This is cool - it makes me want to watch a bunch of movies:
Sunday, May 31, 2009
100 Best Movie Lines in 200 Seconds
Friday, May 29, 2009
Killshot - C
On DVD
Reports of Mickey Rourke’s demise and resurrection were greatly exaggerated this past Oscar season, but it made for a good story. In fact, he’s starred in many films in the past decade (Domino, Sin City, Man on Fire, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, The Pledge, Get Carter). The real drought was in the mid-late 90s. Unfortunately, Killshot follows that more recent oeuvre rather than Aronofsky’s near-masterpiece. But probably near or at the bottom of that list . . .
Rourke plays Blackbird, a native-American hitman with a braided ponytail, who’s haunted by the accidental death of his kid brother during a previous hit. When Blackbird meets Richie (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a wannabe tough guy, he sees a way to subdue his flashbacks and nightmares. But things go awry when the disciplined Blackbird allows the inconsistent Richie a little too much slack and a botched hit against a divorcing couple (Thomas Jane and Diane Lane) sets forth a violent and predictable chain of events. Rosario Dawson and Hal Holbrook fill out the fine cast.
Based on an Elmore Leonard novel, his touches are obvious (Detroit, infidelity, FBI), but his novel feels shortchanged by a 95 minute running time. Produced by Harvey Weinstein, you can feel the reshoots demanded by test screening audiences. You’re supposed to be rooting for Jane and Lane to work things out, but you haven’t spent enough time with either of them to care much. Dawson is likewise wasted. Given too much screen time is Gordon-Levitt, who may not be miscast, but chews scenery in the most distracting and unlikeable way possible.
Rourke doesn’t get to show off his terrific sense of humor, nor is he asked to show any range. But his presence is still as forceful. The home invasion subplot has been done better by Rourke himself in The Desperate Hours. Even worse, the plot takes some ludicrous turns: (Would Lane really try to take on Rourke – a professional hitman –with a shotgun when she doesn’t have to? Would the FBI really leave phone numbers of Lane’s relatives behind at her old house when she’s taken into the witness protection program? Of course not.) It's directed by Weinstein whipping boy John Madden (Shakespeare in Love), who doesn’t have a clue about action scenes and seems to have forgotten how to do dialogue scenes, too. C
Summer Movie Releases - 5/29
Up
Pixar studios has a pretty good (i.e. excellent, unmatched, flawless) track record: Toy Story (A-), A Bug’s Life (B+), Toy Story 2 (A-), Monsters, Inc. (B+), Finding Nemo (A), The Incredibles (A), Cars (B+), Ratatouille (A-), Wall-E (A-). Their 10th film has been getting early positive reviews. A septuagenarian ties some balloons to his house and flies off to South America for an adventure. But an unexpected and unwanted traveler (an 8 year old boy scout) ends up tagging along. I’m there.
Drag Me to Hell
Or don’t, thank you very much. Spiderman director Sam Raimi returns to his horror roots and has been getting universal praise for it. Alison Lohman will try to break a curse that’s been placed on her after she denied someone a loan. No, really. Sign of the times, I guess. I’m not there.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Terminator Salvation - B-
In theaters. Rated R, 114 minutes. Trailer.
First things first - I have never seen any Terminator movies. Parts of 1 and 2, but not the whole thing by any means, so my review will probably needed to be supplemented or superseded by Doctor to get perspective on its place within the series. This most recent installment stars Christian Bale as hero John Connor, a human survivor fighting super-machines in 2018 to control the earth. He works with and against Marcus Curry (Sam Worthington) to try and fight the machines and save Connor's father, the teenaged Kyle Reese (teenaged because of time travel). Click below for more on a pretty good action film.
The film begins with a death row conversation between condemned killer Curry and weird scientist Helena Bonham Carter about him donating his body to her research. He gives in and then director McG gives us the umpteenth film execution scene. We are then catapulted to Connor and crew raiding a Skynet (the bad guys) military installation wherein Connor establishes how great he is and his status as the unofficial leader of the resistance is established. He needs to save his father, Kyle Reese, but can't find him and he is at odds with the official command of the resistance. Then we join Curry as he is resurrected without knowledge of how he got there, but with memory of his bad past. He walks to LA and finds and joins up with Reese and a mute black girl that looks like the lost Jackson child. They get captured after a while and then Connor and the resistance find and return Reese.
