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11.14 starring Hilary Swank, Patrick Swayze, Rachel Leigh Cook and Barbara Hershey

Posted on March 21, 2010 Written by ripitup

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11.14, starring Hillary Swank, Patrick Swayze, Henry Thomas, Barbara Hershey, Rachel Leigh Cook and Shawn Hatosy
11.14 is one of the smartest and most fun scripts ever. It keeps you intrigued and the details are just impressive. Don't miss this little gem from 2003. Photo from: http://i36.tinypic.com/3582ph2.jpg

Jack (Henry Thomas) is driving his car at night, drinking, when all of a sudden he crashes into something that seems to have dropped from upwards. He realizes it is a human, and he is dead. He can barely get him in his trunk before a woman drives by, and thinking he hit a deer. She thinks she will help him by calling the cop nearby. Soon after the woman leaves, the cop arrives. He soon realizes it is not a dear and sets out to arrest him- only he has no handcuffs left because there are already two people arrested at the back of the car…

These are not spoilers. This is what happens in the first 5 minutes of the film. The crash happens at exactly at 11.14. What our half-sober driver doesn’t know is that everyone is actually, unknowingly, related to this incident one way or the other.

The movie is full of unexpected twists and turns, full of fun characters and a lot of complications. It has a cast full of names we are familiar with: Barbara Hershey, Rachel Leigh Cook, Patrick Swayze, Hillary Swank, Colin Hanks (son of Tom Hanks), Henry Thomas and Shawn Hatosy.

What the movie does is to take the clock a little back every time so that we can see what the other characters were doing and why. It is like a more entertaining and immediate version of a butterfly effect. It is a fun ride full of unexpected acts of crime and people’s reactions to it.

I was watching Prizzi’s Honor on TV and not really liking it when I stumbled upon 11.14’s opening credits on another channel. From minute 1, I was hooked. Recommended.

7.3 on IMDB. Wouldn’t rate it any less. Written and directed by Greg Marcks.

This movie has a terrific ending. Below are 2 different lists movies with great endings:

Top 5 Movie Endings9 Movies with Awesome Endings

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: 11.14, 11.14 movie, Barbara Hershey, Colin Hanks, Greg Marcks, Henry Thomas, Hillary Swank, movies, Patrick Swayze, Rachel Leigh Cook, Shawn Hatosy, thriller

The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock

Posted on March 15, 2010 Written by ripitup

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The Blind Side with Sandra Bullock
The Blind Side with Sandra Bullock. As cute as any movie can get. Sandra Bullock won both a Golden Globe and an Oscar for her role as Leigh Anne Tuohy. Photo from: bostonherald.com

Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock) is an efficient multi-tasker. Being happily married with 2 kids, a successful designer, cheerleaders’ trainer, and socially active, her hands are quite full. But one day she meets a big, young guy going to her kids’ school and realizes she just might need to help this poor, black  boy out. Mike has nowhere to stay so she invites him to their home to spend the night. Realizing, he has nowhere else to go, she decides to make some more permanent arragements for him. And as unusual as their circumstances are, everyone in the family seems to have liked this guy and they all help him become a part of the family, succeed in school and eventually in football.

The movie is the true life story of football player Michael Oher. Sandra Bullock won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her portrait of Leigh Anne. This is an uplifting, heart-warming and an entertaining experience. It is one of the rare movies where I enjoy to see a lot of football going on. All actors do a good job but my favorite is the son of the family, played by Jae Head. His negotiation and coaching scenes are just a riot to watch. A should see. However as good as Sandra was in her role and as much as I like her, I failed to see what was it that won her the award. A friend of mine made a funny comment on this:

“Well, Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep had won and the other 2 were young actresses and could win later. Sandra has been working hard so they thought it might be time to give her an award”. That does makes sense in a weird way, I suppose. After all, the academy does work in mysterious ways.

Entertaining and emotional. 7.7 on IMDB.

Other Sandra Bullock Movies

The Proposal starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds

While You Were Sleeping starring Bill Pullman and Sandra Bullock

The Lake House starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: Academy-award winning movie, comedy, drama, Michael Oher, movie the blind side, movies, Sandra Bullock, sandra bullock movies, sandra bullock the blind side, sandra bullock the blind side movie, The Blind Side, the blind side movie, the blind side movie review

Up in the Air starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick

Posted on March 13, 2010 Written by ripitup

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Up in the Air, starring George Clooney
Up in the Air, starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick. Emotional and fun. Loved to see George doing some soul-searching. image via newsblaze.com

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) leads most of his life up in the air, literally. His job description mostly is about flying over to whatever company needs his services and firing the employees that need to be fired. He does it with style, grace and professionalism, and without really letting it get to him. He absolutely loves the traveling and the benefits it brings him. This job might have been depressing or tiresome for some people, but strangely Ryan lives for it.

One day he meets a beautiful frequent business traveler named Alex (Vera Farmiga) and they hit it off, starting a very smooth casual relationship. Ryan’s lifestyle is not questioned at all by her.

