Source Code

Fantastic film. Source Code is extremely original, while being very generic. Time travel meets 8 minutes of repitition. When the film begins we see Colter (Gyllenhaal) on a train. He has no idea how he got there and he also does not know the woman he is talking to, though she knows him. By the time he sees himself in a mirror and realizes it's not him at all, the train blows up. Game Over, Man. Don't worry, I haven't ruined the film for you, and I won't. When the train blows up, Colter is thrust back into a chamber where this illusion all takes place. The Source Code can send a subject into the body of the deceased for an 8 minute period before the life ceased. Sounds confusing, but so well thought out and explained, it was actually easy to follow. Colter now has some inclination of what he is to do. He can keep going back and repeating the same 8 minutes for some time. He must gather clues to foil the bomber's next target. A movie that repeates the same 8 minutes for it's entirety seems like it would suck, but the way it's done is brilliant. Always different camera angles, and the conversations always change. The movie revolves around Colter's mission, but turns into so much more. It works because it is short, yet detailed. Not confusing, and very entertaining. Source Code deserves your attention, and I hope you do watch it. It is by far one of the most fun 90 minute movies of all time, and the last couple scenes will get you.

NBM rates Source Code - Phenomenal

Cowboys & Aliens

Honestly, I don't know why this genre mash up is getting ripped apart so badly? Oh wait, maybe it's because it's really different, and original. I will say, I have waited a year for this film, and it finally came, and I am happy. What my question is, what's not to like? Harrison Ford back in the Action role? Daniel Craig with a 6 shooter? Aliens? All of the above are great reasons to go watch C&A. It starts off like all the trailers we have seen. Jake Lonergan (Craig) wakes up near nowhere, with no memory of who he is, or why that "iron" is on his wrist. When he gets to the nearest town of Absolution, things get harry. He messes with the wrong guy, and ends up shackled for a different crime he can't remember committing. This film starts off perfectly. Character development is done well, but the "Western" part of the film is awesome. It is done so well, we feel we are there to see a western, but without wait, the aliens show up and attack. The writing is great in the fact that, the Internet does not exist in 1865, nor does Stephen Hawking, so space and time and other beings are unknown. The alien vessels fly in at high speeds destroying everything while taking prisoners. For what? That is where the film heads. Harrison Ford plays "The Colonel", who is a hard nosed battle hardened man. He is rough and tough and played to perfection. To say that he and Lonergan don't like each other would not do it justice. We are teased a little bit with the aliens themselves, but not long enough to piss us off. The next order of business is figuring out what they want and how to get their people back. Lonergan is the biggest hope, since the wrist accessory he wears is the only weapon they have that will bring them down. There are definite resemblances to ID4, and the Indiana Jones tribute is classic. See if you catch it. I don't think it was unintentional at all. All the people involved in the end is outstanding. Favreau does a great job of making a Sci-Fi western. He also does a superb job of flashing back when we, the audience, and Lonergan are all seeing what he is beginning to remember. A couple of sub plots are welcomed to enhance the story, and 1 very good twist helps with development. When the aliens are not on screen or the focus of the Cowboys, the western aspect is so fun to watch. One thing I did not expect was to see the aliens as much as we did. It was awesome. The last 20 minutes was a wild rush of action, that just kept going. A-Bomb kept looking at me asking how critics could hate it. A-Bomb, The AP, and myself all loved the film, but reviews have been mixed. Critics hate it, but 70% of users like it. I think it is a good big screen movie. I welcome the change, and originality, and I hope this can open the minds of writers to think outside the box. Daniel Craig just solidifies himself even more as one of the Elite actors working today. He is British, but he played an American Cowboy as good as Harrison Ford. This was my most anticipated movie of the summer, and when asked why, I responded, "I will be glad to see Harrison in another action role that is not Indy. As much as I love Indy, this should be great for him." It was. If you have ever thought, you may possibly think you would like to see this, then go see it. The trailers did it justice, and Favreau delivers again. Overall, it is a great western with Aliens, or a great Sci Fi adventure with Cowboys. Either way, well done.

NBM rates Cowboys and Aliens - Phenomenal

Crazy, Stupid, Love

This story follows two different men. Two men on different paths, that somehow cross each other. When Cal's (Carell) wife Emily (Moore) asks for a divorce after 25 years of marriage, he is lost. To say he becomes unstable would be understatement. Cal has not dated ever. He met Emily in high school and they got married right out of HS. To say he is lost in the dating world doesn't even come close to how bad at it he is. Luckily he ends up in a bar that is moonlighted by Jacob (Gosling). Jacob is a smooth talker, who is unafraid of any female, and each night of the week, he takes home a new lady. No strings, no commitments, no problems. He loves his life. He is good looking, and he has money. He plays his strengths to perfection. When Cal is moping in the bar, Jacob takes him on as a pet project of sorts. It's like the biggest challenge for him to date. He wants to turn Cal from a loser to a winner. Their friendship is very unlikely, but somehow it works. The chemistry between Carell and Gosling is unmatched. Especially considering the age gap, plus the genre cross over. Carell is a comedian. He knows comedy and executes it very well. Gosling usually does more dramatic, and quirky roles, but this was perfectly cast. They become a bit of a team, except that Jacob is the leader and Cal is quiet and stays more in the shadows. Cal is quickly becoming Jacob's biggest achievement, but their friendship is the bigger story. They become each other's confidants. Then everything is turned on it's head. Hanna (Emma Stone) happens. To Jacob, she is just another conquest, until they spend some time together, not sex together, but talking together. He has never taken the time to know any of his conquests, but this one is different. He doesn't know how to deal with it, and as funny as it may be, the student may actually become the teacher in the Romantic Dark Dramatic film with enough laughs to also call it a comedy. It may have one of the funniest scenes ever, and to say it caught me by surprise and off guard doesn't do it justice. Dan Fogelman wrote one helluva good film that really is different from everything else in the same category. I may actually own this movie, so I can share it with the community. This is one of those rare gems that feels like we know how it will end when it begins, but we quickly begin to doubt our thoughts. I also want to add that Marisa Tomei is awesome and sexy as always, but how did I not know Kevin Bacon was in this film? Love me some Bacon, and he is good. Here is a picture for the ladies, because I love all my readers and I am comfortable in my own sexuality to admit that Ryan Gosling is an attractive man with glorious abs.

