Sondheim at the Movies

You know your a musical theater kid when...

• You listen to the soundtrack on repeat until you have memorized every word (annoying everyone you live with)
• You have the idea of skipping important family time to go see a midnight showing of the new movie musical
• You could not wait 10 days to get the new movie musical soundtrack. You had to pre-order it ahead of time to make sure you could listen the moment it came out
• You know exactly what is going to happen in the movie because you have read every interview and watched every clip you can find

Anyone else doing this? Or am I just crazy...

If you haven't heard, "Into the Woods" will arrive at movie theaters near you on December 25th. One of the most beloved musicals of all time from the best song writer alive, Stephen Sondheim, has been made into a movie. Every high school, college, university, and community theater group has done this show at least once. And everyone knows the words. Finally, it is coming to the silver screen.

And you couldn't ask for a better cast: Meryl Streep as the Witch, James Cordon as the Baker, Emily Blunt as the Baker's Wife, Anna Kendrick as Cinderella, Chris Pine as Cinderella's Prince, Lilla Crawford as Little Red Riding Hood, Johnny Depp(also in "Sweeny Tood", another Sondheim show) as the Wolf, Daniel Huttlestone as Jack, Tracy Ullman as Jack's Mother... I could go on and on, but that's a lot already. You get the picture.

Then we are blessed with a director who has made 2 of the best movie musicals ever ("Chicago" and Kathy Bates' "Annie")--- Rob Marshall. And then Rob goes and asks the masters to come help with the whole project-- James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim himself. This is the perfect combination for a perfectly wrapped Christmas present to everyone who needs to erase Russell Crowe destroying "Stars" from your memory.

No, I haven't seen it yet. But if the soundtrack gets me this excited, I can only imagine sugar plums on Christmas Eve.

To calm by sweaty palms and racing heart until the day after Christmas when I will be dragging someone to go see this movie musical with me, I have decided to take a look at Sondheim's other creations that were also turned into movies. The infectious melodies on Sondheim and sincere story lines will hold you until Christmas.

"Company" (2011)
I went to go see this show when I was at a high school theater festival and had never heard of Sondheim or of this show. I needed to fill a few hours before I went to dinner, and it was the best decision I made. I fell in love with Sondheim's lyrics and catchy tunes without even realizing it. Neil

Patrick Harris stars as Robert, the single guy whose friends are all married, and they continually try to push him into relationships. This version is actually a recorded concert of the show then a full production. But because the show, like many Sondheim pieces, is focused on the music and story, you don't need any fireworks.

P.S. Stephen Colbert is in it!! And sings!! (and so many others you know and love)

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" (1966)
Mel Brooks must have taken notes from this movie musical. It's a story set in ancient Rome where a slave wants to be set free, and his key to freedom is by setting up his master's son with a courtesan next door. Starring Zero Mostel, a comedy legend, known for his roles on stage and screen including "Fiddler on the Roof" and "The Producers".

"A Little Night Music" (1977)
Simply put, this story is about affairs. It features a fair performance by Elizabeth Taylor who really should not sing, but she's Elizabeth Taylor. We let her sing. The song is still pretty.

"Sweeney Todd" (2007)
Before "Into the Woods", Johnny Depp was the demon barber of Fleet Street, a man who longs for revenge and blood. He uses the same tone and vocal expression in this movie that he does on the soundtrack of "Into the Woods." It was so hard for me to pick just one song to show you, but I chose "Epiphany" because it really gets at Todd's madness and darkness.

"Sunday in the Park with George" (1986)
This is such an interesting concept for a musical -- a look behind what it takes to make a masterpiece. "Sunday in the Park" is all about George Seurat's story behind his painting of "Sunday in the Park". Mandy Patinkin stars as George and Bernadette Peters shows up! Truthfully, this is also a cheat. It's a recording of the stage performance. But it's still good.

BONUS: If you can't wait to see the movie, watch the recorded stage version with Bernadette Peters as the Witch. You can watch the whole thing online.

My Desert Island Christmas Movies

Christmas is my favorite time of year. Yes, there are presents and loads of family time and delicious ham and sugar cookies and twinkling lights. But I really love Christmas because it is the only holiday that has its own songs and movies. Halloween has plenty of movies, but not many theme songs. While my family is decorating our tree, we are also listening to Christmas music. My iPod is full with only Christmas songs. And I don't watch anything but Christmas movies from Dec. 1 through Dec. 24. (We usually get movies on Christmas Day so that's what we watch after we open presents)

Below is my personal list of favorite Christmas movies. These are movies you could loop on ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas and I would not be even slightly annoyed. If I was stuck on a desert island at Christmas with only these movies, a TV and DVD player, I would choose these movies. (Of course, there are 12 for the 12 Days of Christmas)

1. "The Santa Clause" (1994)

This movie is our Christmas Eve tradition and has been for many, many years. I know everyone probably says this but, my dad really does look and act like Tim Allen in this movie. And when I was little, I would dream about my dad becoming Santa Clause because to me no man was more loving, caring, and generous then my dad. Every time I watch this movie, I am so thankful for such an awesome dad and still secretly wish he could push Santa off a roof.

