This film was pretty good though it could have been better.
Dan Mulligan (Mark Ruffalo) is a bum. He used to be a brilliant music producer but his life is in shambles. His wife (Catherine Keener) cheated on him, his daughter, Violet (Hailee Steinfeld) dresses like a slut and he just lost his job.
Gretta (Keira Knightley) is also down on her luck. For five years, she was a devoted girlfriend to her up and coming musician boyfriend, Dave Kohl (Adam Levine) only find out through his new song that he cheated on her. He is pissed that she can read his mind.
Gretta has her own sound and she is stripped down but excellent. Her talent is raw and Dan picks up on that and even persuades her to record her own album. Gretta goes from being a songwriter to full blown performer but this album must be done on the cheap as Dan's partner at the record studio (Yaslin Bey) doesn't like it much. So they set out into the streets literally recording the album in the streets with a bunch of unknown musicians. The result is brilliant and once it is finished the studio is interested but Gretta is unconventional. She doesn't understand why the studio would get so much of the money from her album, plus they would make all these changes to it, changes she would not approve of. She's seen it happen. Dave took this brilliant, emotional ballad she wrote for him and turned it into this horrid pop mash up with some crappy falsetto.
The film ends after the credits have already begun with Gretta releasing the album herself, online for dirt cheap but it is a hit and it will probably only increase as the word of mouth spreads.
As for the relationships, Gretta encourages Violet to not dress as though she's easy and urges Dan to spend more time with his daughter. Though it probably wasn't easy, Dan eventually forgave his estranged wife, Miriam and he moves back home. And despite Dave practically begging Gretta to forgive him and he even plays the song the way it was meant to be for her, she still walks away from him.
This film does have some good performances even Adam Levine is good. None of them are Oscar worthy by any means, but everyone is good with Knightley standing out as her voice is great and fits the character perfectly. Fortunately, the songs are great and strongly carry the film. The setting of the actual New York City is also great. Sure, curse words are used too frequently and the timeline gets a little jumbled here and there And the ending was completely underminded by having it end and then the credits begin and then continuing the film when Gretta actually releases her album almost as though it is an afterthought which it should never be.
Also look for some scene stealing performances from Cee Lo Green and James Corden. This film may not have been bad but I probably won't watch it again anytime soon. Grade: B
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Friday, July 24, 2015
Say Anything (1989)
This was a good film.
Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) is actually a nice guy. He's average, basic even, but he's kind and almost values the feelings of women, thanks largely to his vast array of female friends: Corey (Lili Taylor) and Rebecca (Pamela Adlon). Corey is going through her own rough break-up with Joe (Loren Dean) but she stands up to him when he is more than willing to rekindle their romance. It is such a simple moment but very empowering.
But the film isn't about Corey. It's about Lloyd and his pursuit of the super brain Diane Court (Ione Skye). She is very intelligent so much so that she has received a fellowship to study in England. She is more than the apple of her overbearing father's (John Mahoney's) eye.
Despite her always being busy, between studying and helping out at her father's nursing home, Diane tries not to be interested in Lloyd but she goes to a party and finally got to know and understand her classmates. Before they were just figures in the distance, now they are real people.
Her father isn't thrilled with the relationship even though Diane is acting her age for the first time in her life. He wants her to remain focused on her goals, something that she's been working her whole life for. But Mr. Court has his own distractions: he's being investigated by the IRS for ripping off the elderly people in his very nursing home. This plot point turns out to be much more important than I originally thought.
But this is a film and everything works out. Diane mends fences with her criminal father and Lloyd follows her to England because he doesn't have any career goals of his own and his main goal in life is to make Diane happy.
The film is filled with very natural performances and great realistic dialogue and the film flows well. There aren't any major flaws which is great. Perhaps the only problem I had is when Lloyd lifts his boombox outside of Diane's window is that she remains in her bed, ruining the epic moment I had in my head. But there is so much more to love. Sure, I wish there were more guys like Lloyd but he is far from perfect with no life goals of his own, opting to focus on the new sport of kickboxing. But he is good with his nephew and has natural banter with his sister (John's actual sister Joan Cusack). He records stuff to tell Corey while he's driving around ruing the day he ever met Diane during their brief separation. He's almost perfect, even writing a letter to Diane after their love making to show his gratitude and appreciation. I would like him to have have his own actual realistic goals with his career but his friends know why Diane would fall for him and so does the audience and that is all that matters. Grade: A-
Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) is actually a nice guy. He's average, basic even, but he's kind and almost values the feelings of women, thanks largely to his vast array of female friends: Corey (Lili Taylor) and Rebecca (Pamela Adlon). Corey is going through her own rough break-up with Joe (Loren Dean) but she stands up to him when he is more than willing to rekindle their romance. It is such a simple moment but very empowering.
But the film isn't about Corey. It's about Lloyd and his pursuit of the super brain Diane Court (Ione Skye). She is very intelligent so much so that she has received a fellowship to study in England. She is more than the apple of her overbearing father's (John Mahoney's) eye.
Despite her always being busy, between studying and helping out at her father's nursing home, Diane tries not to be interested in Lloyd but she goes to a party and finally got to know and understand her classmates. Before they were just figures in the distance, now they are real people.
Her father isn't thrilled with the relationship even though Diane is acting her age for the first time in her life. He wants her to remain focused on her goals, something that she's been working her whole life for. But Mr. Court has his own distractions: he's being investigated by the IRS for ripping off the elderly people in his very nursing home. This plot point turns out to be much more important than I originally thought.
But this is a film and everything works out. Diane mends fences with her criminal father and Lloyd follows her to England because he doesn't have any career goals of his own and his main goal in life is to make Diane happy.
The film is filled with very natural performances and great realistic dialogue and the film flows well. There aren't any major flaws which is great. Perhaps the only problem I had is when Lloyd lifts his boombox outside of Diane's window is that she remains in her bed, ruining the epic moment I had in my head. But there is so much more to love. Sure, I wish there were more guys like Lloyd but he is far from perfect with no life goals of his own, opting to focus on the new sport of kickboxing. But he is good with his nephew and has natural banter with his sister (John's actual sister Joan Cusack). He records stuff to tell Corey while he's driving around ruing the day he ever met Diane during their brief separation. He's almost perfect, even writing a letter to Diane after their love making to show his gratitude and appreciation. I would like him to have have his own actual realistic goals with his career but his friends know why Diane would fall for him and so does the audience and that is all that matters. Grade: A-
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Bull Durham (1988)
Let me give you a piece of advice, don't watch this film.
There isn't really much to like here. Sure, the performances from both Susan Sarandon and Kevin Costner are pretty good, and that is saying something as I can't stand Costner, the plot is ridiculous. Sarandon is a college educated woman but her greatest achievement is picking a minor league baseball player, and sleeping with him for the season which will be the best of his career. For the season the film follows, she has selected ladies' man, 'Nuck' LaLoosh (Tim Robbins) for her sex buddy. She does give him good advice, at least on the field, which includes listening to the seasoned catcher, Crash Davis (Costner).
It is basically a three person drama though there is an interesting subplot between the religious ball player Jimmy (William O'Leary) and Anne's frisky friend, Millie (Jenny Robertson) which should have been given more attention.
The film has that small town feel to it, which is appropriate but the characters don't mesh and the evening is just a mess with Nuck being called up to the majors and Crash picking a woman over his career. Though baseball is Anne's main religion, she knows that is nothing personal when Crash briefly leaves her, after all, baseball is a job also.
I wish the film would have been funny or meaningful or filled with great performances or witty dialogue. In the end, it had none of those. Grade: C-
There isn't really much to like here. Sure, the performances from both Susan Sarandon and Kevin Costner are pretty good, and that is saying something as I can't stand Costner, the plot is ridiculous. Sarandon is a college educated woman but her greatest achievement is picking a minor league baseball player, and sleeping with him for the season which will be the best of his career. For the season the film follows, she has selected ladies' man, 'Nuck' LaLoosh (Tim Robbins) for her sex buddy. She does give him good advice, at least on the field, which includes listening to the seasoned catcher, Crash Davis (Costner).
It is basically a three person drama though there is an interesting subplot between the religious ball player Jimmy (William O'Leary) and Anne's frisky friend, Millie (Jenny Robertson) which should have been given more attention.
The film has that small town feel to it, which is appropriate but the characters don't mesh and the evening is just a mess with Nuck being called up to the majors and Crash picking a woman over his career. Though baseball is Anne's main religion, she knows that is nothing personal when Crash briefly leaves her, after all, baseball is a job also.
I wish the film would have been funny or meaningful or filled with great performances or witty dialogue. In the end, it had none of those. Grade: C-
Friday, July 10, 2015
The Lego Movie (2014)
This film was robbed of an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature, and many were devastated. I can see why, however, what the Academy couldn't mention as this spoils the film is that is it probably didn't qualify based on a technicality. It also contains actual people.
Thanks to President Business (Will Ferrell) everything in Lego Land functions like a well oiled machine, everyone follows the instructions and none do that better than Emmet (Chris Pratt). In fact, Emmet is so good no one even notices him. He's usually ignored, but he doesn't get upset. But one day, at the end of work, he sees someone who shouldn't be there: Wild Style (Elizabeth Banks). He doesn't report her because she's so beautiful. She's part of the resistance, determined to undermine President Business's plan and join an object with the Kragle (glue) so everything can go back to the way things were: with rules or regulations. Everyone can be themselves.
From here, some interesting characters are introduced: Batman (Will Arnett) Wild Style's boyfriend who only likes working with black or dark gray legos, Princess Unkitty (Alison Brie) who always tries to think positively and Master Pirate (Nick Offerman) who manages to save the day.
Though Emmet's plans are simple and most think that they are completely stupid, he still manages to save the day with his double decker couch. Even the God-like figure of Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman) thinks that idea was just the worst, but it saves their lives from Bad Cop (Liam Neeson) although Bad Cop is actually okay, in the end.
Emmet also decides that the last thing the President would think the Master Builders would do is follow the instructions and that's what they do even if it goes against the fiber of their very being. Things go almost according to plan until Bad Cop shows up and ruins everything. The special piece is tossed away and Emmet is devastated to learn that he is not actually the Special and that Vitruvius made up the prophecy but anyone could be special if they are told that they are which is what happens. The Man Upstairs decides to let his young son actually play with all the lego pieces even if things are no longer exactly so.
Life is a free for all but everyone is themselves and they are all special.
The film's message is something tried and true and at the least the journey is incredibly enjoyable. We should all be ourselves and a simple compliment can go a long way to reviving someone's spirits and self-esteem. Even something so simple could be so meaningful and brighten someone's day.
Fortunately, everything in this film just works. The voice acting is great and though the plot has been done before, some of the jokes are new and the characters just interesting enough to make it seem fresh. There are also some voice cameos from Channing Tatum and Billy Dee Williams reprises his role as Lando in the brief Star Wars scene. Sure, the ending is incredibly predictable as Batman kindly surrenders Lucy (Wild Style's real name) to Emmet so everyone can be happy. (Rebound much?) Yet, the main song is so catchy it will stick in your head for days. This film cannot be hated.
I didn't really like that the film got metaphysical when they brought in real people although that small part also had meaning as the father learned to let his son be free to express himself. This part made the film seem just odd and pulled out of that special world the legos had created. That being said, I still loved the film and will gladly watch it again. Grade: A-
Thanks to President Business (Will Ferrell) everything in Lego Land functions like a well oiled machine, everyone follows the instructions and none do that better than Emmet (Chris Pratt). In fact, Emmet is so good no one even notices him. He's usually ignored, but he doesn't get upset. But one day, at the end of work, he sees someone who shouldn't be there: Wild Style (Elizabeth Banks). He doesn't report her because she's so beautiful. She's part of the resistance, determined to undermine President Business's plan and join an object with the Kragle (glue) so everything can go back to the way things were: with rules or regulations. Everyone can be themselves.
From here, some interesting characters are introduced: Batman (Will Arnett) Wild Style's boyfriend who only likes working with black or dark gray legos, Princess Unkitty (Alison Brie) who always tries to think positively and Master Pirate (Nick Offerman) who manages to save the day.
Though Emmet's plans are simple and most think that they are completely stupid, he still manages to save the day with his double decker couch. Even the God-like figure of Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman) thinks that idea was just the worst, but it saves their lives from Bad Cop (Liam Neeson) although Bad Cop is actually okay, in the end.
Emmet also decides that the last thing the President would think the Master Builders would do is follow the instructions and that's what they do even if it goes against the fiber of their very being. Things go almost according to plan until Bad Cop shows up and ruins everything. The special piece is tossed away and Emmet is devastated to learn that he is not actually the Special and that Vitruvius made up the prophecy but anyone could be special if they are told that they are which is what happens. The Man Upstairs decides to let his young son actually play with all the lego pieces even if things are no longer exactly so.
Life is a free for all but everyone is themselves and they are all special.
The film's message is something tried and true and at the least the journey is incredibly enjoyable. We should all be ourselves and a simple compliment can go a long way to reviving someone's spirits and self-esteem. Even something so simple could be so meaningful and brighten someone's day.
Fortunately, everything in this film just works. The voice acting is great and though the plot has been done before, some of the jokes are new and the characters just interesting enough to make it seem fresh. There are also some voice cameos from Channing Tatum and Billy Dee Williams reprises his role as Lando in the brief Star Wars scene. Sure, the ending is incredibly predictable as Batman kindly surrenders Lucy (Wild Style's real name) to Emmet so everyone can be happy. (Rebound much?) Yet, the main song is so catchy it will stick in your head for days. This film cannot be hated.
I didn't really like that the film got metaphysical when they brought in real people although that small part also had meaning as the father learned to let his son be free to express himself. This part made the film seem just odd and pulled out of that special world the legos had created. That being said, I still loved the film and will gladly watch it again. Grade: A-
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