Entertainment For Shut-Ins

Switched at birth

2008-10-13T20:26:00.000-07:00

Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway

2008-10-06T08:10:00.000-07:00

The PS3 version of the Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway demo is now available.

Five Great Documentaries From the Last 10 Years

2008-10-03T21:13:00.000-07:00

The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Bus 174
King of Kong
Heart of the Game
Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A Leuchter Jr.

R.I.P. Paul Newman

2008-09-27T09:35:00.000-07:00

Film legend Paul Newman died yesterday at the age of 83. Here are five of my favorite Newman performances.

The Sting (1973)

Torn Curtain (1966)

The Verdict (1982)

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Road to Perdition (2002)
He will be missed.

5 Signs You're Watching a Wes Anderson Movie

2008-09-21T14:02:00.000-07:00

Found this on OMGLists and thought it was pretty good. Five signs you're watching a Wes Anderson movie.

Review:Burn After Reading

2008-09-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

After winning three Oscars in 2007 for their haunting ode to revenge, stubborn determination and the harsh Texas landscape; the Coen brothers have returned to the type of fare that has made then both fan and critical favourites. In the tradition of Barton Fink, Fargo and the Big Lebowski; Burn After Reading is a dark comedy that juxtaposes the worlds of personal fitness and the C.I.A. In typical Coen Brothers fashion scenes of macabre humour and heart-breaking poignancy swirl around each other creating a movie that in the end, is funny, touching and befuddling.

The story begins with the demotion of C.I.A. analyst Osbourne 'Ozzy ' Cox(John Malkovich). When offered a less important position at the state department, he launches into an expletive filled tirade, making it abundantly clear why he was demoted in the first place. He is a man who feels adrift in a world of idiots and fools. Everything about Cox screams pretension, from his bow ties to the way he pronounces the word memoir ( with an almost silent r). He is married to the prickly Katie (Tilda Swinton). In last year's Michael Clayton Swinton played a character who tread water through each scene trying desperately to keep her head above water. Here Swinton's Katie is a no-nonsense pediatrician who is in charge at work, in charge at home and even in charge in her affair with Harry Pfarrer(George Clooney). Cast against type, Pfarrer looks like your friends dad or the manager at a local grocery store. Goofy, charming, sporting a gold chain and high waisted pants; he is the polar opposite of Clooney's Oscar-winning Syrianna character Bob Barnes. While Barnes fought to uncover the plot against him, here Pfarrer - a Federal Marshall - only stares pensively at the ominous black car that seems to be following him. He doesn't attempt to get the license plate

number or follow the car. But these three only make up half of the movie.

The real fun begins when a copy of Cox's memoir is left behind at Hard bodies a Washington area fitness centre. The first employee we meet is Linda Litzke(Frances McDormand). Her marriage to Joel Coen must be rock solid because she is introduced in scene so unglamourous and hilarious. She is in dire need of plastic surgery and lacks the means to pay for it. Her partner in crime is Chet(Brad Pitt), a bike riding, skunk-haired fellow employee who tries rather ineptly to collect a reward for the missing disc. Rounding out the Hard bodies crew is Ted(Richard Jenkins) the mild mannered manager who wants nothing to do with their crazy scheme.

If you've seen that first red band trailer you already know the plot in broad strokes, but this is more than a film about spooks and gym rats. At its core, it is a film about longing. Ozzy longs for respect and the accolades that would come from a best selling memoir. In one of the films few quiet and understated scenes Cox tells his father that he has quit. Little is explained about the relationship. Was Cox's father a mistreated mid-level employee like him? Was he a big shot whose shadows his son lives under? Either answer would explain Cox's behaviour. Linda hungers for attention. She seeks a companion, settling for Internet blind dates with losers while a co-worker overtly pines for her. Harry seems to need only a warm body, bouncing from bed to bed while his children's book author wife embarks on a book tour.

Well written and funny, Burn After Reading combines the best of Fargo and TBL, it has Fargo's bleak tragedy and the zany characters and ridiculousness of TBL. One tip do not take a drink during the scene where Clooney reveals what he is building in the basement., it might just be the dumbest, funniest and most disgusting things I've seen this year. In an HBO featurette Ethan Coen described the move as "a Tony Scott, Bourne movie without the explosions" and the Coen brothers have fun playing in the genre. The film begins and ends with long zoom shots that start from a satellite view of the globe and zooms down to the C.I.A. headquarters. The Coen brothers' version of Langley is a building of cold, bare, empty hallways and plain nondescript offices. Here J.K. Simmons plays Cox's boss' boss. Quickly becoming the go to character actor, here Simmons plays a confused higher-up who knows what's happening but has no idea why. His attitude can be summed up in one line: "get back to me when it makes sense".

