The Hateful 8

The opening credits note that this is the 8th film by Quentin Tarantino, who has been plying his trade for many years now, since the breakout Reservoir Dogs in 1992.  That's nearly 25 years.

This pedigree is important to keep in mind because this 8th film is best viewed as a culmination of the 7 before it.  It has a familiar cast of actors, Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, and so forth.  It is an ensemble piece with a lot of direct interaction between the main characters in a Lifeboat type, stage atmosphere.

Kurt Russell play John Ruth, the Bounty Hunter.  He is taking Doris (Jennifer Jason Leigh) in for the bounty, when he comes across Marques (Jackson) another bounty hunter.   He trusts no one.   Because a blizzard is on, they bed down at Minnie's Haberdashery, when the remainder of the Hateful 8 are.  No one trusts anyone else.  Hilarity ensues.

At its best, the tense stage scenes in the Haberdashery are like the basement from Inglorious Basterds ( you can tell that a part here was cast with Christoph Waltz in mind but he must have said "been there, done that")  or the warehouse in Reservoir Dogs.  The characters take a while to develop, but we are working with a lot of time (3 hours goes by pretty fast).  If you see it in 70 mm, there is an intermission.  That should be a bucket list item.

Ultimately, it's a story about nothing.  Seinfeld meets Tarantino.  Don't think too much about it afterwards.  Enjoy the gore!  Don't say you didn't hear the Harbinger.

* * * * of 5

If you're looking for a bloody good story, this is for you.  Caution for the [sanitized]  rating:

MPAA Rating 

R for Violent Sexual Content, Some Graphic Nudity, Language, Strong Bloody Violence.

Also - per Me:  Non-bloody violence, N-words, Rape, Torture, Groin Hits, Splattering, Pooling, Exploding and so on

Fortunately, there's no ear cutting or scalping.

Sisters

Tiny Fey and Amy Poehler get their 80s on in their version of an Apatow movie.  When the two sisters find out their parents are "Selling the House?!" they rush home, turn immediately into whiny kids and decide to have one last blowout.  If you remember what happens to nice cars in the 80s movies (Risky Business, Fast Times at Ridgemont High) you'll know what happens to the house.

Falls well short of its near competitor, Trainwreck.  Reminded me more of Neighbors.


* *  of 5.

The Big Short

When you start with a story by Michael Lewis, you know you've got just that - a story.  Then you make it into a movie.  Then the movie is written by Adam McKay of Anchorman and The Interview fame.  So you can expect that an objective non-fiction overview is not in the cards.  For that we must say... thanks!

The subprime mortgage meltdown and the traders who made money betting that the downside would occur "the short" are unlikely material.  But a closer looks shows this is the stuff of many Ben Mezrich movies (21, the Social Network [based on his book Accidental Billionaires]).  All have in common the smarter-than-you nerd out to exploit a weakness for their own personal gain.  Add in the Steve Jobs/Mark Zuckerberg figure (a barefoot Christian Bale) and you've got every modern day business fortune movie made.

Inventively done, with visual props and interview vignettes to move the story along (Margot Robbie, Anthony Bordain, Selena Gomez).  Good casting with Steve Carrell and Brad Pitt.  But my favorite parts were the interview at Standard & Poore along with the Las Vegas convention.  I'm sure it didn't happen just that way, but it was a fun way to tell the story.


* * * * of 5

The Shop Around the Corner (1941)

James Stewart stars as Alfred, an "insignificant little clerk" in this Ernst Lubitsch dramedy about two coworkers in Matuschek & Company, a shop in Budapest.  As Christmas is coming, Stewart is carrying on a pen pal relationship with a woman he becomes more and more interested in.  At the same time, a new co-worker arrives Klara  (Margaret Sullivan) and they have a brother/sister antagonism.



As it turns out, it is they who are pen pals with each other, but they don't know that about each other.  Remade in the 90s as You've Got Mail, it's a classic screwball comedy of the day.  Fine dialogue and funny gags reminded me of some of the Astaire/Rodgers movies of the time as well.

* * * * *

Star Wars Eve

Twas the hour before Star Wars:  The Force Awakens.  It starts at 12:20 today.  Will there be previews?  Will there be after-credit actions?  Lots of anticipation.

Flash back to 1977.  I was 12 years old, living in Houston, Texas.  What we know as Episode IV now opened in July.  Since it was summer vacation, I think I was able to see it the opening day Friday.  It was at the Galleria I theater.  Yes Virginia, there was a movie theater in the Galleria back then.

I recall that summer was when I was able to go to movies by myself.  I don't remember seeing it with anyone else.  I remember that I liked it of course, and that I saw it a total of 3 times in the theater.

In retrospect, there was some anticipation of this new movie.  The budget was supposed to be big and it was expected to be a success- maybe not number 1 of all time as it turned out (at the time) but big.  The biggest grossing movies to that date were Jaws and Gone with the Wind, if you can believe that.

What marks the enduring nature of this universe?   Perhaps it's because of the carefully crafted universe with lots of attention to not only the worlds but also the varied characters which have had a lot of continuity.

Some things I will expect - A hero will emerge to fight a dark enemy, with a determinative light sabre duel.   There will be a lot of quirky evil aliens, and there will be cute non-human characters (robots, trolls).  Sounds like some later classics made into movies:  Harry Potter, The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings.  

Spotlight

Michael Keaton stars in this old style drama of the Spotlight investigative reporting team at the Boston Globe.  It portrays their scoop of the Catholic Priest abuse unfolding in 2001-2002 in Boston.  With Boston being 53% Catholic the Church leans large.  As one line say "The Church thinks in centuries - are you prepared to do the same?"

Director of Photography does a great job interspersing the shots of the characters with a church looming in the back.  And Robbie (Keaton) has a nice subplot with his high school - as he notes, he's born and raised Boston.  Good casting of Mark Ruffalo as the hotheaded reporter, Rachel McAdams as the more thoughtful one, and Stanley Tucci as the harried plaintiff's lawyer (e.g. A Civil Action).

