A Perfect Day Composed of Movie Scenes

Oh man. I just had to change my tagline to "the ravings of a mildly obsessive 19-year-old cinephile." I know I'm the baby of my group of friends, but I feel kinda old.

Anyway, I have a pretty spectacular post for you guys today, though I can't take credit for the awesome idea behind it. One of imdb's daily links back in the summer was to a blog called Misfortune Cookie, which featured the blogger's perfect day, made up of movie scenes. I had started coming up with one of my own, but gave up after making it halfway through. Then I forgot about it. Until now! Keep in mind that what I ended up with was a vague interpretation of the concept; some of the scenes are not featured exactly as they appear in the movie. Also, I gave myself a job as a convenient story device. And now, I am proud to present my movie-inspired fantasy day, which is likely to scare you all with its length and detail...

My day would start off with me waking up from a wonderful dream a lot like the amazingly absurd half of Big Fish.  I would check my mailbox only to discover that someone had stuffed it with orange Tic-Tacs.  Armed with fresh breath and an outfit somewhat inspired by Audrey Hepburn's famous Breakfast at Tiffany's ensemble, I'd then take to the city streets.  Eventually I'd end up at my magazine job, where I'd swap fast talk with my editor, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Cary Grant from His Girl Friday.  It's soon time for lunch though, so I decide to steal Cameron's dad's car and zoom down the road to the Star Wars theme.  But oh no, some evil guys are after me!  Luckily, like Popeye Doyle in The French Connection, I know how to pull off an awesome car chase scene and lose them. However, I wreck the car in the process.  And who should pull up right then but Gregory Peck on a Vespa. Since I'm out of a mode of transportation and already dressed a little like Audrey Hepburn, I accept his offer for a ride and we tour the city.  We both have to get back to our journalistic jobs though, so he drops me off a few blocks from my office building.  

As I walk back to my job, I see Nicolas Cage trying to decode some historic monument, and I punch him in the face.

I'm really running late now, but notice Aldous Snow filming his music video for "We've Got to Do Something." How can I turn down the chance to hold up one of those hilarious contradictory messages of progress? I'm thinking mine says something like "Shun Ignorance" or "Don't Sell Your Soul; Lease It to the World." After avoiding Aldous's creepy advances, I rush back to work, but it's already closing time when I reach the building. It's a good thing Cary Grant likes me so much, or I'd be fired. Hold on, what's this? Is that a news team rumble I seem forming outside? Ron Burgundy and his friends mean business, but one look at my trident and they scatter (where I got a trident is not important).   

A beat-up yellow VW bus then pulls up, and I join the fantastically dysfunctional Hoover family.  After helping Dwayne deal with his teenage angst, motivating Olive and giving Frank a hug, I hop out in front of the courthouse, where I'm just in time to rule in favor of Ted Kramer for the custody battle (this is a fantasy - I can be a judge with absolutely no legal background if I want to). That last part may seem like an especially weird thing to include in my perfect day, and actually rewrites the entire scene, but anytime I get to make Dustin Hoffman happy is a good day for me.

The last significant thing I do during this ridiculous 24 hours is hit up a nearby concert, featuring a line-up of only the best movie bands ever.  The Blues Brothers, Sonic Death Monkey from High Fidelity, Billy Mack from Love Actually, Dr. Fünke's 100% Natural Good Time Family Band Solution (that may be TV, but how the hell can I not include it?) - they're all there.  After the outstanding show has ended, I head back to wherever it is I'm living and go to bed, exhausted from the day's action.

The Most Motivational Movie Mash-Up Ever

Winter break has finally arrived and so, just as I promised, I've returned to rant and rave about all things film. I have to admit, there were a few times when I thought I wouldn't make it back to you guys. Luckily though, I lived to blog another day and I couldn't be happier about it.

I know not all of you are finished with finals yet and could probably use a pep talk, so I thought it only appropriate to share with you on my first post back "40 Motivational Speeches In 2 Minutes," a fantastic mash-up courtesy of the equally fantastic Best Week Ever blog. And here's a challenge to distract you from all that studying: how many movies can you spot? I'm counting 35...though three of those are just really strong guesses, so actually 32. Okay, and for another three I can't specify which film in the trilogy so true guess is 29. But didn't 35 sound impressive?

Everybody Loves Gary and Other Random Hollywood Musings

In the increasingly divisive world of movies, I’ve discovered one universal truth: everyone loves Gary Oldman.  Seriously, even the people who don’t quite know who he is love him.  In my experience, the words “Gary Oldman” can’t be uttered in a sentence without “awesome,” “amazing” or “badass.”  No one hates him.  It isn’t like Shia LaBeouf where most people are just so happy for that goofy Even Stevens kid, or Philip Seymour Hoffman’s tiny but devoted cult of fans.  People young and old, male and female, with both excellent and questionable taste in movies adore this guy.  Were some freak with a passionate loathing for Mr. Oldman to actually emerge, I don’t see others being alarmed and offended as much as completely puzzled.  How can you hate someone so cool, talented, and sometimes even terrifying? 

Speaking of cool actors, I love Clive Owen.  The problem is I don’t always remember him.  By that I don’t mean I literally can’t place the name with the face, but rather I often forget about his existence.  See usually, I seek out a few movies by a certain actor after I’ve decided I like him or her.  But, except for Children of Men, every time I watched one of his movies, I thought “Hey, Clive Owen’s in this!” only after his face popped up on screen.  I really don’t understand this phenomenon; Clive’s so suave, tough and British (do you see why I was initially pissed that Daniel Craig and not Clive was the new Bond?).  If those traits aren’t memorable, what is?

Now for something topical.  The new Revolutionary Road trailer has to be the single most serious preview I’ve ever seen.  The music alone makes it unbelievably somber and foreboding, but this is one trailer where I can’t find a shred of silver lining in the clips.  The impression I’m getting is that, should you see this movie, expect to spend the rest of the day questioning your life’s happiness and alternatively sleeping and crying.  So can someone please tell me why I’m so excited for it?  Oh, right.  Leo and Kate and Sam Mendes.  In one movie.  Can I watch it now?  

Finally, why isn't Neil Patrick Harris in more movies? I've only seen Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and almost all of How I Met Your Mother, but already I can't get enough of him.  At least let him host the 2009 Emmys.  The show would be infinitely better than this year's nightmare.  'Cause you know, whenever Neil Patrick Harris feels like doing a soul-crushingly bad job at hosting, he is just awesome instead.  True story.

A Tale of Two Trailers

Wow.  That hiatus didn’t last long.

Now, before you all start your rowdy celebrations, keep in mind this isn’t going to be KMDB full throttle (and by that I in no way mean to associate myself with that weak Charlie’s Angels sequel).  I’ll still be writing shorter and infrequent posts, but consider me back in business.  I guess I just don’t know how to quit you guys.

That was terrible.  I apologize.

