I don’t know why or how I ended up in a theatre to see Fired Up, but I managed it. I like to think the story involves me being confronted by two thugs who I attempted to fight off valiantly to no avail. I hope they knocked me out, moved me to the theatre, and locked the door so I couldn’t escape. But no, I believe I went by choice, a much sadder and depressing story in itself.
I suppose most sixteen year olds would find Fired Up a very funny movie. Now, I don’t think I’m superior to any of my friends, but I definitely could not understand why they were all laughing while I sat wondering, “Why was this movie made?”
Fired Up is the story of two high school football players, Shawn and Nick (Nicholas D’Agosto and Eric Christian Olsen), who are both known for being womanizers. They pride themselves on their ability to ‘get with’ their classmates. The two decide that they would rather not go to their summer football training camp and instead want to go to cheerleading camp. As I recall, their prime motivation was “300 new hotties.”
Using the business skills of Shawn’s younger sister, Poppy (Juliette Goglia) the two convince the school cheer squad that they would like nothing better to go to cheer camp with them.
Maybe it was just me, but I felt like I’ve seen this movie before: a couple’a ‘bros’ go undercover to hook up with as many girls as possible; one bro falls in love with one of the girls he wasn’t supposed to but right when he’s about to tell her his feelings, the girls find out that they weren’t planning to stay for the final competition (when the girls needed them most). Then the bros make epic speeches to each other and they decide to go back and help the girls, even if they don’t want it. Exciting!
Even if you aren’t familiar with the plot line, you’ll soon be sick of the jokes: it seemed like half of the entire movie was spent making different metaphors for ‘I want to have sex with that girl’. The acting is, at least, decent considering the content, and I couldn’t help being reminded of Demitri Martin when I saw D’Agosto, who looks similar but whose jokes are bad and timing is worse.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Michael Cera stars in Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, the witty tale of ‘emo-punk rocker’ Nick O’Leary (Cera) and his quest for closure after he has his heart broken by popular girl Tris (Alexis Dziena).
Desperate to talk to Tris, Nick makes her a series of mix-tapes that he leaves on her doorstep. These mixes fall into the hands of Norah Silverberg, daughter of a famous studio owner, who shares similar musical taste.
Nick and his band, The Jerk-Offs (of which Nick is the only heterosexual member) travel to New York to play a show and to discover where Nick’s favorite band, Where’s Fluffy, will play their next show.
Also searching for the infamous band is Norah, who is accompanied by her drunken friend Caroline. In their search for the band, Norah and Caroline end up attending Nick’s concert along with Tris. It is here that Nick and Norah meet for the first time.
From then on, the movie becomes a teenage emotional rollercoaster as Nick and Norah try to find the location of the Where’s Fluffy concert. Nick’s constant struggle to overcome his issues with Tris alienates Norah while her ex-boyfriend intervenes between her and Nick.
The movie is likeable in many ways: the performances by all the primary characters are certainly believable when it comes to teen drama; the writing is witty and there aren’t long dull periods where nothing happens; also, Norah’s friend, Caroline, plays an outstanding drunk.
However, the movie as a whole seems somewhat aimless; that isn’t to say that nothing happens in the movie, but generally the movie feels like it has no direction. Sometimes it seems like a weak mix of dry teenage humor without any direction whatsoever.
I agree with several prominent critics who pointed out that the film is full of references to music and bands and clubs but has very little explanation as to why the characters like the music. I felt that this was a major gap in the writing especially since music is the uniting theme in the story.
Also, I was majorly disappointed when, after more than an hour, everyone finally arrives at the Where’s Fluffy concert, but we, the audience, don’t get to hear them play. While I’m happy for Nick and Norah, I wish they wouldn’t have left the concert.
Desperate to talk to Tris, Nick makes her a series of mix-tapes that he leaves on her doorstep. These mixes fall into the hands of Norah Silverberg, daughter of a famous studio owner, who shares similar musical taste.
Nick and his band, The Jerk-Offs (of which Nick is the only heterosexual member) travel to New York to play a show and to discover where Nick’s favorite band, Where’s Fluffy, will play their next show.
Also searching for the infamous band is Norah, who is accompanied by her drunken friend Caroline. In their search for the band, Norah and Caroline end up attending Nick’s concert along with Tris. It is here that Nick and Norah meet for the first time.
From then on, the movie becomes a teenage emotional rollercoaster as Nick and Norah try to find the location of the Where’s Fluffy concert. Nick’s constant struggle to overcome his issues with Tris alienates Norah while her ex-boyfriend intervenes between her and Nick.
The movie is likeable in many ways: the performances by all the primary characters are certainly believable when it comes to teen drama; the writing is witty and there aren’t long dull periods where nothing happens; also, Norah’s friend, Caroline, plays an outstanding drunk.
However, the movie as a whole seems somewhat aimless; that isn’t to say that nothing happens in the movie, but generally the movie feels like it has no direction. Sometimes it seems like a weak mix of dry teenage humor without any direction whatsoever.
I agree with several prominent critics who pointed out that the film is full of references to music and bands and clubs but has very little explanation as to why the characters like the music. I felt that this was a major gap in the writing especially since music is the uniting theme in the story.
Also, I was majorly disappointed when, after more than an hour, everyone finally arrives at the Where’s Fluffy concert, but we, the audience, don’t get to hear them play. While I’m happy for Nick and Norah, I wish they wouldn’t have left the concert.
The Princess Bride
I don’t remember the first time I watched The Princess Bride, but I can remember not understanding it. Other than the basic plot line, a lot of the movie went over my head. Most of the dialogue was too witty, the jokes too hard for me to comprehend.
I knew that Westley (Cary Elwes) was a poor farm boy and the he was in love with Buttercup (Robin Wright Penn). I understood the events that transpired which separated the two lovers and had Buttercup poised to be the next princess of Florin.
I did not, however, understand that this movie was a satire. At my young age, I took it for what it was: a tale of true love, pirates, saber-fighting, and a giant.
Now that I’m a bit smarter, I’ve come to appreciate this movie as a great work among satirical comedies. The writing is superb; the dialogue between Westley and Buttercup is fantastic, and many of the supporting characters are completely nutty. All of it comes together to create this 1987 film.
It beings with Buttercup and Westley; Westley, the young, handsome farm boy, and Buttercup, the pretty daughter of a farmer. The two fall in love but have no money for a marriage. Westley leaves the farm in search of money to provide a marriage and a home for his new love. However, his ship is attacked by the Dread Pirate Roberts and he never returns.
Buttercup is heartbroken by this news but, against her will, arrangements are made for her to marry the Prince of Florin, Humperdink. While she waits to be wed, she is kidnapped by three men: Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin), and Fezzic (Andre the Giant). These three men, led by Vizzini, are attempting to start a war between Florin and its neighbor, Gilder, by kidnapping the bride-to-be and killing her, while making Gilder look responsible.
Even as a satirical fairytale, this film has a surprisingly well-strung story that ties Westley’s quest to save Buttercup to the lives of Inigo and Fezzic.
The film is a great one for those who wish to witness a well-told story of ‘twue wove’ (it’ll make sense when you watch the movie).
I knew that Westley (Cary Elwes) was a poor farm boy and the he was in love with Buttercup (Robin Wright Penn). I understood the events that transpired which separated the two lovers and had Buttercup poised to be the next princess of Florin.
I did not, however, understand that this movie was a satire. At my young age, I took it for what it was: a tale of true love, pirates, saber-fighting, and a giant.
Now that I’m a bit smarter, I’ve come to appreciate this movie as a great work among satirical comedies. The writing is superb; the dialogue between Westley and Buttercup is fantastic, and many of the supporting characters are completely nutty. All of it comes together to create this 1987 film.
It beings with Buttercup and Westley; Westley, the young, handsome farm boy, and Buttercup, the pretty daughter of a farmer. The two fall in love but have no money for a marriage. Westley leaves the farm in search of money to provide a marriage and a home for his new love. However, his ship is attacked by the Dread Pirate Roberts and he never returns.
Buttercup is heartbroken by this news but, against her will, arrangements are made for her to marry the Prince of Florin, Humperdink. While she waits to be wed, she is kidnapped by three men: Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin), and Fezzic (Andre the Giant). These three men, led by Vizzini, are attempting to start a war between Florin and its neighbor, Gilder, by kidnapping the bride-to-be and killing her, while making Gilder look responsible.
Even as a satirical fairytale, this film has a surprisingly well-strung story that ties Westley’s quest to save Buttercup to the lives of Inigo and Fezzic.
The film is a great one for those who wish to witness a well-told story of ‘twue wove’ (it’ll make sense when you watch the movie).
Star Trek: First Contact
I was 4 when Star Trek: First Contact came out. It is not difficult for me to remember watching the film with my parents: them, sitting together on the couch; me, cowering behind it.
The Borg, a race of humanoid life forms who have evolved to include synthetic technology, haunted my dreams from a very young age. They are ruthlessly strong, able to adapt to different types of weapons, and intent on assimilating all races until they achieve perfection.
However, recently, I found our ancient VHS tape of Star Trek: First Contact and watched it.
Ironically, the film begins with Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) waking from a nightmare of the Borg, who have reentered known space and now present a direct threat to the United Federation of Planets. A Borg cube is headed for earth with the intent of assimilating the entire planets population.
Picard and his crew are sent to the Romulin border; it is believe by Starfleet command that Piccard, who was previously assimilated by the Borg, would be an unnecessary risk to Earth’s defense. As the Borg Cube approaches earth, the Enterprise decided to defy orders and head for earth to help in its defense.
He arrives just as his fleet is falling apart and takes control of the battle. After rescuing survivors, he destroys the Borg Cube.
However, a minor Borg space craft manages to escape from it’s dying mother ship and heads for earth. The Enterprise pursues it through a temporal rift, into the past, where the Borg Sphere begins firing on the planets surface. It is 2063, just after the third world war, and the Borg is attacking an area where Dr. Zefram Cochrane is located. Cochrane, in 2063, is attempting to build a space ship that will surpass the speed of light.
The Enterprise destroys the Borg Sphere and sends a search team down to the surface to discover the fate of Cochrane, who’s flight will be the turning point in human history, as it results in Earth’s first contact with aliens.
Without the knowledge of the Picard or his crew, however, several borg managed to transport the Enterprise before their own ship was destroyed. This leads to a struggle that will decided the fate and history of mankind.
Star Trek: First Contact has become a favorite of mine. It was made in the early nineties so the visual effects aren’t particularly stunning, but it is certainly much more visually appealing than any of its predecessors. The film also stands out from other products of the Star Trek franchise because the quality of the acting is great. The performance given by Alice Krige as the Borg Hive Queen is easily one of my all time favorites.
The Borg, a race of humanoid life forms who have evolved to include synthetic technology, haunted my dreams from a very young age. They are ruthlessly strong, able to adapt to different types of weapons, and intent on assimilating all races until they achieve perfection.
However, recently, I found our ancient VHS tape of Star Trek: First Contact and watched it.
Ironically, the film begins with Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) waking from a nightmare of the Borg, who have reentered known space and now present a direct threat to the United Federation of Planets. A Borg cube is headed for earth with the intent of assimilating the entire planets population.
Picard and his crew are sent to the Romulin border; it is believe by Starfleet command that Piccard, who was previously assimilated by the Borg, would be an unnecessary risk to Earth’s defense. As the Borg Cube approaches earth, the Enterprise decided to defy orders and head for earth to help in its defense.
He arrives just as his fleet is falling apart and takes control of the battle. After rescuing survivors, he destroys the Borg Cube.
However, a minor Borg space craft manages to escape from it’s dying mother ship and heads for earth. The Enterprise pursues it through a temporal rift, into the past, where the Borg Sphere begins firing on the planets surface. It is 2063, just after the third world war, and the Borg is attacking an area where Dr. Zefram Cochrane is located. Cochrane, in 2063, is attempting to build a space ship that will surpass the speed of light.
