2016 : Obama's America

This is not a film that is going to draw a wide audience. When it comes to politics you have Right and Left, but rarely Center. I consider myself and my views Right. Not because of my politics, but my general being. I am a quite accurate person. Anytime I speak it tends to correct. In that sense, I am right. As for Politics, no one is ever right - correct. Politicians always have their own agenda and the person who gets elected is the one that makes the most believable promises. Delivering on those promises is more rare these days than finding a pack of unicorns. What I wanted to know about this film is how little I actually knew of the man who is our 44th President. I knew almost nothing about him and that is scary. It is a fact based documentary. Not much speculation or theories, but it all seems black and white. I also was interested by the fact that this is based on the book written by Dinesh D'Souza. He is an immigrant himself who has seen the best and worst of The U.S., and I was interested on his perspective. I really enjoyed the architecture of his documentary. At 90 minutes long, it breaks down like this - Opening 20 minutes are about Dinesh himself. His beginnings, how he came to the U.S., and his career during and after his college years at Dartmouth. The next 40 minutes focus on Barack Obama. From birth till now, almost nothing is left out. This is important, because he is an unknown person who lives in the White House and runs the country. We are given information not released in the media, and this interested me. It chronicles his relationship or lack thereof with his Father, follows him to Indonesia where he lived as a teen for a few years, and it closely dissects his relationships with several radicals in the world that have very different views about life and liberty as we have come to know here in the U.S. Finally the last half hour is where it does get very Real and very Scary. It poses the question of what state our country will be in by 2016 if he gets re-elected. In my opinion, all Americans, Left Right and Center should watch this portion. The history of Barry is important because we see his allegiances and how he views "What America should be", but if everyone watched the last half hour with a completely blank and open mind, and forgot about Political Parties and all that,  the 2012 election would turn out very differently. I think Dinesh put together a great documentary without slamming Obama, accusing him of not being born here, and not downright attacking him. We get facts, some opinions, and we should do with it what we will.

NBM rates 2016 - A Must See before November 6, 2012

God Bless America

This is a brilliant premise that not only delivers visually, but audibly, and cerebrally as well. It shows what is wrong with our society in a smash nose fashion, that I would wager the majority of people who watch this film are actually smart enough to recognize a good movie when they see, and therefore are smart enough to realize how bad our society has actually become. Bobcat Goldthwait wrote this unseen gem, and just like his other film, World's Greatest Dad, he delivers what humans have stopped thinking about. Very common societal issues that have somehow become "normal". The way he puts it all down is genius, and though the content is very adult, mass murder and whatnot,  it is very poetic. The opening monologue in itself is one of the best I've heard, and the hero/anti-hero depending on your views of the story, has several really good speeches throughout. When Frank gets the news of a terminal, inoperable brain tumor, he decides enough is enough and his first target is awesome. a "Sweet sixteen" spoiled beyond belief, reality queen who is "mean". This is when he instantly feels better about his soon to end crappy existence, but until one of the now deceased girls classmates stalks him as kind of an innocent "you're my hero", things get awesome. She wants to kill everyone, whereas he just wants to kill people who deserve it. People who are mean. Sure, it is a Dramedy about two mass murderers who, in a strange way, had me rooting for them to wipe out the scum of the Earth and get away with it. It would be a hard film to watch if you have a weak stomach, or hate senseless killing. I really know the reason we are on Frank's side is because of how and why he loses his job. There is no respect, no chivalry, no decency, and no common sense in our world anymore and Frank decides to amend that, and I respect him for it. Balls to the wall, all out, downright delightful extermination of the vermin that occupy our society with no remorse at all. Funny thing is today, one day after watching this film, I realized I would be spared by Frank. I am polite and respectful. So, here is to "the meek shall inherit the Earth" and all that.

NBM rates God Bless America - Phenomenal

The Raid : Redemption

You can read and assess all you want about any given film, but there is no certainty it will deliver what you may have expected. When I heard "Indonesian task force (Cops) raid a building for 90 minutes trying to take down bad guy" I was skeptical. I was not skeptical after watching the trailer if the film was to be less than 30 minutes long. However, at 90 minutes I wondered how they could spend that much time in one building? I am going to throw out a comparison, and I doubt you will agree with me right out of the gate. Scott Pilgrim vs The World. Films that rely solely on choreography had better be PERFECT, and entertaining without becoming stagnate in the delivery. This subtitled film was easy to follow along. The plot is not that in depth. Director Gareth Evans set out to make a modern martial arts film for pure entertainment purposes and he succeeded. It reminded me of Scott Pilgrim because he did things in his film I had never seen before, much like Edgar Wright did in SP. New and inventive ways to kill people, non stop fighting involving at least 2 people and up to 30 at a time. Guns, machetes, hammers, chairs, axes, fridges, and fists are all used as weapons. It really is non stop action with a body count around 100 I'd say. It is one of the bloodiest, most brutal films I have ever seen, but very beautifully done. The direction is flawless, but like I said, the choreography is second to none. Immensely entertaining. Makes me wish Indonesia had more movies come to the states. Of course that could more harm than good. This is probably one of those diamond in the rough, 1000:1 odd type of deals, and as far as I'm concerned, lightning doesn't strike twice when dealing with third world countries making great cinema.

NBM rates The Raid: Redemption - Phenomenal

The Expendables 2

The first Expendables was everything men who were children in the eighties and nineties could have dreamed of, and The Expendables 2 is so much better in every aspect it should be illegal. Featuring a cast with a combined age of around 980 years, these guys have been around the block. However, they have never traveled together. Stallone may be my favorite person right now for having an idea and making it happen. He got some of the biggest egos in Hollywood to all play equal on screen portions to help create what is turning into the best action franchise of all time. The first one was surreal when Willis, Arnie, and Sly all shared the screen for that one short scene. Now to see them fighting side by side is the reality I am glad to be a part of. Willis and Arnie are by no means main characters, but they are very prominent in the second half of the film. This film has a better plot which is based on revenge. Revenge flicks are always fun, because we know everyone will die. When an "Expendable" is terminated, this is all Barney (Sly) needs to amp up his team, call in some big dogs, and destroy everything. Willis returns as "Church". The CIA liaison who is shouting orders at Barney and his team, while Arnie is still an independent contractor in the same game. Some Barney gets some help from them as well as The Lone Wolf (Norris) to help him find and hopefully destroy Vilain (JCVD). The fact that the Villain is named Vilain should tell you the caliber of film we are dealing with here. The revenge plot is a way better angle than the previous offering involving a tyranny on an island no one goes to. This is personal and well played out. The two things that make this film more enjoyable than it should be are - A: The Jokes; and B: the body count. Lets start with the jokes. Every pun you can think of made it into this film. Between Sly, Willis, and Arnie, dozens of references to each others films were thrown out like they had a Gatling gun full of jokes. Then Norris comes in and delivers some gems of his own. I will be anxious for DVD release to really try and catch all of them. I'd say it was in the 30 range. The only thing A-Bomb and I feel they missed out on was a Planet Hollywood reference, and the film had a scene where it would have been perfect, but no complaints from us. Now the body count. Tomorrow you can read about the film The Raid which had quite a death toll. Take that number and multiply it by 300 and you may get close to Ex2. I am only guessing, but 3000 would probably close to accurate. The bodies just kept piling up and we kept laughing at the total disregard for the current cost of ammunition. As you can tell, I love this film and I actually want to see it again...sooon. Also with Nic Cage already signed on for Ex3, and reading that Sly wants Eastwood, Snipes, Ford, and Seagal, the next two years are going to drag along waiting for the next installment of what I can only hope doesn't conclude with a trilogy but continues pace for at least 7 total films.

