Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Movies That Entertained Me In 2013

In no particular order:

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
The Wolf of Wall Street
Saving Mr. Banks
August: Osage County
Inside Llewyn Davis
Dallas Buyers Club
The Book Thief
Philomena
Thor: The Dark World
Nebraska
12 Years a Slave
Delivery Man/Starbuck
Bad Grandpa
Captain Philips
Gravity
Prisoners
Rush
Don Jon
In a Word
Short Term 12

Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom



What I liked:

  • It tells parts Nelson Mandela's true life story.
  • It nice to see Idris Elba staring in a leading role.
  • Naomie Harris complemented Elba well.
  • It showed the good, the bad, and the ugly of both Nelson and Winnie.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty



What I liked:

  • Ben Stiller was delightful as Walter Mitty.
  • Stiller also directed it.
  • Kristen Wiig is lovely.
  • Wonderful supporting cast: Kathryn Hahn, Adam Scott, Adrian Martinez, Sean Penn, Patton Oswalt, and Shirley MacLaine.
  • It's an enjoyable story with layers that all connect in the end.
  • Fabulous soundtrack.
  • Rupert Holmes' "Escape (If You Like Pina Coladas)"
  • It was beautifully shot.  Great camera work and cinematography.
  • Stay until the lights come on for a special version of "Escape".

The Wolf of Wall Street



What I liked:

  • It's based on a true story.
  • Matthew McConaughey is classic McConaughey.  
  • Jonah Hill is fantastic.
  • The supporting cast continues to be wonderful: Margot Robbie, Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner, Jon Bernthal, Jon Favreau, Jean Dujardin, Joanna Lumley, Christin Milioti, Christine Ebersole, Shea Whigham, P.J. Byrne, Kenneth Choi, Brian Sacca, Henry Zebrowski, Ethan Suplee, and Aya Cash.
  • Directed by Martin Scorsese.
  • It's a crazy, almost unbelievable, story.
  • Hair, makeup, and costume design were all great.
  • Fabulous soundtrack.

Saving Mr. Banks



What I liked:

  • It is an interesting behind the scenes look of how the film, Mary Poppins, came into existence.
  • Emma Thompson is always wonderful.
  • Tom Hanks made for a good Walt Disney.
  • It has a talented supporting cast: Colin Farrell, Ruth Wilson, Paul Giamatti, Bradley Whitford, B.J. Novak, Jason Schwartzman, Kathy Baker, and Rachel Griffiths.
  • Stay through the credits for a special treat.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

American Hustle



What I liked:
  • It has an amazing cast: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner, Louis C.K., Jack Huston, Michael Pena, Shea Whigham, and Elisabeth Rohm.
  • It has a great soundtrack.
  • Hair, make up and costumes were fantastic.
  • The story was interesting. 
  • Robert De Niro makes a cameo, if you want to call it that.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

August: Osage County



What I liked:

  • Meryl Streep knocks it out of the park once again.  Simply perfect.
  • Julia Roberts is fantastic.  She is still gorgeous with very little make up on and better yet, she's not a size 2.
  • The supporting cast is outstanding: Chris Cooper, Ewan McGregor, Margo Martindale, Sam Shepard, Dermot Mulroney, Julianne Nickolson, Juliette Lewis, Abigail Breslin, Benedict Cumberbatch and Misty Upham.
  • It's dark, funny, depressing, hopeful, and sad.
  • Great dialogue.
  • Love the music that Steve listens to in the car.
  • Love the movie poster.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug



What I liked:

  • It has more action than the first one.
  • Great special effects.
  • Hair, makeup, and costumes are excellent.
  • It has a great cast: Iam McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Dean O'Gorman, Aidan Turner, John Callen, Peter Hambleton, Jed Brophy, Mark Hadlow, Adam Brown, Cate Blanchett, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Luke Evans, and Evangeline Lilly.
  • Lilly is a nice addition to the cast.
  • Cumberbatch has a great dragon voice.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire



What I liked:

  • Hair, makeup, and costume design is fabulous.
  • Outstanding cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Amanda Plummer, Lynn Cohen, Sam Clafin, Toby Jones, and Jena Malone.
  • Great action scenes.
  • Wonderful special effects.

Inside Llewyn Davis



What I liked:

  • It is written and directed by the Coen Brothers.
  • Oscar Issac just nails it.  He is a great actor who can also sing very well.
  • It also stars Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, Max Casella, Adam Driver, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund, Alex Karpovsky, and Helen Hong.
  • Beautiful music.
  • Lots of sarcasm.
  • Loved the twist!

Dallas Buyers Club



What I liked:

  • It's based on true events of Ron Woodroof's life.
  • Jared Leto is absolutely amazing as Rayon.  Great acting with immense dedication to the roll.
  • Matthew McConaughey plays the part very well.
  • Hair, Makeup and Costume Design are outstanding.
  • It also stars Steve Zahn, Denis O'Hare, Kevin Rankin, and Griffin Dunne.
  • You can appreciate the good that the internet can do after remembering how life was without it.

Grudge Match



What I liked:

  • Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro play convincing former boxers.
  • Great call to have Ireland Baldwin play Kim Basinger's character in the flashbacks.
  • It also stars Kevin Hart, Alan Arkin, Jon Bernthal, and LL Cool J.
  • The story is entertaining.
  • Stay to the credits to see a funny clip of Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.
  • They spent a lot of money on special effects to make these two look like boxers (then and now).

Thursday, December 12, 2013

2014 Golden Globe Nominations

My initial thoughts:

  • No love for my favorite, Short Term 12.
  • No love for Lee Daniel's The Butler.  While not a critic favorite it was a fan favorite.
  • Barkhad Abdi is on the road to receiving an Oscar nomination for his role in Captain Phillips.
Read the full list of nominations here.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The Book Thief



What I liked:

  • Sophie Nelisse is beautiful and talented.  I can't wait to see what she does next.
  • Nico Liersch is adorable as Rudy.
  • Emily Watson and Geoffrey Rush are fantastic as Liesel's parents.
  • It also stars Heike Makatsch, Roger Allam, and Ben Schnetzer.
  • The story is beautiful told.
  • Hair, makeup, costume design, and the sets are all great.

Philomena



What I liked:

  • It is based on a true story.
  • Judy Dench is wonderful as always.
  • Steven Coogan is great.
  • It also stars Sophie Kennedy Clark, Mare Winningham, Peter Hermann, Sean Mahon, and Michelle Fairley.
  • It makes you think and can spark some debate on the merits of forgiveness.

All Is Lost



What I liked:

  • If you have to watch one guy on screen for a few hours, he needs to keep your interest.  Robert Redford is one of the few guys that can do that.
  • The cinematography is wonderful.
  • The story is interesting.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Ender's Game



What I liked:

  • Asa Butterfield is a wonderful actor for his age.  He can express emotions so well for the camera.
  • Outstanding supporting cast: Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, Nonso Anozie, Aramis Knight, Suraj Partha, and Moises Arias.
  • The special effects are top notch.  It never looks like a green screen.
  • The animation is fantastic.
  • The story is very interesting.  It's almost like a Hunger Games but for boys.
  • The score is very good.  It reminds me of something that would be in Game of Thrones.