As I was watching the film I felt myself becoming annoyed. There were several laugh out loud moments, but I was expecting something else. It was a case of a great trailer doing the film a disservice. That first red band trailer was drop dead funny. As I left the theatre and began to drive home, I had time to think about the movie. I liked it and would recommend it. The performances are great - especially Frances McDormand, John Malcovich and Brad Pitt - and the story is actually original - rare for modern movies. When you have first rate actors and filmmakers come together you rarely get a bad movie, these people are where they are for a reason: they can deliver. The result here is nobody's best work, just an entertaining movie that will keep you laughing days after you've left the theatre.

MSN - News - Isaac Hayes Quits 'South Park'

2006-03-13T18:20:00.000-08:00

I just read this article from MSN. Apparently Isaac Hayes is quitting South Park. The reason, it seems that Mr. Hayes feels that the show is religiously bigoted and intolerant. The real reason, according to Matt Stone is that Isaac Hayes is a Scientologist and was pissed with the episode spoofing his religion that aired last year. It the article Stone says "This is 100 percent having to do with his faith of Scientology... He has no problem Â— and he's cashed plenty of checks Â— with our show making fun of Christians." When will these celebs learn that their wackbehaviorur onlfuelsls the publics views on their religion.

The Hills Have Eyes

2006-03-11T18:23:00.000-08:00

Directed by Alexander Aja and based on Wes Craven's 70's horror flick, The Hills Have Eyes is the latest addition to the ultra-violent horror genre. This is not new ground for Aja, his 2003 French film Haute Tension was sick, twisted and full of gore - think the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake only bloodier and infinitely more interesting. The plot of this film is the standard horror fair. An extended family gets stranded in the desert on their way to California. Father Bob (Ted Levine) sets off towards the gas station several miles back, son-in-law Doug (Aaron Stanford) walks in the other direction searching for help. Left behind with the trailer are Doug's wife and baby, Bob's wife and two other children. The family is then attacked by a band of mutated freaks and the shit hits the fan - I don't want to spoil the rest, just go see it. As you can guess, people die in painful ways using everything from an axe to a baseball bat. Now for the review, I loved it. This is a horror movie, and should be judged like a horror movie. These films don't win Oscars, so if you go in expecting Capote you're going to be disappointed. This film isn't the original TCM or Halloween, but it is a thrilling movie with some great "Oh Shit" moments. Aja again shows that he understands the horror genre in a way that few American filmmakers do. 4 out of 5 stars

FX comedies

2005-08-31T12:18:00.000-07:00

The FX network as recently debuted two new sitcoms - Starved and It's always sunny in Philadelpia - to mixed reviews. When I first heard that the network would try to port the success of their edgy dramas over to a new genre I was very excited. Their last sitcom Lucky was a hilarious show mixing drama and dark comedy and was suprisingly well written and acted. That show lasted only one season but I was glad to see that FX was trying again. The first show Starved seemed to garner most of the attention early on. It was centred around four friends with eating disorders and prior to its debut the lead actor/creator made the cable news rounds talking up his new series. Time called the show one of the funniest new series but I think the thing is a pile of shit. The lead character is a forty-something narrcisist who looks date rape creepy yet manages to get a new girl every episode. I like edgy humour as much as the next guy, but a man who can only talk to his girlfriend while she is blowing him is a bit much. The rest of the cast are equally repulsive or just plain boring. Especially ridiculous is the black cop who uses his position to scam free food from a Chinese delivery man only to throw it up - on screen. These people are horrible - I guess we are supposed to feel sorry for them because they have eating disorders but I don't.

Thank God for DVD

2005-08-04T19:44:00.000-07:00

According to Chappelle's show actor and writer Charlie Murphy, Dave has pulled the plug on the anticipated third season of his Comedy Central sketch show. Murphy dropped the bomb in interviews TV Guide and the New York Post and the story has recently been posted on yahoo. Although it looks bad for a full season Murphy said that the eight complete episodes that were completed may be released on DVD. Although this would be great, I think its doubtful that Chappelle would sign off on the releasing the shows to DVD if he was not satisfied enough to air them.

Batman Begins

2005-06-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

If you thought the first spider-man was as good as comic book movies gets, you are in for a pleasant suprise. Christopher Nolan has definately put the "dark" back into dark knight. The movie starts with a twenty-something Bruce Wayne - played with equal parts rage and upper-crust smugness by Christian Bale - locked in a prison somewhere in Asia. The first hour jumps between modern time and flashbacks of Wayne's childhhod - playing with a young Katie Holmes, his first encounter with bats and of course, the deaths of his parents. This first hour does a good job of explaining his origins, but its the second hour - when he finally dons the batsuit - where the movie truly shines. As I said, Bale is far and away the best Batman, but even more impressive than him is the supporting cast that worked on this film. Ken Watanabe and Liam Neisen as mysterous ninja who train Bruce Wayne in their ways, Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon, he would later become commisioner - here he is a lone detective fighting corrutption in Gotham. Morgan Freeman plays the engineer who designs all of Batman's gizmos, and he and Michael Caine as Alfred manage the tightrope walk of having fun with the material and taking it seriously at the same time. Even Katie Holmes - who I am no fan of - is good as the young idealistic D.A. trying to fight Gotham City's mob. The villians are Scarecrow (played by Cillian Murphy) and Ra's Al Ghul - I wont spoil the suprise but if you read the comic book you might have seen it coming. They are both very good and true to comic book form; however the best bit happens at the end of the movie, it sets up possible sequels and I for one can't wait. A good Batman movie, who would have thought.

Michael Jackson innocent... whatever

2005-06-13T14:25:00.000-07:00

Forget John Gotti, Michael Jackson is the teflon king of pop. He was just found not guilty on all 14 counts. Two things: first, the family was shady and made shitty witnesses. They were proven to be liars from the start and the jury knew it. Second, let this be a lesson for MJ and his family - stay the hell away from kids, you're weird. Other than that, I don't really care either way, he's freaky as hell but a black man being found not guilty... it's rare so celebrate it.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

2005-06-12T06:21:00.000-07:00

Doug Liman does it again. He once again shows Jerry Bruckhiemer and the rest of Hollywood how to make a good action movie. I could say that the movie is smart but it isn't, but it is good. Jolie and especially Pitt do an above average job with the comedy, and as he did in the Bourne Identity, Liman has crafted entertaining, fast paced action scenes and car chases (the fight in the house is especially good). The movie also stars Adam Brody (the O.C.) and Vince Vaughn, who seems to have stepped right out of Old School and into this movie. I don't mind the scuzzy, acerbic, five o'clock shadow Vince Vaughn... in small doses. And that is exactly how he is used here, this is the PITT/JOLIE show and its pretty damn good.

He's Back Bitches

2005-06-03T17:13:00.000-07:00

Everyone's favourite comic is back in the U.S.A. and crackin' jokes again. Read about it at MTV.COM

Goodbye Joan Girardi

2005-05-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

It's official, CBS has pulled the plug on Joan of Arcadia after two seasons. I know it may seem weird for a black guy to be pissed about this but I am. This was a good show, it wasn't great but then aside from The Sopranos, Arrested Development and The West Wing there aren't many great shows on TV. It was just good, but really good. The show was honest, so honest that when compared to every other teen show on TV it often seem overly sweet. Then I would shake my head and remember what high school was like for me. It wasn't hanging out at the beach, or wild parties every weekend, or sex all the time, or flashy clothes. It was failing a test and getting your driver's license and getting your first job that paid minimum wage but made you feel like an adult every two weeks. This show had all of that, yes there was time devoted to the rest of the family:The policeman father, the teacher mother, the cripple older brother and the nerdy younger brother; but Joan was always the anchor. Her character spoke to God but the show wasn't religious although it did at times seem to be. It was about choices, the choices that exist all around us that we are oblivious to, or simply too lazy to explore. Joan through some prodding from God faced those choices every episode and every week we got to see her grow as a person. Many critics said that this past season lacked focus but I disagree completely. This season, more than the first showed how even the smallest choices can affect one's life in great ways. If I had to sum up the theme of the show it would be that you can be happier, you can be more fulfilled and satisfied with your life, you can make a difference. All that is required is patience,risk,confidence and ultimately faith. Sounds easy doesn't it?

