King of California (2007)

KING OF CALIFORNIA may not break any records for innovation of thought or script but it is a tightly made little film that allows veteran actor Michael Douglas a lollipop of a wacky role to remind us that he does have comedic talent! It also gives 20-year old Evan Rachel Wood the opportunity to compete with a Pro and come out an equal quite a feat for such a young actress. Written and directed by Mike Cahill the story does have appeal, especially since it is set in Santa Clarita, California, a rapidly developing 'hinterland' that is suffering from the effects of too rapid industrialization, changing from a picturesque remnant of California raw beauty into yet another perky little town.

Charlie (Michael Douglas) has been in and out of mental institutions for his wacky behavior. His life as a jazz bassist and entrepreneur has always veered off the map, leaving him alone with his only daughter Miranda who has survived her father's irresponsible life by keeping the old family home (in the midst of a huge housing development) with the money she makes double shifting at the local MacDonalds. When Charlie is released his focus is on discovering the gold left behind by Catholic priests in the mid 1600s, a fact he has researched while hospitalized, on the Internet, and from the journal of one of the priests. Miranda slowly buys into Charlie's madcap scheme and adventure as a gold hunter and the caper results in a bonding between father and daughter that has been teetering on the brink of disaster for years. The manner in which Charlie, Miranda, and an old ex-con friend Pepper (Willis Burks II) go after the treasure provides most of the energy of the film.

Yes, there are bits and pieces of this project that have been done many times before (and often better), but the pleasure of KING OF CALIFORNIA lies in the bravura and touching performances by Douglas and Wood. This is a pleasant excursion of a movie, worth an evening's gander. Grady Harp, February 08

You can read the synapses above and I can't do any better so I'll just give my opinion.

I enjoyed this movie a lot. The wacky-father straight-laced daughter interactions are what make it so fun. I also loved Michael Douglas' character in this film. His character reminds me a lot of a castaway (both in appearance and in his quirky mannerisms). There are tinges of other movie genres in this as well but the director puts the whole project together in a good way that gives is a fresh twist and feeling.

This is a great movie for a Saturday night with a bowl of popcorn and you'll probably tell your friends about it too (I did).

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These days, the lines between an independent film and a hollywood film are becoming more and more blurred. Films like Little Miss Sunshine and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind boast that indy feel, the themes and look and ideals that come with those trappings, yet they pack some real star power both on and off screen.

Kind of California is another one of those films, but after watching this great little gem of a film, I realized it really doesn't matter if this film is more of an indy flick or a Hollywood flick... in the end, when the movie is this good, who cares?

We could use more films like King of California, no matter who makes them. Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood are fantastic here, at times quirky and manic, other times truly sad and tragic characters. I find it hard to believe anyone could not fall in love with these characters, and in turn not completely enjoy this film.

A must-see, and a must-buy, one of the better surprises of the year, hands down.

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Hoping to replicate the overwhelming positive critical response he received for his performance in Wonder Boys, Michael Douglas plays another quirky outsider in King of California. Despite being produced by Alexander Payne (Sideways (Widescreen Edition)), the film enjoyed a brief theatrical run and finally makes its debut on DVD.

Michael Douglas is excellent as the wildly eccentric Charlie. There is a mischievous glint in his eyes when he feels like he is getting closer to the treasure. The older Douglas gets and the more films he does, the more comfortable an actor he becomes. He delivers a nuanced performance that never veers off into showy scenery-chewing territory. With his mountain man beard, Douglas certainly looks the part of an ex-mental patient and, at times, seems to be channeling Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski (Widescreen Collector's Edition).

Evan Rachel Wood plays Charlie's extremely patient daughter and narrator of this unusual tale and so, naturally, our sympathies lie with her because she's, y'know, the sane voice of reason. Miranda is the responsible one to Charlie's childish antics. Wood is the ideal foil to Douglas, the straight man to his kooky eccentric.

King of California belongs to Douglas and the film sinks of swims based on how well he sells his character's mad quest kind of like Robin Williams' traumatized bum in The Fisher King. And while Mike Cahill is no Terry Gilliam, Douglas is more than up for taking on this wild ride with the charisma to draw us in, much like Charlie convinces Miranda to follow him.

There is an audio commentary by writer/director Mike Cahill, cinematographer Jim Whitaker, production designer Dan Bishop and first assistant director Richard L. Fox. Cahill talks about how a lack of money forced him to rewrite the opening scene and improve on it. Everyone takes turns pointing out the various locations used in the film which is as boring as it sounds. They also point out dry technical details like the wonders of colour timing. It's amazing that this commentary can be so dull with all of these skilled artists at hand but unfortunately this is the case.

"The Making of The King of California" your standard electronic press kit with soundbites from the cast and crew mixed with clips from the film. Douglas claims that this was one of the best scripts he has ever read and compares his character to Don Quixote. Cast and crew talk about the film's two main characters and gush about the film in general.

"Outtakes" is a fairly amusing collection of blown lines, miscues and goofs.

Finally, there is a theatrical trailer.

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....and find an old dream underneath waiting to resurface.

This bittersweet film about a madman and his long-suffering daughter takes place against the backdrop of the ongoing "development" (ecological destruction) of Southern California, forcing the viewer to wonder: Who are the truly insane in this film?

A lot of humor goes with this grim implication (the scene with the cop on the golf course is hilarious, if short; the filmmakers also shot a funny golf course scene for SIDEWAYS). I also liked the McDonald's shift manager looking over Miranda's shoulder to make sure she assembled a quarter cheese correctly--this actually happened to me when I was sixteen, working in a Southern California franchise. Some things never change. Miranda and her father stand in for everyone who tries but fails to live in peace with the standardization and industrialization going on all around them.

They also have whatever it takes to "follow your bliss" and try to find some sense of meaning in an increasingly orderly and planned and therefore quite insane urbanized landscape literally covering over the once-verdant earth walked by the so-called savages who appreciated and tended it.

Incidentally, although shot as a romp about a parentified daughter trying to give her bipolar father a sense of purpose, the film bears out what I've written about in Deep California: Images and Ironies of Cross and Sword on El Camino Real and in Terrapsychology: Reengaging The Soul Of Place: what happens to traumatize a colonized and paved-over place never goes away until we find some way to heal the recurring themes by understanding them and reshaping them from within them. Costco and McDonald's are but commercialized and updated missions to convert the locals to a globalized existence that eats their souls and landscapes. The counter-mission resides in the loving heart pursuing its dreams or helping others to, as well-named Miranda does in this Californian tempest.

p.s. For those of you with some knowledge of California history: yes, you're right: no Spanish expeditions during the 1620s. After Cabrillo had been by, landing his ships but making no tours through California, Vizcaino did another sail-by in 1602. After that, no known Spanish incursions came through the state until 1769, when Junipero Serra and his merry band came colonizing. "Santa Clarita" got its name from the river they named "Santa Clara" as they marched through. Incidentally, Miranda's mission history lesson was correct, and not only for the Chumash of the Central Coast: most of the Indians who entered the missions never came out again.

p.p.s. The part about how California got its name is true. The bestseller Miranda refers to was called THE EXPLOITS OF ESPLANDIAN. The author's name was Montalvo. He died just before it got into print.

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Cop Out (Rock Out with Your Glock Out Edition) (2010)

To tell the truth, I wasn't looking forward to this film at all. I'm a pretty big fan of most of Kevin Smith's work, but he didn't write the film. It could be argued that he did write Jersey Girl and that could be considered a bomb, but his films usually average about $25-$30 million anyway. A Kevin Smith film isn't really about bringing in a large amount of money at the box office. His charm is in his writing, especially the dialogue and interaction between characters. There's a very specific audience his films will appeal to and none of them have really branched away from that. But him not writing this one made me think, "Eh. Not sure what that'll be like since he didn't write it." When it comes to Bruce Willis, I've never talked to anyone who dislikes him entirely. There always seems to be at least one of his films everybody enjoys. Die Hard, The Fifth Element, and Sin City are just a few off the top of my head. The real buzzkiller for me though was Tracy Morgan. He's just never been funny to me. He was beyond lame on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock has never been able to hold my attention for very long. Not to mention all the trailers for Cop Out didn't make me laugh. Thankfully though, first impressions can be so very wrong.

One of Cop Out's biggest charms is that it feels like a buddy cop comedy you've seen before, but have forgotten how much you enjoy it. The film feels similar to a 48 Hrs or Beverly Hills Cop film. Bulletproof is also a good example. Cop Out is pretty much what you expect when it comes to roles Bruce Willis chooses as it's pretty much no different than his role as John McClane on the surface, but he's a lot funnier this time around. As far as Tracy Morgan goes, the funniest thing I could remember him saying was his one line in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back ("Man... I don't know what the f--you just said, Little Kid, but you're special man, you reached out, and you touched a brother's heart.") until this film. He was downright hilarious at times. The only person who was funnier than Morgan was Seann William Scott who stole every scene he was in. Even though Kevin Smith didn't pen the script this time around, it still feels like a Kevin Smith film. It could be due to the fact that Jason Lee has a small role in the film, but I like to think it's because Cop Out offers the same kind of comedy you'd find in a Kevin Smith film with a bit more action. It also took me forever to place Scarface from Half Baked as Poh Boy.

