The Vow - #7 of 2012

To be completely honest, The Vow wasn’t too bad.  It could have been better… but it could have been a LOT worse.  That said, I don’t really know if it’s the fault of the movie or the genre.  Let’s face it… romance movies are cheesy.  Incredibly cheesy… and most of them stink like limburger.  Every once in a blue moon you’ll get a romance as enjoyable as a nice Havarti… but that is rare.  Watchable romances like Serendipity, Before Sunrise, Love Actually, Notting Hill, Spanglish, Dan in Real Life, and even The Holiday and Wimbledon are few and far between.

The Vow is certainly cheesy… and to run this cheese analogy into the ground, The Vow is certainly not a nice high quality aged cheese… however, it is a nice sun—dried tomato cheddar… when paired with crackers… it’s hard to stop eating.   

Fine… I’m sappy…. but I enjoyed this movie for what it was.  A finely told love story about trials and commitment.

Although, VERY loosely based on a true story, it tries to tell the story of a real couple dealing with the aftermath of an accident leaving the wife with a traumatic brain injury, resulting in no recollection of her husband, nor the relationship they had shared for five years.  And how they leaned to trust again, rebuild their life together, and form new memories.

Like I said… cheesy.

However, this story IS based on a true story.  This really happened… kind of.

Sure, the film itself is very Hollywood and the context of the film is completely different than the true story it was based on, however, the emotions and sentiment is very real… at least to me.  Just knowing the film was about a couple who actually went through something (somewhat) like this was enough to rope me in and enjoy it for what it is.

A love story.

Channing Tatum, who I also praised for his work in this year’s 21 Jump Street, was believable as the loving husband who would do anything for his ailing wife.  And Rachel McAdams, who I first caught my eye is the amazing Canadian series Slings & Arrows is very strong in this story about trust and love.

Now, this movie may be ranked as #7 on my list… however, being overseas, it has become very difficult for me to seem movies at the pace I normally watch.  And in no way do I believe The Vow will remain at such a strong ranking.  It is destine to be a middle of the road movie for 2012 on my dynamic list.  But that said, I think it’s a good story.  And I would recommend it as a date night flick.

an aging actor oh so furious

October Movies (I Really Want to See)

Argo – Ben Affleck (director); Chris Terrio (screenplay); Ben Affleck, Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman

Seven Psychopaths

Martin McDonagh (director/sceenplay); Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Olga Kurylenko, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits, Abbie Cornish, Gabourey Sidibe

Smashed

James Ponsoldt(director/screenplay); Susan Burke(screenplay); Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Octavia Spencer, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally

Cloud Atlas

Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski,Lana Wachowski(director/screenplay); Tom Hanks,Hugh Grant, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Ben Whishaw, Susan Sarandon, Jim Broadbent, Bae Doona, James D'Arcy, Jim Sturgess, Keith David

Skyfall

Sam Mendes (director); Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, John Logan(screenplay); Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Javier Bardem, Bérénice Marlohe, Albert Finney

The Sessions

Ben Lewin (director/screenplay);John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, William H. Macy, Moon Bloodgood

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - #3 of 2012

Perhaps I’m just an old man at heart.  For some reason, I just love movies about our older generation finding new paths and experiencing new things in their twilight years.  Cocoon, About Schmidt, The Straight Story, RED, and The Visitor.  These are all fantastic films and I highly recommend seeing them.  And now, I have another fantastic film to add to this list:  The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Now, I will admit.  The title did absolutely nothing for me.  And while stuck on a plane from Frankfurt to Jeddah I almost overlooked it.  However, thankfully, none of the movies featured on the flight excited me much, so I went back and read the synopsis of Marigold Hotel… and the cast alone hooked me right away.  The cast of this movie is a who’s who of Briton’s top veteran actors and actresses:  Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love), Bill Nighy (Love Actually), Penelope Wilton (Downton Abby), Maggie Smith (Harry Potter series and Downton Abby), Tom Wilkinson (In the Bedroom and Michael Clayton), Ronald Pickup (The Mission and Danny, The Champion of the World), Celia Imrie (Bridget Jones’s Diary series), and Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire).

Beyond the amazing cast, the premise of the movie amused me:  A group of seniors burdened by poor economic times ‘outsource’ their retirement to India, moving to what they thought was a newly renovated luxury hotel, run by the enthusiastic and charming Dev Patel.  However, the reality they find once they arrive is a dilapidated and out-of-date hotel serving food too spicy for their English palates.

Furthermore, the story is masterfully told my director John Madden.  Madden has directed Judi Dench to two Oscar nominations and one win for Mrs. Brown and Shakespeare in Love.  The latter co-starred Tom Wilkinson, who also starred in Madden’s latest film, The Debt.  Madden makes very thoughtful films and his work on The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is no different.

Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and Tom Wilkinson are fantastic playing characters totally in their wheelhouse; however the standouts, in my opinion, are Bill Nighy and Dev Patel.

Bill Nighy is one of my favorite character actors and I’m always excited when I see him popup in a film.  And back in 2005, Serena and I saw The Girl in the Café which features Bill in a leading role… and he was absolutely brilliant.  For me, seeing an actor, who traditionally takes on supporting roles, deliver such a compelling leading performance was very special.  His performance in The Girl in the Café proved that Bill Nighy is more than an evil vampire.  More than an over domineering step-father turned zombie.  More than an aging rock-star.  Bill Nighy is an extremely talented and thoughtful actor.  And his performance in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is nothing short than brilliant and will give viewers a different side of Bill Nighy to adore.

Equally as fun and compelling is Dev Patel.  Still early in his career, I can only really compare him to his performance in Slumdog Millionaire… but his performance in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is so completely different that I can’t help but describe him as ‘refreshing and remarkable’.

In closing, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a must see. 

Best Performances of 2010 - Dynamic List

My ‘Best Performances’ dynamic lists are a lot like my Film lists, but slightly different.  For starters, while every film I see makes it onto my Film lists… only the most noteworthy performance make it onto my Best Performances lists.  Also, I only rank order what I consider the Top 5 Performances of the year.  However, I also maintain an Honorable Mentions list for each category, which is populated by performances that have either been bumped from the Top 5 or performances that are particularly noteworthy but not Top 5 worthy.  The honorable mentions are listed in alphabetical order by last name and are not rank ordered. 

That said, my Best Performances lists is just as dynamic and ever changing as my Film lists.

Best Performances of 2010:

Best Actor

1. James Franco – 127 Hours
2. Colin Firth – The King’s Speech
3. Ryan Gosling – Blue Valentine
4. Jesse Eisenberg – The Social Network
5. Russell Crowe – The Next Three Days

Honorable Mentions:

• Jeff Bridges – True Grit
• Steve Carell – Date Night
• Michael Cera – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
• Michael Cera – Youth in Revolt
• George Clooney – The American
• Rob Corddry – Hot Tub Time Machine
• Russell Crowe – Robin Hood
• Leonardo DiCaprio - Inception
• Zach Galifianakis – It’s Kind of a Funny Story
• John C. Reilly - Cyrus
• Mark Wahlberg – The Fighter

Best Actress

1. Natalie Portman – Black Swan
2. Michelle Williams – Blue Valentine
3. Tina Fey – Date Night
4. Annette Bening – The Kids Are All Right
5. Jennifer Lawrence – Winter’s Bone

Honorable Mentions:

• Cate Blanchett – Robin Hood
• Dakota Fanning – The Runaways
• Rebecca Hall – The Town
• Nicole Kidman – Rabbit Hole
• Julianne Moore – The Kids Are All Right
• Ellen Page - Inception
• Mary-Louise Parker - RED
• Emma Stone – Easy A

Best Supporting Actor

1. Christian Bale – The Fighter
2. Michael Shannon – The Runaways
3. Geoffrey Rush – The King’s Speech
4. Joseph Gordon-Levitt - Inception
5. Anthony Hopkins – You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger

Honorable Mentions:

• Russell Brand – Get Him to the Greek
• Josh Brolin – True Grit
• Nicolas Cage – Kick-Ass
• Thomas Haden Church – Easy A
• John Hawkes – Winter’s Bone
• Jonah Hill - Cyrus
• Jon Lovitz – Casino Jack
• John Malkovich – RED
• Liam Neeson – The Next Three Days
• Jeremy Renner – The Town
• Mickey Rourke – Iron Man 2
• Mark Ruffalo – The Kids Are All Right
• Justin Timberlake – The Social Network
• Stanley Tucci – Easy A
• Mark Wahlberg – Date Night

Best Supporting Actress

1. Melissa Leo – The Fighter
2. Jackie Weaver – Animal Kingdom
3. Helena Bonham Carter – The King’s Speech
4. Amy Adams – The Fighter
5. Marisa Tomei - Cyrus

Honorable Mentions:

• Elizabeth Banks – The Next Three Days
• Irina Bjorklund – The American
• Patricia Clarkson – Easy A
• Emily Meade - Twelve
• Helen Mirren - RED
• Chloe Grace Moretz – Kick-Ass
• Lucy Punch – You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
• Hailee Steinfeld – True Grit

Best Films of 2010 – Dynamic List

The concept of the Dynamic List is pretty simple.  As I see films, they are placed onto the list.  The list is rank ordered from best to worst.  So, films are placed onto the list based on how I liked that film in comparison to others that came out the same year.  Just because a film enters the list at #10 doesn't mean it will stay there… as films enter the list, others will be pushed down to lower rankings, which is why the list is dynamic.  The list is ever changing.  Sure, my focus may be on the films of this year; however that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped watching films from previous years.  And as I do… my previous lists continue to be dynamic!

Films of 2010:

1. 127 Hours
2. Inception
3. The Next Three Days
4. The Social Network
5. The Fighter
6. The King’s Speech
7. Toy Story 3
8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
9. It’s Kind of a Funny Story
10. Exit Through the Gift Shop
11. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
12. Date Night
13. Catfish
14. The Town
15. Robin Hood
16. Black Swan
17. Easy A
18. Cyrus
19. Winter’s Bone
20. The Kids Are All Right
21. Kick-Ass
22. Rabbit Hole
23. Restrepo
24. Twelve
25. The Tourist
26. Hot Tube Time Machine
27. Red
28. 4.3.2.1
29. The American
30. Animal Kingdom
31. True Grit
32. Due Date
33. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
34. How to Train Your Dragon
35. Salt
36. Megamind
37. You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
38. Casino Jack
39. Youth in Revolt
40. The Illusionist
41. Despicable Me
42. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
43. The Runaways
44. Blue Valentine
45. Iron Man 2
46. Conviction
47. The Other Guys
48. Buried
49. Nowhere Boy
50. Dinner for Schmucks
51. Devil
52. Grown Ups
53. The A-Team
54. Get Him to the Greek
55. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
56. The Expendables
57. Little Fockers
58. Tangled
59. Gulliver’s Travels
60. Knight and Day
61. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
62. Morning Glory
63. The Ghost Writer
64. Alice in Wonderland
65. Green Zone
66. Greenberg
67. The Book of Eli
68. Valentine’s Day
69. Shutter Island
70. Unstoppable
71. Yogi Bear
72. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
73. Clash of the Titans
74. Tron Legacy
75. The Twilight Sage: Eclipse
76. Jonah Hex
77. The Last Airbender
78. Alpha and Omega
79. The Spy Next Door
80. Sex and the City 2
81. Eat Pray Love
82. The Wolfman

