How to Murder Your Wife

"Here you are in the prime of life. A handsome figure of a man, successful in business, adored by one and all. In fact, it could be said that you had it made, except for the one thing."
"I'm a lousy lawyer, huh?"
"No, you're married."

Stanley Ford (Lemmon) writes a successful comic strip and is a confirmed bachelor.  He has a routine and a dedicated valet, Charles (Thomas).  His life is good.  While extremely intoxicated at a friend's bachelor party, Stanley inadvertently get married.  The next morning he learns that his wife (Lisi) doesn't speak any English.

His lawyer, Harold Lampson (Mayehoff), refuses to get him a divorce and welcomes him into the world of marriage.  Charles quits and Stanley's wife begins to change things... so he incorporates her into his comic strip.  Can Stanley's life ever return to normal?


The summer after I graduated from college, I used to get together with two friends and watch movies.  We would get Chinese food and borrow 2 movies from the college library (from within the same decade or year) and spend the afternoon / evening watching movies.  This was one of the films we watched... based on the title alone. I was delighted to find the film on Netflix instant streaming and immediately added it to my queue.  Watching the film brought an incredible sense of nostalgia.

It is an entertaining film... and definitely is not what you'd expect.  The film opens with Terry-Thomas' Charles narrating about Stanley's life, and giving the audience a tour of the apartment.  The Charles character repeatedly breaks the 4th wall and speaks directly to the audience, but is the only character to do so.  After the initial setup of Stanley's lifestyle, and then the bachelor party where he meets his wife, the film does not play out the way you would expect.  The climax is unexpected, and the outcome is also a surprise... which is rare in film, especially comedies.

My roommate mocked the film title, and joked about watching a "how to" film (like when I watched How to Marry a Millionaire).  While I enjoy the film, I think men will appreciate it more... based on the courtroom scene and the life philosophy of the main characters.  An enjoyable ride with an excellent cast, Lemmon and Thomas are always entertaining.

How to Murder Your Wife (1965) 118 minutes
Director: Richard Quine
Starring: Jack Lemmon as Stanley Ford
Virna Lisi as Mrs. Ford
Terry-Thomas as Charles Firbank
Eddie Mayehoff as Harold Lampson
Claire Trevor as Edna Lampson
Sidney Blackmer as Judge Blackstone

Oscar Picks 2013

It's once again it's time to predict the winners of this year's Oscars (this is my 7th year!).  Last year I saw 11 of the nominated film, and correctly predicted 6 of 8 categories (I don't predict all of them).  This year I saw 15 films (for the full list of nominees, go to the Academy Awards website):

The Avengers
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Brave
Flight
Frankenweenie
Les Miserables
Mirror Mirror
Moonrise Kingdom
ParaNorman
The Pirates! Band of Misfits
The Sessions
Silver Linings Playbook
Snow White and the Huntsman
Ted

Wreck-It Ralph

The Avengers is nominated for Visual Effects
Mirror Mirror is nominated for Costume Design
Snow White and the Huntsman is nominated for Costume Design and Visual Effects
Ted is nominated for Best Original Song... "Everybody Needs a Best Friend"

Alright, let's get to the main event:


Best Supporting Actor

Alan Arkin, Argo
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
*Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

...who will win... Christoph Waltz or Tommy Lee Jones?

...who should win...?

This is a difficult race for me to pick... especially since I've only seen Silver Linings Playbook at this point.  All of the actors are incredible.  Christoph Waltz won the Golden Globe, and he won in 2010 in another Quentin Tarantino film... I give him the edge.

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams, The Master
Sally Field, Lincoln
*Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Jacki Weaver, Silver Linings Playbook

...who will win... Anne Hathaway

...who should win... Anne Hathaway

Despite only appearing in a few scenes, Anne Hathaway's presence and performance dominate the film.  It is a heartbreaking performance.  Sally Field is a legend and it is a coveted role, but the clear winner is Hathaway.