Cop Out is surprisingly funny and incredibly entertaining. Give this film a chance even if the trailers may not be doing anything for you. I felt the same way and wound up thoroughly enjoying the film. After a long, stressful day at work, an R-rated comedy with a lot of laughs is one of the best ways to relax and this film offers just that. It's a great film to go into with no expectations other than to just have a good time. As long as you don't run out of the theater, you should catch the part in the credits. This might just be the funniest film released in 2010 thus far. Be sure to check it out. Highly recommended.

Those who have grown up watching the 80s police action films know the formula. Two cops, often long-time partners, investigate a murder case. Their investigation leads to gang-related crimes or corrupt authority. There are actions and laughs, and nice soundtrack music, too. "Cop Out" is, as one of the film's characters say, "homage" to the genre. But homage does not necessarily mean imitation.

"Cop Out" stars Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan as NYPD cops Jimmy and Paul working as partners for nine years. They get suspended by the captain for messing up an undercover drug investigation, and Jimmy is forced to sell a very rare baseball card he owns. He needs money for the wedding party of his daughter Ava (cameo by Michelle Trachtenberg) who is getting married. A masked robber, however, breaks in the shop before he gets money, and takes his vintage card away. The veteran cops track down the stolen card, no matter what it takes, and the story somehow goes back to where it started: a drug lord (who loves baseball) and his gang.

This is a Kevin Smith film that is not written by Kevin Smith (written by Mark and Robb Cullen), and this is the most boring film he ever made. It is occasionally fun, I admit, thanks to the stars and Seann William Scott as s small-time crook (equivalent of Joe Pesci's character in "Lethal Weapon 3"), but random comically-inspired moments (ad-libbed, I suppose) do not make a good film. "Cop Out" drags for the most part of the hackneyed story despite the presence of talented cast including Kevin Pollack, Adam Brody, Ana de la Reguera, Guillermo Diaz and Jason Lee (regular of Kevin Smith films), plus the music by Harold Faltermeyer ("Beverly Hills Cop" and its sequel.

The film is made with an uninspired concept and half-hearted efforts, something Kevin Smith was not known for.

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I love this movie even though its the rental copy (meaning you are not able to view special features or director commentaries) its a funny movie and if you love movies with Tracy Morgan or Bruce Willis this is the movie for you and also the shipping was faster than I expected I thought I would get it in a week but it came around two days later and the condition of the disc was like new even though it said used there wasn't one scratch on it if you are thinking of buying this movie I highly recommend it

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Cop Out(Feb/10)is,from beginning to end,a total yawnfest.Now I'll tell you what I really think.This is director Kevin Smith's film and the blame squarely rests on his and the script writers shoulders.They have Bruce Willis to work with for gosh sakes,how hard could it be?Mind you Robert Swentke completely blew it with a stellar cast which included Willis in RED,so it does happen.What does come across right away as the film is unfolding is the lack of chemistry between Willis and his co star Tracy Morgan.Some one tell me what it is with SNL alumni?A comedian or comedienne gets a bit of a following on the show,becomes a popular figure and suddenly Hollywood is courting them for film work,as if they're already bona fide stars.And many of the newer crop of comedy actors from SNL desperately NEED real acting skills and time to hone them.Tracy Morgan is without question,one of them.

The plot involves Willis and Morgan as two NYC cops.Willis' daughter is getting married and he hasn't enough cash.So when Willis goes to sell a mint baseball card to raise the money he is robbed.Afterwards Willis finds out who stole his card,but as it turns out,that robber has sold the card to a Mexican drug dealer,who now has it.

When Willis and Morgan show up at the dealers house an arrangement is made.In exchange for a car the dealer desperately wants,Willis will get his rare card back.They track down the car only to find the girlfriend of a dead rival of the dealer they are "working' for,in the trunk and very much alive.She is the reason the dealer is after the car as she possesses vital intel on a flash drive she has in her possession.The two guard her but she escapes on Morgan when Willis steps out.She unfortunately walks right into the gangs hands and the dealer has her as a hostage.

Now that the cops bargaining chip is gone,Willis decides to enter the gang house to get his card himself,but the gang arrives home ahead of schedule and he gets caught inside.He escapes but only has to re-enter with Morgan to rescue the girl.The dealer stands to the right of the girl with a shot gun to the back of her head.Two shots ring out,as Willis' pierces the dealers head and Morgans goes into the heart.Later examination reveals that Morgans shot went through a vest pocket first,containing Willis' prized card which is now garbage.

The film ends at his daughters wedding as Willis has had to let his ex-wife's boyfriend pay for the wedding.But just as both men stand up together as the minister asks who will stand for this bride,Morgan pulls the new hubby back down letting Willis have the honour alone.

The film should have ended about 10 minutes previously with some judicious editing.It was a film too far,with a plot too thinly stretched to take on 107 minutes.There is a silly sub plot with Morgan being totally insecure about his wife and her sexual habits when he is not home.Also Seann Scott shows up as the burglar who robs Willis of his card initially.Scott provides the film with a few of its only endearing moments as he mocks Morgan when they first meet.Scott shockingly dies after falling out of a tree,hitting his head on a brick wall(Smith shows us the hit-bad move!).However the dynamic of that moment does not gel with the mood and flow of the film at all.Finally Tracy Morgan's futile attempt at humour,which in his case is mugging severely and over acting with alot of cursing thrown in for good measure,is plain terrible.That Willis and Morgan could ever be partners in real life or not, would have taken an acting feat of herculean proportions to pull off the believability factor.

Technically speaking the film is it w/s a/r of 2:40:1 and it is clear and crisp.Extra include the trailer and deleted scenes.

All in all a total disappointment from beginning to end.This was a waste of Willis' time and it showed how far Morgan has yet to go when it comes to anything even approaching acting.His SNL antics are not going to cut it on film with a "performance" like this.Give the film a wide pass.

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As a big fan of Bruce Willis for 25 years, and director Kevin Smith for 16 years, I hoped for movie magic when they teamed up on "Cop Out". I was VERY disappointed, though, and the film's biggest problem can be summed up in two words: Tracy Morgan. Unfunny, whining, and constantly mugging at the camera, Morgan may be Willis' worst co-star, ever (How bad is he? Seann William Scott, with less than 10 minutes of screen time, has more laughs than Morgan provides, the entire film). Willis spends most of "Cop Out" simply staring at Morgan and his unrelenting stream of chatter (director Smith, apparently, allowed him to ad lib at will).

It's supposedly a cop comedy (involving drugs, a kidnapped wife, and a stolen baseball card), and a 'hilarious' send-up of buddy films. It fails at both, and wastes the talents of Willis, Scott, Kevin Pollak, Adam Brody, Jason Lee, Guillermo Díaz, and Ana de la Reguera.

It simply isn't worth buying...What a mess!

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The Informant! (2009)

In 1992 Mark Whitacre, the President of Bio-Product division of ADM (powerful Fortune 500 company), became the highest ranking executive EVER to turn whistle blower. For three years he helped the FBI gather evidence of a multinational conspiracy to control the price of lysine. As a result, US government collected hundreds of millions of dollars in fines from ADM and foreign corporations, followed by prison sentences for three executives. These are events in real life as well as the movie. However, according to the opening credits, the film is not intended as a documentary and does depart from real life facts... The final, cheeky line of the prologue: "So there!", gives us a hint that, though the topic and the consequences suffered by many in this story are somber, what we are about to see is meant to amuse and entertain, as well as educate...

As promised, the chuckles do come often, but their source is not your typical one liners. Matt Damon is Whitacre, an inspired choice for the role. His plump, mustachioed and toupeed character comes across so harmless and ordinary you never question why his actions go undetected; even as his concealed recording equipment loudly malfunctions during a covert multinational executive meeting! You laugh at the bewilderment of FBI agents and the DA's office as they are led by the nose by Whitacre's increasingly outlandish antics. One could say "The Informant!" has the educational quality of an Aesop's fable: blinded by their desire to swallow a tasty morsel (ADM), the agents cross their fingers and fail to run even the most basic checks on their informant; checks that would immediately reveal inconsistencies in his stories (such as the true nature of his parentage, for example).

The film is not perfect. Based on the way it was being advertised, I expected something in the same category as "The Pink Panther". In reality, one would not be wrong to describe it as a combination of "A Beautiful Mind", "The Insider", and "The Duck Soup" (Marx Brothers). Sadly, "The Informant!" never quite becomes as touching, thrilling and funny as those films were, respectively. The makers allow it to drag on a bit in the second half as Whitacre's behaviour becomes absurd. The logical explanation for it all arrives only after our initial keen interest has already begun to dissipate. I also hear some grumblings about the film's muted lighting. Since most of the action takes place in offices and hotels, I believe the lighting is true to reality. Anyone who has spent at least one work day in a cubicle, understands how oppressive that atmosphere can be. Despite these possible faults, Whitacre's story and Damon's performance make "The Informant!" worthy of at least one theater trip. Depending on your personal approach, you will see a funny thriller or... a thrilling comedy. Either way, expect to be entertained!

PS: BRAVO! to the filmmakers for sticking to a relatively modest budget ($21 mil)! I am sick of paying to see worthless films with budgets that could bankrupt the economy of a small country.

Having grown up just a few miles from where the events of THE INFORMANT! took place (though I was just a kid at the time), I may be rather partial to the film; after all, Matt Damon and much of the supporting cast has the personality down pat, with a few aside-jokes that definitely capture the atmosphere of East-Central Illinois. But you don't have to be from here to appreciate the film's humor; you just have to be patient.

