Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Ocean's Eleven) explores a complex world of sex, relationships, and the economy in The Girlfriend Experience. The plot? What if your girlfriend was an escort? Soderbergh recruited adult-film star Sasha Grey (Chelsea) to play an escort who has a boyfriend named Chris (Chris Santos), who's a personal trainer. Set right before the 2008 election, there's an underlying theme of troubled times. Everyone's worried about saving money.
Soderberg's direction is filled with artistic energy. The emphasis on dialog along with Chelsea's logging of her experiences gives the flick an almost documentary like vibe. Soderbergh tries to give us an inside view into a very personal yet professional realm. Chelsea is a character that follows her relationship and spiritual books to a tee. The complex part is she puts up a vault. There's constant shots of her blurred, or in glasses with her hair shrouding her face as she listens to her clients problems. Though there are some times where the flick tries to emphasize its “hip” factor. This is due to Chelsea's clients being rich men who range from their late 30's to early 50's. Her paycheck is so huge that she can afford many expensive items, especially fashion. Every single time we hear her log experiences with clients there's mention of the designers she's wearing. Then there's Chelsea's boyfriend, Chris. He's a “nice guy” who works hard and loves his woman despite her profession. His scenes of personal training are hands on as well. We see him travel with his friends who give him shit about having an escort as a girlfriend. When Chelsea and Chris actually have the chance to discuss their lives, they're some of the best scenes of the movie. There is no score, just pure emotionally charged dialog. Believe it or not, Sasha Grey puts on a noteworthy performance in what is her first (non-adult) movie role. Her demeanor gives off a portrait of confidence, acting in a casual-calm fashion.
The Girlfriend Experience's tagline is “see it with someone you ****.” The funny thing about that is there is absolutely, positively, no sex in the movie. Grey's anatomy is on display in very few scenes. People may be surprised that this movie delves into politics, but it does. The connection that Soderbergh tries to make with economic troubles and twisted relationship issues doesn't link as well as it could have. Seeing upper-middle class to rich individuals going through money trouble while living in Manhattan isn't exactly the best way to reflect the state of America before the election; we know that well off people have problems too. The economy angle isn't nearly as interesting as the dynamic of having the love of your life fucking other people for a living. When The Girlfriend Experience taps into that aspect, it excels. When it tries to fuse its other message with the main plot, it gets lost and unfocused; that can be attributed to its short 1 hour and 17 minute running time. Soderbergh's direction and the performances of Sasha Grey and Chris Santos were certainly good enough to garner attention at the Sundance Film Festival back in January. If the flick was a little longer and more cohesive in its intent it would have been a much better film. Nonetheless, it's worth a view. Maybe it reaches its full potential if you do see it with someone you ****?
-J-B Hyppolite
The Terminator franchise is back with a bang with Terminator Salvation. Is it worthy of its iconic title? After witnessing this blockbuster the answer is certainly yes, but not without a few shortcomings.
We’re introduced to Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a criminal, who after feeling guilty for his deeds lends his body to science. After a prelude that reminds audiences of the franchise’s history, director McG (Charlie’s Angels, We Are Marshall) propels us straight into what “T-fans” were promised: chaos. We’re thrust into a wasteland of guns, nuclear weapons, and different variations of Terminators. Our post-judgment day savior, John Connor (Christian Bale), arrives yelling, giving out commands, and being the commander that his mother prepared him to be. The actual plot of the movie isn’t revealed until mid-way through. Connor finds that Skynet plans to take out his father, Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin), who’s only a teenager in the films setting of 2018 (fifteen years after the events of T3).
The action alone is enough to satisfy fans. There are explosions, mushroom clouds, and a lot of metal. McG, who at one point was more known for directing music videos, actually did a fantastic job in placing emphasis on the characters surroundings. John Connor gets into a helicopter only to see his soldier dead. He shoves him out and the shot makes it as if the audience is sitting next to him. We hear an explosion and the helicopter goes spiraling out of control; we literally go down with Connor. The scene is enough to make one dizzy, but nonetheless it’s an awesome touch. The effects are dazzling. The Terminators, or T-600’s and 700’s, look as menacing as ever.
