The Worst Remake Ever

So one of my friends thought it would be REALLY funny to play an April Fool's Day prank on me and try to convince me that they're going to do a remake of Casablanca, my favorite movie of all time. Yeah, I know, not funny at all. But once I got over the joke-- haha to you, Bryan-- we had some fun coming up with the cast and crew of the worst possible modern remake of that most beloved classic film. Results below:

____________________________

Rick Blaine- Bradley Cooper

Ilsa Lund- Megan Fox

Victor Laszlo- Keanu Reeves

Captain Renault- Nicholas Cage

Major Strasser- Mel Gibson

Sam- Tracy Morgan

Ugarte- Shia LaBeouf

Directed by Michael Bay and Uwe Boll

Screenplay by Jeph Loeb

Soundtrack by Kanye West

_____________________________

*DISCLAIMER TO ANY HOLLYWOOD EXECUTIVE WHO MIGHT COME ACROSS THIS* DOING THIS WOULD BE A REALLY REALLY BAD IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let the nightmares commence.

Grouching About the Oscars

Anyone who follows my blog knows that I love movies. I write about them regularly, and view and talk about them even more regularly. So naturally I was excited for the Academy Awards this year, with a wider Best Picture field than usual, and a pending face-off between director James Cameron (Avatar) and his ex-wife, director Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker). So last night I settled down in front of ABC for their Oscar broadcast.

Part 1: The Red Carpet

Hands down, this is my least favorite part of the Academy Awards. I think the whole "red carpet" rigamarole is overrated and puts a focus on the star persona (and even more on what they wear) that is totally unnecessary. Why do we deify these actors to the point where a walk up a red carpet into a theater is one of the defining hallmarks of entertainment? Gabourey Sidibe (of Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire) was right when she described it as "Prom Night for Hollywood."

OK, that rant aside, naturally I watched the red carpet broadcast. Obnoxious interviewers and philosophical issues aside, some of the information was interesting. For example, did you know that the last time there were ten movies in the running for the Best Picture award was in 1943, the year Casablanca won? No pressure or anything, though.

Shallow moment:

Favorite male heartthrob sightings: George Clooney and Matt Damon

Favorite dresses: Kate Winslet (nobody classes up an event like her) and Sandra Bullock (a girl after my own heart-- when asked by an interviewer what she wanted to eat after the ceremony, she said a burger, fries, and a milkshake.)

Part 2: The 82nd Annual Academy Awards Ceremony

OK, on to the part that actually matters in my opinion: the ceremony itself. Neil Patrick Harris's over-the-top musical number intro was hilarious and awesome-- "No One Wants to Do It Alone." I really enjoyed Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin as hosts. They had a great (if sometimes awkward) back-and-forth insulting each other and the audience, both at the beginning during their roast of the nominees and during the rest of the show.

So- the awards themselves. Here are the winners in each category, for those who missed it:

_________

OVERALL:

BEST PICTURE: "The Hurt Locker"

BEST DIRECTOR: Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"

BEST ANIMATED PICTURE: "Up"

BEST DOCUMENTARY: "The Cove"

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: The Secret in Their Eyes (Argentina)

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM: "Logorama"

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM: "Music by Prudence"

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM: "The New Tenants"

ACTING:

BEST LEADING ACTOR: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"

BEST LEADING ACTRESS: Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Mo'Nique, "Precious"

TECHNICAL:

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: "Avatar"

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: "Avatar"

BEST FILM EDITING: "The Hurt Locker"

BEST SOUND EDITING: "The Hurt Locker"

BEST SOUND MIXING: "The Hurt Locker"

ARTISTIC:

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Michael Giacchino, "Up"

BEST ART DIRECTION: "Avatar"

BEST ORIGINAL SONG: "The Weary Kind" from "Crazy Heart"

BEST MAKE-UP: "Star Trek"

BEST COSTUMES: "The Young Victoria"

WRITING:

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: "The Hurt Locker"

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Sapphire' by Push"

________

Full disclosure: I was rooting for Up in the Air to win in every category it was nominated for (Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Picture). I can't say that I actually believed that it would win all of those categories, but I wanted it to. I thought it deserved the awards most for its timely and unique portrayal of the human impact of the economic recession in the US, for its superb acting (by George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, and Vera Farmiga) and directing (by Jason Reitman), and for its clever script. Needless to say, I am quite upset that it didn't walk away with any of the above awards.

