Hermit the Blog

Hermit the Blog has moved!

2010-11-23T14:51:00.002-06:00

Hey all, Hermit has moved to hermittheblog.com!

Summer Movie Guide: July

2010-07-01T11:05:00.010-05:00

Hey guys, it's a brand new month and I thought I would share a little rundown of some of the big summer movies coming out this month!

JULY 1ST

THE LAST AIRBENDER

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Jackson Rathbone, Dev Patel, Cliff Curtis
Synopsis: Aang (Ringer), a young successor to a long line of Avatars, learns that he possesses the power to engage the Fire Nation and hopefully end their century-long war against the Water, Earth, and Air nations (IMDB.com)
Trailer:

Hermit says: While some marvel at the flashy special effects and fight scenes in the trailer and fans of the popular Nickelodeon TV show may be giddy with excitement, I take a more cynical approach and wonder, "Why did the studio waste so much money to produce this film?" and "Why did they put M. Night Shyamalan (who hasn't made a good movie since Signs in 2002) in charge??"

JULY 9TH

DESPICABLE ME

Directors: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud, Sergio Pablos
Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Jason Segal
Synopsis: A trio of orphan girls cause the normally deplorable Gru to rethink his plan to steal the moon (IMDB.com)
Trailer:

Hermit says: Backed by a voice cast of comedy all-stars (i.e. Steve Carell, Will Arnet, Russell Brand, etc.) and a rather unique plot, this film seems very promising. However without a previous franchise or the brand of Dreamworks or Pixar to back it up, there is a large chance that a film like this will be overlooked by all the big summer blockbusters.

PREDATORS

Director: Nimrod Antal
Starring: Adrien Brody, Alice Braga, Laurence Fishburne
Synopsis: A group of elite warriors are hunted by members of a merciless alien race known as Predators (IMDB.com)
Trailer:

Hermit says: While I am not really convinced that it was a good idea to try to revive the Predator franchise, having Robert Rodriguez on board as a producer gives me a bit of hope that it can be pulled off.

JULY 14TH

THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE

Director: Jon Turteltaub
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Nicolas Cage, Monica Bellucci
Synopsis: A sorcerer leaves his workshop in the hands of his apprentice, who gets into trouble when the broomstick he's tasked to do his chores for him somehow develops a mind of its own (IMDB.com)
Trailer:

Hermit says: I still can't decide which summer movie is going to be a bigger flop, this or The Last Airbender. Or how about a better debate: When was the last time Nicholas Cage was a relevant actor / starred in a good movie?

JULY 16TH

INCEPTION

Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Ken Watanabe
Synopsis: A sci-fi/thriller set within the "architecture of the mind," and centered on a group of business people who can construct a dream world for an individual and then infiltrate that world to steal their subconscious (IMDB.com)
Trailer:

Hermit says: I can't even begin to stress how excited I am for this film. Let's just hope it lives up to the hype and that Nolan can temporarily satisfy the millions of people who are jonesing for the next Batman film.

JULY 23RD

SALT

Director: Phillip Noyce
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Synopsis: As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy (IMDB.com)
Trailer:

Hermit says: Though the screenplay originally featured a male protagonist, I think the gender change was a great decision and Angelina is the perfect leading lady to pull it off. I mean, what can possibly be more entertaining than an action/thriller with a hot chick kicking ass and taking names?

JULY 30TH

DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS

Director: Jay Roach
Starring: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis, Jemaine Clement
Synopsis: A rising executive "succeeds" in finding the perfect guest for his boss's monthly event, a so-called "dinner for idiots," which offers certain advantages to the exec who shows up with the biggest buffoon (IMDB.com)
Trailer:

Hermit says: With Carell & Rudd teaming up again and a hilarious supporting cast that includes Zach Galifianakis and Jemaine from Flight of the Conchords, this movie sounded great to me on paper. But after viewing the trailer featuring an array of unfunny physical gags and unoriginal humor, I am beginning to have some serious doubts. Let's hope this movie has more than meets the eye!

SOUND OFF!

What movies have you guys seen this summer so far? What movies are you most looking forward to? Feel free to share your thoughts!

Movie Review: Toy Story 3

2010-06-22T11:15:00.009-05:00

TOY STORY 3 (2010)

Director: Lee Unkrich

Screenwriter: Michael Arndt

Woody... Tom Hanks

Buzz...Tim Allen

Jessie...Joan Cusack

Rex...Wallace Shawn

Hamm...John Ratzenberger

Ken...Michael Keaton

Lotso...Ned Beatty

MPAA Rating: G

Running Time: 102 minutes

Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of the gang return for the third installment of Disney / Pixar's beloved 'Toy Story' series. After 15 years since the release of the first film, Toy Story 3 picks up with Andy, now 17 years old, preparing to leave for college. He has seemingly outgrown his favorite toys and must decide what to do with them before he leaves. After a series of misunderstandings, the toys end up at Sunnyside Daycare. After some serious conflict with the toys of the daycare, led by Lotso the strawberry scented Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear, the toys embark on a series of crazy adventures as they attempt to escape the daycare and return to Andy before he goes away to college.

As per usual, Pixar delivers yet another fantastic film that perfectly blends elements of witty comedy, edge-of-your-seat adventure, and genuine, heartfelt emotion. Much like Pixar's previous films, Toy Story 3 is not your typical family / children's film. With mature themes about adolescence, detachment, love, and friendship, people of all age groups will find themselves both laughing and crying throughout this film.

The introduction of some new characters adds something new and exciting to the story, while the original characters maintain their signature traits we've grown to know and love from the two previous films. In addition to the film's brilliant screenplay (by Lilttle Miss Sunshine screenwriter, Michael Arndt), the visual detail and art direction is absolutely stunning, and the use of 3-D successfully enhances the experience without going over-the-top.

At a time when Hollywood seems to be spewing out endless amounts unwanted and unnecessary remakes / sequels, Toy Story 3 provides us with a giant breath of fresh air and proves that it is possible to make a trilogy that really works. Toy Story 3 is hands down the best movie I have seen this year so far.

Rating: 4 out of 4 stars

-----------------

What did you guys think of Toy Story 3? Did it live up to the hype of the first two movies? Feel free to share your thoughts and comments!

Return of the Blog! - Summer Movie Thoughts (JUNE)

2010-06-17T15:16:00.017-05:00

Hello everyone, sorry it's been so long since I've updated this thing. But now that summer is well underway, I thought I would get back to blogging and share some thoughts on some of the big summer movies coming out this year. Since we are already halfway through June, let's take a look at the big titles coming out the rest of this month:

JUNE 18

CYRUS
Starring: John C. Reilly, Marisa Tomei, and Jonah Hill
Directed by: Jay & Mark Duplass
Synopsis: A divorced guy John (Reilly) sparks with Molly (Tomei) and takes the initial steps toward a new romance; however, he soon finds himself engaged in a war for Molly's attention with her over-protective son (Hill) [IMDB.com]
Trailer:

Hermit Says: Looks like a decent indie comedy. Probably not the next 'Juno' or 'Little Miss Sunshine', but it will be interesting to see the dynamic / chemistry between its three stars.

TOY STORY 3
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, and more
Directed by: Lee Unkrich
Synopsis: Woody, Buzz, and the rest of their toy-box friends are dumped in a day-care center after their owner, Andy, departs for college. [IMDB.com]
Trailer:

Hermit Says: I'm usually quick to write-off sequels, prequels, and remakes...but this is a HUGE exception. I couldn't be more excited to see this!

JONAH HEX
Starring: Josh Brolin, Megan Fox, and John Malkovich
Directed by: Jimmy Hayward
Synopsis: In the Wild West, a scarred bounty hunter tracks a voodoo practitioner bent on liberating the South by raising an army of the undead. [IMDB.com]
Trailer:

Hermit says: Doesn't look too appealing to me. Seems kind of like 'Hellboy' meets 'Wild Wild West'...and that's NOT a good thing! However, there's one reason I would actually consider going to see this film...[see below]

JUNE 25

GROWN UPS
Starring: Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade, Kevin James, and Rob Schneider
Directed by: Dennis Dugan
Synopsis: Thirty years after their high school graduation, five good friends reunite for a Fourth of July holiday weekend. [IMDB.com]
Trailer:

Hermit says: Pretty much an SNL cast reunion + Kevin James (It's like they replaced Chris Farley with a new, fat, funny white guy). Initially I thought this would be a poor excuse at reviving the careers of a couple irrelevant actors (*cough* David Spade *cough* Rob Schneider), but it turns out this actually looks like a fun and promising comedy and I will definitely be checking it out.

KNIGHT AND DAY
Starring: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz
Directed by: James Mangold
Synopsis: A fugitive couple (Cruise and Diaz) set of on a glamorous and sometimes deadly adventure where nothing and no one - even themselves - are what they seem. Amid shifting alliances and unexpected betrayals, they race across the globe, with their survival ultimately hinging on the battle of truth vs. trust. [IMDB.com]
Trailer:

Hermit Says: While both actors seem very well suited for the characters they are playing, there doesn't seem to anything particularly interesting or original about this film. I'm likely going to skip it.

JUNE 30

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner

Directed by: David Slade

Synopsis: As a string of mysterious killings grips Seattle, Bella, whose high school graduation is fast approaching, is forced to choose between her love for vampire Edward and her friendship with werewolf Jacob. [IMDB.com]

Trailer:

Hermit Says: Though this Twilight film seems much darker and more action-oriented, I still have absolutely no interest in anything Twilight. SORRY!

SOUND OFF!

What movies have you guys seen this summer so far? What movies are you most looking forward to? Feel free to share your thoughts!

The 82nd Annual Academy Award Nominations

2010-02-02T11:58:00.003-06:00

Nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards were announced this morning by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Sid Ganis and Oscar-nominated actress Anne Hathaway. The awards will be will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre on ABC. Check out a list of the major nominations below!

BEST PICTURE
Avatar
Inglourious Basterds
Up in the Air
Precious
The Hurt Locker
District 9
An Education
Up
A Serious Man
The Blind Side

BEST ACTOR
Jeff Bridges [Crazy Heart]
Colin Firth [A Single Man]
Morgan Freeman [Invictus]
Jeremy Renner [The Hurt Locker]
George Clooney [Up in the Air]

BEST ACTRESS
Sandra Bullock [The Blind Side]
Meryl Streep [Julie & Julia]
Gabourey Sidibe [Precious]
Carey Mulligan [An Education]
Helen Mirren [The Last Station]

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Matt Damon [Invictus]
Christoph Waltz [Inglourious Basterds]
Woody Harrelson [The Messenger]
Stanley Tucci [The Lovely Bones]
Christopher Plummer [The Last Station]

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Vera Farmiga [Up in the Air]
Anna Kendrick [Up in the Air]
Mo’Nique [Precious]
Penelope Cruz [Nine]
Maggie Gyllenhaal [Crazy Heart]

BEST DIRECTOR
James Cameron [Avatar]
Kathryn Bigelow [The Hurt Locker]
Lee Daniels [Precious]
Quentin Tarantino [Inglorious Basterds]
Jason Reitman [Up in the Air]

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
District 9
An Education
In the Loop
Precious
Up in the Air

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The Messenger
A Serious Man
Up

Check out the complete list here.

