The Informant

Ok this is a good movie but not for everybody, I repeat not for everybody. If are not one for waiting for a story to develop (because it takes a while to get started) and you don’t know where the movie is going) then this may not be for you. I found this part fascinating because I was rooting for the movie to be good and halfway thru it I thought it was going to be a clunker but Matt Damon and Steven Soderbergh turn out a very good movie.
The story is about an investigation on price fixing that went on for years.
Marvin Hamlish, famous from the 70’s does the soundtrack which harks back to the sounds of the seventies which can be irritating throughout the movie. Steven let’s Matt’s character narrate his thoughts throughout the movie just like a normal human being, I LOVED this part because it showed how all of us have loads of useless thoughts that run thru our minds on a daily basis. Scott Backla returns to the screen as an FBI guy who gets close to Damon's character. The antagonist from Back To the Future series stars in the movie as well which is produced by George Clooney.

Verdict: Good Sunday afternoon movie. One of the best scenes in the movie is when Matt Damon’s character shifts his wig and you don’t know if the director wanted you in on the joke that Damon was wearing a wig or if the character wears a wig in the movie. I felt like I was watching The Wendy Williams show and she was adjusting her wig to take out her Hot Topics notes.

I Can Do Bad All By Myself

Tyler Perry has been successful filming simple stories with up and coming actors.
In I can do Bad All By myself Tyler has the talented Taraji P. Henson in the starring role.
The movie also has the great voice of the Queen of Hip Hop Mary J. Blige and the distinctive voice of Gladys Knight. Both Mary and Gladys can’t act to save their lives and they are primarily there for their singing which there is a lot of throughout the story.
The movie is about “damaged people” who are trying to make it day by day. Taraji stars as April, a heavy-drinking nightclub singer. She wants nothing to do with kids or commitment but Madea (who is barely in the movie) pays her a visit with her sisters children.
As with all Perry’s movies there will be a happy ending and you will be preached to.
The problem with this movie is that we have seen it before and there is not enough of Madea. Taraji P. Henson is funny and keeps the movie interesting but you feel as if you are attending a service.

Verdict: If you have an aversion to going to church then skip this movie. You will feel as if you are attending a service.

The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

This is truly a Jeremy Piven vehicle. In this movie Jeremy gets to use his negotiator shtick which he has crafted over the years.
The story is about a used car liquidator Don Ready who is hired by a flailing auto dealership to turn their Fourth of July sale into a majorly profitable event.
The movie is in the same vein as Talladega Nights, Walk Hard, etc.
James Brolin and Vhing Rhames star in the movie and they just collected a paycheck because the writing is very weak.
Will Ferrell makes a surprise appearance (are we surprised anymore at this point) and his persona is fading fast. He is bringing back memories of when he was up and coming and starring in stinkers such as A Night at the Roxbury. He also produced The Goods so beware.
During the week I saw this movie HBO was playing 1993 Judgement Night in which Piven stars and does his same negotiating shtick to Dennis Leary on top of a roof.

Verdict: You may think you know what you are getting when you go to see this but it is a B- movie. Piven gets thrown off the roof in Judgement Night by Dennis Leary, that’s how good his negotiating skills are in this movie. Watch Entourage and save your money.

Spread

Please stay away from this wanna be American Gigolo.
See it only if you are an Ashton Kutcher fan.
Ashton is a likable celebrity and his Punk’d series was a nice, fresh, update of Candid Camera. However he is not a good dramatic actor and he should stick to what he knows which is comedy.
The movie tires to be a sex comedy centered on a serial womanizer and his jilted lover. I didn’t find it funny nor will you. The funny thing was that when I got home “Dude, Where’s My Car” was playing which starred Ashton and that movie was barely funny.
Spread was so boring that this was the first time I played with Apps on my Iphone while watching a movie.
Ashton’s character wears a scarf in this movie and it does not work. His character's narrative throughout the movie also does not work.
Surprise: Maria Conchita Alonzo, whom you may remember from the 1988 Sean Penn movie Colors, makes a surprise visit at a pool.

Verdict: Rent American Gigolo if you want to see what living off women due to your good looks is all about. It’s a classic and it’s not dated.

Final Destination 4

At the end of summer the studios usually release the “crap” movies. This is one of them.
Ten years ago a new horror franchise was born and if I could kill it off now I would.
F.D. #1 was the best, it was fresh and you had actor Tony Todd from the Candyman series that made it interesting. Now with the 4th installment instead of bringing back Tony Todd they have brought F.D. back in 3D. The studios are trying to educate everyone that 3D is new and improved. It’s not. It’s the same tired effects (things being thrown at you) that I first saw back in 1982 while watching Friday the 13th part 3 in 3D.
If the studios want audience attendance to grow, 3D is not it.
The story goes that after a teen's premonition of a deadly race-car crash helps saves the lives of his peers, Death sets out to collect those who evaded their end.
Predictable, no plot, and at only 80 minutes no time for the tension to build.

Verdict: This franchise needs to shut down however with Saw 6 and Halloween 2x2 coming out I expect F.D. to continue.