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Movie Reviewed: SALT

By Jamise Liddell, Ed.D- Entertainment Critic
Syndicated Lifestyle, Entertainment Reporter, Glendale Daily Planet  Entertainment Editor -Directed By: Phillip Noyce

Starring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, and Chiwetel  Ejiofor

Rated: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action.

Runtime: 100 min

Angelina Jolie has proven that her name is synonymous with the Action Film genre.  As the star of the Lara Croft Tomb Raider film series, Wanted  and of course we cannot forget the now cult classic, Mr. and Mrs.  Smith.   But these previous endeavors were not to prepare me for Jolie’s rougher, tougher character Evelyn Salt. 

Salt is a government agent who is accused by a Russian operative of being a double agent.  Afterwhich Salt spends the majority of the film, running for her life from U.S. agents, her former peers, who are now trying to capture her;  trying  to find and save the life of her husband who is missing, and trying to prove her innocence.  Non-stop adrenaline flow is what Salt gives, as well action fans might suffer from a “brutality scar” because Evelyn Salt is hard charging and relentless in the punishment she doles out to those who cross her path.

As a film beat-downs go, the brutality against Agent Salt in the film's opening scenes feature the tough female agent  looking swollen, black  and blue, rope tied and stretched out  and tortured by her Korean captors as they try and make Salt confess that she is a spy, which she denies vehemently.

Why the name Salt?  It is not pretty or fluffy or sweet, but we use salt for many daily activities including to salt, clean, preserve and cure.   This is not unlike Evelyn Salt’s mission to protect the United States as an agent. 

The film is action packed, and rugged, which is awkward in that Jolie is in the position we usually see the hard core men of action films.  Salt jumps off of bridges onto moving trucks, blows up structures  and coldly assassinates individuals that need to be expended.  But these actions lack sexual overtones, and other ploys used for female protagonist, Salt is pure business.

By Jamise Liddell, Ed.D- Entertainment Critic
Syndicated Lifestyle, Entertainment Reporter, Glendale Daily Planet  Entertainment Editor -

Starring:  Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Samuel L. Jackson and Garry Shandling
Rated:  PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some language.
Runtime:  124 min
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Iron Man 2‘s power is Johansson‘s Black Widow

Iron Man 2 is not as good as the first one,it is, however, still engagingly entertaining and better than a majority of the current new releases.  Among Iron Man 2‘s positive aspects is Scarlett Johansson who emerges in a Lycra suit as the powerful Black Widow.  Johansson‘s action scenes are mesmerizing enough to call for a film of her own.

Back at the Iron Man 2 ranch billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) and his Iron Man gear and persona have returned.   The owner of Stark industries is now the only single security force that the United States needs.  Yes, that is what we need in the United States!  An eccentric womanizing rabble rousing genius,  privately  and single handedly commandeering  security for this country.  Whoo Hoo!  Stark is pleased, in an over bearing, pompous, and showy sort of way, to oblige.  But no one stays on top of the arms race mountain for long, and soon a worthy foe arrives to knock Stark off of the weapons and world domination hill.

Bravo on the selection of Mickey Rourke as Ivan Vanko, he is so easy to dislike in the first place, so adding some rotten teeth, greasy hair, a crap Russian accent and real mean streak to the equation just adds heat to the odium.
 
Action junkies will love the main battle  in Iron Man 2 which gave new meaning to de ja vu, as flashbacks of recent films that depict large chunks of machinery battling (hint, hint, wink, wink, need a clue? Think Megan Fox), and it is just as loud.  Ear muffs anyone?

Gwynteh Paltrow is back to reprise her role as Stark‘s loyal right hand, Pepper Potts (what kind of name is that?), but the seasoned star serves as an optional salad ingredient as she floats thru her role without  any zing or pizzazz.   And why should she?  When the original Iron Man grossed $98.6 million in its opening weekend, that only served to signal that Iron Man 2 was a sure fire chunk of change, whether or not the actress chose to put her heart into the role.

Great cameos by Samuel L. Jackson as a Nick Fury with a really strong Morpheus from the Matrix vibe, and Garry Shandling as a wise cracking and Stark- despising Senator Stern.

In the same way voters want to believe that political figures will keep their promises; movie fans were hoping that Iron Man 2 would be just as smashing as the first Iron Man.  Alas, again, that is not the case because while Iron Man 2  is enjoyable, and full of really great action, it lacks the freshness of the first film.  Director Jon Favreau could reside in Texas and Las Vegas because he wants everything to be big, and showy like Tony Stark's Star Expo which features screaming and adoring crowds and dancing cheer leaders with pom, poms set on a huge stage in a stadium like atmosphere, while Tony Stark descends from the top of a building.  What an entrance, and what a waste of precious time.  Scenes like that not only belong on the cutting room floor, but when left in the film come across as false, setting a similar tone.  Favreau could have done everyone a favor and cut at least 30 minutes of unadulterated fluff from his latest creation.  ”That would make for a win, win, win, win win!‘ a quote which has absolutely no relation to this film other than it fit my sentiments exactly; so I borrowed it from Arizona based comedian Kirk Buckhout, who talks about a strange ”no-win‘ situations in his life.

Die hard comic buffs will want to sit through the ending credits, and they are long, to gain a a little cinematic snippet about the next superhero to grace the Iron Man series.


--
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

Jamise Grace Liddell, Ed.D
Entertainment Critic
Syndicated Lifestyle, Entertainment Reporter
623-337-0518
reelwords@gmail.com

Representative World Media
1906 E. Behrend Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85024

Movie Reviewed: The Book of Eli

By Jamise Liddell, Ed.D- Entertainment Critic
Syndicated Lifestyle, Entertainment Reporter, Glendale Daily Planet  Entertainment Editor -

Directed By:  The Hughes Brothers

Starring:  Denzel Washington ("Eli), Mila Kunis ("Solara"), Gary Oldman ("Carnegie"), Malcolm McDowell ("Lombardi"), Michal Gambon ("George"), Jennifer Beals ("Claudia")

Rated:  R for some brutal violence and language

Runtime:  118 minutes

Studio:  Warner Bros. Pictures

The end of the world seems to be a popular theme these days.  With the rotten economy, the never ending wars, and the general fear of change, Hollywood must feel a need to sensitize the masses with “worse case scenario” programming.  First there was “2012”, then “The Road” and now, arguably the best of the bunch, “The Book of Eli.”

Box office super trooper, Denzel Washington turns action warrior for his  latest film, “The Book of Eli”,  a strange yet recognizable tale of a man on a mission.  Eli ( Denzel Washington) travels solo, through the devastated dregs of a once thriving America, to save the last copy of the Bible.  

Like David Carradine in the 1970’s television show Kung Fu, Washington’s Eli is as peaceful as a monk, when he isn’t beating up the bad guys.  Eli’s personality is a combination of the characters from “Kung Fu”, “Mad Max”, “Blade”, and “The Road” all rolled into one powerful force.

The energy  and tone of the film “The Book of Eli” seems to originate from movies like “Sin City”, “Mad Max”, “The Road“ and “Blade” to name just a few; which makes for a  wild and wonderful walk down “the clear influence of other movies” lane.  Most every segment of “The Book of Eli” is a montage of familiarity ; a blatant reminder of films we know , and sometimes love. 

Washington owns Eli, and is ruggedly handsome, cool and cunning as a man headed West.  For most of the  journey  why Eli must head West is not clear, and it doesn’t matter because travel in any direction of this wasteland of a landscape looks bleak.  Along the way Eli encounters a host of low life survivors of the apocalyptic event that demolished the earth we know today.  Few characters in the film have knowledge of  “before”; which evidently means “before the world was destroyed and reincarnated into a super hell.”   Now the goal of the average human being  is to attempt to survive the mayhem in this new land where  people rob, rape, kill and eat each other for folly.  Why, in these types of films,  do only the indecent survive? 

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Eli happens upon a town full of folks that look like extras in the film “Escape from New York” only dustier and has a “Showdown At The Okay Corral” with several troublemaking ruffians.  When various villains try to hijack Washington he fights just like Wesley Snipes in “Blade”.  Eli’s battle weapons consist mainly of  very large, heavy, dangerous looking  machete type knives.   Eli battles groups of enemies with the grace and ease of a black belt in karate, making the action scenes in “The Book of Eli” fast, exciting and at times graphic and gory.

Carnegie played wickedly by Gary Oldman is the authority in the shanty town because of his access to water and thus, wealth. Beautiful and talented Jennifer Beals barely uses her theatrical skill sets as Claudia, Carnegie’s blind, battered and abused female companion. Carnegie’s makeshift army , a group of Neanderthal, illiterate, hoods for hire, are charged  to search for a book (and whatever else they can take from the unsuspecting) that Carnegie believes he must possess in order to influence those who have survived. Claudia’s daughter,  Solaris, is amazed with Eli and believes following him is the best way to escape her putrid life as one of Carnegie’s minions.

The film has a dark hue, like the “The Road,”  and most” Batman” films.  One too many attempted rapes and assault scenes serve up a “Last House on the Left” type evil, but not as graphic.  And fortunately, “The Book of Eli” has a noble goal; survival for Eli, Solaris and the Bible.

Directed By:  Roland Emmerich
Starring:  John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Danny Glover, Thandie Newton, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thomas McCarthy
Rated:   Rated PG-13 for intense disaster sequences and some language.
Runtime:  158 minutes
Studio:  Columbia Pictures

Nature takes its revenge on mankind in the high octane action packed end of the world epic, 2012. John Cusack is a likeable schmuck as limo driver to the affluent, Jackson Curtis. While on a camping trip, during a visitation weekend with his kids, Curtis discovers clues about the possible demise of the world from a crazy radio conspiracy theorist, Charlie Frost (Woody Harrelson.)  Now one of the few people aware of the impending doom, Curtis manages to warn his ex-wife Kate (Amanda Peet) her new man, plastic surgeon, Gordon Silberman, (Thomas McCarthy) and just as the world is literally coming to an end.

Curtis and family use a host of air planes to make their escape and quite a few low performance vehicles like a limousine, and a motor home.   Before the film’s end, most modes of transportation are used to escape the planet’s wrath.  2012 chronicles the attempt of a few survivors to stay ahead of the impending doom, as the earth simply disintegrates in the midst of any efforts to live.   Watching entire cities swallowed whole by the earth is a disconcerting sight.

Cusack is a strange action hero selection, and yet you route for him every minute of the film.   White House level scientist Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) serves as the voice of humanity throughout the film.   The talented Tandie Newton, is Laura Wilson, the president’s beautiful, intelligent, and accomplished daughter, serves as little more than window dressing in this film, and that is a shame.

Action in 2012 is constant, yet so inconceivable that all of the escapes and near misses actually hinder the effectiveness of the exciting storyline.  United States President Thomas Wilson (Danny Glover) makes some ridiculous decisions in the film, which leaves his evil, greedy, self-serving chief of staff, Carl Anheuser (Oliver Platt) at the helm.  If Wilson’s crazy  behavior  and decision making in 2012,  is a blatant attempt by  2012 writer -director  Roland Emmerich, to poke fun at our existing president, it does not work.  Nice try though.

Overblown CGI (computer generated images) and melodramatic daytime soap opera speeches in the middle of action montages are just a few of the situations which plague 2012.  I know we are in the middle of a recession, but why is Hollywood kicking us when we are down? In addition to 2012, we also have the more somber, and grisly end of the world film, The Road in theatres.  Isn’t it enough to lose one’s job, home, vehicle and source of income without then having to consider  demise from the wrath of Mother Nature?

Disturbing to think that the only chance the world has to survive is because of Chinese produced ships.  Have we learned nothing from tainted dog food, noxious wood planks used to build homes in the United States, lead filled children’s toys, and products that generally last for 5 minutes?  Will any baby girls be allowed on the ship?

If you don’t jump out of your seat from the pumping of  all that action adrenaline racing through your veins, then at the very least 2012 should serve as cause for reflection about our planet. The actual year 2012 is near, and after watching the film, we can only hope that this is complete fiction and contains no shred of truth.

