The Big Screen Bulletin 12.22.08: It’s All Coming Back to Me Now
Posted by Chad Webb on 12.22.2008
The birthday bash featuring Alyssa Milano, the box office results, a Stilinski name change, James Cameron's remake, Tim Robbins as Tony Stark's Daddy, Keanu's Cowboy Bebop idea, new DVD releases, new quickees, and much more!
The Birthday Bash
Kiefer Sutherland turns 42 - Kiefer says, "Hey dude, did you catch that latest Big Screen Bulletin last week? It was kick a$$! By the way, get me a beer" And I like the father-son pic in the corner someone inserted for a then and now tone. Kiefer is obviously on 24, but will lend his voice to Monsters vs. Aliens in 2009.
Andy Dick turns 43 - This is a face that could only be made by Andy Dick. I'm not sure any jokes are necessary, are they? He has around 5 projects on his slate including Hoodwinked 2: Hood vs. Evil, Lunchers, and Rock Slyde. All winners I'll bet.
Samuel L. Jackson turns 60 - Gotta love caricatures. This is a funnier one than most. Samuel has approximately 5 projects on the horizon besides next week's The Spirit. Among them are Iron Man 2 and Inglorious Bastards.
Kristanna Loken turns 29 - I would have loved to be the guy who painted that on her. Anyway, Kristanna is on The L Word, but also has the surefire Oscar contender National Lampoon's The Legend of Awesomest Maximimus. What a step up from BloodRayne.
Alyssa Milano turns 36 - This is just one sexy woman, and to think I was attracted to her during her Who's the Boss days as well. Shockingly, Alyssa has no upcoming films on her resume. That is sad. Someone call her up and get her in an Apatow comedy or something.
The News Bulletin
Yes to Jim Carrey at the Box Office
The weekend box office got iced by terrible weather, and the result was anything but a merry start for Jim Carrey laffer "Yes Man" and Will Smith drama "Seven Pounds." Warner Bros.' "Yes Man" grossed $18.2 million from 3,434 runs to win the crown, while "Seven Pounds" took $16 million from 2,758, according to Rentrak. Both titles were expected to come in at least $5 million higher. The opening for "Seven Pounds" is the lowest for a Smith pic since 2001's "Ali." Film, which reunited Smith with drama "Pursuit of Happyness" director Gabriele Muccino, also received generally bad reviews. Universal toon "The Tale of Despereaux," the frame's other new entry, grossed an estimated $10.5 million from 3,104 runs on the strength of tots and their parents.
Friday's crippling storm in the Northeast dragged down grosses dramatically in a menacing start to the Christmas holiday. Weekend was down by as much as 44% over last year. In Boston, Friday's B.O. dropped a whopping 81% from the previous Friday, while it fell 45% in Gotham. There were, however, some strong players at the specialty box office: "The Wrestler" saw a boffo opening, while "Slumdog Millionaire" continued to gain strength. (Both pics are from Fox Searchlight.)Question now is how much "Yes Man" and "Seven Pounds" can rebound over the two-week Christmas holiday stretch. There are also five wide releases opening on Christmas Day that may have to contend with more winter weather.
The good news for Hollywood is the domestic box office continues to run even with last year, which saw record-breaking revenues. And Warner Bros. is on the verge of grossing the most of any studio in a given year, unseating crown holder Sony ($1.705 billion). Through Friday, Warner's box office revs clocked in at $1.68 billion. In more good news for Warners, comedy "Four Christmases" jumped the $100 million mark over the weekend, far outpacing original expectations for the comedy. Pic dropped just 41% to $7.7 million in its fourth weekend to come in No. 5. Cume is $100.2 million.
