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Mr. Brooks starring Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, Dane Cook and William Hurt

Posted on January 14, 2010 Written by ripitup

Kevin Costner as Mr. Brooks — Kevin Coster goes psycho on us. Nice!!!

It is fun when an actor pleasantly surprises you. I am used to seeing Kevin Costner as a nice guy. It is not that he didn’t play a convict (A Perfect World) or something, but even there, he hadn’t gone all psycho on us.

Mr. Brooks is a very complex character and he really gives you the chills. First of all, he is a “perfect” guy as far as anyone who knows him is concerned. He is a loyal and loving husband and father. He is awarded Man of the Year. But he also has a terrifying addiction: Killing.

He doesn’t entirely enjoy it but he always fights with his alter ego Marshall (played by William Hurt) and his ego usually wins. He is smart, meticulous and impossible to catch. If he makes a mistake, it is conscious- part of him wants to get caught. Kevin Costner’s performance is brilliant and William Hurt rocks as always.

Demi Moore co-stars as the detective out to catch the killer. She has issues on her own. She has family money and her jackass of an ex-husband (Jason Lewis) wants her money. Wouldn’t really wanna be her.

As Mr. Brooks has to deal with her college drop-out teenage daughter (Danielle Panabaker) and the secrets she might keep and battle with his terrifying addiction, he encounters another problem. His last murder (curtains open) is witnessed and photographed and blackmailed by the victims’ neighbor (Dane Cook). But this guy doesn’t just want Money. He wants Brooks to kill, and participate in the event. And you thought Brooks was the only sick character in the movie?

The screenplay is original and the movie is good overall but the movie has some other subplots it doesn’t need and this makes the movie a little too slow and boring at times. Of course everything is subjective- there are people who consider this a masterpiece. I think it needed some extra editing. But kudos to Costner’s performance. I always think he is good but he overdid himself this time.

Not the greatest psychological thriller ever, but definitely a good, small one.

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQERrAfoNFk[/pro-player]

Other Kevin Costner Movies and Posts:

Nicholas Sparks vs Happy Endings- Kevin Costner’s Message in a Bottle

Kevin Costner: An Amazing Lead Who Should Just Stay Away From Sci-Fi

When Adultery is OK- Revenge (Movie Review of Revenge, Starring Kevin Costner and Anthony Quinn)

Cheating Celebrity Trivia: 8 Celebs Thay Cheated – feat. Kevin Costner

The New Daughter starring Kevin Costner

Whose movie is it? : A post on Actor/Directors, Screenwriters and Producers – And who gets the last word

Other William Hurt Movies and TV Series

The Big Chill starring Kevin Kline, Glenn Close and William Hurt

Children of a Lesser God starring William Hurt and Marlee Matlin

Damages Season 2 Review starring Glenn Close. Co-starring William Hurt, Timothy Olyphant and Ted Danson

Also on Demi Moore and Her Movies

Celebrity Break-Ups You May Not Have Seen Coming- feat. Demi Moore and Bruce Willis

Happy Celebrity Couples: Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher

The Scarlet Letter starring Demi Moore and Gary Oldman

P.S. I Love You starring Gerard Butler, Hilary Swank and Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Posted on December 29, 2009 Written by ripitup

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GNxdc-wlw4[/pro-player]

P.S. I love you, starring Gerard Butler and Hillary Swank

It occurred to me I never got to write about this sweetheart of a flick. I wrote a lot about Gerard Butler and while I included pictures from the movie before , I never wrote a proper movie review. Shame on me. So here we go:
Gerry (Gerard Butler) is an adorable Irish guy married to the American Holly. Though they have been married for some time now, they are still crazy about each other. Sure, they have problems; but nothing they can’t get over. So Holly’s world comes crashing down when Gerry suddenly dies. It has been love at first sight. And after a great marriage of 9 years, Holly just doesn’t know how to cope. But the sweet man that he is, Gerry has thought ahead. He has written letters and arranged them to arrive to Holly at certain times after his death. He speaks to her through the letters, instructing and guiding her, in an attempt to help her cope with his death and life. The letters will take Holly to both fun and emotional journeys in the past, present and the future…

The movie is based on the book of the same name by Cecelia Ahern. I read the book before I saw the movie and though I appreciated the sensitivity of the book, I enjoyed the movie much, much more. Hillary Swank is lovely as Holly and Gerard Butler makes an excellent Gerry. I am also a fan of movies that cast actors that I got to like from previous projects. Friends’ Phoebe Lisa Kudrow plays one of Holly’s best friends and Buffy’s Spike James Marsters plays Gerry’s best friend. Singer/actor Harry Connick Jr., plays the bartender.