NBM rates Crazy Stupid Love - Phenomenal with scenes of Cinematic Art

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Happy 1 year anniversary to No Bad Movies. We did it, and all of you kept me going. 22,000 + hits in one year is nothing to sneeze at and I appreciate it. With my 365th review, I'm gonna write about/ geek out over a film that some (Me) have called the greatest movie of ALL time. Raiders of the Lost Ark is probably the film I have seen the most in my life. It is one of the all time great fictitious characters ever created. I don't think Indiana Smith would have been as successful, as that was the original name before Jones was tagged in. I am also glad Tom Selleck had other stuff to do, so we got another healthy dose of Harrison Ford. I do think it is the greatest opening scene in history. Think about it. Old cave with the golden fertility god, betrayal, and booty traps...that's what I said, booby traps. Spielberg wastes no time showing us the whip and how effective it can be, and we also see Indy's will to win, but also survive. The boulder chasing him down, with that little trip down to one knee [not scripted] is the most exciting 30 seconds possible. Right when it's over, we meet Belloq. Belloq is a punk. He lets hard working archeologists do the work, and then he takes what he wants by force. Indy must retreat with his life, but no god, to fight another day. We also see how fast Indy is. Those natives had a beat on him, but all of the sudden he opens up an uncloseable gap with them. If the opening 10 minutes does not do the best character development ever, then I don't know what does. Of course I was a wee lad the first time I saw this, but one would think that the rest of the film would be of Indy chasing Belloq to get back the fertility god, but that is not the case. It gets way deeper than that. He is going after the Ark of the covenant. This is the Ark which holds/held the 10 commandments, and is said to be a line to God. Indy must find it, because if he doesn't then the Nazi's will. To say the least, Indy is not a puss. He is unafraid of Nazi's, jilted ex lovers, using pistols, whips, or bazookas. He is however terrified of snakes. This does give us a great stand off with him and a King Cobra. I don't know of a film with this much action, backed up by this solid of a plot, and a slew of characters everyone can identify with. Indy will stop at nothing until every artifact known to man is IN A MUSEUM!!! He loves his job, and he does not do it for the fortune and glory. He just wants to educate people. And another thing, I bet he has tenure as a college professor. There is no way anyone would not be let go for only teaching a week out of each semester. He is off fighting evil, being kidnapped, saving lives and I love every second of it. The funny part about Raiders is the fact that if it hadn't been for him and his knowledge along with his contacts, the Nazi's may have never found the Ark. At the same time, it was his knowledge that saved his and Marion's lives. I don't know what else to say. It surpassed it's 30 year anniversary a few weeks back and I look forward to watching it several hundred more times. Everyone who knows me, knows I love this character and the entire series. That's right, even the 4th one. I hope a 5th installment is given to us as I will cherish more screen time with my favorite fictional American hero - Henry "Indiana" Jones III. I could go on and on, but I am sure you have all seen these films, so I will leave it at that. Thank you to all who read, and though daily posts may not continue, I will continue writing about anything new I see, whether it be DVD or Theater releases. Expect to get 3 reviews a week till the day I die. This upcoming week is a big one. Expect Source Code, Crazy Stupid Love, and Cowboys & Aliens this weekend. I guess we will have to wait and see when the streak ends. As for the 7 other authors that wrote a combined 14 reviews, I thank you as well. 

NBM rates Raiders of the Lost Ark - A Work of Cinematic Art

Fracture

So with two sure to be brilliant releases this week, I am trying to give an actor per movie review....if that makes sense. Last night was Daniel Craig for Cowboys and Aliens. Tomorrow will be Harrison Ford for the same, but tonight is Ryan Gosling. He has Crazy, Stupid, Love coming out, and it is sure to be superb. He is definitely one of my favorite actors right now. I love that he does every genre, and does it well. Plus he is no stranger to Independent film. I think he relishes in it. C,S,L looks like a romantic yet dark comedy and I am excited....not as excited as my wife, but still. I feel Fracture is one of the best roles he has ever conquered. He is smart and sexy, over confident- which he plays well- yet slightly unsure of himself. He is a prosecuting attorney quickly moving up the corporate ladder. This is when he gets a case that should be open and shut. When a millionaire structural engineer "attempts to murder" his wife, he is put to trial rather quickly. The thing you have to know about Ted Crawford (Sir Anthony Hopkins) is his attention to detail and his meticulousness. When Ted decides to represent himself after signing a confession, Willy (Gosling) has nothing to worry about. Ted has sunk his own ship, or has he? What Willy doesn't know about Ted is what could make him fail and lose his status as brilliant attorney with an unblemished record. Willy does not usually take things to personal with his cases, but Ted is able to push him in ways no one has. Ted knows the system better than anyone could imagine. He is a smooth talker with super charisma and no fear. Anthony Hopkins is one of the all time greats. It's no wonder he was cast as a god. Oden, we salute you...in a non golden calf sort of way. Willy feels he has it wrapped up, even with the recent turn of events. This is a fantastically written film, and with these actors saying the lines, it is one of the best court room thrillers ever. The way we see Willy completely break down is amazing. The way we see Ted never crack is more amazing. Emotionless, yet not cold. The twists and turns are awesome. It is no secret he tried to kill his wife, but will he get away with it? That is what we watch for. Don't worry, I have spoiled nothing. It shows him shoot her in the opening scene. No deception on the film makers part. Pretty cut and dry. What we get to witness is a chess game with two highly skilled players. I highly recommend this film to everyone.


NBM rates Fracture - Phenomenal

Casino Royale

I'll admit that I was never a huge James Bond guy. I wasn't even into the series a little bit, but when A great script came to pass with Daniel Craig in the leading role, things changed for me. The picture above may not be quintessential Bond, but it was the opening sequence of this throwback film, and it did one thing very well. It got the audience pumped for what they were in for. It showed James in a way we had not seen. As a gritty spy, ready and willing to get dirty for his mission. He is not the Bond we know. He is new, literally. Casino Royale (with cheese?) goes back to Ian Fleming's first book introducing us to this iconic character who has spawned 23 films. This is one franchise that needed a re-boot, and it got one in high fashion. Here we meet James before he has earned is Double 00 status. It shows how clumsy he is, and he doesn't think ahead. He is so focused on getting his guy, that he doesn't care what gets destroyed in the process. Once he earns his top status, he is put on a mission that will change the world...if he succeeds. If he fails, it very well may be in ruin. Le Chiffre (pronounced leh-sheef) is a bad man. He is a banker for the world's terrorists. He funds their operation with high interest loans, and he is very powerful. When Bond is sent to Montenegro for a high stakes poker game, he is ready to prove himself. He goes into a very bad situation against very bad people, and if he is found out, he will be dead. He must keep up his back story with his fake wife and all that are he will be outed. If Le Chiffre wins the tournament, there will be no stopping him or the global terrorists he funds. When Bond first enters the situation, he knows best. At least the arrogant side of him thinks so. He is always finding himself in situations that could have been avoided, and when he gets cocky at the table and nearly gives Le Chiffre the keys to the world, he realizes he must begin to trust his allies and what he has been advised by other friendlies in his presence. One CIA operative in particular knows how important this game is, and he does not care if he wins or Bond wins, so long as Le Chiffre does not win. It is a very intense film that introduced us to the voluptuous Eva Green. Great action scenes from beginning to end and of the Bond cornerstone Aston Martin is there and BA. Not only does he drive the newest of the new A M, but he wins the classic 1965 edition made famous by Connery's Bond. What a gorgeous piece of metal. Like I said, not a fan...until now. With 2 films under his Bond belt and a third on the way - FINALLY- I now consider myself a real fan, but not of the franchise. I think I am a fan of Daniel Craig as Bond and not much more. He plays tormented really well, and I don't remember any of the other Bonds having to do hat. This is also fitting to write about now being only 2.18 days from Cowboys and Aliens. Especially since it is being tagged as Indy and Bond fight Aliens in the old west. I just made myself wanna watch Casino Royale again. I am amazing.