Anyway, my first order of business is to share a new(ish) trailer.  I was pretty shocked that I had managed to avoid news about this movie until now, but Rian Johnson, the writer and director of Brick, is coming out with a new film this December: The Brothers Bloom.  If you weren’t already excited for his follow-up (like me), his impressive cast may draw your attention.  The movie stars Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo as two con-men (and brothers) whose latest (and supposedly last) target is a kooky heiress, played by Rachel Weisz.  Rinko Kikuchi, of Babel fame, also stars as the brothers’ explosive expert Bang Bang.  The names alone had me psyched out of my mind, but it looks like a genuinely fun action adventure with a good bit of comedy mixed in.  And it releases just two days before my birthday, so to all of my Maryland friends: this is most likely what I’ll be dragging you to.

I was also fortunate enough to have attended a free advanced screening of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist a few days ago.  Most of you probably know about my love for Michael Cera, so I may be biased, but I thought it was ridiculously adorable, and very funny.  The main cast does a great job on its own (Cera even manages to be a little more confident than usual), but also look out for some excellent cameos by a few SNL players.  Just in case you’ve somehow missed the trailer, here it is again.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead waiting in my DVD player.  Peace out, bean sprout. 

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu

Hello again, my fellow movie fanatics. I write today with unfortunate news. Having just completed my first week back at college, it's pretty apparent that this blog is going to be slowing down for a good couple months. Don't worry, this isn't goodbye forever; there's always next summer, and winter break. Who knows? I may even manage a brief post or two in between reading a bunch of names I could never hope to pronounce in my Russian history book, and my hours locked up in the graphics lab.

Before I sign off though, I wanted to publicize Rain of Madness, the new Tropic Thunder mockumentary. Made by fictional filmmaker Jan Jürgen (played by one of the summer hit's co-writers, Justin Theroux), it gives us a hilarious behind-the-scenes look at the satirical movie-within-a-movie. There's a discussion of PPDD (Post Platoon Distress Disorder - even Robin Williams has suffered it), Brookyln's breakout ad for erectile dysfunction, some inspired script rewrites by Tugg Speedman and, best of all, more of Kirk Lazarus getting into character.

Not only does Rain of Madness offer 30 minutes of sheer brilliance, it's FREE. Seriously, what have you got to lose? (If, however, you need more convincing, check out the official website here. There's tons of clips and diary entries from Jan, as well as links to the fictional actors' official sites. Their latest movie trailers - including, yes, Satan's Alley - are promised soon.)

I hope the hilarity of Rain of Madness makes up for my absence (along with pseudo-rhymes). You guys have nothing to worry about though, because really, we're like Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally or West Side Story's Tony and Maria. Ultimately, nothing - bad timing, parents, gang violence, mutual hatred - can keep us apart.

Coming Soon to a Computer Near You

YouTube has given us so much in just a few years. Chocolate Rain. Potter Puppet Pals. Learn to Speak Body, Volume 5.

One of my most recently discovered YouTube treasures is recut movie trailers. Ever wonder what The Silence of the Lambs would be like as a romantic comedy (and honestly who hasn't?) or Toy Story as a horror movie? The great people on YouTube have already done it for you - edits, music, voiceover and all. Sure, some users go a little too crazy with the text/graphics, but it's not hard to find some absolute masterpieces.

A few of these reimagined films just need to be shared with the world, so I've gathered 5 of YouTube's best recuts for your viewing pleasure. I pre-apologize if I instill an irrational fear of any childhood icons, or a newfound fondness for certain cinematic psychopaths.

1. Mary Poppins

This was one of the first recuts I watched, and is still one of the best I've seen. (I have to give credit to my friend and Scene It? rival Adam for showing me it.) Making Mary Poppins, or just Julie Andrews, scary is not easy. Yet I'm terrified of that ever-cheerful woman each time I watch this. Really makes you wonder what else she was hiding in that bottomless bag of hers...

2. The Shining

Credit must also go to Adam for finding this fake trailer. In it, we see Stanley Kubrick's sadly unrealized potential in romantic comedies. Whoever made this has a gift, because he or she managed to turn some of the movie's creepiest scenes into cute, harmless family moments. (Be sure to watch who Jack Nicholson is kissing.) The song selection of "Solsbury Hill" by Peter Gabriel is also excellent, even if that man's continued presence in romantic comedies has always puzzled me. I mean, it's only his music cropping up in John Cusack movies, but he's pretty strange. (Exhibit A)

Sorry for the random tangent. Here you go.

3. Sleepless in Seattle

A lonely single woman tries desperately to contact a widower after merely hearing his son speak on a radio show. Sounds like the perfect set-up to a stalker thriller, right? That's what the maker(s) of this video thought, even if most people saw it as one of the greatest romances of all time. Here, Meg Ryan, the essential romantic comedy heroine, has eerily morphed into Glenn Close, circa Fatal Attraction. Tom Hanks already had reason to be scared (I know I'd be a little wary of her often irritating "charm"), but in this context, he oughta be running for his life to the nearest Zoltar machine, deserted island or Polar Express train.

4. Taxi Driver
Like The Shining's Jack Torrance, Travis Bickle is not the most well-adjusted guy. While that might be the understatement of the century, it's worth noting because, through the wonders of this recut's editing, he appears to be the Prince Charming of Manhattan. I mean, just look at that freeze frame! Also like my previous pick, this trailer features hysterical music choices and more cheerful readings of some of the film's darkest moments. Now if only they could've revamped Jodie Foster as the couple's wild, yet endearing, foster child...

5. The Big Lebowski

The Big Lebowski doesn't have much of a middle ground: most people love its quirky humor or hate its downright bizarre story. But we can probably all agree that it's a little out there. It's all the more impressive, then, that someone made it into a surprisingly convincing tearjerker trailer (and with a brief appearance by John Turturro's Jesus Quintana, nonetheless). I will warn anyone who has yet to see the movie that there's a bit of a spoiler, but for those that have seen it (or could care less about the story), enjoy:

If you're craving more, be sure to check out these fantastic recuts that just barely missed the list: The Usual Suspects, Dumb and Dumber, Office Space, Rain Man and The Matrix. Oh and don't forget the Toy Story and Silence of the Lambs trailers I mentioned in the intro.

And the Oscar Goes to...Really?

February 2009 is a long way away, but you wouldn’t know it from the crazy Oscar buzz already in full swing. Well, at least the Oscar buzz surrounding Christopher Nolan’s smash success The Dark Knight. The star of this media frenzy is of course Heath Ledger, aka the darkest, most demented Joker this side of Gotham City. Could he be the second actor in history to win a posthumous Academy Award? While his performance is certainly stunning, and slightly reminiscent of the only actor in history to achieve this honor (okay, Peter Finch’s character in Network isn’t exactly a psychotic, clown-faced criminal but the underlying more-sane-than-he-seems theme is apparent in both) it’s still pretty early to say. Any potential Best Picture, Director, Screenplay or general special effects nominations/wins are even tougher to call.

That definitely hasn’t stopped people from talking about it, though. Amidst this ceaseless conversation, many have raised once again the call for more “popular” movies to be included in the Academy Awards. However, what most people don’t seem to realize is that not only is popularity a huge factor in winning an Oscar, it usually doesn’t yield the best results.

