Missoula Marathon 2011

Thurston recently ran the 2011 Missoula Marathon and since he doesn't have a blog of his own, he asked me to share my space on the interweb so that he could tell his story. Below is his account of the experience.  It's something that I thought was worth sharing with everyone I know (and not just because I'm mentioned on more than one occasion).

-Suzanne

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Sunday, July 17, 2011

A week ago today I got up early. Really early. In fact, I was up at 3:40 A.M. There are only a few things that will get me out of bed early; pre-five o’ clock consciousness just does not come easily for me.

However, I couldn’t have been more alert one week ago at 3:40 in the morning. I was ready to test my mettle against the big one, the marathon. A word and concept that for the last four months had permeated my life, evoking a lot of excitement and not a small amount of trepidation whenever I heard, spoke or thought about it (which seemed to be almost constantly, as many of you all reading this know.) After all, I pestered you for contributions for the Run for Kids team. I peppered you with information about training runs. I even professed admiration for things like minimalist running shoes, trails, cross-training benefits and athletes that most of you could probably have been just fine not hearing about.

As the morning quickly sped towards the Missoula Marathon’s 6 a.m. start time, I found myself doing all the same pre-performance routines and rituals I had for the much shorter races I had run. Multiple trips to the porta-potty, hydrating, (meaning more trips to the porta-potty,) reviewing my race strategy over and over and talking about strategy with the many friends I had made from the Run Wild Missoula Marathon Training class, (RWM is my community’s running club.) But mostly, I awaited the start of the race with something akin to thrilling fear.

After one final trip to the aforementioned, (and all important!) porta-potty, I slipped into the starting line, beside my pack of friends. We laughed and joked and anxiously waited out the seconds before the start. And then came the boom of the ROTC’s cannon signaling the official start. Almost instantaneously a beautiful display of aerial fireworks lit the pre-sunrise sky.

That cannon being fired was all I needed. All of a sudden, we were competing. Not so much against each other, for marathons, while competitive, are mostly run as a contest against one’s self. Only the most elite runners set out with the goal to win a marathon. No, my friends and I and the majority of the thousand other runners in the starting line last Sunday weren’t trying to out-do each other, we were trying to out-do ourselves. For me, I wasn't simply trying to complete my first marathon; I was trying to meet a personal goal of running the 26.2 miles of the Missoula Marathon in under four hours and fifteen minutes.

As with any race, I was pleased to feel that familiar start-of-the-race sense of competition; a feeling that for me instantly obliterates all self doubt. All of a sudden, I was in the middle of accomplishing something. No longer was I worried about hitting my time goal. I was not worried about ‘bonking’ or ‘hitting the wall’. I was in the moment, and a beautiful moment it was.

After the first two miles, I realized I was dead on with pacing. Running with several friends, we moved quickly through aid stations (there was one every two miles) and gulped down water, not stopping or walking, but running comfortably, smiling and chatting, mile after mile.

There is a funny thing that happens during races. When run well, time seems to compress. At around mile nine, after about an hour and twenty five minutes, I proclaimed to my friends, “it feel’s like we’ve only been running for five minutes!”

As we ran on, one friend picked up his pace, another had to make a pit-stop, leaving me running with one friend whom I had been running with more than any of the others on my bi-weekly, group training runs. Alayna and I had already decided to run most, if not all, of the race together. We chatted and waved to all the spectators and thanked them. We encouraged other runners and soon found ourselves passing more people than were passing us. We came to the halfway point, which is also the start of the one and only hill in the Missoula Marathon course. We powered up it, but my friend needed to make a pit stop. I slowed just a bit and waited for her to catch up (runners make quick work out of potty breaks, especially during a race.) However, when she quickly did catch up, she had a side-ache.

We ran on, me smiling and enjoying every second, Alayna running through the increasingly uncomfortable, abdominal pain. I did my best to encourage and motivate her.

On pace and still smiling and enjoying the beautiful morning more than ever, I started to pick up my speed at strategic mile sixteen. Thus began the process of shaving seconds off of my average pace. (My planning, pacing and training was working!)

At mile 19 we were cheered on by my wife and close friends, Kevin, Robyn and their three children, Fiona, Jasper and Tobie. (There is nothing better than seeing your friends and family in a race, especially when you are running an endurance event. It doesn’t matter how euphoric or horrible you are feeling, it lifts you up and provides incredible motivation!)

Then it happened. Mile 20, still on pace, my friend could no longer run through the side-ache. She slowed and told me she was going to walk a little. I made the decision to go on, keeping up my increasing pace. With a smile (although half-hearted) I told her I would see her at the finish.

A half mile later, I came upon another friend, she had hit the wall and was walking. I shouted some words of encouragement, she told me she was hurting. I kept going, feeling a bit more like I was abandoning my friends.

Mile 21, I passed another friend who had cramped up. I patted him on the back and gave some encouragement and ran on. And then, there they were again! My wife and friends for a second time at 22.5, a distance further than I had ever run at any time in my life! Feeling like I could conquer anything from this second round of encouragement, I dug in a little more and ran on, smiling broadly.

The last five miles of the Missoula Marathon course had been burned into my brain from the RWM Marathon training class I had been in since March. We ran from the finish line out and back at least a half dozen times. So it was with an increasing confidence that I continued, thanking spectators, police officers managing traffic, course marshals and aid station volunteers. I smiled and encouraged my fellow runners and walkers, beginning to visualize my strong finish.

I ran by the aid station at mile 23, refusing an energy gel and slopping down some water. My legs were getting a little heavy, but I still felt a light feeling in my heart. I picked it up a little again, passing yet another friend. We ran a bit together, before he had to slow and walk a bit. I ran on.

Somewhere around mile 25 just after refusing yet more energy gel (I had had more than enough by then!) I was thrilled to see Kevin, Fiona and Jasper! They were on their bikes and rode with me most of the way to the finish line, and all of a sudden there it was, the Higgins Street Bridge with the arch of balloons at the end signaling the finish line!

I picked up my pace to what felt like a sprint (the video reality shows it wasn’t, but to me, I will always remember running faster than ever.) I heard my name being shouted repeatedly by even more family and friends who had shown up to support me, as well as my fellow RWM members.

I crossed the finish line at 10:15:06 AM. My official time, thanks to microchip timing, was actually 4:14:22; 38 seconds ahead of my goal time with an average pace of 9:42 per mile!

In the aftermath of the finish, I posed for pictures with my physical therapists (I needed bi-weekly tune-ups of my Achilles tendons and IT bands to get me through to race day! Some of my physical therapists, angels that they are, happened to be volunteering at the finish line hydration/aid station.) I stumbled up to get a picture on the finishers podium with my medal and then moved into the tented area restricted for marathoners and half marathoners, where I chowed down on some snacks and chatted comfortably with my running friends, welcoming more and more of them as they finished.

A little while later, I reunited with Suzanne and the rest of my family and friends to watch the awards ceremony and enjoy my free beer (the first of many well earned beers that day.)

Saying good job to my fellow RWM training class friends and exchanging promises to go running together soon, I moved on with my posse of personal supporters to enjoy a leisurely lunch. The smile never fading from my face.

I wore my medal the rest of the day, which like the race, seemed to evaporate very quickly in my post-marathon euphoria.

A week out, I still get emotional recalling the events of the day, and even all the training. I think fondly about all the new friends I made during the RWM training class runs. I marvel at the support all of you provided in the run up to the race. And I especially treasure all the encouragement and support from my biggest fan, my wife, Suzanne.

Thanks for being a part of my first marathon!

Sincerely,
Thurston

Shutter Island (2010)

Expectations are a funny thing. I had very high expectations for Crazy Heart and the film delivered on every level. I also had high expectations for Shutter Island mainly based on the reputation of brilliant director Martin Scorsese and his muse Leonardo DiCaprio. After all, The Departed was one of the best movies of all time.

However, there were a few factors that were keeping my expectations in check.

1)  This movie was originally supposed to be released last October. The reigning theory is that when a movie has sat on the shelf and missed a release date, something about the movie isn’t right.

2)   Dennis Lehane novels are straight-up thrillers like John Grisham or Dan Brown novels. They are not books that are made into Academy Award winning movies (with the exception of Mystic River – which I still don’t understand).

So, I should not have hoped for a repeat of The Departed and when I first left the theatre, I felt let down. After all, I knew the premise of the movie (having read the book) even before I set foot in the theatre and I knew how the book ended, so I shouldn’t have been surprised by my disappointment. But I was.

I won’t give too much away, because I’m not a fan of the spoiler. But the story takes place in 1954, when U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) is investigating the disappearance of a murderess that escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on the remote Shutter Island.

Now that 24 hours have passed and I’ve reviewed the picture again in my mind – the film did deliver as a solid psychological thriller almost to the very end. The acting is fine – DiCaprio’s Boston accent is as spot on as it was in The Departed. The rest of the supporting cast, including Michelle Williams and Mark Ruffalo, does a great job of developing the story. The movie is well written. The costumes are very representative of the time and the set-design is great (the Island is creepy and there is no way I’d spend the night in that hospital). My only disappointment is that the movie veered too much away from the book at the end (the book’s ending is much, much better) and left me wanting.

I do have one other comment to make in regard to the marketing of this picture. The preview gives too much away regarding the story – if you have no experience with the book. And I think the movie is positioned incorrectly to the viewing audience – the preview doesn’t position it as a psychological thriller – with more dialogue and less action. Instead it has been positioned to be scarier than it really is (i.e. more action) – and therefore, there were a number of people in my viewing audience that didn’t have the attention span to sit through a 2:40 film. 

I have to say – that really drives me crazy. If people can’t stop talking or texting then they shouldn’t go to the movies. It ruins if for everyone else – and I didn’t pay my hard earned money to listen to someone else’s running commentary. OK – I’m getting off the soapbox. Enough said.

End.

 

Film Independent Spirit Awards, Part I: (500) Days of Summer / Crazy Heart

I have the honor to serve as a voting member of Film Independent’s Spirit Awards in 2009 thanks to my client, the Montana Film Office. Those of you who know me, know that the Academy Awards is my Super Bowl. And since, I’ll never be a voting member of the Academy, the Spirit Awards is as close as I am ever going to get, so I take the responsibility of voting very seriously. The Spirit Awards are the last awards ceremony prior to the Oscars and will be held on March 5 this year.

I will not be able to watch all of the films prior to the voting deadline because I don’t have access to all of them, but I’m going to do my best to judge as fairly as possible based on what I can view prior to the deadline.

This blog entry will (hopefully) be one in a series detailing my thoughts on the nominated films. I have watched two of the nominated films thus far, so without further ado…

(500) Days of Summer

 Nominated for three Spirit Awards including:

Best Feature

Best Screenplay – Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber

Best Male Lead – Joseph Gordon-Levitt

I viewed this movie keeping the above in mind along with my normal criteria that I base all my reviews on. This was a bit more difficult for me based on some of the other movies in the category that I’ve formed an early opinion of even though I haven’t viewed them yet. So, this initial review might be a bit premature as I make my way through the other features.

I originally had wanted to see (500) Days of Summer when it came out in the theatre and I was excited to finally get a chance to view it. I like Joseph Gordon-Levitt and continue to look forward to his work as he grows from teen roles into adult roles.

Unfortunately, this movie was not spectacular – just good. It was entertaining in most places but it was also a bit slow at times. The movie tells the story of Tom Hansen who believes in true love and Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel) who does not. It chronicles the rise and fall of their relationship in 500 days. I did enjoy how easily the writers marked the passage of time (forward and backward), so that you always knew where you were, but that technique alone doesn’t make it award winning.

I also loved the music and how important the music tied to Tom’s personality. The best scene in the entire film is set to Hall and Oates “You Make My Dreams Come True”.

Ultimately, what I did enjoy about this movie is that love, while it doesn’t always work out, can inspire you to be something you thought you couldn’t be and to do things you thought you couldn’t do.

Which brings me to...

Crazy Heart

 Nominated for three Spirit Awards including:

Best First Feature

Best First Screenplay – Scott Cooper (who also directed)

Best Male Lead – Jeff Bridges (also nominated for an Academy Award)

This movie also inspires through love. And tells a story so much better than (500) Days of Summer. I loved this movie – every single thing about this movie. It was brilliant. The realness of this film really hit home for me through Jeff Bridges’ portrayal of the lead character – from his dress, to his jewelry, to his smoker’s cough and his mannerisms. The writing in this movie was brilliant, the music fantastic – and also so integral to the story. 

Jeff Bridges plays down and out musician Bad Blake. And this role was written with him in mind – not because Jeff Bridges is down and out in anyway (which is why The Wrestler worked so well for Mickey Rourke), but because he could portray this broken man with the utmost perfection.

Bad Blake has seen better days. An alcoholic who helped make the latest country sensation, Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell) what he is today, now plays gigs at bowling alleys and small town bars across the southwest. It is at one of these gigs he meets Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a reporter and single mom. The situation unfolds to tell the story of Bad and Jean and Bad and Tommy.

I’m not going to say any more about the story, because everyone really needs to go see this film for themselves. It is a well-written screenplay by Scott Cooper based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Cobb. Great performances by the entire cast including Maggie Gyllenhaal (also nominated for an Academy Award), Colin Farrell in his best role yet since an episode of TV’s Scrubs and Robert Duvall as Bad’s buddy.

And the music – Bridges and Farrell perform their own songs thanks to strong songwriting from producers T. Bone Burnett and Stephen Bruton. If you know me, you know I am not a fan of country music, but I would buy this soundtrack in a heartbeat.

I can’t recommend this movie enough. I urge you to go to this movie if it comes to a theatre near you. I plan to own this film when it comes out on DVD.

Trailers for Crazy Heart can be viewed by scrolling down to the end of this page.

End.

Up In The Air (2009)

So the final movie I viewed over the holiday season was Up In The Air. I wanted to see this movie because I’m a George Clooney fan. I’ve been a fan for quite awhile, since he was on a little show called “E/R” (the comedy – not the drama) that also starred Jason Alexander, Elliot Gould and Mary McDonnell and aired back in 1984-1985. 

This was a solid dramatic film with a good story. It is particularly poignant given the current recession. The film actually shot everyday, regular people that had been “let-go” from their place of employment due to the recession and that surely made me stop and think about what was happening in the real world, outside the comfy theatre.

However, the story itself really centers on Clooney’s Ryan Bingham and his inability to make a lasting, emotional connection with someone. The man really is married to his job. He meets people at one of their most vulnerable points in life – when they are being fired – and by him, no less. He recognizes the pain and suffering they are going through while never showing any emotion. His job has left him emotionally unavailable to everyone around him – his family, his coworkers, even the gal next door.

And he has a ridiculous goal to become one of only six other individuals that have flown over 10,000 miles. This childish goal only aids in stunting his emotional growth. (Of course, this is also where Sam Elliot fits into the story – and I love to listen to Sam talk, so…I’ll let it slide).

I think that this picture definitely has some Academy Award potential, but I’m not sure that I agree with critics that all three main characters are in the running. George and Vera Farmiga are solid, but Anna Kendrick steals the show. As recent graduate Natalie, she is the perfect counter to Ryan.

I don’t want to say much more, because I don’t want to give away any significant plot points as to whether Ryan makes a connection (whether it be with a person or another flight to reach his mileage goal). I’ll leave that for your own discovery.

Trailers can be viewed by scrolling down to the end of this page.

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Back in the day, I was a big Guy Ritchie fan. I loved “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and have felt that every G. Ritchie film since then has been a pale comparison to his directorial debut.

However, that reign has ended with “Sherlock Holmes”. While critics and fans are giving the flick mixed reviews, I’m going to throw my hat into the ring and say I loved it.

I’m a fan of Sherlock Holmes and own all of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Holmes’ works in one huge volume, so I can’t be accused of loving an updated version without some knowledge of the original.

And that is what I loved about Guy Ritchie’s interpretation – that Holmes wasn’t just some sissy thinker – but he was a lover and a fighter. And maybe Robert Downey Jr. isn’t everyone’s ideal of what Holmes should look like, but he looked fine to me.

The story unfolds and makes good use of characters from the original works, even if some of the characters were barely in the original novels (Rachel McAdams’ Irene Adler) and also set us up for a sweet sequel that will (hopefully) unveil Moriarty.

As for the cinematography itself, the style is all Guy Ritchie (especially the fight scenes – which I loved) and the script has some brilliant witty repartee between Holmes and Dr. Watson. I also loved Holmes narrative and how this narrative unfolded on the screen.

Speaking of Dr. Watson – the only thing I did not enjoy about this film is Jude Law. He made a fine Dr. Watson and it won’t stop me from viewing a sequel, but I just can’t stand the guy – not even a little.

Even though the Academy won’t give it any awards, “Sherlock Holmes” is definitely worth viewing. It is a thoroughly enjoyable flick with action, adventure, romance and laughter.

Trailers can be viewed by scrolling down to the end of this page. Stay tuned – I’ve got some more holiday flick viewing to do before the end of the week.

End.

Avatar (2009)

When you state that you are the “King of the World” you aren’t leaving yourself much wiggle room for success with your next project. But it does leave the door wide open to your critics. With Avatar, James Cameron has given the critics (and fans) an opportunity to criticize (or praise) everything about this movie for what seems like years while it was in production. Writing a review seems almost passé now (even though the film has only been out for a week), but I’m going to throw my two cents in anyway.

For those critics that state that there is no storyline in this movie and/or that it is weak, should rethink that point. There is a story and it isn’t weak. The problem with the story is that it has been done a hundred times in movies – it isn’t original. It is the same story that was told in Dances with Wolves and The Last Samurai (to name two examples). Indigenous people are run off of their land by another group of people that are less than ethical about their reasons for wanting the land – oh, and there is a love story.

Putting aside the storyline, the real triumph of this film is the creation of new technology (the Pace/Cameron camera system). This technology will change the way 3D films can be made forever. James Cameron and Vincent Pace should be given props for that alone – regardless of whether Avatar is a good film or not. How many people (critics?) are visionaries in their fields of expertise that could create a new way to make movies after all these years? To come up with an original idea in an industry that occasionally seems all played out? That is the triumph of Avatar.

End.

[REC] (2007)

In keeping with my current zombie theme, I thought I’d also review a 2007 Spanish film titled [REC].

The film follows a young reporter who hosts a show called “While You Sleep” and on this particular night, she is filming what occurs in a fire station after the residents of Barcelona are all comfortably tucked away in their beds.

While the city of Barcelona is sleeping soundly, all hell breaks loose at an apartment building where a woman has apparently gone crazy. And it pretty much all goes downhill from there. The residents of the apartment building along with the crew from the fire station, the report and her cameraman are all trapped in the building, which is locked-down and placed under quarantine.

What begins as a harmless conversation between the reporter and a sick, little girl that resides in the building about her dog (which is at the vet) leads to a much deeper story (with a bit more consequence to the rest of the quarantined residents).

This movie kept me jumping – particularly after the electricity to the building was shut off and the latter part of the film was shot in the dark, thus allowing us to view the film through the eyes of the reporter and her cameraman with night-vision goggles.

I won’t give away the ending, but – a great, fast-paced zombie scare.

End.

PS: The film had a US makeover last year titled Quarantine (which I did not see) in case subtitles are not your thing.

Zombieland (2009)

A great companion movie to the classic Shaun of the Dead (click here to see my review), Zombieland just rocks! I most definitely will be purchasing this movie when it comes out on DVD and plan to watch it every October (if not multiple times before each Halloween). It made me jump out of my skin as well as laugh out loud. What a great combination.

The movie stars Woody Harrelson, who over the years I have grown quite fond of as he has matured into an interesting actor to watch – even if briefly – in such high quality flicks as No Country For Old Men. And Mr. Harrelson does not disappoint here. While this film is definitely a comedy – Woody brings a certain nuanced charm to his role that makes you see where he is coming from and forget that he was ever in Cheers.

The film also stars relative newcomer Jesse Eisenberg who starred in Adventureland earlier this year (notice the reoccurring theme in the title that pans out in more ways than one if you’ve seen both pics). And while I enjoyed Mr. Eisenberg in Adventureland, he was over the top in Zombieland with his dedication to his list of “rules” that must be followed if one is ever caught in a zombie apocalypse. As the narrator of the film, he set the entire tone.

Along with the zombies (and one great cameo which I won’t let out of the bag), Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin round out the cast. I saw Emma Stone in Paper Man earlier this year, and the girl definitely has range. I also love seeing Abigail Breslin continue to grow. She needs to keep finding roles that show her ability to move forward as an actress along the lines of Jodie Foster and not Lindsay Lohan.

In addition to great laughs and scares, the movie had an awesome soundtrack that fit with knocking off zombies to a T. Check it out in theatres now (see trailers below).

And take a look at this sweet picture of me as a zombie. You can zombify yourself at the Zombieland website.

End.

Goodbye Cruel Summer

Now that fall has definitely come, I thought I’d recap a handful of the other “summer” movies that I saw and move straight into October. To finish off the summer...

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
There are so many things I’d like to say, particularly about Megan Fox. But I don’t want to waste my energy. I’ll just ask “why”?

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
We went to see this twice to fully appreciate and capture all of the nuances of the film and how it works with the book. Frankly, while I enjoyed the movie, I wish that the producers, etc. had decided to make this book into two movies also (as they are doing with book seven). So much happens in this book that the movie had only a passing reference to what was really the story of the “half-blood prince”.

That being said, I once again think that all involved in the movie did a great job with the interpretation and adaptation of the story. I think that David Yates is a great director (see the British TV series “State of Play”). The only bad thing I have to say about this film is that I wish it had been rated PG-13 so that they could have pushed the story a bit further.

District 9 (2009)
This film was really brilliant. Disguised foremost as a sci-fi film and secondly as a message against prejudice (via apartheid), it actually was a love story. Love between a father and son and love between a husband and wife. I’ve said it before – Brilliant. And if it is still playing in a theatre near you – go.




Julie and Julia (2009)
The story of Julia Childs and her husband, Paul was just lovely. I wanted to read their respective memoirs and letters after seeing the movie because they had such a genuine love and respect for each other. Julie Powell is portrayed as a bit of a whiner and subsequent blog articles I’ve read have pegged her as someone who did this as a publicity stunt (Julia Childs herself thought this).

However, I totally disagree (and so do some foodie critics). If you take a look at Julia’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”, it is a bitch to follow and cook from – not an easy task and surely not worth spending a year of your life slaving over it if you just want publicity – somewhere there has to be a love of cooking – or why kill yourself over it.

Good for Julie – even if Julia didn’t approve – this story made for a feel good movie that I thoroughly enjoyed. And as usual, Meryl Streep was phenomenal.

Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Most of you know (if you know me at all), that I cannot stand Brad Pitt. I don’t even like him a little – the reasons are multi-fold (and I won’t bore you with them now if you don’t already know them).

But I can stomach him in an ensemble flick and for as many reasons as I despise Brad Pitt, I love Quentin Tarantino – thus bringing balance into the world – well, my world anyway.

What an exciting movie! I absolutely enjoyed this film. If you read about the film online, you will see that there are all types of “Easter egg” info out there re: the origins of the story, etc. For example, Eli Roth (the “Bear Jew” and director of such films as “Hostel”) actually directed the movie inside this movie titled “Stolz der Nation”, a Nazi propaganda film.

When the movie was first released, there was some criticism from Jewish, religious publications that sited the film as “revenge porn”. But seriously, who wouldn’t want it to go down this way? SPOILER ALERT – Hitler, an avid filmgoer is murdered in a movie theatre watching a propaganda film. This is pure genius coming from a man who is also an avid film buff and began his career working in video rental store.

Next up – The Informant!, Zombieland and Whip It. Along w/ a few DVD gems I’ve seen over the last few months. In honor of Halloween, check out the Zombieland trailers at the bottom of this page.

End.

The Tale of Two Comedies

Below are the reviews of two recently released comedies – a romantic comedy and an “oh-so not” romantic comedy that have been raking in the bucks – even with “The Transformers” hot on their heels.

The Proposal (2009)
The romantic comedy of which I speak is “The Proposal” starring Sandra Bullock and the “It” guy of the moment – Ryan Reynolds (see posted “Paper Man” review below).

While I really wanted to love this movie (because of aforementioned Mr. Reynolds) it was in actuality only mildly entertaining. The best parts of the movie featuring Mr. Reynolds and Ms. Bullock were played out in the previews – leaving the viewer with little to laugh out during the actual movie. The two exceptions to this are the impeccable Betty White and the scene stealing Oscar Nunez (The Office).

I really wanted this movie to be much more enjoyable than it was – but that is strictly because I’ve got a crush on Ryan Reynolds. The movie was OK – especially if you just focus on Ryan – but it was fairly formulaic. However….


The Hangover (2009)
I really didn’t have high expectations for this film because I was not a fan of “Old School” (in fact, I hated that movie) and Todd Phillips directed both films.

However, I was pleasantly surprised to thoroughly enjoy this film (and not just because Bradley Cooper was the lead – which, by the way – I had lunch with him in LA a few years ago – but I digress).

This movie had me laughing out loud the entire one hour and 40 minutes. The movie seems formulaic – a group of guys headed to Vegas for a bachelor party. But you are looking at a group of men in varying stages of their lives and I’m not sure any one in the group has yet to become a man.

You’ve got Alan (Zach Galifianakis) who very likely has never even been on a date with a woman and comes across slightly slow. Then there is Stu (played by the brilliant Ed Helms – also of “The Office”) who is straddled with a bitch of a girlfriend (Rachael Harris - also brilliant) and just really needs to man up. The least likable character of the whole bunch is Phil (Cooper) who is married with a gorgeous wife, a beautiful son and still acts like a whiney baby (he actually drove me crazy with his pathetic excuses for why he hated his life so much). And finally, there is the groom, Doug (Justin Bartha) who actually gets left out of most of this tale. Together they might make up one fully functioning adult.

I could write that the journey of searching for Doug (who apparently goes missing after one night in Vegas), bonds Alan, Stu and Phil into an everlasting friendship – but that would be searching for a deeper meaning than this film has to give. This movie is just plan fun and high jinx. There is no deeper meaning and it should be enjoyed for what it is – a movie made for no other purpose than to make you laugh. The only regret that I have about this picture is the ending stills that run over the credits. I think the movie would have been better served to leave the holes in the story as is and let the viewers’ imaginations run wild.

I have only one bad thing to say about this movie - Heather Graham.

Viewers can definitely wait to watch “The Proposal” on DVD, but “The Hangover” is worth an immediate viewing – and most likely – a repeat viewing too.

End.

Los Angeles Film Festival 2009

I recently attended the Los Angeles Film Festival on behalf of the Montana Film Office (follow them on Facebook and Twitter). And while I did work quite a bit at the festival, I found time to squeeze in four movies and have posted my thoughts below.

Enjoy.

Paper Man
The premiere film at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival featured a picture that stars one of the hottest actors on the scene today (Ryan Reynolds) but is not destined to be a big hit. The picture centers on a blocked writer, Richard (Jeff Daniels) that still clings to his imaginary childhood friend Captain Excellent (Reynolds).

Berated constantly by his overachieving, surgeon wife (Lisa Kudrow), Richard struggles to write his follow-up novel and befriends a local misfit, Abby (the brilliant Emma Stone). The story details their rocky (and quirky) friendship and culminates in the realization that things are not quite always what they seem.

This film was good, but a little off in a few places. One to watch on DVD.


Weather Girl
This film premiered at Slamdance and has been on the film festival circuit for sometime. But the LA viewing was special because the cast and crew found out that the film is being picked up for national distribution July 10.

This is a film that does deserve a big splash, but most likely will get swallowed up by all the summer blockbuster movies (including Harry Potter opening five days later). A cute romantic comedy, it features Tricia O’Kelley (The New Adventures of Old Christine) as the title character (Sylvia) who suffers an on-air meltdown during a Seattle morning news show. The source for her anguish is the co-hosts of the show, Mark Harmon (NCIS) and Kaitlin Olsen (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia).

Sylvia is a little prickly and a bit hard to get close to, but luckily she surrounds herself with family and friends that help her see the error of her ways and are able to steer her in the right direction. The cast is made up largely of TV actors including Jon Cryer and Marin Hinkle (Two and a Half Men), Ryan Devlin (Veronica Mars) as well as Alex Kapp Horner (also on Old Christine) and is rounded out by the always entertaining Jane Lynch (Glee).

I just really enjoyed this picture and laughed all the way through it. Definitely worth seeing if you get the chance. See trailers for this film at the bottom of this page (boxes 1 and 3).


Passenger Side
This is the story of two estranged brothers that set out on a day-long road trip. Tobey (Joel Bissonnette) asks his brother Michael (Adam Scott) to drive him around LA but won’t tell him why. Michael only agrees because his mother makes him, but the trip does open Michael’s eyes to a world that he is not familiar with and definitely uncomfortable in.

I don’t want to say too much more about the film, because the film is about the discovery of truth and to say anything more will be to give too much away. I will say that the camera work in this film is sub-par and the car scenes are very jerky. You can wait for DVD on this one, but the secrets revealed slowly throughout the day-long journey are insightful.


Hollywood je t’aime
This is the story of a love triangle between a man, a man and a city.

Jerome (Eric Debets) has just been dumped by his lover Gilles (Jonathan Blanc). While on the surface, he seems fine with the decision and has moved on – in reality that is not the case. The movie begins in France and is filmed all in black and white to portray the despair that Jerome feels over this loss.

Jerome decides that in order to get over Gilles, he will leave the dreary confines of Paris and vacation in Los Angeles (this portion of the film is in color). As is the case with so many people that move to Hollywood, Jerome dreams of becoming a movie star.

Of course, the odds of this happening in two weeks are slim, but Jerome has some moderate success and an eclectic group of people takes him under their wings after a mishap at his hostel.

But ultimately, while Jerome does love Hollywood he love Gilles even more – Gilles and his new lover haunt Jerome’s dreams. Ultimately he knows that running away does not solve the problem and that he must return to the city of love to confront his desires.

“Hollywood je t’aime” was directed by Jason Bushman. My co-worker Korin and I had the opportunity to meet him while we were at LAFF and he is quite a nice young man. Very proud of his film, but also very humble. This film has not been picked up for further distribution, so if you are interested, you will have to look for it on DVD. One caveat – you shouldn’t watch this film if homosexuality or graphic sex make you uncomfortable.

Well – that’s it for indie film reviews this summer. Next up "The Hangover", "Transformers" and "The Proposal".

Stay tuned.

Terminator Salvation (2009)

A year ago when I heard that “Terminator Salvation” was coming out, I was so excited that the movie would be a re-boot similar to “Star Trek”. However, after missing the premiere three weeks ago (and hearing all the bad reviews), I decided to lower my expectations and review this movie as just another summer blockbuster. With that in mind – the movie was entertaining. Some good effects, some bad effects. Below – my brief review.