NBM rates Casino Royale - Phenomenal

World's Greatest Dad

Lance Clayton (Robin Williams) is anything but the greatest dad in any realm, let alone our world. He is the epitome of a Father who has no freakin clue what his son is dealing with, or what to do about life. His life, his son's life....the whole thing seems to be a cluster F to him and he is drowning [figuratively speaking.] Lance is a somewhat normal middle age high school teacher who has to deal with his passion about to axed by budget cuts. His poetry class is all he seems to care about, but it may be taken from him. That is not his biggest issue though. His son, Kyle, is an abnormal 16 year old boy. He does constantly think about sex, but not normal sex. He is always trying to freak out his one and only friend. He succeeds most of the time, but his relationship with his Father is something else entirely. If my kids ever spoke to me the way Kyle speaks to Lance, I may have to beat them. Not only a lack of respect, but utter profanity and things one person should never say to another....ever. When Lance feels his tide is turning at one aspect - dating - he feels good. He goes on a date with a fellow teacher and drags his son along, who actually acts humanly. When Lance drops Kyle at home in order to take his date, Claire, home tragedy strikes. **SPOILER ALERT**  Lance comes home to find his son has passed in an extremely strange fashion. When Lance, grief stricken by this turn of events, decides to change his son's fate. Not literally, but more like contextually. He ends up changing his life and everyone around him as well. He ends up accidentally creating a legacy for his outcast son, and he does not know where to draw the line. He did it to make himself feel better about what has happened, but soon feels the effects of the choices he has made It is a depressing movie to watch, but at the same time, you kind of feel good about the choices Lance has made. All the people he helps and what not. Two things intrigued me about this film. Robin Williams to begin with. A brilliant actor who is always enjoyable in his darker roles. And 2, it was written and directed by the fantastic Bobcat Goldthwait. The comedian has a great dark mind and it shows. When I heard him interviewed about this film, he made sure that we knew this was not a feel good movie, and most definitely was not The Real World's Greatest Dad.


NBM rated World's Greatest Dad - Awesome

Life as a House

This is a movie about one thing. Building a house. The End. WRONG. It is so much more than that. It's really about one man's struggle to find closure with his son, his ex wife, and himself most of all before he dies. He wonders where it all went wrong, and how to make amends before the end. See, George is an architect. He builds tiny models by hand in a world run by computers. This makes him expendable in a company he has been with for 20 years. When he is let go, he goes B-A-N-A-N-A-S. After he is done with his "mission", he passes out in the parking lot. He is taken for medical care where he is informed he is dying, and by his own assumptions, he has about 4 months to live. He does not tell anyone. He does however take on a task he has put on the back burner for the last 20 years. Building his dream house on his ocean front property. Not only does he want to finish what he starts, he wants his son Sam (Hayden Christensen), whom he has very little to do with, not by his choice but Sam's, to be there every step of the way. Sam is not a typical teenage boy. He is a druggie, hates everyone, and turns tricks for cash. He hates himself, and that comes out in his attitude toward everyone else. George wants his son back, and though he does not tell him he is dying, he forces him to live with him for the summer to try and figure out what went wrong with them. Like I said, this movie is deep. It just happens to revolve around new construction. Tensions between Sam and George are as high as humanly possible, but George is not going to give up on his son. There is definitely an underlying Father/Son aspect to this film. Even more than the "Closure before dying" aspect, it is about the importance of family. Something George lost sight of years earlier. With things moving along slower than expected, George's health is failing, will he accomplish what he has set out to? Not the house, but Sam? This tugged at my heart strings as a father most of all. I cannot imagine my son hating me, and having to fight within my final months to get him back. A brilliant movie that will make you a little sad, but at the same time, very happy you watched it.

NBM rates Life as a House - Phenomenal

Almost Famous

I am a golden god!!
Any Famous last words?
I dig music.
BOOO!
I 'm on Drugs!!!
YaaaaaaaY!!!

So, many of you may not know that I started this site out of need for a positive take on the films we all love and "They" all hate or loath. Much like Julie from Julie and Julia, I vowed to take on a movie a day for 365 straight days. I have not failed at what many said would be tough to do. In fact, I am only 5 reviews after tonight going to reach that milestone. I already have the 365th review written, as it is fitting to review my favorite movie of all time. Also, I was thinking, being inside a week of completion, I feel I must write about a movie that is very dear to my heart. It holds a permanent place in my Top 10. By permanent, I mean it will never be replaced. I have seen Almost Famous 25 times minimum. Too many times to keep track, that's for sure. I saw it 3 times in the theater, and have appreciated it ever since. It follows a young man, William (Fugit), who has been lied to literally his whole life. It takes place in the 60's and his professor mother has advanced him a couple of times without his knowledge, so at the ripe ol' age of 15, he is not far off from graduating high school....where he is an outcast ready to be done with that particular rat race. He loves music and that is what saves his life. He gets an assignment from the rock critic Lester Bangs, and he is excited. He feels this may be the area he wants to advance in, but is unsure. When he turns in his words on the Black Sabbath show, he receives an even bigger assignment. Unbeknownst to them that William is 15, Rolling Stone magazine calls to get him to do a write up. They don't even know what they want from him, so they let him choose, and naturally he chooses a band that he is a fan of. Stillwater. Not only do they want an article, they want him to tour with the band. Be where they are, and see what they do at all times. He is in, but his controlling mother takes issue. She tends to freak people out with her over bearringness and demeanor. So, basically this 15 year old kid gets the opportunity of a lifetime and off he goes with his favorite band to document what makes them tick. The biggest fear is that he will like them so much he will not be able to be biased and give a true account of his travels. It is, in every sense of the words, a rock opera. Brilliant music, all of which you already know, as it is currently located in the classic rock section. The reality mixed with the fiction makes me so happy as I watch it. We see Humble Pie, Tom Petty, David Bowie, but of course it is not really them, just portrayers showing us the scene Stillwater and William are involved in. The music we see Stillwater perform are all original songs penned for the movie by the one and only Peter Frampton, so you know they are good. It follows band turmoil, along with William's inner struggle to deal with his idols failing him, along with a girl he loves, loves someone else. His best friend on the tour is Penny Lane (Kate Hudson). She is one of 4 groupies band-aids that travel and support Stillwater 24/7. This film also gave me several quotes I use on a weekly basis. Any time I see people fighting, I chime in with "Let's just go get some BBQ." And of course the classic line is "I am a golden god!!", but my favorite to say is when I am upset and someone is not taking me seriously, I will say..." Sweet? Where do you get Sweet? I am dark, and mysterious, and PISSED OFF!! I am the enemy." Though these are great lines, the one that speaks the most real life truth is when Lester explains to William about all those high school kids that hate him. He says, "You will meet them again on the long journey to the middle." Brilliant. Cameron Crowe made several great movies, but this is his masterpiece. It is a great coming of age film about a kid who experiences things most people never will in the entire life let alone when they were 15. I'm just saying, who loses their virginity with a FFFM foursome? That is insane. William grows up even faster than his Mother wanted him to thanks to the guys in Stillwater and Rolling Stone magazine. It is timeless to me and probably you too. In closing I just wanna say, "Hold me closer tiny dancer. Count the headlights on the highway....."

