Stardust, The Air I Breathe, Playing by Heart, The Good Shepherd, Hairspray & He’s Just Not That Into You: 6 Good Movies with Brilliant Casts

Posted on April 10, 2010 Written by ripitup

If you are anything like me, you have some actors whose projects really entertain you. But sometimes those actors come together to star in a film. So for instance what’s better than seeing Michelle Pfeiffer acting with Robert De Niro? Adding Mark Strong to the list. And you provide the comic relief with Ricky Gervais. Beauty? Siena Miller. New talent? Charlie Cox. Before you know it, you have one hell of a cast. Here’re my 6 favorite ensemble casts:

1) STARDUST

Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Claire Danes, Siena Miller, Charlie Cox, Ben Barnes, Ricky Gervais, Mark Strong and Henry Cavill.

Magical, thrilling, romantic and visually wonderful story of a young man (Charlie Cox) after a star (Claire Danes), the star co-operating so that she can go home, princes after a crown necklace and the witches after the star’s heart. For many more details, photos and trailer of Stardust:

https://pinartarhan.com/blog/20-reasons-to-love-stardust/

2) Playing By Heart

Playing by Heart starring Sean Connery, Angelina Jolie, Gena Rowlands, Ryan Phillippe, Gillian Anderson, Madeleine Stowe, Jon Stewart, Dennis Quaid. There’s also Ellen Burstyn and Jay Mohr. I love this movie and the cast. Photo: http://www.moviegoods.com

Starring:Angelina Jolie, Sean Connery, Dennis Quaid, Madeleine Stowe, Jon Stewart, Gillian Anderson, Gena Rowlands, Ellen Burstyn, Jay Mohr, Ryan Phillippe.

It is romantic, sweet and at times really funny. You can check out the plot here.

3) The Air I Breathe

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Forest Whitaker, Julie Delpy, Brendan Fraser, Andy Garcia, Emile Hirsch, Sarah Michelle Gellar.

If you like any of these actors and enjoy intersecting stories, you will enjoy this one. Sure, the undertone is very dramatic and it is slightly depressing but it is hopeful. Love, hatred, depression, anger, revenge, fun, loyalty,….. You name the emotion and you will find the story. No event is unrelated here. Andy Garcia is the villain. Kevin Bacon plays a really nice guy. Refreshing, right?

4) The Good Shepherd

Starring: Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie, Lee Pace, William Hurt, John Turturro, Billy Crudup and Alec Baldwin.

1960s. CIA agent Edward Wilson (Matt Damon) is faced with a crisis as some crucial information might be leaked to enemies. As the agents try to figure out who is responisble and who the info was given to, we start learning about Edward’s past with flashbacks going into the late 30s. We learn about what made he who he is from his childhood to his days at Yale, from the ww2 and onward. The cast is by far one of the most impressive I’ve ever seen. It might be due to the fact that De Niro is the director. Great film. It is a drama thriller.

5) He’s Just Not That Into You

Starring: Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johannson, Drew Barrymore, Justin Long

Don’t wait by the phone, don’t make excuses. If he is not calling you, he is just not that into you. Based on the refreshing relationships book by Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo. Extendend review for both the movie and the book can be found here.

6) Hairspray

Hairspray starring John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Amanda Bynes. Fun, colors, the hair and more fun…Photo: drkruznutty.files.wordpress.com

Now, you may have watched an Hairspray film made in 1988, written and directed by John Waters. And it is not that its cast is unknown, featuring names like Sonny Bono and Deborah Harry. However, you might realize that it was rated 6.8 votecd by over 8.000 people. However the Hairspray film that I’ll brag about I from 2007 and it is rated 7.2, voted over 40.000. So yes, we are facing a remake rated higher than the original.And I have no intentions of seeing the original.

Because John Travolta is a terrific actor and a singer and he is playing a woman! The wife of Christopher Walken! Absolute hilarity! And you have seen the cast, right? Yes, Michelle Pfeiffer makes a kick-ass bitch. James Marsden is a great actor, yeah- but here he shows us that he is an amazing singer too. And br ready to forgive Zac Efron for the Highschool Musical series. Yeah he still plays a guy in high school but the guy can sing rocknroll. Just forget about his pop idol/teenage-girl magnet reputation. If a guy can sing rocknroll well, he will have my respect. I also vote for the jet black hair.

