Julie & Julia

--PG-13-- Nora Ephron made a legitimate Oscar caliber film. Who knew she had it in her? I sure didn't. The queen of RomComs has shocked perhaps us all. With a steller cast comprised of Meryl Streep(another oscar caliber performance), Amy Adams as the titular characters with support from the likes of Stanley Tucci(I love this guy), Jane Lynch and Mary Lynn Rajskub. The ensemble cast was top notch and they all lived up to what we as fans come to expect from them.

Beyond the acting we have a story that was compiled from two books and weaved together to make a hilarious, touching and inspiring film. Ms. Ephron finally transcended her reputation and may perhaps garner her first Oscar nomination. She wrote, produced and directed this beautiful film and is well deserving of all accolades heaped on her this upcoming awards season.

Now to the story...Julie & Julia follows two women as they embark on life changing adventures. Julie is a failed novelist that finds comfort in cooking fabulous meals for herself and husband. Julia is Julia Child and the movie begins with her arrival in Paris and how she becomes "Julia Child." Inspired by a self-obsessed friend Julie decides to start a blog about cooking all the culinary delights in Julia Child's French Cuisine book in one year. This process tries her patience and her sanity as she struggles to create what we discover is perhaps an insane idea.

Throughout the course of the film you will laugh, perhaps cry but definitely will leave the theater smiling as you consider the beautifully executed (in every possible way) film that you just watched. A must see for everyone. It is not a RomCom, it isn't even a comedy by today's standards. This movie makes you think back to comedies use to be...laughter without the need for "potty" humor and "gross out" tactics that are now used in today's comedy realm filled with the likes of the Farrelly brothers and Judd Apatow tripe.



cah

Land Of The Lost

--PG-13-- The best part of the movie is the very last scene. Everything before it should have landed itself on the cutting room floor. To say anything more would be a further waste of time.

Fired Up!

--PG-13-- I know...I know! So this is the story, I woke up late Monday morning...was bored...had no homework...nothing on TV...the showtime was perfect...and it was early bird $6 special. I also know that some of you won't care about my feeble excuses to why I saw this movie. But there might just be a few people out there that will secretly want to watch a couple of high school football jocks infiltrate a "cheer camp" and hook up with as many girls as possible.

For those of you, with that secret desire stashed away under that facade of a grown up, let me just say this...it wasn't bad. The movie is not about cheering, it isn't about hooking up with "chicks," or even about a creepy guy friendship. This movie is about change, and about how we all can have one idea of life and how if we try something else, for whatever reason, we might find a new joy and a new level of understanding about life, love and friendship.

Seriously, did you just read that drivel about life changing experiences? Who am I trying to kid? Let me just say that any movie which employs an alum of such awesome fare as Best In Show and A Mighty Wind deserves a viewing. John Michael Higgins is that alum, and he was pretty good, in an okay movie that gets firmly planted in the trash can department.



cah

Forgetting Sarah Marshal

*I can't give it 4 due to crudity*

--R-- First thing, funniest movie ever. I have never been to a crowded theater that has laughed from beginning to end before. That was an experience all itself.

Now the bad news...rather crude. What should I have expected from Judd Apatow, the brain behind Knocked up, and Superbad? Granted since this was directed by someone different and written by someone different, there were far fewer site gags, and more situational comedy. Ultimately, I think that is why I found this movie so hilarious. I admit, I have seen Superbad and Knocked up (not two of my proudest moments of movie going) and found them humorous. Forgetting Sarah Marshal is comedic genius.

If you don't know what the movie is about...it centers on a musician that gets dumped by a super hot actress. To escape and forget about her, he goes to her favorite location (Hawaii) and more importantly her favorite hotel (Turtle Bay Resort). Like that was smart! Predictably, as he is checking into the hotel, being helped by uber gorgeous Mila Kunis (That 70's Show) in walks Sarah and her new flame.

The movie follows him around as he runs into her, makes friends with characters that can't even be explained, only watched and finally attempts a relationship with hot hotel girl.


The knitty gritty of the crudity of the movie can be summed up as thus: 5 - 7 totally hilarious and unfcomfortable penis shots. You can predict when they are going to happen, so if don't want to see it (I don't blame you) you can avert your eyes. Other than that there was swearing, but the swearing wasn't over the top (like anything from Scorsese or Tarantino). If you can manage the things I have mentioned, you won't regret seeing this movie.

Funniest movie EVER!

cah

Hot Fuzz

--R-- Hot Fuzz was an uneven film. It started out well providing a quick synopsis of who Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is and in so doing painted a portrait of an almost super human police officer. The synopsis is quite funny and immediately following we are provided with a perfect portrayel of a man betrayed and downtrodden.

After the synopsis the movie is slow for the next hour. While there are several funny scenes amidst the slow down you the viewer will not escape the feeling of boredom. During this slower portion of the film it is however important because you are shown how maddening it must be and genuinely feel for him as an individual as he slowly descends onto the edge of insanity.

Right when you are as bored as you think possible (in a comedy) the truth unfolds and Angel comes back Commando style to claim victory over the town. This is the point when the movie takes on new life and you understand why the Brit's found it so funny. The next 30 minutes are non-stop action and comedy making the aforementioned boredom worthwhile.

If you liked Shaun of the Dead you will like Hot Fuzz. As typical with British cinema there is an inordinate amount of expletives, and if you know that you don't like British humor don't see this film, but if you do...you won't regret it.

cah

Blades of Glory

--PG-13--While watching this movie I knew that Will Ferrell wasn't acting any different than he does in all of his roles (save for Stranger Than Fiction) and that Jon Heder found another way to play the quirky weird character. Yes, while watching this movie I knew those things...they simply did not matter. As illogical as this film was, and as impossible some of the maneuvers they performed on ice were I was able to laugh from the moment the movie started to the second it ended.
Admittedly, I found the whole movie eerily similar to The Cutting Edge which was another pairs ice skating movie (that starred Moira Kelley and DB Sweeney). Even with the similarity to Edge and the creepiness of the premise, as I previously stated the faults that lay
in this movie are easily overshadowed by the hilarity of it's two stars, not to mention the excellent job of it's supporting cast. Jon Heder with his morality stance keeps the movie cleaner than any other Ferrell movie and not surprisingly the movie doesn't suffer from the lack of vulgarity.

cah