tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70770817202814447382024-02-06T20:47:52.675-08:00Plugged In PulpWhat's good everyone? I spend a decent amount time watching movies and TV shows, reading books, and encountering dope music. I often have thoughts on all of these, and this blog is where I will be recording my reflections on cool material I come across.Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-64065732764519017602013-04-18T06:20:00.000-07:002013-04-18T06:20:00.333-07:00Movie Review: Evil Dead<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Evil Dead (IMDb score: 7.2, Rotten Tomatoes: 63% Fresh)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Writer & Director:<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1793079/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" target="_blank"> </a></b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1793079/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" target="_blank">Fede Alvarez</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cast: </b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3994408/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" target="_blank">Jane Levy</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2057036/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" target="_blank">Shiloh Fernandez</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1086384/?ref_=tt_cl_t3" target="_blank">Lou Taylor Pucci</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Disclaimer: I have not seen either the original <i>Evil Dead</i> or its sequel, so I can’t
comment on whether it stays faithful to the source material. If you enjoy horror movies, and gore in
particular, I recommend this film. While
some of the character’s actions reach <i>Prometheus</i>
levels in that they make entirely no sense given the circumstances, some of the
sequences were very frightening, thrilling, and funny. I don’t believe in the concept of hell but
the scariest element from the movie was the fact (eventually known to some
characters) that if they are killed by this demon they will spend eternity in
hell unless the demon is defeated. The
idea of being mortally wounded and knowing with near certainty that your soul
is about to belong to the Devil is probably the worst feeling I can
imagine. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWxhDnvDfj-TM5RoDV3S5U1YbYxzvUJzkhobPBOhtCUWeYP-hCFOCTw4Ef8xRJ9hphnbAgKWygrVPS7UjtmQ__7-mJV2t4DcZGGSs4UyXFuNJueoU6ZawvYPTp01o4PqyU9HKmRros-2z/s1600/evil+dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWxhDnvDfj-TM5RoDV3S5U1YbYxzvUJzkhobPBOhtCUWeYP-hCFOCTw4Ef8xRJ9hphnbAgKWygrVPS7UjtmQ__7-mJV2t4DcZGGSs4UyXFuNJueoU6ZawvYPTp01o4PqyU9HKmRros-2z/s1600/evil+dead.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gruesome and depraved as you’d expect, the demon has more of
a sexual appetite than most horror villains, and there are some extremely
uncomfortable/disturbing scenes to that end.
I shuddered heavily on more than
one occasion. A lot depends on the
brother-sister relationship of the two main characters, as the sister was left
to care for their mother alone at the end of her life (following a mental
collapse). I thought they did a decent
job; both are stubborn and have plenty of emotional ammunition to throw
around. The action was entertaining and
gory, but I have never seen anything close to approaching the utter insanity of
the final showdown. It was a moment of
awe-struck hilarity for me. Fans of the
genre will appreciate the effort, but unfortunately the element of <i>Evil Dead</i> which stands out the most is
the sheer level of blood and gore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Grade: B-</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-19546352667640641232013-04-03T09:22:00.000-07:002013-04-03T09:22:43.700-07:00NETFLIX Movie Review: Safety Not Guaranteed<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Safety Not Guaranteed (IMDb score: 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 91%
Fresh)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Director:</b> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1119880/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" target="_blank">Colin Trevorrow</a> (Will be
directing the upcoming <i>Jurassic Park IV</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Writer:</b> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2081046/?ref_=tt_ov_wr" target="_blank">Derek Connolly</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cast:</b> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2201555/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" target="_blank">Aubrey Plaza</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0243233/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Mark Duplass</a>,
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2159926/?ref_=tt_cl_t5" target="_blank">Jake Johnson</a>,<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4175221/?ref_=tt_cl_t6" target="_blank"> Karan Soni</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With March Madness and Easter, I
didn’t make it to the cinema this past weekend, but I watched this movie on
Netflix and loved it. I meant to see
this in theaters but I never could, and it is available for streaming on Watch
Instantly now. A QUICK PLOT OVERVIEW: a Seattle magazine writer sees an ad in the
classifieds requesting a partner to travel back in time with him. The writer (Johnson), looking to hook up with
an old classmate, takes along two awkward interns for two purposes: to get the story
and to get wasted. The would-be time traveler
(Duplass) turns out to be completely serious and is gearing up for his grand
voyage, and intern Darius (Aubrey Plaza) becomes entangled in his pursuit. I found that clip hilarious, and if you enjoy it you'll like the movie. (continues after the jump)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_fG7Qt8ZQcZoY_SO9-69RZ2x50CgQIz2vp51VoppjzfWg_DG1mUWFO_vBdY3Rp6Vw_NHliWSvGn607aFGD6NbjHJqVwNwFPmsuAYnovjxuKpl9FjQ_TJ0qSVVyUBhaGdfx1zh65Xu9T2/s1600/sngg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_fG7Qt8ZQcZoY_SO9-69RZ2x50CgQIz2vp51VoppjzfWg_DG1mUWFO_vBdY3Rp6Vw_NHliWSvGn607aFGD6NbjHJqVwNwFPmsuAYnovjxuKpl9FjQ_TJ0qSVVyUBhaGdfx1zh65Xu9T2/s400/sngg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plaza is awesome here, playing a
character who is very emotionally distant from those around her. Her deadpan, dry humor meshed well with
Duplass’ earnest quirkiness and Johnson’s blunt lewd humor. All the characters are flawed and each
experiences some measure of growth along the way. I was surprised at how well the movie
increased the tension and stakes as the plot progressed, and there are some
moments of real suspense and uncertainty.
