The Sopranos (1999-2007)

Genre: TV / Drama

Starring: James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco

Number of seasons: 6

Here is the story of Tony Soprano, his immediate family and his extended family as the boss of a criminal organization in New Jersey. Through the six seasons, we see Tony Soprano’s rise to power as a mob boss and then we see him trying to juggle the stress and pressure of all the responsibilities that come with that job in the “waste management business”.

Tony Soprano is a very flawed character to say the least. He has people beaten or killed at a whim, or he does it himself, he cheats on his wife, he leads a criminal organization and all of that, but James Gandolfini still managed to make us care about him and feel for him at times. You could see, underneath the rough exterior of a mob boss trying to keep up appearances, different layers of a human being caring for his people and searching for a meaning to it all.

The supporting cast was also very solid. Lorraine Bracco was really shining as Tony Soprano’s psychiatrist, one of the only women who could ultimately resist his charm. I also got a kick out of Little Steven Van Zandt, as Silvio, right-hand man to Tony Soprano.

Through the six seasons, there are some awesome episodes of The Sopranos. That being said, one of the major flaws of the show to me is that too many storylines get started just to lead nowhere. Some interesting developments were just dropped without a proper conclusion, and I found that lack of continuity extremely frustrating.

And what more can we say about the ending? It has been discussed over and over again by people for years. I will not ruin it for those who have yet to watch, but what a letdown. Many justifications have been given for the conclusion chosen, but none of them really appeased my disappointment.

The Sopranos is still a show worth seeing, for the cast, the shining moments in the script, the compelling stories and the many Godfather references (for the fans of the genre). Unfortunately, just like the main character, it is very flawed. Still an enjoyable….Fade to black….

Rating: «««

Undeclared (2001-2002)

Genre: TV / Comedy

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Carla Gallo, Charlie Hunnam

Number of seasons: 1 (17 episodes)

Coming from the same people who worked on Freaks and Geeks, another short-lived TV show reviewed here recently, Undeclared tells the story of a group of college students in a fictional California university. The main character is Steven Karp (Baruchel), a geeky freshman trying to start a new life for himself in college and have better luck with girls.

After watching Freaks and Geeks, I must admit I had high hopes for Undeclared; sadly, I was disappointed. Frankly, I found most of the characters uninteresting and the script not as tight as the previous show. I totally popped, though, for the actors of Freaks and Geeks making appearances as different characters.

There were some funny bits and pieces, and the casting of Loudon Wainwright as Steven Karp’s father was a nice touch, but, overall, I really cannot recommend this one. While I lamented the fact that Freaks and Geeks did not continue past one season, I am kind of glad Undeclared got the same fate.

Rating: ««

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Genre: Romantic Comedy / Drama

Directed by: David O. Russell

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro

Running time: 122 minutes

Adapted from the novel of the same name, Silver Linings Playbook tells the story of Pat, who is released from a mental health institution and goes back to live with his parents. He works hard to overcome his bipolarity and to reconcile with his estranged wife. In the process, he meets Tiffany, a young widow who promises to help Pat get his wife back if he takes part in a dance contest with her.

I must admit, it took me a while to get into this one. This is a film that makes you work a little hard to get involved, but, once you do, it is really worth it. The characters can be brash and off-putting at first, but they are so well developed that you start caring for them, 

The acting is superb in this movie. Jennifer Lawrence won an Oscar for her role as Tiffany, and it is no surprise really. She is really good as a temperamental woman willing to do almost anything to get her way.

Kudos also to Bradley Cooper; he could have surfed on being voted most sexy man in Hollywood a few years back and cashed in on his looks with easy roles. Well, he did no such thing. He comes off as very authentic in his role as a man who tries to battle his BPD through positivity and put his life back on track.

It was also nice to see Robert De Niro again, even if it was in a smaller role. He was given great material to work with and he did an awesome job.

Silver Linings Playbook is worth the mental effort needed to get into its groove, because, one you are in, it is a very interesting ride.