21 Jump Street - #6 of 2012

I am a little torn. 

I really enjoyed 21 Jump Street, however, I’m not sure if my mood and environment at the time of the screening directly influenced my opinion.  There I was… rocking business class on an overnight flight from Washington, DC to Frankfurt, Germany... it was my second flight of the day, the seat was incredibly comfortable, the three course meal delectable, the Malbec delicious, and my personal LCD screen was triple the size of what I normally get in economy.  In short… I was in a very good mood.

So, to keep my mood soaring, I opted to watch a ridiculous comedy during my dinner:  21 Jump Street.

Perhaps it was my mood… my environment… or perhaps it was the fact that I went into this film with zero expectations… however I really enjoyed it and I would recommend it to anyone, especially if you remember the original 21 Jump Street television series.  That said, you don’t have to be familiar with the show; however, you’ll appreciate the movie even more if you are… especially when Johnny Depp and Peter DeLuise make their cameo… which was fantastically brilliant.

Ultimately, I found 21 Jump Street very fresh and oddly original, even for being a remake… and they hooked me in the first 10 minutes when Hill and Tatum get transferred and their Chief says, “We're reviving a canceled undercover project from the '80s and revamping it for modern times. The people behind this lack creativity and they've run out of ideas, so what they do now is just recycle shit from the past and hope that nobody will notice.”

I predict that Jonah Hill is going to be a household name for a very long time.   Not only did Jonah act in 21 Jump Street, he also wrote and produced the picture as well.  And when a comedy makes money while also getting good reviews (85% freshness from Rotten Tomatoes), the man behind the curtain (Jonah) is going to find his stock rising.  In addition, with an Oscar nomination under his belt, for Moneyball, Jonah is now being tapped to work with the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese, as well as maintaining a heavy schedule of comedies, which is totally he wheel house.  Jonah’s versatility could make him the next Robin Williams.

I also have to give props to Channing Tatum.  For the most part I’ve always seen Tatum as just another pretty boy pretending to be an action star and romantic leading man… however… my opinion of him started to change a bit after seeing The Vow.  I’ve also heard good things about Haywire, however I haven’t seen it yet.  But as for 21 Jump Street, this pretty boy ‘heartthrob’ has some serious comedy chops.  Tatum was hilarious.  Almost more so than Hill.  I was really surprised.  I was really expecting Tatum to be Hill’s straight man, trying to keep up, however I would completely wrong.  There was no straight man in this film.  Hill and Tatum were a perfectly balanced team.

All and all, it was a very fun comedy and I would totally watch it again.

John Carter - #13 of 2012

Erg… ummm… hmmm… ick.

So… I really wanted to like this movie.  I really did.  I wanted to tell all the naysayers to stick it.  But… erg… for debuting at #9 on my list, John Carter should be thankful for two things:

1.  That I’ve only seen 11 moves, so far, this year, and…

2.  The direct-to-video market stinks the big one.

As anyone who followed Friday Night Lights will tell you, playing a self-destructive alcoholic of a brut is totally in Taylor Kitsch’s wheel house… but this movie makes him look like an amateur. 

I just can’t beat around the bush here… this movie was simply ‘no good’… in any way.

Sadly, I blame director/writer Andrew Stanton.  Sure, he is a true talent.  He’s an amazing part of the Pixar team, having directed A Bug’s Life, Finding Nemo, and WALL-E… and he had a hand in writing all three installments of Toy Story… but John Carter shows the disconnect that can happen when moving from animated films to live-action.  It just didn’t work.

I… I just… I so wanted to like this movie.  But I can’t even begin to explain how much I didn’t care for it.  It just didn’t work.  At all.  Not even in the slightest way.

It is so sad.  The John Carter of Mars source material has so much to offer… but the film left so much to be desired.  I just… I don’t know where to begin.  So I won’t even start.

All I will say is this.  I am still a fan of Andrew’s animated work.  And I still think Taylor is a film actor.  But together… John Carter didn’t work at all.  I don’t know whose fault it was… but perhaps, the story would be more suited for a television series.

‘Contraband’ - #3 of 2012

When I tell people I liked Contraband most respond surprised with a confused face asking, “Really?”

Yes, really!

I thought it was a good movie and despite the negative reviews I’m not afraid to say it.  

Besides, most of the reviews for Contraband are downright lazy … they seem totally phoned in by an uncaring reviewer who is so preoccupied with January’s pre-Oscar fever that he/she can’t be bothered to write an actual review.

Even Leonard Maltin resorts to a mere plot summary (which is the laziest form of review ever, trailers accomplish the same thing) and he only offers three sentences of actual criticism:

1. Virtually all the actors go down with the ship, helpless to rise above a ponderous screenplay by Aaron Guzikowski.

2. A good caper movie should be light on its feet, but this one bears the weight of a heavy tread.

3. Contraband left a bad taste in my mouth, which is not what I’d call a ringing endorsement.

In addition, Maltin wishes the actors of Contraband “brighter prospects in 2012” and closes his review by saying, “But it is what I’ve come to expect from major studio releases in January.”

Now… I’m not going to say that Leonard Maltin is wrong on all accounts.  He is certainly correct about January.  It is a notoriously bad time of year for releasing movies… depending.  

Normally January brings us two kinds of films.  1) Great films that premiered in December, in limited venues, just to qualify for the Oscars and therefore given a wider release in January to keep their name in the media for Oscar voters, and 2) Films the studio don’t have much faith in.

Unfortunately, Contraband clearly falls into the latter category… and I believe reviewers allowed the timing of the film’s release to influence their opinions more than the actual film.

Also, to their credit, even the laziest reviewers took the time to point out one clear fault with the movie: the script.  The script was pretty formulaic, predictable, and at times, way over the top.  

However, unlike Maltin, I think the film’s tone and quality of acting saved the script and the overall film.

“Capers” as Maltin describes them, do not need to be light, like Ocean’s Eleven or The Italian Job, they can be heavy like The Spanish Prisoner or Heist.  Besides… I didn’t really think Contraband was trying to be a caper.  Sure there were elements, but there was a lot more going on.  I think the film was trying to be a gritty crime drama that just happened to have a caper-esque side plot.

In addition, the acting in this film was sublime.  Scripts don’t always have to be amazing for an actor to shine.  At some point a poorly crafted screenplay doesn’t matter anymore, as long as the performances are interesting and nuanced.  Mark Wahlberg was great as always.   This was one of Kate Beckinsale’s finer performances.  Ben Foster was fantastic.  And Giovanni Ribisi was at his best.  

Sure, it’s not a perfect film.  But perfect films are few and far between.  But that doesn’t mean Contraband is a total piece of garbage.  

The Hunger Games - #4 of 2012

Can The Hunger Games film series improve upon the books?  Yes, I think so.  And I will tell you why.

1^st, I read The Hunger Games prior to seeing the film and I found it to be one of the most gripping books I’ve read in a very long time.  I couldn’t but it down.  I was actually halfway through Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, which I was enjoying, when The Hunger Games film was released and my gut told me it was time to make a switch.  So, on a Saturday afternoon while Serena was taking a nap with the boys I started reading the book… and it was amazing.  That evening we had some friends over for karaoke and, quite literally, I just sat in the other room and read.  I hadn’t been that engrossed in a book in ages.

2^nd, after plowing through book one, I immediately started Catching Fire, which I thought was pretty good.  Not nearly as spectacular as the first book, mainly because it followed the exact same formula, but it was still pretty good.  I guess my main complaint is that it was kind of like seeing a really great horror movie only to me mildly disappointed by its all too similar sequel.  That said, I still devoured the book at record pace.

3^rd, to be honest… I’m having a lot of trouble getting through Mockingjay.  I’m about half way though and although it is completely different from the first two books, I don’t find it nearly as gripping or entertaining.

Now, the good news is that I can actually articulate why I feel this way.  And I have had numerous conversations with folks who have read the books about my feelings and most of them agree with my point.

I think the book series, as a whole, suffers from being in Katniss’ perspective.  All three books are told in first-person from her point of view and the problem I have found is that Katniss doesn’t grow enough as a character throughout the saga to keep up with how amazing the overall concept of the story is.  I really wish each book had changed perspectives.  I think Catching Fire would have been much better told from the point of view of Peeta.  And I think Mockingjay could have benefited from being in Haymitch or Gale’s perspective. 

My point is that there is a lot going on in the second two books… and most of the time Katniss isn’t privy to what’s going on.  And she isn’t mature enough to figure it out.

That said, I think The Hunger Games film is a brilliant compliment to the book.  Not better than the book, but a fine compliment.  However, the film was able to accomplish a number of things that the books couldn’t, that I think will benefit the overall film series, ultimately making the films better than the books.

The most important thing the film does is depart from the first-person narrative.  Although it focuses on Katniss, the film departs in a number of ways that benefits the story as a whole.  Like showing the start of the district revolts, how the gamekeepers operate, how Haymitch solicits sponsors, and most importantly, how much control President Snow has over the games.  These glimpses, departing from the books first person narratives, foreshadow how the next films will be handled.  And if the next films follow this format, they could potentially be stronger than the books.

I for one, am very excited to see how the film series expands the amazing source material.

I think The Hunger Games saga has the potential to be a lot like the television series Dexter, which is also based on a book series.  Although the first season of Dexter mirrors the original book, the television series, as a whole, has been to tell a much more compelling story.  

Bending the Rules - #11 of 2012

Okay.  So… WWE Films, subsidiary of World Wrestling Entertainment, is a bit of an interesting story.  They were originally created to co-produce The Scorpion King, The Rundown, and Walking Tall, all films starring The Rock, who had proven himself as a box office draw, but was still contractually obligated to WWE. 

