#576 - The Onion Movie

The Onion Movie is a collection of sketches by the world's greatest fake news source. Then film tries to follow a central plot but the film focuses more on the ridiculous but funny sketches. Overall the film is funny and there isn't exactly much to say about the film but the sketches are good. I give the film 4/5 stars.

#575 - Dinner for Schmucks

Dinner for Schmucks is a new comedy starring Steve Carell and Paul Rudd and is a remake of a french film. I will admit I haven't seen the original but the remake is actually really funny. The first thing is that Carell's character is a man who makes "mouse-terpieces" actually at certain points in the film actually facial looks like a mouse. Also Zach Galifianakis is great as Therman the mind control master. The supporting cast of Daily Show alum and other comedians is just as amazing in each of the different roles. The one thing that really makes this film incredible is the true heart at the center of Carell's character. Also by the way stay for a little bit into the credits and you get a nice little epilogue and even funnier moments involved in the film. I give the film 4.5/5 stars.

#574 - Shaft (1971)

The original Shaft movie has one line in the theme song that does not hold true for the film. That line is "He's one badass mother . . .". With a theme like that you would expect some serious firepower and action throughout the movie. The problem is that the entire film works as an investigation and there is no big action till the last five minutes. The rest of the story is okay but needs some improvement. I give the film 3/5 stars.

#105 - Whatever Works

Whatever Works is a comedy from the mind of Woody Allen and stars Larry David. I originally saw this film on August 10th, 2009 and I found it quite funny. What the movie seems to do to me is that it takes David from his HBO television series and makes his persona there into a completely different person with the same personality. The film also takes on David's interactions with this highly religious family from down south and turns them upside down. Almost every part of this film works for me except the constant breaking of the fourth wall by David. I give the film 4/5 stars.

#192 - The Boat That Rocked (Pirate Radio)

The Boat That Rocked was originally viewed by me on November 14th 2009 and was film number 192. The film takes place in 1966 just outside of England on the North Sea during the period that British radio was only allowed to play pop and rock for only 45 minutes a day. The plot of the film specifically follows a teenage boy who is sent to live with these DJs to straighten him out. The film is marketed as a comedy and it works perfectly. The one thing that really hit home for me is that I am a major fan of rock and roll from this error and I believe in freedom of music. Like every film this film has a message tossed into it. That message is said perfectly by Philip Seymour Hoffman's character, The Count, near the end of the film. it is said beautifully in this quote:

"To all our listeners, this is what I have to say - God bless you all. And as for you bastards in charge, don't dream it's over. Years will come, years will go, and politicians will do fuck all to make the world a better place. But all over the world, young men and young women will always dream dreams and put those dreams into song. Nothing important dies tonight, just a few ugly guys on a crappy ship. The only sadness tonight is that, in future years, there'll be so many fantastic songs that it will not be our privilege to play. But, believe you me, they will still be written, they will still be sung and they will be the wonder of the world."

Overall this film is amazing and the only real problem is that there is not much development in the characters. I give the film 4.5/5 stars.

Reviews Update

As you have noticed my avid readers I have been writing reviews of movies as I go along since #428. Well I have decided to begin watching some of the movies that I enjoyed over again. So from #1-#427 every time I watch one of these again I will write a review of that film and post what number film it is and tell you when I saw it.

#573 - Borat

Borat is a mockumentary by Sasha Baron Cohen as a man from Kazakhstan who is working on a documentary about America for his country. The main problem I had with this film was that after it came out in theaters every single person on Earth was mimicking Cohen's character. That being the case all of the humor that could have been involved in this film was completely and totally destroyed. The plot slightly works and the acting by Cohen, an English comic, works perfectly in an accent completely different from his own. I give the film 3/5 stars.

#572 - Soylent Green

Soylent Green is a classic sci-fi film from 1973. the film stars Charlton Heston and takes place in the year 2022 where the new and now needed food commodity. The film has an interesting plot and I think the major twist would have been more surprising if the line would not have been massively popular. The acting is quite good but certain things involved in the plot would have been described a little bit more. The story is in nice detail and everything else works it is just more detail. It needed more intrigue and less about the love story. I give the film 3/5 stars.

#571 - Cyrus

Cyrus is an independent film starring John C Reilly, Jonah Hill, and Marisa Tomei. The film is quite interesting and the way it was put together was excellent. So to put the plot into a nice small bubble the film is a romantic comedy but with an Oedipus complex involved in one of the major characters. The film does not go straight forward and tell you that the character has the complex but from the actions of the character it comes out. Now as I said before the film was shot in a very interesting manner that makes the film even better. What i mean is thqt according to the film's director the entire film was made into a mini-treatment by the screenwriter and then each of the actor's was given free reign over the words that came out of their mouths as long as the plot went how it was supposed to. This works perfectly for the actors and it makes everything that happens a little more believable. Overall the film is good, I wasn't thrilled with the complex added in but I give the film 4/5 stars.

#570 - Zelig

Zelig is a mockumentary by Woody Allen about a man who is a human chameleon during the 1920s and the 1930s. The film is decent but it is not at all funny and there is a very high level of need for your suspension of disbelief. The film is really short as well and all of the sudden miraculously he is cured of this ailment of sorts. Everything else is just not in it to be a fully amazing mockumentary like This is Spinal Tap. I give the film 2.5/5 stars.

