Quick Take: Ferrell and Wahlberg Team Up Again for “Three Mississippi”

Every American family is fully aware of the grand tradition of football on Thanksgiving. Not only does that day bring the Lions a yearly beating in the only game people care to watch of them in on TV, but it also brings family members and friends together in an alcohol induced rage for backyard football.

Even kids can get in on the brutality!

Now, Collider is releasing more information on an upcoming comedy that brings all the shame and glory of these “Turkey Bowls” to the screen. According to Adam McKay, writer and director of such Will Ferrell vehicles as Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Step Brothers, and The Other Guys, is working with Mark Wahlberg, Will Ferrell, Alec Baldwin, Rob Riggle and possibly Jeremy Renner on a film tentatively entitled Three Mississippi. Baldwin and Wahlberg will play a father and son, whose family challenges Ferrel’s family to a yearly football game on Thanksgiving, only to lose every year. When Baldwin’s character suffers a heart attack, he makes a dying wish that Wahlberg lead the team to victory….and hilarity ensues.

I am all for this idea. Ferrell and Wahlberg had great chemistry in The Other Guys, and Baldwin and Wahlberg had great chemistry in The Departed. Now we are combining all those elements into one comic opus. While, I think the comedy could be hit or miss, I am interested in seeing what all the talent equals up to.

Hopefully not what all this "talent" added up to.

There is another indie comedy coming out soon called Turkey Bowl, which follows a similar premise, but I don’t think that will diminish my excitement about this project.

To read the full interview with Adam McKay at Collider, click here.

Chris’ 10 Most Anticipated Summer Movies

I look back at the young naive Chris of five months ago and wonder what led me to make the list of my anticipated movies of 2011. I think I had a lot of caffeine pumping through the bloodstream and was probably highly unstable coming down from the holiday season.

Now, that the spring air is clearing my head and I have a little bit more granularity on films coming out this summer, I present to you this list of my Top Ten Anticipated Summer Movies:

10. Everything Must Go (Release Date: 14 May, 2o11)

Synopsis from IMDB:

When an alcoholic relapses, causing him to lose his wife and his job, he holds a yard sale on his front lawn in an attempt to start over. A new neighbor might be the key to his return to form.

Chris’ Take: Will Ferrell returns to what seems like a similar role to Stranger than Fiction. Rather than the loud and brash character that he normally plays, he will be shifting gears to play the understated, yet desperate man. The film had trouble finding a distributor, but now that it is about to make its release it is receiving rave early reviews (90% on RT). While it may not end up being my favorite movie this summer, I certainly have hope that it will bring back the dramedic style that Ferrell showed a knack for in 2006.

Trailer:

9. Larry Crowne (Release Date: July 1, 2011)

Synopsis from IMDB: After losing his job, a middle-aged man re-invents himself by going back to college.

Chris’ Take: Who doesn’t like Tom Hanks? He is probably one of the most genuinely likeable guys in Hollywood and his knack for comic timing is uncanny. While he has been in some bad movies recently, overall everything he touches seems to at least end up in “decent” territory. Another plus, is  that he is getting in the director’s chair again, a place he hasn’t been since That Thing You Do!, which was just a downright enjoyable experience to watch. There is a downside for me to this movie though: Julia Roberts. She is never really bad in her movies, it’s just something about her….

I don't know what it is about your face, but if you don't fix it...I'll fix it for you.

Trailer:

8. Fright Night (Release Date: August 19, 2011)

Synopsis from IMDB: Teenager Charley Brewster (Yelchin) guesses that his new neighbor Jerry Dandrige (Farrell) is a vampire responsible for a string of recent deaths. When no one he knows believes him, he enlists Peter Vincent (Tennant), the opportunistic host of his favorite TV show, to help him take down Jerry and his guardian.

Chris’ Take: I think Scream 4, wet my appetite for horror movies that know how to have fun. While too many of them get old, I think I will be ready by the time Fright Night hits theaters. The remake of the 1985 cult classic will hopefully not only pay its respects to the original, but will take its style and update it. I think the cast is intriguing, bringing in Colin Farrell to replace Chris Sarandon as the vampire Jerry Dandridge. I am interested to see if Farrell has as much fun with the role as Sarandon seemed to have.

No Trailer Available

7. Super 8 (Release Date: June 10, 2011)

Synopsis from IMDB: After witnessing a mysterious train crash, a group of friends in the summer of 1979 begin noticing strange happenings going around in their small town, and begin to investigate into the strange phenomenon.

Chris’ Take: J.J. Abrams certainly knows how to market his films, shrouding them in mystery so that half of the audience in the theater is only there so they can stop staying up at night wondering what the heck that random trailer they saw was about. He also makes pretty good films to boot. What I like about Super 8 is that it looks like it wants to return to the coming of age adventure tale that made films like The Goonies and E.T. so popular, memorable and appeal to all ages. While it still is unclear what the movie is about, it is an original script and not a remake, reboot, adaptation or sequel, which already garners some points in my book.

Trailer:

6. Thor (Release Date: May 6, 2011)

Synopsis from IMDB: The powerful but arrogant warrior Thor is cast out of the fantastic realm of Asgard and sent to live amongst humans on Earth, where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.

Chris’ Take: The trailers for this film looked cheesy and somewhat campy, which is why it didn’t even come near my most anticipated movies for this year earlier. With all the buzz and great early reviews (and there are a lot of them), this film rapidly shot up my list.  I was afraid that this film, especially with how little audiences seem to know about the character, would just merely be tossed in as a stepping stone to The Avengers. However, all the raving about this film hints that it could be this year’s Iron Man.

 Trailer:

5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II (Release Date: July 15, 2011)

Synopsis from IMDB: The end begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione go back to Hogwarts to find and destroy Voldemort’s final horcruxes, but when Voldemort finds out about their mission, the biggest battle begins and life as they know it will never be the same again.

Chris’ Take: I think at the beginning of the year my anticipation for this film was much higher, but the first one did not age well in my mind. I know I kind of liked it, but at the same time I thought it could be so much more. Now, while I will definitely be part of the droves that show up for this one, I am not as excited about it, because since the first and second parts were filmed at the same time, they probably have the same tone. Films that do that tend to either maintain their level of success, or their level of ineptitude.

Pictured: Ineptitude

My hope is that the swan song of the Harry Potter films will be the exception to that and improve on the first part.

Trailer:

4. Captain America (Release Date: July 22, 2011)

Synopsis from IMDB: After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America’s ideals.

Chris’ Take: This looks like it will be one of the more ambitious superhero films, in both special effects and storyline. Captain America is hard to take seriously because as a comic book character he almost grew into a caricature of the patriotic era during World War II, even if he wasn’t meant to be. That is not to say that he isn’t a great character, but that just became my perception, and a couple of months ago it dimmed my desire to see this film. Now, watching the trailer and seeing him come to life, be taken seriously, and have Hugo Weaving playing Red Skull…

And the fact that they stayed true to the look without using fruity tights.

I am amped about it and look forward to seeing a classic character revived(cue the Team America theme song).

Trailer:

3. The Tree of Life (Release Date: May 27, 2011)

Synopsis from IMDB: The story centers around a family with three boys in the 1950s. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence.

Chris’ Take: While this film topped my list at the beginning of the year, but hipsteresque rumblings from director Terrence Malick and actor Fiona Shaw have dropped it from the #1 spot. Shaw said this to Empire Online, “I can’t tell you what it’s about because it’s about everything.” Sounds pretty ambitious, but a little bit too ambitious. That is not to say that I can’t wait to see the result, because the trailer moved me like no trailer has moved me before. Malick apparently let some of the actors write their parts for the film, based on general ideas in his head and let them pick where they wanted to film it, then molded what they came up with into his overall concept for the film. Sound confusing? Yeah, I am not sure I quite know how that works, but  the heart that Malick poured into it, and the originality of the style, is enough to boost this past several special effects riddled summer spectacles on this list.

Trailer:

2. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (Release Date: Aug 26, 2011)

Synopsis from IMDB: A young girl sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend discovers creatures in her new home who want to claim her as one of their own.

Chris’ Take: Guillermo Del Toro is one of the best directors in the business, and even though he is not at the helm of this film, his touch is all over it. Troy Nixey, is under Del Toro’s tutelage for his feature film directorial debut and it looks like a good old fashioned haunted house story. I am disappointed to see Katie Holmes in the lead, but I have a hard time believing Del Toro would attach his name to anything that wasn’t at least “decent”. I mean, did you hear his strong words while on tour with the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World DVD release troupe? As some of you know, Pac and I are avid fans of the horror genre and I think this has the potential to be one of the best, if not the best, to come out this year.

Trailer:

1. X-Men: First Class (Release Date: June 3, 2011)

Synopsis from IMDB: In 1963, Charles Xavier starts up a school and later a team, for humans with superhuman abilities. Among them is Erik Lensherr, his best friend… and future archenemy.

Chris’ Take: This was the only comic book movie to make my list the first time around, but it was only somewhere in the middle of the pack. After the second trailer, which I will show below, I am brimming with joy to see a retro version of the X-Men franchise. Even though we know where the characters will eventually end up, there is still that desire to see the beginning of the complex relationship between Professor X and Magneto (or Charles and Erik). Also, Bryan Singer is returning to the director’s chair after the franchise was chewed up and vomited back on the screen by Bret Ratner and Gavin Hood. I don’t know if it will pull it off, but I want this film to be the redemption of the film series and return the X-Men back to their former glory.

Trailer:

**Trailer Time** Fight for Your Right Revisited

Back in 1984, three white boys from New York transformed the landscape of hip hop music forever.  Formerly a hardcore punk band, The Beastie Boys broke on to the scene with their first album from Def Jam records “Licensed to Ill”.  Produced by legendary producer Rick Rubin, “Licensed to Ill” produced such hits as “Paul Revere”, “She’s on it”, and “Brass Monkey”.  However, the album’s biggest smash, and possibly the rap trios most popular song to date was “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right to Party”.  The video, directed by Ric Menello, is now an instant classic.  Almost 25 years after the videos release, Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch (MCA) has directed a short film entitled Fight for Your Right Revisited.  The film tells the story of what happened to the three boys after they left the party from the iconic music video.

The list of stars littered into this half hour short film is so ridiculous it deserves its own paragraph/run-on sentence: Rashida Jones, Amy Poehler, Mike Mills, Will Ferrell, Jody Hill, Clint Caluory, Jason Schwartzman, Stanley Tucci, Seth Rogen, Orlando Bloom, Steve Buscemi, Shannyn Sossamon, Arthur Scipio Africano, Danny McBride, Adam Horovitz, Losel Yauch, Nicole Randall, Martin Starr, Samantha Storr, Maya Rudolph, Chloë Sevigny, Adam Scott, Alfredo Ortiz, Ted Danson, Arabella Field, Kirsten Dunst, Rainn Wilson, Wyatt Troll, Silvia Suvadova, Mary Steenburgen, Gill Gayle, Will Arnett, Adam Yauch, Laura Dern, Mike D, David Cross, Alicia Silverstone, Jack Black, Roman Coppola, Susan Sarandon, Milo Ventimiglia, Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly, Neal Usatin.

The video premiered at Sundance to a lot of love from critics and fans alike, and now a trailer for the film is circulating the internet.  It’s a marvel to believe this film even exists considering the star power involved, Adam Yauch’s personal battle with throat cancer, and the Beastie Boy’s return to the studio (which is also plugged in this trailer).

You can check out both the trailer for Fight for Your Right Revisited as well as the original music video for “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right to Party” below (WARNING: The Fight for Your Right Revisited trailer is red band).

**Trailer Time** “The Hangover: Part II” Full Length Trailer and Will Ferrell’s “Everything Must Go”

The Hangover: Part II

CinemaCon brought several sneak peeks at upcoming releases, including Super 8 and Thor. Now, Todd Phillips released a full length trailer for his highly anticipated comedy, The Hangover: Part II. Take a look:

‘

While I am glad that we get to see some familiar faces, I am wondering how it will all play out. I like the addition of the monkey, and the fact that they aren’t rehashing the story of Doug being the missing guy, but I think a lot of the material will seem redundant from the last film. I just hope it is fresh enough to get some good laughs out of it.

Everything Must Go

This film was premiered at the Toronto Film Festival to mixed reviews, but I am excited to see Will Ferrell return to a role that seems very similar to what he had in Stranger than Fiction. The trailer looks decent and touchingly humorous, but the mixed reviews make me a little bit skeptical about it. Here’s the trailer:

Will Ferrell Not Joining “The Office” Full Time

Several fans’ hopes were lit up when they saw Will Ferrell show up at the end of last week’s episode of The Office. To add to their excitement, Ferrell told US Magazine at the Comedy Central Awards on Saturday that things were “looking good” for him joining the show full time after Steve Carell‘s exit.

Sadly, that is not the case. Paul Lieberstein, the show’s producer, immediately came back to NYMAG and said, “Will was joking — but he commits to his jokes so fully that we’re hoping he’s with us long term, just as a bit that won’t end.”

He essentially just put the audience in a glass cage of emotion.

This is no surprise, since Will Ferrell’s cameo was announced back in January and was touted as a four episode arc. Just days before that, Greg Daniels, the show’s executive producer, had told Pittsburgh’s Post Gazette that Michael Scott‘s replacement would be someone who is a regular (i.e. Darryl, Dwight, Andy, Jim etc.). Plus, it would be really hard to imagine Ferrell sticking to a full time tv character.

No matter how much we would like to see that happen.

So, enjoy Ferrell on The Office while you can. He is next set to appear on the episode airing on Thursday April 14 on NBC.

Great Odin’s Raven! Will Ferrell to Appear on “The Office”

The end of this season of the NBC TV show, The Office, is gearing up to potentially be one of the best yet. Not only do we know that Michael Scott will leave by the end of this season, but along with that comes the mystery of who will replace him. Now, to make matters even more interesting, Will Ferrell is confirmed to appear in a 4 episode arc during the events leading up to Michael’s departure.

Sweet Grandmother's Spatula!!!

The Wrap, and several other sources, reported this last night, and apparently he will appear in three episodes before Michael leaves and one after. He will play another branch manager, who is equally, if not more, inappropriate than Michael.