That said, The Rock, although the most popular, was not an anomaly within the WWE organization.  Professional Wrestling has changed a lot over the years.  It wasn’t just about the wrestling any more.  It was about the performance and the pageantry.  The superstars in the ring were no-longer just athletic.  They had become talented orators and comedians.  They had transformed into showmen whose words alone could captivate an entire area full of people… holding them in the palm of their hands.

Say what you want about Professional Wrestling, but this is not an easy task.  Professional Wrestling isn’t just wrestling.  It’s a performance art.  And WWE knew it.

They began producing films showcasing their other wrestlers: Kane, John Cena, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Big Show, Randy Orton, and Triple H.  And along the way, WWE Films has also enlisted the talents of Hollywood’s elite:  Robert Partick (Terminator), Vinne Jones (Snatch), Academy Award Nominee Patricia Clarkson (Pieces of April), Danny Glover (Leathal Weapon), Dennis Farina (Get Shorty), three-time Academy Award Nominee Ed Harris (The Abyss), Parker Posey (A Mighty Wind), Michael Rapaport (Beautiful Girls), Bruce Dern (Big Love), Ethan Embry (Can’t Hardy Wait), Amy Smart (Rat Race),  and Aiden Gillen (The Wire and Game of Thrones).

Now… I’m not trying to say WWE Films makes good films.  But they do make the most tolerable direct-to-DVD movies out there.  Well, kind of tolerable.  They are kind of fun… in a bad movie sort of way.  Okay, my point is that they’re not horrible.  Most movies finding themselves on the direct-to-DVD market are there because they are too horrible to release in theatres.  Or, they are films for a niche-audience like the ones made by Troma Pictures.

But WWE Films, after three R-rated box-office flops, now specifically produce direct-to-DVD movies for the PG-13 and below market.  That right… WWE Films essentially produces ‘family friendly’ films. Shocking, right?

Anyway, on my quest to watch every film released in 2012 I ended up watching WWE’s latest: Bending the Rules, starring Jamie Kennedy (Scream), Jennifer Esposito (Crash), Alicia Witt (Friday Night Lights), Jessica Walker (Arrested Development), Kevin Weisman (Alias), Philip Baker Hall (Magnolia), and WWE Superstar Adam ‘Edge’ Copeland.

Now… okay… hmmm… alright… the movie isn’t great.  The script is contrived, predictable, and ill-conceived… and the directing felt a bit sophomoric.  However, the acting is what really, kinda, holds this movie together. 

And get this.  Adam Copeland is really good.  I mean really good.  I think he’s the best thing in the movie; and I don’t mean that as an insult to his supporting cast.  (Although, this was not one of Jamie Kennedy’s finer performances, except for his scenes with Philip Baker Hall… those scenes alone gave me a glimpse at the actor Jamie has the potential to be.  But then again… Philip is one of the most generous actors in the business and he’s excellent in everything he does).

As for Adam, he is incredibly natural on screen.  He never seemed forced (except for one specific moment reciting a movie line… but that was a script and direction issue… it was an awkward moment that should have been cut… if you see the movie you’ll see what I mean). 

Adam really showed off what he can do outside the ring.  His performance was funny, genuine, and endearing.  He would be perfect as a television series regular and someone should scope him up. 

WWE Films may be a good home for Stone Cold and John Cena… but not for Edge.  I mean Adam.  Adam has something.  And I hope I’m not only one who sees it. 

Anyway, this is a pretty stupid movie and as a cinefile I can’t really recommend it, but if you have teenagers in the house and you’re looking for something fun to watch as a family… there are much worse films out there.  

I should also mention Bending the Rules PG-13 rating.  This is a very tame PG-13.   Language is nil and sex is limited to light references (nothing crude).  The PG-13 rating must coming from mild violence in the form of gun play.  People do get killed… but the violence is not glorified and simply a plot devise, not unlike the superheroes killed in Pixar’s The Incredible.  I would probably let my 10 year old watch this movie with me.  If I had a 10 year old.

Best Performances of 2011 – Dynamic List (Updated: December 2, 2012)

My ‘Best Performances’ dynamic lists are a lot like my Film lists, but slightly different.  For starters, while every film I see makes it onto my Film lists… only the most noteworthy performance make it onto my Best Performances lists.  Also, I only rank order what I consider the Top 5 Performances of the year.  However, I also maintain an Honorable Mentions list for each category, which is populated by performances that have either been bumped from the Top 5 or performances that are particularly noteworthy but not Top 5 worthy.  The honorable mentions are listed in alphabetical order by last name and are not rank ordered. 

That said, my Best Performances lists are just as dynamic and ever changing as my Film lists.

