Hey guys,
Sorry its been so long since my last post. Have A LOT going on right now. But I'll update you on that later.
Well, I would consider myself a Sam Raimi fan. I like the first Evil Dead, love Evil Dead 2, and Army of Darkness is funny, but not my favorite. I also love his more mainstream work like A Simple Plan and The Gift. But, for some reason, the Spiderman movies don't do a whole lot for me. I think I enjoy them when I see them, and then I generally don't have to see them again.
It seems that Sam Raimi had lost his edge.
With Drag Me to Hell, no only does he still have it, he has plenty left in the tank. I went into Drag Me to Hell with optimism, but I wasn't quite sure it would live up to the hype.
This is already in the top 5 scariest movies I have ever seen. The other four are: The Ring, Jaws, Halloween, The Exorcism of Emily Rose.
Now, by scary I mean a few things. One is that I feel generally unsettled during the majority of the movie. Another is the effect it leaves on me AFTER i get out of the movie. The Ring freaked me out with its atmosphere and jumpcuts, Halloween always makes me look around my house making sure there isnt a faceless killer just chilling in the shadows, Jaws still makes me not want to go swimming (pool or ocean), and The Exorcism of Emily Rose, well, that was just Jennifer Carpenter giving one heck of a performance. Drag Me to Hell does all of the above.
Basically, the story is about Christine Brown (maybe a clever nod to Bruce Campbell, CB and BC? that's a stretch), a young loan officer who works at a bank. She really wants the assistant manager job, but has to compete with a slimy Reggie Lee. So, right after telling her boss that she is willing to make the tough decisions, she is visited by a gypsy who's house is about to be repossessed. Christine asks her boss what to do and her boss says that it's her call. She denies the additional loan that the gypsy asks for, and the gypsy begs for her to reconsider. Christine does not budge, and the gypsy feels shamed.
After work, Christine walks out to her car in the parking garage and sees the gypsy's car parked at the other end of the garage. To me, this was the scariest sequence in the whole movie. And funny as well. Without spoiling too much the gypsy puts a curse on Christine that will send her to Hell in 3 days. That's the general synopsis.
There was also one of the scariest shots I have ever seen during this sequence. When you see it, you will know what I mean. It involves the camera (Christine's POV) following a scarf that is being blown around Christine's car in the parking garage. There is no music cue for what happens, just ambient noise. Still gives me chills.
It isn't fair what Sam Raimi does to the audience in this movie. It is as if he is sitting with us, and scaring us right when we start to calm down. He makes us laugh, and then makes us scream. As a horror director, Raimi's skills are unmatched. IN the world of horror directors, it's like LeBron James playing against kindergardeners. He is THE master.
This movie makes me fear parking garages, rooms with windows, cell phones, my car, my bedroom, and just sounds in general. I was on edge the entire movie to the point where I didn't feel that comfortable staying. This is an embarrassing confession, but when I get scared in a movie, and I am with a friend (I was with my buddy Stan for this movie), I tend to lean over a little bit just to make a little bit of physical contact with that person, and it somehow puts me a little more at ease. Trust me, I would have preferred it if it was Hanna sitting next to me, but she didn't want to see it. So... desperate times call for desperate measures. I was leaning on Stan for the last hour of the movie I felt so unsettled. But I also had a blast with all the bizarre comedy that takes place during the horror of it. Whether it's dentures flying out or something that gets projectiled, I was laughing as often as I was terrified.
I'll finish my thoughts when I get up in the morning...
NEXT DAY POSTING...
No sleep whatsoever. I didnt even want to let my dog out to the bathroom because it meant going into my dark living room. I am a pansy. But I also can't help but smile when I think of the experience.
Right now, if I had to decide where it would place on my list, I would list it as number 2 behind Jaws (i still get nervous getting into the water). Maybe it's just because I saw it last night, or because I don't remember getting any sleep last night either.
Easily, the most thrilling movie-going experience of my life.
Drag Me to Hell
4.5/5 stars
Highly recommended
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Top 10 TV Shows You NEED to Watch... That You Probably Haven't
Hey guys,
I'm trying to get some more top ten lists out while I feel like it because I feel that I will reach a time where I won't want to do any or won't have time. So consider the frequency of my posts as a blessing (or a curse). Today's list will stur up a few people as I tackle the Top 10 shows that you need to watch, immediately. By this I mean you need to put the first season (if available) on your Netflix queue, or go to your local Blockbuster (quick before they go under!) and grab it up.
Now, I totally understand that you guys might not completely agree with the ORDER of this list. To those who don't...well... tough cookies it's my blog. But I do understand if the order is different for other people. Here we go:
10) Wonderfalls (2004)
Now, I do have to give credit to one Josh Holden, my fellow co-worker at Bluefish, for tipping me off on about half of these shows. This is one of them. It is about a girl who works at Niagara Falls at one of the souvenir shops who all the sudden is able to see inanimate objects talk to her. They always speak in one sentence riddles that generally pushes the episode forward. It also stars Lee Pace, a great actor who plays Ned the Piemaker in Pushing Daises, as well as the dreamily trippy movie, The Fall. I strongly suggest that you RENT this series first, then if you like it enough, you can buy it. It was also cancelled by Fox for poor ratings, only airing 4 episodes. But on the DVD there are 9 more episodes, rounding out the series to a small 13 episodes.
9) Undeclared (2001)
This is one of two Judd Apatow produced shows on this list. It starts Knocked Up and Tropic Thunder's Jay Baruchel as Steven Karp, a freshman at UNEC (get it, eunuch?). This was also cancelled prematurely, after only 15 episodes (the DVD contains 17). It also co-stars Seth Rogen. And Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I Love You, Man) is a prominent recurring character, playing the ex-boyfriend of Lizzie, played by Carla Gallo (who is also featured in another series on this list). This series is a great look at the college life (not really like Baylor though) through the eyes of a college freshman. It is sweet, funny, and features great appearances by Adam Sandler, Amy Poehler, and Kevin O. Rankin (who plays a paraplegic on Friday Night Lights). It features many other familiar faces in the Apatow-verse as well. I would highly recommend renting this series.
8) True Blood (2008-present)
True Blood is about a world that vampires have "come out of the coffin" in society after the Japanese come up with a blood synthetic that would replace the need for vampires to feed on humans. I wasn't too sure about True Blood when I first watched it. It was a little raunchy and the characters were rather irritating. Anna Paquin's accent bugged me and the vampire lead just felt flat. But as I continued to watch, it became one of my favorite shows of 2008. The sex practically vanished after 5 episodes (well, not completely, but it was cut down massively), Anna Paquin grew on me, and the story arc all of the sudden got awesome. It's the classic who's-the-killer plotline, but I didn't know who the killer was until they cleverly revealed it. I probably guessed it would have been this character some time, but I never settled on it. The horror genre always fascinates me and I thought that this series put a nice Cajun twist on the vampire mythos. Great cliffhangers too!
7) Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-present)
Larry David is a genius. The creator of Seinfeld didn't have to work again for the rest of his life after selling his syndication rights of Seinfeld for 200 million dollars! 200 Million! But instead of just sitting around counting his money, he decides to create another TV show that might even be better than Seinfeld. Yeah, I said it. A lot of that might be because Seinfeld was tailor made for a studio audience (which often times waters down the more adult humor) and Curb had no limit on where it could go. But I think I laugh more during Curb than I do during Seinfeld, probably because I don't have an audience laughing with me. I can decide when to laugh or not. And I LOVE making my own decisions. Pretty much, Curb is pseudo-real-life about Larry David's career and life after Seinfeld. Most of the actors in it play themselves, except for Larry's wife (the AWESOME Cheryl Hines, just want until she gets caught in a car wash, priceless) and Larry's agent. Ted Danson and Mary Steenbergen (sp?) are recurring and I hear that the entire cast of Seinfeld will be on it next season! I can't wait. Must watch, it's pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good.
6) Friday Night Lights (2006-present)
I feel like this show would be higher on my list if I was caught up on it. I've only seen the first 2 seasons of it, and it is freaking fantastic. It is one of those critically acclaimed, ratings-challenged shows that was destined to be cancelled and rediscovered on DVD. But, somehow, the powers that be moved it to DirecTV, allowing it to survive through 3 seasons, and it's likely 4th and final. It's based on the movie, which was based on the book, but it's pretty much different in everyway. Except for the fact that Connie Britton plays the wife in the movie and the TV show. But that's besides the point.
Kyle Chandler owns as Coach Taylor, the toughest coach you would LOVE to play for. If my coaches of old acted the way that Coach Taylor does, I would have won 3 state championships in every sport ever. And you wouldn't think that coming from the actor who was the lead in the sappy show Early Edition. But Kyle Chandler deserves some serious props. As does the rest of the cast. I actually know the guy who plays Glenn, one of the school's counselors, and he always says how awesome every body is in person as well. The guy who plays Riggins is Gambit in Wolverine, and Landry (aka retarded red-headed Matt Damon) rapidly became my favorite character in Season 2. And he can't go wrong having 24's Aaron Pierce as a father. I can't say enough about this show, other than I need to catch up fast!
5) The Wire (2002-2008)
I feel like this will also creep up the list because I just started season 3. But, based on the fact that I'm barely through 2 seasons of it and its already number 5, means that this show is awesome. And it's a different type of awesome. It took me most of season 1 for me to really appreciate it because it's so different than anything I've ever seen. The amount of time this show spends on character development is insane. It's about the ongoing drug war between the Baltimore police and its drugpushers (but then again, I hear season 4 is all about Baltimore schooling, and McNulty is barely in it?? That's crazy talk!). But as the show progresses, I start loving every character in it. From McNulty to Ziggy to Herc to Omar. Omar is quite frankly, the baddest dude on the planet. Think the ghetto's Robin Hood. That's pretty much sums him up (and yes, he's gay, too) But this is a show that defies what we consider good TV. When I thought of good TV before The Wire, I thought of shows like Lost. A great story with a bombshell of a cliffhanger at every commercial break with that crazy intense music (ie Manufactored drama). Don't get me wrong, I still love Lost, but The Wire doesn't waste its time trying to grab you at the end of each episode. It has a story to tell, and by the end of the first season, you realized that you just got got. Can't wait to finish it.
4) Carnivale (2003-2005)
I consider this my favorite drama of all time. It delves into the supernatural, the spiritual and is a fresh take of Good vs. Evil. It only lasts 2 seasons, and ends on a cliffhanger that makes me want closure. Give me something, another season, a movie, i dont care. But at the same time, that ending preserves all that came before. It's all about brilliant storytelling. It doesn't have dialogue of exposition. It shows you things. It doesn't spell it all out for you. It lets you put the pieces together. It's about a traveling carnival during the Great Depression. Every generation, there is a creature of darkness and a creature of light. But it all takes place in a very real world. It's just so brilliantly realized. I would recommend a blind buy of both seasons. If you don't like it... give it to me I don't own it yet.
3) Dexter (2006-present)
This is my favorite show on air right now. Yes, it is considered a drama, but it's too much fun to be a drama. Michael C. Hall is the best actor on television right now. He took that over when The Wire ended his run (Omar.Is.The.Man). It's about a man named Dexter who happens to be a serial killer. He is a blood spatter expert for the Miami PD. But he also kills people. But only those who have escaped the judicial system due to a loophole or misplaced evidence (does Dexter sometimes destroy or tamper with evidence so he can kill people? Yes. Yes he does). He was raised by a cop that knew what he was and he taught Dexter a code to live by. So, on the outside, he is a well liked, well respected forensics expert, but on the inside (thanks to Michael C. Hall's killer deadpan voiceover), he is an emotionless addict looking for his next "fix." So the contrast between who he pretends to be and who he really is creates a dark comedic tone that makes this show irresistible. Whatever season the show is on, I think that it's the best season. Then I watch some of the earlier seasons, and I change my mind. Either way, it's fantastic. The best show on television.
2) Freaks and Geeks (1999)
This show is about high school. In 1980-81. Freaks. And Geeks. That's all you need to know.
This is the show with the biggest heart. Fox didn't know what it had. It only ran for 12 episodes, but it already completed 18. So it was cut down before its prime. This is where Judd Apatow really made his mark. So many of the cast is huge now: Linda Cardellini (Wendy) is a lead on ER, Seth Rogen and James Franco need no introduction, and Martin Starr (Adventureland, Knocked Up). It also featured a slew of before-they-were-famous cameos:
Shia LaBeouf
Ben Foster
Jason Schwartzman
Rashida Jones
And. It has Biff from Back to the Future. A lot. I love this show so much. It has so much heart and its so funny. It's really hard to disect it. You just need to watch it. NOW (but please finish the list).
I feel like I haven't said enough about this show. This is the best TV show Josh Holden has ever let me borrow. I cannot stress enough how sweet-hearted this show is. You fall in love with all the characters and every actor gets a chance to shine. It's no wonder Apatow is the king of comedy right now. Franco is great here, too. Glad he finally went back to comedies. Here's to a reunion show!
1) Arrested Development (2003-2006)
In my mind, the single funniest show of all time. Screw Seinfeld, Family Guy, The Office, 30 Rock (for the record, still love those shows). This is the best written, best acted, best edited comedy of all time. The cast is perfect. Redefines the dysfunctional family stereotype (did it need redefining? Doesn't matter) . Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Tony Hale, David Cross, Jeffery Tambor, HENRY WINKLER, and awesome voiceover by Ron freakin' Howard. It's about a family struggling to stay together when the father gets thrown into jail for fudging the books at their real estate firm (firm? Is it a firm? Let's play it safe with company). You have to start at the beginning and give it at least FOUR episodes. Then tell me you don't like it. And if you do, ah, what am I saying? That would be impossible...
Everything about this show is funny. Every episode I change my mind on who my favorite character is. Not to mention all of the awesome, AWESOME guest appearances: Carl Weathers, Scott Baio, Justine Bateman, Zach Braff, John Laraquette, Judge Reinhold, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Judy Greer, John Michael Higgins, Ben Stiller, Charlize Theron,Amy Poehler, and Liza Manelli. Phew. And there are so many, many more that I am forgetting.
Man, I wish I could tell you some of the jokes/running gags but it's too hard to describe. Trust me. It's the funniest show of all time. And it was canceled by Fox. So. I'm beginning to see a pattern with Fox.
Thanks for reading. Fly Southwest. You are now free to move about the country.
(Trying to get some sponsorship. You would too)
-SOAB
(I just realized that by signing it SOFAB is kind of like SO FABULOUS!!! So I'll dial it down a bit)
I'm trying to get some more top ten lists out while I feel like it because I feel that I will reach a time where I won't want to do any or won't have time. So consider the frequency of my posts as a blessing (or a curse). Today's list will stur up a few people as I tackle the Top 10 shows that you need to watch, immediately. By this I mean you need to put the first season (if available) on your Netflix queue, or go to your local Blockbuster (quick before they go under!) and grab it up.
Now, I totally understand that you guys might not completely agree with the ORDER of this list. To those who don't...well... tough cookies it's my blog. But I do understand if the order is different for other people. Here we go:
10) Wonderfalls (2004)
Now, I do have to give credit to one Josh Holden, my fellow co-worker at Bluefish, for tipping me off on about half of these shows. This is one of them. It is about a girl who works at Niagara Falls at one of the souvenir shops who all the sudden is able to see inanimate objects talk to her. They always speak in one sentence riddles that generally pushes the episode forward. It also stars Lee Pace, a great actor who plays Ned the Piemaker in Pushing Daises, as well as the dreamily trippy movie, The Fall. I strongly suggest that you RENT this series first, then if you like it enough, you can buy it. It was also cancelled by Fox for poor ratings, only airing 4 episodes. But on the DVD there are 9 more episodes, rounding out the series to a small 13 episodes.
9) Undeclared (2001)
This is one of two Judd Apatow produced shows on this list. It starts Knocked Up and Tropic Thunder's Jay Baruchel as Steven Karp, a freshman at UNEC (get it, eunuch?). This was also cancelled prematurely, after only 15 episodes (the DVD contains 17). It also co-stars Seth Rogen. And Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I Love You, Man) is a prominent recurring character, playing the ex-boyfriend of Lizzie, played by Carla Gallo (who is also featured in another series on this list). This series is a great look at the college life (not really like Baylor though) through the eyes of a college freshman. It is sweet, funny, and features great appearances by Adam Sandler, Amy Poehler, and Kevin O. Rankin (who plays a paraplegic on Friday Night Lights). It features many other familiar faces in the Apatow-verse as well. I would highly recommend renting this series.
8) True Blood (2008-present)
True Blood is about a world that vampires have "come out of the coffin" in society after the Japanese come up with a blood synthetic that would replace the need for vampires to feed on humans. I wasn't too sure about True Blood when I first watched it. It was a little raunchy and the characters were rather irritating. Anna Paquin's accent bugged me and the vampire lead just felt flat. But as I continued to watch, it became one of my favorite shows of 2008. The sex practically vanished after 5 episodes (well, not completely, but it was cut down massively), Anna Paquin grew on me, and the story arc all of the sudden got awesome. It's the classic who's-the-killer plotline, but I didn't know who the killer was until they cleverly revealed it. I probably guessed it would have been this character some time, but I never settled on it. The horror genre always fascinates me and I thought that this series put a nice Cajun twist on the vampire mythos. Great cliffhangers too!
7) Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-present)
Larry David is a genius. The creator of Seinfeld didn't have to work again for the rest of his life after selling his syndication rights of Seinfeld for 200 million dollars! 200 Million! But instead of just sitting around counting his money, he decides to create another TV show that might even be better than Seinfeld. Yeah, I said it. A lot of that might be because Seinfeld was tailor made for a studio audience (which often times waters down the more adult humor) and Curb had no limit on where it could go. But I think I laugh more during Curb than I do during Seinfeld, probably because I don't have an audience laughing with me. I can decide when to laugh or not. And I LOVE making my own decisions. Pretty much, Curb is pseudo-real-life about Larry David's career and life after Seinfeld. Most of the actors in it play themselves, except for Larry's wife (the AWESOME Cheryl Hines, just want until she gets caught in a car wash, priceless) and Larry's agent. Ted Danson and Mary Steenbergen (sp?) are recurring and I hear that the entire cast of Seinfeld will be on it next season! I can't wait. Must watch, it's pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good.
6) Friday Night Lights (2006-present)
I feel like this show would be higher on my list if I was caught up on it. I've only seen the first 2 seasons of it, and it is freaking fantastic. It is one of those critically acclaimed, ratings-challenged shows that was destined to be cancelled and rediscovered on DVD. But, somehow, the powers that be moved it to DirecTV, allowing it to survive through 3 seasons, and it's likely 4th and final. It's based on the movie, which was based on the book, but it's pretty much different in everyway. Except for the fact that Connie Britton plays the wife in the movie and the TV show. But that's besides the point.
Kyle Chandler owns as Coach Taylor, the toughest coach you would LOVE to play for. If my coaches of old acted the way that Coach Taylor does, I would have won 3 state championships in every sport ever. And you wouldn't think that coming from the actor who was the lead in the sappy show Early Edition. But Kyle Chandler deserves some serious props. As does the rest of the cast. I actually know the guy who plays Glenn, one of the school's counselors, and he always says how awesome every body is in person as well. The guy who plays Riggins is Gambit in Wolverine, and Landry (aka retarded red-headed Matt Damon) rapidly became my favorite character in Season 2. And he can't go wrong having 24's Aaron Pierce as a father. I can't say enough about this show, other than I need to catch up fast!
5) The Wire (2002-2008)
I feel like this will also creep up the list because I just started season 3. But, based on the fact that I'm barely through 2 seasons of it and its already number 5, means that this show is awesome. And it's a different type of awesome. It took me most of season 1 for me to really appreciate it because it's so different than anything I've ever seen. The amount of time this show spends on character development is insane. It's about the ongoing drug war between the Baltimore police and its drugpushers (but then again, I hear season 4 is all about Baltimore schooling, and McNulty is barely in it?? That's crazy talk!). But as the show progresses, I start loving every character in it. From McNulty to Ziggy to Herc to Omar. Omar is quite frankly, the baddest dude on the planet. Think the ghetto's Robin Hood. That's pretty much sums him up (and yes, he's gay, too) But this is a show that defies what we consider good TV. When I thought of good TV before The Wire, I thought of shows like Lost. A great story with a bombshell of a cliffhanger at every commercial break with that crazy intense music (ie Manufactored drama). Don't get me wrong, I still love Lost, but The Wire doesn't waste its time trying to grab you at the end of each episode. It has a story to tell, and by the end of the first season, you realized that you just got got. Can't wait to finish it.
4) Carnivale (2003-2005)
I consider this my favorite drama of all time. It delves into the supernatural, the spiritual and is a fresh take of Good vs. Evil. It only lasts 2 seasons, and ends on a cliffhanger that makes me want closure. Give me something, another season, a movie, i dont care. But at the same time, that ending preserves all that came before. It's all about brilliant storytelling. It doesn't have dialogue of exposition. It shows you things. It doesn't spell it all out for you. It lets you put the pieces together. It's about a traveling carnival during the Great Depression. Every generation, there is a creature of darkness and a creature of light. But it all takes place in a very real world. It's just so brilliantly realized. I would recommend a blind buy of both seasons. If you don't like it... give it to me I don't own it yet.
3) Dexter (2006-present)
This is my favorite show on air right now. Yes, it is considered a drama, but it's too much fun to be a drama. Michael C. Hall is the best actor on television right now. He took that over when The Wire ended his run (Omar.Is.The.Man). It's about a man named Dexter who happens to be a serial killer. He is a blood spatter expert for the Miami PD. But he also kills people. But only those who have escaped the judicial system due to a loophole or misplaced evidence (does Dexter sometimes destroy or tamper with evidence so he can kill people? Yes. Yes he does). He was raised by a cop that knew what he was and he taught Dexter a code to live by. So, on the outside, he is a well liked, well respected forensics expert, but on the inside (thanks to Michael C. Hall's killer deadpan voiceover), he is an emotionless addict looking for his next "fix." So the contrast between who he pretends to be and who he really is creates a dark comedic tone that makes this show irresistible. Whatever season the show is on, I think that it's the best season. Then I watch some of the earlier seasons, and I change my mind. Either way, it's fantastic. The best show on television.
2) Freaks and Geeks (1999)
This show is about high school. In 1980-81. Freaks. And Geeks. That's all you need to know.
This is the show with the biggest heart. Fox didn't know what it had. It only ran for 12 episodes, but it already completed 18. So it was cut down before its prime. This is where Judd Apatow really made his mark. So many of the cast is huge now: Linda Cardellini (Wendy) is a lead on ER, Seth Rogen and James Franco need no introduction, and Martin Starr (Adventureland, Knocked Up). It also featured a slew of before-they-were-famous cameos:
Shia LaBeouf
Ben Foster
Jason Schwartzman
Rashida Jones
And. It has Biff from Back to the Future. A lot. I love this show so much. It has so much heart and its so funny. It's really hard to disect it. You just need to watch it. NOW (but please finish the list).
I feel like I haven't said enough about this show. This is the best TV show Josh Holden has ever let me borrow. I cannot stress enough how sweet-hearted this show is. You fall in love with all the characters and every actor gets a chance to shine. It's no wonder Apatow is the king of comedy right now. Franco is great here, too. Glad he finally went back to comedies. Here's to a reunion show!
1) Arrested Development (2003-2006)
In my mind, the single funniest show of all time. Screw Seinfeld, Family Guy, The Office, 30 Rock (for the record, still love those shows). This is the best written, best acted, best edited comedy of all time. The cast is perfect. Redefines the dysfunctional family stereotype (did it need redefining? Doesn't matter) . Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Tony Hale, David Cross, Jeffery Tambor, HENRY WINKLER, and awesome voiceover by Ron freakin' Howard. It's about a family struggling to stay together when the father gets thrown into jail for fudging the books at their real estate firm (firm? Is it a firm? Let's play it safe with company). You have to start at the beginning and give it at least FOUR episodes. Then tell me you don't like it. And if you do, ah, what am I saying? That would be impossible...
Everything about this show is funny. Every episode I change my mind on who my favorite character is. Not to mention all of the awesome, AWESOME guest appearances: Carl Weathers, Scott Baio, Justine Bateman, Zach Braff, John Laraquette, Judge Reinhold, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Judy Greer, John Michael Higgins, Ben Stiller, Charlize Theron,Amy Poehler, and Liza Manelli. Phew. And there are so many, many more that I am forgetting.
Man, I wish I could tell you some of the jokes/running gags but it's too hard to describe. Trust me. It's the funniest show of all time. And it was canceled by Fox. So. I'm beginning to see a pattern with Fox.
Thanks for reading. Fly Southwest. You are now free to move about the country.
(Trying to get some sponsorship. You would too)
-SOAB
(I just realized that by signing it SOFAB is kind of like SO FABULOUS!!! So I'll dial it down a bit)
Thursday, April 16, 2009
That was him?!
Hey guys,
Mark here with a new top ten list. I pride myself on recognizing actors and saying to friends," Hey do you remember him/her in _______?"
I know its kind of silly, but I thought maybe I can do the same thing here, just get it all out of the way. Here we go:
10) Tim Roth
Don't know him from - Planet of the Apes (2001)
Know him from - Reservoir Dogs, The Incredible Hulk
I love Tim Roth. He was my favorite part of the new Hulk movie. He just brings so much to the table everytime he is on screen. I don't remember much of Planet of the Apes, but I remember thinking that the main bad ape was awesome. Little did I know that it was Tim Roth. He's the one saying," This one looked at me."
9) Paul Rudd
Don't know him from - this awesome SNES commercial
Know him from - Knocked Up, 40-Year Old Virgin
Paul Rudd is the man. He was awesome in Knocked Up, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Role Models, and I Love You, Man. But he has actually be around for quite a long time. I have a few instances of early Paul Rudd, starting with a funny commercial he did for Super Nintendo way back when. He was Alicia Silverstone's step brother in Clueless, Paris is Romeo + Juliet (he was dancing with Juliet at the costume ball; he laughs hysterically at the beginning of the clip), and he was Tommy Jarvis in Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers. Glad he found Apatow.