Movie Reviewed: 12 Rounds

By Jamise Liddell- Entertainment Critic

Directed By: Renny Harlin

Starring:  John Cena, Aidan Gillen, Ashley Scott, Steve Harris, Brian J. White, Gonzalo Menendez,

Rated:  Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action

Runtime:  108 minutes

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

Why the studios didn’t screen 12 Rounds for us critics, I don’t know, cause this is full of adrenalin pumping action, and in all, it wasn’t half bad.  And though the action scenes are impossible to fathom, when you really think about it, what action is plausible?

In the midst of breaking the law, the girlfriend of a murderous criminal master mind Miles Jackson (Gillen) is killed during the police chase.  Jackson swears revenge upon the cop that brought their Bonnie and Clyde like crime spree to an abrupt halt.

Naturally Jackson is also a smart criminal and manages to escape ye old prison yard  to carry out his revenge plan against Detective Danny Fisher.  In a maze of escapades, the goal is this; if the Detective can complete a series of challenges, he can supposedly win the return of his girlfriend Molly Porter (Scott).  Now who believes the criminally insane fool is going to return the officer’s gal pal? 

Not Special Agent George Aiken (Harris), who has been chasing Jackson for many years and cannot seem to catch him.  Because of this Aiken is flat mean, he focuses on the chase, and cares about little else.  Between the jerks on Detective Fishers “good guy” team and the crap the criminal is pulling, you actually wonder how Fisher will squirm out of this one.

Packed with whack action 12 Rounds is a major source of angst and provides the kind of suspense that makes your heart race, as you keep moving forward to the edge of your seat.   Mainly because of all of the explosions, car chases,  riddles and insane confusion. However, the most powerful source of the adrenaline is the hot action star John Cena, who can’t really act, but is so attractive, viral and manly, you just don’t care.  

The situational action and challenges in 12 Rounds make up for all that Cena is lacking in acting ability. In addition to rough acting, 12 Rounds is the 900th film which positions and illustrates to the world that the police are in inefficient idiots and losers.  It is a wonder anyone even Cena, would want to portray a law enforcement agent.

A plus 12 Rounds ends with a bang and the last few scenes are surprising, which is nice for an otherwise clever yet predictable action thriller.  I dare say the action is so intense and exhaustive, I was ready for all the movement to slow down at Round 9.  

TOP 10 Action Films of 2008

By Jamise Liddell- Entertainment Critic

What a year in Action Films!  We have epics, action-adventures, and shoot'em up good guy versus bad guy stand offs.  2008 produced an array of action films, many which included technology. Let's look at some of the films that made the action movie cinematic sustenance in 2008.

1. Ironman-no film was more fulfilling or exciting this year!  Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark, a wealthy businessman and handsome flying hero, who took names and prisoners. 

2. The Dark Knight- how could you miss the return of Batman (Christian Bale), the protector of the night? Heath Ledger, as The Joker, steals the show with a creepy, riveting and outstanding final performance. 

3. Quantum of Solace-Daniel Craig plays a sulky and heartbroken 007, but that does not deter Bond's mission.  Revenge.  James Bond is changing, in Quantum the gadgets and women are few, but this is still an interesting, action packed chapter to the Bond dynasty.

4. Kung Fu Panda-Animated action is most impressive in this story which stars Jack Black as the "the big bear who could". An all star casts including Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, and Jackie Chan. With plenty of vivid color, characters and a rich storyline, this is one of the best films of 2008.

5. Miracle at St. Ana-Spike Lee directed this World War II saga which depicts many viewpoints, those of the Nazi German Soldiers, Black American Soldiers, Italian Resistance members and the Italian citizens in a small village.  Well acted, jarring, war scenes, and a magical child make Miracle St. Ana one of the best films of its kind from an action and historical perspective.

6. Funny Games-in the spirit of the movie "In Cold Blood", this re-make of the 1997 film of the same name, is full of brutal, heartless, graphic sociopathic torture.  Staying true to the original storyline, Director Michael Haneke ensures brilliant, yet tragic, performances. 

7. Hancock-Foul language aside, this is one great superhero film.  Imagine a superhero without tact and kindness, who doesn't know how to land?   Will Smith is Hancock, a superhero that provides the wrong kind of help to folks in need.  Charlize Theron is Mary Embrey, the wife of Hancock's publicist Ray, played comically by Jason Bateman.

8. Wanted-Okay, I'll admit it, Sloan (Morgan Freeman) the leader of a bunch of tough folk named Fox ( Angelie Jolie), Gunsmith (Common), and Cross (Thomas Kretschmann) seemed like a cool cat and I was completely on board with the sci-fi/mystery plot of Wanted. When Fox and her fellow warriors learned the identity of their master, a giant loom, my hopefulness about the  this film began to wither. On an up note, not since Ben and Willard, have rats provided such a marvelous twist and are the sole great reason for seeing this film.

9.  Eagle Eye-Shia LaBeouf takes another stab at action hero (he was a bit awkward in the Indiana Jones film). Jerry Shaw (LaBeouf) and Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan) are being used and abused by a voice on the phone.  In keeping with lots of "man against the machine" films, Eagle Eye is exciting and certifies LaBeouf as a strong action figure.

10. Australia- Nicole Kidman is no Uma Thurman, but she holds her own in this long but visually exciting tale of a woman and her land, her cattle and her man. In this epic, sexy Hugh Jackman is overshadowed by a supercute kid.

  By Jamise Liddell- Entertainment Critic

TOP 20 Action Films of 2008

By Jamise Liddell- Entertainment Critic

What a year in Action Films!  We have epics, action-adventures, and shoot’em up good guy versus bad guy stand offs.  2008 produced an array of action films, many which included technology. Let’s look at some of the films that made the action movie cinematic sustenance in 2008.

1.       Ironman-no film was more filling or exciting this year!  Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark, a wealthy businessman and handsome flying hero, who took names and prisoners.

2.       The Dark Knight- how could you miss the return of Batman (Christian Bale), the protector of the night? Heath Ledger, as The Joker, steals the show with a creepy, riveting and outstanding final performance. 

3.       Quantum of Solace-Daniel Craig plays a sulky and heartbroken 007, but that does not deter Bond’s mission.  Revenge.  James Bond is changing, in Quantum the gadgets and women are few, but this is still an interesting, action packed chapter to the Bond dynasty.

4.       Kung Fu Panda-Animated action is most impressive in this story which stars Jack Black as the “the big bear who could”. An all star casts including Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, and Jackie Chan. With plenty of vivid color, characters and a rich storyline, this is one of the best films of 2008.

5.       Miracle at St. Ana-Spike Lee directed this World War II saga which depicts many viewpoints, those of the Nazi German Soldiers, Black American Soldiers, Italian Resistance members and the Italian citizens in a small village.  Well acted, jarring, war scenes, and a magical child make Miracle St. Ana one of the best films of its kind from an action and historical perspective.

6.       Funny Games-in the spirit of the movie “In Cold Blood”, this re-make of the 1997 film of the same name, is full of brutal, heartless, graphic sociopathic torture.  Staying true to the original storyline, Director Michael Haneke ensures brilliant, yet tragic, performances. 

7.       Hancock-Foul language aside, this is one great superhero film.  Imagine a superhero without tact and kindness, who doesn’t know how to land?   Will Smith is Hancock, a superhero that provides the wrong kind of help to folks in need.  Charlize Theron is Mary Embrey, the wife of Hancock’s publicist Ray, played comically by Jason Bateman.

8.       Wanted-Okay, I’ll admit it, Sloan (Morgan Freeman) the leader of a bunch of tough folk named Fox ( Angelie Jolie), Gunsmith (Common), Cross (Thomas Kretschmann). When Fox and her fellow warriors learned the identity of their master, a giant loom, I was really into the possibilities that this film offered. Not since Ben and Willard have rats provided such a marvelous twist and the sole great reason for seeing this film.

9.        Eagle Eye-Shia LaBeouf takes another stab at action hero (he was a bit awkward in the Indiana Jones film). Jerry Shaw (LaBeouf) and Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan) are being used and abused by a voice on the phone.  In keeping with lots of “man against the machine” films, Eagle Eye is exciting and certifies LaBeouf as a strong action figure.

10.   Australia- Nicole Kidman is no Uma Thurman, but she holds her own in this long but visually exciting tale of a woman and her land, her cattle and her man. In this Epic, sexy Hugh Jackman is overshadowed by a supercute kid. 

11.   Transporter 3- Jason Stadham????? Is the other bond.  The stunts are really awesome, and are a good reason to see this film twice.

12.   21-Kevin Spacey trains a group of students in the ways of counting cards and ripping off casinos. 

13.   Body of Lies-Leonardo DeCaprio, is a government agent in

14.   Cloverfield -Shake, shake, shake the camera for two hours.  Now that is action!

15.   Death Race- Prisoners race to the death.  Great concept, brutal, but entertaining action film.

16.   Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull – Indie goes Sci Fi, it was a stretch and an action adventure all right!

17.   The Incredible Hulk-The computer generated Hulk was perhaps more interesting than all of its human counterparts.

18.   The Bank Job-based on a true story

19.   Burn After Reading- An all star cast including Brad Pitt (who is hilarious as a dumb jock), George Clooney, Frances Mc Dermontt botched action, and whack relationships help put this nutty film on the ‘crazy’ action genre.

20.   Twilight-Moviegoers waited for hours to see if the vampire action in Stephanie Meyers’ books was successfully transferred onto the big screen.  In the end, readers were loyal and watched what was placed before them, substandard though it was, this film makes the grade on fan enthusiasm alone.

Maher's Religulous Movie Claims Faith is Violent

By Jamise Liddell- Entertainment Critic

You can pray for television personality and now film maker, Bill Maher, but he just thinks you are crazy! Host of the show Real Time with Bill Maher, the pop culture commentator has made it no secret that he thinks religion is ridiculous.  For this reason, many people of faith would never go to see Maher's new film Religulous.  But I went because I wanted to know why Maher, who is always bashing the religions of the world, disliked Christianity and faith in general, so much, he decided to make a documentary about it.

The title comes from combining the words "religion" and "ridiculous", and the film is a satirical attempt to focus on the problems in the world that are due to religion.  Which makes this film a perfect vehicle for director Larry Charles, the man who brought you Borat.

An equal opportunity faithbasher, Maher spends screen time attempting to understand religion by finding the right wing, silly, and absurd aspects of as many faiths as he can explore in an a 101 minutes.  Few higher powers are left unquestioned as Maher travels to the Muslim temple, the Vatican, and a Christian holy park.

So what does this film have to do with action?  Well, violence is the result of most religions, according to Maher, who incorporated into the film, footage in of all sorts of threats from religious leaders, and people and places blowing up and people being wounded because of religious beliefs and differences. 

What Maher misses in his search for understanding is the common folk and their personal relationships with their higher powers.  He really didn't delve or speak to everyday individuals about their faith experiences.  When Maher did speak with an average person about their beliefs, the footage was edited to make them sound like absolute fools. 

What really touched me is that at one point in this film, Maher sits with his mother and they speak of their limited Jewish and Catholic background.  And I remember Bill Maher saying, that he didn't know what to believe.  " I don't know.  I just don't know," he repeatedly said.  And while he ridiculed faith, I saw and felt a guy that seemed very lost.

And while Religulous is an extension of Maher's continuous inquiring of religion, he does bring up some great questions, which he couldn't seem to find anyone to answer.  Religulous is without question a film that is worthy of debate and long discussions because viewer reactions to the film are so varied.

Movie Reviewed:  Death Race Directed By:  Paul W. S. Anderson narcissistic

By Jamise Liddell - Entertainment Critic

Starring:  Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane, Natalie Martinez, Jason Clarke

Rated:  Rated R for strong violence and language

Runtime:  89 minutes

Studio:  Cruise/Wagner Productions

If mindless brutality, hot male prisoners, sizzling supermodel female inmates and thunderous, screeching, hunks of metal vehicles equipped to kill, peak your interest, then Death Race was conjured up just for you.  The latest creation of  writer and director Paul W. S. Anderson of Resident Evil infamy.  This Hollywood hot shot knows what sells: sex, blood and action, and more blood.

Prisoners generally don't seem to have busy agendas so Hennessey (Allen) the warden of this notorious prison decided six years prior to bank on her prisoners.  She runs races featuring the prisoners and sells  the races on the internet.  Viewers pay outrageous sums of money to watch various stages of the race, each including more brutal and vicious types of death and destruction.  When her star racer is killed, a free man and former race car driver is framed for the death of his wife so that he can be recruited as a driver.  The prize for the prisoner who wins the race is freedom. 

