DVD Review

Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley

Radio – 4 Stars (Excellent)

“Radio”?the true story of high school football coach Harold Jones and a mentally-challenged young man named James Robert “Radio” Kennedy?might well be one of the most under-rated and under-appreciated movies in film history.

James Kennedy was nicknamed “Radio” by the townspeople of Anderson, South Carolina because he was always listening to discarded radios. As a youth he would push or ride a grocery cart down the street, talking to no one. It was 1976 and Radio did not attend school because he was mentally challenged, and an easy target for kids more fortunate.

After some football players on coach Harold Jones’ T. L. Hanna High School team harass, intimidate and scare the living daylights out of Radio (played by Cuba Gooding Jr.), Jones befriends and protects Radio by slowly winning his trust and inviting him to the team’s football practices.

Coach Jones (played magnificently by veteran actor Ed Harris) eventually has Radio helping out as a “coach” and sitting on the bench during the games. When Radio’s new-found acceptance leads to his self-image and self-confidence rising, his enthusiasm creates a distraction for the team at a critical moment, and some boosters (like the father of a star player) want Radio gone.

Fortunately for Radio, his unpretentious love and loyalty to the coach and players resonates, and Radio is allowed to remain part of both the team and the school. At this point in time, Radio is attending school, not as a student, but as a positive influence on the students and a welcome school-helper.

All of this is reminiscent of the biblical admonition “if you hear His voice today, harden not your heart.” Radio is about love, acceptance, approval, understanding, compassion, kindness, loyalty and finding peace in our time.

Radio the movie was inspired by Gary Smith’s 1996 article titled “Someone to Lean On” that first appeared in Sports Illustrated magazine. The film benefits greatly from the script by Mike Rich and direction by Mike Tollin, also one of the producers with Herb Gains and Brian O’keefe. Radio managed to generate $52+ million at the box office, but received mixed positive and negative reviews by the critics (of which I am one).

Radio was a terrific movie with a genuine message of value. Radio gets a positive answer to my most searching question as a movie reviewer: Am I a better person for having seen this film? You better believe it.

I am incensed that Radio was absolutely snubbed at major awards time. It is not like Ed Harris is a nobody. Before Radio was made, Ed Harris had been nominated for 3 Oscars as Best Supporting Actor (”The Hours”, “The Truman Show” and “Apollo”) and been nominated for Best Actor in “Pollock”. Add to those honors 4 nominations by the Golden Globes and a Best Actor Golden Globe for The Truman Show.

Cuba Gooding Jr. had won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor in “Jerry Maguire” (remember his famous line “Show me the money”), and was nominated for a Golden Globe for the same award.

The really good news about Radio is that Radio is still helping coach the Hanna High School team and bringing his presence to the school. He remains a story that continues to grow and radiate with positive vibes.

Nothing is quite as intriguing as the fascinating world of moviemaking. Most interesting are the stories of productions told in documentaries that capture the filmmaker’s vision and dreams powered by what seems psychotic obsession to bring production to a wrap while overcoming huge obstacles at every turn. Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe’s Lost In la Mancha brought us the failed attempt by Terry Gilliam to film “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote”, Les Blank’s “Burden of Dreams” about the chaotic production of Werner Herzog’s epic ‘Fitzcarraldo’ deep in the Amazon jungle, and Fax Bahr and George Hickenlooper’s Hearts of Darkness chronicled Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now”. All meeting with unbelievable catastrophes, disasters, and set backs threatening and sometimes shutting down production.

Then along comes the riveting documentary Wrath of Gods, by Jon Gustafsson that captures the captivating story of Canadian director Sturla Gunnarsson and the cast and crew of Beowulf & Grendel, starring Gerard Butler. Financial woes, unforgiving Icelandic storms, destroyed sets, leaky Viking ships, everything that could go wrong goes wrong. In Wrath of Gods Jon Gustafsson captures the unwavering spirit of do or die that perseveres in this hilariously intense behind the scenes look at the stressful and sometimes heart breaking coverage of filmmaking.

This compelling feature length documentary records the behind the scenes footage of Beowulf and Grendel set against the breath taking Icelandic backdrop complete with interviews from cast and crew as they relate their enthralling adventures of filmmaking where Norse Gods reign their wrath throughout pre and post production.

Wrath of Gods is for all film enthusiasts offering an intimate portrait of movie making with the trials and tribulations encountered, making it a must – see for aspiring filmmakers. Don’t miss this in depth look at sacrifices made and obstacles overcome by determined filmmakers in the mountains of Iceland!

www.wrathofgods.com

Maybe it’s just because I went in with really low expectations after the crappy RT score and generally negative reactions, but I thought the movie was a lot of fun. Definitely surpassed my expectations.

The movie had decent action and it appears to mostly make sense (at least on a superficial level), but I really can’t shake that dull feeling that nothing happened. Like “why was this made? Why was Terminator brought back?” This added nothing to anything, and it’s such a disappointment because I think we all wanted to see Connor in the future making it right.

It did feel like it was building up to something… that never happened. Now, that could (and probably is) be due to the ending re-write, but the movie we got felt like there was another reel to go before the credits hit.

But, after the mess that was T3, I was very happy with T4. The camera work/special effects were awesome.

Oh, and with the Arnold thing; for CG, it was great, but for looking like Arnold, I think he just looked way too young. I know it’s from his 1984 model, but they could have added some lines to the face. It looked too clean, but I guess no computer technology right now can match up to reality.

I’d go ***.

The cast didn’t really do anything for the movie. There is no “Bruce Campbell” in this. Alison Lohman (was Ellen Paige originally attached to this role?) was okay, if not somewhat miscast, Justin Long was just a supportive boyfriend, concerned seance/fortune teller guy, etc. Mrs. Ganush was GREAT though, one of the best horror characters I’ve seen in a while.

The plot had some weak points. I didn’t think that Christine’s southern roots really brought anything to the table, they probably could have cut that out. I’m also guessing that you have to formally give the button to someone, because I thought Justin Long’s character was going to have the curse.

In the end, it was just another fairly neutered modern horror film that lacked that good old spark. I have no idea why the horror community has embraced that one so much. It represent for me, all that is wrong with most modern horror films. It’s all about slick visuals and no guts (quite literally) so to speak and it became too predictable after the late middle-half of the movie (The anvil, handkerchief on the way to the grave, the obvious button swap, awkward kitty conversation at dinner event).

It tried to be Army Of Darkness and ended up being closer to Scary Movie. But it’s a damn beautiful looking film. It’s utterly gorgeous.

I’d go **1/2.

In “Swing Vote,” Kevin Costner plays Bud Johnson, a newly unemployed factory worker whose well intentioned young daughter, Molly (Madeline Carroll), insists that he vote in the presidential election. The movie starts out with Bud going out on election nite, getting drunk and passing out. Not being able to get to the polling station, Molly decides to illegally cast a vote in Bud’s name, at which point the voting machine malfunctions. Bud’s cast vote is thus not counted and becomes the deciding vote in the nations most hotly contested election.
The thing is, Costner, is not too good at playing dumb. An underrated actor whose all-American good looks always seem to be hiding the talents of intelligence and reserve. Costner comes across as much too self-aware to be playing this ballcap-wearing, belly-scratching nimrod. Think back to the movies, “The Upside of Anger” and “Mr. Brooks.” In all actuality, Costner appears to be about 10 years too old for this role, and you left asking if they just couldn’t find someone younger.
Other problems have to do with the movies character who supposedly doesn’t know the difference between pro choice, and pro life. He doesn’t even know who’s running. But when NASCAR legend Richard Petty shows up outside his door to campain for the Republican candidate, Bud looks like a little kid who just got a pony at Christmas. What does this say about the stero type of middle America? Americans aren’t that dumb.
Once the two candidates learn that Bud will be able to cast his vote again in 10 days, the two candidates, played by Kelsy Grammer and Dennis Hopper quickly come to the town of Texico, where Bud lives in a trailer. Wasted talents also include Stanley Tucci and Nahtan Lane who play the candidates slimey campaign managers.
Basically, textbook Hollywood fodder, “Swing Vote” does not take any sides, and pulls all the regular punches…That the candidates are hollow and will flip flop on a position at the drop of a dime in order to appeal to Bud.
The movies two underlying themes are that a father must learn to appreciate the importance of family, and civic duty. While noteworthy, the film does have a tendency to take itself too seriously, and also takes a wild detour when Bud’s daughter decides to find her mentally unstable mother.
The movies climax and ending concludes with Bud casting his vote. But, the premise the Bud follows to cast his vote is so felonious and absurd, that you are left shaking your head at the rediculousness of the scene.

I have to admit, I love Will Ferrell. The trouble is, when you love a guy, but his comedy starts to stink, and get stale, what do you do? This is what I was up against in the last few years with Ferrell’s tiring attempts at comedy. So, when I decided to give this one a last ditch attempt and a final one more time, I have to say, I’m in love again. Step Brothers is an absolutely hilarious film.
From end to end, I don’t remember the last time I’ve laughed this hard, without stop. This is what Ferrell needs to do, no more of those bio-spoofs of idiots that fall flat due to their tired joke. He is unstoppable as a part of an ensemble when he doesn’t have to be the center of attention for an hour and half. Think not so funny but smart and witty.
Having a guy like John C. Reilly to play off of helps rein him in and give the audience a break, allowing the jokes to breath and not become stifled by the monotony of his schtick. The pairing of these two is a good combination. Reilly always plays it cool although he spices things just enough without going over the top like Ferrell get awfully into.
One of the refreshing points to this movie is that there is no romantic love interest. And many of the recent comedies starring Ferrell, there seems to be the token woman that he has to fall in love with and they have the awkward goofy romantic relationship. It seems like they’ve figured out that that’s not necessary after all, people just want to go to the movies and laugh. This movie delivers on that point complete with gut wrenching bent over hilarious laughter.
Don’t expect to see this one of the Oscars however. The movie’s premise involves the get together of two older brothers who are almost in their 40s and are still living at home and with out any serious job prospects. Nancy Huff, (Mary Steenburgen showing that she is still around Hollywood), and Robert Doback, (Richard Jenkins letting his funny side out to complement the wonderful dramatic turn he gave in this year’s The Visitor), are in love and perfect for one another.
With it to get together, their sons soon to be stepbrothers get to know each other. The two stepbrothers quickly realize that they are soulmates and are actually two children who were strapped in 40-year-old bodies. Thus, the comedy ensues. The chemistry between Ferrell and Reilly is unstoppable on screen, they are having fun, they must be improvising, and the movie continues to move forward with a great pace and lively energy.
As usual, this movies lined up with all the gags you can expect. The movie comes complete with rap music, grotesque singing, and of course gratuitous nudity. Give Ferrell a chance to rub his genitalia on Reilly’s drumset. Wrap this all up with a whole bunch of swearing and were good to go. Surprisingly this movie did not receive and are raving. The fact that a couple lines from the trailer didn’t make the final cut shows that the actors must have improvised and done multiple takes of each scene.
The movie makes use of director Apatow’s genius, and delivers it in much the same way the movie Knocked Up did. Apatow and Ferrell combined with Reilly make an excellent combination and this is just another one in the steam roller hits that Apatow has come to be known for. If you enjoyed John C. Reilly in Walk hard: the Dewey Cox story, and Ferrell in movies like Elf, but you’re sure to enjoy this one.

In the new movie Ratatouille, Remy has a problem. As with many who live in France, he has a passion for fine food, and a gift for making it. His keen sense of smell serves him very well as an enthusiastic gourmet, and in his ability to pick just the right combination of ingredients to create magical flavors. And great food is that to him – magic. It has a power that fills him with wonder and awe.

Only problem is, Remy is a rat.Merde! What’s a rat to do?

His pragmatic father, Django (Brian Dennehy), otherwise unimpressed with Remy’s culinary ambitions, puts his son to work as the family clan’s official rat poison detector. Remy (Patton Oswalt) makes do as best he can, until he is caught pilfering some saffron from a little old lady’s countryside cottage kitchen. The little old lady is not too happy with this, and reacts by spraying her kitchen with shotgun fire.

Chaos ensues, and the rat clan, which had been residing in the attic, is forced to evacuate into the sewers. Remy becomes separated from his family, and eventually finds his way into the heart of Paris. With the help of his imaginary sidekick who has taken the form of his idol, Chef Auguste Gusteau (Brad Garrett), he finds his way into Gusteau’s restaurant.

The restaurant has seen better days. It’s previous owner, Gusteau, died of a broken heart after a vicious review from the powerful food critic Anton Ego (Peter O’Toole) resulted in the loss of one of the restaurant’s 5 stars. The new chef, Skinner (Ian Holm), a pint-sized conniving tyrant with a Napoleon-complex, has not helped it. He is more interested in exploiting Gusteau’s reputation to produce a line of microwavable food products than in restoring the old restaurant’s grandeur.

Remy becomes involved in the restaurant’s fate when he reacts in horror at the sight of the garbage boy, Linguini (Lou Romano), making an inept attempt at spicing up a soup behind the cook’s back. He rescues the soup by adding some choice ingredients of his own, but is discovered. Linguini, realizing that the rat has a talent for cooking that he himself does not possess, takes him in. He and the rat work out a system whereby Remy controls him like a puppeteer, using Linguini’s hair like strings. Thus, a great culinary partnership is born.Ratatouille is the eighth feature film by Pixar Animation Studios, and will only help to continue to cement the studio’s ever-growing reputation as a creator of technically brilliant and beautiful films that are paired with wonderful storytelling.

Movie-lovers occasionally express the lament that the soul of a movie, the story, often gets sidelined in favor of glitzy, eye-catching computer wizardry. Pixar has proved that you can have it both ways. Its talent for stunning and breathtaking computer imagery has gone hand-in-hand with compelling stories that are packed with heart and moral depth.

Following in this tradition, we are treated to the gorgeous skyline of Paris with its Eiffel Tower, the subtle detail of each scallop and piece of fruit, as well as the great depth of emotion each character shows on their face. The message of believing in yourself, of never giving up your dreams, comes through loud and clear. The importance and strength of family ties, even when those same family members don’t always understand you or your dreams, is also shown.

Foodies will appreciate the respect and reverence given to gourmet cuisine in this film. Throughout the movie, it feels as if the creators are as passionate about great food as Remy is. There is a level of sophistication and knowledge about how a gourmet kitchen works that is impressive, and is an element that will draw grownups to the film along with their kids. And even though those same kids may not quite understand what “sweetbreads” are, it would not surprise me in the least if Ratatouille ends up inspiring another generation of future chefs.

This degree of familiarity with haute cuisine is the result of cooking classes the Ratatouille crew took, as well as their consultation with professional gourmet chefs. Producer Brad Lewis even interned with Thomas Keller, the legendary chef and owner of The French Laundry. It also didn’t hurt that the Sets and Layout Manager, Michael Warch, was a professional chef before working at Pixar and holds a culinary degree.

The sense of authenticity extends into the rhythm of work displayed in Gusteau’s kitchen, which is also filled with some of the characters one might find in Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential. There is the Sous-Chef who had been in prison for some mysterious reason (he keeps changing the story) and the tough-as-nails Colette (Jeanene Garofalo), who teaches the hapless Linguini the down-to-earth gritty realities of working in a busy restaurant kitchen.

There are some last caveats for young ones, even though the movie is rated G. Remy is often running for his life and avoiding various deadly implements. There is also a scene of a rat-poison shop that has a grotesque display of dead rats in its window. Despite all this, my 4-year-old daughter was engaged throughout the whole movie, though she did start to cry at an emotional low-point when Remy & Linguini weren’t getting along.

By the ending credits, the audience was applauding – further evidence of just how special this film was. All in all, this is a grand film fantastique that both adults and young children can enjoy (a rare treat!). You may not be able to take your child to a real gourmet restaurant yet, but you can visit Gusteau’s. Go, see it and enjoy this feast of a movie. Bon appétit!

The film was released in the United States on April 3, 2009. Fast & Furious is the fourth film in The Fast and the Furious film series. It is an interquel set between the second and third movies. Actors Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster reprise their roles in the film. Vin Diesel and Paul Walker starrer Fast and Furious 4 premiere was held at Fame BIG cinemas at Andheri, Mumbai on Thursday April 2nd late evening.

Fast & Furious 4 Cast & Crew:

Cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, John Ortiz, Laz Alonso, Gal Gadot, Jack Conley, Shea Whigham, Liza Lapira, Sung Kang, Don Omar, Mirtha Michelle, Greg Cipes, Tego CalderonGenre: ActionRelease Date: 3 April 2009Writers: Chris Morgan, Gary Scott ThompsonDirector: Justin Lin

Fast & Furious 4 Story Preview

Dominic Toretto is known as a man wanted for kidnapping truck gasoline. There are 20-minute prequel to the days when Letty and days together in the Dominican Republic along with Han and a few others. When the FBI close on Sunday, Letty leaves and heads of Panama. But once he learns Sunday Letty is slain, headed to Los Angeles, where the votes to take revenge on the capo. Brian O’Conner and Sun are related to David Park, a mechanic for illegally entering a race where the winners to work for a man named Braga. Both Sun and manage O’Conner finished first and second, respectively, and are transported to Mexico, along with two other winners, without the realization of his work for drug trafficking within the borders of the U.S.

Imagine Earth without humans. That’s what the world in Wall-E is like since it’s been abandoned by humans. It’s just a big garbage dump now. The atmosphere is hazy with smog. The garbage is as high as the buildings. The only survivor: Wall-E: A robotic garbage compactor crushing all the garbage into little cubes while saving some of the human’s interesting things such as binoculars, Rubik’s Cube and light bulb stored away in his “home”. Wall-E has a friend though, the last living thing on Earth, a cockroach. Neither of them can talk.Wall-E is an abbreviation for “Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth class”. He falls in love with an alien robot sent from another planet to Earth for the purpose of find signs of vegetation and plant growth. Her name is Eve. Wall-E gives her a living plant which she stores away to take back to the humans that were floating in space for several hundred years aboard a big spaceship called Axiom. Wall-E follows her with admiration.

I’ll leave the good parts for you to discover what has happend to humanity after several hundred years of floating around space accompanied by robots and flooded with corporate advertisements in stunning detail. There are a few references to past movies which makes Wall-E even funnier and more enjoyable.

Pixar has truly created a gem that us (humans) will enjoy even when we leave Earth. We will then reminisce and remember Wall-E along with everything else Earth has to offer.Now go see it! You can Download Wall-E Right Here, Right now.

Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley

Some Like It Hot – 2 Stars (Average)

In its day, “Some Like It Hot” was a hot ticket, being nominated for six Oscars and winning one. Released in 1959, this black-and-white film also served as the greatest comedy platform for its three main characters—Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe), Joe as “Josephine” (Tony Curtis) and Jerry as “Daphne” (Jack Lemon). Lemon was the actor, Monroe was the sex symbol, and Curtis was the looker.

The plot found two down-on-their-luck musicians (Joe and Jerry) witness the St. Valentine’s Day massacre by the mob gangland-style in 1929 during Chicago’s Prohibition Era. Joe and Jerry narrowly escape death, then disguise themselves as women to become “Josephine” and “Daphne”, and hook up with an all-girl band headed for a gig in sunny Florida.

Complications set in when the two discover that Sugar Kane is part of the troop. Playboy Curtis falls for Monroe but must deal with his role as Josephine, and Lemon’s Daphne must deal with the amorous attentions of Osgood Fielding III (Joe E. Brown), an older millionaire. Things really heat up when mob boss Spats Colombo (George Raft) and his gang show up at the same place for a “convention” of mob bosses.

Billy Wilder directed this film and, while having some fun doing so, also had his patience tested. Apparently Marilyn Monroe gave new meaning to the phrase “dumb blonde”. She took 47 takes in one scene to get “It’s me, Sugar” correct; after 30 takes Wilder had the phrase written on a blackboard for her.

After 40 takes of her saying, “Where’s the bourbon?” when Monroe was rummaging through some drawers, Wilder pasted the correct line in one of the drawers. Monroe was still confused, so Wilder pasted the line in every drawer. It took 59 takes for Monroe to get it right. Tony Curtis said publicly that Monroe was routinely 2 to 3 hours late to the set, and occasionally refused to leave her dressing room.

Despite it all, Some Like It Hot won an Oscar for Best Costume Design by Orry-Kelly, and had Oscar nominations for Best Actor (Jack Lemon), Best Art Direction (Ted Haworth and Edward G. Boyle), Best Cinematography (Charles Lang), Best Director (Billy Wilder) and Best Writing (Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond)—and don’t even ask about I.A.L. (a pseudonym for Romanian-born Itec Domnici when he was a student at Columbia University).

When Orry-Kelly was measuring all three stars for dresses, he half-jokingly told Marilyn Monroe that “Tony Curtis has a nicer butt than you.” Monroe responded by pulling open her blouse and saying, “Yes, but he doesn’t have tits like these!” This was Hollywood in 1959.

Some Like It Hot also won three Golden Globe Awards—Best Motion Picture Comedy, Best Actor (Jack Lemon) and Best Actress (Marilyn Monroe). It is a good thing that the voters were not on the set for the filming.

The American Film Institute voted Some Like It Hot as the Funniest Movie of all time. The film is No. 14 on AFI’s List of the 100 Greatest Movies of all time.

At the end of the film, Daphne informs Osgood—”her” future millionaire husband—that she will not be able to have children. “We can adopt,” says Osgood. “But you don’t understand, Osgood!” replies Daphne, “I’m a man!” Osgood replies, “Well, nobody’s perfect!” The line “Well, nobody’s perfect” was vote as the 48th most famous quote in movie history by the AFI.

And, in the truth is stranger than fiction category, a California man found a little black dress in his closet (what was it doing there?) and was stunned when appraisers determined that it was worn by Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot and had an estimated worth of $250,000.

Meanwhile, back in Kansas in 1959 (the place made famous by Dorothy and Toto in “The Wizard of Oz”), the film was banned from showing in Kansas because cross-dressing was “too disturbing for Kansans.”

I suspect that Some Like It Hot may have been one of the first films with high viewership to include cross-dressing in the script. My, how times have changed. In today’s liberal environment, we are exposed to much more much more often.

I personally would not rate Some Like It Hot as the best comedy ever made. In my book of great films, that honor goes to “Waking Ned Devine”, which offered superb entertainment and also delivered a very meaningful message about relationships not only among individuals but also an entire village.

All New Star Track Flies To Old Space In 2009Do you know that the original Star Trek flick was supposed to be a prequel to the at that time terminated TV program? This attraction for a prequel to the most popular intergalactic account of all period maintained throughout the times. In 1991, for instance, the 6th Star Trek film was meant to present a new group of stars who would’ve played the new accounts of the established member. In 2001, Enterprise was aired, introducing the primary adventures of the USS Enterprise under the command of Jeffrey Archer.Only in 2009 will an actual prequel to the first series be carried out. Simply entitled Star Trek, the new movie will gyrate approximately the establishment of the extraordinary closeness linking James Kirk and Spock, the institutions of the franchise. This time however, they will be played by young, up-and-coming stars. Chris Pine will do the character of a young James Kirk, and Zachary Quinto will portray the character of a young Spock.To establish continuity with the first films, Leonard Nimoy will reprise his character as an older Spock who will have encounter his younger self via time travel. It was stated that Nimoy anticipated much from the screenplay, and if it wasn’t to his preference, he would have insisted a modification before he would assent to join the shooting of the film.To say that he was thrilled about the screenplay would be an understatement.Leonard Nimoy was told to be keen after understanding the script. He couldn’t ask something more to create it better in his opinion.This promises well for the next episode of the well adored sequence, as nothing but positive tales and assessments – this early – have originated from the group and from the location. Such is pleasant news certainly, as Star Trek is a franchise with the most ardent devotees in existence, where protests are controlled when a Vulcan is portrayed to have longer-than-normal ears.Aside from Kirk and Spock, younger versions of program regulars such as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, Uhura, Pavel Chekov and Hikaru Sulu will comprise the team of the USS Enterprise.Star Trek takes flight on May 8, 2009 to start the year’s summer hit celebration.buy movie onlinedownload free new movie