Best Movies of Summer 2009

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

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

Top 10 Things College Kids Love

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)

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'

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

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

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

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

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."
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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'?

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'

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

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)

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)

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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