8) Alfred Molina
Don't know him from - Raiders of the Lost Ark
Know him from - Spider-Man 2
Now everyone knows who Doc Ock is in Spider-Man 2, but did you know that Molina was the traitor at the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark? I didn't realize it for the longest time until I wanted to see what else Molina was in. The guy is good, real good. Also see him in Identity, another awesome flick.
7) Ryan Gosling
Don't know him from - Remember the Titans
Know him from - The Notebook, Half Nelson
Ryan Gosling is one of this generation's finest actors. He is versatile, intense, and makes very mature decisions on what role he plays. He's practically a chameleon. Whether its playing a happy go lucky football player in Remember the Titans (his clip starts at 1:03), or playing a neo-Nazi with a Jewish background in The Believer (his strongest role to date), the guy knows how to pick a role. I could do a whole list on who is in Remember the Titans : Donald Faison (Turk in Scrubs), Ethan Suplee (Randy in My Name is Earl, and he also plays a neo-Nazi in American History X), and Wood Harris (Avon Barkesdale in The Wire).
6) Seth Rogen
Don't know him from - Donnie Darko
Know him from - Knocked Up, SuperBad, Observe and Report
Seth Rogen is huge now. I have no idea how he snuck into Donnie Darko in such an obscure role. He hardly speaks, but its no doubt that its him. He appears right at the :45 second mark, and its the only clip that I could find. Didn't look too hard though. I know that he also bullies the overweight girl (was she overweight? It's been awhile and I don't really remember, I don't want to say that she was overweight and then find out that she is not... That would reflect poorly on me). Anyway, onto number 6...
5) Liam Neeson
Don't know him from - Krull
Know him from - Taken, The Phantom Menace, Schindler's List
Krull scared the crap out of me when I was a kid. All I remember is this creepy old guy in a forest that turned into quicksand. And I remember Liam Neeson. He doesn't show up in the clip until around 3:45, but I know that it was a fairly decent supporting role.
4) Ellen Page
Don't know her from - Hard Candy
Know her from - Juno, Smart People, X3: The Last Stand
Everybody loves Juno. Whether you saw it before or after all the hype, everybody liked it. And if you didn't, then you are probably lying, or trying to be one of those different-to-be-different types of people, you know EXACTLY who you are.
So, since we got that point outta the way, let's move on. Many people consider Juno Ellen Page's ticket to stardom, but she actually got RAVE reviews for this little movie called Hard Candy. The movie is not for the faint of heart, and I can't recommend it to everybody. It's about an online predator (played by Watchmen's Nite Owl, Patrick Wilson) meeting up with a teenage girl (played by Page) who seems like an innocent, naive victim, only to have the tables turned on Wilson's character when we find out that Page isn't as innocent as she seems. She knows exactly what he is, and she makes his life MISERABLE. It's super intense, and again, I can't recommend it to everyone, but for those seeking an uncompromising thriller, please seek this out.
Wow, this is kind of a review, so I'll get back on track again. It's not so much that Page looks any different here than she does in Juno, it's just that she is a completely different person. Once you see her in Juno, you think, oh, she's such a quirky person in real life I bet because she plays it very well. But, in Hard Candy, she turns that perception on its head and delivers and powerful and intense performance that shows that she has acting chops that go beyond quirk.
3) Jerry O'Connell
Don't know him from - Stand by Me
Know him from - Jerry Maguire, Scream 2, Can't Hardly Wait (Trip. Trip McNeely)
This would usually be number one on these kinds of lists. But not mine. Yes, Jerry O'Connell was the fat kid in Stand By Me. I feel like it's one of those things that's pretty well known, but I still feel like it's worthy of being number 3. He seems to have fallen off of the radar as of late with his poor choices of TV shows that seem to get cancelled pretty quick. He's is becoming what people call a "show-killer," much like David Spade and Andy Dick. Which is shame considering that he has done some good work (like Jerry Maguire and Scream 2, and who can forget Kangaroo Jack).
2) Chris Pine
Don't know him from - Smokin' Aces
You WILL know him for being Captain Kirk in the New Star Trek
Chris Pine is about to blow up. He's gonna be Kirk in the new Star Trek. He wants to do The A-Team (bad idea). And he is the best choice right now for The Green Lantern. But he also appeared in The Princess Diaries 2 (no, I haven't seen it) and he was quite frankly the best part of Smokin' Aces. He was Darwin Tremor of the Tremor Brothers. At the end of the trailer, he's the one that says, " I bet you are" to Alicia Keys. Hopefully doing Star Trek won't prevent him from doing other kooky roles in the future.
1) Jackie Earle Haley
Don't know him from - The original Bad News Bears (where he played Kelly Leak, the team's All-Star)
Know him from - Little Children (in which he was nominated for an Oscar), and more recently as Rorschach in Watchmen
Jackie Earle Haley was kind of an annoying kid actor. I remember thinking that he was kind of a tool when he was Kelly Leak in all the Bad News Bears. He was androgynous and a cocky little snot. So I was very surprised when I saw that he was nominated for an Oscar for Little Children. Since then, he has blown up. After appearing briefly in Semi-Pro, he was cast as Rorschach in the highly anticipated graphic-novel adaption, Watchmen. He absolutely owned it. Now, he is cast as the iconic Freddy Kruger in the new Nightmare on Elm Street remake.
That't it for this list. Thanks for reading. Go Mavs!
-SOFAB
Mark here with a new top ten list. I pride myself on recognizing actors and saying to friends," Hey do you remember him/her in _______?"
I know its kind of silly, but I thought maybe I can do the same thing here, just get it all out of the way. Here we go:
10) Tim Roth
Don't know him from - Planet of the Apes (2001)
Know him from - Reservoir Dogs, The Incredible Hulk
I love Tim Roth. He was my favorite part of the new Hulk movie. He just brings so much to the table everytime he is on screen. I don't remember much of Planet of the Apes, but I remember thinking that the main bad ape was awesome. Little did I know that it was Tim Roth. He's the one saying," This one looked at me."
9) Paul Rudd
Don't know him from - this awesome SNES commercial
Know him from - Knocked Up, 40-Year Old Virgin
Paul Rudd is the man. He was awesome in Knocked Up, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Role Models, and I Love You, Man. But he has actually be around for quite a long time. I have a few instances of early Paul Rudd, starting with a funny commercial he did for Super Nintendo way back when. He was Alicia Silverstone's step brother in Clueless, Paris is Romeo + Juliet (he was dancing with Juliet at the costume ball; he laughs hysterically at the beginning of the clip), and he was Tommy Jarvis in Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers. Glad he found Apatow.
8) Alfred Molina
Don't know him from - Raiders of the Lost Ark
Know him from - Spider-Man 2
Now everyone knows who Doc Ock is in Spider-Man 2, but did you know that Molina was the traitor at the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark? I didn't realize it for the longest time until I wanted to see what else Molina was in. The guy is good, real good. Also see him in Identity, another awesome flick.
7) Ryan Gosling
Don't know him from - Remember the Titans
Know him from - The Notebook, Half Nelson
Ryan Gosling is one of this generation's finest actors. He is versatile, intense, and makes very mature decisions on what role he plays. He's practically a chameleon. Whether its playing a happy go lucky football player in Remember the Titans (his clip starts at 1:03), or playing a neo-Nazi with a Jewish background in The Believer (his strongest role to date), the guy knows how to pick a role. I could do a whole list on who is in Remember the Titans : Donald Faison (Turk in Scrubs), Ethan Suplee (Randy in My Name is Earl, and he also plays a neo-Nazi in American History X), and Wood Harris (Avon Barkesdale in The Wire).
6) Seth Rogen
Don't know him from - Donnie Darko
Know him from - Knocked Up, SuperBad, Observe and Report
Seth Rogen is huge now. I have no idea how he snuck into Donnie Darko in such an obscure role. He hardly speaks, but its no doubt that its him. He appears right at the :45 second mark, and its the only clip that I could find. Didn't look too hard though. I know that he also bullies the overweight girl (was she overweight? It's been awhile and I don't really remember, I don't want to say that she was overweight and then find out that she is not... That would reflect poorly on me). Anyway, onto number 6...
5) Liam Neeson
Don't know him from - Krull
Know him from - Taken, The Phantom Menace, Schindler's List
Krull scared the crap out of me when I was a kid. All I remember is this creepy old guy in a forest that turned into quicksand. And I remember Liam Neeson. He doesn't show up in the clip until around 3:45, but I know that it was a fairly decent supporting role.
4) Ellen Page
Don't know her from - Hard Candy
Know her from - Juno, Smart People, X3: The Last Stand
Everybody loves Juno. Whether you saw it before or after all the hype, everybody liked it. And if you didn't, then you are probably lying, or trying to be one of those different-to-be-different types of people, you know EXACTLY who you are.
