2008 Golden Globe Nominations Announced Today!

It’s my favorite time of the year…award season! The Golden Globe Nominations were announced today and will air on Sunday, January 11th on NBC.

Leading the nominations is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; with 5 nominations. The movie opens on Christmas Day and I am sure these nominations will help boost box office numbers. The movie is nominated for Best Actor (Brad Pitt), Best Movie, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Original Score. I am very surprised that Cate Blanchett did not receive a Best Actress nomination. It seems like she gets nominated for numerous awards every time she makes a movie.

It was a good day for Brad Pitt. Not only did Benjamin Button sweep the award nominations, but he was also nominated as Best Supporting Actor for Burn After Reading. Also, his baby-mama Angelina Jolie was also nominated for her performance in Changeling.

However, Brad Pitt was not the only person to receive double nominations this year. Both Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep are nominated twice. Winslet is nominated for her lead role in Revolutionary Road and her supporting role in The Reader. Streep is nominated in the dramatic category for her lead performance in Doubt and also in the musical/comedy category for her performance in Mama Mia.

The best supporting actor race has a few surprise nominations and one very un-surprising nomination. Tom Cruise has been nominated for his performance in Tropic Thunder and James Franco has been nominated for his performance in Pineapple Express. And simply because he gave the best performance of the year, Heath Ledger has been nominated for his portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight.

I was also very excited to see Revolutionary Road get four nominations. The reunion between Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet earned them both nominations in lead acting categories. The film is also nominated for Best Picture and Best Director.

I would also like to give shout-outs to the following: Steve Carell and The Office for their nominations; Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin and 30 Rock for their nominations; Anna Paquin and True Blood for their nominations and finally Mad Men (the little show that could) for its 3 nominations.

For a complete list of nominations please click the link below.

http://www.goldenglobes.org/news/id/104

So do you have any Golden Globe Predictions? How will you be celebrating the Golden Globes come Jan 11th?

Four Christmases

I love Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon is absolutely adorable. So naturally, I knew I would completely enjoy Four Christmases. And I did…I liked the movie a lot. It is a very modern take on a holiday film…visiting two sets of divorced parents. Witherspoon and Vaughn were adorable together. I love the movie poster and how he is so much taller than her. It reminds me of Chad and me.

I feel like we haven’t seen Reese in a romantic comedy in a long time and this film brings her back to the glory of Sweet Home Alabama. This is exactly the genre she belongs in. She was funny, charming and had great chemistry with Vaughn. Putting Vince Vaughn in any comedy is pure genius. He is terrific, I find him slacker sexy. I just wanna hang out with him and watch football and eat a bunch of snacks.

At first I thought having to deal with, well, four Christmases would be a lot to handle in one movie, but each family scene had its own dynamic and none of the visits were too long. It helped to have a few siblings tie some of the scenes together. In the end the movie was exactly what I was looking for: funny, a bit predictable, cute and a lesson learned by the end.

This is definitely a great movie to watch during the holidays…it makes you feel all cheery.

Missy Cinema Score: B

Role Models

We saw the movie Role Models with Chad’s sister and her husband this past weekend. The movie did not disappoint. The movie was super funny and had a great cast that included: Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Elizabeth Banks, Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin) and newcomer Bobb’e J.Thompson.

Here’s my advice to Hollywood: Put Paul Rudd in every movie and watch the film become magical. I love Paul Rudd. Is it just me or is he the most underrated actor in Hollywood? He was just as pivotal to 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up as Steve Carrell and Seth Rogan were respectively. Not only that, but he has range; check out the film Diggers.

After destroying some school property Paul Rudd (Danny) and Seann William Scott (Wheeler) are sentenced to community service rather than jail. They must spend 150 hours at Sturdy Wings (a Big Brother/ Big Sister type environment). The problem is neither one of them has their own crap together; how can the possibly mentor two displaced children. Hilarity ensues, life lessons are learned and Danny and Wheeler grow up and it is all good times.

This is a great movie…go check it out. Your sense of humor will thank you.

Missy Cinema Score: B+

The Happening

There is not a person on the planet who has said a good thing about the latest thriller from M. Night Shyamalan, but I just had to see for myself. And you know what? All the people on the planet were right: it was a horrible movie. Chad has this to say during the DVD previews, “We are probably going to love it, just because we have heard such bad things about it.” No, not the case at all.

What is so terrible about this movie? The script, oh god the script, the acting, the camera shots, the story. You name it. The script is the foundation of every movie and this one was horrible, “We're packing hot dogs for the road. You know hot dogs get a bad rap? They got a cool shape, they got protein. You like hot dogs right? By the way, I think I know what's causing this.” Yes, someone actually says that?!?!?!

By now everyone knows the basic premise of the movie: the plants get mad that people have been polluting the earth for decades so they start releasing these toxins that cause people to kill themselves. Okay, it’s a “green movie” I get that, but so was The Day After Tomorrow and that movie managed to not be hokey and had some sort of believability. It’s not even cool to watch—it gets windy, people jump off buildings…ohhh scary, it’s windy. Come on.

I just couldn’t believe what poor performances came out of Mark Wahlberg and the rest of the cast which included: Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizama. They were all awful, probably because of the awful script. It made me sad because I’ve seen The Departed and The Perfect Storm and Boogie Nights and The Basketball Diaries, so I know Mark Wahlberg has talent, I know it, but this movie did nothing to show it, absolutely nothing. Plus, I’ve seen The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs and The Village and I know M. Night Shyamalan also has immense talent, he just didn’t showcase any of it in this film.

Rent it—just so you can see for yourself how truly bad it is, you won’t understand the horribleness until you watch for yourself.

(Abby—this is for you…I still don’t think it was as bad a Sin City…remember that disaster…LOL).

Missy Cinema Score: D-

Cardinals v. Cowboys

What victory looks like...


Chad very upset


Come on Chad, at least try to look like you are having a good time...

Okay, so the Cardinals v. Cowboys game on 10/12 wasn't a Hollywood movie, but it could have been. You can't write stuff this exciting, and if your Chad, heartbreaking. Chad had been pumped about this game for months and spent a small fortune on tickets for some of the best seats in the stadium (University of Phoenix Stadium to be exact--holla). He had longtime friends coming in from Las Cruces to join in the festivities. Unfortunatley, for the boys from Clovis things did not turn out as they had hoped.

The opening kick-off the Cardinal ran it back for a touchdown--a touchdown! I mean this is the Cardinals who haven't made the play-offs in twenty years and the Cowboys, America's team, who everyone said was going to win the Super Bowl. I guess that's why they have the sayings, "any given Sunday" and "that's why they play the game." That return kick for a TD pretty much set the tone of the game, it was a battle and a great one at that. With 3 seconds life the Cowboys made a 54 yard field goal to tie the game and send it into overtime. Then in overtime they get the ball first (of course they are gonna pull it off), but are unable to score. The kicker goes to punt the ball to the Cardinals...punt blocked, Cardinals get the ball...touchdown...madness. Needless to say the walk back to the car was not a fun one.

I love seeing professional sports live. There is so much energy and excitment, it's addicting. Chad bleeds blue and silver and though his beloved Cowboys lost he wouldn't given up the experience for anything. I loved cheering both teams on and getting caught up in the moment, Chad almost threw up a couple times and wanted to kill Tony Romo. It was very entertaining to watch.

Here's to hoping the Cardinals continue to defy expectations and make it to the play-offs this year!

My Best Friend's Girl

So, Saturday I am at the house alone because Chad had to work all day. I clean the house and it’s only noon. So I decide I’ll go check out a flick. Much to my surprise and excitement My Best Friend’s Girl is still playing that he theatre by our house (I guess that’s what happens when the Cineplex has 24 screens). I’ve wanted to see this movie since it first opened, since I first heard about it, but time hadn’t made that a possibility until Saturday.

I knew I would like the movie. Heck, it has Dane Cook and I super love him. I don’t know why everyone else on the planet thinks he’s a d-bag, but I absolutely adore him. He’s super, super funny, very good looking and really talented. It turns out this movie is good—not Oscar good—but definitely a Saturday movie good. I ended up really, really liking it. I was actually surprised by how much I liked it. It was far better than Employee of the Month or Good Luck Chuck. Dane Cook aside, I thought it stood on its own merit.

Dane Cook plays Tank, a professional a$$hole. In addition to his job as a call-center customer service agent, Tank also gets paid to take girls out on such horrible dates they run back to their ex’s. All is well until his roommate/best friend/cousin Dustin, played by Jason Biggs, pays tank to take out his ex-girl Alexis, played by Kate Hudson. Tank gets more than he bargained for with Alexis, who sees through his act and turns his world upside down.

I thought the chemistry between Cook and Hudson was genuine and sincere. The development of their relationship went beyond what you typically find in rated R comedies. Yes, the movie was raunchy, but it still had heart, and I liked that. Alec Baldwin, who plays Tank’s dad Professor Turner, gave a memorable and probably the raunchiest performance in the movie.

Overall, I thought this was a great movie. I quoted it the rest of the night to Chad once he got home from work. It is definitely Dane Cook’s best movie (well, second if you count Dan in Real Life, he was a support character in that movie) and I am sure I will be buying this movie once it comes out on DVD.

Missy Cinema Score: B+

Remember the Titans

I was flipping through the cable channels the other night and I noticed Remember the Titan was coming on HBO. I just had to watch, in fact; whenever this moving is playing I just have to watch. It doesn’t matter the time of day, the channel, commercials, no commercials or if the movie is half way or three-quarters over, I simply tune in, get mesmerized by its greatness and force a tear back at the end. I think Remember the Titans is the greatest sports movie of all time and Denzel Washington’s best movie. This is on my all-time favorite list. It’s as close to perfection as a movie gets: the acting, the story, the script, everything…I love it.

I still remember the very first time I saw Remember the Titans. It was my very first night at Eastern New Mexico University. I was in the Campus Union Building with my roommate and surrounded by a couple dozen frat boys. I couldn’t believe how emotionally overwhelmed I was by the movie, it was so hard not to cry right there in the Campus Union Building.

For those of you that don’t know, Remember the Titans is the story of a high school football team during the integration process in the south. The players must learn to overcome their race differences and play as a team. It’s truly emotional seeing the boys transform into men and unifying as a solid, un-stoppable team.

Missy Cinema Score: A+

Nights in Rodanthe

Nights in Rodanthe is your ultimate romance movie, it’s not a romantic-comedy, it is a true romance. The movie stars Richard Gere and Diane Lane. Lane is a recent divorcee taking care of her friends beachside B&B. Gere is a brilliant doctor with a past who happens to be the B&B’s only guest. The two share walks on the beach and late-night dinner conversations and soon a romance begins to blossom.

At times I felt the movie was trying to make me cry, which only kept the tears at bay. The over-dramatic acting and storyline got to a point where it was uncomfortable to watch. The one redeeming quality, however, was that the movie was able to capture the essence of love between two people who are outside their twenties. It portrayed two 40-somethings as capable of having a passionate, compatible, emotional relationship that is sustaining.

Missy Cinema Score: C

Together Again...At Last

I don't know about you, but one of my favorite parts of going to the movie theatre is all the coming attractions. I love seeing what films will capture my imagination in the upcoming months. Having said that, one of my favorite websites to visit is www.comingsoon.net/trailers. Well, the website recently added the full-length trailer to Revolutionary Road and I couldn't be happier.

This film reunites Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. I think most people, myself especially, have been waiting for this reunion for a long, long time. I couldn't be more thrilled to see these two starring in a film together again--this time happily married, or are they? The film is set in the 1950s and revolves around the struggles of domestic life. It's going to be good, very good. From the looks of the trailer it seems really intense and I am not sure what direction it is going to take, but I can't wait to find out.

Here is a link to the trailer...check it out...let me know what you think.

http://www.leonardodicaprio.com/leonardo/movies/rroad_trl.html

Made of Honor

Made of Honor is a cutesy, predictable rom-com starring Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan. Dempsey and Monaghan play Tom and Hannah two gorgeous best friends with great chemistry who don’t realize how perfect they are for each other. Tom is a complete womanizer, bedding a different woman every night, and instead of finding this character repulsive, since he is played by Dempsey we are supposed to find him charming and engaging.