Christian Bale delivers as Connor, but the most valuable player (or machine), is Sam Worthington. His performance is heroic, touching, and actually interesting. Not to say Bale’s Connor was uninteresting; it’s just that we’ve been told Connor's story through three previous installments, we know he’s destined to be a badass. The most intriguing part about Connor this time is that he has detractors that view him as nothing more than a false prophet.
The supporting characters are decent and not bland in any way. John’s wife, Kate Connor (Bryce Dallas Howard), is pregnant and a fearless doctor. Barnes (Common) looks up to John Connor and supports him in everything he does. Reese and his mute comrade Star (Jadagrace), add a touch of much needed human variables (love, care, learning how to survive).
Terminator Salvation is worthy enough to bare the name. Fans will notice the nods to the franchise. Linda Hamilton reprises her role as Sarah Connor in the form of tape-recorded messages. We see John listening to those messages, holding the picture of his mother from the very first film. The writers (John D. Brancato, Michael Ferris) made sure to sprinkle some of the franchises notable catchphrases, including “come with me if you want to live.” Some scenes clearly pay homage to its predecessors (that’s a good thing). However, it’s not far-fetched to say even the most extreme lovers of Salvation will admit to missing the Terminator himself, Arnold.
One thing Terminator Salvation sort of misses the boat with is John Connor, who is essentially overshadowed by Marcus Wright; this is not Bale’s fault. The writers could have given Connor’s role more dimensions. Regardless, Bale succeeds with what he’s given. Wright’s love interest Blair Williams (Moon Bloodgood) is intriguing, until she settles into the typical “girl-falls-for-bad-guy-who-tries-to-redeem-himself" deal. It comes across as forced, and the film would have been fine without it.
Terminator Salvation doesn’t bridge the gap of old and new like Star Trek, but it still establishes its own identity. WB continues to supply “T-fans” with eye-popping effects and humans hell-bent on surviving and defeating the mechanical maniacs we’ve learned to love. Audiences will surely “be back” for more.
- Oh yeah, apparently Christian Bale’s callous rant on that poor crewmember took place during the “we are all dead” scene; he had a right to be pissed off.
-J-B Hyppolite
Everyone has a dream. For Anvil, dreams never fade. Like music, it lasts forever.
Anvil: The Story of Anvil opens at a rock festival in Tokyo, Japan in 1984. We see acts like Scorpions and Bon Jovi, and then there's Anvil rockin' out with their tightly-ripped early 80's glam get up. Metal gods such as Slash from Guns N Roses, Lars Ulrich of Metallica, Scott Ian of Anthrax, and Lemmy of Motorhead express the influence of Anvil. Their most known album, Metal on Metal, is hailed as a classic in the metal world. Despite the praise, Anvil never took off like they should have.
Over 20 years later we see Anvil's lead singer-guitarist, Steve “Lips” Kudlow, as a 50 year old man working for a catering company. His main metal head is the drummer, Robb Reiner. Anvil's 30 plus year existence begins and ends with them. Screenwriter Sacha Gervasi (The Terminal) did a wonderful job directing this documentary. Not only does this flick place emphasis on human drive, Kudlow's never-say-die attitude is enough to make a thrasher's eyes well.
The Story of Anvil may remind people of the “mockumentary” Spinal Tap. There's a scene where Reiner doesn't want to play and Kudlow convinces him that the venue is packed only to play in front of no more than 8 people. As Anvil rocks out Gervasi cuts to some person jamming out in a crooked rolling chair. It's hard not to laugh while Anvil's agent tries to explain arrangements with Lips, who stares into space during an awkward silence. Gervasi makes sure to highlight one of Anvil's biggest fans chugging beer through his nostril during a show. Old footage shows the Canadian band when they had their 15 minutes of fame in the 80's. Lips plays his guitar with a dildo and a talk show host reads one of the bands sexually explicit lyrics, much to the dismay of the female dominated audience; a young Reiner laughs in mischievous fashion.
Anvil is full of spirit. When things get emotional the flick officially locks in on heart. You want to see this band succeed and not get dicked over by the music industry. Yet, through every broken string or stick, the band taps into their love of rock n roll; they won't let their teenage dreams of rock-stardom fade away. Their families, friends, and fans fuel the band to the point finding hope even when times are bleak. Seeing that carry on with Steve Kudlow and Robb Reiner is as inspiring as it gets. If audiences don't leave Anvil: The Story of Anvil wanting to drop whatever day job they have just to give a crack at what they really want to do, they weren't paying attention to the movie. Even non-metal heads will throw devil-horns up for this movie.
- J-B Hyppolite
A huge smart-ass and passive on his abilities, the arrogant, yet likable, James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) finds that it's his destiny is to be captain of the USS Enterprise. Pine captures the rebelliousness of Kirk to a tee. Everyone's favorite half-Vulcan, Spock (played exquisitely by Zachary Quinto), cherishes his Vulcan culture, yet is conflicted with balancing it with his human side. Pine and Quinto handle the legacy of Kirk and Spock with grace. Trek doesn't even begin to ascend without the rest of the crew. Capt. Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood) is wise, providing much needed guidance to Kirk. The movie's villain, Captain Nero (Eric Bana), is a vengeful menace who has no remorse when it comes to his mission. Nero is one pissed off Romulan, and his ship is huge. Nyoto Uhura (Zoe Saldana) is intelligent and sexy. Fans will appreciate the excellent portrayal of Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy (Karl Urban). Scotty (Simon Pegg) is still hilarious. Hikaru Sulu while somewhat shaky on warping to light speed, is a badass fighter. Pavel Chekov (Anton Yelchin) is wonderful. Leonard Nimoy reprises his legendary role as an elderly Spock, bridging the old and new.
Abrams wasn't afraid to give Star Trek a kick in the ass, and the risk was 100 percent worth it. This movie taps in to warp speed with non-stop action, humor, and drama, making for an epic adrenaline rush. Everything works; from sarcastic banter, one-liners during fast paced action scenes, to its amazingly gripping score. One of the most brilliant aspects of this space extravaganza is that the plot actually gives the movie a reason to be a reboot and have an alternate take on its characters. Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman wrote a wonderful script and story that pays homage and moves forward with Gene Roddenberry's characters.
The effects will have audiences in awe. You will not want to blink and miss the explosions, photon torpedoes, phasers, and beaming. When Nero's doomsday device, “Red Matter,” is in action, it's a horrific yet amazing sight to see. The “re-introduction” to the USS Enterprise is quite a moment. Trek's worldly locations and travels through space allows one to escape into a dream land of awesomeness. In fact, the films execution makes it hard not to like. The few nagging issues are almost a non-issue. Nero's arch is oh-so-typical for a vengeful villain and when elderly Spock is introduced it's a little too convenient, but guess what? People will most likely not care; there's too much fun to be had. While die-hard “trekkie” fanboys will certainly nit-pick the hell out of this movie, and perhaps cringe at the thought of Beastie Boy's “Sabotage” blasting during young Kirk's opening scene, they'll at least appreciate the efforts of the cast and crew.
In terms of being a blockbuster, Star Trek gets everything right. The crew is young, flashy, and prove more than worthy in their portrayals. For the first time years, fans and newly converted fans will be begging for a sequel. A once fleeting franchise has been given new life. Star Trek beams its viewers into a world they will not forget anytime soon. See this true start of the summer season in theaters or in IMAX, it's worth your hard earned money. This flick owns.
-J-B Hyppolite
A suburban community in Long Island bares witness to an outbreak of Lyme Disease. We have two conflicted families in the Bartletts and the Braggs. First and foremost, we're introduced to Scott Bartlett (Rory Culkin), the film's central character. Like many other teens, Scott is bullied, self-conscious, and horny. His disgruntled, religious and nostalgic mother, Brenda (Jill Hennessey), is unhappy with her marriage. His workaholic father, Mickey (Alec Baldwin), is a real estate agent who's disillusioned with his wife's unhappiness. Scott's brother Jimmy (Kiedran Culkin), returns from the army only to be reminded of why he left. Adrianna Braggs (Emma Roberts) is Scott's dream girl. Much to the dismay of Scott, she only dates older men. Adrianna thinks her mom ,Melissa (Cynthia Nixon), is a slut and her stoic father, Charlie Braggs (Timothy Hutton), has been diagnosed with Lyme Disease.
