tháng 8 2010 ~ The Larsen Film Review

Lost in America (1985)

Albert Brooks and Julie Hagerty star in a film about a couple that gives up on the rat race and decides to liquidate their assets, buy a mobile home, and hit the road.

Brooks is an incredibly whiny character, the type I can't stand to watch. He reminds me of Woody Allen, in the roles that made me strongly dislike him. Hagerty plays the timid, undeceive wife until they hit the road.

I hate to spoil the film with the adventures they run unto. Let's just say there are numerous parts of this movie that were painful to get through. I can't see why this is considered one of the funniest movies of all time. But then again, comedy is very subjective. I didn't like it, I'm glad it's over.

Vote: 5/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089504/

Yay! I found a French New Wave film that I sincerely liked. Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville and starring Alain Delon. This film about an assassin was completely gripping. I watched it start to finish in one sitting, which is actually saying a lot if you know how I get through a lot of my movies.

The plot is quite simple, yet very complex. Delon's character prepares for an assassination with methods that remind me of the game Grand Theft Auto. He steals a car, pulls into a random garage, a guy switches his plates, hands him a new gun, then he pulls out and drives off. A perfectionist that lives a secluded life of complete paranoia.

I would definitely recommend this film.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062229/

The latest Saturday Night Live skit turned into a feature length film. What started as just a spoof on the television show MacGyver, became a show of its own. My favorite SNL skit is the one featuring Charles Barkley, you can watch it here.

If you find it funny, you might like this movie. If you find it stupid you will hate this movie. The imdb average for a movie like this is almost guaranteed to be around a 5.0 no matter how good it really is, just because people are going to be very split on it. 700 have given it a 1, 800 have given it a 10, the majority falls around a 6 or 7.

I find Will Forte to be very funny, so I liked the movie. Kristen Wiig is great in her supporting role; she should replace Amy Poehler in the future as a good duo with Tina Fey. Ryan Phillippe doesn't wow me with his acting, but he is good. It was amazing to see how much Val Kilmer has let himself go, almost worth watching just to look at in awe.

The plot is weak, but that is to be expected. They really made a movie out of nothing so you can't really fault it to much for that. The strange sex scenes I could have done without. I was laughing hysterically when the explosives went off early in the movie. Overall I'm glad I watched it, just because I liked the SNL skits. I wouldn't recommend this to people unless you are fully aware of what you are getting yourself into.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1470023/

It only takes a few gangster films to feel like you have seen too many. Why? Because they all seem to be about Chicago covering the exact same story and the exact same people. This is another Al Capone movie. There are over 20 feature films portraying Capote, a dozen tv series and tv movies. It gets a little boring.

This movie loses a point just for lacking originality. At least they got a good actor for Capone (Robert De Niro), problem is they really don't use him enough. The movie is less about him and more about Eliot Ness, the investigator trying to bring him down. Kevin Costner was just not right for this role. He is weak in his performance and overshadowed and pushed over by Sean Connery, Andy Garcia, and Sean Connery. Garcia was FANTASTIC in his minor role. Good enough that I looked him up because he was so familiar, that is when I remembered he was nominated for an Oscar 3 years later for his role as Vincent in The Godfather: Part III.

The soundtrack for this film is ear piercingly bad. It is very very 80s. At over two and a half hours this was a time investment not worth making. I actually watched this in two parts. The first of about one and a half was pretty good, I was thinking 6 or 7 at that point. The slow motion scenes were so incredibly bad that this movie just sank in the last hour. It was even comical at times. Costner approaching De Niro at the end was just awful acting and scripting.

Let's just say a 5 is generous because the film had some merit. I can see why it fell out of the imdb top 250 several years ago.

Vote: 5/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094226/

Jaden Smith (son of Will Smith) in his 3rd feature film, and first starring role. This remake of the 1984 original The Karate Kid starring Ralph Macchio. Is produced by father, Will, and takes place in China.

There are a few things that make this as good as the original, and a few things that do not measure up. Jackie Chan was fantastic in his role as Mr. Han (the new Mr. Miyagi). "Miyagi" is much cooler than "Han" though. The idea of a kid proving himself at a Karate tournament in China was a fun spin.

