COUNTRY STRONG....Too Long....

MUST remember never to see a film that goes straight to DVD.
Yes yes I know I always seem to break this rule and I'm invariably dissapointed.
I must say the trailer for "Country Strong" had me chomping at the bit. Country music movies have always had my vote. There have been some pearlers over the years- "Coal Miners Daughter" "Walk the Line" and more recently "Crazy Heart"
These movies like the songs within them are intoxicating. I cant seem to get enough of the plights of lonely and mistreated wives and their tough talking alcoholic cowboys.
"Country Strong" definitely delivered on the music front. Songs like "Coming home" "Words I couldn't say" or "A little bit stronger" all fit the bill here and some were even nominated for an Oscar for best original song.
Unfortunately the rest of the film was a fair waste of time.
You'd have to be Gomar Pyle to believe the plot that Shana Feste concocted here. The sporadic status between underdeveloped characters was difficult to watch. Sometimes I felt like I was watching a bad episode of "The Young and the Restless"
The corny script made me reach for the sick bag more than once. Gwyneth Paltrows' character "Kelly" made one devastating faux pas after the next. If she wasn't having sex with her manager or skulling a bottle of vodka,she was passing out on stage. Although after visiting a dying kid,she miraculously comes good and goes onto give the performance of her life as well as giving advice to her young protege- "Falling in love honey,that's all there is in life..." Deep...
As any alcoholic will tell you it takes five years for the fog to lift; not three hours.
In saying that there was some good acting here. Big hunk of spunk Tim McGraw was well cast as "James" the long suffering husband to Kelly. This co dependent matrimonial arrangement is all too common. One fucks up,the other cleans up and no one gets out alive. Tim's conversion from real life country singer to screen has been effortless. He doesn't miss any cues and his portrayal of "James" denotes real depth and clarity. I just hope they don't typecast the poor bastard in the future.
Gwyneth too puts in a solid performance. She carefully illustrates the child like nature of the addict. That is highly emotional and volatile when they don't get their own way.
Infuriating one minute,utterly adorable the next. She had the southern accent and doey eyes down pat. Perhaps a little too beautiful for this highly flawed character. Yes blondie you can do it all. Its a shame it wasn't a better movie to showcase all your talents.
As for the two kids,well. The young "Beau" played by Garrett Hedland was mediocre at best. His blue eyes and bum fluff did nothing for me. Perhaps he could shake it on "Friday Nights Lights" but he seemed somewhat out of place here.We may decide to lay blame again with director Shana Feste. Not only for casting someone too young, but for allowing such over the top lip syncing to be screened.
Leighton Meester as "Chiles Stanton" (the up and coming country star) is nice enough;she is certainly no Sissy Spaceck ("Coal Miners Daughter"). The love story created between these two young characters is contrived and vaccuous . But again perfectly good actors drown in bad scripts and poorly woven plots. This was no exception.
By the time the ending came, I was playing angry birds on my i phone and planning my scathing attack on this movie.
All said and done, as I move into 2012,my New Years Resolution is to not be so black and white and to live in the grey. In this way "Country Strong" like any hot headed cowboy has its pros and its prickles.

"You may fool me and I'll fall
But I won't stay down long
'Cause I'm country strong"
(lyrics from "Country Strong")

AMERICAN:The Bill Hicks Story.

Hello again,
The other day at work,my colleague mentioned a documentary that was due to be aired on TV about Bill Hicks. I knowingly replied,"Oh the guy that did Microsoft?"
Not quite.
I was soon to discover there was a magical man that had somehow managed to completely bypass my entertainment radar.
An exceptional American comedian,satirist,social critic and musician that I'd never even heard of.
A man that unlike many could make me laugh out loud and rejoice in his uncensored and brutally honest take on society.
Despite his untimely death of cancer at 32; Hicks managed to cram a lot into his short life; a unique individual that was clearly born with dem "funny bones"
From his humble beginnings as a wanna be mimic at Sunday school, to performing stand up comedy at the tender age of 16 at the Comedy Workshop in Texas. He continued to develop his craft right across the country.
The documentary contains real life footage of Hicks having full control over his audience.
The choice to intersperse animation and black and white stills was an original and engaging move by directors Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas.
"Americain"illustrates Hicks resolute determination to become a comedian. His drive that eventually lands him on the David Letterman show and to furthur and greater recognition in the United Kingdom.
Hicks has been called the comedians comedian. A man who inhabits what it is to be truly funny.
Whilst studying acting myself,my movement teacher said-when you are going for funny. Go ALL the way. Don't hold back. HICKS, FARLEY,BELUSHI. All now with God,but all went ALL the way.
His tenaciousness also leads him into a dynamic dual with the bottle. Hicks played hard untill he just wasnt funny anymore. After admitting defeat, Hicks joined AA and never looked back (despite a few ongoing educational experiments with magic mushrooms)
On his return, Hicks really started to develop his humour. He was no longer just a dead pan mimic but rather a staunch social commentator with attitude.
He was no longer willing to apologise for speaking his truth. After all he poised, wasn't that your right as an American citizen?
He gave everyone a hard time- marketing/advertising executives, Christians,non-smokers,you name it. But every time,he had a point.
Hicks was no "phony".He detested hypocrisy and was always willing to push the boundaries.
Bill Hicks thank God I found you. Your legend truly lives on.


"Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die."

Mel Brooks

Bill Hicks - AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Story Official Trailer - redband

Martin Lawrence - Jealous Woman

Funny bugger this one!

i love YOU phillip Morris!