Last but not least, Grey’s Anatomy’s Denny Duquette and Watchmen’s The Comedian Jeffrey Dean Morgan has a small but important role.

The only thing I didn’t like about the movie was Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s part. Developments concerning his character just feels rushed. And after watching a story that makes us love Gerry, it feels like you are betraying him. Other than this, director/co-writer Richard LaGravenese has done a decent job.

You should take this lovely journey with Holly. It is romantic, funny and emotional.

The Lake House starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock

Posted on December 6, 2009 Written by ripitup

The Lake House with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyywIEg0vrI&feature=related[/pro-player]

2006. Kate Forster (Sandra Bullock) moves out of the lake house she has been living in. She moves back to the city and writes a note to the next owner, mentioning that there were paw prints before she moved in and there was a box in the attic- so he will know they are not her doing.

2004. Architect Alex Wyler (Keanu Reeves) moves into the lake house. The house has been empty for years so Alex is surprised to find a letter in the mail box from the previous owner, Kate Forster. And there are no paw prints to speak of. So Alex responds by saying that she might be mistaken since no one lived there before him.

2006. Now, Kate is a little annoyed. Plus Alex has dated his letter 2004. When they start writing to each other, each determined to prove the other wrong, weird things start happening. For one, the paw prints are formed by a dog just as Alex is working outside. Second, anything Kate says has happened that winter happens.

As far-fetched and impossible as it might seem – through some sort of time lapse or whatever – they are corresponding through the same mailbox. The minute one puts the letter in, the other picks it up. Yet in time, there are 2 years apart. So Alex and Kate decide to make the most of this strange occurrence and write in detail. They get to know each other and share bits from their lives. They make little but truly meaningful gestures for each other that other doesn’t have due to their own time. Through the letters, they start to fall in love. They both know it is ridiculous and they how no idea how on earth this is happening but the connection and emotions they share are unique and intense.

At one point, Kate asks Alex to do a favor for her. She has forgotten her much cherished Persuasion copy (a novel by Jane Austen) at the train station two years ago. Alex goes to pick it up and sees Kate for the first time- though Kate two years ago is already on the train and doesn’t know him.

He promises to give it to her. And through a chance encounter, he meets Kate’s then boyfriend and is invited to her birthday party. Kate and Alex get to meet face to face- of course he can’t explain Kate who he is. But yet in those few minutes, they connect. Kate of 2006, she remembers him. She remembers the stranger she has kissed two years ago and hasn’t seen again.

So in that moment lost in the movie, you do believe in “soul mates”, “the one”, “meant to be” and fate – all the cliché concepts that we tend to believe in our romantic/emotional moments and tend to reject when we are feeling cynical. Because there in a beautiful story, you realize the two people corresponding and ceasing to be strangers with their letters, were not really strangers to begin with. They were two people who met at the wrong time, at the wrong place – hence the references to the novel Persuasion (don’t worry, Kate fills you in on that, no need to have read the book- though I’m seriously tempted to). So realizing he doesn’t want to miss the opportunity, they decide to meet for real. But then again, time difference or not, life is complicated…

If you have seen the movie, please comment and I’ll be happy to get into all the beautiful details of this heart-warming and sincere film. Yes, you might be tempted to find logical flaws. Don’t try. I mean the movie does have the surreal element in the first place and since this is simply romance and doesn’t include any other “fantastic” elements, let it go. You either will enjoy the story, the acting, the setting, or you won’t. I love both Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. I am not that big of a fan of Sweet November so don’t accuse me of loving everything with Keanu in it. I don’t (Feeling Minnesota was average and I am not a Matrix saga fan- although I admire its effects). Somehow, Lake House isn’t cheesy or sappy or stupid. It is emotional, intense, sincere and sweet. I actually do think Keanu Reeves is a good actor. And no – I don’t believe the point of the movie is possible in real life. That “fate” helps you in getting together with that special person? That love can exist between a man and a woman in its true form? And moreover “the one” can look like Keanu Reeves? Please, no. But I want to believe it. And for the duration of 99 minutes, I believe it. With all my heart. So can you.

