Home Screening Room - Even I Don't Know What I Know...

A light week, but my pick of the week is an absolute recommendation. Got a chance to enjoy that film during awards season last year and Errol Morris is such a wonderful filmmaker. With the 4th of July weekend ahead, it looks like this light lineup may have more folks in the theater than sitting at home. Or maybe you go back to the well and spin Independence Day for the weekend. See how that White House explosion holds up and Will Smith at the top of his career! Happy 4th Everyone! And Happy Boxing Day to my Canadian friends.

Paul’s Pick Of The Week

If you pick one movie this week … this is it.

The Unknown Known / Rated PG-13 / Donald Rumsfeld, Errol Morris

If you are a politics junkie, no matter where your political views lie, you need to check out this film. This incredible one-on-one with former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld covers his days as a congressman right into the planning of the invasion of Iraq. He even admits that he might have been president had one decision gone differently. Sure this is a one on one interview with Rumsfeld at it's core, but with Errol Morris putting it together it never feels like something you would watch on a news talk show on any of the networks. I really believe that no matter your political persuasion you will find this film extremely well done and intriguing. (Grade: B+)

Other Big Releases

Afflicted / Rated R / Derek Lee, Clif Prowse

Derek and Clif have headed out on a trip around the world. They will blog about the journey as they go, but nothing could prepare them for the horrors they are about to encounter.

The Lunchbox / Rated PG / Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur

India has an efficient manner of delivering lunchboxes from a man’s home to the workplace. One woman, who is trying to be noticed by her husband, cooks the most delicious lunches to please him. Only her delivery happens to go awry. That mistake creates a relationship that no one expected.

No Vacancy / Rated R / Kristen Quintrall, Denyce Lawton

When you break down in the middle of nowhere, all you are looking for is a helping hand to get back on the road. But sometimes the help that you encounter is not what it seems to be. Survival is all that remains. Originally titled The Helpers.  

Also This Week

The Glades: The Complete Fourth Season / Not Rated / Matt Passmore, Kiele Sanchez

Helix: Season 1 / Not Rated / Billy Campbell, Kyra Zagorsky

The Killing: The Complete Third Season / Not Rated / Mireille Enos, Joel Kinnaman

Pop some Popcorn, Do the Diet Dew, Bust Out the Blu and make sure you Save Me A Seat!

Remember – all release dates are subject to change.

Trailers, Trailers Trailers

Afflicted / Rated R / Derek Lee, Clif Prowse

The Lunchbox / Rated PG / Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur

No Vacancy / Rated R / Kristen Quintrall, Denyce Lawton

Enjoy!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Trailer

This is specifically for my brother and my nephew ...

Those of you who haven't known the turtles...they are back. Sure some generations grew up with them, and the ninja rap. But these are the new turtles who have made a resurgence thanks to Nickelodeon and others.

Check out the new trailer ... starring Megan Fox (on coincidentally the same week that her old franchise Transformers, releases the new film).

JJ, Tory and every other fan (even Bruce with his obsession with Ice and the Ninja Rap)....here is the new trailer.

Home Screening Room - It's the Rise of an Empire

I'm going to be honest, not that I don't always try to be on these pages, but this is a fact of life when having to make a "pick of the week" each week....sometimes...the pick is not as good as the rest of the weeks. Some weeks have more than one pick that could be listed. But I digress...

Pick Of The Week

If you pick one movie this week … this is it.

300: Rise of an Empire / Rated R / Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green

Greek general Themistocles, leading a small group of soldiers, is attempting to unite the Greek city-states in their battle against the Persian Army. Expect more bloodletting in this film that, much like its predecessor, brings the colors and action of a graphic novel to the screen. I'm one who kind of enjoyed the original 300 film. It brought an enormous spectacle to the screen that exploded with life. Here, I just felt this was a bit too much, but in a week where it is one of the only titles that I've seen, it has to be my "Pick of the Week" despite being an extremely lukewarm one.  (Grade: C)

Other Big Releases

Enemy / Rated R / Jake Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent

After seeing his double, Adam sets out on a quest to find this lookalike. But when digging further, everyone involved finds a deeper and darker set of circumstances exist. From the director of Prisoners, Denis Villeneuve.

Repentance / Rated R / Forest Whitaker, Anthony Mackie

A man with a disturbed past and a fixation on his mother’s death seeks out help. He finds it in a life coach and author. But now the spiritual message that he is trying to share may have opened up the mind to something much worse.

Winter’s Tale / Rated PG-13 / Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay

Peter is a thief. While robbing a house, he comes across the beautiful Beverly and instantly is taken with her. Two things are working against the couple: Peter is marked for death and Beverly is dying. Can love exist across time for this star-crossed pair?  

Also This Week

Blood Ties / Rated R / Clive Owen, Billy Crudup

The Bridge: The Complete First Season / Not Rated / Diane Kruger, Demian Bichir

Duck Dynasty: Season 5 / Not Rated / Phil Robertson, Kay Robertson

Masters of Sex: Season One / Not Rated / Michael Sheen, Lizzy Caplan

NYPD Blue: Season 6 / Not Rated / Dennis Franz, Rick Schroder

Rob the Mob / Rated R / Michael Pitt, Nina Arianda

Some Velvet Morning / Not Rated / Stanley Tucci, Alice Eve

Witches of East End: The Complete First Season / Not Rated / Julia Ormond, Jenna Dewan-Tatum

Wolf Creek 2 / Not Rated / John Jarratt, Ryan Corr

Remember – all release dates are subject to change.

Trailers, Trailers, Trailers

Enemy / Rated R / Jake Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent

Repentance / Rated R / Forest Whitaker, Anthony Mackie

Winter’s Tale / Rated PG-13 / Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay

Blood Ties / Rated R / Clive Owen, Billy Crudup

Rob the Mob / Rated R / Michael Pitt, Nina Arianda



 Some Velvet Morning / Not Rated / Stanley Tucci, Alice Eve

Wolf Creek 2 / Not Rated / John Jarratt, Ryan Corr

Think LIke a Man Too - Review

Why Do The Ladies Always Want To Think Like Men?

You too can think like a man. If you are a woman…but I’m not totally sure why you want to do that. Well the first film in this series gave us the answer, so I guess I should know that already. Ok, I

digress.

Welcome back the amazingly attractive cast that continues to all think like men!

This time the men and women head to Las Vegas to celebrate the wedding of Michael (Terrence J) and Candace (Regina Hall). But being ready to take the plunge in Vegas means one thing…night before Bachelor and Bachelorette parties. You would think that somebody would learn eventually that night before the big day events never end good…but I digress (again).

The night before finds lots of gambling, meeting Floyd Mayweather Jr., almost getting beat up by Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s bodyguards, strip clubs, drinking, doing drugs (though unwittingly), more drinking, eating good food, standing on bars doing dance routines to Bell Biv Devoe, and even a visit to a Dionne Warwick concert!

Sorry have to take a breath now…

Ok, I’m back.

But will the wedding happen? And….

This one bothers me a bit…because I did laugh at the movie. But I think it is only for the real die hard fans of the original. And here’s why.

There are TOO MANY good people in this movie. They try to give enough screen time to everyone to stay happy and instead end up slicing some good back-story; some really cool interactions that could have been made and things that the viewers would like to know. That’s a problem with most films that have this rich and deep of a cast.

While I did myself laughing a number of times, it wasn’t the laugh out loud gut buster as much as the polite giggles and chuckles. I like Kevin Hartand his maniacal self in the film and I love all the talent they assembled, but it’s an example of too many cooks for me.

Also, I was a bit miffed that the whole crux of Think Like A Man seems a bit lost here. The Steve Harveybook angle is really lost in this film and there is no quest to see how to do it by the women, or how to thwart it by the men. Instead they just go their separate ways in Vegas for the most part, and head down a Hangover type path.

Still despite the problems it is good “looking at” material (for men and women)…just like any man would think. Being a man…I still don’t get why the ladies want to think like men? I know what we think about…and it still isn’t all good! (that is when we think). :-)

B-

Think Like A Man Too

Sony Pictures / Screen Gems

Director: Tim Story

Cast: Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good

Rating: PG-13 for crude sexual content including references, partial nudity, language and drug material.

Runtime: 1 hour 46 minutes

Review - Jersey Boys

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Toes Remain Tapping in Jersey

Being at the top isn’t easy. Getting there is a whole lot tougher, especially in the days before American Idol, The Voice and all the rest.

Frankie Valli (John Lloyd Young) and Tommy DeVito (Vincent Piazza) are friends. Tommy plays in a band and after the first time he brings Frankie on stage, he realizes what he can bring to the band.

As the story of the creation of The Four Seasons progresses we get to see the addition of Bob Gaudio (Erich Bergen) to the band, as introduced to them by Joe Pesci (yep that Joe Pesci).

We see the lengths Tommy goes through to keep the band, and himself afloat.

We see a blow up or two.

We see a fractured family relationship.

We see everything that goes on among members of a band, with the Jersey influence.

And we get to hear Frankie sing; songs that the viewers may not have known were even in The Four Seasons songbook. We tap our toes and move to the beat, and that…makes us smile.

The story has been told on stage for years, but now in film form it is opened up to a different audience. I, for one, have never seen the stage show. I think after seeing this I’d like to check it out. Anticipating the story of the rise of an iconic music group and knowing the origins, at least, of the stage show, I expected a lot of music. And in this aspect I found myself a bit disappointed.

Now it may just have been perspective, but I felt that with a nearly two hour and 15 minute runtime there could have been a fuller music feel to the film. Director Clint Eastwood loves music, he’s proven it in his past films and interviews. I thought I would have seen more full songs in the movie, instead much of the sounds are relegated to background or brief snippets at times. There are only a couple of all out music moments and they all felt like they scored to me.

The blending together of the ultra real Jersey language pushes this to an R rating when, for the most part, it is pretty tame.

I think if you have seen the stage show, this will probably be a nice accompaniment to what you have experienced. But for those of you who haven’t, like myself, this is just a warm and fuzzy piece that goes on a bit too long and becomes ultimately forgettable. Well except for the toe tapping music that will always live on.

B-

Jersey Boys

Warner Brothers Pictures

Director: Clint Eastwood

Cast: Vincent Piazza, John Lloyd Young, Christopher Walken

Rating: R for language throughout.

Runtime: 2 hours 14 minutes

Home Screening Room - Everything is Awesome!

Home Screening Room - Everything is Awesome!

By Paul Hall

Another week, another crop of movies....but this week features one of the best animated films of the year. PLUS you get a little hidden gem that I liked a lot and one that I haven't seen that I really want to enjoy. As always - additional trailers are at the bottom...enjoy!

Pick Of The Week

If you pick one movie this week … this is it.

The Lego Movie / Rated PG / Voices of Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks

Everything is awesome! The film that took the box office by storm is now available to bring home. It tells the story of Emmet, an average Lego construction worker who becomes “the Special” and is looked upon as the savior from the evil Lord Business. Funny and heartwarming with amazing voice talent and an engaging story, this film is perfect for kids of all ages. (Grade: A)

Other Big Releases

Authors Anonymous / Rated PG-13 / Kaley Cuoco, Chris Klein

This is a delightful comedy featuring a group of aspiring authors who meet to support each other and their individual works. But trouble arises when one writer gets her big break and the claws come out. The cast of characters makes for an enjoyable and different film.

The Grand Budapest Hotel / Rated R / Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori

A concierge and his lobby boy become friends as they serve the esteemed clients of a hotel. A theft, a painting, sex and comedy are all here if you check in to this film from director Wes Anderson.

Walk of Shame / Rated R / Elizabeth Banks, James Marsden

After a one-night stand, Meghan Miles sneaks out only to watch her car get towed away. Now she is left with no purse, house keys, phone or money and only hours to get to the biggest job interview of her career.

Also This Week 

13 Sins / Rated R / Ron Perlman, Mark Webber

Almost Human / Not Rated / Josh Ethier, Graham Skipper

The Attorney / Not Rated / Song Kang-Ho, Kim Young-Ae

Ernest and Celestine / Rated PG / Voices of Forest Whitaker, Mackenzie Foy

House of Cards: The Complete Second Season / Not Rated / Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright

Jimmy P. / Not Rated / Benicio Del Toro, Mathieu Amalric

Joe / Rated R / Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan

Pop Popcorn, Do the Diet Dew, Bust out the Blu and remember to Save Me a Seat!

Remember – all release dates are subject to change.

Trailers

The Grand Budapest Hotel / Rated R / Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori

Walk of Shame / Rated R / Elizabeth Banks, James Marsden



 13 Sins / Rated R / Ron Perlman, Mark Webber

Almost Human / Not Rated / Josh Ethier, Graham Skipper

The Attorney / Not Rated / Song Kang-Ho, Kim Young-Ae

Ernest and Celestine / Rated PG / Voices of Forest Whitaker, Mackenzie Foy

House of Cards: The Complete Second Season / Not Rated / Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright

Jimmy P. / Not Rated / Benicio Del Toro, Mathieu Amalric 

Joe / Rated R / Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan 



Hope you find at least one or two Hidden Gems in the pack....Have a great week!

Trailer - The Equalizer

Denzel is back this September and he is the perfect guy to "Equalize" any situation....

Take a look at the trailer below.

Review - 22 Jump Street

Back to Jump Street…College Edition!

Ahhh, Jump Street – you know the home of the office that housed the incredible crime fighters that are youthful and can infiltrate high school. You know the home inside a church that housed not only

the youthful cops but also Korean Jesus. It’s seen Richard Grieco, Johnny Depp, Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill all come through the doors. But that was 21 Jump Street….it’s time to move across the street to 22 Jump Street.

22 Jump Street is right across the street from the old building and the film is much like it’s predecessor. Back are the talents of Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum)along with their boss Captain Dickson (Ice Cube). But this time they are going to college, and have a bigger budget, but they are going to college (that’s more important). They are searching for the dealers, to find the suppliers. Wait…haven’t we seen this plot before?

Ah, so we have….that was the story about high school that resided in the first film. But this is the second film and we have a bigger budget to do things AND we’re in college now…so those scenes in the credits…well they can happen in the movie now.

Sure the running gag is the increased budget and the fact that they are doing the same thing throughout the film, but the funny thing is, instead of feeling tired and worn out, it works. The laughs are there including one sequence that I laughed at harder than in recent memory (it’s in the chief’s office about half way through the film, that’s all I’ll say!).

The chemistry that Tatum and Hill have finds a way to permeate every scene in the film. And Ice Cube truly shines here as the Captain (in fact I can see him being the centerpiece of any sequel beyond this).

There’s a fun montage within the end credits of possible sequel ideas AND a brief 10-15 second scene after the credits with some characters you’ll remember from the first film.

Despite a couple slow spots, this is a raunchy good time at the movies and uses its R rating to the fullest. Now on to the condos at 23 Jump Street...

B+

22 Jump Street

Columbia Pictures

Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube

Rating: R for language throughout, sexual content, drug material, brief nudity and some violence.

Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes

Review - How To Train Your Dragon 2

Dragons…EVERYWHERE!!!

How to Train Your Dragon rode into theaters in 2010 and surprised me. It delivered a fun, quick-witted adventure for kids and adults alike while exploding from the screen visually. I was a bit

skeptical when they announced the sequel. Could they maintain what they had? Or would this feel like another cash in of some quick dollars? Alas – this dragon is still breathing fire and flying as fast and high as ever.

For this film, dragons have now begun to be accepted. They are pets and friends. They are an integral part of life. Hiccup is still around and he’s grown! His Night Fury, Toothless, and him are still friends and they are exploring the areas that there are no maps for. On one of those journeys they find that they are not alone. There are those who wish to create a dragon army and control the world. And there are Dragon Rider’s that are trying to save the dragons from this fate. But there is more than meets the eye to the mysterious Dragon Rider.

Dragons do exist and are friends to the humans around. Now can Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), Astrid (America Ferrera)and the mysterious Dragon Rider join forces to try and help the dragons not only survive, but prosper for generations to come. But are they too late?

Story, it’s all about story. Sure visuals in this latest installment are spot on. Even having seen it in 3D the bright colors and visually stunning landscapes pop from the screen. (3D is notorious for its dark feel and muted colors.) But this all doesn’t work without a story that makes you believe in the dragons themselves.

Here, the dragons are like a dog would be. Lovable, loyal and fun to look at throughout, you want them to succeed and that is how we relate to them, as a family pet. Hiccup and Astrid have grown, and we are still intrigued by the relationship and cheering for the growth.

Instead of the typical tone of animated films where characters never grow, these characters have gotten older and yet we still relate to them and want them to succeed. It’s due to the filmmakers and the story they have presented that we still love dragons.

B+

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Dreamworks Animation / 20^thCentury Fox Pictures

Director: Dean DeBlois

Voice Cast: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera

Rating: PG for adventure action and some mild rude humor.

Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes

Trailer - Birdman

Look....up in the sky....or on your screen....it's a bird....it's a man.....it's Birdman?

The trailer for the new film starring Michael Keaton about what life is life long after a superhero has stopped playing the super hero.

Trailer - Dumb and Dumber To

Ahh...they are back!!!!

Home Screening Room - Going Non-Stop!

Pick Of The Week 

If you pick one movie this week … this is it.

Non-Stop / Rated PG-13 / Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore

For air marshal Bill Marks, his latest flight will be anything but normal. When he gets a random text message, he races to stop deaths that will occur every 20 minutes. Sure, the ending leaves a bit to be desired, but the flight is high-altitude action that will remind you why we love Liam Neeson as an action star. (Grade: B)

Other Big Releases

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit / Rated PG-13 / Chris Pine, Kevin Costner

Living as a Wall Street executive, Jack Ryan seems unassuming to his friends, but he has long been enlisted in the CIA. As an analyst, he discovers an attempt to bring down America’s financial backbone originating in Moscow. Based on the character created by Tom Clancy.

Also This Week

Adult World / Rated R / John Cusack, Emma Roberts

Alan Partridge / Rated R / Steve Coogan, Colm Meaney

Capital / Rated R / Gad Elmaleh, Gabriel Byrne

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey / Rated TV-PG / Neil deGrasse Tyson

Devil’s Knot / Not Rated / Reese Witherspoon, Colin Firth

Ray Donovan: Season One / Not Rated / Liev Schreiber, Jon Voight

Rizzoli and Isles: The Complete Fourth Season / Not Rated / Angie Harmon, Sasha Alexander

Resurrection: The Complete First Season / Not Rated / Omar Epps, Samaire Armstrong

True Detective: The Complete First Season / Not Rated / Woody Harrelson, Matthew McConaughey

Hidden Gem

Tim’s Vermeer / Rated PG-13 / Tim Jenison, Penn Jillette

This delightful documentary follows inventor Tim Jenison as he sets out to duplicate the amazing works of Johannes Vermeer with the same tools that existed in the artist’s day. Insightful and well crafted, this is a documentary that will keep you searching, keep you watching and waiting for a conclusion to a question that you probably never had. Of course -- being that is the case...to make that type of a film interesting...says a whole lot about it!

Pop Popcorn, Do the Diet Dew, Bust out the Blu and remember to Save Me a Seat!

Remember – all release dates are subject to change.

Trailers

Adult World / Rated R / John Cusack, Emma Roberts

Alan Partridge / Rated R / Steve Coogan, Colm Meaney

Capital / Rated R / Gad Elmaleh, Gabriel Byrne
 

Devil’s Knot / Not Rated / Reese Witherspoon, Colin Firth