Hannah goes to Scotland for 6 weeks, during this time Tom realizes he loves her, but when she returns she’s engaged—oh no! and asks Tom to be her Maid of Honor, he accepts, comedy ensues.

I thought the chemistry between Dempsey and Monaghan was terrific, they really sizzled on screen together. The first 30 minutes was sweet and engaging; the rest of the movie just seemed like a movie I had already seen before—that’s right, I have seen it before, only it was called My Best Friend’s Wedding and it starred Julia Roberts.

Despite all the predictability and over-used story line the most irritating part of the movie is have us believe that Dempsey and Monaghan are the same age.

Missy Cinema Score: C

Sex and the City

I re-watched the DVD of Sex and the City: The Movie last night. And I am pleased to say that I loved it just as much the second time around as I did the first. Much to my surprise Chad even had this to say, "Yeah, it was pretty good." Pretty good...more like pretty fabulous. I loved the show and I loved this movie. The movie, a considerable length at 2 hr 28 min, is like a condensed 7th season and I loved every minute of it.

The movie captured everything we have grown to love about the show. The writing was crisp, witty, insightful and left a tear in my eye the entire time. The characters were true to form, the fashion was amazing and the plot never lost the true essence of the show; 4 fabulous friends in NYC. I love that SATC never lost touch of how crucial female friendship is. It makes me grateful for my great friends. And for the million dollar question, "what happens between Carrie and Big, do they live happily ever after?"...Well you'll just have to watch and see.

I loved, loved, loved this movie.

Missy Cinema Score: A

Baby Mama

It's good to see a comedic movie (any movie for that matter) with strong female leads. That is why I was so pleased with Baby Mama. It's great to see a movie where two females are the stars of the film. Tina Fey's character is strong, motivated, self-reliant and, like most females who are portrayed this way, isn't a bitch. This was new and refreshing and I really liked it.

Tina Fey and Pohler are simply great together. I loved them on SNL together and I loved them in this movie. They are like the female version of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matheau (Grumpy Old Men). Although the movie took a different path than I expected, it was still heartwarming and funny.

I would definitely recommend this film to anyone who needs a good laugh or good cry.

Missy Cinema Score: B

The Love Guru

Just as I suspected and just as every movie critic in the country stated; The Love Guru was bad, borderline terrible. I didn't laugh. I mean I laughed a few times, but at parts I don't think were supposed to be funny.

I wish Mike Myers would make a regular movie, playing a regular guy. I mean, come on, how many "characters" and accents can he do in a lifetime. At least, Wayne, Austin Powers and Shrek were genuine and humorous. In The Love Guru--Guru Pikta was just ridiculous, over-the-top and full of toilet humor that failed to deliver any jokes. I was utterly amazed at how many celebrities made cameos in this film, perhaps they didn't read the entire script, they couldn't have.

Jessica Alba. Not funny. Not talented. When is Hollywood going to stop putting her in every third film released.

The only highlight in the movie was Justin Timberlake. He is proving to be quite the comedic talent (check him out hosting SNL). He provided the only real entertainment in the movie and was responsible for a few laughs.

The only reason to watch this movie is to see for yourself just how bad it is.

Missy Cinema Score: D

Burn After Reading

I'll start by saying this: If it wasn't for the all-star cast I think I would have hated this movie. Nevertheless, it did have an all-star cast and I did like it.

Burn After Reading is your typical Cohen Brothers movie. Wacky, funny characters; an outrageous plot; unexpected violence and a tall-tale of how quickly simple events lead to disastrous consequences.

Bravo to the entire cast who gave phenomenal performances. I believe it was the material they were working with that was the movies downfall. The plot, at times, seemed hard to follow. In particular, the one scene in the movie that was supposed to bring all the prior events to a magnificent crescendo left me leaning over to Chad and whispering, "Did blank just happen or what is blank." Even after the movie concluded we still couldn't quite figure out what happened in that one pivotal scene.

The movie never bored me (thanks again to the cast), but it never captured my attention and imagination the way Fargo or No Country For Old Men did. Also, this falls blame to the script, but the characters were underdeveloped; again the layers that made everyone mesmerized by the characters in Fargo and No Country For Old Men simply weren't there.

Overall, entertaining and worth a watch, but not worth any gold statuettes come award season.

Missy Cinema Score: B-

Prom Night

Here was my husband’s take on Prom Night, “This movie is so bad that I am actually angry.” While I didn’t share his exact resentment, I didn’t think the movie was good either. It was everything I expected it to be: cheesy, bad acting, clichéd, predictable, horrible script and most of all not scary. But even with all those terrible attributes I can’t say that I hated this movie. I was fairly entertained for a quiet Saturday night on the couch.



So here’s the short and sweet plot of Prom Night. High school physics teacher Richard Fenton (Johnathon Schaech) becomes obsessed with one of his students, Donna Keppel (Brittany Snow). In an attempt to live happily-ever-after with Donna, Mr. Fenton brutally murders her entire family. She gets away by watching the murders take place from underneath a bed. Three years later, he escapes from a mental institution and wreaks havoc on her senior prom. Murder ensues.


As a side note, I hate the movie poster for this flick. One: the girl in it looks nothing like the star of the movie, Brittany Snow. Two: the star, nor any of her friends, are actually crowned prom queen. Three: The gilr in the poster, whoever she may be, I hate how her hair is all over her face.

Missy Cinema Score: C-

The Invasion

I never saw this movie in the theatre. It wasn’t even in my Netflix queue, which means one thing: I had zero interest in seeing it. I’m flipping through the cable stations yesterday. There’s nothing on; except football. I like football, I do, but I can’t watch a whole game so I am desperately trying to find something else to watch and even though I have hundreds of channels it’s proving to be a difficult task. I notice that The Invasion starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig is getting ready to start and I decide: what the heck—might as well. Maybe it was because of my extremely low expectations going into the viewing, but I liked it. Wasn’t the best movie I’ve seen lately, wasn’t even Nicole Kidman’s best movie lately, but nevertheless I was entertained for the hour and 45 minutes that it lasted.

