The Fighter. This is a based-upon-true-events movie about boxer Mickey Ward (Mark Wahlberg) who eventually went on to become a boxing world champion. As the story unfolds, we are witnesses to the challenges that face Mickey Ward. His family (which also helps run his career) is a mess. His trainer (and brother) Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale) is a crack addict. His mother is his manager (Melissa Leo) and is obviously over her head. Yes, she loves her son, but she doesn't have the necessary skills to manager her son's career -- as well as the fact that she can't see that Dicky is a messed up human being who needs help. And there is the love story between Mickey and Charlene Fleming (Amy Adams)that brings the necessary stability to Mickey's life.
This movie kept my attention throughout. You can't help but cheer for the various characters: you want Mickey Ward to succeed, you want Dicky Eklund to conquer his addiction, you want Charlene not to give up on Mickey.
Comment: I did some research on the real life events. The after-story on Dicky Eklund is not as positive as the movie leads one to believe -- unfortunately.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Great Northern, Sabrosa Purr and Moving Picture Show at Bootleg
It was off to Bootleg to catch Moving Picture Show, Sabrosa Purr and Great Northern. I have to say what a night. First off were two bands I hadn't seen in more than two years: Moving Picture Show and Sabrosa Purr. I remember the first time I saw Moving Picture Show back in March 2008. I wrote the following on my old myspace blog, "The next band up was Moving Picture Show, which started their set off as a high school drum line. It was an interesting entrance. I think their bass player has experience in line dancing. " Who can possibly forget an entrance like that. They didn't do the high school drum line this time around, but did open by banging away on a marching band drum. For some reason, I seem to remember a female keyboardist back in 2008. I could be wrong about that memory as it was close to three years ago.
I saw Sabrosa Purr back in September 2008. I wrote the following on the old myspace blog, "Sabrosa Purr was up next. I loved their sound . . . I'd call them orchestral rock. The band is two guitar players and a drummer -- no bass." Those are some old memories. As for Sabrosa Purr, for some reason I remember an all guy band, but I could be wrong on that one, as well. Anyways, they are now a four piece band with two female band members. Amazing how time flies.
I've wanted to catch both bands since 2008, but never got around to it. Both put on amazing sets.
Comment of the night: Big sweaty hugs, they're only fifty cents after the show.
The comment was made by the lead singer of Sabrosa Purr who soon after went to hug his bassist. I wonder how she felt about that.
As for Great Northern . . . well, the first time I saw them was at the Eagle Rock Music Festival when they opened up for Monsters are Waiting. Of course, it didn't take me as long to see them a second time or a third and fourth and fifth. As always, I loved their set.
As for Great Northern . . . well, the first time I saw them was at the Eagle Rock Music Festival when they opened up for Monsters are Waiting. Of course, it didn't take me as long to see them a second time or a third and fourth and fifth. As always, I loved their set.
Moving Picture Show
Sabrosa Purr
Great Northern
Saturday, March 5, 2011
A Movie Review: The King's Speech
The King's Speech. I have to admit I walked into this movie with a bit of skepticism. How could a movie about trying to work through a King's stuttering problem really be that good? Why all the critical acclaim. Oh how wrong I was? This is a brilliant movie about a man who must not only seek help from someone who is "below" him, but must also rise up when the one in front of him can't measure up. It is also about how important a single man can be to the courage of a nation under stress.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
A Movie Review: True Grit
True Grit. Sometimes you go to the movie and as people exit you find out that you have a striking difference of opinion versus most of the rest of the audience. As the movie ended, I was thinking, "This movie was just fascinating." And then you hear folks leaving with comments like, "That movie was so cheesy" and "We spent our money on that movie?" I don't know how they formed their opinions.
The basic premise of the movie is about a fourteen-year-old named Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) and her desire for justice. Her father is killed by Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). Since her father is from out of town, the town sheriff doesn't consider Tom Chaney a high priority. For some reason (not really explained), Mattie Ross is sent to clear up her father's affairs while the wife/mother remains at home. She decides that she'll make Tom Chaney a high priority and enlists Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to chase down Chaney. In the hunt for Tom Chaney, is a Texas Ranger named LeBoeuf (Matt Damon).
The dialog between the three main characters is what is fascinating here. And Mattie Ross sure does hold her own with her obviously over-exaggerated intelligence level that is backed up by a sharp tongue. And I do like how Mattie Ross is portrayed. Yes, she's smarter than she should be, but the movie shows that though she might have courage, she does have her fears. When confronted with situations that she didn't normally confront such as a gun fight or being grabbed by a gang of outlaws, you can see the fear in her eyes.