Golden Globe Predictions (Movies)

2010-01-16T11:29:00.013-06:00

As some of you guys might already know...tomorrow night is the 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Although there are still plenty of great films nominated that I still haven't gotten a chance to see yet, I thought I would make an attempt to make a few predictions on who I think will win some of the major FILM categories. Keep in mind that this is not necessarily who I think should win.

BEST MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA

Up in the Air

BEST MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

(500) Days of Summer

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA

George Clooney - Up in the Air

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA

Carey Mulligan - An Education

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Matt Damon - The Informant!

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

Mo’Nique - Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

BEST DIRECTOR - MOTION PICTURE

James Cameron - Avatar

BEST SCREENPLAY - MOTION PICTURE

Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Up

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Feel free to share your thoughts on the nominees / your own predictions on who is going to win. Check out a full list of all the nominees here.

Favorite Movie Soundtracks of the Decade

2010-01-01T16:08:00.022-06:00

Hello everyone, I hope you all had a fun and safe New Year's Eve! If you haven't checked out my end of the year lists (music & movies) or my favorite albums of the decade list yet, please check that out! As a nice little complement to my albums of the decade list, I thought I would share some of my favorite movie soundtracks of the past ten years since I decided to leave them out of my albums list. So here are 10 of my favorite movie soundtracks of the decade:

10. I Am Sam (2002)

Listen to "Across the Universe" by Rufus Wainwright here.

9. Slumdog Millionaire (2009)

Listen to "Jai Ho" by A.R. Rahman here.

8. Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

Listen to "All is Love" by Karen O and the Kids here.

7. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

Listen to "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" by The Soggy Bottom Boys here.

6. Almost Famous (2000)

Listen to "Fever Dog" by Stillwater here.

5. Juno (2008)

Listen to "Anyone Else But You" by The Moldy Peaches here.

4. Walk the Line (2005)

Listen to "It Ain't Me Babe" by Joaquin Phoenix & Reese Witherspoon here.

3. Garden State (2004)

Listen to "New Slang" by The Shins here.

2. Once (2007)

Listen to "Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová here.

1. Across the Universe (2007)

Listen to "All My Loving" by Jim Sturgess here.

[HONORABLE MENTIONS]
School of Rock (2007)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
(500) Days of Summer (2009)

What were some of YOUR favorite soundtracks of the decade? Feel free to share your thoughts!

Favorite Albums of the Decade

2009-12-30T20:30:00.022-06:00

So after much thought and a lot of careful listening and re-visiting, I have compiled a list of my favorite albums of this past decade. Please note these are not necessarily what I think are the "best" albums of the decade or albums that have had the most influence on the music industry...this is merely a list of 50 albums from that past ten years that I have personally enjoyed listening to the most. Here are numbers 50 - 11:

50. In Between Dreams (2005) – Jack Johnson
49. Toxicity (2001) – System of a Down
48. Deloused in the Comatorium (2003) – The Mars Volta
47. It's Never Been Like That (2006) – Phoenix
46. Wincing the Night Away (2007) – The Shins
45. Death Magnetic (2008) – Metallica
44. Bleed American (2001) – Jimmy Eat World
43. Destination: Beautiful (2003) – Mae
42. Rockin' the Suburbs (2001) – Ben Folds
41. Elevator (2005) – Hot Hot Heat
40. In Rainbows (2007) – Radiohead
39. White Blood Cells (2001) – The White Stripes
38. Lupe Fiasco's The Cool (2007) – Lupe Fiasco
37. American Idiot (2004) – Green Day
36. Places You Have Come to Fear the Most (2001) – Dashboard Confessional
35. Funeral (2004) – Arcade Fire
34. Say It Like You Mean It (2002) – The Starting Line
33. A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002) – Coldplay
32. Give Up (2003) – The Postal Service
31. Illinois (2005) – Sufjan Stevens
30. What People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006) – Arctic Monkeys
29. We Don't Need to Whisper (2006) – Angels & Airwaves
28. Battle Studies (2009) – John Mayer
27. Black Holes & Revelations (2006) – Muse
26. A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (2005) – Panic! At the Disco
25. Vampire Weekend (2008) – Vampire Weekend
24. Almost Here (2005) – The Academy Is...
23. Only By the Night (2008) – Kings of Leon
22. Plans (2005) – Death Cab For Cutie
21. Commit This To Memory (2005) – Motion City Soundtrack
20. The Eminem Show (2002) – Eminem
19. Mr. A to Z (2005) – Jason Mraz
18. Ocean Avenue (2003) – Yellowcard
17. Try! (2005) – John Mayer Trio
16. From Under the Cork Tree (2005) – Fall Out Boy
15. Hybrid Theory (2000) – Linkin Park
14. Blink-182 (2003) – Blink-182
13. All Killer No Filler (2001) – Sum 41
12. The Black Album (2003) – Jay-Z
11. Graduation (2007) – Kanye West

And without further ado, here are my Top 10 Favorite Albums of the Decade:

10. Hot Fuss (2004) – The Killers
9. ...Is a Real Boy (2004) – Say Anything
8. By the Way (2002) – Red Hot Chili Peppers
7. Take This to Your Grave (2003) – Fall Out Boy
6. Late Registration (2005) – Kanye West
5. Is This It (2001) – The Strokes
4. Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001) – Blink-182
3. The Blueprint (2001) – Jay-Z
2. Continuum (2006) – John Mayer
1. The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) – Eminem

------------------------------------
A couple weeks ago I asked some friends of mine to compile lists of their own. Here is what they came up with!

[GUEST CONTRIBUTORS]

BEN MARTIN
[in no particular order]
Rush of Blood to the Head (2002) - Coldplay
Narrow Stairs (2008) - Death Cab for Cutie
Pretty. Odd. (2008) - Panic at the Disco
Bleed American (2001) - Jimmy Eat World
Stadium Arcadium (2006) - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Hopes and Fears (2004) - Keane
Continuum (2006) - John Mayer
Eyes Open (2005) - Snow Patrol
Hot Fuss (2004) - The Killers
Good News For People Who Love Bad News (2004) - Modest Mouse

CHRIS RICE
10. Discovery (2001) - Daft Punk
9. Welcome Interstate Managers (2003) - Fountains of Wayne
8. A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (2005) - Panic! at the Disco
7. The Sunrise (2008) - Love Me Electric
6. American Idiot (2004) - Green Day
5. !Viva la Cobra! (2007) - Cobra Starship
4. Santi (2007) - The Academy Is...
3. Take This To Your Grave (2003) - Fall Out Boy
2. Commit This To Memory (2005) - Motion City Soundtrack
1. Rise or Die Trying (2007) - Four Year Strong

KEVIN MATELA
10. Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009) - Dream Theater
9. Lateralus (2001) - Tool
8. III (2006) - Stanton Moore
7. Weathered (2001) - Creed
6. Faceless (2003) - Godsmack
5. Shogun (2008) - Trivium
4. One Day Remains (2004) - Alter Bridge
3. Ashes of the Wake (2004) - Lamb of God
2. Death Magnetic (2008) - Metallica
1. 10,000 Days (2006) – Tool

TIM LEE
[in order of year]
Hybrid Theory (2000) - Linkin Park
Places You Have Come to Fear the Most (2001) - Dashboard Confessional
The Used (2002) - The Used
North (2003) - Something Corporate
Sung Tongs (2004) - Animal Collective
From Under the Cork Tree (2005) - Fall Out Boy
This Is a Stick Up... Don't Make It a Murder (2006) - Hit the Lights
Rise or Die Trying (2007) - Four Year Strong
Carry Me Home (2008) - Archie Star
Aim and Ignite (2009) - fun.

MICHAEL MURRAY
10. Picaresque (2005) – The Decemberists
9. Riot on an Empty Street (2004) – Kings of Convenience
8. Elephant (2003) – The White Stripes
7. Chutes Too Narrow (2003) – The Shins
6. The Cool (2007) – Lupe Fiasco
5. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006) – Arctic Monkeys
4. Electric Version (2003) – The New Pornographers
3. Sea Change (2002) – Beck
2. Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs (2005) – Andrew Bird
1. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002) - Wilco

TOM PATTERSON
10. By the Way (2002) - Red Hot Chili Peppers
9. Blue Scholars (2004) - Blue Scholars
8. Absolution (2004) - Muse
7. The Clarence Greenwood Recordings (2004) - Citizen Cope
6. The Cool (2007) - Lupe Fiasco
5. Graduation (2007) - Kanye West
4. Speak For Yourself (2005) - Imogen Heap
3. Comfort Eagle (2001) - Cake
2. White Blood Cells (2001) - The White Stripes
1. Is This It (2001) - The Strokes

Music of 2009

2009-12-30T13:55:00.007-06:00

Alright so here is my recap of the year in music. I got a little lazy and decided to skip writing little blurbs about each song or album so I apologize in advance...however, I did provide a neat little playlist after each list, so be sure to check that out. Anyway, feel free to share your thoughts on this years music and make any suggestions / recommendations!

Favorite Songs of 2009
Here are ten songs from the year that I just couldn't stop listening to. If you haven't heard any of these songs before, I highly suggest you check them out ASAP.

10. "Walkabout" - Atlas Sound (feat. Noah Lennox)
9. "Make Her Say" - Kid Cudi (feat. Kanye West & Common)
8. "Live Like We're Dying" - Kris Allen
7. "New Perspective" - Panic! At The Disco
6. "Two Weeks" - Grizzly Bear
5. "I've Got Friends" - Manchester Orchestra
4. "Perfectly Lonely" - John Mayer
3. "1901" - Phoenix
2. "Sleepyhead" - Passion Pit
1. "Empire State of Mind" - Jay-Z (feat. Alicia Keys)

Guilty Pleasure Songs of 2009
Here are some popular hits of this year that I am slightly ashamed of actually liking.

10. "I Love College" - Asher Roth
9. "Right Round" - Flo Rida
8. "Bad Romance" - Lady Gaga
7. "Kiss a Girl" - Keith Urban
6.. "Dead and Gone" - T.I. (feat. Justin Timberlake)
5. "Party in the U.S.A." - Miley Cyrus
4. "You Belong With Me" - Taylor Swift
3. . "I Gotta Feeling" - Black Eyed Peas
2. "Cowboy Casanova" - Carrie Underwood
1. "My Life Would Suck Without You" - Kelly Clarkson

Most Annoying Songs of 2009
If you've never heard some of these songs...do yourself a favor and keep it that way!

5. "Best I Ever Had" - Drake
4. "Hoedown Throwdown" - Miley Cyrus
3. "Birthday Sex" - Jeremih
2. "Tik Tok" - Kesha
1. "Fireflies" - Owl City

Favorite Albums of 2009
And finally, here are five albums of this year that I could listen to straight through over and over again.

5. Manners - Passion Pit

Favorite Tracks: Sleepyhead, The Reeling, Little Secrets

4. Mean Everything to Nothing - Manchester Orchestra

Favorite Tracks: I've Got Friends, I Can Feel a Hot One, Shake It Out

3. The Blueprint 3 - Jay-Z

Favorite Tracks: D.O.A. [Death of Auto-Tune], Empire State of Mind, Young Forever

2. Battle Studies - John Mayer

Favorite Tracks: Half of My Heart, Perfectly Lonely, Friends Lovers or Nothing

1. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix

Favorite Tracks: Lisztomania, 1901, Girlfriend

Movies of 2009

2009-12-27T19:52:00.046-06:00

Hey everyone, I know it's been a long time since I've updated but I'm back for good! 2009 is just about over, so I thought I would look back at this year's movies that I've seen and put a little something together. So here is a list of my ten favorite movies of the year, movies I still really need to see, movies that disappointed me, and upcoming movies that I am really excited to check out. But FIRST, let's start things off with a much more fun list:

Hottest Movie Stars of 2009

[Actresses]

5. Zooey Deschanel (500 Days of Summer)

4. Malin Akerman (Watchmen, The Proposal, Couples Retreat)

3. Rashida Jones (I Love You, Man)

2. Kate Beckinsale (Whiteout, Everybody's Fine)

1. Megan Fox (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Jennifer's Body)

[Actors]

5. Taylor Lautner (New Moon)

4. Hugh Jackman (X-Men Origins: Wolverine)

3. Chris Pine (Star Trek)

2. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer, G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra)

1. Ryan Reynolds (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Proposal)

----------------------------------
Favorite Movies of 2009

10. The Blind Side

Probably the best 'feel-good' film of the year. The Blind Side features an outstanding cast of talented actors including Sandra Bullock in possibly the best performance of her career. Though the film may come across as your typical inspirational movie, it proves to be a highly entertaining portrayal of an incredibly compelling true story.

9. Away We Go

A fantastic little indie comedy from Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road) about a hilarious, yet heartfelt journey of an expecting couple struggling to find themselves. Away We Go features very impressive performances from John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph, two actors best known for their roles on TV.

8. I Love You, Man

Despite having a rather simple premise, the film is driven by hilarious performances from Jason Segel and Paul Rudd as well as the great supporting cast. I Love You, Man is filled with awkward situations, heartfelt relationships, hilarious one-liners, and non-stop laughs.

7. Sugar

An incredibly powerful independent film that captures the struggles of Dominican baseball players aspiring to make it to the big leagues. Sugar succeeds at being an atypical sports-flick mixed with raw human drama thanks to an outstanding breakthrough performance by its unknown star, Algenis Perez Soto.

6. The Hangover

Without a doubt, the summer's biggest surprise hit. Even without a cast of well-known actors or a previously existing franchise for support, The Hangover proved that a funny and original R-rated comedy film can still appeal to mass audiences.

5. Where the Wild Things Are

Spike Jonze's film adaptation of the classic children's book, Where the Wild Things Are is a beautifully innovative work of art. Jonze successfully maintains the spirit of the book while still adding his own artistic visions. Though Wild Things is certainly not your typical 'family film,' people of all ages can appreciate the film in one way or another, whether it's the breathtaking visuals, outstanding acting, or Max's wild and emotional journey.

4. Up

Yet another wonderful piece of work from the guys at Disney/Pixar. Much like previous Pixar films, Up includes a perfect blend of comedy, action, and powerful emotional themes and succeeds at turning a rather simple story into one incredibly heartfelt adventure.

3. Star Trek

Forget Transformers. Forget Terminator. J.J. Abrams's reboot of this classic science-fiction franchise perfectly demonstrates exactly what a summer action flick should be. The film features outstanding acting performances from its young, rather unknown cast and breath-taking action sequences that don't solely rely on massive explosions and CGI. But what really makes Star Trek an incredible film is its ability to appeal to hardcore "Trekkies" as well as those of us who are just looking for a solid sci-fi action film.

2. (500) Days of Summer

Unlike typical 'romantic comedies', (500) Days of Summer separates itself from the genre through its honest, sometimes painful, depiction of real-life relationships and its intelligently unique story structure. It strives at being both charming and witty as well as emotionally powerful thanks to the brilliant performances from its two young stars, Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. This is a fantastic little indie gem that is definitely worth checking out.

1. Avatar

Probably the most anticipated film of the year...and fortunately, it lives up to all the hype. James Cameron proves yet again to be one of the only filmmakers in Hollywood to effectively make use of an extremely large budget and ground-breaking technology. Despite following a somewhat familiar storyline, the film basically revolutionizes the possibilities of what can be done in a movie. Avatar excels all across the board from its outstanding acting performances and brilliant directing to its stunning visual effects and heart-racing action sequences. This could very well be the 'Star Wars' of a new generation.

[Honorable Mentions]
Fantastic Mr. Fox
District 9
The Informant!

----------------------------------
Please note: There are still a TON of critically acclaimed films that I haven't seen yet that would have probably had a good chance of making my top 10...Here is a list of some of the movies that I REALLY NEED TO SEE:

The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Up in the Air
Crazy Heart
Sin Nombre
Brothers
~~An Education~~
Invictus
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
~~Sherlock Holmes~~
Nine
A Serious Man
Zombieland
Julie & Julia
A Single Man

----------------------------------
Most Disappointing Movies of 2009
Public Enemies
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
X-Men Origins: Wolverine

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Most Anticipated Movies of 2010

10. Clash of the Titans (March 26, 2010)

Fresh off the success of Avatar, Australian actor Sam Worthington stars in this remake of the 1981 film loosely based on the Greek myth of Perseus. With Terminator Salvation and Avatar under his belt, Worthington seems to be on the verge of becoming the next big Hollywood action star.
[View Trailer]

9. Grown Ups (June 25, 2010)

A comedy featuring a stacked ensemble that includes Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, and David Spade. Basically a Saturday Night Live cast reunion (+ Kevin James...)
[View Trailer]

8. Robin Hood (May 14, 2010)

Highly acclaimed director Ridley Scott teams up with Russell Crowe yet again in an epic re-imagining of the legendary story of Robin Hood. If this film is as good as Scott and Crowe's previous work together (American Gangster, Body of Lies, Gladiator), then it is sure to be a big hit.
[View Trailer]

7. The Expendables (August 20, 2010)

A blockbuster action film written and directed by Sylvester Stallone. Features a stacked cast of action veterans such as Stallone himself, Dolph Lundgren, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li, and Bruce Willis as well as Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke and 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin. With basically every big name action star of the past three decades, I have some rather high expectation for this one...let's hope Sly delivers!
[View Trailer]

6. Date Night (April 9, 2010)

An action-comedy starring Tina Fey and Steve Carell. Also features appearances by Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, James Franco, Ray Liotta, Mark Ruffalo, and Kristen Wiig. Can't wait to see some great comedy chemistry between Fey and Carell, two of my favorite comedy actors.
[View Trailer]

5. Iron Man 2 (May 7, 2010)

Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as Tony Stark in the sequel to the 2008 blockbuster hit. Gwyneth Paltrow also returns as "Pepper" Potts and is joined by Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Sam Rockwell, and Samuel L. Jackson. Let's see if they can top the success of the first Iron Man and keep the hype going for The Avengers film planned for 2012.
[View Trailer]

4. Shutter Island (February 19, 2010)

Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio team up for the forth time in a row in this dark, psychological thriller. This will be Scorsese's first feature film since The Departed in 2006. I'm really excited to see Scorsese's take on the horror / suspense genre.
[View Trailer]

3. Toy Story 3 (June 18, 2010)

Tim Allen, Tom Hanks, and the rest of the gang reprise their roles in the third installment of the Toy Story series. And of course, it will be in 3-D this time...Let's just hope it will be just as good as the first two (though that is not an easy task at all).
[View Trailer]

2. Inception (July 16, 2010)

A sci-fi action thriller directed by Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, The Prestige, Memento). Stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Here's to hoping this will lessen our anxiety for the next Batman film...
[View Trailer]

1. Alice in Wonderland (March 5, 2010)

Tim Burton's highly anticipated interpretation of a classic fantasy novel. Mia Wasikowska plays the role of Alice, alongside Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen, Anne Hathaway as The White Queen, and Crispin Glover as The Knave of Hearts. This is by far the film I am most excited to see in 2010.
[View Trailer]

Well that's all for now guys. Feel free to share your thoughts on the films of 2009 or films you are excited to see next year! Please check back soon for my 'Best (and Worst) Music of 2009 list.'

Acoustic cover of "Party in the USA"

2009-11-10T16:57:00.002-06:00

Check out this sweet music video of my group, The Little Brown Brothers, doing an acoustic cover of "Party in the U.S.A." by Miley Cyrus.

Movie Review: Clerks (1994)

2009-11-02T21:38:00.005-06:00

CLERKS. (1994)

Director / Writer: Kevin Smith
Producers: Kevin Smith, Scott Mosier
Director of Photography: David Klein
Dante... Brian O’Halloran
Randal...Jeff Anderson
Veronica...Marilyn Ghigliotti
Caitlin...Lisa Spoonhauer
Jay...Jason Mewes
Silent Bob...Kevin Smith
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 92 minutes

Rating: 4 out of 4 stars

Despite being made for only about $27,000 and being funded by family donations, paychecks from a local convenience store, and money made from selling a comic book collection, writer/director Kevin Smith's debut film, Clerks proves that you don’t need a big budget or high-profile actors to produce a great film. Thanks to Smith's knack for writing clever, off-color dialogue and his remarkable ability of mixing profane, yet intelligent humor with raw and authentic human drama, Clerks helped transform Kevin Smith from a film school dropout to a well-established indie auteur.

The film centers on a 22-year-old Quick Stop clerk named Dante (Brian O'Halloran) who is called into work on his day off. To make matters worse, he deals with angry, agitated, and sometimes bizarre customers, gets into a heated argument about his girlfriend, Veronica’s (Marilyn Ghigliotti) sexual history and then finds out that his ex-girlfriend Caitlin (Lisa Spoonhauer) is engaged. To help pass the time, Dante is constantly visited by his openly sarcastic best friend Randal (Jeff Anderson), who works at the video store next door. Much of the film follows Dante and Randal as they interact with customers, debate about Star Wars, play a game of hockey on the roof, get kicked out of a funeral, and discuss the dilemma in Dante's love life.

Due to Smith's extremely modest budget, Clerks was shot in black and white with a 16mm camera over the course of 21 days. Because of these limitations, the film certainly has a few flaws including the film's rough editing and some noticeably amateur acting performances. However, these minor flaws are easy to overlook thanks to Kevin Smith's inventive and wildly hilarious screenplay. Smith's use of shockingly explicit dialogue and politically incorrect humor feel authentic and natural when delivered by the characters in the film, and the use of pop culture references help make the film hip and relevant without ever over-doing it.

