The Other Guys

I have waited since 2004 to see a Will Ferrell movie I really really liked. Stranger Than Fiction was a good role for him, although I don't think I loved it as much as most people. Talladega Nights had its moments, but then Ferrell seemed to be typecast into a collection of sports-comedy roles, which I chose not to see. I hated Land of the Lost last year, worrying that Ferell might have permanently lost his comedic way. Finally, here he is back in a film that has consistent laughs and feels fresh for him.

He plays Detective Allen Gamble, a forensic detective who prefers to be at his desk rather than on the streets. He has had Terry Hoitz (played by Mark Wahlberg) as his partner ever since Hoitz accidently shot Derek Jeter during the World Series. Though the rest of the department thinks of the duo as butt-ends for office jokes and pranks, the pair get the break they never thought they'd get when their idol police detectives take a literally unexpected drop (which I found hilarious).

There are many great comedic moments in this movie, one of my favorites being an old lady with a walker being used as a go-between messenger when Gamble tries to make up with his extremely hot wife. I tend not to watch a funny movie too often for fear that the jokes will wear off on me if I overkill viewing them, but this along with Hot Tub Time Machine are two 2010 movies you should consider seeing more than once for a good laugh.

Inception

I have yet to walk out of a Christopher Nolan film saying, "Well that sucked!" Considering how much I love his work so far, I really hope I never will. What Nolan does so well is that he tells a great story while dazzling us with great special effects. That is never more apparent than in this film, where the topic of entering people's dreams allows computer technology to have a field day making these imaginative worlds come to life. Then we get into dreams within dreams. Everything goes much faster the deeper you get, allowing for certain ideas to be implanted into one's mind without the dreamer noticing these are not truly his original thoughts.

This has been a good year for Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred in the also quirky Shutter Island. I liked Shutter, and I think I liked Inception even more. DiCaprio has a great character to play, dealing with the loss of a his wife, whose memory sabotages his dream extraction missions. One day, he is offered a job that will clear him of murder charges and allow him to see his kids. Does he succeed and see his family? I won't reveal it here of course, but the ending, like Shutter Island, is one that will have its audience members talking. An early candidate for one of my top ten films of the year.

Despicable Me or Jason was going to talk about the subtext of therapy in the movie but un-unfortunately became distracted.

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
As I watched the years worth of raccoon feces slide off my in-laws deck, I realized Despicable Me is the second best animated film I've seen all year. Yeah my brain works that way. I wonder...am I scatterbrained or do my thoughts travel hyper-dimensional vectors moving across and outside time's arrow appearing as scattering non-sequiters to us poor linear-bound perspectivists? 

2. Would I watch it again? YES
Absolutely, who doesn't want to laugh. I'd even make time to watch it again and not make some vague plan to accidentally catch it on television at a time I have nothing else going on. Nope. I'd definitely make time to watch it again.

Wolfman or Jason joins in the screaming.

1. Did I enjoy the movie? YES
Almost as enjoyable as the decidedly Gothic setting of the film was the man behind me shouting at the screen. As if the characters could hear his warning. As if in some metaplot twist actually comprehend his warnings and violate the narrative course of events. As if I could help myself and avoid joining in.
2. Would I watch it again? MAYBE
 I really enjoyed this movie with its dark Gothic landscape, characters who chew their dialogue more than deliver it, and unbridled gore, I do not know if I would enjoy it a second time. Part of the fun of a movie like this is seeing it with a crowd. Everybody starts to get pulled in, screaming and yelling at the screen, that it becomes a communal event. There is a power in that moment of inter-connectivity. Sitting on my couch by myself...not so much. Even if it is Blu-ray.

Toy Story 3 or did that little kid just call me a pussy for crying?

1. Did I enjoy it: YES
There is a wonderful alchemy at work in film, especially the Pixar films. A story told in the right way can slip past all your emotional barriers and bring out all those buried emotions. Or at least bring on that sensation where your heart expands in joy pushing out the tears. Tears of joy as they used to call it. Such an odd oxymoronic concept. I count myself lucky any time a movie can make me cry. Lucky and fortunate.
There was a period in my life where I could not cry. It was miserable. I would feel the sadness welling up, and instead of being released through tears, my body would clamp down and nothing. The sadness remained just sitting there, like a weight. I do remember crying as a kid. Mainly from when report cards came home. Once I hit fourth grade, this was a time of terror for me. It became routine even. The report cards would arrive and my parents would yell at me for not getting good grades. A's were the only grade good enough. How I needed to do all my homework. How I needed good grades because Mom and Dad would never have the money to send me to college and I needed a scholarship for college because if I don't get a good education I'll starve. How I was wasn't living up to my potential. Then the waterworks would start.

How I hated report card day.

I still remember the day I stopped crying. It was my birthday during my freshman year of high school. My first order with the Science Fiction bookclub had arrived and my parents got Little Ceasar's pizza. Everything was going fine till the food poisoning set in. I never vomited that much in my life. That was the last day I cried, and incidentally vomited, for about ten years.

Over time I came to realize how precious crying was. It is very important to our well-being and should never be viewed as weak. The act of crying serves as a pressure release valve to a build up of negative emotions. The body is forced into a reaction and uses up all its energy, thereby not having the strength to put into whatever foolish coping patterns you were engaged in. Tired and exhausted, we have a chance to choose a new path in life.

So here I am in Toy Story 3 watching as these characters I have grown with, have grown to love, deal with such sour notes and still have the capacity to love. I am moved. Deeply moved. I let the hot tears roll down my cheek. I hug Felix. I hug Suzanne. I would of hugged my dog had she been there. Toy Story 3 slipped past my adult cynicism and defences to remind me of the preciousness of life. And with each tear, I am thankful.

2. Would I watch it again? YES
This movie basically summed up everything I can think of as important in life. Stuck inside the furnace, our heroes are going to die. What do they do? They hold hands. They decide to spend what short time is left enjoying each other's company. That is a simple yet powerful message. One I, and probably others, could do with reminding.

It Came From Kuchar

According to wikipedia, which we all know is never wrong, an underground film is a film "that is out of the mainstream either in its style, genre, or financing." George and Mike Kuchar certainly made films fitting that description, not to mention experimental and exploitative in the extreme.

I love documentaries about filmmakers, and this one is particularly interesting because these brothers are some of the weirdest looking guys I have seen who enjoy making pictures that are some of the weirdest looking films I have ever seen. As the documentary shows clips of the Kuchar films, all of them seem to be made on micro budgets (Roger Corman would be proud), concentrate on the vile and disgusting, and usually deal with some strange sexual perversions. I'm not sure if George Kuchar was high throughout his filmmaking career or if he was simply channeling Corman, Ed Wood and Herschell Gordon Lewis. Most of these films I would probably hate and walk out of if shown in a theater, but the fact that the Kuchars are willing to show films with feces, vomit and men in love with gorillas makes them stand out as filmmakers who took film to places you never thought it went, but did.