 Prisoner Jensen Ames (Statham; The Bank Job) races for his life, as contestants take advantage of the lack of rules. As the drivers fight one another, and plot various types of mayhem and destruction, Warden Hennessey's bank account soars.

 It is hard to say this, but Death Race was really entertaining, and if I wanted to wax philosophical, it reeks of political overtones.  I recently heard someone say that Americans don't seem to understand that "freedom isn't free."   Well you can apply that to the war of course or you can apply it to the cost or worth of the lives of our prisoners. 

Another interesting theme is abuse of power which rampant in our society.   I have no idea how they lured Joan Allen to play such a cheesy role, but Allen does a deadly, greedy warden, it with pizzazz and it makes you want to watch this tawdry little number all the more.  Full of stereo types, the ones that get me are this, why are the women always old and treacherous, or beautiful and backstabbing.  And why oh why are the fine black men frequently mean and gay in the movies?  Whose reality is this?  Ridiculous character aside, Tyrese Gibson as Machine Gun Joe, will blow bullet holes in your movie seat from the big screen.

Death Race is made for action junkies, because it is exciting, and some sort of battle is always happening. The brutal violence in Death Race is the type where viewers collectively react with "ooohhs and awwws and ouches."  Deep down inside, is the curiosity about humankind.  Will we ever tire of such violence?   No matter the answer, if you want your pulse to race without personal exertion (beyond bringing the soda to your mouth with one hand, and the popcorn to your mouth with the other) Death Race is the "workout" you desire.

Directed By: Phyllida Lloyd

Starring: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper

Rated: PG-13 for some sex-related comments

Runtime: 108 mins

Studio: Universal Pictures

Not long ago, I was invited to hang out with some adult female friends. We had such a good time acting really silly. We had make-up contests, wore fake jewelry, told jokes, danced, sang, ate and played those games that asked questions like, “If you were on a stuck on a desert island and you could on have a guy, or your dog” which would you choose?”; told stories and acted generally like we were little girls. It was the best time, pure, clean fun, I have had in long time.

As I watched Meryl Streep dance and sing her heart out as Donna in the new film Mamma Mia! I was cast back to that evening of fun. Mama Mia! the movie version of the Broadway musical featuring the songs of the popular 70’s and 80’s Swedish group ABBA, is a tuneful, good time. It is however, the kind of good time you aren’t expecting to have.

Normally, watching people “try” to sing, especially the men in the film, is not fun. But the energy, atmosphere, and spirit of Mamma Mia! will either have you cheering “007” (Brosnan) for trying to croon or feeling a tad sorry for the poor chap and his pals.

Worry not. Mamma Mia! is full of enchanting visions of the Greek Isles, big dance numbers and love light. Based on a long-running musical of the same name, written by British playwright Catherine Johnson, the plot for the musical Mamma Mia! was adapted from the 1968 film Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell.

Sophie (Seyfried) is about to get married at the tender age of 20 and has invited two of her best girlfriends and three former beaus of her mother, one of whom just might be her father. Donna (Streep), Sophie’s Mom invited her dear friends and former back-up singers (Baranski and Walters.) Confusion ensues, as the bride-to- be tries to keep the men from her mother and fiance. “Who My Baby Daddy?” might be better title if you want the film to appeal to the Hip Hop generation, Mamma Mia! is a feel good film. A couple of the songs featuring (Seyfried) are very bubblegum, but the rest of the numbers have their own charm. A favorite number is watching Baranski dance and playfully thwart the advances of a hot, young man (Philip Michael) while singing “Does Your Mother Know?” Couple that with the Greek traditions, décor and villagers, a real bunch of plain folk who sing chorus and dance in most of the numbers are a pleasure to watch.

Women young and old will connect with this musical, as will single moms, and fellas who can appreciate fluffy tunes. It’s Greece! The boats, the beach, the waves, the white villas. It is all so beautiful, and teary in parts. Particularly, when Donna (Streep) sings “The Winner Takes It All” to Sam Carmichael (Brosnan), those who have loved and lost just might have to carry tissues. Another tear jerking scene is the Donna and Sophie duet “Slipping Through My Fingers”, which was sung as the single mother assists her bride daughter in getting ready for the ceremony.

Before the films end you’ll be bouncing in your seat and singing along. The audience I saw the film with was completely interactive, and even clapped at some of the numbers and cheered at the end. That hasn’t happened since I sat in several Dreamgirls screenings a couple of years ago.

Every musical note is not on key, and every actor does not have singing as a forte, but the spirit of Mamma Mia prevails, and is a complete recipe for a good time.

Are you an ABBA fan? If so, don’t jump out of your seat and run out of the theatre when you “think” the film is over, wait until the actual end of the film, in full flowy sequins costumes and the men in loud Elvis type suits, Streep and company dial into full concert mode and the cast rocks out on a few ABBA numbers with joy and glee. Too fun! Really!

Jamise Liddell

Runtime: 92 minutes

  Iron Man

IM-14077R                                 Photo Credit: Zade Rosenthal

Irony Man:  Imperfect Downey Jr.  Is the Perfect  Superhero

By Jamise Liddell

Second, third, fourth and fifth chances,  Robert Downey Jr.  has had a host of opportunities to get back into the game.   The superior actor turned ex-con, turned barely working actor, was cast in the virtual Powerball  lottery of comic book characters as Iron Man.  The first of the Summer blockbusters, Downey’s film will not only restore his wealth  (it made $200 million in its opening weekend and continues to blow up the box office), Iron Man  will also provide the talented  actor with yet another opportunity to prove himself reliable.

Cool yet ironic isn’t it? The infamous Downey Jr.  has been cast as America’s main crime fighter.  Laugh or feel justified concern when Robert Downey Jr. comfortably depicts Iron Man’s human half, Tony Stark, an irresponsible, womanizing, functional alcoholic, corporate executive for a major military arms company that his father founded.  Stark’s claim to fame is selling weapons to the highest bidder, whom ever that may be.   Eventually, the greed associated with that endeavor turns friends into enemies, and forces those without conscience to muster some.

In the midst of all the comic book bravado is a message about war, and how the manufacturer’s of war  weaponry, complicate the industry war  by ensuring missiles and bombs land in the clutches of the anyone who can pay the price.

The beauty of Iron Man is Downey Jr.’s performance.  He is not too over the top, nor does he portray his character too straight,  Stark and Iron Man are played in the perfect key.  But no one questioned Downey’s  mastery of his craft,  he is in many ways an everyman’s superhero if you just focused on his brilliant acting abilities.  

Gywneth Paltrow, was pitch perfect as  Stark’s loyal, red-headed,  meek and sexy assistant slash sidekick slash sequel love interest Pepper Potts .   But the award for “big surprise” in this film goes Jeff Bridges, whom isn’t immediately recognizable with his “Mr. Clean” bald head.  Bridges is Obadiah Stane,  Stark’s business partner and eventual nemesis.    Terrence Howard is Jim Rhodes, Stark’s best friend, who meanders through the film like his character shouldn’t have died in the first 20 minutes.

Casting was just one powerful  Iron Man element, costumes were another.  The audience was so hyped when the sexy red and titanium Iron Man superhero ensemble  was unveiled, they went wild; clapping and cheering, and that was before  the suit  saw any action. 

During  the big Iron Man fight scene against Iron Monger,  the essence of several other robot movies was apparent, if not forged.  Transformer  de’ja’ vu crept all over my visual psyche, and Robocop nostalgia came to mind  as I watched the 2008 hunk s of metal  clank and fight.

As for the film Iron Man? The hype is real.  Director Joh Favreau’s version of the Iron Man’s adventures are funny, exciting, explosive and ultimately satisfying.  Iron Man is entertainment, true entertainment.  Leaving the theatre fulfilled, yet wanting more is a rare feeling indeed in this age of movie mediocrity.    For the first time in a long time you’ll feel like you got the cinematic adventure you paid for, and then some.  In fairness, most of the superhero films do well, but I think Iron Man will give them all a run for their money.  Take a deep breath in.  Can you smell  all of the sequels?  Chances galore for Downey Jr,  and Iron Man.

Entertainment Section Writer,  Jamise Liddell

Flitty, fun, flighty and fanciful, it is 1939, and Guinevere Pettigrew (McDormand) is a dowdy London nanny who can't seem to stay employed.  When Pettigrew nabs an employment opportunity meant for another, she falls into a surreal situation as a right hand woman to Delysia Lafosse (Adams), an American actress and singer, and in the process, becomes an unintentional queen for a day.

Miss Pettigrew is Delysia Lafosse's new social secretary and serves as a miracle worker who helps to keep the men revolving in and out of the right doors. Lafosse juggles male suitors like a pro; one for love, one for money, and one for professional growth opportunities and money.  "With Nick I get this magnificent flat, and with Phil I get a chance to be a star and Michael wants to marry me," Lafosse explains in this delighted, matter of fact voice, to her new employee.

Not wanting to "run around town with Oliver Twist's mom", Lafosse insists on a 1939 –style make-over for Miss Pettigrew, complete with a facial and new clothes. Of course, the results are smashing, and Lafosse's dear friend and rival, resident gold digger Edythe Dubarry (played brilliantly in a taut and impious manner by actress Shirley Henderson of whom many will remember as Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)  insists that Miss Pettigrew work some miracles in her love life.

 Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day is a cheery film filled with the essence of great works; chock-full of wordplay like the kind found in Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors; and bursting with silly confusion similar to the popular Abbott and Costello routine "Who's On First?"

In her portrayal of Delysia Lafosse, Adams maintains a bit of the airiness from her Enchanted character, but adds lots of sex appeal and a partial nude scene or two.  "There is something so sensual about fur next to the skin, don't cha think?" Lafosse coos to her bemused new social secretary. Miss Pettigrew in its own way is an ode to innuendo, in other words, this is no Disney flick, but it is still free of hard core R rated behavior.

Academy Award winning actress Frances McDormand, and Enchanted's Amy Adams make a funny mom and pup, mentor and mentee duo.  The costumes are period perfect, and the actor's are a hoot.  Love is in the air and everyone in Ms. Pettigrew's new circle is affected by the aroma.                     33108

Entertainment Section Writer,  Jamise Liddell

Movie Reviewed:  Funny Games

Written and Directed By:  Michael Haneke

Starring:  Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Michael Pitt, Brady Corbet and Devon Gearhart

Rated:  Rated R for terror, violence and some language

Runtime:  107 minutes

Studio: Celluloid Dreams

 

Funny Games Riveting, and Terribly Wicked

By Jamise Liddell

Deeply disturbing and thoroughly unsettling, Funny Games follows a family Ann (Watts), George (Roth) and son Georgie (Gearhart) headed on a beautiful and sunny day to their lakeside vacation home, where unbeknownst to them lies a fate worse than simple death.  It begins when a young man, and his friend who has been introduced as a guest by their next door neighbor, comes over to borrow eggs. But the only thing these two want to scramble is the lives of the family they have selected to hold captive.

Soon the young man and a friend, both of whom are dressed mostly in white and look like Ambercrombie & Fitch models about to shoot a clothing ad for Polo by Ralph Lauren.  Take the family hostage, and began to engage in sick games with them.  At no point do we actually garner any identifying facts about these suburban terrorists, who refer to themselves as Peter (Corbett) and Paul (Pitt), among other names, but these cruel killers don't have a past that matters.  No empathy could possibly exist for boys so void of respect for humanity.  In the name of  "fun and entertainment" Peter and Paul are beastly hunters of human prey.  And the only reason to watch this dynamic duo, is to be warned, to be cautious, and possibly a tad afraid.

In a mixture between films like In Cold Blood, and Saw, Funny Games possesses all of the elements of a  fantastic horror film, but the monsters are young men who are seemingly well bred and well mannered.   All of the elements of great film making are present, sets, lighting, creative attire, moving music, perfect cast, strong script, superb acting, and engaging cinematography.

Funny Games brought to mind the evening news coverage of a tragedy, the news camera pans the crowds of onlookers by the crime scene,  as a reporter interviews someone in the vicinity.

