Quick Rant: Netflix

By looking at the title of this blog post you may think that I am not a fan of the movie distribution service known as Netflix. But, that couldn't be further from the truth. I love Netflix, in fact most of my movie watching is capable to this amazing company.


So, what is my beef?

Well, as many of you may have noticed over the course of this blog - and hell, even by the title of the blog itself - that I do not have the capabilities to see each and every movie I would want to see in the movie theater - it is just impossible. I might get the chance to see a handful in the theater each and every year - which is why my selections to see those movies must be the absolute best films.

So, like I said above, the rest of the films I want to see come to me like magic through the mail and land in my mailbox - four at a time each and every week. Which is absolutely amazing.

Again, what is my beef?

Well, over the course of the past few years (my facts on this are not accurate, so please don't punish me for that) Netflix has apparently made a deal with some companies to hold off on sending customers such as myself newly released movies until about a month after they have already been released.

I have heard a few different reasons for this - to help with DVD sales and/or help with purchasing rentals through your television box. Either way, this is starting to piss me off.

I already have to wait through the movies entire run at the box office to not see, while everyone else is ranting and raving about it. Then, I have to wait for it to finally become available on DVD. Now, for a number of movies I now have to wait even longer.

Sure, it's only a month - but another month for some films can be an eternity. I had to wait for Inception and now it looks like I will be waiting for The Social Network. I have heard great things about these movies and I have put in my time waiting - why must I wait longer?

I hope there is eventually an end in sight where I, like almost everyone else, is able to get one of the new releases during the month it i actually released. Is that too much to ask?

Weeds: Season 1

I had recently been thinking about what exactly I am going to watch during the summer months on television.

Most of the television series that we watch are currently on summer hiatus. One of my favorite summer shows, Entourage, was pushed to September due to the writer's strike.

So, I started looking around to see what shows are being broadcast during the summer months that I might be interested in. There was a list of five possibilities, but one really jumped out at me. I had never watched it before, but had heard it was rather good: Weeds.

Weeds stars Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin. Season Four is due to start on Showtime (or has started already) and I had not seen any of the seasons. Lucky for me, Netflix currently has season 1 and 2 on Watch It Now.

So, I have just finished season 1. Nancy is a mother of two sons, who had just lost her husband to a heart attack. In order to continue their current lifestyle, Nancy must find work. She was referred to by her brother-in-law Andy (Justin Kirk) to a friend of his named Conrad (Romany Malco).

Conrad and his family are drug dealers, who help Nancy get started in the pot dealing business. Although, extremely green, Nancy begins dealing to a lot of the high-class citizens in her neighborhood, especially her CPA Doug Wilson (Kevin Nealon) and her best friend's husband Dean (Andy Milder).

The whole first season is about Nancy growing as a dealer and learning the ropes thanks to help from Conrad. It also shows her downfalls of trying to support a family, who have issues dealing with their father's death, while also learning her new career.

Parker, although I have never really noticed her before as an actress, is pretty good in the lead role. You sort of get right away that she is in over head, but must do what she can to get money for her family.

The greatest character on the show is Nealon. He is absolutely perfect in the stoner role, and his comic timing is brilliant. It's a lot like Happy Gilmore Nealon.

I am hoping to get caught up on this series so that I can watch at least most of season 4 while it is on this season. I really enjoyed the first season, although it isn't Entourage, I am definitely intrigued to see where things can go during season 2.

Grade:

Random Netflix Movie #5: Numb

I usually tend to watch these Random Netflix Movies when I have a brief amount of time on my hands, therefore they tend to run within the 90 minute range. So, I am almost always browsing the comedy section - most comedies can usually be told with 90 minutes.

So, I happened upon this movie called Numb starring Matthew Perry. I have been a huge fan of Perry for awhile, heightened of course by his portrayal as Chandler on Friends. So when seeing him in a starring role for a film, I thought I would check it out - heck it was also in the comedy section.

Well, I have to say that Netflix really got their labels wrong on this one. Perhaps they saw Perry in a film, and much like me, assumed it must be a comedy. But, I didn't really laugh during this film - it's premise was definitely more on the drama side.

Hudson (Perry) has lost touch with reality. He is diagnosed with depersonalization (quick definition: Depersonalization (or depersonalisation) is an 'alteration' in the perception or experience of the self so that one feels 'detached' from, and as if one is an 'outside' observer of, one's mental processes or body.)

Throughout the film he is desperately trying to find a cure for this ailment. He is a 'writer' along with his partner Tom (Kevin Pollack) - Hudson, as he later describes, is not really the writer, but the bullshitter when it comes time to pitch Tom's ideas to companies. During a pitch, he meets Sara (Lynn Collins) and is somewhat, but not completely, brought out of his head and into reality. They form a quick bond and soon are a couple. Despite still suffering from his ailment, Hudson asks Sara to marry him - and her reaction is to wait until he is fixed. But, he doesn't believe he is ever going to be fixed, and in order to ease her out of loving him, he sabotages the relationship.