NBM rates The Expendables 2 - Phenomenal

The Campaign

It's simple. If you like the formula Will Ferrell throws out in his comedies, you'll like The Campaign. If you don't, you won't. The Campaign has nothing miraculously special about it. It is just solid ad libbed, stupid, ridiculous comedy. It is asinine, and preposterous, but funny throughout, and tear inducing hilarious at times. Cam Brady (Ferrell) is a soon to be 4 term congressman who runs unopposed on the Democratic ticket in North Carolina every election, until Martin Huggins throws his hat in the ring on the GOP ticket. This is when is goes from good to Fantastic. It boasts some of the best comedic visuals I have ever witnessed on the screen. This is another film to stash in Will Ferrell's very specific occupational related films, and though Ferrell is top billed, Galafianakis steals the show. Marty is a very effeminate man who doesn't like the politics game. He is only there to get his Father's (Brian Cox in a great role of disappointed Father) approval. The two surprises to me were the roles of the power players who aren't politicians but businessmen who "get people elected who can help them get richer". Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow. Didn't see that one coming, did you? They are very reminiscent of the douche bag billionaire brothers who actually screw Dan Aykroyd in Trading Places and that's the main appeal to me about these two. They are Team Huggins and the hire the big gun campaign manager played by Dylan McDermott to ensure victory. This also interested me. How did McDermott get involved in this? He is the only true actor amongst the main players which are all comedians. I will say that he nails it. He does his job perfectly, and one of the best jokes in the film are involving his character's aliases which are read halfway through the credits. BTW: stay for the credits. The trailer tells the tale, but we show up for what the trailer can't show and it is worth every second. It is solid throughout, and I am already quoting it with any like minded souls who have seen it (Dean-O).... and the baby punching scene is one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life. 

NBM rates The Campaign - Awesonomenal

Rabbit Hole

This is the single most depressing film I have ever seen. Sure, with the cast you know it has to be good, which from that aspect it was. The content, however, is hard to bare if you have kid(s), want kids, or have a soul and or a pulse for that matter. I can think of only one reason to watch this film. If you feel like crying. That's it. 
     I wrote the first paragraph only after watching half of the film, but like a train wreck, I could not look away. I had to finish it. I had to see if Becca (Kidman) would be alright. I had to see how long Howie (Eckhart) could deal with being alone emotionally and physically. These two people both experienced the same loss but coping mechanisms are different with all people. And lastly I had to know why she was stalking the boy pictured above. Did he remind her of her son? Did she feel a strange connection with this young man? I had to know, and the information I am not going to tell you, would break your heart. The scene pictured is one of the most gripping scenes I can remember in recent history. The pain these two have seems almost insurmountable. I also want to point out that my rating system does not apply to this film. I cannot, in good conscience, rate this film AWESOME, or PHENOMENAL. it just needs an overall rating with no catchy words attached. The content is just too heavy for any of my adjectives.

NBM rates Rabbit Hole - 4 out of 5 stars

NBM rates Rabbit Hole

Total Recall

Every once in a while their is justifiable reasons to remake a film. Even if the original was great. This is one of those films that people want to hate because it may be under the file "sacrilege", but I am open to new interpretation and this is DEFINITELY  worth everyone's time if you enjoyed the first one. Another reason this one was ready for another film is that technology has finally caught up with the world that Philip K Dick created. The world Len Wiseman built is so astoundingly perfect. It was impossible back in 1990 to do it justice. The effects and CG and overall imagination of the Art Directors is so much fun to sit back and enjoy. All that said, THIS IS NOT A REMAKE!! It uses the same title, character names and general principal, but this film actually mirrors the novel very closely, as for the Arnie version, where screen writers took tons of liberties to change a lot of the scenery, ie Mars and whatnot. Colin Farrell chose to do what many would not. Take a role that Mr. Universe made famous. He did it justice, but this version was knocked out of the park through Wiseman's storytelling. The poster's tagline is "What is real? What is Rekall" and I caught myself wondering several times if it was all a dream. Up until the end I was wondering. That is a brilliant film. Staring at Jessica Biel and Kate Beckinsale beat the crap out of each one minute and look beautiful all the other minutes was just superb casting as well. I don't feel I have to get into plot points because I'm sure you all have seen the previous version. I do feel the hatred being thrown at this film is simply out of spite that someone would remake an already brilliant film. I'm glad they did. It entertained me immensely. I want to see it again, if for nothing else, to see three boobs on a single lady.  I also liked seeing what Quaid was reading while in transit. A book by Ian Fleming. A spy novel perhaps. I'm not sure what Fleming is famous for, but I think it was spy novels. This is not a spoiler as it has nothing to do with the plot and was not even mentioned or focused in on. I simply noticed it off center of the main focal point. Blew away my expectations, and if you can take it as a totally different film, and not linger being a sad sack over "what have they done" syndrome, then you too will enjoy it. It is a grade A sci-fi thriller to the MAX. The only regret I have about my experience is the fact that I paid $5.15 for a bottle of Water. Ya, I could get it out of a garden hose...for free...that's $5? And Hollywood wonders why no one is going to the movies.

NBM rates Total Recall - Phenomenal