"Enough Said" About This Relationship

Enough Said (2013)

Rated PG-13

Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Toni Collette, Ben Falcone, Catherine Keener

Written and Directed by Nicole Holofcener

The Story:

Eva (Dreyfus) is a divorced, single parent who works as a masseuse. She meets Marianne at a party, the two connect, and Marianne becomes her next client, and they actually becomes friends as well. Marianne does like to complain about her ex husband, a lot.  At the same party, Eva met Albert (Gandolfini) as well. No real attraction, but the two went on a date and began seeing each other, and they really seem to like each other's company.

Stop me if you can see where this is going.

:)


Now, just because we know who everyone is, doesn't mean that Eva does.

At least, not at first.

However, once she meets Albert's daughter and then sees her again at Marianne's house, well the truth is now revealed to Eva.

And once she knows the truth, Marianne's words begin to slowly poison Eva's relationship with Albert.

Will the two find true happiness, or are they as doomed as Albert's first relationship?

Great chemistry from Dreyfus and Gandolfini, and the relationship seems "real" thanks to the efforts of Holofcener to make the two seem like real people, having real conversations.

Kind of refreshing.

Final Grade: B-

It's Chilly Outside...It's Chili Inside..."Get Shorty"

Get Shorty (1995)

Rated R

Starring John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, Danny DeVito, Dennis Farina, Delroy Lindo, James Gandolfini

Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld

The Story:

Chili Palmer (Travolta) may work for the mob, but his heart is for the movies. When he winds up in Hollywood looking for Harry Zimm (Hackman) who has welched on a debt, he begins to dabble in Hollywood movie production. However, local mobster Bo (Lindo) and Miami's own Ray Barboni (Farina) close in on Chili and Zimm, things are about to get a little crazy!

Happy 20th Anniversary to Get Shorty!

Based on the Elmore Leonard story, this is a perfect all-star cast that brings out life behind the camera, and life within the mob all in one comedic caper.

While I knew and enjoyed the work of just about everyone in this cast, for me, it made stars of Lindo and Gandolfini.

Unfamiliar with their work up to that point, they both turned in great performances and, especially in the case of Lindo, I have looked forward to seeing him in just about anything ever since.

Highly recommended if you've never seen it, or if it's been nearly 20 years since your last viewing.

Currently streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I love it. I own it. It gets watched roughly every year or two. It holds up very well every time!

It May Not Live Up to the Adjective, But "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" is Far From a Dud

Abracadabra!

The Story:

Popular Vegas Magicians Burt (Stevel Carell) and his partner Anton (Steve Buscemi) have enjoyed a decade at the top working for Doug Munny (James Gandolfini).  But they haven't changed their act in years, and a popular new street magician (Jim Carrey) is usurping Burt's popularity.  Soon, Burt finds himself dirt poor and alone.  However, getting back to his magic roots with a chance meeting with his idol (Alan Arkin) may give Burt a new lease on life.

The best thing about movies that bomb at the box office, is the reviews are so scathingly bad, you can't help but have the bar lowered when you watch it, that more times than not, the movie is going to way overachieve in every conceivable way.

Want proof?
Look no further than this film.

Is it as funny as the last time Carell and Carrey teamed up (Bruce Almighty)? Nope.  This one isn't as well written, but there are plenty of amusing gags sprinkled throughout the film.

The magic tricks are actually pretty cool, but then I've always been a fan of sleight of hand.

I also like that Burt and Anton performed the old-fashioned tricks, while Carrey tackled the edgy tricks that have become popular.  I know which one I prefer to see, and it works for this film as well.

Burt even gets a love interest, Jane (Olivia Wilde) which plays up the usual comic romance of boy meets girl, girl can't stand the guy, the two end up together eventually.

So no, it's not as bad as you may have feared.

It's a perfect background movie for our house... something you can play in the background that's agreeable, but doesn't demand your attention if you're working on a project of have the need to leave the room for food or a bathroom break.


And no, it doesn't even come close to being one of the worst movies of the year.

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I'd watch it again, sure.  If the price is right, I'd add it to the library.

Brad Pitt "Killing Them Softly" Will Make You Die of Boredom

They don't actually use the song in the movie.

How disappointing.

The Story:

Markie (Ray Liotta) runs a local gambling establishment for the mob.  One time he robs his own place to get some money, no harm, no foul.  Except when he admits it months later.  So when he is robbed by three locals later, Markie is the prime suspect.  The mob calls in a hired gun, Jackie (Brad Pitt) to take care of Markie.  When he tells his go-between (Richard Jenkins) that Markie is innocent, the mob really doesn't care, they want to make an example.  Before too long, Jackie is going to have a lot of blood on his hands to get things in order.

Meh.

That's my overall reaction to this movie.

It's not bad.  It's not great.

It's a low-budget gangster film, and Ray Liotta does his part as a small time hood.

It was sad to see James Gandolfini for a brief and thankless role in this movie that made no sense whatsoever, and was really a waste of time, and his talents.

Heck, Richard Jenkins as the Driver was probably the best character in the movie, and he was seen all too briefly as well.

But really, the information flows too easily, too often for this heist to make any sense as Jackie mops up all of the loose ends.

They try and tie how the mob works alongside how politics works as this movie takes place during the end of Bush's tenure in office and the rise of Obama.

Well, that's a nifty card to play, but it doesn't help make the movie any better.

Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: There was absolutely nothing of interest to make me want or need to see this again.