Christian Bale was less than spectacular as John Connor – he wasn’t that impressive and his part was barely there. Sam Worthington’s character, Marcus, was much more compelling, but could have been more fleshed. And Mr. Worthington needs to work on his American accent – he slipped more than a few times into his native Australian tongue.

The part of the movie I loved the most is actually a spoiler alert – so I won’t give it away here, but I will say that there is a nice tie to the FOX TV show, “Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles”. In the “Sarah Connor Chronicles”, Sarah (Lena Headey) can’t understand why future John (Thomas Decker) would not only align himself with certain Terminators but also actually have feelings for one, Cameron (Summer Glau). This is explained at the end of “Salvation” that made it all worth watching.

If you didn’t enjoy “Terminator Salvation”, then maybe you should check out the now cancelled “Sarah Connor Chronicles” on DVD. To see my review of this show, click here.

End.

Drag Me to Hell (2009)

I should preface this review with one caveat. If you don’t like B-horror movies (particularly schlock horror), don’t waste time reading this review. If you do appreciate the genre – feel free to read on.

“Drag Me to Hell” was wonderfully entertaining and I’m so pleased to see Sam Raimi return to his “The Evil Dead” and “Army of Darkness” days.

The movie begins with Christine (Alison Lohman), a generally unassuming young lady who is a loan officer at a bank. There isn’t much about her that would indicate that she has much ambition or gumption. However, she hears her boyfriend’s mother stating that her son should aim a bit higher.

That tidbit of info, combined with competing against a jerk in her office for an assistant manager position at the bank, fire her up – and when she returns to the office she takes immediate action – she denies an elderly woman an extension on her mortgage.

Big mistake.

This woman isn't just a feeble, elderly woman – but a gypsy that immediately puts a curse on Christine. And that seals her fate. Her boyfriend, Clay (Justin Long) can’t understand her paranoid delusions, but loves her enough to defy his parents AND loan her $10k to banish the demon from this dimension. By the way – the exorcism is one of the best scenes in the movie – definitely schlocky – love that talking goat!

Christine’s doomed fate makes for great, scary entertainment. I jumped out of my seat and screamed dozens of times and Lorna Raver’s, Mrs. Ganush (the gypsy) creeped me out to be sure.

And, just when you think you know the end – you don’t. That is what makes this movie well worth the time. My only regret - no Bruce Campbell.

Trailers for the movie can be viewed below.

End.

Star Trek (2009)

I’ll start by stating, that if you have not already gone to “Star Trek”, then stop what you are doing right now and GO!

I am not a “Trekker” by any means – I can’t rattle off trivia about the show in my sleep. But I have watched more than my fair share of the original series, “Next Generation”, “Deep Space Nine”, “Voyager” and (my favorite) “Enterprise”. And I am a fan of the overall series and what Gene Roddenberry created.

That being said, I’m a huge J.J. Abrams from back in the days of “Felicity”. And the man is a frakkin’ genius. He didn’t create a prequel to the Star Trek series – he rewrote science fiction history with his re-boot of this classic series.

The movie explains how the two lead characters (Kirk and Spock) developed into the men that they are “today”. And it brought a whole new level of appreciation to the characters that Shatner and Nimoy played in the original series.

J.J. Abrams honored all the franchises by sprinkling the film with in-the-know references. The great scene at the beginning with the canyon running through Iowa was a direct reference to an episode of “Enterprise” that rivals our 9/11. Abrams and his crew (many of the folks also work with him on “Lost”) wrote a great story that was also deeply entertaining.

And the support cast was superb. I loved the performances from Simon Pegg (Scotty), Karl Urban (Bones), John Cho (Sulu) and Anton Yelchin (Checkov). I’m not going to give a more thorough review, because in this instance, seeing is really believing – and until you go you just won’t believe how great it really is.

However, I do have to end the review giving props to my brother who worked a camera crane on this pic and shot a number of scenes including the car chase scene, the winter planet scene and the entire parachute/fight scene on the drill (just see the movie and it will make more sense).

Below are trailers from the pic. Enjoy!

End.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

Before I begin my review, I should preface that I do not read the X-Men series comic books and don’t know the mythology of the story.

With that being said, it is my second favorite movie time of the year (after the Academy Awards) – summer blockbuster season. As the first official movie of the season, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” kicks the season off to a decent start.

The opening credits were wonderfully shot, setting up the story of two brothers that don’t always see eye to eye, but have each others’ backs. This definitely is a key plot point to what happens throughout the rest of the film.

The first half of the movie was great. It moved along at a good clip and was full of action. I didn’t even mind the fact that some of the effects didn’t look great (Wolverine’s “claws” lacked something) and the pointless inclusion of the storyline regarding Chris Bradley/Bolt (Dominic Monaghan).

I loved the scene with Logan/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and John Wraith (Will i Am) road into New Orleans to find Remy LeBeau/Gambit (Taylor Kitsch). And that is where my interest started to wane. Once Wolverine arrives on the island, I started to lose interest. The storyline of Weapon XI didn’t interest me (and he really creeped me out).

Overall, I was entertained for the first 80 minutes and slightly let down towards the end. It was definitely worth seeing however if you enjoy the summer blockbuster season as much as I do.

Next up – “Star Trek”. Can’t wait.

End.

Valkyrie (2008)

***Disclaimer: Before I begin this review, I should confess (if you don’t already know), that Tom Cruise is my favorite actor. He’s had a rough few years due to some very bad publicity. But – he is still laughing all the way to the bank. That being said – I do believe I can write a fair review. After all, I never was a big fan of Legend either.***

I will admit that I wasn’t too excited about Valkyrie. Mainly because it just didn’t feel like a movie one should watch during the holiday. Movies about war don’t usually inspire peace and love (in my mind).

However, this account of a true-to-life failed attempt to assassinate Hitler was fascinating. It made me want to know more about the real life account after viewing the film.

There was quite a bit of bad publicity surrounding this film (and Mr. Cruise) prior to its release from how ridiculous his eye patch was to how Germany wouldn’t let him film in the country because of his scientology beliefs (which actually was not the case). It is too bad that this publicity occurred, because I think it caused people to only focus on Mr. Cruise and not the actual story.

The film is full of great actors including Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Terence Stamp, Kenneth Branagh and Eddie Izzard. They all immerse themselves in their roles that for not even one minute do you think about the fact they are all speaking with their native accents (none of which is German).

The intricacies that these men went to to fabricate their plan was unbelievable. I can’t believe that so many individuals were able to execute this plan without word leaking out to the enemy. The plan had to be executed perfectly and while I knew the plan doesn’t end up succeeding, I actually thought it might – the suspense was that good!

While the movie won’t win any Academy Awards – it is well worth a look see.

End.

No SAG Strike

Check out this spot created by a few SAG members and other film unions to protest the upcoming strike. Congrats to the crew that had the guts to make this clip and stand up for what they believe in!

Transporter 3

This Thanksgiving, I extended my holiday feast by attending “Transporter 3”. I enjoyed the first “Transporter” film and even though the second pic was just “OK”, I was looking forward to the third installment. And I was not disappointed. The overall story was decent enough, but what I enjoyed more was the extension of the Frank Martin (Jason Statham) character.

In both previous “Transporter” movies, Frank Martin is a driver for hire. He has a set of rules that he adheres to. Rule One: Never change the deal. Rule Two: No names – he doesn't want to know whom he's working for, or what he's transporting. Rule Three: Never look in the package.

But in this film he deviates from his credo and breaks all three rules. He changes the deal and drives off course. He finds out whom he is working for and what he is delivering. And he definitely opens the package! Valentina (newcomer Natayla Rudakova) is a girl after my own heart – she relates to their different destinations by the meals that she has eaten in each city. I loved the way she talked about food – it was an experience onto itself.

With Valentina’s help, Frank becomes a man that might actually consider a career change. And while I will miss him if there is no sequel, it was definitely worth the ride in “Transporter 3”.

You can view clips of the flick at the bottom of this page.

End.

No SAG Strike

This week I was going to write a review of "Transporter 3". However, I instead want to spread another message. If you are currently employed, I am sure that you are thankful, especially in these hard times. If you are unemployed or have ever been unemployed, you know the hardships this can bring.

My brother works in Hollywood and the writers' strike was very hard on tens of thousands of people that (not being a member of the WGA union) suffered four months of unemployment, did not receive back wages (like the WGA negotiated for) and lost their health insurance benefits.

Now the Screen Actors' Guild is on the brink of striking. Today's economy can't bear another strike - the trickle-down effect is huge (and not just in CA). Please help keep people employed this holiday season and beyond. Go to http://www.petitiononline.com/DealNow/petition.html and sign this petition against the strike. Thank you - Suzanne.

Twilight (2008)

Before I begin my review, I’d like to start by saying “Twilight” is not the next “Harry Potter”. Not even a close comparison.

So, with that, I think I’ll start with how disappointed I am with director Catherine Hardwicke. She’s made some incredibly well received films (“Thirteen” and “Lords of Dogtown”) and now apparently is churning out crap (“Nativity Story” and “Twilight”).

Now that I’ve got that off my chest, I’ll cut right to the chase with my review because I don’t want to waste any more time on this film than I have to. I’ll start out by saying, that while I had low expectations for this film, I wanted to like it. Particularly because I like Robert Pattinson and I find Kristen Stewart intriguing. I did laugh out loud a number of times, but I think that might have been because the dialogue was so poorly written. Overall, this movie gave me the creeps and it had nothing to do with vampires.

Basically, I think this movie sets a poor example for its primary target audience – young girls. I’m all for romance (I married my high school sweetheart whom I met at 17), but not obsessive “love”. Obsession is not love. Bella says to a friend early in the movie (before she is dating Edward). “You’re a strong independent woman – ask him out.” By the end of the movie, Bella is a blubbering idiot, crying uncontrollably to Edward “You can’t leave me” and “I’d rather die than stay away from you.” Please!?!?!?

And Edward, he follows Bella everywhere she goes (stalking, anyone?) and basically doesn’t allow her to have any other friends after they become a couple (cult mentality at its finest). He swoops in and practically growls at Jacob just for talking to Bella.

Finally, there has also been a lot of speculation about the subtle comparisons between the Cullen clan and the Mormon Church. I’ll leave this to your own research and to draw your own conclusions.

“New Moon” has already been green-lit given the fact that the $37k “Twilight” grossed over $70k in its first weekend. And, I will go to see the second film just to reiterate that while I did not like this movie and don’t agree with its content, I’d be willing to review the second film on its own merits. After all, I didn’t love the first Harry Potter flick either.