Rating: ««««

Bon Cop, Bad Cop (2006)

Genre: Franco / Action

Réalisateur: Éric Canuel

Distribution: Patrick Huard, Colm Feore, Lucie Laurier

Durée: 116 minutes

Un policier du Québec, David Bouchard, et un policier de l’Ontario, Martin Ward, se voient dans l’obligation de travailler ensemble afin de contrer un mystérieux criminel qui s’en prend aux personnes qu’il tient responsable du déménagement de l’équipe de hockey professionnel de Québec aux États-Unis. Les deux agents ont des méthodes et des cultures très différentes, mais ils devront mettre leurs différences de côté pour venir à bout de ce dossier.

Peu de temps après sa sortie en salle et en DVD, Bon Cop, Bad Cop a tôt fait de devenir le film le plus lucratif de l’histoire du cinéma canadien. L’histoire se déroule en français et en anglais; même si les sous-titres peuvent s’avérer utile, je crois qu’une connaissance des deux langues et une bonne compréhension des deux cultures en cause aident grandement à l’appréciation du film.

Patrick Huard et Colm Feore ont une très bonne chimie à l’écran. Ils rendent tous les deux très bien les policiers aux antipodes l’un de l’autre et un grand nombre de leurs répliques savoureusement comiques sont rendus avec la justesse nécessaire pour ce genre de film d’action.

L’histoire est quelque peu tirée par les cheveux par moment, mais l’action est bien rythmée et garde le spectateur sur le bout de son siège. Avec de bons dialogues, des personnages intéressants et une histoire qui tient en haleine, il est possible de pardonner les petits écarts par rapport à la logique. En ce sens, Bon Cop, Bad Cop rivalise très bien avec ces films américains du même style qui sont faits avec des budgets tellement plus faramineux.

Bon Cop, Bad Cop demeure un excellent divertissement. À défaut de vous faire réfléchir, il va vous faire rire, et beaucoup en plus.

Note: ««««

The Face of Love (2013)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Arie Posin

Starring: Annette Bening, Ed Harris, Robin Williams

Running time: 92 minutes

Five years after losing her husband in a drowning accident, Nikki is still having a really hard time getting over it. Everything brings back to her mind her late husband Garret. One day, while visiting an art gallery she used to frequent regularly with Garret, she sees Tom, an artist with a striking resemblance to her deceased husband. She goes out of her way to meet this man again and to start a relationship with him, which doesn’t suit her neighbor and friend Roger, who has been pursuing a relationship with her for years.

As usual, Annette Bening and Ed Harris are very good. These two have a great track record and I feel kind of bad for them for being in this mess of a movie. The acting was solid, but the story just seemed to plod along and go nowhere. There was somewhat of a little glimmer for me at the end, and I finally got what the moviemakers were aiming for, but the road there was simply boring and felt aimless.

It was nice seeing Robin Williams again; I miss that actor. Unfortunately, he was not given much of a role here. His character of Roger could have been taken out of the equation and it would not have mattered at all. That is quite unfortunate considering how talented he was.

Overall, The Face of Love might be worth a shot to see a few great actors at work. It is simply unfortunate that the material given to them was not up to what they could offer.

Rating: «««

Forrest Gump (1994)

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise

Running time: 142 minutes

This classic of a movie starts in 1981, with the title character Forrest Gump sitting on a bench at a bus stop. He proceeds to tell his life story to the various strangers who come along and sit next to him. We get to see history through the eyes of this slow-witted and naïve character who has his own unique views of what has happened in the world.

I do not believe that too many people have not seen this movie yet, but, since there are many classics I have not seen myself, anything is possible. If you have no seen it, really, just do it. This movie has to be one of the most quoted ones in the history of cinema. So many lines from the script have made their way into popular culture to stay there forever.

Tom Hanks is at the top of his game here. He gives such depth to the main character, never going over-the-top in his portrayal of this slow-witted man. He makes the character so loveable that we just wish we could sit there with him and share that box of chocolate with him; no matter what it is we are gonna get.

The supporting cast, with names such as Robin Wright, Sally Field and Gary Sinise, is nothing to sneeze at either.