So, since we got that point outta the way, let's move on. Many people consider Juno Ellen Page's ticket to stardom, but she actually got RAVE reviews for this little movie called Hard Candy. The movie is not for the faint of heart, and I can't recommend it to everybody. It's about an online predator (played by Watchmen's Nite Owl, Patrick Wilson) meeting up with a teenage girl (played by Page) who seems like an innocent, naive victim, only to have the tables turned on Wilson's character when we find out that Page isn't as innocent as she seems. She knows exactly what he is, and she makes his life MISERABLE. It's super intense, and again, I can't recommend it to everyone, but for those seeking an uncompromising thriller, please seek this out.
Wow, this is kind of a review, so I'll get back on track again. It's not so much that Page looks any different here than she does in Juno, it's just that she is a completely different person. Once you see her in Juno, you think, oh, she's such a quirky person in real life I bet because she plays it very well. But, in Hard Candy, she turns that perception on its head and delivers and powerful and intense performance that shows that she has acting chops that go beyond quirk.
3) Jerry O'Connell
Don't know him from - Stand by Me
Know him from - Jerry Maguire, Scream 2, Can't Hardly Wait (Trip. Trip McNeely)
This would usually be number one on these kinds of lists. But not mine. Yes, Jerry O'Connell was the fat kid in Stand By Me. I feel like it's one of those things that's pretty well known, but I still feel like it's worthy of being number 3. He seems to have fallen off of the radar as of late with his poor choices of TV shows that seem to get cancelled pretty quick. He's is becoming what people call a "show-killer," much like David Spade and Andy Dick. Which is shame considering that he has done some good work (like Jerry Maguire and Scream 2, and who can forget Kangaroo Jack).
2) Chris Pine
Don't know him from - Smokin' Aces
You WILL know him for being Captain Kirk in the New Star Trek
Chris Pine is about to blow up. He's gonna be Kirk in the new Star Trek. He wants to do The A-Team (bad idea). And he is the best choice right now for The Green Lantern. But he also appeared in The Princess Diaries 2 (no, I haven't seen it) and he was quite frankly the best part of Smokin' Aces. He was Darwin Tremor of the Tremor Brothers. At the end of the trailer, he's the one that says, " I bet you are" to Alicia Keys. Hopefully doing Star Trek won't prevent him from doing other kooky roles in the future.
1) Jackie Earle Haley
Don't know him from - The original Bad News Bears (where he played Kelly Leak, the team's All-Star)
Know him from - Little Children (in which he was nominated for an Oscar), and more recently as Rorschach in Watchmen
Jackie Earle Haley was kind of an annoying kid actor. I remember thinking that he was kind of a tool when he was Kelly Leak in all the Bad News Bears. He was androgynous and a cocky little snot. So I was very surprised when I saw that he was nominated for an Oscar for Little Children. Since then, he has blown up. After appearing briefly in Semi-Pro, he was cast as Rorschach in the highly anticipated graphic-novel adaption, Watchmen. He absolutely owned it. Now, he is cast as the iconic Freddy Kruger in the new Nightmare on Elm Street remake.
That't it for this list. Thanks for reading. Go Mavs!
-SOFAB
Monday, April 13, 2009
Top 10 Best Movies You've Never Seen
Hey guys,
Sorry to the two of you that read my blog last time. Things have been crazy around here. Went to LA for the 168 Film Festival, which is a Christian film festival that gives a team a week to shoot, edit, and finalize a short film based on a bible verse given to them. Our film was called Putting the Ash Behind You, and we managed to win Best Screenplay - Comedy.
You can watch it here:
Putting the Ash Behind You from Mark Blitch on Vimeo.
Anyway, back to the subject at hand. I was thinking about what my next top ten list would be, and I mentioned that it would be the Top Ten Movie/TV Characters that annoyed you and then you ended up loving them. I decided to put it on the back burner.
The inspiration for this list comes from my dad, John Blitch. He came to visit over Easter and I showed him the new Terminator Salvation trailer. He mentioned that how Christian Bale seems to be (and I'm paraphrasing) playing one character in all of his movies. So, this is for you dad, a list of movies that you need to see. Go to Netflix, go to the BBV (Blockbuster Video, ah, you get it) and rent these movies:
10) Return to Paradise (1998)
I remember when I was in high school, I said that this was my favorite movie of all time. While it doesn't remain my favorite movie, I still recall that the last scene of this movie made me realize that Joaquin Phoenix would be a force to reckon with. I remember thinking that he would be huge, possibly more so than his brother River. And while Joaquin has recently lost his way (on purpose I hope) to the world of hip-hop, he still remains a volatile actor capable of any role.
9) Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
This is a movie that I discovered while working at Blockbuster one summer, I think it was either 2002 or 2003. Either way, this was a huge movie to watch with my friends while I was in college. If one of my friends hadn't seen it, I would immediately go out and rent it (probably should have bought it, considering how many times I probably rented it; just stimulating the economy I guess). I love this movie for Paul Rudd and Christopher Meloni. This was one of the first absurdity comedies that I absolutely loved. After this, I was pumped to see anything that David Wain did in the future, but I hated "The Ten" but he completely redeemed himself with "Role Models," arguably the funniest comedy of 2008. If you are looking for a good, smart spoof of all of those camp comedies, then this is right up your alley. It also features today's funniest actors before they got famous: Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, Bradley Cooper (Sack from Wedding Crashers), Amy Poehler, and Joe Lo Truglio (practically in every comedy now, he was the creepy guy that gave Michael Cera and Jonah Hill a ride to that party in Superbad).
8) The Descent (2005)
Hands down the best horror movie of 2005. This often gets confused with The Cave, a less superior Screen Gems production starring badass Cole Hauser (seriously, this guy should be huge). But this little ditty of a horror movie had me holding my breath during much of the film. It is wonderfully filmed by Neil Marshall, whose next film Doomsday failed to deliver on the promise of this film. This is the kind of horror film that I would like to make: largely one location, lots of tension-filled scenes, great creatures that don't pop up on a music cue. There are lots of jump scares in this one, but if I may remember correctly, very few cheap-oh-it's-just-the-dog-fake-scares. Highly recommended for any horror fan, but let's face it, if you are a horror fan, you saw this in theaters.
7) Running Scared (2006)
This movie is one or the other for a lot of people. Tons of people hate it, tons of people love it. I happen to be in the latter. To me, this is a twisted adult Grimm fairy tale, full of monsters and colorful characters. It's Tarantino-esque in its story and Ritchie-esque in its pacing. This is the first time I liked Paul Walker as an actor. Gone is the blond leading man. He is a tough SOB anti-hero. The world Kramer created is unrealistic and fantastical. It knows exactly what it is and doesn't apologize when it goes off the deep end in its bizarreness. Watch for the creepy scene with Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost's Juliet) playing one half of the world's creepiest married couple. Just put this on my Netflix queue after writing this segment.
6) The Island (2005)
How did this movie only make 35.8 million in its entire domestic theatrical run? That is a crime. How can Paul Blart: Mall Cop make more than this in its holiday opening weekend?!?!?!?
I just rewatched this movie and I have to say, its still Michael Bay's best film to date. It's the first time that one of his movies hit every emotional note and every action note. Some people say that its failure is due to the fact that Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson weren't big enough to open a movie of this size. Some say it's too smart for its own good. I say hogwash! This is a great movie. Great cast, its Obi Wan vs. Boromir, with an added dose of Djimon Hounsou and Michael Clarke Duncan.
Ugh, still pissed that this movie did so bad at the box office.
5) Frailty (2001)
Best horror film of 2001 (can you tell that I love horror movies?). Bill Paxton's directoral debut. Sleek, simple, and uncompromising. And a fantastic story line! Easily one of McConaughey's best performances (probably right behind A Time To Kill) and no doubt Bill Paxton's best dramatic performance (well, let's face it, he rocked it in True Lies and Aliens, "Game Over man! Game Over!"). Man, I'm putting this on my Netflix too, I keep remember how great this is. There is one scene in this movie that remains one of the most frightening scenes I have ever...uh....seen. It's really quick and unpredictable, but you should know it when it happens. I'm a sucker for a GOOD religious-themed thriller, and this one is up there with The Exorcism of Emily Rose ( I don't care what you think, Jennifer Carpenter brought it to that movie, still have nightmares about her in that) and The Omen for me.
