Raging Bull

Date Released: December 19, 1980
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent
Genre: Drama/Biography
Rating: 8.4/10 (IMDB.com)

If you haven't seen this movie, I suggest you get out from the rock your under and witness motion picture history! "Raging Bull" is based on the memoir Raging Bull: My Story written by former middle-weight champion Jake LaMotta.
Robert De Niro plays boxer LaMotta, a paranoid and violent prize-fighter who's abusive tendencies destroy his relationships with his wife (Moriarty) and brother (Pesci). Based on a true story, "Raging Bull" follows the life and career of LaMotta and his bouts with famous fighters such as Marcell Cedan and Sugar Ray Robinson. It also follows LaMotta's life after boxing and self destructive behavior.
The story is compelling to me because it portrays human nature in such a way that is rarely portrayed; realistically. Most films are scared to dive deep into some of the complex ways of human behavior, but this film holds no punches and explores the true jealous, violent, and deviant nature of some men.
When you watch this film you will be taken aback by LaMotta's animalistic behavior and the way he treats and acts towards people. A credit to De Niro's brilliant acting, who by the way gained and lost over 60 lbs for this role. In the behind the scenes features of the DVD, Vicki LaMotta, who is played by Cathy Moriarty in the film, stated that when she saw this movie, Jake LaMotta asked her if he was "really that bad?" Vicki said, "No, you were worse."
Shot in black and white, Scorsese does a magnificent job in directing this culturally significant film. Lauded by many critics and polls as one of the best movies to ever be made, it truly is Scorsese's best film and De Niro's best role.
This movie helped launch the career of Joe Pesci and Frank Vincent as well. Scorsese always seems to cast Vincent and Pesci in dueling roles in many of his films. They converse in such an authentic way that they don't ever seem to be acting. I must admit, some scenes in this film are so unbelievable that all you can do is sit back and laugh. But you won't be laughing out of humor, you'll be laughing out at how a human being could actually act in the manner LaMotta did.
You should buy this movie and display it on your mantle to show people that visit your home that you have the wherewithal to know what a great film is.

My Rating: 9.2/10
Available: DVD

Posted by Matt

The Cooler

Date Released: November 6, 2003
Director: Wayne Kramer
Cast: William H. Macy, Maria Bello, Alec Baldwin, Ron Livingston, Paul Sorvino
Genre: Drama
Rating: 7.0/10 (IMDB.com)

I had heard a lot about this film from friends and finally got around to watching it. "The Cooler" is about a former gambling addict and bad luck charm named Bernie Lootz (William H. Macy) who works for the Shangri-La Casino as a "cooler" under his old friend Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin) in order to pay off an old gambling debt. Bernie, who is quitting his job in seven days, meets a cocktail waitress (Maria Bello) who quickly begins to change his luck.
A cooler is an individual who makes his presence at tables where customers are winning in order to make them loose strictly by chance. Also known as "chillers", the concept itself is hilarious and outdated, but there was a time casinos did employ "bad luck people" in order to stave off winning streaks from customers.
Shelly Kaplow once cured Bernie's gambling problem by shattering his knee with a baseball bat, which Bernie is completely grateful for! Under Kaplow's employment, Bernie is seven days away from finally paying off his gambling debts. His effectiveness as a cooler is jeopardized when he meets a cocktail waitress named Natalie and his luck begins to change. Bernie doesn't know that Kaplow has paid her to fall in love with him in order to get him to stay. While this takes place, Kaplow's running of the casino is called into question by a group of investors who are not happy with the nostalgic ways in which he runs it. Kaplow considers the current Las Vegas to be a "Disneyland mook fest", and refuses to give in to more lucrative based operations.
This is a very entertaining film. There was a lot of controversy with the movie when it was made due to a graphic sex scene involving Maria Bello's character. The MPAA gave the film an NC-17 rating until they edited it out. The film is well acted and well written, and Baldwin is great. I did find the style of the film to be off-putting at times because although it can be humorous, it is very dark and disturbing also. There's a scene where Balwin's character catches and beats a cheater, breaks his legs and kicks his "pregnant" girlfriend in the stomach. You'll see, watch! All in all, a very good film, especially for those that like gambling genres.

My Rating: 7.8/10
Available: DVD

Posted by Matt

Thank You For Smoking

Release Date:14 April 2006 (USA)
Director: Jason Reitman
Stars:Aaron Eckhart, Cameron Bright and Maria Bello
Genres:Comedy | Drama
Rating: 7.8/10 (IMDB.com)

Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart) is a successful lobbyist on behalf of the tobacco industry. His is the face of Big Tobacco, and his job is to defend the reputation of Big Tobacco when anti-smoking sentiment seems to be everywhere.

Whn he's not working, Nick is raising his 12 year old son, Joey (Cameron Bright). There is quite a bit of dialogue between Nick and Joey as Nick tries to help Joey understand some of the apparent contradictions between what he says publicly and what he says when at home. Being a role model to Joey is clearly one of Nick's priorities.

The movie has its share of creative dialogue, instances where Nick turns a seemingly strong argument against smoking on its head using creative or unexpected logic. The story progresses through a business trip where Nick visits the Marlboro Man in person, speaks before Congress and is kidnapped and nearly killed by nicotine patches. All the while Nick stays true to his son and his cause, an unwavering example of persistence that is easy to admire.

This is an excellent movie, eliciting sympathy from the audience for an individual many people would otherwise love to hate. I consider it to be well done, with a nice balance of thought provoking dialogue, action, suspense and drama that has kept my attention each time I have watched and re-watched it.


My rating: excellent (out of superb)


posted by: Thomas

127 Hours

Date Released: January 28, 2011
Director:  Danny Boyle
Cast: James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara, Treat Williams
Genre: Adventure/Drama
Rating: 8.0/10 (IMDB.com)

     James Franco stars as Aron Ralston, a mountain climber who is forced to cut off his right forearm to free himself from a boulder that wedges it against a canyon wall.  Based on a true story and the book "Between a Rock and a Hard Place", written by Aron Ralston, "127 Hours" follows the events leading up to, during, and after the incident in which Ralston taps into his survival instincts and manages to escape a slow and inevitable death.
     Mountain climbing in Utah, Ralston falls in between a crevice and manages to get himself trapped in an inconceivable situation; his right forearm stuck between a boulder and a canyon wall.  Ralston fails to leave a note telling anyone where he is going and his only tools are a climbing rope, a video camera, some food and water, and a meager multipurpose tool (not a Swiss Army Knife).  Director Danny Boyle does a great job in portraying what this unfortunate situation was like for Ralston; the initial panic that set in, the failed attempts to free himself, and eventually, the bravery he had in actually cutting off his own forearm!  I don't know if I could have done it, could you?
     I highly recommend this film on the basis that I have never seen a story quite like it.  James Franco was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role and the movie was also nominated for Best Picture.  Franco is great in the movie and does a terrific job in selling his character.  Audiences will definitely be entertained but certainly grossed out by this film, but it is not so graphic that it becomes unwatchable.  Ralston's story is truly one of guts, courage, and the ultimate will of human survival.

My Rating: 8.1/10
Available on DVD

Posted by Matt

   

Shutter Island

Date Released: February 19, 2010
Director:  Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, Max von Sydow, Jackie Earle Haley,Ted Levine, John Carroll Lynch, Elias Koteas, Patricia Clarkson
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Rating: 8.0/10

Let me start off by saying any movie with Leonado DiCaprio is a must see! He's such a great actor. I saw this movie on Netflix a few times and I was actually afraid to hit play because of what was to come. The movie looked pretty scary, and to my surprise it was 50/50. It was more suspense than scary. The movie is set in 1954 where U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels is investigating the disappearances of a murderess that was being held in a hospital for the criminally insane. as the movie goes on you are lead to believe that the whole thing was a setup to get Teddy Daniels and his partner to the ward to operate on Teddy's brain. The movie is full of a lot of twists and turns. I cant really give away any more information or it will ruin the movie for the people who want to see it. All I can say is be prepared for anything!!

Latonya

Tangled

Date Released: November 10, 2010
Director: Nathan Greno , Byron Howard Cast: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy, Brad Garrett, Ron Perlman, Jeffrey Tambor, Richard Kiel, M. C. Gainey, and Paul F. Tompkins
Genre: Animation, Kids & Family, Musical & Performing Arts, Comedy
Rating: 8.4/10

Tangled is a great family movie. The movie is based off of the Disney story Rapunzel with a 2010 spin. The movie begins with Rapunzel being stolen from her Royal family by an old women. The reason you ask? Rapunzel's hair is magic. The magic is her hair causes the person who sings to it to stay young. In the normal story Rapunzel gets saved from the tower by a strong prince, not in Tangled. In Tangled the prince is a known thief around the kingdom and wanders into Rapunzel's life. As soon as he gets there they both make a deal with each other and the cute, yet funny adventure begins. As always the tale has a happy ending. The musical aspect of the movie is great. the way that Disney took pieces from the original Rapunzel and made it into a modern day movie is fantastic. Must see for both the adults and the children.

Latonya

Hairspray

Date Released: July 20, 2007
Director:  Adam Shankman
Cast: John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Brittany Snow, Nicole Blonsky, Zac Efron, Allison Janney

Genre: Comedy
Rating: 8/10

Hairspray is about a young plump teenager, Tracy Turnblad who wants to fulfill her dreams of dancing on the big screen of the hit show "Hairspray". The movie takes place in 1962 Baltimore, Maryland where segregation still was very much entertained. The movie is great as the story shows how a young teenage girl fights the odds of both being overweight, fulfilling her dreams as a dancer and making colored people her Friends. In the story as she battles against her enemy to win the heart of the hottie hunk Link Larkin, builds her own mother's confidence and helps her to leave the house, and expose the colored cast for their great dance moves on the show. The movie is a must see for those who enjoy musicals. I'm not really a musical fan, but some of the songs were catchy and I still sing them word for word today.

Latonya