You like me! You really li – oh, wait.

20 05 2010

I had prepared something like the speech the title referenced (when Sally Field screamed “You like me!  You really like me!” after winning her second Oscar) had I been nominated for any LAMMYs, the awards given through the Large Association of Movie Blogs to exemplary movie bloggers.  Unfortunately, that speech won’t be necessary.

I don’t want to revel in sorrow or even make a scene out of not being nominated (honestly, I can’t because I have finals right now).  Like I said, I don’t blog to get recognition or awards.  I blog because I love to write about movies.

And so, I leave you dedicated readers with this, which will set the tone for the next year of “Marshall and the Movies.”

I am going to strive to do my best, to continue to provide you with what I believe to be exemplary content.  I will fight to keep your readership even harder than I have in the 9 months that I have been blogging.  With your help, “Marshall and the Movies” will continue to soar to new heights.  You will never see a movie blogger work harder (except when he has school, and then he will channel his energies there).

So thanks again for reading, because I think you do deserve a pat on the back every once in a while.  And congratulations to my deserving friends and fellow bloggers who have been nominated.  Give yourselves an especially large pat on the back.


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Random Factoid #296

20 05 2010

I guess I can stop with these veiled references to the movie screening I went to on Saturday morning.  It was for “Shrek Forever After,” if you hadn’t already figured that out.

Before the screening, I remembered something lying in the bottom of the costume chest at my house.  There were Shrek ears (similar to the ones in the picture) that can be worn like a headband.  They are incredibly festive, and I have whipped them out every once in a while since 2001.  Yes, I have kept these ears since the release of the first “Shrek” movie.

I wore them to the screening, and no one noticed.  I was very disappointed.

(To be fair, they gave out some new pairs as prizes.  So I can only hope that was one of the main reasons.)


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REVIEW: Shrek Forever After

20 05 2010

DreamWorks really struck it big with the “Shrek” franchise.  The original won the first Academy Award for Best Animated Film.  The sequel was the third highest grossing movie of the decade.  Then, out of nowhere, the magic makers forgot what made their previous two installments so successful and churned out a third installment void of joy, laughter, and fun.  I prayed that “Shrek Forever After,” the supposed final entry in the series, would provide closure while still providing the entertainment of the first films.

My wish was their command.  This “Shrek” is a jubilant celebration of the series that will serve as a perfect bookend of the series.  It will have you howling from beginning to end, surpassing the total laugh count of “Shrek the Third” in mere minutes.  Everything you love about “Shrek” is present here – all the adult humor, pop culture references, send-ups of your favorite fairy tales, and the characters we’ve come to adore.

But at the same time, it doesn’t rely on your lingering nostalgia from 2001 and 2004.  “Shrek Forever After” has plenty to give us that is new and exciting, from the introduction of the maniacal Rumpelstiltskin to an engaging plotline that twists Frank Capra.

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Random Factoid #295

19 05 2010

Yesterday, in my history class, we played a game based on guessing themes from movies.  The tunes ranged all the way from “Gone with the Wind” to “Avatar.”

My group got 29/40 (73%) but that still wasn’t enough to be top dog in my section (31/40) or in all the classes (34/40).

Here are some of the themes that slipped us up – AKA I didn’t know them:

“Ben Hur”

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s”

“The Bridge on the River Kwai”

“Out of Africa”

Shamefully, I missed the themes of four movies I had seen – “Batman,” “Forrest Gump,” “The Last of the Mohicans,” and “The Terminator.”


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REVIEW: Amelia

18 05 2010

Can I call BS on “Amelia?”  The movie claims to be inspired by two biographies written about female aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart; however, I have located the real source for the movie.

The movie is in fact derived from those cheesy inspirational poster that are plastered on the walls of workplaces and classrooms everywhere.  You know, the ones with the cat reaching for the ball of string on a high table with the caption “You Can Do It!”

“Amelia” is quite literally the biggest cliché I have ever seen.  I know that I use that word a lot in my reviews, but it has never been so dreadful as it is here.  Sometimes clichéd movies are bearable, other times just annoying; Mira Nair’s movie is laughable.  The dialogue is so uninspired that I found myself giggling at it.

The writing is the core of the problems, yet the movie doesn’t exactly help itself out.  The acting is cringe-worthy, led by two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank as the titular character.  Despite playing a charismatic figure, she comes off as lifeless and dull.  However, those last two adjectives seem more fitting for Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor as her husband and lover, respectively.  Nair’s direction is unstable, and we are never sure if her portrait of Amelia is supposed to deify her or humanize her.  In my opinion, she’s better left as a legend.

The movie in itself serves as an argument against the dreaded “Oscar Bait” films which audiences believe are tailored to win Academy Awards.  According to my dictionary widget, one of the meanings of bait is “an allurement; a thing intended to tempt or entice.”  In that sense, it absolutely falls flat on its face.  “Amelia” is more likely to turn people away, not bring them in.  Another meaning, in the context of a fisherman, is “food used to entice fish or other animals as prey.”  In this context as well, it also fails.  When Fox Searchlight went fishing for voters with “Amelia,” they might as well have held up a sign that said “WE WANT OSCARS.”  No attempt is made to hide the real ambitions of this movie, and it stings all the more when it winds up as a bona fide flop. D /


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Random Factoid #294

18 05 2010

This factoid inspired by Ross v Ross’ post (and new series) “RvReprieve.”  The writers consider granting unfairly trashed movies a second chance.  They started with “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” a movie which star Shia LaBeouf has publicly condemned.

However, I didn’t exactly read the post well enough before I started writing the factoid.  I assumed they were just talking about movies that they had decided to give a second chance.

Wrong.

But nevertheless, I still want to make my factoid today about giving movies a second chance.  Often times, when I don’t feel the love that others feel for a certain movie, I’ll give it a second watch.  Sometimes I still hate it.  But others, I wind up finding something that I hadn’t discovered before.

Such was the case when I rewatched “Michael Clayton,” a 2007 Best Picture nominee.  I’ll save the specifics for a later post, but know that I think it’s never a bad idea to give movies a second watch.


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Random Factoid #293

17 05 2010

A weird “out-of-body”-esque experience happened at the screening I attended on Saturday morning.  When I entered the theater, all the lights were on.  I could see the exact color that the walls were painted.  Really, I could see everything.  It felt weird to be so … illuminated.

Anyone else had the same experience?  It could just be me, but I think it’s strange.  It’s like seeing a turtle without its shell.


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What To Look Forward To in … June 2010

16 05 2010

Summer heats up with June’s releases.  We have the welcome return of an old franchise (“Toy Story”) and the unwelcome return of a newer one (“Twilight”).  We have reboots (“The A-Team”) and remakes (“The Karate Kid”).  We have old comedic stars (Adam Sandler) and new ones (Russell Brand).  Whatever the month give us, let’s just hope for some entertainment.

June 4

“Get Him to the Greek” looks to provide some summer humor in the same weekend that made “The Hangover” the smash success of 2009.  I’m not even watching the trailer in an attempt to make it the most hilarious experience possible.

“Splice” stars Oscar-winner Adrien Brody and Oscar-nominee Sarah Polley (for writing, not acting) as scientists who create a monster.  This looks really freaky.

Really, Katherine Heigl?  You quit an Emmy Award-winning show so you can focus on movies, and now you are doing this?  And you really expect people to take you seriously?  Really?  SNL references aside, “Killers” looks absolutely horrific.

June 11

“The A-Team” looks to reboot the franchise with only a little bit of nostalgia.  Good luck.  With Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley of “District 9,” and some guy who looks like Mr. T, it might be possible…

A remake of “The Karate Kid” already?  The original only came out 25 years ago, and Pat Morita only just passed away.  I’m curious to see how this fares.  Jackie Chan isn’t exactly on a hot streak – “The Spy Next Door,” anyone?  Jaden Smith is unproven other than “The Pursuit of Happyness,” which was all his dad.  It’s only going to corner the market on the family crowd for one week, so Sony had better hope all the families come out on opening weekend.

Opening in limited release is “Winter’s Bone,” a Sundance hit which made it onto my list of the ten most anticipated movies of the summer.  It reminds me a bit of “Frozen River.”  That movie got 2 Oscar nominations.   We’ll see how this turns out.

I’m really excited to see what makes Joan Rivers tick in the documentary about her, “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work.” What lies behind that plastic face will most certainly be entertaining. Now it just has to get to Houston…

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Random Factoid #292

16 05 2010

I went to a free screening yesterday morning at 9:30 A.M.  Yes, that early.  I was in line by 8:15, thank you for asking.

But that’s not what this factoid is about.  It is about the crazy concession purchases that were happening at 9:00 in the morning.  I saw people with hot dogs, nachos, and all sorts of lunch foods.

I was shocked!  People eat breakfast at 9:00 and here these people have moved on to lunch.  My general rule is not to have popcorn until after lunch.  Drinks are always OK; pretzels don’t really have a rule of thumb.  Buncha Crunch, my sweet snack, always wait until after lunch.

Anyone else have any concession “rules” or timeframes?


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Random Factoid #291

15 05 2010

Watched “Requiem for a Dream” last night – wow.  Not going out and doing any drugs anytime soon.  Talk about a movie that tests your ability to stomach a movie.

I pride myself on being a fairly tolerant moviegoer.  I can sit through most movies that most people can’t stomach.  Most horror movies don’t disturb me, mainly because they are too far-fetched to have any impact.  I can barely watch movies like “Requiem for a Dream” or “Precious” because I can’t fall back on thinking that it’s not real.  The fact is, people do face drug addictions or abuse.

However, there are some movies that I won’t subject myself to watching.  Mainly, “Antichrist.”


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F.I.L.M. of the Week (May 14, 2010)

14 05 2010

With the kickoff of the Cannes Film Festival this week, it seems fitting that the “F.I.L.M. of the Week” honor a recent winner of their most prestigious prize, the Palme D’Or.  That winner would be “The Class,” the French film which also scored an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Film.  The movie is an interesting look at an at-risk classroom in France from the preliminary teacher meetings in summer to the final bell of the year.  It particularly concerns itself with the style and methods of the teacher, François Marin.

It’s supposedly semi-autobiographical, but I would have completely believed it was a documentary.  The film is shot with a very realistic style, using mostly long, drawn-out scenes in the classroom.  These work effectively to show us not only what teaching to a class of lazy and uninspired students is like, but also to introduce us to the students and Marin.

Most of the movie serves to make us ponder about Marin’s tactics as a teacher.  What makes him a good teacher?  Why can he inspire some students but not all of them?  What are his weaknesses?  You don’t have to be teacher to find it thought-provoking.  Marin fights not only for their attentiveness, but he also has to act as a mediator between ethnic conflicts.  With such a diverse class, harsh words often fly.  I can’t think of a better and more honest portrayal of such issues than this movie.

One more note (and I have to thank Brokenprojector.com for these observations): the original title of the movie in French was Entre les murs, which is literally translated as “Between the Walls.”  Indeed, “The Class” does take place between the walls.  The camera never leaves the school, but more than that, it alludes to both the teachers and students being trapped inside a school, neither being able to come up with a solution that can serve as an ultimate panacea.


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Random Factoid #290

14 05 2010

Curse you “Fight Club.”

You were a great movie, but you have forever changed the way I watch movies in the theater.  Thanks to your sequence on the “cigarette burns” that projectionists put on film to remind them to change the reels at strategic amounts of time, I can never watch a movie without using them to judge how much time has gone by.

Which also means I can judge about how much time is left.  And I hate being conscious of time while watching a movie, although I often force myself into being in such a state.


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Random Factoid #289

13 05 2010

Two months after it won Best Foreign Film at the Oscars and one month after it opened in the USA, “The Secret in Their Eyes” (FUN FACT: the Spanish title, “El Secreto de sus Ojos” actually means “The Secret of Their Eyes) finally makes its way to Houston tomorrow.

As some of you may recall, I was in Argentina for three weeks in January.  “The Secret in Their Eyes” is an Argentinian film, and when I was there, I knew it had made the shortlist for Best Foreign Film.

I saw posters advertising the DVD of the movie in the windows of electronics stores in the streets of Buenos Aires.  They were practically ubiquitous.  I thought about buying it, but I don’t know what stopped me.  South American DVDs work in our players.

When I came back, it made the list of five actual nominees.  I then realized that very few people in the United States had seen this movie, and if they had, they were critics or high-society film people.  In other words, it would be doubtful that any amateur bloggers would have seen it.

So now, I’m hitting myself (figuratively, not literally) for not buying it.  Hopefully it doesn’t leave in the next two weeks … don’t know how much moviegoing time I will have with finals coming up.

P.S. – Thanks to Mad Hatter at “The Dark of the Matinee” for inspiring this factoid with his review of the movie.


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REVIEW: The Damned United

12 05 2010

Really, there’s not too much wrong with “The Damned United.”  It’s just all too easy to be ambivalent about.

Michael Sheen really does give an admirable performance, and it’s the next step towards something that will gain some Academy attention.  Those who saw him in “The Queen” and “Frost/Nixon” will probably notice that Sheen has been gradually upping his game.  If he keeps up this trend, he will be at Oscar level in a few years.

But for now, not even Sheen can make any part of “The Damned United” memorable.  The premise seems like it’s something that can really rile up some emotion: Brian Clough (Sheen) is a soccer coach who plays a game of honor, yet he has to put up with some dirty cheating players at his dream job coaching for Leeds United.  We see the mettle of Clough as he raises his Derby County team from the cellars of British soccer to playing with the league’s big dogs.

So it should be heartbreaking whenever the Leeds players disrespect him and refuse to acknowledge his role as their coach, right?  It isn’t.  The movie has no urgency, and no power to play up any sort of emotion.  It’s a breezy movie and easy to watch because of this, but I feel like it had the potential to really pack a punch.  However, “The Damned United” felt surprisingly coy with just providing an overview of the events.

So, if you happen to be looking for a movie that is good but doesn’t require you to turn on your brain, this could be just the right thing for you.  Don’t expect to be blown away, though.  Expect “good” and nothing more.  B /


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Random Factoid #288

12 05 2010

“Funny People” ruined “The Great Gatsby” for me.

We’ve been reading F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless novel that criticizes all things wealthy and eastern in my English class these past few weeks.  When we started reading, I happened to recall a friend’s conversation I overheard a few weeks after the movie’s release talking about a few very striking parallels.  The only part of the discussion I specifically remembered was that they thought it was clever that Judd Apatow named a character in the movie Daisy after the love interest in Fitzgerald’s book.

So, while reading “The Great Gatsby,” I kept thinking in my mind that this book would be like “Funny People” just set eight decades earlier.  While there are a great deal of similarities between the two, they exist mainly in the first part of the novel.  The second half takes its own course.

But since this conversation was in my mind, I had a sort of preconceived notion that it would end like “Funny People” ended.  A part of my mind had trouble wrapping around the ending of “Gatsby” because of that.

I guess thanks to Fitzgerald for writing a novel so great that Judd Apatow would want to incorporate it into one of his movies.  But I can’t really blame Apatow for taking his own creative license with the movie.


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