I say this is a well done movie and unlike my fellow movie goers, I feel it deserves an Oscar nod for Best Picture.
The basic premise of the movie is about a fourteen-year-old named Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) and her desire for justice. Her father is killed by Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). Since her father is from out of town, the town sheriff doesn't consider Tom Chaney a high priority. For some reason (not really explained), Mattie Ross is sent to clear up her father's affairs while the wife/mother remains at home. She decides that she'll make Tom Chaney a high priority and enlists Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to chase down Chaney. In the hunt for Tom Chaney, is a Texas Ranger named LeBoeuf (Matt Damon).
The dialog between the three main characters is what is fascinating here. And Mattie Ross sure does hold her own with her obviously over-exaggerated intelligence level that is backed up by a sharp tongue. And I do like how Mattie Ross is portrayed. Yes, she's smarter than she should be, but the movie shows that though she might have courage, she does have her fears. When confronted with situations that she didn't normally confront such as a gun fight or being grabbed by a gang of outlaws, you can see the fear in her eyes.
I say this is a well done movie and unlike my fellow movie goers, I feel it deserves an Oscar nod for Best Picture.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
A Movie Review: Black Swan
Black Swan. What was that movie? Total chaos. A constant transition from reality to a dream state and back to reality. And in the end, total enjoyment. Yes, I was riveted to the movie screen throughout – and not just during the make-out session between Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. I found there to be so many fascinating relationships in this movie. Nina (Natalie Portman) and her mother (Barbara Hershey): A mother both jealous (to the point and wanting to keep her daughter psychologically imprisoned) and supportive of her daughter. Nina and Thomas (Vincent Cassel): is this teacher seductive or just trying to get the best out of his new star? Nina and Lily (Mila Kunis): Is Lily jealous of Nina or is Nina imagining the backstabbing?
Opinions. Thomas was more trying to get the best out of his new star versus trying to seduce her. Of course, he probably wouldn't have minded sleeping with her, but putting on a great show was essential. Lily is complicated. She was obviously motivated and would have wanted the lead. And I think like many she noticed that perhaps Nina had some short comings, but her pure joy for Nina towards the end of the movie showed that she was more friend than enemy. Nina, of course, portrayed Lily as her frenemy, which provided great motivation.
My complaint: I did find some of the dream states a bit over-the-top, especially the scene between Nina and Beth (Winona Ryder) at the hospital.
My opinion (potential mild spoiler as the ending is rather dramatic) regarding the ending: I believe that Nina reverted back to a temporary dream state. Blood always seemed to imply a dream state.
Opinions. Thomas was more trying to get the best out of his new star versus trying to seduce her. Of course, he probably wouldn't have minded sleeping with her, but putting on a great show was essential. Lily is complicated. She was obviously motivated and would have wanted the lead. And I think like many she noticed that perhaps Nina had some short comings, but her pure joy for Nina towards the end of the movie showed that she was more friend than enemy. Nina, of course, portrayed Lily as her frenemy, which provided great motivation.
My complaint: I did find some of the dream states a bit over-the-top, especially the scene between Nina and Beth (Winona Ryder) at the hospital.
My opinion (potential mild spoiler as the ending is rather dramatic) regarding the ending: I believe that Nina reverted back to a temporary dream state. Blood always seemed to imply a dream state.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
A Movie Review: Blue Valentine
Blue Valentine. This is a movie where I attempted to see who was most to blame for the break-up: the husband or the wife and I came to the opinion that neither was to blame for the pain of their marriage. Of course, the problem is that not enough information is provided. You get glimpses of the start of their relationship along with the final couple days. There isn't much in between, which is frustrating but perhaps that is why my opinion is correct: neither is really to blame.
You do get some hints of what is happening:
1. You have two individuals who aren't perfectly matched in terms of class. Dean doesn't even have a high school degree. Cindy has a degree in nursing. We also know that Dean came from a broken home and that his father was a janitor. We know that Cindy, even though her family was highly dysfunctional, probably had a more middle class upbringing.
2. There are clues towards the end of the movie that Cindy considers Dean manipulative.
3. We also know via their stay at the hotel that Cindy doesn't provide much physical comfort to Dean.
4. We also know that Cindy wishes that Dean would do more with his life -- achieve his full potential.
5. We do know; however, that both have been faithful to each other even though that faithfulness doesn't add up to much. Cindy has the better opportunity in the marriage to cheat. We know there are two guys (and perhaps more if the movie revealed more) that wouldn't have minded having an affair with Cindy. This right there might have moved Cindy towards thoughts of divorce as it is always greener on the other side.