I think this is great. I think the rapport between Carell and Ferrell will be comic gold. It has been a while since Michael has done anything incredibly outlandish. He has had his moments this season where he was inappropriate, but not to the painstaking point of incredibly awkward, like he would do in Seasons 1-3. I hope when these two unite on the screen, we can return to some great gut-busting flubs in office management.

Rumor has it they are going to start a Dunder Mifflin branch war and brawl in the streets.

What do you all think? Is Ferrell a good fit for the show? You can read more about the rest of this season here.

Pac’s Best/Worst Films of 2010

Yesterday Chris posted his best and worst films of 2010, I decided to give you a day to mull it over, argue amongst friends, leave comments, and/or whatever it is you do.  Today I give you my list of the ten best and ten worst movies of 2010.  Keep in mind, as with Chris’s lists, that these are only the films that I have seen.  We are just fans like you and have to seek out our own means of viewing these films so it was impossible to see every film we would have liked to in 2010 (as well as those we’re forced to or stumble into).  As a bonus though, I’ve included the ten films I wish I would have seen in 2010 both because some of my films overlap Chris’s and I wanted to add something more and because I don’t want anyone saying “how could you have put (blank) over (blank)?” when I didn’t see (blank).

I want to end on a high note so here are my 10 least favorite films from the past year:

10. Let Me In

Right off the bat I’m going with a film that might make most people discredit the rest of my list, it was included in Chris’s 10 best films and it got great reviews, and there are definitely other films I could have put here instead (see honorable mentions) .  Let Me In was saved by great performances from wonderful young actors (and the always enjoyable Richard Jenkins) but the over-the-top cinematography and slow pace ruined any chance of me enjoying this film.  The film was shot way too tight and I spent more time deciphering what I was seeing on-screen and not enough time immersing myself in the film.  I’m a believer that you need to see a film twice to truly gauge its quality (which I haven’t done yet) but for now it remains on my ten least favorite.

9. Alice In Wonderland

Most all Hollywood couples part ways, so why too can’t the “bromances” between actor and director?  Maybe it is time for Tim Burton to move on from Johnny Depp the same way Scorcese moved on from DeNiro to DiCaprio.  I wasn’t able to see this film in 3D (which I heard was disappointing anyway), but none the less the film boasted some great visuals – and nothing else.  Burton’s story of Alice returning to Wonderland lacked substance and character and attempted to disguise it with the awe of visual appeal.  I wasn’t even able to finish this film (meaning it comes in #9 despite me not seeing the infamous dance sequence), and that almost never happens.

8. Leap Year

It is no secret that I am not a fan of the romantic comedy genre (as evidenced here), but I am always willing to give the newest one a shot given the appropriate company.  While most RomComs have ridiculous premises and over-the-top love stories, Leap Year attempted to top them all with its ridiculous premise about a girl who travels to Ireland to propose to her boyfriend on Leap Year only to fall in love along the way.  Amy Adams needs to take cues from actresses like Charlize Theron, you have way too much talent to be wasting it on Romantic Comedies.  If I have to see this film once every four years, it’d be too often.

7. Valentine’s Day

When a movie tries to bank off the success of another film in any other method other than a direct sequel (and many times even that doesn’t work), it is almost destined for failure.  Valentine’s Day clearly tried to use the formula of He’s Just Not That Into You, and take it one step further by including a holiday premise sure to draw in couples to the theater.  Unfortunately, they overlooked the one thing about HJNTIY that actually made it an enjoyable film to watch, a good story.  Valentine’s Day just grabbed as many billable actors as possible, cut them their check and let them check out as they filmed this abomination because they knew the names would be enough to turn a profit.  Hopefully when next years sequel, New Year’s Eve comes to theaters we’ll be a little bit wiser (probably not).

6. My Soul to Take

If Chris gives me credit for convincing him to see The Social Network, then I must too take blame for dragging him to this.  While he and most others would rank this higher on their list of least favorite films of 2010, I saw brief glimpses of what makes Wes Craven the premiere name in the horror genre.  The film lacked so many things including: acceptable performances from its young actors, cohesiveness in the story, and any sort of suspense.  However, after some analysis I determined that it wasn’t the story that was lacking but the execution.  Don’t let me forget that this was the worst 3D that I have seen in any film to date.  Maybe this Wes Craven film will be remade in 20 years like all his others, and this one could actually be improved upon.

5. The Killer Inside Me

I first saw the trailer for this film and immediately thought this was going to be the film that makes Casey Affleck a star.  With two very billable leading ladies (Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson) by his side, the director of a Mighty Heart at the reins, and a compelling story based off a well received book, I had such high hopes for this film.  What I got upon viewing was a shock value film disguised as noir with incredibly slow pacing.  Affleck turns out a good performance in this character piece, as does Kate Hudson but they still couldn’t save this film for me.  However, after spending two hours begging for this film to end I was rewarded with a pretty bad-ass ending, or maybe I was just relieved it was over.

4. Salt

I wasn’t expecting much from this film and didn’t see it til recently, so I can’t say that I was disappointed by it.  Still, Salt was easily the worst of a group of espionage films that were released this year.  Competing with the likes of Knight and Day, Killers, and The Tourist, and trying to live up to the quality of the Bourne series, Salt fell short in almost every aspect.  The performances were weak, the story was boring, the reveal was predictable, and the action was cliché.  Angelina Jolie is quickly becoming an actress whose films I try to avoid; and when Tom Cruise backs out for Knight and Day and is replaced by Liv Shreiber, you’re doomed.

Who Cares?

3. Twilight: Eclipse

The only thing that kept this film from landing any higher was that it did at least feature some pretty cool fight sequences as well as the beautiful Eva Green and Anna Kendrick.  Unfortunately, the rest of the film was littered with unbearable performances from its three main stars, a romance that has become so contrite by the third film that I can’t understand how even tweens can bear it anymore, and unneccessary chest bearing for swooning 12 year olds.  It is disappointing that this saga will be remembered in pop-culture as one of the most popular franchises of our generation, hopefully after the fourth installment reaches theaters the vampire craze will subside.

2. Sex and the City 2

I subject my girlfriend to a lot of bad action and horror movies so I only find it fair that sometimes I suck it up and watch a movie like Twilight: Eclipse and Sex and the City 2.  While Twilight: Eclipse at least boasted a cool fight scene, two very attractive supporting actresses, and some resemblance of a plot; Sex and the City 2 had nothing of the sort.  I strongly considered making this the #1 film on this list but decided against it because I hated the next film just a little bit more.  Take four over the hill women who were only mildly attractive in their prime, send them to the middle east to do absolutely nothing, add some obligatory male nudity, and what you get is this garbage.  Screw you HBO, where is my Sopranos movie?

1. The Last Airbender

What can I say about this film that hasn’t already been expressed in numerous blogs, reviews, and hate mail sent to M. Night Shyamalan?  This movie was terrible and I really don’t have anything else to say about it, I didn’t finish it and I have no interest in watching it all the way through because I genuinely don’t care what happens, hell I don’t even know what was happening during the first 2 acts that I did see.  It is a shame that Shyamalan’s name has been drug through the mud so badly after the release of this film because it caused so many people to dismiss Devil, a decent suspense/horror flick.

