April 26, 2010
Movie Trailer: Paper Man
Let me make sure I got this right.
The film centers on a loser fifty-odd-year-old man who lures a twenty-year-old to his lonely shack in the woods. Oh, and he's insane because he hallucinates a kinda creepy looking, presumptively gay superhero.
That's the movie.
I got that right?
How could this ever lose?
The film centers on a loser fifty-odd-year-old man who lures a twenty-year-old to his lonely shack in the woods. Oh, and he's insane because he hallucinates a kinda creepy looking, presumptively gay superhero.
That's the movie.
I got that right?
How could this ever lose?
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Labels: Emma Stone, film, Jeff Daniels, Lisa Kudrow, movie trailer, Ryan Reynolds
posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 5:00 PM
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June 15, 2009
Movie Trailer: The Answer Man
It looks like another film proposing soft nihilism. Life is meaningless, you're a cosmic mistake, but hey, try to be nice to each other and enjoy your vacuous existence just the same.
If this film does have some depth, the trailer does a good job of hiding it. The ad just makes it look like a reheated As Good As it Gets.
Screenwriter: John Hindman
Director: John Hindman
Actors: Jeff Daniels (The Crossing) and Lauren Graham (Evan Almighty)
If this film does have some depth, the trailer does a good job of hiding it. The ad just makes it look like a reheated As Good As it Gets.
Screenwriter: John Hindman
Director: John Hindman
Actors: Jeff Daniels (The Crossing) and Lauren Graham (Evan Almighty)
Labels: film, Jeff Daniels, Lauren Graham, movie trailer
posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 10:10 AM
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May 27, 2009
Movie Trailer: Away We Go
Yet another film about losers.
Look at the products our generation makes our ourselves. It seems that one half of the films released are fronted by stupid superheroes and the other by listless losers who can't handle the basics of life. By looking at the cinema one has to come to the conclusion that this society is fronted by a generation of adult children. Over and over again, films about half-man wimps in the prime of life not knowing how to be adults.
I've been around enough film and theater professional to know my share of big time losers, real wastes of air but the average American isn't as stupid and rudderless as film makers want us to be.
It is possible I am way off about this film. This could be a touching, heart warming flick for all I know. But its premise, its appearance speaks to the larger issue of how the cinema is portraying us to us.
Speaking to the trailer itself, it offers no reason to see the film. Its not funny, its not even quirky - its just annoying lethargic.
Look at the products our generation makes our ourselves. It seems that one half of the films released are fronted by stupid superheroes and the other by listless losers who can't handle the basics of life. By looking at the cinema one has to come to the conclusion that this society is fronted by a generation of adult children. Over and over again, films about half-man wimps in the prime of life not knowing how to be adults.
I've been around enough film and theater professional to know my share of big time losers, real wastes of air but the average American isn't as stupid and rudderless as film makers want us to be.
It is possible I am way off about this film. This could be a touching, heart warming flick for all I know. But its premise, its appearance speaks to the larger issue of how the cinema is portraying us to us.
Speaking to the trailer itself, it offers no reason to see the film. Its not funny, its not even quirky - its just annoying lethargic.
Return to the movie trailers page
Director: Sam Mendes (Jarhead)
Actors: John Krasinski (Leatherheads), Maya Rudolph (Idiocracy), Jeff Daniels (The Crossing), Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight) and Catherine O'Hara (Best in Show)
Labels: Catherine O'Hara, film, Jeff Daniels, John Krasinski, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Maya Rudolph, movie trailer
posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 6:00 PM
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December 28, 2008
Movie Trailer: State of Play
Hey Russ, Eddie Vedder wants his hairdo back. Hey, I loved the early nineties as much as the next guy but c'mon...
Looks like it will be good. Very traditional trailer, lots darkness, rain punctuated with pseudo-gunshots and white screens used as transition markers. It all has a Ridley Scott vibe. Written by Matthew Michael Carnahan, the script should be good but probably since he works well with broad, sweeping plots like this one.
Return to the movie trailers pageLooks like it will be good. Very traditional trailer, lots darkness, rain punctuated with pseudo-gunshots and white screens used as transition markers. It all has a Ridley Scott vibe. Written by Matthew Michael Carnahan, the script should be good but probably since he works well with broad, sweeping plots like this one.
