Director: Kathryn Bigelow (Point Break, K-19: The Widowmaker)
Stars: Jeremy Renner (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, S.W.A.T.)
Ralph Fiennes (In Bruges, Maid in Manhattan)
YesNoSoso: 2
Dear Hollywood Action Directors: next time you are planning to use a handy cam to film a fight scene, watch Heat or The Hurt Locker, and witness what a realistic action scene feels like. The Hurt Locker is a heart pounding action film with complex characters and pertinent themes. Why can't more movies like this come out every year? I swear to G-d, its fucking September and there have been like 5 movies in 2009 that haven't sucked total ass.
IMDB
Wikipedia
8/31/09
Bruno (2009)
Director: Larry Charles (Borat, Religulous (supposably very good))
Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa)
Gustaf Hammersten (A bunch of German stuff you've never heard of)
YesNoSoso: 1
I laughed pretty consistently throughout the whole movie. If you get squeamish about homosexuality, not only are you not going to like this movie, but its main purpose is to make fun of you. Not nearly as genius as Borat: Cultural Learnings of American for Make Benefit for Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, but still pretty g-ddamn genius. I def enjoyed myself for 2 hours, but can't imagine this movie being very funny on the second viewing.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa)
Gustaf Hammersten (A bunch of German stuff you've never heard of)
YesNoSoso: 1
I laughed pretty consistently throughout the whole movie. If you get squeamish about homosexuality, not only are you not going to like this movie, but its main purpose is to make fun of you. Not nearly as genius as Borat: Cultural Learnings of American for Make Benefit for Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, but still pretty g-ddamn genius. I def enjoyed myself for 2 hours, but can't imagine this movie being very funny on the second viewing.
IMDB
Wikipedia
8/24/09
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Director: Shane Black (hasn't directed anything else)
Stars: Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder, Gothika)
Val Kilmer (True Romance, Batman Forever)
YesNoSoso: 2
Sweet, I found another modern Noir movie. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is more of a comedy than my previous jackpot, Brick, but executes the dark comedy perfectly. Truly hilarious and genuinely enthralling, it would be a waste of my time and a disservice to you to attempt to describe the plot at all. Definitely check it out, but make sure you have your wits about you. Or watch it twice. I already have...
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder, Gothika)
Val Kilmer (True Romance, Batman Forever)
YesNoSoso: 2
Sweet, I found another modern Noir movie. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is more of a comedy than my previous jackpot, Brick, but executes the dark comedy perfectly. Truly hilarious and genuinely enthralling, it would be a waste of my time and a disservice to you to attempt to describe the plot at all. Definitely check it out, but make sure you have your wits about you. Or watch it twice. I already have...
IMDB
Wikipedia
I Love You, Man (2009)
Director: John Hamburg ("Stella", Along Came Polly)
Stars: Paul Rudd (Role Models, Night at the Museum)
Jason Segal ("Freaks and Geeks", Dead Man on Campus)
YesNoSoso: 1
This movie could feasibly be a YesNoSoso 2 but it was a lot more sappy than I was anticipating. Still it had a number of hilarious moments and was definitely an enjoyable experience. Both Paul Rudd and Jason Segal are the type of rare actor that I will watch regardless of what vehicle they are starring in (Owen Wilson, Will Ferrel and Gary Oldman are also in this club). Check it out, but don't expect to be rolling on the floor.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Paul Rudd (Role Models, Night at the Museum)
Jason Segal ("Freaks and Geeks", Dead Man on Campus)
YesNoSoso: 1
This movie could feasibly be a YesNoSoso 2 but it was a lot more sappy than I was anticipating. Still it had a number of hilarious moments and was definitely an enjoyable experience. Both Paul Rudd and Jason Segal are the type of rare actor that I will watch regardless of what vehicle they are starring in (Owen Wilson, Will Ferrel and Gary Oldman are also in this club). Check it out, but don't expect to be rolling on the floor.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Super High Me (2007)
Director: Michael Blieden (some stand up specials, but wrote and starred in Melvin goes to dinner which is fantastic)
Stars: Doug Benson (Mostly a stand up comedian, has had small roles on many comedic efforts)
YesNoSoso: 1
Surprisingly funny documentary filmed almost as a joke. Doug Benson used to make this joke in his stand up that instead eating McDonalds for 30 days like Morgan Spurlock, he would smoke pot for 30 days. Then him and his buddy Michael Blieden decided to actually do it. He didn't imbibe any alcohol and didn't blaze for 30 days before smoking all day every day for 30 days. He took a number of tests (SAT, memory, pychic, a full physical) during both phases and did standup about 3 nights a week. The movie is very funny and also contains interesting information about the subject of Californias "legal" marijuana.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Doug Benson (Mostly a stand up comedian, has had small roles on many comedic efforts)
YesNoSoso: 1
Surprisingly funny documentary filmed almost as a joke. Doug Benson used to make this joke in his stand up that instead eating McDonalds for 30 days like Morgan Spurlock, he would smoke pot for 30 days. Then him and his buddy Michael Blieden decided to actually do it. He didn't imbibe any alcohol and didn't blaze for 30 days before smoking all day every day for 30 days. He took a number of tests (SAT, memory, pychic, a full physical) during both phases and did standup about 3 nights a week. The movie is very funny and also contains interesting information about the subject of Californias "legal" marijuana.
