Bedtime Stories

As with all comics that get older, Adam Sandler is making a transition. Richard Pryor, & Eddie Murphy have shown how a blazing hot comic can sell out later in their career and make horrid out of touch movies ie: Pryor’s “See no Evil, Hear No Evil” & “Critical Condition” Murphy has shown this as well with his string of flops, the latest being “Meet Dave” Sandler has a formula, frat boy comedy utilizing 80’s hits and his same crew of comics in every movie. It has worked and every movie he has made with this formula has made $100+ million. He is now making a Disney movie?!? (sell-out?) There is a young beauty that is the center of attention however Sandler’s getting older and his off kilt character does not work well here. This is a children’s movie yet kids under 5 years old will not be able to follow the movie. Bedtime Stories will make $100 million but don’t expect an Adam Sandler movie.

Verdict: With “Zohan” and his poorly produced “The House Bunny” it looks like Sandler is heading down the “not cool anymore” road of Eddie Murphy. He’s very rich but he should go out and do stand up and find out what’s funny. This movie is not.

Top 10 Movies of 2008

1) Cloverfield: The most original monster movie in years.

2) The Dark Knight: The Joker truly was Wild in this movie. A great performance by Mr. Ledger.

3) Wanted: Best summer action movie, more action than Batman and awesome in IMAX.

4) Wall –E: Pixar’s ET. A loner that needs someone and finds a companion.

5) Sex and the City: I was a fan of the show and the movie was better than I expected. Minus the Jennifer Hudson part. Why Jennifer Why?

6) Iron Man: Robert Downey back in rare form. Have not seen him this good since Chaplin.

7) Man on Wire: Hey I’m a New Yorker. Forgetaboutit! This was a cool documentary.

8) The Bank Job: A true Story and Jason Statham equal a great B+ movie that should have had "A grade" marketing muscle behind it. JS will have a breakthrough role soon.

9) 21: This story has been done before but not this good. I have seen it 3 times in packed houses and enjoyed watching it with the audience.

10) Redbelt: One of the most underrated movies of 2008. Chiwetel Ejiofor is one of the best actors out there today. The movie is about discipline and sticking to what you value.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

This movie is a movie where actors are on point and on top of their game.
Brad Pitt has grown as an actor and gives his best performance to date. Rent “Meet Joe Black” and then watch this movie and see how much he has improved. He deserves an Oscar for the role of Benjamin Button. What else can anyone say about Cate Blanchett, she is a brilliant actresses and she will take Meryl Streep’s throne when she is done. Remember Julia Ormand? She was the “It Girl” back in the 90’s and she shows up in this movie after the studios tried to make her a star. Remember “First Knight”, “Sabrina”, and the nail in her coffin “Smilla’s Sense of Snow”? Well she does a good job in this movie as a character actress, which is what she does best.
The movie has it’s slow points but it’s Pitt’s “Forrest Gump” with New Orleans set as the background.
Tariji P. Henson, who was outstanding in “Baby Boy” does an great job as Benjamin’s mother. Thank god they did’t give this role to Queen Latifah.

Verdict: Great escapism, Brad’s best role to date.

Valkryrie

This movie was made a year ago when Cruise left Paramount because Sumner Redstone’s wife did’t like his antics on Oprah and on the Today Show. It sat on the shelf for a year because the movie stinks. Guess what? Cruise is back at Paramount, but he’s promoting this movie as if it was made yesterday.
Don’t see it. If you want to see a good Nazi film rent “Black Book” directed by the man who brought you “Basic Instinct” and “Robo Cop”, Paul Verhoeven. Carice van Houton who plays Tom Cruise’s wife in Valkyrie is the star of “Black Book” Her talent is wasted in Valkyrie. “Black Book” has all the gore, violence, and sex you would expect from a film about Hitler and the SS. It also has a story which helps.
For an excellent documentary the best that I have found is, The Nazis - A warning from History ~ Samuel West, Fritz Arlt, Rudi Bamber, and Gerda Bernhardt (DVD - Jul 19, 2005) which can be purchased at Amazon.com. It has footage that you have never seen regarding the concentration camps and Hitler.

Verdict: Tom has lost his MOJO in this puppy. See Tom in “Tropic Thunder” and see why he is still a star.

"I am Legend" the greatest movie ever made??

This non-movie critic Ben Lyons, son of a good movie critic Jeffrey Lyons, thinks "I am Legend" is one of the greatest movies ever made. Read from an article posted in the LA Times Sunday Calander edition 12-28:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-lyons28-2008dec28,0,3485043.story

The Worst Movies of 2008

1) Speed Racer: Where do I start? This movie failed on every level. I can’t believe these guys made the Matrix. What happened to their talent?

2) The Happening: M. Night Shamalamading dong! Why is this guy still making movies? 3 strikes and you are out.

3) Hancock: It made a ton of money but would you watch it again?

4) Quantum of Solace: If you can review this movie and tell someone what it is about then you are SuperBad.

5) Forgetting Sarah Marshall: A Saturday Night Live skit that goes on for 2 hrs.

6) The Visitor: The so called critics said it was great and I could’t wait for it to end.

