On a more dramatic note, there is the film The Boys Are Back. Starring Clive Owen, this movie is about a man who loses his wife, and is forced to raise his two sons alone. An inspiring film, The Boys Are Back has some memorable performances, particularly by Mr. Owen. Out now on DVD, this film is one that is sure to touch the hearts of its viewers. The DVD contains a feature starring the man who inspired the film, Simon Carr. This one feature is very interesting as he and his sons visit the set of the film. Overall, The Boys Are Back is surely one film that will be talked about for years to come.
If you’re into 80’s nostalgia, then Adventureland is a film that hits the spot. It’s got an awesome soundtrack with some of the 80’s best songs playing throughout (including what seems like an endless repeat of Rock Me Amadeus). But that’s not what makes this a good film. It’s a true “coming of age” story that most of us can probably relate to. What’s interesting about this movie is that it’s promoted as being a hilarious film. Now don’t get me wrong, it has its moments. Seeing the main character James (Jesse Eisenberg) constantly getting punched in the nuts by his friend was funny, yet I felt bad for the guy. You want to jump through the screen and shake this guy up. Ironically, the guy who gets punched in the balls is the very same guy who needs to grab life by the balls (and slowly he learns). Overall, I found Adventureland to be more dramatic than funny and truly enjoyable. It’s a smart film that grew on me after watching, and is one that I know I’ll be watching some more to really let it sink in.
There’s this reaction I have to inspirational movies. Although I do love how a good inspirational film can lift my spirits, part of me cringes on the inside. Maybe it’s because some are just so overloaded with a sugar-coated story. Well, I was looking forward to seeing Robert Downey Jr’s latest film The Soloist, but part of me also expected that mushy feeling to come along with it. Seeing the previews it’s obvious what kind of film this is. BUT! Watching the actual film was an experience that I won't forget. In short, I didn’t cringe at all watching The Soloist. The movie tells the story of Los Angeles Times writer Steve Lopez’s friendship with Nathaniel Ayers, a schizophrenic/homeless man living on the streets of LA. Ayers is also a former music prodigy that once trained at Julliard. While playing music on the streets one day, he is noticed by Lopez who soon wants to write about him. What starts as a project by Lopez turns into a deep friendship with Ayers. It really is an eye-opener to see it played out, with some really strong performances by Downey Jr and Foxx. Along with this gritty yet touching (but not sappy!) story, The Soloist is a solid film that I highly recommend.
When one of the best graphic novels of all time gets made into a movie, you better believe expectations are going to be high.
I know I’m probably in the minority, but let me start off by saying this is my favorite movie adaptation of a graphic novel. I’ve heard a lot of the negative comments and I wholeheartedly disagree with them. For one, Watchmen is such a complex story that it’s damn near impossible to include everything. However, I was SHOCKED during the film at how accurate it is to the book! The story was fresh in my mind since I read it about a month before watching the film on DVD. As far as the film being accurate to the story, it is dead-on. Now, I know the ending was different than the book. But it really fit in with the way the film was done. This is not your typical “superhero” film, so don’t expect it to play by the same rules as most others do. Watchmen is dark, violent, and has some pretty steamy sex scenes just like the book. That’s why it earned itself a big fat R-rating. Overall, I thought the movie was awesome and a lot better than I expected it to be.
More great TV on DVD with NYC's bravest in Third Watch. In this complete set of the show's second season, you get SIX DISCS of all 22 episodes. It's a mighty fine set if you ask me. While it's not the best show showcasing heroes in NYC (see Law and Order for that), it is a solid show that can hold its own. What's unique about Third Watch is that it shows the professional and private drama in the lives of police, firefighters and paramedics. While these people deal with rapists, murderers and kidnappers in their jobs, some of them have a hard time just trying to keep their personal lives in order. That’s one of the strong points of this show. It’s been nine years since this season was out, and if you never had the chance to see it I definitely recommend checking it out.
This movie took me by surprise. I didn't think it would hit me as hard as it did. I'm not a big fan of Clint Eastwood's films, but Gran Torino changed my opinion of him quickly. Here he plays a tough as nails Korean War vet named Walt Kowalski. This guy Walt has got more balls than most male characters you've seen in the movies. Walt is a bitter old timer that carries a lot of emotional baggage. Ironically, with all his prejudices against Asians, he lives in a predominantly Asian neighborhood. However, those prejudices change when he develops a friendship with a teenage neighbor after his life is threatened by a local gang. This movie is a picture of what true courage and sacrifice look like. It'll make you angry, and maybe make you cry. But one thing it'll do is inspire you. If you haven't seen this great film yet, I highly recommend doing so now!
