Sunday, March 13, 2011

Rango & The Adjustment Bureau

I saw my first two movies in theaters this year. They are the only two wide-release movies that have scored over 70% on RottenTomoatoes.com this year. Doesn't say much for the quality of movies that have come out in 2011 and it's no coincidence that we haven't been lured to go to a movie until now. I'm please to say that both movies (Rango & The Adjustment Bureau) were worth seeing. I'm not a huge animated movie fan and the beginning of this movie got off to a bit of an odd start but overall it was entertaining and the animation was probably the best I've ever seen for a movie like this. I'm still not sure how a lizard has hair done up with curlers, but I guess lizards don't talk and wear clothes either nor do snakes wear cowboy hats and turtles need wheelchairs, haha. Suspending any semblance of reality is necessary when watching an animated movie! The other movie we saw: the Matt Damon/Emily Blunt thriller, The Adjustment Bureau was an excellent film. Wit shades of Inception but with a love story as the main theme, the movie was intricate, exciting and interesting. I love that every once in a while movie studios are still willing to make movies that aren't sequels or remakes and don't insult the audiences intelligence. And I just have to say how much I love Emily Blunt. She's such a likable actress. I highly recommend both films.

Posted by soft rock star at 1:41 PM

Monday, February 21, 2011

It's Kind Of A Funny Story.

I saw this movie, a couple times actually, over the last week and I really enjoyed it. Zach Galifianakis was well used (unlike how he was in Dinner For Schmucks), both funny and poignant. Keir Gilchrist did a nice job of not seemingly overly pathetic for being an overwhelmed 16-year old with a fairly privileged life but a desire to kill himself & a real need to gain some perspective. The cast of character actors added real depth to roles that could have been cookie-cutter with lesser actors. And the overall tone of the movie closed in on, but never crossed the line to, saccharine. Just a really nice, engaging, funny and touching film.

Posted by soft rock star at 10:15 PM

Friday, February 18, 2011

Good Music.







Posted by soft rock star at 11:28 AM

Friday, February 11, 2011

RIP Peggy Rea (1921-2011)

























LuLu Hogg (Dukes Of Hazzard)

Posted by soft rock star at 9:40 AM

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Chloe By Drew Droege

These send-ups or Chloe Sevigny are absolutely hilarious. If you aren't familiar with her just watch a minute or so of this video. The Big Love actress just has a certain air about (not to mention a manish look) that is captured brilliantly by comedian Drew Droege. I really didn't know a lot about her and I still laughed out loud watching these clips. Short, sweet and very funny.










Posted by soft rock star at 8:06 PM

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

























Happy Birthday Mom. I miss you.

Posted by soft rock star at 11:14 PM

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Oscar Nominations









Best Picture
"Black Swan," Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver & Scott Franklin, Producers
"The Fighter" David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman & Mark Wahlberg, Producers
"Inception," Emma Thomas & Christopher Nolan, Producers
"The Kids Are All Right," Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte & Celine Rattray, Producers
"The King's Speech," Iain Canning, Emile Sherman & Gareth Unwin, Producers
"127 Hours," Christian Colson, Danny Boyle & John Smithson, Producers
"The Social Network," Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca & Ceàn Chaffin, Producers**
"Toy Story 3" Darla K. Anderson, Producer
"True Grit" Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen & Joel Coen, Producers
"Winter's Bone" Anne Rosellini & Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers

Actor in a Leading Role
Javier Bardem in "Biutiful"
Jeff Bridges in "True Grit"
Jesse Eisenberg in "The Social Network"
Colin Firth in "The King's Speech"**
James Franco in "127 Hours"

Actor in a Supporting Role
Christian Bale in "The Fighter"
John Hawkes in "Winter's Bone"
Jeremy Renner in "The Town"
Mark Ruffalo in "The Kids Are All Right"
Geoffrey Rush in "The King's Speech"**

Actress in a Leading Role
Annette Bening in "The Kids Are All Right"
Nicole Kidman in "Rabbit Hole"
Jennifer Lawrence in "Winter's Bone"
Natalie Portman in "Black Swan"**
Michelle Williams in "Blue Valentine"

Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams in "The Fighter"
Helena Bonham Carter in "The King's Speech"
Melissa Leo in "The Fighter"**
Hailee Steinfeld in "True Grit"
Jacki Weaver in "Animal Kingdom"

Animated Feature Film
"How to Train Your Dragon" Chris Sanders & Dean DeBlois
"The Illusionist" Sylvain Chomet
"Toy Story 3" Lee Unkrich**

Directing
"Black Swan," Darren Aronofsky**
"The Fighter," David O. Russell
"The King's Speech," Tom Hooper
"The Social Network," David Fincher
"True Grit," Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Music (Original Score)
"How to Train Your Dragon," John Powell
"Inception," Hans Zimmer
"The King's Speech," Alexandre Desplat
"127 Hours," A.R. Rahman
"The Social Network," Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross**

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
"127 Hours," Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy
"The Social Network," Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin**
"Toy Story 3," Screenplay by Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich
"True Grit," Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
"Winter's Bone," Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini

Writing (Original Screenplay)
"Another Year," Written by Mike Leigh
"The Fighter," Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson; Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson
"Inception," Written by Christopher Nolan
"The Kids Are All Right," Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
"The King's Speech," Screenplay by David Seidler**

** = Who I'd Like To Win




Posted by soft rock star at 8:57 AM

Monday, January 24, 2011

R.I.P. Jack LaLanne (1914-2011)

Posted by soft rock star at 10:24 PM

Sunday, January 23, 2011

The King's Speech

Got to see The King's Speech over the weekend and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It definitely will grab a spot on my personal Top 10 movies of 2010. I can see why it's winning so many awards for the best film of the year. Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush both gave masterful performances and Helena Bonham Carter was charming as well. She's actually pretty lady when she isn't looking like a crazy witch like she does in real life and and all the other movies she's been in lately. Now I've seen just about all 'big' films I wanted to see in advance of the Oscar nominations tomorrow.

Posted by soft rock star at 10:27 PM

Monday, January 17, 2011

Happy B-Day Betty!

America's Sweetheart Betty White is 89 today! I was driving home tonight, listening to the radio and the DJ said "Betty White turns 89 today (disbelieving chuckle) and she's still as sexy as ever!" Was it wrong that my stomach turned a little? I mean, I LOVE me some Betty White. She is an unbelievable mix of funny, gracious, genuine and caring... heck, even vibrant, but sexy? Nothing against old people... seriously I love old people! But I've also seen what happens to old people's bodies... especially people close to 90 and I'm sorry, but I highly doubt Betty White looks in the mirror when she gets out of the shower (aren't you glad I conjured that visual for you?) and the word sexy comes to her mind. Now I couldn't care less what Betty White looks like. I just hope she's around for many more years charming the heck out of everyone. Happy Birthday Betty!!

Posted by soft rock star at 10:55 PM

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Funny Comedians (Sometimes it's Not An Oxymoron)

A while ago I posted my least favorite comedians list and meant to soon follow it up with an equally long list of my favorites. Well, enough time has passed that I can't even find that first post, haha. But I've had pics of my faves on my desktop for ages now so I suppose it's time to post them here:

First on Saturday Night Live both in weekend update and in weekly skits, it was easy to see that Tina Fey had a knack for biting, witty, timely, sarcastic humor. As the first female head writer on the show she made it a very funny place... a place that hasn't been nearly as funny since she left. So thank goodness we have 30 Rock. It continues to show off Fey's humor and surrounds it with an excellent cast. She has shown that she is not just a great writer but a great performer and actor as well. Her impression of Sarah Palin during the 2008 presidential election was pitch perfect. I will see/watch anything Fey writes because I know it will be good. That can't be said about too many comedians in my opinion.

I've been watching Letterman since he moved from NBC to CBS and I've enjoyed his dry wit and intelligence ever since. There is simply no comparison between Letterman's humor and Leno's. It's like night and day. You either enjoy real humor and authenticity (even if Dave can be kranky and curmudgeonly) or fake, pandering humor that falls flat the vast majority of the time. Letterman certainly mellowed and become more political, environmental and sentimental since his son was born and I think it makes him a more genuine person, despite the troubles he's had in his personal life.

Amy Sedaris is probably not as well known a comedian but that is a real shame. Her quirky, hilarious sense of humor certainly runs in the family (her brother David is a well known author) and her appearances on Letterman's show as well as her own TV show (and later, movie, Strangers With Candy) showcase her knack for quick-witted, dry, left field comedy.
Jerri Blank is a blunt, selfish character that isn't at all off-putting thanks to Sedaris' abundant charm. I've had the pleasure of seeing her perform live and she just seems like such a fun, idiosyncratic woman. I can't imagine what spending a day with her would be like. I have the feeling it would be one of the funniest, weirdest days you could ever have. I really wish she were more visible in TVs and movies.

Since Tina Fey left Saturday Night Live there is really only one real reason to keep watching the show and that reason is Kristen Wiig. I clearly remember that first season she was on. We were laughing our asses off at home and wondering why the studio audience wasn't doing the same. It seemed it took a little longer for everyone else to warm up to Wiig's humor but now she is clearly the star of the show. From Penelope to Gilly to The Target Lady to her Lawrence Welk sister, Wiig's characters silly, demented, manic, neurotic and hilarious. And her turn in movie after movie since then has been wonderful too. She's made every movie she's been in better no matter what the size of the role. I have a feeling she has a very serious side too that maybe we'll see more of in the future.

Ricky Gervais is one of those rare comedians that can take incredibly awkward situations and make them truly funny. There is a brand of humor that had risen in the last 10 or so years that is centered around wildly awkward, generally hard to watch moments and in general, I hate that kind of comedy. But he pulls it off for some reason. His TV Extras was terrific and his hosting of the Golden Globes (and his appearances on other awards shows) is usually the comedy highlight of the evening. His laugh in and of itself is genius. I could do without his need to inject his religious views (or lack thereof) into so much of his latest offerings (I get it, you hate God) but I'll gladly take the rest of it!

She's bawdy and rude. She's wickedly mean and offensive. She's crude and insensitive. And she's frickin' hilarious. I'm not particularly big on insult comics. But Lisa Lampanelli is an equal opportunity insulter. Whether it's Blacks, Latinos, Hispanics, skinny bitches, Gays, disabled people... no one is left out. And she is as quick to make fun of herself as anyone else. We saw her live and the room was in stitches. In our PC world, it's just fun to spend an hour or two hearing disgusting, horrible, dirty jokes. It wouldn't be funny if you knew it wasn't all an act. Clearly this woman doesn't really think these things. She's just found a way to make a living off of it and I'm simply not offended. I know some people are (one man in our audience was thrown out for going off on her) but my gosh, life is hard enough. If you can't laugh off the stereotypes and see how silly they really are, then you're just making it that much harder.

I've been a fan of Jane Lynch's long before she was on Glee. I'm just happy she is finally being recognized in a huge way for her sassy, tough, perfectly delivered comedy. Sue Sylvester is the personification of funny. And although Lynch doesn't write her own comedy, her delivery and timing is perfection. No one finds the humanity in such unlikable characters as she does. She's been in excellent movies and she's been in absolute crap, but just like Kristen Wiig, she just elevates any movie that she is in. You want to like her no matter how vicious and mean she is. And that is not only the mark of a great comedian but a great actress (of which she is both).



You know you really do like a comedian specifically when someone else tries to do not only their brand of comedy but actually tries to do comedy written by that comedian and fails. I know I seem to be in the minority, but I can't stand Seinfeld. I didn't find the show funny at all. I think part of the problem for me (besides just not finding Jerry Seinfeld to be funny at all) is that the entire cast was neurotic and paranoid. It was just way too over the top. Why should Larry David succeed where Seinfeld fails? I have no idea, haha. But I do think it's maybe because on his show (as in real life I'm sure) he stands alone more as the paranoid, neurotic one. And one is enough. He is a genius at what he does though. I wanted to hate his show when I first saw it and I ended up loving it.

I don't make a habit of watching The Colbert Report but when I do I always enjoy it. Steven Colbert is just so highly likable, even as a conservative, pompous ass. Even the simple gesture of running to meet his guests and taking in the applause for himself is hilarious. He's certainly been funny for years before this show (of course on The Daily Show but also on Strangers With Candy. His authenticity and likability shines through regardless of how empty and self-serving his characters are supposed to be. He, perhaps the most of any of these comedians listed, is probably least like his TV persona. But I think that is what makes his comedy work so well. You know he's a great guy so it's more fun to see him try not to be.

Posted by soft rock star at 1:26 PM