Best Actor

Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
*Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables
Joaquin Phoenix, The Master
Denzel Washington, Flight

...who will win... Daniel Day Lewis

...who should win... Daniel Day Lewis

Daniel Day Lewis is good in everything, gets nominated often, and normally wins.  Hugh Jackman and Bradley Cooper were good in their respective films.  Denzel Washington is always good, but his movie wasn't as good... and he wasn't as good as Lewis.  Lewis will win. According to the telecast, this marks his 3rd win in the Best Actor category.

Best Actress

Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
*Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Emmanuelle Riva, Amour
Quvenzhane Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Naomi Watts, The Impossible

...who will win... Jennifer Lawrence

...who should win... Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence is a strong and diverse actress.  She has appeared in 2 action franchises (The Hunger Games and X-Men), and within the last year she starred in a horror film and this film.  She was previously nominated in 2011.  The other actresses have not received significant buzz for their roles, so this seems like a sure thing.

Best Director

Michael Haneke, Amour
*Ang Lee, Life of Pi
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild

...who will win... Steven Spielberg

...who should win... Benh Zeitlin

Steven Spielberg will probably win for Lincoln, but I would love to see Benh Zeitlin win for Beasts of the Southern Wild.  Zeitlin was a surprise nomination, most assumed Ben Affleck would take the 5th slot.  Zeitlin is not as well-known as the other nominees, but he created a strong and unique film.  The only category I got wrong... Ang Lee is a strong and talented directed, and I am fine with getting this category wrong.  After seeing the film show up a few times during the telecast, I actually want to see The Life of Pi now.  It looks like an inventive film.

Best Animated Film
*Brave

Frankenweenie
ParaNorman
The Pirates! Band of Misfits
Wreck-It Ralph

...who will win... Brave

...who should win... Brave

Never bet against Pixar.  Brave was beautiful and moving, and a great mother / daughter film.  Wreck-It Ralph is a close second and a strong entry from Disney.  The remaining three films are inventive stop-motion films that all deserve the accolades they received, but won't make it past Brave.

Best Animated Short
Adam and Dog
Fresh Guacamole
Head over Heels
Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare"
*Paperman

...who will win... Paperman

...who should win... Paperman

Paperman is simple and beautiful ... a truly elegant and endearing short film, no one else stands a chance.  Fresh Guacamole is fun and creative.  I didn't have the opportunity to watch any of the other nominees, but I don't think they'll stand a chance.  Also, I enjoy The Simpsons, but how did it get nominated for an Oscar?

Best Picture

Amour
*Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Les Miserables 
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

...who will win... Argo or Lincoln

...who should win... Argo

It's hard to believe that Ben Affleck didn't get a nod for Argo.  I haven't seen the film yet, but it is supposed to be excellent.  Argo has won most of the previous awards.  I think the only film that could top it is Lincoln, because The Academy likes historical dramas.

*EDIT:  This year I managed to accurately predict 7 / 8.  I watched the Oscars with my roommate and some friends (none survived till the end of the telecast... after all The Walking Dead was on as well), I had to explain a few jokes and explain the basic plot of a few films.  I was pleasantly surprised by the telecast... lets start the campaign to have Amy Poehler and Tina Fey host next year!
Comments, Seth McFarlane is better than I expected.  Thought it was funny that when the orchestra played people off that they started with the "Theme from Jaws."  Love the tribute to musicals (but I love musicals). 

Ted (2012)

"Thunder buddies for life, right, Johnny?"

As a child, John Bennett (Wahlberg) wished that his teddy bear was alive, and his wish came true.  Twenty plus years later, John and Ted are still best friends and roommates.  John works at a car rental agency, while Ted spends his days baked on the couch.  John's girlfriend Lori (Kunis), who lives with them, thinks Ted is keeping John from growing up and ruining their relationship.

After an unfortunate event at the apartment, John helps Ted find an apartment and a job at the grocery store.  Ted starts dating Tami-Lynn (Barth), a cashier at the grocery store.  Can their friendship survive as their lives move forward?


I am not a big Seth MacFarlane fan.  I've seen a few episodes of Family Guy, but have no desire to watch it regularly.  The show has funny moments, but is not to my taste.  MacFarlane is a skilled comedian, but tends to go a bit too far.