Screenwriters: Matthew Michael Carnahan (The Kingdom), Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton) and Billy Ray (Breach)
Director: Kevin McDonald (The Last King of Scotland)
Actors: Russell Crowe (American Gangster), Rachel McAdams (The Notebook), Ben Affleck (Hollywoodland), Jason Bateman (The Kingdom), Robin Wright Penn (Forrest Gump), Helen Mirren (Excalibur), Viola Davis (Disturbia) and Jeff Daniels (The Crossing)
Labels: Ben Affleck, film, Helen Mirren, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, movie trailer, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright-Penn, Russell Crowe, Viola Davis
posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 3:00 PM
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December 1, 2008
Gods and Generals (2003)
Should I see it?
Yes, if you have the time.
Yes, if you have the time.
If you’re going to wade through a 231 minute film, this is the one.
As epic as it is long, this film presents the rise and fall of “Stonewall” Jackson through the praise worthy performance of Stephen Lang in the lead role. Lang at times overplays his hand as the devout Christian Jackson, but still gives the man an impressive faith and sense of Christian servitude that is rarely seen in film. His aggressive faith is not mocked but accepted. It enhances his character when he sits quietly with his wife and more so when he is shot and lies dying.
The film itself, while seemingly endless, is an ambitious marvel. It seriously looks at the South and its conflicting motives during this time. We are shown The Civil War with a detail and affection that is lacking in previous productions. Too bad the film is nearly as long as the actual war.
There are other fine performances to be found in the film. Jeff Daniels and C. Thomas Howell revise their roles as Lt. Col. Joshua Chamberlain and Sgt. Thomas Chamberlain, which they both played in Gettysburg (1993). Daniels offers a sober and nervous man in his Chamberlain. His performance is earthy when compared to the mythic stature of Lang’s Stonewall Jackson.
Obviously, this film could have stood for a massive trimming of unneeded scenes. On the other hand, it is a massive film that presents some fascinating characters and battles. This is not the kind of film you watch over and over, however you will remember it after one viewing. Again, this film is four hours long – you may want to get up every once in a while to keep yourself from getting bedsores.
Related Reviews:
War movies
Platoon (1986)
The Great Raid (2005)
Other Critic's Reviews:
Roger Ebert
PopMatters
Labels: film, Jeff Daniels, Mira Sorvino, movie review, Robert Duvall, Stephen Lang, war
posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 8:00 AM
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July 10, 2008
Movie Trailer: Traitor
When I first heard of this film I thought it sounded like it was going to be good. The pedestrian trailer has sapped some of that excitement from me. This is a good example of how a trailer, if too conventional, can kill the sale of a film. This trailer at once gives too much information while also not giving a real good hook to make the audience to want to see it. There's absolutely no "call to see".
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Screenwriter: Jeffrey Nachmanoff (The Day After Tomorrow)
Director: Jeffrey Nachmanoff (The Big Gig)
Actors: Guy Pearce (Memento), Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda), Jeff Daniels (The Crossing), and Neal McDonough (Walking Tall)
Labels: Don Cheadle, film, Guy Pearce, Jeff Daniels, movie trailer
posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 6:00 PM
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June 10, 2008
Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)
Should I see it?
No.
No.
Short Review: Coincidentally, I was the one put to sleep.
Remember back in the old days when family friendly films were uplifting and fun? Geez, here I was thinking I was in for a nice little flick about a kid and her dog, and I get child abandonment, alcoholism and a dozen morose characters shuffling around like mopey zombies. This is an adaptation from a book that won the Newbery Award. This film wins the Dingleberry Award.
First, I will attack the child actress. This yelping kid was wholly annoying. It is possible to get kids to act without having them scream their lines, I know, I've seen it done. The screeching child in question is cute little AnnaSophia Robb (Bridge to Terabithia). Watching her was like watching a two-hour long Kool-Aid commercial.
The remainder of the cast doesn't fare much better, and they’re older which makes it worse. What the heck is Dave Matthews doing in this thing? I am sick and tired of seeing musicians acting in films. It’s not that he’s a bad actor, he’s okay. The fact is that a real actor, someone who spent his time studying and practicing his craft is out of a job because of him. It’s not just Matthews, it’s all the rappers and other MTV (or in Matthews case VH1) celebs. When you see one of these goofballs on screen, they are lowering the standards of the craft, and they’re keeping someone who deserves the chance from getting in.
Beyond the acting, this story was not well thought out. It meandered around like a drunk walking into walls, bumping into story lines and symbolism. An example of this is when the young heroine spends a bulk of her time in a pet store with a greasy, unwashed shopkeeper. She is there working to earn a dog collar for a remarkable stray dog she has found. We learn half-way through the movie that the shop owner is actually a criminal (more about that in a minute.) At no time does anyone, with the exception of the inept cop, have a second thought about a felon spending an inordinate amount of time with a little girl behind closed doors.
