I am a movie lover (all kinds as you will see from this list) and find few things more pleasurable than spending all day in a darkened movie theater (minds out of the gutters, please). Below is a list of the 10 best films of 2009, in my ever so humble opinion. These are films that were released in Rochester between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 2009. Therefore, some films such as Crazy Heart, Broken Embraces and A Single Man are not on this list because they were not showing. There is no particular order for this list. Enjoy!
Taking Woodstock-Ang Lee's comedy-drama about the small town of Bethel, New York, and what happens when one town council member gets it in his head to have the biggest concert ever right in the town's backyard. Based on Elliot Tiber's and Tom Monte's memoir.
The Cove-Renowned dolphin trainer and activist Ric O'Barry details his trials in trying to stop the killing of thousands of dolphins in Taiji, Japan. The film also boasts a "cameo" by Hayden Panittiere.
Carriers-Brothers Alex & David Pastor directed this suspenseful thriller about a viral pandemic and the two brothers and their girlfriends who are trying to make it to the coast and not get infected along the way.
Food, Inc.-Just exactly what are we eating? What are the living conditions of the animals that eventually become the food we buy at the grocery store? This dramatic and shocking documentary should have you rethinking how you shop for your food.
The Hangover-What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas but only if you can remember the night before. The four characters in this film have a hell of a time trying to put the pieces together of a bachelor party that they've already forgotten. The tiger, the satchel, the chicken, the missing tooth and just who's baby is that. This film is one of the most uproarious of the year.
Sherlock Holmes-Robert Downey, Jr & Jude Law make a great team in this comedy-drama that paints the famed detective as an incorrigible lush (probably the only criticism I have with this film) but Downey, Jr. pulls it off. And that Rachel McAdams looks lovelier than ever.
Avatar-James Cameron's vivid, exciting and way overpriced sci-fi film hits all the timely themes in what I am hoping wins the Academy Award for Best Picture.
The Informant!-Matt Damon stars in this dark comedy based on real events. Damon plays a whistleblower who blurs the line between fact and fiction and then butchers it as he piles story after story in his attempt at notoriety.
The Hurt Locker-Hopefully this war thriller will make the long list of Best Picture nominees. Shot in the Middle East, it follows a group of men who defuse bombs and the tension that mounts as a result of the harrowing job.
Zombieland-A ragtag group of survivors of a zombie apocalypse come together and fight to stay alive in this comedy which features one of the best (if not the best) cameos of the year.
Hope to see you at the movies in 2010!
peace,
paul
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Movie minute...DVD
Don't mess with the Collingwoods. You'd think the four (really, only three) baddies in the new to DVD remake of The Last House On The Left (R or NR, depending on which version you watch) would have figured that out after the first go round. The original came out in 1972 and the remake actually transcends Wes Craven's B-movie feel predecessor.
Two teenage girls meet a random guy and follow him back to his hotel room (mistake #1) for some grade A weed (mistake #2, actually going inside). What turns into an innocent afternoon becomes a nightmare when three murderers show up; one of them being the father of the random guy. After the two girls are killed, the foursome show up on the doorstep of Emma & John Collingwood, parents of Mari Collingwood, one of the girls who was murdered.
There are several great twists in this updated version; one of them being that John is a doctor, another one being the cat and mouse chases between the Collingwoods and the bad guys. I won't tell the other twists but I will say it's been a long long time since I've seen a remake I actually thought was superior to the original. Don't get me wrong, the original was typical of the type of slasher movies that were coming out in the 70's but this was has not only been updated but improved. The leads still make some stupid moves and there are a few implausibilities, however, there is still plenty of blood spilling, nail-biting scenes and the final death scene is both gross and freakish and perhaps a little, dare I say, interesting and definitely torturous.
This is definitely a renter, unless you are just not into thriller/killer movies. If you are, the 2009 version of The Last House On The Left should not disappoint.
