5 Phenomenal Movie Birthday Parties

July 22, 2013 by Keith Garlington

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Last Friday (July 19th) marked my 42nd birthday. Yep, I’m that old but I feel blessed beyond measure. So considering that, I thought I would incorporate birthdays into this week’s Phenomenal 5. Today I’m looking at birthday parties. Now these aren’t meant to be the best parties but truly memorable ones from motion picture history. So many parties came to mind and I left out a few that I truly loved for the sake of a more fun and diverse list. So considering that, I wouldn’t call this the definitive list. But there is no doubting that these five movie birthday party scenes are absolutely phenomenal.

IRON MAN 2 #5 – “IRON MAN” 2
Nobody can throw a party like Tony Stark. But when your a stubborn, egotistical, self-destructive, billionaire playboy that’s not always a good thing. In this scene Stark’s drunkenness, self-loathing, and personal pity party alienates practically everyone close to him. His overt flirting with a sultry Scarlet Johansson pushes Pepper away and his carelessness with his Iron Man weaponry leads to an armored throwdown between Iron Man and War Machine (manned by Stark’s best friend). The biggest victims are Tony’s pride and his expensive mansion in this fantastic sequence.

#4 – “SIGNS”
It may be easy for some people to forget M. Night Shyamalan’s 2002 horror thriller “Signs”. For me this has always been one of the director’s best and I like nearly everything about it. Nestled inside the film is a birthday party scene that’s easy to miss. But I had to include it because its one of my favorite scenes in the movie. A very nervous Joaquin Phoenix sits in a closet anxiously watching TV for any bit of news on a possible alien invasion. For him it comes in the form of amateur footage taken at a 7-year old’s birthday party in Brazil. It’s a pretty tense scene laced with a touch of humor from Phoenix. And I’ll always remember the newscasters opening comment: “What you’re about to see may disturb you.”

BIRDS #3 – “THE BIRDS”
There are a number of signature scenes from Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds”. In fact, this film has already been on one Phenomenal 5 list of movie gas station scenes. Well one of its great moments takes place during an outdoor birthday party. Kids are everywhere doing what kids do at birthday parties. There is cake, balloons, laughter, and fun games There is also a horde of menacing gulls that quickly make their presence known. They swoop down and crash the party in their own unique way. They really make a mess of things and lets just say it’s one birthday party that those kids will never forget.

LORD #2 – “THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING”
Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy was an amazing motion picture accomplishment. From the sheer cinematic scope of the film to the incredibly realized vision of author J.R.R. Tolkien. It garnered well deserved accolades and its a fantasy spectacle unmatched by any other. And to think it all started with a birthday party. Bilbo Baggins wasn’t that excited for his party and he had a pretty big surprise for everyone. But that didn’t completely dampen everything. We still got our first introduction to the hobbits and Gandolf leading into an adventure that is hard to beat.

16 Candles #1 – “SIXTEEN CANDLES”
Not every party has to be a big, loud, crowded bash. Such is the case with the 80’s teen comedy (and for me one of the funniest movies of all time) “Sixteen Candles”. Samantha (Molly Ringwald) wakes up to what should be one the best days of her life – her 16th birthday. Instead she finds her big day lost in the chaos of her big sister’s upcoming wedding. Through this film Sam weaves through one disappointment and annoyance after another. But all ends well with a small birthday cake shared with the boy of her dreams. This small birthday scene at the end of the film is the perfect conclusion to a truly great comedy.

So now you’ve heard my choices, what are yours? I’d love to hear what you would have included. Please take time to share your thoughts below.

5 Phenomenal Movie Hitmen

July 15, 2013 by Keith Garlington

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My very first Phenomenal 5 looked at movie hitmen. Looking back on it I decided it needed a reboot. First there were a few slight changes to be made but it also got no traffic whatsoever. Hey, I was just starting, ok? Well today we are looking back at that topic. Now the job of hitman has been a popular motion picture occupation for years so it’s worth checking out some of the best. I want this to be a pretty diverse list so I had to leave off some REALLY good one. Considering that I won’t be calling this the definitive list. But there’s no denying that these five movie hitmen are most certainly phenomenal.

#5 – MICHAEL SULLIVAN, SR (“Road to Perdition”)

PERDITION

I never really envisioned Tom Hanks as a mob hitman/enforcer. That was before 2002’s “Road to Perdition”. He nails the role of Michael Sullivan, Sr. who, with young son in hand, goes on a revenge-fueled mission to pay back those who killed his wife and younger son. Hanks melds perfectly into the Depression-era setting and he’s one tommy gun-toting father that I wouldn’t want after me. It may not sound like the perfect mix on paper, but Hanks was a phenomenal choice.

#4 – T-800 (“Terminator”, “T2”, “T3”)

Terminator

Arnold Schwarzenegger has several big-time action roles under his belt but none are as memorable as the robotic hitman sent back in time to kill the mother of John Connor. Of course in later movies he would serve as protector. He may be a cyborg of few words (and in Schwarzenegger’s case that’s a good thing) but he won’t quit his mission until either it or he is done. Whether he’s riding a Harley to George Thorogood’s “Bad to the Bone” or wiping out an entire police station, the T-800 means business.

#3 – JASON BOURNE (“The Bourne Trilogy”)

Bourne

While Jason Bourne is a man searching for his true identity, we learn really, really quick that he has some serious skills. This one time CIA killing machine turned into their ultimate nightmare once he went “off the grid”. Bourne showed off through jaw-crushing fight scenes, intense car chases, and his amazing ability to fly under the radar. Bourne isn’t to be messed with. Just look at the trail of broken noses, snapped necks, and wrecked cars if you need proof. He has to be on this list.

#2 -LEON (“The Professional”)

LEON

How can you not love Jean Reno’s low-key but deadly Leon in 1994’s “The Professional”. We get to see just how well he knows his unique craft through some fantastic action sequences. But what makes Leon so endearing is his relationship with 12-year-old Mathilda played by Natalie Portman in her motion picture debut. Leon has all the tools to make him a phenomenal movie hitman but it’s that tender heart and his appreciation for a good glass of milk that sets him apart.

#1 – ANTON CHIGURH (“No Country for Old Men”)

ANTON

Even though he sports one of the worst haircuts in motion picture history, Javier Bardem’s Anton Chigurh is brutal and terrifying . But he’s also an enthralling character and is involved in all of “No Country for Old Men’s” best scenes. The Coen brothers’ signature dark humor make Chigurh even more fascinating to watch. Bardem won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance and once you see the movie it’s easy to see why Anton Chigurh is at the top of this list.

So there are my picks for phenomenal movie hitmen. Clearly there are some great ones not on the list. Agree or disagree? Who did I miss? Leave your comments below and share who you would have included.

The Keith & the Movies Valhalla Induction : “The Last of the Mohicans”

July 12, 2013 by Keith Garlington

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The Keith & the Movies Valhalla is a place of tribute for those movies that I hold in the highest regard. These are films that embody everything that is great about motion pictures. These are the best of the best – movies that I truly love and that stand above the rest. There are many great movies that won’t find their way into these sacred halls. But here you will find those films that I believe personify brilliance in filmmaking, storytelling, and entertainment. These glorious 5 star accomplishments are worthy of special recognition as the very best. Ok, enough of the high drama! In other words, these are my favorite movies of all time, ok?

There are a number of movies that have left indelible marks on me. In many instances I still remember the experience I had when I first saw them. Such is the case with Michael Mann’s “The Last of the Mohicans”. This version of James Fenimore Cooper’s classic novel blew me away during its initial theatrical release in 1992 and has held a special place with me since. Personally it’s a near flawless film teeming with gorgeous cinematography, fantastic action, and a strong measured romance set during a perfectly realized 1757 American frontier.

The film is also helped by some top notch acting especially from Daniel Day-Lewis as well as what may be my favorite movie score to ever grace a motion picture. The music from Trevor Jones is both beautiful and appropriate and it even found its way into my wedding. Some have downplayed “The Last of the Mohicans” choosing to dismiss it as “history lite”. Personally I adore the film for its rich cinematic story all the way to its great production. For me its place in the Valhalla was cemented from the start.

“The Last of the Mohicans” is the seventh inductee into the Keith & the Movies Valhalla. But there are more amazing movies to come in the near future so stay tuned. What are your thoughts on this Michael Mann new classic? Is it worth my high praise or is it an overrated picture? What about the performance of Daniel Day-Lewis? You now know my opinion. I’d love to hear yours. Please take time to share your comments below.

REVIEW: “The Lone Ranger”

July 9, 2013 by Keith Garlington

“Pirates of the Caribbean” set in the old west. It’s an unavoidable comparison. It’s also a very accurate description of Gore Verbinski and Jerry Bruckheimer’s “The Lone Ranger”. Johnny Depp again takes center stage and is the ringleader of this wacky and sometimes absurd action adventure. The ingredients are all here. A charismatic and eccentric lead, a fun and action-packed story model, and a filmmaking team who has experienced success before. Maybe that’s why the end result is so disappointing.

As a kid I loved the old television reruns of The Lone Ranger starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels. Well let me say that it didn’t take long for me to see the mammoth sized differences between this film and the great original material. I mean to call this film a reimagining would be a gross understatement. There is almost no similarity between these film and the classic story other than the name and some of the basic cosmetics. There is the white hat and white horse. There are silver bullets and the black masks. There are also a few familiar names and familiar plot points. But you’ll be hard pressed to find many other resemblances. Who knows, maybe that’s where the first of the film’s many missteps begins.

