June Recommendation: Hot Tub Time Machine

 

                                  I've had a bunch of movies to recommend in all honesty, though all of a suddenly I kind of realized those movies need to be used for a special purpose. So I apologize in terms of a last minute resort, speaking of resort let's talk about my June recommendation Hot Tub Time Machine, been quite a while since I've seen this great comedy in all honesty and I nearly forgotten how great this film was once I sat down and watched it from start to finish. Now after experiencing this laugh out loud comedy I have to say that everyone needs to re-watch this great flick for many reasons this film does remind me of my lifestyle and choices but also you can watch this movie over and over again and still laugh at the amazing dialogue that goes with it.  Hell, even late, famous movie critic Rodger Ebert gave this film a three out of four stars, so he at least knows what a great comedy is at least, well he at least did before his time ran out. So anyway, let’s talk about Hot Tub Time Machine.

                                 Four friends stuck in a rut of their adulthood are given a surprisingly second chance at life when their own Hot Tub, mysteriously transport them back to 1986, when they were young in their own prime and now the four decide whether to stick with the timeline or make a few adjustments in their own personal lifestyle.

                                 In all honesty what I love about this movie is that this reminds me a lot of my friends when we hang out and we give each other crap about their lifestyle or that person who’s the lesser friend. More meaning to that, is a lot of the chemistry and dialogue reminds me of my friends and I think was makes this film amazing is that any guy can watch this movie and chuckle at it and say this is like my friends. I honestly don't know if I would of loved this film if John Cusack wasn't involved I mean sure everyone else is passable in the film but I'm not sure if you can have the impact that Cusack provides in the film, especially when the film itself is over the top in terms of ridiculousness. Even Cusack's fellow collaborator from High Fidelity (one of my favorite films) Steve Pink directs this film, so at least we can have a few good bonus points along the way. What I found amazing about the film and yes it's been quite a long time since I've watched this film, was that Sebastian Stan aka the Winter Soldier was in this playing the over the top antagonist Blaine, and I'm not going to lie when I say this that I for a moment didn't recognized him at first, furthermore you really can't fault a guy whose most famous for something now but yet does a role like this in the past, you sometimes got to let that slide for many reasons you need the money and the work, also this film was made a year before the first Caption America movie came out so on the bright side this had to of been Stan's calling card for fame. So, in all honesty with this whole insanity that is the post pandemic I would highly recommend watching this film mainly it will most certainly put you in a better mode and this is defiantly one of the many comedies I love that you can watch over and over again. 

     

Father's Day Recommendation: Major League

 

                              Well we're nearing close to Father's Day everybody, and luck would have it this pick is defiantly one of the many movies me and my father would watch 24/7, and I'm sure a lot of other Dads could point at this movie and say "nothing on but Major League is? Hell, yeah I'm watching this", I think in all honesty any Baseball fan would watch Major League from start to finish. Surprising history my first introduction to Major League wasn't really the original film itself it was actually the sequel that came with it and at the time I in a bizarre sense thought was a good baseball movie moreover my parents let us because what I didn't realize that this was more of a kids movie than the original film. So, luckily in a small trip me and my brother looked around a Best Buy and I finally found the original Major League film, bought it and finally watched it and all I can tell you is that I would prefer the 1989 Major League over its two sequels anytime anywhere. And I'm confident this would be one of the many films me and my Dad would enjoy.

                              The new owner of the Cleveland Indians, former showgirl Rachel Phelps (Margaret Whitton), has a sweetheart deal to move the team to Miami. But to break the lease with the city of Cleveland, ticket sales must plummet. So, Phelps hires the most incompetent players available, including a near-blind pitcher Rick Vaughn (Charlie Sheen) and injury-prone catcher Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger). But her villainous tactics accidently foster a can-do team spirit, turning the Indians into potential winners. 

                               I'm not going to say a whole lot about what really makes this film amazing because I believe we can all agree on that everyone knows how great this film is moreover there's really not much to say the film David S. Ward speaks for itself. In fact, David S. Ward is a lifelong Indian’s fan himself who never seen his favorite team win anything during his time so what any other baseball would do the man created one of the greatest baseball story ideas ever developed. To give more Baseball fact that would survey inspiration behind Major League was that the Indians ballclub hadn't won a pennant since 1954, furthermore through the course of the clubs existence they never had a winning season since that time and to give a great example Sports Illustrated even predicted that the Indians would win the World Series in 1987, unfortunately they lost 100 games during that season so, thanks to Sports Illustrated in jinxing that whole season. But what really makes this film more of a center piece for pop culture and the future of Cleveland sports was that former general manager John Hart to the job just right when the film came out into theaters moreover saw the film and just had a "oh no" thought to himself about how that would be what he would have to endure. So, if this film ever had anything that helped mankind in producing it would most certainly be producing one of the best 90's Indians that we baseball fans all come to know and love. To be honest what makes this film great is that if you ever have cable or live streaming and see Major League in that specific channel I would think anyone would just automatically watch it no matter what part of the film they missed, moreover this film still to this day holds the test of time mainly because you can compare this movie to any of your favorite teams and just think of how this reminds you of the way your sports team is playing, hell I'm typing this review right how watching how bad my Cardinals are playing against the Atlanta Braves and yes I can put my foot down and say that Carlos Martinez is the real life Wild Thing. Lastly this film alone will always be one of the greatest baseball or sports films in general for its great one liners plus the outstanding performance of well everyone in general but really if I had to name one actor who I don't know if the film would of worked without him/her it would most certainly be real life MLB broadcaster Bob Uecker who does a tremendous job playing Harry Doyle whose bit of an alcoholic whose burnt out on the Indians Ball club that he just makes these great lines that I couldn't see anyone doing a better job than Bob Uecker did, though I would think Harry Caray would be a good one but I don't think he would of pull off the performance Uecker delivered, and what's great is that Ward actually gave Uecker all of the freedom in the world to bring Doyle to life so that's a great example of trusting both your actor as well as your director. So, if you have a Dad who loves that game of baseball ask him if he wants to sit down and watch Major League and see what reaction you can get out of him because if I had the free time in the world I would most certainly ask my father if he'd like to watch one of the greatest Baseball films ever made.            

Crazy Rich Asians

 

                              Before Crazy Rich Asians became the success it was and still is, I wasn't all big in wanting to see this movie, for many reasons I felt that the storyline was in a sense overrated and the fact that the sub-plot of the movie has the mother looking down on our protagonist of the film I was like gee like we've never in a million years seen that before. Especially when the mother is played by Michelle Yeoh in which if it where me I would of just said to her face "yeah your only good movies in life were Tomorrow Never Dies so what are you going to do about it?". Fast forward to now this film appeared on television and a bunch of friends of mine told me I need to watch this film furthermore just simply stated to watch like at least ten minutes of the movie. Well sure enough I watched the whole movie and I was hooked right away, then I decided to re-watch this movie for movie review purposes and I'm not going to like it was like John Legend, Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga came out of nowhere and purposely made me feel that love really did exist and I'm a guy, for which explaining that's really hard to do sometimes when it comes to romantic comedies. So, let’s talk about why Crazy Rich Asians has now become my new favorite chick flick.

                             Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) is happy to accompany her longtime boyfriend Nick (Henry Golding), to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. She's also surprised to learn Nick's family is extremely wealthy and he's considered one of the country's most eligible bachelors. Trust into the spotlight, Rachel must now contend with jealous socialites, quirky relatives, and something far, far worse-Nick's disapproving mother (Michelle Yeoh). 

                             Now I know you'll probably look at me and think that I'm not a huge fan romantic comedy or not big in love stories. Well it’s a blend of both yes and no, in all honesty I have no problem watching a romantic comedy or chick flick as long as it’s done properly or a better explanation I'm very picky when it comes to looking for a chick flick that I would most certainly love to watch over and over again, moreover romantic films really should be a piece of cake when you think about it, though problem is, that writers and directors like well sorry if but I'm can't help but throw Nicholas Sparks under the bus (though I just can't help it because the man brings it on himself, he's almost like the Michael Bay of love stories) but when it comes to his writing that man just creates way to much drama moreover making bland very convenient endings that are a shamefully dumb and cliché. Moreover when you’re writing a romantic comedy, you really need to think of a few steps, for starters you need to focus on the couple from start to finish, secondly when it comes to the drama and comedy side you really need to be careful with that for many reasons you provide so much drama with the everything that's happening then you just lose touch with the characters in general, another reason if you have some of these overrated drama scenes then again you are really trying to hard to the point where it becomes funny to some people and then your movie is going to be sent to the Hallmark channel or as I like to call it the purgatory of romantic movies. The comedic side to the story is in a sense similar to the aspects of what the drama should be only you need to be extremely careful with that as well because as we all know when it comes to comedy that's the hardest part and you defiantly need the right people for the job moreover have the perfect chemistry with the actors as well. See, these are very simple tips you can use for you romantic comedy that can turn from Twilight to Crazy Rich Asians. And I have to give huge props director Jon M. Chu who did in outstanding job in really, stay true to the books source material and also making a believable love story that even grabbed me into watching this, until the final frame. Though in all honesty I can't think of anyone who could of directed this film better than Chu, because he of all people in the world really cared about the story moreover what it mean to people of Asian descent and I'll say this again in case I'm repeating myself, bringing to life a love story that I believe even guys like me can defiantly watch over and over again. I also need to give Chu huge praise because I just looked at his filmography and I felt sad for the guy and these were movie's even I didn't want to say out loud, so in short I'm glad the man has a movie under his belt that he can now go off and do more work. Constance Wu does in amazing job playing the lead role moreover does great work pulling her weight in making the audience believe that she's a strong woman who has her doubts during her journey but in the end stands up to the very people who looked down on her and the same goes to Henry Golding, Wu's love interest in the movie and really these two deserve great praise mainly because of how believable they are as a couple even in the grand moments where they look into each other’s eyes and you know as in audience member that they were meant for each other. If I had to give in award for great comic relief in the movie it would most certainly be actress Awkwafina, for many reasons she does a fantastic job with the comedic scenes moreover picking the right time when it comes to cracking jokes and even getting me to smile a little bit moreover even I thought she was the best part when it came to the comedic side to the movie. So, I'm looking forward to seeing her in the upcoming Marvel film. And so in closing I'd like to apologize to my favorite romantic films Casablanca, The Princess Bride, High Fidelity and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind because now you all have to put up with Crazy Rich Asians as one of my favorite romantic comedies. And guys don't be afraid to watch this great film this will honestly make you feel things in ways you can't even imagine moreover if life hasn't taught me anything I would imagine women love a man who loves a romantic comedy. 

         

A Quiet Place: Part 2

 

                           So, remember when I said Tuesday was my only opportunity to see a movie in the Multiplex. Well that was the best moment to go and watch the second installment to the great horror film by John Krasinski, A Quiet Place. This film has without a doubt been under my radar for quite a while now ever since the Governments screwed everything up last year so with having the afternoon off this was my only moment to go and see this great sequel of 2021. John's wife Emily Blunt takes over the starring role, but she's not alone also staring scene chewer Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou. Now everyone who has been vaccinated I would strongly suggest making use of going to the movie theaters and watch movies now for many reasons we all don't want to live in a future where movie theaters become erased from existence and I wouldn't want to live in that world. 

                           Set after the events of the first film, Evelyn (Emily Blunt) set's out along with her children and moreover do whatever it takes to secure a better life for her children. Although Silence is not going to be enough to survive as they begin to stumble upon horrors other than the aliens.

                           Now I'm not going to throw in the cliché question of was this film worth it, because the obvious answer was that it was defiantly worth the wait after the year that shouldn't be mentioned. It still had a lot more of what made the first film amazing but still acquired new elements that we haven't seen yet and a lot of that goes to the great direction of Krasinski in telling a story about surviving but along the way having to be forced to grow up in a harsh environment furthermore shows how much the bond between family is when surviving a hostel world. I've never given a whole lot of attention to any of the movie studios for many reasons, but I have to give a lot of credit to studio companies like Paramount, Warner Brothers and MGM because really these are one of the rare few movie studio's that at least give a shit when it comes to telling stories through film and giving chances like John Krasinski to tell their stories on the big screen so we can all enjoy them, unlike companies like Disney and Sony who just produce so much garbage it’s really sad to see how low they can absolutely go when it comes to making a buck but caring less about storytelling. Emily Blunt does a fantastic in really pulling her own wait especially when her character must be truly strong after the loss of her husband moreover needing to take care of her kids. I always liked Cillian Murphy as in actor and throughout his career and watching him in this movie, I got to say he does a tremendous job in playing a father that his given up on life and is sole purpose is to survive without any emotions until this mature woman played by Millicent Simmonds who gives him tough love and helps him fight for something more. Furthermore what I liked about this movie was that it really centers and the growth of both Simmonds and young actor Noah Jupe who plays the son, they both go on a journey where each one of the them has their own ability of growth and understanding of needing to survive especially without one another, moreover they both have their great moment in finally having to be pushed in that particular moment in growing up. Okay, so I really don't want to repeat myself furthermore I believed I covered as much of the film as I possibly could and so if your wanting to get out of the house and do something exciting I would strongly suggest going to see A Quiet Place Part II, it’s fun, exciting moreover puts you on the edge of your seat until the final frame and side note the only time this film made me jump was when Birds sprang out of know where, so Thanks Alfred Hitchcock and John Krasinski.       

Wrath of Man

 

                       

                               Yesterday was my only opportunity to go see a movie in the movie theater so luckily Guy Ritchie's latest film Wrath of Man was at the very movie theater so like I said I had to make my opportunities count. I have to admit when I saw this film I was really on the intrigued side of it moreover it had a simple of storylines mainly it’s about a father losing his son to a robbery and wants revenge, so now that I've seen this movie does it pay off? Well, on the grand scheme of things I would rather watch this film than Cruella, so that's at least on the plus side of things but in the moral side of it, it was a simple movie but the really didn't execute it well enough for me to give this a positive review and I'll explain my reasons to you all but for now let’s talk about the plot of Wrath of Man.

                              Mysterious and wide-eyed, a new security guard (Jason Statham) for a cash truck surprises his co-workers when he unleashes precision skills during a heist. The crew is left wondering who he is and where he came from. Soon, the marksman's motives become clear as he takes dramatic and irrevocable steps to settle a score.

                               On the grand scheme of things, the movie itself is okay? The main problem I had with the movie itself was that it was too predictable or another way of putting up is that it needs to simplify there was just too much things that were happening it was hard to take serious especially the supporting cast meaning there was nothing wrong with Statham throughout the whole movie it’s just the supporting cast was just god awful especially Clint Eastwood's son Scott Eastwood because throughout the film he was just awful moreover his character was just obviously un-trustworthy I don't know why crew brought him back but I guess Ritchie wanted him to be back in it because this film falls flat on clichés. Also, I hope that Clint takes his son and the back and gives him in old fashion beating for his lack of performance, because that was just one of the worst things he's ever done, or maybe just disowned him since we're living in a world where we don't believe in physically abusing your own kids. It’s not just Eastwood's kid in all honesty Josh Hartnett was terrible in this movie too for reason's I can't explain, furthermore I miss the days when I though he was amazing in Lucky Number Slevin. What this film also fails on is its attempts to tell too much of the story, meaning they explain so much of what Statham's characters motives are it would of been better that they didn't explain the whole background of what he really is, Like it would of been way better if they made his character a lot like Charles Bronson's character in Once Upon a Time in the West where we absolutely don't know who he is and we just get random five second flashbacks until the final frame of the movie where we get the biggest reveal, and stuff like this shows that I can make this movie better moreover work with the actors that can give me a worthy performance. Probably the last thing I can say about this film was that the amount of clichés I found in the movie was just a downer for me especially when the movie decides to reveal the who the traitor is moreover kills all his co-workers is just "really?" Like if I'm in a shootout and the guy is telling me to lower your gun I'm not trusting that person, also movie just kills everyone off and yet I wasn't really all stratified with the conclusion of it or in all honesty I didn't feel for every one of these actors to begin with so I guess it doesn't matter really. So, Cruella was playing at the same movie theater that Wrath of Man was at so I can tell you this in all truthiness I would rather waste my money on this movie rather than Cruella because I'll at least get some of my money's worth than a movie that really doesn't even need to be made. But, deep down I can't really say I liked this movie to give it a good recommendation moreover it’s nice to see Guy Ritchie try something new and different although he just failed badly in the end which is sad because he is a good writer/director. So, I would suggest waiting when this movie comes out on Blu-Ray or DVD and watch it then don't pay twenty bucks right now and rent this because that's just way too much to pay when this movie isn't all that great.

           

Movies I haven't seen in a while: Sicario

 

                                Since I've been going through a huge Taylor Sheridan binge with his latest film Those who wish me dead and Yellowstone, I figured I'm going to go back and re-watch in film that I kind of in a sense didn't review it fairly enough mainly because I can't stand Emily Blunt acting and that was it though granted this was six years ago when I talked about this film on my blog furthermore all I remember was not liking Emily Blunt's performance but in all honesty I that was my first introduction into Taylor Sheridan, the writer behind Sicario. And ever since I watched both Hell or High Water and Wind River, I begin to fall in love more of the way he was able to tell the story and also bringing back western genre but within upgrade. So, going back and re-watching Sicario I must admit I didn't give this film fair credit in terms of how amazing this film was moreover Benicio Del Toro's performance throughout the film. So, let's say hi to in old friend talk about a movie I haven't seen in a while.

                                After rising through the ranks of her male-dominated profession, idealistic FBI agent Kate Mercer (Emily Blunt) receives a top assignment. Recruited by a mysterious government official Matt Graver (Josh Brolin), Kate joins a task force for the escalating war against drugs. Led by the intense and shadowy Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro), the team travels back-and-forth across the U.S.-Mexican border, using one cartel boss to flush out a bigger one, though how far can Kate go, when pushing the limits to what is write and what is wrong.

                                 So, now having watched this movie for the first time since seeing it in theaters six years ago, I do have found respect for the film mostly for its grittiness and the limitations between right and wrong and sure this film is directed by Denis Vileneuve who directed arrival and Blade Runner 2049, but in all honesty this was clearly Taylor Sheridan's movie from start to finish for many reasons if Vileneuve made certain changes I would imagine Sheridan and producers would chew his ass, just saying, moreover there's now weirdness to follow this movie like Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 so it explains more that this would most certainly be Taylor Sheridan's baby. Now having experience Sheridan's work I clearly understand the views between right and wrong when it comes to living in harsh lands where the law doesn't want to cross, though yes at first I never understood why we needed Emily Blunt's character in this movie that was another element to his story work I finally understood also because Blunt's character represents upholding the book of law where ever you go no matter what while both Brolin and Del Toro's character's represent if we are to fight our enemy that doesn't follow the rules we need to adopt the same way, especially when you hear Alejandro's motives and drives then your obviously thinking to yourself "yeah sorry Blunt but you don't get in opinion anymore sorry not sorry". And just like Hell or High Water were the roles are similar but different, like Jeff Bridges character represents catching the bad guys no matter what despite the fact that he doesn't have a clear understanding of how dead Texas is when it comes to the way of life. While Pine and Foster's characters represent attempting to build a better life for Pine's two boys, so in all actuality Sicario was really the first movie that gets you to think on what is more right than wrong when it comes to living of the land or fighting an enemy that doesn't play by the rules of the law. Though sure I have to admit Emily Blunt does a great job in her role when it comes to questioning everything she stands for moreover she brings a lot of humanity and brokenness to her character, because throughout the film she starts as a head strong individual until the end of the film she's just become this broken person with no strong will left in her. Josh Brolin is good in almost everything he does except movies where he's cashing in a check but this one he does a great job playing a man who knows what it means to find the enemy with all means necessary, also the man is Thanos for crying out loud he killed majority of the important Avengers. But the one person that really shines most in the movie alone is without a doubt is Benicio Del Toro and I always liked his character the most in the movie because he at first is a mysterious character who you don't know a whole lot about but is a scary SOB who I wouldn't want to cross even though I would be glad to have on my side but I wouldn't want to betray him furthermore when you get to the near end of the movie you begin to understand why he does what he does moreover can't really argue with his the reasons of why he is scary man. Cinematographer legend, Roger Deakin's does in outstanding job in capturing the landscape of the U.S.-Mexican border moreover capturing moments of the film where the image feels like a painting especially Del Toro's close ups when he's confronting either Blunt or a certain enemy. Now I will go to great lengths in stating that this is a full Taylor Sheridan film and a great film as well and I would highly recommend this to anyone who are into the intense action genre's moreover any of Sheridan's films I would most certainly recommend as well to anyone who’s a fan of the western genre also.