#569 - Back to School

Back to School is a 80s comedy starring Rodney Dangerfield as a business man whose son is having trouble in school so he goes back to support him. The film is funny and Dangerfield adds in his own touch of comedy in his lines. The plot moves at a nice even pace and it does do a nice job of making you think that this could take place at any point in the standard college year. There is not much else to say about the film. I give the film 4 out of 5 Lindys.

#568 - Reservior Dogs

Reservior Dogs was the first film, ever made by director Quentin Tarantino about a failed heist and the aftermath in minds of those who meet up right afterwards. The film stars Tim Roth, Harvey Kietel, Michael Madsen, and Steve Buscemi as some of the thieves. The film is interesting and good but not a 100% amazing work. What is nice is that the film uses pretty much only one setting for the majority of the action the rest is only in flashbacks. The acting is also quite good. I believe this was actually Tim Roth's breakout role and I have to say that this works perfectly as a start off point for his career and as usual Buscemi and Kietel are both incredible as Misters Pink and White. Overall the film is good but it could use some improvement on other points that I con't think of them. I give the film 3.5/5 stars.

#567 - The Doors

The Doors is a biopic by Oliver Stone about Jim Morrison the lead singer of the band of the same name. The film stars Val Kilmer as Morrison and Meg Ryan as Morrison's late wife. The film is OK but it could use some serious improvement. The acting is OK but it seems forced by some of the supporting actors of the cast. The plot seems rushed and the film could have used some more expansion and perhaps have made the film a little longer. The one thing that I would have done different is focus more on the band that made Morrison famous instead of focusing on his home life. I give the film 3/5 stars.

TV Suggestions

I know that you all know that this blog is dedicated mostly to movies but it is always good to change things up a little so with Comic Con tomorrow and the networks promoting the next TV season I am going to give the list of suggestions of what to watch next season or during the summer. So here goes:

1. Fox's Animation Domination:
Seth MacFarlane's three shows all have their ups and downs but 85 % of the time they are quite funny and MacFarlane has begun to change up his standard methods which have worked to lessen the humor but work more on some dram. The Simpsons on the other hand is the longest running animated show in history and it should be watched.

2. Chuck:
The show that is the king of action comedies right now with even bigger guest stars coming forth then last season. First off Drago from Rocky IV and Olivia Munn are both going to show up in the premiere for the new season this is a must watch for all members of nerdom.

3. House M.D.:
The six season veteran on FOX has become one of the biggest dramas out there now that ABC's LOST is off the air. Hugh Laurie is one of the best actors out there and all of the supporting cast is just as good. This season promises to be good especially with the addition of a romance for the cranky doc.

4. How I Met Your Mother:
Even though the CBS comedy is continuing to slip down the drain slowly the series is reaching its full and complete climax of the story that the show has been building up to culmination of the series and hopefuly it will be reaching that climax soon.

5. Lie to Me:
The Tim Roth drama on FOX has all the makings of a great series. To the great plotlines and the intriguing plotlines this is a show that all must watch.

6. Psych:
USA's senior show being a comedy crime procedural is building up to an amazing ending coming this season especially when star James Roday says that the season finale will close the book of the Yin-Yang Killer saga with an epic bang.

7. NBC's Comedy Done Right Thursday:
NBC's four main comedies, The Office, 30 Rock, Community, & Parks and Recreation all have their plus sides and the freshman comedy Community does not disappoint. The two long running series work amazing after all those. For the other one you might as well stick around for. Did I mention this was Steve Carell's last season as well.

8. C.S.I: Crime Scene Investigation:
The long running and original CSI series is in its tenth season and with not only Laurence Fishbourne in the cast and most likely a new serial killer in the mix this season is sure to spice things up. Plus how you say no to this face:
9. Smallville:
In my opinion The CW's only respectable show is entering its last season and rumor has it that this season's major villain is going to be someone APOCALYPTIC. Also with major guest appearnaces before the 200th episode it is going to be major.

10. Saturday Night Live:
The greatest sketch comedy show in history in season 36. Need I say more.

11. Burn Notice:
The USA espionage show with the amazing Bruce Campbell is a blast (hehe). The plot this season and the addition of Coby Bell as a spy Michael Weston burned makes the interactions between actors priceless.

12. Leverage:
TNT's modern day robin hoods make for an interesting story and you learn a thing or two about being a thief what could be better.

13. Mad Men:
AMC's Emmy winning drama with John Hamm is one of the best series out there and season four premiering Sunday at 10 pm has a lot of new things in store. That's including a new advertising firm, a single Don, and more new things in store.

14. The Venture Brothers:
The Adult Swim animated comedy is one of the best comedies out there and the second half of its fourth season should be amazing and after last season's epic season finale I can't wait to see what is in store for us this time.

#566 - Cocktail

Cocktail is a romantic comedy from 1988 starring Tom Cruise and Elisabeth Shue. The film focuses on an army vet who comes home and during his college studies finds his calling as a bartender and meets a girl when he moves to Jamaica. The film has its funny moments but it lacks certain points of the story that would have been essential to fully understand the plot. When it comes down to a romance portion it works well and it seems at points that Shue and Cruise have a perfect chemistry. As to be expected with a romantic comedy the acting is not incredible by any party. I give the film 3/5 stars.