The ending will surely divide viewers’ opinions but this is one of the
few cases where I didn’t really care. The
journey was so enjoyable that the destination was a minor detail. The beach and forest scenery in rural Washington was beautiful and occasionally majestic; another unexpected element in what I
supposed was a lightweight comedy. With
some sadness I can say that this was the best movie I have seen so far in 2013,
and the short running time (<90 minutes) makes it extremely accessible and
definitely worth a watch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grade: A-</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-16570797236898783422013-03-28T07:54:00.001-07:002013-03-28T09:54:38.319-07:00Movie Review: Stoker<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stoker (IMDb score: 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes 67% fresh)</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Director</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0661791/?ref_=fn_al_nm_2" target="_blank">Park Chan-Wook</a> (<i>Oldboy, Lady Vengeance</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Writer</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0589505/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Wentworth Miller</a> (Michael Scofield from <i>Prison Break</i> ha)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cast</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1985859/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Mia Wasikowska</a> (pronounced Vaas-Kaav-Ska), <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0328828/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">MatthewGoode</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000173/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Nicole Kidman</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZwtOd626HIz186hakCw4nSHc9I0Y_U-VWqAc9GxRoa4gCl4tXRxZURJ7IRt_VwgE8B5EcdFfgQXCnqhYWSG2WjKxBtBAgUceXnLDEqqmPfWJTFrVhGqY8XnGqJdVdp7AUXZZQkSfqZJI/s1600/stoker.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZwtOd626HIz186hakCw4nSHc9I0Y_U-VWqAc9GxRoa4gCl4tXRxZURJ7IRt_VwgE8B5EcdFfgQXCnqhYWSG2WjKxBtBAgUceXnLDEqqmPfWJTFrVhGqY8XnGqJdVdp7AUXZZQkSfqZJI/s320/stoker.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Oldboy</i> is on my
list of foreign movies I’d really like to see, and it’s beloved by much of the
film community that I read and respect so I was interested to see the director’s
English language debut. I walked into
the theater without having seen so much as a preview, so I had no idea what to
expect. As the film progressed I was
reminded more and more of how I felt watching <i>Black Swan</i>. Both are
beautifully shot and orchestrated well, but the tone is a sort of creepy
melancholy where the audience knows something is disturbed beneath the surface. Taking center stage is the Stoker family:
India (Mia), her mother Evelyn (Kidman), and a previously unheard from Uncle
Charlie (Goode). It’s clear from the outset
that India is highly introverted and off-putting in certain ways, and that she
has a strange relationship to her mother.
Brilliant acting from Wasikowska and Goode on display here, she is
totally convincing and heightens some already ruthless sequences with her cold,
ethereal presence. Meanwhile Goode is
all mysterious charm. (continues after the jump)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDvSVmFBsowrG6hkspMXAwIV12qUpZQDIvOmnWA3h7e_qt36pwbLB6wSp5GIhFglpC3faNA-iktTVQGHjEwas8QJOJ3bCfj8D1mL4k_tPDFxLWUrjV3EfGTaYW4N6V65X7TLP-nUiZGk4/s1600/stoker2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDvSVmFBsowrG6hkspMXAwIV12qUpZQDIvOmnWA3h7e_qt36pwbLB6wSp5GIhFglpC3faNA-iktTVQGHjEwas8QJOJ3bCfj8D1mL4k_tPDFxLWUrjV3EfGTaYW4N6V65X7TLP-nUiZGk4/s400/stoker2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whatever she's looking at, it's not pleasant</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t want to go into the plot much, but something is not
right within the Stoker household and the story revolves around the revelation
of what that something is and how the characters respond to it. Despite all of these praises, the plot is
pretty shallow and it does take some time for the wheels to start turning. The unorthodox, peculiar way it was shot kept
my attention throughout it all, though.
The ending answers some questions but also asks a few more, and I think
Park Chan-Wook wants the audience to interpret things for themselves. The acting and cinematography are great, and
there are some harrowing moments in this unconventional coming of age story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grade: B+</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-65285554680642533072013-03-27T08:20:00.001-07:002013-03-27T08:52:49.590-07:00Movie Review: Spring Breakers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdN6gfqmo70mfnEm5CxNWnk9UEdVXtzb3zduf-HRHNjZeC0ysOPKDt_OR3yOl1Rl487_mgdx_PSNd3-A7QLB2H3tAhHvwD1ePyGTdjawHjJ_qc0Qvppm0Q9R_VS7j71fy-dJqgWgPcZNr/s1600/sb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdN6gfqmo70mfnEm5CxNWnk9UEdVXtzb3zduf-HRHNjZeC0ysOPKDt_OR3yOl1Rl487_mgdx_PSNd3-A7QLB2H3tAhHvwD1ePyGTdjawHjJ_qc0Qvppm0Q9R_VS7j71fy-dJqgWgPcZNr/s320/sb2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Spring Breakers (IMDb score: 6.6, Rotten Tomatoes 70% Fresh)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Writer and Director:</b> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005101/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" target="_blank">Harmony Korine </a>(numerous short films)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cast:</b> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1227814/?ref_=tt_ov_st" target="_blank">Vanessa Hudgens</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1411125/?ref_=tt_ov_st" target="_blank">Selena Gomez</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1667364/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Ashley Benson</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2540339/?ref_=sr_2" target="_blank">Rachel Korine</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0290556/?ref_=sr_2" target="_blank">James Franco</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3042771/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">GUCCI MANE!!!</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hopefully this movie isn’t taken too seriously by audiences,
because it is completely devoid of any semblance of morality or realism. Instead it combines two of the most idolized
elements of American youth: partying and the crime culture often promoted by
rap music. The result of this concoction
is a crazy, ridiculous, entertaining ride of a movie. Three ladies and their younger friend are
eagerly looking forward to, you guessed it, Spring Break, yet they have no
$$$. To solve this problem they cruise
to a restaurant where Brit (Ashley Benson) and Candy (Vanessa Hudgens)
violently rob the patrons. Up to this
point the movie was a haze of weed and booze and boobs, so this drastic change
of tone worked to great effect. The way
this scene was shot was amazing, and I won’t spoil it here. From a rookie director, I was quite
impressed. (continues after the jump) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83RtjzGOK-HMoqXrV8YyESvtz79mtO4xMVenuSC9WT7Yme6UDF3gPIUNAGlHnJrzGQE_L3gJUvOeQdfIK4wMbME9IqoUddjyI3jf5DCRkNAWhCOn38n0WAR1w8VVFrWIFrmDwOTvM98l9/s1600/sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83RtjzGOK-HMoqXrV8YyESvtz79mtO4xMVenuSC9WT7Yme6UDF3gPIUNAGlHnJrzGQE_L3gJUvOeQdfIK4wMbME9IqoUddjyI3jf5DCRkNAWhCOn38n0WAR1w8VVFrWIFrmDwOTvM98l9/s320/sb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't judge a book by it's cover</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Armed with the necessary cash the free spirits head to
Florida, where they are busted at a beach rager for drug possession and
underage drinking. Luckily for both them
and the audience, James Franco comes to save the day, playing a drug dealing
rapper known as ‘Alien’ who bails them out of jail. The rest of the film is hilarious,
continually upping the stakes of this already absurd premise. Franco is awesome as Alien, and the movie
manages to glorify the party-24/7 lifestyle about as well as possible. I’m guessing these weren’t difficult roles
for the ladies in terms of actual acting, but these characters were the antithesis to their Hollywood images.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were plenty of laugh out loud moments, and also quite
a few where I just shook my head in amused disbelief. It was also amazing seeing Gucci Mane on the
big screen, and he actually has an integral plotline. Skrillex provided a lot of the soundtrack,
which was great because I like his music and his melancholy score paces well with the plot.
