Taking Woodstock

Description from Netflix: A thirtysomething man (Demetri Martin) finds his life forever changed in the summer of 1969 when he offers up his parents' motel in the Catskills as a home base for Woodstock organizers and helps the show go on by donating an all-important music festival permit. Ang Lee directs this fresh take on 1960s counterculture based on Elliot Tiber's memoir by the same name. Eugene Levy, Imelda Staunton, Emile Hirsch and Jeffrey Dean Morgan co-star.

Another disappointment. Ang Lee was a little too accurate in his movie skills and paced it like a movie from the 1960s. This movie dragged a lot and felt twice as long as it actually was.

There were weird character developments and no music from that era. You never see the concert except from way up on the hill. Everyone did a great job acting wise especially Demetri who is great on Jon Stewart's Daily Show.

I can't say I recommend seeing it in the theater. It's a rental at best.

This Week In Netflix

Inkheart (2008) Description from Netflix: Unbeknownst to his 12-year-old daughter, Meggie (Eliza Bennett), bookbinder Mo "Silvertongue" Folchart (Brendan Fraser) has a secret ability to bring characters to life by reading their stories out loud. But when the wicked Capricorn (Andy Serkis) comes after her father, Meggie must rescue him. Paul Bettany, Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren co-star in this enchanting fantasy based on the best-selling children's novel by Cornelia Funke.

I liked this a lot. More adult friendly than Journey to the Center of the Earth, but not as good as Stardust. I recommend checking it out.

People Like Us: The Complete Series (2-Disc Series) (1999) Description from Netflix: In this BBC mockumentary series, filmmaker Roy Mallard (a fictional character played to the letter by Chris Langham) traipses around England to interview a variety of everyday people, from pilots to doctors to vicars. The result is a hilariously deadpan meditation on the "skilled" professionals who make the world go 'round, with appearances from well-known actors such as Bill Nighy, David Tennant and Jessica Hynes.

Bloody BRILLIANT! I could not stop giggling through all the episodes. You seriously need to check it out. The dry sense of humor is just perfectly delivered. Bill Nighly and David Tennant were great as the photographer and the actor, respectively. The best part is the documentarian keeps getting in the way.

State of Play (2009) Description from Netflix: When his mistress is found dead, Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) tries desperately to protect his name and career. As journalists Cal (Russell Crowe) and Della (Rachel McAdams) investigate further, they uncover an intricate web of lies that stretches to the highest levels of power. Based on the critically acclaimed BBC miniseries, this intriguing political thriller co-stars Helen Mirren, Robin Wright Penn and Jason Bateman.

A nice little intertwined thriller. All kinds of twists and turns with such a great cast. I need to add the BBC version to my queue now.

This Week In Netflix

Duplicity (2009) Description from Netflix: Julia Roberts and Clive Owen co-star in this curveball-throwing thriller as a pair of romantically involved corporate operatives who are entangled in a bitter rivalry between two mammoth pharmaceutical companies. Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson convincingly round out the heavyweight cast as warring big pharma CEOs in this intriguing espionage effort from writer-director Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton).

Meh. It was just okay. The ending made the movie at least not a total waste of time. I think for some reason the combo of Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti make for a bad movie for some reason. Not sure why, but this is the second movie they have done together and it's just not good.

Adventureland (2008) Description from Netflix: Unable to afford the European vacation he'd dreamed of, recent college grad James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg) reluctantly takes a gig at a local amusement park, only to learn that the dead-end job is, in fact, excellent preparation for the real world. Writer-director Greg Mottola's semi-autobiographical comedy-drama, filmed in Pittsburgh's Kennywood Park, also stars Ryan Reynolds and Kristen Stewart.

Ugh. I didn't enjoy this. I have this thing. I may have mentioned it before. If I cannot identify or understand a character, I can't get into the movie. A movie is like a party. The party could totally rock, but if I can't find a door to get into it, then I'm not going to enjoy it from the front lawn. It seems like Jesse Eisenberg is always at these parties with the hard to find doors. Seeing him just brings back all the hatred I had for "The Squid and the Whale."

The Foot Fist Way (2006) Description from Netflix: A pompous control freak, small-town tae kwon do instructor Mr. Simmons (Danny McBride) finally loses his cool when he gets wind of his wife's infidelities. Facing meltdown, he sets out on a pilgrimage to see his hero, martial arts master Chuck "The Truck" Wallace (Ben Best), in action. But is the world ready for a meeting between these two black-belt egos? Expertly drawn characters and furious action make this a comedy that really packs a punch.

If you like Danny McBride, you will love this movie. It feels like they made it up as they go. I think if I had taken tae kwon do, I might have gotten a few more jokes. If you don't like Danny McBride, do not go near this movie. You will hate it.

Finished the F's

Face/Off (Some really great bad dialogue and unbelievable action sequences)
Fallen (An often forgotten about film that is a great thriller)
The Family Stone (Usually in my Christmas rotation, but good year round)
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (Need I say more?)
A Few Good Men (This movie still has great dialogue and performances. Alan Sorkiny goodness)
The Fifth Element (Leloo Dallas Multipass)
Fight Club (Still one of my all time favorite films)
Final Destination (This first one is still a fun horror film. I ignore the rest)
Finding Nemo (Pixary goodness. Remember: Fish are friends. Not food.)
Forget Paris (Still one of my favorite romantic comedies of all time)
Four Brothers (In my Thanksgiving rotation usually)
Four Wedding and A Funeral (A bit dated, but still good)
Fraility (A great horror/thriller everyone should see)
Free Enterprise (Cult classic that I identify with)
French Kiss (Kevin Kliney goodness)
The Frighteners (Peter Jacksony goodness)
Funny Face (Audrey Hepburn singing for herself. Personally, I think Marti does a better job being her)

This Week In Netflix

Submitted for Your Approval: Rod Serling (1998) Description from Netflix: This documentary about Rod Serling derives its name from the weekly introduction that the "Twilight Zone" host delivered with his signature clenched diction. These fantasy playlets linger because of their twist endings and science-fiction trappings, which shrewdly disguise the taut morality plays the prolific screenwriter Serling (Seven Days in May, Requiem for a Heavyweight, Planet of the Apes) hid within.

Great information done as a bad documentary. It sounded good on paper, but they used footage from the Twlight Zone episodes as B-roll footage. They also got a bad impersonator to do all the Rod Serling quotes. I recommend reading the book instead.

The Mutant Chronicles (2008) Description from Netflix: In a futuristic world where Earth is divided into four warring "Corporations," a frightening new breed of NecroMutant threatens to destroy the global population. But is Brother Samuel, the leader of an age-old monastic order, the prophesized Deliverer who's destined to destroy the undying beasts and save the planet? Seizing the chance to realize his destiny, Samuel rounds up an army of recruits who can help him do the job.

A little too scifi even for me. Anything that takes more than 10 minutes to explain the backstory is too much. However, great performances by everyone. Tom Jane is really a great actor.


He's Just Not That Into You (2009) Description from Netflix: Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore and Scarlett Johansson lead an all-star ensemble cast of characters dealing with the pitfalls of love and human interaction in this big-screen adaptation of Greg Behrendt's best-selling book. Set in Baltimore, director Ken Kwapis's film moves swiftly between a host of storylines brought to life by a stellar lineup of actors that also includes Jennifer Connelly, Ben Affleck, Ginnifer Goodwin and Justin Long.

Better than I thought it would be. Watchable and even entertaining at times. Ginnifer Goodwin and Justin Long are the only reasons to watch this.

Julie & Julia

Amy Adams stars in this truth-inspired tale as Julie Powell, a disenchanted government secretary who decides to enliven her uneventful life by cooking all 524 recipes outlined in Julia Child's culinary classic Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Based on Powell's book Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen, director Nora Ephron's heartwarming dramedy also stars Meryl Streep as legendary chef Child.

Disappointing. They didn't make the food a character so you don't walk out of the movie hungry. They didn't tie up a few loose ends either. Left me with a bunch of questions. I guess I will have to read the book.

Meryl Streep was perfect and they could have just done the whole movie of just her storyline. She and Stanley Tucci had great chemistry.

They did show the Dan Ackroyd skit in the movie which is what I think of when I hear Julia Child's name.

Inglourious Basterds

Description from Netflix: A Jewish cinema owner (Mélanie Laurent) in occupied Paris is forced to host a Nazi movie premiere, where a radical group of American Jewish soldiers called the Basterds, led by Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), plans to roll out a score-settling scheme. The face-off is about to go down -- that's if Col. Hans Landa aka "The Jew Hunter" (Christoph Waltz) doesn't get in the way. Quentin Tarantino directs this World War II-set spaghetti Western.

The commercials for this movie do not do it justice. First off, 75% of the movie is subtitled because the dialogue is in either French or German. Brad Pitt has maybe 20 minutes of screen time max. There are maybe 4-5 violent scenes and they last under a minute each.

With the exception of the final scene, the whole movie could have been done on stage. I walked out of the movie feeling like I watched a really great play. The dialogue and acting was just perfect.

Also, I should mention that there is no historical accuracy to the movie at all.

It's awesome and I highly recommend.