No big shock here, although Will Smith's drama getting #2 was surprising, even though it was his lowest since Ali. Wait until next week when the negative reviews soak in hard. Quantum, Australia, and Bolt all took dips, but are still hanging on for dear life in the bottom half. Four Christmases and Twilight are still sitting pretty in the middle of the top 10, while The Day the Earth Stood Still absorbed a huge dent. I did expect Yes Man to rise over $20 mill, but the storm in my neck of the woods did not help matters. Bedtime Stories will not give Carrey's pic time to recuperate for more. It will push that out of the top spot.
Cameron Enters Another Planet
James Cameron may no longer be content with just being king of the world. Now he reportedly wants to be king of Altair IV as well. IESB reports that the Oscar-winning filmmaker may next direct the remake of the 1956 sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet for Warner Bros. J. Michael Straczynski (The Changeling, Babylon 5) penned the screenplay. The site claims Cameron "may want to have first shot at bringing one of the most ground-breaking science fiction films of its time back to the big screen. Imagine the new technology he could create for Robby the Robot."
IESB points out that Cameron has been interested in Forbidden Planet since 1998, as evidenced by this article at Ain't It Cool News. As you may know, Forbidden Planet is basically a re-envisioning of Shakespeare's The Tempest. It follows the crew of an Earth ship bound for Altair IV, where an expedition team has gone missing. When the crew arrives they find that most of the expedition team has died. Only a scientist and his daughter are still alive – not counting his obedient robot Robby. The demented doctor has created an empire on the alien world. His loathing for things foreign to the world begins manifest itself through the alien world's advanced technology, especially once love blooms between the ship's captain and the scientist's daughter. The original film was directed by Fred M. Wilcox and starred Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, and a young Leslie Nielson.
I am ashamed to admit this, but Forbidden Planet has rested in the middle of my Netflix queue for months, and I have not seen it because at one point I planned on blind buying the special edition tin version, but never did. This news reporter will kick himself heartily three times for not preparing. Seriously though, if anyone can do a remake justice, it is James Cameron with his intelligence for the latest technology of special effects, not to mention storytelling and wise cast selections. If he does confirm this to be true, I have faith that it will rock the house. And with J. Michael Straczynski writing the screenplay, we know at least that the writing aspect of the process will be top-notch. So stay tuned for updates on this.
Tony Stark, I Am Your Father
Tim Robbins is tipped to play Howard Stark, father of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in the "Iron Man" sequel reports Latino Review. Gerard Sanders played Howard in a montage during the first film. The reason for the recasting is due to an important flashback sequence in the feature that helps set up both "The Avengers" and "Captain America" films. Thus it seems likely Howard Stark's character is involved in the Super Soldier program. Hawkeye and Black Widow are also said to be a part of the story of the next film.
Tim Robbins is a consummate performer, and if anyone could fit into this franchise with no trouble whatsoever, it is him, picking up right after his co-star from Arlington Road (Jeff Bridges) left. I can definitely picture Robbins in the part, and I must say I am amped for that flashback scene. However, please, put all crucial moments in the film, not after the credits please….thank you.
A Tribute to Teen Wolfers
Greg White doesn't have the high profile of Bengals receiver Chad Ocho Cinco, formerly known as Chad Johnson. But I do think he's pulled off the best name change of this NFL season. Buccaneers opponents will no longer be blocking Greg White. They will be blocking Stylez G. White. He made it official in court today. And for what reason? Because he liked the character Stiles from "Teen Wolf". From The Bucs Report: White said he picked his new name from a character in the 1985 movie "Teen Wolf,'' starring Michael J. Fox. "That was his best friend's name,'' White said. "I always liked that name. It's not that I don't like Greg White.'' In the movie, Fox's friend is named Rupert "Stiles'' Stilinski. White changed the spelling and adopted the name as his own.
I was given this news bit from Leonard Hayhurst, and I must admit, normally name changes are meant just for attention, but this one is awesome, and who cares if it is just for attention? He emulates Stiles from Teen Wolf, and as George Sirois reminded me, hopefully he has a "What Are Your Looking At Dic*Nose" T-shirt to wear. The character's name was Rupert "Stiles" Stilinski, and was played by Jerry Levine, who does some TV acting here and there, but mostly assumes directorial for shows like Everybody Hates Chris and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I would love to get a quote from him on this. Farinella, book that interview!
