'Silver Linings Playbook' Shouldnt Win an Oscar.

After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own. Starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Deniro, Jacki Weaver.  Directed by David O. Russell.


The movie is very good.  Don’t get me wrong.  But there are a lot of very good movies that are not Oscar worthy.  This is one of them.  Silver Linings Playbook is one of those movies that confuse me.  The confusion comes from how much the critics gush over them at the end of the year and when I finally see them, I find them grossly overrated and I fail to see where the complete adoration stems from. 

Silver Linings Playbook reminds me of The Descendants from last year’s Oscar run.  Not in story or acting, but in how much it is overrated.  I went into The Descendants expecting to see some of the greatest acting and one of the most amazing stories ever put on screen.  0 for 2 on that.  The story was boring and lifeless and before it had a chance to become something substantial, it was over.  Silver Linings Playbook was a much better film than The Descendants.  Bradley Cooper is fine as the lead, but I saw nothing spectacular about his performance.  The same goes for Robert Deniro and Jacki Weaver. They are all great performers but placed together in somewhat unchallenging roles.  I thought Jennifer Lawrence’s performance stood out more than the rest.  She seemed to be the only one that exuded real emotion. 

A couple of years ago, Director David O. Russell gave us The Fighter.  It starred Mark Wahlberg and gave Christian Bale a much deserved Supporting Actor Oscar.  Melissa Leo also won supporting actress and was up against another deserving nominee in Amy Adams.  Much like Silver Linings Playbook, The Fighter garnered multiple acting nominations for the same movie.  However, The Fighter actually deserved them.  Just because Russell caught lightning in a bottle once doesn’t automatically mean that he does it every time.  Take a look at individual projects, don’t just nominate for the hell of it based on past successes. 

Take away all the hype and the critical love fest for this movie, and all you have is a regular romantic comedy that is better than most.  I still recommend going to see it, but don’t expect to be blown away by superior acting or dialogue.  Make your own opinion of it and do not simply follow the hype of the critics.  I truly wanted to love this movie, but I just didn’t. 
 

Oscar gripes aside, I did like Silver Linings Playbook.  It was a simple story of redemption and finding ones’ self again.  It had likeable characters and a solid ensemble performance.  I think the critics are going to eventually be doing a disservice to this harmless little film because they are severely overhyping it.  

Bottom Line:  Silver Linings Playbook is an enjoyable film with good stars and a positive message.  If it wins a statue in February, it won’t be the worst thing in the world, but it certainly doesn’t deserve it. 

 

Silver Linings Playbook:  7/10

A Thought For The People Of Newtown, CT

I write this as I sit here next to my son.  He’s playing xbox and smiling like crazy.  Not a care in the world.  And that’s the way it should be.  I understand that this is not the typical forum for something like this, but I do have an audience and I’d like to say a few things about the incidents of yesterday. 

First and foremost, I’d like to reach out and offer my condolences to, of course the parents of the children that were taken at such a young age yesterday, but also the friends and families of the elementary school staff members that lost their lives yesterday as well. 

Horrific occurrences like this have become all too frequent.  The shootings in the Oregon mall last week and the movie theater attack over the summer.  I remember a motion to make things change after Columbine.  I was in ninth grade when that incident occurred.  I remember there being talks of more gun control and the like; what we have to do as a people to make things better.  But nothing changed. 

Here we are thirteen years later and we are still looking for a solution.  All of the bi-partisan bickering and fighting over whose side is right has gotten us absolutely nowhere.  I am not going to proclaim either way what should be done or even take a stance.  I am simply making a plea that something changes.  Or else, we will have to keep watching news stories like this unfold in small towns across America just like your own.  They never imagined it happening to them either.  Until it did. 

I think that now is not the time to immediately start arguing about gun laws and allegiance to either political agenda.  I have to admit that even I let my emotions get the better of me this morning.  But it solves nothing.  I wish there were a solution that I could post on here, but there isn’t.  All I know is that if we keep fighting about it and neither side bends or tries to compromise, then we’ll be in this position all over again.  What’s the definition of insanity?

