My First Exposure To The Group And Their Music..."Straight Outta Compton"

Straight Outta Compton (2015)

Rated R

Starring O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown Jr., Aldis Hodge, Paul Giamatti

Directed by F. Gary Gray

The Story:

The rise and fall of the rap group N.W.A. is chronicled in this autobiography about how they met Jerry Heller (Giamatti) and he signed them to a deal. Yet as the accolades and money came pouring in, dissension in the group between Ice Cube (Jackson Jr.) Dr. Dre (Hawkins) and Easy E (Mitchell) began to tear them apart.

I'm sure you can imagine that I have a ton of rap albums in my music catalog.

:)

No, but I can tell a good story when I see one, and everything I saw in the trailers led me to believe that this would be a good story.

I believed correctly.

Aside from Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, I had little knowledge of the group or their music. Though I do remember hearing about them in the news for all of their controversy and hate-filled lyrics towards the police.

After watching the film, and maybe even more so today with the news of police brutality on the rise, well, perhaps the boys weren't as incorrect as the public was led to believe.

But, the important thing to note, and it is stressed in the film, it wasn't an anthem to direct violence towards the police, it was supposed to be a wake up call about the violence the police were directing towards blacks.

Some great performances by the cast from top to bottom, but I'll start with the obvious, and as I watched O'Shea Jackson Jr., I kept thinking, man, he looks and sounds an awful lot like Ice Cube.

See, I told you I didn't know much about the group. So a quick visit to IMDB, and lo and behold, now I figured out why the resemblance was so strong.

That had to be cool for both son and father to get to see your life story up on screen, and it's your son bringing it to life.

It's a really solid movie from beginning to end, and you don't have to be a fan of the group to enjoy the ride.

Final Grade:  B+

A Great Reason To Move..."San Andreas"

San Andreas (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, Hugo Johnstone-Burt, Art Parkinson, Paul Giamatti

Directed by Brad Peyton

The Story:

Los Angeles Fire Rescue pilot Ray Gaines (Johnson) grabs a chopper and heads north to San Francisco when a series of earthquakes shakes the San Andreas fault line and threatens to personally kill Ray's daughter (Daddario).

And when it's Mother Nature vs. Dwayne Johnson...

My money's on The Rock.

:)

Look, if you like popcorn disaster movies, you're going to have a pretty good time here.

The special effects are pretty good, and crazy scenarios aside (bay area boat race, I'm looking at you) it's all pretty good stuff.

The strained marital relationship seems a bit contrived simply to set up the damsel in distress scenarios, but it is what it is.

Everyone does a great job with their roles, no tongues planted in cheeks, this is straight-up end of the world how do we survive chaos.  Giamatti excels in his role as one of the scientists that finally comes up with a program that can predict earthquakes...

Just in time to see his machine go absolutely crazy with the mother of all quakes!

If you want to see more disaster on screen than you've seen since the last Roland / Emmerich production, look no further.

Final Grade: C+

The Drive Behind The Success Of The Beach Boys..."Love And Mercy"

Love and Mercy (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti, Jack Abel

Directed by Bill Pohland

The Story:

Brian Wilson (Dano) struggles with the voices in his head that drive him to make music. The problem, his latest idea, "Pet Sounds" is something unlike the Beach Boys have ever done before.

Brian Wilson (Cusack) meets Melinda Ledbetter (Banks) at a car dealership and he is smitten. He begins taking her out, but their relationship continues to be stifled by the domineering presence of Dr. Eugene Landy (Giamatti).

The two stories will weave in and out of one another, almost seamlessly as the audience is taken to the 60s and 80s watching Wilson's life fall apart, and ultimately, come together.

While I'm not a huge fan of the Beach Boys, there is no denying they churned out their fair share of hits throughout their illustrious career, and many snippets will fill the soundtrack of this film.  It's interesting to see how Wilson constructed Pet Sounds and as with all things ahead of its time, the respect it receives now is nowhere near the reception it received upon arrival.

While the 60s show Wilson's descent, thanks in no part to his own father, it is the 80s that shows us a Wilson that has hit rock bottom and it is only through the kindess and love that Melinda develops for Brian that she ultimately is able to save him.

Giamatti is only missing the moustache to twirl as he relishes his role as villain in this piece.  Dano and Cusack both bring their best to showcase Brian's vulnerability and drive to the screen.

And yes, I will have to grudgingly up my respect for the Beach Boys after seeing this.

Final Grade: B

You'll Never Forget The Events Of "Parkland"

Parkland (2013)

Rated PG-13

Starring Zac Efron, Marcia Gay Harden, Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton, Ron Livingston, James Badge Dale,

Written and Directed by Peter Landesman

The Story:

November 22nd, 1963. Dallas Texas. A chilling date in history shown from the perspectives of the many lives that were woven together over the course of the next few days in the most harrowing fashion. One day changed the course of America, and these people were all first-hand witnesses as it happened.

There is a lot to cram into 90 minutes of movie.

You know how you can complain that a movie was too long, or felt like it took forever?

The opposite could be held true here.

Apparently it was planned as a miniseries for HBO, but alas, that didn't pan out, and what's left is made up as Parkland.

The movie takes its name from Parkland Hospital, where they took Kennedy after he was shot.  It was here that the medical staff (Efron, Harden and many more) work frantically to save his life. Then they are tasked just days later with trying to save another gunshot victim.

Then there is Mr. Zaprudar (Giamatti) who goes out to record the President and winds up with the footage of a lifetime that takes such a huge toll on his life.

There's the Dallas FBI Agent (Livingston) who learns that Oswald was in the bureau very recently.

Speaking of Oswald, his brother's (Dale) story is perhaps the most tragic of the whole group.

Finally there is Agent Sorrells (Thornton) who realizes he is the first Secret Service head to lose a President.

Taking a sad true story, and adding a layer of lives that were profoundly affected by that tragedy makes for a harrowing experience that should have been extended, but for what they managed to create, well done.

Final Grade: B

S.H.I.E.L.D. - The Early Years? "The Nanny Diaries"

The Nanny Diaries (2007)

Rated PG-13 for language

Starring; Scarlett Johansson, Laura Linney, Paul Giamatti, Chris Evans, Nicholas Art

Directed by Shari Springer Berman

The Story:

Annie (Johansson) has graduated college, but is unsure what to do with her life.  When she saves a little boy (Art), she is mistaken for a nanny and employed for the summer by Mrs. X (Linney).  A demanding, east-side New Yorker, she demands much from Annie as they prepare the boy for a privileged life that Mr. X (Giamatti) demands.  But Annie isn't sure that the X's have the best interest of their son at heart, and with the eye of the Harvard Hottie (Evans) in the building as well, Annie's life is spiraling out of control.  However, before the summer is over, a lot of people are going to learn a lot about life, all thanks to Annie's being a part of it.

I hadn't seen this film since it was released.

I remembered it was pretty cute, but not much else.

Watched it recently again, and yep, it was a pretty enjoyable experience.

Based on a book by the same name, the storyline seems a bit extreme in a few instances, and yet...

This is New York.  So perhaps, it's not nearly as out-there as we might like to imagine.

:)

From what I gather, the book spanned a year, the movie-makers wisely condensed it to a summer.

Johansson and Evans make a wonderful pair.  If they aren't friends in real life, then their onscreen chemistry is really good acting, as the duo have worked together in several different films, long before they donned the spandex and saved the world, in the Avengers.

All of the cast does a great job.  It's hard to feel any sympathy for the New York socialites who use nanny's to raise their kids for them while they shop. 

Must be nice, if you don't want to interact with your children.

Nanny's meltdown at the end is pretty powerful stuff, and changes the lives of all the characters for the better.

The film is currently streaming on Amazon Prime if you are a member.

Final Grade: Solid B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I would have no problems adding this to the library, or watching it again in the future.  Like I said, pretty cute film.

And Now For Your Movie Of The Week... "Saving Mr. Banks"

Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

Rated PG-13 for thematic reasons...

Starring: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Annie Rose Buckley, Colin Farrell, Ruth Wilson, Paul Giamatti, Bradley Whitford, B.J. Novak, Jason Schwartzman

Directed by John Lee Hancock

The Story:

Author P.L. Travers (Thompson) has fought off the advances of Walt Disney (Hanks) for over 20 years.  He wants her book, Mary Poppins, to be brought to life onscreen to fulfill a promise to his daughters.  Travers is not interested in seeing her very personal story brought to life in an animated movie, but agrees to meet with Disney to see what will happen.  She is very insistent on everything, including recording her sessions with Disney's representatives Don DaGradi (Whitford) and the Sherman Brothers (Novak and Schwartzman).  However, it is flashbacks to the story behind the Mary Poppins story that reveal why this tale is so important to Travers and why she is so insistent on not giving it to Disney.

We all know that she relents eventually, but the journey is one worth taking to see how she gets there.

I was expecting a good movie.

I don't know that I was expecting it to be *this* good though.

The story opens with flashbacks to Travers as a girl named Ginty (Buckley) who absolutely adores her father (Farrell).  When they move to the end of the line in Australia to take on a new bank job, their mother (Wilson) is nearing the end of her rope.  Mr. Goff is an alcoholic and this is the latest in a series of jobs that have taken a toll on the family.

Yet the father is so sweet, fun and loving, it's impossible not to feel why Ginty loves her dad.

The movie moves back and forth between flashbacks of life in Australia and Travers' meetings at the Disney studios.

While Hanks does an admirable job as Walt Disney, it should be noted that the majority of Travers meetings are with screenwriter DaGradi and Richard and Robert Sherman.  In fact, Disney himself probably has the least amount of screen time in the whole movie of all of the characters. 

And that's not a bad thing.

This is the heart and soul of most of the conflict within the movie, as everything they pitch to her, she rebuffs.

Robert Sherman is the first to openly even question "does it even matter?" to many of her objections, much to the horror of his partners.

Travers remains insistent that the film not be animated and not be a musical.

So you can tell, it's a long, uphill battle for Disney's team to win her over.

However, it's when they realize how personal the story is to Travers, and how they can remedy the tale by providing a happy ending to Mr. Banks that her father never had, that Travers finally relents.

Naturally, being based on a true story, much of the tale is open to interpretation and change.

That said, I like the way the movie played out, and have a better appreciation for Mary Poppins than I did previously.

Plus, this adds yet another layer of appreciation for what the Sherman Brothers brought to Disney studios.  These two are geniuses that deserve much more notoriety and accolades than they have received.  Their songs alone provide much of the heart of the films they provided songwriting duties for.

Including this one.

Well worth a viewing.

Final Grade: A-/B+ range

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I'm sure I'm the only one in the house, but much like Mary Poppins, I liked it and wouldn't mind owning it and/or watching it again someday.

Holiday Weekend Movie Review..."All Is Bright"

All Is Bright (2013)

Rated R for language

Starring Paul Giamatti, Paul Rudd

Directed by Phil Morrison

The Story:

Dennis (Giamatti) is finally out on parole.  He's heading home for Christmas, and discovers that his wife has told their daughter that he died of cancer.  She's ready to move on with Rene (Rudd).  Rene and Dennis plan to head into New York and sell Christmas trees to make some money, and Dennis hopes to buy a piano for his daughter for Christmas.

This is not a comedy.
It was billed as a comedy, but it is not.

It is a drama.

It's not a very good drama, either.

Actually, it's just not that great of a movie.

Very slow.

No, slower than that.

I think I made it 15 or 20 minutes before I hit 1.5x speed on the PS3.

It didn't help.

I wound up watching it at 10x.... sure there's not any volume, but at this point, I really didn't care.

If you're interested, he ends up stealing a piano for his daughter for Christmas.

A total waste of the talents of the Two Pauls.

Bah, humbug.

Final Grade: D

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: None whatsoever.

Gentlemen...Start your Mollusks! "Turbo"

Turbo (2013)
Rated PG for potential snail peril.

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Bill Hader, Samuel L. Jackson

Directed by David Soren


You will believe a snail can drive!

The Story:

Turbo (Reynolds) is a garden snail with dreams of something bigger...faster... of racing!  His brother Chet (Giamatti) is the voice of reason, ie: the dream-killer who must remind Turbo that he is a snail, and nothing more.  Ah, but when Turbo finds himself suddenly blessed with speed, it's only a matter of time until he will put up or shut up at the Indy 500 going against his own personal hero, Guy Gagne (Hader).

The critics were wrong.
The audiences were wrong.

What Were They Thinking?  Or Watching?

This movie was amazing!

From Dreamworks, they are bringing another underrated and unheralded masterpiece to theaters to be ignored by the masses.

In 2013 (okay, technically 2012) it was Rise of the Guardians.  In 2014 (okay, technically 2013) it is Turbo.

Going For the Top 10 List Again This Year!

This movie was hysterical.

First, in no small part to the writers who crafted a movie that works for kids and the parents lucky enough to hang out with said kids.

Second, a stellar voice cast filled with recognizable names, but also a lot of great actors who you would know if you saw them, but may not recognize their voices.

"And I Didn't Even Say #$@$@# Once In This Movie!"

Samuel L. Jackson ? Yeah, he's a given.

Michael Pena?  You know him, but unlike Luis Guzman, his voice isn't as obvious to the ear to create a mental picture.

The voices all blend with the story and you don't feel like it's stunt casting.  It's natural, and possibly aside from Mr. Jackson, you don't think, oh yeah, that's THIS GUY every time the snail opens their mouth.  Bill Hader all but disappears under his accent as the film's required bad guy.  Plus, he's not even that bad...at least until the end.

Naturally, Ryan Reynolds imbues Turbo with the very essence of Ryan Reynolds.  I'm not sure how he got a bum rap with RIPD and this movie both opening on the same weekend.  They were both good, but this film was significantly better.

The story itself is just the latest variation on The Little Engine That Could.

"I Think He Can!"

Let's put it another way...

Did you like Ratatouille?

Well then, here you go.  Substitute rats for snails...and cooking for racing.

Bam! Game over.

And while it's not technically everyone can race for everyone can cook...

The message is similar, and translates beautifully to the screen.

:)

Well done to Dreamworks as well for crafting a lush environment that easily makes you forget you're watching animation from time to time.

Welcome to 2014, and for now, Turbo is the film to beat.

"We Have A Winner!"

Animated OR live action.


Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Bought it.  Probably watching it again soon.

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Eight: "Fred Claus"

 It's called Rubberneckin' baby....

The Story:

This is the story of Santa's (Paul Giamatti) older brother, Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn).  Needless to say, Fred isn't exactly enamored by Christmas anymore, and he's drifted apart from his little brother over the years, thanks also in some part to the parenting skills, espeically of their mom (Kathy Bates).  Fred is in love with a girl (Rachel Weisz) but is afraid to commit.  When a misunderstanding lands Fred in jail, there's only one person left to turn to.  However, the bailout comes with a condition: Fred's got to come North to work it off during the Holiday Season.  Naturally, Fred doesn't exactly fit in at the North Pole, but when an efficiency expert (Kevin Spacey) arrives, ready to shut the North Pole down, Fred may end up costing the entire world Christmas.

Will Fred work to end Christmas forever, or does he have it in him to help save the holiday?

I don't understand the hatred for this film, I think it's actually pretty fun(ny).

We've discussed Vince Vaughn already.  There's probably no better on-screen con-man/huckster on film these days than him, and Fred is no different.

He's the quick-witted, fast talking Santa's big brother who hates the holiday.

In fact, the reasons behind Fred's dislike both of his brother and Christmas are quite sad, and not entirely Fred's fault.

Sibling rivalry is a given in just about any family, but when your little brother is always gushed over by the parents.  Every time you do something neat, your little brother comes along and does something cooler...

And then he grows up to be Santa and adored by millions?

Yep, that's got to be tough to swallow.

Which turns Fred into the cynical con artist that we meet in this movie.

Amusingly, there is a Sibling Support Group scene that underscores Fred's (and other famous...mostly...brothers) gripes with his brother's success and his considerable lack thereof.

You'll also have a rousing Elvis singalong in the middle of the movie that livens things up and shows that the North Pole could use a little bit of Fred, and Fred certainly could use a little bit of North Pole.

Overall, it's a sweet movie that captures the magic of Christmas, and more importantly, the love and magic of family.

I'm a fan, and look forward to this one each year.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I liked it, I bought it.  It gets 1-2 spins each holiday season!

Tomorrow... it's the Final Four Christmas movies of 2013!!!  Time is flying!!

"John Dies at the End" ... or Does He?

You are not going to believe this...

Or, maybe you will.

The Story:

There's a drug on the street called Soy Sauce.  It promises a high unlike any other.  However, when it comes into the possession of John (Rob Mayes) and Dave (Chase Williamson), the duo uncover something so dark, so sinister, that the only recourse Dave has is to tell his story to a reporter (Paul Giamatti) in hopes of spreading the truth.

And with that incredibly short, intentionally vague plot description, all I can say is to say more, would be to spoil a fun sci-fi/horror comedy that deserves to be watched.

Directed (and written) by Don Coscarelli, who last brought us Bubba Ho-Tep... well, that should tell you everything you need to know right there.

This movie is wild, and yet holds itself together throughout, adding layers of weird absurdity as it goes.

Never once does it go too far, or stretch credibility too thin.

It establishes its own rules and stays within them, or breaks them as the movie sees fit. : )

I'm sliding this one right next to Tucker & Dale and Cabin in the Woods as some of the most fun you'll have watching a scary movie.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Unless you've already watched it.  Or will already watch it in the past.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I could definitely watch this one again to see what gags I may have missed along the way!

Let's Make a Deal... "The Negotiator"

 

One of the movies that missed being on my Top 100 of All Time...

What was I thinking?

15 years ago...

The Story:

Skilled Chicago hostage negotiator, Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) is sucked into a web of deceit and lies within the Chicago police department when his partner is found murdered.  Roman is the prime suspect, all the while maintaining his innocence.  Driven to the edge, Roman barricades himself in the Internal Affairs department taking several hostages and the lead Internal Affairs inspector (J.T. Walsh) whom Roman believes is involved in the scheme to defraud the pension fund.  As Roman's entire police force gathers around the building to take him down, they question his innocence and guilt, and some have more motive to see him dead than others.  With nobody to trust on the outside, Roman requests the negotiator come from another precinct, and he calls in Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey) to work the scene.  Sabian's only goal is getting the hostages out of there safely, and he too begins to question who he can, and cannot trust in this thriller.

Directed with precision and skill by F. Gary Gray who apparently picks and chooses what movies, and when, he wants to direct, took on this one a few years after his previous big hit... Friday.

Talk about a change in direction!

: )

Jackson carries the considerable weight of the film on his shoulders, but he is surrounded by an all-star cast... sort of.

What they did was provide a veritable who's who of character actors to play all of the bit parts, names you may or may not recognize, but if you see the faces you go, oh yeah, I know that guy!

Some of those: Paul Giamatti as Rudy and informant in the wrong place at the wrong time.  David Morse as Captain Beck, the tactical side of SWAT who wants to take Roman down.

And therein lies half the fun of this movie.  You really don't know which cops you can trust because they are dirty... or just because they are unlikeable characters just trying to do their job.

The twists, turns and revelations continue throughout, and you remain riveted to your seat until the credits roll.

They don't make movies like this anymore, or if they do, they're flying way under my radar.

Final Grade: A

Would I Own It: Yes I would, and I highly recommend a viewing/repeat viewing if you haven't seen this one since it came out in 1998.  I don't think you'll be disappointed.