Friends With Benefits

This movie looks like it might be pretty good. I love Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, so even if it looked terrible I'd probably still go see it. The title explains it all, and will definitely be inappropriate for younger and older viewers. Opens July 22!

Hunger Games casting update

Jennifer Lawrence has officially been cast to play Katniss.... not my first choice, I'll guess we will wait to see how she does. She better dye her hair and not age fast..... she is a really good actress though, so maybe it will work out.

The Lincoln Lawyer

There's just nothing like a Matthew McConaughey courtroom drama. They may be predictable, but they sure are entertaining. The Lincoln Lawyer is no different. Also starring Ryan Phillippe, Marisa Tomei, William H Macy and Josh Lucas, this movie is a fun, fast paced ride through the trial of a rich kid played by Phillippe. Did he do it? Did he not? It does in fact have some nice twists and turns, albeit it's a little bit cheesy at times, and a little bit overacted by McConaughey at other times. All in all, not a bad way to spend a couple of hours.

McConaughey is sweet talking lawyer who runs his business out of the back of a Lincoln Towncar. Phillippe acquisitions the services of Mick to defend him against charges of assault with a deadly weapon. He says she set him up, so that she could sue him for his money. She says he assaulted her. But Mick knows there just isn't something right about the whole thing from the start. Thus, the rest of the movie ensues.

Tomei plays McConaughey's ex-wife, and she is really pretty good, even though her character is basically superfluous to the entire plot. Macy plays an investigator and offers some humorous lines. I got the feeling that the book this is based on probably has a lot of great detail and explanation that we don't get in the movie. This does leave the movie with a bit of a choppy flow, but I think the point is carried across well enough. 

A good afternoon activity, but it won't kill you if you miss it either.

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-Emily

The Adjustment Bureau

Free will v. pre-determination.  Always a fun conversation.  This typically philosophical discussion actually plays quite well on the big screen in the Adjustment Bureau, starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt.  Matt Damon is a brash, idealistic politician from New York.  His greatest asset, his devil-may-care attitude, is also his biggest liability.  We learn that Damon is that rare creature who is actually more comfortable in front of large crowds than he is by himself.  Politics is his life-blood.

Enter Emily Blunt.  She's an accomplished dancer, on the verge of hitting it big.  She's also a free spirit; i.e. not a politician's wife.  The meeting between the two is as unlikely as it is charming.  The couple immediately hits it off, and the chemistry between them really comes through on screen.  It's almost like fate has brought them together.  All signs point toward the two of them settling down and spending a lifetime together.

More Hunger Games news

Latest rumors are saying that Alex Pettyfer, of I Am Number Four, has met with producers about playing the part of Peeta Mellark. His casting most likely depends on who is cast as Katniss, because he is 20 and his counterpart needs to look the same age to be convincing. This does seem to support the rumor that Jennifer Lawrence is in the lead for that role (she is also 20). 


I don't know how I feel about this, yet.


Stay tuned.

The Three Musketeers

I can't even  begin to talk about how excited I am for this movie. If you know me, you know how much I love Alexandre Dumas' novels and movie adaptations. The 1993 Three Musketeers with crazy-face Charlie Sheen, drunk-loving Kiefer Sutherland, and total has-been Chris O'Donnell was just about my favorite movie ever (up until seeing Romeo + Juliet). I love The Count of Monte Cristo with Jim Caviezel. And don't even get me started on The Man in the Iron Mask (LEO!). Er go, this new adaptation of The Three Musketeers has me in raptures.

Starring: Logan Lerman, Milla Jovovich, Matthew Macfayden, Ray Stevenson, Mads Mikkelsen, Luke Evans, James Corden, Juno Temple, Freddie Fox, Orlando Bloom, and Christoph Waltz. You're probably thinking, who are those people? But you actually know them, and I am pretty excited about the cast, especially Waltz as Cardinal Richelieu.

The movie opens October 14, 2011 in 3D (and 2D). Stay tuned for the trailer when it comes out! In the meantime, check out some pictures from filming below:

Red Riding Hood (Post # 2)

As you will know if you read my blog, I am pretty excited about Red Riding Hood. It is the third possibly good movie coming out this weekend (see below). If you are interested in the first trailer, look at my first post. Here is the second trailer. I will be seeing this one and reviewing it soon!

Battle Los Angeles

Ok, so I probably won't see this movie, but I'm betting a lot of people will. Look like a decent action movie. Also opens this Friday (3/11). See Trailer:

And, rewatching the trailer as I posted this made me a lot more interested in seeing it. I do like alien invasion movies.... Stay tuned.

Jane Eyre, I'm a big fan of period-peices.