2. "White Christmas" (1954)

No one makes movies like this anymore. All you need to make a movie is a velvety voice (Bing Crosby) and some really fun dance numbers that last for as long as they want to. This movie is a clear example of the music and movie magic of Christmas. The story is all about letting go for love, and what could be a better theme for Christmas? You know you can't help but sing along to all of these songs (and continue to wonder how Vera-Ellen's, who plays Judy, waist was so skinny)

3. "The Muppet Christmas Carol" (1992)

The Muppets show up a few times on my list because you really can't beat em. Christmas and the Muppets are the two things that make you feel like a kid no matter what age you are. As the Muppets do best, they take a classic tale and tell it in their own family-friendly way that still has me laughing and singing along all of these years later. P.S.- This movie needs to be re-released on DVD in its entirety. I have lamented for years that this song below was not in the DVD release, and the reason for this makes no sense. Supposedly, the story is that the theatrical release of this movie DID include the song, but when the movie was aired on TV, it was cut for time. Somebody decided it was a good idea to grab the TV version for the DVD instead of the entire theatrical version. Muppets, please fix this.

4. "Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas" (1997)

Of course there can to be some Disney on here. "Beauty and the Beast" is still to this day one of my all-time favorite movies with my all-time favorite Disney princess. When this movie came out was right around the time I was learning about how amazing BATB was so naturally I bought the dress-up costume to go with this new movie and watched the movie over and over and over again. I still love it, even though I usually have to watch this one by myself every Christmas. Added bonus- Bernadette Peters is in it!

5. "The Polar Express" (2004)

Before Tom Hanks was cast as The Polar Express, there was a book about a little boy who had stopped believing in Santa Claus and the magical train that took him to the North Pole. Before the movie, my family would read this every year and ring the little bell that came with the book just to double check that we could still hear it. When the rumors began that a movie was going to be made about this special book, no one in my family could see how that worked. The book was no more than 20 pages and mostly consisted of pictures of a train riding through snowy scenery. But this movie was able to capture every bit of heart the book had, and then some. This movie got me through the doubting Santa years where I wasn't really sure if I was still allowed to believe anymore. Though that train may never come to my front door, I know that the bell will always ring for me, as it does for those who truly believe.

6. "Jack Frost" (1998)

Another Dad Christmas movie (someone needs to get on making a Mom Christmas movie). This one also holds very special memories for me. I remember the Christmas of 2008 I could barely watch this movie without drowning in a puddle of tears. That was the year my dad was in the hospital with cancer. For the first time, I watched Charlie fight to keep his snowman dad alive just another day longer, and I wished all I had to do was leave the door and windows open on a cold winter day to keep my dad. Now that he is well again, the movie does make me ugly cry. My dad has always made Christmas special every year. He helped my siblings and I build snowmen, he went sledding with us, he fills the Advent House with little presents for everyone every year, he eats all the burnt Christmas cookies that no one else will touch. It wouldn't be Christmas without those memories, and it wouldn't be Christmas without my dad.

7. "A Muppet Family Christmas" (1987)

I told you the Muppets would be back! This home released movie finds the gang traveling the Fozzie's Ma's house for Christmas where they meet other Jim Henson characters (Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock) as well as a special moment with Jim himself. The Muppets come together for a heart-warming tale of friendship and love. P.S.- I have never seen this movie on DVD in the stores, but it is still on YouTube if you are interested.

8. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" (1970)

I'm not a big fan of claymation films. I know that tons of work goes into making them, and sometimes they can be really beautiful, it is not a style that I love. So that means Rudolph is off the table to begin with. But "Santa Claus" has its up sides that make me want to watch this movie. First of all, it covers every Santa question a kid has and answers them logically and creatively. Reindeer fly by eating magic reindeer feed corn. Santa goes down the chimney because it was the only way he could get the children of Sombertown their toys. Secondly, every 3 minutes there is a toe-tapping song that you will never get out of your head, and you will sing along even if you don't know all the words. "Put one foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walking 'cross the floo-oo-oor." "When you're the first toy makers to the kiiiiiing!" "If you sit on my lap today, a kiss a toy is the price you pay." Thirdly, Fred Astaire! Who doesn't want to watch a claymation of Fred Astaire?

9. "Arthur Christmas" (2011)

I have to admit that I was very wary of this movie when it first came out. Since "Jack Frost" I had yet to find a modern Christmas movie that was original and not too cheesy. There was also a previous film about the Claus family ("Fred Claus"), and it wasn't so great or reverent of the Christmas legends. But this movie takes a look at how Santa and his family are struggling to accept technology into this very traditional process. Also, the film puts the business of being Santa Claus as a family business, one that you inherent, which has never been done before. Of course there is more than one Santa. He can't live forever. Through this plot line, you can bring in another great Christmas movie trope- sibling rivalry.

10. "The Holiday" (2006)

Ok, so it's not 100% a Christmas movie. It's not about Santa or the Christmas spirit. It's about how truly hard relationships are. And how much it really, really hurts when you get burned. So much so that you need to go away for a holiday. And it's about how love bites you on the butt when you least except it, and it can be really hard to open up to it. This movie shows Kate Winslet, one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, in her sweats cry-singing in her kitchen with her cat. The wisdom that is imparted to her by Arthur Abbott is the most brilliant advice ever. It's a movie about how the movies hold all of the keys to our love live-- AWESOME!!

P.S. Iris and I are the same person.- journalists who are truly hopeless romantics who also love movies and music. I should really just move to London.

11. "Rise of the Guardians" (2012)

Ok, again, not really a Christmas movie, but at least it has Santa Claus in it. Even if he is played by Alec Baldwin. The story is about the Guardians of the children- Santa Claus aka North, the Tooth Fairy aka Tooth, the East Bunny aka Bunny, the Sand Man aka Sandy and the newly admitted Jack Frost. The team must fight against the Boogey Man aka Pitch to protect the dreams of children, their memories, their awe of the world, and their hope. It's another original story that is heartfelt and truthful.

 12. "Scrooged" (1988)

I don't love Scrooge/Grinch movies. The whole idea about a Debbie-downer at Christmas is no fun to watch. You just want to skip to the end. But you can't help but love Bill Murray (see the Murray Effect in my previous blog). So this story of redemption with much more humor then you would ever except to see in a Scrooge/Grinch movie makes the last place on my list.

What are your desert island Christmas movies? Share them in the comments!

In Review: "Big Hero 6"

In Review: "Big Hero 6"

Let's take a look at Disney's recent track record (originals, not sequels and animated, not live-action):

-"The Princess and the Frog" (2009)-- The first attempt to start a new Disney princess era was not a big success. The hand-drawn animation, though beautiful, could not compete with the 3D animation.

-"Tangled" (2010)-- Rapunzel catapulted Disney princesses back on the market. Complete with a mini sequel to the film, the film surpassed "The Lion King" in the highest grossing opening weekend Disney film- later beaten out by "Wreck-It Ralph" and then "Frozen"

-"Wreck-It Ralph" (2012)-- winner of best Animated Film in the Annie Awards (animation awards), innovative storyline and setting

-"Brave"(2012)-- the first ever Pixar princess was not a huge success with audiences because it struggled to find one message that viewers could take away (though it did win Best Animated Picture)

-"Frozen" (2013)-- the buzz still hasn't stopped with this movie, and rumors are flying left and right for further continuation of the story and its characters- a sequel, musical, ride, a short (which is definitely happening). The film has had a theatrical release of a sing-along version, a meet-and-greet station that has caused serious drama at the Magic Kingdom, and toys/costumes/merchandise that can't stay on the shelves long enough.

You see the pattern? Disney is starting its new Renaissance! With stories and characters who come from original or tried-and-true material, modern morals, and an audience who can't stop eating it all up! "Big Hero 6" is just a continuation of Disney's upward movement.

The Story

Originally from a Marvel comic book series, the movie tells the story of a young genius named Hiro who is steered on the right path by his older brother and his brother's invention, a health care robot named Baymax. After a mysterious accident, (THERE ARE NO SPOILERS. IT IS IN THE TRAILER) Hiro's brother dies and Hiro is left alone with Baymax. As an health care robot would do, Baymax finds a need for his care- to help Hiro deal with the loss of his brother. Hiro discovers a clue into finding what really happened the night his brother died and Baymax is open to help. With some modifications to Baymax, himself and his brother's friends, Big Hero 6, a crime fighting superhero team, is born.

The Stars

The last few Disney movies have boosted ticket sales because of the stars that were hired to voice the characters. Mandy Moore as Rapunzel, Kristen Bell as Anna, and Sarah Silverman as Vanelope, just to name a few. But this movie doesn't use the big names to draw in audiences. (Of course, they don't really have to since Disney has been on a roll lately). Instead what is really interesting and innovative is they use bi-racial actors. Ryan Potter, who plays Hiro, is half Japanese and half American. Daniel Henney, who plays Hiro's brother, is half American and half Korean. The characters, as well as the world created in the movie, are bi-racial and so are the actors. Sure, you might not be able to tell the difference, since it is their voices that you hear and not their faces that you see. Bu, it is really the thought that counts. "The Last Avatar" cast Caucasian actors for Inuit, Chinese, and Japanese characters and made many fans very unhappy.