The previews looked funny and I heard good things about the film.  It was enough to make me curious about the film.  MacFarlane lends his well-known voice to the role of Ted, which he played through motion capture.  Other members of the cast are regulars on MacFarlane's shows.  Mark Wahlberg is a charismatic leading man, and makes you believe that a grown man could have a teddy bear as a best friend.  The story is interesting, and apparently it was popular enough that they are planning to make a sequel.  I didn't love the film, it was good, but not great.

The film will make an appearance at the Oscars, as a nominee for Best Original Song "Everybody Needs a Best Friend."  With MacFarlane as the host, it will probably come up at other points during the telecast.

Ted (2012) 106 minutes
Rated: R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, and some drug use
Director: Seth MacFarlane
Starring: Mark Wahlberg as John Bennett
Mila Kunis as Lori Collins
Seth MacFarlane as Ted
Joel McHale as Rex
Giovanni Ribisi as Donny
Patrick Warburton as Guy
Matt Walsh as Thomas
Jessica Barth as Tami-Lynn
Aedin Mincks as Robert
Patrick Stewart as Narrator

Trouble with the Curve

"You don't know anything about scouting."
"Don't tell them that."

Gus Lobel (Eastwood) is a scout for the Atlanta Braves.  Unlike most of his counterparts, he refuses to use a computer to aid his information.  The Atlanta Braves manager, Vince (Patrick), is encouraged by Phillip Sanderson (Lillard) to retire Gus and find a scout that embraces modern technology.  Gus' friend Pete (Goodman), the Braves head of scouting, asks that they allow Gus to go to North Carolina and scout a big prospect.

Gus has a problem: his eyesight is failing.  Pete is concerned, and contacts Gus' daughter Mickey (Adams).  Gus and Mickey have a strained relationship, and she is in the middle of a big case at her law firm.  But Mickey goes to North Carolina to help her father scout Bo Gentry (Joe Massingill).  Can they mend their relationship and keep their careers.


When the film initially premiered, it looked like (and was promoted as) a sports film.  However, in the end the film is more concerned with the father / daughter relationship.  On the baseball front, this film feels like the opposite of Moneyball.  Moneyball is about the advantages of using technology for baseball, while this film shows the downside to technology.

Clint Eastwood reminds people that he is quite capable as an actor.  This film marks the first film that he has appeared in, but did not direct since 1993's In the Line of Fire.  His eye condition, the audience gets to see his perspective at one point, is an actual condition which effects a member of my family.  Amy Adams is great.  Justin Timberlake plays a former player, turned scout, who doubles as a love interest for Amy Adams' Mickey.  John Goodman is endearing and Matthew Lillard gets to be the smarmy villain.

I still don't know anything about baseball... but that didn't stop me from enjoying the film.

Trouble with the Curve (2012) 111 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for language, sexual references, some thematic material and smoking
Director: Robert Lorenz
Starring: Clint Eastwood as Gus Lobel
Amy Adams as Mickey Lobel
Justin Timberlake as Johnny Flanagan
Robert Patrick as Vince
Matthew Lillard as Phillip Sanderson
John Goodman as Pete Klein

Beautiful Creatures (2013)

"Are you a witch?"
"We prefer the term Caster"

Nothing ever changes in the tiny South Carolina town of Gatlin and Ethan Wate (Ehrenreich) can't wait to graduate high school and get out.  But everything changes when Lena Duchannes (Englert) comes to town.  Lena is the niece of the town recluse Macon Ravenwood (Irons) and doesn't fit in, but Ethan is captivated by her.

Lena and her family are Casters.  On her 16th birthday, Lena and her powers will be claimed for the Light / good or the Dark / bad.  If she goes Dark, nothing and no one that is currently important in her life that will be safe.  Can Ethan keep Lena from turning Dark?


I discovered the novel "Beautiful Creatures" after the trailer for the film first surfaced.  I devoured the novel and plan to read the 3 sequels in the near future.  The novel was captivating and chocked full of interesting characters, so I was excited about the big screen adaptation, and made plans to see it opening weekend.

I want to start by saying that it is an enjoyable film.  Screenwriter / director Richard LaGravenese wisely chose to limit the use of green screen, which is especially impressive during the Harvest dinner at Ravenwod Manor.  Alden Ehrenreich is charming as Ethan.  The adult cast are well-known and bring a level of awesome to their characters.  Also, they visualized aspects of the novel that were abstract, such as the library.