The movie opens to a space shuttle disaster. A shuttle implodes during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. Shortly after, people start getting the “flu”, and begin to act peculiar. Turns out the space shuttle explosion and this mysterious flu have something in common; perhaps something alien-like. We then follow Nicole Kidman’s quest to avoid this dangerous virus and save her son.

This movie had some bad special effects and the way people got infected with the personality-altering virus was downright gross, but it never lost its watchability. This was the first Daniel Craig movie I’ve seen…no I didn’t watch his turn as James Bond. I liked him enough in this movie that it made me want to go out and rent Casino Royale. He reminded me of Clive Owen, just not as sexy and rugged. If you need to kill an afternoon check this one out, not too bad.

Missy Cinema Score: B-

Tearjerkers

Okay, so here it is: I love tearjerkers, I absolutely love them. I love having a good cry during a movie. Call me crazy, but it’s completely cathartic. I will watch a movie simply because I think it will make me shed a tear. I love when cinema can ignite that kind of emotion.

Here are some of my favorite tearjerkers…

-Keeping the Faith
-Stepmom
-Steel Magnolias
-The Object of My Affection
-Titanic
-The Notebook
-The Bridges of Madison County

***Props to Julia Roberts for being in two of my favorite tearjerkers!***

My Favorite Person To Watch Movies With…

While this blog is dedicated to the movies I watch and the people in them, I have spent little-to-no time writing about the people I watch movies with. I am going to take a moment to gush about my favorite person to watch movies with. Obviously, that person is my fantastic hubby Chad, or Chadders in the inner-circle. My parents come in a close second, but I’ll talk about them later.

Chad’s passion for movies was not as great as mine in the beginning of our relationship; however, over the years his love-affair with cinema has blossomed. He could probably even tell you what movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture last year and which movie was number one at the box office last week.

On any given weekend you can usually find us at the local Cinemark, souvenir cup in hand (it gets us $1 refills, holla!) and popcorn buttered. Chad likes to get to movies early, I mean early, like an hour to an hour and a half before the movie starts. For example, we get to the theatre; it’s 1pm, there’s a 1:30 showing and a 2:15 showing, he picks the 2:15 showing. It’s a running joke in the family, “we better get there at midnight the day before.” We get our drinks and snacks and wait, and wait and wait. Chad usually partakes in some video games. The reason behind all this madness; Chad has a very specific seat preference and if he doesn’t get it, then all is shot to heck. As much as I make fun of his OCD movie seat tendencies it really is adorable.

Chad’s awesome in the fact that he is willing to watch anything with me. (Except Sex and the City, he changed his mind last minute and wanted to go, but was promptly un-invited…I was going with my girls!). He has seen every Leonardo DiCaprio movie and every Cameron Diaz movie. Luckily for him, I am also into gross-out comedies and shoot-em-up action flicks.

Chad is the best movie buddy because…….He lets me put my feet under his leg in the theatre when my toes get cold. He fishes in the dark for all the red sweetarts to feed me. He always gets Cherry Coke or Dr. Pepper ‘cause their my favorites and forgoes his favorite Mountain Dew. He never skips the previews on a DVD because, to me, previews are one of the best parts. He has the most comfortable shoulder on the planet and lastly Chad is the best movie buddy ever because: no matter how bad the movie I always have a good time watching it with him :o)

Missy Cinema Score: A++++

The Reeds

Ranking This Summer’s Movies (Revised)

Well, the kids are back in school and the weather is beginning to cool; that means just one thing: the summer movie season is over. The summer of 2008 gave us some enormous hits (The Dark Knight and Iron Man) and some huge flops (Speed Racer and The Love Guru). Below is my listing of the best and worst of Summer 2008.

1. The Dark Knight
2. Iron Man
3. Sex and the City: The Movie
4. Hancock
5. Tropic Thunder
6. Pineapple Express
7. Wanted
8. The Strangers
9. Get Smart
10. What Happens in Vegas
11. WALL-E
12. Step Brothers
13. The Incredible Hulk
14. You Don’t Mess with the Zohan

Here are a few surprises I came across this summer. Surprise #1: Robert Downey Jr starred in two of the biggest movies this summer (Iron Man and Tropic Thunder). Surprise #2: Comedic veterans Will Farrell and Adam Sandler find themselves low on the list, while up-and-comers Steve Carrel and Seth Rogan find themselves high on the list. Surprise #3: A Pixar film (WALL-E), while generating high revenue, did not turn into the cartoon hit of the summer; that honor was left for Jack Black’s Kung-Fu Panda (I did not see this movie, but am looking forward to it).

And here are some non-surprises. Non-surprise #1: Sex and the City: The Movie was just as good as the tv show. Non-surprise #2: Comic book franchises ruled the box office. Non-surprise #3: Will Smith had a blockbuster action movie that premiered on Fourth of July weekend.

Tropic Thunder

A satire is the truest sense of the word, Tropic Thunder is comic genius. The movie is directed, produced, co-written and stars Ben Stiller and proves that he is one of the smartest and most versatile men in Hollywood. The movie co-stars Robert Downey Jr and Jack Black and is supported by an all-star cast including: Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey and Steve Coogan.

Tropic Thunder follows three pompous actors as they shoot a costly Vietnam picture of the same name. After an acting lesson devised by the director that doesn’t work out to plan the actors, unbeknownst to them, suddenly find themselves amongst actual guerilla war lords. The actors must find a away to survive without catered food, assistants, cell phones and adoring fans.

Stiller, Downey Jr and Black all give brilliant performances and epitomize the 21st century Hollywood actor. Their arrogance is underlined by deep insecurity and their sense of genius is off-set by extreme naiveté. It is also worth noting that Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey give fantastic performances. I haven’t liked McConaughey in his last few movies and I haven’t liked Cruise in the last few years. Both redeemed themselves in this movie.