In the end, we're left with a bleak look at the collapse of a marriage.
You do get some hints of what is happening:
1. You have two individuals who aren't perfectly matched in terms of class. Dean doesn't even have a high school degree. Cindy has a degree in nursing. We also know that Dean came from a broken home and that his father was a janitor. We know that Cindy, even though her family was highly dysfunctional, probably had a more middle class upbringing.
2. There are clues towards the end of the movie that Cindy considers Dean manipulative.
3. We also know via their stay at the hotel that Cindy doesn't provide much physical comfort to Dean.
4. We also know that Cindy wishes that Dean would do more with his life -- achieve his full potential.
5. We do know; however, that both have been faithful to each other even though that faithfulness doesn't add up to much. Cindy has the better opportunity in the marriage to cheat. We know there are two guys (and perhaps more if the movie revealed more) that wouldn't have minded having an affair with Cindy. This right there might have moved Cindy towards thoughts of divorce as it is always greener on the other side.
In the end, we're left with a bleak look at the collapse of a marriage.
Friday, February 25, 2011
A Movie Review. The Chronicles of Naria: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. So I was a little hesitant about seeing this movie after noticing that the critics didn’t exactly give this a thumbs up. Some of the criticisms I read: the special effects weren’t cut rate and the storyline was about a quest that didn’t have much excitement to it.
Honestly, I didn’t mind what I saw on screen in terms of special effects. It worked for me though I thought the Dawn Treader looked more like a toy than an actual ship. This didn’t have anything to do with the special effects, but with whoever designed the ship.
As for the quest, I enjoyed the quest. Temptations abounded. Heroes were made. Fears became reality.
Now I’m not saying that there weren’t deeper themes that could have been explored, but let’s be honest that this isn’t a movie for adults. This is a movie for kids. And C.S. Lewis wrote the book for kids. So why expect more. But here are some complaints: the complex relationship between King Caspian and King Edmund could have been explored more deeply. And let’s face it, Eustace was a total irritant for half the movie. As said; however, for a movie that is focused as family entertainment, this movie fits the bill.
Honestly, I didn’t mind what I saw on screen in terms of special effects. It worked for me though I thought the Dawn Treader looked more like a toy than an actual ship. This didn’t have anything to do with the special effects, but with whoever designed the ship.
As for the quest, I enjoyed the quest. Temptations abounded. Heroes were made. Fears became reality.
Now I’m not saying that there weren’t deeper themes that could have been explored, but let’s be honest that this isn’t a movie for adults. This is a movie for kids. And C.S. Lewis wrote the book for kids. So why expect more. But here are some complaints: the complex relationship between King Caspian and King Edmund could have been explored more deeply. And let’s face it, Eustace was a total irritant for half the movie. As said; however, for a movie that is focused as family entertainment, this movie fits the bill.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Malibu State Creek Park
A small group of us went to Malibu State Creek Park on a Saturday afternoon. Some photos below.
Some props from the TV Series MASH below.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
A Movie Review: Tangled
Tangled. I wasn’t planning on seeing this movie, but then a friend told me it was really good. So off I went. And yes, it is a really good movie about a kidnapped princess and a charming thief. Compared to current cartoons, this might seem an understated movie, but it is wonderfully done. I’d say think of last year’s Princess and the Frog.
My one complaint: That hair started to get under my skin. It started to have the look of a slithering golden snake at times. I was so happy when towards the end of the movie the hair is braided. They should have put it in braids much earlier.
My one complaint: That hair started to get under my skin. It started to have the look of a slithering golden snake at times. I was so happy when towards the end of the movie the hair is braided. They should have put it in braids much earlier.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
A Movie Review: Love and Other Drugs
Love and Other Drugs. Are there situations in life where love just isn't enough? Though this film doesn't really address that question head on, it does probe around the edges and asks you to make that call.
I've recently become a big Anne Hathaway fan so this was a movie that I wanted to see. It is a movie that revolves around two individuals: Jamie Randall (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Maggie Murdock (Hathaway). The two of them run into each other when Jamie Randall (a pharmaceutics salesman) is invited into the examination room by a doctor who is examining Maggie. That run in doesn't work all that well, but somehow the two find each other interesting. The hitch is that Maggie has Parkinson's Disease, a point that I didn't know until Maggie is introduced into the movie.
I've recently become a big Anne Hathaway fan so this was a movie that I wanted to see. It is a movie that revolves around two individuals: Jamie Randall (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Maggie Murdock (Hathaway). The two of them run into each other when Jamie Randall (a pharmaceutics salesman) is invited into the examination room by a doctor who is examining Maggie. That run in doesn't work all that well, but somehow the two find each other interesting. The hitch is that Maggie has Parkinson's Disease, a point that I didn't know until Maggie is introduced into the movie.
Though this isn't a perfect movie, I did enjoy it. The movie doesn't revolve around Maggie and Jamie. There is a side story that shows the dealings that go on between doctors and big pharma. Though it doesn't dig into this issue (this is a romance, not a drama) is does provide you some interesting insight (though how much is exaggerated must be taken into consideration).
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
A Movie Review: Somewhere
So a few weeks back I did my first movie review over on Intraffik.com. It was for the movie somewhere. Go check it out.
Potentially considered a spoiler -- a little bit more on the movie.
The last scene of the movie left me confused. What was Johnny Marco doing? He had a daughter he had to pick up and yet he seemed to be doing what his wife was doing, off trying to find himself. Well, I started to think about this and for some reason I think this is how the story concludes: I think those last few moments in the film show a father deciding to leave his Hollywood life behind (at least for a few years). He is trying to find somewhere that is appropriate for his daughter.
In the movie, we see his daughter breaking down in tears. She is afraid of not having her parents. Her mother may never return. Her father is off making movies and is seldom around. Johnny is seeing things through his daughter’s eyes and it is impacting him, changing him. For example, while in Italy he has an Italian acquaintance drop by for a night of sex. The next morning the acquaintance has breakfast with the family and Cleo is not that pleased, giving her father the evil eye. Later in the movie there is a moment where father and daughter are playing around in the hotel hallway. They enter their hotel room. Johnny goes to his bedroom and sees a starlet nude in his bed. He tells her this is not an appropriate time and quickly rushes his daughter out of the room. He is seeing that his lifestyle does his daughter no good.
Potentially considered a spoiler -- a little bit more on the movie.
The last scene of the movie left me confused. What was Johnny Marco doing? He had a daughter he had to pick up and yet he seemed to be doing what his wife was doing, off trying to find himself. Well, I started to think about this and for some reason I think this is how the story concludes: I think those last few moments in the film show a father deciding to leave his Hollywood life behind (at least for a few years). He is trying to find somewhere that is appropriate for his daughter.
In the movie, we see his daughter breaking down in tears. She is afraid of not having her parents. Her mother may never return. Her father is off making movies and is seldom around. Johnny is seeing things through his daughter’s eyes and it is impacting him, changing him. For example, while in Italy he has an Italian acquaintance drop by for a night of sex. The next morning the acquaintance has breakfast with the family and Cleo is not that pleased, giving her father the evil eye. Later in the movie there is a moment where father and daughter are playing around in the hotel hallway. They enter their hotel room. Johnny goes to his bedroom and sees a starlet nude in his bed. He tells her this is not an appropriate time and quickly rushes his daughter out of the room. He is seeing that his lifestyle does his daughter no good.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Jenny O, Everest and Micky Adams at Bootleg
It was off to The Bootleg to catch Micky Adams, Everest and Jenny O.
It is too bad I can't find a link for Micky Adams as it was a most amusing set. He had us clapping and singing along. He also had a number of friends there that night. In fact, I do believe about a dozen people left right after his set.
Everest was up next and they just blew me away. They are playing practically everywhere this month of February.
Closing out the night for me was Jenny O, the resident for February. She had a two backup singers for a couple songs. One being Lauren Rocket from the band, Rocket.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
A Movie Review: Red
Red. I didn't plan on catching this movie, but I noticed how well it was doing at the box office so I decided to see why. What a fun movie. It had me laughing throughout and there was some nice intrigue to toss in, as well. The movie starts out with Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) in retirement. He's bored and it seems his only enjoyment in life is talking to Sarah (Mary-Louis Parker), a helpful pension agent, that he has a crush on. Well, things quickly develop into explosions and gun play. Frank Moses was involved in an undercover job in Central America years prior and someone is out to get him for it. Sarah gets involved due to her contact with Frank. Frank brings in some fellow retirees; highlighted by Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren), to help him out. The retirees still have some life in them and the result in awesome mayhem.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)