Pick of the Week 7/20/09

PAYBACK
"No More Mr. Nice Guy"

Every once in a while I get an itch to watch a movie that for lack of a better expression kicks ass. This might seem like a somewhat undignified feeling from someone who appreciates good film, but they are not mutually exclusive when it comes right down to it.
Beat-downs, explosions, beautiful women and bad guys you can’t help but cheer for are something that needs to be experienced once in a while. So, when the mood strikes you, PAYBACK is the movie your gonna want to watch.
Mel Gibson enters the role of Porter, a con man/thief and all around crook who is double crossed and left for dead by his partner, played by Gregg Henry. The story doesn’t get much more complex from there. Porter embarks on a mission to get back his half of the score his partner double crossed him on, a sum of $70,000, which the higher up the organized crime hierarchy Porter gets seems more and more trivial. It's the principal of the thing. Nevertheless, dry humor and great one-liners prevail in this somewhat epic gangster revenge caper. You can’t help but root for Porter deep down in the dark portion of your heart. Plus, Lucy Liu makes a great cameo as a dominatrix, which is just about the most ironic thing I have seen in a long time.
Who knows, this may be the best all around movie experience you've had in a long time.

Starring Mel Gibson, Gregg Henry, Maria Bello, David Paymer and Kris Kristofferson.
Released in 1999.

You can watch movies online by going to iReel.com , a Video On Demand web based streaming service. There is no cost to join, and subscriptions, premium accounts and download to own options are available. Follow the link to Payback here http://www.ireel.com/search_result/index?q=Payback+Straight+Up%3A+The+Director%27s+Cut&f=s. iReel.com has a selection of major, minor and independent film titles in standard definition and high definition ready to stream to your computer right now. No plug in or downloaded software required. Check them out!

Pick of the Week 6/5/09

WONDER BOYS

Every time I sit down to watch this movie I honestly don't know what to expect, even after multiple viewings. I don't mean that I have forgotten the storyline, but that each time I watch Wonder Boys I see something different in the characters, in their relationships, and more importantly I sometimes see my life in a different perspective. And yes, I laugh till it hurts most of the way through it too.
This is the power of Curtis Hanson's amazing adaptation of Michael Chabon's much loved novel. The fact that Michael Chabon is involved with this movie makes it worth mentioning on its own.
The story revolves around Professor Grady Tripp (Michael Douglas) many years after the writing of his great literary work, struggling to finish the follow up. Stoned and drunk most of the time, having an affair with a married woman, and attempting to mentor a dark and disturbed young student (Tobey Maguire) while fending off the advances of his housemate and admirer (Katie Holmes) doesn’t leave Douglas much time to do anything but coast through life. However, like all lasting cinematic works, Wonder Boys is really about choice, and more importantly about the ability of individuals to make decisions instead of letting life dictate every step of the way.
If you are looking for a deep, emotional and hilariously funny movie, complete with great writing and cast, then Wonder Boys is it.

You can now watch Wonder Boys on iReel.com, a Video On Demand web based streaming service. There is no cost to join, and subscriptions, premium accounts and download to own options are available. iReel.com has a selection of major, minor and independent film titles in standard definition and high definition ready to stream to your computer right now. No plug in or downloaded software required. Go to http://www.ireel.com/ and check them out!

Starring Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Katie Holmes, Francis McDormand and Robert Downey Jr.

Released in 2000.

THIRD PICK OF THE WEEK 10/12/07

EMPIRE RECORDS:
"Damn the Man! Save the Empire!"

I'm putting this movie up because it made me believe that a good teen movie could actually be written, produced, and last for over a decade and still be awesome. Even thinking about this movie still makes me smile.
EMPIRE RECORDS in itself is not a masterpiece of film, but a reminder that teen movies used to mean something, and used to be about more than winning the heart of the popular girl at school, or being prom queen. The kids in this movie are fighting against a giant corporation, against society, and for the freedom to have an independent piece of the world where they can simply exist.
The music is pulse pounding, the characters are laugh-out-loud funny, and the romance angles are there but not overbearing. I mean seriously, it's fantastic.
If your looking for a great comedy, that has great music (like HIGH FIDELITY) and is just plain good fun, then EMPIRE RECORDS is your movie tonight.
Starring Liv Tyler, Ethan Embry, Rory Cochrane, Johnny Whitworth, Robin Tunney, Anthony LaPaglia and Renee Zellweger. Directed by Allan Moyle.
Released in 1995.



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SECOND PICK OF THE WEEK

THE CIDER HOUSE RULES:
"A story about how far we must travel to find the place where we belong."