I also LOVE Ewan Mcgregor and Jim Carrey... What a unique pair that come together to create this wonderfully original and colourful movie.
"I love you Phillip Morris" is a black comedy based on real events.
It is written and directed by John Requa and Glenn Ficarra,(they also wrote "Bad Santa" 10 years ago which I promptly walked out of)
The boys have got a little wiser and managed to deliver on all fronts. Great writing,banging soundtrack and spot on performances.
The movie centres around the life and times of Stephen Jay Russell. Stephen is currently serving two consecutive life sentences for several fraud and con artist convictions.
Prior to his incarceration,Russell covered ALOT of ground.As a young man he simultaneously discovered he was not only gay but that he was adopted. His attempt to live the "straight" life in suburbia with wife and child is short lived when his penchant for penis becomes all too consuming.
From here we begin to see Russell as a Robin Hood of sorts. Yes he does willingly rob from the rich but this is mostly to satisfy the needs of others. Interestingly enough, children who are adopted often feel an enormous sense of rejection. In this way,they often become people pleasers to attempt to gain that illusive sense of acceptance.
Its in jail,that Russell meets Morris ;the love of his life. The pair quickly hit it off. It soon becomes apparent this meeting of souls was written in the stars.
Russell goes onto do a lot of crazy shit in order to keep his man by his side. From pretending he is a lawyer to faking his own death from AIDS.
No mean feat!
This is a movie of stark contrasts.
The deliberate use of bright colours in grim places like jail ultimately gives the movie an uplifting feel.
The cheeky sex scenes set to 80's music make you giggle rather than squirm.
For me as always,its all about the performances. Both these actors avoided obvious gay stereotypes.
Jim Carey's ability to do drama and comedy equally well is unique in Hollywood. Carey gives it absolutely everything in this movie. His maturation as an actor shows depth and originality to each part he pursues. I love you and I forgive you for "The Mask"
I had only ever seen Ewan Mcgregor before in "Trainspotting." Sure,it was so good he could have retired right there and then;but Im glad he didn't. Mcgregor as "Morris" oozed his adoration for Russell like a helpless puppy dog. He was completely present in the role and there was not one hint of Scottish heroin addict anywhere.
Yummy Mexican actor Rodrigo Santoro was outstanding as Russells first gay lover. A small but powerfully important role for this up and comer.
"I love you Phillip Morris" takes you on many unexpected turns and you may get a little dizzy. Dont worry,trust it and remember in the immortal words of Oprah "The chance to love and be loved exists no matter where you are."

JAX

'I Love You Phillip Morris' Trailer HD

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS-A LOVE STORY...?

"Water for Elephants"
Plot: A veterinary student abandons his studies after his parents are killed and joins a traveling circus as their vet.
Got your attention?
Yes? This is a rather unique interpretation from the novel by the same name by Sara Gruen.
Director Francis Lawrence takes us on a visually stunning journey behind the scenes of a circus troupe with all of its highs and lows covered.
The three main players are Robert Pattinson (aka hunky Twilight bloke)as "Jacob" the Polish med student whose life takes a drastic turn.
Reese Witherspoon (needs no introduction)as the Circus' Star Attraction "Marlena Rosenbluth" and last but certainly not least Ring Master extroidinaire "August" played with precise precision by Christoph Waltz.
This movie deserves a lot of praise. It takes us right into the very heart that was America during the Great Depression and Prohibition era.
A time of total despair for most and outrageous opulance for others.
I went along with the plot even if it was slightly far fetched. I've never heard of a Polish speaking Elephant before. Have you?
I found the old man (Hal Holbrook)at the start reliving his youth to an overly sympathetic bystander predictable. So too was the seen it all before ending.
However,the CGI was magnificent and afforded us spectacular visions of train escapes,lively circus antics and poignant moments between man and beast.
Mr Pattinson was well cast as the sinfully attractive young man at a crossroads in his life. It was important that this part was played with an element of subtelty. This gave room for the real star of the show to shine.
Mr Christoph Walz was plucked from obscurity from German TV shows by Quentin Tarantino. Quentin magically cast the Austrian born actor in his movie "Inglorious Basterds".
Walz went onto win a shitload of awards for his daring role as "Col. Hans Landa"(including both the BAFTA and the OSCAR for Best Supporting Actor.)
In "Water for Elephants" we are treated to more of Walz stunning talent. The character of "August" is a layered and complex one. This ripe performer shows us the devastating effects of a Jekyl and Hyde personality.A truly intimidating and unpredictable force that delivers relentless terror to all those around him. Well done Walz!! What's next?
Caravan park pretty Reese Witherspoon graduates to a mature sexier version of herself
in this movie.
I've never really understood what all the fuss is about with Reese."Walk the Line" Phlease! However I believe she really did her homework this time.
"Marlena" is someone who never recovered from being abandoned at birth. August who "saves" her and showers her with fame and money is therefore forgiven a multitude of sins. Her whole life is at the mercy of one man. That sucks when that one man is nutty as a fruit cake!
Enter kind hearted,animal loving "Jacob"....
Inevitably,she has no choice to fall desparately in love with him.
This is one area where the film really falls down for me. This movie is actually marketed as a Love story. Believe me folks this is no "Gone with the Wind" or " Bridges over Madison County"
There are a number of ingredients for a good love story. For example the delicious build up of sexual tension or even a decent snog scene. Neither is apparant here.
Reece shows more affection for the bloody horses and elephants! When she finally declares "I love you" to "Jacob" its so painfully contrived.
Shame really. These two visually make a beautiful couple.
I suppose with Walz stealing every scene,nothing really compares anyway.
Not to worry. It was still a pleasurable way to kill two hours.

GO FOR IT!


JAX