Of course it reminded me of one of my top 10 All the President's Men - a mystery, a good v. evil struggle.  Well done

* * * * * of 5

My All American

As you gather around the Thanksgiving table and settle in for some UT football on Thursday night, be sure to go see the movie showing now "My All American" starring Aaron Eckhart and Finn Wittrock.

Written by Angelo Pizzo who wrote Rudy and Hoosiers, the story is set in the late 1960s as Darrell Royal (played by Eckhart) recruits an undersized player from Colorado to play for UT.  

Freddy Steinmark (Wittrock) proceeds to have a dream-like football career before he starts having pain he can't ignore during the 1969 season culminating in the Game of the Century Texas v. Arkansas [ which of course Texas won].

UT football, Darrell Royal, Austin are co-stars of the show.  The scoreboard at DKR Texas Memorial Stadium (for many years) has been named the Freddy Steinmark Memorial Scoreboard - even a longtime fan like me did not know that).

A good story - keep a stiff upper lip - it's a sad one.

Mockingjay Part 2 * Hunger Games

I went to the double feature of Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2, the last part of the Hunger Games (quad movie).  The decision to break this into 2 movies was a pretty good one.  Part 1 starts with Katniss waking up in recovery in District 13 after having caused the revolution to be televised.  She is being groomed to be the leader, the Mockingjay.

Part 2 starts after Peeta attacks Katniss.  As the group begins their assault on the Capitol, the team is created.  Here it turns into Aliens, right down the line.  But it is never a bad idea to mimic a classic movie.  Not to spoil the ending but it does circle nicely to the beginning of the original Hunger Games (2012).

Both Hunger Games and Catching Fire were 4 of 4 star movies.  Here both Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2 are 4 of 5 stars under the new system.

Love the Coopers

Steve Martin must have been called to star in this movie - "It's a Christmas family movie, Diane Keaton is the mom, you'll be the dad, Father of the Bride, It's Complicated."

What do  you think, Steve?

"I'd rather be the voice of the dog" he must have said.

So John Goodman gets cast with glasses against Diane Keaton.  It's an ensemble piece, like Christmas Day, Love Actually where a lot of competing story lines all come together in one big package.  But the supporting stories are not so good.   Your classic middle age losers as the children.  Still, a nice holiday movie.  And Steve Martin is the dog!


* * * of 5

Rock the Kasbah

Bill Murray stars... yes that was the hook for me.  Regretably, it is not 1981 anymore and the fact that this grandfather is here (without Wes Anderson's magic) and that means... ZZZ.

The (dirty) relationship between Manager and Talent (called sacred in the movie) reminded me of another movie that made you want to take a shower afterwards Breaking a Monster, from SXSW.

The beautiful Leem Lubany (all 17 years old) was a bright spot in this otherwise snoozer.

Here's a more detailed review - from someone who cared a bit more than me.  Casablanca comparisons?    More like Ishtar.

* * of 5

Steve Jobs

It's official - movies about Steve Jobs just stink.  Jobs (2013) was the worst movie of 2013 and this latest is really not a whole lot better.  It's a bit more true to the fine biography by Walter Issacson, but that is probably why the subject appealed to a serious historian and not a mainstream movie maker.

Aaron Sorkin takes a crack at the story but it comes across as an extended TV show like his creation West Wing- too much fast talking, wise cracking, plot leading questions.  "What is it about an adopted child like you?" - tries to Cliff Note the whole thing.

And there's no scope to it- we have three acts - well done in their part.  It's like A Christmas Carol where he's visited from Ghosts of Apple Past.  And Seth Rogen playing Fozzy Bear- Steve Wozniack.  Any more bearded slobs actors?  The light/dark aspect is just too right to resist beating into the ground for a filmmaker.

Michael Fassbender makes the most of the role and does a nice job.  But the whole thing is an paen to Jobs - he can do no wrong, even when he's getting fired, abandoning his family, distorting reality, etc.  They tried... but, it's a no.

* * of 5

Bridge of Spies

When Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks get together, good things happen.  When you throw in the Coen Brothers, well, you can guess that it amps it up a bit.

Tom Hanks plays Jim Donovan, a New York lawyer drafted by his firm and bar association (Alan Alda!) to defend Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance)  a Soviet spy accused of espionage.  When he defends him properly, Jim receives much approbation from those close and nearby to him - the public's lament to the lawyer, "How can you defend someone like that?"

Based on his good representation of the spy, Jim is thereafter recruited by the CIA to negotiate the return of Francis Gary Powers, the U-2 Pilot shot down on a spy flight over Russia.  The bait- the Soviet spy that Jim defended.

The Coen goofiness (Hudsucker Proxy, O Brother Where Art Thou) ensues as Jim tries to figure out who he represents, who to talk to, will they or won't they.  They were co-writers.     And the thrilling end comes together on the Gliessinger Bridge in Berlin, the Bridge of Spies.  Very evocative of another Spielberg classic, Schindler's List.

A well done movie - an old style mystery and thriller - and no shooting, cussing, tourture.

* * * * *

99 Homes

Slumdog Millionaire meets Up in the Air in this multi-viewpoint look at the foreclosure world.  When Dennis (Andrew Garfield) is foreclosed on and forcibly evicted from his home along with his mother and son, he make a deal with "the devil" Rick Carver (Michael Shannon) to go work for him foreclosing on other people and generally milking the system.  The final job is a 100 house deal and the ethical quandry that the Tourtured Young Man must make for one home leaves...  99 Homes.

Some good and some bad things:  the lack of a mother/woman perspective was pretty ridiculous to have Laura Dern be his mother.  She plays a very weak character.  Of course the cute son was a prop.  Good cinematography with the Orlando suburbs landscape.  Good not great.


* * * of 5

The Martian

Adapted from Andy Weir's book, this was already in the development mix when Interstellar (with an uncredited Matt Damon) came out last year.  That must have been the break he needed.  Matt Damon stars as Mark Watney, astronaut on a crew of 5 in mission to Mars.  While Mars-walking a storm rolls in and the team bails after thinking that Mark was swept away.

The crew leaves Mark and Mars in the dust, but Mark comes to, and manages to communicate with Mission Control that he is alive.  Mark resourcefully stays alive by interesting means (a la Bear Grylls) while Mission Control alerts the crew on the way back to Earth.