The Enterprise destroys the Borg Sphere and sends a search team down to the surface to discover the fate of Cochrane, who’s flight will be the turning point in human history, as it results in Earth’s first contact with aliens.
Without the knowledge of the Picard or his crew, however, several borg managed to transport the Enterprise before their own ship was destroyed. This leads to a struggle that will decided the fate and history of mankind.
Star Trek: First Contact has become a favorite of mine. It was made in the early nineties so the visual effects aren’t particularly stunning, but it is certainly much more visually appealing than any of its predecessors. The film also stands out from other products of the Star Trek franchise because the quality of the acting is great. The performance given by Alice Krige as the Borg Hive Queen is easily one of my all time favorites.
Almost Famous
I doubt William Miller (Patrick Fugit) had any idea where his love for music would take him when he, under the instruction of his older sister, listens to the rock album Tommy with a candle burning to see his future.
Almost Famous is the story of William Miller, a teen who is among the social rejects at his high school, and his travels with the fictional rock band Stillwater. It begins, however, several years early when Anita (Zooey Deschanel) leaves their home amidst a troubled relationship with William’s mother, Elaine (Frances McDormand).
Before she leaves, she passes on her collection of rock music that she had hid from her mother with instructions that he listen and come to appreciate what he’s missing.
Fast-forward several years, and William is now in high school, writing for his local underground paper and sending pieces on to renowned rock critic Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who asks William to meet him. From then on, Lester assumes the role of his mentor while William begins to write, first for him, and then for Rolling Stone.
While out on a writing assignment for Bangs, William meets Miss Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) a band-aide who tries to get him a backstage pass to talk to Black Sabbath. However, while waiting for Penny Lane to return, the opening act Stillwater arrives and brings William in with them.
William is contacted by Ben Fong-Torres of Rolling Stone who assigns him a story on Stillwater.
From there, William embarks on a journey with them as they travel around the country playing shows. During this time, he falls for Penny Lane but only finds out that she is involved with Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup), the lead guitar player for Stillwater.
But it isn’t all fun for the famous: problems occur, however, when the band begins to have internal arguments and William finds out that Russell is trying to sell Penny Lane to another band because his wife is meeting the band in New York.
Things continue to go downhill when Rolling Stone rejects William’s story because the band denies its validity.
The performances of all the actors in this film are phenomenal: Frances McDormand’s role as Williams mother is spectacular. During one particular scene, she has a lovely and inspirational phone conversation with Billy Crudup’s character that is absolutely hilarious.
Full of humor, drama, and spectacular acting, Almost Famous is one of my all time favorite movies.
Almost Famous is the story of William Miller, a teen who is among the social rejects at his high school, and his travels with the fictional rock band Stillwater. It begins, however, several years early when Anita (Zooey Deschanel) leaves their home amidst a troubled relationship with William’s mother, Elaine (Frances McDormand).
Before she leaves, she passes on her collection of rock music that she had hid from her mother with instructions that he listen and come to appreciate what he’s missing.
Fast-forward several years, and William is now in high school, writing for his local underground paper and sending pieces on to renowned rock critic Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who asks William to meet him. From then on, Lester assumes the role of his mentor while William begins to write, first for him, and then for Rolling Stone.
While out on a writing assignment for Bangs, William meets Miss Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) a band-aide who tries to get him a backstage pass to talk to Black Sabbath. However, while waiting for Penny Lane to return, the opening act Stillwater arrives and brings William in with them.
William is contacted by Ben Fong-Torres of Rolling Stone who assigns him a story on Stillwater.
From there, William embarks on a journey with them as they travel around the country playing shows. During this time, he falls for Penny Lane but only finds out that she is involved with Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup), the lead guitar player for Stillwater.
But it isn’t all fun for the famous: problems occur, however, when the band begins to have internal arguments and William finds out that Russell is trying to sell Penny Lane to another band because his wife is meeting the band in New York.
Things continue to go downhill when Rolling Stone rejects William’s story because the band denies its validity.
The performances of all the actors in this film are phenomenal: Frances McDormand’s role as Williams mother is spectacular. During one particular scene, she has a lovely and inspirational phone conversation with Billy Crudup’s character that is absolutely hilarious.
