Director: David Schwimmer
Writers: Michael Ian Black, Simon Pegg
Producers: Sarah Curtis, Cathy Lord
Starring: Simon Pegg as Dennis, Thandie Newton as Libby, Hank Azaria as Whit, Dylan Moran as Gordon, Harish Patel as Mr.Goshdashtidar, India De Beaufort, Maya Goshdashtidar and Matthew Fenton as Jake(IMDb). Rated PG-13.
Dennis desperately wants to regain his former finance's (Libby) love. However she has lost confidence in him because he left her at the altar while she was pregnant. After meeting Libby's new boyfriend,Whit, Whit mentions to Dennis that he is running in a marathon. Dennis, feeling that he could possibly regain Libby's love, decides to run in the marathon. Dennis wants to prove to Libby that despite his reputation of being an irresponsible and unmotivated person, who never finishes anything he starts, that he can actually finish the marathon.
This is an incredibly funny movie. What was most impressive about this film was how the transitions of humor and seriousness worked so well without mitigating the comedic flow of the film. Simon Pegg is funny but he can be dramatic convincingly, and he can return to being funny without any indication of struggle. Persistence and personal reformation were some of the serious aspects of this film, and seemingly the humor comes into play while Dennis is trying to become a better man while working to obtain those two items.
Some of the funniest parts include, Dennis's short lived effort to train in his tight silk running shorts, and his fight with his best friend Gordon. Admittedly those are the parts that I find funny, but there are plenty of funny scenes in this film for everyone. The comedy is fresh and even the parts that are predictable are funny, and that is likely due to Pegg's comedic acting prowess. The guy is just funny. Surely David Schwimmer's directing had something to do with it too. Harish Patel deserves an honorable mention. He was great. This is a film where the loser ends up being the winner, and the winner ends up being the loser. According to Movies.com, fans gave it B-, and critics gave it a C, and I will side with the fans, B- it is. Stay tuned, Movieporium.blogspot.com.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
21: Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner
Director: Robert Luketic
Writers: Peter Steinfeld, Allan Loeb
Producers:Dana Brunetti, Micheal De Luca, Kevin Spacey
Starring: Jim Sturgess as Ben Campbell, Kevin Spacey as Mickey Rosa, Kate Bosworth as Jill Taylor, Aaron Yoo as Choi, Liza Lapira as Kianna, Laurence Fishburne as Cole Williams, Josh Gad as Miles Connoly, Sam Golzari as Cam, and Jacob Pitts as Fisher(IMDb). Rated PG-13.
Ben Campbell is siting alone in the library, and a student named Fisher approached him. Not knowing who the student is Campbell is hesitant at first but later acquiesces, and follows Fisher to a room where he is greeted by his physics' professor and four students. Campbell is persuaded by the group by being told how much fun and money he can have in a rather short period through counting cards in Vegas. Although the offer is tempting, Campbell rejects the offer because of his busy schedule. However, the group seriously needed the genius mind of Campbell so the girl he had a crush on, Jill, was sent to persuade him further but Campbell remained stern in his rejection of the offer. But after deep consideration, Campbell realized through this venture, he could earn the $300,000 needed for Harvard Medical School. Campbell joins the group, and he ends up having an encounter with Cole Williams.
This film had a very odd pace. The story developed rather slowly, but the pace at which the story development was adequate enough to keep me interested; basically I was marginally bored through the rising action. Strange indeed, while as bored as I was I still found the desperation of Campbell real and enticing. I credit the film makers for the infusion of that realism. There were no fancy car chases or elements indicative of a major action film. 21 simply was not that type of movie, although the potential to take the film in that route was there because of the Vegas element. A quick fact about this film, this movie is actually based on the best selling nonfiction book, Bringing Down the House.
The plot development on screen was clean, and I cannot recall seeing any logical problems with the storyline. On another note, Scenes where the opportunity for explosive acting could have been exhibited were rather tamed. Campbell suffers losses, but his anger was tamed, and his anger matched the over all tone of the film. This was a rather mellow film. I wanted more suspense in the key scene where Campbell first met Cole Williams, but again even the suspense in that scene was tamed. The acting was good, the casting was good, the ending was relatively entertaining but the film needed some more drama. According to Movies.com fans gave the film a B+, critics gave it a C, and I will give it a C-. Stay tuned, Movieporium.blogspot.com.
Writers: Peter Steinfeld, Allan Loeb
Producers:Dana Brunetti, Micheal De Luca, Kevin Spacey
Starring: Jim Sturgess as Ben Campbell, Kevin Spacey as Mickey Rosa, Kate Bosworth as Jill Taylor, Aaron Yoo as Choi, Liza Lapira as Kianna, Laurence Fishburne as Cole Williams, Josh Gad as Miles Connoly, Sam Golzari as Cam, and Jacob Pitts as Fisher(IMDb). Rated PG-13.