4) Adventureland (2009)
As of April 13, 2009, at 02:40 pm, this is the best movie of 2009. This is the kind of movie that John Hughes would make, if he still made movies. It's less juvenile than Superbad, and there is only one "larger than life" character. Everyone is extremely realistic in this movie. And while Jesse Eisenberg is a better actor than Michael Cera, you could argue that this movie would be doing better if Cera was the lead. This movie had a big heart on its sleeve in the shape of Martin Starr. He has done great work in the past (In Knocked Up he was the bearded roommate, but he is best known in my mind as Bill Haverchuck in Freaks and Geeks), but here he really shines as the lovable co-worker of Eisenberg's character. And from an editing perspective, it was refreshing for this kind of movie to allude to sex, instead of showing it. I could go on for hours on how pointless sex scenes are in movies. Here, they do a great job of saying, ok, this is where THIS happens, then getting out and moving on with the story. Not many Hollywood movies do that, so I was grateful here.
3) Let the Right One In (2008)
This was number 3 on my top ten movies of 2008 right behind The Dark Knight and Slumdog Millionaire. Now, I'm not a foreign film buff in any stretch, but I do appreciate them greatly. This one, however, blew me away. It's what the filmmakers DIDN'T SHOW that really put this one over the top for me. To see what I mean, the pool scene at the end is a great example. Now, I am not excited about the American remake of this film because they will show everything that this one DIDN'T SHOW. This is the best vampire movie of all time in my mind, and if you say Twilight is, I might wish harm upon you. This is the film Twilight should have been, nay, the film Twilight wanted to be, nay nay, this is the film Twilight dreams of one day becoming. In short, Twilight sucks, this movie rocks.
2) The Machinist (2004)
This is the movie that I told my dad to see if he thought that Christian Bale was a one-note actor. You could also argue that American Psycho is another one that shows Bale's range. I would say that American Psycho is a better example of his range, but there is no greater film that shows Bale's commitment to the craft than The Machinist. Now, in a post-Fight Club world, movies like this are criticized for not being original, but its the theme of the movie that I really love. But the story here is Bale. And the only negative thing you can say about this movie is that Bale is SO much better than the material given to him, not to say the material is bad (in fact I think Hitchcock would be proud, and the score is magnificent). The man lost 63 lbs to play Trevor, the movie's insomniac main character. Bale's transformation into Trevor, in my mind, is more impressive than Charlize Theron in Monster and Robert DeNiro in Raging Bull. He should have been nominated for an Oscar. But I think that he'll get his day soon enough.
1) American Movie (1999)
Hands down, one of the funniest films I have ever seen. And I might be a little bias because it is a documentary about filmmaking. But I don't think I've laughed harder during a movie than I have through this. And it is a touching film considering that I want to do the exact same thing that Mark Borchardt wants to do. It's one of those rare hilarious, sad, touching films that I think everyone should watch.
Thanks for reading, I'll try and update more often.
-SOFAB
Sorry to the two of you that read my blog last time. Things have been crazy around here. Went to LA for the 168 Film Festival, which is a Christian film festival that gives a team a week to shoot, edit, and finalize a short film based on a bible verse given to them. Our film was called Putting the Ash Behind You, and we managed to win Best Screenplay - Comedy.
You can watch it here:
Putting the Ash Behind You from Mark Blitch on Vimeo.
Anyway, back to the subject at hand. I was thinking about what my next top ten list would be, and I mentioned that it would be the Top Ten Movie/TV Characters that annoyed you and then you ended up loving them. I decided to put it on the back burner.
The inspiration for this list comes from my dad, John Blitch. He came to visit over Easter and I showed him the new Terminator Salvation trailer. He mentioned that how Christian Bale seems to be (and I'm paraphrasing) playing one character in all of his movies. So, this is for you dad, a list of movies that you need to see. Go to Netflix, go to the BBV (Blockbuster Video, ah, you get it) and rent these movies:
10) Return to Paradise (1998)
I remember when I was in high school, I said that this was my favorite movie of all time. While it doesn't remain my favorite movie, I still recall that the last scene of this movie made me realize that Joaquin Phoenix would be a force to reckon with. I remember thinking that he would be huge, possibly more so than his brother River. And while Joaquin has recently lost his way (on purpose I hope) to the world of hip-hop, he still remains a volatile actor capable of any role.
9) Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
This is a movie that I discovered while working at Blockbuster one summer, I think it was either 2002 or 2003. Either way, this was a huge movie to watch with my friends while I was in college. If one of my friends hadn't seen it, I would immediately go out and rent it (probably should have bought it, considering how many times I probably rented it; just stimulating the economy I guess). I love this movie for Paul Rudd and Christopher Meloni. This was one of the first absurdity comedies that I absolutely loved. After this, I was pumped to see anything that David Wain did in the future, but I hated "The Ten" but he completely redeemed himself with "Role Models," arguably the funniest comedy of 2008. If you are looking for a good, smart spoof of all of those camp comedies, then this is right up your alley. It also features today's funniest actors before they got famous: Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, Bradley Cooper (Sack from Wedding Crashers), Amy Poehler, and Joe Lo Truglio (practically in every comedy now, he was the creepy guy that gave Michael Cera and Jonah Hill a ride to that party in Superbad).
8) The Descent (2005)
Hands down the best horror movie of 2005. This often gets confused with The Cave, a less superior Screen Gems production starring badass Cole Hauser (seriously, this guy should be huge). But this little ditty of a horror movie had me holding my breath during much of the film. It is wonderfully filmed by Neil Marshall, whose next film Doomsday failed to deliver on the promise of this film. This is the kind of horror film that I would like to make: largely one location, lots of tension-filled scenes, great creatures that don't pop up on a music cue. There are lots of jump scares in this one, but if I may remember correctly, very few cheap-oh-it's-just-the-dog-fake-scares. Highly recommended for any horror fan, but let's face it, if you are a horror fan, you saw this in theaters.
7) Running Scared (2006)
This movie is one or the other for a lot of people. Tons of people hate it, tons of people love it. I happen to be in the latter. To me, this is a twisted adult Grimm fairy tale, full of monsters and colorful characters. It's Tarantino-esque in its story and Ritchie-esque in its pacing. This is the first time I liked Paul Walker as an actor. Gone is the blond leading man. He is a tough SOB anti-hero. The world Kramer created is unrealistic and fantastical. It knows exactly what it is and doesn't apologize when it goes off the deep end in its bizarreness. Watch for the creepy scene with Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost's Juliet) playing one half of the world's creepiest married couple. Just put this on my Netflix queue after writing this segment.
6) The Island (2005)
How did this movie only make 35.8 million in its entire domestic theatrical run? That is a crime. How can Paul Blart: Mall Cop make more than this in its holiday opening weekend?!?!?!?
I just rewatched this movie and I have to say, its still Michael Bay's best film to date. It's the first time that one of his movies hit every emotional note and every action note. Some people say that its failure is due to the fact that Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson weren't big enough to open a movie of this size. Some say it's too smart for its own good. I say hogwash! This is a great movie. Great cast, its Obi Wan vs. Boromir, with an added dose of Djimon Hounsou and Michael Clarke Duncan.
Ugh, still pissed that this movie did so bad at the box office.
5) Frailty (2001)
Best horror film of 2001 (can you tell that I love horror movies?). Bill Paxton's directoral debut. Sleek, simple, and uncompromising. And a fantastic story line! Easily one of McConaughey's best performances (probably right behind A Time To Kill) and no doubt Bill Paxton's best dramatic performance (well, let's face it, he rocked it in True Lies and Aliens, "Game Over man! Game Over!"). Man, I'm putting this on my Netflix too, I keep remember how great this is. There is one scene in this movie that remains one of the most frightening scenes I have ever...uh....seen. It's really quick and unpredictable, but you should know it when it happens. I'm a sucker for a GOOD religious-themed thriller, and this one is up there with The Exorcism of Emily Rose ( I don't care what you think, Jennifer Carpenter brought it to that movie, still have nightmares about her in that) and The Omen for me.
4) Adventureland (2009)
As of April 13, 2009, at 02:40 pm, this is the best movie of 2009. This is the kind of movie that John Hughes would make, if he still made movies. It's less juvenile than Superbad, and there is only one "larger than life" character. Everyone is extremely realistic in this movie. And while Jesse Eisenberg is a better actor than Michael Cera, you could argue that this movie would be doing better if Cera was the lead. This movie had a big heart on its sleeve in the shape of Martin Starr. He has done great work in the past (In Knocked Up he was the bearded roommate, but he is best known in my mind as Bill Haverchuck in Freaks and Geeks), but here he really shines as the lovable co-worker of Eisenberg's character. And from an editing perspective, it was refreshing for this kind of movie to allude to sex, instead of showing it. I could go on for hours on how pointless sex scenes are in movies. Here, they do a great job of saying, ok, this is where THIS happens, then getting out and moving on with the story. Not many Hollywood movies do that, so I was grateful here.
