2014 Turkeys of the Year: The Not-So-Magnificent Seven!

Has it been a year already?

Well let's wait no longer as we celebrate the Top Turkeys of 2014!

It was a pretty good year movie-wise, at least as The Turkeys were concerned. Only a mere 18 films received a grade lower than a C-.

That's not bad.

I doubled that in the B+ or higher category, so that makes me happy.

Mostly the year was filled with a lot of "mostly average" films that were okay, but forgettable.

Ah, but the stench of these still lingers.

Thankfully, the aromatic smell of a yummy Thanksgiving dinner will soon rid me of these reminders, and I can begin looking forward to being disappointed next year with an all-new crop of films!

:D

Of the 18, I tried to stick to the "big names, big budget" films.

So there is no room to mention films like A Single Shot, The Family Tree or Ruby Sparks.

Oh wait... ;)

Now, if you liked of loved these films, I'm happy for you, they simply weren't my cup of tea.

As always, I'm happy films like this are made because I know audiences aren't cookie cutter.

Variety is a great thing and I'm happy for you.

I worry about your taste in film, but am happy for you nonetheless!

:)

So let's get the countdown started!

7 - Sex Tape

Of the movies on the countdown, this was the one that I watched for the least amount of time. I think it was 5 minutes, but it felt like an excruciatingly long 25 minutes of watching Segal and Diaz having sex. Repeatedly. Anywhere. Anytime.
Ha. Ha. Ha.
Ho. Ho. Ho.
I get it, they were young, in love, and liked sex.
I talked to a few people and they said it got funnier after about 20 minutes.
For me, 20 minutes is the most I give a movie to hook me to make me want to watch.

6 - American Hustle

So many superheroes crammed into one film. Not one piece of spandex worn between them.

:)

Ah, the drama. The most difficult genre to please me with.

I understand dramas must be slower, more deliberate, but I still want to be entertained.

This film did not do that for me.

At all.

Boring.

Talk talk talk.

Boring.

I think I made it somewhere between 10-15 minutes before I had enough and pulled it.

That I made that decision on my own with no prompting from my co-critic speaks volumes to me on how bored I was, as I really try hard to give every film its due.

5 - Beautiful Creatures

How is this possible? I've endured all the Twilight films and survived!
How can I not fall for the latest vampirey love story, set in my own beloved South Carolina?

Well for starters, South Carolina isn't the greatest place on earth, with or without vampires.

:)

Otherwise, this was an overhyped, overproduced film that was a snoozer from the minute it started and by the 20 minute mark I asked the entire viewing audience if they wanted me to pull it or leave it in.

The voting was unanimous.

That doesn't happen often.

4 - The Wolf of Wall Street

Another based on a true story drama.

Another film I didn't bother making it past the 20 minute mark.

Leonardo DiCaprio winds up on the list in back to back years, but I'm not a Leo hater.

Want proof he can act? Catch Me If You Can

I should watch that to get the taste of this film out of my memory.

:)

3 - The Lone Ranger

Finally, a movie that I made it all the way through.

That's how things are going to work a bit differently this year.

I compound the disappointment of wanting to like these films by the fact that I watched the entire thing, hoping beyond hope that it would get better at some point.

In each case I was let down.

Of the final 3, I was most nervous about this one from the moment I heard it was being made.

The Lone Ranger is, was, and always will be Clayton Moore.

Nobody else will ever fill the mask.

That said, Armie Hammer did as good as you could expect, especially given the horrible script that was turned in.

The real disgrace was allowing Johnny Depp to bring Captain Jack Sparrow dressed as an Indian to tarnish Tonto.

Ugh.

Even the finale, which was easily the best part of the movie, was truly bittersweet because you finally had action, the William Tell Overture to make you want to like what you were seeing, but ultimately, all it did was remind you of what could have been, and never can be.

2 - Noah

How do you mess up a story from the Bible?

Include Transformers!

I'm not going to get into a religious debate on the merits of this film, that is utterly pointless.