Christian critics and audiences have embraced this film. Again, Christians have been lulled into thinking that a lack of violence and sex equates goodness. WRONG. The morality of this flick is questionable at best in many areas. I’ve seen better morality plays in episodes of Deal or No Deal than in this yammering mess.
When the criminal pet shop owner is exposed by the inept cop, the criminal explains himself to the little girl. He tells her "He never hurt nobody." He then tells his story of how he was panhandling, a police officer tried to stop him. The criminal then admits that he breaks the cop’s nose when he/she tried to take away his guitar. This man assaults a police officer and the film portrays him as the victim. He "never hurt nobody" because after all, the cop was going to take away his music. Nice message for the kids.
All of the authority figures in the movie are weak, nuts, or plain useless. The cop in the film is a doofus (although well played by the talented Harlin Williams (Rocketman).) The librarian and "the Witch" blind woman are both possibly nuts. The owner of the trailer park the little girl and her pastor father live is greedy and full of grumbling violent threats. Finally, the pastor father (Jeff Daniels (The Crossing)) is confused and weak. He only comes around after he pleads with his daughter on his knees for forgiveness for something HE DID NOT DO. He takes the blame for the girl’s mother’s drinking problem. Again, nice message for the kids.
My three-year old son put it best. This was his first movie he watched in the theater and we both had high hopes. The dreadful thing finished and as we’re walking out, I asked him what he thought. He furrowed his brow, shook his head and said "That was way too long."
I love my son.
Related Reviews:
Jeff Daniels movies
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
The Crossing (2001)
Other Critic's Reviews:
National Review Online
Agape Press
Labels: AnnaSophia Robb, Cicely Tyson, Eva Marie Saint, film, Jeff Daniels, movie review
posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 8:00 AM
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January 4, 2008
Five People You Meet in Heaven (2004)
Should I see it?
Yes.
Yes.
Short Review: We’ll need to open a self-help section in the video stores to house this DVD.
Based on the successful novel by Mitch Albom, this film has some big shoes to fill. Albom's works may be smarter and a bit wiser, but they pull from the same sentimental well that Oprah has been guzzling from for years. This piece isn't much different. There's a mind at work here, and there are some kernels of wisdom to be found, but they are covered with a sticky saccharine coating.
This made-for-television movie does do a great job bringing the original piece to life. Like any adaptation the movie suffers from being a derivative work. In most instances, adaptations tend to be dim replications of the original source work. This is somewhat the case here. Taking the film on its own, it is rather well done. It's not a brilliant piece but it is effective.
The story follows Eddie (Jon Voight), a maintenance man who is lingering between Earth and Heaven. He meanders the fringes of the afterlife and confronts the life he has led. Voight is well cast here and provides a respectable yet broken man. Voight is comfortable in his role and brings a common man charisma to Eddie. Supported by solid performances by Dagmara Dominczyk (Kinsey), Jeff Daniels (Dumb & Dumber), and Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos), Voight provides an enjoyable and moving performance.
The content of the story, while interesting is certainly is suspect in some areas. Although it deals exclusively with the afterlife, this is hardly a Biblical film and the characters are anything but religious. The script is careful to toe the politically correct line and offend no one with anything that may smack of religious flavor. God and Heaven are gingerly referred to but not delved to with any depth. This keeps the piece from attaining a grander scale of thought. It reminds me of when, during the Christmas season, people insist on saying Happy Holidays no matter what. I'm in the store buying wrapping paper and ornaments for a Christmas tree, the cashier has a cross around her neck and she has to say "Happy Holidays" instead of referring to Christmas directly. Sure, its a small deal but we're ignoring the truth of the matter. This film suffers from the same kind of problem. It wants to talk about the afterlife but it doesn't want to be hindered by any theology. Granted, this isn't a Biblical movie, it's a self-help movie. It doesn't intend to speak about the greater things it intends to provide some hot-air that has whiffs of wisdom thrown in.
While it fails to achieve to reach anything larger, this is still an enjoyable and relatively harmless movie. There are some nice, cozy statements about handing regret and forgiveness and no one will be offended. If you're looking for stronger statements about the afterlife and managing one's time here on Earth, there's a better book on the subject I can recommend.
Related Reviews:
Adaptations
Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)
Le Scaphandre et le Papillon (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) (2007)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Other Critic's Reviews:
DVD Verdict
eOpinions
Labels: adaptation, film, Jeff Daniels, Jon Voight, movie review
posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 6:10 PM
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