I was thoroughly entertained throughout the film, with several really cool action sequences and fights. McG doesn't over-stylize the film, which is probably due to the considerable influence of Bale in the development of the story and in the editing room. There is a small twist in the film that most people over 100 IQ will get immediately, so only read on if your under 100 or don't think you will pick up on the surprise.
Curry is the new "T-800" super terminator that feels and looks entirely human. In that regard, the film revisits all of the themes of good, evil, humanity, etc that are dealt with (much better) in Blade Runner. I liked some of the themes of redemption and picked up on a few immigration and other racial themes that were interesting. All in all, the film is satisfying but not as good as I wanted it to be. As with most sci-fi movies, the plot and ridiculous circumstances are ridiculous enough to ruin the movie, but there was enough onscreen to keep my interest anyway. Worhtington was excellent, and Bale workmanlike if uninteresting.
Super Random Note: Did Michael Vick really do anything criminally wrong? Are dogs people? Is there a difference morally between a dog and an ant? I'm just saying...
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
5 Great Movie Monologues
“Donny was a good bowler and a good man. He was one of us. He was a man who loved the outdoors - and bowling, and as a surfer he explored the beaches of Southern California from La Jolla to Leo Carrillo and - up to - Pismo. He died - he died as so many young men of his generation before his time. In your wisdom, Lord, you took him, as you took so many bright flowering young men at Khe Sanh, at Langdok, at Hill 364. These young men gave their lives. And so would Donny. Donny, who loved bowling. And so, Theodore Donald Karabotsos, in accordance with what we think your dying wishes might well have been, we commit your final mortal remains to the bosom of the Pacific Ocean - which you loved so well. Good night, sweet prince.”
The Big Lebowski (1998)
John Goodman as Walter Sobchak
Screenplay by Joel and Ethan Coen 
“You came to see a race today; to see someone win. It happened to be me. But I want you to do more than just watch a race. I want you to take part in it. I want to compare faith to running in a race. It's hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul. You experience elation when the winner breaks the tape - especially if you've got a bet on him. But how long does that last? You go home. Maybe you're dinner's burnt. Maybe you haven't got a job. So who am I to say, "Believe, have faith," in the face of life's realities? I would like to give you something more permanent, but I can only point the way. I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within. Jesus said, "Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. If with all your hearts, you truly seek me, you shall ever surely find me." If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race.”
Chariots of Fire (1981)
Ian Charleson as Eric Liddell
Screenplay by Colin Welland
“Why shouldn't I work for the N.S.A.? That's a tough one, but I'll take a shot. Say I'm working at the N.S.A. and somebody puts a code on my desk, something nobody else can break. Maybe I take a shot at it and maybe I break it. And I'm real happy with myself 'cause I did my job well. But maybe that code was the location of some rebel army in North Africa or the Middle East and once they had that location, they bomb the village where the rebels are hiding. 1500 people that I never met, never had no problem with, get killed. Now the politicians are sayin', "Oh, send in the Marines to secure the area" 'cause they don't give a sh!t. It won't be their kid over there gettin' shot. Just like it wasn't them when their number got called, 'cause they were of pullin' a tour in the National Guard. It'll be some kid from Southie over there takin' shrapnel in the @ss. And he comes back to find that the plant he used to work at got exported to the country he just got back from. And the guy who put the shrapnel in his @ss got his old job, 'cause he'll work for 15 cents a day and no bathroom breaks. Meanwhile, he realizes the only reason he was over there in the 1st place was so that we could install a government that would sell us oil at a good price. And, of course, the oil companies used a little skirmish over there to scare up domestic oil prices. A cute little ancillary benefit for them, but it ain't helping my buddy at $2.50 a gallon. And they're takin' their sweet time bringin' the oil back, of course, and maybe even took the liberty of hiring an alcoholic skipper who likes to drink martinis and f@ckin' play slalom with the icebergs. It ain't too long 'til he hits one, spills the oil and kills all the sea life in the North Atlantic. So now my buddy's out of work, he can't afford to drive, so he's walkin’ to the f@ckin' job interviews, which sucks 'cause the shrapnel in his @ss is givin' him chronic hemorrhoids. And meanwhile he's starvin', 'cause every time he tries to get a bite to eat, the only blue plate special they're servin' is North Atlantic scrod with Quaker State. So what did I think? I'm holdin' out for somethin' better. I figure f@ck it, while I'm at it why not just shoot my buddy, take his job, give it to his sworn enemy, hike up gas prices, bomb a village, club a baby seal, hit the hash pipe and join the National Guard? I could be elected president.”