There were two things that kept me from making this is a "worth watching" film. #1: I didn't like the age of Jaden Smith. They should have kept this film idea in their back pocket until he was at least a teenager. The early high school age in the original was much more fitting. I just wondered, where are their parents during all this? when the kids got in street fights. #2: I didn't like the unrealistic fighting combos. Why use CGI and stunts that look completely fake? He could have excelled with realistic fighting like the original film.

I did like that he learned about Karate through every day activity. They didn't copy "Wax-on, Wax-off" which was probably a good move. Yet they stayed with the same general training theme, which make the film a lot of fun. It is 50/50 that you will like this one. I'd give it a PG rating, so it would be a good family watch, so that is a plus.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1155076/

Probably the most painful movie off hand from the AFI 100 Laughs. Considered a musical because of the random song-and-dance that breaks out several times. Danny Kaye is funny, but not funny enough to carry a film.

Most surprising was Angela Lansbury, I've only seen her in The Manchurian Candidate where she was already 37 years old. Seeing her at 30 was different. I'm so used to the old lady from "Murder, She Wrote", you know... the mystery tv series about the lady that is in the wrong place at the wrong time every week. People seem to have the instinct to commit homicide any time she is around.

Glynis Johns is the hottie in this movie though, she plays a leader of the rebel force trying to overthrow the tyrant king. This zany musical comedy might have been appropriate for the 1950s but doesn't translate well to the 2010s. It just comes across as silly and almost stupid, incredibly cheesy and painful at times. Avoid this one.

Vote: 4/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049096/

Not exactly the most exciting movie from last years Oscar ballot. Thought it had something to do about an old man sitting around at a train station. Can't say my assumptions were too far off. I haven't been very excited about writing this review, because the movie was kinda boring.

The film is actually a biography about Leo Tolstoy played by Christopher Plummer. Tolstoy, of course, is the famous Russian writer responsible for War & Peace and Anna Karenina.
Helen Mirren plays Sofya Tolstoy his faithful wife who helped him type out his works. In the film she is in a conflict with Vladimir Chertkov (Paul Giamatti) over who is entitled to his fortune in his will.

There is a side story romance between James McAvoy and Kerry Condon. Quite unnecessary to the plot and added to make this a feature length film. Overall this movie was so dull that this side story did very little to make it worth watching.

I will give it one thing. Unlike films like Bright Star, it opened by giving you a background into what you are about to watch. I hate when movies assume you have already ready a movie review, or watched the trailer, or just know what the subject matter is before the film starts. You aren't missing anything here though.

Vote: 5/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0824758/

Considered by some to be the snubbed documentary at last years Oscars; this was a very enjoyable film that I agree should have been nominated. The premise is that the director sets up a meeting between Jimmy Page (from Led Zeppelin), The Edge (from U2), and Jack White (from The White Stripes). A session for the three to talk about guitar playing, their musical inspiration, life in general, and about their most famous works.

The beauty of this film is that it does a great job intertwining three generations of guitar players. We learn about each equally rather than sequentially and the film comes together quite harmoniously. Some would consider Page to be the best guitar player of all time right up there with Jimi Hendrix. He invented the double neck guitar so that he could play acoustic and electric riffs at the same time. Then you have The Edge, someone hwo has had tremendous success with distortion pedals and amplifier effects. He talks about the process behind the unique sounds he is able to produce which is quite fascinating. Last we have Jack White. Someone that is probably not familiar to all who would watch this film. As the front man behind a brother/sister duo and part of a second band as well he is all about the roots of rock. Inspired by blues musicians and opposed to distortion effects, he story is very contrasting to The Edge yet very similar at the same time.

I loved this film and have already suggested it to others. Is it as powerful as The Cove or Food, Inc.? Of course not. Is it a documentary that should have been given some accolades? Definitely.

If you are a musician or love rock music, you need to check this one out.

Vote: 9/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1229360/

I started into this one thinking it was another Woody Allen film on the AFI 100 Laughs list. When it opens with Barbra Streisand instead I just about turned it off. My thought being that I needed to prepare myself for dealing with her.

So I was very wrong about this one. Streisand was actually pretty enjoyable in this film. She was more attractive than I expected also [she is only 30 in this movie]. I am more familiar with her in sappy love stories, and with her now in her late 60s it was interesting to see her in a younger role.