Shutter Island

While I'm not ready to say that Leonardo DiCaprio is the best male actor of his generation, it is becoming obvious at least to me that each year he is offered some of the most choice pictures in Hollywood. 2010 is no exception for DiCaprio, although Shutter Island was originally scheduled to be released in 2009 before being pushed forward to its current year.

The film follows U.S. Marshal Edward Daniels, as he and new partner Chuck Aule arrive at the Ashecliff Hospital for the criminally insane on Shutter Island. They are there, Daniels believes, to investigate the disappearance of Rachel Solando, a patient who has unexplainably vanished.

Then the film takes several turns into the unexpected and the bizarre. Is Rachel really missing? Does she really exist? Why is Daniels really at Shutter Island? Is he even who he thinks he is? These questions and their answers are mused over and hinted at throughout the film and will have viewers wondering even after the credits role what the truth really is. This is not Martin Scorsese's best film, but this psychological thriller is ground he hasn't covered quite in this way before. In any case, this movie still stacks up as a noteworthy film and one I dare you not to see more than once. This is good stuff.

On Best Buy's Minion Mode app for translating what the minions say at the end of Despicable Me.

Reverse thank you Best Buy for encouraging even more people to use their phones during the movies.

Leap Year or Undistracted by what is going on on the screen, Jason has time to wax philosophical.

1. Did I enjoy it? NO
Spraining my knee has given me time to catch up on my film reviews. But the question that keeps coming back to me is why did I ever get behind in the first place. Really great films, and even really bad films for that matter, generate conversation. You can't wait to tell your friends about what excited or outraged you. You quote the movie. The movie shows things about yourself you did not know.

Then there's mediocre movies. They just slip out of thoughts after you leave the theatre. Leaving you with nothing to talk about or be excited about. Or maybe the problem is not the movie but me.

Many my modern American lifestyle has blinded me to the subtleties of cinema. (The fact I enjoyed Furry Vengeance may be a supporting factor in that argument.) Has the dichotomy of great indie films versus big blockbusters blinded me to the charms of simple middle of the road film making. Amy Adams was cute. Matthew Goode was charming. The Irish countryside was beautiful. Shouldn't that be enough. Unfortunately it isn't. Perhaps if it was I'd be a happier person.

2. Would I watch the movie again? NO
One time is enough thank you.

Furry Venegence or My two year old son tried to walk out of this film then came back and grabbed my hand so I could help him walk down the stairs so he could leave.

1. Did I enjoy the movie? YES
I don't normally find myself contemplating bear rape when I look at movie poster, but when I do a few thoughts run through my mind. Does the bear represent the wilderness "coming" into the hero and changing him from a city-boy to a feral-child. Is the bear rape symbolic of the character's mental disturbance that finally comes to the surface? Or, maybe, the scriptwriters drew words at random during a moment of writer's block.  Furry Vengeance let me down.

Let it be known: If like me, you looked at the movie poster and thought to yourself that bear looks like he's going to rape Brendan Frasier, know no bear raping occurs in this movie. The bear merely steals Brendan Frazier's pants. Steals them in a way that seems physically impossible, even if said bear was propelled from the doomed planet krypton and upon arriving at earth found he had superpowers from earth's yellow sunlight.

The bear's superpowers or lack of superpowers aside, the bear and Brandon Frazier share a scene that defies description in it's awfulness. Watching Furry Vengeance, I found myself in a two part viscous cycle. First I would watch a scene and think how the movie has set a new low in every one's career. Then the next scene would lower the bar even more.
But through it all there was Brandon Frazier. For me it was method acting taking to the next level. The actor becomes the character in that moment so thoroughly that it transcends the medium and starts to work voodoo magic on the audience.

Then Felix, my two-year old son, had enough and wanted to leave. Guess the kid has no taste for camp.

2. Would I watch it again? MAYBE
When I first saw this movie, I thought it was so campy I could watch it again and again. Bring all my friends over and laugh at how ridiculous and awful the movie is. Then I watched it a second time for work, and well, no. I never want to watch this film again. Each scene of this movie is like a clip from a future retrospective on Brendan Frazier's career. The low points. It only gets the Maybe because I actually did see it again, but not from choice.

On the dancing dog segemnt at the end of Marmaduke

Why?

Edge of Darkness

For the past decade, Mel Gibson has received more attention for his work behind the camera than in front of it. Passion of the Christ, a powerful film that uses the graphicness of violence inflicted on Jesus to demonstrate the suffering he endured because of his love for humanity, was a box office smash upon its release in 2004. Then he received quite a bit of negative press for such incidents as a receiving a DUI in 2006 and making anti-Semitic remarks to the officer. Now he's back in the spotlight in an acting role, doing an admirable job in a film that draws some comparison to last year's Taken. In this story, however, Gibson's daughter is killed within the first ten minutes of the film, and Gibson's character, Thomas Craven, wants revenge. Will Craven be able to stay level headed in his pursuit of justice or will his quest for retribution be too much for him to handle? This is a pretty good thriller, one I would recommend, but ultimately fogettable in the grand scheme of things.

American Radical: The Trials of Norman Finkelstein

There's something about outspoken people that always gets my attention. People who have strong views on things and are not afraid to speak of them in public draws both feelings of irritation and admiration from me. Initially, I'm angry that they don't seem to give a crap about other people's thoughts and feelings when they express them. Then again, maybe I'm just too worried about what people think. Ultimately, I admire them because they are willing to make a stand on something they believe to be the truth and are not swayed by negative comments from others. Norman Finkelstein certainly falls under the outspoken category, and definitely the controversial category as well. A Jew raised by parents who survived the Holocaust, Finkelstein went on to teach at several universities in the United States while expressing critical views on Israel in what he calls the Holocaust Industry. Finkelstein believes Israel must take responsibility for its murder of countless Palestinians and using the memory of the Holocaust to gain immunity from any criticism by other nations on its policies and to further its financial interests. Wherever he speaks, Finkelstein is greeted with hardcore supporters and opponents. Although I have neither ties to Israel nor Palestine, I found it very interesting to watch this man and the way he spread his message. I'm not sure he's somebody I'd have a beer with, but Finkelstein is a great example of a man committed to standing firm even when it's unpopular to do so.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief or Jason makes a savings throw versus nostalgia

1. Did I enjoy the movie? YES
I have not enjoyed Chris Columbus' movies in the past. Yet, with this film he hit the right notes. Notes building to chords of myth, action, and magic reminding me of a summer past.

I don't know why my dad asked me to keep Kevin Ryan's nephew company that summer before sixth grade. I did not mind. He seemed like a cool kid. A little older than me but not haughty. (Wanting to watch Clash Of The Titans was a big plus.) Something in that movie clicked with me.

My classmates knew the latest sexual innuendo and I knew the Olympians. They had access to cable without adult supervision. I had access to the Kankakee Public Library's children section. Oh it was marvelous. I would love to walk down the dull stone stairs turn and be blasted by the primary intensity of colors. There was a series of books covering the myths of the world. Those were my go-to books. I would be lost in the stories. When waiting for class to begin I would devour these stories of heroes and monsters from afar-ago. There was a realness, without being real if that makes sense, that the Bozo Show lacked. (Side note: as I type this I am trying to decide if I just drank a glass of urine or bad smelling water.)