To prove my point, let’s examine some past Best Picture winners. Last year, the seemingly anti-Hollywood Coen brothers triumphed with their dark thriller No Country for Old Men. The ironic thing is just how Hollywood this choice was. Many people, myself included, believed the smaller Paul Thomas Anderson drama There Will Be Blood deserved the title. But who really saw that? Not a lot of people, at least by Hollywood standards. While TWBB's $40.2 million domestic gross was probably more than was expected, it looks pretty shameful next to No Country's $74.3 million. And despite its glowing reviews (some even compared it to Citizen Kane and Giant), many were put off by the movie. Too weird, too confusing or too radical for the 2008 BP. As for the other nominees, Juno was too quirky to win (the Academy still needs to maintain its austere respectability), Atonement, despite being a critic darling, also underperformed at the box office (only $50.9 million) and Michael Clayton was seen by even less people (roughly $49 million). No County thus pleased the general public and critics, making it the safest choice for the Academy.

(For the record, I’m not saying No Country is without merit. Javier Bardem absolutely earned his Best Supporting Actor win, and the suspense was executed marvelously. But I gotta say it: that ending was awful. For a lesson on adapting a tricky book finale well, see Atonement.)

The year before that had almost the exact same set-up, with the Coen brothers’ older counterpart Martin Scorsese taking home the gold for The Departed, his most commercially successful movie ever. Now, I truly believe this win was justified, but why would the Academy finally wake up and give Marty an Oscar after snubbing him in favor of, among several others, Kevin freakin’ Costner? The answer’s simple: he finally made a bonafide crowd pleaser.

I’m sure the pattern’s already becoming apparent, so I’ll save my rant on how Crash isn’t half the movie Capote or Good Night, and Good Luck is. But I’ll bet a lot of you are thinking “Kristin, those movies that won were still pretty good. What’s the real harm?” Well, allow me to jump back a little over a decade. The year was 1997 and the movie was Titanic, the now current (albeit perhaps not for long) record holder for domestic gross. This epic love story walked away with a whopping 11 Academy Awards, a fact that countless people lament today. While I do think Titanic gets a tad bit more grief than it deserves, it’s impossible to argue that it was an 11 Oscars movie in retrospect. Yet Oscar critics constantly point to this embarrassment as the award show done right. Sure, it pulled in a much bigger audience than the Academy currently boasts, but at what cost?

Don’t go thinking Titanic was the only case of a popular yet less-than-Oscar-worthy movie to clean up at the Academy Awards, either. For more evidence, see Rocky (1976 BP winner; losing nominees include Taxi Driver and Network), Forrest Gump (1994 BP winner; losing nominees include Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption), Chicago (2002 BP winner; losing nominees include Gangs of New York and The Pianist), and Ghost (1990 Best Supporting Actress win for Whoopi Goldberg; losing nominees include Lorraine Bracco in Goodfellas), among many others. Oh and I discovered this gem in my research: Julia Roberts was nominated for an Academy Award for her groundbreaking work in Pretty Woman.

The Pulitzer people would never give James Patterson any serious consideration, despite his being one of the most wildly successful authors alive. So why do we constantly complain that the Academy is condescending and out-of-touch? The Oscars are already all about politics and popularity. If we push them any further, we may one day find ourselves yearning for the years when a sinking ship or an anorexic Renee Zellweger reigned supreme at the Academy Awards.

Audrey and Kate Plus...Cate

I have to say, it's good to be home and blogging once again. I could regale you with stories of France's insane The Dark Knight advertising (there was even a Dippin' Dots flavor) but I'll get right to the point: I have a long overdue promise to fulfill in the form of a favorite actresses post, and I'm here to make good on my word. The list is regrettably a bit shorter than my actors' post and for that I have to place some blame on the scarcity of interesting parts for women. (I'm not just being an indignant feminist: start thinking of some of the most memorable movie characters. Maybe 25% are women, am I right?) Those countless hack models posing as actresses haven't helped either (Jessica Alba, I'm looking in your direction). However, we can all take comfort in knowing that the movie world has/had these three wonderful women to help even out the imbalances.

1. Cate Blanchett
Sometimes I have to remind myself that Cate Blanchett is a mere human like the rest of us. She certainly seems like Wonder Woman when you consider her career. Conflicted teacher conducting an affair with a student? Check. Pregnant journalist amidst the sea's quirkiest crew? Check. One of the most legendary, revered actresses to ever live? Check. Bob Dylan? Check. I could go on forever, but the point is that, like a superhero, Cate makes impossible feats seem effortless and nothing's been able to stop her yet.

Perhaps the only thing as impressive as Cate's daunting talent is her amazing career savvy. While I can't say I've seen everything she's ever done, she's never been known to make a truly terrible movie. Heck, she even managed to get an Oscar nomination out of the supposedly weak Elizabeth: The Golden Age. On top of all of that, she's probably one of the most fearless actresses working today. A lot of women in the entertainment industry would shy away from taboo issues like inappropriate teacher-student relationships or think twice before seriously playing a man, but Cate thrives off these opportunities, giving us some of the most fascinating characters movies can offer.

I really wanted to avoid posting the following clip, since I've already featured The Aviator in my favorite actors post, but once you watch it I think you'll see why it was so inscapable, and why Cate earned so much well-deserved praise.

2. Audrey Hepburn
This choice should come as absolutely no shock to anyone who's actually met me. After all, my well-worn Breakfast at Tiffany's purse is basically my security blanket, and the very detailed Audrey Hepburn Halloween costume I wore in '06 famously (and by famously I mean my one friend and I still talk about it) left my high school Film Studies teacher speechless. It's gotten to the point where I've been accused of deliberately inviting comparisons. Well you know what, I'll take any I can get because Audrey Hepburn isn't just one of my favorite actresses, she's also kind of my idol.

I suppose I love Audrey for all the same reasons most people do: her astounding class, charm and vivaciousness. She brought such an incredible energy to all her films, and her screen presence is undeniable. It may not be very original for me to say, and it may make me sound about 30 years older, but there simply aren't any actresses like her today.

Now, I love Breakfast at Tiffany's as much as the next person (well, as much as the next teenage girl is probably more accurate) but I'm going to plug her Oscar-winning role in Roman Holiday. Gregory Peck is hands down her best onscreen match, and their chemistry is already apparent in this famous scene. (My buddy Nicolas Cage decided to rip off this iconic, impromtu bit in National Treasure 2. A part of me wished his hand really would get bitten off every time I saw that trailer.)

Oh and sorry for the subtitles.

3. Kate Winslet
If you'll recall from one of my previous ancedotes, Titanic nearly ruined Leonardo DiCaprio for me. Somehow, this was never the case with Kate Winslet. In fact, I remember secretly wishing I were as glamorous as Rose back in the fifth grade, when an especially colorful barrette was considered high fashion. (Catholic school nuns aren't the religious - no pun intended - Cosmpolitan readers you'd suspect them to be.) I even took the time to learn the name of the young actress headlining that monster of a movie, something I usually never cared enough to do back then. So while it took a couple years before I truly became a fan of hers, Kate and I have always been on good terms.

I remember reading a review of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind when it was first released that basically sums up why she's so great. I'm paraphrasing, but the reviewer said that her character, the ever-eccentric Clementine, felt like someone you could run into on the street on any given day. That's the wonderful unifying element to all of Kate's diverse performances: no matter the quirks or craziness (and I think anyone who's seen the aforementioned movie can agree that Clementine's pretty out-there), her characters are so remarkably authentic that you feel like you already know them.

I could post a clip from Eternal Sunshine, Sense and Sensibility, Little Children or one of her other fantastic roles, but I recently got into Ricky Gervais's brilliant celebrity satire Extras and, well, after watching this it's basically impossible not to love her. (Brief scene set-up: Kate attempted to give Maggie some tips on talking dirty over the phone with her new boyfriend, and has come to see how it went.)

Ode to Nicolas Cage

Before I start things off here, I'd like to make an amendment to my latest post.  Having just watched Primal Fear (an utterly amazing movie), Edward Norton definitely needs to be included in my list of favorite actors.  I don't really know what to say about him, other than he's brilliant.  Oh and that it's an absolute crime that he lost the Oscar for Primal Fear to Cuba Gooding, Jr. in Jerry Maguire.  Really Academy, that's what you went with?

Now, I know I promised a companion list in this past post, and I have every intention of keeping my word.  Just not right now.

Since I'm going on vacation tomorrow (you guys will sadly have to make due without me until the 26th) and have limited time as it is, I thought I'd post something I actually wrote a few days before my first day of college.

Don't ask me why, because I have absolutely no idea as to the logic behind it, but I had a strange craving to write poetry at the time.  Since I'm incapable of writing any particularly profound or serious poems, I figured I'd stick to what I know: movies, or, more specifically, my hatred of Nicolas Cage.

At the encouragement of a few friends (one of our bonds is a mutual loathing of this so-called actor), I give you my aptly named Ode to Nicolas Cage:

Dear Mr. Cage or, if I may, Nic,

You have an uncanny knack of making me sick.

"Wooden" best describes your horrendous acting.

Would a little emotion be that exacting?

Not many claim a more dismal resume than you.

Ghost Rider and Con-Air, to name just a few.

I really wonder sometimes how you get work.

Have all the studio heads gone completely berserk?

The conflicts in Darfur, Israel and Baghdad

Are all tragedies - just horribly sad.

Yet nothing sends me into a greater rage

Than the phrase "Oscar winner Nicolas Cage."

(I also have to mention that the photo I used was originally attached to the headline "Nicolas Cage's Success Proves There Is No God."  It's comforting to know I'm not alone.) 

To McAvoy, DiCaprio and Hoffman(x2), with Love

Just about everyone has a short list of actors they simply adore. Regardless of the movie's quality, they will make you pay the $10 theater ticket on opening weekend. You'll defend even their weakest performances to the death ("The script was just a mess," "He/she was sick throughout filming, you know," "Shut up, you're jealous!") and often smile at the mere mention of their names. You're probably also seen stalking their mansions every Tuesday around midnight.  

Oh, is that just me? Damn.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make here is that we're all absolute fanatics when it comes to some select stars. Since I'm obviously no exception, I decided to make my following post a virtual love letter to certain celebrities. I'll be suggesting a movie of theirs to check out as well, with YouTube snippets for support. Hopefully, I'll have some converts...  

1.  Dustin Hoffman

I thought it only appropriate to begin with my all-time favorite actor. The way I see it, not only is Dustin Hoffman probably the most versatile actor in Hollywood history, he's also one of the most endearing, insightful and just plain respectable celebrities out there. Consider his 1980 Oscar speech in which he delivered the sincerest commendations to the losing nominees the Academy has ever heard, or an interview concerning Tootsie in which he tearfully lamented the fact that he had never given girls like Tootsie the time of day. Any other actor saying these things would sound nauseatingly cheesy, yet somehow it's not the least bit coming from Dustin.

Really though, the best thing about him is his boundless acting ability. Which is why it's so tough to pick just one performance to recommend. If I must though, it would have to be his iconic role in The Graduate. While I have yet to see Midnight Cowboy, Ben Braddock is just so hilariously awkward and hopelessly unsure of his life's direction in a way we can all relate to, making him truly memorable (though calling a Hoffman character "memorable" seems like a bit of an oxymoron). Enjoy the movie's most quoted scene here:

2.  James McAvoy

If there's anyone on this list who I'm also kind of in love with, it's James McAvoy. Honestly, is there anyone more charming than this guy? Pathetic crush aside, I think he is one of the few actors out there who makes any movie he's in infinitely better. Think about it: we probably wouldn't have cared half as much about Atonement's Robbie Turner if someone else had played him, and Lord knows he's the only reason I made it through Penelope. So what exactly is it that makes him fascinating onscreen? There are plenty of answers to that question, but what it all comes down to, if you ask me, are the facts that he's so wonderfully subtle, and you just know he's putting all he has into his roles, no matter their weight. 

I feel like it's my patriotic duty as a movie lover to urge everyone to see him in The Last King of Scotland. It's insane how underrated his performance is, as much as Forest Whitaker's terrifyingly good acting merits discussion. Unfortunately, YouTube seems to have forgotten his fantastic role in it as well, so hopefully this trailer will be convincing enough.

3. Philip Seymour Hoffman

There must be something about the name Hoffman, because it's attached to two absolutely phenomenal actors. This precise connection is actually the sole reason I was introduced to PSH. Back in 2005, I was reading early Oscar buzz and came across predictions of "Hoffman" winning Best Actor. I obviously flipped out and scrambled to find the latest Dustin Hoffman project only to discover my, in the end, marvelous mistake. After getting over my initial disappointment, I found myself somewhat intrigued by the premise of Capote. Once I finally got around to seeing it, well past the Oscar season's end, I could not have been more grateful to that rather unclear entertainment reporter.  

PSH, like Dustin, is just such an actor. Sure, he can knock it out of the park with a carefully crafted dramatic character (i.e. Capote, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead) but he can also play comedic characters exceptionally well (i.e. Charlie Wilson's War, Along Came Polly - yes, he was in it and no, nothing about that movie other than him is worthwhile).  

I know I've already sung my praises for The Savages, but I think it might be my favorite performance of his. As Jon Savage, a middle-aged drama professor whose long-term relationship is crumbling and estranged father is dying, he creates one of those great flawed yet deeply sympathetic figures. Watch what I believe is his best scene here:

4. Leonardo DiCaprio

As much as I love Leo now, there was a dark and distant time in my past when I despised him. I guess the fact that I really only saw 20 minutes of Titanic when it first came out, thanks to my hyper-concerned mom, and that every irritating girl in my grade was so enamored with him really worked against the poor guy. Then, on one fateful day in the fall of '07, I saw The Departed and was completely blown away. After watching a few more of his movies, I came to the realization that, not only is he one of the strongest actors of his generation, but, contrary to popular belief, his talent didn't just emerge in the past few years; he's had it all along. (To all you nay-sayers: I dare you to watch What's Eating Gilbert Grape and not be baffled by the fact that Tommy Lee Jones won the Oscar that year instead of Leo.)

My pick, since most people have seen The Departed by now, goes to another Scorsese project,The Aviator. (Get excited, all you Scorsese-DiCaprio fans: their next project, Shutter Island, will premiere in October of 2009.) Leo brings his trademark intensity to the complex (to say the least) role with fantastic results, and, in an even more impressive feat, is not completely outshone by the fast-talking, remarkable Cate Blanchett.

I'm also giving honorable mentions to Jack Lemmon and Robert Downey, Jr. I'd love to give them a real spot, but I need to see more of their movies first. Since I mentioned him though, I have to briefly express my absolute joy at the news that Downey will play Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie's upcoming project. It almost takes away the sting of that Will Ferrell atrocity. Almost. 

(Look out next week for my companion list of favorite leading ladies.)

Best Week Ever? Well, Parts of It...

Normally, I wouldn't write extensively about three unrelated, basic entertainment news blurbs from a random week.  Half the time it's stuff that everyone else already knows and it can get really boring, really quickly.  Heck, I'm boring myself writing this.  But the movie news from the past few days produced so many extreme mood swings in me that I felt it necessary to discuss the latest at least for my own peace of mind, if not also for the benefit of my (5) readers.  So strap yourselves in guys, because you're in for one crazy emotional roller coaster of a current events analysis (and yes, I just used the term "emotional roller coaster").

I'll start with the news that just plain brightened my day.  It looks like the Arrested Development movie, after months of hearsay, is finally official.  Jeffrey Tambor essentially confirmed it on Saturday at the Hellboy 2 premiere, following an earlier MTV interview with Jason Bateman in which the former Michael Bluth said that the only thing holding back production was money.  I know a lot of AD fanatics are skeptical about adapting the series into a film, but Bateman stressed in his interview that Mitchell Hurwitz's script was made quite specifically for a movie, not consecutive TV episodes.  And dammit, I just can't help rejoicing that the Bluths will be together again.  Now as for those stingy producers, to quote Gob: COME ON!

One of imdb's daily links was my next source of happiness.  I'm speaking, of course, of the premiere of the Quantum of Solace trailer.  In true Bond fashion, it was highly cryptic, and highly exciting.  So many things ran through my head as I was watching it (Jeez, is Bond going full-out rogue?  And what's he doing in an arid valley with a big-ass gun?  Oh look, his poker buddy's back!) yet I couldn't even begin to guess what will actually take place.  Kudos to those trailer makers, because I'm officially pumped.  (For any unfortunate souls out there who missed it, here you go.)

Now onto the news that almost completely nullified my excitement over the last two reports (brace yourselves, here comes the full-on rant): Judd Apatow, in his infinite wisdom, is producing a movie that will star Sacha Baron Cohen (better known as Borat) and Will Ferrell as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, respectively.  All I can say to that is WHAT THE HELL?!  Honestly, were the casting people trying to piss off Sherlock Holmes fans?  Because if so, congratulations, I don't think there are any two actors (and I'm using the term loosely here) that could be worse for the parts.  I was already terrified that Guy Ritchie was going to cast Jason Statham as Holmes in his own project, but at this point I'll welcome that criminally-inclined pretty boy with open arms over Talladega Nights 2.

Granted, Cohen could at least look a little like Holmes, but this beloved character is known for his wit and subtle genius.  I don't think even the most extreme Cohen fan could argue that the man is subtle.  And Will Ferrell??  That choice is even more infuriating.  He hasn't had a decent movie (or a different character) since Stranger Than Fiction and, hate to say it, but from the looks of Step Brothers, it doesn't look like he'll be making a glorious comeback anytime soon.  True, he was surprisingly calm in Fiction, but having another outrageous comedian competing alongside him for audience attention is only going to make him more irritating and obnoxious.

Poor, poor Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  Thank goodness he isn't alive to see this.  Unfortunately, I am, so excuse me while I go cry.

Reality Bites

Just about any sane person with the slightest grasp of current events will tell you the world is going to hell.  Consider the facts: the U.S. economy is tanking, Tibet isn't free, the violence in Darfur continues and High School Musical 3 will arrive in mere months.  Pretty bleak, wouldn't you say?  But don't despair, for I have arrived at the long elusive solution to this huge mess.  It's pretty simple, really: we just need to start living in movies.

Lest you doubt the validity of my completely plausible plan, I've compiled a list of 10 reasons why the world would be a much better and brighter place if it were, in fact, a film...

1.  Gang violence would be all but eliminated thanks to the new method of "dancing it out" (complete with lots of snapping).

2.  Children could safely accept invitations to chocolate factories from grown men in purple coats and top hats.

3.  Debt?  No problem.  As long as you are a ridiculously nice person (or bear a striking resemblance to Jimmy Stewart), friends, neighbors and people you don't even know will spontaneously give you more than enough money to pay it off, on Christmas Eve.  And they'll sing!

4.  Evil would routinely get its ass kicked by Clint Eastwood, Steven Seagal, Sylvester Stallone or some other old tough guy.  

• Corollary: College professors and archaeologists would gain some much needed street cred.  (Indiana Jones can and will throw your sorry ass into spinning airplane blades if you cross him.)

5.  Pigs and other animals would be able to talk and teach us valuable life lessons.

6.  All hot guys would be really sensitive, while all hot girls would be completely unaware of their good looks (and secretly very smart).

7.  Being late for anything would be impossible with our acquired bat capes, jet-propelled iron suits and web-slinging technology.

8.  Need advice?  Morgan Freeman can be found at your local jail or holding down a thankless job.  He knows everything.

9.  Certain life moments would be made all the more epic, scary or dramatic when scored by John Williams.

10.  Past mistakes could finally be rectified by non-linear story structures.  Just make sure you're in a Quentin Tarantino movie (in which case, you're going to have a whole lot of shit to straighten out anyway).

Hollywood's Best Kept Secret

I know that I often say things on this blog that are pretty debatable, so I thought I'd start off this post with something we can all agree on: Robert Downey, Jr. is the freakin' man.

Seriously, anyone who's seen Iron Man or Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (just watch it; you'll thank me later) knows this guy is one of the funniest, most charismatic actors out there, yet he still more than lives up to his job description. So just when I thought he couldn't be any more talented, he goes and proves me wrong. Thanks to some aimless youtube searching a few days ago, I came across a video of him recording a song. Apparently, he released an album called The Futurist in 2004! And let me tell you, he can sing.

It's absolutely criminal that more people don't know about his vocal skills, so I'm sharing the video here. Give it a listen, and don't be too startled by the man with multi-colored facial hair; there's an introduction with the producers and collaborators.



What did I tell you? At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Downey were also a champion unicyclist.