I was also rooting for Sherlock Holmes to win the Best Original Score award. I thought Hans Zimmer did a superb job creating a musical atmosphere for that movie, and the soundtrack is one of my new favorite albums to listen to-- atonal and unusual, but still somehow hauntingly beautiful. Still, the eventual winner (Michael Giacchino for Up!) was also an excellent choice-- although I actually preferred his music for Star Trek.

Despite my choices not winning, I am happy with most of the results. Avatar walked away with a handful of much-deserved technical awards but NOT any acting or overall "best" awards. Say what you will about the visual splendor of the movie, and I'll even give you the fact that the music was wonderful (James Horner composed the soundtrack, how do you go wrong?), but it did not have an original plot or good enough script to warrant anything else.

I was very impressed by The Hurt Locker, and am certainly inclined to support its Best Picture win, if Up in the Air couldn't win it. It was a unique brand of film with almost an indie film feel to it, and a relevance for its military content, even as the US pulls out of Iraq and starts to forget about what's happening over there in light of domestic concerns.

What I had not realized about the movie was that the screenwriter had been a journalist in Iraq, and had written the story based on his experiences with the troops there-- although I can't say I'm surprised, given how close the movie strikes to the reality on the ground (as I understand it). I was touched by the very sincere tribute and dedication that the writer, Mark Boal, gave to the troops when he accepted his award for Best Original Screenplay.

The film had a superb cast (especially Jeremy Renner), and a solid director in Kathryn Bigelow, who broke the proverbial glass ceiling last night by becoming the first woman ever to win the Academy Award for Best Director.

The Hurt Locker cleaned up in many awards categories, so the ceremony perhaps wasn't as well distributed as it could have been in that regard. And Up in the Air didn't win anything, which I have an issue with. But I guess I still have to "thank the Academy," as they say, because they fulfilled my hopes and did not give Avatar awards that it simply (in my opinion) did not deserve, just because it is the highest-grossing and possibly most visually stunning movie ever made. Being a Best Picture winner is about more than great visuals. It has to be about the quality and relevance of the story, the articulateness of the script, and the incredible acting-- not the money it rakes in or how pretty the film is.

Other Thoughts on Avatar

David Brooks of the New York Times did not seem to like James Cameron's Avatar quite as much as I did in my review a week ago. Or rather, he had a few more problems with the plot line. I can't say I disagree-- it's both cliched and kind of offensive-- but plot has, in my opinion, never really been James Cameron's strongest suit as a filmmaker. As I noted before (and as Brooks pointed out), it's really a rip-off of the plots of movies like Pocahontas. The plot is really just an excuse for Cameron to use a whole round-up of awesome effects and filming techniques.

Now Viewing: Avatar

Where do I even start reviewing this film? Countless film critics (professional and amateur) have already sung its praises in every way, shape, and form. But I saw it last night in 3-D, and thus feel the need to add my voice to the cacophony of people extolling James Cameron's latest epic.

And epic it truly is. In Avatar, Cameron truly creates a whole new world for his viewers. The quality of the film-making, the CGI techniques, the acting, the plot, the effects-- all are more than above par, and all become even better when you see the movie in 3-D. After putting on the 3-D glasses, viewers are quickly sucked in to the moon of Pandora, to the struggles between the human invaders and the native Na'vi population.

Sam Worthington delivers an impressive performance as Jake Sully, a paraplegic ex-Marine who replaces his recently deceased brother on the mission to Pandora, merging with his brother's Na'vi avatar and getting adopted into and slowly accepted by the local Na'vi clan. His teacher in the ways of The People is the chief's daughter, Neytiri, played to near-unrecognizable perfection by Zoe Saldana.

Most movie buffs agree that plot and script are not James Cameron's strongest abilities as a filmmaker, and to some extent that holds true in Avatar. In my opinion, I would say that although the script is fairly weak, he does get some great one-liners in, and the plot is also fairly strong. Parts of the story quite honestly harken back to a Pocahontas-style narrative, with greedy corporate humans coming in to drive out the native population by any means necessary in order to obtain the not-quite-cleverly-named "unobtainium," a tremendously valuable substance back on earth. Then of course you have the "Colors of the Wind" moments during which Jake begins to understand and appreciate-- and become part of-- the natural world of Pandora. When critics call it a tree-hugger liberal environmentalist film, I confess they have a point. Cameron clearly wants the audience's sympathies to be with the Na'vi people and their allies-- very few of the human characters are likable at all, unless you happen to have either a dollar sign or a gun for a heart.