7) Fool’s Gold: Looks like Kate Hudson & Mac Man decided that the Caribbean was a great place to go on location and make a movie. Did they read the script, and better yet do they care about the audience? They are better off sticking to the Rock Hudson/Doris Day type movies similar to their one and only hit together “How to Lose A Guy in Ten Days”

8) Semi-Pro: Will Ferrell is still funny but this movie was not.

9) The Hulk: A second version with Ed Norton and they still can’t get it right?!? Please don’t try again.

10)You Don’t mess with the Zohan: Very painful to watch. Sandler, stick to your formula.

Gran Torino

This is not the movie you think it is.
Clint Eastwood is not trying to be Sylvester Stallone or Harrison Ford by trying to play one of his former action hero's i.e: Dirty Harry, now that he is an AA RP member. Clint plays it smart and without giving away too much he plays his age. It’s amazing and scary to see how he has transformed from a pretty boy to the Crypt Keeper. Seeing him grow old is painful to watch. I have been a Clint fan to the core since I watched him in the spaghetti westerns with my father. His character, Walt Kowalski, in this movie is endearing even though he is constantly spouting racial slurs.
I did’t figure out how it was going to end until the end. I am not one of those jerks that sits behind someone figuring out each scene and spouting out to their date, or into the air how the movie ends because they have figured out the movie. I focus on and love seeing the development of character. If you also like movies of this nature then you will enjoy Gran Torino.
There is also a very annoying young priest, played very well by Christopher Carley, in the movie and you wonder why does Clint have to deal with this character? In the end everything ties together. The screenplay by Nick Schenk delivers.

Verdict: Good movie but SLOW. Go and see it on a lazy, Sunday afternoon.

Seven Pounds

OK, I decided to give Will Smith another shot. I am sorry I did.
Every year Will has a blockbuster summer movie. Now he is shooting for an Oscar by coming out with a heart tugging, sappy movie at the end of each year to qualify for an Oscar (see the Pursuit of Happyness).
We all know that he will one day get an Oscar due to his box office power however this is not the film.
There were times throughout this movie I felt that I was watching a TV Pilot for a new CBS drama like the Mentalist or that boring ghost TV show with Jennifer Love Hewitt. Without Will Smith this could have been a Lifetime movie.
Will has also taken a page from the Tom Cruise school of acting. In every movie have a scene where you are running, even if it does not make sense, just run. You’re a leading man, run.
Even with the run this was a major snore fest. This movie is tied with “Wild Wild West” as Will’s worst movie. It made my top ten of 2008 worst movies right after “The Happening”.

Verdict: Don’t even waste your time renting it when it comes out on DVD.

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Take a classic 1951 SCI-FI movie, put Kennu Reeves in it and what do you get?
Well if you have a low budget you get “C” grade special effects you start to fall asleep. What happens when you take Will Smith’s son, Jaden Smith, and try to create a role for him? You get Will Smith’s son trying to be cute knowing for 1 hr. and 32 minutes that the only reason he is in the film is because he is Will Smith’s son. Will please spare us, give your kid some acting lessons.
Oh, wait a minute, Will Smith still has not taken acting lessons (see Ali, and the crying scene in the Pursuit of Happyness) now I know why his son can’t act.
Getting back to the original classic, when it came out the special effects were “A” grade and the story suited the time. Today we have seen so many movies with aliens coming to earth with updated stories. This is a movie they should have not remade and recreate the story.
Finally Kathy Bates has lost some of her acting chops since "Misery" when she won and Oscar & her awesome role as the Unsinkable Molly Brown in "Titanic".

Verdict: Charisma does not equal talent, and when actors are on their game it’s exciting to watch.
This movie, game was not on for all involved.

The Changeling

It seems like almost every year at this time Clint Eastwood comes out with a solid movie.
The Changeling is Angelina Jolie’s best work to date and she should receive an Oscar nomination for it.
She had a great year with “Wanted”, “Kung Fu Panda”, and now this movie.
The story is true and it’s about a woman who’s son is missing. This happened in the 1930’s when children were not being abducted to the extent that it’s happening today. There are many layers to this event and Eastwood ties in an excellent soundtrack and great performances that will reach for your heart.
It’s amazing to me that this movie is not getting the promotional muscle it deserves because I would’t be surprised if it is nominated for best picture.

Verdict: If you liked "Mystic River" & "Million Dollar Baby" you will love this movie. Angelina Jolie will win her second Oscar.

Transporter 3

The word on the street is that this is they guy that should be playing James Bond.
I agree, not only was this movie better than Transporter 2 it was better than the current Bond flick.
This is a pure popcorn movie and there is never a dull moment with Jason Statham on the screen.
There are times during the movie that it reminded me of The Professional, and sure enough the producer, Luc Beeson, of this movie was involved with the creation of The Professional.
So without giving too much away, there is a Russian girl, Natalya Rudakova , that the Transporter has to protect throughout the movie. The actress, is not interesting at first but later in the movie she starts to grow on you and you realize why she was picked for the role.
Robert Knepper , better known as Monsieur Tea Bag in France, is good in this movie as Johnson. Check out "Prison Break" Season One on DVD to see how excellent an actor he is.
Verdict: Perfect escapism movie. Go see it instead of Quantum.