Editor's Note: Apparently this video is gone. You can listen to the song here, or enjoy the great Bruce Springsteen cover he performed on Ally McBeal:

Book-to-Movie Casting Choices: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Adapting a film from a beloved book is tricky business. Filmmakers must meet impossibly high standards to satisfy fans: the story needs to do the novel justice without employing a ridiculous running time, the set and costumes need to be just as creative as the author's and audience's imaginations, the music must perfectly compliment the overall mood - the list is endless. Perhaps more important than anything else, though, is matching the characters with famous faces in the paramount (no pun intended) casting process. With that in mind, I thought I'd examine the casting choices on a few upcoming such movies (only from books I've read, to be fair) and weed out the smart calls from the doomed decisions.

The Good
I have to admit, I was pretty skeptical when I heard that Peter Jackson was directing the big-screen adaptation of Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones. For the benefit of those unfamiliar with the book, the story is about a 14-year-old girl who watches her family unravel following her rape and murder. (I should probably mention that she's in the afterlife.) While the latter provides plenty of opportunities for Jackson's fantasy proclivities, the story is, at its heart, a quiet family drama miles away from the Lord of the Rings franchise. One look at the attached actors, however, dissolved my doubts. First and foremost, Saoirse Ronan (that brilliant - but in context, bitchy - little girl from Atonement) is set to play the tragic protagonist Susie Salmon. This choice makes me so happy, I don't even know what else to say, so I'll move right along.

Susie's parents, the broken-hearted yet vengeful Jack and ultimately adulterous Abigail, will be embodied by Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz. Weisz has proven herself a remarkable actress and thus gained the trust of many, but there's a lot of skepticism about Wahlberg and, really, it's somewhat justified. He is, after all, best known for playing macho badasses so his leap to a grieving father understandably has some fans worried. However, despite the type casting, Wahlberg is a pretty decent actor (he didn't get that Oscar nod for nothing, you know) who has been known to successfully step out of his comfort zone (in addition to Shooter and Four Brothers, films like I Heart Huckabees, The Basketball Diaries and Boogie Nights appear on his resume). This might be the Departed fanatic in me talking, but I say we give 'ol Marky Mark a chance.

Rounding out the Lovely Bones cast is Stanley Tucci, as the despicable child predator. He may be best known as Meryl Streep's sarcastic fashion assistant, but this guy has so much creep potential, it's not even funny.

My other pick for excellent casting isn't officially confirmed, but it's so perfect that I had to comment. After finally nailing down a director (no, it's not Jackson but rather Guillermo del Toro, of Pan's Labyrinth fame), The Hobbit has begun searching for its Bilbo Baggins, and early word says it might be none other than James McAvoy! If McAvoy's undeniable talent weren't enough to persuade you, consider this case-making evidence:

The Bad
The cast of The Secret Life of Bees has been causing quite a stir among fans of the Sue Monk Kidd novel. Alicia Keys as a somewhat frigid 60-something? Paul Bettany as an abusive southern father? Not your first guesses, I'm sure. But while choices like these can mostly be rectified by slight alterations (obviously, Keys's age will be downscaled while Bettany...is going to have to rely on his acting, it seems), the film has made a fatal flaw in the casting of its lead. Our 14-year-old heroine Lily Owens, who flees Bettany's character to find comfort (and background on her long-dead mother) with three black sisters in '60s South Carolina will be portrayed by...Dakota Fanning? Aside from the fact that physically, she looks nothing like Lily, there are two key issues with this decision. Although Fanning fits the age, for some reason she still looks like she's 12 years old. Given the fact that she's supposed to have a 16-year-old love interest, it's a bit problematic. Worse still, Fanning's unshakable reputation as the cute, precocious blond girl will be difficult to get past. Granted, I didn't see the super-controversial Hounddog, so maybe I'm being unfair, but a role like Lily Owens seems way out of her league and unlike Wahlberg, she hasn't really showcased a range as of yet. Who knows, she might prove me wrong, but I can't help feeling that they could've found a better choice, very easily.

The Ugly
Tom Hanks in Angels and Demons. Not the hair again, please, anything but the hair!

A Eulogy for the MTV Movie Awards

It's pretty hard to describe the atrocity that was the 2008 MTV Movie Awards.  So much of it was awkward, unfunny, and/or in poor taste that it's really difficult to conclusively pinpoint what went wrong. 

I'll give it a try.

Before I get into this analysis, let me provide a bit of a disclaimer: I fully acknowledge that this award show is not something to be taken seriously.  The best movies and actors from that year never win; someone like Daniel Day-Lewis doesn't stand a chance in hell against Johnny Depp and Shia LaBeouf.  Honestly, these latter teen favorites could star in a two-minute movie of themselves singing "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" and still triumph.  Yet there was a time when you could at least have fun watching them pass out the golden popcorn.  Sadly, it seems even the entertainment aspect of the show has finally gasped its last breath.

The first indication of this tragic truth came in the choice of Mike Myers as the host.  If there was any doubt that he has completely lost his comedic touch, that was laid to rest during his excruciating hosting gig.  When not shamelessly promoting The Love Guru, he managed to make nearly every introduction uncomfortably unfunny and sucked any bit of hilarity out of his pre-filmed shorts (which were not, in one more sign of grave error, the trademark movie parodies that used to provide most of the show's comedy but spotlights on behind-the-scenes players of Myers' own design).  Even the surprise return of his beloved Wayne's World skit (Dana Carvey was resurrected for the bit) wasn't what it should have been.  Myers inexplicably rushed through the sketch, clumsily throwing in recycled material along the way.  If the man can't even play Wayne Campbell, the character that got him started, anymore, clearly his time is over.

The show's next terrible mistake was an appallingly poorly executed introduction to the Best Summer Movie So Far award.  James Franco and Seth Rogen were the presenters and, to promote their stoner caper Pineapple Express, proceeded to pull out a bag of fake weed, which they then "smoked."  Normally, this would have been at least somewhat amusing, but to appease the FCC the cameras pulled back into the farthest audience ranks, prompting many (myself included) to wonder why they even planned this bit.  However, it became downright distasteful when the camera went to Robert Downey, Jr. for a reaction shot.  The poor guy registered profound confusion at this spotlight and, worse still, had to go accept the award with Jon Favreau for Iron Man shortly thereafter.  Was it really necessary to take a potshot at such a genuinely talented actor who has finally overcome his struggle with substance abuse?  C'mon, MTV, you've got to have a little more class than that.  

Downey was, however, one of the show's few bright spots.  When not gracefully handling that disgusting druggie joke, he managed to be absolutely hilarious in a "viral video" with his Tropic Thunder co-stars Ben Stiller and Jack Black.  Here, MTV finally exhibited some exceptional parodying of the trio that was, though gutsy, not offensive.  You can check it out for yourself here:

Jack Black, Ben Stiller & Robert Downey, Jr. at 2008 MTV Movie Awards from Robert Downey Jr

Other moments of note, due to sheer awfulness: Best Kiss goes to Step Up 2 the Streets and Best Fight goes to Never Back Down.  I was unaware that anyone had even seen these movies.  I guess you should never underestimate the power of one devoted fan, when given unlimited voting.  Maybe that's why Superbad left with absolutely nothing.  I mean, seriously?  Its leads lose Best Male Performance to Will Smith in I Am Legend??  It loses Best Movie to Transformers???  The latter just proves what I have long suspected: Michael Bay is the Antichrist.

All snide remarks aside, it's sad to see an awards show that was once genuinely entertaining (a true rarity) slip into such decline.  I may not be speaking for everyone here, but I used to look forward to the MTV Movie Awards, back when the show's best parody actually used to be a source of debate.  Now, however, we have a show that is neither funny nor credible, but rather a horrible trainwreck that has become meaningless to the fans it supposedly represents. 

Navigating the Future Careers of the Stars of "Lost"

Lost is a subject that's been on my mind a lot recently.  I mean, how could it not be when the finale had the island literally moving, a rather important character in a coffin, and Christian Shepherd making more cryptic visits (seriously, for being dead since the show's beginning, this guy is getting an awful lot of screen time).  I had started wondering about the direction the show would take in its last two seasons, and then an entirely different thought struck me: which of our favorite cast members are actually going to achieve post-Lost stardom and which are going to disappear abruptly like those worthless diversions Nikki and Paulo?

Okay, okay.  I know that I set out to make a blog about movies, and probably look like a bit of a hypocrite sitting here writing about Lost (because it's obviously not discussed enough).  But what I'm interested in is the movie star potential of its cast and really, how can you talk movies without talking actors?

So let's begin the discussion with the cast member who has the least Hollywood potential: Matthew Fox.  It doesn't make sense at first glance, I know.  Despite the praise for Lost's strong ensemble, the guy is basically its star and looks-wise, he's the perfect leading man.  His recent attempts at the silver screen, however, would suggest otherwise.  While co-starring with Matthew McConaughey in the 2006 sports movie We Are Marshall seemed like a small, but safe, step in the right direction, he followed it with two of 2008's biggest bombs: Vantage Point (did I mention his horrendous Spanish accent?) and Speed Racer.  With those crushing disappointments and no other films lined up at present time, it would seem that Knocked Up was right; there really isn't anything interesting (or bankable) about Matthew Fox.

However, there is something very bankable about Jack's half-sister Claire, known in the real world as Emilie de Ravin.  She is probably the Lost cast member that I see having the best shot at celebrity, largely because she knows how to balance commercially and critically successful projects.  She made her film debut in the terrific 2005 indie film noir Brick (also starring the wonderful Joseph Gordon-Levitt) but then took a role in the 2006 horror flick The Hills Have Eyes, which pulled in a respectable $41.7 million.  Since then she's slowed down, but in 2009 she'll appear with critic (and audience) darlings Johnny Depp and Christian Bale in the Michael Mann crime drama Public Enemies.  So yeah, I think she'll be just fine.

Fittingly, Ms. de Ravin's ill-fated onscreen romantic interest Dominic Monaghan also shows great promise.  The fact that Monaghan already had a bit of a name from that little Lord of the Rings trilogy prior to Lost might have something to do with it, but regardless I think Charlie fans can expect some significant movie roles from him in the future.  His success, admittedly, is a little less certain than de Ravin's since he hasn't appeared in a wide-release (or especially well-noted) movie since LOTR, but he does currently have three films in the works, one of which is X-Men Origins: Wolverine.  So while I may be partial to him since Charlie was always my favorite and he may need a little more time before he makes the A- or more likely B-list, I can't help thinking we'll be seeing much more of our dearly departed Dominic.

Now there are some Losties that I see having long careers, but as slightly obscure actors, not stars.  Naveen Andrews (aka resident torture specialist Sayid) is probably the best example.  Like Monaghan, he already had a decent resume (including a part in the nine-time Oscar winner The English Patient) before joining ABC's smash series and, like de Ravin, he continued to take some career-savvy projects in his spare time.  First came the 2004 Bollywood-style Jane Austen adaptation Bride and Prejudice, followed by the critically acclaimed 2007 B-movie homage Grindhouse (specifically the Robert Rodriguez half, Planet Terror) and Jodie Foster film The Brave One (also 2007).  Presently, he just wrapped a horror movie called Animals and, considering his Oceanic Six status, probably has at least another season of Lost.  Although, knowing the show, Andrews might be churning out some post-Lost projects sooner than we think.

As for the rest of the cast, I feel that they have yet to prove the viability of their careers one way or another.  I mean, Evangeline Lilly (Kate) could definitely be big, or screw her chances with a few bad choices, like Matthew Fox.  Daniel Dae Kim (Jin) could easily fade into obscurity, but he did have that spot on the mini-series The Andromeda Strain recently.  Who knows?  One thing, however, is certain: these actors, like their crazy show, just love to keep us guessing. 

The Quintessential College Movies That Aren't Really about College

There are some things you just can't avoid in college.  While beer pong and The Dave Matthews Band are probably the most inescapable, I've realized that there are even certain movies you're bound to end up watching at some point during those four years.  Since my penchant for lists must be clear by now, follow me as I discuss the most unavoidable (for better or worse) college movies.

1.  Fight Club (1999)

Despite the fact that Fight Club's most ardent fans are probably those in their mid- to late-teens, it is actually possible to avoid seeing this in high school.  In fact, after my first time watching it (in the midst of my senior year), I had a pretty hard time finding someone to discuss it with.  But once your failure to see it becomes known on a college campus, you might go one more hour without this apparent sin being rectified.  So why is it so popular?  The fact that it is arguably Brad Pitt's best role (and that he's shirtless and buff for a good deal of it) has a lot to do with it.  Ed Norton also has a pretty big collegiate following.  But it's probably that huge WTF? ending that makes watching it, often more than once, such a necessity.  

2.  Garden State (2004)

Who would've thought that Scrubs's most cheerful manboy, Dr. John Dorian, had so many inner demons?  Certainly not most of Zach Braff's pre-established fans.  The sheer surprise at his oh-so-artsy tribute to New Jersey might explain some of the interest it it, but really we all know that the soundtrack is what made this movie so popular.  It almost single-handedly launched the career of The Shins and made "Such Great Heights" a new favorite song of teens and countless commercials alike.

3.  Almost Famous (2000)

I was most surprised to discover that this was such a college must-see, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense.  First and foremost, it pays homage to '70s rock 'n roll, a genre rivaled perhaps only by the bro music of Jack Johnson and Co. as the most preferred of college students.  Secondly, it laces this music into a sweet coming-of-age tale featuring a blend of wonderful under-the-radar actors and NBC's comedy line-up (including Rainn Wilson as a Rolling Stone editor.  If you didn't notice it the first time, rewatch it!  Trust me, seeing Dwight Schrute in a curly '70s fro and equally amusing outfit is so worth it).  You really have to wonder why Kate Hudson doesn't make movies like this anymore...  

  

4.  Pulp Fiction (1994)

This one's kind of a no-brainer.  It's got cult figure Samuel L.  "Motherfucking Snakes" Jackson as the ultimate badass, paired with the quirky choice of John "Grease Lightening" Travolta in one crazy bloody (hot? tranny?) mess of a movie.  The dialogue is offbeat, the sequences memorable, and structure as non-linear as you can get, making it the perfect companion to the equally offbeat, memorable (and regarding our recollections of some particularly inebriated nights, non-linear) college experience.