But here's the thing-- most viewers probably won't really care about that, regardless of their political leanings. Because this movie is just that good. The visual effects alone will knock you back in your seat. The vistas off the mountains and waterfalls-- of which there are many-- are especially impressive. Cameron's Pandora is a spectacularly beautiful place, and I'm sure that if there isn't already, there will soon be a Facebook group called "I Want to Move to Pandora" or something along those lines. Then you have the not-unimpressive battle scenes, the love story between Jake and Neytiri, tragedies, some cynically comic dialogue-- all this plus the political intrigue makes for a movie that almost everybody will like.

Bottom line: Go see Avatar. And pay the extra money to see it in 3-D on the biggest screen you can possibly find (IMAX, if you can). It is truly worth it for the feeling of escaping the confines of Earth for three hours.

Featured Blog: The Julie/Julia Project

This is the now-famous blog that lead to Julie Powell's book Julie & Julia, and the 2009 movie that was based off of it. I watched the movie tonight (which is what lead me to track down the original blog) and loved it-- if I can, I'll do my customary review tomorrow, but bottom line was that it was both funny and sweet, throughly enjoyable and full of delectable-looking food. Made me want to be a cook and find a guy like Julia Child's or Julie Powell's husbands in the movie. Increased (if it's possible) even further my respect for the talents of Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. And most significantly, gave me hope that it is in fact still possible to make a decent chick flick-- as much as I shamelessly love the genre, most of the films that come out of it are totally awful. Wait-- okay, guess I don't need to review it tomorrow. That's a pretty decent summary review. But I'm supposed to be writing about the blog.

Anyway, I tracked down the original blog and started reading through it from the first post. Haven't finished it, obviously, but I find Julie Powell's writing both entertaining and endearing. It's a superbly written blog, and even though she hasn't posted since Julia Child died in 2004, it's still fun to go back and laugh (or cry, whatever's your taste) at her exploits and attempts at mastering the art of French cooking, Julia Child style.

Playing Catch-Up: Now Viewing

With movies, too, I have slacked off in my individual reviews. This is partly because two of my recent movie viewings were old favorites, but regardless, here's some quick hits on the movies I've watched most recently:

Love Actually: Probably my second-favorite chick flick, if I had to pick one (my #1 favorite, without exception, is You've Got Mail). A sweet exploration of the many different natures of love, as couples who interact in and out of each other's lives find true love in all its forms. "Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere." With a stellar cast including Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, and Keira Knightley, a number of endearing plotlines, and a heartwarming message, Love Actually is a great movie for Christmas or any time of year when you need a reminder about the presence of love in the world.

White Christmas: To me, the #1 classic Christmas movie. Yes, I love The Santa Clause and A Christmas Story and all the others (although I have to admit that Elf kind of drives me up the wall), but it just doesn't feel like a real Christmas to me unless we watch this heartwarming Michael Curtiz film about a pair of post-WWII entertainers who bring their show and a great Christmas gift to their down-on-his-luck former general...and, of course, find love along the way. Starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera Ellen, White Christmas instills me with feelings of nostalgia for holidays gone by-- not least of which, holidays where there was actually lots of real snow on the ground on Christmas Day!

Sherlock Holmes: I have been excited for this movie since I first caught the trailer back in September or so, and I was not disappointed when I went to see it in theaters yesterday. Robert Downey, Jr. stars as the famous detective and Jude Law portrays his partner, Dr. Watson. The original character of Sherlock Holmes was (to my recollection) a rather peppery, sarcastic, elitist and slightly crazy man-- a brilliant chemist, an observer, a cocaine addict, a boxer, a violinist, and fascinated by science of all varieties. The caricatures of him in popular culture since-- with the deerstalker hat and whatnot-- have in my opinion fallen rather short of this original character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, so I was very pleased to see that this new Guy Ritchie Holmes film was much closer to the original character-- not a deerstalker hat in sight. The film's not perfect, of course-- for one thing, Holmes and Watson weren't nearly as funny as Downey and Law are in the film-- but it was a change that I could live with. Holmes's nemesis in this movie, Lord Blackwood (brilliantly portrayed by the sinister Mark Strong), was apparently gifted in dark magic, using his plots to kill people and build his power and influence, to a point in which he would use it to take over all of England (naturally). On the side, Holmes has to deal with his feelings for the clever criminal Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams)-- a character at the heart of the Holmes story "A Scandal in Bohemia," a woman who frequently manages to outsmart Holmes, or at least keep him on his toes. I was also pleased to discover that they framed the film perfectly for a sequel to come along next-- featuring the brilliant and devious Professor Moriarty, Holmes's number one nemesis in the stories. All things told, although far from a perfect film, I thoroughly enjoyed Sherlock Holmes and would highly recommend it to those who enjoy a pithy, clever, funny, action and suspense-packed mystery. Perhaps not a thriller of the highest order, but definitely a lot of fun-- most of all for the portrayal of the world's most famous detective as he was, just maybe, supposed to be portrayed.