Thor: The Dark World



What I liked:

  • Chris Hemsworth is still lovely eye candy.
  • Natalie Portman never looked better.
  • The best part of Thor is Loki.  Tom Hiddleston is incredible and the real reason to see this movie.
  • The supporting cast is unbelieveable and should be featured more in the promotions: Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Eccleston, Jamie Alexander, Zachary Levi, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Idris Elba, Rene Ruuso, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgard, Alice Krige, and Chris O'Dowd.
  • There are two good cameos.
  • It's entertaining and funny.
  • Lots of great action scenes.
  • Make sure to stay in the theater until the light come on.  There are two extra scenes in the credits.  One with Thor and one without.

Nebraska



What I liked:

  • It is delightful, charming, and heartwarming.
  • There are many layers to the story.
  • Bruce Dern is fantastic.  He can do so much without saying a word.
  • Will Forte!  Who knew he could be a good serious actor?!  I hope he gets more roles like this.
  • June Squibb is highly entertaining.  I hope she gets a Best Supporting nomination for this performance.
  • Great supporting cast: Bob Odenkirk, Stacy Keach, Peg Nagy, Kevin Kunkel and Devin Ratray.
  • It feels real and authentic to the American way - the good and the bad.
  • It has a beautiful score.

12 Years a Slave



What I liked:

  • It's crazy to me that this is based on a book written 160 years ago.  Why wasn't this story told sooner on the big screen?
  • The story is intense and director Steve McQueen doesn't cut away from uncomfortable moments.  If anything he stays on them too long so that you really start to feel for what Solomon went through.
  • Chiwetel Ejifor is fantastic as Solomon Northup.  He has a great shot at an Oscar nomination.
  • Lupita Nyong'o is wonderful as Patsey.  The character almost flies under the radar for most of her screen time but then has a scene of a lifetime.
  • A lot of people are talking about an Oscar nomination for Nyong'o (and it would be well deserved) but I think she has some competition from Sarah Paulson who plays heartless like no other.
  • Michael Fassbender plays evil so well.
  • The rest of the cast is a knockout as well: Dwight Henry, Bryan Batt, Kelsey Scorr, Quvenzhané Wallis, Scoot McNairy, Taran Killam, Adepero Oduye, Michael K. Williams, Paul Giamatti, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Alfre Woodward, and Brad Pitt.
  • Pitt looked like his character from Legends of the Falls...just 20 years older.













  • Great cinematography and camera work.
  • Fantastic makeup and special effects.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Happy Birthday YHG!

The Young Hollywood Guide is three years old today!
Thanks to everyone for your support!  Please continue to comment, share and send me your suggestions!


Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Delivery Man



What I liked:

  • The same guys that did the original French version of this film did this one:
    • Written by: Ken Scott and Martin Petit
    • Directed by Ken Scott
  • The US version is almost identical to the French version:
    • It's funny, interesting and heartwarming.
    • David still wears a lot of interesting t shirts.
  • The US version stars Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Cobie Smulders, Bobby Moynihan, and Brit Robertson.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

The Counselor



What I liked:

  • Michael Fassbender and Penélope Cruz are beautiful people.  When they are on screen together, it is hard to know who to look at.
  • Cameron Diaz plays the mean girl very well.  While I didn't understand her eye makeup, it totally worked for her character.
  • Javier Bardem's hair gives another outstanding performance.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa



What I liked:

  • This movie is ridiculous and hysterical.  It had the entire theater roaring.
  • Johnny Knoxville and Jackson Nicoll have great chemistry.
  • The reactions from the unsuspecting people are great.

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete



What I liked:

  • Skylan Brooks and Ethan Dizon are fabulous as Mister and Pete.  Both had some heavy material to work with at such a young age.  They looked and acted like pros.  A lot of people are calling out Brooks but I think Dizon was just as fabulous.  He could say so much with just a look.
  • Jennifer Hudson and Jordin Sparks are great.
  • Mr. Eko (!) as Sergeant Pike.
  • It is a heartbreaking story to watch.  If you are looking for a feel good movie, this is not it.  However, it is an important story to see.  It might make you want to help someone less fortunate than you or at the very least, be grateful for the life that you have.

Last Vegas



What I liked:

  • It has a great cast: Robert de Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline, & Mary Steenburgen.
  • It has a good supporting cast: Joanna Gleason, Jerry Ferrara, Roger Bart, Romany Malco, and Michael Ealy.
  • Steenburgen does her own singing.
  • It's definitely geared towards an older crowd.
  • It has some funny parts.
  • There is a 50 Cent cameo.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

About Time



What I liked:

  • It's rated R so it's not your typical Romantic Dramady.
  • Domhnall Gleeson is charming.
  • Bill Nighy is captivating and entertaining.
  • It also stars Rachel McAdams, Lydia Wilson, Lindsay Duncan, Richard Cordery, Joshua McGuire, Tom Hollander, Margot Robbie, Will Merrick, and Vanessa Kirby.
  • There are some great scenes between Gleeson and Nighy.
  • It has a good soundtrack.

The Fifth Estate



What I liked:

  • It's an interesting, based on true events, story that does a good job of showing both sides.
  • Benedict Cumberatch is awesome as Julian Assange.
  • Daniel Bruhl is great as Daniel Berg.
  • It also stars Laura Linney, Anthony Mackie, STanley Tucci, Peter Capaldi, David Thewlis, Anatole Taubman, Alicia Vikander, Mortiz Bleibtreu, and Alexander Siddig,  Carice van Houten.
  • It makes you think about the pros and cons of WikiLeaks and whistle-blowers.  What information should be public and what should be kept private?

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Captain Phillips



What I liked:

  • It's based on true events.
  • It's the best performance that Tom Hanks has had in a while.
  • The four Somali pirates were fantastic, especially since this was their first time acting: Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed, and Mahat M. Ali.
  • Michael Chernus, Catherine Keener, David Warshofsky, Corey Johnson, Chris Mulkey, Yul Vazquex, Max Marini, and Omar Berdouni also star.
  • I like that the story is not one sided...both sides are shown equally.
  • It's full of suspense even though you know somewhat how it ends.

Gravity



What I liked:

  • It has beautiful views of space.  
  • The 3D effects show a lot of depth.  Things are not coming out at you.
  • Sandra Bullock gives a fantastic performance.
  • George Clooney is his usual suave self.
  • Ed Harris has a great voice for radio.
  • It's just the right length.  Any longer and you would have lost interest.
  • It's action packed.

