Bowl Me Over

When you're up after 2 in the morning you began to find hidden gems on the internet. Since I'd feel awkward telling you about the porn I find, I guess I can recommend this amazing ESPN video.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4077430

What you've got there, is a challenge match between the BOWLER of the YEAR and PTI host Michael Wilbon. Wilbon was spotted like 60 pints in the match, which stemmed from verbal challenges he made on television and some comments he made about plastic balls (Who knew there were plastic balls?).
The video is pretty captivating, and not just because Wilbon looks like my grandmother when he bowls (both are dead). To be fair, he could probably beat me on our best days. The real entertainment, though, is derived from the announcers, who are hilarious. I've never heard off the cuff rants like this except by Jeff Van Gundy. No idea who these guys are, but they make the video.
Check it out. If you're like me, it's either this or an episode of Heroes I don't want to watch.

It's Getting Hairy...

The trailer for the newest Harry Potter movie, the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 has been leaked on to the internet. I say leaked because it is essentially nowhere, and was pulled from one website that claimed to have it.
Luckily, i snagged it quickly. Check this minute long teaser out before it gets moved or killed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHfR_1w4rQE


Seems ok. Ultimately, though the movie will suck.

Julie and Julia (and like 1 million calories)

Julie and Julia is a movie that would benefit from a lot less Julie and more Julia. For good measure I would probably increase the amount of Stanley Tucci's character, Paul Child. This movie is almost at war with itself, with one story heartwarming and enchanting, while the other one drags on and drags you down with it.
Let me begin with the bad, which in this case is Amy Adams. Adams plays Julie Powell, an aspiring blogger whose gimmick is that she's recreating Child's recipes in one year. Seems interesting enough and (spoiler alert) I'm glad she was able to accomplish her goal. THe problem with this plot is that it's no fun, lacks any real adversity and demands us to root for or at least feel for a crazy shrew who doesn't appear to gain any weight (this made me hate her more during the movie).
Adams can play likable and cute, it's basically her thing. When she tries her hand at a working woman she is unable to straddle the line of humanity that people struggle with, and ultimately becomes a stereotype. She devolves into a whiner at her best and a raging ingrate at her worst. Not exactly fun to watch.
What might be even worse is how much she resents her charming apartment. Honestly, it's the neatest place. It's not like they have kids. She needs to lighten up. That idea could apply to everything about her in this movie. If she had just scaled it back a few degrees I think her part would have been a nice compliment to the Meryl Streep part. Even in this imaginary version of her storyline, I think we would have been fine with a movie just about Julia Child.
Based on her performance in the movie, I can easily assert that Meryl Streep could have carried this movie by herself. She is a joy on the screen, as is Tucci as her husband. I would have loved further exploration of their marriage, which is so much fun to watch.
Maybe this story wouldn't have had a lot of conflict, but I don't care. They could have added a graphic sex scene or revealed where her show came from. That wouldn't be interesting? THat wouldn't have held our attention? This doens't need to be Julie/Julia in the vein of Frost/Nixon. It's not like the characters are involved with each other. They never even meet!
As I think about this more and more I'm struggling to understand why I ever had to hear the name Julie Powell or watch Amy Adams try to capture her likeness.
Anyway, I'm going to stop before I freak out more about something that probably couldn't matter less.