Now let's discuss the problems... I am aware that it is not practical for a 2 hour film adaptation to show every minute detail; TV miniseries are more suited to a faithful adaptation.  That being said, film adaptations should stick to the story, with the ability to remove minor characters and plot lines that do not contribute to the overall plot of the story.  This film decided to do the following: 1) combine 2 necessary characters into one in order to get a bigger star attached to the project.  2) important details are changed, which changes the story.  3) THEY CHANGED THE ENDING.  As a former literature major, I cannot stress enough how that one decision much that changes everything about the story.

So, if you are planning to see the film, I would suggest seeing it before reading the novels.  That way you can only get more information and not be upset by all of the missing pieces.

Beautiful Creatures (2013) 124 minutes
Rated: PG-13 for violence, scary images and some sexual material
Director: Richard LaGravenese
Starring: Alden Ehrenreich as Ethan Wate
Alice Englert as Lena Duchannes
Jeremy Irons as Macon Ravenwood
Viola Davis as Amma
Emmy Rossum as Ridley Duchannes
Thomas Mann as Link
Emma Thompson as Mrs. Lincoln
Kyle Gallner as Larkin Ravenwood

Flight (2012)

"Nobody could've landed that plane like I did."

Captain Whip Whitaker (Washington) is a talented pilot and alcoholic.  After a night of drinking and no sleep, he flies a plane to Atlanta.  He navigates out of heavy turbulence, then takes a nap and allows the co-pilot, Ken Evans (Brian Geraghty) to fly the plane.  He wakes when the planes starts having problems.  The engines fail as they begin the final descent, and Whip takes drastic measures to land the plane.

The plane crashes, killing four passengers and two of the flight attendants.  Whip walks away with minor injuries, and is considered a hero.  The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) begins investigating the crash and start looking into Whip's life.  Meanwhile, at the hospital is meets and falls for heroin addict, Nicole Maggen (Reilly).  Can Whip get his life together enough to survive the investigation?


This is another example of a film that is so different from it's previews.  I knew the film was about a plane crash and that Denzel Washington's character was the pilot and potentially a reason for the crash... but I wasn't expecting the film to be so much about his addictions.

That being said, Washington is an incredible actor.  He makes the character likeable and relate-able, despite all of his issues.  His performance is nominated for the Oscar for Best Actor.  I don't think he'll win, but he is a talented actor.

While the film focuses on Washington, he is backed by talented actors.  Don Cheadle, another outstanding actor, kills it as lawyer Hugh Lang.  John Goodman is funny as Harling Mays.  He only appears in a few scenes (I think 3), but goes for broke and breaks some of the tension.

It is a well done film, that is a bit of a surprise.  I enjoyed it more than I expected.  Be prepared for the opening sequence, with unnecessary nudity.

Flight (2012) 138 minutes
Rated: R for drug and alcohol abuse, language, sexuality/nudity and an intense action sequence
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Denzel Washington as Captain Whip Whitaker
Kelly Reilly as Nicole Maggen
Don Cheadle as Hugh Lang
Bruce Greenwood as Charlie Anderson
Tamara Tunie as Margaret Thomason
John Goodman as Harling Mays

The Odd Couple: 500th Review

Happy Valentine's Day, and Happy 500th movie review!  I plan to celebrate with a large bowl of ice cream or a brownie sundae... regardless, I predict ice cream (and a heavy fleece blanket or a mug of hot chocolate) in my future.
100 was knights... 200 was war ... 300 was cops ... 400 was monsters...

"I think I'm crazy."
"If it makes you feel any better, I think so too."

When Felix Ungar's (Lemmon) wife asks for divorce, everyone is concerned that he will do something rash.  However, Felix is too neurotic to do any real damage.  That night, he ends up at the weekly poker game at Oscar Madison's (Matthau) apartment.  Unlike their other friends, Oscar is also divorced.  Oscar explains that he doesn't like to live alone and asks Felix to move in.