If you can accept this movie as a comedic parody, you will enjoy a wild adventure. It takes a familiar teen
movie theme and goes above and beyond the natural limits of the concept, and I
look forward to seeing what direction Harmony Korine pursues with his next
few films. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grade: B+</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-64626976780734518122013-03-20T08:28:00.000-07:002013-03-22T07:18:26.064-07:00Movie Review: Dead Man Down<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dead Man Down (IMDb score: 7.0, Rotten Tomatoes 38% Fresh)</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Director</b>:<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0649117/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" target="_blank"> Niels Arden Oplev</a> (Swedish <i>Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Writer</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0437249/?ref_=tt_ov_wr" target="_blank">J.H. Wyman</a> (<i>The
Mexican</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cast</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0268199/?ref_=tt_ov_st" target="_blank">Colin Farrell</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0636426/?ref_=tt_ov_st" target="_blank">Noomi Rapace</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005024/?ref_=tt_cl_t3" target="_blank">Terrence Howard</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m struggling to understand the IMDb score for this movie,
as it deserves a much lower rating. This
is a classic $2, sit-on-your-couch-on-a-Sunday flick. Focusing on a scarred (literally and
emotionally) woman on a quest for revenge and a mobster thug who is more than
meets the eye, this is an entertaining but highly predictable affair. Rapace and Farrell’s chemistry propels the
movie as far as it can go on such a weak script, but unfortunately Terrence
Howard is underused. They could have
made him much more sinister or ruthless, but instead I almost pitied him! There are a few bloody and rather impressive
action sequences which were enjoyable, but there’s little to no mystery about
the whole thing. In terms of plot this
will seem like familiar territory for many viewers. (continues after the jump)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I actually had a great time with the scenes occurring in
Rapace’s apartment with her mother, who is in full-on “you need to move on and
find a man” mode. The mom’s
interactions with Farrell are equally funny. A heartfelt relationship between Farrell and his mobster bro also adds some emotion to the film. So it’s not all bad. It’s just
not very intriguing or original either.
This has been a tepid start to 2013 film-wise and sadly it continues
with this underwhelming display.
Hopefully it will start to pick up soon!
With all the entertainment options available to you, this one is
probably not worth the money. But if you
see it on HBO or USA in a few months, it can provide you with some decent
laughs and explosions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grade: C-</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-14051856783549706182013-03-13T10:23:00.001-07:002013-03-14T07:19:04.928-07:00Movie Review: Oz the Great and Powerful<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Oz the Great and Powerful (IMDb score: 7.0, Rotten Tomatoes 61% Fresh)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Director:</b> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000600/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" target="_blank">Sam Raimi</a> (<i>The Evil Dead, Spiderman Trilogy, Drag Me to Hell</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Writer: </b> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438449/" target="_blank">Mitchell Kapner</a> (<i>The Whole Nine Yards, Romeo Must Die</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cast: </b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0290556/" target="_blank">James Franco</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0931329/" target="_blank">Michelle Williams</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005109/" target="_blank">Mila Kunis</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001838/" target="_blank">Rachel Weisz</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attempting to create a prequel to one of the most essential
and beloved Hollywood classics of all time seemed to me like a very dangerous undertaking. Simple to screw up, hard to do well. Despite this fact, the potential ROI of a film
like this is astronomical and that’s what earned it the green light from the
studio. Imagine you’re Disney and you
see <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> make over $1
Billion in 2010. This is solid gold.
EDIT: Well, after opening weekend it’s only made $155M worldwide against a
budget of $215M so there goes that theory!
It should still make it to $500M.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thankfully, I was mostly happy with how <i>Oz </i>played out. The story is
shallow and somewhat underwhelming (like the original <i>Oz</i> when you think about it), but the world Raimi and the production and
design teams created is brilliant. I saw
this one in IMAX 3D and it visually blew me away: amazing colors, breathtaking
wide shots, and beautiful special effects.
The tornado sequence was intense and stressful, as it should be. The original score complements the film well, helping to inspire a sense of wide-eyed awe. Overcoming the weaknesses of the plot and
characters, if you get something out of incredible visuals, this one is worth
seeing. (continues after the jump)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To quote <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYAwySs0q_g" target="_blank">A$AP Rocky, Drake, 2Chainz and Kendrick Lamar</a>:<br />
I love bad witches that's my f***ing problem</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The three witches are all great actresses </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(ok Mila’s been typecast so far in her career but still)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and gorgeous to boot, but Franco is an awful choice. He has charisma and I
empathized with his character’s emotional situation, but a more VIBRANT actor
would’ve brought this movie to the next level.
