Remember when I was obsessed with the Coen brothers? Now I'm obsessed with someone else: Charlie Kaufman. For those who haven't heard of him, he is the brain behind Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and more. His ideas are unique, incredibly smart, and unbelievably original. His intense, brilliant writing is fantastically intriguing. I have decided to "rank" Kaufman's films once I have seen them all. But first, here's a list of the movies I've seen (an asterisk* indicates a movie I've seen):
Being John Malkovich (1999)*
Human Nature (2001)
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)
Adaptation. (2002)*
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)*
Synecdoche, New York (2008)*
Here is where the rankings will be:
And finally, here's a link to the much anticipated (by me) description of Frank or Francis.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Prometheus
Prometheus Rated R
Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and her boyfriend, Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) are archaeologists who find ancient artworks from around the world. All of these have something in common, someone worshipping to the same exact galaxy. They discover a galaxy that looks like the one on these ancient drawings. In that galaxy there is a sun, just like ours, and a planet that is the perfect distance from the sun for human life. They believe that there is life on this planet and that the people on that planet created us. So they go onboard Prometheus (a spaceship) to find that planet. On board with them is David (Michael Fassbender), a robot, Janek (Idris Elba), the flyer, Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron), the captain, and many more. One of the founders of the mission is Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce), a businessman who created David. He is instructing David to do different things for some sort of benefit of his. Soon they arrive at the planet and find that there definitely was human life there, but not anymore. All of the aliens they find are now dead. David, however, is more independent and goes to different places that Peter Weyland instructed him to, and he finds one possibly live alien. They David and Peter Weyland are secretly taking over.
Prometheus is extremely fun. It may not be flawless, but who cares? The point of Prometheus is to be on the edge of your seat while hugging your legs, not to see a perfect mind-bending movie. The visuals are amazing, and the landscape is unbelievable. The special effects are fantastic, and the acting (Notably Michael Fassbender and Noomi Rapace) is too. Some of the plot lines are unrealistic, but, hey, it's an alien movie. Being a fan of the original Alien I thought this was fantastic, but you have to really like watching aliens going into people's mouths, climbing out of their stomach, and wrapping their arms around them, suffocating the human. If you don't like watching that, then don't watch Prometheus, but if you do, then Prometheus is a must-see movie. To See: That is the answer.
Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and her boyfriend, Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) are archaeologists who find ancient artworks from around the world. All of these have something in common, someone worshipping to the same exact galaxy. They discover a galaxy that looks like the one on these ancient drawings. In that galaxy there is a sun, just like ours, and a planet that is the perfect distance from the sun for human life. They believe that there is life on this planet and that the people on that planet created us. So they go onboard Prometheus (a spaceship) to find that planet. On board with them is David (Michael Fassbender), a robot, Janek (Idris Elba), the flyer, Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron), the captain, and many more. One of the founders of the mission is Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce), a businessman who created David. He is instructing David to do different things for some sort of benefit of his. Soon they arrive at the planet and find that there definitely was human life there, but not anymore. All of the aliens they find are now dead. David, however, is more independent and goes to different places that Peter Weyland instructed him to, and he finds one possibly live alien. They David and Peter Weyland are secretly taking over.
Prometheus is extremely fun. It may not be flawless, but who cares? The point of Prometheus is to be on the edge of your seat while hugging your legs, not to see a perfect mind-bending movie. The visuals are amazing, and the landscape is unbelievable. The special effects are fantastic, and the acting (Notably Michael Fassbender and Noomi Rapace) is too. Some of the plot lines are unrealistic, but, hey, it's an alien movie. Being a fan of the original Alien I thought this was fantastic, but you have to really like watching aliens going into people's mouths, climbing out of their stomach, and wrapping their arms around them, suffocating the human. If you don't like watching that, then don't watch Prometheus, but if you do, then Prometheus is a must-see movie. To See: That is the answer.
Tell No One
Tell No One Rated NR
Tell No One is a French film about Alexandre Beck (François Cluzet). It starts with him and his wife, Margot (Marie-Josée Croze) on a dock. They get into a small argument and Margot swims away from him onto another dock. You can't see her, but you can hear a scream. Alexandre swims towards her frantically but gets hit in the face with a baseball bat and falls into the ocean unconscious. He has no idea how he got out of the water unconscious, which makes the police suspicious about whether he killed his wife. However, they decide that he is innocent. Eight years later, two dead bodies are found with a baseball bat that has B-positive blood (Alexandre's blood type) on it, and suspicions renew. Also, he gets a mysterious e-mail with a video of Margot (who now looks older) walking in a store, perfectly healthy and alive.
I know, it sounds cliché, and you're right. The first half of the movie is very cliché. But then the second half comes along, and you realize that it is one of the smartest, most unique movies ever. It's incredibly smart and amazing. The acting is fantastic and so is the mind-blowing story, which you soon realize is much more than just a murdered wife from eight years ago. Smart crazy, and suspenseful, this movie, does not cease to amuse. To See: That is the answer.