Oscar is a slob, who has a broken fridge and air conditioner and serves "green" or "brown" sandwiches.  And, he hates his ex-wife.  Felix is neurotic, obsessive compulsive and an excellent cook.  He is still hung up on his ex-wife.  After living together for a few weeks, they are driving each other crazy.  Can they co-exist in the apartment, or will they drive each other away?


In 1965, Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple" premiered on Broadway.  The show starred Walter Matthau as Oscar and Art Carney (best known for the TV show "The Honeymooners") as Felix.  When they adapted it for film, the producers didn't think Carney was a big enough star, so they replaced him with Jack Lemmon.  Lemmon and Matthau were friends in real life and this was their second collaboration (they made 10 films together).  In 1970 "The Odd Couple" became a TV show, starring Tony Randall and Jack Klugman.

This film is one of the most enduring buddy comedies.  It's formula has been mimicked and mocked numerous times, including another Lemmon / Matthau pairing: Grumpy Old Men.  The films works because Lemmon and Matthau have incredible chemistry, and are gifted actors / comedians.  Even without talking they draw you into the story.  The film begins with Felix's journey to the poker game.  With only a few lines of dialog, you understand the character.  And when the film cuts to Oscar's apartment, you understand him as well.  Lemmon and Matthau are surrounded by talented character actors.  The men who make up their poker buddies are great and do so much with only a few scenes.  The 2 female characters, played by Monica Evans and Carole Shelley, have incredible chemistry as well.  They had the chance to reprise these characters in Disney's Aristocats, as the geese Amelia and Abigail.

A truly awesome comedy (and available on Netflix instant streaming).

The Odd Couple (1968) 105 minutes
Director: Gene Saks
Starring: Jack Lemmon as Felix Ungar
Walter Matthau as Oscar Madison
John Fiedler as Vinnie
Herb Edelman as Murray
David Sheiner as Roy
Larry Haines as Speed
Monica Evans as Cecily Pigeon
Carole Shelley as Gwendolyn Pigeon

The Sessions (2012)

"I believe in a God with a sense of humor. I would find it absolutely intolerable not to be to able blame someone for all this."

Mark O'Brien (Hawkes) suffered from polio as a child, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down.  His condition causes him to rely on an iron lung and the necessity for round the clock caregivers.  At the age of 38, he seeks advice from his priest, Father Brendan (Macy), about a sensitive situation.

His condition prevents any kind of physical intimacy, and he wants permission to try a sex surrogate.  A therapist recommends Cheryl Cohen Green (Hunt).  With the help of his assistant Vera (Bloodgood), Mark begins his journey with Cheryl.


The plot is based on the life of Mark O'Brien.  In 1990 he wrote an article about his experiences with Cheryl Cohen Green for The Sun magazine titled "On Seeing a Sex Surrogate."  He also wrote about his life in the book "How I Became a Human Being: A Disabled Man's Quest for Independence."  In 1996 his story was turned into a documentary Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien.  Mark O'Brien died in 1999.

While the film is about sex, there is no graphic sex scene in the film.  There is significant nudity, but it isn't vulgar.  This was a film I wasn't planning to enjoy... I only watched the film because it was nominated for an Oscar, but I am glad I did.  John Hawkes performance as Mark O'Brien is spellbinding.  You root for him and want him to get the girl (any of the three women that feature heavily in his life).  Helen Hunt is nominated for an Oscar for her performance.  She is good, but I am surprised that Hawkes didn't receive any kind of nomination.  The film wisely focuses on 3 characters, with a larger group popping in and out.  William H. Macy rounds out the trio as Mark's confidant.  He is funny and the audience stand-in.

The film isn't long, but it takes a bit to get things going.  Don't give up on it too soon.

By the end of the film I was in tears and curious about Mark's life.  I would love to read some of his works, especially his poetry.  Not for everyone, but worth a look.

The Sessions (2012) 95 minutes
Rated: R for strong sexuality including graphic nudity and frank dialogue
Director: Ben Lewin
Starring: John Hawkes as Mark O'Brien
Helen Hunt as Cheryl Cohen Green
William H. Macy as Father Brendan
Moon Bloodgood as Vera
Annika Marks as Amanda
Adam Arkin as Josh

Hotel Transylvania

"Are these monster gonna kill me?"
"Not as long as they think you're a monster."
"That's kinda racist."