Bags of popcorn (out of 5): 4.25
Two teenage girls meet a random guy and follow him back to his hotel room (mistake #1) for some grade A weed (mistake #2, actually going inside). What turns into an innocent afternoon becomes a nightmare when three murderers show up; one of them being the father of the random guy. After the two girls are killed, the foursome show up on the doorstep of Emma & John Collingwood, parents of Mari Collingwood, one of the girls who was murdered.
There are several great twists in this updated version; one of them being that John is a doctor, another one being the cat and mouse chases between the Collingwoods and the bad guys. I won't tell the other twists but I will say it's been a long long time since I've seen a remake I actually thought was superior to the original. Don't get me wrong, the original was typical of the type of slasher movies that were coming out in the 70's but this was has not only been updated but improved. The leads still make some stupid moves and there are a few implausibilities, however, there is still plenty of blood spilling, nail-biting scenes and the final death scene is both gross and freakish and perhaps a little, dare I say, interesting and definitely torturous.
This is definitely a renter, unless you are just not into thriller/killer movies. If you are, the 2009 version of The Last House On The Left should not disappoint.
Bags of popcorn (out of 5): 4.25
Monday, August 17, 2009
movie minute
Melancholy People: This is a much better description of writer-producer-director Judd Apatow's third directorial effort: Funny People (R). In it, Adam Sandler plays George Simmons, a paunchy, self-absorbed funnyman who spends his spare time watching his old movies and stand up routines. When Simmons finds out he has a terminal illness, he decides to grace the public with a surprise appearance at a comedy club after a 5-year hiatus. Also there, that night, is rising star Ira Wright (Seth Rogen) with whom George becomes "smitten" with and hires him to write George's comedy acts.
The relationship between George and Ira is an interesting one but one that really could have been even more fleshed out. As Ira becomes more and more confident, it seems as if George becomes more and more unstable; hard to do especially considering he appears unstable from the get-go.
The film also stars Leslie Mann (wife of Judd Apatow) as George's ex-fiancee, Eric Bana (as the lucky husband) and Jonah Hill & Jason Schwartzman as Ira's roommates.
The first half of the film is a mess and rarely funny or even comical (incluing the stand-up bits) but the second half shows surprising vigor but it's still not all that funny. It's a sad state of affairs when James Taylor has the best line in the movie. After Ira asks James if he ever tires of singing the same songs over and over, James responds, "Do you ever get tired of talking about your penis?" A good question for a comedian, which is a profession in which one sometimes does the same routine ad nauseum.
Sandler has never fared the best in his dramatic roles (Punch Drunk Love, Reign Over Me) and this film is no exception; he's much more adept when he is loose and going for the comedy.
The film could have been so much better and while it's not Apatow's best "comedy", more like a DRAmedy, it is entertaining and Mann has by far the best role. There are also several neat cameos; in addition to Taylor there are also brief appearances by Andy Dick, Paul Reiser, Ray Romano and Eminem.
This is more a DVD movie, although it's easier to fall asleep at home.
Bags of popcorn (out of 5): 2
The relationship between George and Ira is an interesting one but one that really could have been even more fleshed out. As Ira becomes more and more confident, it seems as if George becomes more and more unstable; hard to do especially considering he appears unstable from the get-go.
The film also stars Leslie Mann (wife of Judd Apatow) as George's ex-fiancee, Eric Bana (as the lucky husband) and Jonah Hill & Jason Schwartzman as Ira's roommates.
The first half of the film is a mess and rarely funny or even comical (incluing the stand-up bits) but the second half shows surprising vigor but it's still not all that funny. It's a sad state of affairs when James Taylor has the best line in the movie. After Ira asks James if he ever tires of singing the same songs over and over, James responds, "Do you ever get tired of talking about your penis?" A good question for a comedian, which is a profession in which one sometimes does the same routine ad nauseum.
Sandler has never fared the best in his dramatic roles (Punch Drunk Love, Reign Over Me) and this film is no exception; he's much more adept when he is loose and going for the comedy.
