated the person from his work of art. Many other people can be seen like Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland, J.T. Walsh, among many others.

Marihuana (1936): This is part two of my Marijuana series which depict the horrible things that pot can make you do. Here we have a girl who slowly becomes a dope pusher which leads to a friends death. I have noticed that in these types of films, the villain is always some middle-aged guy with a mustache. It strangely has some nudity which had to be quite controversial for the time unless the public realized that is what happens when you smoke pot. There is also a disclaimer on the horrors of this drug.

That Inferior Feeling (1940): Robert Benchley stars in this short film which depicts a man who just can't seem to do anything right. Benchley was a comedy writer, cartoonist and actor which was mostly in short films. This was an entertaining 9 minutes which was included in the dvd of THE PHILADELPHIA STORY.

The FBI Story (1959): This is part two which is probably the last in my James Stewart series. Melvin LeRoy directed this propaganda piece of the FBI but in many ways you might say that J. Edgar Hoover directed this movie since I think he had lots of involvement and even hand-picked James Stewart to play Agent Hardesty who is portrayed through many time periods and showing the effects it has on his family. We get to see the rise of the KKK, Nazi Spies, many gangsters including John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson. This was quite a fabrication but is still good to watch and if the FBI endorsed this, it must be good right?

Equinox (1970): This was actually shot in 1967 but was added to by Jack Woods. This was low-budget to the core and is a horror film where some friends go to the woods and encounter a strange book and a lot of strange happenings. We have some pretty cool looking monsters and special effects which should be respected that they put a lot of effort into them. This is kind of a pre-EVIL DEAD but EVIL DEAD was much better. If you want an entertaining horror film to watch, check out this low-budget classic.

Kindergarten Cop (1990): Ivan Reitman directed this comedy. The Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in this comedy where two years after TWINS, he shows his comedic and soft side once again. Arnold plays cop John Kimble who must go undercover in an elementary school to find a criminal he has been in pursuit of for years. Pamela Reed stars as the police officer he is partnered with and she is supposed to be the substitute teacher who is undercover but develops food poisoning and having to send Kimble to be a Kindergarten teacher who finds himself in a much different world. Just the thought of Arnold being my teacher is great. He then forms a relationship with another teacher, played by Penelope Ann Miller, who there seems to be more to. This movie actually works quite well and better than it should. It may not be for small children though.

Well, that is it for this week. I will be back as always next week. Leave your comments on what you like and dislike. And now read on for the connection segment

-Sarah Polley (Baron Munchausen) and William Fichtner (Blades of Glory) were in the 1999 film Go

-Oliver Reed (Baron Munchausen) and Jack Nicholson (A Few Good Men) were in the 1975 rock opera The Who's Tommy

-Oliver Reed (Baron Munchausen) and James Stewart (The FBI Story) were in the 1978 version of The Big Sleep

-Uma Thurman (Baron Munchausen) and Will Ferrell (Blades of Glory) were in the 2005 musical remake of The Producers

-Uma Thurman (Baron Munchausen) and Luke Wilson (Blades of Glory) were in the 2006 film My Super Ex-Girlfriend

-Uma Thurman (Baron Munchausen) and Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) were in the 1988 film Johnny Be Good

-Uma Thurman (Baron Munchausen) and Kiefer Sutherland (A Few Good Men) were in the 1996 Duke of Groove

-Uma Thurman (Baron Munchausen) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1997 movie Batman and Robin


-Robin Williams (Baron Munchausen) and Gwyneth Paltrow (Iron Man) were in Hook


-Robin Williams (Baron Munchausen) and Penelope Ann Miller (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1990 film Awakenings


-Robin Williams (Baron Munchausen) and Pamela Reed (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1986 film The Best of Times and the 1990 film Cadillac Man


-Robin Williams (Baron Munchausen) and Linda Hunt (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1980 film Popeye


-Sting (Baron Munchausen) and Linda Hunt (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1984 film Dune

-Will Ferrell (Blades of Glory), Andy Richter (Blades of Glory), Jon Favreau (Iron Man, co-star and director), and Peter Billingsley were in Elf which Favreau directed and had a small role and Billingsley was uncredited as an elf

-Will Ferrell (Blades of Glory) and Cuba Gooding Jr. (A Few Good Men) were in the 2001 film Zoolander and in the 2002 film Boat Trip where Ferrell is uncredited


-Will Ferrell (Blades of Glory) and Linda Hunt (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 2006 hit film
Stranger than Fiction

-Jon Heder (Blades of Glory) and Jeff Bridges (Iron Man) were in the 2007 animated film Surf's Up

-Will Arnett (Blades of Glory) and Leslie Bibb (Iron Man) were in the 2006 film Wristcutters: A Love Story

-Will Arnett (Blades of Glory) and Kiefer Sutherland (A Few Good Men) are in the upcoming 2009 animated film Monsters vs. Aliens

