Who? What? Where? #13

We haven't seen our winner from Week #12 since the very first post, but Nick came through in correctly stating that the person to the left is in fact Paul Reubens as The Spleen in Mystery Men.

I am beginning to think that it may be impossible to stump all of you, but nevertheless, I shall keep trying.

Anyway, congratulations, Nick. And good luck this week.

The concept is simple: each week I will place a photograph of a character within a film. It is up to you (the participant in the game) to tell me the following:

1) The name of the actor (or what the actor goes by in his acting profession).

2) The name of the character in the movie.

3) And, the name of the movie.

Each correct answer gets you a point - so if you get all three correct on a given week, you can get three points. I will keep a running chart each and every week. As of now, this will be played for bragging rights only - but we shall see what the future holds.

So here is week #13:


Standings:
Matt - 11 points
Jess - 10 points
Fletch - 6 points
Mrs. Kano - 5 points
Nick - 4 points

Tuesday's With Movies: 2/22/11

Megamind: I have heard some good things about this film. It is currently on my 50 films of 2011 list, and once I get it (either Netflix on purchase) I will be checking it out with my family. From what I have seen it looks like it may be pretty decent.







Due Date: Um, I will definitely be checking this out, but I have heard nothing but bad things about this film. Which, is too bad because it looks like it has all of the makings of being a great, comedic film. Like all films, however, I will wait to make my own opinion - but so far the voices have been negative.





Get Low: From what I have seen and heard this is supposed to be a very good film, Unfortunately, from the trailers I have seen, I just have had no interest in seeing it from the content. I enjoy Bill Murray obviously, and I sometimes enjoy Robert Duvall - perhaps I will see it sometime in the future.

22/50: The Nines

Um, I am not really sure what to think of this movie. I am sort of lost. I also feel like I was a little bit cheated by the ending.

Nevertheless, I checked out The Nines starring Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds plays three separate characters in the film, as the film is actually separated into three different parts - it makes sense at he conclusion.

Things sort of feel out of place for Reynolds' characters, as he senses that things are happening around him that really aren't happening.

Honestly, I don't really know how to rate this movie. It was very odd and I was really hoping to like it - and I thought it was building to something that would really pay off. But, it really didn't.

The oddness of the film intrigued me, but the pay off was annoying to me. So, if this film ended in a different manner I would have really enjoyed this movie. That being said, I can't give it a horrible grade or an excellent grade - so I will just stay in the middle. I didn't hate it, but due to a bad ending (my opinion) I didn't really love it either.

Grade:

21/50: The Village

If I may paint a picture. There is a movie that involves a small group of people that appear to be from the late 1800's-early 1900's. But, they are actually from the present day, but are living in hiding for reason's that we, the audience, have no idea why.

Plus, there appears to be some sort of creature that is living in the woods near these people, that if disturbed could reek havoc on the small group.

Does this movie sound interesting? I think it does. Now, lets say that the director is M. Night Shyamalan. Your idea of the movie changes, doesn't it?

Again, I had heard a ton of horrible things heading into watching The Village. So perhaps, my expectations were so low that anything would be an improvement to my thoughts. However, I really came away enjoying the film.

I can't really explain much about the plot besides what I already have because I don't want to give too much away. Let's just say that what transpires actually made a little sense to me.

Also, I came away with so much more respect for Bryce Dallas Howard. She had a small role as Gwen Stacy in Spiderman 3 and played Victoria in Eclipse. But, other than that, she hasn't really been in much.

She really killed it as the blind Ivy Walker, daughter of one of the leaders in the group, Edward (William Hurt).

For years the group has needed to stay out of the woods due to the creatures and not head to 'The Towns", but when Ivy's love interest, Lucius Hunt (Joaquin Phoenix) is stabbed and they need medicine to save him - Edward grants Ivy permission to head to "The Towns" to help save him.

Howard was the best part of the film, and like I said, I really came away with a great deal of respect for her after seeing this - especially having to play a blind woman.

So, I enjoyed this film. I know it is probably taboo and I will get reamed for liking this film, but I honestly did. A lot of that may have to do with Howard's performance, and the fact that I looked at this film, not as a Shyamalan film, but just as a film.

Grade:

20/50: The Illusionist

I wanted to pair these two films together, because they both had the theme of illusion/magic in them. It is odd that in 2006 both of these films came out, and both featured, if not the same, but similar plot lines.

The Illusionist is much more of a - like I mentioned in my Pretty in Pink review - Romeo & Juliet-type story.

The film starts in the past and shows a young Eisenheim becoming friends, and soon falling in love, with a young girl named Sophie. Eisenheim is a peasant boy while Sophie is of rich and royal decent. So, this love affair is prohibited.

Fast forward many years and Eisenheim (Edward Norton) is becoming a very successful illusionist. In his former hometown, he becomes a bit of a hit, especially from local law-enforcer, Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti). As the word spreads, Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell) wants to see the show - including Duchess Sophie (Jessica Biel).

Eisenheim recognizes Sophie right away, but it takes her longer to realize that this is in fact the young boy she fell in love with years ago.

The rest of the film plays out like Ocean's Eleven, in my opinion. It's another film that you have to pay attention to as things unfold - and the payoff is pretty amazing.

Honestly, as close as the two films are, I think I enjoyed this one a tiny bit more - even though the grade won't show it.

More great actors in this film that had great performances - I don't think I have seen Sewell in anything else except A Knight's Tale, but he truly plays a great villain.

Grade: