A Movie Review: Pain & Gain

Pain & Gain.  Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg) is a professional body trainer.  He has hopes of making it big in life, but a professional trainer doesn't make much in life.  He decides to rob a wealthy client of his:  Victor Kershaw (Tony Shalhoub).  He convinces two other body builders to join his cause:  Paul Doyle (Dwayne Johnson) and Adrian Dooral (Anthony Mackie).  He also gets his boss involved, John Mese (Rob Corddry) and his girlfriend/stripper, Sorina Luminita (Bar Paly).

This is a movie based on a real life story:  highly condensed and re-written from what I read.  From what I understand, there were more than just 5 individuals involved in this criminal action.  Of course, just like other movies that might condense characters (Zero Dark Thirty), I find this totally acceptable.

But what did I think about the movie?  A mess.  I hated how many of the characters had narrative moments.  I understand perhaps the attempt to make a unique action movie, but it just failed for me.

I will say there was good character development:  Daniel wanting success, Paul aspiring for a religious life (though still a cocaine addict who likes to steal money), and Adrian wanting a typical home life.  

A Movie Review. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa. Irving Zisman (Johnny Knoxville) is taking his grandson, Billy (Jackson Nicoll), on a roadtrip. Billy's mother has to serve time in jail so Irving is taking Billy to his father.

Okay, that's the movie plot that highlights the antics of Johnny Knoxville.  Though I wouldn't consider this a great movie, there are enough comedy skits that make this a well-worth movie to watch.  At times, I was in tears.  I just wonder which parts of the movie were filmed with unknown individuals versus paid actors/actresses.  For example, there is a cute scene where Billy is playing finger wrestling with a young woman.  I noticed on IMDB that she is an actress.  The end credit scenes provide some clues on which ones were done in front of unknowing individuals, but I'd really like to know about all the skits.  The scene I'd really like to know about is when Irving calls in a couple moving guys to help move a bed, but instead he asks them to move the dead body of his wife.

Also, I'd love to see the outtakes.  I wonder how many folks made the effort to call or wave down a cop.  For example, Billy goes around in one city asking men if they'd be willing to be his father.  I wonder if any of those guys attempted to call or wave down a cop and were stopped by the filming crew.  It might actually be an interesting psychology experiment that I'm sure has been done already.

A Movie Review: The Impossible

The Impossible.  This is a stunning story about a family of five that survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 200,000.  Maria (Naomi Watts) and Henry (Ewan McGregor) and their three sons were staying at an ocean side resort in Thailand.  The tsunami pushed Maria and her son, Lucas, inland.  Somehow the currents connected the two together.  Henry climbed a tree near the resort and was able to locate their two other sons.  The movie follows their story as they eventually re-unite.

The family was extremely lucky to say the least.  In some ways, one might want to ask why a movie would be made about this family when so many other families were torn apart by this natural disaster (or none survive at all).  On the other hand, showing that miracles happen even in the worst of disasters provides one with a sense that even when great tragedies hit one can still appreciate that one surviving flower.

Reading about the true story online, I realized that this story revolves around a Spanish family.  I don't know why the movie didn't make this more obvious as I had the distinct feeling that this family was from Northern Europe.

Note:  in many ways this is a gruesome movie to watch.  Maria suffered severe injuries:  a massive, deep gash in one of her legs and an ugly cut under one of her breasts.  Who ever did the make-up on Naomi Watts has to be given props, because it made me ill to my stomach.
      

A Movie Review: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.  Dr. Alfred Jones (Ewan McGregor) is approached via e-mail by Harriet (Emily Blunt) about introducing salmon to Yemen.  One of her wealthy clients, Sheikh Muhammed (Amr Waked), wants to attempt this project.  Alfred immediately laughs it off as he just doesn't see it as possible, but via outside events he is pressured into it.

This is a low key movie about attempting to do what is considered impossible.  It is also about lost relationships (or relationships that really weren't meant to be) and finding new love.

Hi Ho Silver Oh at Bootleg HiFi

Hi Ho Silver Oh. The 70s making a comeback during the month of July at The Bootleg.

Irontom at Bootleg HiFi

Irontom. I believe this was my 2nd or 3rd time seeing this band. I was impressed the first time I saw them. I was amazed this time around.

Iska Dhaaf at Bootleg HiFi

Iska Dhaaf. A two-piece band punking their way to Los Angeles from Seattle.

A Movie Review: The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby. Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) just moved to New York to work on Wall Street.  He lives next to an isolated millionaire, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio).  Jay takes an interest in Nick when he learns that Nick's cousin is Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan).  It so happened that Jay and Daisy were once lovers.  The movie takes a look into the 0.01% of the 1920s.

I found this an enjoyable movie though I found Nick's wrath towards his cousin at the end of the movie wrong.  I understand his anger towards his friend (and Daisy's husband), Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton).  But to me Daisy felt she needed to honor her marriage versus following her heart, which I think is understandable.

Break out star:  Elizabeth Debicki (Jordan Baker) who was just wonderful in a detached sort of way.

A Movie Review: The Sea Hawk

Set just before the British defeat of the Spanish Armada, Geoffrey Thorpe (Errol Flynn) is a pirate with a tangential association with the British queen (Elizabeth).  He attacks Spanish ships.  The Spanish aren't too pleased and find a way to capture him.  He escapes and warns the queen about the coming invasion.  

I find it an enjoyable romp, but I do have that question of rather or not a woman would really fall for a man who attacked the vessel she was on -- especially considering it was a vessel on a diplomatic mission?  Oh well, I doubt such a dynamic would be greeted very well in a contemporary film, but it is fine for something filmed in the 1940s.

Dead Sara at Pershing Square

Dead Sara.  Okay, a really horrible photo below.  Dead Sara rocked the stage for around 1 hour.  Emily, the lead singer, is just totally charismatic on stage.  And I loved how she went into the audience during their last song.  I just wish Pershing Square would have allowed in cameras.  I'm pretty sure I would have gotten some awesome shots.

LA Font at The Satellite

LA Font. Having some psychedelic fun.

Sego at The Satellite

Sego.  Slackers of rock.

Doja Cat at The Satellite

Doja Cat. The energizer raper.