Full of humor, drama, and spectacular acting, Almost Famous is one of my all time favorite movies.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Body of Lies
Explosions have occurred in several major European cities; terrorists have claimed responsibility and pledge to continue the attacks. Amsterdam, Manchester and other cities have fallen victim to the jihadist war against the West.
Agent Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) of the CIA is a special operative who’s mission it is to find information on the Al-Qaeda terrorist Al Saleem. His mission takes him around the Middle East from places like Iraq, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.
With the help of his supervisor, Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe), Ferris makes contact with the Jordanian General Intelligence Department, headed by Hani Salaam (Mark Strong).
Ferris and Hoffman discover the existence of an Al-Qaeda safe-house which, with the assistance of Hani Salaams operatives, they stake out. However, another of Hoffman’s agents blows the operation and sends one of Al Saleem’s men running. Ferris is forced to kill him in order to protect the mission.
Having received several injuries from rabid dogs while trying to prevent Saleem’s man from escaping, Ferris goes to a hospital to receive treatment. There, he meets Aisha (Golshifteh Farahani), whom he immediately begins to like.
The continued cooperation between the Americans and the Jordanians ends when Hoffman sends men to kidnap one of Hani’s best operatives inside the safe house, an operative that Hoffman had personally asked Hani to turn over.
Ferris then leaves Jordan for the United Arab Emirates where he begins work on his own project to create a fictional terrorist group which he hopes will be contacted by Al Saleem’s organization. However the plan backfires when Al Saleem finds and interrogates the man that Ferris arranged to be the head of his false terror cell (the man he chose was not aware of his new job).
After this, Ferris looses complete trust with Hani, who had welcomed him back to Jordan on the condition that Ferris be truthful from then on. Aisha is kidnapped and Ferris offers himself as a trade.
The film, directed by Ridley Scott, is a fast-paced and thrilling experience. Full of violent and very realistic gunfights and scenes of torture, the film paints a very real picture of the violence in the Middle East.
The performances given by the main stars in the picture, particularly Crowe and Strong, are very good. Many of the lesser characters also gave very convincing portrayals.
Agent Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) of the CIA is a special operative who’s mission it is to find information on the Al-Qaeda terrorist Al Saleem. His mission takes him around the Middle East from places like Iraq, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.
With the help of his supervisor, Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe), Ferris makes contact with the Jordanian General Intelligence Department, headed by Hani Salaam (Mark Strong).
Ferris and Hoffman discover the existence of an Al-Qaeda safe-house which, with the assistance of Hani Salaams operatives, they stake out. However, another of Hoffman’s agents blows the operation and sends one of Al Saleem’s men running. Ferris is forced to kill him in order to protect the mission.
Having received several injuries from rabid dogs while trying to prevent Saleem’s man from escaping, Ferris goes to a hospital to receive treatment. There, he meets Aisha (Golshifteh Farahani), whom he immediately begins to like.
The continued cooperation between the Americans and the Jordanians ends when Hoffman sends men to kidnap one of Hani’s best operatives inside the safe house, an operative that Hoffman had personally asked Hani to turn over.
Ferris then leaves Jordan for the United Arab Emirates where he begins work on his own project to create a fictional terrorist group which he hopes will be contacted by Al Saleem’s organization. However the plan backfires when Al Saleem finds and interrogates the man that Ferris arranged to be the head of his false terror cell (the man he chose was not aware of his new job).
After this, Ferris looses complete trust with Hani, who had welcomed him back to Jordan on the condition that Ferris be truthful from then on. Aisha is kidnapped and Ferris offers himself as a trade.
The film, directed by Ridley Scott, is a fast-paced and thrilling experience. Full of violent and very realistic gunfights and scenes of torture, the film paints a very real picture of the violence in the Middle East.
The performances given by the main stars in the picture, particularly Crowe and Strong, are very good. Many of the lesser characters also gave very convincing portrayals.
Change In the Blog
I've decided, these next few months, to being reviewing movies as well as CDs. I hope to do an even amount of both types of reviews. Again, if you have any suggestions, please let me know.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