Crash

2005-05-17T21:34:00.000-07:00

Paul Haggis' "Crash" is a movie that makes us ask the worst questions about ourselves and our own racist inclinations. Where do these thoughts come from? Are these thoughts inborn or are they learned? A beautiful ensemble piece, Crash examines modern day Los Angeles in a 36 hour period where several events have the lives of about 15 characters converging.

This ensemble piece has yielded several great performances, notably Matt Dillon as a racist cop and Thandie Newton as the wife a black socialite who is violated during a police frisk. Dillon's character is so multi-dimensional, that you hate him, empathize with him and identify with him. Superbly acted, Dillon never misses a beat.

Newton's performance is exceptional as well. Showing gut-wrenching emotion is tricky because you have to straddle that line between believability and maudlin. Some people can do it. Some people can't. Newton can.

Also to be noted is Terrence Howard's performance. It's good to see this great actor, who's had a lot of small roles in films over the years, finally get a chance to show his acting chops in his role as a black television exec who must deal with racism on the job, and from LA cops.

The best way to describe this film is "Magnolia" or "Requiem for a Dream" save all the melodrama and entropic tragedy. "Crash" is different in that all or most of the characters find some peace or at least some realization. And that is a lovely thing.

3 and a half stars.

Arrested Development renewed

2005-05-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

The president of FOX has announced that the show has been renewed for a third season. Start spreading the word now. read more

Save Arrested Development Redux

2005-04-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

USA Today has a poll similar to the one that ran on E! online. Get on and vote to save this show!
USA TODAY.

The Amityville Horror

2005-04-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

Another week, another thriller. It seems like Hollywood can't make these movies fast enough. This remake of the 1979 horror film stars Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George as the young couple who move into a haunted house. You've probably seen the commercial or trailer: a family is massacred, the killer said the house made him do it blah, blah, blah. The movie looks fine, the wardrobe and settings make you feel like your back in the seventies, the decade when the movie takes place. The acting isn't bad either. The middle child is a little annoying and Reynolds still seems like he's trying to shake off his fun-loving Van Wilder, Two Guys and a Girl image, but he is pretty believable. The scares are alright too. They mostly consist the jump cut type where the character looks away then looks back to see a ghost or something. I didn't think it was that scary but some people did jump. What really hurt this movie was the fact that it is so similar to so many movies out there. Ring 2, Hide and Seek, The Boogeyman, I'm horror movied out. Two Stars

Time 100 for '05

2005-04-13T16:02:00.000-07:00

Time has once again released their list of the most influential people. We get the usual:Dalai Lama, George W. Bush etc. etc. Here are some of the people I was pleasantly suprised to see make the list.
Builders + Titans
Bram Cohen - BitTorrent Creator - Fuck you Hollywood.
Artists
The Halo creative team
Jon Stewart
Jamie Foxx
Zhang Ziyi
Johnny Depp

Whose on the list that shouldn't be? I like Hilary Swank, I liked Million Dollar Baby, but this is a woman who wakes from a mediocre film stupper every few years to make a good movie. If the title of the list is indicitive of its content, where are the filmakers who truly took risks and infulenced their peers last year? Don Cheadle and Javier Bardem both gave moving truthful performances last year. Adn how about the creative team of Arrested Development. At the Emmy's they showed us that dispite poor ratings, they are the sitcom's saving grace. These kind of lists can be a chance to show the world the marvelous contriubutions of its artists and others. It seems; however that most of the time it dissolves into an ass-kissing feastival. Better luck next year.

Veronica Mars !?!

2005-04-11T14:13:00.000-07:00

My sister told me about a poll being held by E! to choose one struggling show and campaign to try and save it. I am a huge Arrested Development fan and logged on to cast my vote. Unfortunately the poll was done and the winner was ... Veronica Mars? I know everybody is saying it but Arrested Development is easily one of the funniest shows ever. To see shit like Still Standing and According to Jim get renewed while AD struggles for another year makes me sick. There's one more episode in this shortened season so enjoy, it could be the last one we get. Also check out these two sites for info on saving this great show.
Save Our Bluths
Get Arrested

p.s. Get a friend to watch. Even if you have to tie them up with duct tape, the show is in trouble. Just kidding about the ducktape... not really.