Keanu is a Cowboy Baby
Keanu Reeves, currently starring in the sci-fi remake The Day the Earth Stood Still, has his eyes set on a live-action, big-screen version of the popular anime Cowboy Bebop. "We're trying to do that. ... We've got the rights, we've got a writer -- he's putting together a scene outline," the Matrix actor recently told MTV. Reeves explained that the film, which is setup at Fox with his manager Erwin Stoff producing, will probably center around the "Red Eye" storyline featured in the first part of the series. "Yeah, it's so episodic and so disconnected," he adds. "We're trying to figure out what pieces to put together to tell one story," he explained. "Because it's such a short form, to make a 2 hour version..." Reeves would reportedly play bounter hunter Spike Spiegel, former member of the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate, who is haunted by memories of his time in the organization, including his romance with the mysterious Julia, and syndicate partner, Vicious.
I have seen only Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, which was entertaining and quite solid overall, and my friend tells me I must watch the show because it is terrific. I think a live-action version of this show, similar to the planned live-action film of Akira would be difficult, but not impossible to pull off. Cowboy Bebop might be a bit easier because of the numerous choices in storylines. I am in favor of this film, but not with Keanu Reeves as the lead. Sorry Neo, but this role does not suit you. Pick something else. Adapting anime to live-action seems to be picking up speed in recent years. If this were to be faithful to the series, it would have to be helmed by a filmmaker with ambition and one who knows how to craft a satisfying blockbuster, not just a series of action sequences. This is obviously a better idea for Keanu than the proposed 47 Ronin samurai flick and the denied Speed 3.
Luhrmann Moves On from the Outback
You read it in high school! (Or didn't, as the case might be…) And now filmmaker Baz Luhrmann wants you to pay to see it on the big screen. It's eighth-grade English class all over again. The "Australia" and "Moulin Rouge" director has purchased the rights to "The Great Gatsby", the seminal F. Scott Fitzgerald novel about the Jazz Age of the 1920s. Variety has the report on the acquisition today, adding that there is currently no script for the project but that Luhrmann plans on focusing on that once he's done promoting "Australia" during its awards run. There is no studio attached to the would-be film as of yet either. "Gatsby" has previously inspired a Broadway play, four movie versions (including one starring Robert Redford), and an opera, among other forms of media. It also has bored untold millions of school children across America over the years…
Ugh. Another adaptation of this novel. Luhrmann immediately heads back to popular material once his own bombs. Yes, it was average at the box office, but critically acclaimed it was not. Don't worry Baz, you will not need to promote for its awards run long. It won't get any. The most common version of The Great Gatsby is the 1974 film starring Mia Farrow and Robert Redford, which was ok if I remember correctly, but not outstanding. If Luhrmann's Gatsby is anything like his Romeo & Juliet, I will probably pass. That film was interesting to look at, but inferior to a dozen other adaptations in the end.
The 20 Second Sermon
Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy will both reprise their voice roles as the Joker and Batman respectively in the upcoming video game Batman: Arkham Asylum. Good, these two do wonderfully and deserve the extra work. Che the full 4 hours+ version will be screened for 2 more weeks in that form due to such good response. This is great news. Look for my review of this soon! Darren Aronofsky says if a Robocop remake does occur, he might not direct. A script is being worked on, but not much else. File this film under the "Does Not Need Remade" column. Screenwriter Hossein Amini will pen the next Jack Ryan installment, which will feature a younger star and be an origin story. Personally, I am glad Harrison Ford is not in this. For this franchise, new faces are a positive thing. Frank Miller has agreed to a Buck Rogers adaptation from the popular serial. It will possess many of Miller's trademark elements, and most likely be worked on before Sin City 2. You know what, I say forget Sin City 2. By the time that actually goes forward, no one will care nearly as much. Furthermore, I hope Buck Rogers is not in black & white with an emphasis on red coloring. Miller CAN change his style a bit. Really he can.