This is a great story told to us in a brilliant movie-making fashion. Forrest Gump is a film that needs to be seen over and over again as we age, because our take on life will always evolve and we will always get something out of it. A special mention for the soundtrack also, which is simply amazing.

Rating: «««««

Blue Jasmine (2013)

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Directed by: Woody Allen

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Sally Hawkins, Alec Baldwin

Running time: 99 minutes

This is the story of Jasmine, a narcissist woman whose luxurious life fell apart after her businessman husband got arrested for his financial crimes and killed himself in prison. She travels from New York to San Francisco to live with her working class sister while she picks up the pieces of herself. The movie goes back and forth between that past, where everything crumbled, and the present, where it all needs to be built up again; but, can it be?

Cate Blanchett is absolutely magnificent here in the role of Jasmine, a woman who is so easy to dislike. Jasmine is the type of woman who shows disdain when you need her but then begs for help when in need. Her own welfare is what matters most and she rambles on and on to all who will listen about her poor self. Nonetheless, Blanchett manages to make you care for that woman; she makes the character so real that you start to feel empathy for her. It is no surprise the actress won an Academy Awards for this role.

I thought it was a nice touch of Woody Allen to hire comedians like Andrew Dice Clay and Louis CK in more serious roles. Clay, who is best known for his very crude comedy act, was particularly good as Augie, the former boyfriend of Jasmine’s sister. He showed a real depth I did not know he had. Mother Goose would be proud.

As bad of a husband as he may have been in his life, Woody Allen remains an extraordinary storyteller and movie director. Once again, with Blue Jasmine, he found a way to deliver a compelling story with interesting characters. While some of his films I have somewhat appreciated, this one I simply adored. Blue Jasmine is a movie to see.

Rating: «««««

Sex and the City 2 (2010)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Directed by: Michael Patrick King

Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon

Running time: 146 minutes

The four best friends of Sex and the City are back one more time in this sequel to the first movie and to the 6-season-long TV show. This time around, the ladies all get together for an all-expenses-paid trip to Abu Dhabi, after Samantha gets invited there to devise a PR plan for an Arab Sheikh. With these gals, nothing ever goes as planned and trouble is sure to ensue.

To be quite honest, Sex and the City 2 was the one step too far for this franchise in my humble opinion.

First off, taking the action out of Manhattan for a good chunk of the film was a bad idea. The city is an important part of what made the series and first movie a success. New York is as important as a character as Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda.

Also, the writers got way too preachy for my taste in this installment. The whole “I am woman, hear me roar” thing was spread out quite thick, and it got on my nerves after a while. At one point, I felt like the word “Important Message Here” was going to start flashing at the bottom of the screen. There is nothing wrong when entertainment carries a message on its back, but there is no need to press it in everyone’s face repeatedly. A little subtlety goes a long way.

The actresses are still good in their roles, the male characters are still secondary (that is OK, it is part of the concept) and there were some funny situations here and there. That being said, this movie quickly started feeling like a Status of Women infomercial, and a very long one at that.

Rating: ««

Sex and the City: The Movie (2008)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Directed by: Michael Patrick King

Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon

Running time: 150 minutes

A few years after the end of the TV series of the same name, Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda are back at it. Now, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) is looking back on her life since she has moved to New York all those years ago while we see images of many other girls doing the same thing, hoping to find stores and love. Carrie is now about to move in with Big and talk of marriage comes up. With these two, will it be ever simple? Probably not, and Carrie will sure need her friends by her side, all of whom are going through their own issues.

The first movie in the Sex and the City franchise offered a great deal of charm and humor. I found myself laughing quite often; the writers did a very good job here. There was a healthy dose of sweetness also, but it was not overly dramatic; not overdone at all. The story was compelling, though it dragged on a little too long. Two and a half hours for such a romantic comedy is way too much.

That being said, the four actresses had truly found their groove together and their chemistry on screen was solid here. They knew their respective roles well and the lines that were given to them felt natural.

This is a good light movie, very entertaining and fun. It did a good job of bringing things full circle with the TV show. Had they left it at that, it would have been great.

