Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Remember Me - Remember it

From the vault:

Last week, when I finally saw Summit Entertainment’s latest flick, “Remember Me,” I didn’t know what I was in for. I definitely wasn’t prepared for the experience that awaited me.

The film lives up the promise of the lesson it presents in its opening line: “Gandhi said that whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it's very important that you do it because nobody else will.” “Remember Me” proves just why this is important. It tells the story of a young man, Tyler, who is struggling with finding himself when he meets a girl, Ally, who seems to put his life into perspective, but is just as damaged as he is.

The movie, however, is definitely not a love story. It’s so much more than that with an underlying emotion so powerful; it’s difficult to put into words. Even more impressive, is that it is a film that will stick with you long after you’ve left the theater. The images from the end of the movie still haunt me a week later.

There is a tie as to which is the most shocking aspect of this film: the ending or the fact that Robert Pattinson, who plays Tyler, can actually act. Having only seen him in the “Twilight” films and the fourth “Harry Potter” movie, I was under the impression that he was just another pretty face in Hollywood – a celebrity, not an actor. This movie has me doubting this assumption though. He is equally matched by Emilie de Ravin (Ally), who does a masterful job balancing Pattinson. The rest of the cast is equally compelling, my only complaint being the lack of compatibility between Pattinson and Pierce Brosnan, who plays his father. This was unfortunate given the large number of dramatic scenes the two share.

I won’t spoil the ending for you, but it came as a complete shock to me. All-in-all, “Remember Me” is a must-see. Just, not if you’re looking for the feel-good movie of the year.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Why The Good Guys is the Funniest Show You'll Find This Summer

These days, everybody needs a good laugh. These days, everybody wants to root for the good guys. That's why "The Good Guys" is my choice for summer watching this summer. It takes all the things you love about buddy cop dramas and wraps them up in one package. And that package is an hour chock-full of laughter. And the best part about the humor is that it isn't cliche or forced, dumb jokes. Its pretty smart humor.

Colin Hanks (Roswell, Orange County) and Bradley Whitford (The West Wing) lead the cast as police partners (Sorry, detectives) who always manage to stumble upon big crime while investigating petty crimes for the Dallas PD. Hanks is the young cop, eager to prove himself and stuck with Whitford, the old legend who is stuck in the 70s.

The humor of this team is beyond compare. Hanks comes from some pretty comedic stock and Whitford proved he could handle smart humor and time it perfectly in his 7 season run on The West Wing and the short-live Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Example?
Jack (Hanks): You do know peanut shells are basically tree bark.
Dan (Whitford): Salty delicious tree bark.

I posted this as a Facebook status after watching the second episode along with one statement: "The Good Guys = Funniest thing on TV this summer.

A friend saw this and started watching and now he can't wait for the next episode.

Check it out...you won't be disappointed. You'll just be reminded why you love TV in the first plabe.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Glee, Season 1: Top 10 and Bottom 5

So, the first season of "Glee" has officially come to an end. I, for one, don't know how I'll make it the whole summer without new episodes...so I've taken to rewatching the episodes...

This has inspired me. I want to rank the musical numbers...but not just the top 10, like Entertainment Weekly did last week before the finale, but the bottom 5 too. Because even "Glee" isn't perfect...

TOP 10

10. Beth - This was the sweetest solo Puck had, and I loved that Finn jumped into it to try and apologize to Kurt. In an episode that was already rife with emotion, this just kept it there.
9. Imagine - Touching. Soulful. And amazing. Not that that song already wasn't. The Glee Kids just pushed it over the edge. And I loved them doing the sign language during it.
8. Don't Rain on My Parade - "Sectionals" is in my Top 5 episodes and this song is one of the main reasons why. I got chills when I heard it the first time.
7. It's My Life/Confessions Part II - The boys won the mash-up contest in "Vitamin D." Just saying that since the show never did.
6. To Sir, With Love - In case there wasn't enough crying during "Journey," this song sent me over the edge. I've always loved this song, but in this context it was just that much more poignant. The only way it could have been better was if the show had actually been cancelled (instead of renewed for not one, but two more seasons).
5. Bad Romance - I usually hate Lady Gaga. No, not usually. Always. Except for this song. It's catchy, the costumes were amazing and I can't stop singing it.
4. Bohemian Rhapsody - Who said I could only name songs done by New Directions? This song was amazing, though I have to admit when I first watched it I was highly distracted by the cuts to Quinn giving birth. However, I have rewatched it multiple times now and I can't get over the amazing performance Jonathan Groff gave of this classic Queen song. Go watch it again. You'll love it too.
3. Somebody to Love - The first time this song aired in "The Rhodes Not Taken", I immediately wished I had been recording the episode so I could rewind and watch it again. And again. And again. This was the first great group number since the "Pilot" and the moment when I knew the show was back in stride after it's early episode missteps.
2. Regionals Journey Medley (Faithfully/Any way you want it/Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'/Don't Stop Believin') - This medley is one of the best things I've ever seen on TV. It was flawless and it was wonderful to see more than just the Finn and Rachel show like we had at sectionals. I am such a fan of them both, but I also love Puck, Santana and Artie's voices. And Mercedes taking "Don't Stop" into that key change gave me chills the first time I heard it.
1. Keep Holdin' On - This group number from the end of "Throwdown" is my favorite number the show has ever done. The raw emotion in it (and in Dianna Agron's eyes) make me tear up everytime I hear/watch it. And it finally means that something good came from the movie "Eragon."

Honorable Mentions (because 10 just isn't enough): "Like A Prayer," "4 Minutes," "Jump," "Smile (Charlie Chaplin)," "Sweet Caroline," "Over the Rainbow," "Leavin' On a Jet Plane," "And I'm Telling You," "Hello," "Gives You Hell," "Total Eclipse of the Heart," "Rose's Turn," "Run Joey Run," "Dream On," "Funny Girl," "Maybe this Time"

Bottom 5:
5. Bust a Move - Dear Mr. Ryan Murphy, Matthew Morrison is a Broadway baby and therefore should not be a rapper. Not when he's proven to be such a great Balladeer (See "Over the Rainbow"). This was the most horrendous of all his rapping, so please give it a rest in Season 2. However, you can still let him dance. Thank you. Sincerely-Me.
4. Smile (Lily Allen) - This song was just odd. I'm watching it as I type this and I still think its awful.
3. Poker Face - I already take issue with Lady Gaga. But making this song into a ballad was an offense not even having Idina Menzel & Lea Michele singing could make up for.
2. Hair/Crazy in Love - This number, like #4 above was just weird. No other words to describe it.
1. Safety Dance - Don't get me wrong. I was excited to see Artie dancing. But this song was too long and too annoying. Sorry guys...I just couldn't handle it.