January 2011 Archives - HollywoodHubbub

Archive for: January, 2011

365 Day Unseen Movie Marathon – Day 31 – DUE DATE (2010)

Jan 31 2011 Published by Frantic Monkey under Film

Title: Due Date

Directed by: Todd Phillips

Written by: Alan R. Cohen & Alan Freedland and Adam Sztykiel & Todd Phillips

Current Flickchart position: #312 of 1346 overall. My #25 film, of 58, from the year 2010.

What It’s About:
High-strung father-to-be Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr) is forced to hitch a ride with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) on a road trip in order to make it to his child’s birth on time.

General Comments:
As a general rule I hate remakes. They’re pointless and lazy exercises by studios too afraid and too unimaginative to come up with something original. Due Date may not be a remake in name but it’s certainly a remake in spirit, and it’s a remake of Planes, Trains and Automobiles for this generation. It pretty good and pretty funny, and is elevated to above average standards because of the likability of Robert Downey Jr and Zach Galifianakis, and some nice cameos from Juliette Lewis and Danny McBride.

Watch Due Date to see an updated but kinda soulless remake of Planes, Trains and Automobiles starring the always brilliant Zach Galifianakis.

Rating: 7/10

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365 Day Unseen Movie Marathon – Day 30 – FIELD OF DREAMS (1989)

Jan 30 2011 Published by Frantic Monkey under Film

Title: Field of Dreams

Directed by: Phil Alden Robinson

Written by: W.P. Kinsella (novel), Phil Alden Robinson

Current Flickchart position: #194 of 1345 overall. My #4 film, of 27, from the year 1989.

What It’s About:
An Iowa corn farmer (Kevin Costner), hearing voices, interprets them as a command to build a baseball diamond in his fields; he does, and the Chicago Black Sox come.

General Comments:
After watching The Postman yesterday I thought I’d give one of Costner’s more critically acclaimed films a go and holy shit is it good. I’m trying to write my thoughts about the film literally a couple of minutes after I’ve finished watching it, and I’m having a real hard time articulating why I think it’s so good. But it is good. Really really good. I’m so disappointed with myself for not watching this years ago.

Watch Field of Dreams to see a truly great fantasy drama that will make you realize just how much you’ll miss your dad when he’s gone.

Rating: 8.5/10

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PEEP WORLD followup poster

Jan 30 2011 Published by Frantic Monkey under Film

Following hot on the heels of the Peep World trailer from the other day, here’s the new poster for the upcoming comedy.

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Three new MR SUNSHINE posters

Jan 30 2011 Published by Frantic Monkey under TV

It’s just over a week until Matthew Perry returns to TV in Mr Sunshine and I’m pretty damn excited. I’m a big fan of Perry mainly from Friends but I actually enjoyed Studio 60 on Sunset Strip as well.

From wikipedia:

Ben Donovan (Perry) is the sports arena manager for the Sunshine Center, a second-tier arena in San Diego. He goes through a mid-life crisis when he turns 40, while dealing with the unusual demands of his job and his unpredictable boss.

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365 Day Unseen Movie Marathon – Day 29 – THE POSTMAN (1997)

Jan 29 2011 Published by Frantic Monkey under Film

Title: The Postman

Directed by: Kevin Costner

Written by: David Brin (novel), Eric Roth & Brian Helgeland

Current Flickchart position: #1093 of 1344 overall. My #36 film, of 48, from the year 1997.

What It’s About:
In a post-apocalyptic, totally anarchic America, circa 2013, a defector from the ranks of murderous despot General Bethlehem masquerades as a representative of the good old U.S. Postal Service. But his ruse so delights the weary, oppressed people he meets that it indeed becomes real–and he finds himself championing their rights and the American Way.

General Comments:
What a hodge podge film. It’s part western, civil war drama, action, adventure, patriotic propaganda, and morality tale. It’s just a shame the whole mix of genres and themes doesn’t amount to anything interesting. Not as good or enjoyable as Waterworld, which is a film I think gets a raw deal.

Watch The Postman for Kevin Costner (who I find charming) and the sexy as hell Olivia Williams.

