Theater Review: Now You See Me

I put up a small poll on my Facebook page to see what film I was seeing when I was able to get out of work early one night. The choices were Now You See Me and This is the End.

With an overwhelming, and somewhat surprising, difference in the outcome - Now You See Me won pretty easily.

So, off I went. And by the time I was seeing it, I was one of the few people in the theater - which I love.

Now You See Me is pretty much right up my alley, so I was happy to see it. I am a huge fan of films like Ocean's Eleven that have heists committed, and then give you how its done and the reason behind the heist itself. In this film, though, instead of costumes and disguises - magic is used and everyone know who is committing the crimes, but just can't seem to prove that they are.

The film stars an unlikely quartet as the Four Horsemen. Jesse Eisenberg plays J. Daniel Atlas, and is probably the most talented magician of the bunch - and he plays a little different than his usual quirky roles he has played in the past in say Social Network. He is actually sort of playing a stud - which was nice to see him play something different, and I came away liking him a little bit more.

Isla Fisher plays Henley Reeves, Atlas' former assistant who has now branched out on her own and is now more of an escape artist, ala Harry Houdini. She is also very talented, and I think we need more of her in films. Woody Harrelson plays Merritt McKinney, who is more of a mentalist than a magician. Harrelson has become one of my favorite actors over the years, he always seems to do an amazing job.

The surprise of the movie - Dave Franco. Franco plays Jack Wilder, a street magician who uses slight of hand to pretty much rob those around him. Franco sort of sticks out as not really belonging in this group of actors - sure maybe his brother James would fit in, but Dave? But, honestly, he was a standout to me. He was probably my favorite person in the movie.

So, the Four Horsemae are brought together by a bunch of Tarot cards and an unknown benefactor. They join forces to put on a handful of shows, which are sponsored by an insurance tycoon Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine).

Their show, though, doesn't just entertain the audience - it makes them wealthy. By robbing from a bank and showering the money out into the audience. But, how did they do it?

With more shows in the future, the authorities believe this will continue and FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) and Interpol agent Alma Dray (Melanie Laurent) are put on the case to figure out how it was done so they can pin it on the Four Horsemen.

They also bring in Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), a former magician who now makes money revealing the secrets of other magicians' tricks. It's Bradley that Rhodes and Dray are hoping can figure out how the robberies are taking place.

I cam away really loving this movie. It had a lot of what I love, a great heist, great execution, action and a lot of comedy. Though, some forced love occurred as well - something that always seems to happen in these films. There was no real reason for it, but it didn't take away from anything.

The acting was top-notch, Caine, Freeman and Ruffalo are all outstanding actors. The lowest tiered actor was Franco, and as I said before, he stoodout to me in this film.

There are some twists and turns as well, some of which I figured out during, but it didn't take away from the overall movie. Looking forward to seeing it again.

Grade: 

18/50x2: Zombieland

This was one of the few films on my list I was apprehensive about watching. I have stated many times my lack of joy for gore-type horror films, but I had heard so many great things about this, including how hilarious it was, and that the gore was somewhat tame. So, I gave it a shot.

And, I am glad I did.

"Columbus" (Jesse Eisenberg) is a college student and one of the few unaffected humans still living in Zombieland, which is what Columbus has affectionately called the planet now. Apparently, a bad strain of mad cow disease has changed most humans into cannibalistic zombies, and Columbus is one of the few fighting to stay human.

He lives his life by a series of rules, like always checking in the back seat, to ensure his survival. He is currently trying to make it back to Columbus, Ohio to see if his parents are still alive or if they have been affected by this as well.

Along the way he runs into "Tallahassee" (Woody Harrelson), who actually seems to enjoy living in this new world. His goal throughout the entire film is to find a Twinkie - and loves killing zombies.

While searching a grocery store for Twinkies, the two stumble across "Wichita" (Emma Stone) and her sister "Little Rock" (Abigail Breslin). The sisters appear to be harmless, but it turns out they are con artists and manage to steal the guys' weapons and their car.

Now with no car, the guys manage to find an abandoned Hummer loaded with weapons. Instead of pressing on, Tallahassee sets his mind toward revenge and looks to ambush the two ladies. Yet again the girls outsmart them and take their new car - but Tallahassee is able to wrestle the gun away from Little Rock and a truce is negotiated as the quartet decides to move forward.

Wichita and Little Rock plan to head to 'Pacific Playland' an amusement park that they state is free of zombies. The four arrive and this is where the films climax takes part, and it was glorious.

As I said, these are not usually my cup of tea. But, it actually was. I really enjoyed it and the zombie/gore factor wasn't that bad either.

Harrelson really continues to impress me as an actor. I am glad he is finally back and making solid movies. Eisenberg also impresses here, and I feel the Michael Cera comparisons should probably stop as he has clearly past Cera. Let's be honest, all four of these actors are amazing - really liked Breslin and Stone as well.

This has also opened my eyes a bit and will allow me to watch some films a little out of my comfort zone that may be just a bit gorrier than I expect.

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Theater Review: Rio

I figured since I don't get out to the movie theater too often, I would mark the films I actually do get to see there with Theater Review. I know it doesn't really matter, but I figured I would do it anyway.

So, a few weekends ago my parents wanted to take my son to see Rio and I tagged along. I had heard it was actually a decent film, so off we went.

The film is about Blu (Jesse Eisbenberg) a very rare blue makaw that gets knocked off a truck and found by a little girl, Linda (Leslie Mann). As Linda grows up, Blu and her are inseparable and have created quite a life for themselves in Minnesota

One afternoon, Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) visits Blu and Linda to inform them that he may be in fact the last male blue makaw on Earth. And tries to get them to come with him to Rio in order to mate with the last remaining female blue makaw, Jewel (Anne Hathaway).

