John Dillinger is Public Enemy #1

Johnny, what were you thinking?!? I guess that this movie had such great potential but in my opinion, was kind of a flop. Look at that promo poster...even that is enough to make someone want to see this movie.
I looked into the history of John Dillinger and his crime spree and its a pretty good thing too because the film doesn't really attempt to give you a background at all. Another thing, its definitely not a traditionally filmed movie...and don't get me wrong, usually I'm a huge fan of creative cinematography but as cool as this movie actually looked, it was more confusing than anything else. A lot of the characters looked and sounded similar so it was quite difficult to place a name on a face and even be aware of who is talking and what side they're on, etc.
The story of John Dillinger and his buddies is defintiely one worth telling...but the beginning and end point these screenwriters and director chose was kind of awkward.
Don't worry, there are plus sides! Johnny Depp and Christian Bale are amazing. Wonderful acting. Very realistic.
Overall, I wasn't a big fan of this film. I give it a C-.
Best song: They actually used mostly score music for the film. Its nothing anyone would listen to for fun ha.

Suggestions please :)
349 to go.

I love I Love You, Man.

110% hilarious. Paul Rudd is amazing...in this movie, Jason Segel is equally as amazing...I don't love him as much in Forgetting Sarah Marshall...don't get me wrong, its a funny movie, but not as great as this. I got screening passes!! a while back. Went, laughed every minute. How can you not?
Its pretty much a movie about a guy (Paul Rudd) with no actual friends, but a wonderful girlfriend. After proposing to her and overhearing a conversation between her and her friends, he needs to "get some fucking friends" or they're going to have a pretty uneven wedding party.
Its kind of an awkward concept...a grown man seeking a best friend. Well after a pre-pubescent sounding guy from his brother's gym, a dinner with a handsom fellow with somewhat different motives, and a puke-face poker night with his fiance, Zooey's (Rashida Jones) best friend's husband and his buddies, he finally comes across Sydney Fife (Jason Segel).
Sydney is a single guy living in Venice Beach who definitely lives by his own rules. Basically, despite some confusing and awkward jokes and remarks made by Peter, he and Sydney become the best of friends. They even jam out to Rush together! Peter's slappin the bass mon!
All-in-all, I love this movie because its actually intelligent yet comical. I feel like that is extremely difficult to find given the movies that continue to receive financing for some reason..eh hem *The Hangover*.
I give this movie an A overall.
Best song: Tom Sawyer - Rush, duh.

Sugggestions welcome.
350 to go.

Adam, the one a little stranger.

Aww Adam...another advanced screening thanks to a friend! Love it. I read some reviews from people who saw this movie a while ago...a few were written by people who personally suffer from Asperger's. The ones I read were pretty consistent in saying the film painted the truest picture of Asperger's. If any of you don't know, the disorder is basically high-functioning autism...or in other words, social autism. They are unable to perceive human emotions other than their own...basically they can absorb and understand any literal reality but no nonverbal behaviors such as eye contact, facial expressions, etc.
I enjoyed every last minute of this movie up until the end. It was amazing...original and all around lovely. It is such a hopeful and inspiring story...
Given that this director/writer (Max Mayer) has only directed a few episodes of the West Wing and Alias and a few not-so-critically acclaimed films in the 90s, I think he really showed his true talent in this movie. Hugh Dancy plays the role of Adam perfectly. Adam's beauty and uniqueness is written all over every scene. Rose Byrne plays Adam's love interest, Beth. She also does a phenominal job. There is kind of a side-by-side storyline going on throughout involving Beth's father (Peter Gallager) and his career. At first when I watched it, I didn't think it was absolutely necessary...and still I'm not sure it is but I do appreciate the fact that it is a part of the story. But I don't think it contributes well to the ending. In my opinion, this movie ends with a stupid twist...nothing more, nothing less. Everything, and I mean everything...including the situation with her father, and her mother's advice...everything points to a different, more satisfying ending. I don't think I'll ever be sure of why they chose to make it the way they did.
I, unfortunately have to dock it a letter just because of that.
I give it a solid B. Don't get me wrong though, the movie is fantastic and worth seeing.
Best song from the movie:
Can't Go Back Now - The Weepies
Plastic Flowers - The Hiders
When You Find Me - Joshua Radin

Suggestions welcome.
351 to go.