I'm running out of words to describe the great movies that I have seen and want to share. Of all things. I think I might have to invest in a good thesaurus.
THE CIDER HOUSE RULES is a stunning film, shot in Maine it's cinematography is simply breathtaking. This movie has been in my collection from the first week it was out on VHS, almost as long as I've had my copy of HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE. (Also a great classic).
It recounts the story of a young orphan (Tobey Maguire) who is raised and tutored by the head doctor (Michael Caine) to become a doctor in his own right and eventually take over the business of running the orphanage he was raised in. However, like all young people, he feels the need to discover some of life's mysteries on his own, and so sets out with a couple (Charlize Theron and Paul Rudd) that were visiting the orphanage, accompanying them back home and to a vital time of trials and realizations that is necessary for all persons who are intent on finding their own path in life. THE CIDER HOUSE RULES is a fresh take on coming of age.
A story of love, grief, and the necessity of experience in the full human spectrum of emotions, this movie is a fantastic viewing experience.
Released in 1999, and a favorite in my collection.



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Pick of The Week 10/8/07

I'M REED FISH:

I was a little skeptical about this movie the first couple of minutes into it, but I held true and trusted that I picked a good one at the video store. So when you rent this, give it some room to breath and stretch out to its full potential before passing any cinematic judgment.
I'M REED FISH is actually written by a man named Reed Fish, in what I can only assume is a part of his life's story, which is very interesting to consider when watching certain parts of the film.
Reed Fish (played by Jay Baruchel, of Million Dollar Baby and winner of the best actor award for this movie) is a small town disc jockey and a local landmark in the town of Mud Meadows. He has a beautiful fiance (Alexis Bledel, of Sin City), loving in-laws, a supporting community and a fulfilled life in its own small way. The trouble is, he isn't really happy. So, when his old crush Jill (Schuyler Fisk) comes back to Mud Meadows for the summer, his seemingly perfect life is given the chance to become what Fish has always wanted it to be. His own.
Co-starring DJ Qualls (The New Guy) as his best friend, this movie is filled with laughter, sorrow and some good music, and despite being slightly unorthodox, is a fantastic screenplay.
Well worth watching if your in the mood for something genuine from the heart that will make you laugh as easily as it will make you identify with the film scenarios.



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Third Pick of the Week

THE VALET:

I just finished watching this movie, and I laughed so hard throughout the whole thing that I can safely say that my neighbors probably think that I am clinically insane.
Words are failing me, I can't even begin to describe how good this movie was. For those of you who don't like subtitles, you will have to take one for the team because there is no reason why anyone should miss this film.
A valet who has to live with a supermodel to earn enough money to save the bookstore of the woman he loves, a supermodel who has to live with a valet to save a billionaires marriage, a billionaire who's going crazy about the supermodel living with the valet, and the billionaires' wife toying with them all. Watch this movie and take part in this hilarious comedy about love and what it costs.
A truly original story, one that makes sense when you step back to look at it. It will leave you with the feeling that everything is right in the world. A gem.

If you're still a little skeptical, click on the link below to watch the trailer, or just go to www.imdb.com and type in The Valet, then click on La Doublure, and click on watch the trailer.
Enjoy!

http://imdb.com/title/tt0449851/trailers-screenplay-E34435-10-2



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Second PIck of The Week 10/4/07

FORMULA 51:

This week, I am going to share one of my many cinematic guilty pleasures in a special second Pick of the Week. I just couldn't hold back. I love this movie.
Everybody say Samuel L. Jackson in formal Scottish attire, wielding a golf club in downtown London. Add to it Robert Carlyle in his usual persona as a fast talking British gangster, random soccer hooligans, Rhys Ifans as a Hyped up drug dealer, and Emily Mortimer as the hired gun protecting Jackson and Carlyle. Oh, and don't forget Meat Loaf as The Lizard. What do you have? An awesome movie, that's what!
Jackson plays Elmo McElroy, a chemist on the brink of a once in a lifetime score, and doing it all dressed in plaid. Aided with an attitude by Felix DeSouza (Carlyle) they criss-cross London from the docks to a football (soccer) stadium, hoping to make the deal and live long enough to enjoy their success. They even manage to drive an original mini cooper in the process.
Filled to the brim with action, double-crosses and a mean golf swing, this movie has something for everyone who likes their action with a splash of humor but can never seem to find it.
It's like watching Shaft in a kilt!
There's nothing more to say except; Go Rent This.

For more information check out my links list.

PIck of The Week 10/2/07

THE MOD SQUAD:

I know that selecting this movie for the pick of the week might seem sacrilegious to some, those of you who revere the classic television series, but i feel that the new full feature version should be given a chance. So rarely is a remake, especially from TV to film, given this much polish and attention by it's director and production teams, especially not in the action/cops/drug ring genre, where a good car chase and the hero vanquishing the villain with the rescued maiden behind usually gets the job done for a blockbuster.
Quick, sleek dialogue, solid action, a great cast and a few well selected edges of dry humor fill out the picture, coupled with introspective character relationships and consistent personality portrayal for each character makes this movie a must see for anyone in the mood to see the Good Guys beating the Bad Guys with a stylish 90's twist.

Starring Claire Danes, Omar Epps and Giovanni Ribisi.
for more information go to www.imdb.com