Limitless (2011)

Bradley Cooper plays a guy who takes a drug that makes him really smart.  Of course for a guy with such a high IQ you'd think he'd foresee what would happen to him but I guess the director Neil Burger and screenwriter Leslie Dixon expect their audience to be pretty dumb.  Somehow, even with this issue, this film succeeds as a slick entertainment with strong performances and an ending that cleans up any potential plot holes.  I'll have to check out the novel its based on by Alan Glynn called The Dark Fields. Grade: B+.

Spoiler:  I have two pet peeves with this film.  One is the notion that we as human beings can only access 10% of our brain.  This cliche overused in many science fiction films is a myth that's been proved false.  We do access our entire brains but for some reason this cliche is still being used when it's an easy fix: just makeup some pseudo science to explain it, be clever folks.  The second pet peeve I have is that the entire time I'm watching the movie I'm thinking, "Why doesn't this guy uses his new found brain to figure out where the drug comes from so he can learn more about it.   Actually he does this but we the audience are kept in the dark about this until the end.  Okay, I see you want to surprise us, but the affect is I'm spending the entire movie rolling my eyes thinking how stupid this movie is.  I'm not sure if that's a good idea.   I'm also not sure if I like a film that glorifies the use of drugs to improve our lives but that's just a minor morality thing, no big deal.

In Old Chicago (1937)

An early example of a disaster film, this one follows the O'Leary brothers as they make their way in Chicago.  Don Ameche plays the responsible lawyer who dreams of tearing down the poor neighborhoods and build a stone city of the future.  Tyrone Power is the business man and power broker of a saloon who with the woman he loves, an entertainer named Belle, sets out to make lots of money.   Soon there is a power struggle between these two men and it builds to a thrilling climax with the famous Chicago Fire of 1871.  Grade: B+

Spoiler:  That opening scene with the death of their father is quite impressive and surprising.  Of course, the O'Leary family gets over his death pretty quickly (which is humorous) but hey they're in Chicago now so maybe I too would move on. 

Incendies (2010)

Nominated for Best foreign language film of last year, this drama about twins setting out to fulfill their dead mother's final wishes, to deliver a letter to the brother they didn't know they had and to deliver another letter to their father is a dark and demanding film.  The mystery behind their mother unfolds in flashbacks as we follow the twins' journey.  A very beautiful tragedy that begs the world to love instead of hate.  Grade: A

Spoilers:  There are many great scenes but that bus burning scene was as shocking and as terrifying as they get.  I sort of could see where the film was going but its the way the handled the twist that works.  I'm on the fence if it should have won the Oscar.  It was certainly deserving of the nomination.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Season 7) - Series Review

I did it!  Sadly it's over.  No more Buffy to watch.  I must start the withdrawal process.  Now that it's over I can honestly say that this last season was a triumph.  While still fresh on my mind, I'd have to put it as the third or forth best season.  That said, it's a great ending and I am giving a standing ovation of the mind right as I write this.  It's another Apocalypse and the villain this time is the First and in many ways that's the perfect way to bring the series full circle because we return to Sunnydale High where it all began.   Instead of relying on a new actor to play Buffy's nemesis for this season they have the First look like anyone they want, which is refreshing.  That said Nathan Fallon's Priest character is welcomed sidekick.   Could this season have been better?  Sure there are some choices that would have been more satisfying for me and I'd have loved a few more episodes to visit older story lines and maybe a two-hour finale but that's all minor wishes. (Still the fact they jammed so much in an hour for the finale is impressive.)  Overall this is a successful conclusion to one of the most clever and entertaining television shows out there.  Grade: A.

Spoiler:  The single episode that blew me away was "Storyteller" where Jonathan makes a documentary and he ends up facing his own guilt.  That episode alone is proof at how great this show is.  There are many other great episodes but most of them blend together.   What would I have liked to have seen?  Maybe Buffy choose Spike over Angel, that was a slap to the face.  After building up a great love story between Buffy and Spike the writers toss it aside for Angel, a guy that's not been part of her life anymore.  That scene, while very well-written, felt emotional dishonest and left me cold.  The chemistry between the two of them that once was so palpable had lost its passion and no matter how good they are as actors they didn't convince me they still loved each other.   Not that I disliked the way Spike sacrificed himself at the end, but it would have been so much more powerful if Buffy committed to her love for him instead of Whedon stepping in and blocking the emotional arc of the scene. (I didn' buy his reasons in the commentary track either.)  Of the entire show, this is the only time I doubted Whedon's choices and disagree with the way he handled these unique and established characters.  I also felt Willow and Kennedy's hookup while necessary to show Willow's moving on, it's the kind of relationship that just won't work out.  But those are the only flaws I can see and I thank Joss Whedon and company for crafting such a splendid story. 

