Directors almost never get the credit they deserve. The exception of course being when you have a director so good his celebrity sometimes outshines the actors. Every director has a unique style of storytelling. So here is a list of some of my favorites.
10) Tim Burton: This guy is just flat out crazy. In a visual medium, he has a style that is equal parts dark, gothic, and avante guarde. Sometimes his images cross over into the disturbing. My favorites: Batman, Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas
9)Robert Zemeckis: A director most famous for his use of special effects. What makes him different than most directors in fantastical movies is that he will use the effects less as the driving point of the movie but to enhance the story. While the effects are impressive they never dominate the story. Not an easy task. My favorites: Back To the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Forrest Gump, The Polar Express
8) Quenton Tarantino: I love his movies because he is a true student of the game. He knows so much about storytelling and cinematography that he continually finds new ways to take the rules and throw them out the window. He definately has a style all his own and knows how to take an idea and run with it. My favorites: Pulp Fiction, Deathproof, Kill Bill, Reservoir Dogs
7) Ridley Scott: The guy did some of my favorite movies of all time. A brilliant director of sci-fi, Ridley Scott was also notoriously hard to work with. His directing style, while demanding, is also some of the most suspensful. The tension builds up to the action scenes like none other. My Favorites: Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, G.I. Jane, Hannibal, Gladiator
6) Stanley Kubrick: What is the best way to describe his directing style? His movies are like a docudrama. They have a very matter of fact feeling to them while also being extremely artistic and cinematic. His movies are always open to interpretation. They are the kind of movies to teach a moving making class because so many capture the essence of the original novels they were adapted from. My favorites: 2001 A Space Odyssey, Full Metal Jacket, Clockwork Orange, The Shining
5) Martin Scorcese: Is this guy even capable of doing a bad movie? Seriously, I can't name a movie he did that was even just okay. They are just beautifully done in so many ways I can't even describe it. They are tightly written with just enough in the ways of theatrics to make a once in a lifetime kind of talent. My favorites: Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, Casino, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, Shutter Island
4) David Fincher: So many great movies and so little time. When it comes to David Fincher, you never really know what you're going to get. Many of his stories will flow in a logical manner, while others take so many twists and turns you won't know what is happening until the very end. What makes me so happy is that he is young enough to keep going for the next 20 years. My Favorites: Seven, Alien 3, Fight Club, Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Social Network, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
3) John Carpenter: His is truely an inspiring story. How he could get a small budget movie to become a cult classic. His work with practical effects is legendary. What I love most are his use of lighting and his commitment to minimalism. He makes the most out of what he has rather than relying on huge budgets and computer effects. In a word, brilliant. My favorites: Halloween, The Thing, Escape From New York, Big Trouble in Little China
2) James Cameron: What can I say? I can't argue with success. His movies are not just a story. They are an experience. While the story may or may not be so great, there's one thing you can't say: he doesn't do small movies. Everything he does is big and spectacular. Many times he does movies so big they break the bank, yet manage to make record breaking profits. My Favorites: The Terminator, Terminator 2, Aliens, The Abyss, Titanic
1) Steven Spielberg: I really hate to be obvious, but who else would be my #1? I don't know of anyone that hasn't seen a Spielberg movie at this point. His movies deal mostly with the fantastical and awe most kids would experience in extraordinary situations. Many of his movies are highly emotional. My Favorites: Indiana Jones (except for #4), Jaws, E.T., The Color Purple, Schindler's List, Catch Me if You Can
Honorable Mentions: Woody Allen, Alfred Hitchcock, The Coen Brothers, Orsen Welles, Clint Eastwood, Ron Howard, Francis Ford Coppola, Christopher Nolan.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Movies I'd Like To See: March
January and February haven't been very good for movies. And looking at what is scheduled for March, I really don't know what to tell you. It's another bad month of movies. Not that they all will be bad, but it's clear to me the first quarter of the year is not that impressive. But let's look at some of the gems in the proverbial wasteland.
1) Silent House: This movie looks really scary. It's an old fashioned haunted house story but what makes this movie unique is that it's filmed completely in a single take. That means it's a real experience. One you'd feel if this were happening to you. That's an ingenious way to suck an audience into a movie. I'm interested to see how well it works. It could start a trend.
2) Friends With Kids: Instead of movies like "Friends With Benefits" asking the question if friends can become casual lovers, this movie asks the question what effect having children has on friendships with others. It's a smart comedy and it might be worth watching.
3) The FP: I admit. This is only for me. This is a movie with such a goofy premise that it just has to be fun. It's a movie about a distopian future where rival gangs throw down in "dance-dance revolution". Yes. They fight in video game dancing competitions. Oh sorry. "beat-beat revelations" I guess they were too cheap to get the rights to DDR. And it's the directors who did Paranormal Activity. This has fun written all over it.
See you at the movies
1) Silent House: This movie looks really scary. It's an old fashioned haunted house story but what makes this movie unique is that it's filmed completely in a single take. That means it's a real experience. One you'd feel if this were happening to you. That's an ingenious way to suck an audience into a movie. I'm interested to see how well it works. It could start a trend.
2) Friends With Kids: Instead of movies like "Friends With Benefits" asking the question if friends can become casual lovers, this movie asks the question what effect having children has on friendships with others. It's a smart comedy and it might be worth watching.
3) The FP: I admit. This is only for me. This is a movie with such a goofy premise that it just has to be fun. It's a movie about a distopian future where rival gangs throw down in "dance-dance revolution". Yes. They fight in video game dancing competitions. Oh sorry. "beat-beat revelations" I guess they were too cheap to get the rights to DDR. And it's the directors who did Paranormal Activity. This has fun written all over it.
See you at the movies
Monday, February 27, 2012
Coming Soon: 3/2/12
It's March now. The last few months have really been a dry spell. Not too many great movies. I'll take a look the the entire month of March soon enough, but lets look at what is coming out this week:
1) The Lorax: The latest Dr. Seuss movie about a girl who lives in a city devoid of things like trees and grass and she dreams of seeing trees.
The Good: It's Dr. Seuss. Kids are going to love it because it's way out there wacky fun.
The Bad: It's not going to appeal to many over the age of 12.
Final Thoughts: Yeah. Take your kids to see it. It'll be fun. But if you don't have kids, I'd be a little worried about why you're there.
2) Project X: A giant house party gets way out of control
The Good: It looks like a lot of fun.
The Bad: It's a nonsensical collection of stupid people doing stupid things.
Final Thoughts: If you like watching other people having a great time and getting insanely crazy, this is your movie. For me, I'd rather go have a good time with my own friends.
3) Let the Bullets Fly: An action/dark comedy movie about a thief who disguises himself as a local governor only to run afoul of the local mob boss.
The Good: It looks a hilarious movie anchored by acting great Chow Yun-Fat.
The Bad: It's a dark comedy. That means a lot of violence. And it's from China. Many people might not like the subtitles or the dub might not be very good.
Final Thoughts: Must see it. I've heard nothing but great things about it. If you can find it, give it a watch.
See you at the movies
1) The Lorax: The latest Dr. Seuss movie about a girl who lives in a city devoid of things like trees and grass and she dreams of seeing trees.
The Good: It's Dr. Seuss. Kids are going to love it because it's way out there wacky fun.
The Bad: It's not going to appeal to many over the age of 12.
Final Thoughts: Yeah. Take your kids to see it. It'll be fun. But if you don't have kids, I'd be a little worried about why you're there.
2) Project X: A giant house party gets way out of control
The Good: It looks like a lot of fun.
The Bad: It's a nonsensical collection of stupid people doing stupid things.
Final Thoughts: If you like watching other people having a great time and getting insanely crazy, this is your movie. For me, I'd rather go have a good time with my own friends.
3) Let the Bullets Fly: An action/dark comedy movie about a thief who disguises himself as a local governor only to run afoul of the local mob boss.
The Good: It looks a hilarious movie anchored by acting great Chow Yun-Fat.
The Bad: It's a dark comedy. That means a lot of violence. And it's from China. Many people might not like the subtitles or the dub might not be very good.
Final Thoughts: Must see it. I've heard nothing but great things about it. If you can find it, give it a watch.
See you at the movies
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Coming Soon: 2/24/12
Forgive the lateness of this. I really do try to get these done on Monday. Things just piled up on me and I lost track of my days. Anyway, time to see what's out there this week.
1) Wanderlust: A stressed out New York couple find a quirky place where they learn about a different way to live.
The Good: It's a quirky brand of comedy. Lots of sexual humor and crazy situations.
The Bad: I'm not sure it offers much more than crude humor.
Final Thoughts: I can see this being a very uneven comedy. Some parts are going to be good, but overall I think it'll be disappointing.
2) Act of Valor: A fictional account of real life Navy SEAL operations.
The Good: An interesting experiment of incorporating real life military with movie cinematics.
The Bad: It advertises that it is starring real life Navy SEALs but I'm looking at the movie's cast and I'm seeing only veteran actors. And not very good ones either.
Final Thoughts: I want to see this movie really badly, but if the action isn't very good, this movie is going to suck.
3) Gone: A woman's sister goes missing. Fearing that a serial killer abducted her, she races against the clock to save her sister.
The Good: I really like the subplot of how everyone thinks she's crazy.
The Bad: It feels really contrived. Be careful. This has bad movie written all over it.
Final Thoughts: I won't see it. I have no faith in Amanda Seyfried as a leading actress. Especially in an action/thriller.
4) Tyler Perry's Good Deeds: A guy stuck in his own bubble meets someone that challenges his world view.
The Good: I don't know. Maybe it won't suck as much as I think it does?
The Bad: This is an egotistical piece of garbage written, directed, and starring Tyler Perry.
Final Thoughts: Did you get the joke? The title? It's a Tyler Perry movie featuring Tyler Perry where Tyler Perry does a "good deed"? Yeah. Not funny. I know. Tyler Perry sucks. Keep walking.
See you at the movies
1) Wanderlust: A stressed out New York couple find a quirky place where they learn about a different way to live.
The Good: It's a quirky brand of comedy. Lots of sexual humor and crazy situations.
The Bad: I'm not sure it offers much more than crude humor.
Final Thoughts: I can see this being a very uneven comedy. Some parts are going to be good, but overall I think it'll be disappointing.
2) Act of Valor: A fictional account of real life Navy SEAL operations.
The Good: An interesting experiment of incorporating real life military with movie cinematics.
The Bad: It advertises that it is starring real life Navy SEALs but I'm looking at the movie's cast and I'm seeing only veteran actors. And not very good ones either.
Final Thoughts: I want to see this movie really badly, but if the action isn't very good, this movie is going to suck.
3) Gone: A woman's sister goes missing. Fearing that a serial killer abducted her, she races against the clock to save her sister.
The Good: I really like the subplot of how everyone thinks she's crazy.
The Bad: It feels really contrived. Be careful. This has bad movie written all over it.
Final Thoughts: I won't see it. I have no faith in Amanda Seyfried as a leading actress. Especially in an action/thriller.
4) Tyler Perry's Good Deeds: A guy stuck in his own bubble meets someone that challenges his world view.
The Good: I don't know. Maybe it won't suck as much as I think it does?
The Bad: This is an egotistical piece of garbage written, directed, and starring Tyler Perry.
Final Thoughts: Did you get the joke? The title? It's a Tyler Perry movie featuring Tyler Perry where Tyler Perry does a "good deed"? Yeah. Not funny. I know. Tyler Perry sucks. Keep walking.
See you at the movies
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Ghost Rider 2 Spirit Of Vengance Review: It'll eat your soul!
I said in my review of the first Ghost Rider that Nick Cage movies have to be graded on a curve. You know it's a bad movie. But the real question: Is it enjoyable? For me, there is just not a way I could enjoy this movie. In fact, much like Battle: Los Angeles, it was physically painful for me to watch.
I would say about 90% of the movie were action scenes and all of them were close up and shaky. Do a little experiment with yourself. Put your hand up to your eye like you are holding a camera and then walk. Notice your hand and what it does. It shakes a little. Ok then. Try running. It is going to bounce and shake. That's 90% of this movie. It looks so amateurish it might as well be a found footage movie.
With so much action and a 95 minute run time, what do you think the story is like? If you said non-existent and cliche then you would be half right. It is also superficial. The center of the whole story is this little kid named Danny. (Fergus Riordan) And when I left the theater I couldn't name a single defining trait. He is literally just there. The story is that he is supposed to be the new vessel for the Devil so he can walk around on Earth. And if they were directing this kid to be an empty trash can, then well, he nailed it.
The same can be said for Danny's mom, Nadya, played by Violante Placido. There isn't a single character trait she shows other than she is a mother. All we know about her is that she made a deal with the Devil to save her life and in exchange she would give birth to the anti-christ. She is a mother and that's it. Enjoy.
There were two scenes that I did like. One scene Johnny Blaze is interrogating this thug and Nick Cage just goes stark raving mad. Talking about the Ghost Rider scraping at the door and wanting to eat his soul. It's Nick Cage being Nick Cage times 30. It's hilarious. The other scene is when we are introduced to Decay. He steals a car and while driving he's looking for something to eat. He takes a sandwich and it gets old and moldy. He tries to eat an apple, same thing happens. But then he picks up a twinkie and sure enough, time can't kill the twinkie. I bet he'd be 700 lbs if he could only eat things loaded down with perservatives.
So, on my Nick Cage graded curve I'm sorry to say but this movie is closer to the irredeemable side. It has some fun scenes in it but with all the shaking, terrible acting, and complete lack of storytelling I just can't recommend this movie. It gave me headaches to watch it and even more headaches thinking about the story. Save your money and watch the new Spiderman movie. That at least looks good.
I would say about 90% of the movie were action scenes and all of them were close up and shaky. Do a little experiment with yourself. Put your hand up to your eye like you are holding a camera and then walk. Notice your hand and what it does. It shakes a little. Ok then. Try running. It is going to bounce and shake. That's 90% of this movie. It looks so amateurish it might as well be a found footage movie.
With so much action and a 95 minute run time, what do you think the story is like? If you said non-existent and cliche then you would be half right. It is also superficial. The center of the whole story is this little kid named Danny. (Fergus Riordan) And when I left the theater I couldn't name a single defining trait. He is literally just there. The story is that he is supposed to be the new vessel for the Devil so he can walk around on Earth. And if they were directing this kid to be an empty trash can, then well, he nailed it.
The same can be said for Danny's mom, Nadya, played by Violante Placido. There isn't a single character trait she shows other than she is a mother. All we know about her is that she made a deal with the Devil to save her life and in exchange she would give birth to the anti-christ. She is a mother and that's it. Enjoy.