-Craig T. Nelson (Blades of Glory) and Tom Cruise (A Few Good Men) were in the 1983 film All The Right Moves

-Craig T. Nelson (Blades of Glory), Demi Moore (A Few Good Men) and Xander Berkeley (A Few Good Men) were in the 1996 HBO movie If These Walls Could Talk


-Craig T. Nelson (Blades of Glory) and Pamela Reed (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1981 tv movie Inmates: A Love Story and the 1987 movie Rachel River

-William Fichtner (Blades of Glory) and Jeff Bridges (Iron Man) were in the 2005 film The Moguls which is also referred to as The Amatuers

-William Fichtner (Blades of Glory) and Terrence Howard (Iron Man) were in the 2004 film Crash

-William Fichtner (Blades of Glory) and Demi Moore (A Few Good Men) were in the 2000 filM Passion of Mind


-William Fichtner (Blades of Glory) and Richard Tyson (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 2001 film Black Hawk Down


-William Fichtner (Blades of Glory) and Angela Bassett (Kindergarten Cop, extra) were in the 1992 biopic Malcolm X. Note that Fichtner was an extra. They went on to be in three more movies. In 1995, they were in Strange Days. In 1997, they were in Contact and in 2005, they were in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Note that in Mr. and Mrs. Smith, they had uncredited voices.


-Luke Wilson (Blades of Glory), Jeff Bridges (Iron Man), and Angela Bassett (Kindergarten Cop extra) were in the 2003 film Masked and Anonymous

-Luke Wilson (Blades of Glory) and Gwyneth Paltrow (Iron Man) were in the 2001 hit The Royal Tenenbaums

-Luke Wilson (Blades of Glory) and Demi Moore (A Few Good Men) were in the 2003 sequal Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle

-Luke Wilson (Blades of Glory) and Kevin Bacon (A Few Good Men) were in the 1997 film Telling Lies in America and the 2000 film My Dog Skip

-Luke Wilson (Blades of Glory) and Penelope Ann Miller (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 2007 flop Blonde Ambition

-Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) and Tom Cruise (A Few Good Men) are in the upcoming war comedy Tropic Thunder where Downey's role looks quite strange

-Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) and Kiefer Sutherland (A Few Good Men) were in the 1988 film 1969

-Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) and Xander Berkeley (A Few Good Men) were in the 1997 film One Night Stand

-Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) and Penelope Ann Miller (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1992 film Chaplin

-Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) and Cathy Moriarty (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1991 film Soapdish and the 1997 film Hugo Pool which was directed by Robert Downey Sr.

-Jeff Bridges (Iron Man) and Kiefer Sutherland (A Few Good Men) were in the 1993 remake The Vanishing

-Jeff Bridges (Iron Man) and Xander Berkeley (A Few Good Men) were in the 1989 film The Fabulous Baker Boys

-Jeff Bridges (Iron Man) and Cuba Gooding Jr. ( A Few Good Men) were in the 1994 film Blown Away. Note that Gooding was uncredited as a bomb squad member.

-Jeff Bridges (Iron Man) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (Kindergarten Cop) were in a 1976 movie called Stay Hungry

-Terrence Howard (Iron Man) and Angela Bassett (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1992 tv movie The Jacksons: An American Dream

-Gwyneth Paltrow (Iron Man) and Tom Cruise (A Few Good Men) were believe it or not in the third Austin Power movie in 2002. Each playing themselves as characters in Austin Powers.

-Jon Favreau (Iron Man) and Jack Nicholson (A Few Good Men) were in the 1992 film Hoffa which also included JT Walsh from A Few Good Men. Note that Favreau is an extra in this film. There were also in teh 2003 film Something's Gotta Give.

-Jon Favreau (Iron Man), J.T. Walsh (A Few Good Men), and Xander Berkeley (A Few Good Men) were in the 1996 film Persons Unknown


-Jon Favreau (Iron Man) and Penelope Ann Miller (Kindergarten Cop) were in the tv movie Rocky Marciano


-Jack Nicholson (A Few Good Men) and Carroll Baker (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1987 film Ironweed


-Demi Moore (A Few Good Men) and Pamela Reed (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1982 comedy Young Doctors in Love. Note that Demi was uncredited


-Kevin Bacon (A Few Good Men) and Cathy Moriarty (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1998 film Digging to China


-Kevin Pollak (A Few Good Men) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1999 film End of Days and in the 2001 sequal Dr. Dolittle 2 along with Andy Richter of Blades of Glory. Not that the Governor of California was uncredited in Dr. Dolittle 2.