Movies like this make you remember that life could be a lot worse. Be thankful you never went through this kind of hell. When you're hunted by Nazis, it takes a lot of balls to never give up and keep fighting for your people. Defiance is based on the real life story of a group of war refugees that fought against the Nazis that were trying to kill them. Led by brothers (Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber) that used to be farmers, they tough it out by hiding in the forest amidst harsh weather and extreme hopelessness. This film is filled with tons of action and some very strong performances, especially by Craig and Schreiber. There are some really intense fighting scenes here as well as some of the most dramatic scenes I’ve seen in a while. It took some time after the movie started to kick in for me. But once it did, I was hooked until the very end. The DVD is out now, and I must say it is one of the best that has been released in the past few months. Overall, Defiance is one hell of a film.
In case you came across a show and saw a long-haired lawyer that looks like Zack from Saved By The Bell, then you’ve seen Raising the Bar. This new legal drama is one to keep an eye on. Not since The Practice have I seen a legal drama that caught my attention like this. The acting is great, and the story is smart and fast paced. The mind behind this show is none other than Steven Bochco, who also did such shows as NYPD Blue and L.A. Law. Oh, and about the guy that looks like Zack Morris, that’s Mark-Paul Gosselaar playing the renegade public defender Jerry Kellerman. He’s an idealistic lawyer whose zeal gets him into trouble quite often. Out now on DVD is Raising the Bar: The Complete First Season. This has all 10 episodes on a three-disc set with a running time of about 807 minutes. I definitely recommend checking it out if you haven’t caught on to it yet.
Check it out!
I’ve been waiting to see this film for a while. Once I saw the previews when it was in the theaters, I knew this is one that I couldn’t miss. Revolutionary Road reunites Leo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet for the first time since Titanic. Here they play The Wheelers, a married couple in the 1950’s that can’t keep their relationship alive. Let me say up front, this film is a tragedy. If you want to see how NOT to have a married relationship, then this is it. This movie gives you a front row look at a family that looks good on the outside, but has some seriously dark secrets. It makes a very powerful statement about relationships and casts a reflection on our society that some of us would be wise to look at. I disagree with anyone that says this film is a waste of time. In fact, I think anyone thinking of getting married or already married can learn something from watching it. Leo and Kate play this troubled couple so well I honestly think they were Oscar-worthy. There is nothing sugarcoated here, and to be honest it is hard to see their marriage go downhill. But sometimes the truth hurts. I do disagree with the line at the bottom of the DVD case that says it’s a “watch-it-three-times-in-a-row masterpiece”. I agree that it’s a masterpiece, but I don’t think it’s one you’d want to see for a little while. Truthfully, after the first time watching I felt disturbed. It’s hard to see a family’s hopes and dreams turn to shit, even on film. However it is one that I’ll be going back to from time to time to see exactly how I don’t want my own life to turn out. Overall, Sam Mendes adds another powerful film to his resume with Revolutionary Road.
If you haven't heard of Benjamin Button yet, it's time to come out from the rock you're hiding under...
What a movie! The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is out now on DVD and if you haven’t watched it yet, do yourself a favor and see it. This is one of those movies that grabs you by the shoulders, shakes you, and tells you to go out and live your life to the fullest. With some GREAT performances by Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, this film lives up to all the hype that followed it. The only thing I found annoying about it was Brad Pitt’s accent in the movie. But even that isn’t enough to take away from the film. The story hits you on an emotional level way more than the average drama, without becoming a sappy film. It’s worth it to check out the 2-disc DVD set that contains the film and special features such as a four-part documentary called The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button. So if you haven’t seen it yet, do check it out. Like, now.
He was one of the most controversial and gifted emcees in Hip-Hop. Unfortunately, his life tragically ended when he was gunned down in LA back in 1997. So many theories floated around about the shooting. It seems that all the controversy and conspiracy theories overshadowed the music he left behind. Now, we have a full length movie that tells the life story of Biggie Smalls a.k.a. Notorious B.I.G. You’d think that this is just another movie about the hood. But no, Notorious is actually an inspiring piece of filmmaking! With a breakthrough performance by Jamal Woolard who got Biggie’s mannerisms down pact, Notorious tells the story of his journey from Brooklyn street hustler to rap phenomenon. It gives an inside look at his troubled relationships with Lil’ Kim and Faith Evans, and his well known feud with former friend and rapper Tupac. I played Biggie’s music quite a bit throughout high school, so to see the full story of how he rose to fame answered a lot of the questions I had about him. Rap fan or not, this is a great movie that shows we “Can’t change the world if we can’t change ourselves...”