No Man Left Behind!  With the help of an oddball mix of scientists (think Big Bang Theory), the crew circles back for a daring rescue mission, at great personal odds and sacrifice.

It's hard to dislike the FX of a space movie.  But dialogue was a bit trite, lots of attempts at witty banter, and it comes out like a text message movie.  [typing].... "He said...." [laughter]  Well tell him.... [typing] Mark reads it [laughter]  [repeat] [repeat]....

A good cast with Kate Mara, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels,  helps this good show but it turns out a bit manufactured.  The end of these movies can only be all bad (2001 - A Space Odyssey) or the opposite.  Spoiler.... this one does have a happy ending.

* * * of 5

Wild Things (1998)

As I gave my new book preview to Professor John, his response was "It reminded me of Wild Things".  So off to Netflix DVD I went to see if they "stole my idea" 15 years before I had the idea.

Zero degrees of separation here:  Kevin Bacon is the lead role as a detective in South Florida.  The lead seems more Matt Dillon, who plays a popular teacher.  Too popular with the ladies, as he has a Lothario reputation.  When Kelly (Denise Richards) comes on to Sam, we are left with a cut of her running down the street.  When she cries to her mother, she exclaims "I was raped!"

We have a trial with Bill Murray as Sam's lawyer.  You know you're in trouble when Bill Murray is your lawyer.  But, in a strange twist, the lead witness Suzie (Neve Campbell) who had also claimed that Sam raped her, recants her testimony.

Thereafter Detective Ray (Kevin Bacon) spends the rest of the movie to try and show that something is amiss.  Many plot turns abound.  Reminded me a lot of Body Heat (1981).  Including the sex.  If you mention this movie, you'll probably get a giggle from the fact that it is pretty steamy.  Certainly made before the time when a teacher having sex with a student, much less two, was as taboo as today.

* * * of 5

No Way Out (1987)

There's a time in life that seems frozen - for me it was 1987 and the fine movies that came out that year.  This is one of them.  The rule is in effect - all plot points are coming, since this movie is over 20 years old!

Kevin Costner stars as Navy office Tom Farrell, assigned to work with the Secretary of Defense David Brice (Gene Hackman) at the behest of the secretary's right hand Tom (Will Patton).  It was the 80s and the Navy officer was a great leading man (Top Gun, An Officer and a  Gentleman).  The uniform never looked better than in those Reagan years.

Tom meets Susan (Sean Young)  and they have a very steamy affair, famous at the time.  They fall in love, but alas, Susan is the mistress of Tom's boss.  When David finds out, he kills Susan in a jealous rage.  He confesses to Tom who sets about to cover up the matter to protect his boss.  He says they will blame it on a mysterious Soviet spy "Yuri" who may or may not exist.

As the full power of the government comes down to find "Yuri", Tom is caught in the web.  It was no secret that he was seeing Susan, and as the investigation comes closer, the pressure increases... no way out... get it?

Tom attempts to fight back and the movie turns into quite a bloodbath.  At the end, Tom is getting interrogated.  He says to a mirror "I know you're back there!"  At that point, his landlord comes out -- and speaks to him IN RUSSIAN!  Turns out Tom really was Yuri.  Quite a final reveal.

In retrospect, this was based on a 1961 book and has a lot of Cold War aspects to it.  Still appropriate for its time in 1987.

* * * * *  of 5.   A classic to me.

Heat (1995)

One of the benefits of a sick day is the opportunity to watch some movies.  I had heard this one was a top 10 of a friend, and I had never seen it.  Thankfully I had the Netflix version on DVD right there.

This is a cat and mouse story about a cop Vincent  (Al Pacino) and a robber Neil (Robert DeNiro).  Reminiscent of Catch Me If You Can, Vincent become more and more infatuated with his prey as he just misses time after time.  All setting up for the final showdown, mano a mano.

What might make it great:  lots of realistic action, especially the gunplay.  Michael Mann has a knack for the first-person shooter angle and that is well displayed.  Unlike the Bond movies, the good guys do get shot by the bad guys.  Also, the story angle of having a woman as a weakness - it's written in various degrees through every main character.  That's an interesting angle as well.  And putting De Niro and Pacino together for the first time since Godfather Part II - that's something.

In the end, good, yes.  Great, no.

* * * * of 5

American Ultra

Just like with the The Gift, this trailer does not give the movie its due.    While Mike (Jesse Eisenberg) may like to smoke a little weed, he's no major stoner.  He lives with his girlfriend Phoebe (Kristen Stewart) in a little Rand University of a town.  While working at the local quick stop, he recieves a mysterious visitor warning him away.    He doesn't understand the warning.

But when he sees 2 men trying to mess with his beater of a car, he ends up killing them, Jason Bourne style.  Like Bourne, he doesn't know why he is able to do what he does.  He goes home to get Phoebe, and they go on the run.

There's some nice Tarantino Kill Bill action here which adds to the Manchurian Candidate plotline.  Better than expected.

* * * *  of 5

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

Jay and Silent Bob were bit characters who hung out in front of the Quick Mart in Clerks (1994), a couple of slackers.  Hitting the big time they made their way into starring in this spoof movie.  Normally spoofs are somewhat derivative and tiresome.  But this one actually was a little ahead of its time, upon review.

It's quite a star turn, as we see many actors who made it even bigger over the last 15 years:   Jon Stewart, Tracy Morgan, Will Ferrell, Ben Affleck, to name a few.

Jay and Bob are hanging out, drinking beer/smokin' weed, when they find out that their comic book likenesses are in a new movie:  Bluntman and Chronic (Batman & Robin).   They find this out at the comic book store (Big Bang Theory)  So they go on a road trip (Dumb & Dumber) where they come across a bunch of babes (Charlie's Angels)  and help with a heist (Mission Impossible).  Landing in L.A., they finish to stop the movie with a climactic battle (The Empire Strikes Back, get it?)

The Star Wars references are right in time for The Force Awakens on December 18.  And we've even got Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, working for cheap back in 2001.