This is a silly caper about bags getting mixed up in a hotel. The FBI after top secret documents, criminals after jewels, the professor with his special rocks, and Streisand with her travel bag. Ryan O'Neal does a great job as the handsome bumbling professor, and Madeline Kahn does a great job being the annoying fiance.

Definitely worthy of the AFI 100 Laughs list. I'm not going to suggest this one unless you are wanting to watch some 30+ year old comedies because it wasn't THAT good. Overall I'm glad I watched it.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069495/

This is the first Abbott & Costello film I've seen. I confuse them easily with Laurel & Hardy... a far superior duo. I hate to bash on them, but Bud Abbott seems dumb, and Lou Costello is incredibly annoying. His piercing voice makes it hard to watch.

This is probably considered to be their best film. Bela Lugosi plays a fantastic Dracula and Lon Chaney Jr. was enjoyable as The Wolf Man. The plot moved along pretty well considering its simplicity. And at just over an hour it was pretty easy to get through.

I just can't say I'm a big fan. They needed to have an inclusion on the AFI 100 Laughs, and this seemed to be the best fit. But then again if we are going to pick a movie that doesn't necessarily deserve to be in the top 100 just to get actors on the list then where are the Adam Sandler and Jim Carrey films? I'll diverge...

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040068/

So disco can be summed up into the Bee Gees and a few other bands that all sound the exact same. this is what I learned from this movie.

But seriously, this movie was a lot racier than I expected. John Travolta's character seems honest. He is just a kid in this movie and does a pretty good job acting. You can't help but feel sorry for Doreen [played by Denny Dillon], the tag-along girl that just ends up used.

It got a little boring near the end, but overall it was alright.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076666/

Oh Bill Maher, what a confused and sad individual. I will do my best to explain why this movie sucked, not because I disagree with everything Maher says, but because of how poorly compiled this film is.

The point of this film seems to be discrediting all the religions of the world. I'm not sure if Maher wants to believe in something, or if he is just trying to point out stupid and confused individuals. The thing about this film is that it is almost unwatchable. For one the production values are incredible low, boom mikes and other pieces of audio equipment frequently show up in shots. Probably such a bad running joke that they just make it look intentional at the end with cheap shots of cameras filming camera crews. I hate it when documentaries do this.

First and foremost though is Maher's inability to have a discussion with anyone credible. He allows people that have no merit when speaking on religion to talk themselves into a hole. Any time he speaks to someone credible that defends his outrageous "points" he cuts them off constantly. People are constantly saying "can you please let me finish?" then he proceeds to through another random allegation at them and cut to a different interview. He speaks to truckers about Christianity, ex-Mormons about Mormonism. The single credible person he talks to is an astrologer at the Vatican. The one person that brings some credible discussion to the table.

There was no point to this film. There was no goal. There was little to no worthwhile discussions. All there was, was religion bashing. Maher speaks of his childhood with his mother. This part actually made me want to cry. Their family had NO IDEA why they went to church growing up. Maher learned NOTHING from going to Sunday school. It is very sad to me to see someone with absolutely no faith in anything, and confused about everything.

I'll pray for you Bill, hopefully you find faith in something other than making fun of people.

Vote: 2/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0815241/

I turned this on one afternoon while my daughter was taking a nap. I figured that at only 80 minutes this would be a quick and easy watch. As part of the AFI Top 10 of the Year I expected it to be pretty good.

The leading actress, Michelle Williams, had just gone through a breakup with Heath Ledger and this film was in progress filming when her ex-fiance died. I had heard rumblings of Oscar nominations for her performance so again, I expected good things.

The movie was very slow, and very boring. Williams plays Wendy. A girl who appears to be down on her luck, making her way across the country in search of work. We learn little about her background and when Lucy disappears she has no one to blame but herself.

A slice of life film I could have done without. Decent performance by Williams, but for such a weak movie overall I see why it garnished zero nominations.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1152850/

I film originally titled "Is Marriage Necessary?" but deemed inappropriate by the Production Code. Ironic that now we have movies with such titles as Why Did I Get Married?

Claudette Colbert plays a housewife of an inventor. This inventor has been down on his luck and they are about to be evicted. An old oil tycoon gifts here the rent because he doesn't like to see such a pretty girl get kicked out. She then gets the bright idea of divorcing her husband so she can marry someone rich and give him the money he needs for his invention.

