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Life As We Know It starring Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel & Josh Lucas

Posted on January 28, 2011 Written by ripitup

Life As We Know It starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel.

Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel) is a gorgeous, fun-loving guy who works as a technical director at a broadcast network. And he just loves women way too much to commit to any one of them.

Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) owns and runs her own pastry shop where she cooks everything herself. She is much more emotional and romantic compared to Messer. And the only thing these two have in common are mutual best friends Alison and Peter (Christina Hendricks and Hayes MacArthur), who are in a serious relationship and they think it was a good idea for Eric and Holly to meet and hook up.

Unfortunately, Eric and Holly detest each other and can’t even complete one date. Both would be glad to never see the other one again but Alison and Peter get married and start a family- the big house and a kid named Sophie included. Of course being their best friends, Eric and Holly spend a lot more time together than they would like- being Sophie’s godparents and all.

But when both Alison and Peter die in a car crash, not liking each other becomes the least of their problems. Messer and Holly find out that they were picked as Sophie’s guardians. While neither is sure they can handle it, it looks like they’re Sophie’s best option. So this is where the story really begins- when they move in to their friends’ house and try to adjust their lives – work and private- around Sophie. Of course they need to convince themselves and the social worker (Sarah Burns) that they can handle it.. Throw in Messer being a chick magnet and the handsome doctor Sam (Josh Lucas) interested in Holly and their lives as they know it had never been so complicated…

I wasn’t looking forward to see Life As We Know It at first. I thought it was going to be annoying mushy and predictable. And while it was predictable, it was never annoying. It was a bittersweet, emotional film that focused more on how the unlikely “parents” tried, and then learned to be parents than the relationship between the two leads. Sure, there will be romance at some point. But come on- you know that you don’t cast Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl as the two leads and not make their characters hook up.

But the best part of the film is that it tells a familiar tale in such a fun and sincere way that it makes it really easy to identify with Holly and Messer as they try their best to take care of Sophie, find a way to get along and cope with their friends’ deaths.

And if you have a problem with Heigl’s comedic abilities, worry not. While there are funny moments, this is not exactly a comedic role.

Lovely film. It won’t change your life. It won’t impress you much. But it really might put a smile on your face.

Directed by Greg Berlanti. Written by Ian Deitchman & Kristin Rusk Robinson. Currently rated at 6 on IMDB.

Fun notes:

– Sophie is played by real life triplet sisters Alexis, Brynn & Brooke Clagett.
– Sarah Burns once again co-stars in a neurotic role. You might remember her as Rashida Jones’ best friend who totally freaked Jason Segel out in the comedy I Love You, Man.

Favorite Scene:

Right before and during the baby’s first steps. Messer and Holly’s reactions are hilarious and so is the baby.

Other Posts feat. Josh Duhamel

When in Rome starring Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel

Celebrities That Look Alike feat. Josh Duhamel, Timothy Olyphant, Ethan Hawke, Antonio Banderas &more

22 Tall Actors from Hollywood feat. Josh Duhamel, Paul Walker, Keanu Reeves, Gerard Butler& More

Other Posts feat. Katherine Heigl

Killers starring Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl and Tom Selleck

The Ugly Truth starring Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler

The Accidental Husband and Denny Duquette: Jeffrey Dean Morgan

3 TV Series About Aliens: Roswell, 3rd Rock From The Sun and V (2009)

Tall Actresses: Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Garner, Katherine Heigl, Sigourney Weaver and Uma Thurman

No Looking Back starring Edward Burns, Lauren Holly & Jon Bon Jovi

Posted on January 14, 2011 Written by ripitup

No Looking Back starring Edward Burns, Lauren Holly & Jon Bon Jovi. Feat. Jennifer Esposito, Blythe Danner & Connie Britton. Image via filmlerim.com

Claudia (Lauren Holly) is living in the small town she grew up. Working as a diner waitress, her time is divided between her depressed mother (Blythe Danner) and her sister (Connie Britton), her live-in boyfriend Michael (Jon Bon Jovi) and with her friends – who are also Michael’s friends and they pretty much end up doing the same things every night.

Claudia is fed up with her life, but she doesn’t feel like there is much she can do, until her ex/the-love-of-her-life Charlie (Edward Burns) comes back to town. Charlie has never been content with the domestic town life and he makes sure he reminds Claudia that neither has she.

Sure, Charlie seems like an exciting change but can Claudia ever trust her again? And what about Michael?

Don’t accuse me of being a hypocrite for watching this just yet. So, I said I wasn’t really dying to watch Natalie Portman’s Love and Other Impossible Pursuits because it had such an unoriginal storyline. Yet here I am reviewing a film that, on the surface, offers nothing but a love triangle and small town depression. But then again, No Looking Back has two good things to offer: Jon Bon Jovi and Edward Burns. And I never had anything against Gwyneth Paltrow’s real life mother Blythe Danner, Spin City’s Nikki Connie Britton or Jennifer Esposito, who deliver nicely on the sidelines. But this movie, for me, was about Jon and Edward.

Yeah, Lauren Holly is a good actress. But what makes No Looking Back worth a look for me is that it is mainly a one-man effort, just like many Edward Burns movies. It was written and directed by Burns, he has the lead role and he has co-produced it. He doesn’t always come up with the best storylines, but he is good at creating ordinary yet life-like characters and he has always been one of my idols. Come on- how many movie buffs fantasized about shooting their own story, with their favorite actors? I am guessing and the difference is Burns has managed it. Remember his first The Brothers McMullen? Shot with $25,000 and making 10 million – all that with an unknown cast? Yep, that was Burns. As I said, No Looking Back is nothing special storywise, but it is a nice, modest little effort.

And Jon Bon Jovi. Yes, I am a Bon Jovi fan and yeah, that automatically makes me a fan of Jon’s singing, (most) song-writing and stage presence. But believe it or not, the guy can act. He first got the acting bug when he shot a scene for buddy Emilio Estevez’ Young Guns II, where Jon was doing the soundtrack. The movie did well and the soundtrack did even better, scoring Jon a Golden Globe for Best Song, as well as an Oscar nomination.

When Jon gave acting a serious shot in the mid-90s and while he wasn’t a box office star, he was critically liked and that was what he wanted. No Looking Back is a great film for Jon to shine because the heart of the movie lies in the triangle and he is smack in the middle of it.

Jon is a good example for getting what you want the old-fashioned way. He worked really hard to become a rock star and he did. He could have bought his way into a studio, but he did auditions and took acting lessons.

So yeah, the movie is more for Burns and Jon Bon Jovi fans as well as aspiring (indie) filmmakers.

It is also for getting nostalgic. 1998. Do you remember where you were? For me, it was the start of 9^th grade. But worry not- the themes in the movie won’t get obsolete. Clichéd and over-used? Sure. Obsolete? No. After all, depression, identity crisis, settling down, settling vs. chasing your dreams…they have been the core themes for a long while.

Rated 5.8 on IMDB. Sounds fair enough. No Looking Back is not recommended if you are after escapism or original screenplay. It is recommended for those who are after the familiar themes, a lovely soundtrack (Sheryl Crow, Bruce Springsteen, Lynyrd Skynyrd,Pete Yorn, The Allman Brothers Band and more) and well, for those who are wondering whether Jon Bon Jovi can act.

Oh, I also like the ending. This part has a spoiler: the movie picks a neither- nor approach rather than either or;)

Fun Stuff:

The singer most heard in the background is the rock legend Bruce Springsteen and he is the favorite musician of Jon Bon Jovi. They are both from New Jersey and they performed on stage together.

Jennifer Espesito was married to Bradley Cooper.

On Lauren Holly

Sabrina starring Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond & Greg Kinnear. Feat. Lauren Holly

Beautiful Girls starring Timothy Hutton, Matt Dillon, Uma Thurman, Lauren Holly

On Edward Burns

Why Jon Bon Jovi, Edward Burns and Timothy Ferris Ruined Us

On Jon Bon Jovi and Bon Jovi

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

Bon Jovi Album Trivia: 10 Facts About Bon Jovi’s Keep the Faith

Bon Jovi Songs with Contradicting Lyrics and Themes: Feat. It’s My Life, Hey God, Living on a Prayer and More

Bon Jovi Trivia: 52 More Facts About The Rock Band Bon Jovi

6 Fast Bon Jovi Songs That Feature The Word Love

6 Rock Songs on Cheating: 1 Bryan Adams, 4 Bon Jovi and 1 KISS

4 Psycho Rock Songs Feat. Def Leppard, Talking Heads, Bon Jovi and The Smiths

Bon Jovi Were Born to be Followed

Jon Bon Jovi Hosts Snl

17 Men to Marry for Their Voices: Feat. Jon Bon Jovi, David Coverdale, Jani Lane, Brett Michael, Villie Valo and More

10 Celebrities to Wear Flats for: Featuring Taylor Lautner, Johnny Depp, Kevin Bacon, Jon Bon Jovi and More

Actors’ Pleasantly Surprising Roles feat. Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman & Russell Crowe

Posted on January 10, 2011 Written by ripitup

Actors’ Pleasantly Surprising Roles feat. Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman & Russell Crowe

Finding a good script is tricky. Constantly being after good scripts and trying to be versatile at the same time is even trickier. An actor might often find himself playing a character more often than other roles- such as being a cop or a villain too often. So just when you think you’ve seen all the cards up his sleeve, he surprises you as a character you have never seen before. Below are 3 examples:

* Harrison Ford in Six Days Seven Nights

Six Days Seven Nights starring Harrison Ford & Anne Heche

We are accustomed to seeing Ford in serious roles. Whether he is a cop (The Devil’s Own,Witness) or The President (Air Force One). Sure he had his characters with a sense of humor (Indiana Jones) but this one really caught me off guard.

In Six Days Seven Nights, he is a middle-aged pilot who lives on an island in Tahiti and is pretty pleased with his easy-going life. That’s until he meets Robin (Anne Heche) and a plane crash puts them both an island.

Ford’s character gets drunk too often and makes jokes at Anne Heche’s character Robin’s expense. He also falls down, gets beaten up and smiles a lot, all the while managing to be the masculine Harrison Ford we know him to be. Watch this one to see Harrison in an action/romance/comedy genre.

Two other movies if you like the combination of these genres:

Birds on a Wire starring Goldie Hawn and Mel Gibson

The Bounty Hunter starring Gerard Butler and Jennifer Anniston

* Gary Oldman in The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter starring Demi Moore & Gary Oldman

We saw Gary play the bad guy too often. Sure, when he isn’t playing the ultimate-villain (Léon, Murder in the First, Dracula), he does play a lot of shady/grey characters (Romeo Lies Bleeding, Sid and Nancy). So I am guessing I am not the only one surprised to find him as Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale in the film adaptation of The Scarlet Letter in 1995. He was a reverend, he was genuinely nice and he was playing a romantic character! And being Gary Oldman, he pulled this off brilliantly. You may or may not like the movie but Gary’s performance was…well, up to Gary’s standards.

* Russell Crowe in A Good Year

A Good Year starring Russell Crowe, Marion Cotillard & Albert Finney. Feat. Tom Hollander & Richard Coyle.

Russell Crowe might be an academy-award-winning actor, but hey let’s face it, he doesn’t have typically have a boyish charm. And he doesn’t really look like as if he is ready to make a fool out of himself. I am checking out his films to see another light-hearted role and I can’t. He played a warrior, a cop, an agent, an “insider”…. Sure, Mystery, Alaska is fun but A Good Year is even better. Not just because it features the Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard (Public Enemies, Inception) but because it shows us the two sides of Crowe- one we know so well and we are not so used to.

A Good Year follows Max Skinner- a ruthless and successful British broker in London to Provence, France. His uncle has died and left him his vineyard. All Max wants to do get the paperwork out of the way and do whatever the hell he wants with it. But before he can change the property, the property, its residents, his uncle’s (Albert Finney’s) memories and a certain French girl changes him.

This movie is directed by Ridley Scott, a director that Russell collaborates with quite often. The duo also did Gladiator, American Gangster, Body of Lies and Robin Hood together. But among them all, this is the sweetest, lightness and the most romantic movie of them all. Here, Russell’s hotshot Max gets into funny situations, falls in love, falls in love with the vineyard and discovers a side to himself that he didn’t know or forgot that it existed. And best of all, Russell isn’t alone in providing the comic relief. His friend Charlie (Tom Hollander) comes to visit. And well, Tom’s scenes are usually not so charismatic in movies and this one is no exception. Max’s broker nemesis is played by Richard Coyle– who you might remember as Jeff from TV Show Coupling– the British series that had most viewers laughing their butts off. And that’s an understatement. So it doesn’t matter if you put Richard in a semi-serious, small role. I start laughing the moment I see the guy. Oh, and the female lead is so elegantly beautiful that the story wouldn’t have made sense if Max hadn’t fallen head over heels with her. This film really made me like Russell. Yes, he is a good actor but he was just not this fun before.

Blink starring Madeleine Stowe & Aidan Quinn

Posted on January 2, 2011 Written by ripitup

Blink starring Madeleine Stowe & Aidan Quinn. Featuring Sex and The City’s Richard Wright- James Remar.

Emma (Madeleine Stowe) is a young and beautiful violinist who was blinded at a very young age by her own mother. She plays in a band with her friends and takes care of herself with the help of her dog.

On a night out with his cop buddies, police detective John Hallstrom (Aidan Quinn) doesn’t come off as the most sensitive guy when he makes a bet with his friends that he can get Emma’s attention. He doesn’t notice she is blind, so he even goes as far to have a stripping session in front of her band.

After Emma gets an eye surgery, she goes through complications: her sight is often blurry and her brain doesn’t always process the images the moment she sees them. To make matters worse, Emma hears a strange noise one night from her apartment building. When she goes to the police station to explain, John and his friends don’t really take her seriously…until they realize that a murder has taken place. It is the work of a serial killer and the victim is Emma’s neighbor.

It doesn’t help matters that their only witness is a formerly-blind woman with a confusing sight. But John is determined to solve this case and he is growing more attracted to Emma as time passes. But under the circumstances, can this relationship have a future?

Blink is a really fun and harmless romantic thriller from 1994. Granted, it is not the most original storyline, but it wasn’t so tired in 1994. Yes, it was the 90s and you have your usual passionate love story (and obviously the sex scenes) along with the psychotic killer. But I like the 90s vibe of the film, and I really like seeing Aidan Quinn & Madeleine Stowe so young, and sharing the screen time. As they got older, they didn’t star in the movies often so this is a great one for their fans.

Written by Dana Stevens (City of Angels, Life or Something Like It) and directed by Michael Apted (Nell, The World is not Enough).

Fun note: Co-starring is James Remar, as a fellow cop/John’s friends on the case. Sex and the City fans will remember James as Richard Wright – the rich and cool businessman who Samantha Jones fell in love with. And got her heart broken over. And The Vampire Diaries watchers saw James Remar as Giuseppe Salvatore, father of Damon and Stefan Salvatore.

Favorite Line:

Emma’s friend (after the concert, on Hallstrom’s stripping): He gave everyone a big anatomy lesson.

Emma: How big?

The Trailer

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azibdrz8l3c&feature=related[/pro-player]

Other Posts on Madeleine Stowe

The Last of the Mohicans starring Daniel Day-Lewis & Madeleine Stowe

Playing by Heart starring Madeline Stowe, Angelina Jolie, Sean Connery, Dennis Quaid & More

When adultery is okay: Revenge starring Kevin Costner, Madeleine Stowe and Anthony Quinn

Other Posts on Aidan Quinn

Benny & Joon starring Aidan Quinn, Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson & Julianne Moore

Evelyn starring Pierce Brosnan. Feat. Aidan Quinn

3 Movie Tristans starring feat. Legends of The Fall starring Aidan Quinn & Brad Pitt