"You should be playing Dungeons and Dragons," Kevin Ryan's nephew said to me as I explain the myths that were cobbled together to build Clash Of The Titans' narrative.

Wow, was he right. I LOVED it. Loved it like how you love your your first girlfriend and don't notice her flaws but everyone else does. Yeah. Like that. I bought the red Basic Set and it was brought to a new world. A place where I had powers and weapons. A world with no homework, gym class, indifferent classmates, and angry fathers.

2. Would I watch the movie again? MAYBE
I enjoyed all of the book but only most of the movie. The divergence in the character of Luke from the book to the movie gives me pause. Patriarchal rage is converted to blind megalomania. It cheapens the character and also reduces the power of the "absent parents" theme running through the movie.

Extraordinary Measures

Harrison Ford is one of those actors who has been in a lot of good movies, but not many great ones (aside from the Star Wars and Indiana Jones series). He really deserves to have an Oscar winning role at some point, although he will now have to win it in what might be the final decade of his career. It will not happen for his role in Extraordinary Measures, however, which is another good film with Ford, but far from great. He costars with Brendan Frasier, the latter of whom plays a father desperately trying to save his son and daughter from a disease known as Pompe. All the doctors say there is no cure, so Frasier decides to contact Ford, who plays a researcher trying to develop an enzyme treatment for the disease. There are really no surprises here, but this is a feel-good film that made me aware of a disease I never knew existed. If you think of it, Redbox it next time you shop for groceries.

Date Night

Steve Carrell first caught my attention in Bruce Almighty as a news anchorman who was suddenly controlled by the Godlike powers of Jim Carrey. After the 40 Year Old Virgin and the hilarious TV show The Office, I was hooked on Carrell's brand of humor. Here he teams up with fellow NBC comedian Tiny Fey. Together they play a couple that tries to spice up their marriage by going to a really expensive restaurant. However, when they pretend to be another couple in order to get a table, the evening takes an unexpected turn into a night of danger. I smiled quite a few times during this film and was pleasantly entertained for the evening, which was enough for me to recommend it. This is not a pee-in-your-pants comedy but it is fun, especially for fans of the two leads.

Hot Tub Time Machine

I had very low expectations for this film and boy was I pleasantly surprised! What a crazy idea, four guys going back to the 1980s after an accidental mishap in the hot tub. And that's just the beginning! To give away the laughs in this movie would just be wrong because so many of the gags work because they take you by surprise. All I will say is that the jokes with animals are in my opinion the best. I will admit that several jokes with sexual humor went too far for me, but the jokes that did work were so pee-in-your-pants funny that I forgave these crude interludes. If you're looking for some solid belly laughs and know going in some parts might be a bit offensive, you'll be in for a hilarious surprise.

The Wolfman

When I saw the trailer for this film and the werewolf makeup on the poster, I was really excited to see this re-imagined classic horror tale. To be fair, the makeup and look of the picture is the best I have seen in a werewolf film. However, I was really let down by most everything else. Let's start with the acting. Anthony Hopkins is going through the motions in this movie. The other actors are okay, although I didn't sense a strong chemistry in the romance part of the story. The screenplay has some really laughable dialogue, with several of these howls (the wrong kind) being delivered by Hopkins himself. The pacing and the use of music and sound is also wrong. It begins way too fast, the werewolf attacks at super-powered speed and the sound and music tell us when to be scared rather than support the natural scares. The technology is also faulty, the obvious CGI werewolf running through the woods looks fake. I could go on, but you get the point. I'm sad that such excellent costumes, sets and makeup were placed in such a bad movie. An early candidate for my least favorite films of the year.

Hot Tub Time Machine or Jason drinks 12 Chernobyly and can see through time! (Though he can also see through time anytime he sits down to watch television, so maybe its not that big a deal.)

1. Did I enjoy the movie?     YES
I have to love a movie where a man says to a group of people, gathered in the back of a bar to watch him preform fellatio on his best friend after losing a bet on a football game because the squirrell he had puked on earlier disrupted the timestream, "Where do you people come from?"

2. Would I watch it again? YES
It's been almost two weeks since I've seen the film and I'm still talking about. This is going to be a cult film and I will need to work on memorizing the lines. I do wonder who I will be bonding with over quips from this film?

If I had a time machine would I go back to that sad glad rightside down time of my life that was nineteen. Being thirty-five, the obvious answer is no. No thank you! I am old enough to realize my youthfull dream to marry Corrine from Sleater-kinney would still not happen. Even with my older mature knowledge. (Knowing how to program an Ipod really won't help much here) I am wise enough to be okay with that. Time does that. Heals all wounds as our forefathers used to say.

And maybe the men in this movie did the same. They did not actually travel through time. Maybe these three men did not travel through time back to when they were eighteen, but merely entered their memories of being eighteen and came to grips with what happenned. In the Tarot, the symbol of the cups represents emotion and the memory.  Isn't a hot tub nothing but a giant cup. Introduce the power of will and intellect through the symbol of air: the lightning bolt on the Chernobyly, and BAM! Time-Travel! Back in the past, back inside their memories of the past, they find things are not as they remember. It's called maturation. It happens to everyone. Most memories when closely examined are not what we thought they were.  The schoolyard seems smaller then you remember. You have kids and understand why your parents did what they did. This is the mechanism of memory at work. You travel back to a past point of time. You inhabit the person you were but can't help but think like the person you are. You realize the past wasn't everything you thought it was. You come to accept that what you considered failures might actually be successes. You return from your memories. You now see what you thought was the life you ended up with is actually the life you have built. Empowered you make new choices, hopefully better choices. Or at least, that's what I try to do. How about you?

Mystery Team

Mystery Team is a fun film written and starring its three leads: D.C Pierson, Donald Glover and Dominic Dierkes. Its basic premise involves three kid detectives dedicated to solving child-sized mysteries. The kids are now teenagers and about to graduate high school. Is it time to finally put their childish mystery gang to rest? That question is more difficult than it initially appears when a little girl asks them to solve a grown up mystery: find out who killed her parents!

I enjoyed this film, its primary strength being its rapid gags and one-liners. For a movie made by young performers just breaking into the industry, this shows a lot of promise. I was also pleased to see Aubrey Plaza in this film, who I also liked in last year's Funny People.

The filmmakers also informed the audience I was with that they believe their debut feature film rises above their short films because it has good character development and an actual story rather than just being a series of gags. While there is evidence the writers desired to produce these things, I don't think that is why the film works. Like films such as Airplane! or even the Ernest P. Worrell movies, we don't go to see them for a breathtaking story and well-rounded characters. It's the gags, the funny parts, not the tacked-on message. While this was only a one-time viewing movie for me, what good fun that time was!

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel or Jason doesn't want all his money back, just some of it.

If you won't do it for the children, then do it for the parents that are dragged along.

Do what? Why develop the story fully so I can "enjoy" a movie with my son instead of "sit" through a movie with my son.

For example: Why did Alvin turn his back on his brothers. I could not tell you. Nor could my wife or anyone else I asked. The movie presents no basis for why Alvin, who is a world famous rock musician, is driven to win over the approval of some high school jocks. I am sure I could come up with any number of reasons on my own, but that is not my job. It is the filmmaker's. I feel sorry for kids nowadays if this is the state of children's filmmaking.

Why is it the criteria for good cinema seems to only apply to movies for grown-ups.  Plot, characterization, theme, and symbolism should be a criteria for ALL cinema regardless of the audience. Children are more creative and aware than people think. There is a complexity at work in children most people miss. Would Pixar have done as well as they have if children could only digest mindless or half-formed stories.

Even something as commercial and profit-driven as Alvin can have depth and resonance. Use the Chippettes memories of struggle to make it in their small town as a a foil for the Chipmunks. Place a few literary references in the back ground or on a chalkboard. Stop having Alvin just regurgitate random pop phrases. (That last one will most likely remain because little kids do talk like that.) Have Toby explain a plot for a video game that foreshadows the coming split between the brothers. Stuff like that.

Jason's Predictions for the Top Ten Box Office Grosses of 2010 or I am going to be so wrong.

1. Iron Man 2
2. Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader
3. Shrek Forever After
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
5. Toy Story 3
6. Twilight Saga: Eclipse
7. Get Him to the Greek
8. Inception
9. Love and Other Drugs
10. Yogi Bear

Bob's Predictions for the Top Ten Box Office Grosses of 2010

1. Iron Man 2
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
3. Toy Story 3
4. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
5. Due Date
6. Inception
7. The Green Hornet
8. Shrek Forever After
9. The Karate Kid
10. Yogi Bear

Worst Films of 2009

I often want to change this category to my least favorite films of 2009. The worst films I hopefully avoided, although sadly not all of them. While I thankfully avoided the second Twilight film, All About Steve and several others, here's a few that I unfortunately had the displeasure of viewing:

1. Bruno
By far the worst film of the year and second to only Silent Night Deadly Night as the worst film I have ever seen. I admit I sometimes laugh at sex jokes, but when they are so crude, right in your face and then mix in direct mocking of your Christian faith with oral sex jokes, that crosses a line that makes me plain angry. The director should be ashamed of himself, sometimes laughter is a bad thing when it's at the expense of something, or someone, you love.

2. Land of the Lost
A film with almost no laughs and some extremely bad taste sex jokes for the rating it received. Kids no doubt were in the audience when this film was in theaters. It's a bad influence on them and frankly such a dumb and unfunny story I wouldn't be surprised if customers created a large line for refunds.

3. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
This movie was such a bore I fell asleep on and off throughout the film. I was tired already, but a good film will not only keep me awake, it will re-energize the rest of my day. This did not, it was a sequel that was unnecessary and made way too much money at the box office.

4. In The Loop
Richard Roeper loved this movie. He must enjoy movies about people working in politics and journalism who yell at each other the entire time. Not my idea of a great comedy. Not worth your time.

5. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Another bad movie that did way too much box office business. The first Transformers worked, but this was a letdown. It was loud, overlong and had some incredibly annoying characters. And I wanted more Optimus Prime! Do I have to wait for Transformers 3? Should I bother?

6. Duplicity
Way too confusing of a movie for my taste. Big stars like Julia Roberts and Clive Owen can't save this material, which will take three or four viewings to make sense of it all. But who has that kind of time on their hands?

7. A Serious Man
The Coen Brothers certainly are unique with every film, but this one just didn't work for me. I didn't hate this film, but it was not one of my favorites.

8. The Proposal
Betty White has some genuinely funny moments in this movie, but the rest is way too formulaic and implausible. It's not cute and romantic to me if I don't believe it. And I didn't.

9. Drag Me to Hell
Sam Raimi has made some great films, and this one has some exciting crazy turns, but had an ending I was not satisfied with. My reaction was, "I endured all that and this was the payoff?!" Sometimes, a happy ending is warranted. I think it was here.

10. Friday The 13th
Another horror franchise given rebirth through a remake. This adds nothing that you haven't seen before. Not awful if that's what you want. Just not scary when it could have been.

The Best and Worst movies of 2009 or Jason realizes the extent of his inarticulation.

Best of 2009
1. Up In The Air
2. The Fantastic Mr. Fox
3. Up and The Hurt Locker (a tie)
4. Star Trek
5. District 9
6. Ponyo
7. Where The Wild Things Are
8. Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs
9. Taken
10. Zombieland

Worst of 2009
1.Dragonball: Evolution
2. Avatar
3. Watchmen
4. Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen
5. My Bloody Velentine 3-D
6. Race To Witch Mountain
7. Fast and Furious
8. Ice Age 3
9. Hotel For Dogs
10. The Time Traveller's Wife

Jason's 10 in 10 or the Ten films I am anticipating in 2010.

(In alphabetical order)
1. Green Hornet
2. Hot Tub Time Machine
3. Inception
4. Iron Man 2
5. The Good, The Bad, And The Weird
6. Kick-Ass
7. The Last Airbender
8. The Other Guys
9. Toy Story 3
10. Waking Sleeping Beauty

Avatar or Jason goes to watch Avatar, says fuck it, and sneaks into Sherlock Holmes.

I tried to sit through Avatar. I really did. But I just couldn't do it. Large soda and large popcorn in hand, I walked out. A smile broke over my face as the door to that auditorium closed behind me. As I nervously scanned for any ushers when I snuck into Sherlock Holmes, I joined the "Yeah But" crowd.

"Yeah the special effects were good but the story...well that's another story."

What really bugged me, to the point where I could no longer suspend disbelief, was there was no point to making the movie. I am not saying the story had no point. It follows the monomyth: hero is given a task, ventures to a strange land, engages in conflict, and emerges with what he was missing. There was no reason for the filmmakers to make this specific story. James Cameron spent over ten years and three billion dollars to make Avatar. Ten years and three billion dollars to essentially remake Dances with Wolves. It is the exact same story of the lost man discovering himself when he joins the indigeous or aboriginal people. Didn't anyone notice this. They had ten years.

As I exited the theater I overheard a grandmother and her ten year old grandson talking.
"Have you seen Avatar," the grandma asks.
"Yeah. IT WAS AMAZING," he exclaimed.
Maybe Avatar is beyond me. I might finally be "too old" to get it. Avatar is this nascent generation's Star Wars. A film that inspires less from the message the hero learns but more from the filmmaker making a world people want to live in.

No graphics

Maybe graphics

Yes graphics

The 2009 Top Box Office Challenge and 2009 Academy Awards Out-prognostication results or You win some, you lose some.

Well the ballots have been counted, the receipts counted and the dust has settled. Bob owes me some concessions and I owe him a sandwich. (I have a feeling it'll be pastrami.)

2009 Top Box Office Challenge
Bob earned 7 out of 20 points where as I earned 6 out of 20 points.

2009 Academy Awards Out-prognostication
I accurately predicted 15 of the categories to Bob's 14 correct guesses. (I still have no idea why I picked Young Victoria to beat Star Trek for Best Make-up.)