NBM rates Almost Famous - A Cinematic Work of Art

Captain America : The First Avenger

Today is a good day. Today Captain America fought back and I enjoyed it. You will get to read not 1, but 2 different reviews on this film. Would have been 3, but Dean-O is a Weeneus Maximus. Superman and The Jester will bring two accounts of what we witnessed and how it made us feel on the inside of our brains. I have not read his, because I do not want to be influenced, or copy him in any way. Total Deniability on my part if a copyright lawsuit arises from "Mr. Kent's" attorneys. Ever since The Captain talks arose, I was on board. Then the casting rumors began, and I will admit, I quickly jumped ship on the idea of the leader of the US Army being 29-ish. Chris Evans also played The Human Torch, and to cross him over just seemed wrong. It just seemed wrong to give that kind of power to a kid. I felt it should have gone to Mad Men's John Hamm, or Lost's Matthew Fox. Even Mark Valley from TV's Human Target would have sufficed me. It took a while... actually it only took one promo to get me juiced about it again. I accept things very easily, and after seeing Chris Evans dawn the suit, I was okay. We have seen approximately 100 million dollars worth of advertising, so I feel I do not need to go into the back story very much. Steve Rogers (Evans) is a scrawny little guy who wants to serve his country. After he is denied 4 times by the Army, his character is tested by a German scientist working with our military. He is given his chance to prove his worth. Not physical, but mental. When he earns his super soldier serum, his life changes for the...different. Due to the overly large amounts of tax dollars in this program, the government does not want him to get injured, but eventually he stops taking orders and shows once and for all, he is the perfect soldier. The action was awesome, and I did not expect Howard Stark to be an intricate part of this film. When Captain really begins to contribute, he begins taking down HYDRA's operational bases one by one. HYDRA is run by the demented Red Skull. A brilliant performance by Hugo Weaving. Red Skull plans to take over the world, but not as a NAZI operative, but as his own world power aptly named HYDRA. They have weapons the world has never seen, and he plans to use them. It was great that Cap and Skull have more than one scene together. They know what each other is, and that adds tension. I loved how the film began, but even better, how it ended. It could not have been done any better in my opinion. The way Marvel was able to showcase the human emotion in this film is something they not been able to do in any of their previous tries. It does a perfect job of showing us what Steve is about. It is the origin story, so character development is a must, and at times it seemed dragged out, but I do get it. They did what they had to do for uninformed movie goers. It only took 3 scenes for us to see how Steve handled life, but they added some more throughout that did a good job showcasing his desire to be the best soldier, but more than that, the best human. I knew Tommy Lee Jones was in the movie, but I did not know he would have screen time throughout, and every scene he was in, he absolutely stole. YES, you should stay till after the credits for the most exciting after credits extravaganza Marvel has ever delivered. If you don't realize that I enjoyed this film by now, then you have not been reading.


NBM rates Captain America : The First Avenger - Phenomenal

"Superman's" Review

O Captain My Captain

The Marvel Universe’s stars have aligned in the wee hours of this quiet Friday morning, 12:01a.m. to be precise. For I, Clark Kent, witnessed this spectacular phenomenon unfold in what I believe to be the final Marvel individual superhero movie installment, Captain America.  I can make 2 statements that I think helps put perspective into my superhero watching movie thoughts and reviews.  1^st I have never ever read any superhero comic books growing up.  None whatsoever! So I don’t know the stories, background of the characters, history or evolution of each of the superhero’s or how they have came to be or their demise. 2^nd I just love super hero movies and the entertainment factor.  I am not concerned if they, Got it right, or stayed true to the story.  I just want to be entertained and be able to step away from my mere existence of a mortal (contrary to belief I was not born on Krypton nor was I the son of Jor El, I was born in Uniontown and am the son of Roy). So take those 2 points when I talk about my amazement with all the Marvel movies leading to this final installment.

Going into the theater I was looking for 2 things. An exciting superhero movie in the tradition of all other Marvel debut’s and to get “my butt rocked off” as a film critics stated following the end credits.  Both things happened.  Ironman holds a special place in my heart as my favorite Marvel movie I think mainly due to the cool factor of the Ironman suit and the engineering prowess of Tony Stark but as of 12 hrs ago I feel that Steve Rogers is there side by side with him.  I think that all of the Marvel movies are filmed in different styles and themes, IronmanCGI action sequences. It seemed  to me they nailed it with just the right balance to create a story designed around a centralized character that everyone would want to aspire to be, a true hero to the country. The movie unfolds in present day and builds up to the opening sequence grandly.  Just those first few minutes really sets the tone for the story of Captain America. Captain America’s story opens of a young man just wanting to do his part and not run away from a fight. He tried to enlist but is like 90lbs soaking wet and sickly to say the least.  But this man had the qualities of a true hero; Determination, Character, and Heart.  He is indeed a good man and has the opportunity presented before him to be great!  Tommy Lee Jones does a great job as playing Col. Chester Phillips as well as Stanley Tucci as Dr. Abram Erskine. Both developing Steve Rogers character leading up to the moment when Captain America is created.   Captain A is both an iconic and immortal figure of good and has all the qualities of being a super hero. The final few minutes of the movie really sealed the deal for me on the proper way to open up this movie and bring it to an end. They did it masterfully!

Marvel again does what they have been doing since they started this mission.  There are plenty of easter eggs, hidden throughout the film that just sort of pulls everything together.  Howard Stark and Stark Industries make their appearance and introduce the Expo that we see in the Ironman 2 movie.  Stan Lee makes his regular cameo with his short witty line.  There are ties to Thor of course and other happening that the viewer can begin to piece together this complex Marvel world of The Avenger’s that is planned for theaters next year.   We can intuitively develop the beginning to the end of the individual movies and take the next step in our supehero evolution to the team of superhero’s that will all come out of the past few years of movies.

I have to indeed award the Phenomenal rating because I feel Captain America completed  the final chapter both with style and great anticipation for things to come next year.

Parting words:  We have all been to enough of these Marvel movies to KNOW that they will have something after the end credits.  As the movie ended I watched at least a dozen or so people leave.  1^st off where do you have to go in such a hurry at 2:32 in the morning.  2^nd off they just know better, unless they were evil Hydra forces and were tired of watchin themselves get their butt kicked for the last 2 hours. Either way, I felt sorry for them as did my daughter.  We waited and we waited and we waited. Then it came in all it’s glory and magnificence it unfolded before my eyes for what seemed like eternity as the visions that danced across the screen before me burned it’s picture in my head for the next 12 months.  It was everything I hoped for and my “butt was rocked off indeed”.  I pity those that walked out and missed it and wept for them on the way to my car.

