Adventureland

I confess, when I saw the promotional posters and the eventual theatrical trailer I was not spurred to see this film, at all. It was only foiled plans and a curiosity I couldn't understand that got me too the theater. Based on advertisements what I expected was yet another comedy trying to cash in on the amiability of the en vogue Apatow style comedy. Don't get me wrong, I love Superbad as much as the next person; but when it comes to imitation of that style something is lost in the translation-even when members of the Apatow troupe are aboard, see Zack and Miri Make A Porno for irrefutable evidence of this fact-so I was less than optimistic for Adventureland. Happily, Adventureland offered me that increasingly rare moviegoing experience of being pleasantly surprised. For me, Kristen Stewart was the most surprising of all. She admirably took what could have been a static character and created a flawed heroine that we can truly root for. Having said that there was one shall we say, tick about her performance that got not only to me, but also to the staffers at Entertainment Weekly, the hair! I read a review that described the tone of the film as "a longing for the unrecoverable past," nothing could be more correct. Simply a rare film of thought and quality in the pool of passe high school comedies.
A

Sunshine Cleaning

This is extremely overdue, but I enjoyed this film far too much to just let it go.

I found both Amy Adams and Emily Blunt to be adorably nuanced in their indie comedy Sunshine Cleaning. Historically I am a sucker for this type of film, the quiet, dramatic tale of a quirky family with "real" people problems; this was no exception. The desperate Adams and the apathetic Blunt click as sisters creating an enjoyable and sympathetic bond to be appreciated. This film has been criticized as being the same movie as Little Miss Sunshine-similarities are undeniable, Alan Arkin even returns as a grandfather, and though both films offer a similar message about the bond of family and of hope they are no less enjoyable for it. You wouldn't not try vanilla ice cream just because you've had chocolate before.
B+

5.1.09

My apologies, I've missed a few weeks. Tis finals season, things have been a bit hectic.

Opening This Week:
The Battle For Terra
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
The Limits of Control (Limited)

Other Recently Released Films:
Obsessed
The Soloist
Earth
Fighting
State of Play
17 Again

In lieu of updating things as I promised I have managed to make it to the theater a time or two. Last weekend I saw Obsessed and The Soloist. Suffice it to say that neither was good, but at least Beyonce and Company offered up a few hearty laughs. Full reviews to come soon. Tonight I am taking in a midnight showing of Wolverine, a review will follow shortly.

4.10.09

This week we've got Disney giant Miley Cyrus in Hannah Montana: The Movie and Seth Rogen in Observe and Report. I have nothing nice to say about the promise of either film; so I'll stick to the old adage and say nothing more on the subject.

I expected that Fast and Furious would do well, but I was blown away by 73 million in domestic box office gross during it's opening weekend. Furious is (for now) the most successful movie of 2009. For my part, I'm hoping that State of Play will snatch that title. Play hits theaters 4.17.

4.3.09

Opening this week we have the newest installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise; this time out they couldn't even be bothered to come up with a new name or a suffix, instead "the" was removed and we were given Fast and Furious. Also out this week is Superbad director, Greg Mottola's latest, Adventureland. Both films will likely have a strong showing, but anticipate the reunion of the original Furious cast to result in the bigger number. Last week's box-office topper Monsters VS Aliens should holdover quite well, getting a nice boost from families with younger children on spring break.

In limited release this week are indie flicks, Sugar, Gigantic, Paris 36, Alien Trespass and The Escapist. I don't know much about any of these films, but from the little bit that I've seen Paris 36 most peaks my interest.


Fast and Furious
Adventureland
IMDB Now Playing, Limited Release Info

3.20.09

New In Theaters:
I Love You, Man
Duplicity
The Great Buck Howard
Sunshine Cleaning (Expands)

Expect Paul Rudd and Jason Segal to do well with I Love You, Man their new bromance; but as far as the box office goes it would be quite an unexpected feat for them to topple this week's titan, the Clive Owen and Julia Roberts vehicle, Duplicity. Roberts is not that often to be found in theaters these days, but she draws a big crowd, almost without exception. Both films look to be quite entertaining and I have high hopes for the enjoyability of the pair. Meanwhile, don't expect the lesser known and far lesser screened indie darlings, Sunshine Cleaning and The Great Buck Howard to crack the top five, even the top ten would be a stretch. Still both films will likely have respectable per screen revenue and be popular at art-house theaters.

Links
I Love You, Man
Duplicity
Sunshine Cleaning
The Great Buck Howard

What's to Come

In the upcoming days weeks and months you can expect to see content about all things movie related. I will be posting reviews of films--past and present, as I see them for the first time, or revisit them. You can also expect to see news, notes, buzz, deals, and developments. Each week I will post new releases alongside predictions about their quality and box-office success.