 "I can't believe something like that could happen around here.  Not in this part of town, or this neighborhood," says a visibly stunned community member to the TV news reporter.  That sort of quote has always been cause for concern because it denotes a false and unrealistic sense of security on the part of the community member.  The very false sense of safety Ann and George felt in their gated property in their gated community.  At one point in the film Ann escapes, but she is locked in by the gates on her property.  It is a telling moment indeed.

In a perfect world, it would be wrong, actually a sin, for me to suggest you watch Funny Games.  Gaze unceasingly as an entire family is humiliated and tortured, not in that glitzy Hollywood  fashion that is so easy to dismiss  as "entertainment", but in a very, terrifying and emotionally charged "what would I do if  this happen to my family" way. 

The film has a few small, but obvious plot issues, and runs about 20 minutes too long (or maybe that was my discomfort getting the best of me),  but the film should be seen, no matter how uncomfortable it might make the audience members.

Funny Games writer is Austrian director Michael Haneke, who remade his 1997 version of the film of the same name, and it is by all accounts essentially the same film in 2007 with different actor's and yet the movie's timeliness is so appropriate.

 In a world where youth shoot up schools and colleges,  kill their parents because they cut them off of the internet and general senseless murders are on the rise, if Funny Games offers nothing else, it offers a reason to proceed in life's comfort zones with extreme vigilance.

 

Entertainment Section Writer,  Jamise Liddell

Legends Are not All They Are Cracked Up To Be

By Jamise Liddell

Some folks hate it, others think it is too scary, or too slow, and those who love it, really love I Am Legend .  Still a winner at the box office grossing 195 million by the last week   of December 2007, the  thriller I Am Legend is based on a novel by author Richard Matheson and has seen its share of  remakes:  The Last Man On Earth (1964), The Omega Man (1971) starring  Charlton Heston.  In this latest version,  mega movie action hero Will Smith is scientist Robert Neville , the last man in New York, and the eventual savior of the human race.  

The premise is that it is the year 2012 and most of New York has been wiped out from a virus which was at first thought to cure cancer, but then something went terribly wrong and those treated with "the cure" begin to display symptoms which are similar those of a  rabid animal.  The ghoulish looking, ex-humans lose all of their hair and skin and look similar to the vampires from the film 30 Days of Night, pasty white, bald, and in great need of a pigment, a sandwich, and a hug.   The rabid people cannot stand the sunlight and only roam at night killing, eating and wreaking havoc on the immune.   Neville vowed to stay in New York until he finds a cure for the infected.  

Smith's performance is strong, as he spends a majority of the film talking to himself, or his German shepherd, Sam.   Photos and flashback scenes fill us in on what life was once like for Neville, his family and the citizens of New York.    Now, Neville hunts for deer in the desolate streets of New York, proves that a dog really is man's best friend, and hits on a well dressed mannequin all in an effort to keep his sanity.   The film is an intense, thoughtful, ride, until the storyline turns sour with ridiculousness.

Contrived danger, and plot holes the size of the Grand Canyon,  just get bigger when suddenly,  the rabid people show some signs of intelligence and cunning   while attempting  to trap  Neville.   When a beautiful woman (Brazilian born actress Alice Braga) and her son appear out of nowhere to literally save Neville's life and help wrap "the legend" up in a nice neat package my intelligence is insulted.  

In all, I Am Legend is both magnificent and a disappointment.  The performance by Will Smith was absolutely Oscar worthy, the film set of a completely uninhabited New York truly awesome, striking and creepy.   However, the absurd plot twists really counteract all of the great acting that Smith contributes. 

 And when the script began to crumble about three quarters through the film, it was then that I renamed the movie I Am Bored. 

Entertainment Section Writer,  Jamise Liddell

Director: Eric Valette

Entertainment Section Writer,  Jamise Liddell

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'Mist' of Terror

By Jamise Liddell

Remember the Phoenix Lights incident?   On March 13, 1997 a series of lights appeared over Phoenix, and hovered in the sky, thousands of citizens reported seeing the lights and many took photographs.   While watching the on screen rendition of  author Stephen King's tale The Mist, I thought of   the "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast, The Phoenix Lights and how our world responds when they are threatened by the unknown.  We heard the usually cry of  "We are not alone!"  And then the explanations came, the government saying they were flares and the eyewitnesses saying they were not.

King a master of pulling the heartstrings of fear when facing life's unimaginable events, or the unknown, focuses on the lack of humanity exhibited by folks in crisis during The Mist. A story about a group of small town friends and neighbors trapped in a grocery store by a strange mist.  Lurking in The Mist are deadly creatures from another place and time.

As movies go, The Mist will have you on the edge of your seat, breathless with suspense one minute, and flat grossed out the next.    Interestingly, the film's hold is about people in tough places, dealing with things they just don't understand and all the while looking for someone or something to blame.   Though there are beasts, and other creepy crawling terrors, the true nightmares are the people, their varied personalities, and their   inability to put differences aside and pull together to survive. If for no other reason The Mist is worth watching to see a brilliant performance by Marcia Gay Harden, as Mrs. Carmody, a religious fanatic who condemns the unsaved.

Kudos to the special effects team, the creepy crawly critters that emerge from The Mist are truly mesmerizing.  The Mist is a film that   will generate great conversation, after you recover from the surprise ending.

Director   Frank Daranbont, who wrote the screenplay for The Mist and the last Stephen King film he directed, The Green Mile , is a master. Daranbont understands the rhythm of films like The Mist and the final product doesn't skip a beat.

Warrior Woes 

Entertainment 
Section Writer,  Jamise Liddell

He’s six foot six inches of power and punches, and one of the most interesting heroes to grace the screen.  Beowulf has arrived to save King Hrothgar’s (Hopkins) kingdom  from the treacherous monster Grendel, a sadistic looking and acting beast who tortured and devoured  everyone and everything in sight.  If you enjoy, eating, drinking and generally being merry, that offends Grendel; happy people are the first to die. For removal of the monster, Beowulf receives great riches, notoriety and a few things for which he hadn’t bargained.

Part of an all star cast, Jolie plays the sexy, vengeful, mom of  Grendel the monster.  As a temptress, one particularly amusing scene finds the bewitching beauty emerging  from a pool of water wearing high heels.  Vikings have never had it so good!

Beowulf was released in 2D and 3D picture formats and IMAX 3D is opening soon.  After watching Beowulf in 3D, I can’t imagine any other way to see it.  When the film meets the IMAX screens  the lines will most likely be endless.  Created using  ‘Performance Capture’, a style of animation that allows for every nuance of the actor’s  true features and expressions to be shown.   The film The Polar Express used the same method to great acclaim.  Beowulf redefines graphic, families with little ones should heed the rating.  Grendel, the  creepy drooling creature, is so hideous, he’d give adults nightmares.

Directed By: Menno Meyjes

Starring: John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Oliver Platt, Amanda Peet, Sophie Oknonedo

New Line Cinema

Run Time: 108 minutes

Opens: 11/2/07

by Jamise Liddell

I watched Martian Child with an open heart and a new packet of hankies, prepared for what the previews promised -- an emotional family movie. Just because a headliner in this movie is a child does not necessarily mean this is a film for kids. Young people most likely will be bored and by the movie’s end, when the young lad, stood in peril, my eyes were bone dry.

Martian Child features brother sister talents John and Joan Cusack who portray film siblings David and Liz. David Gordon, newly widowed, decides to continue with adoption plans despite Liz’s warnings. A science fiction novelist, Gordon is encouraged by dear friend Sophie (Oknonedo, Hotel Rwanda) to consider Dennis, a six year old who says he is from Mars. It is enjoyable to watch David work so lovingly to gain Dennis’ trust, while questioning his own ability to be a single parent to a special needs kid.

Thematically, Martian Child had wonderful intentions, but fell woefully flat in all of the wrong places. There is a cheesy, fake and patronizing performance by Oliver Platt as David’s book agent and Jessica Huston as the book publisher. In all, Martian’s cast was lost because there was just no depth to many of the characters. For example, Amanda Peet, is Harlee, David’s friend slash love interest, but for some reason the two have intimacy issues? But why? And how are they friends? Why did David’s wife die? Why aren’t I warming up to this strange little kid that looks like he could be the spawn of Michael Jackson?

It is rarely comfortable for anyone to feel different, or estranged, because this subject is explored Martian Child will tug at some heart strings and send others down memory lane as they connect or recall someone who was the odd or unpopular person, or the awkward lonely one. Maybe it was you.

Celebrating or tolerating difference can be a challenge in today’s society. Movies which explore alienation, adoption, or parenting have their place. Martian Child, no matter how many holes are in the storyline, advocates parental love and attentiveness to children--especially, the strange, weird or different child. For that alone it is worth a gander.

Entertainment Section Writer,  Jamise Liddell

HAIRSPRAY

Directed: Leon Ichaso

By Jamise Liddell

Hector Lavoe was a Latin legend and a talent on the grandest of scales who started and brought the Salsa movement to the United States from Puerta Rico in the 60’s. In El Cantante, which is Spanish for “the singer”, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony deserve kudos for telling Lavoe’s story. It is how they tell this tale which poses a partial problem for the film.

At times Lopez and Anthony do Lavoe’s memory more harm than good because the pop star thespians appear to read lines from a script that is stamped “no acting required.” El Cantante is initially, painfully slow, with the Salsa King portrayed by Anthony and Lopez as Lavoe’s beautiful, fiery, cantankerous, wife Puchi. The pop star thespians frequently force dialogue or walk, too comfortably, through their lines.

From La Bamba, another story about a famous Latino singer who meets a tragic end, we know that Lopez can act. When, however, she not properly directed, memories of her worst film, Gigli (filmed with former flame Ben Affleck) surface.

Lavoe’s story is the usual musician’s tale of woe. Neighborhood boy makes good with his natural talent, aptitude takes melodious star to fame and fortune, and all that money propels the superstar toward chemical substances and alcohol to help him cope and in turn inevitably ruins his life.

Tis true, the camera really enjoys the physical beauty of both actors, who share with Lavoe a Puerta Rican heritage and New York roots. Lopez looks especially glamorous and ravishing for much of the story. Unfortunately, this film isn’t solely about pretty faces and if you can make it through the first 45 min of this film it eventually takes life.

Anthony seems to become more comfortable with the LaVoe character once he becomes famous. When the singer is portrays Lavoe as a young man, Anthony’s play at his character’s “innocence” morphs into super nerd and makes his pairing with a young Puchi (Lopez in peasant clothes) seem awkward at best. Once Lavoe is a superstar a formerly nonexistent chemistry pops onto the screen between Lopez and Anthony.

Another challenge with El Cantante is the editing of the music scenes. Salsa has a life of its own and everyone loves watching the band. The Salsa musicians didn’t need any accompaniment by writer director Leon Ichaso who used a spastic, frenetic, MTV style shots during many of the musical numbers which just made for headaches all around.

In yet another attempt to be creative, instead of using the classic bottom of the screen subtitles, when Anthony sings in Spanish the words to the songs pop out in English on different parts of the screen, a touch which actually adds to the excitement of the music.

Despite the many insincere moments in this film, Hector Lavoe’s tragic story carries the film and makes it worth viewing on the big screen. He is a man who was supremely talented, and personally detached from his father, his son, and his life. For all his ability, Lavoe loses most everything to drugs, including his health and sometimes his mind. Fans of Hector Lavoe and his legacy will certainly enjoy walking down this lane of troubling memories, which highlight the major contributions of a Latino legend.

Entertainment Section Writer,  Jamise Liddell

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Sandler and Cheadle Reign In New Film

  By Jamise Liddell

When considering all of the September 11^th  themed films that have come, gone, and are still coming, none has handled the aftermath quite like Reign Over Me.  Director Mike Binder (The Upside of Anger) who also wrote the story and acted in the film, takes a personal look at how the infamous day in September affected one family while capturing the challenging nuances in the lives of two friends.

Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler) loses his entire family and thus much of his mind on 9/11. Formerly a successful dentist, Fineman is reduced to a video game playing, highly temperamental vagabond. Five years after the tragedy, Alan Johnson portrayed by Don Cheadle (Crash, Hotel Rwanda) spots Fineman, his old college roommate, on the streets of Manhattan and is surprised at Fineman’s deteriorated condition.  Overwhelm is a circumstance that Johnson can somewhat appreciate, between work and family Johnson, owner of a successful dental practice, is stressed and in need of a change in his life. The reunion seems to be a stroke of luck.for both men, who forge the type of friendship usually depicted in “chick flicks.”