Superman rates Captain America - Phenomenal

Unknown

Being dubbed as Taken 2, I was more than willing and excited to sit down and watch this. There is just something about Liam. Lately I feel that he can do no wrong. This movie starts out fast and strong. Within a couple minutes it is thick in plot and already has us guessing on what direction this is gonna take us. We meet Dr. Martin Harris (Neeson) along with his wife Liz (January Jones) as they arrive in Berlin for a convention. We do not know what kind of convention, but it is somewhat unimportant, or so we think. When Martin leaves his briefcase at the airport, he must go back there to retrieve it. On the way back there, the cab he is in, crashes into the river. This leaves him in a coma that lasts 4 days, and no one is looking for him. When he finally finds Liz back at the hotel, he is denied all access due to a lack of identification. When his claims of being Dr. Martin Harris are refuted by Dr. Martin Harris (Aiden Quinn) and his wife Liz, he is really feeling lost. He knows what he knows, but with no ID, and everyone he knows denying him, he does not know what to do. If that isn't bad enough, he is being followed, and he doesn't know who to trust. I will tell you without spoiling anything that it went in a direction I didn't see coming. The direction and story telling do a great job of misdirection. It really keeps us guessing who the real Martin Harris is, and why this is all happening. It was interesting to watch, but it has nothing on Taken. With supporting roles from the beautiful Dianne Kruger and the creepy Frank Langella, it really was done well. Reminded me a little of the Bourne series at times, but that is not to take away from Unknown.


NBM rates Unknown - Awesome

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

A live action re-telling of the classic Disney tale. The Sorcerer's Apprentice follows the story of a mostly never ending battle between opposing forces through the history of time. The film starts off in the year 700-ish AD, where we meet Merlin - yes, that Merlin- and the 3 people he felt had the heart and head to know all his secrets of sorcery. His 3 apprentices are Balthazar (Cage), Horvath (Molina), and Veronica (Bellucci). This movie has about 4 to 5 different stories all intertwined, which I felt hurt it at times. It starts out with Merlin being betrayed by Horvath and Morgana. Morgana is evil and will end the world if given the chance. Merlin and his other two apprentices can't let this happen. When defeat becomes imminent to Merlin, he gives Balthazar his ring, that can only be passed on to the special person who possesses the mind set to achieve what Merlin has. He will be the world's savior if Balthazar ever finds him. Balthazar searches for 1000 years and finally the day comes when he finds Dave (Baruchel). The rest of the film finds Balthazar training young Dave, while Dave tries to come to grips with this. Not to mention he is dealing with his own personal issues that really don't mix with his new found fate. Girl issues. It all comes down to a battle and some smart thinking on Dave's part. I will say that with all the bad buzz around this film, I didn't have much hope. Then I watched the first 45 minutes and thought otherwise, then I watched the last 45 minutes and began to realize why it was ripped apart. It is in every sense of the phrase, "Half a movie", better to say, "Half of a great movie." It's funny, if a film had a weak beginning, but brought everything full circle and finished great, it would be considered "Great." When a movie starts off great and ends poorly, it is considered a failure. The CG and special effects are second to none, and the humor is decent at times. Nic Cage wore a believable hair piece, and Monica Bellucci is always nice to look at, but overall, This could have been done much better. Also, it was hard for me to hear them talk to or about the character Horvath, because all I heard each and every time was Whore Bath. NBM rates the first half - Awesome, and the second half - Good, so in the land of averages....

NBM rates The Sorcerer's Apprentice - Great

The Amazing Spider-Man Teaser Trailer

So I enjoyed the original Spider Man series, but I will admit, I think Tobey was the wrong choice. I never believed him as The web crawler, and though I saw each of them and own each of them, I am very excited to see Andrew Garfield spin the web. The first thing I read about this was negative. Compared to the first Sam Raime trailer, this one comes off flat. I disagree. I think it will be great. I also don't know if it was only used for trailer purposes or if it will actually be in the film, but the first person visual of Spidey running over roof tops and flying through the city are insanely cool visuals. I hope they do use that scene, but that is to say, not "over use" that perspective. I feel if it was used once it would be perfect, but more than once would feel diluted. Enjoy the following trailer.

Machete

Never have I heard of a film put into production because of the buzz a Fake trailer produced. When The Grindhouse films, Death Proof and Planet Terror came out, they had fake trailers made specifically for them. The trailers were made in the same effect as the grind house films, so to say, these movies are the real deal. When a 3 minute trailer featuring Danny Trejo and Lindsay Lohan aired in front of the film, people went berserk. A film about a renegade Mexican who's weapon of choice is a Machete got so much feedback, this fake trailer turned Danny Trejo into a leading man after a decade or so of being a character actor. I love that Robert Rodriguez shot this film exactly like the fake trailer. Just like 70's grind house. Scratchy film, dull color, and campiness as far as the eye could see. When Machete (pronounced Mu-chet-Tay), a Federale, is betrayed by his own countrymen, he is pissed. Unfortunately he does not have time to dwell on that for too long before a powerful man named Torrez (Steven Seagal) kills his wife and Daughter, yet fails to kill him, putting him into a state of melancholy. He is now in the USA trying to rebuild his life. What is currently going on in Texas has the Mexican population in turmoil. A Senator (DeNiro) along with a local Texas independent border patrolman (Don Johnson) are trying to keep our borders Mexican free. They take drastic measures to ensure this. When a local man comes to Machete and pays him to assassinate said Senator, he gets set up big time. The Senator takes one in the leg from someone else, while Machete is framed for Attempted Murder. Now he is on the run, but he gets help from a couple of sources to help him bust this conspiracy wide open. It is a bit of a blood fest. The cast is amazing. Jessica Alba as the Immigration Officer, Cheech Marin as a Priest and brother to Machete, Michelle Rodriguez as a local restaurateur always fighting for the Mexican cause, and Lindsay Lohan. She is not around a whole lot, but she is naked and it does show her bits. YAY. When the Mexican's face off against the Texan vigilantes, it is one helluva great action scene. Machete is like the Latino Martin Luther King, minus the speeches and all that. He has been appointed their leader and he will stop at nothing. This is one of those films that if you take it seriously, you will hate it. You have to appreciate the effort Robert Rodriguez put into making a film placed in the present day, but looking like it was shot 40 years ago. It is just a good, fun movie to watch. I was considering rating it Phenomenal, but I do not think many people would understand why. In order to keep my credibility...