The Message

Once again, as with "Frozen", there is no love story. Yay!! Just familial love- in this case, between brother and brother. But really, the film gets at a deeper message. Losing someone you love is hard, but doing it without friends and family who love you is even harder. Doing it with revenge and hatred in your heart is near impossible. That's a pretty big concept for a kid's movie! But it gets at a basic idea that everyone tends to forget- you can't live life alone.

Overall

I love, not only the story, the message, the casting, and how the original material was translated for a younger audience, but visually, this film is like a kid in a giant, colorful candy store. The concept of the world is a combination between San Francisco and Tokyo. Both cultures and cities embrace the past and the future. There's a bridge that looks like the Golden Gate Bridge at first, but if you look closer it looks like the symbol for the ancient Japanese religion of Shinto. There are also cherry blossom trees along the streets, elevated fast-moving trains, cable cars, and big, colorful Victorian style homes.

On top of that, Baymax is just well animated. How do you make a big balloon look adorable, humorous, and indestructible at the same time? Minimum animation. One of the best scenes is when Baymax is trying to squeeze past a space in between a table and abed. This could look stupid and clunky, almost like the animators were trying to hit you in the face to make you laugh. But it was realistic and earnest, making it a laugh out loud moment in the film.

The only reason I'm taking off points is that I wish there was a little bit more character development with Hiro's friends and his Aunt. You assume that his parents died, but you are not quite sure why this Aunt seems like she has had 100 cups of coffee. And Hiro's friends add real color to the storyline and action that you are sad you don't get to see more of them. Stay til the end though to find out something very special about Hiro's friend Fred.

3 out of 4 Baymaxes

In Review: "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1"

In Review: "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1"

What is with this idea of cutting movies in half? We have Twilight's Breaking Dawn in two parts, HP7 in two parts, and now HG3 in two parts. Here is good reasoning to split a film:
-There is a natural break in the storyline (ex.- Bella becomes a vampire)
-There is just too much action to fit into one movie that if you were to try, there would be no following the plot line (in HP7- find and destroy 5 horcruxes, kill Lord Voldemort, Snape, Dobby, Fred, Tonks, Bellatrix, and Lupin have to die, the Battle of Hogwarts, forgive Snape for the last 6 books, Harry has to die and resurrect, the love of Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione has to be brought into full view, and so much more)
-The studio just wants to make more money.-- This is NOT a reason to chop a movie in half.

HG3 does not have a natural break in the storyline or even in the development of our main character Katniss. HG3 does not have a ridiculous amount of action to get through. It should not have been split in half.

The Story

We start right back where we stopped- Katniss was air-lifted out of the Quarter Quell Games and has now been brought to District 13, a district we had believed was eliminated by the Capitol. This district used to be a military district so they are all about rules and knowing your place- each person has a schedule, a meal plan, and a dress code. Plutarch and President Coin (the elected leader of 13) have rescued Katniss, and left Peeta behind, in order to start a revolution against the Capitol, and they need Katniss to act as their Mockingjay, a symbol that the people of the districts can rally behind and fight for. Katniss doesn't want to do it at first (mostly because she is still mad at them for not rescuing Peeta), but she agrees to it (in the book it takes her a lot longer, but in the movie, it's the first 5 minutes). So she lives among the people and tries to pose as this symbol (with the help of Effie- who was not in the book) with little success. They find the only way to make Katniss inspiring is to put her in the action and watch her. So they send a whole team of people to follow her around with a camera. This film shows how active the Capitol/President Snow is to strike down the resistance and Katniss. You see them plot to attack a hospital. Along the way, we are seeing the Capitol broadcast interviews with Peeta, who continually looks worse and worse.

Will they finally save him(you will find out)? Will Katniss finally accept her feelings for him(we don't know)? Or is Gale still a thing (we don't know)? Will this war finally tear Katniss apart(we don't know)? Did anything actually happen in this movie (not really)?

The Stars

Jennifer Lawrence continues to impress me. Every time I see her in something new I become more amazed with her talent. She is a popular young actress who is actually really good at her job. She is not just a pretty face, and (fingers crossed) has not decided to release an album, sell a fragrance or a clothing line. She focuses on her craft and it really does show.

I didn't like the book Katniss all that much because she refuses to feel her feelings. She is always hiding them from everyone around her and from herself. So when I heard the books were becoming movies I was a little nervous. Katniss is known for her stone-cold personality that doesn't show emotion. This is what helps her survive the Games and everything afterwards. But this does not play well on screen. You just get a Kristen Stewart.

But Jennifer Lawrence. Man, she lets it all hang out there. You witness the crumbling of her hard exterior and the madness and sorrow of the Games consume her whole body. Nothing is hidden now. And you really understand her.

The Message

This. Is. A. War. Movie. Let me say that again. This. Is. A. War. Movie. Do NOT bring your children to this movie. I know they were all excited about Katniss kicking butt and falling in love with Peeta. I was too, but this movie has several graphic scenes of the destruction and sadness of war because it is a war movie. There is so much politics in this movie (and the next one) that little kids won't understand. You go ahead and try to explain to a 6-year-old why all these people are dead and why the government is continually oppressing and killing the people who fight back.