The Mysteries of Pittsburgh aren't quite like the ones in the book

Thank the universe for NetFlix because without it I would have never seen this movie. It was shortly after I read the book that I heard they were making a movie of it but it was a very small production. It never even reached Phoenix. I doubt that my local Blockbuster would carry it anyway. BUT I finally saw it and it was quite an entertaining movie but I will say they changed a lot more than minor details of the original story. After reading the book, I asked myself, ok, what are the mysteries of Pittsburgh then? And the question was easy to answer...everything and everybody...Art Bechstein himself, his father and his business...the relationship between said father and Art...his girlfriend Phlox, his soon to be very close friend Arthur Lecompt...the lovely and amazing Jane Bellwether...Cleveland, Mohammed and his friends, their lifestyle, Cleveland's lifestyle...the relationships between all these people...the cloud factory...the city...Art's job...etc. He was previously sheltered from anything that might be considered a little off.
But who knew the stupid screenwriters would screw it up by making Phlox Art's boss at the bookstore? or put Cleveland more in the shoes of Arthur..and of course, cut the character of Arthur entirely?
I have issues with a lot of film adaptations of books, especially if I really enjoyed the books because they seem to think the excuse of "we needed to cut time!" will suffice everytime for the stupid mistakes they make which botch the greatness of the stories they're trying to mimic.
I did enjoy this movie. In ways it was a lot like the book...but in ways it was completely different so that left me a little disappointed.
Overall, the movie gets a C+ from me...just because like I said, I was a little disappointed.
Best song: God Damn Job - Paul Westerberg

Suggestions welcomeee.
352 to go.

John Hughes Film Festival Part III: Ferris Bueller's Day Off

"Bueller......Bueller.......Bueller......"
"Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious."
The kid is a damn genius for christ's sake! I've been so excited to finally review this movie because it is most definitely a must-see classic. Matthew Broderick does a phenominal job playing the part of Ferris.
Ferris, his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck), and his girlfriend Sloan (Mia Sara) have what I consider to be the absolute best senior ditch day of all time...even if it was just the 3 of them. I mean, come on. With the utmost care and calculation, he fakes sick to get out of school...talks Cameron, his slightly fruitcakey friend to take his father's immaculately restored vintage Ferrari...Ferris takes the fake identity of Abe Froman to get into a fancy restaurant...they get on the big screen at a game at Wrigley Field...check out the Sears Tower and the Art Institute of Chicago....and of course! Ferris makes a fantastic edition to the Von Steuben Day Parade with his performance of Twist and Shout. Oh but of course, not everything is as simple as that right?
I love every minute of this movie and its even better in theaters. If only we could go back to 1986...haha yeah right.
A+ All the way. When I say must-see, I mean it.
Best song: Twist and Shout - covered by the Beatles.

Suggestions welcome, as always.
353 to go.

John Hughes Film Festival Part II: The Breakfast Club

Oh my god this movie is 100 times better seeing it in an actual theater! I love it!
The funny parts are funnier, the sad parts sadder, the awkward parts just more awkward. I don't even know how to review this movie because its so widely accepted as a great classic...I mean honestly have you ever met a person who hates The Breakfast Club?
You've got the brain, Brian (Anthony Michael Hall)...I wonder if there's a connection between his name, Brian, and him being the "brain" of the group..ya know;
The athlete, Andrew (Emilio Estevez);
The basket case, Allison (Ally Sheedy);
The princess, Claire (Molly Ringwald);
And last but, of course, not least, the criminal by the name of John Bender (Judd Nelson).
Could you ask for a better group of people to be thrown into a room with only eachother as entertainment for 9 hours. Its the most perfect coming-of-age story...and its even better because these monumental transformations of each character take place over the course of one day. I love it because while there is always something to hate in people, there's always something great to gain from getting to know them. Its the epitome of how real life usually is. People, in general, aren't typically super excited to get to know somebody who looks so obviously not your "type" of person. Its a pretty great learning lesson in this film. Classic, kind of cheesy, but something to always keep in mind nonetheless.
I love every single one of these guys. I wish I could've been in Saturday detention with them. I'm not sure what my label would be though haha...the one absorbed in the fake reality of movies and television?
"Don't mess with the bull, young man. You'll get the horns."
"Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his closet?"
"Dear Mr. Vernon, We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong, but we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us; in the simplest terms, the most convenient definition. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain, and an athlete, and a basket case, a princess, and a criminal. Does that answer your question?"
Its absolutely golden.
Oh, and guys, tune in tomorrow, I'll have my Ferris Bueller's Day Off review hot off the keys. Yeah, I'm creative.
A+, duh.
Best song: Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds

Suggestions always welcome.
354 to go.