Why? Because THE INFORMANT is a slow burner. It's the story of Mark Whitacre, who decides to blow the lid on some illegal doings at the corn-processing plant where he works. Whitacre, however, is anything but the ideal witness--but it takes about two-thirds of the movie to find that out. Kudus to Joel McHale and Scott Bakula as the FBI agents in charge of Whitacre's case, and Soderbergh for actually making a movie of this; and a tip-of-the-hat to Matt Damon, who turns in a nuanced performance. But the character doesn't really build until the third act, which is the when the movie turns from humor to poignancy, and we realize the real tale here.

The thing is, it's just hard to forgive THE INFORMANT its slow build-up. Real hard. It's worth the effort; a lot of the humor is subtle, and the film progressively gets darker, until you realize this isn't a feel-good comedy after all. But it takes so long getting there, a large part of the audience is bound to stop caring. Thus, THE INFORMANT! is for patient fans of comedy (of which there are painfully few today). If nothing else, see it for Damon's spot-on performance; he and Bakula especially are taking this film and running with it, for better or worse (mainly better).

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Intro: This is a review of the movie as an experience. Look elsewhere if you want an overview of the story, or how well the movie reflects actual events and people.

For those who would be satisfied with a movie that was simply a collection of goofy and absurdist scenes, I expect that the pacing here is much to slow to be satisfying, although in the second half it becomes noticeably less slow.

For those expecting more, the basic problem here is with how the lead character Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon) is portrayed. It is immediately reminiscent of the William H Macy character in Fargo: A doofus in over his head who is flailing about. However, in Fargo there was a progression to that state--here it starts at that point and doesn't change much.

Even without the Fargo baggage, the Whitacre character is too big a goof to be sympathetic or funny. My first impression was that he was an incompetent bottom level manager. When he was identified as a top manager, I couldn't help but think of him as a fraud, thereby undermining everything that was to come. In addition to his being a fraud within the movie, it was a fraud on the audience: Such a personality would never have gotten a PhD (from Cornell), much less risen so high in a major corporation (most people forced to work with such a person would be screaming and throwing things at him before the end of the first day).

The core of the movie's story is the revelation of a series of deceptions and lies. The typical dramatic treatment, whether serious or humorous, is akin to a roller-coaster: It elevates your confidence that you know what is happening, then suddenly puts you into free fall, adding twists and turns to increase your disorientation. You start to climb out of that, only to be hit by additional drops. This movie has no such drama: It just goes gently and slowly round and round, the tone being closer to enumerating the lies than to revealing them. Perhaps Whitacre was intended to be played by an improvisational comic who was expected to fill in such texture?

As a movie, the significant story elements should have been _seen_ and not merely commented on by characters. For example, Whitacre is presented as being maniac-depressive (bipolar), but we never _see_ that roller-coaster of emotions--the portrayal is very flat. At the very end, statements of various characters provide some evidence of this (Nigerian scam, compulsive over-consumption). Additionally, when part of the story is whether his underlying mental problems were triggered or exacerbated by his role as an informant, how could they not show this, but simply comment on it at the end?

The script has characters _saying_ that Whitacre is brilliant, but I remember only a couple of scenes where he _appeared_ even mildly clever.

We are _told_ that even after all the revelations of Whitacre's crimes and lying that some of the Feds (FBI and prosecutors) strongly advocated clemency for him, but from the movie, I couldn't guess why. And during the extended investigation, there is no sense of the passage of time--other than dates being flashed on the screen. Nor do we _see_ the stresses on Whitacre: The script trivializes his risks and sacrifices by consigning them to asides in the disconnected goofy scenes that constitute this movie.

This movie seems to have been intended to be both funny and interesting, but is neither.

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My daughter and I went to see The Informant, staring Matt Damon. We loved it. It was very entertaining. I have to say that we got a lot more out of it because we listened to the episode on NPR's This American Life about Mark Whitacre, the real-life character upon which this movie was based. The movie is not as detailed as the story, for obvious reasons.

The Informant's Executive Producer is George Clooney. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, The movie version of this true story manages to put a somewhat humorous spin on a very serious subject corporate corruption. Matt Damon does such a great job acting here, that you never really think of the character as Damon acting. He even gained a bunch of weight to get a middle aged spread for the role, a common thing for actors to do these days. The rest of the cast was excellent as well, including Scott Bakula and even the Smothers Brothers!

Imagine a corporate executive (Whitacre) who goes to the FBI (because his wife says she will if he doesn't) to turn in his colleagues at Archer Daniels Midland Company for price fixing. Whitacre becomes an informant for several years working magic for the FBI, completely fooling those who work in his company as well as business associates from around the world. But of course there's a twist. Whitacre is not being completely honest with the FBI, his wife or himself. Despite all this he is a brilliant and totally likeable guy.

You'll walk away from this movie saying to yourself, "OMG, this is a true story, and Mark Whitacre is a real person, a sociopath who has no trouble lying to the FBI!" You'll also be thinking about how much we don't know about the companies America relies upon for food and other essentials and just how corrupt corporations can be. Oh yeah, and you'll be pondering just how it is that a man's wife can bear to stand by him through a lifetime of lying and cheating.

So either read the book or listen to the NPR This American Life episode about it, and then go and see the movie. It will make you think a lot about corporate America, the stocks you buy and your hard-working corporate executive friends. Do you really know who they are?

FYI Children under 14 will likely not be too interested in this movie, unless of course they are fascinated by corruption or American business.

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Ever in the mood for some decidedly offbeat entertainment? Sure; we all are, from time to time. How many shoot-'em-ups and car chases and rom-coms can we take to begin with? For an eccentric changeup I recommend the quirky THE INFORMANT!, a (slightly) dark comedy about an "Aw shucks" nerd who helps bring down an international price-fixing cabal (on food derivatives, for cryin' out loud). Based on a true story, this movie quietly entertains while giving the viewer a sound dose of corn pone (pun intended).

THE INFORMANT! is carried delightfully on the pudgy shoulders of Matt Damon, playing ADM junior exec Mark Whitacre. Good ol' Mark looks like someone you would rub elbows with at an ice cream social, and his sophomoric view of the corporate world is matched only by his cluelessness. Cooperating with the FBI (he gets wired) he gathers evidence to put his coworkers away. . .then expects his employer to reward him for his efforts. And Damon does all of this with a quirky, "gee willickers!" delivery that had me in stitches; as the movie grows even darker--with Whitacre growing ever more delusional--the jaw-dropping, disbelieving looks of his FBI cohorts (Scott Bakula and Joel McHale) are priceless. Four stars instead of five, due to needless meandering; THE INFORMANT! indeed proves that quirky can be good for you.

--D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning

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Pirate Radio (2009)

I am heartbroken! When I originally watched Pirate Radio I didn't realize it was the UK version. It was fantastic, the story, the music everything I couldn't wait till it came out on dvd. Then when it finally came out I couldn't find it anywhere to buy it. Not even Walmart was carrying it in their stores which I thought was strange. Finally I came to Amazon and bought mine. Wow what a butchered piece of crap. I don't know why the 2 dvd's are so different. Yeah the dvd's do contain the deleted scenes, most of which were included in the UK version but it's not the same. If you are going to buy Pirate Radio do yourself a huge favor and find a way to get the UK version. Watch out for the coding for your dvd player as UK dvd's don't play in USA dvd players, but from what I understand you can get the blue ray and get the UK version that way.

What a way to butcher a movie that was so great!!!! Someone seriously needs smacked for this one!

This film has just come out in the UK. For once, we (in the UK) got this film released here first. Its usually the other way round! Absolutely loved this film from beginning to end. It captures the essence of that era perfectly, and it is a film I could watch again and again. The whole cast's acting was superb throughout. My biggest surprise came from Rhys Ifans who portrayed the sex god DJ Gavin fantastically. What a sexy voice for the radio shame I can't mention one DJ on air at the moment who sounds the same...!

Unfortunately, I myself, was born in 1979, so wasn't around in that decade. However I took my mum to see this film as she was 21yrs old in 1966. She remembers listening to the pirate radio station in the middle of the North Sea, and remembers all the political controversy surrounding it. She thought it was a great film too.

If you appreciate the best music of all time, proper rock n roll from the 60's/70's, then you will love this film. It's a real feel good movie that you will appreciate if you ever wished you had lived through that era, or you were lucky enough to experience it first hand.

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Pirate Radio sports a stellar cast including

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Tom Sturridge, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Emma Thompson (all too brief appearance)and Kenneth Branagh. When rock and roll exploded in the UK, the government and radio stations banned play over the airways. Rogue radio stations broadcast from ships offshore. Pirate Radio captures the exuberance and the bigger than life radio personalities that emerged with the new culture. Rated R for profanity and sexual situations, this film is full of laughs and any weaknesses are compensated for with an awesome soundtrack. Great way to spend an evening.

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IF you want to know what it was like to listen to your radio in the mid 60's in Europe, buy this movie!

My family moved to Brussels in early 1964 when I was a teen. At that time, in early 1964 all I had to listen to was Radio Luxemburg. That station only played the first minute of any rock song, I have no idea why. In the summer of 1964 Radio Caroline started up, a pirate radio station. There were two of them, one in the North Sea and one south of England. I listened to radio caroline south all the time. They not only played a whole song, they actually played songs from everywhere, the west to east coast of America and British songs. This movie portrays the station as kinda crude in their language. Truthfully....YES! I will never forget New Year's Eve 1964 at 11pm, lying in my bed listening to them and hearing things I NEVER heard on American radio. I was lying there in pain trying not to laugh too loud for my parents to hear me as I heard their jokes. There were two DJ's on that night until midnight, both drunk!