To protect his daughter Mavis (Gomez), Dracula (Sandler) built a hotel for monsters away from the prying eyes of humans.  Every year all their monster friends come to the hotel for Mavis' birthday party.  For her 118th birthday, she is finally allowed to leave the hotel and see the world.  But her dad has other plans.

His plans backfire when a human, Jonathan (Samberg), finds the hotel.  Drac tries to get Jonathan out of hotel, but he and Mavis make a connection.  Meanwhile, their friends arrive for the party.  Wayne (Buscemi), Wanda (Wanda) and the pack of were-children spill out of their car.  Murray (Green), the mummy, rides in on a wave of sand.  Griffin (Spade), the invisible man, appears out of nowhere.  And Frankenstein (James) and his wife Eunice (Drescher) arrive in the mail.  They are immediately entranced by Jonathan, who Drac disguises as a distant relative of Frankenstein.  Will Drac keep the party on track and get rid of Jonathan, or will the human ruin the party?


So, despite the fact that I don't like scary movies (I refuse to watch them, with a few exceptions), I love Frankenstein and classic Hollywood horror films.  Frankenstein holds a special place in my heart (and was the subject of my collegiate thesis).  This film captured my attention from the first time I heard about it.  The voice talents were also a major draw.

The film capitalizes on monster movie tropes.  For example, in the Frankenstein films, the monster character is afraid of fire, which is a running joke in the film.  The monster men are the usual cast for an Adam Sandler film, and work well together.  Andy Samberg recently costarred with Sandler and is a good fit here.  Singer CeeLo Green is a strong addition as Murray.  The women of the film don't get to do much.  The end of the film features the cast performing a song, which doesn't really serve much of a purpose... especially since the two cast members who are well-known singers don't really do much singing.

A decent film, not really for little kids, but still an enjoyable film (and if you have ever seen an Adam Sandler film, you know what you're getting into).

EDIT: The sequel Hotel Transylvania 2 was released in 2015.  Hotel Transylvania 3 is set to release in 2018.

Hotel Transylvania (2012) 91 minutes
Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
Starring: Adam Sandler as Dracula
Andy Samberg as Jonathan
Selena Gomez as Mavis
Kevin James as Frankenstein
Fran Drescher as Eunice
Steve Buscemi as Wayne
Molly Shannon as Wanda
David Spade as Griffin
CeeLo Green as Murray
Jon Lovitz as Quasimodo

Prete-moi ta main: I Do

Luis Costa (Chabat) is a successful perfumer with an idyllic life.  However, the women in his life, his mother Genevieve (Lafont) and five sisters (Barrault, Deguy, Lewkowicz, Monot, Mouchel), want him to get married.  They call a family meeting, called G7, to vote on the decision.  As they proceed to create an online dating profile and set him up with all their friends, Luis devises his own elaborate plan.

He convinces Emma (Gainsbourg), his best friend Pierre-Yves' (Oestermann) sister, to pose as his girlfriend / fiance.  He tells her how to charm the women in his life, so that they will adore her... then everything will end just before the wedding, so they never bring up marriage again.  Things go a little too well, and the women blame him for the non-wedding, and he needs a new plan.


I found this film on Netflix and was intrigued by the title I Do: How to Get Married and Stay Single (which is the English title and the tagline).  I had just watch both of the OSS 117 films (France's answer to James Bond) and was interested in watching more French comedies.  It took awhile, but I finally had time to watch the film, and was not disappointed.

The film is very funny.  Alain Chabat, who is the leading man, served as a writer and producer on the film, and came up with the initial concept.  He carries the role of Luis well and has great comedic timing.  Charlotte Gainsbourg meets him beat for beat and proves to be his comedic equal.  Both, and Bernadette Lafont (who plays Luis' mother) were nominated for the Cesar Awards (the national film awards in France) for their performances in this film.

Don't let the fact that you have to read subtitles keep you from experiencing this film.