Runner Runner



What I liked:

  • Anthony Mackie is the best thing about this film.
  • Looking at Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake for 90 minutes isn't a terrible waste of time.
  • Gemma Arterton is beautiful.
  • It also stars Oliver Cooper, Christina George, Sam Palladio, David Costabile, and John Heard.
  • I liked how it ended.

Prisoners



What I liked:

  • It's interesting, intense and suspenseful.
  • Hugh Jackman gives one of his best performances.
  • Great acting by Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, and Paul Dano.
  • Kudos to hair and makeup for transforming Leo.
  • I liked the way that it ended although I could see some people hating it.

Rush



What I liked:

  • It is based on the true story of the rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda.
  • Chris Hemsworth is a good looking man who can also act.
  • Daniel Bruhl was fantastic.
  • Hemsworth and Bruhl had great chemistry together.
  • Also stars: Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara, Piefrancesco Favino, Natalie Dormer and Christian McKay.
  • The special effects were good.
  • I liked how Ron Howard used interesting camera angles to capture the moments.
  • It's always cool to see footage of the real people.

Enough Said



What I liked:

  • James Gandolfini was a lovable teddy bear.
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus was good.
  • Great supporting cast: Catherine Keener, Toni Collette, Ben Falcone, Tracey Fairaway, Michaela Watkins, Tavi Gevinson, Eve Hewson and Jessica St. Clair.
  • It's well written with heart and humor.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Thanks for Sharing



What I liked:

  • It has a great cast: Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins, Gwyneth Paltrow, Josh Gad, Joely Richardson, Patrick Fugit, Alecia Moore, Carol Kane, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Michaela Watkins, Emily Meade, and Poorna Jagannathan.
  • The stories were interesting, sometimes dark and serious.
  • You would never know that this was Pink's first major feature film as an actor.

Don Jon



What I liked:

  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one talented guy.  Not only can he act, sing and dance (see 500 Days of Summer) he can also write and direct.  You would never know that this was his first feature film as a writer and director.  It's very well done.  JGL also goes through a great physical transformation to become Jon.
  • Scarlett Johansson is wonderful as Barbara.  
  • Julianne Moore is her usual awesomeness.
  • Tony Danza!
  • Brie Larson crushes it with each look.
  • It also stars Glenne Headly, Rob Brown, and Jeremy Luke.
  • The story has many interesting layers to it.
  • I love how it exposes the way that the media influences the way that we think about love, sex, and relationships.
  • I like the way that Jon questions the church.
  • The dialogue feels natural and organic.  It's honesty makes it funny.
  • Love the cameos of Anne Hathaway and Channing Tatum.
  • Keep an eye out for the Emily Blunt and John Krasinski cameo.  
  • It has a lot of amusing and entertaining parts.
  • I like the way that light and music are used to convey a point and sometimes even to manipulate you or to show you how other movies manipulate you.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards












  • And we are already 3 minutes behind schedule...
  • Not feeling this opening...
  • Kevin Spacey rocks.
  • "I come to the award shows for the twerking." - Tina Fey
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Merrit Wever from Nurse Jackie
  • Best speech ever!
  • Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series - Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield for 30 Rock!
  • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - Tony Hale for Veep.
  • Poor Adam Driver and Bill Hader. At least no one from Modern Family won.
  • What a beard! Jon Hamm could play baseball player, Brian Wilson, in a movie.
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Julia Louie-Dreyfus for Veep
  • Poor Tina Fey.  #nomore30Rock
  • This Veep shtick it pretty good.

Live Blogging the Emmy Awards Red Carpet Show on E!

People are bringing it tonight on the red carpet!
  • Christina Hendricks' hair and dress are stunning.
  • Tina Fey is rocking the cobalt blue dress.
  • Jewel looks lovely in a pink/gold dress.
  • Mindy Kaling looks great.
  • Love Sarah Hyland's black and green lace dress. 
  • I like Aubrey Plaza's dress.  It's very her.  Rebelling and chic at the same time.
  • Mayim Bialik looks great in emerald.
  • Ty Burrell's grey jacket is very classy.
  • Elisabeth Moss' hair does look fierce.
  • Lots of white dresses on the red carpet.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

In A World



What I liked:

  • Lake Bell shows that she is a triple threat as she wrote it, directed it, and stared in it.
  • It's quirky and charming.
  • It has an interesting premise with an inside look at the voice over industry.  
  • The B story line is also interesting and gives the film a little more heart.
  • Fabulous cast: Rob Corddry, Demetri Martin, Fred Melamed, Michaela Watkins, Ken Marino, Alexandra Holden, Eva Longoria, Nick Offerman, Tig Notaro, Melissa Disney, Corsica Wilson, Jason O'Mara, Jeff Garlin, and Geena Davis.
  • It has a great soundtrack.
  • There is a fantastic Cameron Diaz cameo.
  • What the what!
  • Girl power!

Short Term 12



What I liked:

  • Brie Larson is flawless in  her performance.
  • John Gallagher Jr. is adorable, charming, and compliments Larson well.
  • The story is heart wrenching and heart warming at the same time.
  • The supporting cast is unbelievably talented.  All the kids make their characters so real: Kaitlyn Dever, Alex Calloway, Kevin Hernandez,Lydia Du Veaux and Keith Stanfield.
  • Stephanie Beatriz, Rami Malek and Frantz Turner also star.

The Family



What I liked:

  • It has a great cast: Robert De Niro, Michelle Pheiffer, Dianna Agron, John D'Leo, Vincent Pastore, Anthony Desio, Domenick Lombardozzi, and Tommy lee Jones.
  • It's always cool to see a girl standing up for herself against mean jerks.
  • Agron and D'Leo had a nice brother/sister thing going.

Closed Circuit



What I liked:

  • The story is interesting.  It gives you an inside look at the British judicial system.
  • It is suspenseful and intriguing.
  • Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall star in it.
  • Jim Broadbent, Ciaran Hinds, Riz Ahmed, Anne-Marie Duff and Julia Stiles also star.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Blue Jasmine



What I liked:

  • Cate Blanchett is fabulous.  I could see her getting another Academy Award nomination for this role.
  • Alec Baldwin is perfectly cast as a charming crook.
  • Sally Hawkins holds her own against Blanchett.
  • Andrew Dice Clay, Bobby Cannavale and Louis C.K. make for a talented and interesting supporting cast.
  • Peter Sarsgaard, Alden Ehrenreich and Michael Stuhlbarg also star.
  • It's Vinny from Doogie Howser M.D.!
  • It's an interesting look at the wife being a victim in her husband's scandal.
  • It was written and directed by Woody Allen.

Blackfish


What I liked:

  • It's a good example of how the internet can be useful.  Now people can do research and make up their own minds on serious topics like this.
  • The video footage and interviews are powerful and moving.
  • It starts the conversation "what is best for these animals?".
  • It brings up interesting points about orca families and bringing together orcas from different parts of the world.