In his directorial debut, Derick Martini literally puts the oh-so-boring yet drama filled land of suburbia on display, placing constant emphasis on its artificial surface. Despite its witty and quirky humor, Lymelife shines when we're shown the angst that lies beneath the families not-so-perfect lives. Despite the laughs, the film provides some powerful moments. Scott sitting down perched against his bathroom door, eyes welling, only to produce a single tear as he listens to his parents arguing is the essential contrast to the sunny side up expectations of the “American dream.”
Make no mistake, Lymelife is brilliant at mixing wit and drama. After a tick scare Brenda wraps duct-tape around her son. Adrianna asks if Scott wants a yoo-hoo right after he gets beat up at school. Scott wears his underwear and quotes Star Wars while looking at the mirror. Its touches such as those that give “life” life.
Lymelife is engrossing, hilarious, and moving. It will make you remember when you were an awkward teen in love, realizing that parents have problems too. “Lyme” was featured in the 2008 Toronto Film Festival and won the International Film Critics' Award (FIPRESCI) for the category of Discovery. It's also an official selection for the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.
-J-B Hyppolite
Lets start with the good; the opening credits are well done showing a young Wolverine, who's real name is James Logan, living in the mid-1800's. Jimmy and his brother Victor Creed are shown running through history, slicing and dicing their way through soldiers in American wars. The scene successfully sets up an epic feel that is appropriate for such a mysterious character. After the two arrive at Vietnam the rush is gone, arriving in bits and pieces. Hugh Jackman proves once again why he was born to play Wolverine. From berserker rage, down to the word “bub” Jackman bleeds the iconic beast. Liev Schreiber does his best to make fans forget the lackluster Victor (aka Sabertooth) portrayed in X-Men.
In terms of Wolverine's supporting team of mutants we've got: Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), The Blob (Kevin Durand), Agent Zero (Daniel Henney), Bolt (Dominic Monaghan) and John Wraith (Will.I.Am). They're brought together by William Stryker (Danny Huston), who convinces Wolverine and Sabertooth to join. Their partnership, while very short, is pretty sweet. Deadpool deflecting bullets is a site to see and Agent Zero is quite the marksman. Logan eventually finds love with Kayla (Lynn Collins). Kayla's murder is what makes Logan truly become Wolverine by having him join Stryker's Weapon X program. For the first time on screen we get to see the X-Men's second most popular character, Remy Lebeau aka Gambit (Taylor Kitsch). Gambit's arrival to the X-Men franchise is long overdue. We see Gambits trademark staff, cards, rebelliousness, and Cajun accent.
With all of these spectacular appearances and action scenes one would think that the disappointment that was X-Men: The Last Stand would forever be forgotten and all would be forgiven. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Origin's short running time makes everything too condensed. There's not enough time for all of the mutants to breath. Appearances such as Emma Frost and young Cyclops are cut and paste. They're there just to show off their powers. There is almost no development and their inclusion comes across as an excuse for cameos. The editors try too hard to show every single thing that happens in an action scene: cuts are too quick and feel forced to the point where it's comical. When Wolverine blows up a helicopter and walks away in slow motion, it's as though director Gavin Hood is begging us to accept the movie's shortcomings. The special effects are hit and miss. Sometimes you can tell what's green screen and other times you're in awe over the mutant powers. Most of all, fanboys and girls will notice in the differences from the source material. Victor and Logan aren't really brothers, Deadpool doesn't talk at all and isn't suppose to look like Baraka from Mortal Kombat, and Emma Frost has the wrong sister. When comic book films stray from source material, it usually makes sense. The differentiations in X-Men Origins were unwarranted. This flick could have used another half-hour to flesh out its flow.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine is at times entertaining and refreshing. Yet, in the end we are left with a slightly above average film that missed it’s potential. This could have been epic, but instead its just a hair better than X3. Fox's great marketing will get people into the theaters and ensure a huge weekend, pretty much guaranteeing a sequel down the line. Hopefully someday Bryan Singer returns to get the X-Men franchise back to the greatness that was X2: The Last Stand.
-J-B Hyppolite
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