Well, as they attempt to introduce the two 'love' birds, Tulio and Linda head out for a dinner and the aviary is broken into and the two birds are stolen. They are able to break free of their captives, but are chained together - and thanks to an issue Blu has the two of them have some huge things to overcome as she looks for her freedom and he tries to locate Linda.

The film is loaded with voice talent including, George Lopez, Jamie Foxx, Will I Am, Tracy Morgan and Jemaine Clement. A lot of excellent songs throughout the film as well that really fit with the environment.

As for the film, a pretty good story of overcoming obstacles to get what you want and finding something inside of you that you didn't know was there.

It was also very beautiful to look at with the many different colors and the scenery of Rio.

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23/50: The Social Network

I remember when I graduated college in 2004 and my sister came home for the summer or a break or something and had this amazing Facebook website - the first time I had ever seen it. And, for some reason I was unable to join this prestigious site. I am not sure the reason, but it was either that my former college was not on Facebook or my college email was no longer functioning.

So, I was a bit peeved that my sister was on this glorious site that kept her in touch with high school and college friends. And, I was still only able to do so on the phone or AIM.

Needless to say, I was very happy when Facebook finally dropped the only college format and allowed everyone to join their site - and I have been a member and avid use ever since.

But, a movie about the creation of this site? How could that be interesting at all?

Well, apparently it was tons interesting, because not only was it nominated for an Oscar for best picture, but I absolutely loved it.

For one, I had no idea about the main reason behind this website and just how much legal drama went on with it. Just so we can stalk that one girl we saw at summer camp in 1995 and really have never talked to since.

The opening scene with Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and Erica Albright (Rooney Mara) was breathtaking. I found myself literally doing all I could to follow this conversation between Ivy League geniuses.

From there I was hooked and then the actual computer stuff began, starting with LiveJournal, which my wife and I used to use back in the day - which was very nostalgic for us.

The way Facebook finally got truly going is great, and to see just how many people were involved and affected from it was amazing. The one thing I never knew, however, was that the Napster guy Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake) was so involved - even though he wasn't really. "Drop the The" is not really what made the site take off.

Another siting, Joseph Mazzello, of Jurassic Park fame has a bit part as Dustin Moskovitz, one of Zuckerberg's roommates.

I won't go into a bunch of the legal mumbo-jumbo because that is what the film is truly about, but the entire film is very entertaining and extremely smart. Nice to see how something we use everyday, and basically take for granted, came to be so big.

Grade:

Double Dipping

This has never happened before.

This past weekend, my wife and I, saw two movies in the theater on the exact same day.

I know, I had to pinch myself.

After seeing a grand total of five movies in the theater last year, I am already at three for this year - and the rest of the year is looking rather promising as well.

On to the first flick.

My wife is a rather large Vin Diesel fan - and I don't mind looking at Jordana Brewster - so seeing Fast & Furious was a rather no brainer. This time around, the movie seemed to flow a lot easier with Diesel and Paul Walker back in lead roles - with no disrespect to Tyrese Gibson, but Diesel and Walker made this franchise.

I know absolutely nothing about cars, and I hate watching car racing - but something about these films really gets me going. I continually enjoy the pretty real situations that the characters find themselves in - although I am still at a loss at to where Dom (Diesel) gets his money for his cars. I mean I know he is stealing, but where is he hiding it.

Anyway, this time around Dom and Brian (Walker) find themselves looking for the same guy, Braga - and in order to get close to him they need to join his team of drug smuggling drivers. At first there is only one spot open and Dom and Brian, as well as two others, race to get selected. But another is soon opened up when another driver is caught with drugs.

Brian is out to bring Braga down for drug smuggling, while Dom is out for revenge. And the two end up helping each other along the way to get both done.

Returning from previous films are Michelle Rodriguez as Letty, Brewster as Mia Toretto and Sung Kang as Hahn.

I am still not sure if this was better than the first film, although I am definitely sure it was better than the second and the Tokyo spinoff.

Grade:

The second feature we took in was a little close to our hearts, Adventureland.

This film was shot at Kennywood Amusement Park in Pittsburgh, PA. I was born there and also attended college there (as did my wife) and we had been to Kennywood on multiple occasions.

The movie is directed Greg Mottola, the same guy who directed Superbad. And although I feel Superbad was funnier, I actually felt this was a better movie as a whole.

James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg) is looking forward to his college graduation present of heading off to Europe, but a career change for his father thwarts his plans and he is forced to get a job. The lone job he could find, thanks to the help of a former childhood friend who still hasn't grown up Tommy Frigo (Matt Bush), is at Adventureland. Hoping to get a job in the rides department, the parks bosses, Bobby (Bill Hader) and Paulette (Kristen Wiig) feel he is much better suited for games.

Here he meets a great friend in Joel (Martin Starr) who shows him the ropes, and a girl who he begins to form a major crush on Em (Kristen Stewart).

The movie is sort of a you never know what life will throw at you sort of movie. Brennan was crushed when he couldn't go to Europe, but because of it was forced to work at this park and met a great friend and possibly the love of his life.

It was also fun to see 1980's Pittsburgh. My wife and I (okay mostly me) were trying to find certain things in the backgrounds that are mostly only in Pittsburgh. Like drinking Iron City or the Stroh's neon sign - or even the Jack Lambert jersey on one of the park patrons.

All-in-all a great film. It had all the drama, with small bits of comedy thrown in. In Superbad I think it was more a comedy with the small pieces of drama thrown in.

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