Best Performances of 2011:

Best Actor

1. Jean Dujardin - 'The Artist'
2. Joseph Gordon-Levitt - '50/50'
3. Paul Giamatti - 'Win Win'
4. Ryan Gosling - 'Drive'
5. George Clooney - 'The Descendants'

Honorable Mentions:

• Steve Carell - 'Crazy, Stupid, Love'
• Brendan Gleeson - 'The Guard'
• Ryan Gosling - 'Crazy, Stupid, Love'
• Ryan Gosling - 'The Ides of March'
• Ed Helms - 'Cedar Rapids'
• Thomas Horn - 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close'
• Danny McBride - 'Your Highness'
• Brad Pitt - 'Moneyball'
• John C. Reilly - 'Carnage'
• Michael Shannon - 'Take Shelter'
• Paul Rudd - 'Our Idiot Brother'
• Christoph Waltz - 'Carnage'
• Owen Wilson - 'Midnight in Paris'

Best Actress

1. Tilda Swinton - 'We Need to Talk About Kevin'
2. Viola Davis - 'The Help'
3. Charlize Theron - 'Young Adult'
4. Michelle Williams - 'My Week with Marilyn'
5. Beranice Bejo - 'The Artist'

Honorable Mention

• Kirsten Dunst – ‘Melancholia’
• Jodie Foster - 'Carnage'
• Rooney Mara - 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'
• Julian Moore - 'Crazy, Stupid, Love'
• Saorise Ronan - 'Hanna'
• Emma Stone - 'Crazy, Stupid, Love'
• Emma Stone - 'The Help’
• Kristen Wiig - 'Bridesmaids'
• Kate Winslet - 'Carnage'

Best Supporting Actor

1. Ezra Miller - 'We Need to Talk About Kevin'
2. Christopher Plummer - 'Beginners'
3. Kevin Spacey - 'Margin Call'
4. Albert Brooks - 'Drive'
5. Seth Rogen - '50/50'

Honorable Mentions:

• Kevin Bacon - 'Crazy, Stupid, Love'
• Paul Bettany - 'Margin Call'
• Kenneth Branagh - 'My Week with Marilyn'
• Kyle Chandler - 'Super 8'
• George Clooney - 'The Ideas of March'
• Sasha Baron Cohen - 'Hugo'
• Jonah Hill - 'Moneyball'
• Jeremy Irons - 'Margin Call'
• Ben Kingsley - 'Hugo'
• Patton Oswalt - 'Young Adult'
• John C. Reilly - 'Cedar Rapids'
• Alex Shaffer - 'Win Win'
• Alexander Skarsgard - 'Straw Dogs'
• Stanley Tucci - 'Margin Call'
• Max von Sydow - 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close'
• Christopher Waltz – ‘Water for Elephants’

Best Supporting Actress

1. Octavia Spencer - 'The Help'
2. Shailene Woodley - 'The Descendants'
3. Amy Ryan - 'Win Win' 
4. Carey Mulligan - 'Drive'
5. Jessica Chastain - 'The Debt'

Honorable Mentions:

• Cate Blanchett - 'Hanna'
• Jessica Chastain - 'The Help'
• Jessica Chastain - 'Take Shelter'
• Elle Fanning - 'Super 8'
• Charlotte Gainsbourg – ‘Melancholia’
• Anne Heche - 'Cedar Rapids'
• Bryce Dallas Howard - 'The Help'
• Demi Moore - 'Margin Call'
• May Rudolph - 'Bridesmaids'
• Analeigh Tipton - 'Crazy, Stupid, Love'
• Marisa Tomei - 'Crazy, Stupid, Love'
• Emma Watson - 'My Week with Marilyn'
• Evan Rachel Wood - 'The Ides of March'

Best Films of 2011 – Dynamic List (Updated: December 2, 2012)

The concept of the Dynamic List is pretty simple.  As I see films, they become eligible to be placed onto the list.  The list is rank ordered from best to worst, so films are placed onto the list based on how I liked that film in comparison to others that came out the same year.  Just because a film enters the list at #10 doesn't mean it will stay there… as films enter the list, others will be pushed down to lower rankings, which is why the list is dynamic.  The list is ever changing.  Sure, my focus may be on the films of 2012, but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped watching films from previous years.  And as I do… my previous lists continue to be dynamic!

Films of 2011:

1. Win Win
2. The Artist
3. Midnight in Paris
4. Margin Call
5. Moneyball
6. Super 8
7. Crazy, Stupid, Love
8. Hugo 
9. The Help
10. 50/50
11. Young Adult
12. Drive
13. The Guard
14. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, Part II
15. The Adventures of TinTin 
16. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
17. The Descendants
18. The Muppets 
19. Take Shelter
20. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
21. My Week with Marilyn
22. Carnage
23. Melancholia
24. Hanna
25. We Need to Talk about Kevin
26. Colombiana
27. Tower Heist
28. Arthur Christmas
29. Sucker Punch
30. The Debt
31. The Ides of March
32. The Big Year
33. The Hangover 2
34. Cedar Rapids
35. Beginners
36. Our Idiot Brother
37. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
38. The Lincoln Lawyer
39. Your Highness
40. Bridesmaids
41. Cowboys and Aliens
42. Dolphin Tale
43. Larry Crowne
44. Straw Dogs
45. Anonymous
46. Battle: Los Angeles
47. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
48. Fright Night
49. Water for Elephants
50. Real Steel
51. War Horse
52. Horrible Bosses
53. The Green Hornet
54. Rio
55. Puss 'n Boots
56. 30 Minutes or Less
57. Cars 2
58. Contagion
59. The Adjustment Bureau
60. Bad Teacher
61. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
62. Red Riding Hood
63. Hoodwinked Too!  Hood vs. Evil
64. Lion King 3D (Really?  3D?)
65. Hop
66. Spy Kids: All the Time in the World
67. Smurfs
68. The Dilemma
69. Priest
70. The Change-Up

Trailers – The Will Ferrell Double Feature

It’s going to be a good year for Will Ferrell.  I was not a hug fan while he was on SNL… but I can’t get enough of his movies.  I don’t think his brilliance can be captured in a two minute sketch.  Will needs an hour and a half to make his magic. 