You find yourself laughing at parts of the movie that can be deemed extremely offensive, yet, since the characters truly don’t know any better the true point of the movie is revealed and an offensive scene turns into that of social commentary. Watch this movie. Laugh, laugh and laugh some more. Go into this movie knowing that it was not meant to be offensive or disrespectful, but rather a play on the Hollywood elitists today who takes themselves and their work far too seriously.

Missy Cinema Score: A-

21

21 is a fun, glitzy movie (based on real events) about a group of MIT students who took Vegas for hundreds of thousands. Jim Sturgess (also seen in Across the Universe) plays Ben Campbell, a brilliant young mind desperately trying to find a way to pay for Harvard Medical School. When Professor Micky Rosa, played by Kevin Spacey, notices his gift he invites Ben into his underground card counting club. Hesitant at first, Ben quickly realizes just how intoxicating the glam life of Vegas can be and discovers that once in this exclusive club it is hard to get out.

A great script and great performances make this movie a gambling gem. It is face-paced, fun and exciting. The juxtaposition between MIT and Vegas is beautifully captured. This movie, no doubt, will only serve to propel the blossoming careers of Jim Sturgess and Kate Bosworth.

Missy Cinema Score: B+

My Favorite Leonardo DiCaprio Performances

Leonardo DiCaprio is one of my very favorite actors of all time. I am super exited that he is staring in, not one but, two movies in the months ahead. In October he will star alongside Russell Crowe in the upcoming Body of Lies (already mentioned in the Fall Movie Preview blog). Then in December he is reteaming with his Titanic co-star Kate Winslet in the period piece Revolutionary Road. I don’t know much about the movie, but I expect it to be great. I expect one of these movies will nab Leo his 4th Oscar Nomination.

Below are my favorite performances given my Mr. Leo DiCap. If you haven’t already seen them, check them out. If you have seen them, check them out again.

1. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape—a truly remarkable performance. Leo plays Arnie Grape, younger brother to Johnny Depp’s title character, who has a mental handicap. The performance is flawless. Arnie is young, vulnerable and, at times, hard to handle. Leo brought depth to the character and his chemistry with Depp was amazing. This was his first Oscar Nomination and well deserved, a win would have been more fitting, but at least the Academy acknowledged what a truly exceptional performance this was.

2. The Aviator—In this film, his second with director Martin Scorsese (Best Director Nominee for this film), Leo plays billionaire-playboy Howard Hughes. He is surrounded by an incredible supporting cast including: Alec Baldwin, Alan Alda (in an Oscar Nominated performance), Kate Beckinsale and Cate Blanchett (in an Oscar Winning performance). Leo portrayed with madness and genius that was Howard Hughes with effortless abandon and believability. There were times during the movie that I simply forgot I was watching a “Leo movie”—few actors have that affect on me. Leo would earn his second Oscar Nomination for this film.

3. Catch Me If You Can—in this film directed by Steven Speilberg and co-starring Tom Hanks, Leo plays Frank Abagnale Jr.; a con-man who convinced those around him that he was every profession from a pilot to a medical doctor. Beneath the bravado and confidence Leo is able to portray a deeply complex individual shrouded in doubt and searching for the approval of his father.

4. Basketball Diaries—this is where the love affair began. While, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape was my first Leo movie experience, Basketball Diaries introduced me to a whole new Leo. He is wild, uninhibited and sexy in this movie; he is completely captivating. He plays Jim Carroll a successful high school basketball player who finds himself caught up in a world of drugs and violence. The movie is dark, his performance is dark, but you can’t take your eyes off of him.

5. The Departed—his third and latest movie with director Martin Scorsese (who finally won a Best Director Oscar for this film, it also won Best Picture of the year) Leo plays undercover agent Billy Costigan. This maybe his sexiest performance to date because of his raw and sometimes violent masculinity underscored by an intense venerability. He acted more with his eyes in this movie than he did anything else. You could see the anguish on his face, and you believed it, it was real. He acted against heavyweights like Matt Damon and the great Jack Nicholson and he proved he could hold his own.

6. Titanic—a list about Leonardo DiCaprio wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the epic that is Titanic. I am proud to say that my love affair with Leonardo DiCaprio started long before Titanic. However, the release of this movie only solidified what I already knew…Leonardo DiCaprio is an amazing talent blessed with a great face. His performance as Jack Dawson was warm, heartfelt and touching and made you desperately wish for an alternate ending.

Leo is one of the smartest actors in Hollywood. It’s clear that he chooses his movies carefully. He works with brilliant directors and surrounds himself with a support cast that enhances the film wholly. I look forward to many more great Leonardo DiCaprio movies. I am sure the Academy Awards will get it right one day and rightfully award him with an Oscar.

Fall Movies I Can’t Wait To See…

Body of Lies
Leonardo DiCaprio…Leonardo DiCaprio…Leonardo DiCaprio. Did I mention that Leonardo DiCaprio was in the movie. Really, those are the only two words I need to hear and I am immediately hooked. This film also happens to co-star Russell Crowe and involves international espionage, terrorism and crooked FBI agents (all pluses in my book). Besides, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio.

Burn After Reading
George Clooney. Brad Pitt. John Malkovich. Tilda Swinton. Frances McDormand. The Coen Brothers. Enough said.

W.
A look at the life of our 43rd president before he became president as told by Oliver Stone. This will be interesting, it will be controversial, but it will be good. From the looks of it the cast is dead on. I am especially impressed with the casting of Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush. I never would have thought it, but seeing the preview Banks is dead-on. I just hope that the actors in the movie truly act instead of trying to do cheesy impersonations.

Four Christmases
Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon team up for this romantic comedy. I feel like we haven’t see Reese in a romantic comedy in awhile and I am definitely looking forward to her return, and I’m excited to see her teamed up with Vince Vaughn. Reese and Vince play a couple who are forced to spend the holidays with each of their divorced parents. Sounds like a hoot already. Is it just me, or do comedies that have holiday themes seem to be funnier than the rest?