John Hughes Film Festival Part I: Weird Science

Oh mannn John Hughes, great right?
There's something really awesome about having movie ticket stubs to these movies, I mean, they came out over 20 years ago ya know?
So I had an awesome day. Saw an old friend, caught up a bit. 12:30pm Weird Science. 5:05 The Breakfast Club. 7:20 Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Notice there's a bit of a break between the first two, its because we skipped Pretty in Pink...I know, I know...but I thought we might get a littttle sick of sitting in a movie theater if we went from noon to 9 at night. Sooo we took a break, got some pizza, got some ice cream, got some CDs and a part to my bike I needed...and why not? Went to a palm reader! Man I love Mill Ave.
I now know that I will have one happy marriage in my life, 3 kids (2 boys and a girl), and money will never be a problem for me! haha, awesome right?
Anyway, Weird Science. Its weird haha. Its weird how it runs so many parallels with Rocky Horror Picture Show. Rocky came out in '75 and Weird Science in '85...so I guess we can conclude that John wasn't always perfectly original haha. But it doesn't matter because Weird Science is awesome! Though at first it was hard for me to watch a full-figured woman making out with what is supposed to be a 15 year old boy. Crazy '80s.
This movie screams John Hughes. Its marvelous that he has such a unifying feeling to all of his movies. And I do love the cheesy little whoosh! sound effects through some of it haha. Oh god but the brother Chet? One of the single most irritating characters of any movie I've ever seen, though I guess he's supposed to be that way right? Which is why he gets transformed into that fantastically disgusting little toad creature? Haha and oh man, the accent. For whatever reason Garry gets this crazy accent when he gets drunk at the bar with Lisa and Wyatt...the accent is also used in, if I'm not mistaken, The Breakfast Club by the character Brian. Its pretty interesting.
Anywhooo, I loved this movie, but not quite as much as the previous mentioned.
B.
Best song of the movie: Well obviously Weird Science performed by Oingo Boingo. :)

Suggestions welcome.
355 to go.

These certainly are some Funny People...

I'd like to start by saying that I got a free movie poster from at the District 9 screening for this movie and its sweet.
What a fantastic cast though right? Even Jonah Hill wasn't his usual annoying self...definitely toned down a lot. But really...Judd Apatow, Adam Sandler, Seth Rogan, Leslie Mann, Jason Schwartzman...and those two little Apatow girls. They're cute. Probably rich..and cute.
This was a pretty decent flick...I think I even felt a little funnier after watching it! no...but really it was good. It was totally original...a perfect new age Adam Sandler meets Apatow I think.
The only downside was the time factor. It was reallllly long. I mean, I saw a late show around 10:30 I think and when I got out it was 1am. Kind of one of those unexpected things like wowww I didn't want to be at the movies for that long haha. Plus I'm late to everything and got pretty stupid seats. But whatever. 45 minutes shaved off is necessary.
I thought it was really interesting to watch all the stand up performances just because the way they were filmed made them seem pretty raw and uncut if that doesn't sound too lame. Its true though, comedians can really show off their talent the most while by themselves on stage.
Oh how I love Seth Rogen...he was great in this movie wasn't he? Totally funny...character's totally kind of a jerk...but he ends up learning his lesson I think and he's lovable anyway.
I definitely recommend this film, I just would like everybody to be prepared for 2 and a half hours of sitting in a theater. I do feel sometimes movies that long can take away from the story a little...I mean in something like that, who doesn't find themselves checking their phones for the time?
B from me.
Best song of the movie: All the King's Horses - Robert Plant and the Strange Sensations...just because anything Led Zeppelin automatically takes the #1 spot.

Suggestions welcomeee.
356 to go.