Kick Ass 2



What I liked:
  • Chole Grace Moretz is fierce as Hit-Girl.
  • There is a good mix of the original cast and new members: Aaron Tyalor-Johnson, Morris Chestnut, Claudia Lee, Amy Anzel, Clark Duke, Augustus Prew, Donald Faison, Lyndsy Fonseca, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, John Leguizamo, Jim Carey, Lindy Booth, and Olga Kirkulina.
  • Great choreography for the fight scenes.
  • Turk!

Lee Daniels' The Butler




What I liked:

  • Forest Whitaker is always good.
  • Impressive cast: Mariah Carey, Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Redgrave, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, Terrence Howard, Cuba Goding Jr., Lenny Kravitz, Robin Williams, John Cusack, Yaya Alafia, Jesse Williams, James Marsden, Minka Kelly, Liev Schreiber, Nelsan Ellis, Alan Rickman, and Jane Fonda.
  • Howard plays the player almost too well.
  • It was directed by Lee Daniels.
  • It was written by Danny Strong who will forever be known to me as Doyle.  He does make a cameo appearance in the film.
  • Hair, makeup, and costumes were all fantastic.  I would expect that they win a few awards for this.
  • The story is entertaining and at times thought provoking.

The Spectacular Now



What I liked:

  • As always, Miles Teller is fantastic.  He can do no wrong in my book.
  • I didn't get all the hype about Shailene Woodley until now.  She's very talented.
  • Great supporting cast: Brie Larson, Masam Holden, Dayo Okeniyi, Adre Royo, Bob Odenkirk, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kyle Chandler, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
  • It was written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, the same team that wrote (500) Days of Summer.
  • I know the character of Sutter; kind of cute, charming, not living to his full potential, he says one things but his eyes say another, doesn't always have your best interest at heart, his heart has been broken but doesn't know how to fix it.
  • I know the character of Aimme; a natural beauty, girl next door, super sweet, naive, book smart, nerdy, vulnerable, immature and mature at the same time.
  • Because these characters are so real, you become invested in them. 
  • It is a good reminder on the importance of parents actually parenting.
  • It is an interesting look at alcoholism in teens.
  • It's a pretty serious movie, not quirky like (500) Days.
  • Bubbles!

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

We're the Millers



What I liked:

  • There are some funny parts.
  • Will Poulter is perfect in this role.
  • Nick Offerman is the man.
  • Kathryn Hahn is great.
  • Mark L. Young plays "that guy" really, really well.
  • It also starts Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis, Emma Roberts, Ed Helms, Molly C. Quinn, Tomer Sisley, Matthew Willig, Luis Guizman, Ken Marino, and Thomas Lennon.
  • The gag reel during the credits is pretty good.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Fruitvale Station



What I liked:

  • It is based on the true story of Oscar Grant.
  • It was written and directed by newcomer Ryan Coogler.  
  • Coogler does a fantastic job showing the human side to Oscar.  He shows him as a father, son, boyfriend, brother, and friend but he also shows Oscar's flaws; his time spend in jail, his hot headiness, and his drug dealing past.  Oscar did both good and bad things.  He was a real person.
  • Michael B. Jordan did a great job playing Oscar.  Jordan is a likable guy and that shows in his performance.
  • The supporting cast was wonderful as well: Octavia Spencer, Melonie Diaz, Kevin Durand, (an almost unrecognizable) Chad Michael Murray, Ahna O'Reilly, and Ariana Neal.
  • I liked the text message graphics.
  • I liked the real video footage and the update at the end.  
  • It was actually filmed at the same BART station that this all took place at.  They didn't have to use a sound stage.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Girl Most Likely



What I liked:

  • Kristen Wiig knows how to be funny while still keeping it real.
  • Annette Bening was fantastic.
  • Darren Criss is lovely.
  • It also stars Matt Dillon, Christopher Fitzgerald, June Diane Raphael, Natasha Lyonne, Bob Balaban, Patricia Kalember,  Cynthia Nixon, Ronald Guttman, Julia Stiles and Andrea Martin.
  • The character of Ralph has a lot of depth.
  • It is an entertaining story with heart.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

2013 Emmy Nominations

Here are my initial thoughts on the 2013 Primetime Emmy Nominations...


  • Netflix's House of Cards and Arrested Development got some love.  This is a game changer.  It means that regular network television not only has to compete with cable but now the internet.
  • Lots of fans are going to love Connie Britton and Kerry Washington getting Best Actress nominations.
  • I still can't believe that people watch Episodes.
  • The Supporting Categories for Drama are where it is at.
    • So excited for Jim Carter to be nominated as Mr. Carson from Downton Abbey.
    • Peter Dinklage is always awesome.
    • Mandy Patinkin as Saul on Homeland is equally awesome.  Toughest category ever!
    • Maggie Smith vs Emilia Clarke vs Christina Hendricks?!  Perhaps this is the toughest category?!

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

White House Down



What I liked:

  • Channing Tatum is easy on the eyes.
  • Great casting.  Joey King looks like she could be the daughter of Tatum and Rachelle Lefevre.  Plus there is Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jason Clarke, Richard Jenkins, James Woods, and Lance Reddick.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

The Lone Ranger



What I liked:

  • Armie Hammer played a good Attorney/Texas Ranger.
  • William Fichtner and Tom Wilkinson are great bad guys.
  • Helena Bonham Cater has a great leg.
  • It also stars Ruth Wilson, Barry Pepper and James Badge Dale.
  • It points out that the white man took what wasn't his from the Indians and the from land and how greed destroys all.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

The Bling Ring




What I liked:

  • It is based on true events.
  • It shows how stupid people can be.
  • It's an interesting look at people who are obsessed with celebrity culture, name brands, money, fashion, and everything that is superficial.
  • Emma Watson talked like she was one of The Californians from the SNL skit.
  • The cast is talented and beautiful: Watson, Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, Claire Julien, Taissa Farmiga, Georgia Rock, and Leslie Mann.
  • Cameos by Kirsten Dunst and Paris Hilton.
  • Great soundtrack.

Much Ado About Nothing




  • I love the trailer.  They picked the perfect song to use in it: St. Germain's Rose Rouge.
  • I love the poster.  Quirky.  Intriguing.  
  • This may be one of the most beautiful casts ever assembled.  Eye candy for all.
  • I didn't understand most of what the actors were saying but it didn't matter because they all acted it out so well that it just made sense.  Their use of facial expressions, hand gestures, body movement, and props made this so enjoyable.
  • Written for the screen and directed by Joss Whedon.
  • It was shot in only 12 days at Whedon's house
  • Amazingly talented cast: Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Clark Gregg, Reed Diamond, Fran Kranz, Jillian Morgese, Spencer Treat Clark, Riki Lindhome, Sean Maher, Nathan Fillion, Ashley Johnson, Emma Bates, Tom Lenk, Nick Kocher, and Brian McElhaney.
  • That's Chrissy from Growing Pains!  
  • It has a beautiful ambiance about it.  You can't help but want to be apart of this world.
  • Great music throughout.

World War Z



What I liked:
  • Great acting by all: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, James Badge Dale, Fana Mokoena, David Morse, Pierfancesco Favino, Sterling Jerins, Abigail Hargrove and Matthew Fox.
  • It's an interesting story and in a way, terribly realistic.  Perhaps not with Zombies but with a virus of some sort taking over the world.
  • I liked Segen as Gerry's sidekick.
  • Great special effects.
  • It's intense.

Man of Steel



What I liked:

  • Henry Cavill is now in the running to be the sexiest man alive.  Looks aside, he played Superman well with a balance of emotions and reason.
  • Michael Shannon is amazing in everything.
  • It has a great supporting cast: Diane Lane, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Ayelet Zurer, Laurence Fishburne, Richard Schiff, Christopher Meloni, Harry Lennix and Carla Gugino.
  • Well done special effects.

The Heat



What I liked:

  • Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy have great chemistry together.
  • It also stars Tony Hale, Marlon Wayans, Ben Falcone, Demian Bichir, Kaitlin Olson, Taran Killam, Michael Rapaport, Bill Burr, Nathan Corddry, Joey McIntyre, Michael McDonald, Spoken Reasons, and Andy Buckley.
  • It's funny and smart.
  • All of the Boston Sports Art is hysterical.
  • It has a fun soundtrack.
  • The trailer does not show all of the good parts.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Stories We Tell



What I liked:

  • Sarah Polley wrote and directed this film about her life, specifically her mother and who her father might or might not be.  It's very personal and very courageous of Polley to share this story in this way.
  • The interviews with Polley's family and friends were informative, funny, and meaningful.
  • Spoilish Alert - the video footage of her families' home movies aren't real.  They were made for this film which surprised me.  Great casting there.
  • I liked the way she merged the different points of few of the same story.

Now You See Me



What I liked:

  • It is an interesting story with lots of twists and turns.
  • It stars Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Mélanie Laurent, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Frano, Michael Cane, Michael Kelly, David Warshofsky and Common.
  • Phoenix's Entertainment plays during the end credits. 

Thursday, May 30, 2013

This is the End



What I liked:

  • The casting was spot on: James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, & Craig Robinson.
  • With appearances by: Michael Cera, Emma Watson, Mindy Kaling, David Krumholtz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Rihanna, Martin Starr, Paul Rudd, Channing Tatum, Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Jason Segel, Brian Huskey, and The Backstreet Boys.
  • It's funny, gross, scary, witty, freaky, and silly.
  • There is a sequel to Pineapple Express.
  • A ton of pop culture jokes.
  • There is a nice moral to the story.

Friday, May 24, 2013

The Way Way Back



What I liked:

  • It was written and directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash.
  • Liam James plays the awkward teenager well.
  • Fantastic cast: Steve Carell, AnnaSophia Robb, Rob Corddry, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Toni Collette, Amanda Peet, and Allison Janney. Faxon and Rash also star.
  • It's an honest and real story.
  • It shows that sometimes family isn't all that and your friends are the ones that matter the most.

The Internship



What I liked:

  • Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn have great on screen chemistry together.  You can feel the bromance.
  • Rose Byrne is lovely.
  • Great supporting cast: John Goodman, Dylan O'Brien, B.J. Novak, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Josh Gad, Jessica Szohr, Max Minghella, Aasif Mandvi, Josh Brener, Tiya Sircar, and Tobit Raphael.
  • It starts off slow but once it gets going, it is entertaining.
  • There is a nice moral to the story.
  • The end credits are creative.
  • Lots of pop culture references, everything from Footloose to Game of Thrones

The Hangover Part III



What I liked:

  • It has the original cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, Jeffrey Tambor, Heather Graham, Mike Upps, Sasha Barrese, Jamie Chung, Sondra Currie, Gillian Vigman, and Grant Holmquist.
  • Nice additions with John Goodman and Melissa McCarthy.
  • There is a lot less nudity but still plenty of adult language and gross out stunts.
  • Stay through some of the credits for a bonus scene.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Star Trek Into Darkness



What I liked:

  • The opening sequence is creative and visually stunning.
  • Chris Pine.
  • Zachary Quinto.
  • Benedict Cumberbatch.
  • April Webster and Alyssa Weisberg did a great job casting the first movie and everyone was back for the second: Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, and Bruce Greenwood.
  • Peter Weller and Alice Eve were nice additions to the cast.
  • J.J. Abrams is a great director.
  • Awesome set design and costumes.
  • It's funny, witty, and charming.
  • It's action packed.
  • It has great 3D effects.

The Kings of Summer



What I liked:

  • Perfectly casted with Nick Offerman, Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias, Alison Brie, Megan Mullally, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Marc Evan Jackson, Erin Moriarty, Kumail Nanjiani, Thomas Middleditch and Tony Hale.
  • It was filmed in and around Cleveland including Chagrin Falls, Berea, The Cleveland Metroparks, and possibly Whipps Ledges.
  • It's a delightful coming of age story about falling in love, being annoyed by your parents, and claiming your independence.
  • There is great dialogue, very natural and real.
  • I liked that the score had a video game vibe to it.
  • The Kings of Summer is a better title than the original, Toy's House.
  • If you like Joe's "Vacation in Cleveland" shirt, you can get it here: http://www.cleclothingco.com/product/vacation-in-cleveland

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

The Great Gatsby



What I liked:

  • The 3D effects are well done.  They don't come at you...instead they draw you in.
  • The costumes are lovely.
  • The set designs are fabulous.
  • The soundtrack, produced by Jay-Z, is fantastic.
  • Leonardo DiCaprio looked great.
  • Jason Clarke.

Iron Man 3



What I liked:

  • It's always fun to watch Robert Downey Jr.
  • Guy Pearce is a good bad guy.
  • Great supporting cast: Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Rebecca Hall, Jon Faveau, Ben Kingsley, James Badge Dale, Stephanie Szostak, Williams Sadler, Dale Dickey, Ty Simpkins, Miguel Ferrer, Stan Lee, and Adam Pally.
  • Paul Bettany's voice.
  • Blink and you will miss her - Rebecca Mader.
  • There are a lot of references to The Avengers.
  • I liked the story line with the kid.
  • Kingsley was fantastic.
  • Lots of love for Downton Abbey.
  • Stay to the very very end...after ALL of the credits for an extra clip.

The Iceman



What I liked:

  • Michael Shannon is very good at playing the bad guy.
  • Winona Ryder looked amazing.
  • Chris Evans was barely recognizable.
  • Hair and make up did a fantastic job.
  • David Schwimmer!
  • Interesting supporting cast: Ray Liotta, John Ventimiglia, James Franco, and Stephen Dorff.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Mud



What I liked:

  • This is Matthew McConaughey's best performance since A Time to Kill.  I can't imagine anyone else being Mud.
  • Tye Sheridan is fantastic as Ellis.  I can't wait to see what he does next.
  • It's a coming of age story about a boy who is in love with love.
  • The supporting cast is wonderful: Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Paulson, Ray McKinnon, Sam Shepard, Michael Shannon, Paul Sparks, Jacob Lofland and Bonnie Sturdivant.
  • The cinematography was great.
  • The use of natural light was beautiful.
  • That's not Mickey Doyle's real voice?!
  • The Beach Boys!