NBM rates Machete - Awesome

Faster

When getaway Driver (Dwayne Johnson) gets nicked for a bank job, he gets 10 years. That's not the bad part. He and his crew were set up, but by whom is the real question? He and his crew do get away initially, but are soon tracked down and killed in their safe house. This is why Driver is so pisses off. His brother was killed for no reason at all and he was put behind bars. At this point there is nothing to stop him from getting his revenge on those responsible for his Brother's death. From the opening scene once he is a free man, you are in for a ride. He drives an absolutely BA 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS - I'm guessing it was the 454 and not the 396, because Driver doesn't seem like the type of cat to puss out on the engine size to save a couple bucks. He has the biggest gun I've ever seen, especially revolver style. When I asked A-Bomb what caliber he thought it may be, I answered before he could with 1". If you know guns, you know that would be of astronomical size. He is out to pick off each person that was present at the hide out, and he will not be stopped. Literally, he is a man on a mission, and I don't even think if you killed him, he would stop. The is a true revenge flick in the fullest of terms. Think Payback. Think of how much Mel wanted revenge in that film and then multiply that  by 6. That is about where Driver is in his life. The best part is the fact that all the people that wronged him have been awaiting his return. They knew it was inevitable, but there really is no prep for what he brings to the table. Before Driver gets too out of hand, a sub plot is integrated that really was not all that necessary, but at the same time, it did not dilute or take away from the movie I was enjoying. Sub plot: A "Hitter" has been hired to take Driver out of the equation. That story is pretty good, but the story is really about the man behind the man behind the Huge gun. A great action film, and very violent and bloody at times. If you like The Rock, and you wanna smell what he's been cooking, he basically cooks up an ass whooping in Faster. With supporting roles from Billy Bob as the cop on his tail, and a cameo by Tom Berenger as The Warden, along with the lovely Moon Bloodgood, the movie really turned out well.

NBM rates Faster - Awesome

The Sting

As The Jester quickly approaches the end of his first year of daily movie reviews, I figure he’s got to be getting a little worn down. Jester – consider this my gift to you – a day off!

Flipping through the channels last night, I stumbled across The Sting playing on Retroplex. Jester has referenced many a movie over the last year that he will drop everything for to watch if it’s on, even if he’s already seen the movie a dozen times. For me, The Sting is one of those films. It was filmed in 1973…it’s based in the 1930’s…and it just has a timeless feel about it. At a high level, the film is about con men, but after you’ve seen it a few times you appreciate that there is so much more to it. For me, there are three elements that stand out above the rest. First – the intricacy and complexity of the plot. The main character is Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford), a small time con man who frivolously wastes every score he collects. As the movie progresses, Hooker is essentially trying to juggle four “secret lives” at the same time: working with Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) and his crew to run a “big con” against Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw), pretending to be turning against Gondorff to gain Lonnegan’s trust, running from the Joliet cop who has been chasing him for years without letting his Gondorff know for fear of losing his spot in the “big con”, and reluctantly working with the FBI against Gondorff to clear his name. Confusing? Maybe. The first two times I saw it I had trouble connecting all the dots. Trust me when I tell you that I’ve now come to fully appreciate the flawlessness with which they pulled this all off. In the end, there isn’t a loose string left hanging anywhere, and they’re brilliant in the way that it all ties together. The second element I’m really impressed with is the cinematography. I wouldn’t call myself a “film geek”, but even I have come to appreciate the set-up of some of the shots in the movie. Two that stand out: a scene where Hooker is peering over the shoulder of one of Lonnegan’s bodyguards, he and the bodyguard both had to his specific marks so you can barely see Hooker’s eyes as he sizes up the much larger bodyguard, and a scene where there is action set in front of a storefront window, and just when you think that scene is over they zoom in on the window itself and you realize that there one of the con men monitoring the action from a 2^nd story apartment across the street. These are subtle touches, and in today’s film world they’d probably be done with CGI instead of slick camera work and direction. The third element I’m always impressed with is the on-screen chemistry between Paul Newman and Robert Redford. It’s not a “bromance” kind of chemistry, so don’t take that the wrong way. These guys are the epitome of the “buddy movie” pairing. They work so well together, they seem like a natural fit. In the movie, Gondorff and Hooker clearly have the “Mentor/Mentee” relationship, and I have to believe that same relationship existed between Newman and Redford in real life, as well. It’s always fun to see two masters of their craft working side by side.

So, the next time you’re flipping through the channels and you see The Sting listed in the channel guide, give it a shot. You will not be disappointed. 

Dean-O guarantees it.

NBM rates The Sting - Phenomenal

The Others

I will be the first to tell anyone that I do not care for the horror genre or the scary beyond belief films that so many people seem to love. On the other hand, if a movie can be creepy and twisted with a superb ending, then I am in. The others is more of a suspense thriller than anything else. It does have a few shock and awe factors built in, but mostly it is just a story we are trying to figure out. When Grace (Kidman) moves her and her two children to a Jersey mansion near the end of WWII, all is well. They move into this house that they must board up almost immediately due to both her children having a light sensitive disease. This makes this huge home very dank and extremely creepy and dark. They are basically shut ins, and all Grace is waiting for is her husband to get back from the war. When Grace and the children begin hearing things, she begins to wonder. When they begin seeing things, then she is certain that they are treading on the territory of ghosts or spirits unable to crossover. Possibly the previous owners. She is unsure, but she doesn't like it. Short and to the point, she wants her home spirit free, so her family can go about their lives in peace. Like I said, a few quick scares, a couple shocking moments, but when it comes down to the money shot, the answers we have been seeking, what we realize is crazy cool. A great ending that I didn't see coming, which says a lot. Well written, smoke in mirrors, Nicole Kidman is fantastic, and I will watch this again.

NBM rates The Others - Awesome

The Lincoln Lawyer

So I had heard from one person this movie was great, but I'm not sure how much I believed him. He only watches about 5 movies a year and tends to have the opposite opinion on film as I usually do. This one, however, he hit the nail on the head. Right from the get go we see what Mick (McConaughey) is all about. he is a top notch, no BS, very successful defense attorney. Basically, he represents the scum of the Earth, but he likes it that way. He is good, and no one can deny that. When he is presented a case involving a millionaires son charges with loads of bad things, he accepts it. Two reason: His cockiness, and the paycheck. When he meets his client, he has the 20 questions, but never asks anyone if they actually did it. His motto is along the lines of "Everyone is guilty and we may get them off, I WILL not be responsible for sending an innocent man to prison." In his mind, innocence does not exist. His 32 year old, wealthy, playboy client claims he has been set up. Louis (Phillippe) is a smooth talker, but when faced with 25 years in prison, he is still a pretty smooth talker. He states that the innocent don't hide, so he is gonna do whatever it takes to get this behind him. With Mick and his PI, Frank (Macy) on the case, they should have this aggravated assault with a deadly weapon whilst attempting to rape a prostitute thrown out rather quickly. Mick is better than good at what he does. He knows it, but so does everyone else who knows him. When the digging begins, Mick is more than a little unhappy with what he finds. Louis has been lying to him about some of the details, which gets Mick's gears turning. What starts out as a pretty standard court room drama quickly escalates into an extremely intense thriller, and a guessing game of who is playing who, and what is the real deal with Louis? What Mick finds out floors him, and now he does not know what he is to do. He is a man with no conscience, which is why he is so successful, but when faced with a decision to make, will he make the right one? An extremely smart movie that makes you feel it has ended, and then here comes another bomb. Clever, and well written, but the supporting cast alone should make you more than willing to shell out $1 to rent it. Marisa Tomei as a prosecuting attorney who also happens to share a daughter with Mick. Then we have the prosecuting attorney on this particular case is Josh Lucas. John Leguizamo is always welcome, but the best role is mildly unrelated to the thick plot of this film is played by Trace Adkins. The Country music singer plays a BA biker in a California gang who always seem to have business with Mick. These bikers add a really good perspective to the film. It shows how even though not many people in judiciary system may not care for Mick, there are a lot of real world people who appreciate what he may have been able to do for them, and life is all about who ya know.