Top Ten Films of 2009

Before tonight's Oscars, here are the ten films I saw that were the best. In addition, I've included those films that didn't quite make it, but also deserve honorable mention.

1. KNOWING
This film was not beloved by as many viewers and critics as it should have. I think it was great! Knowing is a sci-fi film that's engaging, suspenseful, and a story that's not afraid to ask a very important question: Is the universe and all events that happen in it determined by something or someone or is everything simply the unfolding of random chance? The special effects are terrific and Nicolas Cage stars in his best movie since The Weather Man, and I'd say surpasses it.

2. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
Rarely do I see a film like this where I'm disturbed, engaged with the movie's suspense, and genuinely uneasy even a few hours after the movie's over. Stylewise, it's in the same vein as the Blair Witch Project, with the main character documenting the enfolding events using his own camera. But this movie is creepier than Blair Witch in my opinion. Roger Ebert correctly points out that horror films need not rely on quick cuts to create their desired effect. This movie relies on long shots and no music, definitely separating it from the pack. That's something the new Wolfman movie could have learned from.

3. UP
A strong candidate to win the Oscar for best animated film. On one level, it's consistently entertaining with great characters. It's got some great humor too, I could tell Pixar was not going through the motions with this one. On another level, it teaches us some important lessons about love and friendship. With Wall-E last year and Up this year, Pixar is churning out some timeless tales that combine humor, drama and messages that everyone can appreciate.

4. WE LIVE IN PUBLIC
This film and the next film on my list are about men who avoid close relationships, making their work what drives them instead. We Live In Public is a documentary about Josh Harris, a man ahead of his time who saw the direction the internet and the computers were taking us before most people did. Harris creates several experiments using people and technology that illustrate how technology can easily break down relationships if we use it irresponsibly. If only Harris understood that.

5. UP IN THE AIR
Director Jason Reitman makes yet another film that has made my top ten list. George Clooney's character Ryan Bingham thrives on moving, taking flights all around the country to fire employees for corporations with bosses too scared to do it themselves. When his company decides to conduct their layoffs over the internet instead of in person, Ryan must train a young female hotshot how to do his job right, as he's convinced she knows nothing about firing people. The interactions he has with her and also with a woman he often hooks up with while traveling are fantastic and the ending to this film took me completely by surprise.

6. 500 DAYS OF SUMMER
A great comedic drama about Tom Hansen, a guy going through the emotions of being involved with a girl he absolutely adores, while she doesn't quite feel the same way. Tom's scene of excitement at the beginning of his relationship with Summer is so humorously fantastic, yet very realistic on an emotional level. If you did not see this in theaters, rent it asap.

7. SIN NOMBRE
Sin Nombre deals with two stories, one about Willy aka El Casper, a teenager running away from his gang after avenging the death of his girlfriend. Only problem is the person he killed was the gang leader, so he decides to stow away on a train that his leader originally intended to rob. The other story is about a family determined to cross the border with hundreds of other illegal immigrants on the top of a train. This is the same train Willy and his gang attempt to hijack. This is an excellent film, though not a feel good movie.

8. AN EDUCATION
Jenny Miller is a good student and hopes to attend Oxford University upon graduation. One day she's given a ride home by a middle aged man named David Goldman. Jenny finds David very charming, especially when he uses this charm to persuade Jenny's parents to allow him to take her to concerts, clubs and eventually to Paris. Jenny receives an education outside of the classroom that she will never forget. Whether she decides to abandon her potential inside the classroom I will not reveal here, but there is a twist at the end that Jenny never sees coming. This is a great film that hasn't been seen by that many people, but I encourage you to rent it when you have a chance.

9. THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE
Steven Soderbergh often enjoys making low budget, independent films along with his larger commercial releases. This is another one of his experiments, which I think works very well. Sasha Grey plays Christine, an expensive call girl who will take the part of her client's dream girlfriend, going out to dinner, listening to his small talk and problems and at the end of the evening, a bit more, if he wants. Christine is interviewed by a journalist, who's fascinated by her and also how she can juggle her line of work and maintain a real relationship with her boyfriend. As this film makes clear though, I would never want to be in her boyfriend's shoes. This is a rare look into a profession that brings both excitement and heartache, false relationships and wrecked ones.

10. SITA SINGS THE BLUES
What an original film this is! Put together mostly by one woman on her computer, the film tells two parallel stories. Sita Sings The Blues is very colorful and imaginitive in its animation, as simple as the movements for many of the characters appear. This movie unfortunately did not make it to mainstream theaters due to legal issues involving the music, but it found an audience online and was given a lot of attention at Ebertfest this past April. It's a film that passed under the radar of most viewers but is well worth your time.

HONORABLE MENTION: Brothers, District 9, This Is It, Big Man Japan, The Blind Side, Disney's A Christmas Carol, Funny People, I Love You Man, Julia, Julie & Julia, Moon, Passing Strange, Trucker, Tyson, You The Living, Zombieland.

Reviews in brief

Before I reveal my top ten list this weekend, I wanted to give my brief thoughts on movies I did not get a chance to write a full review on from 2009:

Sugar (3 of out of 4) - A great film with a realistic look at the experience of what many baseball players go through when they travel from their home country to Minor League Baseball in the United States.

In The Loop (0 out of 4)- Some critics thought this was the funniest film of the year. Not this critic. Basically a movie with lot of people working in politics in the U.K. and the U.S. squabbling with each other and having egos way too big for their empty moral lacking characters. The general public didn't see this film and neither should you.

A Serious Man (2 out of 4)- The Coen Brothers release another quirky movie about a man trying to find himself as his family is breaking down. This one didn't quite work for me, quirkiness is good, but this one was a bit much.

The Beaches of Agnes (3 out of 4)- A unique autobiographical documentary about New Wave director Agnes Varda, which combines scenes Agnes telling her own story with actors reenacting younger versions of herself. I have not seen any films by Varda or her late husband Jacques Demy, but now I might just give them a look.

The Blind Side (3 out of 4)- Basically a Hallmark feel good movie, but a really good one! Sandra Bullock has one of her best roles (although still not worthy of the Oscar she will win on Sunday) as a southern Christian woman who adopts a homeless black student into her family and gives him the push and the love he needs to succeed in school, on the football field and as a human being.

Crazy Heart (3 out of 4)- A once beloved country singer turned alcoholic singing in bowling alleys and dives gets another shot at love and songwriting. Jeff Bridges will likely win the Oscar for best actor and does an excellent job here. We've seen a lot of music biographical drama films like Ray and Walk the Line beloved by the Academy, so I think Bridges is days away from receiving his statue.