The Avengers - #2 of 2012

It’s really hard to piggy back all the great press on The Avengers… so I’m going to try and keep this simple.  I’m just going to share my favorite things about the movie as well as a few issues I have.  And don’t worry.  The things I applaud far out weight the issues.

Favorite #1:  Joss Whedon Made It Work

Joss Whedon really is the man who pulled this thing together.  And I’m not just saying that because I am a fan.  I’m saying that because it’s the truth.  When Marvel Films announced their plan of making a series of movies centered on different characters from The Avengers lexicon; and then to bring those individually established characters together for an Avengers movie I thought it was a brilliant business and marketing endeavor.  However, I never thought The Avengers would work as a movie.  And when I heard Joss had signed on to write and direct I had to say a little prayer and muster up a little faith. 

Joss is an incredible talent.  I am a huge fan of all of his televisions series: Buffy, Firefly, Angel, and even Dollhouse, which I think is one of the most underrated shows of the last decade.  He has this incredible gift of always knowing what the audience wants… and he delivers, while also challenging and surprising his audience as well.  At the same time, Joss has been plagued with producers and networks who think they know better, when they really don’t.  Ever since his first feature film, Serenity, failed to strike a chord with audiences I’ve been concerned.  And as the hype surrounding The Avengers grew and grew exponentially… so did my concern.  If the film did not meet expectations… Joss’ film career would be over... and he’d be back to fighting for respect from the networks.

All I can say is this.  Joss threw down the gauntlets and gave Hollywood the “what’s up”.  Not only did The Avengers live up to the hype.  It exceeded the hype.  It exceeded the hype in a world so cynical that the very notion of exceeding hype seems impossible… magical. It happened.  The movie works.  It’s fun.  It’s dramatic.  It is action packed.  It’s funny.  It’s Joss Whedon.  His writing and directing style is all over this movie. 

Now, I can’t give Joss credit for reinventing the superhero movie.  Christopher Nolan did what with Batman Begins, however I do believe Joss Whedon has reinvented the summer blockbuster.  He has made the ultimate popcorn action flick.  And if Marvel Films is smart, they would hire Joss as their Chief Creative Officer.

Favorite #2: Clark Gregg Shines as Phil Coulson

This was Clark Gregg’s fourth appearance in The Avengers franchise; previously appearing in both Iron Man’s and Thor.  In each of the previous installments, SHIELD Agent Phil Coulson wasn’t exactly a likeable guy.  Sure, he always on the side of right… but he’s always been sort of a di… jerk.  But now, in The Avengers we get to see a completely different side to Agent Coulson.  His softer side.  His human side.  And as a viewer, I couldn’t help loving him!  It was pretty masterful writing by the way.  Gwyneth Paltrow’s lovely Pepper Pots set the stage for a loveable Coulson… and his fan-boy obsession with Captain American made him accessible and endearing.  Rumor has it that he’ll be back for Iron Man 3... I can’t wait!   

Favorite #3: Scarlett Johansson Best Performance… Ever

Okay, I am not a huge Scarlett Johansson fan… but she was fantastic in this movie.  I would even describe her Black Widow as a scene stealer.  She was fantastic.  Joss is known for writing strong female characters and it was obvious here.  I found Black Widow somewhat forgettable in Iron Man 2… but there is no forgetting her this time!

Favorite #4: The Handling of The Hulk

Mark Ruffalo is getting tons of great press for his portrayal of Bruce Banner/The Hulk and he deserves every bit of it.  The Hulk, in movies, has always been a point of contention for me.  I didn’t like the version Eric Banna made with Ang Lee… and I thought Edward Norton’s was only slightly better.  And I think it is because both movies tried to follow The Hulk’s creation myth.  However, that isn’t The Hulk’s legacy.  The REAL story of The Hulk isn’t about The Hulk at all… it’s about Bruce Banner and him trying to keep his sh—together… the internal struggle of man over monster.  This is why I think the television series was so successful.  The Hulk told in the style of The Fugitive (the television series, not the movie).  And before now, I had developed the opinion that television is where The Hulk belonged… but I’m not so sure any more.  Ruffalo now has a six picture deal with Marvel… so I am sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of him.  Thank goodness.

Favorite #5:  The On-Screen Chemistry of Robert Downey, Jr. and Mark Ruffalo

There isn’t much more I can say about this one.  The two make it look so dang easy and they are a joy to watch.

Issue #1:  Poor Use of Jeremy Renner… AGAIN!

You know?  I just don’t get it.  I don’t get it at all.  Jeremy is a fantastic actor.  He’s been nominated for the Academy Award twice!  This is his second film in The Avengers franchise as Hawkeye and I feel like they have barely used him.  When he popped up in Thor I was like, “awesome!”  And then after about five minutes of screen time he was gone.  I was confused… but I knew The Avengers was coming so I figured they had something big in store for him… but they didn’t.   

Now, that said… they definitely laid the ground work the Hawkeye/Black Widow relationship.  These two have a very long and sorted history together in the annals of Marvel Comics.  I think it would be interesting to see a movie centering about the two of them.