The person who started Radio Caroline was an American and he named them for Caroline Kennedy. The radio control room you see in the movie is an exact replica of the control room on Radio Caroline.

Though this movie is fiction, the truth is that there was a wedding performed on Radio Caroline North and Radio Caroline South did sink in a force 10 gale, much to the glee of the British government.

This movie shows the audience exactly what it was like in Europe in the mid 60's with the freedom of pirate radios, like nothing America ever had, or the world will ever have again!

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I saw the movie before they cut so many scenes out and after and I have to say it was a better movie before they deleted so many scenes. The bachelor party...the banter when the DJ's were climbing...so many deleted scenes! I think so many people feel the movie was disjointed because it was ruined after it was changed so much. A shame I think.

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Pain & Gain (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) (2013)

I am really troubled by this Story and Entertained by the way it was presented. The troubling part is that this is said to be a true story.

***Stop reading if you don't like spoilers.***

The story starts with Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg) running from what is an obvious raid on his place of employment, he's hit by a car and then the story flashes back to 6 Months earlier.

Daniel is a personal trainer at a local Miami Gym and he comes in contact with a very well to do Colombian-Jewish Entrepreneur. The Entrepreneur's name is withheld to protect the innocent but, needless to say, this guy hires Daniel as Personal Trainer and begins to tell him all about his success in life.

Now Daniel attends a Johnny Wu (Never actually happened) seminar where he is convinced he is A doer and only needs to come up with a plan then make it happen.

One thing leads to another Daniel recruits his two friends, Paul and Adrian, to come up with a plan of how they're going to take the Entrepreneurs life, money, and property away to make it their own.

Needless to say, this whole thing leads to kidnapping, extortion, fraud, attempted murder, a double murder, and two death penalties for 6 months of living the high life.

The acting was decent overall but, playing three dumb, homicidal, muscle heads (no this is not an insult to weight lifters, these guys really were dumb) probably isn't all that challenging.

The movie itself was actually very entertaining, disturbing, and actually well done. I was given tickets to a screening but, I would have honestly paid to see this movie had I not known what I know now.

If you're okay with somewhat morbidly bizarre comedies then you won't be disappointed by this. My biggest struggle with the movie was the glamorization of some very violent and tasteless acts. This is evidenced by the fact Lugo wasn't stupid, some characters were fictional and some were only half fictional and the wife of doorbal actually aided in the cleanup of the two homicides. In other words, Michael Bay and company went out of the way to make this story more funny than it really was.

Seriously, there are somethings that cannot be unseen or unlearned and this movie has both of these elements. I would have blissfully enjoyed my suspended reality had they not have flashed across the screen a reminder that it was still a true story amidst two people trying to return a chainsaw with blood and hair on it and the other guy grilling hand that were chopped off their victims. At that point, the movie went from more funny than disturbing to more disturbing than funny.

I dunno, call me old fashioned but, I cannot in good conscience laugh at somebody else's misfortune unless, I suspend reality.

Pain & Gain (2013)Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Rebel Wilson, Ed Harris, Tony Shalhoub, Ken Jeong

Premise: Danny Lugo (Wahlberg) is a body builder who is sick of being poor. With his friend, Adrian (Mackie), and an ex-con (Johnson), Danny decides to rob a spoiled and egotistical businessman named Victor Kershaw (Shalhoub). After seemingly succeeding, Kershaw turns to a private investigator (Harris) to recover his finances and deal with the trio...But everything gets out of hand quickly.

Thoughts: This is a Michael Bay film. As such, it matches his general off-kilter aesthetics and love of the "BOOM, BANG, BOOM". That said, this is different from his most recent endeavors (i.e. the Transformers) in that it is exceedingly more violent. However, the cast give morbidly entertaining performances which quickly helped make this a much more enjoyable film. Visually intense, dark and even surprisingly violent at times the film is an enjoyable dark "R" comedy.

Should you buy it: This comes down to a matter of taste. Do you regularly enjoy Michael Bay films? Then yes, this is a pretty good purchase. I intend to buy it on Bluray since I found it to be quite enjoyable despite the dark content. Unwilling to commit? Rent away!

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"It was hard to laugh so messed up" That was how the couple in front of me aptly put it as they were leaving the theater.

This movie many times makes the claim "this is a true story" and while it is based on actual criminal events, "a true story" is a stretch. Doyle, the most interesting of the three characters, is a fictional composite of people who had much smaller roles in the crime spree than Lugo and Adriane, and liberties are taken with characterizations of victims and the details. True-crime buffs who want to know more should read one of the excellent books out there for the complete story. Also, Pain and Gain true story? is a good blog that quickly outlines what parts of the movie did and did not really happen.

That aside, looking at this as purely for its entertainment value, it is a fast paced film with a captivating, twisted story line that is not for the squeamish.

I love both Rebel Wilson and Ken Jeong and like a smart, dark comedy. However, I found the casting of these two comedians in this movie (as well as some of the sight-gags) to be a distraction. They are more laugh out loud funny and didn't mesh well into this dark tale.

At the end the narrator explains to us that our take away is to appreciate what we have. I've also heard Michael Bay in interviews say that's what he was going for. I didn't see it. Really what did these criminals have of real worth to begin with? I'd say the message is even for shallow, dissatisfied, and self-absorbed people money doesn't insure happiness and ill-gained money comes with lots of complications. So even though it pretty much sucks, stick with your pathetic little existence.

My guess is that mainstream audiences will find this movie uncomfortable and that it will be in and out of theaters pretty quickly, but will find a niche market on DVD.

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This is a true story that reads like dumb crook news. Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg) is a muscle headed body builder who is inspired in ironic fashion by unorthodox motivational speaker Johnny Wu (Ken Jeong). With the aid of two other body builders, Paul Doyle (Dwayne Johnson) and Adrian Doorbal (Anthony Mackie) they devise a plan to kidnap and extort money from Colombian businessman Victor Kershaw (Tony Shalhoub).

They fumble their way through the operation and become greedy. It is clear these guys were not bright. The writers created dialouge for these crooks in order to lighten the story and to keep them from looking like complete idiots. Fictional aspects such as making the nurse (Rebel Wilson) look heavy-set with portraying Doorbal as liking those type of women kept the story from becoming dry.

The beginning of the film demonstrates some humor as Danny names fictional characters as his heroes..."There are no shortcuts to the American dream" he proclaims. In spite of the efforts made by the writers, the film somehow loses its hook and charm as you wait for it to end.

Parental Guide: F-bombs, sex, and nudity. Porn star Nikki Benz is one of the unnamed strippers.

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Many years ago I asked a friend of mine who was from a totally different culture, "What is the single biggest difference between your culture and the American culture?" Her answer was startling! She was surprised by how much Americans idealize criminals! I hope after people watch Pain & Gain that will no longer be true!

Keep in mind Pain & Gain is a true story, which makes it extraordinarily disturbing! Anyone reading this film review may someday, unwittingly, cross paths with people who are as evil and ruthless as the three men in this story are. It's a cautionary tale for us all! One bad guy is charming. One is a bit simple-minded and the other is so ordinary he could easily be your next door neighbor. But they all have one thing in common: They are incredibly selfish and if you get in their way, they are going to kill you.

I have lived in both South Florida and Connecticut and I've seen plenty of snotty rich people who are full of themselves and flaunt their wealth. But does that justify stealing from them and killing them? Two of these three men had steady employment at a half decent job, and they are certainly not starving! What could possibly drive them to such incredible acts of depravity and insanity?

The answer is simple! All three of these thugs wanted wealth and to some degree a glamorous lifestyle. Isn't that what advertising and the rest of the media constantly tells us: We can't be satisfied until were are all both rich and glamorous? That if you're not at least Upper Middle Class, you're some sort of loser or failure?

I was once an Catholic altar boy and I used to attend many Baptisms. There was one question the priest always asks the Godparents that stuck in my mind: "Priest: Do you reject the glamour of evil and refuse to be mastered by sin?" I could never totally understand what the "glamour of evil" meant. How can evil possibly be glamorous? Pain & Gain makes you realize how seductive and glamorous evil can be for anyone who, ironically, is not a strong person!

See:23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism and Dangerous Liaisons: How to Recognize and Escape from Psychopathic Seduction

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Lottery Ticket (2010)

This Film is a blast! What makes it very funny is the way that it exaggerates all of the responses from everyone that comes in contact with Kevin, the lucky guy who defied the odds of 1 in 175 million to get all the winning numbers to win a lottery jackpot of $370 million.

Initially when he realises that he has won, he and his grandmother go into a frenzie that is simply crazy and totally hilarious. Next his best friend gets the news, its another wacky scene.

As the story goes along, in spite of trying to keep his good fortunes a secret, soon everyone in his 'hood is in his house seeking a piece of the action, and a mad on foot chase scene unfolds. You really need to see this... its a belly full of laughs. Additionally overnight Kevin's fortunes change also with a lady (Nikki) that he was admiring.

But, there is also a very serious side with this film. Kevin gets involved with a thug/bully and a mobster that suddenly get an acute interest in him and his newly acquired fortunes. So, although this film has some very funny parts, it also shows the pitfalls that those that might acquire wealth suddenly can fall into.