Tell No One is a French film about Alexandre Beck (François Cluzet). It starts with him and his wife, Margot (Marie-Josée Croze) on a dock. They get into a small argument and Margot swims away from him onto another dock. You can't see her, but you can hear a scream. Alexandre swims towards her frantically but gets hit in the face with a baseball bat and falls into the ocean unconscious. He has no idea how he got out of the water unconscious, which makes the police suspicious about whether he killed his wife. However, they decide that he is innocent. Eight years later, two dead bodies are found with a baseball bat that has B-positive blood (Alexandre's blood type) on it, and suspicions renew. Also, he gets a mysterious e-mail with a video of Margot (who now looks older) walking in a store, perfectly healthy and alive.
I know, it sounds cliché, and you're right. The first half of the movie is very cliché. But then the second half comes along, and you realize that it is one of the smartest, most unique movies ever. It's incredibly smart and amazing. The acting is fantastic and so is the mind-blowing story, which you soon realize is much more than just a murdered wife from eight years ago. Smart crazy, and suspenseful, this movie, does not cease to amuse. To See: That is the answer.
Friday, June 22, 2012
21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street Rated R
21 Jump Street starts with two high-school students, Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum). Schmidt is a total nerd who can't get a date for the prom, and Jenko is a popular "cool guy" who is aloud to go to prom because of his grades. Years later, they're both trying to become cops. Schmidt is good at the tests, and Jenko is good at the fighting. They decide to become friends and work as a team. Finally they are ready to be cops, or as they call it ready for "a lifetime of being bad-asses." However, that's not really true, because they ride bikes through the park trying to find criminals (a kid feeding the geese when a sign clearly says, "Do not feed the geese.") Finally, they find a group of motorcyclists doing drugs, and they get their first bust. But sadly, the have to let the bad guys go because they forgot to read him his Miranda Rights. They are then officially relocated to 21 Jump Street, where cops go undercover as high-school students. Their mission is to find the supplier of a new drug that is popular at the high-school. However, times have changed since when they were in high-school, so instead, Schmidt is now popular and Jenko is the nerd. Schmidt forgets that he's undercover and pays more attention to his friendship with Eric (Dave Franco), a drug-dealer, and his relationship with Molly (Brie Larson).
21 Jump Street is hilarious. The jokes are clever, the timing is perfect, and the casting was just right. The only person it could've done without was Chaning Tatum, who was funny, but not that great. Jonah Hill was hilarious (and perfect for the part). The little characters and little jokes in it are great. My favorite was Ice Cube, who played Captain Dickson, their boss once they get to Jump Street. He makes hilarious one-liners. I also thought Rob Riggle was hilarious as the gym teacher, who made funny jokes like "You've got quite the muscle tone. When did you go through puberty, like, seven?" and more. 21 Jump Street is the best of the action-comedy genre, and (thank god0 it's the only one that doesn't lose the comedy for the action in the end. To See: That is the answer.
21 Jump Street starts with two high-school students, Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum). Schmidt is a total nerd who can't get a date for the prom, and Jenko is a popular "cool guy" who is aloud to go to prom because of his grades. Years later, they're both trying to become cops. Schmidt is good at the tests, and Jenko is good at the fighting. They decide to become friends and work as a team. Finally they are ready to be cops, or as they call it ready for "a lifetime of being bad-asses." However, that's not really true, because they ride bikes through the park trying to find criminals (a kid feeding the geese when a sign clearly says, "Do not feed the geese.") Finally, they find a group of motorcyclists doing drugs, and they get their first bust. But sadly, the have to let the bad guys go because they forgot to read him his Miranda Rights. They are then officially relocated to 21 Jump Street, where cops go undercover as high-school students. Their mission is to find the supplier of a new drug that is popular at the high-school. However, times have changed since when they were in high-school, so instead, Schmidt is now popular and Jenko is the nerd. Schmidt forgets that he's undercover and pays more attention to his friendship with Eric (Dave Franco), a drug-dealer, and his relationship with Molly (Brie Larson).
21 Jump Street is hilarious. The jokes are clever, the timing is perfect, and the casting was just right. The only person it could've done without was Chaning Tatum, who was funny, but not that great. Jonah Hill was hilarious (and perfect for the part). The little characters and little jokes in it are great. My favorite was Ice Cube, who played Captain Dickson, their boss once they get to Jump Street. He makes hilarious one-liners. I also thought Rob Riggle was hilarious as the gym teacher, who made funny jokes like "You've got quite the muscle tone. When did you go through puberty, like, seven?" and more. 21 Jump Street is the best of the action-comedy genre, and (thank god0 it's the only one that doesn't lose the comedy for the action in the end. To See: That is the answer.
Monday, June 18, 2012
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Rated R
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is the story of R.P McMurphy (Jack Nicholson), a criminal who, after being caught, pretends to be crazy so that way he does not have to go to prison, but instead to a mental institution. His wish is fulfilled, and he enters the mental institution, however soon regrets his decision. He almost immediately becomes frustrated with all of the patients, including Martini (Danny DeVito), Billy (Brad Dourif), and many more. He also realizes that Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), the head nurse, is a cold-hearted, evil person. He figures out that all of the patients are tired of her and her strictness, so he decides to make them all happy. He does this in many ways. One of which is pretending to narrate the World Series when Nurse Ratched refuses to let them watch it, and another is to escape with them and go fishing. He also soon befriends one of the patients, a "deaf and dumb" Indian they call Chief (Will Sampson).