With its hilarious one-liners and bawdy sex jokes, it is easy to misinterpret Clerks as a one-dimensional "raunch-comedy." However, Smith brilliantly manages to incorporate serious underlying messages about love, friendship, and self-determination into the film without altering its overall tone. Much like the film itself, there's more than meets the eye with the film's two protagonists. Despite the rough-edge exterior of Dante and Randal, there is actually much heart underneath the surface. Though Dante may initially come across as an overly dramatic down-on-his-luck slacker, he's really just a frustrated romantic attached to his past relationship. And while Randal may seem like an uncaring wise-ass, he proves to be a protective companion genuinely devoted to helping out his best friend. Despite being rather unseasoned actors, Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson display great on-screen chemistry and perfectly capture the boredom and frustration of life as a store clerk.

Overall, Clerks is a raw and intelligent indie comedy that proves to be an impressive debut from an inexperienced filmmaker. Over the years, Clerks has reached cult-classic status and is now considered a staple in independent film-making.

Trailer:

Movie Review: Dude, Where's My Car?

2009-10-26T21:09:00.005-05:00

DUDE, WHERE'S MY CAR? (2000)

Director: Danny Leiner
Writer: Philip Stark
Jesse...Ashton Kutcher
Chester...Seann William Scott
Wanda...Jennifer Garner
Wilma...Marla Sokoloff
Christie Boner...Kristy Swanson
Nelson...David Herman
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 83 minutes

Rating: 1 out of 4 stars

Often times you will hear people make the argument that a movie was "so stupid that it was funny." While this concept may be true for some movies, it is much more likely that the movie was just plain stupid. Such is the case with the horrendously unfunny comedy, Dude, Where’s My Car? While the filmmakers were fully aware of the film's outrageous plot, they were unable to capitalize on the slightest potential of its absurd humor and ultimately failed to deliver anything worthwhile.

Ashton Kutcher (TV's That 70's Show) and Seann William Scott (American Pie) star as two senseless stoner buddies named Jesse and Chester. After a night of hardcore partying, Jesse and Chester wake up with no recollection of what happened the night before. After realizing that Jesse's car is missing, the two stoners go on a quest to retrace the events of the previous night and retrieve the missing car. Along the way, the guys find themselves on a crazy adventure involving a pot-smoking dog, violent ostriches, nerds in bubble-wrap jumpsuits, and teams of strange aliens in search of a mysterious device known as the "Continuum Transfunctioner."

Despite being only 83 minutes long, Dude, Where's My Car still seems to drag on for way too long. Parts of the film seem more suitable as a 2-minute SNL skit or as a scene from a TV sitcom, but even in those formats they would fail to deliver laughs. Even with a PG-13 rating, the film manages to be overly crude and distasteful. Throughout the film we encounter an array of offensive stereotypes including obnoxious Asians, manipulative "hot chicks", a perverted blind boy, power-hungry jocks, an angry transsexual stripper, dumb, donut-loving cops, twins who speak in unison, and of course two brainless potheads. Writer Philip Stark seems to have no motivation or underlying purpose for including such characters other than an attempt at scoring a handful of cheap laughs.

In what is supposed to be one of the funniest scenes of the film, the guys discover each other's back tattoos (one says "dude" while the other says "sweet") and proceed to get into an angry back-and-forth banter of confusion about what their respective tattoo says. Rather than making me laugh out loud, this scene made me honestly fear that this scene will go down as our generation's unfunny, half-baked derivative of Abbott & Costello's classic "Who's on First?" routine.

On a brighter note, Kutcher and Scott do display great on-screen chemistry throughout the film. Unfortunately, this is likely because both actors have mastered the art of playing the exact same loud-mouthed moron in virtually everything they are in. Unlike the well-executed films of this type of comedy (i.e Wayne's World or Dumb and Dumber), the two protagonists of Dude Where's My Car are neither funny nor likable. As viewers, we can't help but ask, "Why should I care about these two pathetic losers?"...or better yet, "Why did I just sit through this god-awful movie?"

Trailer:

Movie Review: Where the Wild Things Are

2009-10-19T17:40:00.006-05:00

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (2009)

Director: Spike Jonze
Writers: Spike Jonze & Dave Eggers
(based on book by Maurice Sendak)
Cinematography: Lance Acord
Music: Karen O and Carter Burwell
Production Designer: K.K. Barrett
Costume Designer: Casey Storm
Max…Max Records
Mom… Catherine Keener
Boyfriend… Mark Ruffalo
Carol…voiced by James Gandolfini
KW…voiced by Lauren Ambrose
Douglas…voiced by Chris Cooper
Ira…voiced by Forest Whitaker
Judith…voiced by Catherine O'Hara
Alexander…voiced by Paul Dano
MPAA rating: PG
Running Time: 100 minutes

Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars

Adapting a popular children's book into a feature film can be quite a difficult task for most filmmakers. But when you take one of the most beloved classics in children's literature like Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, and put it in the hands of a smart, innovative director like Spike Jonze, the result is a fantastic work of art that proves to be one of the best films of the year. Jonze successfully stays true to the spirit of the source material while still adding his own artistic vision; taking bold liberties both visually and narratively that really bring Sendak's story to life. The film captures the playful, imaginative aspects of childhood as well as the raw, sometimes painfully emotional side thanks to the outstanding performances from the entire cast. Overall, Where the Wild Things Are is a perfect blend of breathtaking visuals, exciting adventure, and powerful emotional themes.

The film follows a rambunctious little youngster named Max (Max Records) who feels neglected and misunderstood by his older teenage sister and his struggling single mother (Catherine Keener). After being sent to his room for misbehaving, Max escapes to an island inhibited by strange creatures with realistic, child-like personality traits. He quickly wins the affection of the 'Wild Things' and they crown him as their leader. Max promises to create a place where everyone can be happy, but soon discovers the difficulties of trying to please everyone and finds himself yearning to return home.

Some of the strongest aspects of the film come from the changes to story made by Spike Jonze and screenwriter Dave Eggers, such as the decision to give names and distinct personalities to each of the Wild Things. Jonze brilliantly uses the individual creatures to symbolize the different sides of Max's personality. Among them are the short-tempered and smothering Carol (voiced by James Gandolfini), the wild, free-spirited KW (Lauren Ambrose), and the young, insecure Alexander (Paul Dano). Despite being made of large animatronic suits with CGI faces, the Wild Things prove to be just as real and complicated as the film's human characters.

Spike Jonze, who is best known for his idiosyncratic style, takes a much different approach with this film. His previous films (Being John Malkovich and Adaptation) were very analytical and unconventional, whereas Where the Wild Things Are is rather simple and straight-forward, yet still a little bit edgy. It is important to note that this is not your typical family film. While most family films these days feature action-packed 3D animation, talking dogs, or crime-fighting guinea pigs, Where the Wild Things Are is much more raw and dramatic. Like the recently popular Disney/Pixar films like WALL-E or Up, this film features emotionally complicated material that might be difficult for younger kids to really understand. Nevertheless, I believe that people of all ages can appreciate Where the Wild Things Are in one way or another, whether it's the beautiful imagery, the outstanding acting performances, or the powerful, heartfelt adventure of Max's journey.

Trailer:

Hermit's TV Debut!

2009-10-09T21:44:00.006-05:00

So my last post was actually an extended version of a movie review I did for a student-run group here at the University of Illinois called JAMS. Every month they put on a production called "JamSessions" for UI-7, a local university television channel. JamSessions features a movie review segment known as "Movie Corner." This week I was asked to review the film, "The Invention of Lying." This was the first time I ever filmed anything in a professional TV studio before so I was a little nervous, but overall I thought it went fairly well. Please check out my segment from the show below and feel free to share your feedback!

Movie Review: The Invention of Lying

2009-10-06T16:49:00.010-05:00

THE INVENTION OF LYING (2009)

Directors: Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson
Screenwriters: Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson
Mark...Ricky Gervais
Anna...Jennifer Garner
Brad...Rob Lowe
Greg...Louis C.K.
Frank...Jonah Hill
Anthony...Jeffery Tambor
Martha...Fionnula Flanagan
Shelley...Tina Fey
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 99 minutes

Rating: 2.5 out of 4 stars

The Invention of Lying is a new comedy co-written, co-directed, and starring Ricky Gervais, best known as creator and star of the original British version of The Office and the HBO sitcom Extras. The film takes place in a parallel world in which everyone speaks nothing but the truth with no thought of the consequences. But when a down-on-his-luck loser named Mark (played by Gervais) suddenly develops the ability to lie, he discovers that dishonesty can get him ahead in the world.

The film scores a handful of big laughs early on with jokes in the form of off-color, brutally honest comments by the people in this parallel world. A lot of the humor also lies in the underlying religious mockery found throughout the film. One of the funniest scenes in the movie is when Mark informs the world of the "Man in the Sky" in a hilarious speech that is constantly interrupted with Monty Python-esque satire. After a while, however, these jokes become overdone and gimmicky.

With the exception of co-star Jennifer Garner, who wonderfully plays Mark's love interest, the all-star supporting cast (which includes Rob Lowe, comedian Louis CK, Jeffery Tambor, Jonah Hill, and Tina Fey) is completely underused. There are also a few random appearances from big name actors such as Philip Seymour Hoffman, Edward Norton, and Jason Bateman that seem to have little purpose in the film's plot.

Despite having a unique and original premise, the film falls short of being truly inventive by relying on typical romantic comedy conventions. With a funny high-concept script and a talented lead actor, the film had the potential of a Liar Liar or Groundhog Day-type comedy…but ultimately, The Invention of Lying is just a smart, above-average romantic comedy that doesn't quite follow through on its promise.

Trailer:

Movie Review: The Night of the Hunter (1955)

2009-09-30T18:34:00.006-05:00

Here is my second assignment for my "Film Reviewing" class. Hope you enjoy...

THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955)

Director: Charles Laughton
Producer: Paul Gregory
Screenwriters: James Agee, Charles Laughton
(Based on novel by Davis Grubb)
Cinematography: Stanley Cortez
Music: Walter Schumann
Harry Powell...Robert Mitchum
Willa Harper...Shelley Winters
John Harper...Billy Chapin
Pearl Harper...Sally Jane Bruce
Birdie Steptoe...James Gleason
Icey Spoon...Evelyn Varden
Rachel Cooper...Lillian Gish
Running Time: 93 minutes

Rating: 2.5 out of 4 stars

The 1955 thriller, The Night of the Hunter stars Robert Mitchum as Harry Powell, a murderous preacher who stalks and torments two small children in attempt to get to their dead father’s stolen fortune. The film has acquired a cult following and is considered a classic by many movie lovers. While The Night of the Hunter certainly has a few promising qualities, such as Mitchum’s haunting performance as the villainous, child-hunting preacher, I found the film to be overwrought, gaudy, and often times confusing. Despite having an interesting story and a talented lead actor, the film’s potential is undermined by weak performances from the supporting cast and the disrupted pacing leading into its exhausting conclusion.