-Kevin Pollak (A Few Good Men) and Penelope Ann Miller were in the 1998 Disney movie Ruby Bridges and in the same year they were in the 1998 film Outside Ozona


-Christopher Guest (A Few Good Men) and Penelope Ann Miller (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1980 western The Long Riders


-Xander Berkeley (A Few Good Men), Penelope Ann Miller (Kindergarten Cop), and Cathy Moriarty (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1992 film A Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag


-Kiefer Sutherland (A Few Good Men) and Penelope Ann Miller (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1998 film Break Up


-Xander Berkeley (A Few Good Men) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1991 blockbuster Terminator 2: Judgement Day.


-Cuba Gooding Jr. (A Few Good Men) and Cathy Moriarty (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 2000 comedy Welcome to Hollywood


-Cuba Gooding Jr. (A Few Good Men) and Angela Bassett (Kindergarten Cop extra) were in the 1991 film Boyz n the Hood


-James Stewart (The FBI Story) and Carroll Baker (Kindergarten Cop) were in the 1962 western epic How the West Was Won and the 1964 western Cheyenne Autumn

"Made of Honor" review by Spaldy

Starring: Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin McKidd
Written by: Adam Sztykiel, Deborah Kaplan, Harry Elfont
Directed by: Paul Weiland

It seems that I was under the mistaken impression that “romantic comedy” meant there should be actual comedy in this movie. Someone should have alerted the writers to this rule of providing what they promise.

The McDreamy Loverboy who couldn’t buy love (but totally could) stars as the smarmy womanizer tom. I have never really gotten the appeal of Patrick Dempsey as a sexy guy, so for me his begin cast as the guy that every women loves to pant after never really worked for me. I buy him as a likable nerd (such as Ronald Miller in “Can’t Buy Me Love”) but as Dempsey has become an adult and put on some muscle weight, he seems to be cast only as a ladies man. It never works for me. Instead, he usually just comes off like a smug, womanizing jackass. I am sure there are 1,000 women out there who would disagree with my assessment and that is precisely why Dempsey was cast as Tom here. For me though, it just made the character of Tom more insufferable.

So basically the plot is that philanderer Tom meets the intelligent and brutally honest Hannah (Michelle Monaghan) in college. For the past ten years he has continued to run through a steam of women, going so far as to create a set of rules to prevent him from having an actual relationship with any of them. Meanwhile, Tom develops an emotionally intimate bond with Hannah who keeps him happy by calling him on his crap and keeping him company. Basically she acts in the capacity as a wife in many ways only there is no sex, no sharing of living space, and no need to keep any thing from one another.

So when Hannah is called away to Scotland on business for six weeks, the egotistical Tom realizes that without Hannah, he has no emotional connection to anyone. Tom is desperately lonely and it is in this wallowing and self pitying that Tom decides that this mean he loves Hannah and must confess this to her. Flowers in hand, Tom rushes to meet Hannah when she returns only to find her happy, in love, and engaged to a Scotsman (Kevin McKidd). Frustrated, Tom can only think of how to win Hannah back. Tom gives little thought to how happy Hannah is with someone who adores her, not to mention someone who would most likely be more committed to her than Tom could ever be capable of being. Just like the 1980’s, this movie is “all about me.” Selfish Tom wants what he wants, regardless of whether it is what is best for the woman that he supposedly loves.

The script is saddled with one unfunny joke or situation after another. From the first moment the movie is doomed when it opens on an extended flashback sequence that is not remotely funny. If a flashback can’t elicit a chuckle, what hope is there for the rest of the movie? Things just got uglier from there. The opening credits were made up of heart confetti and coupled with the “witty” banter, it felt like some writer was trying way too hard to appeal to women. Instead the movie felt like it was written by a man right off of the bat. Sometimes that can work but if the writer has no clue how to appeal to women (other than casting a handsome lead), then what kind of demographic are you after for your audience?

From the time that the credits finish, the movie just kind of freefalls into torture from there. The story is predictable and worse, because you know how the movie will end, it makes the movie all that more difficult to digest. Why are we rooting for Tom? Even before they start adding in reasons that he is better than Tom, he is actually better than Tom from the outset. By the time we get to the moment when it is revealed why Hannah doesn’t belong with Colin, the audience still does not see many reasons why Hannah belongs with Tom instead.

From start to finish, this was wasteful, unfunny, and most horrifying, it made me associate discomfort with the lush, beautiful shots of the Scottish highlands. It was like “Clockwork Orange” in the theatre. I feel nauseated at the thought of kilts and haggis right now. Then again, that may be the proper reaction for the latter item.

The point is, although there are passable romantic comedies with some redeemable parts, this is not one of them. Lifetime and WE would reject this movie as too insipid. Avoid this movie at all costs.

Review: "Speed Racer" by Spaldy

Written & Directed by: The Wachowski Brothers

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Matthew Fox, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon

Let me say at the start that this movie is not good. I admit that. However, I also have to admit that I kind of liked it. It is a live action Japanese comic book with elements of “Tron,” modern video games, bad kung fu, and oddly enough, an A-Ha music video. It is cheesy, corny, silly and annoying but at times it was also wonderful, fun, and the good kind of cheesy. The movie is seizure inducing not just because of the flashing lights but also because the whole picture is at war with itself.

