bodyTara writes about television and film for publications like Lost Magazine, Grey's Anatomy Magazine, SCI FI Magazine and is the author of all the '24: Official Companion Guides'.
body
Can someone explain to me what is going on here? Seriously, I have no idea. I don’t think the Gods' plan included that mane of Gyllenhaal hair or his bad accent.
bodySnow and more snow for much of the country means we’re all looking for ways to pass the time indoors. What’s better, a trip to a heated theater? Or snuggling on your couch with a movie On Demand? We’ll break down your options. What’s On Demand? Beer Wars For more fun, drink every time someone says “amber,” “foam” or “hops.” This documentary covers the world of small craft beers and their rivalry with the big pushers of empty foam. You know the guys. Budweiser, Coors, Miller, and Obama. Wait, did I say that out loud? Our Take: If you notice and enjoy different tastes in beer, you’ll enjoy this film. If you’re strictly a Bud Light man, you’ll probably want to watch something else. Like the Super Bowl. For me? An excuse to try lots of different beers? Sign me up. More Than a Game Apparently, there’s a basketball player named LeBron James. Google says so. This documentary, using footage from camcorder videos and personal photos, as well as extensive interviews, chronicles James’ young experience on the basketball court. Our Take: This is more than just a memoir. It’s about the dream of five inner-city kids to make a better life through basketball, and that dream sometimes being more than they could handle.
Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself I’d pretty much do anything Madea told me. She intimidates me. April (Oscar nominee Taraji Henson) is a jaded nightclub singer with a married boyfriend when she is compelled by Tyler Perry’s hard-ass grandma character Madea to take in three children. A chance at love and redemption follows as her priorities change. Our Take: A strange mix of comedy, irreverence, faith, and redemption. Turns out Madea and Jesus are a pretty good team.
Cloudy With a Chance Of Meatballs Are they organic, free range meatballs? A town suffers weird weather. No, not like the blizzard that is burying the east coast today. Food falls from the sky in this adaptation of the classic children’s book. Our Take: Tasty fun for the whole family. It’s goofy, funny, and thoroughly enjoyable.
Love Happens Guess what also happens? Movies flop. Aaron Eckhart plays a psychologist and self-help guru hung up over his wife’s death. Jennifer Aniston plays the one woman who, maybe, can help him move on. Our Take: This movie is just embarrassingly bad. Pretty sure Jennifer Aniston is discussing with her therapist why she’s attracted to losers. Scripts, I mean. Loser scripts. Not men. I would never say that.
Amelia Speaking of embarrassingly bad … Hilary Swank plays Amelia Earhart, the spunky, plucky, but unlucky pilot who mysteriously disappeared over 70 years ago. See how I did that rhyme? I’m tricky like that. Our Take: The movie focuses on Earhart’s personal life and glosses over her adventures, making it melodramatic and dull. Anyone can make a biopic. It takes true Hollywood talent to make Amelia Earhart dull. What’s in Theaters?
From Paris with Love Finally! Something the French do well. Besides food. And sex. And looking fabulous. A bumbling novice spy (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) teams up with a hardcore operative (John Travolta) to drive cars fast, shoot people, and save the world in this action flick from French director Pierre Morel. Our Take: Travolta’s over the top character is nearly certifiable. He makes the movie work. Witty, funny, and with a satisfying number of gunfights, car chases, and explosions, this film is a fun ride.
Dear John Special Ops? Can he get Tai Shan back for us? A special ops soldier home on leave meets an earnest college girl. Quicker than you can say “shock and awe,” they’re in love. He goes back to duty, writing and receiving goopy letters to her. That is, until a host of big problems get in the way. Starting with 9/11. Our Take: Sappy tearjerker. That can either be an insult or a compliment, depending on your perspective.
Ticket or Click it?
Ticket! If you can dig out enough to get to the theater, “From Paris with Love” will distract you from the cold and icy wind outside. Except for you California folks.
Message Edited by RebeccaKelley on 02-05-201011:06 AM
Why did the Academy make the drastic switch and return to the early years of the awards where up to 12 films were nominated? The president of the Academy said that they wanted to even out the playing field.
“Having 10 Best Picture nominees is going to allow Academy voters to recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories, but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize,” Academy President Sid Ganis said. “I can’t wait to see what that list of 10 looks like when the nominees are announced in February.”
I have to admit I am happy to see “District 9” and “The Hurt Locker” made the list and this probably wouldn’t have happened if only five spots were available. But, I’m not so sure room should have been made for "The Blind Side."
bodyAs we close out January, what’s the best way to beat the winter blues? With a movie in your Snuggie at home On Demand? Or a bracing trip to the theater? We’ll lay out your options. What’s On Demand? Surrogates I think I’d have my surrogate just sitting on the couch drinking beer, and eating chips and guacamole. And hohos. And sausages. Do they have a surrogate for your fat surrogate? In the near future, we’re all played by attractive, and replaceable, versions of ourselves while our real selves control the surrogates from the safety and comfort of our couches. Bruce Willis is a cop investigating a murder -- of a real person -- that just might upset the whole system. Our Take: Brilliant concept. Poor execution. A weak plot and brainless action undermine the intriguing premise. I hope someone revisits this idea and, you know, makes it a good movie.
Whip It Bonus: Rollerskates are a great way to get around if your Toyota has been recalled. Bliss (Ellen Page of “Juno”) can’t find her niche in her small Texas town. That is, until she finds roller derby. Then, it’s “watch out world.” This is the first film with our Drew Barrymore as director. Our Take: This flick is the celluloid essence of Drew: Free-spirited, loud, offbeat, and appealing. The soundtrack alone is like sharing an earbud from Drew’s iPod.
The Boys are Back What’s the opposite of a sappy chick flick? A dude flick? A sportswriter (Clive Owen) tries to raise his boys in the wake of his wife’s death. He finds his own methods of parenting much different than his wife’s or his mother-in-law’s methods. Our Take: This film could have been unbearably sappy, but Owen’s performance raises the film to something more profound.
Paranormal Activity The new iPad has an app for getting rid of ghosts, right? There’s nothing in our bedroom, honey. You’re imagining the feeling of a presence. Here, let me set up the camcorder while we sleep. See? Nothing. Wait. What was that? AAAAAHhhhh! Our Take: All across this great land of ours, there are people who saw this movie months ago and still can’t sleep. It’s that scary. Also, there are people with camcorders in basements across this land trying to make the next low-budget megahit.
What’s in Theaters?
Edge of Darkness Five bucks to anyone who can tell me what the title of this movie has to do with anything actually in the movie. Mel Gibson, whose personal life has overshadowed his work recently, plays a cop whose adult daughter is murdered before his eyes. He unravels a conspiracy that, if I have this right, reaches Washington, D.C. Our Take: A mix of revenge, mystery, and conspiracy, this film is downright confusing. And not in a good way. Whatever you think of Mel, there’s no doubt he’s still a commanding presence on screen. Too bad the rest of the film can’t keep up with him.
When in Rome Pretty sure the iPad has an app for love potions too. Beth (Kristen Bell) swipes some coins from the fountain of love in Roma. Soon she’s hounded by potential lovers but catches the eye of Nick (Josh Duhamel). Our Take: Bell and Duhamel (a.k.a. Mr. Fergie) fail to find chemistry in this paint-by-numbers romantic comedy. Any boyfriend or husband who sits through this with his lady is entitled to double points. That’s an official ruling. Ticket or Click it? Click it! Do Ms. Barrymore a favor and watch her fun, coming-of-age story, “Whip It.” You know she’d do the same for you.
Message Edited by RebeccaKelley on 01-29-201012:10 PM
bodyVariety reports that Demi Moore and Miley Cyrus are hoping to team up for a remake of the French film "L.O.L.: Laughing Out Loud."
Miley is looking to play a teen that is dumped by her more experienced boyfriend and decides to make a play for his best friend. Demi will be Miley’s 40-year-old mom who is attempting to move on with her life after a divorce.
What was the definition of cougar again?
According to Variety, “The fraught relationship between mother and daughter provides the film with its narrative backbone, along with the younger generation's obsession with instant messaging.”
The question remains: How will Ashton and his twitter account fit into all of this?
bodyIs next “Pirates of the Caribbean” installment dead in the water? Orlando Bloom told MTV that he’s not on board to play his character Will Turner in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.”
"I think Will is sort of swimming around with the fish at the bottom of the ocean," Bloom said.
Bloom seems to think that the franchise can survive without his original character.
"I had a great time making those movies," he said. "I just really wanted to do different things, but I think it's going to be great. Whatever Johnny (Depp) does, I think it's fantastic."
What’s the best bet for your entertainment dollar and time this week? Should you brave the cold for a trip to the theater? Or cuddle on your couch with a blanket with On Demand. "Ticket or Click It" will break it down for you.
What’s On Demand?
District 9 Maybe one of them aliens should have run for Kennedy’s seat. Alien refugees from a galactic war are kept segregated in South Africa. Under the pretense of helping them, the government wants to exploit their weapon capabilities in this poignant metaphor about bigotry.
Our Take: District 9 is the best kind of sci-fi. It makes you think without sacrificing any big guns, big chases or big explosions.
The Invention of Lying Bars would be a lot less interesting if no one lied. And Thanksgiving dinner probably more interesting. Discuss. Ricky Gervais stars as the one person capable of lying in a world that has never even been exposed to the concept of lying. His lies bring him wealth and power, but not the girl he loves.
Our Take: This movie was marketed as a comedy, and it is quite funny, but it’s much deeper. It’s an exploration of Gervais’ ideas on atheism, religion, sex, art, and the real meaning of life. It’s a thinking person’s movie. If you’re into that kind of thing.
Big Fan I’m a “snuggle up to my sweetie on the couch and eat chips while the game is on” fan. Does that count? Paul (Patton Oswalt) is a New York Giants fan. A dress in Giants' jerseys, wave streamers from your car, rant on sports radio kind of fan. A paint your face, neck and chest blue and red and then go shirtless in 15-degree weather kind of fan. But when he happens across his favorite player, things go very wrong, forcing him to question the very thing on which he’s built his life.
Our Take: What seems a silly topic becomes a narrow focus lens on a lost man and the one thing that gives his life dignity. Oswalt gives a fine performance. Sports fans will smile knowingly, but everyone can find some meaning in this film.
Gamer Spartacus, meet 2009. 2009, Spartacus. A man is imprisoned and forced to battle to the death in gladiatorial matches that are streamed across the Internet. During battles, his mind is taken over by a remote player, making him an avatar to fulfill peoples’ most savage fantasies. All he wants is to get home to the wife and kids.
Our Take: Great concept. Poor execution. We’d love to see a second attempt at this idea that actually has, you know, a plot and interesting characters. Stuff like that.
Extract Wanda from accounting loved this move. Not sure how to take that. This workplace comedy stars Justin Bateman as the factory owner who wants to sell his business, wants to find an excuse to diddle his hot employee although he is married, and has to find a way to survive his employees.
Our Take: If you think 90 percent of people are idiots, then this is the film for you. Some of the set-ups are pretty far out there, but it does deliver laughs.
What’s in Theaters?
The Tooth Fairy Dwayne Johnson in a pink tutu. I can die happy now. Darrell is a minor-league hockey player who is sentenced by the fairy godmother (Julie Andrews) to serve time as a tooth fairy. But his real task is to learn to believe in dreams again. Hmm. That sounds cornier than it really was.
Our Take: The casting of Stephen Merchant (co-creator of "The Office") as a fairy bureaucrat elevates this film from standard fare to funny fare. Sure you’ve seen this fantasy world/real world merge before and heard the follow-your-dreams message, but this version fires on every cylinder. Your kids will love it and you’ll get a few hearty laughs as well.
Creation Personally, I think Evolution would be a better title. Because his ideas EVOLVE, see? Get it? Anyone listening? Charles Darwin (Paul Bettany) is a middle-aged father living in England, performing experiments and writing his seminal work: On the Origins of Species. You know, the book that “killed God” and set everyone arguing for the last 200 years about where we came from? The pressures of his work and its implications, grief over the loss of a beloved daughter, and a widening gulf between him and his cherished wife drive him to the edge of madness. Yeah. Nothing controversial about that.
Our Take: A beautifully made and acted movie, the heart of which is not the theory of evolution but a love story between two married people. Bettany’s real-life wife, Jennifer Connelly, plays Emma Darwin as broken, concerned, and ultimately tender woman. I would have loved to have seen that story without all the historical drama around it.
Extraordinary Measures I prefer to stick to ordinary measures. A dad with sick kids and a scientist team up to cure disease, battle corporate America, and conquer the medical establishment.
Our Take: I wasn’t able to screen this film, but word on the streets is that it plays like a made-for-TV movie. Which is not a surprise because it’s the first product of the new CBS films division.
Legion This film is actually a prequel to "2012," "The Road," "The Book of Eli," and "Knowing." The world ended a lot this year. God decides to pull the plug on humanity and has sent his angels to usher in Armageddon. A group of people stuck in a diner are our only chance. Let’s hope they didn’t have the blue-plate special.
Our Take: This film was not screened for critics, which is never a good sign. I do have to give it and the theater company 20 demerits for scaring the snot out of my kids with the trailer as we sat like chumps waiting for "Avatar" to start.
Ticket or Click it? Click it! If you didn’t see "District 9" (you know who you are), here’s your chance. You won’t regret it.
bodyBrendan Fraser is a dad of three, so it's not a surprise that the character he plays in "Extraordinary Measures," John Crowley, holds a special place in his heart.
"Extraordinary Measures" is a docudrama based on the lives of John Crowley, his wife and his three children, two of whom were given only a few years to live.
You may have seen the story about the Crowley family in the Wall Street Journal a while back.
Crowley beat all odds to find a way for his children to survive a fatal neuromuscular disorder, called Pompe disease. A graduate of Harvard business and employed by a drug company, he quit his high-paying job to build his own company, galvanizing scientists and venture capitalists along with millions of dollars (and nearly heaven and earth) to produce a drug that can prolong his daughter and son's lives indefinitely. They will always be wheelchair bound, never fully cured, but will no longer have to look at ten years as a full life span.
Or as Brendan put it, "John decided that from the cards he was dealt he was going to go around them, through them, like water around a boulder ... that's a determined individual and one I admire him for sure."
Sounds like a tear-jerker right? I think it is. It's also quite close to the horrifyingly seductive realm of made-for-TV movies. "Extraordinary Measures" is one of the first ventures from CBS Films, and it looks it. But, Fraser was quick to correct me.
"With respect, with respect this is not the film 'Lorenzo's Oil,' it's not," Fraser said. "Which after you go through all that it's like, ‘C'mon....’(dissolves into fake blubbering). You just can't fake it and that was a rule - no rampant sentimentality allowed. No playing for effect. No hanky ringing as the reason that you're doing this, as objective ... We were telling a story, but it's a story in my view about success rather than failure."
The success is almost unbelievable, and that's thanks in no small part to Crowley's incredibly calm wife Alieen (played by button-cute Keri Russell) and Dr. Robert Stonehill (who is a fictional amalgam of several scientists that Crowley worked with) played by Harrison Ford at his grumpiest. Imagine if you will, the Dirty Harry of scientists, a Classic rock listening, no s**t taking anarcho-academic with a chip on his shoulder and a fire in his belly.
I asked Fraser about working with the legendary Ford and how he felt being barked at by him over the course of most of the movie.
"Oh, come on," Fraser said. "After I got over my hero worship - maybe 13 seconds in the meeting -– He was like, ‘Come on, get off it. Don't go there.'" -- he was a real solid guy. A meticulous actor in terms of the information he had to have. All the language that he speaks is accurate, it's not the gobbledeegook you hear in movies so often. The dry erase board -- those are all equations -- to me it's just quantum physics on a wall. But to a scientist they go all yes and they would understand it."
Fraser was joined by the real-life John Crowley for the film premiere. The two had become close working together on the film and that clearly shows through on screen. But Fraser set out to portray Crowley respectfully, to convey a feeling of the man, not an imitation.
"Watch 'Saturday Night Live,' they lampoon individuals who we think we know well but that is not this movie," he explained. "I'm not putting quotation marks around anything. I'm not trying to emulate John in any way. Insert tall guy, short guy joke here."
When I spoke with the real John Crowley he remarked on the care taken to present an even-keeled picture of his family and he told me that some parts of the movie had to be un-dramatized, and toned down for the audience. Some parts of the story were too sad to be believed.
Fraser's favorite moment in the film didn't make it to the final cut.
"There's a scene that didn't make it in the movie ... but it's really wonderful," Fraser said.
He went on to describe it.
"Aileen is in a shopping market with Meredith who plays Megan (Crowley). She's stressed out on the telephone, everything's not going right and the kid is just getting to melt down. And she's screaming, "I want sparkle sunglasses!'" And she, Aileen, whirls on the kid and she's like, 'Just because you're in a wheelchair doesn't mean you get extra toys!' he laughed.
"And of course everyone around her is like horrified and she's like, 'Mind your own business, I'm parenting my kid here.' The point being, they're children. Their bodies may be affected but their minds are not. I assure you."
Brendan is right, the children in the movie are portrayed not as something to be pitied, but as people who are coping with an illness and trying to live their lives through the madness of constant hospitalization, drugs and a revolving door of nurses.
But no matter what Fraser claims about the non-water-works-inducing intention of the film, it's no doubt a sentimental venture.
John's frustrating dealings with the large pharmaceuticals, where everything is based on the bottom line, can't help but strike a chord with anyone who has seen someone they love take ill. So is there a message here about health care? What about the children who don't have the means that the Crowley kids had or who don't have a dad like John Crowley?
"Is this and issue-driven film? Well maybe when it comes out at a time when it seems like all sides of the country are finally coming to a dialogue," Fraser said. "Who knows what the answer is going to be, but personally I'm pleased that there actually is a dialogue. Last time I checked that was the best step toward conflict resolution."
He continued.
"Films can occasionally illuminate ... enlighten and entertain ... if they can, where's the harm in that? Sneak some vitamins into that cotton candy."
According to Variety, the brothers plan to present the film to viewers on Christmas Day. Who will be playing the beloved Rooster Cogburn? The Coens told MTV that recent Golden Globe winner Jeff Bridges will try to fill Wayne’s boots, “eye patch and all.”
"That'd be like doing Richard II without the limp," Joel told MTV.
Matt Damon and Josh Brolin are also rumored to be joining the cast.
bodyTraditionally, January is a month in which studios dump their stinkers on an unsuspecting public still bloated from the excesses of the holidays. So how to find entertainment? Do you dare risk a trip to the theater? Luckily, there’s On Demand at home, if you can figure out how to work all those fancy gadgets you bought at the post-holiday sales. We’ll break it down for you.
What’s On Demand? My One and Only Next up: A musical inspired by the life of Bob Barker. Inspired by the teen years of perpetually tanned actor George Hamilton, a beautiful but aged mother hits the road, dragging her sons along, in search of a new life and a new man. Our Take: Renee Zellweger pulls off a breezy, funny, and sometimes poignant role as an aged ingénue, making the film an enjoyable road trip. Fame Great. Now Irene Cara is stuck in my brain. A troop of dreamers at a performing arts high school try to make it big in this remake of the 1980 hit. As if anyone can remake perfection, perfection that is seared in the memory of a certain film critic that dreamed along with Coco, Doris, Montgomery, and Raul, and had the leg warmers to prove it. Baby, remember my name. Our Take: The original story featured real problems and real dreams. This new story is more “Gossip Girl.” Depending on who you are, that’s either a good thing or a bad thing.
The Hurt Locker It took a woman to make a good Iraq war movie. Lord knows many men have tried. Discuss. A group of soldiers are tasked with neutralizing bombs on the streets of Baghdad. This tense war movie becomes a psychological portrait of men on the razor’s edge of eternity. Our Take: This film deserves its huge Oscar buzz for a Best Picture nod and director Kathryn Bigelow has a real chance to be the first woman to win a Best Director statue. It’s destined to join the ranks of classic war movies. Inglourious Basterds Business is good. Very good. A group of Jewish soldiers take on Hitler and everyone who stands in their way in this history-bending film from Quentin Tarantino. Our Take: Also a strong contender for a Best Picture Oscar, this film is violent, pleasurable, entertaining, unrestrained, and a tad troubling. In other words, great cinema.
G-Force Based on real-life rodents in New York who do indeed pack heat. Like the heroes of "The Hurt Locker" and "Inglourious Basterds," this troop of warriors has a job to do no matter what the cost. Minor difference: it’s a troop of guinea pigs. Our Take: Your kids will love it. You will hate it. The plot is stupid. The characters flat. But, then again, they’re talking guinea pigs. For the elementary school set, how can you go wrong with talking guinea pigs? With guns? Perfect for putting On Demand while you enjoy a well-earned glass of wine. What’s In Theaters? The Book of Eli Why is oral hygiene always the first thing to go when the world ends? Denzel Washington is a man with a book, in fact the Good Book, and it’s the last copy on post apocalyptic earth. He treks through a barren and dry world, pausing briefly to chop body parts off bad guys and mentor Solara (Mila Kunis). Our Take: “Mad Max” meets Jackie Chan meets “High Noon” with a little religion thrown in. If you don’t take it too seriously, it’s kitchy fun. The old folks in the farmhouse are the best part. The Lovely Bones It’s not "Polyanna." Susie (“Atonement’s” Saoirse Ronan) was murdered. She watches her parents from the afterlife as they desperately try to find her killer and come to terms with her murder. Our Take: This film from LOTR director Peter Jackson tries to make a love story about a family, but it swings wildly in tone between horror of the crime and sappiness. The viewer gets lost in the shuffle.
The Spy Next Door Jackie Chan meets ... oh wait, it IS Jackie Chan. A man (Chan) has to protect some neighbor kids from a spy who wants ... oh, who cares? Something or other. Our Take: Jackie, we expected better of you, with all those other fluff movies chock full of ninja moves and funny quips. This isn’t up to your usual standards. In fact, we’re not sure you were trying at all. No, we’re not angry. Really. Just very, very disappointed in you.
Ticket or Click it Click It! It’s hard to choose between “Inglourious Basterds” and “The Hurt Locker,” but we’ll pick “The Hurt Locker.”
So who better to play the title character and human kind's last hope of salvation in the Hughes brothers’ apocalyptic action film, "The Book of Eli"?
Please allow me to gush, just a little.
Charismatic, funny, handsome -- Washington seemed to be intent upon putting me at ease when I sat down with him at Comic-Con to talk about "Book of Eli." I saw none of the gruffness or short temper I had heard talk of from other writers.
He inquired about my background and where I grew up. (My friends don't even ask me these questions.) He even gave me a shoulder rub - as if to relax me before the big game.
This is all within the first few minutes of our interview. Needless to say, I was charmed.
Finally we got down to business, so to speak, and when I asked him about his character, he jokingly replied:
"Yeah just your average guy... you know ... the savior of mankind."
He went on to explain Eli's motivation.
"He's been told what to do. He's not even sure where to go, but he knows to go west. He has a book that can change the world."
It was all very vague. Is the book Biblical? Are the references religious?
"Depends on your religion, I guess," Washington said.
One thing he could give me a straight answer on was the action in the movie. There's a whole lot of fighting, some pretty serious weaponry and something about meat (animal and otherwise) sandwiches.
Washington was very excited about the physicality of the part.
"I trained for about seven months with some really great martial artists and Jeff Amada (“Fight Club,” “The Bourne Supremacy”) who is a martial artist and stunt coordinator," Washington said. "That was great -- I love that stuff. You get some nicks and bruises here and there. I've been boxing for 15 years. I did a lot of boxing training for the ‘Hurricane.’ But there's been nothing like this, I've never studied the martial arts."
Eli comes up against Carnegie, played by Gary Oldman; a very charismatic character described by Washington as a Jim Jones-type bad guy. Mila Kunis plays Carnegie’s daughter Solara, who falls for Eli and decides to follow him on his journey.
Oldman described Carnegie -- who maintains his leverage over the people by controlling the water supply, among other things -- as a despot.
"It's my government and I run it and I can do this," Oldman explained. "But, it's not just guns and explosions. There's a bit of philosophy to it as well. Carnegie is a bit of a thinker and ideologue in a kind of way. He believes that this is what is going to continue his reign. He has a power over these people because of the water and his quest is for the book."
Carnegie has armaments, trucks and minions. I asked Oldman about working with the weaponry and what it was like having that sort of power. He was quick to point out that unlike Washington's martial-arts training much of his stunts are provided by movie magic.
"You have these wonderful things in movies - and of course you never really get to ride in the Bat Mobile," he explained. "It's a cockpit in the studio with guys jiggling it."
"But we were out on the road with those cars," he continued. "What I got from it? I liked the terrain. That was the first time I had spent any time in New Mexico. And I liked that big sky and I liked the company. I had a great time working with Denzel and I really like the Hughes Brothers."
From the clips I saw at Comic-Con, Carnegie is an extremely formidable and desperate foe -- someone you would not want chasing after you. Someone whose daughter you would not want to, say, run off with?
Washington agreed, but added, "Yeah it is (terrifying), but if you're going to run from Gary Oldman you might as well have Mila running with you."
This caught the attention of Mila who was sitting at the table next to us, chatting with another writer.
"Yeah I'm talking about you," Washington quipped.
"She was just saying it was nerve-wracking seducing you," the other writer chimed in.
I asked Washington if it was nerve-wracking being seduced.
"I don't think so," Washington replied.
"Being seduced or seducing?" Mila attempted to clarify. "No, it's never nerve-wracking being seduced."
"Unless it's your best friend's mother," I offered.
At this point the interview dissolved into a heated discussion about what it would be like to be seduced by your friend's mom and the disturbing mental image that it created.
In the end it was agreed by all parties that any sort of seduction by the parent of a friend would be entirely unappealing.
But back to the movie, because there is a message in all of this -- other than who should seduce Washington -- and the stars had some varying thoughts on the disturbing future the Hughes brothers have mapped out for us. A future where people live in the desert, water is scarce and there isn't much respect for human life.
"In one way or another it will happen," Washington said.
"Water is currency. Water used to be free. Now we buy it in a bottle. When I was a kid I never would have imagined. So if you extend that 30 years from now it's not so far-fetched. Whatever the apocalypse is -- it could just be the ice melting -- we don't know what the long-term effects of these things we're doing today on this earth will be. We might be expecting the big war and it won't even be that. It's like, man it's getting hot."
Mila also thinks this we are already headed down a path of destruction.
"It could happen," she answered very seriously. "The film is incredibly realistic. That's the sad part; it's not so outrageous that it can't happen. Korea's shooting missiles ... and now we have environmental problems. This movie talks about all of it."
Oldman sees the "Eli" future to be problematic in quite a different way. He is clearly influenced by Carnegie.
"I think the loss of cultures and the becoming one mind (is troubling),” Oldman said. "I think because of political correctness, sometimes we embrace culture to the detriment of losing our own. That scares me the most -- like the one big republic Hitler made, one mindset." What else does Oldman have to say? Click here.
bodyFirst, let me say that I love Gary Oldman. Ever since I saw him playing Sid Vicious in "Sid and Nancy" I have followed his career and had a soft spot for his films.
So, I was beside myself to chat with him about "The Book of Eli" last summer at Comic-Con.
At the round table prior to our interview he mentioned that he had been a bit of a trouble-maker on the red carpet. Specifically, that he "said a lot of s**t and caused a lot of trouble."
I couldn't wait to ask him about it. What did he do? Did he punch someone out? Or just zing them with his caustic wit?
"Oh no," he said. "I just mean that - you know - someone says, 'When are you doing 'Batman'?' and you say, 'Next year.' It's probably likely it's two years away and they get very upset. You can't say that."
Who are "they?" They’re the handlers, the publicists and ultimately the company that pays him a lot of money to be in its films.
I asked him if they often tell him what to say.
"More and more," he said. "Because everyone's on Twitter and the thing and the blogs and the this and the email. And it's like an expressway and it's like a virus."
"I innocently say, off the top of my head 'Next year?' and no one's told me," he continued. "And the script - I don't know anything about it. I know there probably will be a third 'Batman.'"
"And they're fans and they love it ... so I can understand it. I didn't mean to cause an international incident."
There you have it fans. Sure, this is five months later, and things could have changed 12 times since then, but Gary Oldman will definitely maybe be making a third "Batman" if he ever sees a script and if anyone ever tells him when they are shooting.
bodyThe Los Angeles Times reportings that despite recent rumors of a hold-up in the final movie of “The Twilight Saga” series, “Breaking Dawn” could begin filming as early as this fall. It’s been speculated that Stephenie Meyer and Summit are involved in a creative battle, because Meyer is against splitting her final story into two movies.
In an LA Times interview Producer Wyck Godfrey says that although they still need to work out some kinks with the Renesmee character, the plan is to move forward with production. As to the question of one movie vs. two, that will be worked out at the end.
"It's a work in process," Godfrey said in the interview. "The issue [of whether there will be one or two movies] is not going to be resolved until we get the full treatment and see whether it's organic. If it's not organic, I don't think it will be done, and if it is, it will be. It really has to do with how much level of detail from the books there is, with all of these new vampires that appear in 'Breaking Dawn,' the whole section about Jacob ... It's a very long single movie if it does become a single movie."
The bigger question is how they are going to treat the Renesmee – a half-vampire, half-human baby who drinks blood, communicates through telepathy and grows at a rapid rate. Godfrey said that Renesmee will left in the care of the director.
"I keep having visions of '[The Curious Case of] Benjamin Button' in my head," Godfrey said. "It's certainly going to be visual effects in some capacity along with an actor. I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being a full CG creation, but it also may be a human shot on a soundstage that then is used to shrink down. I don't know. We need a director. When we get a director, that director will need to come with a point of view of how they want to tackle it.”
bodyBaby, it’s cold outside. Even Floridians are pulling coats out of the closet and hunkering down. Sadly, January is traditionally a time when Hollywood tries to sneak out the films that, well, seemed like a good idea at the time but on further reflection, were the result of one too many daiquiris at the Malibu house. So what’s your best bet to beat the cold? A trip to the warm theater or a movie snuggled on the couch On Demand? Ticket or Click it breaks it down for you.
What’s On Demand?
The Final Destination I’m just scared my final destination is Jersey Shore. Nick cheats death. Frankly, Death resents this. Death feels that if Death makes the trouble to come for Nick, the least Nick can do is come along. Death hunts Nick down like lost car keys, and takes some of Nick’s buddies for good measure. Our Take: This lackluster third installment of the franchise is not particularly scary, witty, or fun. Death needs to hunt down Final Destination films.
Adam It’s no stranger than that Katy Perry-Russell Brand thing. And you don’t have to shower after. A sheltered young man with Asperger’s (Hugh Darcy) meets an outgoing and vibrant young woman (Rose Byrne). Their unlikely love story is filled with misconnections, but that only makes overcoming them that much more satisfying. Our Take: Fine acting and a rarely told story combine to make this an indie romance worth watching. It would have had more buzz if it didn’t come in the wake of “500 Days of Summer.”
Fifty Dead Men Walking Suddenly, I have a Lucky Charms craving. 1980s violence between Protestants and Catholics in Ireland provides the backdrop for this thriller in which an Irish lad provides information about the IRA to the British. He feels he’s saving lives by risking his own. Our Take: Workman-like acting and solid directing make this an effective and entertaining, if not brilliant, thriller. But you gotta love those Irish accents. Public Enemies Batman vs. Cap’n Jack Sparrow in a cage match. Who’d win? How about in Yatzee? Discuss. A couple of nobodies – some dude named Johnny Depp and an unknown named Christian Bale – team up for a classic cop and gangster story. Depp is John Dillinger. Bale is the cop who lives to bring him down. Our Take: Despite unique cinematography and great actors, the film is less than the sum of its parts. With everything going for it, it should be great, but it’s merely good.
Moonlight Serenade We do crazy things when we’re young and need money. A coat check girl in a jazz club (Amy Adams) just happens to have a beautiful voice. The musician notices this, along with her luminescent eyes and winning personality. Our Take: That smug Amy Adams with her little button nose, big, expressive eyes, flawless acting ability, and two Oscar nominations. She needs to be taken down a notch or two. This is just the film to do it. She’s not so brilliant NOW, is she, for taking a role in this musical that would be embarrassing even as a made for TV special?
What’s in theaters?
Daybreakers Seems like Wal-Mart could solve this problem. A virus has turned nearly every human into a vampire. The silly vampires, in a perfect example of poor resource planning, have eaten most of the humans. They’re hungry. Now what? Our Take: This movie was not screened for critics, which is always a bad sign. I wonder how many mediocre vampire movies are in the pipeline that we’ll have to suffer through before this trend exhausts itself.
Youth in Revolt Yeah. Michael Cera just screams revolt, rebellion, and smouldering rage. He’s a regular James Dean. Nick (Michael Cera) is an awkward, sweetly-shy teen who wants to lose his virginity. (Stop me if you’ve heard this before). But this time, he has an ally: He invents a Casanova alter ego to help with his bumbling seduction. Our Take: No one plays nerdy teendom like Cera. Over and over. The plus side is that he does it really well and this film is no exception, if you still like that sort of thing.
Leap Year Suddenly, I have a craving for bangers and mash. Anna (Amy Adams) is an A-type whose wild plan to propose to her boyfriend in Ireland on Leap Year Day is thrown off by the one thing she can’t control or buy: the weather. She hires an Irish bumpkin with dreamy eyes (Matthew Goode) to drive her to Dublin and put her life back on schedule. Hijinks ensue. Our Take: Both Adams and Goode sparkle onscreen, but they deserve better material. It hurt my feet to see her walk across Ireland in gorgeous, but not hike-worthy, four inch stilettos. It hurt my heart to see her step those stilettos into a cowpie. It’s no “Doubt.” But it’s no “Moonlight Serenade,” either, thank God. It’s somewhere between the two.
Crazy Heart The man has regrets, kinda like Amy Adams regrets “Moonlight Serenade.” Jeff Bridges is a played-out, road-weary, alcoholic honky tonk singer with a string of marriages behind him and his glory days fading in the rear view mirror. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a music writer and single mom. Their love is tender and sweet, all the more so for being unexpected, but can love solve these problems? Our Take: A story about humanity, love, and taking responsibility for your life, this film is poignant and achingly real. Bridges and Gyllenahaal play characters so convincing, you’d think they lived down the street. Ticket or Click It?
Ticket! If you like great acting and watching the human condition played out onscreen, you have to catch “Crazy Heart.”
bodyTaylor Lautner’s shirt isn’t the only thing that’s busting at the seams. You should check out his wallet.
According to Deadline Hollywood, the “Twilight Saga” star is now the highest paid teen actor in Tinseltown. This is thanks, in part, to his new $7.5 million role in “Northern Lights.” He’ll be starring alongside another Hollywood heavy hitter you might have heard of: Tom Cruise.
“Northern Lights” is being described as the story of “a gifted, young, aerobatics pilot who faces off with his controlling, billionaire father and falls in love with a gifted, female pilot.”
$7.5 million is no small chunk of change for a relatively green actor. Deadline Hollywood’s Nikki Finke dishes that even Disney’s most popular teen idols don’t see that kind of salary.
“I'm told that neither Zac Efron nor Miley Cyrus have ever gotten a salary even close to that for their films. Amazing,” Finke wrote in her blog.
Is Taylor the next Tom Cruise? That remains to be seen, but it’s looking pretty good for this teen who is already a household name.
In other casting news, the Boston Herald reports that Sean Penn is a stooge once again. After dropping out of the Farrelly Brothers’ “Three Stooges” project this summer, Penn has returned to play Larry.
Bobby Farrelly confirms this.
"We got him back. He always said he wanted to do it after, you know, taking care of his family," said Farrelly.
Let’s hope this movie works out better than his marriage.
bodyJ.Lo has got my attention and it has nothing to do with the fact that she resembled a sexy disco ball in her full-body New Year’s Eve sparkle suit. (Click here if you missed the pictures.)
In a recent interview with Latina magazine, Jennifer Lopez talks life, love and movie-making. She told the magazine that her role opposite her husband Marc Anthony in “El Cantante” was “Oscar-worthy” and she is upset with the Academy for overlooking her abilities.
“I feel like I had that [Oscar worthy role] in ‘El Cantante,’ but I don’t even think the academy members saw it. I feel like it’s their responsibility to do that, to see everything that’s out there, everything that could be great. Well, it is a little bit frustrating. It was funny; when the Oscars were on, I had just given birth on the 22nd, and the Oscars, I think, were a day or two later. I was sitting there with my twins—I couldn’t have been happier—but I was like, ‘How dope would it have been if I would’ve won the Oscar and been here in my hospital bed accepting the award?’ ‘Thank you so much! I just want to thank the academy!’
“But we joked about it. It’s all good. Things will happen when they’re supposed to happen. I have the utmost faith and no doubt that it will one day, when and if it’s supposed to. You can’t get all crazy twisted over it.”
Most movie-goers (and undoubtedly the Academy) didn’t necessarily share Lopez’s enthusiasm for “El Cantante.” The music biopic about salsa great Hector Lavoe received a 22 percent "rotten" certification from the movie Web site Rotten Tomatoes.
But that’s not the only role Lopez thinks didn’t get a fair shake. She told Elle magazine that her romantic comedies have a depth not seen in other big-budget films.
"I think ‘Maid in Manhattan’ and ‘Monster-in-Law’ are very layered movies,” she told the magazine. “And that's why they're so successful. People don't like sh**ty romantic comedies. Nothing that's sh**ty is going to make $100 million."
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The police buddy movie is back and this time King of the Nerds, Kevin Smith, is behind it.
Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan and Seann William Scott star in “Cop Out.” Originally titled “A Couple of Dicks,” the movie titled was changed to “Cop Out” after the networks complained. It's the first movie that Smith has directed and not written, but it still retains his signature goofiness.
Check out the trailer and let me know what you think.
bodyThat’s what AOL users said when polled by moviefone.com. Fox actually agrees with their assessment of her acting abilities. Remember when she admitted that her performance in “Transformers” was less than stellar? Let me refresh your memory:
"I've done one movie. And it's not a movie I want to stand on as far as acting ability goes,” she told GQ. “I mean, I'm not going to win an Oscar anytime soon. I'm not Meryl Streep."
Fortunately for Fox, she seems to have other talents, like looking good. AOL users also voted the actress sexiest female of 2009.
We think Fox would also agree with this poll.
"Well, I'm clearly not ugly," the actress told Entertainment Weekly.
bodyMerry non-sectarian, non-religious holiday to you. After the gifts are opened and the eggnog drunk, how will you unwind? With a movie, of course. But should you trek over the river and through the woods to your local movie theater, or cozy up on the couch for a flick On Demand? "Ticket or Click It?" is here to tell you. But be wary: This week is Attack of the Disastrous Romantic Comedy week. Choose wisely and don’t say I didn’t warn you.
What’s On Demand?
The Accidental Husband How does one get accidentally married? Outside Vegas, I mean? A tough-talking radio personality gives love advice to her troubled listeners, but needs some advice of her own when she is accidentally wed to the fiancée of one of the aforementioned listeners. Our Take: Colin Firth has been nominated for a Golden Globe and Uma Thurman for an Oscar. They are good actors. I know because I’ve seen “Pride and Prejudice” and “Kill Bill.” What were they thinking? This film is about as bad as they get, except for….
All About Steve Alternate title: All About Restraining Orders. Sandra Bullock stars as a woman who falls for a TV camera man. She shows her love by showing up everywhere he does as he travels the country. Our Take: Sandra Bullock is also a good actor. I know this because I’ve seen “Crash” and “The Blind Side.” What was she thinking? This film is so bad it should be invaded and converted to democracy. How did stalking become the basis for a romantic story? It’s hard to imagine how it can exist in the same world as….
500 Days of Summer You’ll wish it was 501 Days. This indie hit is a sweet story about a love that ended, but left its mark. It is told through the non-linear lens of Tom’s (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) memory. Our Take: Wonderfully charming, this trip down memory lane will connect with everyone who has loved, especially those who have loved and lost. Radiant performances from Zooey Deschanel (as Summer) and Gordon-Levitt make it one to remember. Or, if you’re ready to move from romance to wedding there’s always…..
The Hangover Like Katy says, that’s what you get for waking up in Vegas. Three groomsmen in Vegas wake up the morning after to find themselves in possession of a thrashed hotel room, a tiger, a baby, and short one groom. And no memory of how it happened. Our Take: Hilarious. Raunchy, but hilarious.
What’s in Theaters?
Sherlock Holmes Elementary meets Explosive. The classic uber-brainy English detective of Sir Conan Doyle’s novels is brought to life, along with his sidekick Watson and a few hot chicks. Our Take: Fans of the books will have to strain to see any connection with the beloved stories beyond the names of the characters. But Robert Downey Jr. saves a film that might have been schlocky. Plus, there’s lots of explosions.
It’s Complicated Who knew Baby Boomers were sexy? A long-divorced couple (Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin) have moved on and buried the past. But when they reconnect at a grown child’s graduation, they find the spark is still there, despite having new loves -- one of which comes in the form of Steve Martin. Our Take: A sometimes formulaic romcom, this film will connect best with women, and by that I mean women of a certain age. Still, it’s hard to go wrong with Streep, Baldwin, and Martin.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakel How much do you love your kids? This is a test. The most annoying rodents in history are back, singing in their high, squeaky voices. Our Take: Surely you can do better for your children than to subject them to this. If you must go, take earplugs.
Nine 9. $9.99. Nine. District 9. Is this, at last, the end of movies named some derivative of 9? Film director Guido Contini (Daniel Day Lewis) juggles scads of beautiful women in this adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical. Our Take: This film provides a Sees Sampler of eye candy, with Nicole Kidman, Fergie, Kate Hudson, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Dame Judi Dench, and the still amazingly hot Sophia Loren. The musical numbers are more the result of heavy production than talent, and Day-Lewis is a bit of a miscast. But still a better choice than Alvin and those nasal chipmunks.
Ticket or Click it? Click it! 500 Days of Summer will charm your socks off. Or, if you’re in a snowy area, your mittens.
Message Edited by RebeccaKelley on 12-24-200911:24 AM
For almost two decades, Mike Judge has been consistently creating films and TV shows that have become firmly cemented in the pop culture lexicon: "Beavis and Butt-Head," "King of the Hill," "Office Space," "Idiocracy" and even his latest, "Extract." Just try watching one of his projects and not find yourself quoting it somewhere in average conversation...it just might be possible.
It's even been sixteen years since "Beavis and Butt-Head" first premiered on MTV and Judge says fans still ask when they can expect the animated slackers to return once more. Judge laughs and says, "I have thought about doing, I wouldn’t call it a sequel, but another “Beavis and Butt-head” movie. I have written a treatment that I kind of like."
This past summer, Judge's "Extract" hit theaters with a typically understated fanfare. Judge works away from the glare of Hollywood and instead prefers to write and shoot in Texas. With his latest, Judge was ready to explore another phase of his own working life - management. If "Office Space" was about the plight of the office drone, then "Extract" is the logical next step in the working man's hierarchy as it explores the daily headaches facing Joel (Jason Bateman), an average small business owner in Texas. The film co-stars Mila Kunis, Kristen Wiig and Ben Affleck.
We recently chatted with Judge about "Extract" and the oddities of his career.
Comcast.net: I think it's safe to say that since "Beavis and Butt-Head," and especially your films, they make a small dent on initial release and then blow up cult-like on DVD and cable. Are you reconciled to that?
Mike Judge: That part of it I love. I’m not setting out to make a cult movie but I really like that.
"Extract" feels like a movie that could bookend what you started in "Office Space." How did it come about?
It came from that I had never had anyone work for me as an employee. Back when “Beavis and Butt-head” became a TV show, I suddenly went from zero to thirty, and up to ninety, people working for me. MTV was pretty inexperienced with shows and had never done any animated shows so it fell on me to run things most of the time. After always being the employee and “the man is keeping me down,” now I’m the man. I suddenly had all this sympathy thinking, "God, these people don’t appreciate anything! I would have loved a job in TV!” Then you try to be the nice boss and that doesn’t always work. And then you get pissed off. I went through all those things and learning how to be a boss.
Some employees will walk all over you when you are nice, as is Joel's case in "Extract." What are your horror stories?
I remember one time in particular I was trying to be nice. There was a “Beavis and Butt-head” album and for the artwork they had a budget of like $1500. I was going to throw someone a bone. I had done the artwork, the line work, but back then to color it you would trace it onto a cell and paint the back. That’s normally something you pay someone $12 an hour to do and take maybe 20 minutes. I was thinking I was doing alright financially so I offer this guy $800 to paint the cell thinking he would be happy. But then I hear him in the other room, “That’s f---ing bull, man! These guys are going to make millions off this album and I get $800 lousy dollars.” And that was my “Ok, no more Mr. Nice Guy" moment.
People love "Office Space," so is this your sort of sequel?
No. With “Extract” I wrote the script and didn’t tell anyone. I did it for fun to see where it would go. I showed it to my producers and they liked it. The first actor I showed it to was Jason Bateman because I thought he would be great for the lead and he wanted to do it. We went to private financers and we made the deal.
Ben Affleck does a great character turn in the movie. How did he come on board?
We did the normal casting process to bring people in to read for it. I had heard Ben Affleck was interested. But I said, “No, it’s Jason Bateman in the lead,” but then I found out he wanted to be Dean (Jason’s best friend). We did a read-through of the script with Ben and Jason and he was hilarious. I loved it. And he was making me laugh more and more through the editing. He describes it as he took “a wild swing” and I think he nailed it.
This is your third major motion picture you've directed, and you are arguably the boss of everything. Do you like being in that position?
I enjoy steering the ship and making a movie. Part of what comes with that is making someone do something they don’t want to do or if there is a disagreement and I have to overrule everybody. I don’t get off on that. Back when I had an engineering job, I didn’t like when there were bosses that tell you to do something because they get off on the power of it. That really bothers me. So I don’t do that but I sometimes have to make someone do something they don’t want to and I don’t enjoy that so it sucks. But the thing about a movie is that the shooting part is over after eight weeks. (Laughs)
It's no secret that the process of making your films have often been night,mares due to studio interference or poor marketing. How was "Extract"?
There wasn’t a lot of stress on this one because we had private funding. With “Idiocracy” every time I would find an actor that I thought was great I would have to deal with these phone calls and this micromanaging. I would eventually win the arguments but then why argue? “Office Space” was like that too. But I have learned how to make it easier.
"Idiocracy" now has quite the following and to me is one of the scariest comedies of the decade. How do you feel about it now?
It’s nice to hear people are seeing that thing. “Idiocracy” was a film that was more fun to write than make for a number of reasons. We had an impossible schedule for the budget and it was set in a drought but it was the rainiest season ever in Austin. I felt like it was cursed.
I'm sure you get asked all the time for sequels for the bulk of your work. What gets requested the most and then what would you want to do?
With “Office Space” they wanted a sequel for a long time. There was a brief moment where I thought about that. And then they wanted a TV show, but now there is “The Office.” And then recently someone was talking about an “Idiocracy” TV show and there was a point with that where I thought it might make a better TV show because I felt like we had so much material we couldn’t work into what we had. And as for "Beavis," I have thought about doing, I wouldn’t call it a sequel, but another “Beavis and Butt-head” movie. I have written a treatment that I kind of like.
bodyAs you’re taking a break from the holiday whirlwind, the entertainment gods have conspired to give you lots of excellent choices for relaxing with a movie. “Ticket or Click It?” is here to help you decide which is better: making a trip to the theater or watching a flick on your couch On Demand. But this week, even with some stiff competition, there’s really only one option.
Whats On Demand?
Taking Woodstock Just don’t eat the brownies. A family with a run-down hotel finds itself in the middle of the summer of love at a little outdoor concert called Woodstock. Our Take: A sentimental ode to the hippie era, this film is just a little too smug and self-congratulatory. People who remember the late '60s fondly (or hazily as the case may be) will find it doesn’t live up to their nostalgic memories.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Joe Lieberman: Harry Potter or Voldemort? Discuss. Our Harry keeps growing up. As he steps into his role as the leader of the war against the evil Voldemort, Harry keeps unraveling the puzzle of his own past and how it intersects with the Dark Lord. And he makes time for classes, quidditch, and girls. Our Take: Like the books, these films keep getting better and better. We can see why all those wacky kids love it so. Star Trek Whatever you do, don’t ask a Trekkie about Kobayashi Maru. Or call him a Trekkie. This wildly successful reboot of the “Star Trek” franchise takes us back to the early years of James T. Kirk’s career as he gathers his shipmates and friends around him. And thanks to the magic of time travel plot devices, not only do we have Young Spock and Old Spock, but we also have a whole new start to the Trek narrative which should open the wormhole for numerous sequels. Our Take: Very well done and shockingly cool, this film is enjoyable for Trekkers and novices alike. Yes, it is possible to see this movie and still get a date. Embrace the inner geek. What’s in Theaters?
Avatar This is the planet Al Gore WISHES he lived on. Paraplegic former Marine Jake Sully goes to a distant planet to pilot a biological copy -- an avatar -- of the giant, blue, tribal, oh-so-wise inhabitants. His task: To gain their trust so humans can cheat them out of their home. Do you think that’s what happens? No, silly! Our Take: Several things in this film would be dealbreakers in a lesser movie: abject and unquestioning adoration of the “noble savage,” Earth worship surpassing the level of the wackjobs who live in platforms in trees, and references to Iraq that are about as subtle as Sean Penn. None of it matters. Once again director James Cameron creates a world of breathtaking beauty that you wish were real. The characters snap, crackle, and pop, and the special effects put you more in the movie than ever before. At well over two hours, you still don’t want it to be over when the credits roll.
Broken Embraces (in limited theaters) Aburrido is the Spanish word for bored. Just in case you need it. This Spanish-language movie from director Pedro Almodovar is all about a love triangle, loss, passion, sexual obsession, and a possible murder. And did I mention Penelope Cruz as the center of the triangle? Sounds intriguing, right? Our Take: Wrong. Penelope Cruz is luminescent and the object of everyone’s desire, but fails to breathe life into a pretentious movie that commits the worst sin of all: Boring the audience. If you need your Pedro Almodovar/Penelope Cruz fix, watch “Volver.” It’s a much better movie. The Young Victoria (in limited theaters) I’ve seen pictures of Victoria and, ahem, Emily Blunt is an improvement. Just saying. This quiet film traces England’s Victoria through her teenage years, her ascension to the throne at barely 18, and her courtship and marriage to her precious Prince Albert. Along the way, she survives lots of political machinations and doubts about the many people around her who wish to control or influence her. Sounds dull, right? Our Take: Wrong again. Emily Blunt is also luminescent as Victoria, and transforms what might be a sleepy costume drama into a quiet but significant love story, and an exploration of trust and marriage. God save the queen!
Ticket or Click It? Ticket! In a strong line-up like this week, you have an embarrassment of riches to choose from, but “Avatar” is the destination movie of the year. You have got to see it. And this is definitely one to see in the theater.
Message Edited by RebeccaKelley on 12-18-200912:38 PM
Take a gander at Black Widow, Whiplash and War Machine in action in the newly released trailer for "Iron Man 2." Plus, Mickey Rourke attempts a Russian accent and Robert Downey Jr. is at his snarky Tony Stark-y best.