IMDB
Wikipedia
8/12/09
The Tao of Steve (2000)
Director: Jenniphr Goodwin (hasn't directed anything else)
Stars: Donal Logue (Zodiac, Runaway Bride)
Greer Goodman (nothing really else)
YesNoSoso: 1
Tao of Steve is on the surface a cookie cutter rom com. Womanizing man with low moral compass falls for a woman uninterested in his player ways, reforms and lives happily ever after with once disinterested woman. But Tao of Steve has some very witty dialogue and Donal Logue creates a truly complex character that you honestly care about. It has its funny moments and is definitely an enjoyable 2 hours.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Donal Logue (Zodiac, Runaway Bride)
Greer Goodman (nothing really else)
YesNoSoso: 1
Tao of Steve is on the surface a cookie cutter rom com. Womanizing man with low moral compass falls for a woman uninterested in his player ways, reforms and lives happily ever after with once disinterested woman. But Tao of Steve has some very witty dialogue and Donal Logue creates a truly complex character that you honestly care about. It has its funny moments and is definitely an enjoyable 2 hours.
IMDB
Wikipedia
8/3/09
Run Fatboy Run (2007)
Director: David Schwimmer (hasn't directed anything I've seen or recognize, was Ross from "Friends")
Stars: Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People)
Hank Azaria ("The Simpsons", Godzilla)
YesNoSoso: 0
I would not have guessed that a movie starring Simon Pegg and written by Pegg and Michael Ian Black (from "Stella" and Wet Hot American Summer) would be a YesNoSoso 0. It wasn't the worst movie I'd ever seen and had moments of genuine hilarity, but it was overall bad. The plot felt incredibly stale and there simply wasn't anything particularly entertaining about any aspect of the movie. Skip it.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People)
Hank Azaria ("The Simpsons", Godzilla)
YesNoSoso: 0
I would not have guessed that a movie starring Simon Pegg and written by Pegg and Michael Ian Black (from "Stella" and Wet Hot American Summer) would be a YesNoSoso 0. It wasn't the worst movie I'd ever seen and had moments of genuine hilarity, but it was overall bad. The plot felt incredibly stale and there simply wasn't anything particularly entertaining about any aspect of the movie. Skip it.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Un Coupable Ideal (2001)
Director: Jean-Xavier de Lastrade (Soupcons, nothing else I've ever seen)
Stars: real people, its a documentary
YesNoSoso: 1
I watched Un Coupable Ideal (English version: Murder on a Sunday Morning) because I was blown away by Soupcons (English version: The Staircase) and it was very good. Although, it wasn't as incredible and didn't have as many "but wait..!" moments as The Staircase. Un coupable Ideal was less of a whodunnit and more of a story about a public defender's crusade to save an innocent boy. A real drama thats authenticity really adds to the excitement. Even if I only gave it a YesNoSoso 1, its a solid 1 and I will be checking out more works by Lastrade.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: real people, its a documentary
YesNoSoso: 1
I watched Un Coupable Ideal (English version: Murder on a Sunday Morning) because I was blown away by Soupcons (English version: The Staircase) and it was very good. Although, it wasn't as incredible and didn't have as many "but wait..!" moments as The Staircase. Un coupable Ideal was less of a whodunnit and more of a story about a public defender's crusade to save an innocent boy. A real drama thats authenticity really adds to the excitement. Even if I only gave it a YesNoSoso 1, its a solid 1 and I will be checking out more works by Lastrade.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