There are some movies that come around once in a while to really affect its viewers in such a deep way. The Wrestler is one of those movies. Hailed as “Mickey Rourke’s comeback role”, this movie is an emotional look at someone who just wants to matter in life. Mickey did an awesome job as Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a washed out wrestler who’s trying to keep his head above water. He lives in a trailer home, wrestles on the weekends, and tries to start a relationship with a stripper while attempting to repair the torn relationship with his estranged daughter. There are so many layers to this film that it’s hard to mention everything. Here’s a character on film who you see hit rock bottom, but yet still tries to keep going in life. It’s one of the most touching and honest looks at life through the eyes of someone trying to piece his life together. The Wrestler is out on DVD now and I definitely recommend checking out this powerful film.
"I have... DOUBTS!"
- Meryl Streep as Sister Aloysius
Anyone who already watched the film Doubt knows that infamous quote leading up to the ending credits. The few days after watching the movie on DVD, I would walk around my house randomly shouting out that line to give my wife a good laugh. The film however, is not as funny as my interpretation of Sister Aloysius. When a film is based on a priest being accused of child molestation, you won’t find much to laugh at. Now, where do I begin? First off, Doubt has some of the finest acting I’ve seen in a film all year. Streep’s performance of the rigid Sister Aloysius and Philip Seymour Hoffman’s falsely accused (or did he do it?) Father Flynn were both awesome roles. I also need to mention Amy Adams performance of Sister James. This naïve nun played an essential role in the film that can’t be set aside. The film itself raises a lot of questions and doubts in the viewer’s head, but provides very little answers. I thought about the film for a good day or so after watching, so it at least succeeded in being a thought provoking film. Along with the film, the DVD has some great extras including an insightful interview with the cast. Doubt is not a typical film by Hollywood’s standards. It doesn’t end the way you expect most films to, but it’ll sure shake up any assumptions you may have and leave you thinking about it after the credits roll.
One of the most surprising tearjerkers of the year!
Talk about being taken for a ride. From the cover of Marley & Me, you'd think it's a cute little family film about a dog and its owners. Well, it’s not as cute as you think it would be. Marley is a dog adopted by newlyweds John and Jenny Grogan (Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston) after they move from Michigan to Miami. They have no idea how much “the world’s worst dog” is about to rock their world. This dog is a BEAST! For starters, he chews through dry wall, tears apart their home, and causes chaos at obedience school. And that’s not even half the destruction he causes! If that was real life, I’m sure any sane couple would have given that dog up in a second. But, since this is a movie, the dog must stay until the end. As important as Marley is, the film is primarily about John and Jenny’s family life, or I should say Marley’s effect on their life. Anyone who has a family can definitely identify with their struggles, especially after the kids come. All the Grogan family’s joy and pain are highlighted throughout the film in a very realistic way. Kudos to Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston for doing a decent job as a couple trying to get through life. Overall, it’s an entertaining film that’ll make you laugh and possibly shed some tears.
Just make sure you have a box of Kleenex at the end.
Danny Boyle is the man. After films like 28 Days Later and Sunshine, he has proved once again he’s a genius with Slumdog Millionaire. Rather then turn this into an ass-kissing essay on how great Danny Boyle is, let’s talk about Slumdog. This film is a celebration of life despite an extreme form of hopelessness that is rampant throughout third-world countries. It starts out with the main character Jamal Malik on the Indian version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” Jamal is a young guy who grew up in the slums of India. Each question he’s asked on the show somehow ties in to a specific event in his life that helps him come up with an answer. From seeing his mom killed to sleeping in piles of garbage to watching his older brother become a thug, Malik’s life is played out in the film showing that there is hope even in the darkest times. I honestly thought the film was all hype before I even saw it. I have this thing inside me that cringes whenever people glorify a movie too much. I can honestly say that Slumdog Millionaire is NOT all hype. It’s a film that can make you happy, angry, disturbed, and hopeful all at once. It’s rare that a film can come along and affect you in such a powerful way as this one does. Now that it’s out on DVD, I’m sure I’ll be watching it again and again.
“Huh?”
That's what went through my head at the end of No Country For Old Men. Up until that point, the movie was great. There was some memorable dialogue, a thought provoking story, but the ending took away from what was already a great film. I won’t reveal any spoilers, but I felt it was too sudden. Other than that, this is one thrilling cat-and-mouse chase of a film. I just got through the Collector’s Edition DVD that was just released and it is a fine set to own. The 3 disc set contains the film plus over 5 hours of features AND a special digital copy of the movie. Like with most DVD bonus features, there’s the usual “Making Of” feature, which this one has. But the highlight of the bonus features for me was Josh Brolin’s (who had the best role, in my opinion) Unauthorized Behind-The-Scenes. This was a funny “behind the scenes” look at the film with some very sarcastic comments (all in good fun) made by the cast, including a very stoned looking Woody Harrelson. It was interesting to watch the cast of this very serious film goofing around and poking fun at each other. Overall, this is truly a great set to own for any fan of the movie.