Now I wasn’t expecting this to be an ultra-serious tribute to this classic character. Again this is from the makers of “Pirates of the Caribbean”. But I also didn’t expect it to be so drastically different and so blasted silly. It starts with the Lone Ranger character himself. Armie Hammer seems completely lost at times playing a character who is a bumbling oaf from the first time we see him until the final credits. The character has good intentions but he’s a far cry from the heroic masked administrator of justice I was hoping for. Hammer’s performance doesn’t help. He struggles through a ridiculous and sometimes numbingly lame script that drags him through a plethora of slapstick and oddball humor that admittedly works on occasions. But more often than not it lands with a thud and Hammer just can’t sell it.

The nuttiness isn’t just confined to Hammer and the lead character. Johnny Depp’s Tonto is in many ways a Native American Jack Sparrow. He channels his famed pirate character in a variety of different ways and I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. But he also has his share of ludicrous, over-the-top moments. And that can be said for the entire film. It has several eye-rolling moments that are so insanely absurd that they’re impossible to digest. But it also sharply turns in other directions. “The Lone Ranger” has some jarring tonal issues. One minute horses are standing up in trees wearing cowboy hats and the next has a character cutting out and eating a human heart. The movie is literally all over the map.

But perhaps it’s biggest sin is that it’s just so boring in the middle. It starts with a some promise and there are hints of a good story throughout the picture. But soon the film bogs down in a mire of drab and pointless plot. There’s an underwritten and poorly serviced romance. There are throwaway characters such as Helena Bonham Carter’s ivory-legged brothel head whose story would better serve on the cutting room floor. Then there is the film’s general snail paced way of telling the main story. It takes way too long and it becomes a test of endurance just to make it through the arduous 2 hours and 30 minute running time.

But I have to say that the big finale saves the film from being a total disaster. The huge set piece is quite the spectacle and I remember perking up the moment that the William Tell Overture suddenly kicked in. The ending almost feels like its own little short film. It doesn’t feel anything like a Lone Ranger sequence and there isn’t a semblance of realism to be found. But it is insanely entertaining if you can accept its cartoonish and exaggerated approach and go with it. For me it was easily the best part of the film even with its absurdities.

There are some beautiful locations and some of the action is really good. There are moments where the wacky humor works very well. I also enjoyed seeing an assortment of my favorite supporting actors (William Fichtner, Tom Wilkinson, Barry Pepper, and James Badge Dale) even if their roles aren’t particularly well written. But in the end “The Lone Ranger” loses itself in its overbearing insanity and bloated, uneven plot. It never feels like a western and it never knows when to end. What really stinks is that this could’ve been a really good summer movie. Instead it’s $250 million dollars worth of mediocrity and a waste of some really good talent. I may be wrong but I would think Disney would want more from such an investment.

VERDICT – 2 STARS

K & M Commentary – That Odd Thing Called Taste

June 25, 2013 by Keith Garlington

There is something all of us possess that highlights our own special uniquenesses. It’s this odd thing called taste. Our wide variety of tastes show themselves in a wide variety of ways. Just think about it. One person may love 19th century classical music while another loves 1980’s hair metal. One person may only read crime novels while someone else only reads biographies. I know some people who love Italian pasta while others hate it and would prefer a thick-cut ribeye steak anytime. I could go on and on but you get the point.

Our tastes are just some of the things that set us apart from each other and our tastes are defined by an assortment of different things. They help to reveal our own unique personalities, our own unique voices, our own unique preferences, and our own unique passions. We may share specific tastes but an individual’s collective tastes help to give them an individuality that can often times be fascinating.

I’m especially drawn to people’s different tastes when it comes to movies and television. There’s such a widely varied gamut of likes and dislikes when it comes to these areas of entertainment. I also love how a person’s passionate taste for something helps identify them. For example I know that Ruth at Flixchatter adores British cinema and the many great actors that come from the U.K. Mark at Marked Movies is all about Robert DeNiro and his many great films. Lady Sati over at Cinematic Corner is incredibly passionate about “Game of Thrones”. I could go on and on.

But for me there’s an even more fascinating way to look at our different tastes when it comes to movies. It amazes me how two people can look at one movie and have such drastically different responses to it. Tastes can so wildly vary that one person may despise a film with all their being while another person adores the film and is passionate in their defense of it. There was a time in my immaturity where I would get frustrated when someone disliked a movie that I thought was brilliant. I know, it’s a silly notion but it’s true. I just couldn’t grasp how a movie that gave me such a wonderful experience could be such a pain for someone else. Movies are a funny thing.