Honorable Mentions:  The Wolfman, The Losers, R.E.D., Jonah Hex

 

 Here are my favorite films from 2010:

10. The Ghost Writer

Let me hand it to my favorite website and one of the greatest resources on the web for movie news, reviews, and opinions for influencing me to see this movie.  It if it weren’t for a weekend film recommendation on this very site, I may never have seen The Ghost Writer, but I’m sure glad I listen to those guys at Chris Petersen’s Film Blog, they sure are smart.  A political crime thriller from across the pond, The Ghost Writer boasts superior performances from Ewan MacGregor and Pierce Brosnan, a stellar plot that unravels at just the right pace, and one hell of an ending.  You can call Roman Polanski a lot of things, and one of them should be an outstanding director.

9. Kick Ass

Not many films these days can feature Nicolas Cage and still make my top ten, but Kick Ass was able to do just that.  Blending just the right amount of superhero fantasy with the harsh reality of life, this film was a very smart, fun romp through the world of superhero fanboys.  What took this film to the next level though was the excellent cast supported by the aforementioned Cage, Chloe Moretz, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.  But it was the bold decision to cast the little-known Aaron Johnson as Kick Ass that made this movie great.  Could you imagine how much it would have sucked if they went with, oh say…

This Guy

 8.  Unthinkable

Seriously, read this blog every day, these guys know what they are talking about.  Okay, so it was actually me who wrote the weekend film recommendation for Unthinkable this time, but I did it for a reason.  This film gets a bad rap by some because of its controversial subject matter and torture scene, but make no mistake – this is not torture porn.  Everything shown on-screen is deliberate and important to the purpose of the film, the movie is not supposed to gross you out but rather to make you think, and to question your own morality and the morality of the world we live in.  This film is heavy, and it features Samuel L. Jackson in his best performance from at least the past 5 years as well as Michael Sheen in an Oscar worthy performance.  (This film is available instantly on Netflix for those of you interested).

7. The Town

I’ve put my grievances with the ending to rest and have accepted this film for what it is, a very good heist flick.  Ben Affleck continues to show that he knows how to handle a camera and Jeremy Renner is quickly proving to be one of Hollywood’s heavyweights and they both shine in their respective roles in this film.  Some of their talent even rubbed off on the beautiful Blake Lively who did take a cue from Charlize Theron and disguised her beauty to play Affleck’s drugged out ex-girlfriend.  I wish I could have liked this film more than I did but despite its greatness amongst this years class of film, it doesn’t compare to the greats like Heat, Dog Day Afternoon, and Inside Man.

6. Inception

It was very difficult for me not to rank this film higher on my list but when it came down to it, I wasn’t influenced by all the peer pressure and the media touting this movie as the greatest piece of art ever to grace my eyes.  I do however, give this film all the respect it deserves for a great cast (including a breakout performance by Joseph Gordon Levitt), a great story, incredible special effects and cinematography, and a cliff hanger that will live in cinema infamy.  I truly hope this film will do what many speculate it is capable of and bring some big budget originality back to hollywood in the coming years.  Christopher Nolan truly is a master of his craft and one of three directors (including Martin Scorcese and the director of the #2 movie on my list) whose name alone earns the price of admission from my pockets.

5. The Other Guys

Many posts ago, Chris wrote a post compiling a list of movies that he didn’t like until his second viewing, and earlier in this post I wrote that I believe a movie needs to be seen twice to truly gauge its value.  The Other Guys is the poster child for that theory because when I walked out of the theater after seeing this film I actually disliked it.  A second viewing on DVD changed my mind and this film jumped into my top ten about as effortlessly as Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson jumped off that building.  This movie is hilarious from start to finish, mainly because of its satirical premise and its two leading men: Mark Whalberg and Will Ferrell.  The replay value of this movie is very high (I think I’ve seen it 5x now) and its quotability is just as great, it’s the funniest movie to come out this year and I can’t wait to see Whalberg in more comedic roles.

4. I Love You Phillip Morris

When buzz about this movie started making its way around the internet I thought it was a comedy about cigarettes, much like Thank You for Smoking. I didn’t think much of it past the title til I saw the first trailer and laughed a few times, then saw it after having my wisdom teeth pulled ( I was in need of a good laugh ).  This movie was hilarious from start to finish and was (IMO) the best performance of Jim Carrey’s career, even Ewan MacGregor was great in his supporting role as the titular Phillip Morris.  There seems to be some stigma around this movie for its homosexual content; but the film doesn’t exploit the point that the two men are gay, it simply uses it to supplement to outrageous humor.  I would best describe this movie as a gay Catch Me if You Can.

3. Black Swan

If it weren’t for the first act of this film and its camera work I probably would have ranked this movie higher on my list, but if I’m going to chastise Let Me In for its cinematography I have to hold Black Swan accountable as well.  Despite my issue with the way the beginning of the film was shot, this film delivered on many levels, often in ways that Let Me In could not.  The plot that drove the story was incredibly paced with just enough suspense to keep me attentive without driving me as insane as Nina (Natalie Portman) and I sympathised with each of the characters especially Nina and her mother (Barbara Hershey).  The performances by Hershey, Portman, Cassell, Ryder, and even Kunis were top-notch.  Lastly the climax of the film left me both pondering what I just saw as well as begging for more.  Portman deserves an Academy Award for this performance and she has catapulted herself into superstardom (see her upcoming filmography for 2011, she’s busy).

2.  The Social Network

Like I Love You Phillip Morris there was a stigma surrounding The Social Network that watered down some of the anticipation and respect that this film deserved.  However, that stigma was quickly submerged by critical acclaim and box office success after it was released in theaters.  The Social Network is so much more than “The Facebook Movie”, its a courtroom thriller that doesn’t take place in a courtroom, and it’s a character piece on the now infamous creator of one of the most popular websites in the world.  The performances by young stars such as Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, and Armie Hammer (who kind of plays both Winklevoss twins) carry this film and it is only supplemented by David Fincher’s outstanding direction and cinematography.  If I had a vote for Best Picture as part of the Academy, I’d vote for this film.

1. Megamind

While I’ve already established that I think The Social Network deserves the Academy Award for best picture, I don’t think it deserves to top my list of favorite movies from 2010.  We go to the movies for many reasons, but the primary reason I go to the theater is be entertained, and Megamind was the most entertaining movie of the year for me – BY FAR.  It may have been a perfect storm that cast this film into the pole position on this list but I loved every second of it.  The movie had a great story (so what if it was mildly similar to Despicable Me), a fun cast with great chemistry (especially between Ferrell and Cross), excellent cinematography (especially for an animated film), and the best 3D that I have seen in any film to date.  So far twice in this post I have written that I believe you need to see a movie a second time to truly gauge its value, well I’ve seen Megamind once and I may purposefully never see it again.  Seeing this movie in 3D in theaters was such an enjoyable experience that I fear subsequent viewings may only diminish the perception I have of this film.  I hope to someday have the capability of recreating the theatrical experience that was Megamind (anyone wanna buy me a 3D TV? and Bose stereo system?).