Adapted from the Japanese animated show from the 1960’s, “Speed Racer” is the story of the Racer family. Pops makes race cars and his sons Rex and Speed drive them. After a family tragedy, Speed must live up to and surpass his brother Rex’s legacy, but in order to do that, he needs to grow up and face the injustices of the “real” world. Although the physics alone in this movie made the “real” world of Speed Racer far less real than even the average video game, it is still an intriguing world of 1950’s charm and old fashionedness behind all the glitz and bright shiny lights. Perhaps this is why this movie looks so much like one of the best video game adaptations I have ever seen. Now “Speed Racer” isn’t a video game (that I know of) but if it were, this movie would be a remarkable feat. As just a movie though, it is still pretty inventive and different.

The tone and comedy of the movie seem more suited for kids (except for a handful of very adult jokes), and that is both a strength and a weakness to the movie. For example, some of the funniest and most groan worthy moments come courtesy of Speed’s younger brother Spritle and his chimpanzee Chim-Chim. Now, having grown up on a steady diet of Chimp classics such as “Lancelot Link” (and to a lesser extent the Orangutan oeuvre of “Any Which Way but Loose” and the dreadful Tony Danza “classic” “Going Ape!” which seemed to be the only movie on HBO at one point in the 1980’s), I have always loved comedy bits with Monkeys and Apes. I can appreciate some cheap laughs from the chimp. However, there were also moments that were just preposterously stupid. One gag would make me giggle and the next one would make me want to leave the theatre.

For me the whole movie was like that. Parts I would just adore and at other times I would just totally loathe the movie. The art direction and color schemes were just spectacular. The casting and wardrobe were magnificent. However, then you have the races that were sometimes exhilarating and at other moments it gave you a “will this chase never end?” déjà vu that I haven’t experienced since the pod race sequence of Episode I of “Star Wars.” If he were alive, even H.B. Halicki would have argued that there were too many car chase sequences. At the same time, the races were almost more interesting than the actual plot.

The movie is all over the map, but ultimately it was an interesting experience. I don’t know if I would ever want to see it again, but I can say that it was inventive and I kind of dug it. I think few would get the cornball charm of this movie, but for the few who feel the way I do, the highlights might outweigh the movie’s detractions.

"Nobody Loves Alice" Review by Anthony Thurber

Nobody Loves Alice
Year: 2008
Director: Roger A. Scheck
Stars: Nitzan Mager, Amanda Taylor, Phillip Ward
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Indie-Pictures
Running Time: 87 Mins
Review Rating: 5 Stars
Official Website: http://www.nobodylovesalice.com/

(Please Note: This is an Advance Review)

Nobody Loves Alice is about Alice, a sad and lonely woman who always dreamed about finding the right person to be with. Her dreams come true e when she was involved with a bunch of her co-workers when Alison, one of her co-workers wanted to test her soon to be husband’s fidelity. Alice finds herself falling in love with him, when they first meet. But soon, Alison begins to realize that he has fallen in love with Alice and is on the verge of losing him completely to Alice’s deranged mind.

Nobody Loves Alice is the most shocking psychological horror film that I’ve seen this year, so far. Writer/Director Roger A Scheck provides a very shocking character study here. It’s one of those movies that rely, for the most part on character development. It does that so that you are interested in the characters. Scheck does a very good job spending time developing on the two main characters. He does that by going into the background of the main character, and focusing on the struggles of the person that going through, what it’s like to have someone you love being abducted. Scheck also doesn’t go kill crazy like in the recent torture-porn films even thought there are some moments in the film. He does that by focusing on building the suspense, as it helped some of those moments be shocking. Scheck’s direction was very good, as he manages to get his actors to play their roles perfectly.

The acting in the film was also very good. You know that you’re enjoying a serious horror film, when you’re into the characters and the performances of the film. The cast had very good chemistry with each other, as their performances were very good. The film also has a couple of great female performances from Nitzan Mager and Amanda Taylor. First, Nitzan Mager was very good as the lead. She played her character very well, as she made the character very shy that you feel sorry for her and very psychotic whenever she was needed to. Also, Amanda Taylor was very good playing the co-worker that searching desperately for her boyfriend. The performance was very good, as she really sold her character very well. It felt realistic and never got too carried away.

Nobody Loves Alice is a psychological horror film that will satisfy those are looking for dark storytelling and shocking gore moments.

Nobody Loves Alice will be available on DVD June 24 from Indie-Pictures. To pre-order this film on the Indie-Pictures website, you can goto: http://www.indie-pictures.com/Nobody-Loves-Alice-p/892686001067.htm.