Robert Mitchum puts on the performance of his career as the psychopathic Harry Powell. Armed with the infamous “LOVE” and “HATE” tattoos on the knuckles of each hand, and a deep, gravelly voice as he boisterously calls out to the two terrified children, Mitchum fully embodies the creepiness and frightening presence necessary to pull off such a role.

Unfortunately for Mitchum, none of the supporting actors in the film can match up to the caliber of his performance. Shelley Winters plays Willa Harper, the widowed mother of the two children. Willa mistakenly falls in love with Harry and marries him, completely oblivious to his true intentions. Her naivety is so overplayed that it becomes hard to understand her character’s motives. She is so easily manipulated by Harry, making it difficult to really sympathize with her character. Other supporting characters include Icey Spoon (Evelyn Varden), owner of a local shop whose absurd humor is sometimes funny but mostly overdone and out of place, and Uncle Birdie (James Gleason), a drunken fisherman that gets abandoned early on in the film.

While it might seem a little unfair to critique child actors, especially from the 1950’s, it seems necessary when they play such an integral role in the film’s plot. In this case, the child stars are what makes this film difficult to connect with. The two children (played by Billy Chapin and Sally Jane Bruce) seem incapable of expressing emotions in a manner that is required for the suspense of the film to work. Their reactions to life-or-death situations seem forced and unnatural. This can be especially seen in the over-the-top, sometimes laughable chase scene, in which Harry clumsily wrestles through conveniently placed obstacles as he pitifully fails to catch the two little children.

After this overdramatic chase scene, the tension and momentum of the film comes to an abrupt halt as the plot transitions into a slower, less interesting chapter of the story. Finally, after what seems like a logical ending, the film continues needlessly for about another 15 minutes. While I can see why The Night of the Hunter is considered by many to be a cult classic, I found it difficult to fully enjoy. Even Mitchum’s outstanding performance isn’t enough to save this film from its weak supporting cast, overdone dramatics, and overextended conclusion.

Trailer:

Jay-Z & John Mayer at 9/11 Concert

2009-09-12T20:33:00.005-05:00

Last night Jay-Z put on a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden for his "Answer the Call" concert, which paid tribute to the police officers and firefighters who died from the September 11th terrorist attacks. The concert aired on Fuse TV, and all proceeds were donated to the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund. Jay-Z performed over 2 hours of his hit songs as well as new material from his brand new album, The Blueprint 3. The night was filled with special guest appearances by Mary J. Blige, Beyonce, Kanye West, Rihanna, P. Diddy, and John Mayer.

Check out this clip from Jay's incredible collaboration with John Mayer!

Source: The Associated Press

Remembering September 11th

2009-09-11T08:39:00.005-05:00

In memory of the tragic events that fell upon our country eight years ago today, I thought I would share a few videos / tribute songs to honor those who were lost on September 11th, 2001. We will never forget that day, and as a country we will continue to be strong and move forward.

"The Rising" by Bruce Springsteen

"Believe" by Yellowcard

"The Innocent" by Good Charlotte, Goldfinger, and Mest

"Freedom (LIVE)" by Paul McCartney

Movie Review: Cat People

2009-09-09T22:43:00.008-05:00

So this semester I am in a five person class that is solely devoted to 'Film Reviewing.' This week we had to write our first review for a movie we screened in class called Cat People. I decided to post the reviews I will be writing throughout the year, so here is my first film review of the semester...hope you enjoy!

CAT PEOPLE (1942)

Director: Jacques Tourneur
Producer: Val Lewton
Screenwriter: DeWitt Bodeen
Cinematography: Nicholas Musuraca
Music: Roy Webb
Editing: Mark Robson
Irena...Simone Simon
Oliver Reed...Kent Smith
Dr. Louis Judd...Tom Conway
Alice Moore...Jane Randolph
Running Time: 73 minutes

When producer Val Lewton was appointed head of the horror unit at RKO studios, he was told to follow three rules: each film he produced had to have a budget under $150,000, a running time under 75 minutes, and his supervisors had to supply the title for each film. For his first production, Lewton teamed up with director Jacques Tourneur for a film titled Cat People. Despite having limited resources, the film ended up being a major success and marked the first of Lewton’s nine horror classics. Cat People has become a renowned classic film due to its separation from the conventions of the horror genre. Rather than frightening the audience with shocking murders or grotesque violence, Cat People plays off the eerie suspense and fear of a mysterious unseen threat and features psychological themes of jealousy and sexual desire that were significantly ahead of its time.

The film begins by following the relationship between Irena Dubrovna (Simone Simon), a Serbian-born fashion artist and Oliver Reed (Kent Smith), an American architect. After their initial meeting, the two instantly fall in love and quickly get married. They hit a rough patch in their marriage, however, when Irena becomes consumed with the belief that she is a descendent of a Serbian tribe that was cursed by devil worshippers. She avoids intimate relations with her husband out of fear that she will turn into a deadly panther if she becomes sexually or emotionally aroused.

Tourneur brilliantly highlights the marital tensions and emotional distance between Irena and Oliver through their frequent conversations from separate rooms, discussing their problems through a closed door. Simone Simon does an outstanding job of portraying the confused bride who is torn between her love for Oliver and her constant fear of ancient superstition. At times we pity Irena and her inability to find happiness in their marriage, but after a series of strange incidents our suspicions begin to grow. Through an overkill of cat references, constant visual cues, clever hints in the dialogue, and a series of peculiar events, it becomes obvious that something is not right with Irena.

Meanwhile, Oliver's efforts to fix their problems only make matters worse. He persuades his wife to seek a psychiatrist, Dr. Louis Judd (Tom Conway), who develops a dangerously inappropriate attraction to Irena. He then confides to his flirtatious co-worker Alice (Jane Randolph), who is clearly in love with him. In two separate occasions, Alice is stalked by what she believes was the cat-form of Irena attempting to kill her out of jealousy and rage. These two pivotal scenes truly capture the dark and ominous tone of the film. Tourneur and cinematographer Nicholas Musuraca master the use of intricate lighting and luminous shadows to really emphasize the mysterious nature of Irena’s character. By only showing the large shadow of Alice’s stalker, Tourneur creates an atmosphere that causes fear though our own imagination. Cat People proves that you don’t need a big budget, special effects, or physical violence to make a great film that frightens the audience. An innovative film like this is worthy of being considered a classic horror film and is truly a must-see for all fans of modern psychological or supernatural thrillers.

Rating: 3 out of 4 stars

Trailer:

Best Movies of Summer 2009

2009-08-29T09:46:00.011-05:00

So with the summer season coming to a close, I thought I would share some of my favorite movies of the summer. Please keep in mind that there are a few great films I haven't gotten around to seeing yet (such as Inglourious Basterds and The Hurt Locker). With that being said, here are my picks for the 'Best Movies of Summer 2009'...feel free to share your own personal favorites!

Up

Much like last year's WALL-E, Pixar delivered yet another fantastic piece of art that includes the perfect blend of comedy, excitement and powerful emotional themes. Up succeeds at turning a rather simple story into one incredibly heartfelt adventure.

The Hangover

This summer's biggest surprise hit. Even without a cast of well-known actors or a previously existing franchise for support, The Hangover proved that an original R-rated comedy film can still appeal to mass audiences.

Star Trek

This is what an summer action flick SHOULD be. J.J. Abrams's reboot of this classic sci-fi franchise successfully appealed to the hardcore 'Trekkies' while still being able to draw in new fans. Star Trek features outstanding acting performances from it's young, rather unknown cast and breath-taking action sequences that don't solely rely on massive explosions and CGI.

500 Days of Summer

I hate to over-sell this movie, but it could possibly be one of the best films I've seen in the past 5 years. Unlike the typical 'rom-com', 500 Days of Summer separates itself from the genre through it's honest, sometimes painful, depiction of real-life relationships and its intelligently unique story structure. It strives at being both charming and witty as well as emotionally powerful thanks to the brilliant performances from its two young stars, Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. This fantastic indie gem is easily one of the best films of this summer.

Blink-182 Documentary

2009-08-27T12:22:00.003-05:00

Check out this preview for an upcoming documentary on the Blink-182 reunion tour!

Top 10 Things College Kids Love

2009-08-26T17:23:00.007-05:00

So now that summer is coming to an end and my classes have started up again, I've been slacking pretty badly at updating this blog. I apologize to whoever actually reads this, and I will do my best to update it whenever I get a chance. Anyway, to add on to my laziness...here is my poor excuse at an update. I say that because this is actually a list that I compiled last year and posted on Facebook, but in spirit of people going back to college or perhaps attending college for the first time...here is a revisit at my list of the "Top 10 Things That College Kids Love":

10. The North Face

- The college kid's favorite way to stay warm while staying stylish.

9. Bikes

- The fastest way to get to class...but beware of collisions.

8. Radiohead

- Music that [almost] ALL college kids can agree on (Honorable mentions: Sufjan Stevens and Death Cab for Cutie)

7. Drinking Games

- Beer pong, flippy cups, circle of death, etc...Drinking beer just got FUN!

6. Fast food

- Apparently fast food tastes betters when you are drunk.

5. Cheap beer

- Natural Light, Busch Light, Keystone, etc. (The cheapest way to get drunk)

4. iPods

- Everyone's got one...Nothing's better than listening to your favorite tunes on your way to class.

3. Coffee

- Need to stay up late to write a paper, but you don't wanna be dead tired during all your classes tomorrow? No problem...just pick up a coffee at the near by Starbucks and you are good to go.

2. Fancy Cell Phones

- Sometimes I feel like I am stuck in a giant cell phone commercial. Everyone is up to date with the coolest new phones...and they are ALWAYS using them.

1. Facebook

- The ultimate distraction...why do your homework when you can look at 80 pictures of people you don't even talk to getting wasted and making fools of themselves??

Originally posted: September 12, 2008

Blink 182 concert - Tinley Park IL (8-15-09)

2009-08-17T11:03:00.006-05:00

Sorry it's been so long since I last updated! It's the last week of summer before I go away for school again so it's been kind of crazy. Anyway, last Saturday I was lucky enough to attend the sold out Blink 182 concert in Tinley Park. Considering Blink 182 has been my all-time favorite band since about 4th grade...it was definitely the best highlight of my summer.

For those of you who are interested, I thought I would share each band's set list and a nice little blurb about it. (Note: I did not include Chester French's set list...I was out buying a tour t-shirt during their set, but I think I overheard them playing a cover of Cutting Crew's "(I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight"...so kudos for that!)