What's Coming to DVD….Buy or Avoid?
DVD Headline of the Week
Ghost Town - Look for my review of this DVD on the site soon!
Eagle Eye - This a clumsy thriller, but an entertaining one in parts, mainly because Shia LeBouf is engaging to watch. I wouldn't buy this, but it is well worth renting. Rentable
The Duchess - Director Saul Dibb shows his naive approach for his mainstream debut. This British period drama has a super thin plot that drowns the excellent performances from Knightley and Fiennes. This will get nominated for costumes and make-up, but this was a weak film of the genre. Borrow
Resident Evil: Degeneration - A CGI Resident Evil film. This seems a wee bit early after Extinction, but then again, I have no weight on the decisions made. This might be a straight to video nightmare if I have time.
WWE: Edge - A Decade of Decadence - I am a definite Edge fan. He is one of the few superstars still going today that I enjoy watching in the WWE. I might already own most of these matches, but I'll buy it anyway because I can't help myself. Buyable
Savage Grace - Starring Julianne Moore, this is the story of the Barbara Daly scandal. I remember this in theaters vaguely, but I'm not sure I'll get around to seeing it.
Beethoven's Big Break - Another dog movie and another installment with Beethoven. Amazing. This Saint Bernard has to be fed up with these flicks by now.
WWE Survivor Series 2008 - Normally, the bigger Pay Per Views are the ones I have the most interest in seeing, but this card looked unimpressive, aside from 1 or 2 matches.
Pulse 3 - Ok, it's another DTV sequel, so what? It stars Rider Strong, that's what. That fact alone makes this worth seeing.
Baghead - This received numerous stellar reviews, so I am going to be renting this before the year is over. It is a horror comedy about a guy with a bag on his head.
The Critic's Quickee
Milk - I held off on seeing this because Steph really wanted me to wait for her, but in the end, she delayed too long and I saw it without her. Gus Van Sant is a superb filmmaker, and he proves that once again, and for the second time this year, with Milk, following the terrific Paranoid Park. This marks the merger between the independent and mainstream phases of his career. Thankfully, as this is a biopic about the first openly gay man to be elected to any office, it is not shy regarding males kissing and whatnot. If you recall, many films dance around this, kind of like Oliver Stone's Alexander. I also appreciated that van Sant is assuming the majority of viewers will have heard of Harvey Milk's fate, and they state that right away, thus leaving it up to the script and acting to enthrall the audience. All in all, it was a success. Van Sant did indeed utilize hefty portions of footage from the documentary The Life and Times of Harvey Milk, but I felt that material was seamlessly integrated with the staged sequences. If Van Sant had shown doc footage of the actual characters mixing with the actors who play them, that would have been a mistake, but what he mainly does it show the random citizens on the street, and the costuming department did a fabulous job of creating the illusion that they were one in the same. Sean Penn, a brilliant actor, occasionally drifts to that over the top realm, but refrains from doing so here as the titular character. He controls every scene he is in, and is not exaggerated. Sure, he is probably hoping for an Oscar nomination, but if he got one, it would be deserved. The rest of the cast is comprised of excellent young talent like Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, James Franco, Alison Pill, and Van Sant even found a way to use Lucas Grabeel. Last but not least is Josh Brolin, who has been just fantastic the last two years, and is just as mesmerizing as Dan White here. Van Sant's marriage of artistic filmmaking and intriguing history is wonderfully executed. However, my one problem with the picture is oddly enough the score from Danny Elfman. Normally Elfman is top-notch, but this is an inspirational story, and his score did not swell