Prête-moi ta main: I Do (2006) 90 minutes
Director: Eric Lartigau
Starring: Alain Chabat as Luis Costa
Charlotte Gainsbourg as Emma
Bernadette Lafont as Genevieve Costa
Wladimir Yordanoff as Francis Bertoff
Gregoire Oestermann as Pierre-Yves
Veronique Barrault as Catherine
Marie-Armelle Deguy as Axelle
Katia Lewkowicz as Carole
Louise Monot as Maxine
Luce Mouchel as Marie

The 10th Kingdom

"No, no! "Rare" implies dangerously cooked. When I say rare I mean just let it look at the oven in terror, then bring it out to me."

Virginia Lewis (Williams) and her father Tony (Larroquette) have boring lives, until a golden retriever changes everything.  The golden retriever is Prince Wendell (Lapaine), crown prince of the 4th Kingdom, who is under an enchantment.  He is pursued by clueless troll siblings Blabberwort (Lewis), Burly (O'Gorman), and Blue Bell (Birkett).  When life gets complicated, Virginia and Tony follow Wendell back to his kingdom.  The 9 Kingdoms are the homes of fairy tale legends, a century after their golden age.

Wendell's step mother, the Queen (Wiest) is trying to control all 9 kingdoms, with a stand-in for Wendell.  She is assisted by the Troll King (O'Neill) and a series of magic mirrors.  With the help of Wolf (Cohen), who falls for Virginia at first sight, can they restore Wendell's kingdom and return home?


A friend introduced me to The 10th Kingdom when I was college, and it was love at first sight.  I love fairy tales and I love the idea of our world interacting with the fairy tale world (so I love TV's Once Upon a Time).  These are not the fairy tales of our childhood, the basic ideas are there.. but different characters are experiencing the events.  For example, there is a Rapunzel-esque sequence where one character has super long hair and is trapped in a tower, but the character is not Rapunzel and things don't quite happen the way they do in fairytales.

"We either live happily ever after or we get killed by horrible curses"

The characters are entertaining.  Scott Cohen steals the show as Wolf (he says the quote at the beginning of this post).  He gets the best lines and is a fun and intriguing character.  The Troll kids (pictured above) are funny as a group, especially when they find the boombox that plays "Night Fever."  They just about steal the show.  Kimberly Williams is adequate as the lead / audience surrogate.  She starts out cold and distant, but becomes the heroine you want to cheer on.

Originally, there were plans to create a second season of the miniseries, with a different crisis for Virginia to solve... they hint about it at the end of the series.  However, the miniseries was not as popular as they expected, and the studio decided not to pursue a second season.

The entire miniseries is available through Netflix Instant streaming.

The 10th Kingdom (2000) 417 minutes
Director: David Carson and Herbert Wise
Starring: Kimberly Williams as Virginia Lewis
Scott Cohen as Wolf
John Larroquette as Tony Lewis
Dianne Wiest as Queen
Daniel Lapaine as Prince Wendell
Ed O'Neill as Relish the Troll King
Rutger Hauer as Huntsman
Dawnn Lewis as Blabberwort the Troll
Hugh O'Gorman as Burly the Troll
Jeremiah Birkett as Blue Bell the Troll
Robert Hardy as Chancellor Griswold

TV: 30 Rock

 "I want to go to there."

Liz Lemon (Fey) is the creator and head writer on the sketch comedy show "The Girlie Show with Tracy Jordan" (TGS).  The show stars unpredictable comedian Tracy Jordan (Morgan) and attention-seeking Jenna Maroney (Krakowski), who is Liz's best friend, who each believe they are the #1 star on the show.  Helping to control the crazy is the show's producer, Pete Hornberger (Adsit), is the only "sane" person working on the show.  The writing staff look for any excuse to slack off / drink on the job.  And at every turn she has to answer to Jack Donaghy (Baldwin), who serves as her boss and mentor.  The show has a naive, hillbilly Page Kenneth (McBrayer), and Liz's assistant is Cerie (Bowden) who doesn't do any work and wears skimpy clothing.

Liz tries to balance TGS with her personal life.  She is unlucky in love and misunderstood by her peers.  Can Liz really have it all?

