You can tell it's summer when there are no decent television shows to blog about. Wait, check that. When are there good television shows to blog about? Okay, so that's not entirely true and there are some fun tv shows out there. But since the summer movie season has gotten off to a bang, I thought I'd dedicate this week's blog to three excellent movie choices.
Iron Man
Robert Downey, Jr. is the perfect choice for this film. And while Jon Favreau has not always done right - Zathura anyone? - he clearly has the sensibility and finesse for an excellent comic book film. I don't love every comic book film that comes down the pike. X-Men? Loved em. Spider-Man? Bored. The Fantastic Four? WTF??? Iron Man, however, is brilliant. The film doesn't take itself too seriously and the casting is excellent. Who knew Jeff Bridges would make for an interesting bald man? The story focuses on Tony Stark's creation of his alter-ego and that's what makes it fun. Yes, there's a big fight scene at the end, but the fight isn't what's important here; the creation of a flawed superhero is. You'll laugh and snicker at some of the excellent one-liners but you'll also be drawn in to the story. And, if nothing else, those fight-scene special effects are pretty groovy. If you're looking for a popcorn film to start off your summer, this is it.
Priceless
If you're looking for something a lot different to kick off your summer movie viewing, find yourself a multiplex or an indie theater playing this wonderful romantic comedy from France. Audrey Tautou (Amelie and The DaVinci Code) is a poor woman leeching off a series of sugar daddies. Gad Elmaleh is a waiter who falls for her. Eventually, Elmaleh hooks up with a sugar mamma and the two start comparing notes. You gotta love the French when it comes to romantic comedy. This fluffy film rocks out and will not disappoint. I think... I love... Ah forget it. Just go see this flick!
Black Snake Moan
If you just can't bring yourself to pay for overpriced tickets and snacks, you hate sticky floors, and you just can't stand people who talk during the film, go out and rent this dark film starring Christina Ricci as a sex addict and Samuel L. Jackson as the farmer/blues singer who tries to reform her. He does this by locking her to a radiator. Yep, a radiator. This film is pretty dark and pretty deep (the violence and sex are just barely concealed), but it's an amazing story of characters. You aren't going to get that this summer at the multiplex! The two damaged human beings actually end up good for one another. You won't get the ending you're expecting, which is a good thing. And the big surprise of the film, at least for me anyway, will be Justin Timberlake as Ronnie. I hate to say it, but the guy can act.
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14 comments:
I was always curious about Black Snake Moan, and now I think I will move it to the top of my Netflix que.
You are so right about Priceless. Love? Yeah kinda. That film is full of yummy French nhilism even though its a comedy. Its in the tradition of the classic The Rules of the Game, in that it portrays human relationships, especially ones involving love, in an unidealic light.
FYI for all you Buffy lovers out there--NPR's In Character segment this morning was on Buffy.
Heather, have you watched the BBC Robin Hood series? I think Guy of Gisbourne is right up your alley!
Krista, I see the commercials all the time but haven't tuned in yet.
I can't believe Blake Snake Moan didn't get more acting cred. Watching Christina Ricci in Speed Racer and then in Blake Snake Moan you really realize how versatile she can be given the chance.
Robin Hood isn't bad. However, every time I watch it, I always think it leans a little more to the Hercules/Xena TV style than it should!
Beware spoilers for the current season. Part of why I've chosen not to watch Robin Hood regularly, or get too involved, is how season 2 ends. (It aired in the UK ages ago.)
Robin Hood's appeal is all about Guy. The rest is sort of Hercules/Xena. I already know the shocking spoiler. I don't know how they'll handle that. Supposedly, the 3rd series will be the last.
The actor who plays Guy is going to join MI-5 as a regular - which is great because I have recently gotten into that show as well. I've been on a BBC kick.
Can't wait for Indy!
Indiana Jones got a few good reviews at aintitcool.com, particularly by the semi-famous site owner who is a true geek. I'm excited to see it!
Seriously...what a dumb twist in Robin Hood. It craps on the whole Robin Hood story in an irrevocable way. I guess that's what really put me off of it.
I haven't watched BBCA for awhile. I'll have to check and see what their programming is right now. The last thing I watched regularly was Life on Mars back in the winter. But for awhile there I had a few regular shows--Footballers Wives, Hex, Sea of Souls, some others I can't remember. The bad thing is that many British shows have such short seasons, and short lifespans too. They end quickly!
The RH finale was the result of casting changes. They could only do a death or an awkward replacement. Maybe they just should have ended the show. In any case, the method of the ending was the real shocker.
J, did you happen to see the 2007 version of Austen's Persuasion from UK's ITV? I'm not sure it if played on PBS or anyplace else here. It was really good, the ending took some liberties though. "Very long wait" at Netflix. (The actor who played Captain Wentworth is also on MI-5. In fact he was brought in Series 3 to replace Matthew MacFadyen, aka Mr. Darcy. ha!)
Indy is tons of fun. Next week's blog will be devoted to him but no spoilers! I promise!
Starting next Friday, BBCA is showing 2 Monty Python eps every Friday at 8pm. I'm really looking forward to watching them.
Do you want the Persuasion DVD? I got it from Netflix the week it came out. (Always easier to get new releases that way!) If you want it, let me know. I have the original one from the mid-90s too.
Yes, that one was really good. That was the first of the new Austen movies that played on PBS, probably back in January. There were new versions of Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, and Sense and Sensibility too. The S&S was excellent, Northanger not bad, and Mansfield Park kind of icky. (That's my least favorite Austen, though--cousins in love and a seriously blah heroine.)
Did anyone see the recent remake of Room with a View that was on PBS? The horror. Terrible rewritten ending. If you are considering it, just watch the original again--it's MUCH better.
Even if the Robin Hood twist was because of casting changes, they could have written the character off in a creative way rather than what was actually done. I mean, that's what happened on Alias when Michael Vartan wanted to leave. (Faked the character's death, in that case.)
I've seen Persuasion already. That crescent in Bath!! ha ha Anthony Stewart Head plays such the dandy! I also caught him in a recent Dr. Who episode where he played some crazy morphing bat-creature. Very strange. But he sure was hamming it up in the evil role.
I have Northanger Abbey and S&S in my queue. I don't really like Mansfield Park either, so was planning to skip it. I saw the Johnny Lee Miller version anyway.
So, if you haven's seen the BBC version of Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South, I highly recommend it, starring none other than Guy of Gisborne again. I hear he is also to play Rochester opposite Juno's Ellen Page in Jane Eyre.
Indy Indy Indy!
Yeah, I keep hearing about the BBC North and South (not to be confused with the Civil War North and South :-) I will have to check that out sometime.
If you liked that, though, there was an excellent new UK/PBS miniseries that just ended this past Sunday called "Cranford." It's based on three of Gaskill's novels and starred Judi Dench as well as many other well-known British actors. It's about a small British village in the 1840s. It's out on DVD too.
Anthony Stewart Head actually gets a lot of work in the UK. He was also a regular on one season of "Monarch of the Glen." (One of my favorite BBC shows!) He was very good in Persuasion. Man, that girl must have the worst family in all of Austen!
I did see most of Cranford. I missed the beginning. It was very good - North and South is better though.
I just saw Charlie Wilson's War yesterday. Good stuff, especially for political junkies.
I found your blog again! I'm terrible at losing things now. Iron Man = RDJ as the hottest man on screen since Daniel Craig's debut as Bond. smmmokin' hot
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