The Blind Side

Wow 3 months of silence! So life got crazy and I had to move so this blog went by the way side. Speaking of sides...(yes I know how corny that sounded)...

Premise: This movie is based on the true story of Michael Oher. Oher grew up in poverty in Memphis and was lost in the welfare system. Due to his potential as an athlete, he is admitted to Wingate Christian School where he encounters the Tuohy family. Leigh Anne Tuohy brings Michael into their home and the rest of the movie is a recount of them growing together as a family and Michael's progress towards playing football.

The Pros:

1. True stories always hold an element of intrigue. I am captivated by the thought of seeing a glimpse (even if processed through Hollywood lenses) of some one's life. Since this movie is one about overcoming great obstacles, it is that much more intriguing.
2. The cast was excellent! I am not a fan of singers crossing over into film, but Tim McGraw does an excellent job as Sean Tuohy. Sandra Bullock plays a strong lead as Leigh Anne Tuohy and finally Quinton Aaron plays Michael Oher and gives an understated performance. I think many actors could have overplayed Oher, but I felt Aaron really owned this character.
3. There is a nice balance of comedy and drama through out the film. I thought I would need a box of tissues, but the humor set off any really tear-jerking scenes. Also, there is a nice flow to the movie and each scene transitions well.

The Cons:

1. Some people will be put off by Sandra Bullock's character. She is definitely opinionated and states her mind. Also, my friend and I noticed that her character is not in the habit of smiling much.
2. If you are a die hard fan of University of Tennessee, I recommend that you avoid this film.
3. The movie is somewhat predictable and that may turn off a few people.

The Verdict: This is definitely a feel-good movie and during the hustle and bustle of this holiday season, it is nice to remember what small acts (or in some cases big acts) of kindness can do in some one's life. This is a great movie to remind us that hard work can pay off. I loved this movie and I think that you will too! This is one to see in theaters and then add to your DVD collection.

"G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra"

Premise: An elite military team takes on a group of terrorists determined to take control of the world. Really, did anyone not know this already...

The Pros:

1. The action sequences are really good. Plenty of hand-to-hand combat, explosions and gun fights can be found in this movie.
2. The cast looks good and the costumes are much better than the 80's cartoon version.
3. Snake Eyes rocks! Of course he is a masked and silent character so it is really hard to screw that up.

The Cons:

1. Stephen Sommers had a difficult task of laying the ground work/back story for a lot of characters. Not only do we learn a lot about Duke (Channing Tatum), but also Storm Shadow (Byung-hun Lee) and Snake Eyes (Ray Park), Destro (Christopher Eccleston) and the Doctor (Joseph Gordon Levitt). This required a ton of flashbacks and left less time to see what was going on in the present.
2. If you are a die hard G.I. Joe fan, then this movie is going to bother you. It takes a lot of liberties with the characters' story lines. If you are ignorant to the franchise, what you don't know, won't hurt you (despite want General Hawk may say).
3. There is a lot of humor in the movie, but it falls a bit flat. I rolled my eyes more than anything.

The Verdict: If you are looking for a movie doesn't require you to spend too much time thinking about, then this movie is for you. There will most likely be sequels and hopefully this film will lay the necessary groundwork to have a real blockbuster in the future. If you have surround sound at home, wait until it comes out on DVD and save yourself a few bucks!

"Julie & Julia"

This is it! My first official review! How interesting that my first real blog entry is on a movie about blogging....

So here is the format: first I will give you the premise of the film, second the pros, third the cons and finally fourth, the verdict.

Premise: "Julie & Julia" is a true story based on the lives of Julia Child and Julie Powell. The film chronicles how Julia Child became a household name to cooks everywhere and how one woman, Julie Powell decided to conduct a project. This project entailed of cooking all of Julia Child's recipes from her book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year and writing a blog about it.

The Pros:

1. First off, this film was wonderfully casted. Meryl Streep was the perfect actress to portray Julia Child. Her mannerisms and voice were spot on! Amy Adams was delightful and endearing. I really connected with her character and was rooting for her throughout the movie as she took on cooking challenges. Supporting these leading ladies were Stanley Tucci and Chris Messina (as Paul Child and Eric Powell respectively). They provided a wonderful balance to Streep and Adams.
2. The movie switched back and forth seamlessly between Julie's and Julia's lives. When telling two separate stories in two different time periods and locations is challenging and the director, Nora Ephron did an excellent job with each transition.
3. This film had me wanting to drive straight home to start cooking (which could be the most dangerous thing in the world).

The Cons:

1. I am uncertain if this con is a theater issue or a filming one, but in a number of scenes, the heads were cut off at the top of the screen. It is a bit disconcerting to watch both Streep and Adams talk, but only see them from the neck down. If this was purposeful, I am not sure the purpose of it and found it to be a distraction.
2. Most people are not bothered by foul language, but sometimes movies place it in their script for the sole purpose of getting a higher rating. At one point, Stanley Tucci drops the f-bomb and while it got a laugh from the audience, it seemed unnecessary and out of place for his character. There are many films where foul language is present and it fits the moment, but in this case it did not. It is annoying (almost as much as overly obvious product placement).
3. This film had me wanting to drive straight home to start cooking (which could be the most dangerous thing in the world).

The Verdict: This is a really great "chick flick". Gentleman, if you want to score extra points with the lady in your life, take her to see this film. It will pay off, I promise. This movie is not going to change your view of the world, but it may open your eyes to the joy of challenging yourself and trying something new. If you are a "foodie", this movie will be a must have for your collection.

Remembering John Hughes

This is the first official post for my blog, but it is not a normal post. Today, we remember an important member of the film/acting community. This morning in New York, John Hughes died. He was 59 years old. He was the director of the iconic 80's films "Sixteen Candles," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "The Breakfast Club." In the 90's he wrote and produced the "Home Alone" movies. His work has endured through the decades and has a number of memorable quotes.

The television show, "Psych" has dropped more John Hughes references that probably any other show to date. In their third season, their episode, "Murder?...Anyone?...Anyone?...Bueller?," was a tribute to a number of his films. So, I think in honor of all his work, we should bow our heads and take a moment to reflect on his life....now go to your video store, get on Netflix or just view some clips off of YouTube of his work. If you are not sure where to begin, check out a list of his work on the Internet Movie Database.

What is coming up next on my blog? I will be going out to see "Julie/Julia" and "G.I. Joe," so look for reviews within the next week!