G-Dog


Who is G-Dog? from Freida Mock on Vimeo.

What I liked:

  • Father Gregory Boyle (G-Dog) is inspiring.  What he has done to help people find an alternative to gang life is amazing.  Watch this documentary.  Read is book.  Get something to eat at Homegirl Cafe.  Volunteer.  Do something!

The To Do List




What I liked:

  • Fabulous cast: Aubrey Plaza, Rachel Bilson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Alia Shakat, Connie Britton, Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, Clark Gregg, Scott Porter, Donald Glover, Johnny Simmons, Sarah Steele, Adam Pally, and Nolan Gould.
  • Plaza seems fearless in everything that she does.
  • It takes place during the summer of 1993!
  • Trapper Keepers, Caboodles, posters of Beverly Hills 90210!
  • It's funny.
  • There are some good morals to be learned at the end.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

The Big Wedding



What I liked:

  • There are a few funny parts.
  • I enjoy Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, Robin Williams, Amanda Seyfried, Topher Grace & Ben Barnes.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Pain & Gain



 What I liked:

  • Mark Wahlberg shows off his Calvin Klein's again.
  • Anthony Mackie.
  • Dwayne Johnson was very entertaining.
  • An eclectic group of supporting cast mates: Rebel Wilson, Ken Jeong, Ed Harris, Tony Shalhoub, Rob Corddry, and Bar Paly.
  • Fanny packs!
  • There are some funny moments.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Disconnect



What I liked:

  • It's an interesting look at the dangers of technology: use of webcams, identity theft, sexting, texting, emailing photos, chat rooms, message boards, fake identities and online gaming.
  • It gives you something to think about and talk about - hopefully face to face with someone.  
  • It's a great example of why you should put down your technology at the dinner table and interact with people in person (ie. Disconnect).
  • The acting was well done by everyone involved: Jason Bateman, Hope Davis, Frank Grillo, Michael Nygvist, Paula Patton,  Andrea Riseborough, Alexander Skarsgard, Max Thieriot, Colin Ford Jonah Bobo, Haley Ramm, Aviad Berstein, and Norbert Leo Butz.
  • Marc Jacobs!

Starbuck



What I liked:

  • Patrick Huard plays the role of Starbuck really well.
  • It also stars Julie LeBreton, Antoine Bertrand, and 150+ other people.
  • The story is interesting...a guy finds out that he fathered hundreds of kids via his sperm donation.  The kids want to meet him.  Now what?
  • It's funny, interesting, and heart warming.
  • David wears a lot of cool t shirts.
  • There are a lot of really good looking kids with really good hair.

Unfinished Song



What I liked:

  • Terence Stamp plays a lovable grouchy old man.
  • It also stars Vanessa Redgrave, Gemma Arterton, and Christopher Eccleston.
  • It's Glee club for senior citizens.
  • The music is entertaining.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Magic Camp



What I liked:

  • It is an intriguing look at a one week Magic Camp for kids.
  • Each featured kid has an interesting story and magic act to share.
  • It has great graphics in the opening credits.

Casting By



What I liked:

  • A fantastic history of the role of the Casting director.
  • Fabulous footage of Hollywood Stars before they made it big.
  • Great interviews from people in the Casting world as well as Hollywood.

Detroit Unleaded



What I liked:

  • EJ Assi and Nada Shouhayib are not only nice eye candy but can act too.
  • It also stars Mike Batayeh, Akram El-Ahmar, Mary Assel, Steven Soro, Henri Watkins, and Scott Norman.
  • It gives you a brief look at life in Detroit, life as a Lebanese-American, and life as part of the middle class.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Good Ol' Freda



What I liked:

  • Freda Kelly is lovely.  I admire her spirit, her respectfulness, and her work ethic.
  • As the secretary for The Beatles,  Kelly shares her amazing stories here for the first time.
  • Incredible pictures and film of The Beatles during their 10 year run.
  • Fantastic soundtrack.
  • Wonderful graphics.

The Place Beyond The Pines



What I liked:

  • Fantastic Cast: Ryan Gosling, Eva Mednes, Bradley Cooper, Olga Merediz, Mahershala Ali, Ben Mendelsohn, Rose Byrne, Harris Yulin, Robert Clohessy, Bruce Greenwood, Ray Liotta, Emory Cohen, and Dane DeHaan.
  • Well acted.
  • Lovely score.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Dear Mr. Watterson



What I liked:

  • It is a delightful look at the classic comic strip, Calvin and Hobbes.
  • The film serves as a love letter, of sorts, to the C&H creator, Bill Watterson.
  • I respect Mr. Watterson's choice to stay out of the spotlight and to not commercialize Calvin and  Hobbes.  
  • Chagrin Falls, Ohio!
  • Did you know that The Ohio State University has a cartoon Library?
  • Great interviews from other cartoonist and fans.
  • Beautiful animation.

Running from Crazy



What I liked:

  • Mariel Hemingway is very courageous for examining her family in this way and for shedding light on mental illness.
  • Hemingway and her boyfriend, Bobby Williams have started a foundation, The Willing Way, to help others live better.

Monday, April 8, 2013

The Last White Knight



What I liked:

  • It is a stirring documentary about a second meeting between Delay de la Beckwith (KKK member) and Paul Saltzman (a civil rights activist).
  • It has memorable interviews with Jimmie Travis, Joe Harris, Harry Belafonte, Charles Evers, and Morgan Freeman.
  • It is a reminder that racism is alive and well.

Pablo



What I liked:

  • It is an interesting look at an under appreciated art: the opening title of a film.
  • It tells the life story of Pablo Ferro, one of the pioneers in title creation.
  • It has great animation. 

He's Way More Famous Than You


What I liked:

  • Michael Urie and Jesse Eisenberg are great.
  • There are appearances by Ben Stiller,Mamie Gummer,  Natasha Lyonne,  Michael Ausiello and Ralph Macchio, 
  • The soundtrack is very interesting.

Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines


WONDER WOMEN! The Untold Story of American Superheroines from Vaquera Films on Vimeo.