The film could have been so much better and while it's not Apatow's best "comedy", more like a DRAmedy, it is entertaining and Mann has by far the best role. There are also several neat cameos; in addition to Taylor there are also brief appearances by Andy Dick, Paul Reiser, Ray Romano and Eminem.
This is more a DVD movie, although it's easier to fall asleep at home.
Bags of popcorn (out of 5): 2
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
Oh, the horror!!!
Poor Michelle Obama must be wringing her hands like there is no tomorrow. She discovered sludge in her organic garden. "Girls, eat your muddy vegetables now!" will no doubt be heard ringing throughout the White House walls.
Apparently the sludge soldiers were none other than the Clintons (emit collective gasp here). Yes, it's common practice to use sludge which is just the use of sewage for fertilizer but now she'll have a heck of a time explaining to dignitaries just what that goop is on the tomatoes.
peace,
paul
Apparently the sludge soldiers were none other than the Clintons (emit collective gasp here). Yes, it's common practice to use sludge which is just the use of sewage for fertilizer but now she'll have a heck of a time explaining to dignitaries just what that goop is on the tomatoes.
peace,
paul
P-U, oh, you smell good?
It was just another day at the Bank Of America on N. Beach St. in Ft. Worth, Texas, when the hazardous material unit, fire department and ambulances were called to the scene because of a noxious odor. Officials were originally told it was carbon monoxide but the real culprit is far more wily and malodorous...it was the putried smell of perfume. Yes, one co-worker's perfume (scent unknown) sent 34 people to the hospital and sent a wave of hysteria among the 1,800 to 2,200 employees in the building.
All I can say is that perfume must have been laced with garlic.
peace,
paul
All I can say is that perfume must have been laced with garlic.
peace,
paul
Sand Swiper
Oh, please, say it ain't so...Some silly's been stealing the sand again and it has tourists in Cancun seeing, not white, but red. Yes, hundreds of feet of Mexico's white hot beach was cordoned off with police tape on Thursday because one of the beach's hotels was using a pump to siphon sand from the sea floor. The hotel in trouble is the Gran Caribe Real Hotel and the charges allege that they were illegally pumping sand and also built a breakwater which prevents sand from getting to the other hotels. In 2005, after hurrican Wilma, Mexico spent $19 million, yes, million dollars to replace the sand lost in the aftermath of the storm.
Let this be a warning to those with the little glass jars who want to take a little piece of paradise home with them...DON'T!
peace,
paul
Let this be a warning to those with the little glass jars who want to take a little piece of paradise home with them...DON'T!
peace,
paul
Chit Chattin' the night away...
What do the President, a police officer and a scholarly professor all have in common? No, this is not the setup to a bad joke...President Obama made good on his offer to share a beer with Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr and police Sgt. Joseph Crowley. The three sat around on Thursday evening discussing the important topics that keep us all up at night such as "why is the grass green?", "what happens to clouds at night?", and the ever popular "just what is the sound of one hand clapping?" In between those riveting discussions they also focused on the issue of race and, while agreeing to disagree (Crowley and Gates), they did come to the conclusion that this is a good learning experience and that moving forward is best. Hopefully next time President Obama wants to stick his two cents into something like this, he will choose better words than saying police "acted stupidly."
Both parties are guilty of overreacting and not listening to each other. This is a situation that got completely out of hand because two people were both trying to prove something...that they were each right. By the way, the original 911 call made no mention of race, something else that is of significance here.
Of course, there is something else that can be learned-if your door becomes jammed when you are trying to unlock it, maybe it's time for a new door. And there's still no word on whether there were free refills at the "beer summit."
peace,
paul
Both parties are guilty of overreacting and not listening to each other. This is a situation that got completely out of hand because two people were both trying to prove something...that they were each right. By the way, the original 911 call made no mention of race, something else that is of significance here.