Until something is done, and I’m hoping it is soon, let’s just take a day to mourn for those people in Newtown, CT.  Just a day.  Maybe two.  Before we make this tragedy into a political vehicle. 

My thought are with everybody effected by yesterday’s events. 

 

My Interview With Joe Stillman, Production Manager of 'Evil Dead 2'

 

 

With the ‘Evil Dead’ remake coming out in April of next year, I reached out to Joe Stillman, Production Manager of Evil Dead 2 to get his take on the remake, future projects he’ll be working on, and maybe once and for all put a rest to the question of what Evil Dead 2 actually is:  A sequel or a remake. 

 

 

In the quiet western New York Town of Oneonta, Joe Stillman has set up shop with his production company, La Paloma Films  (www.Lapalomafilms.net) .  Stillman is responsible for the production of countless movies, documentaries, national commercials, and music videos.  He’s worked alongside Sam Raimi, William Sadler, Paul Sorvino, Peter Falk and Melanie Griffith to name a few.  He was kind enough to sit down and talk to us. 

 

Me:  When did you found La Paloma Films? 

Joe:  In 1975, after I graduated from film school in Santa Barbara, California.

Me:  What are some of your favorite movies and why? 

Joe:  I have many… on the biggest of scales,   films like “Legends of the Fall” and “Lawrence of Arabia” are two of my favorites.  Great story telling is what I appreciate most.   In “Lawrence,”  perhaps it was because it appeals to the concept of going to a foreign place, understanding a different culture, thinking you’re making a difference and then becoming aware that you are only being used to further someone else’s ends.  On a smaller scale, a film like “Conrack” had a totally different impact on me.  I think Jon Voight’s character was a great lesson in a realization that you can only fight the system so much until in the end, it wins out.  It’s probably a great life lesson of “the journey” of what happens to a person rather than “the results.”

Me:  What would you consider to be your biggest ‘break’?  

Joe:  Working with the legendary Cinematographer Sven Nykvist in Sweden on “The Oxen” which was nominated for an Academy Award for best Foreign Film in 1992.  When you’re privileged to be a major component on a good film, it is an honor to have made a contribution.

 

Me:  Tell us how you came to be production manager on Evil Dead II. 

Joe:  I had a background in special effects, among other things and they (Sam Raimi & Rob Tapert) had hired a P.M. that was way over their head when it came to this project so they hired me to replace that person.  CGI was just in its infancy then so we didn’t have the benefit of infinite possibilities that are available today.  Most of our effects were practical ones.   It was a tough project to execute but we pulled it off.

 

 

Me:  Did you ever think that the movies would become the cult phenomenon that they are today? 

Joe:  Yes, but to be honest, I have never been much of a cult fan or had an interest in that genre.  I do have to say however, that after working with Sam Raimi on ED2, it gave me a great deal of respect for those types of films.  They are a lot harder to make than what most people imagine. I guess I’m just an old-fashioned type of guy when it comes to traditional filmmaking and storytelling.

Me:  Do you think the Evil Dead remake, which is due out in 2013, will hold true to the original or do you think they will ruin yet another attempt at recapturing the magic like they did with ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’, ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’, ‘House of Wax’, and so on? 

Joe:   I think hands down, that Sam Raimi is one of the most creative filmmakers out there today and I’m sure with all the talent that he has, it will be the ultimate Evil Dead film to date surpassing the original. 

Me:  You’ve worked with a lot of famous people over the years; actors, directors, etc. . .without naming names, would you say that some notable people are down to earth or is there that ‘don’t you know who I am’ mentality? 

Joe:  For the most part, I’ve had very few bad experiences with big time actors and directors.  I find the vast majority of actors, be they famous or not, to be a dedicated, down-to-earth lot.   They are always searching for honesty in their characters and find it in their own, unique way.  The longer I’ve been in the business the more I respect what everyone does in this business.   It’s a collaborative art though, so everyone from the people in front of the camera to the editors are responsible for a movie.  If it was an easy profession they would be a lot more “good films” made than there are.   What you realize the longer you’re in the business is that every film is a challenge.  It’s just a lot easier to make a good film when you have a budget than when you don’t.