Best Movies of the Decade

Ranking the ten best movie of the decade is a daunting task, especially if you’re going to actually review movies with a critical eye. So as not to overreach and exceed my actual reviewing capabilities, my list will be based solely on what I like, thought was original, had rewatchability and maybe spoke to me. If I start talking in artsy fartsy terms it would be an insult to you the reader and would ultimately leave a bad taste in my mouth from all the B.S. I would be spewing.
What you have as a result of this criteria is my top 9 movies of the decade. This is not a list you will see anywhere else, least of which is because most critics use round numbers. Well, I’m not a critic. I’m a reluctant adult who was given a forum to spout his stupid ideas.
(Editor’s Note: We concur with David’s assessment of his talent. As a result of this, we don’t edit his blog very well. And by very well, I mean we have a monkey that hits spell check and randomly decides whether to hit change, ignore or add to dictionary. The monkey has been dead for two weeks and there has been no difference. We mourn Jerry the Monkey)
10. Almost Famous (2000)/Sideways (2004) /Adventureland (2009) (tie)
• First of all, these movies did not make my list. They came close, but ultimately fell short because I didn’t feel like I could defend any of these choices. The knock against Almost Famous is that it is too long, Kate Hudson wears on me and I often fall asleep. Sideways didn’t make the list because I’m not familiar enough with it to be sure that I don’t like the idea of the movie better than the movie itself. As for Adventureland, well, it felt weird including a movie that wasn’t top four for the year.
On the plus side, all of these movies reverberate strongly with me. Almost Famous and Adventureland capture my youthful naïveté, desire for adventure and general isolation. Sideways is an exploration of the protagonists in Almost Famous and Adventureland if they never got any breaks and gave in to their lesser demons. I’m terrified that I will become Paul Giamatti in Sideways; an underachiever who is a snob with no reason to be a snob and loves to drunk dial the women who won’t have him.
Ok, they’re all in. I think my soft upbringing and living under No Child Left Behind has biased me against not including everyone. So c’mon boys, you’re all in.
9. Mean Girls (2004)
• You want to talk rewatchability? I once watched this movie twice in a row. I wasn’t the only one either, as my bother and Alex eagerly joined me on the second go around. So not only is this movie timeless, yeah I said timeless, it also crosses the gender gap. Any movie that is written by a woman and is about women deserves major props for appealing to men. It is appealing because it is funny. It is extremely quotable.
Oh, and in terms of its appeal to men, the cast is extremely hot. This is Lindsay Lohan in her prime, and that might even refer to her acting too. The sleeper pick of this movie is Lacey Chabert, who really brings it in the absence of a hot looking Rachel McAdams (let’s be honest, she sucks as a blond). But I digress, except to say that the greatest shame of this movie is how it presents Lizzy Caplan. She plays the dowdy friend, who in reality is super hot. If you watch True Blood you’ll remember her as Jason’s girlfriend that was addicted to V. Remember? Yeah, she was wicked hot.
Back to the movie, which presents a pretty accurate caricature of High Shool life. Tina Fey’s script walks a dangerous line, where it almost becomes a cliché, but ultimately it is refreshing and truthful. I mean let’s be honest, women are catty and guys secretly dig math nerds that look like Lindsay Lohan (uh duh).
8. Anchorman (2004)
• Ever wonder what a big screen adaptation of 30 Rock would look like? Well it would be a speedy joyride filled with inane and secretly high brow jokes. It would be Anchorman. Don’t believe me, well I’m not convinced either, but it makes some sense.
This is not a high concept think piece by any comedic standards. Essentially it is an SNL skit that works really well over 97 minutes. Will Ferrell has created a character in Ron Burgundy who is able to hold our attention throughout the movie, because he has such a strong supporting cast. The supporting cast includes Steve Carell and Paul Rudd in their breakout roles. They represent the strength of this movie, in that you’ve got All-Stars settling for role player roles and executing their parts perfectly. I mean c’mon, Tim Robbins is in this movie!!!! Seth Rogen is credited in this movie as “Eager Cameraman!” And Jerry Stiller played man in bar, in an unaccredited role. This is the LOVE ACTUALLY of comedies.
Anchorman has a high giggle level quotient, just in terms of 70’s lingo and dress, which makes everything better. This movie isn’t pretending to be anything other than funny, and I’m not mad. Frankly, I’m impressed.
7. Dark Knight (2008)
• What you have here is an exciting movie, which is visually stunning and contains one of the greatest performances I’ve ever had the pleasure to see.
The adrenaline rush of this movie is the result of a tight script that never rests on its laurels. From the opening bank heist our perceptions of what is possible in a superhero movie are challenged, as we see that they can be smart and inventive. Maybe it becomes too preachy at points, but that’s what keeps it grounded in comic book lore. To a certain extent we’re supposed to gag at Harvey Dent’s lofty dialogue or Commissioner Gordon’s hard-on for Batman. What makes this tolerable is that the rest of the Dark Knight is unconventional and grim.
It’s the way this vision is conveyed, through the artful hand of Director Christopher Nolan, which ultimately explains why the story is so compelling (I’ll make this part quick). The Gotham he creates feels very real, yet at the same time exudes the dirty underbelly and grandness that only exists in this fictional city. In addition, the sweeping shots that characterize the movie allow you to swallow it all up.
What sets this movie above something like Heat, which it looks similar to stylistically, is the performance of Heath Ledger. I’ve seen this movie probably five times all the way through. On three separate occasions I’ve sat down and just watched the scenes with the Joker. The makeup probably helps, but the way Ledger sinks into that role and becomes the character is transcendent. I for one think he should have been nominated in the Best Actor category, since he carries the movie on his shoulders as the real lead. Other actors might have done good things with this role, in fact I want Joseph Gordon Levitt to take it over, but only he was able to create the awe inspiring villain that made this one of the best movies of the decade.
6. Old School (2003)
• If I told you that Animal House is one of my favorite movies of all time, would you be surprised? Old School represents an adaptation of Animal House, which might not be as funny, but does strike many of the same notes.
This was the breakout movie for Will Ferell and Vince Vaughn, with both actors carving out niches they would recreate for the rest of the decade. Ferell, as the loose cannon who becomes a destructive Atomic-Bomb, is made from the same mold as John Belushi’s “Bluto.” In creating his character, Ferell captures Belushi’s likeability, but offers his catch-phrase laden verbiage instead of Belushi’s facial tics and physical humor. As for Vaughn, he is the 21st century version of Tim Matheson, regardless of what Van Wilder tried to be with Ryan Reynolds. As a reluctant family man who found refuge in a fraternity of misfits, Vaughn created a persona that continued to make me laugh in subsequent films. Director Todd Phillips deserves massive credit for bringing out these two performances in Old School (He also got a great performance from Elisha Cuthbert’s ass and made me not hate Ellen Pompeo for most of the movie).
As for Luke Wilson, he adequately plays the straight man in the movie. Wilson could have made things worse by fighting for laughs, but by not striving for the spotlight he kills it with lines like this gem from the wedding: “True love is hard to find, sometimes you think you have true love and then you catch the early flight home from San Diego and a couple of nude people jump out of your bathroom blindfolded like a goddamn magic show ready to double team your girlfriend...“
This is not some dumb movie that should just be written off as a worthless collection of guy jokes. Exhibit A would be the fact this movie has political strategist James Carville and Exhibit B would be the line “I’m here for the gang bang.”
5. Superbad (2007)
• This movie is perfect because of its combination of realism and escapism (Editor’s Note: Dave is about to go off on an English Lit binge here, please humor him. He has deluded himself into thinking he is smart because he owns glasses). In terms of the former, Michael Cera and Jonah Hill verbalize my own views and experience about sex in High School. In addition, there fear of separation heading into college mirrors my own anxiety about making new friends and testing the bonds of old ones. As far as the escapism, the adventures of McLovin are the realization of every geek’s (me) wildest fantasies about the possibilities they were denied in High School. Add these two plots together and you have a story that is heartwarming (yup, I said that) and laugh out loud hilarious. I doubt any movie will capture my generation’s high school experience better than this movie. It is the Dazed and Confused or American Graffiti for the kids that graduated High School between ’98 and ’09.
As far as rewatchability, Alex argues that this movie gets worse every time. I disagree with that assertion to the point that the movie gains new meaning every time I see it as I distance myself from High School. The out and out jokes aren’t funnier, but I laugh harder when I see our protagonists’ attempts to get alcohol, laid and capture the idea of High School.
My only problem with this movie is the idea that Jonah Hill could ever get with Emma Stone’s character. Sure she was nice, and I remember girls who were hot and cool in High School, but they don’t entertain the idea of a hookup with guys that are uglier and fatter than me, like Jonah Hill.