This is the disintegration of Katniss' character. This is the moment when she finally realizes that the Games will never end because the Capitol is always in control, and she will never be free from the evil of Snow and his need for power and control. She and her family and friends are in serious danger and she cannot win this battle. Katniss is powerless to every move Snow makes because he will always be going after the throat.

Overall

It's okay that this movie ends on a cliff-hanger. It's okay that many of the characters were taken out of this movie. It's okay that the cat is not the same cat from the first movie. It's okay that there seems to be not very much action. What is not okay is it feels like this movie is a lie to everyone who has not read the book. It only touches on key characters and their real motives. It teases you with moments of doubt. It shakes in front of your face saying "haha you have to wait a whole year for the full story."

It's not even like the first LOTR where you were like "what? They are not even close to Solomon!" That movie gave you an ending that was really a beginning of a journey. It was the end of the intro if you will. It feels like the writers just took one end of this book and the other end and pulled to get two even sections. There is no satisfaction or questions answered. Just more wholes and questions.

If you have read the book and you really can't take it, go to see how awesome Jennifer Lawrence is. If you haven't read the book, go see how awesome Jennifer Lawrence is. If you don't like Jennifer Lawrence, don't go see this movie.

1 out of 4 Mockingjays (That's one Jennifer Lawrence)

In Review: "Nightcrawler"

In Review: "Nightcrawler"

Journalists are crazy, and really only journalists understand why.

In its most basic form, this film's plot takes strides from the classic genre/visual style/film era of film noir. (Film noir= a style or genre of cinematographic film marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace. Think, black and white detective movies with venetian blinds and a femme fatale). Many noirs showcase the destruction of a man - of his soul, of his morality, of his good judgement, usually because of a woman. (Funny that this term became popular in the early 40s and 50s, a time when no one would ever say that women had any power over anything). In this case, it is not a woman that destroys our young hero but the glamour and thrill of the media.

The Plot

Enter our hero Lou Bloom (played by Jake Gyllenhaal), a young man looking for a career that he can love, advance in, and thrive in. From the beginning we know he is willing to work hard at whatever it is he plans on doing, educating himself thoroughly on the subject, and will put in the work to get to the top. Not bad intentions right? And his intentions never do waver. He just doesn't know what he is up against.

Through a serious of coincidences, Lou decides that TV crime journalism is what his true passion should be so he hires a wing man and sets up his own company of sorts traveling around LA filming crime scenes and selling them to the low-rated morning TV station, managed by Nina (played by Rene Russo). Along the way, Lou comes into some competition from an independent crime journalist named Joe (played by Bill Paxton) who thinks this kid should really just get out of the way and let the pros handle it. But before Joe even realizes it, it is Lou who is first at every major crime scene with the best and most dynamic shots. This is where good intentions can only get you so far. How is he getting all of these amazing shots? How did he get into that victim's house? How did he manage to catch a shot of the victim still lying on the ground before the police could come and pick up the evidence? Any professional journalist would tell you, that it's not something he should be doing.

The Stars

Jake Gyllenhaal doesn't usually get to be the creepy guy. He is usually the love interest or the naive kid. But he lost 30 pounds and spent all of his time working at night, many times with very little sleep. He does a great job revealing his character slowly to us. In the beginning, you are really rooting for this kid who just wants to learn and find his place in the world as we all do. But the darkness was always there, and slowly we see his true dark nature come out.

The Message

Journalists, exactly like doctors/nurses, have no time off. And journalists, exactly like lawyers, are meant to serve the public and protect their rights by law. But unlike both of these professions, journalists don't have to take a test to become a journalist, you don't need a license to practice journalism, hell, you don't even have to study journalism in school to get a job as a journalist. There are very few barriers from stopping crazy people from becoming journalists. But all of this is a double-ended sword. Do we want the government to approve who is allowed to be a journalist? Well, no, then the press would not be free. It would really be controlled by the government.

When a regular person (not a journalist) watches this movie, they will get the heebee jeebees all over. What Lou does feels wrong and creepy. But as a journalist, I totally understand where he is coming from. I'm not saying in any way that this educated journalist accepts Lou's behavior, but I do empathize. Journalism is a business, a business that makes money based on what people will read or watch. What people will pay for. The journalists need to give the people what they want in order to make money. They don't want to because most of us would rather follow our ethics of justice and truth, but many times we have no choice. That is where Nina is coming from. She is a producer who is struggling to make any money and soon she could loose her job, but all of the sudden here comes this kid with really good footage that will put her business back on top. She knows what he is bringing her is wrong, but her hands are truly tied.