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Matt Damon as Will Hunting
Screenplay by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck
“A lot of people think this is just a job that you go to. Take a lunch hour - job's over. Something like that. But it's a 24-hour deal. No 2 ways about it. And, what most people don't see - is just how hard it is to do the right thing. People think if I make a judgment call, that that's a judgment on them, but that’s not what I do. And that's not what should be done. I have to take everything, and play it as it lays. Sometimes people need a little help. Sometimes people need to be forgiven. And sometimes they need to go to jail. And that is a very tricky thing on my part - making that call. I mean, the law is the law. And heck if I'm gonna break it. You can forgive someone. Well, that's the tough part. What can we forgive? Tough part of the job. Tough part of walking down the street.”
Magnolia (1999)
John C. Reilly as Jim Kurring
Screenplay by Paul Thomas Anderson
“I've been around this block twice now. Looking for something. A clue. I've been looking for clues and something led me back here. Yep. So here I am. It could have been me, the one who was at Ringo's place when the sh!t went down. Hey. I know how it is. I've been there. We've all done bad things. We've all had those guilty feelings in our heart. You wanna take your brain out of your head and wash it and scrub it and make it clean. I don't know. But I'm going to help you settle this. First we're going to check for holes and see what we can find. Then we're going to get nice and wet, and you're going to spread your legs. Oh, that's good. So you know me. You know my reputation. 13 inches is a tough load, I don't treat you gently. That's right. I'm Brock Landers. So I'm going to be nice. So I'm going to be nice. So I'm going to be nice, and I'm going to ask you one more time. Where the f@ck is Ringo? . . . I am a star. I’m a star, I’m a star, I’m a star. I’m a big, bright, shining star. That’s right.”
Boogie Nights (1997)
Mark Wahlberg as Dirk Diggler
Screenplay by Paul Thomas Anderson
The Duchess - B
On DVD and Blu-Ray
Keira Knightley gets suited up for a costume drama once again, this time playing Georgiana, who, at the age of 17, married the older Duke of Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes). At first, she can’t provide a male heir so marriage tensions rise. G (as she is called) meets Bess Foster and they form a close friendship, which will be torn apart when Bess finds a way to get her 3 estranged sons back. Meanwhile, G recognizes her longtime love for Charles Grey, who she’s known since before she was married. The duke and duchess will commit infidelities, which complicate their public appearances and responsibilities – as well as their relationships with their children.
Fiennes’s character is naturally withdrawn and subdued so he can be forgiven for his wooden portrayal. Knightley is terrific dealing with love, lust, and fear – and for the first time, mothering. She really sells the relationship with her kids. The supporting cast is strong. The music swells as just the right times, enhancing the emotions of the scenes. The costumes, sets, and cinematography are all well done, and fans of period romances or dramas should have no complaints. Based on a true story, the film takes some unexpected turns and is interesting when compared to the late Princess Diana of recent times. The film drops the politics in favor of the romance - which basically works. But what works best and hits home is the notion that most any parent will shuffle off their selfish desires for the well-being of their children. The contrast between idealism and realism is satisfactorily portrayed as is the observation that childhood should be a protected time of innocence before the harsh adult world arrives. B
Monday, May 25, 2009
DVD Releases - 5/26/09
The Devil’s Tomb
Killshot
New in Town - #
Outlander
Powder Blue - #
Click below for this week's Blu-ray releases
Children of Men - *
Cinderella Man - *
Falling Down
Field of Dreams - *
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Seabiscuit
True Romance - *
# - Also on Blu-Ray
* - Doctor Approved
Management - B
In theaters. Rated PG-13, 93 minutes. Trailer.
Management is an uneven but surprisingly touching and funny film. Starring Steve Zahn as the man-child Mike and Jennifer Aniston as his love interest, Sue, the film creates real relationships but veers wildly as the story unfolds. Mike lives in and helps run his parents motel in Kingman, Arizona, where he strikes an unlikely and forced friendship with Sue, a short term guest at the hotel. After she lets him touch her butt (and more), he pursues her like a romantic puppy dog. Click below for more Management.