Now Viewing: State of Play

I have been wanting to see this movie since the trailers first caught my attention last winter; having finally viewed it last night, State of Play did not disappoint my expectations.

Russell Crowe stars in this film as Cal McAffrey, a Washington, D.C. journalist from a bygone age, driving an old car and typing on an older computer, valuing legwork and accuracy in reporting in an age where getting the story first is more important than getting it right. Acting alongside stellar performances from Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, and more, the cast of the movie carries but does not steal from the story.

And what an intricate story it is. In order to fully understand the plotlines, I feel like I would have to watch the movie two or three more times. But at its core is two seemingly unconnected deaths that turn out to be threads of a conspiracy that reaches deep into the heart of the Washington political and military scene.

Perhaps my favorite part of State of Play is the starring role it gave to the city of Washington, DC. Most movies that feature DC stick pretty closely to the occasional shot of the Capitol, the White House, and the monuments. State of Play goes significantly farther than that. Viewers familiar with Washington will recognize that the opening scene is shot in Georgetown, near the intersection of M Street and Wisconsin Ave; they will smile at the inclusion of DC landmark restaurant Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street; and they may be able to note that the menu on Cal McAffrey's fridge is from Dupont Circle's Kramerbooks/Afterwords Cafe.

Current events-aware viewers will also recognize the movie's Washington Globe for what it is-- a thinly concealed Washington Post. Other thinly veiled references include frequent allusions to the Watergate office complex and McAffrey's use of a shadowy informant as a source on the inside of PointCorp, a private military contractor that is seemingly taking over the entire US Homeland Security operation (obviously meant to represent Blackwater, the real-life contractor that came under so much criticism in the last couple of years for their conduct in Iraq).

For politicos, DC lovers, and movie aficionados alike, State of Play is a thriller that will not disappoint in its capacity to engage your attention and keep you gripped for several hours.

(For another review of State of Play, be sure to check out my friend Bryan's review over here at his blog.)

Trailer Park

The first trailer for Sex and the City 2 was just released, and to my mind it reveals...nothing. Nothing that we wouldn't have figured out to begin with: you've got the four girls, significant others, New York City, extravagant clothes and locations...but what's the plot going to be? (Probably fairly weak, but fun for wish-I-could-be-Carrie-Bradshaw girls of all ages.)

Iron Man 2, as I have mentioned before, looks like it is going to be fantastic. Need I say more?

And have I mentioned how INSANELY EXCITED I am for Sherlock Holmes? It's coming out on Friday, starring the amazing Robert Downey, Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Dr. Watson. It appears to be quite true to the nature of the original Holmes (the boxer, the violinist, the drug addict), and should be quite an excellent film...

...Probably unlike Valentine's Day (you can guess when that's coming out), which looks like it will probably be a worse version of two of my favorite chick flicks, Love Actually and He's Just Not That Into You. Granted that I will probably see Valentine's Day at some point, and that it has some potential due to an all-star cast lineup, I think I would much rather make my Valentine's Day movie viewing this year something more along the lines of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief-- a promising adaptation of the first book in Rick Riordan's bestselling children's (pre-teen, really) book series.

Now Viewing: Cars

Having just had sinus surgery, I am taking my currently rather hazy brain as a good excuse to catch up on Pixar movies (not that I ever really needed an excuse...). I have long been of the opinion that Pixar just does not make bad movies-- even the few movies they've made that I didn't particularly like ("Antz" and "A Bug's Life") were still excellent.

