Big Mike's Movie Blog

Dr. Slumdog or How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Blog Again

2010-07-08T15:02:00.000-07:00

It has been a very trying week for me. On Monday, my wallet, cell phone and iPod were stolen out of my car. I went thru an abbreviated version of the steps of grief or coping or whatever you might call them. When I realized the iPod was gone, I was irritated. It's the second one that's been stolen from me, BOTH gifts from my mother. When I figured out that the wallet with ATM card, driver's license, forty dollars in cash and my cell phone with all my numbers in it were gone, I was enraged. And then when it dawned on me that all my pictures, videos and most importantly text messages from my sweetheart were now in the hands of someone else from whom I would not get them back, I became so depressed, I skipped work for two days. Then I began the process of getting my life back together, cell phone by debit card, one piece at a time.

Until I walked into Chase bank this morning. I went to go check on my claim because someone had taken four hundred dollars out of my account on Monday morning and the person over the phone assured me that I would have it back in a few days. However, after sitting and talking to a helpful young man at the branch, he called the claims department and put me on the phone with them. They explained to me they would not be crediting my account and listed a few frivolous reasons as to why they wouldn't. After some back and forth in which they explained they would not be able to help me any further and that they would not re-open my claim, I hug up the phone, calmly closed my account and walked across the street to Bank of America.

What does this have to do with movies? I'm getting there.

Let's switch topics again for a brief moment and get it out in the open. Terrorism is bad. We can all agree on that, I'm certainly not disputing it, but I want to say it, so everyone knows I'm on board when I say that I really don't concern myself with it. I don't know if it's living on the West Coast or having spent time in the Middle East, but let's table that for now and say I have a far more personal and valid reason for having an unfair prejudice against Middle Easterners. For as long as there is a heavily accented customer service rep NOT servicing me as a customer, I will hold these prejudices. For every slumdog that yells at me because he can't fix my computer, tells me I am eligible for a great new rate on my wireless plan or tells me that checking the ATM camera installed at their branch is "not what they do," I'll lump them in with the terrorists. And some of my very best friends, close friends are Filipino and that's close enough.

So, as I was driving home, cursing said slumdog, it occurred to me that if that awful movie's lasting legacy is a racial epithet against the very people the film exploited, then maybe there is some justice in the world. Or as they would call it 'karma.' Is this an outwardly racist post? I don't think so. Does it necessarily have to do with movies? Kinda. But, if it does tell you how movies play a part in forming my world views and shaping my personality, then I think that's a pretty good blog. And maybe I should start doing more of them like this.

Unfortunately, I was the one covered in the proverbial shit.

Better Not Bring Your Kids!

2010-03-29T21:58:00.001-07:00

I had the day off from work and rather than go out to the movies, I stayed inside. After reorganizing three stacks of DVDs about three feet high each, I still couldn't pick one, so I threw in season two of Chappelle's Show, intending to watch it until my cousin called me. He texted me back hours later, but by that time, I was already too deep into the DVD to even care.

If you haven't never seen the show, you're missing out on one of the funniest shows of the past decade. Controversial, groundbreaking and genius were some of the adjectives used to describe the show at it's height and it holds up well even today. With the dearth of quality sketch comedy on television, Dave delivered strong quality episodes every week. His commitment to excellence drove him hard enough to walk away from the show after the season, but it remains an amazing testament to his talent and vision. Here are some of my favorite highlights from the second season.

Samuel L. Jackson Beer - I can't watch ANY Samuel L. Jackson movie without thinking to myself, "mmm-mmm bitch!" Especially when sitting in a quiet theater during a Sam Jackson trailer.

Law & Order - This is where the line between jokes and social relevance start to thin to the point of disappearance. From the 'jury of your peers' to Tron's pleading the 'Fif', this sketch is a comedy of absurdity, turning everyday well known conventions of then head and making a mockery of the government's pursuit of justice.

Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories - There was talk and rumors of Dave actually doing a Rick James biopic in the style of these sketches. If only they had come to fruition, we would've had the funniest musical biopic ever.

Making the Band - Trust me, the sketch is far more compelling than anything the actual show ever produced.

KneeHigh Park - I would probably let my kids watch KneeHigh Park. Lots of good lessons there.

Wayne Brady - There may never be a better skewering of a celebrity's public image than Wayne Brady's Training Day-inspired sketch. And if you get the DVD, watch the special features to see Wayne positively squirm at the thought of delivering his now infamous catch phrase.

Black Bush - Possibly the best political sketch of all time.

Coppin' Out (Of Creating A Clever Post Title)

2010-03-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

I have always been a fan of Kevin Smith's movies, his scripts, his regular cast and his Askewniverse in general. I like it when he challenges himself with a film outside of his comfort zone, such as Dogma or Jersey Girl, so I was really looking forward to Cop Out. In his first large scale studio movie, he gets to direct one of the biggest stars in film in his comfort zone of playing a cop. And the teaming of Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan may have soured some people, but it pays off.

Those expecting Die Hard 5 or even Beverly Hills Cop 4 will be disappointed, but anyone who wants to see a comedy about two cops trying to recover one's stolen baseball card and test the fidelity of the other's wife will be hard pressed to find a pair of actors do it better. From the opening scene of Tracy trying to interrogate a suspect by quoting movies from The Color Purple and Schindler's List, the style of Smith's comedy is apparent, but clearly retrained as a result of working with a large budget and limited creative control. But, Willis and Morgan play well off of each other, and even better off of Adam Brody and Kevin Pollak as rival detectives. And my personal distaste for all things of The O.C. aside, I really want to see the movie where Adam Brody and Kevin Pollak star as a team of detectives. Although there are a lot of good supporting actors, including Rashida Jones, Seann William Scott and Jason Lee, they feel underdeveloped and are really just a way to steer us back to Willis and Morgan. By the end, it does become a bit predictable, but that doesn't take away from enjoying to movie up to that point.

And really, who wants a twist ending anymore? People see a movie like Cop Out and whine that's it predictable, then see a movie like Shutter Island and either lie their ass off saying they saw it a mile away or are at least gracious enough to admit their ignorance and complain that the movie didn't make any sense. And moviegoers of this generation, more than any prior, should be embarrassed by the spoils of riches the movie gods have blessed us with! We see more movies in one summer than used to be released in a whole year and you can watch almost any movie, any time you want! If you can find a cheaper way to kill two hours, be my guest.

Sorry about that but back to the movie. My two favorite bits in the entire movie were Willis' character saying he'd never seen Die Hard and Tracy Morgan doing his Cary Grant impression.

The Godfather of All Podcasts

2010-03-09T09:54:00.000-08:00

On the third episode of Big Mike's Movie Podcast, my friend Andrea and I talk about arguably the greatest film of all time, The Godfather. What more is there to say about the movie or the podcast, except listen to it now!

My Oscar Mission Statement

2010-03-08T15:52:00.000-08:00

Last night, while watching The Hurt Locker win Best Picture for the 82^nd Academy Awards, my excitement was subdued my the reminder that it’s not the destination, but the journey. And it was a long winding road last night to get The Hurt Locker into the winner’s circle. Lots of people have lobbed criticisms at the Academy for the show and the nominees, the voting/selection/viewing process and the eventual winners. While the Academy does have a host of concerns (pun intended), I am here to help with my guidelines for producing a better Oscar show.

We start at the top, with the host. If you’ve listened to my podcast (and you should), then you already know that my choice for host is Robert Downey Jr. Except for Baldwin, can you think of a host whose career and public image has been as low and as high as his? All the obligatory jokes at the audience members would work better because people have a genuine affinity for the man. Everyone in the town loves Downey and people at home love Iron Man.

On that note, he and Tina Fey were the best presenters of the night. Not just because I harbor crushes on both of them, but they engaged in the kind of witty banter that presenters can get away with. More importantly, they represent two types of stars that should present, A-list movie stars and respected industry stars.

No more Disney channels stars (no matter how long Disney owns ABC), no more children or siblings of celebrities, no reality stars and nobody who hasn’t worked in an Academy Award nominated film. Period. It is not that hard to find recognizable actors to give away the biggest prize in the world not named after Alfred Nobel. Presenters for next year will include, but not be limited to – Nicole Kidman, James Caan, Cate Blanchett, James Gandolfini, Anne Hathaway and Bruce Willis.

Furthermore, in continue to embrace the tradition of Oscar, the lifetime achievement awards will be brought back. If you can include a five-minute montage to horror films that inexplicably includes Twilight and excludes Shaun of the Dead, then you can good and goddamn well give five minutes to Lauren Bacall. Oh, and the In Memoriam montage should not exclude ANYBODY! Sure, Farrah Fawcett and Bea Arthur might have been TV stars, but they were in movies as well and when are they going to get another chance to be seen on that stage again?

Speaking of montage, and visual presentation in general, the YouTube mash ups for the best supporting nominations are ridiculous. I remember when you used to watch a movie and there was one scene that made you sit back and say, “There’s the Oscar clip.” It’s cliché for a reason and it needs to return. One clip per nomination. While I quite like the actor-to-actor testimonials for the leading nominations, you must make room somewhere and cutting clips for cinematography is not the place to do it. Removing the song performances could work, but not when you give the Jabbawockees (not even sure I’m using that reference correctly) some cardboard and let them dance through five score nominees. That is counterproductive.

Along with that, some awards can and should be awarded in tandem. Documentaries, long and short, animated, long and short, sound editing/mixing, costume and make-up, even screenplays or effects and art direction can be lumped together for the sake of the average viewer. Picture, director, acting, cinematography and editing should stand alone. Again, this will make more time for other things, including acceptance speeches and the same three commercials I saw all night long.

I know I will take some heat for this, but I must say it anyways. Though I have my own issues with the films of John Hughes, he is without a doubt an important American filmmaker. That being said, he probably does not warrant a fifteen-minute tribute in the middle of the show. Because unless I missed the same tribute last year for Ingmar Bergman, these types of tributes should be consistent or non-existent. The Gene Siskel tribute a few years ago was very effective. But, if Kevin Smith dropped dead tomorrow, I would still not round up Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Shannon Doherty and Liv Tyler to talk about how he changed the way we looked at the world through his unique vision. I believe it is safe to say that even without last night’s presentation, we won’t forget about John Hughes.

There should be more surprises. Sure, all of us in the blogosphere were surprised at the upsets in the screenplay categories, but that was about it. The lead up to Oscar season takes away from the suspense of Oscar night and though we may be part of the problem by handicapping the races and picking upsets, it is on the Academy to continue to shake things up in both the nominating and selection processes.

The ten Best Picture nominations was a good idea and it did work. As long as we continue to have five director nominations, there will always be five frontrunners for BP, so including five other nominees will only help will mainstream audiences, to highlight movies they haven’t seen and include those they have. You can show love for An Education, while showing love for The Blind Side, but we all know that neither of them is going to win. Picking The Hurt Locker was the right choice. People who think Avatar should have won because it made a lot of money and looked awesome are wrong. Oscar occasionally gets things right and they got it right this year. Which means…

The Academy Awards are awarded to recognize excellence in filmmaking. Not in making popular movies or pretty movies. It’s not about making movies with a message or movies that make stars out of unknowns. Embrace the traditions of Oscar and forget about ratings. It’s on TV anyways, who watches that? More actors, less stars, more films, less movies and more awards winners, less box office winners. Let us get back to what the Oscars really represent and if certain people cannot get on board with that, then leave them at the fucking station.

Big Mike's Movie Podcast Episode 2 -Oscar Wrap-Up

2010-03-02T12:04:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all of you for listening to the first episode of Big Mike's Movie Podcast and for all of your positive feedback. It's been a lot of fun working on the first two and I will be recording the third episode this weekend and am planning future episodes as well. I'm really interested in getting as many different guests as I can, so if you are interested in coming on the show, feel free to contact me and we can talk topics and schedules.

In this follow up episode, Graham and I finish up the Oscar predictions, joke around about a bunch of stupid Oscar-y things and I drop the bomb on him with my awesome pick for next year's Oscar host. I'm calling it right now, so look alive people. Who did I name? You'll just have to listen!

Up In The Air

2010-02-26T11:01:00.000-08:00

This review is part of the ongoing feature The LAMB Devours the Oscars. Read all of the articles on every Oscar category and all ten Best Picture nominations.

Rarely can a film be both timely and timeless, contemporary and classic, heart warming and

heart wrenching, heavy, humorous, that combines comedy and drama, scope and introspection, romantic, yet real.

Up In The Air is such a film.

George Clooney turns in what may be the best performance of his career as Ryan Bingham, career transition counselor. His job title is pure euphemism as Bingham is a hired gun brought in from the outside by companies forced to do mass layoffs. Bingham's matter of fact attitude about his work belies his entire outlook on life. He forsakes his sparsely furnished apartment in the Midwest to spend most of his life on the road, on the job and, of course, up in the air. He moonlights as a motivational speaker, sharing his philosophies with like minded business types, truly believing in every word of his speeches, imploring them to leave unnecessary attachments by the wayside. He streamlines his personal life as effectively as his daily routine, cutting back on baggage, personal or otherwise, and finds comfort in airport lounges, business suites and the exclusivity of frequent flier miles. But, his comfort zone is threatened when a young ingenue, Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick), is hired on by his company to take the business into the future. Her plan to cut costs and fire people face to face over a computer monitor will ground Bingham permanently and he finds himself taking her on the road with him as they attempt to learn about each other's methods and prove themselves more effective. They learn from each other, share their personal ambitions, like Ryan's goal of ten million frequent flier miles and form a bond that is the emotional core of the movie. Along the way, Bingham finds a like spirit in the form of Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga) who shares his lifestyle, life experiences and through their similarities, Bingham begins to look more at himself. He solicits her counsel when Natalie is heartbroken, he takes Alex to his sister's wedding and when he gets the call that he doesn't need to travel anymore, he wants her to be part of his new life.

Based on the novel of the same name by Walter Kirn, writer/director Jason Reitman pushed through the flashes of brilliance he displayed in Thank You For Smoking and Juno, by crafting a story that is much more subdued and serious, but without sacrificing the warmth and humor that is his family hallmark. He skillfully moves the action around the main force of Clooney while constantly keeping the story heading forward to it's ambiguous conclusion. The performances from the three leads are impressive enough to garner them all Oscar nominations, as feat accomplished by such films as The Philadelphia Story, The Graduate and Raging Bull. The supporting cast is peppered with familiar face Jason Bateman, J.K. Simmons, Zach Galifinakis and Danny McBride as well as using real people recently laid off from their jobs at the time of filming. That human touch, that sense of connection the audience feels to the characters, the world they live in and how closely it resembles our own, guided by Reitman and embodied by Clooney is what helps make Up In The Air the best picture of the year.

It's Here, Big Mike's Movie Podcast!

2010-02-26T08:48:00.000-08:00

Yes, I have taken the plunge and recorded a podcast! I am still working out kinks, figuring out scheduling, content and guests, so please give it a listen and I am soliciting as much feedback as possible, so tell me what you think!

In the first episode, my best friend, Graham Greenlee and I discuss the everything Oscar this year. We talked for so long that we actually had to break it up into two episodes, then because I'm dumb, I lost the second part and forced us to re-record. It's been a labor of love for me so far, but I'm really pleased with what we have. But, we really analyze the Oscars and dissect the nominees as well as we can, giving you our picks for the awards show on March 7. You can download your official Oscar ballot to make your picks and check out the sites we mention which include Awards Daily and The Film Experience, both excellent sites.

You can find my podcast at on podOmatic at Big Mike's Movie Podcast and it will be available on iTunes soon as well. Of course, if you're on Facebook, you can follow Big Mike's Movie Blog on Networked Blogs and there are plenty of ways on the sidebar to the right for you to subscribe and share my blog.

So, to sum up, looking for feedback, content and guests and above all else, enjoy!

Who's More All-American than John Krasinski?

2010-02-25T02:55:00.000-08:00

Rumors have circulated on the interwebs that the upcoming Captain America movie is narrowing the search for it's star. One of the names that has risen above the fray and is causing the most chatter is that of John Krasinski, star of The Office.

Let's look at this logically for a moment and put aside our heated devotions to both a recently deceased superhero who made his name fifty years ago and to pseudo-documentary sitcoms as well. John Krasinski is a great choice for Marvel to place a new franchise upon. Fanboys will say that he's not a big enough star, he's not tough enough or they won't be able to 'buy him' as Steve Rogers. Face the facts, not only do most people not even know Captain America's real name, Brad Pitt cannot play everyone and Cool World was a loooong time ago. Krasinski, on the other hand, is a younger actor, on the rise in both television and film and will bring an established fan base to the movie that might not otherwise see it. I am, of course referring to the tween audience who idolize Jim Halpert and have helped to make such schlock as New Moon open as big as The Dark Knight. Financially, it's a smart move for Marvel. Get him on the cheap and watch him blow up in the summer of 2011. Furthermore, Krasinski is recognizable without being a huge star. This is key for a very important factor. Fanboys, pay attention - if you want to see an Avengers movie anytime soon, Krasinski needs to play Captain America. The studio already has it's huge movie star to lead the franchise, and now they need someone to play off of him.

The casting of Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man was not without some skepticism as well and I think we all know how that turned out. But let me tell you about another man. He was an actor, mostly known for his comedic roles and not though of as an action star. He was cast as one of this country's most iconic characters amongst outrage and disbelief from fans worldwide. He ended up becoming, in many people's mind, the definitive version of the World's Greatest Detective. That man was Michael Keaton.

Fortune favors the bold and bold casting makes for interesting movies. Love them or hate them, you had to like either Eric Bana or Ed Norton as the Hulk. Was Christopher Reeve an action star? When you cast those actors in these roles, you get Dolph Lundgren as the Punisher, Sylvester Stallone as Judge Dredd, and basically every single one of the Fantastic Four. John Krasinski as Captain America makes as much sense to me as Ryan Reynolds as the Green Lantern, Eva Mendes as Selina Kyle (my personal casting choice) or Heath Ledger as the Joker. Cast an actor who can bring something different to the character and watch them make magic.

No Leaving Shutter Island

2010-02-18T18:34:00.001-08:00

In the film Shutter Island, the characters are trapped on a small island in the Boston harbor that is home to a 'mental institution... for the criminally insane'. A monstrous storm pounds the island making it impossible for anyone to leave. But, director Martin Scorsese has crafted the film in such a way, that audiences will find it difficult to leave Shutter Island themselves.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays US Marshal Teddy Daniels, investigating a disappearance on the island with his new partner Chuck (Mark Ruffalo). They are offered little to no assistance from the institution's administrator (Ben Kingsely) or doctors (Max von Sydow) and Teddy is tormented with migraines and images of his murdered wife (Michelle Williams). To go anymore further into the plot is to give away clues in a mystery that includes so many subtle nuances that, the ending aside, the film almost demands multiple viewings. Suffice to say that the movie taps directly into the era of the 1950's with it's Cold War paranoia, flashbacks of World War II and just being a simpler time when people still trust in the decency of mankind.

Like in The Departed and The Aviator, DiCaprio's performance carries the film. The character of Teddy Daniels is determined, troubled, clever, suspicious and human all at the same time. He has his own reasons to investigate Shutter Island and his own demons to exorcise. By becoming emotionally compromised, he becomes an unreliable narrator, but it is through his eyes that we view this story. Which makes it all the more compelling because as you identify with Teddy, you want him to be right about everything that is wrong. You want him to break from protocol, avenge his wife's death and unravel the vast conspiracy that evades the innermost secrets of the island. It's a strangely exciting ride, for how dark and macabre the film becomes, but it's a testament to both actor and director that you can care so much for a deeply disturbed and violent man.

The supporting cast in in excellent form as well, including the aforementioned actors, as well as Patricia Clarkson, Jackie Earle Haley and Elias Koteas. While most of them only appear for a single scene, they make the most of their time on the screen, in captivating shots lensed by Robert Richardson. Additionally, the flashbacks of Teddy liberating Dachau in World War II only make me salivate at the thought of a Martin Scorsese war movie.

Of course, no review of a Scorsese film would be accurate without mentioning the director. Shutter Island becomes a loving homage to films of the period, from the horror movies of Val Lewton and Jacques Tourner to the suspenseful psychological thrillers of Hitchcock. Replete with references and nods to these films and more, Scorsese gets the most from DiCaprio by utilizing his movie star power to not only mine the richer payoff of DiCaprio the actor, but by bringing to a larger audience his special craft at filmmaking, his respect and affection for cinema history and his knack for keeping it all so very entertaining.

Arrested Wednesdays #10

2010-02-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

Well, I still haven't heard anything on that audition I wrote about last week (which you can read directly below this post.), which makes me think that maybe I should have done some more research first.

Arrested Wednesdays #9

2010-01-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I have this phone interview tomorrow for a great opportunity with my restaurant's corporate headquarters for a chance to be in the new training videos they are producing. By time you're reading this, it will all be over but the judging. Basically, I have to answer a few questions, read a few pieces written for the video and just in general, blow their socks off. If you saw my little dog and pony show that I posted a few weeks ago, then you will have an idea of what I am talking about. I was talking to a friend of mine last night and saying how nervous I was about it. I don't usually get nervous, so when I do, it's even MORE nerve-wracking because it's such an odd sensation. I was reassured, re-inspired and generally talked down of the ledge. I went for a run and something occurred to me.

What the hell does this have to do with Arrested Wednesdays?

Well, as long as my interview doesn't go as badly as Tobias' in this following clip, I think I'll be in pretty good shape.

Thanks again, Arrested Development, for getting me through those tough times in life.

The End is Nigh

2010-01-25T02:34:00.000-08:00

As if things weren't generally bad enough in the world right now, this season's movies didn't do too much to lift my spirits. Aside from a financial crisis that is two years old with no end in sight, a ever increasing presence of global warming (especially this past week in California) and the end of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, the dearth of exciting movies (not including Sherlock Holmes, BUT totally including Avatar) has been almost too much to bear. But, a duo of dreary, washed out films about the end of humanity left me with very different feelings and those movies were The Road and Book of Eli.

The Road stars Viggo Mortensen as the father of a young boy, wandering through a world in which some unexplained event has wiped out most of humanity. His wife, played by Charlize Theron, is unable to cope with the agony of knowing the fragility of her humanity decides to leave her family behind. Viggo travels with his son south, towards the coast, towards nothing in particular, but a hope for someplace warmer and safe from the roaming cannibal raiders that haunt the scarred landscape. Viggo struggles to protect his son and teach him to take care of himself until he is older and strong enough to protect himself.

Armed with nothing more than a down jacket and two bullets in a revolver that looks like it might fall apart after one shot, Viggo (his character has no name) tries to hide his fears from

his young son and attempts unsuccessfully to convey a convincing portrait of strength and courage. But, as the film progresses, and his health deteriorates, he becomes more manic and less of a loving father than a overbearing, overprotective father. His son takes on the traits of the nurturer and caregiver, not only caring for his father, but helping out a few of the lonely souls they meet along the way. By the end of the film, Viggo can only hope that he has taught him son well enough and the final scene leaves the audience with the belief that he has and actually provides a rather bittersweet ending.

The Road conveys a strong enough sense of plausibility that you can believe that this might actually be what the end of civilization will look like. I walked out of the movie thinking about what really mattered in life and what would be important to me if everything was lost. Who would I save? Who would I want to spend my final days with? However, in Book of Eli, the movie fails to bring across any of the emotion or levity of The Road.

Book of Eli begins with Denzel Washington as Eli, wandering through a world in which some great war has wiped out most of humanity. He hunts, scavenges and kills cannibalistic raiders in a search for fresh water and a charge for his iPod. When he happens upon a small town, it comes to light that he carries a book that self appointed mayor Carnegie (Gary Oldman) is desperate to get his hands on and Eli is steadfast in his refusal to give it up to him. The hunt begins again as Carnegie and his men chase Eli and Solara (Mila Kunis) across the sun drenched landscape of New Mexico. In the end, while Carnegie manages to get his hands on the book, a telegraphed twist renders the book useless to him and allows Eli the comfort of knowing he has completed his quest.

The film is paced poorly, uses unnecessary camera tricks to highlight otherwise pedestrian action sequences that carry no real weight and is chock full of odd cameos (Tom Waits? Michael Gambon? Malcolm McDowell as Einstein?) that pulled me out of the film, although I know the audience I was with had no idea who they were. If you make it all the way to the end and are at least mildly amused by the Zatoichi allusion, then you will probably appreciate Book of Eli for what it is. But, I got distracted by all the religious themes being thrown around and while I understand what was intended, I felt that a little more or a little less would have helped to serve the film better than the awkward medium it found itself in. And honestly, by the very end, I wished that I had just sat through Book of Mila, which looks like a far more interesting post-apocalyptic revenge action movie than the film I has just watched.

It's Official, I am Kreativ

2010-01-22T17:08:00.001-08:00

I like the internet blog memes that get created and passed from blogger to blogger. I think it's a great way to interact with others in the blogging community and anything that increases visibility and attracts readers is a good thing. The only bad thing is being at the tail end where it becomes difficult to pass it along to someone, as they have already gotten it themselves. So, while I am grateful to be recognized by my peers, the hard part becomes finding other peers to recognize.

I was nominated for a Kreativ Blogger award by my friend Tom Clift of Plus Trailers. When one is nominated, they must perform certain tasks, which I shall attempt to complete now.

1. Thank the person who nominated you.

Thank you Tom. You are a gentleman and a scholar and I tip my hat to your ever gracious reception of any ethnic Australian jokes made at your expense. Well done, sir.

2. Copy the logo and paste it in your blog.

Done and done.

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

I think we're getting slightly redundant here, but here's a link to Plus Trailers.

4. Name seven things about you that people might find interesting.

This task in and of itself is interesting because of the way it's worded. Not the part about what other people may find interesting, but the part about NAMING seven things. I follow instructions to the letter, so here goes.

- my military record

- my preferences in women

- my devotion to the Red Sox

- my taste in film, television, humor and again, women

- my workout regimen (running outdoors to film scores)

- my various celebrity meetings, run-ins and photo ops

- my future, with women

5. Nominate seven other bloggers.

Seven is REALLY pushing it and I know I'm not even really going to even get away with eighty percent of these five.

- The Mad Hatter at The Dark of the Matinee, even though he roots for the Jays, he's ok in my book.

- Dylan Fields at Blog Cabins, who has helped me along more than he probably knows, but he's one of those guys who makes me want to blog better.

- Nick Jobe at Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob, because even if he hasn't seen a lot of classic films, you shouldn't hold that against him.

- Travis McCollum at The Movie Encyclopedia, because I admire his dogged determination.

- Finally, I got to give props to my boy Phil at Phil's Movie Blog. Write more Phil and join the LAMB!

6. Post links to the blogs you nominated.

Handled.

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs you nominated.

I think I might skate out on this last one.

LAMB in the Director's Chair

2010-01-17T22:23:00.000-08:00

A regular feature on The LAMB is LAMB in the Director's Chair and this time around, it is perennial Oscar contender Clint Eastwood. But, what would I write about, I asked myself. Should I finally review Invictus, one of my top ten films of the year? Would I write about his acting swan song Gran Torino? His spaghetti westerns, cop dramas or either of his movies with a monkey? In the end, I'm from the school of 'write what you know' so I chose the Eastwood film I've seen more than any other, the movie that introduced me to Clint Eastwood as a kid and the film around which my Eastwood impression is largely based. That film is Heartbreak Ridge.

As Gunnery Sergeant Tom Highway, Eastwood portrays basically the Marine Corps version of himself; ornery, tough and bitingly sarcastic. Charged with turning a unmotivated and poorly trained platoon of Recon Marines into "life takers and heart breakers," there's also a B-plot about his personal life and his impending mandatory retirement, but really the movie is just an excuse to get him to insult his Marines and eventually take them into Grenada. Though the movie is riddled with inaccuracies, it is beloved by Marines, young and old, those who recognize themselves and their friend in the characters as well as those who become nostalgic for 'the old Corps.'

Firstly, the most glaring and obvious error to any Marine is the location of the film. Highway's unit is part of Eighth Marines, Second Marine Division. I was assigned to Third Battlion Eighth Marines, Second Marine Division, stationed in North Carolina. Heartbreak Ridge is very clearly filmed on location in location at Camp Pendleton, California (where I was in fact born) and even had the support of the Marine Corps. They later withdrew support upon seeing the film because of the language. The dialogue rings true for Marines, as almost everyone has known either an old timer like Eastwood's Highway (I don't know how many times I heard the 'few good men..you ain't it' joke when I was in), inept Lieutenant Ring or frustratingly idiotic Major Power. The film has even been cited as one of the great recruiting films for the Marine Corps. Recruits took comfort in the fact that if they had someone like Gunny Highway leading them into combat, they would make it home to a warm reception. As for myself, I always considered Tom Berenger's appearance in Born on the Fourth of July as my inspiration for enlisting but that's another blog. Historically, Heartbreak Ridge did actually exist in Korea, which was a major victory for the Army, explained in a toss away line from Sergeant Major Choozoo the he and Highway joined the Corps later. And while the Marines did invade Grenada, it was an Army Ranger unit that took the University Medical School.

Lima Company, recognize.

But, the movie is directed by Eastwood and shines on his star power alone. You actually believe him when he tells everyone that he's "drunk more beer, pissed more blood, banged more quiff and busted more ass than all of you numbnuts put together." His colorful language, trademark voice and cadence and subdued acting style made Heartbreak Ridge one of his signature roles in a long and distinguished career. And if you ever meet him in real life, and I have, find the courage that I couldn't and call him a "big leatherneck jarhead mother fucker."

Arrested Wednesdays #8

2010-01-13T07:23:00.000-08:00

So, I was really try to find any clip from episode 9 of season 3, "S.O.B.s" which stood for 'Save Our Bluths.' In this episode, the family throws a charity dinner for itself to raise money for the company. In order to draw a crowd, they try to get a star to appear at the dinner and can only get Andy Richter's identical quintuplet brother, Emmet. Basically, I was trying to show some support for Team Conan in this whole ongoing mess, so instead, here's a clip of a nervous Buster. It kind of makes me think of all those NBC executives right now.

On a more personal note, since this is a post about television, rather than film and since it's my blog, so I get to say whatever the hell I want, I do want to re-emphasize my support of Conan O'Brien and The Tonight Show. I remember exactly where I was when I watched the his very first episode earlier this year. I was spending the evening with someone very special and as we watched, I felt like I was looking into my future and was positively blissful at the thought of spending many more evenings on the couch with her and Conan. And though some time has passed and things don't seem as solid as they once were, (with Conan or that lady friend) I believe that good things are coming to those who are pure of intention and quick of tongue.

And Conan wrote the Monorail episode!

Famous Mike!

2010-01-08T01:00:00.001-08:00

Though it is technically a film, (not a very good one) I just wanted to share a video I made for work with you, dear readers. Especially those of you who have never had the good fortune to meet Big Mike, now you can see what a dork I truly am.

Another Epsiode of the LAMBcast

2010-01-05T12:08:00.000-08:00

Last week, my fellow LAMBs and I sat down and recorded another episode of the LAMBcast. I played host for the week and kept egging everyone on with question upon question and then looking for answers for everyone else. It turned into a marathon recording session and nobody seemed to want to give up on it, so we went all Tarantino on it and cut it into two episodes. In Ep. IX (which you can listen to here), we wax about Avatar and surprisingly, nobody really seemed to be in love with it. We play another round of Last Man Standing and turn in about 20 minutes of Trailer Talk, because let's face it, it's a new year and we've got a slew of new movies coming down the pike.

Coming soon, you will hear Ep. X which, in a bit good luck, we talk ad nauseam about our top ten flicks for the year. But, more about that later.

Thanks to everyone who listens or subscribes on iTunes to the LAMBcast. Unfortunately, I have been told that the hosting site will be going down in February, so we're either looking for a new home or possibly looking for corporate sponsorship, Fight Club-style. Regardless, I'm sure it will all get figured out and we'll keeping bringing you the LAMBcast as long as you keep listening to it.

And, an extra special thanks to me fellow LAMBs for not making me look like a complete idiot as host, Dylan of Blog Cabins, Tom of Plus Trailers, Nick of R2D2 and Travis of The Movie Encyclopedia.

Movies I've Seen In 2009

2010-01-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

(500) Days of Summer

Adventureland

Angels & Demons

Avatar

Away We Go

Bride Wars

Bruno

The Cove

District 9

Duplicity

Extract

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Funny People

G.I. Joe - Rise of Cobra

The Goods - Live Hard, Sell Hard

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

The Hangover

He's Just Not That Into You

The Hurt Locker

I Love You, Man

Inglourious Basterds

The Invention of Lying

Invictus

Jennifer's Body

The Men Who Stare At Goats

Nine

Observe and Report

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Pirate Radio

Public Enemies

Push

The Road

Sherlock Holmes

The Soloist

Star Trek

State of Play

Taken

Terminator Salvation

This Is It

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

Up In The Air

Watchmen

Where The Wild Things Are

Whiteout

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Zombieland

Big Mike's Top Films of the Decade, Part 3

2009-12-31T23:37:00.001-08:00

10. About A Boy (2002)

Hugh Grant gives his finest, his favorite and his most natural performance in About A Boy, a film that could have fallen into more than a dozen movie clichés, but instead becomes something very touching by belying it’s story with relatable characters in real situations. A strong British cast and a director who insisted on keeping it British-based like the novel by Nick Horby, combine to make a film would shun conventional wisdom and become a new type of film in the romantic comedy genre. Divorce, suicide and drug use may have been slightly more taboo in 2002, (no rhyme intended) but Will, Marcus, Fiona, Ellie, Rachel and Ali manage to come together and carve out a life for themselves amongst their unique island chain that more closely resembles the familial units of today that perhaps any other movie before or since it.

9. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Very few romantic comedies actually get to be funny, touching and realistic all at once which makes Forgetting Sarah Marshall so unforgettable (pun intended.). With a great script and leading turn from Jason Segal made his Peter Brenner such a lovable character, you sympathized with him instantly. But, the performances of the other Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis and Russell Brand made a much more profound story of people caught up in each other’s love lives, where nobody is the villain and even our hero needs to work on himself. It’s a very personal and moving film beneath the full frontal male nudity and puppet musicals, Forgetting Sarah Marshall stands as one of the best pure romantic comedies of all time.

8. Iron Man (2008)

The second best comic book movie on this list, for being able to do what The Dark Knight did better. By making Tony Stark a human character with very real flaws and setting the story in a world we recognize, director Jon Favreau blew the lid off of the summer last year for Marvel comics, die hard comic geeks, mainstream audiences, rival studios and oh yea, a little actor named Robert Downey Jr. Although he never really left, Iron Man was his overhand right knockout punch of a comeback that solidified him not only as one of our most talented actors, but a bonafide movie star.

7. Amelie (2001)

Exaggeration aside, it is extremely difficult NOT to fall in love with Audrey Tautou’s Amelie and her fabulous destiny. A romantic fantasy of a movie with a look that goes hand in hand with the main character, Amelie was a movie that made casual moviegoers take a second look at foreign films, but honestly, I just fall to pieces every time that I watch it. Even though the outcome is predictable enough after the first viewing, you fall in love with Amelie and hope for her to find love and find herself all over again.

6. Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Combining zombies, British romantic comedies and a fast paced visual style that matched the tone of the picture; Shaun of the Dead was a bit of fried gold in a genre that had long gone stale.Action comedies had died off in the early Nineties, along with horror films, but here was a movie that never took itself too seriously, but was dead on (pun intended) as both a great film and a loving homage to it’s numerous influences. Scary, hilarious and touching, the movie and its creators managed to achieve what many movies fail to even aspire to become and that’s why you find it on most lists for this decade.

5. The Aviator (2004)

The second Scorsese movie on the list already, but it was probably a more personal film than even Gangs of New York. The story of Howard Hughes follows him from a young film director to aviation pioneer and shows us his relentless drive for perfection, the toll it takes on his personal life and what it means to struggle and fight for your vision. Sound familiar? Scorsese also seamlessly weaves in brilliant performances from everyone in the cast including DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, Alan Alda and Alec Baldwin while shooting the film not only in period, but also in the cinematic style of the period from two-strip color film to dazzling Technicolor. One of his many underrated masterpieces, in the end, it might hold up better than a lot of his other films.

4. The Prestige (2006)

This might have been the movie I watched the most times in this decade, if for no other reason than I was determined to discover the secret of Borden’s trick. But, that’s not important in hindsight, because The Prestige is an amazing film that is not only a meditation on cinema itself, but plays with the very idea of entertainers, audiences and the relationship between the two of them. A lot of people talk about seeing something new every time they watch a movie, but The Prestige is a film in which it’s actually true. Chris Nolan made this movie in between both Batman films and matures so nicely as a director, it’s exciting to think about what he will bring in the 10’s with Inception and a third Batman film.