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is funny, sad, and heartwarming all at the same time. Jack Nicholson is acting in his best role yet, but he isn't the only amazing talent. Louise Fletcher portrays an evil nurse fantastically. Danny DeVito is (surprisingly) fantastic, and so are all of the other patients. Another amazing talent that people forget to give credit to is the director himself. Milos Forman has always been a favorite of mine, from Amadeus to (the much underrated) Man on the Moon, he never ceases to amaze you. However, as much as I love those two films, they are like Dumbo compared to this. You will not stop crying as suspenseful events keep piling on top of each other, and you won't stop hating Louise Fletcher. And that is why One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is my favorite movie of all time. To See: That is the answer.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is the story of R.P McMurphy (Jack Nicholson), a criminal who, after being caught, pretends to be crazy so that way he does not have to go to prison, but instead to a mental institution. His wish is fulfilled, and he enters the mental institution, however soon regrets his decision. He almost immediately becomes frustrated with all of the patients, including Martini (Danny DeVito), Billy (Brad Dourif), and many more. He also realizes that Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), the head nurse, is a cold-hearted, evil person. He figures out that all of the patients are tired of her and her strictness, so he decides to make them all happy. He does this in many ways. One of which is pretending to narrate the World Series when Nurse Ratched refuses to let them watch it, and another is to escape with them and go fishing. He also soon befriends one of the patients, a "deaf and dumb" Indian they call Chief (Will Sampson).
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is funny, sad, and heartwarming all at the same time. Jack Nicholson is acting in his best role yet, but he isn't the only amazing talent. Louise Fletcher portrays an evil nurse fantastically. Danny DeVito is (surprisingly) fantastic, and so are all of the other patients. Another amazing talent that people forget to give credit to is the director himself. Milos Forman has always been a favorite of mine, from Amadeus to (the much underrated) Man on the Moon, he never ceases to amaze you. However, as much as I love those two films, they are like Dumbo compared to this. You will not stop crying as suspenseful events keep piling on top of each other, and you won't stop hating Louise Fletcher. And that is why One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is my favorite movie of all time. To See: That is the answer.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Rock of Ages
Rock Of Ages Rated PG-13
Before I begin my review I would just like to say that this is coming from someone who has seen the Broadway production of Rock of Ages and loved it. Anyway, here it goes:
Rock of Ages is the story of a "small town girl" (Julianne Hough) and a "city boy" (Diego Boneta) who both have a dream to be rockstars in Los Angeles. The city boy works for Dennis Dupree (Alec Baldwin), the owner of a rock bar where Stacie Jaxx (Tom Cruise) is about to perform. After seeing the small town girl mugged, the city boy gets her a job at his bar, and the stupidity of their pointless romance begins. May I also mention that Patricia Whitmore (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is trying to "clean up the streets" and get rid of the rock-and-roll, which is just a stupid plot excuse to 1) sing the songs "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "We Built This City on Rock-and-Roll" at the same time, and 2) make sure the movie was long enough (sadly, it was too long).
The only people I actually cared about were Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand, who weren't in it nearly enough. I also cared about Tom Cruise's monkey, "Hey Man", but he doesn't really count as a person. Both Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta were horrible, annoying, and overall stupid and frustrating. Tom Cruise gave it all he got and was hilarious at first, however, eventually, he was repetitive and overplayed. Catherine Zeta-Jones was terrible, and her husband (played by Brian Cranston, who I usually love) was one of the stupidest, unfunny, and least important characters ever. Not To See: That is the answer.
Before I begin my review I would just like to say that this is coming from someone who has seen the Broadway production of Rock of Ages and loved it. Anyway, here it goes:
Rock of Ages is the story of a "small town girl" (Julianne Hough) and a "city boy" (Diego Boneta) who both have a dream to be rockstars in Los Angeles. The city boy works for Dennis Dupree (Alec Baldwin), the owner of a rock bar where Stacie Jaxx (Tom Cruise) is about to perform. After seeing the small town girl mugged, the city boy gets her a job at his bar, and the stupidity of their pointless romance begins. May I also mention that Patricia Whitmore (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is trying to "clean up the streets" and get rid of the rock-and-roll, which is just a stupid plot excuse to 1) sing the songs "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "We Built This City on Rock-and-Roll" at the same time, and 2) make sure the movie was long enough (sadly, it was too long).
The only people I actually cared about were Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand, who weren't in it nearly enough. I also cared about Tom Cruise's monkey, "Hey Man", but he doesn't really count as a person. Both Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta were horrible, annoying, and overall stupid and frustrating. Tom Cruise gave it all he got and was hilarious at first, however, eventually, he was repetitive and overplayed. Catherine Zeta-Jones was terrible, and her husband (played by Brian Cranston, who I usually love) was one of the stupidest, unfunny, and least important characters ever. Not To See: That is the answer.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
New Blog!
View my brand new blog at theosentertainmentblog.blogspot.com for a link to all three of my different blogs (including this one).
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