      

5.  At Least Two "Classic" Will Ferrell Comedies  

You're bound to get introduced to a few new comedians while at college, but it would seem that Will Ferrell is the most universal fail-safe.  Which is why I think it's safe to say you'll have to watch not just one, but two (or, depending on the crowd, closer to twenty-two) of his movies.  It's a bit unfair to call Wedding Crashers a Will Ferrell movie, considering he's barely in it, so I'd bet that those two choices are going to be the middle-aged, contemporary retelling of Animal House, Old School, and what is probably Ferrell's Citizen Kane, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.  If you're looking for a little-seen toned-down Ferrell though (contrary to popular belief, it does exist), definitely check out Stranger Than Fiction, or Dick for all you history nerds out there (despite its X-rated title, it's a Watergate spoof, with Ferrell as Bob Woodward).     

The Indie Review Series, Part 3

I ended the indie streak with Lars and the Real Girl.  The titular Lars (Ryan Gosling) is a sweet, fragile man who, rather than taking a chance on a real relationship, adopts Bianca, a sex doll, as his girlfriend.  His concerned brother and sister-in-law (Paul Schneider and Emily Mortimer) play along, as does the rest of the small town, in hopes of his eventual psychological healing (if you couldn't already tell, Lars has some deep-set intimacy issues to resolve).

What's good about it: Like my other two choices, Lars and the Real Girl features superior acting, namely the standout performance by Ryan Gosling.  He brings deep sympathy to Lars, who would normally be seen as absolutely insane or perverted, making the entire town's involvement seem at least somewhat plausible.  The story, though not really the comedy it was marketed as, is also very original and touching (Bianca's introduction to Lars's brother and sister-in-law is, however, pretty funny).

What's not so good about it: Despite the strong writing, the film drags briefly in the middle.  Some may also find the story hard to buy.

Bottom line: If you can believe the premise, chances are you'll love this sweet and creative tale of boy meets (plastic) girl.

That's it for the indie trilogy.  Maybe give one of these movies a try next time you're having a Blockbuster or Netflix dilemna.  In the meantime, I'll get back to coming up with some more recommendations...

The Indie Review Series, Part 2

Next up was The Savages.  The two-time Oscar nominee tells the story of two middle-aged siblings, Wendy and Jon Savage (Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman), who must deal with their father's ailing health.  Wendy and Jon must also juggle their own personal ordeals, including Wendy's professional failures and Jon's commitment issues, as they struggle to care for a man who never cared for them.

What's good about it: Really, just about everything.  Writer and director Tamara Jenkins has crafted two of the most interesting, well-developed characters in recent memory and provided a somber yet moving (and sometimes even humorous) story as their backdrop.  Lucky for her, the seemingly invincible Hoffman-Linney duo not only skillfully interpret her screenplay, but enhance it.  If the Academy were to give out MVP awards, Hoffman would surely have nabbed it for his past year's work.  Between this and Charlie Wilson's War, he has cemented his spot as one of my all-time favorite actors.

What's not so good about it: In my opinion, it's nearly flawless, but some might find it a bit long and tedious.

Bottom line: Wonderfully acted and written; one of the best films of 2007.

The Indie Review Series

With little else to do right now besides laugh at the energetic little chipmunk trying to scale my window, I've finally been getting around to all those movies I'd been meaning to see.  While most of them are classics (I will now judge car chase scenes by impossibly high standards thanks to The French Connection) or just ones everyone has to see (I'm a bit ashamed I hadn't seen Bruce Willis/John McClane kick Alan Rickman's Germanic ass until now), I recently ended up watching three indie movies from the past year in a row.  This group of films was just like most decent film trilogies: there was a fantastic one, a pretty good close second, and one that could have used a little work, but that we still forgive for its minor flaws.  

I thought I'd break up my reviews into three separate posts (if you couldn't already tell, I can write a lot).  So without further ado, here is the first of the indie trio...

I started off with Steve Buscemi's Interview, one of three planned American remakes of the late Theo van Gogh's works (Stanley Tucci's Blind Date and Bob Balaban's 1-900 constitute the rest of the group).  Its premise is simple: Pierre Peders (Buscemi), a self-important political reporter, is sent to interview the seemingly vapid mega-star Katja (Sienna Miller), much to the chagrin of both parties.  When Katja inadvertently gets Pierre into a car accident, she invites him to her loft where the two carry on a highly unconventional interview that reveals surprising depth to the pair.

What's good about it: Sienna Miller.  I had never seen any of her movies, but she nails the messed-up starlet with more brains than she's given credit for.  The twist ending is also excellent.

What's not so good about it: Steve Buscemi is hit-or-miss throughout the film and, while sometimes entertaining and/or intense, the dialogue between the two is often exasperating.

Bottom line: Definitely not a must-see, but a good introduction to Sienna Miller and, I guess to a degree, Theo van Gogh. 

Comic Book Heroes, Steve Carell, and Shakespeare's Resurrection, Part 2

You didn't think I'd keep you waiting that long, did you?  Enjoy the rest of the list, and the first ever KMDB attached video!

3.  Get Smart (06/20)

Maybe it's just because, as a diehard fan of The Office, I adore Steve Carell (Alan Arkin is pretty cool, too).  Regardless, I think this may end up being the best comedy of the summer (since really, it only has two serious competitors, both of which appear on this list).  The original TV show is a little before my time, and I haven't managed to watch any reruns or DVD seasons, so I can't comment on the validity of the casting choices and premise.  If it's anything like Peter Sellers' brilliant Pink Panther series though, which I strongly suspect it is, we're in for one hilarious spy spoof.

4.  The Dark Knight (07/18)

Even before Heath Ledger's tragic and shocking demise, I remember seeing this trailer and getting goosebumps.  Sure, Ledger had credibility as an actor, but this I simply could not believe.  As I became absorbed in his eerie voiceover and creepy face paint, I had to keep reminding myself that this was the Australian heartthrob who won the unconditional love of my generation's female audience by singing a Four Seasons song with a marching band.  It was pretty damn near impossible to maintain this perspective, as I'm sure you all know.  By the trailer's end (and after getting over my initial stunned paralysis), I had already made a mental note of July 18th on my calendar.  You can imagine my devastation, then, when I later learned that I'd be overseas during its release (as much as I'm looking forward to Paris).  So if you happen to see a crazed girl with luggage dashing through the movie theater on, say, the 27th or so, don't forget to say hi.

5.  Hamlet 2 (08/27 - limited)

This comedy features a song called "Rock Me, Sexy Jesus" and is, indeed, about a sequel to what is perhaps Shakespeare's most famous tragedy (written by a high school drama teacher).  Need I say more?

Honorable Mention: Pineapple Express (08/08)

I have to admit, when I saw the early ads for the latest Judd Apatow project (though he only produces this one; in fact, he hasn't directed anything since Knocked Up, contrary to what almost every comedy since then has led us to believe) my mild curiosity was overcome by a strong skepticism.  However, if my recent funnyordie.com binges have taught me anything, it's that James Franco is one hilarious guy.  Check out the first episode of his "Acting with James Franco" series for evidence: