The Descendants (R) 115 minutes B-
Single dad faces reality
Starring George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Nick Krause, Amara Miller, Judy Greer, Beau Bridges, Robert Forster, Matthew Lillard, Mary Birdsong and Rob Huebel.
Considering all the hype surrounding this film, and considering that it is directed by Alexander Payne (Sideways)... this movie was not as good as I expected. I am not comparing it to Sideways (one of my all-time favorite films), or any other film for that matter. But this story of a man who is forced to re-evaluate his life after he learns that his wife is dying, and she was previously having an affair, falls flat emotionally despite being a well-rounded film otherwise.
It has and will receive a lot of attention come award season. It is worth seeing, but don't have a lot of inflated expectations like I did.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
The Rum Diary - Movie Review
The Rum Diary (R) 120 minutes C+
The price of everything, the value of nothing
Starring Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, Amber Heard, Michael Rispoli, Giovanni Ribisi, Richard Jenkins, Bill Smitrovich, Julian Holloway
The Rum Diary is fun, and a bit over the top. Then again, it's based on the novel by Hunter S. Thompson so what do you expect... I expected a script that would be less campy and more edgy. The Richard Jenkins and Giovanni Ribisi characters were wasted, while Amber Heard's primary role is eye candy and nothing more. Aaron Eckhart and Johnny Depp makes this worthwhile. Depp is charming, his character grew on me as the film progressed. Eckhart simply manges not to over act, which seems to be no small feat in this adventure dramedy.
Thompson wrote this novel in his twenties, it wasn't published until 40 years later. Allegedly, it also took almost a decade for the film adaptation to get off the ground, plus a couple more years to land in theatres. This might be a fun trip for Hunter S. Thompson fans, everyone else should proceed with caution.
The price of everything, the value of nothing
Starring Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, Amber Heard, Michael Rispoli, Giovanni Ribisi, Richard Jenkins, Bill Smitrovich, Julian Holloway
The Rum Diary is fun, and a bit over the top. Then again, it's based on the novel by Hunter S. Thompson so what do you expect... I expected a script that would be less campy and more edgy. The Richard Jenkins and Giovanni Ribisi characters were wasted, while Amber Heard's primary role is eye candy and nothing more. Aaron Eckhart and Johnny Depp makes this worthwhile. Depp is charming, his character grew on me as the film progressed. Eckhart simply manges not to over act, which seems to be no small feat in this adventure dramedy.
Thompson wrote this novel in his twenties, it wasn't published until 40 years later. Allegedly, it also took almost a decade for the film adaptation to get off the ground, plus a couple more years to land in theatres. This might be a fun trip for Hunter S. Thompson fans, everyone else should proceed with caution.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Flying My Wild Flag (Music Review)
First Impression Music Review
Wild Flag - Wild Flag B+
Release Date: September 2011
If you're a fan boy of 90's indie rock, and the whole rebel/riot grrrl thing, this female super group is like a wet dream- Helium's Mary Timony, Sleater-Kinney's Carrie Brownstein & Janet Weiss, and the Minders' Rebecca Cole. These ladies will rock and rebel you through 40 minutes of blazing bliss. I've listened to this album six or seven times, and my favorite song changes each time. Currently my favorite tracks are: Future Crimes, Boom and Racehorse. Turn it up loud and enjoy!
Wild Flag - Wild Flag B+ Release Date: September 2011
If you're a fan boy of 90's indie rock, and the whole rebel/riot grrrl thing, this female super group is like a wet dream- Helium's Mary Timony, Sleater-Kinney's Carrie Brownstein & Janet Weiss, and the Minders' Rebecca Cole. These ladies will rock and rebel you through 40 minutes of blazing bliss. I've listened to this album six or seven times, and my favorite song changes each time. Currently my favorite tracks are: Future Crimes, Boom and Racehorse. Turn it up loud and enjoy!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Only the Lonely (Book Review)
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| Publication Date: May 2011 |
Amy Breis is going nowhere fast. She just broke up with yet another loser boyfriend, and is feeling disconnected from all humanity. Between her passive-aggressive mother and dead end retail job, Amy seeks solace in reruns of her favorite cartoon (Mr. Dangerous) and phone conversation with her friend Michael.
I was drawn to this graphic novel because of the beautiful illustrations, and the sad-but-true theme of loneliness and singledom. Yet, the story feels a little flat and the best moments are few and far between. Hornschemeier seems über-talented, but I wanted to like this one more than I actually did.
Book trailer for Life with Mr. Dangerous--> http://vimeo.com/22702086
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