In 2006 when the show premiered, no one expected it to succeed.  At the same time, Aaron Sorkin's Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, premiered.  It had critical acclaim and was projected to be a success.  But at the end of the day, Studio 60 crashed and was cancelled after 1 season... but 30 Rock survived 6 seasons and won numerous awards.  It had a small, but passionate audience and the kudos of critics.

The show is loosely based on Tina Fey's experience as the head writer on SNL.  Like SNL, the show featured numerous celebrity cameos along with political figures and athletes.  Sometimes the characters played versions of themselves and sometimes they played random characters.  The show had the ability to integrate a large and revolving cast of characters.  The regular cast was phenomenal and deserved the accolades they received.

The writing managed to tow the line between funny, absurd and self-mocking.  It was a show about Hollywood, with insider jokes and mimic the style of other TV shows.  In addition, they did 2 live shows (which were very funny).

The series finale, aired on January 31, 2013, and successfully wrapped up the story lines and provided closure to the characters... it was moving, emotional, and funny.  Thank you 30 Rock and Tina Fey for 6 great seasons... even the "bad" seasons were incredible television.  I wish the cast and crew the best in the future, and can't wait to see what Fey will do next!

30 Rock (2006-2013)
Creator: Tina Fey
Starring: Tina Fey as Liz Lemon
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy
Tracy Morgan as Tracy Jordan
Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney
Jack McBrayer as Kenneth Parcell
Scott Adsit as Pete Hornberger
Judah Friedlander as Frank Rossitano
Keith Powell as Toofer
Katrina Bowden as Cerie
Kevin Brown as Dot Com
Grizz Chapman as Grizz
John Lutz as J.D. Lutz
Maulik Pancholy as Jonathan

Ice Age: Continental Drift

"Surrender your ship or face my fury!"
"Or face your furry what?"
"Not furry, fury!"

When Scrat the squirrel causes the ground to split apart and form separate continents.  While the earth is reforming, Manny (Romano), Sid (Leguizamo), and Diego (Leary) are separated from the rest of their herd and swept up in a storm.  They drift into the sea on a large chunk of ice, with Sid's eccentric Granny (Sykes) sleeping through the storm.  Soon they are captured by a band of pirates, led by Captain Gutt (Dinklage) a Gigantopithecus, who wants to control the ocean.  They manage to get free and destroy Gutt's ship.  They escape on a tiny piece of ice and rescue Gutt's second in command, Shira (Lopez).  They float away with Gutt and his crew giving chase.

Meanwhile, Ellie (Latifah) and Peaches (Palmer) are leading everyone to the land bridge to escape the land shift that is looming behind them.  Can Ellie and Manny get back to each other, or will pirates ruin everything?


This is the 4th film in the Ice Age franchise, which is starting to wear out its welcome.  Maybe it's because it is the 4th film, maybe it's because it's trying to compete with other animated franchises...

1) There are too many unnecessary characters: the other films had big stars in small roles, but this one tried to hard.  The teen mammoths are not needed and shouldn't be in the film... the film should focus more on the pirates and less on the teen crap.  Also, is the Louis character necessary here?

2) Why the huge jump in time since the 3rd film?  Peaches was a newborn and she is still young in the Christmas special... the film could still work if she was a child, which would remove the need for most of the unnecessary characters.

3) Singing over the credits... no.  In most movies it works, but I wasn't fan of it here.

The returning characters are once again funny.  It was good to see the original guys together, and Wanda Sykes was a welcome addition as Granny.  They are still the characters you fell in love with ten years ago, with some emotional growth.  Peter Dinklage is also excellent as Captain Gutt.  Apparently they originally wanted Jeremy Renner in the role, but I prefer Dinklage.  The pirates are entertaining.

I'm sure children will still enjoy it, but I don't think adults will love it.

Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) 88 minutes
Director: Steve Martino and Mike Thurmeier
Starring: Ray Romano as Manny
John Leguizamo as Sid
Denis Leary as Diego
Seann William Scott as Crash
Josh Peck as Eddie
Peter Dinklage as Captain Gutt
Wanda Sykes as Granny
Queen Latifah as Ellie
Keke Palmer as Peaches
Josh Gad as Louis
Jennifer Lopez as Shira
Aziz Ansari as Squint
Nick Frost as Flynn
Rebel Wilson as Raz