Win, Win (2011)

Paul Giamatti is rarely in bad form and has the golden touch selecting films to work on.  This is going up there on the top of my list as one of the best of the year.  It's such a well-written film, so complete and rich with developed characters, I'm rooting for it to make an appearance on Oscar night.  Small town lawyer and high school wrestling coach, Mike Flaherty, needs more money.  He takes responsibility as a guardian for one of his older clients to collect $1,500 a month only ending up caring for the man's grandson too, a kid that just so happens to be one of the top high school wrestlers in the nation.  I hate to over praise a film but I don't see how anyone could dislike this story.  Watch it and see for yourself.  Grade: A.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Season 6) - Series Review

Buffy has been ripped from the afterlife and brought back to slay again, only to battle her greatest foe in the series so far.  This is the best season of Buffy.  It has it all!  The Spike situation is intense and intoxicating.  Willow's battle with the dark arts and its seduction is amazing and unpredictable.  What is there not to like?  What's especially great about this season is the build to its conclusion which is driven by pure story and is perfectly executed.  Bravo!  Grade: A+

Spoilers: Okay, let's clear the air, I'm a musical fan so the all-Musical episode (One More Time, With Feeling) floored me.  It's the second best episode of the series and if there's one episode I plan to watch again and again it's that one.  Other great episodes: "All the Way" where Dawn sneaks out of the house, "Tabula Rasa" where Willow makes everyone forget, "Smashed" where Spike and Buffy hook up, "Older and Far Away" or what I refer to as the Luis Buñuel inspired episode, "Normal Again" where Buffy believes her life is a delusion and of course the last three episodes starting with "Seeing Red" where the dark Willow is unleashed.  Wow!  What I applaud the writers for pulling off the most is the Buffy/ Spike love story.   When I started to realize that they were going to have Buffy and Spike fall in love I thought to myself, that's a great idea but how the heck are they going to make it work.  Well, they do make it work and I have to say I'm more a Spike/Buffy fan then an Angel/ Buffy fan now.   

Charley Varrick (1973)

Walter Matthau was so good.  Here he plays the title character, a stunt pilot turned crop duster turned bank robber who with his partner in crime Harmen (played by Andy Robinson) must figure out what to do when they unintentionally steal mob money.  Charley is a smart, hard criminal running out of time.   He's just lost his wife, is dealing with an irresponsible partner and a hit man (Joe Don  Baker) out to kill him.   What he does next is really fun to watch.  I really enjoyed this Don Spiel production and loved the smart almost pulp fiction feel.  What a forgotten gem. Grade: A.

The Rapture (1991)

Mimi Rogers plays Sharon, a woman who becomes obsessed with the Rapture (the religious belief that the End Times are upon us and soon true believers in Christ will be taken to Heaven).  Soon she is born again, leaving a sexually free but empty life to get ready for the day Jesus saves her.   David Duchovny also stars.  What happens is dream-like and horrible and beautifully strange at the same time.  What writer and director, Michael Tolkin, accomplishes here is fascinating to behold.  It will leave you thinking, that's for sure, and maybe a little stunned.  Some might be put off by the religious rhetoric while other the nudity and sex scenes, isn't that ironic?  Grade: A-  

Rabbit Hole (2010)

Nicole Kidman has never been better in this adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by David Lindsay-Abaire.  John Cameron Mitchell directs and brilliantly takes his audience through the rough waters of a husband and wife dealing with the death of their 4 year old son.  Aaron Eckhart shines as the husband who can't figure out how to help his wife and sort out his own guilt in the process.  While a simple plot, it's a complex emotional journey that never feels too heavy for the audience.  I was worried that it would put me into a depression but it's actually very uplifting.  Grade: A-. 