The only flaw in Ryan’s life comes through in the shape of another woman called Natalie (Anna Kendrick). Ryan’s boss (Jason Bateman) is very impressed by this young and ambitious girl and her “innovative ideas. She thinks firing people can be done on the ground, through technology. From then on, Ryan starts to mentor Natalie unwillingly, trying to prove why the old school methods are best. But of course a young, hopeless romantic versus an older, experienced, proud-to-be-single guy brings out many clashes and makes out for a fun and emotional journey where both will learn some stuff.

While Up in the Air has its romantic moments, emotional realizations and some relationships going on about it, it is not about two people about finding love. This is not a love story or a story about love. This is a story about a journey, being mostly Ryan’s. It is fun to see George Clooney play a seemingly simple but yet so endearingly flawed and complicated character. I missed seeing him be the humane leading man. I had had too much Clooney after Oceans 11,12 and 13. Good to have him in a more sincere production.

I am not saying it doesn’t have clichés. But then again, they are only necessary and they are subtly and entertainingly played. So, it is all good. The movie is based on the novel by Walter Kim (who also wrote Thumbsucker). It is adapted to the screen by director Jason Reitman (Juno, Thank You for Smoking) and Sheldon Turner. The cast is pretty good. Frankly, I barely recognized Anna Kendrick. I knew she was so familiar, but I couldn’t believe she was one of the actors in the Twilight saga. Nice job, Anna.

The movie was nominated for 6 Oscars this year: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress (Both Kendrick and Farmiga), Best Actor (George Clooney), Best Director and Best Film. Though it didn’t receive any Academy Awards, it won many awards- including a BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay.

A bittersweet movie about life, goals, careers, matters of the heart and well…everything in between. It reminds me of Cameron Crowe movies (Jerry Maguire, for instance) and just like I love  Crowe, I loved Up in the Air. It might make you evaluate your life or fear about your job many times, though.

7.9 on IMDB. Fair enough.

 

Other Posts on George Clooney:

The American starring George Clooney, Violante Placido & Thekla Reuten

What Editors Can Learn from the Movie Up in the Air – a post for writers, inspired by the film

Friends Trivia: Monica Geller (Courteney Cox)’s Boyfriends 2 feat. George Clooney

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: academy award nominee, Anna Kendrick, drama, George Clooney, Jason Bateman, Jason Reitman, movies, romance, Vera Farmiga, Walter Kim

Death to Smoochy starring Edward Norton, Robin Williams and Danny DeVito

Posted on March 8, 2010 Written by ripitup

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Death to Smoochy with Edward Norton
Death to Smoochy with Edward Norton, Robin Williams, Danny DeVito, Catherine Keener and Jon Stewart.

One of the times Edward Norton was on Conan O’Brien, they were talking about how intense his roles were. Edward just found it really amusing that people found him intimidating. Well, you might remember his complicated role in Fight Club and even more powerful role in American History X. But Edward points out his role in the pink suit in this film. That’s right. Edward spends a lot of time in his gigantic pink rhino suit in Death to Smoochy, as a host for a children TV show:

When Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams) is caught during an unethical bribe thingy, his days as an adored kids show star days end. The channel is forced to find a host that’s squeaky clean and that’s when the producers (Catherine Keener and Jon Stewart) unwillingly hire Sheldon (Norton) who happens to be ultra ethical and morally sound. He annoys the hell out of Nora (Catherine Keener), one of the network producers.

However Nora’s monetary concerns and her contempt towards him are the least of his problems: Randolph is furious and obsessed with getting rid of Sheldon to get his old gig back. A shady organization wants him out and there is an Irish mob gang with some special demands. Now, how the hell will Sheldon remain true to himself with all these people around?

First, let’s state that this is an absurd, dark comedy with some edgy and over-the-top characters. In fact, all of the characters are over the top and this gives the movie some hilarious and amusing moments. Sure, there are some slow moments but overall, it is very entertaining. Lots of fun in an exaggerated world. Be warned. This movie is not for everyone. Especially if you don’t want Norton in such a comedy. Directed by Danny DeVito, who also plays yet another character with questionable motives.

OTHER NORTON FILMS:

Kingdom of Heaven

https://pinartarhan.com/blog/kingdom-of-heaven/

Down in the Valley

https://pinartarhan.com/blog/down-in-the-valley/

The Incredible Hulk

https://pinartarhan.com/blog/the-incredible-hulk/

Pride and Glory:

https://pinartarhan.com/blog/pride-and-glory-with-edward-norton-and-colin-farrell/

25th Hour:

https://pinartarhan.com/blog/25th-hour-with-edward-norton/

The Illusionist:

https://pinartarhan.com/blog/the-illusionist-with-edward-norton-and-jessica-biel/

The Painted Veil:

https://pinartarhan.com/blog/the-painted-veil-with-naomi-watts-and-edward-norton/

Fight Club:

http://cinemaroll.com/cinemarolling/fight-club-overrated-really-good-but-not-perfect/

photo: http://www.impawards.com/2002/posters/death_to_smoochy.jpg

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: Catherine Keener, comedy, Danny DeVito, Death to Smoochy, Edward Norton, Jon Stewart, movies, Robin Williams

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