Among the movies opening this weekend, which might actually be decent, is Jane Eyre. I have to admit, I am the least familiar with this story of all the similar genre stories. However, the preview looks quite good. I'm a sucker for any period piece movie. I see basically all of them. So, I'll probably see this one. And yes, I know, I need to follow up and actually go see a movie some time this year.....

Here is a synopsis I got from another website (thanks):
Mia Wasikowska (“Alice in Wonderland”) and Michael Fassbender (“Inglourious Basterds”) star in the romantic drama based on Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel, from acclaimed director Cary Fukunaga (“Sin Nombre”). In the story, Jane Eyre flees Thornfield House, where she works as a governess for wealthy Edward Rochester. As she reflects upon the people and emotions that have defined her, it is clear that the isolated and imposing residence – and Mr. Rochester’s coldness – have sorely tested the young woman’s resilience, forged years earlier when she was orphaned. She must now act decisively to secure her own future and come to terms with the past that haunts her – and the terrible secret that Mr. Rochester is hiding and that she has uncovered…

Opens Friday (3/11)

Hunger Games casting!

Ok, so if you haven't read the Hunger Games Trilogy, go buy it right now and read it this weekend. Seriously. They are the best books I've read in awhile. AND, I am so excited the first book, Hunger Games, starts filming this summer!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a personal interest in this movie, and I have been following casting news closely. No one has been officially cast, but news today says the following three are in the lead to play lead butt-kicking girl, Katniss Everdeen: Jennifer Lawrence, Hailee Steinfeld, and Abigail Breslin. I vote for Hailee Steinfeld. She is closer to the right age, and has the right look. Jennifer Lawrence (who is supposedly the front-runner) is too old, and she would need to change her look quite a bit. Abigail Breslin is just way too Little Miss Sunshine to play Katniss. I will be updating info on the casting as soon as I hear, so stay tuned!

Not a good time for movies...

Hey readers, in case you were worried, I'm not neglecting the blog. There just is not a lot of movie news that is interesting at the moment. February and March aren't typically good movie months. Also, I don't have a lot of money to go see the semi-bad movies that are out right now, I'd rather save it for good movies that are coming. Hold on readers, the good movies are coming!!!! Check back soon!

And the Oscar Goes To.....

Best Picture:The King's Speech
Best Director: Tom Hooper for The King's Speech
Best Actor: Colin Firth for The King's Speech
Best Actress: Natalie Portman for Black Swan
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale for The Fighter
Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo for The Fighter
(check out the full list of winners here: Oscars winners )
I went 9/10 on my picks, with my only loss being for Best Foreign Film, and that doesn't count much anyways, right?

My own awards:
Worst Hosts: James Franco and Anne Hathaway
Best Choice for Hosts for 2012: Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law
      Second Choice for Host for 2012: Billy Crystal
      Third Choice for Host for 2012: Sandra Bullock
Best Acceptance Speech: Luke Matheny for the Short Film "God of Love"
Worst Acceptance Speech (Ever?): Melissa Leo
Worst Singing: Gwenyth Paltrow
Most Unattractive Cleavage: Jennifer Hudson
Most Needs to be Shaved Beard: Christian Bale
Best Dressed: Penelope Cruz. I really liked her dress, and she had a baby a month ago and looked better than I ever could at any point in my life.
      Runner-up Best Dressed: Halle Berry, because she's the best looking 44 year old to ever live.
Worst Dressed: Mark Ruffalo's wife (who's name is Sunrise, what the what??) She looked like a mega-idiot.
      Runner-up Worst Dressed: Helena Bonham Carter who is taking the Bellatrix Lestrange role way too seriously in real life.

Bad Teacher

So, I had heard about this movie and wasn't that sure what to think, but I just now finally watched the trailer and WOW, I think this might be hilarious. (And yes, I realize that was a crazy run-on sentence). Check out the trailer, but just a warning, even the trailer is big time rated R!  Opens June 17!

The Hangover 2

May 26, 2011.

OMG.

It's Oscar Time!

Hello all, as you hopefully know, the Oscars are this Sunday! Woo!! Here are my predictions for the winners:

Best Picture: The King's Speech

Best Actor: Colin Firth

Best Actress: Natalie Portman OR Annette Bening, I can't decide here.

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale

Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo

Best Director: Tom Hooper (But, I really don't know on this one)

Best Animated: Toy Story 3

Best Screenplay: The King's Speech

Best Adapted Screenplay: The Social Network

Best Foreign Film: Biutiful

The rest I don't know enough about to make an educated guess. Look for a special edition post Sunday night with all the winners! I can't wait!

Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows

New title just released, more news to follow! Picture above is a scene from filming, with returning stars Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law and introducing Noomie Rapace who's career is about to explode all over the place (she was in the Millenium series Swedish version movies). I'm excited about this sequel! Opens December 16!

