Holy Rollers (2010)

In Brooklyn, a youth from an Orthodox Jewish community is lured into becoming an Ecstasy dealer by his pal who has ties to an Israel drug cartel.

Justin Bartha (The Hangover) and Michael Cer.......uh I mean Jesse Eisenberg star in Holy Rollers. Jesse Eisenberg really stands out for once for not being the quite awkward guy who wants the girl. He does start out the quite awkward Jew who wants the girl, but this time his character actually progresses into something much more. Justin Bartha was the only actor in The Hangover that didn't have a stand out role, so I was interested to see how he would do in a leading role. It would be nice to see a little more from him, especially in this type of role, but I think his performance was still good.

The movie started very slow and it was hard to keep my attention. Jesse's character is worried about what career he is going to be given and if he will be allowed to marry the girl he wants to. He has a strong business sense, but that doesn't help him in his fathers business. Once he finds out he can't marry the girl he wants he blames it on his families social status. Justin Bartha's character then brings him along to make extra money bringing "medicine" back from Europe. All of this seems to go very slow and is boring, it is not until Jesse finds out that he is actually smuggling ecstasy that the movie starts to get good.

The movie is very bland, probably intentionally in the beginning while in the Jewish community, but as it picks up and they are in Europe and Jesse's character is getting partying, drinking, and taking drugs for the first time that the movie starts to take a cool style. The movies pace picks up and Jesse's character development going from a quiet Jewish boy who is too awkward to talk to girls, to a drug smuggler who is making business deals and getting more Orthodox Jewish kids involved is fun to watch.

The movie opens up your eyes to how some kids in these communities grow up and how their decisions are made for them. How every decision that they make is scrutinized by the community. It is also a pretty crazy true story about how the Jewish kids were not ever searched by airport security because no one would think that they would be doing anything wrong.

Unfortunately being based on a true story it has kind of an abrupt ending. The movie is just picking up to a great climax and then two minutes later its over it seems. It's a good thing if that is how the real story happened, but it does feel like a let down to the audience. The movie is fairly short anyways so the abrupt ending feels like there could have been more to enjoy.


When to Watch Rating: Indie Film Mood

Available on Netflix Instant View

Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)

After experiencing what they think are a series of "break-ins", a family sets up security cameras around their home, only to realize that the events unfolding before them are more sinister than they seem.

I am not a big fan of these type of movies. I did not see the first movie, and don't really find it worth the money to go to a theater to just be scared. That being said, if you are the type of person who likes to be scared this would be a good movie for you. The way the movie is shot using the "security" cameras and the occasional shots from the hand held camera add alot of anticipation, because at any point anything can happen. You aren't warned by any creepy music or seeing the villain sneaking up on someone.

The story itself is not that exciting, but it is cool that it ties into the first movie (or so I'm told), and is not just another random security camera movie that is trying to just make money off the first movies success. The biggest problem I have with the story besides all of the boring filler that takes up 3/4 of this movie is when things start to go crazy and the family watches it on the security footage they still stay in this same place and don't really take any action. I know this there wouldn't be a movie if they did not do it this way, but its hard to believe a movie that is being shot like real archival footage if the people take it unrealistically. I'm not sure I know anyone that would stay in a house after watching footage of the things that are happening to these people.

With a 3 million dollar budget it has already made over 40 million dollars, which goes to show that you don't have to have a high budget movie to scare and entertain people.

The acting in the movie is pretty bad, but at the same time, you aren't watching this movie to see good acting or to see a great story. You are there to be scared, and Paranormal Acticity 2 has quite a few jump out of your seat moments that come out of nowhere that will leave you satisfied.

When to Watch Rating: Indie Film Mood


Now Playing in Theaters

Pirate Radio (2009)

A period comedy about an illegal radio station in the North Sea in the 1960s.

Carl is sent by his mother to live on a pirate radio ship that broadcasts rock n' roll to Great Britain.  On board he meets a wide range of characters who all bring something new to the table. Together they all live life with no regrets, just trying to bring rock n' roll to Britain. Meanwhile the British government is trying to find ways to make these radio boats illegal.

One of the biggest problems with this movie is it doesn't really feel like there is much of a story. While on the boat it seems like one big party, sex, drugs and music. There is the occasional issues between the people on the boat but it is usually solved very quickly, in a funny way. Life for them is all about having the best times of their life. Then we see the one member of the British government who only cares about shutting them down no matter what he has to do. We rarely see anything that he does have an impact on them until the very end of the movie, which really seemed to make them feel like an afterthought.

The movie is fueled by yet another great performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of my favorite actors. Even though he is not the main actor in the movie I think he still steals the spotlight in the scenes he is in. Rhys Ifans and Bill Nighy both put in notable performances. This movie is very character driven, the story itself would be nothing without the interesting, fun characters. One bad performance could have ruined this movie, but I thought the movie was cast very well and it is the highlight of the film.

A movie about pirate radio in the 60's needs a good soundtrack, and Pirate Radio did not disappoint, this was the other thing that stood out baout this movie besides the acting. The movie features a wide selection of music, with bands including Cat Stevens, Rolling Stones, Neil Young, The Box Tops, The Yardbirds, The Kinks, The Hollies, Smokey Robinson, The Seekers, and Leonard Cohen.

Overall it was a fun movie, the story has its issues and I'm not sure how much I liked the ending, but it was worth it with a solid cast and great music.


When To Watch Rating: Indie Film Mood


Available on DVD on Blu-Ray

More Than a Game (2008)

This documentary follows NBA superstar LeBron James and four of his talented teammates through the trials and tribulations of high school basketball in Ohio and James' journey to fame.

Almost everyone know who LeBron James is, but most people don't know how he got to be where he is today. LeBron really became famous when he attempted to forfeit his senior year of high school and go to the NBA draft after his junior season. After he was denied by the NBA, he returned for his senior season, which was one of the most anticipated seasons by any high school player ever.  It was not only because LeBron James was supposed to be the next Michael Jordan, but the high school team that he played for was in contention for the national championship.

This documentary show how these four friends started playing basketball together as kids, coached by one of the kids dads. It follows them as they go on to play in high school together, instantly transforming their school into a powerhouse.

The documentary does a good job at bringing you into the lives of these kids. How they got into the sport and what their friendship meant to each other. It shows how they had to deal with adversity, especially LeBron becoming famous. It really shows how much these kids valued each others friendships, and always wanted to play together. It also helps you understand why LeBron James decided to change teams this season to play with his friends.

The movie is a mixture of interviews, still photos and archival footage. A lot of times this can make for a very boring movie, but the still images are all done a very cool way that really make the photos seem more like videos and keep you entertained. It is also very fun to see the archival footage of LeBron and his teammates as young middle school kids.

The only problems it seemed with this documentary is it seems to go back over certain story points to many times. They talk about how Dru Joyce III was to small to play basketball and was always overlooked. Then 10 minutes later they go over the same thing, it seems very redundant, and it happens multiple times in the movie.

This is a must see for sports fans, and I believe if you are a fan of documentaries you may also become a fan of More Than a Game.


When to Watch Rating: Need for Entertainment

Available on Netflix Instant View

Jackass 3D (2010)

There really isn't that much to say about Jackass 3D. The only questions that can be answered are is it funny? Is it worth to see it in 3D? How crazy are the stunts? Should I take a girl?

This is coming from a big Jackass fan, I have enjoyed all of their previous films and still watch the old episodes when they play on MTV, so I may be to much of a fan. $50 million opening weekend means they must be doing something good though.

Quesiton: Is it funny?
Answer: Jet airplanes, 10 ft deep snake pits, midget fights, flying port-o-potties and taser filled obstacle courses. If that doesn't answer it for you then probably not.

Question: Is it worth it in 3D?
Answer: Jackass 3D was filmed using the same technology as Avatar.....so yes.

Question: How crazy are the stunts?
Answer: See question one. There is a variety that will keep you guessing what your going to see next.