Of course, there is something else that can be learned-if your door becomes jammed when you are trying to unlock it, maybe it's time for a new door. And there's still no word on whether there were free refills at the "beer summit."
peace,
paul
Friday, July 10, 2009
Frowning Flag
What exactly does an upside down flying flag mean, anyway? It doesn't mean that one is unpatriotic (hello, George W!). Instead it means a sign of distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property. It's a sign that dates back to before the 1900's. A man in Wausau, Wisconsin decided to fly his American flag upside down on Independence Day of all days. Police officers "stormed" his property and removed the flag only to return it a day later. They probably didn't really storm, instead they probably moved very fast (like Jason moved in the Friday the 13th movies).
Vito Congine Jr. is considering legal action for violating his first amendment rights. He flew the flag upside down because he was distressed after spending almost $200,000 to buy and remodel a downtown building for an Italian supper club and being denied a liquor license. Oh, so, this is all about not being able to drink???? Apparently the other people in town thought that Congine meant disrespect (TEETOTALERS!!!!!!).
Hello, can't we all just get along? I will say this, however, what a PERFECT day to fly the flag upside down!!!!
peace,
paul
Vito Congine Jr. is considering legal action for violating his first amendment rights. He flew the flag upside down because he was distressed after spending almost $200,000 to buy and remodel a downtown building for an Italian supper club and being denied a liquor license. Oh, so, this is all about not being able to drink???? Apparently the other people in town thought that Congine meant disrespect (TEETOTALERS!!!!!!).
Hello, can't we all just get along? I will say this, however, what a PERFECT day to fly the flag upside down!!!!
peace,
paul
Peep-A-Boo
Just when you thought you'd heard of everything, something new and unexpected comes along. This fall, in National Harbor, Maryland, a new store will open called Peeps & Co. No, it's not a cousin of Hooters, nor does it feature scantily clad women. Instead the scantily clad items will be peeps. Yes, those lovable (and squishy) marshmallow delights will have their own store. Other items such Hot Tamales and Mike & Ikes will also be available but the main attraction will be those multi-colored bunnies. There will even be Peeps dressed as the Village People and Peep pens will be sold.
Hey, why stop at the Village People? Why not Wolverine or Spock peeps? How about peeps dressed as Britney Spears? Oooh, Simon Cowell peeps. Now that's one peep a number of people would love to take a bite out of!
peace,
paul
Hey, why stop at the Village People? Why not Wolverine or Spock peeps? How about peeps dressed as Britney Spears? Oooh, Simon Cowell peeps. Now that's one peep a number of people would love to take a bite out of!
peace,
paul
A new visitor at the peak
History has been made yet again and this time right here on the East coast. Another living thing made it to the top of the highest peak this side of the Atlantic and it wasn't a human. No, it was....Josh, the camel. Yes, this humped creature made it all the way up the mountain and apparently back down again. He of course was guided by a mere human (at least we know who's boss in this relationship). Stay tuned because next week an elephant will climb Kilimanjaro.
peace,
paul
peace,
paul
The Salmon of Sperm
There's one pool you probably don't want to go swimming in; apparently it's in Egypt. A woman from Poland is suing an Egyptian hotel because her 13-year-old daughter became pregnant while the two of them were on holiday...From swimming in the hotel's pool! The mother's argument is that her daughter became impregnated by stray sperm that were swimming around in the pool. I wonder if they were doing the breaststroke or the freestyle swim. Besides being gross, this story is absolutely asinine. I feel bad for the lawyer who has to represent the mother and I want to know how the daughter kept a straight face when she told her mother that's how she became pregnant.
Too bad it couldn't be true those sperm could be getting some gold medals right now.
peace,
paul
Too bad it couldn't be true those sperm could be getting some gold medals right now.
peace,
paul
Friday, June 26, 2009
It's too BAD that his life took such a weird turn.
Like a THRILLER with a bizarre and unsatisfying ending. People all around the world are saying to him and his music that I JUST CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU.
