Friends With Benefits

2011 Romantic Comedy/Drama by Will Gluck

Description:  Jamie is a New Yorker corporate head hunter looking to fill an executive position at GQ magazine.  Dylan is a successful writer for a very popular internet news blog from LA. When Jamie convinces Dylan to come to NYC to meet with GQ a friendship sparks.  Both are recently dumped and bummed about their single status.  After drink a few beers and watching a goopey romance movie they decide to add a few benefits to their friendship.  They do pretty good for a while… But eventually find that they have both invested more than intended in their sexual relationship.

Review: The story is kinda “been there, done that”, especially lately with “No Strings Attached” releasing in January 2011 and this one releasing in July 2011.  Seeing as how I have seen both and am reviewing one I will try to keep an open mind and do this like I haven’t seen the other.  There was a sad element to this movie so it wasn’t all ewwy gooey through the whole thing.  It was definitely funny, and I thought that the flash mob thing was cool.  Mila and Justin work really well off of each other.  There were several interesting twists throughout the film.  There was a lot of sex going on, like more than normal even for romantic comedies.  Not bad… J

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 7
Acting – 7.5
Comedy – 8
Romance – 8
Drama – 8

My favorite quotes:

ü  “I don’t want to be the guy that shits the bed.”

ü  “Why don’t they ever make a movie about what happens after the big kiss? – They do… It’s called porn.”

ü  “I love women. They’re beautiful, majestic, mysterious, mesmerizing creatures.  Smart, empathetic, far superior to men in every way and if I had a choice I would be with women to my dying day.  But me likes cock, so I’m strictly dick-ly.”

Lead cast: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Woody Harrelson
Supporting cast: Richard Jenkins, Jenna Elfman, Patricia Clarkson, Bryan Greenberg

Breakfast With Scot

2007 Comedy/Drama by director Laurie Lynd

Description:  A former tough guy pro hockey player, Eric, and his lawyer, Sam, who is Eric’s partner, are tasked with temporary custody of a young boy after his mom dies.  Eric is mortified when he discovers that young Scot has a liking for the flamboyant, gaudy, feminine side of things.  While trying to care for and protect Scot from being teased and picked on, Eric unintentionally gives the impression that Scot can’t be himself.  How high is the price of Scot appearing to be a “normal” child?

Review: A really great movie, with a great story, and great actors portraying great characters.  It shows the struggles of both children and grownups and it served up good “it’s ok to be yourself” lessons all around the table. I really like Tom Cavanagh as an actor; I don’t think that I have ever seen him in a bad movie.  I don’t want to say diamond in the rough because that seems too cliché and not quite right.  But how about if I say that it was a treasure buried in a sea of movies and is not likely to show up on a lot of people’s radars.  So if you are reading this, I hope that you will rent this title.  I have not read the book that this movie is based on, but I think that I will have to pick it up; if the movie was this good I can only imagine what the book will be.

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 9.5
Acting – 9.5
Comedy – 9
Drama – 9

My favorite quotes:

ü  “Look Sam, You wanna be worried about anything? Worry that that kid’s upstairs singing Christmas carols in October… To himself… By himself.”

ü  “When you’re out in public, watch the twirling, ok?”

ü  “You’re gonna get tall and you voice is gonna change and your face is gonna change and it’ll all be amazingly different.  But it’ll all happen so slowly, you won’t even notice. But I’d notice. I’d notice you. Every day I notice you.”
ü “We're all a little sissy around here."

Lead cast: Tom Cavanagh, Ben Shenkman, Noah Bennett
Supporting cast: Jeananne Goosen, Dylan Everett, Fiona Reid

The River Why

2010 Drama/Comedy by director Matthew Leutwyler

Description: A coming of life story about a young man who wants nothing more than to live in the river, Gus. Raised by a by the book fly fisherman and a spontaneous bait fisherwoman, Gus decides that it is time to get out of his dueling parents line of fire and strike out on his own.  Now, spending all of his time on the river, he begins to question his beliefs in everything.

Review: A wonderful tale, great characters and contrasting points of view on the “whys” of life.  The pace of the movie is on track with the pace of fly fishing.   It’s not a well known movie I guess, but it was definitely a good find.  The actors did a great job portraying their very different character roles. Beautiful footage of the NW United States scenery!

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 8.5
Acting – 8.5
Drama – 5
Comedy – 6.5

My favorite quotes:

ü  “Um, Titus? The dog’s in Dochart’s chair now… And he’s rocking… Should I tell him to get down?  It’s amazing, how did you teach him to rock a chair like that?”

