Top 10 films of 2011: #3 – OUR IDIOT BROTHER

Jan 03 2012 Published by under Film

Ned (Paul Rudd) lives a happy life growing organic vegetables on a farm with his hippie girlfriend (Kathryn Hahn) and his dog named Willie Nelson, until an unadvised incident with marijuana at a farmer’s market lands him in jail.  When he gets out of jail, he is forced to live with his sisters Liz (Emily Mortimer), Natalie (Zooey Deschanel) and Miranda (Elizabeth Banks).

Look at that cast.  You add in Rashida Jones, Adam Scott, Steve Coogan, and T.J. Miller and this film basically becomes one of my wet dreams.

So again, it’s an indie comedy, something that’s right up my alley, and it features a group containing some of my favourite actors and actresses.

Beyond that it’s simply a funny and somewhat touching story about a likeable good-natured guy with three messed up, self-absorbed sisters, who he’s able to positively affect when he stays with them against their wishes.  Not much more to it than that.

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NEW GIRL 1×01 “Pilot” review

Sep 10 2011 Published by under Reviews, TV

Title: “Pilot”
Written By: Elizabeth Meriwether
Air Date: Sept 20th 2011 (available now on iTunes)

Jess, a cute but nerdy girl, is cheated on by her boyfriend, and unable to stay with her best friend, she moves in with three guys she found on Craigs List.

Lets get the obvious out of the way, the draw of New Girl is clearly Zooey Deschanel.  It’s her first real effort at TV and cos I’m a big fan of this manic pixie dream girl, I’m gonna like this show.  It’s inevitable.

The pilot plays to the charm of Deschanel, namely her overwhelming adorability, but I did find the three roommates to be fairly decent too.  Nick (played by Jake M Johnson) comes across as a slightly less schlubby Charlie Day.  Although the fact that Nick’s ex-girlfriend is played by the waitress from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia probably helped this comparison.

Schmidt (played by Max Greenfield, probably most known for his role as a sheriff’s officer in Veronica Mars) really is a douchebag, but I feel as time goes by the writers will develop him into a more three dimensional character.

Coach (played by Damon Wayans Jr) is easily the best of the supporting characters so it’s a shame that his other show got picked up for another season and he won’t be continuing on in New Girl.  He’s a funny guy that has a nice way of delivering lines.  Plus I always think of his performance in The Other Guys and it makes me smile.

So Deschanel is awesome, and the three guys are at least passable, what about the hot model friend of Jess played by Hannah Simone?  Well, she doesn’t do much in the pilot except be hot, kinda aloof, and dress Jess in a sexy black outfit.  If she continues to just be the hot unfunny friend then I can’t see that she adds anything to the show, but I have a feeling that she’ll end up being a love interest for either Coach or Schmidt.

The one other thing which struck me was the terrible theme song, it sounded like a 30 Rock/SNL sketch joke.  It was only after I was about half way through the episode that I realised the theme was a joke based on Jess’ habit of singing about random stuff, and she does in fact make up a theme song for herself.  Still, I kinda hope they change the theme song or just do away with it entirely.

Rating: 6/10

Conclusion
It’s a single camera, non laugh track sitcom, so right away it’s better than Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory.  I was looking forward to watching New Girl because I’m such a big fan of Zooey Deschanel, but to be honest I wasn’t expecting it to be particularly impressive.  For the most part New Girl isn’t that impressive, but it did exceed my expectations, and I really have to credit the extraordinarily lovable Zooey Deschanel for that.  I’d like to have a full season of the show to see how they develop the supporting characters, but considering the show airs on the fickle and notoriously demanding Fox, I’m expecting that it’ll be cancelled within the first 8 episodes.

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Japanese poster for 500 DAYS OF SUMMER

Oct 19 2009 Published by under Film

Here’s a kinda cute Japanese poster for 500 Days of Summer.

I’ve yet to see the flick but my anticipation for it hasn’t dipped in the slightest.  Hopefully I’ll get a chance to see in before the end of the year.

500 Days of Summer (Japanese)

(source = IMP Awards)

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A great new poster for 500 DAYS OF SUMMER

Jul 11 2009 Published by under Film

I can’t really find the words to explain why I love Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel so much, but this poster for 500 Days of Summer made me feel that way instantly.

I cannot wait to see this movie even though it’ll probably get screwed around with a release date here in Oz because the assholes that distribute stuff here have no idea what they’re doing.  The new Hannah Montana flick can play at every cinema in the country yet Adventureland can barely manage to be shown at 16.  Ahhh, I’m still angry about that.

500_days_of_summer_ver2

(source = IMP Awards)

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Foster, Gibson and Deschanel in triple-awesome casting news

Jul 10 2009 Published by under Celebrities, Film

foster gibson deschanel

Some insanely cool casting news for two very exciting projects.

Firstly, Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson are in talks to star in The Beaver with Foster also lined up to direct.  The film tells the story of a grown man who wears a beaver puppet on his hand that he treats as a real person.

Secondly, the enchanting actress Zooey Deschanel who can be seen in the upcoming 500 Days of Summer has signed on to star opposite James Franco, Danny McBride and Natalie Portman in the comedy Your Highness.  The film tells the story of a lazy prince (McBride) who must complete a quest to save his father’s kingdom.  Joining him on the quest is his more heroic brother (James Franco). Deschanel will play Belladonna, Franco’s virginal bride.  Natalie Portman plays McBride’s love interest, a warrior princess.

(source = The Hollywood Reporter)

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Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel making a dance film

Jun 12 2009 Published by under Film

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has said via his Twitter that he and Zooey Deschanel are making a short dance film along with the director of 500 Days of Summer.  To quote:

Me and Zooey making new short dance film (by Marc Webb of 500 Days of Summer), coming soon to Internets near you!

He also attached this funky picture.  Click it for a larger view.

JGL and Zooey

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Another 500 DAYS OF SUMMER featurette

Jun 05 2009 Published by under Film

Yet another slow day, aside from the sad news regarding David Carradine that is.  Here’s a little featurette with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel talking about Los Angeles and the role it plays in their upcoming film, 500 Days of Summer.

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Levitt and Deschanel 500 DAYS OF SUMMER featurette

Jun 02 2009 Published by under Film

Two of my absolute favourite actors/actresses, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, are starring in the upcoming 500 Days of Summer and in this video they’re discussing their love of music and how important it is for this film.

I love these two so much I could watch them talk about DIY for an hour.

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500 Days of Summer

May 04 2009 Published by under Film

I’ll watch any movie which features Joseph Gordon-Levitt or Zooey Deschanel, so it goes without saying that I’m super excited to see 500 Days of Summer when it finally comes out.  I’ve held off on reading the script because I’m looking forward to the film so much (I did the same with Adventureland too, but that still hasn’t come out here in Oz), so until then all I have is this wonderful trailer.

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