After a string of therapists, including a cognitive specialist named Dr. Cheryl Blaine (Mary Steenburgen), with whom he has a sexual relationship with, and she becomes attached to him - Hudson realizes there might be no hope.

The only true stability in Hudson's life has been his father. His mother was distant, and his older brother hardly had anything to do with him - but his father was always there for him, and always comforted him. Hudson had always been afraid to talk about his father and death, in fear of losing him. But it wasn't until his father did die that he started to take charge of his disease (that and his arrest for stealing shoes).

Hudson was able to track down Sara at a video store and confessed his true feelings to her, telling her that he would love her for ever no matter what, but it would be nicer with her in the picture.

This movie had sort of a Garden State feel to it. Zach Braff's character in Garden State was also a highly medicated person, who had no real connection with the outside world - he too was always inside of his own head. And it was a girl that helped him figure things out in the end.

Although I went into the movie expecting a comedy, I wasn't totally disappointed. I felt Perry did a pretty nice job in the film, and although I am not really familiar with Collins, she too was pretty decent. I give the film a 3/5. Although, I would recommend Garden State ahead of this one.

Newsworthy Notes: I plan on revamping my grading process a little bit. I am a frequent visitor to the blog of Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob and I like the way he has his ratings setup (as long as he doesn't mind of course). I will try and figure out my own little way of using movie quotes to rate the movies, though.

Another blog should be out today, if I have time, documenting my wonderful weekend. So check back if you wish.

Random Netflix Movie #4: The Ten

Boy, I should get an award or something for actually making it through the 93 minutes it took to finish this film.

Looking at the cast - Paul Rudd, Jessica Alba, Oliver Platt, Gretchen Mol, Liev Schreiber, Winona Ryder, Ken Marino, Adam Brody and Famke Janssen - you'd think this is a can't miss hit. Well, that couldn't be further from the truth.

The Ten is a movie, well actually 10 little 'plays' really, about the 10 Commandments. Paul Rudd is the story teller, who actually ends up being 'Thou Shall Not Commit Adultery.'

Basically, a short little story is shown that somehow relates to one of the 10 Commandments, and what can happen if it is not followed - it is supposed to be a comedy mind you. However, this movie is extremely dumb, and not the usual kind of movie comedy dumb (those I usually enjoy), this was just plan dumb - and frankly, I didn't really get the humor.

I forced myself to finish the movie, but I am not recommending it to anyone. I am giving it a 1/5 in my grading system.

Random Netflix Movie #3: Buying the Cow

I have some good news. D.J. Qualls was not in this viewing of random Netflix movies. The rumor of my love for him can now officially die ----- I hope.

Anyway, on to the task at hand. I was able to jump on Netflix again today to check out yet another Random Netflix Movie. Today's winner was Buying the Cow.

I find it pretty remarkable that so many well known actors can make so many not-so-well known movies. Buying the Cow is just another one of those examples. The movie stars: Jerry O'Connell, Ryan Reynolds, Bill Bellamy, Ron Livingston, Bridgette Wilson and Alyssa Milano.

O'Connell is the main character of the movie, David Collins. Collins has been dating Sarah (Wilson) for five years when one night he gets a phone call from his friend, Tyler (Livingston), that he just met a remarkable woman and he is getting married. Tyler before this was the groups born to be a bachelor for life.

So anyway, this news basically throws his relationship with Sarah into a "shit or get off the pot" moment, as Sarah now wants to get married. She gives David a two month window - where she will be in New York on business - and when she returns he would need to know where he wanted the relationship to go.

The title of the movie comes from the line "Why by the cow, when you can have the milk for free". So, although David is nowhere near ready to get married, he must make the decision to do it or lose Sarah forever.

Reynolds plays Mike Hanson, another of David's college friends, who has a pretty interesting lifestyle as well. He is the guy who can get any woman he wants, and usually does. There is a pretty interesting subplot with him as well - which is pretty hilarious. Also, for those who like Reynolds - you can basically see him naked for most of the film - if you like that sort of thing.

Bellamy and Milano are also characters in the movie, but their roles aren't as significant as the others.

There is a large plot to the story that I am not going to go into in the review, but it is pretty important - and makes the ending, well, kinda creepy.

I still, however, would give this a 3/5 ranking. Not a band watch, and pretty funny at times. I have always been a fan of both O'Connell and Reynolds - and I love Livingston in Office Space.

Random Netflix Movie #2: I'm Reed Fish

I ventured into Netflix again today, and watched another random movie, so here is my second entry in the Random Netflix Movie journal.

I'm Reed Fish is a movie with a lot of recognizable names in its cast. The main character Reed Fish is played by Jay Baruchel (Knocked Up). Kate is played by Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls), Schuyler Fish (Orange County) plays Jill, Katey Sagal (Married With Children) is Maureen, and for the second Random Netflix Movie in a row, D.J. Qualls (The Core) plays Andrew.