Overall this movie was boring. There was no excitement other than the train ride and everything works out perfectly in classic Hollywood fashion. There was no drama and I didn't laugh. Just average is a generous rating, this should not have been in the AFI 100 Laughs...

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035169/

An incredibly short and simple film. The beauty of this movie is that it is so simple that you are forced to see all sides of the situation.

There are no stars other than the director. Steven Soderbergh, director of Erin Brockovich, Traffic, Ocean's Eleven, and a number of other films which he has directed and produced. This is his indie film made on a budget of less than $2 million... which is why you have never heard of it...

The situation is simple, three employees of a doll making company in a pseudo-love triangle. The hardest thing is figuring out how to categorize this one, Drama? Thriller? Crime? It is too simple for me to spoil it for you, and at only 70 minutes if you like indie films you need to check this one out.

Probably a little too boring and slow for most people so I won't suggest it. You might like it...

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454792/

What a painfully annoying plot. I'm going to go on a complete tangent with this review. I always hear about how stupid the general public is for the average films that do well at the box office these days. I don't get it. Films like Avatar have depth and plot, reviews are mixed but generally good. Romantic comedies don't do that well because people find them dumb. Kids movies can't really be counted because they are made to have simple plots so the audience can easily follow. It just baffles me a movie like Top Hat was able to do so incredibly well in the 1930's. We have progressed a lot in the last 70 years in what the general movie going audience watches.

This movie has some great dancing. Fred Astaire and
Ginger Rogers are fantastic together... but they aren't good enough to make this hour and a half bearable. The jokes are horrible. The running gag of them not knowing who each other are is ridiculous. They beat around the bush about it, but they had sex and she doesn't even know what his name is. I want to cut out the 15 minutes of dancing and ditch the rest.

When people go on about how bad modern box office hits are I'll be referring to this one to show just how far we have come...

Vote: 4/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027125/

I have a newfound respect for some of Woody Allen's films now.
Take the Money and Run, Bananas , and now Sleeper were all pretty decent. This is all pre-Annie Hall and Manhattan... which is when he really started to annoy me. But I have to give him some credit for making me chuckle a few times.

This film is about an average man who was cryogenically frozen when going in for a routine surgery. He is awoken in the distant future by rebels and is instantly wanted by the state. Diane Keaton plays a lady happy with her life in the future with a lack of responsibility and where daily life is incredibly simple.

The comedy is slapstick, he reminds me a lot of a Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin when he plays a robot, unable to talk so he silently makes up the humor. The plot is over the top, and the last 10 minutes really really drag out. Overall it has some pretty funny parts though. I wish some of the jokes weren't so dated. They make fun of people in the 70's that I have never heard of so the jokes go right over my head.

Other than that it wasn't bad, again this could be watched by a large audience, and is Allen's best inclusion on the AFI 100 Laughs.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070707/

This is one of those movies that I caught a piece of on tv a long time ago. I've always felt like I've seen it, but I couldn't have told you anything about it other than Steve Martin has a big nose.

I can't even remember what movie list this was on, maybe the 501 Must-See movies. It doesn't really matter because I thought it would be a fun, quick, and easy watch. And it was.

Martin plays a Fire Dept. Chief, Daryl Hannah plays Roxanne, and Rick Rossovich plays the new fireman in town. The movie is funny, Martin and Hannah have some good scenes and Rossovich plays a good idiot. Hannah doesn't talk much, she is more eye candy and the lust attraction of the movie, the movie is all Martin. And he is very funny. My favorite part is when he rants off a list of big nose jokes at the bar.

Not that old of a film yet, and for me teeters between a PG and PG-13 rating. Not bad for a modern comedy.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093886/

I was nervous about this film going into it. Philip Seymour Hoffman does not do all that well in a leading role. Bill Nighy usually annoys me. I'm also not a big fan of British comedy...

So this movie was probably a really good pitch, and probably went something like this:
"I want Hoffman, Nighy, etc in a movie about pirate radio stations in the North Sea in the 1960's"

Response: "Wow that sounds pretty good! Is it a comedy or a drama?"

"Shit, I don't know, how about we just see what happens?"

