17 Again

-by Ann Marie
Ever wish you could go back to being 17 again and relive part of your high school years?

Well that's exactly what happened for Mike O'Donnell (Matthew Perry) after he became an adult. When "17 Again" starts, we see young Mike O'Donnell (Zac Efron) who is a big time basketball player, being looked at by the college scouts. All of a sudden, his girlfriend, Scarlett (Allison Miller) tells Mike that she is pregnant and from here he has to make a decision in his life. Give up his opportunity to play college basketball and marry his girlfriend or take the opportunity and play college basketball. Mike decides to marry his girlfriend and help raise the baby. From here the viewer finds Mike living with his best friend Ned Gold (Thomas Lennon) and fighting a divorce battle with his wife, Scarlett (Leslie Mann). As Mike is walking through his old high school, he runs into a team picture with himself and talks with a janitor. The janitor asks him if he wishes he could be 17 again and Mike says yes. This is where things start to change and Mike finds the janitor standing on the ledge of the bridge ready to jump. Mike runs out of the car to stop the janitor, but he disappears and Mike gets sucked into a time warp. Before we know it, Mike is now 17 again and reliving his time in high school. The movie teachers Mike many valuable lessons about his life, children and his love.

The acting throughout the movie was subpar. Zac Efron once again fulfills the role of a teenager just like all of his other movies, "High School Musical" series. Joining Efron on screen was Leslie Mann. Her acting was another repeat of her normal Adam Sandler movies or generic comedy drama movies. Thomas Lennon and Matthew Perry didn't shine either on screen. Their acting seemed quite b rated.

This teen movie didn't have any over elaborated cutting techniques. It kept with simple quick cuts and from time to time slow motion because of the basketball scenes. Although the high regarded actor in the film is Zac Efron, it seemed to carry a B movie feeling to it. With this said, the movie didn't jump off the screen.

Director Burr Steers normally would be working on television series, but decided to try his hand in movies. "17 Again" is Steers first movie, but not his last. He is working on a new film, "Charlie St. Cloud" which will be out in 2010. Most people would know Steers for his work with "Weeds" and "Big Love."

Although this film seemed like a B movie, fans of Zac Efron or fans of teen movies would enjoy this storyline.

Cop Out Review: Crazy Buddy Cop Caper Comedy from Kevin Smith

By: DJ Phantom   

Cop Out directed by Kevin Smith provides the potential for horrible puns if it flops critically – fortunately for both Smith and I, I’m not going to make a Cop Out pun as I found the movie to be a fun popcorn film that provided more laughs than found in the trailer – a rare feat.

The film follows longtime New York detectives, Jimmy (Bruce Willis) and Paul (Tracy Morgan), as they investigate Mexican drug runners and the theft of Jimmy’s $80,000 baseball card.  We follow the duo on a variety of misadventures as Jimmy worries that he won’t be able to pay for his daughter’s wedding without the card and Paul worries that his wife is cheating on him while he is on his beat.  This film combines Lethal Weapon (classic Buddy Cop action with characters you can care about), Clerks (snappy dialog between Buddies) and… Taxi (doing a goofball Buddy Cop Comedy when just about every goofball Buddy Cop Comedy variation has been done.  To death.  Again.)  Did I mention this is a Buddy Cop Comedy?  

That said, we really do feel like Jimmy and Paul ARE buddies which is a great testament to this film.  If we didn’t, this film would have flopped straight out.  The dialog is overall very snappy, and much of the humor comes from the interplay between Willis and Morgan.  Repeat Smith cast members include Sean William Scott (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back) who turns in a humorous supporting role as a cat burglar and Jason Lee (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Clerks II, Jersey Girl, Dogma, Chasing Amy, Mallrats) as the new, rich husband of Jimmy’s ex-wife.

This film is recommended for anyone who is interested in seeing a Buddy Cop Comedy, one made by Kevin Smith or otherwise.  It’s nothing more and nothing less.  Kevin Smith “purists” might be upset that it’s not a witty indie drama by the guy who helped define the genre with Clerks and Chasing Amy.  But as a director, taking a risk in another genre (it’s a Buddy… oh, never mind…) and pulling it off is sign of skill and Smith should at least get points for trying something new.  For this director making a film out of someone else’s screenplay, here Robb Cullen & Mark Cullen – all other Smith films were original screenplays written by Smith himself, he’s definitely moved out of his “comfort zone.”  It will be interesting to see what his next movie will be and how this movie will fit in to his overall filmography.

Is this movie Clerks?  No.  No, it’s not Zack and Miri either.  It’s Kevin Smith doing a Buddy Cop Comedy and about as well as can be done in 2010.  One can’t help think that he could have turned in a film that seems fresher due to the immense talent of all involved, but this film is nowhere near unwatchable.  I laughed and laughed frequently, so the film overall worked for me, for what it was.  If you expect a Buddy Cop Comedy that provides laughs, you will likely enjoy yourself. 

Poster © 2010 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved

Hank Might Have Done It This Way: Crazy Heart Review

By: DJ Phantom 

Crazy Heart is the story of how The Dude became a country singer.

Crazy Heart follows Jeff “The Dude” Bridges as country singer Bad Blake in the twilight of his career. No longer selling out shows, he’s lucky to play small town bars and bowling alleys (except Shabbat). To add insult to injury, the specter of his former protégé selling out shows major shows across America looms over him. Then, a when he agrees to be interviewed as a favor to a local piano player, the interviewer (Maggie Gyllenhaal) sets Bad Blake on a path to getting his life back on track. But make no mistake; this is no feel-good weepy. Bad Blake has done some hard living, and some mistakes can’t be repaired in the runtime of a movie.

This film is a showcase of excellent acting and having a sold screenplay. The film could absolutely been a cheese-fest in the wrong hands – fortunately for moviegoers, this film is a masterful character study of Bad Blake and the lengths he went to be a professional musician. First-time director Scott Cooper, who also works on the screenplay, synthesizes everything on screen to near perfection. The Dude absolutely embodies Bad Blake, and the acting is so good by the supporting cast we could almost be watching a documentary. Story points include such topics as alcoholism, regret, failed marriages, and music business woes – again, all potentially the ingredients for an over the top melodrama, but Crazy Heart is done with a delicate hand, great actors, and an insight into the human condition. Supporting actors include Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall and a surprise "superstar" cameo as Bad Blake's protégé.

This movie is recommended for anyone who wants to see a good drama, and/or has Music in their veins – even if that music isn’t country. Some of the performance pieces might be more or less enjoyable based on how much you like country music, but the role the music plays in Bad Blake’s life would not have come though if the performances were glossed over – so don’t let that stop you from seeing a fantastic film! The Dude abides. For this film, so do I.

Comments on Crazy Heart

-by Ann Marie
A formulated storyline that many musician movies follow.

"Crazy Heart" follows the story of Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges), a country singer who is looking into revamping his career. From the opening scene, we see Bad traveling a road that seems to never end. He finally stops and steps out of his truck with his pants unzipped. Now this doesn't seem disturbing at first, but as the movie progresses, we see him constantly with his pants unzipped. To me this is just the start of disturbing images that pop up in the movie. Seriously an "80" year old man walking around majority of the time with his pants unzipped. It just doesn't seem right.

As the movie's plot progressed, Bad meets Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a journalist who wants to interview him. Things start to get steamy between the two. The first scene when they meet, Bad has just a towel on. After he changes, Bad thinks well I can try a few one liners on Jean and see if she flirts back. At this point, she's what 30 years old? And he's what 80? You would think the flirting would just be enough, but no Bad and Jean are sitting on the bed and then they kiss. You then see Jean and Bad naked in bed together.

This just adds to the formulated musician movie. After this Bad realizes he loves Jean and wants to be with her. He realizes that he is an alcoholic and gets clean. However, unlike most musician movies, the ending is what changes the formula.

Martin Scorsese's New Movie Released, Pending Psych Eval

By: DJ Phantom

It’s hard to write about a movie like Shutter Island because so much of the enjoyment of this film comes from watching it unfold. The final impression one has then, will depend on how much you like the “twist.”

As you probably have seen via the spots and trailers that have been playing since October, this film follows Leonardo DiCaprio as Teddy Daniels as he investigates the Shutter Island asylum for the criminally insane. Teddy and the audience quickly get the feeling that something is not right with the asylum. We follow Teddy as the plot thickens, and the head doctors of the asylum become more and more secretive. Then, a shift of Lynchian proportions happens…

Leaving the plot at that, I would suggest that the film is quite rich despite the tag “B-Movie” that’s been floating around the interwebz. Sure, Haunted House fare might be seen as typical “B” fare, but I would suggest that the themes dealt with are much heavier than a “B-Movie” cheapie. The cinematography is lush, the atmosphere is dense, and the pacing is very tight in the first half - though once the “shift” happens we’re left to wonder what’s happening. Moviegoers might recognize quite a few plot elements, but I felt they were synthesized in a unique way. And sure there are some scares, and some “monster jumps out of the dark” bits but I always felt mystery in the film, and the viewer always stays on Teddy’s side... (maybe…). There is some HIGHLY disturbing imagery in the film, though not in a traditional sense. We see dead bodies, but then we are given a context of why we care about whose bodies they were. Even the popular “Creepy Little Girl” trope found in horror since Ju-On, is given emotional heft in relationship to the overall story. With this film, I think Scorsese wanted to try to make a different type of film than he "traditionally" makes, with the traditional Scorsese picture being a misconception in itself, as he has made far more than just gangster films. I have heard Shutter Island being compared to Kubrick's The Shining, and I do think this is an apt comparison in that two master filmmakers flexing their muscle in “genre.” I think the film will grow in stature with time, though it currently has mixed reviews.

Obviously this film is going to be recommended for fans of Scorsese but also people who like to see well constructed movies. To be honest, I think any person who is a fan of movies in general would enjoy this. That said, don’t expect a “straight” haunted house thriller, and if you are squeamish, this film is also not for you.

Random Aside – There is a sequence with a ton of rats all over the place… I wonder if MS is having some fun with the backlash on the final few frames of the Departed (“Didn’t like the rat? I’ll give you some rats and you’ll like it!”)

Mel Gibson & Co. take us to The Egde of our Seats... for the most part

By DJ Phantom. 

Edge of Darkness directed by Martin Campbell is a competent action/thriller that delivers on its promise, but one can’t help but wish it was a little “more.” The film follows Boston Detective Thomas Craven as he tries to find his daughter’s killer. What originally seemed to be a botched drive-by shooting by some hoods trying to rub out Craven, might actually go much deeper and Det. Craven might not have been the intended target after all. Mel Gibson stars as Tom Craven in his “return to acting” and it is a solid performance as a bereaved father out for revenge. Revenge thrillers certainly are familiar territory for Gibson (Mad Max, Lethal Weapon, Payback, Ransom), but the movie worked for what it was. This movie is by no means a game changer but as decent entertainment, it works. Ray Winstone plays a solemn version of the Cigarette Smoking Man, and turns in a solid performance as always.

What is most frustrating about this film is overall story arc. While the film itself is solid, I can’t help but feel that some storylines could have been more fleshed out, and others dropped. The script seems torn between wanting to be a straight up Mel Gibson ass-kicking revenge flick and being a spy thriller. It even has some of The Departed thrown in for good measure and (MILD SPOLIERS!) the ending combines The Departed and with a dash of the Watchmen. Thank goodness there isn’t a rat to symbolize obviousness in the final shot… (END SPOILERS) It is no surprise then that The Departed scribe William Monahan scripted the film with Andrew Bovell doing a rewrite. The film then seems an odd mix, albeit one that works for the most part, of The Departed, an Intense Spy Thriller, and a Father’s Revenge Story. These conflicting directions likely stem from the trifecta of Monahan, Campbell (director of Bond films), and Gibson each providing a different angle to the film. All of the players are certainly competent, but the film would have benefited from focusing on one the directions that are present in the current film.

That said, those expecting a Mel Gibson thrill ride will probably be pleasantly entertained.

Finally, I would like to note this film also does reflect the modern discontent in America to some level. While it does not have a specific message per se about America, one of the last lines is “America deserves better” before an act of violence is committed against a very “top” kind of person. Combined with negative view on corporations and a Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps trailer before the film, it’s clear film in general is reflecting America on the Edge of Darkness… maybe that’s the most insightful thing of the whole picture.