Robert Downey Jr was the initial idea, and it saddens me that this never
came to pass. Theodora and Evanora’s
relationship is interesting and Weisz plays it well with a subtle touch of
derisive, sinister malice. Glinda is a
pretty bland, innocent character that doesn’t do much for me. Nevertheless, she is the heart and soul of her people
and she does what must be done. The true
value of this film is that it successfully reproduces the sense of wonder and
delight as the original, albeit on a lesser scale. High stakes create tension, and while some of
the jokes fall horribly flat others had me chuckling heartily. If you were worried this would be a
travesty, rest easy. Spectacular visual
effects and a charming (if clichéd) narrative make </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oz</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> a decent success, although it could and should have aimed for more. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GRADE: B+</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-61831576811629435462013-03-01T08:42:00.000-08:002013-03-21T15:01:03.418-07:00TV Review: Dexter Season 7 <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey everyone, I've been on a bit of a hiatus to help get ready for my dad to return home from the hospital, but I should be posting regularly from now on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WARNING: I will spoil a lot of Season 7 but not much from previous seasons. Do not read further if this sounds like something you want to avoid! I will say that this was a GREAT season, up there with Season 1 and Season 4 as the best the show can offer. The review begins after the jump.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the way the show ended last season (Deb walking in to Dexter murdering Travis Marshall and thus becoming an accessory), this season was bound to be a high stakes affair. It seemed inevitable that Deb would eventually find out Dexter's secret, and I thought it should've happened much earlier, around Season 5. However, we got a major curveball added to the mix when they also revealed that Deb was in LOVE, like not familial love, with Dex. Way to pour lighter fluid on a combustible house of cards y'all. These are two major balls to juggle at once, and show did it admirably, and it even throws in the first true love interest for Dexter to boot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved how Deb coming to terms with Dexter's true self forms the foundation of the season, in place of a villain whose arc would take up all 13 episodes. This opened the door for them to include multiple bad guys, some more menacing than others, for the duo to deal with. There's Isaak, the fearless Ukrainian mobster, who has a personal vendetta with Dexter. Eloquent and philosophical, he provides some of the best dialogue of the season. Ray Speltzer is a horrifying demon, who sets up mazes for the women he brings back to fill them with fear as they try in vain to escape. His death was HILARIOUS, I had to pause the show because I was laughing so hard at Dexter's mocking. Here's the scene: </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your beautiful face makes it hard for me to kill you.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Throw in the guy who burns people to death and you've got quite the collection of evil doers to work with. Unfortunately for the Morgans, they also have to deal with Lt. LaGuerta and Matthews (so glad he was back), whose investigation into the Bay Harbor Butcher case has the potential to gag them all. The most intriguing of all the storylines was the introduction of Hannah McKay, one of the best characters in the show's history. Watching her, Dexter, and Deb head down the rabbit hole into some kind of twisted love triangle was great TV. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dexter again contemplates his life and what it all means</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> over multiple episodes</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and his conclusions are very interesting this season. Meanwhile, watching Deb try to reconcile her feelings for Dexter was fascinating and sort of heartbreaking. T</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hankfully, the show retains it's lovable characteristics: Deb swearing, Dexter never taking care of Harrison, Quinn being a quasi-honorable dumbass, and plenty of "BS, they could never get away with that" moments.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are some incredibly shocking scenes towards the end of the season as well, plus Doakes flashbacks! After two enjoyable yet underwhelming years, Season 7 finally brings Dexter back to life in terms of story and entertainment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GRADE: A</span><br />
<br />Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-37056289981160431582013-02-22T07:51:00.002-08:002013-02-22T11:43:06.858-08:00Book Review: THE TWELVE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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THE TWELVE: Sequel to <i>The Passage </i>(big spoilers for the first book after the jump)<br />
Genre: Fiction - Post-Apocalyptic - Vampire<br />
<a name='more'></a>The story continues the tale of apocalypse-by-vampire and the struggle of humanity to survive as well as fight back against the monsters they created. Tremendously entertaining, the novel is more of a companion to its predecessor than most sequels, as it portrays the fall of society from multiple new perspectives. Cronin maintains his penchant for having building up characters and then having them converge at a crucial point in the plot. This gets a little absurd at times, as I don't see what some of the interwoven relationships add. It'd be just as satisfying if the characters were random people. That said, the writing style flows beautifully, and he depicts the heartland particularly well, with much of the story occurring in Texas, Nebraska, and Iowa. Based on how <i>The Passage </i>ended, I thought I had a pretty good idea of how this one would play out, but I was dead wrong! This was a pleasant surprise as the group faces an added, unforeseen threat. The backstory of Vorhees and the section about The Field stand out, as it simply floored me while I was reading. The character arcs advance, sometimes slowly, but it sets things up brilliantly for the final book of the trilogy. Cronin does a great job of exploring human relationships and how we interact with those closest to us. A worthy sequel, this one doesn't disappoint as Amy, Peter, Alicia and the rest try to rid the world of the creatures of death. <br />
GRADE: A-Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-58548234078650452452013-02-20T08:08:00.001-08:002013-02-20T08:10:20.533-08:00Tune of the week: KREWELLA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyFpUsmNrQq_E0lNuVsyyoH_oQw3l4GmCtct71VrKmdwbkUpzrWniu5dy7j4Vn7PfQ8tSZ6US1DWhypVBs9PZAoxCrnYZh7HPSAKEnn0jLnKU2Miib2LcOMEWdzLK3CGzzUf5syeXTwaT/s1600/krewella.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyFpUsmNrQq_E0lNuVsyyoH_oQw3l4GmCtct71VrKmdwbkUpzrWniu5dy7j4Vn7PfQ8tSZ6US1DWhypVBs9PZAoxCrnYZh7HPSAKEnn0jLnKU2Miib2LcOMEWdzLK3CGzzUf5syeXTwaT/s200/krewella.jpeg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This week features an act I've been listening to for awhile now called <a href="http://www.krewella.net/" target="_blank"><b>KREWELLA</b></a>, an electronic group that incorporates elements of dubstep, hard electro, and even some progressive house. Accompanying the thunderous beats are sexy vocals by the two ladies of the group. They add in elements of pop at times, but my favorite tracks are those that just pour on the bass. Here is the title track off their EP, <b>"Play Hard"</b>, that showcases all of their different flavors at various points in the song:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If this suits you, check out <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4QJkPg9Lc0" target="_blank">"Come & Get It"</a></b> (intensely upbeat yet still smooth) and <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uJfQbbijHo" target="_blank">"Killin' It"</a> </b>(a dubstep banger). <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPpK_GkAK30" target="_blank">"Alive"</a></b> (more pop sounding) is also very good. I love how the silky vocals balance out the sometimes harsh sounding drops. Excellent. Lastly, here's an hour long mix (the third that they have released) available for free download that proves they are also awesome DJs. Can't wait to see them live, hopefully sometime soon!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-74929817607567984452013-02-15T11:43:00.000-08:002013-02-20T08:08:35.890-08:00Movie Review: Warm Bodies<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Warm Bodies (IMDb score: 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 78% Fresh)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Writer and Director: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1349522/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" target="_blank">Jonathan Levine</a> (<i>50/50</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cast: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0396558/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" target="_blank">Nicholas Hoult</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1954240/" target="_blank">Teresa Palmer</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Based on the novel written by Isaac Marion, this romantic comedy features an unusual protagonist: a zombie. The film opens by following the zombie, soon to be called R, around as he shuffles aimlessly in an abandoned airport. He makes amusing observations about the zombie life, and is frustrated about his lack of connection with his fellow brain eaters. Soon he encounters a human woman, and instead of eating her brings her back to the airport. Then changes start happening which could affect the entire world. (continues after the jump) </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At times this movie made me feel braindead too</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found this movie to be pretty dull overall, and the pieces didn't really make sense when you took them as a whole. There were too many plot holes and irrational actions taken by the characters. There were some funny moments, but most of the jokes fell flat (I did see this is a scarcely populated theater). The tone was light hearted and hopeful, and the movie does some interesting things. The two leads have a certain amount of chemistry and do the best they can. However, this idea had so much potential that I was ultimately disappointed in what it had to offer, and I was hoping for more from Jonathan Levine. I'd wait for Netflix or a $2 theater to catch this one, it's not worth paying full price unfortunately.