4. In The Loop (2009)
• I’m not tired of talking about this movie, which made the list for the decade after only one viewing. I’ve decided that the best description of this movie is THE WEST WING on crack with British accents and no lofty sense of duty. Sounds depressing right? Well wakeup, it’s hilarious and it is the world we live in!
I’m not sure who my favorite actor was in this movie, since all the British and no-name American actors killed it. I guess the one thing I found refreshing was the fact that James Gandolfini was able to escape the shadow of Tony Soprano. Gandolfini plays a timid American General who masquerades as a liberal with a conscience, while really just being concerned with his political survival.
And while I’m at it, I want to acknowledge Zach Woods for his portrayal of Chad. Chad is an aide who could climb any ladder and will ultimately be the kind of unworthy bureaucrat with actual power someday. I guess you would characterize that as dark humor. Oh well, we’re all screwed, so why not just sit back and enjoy the documentation of our downfall as we outside the loop get a chance to look in.
(Editor’s Note: Let’s not encourage these “smart” wrap-ups. Dave is already so full of himself that he created a fictitious commenter named Steve to have a conversation with. In fact, Alex is really just a man hooker he pays to watch television with him and introduce him to female hookers)
3. Brick (2005)
• Ever wonder what Sam Spade was like in High School? Well his name was Brendan and before he was played by Humphrey Bogart, Joseph Gordon Levitt captured his aura in Brick. Not much else I can say about this whodunit set in a modern High School in the vein of classic film noir. In fact, I like this movie better than anything from 60 or 70 years ago because it is more accessible. That is the ultimate credit to this film, which is that it captures the best of one era and adapts it seamlessly to this era.
What brings this all together is the dynamic performances littered throughout the movie. This movie features a whole host of cool cucumbers, most notably lead Joseph Gordon Levitt. We learned in Ten Things I Hate About You that he could act, but with Brick we recognized the depth of his ability. Levitt introduces himself to the world as possibly one of the best leading men of the next 40 years.
This movie is just cool. It represents a break from reality, but is a fantasy world that many young people can share. Teenagers want to grow up and become adults, and in Brick they get to do that in a familiar context. The real fantasy is that this movie allows smarts to overcome all odds. It beats brawns. It woos beauty. It ultimately has the last say. As a geek with an imagination I love all of this.
2. The Departed (2006)
• I like a good drama, but specifically I like popcorn drama. These are dramatic adult films with at least some mainstream appeal. It’s a combination of blockbuster and art house, which ultimately leads to the best of both worlds. In this decade that movie was The Departed (in the 90s it was L.A. Confidential).
All of these parts add up to make this a great movie…
1. The combination of Marty and Leo. This team gets together and they make magic. I don’t care what the subject is, they complete each other (and I mean that in a totally gay way).
2. Martin Sheen playing Jeb Bartlet as a cop. If his character had lived, I would have voted for him for president. His death scene makes me cry every time I see it. Oh yeah, spoiler alert.
3. Amazing soundtrack, highlighted by The Dropkick Murphy’s “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.”
4. Vera Farmiga. More accurately, Vera Farmiga in heat.
5. Alec Baldwin’s comic relief. His rants steal every scene he is in. It was a sign of things to come with his career.
6. Matt Damon is the perfect weasel in this movie. We never delude ourselves into feeling compassion for this scumbag, even after he is betrayed. I think that’s a good thing, especially since Damon seems so likeable. ACTING!
7. The crazy twists at the end. (Spoiler Alert) As Grandpa Lombardo puts it, “everybody dies.”