If you aren’t entertained by this film-regardless of how you feel about musicals- I am sure what will put a smile on your face. Directed by Adam Shankman (A Walk to Remember).

Feel free to add your favorite ensembles. In the meantime, here’s a list of posts on these actors:

ANGELINA JOLIE:

Beyond Borders

Lara Croft Tomb Raider The Cradle of Life

The Most Gorgeous Women in Haollywood

Lee Pace:

Possession

The Fall

Soldier’s Girl

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

James Marsden:

Julie Delpy:

Bradley Cooper:

Yes Man

Zac Efron:

17 Again

City Island starring Andy Garcia, Julianna Margulies, Steven Strait and Emily Mortimer

Posted on March 6, 2010 Written by ripitup

City Island with Andy Garcia. And you thought your family was weird and problematic? Wonderfully written and directed by Raymond De Felitta. Produced by De Felitta and Garcia.

Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia) is a correctional officer at a prison. He is a proud City Islander (Le Bronx, New York) and the family man of a hilariously problematic family, though he is not aware of half the problems.

His teenage son is into fat chicks (very much into feeding them) and intrigued by their extremely fat neighbor. He also cuts most of his classes.

Vince and his wife Joyce (Julianna Margulies) are happy that at least one member of the family- their daughter- is getting proper education. Of course what they don’t know is- she is not in college, but working as a stripper.

Vince and Joyce can’t seem to talk without fighting and Joyce is pretty sure that Vince’s so-called, frequent poker games are in fact a cover for seeing his mistress.

They are a cover, but Vince isn’t cheating. He is taking acting classes, but he is just too ashamed to tell his wife. He also has a bigger secret- he has a son from a girlfriend way before his wife. But now he has found the son- an inmate, Tony (Steven Strait). Since Tony has no family to be released to, Vince decides to bring him home. Without asking Joyce first.

No one knows about who Tony really is, apart from Tony’s acting partner (Emily Mortimer), who just has some secrets of her own…

If you think you have seen it all when it comes to comedies about dysfunctional families, wait till you see this one. It is refreshingly original and downright hilarious. So, it is not a laugh-out-loud every moment like Hangover.. But when it tends to get a little emotional, it more than makes up for it by hilarious moments or moments that are just entertaining and are simply helping build a very fun climax. Loved every minute of it.

All actors are good, but of course- if I have to pick one, it is Andy Garcia. He is perfect at comedy. It is interesting to see him in this because let’s face it- we are more used to him being the romantic and/or the serious lead. Remember When a Man Loves a Woman? 10 Things to Do in Denver When You Are dead? He can get pretty psycho when he wants like The Air That I Breathe (an emotional movie with an ensemble cast, and this movie features a fun reference to it)…But the whole cast was just good to watch.

7.5/10 on IMDB. Sounds fair. Wouldn’t even mind if it was higher. Recommended, for everyone.

Havana, Miami and making out with Andy Garcia

Posted on June 5, 2009 Written by ripitup

It was one of the dreams you regret waking up from:

I am in this exotic and tropical place (a mixture of Miami and Havana)- It is sort of a vacation with my date- it is like we are staying at this holiday resort sort of a place, owned by my old friend (sort of an ex-crush/flame actually.) He is sort of this big shot entrepreneur. Anyway: here is the catch: the ex flame isn’t over me, and I don’t seem to be over him- And guess who’s starring as the brilliant/good-looking/passionate flame? Andy Garcia!!!

Andy makes clear he is still very much in love with me…And I am stunned. And happy. And after everything he does to show me how he feels, I ditch the date. Hey- a person you like or a person you love? Not a hard choice to make. So it is up to me to make a gesture- after kept putting himself on the line for me all the time. And I rush in a late night board-meeting-to everyone’s dismay- lean towards him, grab his collars and kiss the man. And he kisses me back…And it is not a PG-13 family movie 5 seconds kiss. It is a full-blown,mutually passionate kiss filled with angst and want and love and relief…Oh yeah…And then cut to one of our rooms ( who cares whose room, really) and we continue kissing there…
Then I wake up. Seriously??? I mean I hate waking up at the best bit!!!