Honorable Mention: The Crazies, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, Easy A

As a small token of my gratitude for reading through this very long post (even if you skimmed it) and making it this far, here is my top ten movies I wish I had seen in 2010, most of which are new or limited releases:

10. Paper Man
9. Winter’s Bone
8. Monsters
7. Toy Story 3
6. Tron: Legacy
5. 127 Hours
4. The King’s Speech
3. True Grit
2. The Fighter
1. Buried

Chris’ Best/Worst Films of 2010

Everyone seems to have their own opinion about what the best and worst films of the year were, and in that regard I am no different. This post comes with the disclaimer that these are only out of the films that I have seen. Unlike the Golden Globes, I don’t want to give films credit based on buzz, even if the chances are that they are pretty good.

 

If you're nominating Golden Globes on name recognition alone, I am surprised Valentine's Day didn't make the list.

 

 

Here are some of my favorite films from this year:

10. True Grit

While this film was good and featured great performances, specifically by Hailee Steinfield, the update seemed unnecessary overall. The technical aspects of the film were great, but failed to find any substance beneath the surface. Jeff Bridges played John Wayne’s classic and Oscar-winning role with bravado, but really only blended into the film rather than stood out like The Duke did. Still, The Coen Brothers definitely know how to make a film, there is no doubt about that.

 

9. Let Me In

The success of this film hinged heavily on the strength of its young leads (Chloe Moretz, Kodi Smit-McPhee) and they came through in spades to deliver a vampire film for adults and people with more than an I.Q. of 75. Richard Jenkins, one of the best kept secrets in Hollywood, also gives a strong performance as the protector of Moretz. I was thoroughly impressed with this film overall, and while I cannot comment on how it compares to the Swedish original, it still stands on its own as one of the best of the year.

8. Megamind

The first of two animated films on here, this was one of the most underrated films of the year. It did decent with the critics, but failed to find a strong fan base, even with the most spectacular 3D on display this year (that I saw). The script was strong and Will Ferrell and David Cross had an outstanding rapport and made this quite a treat for those that took the time to see it.

7. Toy Story 3

This ranking might incite some rage by people who think that should win best picture, and they have quite a following. To those people I say, wait…what? Pump the brakes here. This film is good, don’t get me wrong, but it is nowhere near Best Picture quality. It is entertaining, but lacked some of the humor of the first two and while it was in 3D, it did nothing with it other than jack up the prices of admission. Sure, it brought a tear to the eye of many as we said goodbye to some old friends, but in the end, the overall depth was far short of anything that should win top honors. Again, don’t crucify me, I liked it, it made this list, but I enjoyed so many other films more than this one.

6. The Other Guys

Will Ferrell definitely had some dud comedies in the last couple of years.

 

I'm looking at you Semi-Pro.

 

 

But, The Other Guys almost makes up for them and, like a lot of Will Ferrell films, gets better after repeat viewings and line quoting sessions. Mark Wahlberg made a great jump to comedy this year in both this film and Date Night, and he provided an intense foil to Will Ferrell’s bumbling. It was nice to see Ferrell tone it down a bit as well, letting Wahlberg share the spotlight. I couldn’t justify putting this film in the Top 5, but it was one of my favorites this year.

5. The Town

Ben Affleck is a decent actor when he really buckles down, but he is an incredible director and makes it seem easy. He compiled a great cast for his sophomore directorial production and wrote a superb script to boot, with fully fleshed out characters and realistic dialogue. He seems to bring out the best in everyone around him, even an unlikely Blake Lively, who you could barely recognize as a drug addict. High praise to Affleck and I hope that he stays behind the camera more often than not.

4. Inception

Christopher Nolan garnered the most buzz this year, releasing one of the highest grossing original productions this year. He brought a breath of fresh air to the summer season, which was bereft of entertaining films that aren’t dumbed down for the popcorn crowd. Nolan salvaged the summer blockbuster and paved the way for other budding directors to get the funding they need for their original projects, rather than having it shelled out to worn out sequels and reboots which flopped. This is another film that die hard fans argue should win best picture, but while this grand film succeeded technically and in the “that was so cool” department, it didn’t have the depth to move it any higher than the other films that round out the top 3.

3. The Social Network

When I wrote my article about The Five Most Anticipated Films of the Fall Season, this one didn’t even get honorable mention. I thought it looked like a film that was geared at trying to bank on the facebook craze. Man, was  I wrong, and I owe it to Pac for getting me into seeing this on. This scathing portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of facebook, and the people that surrounded him on his meteoric rise, provided one of the most intriguing characters on screen this year, even if some of the “facts” were a bit fabricated. David Fincher should at least get a nomination for directorial work and Aaron Sorkin should get recognition for his smart screenplay adaptation as well.

2. Buried

I kind of saw this film by accident, after my fiance and I’s car broke down in Maryland. We ended up being in the wrong place at the right time and caught this hard to find film in the theater. My eyes were glued to the screen the whole time. I had heard about the premise of this film online and really wondered how they could film a whole movie inside a coffin (and I mean the whole movie). Ryan Reynolds carried the weight of this film on his shoulders and in the dim light portrayed the utter desperation of this man buried alive and held for ransom. I expected it to be intense, but I didn’t expect the strong emotional aspect of the film and it stuck with me for several weeks after watching it. I encourage everyone to see this film, unless they are extremely claustrophobic.

1. Black Swan

This was one of the most hyped films of the year, sporting a notable cast (Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassell, Mila Kunis) and a director, Darren Aronofsky, at the top of his game. I expected to be a little disappointed, but instead was completely captivated by this film, the only psycho-horror-ballet-thriller that I know of. Natalie Portman should definitely win Best Actress after this and I can forgive her for taking on lighter fare for a little while after this, which must have required her, like her character in the film, to be completely immersed in the artistic process. High marks for Barbara Hershey and Vincent Cassell as well, and a tip of the cap to Mila Kunis for their performances as well. It was beautifully dark and infinitely entrancing.

Movies I Wish I Had Seen for this List:

127 Hours

The Fighter

Worst Films

10. Due Date

Not a bad film necessarily, but come on, RDJ and Galifianakis can do better than that. If you want to see a funnier Todd Phillips road trip film, I suggest Road Trip.

9. Alice in Wonderland

Disappointed is the best word to describe my opinion about this film. Burton did a stellar job with the visuals and completely flopped developing a compelling story and Johnny Depp was more annoying than entertaining as the Mad Hatter.

Pardon me, sir, but could you spare some crack?

8. Predators

Adrien Brody as an action star is just not believable. The film had one of the best openings of the year and then dissolved into increasing ridiculousness and idiocy. If they knew mud was how they could beat them halfway through the film, why wait until the end, when they are almost all dead, to try it?

7. The Wolfman

Who would have thought that a film with great actors and a great premise would be one of the most boring films of the year. Please don’t bring this back…ever. I finally found an Anthony Hopkins film that I didn’t even enjoy watching in the least. I was hoping that day would never come.

6. Get Him to the Greek

I am still confused at how this film did so well with the critics. I was really excited about this sequel that wasn’t a sequel. It had great writers and a given chemistry between its two leads. But, it failed on just about every level, meandering for punch lines and a point for an hour and a half.