Notes:

[1] There is also some irreverent humor as a Pastor zooms in on Kevin in order to lock in on some of his funds as well.

[2] Rating: PG but still contains strong language.

I just want say something in regards to any negative reviews regarding this film. First of all, this film is a comedy. Nothing more. Nothing less. All political correctness should go out the door when it comes to viewing a comedy film. Secondly, this film delivers on what it's advertised to be. A comedy. Yes, this movie does ask the question of what would you do if you won the lottery. The character in this film does, indeed, make the choice that will not only benefit himself, but, also others. I, for one, loved the film and would recommend it to anyone who wants to see a true comedic film. Much props to Bow Wow (whose acting does seem to get a little better with each film), Ice Cube, Mike Epps, Brandon T. Jackson (who had everyone laughing their guts out), Charlie Murphy, and everyone else involved in this film. Also, notice how I didn't go deep into the plot of the story. Many of you can read that in the description box. I, for one, am tired of reading these "reviews" that go so deep into the plot description that it literally repeats what is written in the product description. Get on here, write about the movie in brief terms, state your opinion, and be done with it. LOTTERY TICKET is a winner. I will definitely own this film on DVD when it's released.

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This movie wasn't "roll on the floor" funny, but it wasn't "stab me in my eyes" boring either. It was a cute predictable comedy. Glad I didn't go to the theater to see it, but enjoyed it on a boring Saturday night at home.

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It is fun and funny from beginning to end, you find yourself repeating

some of the quirky statements as well as acting them out, for all of us

that plan on winning the lottery and what not to do.

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This is a great movie. this movie is hilarious. Lottery ticket has a great cast and a great story about how money can change the people around you. This was truely an entertaining film. if you have not seen it then i recommend you do

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Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This

If you are a casual or even huge Cheech & Chong fan, you will find something that you will enjoy in this DVD. For the casual fan, you will see all of the classic C&C bits, but for the hardcore fan, you will get so much more. Old faves are flipped in new ways, updated for the times, making them even more hilarious than the first time around, & various characters that the duo have performed as make appearances throughout as well. Also, you get a bit of Shelby Chong's performance & bits of Tommy Chong doing solo bits about pot (duh) & being incarcerated for selling bongs (see the documentary "a/k/a Tommy Chong" for more information). The production quality is top notch, & the program flows so well, interweaving between stage bits & backstage or character bits.

Even better, this show was shot in my hometown (San Antonio TX) at a theatre (The Majestic Theatre) that I have been to many times. I have even been on the outside balcony area that the two end up on trying to smoke a fatty in the DVD (don't want to give to much away, but it is one of the funniest parts). Also, make sure to stick around until after the credits for a quick bonus. Dave was here.

In other reviews of "live" shows from comedy to Rock I usually say that my acid test is if I saw the show is it a good representation and if I didn't am I mad at myself for missing it...and I am furious that I didn't catch these guys on this tour because I think I'd still be laughing. I picked up the blu-ray and the production values are top notch. Its also a unique way to present a live show with many inserted bits (I do not want to give them away) that while not giving the viewer the exact live feel maybe improve it to almost movie level...in fact this is more a concert movie than a documentary of a show....and that's not a bad thing..it means more laughs!!

There are also plentiful bonus features that I believe make this worthwhile to purchase. If you are a fan that goes back to their initial films and "records man" ...ooops , then this will be a lovely trip back.

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I just wish that Dave was here so that he could watch these two guys together again, doing what they do BEST. And that is, making us all laugh 'til we cry. Hey man, what a trip. EXCELLENT! That truly sums it all up in just one word. EXCELLENT! Five STARS all the way. You just have to watch the totally hilarious skit in which the two guys dress up like an old married couple, and go to a sleezy theater to see a porn movie together. OMG! I honestly had to stop the DVD twice during that particular skit, just to catch my breath again. I was laughing so hard I couldn't even breath right. I honestly have NOT laughed that hard in years and years. It was so great to see the boys back together again, especially after so many years of being apart. Believe me everyone, if you are a TRUE (and I mean a TRUE) Cheech & Chong fan, then you'll not only order this DVD from NetFlix, you'll also order it through Amazon, so that you can own this DVD for yourself. OMG, it was great! Totally awesome. I must watch this one again tonight, before I have to return it. Way to go, DUDES. Way to go!

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Hey man is Dave here? Great movie of Cheech and Chong reunited after all these years and at a great price. Lots of laughs for the money. Thank you Amazon!!!

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This was frigging hilarious. I loved this so much I bought it. I loved it as much as Up in Smoke. Hope Cheech & Chong are getting high off the royalties! Can't wait for their next adventure!

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The Host (2007)

Pay no mind to the countless comparisons to "Jaws", "Alien", and the rest of the monster classics that a quality film like this always draws. This one stands on its own as an original mix of harsh political commentary, family drama, black comedy, and horror. The metaphor for the hysteria over the asian SARS epidemic is thick and the accusatory tone towards America's interventionist ways and the alarmist media's sensationalism is thicker. But don't think this is some heavy-handed self-serving political film that wallows in its own symbolism; this film is about the importance of family pulling together and taking care of each other when noone else will. Oh yes, and there's a monster in there somewhere too.

I'm going to drop a few minor spoilers now so if you want to go in completely cold and experience the full thrill I received viewing this movie you might want to go watch the film now. Alright, on with the content review. Let me put it this way, I got my money's worth in the first 20 minutes of the film. The sudden appearance of the beast breaks the most entrenched of monster movie standards: the slow reveal. The almost complete lack of buildup shocked me as the monster came charging out of the background in its high-velocity and unsettlingly awkward gait with ferocious momentum sending humanity flying left and right. What follows is one of the greatest rampage sequences ever seen by human eyes. I was absolutely thrilled by it and only the most jaded of film fans could feel otherwise. In fact, aside from a few gaping plot holes, my only real complaint about this movie is that it climaxes so soon. That's not to say the rest of the film isn't good, but it never reaches that fever pitch again.

As the trigger-happy government declares quarantine and almost immediately begins asserting it's will on the victims -even as they still mourn their lost family membersthe media spreads word of a deadly and highly contagious virus that the creature is carrying (hence, "the host"). But as the film progresses, we don't see the evidence of any abnormal sickness, just the paranoia of the people in reaction to the media's hysterics and government's jumping to conclusions. As our protagonists, the Park family, search for their little girl (Hyun-seo, taken to the monster's den for later consumption) we come to see that when the government is incompetent and overbearing and the general populace is collectively terrified of the guy standing next to them the only things you can rely on are your own family and what you can see and do for yourself.

The ne'er-do-well Park family consists of Hyun-seo's father, a slow-witted narcoleptic, her aunt who's a professional archer with a tendency to freeze under pressure, a college-educated alcoholic of an uncle with a hot temper who can't find a job, and a caring grandfather who holds them all together. The dysfunction of the family is humorous to watch, but the devotion they all share in the search for their little girl is touching; and that's the real heart and soul of this film. The monster is menacing, the government is corrupt, the Americans are comically over-the-top self-serving jerks, the populace at large are terrified for all the wrong reasons, and the real disease is the paranoia spread by the media but the Park family's struggle is the real story here and it's a great one.

Really, do not watch the dubbed version of this movie. If you're watching that then you are not watching the same movie. I have a feeling that nearly all of the negative reviews are due to the atrocious dubbing this film received.

If you're not willing to watch the subtitled version, then I suggest you avoid the film, because it will be an awful experience. I just watched a clip of it on YouTube and I was cringing!

The dubbing is an insult to the original cast and crew of this film. Please. Please. Please. Do not watch the dubbed version.

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I felt a bit of skepticism when I heard that the top-grossing film in Korean history was headed to a big screen near me--and (gulp!) it was a "Godzilla" type monster movie. And then the critical reviews started pouring in--let's just say, they're pretty impressive! So intrigued, but still very wary, I headed out to Bong Joon-ho's "The Host." After a brief setup and a quick introduction to an impossibly dysfunctional family, a creature emerges from the Han River and starts to terrorize the citizens of Seoul. And I was hooked! Frightening and funny, the emergence of this indescribable creature (part fish, part "Alien," part unmentionable) is so well staged--I was alternately shocked and amused. From that moment on, "The Host" never let go and became a wildly entertaining ride.

The film introduces us to an unlikely group of protagonists--an inept and childlike man (played by Song Kang-ho), his put-upon father, and his school aged daughter. When the creature first attacks the city, the daughter is carried away. Grieving for her, father and son are reunited with Kang-ho's other siblings--a sister who is a competitive archer and a brother, college educated but unemployed. This quartet clearly has issues, and Kang-ho feels guilty for what has happened. After being isolated by the military for having been exposed to the creature (now being reported as the host of an unknown virus), Kang-ho becomes convinced his daughter is still alive. The family bands together and decides to break out and track down the creature's movements in an effort to locate the girl. Equal parts believable family interplay, genuine horror, slapstick, and harrowing moments with surprisingly real consequences--"The Host" is a multilayered film that works on many levels.