Two Lovers (Bob says 2 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
Joaquin Phoenix's alleged final film is actually quite good, which is why it was a shame that he was so spaced out while "promoting it" on The Late Show with Dave Letterman. It follows Leonard, a man with emotional problems and suicidal tendencies who moves back in with his parents after his most recent suicide attempt. A lot of Leonard's troubles seem to stem from a breakup with his girlfriend. Leonard still has romantic possibilities on the horizon however. His parents want him to hook up with the daughter of a potential business partner, whose family happens to be coming over for dinner. Leonard, however, is also enamored with his new neighbor Michelle, who is dating a married man and has as many problems as he does. Who will Leonard end up with? He goes back and forth between both of them in this movie, though I suspected I knew the fate of his relationship with one of them. What I didn't see coming was the last scene. It may have been a compromise to Leonard, but I think he ultimately made the right choice and the better one.

2. Would I watch it again? NO
Nothing against the movie, I might see it if someone else wanted to, but realistically I don't see a lot of repeated viewings for most movies. Only a few at the top of my best of the year lists for the most part.

Julie & Julia (Bob says 4 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
I love a movie that literally makes me hungry. This film is one of them. It follows Julia Child's days living in France with her husband and Julie Powell's attempt to make all the recipes in Child's cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Director Nora Ephron does a wonderful job showing us all these wonderful dishes. Powell's goal of making every recipe inspired me subconsciously I think to do the same thing with Jeff Smith's Frugal Gourmet cookbooks, some of which I recently discovered at a thrift store in Aurora. The reason both Jeff Smith and Julia Child were so successful though was not just their cooking abilities, but their personalities as well. Julia's especially has been mimicked all over TV; it was fun to see the Saturday Night Live sketch shown in this film as an example. Meryl Streep does a wonderful job as always with Child's way of speaking, appearance and movements. I suspect Sandra Bullock will end up nabbing the Oscar for best actress, but hats off to Meryl. She is one of the best actresses of our time.

2. Would I watch it again? YES
Whenever I feel the need for inspiration to cook or go through a book, this film will come in handy. Bon appetite!

The Merry Gentleman (Bob says 3 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
Michael Keaton's directorial debut is a praiseworthy success. Too bad this film was not available to many audiences. It's a story about Kate, a woman who has left her physically abusive husband and begins a new life in Chicago. One night, as she's leaving work, she spots someone in shadow standing on the ledge of a building. Thinking he is about to kill himself, she cries out, and he falls backward onto the roof. That man is Frank Logan, a professional hitman who had actually just shot someone a few stories above her. Frank and Kate meet face to face on another occassion and develop a strange bond to one another. Then Kate's husband returns. I will not reveal anything beyond this point except that my initial impression was that the ending disappointed me. When I thought more about it, however, it was probably the only conclusion that made any real sense.

2. Would I watch it again? MAYBE
This film kept me interested, has some great characters and good writing. That combination deserves consideration for another viewing if the mood is right.

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus (Bob says 2 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? SOME OF IT
There are some directors that are so gifted, so talented with their imaginations, that they end up alienating the audience rather than taking them for a ride. David Lynch got too excessive with his Inland Empire and Terry Gilliam does it here. Not that the visuals are not a marvel to look at. They certainly are and I would recommend interested viewers see it just for that. The problem is that I often had no idea what was going on and not following stories for lengths of time frustrates me. One problem that could not be undone was the death of Heath Ledger. Instead of scrapping the film, Gilliam decided to replace Ledger with Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell whenever the character steps through the other worldly Imaginarium mirror. Okay, it's another world, but there is no explanation why Ledger's Tony looks so different when he steps into this universe. He just does. Christopher Plummer has one of the most unique roles I've ever seen him play as the title character, who is competing with a devilish character named Mr. Nick for people's souls. What a strange film.

2. Would I watch it again? MAYBE
I've got to say I give Terry Gilliam props for originality. He just cannot expect to gain a wide audience if he insists on visual excess over a story people can follow. Perhaps he just doesn't care.

You, The Living (Bob says 4 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
What a quirky movie! There are some films that are so absurd you can't help but laugh. The filmmakers did not do this by accident and it pays off. The film follows vignettes of different characters, all self-absorbed and depressed, but in such a ridiculous way it's comical. There's also plenty of dreams and randomness in this movie; most of these scenes you have to watch to see why they're funny. I haven't described a plot here because there isn't one, just a series of sketches of different people. I hadn't seen any Swedish black comedies before this one, but it's certainly been a promising introduction.

2. Would I watch it again? YES
I watched this movie alone and laughed. I'm curious what an audience would think. Not your typical film, but in this case, that's a good thing.

Passing Strange (Bob says 3 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
Spike Lee filmed the last three performances of this Broadway production about a young black musician who rebels against his mother's middle-class, church-going upbringing and travels to Amsterdam and later Berlin to experience "the real." Stew, who wrote the lyrics and music to this show, is also dynamic as the musical's narrator. While I first had to adjust to the idea that I was watching the filming of an actual Broadway performance, I was soon absorbed by the incredible music of this production. The actors work their butts off in this show, understandably working up quite a sweat throughout. Unlike some musicals in film that rely on flashy special effects, this one holds its hat on great music, acting and choreography. I liked this film a lot.

2. Would I watch it again? MAYBE
This is not your typical movie, as it's really just the taping of a musical. But I might be in the mood at some point to view this show again. Thank goodness Spike Lee saw the greatness of this show to capture it on film.

Departures (Bob says 3 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
The Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film of 2008, this film did not see limited release in the United States until May of 2009. Because it's technically 2008, I will not qualify it for the 2009 top ten list, but it would have been a strong contender.

2. Would I watch it again? MAYBE
A very well done film with an emotional ending done with great tenderness and respect.

Brothers (Bob says 4 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
Jim Sheridan directs Tobey Maguire in what I think is Maguire's best performance so far of his career. He plays Sam Cahill, a family man who's well-liked and cheerful. A Marine about to go on his fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan, Sam welcomes his brother Tommy back home, who has just been released from prison for armed robbery. Tommy is resentful that his father prefers Sam over him, especially when his father states this at the dinner table in front of the family. Then Sam goes overseas, and his family soon receives word that he has been presumed dead from a helicopter crash. Tommy quickly steps up to the plate to support Sam's wife Grace and two girls. A romantic attraction begins to develop between Tommy and Grace just as the family discovers that Sam is not dead after all. He returns home, but after a horrendous experience involving the death of his fellow soldier and good friend Private Joe Willis, Sam is not the same man. Here's where the real drama starts and takes the movie from good to great. Natalie Portman plays Gracie and Jake Gyllenhaal plays Tommy in fine supporting performances in their own right. I liked The Hurt Locker, whose protagonist at the end of the movie also has a difficult time adjusting to real life. Brothers goes one step further, showing the guilt a man must bear when forced to murder a friend for the sake of his family.

2. Would I watch it again? YES
This was an emotional experience that I feel hit all the right notes. Not given nearly enough credit at the Golden Globes, Brothers is a 2009 film you don't want to miss.

Food Inc. (Bob says 2 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
Robert Kenner directs this documentary on large-scale agricultural food production in the United States. The film received controversy because of its negative depiction of the industry, displaying hidden costs and the unhealthy and harmful practices inflicted on animals, workers and consumers. I'm convinced that eating healthy, organic food is a much better choice for meals any day of the week. The problem, as the documentary notes, is that the best choices are also the most expensive ones. Thus, we continue to compromise. Food Inc. is a good film that encourages consumers to get on the band wagon and make wiser decisions with the food we purchase. Eventually, businesses will notice.