Bridesmaids

Ok, I have to be honest here... this movie might be terrible. It also might be funny. It's really really hard to tell from the trailer. Judd Apatow is producing what looks to be The Hangover for girls. Except maybe not funny. It stars Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolf, which is the only reason I am willing to wait and see. So... stayed tuned...

True Grit

So the review is a bit late, but this should complete a review for every movie nominated for Best Picture at this year's Academy Awards.

Surely everyone knows the original True Grit.  No?  Well, if you don't remember all of the details from the original film, at least most remember John Wayne's performance.  He won his only Oscar for his portrayal of Rooster Cogburn, the surly, alcoholic, "one-eyed fat man," hired to chase down a murdering fugitive.  It seems that's the only thing I really recalled from the original.  It was John Wayne playing John Wayne (which is still pretty impressive).

That's what sets this film apart from its predecessor.  The current movie isn't just one-note; it draws on the entire cast (Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Barry Pepper, Josh Brolin and Hailee Steinfeld) to tell the story.  Coming from the Coen Brothers this eclectic and powerful line-up shouldn't be much of a surprise.

The plot stays the same: Young Mattie Ross's (Steinfeld) father is gunned down by Tom Chaney (Brolin) so she goes in search of help to track down the fugitive and bring retribution.  She hears that Marshall Rooster Cogburn (Bridges) is a man of 'true grit,' and she won't be deterred in her pursuit of Cogburn's services.

The Coen Brothers are now in the envious position in Hollywood of being able to hand-pick not only their projects but their cast as well.  They've gone back to the well on this one and brought back Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski) and Josh Brolin (No Country For Old Men).  Bridges is, of course, great in the role of Cogburn.  He saves the character from forever being remembered only as John Wayne.  The actress who has gotten the most attention, and deservedly so, is Steinfeld.  She's a fast-talking, street smart, young woman who is unintimidated by gun-fire or life on the trail.  One of my favorite scenes in the film was her explaining to a local businessman how she would reclaim a horse by filing a writ of replevin in the local court.

A pleasant surprise in the cast is Matt Damon as the Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (pronounced LaBeef).  LaBoeuf is a bit of a dandy and can't help himself from droning about how everything is better in Texas, a habit that the Coen Brothers and Cogburn find nearly as annoying as I do.  Still, LaBoeuf is welcome comedic relief in an otherwise serious film.

While the picture may be considered a Coen Brothers film first (something entirely unique) and a traditional Western second, it still goes to show that good film-makers can make Westerns that are both commercial and critical successes.  I hope others will take note and follow suit.

True Grit is a good film, not the Coen Brothers best (maybe only because it's not one of their original ideas), but still definitely worth the price of admission.  I predict it finishes in third place for Best Picture.

$ $ $ $ $ $

-  Stuart

Movies always come out in twos.... Snow White edition.

I'm sure other people have noticed the peculiar trend of movies to come out in pairs, called dueling movies.

Independence Day vs Mars Attacks. Dante's Peak vs Volcano.Tombstone vs Wyatt Earp. Madagascar vs The Wild. Deep Impact vs Armageddon. The Illusionist vs The Prestige. The Truman Show vs Edtv. Antz vs A Bug's Life. This year its Friends With Benefits vs No Strings Attached.  

Well, next year it is no different, except that it is. We've got not two versions of Snow White coming our way, but possibly THREE.


Charlize Theron, Viggo Mortensen, and Kristen Stewart are supposedly starring in one version called, Snow White and the Huntsman. Theron will play the evil queen, Viggo the huntsman, and Stewart as Snow herself. Here, the huntsman sent to kill Snow on behest of the queen but changes his mind and helps defend her, seems like a semi-odd interpretation.


Julia Roberts is the evil queen in The Brothers Grimm: Snow White. This one is being filmed in 3D and is directed by Tarsem Singh who did The Fall and The Cell, both of which apparently had crazy visual effects. 

Meanwhile, Natalie Portman is in negotiations to be in yet another Snow White themed movie called Snow White and the Seven. This one is apparently set in 19th century China and the dwarfs and now warriors, possibly an interesting spin.  

So, it should be an interesting competition to keep track of.... stay tuned!

Something Borrowed

Something Borrowed trailer

In happy movie news of the day, I just saw the trailer for Something Borrowed! I, like most of the 20-something female population, read this book by Emily Griffin (and it's written, and sure to be film, sequel). I was a bit skeptical about the casting of Ginnifer Goodwin and Kate Hudson, but it seems from the preview they will do their roles justice. I also LOVE John Krasinski, so much. Er go, I am looking quite forward to this movie opening May 6.