That said, if you're going to diverge so far from the story, maybe, just maybe, you need to rethink making a Biblical epic drama.

This was a traffic accident of a film.

You slow down, and keep watching, wondering how bad it really is.

Unlike the Lone Ranger where you hoped it got better, this one you waited to see what crazy thing would happen next.

In that aspect, it never disappointed.

: /

1 - Frozen

Where to begin with this one?

The world is filled with Frozen Kool-Aid drinkers who think this film was the second coming of The Little Mermaid or some nonsense.

This was easily the worst Disney Princess movie in ages, and by far the worst animated  film I've seen in ages.

It's pretty to look at, this is Disney after all.

The story is pedestrian, the voice acting is bland, and the songs are overblown, overproduced, and not that memorable.

That it made a star out of Idina Manzel is further proof that people will eat whatever is served to them.

That "Let it Go" song should never have been screeched across the radio airwaves, and I am thankful that it finally ran out of steam this summer and no longer gets any airplay.

That, and "Do You Want To Build A Snowman?" are now the butt of 2 jokes in our house for the last year.

Our household remains one of the last holdouts in America that is Frozen-free.

The fun part about this film was I sent my oldest animation majors to see the film.  It had bad reviews for months before I ever even saw it.

I thought, surely they must be exaggerating.  It couldn't possibly be that bad.

Ugh.

It was.

At least I know that we raised them right, and they know the difference between good and evil.

: )

So that's it.

Now the Worst Films of 2015...

You are officially on the clock!

He's Not One You Call Dr. Feelgood... "House M.D."

House M.D. (2004)

TV-14

Starring Hugh Laurie, Omar Epps, Lisa Edelstein, Jesse Spencer, Jennifer Morrison, Robert Sean Leonard

The Story:

Dr. Gregory House (Laurie) is a brilliant diagnostician. He loves the mystery ailments of his patients. The only problem...he really doesn't like his patients. :) Using his team (Spencer, Epps, Morrison) to run down all the ailments that it could be, but never is, they work tirelessly to cure their patients.

I used to love this show.

The first 3 seasons were some of the best on television.

Great writing, stellar cast, interesting storylines.

Sure, on occasion some of the cases seemed redundant, but we were here to see House, and the show delivered.

He was a cranky, pill-popping near-cripple with an acid-tongue and heart of stone.

He lives for the mystery, a modern-day Sherlock Holmes (Holmes=House) and his best friend Wilson(Leonard)   (Wilson=Watson) and the dynamic of the show was stellar.

Then in Season 4, the team was broken up, new blood was brought in (Olivia Wilde, Peter Jacobson, etc) and it was the beginning of the end.

It was the beginning of the end.

While still good, the episodes were rarely great.

By season 7, we were in full shark-jumping mode.

I didn't even bother watching an episode of season 8.  I wanted to have pleasant memories of this show.

House is now streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

We'll see if I venture into the later seasons to see how things ended.

As it is, it's nice to revisit some great shows from a decade ago!

Final Grade: A- (and dropping after 3...)

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: One of the few shows I do own. No regrets.

Thanks For Everything Dad!.. R.I.P. Donald Ladd 1930-2014

Nothing ever prepares you for the news that your parent has passed away.
So began this week with my dad in a hospital, then the emotional roller coaster of he's getting better, no, he's getting worse.
He's having surgery...he pulled through...oh no...farewell.

Then the wave of emotions hit, and the tears flow.

Geez, I was already a crier!
:)
One of the many things I got from my dad, and one that I acknowledge quite often. I have to leave the room when those holiday commercials come on just to avoid Niagara Falls!!

My love for movies?
I picked that up from him.

Weekends watching westerns and war films and Abbott and Costello.  Good times all!

Still love movies to this day, and one of the reasons I even post these reviews.

The other thing that dad gave me growing up was my love of reading.

And if we're being specific, my love for comics!

I can't tell you the hours we spent in The Book Bin in Albany perusing the shelves of used books. We didn't buy them all, but I think mom thought we did.

:)

It was there that he bought me my very first comic book: Avengers 200.

Still the greatest comic book cover of all time.

While I didn't get his artistic ability, I channeled my lack of artistic skill into the printed word, and I think I've done okay with that over the years.

It led me to my English degree, and fulfilling a lifelong dream of being a teacher.

Not bad, dad.

Thanks for everything!

My sense of humor? Totally dad.

I try and go through life with the same sparkle in my eyes that I always saw in his.

So far, so good.

Finally, I'd like to think I learned a thing or two about being a great dad from him.

While I don't think I was a carbon copy, I used many of things he taught me (and threw a few I didn't care for away!) and modified in my own special way.

My biggest regret is that life in the military kept us always 3000 miles (or more) from home, so he never got a chance to see his grandchildren growing up.

Thankfully, he's got a great seat up above us now, and should be able to see them all the time.

Boy, are my kids in trouble!

:)

So yes, the tears come, and they come when I often least expect them.

I'm sad for myself and my family, that we'll get no more memories, no more chances to talk to dad.

I'm happy for him because he's in a better place, no pain, no more illness.

Plus he gets to see his dad again, my namesake!

:)

Take care dad, and I'll see you again someday!

Until then, I'll keep trying to make you proud of me.

Thanks for everything.

Love forever,

Serge

Stop...Hammer Time! "Misery"

Misery (1990)

Rated R

Starring James Caan, Kathy Bates, James Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen, Lauren Bacall

Directed by Rob Reiner

The Story:

Novelist Paul Sheldon (Caan) crashes his car in a blizzard and is near death. Luckily, his # 1 fan, Annie (Bates) rescued him. As she nurses him back to health, she begins reading his latest novel in the Misery franchise.  However, when she discovers that this is the end of the line for her favorite character, things take a dark, harrowing turn.

Another of the great Stephen King adaptations, it seems his non-horror films translate better on the screen.

The psychological terror of a fan-gone-crazy ratchets the tension up to 11 in this film.

Looking at her career, I would say this was the point when Kathy Bates became a star.  She literally goes from sweet, but kind of creepy, to sadistic mad-woman in the flip of a switch.

Don't get me started on the scene with the sledgehammer.

That scene alone has kept this film off my radar and out of my library for almost 25 years.

This also helped cement Rob Reiner as a director of serious films, not just comedies.

It holds up well after all these years,

Not sure when I'll ever venture down this dark path again though!

:D

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I waited nearly 25 years...man, that scene is still rough to watch.  ::shudder::

25 Years? It Still Seems Like Yesterday... "The Day The Series Stopped"

The Day The Series Stopped (2014)

ESPN: 30 For 30

The Story:

The World Series, 1989. The Battle of the Bay, Game 3 as the San Francisco Giants looked to come back from an 0-2 deficit against the Oakland A's.  Then at 5:04, an earthquake strikes and the Series goes dark. The biggest quake since the 1906 disaster, and the Bay Area was sent reeling. Al Michaels reassures us as we have only audio that for now, all is well at least in the ballpark.

Wow.

The memories, I remember watching the Series back then in college and we were watching the dorm when this happened.

The calm and cool that sportscasters who suddenly had to put on news broadcaster hats and relay the biggest disaster in ages to a nation, and they did it without missing a beat.

Looking back on it now, it's amazing to see a time before the internet, and cell phones (widespread) and news was literally unable to be broadcast as it happened.  The news feeds were so slow back then.

Incredibly, think about it this way- If there had not been all the network television and blimp and everything to cover the Series, there would have been no information at all out of San Francisco as they were without power and phones. Had the game been a day before or after, the chaos out of the Bay Area would have been pure speculation and guesswork by the newtworks.

Like the day of the earthquake, sports takes a quick backseat to the destruction and devastation of the day and the heroics of first responders and everyday people.  Naturally, the Series was postponed and rescheduled for a later time.

My first foray into any of the ESPN 30 for 30 series.

So far, so good.

Some definitely interesting subjects, and I will be back for more.


Now streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Will likely vary by episode, but good documentaries are always work revisiting after some time.

The Fate Of The World Is In Tom Cruise's Hands..."Edge Of Tomorrow"

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

PG-13

Starring Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton,

Directed by Doug Liman

The Story:

An alien menace has invaded earth in the near future, and they are wreaking havoc across Europe and Asia. The world forces are combined to stop them, and on the eve of a massive attack to stop them, an American officer (Cruise) who works public relations is forced to join the ranks of the fighters. While trying to survive, he notices the war's greatest fighter (Blunt) just before she is killed. Suddenly the enemy is upon him and then... he wakes up to start the last day over again. And again. And again. Can the valuable lessons he learns each day keep him alive, and help him turn the tide of the war?

So how did this movie fail at the box office?

It is a well-done production, from start to finish.

The easiest guess, the title blows. :)

It sounds like a cheesy soap opera from daytime tv that you must tune in to tomorrow to find out who's backstabbing who!

The tagline for the film: Live. Die. Repeat. is actually better (and much more accurate) than the title itself.

It could be the sci-fi genre itself. It doesn't exactly appeal to every moviegoer out there, although Guardians of the Galaxy could argue against that rule of movies.

:D

Or perhaps people have tired of Tom Cruise?

That seems the most likely scenario.

Which is both amusing, and sad at the same time.

Cruise has been playing Tom Cruise his entire career, so why are people getting tired of him now?

He actually does a fine job in this film, starting as a coward who grows into a hero as the movie progresses.

If you passed it by in theaters, don't let this one get away on DVD.


Final Grade: Solid B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I could watch this one again, pretty entertaining from start to finish.

Much Ado About Nothing... "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)

Rated PG

Starring Steve Martin, Michael Caine

Directed by Frank Oz

The Story:

 Lawrence (Caine) is a big-time con man who lives on the Riviera, preying on the rich women who fall for his cons and shower him with riches. Into his life, and town, comes Freddy (Martin) a small-timer who has big dreams of conning his way across the Riviera. He tries learning from Lawrence, but the two just cannot get along, so they instead attempt one last con, and the loser must leave the beautiful town they are in.

Meh.

Surprisingly, I had never seen this film.

Released in the 80s, Steve Martin as star, you'd have thought I would own this one and watch it repeatedly.

However, you would be wrong.

Never got around to it.

Couldn't really tell you why, something about this movie never clicked with me.

So I see it available to stream this weekend, and think, now's the time!

Then boredom set in.

There's no denying Caine or Martin's presence in the film, but really, there just isn't anything that grabs me and makes me want to keep watching.

By the time they get ready to star the competition, nearly an hour has drug out, and there's still an hour to go.

I'm guessing that if you loved it then, you still love it.

As I have no affection for it, it strikes me as indifferent.

Ah well, c'est la vie.
 
Now streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I waited a quarter of a century to watch it. It will be much longer before I do so again.

"The Kid" Is A Mixed Bag Of A Movie...

The Kid (2000)

Rated PG

Starring Bruce Willis, Spencer Breslin, Emily Mortimer, Lily Tomlin, Jean Smart,

Directed by Jon Turtletaub

The Story:

Russ (Willis) is closing in on 40. He's an image consultant that doesn't really like his job, nobody really likes him, and he frankly really doesn't care much about anything anymore.  One night he comes home to find a kid named Rusty (Breslin) in his house. As the mystery unfolds, it would appear that Rusty is the 8 year old version of Russ and this is the classic, what key moment in life does Russ need to fix in his youth that will make his life better.  Or is it?

Also known as "Disney's The Kid", that should pretty much clue you in on how this movie will unfold.

My problem with it, is that it runs very slow throughout much of the plot.

I often argue that comedies, and family movies included, should run just about 90 minutes.