Ben Campbell is siting alone in the library, and a student named Fisher approached him. Not knowing who the student is Campbell is hesitant at first but later acquiesces, and follows Fisher to a room where he is greeted by his physics' professor and four students. Campbell is persuaded by the group by being told how much fun and money he can have in a rather short period through counting cards in Vegas. Although the offer is tempting, Campbell rejects the offer because of his busy schedule. However, the group seriously needed the genius mind of Campbell so the girl he had a crush on, Jill, was sent to persuade him further but Campbell remained stern in his rejection of the offer. But after deep consideration, Campbell realized through this venture, he could earn the $300,000 needed for Harvard Medical School. Campbell joins the group, and he ends up having an encounter with Cole Williams.
This film had a very odd pace. The story developed rather slowly, but the pace at which the story development was adequate enough to keep me interested; basically I was marginally bored through the rising action. Strange indeed, while as bored as I was I still found the desperation of Campbell real and enticing. I credit the film makers for the infusion of that realism. There were no fancy car chases or elements indicative of a major action film. 21 simply was not that type of movie, although the potential to take the film in that route was there because of the Vegas element. A quick fact about this film, this movie is actually based on the best selling nonfiction book, Bringing Down the House.
The plot development on screen was clean, and I cannot recall seeing any logical problems with the storyline. On another note, Scenes where the opportunity for explosive acting could have been exhibited were rather tamed. Campbell suffers losses, but his anger was tamed, and his anger matched the over all tone of the film. This was a rather mellow film. I wanted more suspense in the key scene where Campbell first met Cole Williams, but again even the suspense in that scene was tamed. The acting was good, the casting was good, the ending was relatively entertaining but the film needed some more drama. According to Movies.com fans gave the film a B+, critics gave it a C, and I will give it a C-. Stay tuned, Movieporium.blogspot.com.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Drillbit Taylor: The Bodyguard
Director: Steven Brill
Producers: Judd Apatow, Susan Arnold, and Donna Roth
Writen by: John Hughes, Kristofor Brown, and Seth Rogen
Starring: Owen Wilson(Drillbit Taylor), Nate Hartley(Wade), Troy Gentile(Ryan), David Dorfman(Emmit), Alex Frost(Filkins), Leslie Mann(Lisa) IMDb. Rated PG-13.
Wade and Ryan are are excited about the first day of high-school. Eager as can be they could not have waited to meet new friends as they were already strategizing on how to be popular. These plans were thwarted when Wade decides to intervene while Filkins (the school bully) was harassing a peculiar kid named Emmit. Wade's bravery granted Filkins a license to make high-school difficult for himself, Ryan and Emmit. Feeling beat-up, frightened, and frustrated, Wade, Emmit and Ryan decided to hire a body-guard as refuge from duress, and that body-guard was ultimately Drillbit Taylor.
The most pronounced performance in this film was provided by Alex Frost. He was absolutely convincing as a bully. From the facial expressions to the intimidating disposition, Frost delivered quite nicely. He did not seem to struggle in the role, and that made him appear quite believable. What was not so believable was that this 18 year old senior in high school lived an unsupervised life. While there was some effort by the film makers to justify that aspect of the characters life, as a young man is his late teens having a parental figure in his life could have kept the integrity of the bully role intact. Attributing parents to that character may not have affected his function in the film.
The texture of the film felt somewhat odd at times. There was something about some of the dialogue that felt rehearsed, for lack of a better term. The on-screen chemistry between Wade and Ryan was descent although hopefully the tall and chunky duo will not become the motif for, from nerd to popularity teen movies. We see this duo in Superbad, hopefully this great irreverent comedy has not created a monster.
The pace of the film was excellent. The acting was good but again some of the dialogue did feel rehearsed. I really enjoyed watching Owen Wilson perform in his usual laid back comedic style. This movie was very entertaining with the bulk of the comedy coming from the scenes where Filkins is bullying Wade and Ryan. They endure some much humiliation sorrow is induced, but laughter is still a priority. According to Movies.com , critics gave this film a C. The fans gave it a B, and I will give it a C+. Stay tuned, Movieporium.blogspot.com.
Producers: Judd Apatow, Susan Arnold, and Donna Roth
Writen by: John Hughes, Kristofor Brown, and Seth Rogen
Starring: Owen Wilson(Drillbit Taylor), Nate Hartley(Wade), Troy Gentile(Ryan), David Dorfman(Emmit), Alex Frost(Filkins), Leslie Mann(Lisa) IMDb. Rated PG-13.
Wade and Ryan are are excited about the first day of high-school. Eager as can be they could not have waited to meet new friends as they were already strategizing on how to be popular. These plans were thwarted when Wade decides to intervene while Filkins (the school bully) was harassing a peculiar kid named Emmit. Wade's bravery granted Filkins a license to make high-school difficult for himself, Ryan and Emmit. Feeling beat-up, frightened, and frustrated, Wade, Emmit and Ryan decided to hire a body-guard as refuge from duress, and that body-guard was ultimately Drillbit Taylor.