There were two scenes that I did like. One scene Johnny Blaze is interrogating this thug and Nick Cage just goes stark raving mad. Talking about the Ghost Rider scraping at the door and wanting to eat his soul. It's Nick Cage being Nick Cage times 30. It's hilarious. The other scene is when we are introduced to Decay. He steals a car and while driving he's looking for something to eat. He takes a sandwich and it gets old and moldy. He tries to eat an apple, same thing happens. But then he picks up a twinkie and sure enough, time can't kill the twinkie. I bet he'd be 700 lbs if he could only eat things loaded down with perservatives.
So, on my Nick Cage graded curve I'm sorry to say but this movie is closer to the irredeemable side. It has some fun scenes in it but with all the shaking, terrible acting, and complete lack of storytelling I just can't recommend this movie. It gave me headaches to watch it and even more headaches thinking about the story. Save your money and watch the new Spiderman movie. That at least looks good.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
From the Vault: Ghost Rider (2007)
Made back in 2007, Ghost Rider is a weird mix of bad dialogue, nonsensical story, good special effects, and Nicholas Cage. So, how does it stack up? It's bad. Like most Nicholas Cage movies just saying it's bad isn't enough. There's a curve here. Ghost Rider falls in between the irredeemably bad and the campy/fun bad.
On the one hand, the villians are just no real threat. Blackheart is beaten in a very unsatisfying way and his henchmen are also beaten with very little effort. And then there's the Devil. The personification of evil is just powerless. I know it goes into the whole story about how the Ghost Rider is the Devil's bounty hunter, but I do question why the Devil needs a bounty hunter? He's the Devil! Come on! Just like in Star Trek V: Why does God need a starship?
Many of the characters in this movie are just not needed. Sam Elliott is completely wasted playing the Caretaker. He's supposed to be Johnny Blaze's mentor. The seasoned veteran who knows how to control his power and teaches him to be the Ghost Rider. But other than being the exposition fairy he has no role in the movie. He doesn't teach Johnny to do anything. He just talks. Nothing more.
Then there's Roxanne. (Eva Mendes) Pure, cookie cutter love interest. There is nothing special about this character. Her only role is to give Ghost Rider a love interest. Just a little more emotion thrust in just because that's how these superhero movies go.
It's loud, it's campy, but it's still a watchable movie. I wouldn't ever sit down and think, "you know what movie I haven't watched in a while and was a lot of fun... Ghost Rider." But if there wasn't anything else on tv, yeah I'd watch it.
On the one hand, the villians are just no real threat. Blackheart is beaten in a very unsatisfying way and his henchmen are also beaten with very little effort. And then there's the Devil. The personification of evil is just powerless. I know it goes into the whole story about how the Ghost Rider is the Devil's bounty hunter, but I do question why the Devil needs a bounty hunter? He's the Devil! Come on! Just like in Star Trek V: Why does God need a starship?
Many of the characters in this movie are just not needed. Sam Elliott is completely wasted playing the Caretaker. He's supposed to be Johnny Blaze's mentor. The seasoned veteran who knows how to control his power and teaches him to be the Ghost Rider. But other than being the exposition fairy he has no role in the movie. He doesn't teach Johnny to do anything. He just talks. Nothing more.
Then there's Roxanne. (Eva Mendes) Pure, cookie cutter love interest. There is nothing special about this character. Her only role is to give Ghost Rider a love interest. Just a little more emotion thrust in just because that's how these superhero movies go.
It's loud, it's campy, but it's still a watchable movie. I wouldn't ever sit down and think, "you know what movie I haven't watched in a while and was a lot of fun... Ghost Rider." But if there wasn't anything else on tv, yeah I'd watch it.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
From the Vault: Rumble in the Bronx
Made back in 1996, Rumble in the Bronx was Jackie Chan's first major theatrical release in the USA. It's a story about a man named Keung and he travels to New York for his uncle's wedding. While there he runs afoul of a dangerous biker gang in the Bronx.
Let's start with the best part: The stunts! Some are just amazing. It really had to be the perfect way to introduce a superstar like Jackie Chan to the casual American audience. Jackie, while an above average actor, is far more known for doing his own death defying stunts and kung fu choreography.
The story on the other hand was standard fare. It wasn't anything special but it did do what it needed to do. The characters were nothing special and sometimes downright plain. Keung (Jackie Chan) is the same character he does in most of his movies. He's wholesome, caring, kind, and willing to stand up for what he believes.
Another staple of many Jackie Chan movies is the humor. Ever since doing Drunken Master in 1978, the tone of the movies Chan did went from serious martial arts movies, to more action comedy. Rumble in the Bronx is no exception. There are some genuinely funny moments.
And then there's the out takes playing during the credits. If ever there is a cautionary "don't try this at home" it would be watching the serious injuries Jackie Chan has filming these movies. In every movie he manages to seriously hurt himself. Luckily, in this movie he only broke his leg. If you look carefully during the waterskiing scene, you will notice that his right leg doesn't have a shoe. Instead they got a sock to try and mimic his shoes and fit that over his leg cast.