He shows up at her office in Maryland, and they get to spend a little time together, then they see eachother occasionally until she quits her job and moves to Aberdeen, Washington to live with her ex-boyfriend, ex-punk Jango (Woody Harrelson). Mike follows her there but isn't succesful, despite lots of trying. He then has a spiritual crisis, grows up a little and then again goes after her.
Zahn is funny and earnest in his portrayal of Mike, a semi-realistic character, and Aniston puts in another solid dramedy performance as she leads a life of quiet desperation. Zahn's friendship with his Chinese friend was good and funny - the same goes for Harrelson, who plays the weirdo boyfriend perfectly.
The film's tone is silly for the first half, then goes all sappy, which I completely bought. I found myself really wrapped up in how the film played out - a rarity. I may hate sci-fi, but sappy love stories apparently are my soft-spot. A solid film.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
New Trailers
1. Sherlock Holmes - Robert Downey Jr. in the title role, Jude Law as Watson and Rachel McAdams as the love interest. Directed by Guy Ritchie. Maybe.
2. 27 Club - Interesting film about a guy in a band that commits suicide when he turns 27 and how his best friend and 27 year old bandmate deals with it.
3. In The Loop - British political comedy with James Gandolfini. Either an A or a D, can't tell from the trailer.
4. Bonus: Ricky Gervais on Letterman from Friday.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Valkyrie - B
On July 20, 1944, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) and a his conspirators tried to seize control of the German government by assassinating Adolf Hitler and implementing Operation Valkyrie, which allowed some higher ups in the government to falsely claim that SS members loyal to Hitler were actually trying to stage a coup. The political details and entanglements get much more complicated than that, as does the plot itself with its 2 dozen characters whose own loyalty is sometimes unknown. Co-writers Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects) and Nathan Alexander do an admirable of job of organizing the events and director Bryan Singer squeezes a surprising amount of tension out of several moments. Singer also provides some beautiful aerial shots of forests and stages some solid action scenes (North Africa and the ending shootout).
But while Singer casts his film with a very accomplished bunch (Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Terence Stamp), none rise above the material to excite or interest. David Bamber’s Hitler isn’t a close match in appearance and pales in comparison to Bruno Ganz’s electrifying performance in Downfall. Cruise is OK, but always looks out of place in period films (The Last Samurai, Far and Away), partly because he’s the epitome of the modern Hollywood star. In 1943 North Africa, von Stauffenberg lost his right hand, his left eye, and his left 4th and 5th fingers. These serve more as distractions than adding to Cruise's character. We’re used to seeing Tom Cruise whole, usually with an internal struggle rather than an external one. His character never doubts his motivations, even when his wife and children are endangered and this is a lost opportunity to give the film added weight.
The film feels like a spruced up version of a History Channel special. Von Stauffenberg’s moral certainty is inspiring, but the numerous characters and lack of time spent with each dilute the dramatic impact. It’s a plot-driven film and the characters are an afterthought - which isn’t necessarily bad, just not exceptionally rewarding. B
Surrogates Trailer
I always knew deep down Bruce Willis wished he had hair. Lawyer will be all over this graphic novel adaptation.
Continue reading this postThursday, May 21, 2009
The Girlfriend Experience - B
Steven Soderbergh used a fragmented narrative to great effect in The Limey which was appropriate because it seemed Wilson (Terrence Stamp) was replaying all the events back in his head on the flight back to London. In The Girlfriend Experience, Sasha Grey plays Christine, a high-end call-girl in New York City trying to expand her business in the weeks before the 2008 presidential election. Her clients know her as Chelsea; some want her physically and some want to talk, but all are worried about the economy. Money (or the lack of it) is also an issue with her boyfriend of around 18 months who works as a physical trainer and has rich friends. They will find something to fight about when Christine decides to break one of their longtime rules . . .
The “plot” is thin and only exists to have director Soderbergh explore issues of commerce, loneliness, sex, politics, and hypocrisy. He often sets the camera far away from the actors which allow the New York settings to assume another character. He lets the action play out, especially in a >5 minute uninterrupted take where the couple fight. Frequently, the actors’ faces are partially obscured by chairs, weight machines, columns, etc. Since the characters hide things from each other (and themselves), it’s only natural that Soderbergh couldn’t see it all either. When an entire face is visualized, it’s usually from a low-angle or an oblique angle, sometimes out of focus. Soderbergh (under pseudonym Peter Andrews) serves as his own cinematographer yet again and keep things interesting with deep blues and browns. On a Lear jet flight to Las Vegas, he allows the light from the windows to overpower the actors. The significance of this is unknown, but it is distinctive and unusual.