He was a man WITH A CHILD'S HEART who just wanted to be HAPPY.
He was OFF THE WALL and implored us to DON'T STOP 'TIL YOU GET ENOUGH.
And as I look at the reflection of myself, my own MAN IN THE MIRROR, I know he had his eccentricities and imperfections but realize it should not take away from the fact that this man whose music and passion made him a force of HUMAN NATURE. And now his spirit is GONE TOO SOON. I can REMEMBER THE TIME when he transcended the notion of BLACK OR WHITE and I still hear his music as he tried to JAM(med) with a LIBERIAN GIRL and SCREAM(ed) about his CHILDHOOD. Very well do I recall the famed white glove and that incredible moonwalk as he sang about how he was going to HEAL THE WORLD and telling people YOU ARE NOT ALONE because WE ARE (part of) THE WORLD. As I grew up, his music was just ANOTHER PART OF ME, a soundtrack to my life. And now, though his spirit was taken like a SMOOTH CRIMINAL in the night, now Michael as you EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD towards the light, may you realize you'll always have ONE MORE CHANCE to get it right as your music lives on forever. And for those haters...I SAY SAY SAY what? I'll tell ya to BEAT IT because I do WANNA BE STARTIN' SOMETHIN' wit you. He may have been weird but his music is timeless. So, GIRLFRIEND, just LEAVE ME ALONE as I crank up DIRTY DIANA, hear about BILLIE JEAN and her kid yet again and pay no mind that SOMEBODY'S WATCHING ME shake my booty. The King of Pop is gone and though there AIN'T NO SUNSHINE today, it IS A BRAND NEW DAY. We know Michael it's true when you say I'LL BE THERE. You have GOT TO BE THERE! WILL YOU BE THERE tomorrow. Yes, your music will be and it will be just the MUSIC AND ME-GET IT? Good then put BEN down, shake the BUTTERFLIES out and go get some BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR.
RIP MJ
Like a THRILLER with a bizarre and unsatisfying ending. People all around the world are saying to him and his music that I JUST CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU.
He was a man WITH A CHILD'S HEART who just wanted to be HAPPY.
He was OFF THE WALL and implored us to DON'T STOP 'TIL YOU GET ENOUGH.
And as I look at the reflection of myself, my own MAN IN THE MIRROR, I know he had his eccentricities and imperfections but realize it should not take away from the fact that this man whose music and passion made him a force of HUMAN NATURE. And now his spirit is GONE TOO SOON. I can REMEMBER THE TIME when he transcended the notion of BLACK OR WHITE and I still hear his music as he tried to JAM(med) with a LIBERIAN GIRL and SCREAM(ed) about his CHILDHOOD. Very well do I recall the famed white glove and that incredible moonwalk as he sang about how he was going to HEAL THE WORLD and telling people YOU ARE NOT ALONE because WE ARE (part of) THE WORLD. As I grew up, his music was just ANOTHER PART OF ME, a soundtrack to my life. And now, though his spirit was taken like a SMOOTH CRIMINAL in the night, now Michael as you EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD towards the light, may you realize you'll always have ONE MORE CHANCE to get it right as your music lives on forever. And for those haters...I SAY SAY SAY what? I'll tell ya to BEAT IT because I do WANNA BE STARTIN' SOMETHIN' wit you. He may have been weird but his music is timeless. So, GIRLFRIEND, just LEAVE ME ALONE as I crank up DIRTY DIANA, hear about BILLIE JEAN and her kid yet again and pay no mind that SOMEBODY'S WATCHING ME shake my booty. The King of Pop is gone and though there AIN'T NO SUNSHINE today, it IS A BRAND NEW DAY. We know Michael it's true when you say I'LL BE THERE. You have GOT TO BE THERE! WILL YOU BE THERE tomorrow. Yes, your music will be and it will be just the MUSIC AND ME-GET IT? Good then put BEN down, shake the BUTTERFLIES out and go get some BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR.