This movie is very forgettable. The story isn't special, the cast is adequate, the dubbing can be distracting at times, but the biggest draw are all the stunts and fight scenes. And they are worth watching at least once.
Let's start with the best part: The stunts! Some are just amazing. It really had to be the perfect way to introduce a superstar like Jackie Chan to the casual American audience. Jackie, while an above average actor, is far more known for doing his own death defying stunts and kung fu choreography.
The story on the other hand was standard fare. It wasn't anything special but it did do what it needed to do. The characters were nothing special and sometimes downright plain. Keung (Jackie Chan) is the same character he does in most of his movies. He's wholesome, caring, kind, and willing to stand up for what he believes.
Another staple of many Jackie Chan movies is the humor. Ever since doing Drunken Master in 1978, the tone of the movies Chan did went from serious martial arts movies, to more action comedy. Rumble in the Bronx is no exception. There are some genuinely funny moments.
And then there's the out takes playing during the credits. If ever there is a cautionary "don't try this at home" it would be watching the serious injuries Jackie Chan has filming these movies. In every movie he manages to seriously hurt himself. Luckily, in this movie he only broke his leg. If you look carefully during the waterskiing scene, you will notice that his right leg doesn't have a shoe. Instead they got a sock to try and mimic his shoes and fit that over his leg cast.
This movie is very forgettable. The story isn't special, the cast is adequate, the dubbing can be distracting at times, but the biggest draw are all the stunts and fight scenes. And they are worth watching at least once.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Coming Soon: 2/17/12
Happy Valentines Day and also Happy President's Day! Are you going to take that special someone to a romantic movie this week? How about a fun three day weekend? Well, here's what's playing this weekend.
1) Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengance: Johnny Blaze is back as the Ghost Rider to save a boy from the Devil.
The Good: First comic book movie of the year.
The Bad: It's a sequel to a bad movie, directed by the guy who did Gamer and Jonah Hex, and if that wasn't bad enough, Ghost Rider pees fire.
Final Thoughts: bad actors, bad directing, and bad story. The movie trifecta from hell.
2) The Secret World of Arrietty: little people live in secret with humans. And one day a human befriends one of them and could put the little people in danger.
The Good: The animation looks wonderful and a very charming story.
The Bad: It's The Borrowers. I hope you liked the 1998 movie.
Final Thoughts: This is going to be the best movie out this week. It's about as good as japanese animation can get these days. Must. Watch!
3) Thin Ice: A con man gets himself in trouble when he tries to con an old farmer and a local blacksmith tries to catch the con man.
The Good: a well written story with a great emphasis on character.
The Bad: Ever watch Fargo? Yeah, that's this movie.
Final Thoughts: Should be good. Might be a bit on the artistic side and distasteful to some. Give it a shot.
4) Bullhead: A drugged up cattle farmer makes a deal with a shady meat trader. Then an investigator is killed and he must face his demons.
The Good: A powerful story full of brutality and violence.
The Bad: It's not a movie for casual movie goers. You have to be in to it from beginning to end.
Final Thoughts: Don't think this will be in theaters but man it should be.
See you at the movies!
1) Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengance: Johnny Blaze is back as the Ghost Rider to save a boy from the Devil.
The Good: First comic book movie of the year.
The Bad: It's a sequel to a bad movie, directed by the guy who did Gamer and Jonah Hex, and if that wasn't bad enough, Ghost Rider pees fire.
Final Thoughts: bad actors, bad directing, and bad story. The movie trifecta from hell.
2) The Secret World of Arrietty: little people live in secret with humans. And one day a human befriends one of them and could put the little people in danger.
The Good: The animation looks wonderful and a very charming story.
The Bad: It's The Borrowers. I hope you liked the 1998 movie.
Final Thoughts: This is going to be the best movie out this week. It's about as good as japanese animation can get these days. Must. Watch!
3) Thin Ice: A con man gets himself in trouble when he tries to con an old farmer and a local blacksmith tries to catch the con man.
The Good: a well written story with a great emphasis on character.
The Bad: Ever watch Fargo? Yeah, that's this movie.
Final Thoughts: Should be good. Might be a bit on the artistic side and distasteful to some. Give it a shot.
4) Bullhead: A drugged up cattle farmer makes a deal with a shady meat trader. Then an investigator is killed and he must face his demons.
The Good: A powerful story full of brutality and violence.
The Bad: It's not a movie for casual movie goers. You have to be in to it from beginning to end.
Final Thoughts: Don't think this will be in theaters but man it should be.
See you at the movies!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
From the Vault: Ringmaster
Made back in 1998, this was an attempt by shock talk show host, Jerry Springer, to show the American public that what you don't see on his show might just be more shocking.
It's impossible to discuss the movie without first talking about the controversial tv show. The Jerry Springer show began in 1991 and wasn't much different than other talk shows at the time. It was a political talk show featuring topics like gun control, rock music in society, and the needs of the poor. By 1994, the focus turned more to the extreme. Eventually introducing topics like my boyfriend is a girl, men who watch too much porn, or shows featuring racists or sexual fetishes.
At the height of Jerry Springer's controvercial popularity, the screenplay for "Ringmaster" was written by Jon Bernstein. Bernstein, not known for much writing success, Ringmaster was his first feature length project.
The story is a convergence of three separate storylines: 1) a white trash family where the daughter is sleeping with her mother's husband, 2) a black man sleeping with two best friends, and 3) Jerry himself interacting with fans and vocal critics alike while still producing the tv show.
As you could expect, the story isn't much different from the actual tv show. Generally unlikeable people flaunting their loose morals and general stupidity. And with a runtime of 90 minutes and three different storylines, the whole thing feels rushed. This is both good and bad: the characters are so unlikeable that we don't want to spend much time getting to know them.
This movie would've benefitted from some creative re-writing. Instead of three storylines all meeting on the Jerry Springer show, focus the 90 minute movie on just one aspect. Believe it or not, much of the movie while only 90 minutes is filler scenes of what brought the people to contact the show in the first place. A tighter story would focus on Jerry. I would like to know more of how he deals with the type of attention he gets with his show. How do people on the street react to him? Positively? Do they ask for autographs? Do they ask him for advice? Do they publically try to shame him for promoting immoral behavior? Does this put stress on his relationships with friends and family? How would he respond to his critics if he were given the chance? Some of these questions are answered but never fully explored and that's a real shame.
I wouldn't recommend this movie other than for the human train wreck you'd get with the hour long show. If really curious, just watch the show and try to fill in the blanks for yourself. You'd get the same experience.
It's impossible to discuss the movie without first talking about the controversial tv show. The Jerry Springer show began in 1991 and wasn't much different than other talk shows at the time. It was a political talk show featuring topics like gun control, rock music in society, and the needs of the poor. By 1994, the focus turned more to the extreme. Eventually introducing topics like my boyfriend is a girl, men who watch too much porn, or shows featuring racists or sexual fetishes.
At the height of Jerry Springer's controvercial popularity, the screenplay for "Ringmaster" was written by Jon Bernstein. Bernstein, not known for much writing success, Ringmaster was his first feature length project.
The story is a convergence of three separate storylines: 1) a white trash family where the daughter is sleeping with her mother's husband, 2) a black man sleeping with two best friends, and 3) Jerry himself interacting with fans and vocal critics alike while still producing the tv show.
As you could expect, the story isn't much different from the actual tv show. Generally unlikeable people flaunting their loose morals and general stupidity. And with a runtime of 90 minutes and three different storylines, the whole thing feels rushed. This is both good and bad: the characters are so unlikeable that we don't want to spend much time getting to know them.
This movie would've benefitted from some creative re-writing. Instead of three storylines all meeting on the Jerry Springer show, focus the 90 minute movie on just one aspect. Believe it or not, much of the movie while only 90 minutes is filler scenes of what brought the people to contact the show in the first place. A tighter story would focus on Jerry. I would like to know more of how he deals with the type of attention he gets with his show. How do people on the street react to him? Positively? Do they ask for autographs? Do they ask him for advice? Do they publically try to shame him for promoting immoral behavior? Does this put stress on his relationships with friends and family? How would he respond to his critics if he were given the chance? Some of these questions are answered but never fully explored and that's a real shame.
I wouldn't recommend this movie other than for the human train wreck you'd get with the hour long show. If really curious, just watch the show and try to fill in the blanks for yourself. You'd get the same experience.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Coming Soon: 2/10/12
These slow months really bug me. Many of these movies I just wouldn't recommend so, it's hard to come up with something to say. Well, let's see what we have this week.
1) Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace 3D: See how the story began. How Obwan met Anikin Skywalker.
The Good: Ray Park is amazing with a quarterstaff and the podracing scene in 3D might be cool to see.
The Bad: Jar Jar Binks, Metachlorians, and another reheated piece of crap meant to squeeze a few more million dollars out of enchanted fanboys.
Final Thoughts: Stop the cycle of 3D re-releases of bad movies. Don't go!
2) The Vow: Based on a true story. A woman wakes from a coma and her husband must help her remember.
The Good: If it really is based on a true story, it adds a lot to a basic story.
The Bad: If you don't like romantic dramas, there's no reason to watch.
Final Thoughts: Valentine's Day is coming. This one will put all the lovebirds out there in the mood.
3) Safe House: A dangerous criminal resurfaces and is persued by the CIA. The CIA places him in custody because someone else is trying to kill him.
The Good: Denzel, Denzel, Denzel. A great actor going back to his Training Day roots.
The Bad: Ryan Reynolds hasn't exactly done the best movies lately. And this is a serious action movie.
Final Thoughts: If I had to choose the best movie coming out this week, it's this one. Take that for what it's worth.