Rating: ««««

Frances Ha (2013)

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Directed by: Noah Baumbach

Starring: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Summer, Michael Zegen

Running time: 86 minutes

This 2013 comedy-drama tells the story of Frances Halladay, a 27-year-old dancer, and of her complicated relationship with her best friend Sophie, with whom she shares an apartment at the beginning of the movie. Frances breaks up with her boyfriend, because she feels unable to move in with him and leave Sophie behind. Shortly afterwards, Sophie leaves to move in with her own boyfriend, leaving Frances devastated.

This artsy-fartsy film was shot in black and white, giving it a very artistic aura. Unfortunately, the characters and dialogue started to totally annoy me 15 minutes in. I do not mind an artsy film when the script is good, but, here, it bored me to tears and I wanted to shut it off all the way through, and it does not even lasts 90 minutes. The characters are uninteresting and unappealing. I have known people like these and I have always tried to steer clear.

Some fans of the genre might dig this one, but I would skip it if I were you.

Rating: «

Turbo (2013)

Genre: Animated/Comedy

Directed by: David Soren

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Michael Pena

Running time: 96 minutes

This 2013 animated comedy tells the story of Theo (AKA Turbo), a snail who spends his days dreaming about being a racecar driver, in spite of the fact that everyone in his entourage, including his brother, is trying to snap him back to reality. One evening, after venturing away from home, he gets sucked into the motor of racecar. Once he comes out, he soon realizes he has the attributes of a racecar, including extremely fast speed. Soon enough, a taco restaurant co-owner, who is as big of a dreamer as Turbo, enlists the snail to race in the Indy 500.

Turbo has a loaded cast to voice the various characters, including Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Michael Pena, Snoop Dog and Samuel L. Jackson. The story is compelling enough, with a good dose of humor, a nice lesson about never giving up on your dreams and some interesting visuals.

That being said, there is nothing here that has not been done many times before in this genre and they lay it quite thick at times on the morals. I know this is a family movie, but a little subtlety goes a long way; no need to push the lesson so hard, we get it. Nonetheless, this is a nice little movie that will be sure to please the kids and not annoy the parents too badly.

Rating: «««

Sex and the City (1998-2004)

Genre: TV / Comedy

Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon

Number of seasons: 6

Over the years, I have heard so much about this TV series that I felt I had to check it out. After watching so many shows written from the point of view of men, I decided to look at the other side of the coin; it was a treat.

Sex and the City tells the tale of four very different women in New York who have a strong bond between each other; they are inseparable and they discuss everything about themselves, be it shoes, clothing, men or sex. Throughout the six seasons, we see these four gals evolve as people, as they get older, and that is the nice thing about this show; the characters are not complacent.

The four actresses playing the main characters are all very good in the respective roles, to the point that they all feel very real. I have seen girls and women like all of them (and many who are unlike any of those four also) and the ladies all did a solid job bringing those characters to life. The men are objects in this show, always desired but never a primary focus. Many times, the male characters do not even have names, being only known by the nicknames the girls use between them to refer to these guys.

Overall, Sex and the City is a very entertaining show, in which sex is as important of an ingredient as the city of New York. Through six seasons, you come to care for these four characters and the world around them. It is a very daring show, with coarse language and occasional nudity. Considering its name, you’d have to say that you cannot make an omelet without breaking some eggs. Some episodes are not as good, but, for the most part, it was a very good TV series.

Rating: ««««

The Way, Way Back (2013)

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Directed by: Nat Faxon and Jim Rash

Starring: Liam James, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Sam Rockwell

Running time: 103 minutes

Against his will, 14-year-old Duncan has to spend summer vacation with his mother, her boyfriend and his daughter at a beach house. To get away from a home life he cannot stand and in which he feels neglected, the boy secretly gets a summer job at the local water park, spending time with the manager, Owen, who takes him under his wing and finally gives him the bit of attention he needs to blossom as a future adult.