What I liked:

  • It's an interesting look at the importance of strong female super heroes.
  • It tells the history of Wonder Woman.
  • Linda Carter still looks fantastic.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

42



What I liked:

  • It's a great story about love, equality, dedication, loyalty, and baseball.
  • Harrison Ford is the biggest name on this film.  The best part, you don't see Ford on screen.  You see Branch Rickey.
  • Chadwick Boseman plays a great Jackie Robinson.  I am glad that they hired a relative unknown for the role.  If it was a big name, Robinson would have been lost.
  • Nicole Behaire has great chemistry with Boseman and plays Rachel Robinson well.
  • Superb supporting cast: Christopher Meloni, Ryan Merriman, Lucas Black, Andre Holland, Alan Tudyk, Hamish Linklater, T.R. Knight, John C. McGinley, Max Gail, Brad Beyer, James Pickens Jr., and Derek Phillips. 

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Cleveland International Film Festival



































Do you like Wonder Woman, Calvin & Hobbes, The Beatles, honey, magic, or the ocean?  There is a film for you!

Do you like action, suspense, romance, drama, comedy or documentaries?  There is a film for you!

Do you speak English, Spanish, French or German?  There is a film for you!

The 37th Annual Cleveland International Film Festival runs April 3rd-14th.  This event is very well organized and extremely fun.  Check out the video below from last year and then check out www.clevelandfilm.org to plan your schedule for this year.

Hope to see you down there!












Saturday, March 23, 2013

56 Up




What it is:

  • It's a film based on The Up Series which is interviews with the same group of people when they were 7, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, and 56 years old.  The series played in the UK so these people are kind of celebrities there.  

What I liked:

  • It fascinating to see how a person's life has changed from when they were 7 years old.  It's also interesting to see how many of them went off to University, got married, got divorced, had kids, and got their dream jobs.

Admission



What I liked:

  • Lily Tomlin!
  • Paul Rudd has never looked better.
  • Sonya Walger, Wallace Shawn and Michael Sheen!
  • Nat Wolff and Travaris Spears were funny and adorable.

Olympus Has Fallen



What I liked:

  • Aaron Eckhart is the best looking President that we have ever had.
  • Gerard Butler did well in his role as ex Special Ops.
  • It has a pretty impressive supporting cast: Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Melissa Leo, Finely Jacobsen, Dylan McDermott, Rick Yune, Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, Sean O'Bryan, Ashley Judd and Robert Forster.
  • It's an entertaining action/thriller flick.  Intense at times.
  • I like that it is rated R so the language and the fighting sequences fit the script.
  • It tugs on your patriotic heart strings.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone


What I liked:

  • Glen Hansard's Love Don't Leave Me Waiting plays in the background of one scene.
  • Olivia Wilde has great hair.
  • Alan Arkin.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Oz The Great and Powerful



What I liked:

  • The opening credits are the best that I have seen in a while.
  • Great 3D effects.
  • Finely might be the cutest flying monkey ever.  I would watch a spin off film with him.  Zach Braff voiced him well.
  • The China Doll was adorable too.  Also, another spin off that I would watch.  Or perhaps an animated short.
  • James Franco played the cad well.
  • Mila Kunis and Rachel Weisz played sister witches well.
  • It also stars Michelle Williams, Bill Cobbs, Joey King, Tony Cox, Abigail Spencer, and Bruce Campbell.
  • They did well on the costume design.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

21 and Over



What I liked:

  • I think Miles Teller and Skylar Astin have the potential to be HUGE Hollywood stars.  Really talented individuals who also have great chemistry on screen.
  • It also stars Justin Chon, Sarah Wright, Francois Chau, and Russell Hodgkinson.
  • They give a nice shout out to Joseph Gordon-Levitt and 500 Days of Summer, two of my favorites!
  • The writers pay homage to Dr. Pierre Chang from LOST.
  • The characters are likable.
  • It's funny!

Jack The Giant Slayer



What I liked:

  • I have been a fan of Nicholas Hoult since his About A Boy days.  Glad to see that he is working more.
  • Stanley Tucci is always enjoyable to watch.
  • Ewan McGregor's hair looked fantastic.
  • It also stars Elanor Teomlinson, Eddie Marsan, Ewen Bremner, Ian McShane,  and Bill Nighy.
  • It was directed by Bryan Singer.
  • Hoult had some great leather jackets including one very cool hoodie.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Live Blogging the 2013 Academy Awards














And so it begins....
  • Getting pumped for Seth MacFarlane.
  • Love the set!
  • Great opening joke!  Tommy Lee Jones smiled!
  • Nice stab about The Oscars dissing Ben Affleck.
  • Charlize and Channing need to be in a dancing movie STAT.
  • Joseph Gordon Levitt can do no wrong.

Live Blogging the Red Carpet for the 2013 Academy Awards










  • Looks like Giulianna Rancic took out her extensions.  I like it!
  • Eddie Redmayne looks dashing.
  • Jessica Chastain looks like a star in a nude/pink/bronze (?) color dress and red lips.
  • Was that Lori Singer from Footloose?!  Also, is her dress attacking her?
  • Amy Adams look great in a silver dress.
  • Reese Witherspoon's hair looks amazing.  Her dress is nice but she has done something similar before.  Wish she would have taken more of a risk.
  • I would have preferred if Quvenzhané Wallis didn't have the stuffed dog purse.  She looks great though.

My 2013 Oscar Pics

I am not saying that this is who I want to win...it's who I think will win.

Best Picture: Argo
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis
Best Supporting Actor: Tommy Lee Jones
Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence
Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway
Animated Feature: Wreck-It Ralph
Cinematography: Life of Pi
Costume Design: Anna Karenina
Directing: Lincoln

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Live Blogging the Film Interdependent Spirit Awards













  • I am loving this opening!  #Bottlecap
  • Andy Samberg is killing it. #Oscar jokes
  • Street art!
  • A Michael Fassbender joke!?  LOVE IT!
  • Paul Rudd!
  • Winter's Bone"s!  Ha!
  • "If you are going to climb the tower, ring the bell!"

Sound City



What I liked:

  • It was directed by Dave Grohl.
  • It is a fascinating piece of music history.
  • There are apperances by Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, The Foo Fighters, Barry Manilow, Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, Trent Reznor, Rick Springfield, Lars Ulrich, Butch Vig and many more.
  • Grohl leaves his mark and his humor on the film.
  • Grohl captures some beautiful, artistic shots.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Snitch



What I liked:

  • It has a good cast: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Susan Sarandon, Jon Bernthal, Barry Pepper, Michael Kenneth Williams, Rafi Gavron, Melina Kanakaredes, Nadine Velazquez, Benjamin Bratt, Harold Perrineau, and David Habour.
  • It's based on true events.
  • The story did seem a little far fetched but not in a cheesy way.
  • There is a decent amount of action.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Side Effects



What I liked:

  • Rooney Mara plays complicated characters very well.
  • Jude Law was believable.
  • It also stars Channing Tatum, Vinessa Shaw, Ann Dowd, Polly Draper, David Costabile, Mamie Gummer, and Marin Ireland.
  • It was directed by Steven Soderbergh.
  • There are enough twists and turns to keep the story interesting.
  • The music compliments the story.
  • It poses the question: If something bad happens to you, at what point do you turn that badness into goodness without actually turning bad yourself?