4) Journey 2: The Mysterious Island: Explorers go to a strange island full of dangerous creatures and secrets.
The Good: It's going to look cool in 3D.
The Bad: When was the last time Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson was in a good movie?
Final Thoughts: It's going to appeal to the younger audience because there will be a lot of craziness, but I don't see it being any better than any other movie The Rock starred in.
5) Chico and Rita: An animated tale of music and adventure as we watch musicians try to live out their dreams.
The Good: The music is going to be golden! We're talking old school jazz. Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Dizzy Gillespie just to name a few.
The Bad: The animation doesn't look as good as it should be. It's done in an artsy style many might not appreciate.
Final Thoughts: Probably won't be in theaters but one worth hunting down and enjoying.
See you at the movies
1) Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace 3D: See how the story began. How Obwan met Anikin Skywalker.
The Good: Ray Park is amazing with a quarterstaff and the podracing scene in 3D might be cool to see.
The Bad: Jar Jar Binks, Metachlorians, and another reheated piece of crap meant to squeeze a few more million dollars out of enchanted fanboys.
Final Thoughts: Stop the cycle of 3D re-releases of bad movies. Don't go!
2) The Vow: Based on a true story. A woman wakes from a coma and her husband must help her remember.
The Good: If it really is based on a true story, it adds a lot to a basic story.
The Bad: If you don't like romantic dramas, there's no reason to watch.
Final Thoughts: Valentine's Day is coming. This one will put all the lovebirds out there in the mood.
3) Safe House: A dangerous criminal resurfaces and is persued by the CIA. The CIA places him in custody because someone else is trying to kill him.
The Good: Denzel, Denzel, Denzel. A great actor going back to his Training Day roots.
The Bad: Ryan Reynolds hasn't exactly done the best movies lately. And this is a serious action movie.
Final Thoughts: If I had to choose the best movie coming out this week, it's this one. Take that for what it's worth.
4) Journey 2: The Mysterious Island: Explorers go to a strange island full of dangerous creatures and secrets.
The Good: It's going to look cool in 3D.
The Bad: When was the last time Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson was in a good movie?
Final Thoughts: It's going to appeal to the younger audience because there will be a lot of craziness, but I don't see it being any better than any other movie The Rock starred in.
5) Chico and Rita: An animated tale of music and adventure as we watch musicians try to live out their dreams.
The Good: The music is going to be golden! We're talking old school jazz. Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Dizzy Gillespie just to name a few.
The Bad: The animation doesn't look as good as it should be. It's done in an artsy style many might not appreciate.
Final Thoughts: Probably won't be in theaters but one worth hunting down and enjoying.
See you at the movies
Friday, February 3, 2012
Haywire Review: Hay...*yawn*
Ladies and Gentlemen, I feel suckered. I really thought this was going to be a great movie. I mean, how could it go wrong? The director is Steven Soderbergh. The guy who directed Contagion and Ocean's Eleven. And then add a cast with Antonio Bandaras, Michael Douglas, Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum, and Michael Fassbender! How could this be bad?
How could it be this BORING!
Oh let me count the ways. Gina Carano, for all her excellent fighting ability, couldn't act her way out of a paper bag. She just had no personality in this movie. And when she's the lead actress, that's a BIG problem. With all the acting talent associated with this movie, they play just bit parts, never getting more than a few minutes at a time.
AND THE SCRIPT!
Jesus Christ, God of everything good and holy. I said this back in my review of The Debt: if you're going to do a flashback, do it properly! And God! Why did that flashback have to go on for an hour! It's so frustrating waiting for the movie to catch up with the audience. And I never knew what was happening until the last 5 minutes of the movie! I checked my watch. It didn't even bother trying to summarize this insane, rambling, bumbling mess of a movie until the last 5-10 minutes!
The fight scenes just started to run together. They all looked the same. They looked like a professional fighter kicking the a** of hollywood actors. Which is exactly what it was. The camera work during the fight scenes was just boring. Sometimes it was too close to see what's happening. Other times it just radically shifted for no reason. There wasn't any music to go along with it. Everything about it just screamed boring. And most of the time Gina Carano just won handily.
The characterization was just laughably bad. One guy was literally labeled Bad Guy #1. There's only two characters I remember: Mallory Kane (Gina Carano) and Kenneth (Ewan McGregor I think). I don't know who Antonio Bandaras was, I don't know who Michael Douglas played... How am I supposed to care about any of this if I don't know what is going on or even who it's happening to?
All I can say is it's just boring. Boring, boring boring. The fights aren't any fun, the acting is bad, the story is unfollowable, and it's WAY too long. I really thought this was going to be good. I feel lied to.
How could it be this BORING!
Oh let me count the ways. Gina Carano, for all her excellent fighting ability, couldn't act her way out of a paper bag. She just had no personality in this movie. And when she's the lead actress, that's a BIG problem. With all the acting talent associated with this movie, they play just bit parts, never getting more than a few minutes at a time.
AND THE SCRIPT!