ü  “How can you be so patient when searching for fish and so hasty to write off your soul because you can’t see it?”

Lead cast: Zach Gilford, Amber Heard, William Hurt, Dallas Roberts
Supporting cast: Kathleen Quinlan, William Devane, Gattlin Griffith

Tuck Everlasting

2002 – Drama/Romance by director Jay Russell

Description: A young sheltered girl from a wealthy family meets a young man, or so she thinks… At 15 Winnie is faced with a life that is all planned out by her parents.  When she meets Jesse Tuck she is able to experience a completely different way of life and she falls in love with his family’s easy go with the flow way of being. She also falls in love with Jesse.  But as it turns out the whole Tuck family has never aged since drinking from a spring of youth. Now Winnie must make one of the most important decision of her life that she will have to live with for the rest of her life: She has to decide if she will drink from the spring and live forever or stay on a human time line.

Review: A nice young person’s movie that contains a few good lessons to be learned. I did like the character’s different perspectives on immortality and what makes your life a ‘good life’.  The story was well written and well delivered by the director and actors.

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 8
Acting – 8
Drama – 7
Romance – 5.5

My favorite quotes:

ü  “I need a new name, one that’s not all worn out from being called so much.”

ü  “I’m never gonna let you go.”

ü  “What we Tucks have, you can’t call it living. We just….. Are.”

Lead cast: Alexis Bledel, Jonathan Jackson, William Hurt, Sissy Spacek
Supporting cast: Ben Kingsley, Scott Bairstow, Victor Garber, Amy Irving

The Guardian

2006 – Inspirational/Action/Drama/Military by director Andrew Davis

Description: Senior Chief Ben Randall is forced to take a break from U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimming and is ordered to either instruct potential future swimmers at A school or ride a desk.  Airman Jake Fischer, is fresh out of basic training with awesome potential, has a massive chip on his shoulder, has a hard time with authority, and with being anything other than the best.  Although they are a few decades apart in age, these two have a lot more in common than either of them is willing to admit to and lay on the table. Watch as Randall pushes Fischer to his full potential and to humble his at the same time and Fischer forces Senior Chief to come to terms with his own demons.

Review: I love this movie!  It’s one of my favorites in the inspirational genre.  Kevin Costner played the role of Senior Chief amazingly.  And it was no shocker that Ashton Kutcher was completely believable as the cocky, smart-alecky, super star kid fresh out of his teens, but he did a really good job showing his serious side in this film.  This is a great movie for everybody but it is a good coming of age or accepting your age film… I really liked the chance to see the U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers in the spotlight.  Great writing, great direction, great acting, just all over great!

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 10
Acting – 10
Comedy – 9
Drama – 9
Action – 8

My favorite quotes:

ü  “When storms shut down entire ports, we go out. When hurricanes ground the United States Navy, we go out. And when the holy lord himself reaches down from heaven and destroys his good work with winds that rip houses off the ground… We go out.”

ü  “What if another swimmer had cut into your lane? For the love of god, you could have been killed!”

ü  “There will come a time when you are going to have to say no.”

ü  “You might want to re-check your compass… This ain’t no puddle pirate bar.”

Lead cast: Kevin Costner, Ashton Kutcher, Sela Ward, Melissa Sagemiller
Supporting cast: Brian Geraghty, Neal McDonough, Clancy Brown

Fido

2006 – Comedy/Drama by director Andrew Currie

Description:  When Timmy Robinson’s mom buys a house zombie his whole family is in turmoil.  His mother doesn’t want to be the only family on the block without a zombie anymore, his father is terrified of zombies and Timmy doesn’t know what to think. Always being picked on by bullies his new zombie comes to the rescue and then eats an old lady.  Timmy has to think quickly to fix this mess and then decides that he should name is zombie Fido.  Before you know it Timmy and Fido are inseparable.  Scared of someone finding out that Fido ate the neighbor, Timmy has to figure out what to do now.

Review:  A well done, fun, and funny faux period zombie piece.  Of course I am always a sucker for zombie flicks, but there aren’t a lot of funny zombie movies so it’s nice to have another to add to the arsenal.  There was one thing that I thought was weird, the soundtrack was all period appropriate save for one exception.  In the scene where the mom is dancing in the living room the song playing is “Put A Lid On It” on the album “Hot” by Squirrel Nut Zippers, released in 1996.  Other than that I really enjoyed this movie and recommend that it be added to everybody’s ‘DVDs to buy’ list.

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 9
Acting – 8
Comedy – 8
Drama – 6.5

My favorite quotes:

ü  “In the brain and not the chest. Head shots are the very best.”

ü  “From dust have you come and to dust shall you return, but from dust shall you not be resurrected.”

ü  “That’s why they call it “A Man’s Job”… Flesh eating maniacs need not apply.”

ü  “You crazy, wonderful zombie!”

Lead cast:  Kesun Loder, Billy Connolly, Carrie-Ann Moss, Dylan Baker
Supporting cast:  Henry Czerny, Tim Blake Nelson, Alexia Frost, Sonja Bennett

The Graduate

1967 – Drama/Comedy/Romance by director Mike Nichols

Description: Confused about where to go and what to do with his life now that he is a college graduate, Ben goes home to Pasadena.  He fumbles his way into an unusual situation: seduces into an affair with Mrs. Robinson.  Wasting his days away and flinging through his nights, Ben still has no idea what to do.  Unexpectedly he decides that he is in love with and is going to marry the daughter of his mistress, much to the dismay of Mrs. Robinson.

Review: It is a very good adaptation of the book and the roles are played perfectly by a wonderful cast.  Dustin Hoffman plays a nervous, confused, moody 21 year old well.  Of course Anne Bancroft did such a good job playing nonchalant, confident, controlling, guilt tripping Mrs. Robinson!

My ratings:
Story & Plot – 8
Acting – 7
Drama – 7
Romance – 6

My favorite quotes:

F    “Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me.”

F   “Goddamn, that's great. So old Elaine Robinson got started in a

       Ford.”

F   “Benjamin, I am not trying to seduce you.”

F   “Mrs. Robinson, if you don't mind my saying so, this conversation is

       getting a little strange.”

Lead cast: Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katherine Ross
Supporting cast: William Daniels, Murray Hamilton, Elizabeth Wilson

13

2010 – Drama/Suspense by director Gela Babluani

Description: Vince’s father is in the hospital and their family is out of money.  So, to pay the hospital bills they put their house up for sale.  But then, by sheer chance, Vince stumbles upon a way to make a lot of money.  The catch is that he doesn’t know what he is in for, only that the instructions have to be stolen.  Lucky for Vince, the man with the instructions drops dead of an overdose.  Now all he has to do is follow the directions and hope that everything will work out.

Review: The opening scene is catchy and it has an overall interesting story and plot.  I didn’t really care for the main character Vince; it was kind of like he just happened to be there at the same time as the story is going on.  The movie was really carried by the other cast members.  I had never seen a preview for this movie I just happened to add it to my Netflix, it was a decent gamble.

My ratings:
Story & Plot – 7
Acting – 6.5
Violence – 6.5
Suspense – 6

My favorite quotes:
F    “Didn’t you hear? We don’t keep sheep inside and we don’t take them
       to bed with us.”
F   “Players, load your bullets into their cylinders.”
F   “Mrs. Richelieu, are you trying to seduce me?”

Lead cast: Sam Riley, Jason Statham, Ray Winstone, Mickey Rourke
Supporting cast: Alexander Skarsgard, Michael Shannon, 50 Cent

Pump Up the Volume

1990 – Drama/Comedy by director Allan Moyle

Description: As a recent transplant from the east coast to Arizona, Mark Hunter attempts to keep in touch with his friends with a short wave radio.  When he is unable to contact anybody he decides to turn his attention to a pirate radio program using the pseudonym Happy Harry Hard-on.  But then he realizes that people are actually listening to him every night.  His dime store operation becomes a beacon of hope for local teenagers, and things start happening.  Suddenly his alter ego becomes a hero in the eyes of kids at school.  Watch as a corrupt school principle gets the surprise of high school students actually speaking and standing up for their right to an education and the right to be a teenager.

Review: Great movie for teenagers and adults alike!  So much better than most teen movies out there, it’s more realistic.  Actually admits that everybody has issues and everybody is messed up.  At some point everybody is angry, confused, depressed, and misunderstood.  It is the movie for a generation of young people at the end of the 80’s and beginning of the 90’s.   There is lots of adult humor and themes going on.  It’s like blogging before blogging.  Awesome, awesome, awesome soundtrack!!!  Seriously.

My ratings:
Acting – 8
Story & Plot – 9
Drama – 6.5
Comedy – 8

My favorite quotes:
F   “So be it…”
F   “Talk hard!”
F   “Is it bigger than a baby’s arm?”
F   “Eat your cereal with a fork and do your homework in the dark.”

Lead cast: Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis, Ellen Greene, Annie Ross
Supporting cast: Scott Paulin, Mimi Kennedy, Cheryl Pollak, Seth Green, Billy Morrissette