3. Children of Men (2006)

Though Children of Men certainly has its detractors, the movie has made several best of the 00’s lists and for good reason. Coming of the critical success of his installment of Harry Potter, director Alfonso Cuaron co-wrote and directed the science fiction story of a future where humankind is going extinct and made an amazing movie by focusing on the simple plotline of ‘get the girl to the boat.’ Clive Owen gives probably his best performance as Theo, a disillusioned former revolutionary, who becomes the reluctant hero that might just save mankind. But, the movie just pulls you into the story with a stark vision of the future that every day looks more and more likely and combines it with very simple characters trying to change the world and make a new future.

2. The Departed (2006)

The first of a few Scorsese movies on this list, The Departed is unique on the 2000’s because it is the one film that is really Scorsese in his comfort zone. A cop and robbers story set against the backdrop of Boston and Irish Americans (yes, it is important to note that.) he goes back to theGoodfellas style of directing and pulls out all the tricks, winning himself his Academy Award at long last. But, for me the film is all about the performances of the two leads, Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon. That both were ignored in the award season that year is more criminal that anything else in the movie. Even when you can start to sense every twist and turn in the story, Leo and Matty keep you on edge and manage to make you fearful for both of their lives, never knowing which one you really want to side with. And isn’t that a great theme for the film?

1. The Dark Knight (2008)

What can I say about this movie a year after its release that I haven’t said over and over again on this blog? Forget about the Academy Awards, the billion-dollar box office, the brilliant performances of Heath Ledger, Christian Bale and Aaron Eckhart, and the amazing talent of Chris Nolan as director and writer, the IMAX images, the breathtaking action sequences and the horrifying realistic themes of the film. The Dark Knight is just pure entertainment, a crime story, a comic book movie, and a political and social commentary and hands down one of the most fantastic movies I’ve ever seen in my life. I said it that morning after I walked out of the theatre and I will stand by it for the next several decades.

Big Mike's Top Films of the Decade, Part 2

2009-12-31T11:18:00.001-08:00

20. Revolutionary Road (2008)

Some movies leave your memory almost as soon as you leave the theatre, but Revolutionary Road is a film that stays with you long after you finished it. Hypnotizing you with the beautiful imagery of the “Mad Men” era, (the television series was based on this book), the more in depth you get into the lives of Frank and April, the more crushing it becomes when their world falls apart. And yes, this was Kate Winslet’s best performance of that year.

19. No Country For Old Men (2007)

Not only did No Country make me go back to back with my Best Picture predictions, but also it was one of the most serious films about violence and the human psyche ever made in America.Though I have heard some crazy theories about the film, (not the least of them being that Javier Bardem’s character didn’t actually exist, but he was a figament of Tommy Lee Jones’ character’s imagination, allowing HIM to commit these killings.) I really admire Josh Brolin’s performance above all of the others.

18. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

The reason I chose the second Bourne movie over any of the other two is basically because I feel that in the second installment, Jason Bourne has an emotional drive throughout the film that’s not necessitated by survival, but simply by revenge. Yes, Matt Damon kicks ass in all three movies and the Greengrass films are probably superior to Liman’s, but in Supremacy, the origin story is out of the way and we simply watch as Jason Bourne does what Jason Bourne was made to do.

17. Volver (2006)

One of Almodovar’s best films ever and probably Penelope Cruz’s best performance ever, the film took elements of Hitchcock, a brilliant color palette and of course, a love of cinema to make what appears to be an ethereal story about life into a simple story of family and love. And of course, it opened up Cruz to a better range of roles and we’ll all better off for that.

16. Mulholland Dr. (2001)

With the exception of Memento, no other film this decade played more with the narrative structure of a story than Mulholland Dr. David Lynch reminds audiences why every movie he makes is required viewing and the pairing of Naomi Watts and Laura Elena Harring has been written about ad nauseam, but they are one of the best on-screen couples of all time.

15. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Beautiful. There is no other single adjective to describe this film than that. In terms of visuals, emotions, acting, dialogue, casting and everything else that went into the making of this movie, Ang Lee crafted a film that was so moving and so profound that many people had no choice to ignore it, rather than look inside of themselves and let the film affect them. People will still be watching this instead of reruns of ‘Crash’.

14. Y Tu Mama, Tambien (2001)

One of three foreign films on this list, Y Tu Mama was a huge success in Mexico and a moderate success in America, but it really opened the door for director Alfonso Cuaron (who will appear later on the list) as well as Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal. But, the reason is was so successful it that it was a very touching coming of age story ably told by great acting and wonderful direction.

13. Chicago (2003)
Amongst all the musicals of the decade, there may have been a few I enjoyed more, but Chicago was simply a much better made film than all of them. It opened the door for the new wave of Hollywood musicals while showing shades of the Golden Age musicals and keeping in touch with its roots as a Broadway production. And in case you’re like me and had a hard time paying attention to MORE than Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere and John C. Reilly are criminally unappreciated for their supporting roles.

12. The Incredibles (2004)
This is the only Pixar movie on my list, the only cartoon and without out a doubt the best superhero movie (Batman and Iron Man have NO superpowers) of the decade. Spinning the classic superhero genre and comic book setting of retro future by placing the heroes in a litigious, ignorant world that too closely resembled our own, The Incredibles became an instant classic that could be enjoyed by everyone in your family, even when inspiring obnoxious criticism such as this. Oh yea, and with only about five minutes of screen time, Edna Mode goes down as best supporting character of the 2000’s.

11. Gangs of New York (2002)
Martin Scorsese’s labor of love that was considered an impossible project for more than twenty years finally came to pass in 2002, following closely on the heels of the attacks of 9/11. While it certainly remained in many viewers’ minds as they watched, most could not ignore the sheer magnitude of Scorsese’s biggest film ever. Though the film is far from perfect and had a large contingent of critics who were jumping to point them out, even they could not deny the scope of Scorsese’s vision. Huge sets in Rome, Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis, and a long running time that garnered a lot of media attention were just a few of the elements that helped the movie earn 10 Acadeny Awards nominations and helped re-establish Scorsese as a master filmmaker after a couple of flops, which in turn would lead him to make the movies that follow this one on the list. Personally, this movie helped me rediscover the magic behind making movies and I became fascinated with everything from the cinematography to Day-Lewis’ accent.

A Very Robert Downey Jr. Christmas, Part 2

2009-12-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

The second half our of Very Robert Downey Jr. Christmas double feature is the film that Downey had hoped would be part of his big comeback, but instead has enjoyed a much more unique status as a cult comedy, the Shane Black scripted and directed Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.

Co-starring with Val Kilmer, Downey is perfectly cast as Harry Lockhart, a petty criminal who literally stumbles upon the acting opportunity of his life. Flown from New York to Los Angeles, he tags along with Kilmer's private eye Gay Perry in an attempt to study for his upcoming audition. What follows is murder, mystery, long lost loves and laugh out loud one-liners. Downey and Kilmer play beautifully off each other as they try to stay one step ahead of the criminals while they try to figure out how to work with each other before they get killed. They're not the good cop/bad cop type of team, as Kilmer calls them, they're fag and New Yorker. The jokes fly as fast as the bullets but the real pleasure simply comes from watching Harry slowly frustrate to Gay Perry to profanity laced outbursts. Michelle Monaghan also co-stars as Harmony, Harry's childhood love who has become an out of work actress in Hollywood and crosses paths with Harry and Perry, enlisting their help in her own adventures. While the three actors have great chemistry with each other, again it is Downey who carries the film and as many dramatic notes as he hits in Less Than Zero, he is flat out hilarious in this picture, narrating the film, talking directly to the audience, apologizing for his bad narrating then maintaining the entire flow within the scene. Critics hailed his performance as one of the best of his career and rumors of a sequel have been floating around even recently on Twitter. But the movie stands alone as an underrated film that my friends and I love to use as a barometer of other people's humor.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is the perfect way to end your Very Robert Downey Jr. Christmas because it ends on a note of optimism. Like Harry says, it was just last Christmas that he and Harmony changed the world. And the sight of Michelle Monaghan running around in a Santa one piece certainly help to make it a happy holiday.

A Very Robert Downey Jr. Christmas, Part 1

2009-12-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

Ho, ho, ho readers. And a merry Christmas to you and yours. Nothing quite captures the spirit of the holidays for me like getting together with my closest family and friends, strolling out in jeans and tees in the warm, eighty degree California sun and driving down to Sunset Boulevard to catch at least three different movies that open on Christmas day. Forget about the Lakers, I'm watching something else entirely. Everyone has their own favorite movies from A Christmas Story and It's A Wonderful Life, to Die Hard and The Ref. But for me, I like to celebrate the holiday with a very special man, who has come back to grace us with his presence and allow us to bask in his warm glow. That man is Robert Downey Jr. And this is how I celebrate a Very Robert Downey Jr. Christmas.

The first Robert Downey Jr. Christmas movie is actually pretty tough to watch, especially if you're a fan of the actor. In Less Than Zero, Downey plays Julien, a rich kid from Beverly Hills with a serous drug problem. Downey has since credited the role with leading him down the path of being a serious addict, but more on that later. However, it was his first major dramatic role after working in comedies like Back to School or Weird Science (following a brief stint on SNL), and it made people take notice of him as a serious actor. Alongside Andrew McCarthy and Jami Gertz, the trio of actors capture a slice of 80's Los Angeles that is nostalgic without becoming a parody of the decade. But Downey stands head and shoulders above the rest of the cast, including James Spader, as an addict unable to stop his life form spinning out of control. You cannot help but wonder where the line between fiction and reality blurs, but as an addict, Downey's Julien is scarily accurate. He lies, steals, bargains, promises and cajoles. He battles his addiction, but relents in the face of pressure from his dealer and succumbs to the addict's ultimate fate in the end.

If you haven't seen it, I recommend it highly as the first half of a Very Robert Downey Jr. Christmas. And for the second half? You'll find out tomorrow.

Big Mike's Top Films of the Decade, Part 1

2009-12-22T07:52:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am writing my five part, DECADE in review list. You might have been seeing them a lot lately on sites such as Ain't It Cool, or the one I liked better at The A.V. Club. But, in order to get into the swing of things, I had to go with the movies I liked best, myself over the past ten years. While I struggled to balance movies that were actually good with those that were really fun, I had a hard time coming up with this list. 'Where are all the documentaries?' I asked myself. Foreign films? Indies? What kind of self-respecting film snob had I become in this decade, the one in which I got out of the Marine Corps, went to college to major in film, worked in television, went to jail and got my eyebrows waxed? In the end, I had to write what I know and pick the films that I liked for the reasons I liked them. It took a lot of coffee and a lot of research and in the end, I had to leave off some favorites, like Attack of the Clones and dig up some that I go back and watch constantly. I may not have the magic eye, but I think I got a pretty good list.

25. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

“You have a dirty, whorish mouth.” “The arsonist had oddly shaped feet.” “I love lamp.” “60% of the time, it works every time.” “That’s how I roll.” “I’m sort of a big deal. People know me.” “I don’t know if you were listening, I did over a thousand.” “I want to be on you.” “The party. With the pants. Party in the pants.” “I’m in a glass cage of emotion!” For being the most quotable comedy of the decade, Anchorman earns the first spot on the list. “You stay classy, Planet Earth.”

24. Up In The Air

The only movie from 2009 on this list, it is rare to see a film that perfectly captures the essence of its time. I know that has been written about this film constantly, but it is also very true and this movie got to me in a way that a lot of films never will. George Clooney plays a man searching for a balance between life and work and never knowing which one will win. We don’t necessarily know either and its wonderful to see a man and a movie that so accurately shows us the truth of our world.

23. Superbad

What Forgetting Sarah Marshall did for romantic comedies, Superbad did for the ‘teen comedy’. Superbad actually had kids that were neither nerds nor jocks, but looked something more like my friends and I in high school. And, they learned some important lessons along the way that are actually true, like a girl doesn’t have to be drunk to like you or sleep with you and that confidence is your most valuable tool. Though we may all be more like Seth and Evan than we like to think, trying to be more like them wouldn’t be a bad thing either.

22. Training Day

By now, it is a forgone conclusion that ‘going Denzel in Training Day’ is a sure way to win an Oscar nom, but in 2001, it was a bold move for Washington, which paid off nicely. But beyond that, Training Day may have been a wash for some, but for the hip hop generation it was targeted to, we saw cops that looked and acted like the ones who patrolled our schools and our streets growing up, and while Denzel embodied the evil we feared as kids, Ethan Hawke was perfect as his counterbalance. He became the hope we placed in the police force to do the right thing and protect us from everyone, even themselves.

21. Casino Royale

Forget about all those Bond movies of the past, Casino Royale was a kick ass action flick first and a Bond movie second. Daniel Craig is THE new Bond and succeeds by being an actor first and an icon second. From the free running in Africa and no limits hold ‘em in Monte Carlo to very clever dialogue and visual references to the Bond mythos, Casino Royale was both old and new, fresh and familiar, fun and fascinating. Even if they had never made a follow up, this film stands as one of the best action films of all time, let alone the 2000’s.

Keep reading this week, I will have the full list up before the New Year.

Arrested Wednesdays #7

2009-12-09T10:26:00.000-08:00

Though I think that next week we can delve a little deeper into the magical mystery that is Gob, this week's clip is a good taste of things to come. From the third season where Gob is desperately trying to please his father and constantly avoiding his long lost song, he becomes a roller coaster of emotions. You'll see him double cross Michael, while the two of them cry like a couple of school girls. Actually, he's the only one that's crying.

Furthermore, in this clip, the beginnings of Tobias' tragic fight with GVH start to take shape. And I don't know how many times my friend Jamie Black has called me Michael in that deep, low gravelly voice. But, every time I hear it, I reminded of this clip and better times.

Up In The Air, Yes, Way Up There

2009-12-06T21:48:00.000-08:00

In writing a review of Up In The Air, one would be wise to try to avoid all the airplane-related puns and cliches, such as "Clooney soars" or "Director Jason Reitman pilots his film with nary a jolt of turbulence". The film is much more serious, both in content and as an Oscar contender to merit such trifling comments. Quite simply, it is the best movie that I've seen all year and should probably garner Clooney his second Oscar, if nod a certain nomination.

Comedy, drama, satire and social commentary abound in the story of Ryan Bingham, a corporate suit for hire whose job is to fire people with technical precision for companies who lack the strength to do it themselves. Not only is he great at his job, but embraces his lifestyle that has him traveling 350,000 miles a year and spending 270 days out of the year 'on the road'. But, when a young college grad, Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick), sells his boss (a sublime Jason Bateman) on a new method of execution that requires only a T1 line, Ryan finds himself looking at a 'future of options' and not liking any of them anymore than the people he fires.

There is much more to the film, such as the devastating effect the economic recession is having on people, told through actual interviews filmed by Reitman in Detroit and St. Louis. For while the film travels to San Francisco and Miami, most of the action occurs in and above cities in the Midwest such as Wichita, Dubuque and Kansas City. As a matter of fact, when Ryan takes Natalie on the road to show her the ropes and they travel to Detroit, the entire auditorium I was in let out a collective groan even before Ryan could state the obvious, that the city has been amongst the hardest hit by the recession. The end products of their booming business are varied reactions from outrage, to depression and even optimism by some who truly take it as a chance for a new opportunity.

But, the real story is the way Ryan begins to place more value on people than on his miles. He meets a kindred spirit in Alex (Vera Farmiga), a business woman with whom he immediately connects, yet he struggles to reconcile his lifestyle choice and his obvious feelings for her. At the same time, he becomes increasingly aware of his sisters that he has left behind in Wisconsin, while trying to be there for them as one plans a wedding and the other is dealing with marital problems. Natalie provides a perfect mirror for him to see a younger version of both himself and Alex and examine what everything means to him and what he really needs in his backpack.

The performances are wonderful all around from the three leads to J.K. Simmons and Danny McBride. But, Clooney carries the picture, particularly in a fantastic scene between the two actresses in which he has one line and merely reacts to the rest of the conversation. Here, we see a character who starts the picture as confident and secure as Danny Ocean and by the end, becomes more vulnerable and changed than Michael Clayton. Of course, he could not do it all alone and Anna Kendrick is wonderful, feeling the pain of firing people than Ryan has long since blocked out and while she shines at her job, fights the inevitability of becoming like him or Alex.

A good film is one that you can watch and in it see yourself and your world. Up In The Air can do all of that for audiences, making me think about my own life, reinforcing decisions I've made regarding my future and hardening my resolve. While it left me with a similar feeling I had after watching Revolutionary Road, there was a greater note of hope and optimism at the end. Perhaps, like Ryan believes, every ending is a new beginning. I certainly hope so for my own sake. And for your own sake, go see Up In The Air as soon as it comes to your city. You will see a film guaranteed to win at least one Oscar this year, if not nominated for at least five.

Arrested Wednesdays #6

2009-12-02T07:52:00.000-08:00

There has been a request for an "hermano" clip on Arrested Wednesdays, so without further due, I will oblige.

What I love most about this clip, is not the clever dialogue, Gob's preening older brother conceit or even the Spanish language version of "Hey brother", but it is all in Tony Hale's portrayal of Buster.

Buster Bluth is the heart of the Bluth family, sensitive, vulnerable and the only one who can read past the word 'unfrozen'. But, here, as he tries out life on his own, yet amongst his older brothers, it's absolutely precious to see him try to become his own man, stand up for himself and for his love and so desperately try to get his face socked in.

Enjoy.

In Defense of Ocean's 12

2009-11-25T17:04:00.000-08:00

Ocean's 12 is my favorite entry in the series. Now, it's not in my nature to be mysterious, but I can't talk about it and I can't talk about why.

Ok, that's not true but that's what I love so much about the second Ocean's movie. It's the most funny, the most self aware and reflexive film and the one that is closest to Soderbergh's sensibilities as a filmmaker. While the first film was under the stigma of being a remake and the third movie was for the sake of Warner's summer of 2007, the second movie is truly Soderbergh and the crew having fun, making a movie in Europe. Even though he was working from an original screenplay, Soderbergh's brand of wry humor is all over the movie. Hell, they say Ocean's 11 in the first eight minutes of the movie. From nonsensical ravings with a great Robbie Coltrane, to playing with movie star Bruce Willis as movie star Bruce Willis and a twist you won't believe until they try to pull it off, Ocean's 12 is Soderbergh at his most daring with a huge studio budget. From Connecticut to Rome, Topher Grace to Albert Finney, Ocean's 12 takes the original and turns it on its head.

And it's a better story to boot. Not only does the crew have to pay back Andy Garcia's ever-unflappable Terry Benedict, but they also have a challenging nemesis in billionaire playboy Francois Toulour as the Night Fox. Vincent Cassel plays the villian who wants nothing more than to prove that his skills are superior to Ocean's crew and he has fun with his linguistic, acting and athletic talents even though he ultimately falls short. Furthermore, Catherine Zeta-Jones has a much better role as the female interest than Julia Roberts had in the original as Rusty's femme fatale Interpol agent Isabel Lahiri. Chasing after Rusty for over ten years and fighting her feelings for him, the two of them have great chemistry together and form the emotional core of the story that actually pays off in the end. Not to say that her character overshadows Julia Robert's Tess who plays a large part in the caper that you're either rolling with or it with totally throw you off.

Speaking of playing a larger role in the caper, Matt Damon's really comes out to run with the big boys, taking a hand in planning the job and running the ship when everyone gets pinched. In between a Bourne movie and a Gilliam movie, Damon actually wanted to take a smaller part in the movie, but Soderbergh insisted that the Linus story was integral to the film and refused to write it down. And Damon delivers in spades with a character resolution that not only hits the mark, but pay offs in the third movie as well.

While it may have it's detractors, true films buff should recognize Ocean's 12 for what it really is. The best Soderbergh film in the Ocean's trilogy.

Plus, the movie introduces Eddie Izzard as the tech connect Roman Nagel.

Arrested Wednesdays #5

2009-11-25T09:28:00.000-08:00

I haven't been able to get this clip out of my head all week.

Come oooon.

LAMBcast #5 or The ClooneyCast

2009-11-19T07:23:00.000-08:00

The latest edition of the LAMBcast is on the interwebs now and you can listen to it by clicking this link. This episode focused on the career of George Clooney, Oscar winner, actor/director/producer and the second Danny Ocean. Listen as Nick of R2D2 confuses him briefly with Nic Cage and makes the obligatory Ninja Assassin reference. Hear as Alex of Film Forager praises Clooney's work and bashes Quentin Tarantino's looks. Don't miss out on Tom's (of Plus Trailers) subtle reference to his age in correlation to Batman and Robin and Dylan's (of Blog Cabins) simple summation of the entire podcast as "When you think of George Clooney, think of nipples." And finally, roll your eyes and gag as I confuse Moonstruck with Moonlighting, somehow mangle the pronunciation of Invictus and lose only my second game of Last ACTOR Standing.

So, now I ask you readers and listeners, any feedback? Are you listening to the LAMBcast? Comments, thoughts? Any future topics you like for us to tackle? Can't get enough of the melodious sound of my voice? We're all interested to know.

The Third Man

2009-11-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

Finally! Another installment in our ongoing series as my friend Alex and I review our way through the Essential Art House Janus Box Set. This edition is of particular importance, because Criterion has lost the rights to The Third Man and the current run of discs will be their last. Get them before their gone!

The problem about writing about a film that is deemed a masterpiece is what does one say to add to its mastery of cinematic conventions. What can you say about the sometimes eerie, dark, and playful zither score by Anton Karas? What can you say about the perfect black and white photography by Robert Krasker? How about the small but powerful performance by Orson Welles which he was clearly born to play? Graham Greene's script? Carol Reed's direction? And Yada Yada Yada.... everything else.

I am not sure.

Watching The Third Man for the second time, I realized how funny this dark post WWII film noir really is. The opening narration done by Trevor Howard sets the tone for the film as Howard tells us in his dry British tone that “Vienna doesn't really look any worse than a lot of other European cities. Bombed about a bit” as the images of a completely destroyed Vienna are presented. A bit of a understatement if you ask me. The exchanges between Calloway (Trevor Howard) and Martins (Joseph Cotton) are pure screwball dialogue as they both bicker back and forth like old school friends. Take this exchange:

Calloway: I told you to go away, Martins. This isn't Santa Fe. I'm not a sheriff and you aren't a cowboy. You've been blundering around with the worst bunch of racketeers in Vienna, your precious Harry's friends, and now you're wanted for murder.

Martins: Put down drunk and disorderly too.

Calloway: I have.

Or this one:

Martins: Listen, Callahan!

Calloway: Calloway. I'm English, not Irish

Both Martins and Calloway share a quick and witty connection that lacks from Martins and Harry Lime friendship, foreshadowing Martins decision to end Lime's life at the end of the film. Friendship is a theme that the film throws our way as if to ask us what a friend truly is? Lime only looks out for only himself leaving both Anna and Martins to fend for themselves. Anna still cares for Lime even after he ditches her for his fake death leaving Martins to suffer his doomed loneliness. Martins and Calloway only begin to help each other when Martins makes up his mind to catch Lime. It is Calloway and Sergeant Paine that share the closest thing to a friendship the film has to offer. So what does Graham Greene do to this relationship? Ends it. This post war world has nothing to offer..... friendship is dead.

But still... what could one say about The Third Man.

While smoking a cigarette outside, waiting for class to start, a fellow film student comes my way and we begin to speak about certain films we've just seen recently. This young man had just seen The Third Man and was somewhat dissatisfied by what he saw. Knowing very well that not everyone might like a film that is deemed so highly as The Third Man is, I asked him why he didn't like the film. His response was “I don't know..... it seemed like the director didn't have a tripod during the majority of the shoot. The whole film was lopsided. Not professional of him to do that.” Ladies and Gentlemen... these are our future filmmakers.

Like my counterpart, I too hold The Third Man to be a classic film and suffer the dilemma of what my voice can add to the discussion of the film. Not much, I am sure, but if you listen to the LAMBcast, (and you should) then you might know that I am thought of as the "classic film fan" and The Third Man is as great a film as any to introduce movie buffs to more classic movies. Starring Joseph Cotten, Orson Welles and Trevor Howard, directed by Carol Reed, produced by David O. Selznick and written by Graham Greene, the principal players have amongst them made such films as Fallen Idol, Touch of Evil, Gone With The Wind, Brief Encounter and Rebecca.

Following writer Holly Martins to post-war Vienna as he investigates the death of his friend Harry Lime, the movie is almost noir in its outlook. Deception is around every cobblestone corner, Holly cannot trust anyone and trying to do the right thing just makes matters worse for himself. He dodges British, French and Russian cops, falls in love with Harry's girlfriend, bombs spectacularly at a literature lecture and drinks far too much. Cotten is perfect in the role, but sadly is overshadowed by Orson Welles before the movie even begins. In those days, studios did not think to keep Welles supporting role a surprise like Spacey in Se7en, so from the jump, audiences are waiting for Welles, who doesn't disappoint.

But for me, the film is all Cotten. The studio had wanted Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant in the roles of Cotten and Welles, but the characters are much better suited to these actors and Cotten shows how talented he was, but taking away the movie while he has the chance. You can get so wrapped up in his story that you forget you're waiting for Orson. And that is a testament to how well the film holds up. Sophisticated audiences of today will still be captivated by the great story, terrific performances and tight direction. They will probably even be more appreciative of the un-Hollywood ending of the film that audiences originally were. In keeping with writing A-Z and spoiler free, I won't reveal it, but leave you with this final shot.

What Am I Supposed To Do With You, Will Ferrell?

2009-11-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

Well? Tell me, Will, what am I going to do with you? You are immensely talented and I loved almost everything you did on Saturday Night Live. From Robert Goulet to James Lipton, Janet Reno and of course, Harry Caray, your impressions made you stand out from the rest of the cast and shot you to stardom. You made the move into feature films with funny supporting roles until you stole Old School away from everyone else. When you finally got a chance to write and star in your first leading role, it was Anchorman and it was great. It's probably my own fault that I expected so much from you after that, instead of the horrible sports comedies and the terrible movies made from old TV series. Hell, you were even a letdown in a Woody Allen movie IN the Woody Allen role and those are my favorite types of films from him. I figured you for another Adam Sandler and thought that we had seen your flash of Punch Drunk Love genius come and go.

But, you remembered that one of the best things from your SNL stint was your George W. Bush impression. Granted, it wasn't the most accurate impression, but nobody made a current president look as buffoonish since Chevy Chase was falling down as President Ford in the 70's. And, I was so proud of you when you appeared on SNL during the elections to drive him the 'a vote for McCain is a a vote for Bush' message and I thank you for being part of that huge role that the show played in the campaign season. But, you pushed yourself even further creatively by writing and staging your one man Broadway show, You're Welcome America; A Final Night with George W. Bush. It is truly a slice of satirical genius with occasional slides into your brand of silliness like shouting, male nudity and spontaneously breaking into dance. However, in between the costume changes and audience participation bits, you got some really good comedy working like mocking Bush's pseudo-Texas lineage and breaking down the administration's build up to war in between the purely hilarious jokes about training a special unit of monkeys for fighting evil and making children laugh or revealing to everyone where Bush really was when he went AWOL from the Texas Air National Guard. You even managed to bring some real levity to it all with some honest truths about the realities of the Iraq war. It is a remarkable showcase for your talents and your intelligence as a performer. So, if you never get around to Old School Dos or making another outrageous character like Ron Burgundy, just know that you have endeared yourself to my heart, for at least another few years.

Mission accomplished.

Arrested Wednesdays #4

2009-11-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder why this beautiful, hilarious, critically acclaimed and beloved sitcom I blog about or ramble on incessantly about in real life was ever cancelled in the first place?

David Cross has a theory.

This Actually Isn't Really It

2009-11-06T10:56:00.000-08:00

The penultimate title of the Michael Jackson concert film, This Is It, maybe have noble intentions, but it's pretty misleading at best. Certainly while the back-up dancers, vocal singers and musicians are giving it their all 100% of the time, Michael understandably conserves his energy, walking through routines and skipping thorough lyrics. Yes, he does chide a singer for challenging him during a duet, but it is both brief and gentle. The reports of his task mastering in this film have been greatly exaggerated.

Which leads directly into one of the main faults of the film and from what I have read, most reviews of it. I wrote in a post at the time of his death about my feelings of great affection towards the man, but I know that those were not shared by everyone. There might not have been a more polarizing celebrity than Jackson, but it seems even in death, his fans have shown him great reverence and have flocked to see this film. I am surprised at how many respected critics seemed to enjoy the film and praise it merits, but I must admit, through my rose colored lenses which watched Michael dance in awe, waiting for a moonwalk that never happened and knowing every song he was going to sing before he sang it, the movie was not without its faults.

Yes, Michael is meticulous in the vision of his show. And his vision is truly grand. The movie only hints at what would have been an amazing show for those lucky enough to see it. Unfortunately, I feel that now we are the unlucky ones who get to see the skeleton of the show (no pun intended) instead of the spectacle that Michael had planned for everyone. Still, the movie is impressive enough with huge set pieces, special footage shot for new takes on "Smooth Criminal", "Thriller" and "They Don't Care About Us". And admittedly, when the Jackson 5 backdrop came down, I sucked in my breath and got all excited, but slowly exhaled when Michael again walked through the steps and ho-hummed thorough the songs. So, while I remain a huge Michael Jackson fan, I was glad I only paid five dollars to see the movie about a rehearsal of a concert that never happened.

Furthermore, I heard that Sony had planned a limited run in order to shorten the DVD release window and make it possible for a Christmas release. I for one, am a big fan of this strategy and had hoped it would payoff for Sony, thus enabling the damned teenagers behind to see the movie in a few months in their own home where they can talk through the entire film to their heart's content.

Stupid kids.

Arrested Wednesdays #3

2009-11-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

One of the ongoing storylines over all three seasons of Arrested Development, (now available for $12.99 at your local Target, just in time for the holidays) once the tender heart of young George Michael Bluth. Played wonderfully, by a then unknown Michael Cera, George Michael began the series with an unrequited crush on his cousin Maeby, played by Alia Shawkat.

At first, the infatuation seems one sided, as George Michael silently pines away for her and finds himself attempting to repress his feelings for her, knowing that their relationship is an impossible one. He even attempts to distract himself with a girlfriend Ann, but when Maeby becomes increasingly jealous and critical of her, it's as clear as the Ann on plain's face that the two cousins share a special bond. When Maeby gives into her feelings, she quickly retreats from George Michael, leaving him in a stifling fit of self doubt and confusion.

If there is one commonality that everyone can find with this wealthy family, it is the struggle and heartache of George Michael. As the years go bye, I find myself constantly drawn back to the character as his devotion and passion for the woman he cannot have but cannot stop loving drives him forward in the narrative. In many ways, as he grows on the show, the relationship does not, but George Michael soldiers on, determined to remain true to himself, his feelings and the most important thing.

No, not breakfast. Family.

By the way, check out the Movie/TV Quote of the Day on IMDB.com.

Arrested Wednesdays #2

2009-10-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

First names aside, I have always felt a deep connection with Michael Bluth. My favorite Bluth, Michael is fiercely loyal to his family and always puts them first, but is not above trying to get them to better themselves. Michael struggles both in his life and at work to always do the right thing, even when a short cut presents itself. He has aspiration of being a lawyer, finding another wife and mother for his son and handles all of his frustrations with a dry wit and confidence that even I cannot emulate.

While he may seem mild mannered, there is a darker side of Michael. He is capable of turning on his family, whether it's stealing his brother's girlfriend, deceiving his mother into rehab, keeping his father in prison, out of prison or on house arrest and striking a blind woman in the face with a bible, burning down the family banana stand and threaten his secretary all in the first season.

But, Michael does everything for his son and the Bluth Company. He lives and dies for them, putting his blood, sweat and tears into his work. Particularly, the sweat as evidenced in the clip below.

The Basterds, Quentin and Me

2009-10-26T08:05:00.000-07:00

Last Friday night, the New Beverly Cinema in West Los Angeles held a midnight screening of Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. Having already seen and reviewed the film, I still wanted to go see the midnight show. The New Bev runs double features every day of the week and you can catch some really great movies there for seven bucks. But, they also have special events as well and being so close to Hollywood allows them to host special guests. I've seen Last Picture Show and What's Up Doc? with Peter Bogdanovich in attendance and last Halloween I saw Shaun of the Dead with Edgar Wright and John Landis judging the costume contest. Living about forty minutes away from Los Angeles has it's advantages, but it's not always easy to get someone to go with me, particularly since on an evening like Friday, we didn't get home until four in the morning.

So, I decided to tell a little, tiny white lie.

Mike (on the phone)

Hey man.

Friend (also on the phone)

Hey man, what's going on?

Mike

There's a midnight screening of the Basterds at the New Bev tonight.

Friend

That sounds cool.

Mike

Yea, and I heard Quentin is going to be there too.

Friend

Seriously?

Mike

That's what I heard, man.

Would anybody really be upset if he weren't there? Probably not, but as it turned out, it didn't matter. We bought our tickets, received a free copy of the soundtrack and sat in our seats. I decided to go and get a soda and as I walked back up towards the lobby, I saw Quentin Tarantino standing by the wall. He saw me headed towards him and in an attempt to remain incognito, turned to face the wall, then turned around again, made eye contact and said. "Hey." I smiled, stuck my hand out and as he shook it, I said, "Big fan, man." He nodded and said thanks. I turned around in the lobby and went back to my seat, telling my friends that not only was the line too long for a Coke, but Quentin was here and I think he was almost ready to intro the movie. Which he did and as we applauded for him, I told my friends I couldn't believe he was actually here. But, you knew he was coming, they replied. No, I said, I made that shit up so you would come along.

Kinda blurry, I know, but QT doesn't like to stand still.

Quentin thanked us for coming out and told us he had cut together some trailers from some WWII "guys on a mission" movies and would we mind checking them out before the Basterds? The audience clapped loudly in approval and then we sat through roughly twenty five minutes of trailers. Somewhere between Kelly's Heroes and Hornet's Nest, I leaned over to my friend and wondered aloud if anyone told Quentin that his movie was over three hours long since it was already twelve thirty in the morning. However, his movie held up extremely well for not having seen it in two months time and moves up on my list of top films of the year. Also, as we left, everyone got a free poster too.

Good times, good friends, good movies. What more can a guy ask for?

Not listening to the LAMBcast yet?

2009-10-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

The third installment of the LAMB's podcast, cleverly entitled the LAMBcast, has hit the interwebs and is available for download on iTunes. If you have not been listening to the LAMBcast, you suck. Every podcast has gotten better than the last and the third episode is chock full of more good stuff. I'm joined by fellow Bloggers Dylan Fields, Tom Clift, Nick Jobe and Jason Soto, all unique voices in their own right. We chat about news on our central website, The LAMB, which stands for Large Association of Movie Blogs, share what new trailers have our interest or disinterest and play a few games as well. It's topical, humorous and you just may learn a thing or two as well. You can check out the website here where you will find more information, options to download or just listen to the streaming version.

Now, all formalities and niceties aside, I have to write MY post-LAMBcast debrief and speak up on my own behalf. You see dear readers, I am the subject of mockery and ridicule for my general lack of knowledge in the horror genre. In episode 2, Attack of the Oscars, I was under fire for not seeing any Nightmare on Elm Street movies in my youth, whilst seeing more Billy Wilder films than every other LAMBcaster combined! In this week's episode, while improving my Last Man Standing record to 3-1-0, I was again marginalized by having intentionally missed 28 Days Later. Not a big Boyle fan, what can I say?

By now, I'm sure that you can tell I'm being sarcastic and have nothing but good things to say about the LAMBcast and my fellow LAMBcasters. I look forward to each new episode and have more fun recording them than almost anything else I'm doing right now. For myself and on behalf of the other LAMBs, we hope you enjoy listening to them as much as we enjoy recording them.

Also, below is the Cemetary Junction trailer that was discussed in this week's LAMBcast. Check it out, good stuff.

Damned Funny Film

2009-10-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Damned United is a British film about football coach Brian Clough. The film jumps back and forth between Clough's rise as the manager of small 2nd Division team Derby County and his fall during his 44 days stint as manager of powerhouse champions Leeds United. Clough was outspoken about football and despised within the sport, but along with his assistant manager Peter Taylor, he turned small clubs into contenders and remains the only manager to not only win the English League Championship with two different teams, but the only one to back to back European Cups as well.

Played more than ably by Michael Sheen, Clough is charming, outspoken and from the very beginning of the film, the audience is rooting for him. Granted, an American audience of six people watching the film less than twenty miles away from where their local team is that very night staving off elimination at the hands of baseball's greatest franchise is more likely to cheer for the underdog, but that's neither here nor there. Sheen shines in the film with no presidents or special effects to distract from him and he is brilliant. The film is a character piece that focuses on him rather than the sport itself. In fact, there are almost no scenes of him coaching and very few of the games themselves. Instead, one whole game is seen from his point of view, in his office, under the stands whilst the crowd cheers and shakes the stadium as he finally beats rival Don Revie and Leeds. The supporting roles played by Colm Meaney, Timothy Spall and Jim Broadbent are all well done, but it is Sheen who carries the film and creates a sympathetic portrait of a man who was loved almost as ferociously as he was hated by fans and footballers alike. If you get a chance to see it here on this side of the pond, I cannot recommend it enough.

Sheen is a pimp. He has a child with Kate Beckinsale for God's sake!

Arrested Wednesdays #1

2009-10-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today marks the debut of a new weekly feature on Big Mike's Movie Blog, entitled 'Arrested Wednesdays'. Every week I will be writing a short post highlighting the funniest television series ever, 'Arrested Development'. The purpose of this feature is twofold. First, to increase awareness of the critically acclaimed and publicly dismissed series as the likelihood of a feature length film based on the show grows greater by the week. Secondly, to motivate me to write something new even when I haven't seen anything new and exciting.

That is part of the charm of 'Arrested Development'. Off the air for years now, the show has gained a cult following and for some fans, has become part of their everyday vernacular. I am on of those devotees and will be recounting similar stories in the weeks to come. But, more importantly, I came to re-discover the series this past week and it lifted me out of my funk. I adore the show and wished I could write about it instead of the awful movie I saw instead. So, I decided to do just that.

'Arrested Development' was a Fox sitcom that ran from 2003 to 2006 and in just three seasons managed to win 7 Emmys and constantly stave off cancellation while struggling with ratings. It helped to launch the careers of Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Tony Hale and Alia Shawkat while serving as a huge career boost to Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walters and David Cross. The show hosted such special and recurring guests such as Charlize Theron, Henry Winkler, Liza Minnelli, Jeff Garlin, Ed Begley Jr., James Lipton, Julia-Louis Dreyfus, Zach Braff and Ben Stiller. Infinitely quotable and rapid fire with its jokes, the show never found an audience on the air, but lives on eternally on DVD, reruns and in the hearts of fans around the world.

If you are unfamiliar with the show, you can find the three seasons on DVD for under twenty dollars each in most places, especially Target.

Now, the blog feature about the story of a wealthy family who lost everything and the one son who had no choice but to keep them altogether.

It's Arrested Wednesdays.

2010, The Year We Make MORE Contact

2009-10-16T07:52:00.000-07:00

In an interesting article by Gordon Paddison entitled Moviegoers 2010, the author cites a recent study intended for film marketers and explains how the Internet is mainly responsible for how people choose what movies to see. Traditional media and critics are becoming increasingly less likely to influence moviegoers and the Internet is their chief tool in learning more about a film that they are interested in. Furthermore, the opinion of their peers is an important factor in determining which movie they see, for better or worse. Audiences from age 13 to 49 spend a large amount of their time online and utilize various forms of technology for entertainment from TV, internet and mobile devices. Social networking sites and mobile to mobile communication are also very important as 'word of mouth' for younger audiences.

One unfortunate statistic was that teenagers tend to go to the movies in large groups. Thankfully, I tend to go to the movies at venues which have strict curfews.

Well, what does this have to do with my blog? If you're reading this, then it is statistically likely than your take my opinion into consideration when deciding to go out to a movie. If you happen to fall into this category, firstly I would like to thank you for reading and hope to continue to do so. Secondly, I am proud that you listen to my voice and would like to hear yours more often in any form of feedback. The thought that someone out there is reading my nonsense makes me want to write more of it.

However, if you are one of my movie blogging contemporaries, this study should be of far more importance than it is to the casual movie fan. As the shift from traditional media and critics continues, people who read our blogs and reviews will be more inclined to trust our opinions

more than anyone else. Most of us are already known amongst our friends as 'the movie guy/girl' and as our online readers grow, so will the number of people that will or will not see a movie based on your recommendation. Let's face it, movies such as Transformers 2 will remain critic proof, (the study backs this fact up as well.) but when deciding what else to see or what to see to avoid the lines and crowds they will likely be reading your site or a site like yours in order to help them choose. Remember that sites such as Ain't it Cool News and JoBlo.com started out as smaller sites run by one or two fans. I am not under the delusion that my little dog and pony show I call a blog is anywhere close to that caliber of a website, but some of your blogs that I read certainly have that potential. However, I get a ton of emails everyday from studios and independent filmmakers who are looking for any kind of write up on my site for their movie. I more often than not choose otherwise, but if it were a movie I was already interested in *coughShutterIslandcough then I might be more inclined to consider tickets to a screening or post a link to pictures or trailers.

So, in conclusion to my Jerry Maguire mission statement, the aforementioned article gave my cause for both hope and caution. Hope that someday what I write may be taken in by a much larger audience, who respect and value my opinion on film as a 'friend' rather than a 'critic'. And caution in that I try not to forget why I write and become the very reason that I started writing in the first place, which was to provide a my own unique take on movies.

Thanks for reading.

Doing Time in Stalag 17

2009-10-14T23:16:00.000-07:00

This post is in conjunction with the LAMB event - LAMBs in the Director's Chair.

Stalag 17 is a stand out film in Billy Wilder's career. It has all the hallmarks of a Wilder film, including voice over narration, double crosses and men in drag. But, it also marked an important turning point in his career. After making a few comedies and excelling at dramas and noir like, Double Indemnity, Sunset Blvd. and The Lost Weekend, Stalag was a war drama unlike any other. Taking place in a prisoner of war camp in World War II, a group of American sergeants try to discover the German spy in their midst that giving information to their captors. Like many Wilder films, it was based on a play, yet production started without a completed script. This added to the realism for the actors who themselves were unsure of which one of them would turn out to be the rat. Furthermore, Wilder infused the film with overtly sexual humor and clashed with the studio over the tone of the subject matter. It led to the dissolution of his working relationship with Paramount. As was his style, his belied his drama with a sublime humor that would be far more evident in later films such as Oscar winning movie, The Apartment. In addition, the studio angered him by withholding part of the film's profits and suggesting that Wilder change the nationality of the camp guards from German to Polish. It is widely believed that Wilder took carte blanche with the film because of the fact that his mother died in a concentration camp. That fact makes it more remarkable to me that he would choose to make a dark comedy about a film that show closely mirrored a tragedy in his own life. But, that was what made Wilder's movies special. He could take stories about betrayal, murder or lust and make them relatable, show us characters we could identify with and ultimately a movie that audiences would enjoy.

Not to take anything away from Wilder, but for me, the film is all about William Holden. In fact, it's a stroke of casting genius on Wilder's part for the studio wanted Charlton Heston in the role. But, Wilder saw the character of Sergeant J.J. Sefton as far more cynical and anti-heroic than he thought Heston or second choice Kirk Douglas could play. He instead chose Bill Holden, whom he made four films with, more than any other actor beside Jack Lemmon. Forced into the role by the studio, Holden, like the character, was stuck in a situation he could not escape, but he makes the best of it the only way he can. Sefton finally escaped, while Holden won an Oscar. He was an actor who simply seemed to be himself on screen, cool and intelligent. Who else could romance Audrey Hepburn while beefing with Humphrey Bogart? He won an Oscar, worked for wildlife conservation, brought Japanese films to America, fought against the blacklist and served in the Army during WWII. Bill Holden was just cool, man. In Stalag, he defies everyone's objections by trading with the Germans for luxury sundry items as well as conjugal visits with female Russian workers. As the other prisoners grow to resent him and become suspicious of his activities, he digs in his heels and is determined to find the spy himself. Finally, Holden leaves the camp with a line that I wish for anything in the world to be able to go back in time and tell some of the guys I served with as I left my duty station for the last time.

"If I ever run into any of you bums on a street corner, just let's pretend we've never met before."

All Aboard For Zombieland

2009-10-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

Zombieland was a terrific movie that had great characters, fun zombie killing action and an excellent script. It will undoubtedly earn comparisons to Shaun of the Dead, but the movie is closer to 48 Hours in it's tone. Bookended by great opening and closing action sequences, the movie is more memorable for the dialogue and interaction between the characters. People remember Nick Nolte picking up Eddie Murphy in jail and the scene in the bar and with Zombieland, audiences will remember Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson riding cross country and the first four rules of living in Zombieland. With a lack of serious zombie action, it is the story and the jokes that keep the audience laughing and never once wondering where all the zombies are at. Witty bon mots such as "One and done, that's my motto. I said that once." and "I've beat wholesale ass for a lot less" would have made this movie as classic on their own strength, but the appearance near the end of the film by none other than Bill Murray completely canonizes the film as not only a classic zombie movie, but a straight forward comedy as well.

And Emma Stone with a shotgun is way hot.

Invention of Lying

2009-10-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

Ricky Gervais knows that the comedic genius of The Invention of Lying is in it's premise that people can only say exactly what they are thinking at any given time. He packs as many jokes as he can into the first twenty minutes and spends the rest of the film telling a story in the uncomfortable, patient style that is his trademark. Which is not to say that the movie drags or becomes too serious, but if you know how Gervais works, then you can take your time with this film and enjoy it.

Ricky is great in the movie, stretching himself as an actor, particularly in the heavy dramatic scenes. If you've only ever seen him in other features like For Your Consideration or Ghost Town, you should see the other side of him that was briefly glimpsed in The Office or Extras. The supporting cast is terrific as well, with a lot of well known comic actors such as Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Jeffrey Tambor, Rob Lowe and Christopher Guest. Jennifer Garner is also great as the girl who doesn't find Gervais' character attractive but slowly becomes his friend and then falls in love with him. Throw in some great cameos by Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jason Bateman and Ed Norton and The Invention of Lying is a real treat.

I love Tina Fey, but I don't like her as the foil. I want to love her, not dislike her.

Always Sunny in Los Angeles, or The Nightman, The Dayman and Me.

2009-10-07T14:30:00.000-07:00

If you're not a fan of the television series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on FX, you're missing out on one of the funniest shows on the air. Almost Seinfeld-esque in concept, it's a show where the main characters are selfish, narrow minded jerks who like to get excited about a new venture every week only to become disinterested in it midway through the episode and focus their energies elsewhere. In only four full seasons, the show has brutally satirized every hot topic issue from abortion, child molestation, political corruption, patriotism and the current economic crisis. But, in between the social commentary they find plenty of time for pure laugh out loud comedy and one great idea sprang from the episode entitled, "Sweet Dee's Dating a Retarded Person" in which the gang comes to the conclusion that if Sweet Dee's retarded rapper boyfriend came become successful as a musician, they can start a band as well. The different creative direction of the group force them into separate bands, Chemical Toilet and Electric Dream Machine, which leads to Charlie writing two different songs for each, Night Man and Day Man. One year later, Charlie would combine both songs along with a troll, a baby boy and cat eyes in the rock opera known as "The Nightman Cometh".

One year after that, the creators of the show took their production on the road. The live show toured eight cities, ending up back in Los Angeles and I was lucky enough to have a friend score tickets to the show at the Palladium in Hollywood. After an opening band that really wasn't as bad as everyone made them feel, the audience was treated to clip from the upcoming A Very Sunny Christmas Special, in which Charlie accosts a mall Santa, resulting in bloodshed and Mac punching children. When asked if they would like another clip, the crowd roared with approval and we were treated to a full length episode to air later this year. In typical Sunny style, this episode found the gang renewing their flip cup rivalry with another bar, only to deal with that bar's disinterest by beginning a new rivalry with Dennis' old fraternity. When the episode was over, Charlie leaped onto stage, burst into song and opened the show. From Charlie's announcement of writing a musical, to first rehearsals and Charlie inviting the waitress to the show, the stage version was just as funny as the broadcast version, especially considering most people in attendance had seen the episode before. There were extended songs, great costumes and hilarious ad-libs that made it different enough to more than warrant the cost of admission. It was a really interactive show, with the performers acknowledging the audience and planting the waitress in the crowd as part of the show. At the end, the entire cast came back on stage to lead everyone in a sing-a-long of Day Man.

Great show, good times, best friends.

The Horror of The Cove

2009-09-28T07:52:00.000-07:00

The Cove is probably the most horrific film I've ever seen in my life and it is all real. Documenting the systematic slaughter and subsequent cover up of dolphin killing in a small village in Japan, The Cove tells the story of a determined group of men and women who plan to expose the killings to the world in order to stop them.

The titular cove.

A talented screenwriter would be hard pressed to come up with a better story that that of Ric O'Barry. Ric began as a dolphin trainer, working on the television show Flipper, but later became an activist against the captivity industry. The story of why he chose to leave that profitable, glamourous life behind is heart breaking and cannot be done just by me here. But by helping to create the demand for captured dolphins, he has dedicated his life to freeing as many as possible and the film begins with him in the small town of Taiji, in the Wakayama prefecture of Japan. He has found a secret cove where dolphins are driven en masse for capture and slaughter and he needs help to save them. But, as the filmmakers try to present all sides of the story, they find deeper levels of collusion between the Japanese government and the fishing industry, corruption of the International Whaling Commission, troubling environmental concerns, extreme health hazards to the Japanese citizens and the infinite possibilities of what dolphins might be able to teach to us.

I sat in the theatre, watching anxiously as the team infiltrated the cove and began to place recording devices in order to capture what they called 'the full orchestra.' And I nervously awaited their success because I questioned whether they would should the terrible, bloody images they had captured. But, I realized quickly that they would because of course, that was their purpose in making the movie. The sequence of the slaughter is one of the most saddening and infuriating pieces of film I've ever seen. The waters fill with a red hue that would rival anything in an Oliver Stone movie and the shrieks of the dolphins as they flail about helplessly in their death throes combine to leave you with thoughts that will stay in your mind long after you leave the theatre. For being a documentary, the film begins like any other, but quickly shifts to a spy thriller before becoming a horror flick.

Make no mistake either, the film is very well made. Combining archival footage with night and thermal vision cameras, an excellent score and very clever editing, the movie uses its medium to drive home the carnage on display. You will begin to question, as I did, your karaoke/sushi nights if for no other reason than your own health. The film is not without its detractors who would have you believe any number of things from the biased editing, inflated numbers of dolphin deaths or the fact that none of these events ever occurred until the Western filmmakers arrived in Taiji. But, I urge you to see the film for yourself and come to your own conclusions. It might motivate you to do some more research for yourself, as I did, which lead me to Ric's website. Read more to find out what has happened in Taiji after the movie's release.

Missed The Bus for District 9

2009-09-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

I was a few weeks behind everyone else in seeing District 9. Normally, when a friend of mine expresses a desire to see a movie, I am more than happy to oblige and accompany them to the theatre. However, when that arrangement gets delayed more than once, I usually give them a two week moratorium before I go see the movie anyway. The film was worth the wait as District 9 is easily one of the best films of the year.

District 9 lived up to the hype and completely blew me away. The documentary fashion immediately drew me into the story and I sat in rapt attention to the story of peaceful aliens who arrive on Earth, then are forced into detention centers while the governments of the world putter about and are unable to effectively deal with the problems posed by the influx of an alien population. I was horrified as the MNU agents laughed at killing the alien eggs while making abortion jokes and threatened the aliens with physical separation of their families. For all the obvious references to South Africa and apartheid, I could not but help to think of Germany and Kristallnacht. For here were living, breathing beings who are forced from their homes and killed if they resist, all because they are different from us. That's how terrific the storytelling was, it made me think of one of the darkest periods in our world history.

I had hoped for more of a determined resolve from the main character Wikus to stop the cycle of hate and ignorance in his metamorphosis into one of the creatures. While he does cut short his escape to defend them and help them get back to their ship, his own motives are purely selfish and even near the very end, he seems to act out of desperation and helplessness rather than a genuine empathy with the aliens. I think that was really the message of the film and I like that they didn't hammer it home, leaving the audience to root for Wikus and hoping he would help Christopher and his son get home.

Or at least return for the sequel.

The movie's narrative structure strongly reminded me of Jaws, insomuch as the story seems so grounded in reality that by time shit gets really crazy at the end, you don't even question, you just go along for the ride. Great, great movie.

Extract is 100% Pure Comedy

2009-09-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Extract is Mike's Judge's third film after Idiocracy and Office Space. Following in the vein of Office Space, it is the natural progression of his work as a filmmaker and as someone who identified so strongly with Office Space as a teenager, Judge was able to tap into that same sense of humor and frustration as he did ten years ago and make a movie that I related to just as well now, working in a management position. While he was fighting the establishment and rallying for the freedom of the working man before, here he gives us a likable man who has worked hard for everything he has, only to see his world unraveled by bickering, lazy employees and a bored wife.

Jason Bateman, as extract creator Joel Reynolds, finds that everything he values is about to be lost to him, until he decides to get off his ass and do something about it. Bateman's dry, straight man delivery, perfected in Arrested Development, is on display as he carries this movie almost single handedly. Not to take away from the rest of the cast as everyone is excellent, but aside from Bateman, everyone else seems like they are barely in the movie. Even the gorgeous and comedically talented Mila Kunis is wonderful, but she has only a handful of scenes. Which, I believe, makes Bateman's performance that much more remarkable seeing as how he gives everyone in the cast so much of himself to work with. From Kristen Wiig as his distant, adulterous wife, J.K. Simmons as his number two man at work and David Koechner as his far too familiar obnoxious neighbor, everyone plays what would normally be very one note roles, very different and they do it all around Bateman. The dude should've popped way before this, AGAIN, but it will probably take audiences awhile to catch up.

Ben Affleck is hilarious as his pusher friend Dean. The Fleck hasn't had this great a supporting role since Boiler Room.

In the same way that you have to had worked in an office to appreciate Office Space, so too do you have to had been in charge of increasingly insipid subordinates, been in a dull, listless relationship with someone you truly care for and made some bad decisions under the influence to understand Extract. Judge's humor comes not from over the top set pieces or irrelevant, gross out gags, but from common situations that occur far to often to not take notice of. The jokes don't come rapidly, but are measured and methodical in delivery. For someone looking for another Apatow/Kev Smith type film, you're likely to be mildly unimpressed. But for fans of Arrested and terrific actors and dialogue, Extract is your best bet for weeks to come. Mike Judge has grown up to find that working for the man is just as maddening as being the man, but just as funny as well.

Tarantino, The Glourious Basterd Himself

2009-08-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds is truly Quentin Tarantino's movie. Not as self-indulgent as Death Proof, but utilizing all of his ability like he did in Kill Bill, it's certainly the biggest movie he's ever made and after being ten years in the making and starring the biggest movie star in the world, it will probably be the biggest hit of his career. But, is it his best film?

Like the boys in Swingers, I subscribe to the theory that Tarantino bites everything from Scorsese. And Hawks. And Leone, Bava, Kubrick and so many others. Which isn't to say I don't enjoy Tarantino's movies, I probably enjoy them more because I am aware of all the films that are being stolen, I mean, 'referenced'. When he is on his game, films like Jackie Brown are wonderful. He writes fantastically for his characters and his own world and the film is very darkly funny if you think Nazis were evil and killing them by any means necessary is a good thing. Twisting three story lines together from Jewish refugees to secret Allied operations and the Basterds themselves, the movie follows a typically QT non-linear structure that jumps back and forth between the three but gives equal time to all. You can tell he has spent almost a decade on the script and while it shows a lot of growth and development, he still relies on his older methods to make it through certain parts of the script. Basterds feels almost like he has tired of the criticisms and decides to steal mostly from himself. The film is mostly scenes of people sitting around, talking to each other with an occasional bloody killing to break them up. Divided in chapters a la, Kill Bill, each one involves at least one tension filled scene of terrific dialogue and great acting across drinks and a table. After strudel with the Jew Hunter in a Parisian cafe, you basically know how the rest of these are going to end up and they become redundant. The rest of the Tarantino hallmarks are here from close ups of Diane Kruger's feet, to voice over narration and other B-movies tricks.

Foot fetishes aside, what I enjoyed most about the movie was how much of it centered around cinema. For those moviegoers without a general knowledge of pre-WWII film, and specifically, early German cinema, there won't be anything that will be taken away from the enjoyment of the movie by missing these references, but for cinephiles like Tarantino himself, you can smile and nod at the discussions of Pabst, film nitrate stock and Riefenstahl, as well as Chaplin, King Kong and Dietrich.

The performances all around are terrific, particularly when one considers most of the movie is spoken in languages that Tarantino himself doesn't speak. He shows tremendous faith in his European actors and they do not disappoint. Christoph Waltz and Michael Fassbinder as German and British soldiers, respectively are terrific and shine in their scenes. But, Melanie Laurent, as a Jewish woman living in occupied France, is mesmerizing on screen. Her mere presence gives us a sense of tension and fear at her true identity being discovered, but Tarantino ratchets it up whenever he gets the chance. I would have liked to see more resolution between her character and Waltz' 'Jew Hunter', but that was not to be.

PS - Brad Pitt is awesome in the film. But he's also awesome in real life.

Difficult, Difficult, Lemon Difficult

2009-08-21T12:57:00.000-07:00

In The Loop is a new comedy from the UK that fictionalizes the lead up to the US invasion of Iraq from both the view of the British and the American government. Starring a mostly British cast and James Gandolfini, the script has more curse words than anything more clever that I can think of. The story follows Ministers and their handlers and staff as they try to talk down rumors of an US-led invasion in the Middle East, as they meet with their US counterparts, deal with trans-Atlantic miscommunications, leaks to the media and finally, scurry to get behind the invasion and lend support to the Americans. For a British film, it is remarkably restrained in taking shots at Americans as war mongering buffoons and spreads the criticism around. There are American generals intent on peace and Minister who misspeak every other word out of their mouth. Far from being a political indictment of the war, the movie does a great job of showing how hard people worked on both sides of the issue from fighting the invasion and supporting it. Great performance all around and a terrific script that effortlessly bounces from one nation to another, from Downing Street to the UN and from their professional and personal mishaps, if the movie is playing near you, you owe it to yourself to be in the loop. (Pun!)

Tom Hollander (best known to American audiences from the Pirates trilogy) as Minister Simon Foster is the heart of the movie as the bumbling, nervous Minister who inadvertently begins to fuel talks of an invasion and spends the rest of the film frantically trying to correct his statement by making more ridiculous, ill-advised statements on both sides of the pond. At his finest, he channels the essence of Steve Carell and gives a performance better than any episode of The Office.

PS - The title of this post alludes to one of the many clever pieces of dialogue when one characters contends that things will NOT be easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy.

He's Got The Goods, For America!!!

2009-08-19T08:25:00.000-07:00

Is there anything more to say about The Goods, a comedy about car salesmen starring Jeremy Piven and featuring Ed 'The NardDog' Helms, Tony 'Buster Bluth' Hale and Will 'I'm in Every Movie' Ferrell, than it's laugh out loud funny, pretty vulgar and just as quotable as SuperBad, Anchorman or even Stripes? Well, there may actually be a little more to it.

Directed by Neal Brennan of 'Chappelle's Show', I found the movie actually has some nice social commentary on the current American economic state. From Don Ready's patriotic speech on board an airplane in which he invokes the Apollo moon missions and 9/11 in an attempt to convince a stewardess to allow him a cigarette, the film is deeply rooted in a sense of pride and can-do eagerness that can only be defined as American spirit. Don loves all things that are comically American like used cars, karaoke, breakfast at a strip club and having a catch with your son who is not really your son. But in between the jokes, there is a tale of redemption for Ready. The story focuses around a car dealership about to go under and while it is never specifically stated that it is due to the recession, most audiences will quickly identify and empathize with a failing family owned business. When nothing seems to work, Ready and his crew of cutthroat salesmen are called in to help sell the metal. And move the cars they do, using a variety of unethical schemes from airing television ads in which the dealer himself claims to be dying, booking a relative of a D-list celebrity to appear and turning a full scale riot into free air time on the local news. It's no accident that the three day sale takes place over the Fourth of July weekend as Ready motivates and inspires his melting pot staff of grizzled veterans, Koreans and strippers to appeal to the customer's hopes and dreams. While the thrill of the sell is a pure adrenaline rush for him, he also understands that selling the cars gives each customer a little bit of hope and is a small dream come true for each of them. Sales may be his first priority but getting someone in the car they want is a close second. Personally, Ready struggles with the death of his colleague who was killed, appropriately enough, plummeting to his death in an effort to promote a huge sale in Qurque. His irresponsible lifestyle catches up with him and he finds himself wanting something so simple that he takes it for granted he could ever know a normal life again. When it seems that he has lost his way and everything he knows and loves is taken from him, he finds his closure from the pain by getting back into the game and intent on going down swinging. In the storybook end, he gets a rag tag bunch of losers to believe in themselves and reach their goal of selling all the cars off the lot. It is because of his tenacious, take-no-prisoners attitude that Ready and the other salesmen can overcome the huge obstacles in front of them and jump start the dying dealership.

Don Ready is the kind of man that America needs right now to recover from its slow economy. With the willingness to fight, a little creativity and genuine pride on one's job, we too can get the country back on track, sell every single car off the lot and smoke this one for America!