Scream 4 Teaser Poster
The Scream series (at least the first two) is one of my favorites in the smarter scary genre. If Scream 3 is an indication, this one won’t be worth paying attention to, but they’ve brought back enough originals (Wes Craven, Kevin Williamson, much of the cast) that it just might be the nice break from the Saw/torture movies that’ve dominated the past few years.
Check out the teaser poster just released.
Actual Headlines From the AZ Immigration Law Coverage
Whatever your feelings on the new Arizona law, the media and left wing is so in a frenzy about it that they’ve become incoherent (more than normal). These are all actual headlines from the past few days regarding the new, tough law that Arizona has passed to deal with their illegal immigration epidemic. I get the strange feeling that the humor is lost on them.
The illegal immigration problem, by the way, that has Arizona as the 2nd highest violent kidnapping rate in the entire world. Second only to…Mexico. More than one a day on average, in Phoenix alone.
Here are the headlines from this week. Yes, these are real and they’re fantastic.
- Confused protesters boycott NY-based AriZona Iced Tea (National Post)
- Law Makes it a Crime to be Illegal Immigrant (MSNBC)
- Illegal immigrants plan to leave over Ariz. law. (Associated Press)
- Why Mexico opposes the Arizona immigration law (CS Monitor)
Movie Review – Date Night
Date Night (2010) Rated PG-13
Starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey
Runtime – 88 minutes
Even if a movie does what it intends to do, certain genres can only be so good. Date Night definitely meets the romantic comedy expectations (though it’s no When Harry Met Sally) and the addition of the action-movie twist makes it a bit better than run of the mill.
The basic premise is that the two main characters are in a rut in their married life and try to do something fun one night. They end up being mistaken for a couple being chased by the mob and the movie gets going.
Fey and Carell are top notch at comedy (see Mean Girls and The Office) but their characters here don’t quite capture their typical humor. They do have good chemistry as a couple, and without the film would fall flat. Not to say there aren’t some funny moments (the car/taxicab crash and chase and the pole dancing scene come to mind) but it isn’t a laugh riot.
Instead, the movie explores the problem of relationships that get stale and what to do about it. Fortunately Carell and Fey are not played like stereotypes, but their lives are pretty real. They actually seem to have a good relationship, so outside of the insane mob/copy scenes, the movie plays pretty down to earth. The film also maintains a very positive outlook on relationships as opposed to more indie fare (or movies like I Love You Man or Forgetting Sarah Marshall).
Another thing the movie has going for it are some good cameos by actors such as James Franco and Mark Wahlberg. They add some nice changes of pace and subplots to the film.
All in all it is as advertised – a good date movie. Briskly paced and a short running time of under an hour and a half, it’s not the greatest movie you’ll see this year, but you won’t have wasted your time if you catch it in the theater. Some language but overall avoids the potty humor and content that sometimes sneaks up on people taking a date to a movie, making for an awkward walk back to the car. Check it out in the theater, or grab it as a new release and relax on the couch. But then again that’d be what you always do for date night.
2.7 out of 4 Stars (new rating system)
Movie Trailer
Movie Review – Up in the Air (2009)
Up in the Air (2009/2010) Rated R
George Clooney
Directed by Jason Reitman (Juno, The Office)
Runtime – 1hr. 48 minutes
Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 44 wins & 52 nominations
The old DVD circuit has been pretty dry the past few months with releases that I had missed in the theater, and was glad I did. Up in the Air was one that I had wanted to see in the theater as well, and after watching it on DVD was wishing I had. Fortunately I did decide to catch it on DVD and was extremely pleased – one of my top films of the past year.
Watching the trailer I was uncertain of what the film was exactly about. This type of movie you couldn’t really capture any of the feeling because it is so dialogue-driven and the dramatic humor doesn’t translate well to 5 second clips. The story synopsis is “Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is a corporate downsizing expert whose cherished life on the road is threatened just as he is on the cusp of reaching ten million frequent flyer miles and just after he’s met the frequent-traveler woman of his dreams.” That description doesn’t do justice to the layering of topics and reflections that this film delves into.
In one review, the film was described as a Frank Capra-esque movie that captures our anxieties and culture of resilience. The film is very timely, as it takes head-on the economic climate and massive layoffs that are turning lives upside down…and what that all means. There is an extensive cast of great “cameos” by actors who play the parts of those laid off in the film, and the only criteria seemed to be their acting ability. These short scenes are extremely well played.
The film really focuses on two themes – the idea that Bingham (Clooney) lives his entire life in airports with no connections, and separately the people he helps companies fire that find their connections turned on their head. The two sides don’t seem to understand each other’s ability to find happiness in those type of lives.
Clooney (the satisfied disconnected) meets the frequent-flyer woman of his dreams and realizes that having connections – family, kids, settling down, may actually be the answer, though the irony is that he wants it with a woman just like him. In addition, a bad turn of events within his own company forces him to deal with the fact that the lifestyle he’s chosen for his entire adult life may be reaching its end. Much like those he’s paid to help through the end of their careers.
There is much more layer and amazing dialogue (and Clooney is terrific with the supporting cast here) than any review or description can capture. The film doesn’t have a tight plot, but moves the action at all the right times to a new scenario before it ever gets boring. The dialogue was so good that I ended up rewinding multiple times to make sure I caught what they were saying. Normally I don’t care if I miss a few words. I found it awesome in this film that I didn’t want to miss a single one.
Does the film solve the big problems everyone copes with about life, connections, love, and career? I think film reviewer Jake Tomlinson put it best about the film, saying “As a moviegoer, this film provides a satisfying experience where one can take a step back to ponder some of the finer points in our daily lives, but don’t expect to find all the answers here.”
3.5 out of 4 stars
Check out the trailer