NBM rates The Lincoln Lawyer - Phenomenal

Brick

This is a fantastic independent film that everyone should see. Well, maybe not everyone. Definitely those who love Joseph Gordon Levitt (JGL) or independent films, or films about the seedy underground of the drug industry. Illegal drugs, not pharmaceutical drugs. That's not the real story though. The real story is of Brendan (JGL) trying to figure out what happened to his ex girlfriend. I know most people would not care about their ex, but because their relationship recently demised, and she had been acting strange before she broke up with him, he felt something was off. Apparently she had gotten into Brick-a new drug with a teenage demographic. When he finds her dead body near a sewage tunnel, he doesn't want to hand it over the police. He wants to know why she was killed. She had called him a couple days earlier in a bit of a panic and somewhat incoherent. He recalls some of the key words she used and from here he begins his investigation. He asks a lot of questions around his high school and some of the people do not like being asked about their business, hence his face pictured above. He must know why Emily is dead, and he also wants to make the one(s) responsible pay. It is a deeper revenge flick than most. Extremely smart also. Sometimes too smart. I have only seen it once, but would definitely like to watch it again. Brendan's drive is unlike that of most high schoolers, but his loner attitude probably helps out with that. When he really gets going, he finds out this goes so much deeper than he could have imagined. He gets further and further underground, and at this point he feels even his life may be at stake. Brilliant movie, perfect ending. Superb. 

NBM rates Brick - Phenomenal

Trapped in Paradise

Yet another film based on the relationship of 3 brothers. This time it's a comedy about the ties that bind. It follows Bill Firpo (Coppola Cage) and his two younger brothers, who both happen to be currently in prison. They get out shortly into the film and claim to be cleaned up. His brother Dave (Lovitz) is a con man, while Alvin (Carvey) is a semi retarded kleptomaniac. When they get released from their most recent stretch, they have a plan. Unfortunately for their eldest bro, who has never been in the klink, they wanna get him involved in their latest scheme which is to take place in the small town of Paradise. It is an absolutely no fail bank robbery, and Bill cannot say no. They travel to Paradise for the "smash and grab" heist and from here everything goes wrong...I mean funny. The rest of the middle of the film shows how this small town bands together to preserve Christmas and the spirit that it holds. The brothers stole money from the bank, but essentially stole the dreams of every resident in this small town. When they fail to get out of town [car trouble], a local offers them a hot and a cot. They accept, thinking they can be on their way in the morning. The house this good Samaritan takes them to is actually his parents house, who happen to be the owners of the local bank that was just robbed. They sit there and eat this feast while listening to these poor people trying to figure out how they are going to move forward, but the thing that gets Bill's goat is the fact that these lovely people never bad mouth the bank robbers. They figure these robbers must have had a real need for the money they stole. This not only baffles Bill, but makes him regret his actions. No matter how hard they try to get out of Paradise, nothing works. It all comes to a frightening conclusion when more ex-current-cons end up in Paradise as well. They are there to get the money the brothers stole as they claim the bank heist was their idea. A super sweet movie about how people can generally be super sweet. Many people may see this and chalk it up to Hollywood fiction in the terms that "People are not that way. That nice. That forgiving. That gracious." I say, you must have never been in the small town Southern USA. The South offers loads of people that are just this way with these traits and they are completely real and honest. The 3 brothers wanna do what's right, but it may be too late. Too many parties are involved at this point, and the guns have been drawn.

NBM rates Trapped in Paradise - Awesome

Four Rooms

By special request, NBM brings you Quentin Tarantino's most underrated film. I, on the other hand love Four Rooms. It is comprised of Four different segments which are all tied together with a bellhop named Ted (Tim Roth) on his first day of work. Each segment is directed by a different person and two of the four happen to be Robert Rodriguez and Tarantino. The other two are really not important. I mean, when one thinks of this film, the two that stand out are "The Misbehavers", and "The Man from Hollywood." So Ted is basically having the worst first day of any career ever. He starts out as cheeky as possible kissing ass, and doing his job at 110%. Then after the first couple rooms, he just stops caring. The first room is a coven of witches and that story is cool because of the nudity, but it doesn't last long and then it is over. The second room is a pissed off Italian who sticks a gun in Ted's face with certain accusations that Ted is able to weasel out of. This is all filler that leads to the 3rd and 4th rooms. The 3rd room, aptly named after what Antonio Banderas (The Father) is constantly telling his kids. "Don't ... Misbehave!!" This is the room that puts him over the edge. He is given very specific, threatening instructions by the Father to basically babysit his children. Then everything goes wrong and lets just say that the young boy smokes, they watch porn, a dead hooker is found in the mattress and a hypodermic needled from God knows where ends up in the flesh of Ted. Hilarious and very bad for our rookie bellhop. Then we get to the final room where Ted's night from Hell may pay off if he plays his cards right. Bruce Willis, and Tarantino show up on screen in this room. They have made a very serious wager that involves a lighter, $1500, and a man's pinkie finger. This is where Ted, an unbiased third party, can make his day all worth it. It may be the best ending possible, or the best ending of any movie ever. As A-Bomb stated tonight, the visual with Ted and the Meat cleaver, along with his lack of hesitation is among the best visuals ever. It is a fun movie to watch, and is very much re-watchable. And remember, any time you may be having a bad day, and someone asks you, "What's the problem?", be sure to reply with, "I have PROBLEMS!! Plural!!

NBM rates Four Rooms - Phenomenal

Just Married

Another movie about a wedding? It's ok, because this is 100% comedy gold. This is the love story of Tom (Kutcher) and Sarah (Murphy). These two star crossed lovers meet and get hitched rather quickly. Maybe too soon. One should never get married before they have a huge fight and get back to good from that fight. They do and her Father is not happy. He feels Tom is after the family money. Her Family is extremely wealthy and Tom is extremely broke. It's not that at all, but their "love" will be tested sooner than they hoped. They survive the wedding, but the European honeymoon is the story. It is the funny stuff. It all starts with the "compact" rental car once in Europe. Apparently a "compact" across the pond is quite different from here in the US of A. It only gets better from there, and our newlyweds realize marriage is work. Not only work, but hard work. They get kicked out of their posh digs for shorting out the entire electrical system with their sex toy, then they are on their own. The picture above is when her Father's choice for Sarah to marry shows up in Venice. Unbeknownst to her, he is on his own agenda to break them by arising jealousy issues. He succeeds and they travel back to the states separately. Now he has to fight for her, or decide whether he made the right decision at all. His Father gives him a speech and that seems to light a fire under Tom's pooper. This leads to the funniest and most horrific scene in the film. "I'm going to RAM the gate!!!!. The ramming part is ok, but with a cherry 1969 Dodge Charger? I don't know of a thing on Earth that would cause me to ruin that car. Great movie, great memories.