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Rating: C</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-21955742639807448022013-02-14T08:44:00.001-08:002013-02-14T08:44:21.825-08:00Movie Review: Side Effects<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Side Effects (IMDb score: 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes 86% fresh)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Director: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001752/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" target="_blank">Steven Soderbergh</a> (<i>Magic Mike, Contagion, Traffic, Ocean's Eleven Series</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Writer: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1994243/?ref_=tt_ov_wr" target="_blank">Scott Z. Burns</a> (<i>The Bourne Ultimatum, Contagion</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cast: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1913734/?ref_=tt_ov_st" target="_blank">Rooney Mara</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000179/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Jude Law</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1475594/?ref_=tt_ov_st" target="_blank">Channing Tatum</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001876/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Catherine Zeta-Jones</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soderbergh has claimed this will be the last film he will direct, and if that's true (please no!!) this is a fine way to go out. Filled with suspense and intrigue, this is a film that has a LOT going on beneath the surface. I went into it knowing very little about it, and I would advise you to do the same if you plan on seeing it. This is another movie that intrigues me as a psychology major, as there is a heavy focus on depression, the drugs that millions take to cope with this disease, and the impact they have on their lives. The tone is eerie and captivating, and as the tension mounted my attention never wandered, which is rare during January, a month usually bereft of high quality cinema. (continues after the jump)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZRT2rlJZ81sW5v3caDIgbGVk0CoDMQnrQYAFXKKBJ3J2R9GXAaLFbKWXMTDAy9SP68GY4FMbU7gcmPt2ph0mNNTUNMl7_RFOP1VX13GTBNHbJy9xIHHfmlbzROf4vgHMzJrVcVr6wGAz/s1600/side-effects-rooney-mara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZRT2rlJZ81sW5v3caDIgbGVk0CoDMQnrQYAFXKKBJ3J2R9GXAaLFbKWXMTDAy9SP68GY4FMbU7gcmPt2ph0mNNTUNMl7_RFOP1VX13GTBNHbJy9xIHHfmlbzROf4vgHMzJrVcVr6wGAz/s320/side-effects-rooney-mara.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really liked the soundtrack and cinematography of this film, as they matched the plot advancements stride for stride. Rooney Mara and Jude Law were both excellent, and as things get discovered you watch the characters descend into some pretty disturbing places. I would rate the first half of the film as a solid A, however the second half was not as impressive. In particular I think Zeta-Jones' role was slightly misused. It was still a highly entertaining and gripping climax though, and Soderbergh's calculating, realistic, ominous style kept me wondering what twists and turns were coming next. In turns both charming and chilling, this is a well made puzzler that will keep you interested throughout as you try to fit the pieces together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Rating: B+</b></span><br />
<br />Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-18126704942194936452013-02-13T06:42:00.001-08:002013-02-13T06:42:17.263-08:00Movie Review: Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (IMDb score: 6.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 15% fresh)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Director and Writer: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2482088/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" target="_blank">Tommy Wirkola</a> (<i>Dead Snow</i>);</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cast: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0719637/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Jeremy Renner</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2605345/?ref_=sr_2" target="_blank">Gemma Arterton</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000463/" target="_blank">Famke Janssen</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first movie I saw with a 2013 release date, Hansel and Gretel is in many ways a mess. The dialogue is cringe worthy, there's minimal character development, and the gore/blood effects are comical. However, my earliest fear in life? WITCHES. So seeing these BAMFs get shot, stabbed, beat up, burned alive, etc. was cathartic for me. I loved it, because these old hags don't go down without a fight. There is plenty of action, in the form of hand to hand combat as well as numerous chase scenes. The movie opens with the actual Hansel and Gretel tale, with a few alterations, and the rest of the story takes place 15 years after. (continues after the jump)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a classic B-movie; it doesn't take itself too seriously and has some moments of dark humor which I appreciated. The bond between the two siblings is fierce and believable, and they are relentless and determined in their quest. There are too many minor storylines, a few of which could've been cut, but I did really like the special effects and 3D. Famke Janssen and Gemma Arterton do what they can with their roles, but this script had to be pretty awful To quote Jeremy Renner, this is "mindless escapism". If you expect more, you'll be disappointed. At the end of the day, I wanted to relive a few moments of childhood fear and then see Hansel and Gretel get their vengeance. And on that level, Hansel and Gretel definitely succeeded. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>RATING: B-</b></span>Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-1095486446963295302013-02-08T12:11:00.000-08:002013-02-20T08:16:07.696-08:00#1 - We Can Be Heroes, Just for One Day<div class="MsoNormal">
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BEING A WALLFLOWER: </b>Another timely release for me personally, as I am not
far removed from graduating college.
This left me reflecting a great deal on my life so far, and left me
appreciating just how important my time in high school was. It has also been a period of transition, and
the main character Charlie is undergoing a huge one as he begins his 9<sup>th</sup>
grade journey. Charlie is utterly alone,
with some serious emotional distance between himself and others around him
after his best friend committed suicide.
This loneliness leads him to befriend an enthusiastic slacker senior
Patrick and his friend Sam (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0914612/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Emma Watson</a>).
They decide to take Charlie under their wing, and suddenly he has a life
worth living, partly through his deep infatuation with Sam. (continues after the jump)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Much of the movie’s focus is on how the characters cope with
the demons of their past, and how our friends help us endure things that might
break us without their support. The cast
meshes superbly, and the bond they form is so powerful. This one will leave you thinking about those
you’d go to hell and back for, and who you know would return the favor. There are dozens of awesome scenes: painful
ones, awkward ones, exciting ones, and hilarious ones. It also has one of the best proverbs I’ve
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Somber yet hopeful, the tone follows Charlie
through ups and downs, disappointments and new experiences. The director was also the author of the
acclaimed novel, and he includes many of the songs discussed in the book in the
film to great effect. If you enjoy
stories about high school or the growth of self-identity, be sure to see this,
it was my favorite time at the cinema this year. Shoutout to Lizzi, without whom I would never have made it to the theater in time to see this before it went to DVD, cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-17797730364114868192013-02-08T12:10:00.002-08:002013-02-20T08:14:38.538-08:00 #2 - Forever Trust In Who We Are<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2 – ZERO DARK THIRTY:
</b>Perhaps the most controversial film of the year because of its depiction of
torture and its suggestion that torture was vital in finding Osama Bin Laden,
this will stand the test of time as the definitive take on The War on
Terror. At least the early years of it,
because I see no end in sight. From the
opening, bone-chilling 9/11 representation, the movie spans the last decade as
the CIA did what it thought was necessary to protect the US and carry out the
largest manhunt in history. Except, as
the movie shows, they didn’t do a particularly good job in those early years,
as terrorists continued to brazenly attack Western nations. Meanwhile, the CIA did some pretty horrific
things to helpless captives, and you can justify it however you want. In my view, it’s simply immoral, and it’s
very interesting to see how the politics changed as time passed. To each their own on this one. (continues after the jump)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will always remember 9/11 as the day that my naïve,
fantastical view of the world was obliterated.
