Rain Man

Posted in Man Cave, Retro Reviews, Reviews by - May 16, 2012
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Rain Man

Can you believe I never saw Rain Man? I’d seen clips with the mandate to watch Judge Wapner, or else! And, I’d seen bits and pieces here and there, but never the whole thing through. It’s a lot better than I thought it was. Duh.

People close to me have autism, so I watched with an eye to how realistic it was. The idea that someone has to live in an institution is outdated, but a lot of the behaviors Dustin Hoffman did when under stress rang true to me.

It sort of reminded me of an unintentional buddy/road movie. I’ve seen …

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Monty Python’s The Meaning Of Life

Posted in Man Cave, Retro Reviews, Reviews by - May 16, 2012
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Monty Python’s The Meaning Of Life

Before there was South Park, there was Monty Python. If you enjoying hearing ridiculous and offensive songs sung in a cheerful manner, you’ll love this. If you’re easily offended, run away right now. I like the movie and it even offends me.

Watch a woman with nearly a hundred children give birth offhandedly while washing dishes. Listen to her husband sing about selling the kids for medical experiments because he can’t afford to feed them. Then, listen to the kids themselves sing a beautiful, cherubic song about every sperm being sacred to explain why mom and dad didn’t manage to use …

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My Week With Marilyn

Posted in Reviews by - May 16, 2012
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My Week With Marilyn

A lot of people like this movie based on the diaries of a man who knew Marilyn Monroe for a week. It didn’t really do much for me, honestly. Judi Dench was great (when isn’t she?) but the rest…not so much. I felt like it was one of those movies where I’m supposed to like it just because it’s based on someone famous with a dramatic life and too early death.

It was interesting to see how her marriage to playwright Arthur Miller was shown and also the way the British actors did (and didn’t) get along with her. Seeing Olivier be perturbed by Monroe was amusing, …

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Dark Shadows

Posted in Reviews by - May 16, 2012
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Dark Shadows

Tim Burton’s biggest deception as a filmmaker is that his trademark weirdness isn’t simply visual. Most of his films are incredibly traditional in terms of story and plot, sometimes to their detriment. This worked for his more fable oriented Edward Scissorhands and the demented biopic Ed Wood but not so well for the clunky Alice In Wonderland and the abysmal Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In short, some of Burton’s films come off as mechanical and cloy with a facade of quirk. His newest feature, Dark Shadows, falls somewhere between his successes and his failures.
Based on the 60’s soap opera, …

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Paris

Posted in Reviews by - May 15, 2012
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Paris

I was really excited to see this film. The beginning is great, very modern. It’s been compared to Woody Allen’s Manhattan. If it were a music video, I’d watch it every time it came on.

Once the story develops though, you are basically left with this concept: Women who say no really mean yes. Or, should I say, oui. There are a couple of corollaries, if a guy stalks you and says threatening things, he’s really nice underneath. Also, if a guy humiliates you in front of others and make you cry, he’s a good guy too. Take your love advise from this movie and you’ll …

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Ides Of March

Posted in Man Cave, Reviews by - May 15, 2012
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Ides Of March

I love George Clooney. And, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and all the other great names in this film. But, you don’t make a great movie just by stuffing it full of good actors.

A blond, twenty year old intern has an affair with the soon to be president. Also, by the way, with one of her bosses on the campaign. She has no important duties and no other women on the campaign have serious roles. Then, she gets pregnant, oops, by the almost president, has an abortion and oh, gosh, kills herself or accidentally overdoses, your choice.

The best part was the behind the scenes political shenanigans between the men. …

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Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close

Posted in Reviews by - May 15, 2012
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Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close

What would you do if your dad died in the World Trade Center, you were a kid, and you were the last person to hear his phone message right before he died? Well, you might get a little anxious, a bit OCD and who knows what else. In real life, Thomas Horn was a Jeopardy winner, when a casting agent saw him. He’d never acted before but either he was born to it, he had very good direction, or both.

Horn becomes obsessed with a key he finds in his dad’s closet and literally maps the city trying to uncover what he’s decided is a mystery his …

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