Panic! At The Disco

SET LIST
1. Time To Dance
2. But It's Better If You Do
3. The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage
4. That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)
5. Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off
6. Camisado
7. New Perspective
8. Nine In The Afternoon
9. I Write Sings Not Tragedies

The 'new and improved' Panic! At The Disco (sans guitarist Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker) put on an overall great opening band performance. Thanks to front-man Brendan Urie's spot-on vocal riffs and high energy (and several shout-outs to Blink...and 'f*cking'), Panic successfully kept the anxious crowd entertained.

Fall Out Boy

SET LIST
1. Sugar, We're Going Down
2. Thriller
3. A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More 'Touch Me'
4. Grand Theft Autumn (Where Is Your Boy)
5. Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown
6. This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race
7. I Don't Care
8. I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy And All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me
9. Thnks Fr Th Mmrs
10. Don't Stop Believin' (Journey Cover)
11. Dance Dance
12. Saturday

The boys are back in town! After seeing Fall Out Boy in concert about 5 times now, I pretty much knew what to expect. But unlike the previous times I've seen them, they weren't the headlining band. Typically they would play like a 20 song set allowing them to play some of their older fan favorites...but as a band opening for Blink-182, Fall Out Boy limited their set to mainly their big radio friendly hits and even a cover of a popular Journey song that EVERYONE can (and did) sing along to. Although it was great to see Fall Out Boy elated to be rocking out in their hometown again, it was also bittersweet...as Pete Wentz subtly announced that this would be the last time they'd play in Chicago for a "really really long time."

Blink-182

SET LIST
1. Dumpweed
2. Feeling This
3. The Rock Show
4. What's My Age Again?
5. Violence
6. I Miss You
7. Stay Together For The Kids
8. Down
9. Always
10. Stockholm Syndrome
11. First Date
12. Man Overboard
13. Don't Leave Me
14. Not Now
15. Adam's Song
16. All The Small Things
17. Reckless Abandon
18. Josie
19. Anthem Pt. 2

Encore
Travis - Drum Solo
Carousel
Dammit

I don't think I have ever been so anxious for a headlining band to hit the stage in my life. From the moment the guys struck the opening chord to 'Dumpweed' to the last ringing note of 'Dammit', I was jumping around and screaming like a little girl at a Jonas Brothers concert. Mark, Tom, and Travis delivered a 22 song set that included all their big hits, several songs for their self-titled album, a few lesser known gems for all the die hard fans (i.e. 'Not Now' and 'Josie'), a mind-blowing drum solo, and of course some off-color banter in between songs about gay sex, hand jobs, blow jobs, etc. (as well as some hilariously profane 'lyrical enhancements' by Tom DeLonge). They performed with such great energy and chemistry that it was hard to believe they had been on 'hiatus' for over 4 years. Although they still ran around and goofed off like the old Blink, there were a few changes that stood out to me including extended intros/outro and swapping vocal parts. Two great moments that I loved was the way Tom told the story of how Blink was formed before playing 'Reckless Abandon' and of course the adorable 'group hug' between Tom, Mark, and Travis in the middle of their set. They made it clear that they are back and that they are here to stay...which was more than good news to hear for me and the 30,000 other Blink fans in attendance on Saturday night.

My 'Indie Movie Soundtrack'

2009-08-12T11:30:00.005-05:00

So after seeing 500 Days of Summer, then going to Lollapalooza for 3 days, and then getting ready to go back to college...I have kind of been in an 'indie music' mood. So I thought I would share this little playlist that I put together of songs that I would feature on my hypothetical 'indie movie soundtrack.' Hope you enjoy:

The 500 Days Reunion Bank Dance

2009-08-11T12:03:00.011-05:00

Yes, Star Trek was wildly entertaining. Sure, The Hangover was laugh-out-loud funny. And Up was indeed a truly heart-warming story...but 500 Days of Summer was all of the above and more. Those of you fortunate enough to have seen the film will hopefully agree, and those of you who haven't...well, what are you waiting for?? Anyway, whether or not you have seen 500 Days of Summer, I think you will enjoy this sweet short video that was put together by the director of the film, Marc Webb and it's two stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. (Also note that the video features a song by Zooey's band, She & Him)

Also in case you missed it, here's my short review of 500 Days of Summer:

"As stated in the opening lines of this film, "this is not a love story." 500 Days of Summer is an unconventional romantic comedy that separates itself from the genre through it's honest, sometimes painful, depiction of real-life relationships as well as it's intelligently unique story structure. It strives at being both laugh-at-loud funny with it's clever and playful writing and emotionally powerful as you become deeply invested in the relationship of the two stars, thanks to the outstanding performances by Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Much credit must also be given to first-time director Marc Webb for presenting this incredible story in such a beautiful and artistic manner. 500 Days of Summer is undoubtedly one of the best films of the year so far and I highly suggest you go check it out."

Movie News Round-Up

2009-08-10T15:09:00.006-05:00

Michael Jackson's This Is It to be Released Oct. 30
The film will feature footage of Jackson's final rehearsals for a planned series of London comeback concerts. (Link)

Jackman Say Work on Wolverine 2 is Starting
Hugh Jackman has confirmed that Wolverine 2 will take place in Japan. (Link)

Paul Giamatti is 'Larry' in The Three Stooges
Paul Giamatti will replace Sean Penn as Larry in The Three Stooges. Benicio Del Toro is still attached to play Moe, but Jim Carrey won't be playing Curly as was previously reported. Farrelly did not tell them who will take on the role instead. (Link)

Frank Langella joins Wall Street 2
Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon) will be joining the cast of Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps, the sequel to be directed by Oliver Stone. (Link)

Steven Spielberg to Produce Halo Movie?
Rumor has it that Steven Spielberg is in talks to produce Halo: The Fall of Reach, screenwriter Stuart Beattie's adaptation of the Eric Nylund novel that is based on the series of video games. (Link)

Trailer for "New York, I Love You"
Vivendi Entertainment has revealed the trailer for the ensemble film, New York, I Love You, opening in theaters on October 16. (View Trailer Here)

Trailer for "Where the Wild Things Are"
Warner Bros. Pictures has revealed the new trailer for Spike Jonze's adaptation of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, hitting conventional and IMAX theaters on October 16. (View Trailer Here)

A Brave New World for Scott and DiCaprio
Ridley Scott and Leonardo DiCaprio are looking to bring Aldous Huxley's classic, Brave New World, to the big screen. (Link)

Trailer for "The Lovely Bones"
DreamWorks Pictures has now revealed the full trailer for Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones, opening in theaters on December 11. (View Trailer Here)

Filmmaker John Hughes dies at 59

2009-08-06T18:08:00.007-05:00

Chicago-based filmmaker, John Hughes died suddenly today of a heart attack while taking a morning walk while visiting family members in Manhattan. He was only 59 years-old.

Hughes was best known for his depiction of "the joys and heartbreak of high school in the '80s" with films like Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. He "treated teens with respect, reaching beyond the traditional stereotypes to create characters that spoke to a generation." In the process, he nurtured the careers of young actors like Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall and Ally Sheedy and helped spawn what is known as 'The Brat Pack', a nickname given to a group of young actors / actresses of the 80's who frequently appeared together in these "teen-oriented coming-of-age" films.

To avoid being typecast as a 'teen comedy filmmaker', Hughes branched out in the late 80's with several collaborations with the late comic performer John Candy. Candy appeared in several Hughes films including National Lampoon's Vacation, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, The Great Outdoors, and Uncle Buck.

Though most associated with the 1980's, the 1990's brought Hughes his biggest box-office hits with the Home Alone franchise. In the last decade, Hughes stepped back from the legacy he created to enjoy time with his family, maintain a functioning farm in northern Illinois and support independent arts.

Hughes is survived by his wife of 39 years, Nancy, his two sons, John and James, and four grandchildren.

A full filmography of films written, directed, and produced by John Hughes can be found here

Sources: Variety, E!, THR

Paula Abdul leaves American Idol

2009-08-05T22:53:00.010-05:00

American Idol judge Paula Abdul has announced that she will not return to American Idol for another season. Here is the full official statement released by Fox:

"Paula Abdul has been an important part of the American Idol family over the last eight seasons and we are saddened that she has decided not to return to the show. While Paula will not be continuing with us, she's a tremendous talent and we wish her the best."

Here's what Paula said on her Twitter page:

"With sadness in my heart, I've decided not to return to IDOL. I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day 1 become an international phenomenon. What I want to say most, is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me. It truly has been breathtaking, especially over the past month. I do without any doubt have the BEST fans in the entire world and I love you all."
----------------------

Fellow American Idol judges Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell (who has once been quoted saying that he does not want to do Idol without Abdul) are not commenting. Idol host Ryan Seacrest posted a response on his Twitter page saying: "I am shocked and saddened."

As usual, EW's 'Idol Expert' Michael Slezak and I share very similar opinions on this giant game changing move...Check out what Slezak has to say here.

Sources: EW, Twitter

Possible Sequel to 'True Lies'?

2009-08-04T11:06:00.008-05:00

Actor/comedian Tom Arnold recently told The New York Times that he will be reuniting with True Lies director James Cameron and co-star Arnold Schwarzenegger for a movie next year. According to Mr. Arnold, shooting will begin in 14 months (the day after Schwarzenegger ends his term as governor of California) and the movie will not be called 'True Lies II', but "it might as well be."

True Lies was released in the summer of 1994 and earned $378.9 million worldwide. What do you guys think about the idea of a possible sequel 15 years later? Better yet, how do you feel about Schwarzenegger's possible return to the big screen? Feel free to share your thoughts.

Sources: The New York Times , ComingSoon.net

Thoughts on 'Funny People'

2009-08-04T01:05:00.001-05:00

Funny People
Directed by: Judd Apatow
Starring: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann

Current 'King of Comedy' Judd Apatow successfully captures the deeper, darker side of the comedy world while still incorporating his usual dose of raunchy sex jokes, hilarious one-liners, and excellent supporting players (Leslie Mann, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman, Eric Bana, etc.). Despite a some-what weak and unorganized last portion of the film, Funny People works as both a comedy and a drama thanks to the effortless humor and emotional depth displayed by the film's two stars, Seth Rogen and Adam Sandler. The film effectively demonstrates a level of growth and maturity from both Sandler and Rogen, but also showcases Apatow's versatility as both a writer and director. Although this film is not quite as good as the two previous films written and directed by Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up), it is certainly in the same ballpark. If you are a fan of any of the previous films by Judd Apatow, you are certain to enjoy Funny People, and I highly recommend that you check it out.

Comparison by numbers
This past weekend, Funny People debuted as number one in the box office. Here is how the film's opening weekend numbers compare to Apatow's previous two films:

The 40-Year-Old Virgin: $21,422,815
Knocked Up: $30,690,990
Funny People: $22,657,780

Source: Box Office Mojo

Music Monday #7

2009-08-03T12:08:00.005-05:00

Last night I saw the new movie, Funny People in theaters and I really enjoyed some of the music featured in the film. So I decided to share a couple of the songs from the movie with you guys for ' Music Monday.'

This first song is actually performed by the star of the movie, Adam Sandler. It's a cover of the song "Real Love" that was written by John Lennon in 1979/1980 but unreleased until 1988 when used on the soundtrack for the documentary, Imagine: John Lennon. The song was then reworked by the three remaining members of The Beatles (Paul, George, and Ringo) and released as a Beatles single in 1996. Adam Sandler actually does a fantastic rendition of the song that effectively captures the mood of the film. Check out Adam Sandler's version below (ignore the intro):

Surprisingly, Adam Sandler wasn't the only actor of Funny People that got to show off his musical talents. Cast member Jason Schwartzman's solo music project Coconut Records also contributes two songs to the soundtrack of the film. Check out the song, "Wires" below:

Summer Movie Guide (AUGUST)

2009-08-01T11:03:00.009-05:00

Wow, this summer has gone by way too fast...I can't believe it's already August. Anyway, a new month means a new batch of movies to check out before you go back to school. Here is my guide to some of the big titles coming out this month:

SUMMER MOVIE GUIDE - AUGUST

AUGUST 7TH

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rachel Nichols
Director: Stephen Sommers
Trailer: View Here

'The Matrix' meets 'Transformers'...This movie is bound to be a big, action-packed summer popcorn flick, but will it be able to hold it's own against the Transformers franchise?

Julie & Julia
Starring: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci
Director: Nora Ephron
Trailer: View Here

Meryl Streep teams up again with 'Doubt' co-star, the young and talented Amy Adams in a film written and directed by Nora Ephron (the mastermind behind romantic comedies classic like 'When Harry Met Sally..' and ' Sleepless in Seattle')

AUGUST 14TH

District 9
Starring: Sharlto Copley, David James
Director: Neil Blomkamp
Trailer: View Here

Produced by 'Lord of the Rings' director Peter Jackson, this high concept sci-fi film has been receiving quite a lot of buzz recently. Will it share the success of last year's 'Cloverfield' or just fizzle out and be forgotten??

Paper Heart
Starring: Charlyne Yi, Michael Cera
Director: Nichalos Jasenovec
Trailer: View Here

Another indie romantic comedy that I'm excited to check out. The film is presented in a documentary type style that follows Charlyne Yi (the hilariously random Asian girl from 'Knocked Up') and the always funny, always awkward Michael Cera.

AUGUST 21ST

Inglourious Basterds
Starring: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Melanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Trailer: View Here

Cinematic genius, Quentin Tarantino teams up with superstar Brad Pitt for a movie that follows a group of Jewish soldiers assigned to kill Nazis...What more can I say??

AUGUST 28TH

The Final Destination
Starring: Bobby Campo, Shantel VanSanten, Krista Allen
Director: David R. Ellis
Trailer: View Here

Oh boy! A fourth movie that features all the messed up ways to get killed. But wait, there's more...this time it's in 3-D!

Taking Woodstock
Starring: Demetri Martin, Emile Hirsch, Liev Schreiber
Director: Ang Lee
Trailer: View Here

Ang Lee. Demetri Martin. Woodstock...I'm sold.

RELEASE DATES
August 7th - G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Julie & Julia
August 14th - District 9, Paper Heart (limited)
August 21st - Inglourious Basterds
August 28th - The Final Destination, Taking Woodstock (limited)

----------------------------
In case you still need to catch up with some of the new movies from this summer, here is a list of some of the titles that are currently out in theaters:

Brüno
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
(500) Days of Summer
The Ugly Truth
Funny People

'Picks of the Week' (July 31st)

2009-07-31T11:01:00.009-05:00

Goodbye, July! Here are my top picks for the five things I am loving this week:

5. Sandwiches

So in less than a month I will be moving into my very first apartment with three of my good friends at school. Although I was determined that over the summer I would learn how to cook...that hasn't exactly gone as planned. Luckily I am pretty confident that I would be perfectly content with making sandwiches for almost every single one of my meals for the next year...Wish me luck.

4. Richard Roeper

You might remember him as the film critic who replaced Gene Siskel as Roger Ebert's co-host on "At the Movies." While I always enjoyed watching Roeper's movie reviews, it wasn't until I started following him on Twitter and reading his blog that I fully started to appreciate him. Richard is always on top of the the latest news whether it's about pop culture, sports, politics, or movies and he always tells it like it is. (He also scores some bonus points for being a die-hard White Sox fan)

3. Trailer for Fantastic Mr. Fox

This week, Yahoo! Movies debuted the first trailer for Fantastic Mr. Fox, Wes Anderson's stop motion animated film based on the children's book by Roald Dahl (author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). The film features the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, and Bill Murray. Check out the trailer here.

2. "New Perspective" by Panic! At the Disco

That's right, Panic! at the Disco is bringing back the (!) to represent a fresh new start with their two new members Ian Crawford (formerly of The Cab) and Dallon Weekes. Earlier this week they released their brand new single, "New Perspective." I'm definitely digging this new song and I can't wait to hear what else they have in store for their new album. Listen to "New Perspective" below, or check it out on their MySpace page here.

1. (500) Days of Summer

As stated in the opening lines of this film, "this is not a love story." 500 Days of Summer is an unconventional romantic comedy that separates itself from the genre through it's honest, sometimes painful, depiction of real-life relationships as well as it's intelligently unique story structure. It strives at being both laugh-at-loud funny with it's clever and playful writing and emotionally powerful as you become deeply invested in the relationship of the two stars, thanks to the outstanding performances by Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Much credit must also be given to first-time director Marc Webb for presenting this incredible story in such a beautiful and artistic manner.

500 Days of Summer is undoubtedly one of the best films of the year so far and I highly suggest you go check it out. Unfortunately like many of these fantastic indie gems, it is only found in limited theaters so you might have to do some searching. But believe me, this film is definitely worth the trip.

Sources: Yahoo! Movies, AbsolutePunk.net

Trailer for 'A Serious Man'

2009-07-30T23:55:00.007-05:00

Two of my favorite filmmakers, Joel and Ethan Coen, are at it again. The Coen Brothers are the Oscar-winning writers/directors behind some of the best films in the last 20 years including Fargo, The Big Lebowski, O Brother Where Art Thou? and No Country for Old Men (just to name a few). Now they are back with their follow-up to last year's Burn After Reading, another dark comedy entitled A Serious Man.

The film takes place in 1967 and centers on Larry Gopnik, a Midwestern professor who watches his life unravel when his wife prepares to leave him because his inept brother won't move out of the house. The film stars the relatively unknown Michael Stuhlbarg as Larry Gopnik and the hilarious Richard Kind as his brother. A Serious Man is set for a limited release on October 2nd.

Check out the newly released trailer below, or view it in High Definition here.

Source: FirstShowing.net

Shaq on WWE Monday Night Raw

2009-07-28T17:54:00.005-05:00

We've seen him on the court. We've seen him dance. We've even heard him rap. And now we've seen him in the wrestling ring. Last night, NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal hosted the WWE's Monday Night Raw. Shaq proved yet again that he is a natural born entertainer and perhaps a marketing genius. Some of the highlights of the night include the big man getting into a verbal showdown with Chris Jericho and then later getting physical with the WWE's "big man," the Big Show. Check out some of the videos below:

2009 Comic-Con (DAY 3)

2009-07-28T12:18:00.004-05:00

Extract

Starring: Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis, Kristen Wiig, J.K. Simmons, Ben Affleck
Director: Mike Judge
Synopsis: Ben Affleck will play an ambulance-chasing lawyer in the film, which centers on a flower extract factory owner (Bateman) who's dealing with workplace problems and a streak of bad luck, including his wife's affair with a gigolo. (ComingSoon.net)
Release Date: September 4, 2009

View a clip from Extract here.

Zombieland

Starring: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin
Director: Director: Ruben Fleischer
Synopsis: Columbus (Eisenberg) has made a habit of running from what scares him. Tallahassee (Harrelson) doesn't have fears. If he did, he'd kick their ever-living ass. In a world overrun by zombies, these two are perfectly evolved survivors. But now, they're about to stare down the most terrifying prospect of all: each other. (ComingSoon.net)
Release Date: October 9, 2009

View the trailer for Zombieland here.

2012

Starring: John Cusack, Woody Harrelson, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt
Director: Roland Emmerich
Synopsis: Never before has a date in history been so significant to so many cultures, so many religions, scientists, and governments. "2012" is an epic adventure about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors. (ComingSoon.net)
Release Date: November 13, 2009

View the trailer for 2012 here.

Iron Man 2

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Jon Favreau, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson
Director: Jon Favreau
Synopsis: In the sequel, Mickey Rourke will play Whiplash, a character that includes elements from that comic book villain and Crimson Dynamo, another Russian baddie. Sam Rockwell will play Justin Hammer, a multibillionaire businessman and a rival of industrialist Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man, being played by a returning Robert Downey Jr. (ComingSoon.net)
Release Date: May 7, 2010

Listen to the interviews about Iron Man 2 here.

2009 Comic-Con (DAY 2)

2009-07-27T09:49:00.008-05:00

The Box

Starring: Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella
Director: Richard Kelly
Synopsis: Norma and Arthur Lewis are a suburban couple with a young child who receive an anonymous gift bearing fatal and irrevocable consequences. A simple wooden box, it promises to deliver its owner $1 million with the press of a button. However, pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world...someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the crosshairs of a startling moral dilemma and face the true nature of their humanity. (ComingSoon.net)
Release Date: October 30, 2009

View a description of the footage shown from The Box here.

Where The Wild Things Are

Starring: Catherine Keener, Max Records, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Ambrose
Director: Spike Jonze
Synopsis: Maurice Sendak's classic book "Where the Wild Things Are" comes to the big screen in an adventure tale for every generation. The story follows the adventure of Max (Max Records), a mischievous young boy who is sent to his room after rebelling against his mother (Catherine Keener). Max’s imagination is free to roam, and it soon transports him to a thriving forest bordering a vast sea. Delighted, he sets sail for the land of the Wild Things, where mischief reigns and Max rules. (RottenTomatoes.com)
Release Date: October 16, 2009

View Comic-Con Featurette of Where The Wild Things Are here.

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Starring: Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, Kyle Gallner, Thomas Dekker
Director: Samuel Bayer
Synopsis: Platinum Dunes--the production company behind the remakes of Friday the 13th, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Amityville Horror--tackles another classic horror franchise with this redo of the 1984 Wes Craven film (RottenTomatoes.com)
Release Date: April 30, 2010

View A Nightmare on Elm Street movie poster here.

Jonah Hex
Starring: Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, Megan Fox
Director: Jimmy Hayward
Synopsis: Hex, known for having the right side of his face disfigured and wearing a Confederate army uniform, was a rough-and-tumble gunslinger and part-time bounty hunter whose adventures always ended in blood. (ComingSoon.net)
Release Date: June 18, 2010

View Jonah Hex movie poster here.