P.S: For a bittersweet reality shot, watch 500 Days of Summer. Lake House involves no comedy and is less original (it is based on a foreign film). But to see a love story, don’t miss this. IMDB rating: 6.8. voted by over 30,000. See? I told you cynicism gets on hold with this flick.

Posts on Sandra Bullock

The Blind Side Review

While You Were Sleeping Review

All Posts on Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves Trivia 101

The Watcher Movie Review

Something’s Gotta Give Movie Review

Lovely and Weird: “The Private Lives of Pippa Lee”

Actor Musicians and Musician Actors: Keanu Reeves, Jon Bon Jovi and Keanu Reeves

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Nim’s Island starring Gerard Butler, Jodie Foster & Abigail Breslin

Posted on December 3, 2009 Written by ripitup

Nim's Island with Gerard Butler, Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin

I’ve always liked Jodie Foster. She is a good actress and I really enjoy her performances. I am not exactly a fan of Silence of the Lambs, but I really like Nell, Maverick, The Brave One and now- Nim’s Island. By now I think it is obvious that I made a habit of watching everything with Gerard Butler in it. This movie offers family-friendly fun and mindless entertainment. You can enjoy the movie no matter how old you are, and you are going to appreciate it even more if you have a wild imagination and are used to writing/creating fantasy worlds/stories on your own.

A reclusive island:

Nice pet, huh? Gerard Butler in Nim's Island

Biologist father (Gerard Butler) and his 11 year-old daughter Nim have travelled the world and decided to settle on a beautiful reclusive island on the Pacific. Her mother has died a long time ago and it has been the two of them ever since. The girl’s best friends are a sea lion and a lizard, in addition to a pelican; appropriately called Galileo. They have the tools and the technology, and whatever they can’t make, they order. Nim has a creative mind and what she lacks in human friends, she makes up with the stories she reads. Her favorite author is Alex Rover: a wonderfully brave adventurer: Think Indiana Jones. Only, Alex is so much easier on the eye – I never found Harrison Ford attractive. But Butler takes on a second role in the movie: as opposed to the cute but a little nerdy dad (he is fascinated with one-cell organisms), Alex has longish, unkempt hair, cowboy hat- and he is sexy.

The Real Alex

Now, the actual Alex- or should I say Alexandra- is played by Jodie Foster. You might consider Alex her alter, brave ego – or just a companion from her imagination. The two talk. While Alex is as masculine, impulsive and fun as one can possibly get, Alexandra is an agoraphobic who hasn’t left the house in weeks. The humor of the movie comes from Alexandra’s actions as well as Nim’s relationship with her extra domestic, smart and fun animals.

The Problem

Nim’s dad needs to go on a two-day cruise and he can’t persuade Nim to come with him. Now, Nim is more than happy to stay on the title and take care of her turtle. And she does seem awfully capable of taking care of herself. So he leaves. But when an unexpected storm damages his boat and means of communication, he gets stranded on the ocean. Nim starts to get worried and scared. So she asks Alex for help- Alex was asking for Nim’s help about information on the tropical volcano the island has, that’s how they know each other- how do you save a girl on an undiscovered island when you can’t leave the house?

So this is where the story gets more action and even more fun. Nim tries to keep pirates & tourists off her island, her father tries to fight the ocean and come back home while Alexandra leaves home in an attempt to find Nim.

The script lives up to its entertaining potential and when you like the cast as I do, all you need is some pop-corn, really. It’s perfect escapism.

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfJNjczox9U[/pro-player]

Also on Gerard Butler:

5 Reasons to Love Gerard Butler

The Bounty Hunter starring Jennifer Aniston & Gerard Butler

Law Abiding Citizen

Gerard Butler Tribute

The Ugly Truth starring Gerard Butler & Katherine Heigl

Timeline starring Gerard Butler & Paul Walker

Gerard Butler Hosts Saturday Night Live

Please!- Award-Winning Short Film starring Gerard Butler

Girls and Badasses: A Post on Dating Bad Boys and Gerard Butler