Question: Should I take a girl?
Answer: If the girl is ok with slow motion 3D male nudity, slow motion 3D poop and guys getting hurt a lot then yes. Otherwise you may need to cover her eyes a little bit.


It may not be as funny as Jackass 2, but it is very close and with the 3D it may be the best movie of the series. Jackass 3D is a fun, hilarious movie that will keep you laughing the entire time and is well worth the $200 it takes to go to a 3D movie.


When To Watch Rating: Drunken Guys Night

Now Playing in Theaters

The Blind Side (2009)

The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family. 

You would think a movie that makes $255 million, wins the award for best actress and is nominated for best picture would be a lock to be a good movie. Not so fast. Can you argue though with a movie that did so well with audiences and critics? 

If this movie was not based on a true story it would seem like your typical kids Disney movie. Person made for sport, but has (add problem). Person gets a chance to succeed, but needs to learn to play. Person gets coached by small child. Person almost instantly becomes great. Person has problem that could ruin everything. Person triumphs. So what makes this movie any different.

Sandra Bullock is a highlight to the movie, wouldn't cross my mind for an award, but the academy was set on giving her an award. You can't blame her for some of the writing that makes her character seem way to over the top. 

The story of Michael Oher is incredible, but oddly enough happens quite often. Check out this interesting article on black athletes that come from bad homes and go on to live with white families, and excel in sports. http://www.slate.com/id/2270482/

So I want to know how a movie that cinematically falls very short, only has one strong performance and no climax can do so good. I have a theory that also is some aspects goes along with the success of the 2009 best picture winner Slumdog Millionaire and 2010 nominee Precious. People see these situations that people are stuck in, coming from broken homes where their mothers throw their babies on the couch like a football, or 2 young boys watch their mother die and have to survive in the slums of India. Their reactions are "I can't believe people actually go through this, this movie really blew my mind." (Actual reaction I have heard) That alone seems to give movies some merit on being a great movie, regardless if the story is true or if the movie was made well.

This seems to be the effect that The Blind Side had on people, and with the "true story" tagged on,  it was sure to succeed. This seems to me the only way this movie could have done so well, if it weren't for that factor you could place it right up there with movies like The Rookie. Interesting true story, nothing more.

When to Watch Rating: While Plunging Your Head in Boiling Water

Available on DVD

GhettoPhysics: Will the Real Pimps and Hos Please Stand Up? (2010)

Ghetto Physics is about the affiliation between the pimp and the ho and how that relationship can be extrapolated into politics, the economy, and even one’s everyday encounters.

Read review at Making the Movie - Ghetto Physics Review. Jeff P (writer for the website www.Tastesfunny.net) is the guest reviewer, hopefully he will also do some reviews for ThinkSplosion.


When to Watch Rating: While Plunging Your Head in Boiling Water (From what it sounds like)

Now playing in select theaters

Let The Right One In (2008)

Oscar, an overlooked and bullied boy, finds love and revenge through Eli, a beautiful but peculiar girl who turns out to be a vampire.

If you have read the review for Let Me In, then you already know my feelings about the two movies. This was one of my favorite movies of 2008, and one of my favorite vampire movies of all time. Also one of my favorite foreign films, the movie is Swedish.

The film is shot very beautifully, from the opening shot of snow falling in the black of night you know what this movie is going to look excellent. They take advantage of shooting in Sweden, and even though most of the movie is at night you still get some beautiful shots of the woods in winter.

Sometimes it is hard to really judge the acting of foreign films actors, because you are to busy reading the subtitles to be able to focus on the character. This may be true in my case for this movie, but I think that it was excellently cast and Kåre Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson are fantastic.

The biggest complaint I have received about this movie is how slow it is.  It definitely has the the pacing of a foreign film and I think that it adds to the movie. Those who are looking for an action packed vampire movie will not get that, but you will get a great movie that focuses on the relationship of these two children build.

If you have to choose between Let The Right One In or Let Me In, go with the original. I can't find one thing in that is better with the new one. The best thing to do though is watch them both and find out for yourself which one you like better.