Last night I watched Cars for the first time. I remember watching the previews for it when they first started to appear back in 2006, and I didn't think it looked particularly good. But I decided to give it a chance in my recent goal to catch up on movies, and I was very pleasantly surprised. Not only is it Pixar's usual top-quality animation that really brings the pictures to life, but the plotline was both engaging, sweet, and profound. Cars tells the story of Lightning McQueen, a top-of-the-line race car living life in the fast lane (literally and figuratively) and loving that he didn't need to think of anyone but himself...until, en route to California for a big race, he got lost and sidetracked into Radiator Springs, a small town off Route 66. There, forced into community service to pay for some early wrongdoings, Lightning gradually learns that there is more to life than the fast lane-- that sometimes it's better to slow down and enjoy the ride.

A bit cliche, perhaps-- but the combination of top-tier animation, big-name stars as the voice actors (including Owen Wilson and Paul Newman), a great soundtrack (ranging from James Taylor to Rascal Flatts), and a good plot makes Cars a thoroughly enjoyable film.

Now Viewing: Good Night, and Good Luck

Written, directed, and acted in by George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck is an homage to perhaps one of the greatest moments in television journalism, the clash between CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow and Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy. Murrow, played to near perfection by David Strathairn (who deservedly received an Oscar nod for the role), was the quintessential newsman in the mid-1950s, working with producer Fred Friendly (played by Clooney) and a team of other journalists to bring one of the early and great news analysis shows to the air, See It Now. McCarthy (brought into the film via authentic news reels) was at the height of his influence in the anti-Communist tirades and Congressional hearings. Long story short, Murrow and Friendly's team reported on the senator's vicious techniques and self-contradictions. With unimpeachable integrity and at significant cost personally and professionally, See It Now undeniably contributed to McCarthy's downfall in the Senate.

Filmed entirely in black and white, Good Night, and Good Luck retains an extraordinarily authentic feel for its times. Although the history within the movie is not entirely accurate-- sticklers will note that Murrow's ultimate showdown with CBS head Bill Paley came later than is portrayed in the film-- much of the film seems to be predominantly on target. The supporting cast, which includes Jeff Daniels, Frank Langella, and Robert Downey, Jr., is nothing short of spectacular.

In short: This film blew me away with the quality of its writing and acting, to say nothing of its subject matter. Good Night, and Good Luck instills a nostalgia for time when men were real men, women were real women, and journalism was courageous in its pursuit of truth. It is, in my opinion, a fitting tribute to Mr. Edward R. Murrow, and to the journalistic profession.

A Good Day for Upcoming Movies

The trailer for Iron Man 2 has also been released as of today, and I gotta say, it looks fan-freaking-tastic. I cannot wait to go see it when it's released in May. Check it out here.

Harry Potter Sneak Peek!

Warner Brothers has released a sneak peek of the upcoming first installment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Having quite literally grown up with Harry Potter, I am super excited about these films; and as a movie lover, I am excited that David Yates is back to direct them.

What I Think of Twilight

I could go on and on. But I'll just leave it at this picture (above), and this video (below):

Summer Movies: #44-51

I've also finished a number of movies this summer. Here's the last part of the list of movies I saw this summer:

44. He's Just Not That Into You: Recent release based on a bestselling self-improvement book. One of the best romantic comedies I've seen since Love Actually...and it was really very much in the Love Actually mold, in that there were multiple couples who were connected to each other in random ways. Perfect movie that both guys and girls often like.

45. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Classic, classic Frank Capra film about an idealistic small-town man who is sent to the Senate as a replacement, and comes face to face with the corruption, wheeling-and-dealing, and compromising that is a part of political life. Must-see film.

46. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason: The sequel to the first Bridget Jones movie. Not quite as good, but still entertaining. Bridget and Mark Darcy are blissfully happy until Bridget's naturally suspicious and jealous nature gets in the way.

47. Miss Congeniality: One of my favorite movies. Female FBI agent (Sandra Bullock) with "no discernible trace of estrogen" has to "turn into a lady" when she goes undercover at the Miss United States beauty pageant.

48. Citizen Kane: This is the movie that vies with The Godfather for the #1 spot on all the top 100 movie lists. A fascinating movie looking into the life of a wealthy, strange, and complicated man, who I believe was at least loosely based on William Randolph Hearst.

49. Ocean's Thirteen: The third movie in the Ocean's series. Not as good as the first, but better than the second. Danny and the gang take on a Las Vegas casino tycoon (Al Pacino) who has cheated Reuben out of a share in a new casino.

50. Under the Tuscan Sun: A beautiful movie based on a beautiful book...although both are quite different. In the movie: a divorced woman takes a trip to Italy, and winds up buying a villa in Tuscany and turns her life around.

