Without having any time lately to watch and review movies, it was decided (by Jay) that it would be good for me to create a Twitter account. Peer pressure wins again, and that last little branch I was clinging to has finally snapped, thus ending my (already long-failed) social networking boycott. Is Friendster still around?
Follow me on, ugh...Twitter: @MorrisView
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Not a Review: Academy Awards Nominations
The Oscar nominations were announced today. I haven't seen everything on the docket, so I can't be totally objective here, but I just thought I'd give a few comments on some things I like and don't like.
Nice:
Best Picture: Moneyball - if you're going to nominate The Social Network, you have to nominate Moneyball. It's essentially the same movie (and written by the same guy), with equally compelling performances on an equally uninteresting subject matter. Happy to see Hollywood staying consistent, at the least. It was a good movie, too.
Nice:
Best Picture: Moneyball - if you're going to nominate The Social Network, you have to nominate Moneyball. It's essentially the same movie (and written by the same guy), with equally compelling performances on an equally uninteresting subject matter. Happy to see Hollywood staying consistent, at the least. It was a good movie, too.
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Ides of March
The Ides of March (2011)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1124035/
George Clooney's political drama, The Ides of March, is a behind-the-scenes look at the race for the Democratic presidential nomination during the Ohio primary. Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) is an idealistic press secretary working for Governor Mike Morris (no relation, played by Clooney), a like-minded liberal presidential candidate. Morris' campaign manager and Meyers' boss, Paul Zata (Philip Seymour Hoffman), works directly against Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti), opposing candidate Senator Pullman's (Michael Mantell) lead man. Meyers' journey through a number of potentially career-ending events starts to alter his perception of ideals, and his perception of the political world. Not to be confused with a political thriller, this story pulls us through the mud, as we discover how dirty a presidential race can be.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1124035/
George Clooney's political drama, The Ides of March, is a behind-the-scenes look at the race for the Democratic presidential nomination during the Ohio primary. Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) is an idealistic press secretary working for Governor Mike Morris (no relation, played by Clooney), a like-minded liberal presidential candidate. Morris' campaign manager and Meyers' boss, Paul Zata (Philip Seymour Hoffman), works directly against Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti), opposing candidate Senator Pullman's (Michael Mantell) lead man. Meyers' journey through a number of potentially career-ending events starts to alter his perception of ideals, and his perception of the political world. Not to be confused with a political thriller, this story pulls us through the mud, as we discover how dirty a presidential race can be.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Not a Review: F*ckin' Chuck Norris.
We all know movies like The Expendables aren't going to win any Oscars. They're not out to create gripping stories, complex characters or tear-jerking emotion. They are all about kicking ass, getting your blood pumping and not holding back. Gratuitous sex, violence and profanity is what gives these movies their value. The cheese factor of horrible action stars screaming and swearing and shooting and punching and kicking through fountains of CGI blood and guts and naked babes are the only reasons for watching such mindless drivel. As such, an R rating is required for these movies to be any good. They just have to be R. Take Die Hard. The trilogy kicks ass, and I'll have words with anyone that says different. But then they came back years later with Live Censored or Die Hard and what we got was "yippie ki-yay mother fahhhhhh!"
There are endless PG13 action movies that have been utterly forgettable, cookie-cutter action-factory pieces of crap that are only allowed one F-bomb and that cut away just before "Antagonist #1" blows away a hostage's face, designed only to rake in the dollars from ignorant teenagers. What makes the Expendables franchise the potential pinnacle of the genre is that it knows what it is: a collection of the biggest action cheeseballs making fun of itself with all the worst writing and buckets of blood to boot. Well, to my shock, I read this:
There are endless PG13 action movies that have been utterly forgettable, cookie-cutter action-factory pieces of crap that are only allowed one F-bomb and that cut away just before "Antagonist #1" blows away a hostage's face, designed only to rake in the dollars from ignorant teenagers. What makes the Expendables franchise the potential pinnacle of the genre is that it knows what it is: a collection of the biggest action cheeseballs making fun of itself with all the worst writing and buckets of blood to boot. Well, to my shock, I read this:
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Puncture
Puncture (2011)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1582248/
Puncture is not your standard courtroom drama. Much in the vein of Erin Brockovich, the story splits focus between the ongoing case and the life of the lawyer trying it. Chris Evans plays Mike Weiss, a small-time, drug-addicted personal injury lawyer who lobs one in the face of the medical supply industry by championing a safety needle that the suppliers won't use because it costs too much money. His personal problems continue getting in the way of his partnership with Paul Danziger (played by one of the film's directors, Mark Kassen), and in the way of the case alongside safety needle inventor and client Jeffrey Dancort (Marshall Bell). Strong-armed and cast aside at every turn, Mark tries to find a way to battle both the corporate monster and his inner demons.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1582248/
Puncture is not your standard courtroom drama. Much in the vein of Erin Brockovich, the story splits focus between the ongoing case and the life of the lawyer trying it. Chris Evans plays Mike Weiss, a small-time, drug-addicted personal injury lawyer who lobs one in the face of the medical supply industry by championing a safety needle that the suppliers won't use because it costs too much money. His personal problems continue getting in the way of his partnership with Paul Danziger (played by one of the film's directors, Mark Kassen), and in the way of the case alongside safety needle inventor and client Jeffrey Dancort (Marshall Bell). Strong-armed and cast aside at every turn, Mark tries to find a way to battle both the corporate monster and his inner demons.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Not a Review: The Golden Globes
I watched the Golden Globes tonight. Surprisingly, I was pretty impressed. There was a good group of talent in this bunch, as opposed to several of the most recent years. A lot of well deserved wins, some of whom I was rooting for, others I was not, but overall very good. There were a few snubs and a few wins that were obviously...we'll say undeserving. Big kudos to Claire Danes, Kelsey Grammer and Kate Winslet, my personal favorites on the list who ended up winning. If y'all haven't seen "Homeland" yet, check it out - it's good stuff. I haven't seen a few of tonight's winners, so that should give me some more fuel for the blog when I get the chance.
I like Ricky Gervais as host. He is somewhat hit or miss on his jokes, but I like that he's not afraid to rip on anyone that steps on stage. With so many presenters, he didn't get much screen time anyway, which is probably good, just in case. Speaking of presenters, it was the usual fare: actors who can't seem to make like they're not reading right off a prompter, and who can't deliver jokes. Why don't we just let a robot do this? That would be much more memorable.
Morgan Freeman got his due with the Cecil B. DeMille award. I had forgotten about some of the greats he's done throughout his career, so that will give me some things to go back and watch on rainy days. Well deserved award.
Looking forward to see the Oscar nominations, although that popularity contest lost its integrity years ago (Three 6 Mafia, really?). Still, Hollywood's biggest awards can't be ignored. Let's hope they at least match the quality of the Globes this year.
I like Ricky Gervais as host. He is somewhat hit or miss on his jokes, but I like that he's not afraid to rip on anyone that steps on stage. With so many presenters, he didn't get much screen time anyway, which is probably good, just in case. Speaking of presenters, it was the usual fare: actors who can't seem to make like they're not reading right off a prompter, and who can't deliver jokes. Why don't we just let a robot do this? That would be much more memorable.
Morgan Freeman got his due with the Cecil B. DeMille award. I had forgotten about some of the greats he's done throughout his career, so that will give me some things to go back and watch on rainy days. Well deserved award.
Looking forward to see the Oscar nominations, although that popularity contest lost its integrity years ago (Three 6 Mafia, really?). Still, Hollywood's biggest awards can't be ignored. Let's hope they at least match the quality of the Globes this year.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
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