2. Would I watch it again? NO
This was very informative and engaging, but I probably wouldn't rush out to see it repeatedly. The film does have an important message and is worth your rental.

Trucker (Bob says 3 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
It's indie films like this that I just eat up. Michelle Monaghan plays Diane Ford, an independent truck driver who enjoys one night stands with men and drinking all night with her friend Runner (now there's a role reversal for ya.) Suddenly, her estranged eleven year-old son Peter is dropped at her doorstep. Diane is not interested in bonding with Peter, but is forced to take care of him while his dad's in the hospital. What could have been a movie fit only for Lifetime and the Hallmark Channel is raised to greatness by some great performances and a smart script by James Mottern. Nathan Fillion, who I enjoyed watching in the Firefly series, gives a strong supporting performance as Diane's neighbor who would prefer to be more than just a buddy to Diane.

2. Would I watch it again? MAYBE
The story is fairly simple, but the feel of this movie really sucked me into this world. I just might see it again if the mood strikes me.

Up in the Air (Bob says 4 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
I have loved all three of Jason Reitman's feature films. Thank You For Smoking I saw because there was nothing I wanted to watch in particular and turned out to be my favorite film of 2006. Juno was my second favorite film of 2007, virtually tied for first with Once. Reitman is such a great writer, melding a terrific sense of humor with some powerful dramatic moments. Here comes another film destined for my top ten list. My pastor commented in a sermon last Sunday that people are constantly moving and have no patience to wait for anything. George Clooney's character Ryan Bingham thrives on moving, taking flights all around the country to fire employees for corporations with bosses too scared to do it themselves. Ryan's constant travel makes it impossible for him to have any personal relationships, and he likes it that way. When his company decides to conduct their layoffs over the internet instead of in person, Ryan is furious. He's not actually concerned this new method will make the firings less personable, he's mad the lack of traveling will force him to have a life where relationships will now be a necessary part of his life. Along the way, he realizes he does indeed want a more meaningful relationship with Alex, a woman he often hooks up with for sex while traveling. He also must train a young female hotshot how to do his job right, as he's convinced she knows nothing about firing people. The interactions he has with these two women are fantastic and the ending to this film took me completely by surprise. Of the films nominated for Golden Globes this year, this is my favorite.

2. Would I watch it again? YES
I see myself collecting Reitman's films until he makes a dud. If that's possible. This is one of the most talented filmmakers I have seen emerge in the twenty-first century.

Avatar (Bob says 3 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
There have been some really awesome visual experiences in film this year. Avatar, currently the box office winner of 2009, is no exception. Cameron actually had the script ready to go ten years earlier, but decided to wait for technology to catch up with the vision he had in mind. I saw the film in 3-D, although I think it would work perfectly fine in two dimensional format. In 2154, humans have come to the Pandora moon to mine a mineral known as unobtainium. In the process, they are pushing a blue-skinned humanoid species known as the Na'vi off their homeland. In order to improve relations with the Na'vi, the humans transfer their consciousnesses and motor functions over to Na'vi-looking bodies known as avatars. Because it's science fiction, there is no need to question how the technology actually works to accomplish this. Hey, it's the future. Jake Scully, one of the avatar operators, is rescued in the jungle one night by a Na'vi named Neytiri. Jake slowly begins to develop a relationship with the Na'vi and even closer with Neytiri. It's amazing how technology has come so far as to show such powerful expressions of emotion by Neytiri, played by Zoe Saldana from Star Trek. Some critics of the film dismiss this story as being told before and therefore not worthy of the hype it has received. It may have been told before, but I think almost every story has been told before in some format. What changes are the characters and the details. And the details (especially the technological ones) of this film are well worth the acclaim it has received.

2. Would I watch it again? MAYBE
James Cameron has made some great films, including Aliens, Terminator 1 & 2 and Titanic. I like those films even better than this one, but I very well could see this movie again.

Precious (Bob says 3 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
Enjoy might not be the most accurate word. I thought it was well done. It seems that there's an anger trilogy of films I've seen this year: Where The Wild Things Are, Lymelife and Precious. Precious may be the darkest of them all. This is about an overweight sixteen-year-old girl who has been raped since childhood by her father, being impregnated twice because of it and is now living with an extremely resentful and verbally abusive mother. On top of that, she has been moved to an alternative school for students struggling in the public school system. And you think you have it rough! While much of this film is layer upon layer of sad scenes and events, the film provides two characters who take the time to reach out to Precious, played by Paula Patton and Mariah Carey. These two ladies don't suggest to the audience that Precious will now have it easy, but they send the message that they love and care about her. I would recommend Oscar nominations for all of the actresses in this film, including Mo'Nique who plays Precious' abusive and defeated mother.

2. Would I watch it again? MAYBE
This is not one of those films you'll rush out to see in theaters repeatedly. It's too sad to generate that reaction. But someday I may see this again, as it's a reminder that there are those in the world who are mistreated everywhere they go and need someone to reach out and love them.

Lymelife (Bob says 3 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
I had Lyme Disease back in 2007, a very frightening two months of my life that included ten days of hospitalization. For many people, the symptoms can last much longer and can be irreversible. Lymelife is not really about the disease per se, but the outbreak of Lyme upon the town of Syosset and specifically with neighbor Charlie Bragg sets the tone of darkness and anger upon a suburban family. Alec Baldwin plays Mickey, a man devoted to his job of developing a large subdivision but completely undevoted and unfaithful to his wife. His youngest son Scott (played by Rory Culkin), learns about this first hand when he realizes his father is having an affair with Charlie's wife Melissa. Scott goes through a lot of emotions here: love and anger at his dad and infatuation with Charlie's daughter Adrianna, played by the very attractive Emma Roberts. It's also nice to see Rory's older brother Kieran playing his brother in the film with some very emotional scenes as well.

2. Would I watch it again? MAYBE
This is quite an unpleasant movie for a comedic drama, but I did understand the pain the characters in this film go through. I may watch it again as the acting is top notch, just not when I need a film that will lift my spirits.

An Education (Bob says 4 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
I love movie titles that have more than one meaning behind them. An Education is one of them. Jenny Miller has high aspirations for herself. She's a good student and hopes to attend Oxford University upon graduation. One day she's given a ride home by a middle aged man named David Goldman. Jenny finds David very charming, especially when he uses this charm to persuade Jenny's parents to allow him to take her to concerts, clubs and eventually to Paris. I don't know any parents who would let a man in his early thirties take their seventeen year-old daughter anywhere, but these parents do. They are persuaded the culture and a presumably well-off man like David is a good thing for her. Jenny is swept away in this new world until she witnesses David and his friend Dominic steal expensive belongings from a house up for sale. She has second thoughts but is so enamored with her new life that she is willing to overlook this and the concerns from her teacher and principal at school. Jenny receives an education outside of the classroom that she will never forget. Whether she decides to abandon her potential inside the classroom I will not reveal here, but there is a twist at the end that Jenny never sees coming. This is a great film that hasn't been seen by that many people, but I encourage you to find a theater that's playing it while you have a chance. It's worth your while.

