Thursday, August 25, 2005

News


As of right now 2 movies ignite the anticipation in my mind, Elizabethtown due out in October, and Jarhead due out in November will hopefully be worth talking about long after seeing them.

With these two films release dates approaching, the buzz for them will increase, but hopefully there will be good buzz, "Jarhead" is already being mentioned as a lock for Best Picture and possibly director (Sam Mendes-American Beauty) and Elizabethtown is secretly anticipated by the Cameron Crowe fans who haven't seen his work since the underrated Vanilla Sky in 2001.

"Jarhead" will include Oscar Winners Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, the talented Jake Gylenhall, who bangs Kirsten Dunst in real life, and the unbelieveably un-noticed Peter Sarsgaard(Garden State, Kinsey, Shattered Glass) The story is told through the eyes of Anthony Swofford, an ex-marine who tells of his boredom and hate during the Gulf War, and other wars, Swofford is played by Gyllenhaal.(I'm reading the book, only on page 54)

Now Elizabethtown MUST be good, Crowe has hibernated and will come out of hibernation when this premiere bits nationwide. Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst, Susan Sarandon, Jessica Biel, and Alec Baldwin round out the cast. The story seems much structured along the blueprints of Garden State; guy comes home for funeral, guy meets, girl, guy figures out life, guy is set free. Now hopefully Croew can tell a different story that seems like a distant-cousin to Garden State, but a film that is still worth mentioning as a succesfull Crowe film.

Also some star reviews. 4 Brothers =3/4 stars Bottomline: Unrealistic, but very watchable
The 40 yr old. Virgin=3 /4 stars Bottomline: Simply doesn't have the upper hand on Wedding Crashers.

Sunday, August 7, 2005

"Hustle and Flow" vibrates the screen with authenticity

"Hustle and Flow"
Starring: Terrence Howard, Anthony Anderson, DJ Qualls, Taryn Manning, Ludacris, Elise Neal
3 and a half stars out of 4


Who would have ever guessed that midway through the cinema year and with the overrated summer movie list ending, a strong and unexpected heat wave would arrive called "Hustle and Flow." Another thing jumps into my head, is it a coincidence that the best movie of 2005 right now(Crash) and one of the best movies of the year (H&F) both have Terrence Howard and Ludacris in them?

Unknown rookie Craig Brewer and excitingly underrated Terrence Howard put together an original film about a pimp, and his mid-life crisis. The pimp is D Jay(Howard) and he seeks meaning right after hearing a gospel song sung right in front of him, not only does it make him seek out his dreams, but brings the lives of his surrounding prostitutes upward and provides them with hope.

TO BE CONTINUED( I HAVE TO WATCH ENTOURAGE)