Jesus Christ, God of everything good and holy. I said this back in my review of The Debt: if you're going to do a flashback, do it properly! And God! Why did that flashback have to go on for an hour! It's so frustrating waiting for the movie to catch up with the audience. And I never knew what was happening until the last 5 minutes of the movie! I checked my watch. It didn't even bother trying to summarize this insane, rambling, bumbling mess of a movie until the last 5-10 minutes!
The fight scenes just started to run together. They all looked the same. They looked like a professional fighter kicking the a** of hollywood actors. Which is exactly what it was. The camera work during the fight scenes was just boring. Sometimes it was too close to see what's happening. Other times it just radically shifted for no reason. There wasn't any music to go along with it. Everything about it just screamed boring. And most of the time Gina Carano just won handily.
The characterization was just laughably bad. One guy was literally labeled Bad Guy #1. There's only two characters I remember: Mallory Kane (Gina Carano) and Kenneth (Ewan McGregor I think). I don't know who Antonio Bandaras was, I don't know who Michael Douglas played... How am I supposed to care about any of this if I don't know what is going on or even who it's happening to?
All I can say is it's just boring. Boring, boring boring. The fights aren't any fun, the acting is bad, the story is unfollowable, and it's WAY too long. I really thought this was going to be good. I feel lied to.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
From the Vault: Ed Wood
Made back in 1994, this is a movie about just how hard it is to actually make a movie. Ed Wood is a notoriously bad director. Of his accomplishments, he is most known for such movies as "Plan Nine From Outer Space" and "Glen or Glenda." "Ed Wood" is a movie about his career, his friendship with Bela Legosi, and the never ending headaches he had to overcome just to make a movie, let alone a good one.
For anyone interested in getting into the movie business, this is the one to watch. It has a lot to teach about the low budget shooting style Ed Wood loved. Many of his movies were made with a budget of around $50,000. Even by the 1950's standards, that isn't much money. So, Wood had to cut a lot of corners in order to just finish the movie.
Today, Ed Wood is a beloved filmmaker by many. His "so bad it's good" movies are enjoyed by a whole new audience. In life he never enjoyed much success, but years after his death, he managed to be respected.
It's a good lesson about perseverence and following one's passion despite whatever gets in the way. If it's something you love, it's worth fighting for.
For anyone interested in getting into the movie business, this is the one to watch. It has a lot to teach about the low budget shooting style Ed Wood loved. Many of his movies were made with a budget of around $50,000. Even by the 1950's standards, that isn't much money. So, Wood had to cut a lot of corners in order to just finish the movie.
Today, Ed Wood is a beloved filmmaker by many. His "so bad it's good" movies are enjoyed by a whole new audience. In life he never enjoyed much success, but years after his death, he managed to be respected.
It's a good lesson about perseverence and following one's passion despite whatever gets in the way. If it's something you love, it's worth fighting for.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Movies I'd like to see: February
January is done and there weren't very many good movies worth going to see. And as I glance over the list of movies coming out in February, I'm sorry to say there aren't too many interesting ones here as well. But there are a few I feel are worth seeing so let's take a look at what's on the horizon.
1) I Am Bruce Lee: It's a documentary about one of the most influential martial artists and actors ever. His skills and likeness have influenced so many other martial artists, video games, movies, etc that his legacy really is legendary. He died far too soon, but his story lives on.
2) The Vow: I normally don't go for romantic movies. They always feel a bit forced and/or contrived for my taste. But I hear it's inspired by a true story so, who knows? I still feel like it's going to be just oozing with sap, but I might give it a chance.
3) The Secret World of Arrity: I don't know why I'm interested in this since it's basically every fantasy tale you've ever heard. Maybe it's the voice acting of Carroll Burnett, Amy Poehler, and Will Arnett or just the fact animated movies like this used to be common but now are fairly rare. I think this one is going to be really good.
4) Act of Valor: It's an action movie with Navy SEALs. That means some great action scenes and a real hoorah attitude throughout the movie. Who doesn't like watching Americans kick butt?
See you at the movies
1) I Am Bruce Lee: It's a documentary about one of the most influential martial artists and actors ever. His skills and likeness have influenced so many other martial artists, video games, movies, etc that his legacy really is legendary. He died far too soon, but his story lives on.
2) The Vow: I normally don't go for romantic movies. They always feel a bit forced and/or contrived for my taste. But I hear it's inspired by a true story so, who knows? I still feel like it's going to be just oozing with sap, but I might give it a chance.
3) The Secret World of Arrity: I don't know why I'm interested in this since it's basically every fantasy tale you've ever heard. Maybe it's the voice acting of Carroll Burnett, Amy Poehler, and Will Arnett or just the fact animated movies like this used to be common but now are fairly rare. I think this one is going to be really good.
4) Act of Valor: It's an action movie with Navy SEALs. That means some great action scenes and a real hoorah attitude throughout the movie. Who doesn't like watching Americans kick butt?
See you at the movies
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)