5. The Last Exorcism

I am going to repeat the joke that many people said about this film, let’s hope the title is accurate. While the film started off very well, the ending left a bitter taste in my mouth and the entire audience at the theater seemed disgruntled.

4. Valentine’s Day

How did they get this cast? How? This was by far one of the dumbest films of the year. This film was not funny and it wasn’t romantic. Ashton Kutcher and Jennifer Garner were the worst on screen couple I have seen in a while.

 

Okay, maybe not the worst.

 

 

3. MacGruber

I am always hoping SNL films will do well because I like the show, but they keep giving more ammo to people to hate them. This film was no different. I loved MacGruber on the show and got really excited about this film coming out, especially with Jorma Taccone directing and some serious talent associated with it. However, the gags were dumb and overly vulgar and the film made absolutely no sense. I was sorry to see Ryan Phillipe and Val Kilmer get tied up in this one.

2. My Soul to Take

Why did Wes Craven decide that this would be the film to make a come back with? Why not wait for Scream 4? I have serious doubts about the already shaky premise of the fourth installment after watching this piece of cinematic excrement. Not only did it have the worst story and terrible acting, it had pointless 3D that wasn’t even used. The one part that might have been cool to watch in 3D, wasn’t in the film, only in the preview. I think I died a little inside when I watched this film.

 

Well, at least no one can claim the title was false advertising.

 

 

1. The Last Airbender

M. Night Shyamalan, what happened to you? He is an easy target for this film and should be. He has plenty of money, why not wait and pick his projects more carefully. Why not hire someone else to write his scripts? Why not choose a better, less offensive child actor to play the lead? Why not bring a little bit of depth to your characters instead of putting cardboard cut outs around razzle dazzle special effects? I seem to recall a young director who said that he wanted to shy away from special effects anyway. Mr. Shyamalan, please refrain from directing any movies for at least five years and stick to helping people out with the Night Chronicles, because Devil was 10 times better than anything you made in the last 8 years.

 

My 3 Favorite TV Shows This Fall (Beer Blog)

Now that I have sufficiently ranted about the TV shows that have forced me to the bottle:

Even if it has been a most delectable bottle.

I will now discuss some shows that have done their darndest to revive this lackadaisical Fall TV Season.

#3 The League (FX Thursdays @10:30 EST)

When I first saw previews for the first season of this show I said, “How the heck are they going to make a show about a Fantasy Football league?” I completely ignored it until I saw that it had been renewed for a second season and it made me curious how it had been popular enough for a renewal. I watched the first episode of Season Two and I hardly stopped laughing the whole time and I almost immediately went out and bought the first season on Blu-ray. Three hours and all six episodes later:

And after a couple of these...

I finished the first season and had a new show to add to my list of favorites.

The show is deceptive in its title because the actual Fantasy Football League only serves as the backdrop for these hilarious characters to interact. What is great, is that while the predicaments the characters get into are outlandish, the characters are very relatable. It also helps that I am part of a Fantasy League and can relate to those stories and jokes as well. The second season has been consistently funny and I can’t think of an episode that I thought was not up to the par of the first season. If you haven’t seen it, or were skeptical about it like I was, check it out, but just like It’s Always Sunny, if you are easily offended, you might want to avoid it.

#2 East Bound and Down (HBO Sundays @ 10:30pm EST)

Let me start off by saying that this season was nowhere near as funny as the first, but, that being said, it succeeded on a level that the first season wasn’t able to. It actually brought depth (as much as they could) to the character of Kenny Powers (Danny McBride) without losing his sharp (or dull depending on how you look at it) tongue and cocky attitude. Will Ferrell and Adam McKay were worried when they first started the show that they wouldn’t be able to get people to root for someone as shallow as Kenny or be able to make the character progress without losing what actually makes the show funny.

The second season brought Kenny to Mexico and back again which gave him some time to reflect on his actions in the States and also to pursue a life in the world of cock-fighting. While  a couple of episodes wandered a bit, and I thought that they over played the part of Stevie Janowski, overall I thought the season was very well done as we follow Kenny’s anti-hero journey of self discovery. There were some great cameos and I thought that even though the jokes were just a little more stale, it was still maintained a consistent level of humor that other shows weren’t able to provide.

I'm looking at you 30 Rock.

#1 Modern Family (ABC Wednesdays @9pm EST)

What can I say? I love this show. The delightful mix of characters and great performances make it clear why it won the Emmy Award for Best comedy. The way that the characters interact really is like watching a real family and they always find some way to hit home on relational issues at least once an episode without making it look contrived or forced. I really hope that they can secure another Emmy or Golden Globe this year because it remains one of the freshest shows on TV and provides a well needed mid-week laugh in its current time slot.

Modern Family: As refreshing as Terrapin Hop Karma

After I finished writing this list, I realized that there were no dramas currently listed on here. Maybe I don’t watch enough of them, but it really seems like a lot of dramas are floundering in clichés and struggling to find ideas, except for Mad Men (which I didn’t include because it starts mid-summer). My favorite Fall drama on TV, House, while it has never really disappointed me, isn’t really up to the level that it used to be. Plus, the show has been invaded by a 12 year old girl who always looks like she is about to cry.

Psst...get off my show!!!

Dexter, Boardwalk Empire, and The Walking Dead have all struggled from either poor writing or lack of direction. So, yes, this season the comedies are reigning supreme and I propose a challenge to dramatic television….STEP UP YOUR GAME!!!

TAKE TWO: Megamind (2010)

Megamind 3D (2010)

Rated: PG

Starring: Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill

Director: Tom McGrath, Cameron Hood

There are very few films that tout “3D” that I can walk out of and say, “Man, that was worth it to see in 3D,” and this is one of them. Plus, the rest of the film wasn’t too bad to boot either.

Megamind opens with a similar premise as this year’s Despicable Me, the villain is the protagonist and he is always second best. Megamind (Will Ferrell) is constantly attempting to defeat Metro City’s renowned hero, Metro Man (Brad Pitt), and take over the city. When he finally does, he realizes that without his antagonist his life is pointless and comes up with a plan to scientifically create a new hero, Titan (Jonah Hill), to do battle with. When his plan backfires, the tables are turned and Megamind must find the hero within him before Titan destroys the whole city.

With a lot of animated competition from such films as Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me, I expected to be disappointed with this film, even though the trailers did look pretty humorous. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that not only was it one of the most visually stunning films this year, it delivered a hefty amount of laughs as well.

Will Ferrell has a tendency of over-acting for a laugh, which works in some cases (i.e. Anchorman, Old School), but brings down everyone else around him in others (i.e. Semi-Pro). The role of Megamind allowed Ferrell to allow his more cartoonish nature to flourish and his off-the-wall antics fit perfectly into that world. David Cross also played a great “Minion” and together they made a great comedic duo and carried most of the script on their capable shoulders.

In fact, I think Will Ferrell should be replaced in all his movies with Megamind.