I particularly loved the on-screen relationship as boy and mentor between Liam James and Sam Rockwell. The two worked very well together. James is a relative newcomer, so kudos to him. As for Rockwell, he’s been a solid character actor for years. Here, he knocks it out of the park as immature, yet loveable, freespirit Owen. Owen is just the right person to get and understand Duncan at his age, so it is a perfect match that the two actors deliver real well on.

As for Steve Carell, who plays the mother’s boyfriend, he shows great restraint. His character is not likeable, and it is made quite clear in the delivery, but the actor, known for his chops as a comedic man, does not go over the top with it. He carries the character’s personality in his dialogues, but he never goes overboard with the mannerisms and antics. As for Toni Collette, she plays the mother, a woman caught between making her new relationship work and caring for a teenage son who needs a bit of attention to come out of his shell.

The story of Way, Way Back is a very compelling one. I definitely could relate to Duncan, though our stories are quite different, and I am sure many will. I wish I would have had an Owen on my path, sure could have brought a new dimension in my life. I highly recommend this film: It offers a very touching story without resorting to hardcore tugging on the heartstrings.

Rating: «««««

The Internship (2013)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Shawn Levy

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson,

Running time: 120 minutes

Billy McMahon and Nick Campbell are great watch salesmen. As Billy puts it in the movie: I could sell prosciutto to a Rabbi. Unfortunately for them, the watch business is no longer what it was and the company they work for is closing. Having difficulty finding a job, Billy registers the both of them for a competitive internship at Google. Despite not fitting the norm among all the collegiate applicants, they manage to squeeze their way in. With no guarantee of a job at the end of it, they embark on a summer mission to find a new career for themselves.

Despite being primarily a comedy meant to entertain, The Internship does carry an important message: Everybody has something to bring to any situation or process if you let them. Billy McMahon and Nick Campbell are not as computer-savvy and technologically inclined as their 20 year-old counterparts, but they bring a load of experience to the table. Both generations can help each other and bring something to the other if they can only learn to work together.

This 2013 American comedy does lay its message a little thick at times, but it still manages to be entertaining. The on-screen chemistry between Vaughn and Wilson is undeniable, and it showed that the two were not taking part in their first rodeo together. They work off each other quite well. The supporting cast is loaded with lesser known actors and actresses, but everybody plays their role well. Some characters are a bit cartoonish, though, which can be a turnoff. For example, the token fat guy vs the token bully; it has been done before.

That being said, The Internship is an entertaining comedy that carries an important message about not giving up and giving everybody a fair chance to show what they can contribute.

Rating: «««

The Kings of Summer (2013)

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Directed by: Jordan Vogt-Roberts

Starring: Nick Robinson, Moisés Arias, Gabriel Basso

Running time: 94 minutes

This 2013 coming-of-age comedy-drama tells the story of Joe Toy, a teenage boy who is finding it difficult to cope with his single father’s attempts to manage his life. After one more difficult episode at home, he decides to break free with his best friend Patrick, who finds his home life a bore, and a strange kid named Biaggio. Together, they decide to build a makeshift home in the woods. They make do the best they can in this new life, but trouble arises when a girl comes between the two best friends.

The Kings of Summer offers a compelling story delivered on screen by a cast of talented actors. When you are dealing with kids, it can be risky, as performances can be uneven. It is not the case here, as everyone is very good. It was to be expected, though, since Nick Robinson, Moisés Arias and Gabriel Basso all have previous experience in film and television.

You cannot help but root for these teenagers about to make their entry into adulthood. You want them to prove themselves worthy of trust and respect. That is exactly what makes The Kings of Summer so compelling; we have all been there, in our own ways. In the end, this film is a very good one.

Rating: ««««

Somebody Up There Likes Me (2012)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Bob Byington

Starring: Keith Poulson, Nick Offerman, Jess Weixler

Running time: 76 minutes

This 2012 comedy, written and directed by Bob Byington, goes through 35 years in the life of Max Youngman, through his two failed marriages, the birth of his son, the evolution of his relationship with his best friend and business partner and more.