2. Would I watch it again? YES
Peter Sarsgaard has had a very good year, though the general public has overlooked this film and the disturbing horror film Orphan. I continue to enjoy seeing him in films, he makes very good choices with the roles he picks and doesn't sell out to appear in the latest blockbuster. I would certainly not mind seeing this film again.

Big Man Japan (Bob says 4 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
Christopher Guest did some great mockumentary films with This is Spinal Tap, Waiting For Guffman and Best in Show. This film, written, directed and starring Hitoshi Matsumoto, is the first I have seen devoted to the life of a superhero. The film's premise is a documentary on the life of Daisoto and his alter ego, Big Man Japan. Big Man Japan protects Japan from various monsters that threaten the nation, all very humorous looking and very imaginative. The special effects in this film are intentionally cheesy, poking fun at the Godzilla movies and perhaps the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Daisoto we find out is a man who really has a crappy life given what he does for a living. His living quarters are unremarkable, he is separated from his wife and daughter and the average person would probably identify him as a bum. Matsumoto plays his role straight, which is what makes the film so funny. I laughed out loud when Big Man is holding a baby monster who then bites him in the nipple. He drops the monster, who dies and is dramatically taken up to heaven. There are many other funny moments which I won't reveal here. Just see this film. It's so strange you can't help but laugh.

2. Would I watch it again? YES
I saw this film by myself on DVD and thought it was hilarious. I'll bet it's twice as funny watching it with a few friends.

500 Days of Summer (Bob says 4 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
I really identified with Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character Tom Hansen in this film. Levitt and screenwriter Scott Neustadter paint such a realistic portrait of a guy going through the emotions of being involved with a girl he absolutely adores, while she doesn't quite feel the same way. Sure Summer Finn likes Tom alright, as she's willing to be physical with Tom, but it's not enough to change her negative thinking about committed relationships. Often you see the girl's point of view in films like this and they usually have a cliche ending in which the guy and the girl end up together. This film makes it clear at the start that this will not happen. It's heartbreaking at the end of the picture as Summer admits her thinking to Tom as she's about to marry another man. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention how funny this film is. Tom's scene of excitement at the beginning of his relationship with Summer is so humorously fantastic, yet very realistic on an emotional level. If you did not see this in theaters, rent it asap.

2. Would I watch it again? YES
I enjoyed this movie from start to finish. This is one of the top ten films of 2009.

Where The Wild Things Are (Bob says 2 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? SOME OF IT
Both Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and Where The Wild Things Are are books I read as a child in elementary school. I can also say that their filmed versions were so-so and could have been better. This film in particular is quite angry in tone. Perhaps the child is still going through a lot because his parents are not together anymore. Sometimes you never quite know for sure what kids are going through, as I have noticed through substitute teaching. But the problem I had with the film is that because I couldn't quite understand Max's anger, I didn't like him as much as I thought I should. In tone, Spike Jonze doesn't quite commit to being either completely dark or completely kid friendly and fun. Instead, he has an odd mix which made it hard for me to say after one viewing how well it worked.

2. Would I watch it again? MAYBE
The wild things portion of this movie is certainly a mix of comedy and anger, a projection of Max's feelings created in fantasy form. James Gandolfini's Carol sounds a lot like Tony Soprano, which made me want to watch that series more than this film. But it certainly is unique and could be worthy of a second opinion somewhere down the line.

Invictus (Bob says 3 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
Clint Eastwood has had one of the best runs as a director these past few decades. From Unforgiven to Mystic River to Gran Torino, Eastwood seems to strike the perfect note with each of his films (I had a problem with the ending in Million Dollar Baby, but this is a rare exception). Invictus, his latest entry, stars Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela, the President of South Africa. Mandela hopes the South African rugbee team the Springboks, once a team that represented a country of apartheid racism, can transform into a team that shows off a nation committed to taring down the walls of segregation and being a force for good. However, the team is in bad shape and needs inspiration and drive if they plan on modeling a team of greatness. I know little about rugby and was surprised how violent a sport it can be. The rugby scenes are engaging, although I did wish this film focused more on Mandela's history and life rather than his relationship with the rugby team. But Eastwood wanted to have a more narrow focus this time out, and makes the most of his material.

2. Would I watch it again? MAYBE
Although this is not the best film I've seen from Clint Eastwood, it's still good and therefore not a bad choice for a second viewing. I'm more interested though in checking out some of his other directorial projects of the past. This is quite a talented man.

I Love You, Man (Bob says 4 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? YES
I have always been a person who prefers to have a few really close friends rather than a lot of friends I'm not that close to. And so I can identify with Peter Klaven, who realizes after getting engaged that he has very few friends to pick from when attempting to determine who will be his best man. In fact, aside from his own family, Peter has no guy friends. And so Peter begins a hilarious mission to go on man dates to see if there are any guys he can connect with. Some of them think he's gay, some don't like him and some make annoying seem like a complement. Then he meets Sydney Fife, played by Jason Segel. It seems like a perfect match, but could it be too good? This is a terrific movie, with a lot of great laughs. Screenwriters John Hamburg and Larry Levin have the male dialogue spot on, and it was great to see Lou Ferrigno in a small role playing a version of himself.

2. Would I watch it again? YES
Jason Segel has had back to back years in which he's been in some very funny films. This movie did not have quite as many belly laughs as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but I almost like it better as a film. But nevermind, both movies are great and movies I definitely wouldn't mind seeing again.

Inglourious Basterds (Bob says 2 out of 4)

1. Did I enjoy it? SOME OF IT
Quentin Tarantino's latest picture, up for several Golden Globe nominations and very likely a candidate for Oscar nominations, is a unique approach to World War II, focusing on a small Allied regimen lead by Brad Pitt. Known as The Basterds, the group is known for recruiting individuals who show no mercy to the Nazis and scalp as many officers as they can get their hands on. These scalpings are shown and are very gruesome. Tarantino seems to enjoy showing grizzly images in his films, as he also did with a scene in which a man's ear is cut off during the film Reservoir Dogs. It hardly seems necessary to show these scenes except for their own sake. I did, however, enjoy the story concerning two separate assasination attempts of Adolf Hitler. It's not a secret that Tarantino has a fictionalized ending in which Hitler is indeed killed. I suspect many people have had this fantasy, in which the evil Nazi leader does not escape by taking his own life, but is punished by the Allied Powers. Christoph Waltz also has a great performance as a Nazi Colonel Hans Landa, a ruthless man nicknamed the "Jew hunter." This is a very violent film with an unpleasant attitude about it, although it is well-made, well-acted and the dialogue is first-rate.

2. Would I see it again? MAYBE
I definitely prefer Pulp Fiction and the Kill Bill films to this picture, but because I admire Tarantino's style as a screenwriter and director, it is likely I will see this film again someday.