The movie is ridiculous, the plot development around Young Carl makes you think this will be like Almost Famous. Then we just to some awful DJ and their stupid stunts. Then we get dramatic when the boat starts to sink. In Winter. In the North Sea. Just as the boat is about to go underwater row boats, canoes, yachts, and steam boats all show up at the same time to save them. But wait, if the boat sinks they will die in the freezing water right? Well when the rescuers show up it is sunny out so the water is probably warm enough to just swim to your vessel of choice.

This movie was so incredibly awful that there are some pirate radio dj's rolling over in their graves... which are probably at the bottom of the north sea if there is any truth to this plot. How this was considered for an Oscar, ever, at any point, is beyond me. I can see why it was quickly forgotten, and it is only because of the music they played and the idea behind what they were doing that gave it the 2/10.

And don't get me started on the awful acting jobs of the villains.

Vote: 2/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1131729/

A film remade by Adam Sandler in 2002 Mr. Deeds, co-starring
Winona Ryder. This film is the original and much better than the remake. Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur star as the small town man who hits it rich and the big city reporter than dupes him.

The problem with the remake is they screwed up a few things that made this film so good. The remake takes the focus off the romance, I would just call it a comedy. This one has the focus in the right place and is rightly a romantic comedy. Cooper is level headed, not slapstick funny, and seems to have a good sense about how to spend money. Sandler blows the money on sports cars at the end...

Part of the AFI 100 Laughs, and a movie I've always said I would watch some day. This was a fun and easy watch. The remake ruined the story line for me, but the court room scenes are excellent and Cooper's self defense was classic.

If you aren't into classics this would be a good one to get your feet wet on. It is fast paced, easy story line, happy ending, and a fun watch. Worthy of the AFI 100 Laughs.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027996/

For the 5th year in a row the Oscar for Foreign Language film has gone to a different film than the Golden Globe. Every time I think: "Darn now I have to watch more foreign language movies." The thing is, the Oscars... which tend to pick less audience friendly winners in categories like art direction and costume design, have been doing VERY well picking good foreign films lately.

It seemed like a two film race, The White Ribbon or A Prophet. It was a surprise, and one that I guessed right when this film won the award. Although I liked A Prophet more than this one, this one seems to appeal to a larger audience.

Ricardo Darín plays a retired legal counselor who decides to write a book about an unsolved case of his from his younger days. The movie jumps back and forth between writing the story and to him at an earlier age as the events unfolded. The acting is good, and the story is compelling. I found myself drawn into the movie so much that I forgot that I was reading subtitles. A feat not many foreign films can pull off.

Check this one out, it deserved the Oscar.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1305806/

A very strange film about a strange man. Arthur is a millionaire's son with nothing better to do with his time than drink and get in trouble.

Dudley Moore's performance was pretty good. His humor makes me think Ricky Gervais was very much inspired by him. The plot is that he must get married to be allowed to keep his inheritance. The lady he is set to marry does not interest him, and he can't picture his life with her, even as immature as he acts.

He meets Liza Minnelli, an actress I can't really stand, honestly her movies are never going to be worth repeat a repeat watching for me... Barney Martin plays Minelli's father... you would know him as Morty Seinfeld. John Gielgud was a great duo for Dudley as the butler.

This was an interesting contrasting comedy to the typical films on the AFI 100 Laughs. Definitely not worthy of being in the top 50, so I'm ok with it. Also it was nice to watch something that wasn't black and white from the list.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082031/

I subject my wife to a considerable amount of bad horror and action movies. So to be fair we also check out the romantic comedies expect to be bad just to mix it up.

This one was pretty bad, but maybe not for the reasons you would expect. I have no qualms with Jennifer Lopez's performance, she was fine, and her character wasn't that bad. I lay most of the blame on the script and her co-star. Alex O'Loughlin was a horrible guy. She fell for some cheese maker who didn't have the decency to share his cab with a pretty lady. His pettiness and lack of chivalry was questionable at best.

The plot is that a lady decides to go through artificial insemination to have a baby. Meanwhile she meets a guy and they have to deal with the issues of having a baby that isn't really his... something that might be as unrealistic as this movie would have you believe.

Aside from the main actor doing a bad job, was the group therapy class they were a part of. These performances, scenes, and existance in the film made it unbearable to watch at times.

So unrealistic dialog, bad acting by O'Loughlin, and the therapy class made this easily a one. If you are going to watch it, the one enjoyable part was Anthony Anderson. He brought a couple minutes of good comic relief when O'Loughlin was at the playground.

Vote: 1/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212436/

Probably my favorite of the Woody Allen films on the AFI 100 Laughs. He plays Virgil Starkwell a man who has failed at just about everything in life, from petty crime as a kid to a bank robber as an adult.

The film plays out with a narrator and as if it were a documentary about the life of Virgil. He has interviews with his parents, school teachers, and other throughout his life. The film is over-the-top humor making up skits along the way that play with words and day-to-day slang. Witty but sometimes annoying it is much better than the other Allen movies I'm used to because he doesn't just whine.

Janet Margolin plays his wife, I would be lying if I said I recognized anyone in this film other than Allen. This doesn't really matter though, especially in a comedy. If you like Allen I'm sure you'll like this one. It definitely had me laughing a few times and it is one of the few I agree should be on the AFI 100 Laughs.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065063/

Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw, and Paul Schneider star in a romance between 19th century poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne. This film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Costume Design. A nomination that does not speak at all about the quality of the story, plot, script, or acting.

The movie clocks in at about two hours even. Way too long for a substance-less plot. There are some scenes that were really pretty in HD, namely the one from the movie poster when she is running around with her siblings in what I'm guessing are bluebonnets.

There really just isn't much to say about this one. It seems fitting for the 18 and under crowd. So if you are a teenage girl... enjoy!

Vote: 3/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0810784/

Starring the 4 time Oscar nominated Greta Garbo. An actress known for her serious roles in films such as Anna Karenina, Camille, and Grand Hotel. This is her comedy making fun of the Russians.

The plot is that 3 Russians go to France trying to sell some jewels because the country is in need of money. When the exiled duchess finds out her jewels are in Paris she files legal action against the Russian state for selling, what she believes is her property. The Russians bring in a specialist, Garbo, a stern Russian woman who only thinks about her country and not herself. She runs into Melvyn Douglas the attorney on the jewel case she will be up against. In the romantic comedy scenario they do not know who each other are and fall in love.

It is kind of a fun story. The jokes are dated though and it really doesn't offer anything more than what you would get from any other modern romantic comedy. I can't see suggesting such a old film with such a simple plot. Ok for the AFI 100 Laughs, but not one I'd recommend.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031725/

A film that proves that nominations are just that... nominations... not wins. A boring and bad remake of the original, Broadway on a sound stage. Mix that with pretty girls that really can't sing or act: Penélope Cruz, Kate Hudson, and Nicole Kidman.

The film is based on the Broadway musical "Nine," which is musical adaptation of the Federico Fellini classic film 8½. I gave the original 5/10 something I forgot until after I gave this a 5/10... so at least that made sense.

8 1/2 is about a film director who is trying to find direction for his ninth film. Having already completed 8 films we get our "8" and the film is based around him dodging his wife, mistress, and producer trying to get inspiration... because they are days away from shooting and he has no script.

Daniel Day-Lewis is good, not great... honestly his accent starts to bug me at the end. Marion Cotillard is fantastic and deserved her nomination. Also Judi Dench was pretty good.

The golden globes needed at least 1 musical in the comedy/musical category to keep from needing to rename the award... so here you go...

Vote: 5/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0875034/

Jamie Foxx stars as a homeless man who dropped out of Juilliard School. Some joke and call this "Ray II" because he is stars as another African-American with extraordinary musical talents. First as a blind man, then as a mentally challenged man.

I think this assessment is harsh and unjust. Universal (the production company) had to decide between pushing Changeling or this film at awards season in 2008. They decided to postpone the release of this film until February to back some of their other films. The result was this one fell through the cracks. It wasn't even considered in the 2009 nominees and was overlooked by audiences.

This is a pity, because it was an excellent film. Robert Downey Jr. does an excellent job in the leading role. Catherine Keener turned in a great supporting performance, and the film was overall a very good story.

I highly suggest this one. There were a few details I rather not mention, because they might ruin the story that kept it from being a 9 or 10. But this one should remain high on your list of films to go out and see.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0821642/

This one actually took me about two weeks to watch. Every time I would sit down and get started on it I would get distracted and do something else. One of the early talking films, and in German it was hard to get interested in this one.

The storyline is that a professor who is quite strict with this students find that they are all going to a burlesque show [the place is called "The Blue Angel"]. He decides to go down there and give them a piece of his mind. Instead he ends up falling head over heels in love with the main attraction and marries her against everyone's suggestion.

He loses his job, she cheats on him, and he starts working at "The Blue Angel" as a clown to make ends meet. It is a very sad story. The quality of the film I watched was very poor. I really can't suggest this one because I was happy when it was over.

Vote: 5/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0020697/

A movie hovering at about #150 on the imdb top 250 of all time. I can't say I would have been interested in this movie at all if it wasn't for these high votes.

The plot is that a high-school student decides to dress up like a super hero and fight crime. After a near death experience he doesn't give up and manages to actually help save someone from a couple thugs. Little does he know someone is recording it, puts it on youtube and he becomes popular. That's when a couple "real" crime fighters seek him out and the story takes off.

Starring Aaron Johnson [aka Kick-Ass], Chloe Moretz, and Nicolas Cage this movie is stupid at times. Entertaining at others. Overall it was just ok. I don't see why it is ranked so high. Males under 18 seemed to love it, and the Top 1000 voters gave it 1 point less than everyone else.

Expect this one to fall out of the imdb top 250 and more people see it. Also, expect a sequel, I think this was built to make into a running series.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1250777/

Finishing the AFI 100 Laughs means watching a lot of Woody Allen. Probably because Hollywood thinks he is funny, and they are the ones who voted on this list. You should know by now I don't like Allen... at all. Ok well maybe at select times. Problem is I've only seen his dark comedies where he is really whiny.

This one was different. A slapstick comedy that reminds me a bit of some of the silent comedians. Allen is dumped by his activist girlfriend that talked him into going to political rallies fighting for a small country's independence. He decides to move to the country to write a column and finds himself on the run from the government joining the rebels.

For a Woody Allen film it was pretty good. Just average overall, but I liked it more than I thought I would. The time spent in NYC is boring, but the time he spent with the rebels was pretty good. Ordering take-out for the entire rebel force was a pretty funny scene. Can't say I would really suggest this one, but I can see how others might really like it.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066808/

Oh my lord, this is the worst movie I have seen this year... maybe even ever. I hated it.

The plot. Two moron castaways filled with awful jokes, who love to break into tone deaf song and dance randomly, find themselves in a desert city. One moron sells the other into slavery, and some how they are fighting for the princess's hand in marriage.

Nothing was funny about this movie. Many parts were painfully stupid. I'm guessing this was on one of the tv's during the physiological experiments in A Clockwork Orange.

Note to self: Crosby/Hope = Torture

Vote: 1/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035262/

Starring Gene Wilder with support from Richard Pryor and Jill Clayburgh this addition on the AFI 100 Laughs is notable for a couple key scenes rather than the films entirety. The key scene being when Wilder dresses in black face to sneak by the police at Pryor's suggestion. Pryor tries to show him how to "be black." With a boombox on his shoulder, shoe polish on his face, and the shoe cleaner's clothing on, it is one of the funniest moments these two had together.

Aside from this scene, the movie is actually pretty good. The plot is around a train called the Silver Streak. Wilder's character decides to take a cross country train rather than fly to get some time to relax. Instead he witnesses a murder and is caught up in a mystery that has him throw of the train a number of times, which is a good running gag.

Worthy of being on the AFI 100 Laughs, I liked this one, but I doubt it will be very memorable. At least not more than a few scenes with Wilder and Pryor.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075223/

I've only seen the tv show a few times, but having subjected my wife to a number of bad movies I've promised to watch Sex and the City 2 next month. Obviously you don't need to see this one first but she likes it and I gave it a chance.

It wasn't bad, and I knew exactly what I was getting myself into, so what should I expect right? Sarah Jessica Parker was her normal character, Kim Cattrall is good comic relief, Kristin Davis has some good scenes, and Cynthia Nixon annoys me like usual. What you would expect from watching any tv episode.

On a side note Jennifer Hudson did a really good job as the secretary from St. Louis, and I now have Meet Me in St. Louis in my library queue. You'll get it if you've seen the movie...

Criticism would be that... wow this is a long movie. 2 and a half hours? I guess when the writers are used to stretching the plot out over a season on the show they don't edit much.

Ready for the sequel now...

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1000774/

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