It all comes down to this – movies are subjective. They have the uncanny ability to effect every soul differently and appeal to specific tastes in various ways. Movies can scare one person but not another. They can make one person laugh while another sits stone-faced. They can bring one person to tears while another rolls their eyes. There’s just a unique quality about movies that is directly connected to our individuality. What works for one doesn’t always work for another. That’s why movie critics most often debate the writing, the direction, technique, etc. And even then the critic can’t separate his or her own individual taste if they’re being honest in his review.

Still, I can’t promise you that I won’t scratch my head or roll my eyes when I hear that you like Seth Rogan or Will Ferrell movies. I can’t promise that I won’t sit in a state befuddlement when I read a rave review of a Nicholas Sparks film or I see an Adam Sandler movie take in over $100 million. I can’t promise you any of those things. But I can say I better understand it. Like I said, taste is a really odd thing.

THE END

REVIEW: “Midnight in Paris”

June 12, 2013 by Keith Garlington

MIDNIGHT POSTER

Without a doubt the romantic comedy is one of the weaker movie genres and has been for years. But sometimes we get a special gem that reminds us of just how fun these types of movies can be. “Midnight in Paris”, written and directed by Woody Allen, is a crash course in the art of making a romantic comedy. It is loaded with heart and feeling and doesn’t trudge down the same path as so many failed films of this genre. It’s a movie that captures the magic of it’s location and the inner workings of it’s characters. It’s clever and unique while maintaining a true romantic feel and sense of humor.

“Midnight in Paris” opens with a picturesque three-minute montage focusing on the beauty of Paris, France. It gracefully moves from one exquisitely framed shot to another, showing us historical landmarks, museums, cafes, and more all set to the lovely “Si Tu Vois Ma Mere”. It elegantly sets up the city of Paris as not only a central character in the film, but an enchanting and magical force whose influence is seen throughout the picture. In many ways Woody Allen is celebrating Paris. He wants us to love the city and appreciate the mystique of it’s rich history just as much as his main character does. Allen’s desire works. I was instantly grabbed and found myself totally lost in what I was seeing on the screen.

While Paris is at the heart of the story, the main character is Gil Pender (Owen Wilson), a hack Hollywood screenwriter who is visiting the city with his fiancée and her parents. Gil loves everything about Paris and to this day regrets his decision not to move there when he had a chance several years ago. He feels he was meant for more than writing screenplays but he struggles with confidence. He doesn’t feel comfortable in today’s world and believes he would be a better fit in the 1920s. His fiancée Inez (Rachel McAdams) is a spoiled momma’s girl who spends more time insulting Gil than supporting him. There is clearly a disconnect between the two. He loves Paris and she doesn’t. He’s working on a novel that he thinks will change his career and she thinks he’s wasting his time. He enjoys the small details in life while she would rather milk it for it’s benefits.

While in Paris they run into Paul (Michael Sheen), Inez’s old friend and self-proclaimed expert on everything from art to French culture to fine wines. Inez seems infatuated with Paul’s knowledge regardless of how many facts he gets wrong in his efforts to impress everyone. Needing to get away, Gil takes off on a late night walk. After getting lost, he is picked up by a group of partiers in an old classic car who magically transport him back to 1920s Paris. Here he meets many of his literary and artistic heroes such as Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Picasso, and Stein. He also meets the lovely Adriana (played wonderfully by Marion Cotillard) who he grows more attracted to with each midnight visit.

The fantasy turn of Allen’s story did feel a bit out of the blue at first but it didn’t take long before I was enthralled with what I was seeing. Gil’s golden age is recreated flawlessly from the music and atmosphere to the careful attention to detail. I loved seeing these authors, painters, composers, and filmmakers of old fleshed out through some fantastic performances. Tom Hiddleston and Alison Pill are absolutely brilliant as F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. I also loved Marcial Di Fonzo Bo as Picasso and Adrien Brody as Dali, both in smaller but fun roles. And then there’s Corey Stoll as Hemingway who steals many of the scenes he’s in. The supporting cast is such a wonderful ingredient to the film’s charm.

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But in terms of acting it’s Owen Wilson that really blew me away. In many ways he plays a character that really fits him. We’ve seen elements of this performance in other roles of his but here everything is perfectly measured and controlled. Even though Woody Allen has stated he gave Wilson a lot of room to work, it’s clear that Allen has a solid influence on his performance. I’ve been really lukewarm concerning most of Wilson’s past work but he really, really impressed me here. He dials it back a bit and never allows his performance to drown out the material.

“Midnight in Paris” does call for the audience to just buy into it’s fantasy angle and if you struggle with that you may struggle with this picture. It also turns out to be fairly predictable in places. But these small gripes do nothing to kill the magic of this picture for me. This is certainly a love letter to Paris, but it’s also a lesson on living in the present. Allen reminds us that the golden age so many long for isn’t that different from where we are now. It’s a beautiful film both visually and structurally and it moves along at an almost poetic pace. Better yet, “Midnight in Paris” is a film that gives us hope for a struggling genre. I love this movie.