 

Me:   I’ll be reviewing ‘Mineville’, which you were cinematographer for, as an Indie Film That Deserves To Be Seen.  What future projects are you working on that we have to look forward to? 

Joe:  I’m presently producing  “A Humanistic Life… The Ramsey Clark story,”  a feature documentary about former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark’s life.   It is a fascinating project about a fellow Texan who believed in justice and human rights so much that he was willing to be criticized and ridiculed because deep down inside he knew that telling the truth was the right thing to do.  It’s a very political project when many famous people like Noam Chomsky and moments of U.S. history that Ramsey and others had a hand in forming.  He’s an incredible person and someone who I respect immensely.  He was A.G. in 1968 when Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy were killed, an incredible period of history in the turbulent 60’s.

Me:  What advice would you give somebody who would like to pursue a career in film? 

Joe:  Be in the business for the right reasons… be tenacious, prepare for failure but don’t give up and do projects because you believe in them and not for the money.  Stand for something and don’t be discouraged by the odds.  Make films because you have a passion for storytelling and not because it’s a cool thing to do.

Me:  There has been a lot of debate on what Evil Dead 2 is in regard to the first film.  To put this fanboy debate to rest once and for all, let’s hear it from the man who was actually there.  Is Evil Dead 2 a sequel or a remake?  

Joe:  In my opinion, it was part one of a sequel just like Army of Darkness was the last of the Evil Dead trilogy series.

 

I’d like to thank Joe Stillman for taking the time to speak to us and to shed a little light on an Evil Dead fan’s argument. 

Mineville can be seen at http://www.amazon.com/Mineville/dp/B009MYLSX8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354483537&sr=8-1&keywords=mineville+movie

For more on Joe, see his page at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0830296/

 

'Skyfall' Proves That James Bond is Human After All.

Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her, bringing MI6 under attack. Starring Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem.  Directed by Sam Mendes.

There are better shot action sequences and more sharply edited scenes in the first ten minutes of Skyfall than most movies feature in two hours of rambling non-coherent crap.  We are taken on an adrenaline ride and left with a cliffhanger before the opening credits role.  That is hard to accomplish.  I give credit to director Sam Mendes.  I am a great fan of Mendes’ work.  His talents are not stuck inside one genre.  He can deliver on any type of movie and he has proven that in the past.  The dark dramedy of ‘American Beauty’, The grit of ‘Road to Perdition’, the harsh realism of ‘Jar Head’, the sweet sincerity of ‘Away We Go’, and now the heft of taking on Bond in Skyfall. 

Daniel Craig delivers nicely as Bond in this movie.  His subtle delivery and cool nuances blend well for the rarely flawed character that Bond is in Skyfall.  It has happened.  Bond is becoming mortal and is faced with the possibility that he may be forced to leave the field and take on a less pressing role.  This aspect of the movie grabbed me right away.  I was reluctant to see Skyfall simply because I was afraid I was going to have to sit through another recycled story of this invincible warrior who cannot be beat.  What’s the point?  Luckily, I was wrong.

Bond showed vulnerability in Skyfall.  Some may say that they don’t like it.  They may say that Bond is supposed to represent a power that cannot be stopped, no matter how many times he is recast.  I can agree with that to a certain extent, however in a time where every other week, we see super heroes gracing the screen, and we know already that these heroes will come out on top, why not make Bond susceptible to getting hurt, losing, or even death?  Bravo to the writers for taking a chance with Skyfall and not worrying about upsetting the obsessed Bond fanatics. 

I wouldn’t call myself a Bond fan.  Not by a long shot.  I’ve seen the movies; I know the story and the characters, but they’ve always just made me. . .shrug.  They’re enjoyable to an extent, but I never really cared because I always knew that Bond would come out on top, have a martini, sleep with the girl, spout some corny one liners and then take on another mission.  This time, he became human and I was actually interested and I genuinely didn’t know how the story was going to play out. 

Then comes the second half of the film, where Bond becomes Bond again.  One moment, he couldn’t even shoot a target, the next he’s Jason Bourne snapping people’s arms without even looking at them.  Then it became a popcorn movie again.  All was right with the Bond universe once more.

Judi Dench is brilliant as M.  In a career where it seems like she is nominated for an award every year, I have to say that her performances in the Bond films are overlooked.  Javier Bardem is very good as well.  His performance as Silva is flawless.  The scene where Silva first encounters Bond may be one of the finest scenes that Bardem has ever done.  But. . .as far as the character of Silva goes, the execution of the character seemed a bit lazy.  Silva didn’t appear until about halfway through the film, yet I still felt that he wasn’t built up enough.  I think more could have been shown to make him a realistic threat. 

There is a very nice homage to the old Bond films.  007 reveals the silver 1965 Aston Martin DB5 and we hear the spy theme of old play as the car speeds away.  This alone helps the movie. 

Bottom Line:  Skyfall is very entertaining.  The acting is solid, the story is ok.  For those out there saying Skyfall is one of the best films of the year, I have to respectfully disagree.  However, I do have to add that I have never enjoyed a Bond film more.  Take that as you will. 

Skyfall:  7.5/10

'Moonrise Kingdom' is Wes Anderson's Best.

A pair of young lovers flee their New England town, which causes a local search party to fan out and find them.  Starring Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Edward Norton.  Directed by Wes Anderson.

Moonrise Kingdom is an unconventional love story.  It introduces us to Suzy (Kara Hayward) and Sam (Jared Gilman), two wounded souls trapped in the bodies of twelve year old kids.  Sam is an orphan; Suzy is the black sheep and the oldest child in her house whose parents (Frances McDormand and Bill Murray) carry on a loveless marriage for the sake of saving appearances.  Laura (McDormand) shares an extramarital relationship with the town sheriff (Bruce Willis).  They act as if their affair is a secret, yet it is common knowledge amongst the central characters in the story. 

Suzy and Sam plot a runaway together and initially, they successfully pull it off.  Their stolen day of freedom from their parents and the lives that do not seem to require them plays out beautifully on screen.  It is clear to this point that these two have only each other.  The majority of the humor in the film is in the hunt for the two runaways.  Scoutmaster Ward (Norton) rallies up his troops in search of Sam.  When Suzy's family realizes that she has gone missing as well, the hilarious hunt is on.

Like in ‘The Royal Tennanbaums’, Wes Anderson once again visits the idea of how shoddy parenting and lack of attentiveness can affect the way children perceive themselves and their families.  Suzy’s parents are a couple that should not be married.  Yet they stay together thinking that it is the best thing for the children, when in actuality, it is only hurting them in the long run because so much effort, unconscious or not, is being pushed toward keeping up their appearance of a happy couple. 

 

There are several heavyweight actors cast in the supporting roles in this film.  Edward Norton gives a very funny performance as the scoutmaster that can’t seem to keep track of his troops.  Bill Murray and Frances McDormand also deliver solid performances.  Bruce Willis is on top of his game as the ‘sad, dumb’ sheriff of the small New England Town.  His character battles the most emotionally as he strives to be with the woman he loves, but for reasons beyond his control, they cannot be together.  This causes him to sympathize with Sam in his quest to be with the girl that he loves.  Moonrise Kingdom tells us that sometimes you find love, sometimes you don’t.  Nobody can say when and where you will find it but when you do, you embrace it because life might not give you a second chance. 