NBM rates Just Married - Awesome

My Best Friend's Wedding

I'll admit it. This is another one of my guilty pleasures in film. Maybe it's the memories I have of seeing it the first time, or maybe, just maybe it is because it is truly a great romantic comedy. I watched pretty much everything that came out when I was in High School - Riverdale Football RULES!!!! - and I admit that because I had a GF for a long spell, I watched some stuff many dudes my age didn't. I'm man enough to be comfortable in the fact that I can enjoy a film like this at 15 years old. When Julianne (Roberts) realizes she may have to carry out with an "agreement"  she made with her best friend Michael (Mulroney) some 10 years earlier. The terms? If both parties were still unmarried and unattached on their 28 birthdays, then they will marry each other. Michael calls her days before his B-day only to tell her he is getting married. It's the classic story of how women don't know what they want until they can't have what they didn't originally want and then they want that...whatever "that" may be...or something like that. She doesn't want to marry Michael even though she does love him. Her disdain for his future wife outweighs her own thoughts on marriage, and now she feels she must end their relationship within the 3 days leading to the nuptials. She is overwhelmed with the thoughts that she missed her window at happiness and will stop at nothing to succeed. The funny thing is, even if successful, once she has what she wants, she probably won't want it anymore. That is Julianne's mentality. Her other BF is a very gay man named George (Rupert Everett). Upon her many shortcomings on her plan, she calls in the big guns to see how Michael may feel about her. She fakes her own engagement with the uber gay George, which gives us one of the best sing alongs in cinema history. If you do not sing along, you just don't get it. She may succeed, but at what cost? She may lose the reason she does all of this, but she is too short sided to realize any of this. At times this film is as happy go lucky as possible, then it gets Real and dark. It has the perfect ending to a great movie and I am watching it right now. Pond Scum? Nope. Lower than that.

NBM rates My Best Friend's Wedding - Awesome

The Good Girl

Somehow this turned into Jennifer Aniston week, and I promise you this will be the third and final post that involves her for at least a little while. This completes the Jen trilogy, and I do believe these are her 3 best movies. This film actually depicts her a plain, unhappy woman stuck in the rut of middle age. She is not unattractive (that's impossible), but she is not glamorous like most of her other roles. Justine (Aniston) has been married for way too long. Her husband, Phil (John C. Reilly) doesn't seem to appreciate her, they are working class-so life is tough, and she is really unhappy. She works at a local department drug store where everyday is the same. Then one day Holden (Gyllenhaal) begins working there. The age difference between them doesn't deter them from having an illicit affair. He adores her, but he has issues of his own. He actually believes he is Holden Caulfield, who is the protagonist from the book, The Catcher in the Rye. She feels guilt at first as anyone would, but she begins to justify her actions to herself. He is falling for her when she feels enough is enough. She and Phil have decided to have a baby, so she thinks it should be over. it was just a phase, and now she will move on with her normal middle American life. She thinks it is behind her, until Phil's best friend Bubba (Tim Blake Nelson) catches her with Holden and threatens to tell Phil. He actually blackmails her which is all too creepy a situation considering the parties involved. With her pregnancy troubles, life has gotten even harder, so when she does get pregnant with the possibility of 3 different men being the Father, she can do nothing but wait. It is depressing, yet heartfelt. She doesn't seem to love Phil anymore, but she doesn't want to do anything to hurt him. It is a great independent film with an all star cast. I do recommend it for anyone who likes movies.

NBM rates The Good Girl - Awesome

Horrible Bosses

I'm not gonna make you wait for an instant honest opinion. It is better than The Hangover Part II. There, I said it. It is smarter, sexier, and more uncomfortable. It is a better story, with a group of actors we might not be able to fathom working together. The final solution is a funny, raunchy, LOL film with a smart story. They did not try and "out gross" The hangover. It did what it should do. It is a stand alone film that should not be compared to anything. It is what it is, and that is all that you need to know... and this too of course, Jennifer Aniston finally gets a role that may shed her Rom-Com carrying persona for more  dark, seedy, sexual roles that can fulfill her talent in more than one way. Her 2 best roles to date are The Good Girl, and Derailed. Add Horrible bosses to that short list for her, and maybe now we can see her expand on her resume'. Of course, beside the many laughs that most of the other actors provide, she provides the sexy with her deviant, dominant, sexual being behind the Dentist tools. She is on the prowl for the man that is her Dental assistant. Dale (Charlie Day) is happily engaged, and is very much about monogamy and loyalty to his fiance'. Julia (Aniston) doesn't care and she wants him. She is a pervert, who talks really, really dirty throughout the film, and I for one found it refreshing. 

Then we have Nick (Bateman), who has had the same crap job with the same crap boss for 8 years. David Harkin (Spacey) is the ultimate prick. I say jump, you say how high. He is constantly making his employees grovel like it is their privilege to work for him. He adds the intensity among our 3 horrible bosses. He is crazy, and is constantly putting Nick in bad situations just to throw it back in his face at a later time. If David is crazy enough, he also thinks his wife is constantly cheating on him, and this makes him even crazier. Spacey perfected the "Bad Boss" in Swimming with Sharks, and this is basically the same character, but I am not complaining. A perfect cast.

Lastly there is Kurt (Sudeikis) who actually loves his job and his boss cameoed by Donald Sutherland. On the other hand, his son Bobby (An overweight Colin Ferrell with a great comb-over) is a coke head who hates the relationship Kurt has with his Father. When Bobby takes over the company, he uses all that past jealousy to make Kurt's life hell. Ferrell does a great job at re-inventing himself as a comedic actor, but he adds in the "lazy prick who now has power" factor to perfection.

With these 3 friends struggling to go to work every day, they devise a plan to kill their bosses. When they decide to sub out the tasks, the movie turns hilarious. Apparently finding a hit man is not so easy. They do get some advice from an always good Jamie Foxx who plays local thug "Mother F-er Jones". At this point they are in it to win it, and the story goes out of control in a great way. I was so surprised at how well done it was, and also "Always Sunny in Philadelphia's" Charlie Day was a breath of fresh air. Sudeikis is funnier than I thought he would be, and Bateman delivers with his Quiet cool pissed uncomfortable person he has perfected. I don't mind that Bateman seems to be the same person in everything he does, because he invented that persona and you can't tell me anyone you may think he is "acting" like. He is original and brilliant. The jokes are funny. I laughed a lot, and I liked it better than the other 2 huge summer comedies we have had this year. Bridesmaids and The Hangover II. I do wonder if Bateman's new movie "The Change Up" will be as good as this? One can only hope. Horrible Bosses is rating R for extremely heavy language. From the opening credits, it never slows up. If you can handle cursing and suggestive sexual innuendo, then don't miss out. I will say that the movie doesn't get as dark as I expected. It stays pretty light hearted, and sticks to what it set out to do.


NBM rates Horrible Bosses - Phenomenal