1. 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)
• This movie has three things going for it: original and creative story, hilarious one-liners and the appropriate amount of sentimentality.
(Editor’s Note: We of Entertainment Daily wouldn’t begrudge you if this was the last post you ever read. Maybe tomorrow we’ll learn that this was a joke post or that it has been secretly written by a 12 year old boy, and not just someone with the sensibilities and sexual experiences of one)
I still remember when I heard that this story was the plot of a movie. I assumed it would be some Jim Carrey vehicle that would be mildly amusing, with his zany facial expressions and physical humor (I hope he never does another comedy). That movie would have been semi-successful. Thank god it never happened.
Instead, what you get is a story that pulls on your heart strings while taking a baseball bat to your funny bone. This is a combination of Judd Apatow’s writing and the performance of Steve Carell. Carell doesn’t make you feel sorry for his character or make you want to laugh at him, rather you become his champion during the movie. He instills in you the same romantic proclivities that make him such a great guy, while hampering his sex life. All of this is possible because of Apatow’s script, which makes Carell into a real guy and not some strange aberration (aside from that 40 year old virgin thing…). More than the humanity he gives to Carell, is the real world Apatow creates and the real life twists he throws in with the regularity of the obstacles that emerge in life. He masterfully highlights two contrasting worlds, showing us the guy life and the domesticated reality of Catherine Keener’s family. The realization of the different atmospheres is key to the grounding of the movie, in terms of the comedy and the heart.
The one-liners are mostly the product of the hilarious cast, who were given the freedom to do what worked best. The improvisation results in an adlibbed song in Portuguese by Jane Lynch, a series of laughs while Carell gets his chest waxed and allowed us to recognize the evolving bromance between Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen. Besides making us laugh, this improvisation format just added another layer of reality.

So what separates this movie from other creative joke fests, like Starsky and Hutch (deserved a shout out), is that this is a more complete movie. It’s a comedy, yeah, but it’s comedy plus. This is the brand of humor Apatow began exploring with Freaks and Geeks. What you get is Comedy +. The plus represents the human element in this case. I mean you have a gross out comedy with a ridiculous concept, which ultimately deals with real life in a real way. You’ve got adult dating, teenage contraception and the perils of drunk driving (ok, so they make light of that).
Maybe I’m making too much about the movie, and even if I am, it can still rest on the fact that it was funnier than anything else this decade. Except it’s more than a series of laughs and its witty plot. Essentially it is a hilarious coming of age story that was delayed about 20 years ago. That’s funny and touching. That’s the number one movie of the decade.

LOST: Season 4

So I was basically told to shut up about old season of Lost, which is why I didn't rant about season 4 while I watching it. Since I'm about to start season five tonight I feel like I should offer some random thoughts about the previous season.
This season gave us a glimpse at who would make it off the island. These castaways would be known as the OCEANIC 6, and included Sun, Sayid, Kate, Hurley, Jack and Claire's baby (Aaron). This is all revealed to us in flash forwards that are wildly effective. The utilization of the flash forwards is when I realized how good this show really was, particularly in terms of its cohesive vision.
Some of season four seems like a waste, in that we're all sort of just wandering around until the big showdown. Granted, we're not exactly twiddling our fingers, but I did feel like there was a lot of filler in this season.
I touched on the highlight of the season, which is THE CONSTANT, when Penelope and Desmond talk on the radio after we explore his back story in depth.
The biggest shock of the season was the death of Alex. Her abrupt end was startling and defined the show's willingness to kill characters, even more so than the deaths of Shannon or Boone.
I enjoyed the reveal at the end of the season, when we learned that Locke was in the casket. In retrospect he was the only other person besides Ben who could have been in there. I like how season four sets up season five so well, in terms of Jack's quest and the tumultuous nature of the events on the island.
Don't know what else to say, except that I suck at summations. Going to try for more frequent updates during the course of season 5 and weekly reviews during the new episodes of season 6.
Steve, you're welcome.

Day & Age

So I don't know anything about music, except to know what I like. Typically I like upbeat stuff i can snap to and maybe dance to if the time is right. I also like stuff with a big sound and seems to have lofty aspirations. Don't really care about lyrics, so my music can be fluff or contemplative and i'm fine either way.
Got all that? Good.
I told you all of that so you can understand where I'm coming from when I recommend THE KILLERS most recent album, Day & Age. This isn't a new album, but it's been frequenting my ipod lately and I felt it warranted some attention.
The album has the fast and fun songs that characterize their first album. It has the big and bold sounds of SAM'S TOWN. All of this combines for a good album. It took me a while to realize all of this. I'm there now. Give it a listen. Enjoy.

The Hurt Locker

I wanted to like THE HURT LOCKER. I thought I would like THE HURT LOCKER. I fell asleep twice during the movie and couldn't wait for it to end halfway through. I didn't like THE HURT LOCKER.
(Editor's Note: This blog has no qualms about reviewing a movie in total after only seeing part of the sum. This does not reflect the ethical standard of The Saratogian.)
The movie follows a small unit of soldiers in Iraq whose sole responsibility is to deal with bombs, before they explode and after they explode. The Sergeant of the group, William James (Jeremy Renner, a B-list actor you might recognize), runs the little unit with no fear. He is an adrenaline junkie who will go to any lengths to get his fix, no matter what the cost or the risk.

I will concede that the movie offers nice aesthetics. And yes, the movie does escalate some scenes to a tumultuous boil. For the most part, though, the movie is pretty ho hum and doesn't feel that special.
Renner is pretty cool as our protagonist, but he doesn't seem to possess any special swagger that differentiates him from someone like Keanue Reeves in Speed. The main difference in the two movies is that Speed embraces its action label, while HURT LOCKER is content to offer only a commentary on the men action movies are based on. To be fair the action is of a different vein in HURT LOCKER, so maybe it was just the medium I found boring. That would be an indictment of the films I grew up on, which have negatively skewed my perception of what's good.
This understanding is possible, but I think anytime you have to rationalize why a movie is good then you don't really have a good movie on your hands. That makes sense, right? I mean you can appreciate art without understanding it, but that doesn't make it fun to look at. That may be what happened here, since I just didn't care for the story.
The biggest stars of the movie appear only briefly, in cameos that are concluded in death. The appearances of Guy Peirce and Ralph Fiennes serve as alternate endings for Renner's character, who survives his search for an adrenaline rush while they do not. Is that supposed to say something? Maybe.
I guess this post is more of an admission of my own limitations as a reviewer. I will stand by my assertion that this is not an entertaining movie. At the same time, I would recommend that people with a more nuanced appreciation of film try this movie.
Oh yeah, the big deal with this movie is that it is directed by a woman. That's significant because this is a traditional "Guy Movie." As a consequence of this contradiction, director Kathryn Bigelow is being considered for a Best Director nomination at the Oscars. Maybe she deserves it. The movie wasn't that suspensful or remarkable. I actually think she might win because a woman has never won, and the voters will want to acknowledge her now. Seems dumb to me. Won't argue with a nomination, but the directors of UP IN THE AIR, DISTRICT 9 and INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS were all more deserving.