When To Watch Rating: NOW


Available on Netflix Instant View

The Social Network (2010)

A story about the founders of the social-networking website, Facebook.

A sharp script, great music and David Fincher being David Fincher makes for one of the best movies so far this year. As usual I will let a better writer do a good review.

Check out Making the Movie - The Social Network Movie Review


When To Watch Rating: Now

Now Playing in Theaters

Cool Runnings (1993)

 

Based on the true story of the First Jamaican bobsled team trying to make it to the winter Olympics. 

This was one of my favorite movies as a kid so I decided to watch it to see why I liked it so much. Its a goofy comedy about Jamaican track stars that lose there chance at the summer olympics so they decide to start a bobsled team to compete in the winter olympics. The enroll the help of Irving Blitzer (John Candy), a former olympic bobsledder who had his medals taken away for cheating.

The comedy in this movie is fueled by Sanka (Doug E. Doug) who is the only one of the group who is not a sprinter. He is the only one of the group that doesn't go through some personal transformation of the group, he is there only to bring the jokes.  These 4 have to conquer the cold, learn to run on ice and deal with all of the bobsledding purists who dont believe that they should be there.

The movie is based on a true story, but really is only true on about two points. The coach originally wanted sprinters but got no interest from the countries best. They did borrow a bobsled from the USA, and they did crash in their final run, after crashing they did walk their sled to the finish line (not on their shoulders). Thats about as close it comes to being true, they do use actual footage from the crash which is cool.

This is your basic Disney kids movie, goofy villains, cheap jokes and a happy ending (sort of). I can see how I would of liked it so much as a kid, but its not really as fun for adults.

When To Watch Rating: Finding Your Inner Child

Available on DVD

Let Me In (2010)

A bullied young boy befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian.

When I heard that they were remaking one of my favorite movies of 2008, Let The Right One In,  I was very upset. Not only that they were remaking the foreign film which I thought was already excellent, but that they were doing in 2 years later. I was also worried about the director choice, Matt Reeves, who was the director of Cloverfield. The cast was one thing that did excite me, Kodi Smit-McPhee was excellent in The Road and Chloe Moretz was great in Kickass.

The best comparison for these two movies I can think of is Let Me In is a color by numbers version of Let The Right One In. Imagine getting a color by numbers version of the Mona Lisa, you are told what colors to go where to make it look as good as the original, but many factors would hurt it. Are the colors exactly the same, did you color over the line, did you try to make parts original? In the end of it all though it really never had a chance to be as good as the original but it could be very good.

They decided to keep many of the same dialogue and scenes which was very nice to see, if it's not broke, then why fix it? Other things that they decided to add I thought worked really well. They made Abby's guardian more of a villain when he goes to find blood for Abby. They also put more into the story about Abby's relationship with the guardian and who he really was. It may be pushed on you a little much, the less you have to keep pushing it on an audience seems to be better.

The changes were also for the worse in this movie. Making Abby turn into a monster I think was a huge mistake, the relationship she has with Owen is build on them both needing friends because they are outcasts. Turning her into a monster would really change that dynamic. Also the police man who is not in the original, is neither made into a good guy or a villain so in the end you don't know how to feel about him, whats the point of having him be such a big character if you aren't going to develop him. I think Matt Reeves really failed to understand the mindset of some of these characters in the original or just decided to change it, which was a bad idea.

In a world where Let The Right One In doesn't exist, Let Me In would a good film. It would be different than anything that we have seen in the vampire genre. Unfortunately there is a better version of this film that has a better script, much better cinematography, quality acting and is original.

When To Watch Rating: Need for Entertainment

Now Playing in Theaters

Teenage Paparazzo (2010)

A documentary that examines the relationship between celebrity and society.

Adrian Grenier turns his fascination about a 14-year-old paparazzo, Austin Visschedyk, into a documentary following Austin as he tries to succeed as a boy in a mans game. He also delves into society's infatuation with celebrities.