Sherlock Holmes

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams
Director: Guy Ritchie
Synopsis: In a dynamic new portrayal of Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous characters, "Sherlock Holmes" sends Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson on their latest challenge. Revealing fighting skills as lethal as his legendary intellect, Holmes will battle as never before to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy the country. (ComingSoon.net)
Release Date: December 25, 2009

View Sherlock Holmes teaser clip here.

2009 Comic-Con (DAY 1)

2009-07-26T17:03:00.016-05:00

This past weekend, thousands crammed into the San Diego Convention Center for the 2009 Comic-Con International, the annual "geek fest" celebrating all things comic book and "related popular art forms." Recently movies have dominated the festivities, so I thought I would give you guys a quick rundown of the movies from Day 1 that were presented this week at the convention:

A Christmas Carol (3D)

Starring: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Synopsis: Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey) begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk (Gary Oldman) and his cheery nephew (Colin Firth). But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come take him on an eye-opening journey revealing truths Old Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it's too late. (ComingSoon.net)
Release Date: November 6, 2009

View A Christmas Carol promo clip here.

Alice in Wonderland

Starring: Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter
Director: Tim Burton
Synopsis: 19-year-old Alice (Wasikowska) returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks on a fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen's reign of terror (ComingSoon.net)
Release Date: March 5, 2010

View the Alice in Wonderland teaser here.

Tron: Legacy

Starring: Garrett Hedlund, Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Olivia Wilde, Beau Garrett
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Synopsis: Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidant (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous. (ComingSoon.net)
Release Date: TBA 2010

View the "Tron Legacy Grid VFX Concept Test" here.

Avatar

Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez
Director: James Cameron
Synopsis: The story of an ex-Marine who finds himself thrust into hostilities on an alien planet filled with exotic life forms. As an Avatar, a human mind in an alien body, he finds himself torn between two worlds, in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people. (ComingSoon.net)
Release Date: December 18, 2009

View the official press release about "Avatar Day" here.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Starring: Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Verne Troyer, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law
Director: Terry Gilliam
Synopsis: The story of Dr. Parnassus and his extraordinary 'Imaginarium', a traveling show where members of the audience get an irresistible opportunity to choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom. Blessed with the extraordinary gift of guiding the imaginations of others, Dr Parnassus is cursed with a dark secret. Long ago he made a bet with the devil, Mr Nick, in which he won immortality. Many centuries later, on meeting his one true love, Dr Parnassus made another deal with the devil, trading his immortality for youth, on condition that when his first-born reached its 16th birthday he or she would become the property of Mr Nick. (ComingSoon.net)
Release Date: TBA

View three clips from Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus here.

Kick-Ass

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Aaron Johnson, Lyndsy Fonseca, Mark Strong, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Synopsis: The story centers on a high school dweeb named Dave Lizewski who decides to become a superhero even though he has no athletic ability or coordination. Things change when he eventually runs into real bad guys with real weapons. (ComingSoon.net)
Release Date: TBA

View description of the first footage here.

District 9

Starring: Sharlto Copley, David James
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Synopsis: An extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth suddenly find a kindred spirit in a government agent that is exposed to their biotechnology (IMDB.com)
Release Date: August 14, 2009

View District 9 trailer here.

'Picks of the Week' (July 24th)

2009-07-24T11:35:00.011-05:00

5. Explains It All - Four Year Strong

Rather than recording new original material, Four Year Strong put together an album that pays tribute to their favorite rock songs from the 90's by bands like Everclear, Nirvana, and Sugar Ray. Check out their cover of Third Eye Blind's "Semi-Charmed Life" here.

4. Frost / Nixon

So I finally got around to seeing Ron Howard's Academy-award nominated film from 2008, Frost/Nixon. Initially I was expecting parts of the film to be slow or dry, but I was pleasantly surprised. The interviews themselves play out more like a head to head duel while the outstanding performances Frank Langella and Michael Sheen and documentary-style format keep you interested for the whole duration of the film.

3. "Peace of Mind" by Boston

This classic hit from Boston's 1976 debut album makes the list this week because I am finally attempting to learn it on the guitar. The combination of Tom Scholz's catchy guitar parts and Brad Delp's ridiculous vocal riffs makes "Peace of Mind" one of my all-time favorite rock songs.

2. Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson

Yesterday I watched the fantastic 2006 indie film, Half Nelson starring the extremely talented Ryan Gosling. The film is about an inner-city junior high school teacher (Gosling) who forms an unlikely friendship with one of his students (Shareeka Epps) after she discovers that he has a drug habit. Although Gosling did get an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for this film, I still believe that he is very underrated as an actor and rarely gets the credit he deserves. His performance is this film is probably the best of his career so far...but you should also check him out in Fracture and Lars and the Real Girl.

1. Mark Buehrle pitches a 'Perfect Game'

Yesterday, White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle pitched the first perfect game since 2004 and only the 18th of all time. Buehrle threw 116 pitches and had six strikeouts. He caught a break in the top of 9th inning when Sox outfielder DeWayne Wise made a tremendous catch to perserve the perfect game. The White Sox ended up winning the game 5-0 and they are now tied in first place with the Detriot Tigers.

Favorite Movies of 2009 (so far...)

2009-07-22T10:21:00.006-05:00

Now that we are well over halfway through the year and well into the summer season, it seems like a rather appropriate time to reflect on some of the films that I have seen this year so far.

Before you read this list, please note the following things: 1. I am not a professional movie critic. 2. Out of the hundreds of films that have been released this year, I have really only seen about 15-20.

With that said, here is my list for 'My Five Favorite Films of 2009...so far'

5. I Love You, Man

Despite having a rather simple premise, the film is driven by it's hilarious performances from Jason Segel and Paul Rudd as well as the great supporting cast. I Love You, Man is filled with awkward situations, heartfelt relationships, hilarious one-liners, and non-stop laughs.

4. Away We Go

A fantastic little indie comedy from Sam Mendes about a hilarious, yet heartfelt journey of an expecting couple struggling to find themselves. Away We Go features very impressive performances from John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph, two actors best known for their roles on TV.

3. Up

Another wonderful piece of work from Pixar. Much like previous Pixar films, Up successfully executes a perfect balance of comedy, adventure, and powerful emotional themes that probably go right over the heads of children.

2. The Hangover

Without a doubt, this summer's biggest surprise hit. Even without a cast of well-known actors or a previously existing franchise for support, The Hangover proved that an original R-rated comedy film can still appeal to mass audiences.

1. Star Trek

Forget Transformers. Forget Terminator. JJ Abrams's reboot of the classic sci-fi franchise is by far the best action film of the year. Unlike other summer blockbusters, Star Trek's action sequences don't soley rely on the use of large explosions and computer generated effects. The film features outstanding acting performances from it's young, rather unknown cast (specifically Chris Pine as James T. Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock). But what really makes Star Trek an incredible film, is it's ability to appeal to hardcore "Trekkies" as well as those of us who are just looking for a solid summer action film.

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There are still a ton of critically acclaimed films that I have not seen yet that would have probably had a good chance of making the my top 5...here is a list of some of them:

Movies That I Haven't Seen Yet (But really want to...)
(500) Days of Summer
The Hurt Locker
Sin Nombre
Moon
Sugar
Goodbye Solo
Sunshine Cleaning
Coraline
Two Lovers

Music (Mash-Up) Monday!

2009-07-20T20:04:00.002-05:00

Nirvana vs. Rick Astley: "Never Gonna Give Up Your Teen Spirit"

Rock Supergroups!

2009-07-18T13:04:00.011-05:00

So last night while hanging out with my buddies, I asked them to put together a fictional rock supergroup using any musicians: dead or alive. After about a good hour of discussion and constant line-up changes...Here is what we came up with:

My Supergroup
Drums: John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) - Video
Bass: John Entwistle (The Who) - Video
Guitar: Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen) - Video
Vocals: Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) - Video

Pretty much a faster, heavier Led Zeppelin-esque hard rock group with a dash of 80's hair metal.

Kevin's Supergroup
Drums: Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa) - Video
Bass: Les Claypool (Primus) - Video
Guitar: David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) - Video
Guitar: Jeff Beck (The Yardbirds, The Jeff Beck Group) - Video
Vocals: Jim Morrison (The Doors) - Video
Vocals: Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) - Video

A classic rock band with two legendary front-men. They'd have a kind of chill-out psychedelic 70's rock sound, while still able to rock hard.

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What do you think of our supergroups? Would you listen to them? Who would you put in YOUR rock supergroup? Feel free to share your thoughts!

'Picks of the Week' (July 17th)

2009-07-17T17:17:00.017-05:00

Here are the top five things I am loving this week:

5. Joanna Krupa

Wow, if you've never heard of this smokin' hot Polish-American model / actress then I highly suggest you look her up ASAP. Joanna Krupa is currently on the cover of the August issue of Maxim, and she recently caused some buzz on the reality TV show, "Superstars" when she bitched-out her partner, NFL superstar Terrell Owens. Oh and while you're at it...why don't you look up her super hot sister, Marta Krupa as well?

4. 49¢ Hamburgers / 59¢ Cheeseburgers at McDonald's

On Wednesday, McDonald's sold their hamburgers for 49 cents each and their cheeseburgers for 59 cents. Cheap food is almost always a good thing and this was just way too good of a deal for me to pass up!

3. Ryan Reynolds

As a straight male, I feel fully comfortable to say that I have a huge heterosexual man-crush on actor Ryan Reynolds. The guy has come quite a long way since Van Wilder. In fact, this is turning out to be quite the summer for Mr. Reynolds. Back in May, he had a supporting role as Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a performance that prompted Fox to begin development on a spin-off film to which Reynolds is attached. He then followed that by starring opposite Sandra Bullock in the romantic comedy The Proposal, which crossed the $100 million mark this week. And then earlier this week Warner Bros. Picture hired him to play the title role in the highly anticipated Green Lantern film. Reynolds is on the way to becoming a huge movie star and I look forward to seeing what he has in store for us in the future.

2. "What They Say" by The Avantist

So two of my buddies, Fernando and Erick Arias are in a kick ass indie rock band called The Avantist with their two younger brothers, David and Luis. They recently recorded one of their original songs "What They Say." It's a great track and I highly suggest that you check out it.

What They Say by luisarias23

1. Paul McCartney on Late Show with David Letterman

On Wednesday night, Sir Paul McCartney appeared on the "Late Show" with David Letterman. This marked his first time at the Ed Sullivan Theater in Manhattan since 1964 (when he performed The Beatles). Paul spoke with Letterman about his time with The Beatles as well as his collaborations with Michael Jackson. Then in spirit of "Let It Be", Paul performed on the marquee of the Ed Sullivan Theater. He performed the Beatles signature hit "Get Back" as well as "Sing the Changes" - a song from his most recent solo album, Electric Arguments. After the cameras stopped rolling, McCartney and his band played 5 more songs for what ended up being a 22-minute mini-concert! Check out the full performance here: