13 Gotta See Films... Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Films I'm totally stoked about seeing.

1) Moon with Sam Rockwell... I love Sam Rockwell!


2) Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr.


3) Public Enemies with Bale & Depp... Nuff Said.


4) 9 by Shane Acker


5) Whatever Works by Woody Allen


6) Star Trek by JJ Abrams


7) Sunshine Cleaning by Christine Jeffs


8) The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus by Terry Gilliam


9) Alice in Wonderland by Tim Burton


10) The Boat That Rocked With Bill Nighy & Philip Seymour Hoffman



11) Coraline by Henry Selick



12) Adventureland by Greg Mottola



13) District 9 by Neill Blomkamp



Create a list of your own, visit the Thursday Thirteen page and play along!

Let's Hug it Out!

Believe it or not, I actually Don't live under a rock. Sure, I'd heard of Entourage before, but am only just now getting around to seeing it. I don't watch much/if any TV... and most of what I do watch I catch on DVD. Now this is a series I hadn't seriously given much thought. I was only familiar with two of the actors - the first being Jeremy Piven, who on his own would have been compelling enough BUT the other was Kevin Dillion. Which I'm sad to say, is the reason I avoided this series for so terribly long... honestly, I just didn't think I could take Dillion for any extended period without wanting to break out the hand drill and lobotomize myself.

Then, last weekend a friend suggested it. I told him of my misgivings and he blatantly informed me that I was completely off the mark on this one. So... always being one up to a challenge - off I went to reorder my Netflix Queue.

Wow... What a Completely pleasant surprise! And shocker to end all shockers - Kevin Dillion is absolutely Brilliant! I couldn't believe it, he's so damn good that it makes me want take back all the horrendous things I said about him 20 years ago. He's really come a very long way indeed. He's a pure joy to watch here, and I'm happy to stand corrected.

It's also important to note that realistically, there simply wouldn't be a show without Jeremy Piven's masterful portrayal of Ari Gold. Who enters every scene as though he's just been shot out of a cannon. He's amazing and magically caustic.

In my humble opinion - Dillon's Drama and Piven's Ari completely steal the show and shine beyond any expectations I may have had. The writing is sharp and witty, off-color and hysterical. Think Sex and the City for Men. Noting, that in the same vein as SATC, it's not the main story but the sub-plots that make the show work and carry you along. It's an absolute must see with really terrific writing focusing on characters that make you laugh out loud and who often cry out to be bitch slapped. Always a stellar combination in my book and goes a long way to prove that television written for cable (Entourage is on HBO) is so much more enjoyable for me.

Here's one of my favorite Ari scenes to date:
(obscene language ahead... proceed with caution)

I'm just wrapping up season three and think it's my favorite thus far. So many little details to enjoy. Seriously... check it out, in the mind numbing doldrums of current TV offerings - this one is definitely worth the watch, especially when you pay attention to the dialogue.

Hysterical Drama Moments to Relish:

Worth Noting... Guy Pearce

Hmmm....
Let's talk a bit about Guy Pearce, shall we.
He's Lovely.


Wildly Talented and Curiously Underrated.
Here's a Few of My Favorite Pearce Films:

Memento

Memento is a truly ahhmazing film. An early glimpse of Christopher Nolan's (of Dark Knight's fame) bewildering talents as a writer and director. Just one of the many cool aspects of this film is the editing - it's cut backwards. The first scene is actually played in reverse, which establishes the viewer in the mental mindset of Shelby (Pearce) who is suffering from short term memory loss giving him an amnesia like state. The first scene of the movie is really the last one, and vice versa. Two simultaneous stories are told throughout the movie, one going forward and one going backwards chronologically. Absolutely merits revisiting again and again... with each viewing more enjoyable than the last. And to be sure - each time you see it you'll catch something you missed before. Pure Genius.

Pearce is positively ON FIRE in this film.
Providing an infectious performance that completely sucks you in.

Ravenous

This film is a really terrific example of what happens when a major studio is presented with a movie that cannot be easily referenced, categorized, packaged and sold. 20th Century Fox evidently didn’t have a clue as to what to do with this obscure celluloid. I remember seeing the theatrical trailer and completely blowing it off. At the time I was like: "Uh, No. Pass". Mistakenly it was marketed as a pseudo outdoor survival adventure livened up with a cannibal attack. Uh Yeah, Not Exactly.

What a Shame. Truly. As a result of the mess the studio made "distributing" this title I'm quite sure that most folks - much like myself - walked right past this one. Major Mistake! This movie was such a brilliant surprise. I was completely taken off guard when I saw it - even now, I find it to be incredibly unsettling. We're talking off the charts Creepy. Intense, make your skill crawl kind of creepy. Some might categorize it as Horror - but IMHO it's more suspense with a bit of gore. The most amazing thing is how wonderfully simple this film is - no special effects, no CGI... just sensational story telling. Superb acting by everyone on board: especially Robert Carlyle who will totally knock your wig askew with his portrayal - WOW. Of course Pearce is Spot On - as usual. There's also some wonderfully evocative outdoor photography by Anthony B. Richmond. Quirky and unforgettable music by Michael Nyman and Damon Albarn. Beautiful direction by Antonia Bird.

Honestly - Run, Don't walk to find this title and be sure to watch it with the lights out.

Shane Acker's 9....

Video Games - E3 2009 - Attack of the Show

This looks Absolutely AMAZING!
I can't wait...

Love... Love... Love...

I am without a doubt Insanely, Madly, Deeply and Absolutely In Love with this....

It makes my heart go Pitter Pat. Not only does it happen to be one of my most Favorite Films of all time. But it's also a priceless find on this Oscar weekend...
Where my Main Squeeze of a Manly Man - Clint Eastwood - was ROBBED of any nominations.

WTF??
Obviously all is not right with the world and I can smell a Major Conspiracy at play here!

Clint I love ya! You Rock My Man.

Oh Yeah... I think I'm totally ordering myself one of these Ultra Hip posters...
Our theater room just won't be complete without one now.... Ahhhh....
If you're dying to add it to your very own collection Here's the Place to snatch one up for yourself.

Hell Hath No Fury...

like a Netflix Shipping Kafuffle! I admit it... I so totally take my Netflix for granted. For about the past 7 years I've just plucked those lovely little red envies out of my letterbox... never giving it another thought. Netflix Movies are like tap water to me - Something that's simply suppose to be there when I need it. I don't wanna know where it comes from or how it made its journey.

"If you ship it back, another will come" -- Talk about RUDE awakenings!

You simply cannot imagine the shock and horror that filled my head when I got the above email 3 - count'em THREE Whole days ago!! WTF? Has the world come to an end??
What'll I do! What'll I do! Bwahhahahahaha!
Sob, sob, sniffle, sniffle, sob. Please pass the tissues and the smelling salts.

Burning to Watch...

I don't watch much TV. Actually, one might say I pretty much Hate what TV has become in recent years. Reality TV makes me want to induce projectile vomiting. I can't imagine why on earth folks watch crap like Survivor, Dog the Bounty Hunter, American Idol, The Bachelor.... hold that thought - I've got to take a heavy hit of Kaopectate. Just the thought of having to sit through the visual torture is causing strange occurrences in my bowels. Ugh. Really?? Folks. Watch. This. Crap??

Dancing with the Stars??? Intervention?????!!! OMG. I'd rather stab myself in the thigh with a pair of chop sticks. Repeatedly. Or partake in a little trepanation - anyone, anyone?

Now... before you start foaming at the mouth and urinating on the rug - just stop right there. Calm down, breathe. Note: nasty comments will be deleted. No insult is intended - afterall, I Honestly wouldn't think YOU could ever Willingly watch Reality TV. If you do so, well, there's not a whole lot more I can say to that. I can't, don't, won't ever understand how people can devote their valuable time on such tripe. If I wanted to watch people make utter asses of themselves for money I'd simply give up my full time Mom gig and go back to work. But before we witness a scene from Scanners let me tell you a little secret. I like really bad retro TV. You know... the stuff you can see on Nick at Nite [is that even still on?] and the Hallmark Channel. Shit like The Rockford Files, Simon & Simon, Barretta, Columbo, The Equalizer, MacGyver and my All Time Favorite Murder She Wrote [honestly]. And just to prove there are no hard feelings - I actually OWN every season of Murder She Wrote that's been released thus far [we're up to 8 now]. Pathetic I know. Still wanting to feel rectified? Does the fact that I basically have every episode memorized help? I suppose in the end, we all have our weaknesses.

I miss the fun and entertaining lame-ass TV shows of yester year. So you can just imagine my delight when I discovered Burn Notice on USA. It's got all the terrific elements of TV I like - for example: It's a real show - ya know with writing and actors and TV stuff. It's got Bruce Campbell [as Sam] to boot!! One of the best side kicks around if you ask me... well, except for The Closer's Tony Denison (Det. Flynn) and his pal G.W. Bailey (Provenza) - they're completely awesome and the only other current TV I watch.

Sure there were issues with the Pilot and the first season... Gabrielle Anwar's [Fiona] horrifying attempt at an Irish accent was gut wrenchingly bad - down right painful in fact. And what was up with Sharon Gless's wig?? I dunno... but thankfully they're both Long Gone now. Whew! It's like a modernized, cooler, hipper, quirkier, more cynical version of classic TV - and Jeffrey Donovan is wonderfully diverting as Michael Westen. The writing is really shaping up with the new season... like everyone is getting their groove on and the characters are seriously clicking together. Take a peek if you haven't already - there are Surely much Worse ways to spend an hour of your time ;) And despite what the following ad says - it can be seen on USA at 10pm on Thursdays.

Sex Jitters... SATC that Is

So are you a Sex and the City fan? It's pretty difficult to imagine you're not. I don't watch a whole lot of TV... so didn't even discover this show until it was probably into its 4th season or so. Thank heavens for DVDs... this series was an instant hit with me. I loved it, and happily managed to get my husband hooked. The Movie opens today and I'm more than a little nervous and filled with anticipation. I'd like to say 'much like a virginal bride on her wedding night' - But come on - who am I kidding. Although it's doubtful I'll get to see it while it's still in theaters (I don't have anyone to watch my little one), I worry and fret and stew that they'll ruin a great thing. It's like when your favorite book becomes a movie... disappointment usually ensues. So I'm hoping for an exception with this one - much like the X-Files: Fight the Future Movie, which I surprisingly Loved (& can't wait for I Want to Believe - the next installment due mid-summer) and Out of Africa - loved the book, loved the movie. I can only hope that after such a long period has lapsed since the show ended, that absence will make the memories fonder. I'm keeping fingers and toes crossed that the characters will still be as raunchy, fresh and gloriously flawed as ever. Here's hoping Big will make me swoon and I'll laugh so hard I'll pee a little. I already know way, way more about the screen version than I'd like to - so if you're lucky enough to see it -
don't you DARE post any spoilers here!!