This one goes 15 minutes beyond that, and you feel every minute of it, and then some.

I'm not sure exactly where or why this takes place, but to me, the film just feels too drug out for its own good.

Once they finally figure out that Russ and Rusty are the same person, the race to the third act begins to pick up some speed.

Then, when it is revealed who caused the meeting between the two in the first place, you sort of shrug and say, "okay, whatever."

Never an intended consequence I would imagine.

Not a horrible way to spend your movie watching time, but nothing I need to rush back to do again.


Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: It had been 14 years since I last saw this one. Nothing screams that I can't wait another 14 to see it again.

"Double Jeopardy"... Legal Thriller Or TV Game Show?

Double Jeopardy (1999)

Rated R

Starring Ashley Judd, Tommy Lee Jones, Bruce Greenwood

Directed by Bruce Beresford

The Story:

Libby (Judd) is sentenced to prison for the murder of her husband, Nick (Greenwood). She swears she's innocent and has been framed. As she rots away in prison, she discovers that not only was she framed, that Nick is actually alive. Once she is paroled, she escapes from her parole officer (Jones) and begins a mad dash across country to find her husband and retrieve her son. Staying one step ahead of the law and getting her son back is Libby's frantic mission.

What if "The Fugitive" was a girl?

That would be an easy way to sum up this film, especially when you include Tommy Lee Jones in the cast.

The difference is the spin of adding the child into the mix.

If it weren't for Libby wanting to see her son, she would have served her time and went along with her life after prison.

However, her son kept her drive and passionate because she missed him, and knew something was wrong.

Add in one seemingly innocent phone call when she hears him say, "Daddy", the film turns into her mission of revenge.

Great job by all three of the lead actors who elevate the story above just a regular thriller.

Worth a look if it's been ages, or never.


Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I do own this one. It's been over a decade since I had last seen it, but still holds up.

I Wish I Could Move To "Gravity Falls"

Gravity Falls (2012)

TV Y-7

Starring Jason Ritter, Kristen Schaal, Alex Hirsch, Linda Cardellini

Created by Alex Hirsch

The Story:

Twin siblings Dipper (Ritter) and Mabel (Schaal) are sent to spend the summer in Gravity Falls, Oregon. They are in the care of their Great Uncle Stan (Hirsch) who runs a tourist trap in the town. Dipper soon discovers that the town is filled with supernatural secrets and he spends his time trying to solve these secrets while also pining away at the girl of his dreams, Wendy (Cardellini).

I watch very few cartoons anymore, so if I do, it has to be well-written and have a great voice cast.

This has that, in spades.

Credit, of course, needs to be heaped on Hirsch as the series creator, head writer, and main vocal talent for not only Gruncle Stan, but also Soos, the handyman at the Mystery Shack, and other characters.

Each episode has built slowly from each other, expanding the secrets of Gravity Falls. However, there is rarely any point that you just can't jump in as a new viewer and understand what is going on.

Of the 27 episodes that have aired on the Disney Channel, I'd like to say they were all perfect, but I can't.

The one with Mabel's crush on the boy band is the least favorite of the entire family.
I don't know, something about that episode just didn't do it for anyone in the family, and it was even deleted from the DVR.

That's some serious business right there!

Otherwise, it's a lot of fun and again, some of the best writing on tv, period, cartoon or not.

Naturally, dealing with supernatural, your parental discretion is warranted.

However there hasn't been too much to worry about overall.

Except maybe Stan in his boxer shorts...

:: shudder ::

Final Grade: A+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Most episodes have been seen several times. Summerween (a holiday that should be adopted!) is a personal favorite. :)

Double The Fun... "Stuck On You"

Stuck On You (2003)

PG-13

Starring Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Cher, Eva Mendes, Cher

Directed by Bobby and Peter Farrelly

The Story:

Conjoined twins Bob (Damon) and Walt (Kinnear) share a liver and a connection of skin that makes them the closest of friends and best brothers. They have adapted and function really well as a unit and that makes them pretty happy in life. Ah, but Walt dreams of being an actor. So they head West, and fate happens when they catch Cher's eye for her tv show that she wants to sabotage, so she hires Walt. Naturally, the public loves Walt and he becomes a success. Meanwhile, Bob is trying to find a way to tell a girl he's smitten with the truth of his condition.

There's no way that this movie should work, on just about any level.

Yet it finds a way, on nearly every level, to succeed.

It's a great comedy.

There's some sweet romance.

There is the feel-good message that differently-abled doesn't mean you can't do anything.

It's a fun behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in the entertainment industry.

The effort that Bob and Walt go through to make life work for them is impressive, and say what you will, that is an impressive acting job by both Damon (who never does enough comedy)and Kinnear in working as a cohesive unit.

Their stunt work and teamwork that they display is nothing short of impressive.

A lot of good natured fun, and worth a look if you've never seen it, or haven't seen it since it was released over a decade ago.

Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: One that I haven't seen in some times, but it reminds me that I need to dust it off more often than once every decade to see.

A Movie You Can Sink Your Teeth Into... "Chef"

Chef (2014)

Rated R

Starring Jon Favreau, Oliver Platt, John Leguizamo, Dustin Hoffman, Sofia Vergara, Emjay Anthony

Written and Directed by Jon Favreau

The Story:

Chef Casper (Favreau) is preparing a master feast for the premiere restaurant critic in town (Platt) . However, the owner (Hoffman) wants to play it safe and go with the old standby, after all, that's what made them famous. The critic tanks the place, Casper loses his mind, and his son (Anthony) just wants to hang out with his dad. However, when Casper gets an old food truck, his best friend (Leguizamo) and son and go on a cross-country trek during the summer, Casper rediscovers the magic that had been dormant for so long and his food is going viral, but in a good way. :)

See also the autobiography of Jon Favreau replacing food with movies. ;)

Favreau started as an indie crowd pleaser before getting called up to the big leagues to helm big studio hits (Elf, Iron Man).

Apparently along the way, he lost a bit of himself and what he wanted to do was see if he could reclaim his magic.

In Chef, he does just that.

He brings his indie sensibilities back to the forefront, but this time he's able to bring some of his A-list pals that he's made along the way with him.

They are brief, but memorable characters, but at the end of the day, this is a story about a man reconneecting with the passions in his life:

1) Food
2) Son
3) Wife

Now is the part where I have to dock Favreau just like everyone else or then I appear to be a hypocrite.

The story of a son and father reconnecting?
That's PG-13 fare my friend.

Dial the language back a bit, broaden the audience, let me share a pretty fun road trip with the family, and you've got an instant addition to the library.

Again, that's me and my soapbox.

To me, a few of the tirades are fine (and funny).  However, that's the point of language.

Restrain it, and when you do unleash profanity, it underscores the emotional impact of the scene.

Use it all the time, it's just another adjective or adverb that keeps the audience limited.

My two cents.

Either way, still a good movie and worthwhile viewing.


Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I could watch it again, and like I said, had the language been toned down, this would have been a no-brainer for best of the year honors.

This Election Day, Vote For "Dave"

Dave (1993)

Rated PG-13

Starring Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Ving Rhames, Frank Langella, Ben Kingsley,

Directed by Ivan Reitman

The Story:

President Bill Mitchell (Kline) brings in look-alike Dave (Kline), a temp-hire expert to fill in for him during an official function. However, when the real President suffers a stroke in the midst of an affair, Dave is thrust into the position full-time while the Chief of Staff (Langella) figures out what to do. Only a few know the true identity, including a very loyal Secret Service Agent (Rhames). But while it's one thing to fool the public at a one-time function, how do you fool the First Lady (Weaver) and Vice President (Kingsley) among others?

Ivan Reitman directs another light, fun comedy with a bit of a political bite under the surface.

Kline gets to shine as the novice political figurehead who takes his patriotic duty as President very seriously. However, he has a heart of gold, not a politician's heart, so he makes some changes along the way.

This draws suspicion from some, including his "wife".

As Dave continues to prove a popular President, more so than the man he is replacing, the Chief of Staff sees his chance to move into the big chair.

The cast is exceptional from top to bottom, and the humor and politics are as fresh and fun now as they were over 20 years ago.

Regardless of who you choose at the polls today, this movie is a winner!


Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I own it, and while I don't watch it nearly as often as I'd like, this is a charming movie that is really fun to watch, especially during the political season.  Then I can sigh, and wish that Dave was the real deal.

The Music Lives On... "Begin Again"

Begin Again (2013)

Rated R

Starring Keira Knightly, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, Mos Def,

Written and Directed by John Carney

The Story:

Gretta (Knightly) is a singer-songwriter who has written a song for her boyfriend (Levine) who is a popular musician. Dan (Ruffalo) is a music producer who hasn't found a hit talent in ages and he's trying to keep his career and balancing being a dad to his teen daughter.  When Dan hears Gretta sing, he knows she'll be a star.  The problem? She's got no interest in becoming a star.

Here's the complaint I give this, and many other films, so you probably already know what's coming.

This had potential to be a great film, but again, the writer (who happens to be the director) wanted to make it edgy and adult...

So he fills the film with f-bombs to get an R rating.

Did it enhance the story?

No.

All it did was ensure that the audience for this little movie that works slowly to charm and delight the audience has a much smaller audience overall than it could have.

Otherwise, make a dialogue change, and you've got a little winner of a movie that is enjoyable and rather sweet.

Thankfully, the romance that could have happened in this movie never does.

Plus, just when you think the movie is over, they give an even happier ending through the credits.


Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I could own it and watch it again down the road. Good, but could have been better.

Skip The Documentary And Enjoy The Country Instead. "America: Imagine The World Without Her"

America: Imagine The World Without Her (2014)

Written, Directed and Starring Dinesh D'Souza

The Story:

The trailer for this documentary begins to imagine what America would be like if General Washington had been killed in the Revolutionary War.

That's the concept that I was promised, or at least that's what I thought it was going to be like.

No, instead it looked at a list of the complaints about America by certain groups that wished we had never arrived on the shores of this country.

We have the usual suspects: Native American complaints, Mexico wanting their land back, the slave trade.

Then Dinesh tries to decide if apologizing and trying to erase the past is somehow ruining the present and future of America.

Nah, I was looking forward to an engaging what if about America, not a political crusade.

Final Grade: Going for a D.  It may have been engaging, but I was irritated with the bait and switch from the previews to lose all interest.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: No, I'm good, but thanks!

It's Fairly Easy To Resort To A "Life Of Crime"

Life of Crime (2013)

Rated R

Starring Jennifer Aniston, Mos Def, Tim Robbins, Isla Fisher, Will Forte, John Hawkes

Directed by Daniel Schechter

The Story:

2 Detroit hoods (Def & Hawkes) hatch a scheme to kidnap the wife (Aniston) of a local businessman (Robbins) and ransom her for a million dollars. However, he was planning on divorcing her anyway, and enjoying the company of another woman (Fisher). As he has no intention of paying...things just got complicated.

So basically, this is Ruthless People, as penned by the late, great Elmore Leonard.

It's not as funny, though there are some funny bits.

It's actually more ruthless, but only a bit.

Not up to the excellent standards of Get Shorty or Justified, but a watchable caper that builds slowly as several characters are caught up in the tangled threads of the story.

Loyalties and alliances shift throughout the film until it all comes to an end.

They got the look and feel of the 70s down pat with the cars, houses and clothing.

The problem with Elmore Leonard adaptations with great casts, you come to expect more than just a typical movie.

Sadly, at the end of the day, this winds up being just an average tale that will become forgettable.


Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Nah, I think this was a one-hit wonder. Now I feel like watching Get Shorty again though. :)