I know what you're thinking, I have some fetish about D.J. Qualls, but honest to God I had no idea he was in this movie, nor the one I watched before. Just proved to be coincidence.

OK, on to the movie. Well, I'm Reed Fish is a pretty odd tale. There is a pretty random twist which you find out right away, that the story being told is, in fact, a story. Reed Fish made a movie about his life, and is showing it to the town in which it took place. So this is a movie within a movie (do ya understand?).

Anyway, Reed is from a very small town and is the local radio personality, along with Mayor Maureen (Sagal). Reed's father was the voice of the town before Reed took over. His parents were both killed in a car crash, along with his fiance's mother. Reed's fiance in the movie is Kate (Bledel).

This is sort of a Sweet Home Alabama-type movie, but played in the opposing viewpoint. Instead of seeing the person coming back from the 'big' city, you see the person who never left be infatuated with the girl who did. Jill (Fisk) is a girl that graduated high school with Reed, but moved away to go to college. When she returns, things sort of get thrown for a loop, as Reed starts to realize that his life has sort of been planned out for him due to his father's death.

In a drunken moment, one night, Reed plants a kiss on Jill, who returns the favor. It is sort of to be expected, Reed had never seemed like he wanted to get married to Kate anyway, but was just going through the motions. Well, after telling Kate, she ended the wedding - and due to the small town they lived in - Reed became hated by everyone.

But, who would Reed end up with in the end? The girl he had been friends with all of his life (Kate), but accidentally ended up hurting. Or the girl who woke him up from the already-picked-out life he had been leading?

That's up to you to find out, if you wish to check out the movie. The whole movie-within-a-movie thing kind of confuses you a bit, because you associate Bledel as Kate and Fisk as Jill. But, they are only actors in Fish's movie. Kate ends up being Valerie Azlynn in the end of the movie, and the 'real' Jill is played by Shiri Appleby - confusing? Yes, but it all sort of makes sense - I promise.

This movie was not as good as Lone Star State of Mind nor was it nearly as funny. Baruchal, I feel, is not really a leading man, but more a secondary character. Bledel was pretty good as usual, and Fisk really surprised me - I was not a fan of hers in Orange County, but she was a lot better in this one. Qualls was again the comic relief in the movie, but they didn't use him as well, nor as much as they should have.

Until next time.

Random Netflix Movie #1: Lone Star State of Mind

I have been a Netflix user now for about 4 or 5 years. It's a pretty decent service for the price that you pay. They send you three movies at a time and when you are finished with them, you send them back and three more are sent to you. If you time things right you could get up to 12 movies a month, plus get newly released movies the day after they come out.

Anyway, about a year ago, with the whole automatic viewing thing going down, Netflix started allowing users to watch movies directly from their website, whenever they felt like it. Now the selection isn't complete, so you can't just select any movie, but when you're bored and looking for something to watch, it's a free movie to watch.

I have not taken advantage of this until recently, so I thought that I would begin a semi-annual blog post about a Random Netflix Movie that I have watched. I just completed Lone Star State of Mind a movie made in 2002 that stars Joshua Jackson (Dawson's Creek), Jaime King (Pearl Harbor), DJ Qualls (Road Trip) and Ryan Hurst (Remember the Titans).

The movie is based in Bennett, Texas and is about Earl (Jackson), whose mother marries Baby's (King) father, played by a surprise performance from John Mellencamp. Anyway, Earl and Baby have been dating since the 11th grade, but now technically he is dating his step-sister, which is a joke throughout the movie.

Baby's cousin Junior (Qualls) is a bit of a dumbass, who is constantly getting into trouble. After getting thrown in jail, Baby makes Earl promise to look after Junior, and make sure he doesn't get into any more trouble - which is where the story really begins.

Junior and Tinker (Hurst) decide to rob a pizza delivery boy one night, which turns out to be a front for a drug dealer. Junior steals a bag out of the pizza guy's truck with a lot of cash and drugs in it. Thinking they hit the jackpot, Junior goes out and buys some expensive boots, and Tinker calls a friend from jail about purchasing the drugs. Earl gets wind of this and gets himself involved.

To sum up the story, Baby and Earl are four days away from moving to LA when all of this goes down. The drug dealers find out who stole their money and, obviously, try to get it back from them. But, the guy from jail that Tinker calls also tries to get the money and drugs from Junior, and thus thrusting Earl and Baby in the middle of a shootout.

I won't spoil the ending, but for a movie that I had never heard of and wasn't expecting much it was pretty decent. The star power was pretty good, with a surprise appearance from Thomas Haden Church as well. The accent used by Jackson was pretty annoying though, but you can get by that. The movie in all was pretty good, and worth a watch. If, of course, you have time and are bored. The movie isn't winning any oscars, but Hurst and Qualls were pretty hilarious in their roles, so for that alone I would recommend it.