Somebody Up There Likes Me is a great little off-beat gem, filled with so many inappropriate reactions to situations and deadpan comedy. Everybody seems to be going from one event to the other without a clear and defined thought to guide them, and that makes the movie deliciously comical. I have found myself chuckling all the way through this very short movie (under 80 minutes).

The cast did some good acting work here. The roles that had to be played were far from conventional, and they all carry the ball well. Keith Poulson is particularly good as Max Youngman. There are not too many redeeming qualities about his character, but he makes him loveable nonetheless. You cannot help but laugh at Max’s misguided approach to life. Same goes for Nick Offerman, as Sal, the best friend and the most inappropriate of all character in this movie.

Overall, I must say that somebody down here sure loves this movie.

Rating: ««««

Trance (2013)

Genre: Thriller

Directed by: Danny Boyle

Starring: James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel, Rosario Dawson

Running time: 101 minutes

To cover his gambling debts, Simon (McAvoy), an art auctioneer, becomes an accessory in the stealing of a famous painting by a group of three criminals. In the process, Simon decides to change the plans and he attacks the leader of the crooks, receiving a severe blow to the head for his trouble. When the three men realize that the painting is not in the bag where Simon was supposed to have put it, they go through his apartment and then kidnap him, hoping to torture him and make him talk. Unfortunately for them, the blow they gave him left him with amnesia and he does not remember where it is. So, they all decide to hire a hypnotherapist, thinking that she can help Simon remember. The thing is, she seems to know a lot more than they think about the case and she looks like she has some ulterior motives.

From the beginning, the pace of Trance is fast and energetic. The action is well directed and the setup is really well done. James McAvoy, as usual, is very solid. As for Vincent Cassel, the French actor has THAT kind of face, the look of the perfect bad guy. Yet again, he pulls off the crook to perfection. When she comes into action, Rosario Dawson is also great. I have always had something for that actress. What an awful first name for such a beautiful and talented woman.

With Trance, Danny Boyle often plays very loosely with reality and with the norms of storytelling. Some of those plot twists were a little weird to me, but the film kept me hooked all the way through, impatient to know what really happened. A few times, I thought I knew, but, by the end, it was a nice surprise. Well done. This is a psychological thriller I highly recommend.

Rating: ««««

Dumb and Dumber To (2014)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Peter and Bobby Farrelly

Starring: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Rob Riggle, Laurie Holden, Kathleen Turner

Running time: 109 minutes

Following the events of the first film, Lloyd Christmas (Carrey) went into a mental institute, unable to cope with his failure to win the affection of Mary Swanson. Harry Dunne (Daniels) still visits his friend every week, taking care of him to the point of changing his diaper and cleaning him. When the second movie starts, it is 20 years later, and Lloyd finally admits that he was faking it all along…for a goof. The two starts catching up on lost times, and Harry says he is sick and needs a kidney transplant. While wondering what to do about it, they come upon an old postcard from a former girlfriend of Harry, saying she is pregnant. That would mean he is the father of a teen. The two idiotic friends decide to go out on a quest to find that kid, the only kin Harry has, thus the only potential donor that could save his life. But, things are never what they seem when you deal with dumb people.

I was so anxious for a true sequel of Dumb and Dumber to be made and I was glad when it was finally set to come out 20 years later. I guess stars needed to align, but we hopefully would have something to make us forget that horrible prequel made by a different team of creators. The main ingredients were put in the mix, so I was confident they would not stink up the joint. Thankfully, they did not.

I never expected Dumb and Dumber To to exceed the quality of the original. That would be like asking The Stones to recreate another Sticky Fingers in 2015. It simply cannot happen. Some jokes did miss the mark. That being said, this movie offers a solid dose of low-brow and crass humor, that will sure make your inner kid belly laugh for hours. If you are not in that, ever, at all, do not bother.

The chemistry Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels have on screen is simply amazing, even after all these years without working together. These guys have something special together. The supporting cast was good also, though I must admit I was disappointed by the fact that Seabass was not there to terrorize this time.

Dumb and Dumber To gave me a good dose of hilarity and nostalgia, and that can be so comforting for the soul.