Adrian is shunned at first from the paparazzi at first, as they think he is using Austin to make a documentary that shows them in a bad light, but they slowly start to allow him into their world. The life of a paparazzi is like living in another world. Some are hired by a company to stay outside of someone's neighborhood all day long, just waiting to see if that celebrity is going to come out. You can't leave to eat or go to the bathroom for fear that you may miss your one shot.

Austin has become famous with celebrities because most of them are surprised to see a small boy trying to take their picture and some even let him get the pictures that others cannot get. At the same time he has to deal with the mob of paparazzi, grown men, pushing and shoving trying to get the picture, when he is only half as tall as most of them.

The documentary is a great social commentary on our obsession with celebrities. People want to live like celebrities, but since most of us will never be movie stars or professional athletes, we have to live out our dreams through these people. That is why we care with Brad and Angelina are together or not, or what Britney was wearing the other day, its an escape from our own reality. That need fuels our urge to buy these magazines and watch TMZ, thus making a high demand "The Photo or Video Clip".

A lot of paparazzi get a bad rap for what they do, but in all honesty they are just doing a job that pays good, trying to support their own families. One of the great points of the movie is that celebrities can't complain that they are having their picture taken out on the street all the time, as soon as they hired a publicist they wanted to have their name out there. If it weren't for these magazines a lot of them would lose their celebrity status and the perks that come with that.

This documentary was very entertaining and makes you really think about our addiction to celebrities, especially since we all know that one person that always has the latest US Weekly or can't miss an episode of TMZ.

When to Watch Rating: Makes You Think

Now Playing on HBO

The Burial Society (2002)

In The Burial Society, Sheldon Kasner, an unlikely criminal who works as a bank loan manager, infiltrates the mysterious world of the Chevrah Kadisha (the Jewish society that prepares bodies for burial according to ancient ritual).

 There wasn't much to like about this movie. It was slow (I fell asleep), the cinematography was bad, the acting was sub-par and the editing just made things more confusing. The one thing about the movie that could have been good was the script, but all of those other elements can ruin a good script very quickly.

The movie drags by slowly revealing small pieces to the puzzle of why Sheldon, a middle age man is trying to join the Chevrah Kadisha who is made up of 3 old men. By the end of the movie I wasn't exactly sure who was in on what. And to make matters worse the twist of the movie is made even more confusing with bad editing.

I would say to stay away from this movie unless you want to learn a little bit about the Chevrah Kadisha. When it comes to indie movies this isn't a terrible movie, just not a good one.

When to Watch Rating: While Plunging Your Head in Boiling Water

Available on Netflix Instant View

Buried (2010)

 

Waking groggy in pitch darkness, Paul Conroy, an American truck driver working as a contractor in Iraq in 2006, slowly realizes he is trapped inside a wooden coffin, buried alive. 

When I was buying my ticket, I was asked by the employee why I was going to see this movie. He said "why would you want to see a movie where there is only one actor in the entire movie and he is in a coffin the entire time. Other people have been leaving very angry that this is the entire movie."

That is what this movie is, so do not go to this movie expecting to see an action packed thriller. Prepare to be in a suffocating, dark hole with Ryan Reynolds for 95 minutes.

Ryan Reynolds has come a long way since Van Wilder. I thought he did a very good job in this role, having no one to feed off of and only a tiny space to act in, he really played a convincing role. He takes us on a emotional roller coaster that really makes this film enjoyable.

The film is very frustrating to watch but in a good way. Every step that Reynolds character has to go through seems to be hindered by someone who seems to ask to many stupid questions or has other priorities above him. That's what really made the script good, you know he doesn't have much time to live and with limited cell phone battery every second is important. Yet everyone he talks to seems to take forever to help him out.

What hurts the movie is that the movie is what it is. A man stuck in a coffin. He can say the same thing on the phone over and over trying to get out, but he is still stuck in the coffin, there are no other story plots developing.  They also don't answer some questions that they bring up, like what is his relationship with his co-worker? 

In the end of it all it was good for what it was, a 95 minute movie about a man in a coffin buried someone in the middle east. Don't expect anything more than that.

When to Watch Rating: Indie Film Mood

Wide Release in Theaters October 8th