One of the more questionable critiques that I've encountered about "The Host" is that its anti-American posturing is offensive. This being, first and foremost, a creature feature--I find this a tad oversensitive. The overt acts of villainy perpetuated by the Americans in question (such as the careless dumping of formaldehyde into the environment) are done with such a gleeful, over-the-top tone--it has more of a comedic effect than anything. In cartoons, these scientific or military "villains" would be twirling their mustaches and cackling at an evil plot. And, in fact, the first real "hero" of the piece is an American soldier who stands up to the creature to save others. It's a bit of a double standard, as well. How many times do American films cast another country in the same light (or much worse)? It strikes me as the "you can dish it out, but you can't take it" syndrome if Americans aren't able to take a bit of satiric poking every once in a while from someone else. However, in the main scheme of things--the characters within "The Host" couldn't care less about the political climate. Much of the international relations information is provided as background via TV reports that are generally being ignored!

Now that I've made this film sound political, let me just reiterate--it's not. It's wild, it's fun, it's scary, it's unexpected--but most surprisingly, it's also genuinely moving. I actually cared about the central family in "The Host." Ordinary citizens, they are thrust into the role of heroes. They put aside their differences, come together as a family, and sacrifice everything they have for one another. Comedically complicated, they still convey real familial devotion. The forward momentum of the film is provided by love and a commitment to endure any hardship for those close to you. So this B-movie monster flick is grounded by, of all things, heart. I can understand someone not liking "The Host." A monster running amok in a scary movie is not for everyone (and, although, I mention comedic elements a lot--this is a scary movie). But adding the wackiness, the slapstick, and (most especially, for some) the subtitles--you're bound to have your share of detractors. But I found "The Host" great fun. The creature looks awesome and the action scenes, in particular, are riveting. Do yourself a favor, if you're into this type of film--check out "The Host." KGHarris, 03/07.

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I've read a lot of reviews about 'The Host' by a lot of disappointed people who didn't understand the movie. In light of that, I just want to say that this isn't so much a monster flick as it is a family flick that happens to have a monster character. The film is about an already troubled Korean family that is taken to the brink of despair when a monster snatches its most innocent member. Besides being a story about the strength and importance of family, it's also a great character study...but keep in mind that the film is Korean; you aren't necessarily going to relate to the behaviors and reactions in every scene; a lot probably goes right over our heads because of the enormous culture gap. The film is also interesting as a social/national commentary; the creature exists due to the careless actions of occupying American forces, the government isn't tackling the problem effectively, so ultimately a victimized Korean family is forced to muster an unlikely skill set and the courage to defeat the monster themselves. In that sense, I think there's a duality to the title the "host" isn't just the creature (which is a victim in its own right), it's Korea itself.

I loved the movie. It's a rare gem , and it's unfortunate that due to the film's marketing and/or viewer preconceptions that it's getting a raw deal as far as accurate reviews go. I hope this helps somewhat!

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This is a fantastic movie it has everything going on for it. The tone is pitch-perfect, and surprisingly endearing...it is truly the family that makes this film shine; despite, yes, the best -classic, alreadymovie monster chaos since the original JPark came out. It was certainly the best audience reaction I have seen at an event movie since JPark people were cheering for the family, and going nuts at the scary parts. And it IS scary quite a bit. Better than most, by a long shot. Now...I am not one for humor in horror films...and going in knowing that the advertising campaign for this hit was aiming a bit for the comedy angle the comedy in this film is fantastic. It's a bit over the top but not TOO, like some trailers suggest. It's in small doses, is well done, and mainly it's to keep the focus and involvement with the family and once you see the film, and are part of the charm of the actors for two hours, you understand the hype over the appeal of the characters. They ARE us. For a slacker who came out of the Grunge scene I felt the lead actor was dead-on, and you connect with his despair. As a matter of fact, all the actors are just perfect for their parts in The Host. The warm moments are very genuine. A very pleasant surprise and just as important a reason to see this movie as The Host itself..!! Everything you've heard is true the monster is terrific. The fact that the director had the monster show up in the first 15 minutes in broad daylight sets the bar for the rest of the film's manic action. The beast is a mean one and the monster itself just absolutely ROCKS. I loved watching this scary creature! The pure excitement that The Host infuses is remarkable. These scenes are the best in the business, hands down. Excitement, and adventure. This is a 5 Star movie. It is smart, honest and extremely well realized it is not merely up to par with Hollywood movies...it surpasses Hollywood movies. This one will be around for a long time. It is a major event movie especially for genre fans. It was nice to go to a show and see the audience get all riled up like they did for Jaws people just went nuts for it, it was a breath of fresh air for a life-long monster enthusiast.

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Damsels in Distress (2012)

This is the long-awaited return of writer-director Whit Stillman, who we last saw with the delicious 1998's "Last Days of Disco" movie.

"Damsels in Distress" (98 min.) brings the story set at a fictional Northeast university in which a group of young women, namely Violet (played by Greta Gerwig), Rose (played by Megalyn Echikunwoke) and Heather (played by Carrie MacLemore) take a transfer student Lily (played by Analeigh Tipton) under their wings. The group is determined to bring a better life to students, running the Suicide Center (which they rename the Suice Prevention Center). Of course that is not counting for the guy troubles that may, and will, occur. One of those is a fellow named Xavier. There is a hilarious scene in which Lily tries to explain that Xavier is spelled with an X, when one of the other girls say that it is surely it is spelled with a Z, as in "Zorro", at which point Violet surmises that the letters X and Z are pronouned the same when not ending in a word, ha! Gerwig's performance pretty much carries this movie, as she shows her vulnerability and you can't help but rooting for her all the way.

This light and quirky tone never leaves the movie, and I found myself quite smiling a lot (but not laughing out loud). Truth be told, the "tone" of the movie is better than the actual plot (which I won't give away here, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out). In all, this is a quirky little but loveable movie. This is MILES away from your Hollywood standard fare, and if you are into such type movie, I would readily recommend this. Nothing earth-shattering, just plain likeable. In that sense, "Damsels in Distress" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

After reading reviews I thought this film would be much different than his others but now that I have seen it I think it was quite similar. It is critical, smart, interesting, and funny. Some of the dialogue is absolutely hilarious. Whit Stillman is the only filmmaker I know of that writes pretty realistic yet comic films about the elite. It is fascinating to me to see how these people think. This film, even more than his others, shows how sad and pathetic the people that run the world really are. Sure they are oppressing just about everyone on earth and their actions cause untold devastation and suffering yet they believe they are doing the right thing "God's Work". This is a scathing yet sympathetic critique of the American aristocracy. One would think this would be impossible but here it is. He really has matured as a filmmaker. This is his most complex and nuanced work yet. Also, as with most cutting edge art, this film will likely require repeated exposure for one to learn to really appreciate its brilliance. I look forward to many further viewings.

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I knew nothing about this director; this was a random choice of movie for me after seeing a preview. It's definitely quirky, ridiculous, and all those other adjectives people have used. You either like that or you don't, and maybe you like this version of it or you don't.

The first part got a little old for me and I did consider not finishing the movie but I'm glad I did. The characters and plot changed and evolved and I laughed and smiled more in the second half and found the ending charming.

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Whit Stillman helped start the great '90s indie boom that will be long remembered for bringing great talents like himself to the cinema world's attention. Few directors make such unique works and now he's back with "Damsels in Distress." The film, which is a college comedy of manners, is one of my favorite films of the year. The dancing, quirky dialogue and great cast made it a fun theater going experience. I was wondering if Stillman could still pull it off after all of these years and he did. A bit different from his earlier works, but still fits wonderfully in his canon. With "Barcelona" now over $100 on amazon, I may be buying 100 copies to use as a retirement plan.

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There may be spoilers.

Director Whit Stillman hasn't made a movie in more than a decade, so I was looking forward to this, his fourth film. There are few writers who can assemble such thoughtful, provocative and articulate words together and at the same time, make us laugh. "Damsels" isn't one of those laugh-out-loud movies but one where you snicker, smirk, chuckle and maintain a smile on your face throughout the 99 minute playing time. With a fine cast led by atypical beauty Greta Gerwig as Violet, the film takes a while to find its footing.

Violet is a college do-gooder with suicide prevention her primary focus. She softly commands 3 others who join her effort. Violet is one of those individuals who somehow manage to tell the truth, or her version of it, no matter how it might affect someone. She does take considerable effort to minimize the hurt by use of her flourishing vocabulary. Violet and the girls aren't mean or vicious. They actually want to help the frat boys in spite of their bad smell, low intelligence and brutishness. In one scene, Violet breaks up with a short-term boyfriend from France after catching him with another girl. He had a strange religion which involves an "unusual" position for sex and as she tells him, "I couldn't respect any religion that worships on Tuesday."

After a short stent alone in a cheap motel, Violet discovers the wonderful scent of the complementary soap the motel provides. After testing the smell on her friends, she decides this could be transformative and supplies samples inside a package that the fraternity boys think makes for a great Frisbee. Violet has also been working on a new dance "sensation" that will ease depression, isolation and even suicide. The movie ends with the role out of the Sambola. This is a fun, unusual and easy to watch film.

The Blu ray edition comes in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio presented in 1080p. Watching this on a large display the transfer seems a bit washed out. It is not unusually crisp and sharp. I suspect this was intentional as the director wanted a smooth yet detail picture. It certainly didn't bother me. The audio is excellent with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 delivering the mostly centered action. There is nothing that stands out as this is mostly a dialog heavy film. For whatever reason, the volume is lower than usual. I had to crank my receiver's volume up quite a bit.

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American: The Bill Hicks Story (2011)

In the booklet included with the new Blu-ray "American: The Bill Hicks Story", Mary Hicks, Bill Hicks' mother, is quoted as saying "When he got sick, Bill wanted me to help him file all of his photographs, and he showed me Hendrix and Dylan documentaries. I said, 'Bill, why are you showing me all of this?' and he said 'In case someone comes mom, and they want to make one about me.'" After watching this documentary on the late and brilliant comedian one has to wonder if the film makers would have been better off consulting Mrs. Hicks on the basics of telling compelling stories. As fascinating a subject as Hicks unquestionably is, this documentary proves to be an extremely disappointing dusting over of Hicks' career combined with an irritating level of gloss and flashy editing techniques which show a lack of respect for the subject in favor of displaying art school editing prowess.

The problem in reviewing a documentary such as "American" is many fans of Bill Hicks already know the back story of his life and career. There have been very good documentaries and books focused on this subject that do a fine job of divulging personal stories and anecdotes, and there are many bootleg videos and even commercially available dvd's that show Hicks in action on stage. "American" chooses to pick from these readily available sources to show the viewer the kind of comedian and voice he was. There are a few more rare performances shown, and those clips are definitely the highlight in this film, but for the most part one can't help but feel that old news is being rehashed constantly.

All of the interviews in "American" are with Hicks' family, friends, and fellow local comedians at the time, and while they are all very eager to tell stories about Bill, it's hard not to notice the complete and total lack of attention that is paid to some of the bigger names that respected Hicks. People like David Letterman, Jay Leno, and the New Yorker's John Lahr are ignored in this documentary, and if anyone had a significant impact on Hicks' career it would be these three. This total lack of recognition of the bigger names surrounding Hicks' story make the interviews with his family and friends that much more vacant. Not to say that his family and friends are not interesting, because they are, but when there is so much more history and voices being ignored it makes it hard to counteract other points of view that may not be so biased.

What leaves the biggest distaste in the mouth about "American" is the crow-barring of the editing and graphical style. The film makers obviously had a gimmick up their sleeves with how they wanted to show this story, and it takes so much away from the subject that by the end of the film you're left wondering if they film was about Bill Hicks or this new and wacky editing tool. All of Hicks' family photos are interspersed with cartoony and slick visuals that flat out annoy. During the entirety of the film the viewer will desperately wait for a moment that is just raw video footage instead of Hicks being portrayed as a cartoon figure reciting his comedy. More than that, though, you really have a palpable feeling that more time was spent in the editing and animating room than focusing on Hicks and his legacy. There is a ton to be said about Hicks by many different voices, and when you gloss over this fact with flashy animations all substance goes out the window. It's hard to imagine Hicks would be happy if this documentary ended up being the only film based on his life.

Bill Hicks is a precious subject. There is a reason why more and more people each year flock to his mind and words. He was an incredibly sensitive, hilarious, thought-provoking, and engaged person. This documentary does little to reflect that, sadly. It's hard to give a two-star review to a subject that is so brilliant, but any time more attention is brought to Hicks can only be a good thing. There are many other ways to discover Hicks and what he had to say, and this documentary should not be one that you consider. Start with his albums. "Dangerous" first, then "Relentless", followed by "Arizona Bay", and finally "Rant In E Minor". These albums are the only introduction you will ever need. As far as other documentaries about Hicks go, the Comedy Central produced "It's Just A Ride" is far more competent and telling than "American". It features interviews with both his friends and family as well as the more famous names that were there as Hicks rose to fame. I will also point out that the blu-ray edition features hours of extra content including interviews and performances which make this purchase a little more justifiable.

Understanding Hicks is sitting down and giving him your full and undivided attention. Part of the problem with "American" is that Hicks is reduced to soundbites and one-liners that were never Hicks' forte. When Hicks came on stage he told stories, weaving them together with other stories, coming back to them, referencing earlier jokes, and accosting his audience with declarations of love and concern. You cannot wrap up the Bill Hicks experience in a soundbite. Experiencing Hicks live meant that you had to ingest, absorb, and ruminate. Otherwise you just wouldn't get it. The quality of "American" is on par of a passing fan without much interest in the comedian; someone who may chuckle a bit at his stories but hold no interest in Hicks beyond a surface level curiosity, and ultimately not understand the bigger picture. While I can accept this probably isn't the case with the film makers here, they certainly don't convince to the contrary. Bill Hicks' message deserves much more than that.

Writing from Austin, Texas (Bill Hick's home base), I must say I am saddened and outraged that this release has not been made available here in the land of the free and the home of the brave. It is no surprise that this is a UK import they appreciated him more over there then they ever did here. Jolly good! I doubt this will ever get a stateside NTSC release. If you have a way to play PAL DVDs, then this is manna from heaven for any Bill Hicks fan. Kudos to the film makers for this awesome tribute to Mr. William Melvin Hicks! The graphics are unique and the film is a true testament to the impact Bill Hicks has had and continues to have as his words ring truer everyday.

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If you consider yourself a fan of the late Bill Hicks then this is a must see documentary. Very well put together as you get a chronological order of the events that took place on his rise to stardom. Included some early life and behind the scene details of Hicks' trials and tribulations. I thought the beginning of the film was a little slow but things quickly picked up as Hick's career started to bloom. Production did a good job including many of Bill's early and late footage of his shows. Fan or not, I think no one will be disappointed watching this film. Its unfortunate that we do not have enough people like Bill Hicks to invoke thought as well as put a comical light on issues that may normally bring about negative feelings. R.I.P.

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I saw it tonight on its second US release after NYC and before LA, in a small bar in Denton, Texas, surrounded by about 50 Bill Hicks fans, and if you get a chance to see it like that, do so. Next best, invite a few fans over to watch it, and rent it as Video on Demand.

It is an outstanding documentary, and it deserves to win all sorts of awards. And for true fans who think they have all the CDs and videos, you'll find enough new material to satisfy you as well.

Where are you now, Bill, when we need you so much? You're in this movie, and maybe you can still inspire people to stand up and be counted.

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I am a very big fan of Bill Hicks, and I think that the man was a visionary years ahead of his time. This documentary however seemed to shed less insight into his past than it did give the opinions of his friends. I know that having read the book, seen the Sane Man and other Bill Hicks DVD and that there probably isn't a heck of a lot more to learn so my expectations may have been too high. I'd say that this is worth renting but I'd stray awy from purchasing it unless you are a mega-fan buying it to fulfill a completionist urge.

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Sunflower: Sophia Loren Award Collection (1970)

Vittorio De Sica's Sunflower is one of those nice ideas for a love story that doesn't really pay off. Sophia Loren is the devoted wife who refuses to believe missing husband Marcello Mastroianni is dead on the Russian front after the end of the Second World War and determines to find him. Unfortunately the stars never really convince, playing almost parodic working class characters who are more mildly irritating than engaging with his exaggerated nasal accent and her bad wig they just remind you of one of those couples who you end up constantly sharing a dinner table with on holiday despite all your best efforts not to. It's a slave to clichés not one, but THREE railway station separations! but despite the sizeable budget often feels too rushed and half-baked to allow many of them to work even as a production line tearjerker. There's even some surprisingly poor camerawork at times in the Italian scenes that makes you wonder if anybody was that bothered about the final result. A few moments stand out, like the cabin packed with soldiers sleeping on their feet in the Russian winter or a field of sunflowers that are the only marker for the graves of unknown soldiers and peasants, and the last half hour is fairly effective, but it doesn't add up to much.

This is another title that has had a troubled history on DVD, from a decent transfer as part of Lionsgate's Sophia Loren 4-Film Collection (Neapolitan Carousel / Attila / Madame Sans-Gene / Sunflower) to a dire public domain release from Jef Films. Kino Lorber's US DVD and region-free Blu-ray release is certainly the best of the bunch, with a good widescreen transfer in the original Italian with English subtitles, stills gallery and Italian trailer. That edition is also available as part of the Sophia Loren: Award Collection [Blu-ray] (Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow / Marriage Italian Style / Sunflower / Vittorio D / Boccaccio '70) with Boccaccio '70, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Marriage Italian Style and feature-length documentary Vittorio D.

[SUNFLOWER (1970) Directed by Vittorio De Sica Widescreen Italian w/ English subtitles 107 min.] During WWII, a new army recruit, Antonio (Mastroianni) and his lover, Giovanna (Loren) wed and enjoy the marriage furlough awarded him before he's shipped off to the Russian front, never to be seen or heard from again. After the war is declared over, and fraught with despair upon hearing that he was last seen on a frozen battlefield attempting to return against impossible odds, Giovanna promises Antonio's mother that she will set out on an odyssey search for him, and won't return without knowledge of his fate. It's critical to them both to know, despite the outcome. Their mourning may never cease, but they may take dark comfort in closure.

She searches and searches, showing his picture to scores of women who don't even understand her language, in relentless pursuit of a possible lead to his whereabouts, even after being led to a site of unmarked graves acknowledged solely by wooden crosses that stretch out forever. She eventually discovers he's alive and where he is currently dwelling, but their reunion is anything but blissful. Why didn't he return to her after the war? Who is this person he currently resides with? Why wasn't there even a letter sent? Did he no longer love Giovanna, his family, friends and homeland? The answers to these questions aren't easy to comprehend.