Reign’s all star cast includes solid supporting performances by Jada Pinkett (Collateral, Ali, Madagascar) Smith, Paula Newsome (Little Miss Sunshine) as Melanie, Johnson’s a no nonsense dental office manager, an “all grown up” Liv Tyler (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) as psychiatrist Angela Oakhurst, Saffron Burrows as dental patient and stalker Donna Remar, and Donald Sutherland as a feisty judge. But the key to this film is the sweet chemistry between Sandler and Cheadle, two characters that could easily be over or under –acted  but thankfully are not .

 A few of Reign’s failings include the lack of use of  Pinkett-Smith’s considerable  talent.  As Janeane Johnson, Pinkett-Smith is a stereotypical Hollywood wife prototype:   a beautiful woman, caring mother and nagging spouse .  Had Reign first been a book, the audience could have gained more from Pinkett’s character.  The next flaw, and this is major, is whiney child-like Sandler trademark voice.  If you can dismiss the annoying Sandler baby talk tone, this is one of the best performances ever to come from the crude comedian.

The  key to this film is the sweet chemistry between Sandler and Cheadle, what could be over or under –acted is just right in it’s delivery. With a bittersweet angle, Reign Over Me, captures the struggles of healing, the necessity of friendship and preciousness of life.

Entertainment Section Writer,  Jamise Liddell

After the Sunset is Paradise “light”

By Jamise Liddell

After the Sunset offers the great escape to weary filmgoers.  Yes folks, for the ever-increasing movie admission price you too can roam white sandy beaches, gaze upon crystal clear waters, a bevy of scantily clad Hollywood beautiful people and predictability abound. It is crazy!  How can a movie miss with heavy hitter stars of fantabulous films like the James Bond 007 series, and  Frida.  Trailers for the film After the Sunset left me hopeful and convinced that this was going to be a super film.

After the Sunset will most likely satisfy the masses with its luxury beach side love nests, open bamboo hut bars with dancing disco beats and lots of “do nothing” time.

Entertainment Section Writer,  Jamise Liddell

Law’s Alfie  Pickpockets, Pounds and Pulverizes Young Hearts

By Jamise Liddell

With friends like Alfie, who needs enemies?

Alfie, which stars actor Jude Law is a tribute to the scoundrels of this world. Unfortunately people like Law’s portrayal of the title character, roam the earth freely making merry, breaking hearts and causing other havoc as the usual order of the day. Surely, at least once in your life you’ve dined or brushed with an innocent Alfie type. And so the routine goes you order a $4.29 side salad and they order steak and lobster, two  bottles of chateau wonderful from 1990, coffee and dessert for a total of  $150.00 and then  suggest, with a straight face or the smile of a Cheshire cat, that you two split the bill.

Alfie is the tale of a lady’s man, party boy and rogue, who has, to his detriment, selected not to grow up? Eye candy actor Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley) adds panache, style and magnetism to the  role.  A remake of a 1966 film starring Michael Caine,  Law takes Alfie 2004 to new heights as well as new levels of low. But Law makes the character and the film his own.

 With light hearted beginnings, the film, which Law’s character look into the camera and narrates as if the audience were his closest friends.   Alfie’s best friend onscreen is  Marlon, played sincerely and with conviction by Omar Epps (Love and Basketball, The Mod Squad) and the fetching actress Nia Long  (a.k.a. Sasha Monroe on television’s Third Watch, Boiler Room) are the only people Alfie can call friends.  Long plays an outstanding supporting role as girlfriend  to Marlon. Actor Gedde Watanabe (That Thing You Do, Boys On The Side) steals all of his scenes as Mr. Wing Alfie and Marlon’s selfish, verbally obnoxious boss and owner of a New York cab company.

Alfie is full of familiar veteran actress faces. One of Alfies many conquests is Alley McBeals’ Jane Krakowski as Dorie.  An unfulfilled married woman, Dorie seeks attention in Alfie’s arms. Meanwhile, Alfie’s girlfriend Julie (Marissa Tomei) waits patiently and faithfully for Alfie to come home to her. Alfie receives some of his own medicine from the perfectly cast Susan Sarandon as love interest Liz.

Seasoned Writer Director  Charles Shyer (Alfie (2004), Father of the Bride (1991) and Father of the Bride Part II (1995),I Love Trouble (1994), Irreconcilable Differences (1984) ,"The Odd Couple" (1970) TV Series ) casts this film well and  successfully captured the look with great costumes and settings like New York (though the film was shot in England). The entire cinematic effort would have been better served if someone had had given Shyer a watch and keys to the editing room. Alfie  repeatedly drags, in fact during the screening I spied several people glancing frequently at their watches.

With that in mind, Alfie is would stills receives a viewing recommendation for mature men and women because Jude’s performance is so sound and at times the film is really, interesting, entertaining yet pathetically disturbing.

The next time you seek to explain a difficult encounter with a handsome, charming, self-centered, lying, scab, who needs redemption; instead say only one word…Alfie? 

Entertainment Section Writer,  Jamise Liddell

Greatest Game is “Flittering” with Family Film

By Jamise Liddell

With a summer full of movies so awful that the average man should be irritated that his precious being was exposed to such poor offerings from Hollywood’s cinematic wasteland.  The Greatest Game Ever Played is a warm hearted and welcome spotlight on the dark and dastardly film offerings of late.  Leave it to Disney to bring us fun family fare, no matter how formulaic.

To be clear, you have seen The Greatest before, it is the usual Walt Disney sport film storyline. You know the films, “The Rookie”, “Remember the Titans” and “Miracle”.and the list is limitless.  The Greatest is the cliché, feel good, feel bad, feel really super great, yea we won sports film featuring the underdog who has a dream, pursues the dream despite every obstacle and in the end rides on the victory pony.

The Greatest Game Ever Played ,is a true story set in the early 1900’s about Francis Quimet a working class boy, perfectly cast and portrayed by popular teen Disney Star Shia La Beouf  (Even Stevens, Holes, I, Robot), who busted privileged barricades to become the Norma Rae of golf.  His journey propels him to the 1913 U.S. Open where Quimet finds himself in direct competition with his long time idol Harry Vardon, a U.S. Open winner and six time British Open champion. Without question, this is a most intriguing historical tale.  And it is entertaining to watch the challengers swing their way to the next level.

Midway through the film, however, The Greatest takes on an new energy and light with the exuberant entrance of actor Josh Flitter member of the reality television show Situation Comedy. Flitter, who plays quippy, grade school skipping, golf loving, 10-year old caddie Eddie Lowery, serves as a caddie for Quimet during the U.S. Open.

Flitter, is the scene, no make that film stealer of the season and the number one reason why everyone should see The Greatest Game Ever Played.  Without a doubt Flitter was cast for his cuteness, and probably to steal a scene or two, but it turns out he is literally breathes life of this film.

Fortunately you don’t have to be a golf or sports lover to enjoy this film full of wonderful period costumes and luscious panoramic views of various golf courses, not to mention the stoic British versus American, the wealthy versus the working class thematic tensions.

Former actor turned director Bill Paxton has a keen eye for suspense and humor and that aids the overall energy of the film. The film and screen play were written by Mark Frost are  based the book, The Greatest Game Ever Played, also penned by Frost.

The Greatest, has it’s detractors, the women folk just fret, frown, beg men to behave better and look pretty, and I’m sorry folks but even a sports enthusiast will want to cut out some of the repetitive golf swing scenes and audience reaction shots down by half.  Yet in still, the story is the good one and in the end, you’ll probably be heard across town cheering for young Quimet to make that final shot.

The Greatest Game Ever Played opens September 30, and is rated PG for some brief mild language.

Entertainment Section Writer,  Jamise Liddell

Hide notion to See this film

By Jamise Liddell

Director John Polson started out well enough with the film Hide and Seek. He had decent story concept, an A-list cast, and he had Swimfan a pretty successful film in this genre.

In Hide and Seek, Dr. David Callaway (Robert De Niro) and his daughter Emily (Dakota Fanning, Man On Fire, Uptown Girls) attempt to put their lives life back together after the suicide of his wife Emily (Amy Irving).  After purchasing a house in a small town, a home that is turned over to him by a creepy realtor and an over involved Sheriff, Callaway settles into his new life.  But his daughter finds a new imaginary friend, it seems, to cope with her mother’s loss. Elizabeth Shue (Tuck Everlasting, Leaving Las Vegas) is Elizabeth a new friend, and potential babysitter, that the Callaways meet in town.

Following a brief introduction to other characters including the strange but friendly next door neighbors, and supportive family friend Katherine (Famke Janssen, X2, X-Men).  Katherine and David are both doctors.  Within this motley crew there is suspense, and then suddenly about 40 minutes into the film I had an urge to walk out, and it wasn’t from fear.  But I sat there, hoping things would get better because their were 60minutes left.

In Hide and Seek suspense turns to torment as you wait and wait and wait for something, anything, to make sense because nothing does. The waiting for answers became so drawn out that I stopped caring about what was going on, and starting counting the number of feet I’d have to step over to leave early.   And then the entire Secret Window type plot is hurriedly tied together. 

In this I really don’t like for Hollywood to waste my time.  They do it often

Sometimes you wonder what they are thinking!  The whole lot of them!  Producers, director’s, editor’s, what the heck are they thinking? To create and produce ridiculousness like Hide and Seek is truly a sham.  May I never know the budget!

Especially galling is a gathering of such great talent like Amy Irving, Elisabeth Shue, Dakota Fanning, and Robert DeNiro, and then to have them put to little use.

  Forget underestimating the intelligence of the audience, this was made for lobotomy victims.

Akeelah and the Bee spells F U N

By Jamise Liddell

Eleven years in the making, Akeelah and the Bee is a nearly perfect inspirational family film.   Writer-director Doug Atchison would not compromise on his script by handing it over to Hollywood and closing his eyes while they dismantled his masterpiece and cast the usual suspects.  Instead, he waited and splendidly cast this film with a group of bright engaging young actors which include Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), Javier (JR Villarreal), and Dylan (Sean Michael Afable) as well as seasoned actors such as Angela Basset (Alias) as Tanya Anderson, Laurence Fishburne (Mission: Impossible III, Matrix) as Dr. Larabee and Curtis Armstrong (Dodgeball, television’s American Dad!) as Mr. Welch.

Nothing like the usual overconfident, braggadocios Hollywood new kids on the big movie block, Atchinson, who was raised in Phoenix and is a graduate of Steven Spielberg’s alma mater, Arcadia High School, is tall and quietly handsome, his bright genuine smile, easy manner, and overall energy communicates sweetness, compassion and understanding similar to that of an old friend, a social worker, a priest or Gandi.  He completely lacks any hint of pretension, which is probably why Lionsgate took a chance on this cinematic adventure.  If nothing else, Akeelah will be, perhaps, the most highly marketed film in history.  In addition to the press rounds which includes interviews, feature articles, talk show appearances and newspaper advertisements, Starbucks, a powerful player in the music industry has decided to sweeten the java by adding film to its mighty repertoire. With one of the most influential promotional hubs on the planet, Starbucks has united with Lionsgate to work on all aspects of marketing and distribution for Akeelah.

An inspirational drama, Akeelah and the Bee is the story of Akeelah Anderson played with flawless charm and sincerity by the beautiful young Keke Palmer, a precocious eleven-year-old girl from south Los Angeles with a love for words. Who without the consent of her mother Tanya (Bassett), enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Fishburne); her principal Mr. Welch (Armstrong) and eventually the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah’s aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and in turn unites her neighborhood who witness the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl.

A family drama, themes in Akeelah include: love and loss of family, respect for differences and developing self confidence as a young person. The movie works because of its strong casting and storyline, and the character values.  Akeelah makes smart “in”, and learning a community effort.  Working with young people, however, posed its share of challenges for Atchison.

“Sean, who plays the character Dylan, is a devout Christian, and initially had a hard time with his character’s superiority and arrogance” recalled the director.  After working with the acting coach, the young actor bought into the role for the overall good of the film.