But the fragmented narrative serves no real purpose here. It’s as if Soderbergh knew he had no “story” and needed to chop up his film to give it some life. The scenes and observations within them don’t connect and the sum total is less than the parts. Predictably, most people are pro-Obama (it’s NYC after all) and McCain is quietly dismissed as a good man on the wrong team. The one big McCain supporter is a Orthodox Jew who is worried about Obama’s effect on Israel. Of course, since he’s seeing a call girl, it’s an easy way to kill 2 birds with 1 stone by marginalizing religion and Republicans at the same time. I did like the film for its modernity and Soderbergh’s direction, but the themes don’t connect upon reflection. And unlike The Limey, the juxtaposition of any scene with another scene would not have mattered one bit. B
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Summer Movie Releases 5/21-22/09
Terminator: Salvation
McG’s directorial track record is spotty at best (the Charlie’s Angels films, We Are Marshall), but this one doesn’t look as bad as expected. The third Terminator film was solid if not so memorable. It remains to be seen if a Terminator film can make serious cash without Arnold. Though, Christian Bale has been in one or two moneymakers lately. Opens 5/21.
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Yikes. I do like Ben Stiller, but he’s much better in R-rated films letting loose than pandering to kids. I didn’t like the first film, and I probably won’t catch this one until it debuts on HBO. Maybe not even then.
The Girlfriend Experience
Steven Soderbergh is usually interesting when he goes low budget. Sasha Grey (who Priest has informed me is a real porn star) shows off her acting “chops”. This one’s opens in theaters but played on HDNet Movies tonight. It gets a B but I'm still working on a full review.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
DVD Releases - 5/19/09
Driven to Kill - #
Eden Log - #
Fanboys
The Friends of Eddie Coyle (Criterion) - *
My Bloody Valentine 3-D - #
Paul Blart: Mall Cop - #
Taking Chance - * (Now’s your chance, Priest)
True Blood: The Complete First Season - #
Valkyrie - #
Click below for this week's Blu-ray releases
3 Days of the Condor - *
Army of Darkness
Batman
A Bug’s Life
Changing Lanes
Circle of Iron
Enemy at the Gates
Lion for Lambs
The Machinist
Paycheck
Terminator 2: Judgment Day - *
# - Also on Blu-Ray
* - Doctor Approved
Monday, May 18, 2009
SNL - Will Ferrell - 5/16/09
After yet another lazy cheapshot at George W. Bush, Ferrell gave a terrible monologue. Things picked up with Lawrence Welk and Jeopardy skits. Both have been done better before, but were still pretty good here. A lame TNT basketball skit followed. Weekend Update was OK (with Will Ferrell being the best part). Then a funeral skit with lots of inappropriate speakers (done in another show at a wedding earlier this year). The last skit was best and had the entire cast singing Billy Joel's "Goodnight Saigon". I can't remember an SNL season finale ending so well (but it's not available online, of course). There were some strong hints that this was Darrell Hammond's last show and he did well. Also, coming up huge was Green Day with 2 pretty good songs ("Know Your Enemy" and "21 Guns") off of their new album (21st Century Breakdown). B
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Angels & Demons - B-
In theaters. Rated PG-13, 110 minutes. Trailer.
After a disappointing Da Vinci Code (B-), the general consensus has been that Angels & Demons is a better movie (Bride informs me that book is much better than DVC). I'll agree its better, but not much. Tom Hanks returns as Professor Robert Langdon, the Harvard symbologist that knows all of the symbols in the universe, especially Catholicism. The Vatican, faced with a threat involving symbols, reluctantly reaches out to him to help unravel an elaborate plot that threatens the church as it selects a new pope. Click below for more A&D:
A scientific group has created antimatter or "the god particle" and it is apparently easily transported in a thermos and if the battery runs out in the 'thermos' it will have the effect of a nuclear bomb. Said antimatter is stolen and used as the main threat by the Illuminati, an old group of scientists/intellectuals to defend themselves agains the Perga, which was the Catholic church's violent purge of scientists in the 17th century. Now, the group has kidnapped the 4 most likely candidates to be the new pope and says they will kill them, one per hour and then blow up the city with the antimatter at midnight. A word for the basic plot: BORING. Seriously, can't Dan Brown come up with some more interesting plot devices than this?