those crucial moments near enough. Perhaps this was Van Sant's idea, but if you think I'm wrong, remember Brokeback Mountain. That movie won an Oscar for the music, and in a story like this, the music is an important element. The repetitive attempts at being elected could have been shortened, but they weren't boring. I just think that this did not need to be 2 hours long. Other than that, it is worth noting that this is more of a drama than a comedy, which the trailer lets on. This contains a fair amount of humorous parts, but the intention is clearly to show this significant period of Milk's life and how it inspired people from then on. Whether or not this makes my top 10 remains to be seen, but I thought it was an exemplary piece of work. Final Rating = 8.5/10.0
I've Loved You So Long - Due to all the buzz surrounding Kristin Scott-Thomas' performance, I had to see this, and sadly, The Day the Earth Stood Still and Punisher: War Zone took the back seat. Anyway, this French film has a lot of similarities to Rachel Getting Married. Both are fantastic character-driven dramas, but this is just teensy bit bleaker, which makes it harder to watch again. As far as comparing Anne Hathaway to Scott-Thomas is concerned, the latter is just unbelievable, and will be a frontrunner for the Oscar. She acts as Juliette, a woman who has just been released from prison after 15 years. She committed a horrendous act, but what are the circumstances? Scott-Thomas affords a magnificent portrayal of a tired woman attempting to move on with her life and re-enter society. She expresses the look of a woman who might be out of prison, but still has yet to recover from the prison within herself. Writer/Director Philippe Claudel crafts an adept film that is engrossing from start to finish, but the tone was overly depressing at times. I still highly recommend seeing it because it is certainly worth experiencing. Final Rating = 8.0/10.0
What Have I Done?
Monday - I watched my first John Cassavetes film on this day. It is called A Woman Under the Influence, and it was a very powerful drama with two brilliant performances by Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk. It was certainly gripping and well made, though only time will tell how much I feel like watching it repeatedly. Still, for all those unknown to Cassavetes, this is supposed to be one of his best.
Tuesday - I was reminded of a time in college when my friends and I would label any funny line we would say, or any memorable line a film, "profile worthy" because we were lame and we thought our AIM profiles were meant to look super cool. Sounds silly now that Facebook rules all, but the line I was reminded of: "That bitch spreads like peanut butter" from Ryan Gosling in Murder by Numbers…priceless.
Wednesday - I was browsing through a convenient store and spotted Red Bull Cola, and was intrigued. Regular Red Bull is ok I guess, but this is soda, and that's up my alley. I took a gulp and it felt like standard cola, and then zing the horribly bitter aftertaste sets in and I could barely get through the can, which is bigger than the regular Red Bull. So if you're curious to try this also, just walk away.
Thursday - Ever have one of those days where traffic completely messes up everything you had planned? This was one of those days for me, and the place I live unfortunately is so congested that no alternate route would have helped. Traffic blows, especially the stop and go kind.
The Weekend - It was a week where I was a groomsman in my college buddy's wedding. They can be a hassle sometimes, but when the moment comes, it is so much fun, especially when you have unlimited Miller High Life, Macanudo cigars, and good music. Driving through snow the next morning is not fun, but whatever.
Based on the Trailer…
Many have been making comments that certain links don't work and others go directly to the Crossing Over trailer. All of those links are ok. If you simply scroll down, a menu of trailers to select can be found. Unfortunately Yahoo is dumb, and made all the links the same. Not my fault.
Newest Trailers
I Love You, Man - This has a superb cast, and looks like a lot of fun with Paul Rudd and Jason Segel providing the laughs. I'm definitely looking forward to it. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
X-Men Origins: Wolverine - I am undecided on this one. I think Gavin Hood is an excellent director, and I have faith in his talent, but the rest is a mixed bag, especially the first glimpse at Gambit, but that's my opinion. Otherwise, this looks to be heavy on action, which could be good or bad. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
December Releases
Defiance - This new Edward Zwick film looks outstanding with Daniel Craig leading the cast in World War II story. This gave me chills. I can't wait. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - This film looks amazing. David Fincher is the man, I will be waiting to purchase my ticket. A plot about someone who ages backwards has all sorts of possibilities. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0
The Spirit - This is the new adaptation from Frank Miller. I'm anxious to see this, but from this teaser, it looks a bit too similar to Sin City. Oh well. I loved that film, so maybe this will be just as entertaining. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
The Spirit (2) - This revealed a lot more than the teaser, and while this film looks like a blast, I have some doubts, and they start with Samuel L. Jackson. Can Frank Miller hit a homerun for a third time? Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Che: Part One - Thankfully a better quality trailer is making the rounds now. This movie looks outstanding, and though I'd prefer to see it in two parts, I'll have to see part one prior to the new year if it has any chances of making my top 10. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Bedtime Stories - This looks like harmless and cute Disney fun. I have no doubt it will be an eye-rolling experience, but Sandler should provide some laughs. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
Two Lovers - James Gray recruits Phoenix one last time. Here he juggles two women. Gray is a strange filmmaker, so for him to tackle a romance thriller should be intriguing for sure. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
January Releases
Paul Blart: Mall Cop - Kevin James stars in a Happy Madison production about a mall security guard. This looks like it will provide a few chuckles, but not much more. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
Bride Wars - Kate Hudson has gone downhill as much as possible after her great role in Almost Famous. This looks dreadful, and not because it is targeted at women. I'm sure it will be #1. Trailer Rating = 2.5/10.0
Notorious - You can access both trailers from here. The newest offers a larger glimpse. This movie looks ok with inspired casting decisions, but my question is how sugarcoated will it be? Even those a little familiar with Biggie will see through the phony scenes. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
The Uninvited - A crappy looking horror film with some sort of lame twist at the end. Yay. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans - I have never been a big fan of this franchise. The first film was ok, but the second was weak. I like Rhona Mitra, she's hot, and has talent, but needs to pick some dramas. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
February Releases
Fanboys - This has to be one of the funniest trailers I have EVER seen. I will be seeing this for sure. Just look at the title, and watch it. I will spoil nothing. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0
Friday the 13th - This looks about as bad as any Michael Bay produced remake, but the mother voice over was eerie. Trailer Rating = 4.5/10.0
Friday the 13th (2) - If the teaser gave us any hope, the full length trailer shows us that this will be as much an abomination as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake. This is one film I intend to watch….umm legally online. Trailer Rating = 2.5/10.0
The International - Sadly, this will be released early in 2009, which is not a good time of the year. Still, I like both Owen and Watts, and since Tom Tykwer is helming, it should be at least halfway decent. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Dance Flick - This Wayan parody trailer does what most parody trailers do: make you chuckle. But we all know the film will be a disaster. Well, some of us do. The others still see this sludge. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0
March, TBD, and Beyond Releases
The Great Buck Howard - We have a magician comedy with John Malkovich, David Blaine, Tom Hanks, and Colin Hanks, among others. Is their any way this could be bad? I say no, and if you disagree, we are not friends. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
Crossing Over - At long last, Harrison Ford returns to expressing his acting talents, not his popularity in the action genre. This has a great cast, a good director, and a fascinating premise. I'm definitely in. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
Monsters vs. Aliens - Wow, another terrific trailer, and this is a CGI flick from Dreamworks, who is stepping up their game past Shrek thankfully. This looks hysterical. Trailer Rating =9.5/10.0
The Escapist - A British prison break film starring Brian Cox. This is my favorite genre, so I can't wait for this, but in order for this to make a splash, it will have to be something special. The critic quotes being from random guys worries me. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
Adventureland - The new film from Superbad director Greg Motolla looks ok. I'm more intrigued by the cast of young actors than the plot itself. I'm sure it will deliver enough laughs though. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Up - Pixar's next flick looks like another funny, endearing, and funfilled adventure. At least we can rely on them for originality. I'll definitely be seeing this. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Powder Blue - It stars Jessica Biel as a stripper, and includes Ray Liotta. Need I say more? Trailer Rating = 11/10
Dragonball: Evolution - Not too sure about this yet. The special effects look great, but then again, people said that about Jumper too. I'm new to this whole thing, but this looks like it could be bad, but Chow Yun Fat is in it, so one never knows. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
Terminator Salvation - I love Christian Bale, and the Terminator franchise, but I have serious doubts about this. I believe it will be terrible, but I must admit, this teaser was well constructed. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
Watchmen - This was the best trailer attached to my Dark Knight screening. Hopefully Zack Snyder can continue to improve his skills after 300. I must read this graphic novel soon. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
Star Trek XI - The teaser was superbly placed before Cloverfield, and this causes me to be amped for the next installment despite my doubts about the cast. I hope it's as good as we deserve. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Wolverine - Not the finest quality of trailers, but you can still see and understand it. Gavin Hood is directing, so that is intriguing. The preview is ok, and I am still unsure. Can the character carry a whole film on his own? Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
The Perfect Game - Though I'm not a baseball fan, I always enjoy watching the Little League World Series. The problem with this film, despite a bad title, is that the preview reveals way too much, so hopefully it has more going for it besides the story, which I'm sure is inspirational. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
Outlander - Hmm, I'm not sure about this, but the cast alone is enough for me to buy a ticket. James Caviezel is so talented, but his script choices continue to boggle me (not in a bad way mind you). The idea is shaky, but the effects and acting look good, so I'm in. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
Fast & Furious - Is that the best title they could come up with? Well, I hate this franchise, and everything it stands for, but I'd be lying if I said this wasn't a step up from the previous installment. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
The Soloist - Atonement' Joe Wright changes his British period drama material for something new. This looks a bit like Resurrecting the Champ, only with better actors. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
Knowing - This has Number 23 sort of approach, which is fine, but why is Nicolas Cage doing all these mediocre thrillers? He's a great actor, and should be showing that more. Anyway, this looks ok. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
New York, I Love You - The first film, Paris, Je T'aime was one of the best films in recent memory that few knew about. So I am very excited about this second installment. The cast and directors look amazing. It should be a terrific experience. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Race to Witch Mountain - I like the Rock, and I'll see the original before this comes out, but this strikes me as a typical Disney adventure flick that has little offer. We'll see though. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
The Pink Panther 2 - This has a great cast, but I did not like the first remake, so I probably won't be rushing to the theater for this either. Not my cup of tea. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - This was a great book, the darkest of the set, and this trailer rocks. I'm anxious to see this. The franchise has not decreased in quality, and here's hoping this continues that trend. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2) - Yes, I am a bit skeptical of the director, but this looks very good. This teaser gave me hope that Yates knows what he's doing. The comedy part at the end was terrific. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Angels & Demons - The Da Vinci Code was a superb thriller, and this looks to be outstanding as well. This teaser has me amped for Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon again! Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Milk - I held off on seeing this because Steph really wanted me to wait for her, but in the end, she delayed too long and I saw it without her. Gus Van Sant is a superb filmmaker, and he proves that once again, and for the second time this year, with Milk, following the terrific Paranoid Park. This marks the merger between the independent and mainstream phases of his career. Thankfully, as this is a biopic about the first openly gay man to be elected to any office, it is not shy regarding males kissing and whatnot. If you recall, many films dance around this, kind of like Oliver Stone's Alexander. I also appreciated that van Sant is assuming the majority of viewers will have heard of Harvey Milk's fate, and they state that right away, thus leaving it up to the script and acting to enthrall the audience. All in all, it was a success. Van Sant did indeed utilize hefty portions of footage from the documentary The Life and Times of Harvey Milk, but I felt that material was seamlessly integrated with the staged sequences. If Van Sant had shown doc footage of the actual characters mixing with the actors who play them, that would have been a mistake, but what he mainly does it show the random citizens on the street, and the costuming department did a fabulous job of creating the illusion that they were one in the same. Sean Penn, a brilliant actor, occasionally drifts to that over the top realm, but refrains from doing so here as the titular character. He controls every scene he is in, and is not exaggerated. Sure, he is probably hoping for an Oscar nomination, but if he got one, it would be deserved. The rest of the cast is comprised of excellent young talent like Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, James Franco, Alison Pill, and Van Sant even found a way to use Lucas Grabeel. Last but not least is Josh Brolin, who has been just fantastic the last two years, and is just as mesmerizing as Dan White here. Van Sant's marriage of artistic filmmaking and intriguing history is wonderfully executed. However, my one problem with the picture is oddly enough the score from Danny Elfman. Normally Elfman is top-notch, but this is an inspirational story, and his score did not swell those crucial moments near enough. Perhaps this was Van Sant's idea, but if you think I'm wrong, remember Brokeback Mountain. That movie won an Oscar for the music, and in a story like this, the music is an important element. The repetitive attempts at being elected could have been shortened, but they weren't boring. I just think that this did not need to be 2 hours long. Other than that, it is worth noting that this is more of a drama than a comedy, which the trailer lets on. This contains a fair amount of humorous parts, but the intention is clearly to show this significant period of Milk's life and how it inspired people from then on. Whether or not this makes my top 10 remains to be seen, but I thought it was an exemplary piece of work. Final Rating = 8.5/10.0 
I've Loved You So Long - Due to all the buzz surrounding Kristin Scott-Thomas' performance, I had to see this, and sadly, The Day the Earth Stood Still and Punisher: War Zone took the back seat. Anyway, this French film has a lot of similarities to Rachel Getting Married. Both are fantastic character-driven dramas, but this is just teensy bit bleaker, which makes it harder to watch again. As far as comparing Anne Hathaway to Scott-Thomas is concerned, the latter is just unbelievable, and will be a frontrunner for the Oscar. She acts as Juliette, a woman who has just been released from prison after 15 years. She committed a horrendous act, but what are the circumstances? Scott-Thomas affords a magnificent portrayal of a tired woman attempting to move on with her life and re-enter society. She expresses the look of a woman who might be out of prison, but still has yet to recover from the prison within herself. Writer/Director Philippe Claudel crafts an adept film that is engrossing from start to finish, but the tone was overly depressing at times. I still highly recommend seeing it because it is certainly worth experiencing. Final Rating = 8.0/10.0 
Monday - I watched my first John Cassavetes film on this day. It is called A Woman Under the Influence, and it was a very powerful drama with two brilliant performances by Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk. It was certainly gripping and well made, though only time will tell how much I feel like watching it repeatedly. Still, for all those unknown to Cassavetes, this is supposed to be one of his best. 
Tuesday - I was reminded of a time in college when my friends and I would label any funny line we would say, or any memorable line a film, "profile worthy" because we were lame and we thought our AIM profiles were meant to look super cool. Sounds silly now that Facebook rules all, but the line I was reminded of: "That bitch spreads like peanut butter" from Ryan Gosling in Murder by Numbers…priceless. 
Wednesday - I was browsing through a convenient store and spotted Red Bull Cola, and was intrigued. Regular Red Bull is ok I guess, but this is soda, and that's up my alley. I took a gulp and it felt like standard cola, and then zing the horribly bitter aftertaste sets in and I could barely get through the can, which is bigger than the regular Red Bull. So if you're curious to try this also, just walk away.
Thursday - Ever have one of those days where traffic completely messes up everything you had planned? This was one of those days for me, and the place I live unfortunately is so congested that no alternate route would have helped. Traffic blows, especially the stop and go kind. 
The Weekend - It was a week where I was a groomsman in my college buddy's wedding. They can be a hassle sometimes, but when the moment comes, it is so much fun, especially when you have unlimited Miller High Life, Macanudo cigars, and good music. Driving through snow the next morning is not fun, but whatever. 