To quote <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ULKKJ5UpI" target="_blank">Downton Abbey</a>, after that day I lived in a harsh world,
but at least I knew I did. And in those
early years I felt hatred against those who perpetrated those attacks and a
strong thirst for vengeance. This film
has elements of those feelings, but it also asks the question at what
cost? Was it all worth it? I still say yes, despite my objections to the methods used. We were wounded, and we responded poorly (see
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Act" target="_blank">Patriot Act</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Ghraib_torture_and_prisoner_abuse" target="_blank">Abu Grahib</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationale_for_the_Iraq_War" target="_blank">the phantom WMDs</a>).
But this man had to go, for justice, for the blow to Al-Qaida morale,
and to send the message that we will never give up, because they sure as hell
won’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1567113/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Jessica Chastain</a> might be the best actress alive right now,
and her face expresses more emotion than anything she says. She is relentless, friendless, and completely
focused on this one task, and we see the toll it takes on her. Great performances from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0835016/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Mark Strong</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0695435/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Chris Pratt</a>, and especially <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0164809/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Jason Clarke</a> gave the film a very realistic edge. The script did well to build the tension up
slowly, and the final raid sequence was intense and riveting. After one of the few triumphs to come out of
this dark decade, the movie asks quite literally, what now?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-2633988473061717732013-02-08T12:10:00.001-08:002013-02-20T08:12:00.199-08:00#3 - Helmet to Helmet, on the Defense, 15 Yards, Automatic First Down<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 – SILVER LININGS
PLAYBOOK: </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a more personal relationship with this one because a close relative of mine is bi-polar who also suffers from depression.
So mental illness is extremely relatable for me, and while my relative doesn’t
go manic to the degree that </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0177896/?ref_=sr_1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Bradley Cooper’s</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> character Pat does, I thought that
it captured the essence of the disease very well. </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2225369/?ref_=sr_1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Jennifer Lawrence</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is irresistible as
Tiffany, a fellow damaged soul dealing with death of her husband. This is at its heart a romantic comedy, and it
was a nice change to see two people being completely, sometimes brutally,
honest with another. These two lay the
hammer down on each other repeatedly in epic confrontations. This is contrasted excellently by the
delusions they each cling to, and by how hard it can be to separate
reality from what you want the world to be like. (continues after the jump)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where can I sign up for the hunger games? </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000134/?ref_=fn_al_nm_2" target="_blank">De Niro</a> is awesome, portraying the old fashioned father
struggling to deal with a son who he has trouble connecting with. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000676/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Chris Tucker</a> brightens every scene he’s in as
Pat’s amigo from the mental health hospital.
This is an inspiring, funny story reminding us that it’s not how you
fall, but how you get up, especially when the odds are stacked against
you. Family dynamics, the nuances of
romance, and sports obsessions are all explored, but the movie is best when its
two main characters butt heads and the fireworks fly. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0751102/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" target="_blank">David O. Russell</a> has outdone himself again,
and if you are interested in psychology or mental illness this is one well
worth your time. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-49181516202056564472013-02-08T12:10:00.000-08:002013-02-20T08:11:42.722-08:00#4 - Days of Future Past<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4 – LOOPER: </b>Time
travel hasn’t been invented yet in 2044, but it has in the future, and the mob
sends back targets for execution to eliminate any evidence of the crime. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0330687/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Joseph Gordon-Levitt</a> works as one such
assassin, taking out random people from the future as soon as they are shipped
back to him. The catch is, 30 years
after he retires he will also be sent back for elimination, to “close the
loop”. Future Joe arrives in the form of
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000246/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Bruce Willis</a>, beginning a sequence of events that will determine the path the
world takes for decades to come. (continues after the jump) VV minor spoilers VV<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NzCN96j7K60" width="560"></iframe><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a visually appealing movie, with futuristic devices
blending seamlessly with the economic and environmental degradation that has
occurred by 2044. However, much of the
film is set on a farm in the heartland, with <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289434/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Emily Blunt</a> again proving her
chops. Stoic but kind and strong, she
has a vital role to play in the mystery of the film. There are some badass action sequences in
this, some amusing dialogue, and the scene in this post depicting how time has passed which
is hands down one of the best of the year.
The cast does well to give a sense of urgency to what’s going on, and
it’s a ruthless world they inhabit. The
soundtrack doesn’t disappoint, and if you can get past the inevitable
time-travel-doesn’t-quite-make-sense sensation, you will spend two hours fully
engaged and entertained.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-14573508192111804272013-02-08T11:00:00.000-08:002013-02-20T08:11:34.947-08:00#5 - Always Look Before You Leap<br />
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WOODS:</b> Let me begin by saying that I was not sober for this movie, and it
only enhanced the experience. It’s hard
to describe this movie without ruining it, but it is not at all what it
seems. It is a horror film initially,
then morphs into something else where you’re not totally sure what is going on,
then you have the “oh shit!” moment, and the climax is a blitzkrieg of
action. This is an impressive nod to the entire genre, which I could appreciate despite not being a fan of most
horror films. Watching these five
college kids try to survive is in turns frightening and funny, and there are
endless stoner jokes for those of you who enjoy that as well. It's amazingly fun. (continues after the jump)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0923736/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Joss Whedon</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1206844/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Drew Goddard</a> combined here to make something special. It’s been awhile since I watched it, but I can’t wait to pop
in the blu-ray sometime soon. The
special effects are constant but always impressive. I saw this with three of my
roommates, each with different tastes, and we all were surprised by this
movie. Everyone loved it and we
discussed it afterwards for much longer than normal. A combination of cheeky self-awareness and a
genuine appreciation for what the genre can offer, plus some points for originality earn it a place in the top 5. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-57302724247176271462013-02-07T08:37:00.001-08:002013-02-08T07:17:14.446-08:00#6 - You Come at the King You Best Not Miss<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>6 – THE RAID:
REDEMPTION: </b>The best kung fu, hand-to-hand combat movie I’ve seen since the
Matrix. Except this is one big
Indonesian fight for 2 hours. There are endless INCREDIBLE scenes of brutal face-bashing,
limb-shattering battles. If your favorite
part of movies is the action, or the fighting, SEE THIS MOVIE. This is jaw-dropping stuff, with a sick
soundtrack to boot. If this 1 minute
(imagine a whole movie of this) clip can’t convince you, then nothing will (start 30 seconds in): </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3hYsVqpiEa4" width="560"></iframe>Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-51456113372860471592013-02-07T08:31:00.002-08:002013-02-08T07:17:14.444-08:00#7 - Jack Black is Back<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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is another under-the-radar little movie that kept me laughing for the whole 90 minutes.