RIP MJ
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Your Face Here
...And you too could be the face of Jesus, or not.
Enjoy,
paul
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/05/13/moos.me.so.holy.cnn
Enjoy,
paul
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/05/13/moos.me.so.holy.cnn
Beauty-1, Brains-0
Enjoy the answers provided by these beauty queens...The poor things...
paul
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2009/05/12/ac.shot.tuesday.cnn
paul
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2009/05/12/ac.shot.tuesday.cnn
Monday, May 11, 2009
Oh my bloody hell....
Enjoy (and take that Paul Potts)...
http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/realityrocks/173062/greg-pritchard-britains-got-talent-reaches-new-heights/
http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/realityrocks/173062/greg-pritchard-britains-got-talent-reaches-new-heights/
Sunday, May 10, 2009
movie minute
Ahead, Warp Speed: In the new Star Trek (PG-13) movie (the 11th in the film's franchise), director J.J Abrams (of Lost fame) doesn't remake the series but offers a compelling prequel to the characters we've come to know and love.
As the film opens, George Kirk is the captain of the S.S. Kelvin which is on a disastrous course with a Romulan ship led by Nero (Eric Bana).
Fast forward a bit and we see you Kirk (hotheaded and oozing self confidence) and Spock (intellectual little devil that he is) and the childhood they both experienced that until now we weren't privy to.
The movie is an exciting, special effects laden thrill of a ride. It has all of the famous characters (Sulu, Uhura, Chekhov, Scotty, McCoy, Kirk, Spock) and how they all came together to fly the Starship Enterprise.
The cast of the movie is impeccably chosen; especially Zachary Quinto as Spock. Tyler Perry (Medea himself) even shows up as Admiral Richard Barnett.
The only flaw this movie has is the whole time travel, time space continuum which involves the return of an original Trekkie. I kind of understood it but thought it was a bit indulgent. It's a theme that Abrams is quite fond of (hello, Lost!!!).
Having said that I thought Abrams did a kick-ass job of reigniting the moribund series and deserves a kudos for being true to the series as we've seen it so far. One thought, however, did Amanda Grayson (Spock's mother) really die? If so, then how did the original TV series bring her back from the dead? Yes, that was Winona Ryder playing Spock's mother, by the way. Perhaps she could be one of the featured stories in the next Star Trek movie, directed by Abrams of course.
I have never been a big fan of Star Trek but I did truly enjoy this movie. I give it 3 bags of popcorn (out of 5).
peace,
paul
As the film opens, George Kirk is the captain of the S.S. Kelvin which is on a disastrous course with a Romulan ship led by Nero (Eric Bana).
Fast forward a bit and we see you Kirk (hotheaded and oozing self confidence) and Spock (intellectual little devil that he is) and the childhood they both experienced that until now we weren't privy to.
The movie is an exciting, special effects laden thrill of a ride. It has all of the famous characters (Sulu, Uhura, Chekhov, Scotty, McCoy, Kirk, Spock) and how they all came together to fly the Starship Enterprise.
The cast of the movie is impeccably chosen; especially Zachary Quinto as Spock. Tyler Perry (Medea himself) even shows up as Admiral Richard Barnett.
The only flaw this movie has is the whole time travel, time space continuum which involves the return of an original Trekkie. I kind of understood it but thought it was a bit indulgent. It's a theme that Abrams is quite fond of (hello, Lost!!!).
Having said that I thought Abrams did a kick-ass job of reigniting the moribund series and deserves a kudos for being true to the series as we've seen it so far. One thought, however, did Amanda Grayson (Spock's mother) really die? If so, then how did the original TV series bring her back from the dead? Yes, that was Winona Ryder playing Spock's mother, by the way. Perhaps she could be one of the featured stories in the next Star Trek movie, directed by Abrams of course.
I have never been a big fan of Star Trek but I did truly enjoy this movie. I give it 3 bags of popcorn (out of 5).
peace,
paul
Saturday, May 09, 2009
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