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Firewall starring Harrison Ford, Virginia Madsen and Paul Bettany

Posted on May 21, 2010 Written by ripitup

Firewall starring Harrison Ford, Virginia Madsen and Paul Bettany. Image from: http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/HPO/firewall.jpg

Consider yourselves warned. This movie will not surprise you. You will get the ending you always do. That being said, it is just not a bad movie.

After a movie, I usually cruise through IMDB boards and check out what the other folks are saying. It’s quite amusing. No matter what the movie, you will find people that had a good time, that hated it and that just don’t really care. Some people think Harrison Ford should stop acting (in action films). Because he is too old. Yeah, I know. People would love to manage actors’ careers…

OK. Enough with the gossip and the sarcasm. I did warn you that this is a predictable movie. But it doesn’t change the fact that it’s entertaining:

Jack Stanfield (Harrison Ford) is a happily married man with 2 kids, aged 8 and 14. His wife (Virginia Madsen) is a beautiful architect and the marriage is great. His only problem is the merger his bank is going through but it is nothing he can’t handle. His life gets very difficult and complicated, however, when his best friend Harry (Robert Forster) introduces him to a businessman (Paul Bettany). Jack is a security specialist working at the large bank. The “businessman” makes him an offer and as Jack leaves to get home, he finds the businessman in his car. His name is Cox, he wants $100,000,000 from the bank. He also has taken his family hostage. From then on, it is a matter of life and death. Jack tries to outsmart Cox, and every time he fails, Cox proves that he is not kidding. So Jack needs to rob the bank he is protecting – and this robbery is a lot more technological and a lot less physical than the robberies we are used to…

It is not a masterpiece. It doesn’t have surprises. Still, I liked watching Jack finding a way to pull the stunts off. I had fun. The fun isn’t in trying to figure out whether Harrison will save his family. It’s in more how psycho the villain can get and how Jack can steal that much money, cover Cox’s track. And let’s face it, Bettany makes a fine villain. You might recgonize Jack’s secretary Janet (Mary Lynn Rajskub) as she has helped out Jack Bauer more than once in the series 24.

And why would people think Harrison is too old for this role is beyond me. It is not like he is playing Clive Owen’s part in Shoot Them Up or Gerard Butler’s in 300! He is trapped, he needs to save three members of his family. Anyone’s adrenaline would be pumped up. Watch it if you enjoy a typical thriller/action and like Bettany and Ford. By the way, remind me, did Harrison Ford ever play a villain?

5.8 on IMDB. I’ll give it a 6.Let me know what you think.

P.S. I read that Harrison Ford declined to play in Schindler’s List, claiming his stardom would get in the way of the message of the movie. I am glad Liam Neeson has the title role but what do you think about Harrsion’s remark? Do you think he is right? Or just cocky?

The Mentalist starring Simon Baker

Posted on April 19, 2010 Written by ripitup

Simon Baker as Patrick Jane in The Mentalist. Photo from: photobucket

Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) is a mentalist, helping the CBI (California Bureau of Investigation) with their cases.

A mentalist-as the definition appears on the screen right before each episode starts- is someone who uses mental acuity, hypnosis and/or suggestion.

Patrick used to pass himself off as a psychic and had more than a good 15 minutes of fame too. But when the serial killer he was helping the police catch killed his family to show he wasn’t as smooth or smart he believed himself to believe. After that, Patrick assists the CBI full-time. He profiles the suspects and the victims. By using his mental capabilities, he makes almost perfect assumptions. Although his theories don’t always amuse the detective in charge, Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney), she is aware of how big an asset he is. Mind you, she doesn’t always approve of his tactics. However, more often than not, he ends up being right.

A good friend of mine suggested I should watch The Mentalist. His reasoning was that I loved House and there was a big chance I would like this show too. As a fellow House addict, he wasn’t wrong. There are some uncanny similarities in the way how their mind works, how smart they are and how much attention they pay to details and how much they can derive from little stuff that could mean not much to others.

There are of course many differences as well. Patrick Jane doesn’t really mind talking to people. He takes pleasure in figuring them out whereas House really hates every extra “social” minute he has to spend. He is less of a loner and he used to be much less unconventional. He was married with a kid, until it was taken away from him. He sure gets to smile more often. But the thing is, there is no reason a fan of House can’t enjoy The Mentalist and vice versa.

Simon Baker is a good actor. You might have dismissed the tv show The Guardian he was previously starring in. I did. And you could have just labeled him as the pretty boy in The Devil Wears Prada. However, when I watched him in Sex and Death 101, I realized that he could indeed be worthy of all the fuss. Don’t be fooled by IMDB’s genre tags for Sex and Death 101. It is not a romantic comedy by any means. It is a black/dark comedy and obviously the romance is attached is very unconventional to say the least. Not a great movie but it is interesting and different. And then I watched him in The Lodger. He plays the mysterious lodger who may or may not be a serial killer, highly admiring Jack The Ripper. And again, although the movie wasn’t that good, Simon was.

Finally, Baker is the leading actor in a show well worthy of his talent and of your time. It is interesting, captivating and sometimes gruesome (due to the nature of the crimes). But our character Patrick does not come without a sense of humor. And neither do Teresa and the members of her team. And it is set in California, my favorite place on earth.

As the tagline of the show states, let the mind games begin. And I do love a good mind game!

Posts featuring The Mentalist

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Television’s 3 Most Brilliant, Emotionally Broken Men: Patrick Jane, Gregory House and Jack Bauer

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Castle starring Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic

Posted on April 8, 2010 Written by ripitup

Castle series starring Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic. Photo: http://screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/castle-nathan-fillion.jpg

Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) is a best-selling crime novelist. He is good-looking, fun-loving and having a blast. He has tons of fans, a teenage daughter so responsible that would make any parent jealous, a colorful/ex-actress of a mother and yeah, a lot of money. His one problem though, he is late delivering his final manuscript and his ex wife/publisher is doing his head in.

NYPD Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) is a fan of the genre and Richard’s books. One very carefully arranged&decorated crime scene makes her realize that the killer is a copycat and she has to look for answers in Richard’s books. However, she is less than amused when she meets him in person. He is smart but a real wiseass who talks and flirts too much. He is also actually proud and happy that he has a copycat- something he can brag about at the poker games he plays with other best-selling authors. So Richard is more than happy to assist with the case. He gets to go to real crime scenes, disobey Kate’s orders, steal evidence (to help solve the case, but still…)….

When they solve their first case together, Kate can’t wait to get rid of Richard. However, Richard has other plans. He has decided on the protagonist of his new novel: A tough but hot female detective called Nikki Heat, based on none other than Kate. Moreover, he has also persuaded her captain that he should be allowed to hang out at the police station, follow her around and help solve the cases. Kate’s objections are of no use, because well… Richard has the mayor on speed dial, is friends with the judges and he knows what he is talking about.

So we have a half-mandatory/half-willing partnership with lots of intriguing murder cases, witty one-liners, funny events, some emotional moments and real chemistry between the two leads. Richard’s smug and flirting attitude is well-balanced with him being a loving father. This makes a show very entertaining to watch. Castle is engaging, thrilling and funny.

Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle. The casting couldn't have been more perfect. You just need to see the first 5 minutes of the first episode to agree with me. Photo: http://seat42f.com/images/stories/tvshows/Castle

You were probably familiar with Nathan Fillion before. I first watched him in Two Guys and a Girl (with Ryan Reynolds), co-starring as the Girl’s boyfriend (and then husband)- Johnny Donnelly. He later had the leading role on the short-lived but critically acclaimed sci-fi/thriller TV show Firefly, created by Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy The Vampire Slayer). He guest-appeared on Buffy as one of the villains. He got to play his role in Firefly again when Joss Whedon made a movie out of the series, called Serenity. He has also appeared on Dracula 2000, starring Gerard Butler. It is always fun to watch Nathan on the screen – his performances are never strained or boring and you can always feel that the guy is really enjoying what he does, no matter what the role.

Stana Katic as Kate Beckett in Castle — Stana Katic. At 5'9

This is the first time I saw Stana Katic but I have to admit she does a really good job as Kate. Sure, her role is in the danger of being a little-clichéd- considering that she is the pretty, rule-obeying, smart, savvy yet emotionally preserved female character but the originality of the script, her fun cop friends and the presence of the character Richard, makes her character fun and easily watchable. I also love Castle’s scenes with his daughter- brainstorming on the murder cases with her. He is also one ” strange” parent that thinks her daughter should party more…

A show where I enjoy every minute of every episode. Strongly recommended- for everyone, especially so if you are into the crime/mystery genre attached to lovely comic relief.

Other Posts on Castle

Castle vs The Mentalist: Comparing Two Addictive Shows

Why Every Writer Should Watch Castle

Use of Social Media in TV Series featuring Castle, The Mentalist, House, Cougar Town and NCIS Los Angeles

Seven Engaging Tv Shows with Suspense Featuring Castle, The Mentalist, House, Ncis Los Angeles and More

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Castle on Amazon

Season 1

Season 2

The Forgotten starring Christian Slater

Posted on April 7, 2010 Written by ripitup

The Forgotten cast- Christian Slater — The Forgotten Cast (from the left): Bob Stephenson, Heather Stephens, Christian Slater, Michelle Borth, Anthony Carrigan and Rochelle Aytes. Photo from: http://www.idsnews.com/blogs/

The Forgotten is about a group of volunteers, who try to identify the nameless victims after the police have had to give up on the case. There are groups of volunteers all over USA and our story focuses on the group led by Alex Donovan (Christian Slater), an ex cop.

Alex’s daughter has been kidnapped 2 years ago. Alex still doesn’t have a clue what happened to her. So he helps other families- by identifying the victims and notifying the parents/relatives/loved ones. One way or the other, they will know and the guilty will face the trial.

Alex has 4 other friends in his group: Lindsey, Walter, Tyler and Candace.

Lindsey (Heather Stephens) has had a similar situation with her husband.

Candace (Michelle Borth) doesn’t like her job and this gives her a sense of purpose.

Walter (Bob Stephenson) likes to play detective.

Tyler (Anthony Carrigan) is a sculptor and he uses his art to help find more about the victim.

Their other co-star is Rochelle Aytes, playing Detective Grace Russell. Grace is Alex’s contact at the police department.

If you like to play detective and love watching cases get solved despite the bumps in the road- like your characters to succeed, but have a lot twists and turns in the meantime, you might like this show. I loved it. It will also help to be a Christian Slater fan.

Just like every show, there will be lots of mixed reactions. Why don’t you give it a try and see how you feel about it?

Note: I heard that ABC has canceled the show. Fingers crossed it is just a rumor. Because it is fun and exciting to watch. And if it is true, you still have 15 episodes to enjoy.

Other Christian Slater Posts:

The Deal with Christian Slater

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