Two observations. One, I think that Whiplash might be wearing Hammer pants. Two, until now I hadn't noticed how much attention was paid to the butt part of the Iron Man suit. Iron Man got back.
This clip will have you counting down the minutes until May 7. I promise.
bodySnow, snow, snow, even in California. How do you spend a cold, snowy weekend? Movies, of course! But which is better? Watching something On Demand in the comfort of your living room, or braving the elements to get to your local theater? Luckily, Ticket or Click It? is here to break it down for you.
What's On Demand
Julie and Julia She could flambé AND spy against the Nazis. What a woman. The film weaves together the story of plucky Julia Child (Meryl Streep) and her attempt to become a chef in a male dominated world, with the story of Julie (Amy Adams), a woman who attempts to work out her life’s frustrations through cooking Julia Child’s recipes and blogging about it. Our Take: As rich and flavorful as Julia’s Coq au Vin. With two great actresses like that, how can you go wrong? But it is a little estrogen-heavy. Guys may need to balance with beer and/or the following movie. The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard Sure. Live Hard. Sell Hard. But at least be funny. Mega-salesman Don Ready (Jeremy Piven) rides into town to save a used car dealership and share his sales secrets, which boil down to conniving, drinking, and visiting strip clubs. Oh, and offending every possible people group. Our Take: Smutty, uninspired, and scattershot, this film is one big missed opportunity.
Up “Up” was also in the running for the shortest movie title of 2009, but then that punk “9” came out. In this animated film that holds as much meaning for adults as children, a lonely widower strives to fulfill the promise of travel and adventure he made to his late wife, but is hampered by a stowaway boy scout. A dog with a collar that translates his thoughts into speech (they’re mostly about squirrels) and a giant bird named Kevin round out the group. Our Take: It’s worth watching this film just for the nearly wordless, beautifully done montage of Carl’s courtship and marriage. But the rest of the movie is equally funny, entertaining, insightful, and poignant. This film should be an Oscar contender. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian It makes things come alive at night? Can we borrow that for the Redskins? A magic amulet makes museum exhibits come to life at night. Transferred from New York to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., there’s a lot more mayhem and madness for the amulet to cause. Old favorites like Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams) return to meet up with new historical figures like Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams). Our Take: Not quite an Oscar contender, but a solid, fun movie for families, this second “Night at the Museum” is as good as the first. It’s fun and zany, just don’t think too hard. Amy Adams’ bit role as Amelia leaves Hilary Swank’s full-feature portrayal in “Amelia” in the dust, and Hank Azaria as Pharaoh Kahrumrah is good for some serious giggles.
What’s in Theaters?
Invictus A wicked googly. Wait, are googlies rugby? Or cricket? In a racially divided South Africa, Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) cajoles his people into rooting for one national rugby team, which was formerly a symbol of apartheid. Matt Damon co-stars as the captain of the Springboks, who leads his team to an unlikely spot in the World Cup. Our Take: At parts inspiring, at parts a social studies lesson, this film highlights a need for a culture to have common ground for its people and Mandela’s insight into human nature. As a sports movie, it’s lackluster, maybe because the audience knows nothing about rugby. Or at least I don’t. The Princess and The Frog It’s Gumbolicious. I just like saying that. Gumbolicious. See? Disney’s latest princess, Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), is spunky, hard-working, and self-sufficient. At least until a slightly mangled curse changes her into a frog along with the prince she was trying to rescue with a kiss. The road to happily ever after leads through the swamp with a Cajun lightning bug and a jazz-playing crocodile. Our Take: Set in New Orleans of the ’20s with Disney’s first African-American princess, this film is more uniquely American than many past princess flicks. The animation is beautiful, at least as beautiful as frogs can be, but the music is shockingly uncatchy. If that’s a word.
Ticket or Click it?
Click It! This is your chance to see “Up,” or see it again. It’s not often you get to watch a near perfect film.
Message Edited by RebeccaKelley on 12-11-200904:44 PM
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Two new pictures from the upcoming “Sex and the City” sequel just arrived in my inbox and I wish I had deleted them before opening. I’m pretty sure that Sarah Jessica Parker wishes I had deleted them too, especially after seeing herself in the one sheet below. Were those sunglasses added to her face after the picture was taken?
And if things aren’t bad it enough, it appears that the sassy foursome will be doing karaoke. No amount of sparkly attire can make me feel OK about that. Karaoke bonding is the act of a desperate movie.
I'm not sure that I would refer to these images as "teasers." They're more like warnings.
Snow and more snow for much of the country means we’re all looking for ways to pass the time indoors. What’s better, a trip to a heated theater? Or snuggling on your couch with a movie On Demand? We’ll break down your options.
The list of Oscar nominees came out this morning and the category of Best Picture nominees has doubled in size 
As we close out January, what’s the best way to beat the winter blues? With a movie in your Snuggie at home On Demand? Or a bracing trip to the theater? We’ll lay out your options.
Is next “Pirates of the Caribbean” installment dead in the water? Orlando Bloom told 
What’s the best bet for your entertainment dollar and time this week? Should you brave the cold for a trip to the theater? Or cuddle on your couch with a blanket with On Demand. "Ticket or Click It" will break it down for you.
Brendan Fraser is a dad of three, so it's not a surprise that the character he plays in "Extraordinary Measures," John Crowley, holds a special place in his heart. 
Traditionally, January is a month in which studios dump their stinkers on an unsuspecting public still bloated from the excesses of the holidays. So how to find entertainment? Do you dare risk a trip to the theater? Luckily, there’s On Demand at home, if you can figure out how to work all those fancy gadgets you bought at the post-holiday sales. We’ll break it down for you.
I've been touched by an angel.
First, let me say that I love Gary Oldman. Ever since I saw him playing Sid Vicious in 
Baby, it’s cold outside. Even Floridians are pulling coats out of the closet and hunkering down. Sadly, January is traditionally a time when Hollywood tries to sneak out the films that, well, seemed like a good idea at the time but on further reflection, were the result of one too many daiquiris at the Malibu house. So what’s your best bet to beat the cold? A trip to the warm theater or a movie snuggled on the couch On Demand? Ticket or Click it breaks it down for you. 
Taylor Lautner’s shirt isn’t the only thing that’s busting at the seams. You should check out his wallet.
J.Lo has got my attention and it has nothing to do with the fact that she resembled a sexy disco ball in her full-body New Year’s Eve sparkle suit. 
That’s what 
Merry non-sectarian, non-religious holiday to you. After the gifts are opened and the eggnog drunk, how will you unwind? With a movie, of course. But should you trek over the river and through the woods to your local movie theater, or cozy up on the couch for a flick On Demand? "Ticket or Click It?" is here to tell you. But be wary: This week is Attack of the Disastrous Romantic Comedy week. Choose wisely and don’t say I didn’t warn you. 
For almost two decades, Mike Judge has been consistently creating films and TV shows that have become firmly cemented in the pop culture lexicon: "Beavis and Butt-Head," "King of the Hill," "Office Space," "Idiocracy" and even his latest, 
As you’re taking a break from the holiday whirlwind, the entertainment gods have conspired to give you lots of excellent choices for relaxing with a movie. “Ticket or Click It?” is here to help you decide which is better: making a trip to the theater or watching a flick on your couch On Demand. But this week, even with some stiff competition, there’s really only one option.
Snow, snow, snow, even in California. How do you spend a cold, snowy weekend? Movies, of course! But which is better? Watching something On Demand in the comfort of your living room, or braving the elements to get to your local theater? Luckily, Ticket or Click It? is here to break it down for you.