Yes Man
Jim Carrey. Comedy. I’ve been waiting for the two to reunite, and from the looks of the movie trailer I will not be disappointed. In the film Carrey decides to embrace live fully and simply say yes (after years of saying no) to any and all propositions and invites. I have a feeling this will be a comedic gem with a heart of gold. Carrey hasn’t made a live-action comedy film since 2005’s Fun with Dick and Jane, which, to say the least, was not all that funny. This film should re-establish Jim Carrey as the King of Comedy.

The Curios Case of Benjamin Button
Brad Pitt plays the title character that has a “curious” and rare condition. He ages backwards. This movie appears to have a fantastic plot and with a supporting cast that includes Academy Award Winners Tilda Swinton and Cate Blanchett the film should be incredible. I am prepared to bring Kleenex.

The Ruins

The Ruins is a horror movie with little horror and, even worse, little plot. A group of four friends on a Mexican vacation decide to take a break from the beach and margaritas and explore an off-the-map Mayan archeological dig site. They end up getting more than just a break from the ordinary. The four-some are college-aged students who act like they are in elementary school and look like they are in their mid-thirties. The characters have no redeeming qualities, which makes it hard to sympathize with any of them when they meet their fate.

Once they four-some arrive at “The Ruins” the plot quickly goes from weak to just plain awful and never manages to dig itself out. There is no rhyme or reason behind any of the events taking place. They meet a group of indigenous people whose main focus is to destroy the unwanted visitors. Why? Nobody knows. After being trapped atop the giant Mayan Pyramid by the indigenous people our four-some begin to discover that the ruins themselves may have an agenda of their own. Once again, no explanation, no reasoning; just mindless banter among the group, blood, cussing, girls in their underwear, etc.

This movie was the worst kind of horror film and serves as a perfect example of how not to make a horror movie. It wasn’t scary, it was hooky at best. Blood doesn’t equate fright and screaming and cussing doesn’t mean good horror movie acting.

Missy Cinema Score: D

Pineapple Express

Another comedic hit from Seth Rogan and co.; Pineapple Express is a pot-induced laugh frenzy that serves up just as much action as it does drug use. Rogan plays a slacker-stoner (surprise?!?!) who witnesses a murder and accidentally leaves behind some evidence (his joint roach) which the murder uses to determine his identity. He and his drug dealer played by James Franco (a far departure from his Spider Man days) then embark on a series of mishaps and adventures in order to elude the murder and, most importantly, keep their pot stash safe and secure.

There are few moments in the movie when I wasn’t laughing. Even in the parts that weren’t meant as jokes, just simple dialogue, were hilarious. Rogan and Franco had perfect on-screen chemistry and impeccable comedic timing. This movie was clearly made with care and attention to detail; from the costumes to the props and automobiles, everything came together seamlessly and provided laugh after laugh.

I will say this though. I would like to see Rogan in a serious role. He is genius as a slacker-stoner and never fails to make me laugh. However, I can see a dramatic actor lurking somewhere underneath the pot cloud, and when released, it will be a treat for everyone. Perhaps a movie about going to rehab? Just a thought.

Missy Cinema Score A-

The Assassination of Jessie James by the Coward Robert Ford

I consider myself a fan of movies in general. All genres, from all decades, spanning any run-time. However, this movie was a bit dry and long for me (nearly 3 hours—and not the pulse pounding nearly 3 hours that was The Dark Knight). I kept thinking to myself that I would have enjoyed this movie better as a book. That’s how it seemed to played out…lots of narration, little dialogue and still-shots of characters sitting in silence.

Despite the snail pace of this movie Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck still manage to give stellar performances. Both actors were focused, intense and incredibly believable. The desperation that Affleck portrayed only solidified his performance as one of the great ones of 2007. The Oscar nomination was well deserved. Pitt is rugged and brute, yet he still manages to offer a smoldering sex appeal.

The culmination of the movie, the moment that portrays the very title of the movie comes suddenly and is over just as fast. The moment we have been waiting for is very anti-climatic, with little thought or explanation. The characters seem to respond oddly and inconsistently. After all the build-up the ending proves to be disappointing at best.

Missy Cinema Score: C+

Hancock

The cineplex’s have been filled with super-hero action movies for the past decade or so. Hancock is the only one that tried something drastically different…and it worked. Will Smith plays the title character which is a complete departure from the usual Smith role. Hancock is brash, crude and drunk most of the time. Yet, because of Smith’s impeccable comic-timing and charisma we still find ourselves rooting for Hancock. Smith is able to give the character dimension and even vulnerability at times. We are once again reminded why Will Smith is the last movie start, and the most bankable.

Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman provide excellent supporting roles. I am happy to see Jason Bateman doing so well this past year. Juno was a huge success for him and this was a great way to follow up that independent gem. Charlize Theron is just as talented as she is attractive and that says a lot.

Overall, this movie was engaging, funny and exciting. It’s a great departure from the super-hero movies that we’ve been seeing this past decade. The movie also offers a great twist that you don’t see coming which only adds to the dynamic story line and great performances of Smith, Theron and Bateman.

Missy Cinema Score: A-

Step Brothers

I gave this advice to Adam Sandler and Mike Myers earlier this summer and now I am going to give it again to Will Farrell. Stop making movies that require to you act like a complete moron. Don’t get me wrong, I laughed and laughed at this movie. But at the same time it kind of made me sad too. Watch Stranger Than Fiction and you will know exactly what I am talking about. Contrary to popular believe Will Farrell is an extremely talented and complex actor who is above f-bomb humor, fart jokes and yelling for no apparent reason. I want to see better from him, simply because I know he can do better.

To the movie itself, it was really funny. I laughed a lot, maybe for all the wrong reasons. I mean, of course it’s funny to see a grown man get beat up by a bunch of elementary children or see two grown men build bunk beds in the room they share; but is that truly comedy or just cheap laughs. Will Farrell and John C. Riley (there’s a talent that is going to waste in a movie like this—look him up on imdb.com and you’ll know what I am talking about) suddenly become step brothers when their single parents meet at a medical convention and marry. Will Farrell and his mother must move in with John C. Riley and his father. And for some reason, despite the house looking like it’s 7,000+ square feet, they are forced to share a room together. At first, they completely hate one another and go on streak of torturing each other. Suddenly, they are united over their common hatred for Farrell’s up-tight, over achieving brother. They then set out on a quest to be the biggest rock band in the world. And so on and so forth.