I’m still not happy about the ending though.
Genius Products adds another gripping film to the Dragon Dynasty Label. Get ready for Protégé, a thriller that takes you to the underbelly of the drug trafficking world. In Protégé, a young cop gets tested in ways he never imagined when he goes undercover to bring down a secret drug ring. The deeper he gets, the more he’s torn inside as he sees the world of both sellers and junkies. He becomes close to the top hustlers and develops a relationship a neighbor that’s a single mom, and a junkie. Apart from being an action/thriller, some parts of it felt like a classroom lesson in how the drug lords move their products. I think they could have cut down a bit on the scenes where they explained in lengthy detail how they run their operations. But for the most part, Protégé was very effective in the way it showed the dark and dangerous drug world. The acting was convincing and the story didn’t drag on too long. It’s not the best one out of the Dragon Dynasty Label, but it was an intense film that I found to be very entertaining.
Murder. Corruption. Police Scandals. Loyalty. Everything’s on the line for the Detective Ray Tierney (Ed Norton) as he’s thrown into a scandal involving his own family. When he is sent to investigate a murder in which four cops are dead and the killer’s on the run, he suspects foul play when the evidence points to members of his family. Nothing is what it seems, and Ray now has to choose where his loyalty is. Does he lie just to protect his family? Or does he face the sickening truth even if it means ratting out a family member that’s guilty? Pride and Glory is a gripping film that questions organizational corruption and family loyalty. During the film, I felt like I was watching a more disturbing version of a Law and Order episode. There are some scenes that made me so furious that I wanted to jump in and beat the character’s ass. That’s how great the acting was. Ed Norton, Jon Voight and Colin Farrell were all extremely convincing in each of their roles. Overall, this powerful story is a reminder that corruption does exist in any organization, even among the ones that wear badges. The 2 disc DVD comes with a special “making of” documentary on the second disc that shows how hard the filmmakers worked to make the movie so realistic. It was especially interesting to see the actors get a reality check when they had to train with real members of the NYPD.
Pride and Glory is out now on DVD...
I usually don't fare well with period dramas (especially ones about British families). The best thing I get out of watching them is that they can put me to sleep in an instant. Maybe it’s just me, but most of them bore me to death. Having said all that, I wasn’t too sure what to expect with Keira Knightley’s film The Duchess. After being surprised with her film Atonement which I wound up liking a lot, I decided to give this one a shot. Well, guess what? I was surprised again. For starters, The Duchess isn’t a bore. Yes, it’s a drama about a young noblewoman named Georgiana Spencer (Keira Knightley) who marries into one of Britain’s most powerful families. But don’t let that fool you. There are so many scandals, flamboyant characters, and outlandish costumes in the film that it’s hard to get bored. Take for instance the role of William Cavendish (Ralph Fiennes). Fiennes plays the role of the dreadful Cavendish so well that you almost loathe him as much as his role as Voldemort in Harry Potter. This guy is a first-class asshole! Cavendish has a problem keeping his pants on as he constantly betrays Georgiana, even sleeping with AND inviting her friend to live in their house! It’s no wonder why Georgiana eventually seeks love on her own terms. The Duchess is out now on DVD and if you haven’t seen it yet, now is your chance.
Bright Lights, Big City 20th Anniversary Edition
I remember I was about 11 years old when this came out. I was already a fan of Michael J. Fox's films after seeing Back To The Future, Teen Wolf, and Secret of My Success. After watching the previews for Bright Lights, Big City, something felt different about it. To my surprise, I found out he was playing a cokehead in it! I couldn’t believe it. The same guy who played Alex from Family Ties and Marty McFly from Back To The Future was playing a junkie (when you’re 11 years old, news like that shocks you). I recently checked this film out after hearing about its 20th Anniversary DVD being released. This movie is just as relevant in 2008 as it was 20 years ago. Fox’s performance of Jamie Conway shows a realistic picture of someone’s life spinning out of control. The perception of Fox always playing “wholesome characters” is quickly shed after seeing him hooked on coke and alcohol in the film. The scene where he gives a drunken monologue to his co-worker is classic. Another thing worth mentioning is Kiefer Sutherland's role as Jamie's friend named Tad. He was convincing in his performance of Tad, who is a real asshole in the film. Overall, it’s a sobering movie that shows the reality of living a life dependent on drugs. It’ll make you sad, but as you get to the end you’ll see there is light at the end of the tunnel for Jamie.