Issue #2: Cobie Smulders

If you don’t watch How I Met Your Mother you probably don’t know who Cobie Smulder is.  I was very interested in seeing Cobie as Maria Hill.  However, I don’t feel like they did a whole lot with her.  It was just kind of a ho-hum performance if you ask me.  BUT!  Maria Hill has a very interesting Marvel Legacy as well.  One that is very intertwined with all of The Avengers, especially Nick Fury, Tony Stark, and Captain America.  So… although she isn’t currently attached to any of the forthcoming Avengers flicks… she could pop-up in any number of them.  And I think that is the kind of movie universe Marvel Films wants to create.  A movie universe that mirror their comic book universe.  Now that the characters are established and interconnected… anything can happen.

'Se7en Below' - Worst Movie of 2012

Okay.  So I grew up watching Mystery Science Theater 3000 and I’ll admit it, have a soft spot in my heart for cheesy horror films… low budget films… films that are so poorly crafted that I can’t help but love them.  Does anyone else share my love/hate relationship with The Room?  It is so bad it is hauntingly brilliant. 

However, 7 Below is quite literally the worst movie I’ve seen in over a decade.  And when I use the word “worst” I am not saying it in an endearing way.  It is legitimately horrible.  I've seen high school student make more compelling movies on a Sunday afternoon.


7 Below is unrankable, which is why I am just going to call it the worst movies of the year, even though it is only May, and be done with it.  And that is saying a lot because 2012 has already brought us Columbus Circle, another God-awful flick.  But unlike 7 Below, Columbus Circle, actually had potential to be good... it just failed.  7 Below had no potential.  

Anyway, there really is no point of me continuing. Known simply as ‘Russell’, the movie critic over at Flesh Eating Zipper has posted, what I consider to be, the quintessential review of 7 Below. No matter how witty and insightful I think I am… there is no way I can improve upon Russell’s perfection. So, instead of trying I am going to give credit where credit is due and simple repost:

*****

The mafia needed to launder some money. That’s the only explanation I can think of for the existence of 7 Below, this week’s straight-to-DVD turd starring Val Kilmer and Ving Rhames. You’d think a movie starring Val Kilmer and Ving Rhames couldn’t be all bad. You’d be wrong. I sure was. I desperately want to say something semi-witty or insightful about this movie, but I can’t. F*** this movie. Just…f*** it.

Five idiots take a shuttle bus from a resort (apparently in the middle of nowhere) to the nearest airport when they crash on a deserted highway. Ving Rhames shows up dressed like Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven and ushers them to his house, claiming that a storm is approaching and that they will all be safe there; the shuttle driver dies in the accident, but no one seems very bothered by the prospect of callously leaving his body behind to feed vultures. The ragged crew head without protest to a two story house that’s either haunted or resting upon a tear in the space-time continuum—the writers don’t seem to know or care and neither do I for that matter.

7 Below starts out feeling like the type of horror flick that was parodied in the brilliant Cabin in the Woods (which we here at Flesh Eating Zipper absolutely loved), but it gets worse. At least the generic horror story at the heart of that movie was competently crafted and occasionally scary. This movie is boring and ugly to look at. It doesn’t even pass into so-bad-it’s-good territory; it’s just infuriating.

Shortly after the clueless sacrificial lambs arrive at the house, they start dying. The first character’s death is obviously the result of foul play, but no one expresses any real concern. Could the killer possibly be the creepy fucking black guy who lives out in the middle of nowhere, doesn’t possess a telephone or a computer, and dresses like a nineteenth century frontiersman? These idiots don’t seem to think so. They also don’t seem to have cell phones, because not once does anyone attempt to contact the outside world for help.

And despite the fact that the movie is titled 7 Below the weather never seems to get all that cold. All of the characters spend the movie running around in t-shirts and dresses, never displaying the slightest discomfort. The menacing storm that Ving Rhames warns everyone about never turns up. The weather mostly consists of some light rain (not snow or hail) and some mild thunder and lightening. None of the brain dead characters realize that the weather actually isn’t that bad and that their chances of survival are better out in the rain than in the time traveling haunted house.

The casting is the movie’s strongest point which isn’t saying much. Val Kilmer’s mug adorns the poster, but he’s in the movie for all of five minutes, and he doesn’t do much acting here. In fact, I’m skeptical that the director even gave him a script. More likely, the crew just loaded Kilmer up on Peach Schnapps one afternoon and filmed the result without him ever knowing what was going on. Ving Rhames seems to be having a good time here, but everyone else fails to even register.

The cinematography is complete shit. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if these clowns shot the entire movie with natural lighting. That’s not always a bad idea, but it’s asinine when your entire film takes place at night in a three bedroom house. 90% of the movie consists of vague outlines of people stumbling around in the dark and whispering to each other.

Even if I cared about the proceedings, I wouldn’t be able to follow them because the film is completely incomprehensible. I spent so much time squinting and trying to figure out what was going on in each scene that I thought I was going to have an aneurysm, which honestly would have been a blessing because it would have prevented me from having to watch one more minute of this movie.

I would give 7 Below a rating of zero, but no movie starring Ving Rhames deserves a zero, even if it the production is just a crappy front for laundering dirty money.

Here is a link to Russell’s latest reviews: http://www.flesheatingzipper.com/author/russell/