Rating: ««««

Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

Genre: TV / Comedy

Starring: Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, James Franco

Number of seasons: 1 (18 episodes)

What a treat Freaks and Geeks was. I have laughed out loud, smiled in reminiscence and even shed a tear or two.

This TV show tells the story of a group of high school students in the Michigan of 1980-1981. The focal point is the Weir family, with Lindsay and Sam. Lindsay is 16. She’s an A student, but she’s trying to change clan and hang-out with the burnouts. She works hard not to be seen as a good girl, but, in her core, she is as sweet as they come. Sam is 14. He is discovering girls and trying his best to get rid of the geek image that he has. But, really, he just loves hanging around with his two best friends and play games.

Beyond the two main ones, there is a load of other well-developed characters in Freaks and Geeks. The Weir parents are plain awesome. They are so out-of-touch, but you cannot help but love them. James Franco, Busy Philipps, Jason Segel and Seth Rogen are all very good as the burnouts with whom Lindsay hangs around. Sam’s best friends are also very compelling as characters.

This TV show so should have lasted longer. Only 18 episodes, that is not enough, but, unfortunately, it was not meant to be. Those 18 are so enjoyable though, I plan on watching them again down the line. So many memorable episodes to speak of, I highly recommend this show.

Freaks and Geeks captures the high school experience perfectly, with the clans and groups. The bullying, the relationships, the fighting, etc.; it is all there. And the soundtrack is simply amazing. Some of my favorite music, some good old classic rock, is featured all the way through. Shout out to The Who’s Squeeze Box, a great song about accordions.

Rating: «««««

Love Is All You Need (2012)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Directed by: Susanne Bier

Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Trine Dyrholm, Kim Bodnia

Running time: 116 minutes

Just as she is finishing a battle against breast cancer, Ida, a Danish hairdresser, comes home to find her husband having sex with another woman. She decides to put her feelings aside about that, since her daughter is about to get married in Italy. As she arrives at the airport to leave for the wedding, she is involved in a fender bender with the father of the man about to marry her daughter, a rich widower who let his work consume his whole life after the accidental passing of his wife. They travel to Italy together, both coming from two very different places in life.

This film goes from Danish to Italian to English, but it is all very easy to follow. The story is very compelling and the actors are all doing wonderful work. I was particularly touched by Trine Dyrholm’s eyes. They conveyed such emotion, fragility and sweetness, you just want to take her character in your arms and hug her. As for Pierce Brosnan, he plays his role well, and it’s not much different from many things he has played in the past. At least, he does not sing in this movie.

Overall, Love Is All You Need is a very sweet little movie. Gets a little predictable towards the end, but that is to be expected with a romantic comedy. The wedding situation is a little zany, as the two families getting together sure do put the fun in dysfunctional.

Rating: ««««

World War Z (2013)

Genre: Action/Horror

Directed by: Marc Forster

Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Peter Capaldi

Running time: 116 minutes

In World War Z, a former UN investigator has to leave his family behind and travel around the world to stop a massive zombie outbreak that threatens to overtake the whole planet.

Visually-speaking, World War Z offers some great filmmaking. I was simply amazed sometimes at the images shown on my screen. There was some great work done in special effects. The biggest issue for me was character development. Not much effort was put into that, and the movie suffered because of it in my humble opinion. We just did not care what happened to these people. Also, the acting was uninspired. Even Brad Pitt, who can sometimes be very good, did not seem really into it.

Overall, World War Z was a really disappointing effort. Other than the visuals, I did not find much good in it. Unless you are a fan of the genre, I would pass.

Rating: ««

Pain & Gain (2013)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Michael Bay

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie

Running time: 129 minutes

Loosely based on some real crimes committed in Florida in the 1990’s, this American black comedy tells the story of a trio of bodybuilders who, to improve their status and their lifestyles, get involved in kidnapping, extortion and murder. Unfortunately for them, they are not smart enough to have any hope of escaping the authorities.

Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson have a particularly good chemistry on screen. They really do play well opposite each other. I must give a special mention to good ol’ Marky Mark, who, despite the fact that he was already in shape, showed some great dedication to the role by gaining all the muscle mass necessary to play a bodybuilder. Ed Harris was a nice surprise here, though his role was small one.

The story itself is compelling enough, though it has been largely criticized for making light of a serious situation and portraying these criminals as more sympathetic than they really were. I definitely can see the merit in that complaint. The storyline took some foolish turns sometimes and the moviemakers were trying a little too hard, in my opinion, to be funny. Humor has to be organic; if it is too forced, it fails.

I found the movie to be a tad long; it ended up dragging a bit towards the end, and I wanted it to end. Too much pain and not enough gain. There were some good aspects, especially as far as the acting goes. Some people complained about the violence, but that doesn’t really bother me. Pain & Gain is a very average film. Not a must-see, but still some entertainment value.

Rating: «««

Dumb and Dumber (1994)

Genre: Comedy/Author’s Favorites

Directed by: Peter and Bobby Farrelly

Starring: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Lauren Holly

Running time: 107 minutes

Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne are two friends who live together as roommates in Rhode Island. To say that they are not very smart is an understatement; as a matter of fact, they are as dumb as rocks. They are good-natured, but they are lacking in the brains department. After both losing their respective jobs one more time, they set out on a cross-country trip to Colorado to return a briefcase to its rightful owner, a beautiful woman Lloyd is infatuated with. What they do not know before getting to Aspen is that the case is loaded with cash and some bad guys are in pursuit to get it from them.

Over twenty years later, Dumb and Dumber remains my favorite movie in the comedy genre. Sure, it is not an intellectual film and some will look down upon it, but it was made to entertain and make people laugh and that’s exactly what it has done for me over the years. I have seen it over twenty times, at the very least, and as I watched it again last weekend to write this review, I still noticed something I had not seen before: The opening credits are filled with intentional spelling mistakes. That gave me quite a few chuckles. It was the directorial debut of the Farrelly Brothers, and quite a start it was.

Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels have great comedic chemistry on screen. They have both shown in their respective careers that they can be serious, but they sure know how to get a laugh. The supporting cast was all very good, in their respective roles. I remember the Cam Neely cameo being a nice surprise back then.  

Sure, Dumb and Dumber is filled with crass and low-brow humor, but, heck, we all need some of that (or at least I do). A movie has to be taken for what it is meant to be. So many lines and scenes in this movie made me laugh out loud and still do today, after many viewings. Dumb and Dumber remains a guilty pleasure of mine, and it has one of the best comedic ending scene in movie history. Thank you Jim Carrey for sticking to your guns on that one; it would not have worked any other way.

Rating: «««««

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Genre: Superhero

Directed by: Marc Webb

Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx

Running time: 142 minutes

This first sequel of the Spider-Man reboot starts with what has happened to Peter Parker’s parents after they left the boy with his aunt and uncle. Back in the present day, Peter Parker is trying to stay away from his girl Gwen, after promising her dying father to do so for her own protection. This is proving to be very difficult, as Peter’s love for Gwen is too strong. At the same time, Parker must deal with his childhood friend, Harry Osborn, who says he needs Spider-Man’s blood to cure him of the disease that is killing him. Osborn recruits Max Dillon, who has transformed into monster Electro after being electrocuted, to help him catch Spider-Man.

The second installment of this series is action-packed from the start. The pace is fast, the images and special effects are crisp. It is a thrilling ride. I must admit I didn’t care much for all the parts where the action is stalled to slow-motion to accentuate certain scenes; it felt a little too cartoonish to me. That being said, the visual of Electro's transformation was well done.

The acting is again very solid here, considering it is a Superhero movie and not a profound deal. Everybody carries his or her load without looking fake. Special mention again for Emma Stone, who lights up the screen. Jamie Foxx was a nice addition to the cast, as he always brings a good dose of intensity and dedication to a role. 

Overall, I preferred the first installment to this sequel. This one felt a little too cartoonish at times, but the story was still very compelling and the actors delivered quite well. Worth a watch, and I await number 3.

Rating: «««