It's Complicated

Editor's Note: The Reluctant Adult went through a ton of terrible puns for titles of this post before agreeing that none of them were creative enough. We threw out "It's Not that Complicated: This Movie Sucks" and "Stop Complicating Things: This Movie Sucks," before realizing that David was trapped in a vicious cycle of repetitive bad ideas. Rather then feed his ego by waiting for the perfect title we just ran the name of the movie. If you feel betrayed, though, you can rummage through his family's garbage to see the names that got tossed. You'll find such gems as, "Croissants are Complicated: This Movie Sucks," "MY Feelings about Meryl Streep's body are Complicated: THis Movie Sucks" and "Oh My God Alec Baldwin looks like he will die soon!"

Did not care for this movie at all. I thought there were a few good moments, which did not overcome the fact that a lot of this movie is a struggle to watch. Before i get to any of this, though, i need to deal with Alec Baldwin.
Baldwin is good in this movie. Not great like some people say. The most stunning part of his performance is that he's playing a 58 year old man, while really only being 51 years old. The sad part is that the crowd I saw this movie with all believed that he was 58. But who wouldn't? He looks terrible in this movie.
I actually heard some older female critics say that this version of Baldwin was sexier than when he could actually see his toes (they might have just said when he was younger...). Well that's ridiculous! I understand the idea of a suave older man, but this guy is a mess! Meryl Streep's character never should have settled for this guy, especially when you've got the lean mean Steve Martin waiting on the bench. Ok, maybe I'll buy that she has emotional feelings for Baldwin. In fact, as a fat man myself I'm more than willing to embrace the notion that women can look beyond fat, I mean girls sometimes are interested in me so that has to be the case (Editor's note: He's not Alec baldwin fat. He's more Steve Martin fat, who isn't really fat, but has love handles and no real definition. Unlike Martin Dave has nice dark hair. Besides that they're the same person.)
Anyway, Baldwin is the driving force in the movie. He instigates the affair. I can't imagine anyone else playing the role, as it was written. Maybe Jack Nicholson ten years ago, but it would have felt like a cliche. Baldwin is a cliche in his performance, in that he accurately captures the older man who traded up and is regretting his decision. This is not Baldwin on screen, it's a compilation of every man that has made this mistake. Nicholson basically would have just played himself.
So I liked Baldwin in the movie. He's funny, complicated and captured the ugly truth about the horniness of older people. I also liked Steve Martin as a man getting back into the dating game. At points his performance felt over the top and phony, but his subtle moments where he's expressing himself with his eyes or an awkward movement are impressive. That's about all I liked in this movie.

Now let's get to what I didn't like, which would also be known as everything else.
First of all, John Krasinski was awful in this movie. I understand the doting boyfriend who acts like a brother in the family, except it feels so phony the way he dives into the role. It's just so heavy handed in its delivery that he becomes an annoying caricature of a character that had the potential to be relatively entertaining.
Second, those kids in the movie suck. It's great that they all look like Meryl Streep, but it sucks that none of them can act like her. It felt like they were trapped in a high school play, delivering lines that they were ill-suited to perform. And then all the crying they did, ugh. They weren't a bunch of twelve year olds. If you didn't emerge from this movie hating these kids, then you were so turned on by these GAP models that you're just willing to forgive their shortcomings as performers.
Third, this movie is way too long. Oh my god, i thought it would never end. It was a legitimate two hours long! I'm sorry, Nancy Meyers is an artist and needs to captivate our attention for two hours! Except, oh wait, I wasn't captivated at all. I was squirming and bored, except for the few awkward moments when the old people were acting like young people.
And there could be the root of my disconnect with this movie. I'm not old, successful or hampered by any major urination issues (just minor ones). Does that immediately bias me against this movie? I don't think so. In fact, I think I gave this movie too much credit on the basis that some of the movie might not speak to me. Well i heard what the movie has to say and I think it's a load of crap. It's not complicated, it's cliched and annoying.
The cliche is Meyers herself, who supposedly is in the business of making chick flick's for adults at this stage in the game. I don't buy that this is even a genre. You don't make adult chick flicks, you make adult movies. Unfortunately, Meyers doesn't make an adult movie here, like she does in SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE. She makes a chick flick with older actors, which is then able to masquerade as some adult piece. Give me a break. This movie didn't capture any sort of reality. There was no mention of safe sex, the pills Meryl would be taking, the fact her kitchen was already amazing, masturbation, retirement, flaccid penises, hot flashes and whatever else old people need to consider when they deal with life. The movie might claim complications, but the world Meyers creates and lives in is a relative dream where we all own a bakery, have perfect kids and get our freak on during the middle of the work day.
Now for Meryl Streep. I'd hate to suggest that she is just "ok" in the movie, but that was my impression. She didn't disappear into this role, which I think was necessary for it to be effective. Instead we get "Meryl Streep's Complicated Sex Life: THE MOVIE." This is just one way to go with this idea.
I mean we've been watching old ladies have sex for years on SEX AND THE CITY, so this movie isn't that original.
Maybe other people liked this movie. In fact, I know they did, since i was in a packed theater wondering why people were laughing when I wasn't. The only time i did laugh was while Alec Baldwin was blowing a puff of smoke into John Krasinski's mouth. Most of my amusement stemmed from the fact I viewed the scene as the really people performing these actions. This may have been a problem with the movie, and this touches on a complaint of Saratogian staffer Emily Donohue.
Donohue alleges that Meyers just jam packs her movies with stars and lets the chip fall wherever. I argued against this last night, contending that the casting is carefully done. She countered that it's just done to draw an audience, essentially to create a buzz. Now I'm willing to concede to that point, solely based on Streep. If she was perfectly cast than she would have receded into the background and i would have accepted her as the character. That never happened. So kudos to you, Emily Donohue (that kind of rhymed).