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0085312/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Jack Black</a> plays a metrosexual, eccentric, perfectionist mortician who is seemingly involved in EVERY
activity around his rural Texas town, and the town loves him. Whether it's fundraising, the local church, or random hobbies, he's everywhere. He becomes enamored with a soul-crushing
shrew of a widow, and her control over him eventually drives him to take drastic
action. Enter <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000190/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Matthew McConaughey</a> as the
prideful, swaggering prosecuting attorney and let the games begin. (continues after the jump)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every element of small town life gets a joke or a riff, but
in a lovable way, and the movie never plays for laughs in a derogatory or
demeaning fashion. The way gossip
spreads is highlighted, and often the townsfolk speak directly to the cameras
like a documentary. Also explored is the issue of relationships
between people of different ages and relationships solely for wealth, although
this case is the exact opposite of the typical Playboy bunny story. An awesome job by Jack and Matthew here, and
this was the funniest movie of the year for me.
And it’s based on a true story.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-36951114657328495162013-02-06T11:33:00.000-08:002013-02-08T07:17:14.438-08:00#8 - Shelter from the Storm<br />
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</b>Into the elite eight we go, with <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0027572/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Wes Anderson’s</a> portrayal of childhood
isolation and intimacy. The setting
makes this movie, as it all takes place on an island in middle-of-nowhere,
picturesque New England. Sam and Suzy
have been penpals for a year and decide to run away together, since they are
both quite unhappy. Sam has no friends
in his boyscout troop, and Suzy is depressed at home. The chemistry between these two is excellent
in a weird, quirky, unexpected way, and they both share a strong sense of
optimism about the world despite their current troubles. (continues after the jump)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the two camp out in the forest, the race begins as the
adults realize what’s going on and a dangerous storm threatens the island. The music, costume designs, and dialogue all
have an unusual, peculiar, youthful tone to them. It toes the line between melancholy and
adventure/hope well, and I found myself heavily invested in the outcome. Out in the wild, away from the pretensions of
the world, these two can finally experience some freedom. The supporting cast seems to dive into their
roles, and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000195/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Bill Murray</a> is hysterical as Suzy’s clueless, robotic father. The third act was a bit chaotic, but it was
done well and provided a very satisfying conclusion to one of the most pleasant
films of the year.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-83188188654731600782013-02-05T13:21:00.000-08:002013-02-08T07:17:14.447-08:00#9 - Southern Hospitality <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>9 – DJANGO UNCHAINED:</b>
Not for the faint of heart, this continues <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000233/" target="_blank">Tarantino’s</a> revenge fantasy sequence
of films, going back to <i>Kill Bill</i>. The best part of seeing this film was the audience. Listening to the different reactions, they said a
surprising amount about that person and their sense of humor. My theater ran the spectrum from a redneck
dude who seemed to laugh a <i>liiittle</i>
too hard to uneasy suburbanite to a stone-faced black man. I found it hilarious, but I have a darker
sense of humor than most. This scene
with the KKK had my Christmas Day audience in stitches (continues after the jump). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The whole realm of Mandingo fighting (so <b>that’s </b>where <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandingo_(person)" target="_blank">he</a> got the name from!) was
foreign to me before this, and it was a shock to the system. Incorporating numerous elements from Western
films, Django features many great landscapes and wide shots. Music buffs, download the soundtrack
immediately; it was amazing watching <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004937/?ref_=sr_5" target="_blank">Jamie Foxx’s</a> defiance while Rick Ross,
Tupac, and James Brown blasted in the background. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000168/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Samuel L. Jackson</a>, playing the Uncle Tom
role, is foul mouthed and the funniest part of the film. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0910607/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Christoph Waltz</a> again plays an excessively
articulate executioner, but with an aura of charm instead of Nazi menace. I was disappointed with the ending but it is
certainly fitting and badass as you’d expect.
It’s pretty simple: if you like Tarantino movies, you’ll enjoy this one.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-42078207662632502302013-02-05T08:33:00.000-08:002013-02-08T07:17:14.442-08:00#10 - A Modern Marvel<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYuqaoe2fs52_5KMOwpEStSOJ1PSu5SNfhfvRZ5bjBFZCuzNOvICLVreNixb3nAPom8kdd39uN-rxunVRpHRcvQ8zVLfq9rf2cVaPOwnU6HERJJDDquKg9HU64r8fx2_NLJFPep9WzZ0I/s1600/the-avengers-promo-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYuqaoe2fs52_5KMOwpEStSOJ1PSu5SNfhfvRZ5bjBFZCuzNOvICLVreNixb3nAPom8kdd39uN-rxunVRpHRcvQ8zVLfq9rf2cVaPOwnU6HERJJDDquKg9HU64r8fx2_NLJFPep9WzZ0I/s320/the-avengers-promo-art.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>10 – THE AVENGERS: </b>Wow. Marvel and Disney accomplished something
fantastic here, creating four movie franchises which managed to have their own
flavor but still had a sense that they could be occurring in the same
universe. Then they combined all of
these characters into one movie, didn’t even have some monstrous scary villain
(Loki is a noob), and still produced a first class comic book epic. While the plot wasn’t too original, the sheer
ambition and risk involved with making a film like this earn it some major
points. Oh, and it <a href="http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=avengers11.htm" target="_blank">made $1.5 billion off a budget of $220 million</a>. NBD. (continues after the jump)<o:p></o:p></div>
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The main trope is one of the great struggles of human
experience: a group of individuals
becoming, partly through their own will and partly through necessity, a
functioning unit. Whether it’s playing a
team sport or conducting a business project, almost everyone can identify with
this on some level. The special effects
are incredible throughout, and the last 30 minutes is a <a href="http://biggigantic.net/" target="_blank">big gigantic</a> battle
sequence. Saw this one opening day in IMAX
3D, the whole shebang… and it was worth the price. Filled with classic cheesy one-liners and
Tony Stark saying Tony Stark things, this is some serious fun with a solid
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Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-75828214288285779712013-02-04T09:27:00.001-08:002013-02-04T12:10:27.329-08:00#11 - Ahmadinejad's Vote for Best Picture<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcL5ROhlnEpp459L_PNmjRDISjSBtCILVWvPEm2KpTt3UcYGmIea0LT6t6sgTxHREvRG9Qj4-IbHaI4Q1AFkhZLdrLdGpy8EOrVEGysK4q-eM46pk1q8SPc36Z8JyudA_mxiK0RK-oktI5/s1600/WEB1Argo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcL5ROhlnEpp459L_PNmjRDISjSBtCILVWvPEm2KpTt3UcYGmIea0LT6t6sgTxHREvRG9Qj4-IbHaI4Q1AFkhZLdrLdGpy8EOrVEGysK4q-eM46pk1q8SPc36Z8JyudA_mxiK0RK-oktI5/s400/WEB1Argo.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>11 – ARGO: </b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000255/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Ben Affleck</a> provides the perfect example of how to make a great, entertaining
Hollywood movie. Running the gamut of
emotions, the film manages to remain realistic up until the very end. Then things get a bit overdramatized but
whatever, I was horrified for these escapee hostages and what they
endured. It also was <b>unbelievably</b> timely with the Benghazi
shenanigans occurring just before its release.