Meanwhile, surely the cast and crew were encouraged by Palmer’s stunning smile which is so bright on screen it make sunlight look dim. Palmer’s co-star, Villarreal, was a scene- stealer with all of his charm and playful expressions. And all the coaching must have worked for Afable for he played Akeelah’s opponent with perfect pitch.

Presenters and guests at last month’s Phoenix Film Festival, Atchinson and Fishburne were in the Valley to share their passion for the project with the community and the press.  Fishburne was awarded the most coveted festival acknowledgement, the 2006 Copper Wing award, for his tremendous accomplishment in the film and television industry. A producer of Akeelah, Fishburne was also directly responsible for Angela Basset joining the project. This is his third film with the award winning actress, the first two were Boyz In The Hood, and What’s Love Got to Do With It.  Atchison approached Fishburne while the actor was in a New York park walking his dog and asked him to sign on to the film.

Fishburne, whose mother was an educator, had already read and loved the script and assured Atchison he was on the team.  Widely recognized for his work in action films like The Matrix, Fishburne shows immense compassion and vulnerability in his role as Dr. Larabee.

“This man is the man that she (Akeelah) needs in her life, she needs a father and he (Dr. Larabee) needs a daughter. When I saw the script I knew I had to do this film because I know these people,” said Fisburne, an internationally celebrated actor.  “I have a 14-year old daughter and can think of no greater tribute to her than this film.”

Atchinson’s determination (he has been trying to get Akeelah made since 1994) is unfailing. In a July 2005 interview with MovieMaker magazine Atichison shared the key to successful filmmaking.

“Persistence is the key to development and pre-production.  It separates the doers from those who are undone.  It turns the perpetually red light green.  And it is the only common ingredient all successful moviemakers possess.  And we’re not talking about ordinary, run-of-the-mill persistence.  Not the kind required simply to finish marathons or run for elected office. No, we’re talking about a dogged, extraordinary, near-superhuman type of persistence.  One that deflects a thousand “no’s”, converts negative bank accounts into cash-rich production funds and finds a way to constantly tap passion out of ides that are years old and seemingly unwanted.  That’s how movies get made.  One person with one idea who never, ever gives up,” said Atchison.

Atchison began his film career in Phoenix at the tender age of 14. His mother took him to a lot of films when he as young and he was always writing stories. After watching films like Star Wars he said. “I want to create experiences like this for people.”

In order to secure the tools of the trade the determined young leader went to work.

“I spent two or three years delivering newspapers: the Arizona Republic in the morning and the [now defunct] Phoenix Gazette in the hot afternoons,” said Atchinson.

After saving roughly $1000.00 he purchased a Super 8 film camera, a projector and an editing system. At the time he didn’t realize that most new filmmakers made “short” films to showcase their talents.  Unknowingly going against the grain, Atchison took his 80-page script and made his first film feature length.  His creation was a scary movie called All Good Children Go to Heaven.

“It was the kind of film that 14-year old boys liked when I was young,” Atchison reminisced, “my sister and I got all the largest roles because I knew that she would always be around.”

A graduate of the USC School of Cinema-Television, he has directed over a dozen short films, including his award-winning thesis project “Ellen’s Father.” He works frequently as a "script-doctor" for the major studios and writes articles on the film business for national publications. Atchison has taught directing at the International Film and Television Workshops in Rockport, Maine and screenwriting at the University of LaVerne.

In 2000, Akeelah and theBee won the prestigious Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting competition, sponsored by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Past winners of the Nicholl award include Susannah Grant for Erin Brokovich.

No matter how the world responds to his film, Atchison, who resides in Los Angeles where he feeds off of the creative energy of city life, has already received the highest accolades from Akeelah. At recent public screening of Akeelah a little girl told Atchinson,

“This movie made me feel like I can do anything that I want to do!”

Inspiring a child to follow their dreams is the ultimate success to Atchison a talented gentleman who has arrived in the arena with the “big boys” has made the great state of Arizona proud.

Akeelah and the Bee opens April 28,  rated PG, runs 112 mins.

Dakota Dreamin’

By Jamise Liddell

When I entered the suite at the Phoenix Biltmore Resort, seasoned actress Dakota Fanning was holding court with about 10 press members, chatting freely, openly, and with the utmost political correctness.  Eyes sparkling, with a nod of the head she smiles and welcomes me into the fold. A down-to-earth Dakota is comfortable with this gold fish in a bowl kind of attention, this is her environment.

On tour to promote her latest family film, Dreamer: Inspired By A True Story, Fanning is sweet, kind, impressive, full of energy and definitely in control.

Dreamer is the story of a racehorse who gets a second chance, and the Crane family who risks everything to give the horse and their family new ties to life.  Fanning is Cale Crane a little girl who loves her family and longs for a closer relationship with her busy dad, horse trainer Ben Crane played by Kurt Russell (Sky High). Elisabeth Shue is once again providing onscreen care for Fanning’s character , in Dreamer as Cale’s ma Lilly, and earlier this year in the suspense thiller film Hide and Seek (co-starring Robert DeNiro) Shue was Fanning’s babysitter. Dreamer also stars acting veterans Luis Guzman (Traffic) and Freddy Rodriguez (Six Feet Under).

Fanning who loved making the film raves about co-star Russell and his family.

 “Well working with Kurt was really, really special for me.  He has changed my life in so many ways  he will always be in my life, and I know that.. I’ve learned from him as an actress and a person and getting to know his family is incredible.  It is hard to put into words what it is like, I wish Kurt was here so you could see him, he is so nice.” Fanning giggles.

Fanning named her horse Goldie, after actor Kurt Russell’s longtime companion Goldie Hawn (mother of actress Kate Hudson) .

“She is so nice to everyone and just enjoys life,” Fanning says of Hawn.

Several minutes after my arrival the group interview ends.  I stay back and watch Dakota as she joyfully signs autographs, poses for photos and eloquently thanks everyone for coming to meet with her. Dakota is to seasoned to be a princess, she is a young queen.. Now that we are alone, well if you don’t count a few publicists standing in the wings, Fanning pops down in the seat right next to me.  It feels like I’m chatting with someone I’ve known forever.

Born in Georgia, Fanning grew up Baptist and recalls her families spiritual customs..

“I am Southern Baptist, and I grew up in the South so every Sunday we went to Sunday school,” the actress explained that their faith is very important to she and her family. And she said “oh awesome” when she found out I write for a “Christian” newspaper.

Other than her co-star from the film Man On Fire, Denzel Washington, Fanning has met few people who declare their faith in her business.

“It’s sad really,” she laments, “but I do.”

Be it the decision by the actor’s parents Joy and Steve Fanning to home school Dakota (who learned to read at the age of 2) or maybe it was just that she was born an “old soul” but it is hard to believe that 11 year old Dakota has ever been a “child” in the traditional sense of the word.  Her professional accomplishments alone are enough to make her an honorary senior citizen.

“Getting to touch people by doing something that you love is really exciting for me.  And also just getting to meet someone and changing their lives just by enjoying meeting them, said Fanning as she explains the most rewarding part of fame…. And it is my pleasure, that is what I enjoy doing and I am so happy to be able to do that by doing something that I love to do.”

Tis true, Fanning answers all of her fan mail, recently Dakota born Hannah Dakota Fanning, received a letter that said “will you please be my girlfriend or if not, at least come to Orlando and take a picture with me?”

“I feel so bad for him, that is so sad” Fanning said sincerely, with a sad expression on her face.

She offers the following advice to those who want to pursue a career in acting.

“Follow your dreams and have fun.  The most important thing is to do what you want to do and enjoy it, whatever is may be.”

As for Fanning, she has the love and support of her family, and a long list of projects ahead.

 “My mom is my best friend in the whole wide world and my dad is my dad, every little girl loves her dad more than anything,” Fanning warmly giggles eyes a twinkling and I only have one thought as I smile with her.

Long live the queen!

At home with the Phoenix press,

Talkin’ Funny with  Jamie Kennedy

By Jamise Liddell

Actor, comedian Jamie Kennedy did not dress up.  Maybe it is because on this day, the City of Phoenix warned the public about the broken water filtration systems and advised the public not to use the water without first boiling it.  Maybe not.

When asked about his attire, Kennedy replied in a hurt little boy’s voice “These are my best clothes.”  The room filled with laughter.   I wondered if he showered.  It was after 3 p.m. and he looked like he just woke up.  His dark brown hair is tousled and sticking straight up like a pompadour on speed, a blue sweat jacket with red stripes along the arms is zipped up to his chin, blue jeans, white socks and slipper style leather shoes complete the uber casual clothing ensemble.  The fashion police would arrest him, convict him and give him life. But the 34-year old funny man is also sporting a warm, welcoming, sunny energy, and a demeanor akin to the intimacy of a best friend. And that is enough to pardon and dismiss the fashion citations.

In town to promote his latest film Son of the Mask, a sequel to the 1994 hit film  The Mask starring Jim Carrey.    Kennedy is painfully aware of the pressures associated with making a sequel to a film in which, like it or not, he has to walk in Carrey’s moccasins.

“Hopefully I played this role differently [than Jim Carrey]. I mean it’s going to be similar because we are both green, and it is the mask but I had hair and ears and … I tried to play it more Bob Eubanks (he says gentlemen in a Bob Eubanks voice),” explained Kennedy.

  Son of the Mask traces the woes of Tim Avery, (Kennedy) a fledging cartoonist, loving husband and reluctant father, as he negotiates employment and parenthood challenges.

Kennedy co-stars in Son of  the Mask with Alan Cummings (Spykids, X2:X-Men United) who plays mask creator and God Loki., veteran English actor Bob Hoskins (Maid In Manhattan, Nixon) as Loki’s father Odin, and Avery (played by 6-month old twins  Liam and Ryan Falconer) and a dog named Bear.

Kennedy said working with a baby, dog and the green screen is “better than working with most of the actors he’s worked with …because sometimes when you work with other actors they get sort of crazy.”

Wild and high energy characterize Kennedy’s role in the few scenes in the film where he wears the Mask.  During one of those scenes Kennedy’s character, Avery, and on screen wife Tonya played by actress Traylor Howard (Two guys and a girl) create baby Alvey, a son born with super human powers.  Alvey basically torments Avery throughout the film.

When Kennedy was first approached about the film he was skeptical and wondered why Carrey wasn’t accepting the role. Admitting  to the pressure of being in a sequel that Jim Carrey turned down.  Kennedy only decided to participate in the project after director Larry Guterman shared his vision and scope for the movie. Kennedy then decided that the film was different from the Carrey film and a major opportunity. 

New to the family film genre, Kennedy has fond memories of his childhood film excursions.  “I would like to do all different types of films.  But I do enjoy a good family movie.  I remember growing up my parents taking me to see Young Frankenstein and me my parents, brothers and sisters going to see Tootsie and Three Men and a Baby and laugh at them just as hard as my parents. I like the idea of a film that appeals to many different ages.”

   Star of his own Candid Camera style comedy show called The Jamie Kennedy Experiment. The show which is shares the same basic premise as Ashton Kutcher’s Punk’d  which plays practical jokes on celebrities.  Experiment documents Kennedy the actor dressed up as a variety of hilarious characters including Judge Jamie, Virginia Ham, a black female talk show host, and a crazy choreographer from England and plays pranks on unsuspecting everyday people.  Which is why Kennedy-the-comedian’s role in Son of the Mask will be a real departure for his fans.

“I thought it was a project that was still in my wheelhouse because of all the craziness but I was the straight man and wild things that were happening around me.  And I kinda wanted to take the part to show people that  I could A) play a father and B) I could play a husband and have a girl.  In movies I never get the girl. I never get to kiss.  In this movie I actually get to kiss, but they cut it so I still don’t really get to kiss…I get to hug” said Kennedy with a hilarious blank look on his face.

.For a moment his kindness and openness make him is the king of celebrities and of the five star press suite in Scottsdales’ exclusive Sanctuary Camelback Mountain resort where the scruffy actor holds court with the Phoenix press.

“I’d like to stay a few days in this place [the resort],” exclaims Jamie looking around the suite and moving his eyebrows up and down Groucho  Marx style

Understanding that this “fun goofy movie” has to appeal to a certain demographics, Jamie has some witty thoughts about why college students should see this film.

“Well there are certain things that go on in college that students do to elevate their consciousness. If they do that and watch this movie it will be like the most insane thing that they’ve ever seen,” advised Jamie while declining to be specific about what “thing” he is referring to.

College students should look at this film as a study in psychology “It’s guide to: you know what?  You’d better get good degree cause if not you might have this demon baby and you’ve got to make a lot of money to support it. So keep studying, that’s what this film teaches.”

Based on his autobiographical trials and tribulations, Kennedy could be dubbed “the prince of perseverance”, in his autobiography entitled Wannabe, Kennedy unabashedly tells all of the rough and tumble details of his Hollywood ascent.  Jamie’s struggle to the top involved lots of self-encouragement, homelessness, and literal hunger.  When asked how he was giving back and helping other who are struggling he chuckles and with playful offense retorts

 “How am I helping them? Well who helped me? I tell them to go to unemployment.”   And then his face and voice softened, “no, see I helped,” he insists as he picks up my copy of his book Wannabe and insists “I did give back.”  He opened the paperback to the last chapter and begins to read

“I said sample, sample, sample go to Whole Foods, 31 flavors and other supermarkets wherever you can and sample your ass off. It’s a good way to know the city and all those freebies add up to a nice meal.  There’s a lot of ‘how to’ guide’s in here   I tell them don’t drink or do drugs to excess. Deal with your surroundings and your pain.  They can read that there is a lot of good stuff in there.  I tell them how to sneak in the movies for free at the Beverly Center in Hollywood…It’s a self help book baby” he concludes with a cool smirky smile.

Kennedy is dating right now, but is too consumed with his career for be part of a serious relationship.

“But I love women, I love them so much that I want to meet all of them…

That’s why I love Hollywood and LA more than anything.. When I was growing up I went to Catholic school, twelve years it’s like if I did something, you’d get tugged on the ear and girls would say ‘Oh you are so weird.’ but when I came to LA you do something weird and the girls are like ‘You’re so hot.’ The love the oddball out there.  Anyone who feels out of place I suggest going to ? California. They embrace it, there and New York.  They embrace the obtuse,” the actor fondly recalled.

In an interview for his hit film Malibu’s Most Wanted  Kennedy said that movies should be made very inexpensively unless they have special effects.  A believer in Hollywood frugality, Kennedy believes that Hollywood spends too much money in general on filmmaking. But acknowledges said Son of the Mask cost a 81 million for a reason.

“This film is expensive because of the special effects, but I believe that films should be made very cheaply.”

Son of the Mask is rated PG for “action, crude and suggestive humor, and language.”

New Shaun DVD is the Epitome of British Humor

By Jamise Liddell

 “In a time of crisis a hero must rise. from his sofa,” this tagline, from the British romantic, horror comedy Shaun of the Dead. which was just released on DVD. The hit film could be likened to America’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer, except a lot less action and a lot more laughs. And while Buffy slays all sorts of underworld creatures, Shaun’s wooden paddle bats only at your garden  variety zombies.

I chatted with the film’s leading men  Director -Writer Edgar Wright, Actor- Writer Simon Pegg who plays Shaun,  and actor Nick Frost who stars as Shaun’s lazy, but awfully hilarious friend Ed, via conference call.  The men conferenced from scattered positions in and about England.  Nick Frost was peeling a carrot in St. Margaret’s, Simon Pegg was in Two Street near Crouch End, watching the movie School of Rock on video, and Edgar Wright sat in the team’s writing office in LondonTown talking and reading e-mails.

This was the most challenging celebrity interview because I could not see the men and their delightful English accents sounded very much alike so it was seriously difficult to tell their voices apart, and thus who said what.  Sometimes the men would identify themselves but the exciting give and take during the interview was not conducive to a constant unnatural act like repeated self identification. So for the purposes of attribution, know that at least one of them is responsible for the following quotes. Inspired by American films such as American Werewolf in London, and The Evil Dead series starring Bruce Campbell. The creators make it perfectly clear that Shaun is not another Scary Movie. “It’s not a spoof film on zombies as much as it is a spoof on humorous romance film’s like Bridget Jones, and Four Weddings and a Funeral. So if you are looking for a scare, this isn’t the flick.

Shaun is the story of a simple man, and ineffectual leader who coasts through his .personal, work, and his love life until his girlfriend dumps him.  Shaun and his best friend Ed notice a weird woman in their backyard.  When the woman attacks Shaun instead of helping, Ed runs into the house, retrieves a  camera and then starts taking photos before pulling the woman off of Shaun. Not quite grasping the seriousness of the situation, the men tell the zombie to go away.  When that doesn’t’ work they pull out their old album collection and start chucking records at her, but not before inspecting each LP and having a quick discussion on which of the albums they could afford to part.

“Like the Dire Straits album that everybody had and nobody likes any more,” said one of the creative team.  “But in the film the characters refused to chuck the Prince album.

  “It was nice to discuss Prince’s career in the film. [As for using the records as an album]… remember we don’t have access to guns here like you do in the United States...”said either Edgar or Simon or Nick.

The film continues with Shaun and Ed protecting themselves from zombies in whatever way they can with whatever protection devices they can find.  And Shaun does indeed rise from the fog of his automatic life to become the unlikely, awkwardly gallant and witty attempted savior of his family and friends.

When I viewed Shaun the volume was excruciatingly loud, it was the fault of the theatre not the film, but some might want to plug their ears a the frequent, and quite unnecessary use of profanity in the film.  In fact, the cursing, graphic goriness and serious turn in tone  the film takes three quarters of the way through it, while unpleasant, does not outweigh the wit, and laughter the movie offers.  Maybe I can go to one of those stores that offers a sanitized version of the film.

Title aside, Shaun is solid entertainment anytime, especially for connoisseurs of British humor  As with most cinema, Shaun would be all the better without the American profanity.  This is not the voice of the morally elite, well it is, but aside from that the cursing is worse than empty calories.  The film shines when the characters are trying to maneuver in and out of challenging situations like learning how to walk and act like a zombie.

With the success of the horror film comes crazy real-life comedic situations.  Pegg said that one female fan walked up to him, asked him to take a photo and said “Simon, make a rape face.” Though surprised, Pegg obliged as best he could, and then gave the woman an autograph which read. “Rape is a very serious matter.

Evidently, the horror comedy genre makes all types of  people do strange things. Edgar had a crazy brush with another celebrity.  In a bar at the Los Angeles screening of the film actor David Carradine (Kill Bill Vol II) bit him, and gave him a hicky.

“Now I’m part of the bloodline of the Carradine family and I know Kung Fu,” laughed Edgar.

Speaking of crazy family relations, based on what happens to Shaun’s mom in the film, one may be lead to  to question the home life of the Wright, Frost and Pegg, and especially their relationships with their parents.

“Noooooo,” they proclaimed in unison, “We don’t have problems with our parents.” 

“I love my Mum,” insists Simon.”  I love my Mom so much, and she is so proud of me.” Insists Simon Pegg, star of the hit British zombie movie Shaun of the Dead. “But we wanted you to care when something happened to the characters.

“Funny, my Mum never said anything about how the Mum in the movie [Shaun] got a bullet in the head,” pondered thoughtfully Edgar.

While delighted with the success of their cinematic labors, the lemon on the celebratory tree is the lack of monetary gain. Edgar said the fact that they aren’t considerably richer, considering the success of the film has become a sore point.

Ever fans of U.S. cinema, the trio love the indie film Neopoleon Dynamite so much and have seen it so many time they have been asked and eagerly accepted an opportunity to host the U.K. version of the film.

Fans of Wright, Pegg and Frost are eagerly awaiting their next project. Hot Fuzz , an action/cop genre movie in the vein of Shaun of the Dead. which is scheduled for release in 2006.

Bridge to Terabithia an Interesting Crossing

Photo and Story By Jamise Liddell

These are the actors from the Bridges of Teribithia 
Josh Hutcherson (RV, Zathura: A Space Adventure) and 
AnnaSophia Robb (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)

School children and their parents might remember reading the book Bridge to Terabithia, as part of their elementary school or childhood reading curriculum, and after three weeks of release it is one of the top ten films on the big screen.

Author of the original book Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia director Gabor Csupo and stars of the film Josh Hutcherson (RV, Zathura: A Space Adventure) and AnnaSophia Robb (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) were in Phoenix to promote the film.

A fantasy/adventure story of friendship, family and the power of imagination from the producers of "The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe." Jess Aarons (Hutcherson) is an outsider at school and even in his own family.

 Jess has trained all summer to become the fastest kid in his middle school class but his goal is unexpectedly thwarted by the new girl in school, Leslie Burke (Robb) who competes in the "boys only" race and wins.

 Despite their awkward introduction, the two outsiders quickly become best friends. Leslie loves to tell stories of fantasy and magic.  Jess loves to draw, but until he met Leslie it was something he kept to himself.  Leslie opens a new world of imagination for Jess. Together they create the secret kingdom of Terabithia, a magical place only accessible by swinging on an old rope over a stream in the woods near their homes. There, the friends rule the kingdom, fight the Dark Master and his creatures and plot against the school bullies.

Thanks to his friendship with Leslie, Jess is changed for good.  Brimming with fantastical creatures, palaces and beautiful forests, the world of Terabithia is brought to life by the amazing Academy Award®-winning visual effects wizards at Weta Digital ("The Lord of the Rings," "King Kong").

The story of  Jesse Aarons  and Leslie Burke according to the young actors is a story, which illustrates that boy s and girls can be friends and can love one another without romantic feelings. Hutcheson, who is home school, has become great friends in with Robb as a result of making this film.  As well the two have helped to illustrate some tough lessons about life.

“Age 10, 11, 12, is the age when kids start to realize you aren’t going to live forever,” says Gabor, who is from Hungary, “That is one of the messages of the movie, appreciate life.” 

Actress Zooey Deschanel was an attractive music teacher Ms. Edmonds, and one of the more questionable characters in the film. One of the songs she has the students sing is “Why Can’t We Be Friends by the music group War” with lyrics such as “I see you standing in the welfare line, seen you 'round for a long long time,… I really 'membered you when you drink my wine.”  Surely there were other songs.

In another scene, Ms. Edmonds, picks up Jesse at his home and takes him to a museum without asking his parents, which is a strange outcome in this day and age of inappropriate behavior in our many of our school’s.

That aside, the people have spoken. Bridge to Terabithia in the top five at the box office almost two weeks after it’s release.

It’s all “Sweet”

 in this “Land”

By Jamise Liddell

As the car flipped in mid air, rolling from front end over the back end, actress Elizabeth Reaser screamed.  In the midst of the chaos, there literally seemed to be a suspended moment when the artist heard a stabilizing voice come from the other passenger in the car, her best friend.  The surreal voice that seemed to surprise even her friend said to Reaser, “you’re okay, you’re okay, you’re okay.”

The voice was right! Reaser and her best friend were physically fine, and no one else was injured, but the experience awakened the actress.  

“I thought I was going to die,” said the Julliard trained Reaser.  “Ever since then I am now taking the world in, in a different way.  I just feel so grateful.”

The car accident, which happened three days prior to our interview at the Scottsdale Valley Ho hotel, left, the beautiful, kind and eloquent Reaser, who you might remember from her role in the film The Family Stone, in a contemplative place as we dished about her current film project  Sweet Land.

“… At the end of the day when you make a movie like this, you can feel like this is the real thing, this is something to be proud of.  It is good to know that you did something special and meaningful,” reflects Reaser, who learned German and wore period skirts (“I never wear skirts!” she confided) for her role.

Billed as the celebration of land, love and the American immigrant experience, Sweet Land focuses on  Inge (Reaser) a mail order bride who arrives in Minnesota in 1920 to marry a young Norwegian famer named Olaf (Tim Guinee, Ladder 49).   Inge is German which ultimately causes problems for their intended nuptials because the Reverend refuses to marry the couple.

Inge is sent to live with Olaf’s friend and neighbor Frandsen  (Alan Cummings, Spy Kids) and his family. There she learns English and American Ways, and slowly comes to know and love Olaf.

Ultimately, the story is about love.  Not the sex first, and get to know you later love, that characterizes so many film and true life relationships.  But actually getting to know an individual, appreciate the good and flawed aspects of that person, and enter into the process of truly falling in love.  Speaking of adoration, making this film had been a rare and wonderful experience for all of the actors.