Bridemaids (2011)

Kristen Wiig is a star, or at least she becomes one after this female version of the Hangover, that in many ways is better.  Written by Wiig and Annie Mumlo, it's about time the girls show us how a raunchy comedy is really done.  Not that it's a slam dunk, while there's many hilarious moments, it's about 10 long and falls into some formula motifs that make it kind of predictable.  But when you have the comic talents of Melissa McCarthy at your disposal, it's hard to fail.  That chick is amazing!  I was also delighted to see how funny Rose Bryne is, who I've know mostly for drama.  A strong cast of characters, a nice love story between Wiig and Chris O'Dowd and you have one good time.  Not recommended though for those who dislike raunchy comedies.  Grade: B+

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Season 5) - Series Review

Some have said that this is the season where the show jumped the shark and I completely disagree.   This is the season where Joss Whedon and company creativity super charger their show with new blood, while at the same time pushing Buffy's character into a better direction.   When Buffy suddenly has  a little sister, Dawn, its beyond weird, but once you see what the writers are doing and how this new character fits, it's really an amazing story thread.  The villain in this one isn't a demon but an actual God named Glory, searching for the Key to be able to take over the world.  Buffy is no match to Glory's strength so with Willow and Spike (yes, he's back and as fascinating as ever) they must find a way to defeat her.  Grade: A

Spoilers:  When talking about this season I cannot ignore the best episode of the series, "The Body".  It's so good on so many levels, that you could really watch this one episode to understand everything there is about Buffy and her world.  Of course, this is the episode where Buffy finds her mother dead on the couch.  What a bold decision and one that proves the class of this show.  Other standouts are "The Replacements" where we have two Xanders, "I Was Made to Love You" where baddie Warren builds a woman robot which leads to "Intervention" where Spike has a Buffy robot built to satisfy his new found love for her and the finale where they kill our leading lady.   That's how you end a series on one network (WB) before moving to another (UPN).  You could have ended the series there, but the best season was just around the corner.

In A Better World (2010)

Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign film last year, director Susanne Bier takes us on a worldly story that deals with two families entering a crisis.   Anton is a doctor who works from time to time in Africa, a man who is against violence at any cost, but also a father whose in danger of losing his family because of an affair.  One of his sons, Elias, has become friends with Christian, a young man dealing with the death of his mother by lashing out at the world with anger.  This is a powerful film with universal truths about violence and how it rots the soul, and yet sometimes its hard to put out.   There's a lot to love about this film: it's beautifully shot, the acting is superb and the writing sublime.  Sometimes the cinephotography is too perfect but becasue of the strong story I can't call this really a bad thing.  I still have a few more films to see before I've seen all the nominees that year for the Foreign-Language Oscar but I can see why this one won.  Grade: A-

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 4) - Series Review

You almost could feel this was going to happen.  After two awesome seasons they'd have to falter and they do here with Buffy and Willow going to college.  What goes wrong is they have a lame villain and a love story without any passion (though they try really hard to convince us).  Still what's funny is that this season does have some of the best episodes of the series so it's not all bad.  Plus we see character development from Willow and Spike that cannot be missed.  Ultimately what you have is a mixed bag.  The overall arc is weak but this season is speckled with many great gems.  Grade: A-

Spoiler:  Episodes that stand out are "Pangs" or the Thanksgiving special episode, "Something Blue" where Buffy and Spike fall in love (magically), "Hush" where all of Sunnydale goes mute, "A New Man" where Giles becomes a demon, the two episodes where Faith and Buffy switch bodies "This Years Girl" and "Who Are You?" and "Superstar" where evil villain comedian Jonathan becomes the hero of the series.   See what I mean, there are a lot of great episodes.  Then there's the Willow and Tara love story arc that's ground breaking at the time a well as being just good storytelling. The problem is the end where Buffy battles Adam (a cyborg Frankenstein, boring) and must use the power of her friends to kill him.  It's really hokey and doesn't work.    The last episode is a mystical stuff that is experimental and somewhat enjoyable if not very climatic. 

Barney's Version (2010)

Mordecai Richler's novel acts as the bases for this Richard J. Lewis film, starring one of my favorite actors, Paul Giamatti.  I loved this movie as it flashes back and forth telling the story of Barney Panofsky through his three marriages.  Dustin Hoffman compliments Giamatti's performance as Barney's father, a police detective with an appetite for life.  It's hard to watch sometimes seeing a man make one awful choice after another but somehow it remains honest and never loses the balance between comedy and drama.  Grade: A 

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Season 3) - Series Review

This is a perfect conclusion to the high school years for Buffy and friends.  Bring in the best villain of the series with Mayor Wilkins played with menacing charm by Harry Groener and add the dark Vampire Slayer in Faith played by Eliza Dushku and you have a recipe for one of the best seasons of the show.  You'd think this wouldn't work since they are also setting up the exit of two main characters in Angel and Cordelia.  But the tension between Buffy and Faith coupled with great writing make this a fun fest for the ages.  A+.