The film captures the intense anti-Western sentiment that was rife at
the time and has only deepened since. I
have zero desire to visit Iran after seeing this movie, despite the vibrant,
bustling depiction of Tehran. (continues after the jump)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first act is superb, with <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000273/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Alan Arkin</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000422/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">John Goodman</a>, and
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0186505/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Bryan Cranston</a> all shining brightly in supporting roles. This initial phase where they are trying to
set up the fake film is full of jokes. This is one of many historical films this year that
excels at ratcheting up the tension. A thrilling tale of sacrifice, courage, and
dedication leaves little to be improved upon.
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Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-2777609993089631642013-02-04T09:15:00.002-08:002013-02-04T12:10:27.314-08:00#12 - The Best Republican<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FVltcF4WUeHFB3m6TroqZOvlDfl3gspiyme0BYbGiZlJTSPFTSmq9pn76BrYMh4i_6FiV2ZhmJQ3l0dNsXak76H3GCj77NuXUoeLI9uNfTgTius6Hk-MphvNsbUfnRIChVyzpdZKPiWD/s1600/lincoln.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FVltcF4WUeHFB3m6TroqZOvlDfl3gspiyme0BYbGiZlJTSPFTSmq9pn76BrYMh4i_6FiV2ZhmJQ3l0dNsXak76H3GCj77NuXUoeLI9uNfTgTius6Hk-MphvNsbUfnRIChVyzpdZKPiWD/s400/lincoln.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>12 – LINCOLN: </b>The
passage of the 13<sup>th</sup> amendment gets the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000229/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Spielberg</a> treatment with <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000358/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Daniel Day-Lewis</a> a shoo-in to win nearly every major acting award. Quickly vacillating from heartbreaking to
hilarious, this film featured my favorite dialogue of the year. The eloquence with which these folks rip each
other a new one is so refreshing. The wit comes thick and fast while never
detracting from the weightiness of the issue at hand: freedom. This is a fascinating case study of how a
major bill gets passed, with bribing, cajoling, and threats all employed. The cast is full of brilliant actors, and
they seem to relish inhabiting characters from an era long forgotten. (continues after the jump)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While we all know how this story ends, the tension and
anxiety felt palpable sitting in my theater chair. A great moral question hangs over everything
that happens: is prolonging the Civil War justified by the pursuit of ending
one of the greatest travesties in human history? What about if that pursuit seems destined to
fail? Lincoln feels the pressure of this
choice on his shoulders, and he manages it all with a calm smile and a story to
share.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uREttlxHBjg" width="560"></iframe> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> His rare explosive outbreaks reveal
how much is at stake, however, and the third act is an emotional ride. Great parallels to the current gay civil rights movement as well. If you have any interest in American history,
or amazing acting, check this one out. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077081720281444738.post-59011045668973936592013-02-04T08:57:00.000-08:002013-02-04T12:10:27.321-08:00#13 - California Love<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>13 – END OF WATCH: </b>This
criminally (heh) underappreciated buddy cop story is one of the best the genre
can offer. Shot in hand-held style by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0350453/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Jake Gylenhaal</a> and his partner <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0671567/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Michael Pena</a>, this is a down-to-earth look at an
LAPD duo. From ball busting (example below)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OD8j1oTbpOQ" width="560"></iframe> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and pranks to life-or-death shoot outs, these
two go through some serious shit together and they are clearly best friends
with their hearts in the right place. (continues after the jump)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy9SkrmYSmuCi7lMy43xU2OBT9hbnu7OEUfJi6PKIkw2C5RzYL6V1wQ2vZt63TO3oBFHH0hlEuQ2Pq5ZiLtX9Ax1O306-gRcDWa7JtlMW_-VczxYNjdzLXS5-Kzsc0Mo36qTKm1o_LNHx/s1600/end+of+watch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy9SkrmYSmuCi7lMy43xU2OBT9hbnu7OEUfJi6PKIkw2C5RzYL6V1wQ2vZt63TO3oBFHH0hlEuQ2Pq5ZiLtX9Ax1O306-gRcDWa7JtlMW_-VczxYNjdzLXS5-Kzsc0Mo36qTKm1o_LNHx/s400/end+of+watch.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cast and Ayer swaggin' out at the premiere</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This one looks like it was blast to make, with a good mix of low key,
everyone-can-relate-to moments and adrenaline-pumping police riffs. Written and directed by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0043742/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">David Ayer</a>, writer of
Training Day, this one has a sense of gritty realism and doesn’t shy away from
some harrowing depictions of the savagery of the street. As all you Breaking Bad fans know, the
Mexican cartels ain't nothing to fuck with.
This one surpassed my expectations and has an edge-of-your-seat third
act which is one of the better pieces of cinema I have seen this year. Take notes Rush Hour 4. </span></div>
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Isaac Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905143769115055630noreply@blogger.com2