I will talk briefly about the 3D and leave most of it to my esteemed colleague, Pac, who has been chomping at the bit to unleash his torrent of praise. However, I will just say that even with Despicable Me and Toy Story 3 bringing decent 3D to the table this year, Megamind brought the most depth to the screen. There wasn’t a whole lot of stuff breaking the fourth wall, but from the opening shot, it welcomed you into its world with breathtaking visuals. It is definitely worth dropping the extra $3 to see this one.

I also think we should all contribute $3 to Hollywood to ensure 3D crap like this never gets made again.

Even with all it had going for it, it did stumble a bit at times, mainly when Megamind or Minion weren’t talking, which was thankfully fairly little. I think that the script was only mediocre and that there was probably a lot of ad-libbing from Ferrell and Cross that made it as funny as it was. I can definitely recommend this, but it definitely has a very shaky storyline. However, if you are an adult with kids, this one won’t be a painful one to take them to, but will provide a very pleasant diversion. Even if you are an adult without kids, you shouldn’t be embarassed to say you want to see this.

• Characters: A-
• Cinematography (3D): A+
• Directing: B
• Plot: B-
• Performances: A-
• Humor: A-
• Overall: A-

Pac’s Take:

There has been some recent debate in the media between supporters of IMAX and 3D.  I still have the ticket stub for the first IMAX movie I saw, The Dark Knight and I’ve thrown away every stub from every 3D movie I’ve paid to view (Piranha and My Soul to Take to name two).  Naturally, in the IMAX v. 3D debate I’ve sided with IMAX, until I saw Megamind.

Every 3D movie should use Megamind as a guide on how to correctly use the technology.  Beautifully shot with depth and tremendous detail, I couldn’t help but constantly turn to my viewing companions and say, WOW!  TDK was able to utilize IMAX to completely envelope me into the film, and until now no 3D movie was able to capture that feeling.  Metro City felt huge, the crowds seemed endless, and whenever there was flight I had vertigo; the 3D delivered for 95 minutes.

Look, I want to make sure I drive the point home, this is worth the ticket for admission in 3D; SEE THIS MOVIE BEFORE IT LEAVES THEATERS.  Megamind should win at least two Oscars this season, best animated feature and best cinematography.

Unfortunately, I have yet to see Despicable Me but I thought the story of Megamind was fun and refreshing.  The banter between Megamind and Minion was humorous throughout and the plot was fairly original; what would a super-villain do if he defeated the hero?  I did think Tina Fey was poorly used in this film, her dialogue felt stale and at times cliche.  Otherwise I thought Megamind was the perfect animated film.

Why aren't you funny?

Megamind was not the best movie I’ve seen this year, but it was my most enjoyable film experience of 2010.  Here are my grades:

• Characters: A-
• Cinematography (3D): A+
• Directing: A
• Plot: A-
• Performances: A-
• Humor: A
• Overall: A/A+

 

5 Movies I Had To Watch Twice Before I Liked Them

We have all seen those films where we walked out going, “Wait…what?” or “Man, Pineapple Express should not be seen sober,” but for whatever reason, upon further viewing  they grew to be films that you thoroughly enjoyed and even loved. I have had several of those films, but here are five that stick out the most in my mind.

#5 Rushmore

I think I was too young when I watched this the first time. I watched it as a sophomore in college and wasn’t as attuned to the subtlety in the dialogue and the quiet desperation of Wes Anderson’s characters. Plus, being a poor college student, I watched it on a desktop computer with crappy speakers and a lot of the humor is found the quick and dry wit by Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman which I couldn’t hear that well. Upon further viewing on a regular tv, after taking a film class and having aged a little bit, I was really drawn into the characters’ world and found myself identifying (even if it was in absurd ways) with them on certain levels. I have probably watched this film about ten times now and never get sick of it. It also is #9 on my list of 20 favorite movies.

#4 Mystery Men

I remember seeing the previews for this in 1999 and the satire didn’t translate through the previews. It looked like Ben Stiller was trying to make a serious superhero movie and I thought, “Who would want to see that?” The box office numbers shared my sentiments as well and I was confused how this movie was getting at least decent reviews (it had 60% on RottenTomatoes). At about 2am after staying up for New Year’s my friends and I put this on in the background on DVD and I remember just thinking it was really dumb and pointless. The next morning one of my buddies started quoting it and we all started laughing and trading lines back and forth. We decided to watch it again that day and I realized that sarcasm does not translate well at 2am either and I was dying laughing at the ridiculousness. While it is not great piece of cinema, it is an entertaining and humorous spoof on the superhero genre and features great performances by Ben Stiller and Greg Kinnear.

#3 Spy Game

I chalk my dislike of this on the first viewing up to misleading previews. From the previews, it looked like an action-packed spy thriller and at this point in his career I wouldn’t have thought Brad Pitt would do a slower film. To my original disappointment a lot of the film was spent within the confines of a conference room watching Robert Redford multi-tasking between trying to keep his skin from falling off his face and talking on a phone (I think he was using the phone to hold his skin on).

Rumor has it that they injected more botox into his face in between takes.

 What I missed while I was distracted by this was the intricate story of mentor and protegé and a complex spy gambit. I watched it again a couple of years later, after finding out what it was actually about, and picked up on a lot more. While this isn’t the fastest paced movie, it will reward viewers who are willing to pay thorough attention to everything that is being said and done by Redford and Pitt.

#2 There Will Be Blood

I blame my original dislike of this film on misinformation and deployment. I was stuck on deployment in the middle of the ocean with little to no internet connectivity, therefore all I could do to find out about new films was to read the synopsis and some reviews. I couldn’t see previews and if I did want to look at reviews I would have had to block out a good chunk of time to download the page. When the film finally arrived to the ship I was excited to see what I thought would be about competing oil companies (which was kind of true, but not really).

There is no competition when I drink your milkshake.

Instead, it was something much more, which I couldn’t really see through the first time because I had to stop the film several times and pick up later due to its length. After the film was over it kind of sank in as a whole, especially when a lot of the time I was staring out a window at the ocean for hours on end, I realized how intriguing Lewis’ character was and went back and watched it again and found it compelling and disturbing with characters and lighting as black as the oil they were digging for.

#1 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Another one of my 20 favorite films that I didn’t like the first time I watched it. This one I don’t think I liked because it was a change from anything I had seen at the time. It seemed like Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, who wrote the idea for this film on a napkin in a restaurant, just kind of thought up the characters, showed up to the set and said, “What kind of shenanigans can we have the news team do today?” Up until this film I hadn’t really seen a comedy like that. I had seen dumb comedies, but not one that didn’t really have a coherent plot. I remember walking out just being confused and mildly amused. Again, this was one that I sat around one day quoting the movie with buddies of mine and the more we quoted the funnier the movie seemed. When I watched it again, my sides hurt and I had a headache from lack of oxygen to the brain. This is one of my favorites, if not my overall favorite comedy, and it is one that I don’t think needs a sequel because you can watch it over and over again and still laugh hysterically.

There are so many more that I could list, but what are some movies that you didn’t enjoy until the second viewing?

My 5 Most Anticipated Fall TV Shows

There has been an incredible increase in quality TV in the last decade.

 

Even though there have been some incredible efforts to decrease its quality.