51. Noises Off!: Hands-down, one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. The cast of a touring show starts out having trouble getting their act together on-stage; when the show finally comes together on-stage, everything goes bad off-stage. Starring Michael Caine, Carol Burnett, Christopher Reeve, and John Ritter.

Movie Update (#24-43)

It's been a while since I posted the movies I've been watching, so there's quite a bit of ground to make up...here we go:

#24. Gone With the Wind: This 1939 Victor Fleming classic is, simply put, excellent. Vivian Leigh makes a Scarlett O'Hara that you love to hate, and Clark Gable is a smooth, roguish Rhett Butler. One of the greatest books ever written becomes one of the greatest movies ever made.

#25. Dave: A fun comedy about a presidential impersonator (Kevin Kline) who is drafted to actually be the president when the real one is incapacitated. Also starring Sigourney Weaver as the First Lady.

#26. I.O.U.S.A.: Documentary about the truly scary levels of the US national debt, how it's gotten to where it is, and how we might be able to reduce it. Very informative and yet intimidating. Check out the website of the Concord Coalition for more info.

#27. Johnny English: Spy comedy starring the bumbling Rowan Atkinson as Britain's top secret agent, who has an over-inflated opinion of himself but still somehow manages to save the day.

#28. Ferris Bueller's Day Off: Classic comedy starring a young Matthew Broderick as a boy who decides to simply take the day off from school with two of his friends. Fun and sweet.

#29. Minority Report: Excellent psychological suspense thriller starring Tom Cruise. Set in the future in Washington, D.C. when special cyborg-like beings can detect murder before it happens.

#30. Ten Things I Hate About You: An old favorite of mine, starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. Chick flick based on Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew.

#31. Matilda: Disney-esque break! Brilliant but underappreciated by her family, Matilda uses her considerable mental powers to get back at those who belittle her.

#32. The Godfather: This is one of those movies that I felt I absolutely had to see, and I don't regret that decision. EXCELLENT Mafia movie starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. I'll just say this: there's a reason this movie regularly competes with Citizen Kane for the top spot on the American Film Institute's top 100 movies list.

#33. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: The latest film installment of the Harry Potter saga...this was by far my favorite of the HP movies since Prisoner of Azkaban. David Yates did an excellent job directing, and the cast was as usual superb. Well worth seeing if you're a Harry Potter fan...but I still wouldn't reread the book too close to seeing the film. It's always disappointing, no matter what.

#34. Saving Private Ryan: Another Top 100 movie that I'm glad I got to see. Tom Hanks plays Capt. John Miller, the leader of a squad that was assigned to go behind enemy lines to retrieve a private (Matt Damon) whose brothers had been killed in action. I'm not usually much for war movies, but this was just a top-notch film.

#35. Bridget Jones's Diary: A favorite chick flick starring Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant, and Colin Firth. Based on the book by Helen Fielding, about a single girl who resolves to turn her life around by losing weight and finding a nice, sensible boyfriend.

#36. High Society: Classic Cole Porter movie musical (based on The Philadelphia Story) starring Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly, and Louis Armstrong. How does it get better than that?

#37. Made of Honor: Another fun chick flick with Patrick Dempsey. Tom (Dempsey) is asked by his (female) best friend to be the maid of honor at her wedding. The catch? He's in love with her.

#38. High School Musical 3: Senior Year: The third and (presumably) final installment of Disney's High School Musical series. Troy and Gabriella's final year at East High is almost over, and the accompanying emotional turmoil of the end of high school ensues.

#39. Fame: 1980 music/dance flick about a school of performing arts in New York City that is geared toward mostly underprivileged students with talent. The movie follows a few of these students from the auditions to get in through the end of their senior year. A remake is coming out later this year.

#40. The American President: Michael Douglas plays a widower president and Annette Bening his lobbyist love interest in this sweet and funny Aaron Sorkin romantic comedy. This was the movie that sparked the hit series The West Wing, and you can tell-- it's the genius of Sorkin. The president in The West Wing, Martin Sheen, plays the Chief of Staff in this movie.

#41. Mrs. Doubtfire: Robin Williams comedy about a divorced man who really, really wants to spend time with his kids-- to the point of dressing up like an elderly woman to be able to do so.

#42. Pretty Woman: Julia Roberts and Richard Gere romantic comedy. Roberts plays a street prostitute in Hollywood; Gere plays a wealthy businessman who picks her up and then hires her to be his date for the week he's in town.