“This has like ruined me it’s so great,” Reaser gushed about her experience with Sweet Land.   “I knew the script was beautiful, the locations amazing and he [director Ali Selim] was very gentle with the actors but I didn’t realize he is like a genius” explained the actress.“It took him ten years {Selim says 15} to get this movie made and he is such a sweet, good man.”

Because of her admiration for the director Reaser bent over backwards to learn  to speak German in nine days. “It’s amazing what fear will do” she offers as a reason for how she was able to sound so convincing.  “Learning a foreign language, and memorizing that language can be so challenging, I was going crazy.”

Guinee who was also visiting Arizona on this press tour to promote the movie, sells this film like it was his personal property. “I watched this movie, which I’ve seen 8 trillion times, at the premiere in Minneapolis and found myself crying. There are a couple of moments that just hit me”said the actor, “ I think that everyone has a longing.”

“With the exception of two or three percent of the folks who are left from the great nations who were wiped out here, willing or unwilling, everyone else is an immigrant in America.  Because of that we all have a hole in our chest, some sort of empty place in our hearts that longs for knowledge of who we are, of where we came from, that yearns for connection to the land, that keens for finding a way to have gratitude for the sacrifices our ancestors made that let us live, that desires and longs for connection to community and a sense of vitality within community, that longs for proximity to beauty, that longs for love, that longs for home, that wants to know that we are vital in our relationships to our beloved, our families, our community, our world and our God. That is our birth right as immigrants is that yearning,” Guinee waxes philosophical.

“What pulls at me about this movie is the echo of that stuff in the heart.  And I think this is a great love story” he concludes.

Reaser and co-star Guinee are members of the mutual admiration club.

“Working with her was grand…she is such a work horse” insists Guinee, who lives in the Catskill mountains and tends to 2,800,000 bees when he is not acting .

“I think he is the hardest working actor I’ve ever met” countered Reaser.  I was like that because of him…   We would work on set all day long and then work at night.  And he is so passionate, so considerate I mean between he and Ali I think they might be two of the nicest people that I have ever met, to the point that I couldn’t deal with how nice they were.  It is almost overwhelming that kind of generosity of spirit, I’ve worked a lot and you don’t encounter that very often.”

The characters were silent for large portions of the film, Reaser loved acting without dialogue played such an important part of her role.

“ I loved it! Personally I’m all about economy of language. I just feel like there is so much talk and noise, and it just drives me crazy.  I’d much rather listen.” 

The Sweet Land cinematography is brilliant and full of colorful sweeping landscapes, and endless blue skies.  One challenge with the film is that the pace is beyond that of the tortoise, patience is required, but the talent and story compensate for the lack of speed. 

Sweet Land is Rated PG-13, 110 Minutes

‘Amazing Grace’ The Film Is a Blessing

By Jamise Liddell

As the ending credits rolled past on the large movie theatre screen, a grand roar collectively bellowed from the North Phoenix audience, it was the sounds of  applause and cheering at a sneak preview of the film Amazing Grace.  You have at some time or another heard the beautiful song Amazing Grace, but few know the history of the tune.  In the telling of that tale of the narration of the song, the film is equally inspiring.  Amazing Grace is the story of the “other side” of slavery.  It is the story of those who did not approve of the practice.

Peaceful humanitarian William Wilberforce, played passionately by Welsh actor loan Gruffudd ([ the lower case l in his first name is intentional], Horatio Hornblower, Fantastic Four ) lead the charge against Parliament in the 18^th Century to end slavery.  A purely uphill battle, Wilberforce gave his life to right the ills of the practice.

With a fantastic supporting cast, Amazing Grace, the story leans heavily on the confessions of the author of the song “Amazing Grace” John Newton.  Albert Finney portrays Newton, the tormented and regretful former captain of a slave ship, with such conviction that it is uncomfortable to listen to him punish himself.  Because Newton finds God and repents of his past endeavors, he is stirred to write the song “Amazing Grace”.

Unrecognizable in character, Romola Garai (As You Like It, Scoop, Vanity Fair)  adorned in a red, puffy, period wig, plays the beautiful and fiercely committed wife of  William, Barbara Wilberforce. Watching the pair meet, and banter back and forth is a treat.

Though Amazing Grace, is the story of slavery, interestingly only one former slave appears in the film.  In many ways this is best, the film spares no expense in conveying it’s points about the unsavory side of  slavery to the audience, without watching people in chains.

Christians will be please to watch a major motion picture where most everyone “finds” God in this film, and perhaps that is the most delightful part of the story.  As well, the frequent use of the title song throughout  the film is both creative and moving

Amazing Grace is a film about God, passion, and perseverance. Stellar acting, a great cast, wonderful period costumes, delightful cinematography, and a strong historical reenactment insure that Amazing Grace is a engaging cinematic selection, one that perhaps you will want to see again and again. If the Academy Awards had not just concluded director Micheal Apted, would have at least received a nomination for this work.

Amazing Grace is a dynamic reenactment of history and has a web page full of resources to use the film as a teaching tool.  For more information please connect with the films home page at www.amazinggracemovie.com.

Film about “the Game”… is all “Heart”

By Jamise Liddell

“Look into their eyes, look into their eyes, look into their eyes” urges Bill Resler, coach of the Roosevelt Roughriders girls basketball team.

Skillfully narrated by actor and recording artist Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, “Heart of the Game” is a riveting and exciting documentary which follows Resler as he guides the popular Seattle high school players from virtual obscurity to national recognition.

Resler is the film. He is a “piece of work” and his coaching techniques are wild yet wonderful.  A tax professor at the University of Washington and a character among coaches, it is difficult not to react to the way that Resler encourages his girls to be a team.  His frank, honest, often downright crazy approach includes encouraging the group to envision themselves as a pack of animals of some sort which would make their opponents prey.  You get the drift.

As interesting as the coach, are the players who are highlighted and the personal challenges they have to overcome to make it in the game.  Darnellia Russell, a star player  of the Roughrider group, who ran into difficulties that no one could ever imagine.  Playing ball meant that Darnellia would be the first in her family to go to college.  In the midst of pursing this dream she losses her eligibility and had to fight legally, which is bizarre, to play basketball.  With Coach Resler, her team, and her family by her side, she takes on enormous personal obstacles as well as the ruling body of high school sports in Washington State.  As well her consequences are still hard to fathom.

Russell’s troubles, which seems antiquated for these modern times will leave you wondering about a timeline for this film.  When did all of this take place? An answer you won’t get from the documentary.

Writer and director Ward Serrill, who spent seven years filming the narrative understands the meaning of the word “hook”, Heart of the Game is so well edited that the rhythm of the film with have you laughing, shaking your head in dismay, crying, and jumping out of your seat during the game. And I’m no sports fan!

At the end of the day this film is about family (though for some inexplicable reason we never meet Resler’s kin, just see photos of them).  Thematically stressed is the importance of tight relations on court and off, caring, growing and the “true meaning of team work”. 

Last bit of advice, don’t jump out of your seats as soon as the film is over, stay for the credits which demonstrate how deeply Resler, a father of three, is committed to raising a future generation of healthy, competitive, and confident young women. 

One of the sweetest films that you will probably see in your life is the story of  Beatrice Potter.

Beatrix Potter has delighted generations of children with her books.  But she kept her own private life locked carefully away.  Oscar-winning star Renee Zellweger is now bringing her secret story to the screen in “Miss Potter,” the first film directed by Chris Noonan since his charming 1995 movie, Babe.  It is set in the high summer days of late Victorian and Edwardian England, during which Beatrix develops her natural skills as artist and story-teller.  When Potter, a woman author,  finally published her debut book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, she becomes a writing celebrity.  It also leads to courtship and her first love with publisher Norman Warne, played by Ewan McGregor.  Their relationship and his marriage proposal in July, 1905 was to change Beatrix’s life forever.

            It was a love which she could not announce – or even talk about.  In high-society London, her parents had insisted she keep it from friends and neighbors.  They considered her proposed wedding a mismatch.  Warne, they said, was from “trade” and demanded that she carefully reconsider their life together.  Beatrix allowed herself to be persuaded to leave her fiancé and London.  It was supposed to be a time of reflection and calm.  But, instead, she faced tragedy and loneliness and returned, with a different outlook.  She became a woman of strong views and independence.  She also built up a farming dynasty in the Lake District – a dynasty over which she took charge long after her writing career virtually ended in 1913.  It established her as a woman ahead of her time.  Despite becoming the world’s most successful children’s writer and a wealthy landowner and prize-winning farmer, she never forgot her first love.

             A possible family film because of the creation of the cartoon characters, and the subject matter…the life of a female author.  Small children,  will either squirm around or go to sleep.  Miss Potter is a good husband and wife date night film, or a film you can feel perfectly safe letting your children attend.  Though there is the ill-fated possibility Miss Potter  will be cast into that ridiculous  pool of films called “chick flicks” just because a beautiful love story emerges from the core of the film.  

            Zellweger deserves another Oscar for her fantastic portrayal of this beloved author.  Kudos to the film’s director, Noonan, for fantastic, costumes, cinematography, and the overall all spirit of the film.

Miss Potter opens January 19, and is rated PG.

Love is in the Air, Lake…Um Mailbox

Not The Box Office

Or  (Choose a title or create your own…smile)

Lakehouse Love is in the Mailbox, not the Box Office

By Jamise Liddell

Give love a chance!

What does love and romance have to do with anything?  Can you recall the last time you saw a major motion picture where two people fell in love before they physically christened their relationship? 

Okay, so you named a few, but you’ll agree it happens oh, so rarely, right?  Well, the absolute charm of director Alejandro Agresti’s film The Lake House (besides watching Keanu Reeves try to “seriously “act) is the beauty of two people just getting to know one another.  In this case the communication vehicle is love letters.

At just the mention of  “written messages” can you feel that romance just oozing about? It’s such a fresh departure from the relationship gunk Hollywood swills out to expecting audiences. 

Usually today’s quixotic film formula involves two attractive people who see each other (in the office, on the street, at a fundraiser to relieve suffering), of course her top comes off (just because all or some part of a naked female must be shown in most movies) and after about 10 movie minutes of knowing each other they are carnally one.  It is only after sex, that the each character learns the name of the other bedfellow. Next, the pair becomes more familiar with one another (with more sex, pointing guns, sometimes there is dialogue, usually antagonistic banter coupled with drinking, driving, hitting, drugs), then each member of the strained couple wonders privately how he/she ever could have slept with the other person. The end.

The Lake House offers old fashioned movie love.  A successful doctor (Sandra Bullock) begins corresponding via notes she leaves in the mailbox with a man (Reeves) who rents the same property she once occupied.  As the film progresses we come to learn the significance of the hauntingly beautiful home on the lake, and how the lives of Dr. Kate Forester and architect Alex Wyler weave complex yet simple tale of love and longing. Never mind that the plot is set in a truly incomprehensible time warp scenario, the most crucial factor is that both professionals are lonely. 

Aloneness is a real and epidemic problem in America. Lonesomeness is so prevalent and powerful that current research has linked loneliness to disease and shortened life spans.   Thus it is with great pleasure, that we watch our two main characters fill their forlorn hearts with true love.  Adoration which was created by old fashioned communication and learning about one another’s lives, experiences, feelings and aspirations.   As the tale is told, the time differential (He is writing from the year 2004 and she in 2006 with most of the rest of us) is scarcely addressed.  And we dare not care.  It was romantic.  Beautiful.

Unfortunately, moviegoers are having none of it. The film hasn’t done well at the box office and I can only attribute that to a lack of hedonism on the part of its characters.  I admit the speculation is a reach, but this is the second, wholesome, loving, touching, “feel good” film that has fallen by the way side  within the last few months.  The other film, Akeelah and the Bee, is admittedly a different genre, but a great film none the less that didn’t meet anyone’s lucrative box office expectations.

What is going on? What am I missing?  What is wrong with good, clean, and wholesome love that leaves the fleshy particulars off of the big screen?  Is there no one left who can appreciate the following left out of a film: cursing, murdering, nudity, and vile behavior (okay there is a little “fighting over the girl” boyfriend tension, but it is gentle by most cinematic standards)?

I encourage the viewing of The Lake House, a really great film that probably won’t be in the theatres when this article connects with your eyes.  But here is wishing that the DVD release of this film will give respectable  “love and romance” a second chance.