The movie served its purpose. It made me laugh. Other than that, I am looking for more from both Will Farrell and John C. Riley next time around. Another film like this from either of them will be very disappointing.
Missy Cinema Score: B-

Stop-Loss

I watched this movie a few weeks ago and I haven’t been able to bring myself to write a review about it yet. I don’t know why either. It wasn’t so bad that I am avoiding writing terrible things about a movie documenting the struggles our soldiers are facing today. Yet, it wasn’t so good that I am trying to find the words for a movie so perfectly done. I guess it’s just that I don’t know what to say. I wanted to be more impacted by a movie dealing with this subject matter, but I wasn’t. I wanted it to be more thought-provoking, but it wasn’t. I feel like I didn’t learn anything new from this movie. I feel like a movie dealing with the current situation in the Middle East should strive to do just that—teach me something I don’t already know, show me a glimpse of something I’ve been missing, tell me something that either reinforces my opinion or changes it completely. This movie did none of those things. I felt, instead, that is was simply re-telling things that we already know or reinforcing attitudes and actions that may not be true.

The movie centers around Ryan Phillippe’s character, Sergeant Brandon King (the name alone implies that he is looked to as a leader and a ruler, when in fact, he wants to be neither). He has made the decision to leave the Army after serving two Tours of Duty in Iraq. He comes home to a heroes’ celebration and looks forward to spending his days in his small Texas town. Unfortunately, his homecoming is not the joyous event he and his fellow soldiers were expecting. The town and the people around have changed, most importantly; they have changed and can no longer connect to the places and people that once meant so much to them. As King is turning in his discharged papers he is told that he’s been Stop-Lossed, which means that the Army needs him and his leadership capabilities too much to let him go, so he is ordered to do a third Tour of Duty in Iraq. After this devastating revelation he goes AWOL and is on a frantic mission to be let go from the military’s grip. The rest of the movie chronicles the impact of this decision, not only for him, but for those around him.
In the end King doesn’t seem like a changed man and all that he fought for seems lost.

Missy’s Movie Grade: B

Harold and Kumar: Escape From Guantanamo Bay

Yup, this movie was just as silly and ridiculous as the name implies, but I found myself enjoying the comedic chemistry of John Cho (Harold) and Kal Penn (Kumar). The movie is filled with pervasive drug use, gratuitous nudity and ethnic stereotypes, but somehow manages to make all these things seem fresh and humorous and is able to weave them into an actual plot. Don’t get me wrong this movie is not a piece of artwork, but it certainly manages to capture the viewer’s attention for an hour and 45 minutes. My true complaint of the movie is that once we see our anti-heroes finally reach their dream destination of Amsterdam we see very little of them there; just a hokey montage of them participating in the cities legal activities.

Missy Movie Grade: B-

The Mist

This is a great little horror movie based on a short story by the one and only Stephen King. When an electrical storm leaves artist David Drayton’s house with a tree in the middle of his studio, he heads to town with his son and neighbor Brent Norton. While at the grocery store picking up the essentials a mist suddenly envelops the small Maine town—leaving most stranded. Most see the mist as nothing more than a byproduct of the previous nights electrical storm; until another local runs into the store screaming, “There’s something in the mist!” and claiming that something took his friend. As the mist prevails and hope for survival diminishes; blame is cast, mistrust abounds, sides are chosen and eventually people start to turn on one other.

Marcia Gay Harden’s performance was perfection. She is all too convincing as the overly religious Mrs. Carmody. She uses religion and the will of God in the worst way; to frighten people into her submission.

The ending of this movie offers no solace. We are left alone with our protagonist in a situation that is truly horrifying.


Missy Cinema Score: B

Christian Bale Arrested!

I never intended this blog to be all about Christian Bale. However, he's been the main focus of it since pretty much the beginning. Now, I am sad to say, I am writing about him again today. Not because The Dark Knight is the best movie ever (it is) or because he is the greatest actor around (he is) or because he is the hottest person alive (he is). But because he got flippin' arrested! And for apparently assaulting his mom and sister! WTF! When I heard on the news tease on the Adam Corolla radio show (listen to this great morning show) that he was in big trouble I thought two things: 1) he said something bad about Heath Ledger 2) he got a DUI. Then we I heard the story I just couldn't believe it. I know I don't know him or anything, but I just couldn't imagine why he would do something like that to his mom and sister. I couldn't believe it. It had to be a lie. But on the other hand I can't imagine a mom and sister purposely lying about something like that, especially when he is having so much success right now.

Whatever happens moving forward and whatever happens to be the truth I hope it gets worked out quickly. He is far too talented to let anger issues or family troubles ruin his career and taint his character.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20213900,00.html

Ranking This Summer’s Movies

Below is a list of all the movies I have seen this summer (May 1 to present) in order of best to worst. Keep in mind that 3 through 6 should be a tie for third place as all these movies were very good.

1. The Dark Knight
2. Iron Man
3. Sex and the City: The Movie
4. Wanted
5. The Strangers
6. Get Smart
7. What Happens in Vegas
8. WALL-E
9. The Incredible Hulk
10. You Don’t Mess with the Zohan

Here are a few surprises I came across this summer. Surprise #1: What Happens in Vegas was very FUNNY! It was so much better than I thought it would be. Surprise #2: At the beginning of the summer my husband and I were at the local cineplex and after seeing a poster of WALL-E I said, “I am calling it now. Best movie of the summer. Best movie of the summer” It’s number 8—how did that happen? Finding Nemo this movie wasn’t. Surprise #3: One of my favorite actors of all time Adam Sandler is at the bottom of the list. This movie isn’t bad. I would probably give it a B-, it’s just that so many other movies were better. (My advice to Adam Sandler and Mike Myers: The 40 Year Old Virgin completely reinvented the comedy genre. When picking scripts from now on, please choose one with real people in real situations that just happen to be funny.)

And here are some non-surprises. Non-surprise #1: Both comic book action films The Dark Knight and Iron Man ROCKED! Non-surprise #2: Steve Carell continues to climb my ladder of favorite comedian of all time. He continues to make movies that are funny and warm with great scripts and co-stars while giving a great performance himself. Non-surprise #3: Christina Bale confirms the he is both the best Batman ever and the best looking man in Hollywood right now.

I will update this list once the movie season commences on August 31st.

The Dark Knight

“You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” Harvey Dent

The Dark Knight not only captured my heart and imagination this weekend, but also the rest of America. The movie raked in more than $155 million—making it the biggest 3-day opening for a movie—ever. The movie prevailed on every level, and even now, 48 hours after viewing it, I am still trying to take it all in. The story was vast and complex , more akin to a Shakespearian tragedy, rather than a summer popcorn action flick. And at 2 hours and 33 minutes, the movie still manages to leave you longing for more—and counting the moments until the third installment of this terrific franchise. It’s a film, that will no doubt, only get better with each additional viewing.

Christian Bale, is superb as Bruce Wayne and Gotham’s Dark Knight. He brings a vulnerability to the character—he’s complex, tortured and driven. Never once do you question is authenticity as Bruce Wayne or Batman. Bale is surrounding by a first-class supporting cast. Aaron Eckhart. Morgan Freeman. Gary Oldman. Michael Cain. Maggie Gyllenhaal. Each of these actors brings dynamic life to Christopher Nolan’s script. These fine actors prove that there is no such thing as a small part—each one of them giving performances that were layered and went well beyond a big-budget action film.

Then there’s Heath Ledger. Simply put: I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He was mesmerizing and terrifying, a true villain in every sense of the word. The performance was bold and free and left me with an enormous sadness—knowing that this performance will be the last time we get to see this great talent, who obviously still had so much left to give. I can only imagine the characters and stories he still had inside him.

It is because of Heath Ledger’s Joker that the city of Gotham is in complete ruin and disarray. His quest “to see the world burn” reaches to the very core of human nature and is entirely psychological. The Joker’s path of destruction leaves the audience asking themselves, “what would I do?”—the answer is never clear or easy. And it is because of this very real and honest look into the human psyche that The Dark Knight is so captivating and so beyond any other film of its kind.

Missy’s Cinema Score: A

Fool's Gold

A shirtless Matthew McConaughey, a spunky Kate Hudson, the beauty of the Florida Keys, a big yacht and treasure…what’s not to like? Right? Well, wrong. This movie failed in more ways than I can wrap my head around. I kept thinking, “How many times can Matthew McConaughey play the same character?” And Ms. Hudson wasn’t as spunky and fresh as I wanted her to be, first of all she plays a PhD student…need I say more??? A PhD student who just happens to marry not only the shirtless, but job-less, money-less and nearly home-less McConaughey simply because he’s good in bed. Seriously? Does anyone really do that? I wonder what the movie executives were thinking. “Hey, these two made a bankable movie before. Let’s put them in another one. Only this time, the script will be hokey, and the storyline flat, unrealistic and dumbly confusing.” The movie is full of mindless and played out stereotypes. A party girl heiress who, get this, doesn’t have much in the way of brains. A couple dudes from Jamaica who say “man” a lot and get high. A rapper who has a big posse, an animal nickname, and lots of bling. I couldn’t find one redeeming quality in this movie, not even the great Donald Sutherland could pull this one out of the dumpsters. Sutherland plays the brain-dead heiress’s dad and is funding the McConaughey-Hudson treasure hunting mission. It’s one of those movies that’s only good if you’re watching it while doing other stuff and not 100% paying attention.

Missy Grade: C-

Christian Bale Who?

As many of you know The Dark Knight opens tomorrow, with limited midnight shows starting tonight. I would like to take a moment to talk not about the movie in general, but rather, the star of the movie Christian Bale. I feel that both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight have been great opportunities to highlight what an amazing actor Christian Bale is. However, sadly these two movies have done little to promote this fine actor. Back in the summer of 2005 during the initial release of Batman Begins there was a media storm surrounding the budding and globe-trotting relationship of co-star Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise. Christian Bale was simply overlooked. (Luckily for us viewers Katie Holes is not reprising her role and has been replaced by the lovely Maggie Gyllenhall.) And now with the release of The Dark Knight the focus has been 100% on co-star Heath Ledger and his tragic and all-too-soon death—which is completely expected and fitting. However, once again, Christian Bale is being overlooked. I actually saw a preview of the movie last night that didn’t have one second of Christian Bale in it. I mean come on…it’s a Batman movie, let’s show some Batman for crying out loud. Nevertheless, while disappointed with the marketing campaign and the media’s lack of Bale attention I am super excited to see this movie. I think it will end up being the King of the Summer Box Office and will ultimately lead to a third installment of this current Batman franchise. Next time around, let’s just hope for the Christian Bale love.

In the meantime, you can go out and give him some love by watching him in any of these terrific performances:
The Prestige
Harsh Times
Equilibrium
American Psycho
Swing Kids

Welcome and Hello

“Cinema should make you forget you are sitting in a theater.” ~Roman Polanski
My name is Melissa Reed. I am 25 years old, happily married and currently living in Phoenix, Arizona. For those that know me. You already know this. For those that don’t. here it is: I love movies. They are a true passion of mine. I don’t just watch movies, I watch movies. I go to the movie theatre any chance I get and have vast collection of DVD’s at home. I find myself discussing movies with my husband, friends, family, co-workers, myself all the time; so I thought to myself, “why not start a blog and discuss movies to your heart’s content and maybe a few people will actually read it.”
So here I am. Cinema ticket in hand. DVD player dusted off. Popcorn buttered. And fingers stretched. I can’t say that I’ll be a daily blogger. As much as I’d love to I don’t think it’s possible to watch a movie a night. But I will discuss each and every movie I do watch (good or bad) and will have best of and fav’s lists, award show commentary and, on occasion, a blog about the people who watch movies with me and what I do when the camera isn’t rolling.