#43. Mamma Mia!: I had my doubts about this film. Not because I dislike Abba music or any of the actors/actresses, but because Pierce Brosnan is a singing male lead in it-- and I really think James Bond should not sing. But I was pleasantly surprised, and wound up really, really enjoying this movie based on a musical based on a story encompassing hit Abba songs.

I Sing The Body Electric

I love this piece from the movie musical(ish) Fame. It really is an electric piece, especially when you watch the whole movie. It's the perfect finale.

Featured Blog: Hollywood- To Have Faith or Not to Have Faith

My friend Bryan is one of the biggest movie buffs I know. He has superb taste and a picky eye for what is good and bad about the film industry. So when I found out that he writes a blog on which he posts reviews of films, most of which he writes for our school's newspaper, I was delighted. Just to give you an idea of his views, here is the subtitle of his blog, which is called Hollywood- To Have Faith or Not To Have Faith:

The question we all must have when watching a movie is rather simple, is it indicative of Hollywood's continued ability to make good, high quality, intelligent and entertaining films or is it merely yet another black mark on an industry that seems to be losing, if not having already lost its creative touch.

Bryan is taking something of a hiatus from posting for the summer, since he has marched off to the Marine Corps' Officer Candidates School, but his older posts about movies are well worth reading for anyone interested in which recent movies are worth watching, in light of whether or not they justify our faith in the movie industry.

Movie Update

So...when last I posted about movies (which was, I am aware, a shamefully long time ago), I had just watched the aptly named Dr. Strangelove. Since then, I have watched a number of old favorites, and a handful of new (to me) films. They are as follows:

#12. That Thing You Do!: My friend Hayley demanded I see this Tom Hanks movie. As in, every time we talked on the phone, she asked me if I'd seen it yet. Finally I gave in, rented it on iTunes, and absolutely loved it. I love Tom Hanks in general, and this film (while not one of his high-quality Oscar-winners) was really fun. Hanks wrote, directed, and co-starred in this movie about a 1960s boy band that made it big with a hit single. I loved this movie-- could watch it again and again, because it's just one of those films that puts you in a good mood.

#13. Dan in Real Life: I saw this Steve Carrell film when it came out in theaters last year, but I have no recollection of it due to a concussion that I was suffering at the time. My friends said I liked it, so I decided it was time that I rent it and see for myself if I really did. Carrell portrays a family columnist who has a hard time with running his family in real life. I found the film somewhat comedic, though less so than most of Carrell's other films, and incredibly heartwarming as Dan learned the inevitable lessons of reality.

#14. Sex and the City: The Movie: A shameless chick flick based on the hit TV show. Great for girls, not so much for guys. I watched it my sister and a (girl) friend, and enjoyed it.

#15. The Parent Trap: An old favorite...a young, cute Lindsay Lohan back before she "went bad." Somewhat sad now due to the recent loss of Natasha Richardson.

#16. How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days: Again, an old favorite chick flick with Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. Fun plot-- girls' magazine How-To columnist is assigned to write an article about how to drive men away; advertising representative makes a bet that he can make any girl fall in love with him-- both in ten days.

#17. When Harry Met Sally: One of the best chick flicks of all time. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are great as college peers who become friends over the years then fall in love. Funny and sweet.

#18. Batman (1989): I loved this movie. Michael Keaton plays Batman, and Jack Nicholson plays the Joker. I like getting to see the backstory of how the Joker got to be as he is, which you don't really get to see (conclusively) in The Dark Knight. I love both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, but I have to say this is up there with them. (Make sure to watch the Nostalgia Critic's side-by-side comparison of the films.)

#19. You've Got Mail: I love Tom Hanks. He's hands-down my favorite actor. And this is absolutely my favorite chick flick of all time. Books...Tom Hanks...Meg Ryan...great soundtrack...good plotline. How could you go wrong?

#20. The Princess Diaries: It's a cute if inaccurate adaptation of the Meg Cabot book. Anne Hathaway is quite good as awkward Mia Thermopolis who, upon a royal surprise from her grandmother, eventually turns into Princess Mia. Call it a guilty pleasure, I enjoy this movie.

#21. Rent: In one word: powerful. Movie version of the hit musical by Jonathan Larson about a group of New Yorkers in the late 1980s, struggling with AIDS and living the bohemian life. Seen it several times, but it's still one of the few movies that has ever made me cry.

#22. Across the Universe: I gotta admit, Across the Universe really wasn't much my cup of tea as a movie...at least this first time that I've watched it. Don't get me wrong, the music is phenomenal, I found the characters interesting, and and it's very artistic and spends a lot of time on depicting the struggles of the 1960s. But I have issues with movies that spend too much time on artistry and not enough on developing a plot. Still, I have to admit, it was well made.

#23. The Man With One Red Shoe: Again, I love Tom Hanks. This is one of his older, seemingly lesser-known ones that I picked up on a whim at Blockbuster. Hanks plays a concert violinist who is mixed up in a battle between two CIA bosses, both out to get the other. As he is entirely oblivious and falls in love with one of the spies tailing him, the bosses wreak havoc on his life. Not one of Hanks's best movies, but still, of course, enjoyable.

Movie #11: Dr. Strangelove

Oh, the timeliness of this film (still). It actually makes me rather sad. Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb was made in 1964, during the height of the Cold War. Concerns about nuclear war were commonplace. Things have somewhat defused since then...but there is still cause for concern. More and more volatile countries are pursuing atomic weaponry, and perhaps even more worrying, there is a distinct chance that nonstate actors like terrorist organizations are able to pull nuclear technology from "leaking" facilities in the former Soviet Union. All this to say-- the nuclear age is not over. Nuclear worries are not gone. We must continue to monitor these situations and pursue alternative solutions with all our efforts.

All that said-- Dr. Strangelove was a really good movie. Stanley Kubrick, I must say, has a really weird mind to be making this film, but despite the heavy subject matter it was thoroughly entertaining. Peter Sellers plays three different roles-- Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, a British R.A.F. officer stationed at the pivotal Air Force base in the film; President Merkin Muffley, the concerned leader of the United States; and Dr. Strangelove, the weird German-American former Nazi scientist who now heads US weapons development. Sellers plays all three roles to near-perfection. His phone conversations in the role of the president with the Soviet Premier are an absolute riot...and Dr. Strangelove...well, you'll have to watch the movie. He speaks for himself. The rest of the cast is excellent also, including George C. Scott as a go-get-'em Air Force general who's openly suspicious of the "Commies," especially the Russian Ambassador (Peter Bull), a very young James Earl Jones as an Air Force bombadier, and Slim Pickens as Air Force Major Kong, a go-get-'em Stetson-wearing B-52 pilot. A roundly entertaining movie, but one with a message of profound historical import to convey, Dr. Strangelove is a must-see movie for anyone with an interest in the insanity of nuclear warfare.

Movie #10: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

I saw Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian today in theaters with a couple of friends, and I have to say, it was a lot of fun. Although not an especially serious or philosophical movie, or even arguably especially high-quality, it was an enjoyable film, and a much-needed laugh after the intensity of Air Force One. It's the sequel to Night at the Museum, the somewhat popular Ben Stiller film from a couple of years ago. Stiller is back as Larry Daley, a former night guard at NYC's Museum of Natural History whose company has now taken off, meaning that he no longer has to work nights guarding the historical and natural figures who come to life at night in the museum. Although he is successful, Larry seems to miss his old job, and comes one night to visit the museum where he used to work and the characters with whom he worked...only to discover that they're being shipped to the Federal Archives in Washington for storage. When monkey Dexter steals the tablet that brings the figures to life, Larry has one night to get it back before all hell breaks loose. Featuring all the old favorites from the previous movie, Battle of the Smithsonian also adds characters like Amelia Earhart, Gen. Custer, Rodin's The Thinker, Al Capone, a pharoah who wants to rule the world, and even Abraham Lincoln.
The dialogue was entertaining, the plotline was amusing if similar to the original, but for me the two most fun parts of this movie were the actors/characters and the location. I love DC, so it's always exciting for me to see vistas and locations in the city in a movie or TV show. I have to admit though, on that note, that what happened to some of said gorgeous and historic locations made the historian in me cringe. Ben Stiller continued to be mildly entertaining as Larry Daley, but it was the supporting cast that really made the movie. Hank Azaria was hysterical as Pharoah Kahmunrah, trying to conquer the modern world and trying out Archie Bunker's armchair as he waited, and Robin Williams' reprised role as former President Theodore Roosevelt is still great to watch. All in all, don't go see this if you want serious quality filmmaking-- but if you want a flick that doesn't require too much brainpower, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian is a really fun movie.