Bizzaro Scrubs

So JD is no longer on BIZZARO SCRUBS, cementing the new dynamic that is driven by Lucy. Who is Lucy? She's the female JD. So you're actually not missing anything...
Boy, this show sucks. I want to like it. It could be funny, but it remains bent on being BIZZARO SCRUBS! I wonder if they call it that around the office.

Best Movies of 2009

Editor’s Note: Our reluctant adult didn’t see that many movies this year. This probably stems from the fact that he has no friends and is afraid to see movies by himself, on the off chance that he will be murdered in the theater. The list of movies that he should have seen included these titles: Fantastic Mr. Fox, Up, A Serious Man, Precious, It’s Complicated, Pirate Radio, 2012, Jennifer’s Body, The Informant Crazy Heart, Invictus, Nine and Where the Wild Things Are.
Some commentators might not have the gusto to rank the top ten movies of the year, if they hadn’t seen all the contenders, but I lack such restraint. Instead I’m going to tell you my favorite movies of 2009. The list is based more on what I liked, than what actual critics might deem worthwhile. I’ll try to acknowledge some critical aspects of these films, but my movie experience consists mostly of an aborted porno attempt. Anyway, let’s get to the list.
10. I LOVE YOU MAN
• On its surface this movie is a buddy comedy. This façade, though, is just a disguise for the fact that this is the best chick flick of the year. Boy meets boy. Boy falls for boy. Boys breakup. Boys get back together. Obviously not the traditional dynamic, but it’s the same formula.
Paul Rudd has never struck me as a leading man. He typically works better as a foil for more compelling characters, who graciously allow him to steal any scene he’s in. As the lead of I LOVE YOU MAN, Rudd is extremely capable. I think he works so well because he’s such an effeminate character in the movie, yet lacks the whiny and neurotic tendencies that torpedo female leads of chick flicks.
I didn’t find this movie to be on par with similar comedies (Forgetting Sarah Marshall or Role Models), as far as laughs. Had the movie operated solely as a comedy this reality would have been a deal breaker, but the layers don’t make it necessary for a tally of running jokes. Instead, what you have is movie with a lot of heart and was surprisingly poignant. I have guy friends, but I feel like in a relationship I might have a tendency to smother, which is the fear of Rudd’s mate.
What you get with I LOVE YOU MAN is a fun experience, which is original its delivery.
9. Inglourious Basterds
• I don’t know why I expect fulfilling endings from Quentin Tarantino. They always seem too convenient. As if he’s admitting that he ran out of witty lines and cool action scenes, so he’s just calling it quits. Aside from RESERVOIR DOGS, I’ve rarely been happy with Tarantino’s conclusions.
Basterds is no exception, yet that doesn’t keep it from grabbing the number nine spot. Even with the unfulfilling end, you still have a good world war two movie. It has the tension of the GREAT ESCAPE. It has the excitement of the DIRTY DOZEN. There is the fear of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK. This all makes for a good movie, which is brought to another level with the Tarantino bump. That bump includes creative violence, timely music options (David Bowie) and dialogue that shouldn’t roll of the tongue but it does.
The biggest take away from this movie was the creative casting. This included Ryan from The Office, the tiny kid from Freaks and Geeks, director Eli Roth, Mike Myers and Brad Pitt as a southern hick out for Nazi scalps. All of this could end up being Aldo’s Eleven, but it is relatively seamless, to the point where the casting choices are actually quite beneficial. In particular, Myers may come across as a stereotypical Brit, especially since he’s Canadian, yet that’s what the role requires in the vein of those over the top performances from steely actors of the past.
If you like Tarantino, then you’ll like this movie, but it is also accessible to a more mainstream audience.
8. The Watchmen
• I’m a geek. I have the glasses and knowledge of random facts to prove it. As such, I worship a good comic book movie. Superheroes fascinate me, with their back stories, powers and high stake challenges.
The appeal of The Watchmen revolves around its story, setting and delivery. The story isn’t anything that unique, but told in this setting, the 1980s with Nixon as president, it becomes much more interesting. It feels like a science experiment. A science experiment that is interesting because of its delivery, which is told through a sleek medium that is realistic, dark and just a beauty to take in. My knowledge of the comic art for THE WATCHMEN consists of leafing through a copy once, and frankly I found the evolution to the screen a big plus.
What really sells this movie for me is the work of Patrick Wilson and Jackie Earle Haley. Wilson plays a hero that has gotten soft, physically and emotionally, since hanging up his tights and needs to snap it back into gear when he is needed. His character is the most realistic and his portrayal could have been comical, yet ends up being quite endearing. Haley plays a slightly deranged anti-hero who is illegally playing superhero. As a hero with a pessimistic view about the world he protects, Haley is also very endearing, almost sweet.
Critics might pick this movie apart for some of the cheesiness, but I think it hits just the right note. This movie may not provide the same level of commentary as the graphic novel, and I don’t think it has to, in order to be a success. THE WATCHMEN is extremely watchable, is like nothing I’ve ever watched and has a nice rhythmic pacing as if it was set to a reliable watch (Editor’s note: David had to sneak that idiotic line in when I was battling the toilet after a run in with Taco Bell.)

