These Go to Eleven – “Les Miserables” Review

This is one of the most frustratingly bad movies I’ve seen in awhile. It’s one thing to be downright terrible. To stink and to own up to stinking is somewhat admirable. However, Les Miserables parades around like it’s an important work of art. Had it bothered to get out of its own way, who knows? There’s a brilliant musical buried deep under all the bad decisions, garish camerawork, and other unexplainable catastrophes. I feel like I could enjoy a stage version of the material but I could never stomach a second pass at this film.

The Trouble with Quibbles: The Dark Knight Rises – Part 1

I’ve been wrestling with the anticipation for The Dark Knight Rises on an ever-increasing level over the last few years. Until a few weeks ago, it was a gradual thing, nothing too grand, but then we got to July and with the film only weeks away, I kinda lost it. I went batty. Prepping for Shooting the Script’s Batman coverage only exacerbated things. I gave in and have been on a Bat-binge for the last three weeks. This exponential increase in eagerness to see the film combined with the events surrounding the release of The Dark Knight Rises has been overwhelming. When I finally saw the film it was less like entertainment and more like treatment… like getting my fix… like something I had to do… like a release… of all this pent up eagerness mixed with anxiety. It was a very bizarre movie-going experience. It’s strange how ridiculous the simple act of going to see a movie became. It’s only a movie. Still, something about Christopher Nolan’s trilogy–and Batman in general–has given us a lot to talk about.

2012 Oscar Checklist – Part 3: Macaw or Muppet

Today’s checklist is all about the best song category. The Academy has been tinkering with the music branch’s nominating procedure for the last few years which has resulted in only two nominees this year. I’m not saying something else should have been here because original songs in films have been weak for ages. It’s a little strange though. It’s also not terribly surprising that both songs are from kid’s films.

Opening Weekend: What Is Best In Theaters?

Conan crushes his enemies. Anton Yelchin sees stakes driven before him. Jim Sturgess hears the lamentation of women, namely Anne Hathaway. And Robert Rodriguez adds aroma-scope to his Spy Kids arsenal.

Opening Weekend: Old…New…Borrowed…Blue…

I know, I know, the weekend has come and gone, but it was a crazy week. Better late than never, right? But, if you’ve been paying attention, then you can probably guess what movie I saw.

The Trouble with Quibbles: 2011 Oscars

It’s that time of year again, Oscar season. Bryan is a bundle of nerves, bursting with fruit-flavor and jonesing for any and all obscure nominations he can find, like a junkie going through withdrawals. I can just picture him now, mouth agape in abject terror as he sits in front of his computer, desperately trolling the interwebs for that last short that’s alluded him. And I take comfort in that. Is that wrong?

Oscar Checklist – Part One: Docs, Thoughts, and Links

Photo: Bob DAmico/ABC

I will never be able to understand it, but I am pretty obsessed with the Academy Awards. It’s on par with my fanatical list-making. I think it comes down to the simple fact that it involves movies, the history and discussion of, no matter how trivial, and therefore garners my complete attention. So now that the nominees are out and we have less than a month before the ceremony, I’m going to do what I try to do every year and catch up on as many nominees that I can. This year I have a blog, so I figured I would umm… blog about what I see leading up to Feb. 27^th.

Rom-Com Methadone: Love & Other Drugs

Ah, the mainstream romantic-comedy, cinematic poster-child for the law of diminishing returns. As time goes by, romantic-comedies seem to get worse and worse. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a matter of ridiculous gimmicks or over-the-top antics or outlandish situations or wacky protagonists. I present exhibit-A: 1938′s Bringing Up Baby, an amazing romantic/screwball comedy and a personal favorite, a story about a man and woman… and her pet cheetah, Baby, and the series of misadventures they find themselves tangled in. Perfect. A romantic comedy that is actually funny, kinda kooky, and, above all, interesting.