This same phenomenon happens in film. Most directors don't want to put out mediocre material. Most directors do believe that their work is art and is important in the world and society. But they do have to make money, and people like sex and violence above all things. That is what the most amount of people will pay for. Eye candy without message or meaning. They don't need to learn anything, they just want to be entertained. (See all "Scary" Movies and knock-offs)

I think this film is trying to get audiences to see that. Even though this film makes us feel uncomfortable, why doesn't the rest of the garbage do that? Why is there more violence and hatred in the news then stories of salvation and forgiveness? What exactly do we like about those stories? And what will it take for us to stop?

Overall

What I really would have liked to see in this movie is the decline of Lou Bloom. We get whispers of a dark past, but we never get the whole story. We just sort of assume that whatever it was made him a little loopy to begin our story. Lou has OCD and social anxiety tendencies, but we can only guess that this has something to do with his manic behavior and many times inappropriate behavior.

There are a few things that are never fully explained in this film, giving it those noir tendencies. The relationship between Lou and Nina, Rick's (played by Riz Ahmed) back story, and whatever happens to Lou at the end of the film. Noirs do tend to leave things like this out- sometimes because of code laws preventing sexual and violent content (Code era explained here) and other times it was to allow the viewer to fill in the blanks themselves, letting their imagination run wild.

Overall, this is a movie I would encourage all young journalists to see to really understand what those ethics classes are for. Ultimately, you are the ones who decide where that camera goes and what tomorrow's headline will be.

3 out of 4 Video Cameras

Halloween Weekend Movie Schedule

What are you going to do with a whole weekend of Halloween? Watch movies and eat candy of course! I'm not a huge horror and gore fan so here is a list of not-so-terrifying films that are sure to fill your weekend.

Friday, Oct. 31st- Halloween

Work til 5pm (ish)

6pm- Spoon your chilli into your favorite bowl (preferably one with a Halloween theme) and top with sour cream, cheese, and oyster crackers. Pair with an Angry Orchard Hard Cider.

6:10-8pm- "Hocus Pocus" (Bette Midler will start your night right with a song and with a bit of nostalgia)

8:20pm- Answer the door for those kids who are way too old to be trick-or-treating. Glare at them until you know they are too far away to egg your house.

8:25pm-10pm "Young Frankenstein" (Mel Brooks is a comic genius. After the movie go download the Broadway soundtrack. He makes musicals just as funny as movies.)

10:15pm- Do you hear that? What is that whimpering? It's your stomach. Cave into your "diet" and grab the candy bowl. Trick-or-treaters should be all done for the night, and those Clark Bars aren't going to eat themselves.

10:15-12pm- "The Witches" (You need a little bit of scary in this haunted night. Angelica Huston will do that for you.)

12:15pm- Realize there is no way you can sleep after that movie. The witches are coming to get me! How about we put in something a little tamer.

12:30-2am- "Hotel Transylvania" (So much better! An Adam Sandler movie that you don't want to throw against a wall.)

Saturday, Nov. 1- All Saints Day

10:30am- wake up sprawled out on the couch. Did I sleep here all night? Roll over. It's a Saturday there is no way I am getting up now.

11:45am- Jolt awake. Pour yourself a cup of hot cider. real clothes are an option today. Finish off the leftover chili.

12-2pm- "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (let's start out with an easy one. And we haven't had any aliens yet)

2-4pm- "Casper" (Who wouldn't want a ghost friend? Ghost boyfriend? Not so much.)

4-6pm- "Corpse Bride" (Tim Burton needs to be represented here in some way. "Nightmare" is also another option that would work here)

6:15pm- listen to your stomach growl for 10 minutes before dragging yourself off the coach to order pizza. Throw on a sweatshirt and jeans before the pizza guy comes. You don't want him to think you're a lazy bum who sits around all day...oh, wait...)

7:15pm- 9pm "Adams Family Values" (This one ends up being better than the original due to Joan Cusack as a husband-killing, jewelry loving psycho. As well, as the scene where Pugsly and Wednesday are punished by watching Disney movies)

9-11pm- "Rocky Horror Picture Show" (singing and dancing are optional though greatly encouraged)

11:15pm- Where did that candy bowl go?

11:30-1:30pm- "Practical Magic" (Sister Power!)

Sunday, Nov. 2

9:30am- Decide that the coach is not looking comfy anymore. Decide to take a shower, brush cavity-infested teeth, comb tangled knots of hair, and go out today. (bring a friend if you would like)

12pm- Grab some lunch at your local Mexican restaurant. They're still open right?

2pm-4pm "Book of Life" (this one is still in theaters, but totally worth the money you will spend. With intricate and beautiful animation, it's the perfect eye candy)

4:30pm- Invite your friend over, but tell them to wait in the hallway until you can throw all of your candy wrappers and dirty clothes under your bed. Maybe it is a good idea to see a living being this weekend.

5pm- Play the I-don't-know-what-do-you-want-to-eat game until you realize you haven't had Chinese yet.

6-8pm- Any of the HP movies ("I'm a what?" "You're a wizard, Harry.") Share the remainder of the candy bowl

8:30pm- Your friend heads home to get to bed early. Maybe you should too... Nah. We need one more movie to finish off this weekend.

8:45pm-11pm- "Halloweentown"

11pm- Got to bed... Seriously, you spent a whole weekend watching movies. You're crazy.

Until next year, Halloween!

Number of movies finished: 13
Pounds of candy consumed: 3ish... ok more like 6
Regrets made: 0

In Review: "St. Vincent"

In Review: " St. Vincent"

A movie that is "saved" by its talent.

When was the last time you saw a bad Bill Murray movie? "Monuments Men" (2014) comes to mind. But why did you go see the film in the first place? Because it's a movie about the value of art and the evil of the Nazis? No. It had Bill Murray in it. Whatever he touches, people are simply drawn to it. It's nothing that can be explained, but I've decided to call it the Murray Effect.

The Plot

 

A little kid named Oliver whose parents have just divorced and has been uprooted to a poorer new York neighborhood (probably near Queens) is dealing with the "new kid syndrome". But instead of reaching out to the kids who beat him up after school, he latches on to his ill-tempered neighbor (Murray), a senior named Vincent who drinks too much, swears too much, and whose only friend seems to be his cat. Out of desperation, Maggie, Oliver's mom (Melissa McCarthy), is forced to ask Vincent to watch Oliver while she is away at work. Luckily for Maggie, Vincent owes quite a few people money. Craziness ensues of course for the odd couple. Oliver goes to the race track, visits a bar, and meets Vincent's "lady of the night" (Naomi Watts).

The Stars

 

Why does the Murray Effect exist? As we have gotten to know Murray through the years as a fun-loving, wise-cracking, and sometimes cranky man with a big heart, we have learned to love him. So much so that when he suddenly appears in "Zombieland" (2009), the movie sky rockets from "Oh, yeah that was pretty funny" to "OMG! They killed Bill Murray!" We expect laughs from him, and lots of heart. And this movie allows him to do exactly that. He gets to be sarcastic and heartfelt, blunt and deep, recite quick one-liners and meaningful dialogue. It's nothing that we haven't seen from him before. It simply reminds us what we love most about him.

Poor Melissa McCarthy. She is starting to head towards a bad type-cast. The fat, clumsy, stupid funny girl. She did that in "Identity Thief" (2013), "Tammy" (2014), and even "Hangover Part III" (2013). Stop it Melissa McCarthy! Stop right where you are. I know you're TV show "Mike & Molly" is not doing as great has it has in the past, but that is no reason to give up!

This part in "St. Vincent" is a welcomed change for McCarthy. No, she doesn't get to be the punchline of every joke, but she gets to grow on screen. She gets to break down and cry, get mad and get scared. I believe that this is just a glimpse into what could be if McCarthy decides to choose this path for her career. She needs to take notes from her fellow funny girl Kristen Wiig. Yes, Wiig did all the stupid funny she wanted to in SNL, but since then she has turned a corner and did more serious roles like "The Skeleton Twins". She has become more than just another funny girl.

Another "Bridesmaids" alum shows up in this film- Chris O'Dowd. And he could not be more perfect as Brother Geraghty, the teacher of Oliver's new Catholic school. O'Dowd brought me back to those plaid skirts day when I knew the Stations of the Cross between than my times tables. His quick wit and sly comments will make you think if your grade school nun days were as funny as this classroom.

The Message

 

Never judge a book by its cover. Don't judge a person before you get to know them. Miracles come in the most unexpected places. Angels are all around us. The main issue I have with this film is it can't quite decide what it wants to say or it never really gets there. It throws funny lines at you, presents silly situations and circumstances, and gives you a dash of sincerity. So by the end of it all, yes, you love Vincent and wish you could meet him in real life, but that's really all you know.

There is a side plot where Oliver's birth-father wants to get full custody because his mother is basically leaving Oliver with this crazy man all night long. Logically, it makes sense that the father should be questioning his ex-wife's state of mind when she decided to let this senior citizen babysit her kid. But the scenes are so rushed through that the problem instantly gets solved and Vincent's authority as a caretaker is not questioned again. So who is judging Vincent now? Maggie? The world? The audience? I'm not really sure.

Overall

 

 

I loved this Bill Murray movie, and think of it as exactly that. This is a film to enjoy Murray in all of his glory and get to watch a couple other choice actors make you laugh and cry. But would I put this on my must-have list? No, not really. It was fun to watch though.

2.5 out of 4 Halos

In Review: The Judge

In Review: The Judge

I smell an Oscar nomination!! And it's not even Christmas yet!

The Story

Robert Duvall is going to jail! Haha well, his character might be. Duvall plays the always-fair-always-truthful judge of a small town in Indiana. Robert Downey Jr. is his distant son Hank who has run off to Chicago to live his dream of becoming a well-paid lawyer (notice how I said well-paid and not well-liked or righteous or moral). The two have been fighting for years. The only reason Hank comes to visit his father, Joseph (who he refers to as "Judge"), is because Hank's mother has died. While Hank is in town, Joseph is accused of murder. Hank manages to push aside his pride to act as his father's lawyer. The case will test Hank's patience with his father as well as his comfortable distance he has with his past.

The Stars

I do think Robert Downey Jr. should at least be nominated for Best Actor this year. I know it is really early in the Oscar season, but this one needs to be on the Academy's mind. The world knows Robert Downey Jr. as the child star turned junkie turned self-centered sarcastic superhero, but they don't know him like this. He is so vulnerable and honest at moments in the film that you think, "This is Iran Man?" We see his heart, which tends to get fogged over by the sarcasm and one-liners of his other films.

Duvall is, of course, brilliant as well. What I love most about this movie is that we all would love to see Duvall's character completely accept his son into his life with open arms and beg for forgiveness for everything that has happened in the past. But that never fully happens. Duvall never breaks character. A real father who has alienated his son for years would never open up to him fully and ask for forgiveness. We want him to in this fantasy world, but he never would in real life. Because he doesn't know how.

The Message

I want to say that this movie tells all parents to learn to forgive their children for their pasts and ask for forgiveness for the wrongs they have done. But that's not what this is about. After all, this is Hank's story. Not Joseph's. Hank's whole life he is fighting his past- he gets a job far away from home, running away from an old girlfriend who could have been more, running away from a brother with disabilities, another brother whose life he ruined, and a whole other list of passed mistakes. This movie is really about him forgiving himself and faces his mistakes, accepting that they happened and learning to move forward. This is the only way he learns to forgive his father and how he finds the strength to fight for him.

Overall

The only issue I had with this movie is the middle was a little slow to start. There is a long period of time before we get the trial started- we have to pick the jury, find the right lawyer, prepare, prepare, prepare. In real life, that is entirely accurate. Preparation is how you win a case. But for a movie, there is not too much drama. Thankfully a lot of this down time is used to fill the viewer in on the ghosts of the past. Overall, except a family drama with some court scenes. It's not your average court room drama. It's more about the family's development, and more specifically Hank's development.

3 out of 4 Gavels (the judge hammer thing)

 

In Review: Chef (2014)

In Review: Chef (2014)

Finally! I get to write about something worth seeing.

It's another food film (sorry!) but that seems to be the only genre that has something new coming out of the oven (I'm looking at you rom-coms!)

Plot

 

Carl (Jon Favreau) has been working at the same restaurant for years, and yes, has received some amount of success. But just like every artist, he strives to create something new. So when creative differences come between Carl and the restaurant owner, played by Dustin Hoffman, Carl is forced to start over. And by the method of I-know-a-guy-who-knows-a-guy, Carl gets a fodd truck and is finally able to be himself in his food, and find himself as a father.

The Stars

 

Jon Favreau, now known for as the driving force behind every single Iron Man movie and as Happy, the metal man's "bodyguard", looks like he should quit acting and become a real-life chef. He is confident in every movement he makes in the kitchen, and that only comes from someone who feels comfortable behind a stove. Not that his previous roles were bad, but I feel like this is the first time I get to see really see him.

John Leguizamo is on my list of favorite actors. It may partly be because he happens to be a favorite of my favorite director (Baz Luhrmann) and is in one of my all time favorite movies ("Moulin Rouge"), but there are other reasons too. He has a wide range of character. He can be pure evil ("Romeo+Juliet"). He can be the funniest guy on screen ("Ice Age"), and he can do this where he is your best friend and you couldn't be happier that he was.

P.S. an appearance by RDJ makes one of the funniest scenes in this movie!

The Message

 

Unlike the last food movie I reviewed, this film is not about the food. Don't get me wrong, I was drooling throughout the whole thing for cubanos, brisket, and beignets. But this movie wasn't about how food can change people. Mostly because our main character knows how amazing food is.

It's more so about that time-old lesson that work is not life. Taking time to stop, reflect, and connect with those people you tend to forget about on a day-to-day basis is what life is all about. This go-go-go attitude wears us and our families down. This is why family dinners every night at a dinner table are so important.

Overall

 

I really did like this movie, but it was missing something. It was missing that extra push of character growth. By the end of the film, we do see that Carl has spent a whole lot of time with his son and that he wants more of it. He realizes he has really missed out on being a dad to this adorable kid. But the problem is we experience this jump in growth. All of the sudden, Carl takes this kid food shopping with him properly, lets him cook in the kitchen, and basically help run his new business without so much as a bump in the road. It seems as if they have been doing this forever with no real separation. It would have been great to see this real distance between the two characters so it leads us to a triumphant ending. But that would mean that our hero would need to act as the bad-dad for a little while, and that can get tricky.

 

But overall, I really did like this movie, and it made me really, really want to try a cubano.

 

2.5 out of 4 Cubanos