 

A lot of that can be attributed to HBO and Showtime having a little bit more freedom with what they can do, but it can also be attributed to shows like “Lost” and “Mad Men“, that proved that shows that require patience for a bigger payoff can build a large fan base as well. As a result, the amount of shows that I watch consistently has also greatly increased, which can also be attributed to the great inventions of DVR and Netflix (and the not so great deployments where I had nothing to do but watch tv). That being said, there is a long list of TV Shows that I am looking forward to, but here are the Top 5.

#5 “Modern Family”

Premieres at 9pm 22 September on ABC

This is arguably the freshest comedy on TV right now and rightfully deserved the Emmy for best comedy series this year. I am interested to see where it goes from here. I put it no higher than #5 because I am worried that it will be trying too hard this season instead of having the nice flow that the first season had.

#4 “Boardwalk Empire”

Premieres at 8pm 19 September on HBO

Martin Scorcese produces this new series on HBO about the beginning of the Prohibition Era in Atlantic City. Steve Buscemi stars as Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, the Atlantic City Treasurer who is equal parts politician and gangster. He runs the city through backdoor deals and rum-running money. This show has a lot of promise with a lot of talent attached to it. While I love Steve Buscemi, I am not sure if he can pull off the tough gangster that the show plays him up to be. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

#3 “Eastbound and Down”

Premieres at 1030pm 26 September on HBO

Kenny Powers is back for a second season that has been a long time in the making. The foul-mouthed, washed up major league pitcher takes his antics to Mexico after being too embarassed to return to his hometown. He ends up playing on a Mexican baseball team owned by Michael Pena and apparently has a new love interest. Hopefully, with as long as they have had to write only seven episodes that Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, and Danny McBride can deliver another hubris-filled humor romp.

#2 “The Office”

Premieres at 9pm on 23 September on NBC

The seventh season of “The Office” will be Michael Scott‘s swan song (probably an ungraceful one). Rumors about who will replace him have been flying all around and have not landed yet. Either the producers and writers want to keep the audience guessing or they really don’t know. Either way they have done a great job creating a mystery that will surround the entire season and will keep me watching.

#1 “Dexter”

Premieres at 9pm on 26 September on Showtime

After last season’s shocking cliffhanger (which I will not mention here for anyone who hasn’t watched it), I cannot wait to see where they go with this show. Dexter is unpredictable and just when I think they are starting to get cheesy, they completely flip the show upside-down. With Dexter at what will probably be his most unstable this show has the most potential out of any this Fall.

What are some shows you are most looking forward to this fall?

Will Ferrell in a Serious Role?

A new film coming out this fall, “Everything Must Go”, will feature Will Ferrell dusting off his dramatic chops. We saw him bring a little bit of seriousness to 2006’s “Stranger Than Fiction“, but that was still not entirely drama. Apparently, Ferrell will refrain from his usual antics to play an alcoholic who loses his job and his wife in the same day and, when he is put out on the street, has a yard sale of all his possessions to make ends meet.

Will Ferrell in "Everything Must Go"

The film generated a lot of buzz at the Toronto Film Festival, with a new writer and director, Darren Rush, and Ferrell’s serious performance. While the film received mixed reviews, Ferrell’s performance still received some notoriety. I am interested in seeing Ferrell step up and show his serious side (like Jim Carrey did so well until “The Number 23”), so I will probably check this one out when it comes out this year. What are your thoughts?

REVIEW: The Other Guys (2010)

REVIEW: THE OTHER GUYS (2010): *** out of 4 stars.

In a year bereft of decent comedies, “The Other Guys” did a pretty good job trying to rise above the mediocrity. While not a high concept comedy, “The Other Guys” benefits from the old standby pairing of lead actor Will Ferrell and director Adam McKay. Throw in Mark Wahlberg as a foil to Will Ferrell’s zaniness and this film makes for an enjoyable ride.

Detectives Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) are paperwork minions at the New York Police Department, while two celebrity police officers (Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) take all the glory. When the celebrity officers die unexpectedly it is up to Allen and Terry to step into the spotlight. During an attempt to arrest a high-power businessman for not having scaffolding permits they uncover a vast trade conspiracy that ends up threatening the police department itself. Allen and Terry must battle the odds not only from the corporations, but also resistance in their own department to get to the bottom of the crime.

Ferrell was actually able to tone back his normal rambunctious antics which provided a less grating tone than his previous films and he seemed to be willing to let Wahlberg share part of his comedic spotlight as well. While not all the jokes and one-liners land, they are more hit than miss. There was a distinct lack of a coherent plot, but that was not so bothersome as long as Ferrell and Wahlberg kept the laughs coming.

While overall this was a very funny film, it did falter at times with its pace. The first twenty minutes of the movie were tight and stayed funny, but then for the next twenty minutes it meandered into nothingness, seemingly trying to find direction and what type of movie it wanted to be. It continued this alternating pattern throughout the entire two hours, but in the end it paid off with big laughs and some decent (sometimes satirical) action.

My Top 5 Most Quoted Movies and TV Shows

At family gatherings, my brother, his wife, and I are criticized for “talking in show”. We have watched so many movies and know so many quotes that it seems only the other two get, that it is hard to keep up with which movies or tv shows we are quoting. Plus, my Dad usually makes some sarcastic comment about how he wishes we had been able to quote literature or catechism as easily as we quote movies. There are movies and tv shows that we quote more often than others and below are two lists; one for movies and one for tv shows. While some other movies might have better/more deep and inspirational quotes, these are just the comedies that I end up quoting the most in everyday life.

Top 5 Most Quoted Movies

#5 Wedding Crashers

Quote Most Used in Real Life: “You shut your mouth when you’re talking to me!”

#4 Step Brothers

Quote Most Used in Real Life: “I don’t like your face and it’s not that you’re a bad guy or anything…it’s just your face. I-I don’t even hear what you’re saying right now. I don’t know what it is about your face, but every time I see it I just want to deliver one of thes (fist) right into your suck hole.  Again, you’re not a bad guy, but if you don’t fix your face, I’ll fix it for you.”

#3 Forgetting Sarah Marshall:

Quote Most Used in Everyday Life: “It’s a metaphor for a crap movie.”

#2 Just Friends

Quote Most Used in Everyday Life: “I’m going to start drinking….”

#1 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Quote Most Used in Everyday Life: “I immediately regret this decision!”

Top 5 Most Quoted TV Shows

#5 The Simpsons

Quote Most Used in Everyday Life: “Something was said! Not…good.”

#4 Family Guy

Quote Most Used in Everyday Life: “Who wants to play drink the beer?”

 #3 Scrubs (only because of Dr. Cox’s rants; early Scrubs Dr. Cox quotes)

Quote Most Used in Everyday Life: “That’s a great antecdote. You should write that down in your journal… so your kids can read about it when you’re dead.”

 #2 The Office

Quote Most Used in Everyday Life: “I hate so much about the things that you choose to be.”

#1 Arrested Development

Quote Most Used in Everyday Life:  Pretty much everything, but I probably use, “I don’t understand the question and I refuse to answer it,” the most.

Obviously, some of these quotes are not funny taken out of context and some are just funny to me, but regardless, these are the movies that I quote the most. I’d be interested in hearing some of your favorite quotable movies/tv shows in the comments.