The most pronounced performance in this film was provided by Alex Frost. He was absolutely convincing as a bully. From the facial expressions to the intimidating disposition, Frost delivered quite nicely. He did not seem to struggle in the role, and that made him appear quite believable. What was not so believable was that this 18 year old senior in high school lived an unsupervised life. While there was some effort by the film makers to justify that aspect of the characters life, as a young man is his late teens having a parental figure in his life could have kept the integrity of the bully role intact. Attributing parents to that character may not have affected his function in the film.
The texture of the film felt somewhat odd at times. There was something about some of the dialogue that felt rehearsed, for lack of a better term. The on-screen chemistry between Wade and Ryan was descent although hopefully the tall and chunky duo will not become the motif for, from nerd to popularity teen movies. We see this duo in Superbad, hopefully this great irreverent comedy has not created a monster.
The pace of the film was excellent. The acting was good but again some of the dialogue did feel rehearsed. I really enjoyed watching Owen Wilson perform in his usual laid back comedic style. This movie was very entertaining with the bulk of the comedy coming from the scenes where Filkins is bullying Wade and Ryan. They endure some much humiliation sorrow is induced, but laughter is still a priority. According to Movies.com , critics gave this film a C. The fans gave it a B, and I will give it a C+. Stay tuned, Movieporium.blogspot.com.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Shutter: Ghostly Figures
Director: Masyuki Ochiai
Writer: Luke Dawson
Producers: Doug Davison,Takashige Ichise, Roy Lee
Starring: Joshua Jackson(Benjamin Shaw), Rachael Taylor(Jane Shaw), Megumi Okina(Megumi Tanaka), David Denman(Bruno), John Hensley(Adam), Maya Hazen(Seiko) IMDb.Rated-PG13.
While driving on a dark road Benjamin and Jane accidentally run over a young woman, but after the police complete a thorough search no traces of the young woman can be found. The couple subsequently move to Tokyo on account of Ben's work as a photographer. Jane begins to notice some the pictures her and Benjamin took together are marred with a white cloud like streak, and this also applies to some of the pictures taken from Benjamin's photo shoots. In one instance, Benjamin's assistant(Seiko) noticed the streak on the pictures and tells Jane of "spirit photography", and recommends that she should see her former boyfriend who owns a spirit photography magazine company. Seiko's former boyfriend refers Jane to a local spiritual medium which Jane and Benjamin end up consulting after they both saw the ghost of the young woman they ran over.
During the film I struggled quite considerably to sustain a measure of interest. The film was entertaining intermittently because the sequence of events within the film were ineffectual in terms of potency. The supposed frightful scenes were not frightful enough and that left me seeking to be frightened. In absence of suspense there were no special effects to tickle the mind into amusement, but admittedly the pace of the plot was descent, but that still did not save the impotence of the film, for the horror element did not rise to the occasion. The death scenes were not extraordinary, and they were rather platitudinous. At minimum a film must be entertaining but this film was not so entertaining in my opinion. Shutter is small screen entertainment, and my kind heart will grade it a D+. Stay tuned, Movieporium.blogspot.com.
Writer: Luke Dawson
Producers: Doug Davison,Takashige Ichise, Roy Lee
Starring: Joshua Jackson(Benjamin Shaw), Rachael Taylor(Jane Shaw), Megumi Okina(Megumi Tanaka), David Denman(Bruno), John Hensley(Adam), Maya Hazen(Seiko) IMDb.Rated-PG13.
While driving on a dark road Benjamin and Jane accidentally run over a young woman, but after the police complete a thorough search no traces of the young woman can be found. The couple subsequently move to Tokyo on account of Ben's work as a photographer. Jane begins to notice some the pictures her and Benjamin took together are marred with a white cloud like streak, and this also applies to some of the pictures taken from Benjamin's photo shoots. In one instance, Benjamin's assistant(Seiko) noticed the streak on the pictures and tells Jane of "spirit photography", and recommends that she should see her former boyfriend who owns a spirit photography magazine company. Seiko's former boyfriend refers Jane to a local spiritual medium which Jane and Benjamin end up consulting after they both saw the ghost of the young woman they ran over.
During the film I struggled quite considerably to sustain a measure of interest. The film was entertaining intermittently because the sequence of events within the film were ineffectual in terms of potency. The supposed frightful scenes were not frightful enough and that left me seeking to be frightened. In absence of suspense there were no special effects to tickle the mind into amusement, but admittedly the pace of the plot was descent, but that still did not save the impotence of the film, for the horror element did not rise to the occasion. The death scenes were not extraordinary, and they were rather platitudinous. At minimum a film must be entertaining but this film was not so entertaining in my opinion. Shutter is small screen entertainment, and my kind heart will grade it a D+. Stay tuned, Movieporium.blogspot.com.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Movie Favorites: Red Dragon
This is a great film, that is smart, engaging, and it has Anthony Hopkins, what more can be said. There may be very brief commercial interruptions, but the movies is not censored with all things being equal.
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