Thursday, February 14, 2013

A Good Day to Die Hard



What I liked:

  • Bruce Willis returns as John McClane.
  • Jai Courtney can hold his own as an action hero.
  • It also stars Sebastian Koch, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Yuliya Snigir, Radivoje Bukvic, Cole Hauser, and Amaury Nolasco.
  • It's funny.  It knows what it is and pokes fun at itself.
  • Most of the special effects are decent.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Beautiful Creatures



What I liked:

  • Alden Ehreneich reminds me of a young Leonardo DiCaprio.  Looking forward to seeing him in more things.
  • Alice Englert acts with a nice balance of angst and innocence.
  • Emma Thompson is highly entertaining.
  • Great supporting cast: Jeremy Irons, Viola Davis, Emmy Rossum, Thomas Mann, Eileen Atkins, Margo Martindale, and Zoey Deutch
  • The writing is witty.
  • It is based off of a series of Young Adult Books.

Safe Haven



What I liked:

  • Noah Lomax and Mimi Kirkland are cute kids.
  • Cobie Smulders!
  • David Lyons played a good bad guy.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Identity Thief



What I liked:

  • Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman are likeable actors.
  • It has a good supporting cast: John Cho, Jon Favreau, Amanda Peet, T.I., Genesis Rodriguez, Ellie Kemper, Morris Chestnut, Robert Patrick, Ben Falcone, Jonathan Banks, and Eric Stonestreet.
  • It has some amusing parts.
  • Mystikal's Shake Ya Ass.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Amour



What I liked:

  • Fantastic acting by Jean-Louis Trintigant and Emmanuelle Riva.  Riva's Oscar nomination for Best Actress is rightfully deserved.
  • Isabelle Huppert is convincing as their concerned daughter.
  • I liked that they started towards the end, then go to the beginning of the story and play it through.
  • Great directing by Michael Haneke.
  • The subject matter is real and honest.
  • The scenes are painfully orchestrated to show the everyday tasks of caring for an elderly loved one.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Stand Up Guys



What I liked:

  • Christopher Walken is fantastic.  His facial expressions are priceless
  • Al Pacino is great as well.  
  • The dialogue is brilliant.  It feels natural and real.
  • Great supporting cast: Alan Arkin, Julianna Margulies, Mark Margolis, Lucy Punch, Addison Timlin, Vanessa Ferlito, and Katheryn Winnick.
  • Timlin is stunningly beautiful.
  • Wonderful soundtrack.
  • A lot of quotable lines.
  • It's a funny and interesting story.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Quartet



What I liked:

  • It was Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut.
  • Uber talented cast:  Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly, Pauline Collins, Michael Gambon, Andrew Sachs, and Gwyneth Jones.
  • It's an interesting story with heart and humor.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Gangster Squad



What I liked:

  • The camera loves Ryan Gosling.
  • Gosling and Emma Stone have great chemistry together.
  • Sean Penn played a good bad guy.
  • Josh Brolin,  Troy Garity, Nick Nolte, Anthony Mackie, Robert Patrick, Michael Pena, and Giovanni Ribisi also star.
  • It's entertaining.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

The 2013 Golden Globe Awards













  • Tina and Amy look stunning!
  • Tina and Amy are funny!
  • Take that James Cameron!  WOW!
  • A James Franco slam?!  WOW!
  • These ladies are not holding back!
  • Nice, a porn joke!
  • Life of Pi, snap!
  • A Mandy Patinkin shout out!  Love him as Saul on Homeland.

Live Blogging the Red Carpet for The 2013 Golden Globes

Live Blogging the Red Carpet on E!

  • Ryan Seacrest's hair is really big for him
  • Debra Messing looks nice but I prefer her in color.
  • Clair Danes looks lovely.  That is a great color on her.
  • Amy Adams's look is a little boring.
  • This black lace thing on Giuliana Rancic is awful and this is coming from someone who loves lace.  The hair doesn't help either.
  • Julianne Hough looks nice.  I like the hair...very young and fun.
  • A lot of red dresses.
  • Alyssa Milano on the red carpet?!  Why?
  • Katharine McPhee's outfit could be ok if her hair was different.  The messy bun on top of her head isn't working.
  • Zooey Deschanel looks ok but this red dress reminds me of her last blue dress at the Emmy Awards.  Her hair looks better this time, though.
  • Tina Fey's hair looks amazing.  It can't be all hers.
  • Connie Britton looks stunning in this sparkly sheath strapless dress.  Best dressed so far.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Zero Dark Thirty



What I liked:

  • Jessica Chastain is great and carries the movie well.
  • Jason Clarke was fantastic.  We need to see more of him.
  • It also stars Reda Kateb, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Ehle, Harold Perrineau, Mark Strong, Edgar Ramirez, Mark Duplass, James Gandolfini, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt, and Taylor Kinney.
  • Kathryn Bigelow does an excellent job directing.
  • True or not, it is a fascinating story. 
  • Makes you think that there is a lot more truth to Homeland.
  • The last 30 minutes are really intense.  

The Impossible



What I liked:

  • Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor are fantastic.  Very convincing as wounded parents trying to save their family.
  •  The boys are not only beautiful but talented: Tom Holland, Samuel Joslin, Oaklee Pendergast.
  • The special effects are amazing.  
  • It is beautiful and emotional.  It's a tough topic to try to see the happy ending in it all.
  • It is based on a true story.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Oscar Nominations

My initial reaction to the Oscar nominations:

  • Acting nominations for The Master but not for Best Picture?  Interesting.
  • Love for Argo but not for Ben Affleck.
  • Jackie Weaver getting a Supporting Actress nomination for Silver Linings Playbook is a pleasant surprise.
  • Seth MacFarlane getting a nomination for Best Song for Ted!
  • Not getting a Best Song nomination: Magic Mike, Safety Not Guaranteed, or The Odd Life of Timothy Green. :(
  • No love for John Hawkes for The Sessions?!
  • No nomination for The Intouchables?!  That is so wrong!
  • I don't see the appeal of Flight, Beasts of the Southern Wild or Les Misérables so their nominations are lost on me.
  • Happy for Silver Linings Playbook, Argo, Life of Pi and Zero Dark Thirty on their nominations.
  • Happy that Searching for Sugar Man was nominated for Best Documentary.
The full list of nominees can be found at  http://oscar.go.com/nominees

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Hyde Park on Hudson



What I liked:

  • Bill Murray did an excellent job acting as FDR.
  • Laura Linney is always a pleasure to watch.
  • It also starred Samuel West, Olivia Colman, Elizabeth Marvel, and Olivia Williams.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Promised Land




  • It was written by John Krasinski and Matt Damon.
  • Damon and Krasinski  act well in it.
  • It also stars Hal Holbrook, Frances McFormand, Titus Welliver, and Rosemarie DeWitt.
  • It's an interesting topic that people should learn more about.