Anyway, Langdon heads to Rome and immediately does his schtick with the head of the Vatican security (Stellan Skarsgaard - who always seems like he is about to brag about the Fields medal) while he begs to get into the Vatican archives. His delivery of the "guys, you called me" (as seen in the trailer) is great, and he goes to the acting pope (the camerlengo), as portrayed by Ewan McGregor to get permission - which is granted. He needs to get in the archives to view some old manuscript of Galileo's in order to figure out where the 4 kidnapped cardinals will be killed and where the bomb is hidden. He teams up with his new female sidekick, who is 1/10th as 'talented' as Audrey Tautou, and starts a ridiculous tour of old Catholic churches.
All along, the cardinals charged with selecting the pope are meeting and working with McGregor to do what is best for the church amidst the turmoil. Armin Mueller Stahl is solid as the sage Cardinal leading the proceedings at odds with McGregor. AS the film wraps up, it gets much better - Langdon's final save and the way McGregor deals with the antimatter is really well done, all culminating in a too clever (but not unforeseen) twist. 
This is a disjointed film - the middle 40% of the film is VERY tedious as they go around doing the same thing 3 times (chasing down a church somewhere), but the beginning and end are (at times) really good. Director Ron Howard could've cut 30 minutes and had a much better film. The second trip to the archives, in particular, was totally unnecessary and boring, despite the 'suspenseful' breathing issues. Howard dumbs the already dumb plot down with stupid reaction shots and 'duh' dialogue throughout. I thought the plot was stupid from the beginning - a quasi-nuclear bomb can be transported in a thermos? The Roman police wouldn't shut down all the churches? When it wasn't dumb, it was boring.
The good stuff - I like the 'water save', the helicopter flight at the end, the discussion of faith with Langdon, and any scene with Stahl or McGregor.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
The Road Trailer
Trailer for The Road. Given its literary pedigree and quality actors (Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce, Robert Duvall), this is one of my most anticipated films of the year. Hopefully, relatively unknown director John Hillcoat (The Proposition) won't fumble the ball - I enjoyed the book as a study of man as he is without the trappings of society and morality, and how the struggle for survival compromises all of those things and reinforces our 'worser angels'. Priest's review of the book is here.
Continue reading this postTV Programming Notes
1) This is Jay Leno’s last week as The Tonight Show’s host and while I’m not a huge fan, this week’s guest list may provide some interesting moments. Conan O’Brien takes over on June 1.
Monday: Mel Gibson
Tuesday: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Wednesday: Wanda Sykes
Thursday: Billy Crystal
Friday: Conan O’Brien
2) SNL season finale with Will Ferrell is tonight. With Green Day.
3) Saturday Night Live “Just Shorts” is on Sunday night from 8-10 pm Central Standard Time. You’ve probably seen Samberg’s videos enough, but there could be some choice old ones (the synchronized swimming one with Martin Short and Harry Shearer is great).
"Nine" Trailer
Lawyer must be confused like no other time in his life. It’s Daniel Day-Lewis singing and dancing. He still looks pretty cool though. Directed by Chicago's Rob Marshall. Also starring the ubiquitous Penelope Cruz, the smoking hot Judi Dench, and Public Enemies co-star Marion Cotillard.
Continue reading this post30 Rock - Kidney Now!
The season finale had Jack putting on a benefit concert to find his father a kidney after he finds out he’s not a match. Liz uses her new catchphrase (“That’s a deal breaker!”) to gather fame and fortune. And Tracy goes back to his high school to speak at graduation but has to face some long-held fears. The best scene had Liz on a talk show giving relationship advice. Jack’s hatred for Jimmy Carter is hilarious as is the name of Tracy’s high school (Frank Lucas – Denzel in American Gangster). But Chris Parnell’s Dr. Leo Spacemen has never worked for me. Jack would never tolerate a doctor that incompetent. The cheap shot at Christianity was unfunny and unnecessary. The list of musical guest stars includes 
Clay Aiken, Mary J. Blige, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Adam Levine, Wyclef Jean, Cyndi Lauper, Moby, Michael McDonald, and a couple of the Beastie Boys. They were fine, especially the Beastie Boys (“Get a room!”), but the subject of kidney transplantation is too serious and not absurd enough to completely work. B
Medical note: Not addressed was the fact that people can live for decades without a kidney using dialysis. There’s no urgency to find one. The heart or liver on the other hand . . .
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