Moonrise Kingdom is Wes Anderson’s best film yet.  It is by far Anderson’s most audience friendly film.  His past films are written in such a way that you always feel like there is an inside joke that you just don’t quite have a handle on.  In my opinion, it never really did him any favors.  I found it to be a tool that was unnecessary in his previous works.  I liked his work despite using this technique.  Moonrise Kingdom is more of a straight forward narrative that still, like Anderson’s other films, does not spoon feed you characters and plot points.  It simply and subtly plays out.  It allows you to make your own assumptions about love; what is right and what is wrong.  Here’s to hoping that all of you, no matter what your age, one day find your Sam or Suzy.

 

Bottom Line:  Moonrise Kingdom is great.  It’s a love story for anybody who’s ever felt that nobody in this world could possibly understand them and shows that there is a soul mate out there for everybody.  You just have to keep your eyes open.  Wes Anderson has finally made a movie for the common folk. 

Moonrise Kingdom:  8.5/10

'Ted' is Everything I Thought It Would Be.

As the result of a childhood wish, John Bennett's teddy bear, Ted, came to life and has been by John's side ever since - a friendship that's tested when Lori, John's girlfriend of four years, wants more from their relationship.  Starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth McFarlane.  Directed by Seth McFarlane. 

 

 

‘Family Guy’ doesn’t get the credit that it deserves.  It really is one of the smartest shows on TV.  If you think that I’m off base there, than you’re probably too dumb to understand why.  I have always been a big fan of ‘Family Guy’, hell I even signed an online petition to get it back on the air.  Whether it mattered or not, (it didn’t.  DVD sales and its showings on Adult Swim’s ratings were through the roof), the show was given new life and TV history was made.

Seth McFarlane, the creator of Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show, and of course Ted, is on the rise.  He is finally garnering the credit that he’s deserved for years and people are starting to take notice.  ‘Ted’ is McFarlane’s debut as a feature director and I’m certain that it will not be his last. 

 

All of the Family Guy type humor is there, and the key that makes this movie its own entity, and not just an extension of McFarlane’s TV shows is the fact that all the funny lines in the film do not solely belong to the bear.  Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis deliver very good performances as a Boston couple coming to a crossroads in their relationship.  Lori (Kunis) wants John (Wahlberg) to commit to her as they approach their four year anniversary.  The only problem is that John cannot let go of precious things from his childhood, the biggest of them being his teddy bear that magically came to life when he wished it so at eight years old. 

 

The beauty of this movie is the realism with which the situation is treated, if a situation like this would ever arise.  Ted (McFarlane) magically comes to life one day, but the fairy tale doesn’t end there; this is where the story begins.  There is a sequence that shows Ted visiting talk shows, gracing the cover of magazines and making headlines on the news.  Then, after a while, much like many childhood stars, their fifteen minutes of fame is over and they are forced to grow up and become regular people.

Here’s where we find Ted.  Years after his initial splash, he’s just like the rest of us, trying to make his way through the day.  One of the charms of the movie is how everybody accepts him just like a person.  How Ted weaves himself seamlessly into society is an element of the film that brings it to the next level.   

 

Bottom Line:  Ted is not for everybody.  It is for people with a sense of humor.  A real sense of humor.  If you don’t get ‘Family Guy’, then don’t bother.  But if you enjoy real comedy and you’re not afraid of revealing that you’re just as low brow as the rest of us, then sit back and laugh your face off.  Ted is hilarious!

 

Ted:  7.5/10

Good Old(er) Movies: True Grit (2010)

 

A movie is only as good as its acting performances, and I have to believe that The Coen Brothers know how to get the most out of their actors.  This remake of the 1979 classic starring John Wayne holds true to its title and doesn’t disappoint at all. 

Jeff Bridges is Rooster Cogburn.  A man that takes on a hit job offered up by a young girl trying to avenge her father’s death.  Along for the ride is a Texas Ranger named Laboef, played by Matt Damon.  The manhunt begins when three unlikely searchers; Cogburn, Laboef, and young Mattie Ross played surprisingly well by Hailee Steinfeld.

Nominated for 10 Academy Awards, it’s the Coen Brothers’ follow-up western adaptation to ‘No Country For Old Men’ that reminds of just what people are willing to do for one another.

 

True Grit:  8/10