The Invention of Lying
When I lay my head on my pillow at night, I slip into a dream world in which I'm best friends with Ricky Gervais; We banter about witty things and man-hug. Tina Fey lives in that dream world as well, but I refuse to go into more detail about that. But Ricky and Tina together in the same movie? Pinch me. Not only does the Invention of Lying promise to be an overtly hysterical movie, it's refreshingly original. Mark Bellison (Ricky Gervais) lives in a Pleasantville like world where no one has ever lied, nor do they even consider it. Lying doesn't exist as a concept until Mark creates it, and then I assume the hilarity grows like our national debt. The other supporting roles offer no small incentive to cartwheel over to the Rave. Jennifer Garner took time away from polishing her Golden Globe to play co-lead and love interest, Anna. Jonah Hill (Superbad), Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development), and Rob Lowe (Google him) bring up the rear. I dare say, after I exhaust my welcome at the Dollar Theater's stimulus Tuesdays, I may write Santa and beg for a certain DVD for Christmas. Opened October 2nd
Zombieland
I swear upon my bomb-shelter full of canned food and semi-automatic weaponry that zombies will one day be reality. Until that day, I will imagine the various ways in which I, and perhaps only I, will survive the zombie outbreak. To my incredible fortune, Woody Harrelson is in a new comedy about all of those things dream of one day doing. Zombie comedies (zom-coms) first grabbed my heart with Shaun of the Dead, and now tantalize me once again with Zombieland. The premise is Woody killing zombies while sporting a southern accent. Hypothetical question: Do movies get more entertaining? Hypothetical answer: Yes, but only under rare circumstances. If you, for some absurd reason, dislike blood, shoot-em-ups, comedies, merriment, awesome or being entertained then this isn't your movie. Everyone else, by the time you read this I will have already seen it. You are welcome to ask be about how amazing it was, but you should already know. Zombieland opened October 2nd.
Where the Wild Things Are
This blurb is as serious as I'm ever going to get. Perhaps my most anticipated movie of the year; nay, of the decade. I haven't been this excited about a movie since Batman: The Dark Knight. Think about that. Where the Wild Things Are promises to be a childhood perfectly articulated. The premise is simple: A boy, Max, escapes the real world where no one understands him to visit where the Wild Things are. There he finds enormous and fascinating creatures who are rambunctious and unpredictable. They crown him king and his first official declaration is “Let the wild rumpus start!” He promises to make everyone happy. but finds it a tall order. The creatures are costumed actors, so there's no fear of glossy CGI ruining the movie. The head creature, who speaks most often to Max, is voiced by James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano in “The Sopranos”), and supported by fellow creatures Forest Whitaker, Paul Dano (Dwayne in Little Miss Sunshine) and Catherine O'Hara (voice of Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas). I will cry during this movie, because I have cried during the trailer. It's one of the most beautiful movies I've ever been taunted with, and I'm counting down the days. Opens October 16th
Cirque du Freak: the Vampire's Assistant.
Enough is enough! I enjoy variety, and the current fascination with vampires is making the entertainment industry about as diverse as the Mid-West. Don't get me wrong, I love John C. Reilly (Step Brothers and Walk Hard) but this movie looks like it was too ambitious for its own budget. I've got a motto that I swear my bookstore Rave passes by: If its ugly in the trailer, it will be hideous in the feature. The trailer makes it seem as if they tried to pull off special effects that exceeded the movie's budget by a factor of three. The special effects are glossy and detract from any realism the movie might have had. The plot also seems like gross fan fiction from a thirty-year old super-fan of X-Men, Twilight, and Rocky Horror Picture Show, written in their parents basement. Here we have vampires that, instead of traditional vampire characteristics, have X-man-like super powers and work as circus side-show performers because of their apparent disfigurements. I don't want my vampires glittering, leaping to great heights, listening to my thoughts, drinking blood in moderation or having acid spit; I want my vampires sucking the blood of the innocent at every opportunity until someone stabs them in the heart with a splintered hunk of solid wood. I will save my money and wait patiently for a return of traditional Dracula vampires. If you're a part of the other 85% of campus who can afford to waste money, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant opens October 23rd.
####
Friday, October 2, 2009
MacKenziesaurus Watches TV in October.
Caprica
Okay, nerd-alert. “Caprica” is a spin-off series to the greatest show of all time, “Battlestar Galactica.” It takes place a generation before “Battlestar Galactica” began, and introduces us to the creation of the cylons and eventually, one would hope, the first cylon war. We meet young versions of a few of our favorite characters from “Battlestar” and finally see, in full force, the often hinted at planetary(racial) tension. The pilot was released months ago, and the concept is delicious. Because it is a generation before its mother series, “Caprica” had to invent a way to take the viewer into the past of a futuristic series. What comes out of that mind-frack is a community reminiscent of the 1930s and complete with robots, artificial intelligence, and space travel. Much like its predecessor, “Caprica” promises to be rife with conflict pertinent to our society and telling of our cultures actions. Thank you, “Caprica,” for keeping me culturally aware while showing me pictures of robots and space ships.
Community
Ever since it's christening in 2004, I've joined Joel McHale as he captained E!'s “The Soup” and reveled in his uncanny ability to perpetually charm and entertain me. I was there for his eye-opening performance as “Bank Teller” in Spider-Man II. I cheered him on as he pulled a Lazarus for an all too brief performance on “Pushing Daisies.” But, lo, did I yearn for more; Then, I was given “Community.” Joel McHale plays a formerly successful lawyer who must return to community college because of problems with his degree. He is thrown into a world immune to his wit and, for the first time in his life, he must work for what he wants. For much of the underdog cast, this is the break they're been waiting for. One can not help but be distracted, however, by Chevy Chase's performance as a desperate, misogynistic, ex-executive who falls in guy-love with Joel McHale. Chevy and Joel make “Community” my latest and most charming homework distraction.
How I Met Your Mother
Here we have a sitcom with a producer who made a deal with the devil to secure, five years ago, some of today's most wanted men in comedy. Featuring Neal Patrick Harris (Dr. Horrible and host of the Emmys) and Jason Segel (I Love You, Man and Forgetting Sarah Marshall), “How I Met Your Mother” hit the jackpot. It's the wittiest show on TV since “Frasier” or “Seinfeld.” When was the last time you were intellectually stimulated by “Meet the Kardashians”? “How I Met Your Mother Showing Mondays on CBS, I can't break down the plot because there isn't room enough to give it justice but assure you that, much like “Seinfeld,” you can hop in on the plot when ever you feel comfortable. Take your time. Just remember one thing as you relax on Monday nights: Niel Patrick Harris.
Okay, nerd-alert. “Caprica” is a spin-off series to the greatest show of all time, “Battlestar Galactica.” It takes place a generation before “Battlestar Galactica” began, and introduces us to the creation of the cylons and eventually, one would hope, the first cylon war. We meet young versions of a few of our favorite characters from “Battlestar” and finally see, in full force, the often hinted at planetary(racial) tension. The pilot was released months ago, and the concept is delicious. Because it is a generation before its mother series, “Caprica” had to invent a way to take the viewer into the past of a futuristic series. What comes out of that mind-frack is a community reminiscent of the 1930s and complete with robots, artificial intelligence, and space travel. Much like its predecessor, “Caprica” promises to be rife with conflict pertinent to our society and telling of our cultures actions. Thank you, “Caprica,” for keeping me culturally aware while showing me pictures of robots and space ships.
Community
Ever since it's christening in 2004, I've joined Joel McHale as he captained E!'s “The Soup” and reveled in his uncanny ability to perpetually charm and entertain me. I was there for his eye-opening performance as “Bank Teller” in Spider-Man II. I cheered him on as he pulled a Lazarus for an all too brief performance on “Pushing Daisies.” But, lo, did I yearn for more; Then, I was given “Community.” Joel McHale plays a formerly successful lawyer who must return to community college because of problems with his degree. He is thrown into a world immune to his wit and, for the first time in his life, he must work for what he wants. For much of the underdog cast, this is the break they're been waiting for. One can not help but be distracted, however, by Chevy Chase's performance as a desperate, misogynistic, ex-executive who falls in guy-love with Joel McHale. Chevy and Joel make “Community” my latest and most charming homework distraction.
How I Met Your Mother
Here we have a sitcom with a producer who made a deal with the devil to secure, five years ago, some of today's most wanted men in comedy. Featuring Neal Patrick Harris (Dr. Horrible and host of the Emmys) and Jason Segel (I Love You, Man and Forgetting Sarah Marshall), “How I Met Your Mother” hit the jackpot. It's the wittiest show on TV since “Frasier” or “Seinfeld.” When was the last time you were intellectually stimulated by “Meet the Kardashians”? “How I Met Your Mother Showing Mondays on CBS, I can't break down the plot because there isn't room enough to give it justice but assure you that, much like “Seinfeld,” you can hop in on the plot when ever you feel comfortable. Take your time. Just remember one thing as you relax on Monday nights: Niel Patrick Harris.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