* * * of 5

Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation

The Cinemark preview put it succintly:  The next installment in the series.    But how do you really describe Mission Impossible anyway?

Tom Cruise plays an action hero who does amazing feats.  That's a pretty good start.  It begins with him jumping onto an airplane - he runs at it from the side and takes a flying leap onto the wing.  That's jumping on!

The movie has a vague plot to stop "The Syndicate" led by the shadowly "Lane".  I guess Lex Luthor and Dr. Octopus were busy.  But the plot is just a way to thread the various (but cool) car chases, motorcycle chases, airplane recovery, underwater rescues, and other various security breaches.

This being an action film, no bullets will ever hit our hero, no car wreck will damage them, no authority will stop them, no bomb will blow up nearby that they can't outrun.

Rebecca Ferguson plays a good leading lady, and looks great doing it.    Very traditional.   Compare to Edge of Tomorrow from last year, another Cruise action flick.  Good support with Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames and even Alec Baldwin.  Gives it an A Team vibe.

Good summer escape fare.  *  * * of 5

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice - out in 2016

I Saw What You Did (1965)

When I was in junior high, back in the 70s, a teacher told us about this movie about some teenagers who crank call the wrong person and it turns into a thriller. The idea of 'crank calling' is pretty trite today, but it was an endless source of fun back before Caller ID.

Here's the TCM version

Also check out Calls to Okies from SxSW for an 80s look at the phenomenon.

The Gift

When you see a preview multiple times, it either makes you want to see the movie or NOT to see the movie.  I thought this preview gave away too much.  But in retrospect, it was like a supercut from another movie.  Showing that you can take an idea and come up with 20 different movies based on it.

The idea here is a Home Alone type:  Husband Simon (Jason Bateman) goes off to work leaving Wife Robyn (Rebecca Hall) alone while new creepy friend Gordo (Joel Edgerton) drops by various times.    This could go the way of Taken, or Misery, or Fatal Attraction, or The Postman Always Rings Twice.  I'll let you decide.

It's a real throwback in time with the wife home not doing much work, in the midcentury Frank Lloyd Wright home.  Gives it a 60s feel.  The house plays a part, just like in another fine movie of the year, Ex Machina.

Cinematography was cool with the long shots down the hall, the handheld camera through the house, and the refrigerator door and shower door.  Two different shower scenes - Psycho anyone?

Joel Edgerton does a nice job writing and directing.  He's been in 2 of the Star Wars movies.  Funny how I missed him.   I'll be on the lookout now.

* * * * of 5

Cartel Land

Another "Sundance Darling" that made it to the bigs - that is, the McAllen Multiplex.  It's interesting how the documentary filmmaker can take access to a subject, in a reality TV sort of way, and make the story so compelling.

Here we have 2 competing stories, one of El Doctor Mireles in Michoacan, Mexico and the other of the Arizona Border Posse.  Each one representative of its country:  in Mexico, he's a heroic figure to La Gente; in America, he's a dangerous and untamed force.  Each one fighting against the evil of The Cartel as they see it.

Ultimately, its not so satisfying.  There's no easy answer to either's problem.  And we can't help but think, is this person fighting the problem or part of it?

The Warriors (1979)

Reliving my childhood, here is a movie that was rated R back when I was 14 and I couldn't see then.



 The Warriors are a Coney Island street gang in this West Side Story line.  The various gangs across the city assemble in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx for a city wide assembly with Cyrus, who called for all to come together.  All the various gangs were very distinctive outfits with their names on the back.

But when Cyrus is shot, the Warriors are blamed and they have to make it back to safe ground while all the other gangs are looking for them.  In a throwback, they have to travel on foot and by subway, leading to various confrontations.  The subway plays a big part, as danger is lurking always with the rumbling train coming through.

Billed at the time as a gritty, dark underground tale, it really comes across as somewhat theatrical with the chapter-like gang v. gang battles.  The Baseball Furies are a great example, with their pinstripes and face paint.  The costuming and cinematography were excellent.

A bit ahead of its time with an interesting multiracial cast.  It does fall squarely in its time in the late 70s, with the effect of some earlier movies, especially Clockwork Orange and American Grafitti.    Directed by Walter Hill, it is very similar to a fine later movie, 48 Hrs, plus other 80s classics, Risky Business and Lethal Weapon.

* * * * of 5

Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 - Out November 20

Aliens (1986)

A re-viewing of The Terminator (1984) led me to see this James Cameron followup.  Strangely, I had never seen it. I had see Alien (1979) and suppose I didn't think this sequel-worthy at the time.  So 28 years went by.

In this movie, 57 years have gone by since Lt. Ripley escaped from LR-212 as the sole survivor.  Now she's going back.  Since she was out, colonists have occupied the planet for years, but now there's been no word from them.  A crew of Marines is assembled to go in, and Ripley tags along.

At its best, this is really a war movie, with the crew of Marines being a colorful bunch, from the cigar-chomping Sergeant, to the bandana-ed Vasquez (no helmet needed), to the the solid Hicks.  The Marines once inside the target area, become the Lost Patrol, cut off and having to fight their way out.  On their way they pick up a survivor girl, Newt, which adds to the humanity of the fight.

The Aliens were likely state of the art in 1986 but the effects fall a bit short by today's standards.  In the first Alien, we hardly ever saw the monster and that added to the suspense.  In this case, it was by its day, considered very violent, but again, by modern standards, not so much.

Sigourney Weaver plays a great leading lady for a sci-fi war movie - it makes this a classic film

* * * * *

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension * October 3

See previous post for the significance of this October 3 release and note the DVD timing

And Scout's Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse

DVD releases * Coming Sooner

 Paramount Pictures is working on a trial run to speed up the movies from the theater to DVD.  Currently there is an agreement to wait at least 90 days after a theater movie debut to get to DVD.   This is a relic of the 1980s and is considered a crack that piracy can often fill.

Now the new plan for 2 movies releasing in October:  Paranormal Activity:  The Ghost Dimension and Scout's Guide to the Apocalypse".  The movies will release on DVD after the theater count drops to 300.  By way of example, the biggest movie of this year, Fifty Shades of Grey took 9 weeks to reach 300 theaters.  So this DVD is will available after 2 or 3 weeks likely.

Looks like a good change with the times.

July movies upcoming

Vacation - July 29

Mission Impossible:  Rogue Nation - July 31

The Terminator (1984)

After struggling through the plot of Terminator:  Genisys, I was interested in going back to the original.  Some of the bits were iconic (the close up of the headlight, the naked discus thrower pose) that they made it into both movies.  And now I know who Kyle Reese is.

On review, The Terminator was somewhat ahead of its time for 1984.  This version was much more violent and disturbing than even modern day movies.  Arnold gunning down storekeepers, cops in the station house, women in the back, evil giving good a run for its money, just doesn't happen much today.  The dialogue was more than I remembered, which was somewhat limited to "F___ you A______e" but I did not remember the placement of the more well-known lines "I'll be back" and "Come with me if you want to live".

Overall the movie reminded me a lot of Alien, which James Cameron would go on to direct its sequel  Aliens, about a shadowy, evil monster that is hard to stop.  The end was also fresh again, as I did not remember any of the story resolution.

* * * * of 5

Terminator Genisys

To Reboot in computer terms means to start over,  while keeping most original items intact.    The movie version of a reboot is similar:  an opportunity to create new stars out of existing storylines, while ideally introducing new viewers to the original.

This reboot of The Terminator, T2, and so forth leads with its strong suit.  Arnold  Schwarzenegger - they don't get much stronger than him.  Even pushing 70, he's a commanding presence and easily the best part of the movie.

He's aged and transitioned into a nurturing "Pops" and is the guardian angel of the new iteration of Sarah Conner and John Conner and Kyle Reese.

No surprise that the 2015 version of Sarah and Kyle looks like younger version of Linda Hamilton and Arnold.    We've got the next generation lined up, if the box office agrees.  This may be a playbook preview of the upcoming Star Wars:  The Force Awakens with Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill bringing up the next generation of Jedis.

As with many time travel plots, the story jumps around a lot from 2025, to 1984, to 2017, no make than 2014.  The new villain is Genisys, playing the Ultron part, as the computer system set to take over the world unless it is stopped.   No James Spader voice makes it fall a little flat.  The system does have it its disposal a number of T-1000's , complete with police uniform.

The best part is the allusions to the original movies, complete with Pepsi machines and old style clips.  Not so good:  a complicated plot, again not much suspense as to what might happen.

* * * of 5

Spy

Written and directed by Paul Feig of Bridesmaids fame, it's a Girls Gone Apatow on a spy movie.  Maxwell Smart would like Melissa McCarthy, but I think James Bond might give a nod of approval.   She plays Susan, a CIA agent on the back bench, called into the game as a pinch hitter.

Not everyone is happy.  Jason Statham steals the show in my opinion as a competitor agent wondering why Susan is going in.  Rose Byrne plays a good villian-iss and Jude Law, is.. well... Jude Law, the modern day Hugh Grant as the prototypical 007.  Good casting, fun dialogue. definitely R rated.   A good movie for a grown up wanting to feel like a kid.

* * * * of 5

Jurassic World

With strong bloodlines, this movie comes with high expectations.  When Steven Speilberg (executive producer) and George Lucas (ILM) get together, good things are bound to happen.   Add in a sequel to a wildly successful movie and you're breeding up.

The dinos have gone mainstream in 2015.  Jurassic World is a theme park world unto itself.  They're even working on taming the raptors.  But in a quest for bigger, scarier, newer assets, they've ... created... a monster!

The skewering of the theme park culture is probably the best part of the movie.  It sure can seem ridiculous from the outside.  But inside the bubble it's a different story.

Speilberg and Lucas really channel Raiders of the Lost Ark with Chris Pratt as the modern day Indiana Jones.  Bryce Dallas Howard plays the Sigourney Weaver character.  A lot of references to Alien with the newest monster the A-Rex.  Two classic movies to emulate.

There's an interesting subplot with the InGen Corporation seeking to use the dinos for "other purposes".  And it of course culminates in a great battle.

The CGI is outstanding - thanks ILM!  And a nice feel good family movie with the dad figure, the mom figure and 2 cute kids.  Thanks Speilberg!  This is the result of a beautiful friendship.

* * * * of 5

Aloha

A short review for a slight film -  Cameron Crowe does Jerry Maguire again - here we have the Hawaii version - instead of a sports agent, we have a military contractor.  Bradley Cooper has the gentleman's choice of either Rachel McAdams or Emma Stone.  Hmmm....  One is married.  Not much of a choice.

Lots of monologing, soft lights, cute kids, and not much substance.

* * of 5

Trainwreck - starring Amy Schumer - opens July 24

Furious 7

You've heard of easy listening music - this is an easy watching movie.   * * * of 5

Ex Machina - 5 Stars

This movie came out of nowhere for me - billed as THX 1138 meets Blade Runner.   It was really more Hitchcock than anything - high praise.

The unknowns casting helped the cause.  Caleb wins a contest to go to a Island of Dr. Morneau type place.  The helicopter drops him off and leaves.  He meets the Col. Kurtz of the place, Nathan, who explains the Turing principle.    Nathan has invented an AI robot named Ava.  Nathan wants Caleb to test her "humanity". If the robot can pass for human, it passes the Turing test.

As of course Ava is very human-like, we get to know her and everyone in several acts.   The movie is set like a play, set mostly inside the house/lab when Nathan works.  Caleb and Ava "get to know each other" and Nathan wants to know what they talk about.  No more needs said.

It did remind me of those 70s movies referenced, Island of Dr. Morneau, and Apocalypse Now.

* * * * * (highest rating)

The Avengers - Double Feature

Mark and I attend the Avengers double feature on opening night Thursday April 30.  Nothing less would do from two of the original comic book fans.

Looking back, Avengers 1 came about before this blog started.  It was good to watch again.  Like the comic, the origin of how this group came together took part of the movie.  Loki (Tom Hiddleston) of course steals the show and as an important character, squirrels away.