3) Let the Right One In (2008)
This was number 3 on my top ten movies of 2008 right behind The Dark Knight and Slumdog Millionaire. Now, I'm not a foreign film buff in any stretch, but I do appreciate them greatly. This one, however, blew me away. It's what the filmmakers DIDN'T SHOW that really put this one over the top for me. To see what I mean, the pool scene at the end is a great example. Now, I am not excited about the American remake of this film because they will show everything that this one DIDN'T SHOW. This is the best vampire movie of all time in my mind, and if you say Twilight is, I might wish harm upon you. This is the film Twilight should have been, nay, the film Twilight wanted to be, nay nay, this is the film Twilight dreams of one day becoming. In short, Twilight sucks, this movie rocks.
2) The Machinist (2004)
This is the movie that I told my dad to see if he thought that Christian Bale was a one-note actor. You could also argue that American Psycho is another one that shows Bale's range. I would say that American Psycho is a better example of his range, but there is no greater film that shows Bale's commitment to the craft than The Machinist. Now, in a post-Fight Club world, movies like this are criticized for not being original, but its the theme of the movie that I really love. But the story here is Bale. And the only negative thing you can say about this movie is that Bale is SO much better than the material given to him, not to say the material is bad (in fact I think Hitchcock would be proud, and the score is magnificent). The man lost 63 lbs to play Trevor, the movie's insomniac main character. Bale's transformation into Trevor, in my mind, is more impressive than Charlize Theron in Monster and Robert DeNiro in Raging Bull. He should have been nominated for an Oscar. But I think that he'll get his day soon enough.
1) American Movie (1999)
Hands down, one of the funniest films I have ever seen. And I might be a little bias because it is a documentary about filmmaking. But I don't think I've laughed harder during a movie than I have through this. And it is a touching film considering that I want to do the exact same thing that Mark Borchardt wants to do. It's one of those rare hilarious, sad, touching films that I think everyone should watch.
Thanks for reading, I'll try and update more often.
-SOFAB
Friday, March 27, 2009
What's that song again?
Hey guys,
I'm Mark Blitch and I consider myself a filmmaker (doesn't everybody?) and a movie geek. I always loved those great Top 10 lists that Empire does (the Greatest Ending Moves I thought was great). So i thought, hey, that should be fun (random parenthesis).
Thanks for reading my first blog. What I'll be doing here is doing some Top 10 Lists from Movies/TV/Music, much like the one I will be doing today.
If any of you reading this, feel free to suggest any further topics for further posts. Alright, let's start this bad boy up.
This top ten list is in tribute of the music from trailers that you immediately download or buy almost immediately after you watch the trailer.
And yes, they are a little more current, so if you have some great older ones, feel free to comment below. But be warned, if any of you suggest Drowning Pool's "Bodies" for Jason X, I will hunt you down, and I will kill you.
10) The Song - Apocalypse Please -Muse
The Trailer - Unleashed (2005)
A lot of people don't think that this is a good movie, but i thought it was a great, kinetic action film. This trailer had me searching for what seems like days trying to find out who did the song at the end of this trailer. That search led me to Muse.
I immediately bought their CD. Even though the trailer features just the instrumental version, the album version is just as powerful.
9) The Song - Sweet Child O' Mine - cover by Taken by Trees
The Trailer - Last House on the Left (2009)
I do not for any reason want to see this movie. I remember watching the original when I was in college, and I turned it off. So I wasn't excited for the new one at all. I still won't see it, but by the beard of Zeus, this is a stickin' great trailer. And to cap it off, it features a haunting cover of Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Taken by Trees. Never heard of them before, but I think I might seek out some more material from them. I'm a big "slow-build" guy when it comes to music. So when the drums come in with the piano and the tempo rises, man, it almost makes me want to see the movie. Key word: Almost.
8) The Song - Just Like You've Imagined - Nine Inch Nails
The Trailer - 300
This was one of the best trailers of 2007. Actually, I'm not sure when this trailer came out, it might have been December of 2006. Not sure. This is one of those songs that you put in your car and just start acting like a badass. Everything you do is immediately badass. You turn on your turn signal - badass. You lock the doors - badass. When you get a flat tire, you badassly turn on the hazards and put on the spare, all while speed-ramping. I remember having this on my Painting Mix when I painted the inside of my house. Using Xerxes' army as the primer.
7) The Song - Let Go - Frau Frau
The Trailer - Garden State
I really loved this trailer. I was in college doing film stuff and I thought that it was the coolest trailer ever. Looking at it again, the trailer is kinda not so great. It's essentially a collection of cool indie shots set to Frau Frau's "Let Go." Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just doesn't tell me anything about the plot. No hook. But there is no doubt that this movie catapulted the already disbanded Frau Frau to new heights. Imogen Heap could probably owe her career to Zach's soundtrack, which actually won a Grammy. I hear she is fantastic live, and I also love her equally great "Hide and Seek," which was to be played at my funeral until the SNL "Dear Sister" sketch. Damn you Lonely Island.
6) The Song - Unrecorded - M83
The Trailer - Night Watch (Nochnoi dozor) (2004)
I was, again, in college when i saw this trailer. It was mindblowing. I was sure that this film would be studied in film school for years to come. It was impossible for this movie to be bad. And when Unrecorded came in at 1:30 in trailer, it immediately rose up to the top of my list of must-see movies. I saw it, with subtitles AND dubbed in English, and I still couldn't tell you what it was about. At all. Something about a vortex. But M83's Unrecorded is still one of those songs that when I hear it, it brings me back to that feeling of what-could-have-been. Still a darn fine trailer.
5) The Song - The Day the Whole World Went Away - Nine Inch Nails
The Trailer - Terminator Salvation (2009)
My 2nd NIN song. I was already psyched about a new Terminator movie. Even with McG at the helm. He can't mess it up. It's too good of a story, and with the greatest actor of our generation, Christian Bale, along with the polishings of one Jonathan Nolan, it will be great. I don't care what you guys have to say about it, it will be awesome. I was in love with the first teaser, the first trailer, and then this one came along and blew the socks off that one. I'll admit, I was turned off by the song first (Really? No Immediate Music? A Nine Inch Nails song?). But as soon as Marcus looked down at himself and let out that anguishing, "Nooooo!" and then the drums hit and I was sold. I bought the song and was severely disappointed because all the parts that I loved in the trailer were all static-y. I tried to find the exact version, and I hear the Green Mix is the closest, but I will not rest until I get that trailer remix, which I hear was done by Clint Mansell or Danny Elfman. It is my Moby Dick.
4) The Song - Paper Planes - MIA
The Trailer - Pineapple Express (2008)
I pretty much immediately loved this song. I bought pretty instantaneously, maybe before I finished the trailer. Sadly, I'm in the minority that didn't like Pineapple Express, but it doesn't mean that I cannot rock out to Paper Planes driving in my Mazda Protege. You know that a song is great when you start hearing it everywhere. It was huge in clubs, and was nominated for several Grammys (unfortunately, I think the only real memorable part of MIA during the Grammys was that her water practically broke on stage. Seriously, it was like watching a little kid poking at a maxed out water balloon; the thing's gonna pop eventually). But Hollywood took a cue from the PE trailer and stuck it in Slumdog Millionaire, which of course, won Best Picture this year.
3) The Song- Wake Up - Arcade Fire
The Trailer- Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
I know that I've read Where the Wild Things Are. I'm positive. I just can't remember a lick about it. I remember the cover of the book better than anything else. With that said, this trailer floored me. And, much like Garden State (but in a much more effective way), it is a montage of clips set to Arcade Fire's "Wake Up." The images correspond beautifully with the song. This is one of those trailers I get chills in. I didn't think twice about downloading it immediately after watching it, not realizing that one of my co-workers could have just copied it over from his computer. Ah, I don't care, it's worth the .99 cents.
2) The Song - Hoppipolla - Sigur Ros
The Trailer - Children of Men (2006)
I'm probably gonna get a lot of flack for this. But I did not like Children of Men. I thought that it was a visual masterpiece and that the 2 long takes should be in every film class to look at in awe. But for some reason, I just didn't care. I feel heartless. I had this movie on a RIDICULOUSLY HIGH pedestal and it just didn't live up to it. I thought the ending was a copout. I really want to see this again, so that I might be redeemed with a second viewing.
But I digress. My hope for this movie started when I saw this unforgettable trailer. And much like Night Watch, when Hoppipolla came in towards the end, it lifted me to the rafters. This song is so beautiful. I wanted to learn how to play piano solely for the reason that I wanted to play this song.
1) The Song - Journey to the Line - Hans Zimmer
The Trailer - Pearl Harbor (2001)
Simply put, the greatest trailer of all time. I said it. Read it again. It still says it. Yes, I know that "Journey to the Line" is from "The Thin Red Line." I do not care. This song is one of the most emotionally riveting songs ever composed (as if I have enough credibility to convince you). Whether its for this trailer, or for the Carnivale season 1 finale, it has brought me to tears many a time. I've sadly never seen Pearl Harbor. Not because I'm lazy. But because I've heard the movie does not compare the the perfection of this teaser trailer. But I really want to see it now, just again watching the trailer. I originally had this as number 2 on my list to Children of Men and Hoppipolla, but after watching it to embed, I changed my mind.