Rating: 5/10

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365 Day Unseen Movie Marathon – Day 28 – FOUR LIONS (2010)

Jan 29 2011 Published by Frantic Monkey under Film

Title: Four Lions

Directed by: Christopher Morris

Written by: Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain, Simon Blackwell & Christopher Morris

Current Flickchart position: #253 of 1343 overall. My #14 film, of 57, from the year 2010.

What It’s About:
Four Lions tells the story of a group of British jihadists who push their abstract dreams of glory to the breaking point. As the wheels fly off, and their competing ideologies clash, what emerges is an emotionally engaging (and entirely plausible) farce. In a storm of razor-sharp verbal jousting and large-scale set pieces, Four Lions is a comic tour de force; it shows that while terrorism is about ideology, it can also be about idiots.

General Comments:
I’m sure there are a bunch of people who think it’s wrong to make a comedy about terrorism, but I’m not one of them. Four Lions is hilariously funny but is also able to shift to some quieter more contemplative scenes with ease. The real strength of the film though is it’s perfect dialogue. I haven’t heard stuff this good in a long long time.

Watch Four Lions to see a great black comedy/satire on a pretty damn controversial topic. Not to be missed.

Rating: 7.5/10

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Sarah Silverman, Rainn Wilson and Judy Greer in PEEP WORLD trailer

Jan 28 2011 Published by Frantic Monkey under Film

On the day of their Father’s 70th birthday party, four siblings come to terms with the publication of a novel written by the youngest sibling, that exposes the family’s most intimate secrets.

Talk about a cast I’m super excited to see. How’s this, Sarah Silverman, Rainn Wilson, Judy Greer, Michael C Hall, Ben Schwartz, Kate Mara, Ron Rifkin, and Lesley Ann Warren (from Clue, one of my all time favourites).

Peep World played at a few festivals last year and I assume it’s gonna get a release at some point this year. Check out the trailer below.

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365 Day Unseen Movie Marathon – Day 27 – DIRTY WORK (1998)

Jan 27 2011 Published by Frantic Monkey under Film

Title: Dirty Work

Directed by: Bob Saget

Written by: Frank Sebastiano, Norm MacDonald & Fred Wolf

Current Flickchart position: #744 of 1342 overall. My #32 film, of 60, from the year 1998.

What It’s About:
Mitch (Norm MacDonald) and Sam (Artie Lange) have to come up with $50,000 and fast! The only problem is neither one can hold down a job. Mitch finds a way to money by exploiting the only talents the two have, by opening a “Revenge For Hire” business.

General Comments:
I guess this is your typical 90′s comedy starring an SNL alum actor. It’s nothing special and is only barely enjoyable because of the presence of Norm MacDonald, Artie Lange, Christopher McDonald, Chevy Chase, Chris Farley, David Koechner and a nice cameo from Adam Sandler.

Watch Dirty Work if you’re a fan of 90′s SNL.

Rating: 4.5/10

Dirty Work (1998) (Theatrical Trailer)
Uploaded by NakedBrotha2007. – Watch feature films and entire TV shows.

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365 Day Unseen Movie Marathon – Day 26 – UNCLE BUCK (1989)

Jan 26 2011 Published by Frantic Monkey under Film

Title: Uncle Buck

Written and Directed by: John Hughes

Current Flickchart position: #252 of 1341 overall. My #6 film, of 26, from the year 1989.

What It’s About:
Bachelor and all round slob, Buck (John Candy), babysits his brother’s rebellious teenage daughter and her cute younger brother and sister.

General Comments:
God damn John Hughes makes/made consistently great movies and Uncle Buck is just another one of his fantastic 80′s films. Everything of his that I’ve seen exudes so much heart and charm. John Candy obviously shines like he does in everything he’s been in and Macaulay Culkin is just as precocious as he was in the two Home Alone films (which are two of my all time favourite films). The teenage daughter Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly) is an annoying selfish bitch of a character but there was never any doubt that Buck would set her on the right path. In the end Uncle Buck is a fun, heartwarming, and enjoyable film. I’ve said it a million times and I’ll say it again, but they simply don’t make movies with the feel of an 80′s film anymore.

Watch Uncle Buck to see a great 80′s film and John Candy at his best.

Rating: 7.5/10