7. The Hangover
• 50 minutes into this movie I thought I was watching one of the best comedies of all time. Ultimately, though, this movie came crashing back down to earth. The feeling was much like the hangover after a quality night out drinking. The great memories are tempered by the awful feelings in the morning.
THE HANGOVER doesn’t represent anything new in the comedic realm, as it is essentially a better version of DUDE WHERE’S MY CAR? Comedy doesn’t need to be original, though, as long as it improves on the original idea. This movie does that, primarily through the efforts of the amazing cast. In particular this is a testament to Ed Helms and Zack Galifianakis, who became breakout stars this summer based on their work in this movie. Helms takes a break from his ridiculous Andy character on THE OFFICE, to embrace the straight role amongst this zany cast of characters. He ends up keeping the movie grounded, which also highlights the few scenes where his characters loses it. As for Galifianakis, it appears that he’s on another comedic level than everyone else. It is impossible to imagine anyone else executing the character he plays as effectively as he does. Anyone else would simply be acting, whereas he is that character.
The downside about THE HANGOVER is that many of the jokes rely on surprise for effectiveness. Even after you’ve exhausted these jokes there is still a good film, which should speak to how good this movie is the first time around.
6. Star Trek
• Star Trek is essentially a really good adventure movie. As James T. Kirk, actor Chris Pine isn’t channeling William Shatner, so much as he is doing a version of Indiana Jones. I think that’s what the movie needs, and I think it’s where most of the movies success stems from.
All of this is possible, though, because of the direction from J.J. Abrams. I’m not saying his poop is gold, but I’d be willing to bet that if you went through his stool sample you’d find some worthwhile material.
It’s not an exaggeration to rate a movie that is basically a thrill ride as the 6 best movie of the year. People shouldn’t denigrate thrill rides, which aren’t an easy feat to accomplish. This ride has a nice pace, made me cry early on (every time I’ve seen it), makes me laugh and is interesting. Plus, it’s got cool aesthetics that make it a pleasure for the eyes.
I will admit that the romantic in me, in terms of my sci-fi love, probably impacted the ranking of this movie. They score extra points in casting and writing for leaving the legacy of the original series intact and improving on it. That’s impressive.
It’s not a think piece. It’s fun. It may not strive for the moon, but ultimately it ends up as one of this year’s stars.

5. Adventureland
• I love this movie, but I’m tired of writing about it. I like it because it speaks to me. I see myself in the main character. This is an excellent movie about the transitions in life and growing up. It is also a funny movie. It is nice to look at. The story is original, yet remains very relatable. Kristen Stewart is a goddess. I reluctantly accept Jesse Eisenberg as my leader.
Finally, where is my generation’s Lou Reed?
4. Up In the Air
• I wrote about this movie too recently to delve into it again. Look up my review in my catalog of old posts for December.
Quickly, though, I’ll say that this movie is a good adult film. It’s not an alternative indie film or some over the top big budget studio film. It represents a shrinking niche, of movies with big stars and modest budgets. Original stories aimed at grownups.
The movie might rely too heavily on the excellent casting, but that might just explain why the movie is so special. Vera Farmiga makes this movie for me, and not just because her backside is amazing (her whole body is amazing). Farmiga puts Clooney in his place, in a way that almost no other actress could. Think about the way he goes up against Julia Roberts in Ocean’s Eleven, and he cleans her clock. Farmiga hopefully has a coming out part after this movie. Please, though, no more terrible Boston accents.
(http://reluctantadultperspective.blogspot.com/2009/12/up-in-air-experience.html)
3. 500 Days of Summer
• (Editor’s note: For what David previously wrote about this movie, click here: http://reluctantadultperspective.blogspot.com/2009/10/cant-shake-that-summer.html. )
I’ve only seen this movie once, so I’m hoping my memory doesn’t fail me as I reap praise on this movie. It is not a romantic comedy, first of all. The movie even refuses the identity of a love story. This is a movie about one character’s (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) journey of self-discovery, which stems from his relationship with a girl named Summer (during the Summer strangely enough).
I’m a sucker for any movie, which has the main character realize he’s a sap like in me in love and life, but then unlike me, learns from the lessons they’ve experienced. I find them inspirational, well not that inspirational since I haven’t changed my ways.
What makes this movie great is that it’s a roller coaster ride. Some movies are thrill rides, this is a roller coaster ride, because of the dramatic ups and downs. It’s as if you put a bi-polar person on fast forward and watched that play out (Editor’s Note: David has no medical knowledge and doesn’t know what he’s talking about. His idea of bi-polar is someone who has sex with people and polar bears). And life really is a series of highs and lows for people who haven’t given into the listless existence in the middle, where you don’t have to feel the lows and are denied the highs.
Plus, this movie has the best use of a song during the year. PIRATE RADIO has 8 million tries to win this recognition, but Gordon-Levitt grabbed everyone’s heart with his dance/stroll to Hall & Oates.
Oh yeah, there is also poignant stuff about going for your dreams and not forcing an existence because it is convenient and seems akin to the ideal existence you heard about once. The supporting cast is funny and drunkenness is portrayed very accurately. Kudos.
2. District 9
• (Editor’s Note: Here is the link to District 9 review from 2009, done by Dave Lombardo: http://reluctantadultperspective.blogspot.com/2009/12/district-9-must-see.html.)
In a year where the biggest hyped sci-fi movie was driven solely by effects, this movie was more affective with some choice gimmicks and a strong story.
I feel like talking up this movie is a fruitless endeavor, because people who haven’t seen it think I’m getting all hot and bothered for nothing since this is just a goody science fiction movie, and people who have seen it already understand my excitement.
This movie is a dramatic masterpiece. Not sure what that means to critics, but to me it represents my belief that this movie is superbly assembled and is a heart pumping story that also tugs at your heart strings and could give you a heart attack (That last heart is so they come in 3s. I heard that’s good luck. Although, does mentioning the heart count as a reference? If so, then I’m at 5. Maybe it’s good to be divisible by 3s. Heart).
What to say, what to say, what to say? This movie is cool when it needs to be. It’s touching when you don’t expect it. It’s distasteful to set the mood. It creates life as we know it in a world we don’t know. That’s an amazing trick, especially when reality is so hard to capture on the big screen in a movie of this scope.
Make your way to District 9.
1. In the Loop
• This movie is a combination of Aaron Sorkin’s dialogue, Burn After Reading’s interpretation of upper level civil servants, the verbal abuse of Dr. House, and characters straight from a Christopher Buckley or Carl Hiassen novel. In case you didn’t know, that equation adds up to success. Basically what you have is a funny version of The Wire, in that it captures an aspect of reality, and instead of making you cry from the bleakness, you cry because of how hilariously ridiculous it all is.
IN THE LOOP is about the period leading up to a possible American invasion with British support, akin to the escalation of 2002 before the invasion of Iraq. If the real buildup was this hilarious, it might excuse the atrocious results (Editor’s Note: We do not support Dave’s political commentary. He is a bleeding heart liberal because he is protected from the realities of life by living at home.)
I found the whole experience extremely enjoyable. It’s not a laugh out loud funny movie, for the most part, but it leave you smiling throughout.
Even with my minimal political experience I could tell this movie was born out of reality, even if the players became caricatures of the real people they represent. As caricatures, we’re allowed to get a clear vision of all the hypocrisy and idiocy that characterizes our government and its institutional procedures (even if this is a movie that’s focus is on the other side of the pond).
Outsiders forget that our policy makers are real people, and by going so far in the opposite direction, you get the kind of movie that Charlie Wilson’s War might not have strived to be, but should have strived to be. It’s not only effective in delivering a message, it is wildly entertaining.
This is far and away the best movie of 2009.

Now it’s your turn. What did you think? Should I have seen 2012? Was Avatar just great? Have you seen any of these movies? Will you see any of these movies?

The Boat that Sucked

On FUNNY OR DIE's website they have a hilarious video that mocks the role indie music plays in some movies. The video argues that the music is more than just a role player and that it takes over the movie, in some cases driving the movie. What you then get is a movie conceived as a series of hip and cool music videos.
Let me be clear that I love music in movies. It can stir a series of emotions that the spoken words and visual elements can't unearth. Part of the effectiveness, though, stems from rarely using this device. THE BOAT THAT ROCKED (known by the American title, PIRATE RADIO) is a movie that basically exists as a series of uplifting music videos, with a few lines and a few sad songs interjected almost at random. The overall effect is not pleasing.
The movie is the brainchild of Richard Curtis, who wrote Love Actually, the Bridget Jones movies and Notting Hill. He had obviously earned the right to write and direct this movie, which reflects his love of music from this era. But just because this movie could be made, does not mean that it should have been made. Essentially what you're left with is Ocean's Eleven: High Seas Edition. A gang of famous actors are assembled by a famous talent, Curtis, who gives everyone a small amount of screen time during which they get to screw around.
Anyone who talks about this movie with any admiration isn't exactly dumb, but is easily entertained. I would say they never need to see another movie, and should subscribe to the tv channel that plays nothing but movie trailers. The morons who like THE BOAT THAT ROCKED would love that channel (I do).
This movie combines all the worst elements of movies like Love Actually and Bridget Jones, to reach a gag level unthinkable. This is a movie that tries to be so cute that I think i need to start killing puppies and spray painting old ladies to negate the effect. Ughh. Spit. Patooey. Gross.
Great soundtrack. Didn't see that coming....
(Go watch THAT THING YOU DO)

Dead or Alive in 2009

Check out this quiz about which celebrities died in 2009. I got 19 of 25.

http://insidemovies.moviefone.com/2009/12/29/celebrity-dead-or-alive-2009-quiz/?icid=webmail|wbml-aol|dl1|link2|http://insidemovies.moviefone.com/2009/12/29/celebrity-dead-or-alive-2009-quiz/