Look it is easy to interpret everything in the dream:
1) I love Andy Garcia, he is a great actor and a beautiful leading man.
(When a man loves a woman, Ocean’s 11, 10 things to do in denver when you are dead…)
2)I am in the middle of writing a story with a strong ex- flame factor involved.
3)I am a hopeless romantic who is also addicted to fun and passion.
4)I caught a glimpse of Andy’s The Lost City before going to bed, but I was so exhausted I decided to catch it later…

Which fun dreams did you hate waking up from?

Check out this amazing Garcia comedy from 2009:

City Island

Allure of the Older Guy: Pierce Brosnan, Keanu Reeves, Andrew McCarthy and Andy Garcia

Posted on June 3, 2009 Written by ripitup

Don’t panic. I don’t mean older as in old. I have tendency to be attracted to good-looking men in their thirties and sometimes 40s even ( Banderas, Reeves,Bonjovi…40s are the new 30s, lookswise and lifestyles).(mind you, I am in my mid-20s). And I have to admit I still fail to see Brosnan as too old. A couple of years ago, in his mid 50s he still looked great. Let’s take a look, shall we?

Pierce Brosnan is in his 50s. He looks much better than he did in his 30s. Of course I am talking about certain type. Fun, funny, confident, modest, not afraid to kick as and a true romantic at heart. I hate the word old-fashioned, yet when it comes to romance,the guy who can pull it off, just scores big on the sexiness chart. But the thing is it has to be passionate and heart-felt and in no way pretentious.

keanu at 44,Street Kings — Keanu at 44 in Street Kings. Great movie, good acting and...He looks so ugly, doesn't he?;)

Andrew Mccarthy plays this billionaire in Lipstick Jungle where he sends cars and jets and pulls out all the stunts, to take her to a date. He can afford it and he enjoys it. But here is the thing, attraction kicks money’s ass. For me,at least. So trust me I pick a gorgeous yet struggling 25 year old over the old and unattractive guy any time. But here is the thing: this character Andrew is playing- is cool.

Andrew McCarthy as Joe Bennet, Lipstick jungle. Shame the show had only 2 seasons. It was a lot of fun to watch and Andrew had that charm that almost reminded me of Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.

Charismatic. Funny. And pretty cute. He does look good in his suit—and I happen to label suits as turn offs so many times! So it is the jokes and the voice and the smile and, get ready- he is there for the girl. Bingo!!! Ad trust me I have seen Andrew in movies where he was 20 something and he was not half as attractive.
My friend couldn’t have been more indifferent to Andy Garcia (not his acting she was just not into his looks), yet after watching one particular movie- she would’t mind kissing the character he was portraying. He is what? 39 in that movie? An ex gangster with a conscience? Suits and no jeans?

Andy at 39, ten things to do in denver when you are dead — Andy Garcia. Smooth. Very smooth. In case you are wondering, it is a really neat film.

Andy Garcia,ten things to do in denver when you are dead

But then the way he picked the girl he became besotted with…He might have said some cheesy stuff but it is the voice, and the way he looks at girl,how he means what he says: that he may not be able to take her breath away, but he will try. Honesty, charm and more charm. Not to mention sincere and funny. She was so intrigued, she agreed on a date despite having a boyfriend. The date was so fun and romantic, she invited him in afterwards. Don’t get me started on the way he kisses…. Oh, did I mention I am more into tall,well-built dark blondes who wear jeans and plain t-shirts and have long or longish hair? But what wins me in the end is a good kisser. A good kisser is the one who makes you want more. Who doesn’t push your limits and follows your lead instead. Who knows that the more you like someone, the more passionate the sex gets and it just becomes more fun and more satisfying for both. He can kiss her cheek or forehead or the eye yet you can feel that the girl is already wanting him- and she is getting high just because of a kiss!!!!! The word we use is devour…Oh boy!!! He devours her, and puts his whole being into a kiss…and she ends up craving him more than anything or anyone else…

So, excuse me but I like sense of fun coming with maturity. Just like i want romance and fun at the same time. So basically, I am screwed. I have a feeling that these combinations exist only in movies…Oh well, doesn’t stop me from wanting it….