As always, the pairing of Marcello and Sophia on screen insures a cinematic event not to be missed by lovers of world cinema, and adding the brilliant directorial skills of De Sica is more than just icing on this multi-tiered cake, it makes for mandatory viewing. At the time of its release, its lack of a Hollywood (read: cop-out) ending insured it dismal box-office receipts and lukewarm reviews due to it going against the grain of what was then the contemporary film trend America was (for the first time) seriously anti-war thanks to Vietnam, and almost all portrayals of WWII were of the 'MASH', 'Kelly's Heroes' or 'Catch 22' variety, unless we're speaking of 'Patton'. But this film seriously demands careful reconsideration now, as it showcases a heart-wrenching performance by Sophia Loren, the always understated brilliance of Marcello Mastroianni, and the keen, mindful eye and expertise of Vittorio De Sica.

A great, gripping drama that doesn't dwell too long in its melodrama, and a bittersweet ending that's thought-provoking long after the end credits roll, 'Sunflower' is a film about life, war, marriage, love and loss, even if there's a twinge of belladonna in the air. Highly recommended.

The Lorber Films blu-ray release offers a stunning print with exceptional colors and great audio quality, and there is a stills gallery and trailers for a few other Loren/Mastroianni must-see films.

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Beautiful movie..i love sophia loren! Living legend..very sexy and elegant. I wish i were more like her! Ahaha well sbout the dvd, i was happy to watch this beautiful movie in my blueray :] came just in time!

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I am so HAPPY WHEN I GOT THE BLURAY! I have been looking for this movie to many years.

LOVE IT!

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When Amazon.com a couple of years or more ago released the normal nstc version of Sunflower, I immediately Bought it, but when I tried to watch it, there was nothing to watch except grey grains. I'm still expecting Amazon to conpenate me. I hope that when Amazon.co.uk release a decent copy of Sunflower, they will send me a Blu-Ray copy free of charge.

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Top Hat

The fourth Fred & Ginger (F&G) movie, Top Hat is considered by many to be the quintessential one and is my personal favorite. In the Top Hat musical number, Fred cleverly uses his gentleman's cane as a "machine gun." And the ever-so-tender cheek to cheek number where he is singing and dancing with Ginger makes me feel like I am dancing in heaven as well. A deleted scene in some prints in which Bates (Eric Blore) insults a policeman, is present in this DVD.

A running commentary with Ava Astaire McKenzie (daughter) includes background information about the supporting actors and trivia, such as the significance of the ring Fred wears in the film. And even though Ginger rides the horse in this movie, we learn that Fred is the real horse lover. Ava admits she does not know everything about her dad and his career, which adds to the authenticity of what she does know and contributes.

A behind-the-scenes look, the featurette, "On Top: Inside the Success of Top Hat" explains many intricacies and attention to detail in the making of the movie. Nothing is left to chance. You will appreciate all the names in the opening credits. It includes interviews with Ava Astaire McKenzie, archivists, and biographers with a mix of F&G photographs and film clips. (Run time 18:20)

"Watch the Birdie" is a comedy short with a young Bob Hope playing a prankster on a cruise ship who himself gets "pranked." It's sort of a let down after Top Hat, so I am not sure why it's included on the same DVD. (B&W, Run time 18:16)

"Page Miss Glory" (1936) is an old Merrie Melodies cartoon about the exploits around a bell boy in an upscale hotel. It has a touch of Busby Berkeley near the end. (Run time 7:43)

Theatrical Trailer (Run time 1:02)

This is a musical for those people who hate musicals...

I think you would have to be the biggest curmudgeon in the world not to find this movie fun and joyful. If this movie does not improve your mood, there is probably something seriously wrong with you.

I'm not kidding.

Not only am I not a fan of musicals, but I also am not a fan of dancing. I mean, watching dancing is okay, but I don't go out of my way to watch it.

But the dancing that Fred and Ginger do, here, is nothing short of brilliant. Not only that, it is so joyous. You can just tell that they (Fred, especially) just LOVES dancing! You feel it, and it makes YOU love dancing, too; you just can't help but love what they do, it is infectious.

Also, the story is very funny, full of improbably twists and turns, and very good comedic timing and jokes.

And of course, Ginger... Oh, to have been Fred, with those gorgeous eyes, that gorgeous face looking at me like that... She was way before my time, and is not "Playboy" beautiful. She's just so damned cute. How could anyone not find her irresistable?

I don't usually gush like this, you can check my other reviews. I guess this movie brings out the sap in me. What can I say?

I love this movie.

By the way, there seem to be 2 major camps: those who think this is the best of the Ginger and Fred movies, and those who think that honor goes to "Swing Time". My wife and I both found "Swing Time" to be far less satisfying than "Top Hat". Basically, the dancing and singing are about equally great; but the story of "Top Hat" is much better and the jokes much funnier in "Top Hat".

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Many times when the subject of old-time, classic movies comes up, my father inevitably brings up the story of how as a child he was given a quater on his ninth birthday and sent off to a local Baltimore, movie theatre with his friends to see the now classic movie musical, "Top Hat". Just recently I purchased the DVD box set, "Astaire & Rogers Collection, Volume 1". Naturally, the first disc I viewed was "Top Hat". Well after seeing this disc, I now know, why my Dad over seventy years later, is still talking about this wonderful piece of cinematic, movie magic. To paraphrase an old Humphrey Bogart line, "this is the stuff that dreams are made of". Where do you start with what makes this movie great? You have to start with the pure magic of Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers working together. This film is pretty much this duo's creative peak. You have Fred Astaire acting, cracking jokes, singing and best of all DANCING! If you wish to ever to see pure creative genuis at work, before your very eyes, then just watch this man's feet and body language. Astaire shows such elegance and grace, that he has now become the very definition of those words. As for Miss Rogers, her skills have been quite underrated in the past. You know the old cliche saying, "she could do anything he could do...but she could do it backwords (and in heels)". It's true! This pair's artistry and creative gifts perfectly match each other. My personal favorite moment in the movie is the extended dance sequence between the two during the song, "Cheek to Cheek". In the begining of the scene, when Astaire sings "I'm in heaven..." and then repeats the phrase, you really do believe him! The two dancers glide along the dance floor as though they are in a dream. When the music majestically swells and he dips her, there is truely a sense of romance and sensuality, that is completly overwelming. It really is a classic scene from movie history. Astaire & Rogers are joined by a classic cast of comic, character actors, who forever will go down in cinematic memory. There is Edward Everett Horton, who plays Astaire's stuffy show producer. He is the 'King of the comic, double-take'. His man-servant is played by the humorous actor, Eric Blore, who reminds me of a school boy, who knows he's played some sort of naughty prank. Horton's wife is played by actress, Helen Broderick, who seems to have made an art form out of delivering her lines with irony & sarcasm. Finally there is comic actor, Eric Rhodes with his hilariously way over the top, Italian accent (he puts Chico Marx to shame!) and his foppish ways. The songs in this film have now become popular standards, that have become engrained in our culture's musical consciousness. All are written by Composer, Irving Berlin and include classics such "Isn't This a Lovely Day", "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails", Cheek to Cheek" and "No Strings (I'm Fancy Free)". While countless performers have covered these songs, it is the Astaire & Rodgers renditions from this film, that is in our collective memory. Finally mention should be of the movies' beautiful costumes and especially the almost fantasy-like, art decco, stylized sets which seem to effortlessly transport the viewer to another world. Remember, this film was released during the height of the 'Great Depression'. It was tough times for many movie patrons back then. Well, for one hour fourty minutes through the singing, dancing, comedy and the fantastic visuals it must have made folks forget their troubles. These days I suspect this film can still work it's wonderful movie magic! The DVD picture itself is crystal clear and highlights the beautiful B&W photography. The sound is O.K. for a film from 1935. Extras include a short featurette on the making of the film, commentary from Astaire's daughter, a theatrical trailer, a Warner Bros. cartoon and a Bob Hope comedy short. For a night of great escapist entertaiment, I highly recommend the classic film "Top Hat"! Dad certainly liked it!

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What a fantastic movie this is! It features wonderful music by Irving Berlin, wonderful elegance all around, and especially, wonderful Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, the best team in the history of movies. The movie glides along, and you glide with it, and are swept up in the sheer joy of it all. The plot is absurd: Ginger thinks Fred is her best friends' husband. Fred, of course has no idea of this and pursues Ginger relentlessly. All of this is just an excuse for singing and dancing, and there is plenty of it, to some timeless Irving Berlin songs. It is some of the best you'll ever see. From the first moment when Fred starts puttering around to the tune of "No Strings," you wind up with a big grin on your face and amazement at how good he is. Ginger Rogers was always his best partner, because she was a perfect foil and a great dancer as well. But there was more to it than that. She was also a good actress and had great comic timing and always seemed ready to go along with the silliness of the plot. Here her best moment (and the best dance in the movie) is "Isn't This A Lovely Day." It is set in a sort of gazebo in a rainstorm and it is marvelousthe two wind up moving into a little tap competitionthen thunder is heard, Ginger leaps into Fred's arms, they break apart, the music begins getting faster and faster, and suddenly they are whirling around the gazebo in giddy joy. The whole movie is marvelous, in fact. There is not a moment where I was dissapointed. 100 minutes of sheer pleasure.

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I expected fabulous dancing, but this movie is hilarious as well. I laughed until I cried. The plot centers around mistaken identity, which is a sure-fire comedic convention if done well, and it is done very well here indeed. Astaire and Rodgers are very funny, but the supporting players are masters of comedy. Highly enjoyable.

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