Avengers 2: Age of Ultron dawns as the world must be made safe - Peace In Our Time.   Tony Stark starts working on a atmospheric defense program.  But it takes a life of its own as Ultron, a hybrid between man and machine, more specifically, another evil Iron Man.  "Do the movie have a climactic battle between two Iron Man/ two Hulks/two of [fill in the blank?]  Yes it does.

More action in Two than One, it hits the comic book/popcorn target.  After all, Marvel invented the target, so there.

Avengers: Age of Ultron - starts May 1

Here's a sneak preview to catch you up for Avengers:  Age of Ultron

And Trailer # 3

4/20 Edition - Friday (1995)

One of the good things about growing older is seeing movies that you might have missed the first time around.  On this 20th anniversary of Friday, starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, I took that opportunity.  Puff, Puff, Pass.

Styled as a stoner movie cult classic, we have 2 guys sitting on a porch all day one Friday.  "It's Friday, you got no job, and you got nothin' to do".  Thanks to Seinfeld, another day about nothing.  But with a Boyz N The Hood twist (Ice Cube also starred in that).

Set in the South Central 'hood, we have a colorful cast of characters, all shapes and sizes and personalities just passing in front of Craig and Smokey sitting out front.     Ice Cube the writer said he was inspired by people he knew from his old neighborhood.   None more colorful that Craig's dad, the local dog catcher.  

* *  of 5.  Probably needed to be high.

True Story

A journalist goes into prison to meet a mysterious person accused of a horrific crime (is there any other type in the movies?)  Jonah Hill plays Mike Finkel who has been fired from the Gray Lady herself.  He finds out that Christian Longo the criminal had used the alias Mike Finkel in Mexico before he was caught.

Mike visits Christian (James Franco) multiple times in order to get a new story that will salvage his career.  After all, it's a perfect meet cute.  But  who is using who?  Some interesting elements of some good movies:  Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Silence of the Lambs.  In the end, it's a someone tame psycho thriller that never quite psycho thrills enough.

* * * of 5

Coming Soon - May and June

Here are a few on my list:

Hot Pursuit - May 8 - Mother's Day weekend

Reese Witherspoon is turning into a serious actress - but my RomCom wife will still go - win/win!


Poltergest - Memorial Day weekend

A remake of the 1982 classic - I'm getting old

Entourage - June 5

Sex and the City movie for men

Jurrasic World - June 12

Nothing more needs to be said #winning

Pitch Perfect 2 - release date May 15

Listen up all you Pitches...

Fifty Shades of Grey

It took me 2 months and $2.65 to finally see this $400M movie.  Yes, that's its worldwide box office gross to date.  Success?  How could anyone say otherwise?

The Dollar Theater now costs $2.65 on Saturday night.  And Cinemark Movies 6 was really as nice as any theater I've been to recently.  New seats, not too crowded for these non-family friendly movies.  I think that if you wait to see a movie there, you really want to see it before it goes down the video/PPV hole.

Disclosure - I read the book, liked the book.  There was not that much shocking in it.  And the film version follows.  Christian Grey is a rich, successful, good-looking young man.  He finds a young, inexperienced college student Ana (Dakota Johnson) and a glamorous courtship ensues.  But when he discloses his secret desires, she tells him of a situation which he sets about to remedy.

Modern day courtship ensues by way of contract negotiation.  The boardroom scene is a good one.  And that dress! - a Pretty Woman moment.

Some of the sexual spanking is a bit over the top.  But the regular sex?  Very welcome in a time when sex is scrubbed out of mainstream movies (women wearing tops in bed, butt shots of men).  The nudity is a welcome change.  Everything old is new again.

* * * * of 5

Boogie Nights

Something about making a film about the Adult Film X Rated Industry and making the film rated R is like _______________(fill in your choice of reference to sexual frustration).  Isn't there a better option?

Mark Walberg is a young dishwasher working in the San Fernando Valley when he is discovered by that 70s icon of manly perfection Burt Reynolds.  A star is born as Dirk Diggler who explodes on the scene.  And you know what happens to shooting stars.

Lots of good comedic actors here, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, Don Cheadle, make the movie hard to take too seriously which is a good thing when dealing with porn and drugs.

Set in the 70s and early 80s, we have a constant background soundtrack of disco-era favorites.   the film produced 2 different soundtracks.  The L.A. area scenes are colored well giving that sepia-toned nostalgia.  The 2nd Annual Adult Film Awards was a nice touch.

The most iconic scene has to be one of my favorites, Alfred Molina, is a drunk/stoned/high rager.  This is actually a fictionalization of a scene that led to 4 unsolved murders in the Laurel Canyon called the Wonderland Murders.  Very interesting background story from Salon.

It's a lot like another L.A. story of a ground of small timers, Pulp Fiction.  Particularly toward the end.  It fools around, but never goes all the way.

* * * * of 5

Insurgent

A solid follow up to 2014's Divergent, which at its heart is a Hunger Games-type of premise. In the future, people are grouped by personality types, Candor, Dauntless, Erudite, Abnegation and Amity. If you don't fall into one of them, you are Divergent. And you will be culled from the herd.

 Shailene Woodley as Tris is of course Divergent. She's been separated from her brother (Ansel Elgort) and her boyfriend Four (Theo James). But when a tourture-ish, virtual reality test is developed, she volunteers to take it. The descent into the 5 separate worlds is the heart of this film. 

Not a bad popcorn film but it is typical pop action. Shot to the head? No blood. Three separate choking scenes for Tris - that's not much fun to watch. Torture? See for yourself if you dare. More violent than necessary in my opinion.

 * * * of 5

Paper Towns - July 24

Now that SXSW is over, it's back to reality.  That means, Young Adult, Blockbuster, Sequel,  MultiPlex Magic, Big Box Office, #TFIOS

Yes, Insurgent start this weekend.  And speaking of Shalaine Woodley, the followup to the Fault in Our Stars - the second book/movie from John Greene - looks like a teen version of Gone Girl

SXSW - final thoughts

Everyone was looking for something at SXSW.  Whether they found it or not, chances were probably not.  May the odds be ever in your favor, but the odds were certainly less than 1 of 12.  And the games were probably rigged to boot.

Example:  5000 submissions for 100 short films spots.

