ROADIE - a DVD Review

So the other day, courtesy of Netflix I checked out on DVD the indie film “Roadie”.  It’s a story of Jimmy Testagros, played by Ron Eldard, (Sleepers) one of the few actors who can still pull off lambchop side burns without looking ridiculous) is a roadie for the Blue Oyster Cult.  After 20 years with the band he is laid off and tail-between-his legs, returns to his mother’s home in Queens spewing the cover story “I’m just in town for a few days.”

His mother, played by the brilliant Lois Smith (True Blood, Minority Report) tries her best to overlook her son’s shortcomings during his stay.  Jimmy reunites in a local bar with some high school frenemies, his exgirlfriend and her now husband played by Jill Hennessy and Bobby Cannavale.

It’s a dark film that pours salt into the wounds of anyone who was ever bullied in high school.

Two stars, another of you’re a fan of Blue Oyster Cult, lol.

The Raven - a film review

So, this afternoon I took myself to the movies.  The film I saw was THE RAVEN starring John Cusack (High Fidelity) as author and poet, Edgar Allan Poe. 

This was essentially a Sherlock Holmes-esque film where life imitated art: a serial killer’s acts mirror those of Poe’s stories.  Taking place in 19^th Century Baltimore, Maryland, Poe is called in as a consultant on the murders, him being so thoroughly familiar with the stories and all.

It was unusual seeing John Cusack playing this type of role.  He is usually the self-deprecating underdog and in this role he is conceited, arrogant and abit of a drunk.

It kept me guessing til the end, whodunit, that is.  Better than I had expected. I give it three stars. 

Think Like A Man - A Movie Review

 So this afternoon I took myself to the movies.  The movie for today was “Think Like A Man” a story that illustrates the Steve Harvey book of the same name. 

They’ve got the playbook.  The story of how five women discover Steve Harvey’s book and use it as a How To remedy to make new relationships happen and old relationship work.

It’s a mainly ,black ensemble cast romantic comedy that follows the stories of five couples, all the while referring back to chapters in Steve Harvey’s book.

I agree with other reviews which stated ‘It ran like an extended commercial for the book”.  Having said that I do enjoy a dopey romantic comedy once in a while and it DID make me laugh.  The film had some beautiful black men (see Michael Ealy) and even the return of Morris Chestnut which I was surprised as I had not seen him since Two Can Play at That Game. 

It’s a fun movie, but if you’re strapped for cash you can wait for DVD or pick up a bootleg of it. 

SIDENOTE:  I actually MET Steve Harvey.  About two years ago I traveled by flight to Detroit and he was sitting in first class on the same flight as me.  I saw him  and his entourage afterwards at the baggage carousel.  I wasn’t sure if it was him, so I double-checked by asking the skycap,  It was him and I went over and his got his autograph since I do listen to his morning show on WBLS from time to time.

What's next?

So later today I'm gonna get myself to the movies.  What movie you ask?  You'll just have to wait and read.

BRICK - a DVD Review

So yesterday while perusing the book “ Leonard Maltin’s 151 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen, I decided to watch one of his selected films.

The film I selected was BRICK  (2006)

 A murder mystery that takes place in a high school setting.  Brandon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) , of  500 Days of Summer or more commonly known Third Rock from the Sun, gets a desperate call asking for help from his exgirlfriend Emily, only to find her dead soonafter.  Throughout the film he sifts through information aided by friends and frenemies speaking in a dialogue you’d only hear in black and white murder mysteries.  He meanders through the local high school drug ring to find out what really happened.

Deciphering a lot of what was going on was difficult for two reasons, one this film was overacted and two it was boring.  I mean there was a lot going on but as my son would say there was nothing about this story that made you care about its characters.  Even the soundtrack was all comprised of jazz trumpets.  I mean really.

A better film of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s that you may have not seen is Mysterious Skin.  Not for the squeamish though.  Still good dark entertaining viewing.  Now THAT was a movie you had to see the ending of!  Brutal but good.

Soft Fruit - an obscure DVD Review

So last night I remembered a little gem of an indie film I saw back in 1999.  The film is “Soft Fruit” an Australian comedy about a mother dying of cancer.  Yep I said comedy.   All four of her adult children come to visit and spend time helping their mother get through her bucket list before she dies.

A slightly slow but funny film.  Worth renting if you have a dark of humor like me.

CARNAGE - A DVD REVIEW

So I found this movie after seeing a preview of it while watching another film.  The movie is “Carnage” an adaptation of the play “God of Carnage” and this film was directed by Roman Polanski.

This film is about two New York couples, The Longstreets, played by Jodie Foster (Silence of the Lambs) and John C. Reilly (Talladega Nights) and the Cowan’s played by Kate Winslet (Titanic) and Christop Waltz (Inglorious Bastards).  The two couples sit down to meet to discuss an altercation between their two children.

What starts out as a calm, civilized meeting, transforms into adults behaving like children, with the aid of some shared 19 yr old Scotch.

Great actors, acting abit over the top, which gave me reason to assume this film originated as a play.  Its silly, ridiculous and enjoyable.  A good rental.

Fun fact, this film was never released in the U.S.  only in Italy, see IMDB.COM

The Hunger Games - a movie review

 Screenplay written and directed by Gary Ross based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins.  The story of a futuristic society takes reality television to a carnivorous level.  The government in an attempt to suppress its society’s rebellious attitudes, designs a competitive game that forces selected teenagers to compete in a fight to the death.

The story focuses on the journey of Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) a teenage girl who volunteers to compete in place of her much younger sister.

Not having read the books I was pleasantly surprised there was a story worth following.  This movie reminds me abit of another movie The Running Man, a much cheesier picture to say the least.

Having said that, I still only give it two stars.  This movie lacked the intensity and yes gore that might have made it feel less like a t.v. movie of the week.

Friends with Benefits - a DVD Review

Friends with Benefits starring the affable Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis who meet through their converging career and become fast friends.

Their compatibility combined with their loneliness make them decide to become friends with benefits etc.  As with all movies of this genre the ending is pretty much a no brainer.  BUT the comedy, dialogue etc was much more entertaining than a good many movies like this.

Worth renting, if even just to see the specular abs on Justin Timberlake, which reminds I gotta go do some laundry right about now ; ).

A Dangerous Method - a DVD Review

A DANGEROUS METHOD

A film which explores the relationship between Carl Jung (played by the saucey and talented Michael Fassbender (X-Men, Shame) and Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortgensen (Lord of the Rings) and the birth and development of psychoanalysis.  

The story follows the treatment of a patient (Keira Knightly/Pirates of the Carribbean, Atonement) who starts out being treated by Jung and later assists him in his research only to become his mistress.

The character of Keira Knightly was at times painful to watch.  Her character was supposed to depict the hysteria which accompanied her mental illness. In reality she looked like she was about to transform into a werewolf.


It was an hour and 30 minutes of my life I cannot get back.  There was nothing compelling or illuminating about this film.  A pity considering the cast.

Take Shelter - a DVD Review

TAKE SHELTER

This is a film about a family who's happiness is upset when Curtis, husband and father (Michael Shannon/Revolution) begins to suffer with nightmares of storms and hallucinations.  He struggles with whether his symptoms are a result of mental illness or somehow a prediction of an upcoming storm that threatens unearth the safety of his family.   In response he begins counseling and constructs a shelter as his Plan B.


This film plays like a Stephen King story.  Slightly compelling storyline, decent performances.  A good rental.