Moneyball (Flack’s Review)
Posted on | October 11, 2011 | 3 Comments
Moneyball is about Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics baseball team. When they lose the World Series and their three best players are traded, it means they have to rebuild the team. But then Billy meets Peter Brand. Peter has a game-changing idea about how to play baseball. His idea is that the best players are not the ones that bat the most but the those that get on base the most. Together Peter and Billy create a team of usually ignored (but actually very good) players. But will Billy overcome his personal problems, is his team actually any good, and will they make it to the World Series??? It is based on a book.
Moneyball is an absolutely perfect film. Brad Pitt is excellent as Billy Beane and he makes the move entertaining, very believable, and incredibly sad all at the same time. Jonah Hill is funny and serious. Hill was hilarious in Night at the Museum:Battle of the Smithsonian, but now he’s toned it down for his first dramatic role. Phillip Seymour Hoffman as the angry coach, Art Howe, Chris Pratt as an injured yet excellent new player ,Scott Hattenberg, Kerris Dorsey as Billy’s daughter, Stephen Bishop as older player, David Justin, and Robin Wright Penn as Billy’s divorced wife, all give terrific supporting role performances.
I thought the decision was interesting to not show much of the actual baseball games because Billy Beane didn’t watch them. However I do think it was necessary to show a bunch of their big winning game. By doing that it gave the scene a higher emotional impact. Meanwhile Bennet Miller makes everything flow magnificently and directs the actors to perfection.
The music by Mychael Danna is good at keeping the story going and stay for the credits to listen to it by itself. Aaron Sorkin doesn’t make the dialogue fast paced, as people said he did for The Social Network. Instead he teams up with Steve Zaillian and writes some excellent yet considerably slow dialogue (although it’s not the standout thing of the movie.)
The story is very emotional and you may be surprised by the ending, which is not the usual Hollywood kind. I am glad the filmmakers stuck to the real story instead of glamorizing it and ruining the movie. I think this film is one of the best of the year. The story is emotional, the acting is stunning, the directing is spot on, and Brad Pitt gives a sure to be Oscar nominated performance. You have to go see it, even if (like me) you don’t like baseball.
My favorite character is Billy Beane because Brad Pitt is amazing and he makes the character the heart and soul of the film.
My favorite scene is when (SPOILER ALERT EVEN THOUGH IT’S A TRUE STORY) the Oakland Athletics beat the record of winning game streaks with 20 games, because it’s a cheerful happy, moment that makes you root for the team (even though you probably already were).
The movie is rated PG-13 for brief language, but if you can handle those words, it’s o.k. for younger kids.
I give the film 5 stars. Look out during Oscar season.
Here is the link to IMDB.
The Bicycle Thief (Flack’s Review)
Posted on | September 6, 2011 | Add Comments
The Bicycle Thief (Flack’s Review): 5 out of 5 reels
This film is unlike anything else and is simply amazing. The Bicycle Thief is about Antonio, a poor man with two kids and a wife. He gets a job but needs a bicycle so he gets one. But then it is stolen. Along with his friends and family he looks for his bike. Why? Because he can’t do his job without it…….
This film is a masterpiece of cinema. The story is well developed, interesting, mysterious, sad, brilliant and simple all at the same time. The film is in Italian and was made in Italy, but you can watch it with subtitles or dubbed in English. I think the film would be just as powerful as a silent movie. All the actors are great especially Lamberto Maggiorani (who wrote the book the film was based on) as Antonio, and Enzo Staiola as his son, Bruno and the black and white is beautiful. But the best thing about the film is how real it is. For example in one scene when they are chasing the thief there is no big action packed music, it just is how it would be in real life. When you watch this film you won’t think “wow they made it seem real” because this film makes you feel like you are in the story.
My favorite characters are Antonio and Bruno because Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola are excellent actors and the characters are interesting.
My favorite scene is the last one because it is powerful.
This movie is sad. It’s real. It’s interesting, well acted, and excellent. This movie is The Bicycle Thief.
Note: I like the U.S. title Bicycle Thieves because it reflects the ending. If you’ve seen the movie you know what I’m talking about, but if you haven’t, I don’t want to spoil it.
Superman 2 (Flack’s Review)
Posted on | August 21, 2011 | 3 Comments
This is the sequel to the 1978 blockbuster that starred Christopher Reeve as the title character. It is about Superman/Clark Kent. Three villains including the evil General Zod travel from Krypton to Earth to destroy everything. Meanwhile Superman’s romance with Lois Lane gets complicated as he must decide whether to reveal to her that he is Clark Kent.
This film is not nearly as good as the five-star original classic, Superman. Most of it is too silly to be taken seriously unlike the original that had a few jokes that fit in into the movie’s plot and tone. In fact, this film is more like the 1966 Batman movie (based on the TV show) than its predecessor. The best part of the film is the battle at the end. The action is stunning and awesome and is not too silly.
My favorite character is Superman. At least Christopher Reeve still does a good job and is in fact better than in the original because the chemistry with Margot Kidder (who plays Lois Lane) is good and the parts with him deciding what to tell her are very well performed.
I give this film 3 stars. The only good things are the wonderful performances from Gene Hackman as Lex Luther (although he is not as good as in the original mainly because he is sillier like most of the other characters) to Margot Kidder as Lois Lane. The director, Richard Lesters other films are very good. He has directed both Help! and A Hard Day’s Night as well the 1973 Three Musketeers that starred Richard Chamberlin and Michael York. Maybe they should have kept Richard Donner from the original Superman film because Lester is too silly for this movie even though for his other movies his humorous touch worked very well. The special effects are surprisingly not as good as the original.
If there had been a better story, less silliness, and more of a focus on Superman/Clark Kent instead of General Zod just throwing things around and his helpers being goofy than maybe this film could have been better. Most of the reviews I had read thought it was as good if not better than the original but I am not sure what they were talking about.
Henry Cavill (above) will play Superman
Superman News: A new Superman is being made and I am pretty sure this one will not be so silly. It is going to be produced by Christopher Nolan who directed The Dark Knight and Batman Begins. Both of those films were well reviewed and I wonder if this one will be. It is going to be directed by Zach Snyder (director of 300 and Watchmen). It will star the mostly unknown actor, Henry Cavill, as the Man of Steel. Amy Adams will play Lois Lane, Russell Crowe will play Superman’s father Jor-el,and Kevin Costner and Diane Lane will play Superman’s adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent. Laurence Fishburne is rumored to play Perry White, the head of the Daily Planet. As the villain, Michael Shannon will play General Zod and hopefully do a better job than the actor in Superman 2. No one is sure if Lex Luther will make an appearance in the film but if he does I wonder if the actor will be as good as Gene Hackman or Kevin Spacey were when the played the role. It was originally scheduled to be released in December 2012 but Warner Brothers did not want it to compete with its other big release, The Hobbitt Part 1 that Christmas. It is now going to be released June 14, 2013. I would like to see this movie but if it is as dark as Christopher Nolan’s Batman films I probably won’t be allowed to.
Akeelah and the Bee (Flack’s Review)
Posted on | May 31, 2011 | 2 Comments
Akeelah and the Bee is about a girl named Akeelah who loves to spell. After winning her school spelling bee she meets a spelling coach named Dr. Larabee who helps her. Although she doesn’t always have a very happy life, she is extremely determined. She is coached by everyone; from Dr. Larabee to her mom, to her teacher, and even her whole neighborhood on her quest to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
This is an interesting and inspiring movie with a great cast, amazing story, funny moments, and a terrific finale. Keke Palmer is great as Akeelah and Laurence Fishburne is equally excellent as Dr. Larabee. The story is heartwarming, entertaining, and fun. There is a scene where Akeelah is doing a spelling bee but gets pulled out by her mom. If she does not come back by her next turn she will be disqualified. It is her turn next but first her friend must go. Her friend gets an easy word but because he doesn’t want Akeelah to get disqualified he asks for the word’s definition, the word to be used in a sentence 10 times, and for someone to sing it in a song. It’s a hilarious moment and the funniest scene in the film! Also the camerawork is cool when Dr. Larabee first meets Akeelah and she is spelling words very fast.
My favorite scene is when Akeelah is at the Scripps National Spelling Bee because it’s thrilling, suspenseful, joyful, and heartwarming.
My favorite character is Akeelah because she is determined and Keke Palmer does a good job. I also like Dr. Larabee because Laurence Fishburne is excellent especially in the scenes with Akeelah and when Dr. Larabee talks to Akeelah’s mom. Laurence Fishburne had a similar role as a coach (but for chess not spelling) in the film, Searching for Bobby Fisher.
It is rated PG for language and I agree, but young kids should definitely see it. It’s a truly inspiring film especially when Akeelah talks to Dr. Larabee, pretends to jump rope on stage as she spells a word, gets help from her whole neighborhood and of course whenever she starts tapping her hands while spelling.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (Flick and Flack’s podcast)
Posted on | May 23, 2011 | Add Comments
Flick and Flack talk about the film, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
Listen here. (Podcast: 34 minutes)
Thor (Flick and Flack’s podcast)
Posted on | May 22, 2011 | Add Comments
Flick and Flack talk about the film, Thor.
Listen here. (Podcast: 35 minutes)
If you have seen this film or would like to say something about it please leave a comment.
flickflack news
Posted on | March 6, 2011 | 1 Comment
Rango: Although this film is already out in case you have not seen it, here is a trailer: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/paramount/rango/ and see art from the film on Empire’s website.
Hollywood is planning on making lots of superhero movies in the upcoming years. Here is a list of them:
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) (about Batman)
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Green Lantern (2011)
Thor (2011)
X-Men: First Class (2011)
Superman: Man of Steel (2012)
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Some of these films we will not be able to see and some of them we do not want to see but the ones I am looking forward to the most is The Dark Knight Rises and The Man of Steel.
In 2011 and 2012, two Three Musketeer films (remakes not sequels) will be made. We will definitely check these out.
If you are a fan of the Shrek films you might want to look at a teaser of the upcoming Puss in Boots film: http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=30335
Kung Fu Panda: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/dreamworks/kungfupanda2/
The Oscars have come and gone. Here is a list of the winners of 2011: oscars.com
The 2011 Providence Children’s Film Festival (PCFF) awarded Lolly awards this year. Here are the winners:
1st Place:
Film: Eleanor’s Secret
Short: Lost and Found
2nd Place
Film: Crocodiles
Short: Gus Outdooors
3rd Place:
Film: Louder Than a Bomb
Short: Woodpecker
The Big Interview #5: Colin Bliss
Posted on | February 23, 2011 | 3 Comments
Flack interviews Colin Bliss about making tape art movies.
The Big Interview #3: Eric Bilodeau
Posted on | February 23, 2011 | 1 Comment
Flick and Flack interview Eric Bilodeau about movies, the PCFF and more.
The Big Interview #2: Gus
Posted on | February 23, 2011 | Add Comments
Flick and Flack interview Gus from Gus Outdoors.
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