Ultimately it was probably what as expected.  The established gather in small groups to toast past and future successes.  But the hope for the future is the ones who are out doing it now, whether it be film, music, comedy, interactive - they'll be the next big thing.

For all the talk of crowds, maybe 2 of the 5 screenings were full.  No wait list that I could see.  It seemed like film was not as popular as interactive or music.

SXSW - the Short Review

One of the categories presented is the Shorts -  same production involved except the run time is limited to 15 minutes.  They show 8 of them back to back which gets me somewhat antsy - hard to sit there.  But once they start, they're good.

The short competition is like getting into Harvard - 5,000 submissions and they select 100.  So "they are all outstanding in some way" as a Stanford student put it to me.  Can't argue with those numbers.

There are narrative shorts and there are documentary shorts.  I like the documentary form better - the narratives were by necessity designed to shock.  The documentaries were surprising enough.  The old Truth v. Fiction proverb.... we'll start with Documentary Short 2 seen in the comforts of the Topfer Theather at the ZACH.


Born to Be Mild - spotlights English senior men who collect/follow  a variety of quirky things e.g photos of mailboxes

Calls to Okies: The Park Grubbs Story  - Bartlesville, OK 80s teens records their increasingly sophisticated prank phone calls

The Little Deputy - Trevor wants to take a photo cross dressing but is concerned what his father would think.

Love Has No Age -  Man and woman who were lovers as young people come together as seniors to recreate photos of themselves

Spearhunter - Col. Gene Morris advocates for hunting by spear throwing.

Terms of Intimacy - Cuddling for Fun and Profit at the Cuddle Connection LLC

Tiger Hood - black man plays street golf in New York City

Unmappable - Ph.D. geographer shows his darker, anarchistic side

My favorite:  Park Grubbs

____

And the Narratives:

Baby - a look through a high-rise window at a woman with a drinking problem

Donald and Jess - plumber comes to fix a leak for a lonely young woman - Not X rated

Followers - senior woman thinks she is falling for a strapping young black man in Cardiff, Wales

Guest Room - 2 teens with Downs Syndrome fall in love

Hallway - a scene in a club in New York

Happy With Bear- a look through a high-rise window at a woman with an eating disorder

Myrna the Monster - Myrna is an immigrant creature from the Moon living in L.A.

We'll Find Something - 2 couples look for a restaurant all night long in New York.  Thanks Seinfeld.

My favorite:  Donald and Jess

South by Southwest SXSW - So Far

It's now day 3 that I've been in Austin for "South By" as they say.  There is definitely a new way of doing things in this festival atmosphere.  I've been surprised that it has not been more crowded - I guess I expected Airport-at-Thanksgiving, Rush-hour-traffic, type crowds, but it has been much easier.




After seeing some of the presentations, I realized that these were like continuing education and that the real benefit was the movies.  My plan has been to see 2 each day, which doesn't sound like a lot, but when you combine picking a schedule that works, finding the locations, getting there, getting out and working around some semblance of an eating schedule, the day can go fast.

Here's some capsule reviews so far:

Uncle Kent 2 -

I'd say this was my favorite experience.  Seeing it offsite at 10:15 p.m. made it like a midnight movie which it was.  It was kind of Rocky-Horror-ish which worked well.   Once the story got rolling (e.g. I figured out what was happening), it was a fun time.  The filmmakers Kent Osborne was head writer for a show called Adverturetime which showed he knew a thing or two.  The Cat Agent character really topped it well.

Breaking a Monster -

This documentary was about a teenaged band called Unlocking the Truth, which started as a Times Square busking, heavy metal band.  Since they were black teenagers in a white world, they got attention.  From a white Jewish producer Alan Sacks ("I was big with Welcome Back Kotter and the Jonas Brothers!")   Conflict ensures.  Calling them teenagers is a stretch - they're only 12 or 13 year old.  Will their voices change?  Soon?  Ever?  Please?

Finders  Keepers -

Shannon is a Storage Wars type of person who buys the contents of a unit in Maiden, NC.  In the contents, inside a smoker grill, is a human foot/lower leg.  He reports it and publicity ensues.  Turns out the person from whom the foot came, John, had it amputed, had kept it for a memory and now wants it back.   But Shannon thought he had bought it fair and square.   A modern day Hatfield/McCoy story.

This one was picked up by a distributor and should be on Netflix/PPV - worth watching.

Dark Places

By the author of Gone Girl, here's a new movie trailer for Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. Stars Charlize Theron.

No US release date yet.  Enjoy!

Unfinished Business

Something about March brings out the Spring Break movies.  One year, Project X, another year, Spring Breakers.  This year, it's the adult version, about a business trip to Berlin.   Starring the odd coupling of Vince Vaughn (playing a Vince character, grown up in a cool sort of way), Tom Wilkerson (the dad figure) and Dave Franco (the virgin).

The premise of the trip is to close a big deal for this struggling 3 person company.  When they get to Berlin, they are told it is the busiest week of the year:  Oktoberfest, the Berlin Marathon and Scarpia, a gay convention.  Remember those characters:  they'll be back.

As a feel-good Jerry Maguire movie, it doesn't get there.  As a wild and crazy weekend, it has a light touch.  Best is that it does hit the American/Euro conflict pretty well.  We get a peek (no pun intended) as the differences in German and American views of a variety of subjects:  sex, politics, business, hospitality and entertaining.  That makes is worth a light look.

* * of 5

Whiplash

Another training academy movie about a young aspiring jazz drummer Andrew (Miles Teller) who is a student at the "Jacobs Conservatory".  He runs up against the leader Terrence (J.K. Simmons).  Terrence is a demanding teacher and he pushed Andrew to the limit, using a mix of sweet and spice with the occasional throwing of things at him.

It's easy to identify with Andrew's quest for improvement and Terrence's high standards.  Of course the movie must revolve around this particular relationship.  We get no feedback as to what the other students in the jazz band think, or their experience.  Strangely there are no women of distinction in the band (I remember one, but a non-speaking part)

Andrew is kind of a screw-up anyway.  He's got talent but the drive is only there intermittently.  No big message here.  Enjoy the music and the somewhat predictable end.

* * * of 5

A Few Good Men (1992)

"You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded. Who's gonna do it, you? I have a greater responsibility that you can possibly fathom.

New Five Star Rating System

In any business, its important to find out what the customers want and don't want.   Give them more or what they want - and less of what they don't.  A constant question is:  Is your rating systems 4 stars or 5 stars as the highest?

This is 2015 and inflation has occurred, even with movie stars.  So in the spirit of what the viewers want, there will now be a 5 star category.  And no more half stars.

* * * * * = an all time classic e.g. Casablanca

* * * * = Best Picture for a given year e.g. Argo in 2013

* * * = Worth watching

** = only fair

* = terrible

So for recent comparisons...


Pulp Fiction * * * * * (increased)

Django Unchained * * * * of 5

Guardians of the Galaxy * * * of 5

Scarface * * of 5

Robocop * of 5


The Gambler - still 0.0 / zero stars

Who's With Me?

Classic scene from National Lampoon's Animal House (1978).  This was the first R-rated movie I saw.  Still ribald after all these years.  The granddaddy of Old School, Neighbors, even Monsters University.



* * * * of 4

Hello? McFly? - Anybody Home?

Another classic scene - from Back to the Future (1985)


 


 I saw this again a year or so ago on the big screen. It did not age well.   Like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, you'd have to ask the teenager in me what was so great about it back then.

 It was over 30 years ago, after all. In fact, that's how far in the past Marty travelled. The quaintness of Hill Valley, the bygone days of bottle openers, origins of rock and roll, and the casual racism of the day are like the days now before cell phones, before Internet, before GPS.

 Mayor Goldie Wilson... Like the sound of that...

* * * of 4

The Interview

This bumbling, buddy movie would be an unlikely cause of an international incident and a Fortune 500 computer hack. But, WHAAAAT?? This just happened!

James Franco and Seth Rogen play Dave Skylark and his TV producer, Aaron Rapoport. They have mastered the TV schlock but, in a version of meeting someone from high school, they seek to improve their lot by a serious interview. Turns out, Kim Jong-Un of North Korea is a big fan. They seek to interview him on TV, thereby making them legit journalists. But when the CIA gets to them, they find themselves unwitttingly (and I stress the lack of wits) to be assassins.

 It's hard to see this as the cause of an international incident.  It's more like Get Smart meets The Hangover, complete with a tiger. I suppose they could have changed North Korea to Fredonia and called it a complete work of fiction. But no one accused this bunch of thinking too much. James Franco plays up his Franco-ish gay-friendly persona. He can both honeydick as well as honeypot. Seth Rogen plays his straight man.

The film takes a darker turn as the business of killing gets to be the end goal. Suffice it to say, North Korea wouldn't like the ending. The theater chains to put their foot down, and refused to show this so you can instead see it on Netflix like I did. They'd be the ones who had to clean up the mess of a Charlie Hebdo incident. Better safe than sorry.

 * * * of 4

We'll Always Have Paris

Here's Looking At You, Kid
Casablanca — MOVIECLIPS.com

Greatest scene ever?

Just watched this again on TCM this week - a very complex plot even by modern standards.  No wonder it has stood the test of time.  And the lines - no question the best dialogue in any movie.

* * * * * (Number 1 on the list)

Fantastic Four

Release date - August


 

Sundance Film Festival 2015

When we were in Salt Lake City this past week on a ski vacation, the guys said "We should try and see a Sundance film".   Sure, I thought.  How are we going to make the time for that?

Amazing the good things you can do on a sick day.  Friday, I didn't get out of bed until 9:45 a.m., with a bad case of late/excessive eating, plus a dose of altitude and dehydration.  The rest helped but I needed an easy day.

After a long coffee and lunch with Kyle who stuck with me, we found ourselves next to the Broadway theater, looking for the 3:00 showing for Tangerine.  Two things we knew:  it was shot using an iPhone and the synopsis was "A working girl tears through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve looking for the pimp that broke her heart".

The wait list has evolved from the clipboard days.  Here, you have to download the app, register, confirm the email, and put yourself on the electronic list.  You then get a number (e.g. 58) and line up according to number.  If that sounds like Southwest Airlines, you'll know who the line sponsor for Sundance was.

Kyle downloaded the app, and got a number.  But our new friend Sharon said we needed 2 numbers, one for him and one for me.  She then offered to give me her number 10 as she was a volunteer.  We gladly accepted.  She also gave us two vouchers for free tickets.  I told Kyle that if one of us didn't get in, the other would just give the ticket to another lucky person.  But then, Sharon said we could have places 9 and 10 because she was already in.  15 minutes later, Kyle and I were both in the theater, sitting next to each other.  A full house.

The film quality was not noticably different.  There were some interesting sweeps and some "hand held camera-ness" but otherwise the iPhone was a nonissue.  Talking to the producer Shih-Ching Tsou afterwards, she said the real cost savings was in staff time, and mostly in post-production.  The color was saturated orange and hence the Tangerine name.

The working girl was .. ahem... a transgendered person.  She was somewhere in the man-to-woman phase.  And how you describe the sex work that a prostitute like that does - well, use your imagination.  There are actually 2 girls, Mia (Mya Taylor, who we met afterwards also -on the left) and Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, on the right) and both transgendered.

Sin-Dee is told by Mia that Chester cheated on here when she was in County for 28 days.  Sin-Dee demands to know who it is, and seeks out Dana who she drags to Donut Time, a hole in the wall shop, to confront Chester.  There's a subplot involving an Armenian immigrant cabbie, Raznik,  and his family seeking the American Dream.    The language they spoke (Russian?) was subtitled.



The director  Sean Baker said the movie simply started out as an idea that 2 characters converge at Donut Time, which he found intriguing.  How he expanded the plot and characters to that point shows some real creativity that only fiction can provide.

The film was short (89 minutes) and afterwards, the cast and crew (about 5 of them) did a Q&A.  That was cool to see 2 of the people in the film in person.   Everyone received an official fan ballot to rank the film on a scale of 1 to 4, 4 being the highest.  Both Kyle and I ranked it:

* * * of 4