The Artist- Two Years Late...

So I was immediately turned off of The Artist when I heard that it was essentially a silent picture in black and white. I saw it on the dollar shelf of Family Video and figured it was about time. The movie is an interesting picture about the demise of the silent film, an art form, in favor of the classless "talky". The appearance of sound in film did indeed ruin the acting career of a few actors of that period. I believe the true story is of Rudolph Valentino, a silent film star who resisted the "talking" picture, I believe my freshman history teacher said it was because he had a high-pitched voice, to paraphrase. This film stars at his incredible peak where he dominated the silent film era as the top leading man. He's at the peak of the film industry and is rich, famous, and adored. His marriage is already loveless and strange though, a theme that continues throughout. In one of his final silent film he's introduced to an actress who storms on the scene by stumbling into paparazzi photos with him named Peppy Miller. She storms onto the scene and becomes the next "it" thing during the first films with sound while Valentino falls into despair. He denounces the new films and promises to keep the silent film strong, a real film & art form. He throws all his money into a silent film he directs, produces, and stars in. It inevitably tanks and he's sent spiraling into despair. All without sound his downfall is painfully portrayed. The acting in this film is top notch. The only cast members I knew heading in were John Goodman and James Cromwell, the two leads are actually French. Bottom Line: 8.4 out of 10. Just an excellent picture despite the complete lack of technology. It was awesome to view this film because it's beautifully acted and done. It's obviously a "tad" boring, but it's a beautifully done film for people who appreciate that side of the medium. I'd rent it for sure if you appreciate fine cinematography and acting.

The Raid: Redemption

I watched The Raid: Redemption when I was on my crazy action trip yesterday. I had it explained by filmdrunk.com as an excellent action/kung-fu movie (paraphrasing here). The story jumps in watching a cop "work-out" in his house and features the most impressive bag work I've ever seen. He kisses his pregnant wife goodbye, and simply says to an old man that "he'll bring him home" (paraphrasing again). Then you are immediately taken inside an armored van with 20 Asian looking guys for a quick speech about the building and the crime lord inside they are trying to take down, and then it's just on. It's a great sustained entrance sequence with a lot of long takes that I really enjoyed. It's 20 "highly" trained cops versus a slumville apartment (I'm really thinking Dredd stole their idea from this picture CLEARLY). Inevitably (SPOILER) the crime lord finds out they're in his crib and INSANITY ensues. It's just awesome for sustained stretches as the apartments violently oppose this Inquisitional force. There is an actual plot that takes some nice turns so it's not just crazy action, which actually isn't a bad thing. There is too much "kung-fu" fighting, even though it's fucking awesome, because you can't possibly believe the surviving cops wouldn't be picking up the weapons of the people they are running through. LITERALLY the "hero" character walks past two knives and a baton HE JUST USED TO KICK THE SHIT OUT OF EIGHT DUDES WITH and rolls unarmed. That pissed me off, but the fighting is just awesome. I'm not going to get the actors names because it doesn't matter, but they are just great at fighting at lightning speeds. The early gunfights are really good as well. It's just frenetic and you are uneasy for the most part. I love the premise and the execution is excellent. Bottom Line: 8.6 out of 10. I really enjoyed the insanity of this film. The action is awesome and really the acting isn't a liability. See this over Dredd FOR SURE if you're looking for an action film. The directing/style is excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I honestly think this is the highest score I could give an action movie and I'll probably end up buying this one.

Dredd: Karl Urban's Wet Dream

After accepting a few warm reviews of Dredd, and needing to use a free coupon at Family Video, I rented it last night. I was immediately worried knowing that Karl Urban is the "star" since most pictures he's in go straight to video and suck donkey balls. The story is same old, same old in the respect that Judge Dredd is the ultimate bad-ass in a world totally destroyed and ravaged from nuclear war. 800 million people occupy a strip of land from Boston to Washington D.C. (Go Sawx). Dredd's job is to assess a new "recruit" who is slightly below the passing grade (which remains unexplained since she's like a female Terminator), but can read minds, which seems helpful in this line of work (Played by Olivia Thirlby, thanks IMDB). Wood Harris is in it (Avon Barksdale from The Wire is who he forever shall be), the wife of King Leonidus from 300 (Lena Headley) is the ruthless slum ganglord, that's about all you'll recognize. Dredd + rookie investigate three bodies thrown from the 25 floor of a giant building slum occupied by the "Mama's" gang. Dredd + rookie find the killer (Wood Harris) and try to escort him to interrogation, "Mama" (300 Lady) locks down the building and tries to kill them. It really is a pretty decent action movie that isn't completely ridiculous, which is refreshing. Urban plays a Terminator clone that's a person, which isn't a stretch at all. Thrilby is pretty decent too actually, and she's very good looking, so maybe that's something worth taking from this experience. They move through the building, killing people, escaping death, having a good time. Really, it's a pretty basic, no-frill action movie that moves along pretty decently and doesn't introduce a bunch of stupid bullshit. Bottom Line: 6.4 out of 10. It's really not shitty and puts a lot of dicks in the dirt. If you like action (A bunch of shooting) and nothing else, it's for you, if you don't IT IS MOST CERTAINLY NOT FOR YOU AND DO NOT WATCH IT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. I imagine I'm missing something not seeing it in 3D, but it was pretty entertaining. Worth a free rental or whenever Showtime (I'm assuming) picks it up if you want 1.5 hours of violence.

Zero Dark Thirty- Fuck you Osama

Kathryn Bigelow jumps back into the Middle East for her follow-up of the Hurt Locker. This story follows the hunt for Osama bin Laden through Jessica Chastain's brilliantly played Maya, a fresh CIA recruit tasked with finding Bin Laden and other top Al-Queda members. Jason Clarke is her on the job trainer who shows her the brutal methods of interrogation to get information out of Al-Queda members. It's some of the more realistic "torture" you'll see. The whole film has a realistic feel that shouldn't be too far off from a documentary. Chastain is amazing and needs to capitalize on this role. She's too good to not be in a bunch of stuff. She checks interviews and data and compiles a target known to be Bin Laden's top courier, handing his direct messages off to other head Al-Queda members. She relentlessly follows this lead around the Middle East and even while she's back in Langley, VA. It follows the painful hierarchy she has to negotiate and her fight to get this lead followed to the bitter end. There's a lot of stars in minor roles, which I love. James Gandolfini, Pete from the League, Mack Strong, the Coach from the TV Show Friday Night Lights, and Andy from Parks & Rec (I use "star" loosely, but you'll recognize a lot of people). Lots of guys who look like terrorists do a really good job acting as well. Clarke is stellar as the head of interrogating on site in Pakistan. This movie essentially glorifies the tedious work done to lead up to capturing Al-Queda members, especially Bin Laden. It makes you want to jump into the CIA and start beating terrorists (probably just me). The raid scene is very well done, on par with parts of Act of Valor even. It's completely in the dark and just awesome. Bottom Line: 9.2 out of 10. Excellent movie throughout about an amazing topic and essentially part of our countries history. Chastain carries it SO well and there's just great story and acting throughout. It's really a must-see film if you like movies.

Gangster Squad

I saw Gangster Squad assuming it'd be disappointing, but it wasn't all that bad. Josh Brolin is the tough WWII vet who comes back to Los Angeles to raise a family. Sean Penn plays legendary gangster and L.A. terrorist Mickey Cohen. Ryan Gosling is the street smart cop who doesn't care, then a tragic event happens and he is all-in versus Cohen. Giovanni Rabisi is the wiring guy, Michael Pena, Anthony Mackie, & Robert Paatrick (T1000/ Agent Dagget) round out the list. They brutally take down Cohen's operations with brute force and it's entertaining. Emma Stone is sprinkled in as Cohen's Special Lady Friend who happens to feel like banging Ryan Gosling as well even though he'd do horrific things to them if he ever finds out. The story follows their gang through infancy, to coming together, to taking down Cohen. There's fighting, some shoot-outs, everyone is pretty good to be honest. There are a little too many cliches' and corny bits for my liking, it's more graphic novel than action/drama, but it's entertaining and pretty well-acted. The accent on Penn is a little bothersome for me, but maybe that's just me. If you do like action and period pieces, this is more Sin City than L.A. Confidential, but it's OK. Bottom Line: 6.8 out of 10. I wouldn't spend money on it, but it keeps you largely entertained for an hour and 50 minutes. Really solid cast helps you deal with the corny/unbelievable stuff.

Sweet Job Baseball Writers

Because baseball is archaic in most things it has a bunch of hack baseball writers vote players into the Hall of Fame, or at least in theory. Not only are they a bunch of self-serving assholes with their own agendas, but worst still 75% of them have to agree to send a player into the Hall of Fame. There are no standards, guidelines, or reasoning given. It's just a bunch of fucks who cast a vote and they get tallied up. They answer to no one and do no favors to baseball or it's best players. There all bullshit made up rules, like never voting for a player in their first year because being a "first ballot" Hall of Famer is sacred ground. They try to police the Hall of Fame that already houses cheaters, racists, criminals, and great baseball players. Craig Biggio doesn't get in on this go around despite being the soul of the Astros for and compiling great numbers like 1844 runs, over 3000 hits, or the staggering 285 HBP. He was the poster child for playing the game right and being PED free. That's not enough to get you in though. On the flip side you have Barry Bonds who has unthinkable numbers, but that's not enough to get you in if you're associated with PED's. No Jack Morris, no Curt Schilling (not even close?), no Clemens, no Bagwell, McGuire, Rose, AND I COULD GO ON FOREVER. They do horse-shit moves like waiting for Buck O'Neil to die before letting him into the Hall of Fame. They are a tyrannical and soulless bunch of fucks who have their "code of morals" they enforce and even condemn, yet they were the ones with a chance to report on steroid abuse and make a change before it got completely out of hand. Now, after having their hands down their pants during the whole steroid era, they come out in force to show that they think steroids are wrong and ruined baseball. They enjoyed the huge jumps in popularity and attendance, bringing the game back to relevance after the strike destroyed it, yet now it's convenient and popular to condemn it. It sickens me that nobody gets into the Hall of Fame this year. The writers have to realize it's not THAT exclusive of a club. "The Hall of Fame is comprised of 300 elected members. Included are 208 former major league players, 28 executives, 35 Negro leaguers, 19 managers and 10 umpires. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America has elected 112 candidates to the Hall while the Committees on managers, umpires, executives and long-retired players (in all of its forms) has chosen 162 deserving candidates (96 major leaguers, 28 executives, 19 managers, nine Negro Leaguers and 10 umpires). The defunct “Committee on Negro Baseball Leagues” selected nine men between 1971-77 and the Special Committee on Negro Leagues in 2006, elected 17 Negro Leaguers. There are currently 64 living members. By position, there are: 72 pitchers, 17 catchers, 21 first basemen, 20 second basemen, 15 third basemen, 24 shortstops, 21 left fielders, 23 center fielders, 24 right fielders, 20 managers, 10 umpires and 33 executives." (baseball.org/halloffamers) Guess what? A bunch of players that weren't elected this year are better baseball players than guys already in. Mike Piazza was the best hitting catcher ever, it isn't fucking close. Roger Clemens is better than almost any pitcher in Cooperstown. Cases can be made, but if Bert Blyleven can limp in, I'm thinking some players excluded this year shouldn't have to wait 14 years like Blyleven to get in. Funny thing is, I should have stuck with print journalism so I'd have a vote like the rest of the idiots...

Revisited: Gattaca

Gattaca was on HDNET and it has been probably ten years since I sat down and watched the film. The premise is still so accurate and poignant that it seems timeless. In the future we can genetically wipe out "imperfections" in a fetus so the child is the optimum mix of the parents genes. This makes "Whoops" Kids severely disadvantaged and looked down upon in society. They even limit you to doing custodial work, and you are looked down by everyone who was born in a lab. Ethan Hawke is Vincent, a man born to Casey Jones, I mean actor Elias Koteas and some lady as his mother. He has some defects, most glaringly glasses and a bad heart. This prevents him from getting meaningful employment, or pretty much doing anything except cleaning up stuff. Vincent dreams of a life in space, but obviously can't. Vincent then finds Tony Shaloub, who can "invent" an identity who gives you samples and everything you need to become them. In this case it's the crippled former Olympic silver medalist Jude Law. Uma Thurman, Gore Vidal, Blair Underwood, Maya Rudolph (VERY MINOR ROLE), and Alan Arkin round out a great cast. Law and Hawke have to work together to keep "Vincent" from discovery and also keep him thriving in the space program. A romance with Uma Thurman complicates, but also adds depth and more Uma Thurman, which are all GREAT things. I really like this movie. It never bores and moves at a quick pace with an excellent cast and decent story. Bottom Line: 8.3 out of 10. It's really worth seeing and I'm sure you can find a copy for either $5 or on a cable station at random, possibly even on demand. Really outstanding stuff from Law especially.

Primal Fear

I took a friend's recommendation and bought Primal Fear for $4.00 with the intention of watching it for the first time. It features Richard Gere, who honestly creeps me the fuck out, Edward Norton, and Laura Linney primarily. Norton is the real treat as a southern rube who is portrayed as a simpleton responsible for a heinous crime that he knows/remembers nothing about. Gere is a super-lawyer, his only role he excels in, the rich DOUCHER. The movie revolves around the hunt to bring a Bishop's killer to justice. There's a lot of in's & out's & what-have-yous that keep things very interesting. Frances McDermond is tragically underused, but still a decent part of it. If you enjoy your John Grisham books, or murder/mysteries, you're going to be a huge fan. It's a great murder mystery with excellent actors and an interesting story. I was severely disappointed in the twist ending knowing that there was easily more story to be told that they just bailed on. It was very sad because it took another step, then it fell off a cliff rather than keep on ascending. Bottom Line: 7.3 out of 10. Interesting, but the abrupt ending was fairly disappointing. Worth it to watch Norton dominate, though it takes too long for my liking and ends too quickly afterwards.