Honorable Mention (in no particular order):
Beowulf - In a Heartbeat - John Murphy (originally from 28 Days Later)
Jarhead - Jesus Walks - Kanye West
Sin City - Cells - The Servant (I prefer the instrumental to the real song)
Watchmen - Take a Bow - Muse AND Pruit Igoe & Prophecies - Philip Glass
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Summer Overture - Clint Mansell (I believe that this is the first use of the huge orchestral version)
Thanks for reading my first post. I'll try and do a Top Ten twice a week, so suggest what list should be next, I have a few I'm already thinking of. I also might post a review or two as well. Subscribe to my blog if you'd like.
Next blog: Top Ten Movie/TV Most Annoying Characters... who you ended up liking.
- SOFAB
I'm Mark Blitch and I consider myself a filmmaker (doesn't everybody?) and a movie geek. I always loved those great Top 10 lists that Empire does (the Greatest Ending Moves I thought was great). So i thought, hey, that should be fun (random parenthesis).
Thanks for reading my first blog. What I'll be doing here is doing some Top 10 Lists from Movies/TV/Music, much like the one I will be doing today.
If any of you reading this, feel free to suggest any further topics for further posts. Alright, let's start this bad boy up.
This top ten list is in tribute of the music from trailers that you immediately download or buy almost immediately after you watch the trailer.
And yes, they are a little more current, so if you have some great older ones, feel free to comment below. But be warned, if any of you suggest Drowning Pool's "Bodies" for Jason X, I will hunt you down, and I will kill you.
10) The Song - Apocalypse Please -Muse
The Trailer - Unleashed (2005)
A lot of people don't think that this is a good movie, but i thought it was a great, kinetic action film. This trailer had me searching for what seems like days trying to find out who did the song at the end of this trailer. That search led me to Muse.
I immediately bought their CD. Even though the trailer features just the instrumental version, the album version is just as powerful.
9) The Song - Sweet Child O' Mine - cover by Taken by Trees
The Trailer - Last House on the Left (2009)
I do not for any reason want to see this movie. I remember watching the original when I was in college, and I turned it off. So I wasn't excited for the new one at all. I still won't see it, but by the beard of Zeus, this is a stickin' great trailer. And to cap it off, it features a haunting cover of Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Taken by Trees. Never heard of them before, but I think I might seek out some more material from them. I'm a big "slow-build" guy when it comes to music. So when the drums come in with the piano and the tempo rises, man, it almost makes me want to see the movie. Key word: Almost.
8) The Song - Just Like You've Imagined - Nine Inch Nails
The Trailer - 300
This was one of the best trailers of 2007. Actually, I'm not sure when this trailer came out, it might have been December of 2006. Not sure. This is one of those songs that you put in your car and just start acting like a badass. Everything you do is immediately badass. You turn on your turn signal - badass. You lock the doors - badass. When you get a flat tire, you badassly turn on the hazards and put on the spare, all while speed-ramping. I remember having this on my Painting Mix when I painted the inside of my house. Using Xerxes' army as the primer.
7) The Song - Let Go - Frau Frau
The Trailer - Garden State
I really loved this trailer. I was in college doing film stuff and I thought that it was the coolest trailer ever. Looking at it again, the trailer is kinda not so great. It's essentially a collection of cool indie shots set to Frau Frau's "Let Go." Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just doesn't tell me anything about the plot. No hook. But there is no doubt that this movie catapulted the already disbanded Frau Frau to new heights. Imogen Heap could probably owe her career to Zach's soundtrack, which actually won a Grammy. I hear she is fantastic live, and I also love her equally great "Hide and Seek," which was to be played at my funeral until the SNL "Dear Sister" sketch. Damn you Lonely Island.
6) The Song - Unrecorded - M83
The Trailer - Night Watch (Nochnoi dozor) (2004)
I was, again, in college when i saw this trailer. It was mindblowing. I was sure that this film would be studied in film school for years to come. It was impossible for this movie to be bad. And when Unrecorded came in at 1:30 in trailer, it immediately rose up to the top of my list of must-see movies. I saw it, with subtitles AND dubbed in English, and I still couldn't tell you what it was about. At all. Something about a vortex. But M83's Unrecorded is still one of those songs that when I hear it, it brings me back to that feeling of what-could-have-been. Still a darn fine trailer.
5) The Song - The Day the Whole World Went Away - Nine Inch Nails
The Trailer - Terminator Salvation (2009)
My 2nd NIN song. I was already psyched about a new Terminator movie. Even with McG at the helm. He can't mess it up. It's too good of a story, and with the greatest actor of our generation, Christian Bale, along with the polishings of one Jonathan Nolan, it will be great. I don't care what you guys have to say about it, it will be awesome. I was in love with the first teaser, the first trailer, and then this one came along and blew the socks off that one. I'll admit, I was turned off by the song first (Really? No Immediate Music? A Nine Inch Nails song?). But as soon as Marcus looked down at himself and let out that anguishing, "Nooooo!" and then the drums hit and I was sold. I bought the song and was severely disappointed because all the parts that I loved in the trailer were all static-y. I tried to find the exact version, and I hear the Green Mix is the closest, but I will not rest until I get that trailer remix, which I hear was done by Clint Mansell or Danny Elfman. It is my Moby Dick.
4) The Song - Paper Planes - MIA
The Trailer - Pineapple Express (2008)
I pretty much immediately loved this song. I bought pretty instantaneously, maybe before I finished the trailer. Sadly, I'm in the minority that didn't like Pineapple Express, but it doesn't mean that I cannot rock out to Paper Planes driving in my Mazda Protege. You know that a song is great when you start hearing it everywhere. It was huge in clubs, and was nominated for several Grammys (unfortunately, I think the only real memorable part of MIA during the Grammys was that her water practically broke on stage. Seriously, it was like watching a little kid poking at a maxed out water balloon; the thing's gonna pop eventually). But Hollywood took a cue from the PE trailer and stuck it in Slumdog Millionaire, which of course, won Best Picture this year.
3) The Song- Wake Up - Arcade Fire
The Trailer- Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
I know that I've read Where the Wild Things Are. I'm positive. I just can't remember a lick about it. I remember the cover of the book better than anything else. With that said, this trailer floored me. And, much like Garden State (but in a much more effective way), it is a montage of clips set to Arcade Fire's "Wake Up." The images correspond beautifully with the song. This is one of those trailers I get chills in. I didn't think twice about downloading it immediately after watching it, not realizing that one of my co-workers could have just copied it over from his computer. Ah, I don't care, it's worth the .99 cents.
2) The Song - Hoppipolla - Sigur Ros
The Trailer - Children of Men (2006)
I'm probably gonna get a lot of flack for this. But I did not like Children of Men. I thought that it was a visual masterpiece and that the 2 long takes should be in every film class to look at in awe. But for some reason, I just didn't care. I feel heartless. I had this movie on a RIDICULOUSLY HIGH pedestal and it just didn't live up to it. I thought the ending was a copout. I really want to see this again, so that I might be redeemed with a second viewing.
But I digress. My hope for this movie started when I saw this unforgettable trailer. And much like Night Watch, when Hoppipolla came in towards the end, it lifted me to the rafters. This song is so beautiful. I wanted to learn how to play piano solely for the reason that I wanted to play this song.
1) The Song - Journey to the Line - Hans Zimmer
The Trailer - Pearl Harbor (2001)
Simply put, the greatest trailer of all time. I said it. Read it again. It still says it. Yes, I know that "Journey to the Line" is from "The Thin Red Line." I do not care. This song is one of the most emotionally riveting songs ever composed (as if I have enough credibility to convince you). Whether its for this trailer, or for the Carnivale season 1 finale, it has brought me to tears many a time. I've sadly never seen Pearl Harbor. Not because I'm lazy. But because I've heard the movie does not compare the the perfection of this teaser trailer. But I really want to see it now, just again watching the trailer. I originally had this as number 2 on my list to Children of Men and Hoppipolla, but after watching it to embed, I changed my mind.
Honorable Mention (in no particular order):
Beowulf - In a Heartbeat - John Murphy (originally from 28 Days Later)
Jarhead - Jesus Walks - Kanye West
Sin City - Cells - The Servant (I prefer the instrumental to the real song)
Watchmen - Take a Bow - Muse AND Pruit Igoe & Prophecies - Philip Glass
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Summer Overture - Clint Mansell (I believe that this is the first use of the huge orchestral version)
Thanks for reading my first post. I'll try and do a Top Ten twice a week, so suggest what list should be next, I have a few I'm already thinking of. I also might post a review or two as well. Subscribe to my blog if you'd like.
Next blog: Top Ten Movie/TV Most Annoying Characters... who you ended up liking.
- SOFAB
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