Spoilers: Episodes that stand out are . . . oh, I don't know, all of them.  The Wish was my favorite, introducing Anya and then the follow-up with The Doppelgangland.   Lovers Walk with Spike is a solid episode too. 

Trouble Twisters (Novel) by Garth Nix and Sean Williams

This first novel about twins Jade and Jack Shield is the kind of young adult fantasy we're all looking for but unfortunately the writing hampers the storytelling and what Garth Nix and Sean Williams give us is a cramped adventure without any pacing.  These guys do know how to write, creating a wonderful world worth checking out; I just wish they'd have spent less time trying to pump up the confusing action at the end.  There's some good mystery though and I'll admit I want to read the second book coming out next year.  But they're going to need to stop rushing the story because it's not exciting to read it's a dizzy chaotic experience.  Grade: B

A Little Help (2011)

Jenna Fischer is a talented actress and I can see why she would wish to tackle this script.  The character of Laura is complex enough to help improve her skills as an actresss.  It's too bad it's such a mixed bag.   Michael Weithorn might know how to write for television but he needed to consider revising this script  one more time.  Don't be fooled, this is not a comedy.  It's a drama with humorous tidbits but that's it.  My rule of thumb is just because there's a great moment here or there, you have to judge a movie by its whole. Grade: B-

Spoiler: Good stories usually (not always) deal with a hero rising up in the climax and acting, changing their fate to either win or lose what it was they set out to win.  But here we watch a character constantly get beat down only to do nothing at the end.  There's no end, not even an anti-climatic one.  It just keeps moving with our character's choice being as bland as the rest of her choices.  I really think this film could have been great if he'd fixed the third act.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Season 2) - Series Review

For me, this is the first real season of Buffy.  The introductions are over, now let's get to business.  And does Whedon and company know how to get to business.   This is as satisfying as television can get.  Everything from from the first season is taken to the next level.  What's especially great about this season is seeing Angel's development and turn.  I don't want to ruin it for those newbies out there but they really take teenage angst and transfer it in a dramatic way.  After I watched this season I couldn't imagine they'd be able to put out a season as good.  Boy, was I wrong.  There are three seasons better than this one and I'm still only a few episodes through the seventh.  It's amazing at how easy the writers make what it is they're doing look.  Grade: A.

Spoilers:  What a fantastic finish. Seeing Buffy kill the man she loves just as he turns good again is cruel and beautiful at the same time.  Many great episodes but two that stand out are "Halloween" and "I Only Have Eyes For You".

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Season 1) - Series Review

I can no longer wait.  The time has come to finish this series.  While I finish Season 7 of this classic television masterpiece I thought I'd go back and review the preivious six seasons.  I'm not going to spend too much time detailing every aspect of these seasons, because I'm not really going back to rewatch them either, but I thought it woudl be fun to give my lasting impressions on some of the best television ever made.  Some might say that's hyperbole but it's not.  This show was unique and nothing has come close to replacing it (okay, maybe Veronica Mars but that's the only show I can think of). 

Season One: The Beginning
This is an entertaining introduction to Buffy and her friends, Xander and Willow.  You get to meet the Rupert Giles her Watcher and, of course, Angel.  The explain what a Hellmouth is why Buffy must be there.  The villian, The Master, isn't really very creative but he's serviceable.  Basically this is a prologue season.  It's developing characters and previewing what kind of show this is.  It's a comedy but also a drama; it pokes fun at itself, while being driving by a strong story.   But being 12 episodes long it's a short season that really is only that, a beginning.  Grade: B+.

Camelot (1967)

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table as a Musical.  While very much dated and long, this is a wonderful film worth watching if you like musicals, especially '60s musicals.  Richard Harris is awesome as King Arthur and Vanessa Redgrave might be the best Guinevere I've seen on the big screen.   The music is typical of that time with most of it being really good and a couple songs being unnecessary (The Lusty Month of May for example).  Great visuals, fantastic acting, what can more can you ask for (besides being a little shorter).  What I enjoyed most about this film was how it inspired me to go back and read the original tale. Grade: B+

The Damages (Season 2)

Glenn Close and Rose Bryne return for the second season of this legal/crime drama-thriller. Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt join in for the fun.  It has a slow start but once you get past the set up everything starts to heat up until you have a season that's better than the first (which I didn't see happening).  If you haven't started watching this show, please do.  While there are a few flaws here and there, there's a lot of good storytelling going on.  Grade: A-

Netflix Is In Trouble (Commentary)

I hate to say it but Netflix is sinking and it kills me because for me it's the best movie-watching experience out there.  But the studios don't like their business model and to make things worse Netflix management keeps making rotten decisions.   Thankfully they're not splitting off their website into two.   Qwikster is dead!  Celebrate while it lasts.  I will continue being loyal to this company to the bitter end but in order to survive what's coming in the next few years they're going to have to adapt and I can only hope I like what's left over. 

Keep DVDS:  Even with rumors that the post office will collapse Netflix can't afford to dissolve the DVD mail-in service.  There's just not enough available to stream yet.   Don't forget that its the DVD business that put you where you are. 

New Streaming Plans:  There's a way to raise prices without pissing off your customers.   Give them a product that they want to pay more for.  Create a Gold Streaming Plan where new releases and popular TV shows are available.  Get HBO on board by saying you'll charge your customers more for their content.   Once a show becomes less popular you can shift it over to the regular streaming plan.  But if you want a better library you're going to have to pay for it, just give the customer the choice.

No Commercials:  Never, never, never have commercials.  Once you do that you're toast.  I'll certainly cancel my subscription. 

Original Content:  Making deals with production companies for content that only you can stream is brilliant.   Make your customers stick around because there's programming that they can't get anywhere else. 

Overall I'm hoping Netflix survives.  I love how I can get hard-to-find titles and that I don't have to travel anywhere to get my entertainment.   But Amazon.com and Apple are hovering, wanting to take over.  Blockbuster wants to be on top again.  If they want to be around for awhile they'll need to take care of their customers and improve their library.   It'll be interesting to see how it all pans out. 

Red State (2011)

I'm not a Kevin Smith fan.  He just doesn't do it for me.  That said, he's improving and this his first good film shows that making four or five practice films does make one better.   I'm glad I didn't watch this for my horror film marathon because this is not a horror film.  It tricks you, starting out as a horror film (with a nightmarish scenerio of three young men kidnapped by a religious cult) but quickly turns into something else.  In many ways it's two films compressed into one and it's entertaining and inventive because of this structure.  Some of the heavy-handed commentary that Mr. Smith paints on is as thick as usual but it didn't bother me this time around.  John Goodman is great like always and there are many surprises worth waiting for.  Grade: B+.

Outside the Law (2010)

The Algerian War told from the point of view of three brothers.  This French production was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Oscar last year and it certainly looks it.  While some of the violence celebrates more than I would have liked, it's a good film and worth a viewing.  Jamel Debbouze plays the youngest brother, the one more interested in getting a head and making a dollar then winning freedom for his country.  Sami Bouajila plays the leader of the rebels, a man willing to put himself over the cause.  But its Roschdy Zem that I really connected to the most.  The loyal brother who will kill even thought it goes against his core beliefs.  There's much to love about this film.  Grade: A-

Black Death (2010)

We need more films that take place during the dark ages.  It's a bleak period but there's so much potential for drama.  Here's a perfect example that argues for my case.  Eddie Redmayne starts as a young monk who volunteers to guide a band of witch hunters lead by the always reliable Sean Bean.  Marketed as a horror film, this drama is not.  Sure it's a dark film but the horror is implied not really the core of this story. There's some real evil at work and it's not witchcraft but human folly and manipulation.   Grade: B+.

November Is National Novel Writing Month (Commentary)

November begins a tradition in my household and that's participating in NaNoWirMo, or National Novel Writing Month.  It's a celebration of the written word and in this case 50,000 words written in 30 days.  It's a fun challenge and I recommend that everyone try it.  It's easier than a marathon and afterward you'll have a novel to read, maybe revise and maybe give to someone to read.  Let's be clear though, publication is not the goal.  It's about quantity over quality.  Novels (or novellas, because let's be honest novels are longer than 50,000 words) written during this time are all probably crap.   Yet you never know, you might find something special in what spews out of you, some literary creature that with time you can nurture into . . . something.   If anything what this project does is activate people into writing and that's a great thing.   So give it a try.  You don't win anything if you succeed or lose anything if you come short.  I've done this for three years and once I wasn't able to reach my goal.  So what.  I finished in December instead.