The Blog Cabins End of Year Spectacular (2007)

If you've been paying attention, you already saw my top five films of 2007, as posted in the LAMB listing a few days ago. But that only begins to scratch the surface of possible lists and/or awards that I can hand out here at the end of the year. So, without further ado, let the SPECTACULAR begin!!

All of the Films I Saw This Year (in the Theater, 75 in all, though I saw some twice):
The Good Shepherd, The Queen, Little Children, Children of Men, Notes on a Scandal, Arthur and the Invisibles, The Painted Veil, Epic Movie, Pan's Labyrinth, Smokin' Aces, Breach, The Number 23, Zodiac, 300, The Namesake, The Lives of Others, The Last Mimzy, The Lookout, Blades of Glory, First Snow, The Hoax, Grindhouse, Fracture, Hot Fuzz, Disturbia, Ten 'til Noon, Spider-Man 3, 28 Weeks Later..., Black Book, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Once, Knocked Up, Ocean's Thirteen, Mr. Brooks, Bug, Surf's Up, Paris, Je t'aime, 1408, Ratatouille, A Mighty Heart, Sicko, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, You Kill Me, Transformers, Joshua, Waitress, Talk to Me, Sunshine, The Bourne Ultimatum, Rescue Dawn, The Simpsons Movie, Superbad, Death at a Funeral, The Ten, 2 Days in Paris, Across the Universe, Eastern Promises, In the Valley of Elah, The Darjeeling Limited, Michael Clayton, Gone Baby Gone, Lars and the Real Girl, Southland Tales, Lions for Lambs, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Beowulf, No Country for Old Men, I'm Not There, American Gangster, The Golden Compass, I Am Legend, Walk Hard, Juno, Sweeney Todd, The Savages.

The Five Best Films I Saw This Year (Academy Award eligible, except for number 1 where I give good reason why):
1. Paris, Je t'aime - Only recently have I learned why this great movie was not nominated for a single Golden Globe (and won't get any Oscar attention, either) - though it debuted in the US in April, it played almost all over the world in 2006, this taking it out of contention. Regardless, it tops my list for the year (since it couldn't have been on my 2006 list, as I don't often travel overseas to see movies), and it's one of the best films for film lovers that I can think of. Composed of 18 shorts set in Paris and directed by 18 different directors, it's like the best sampler platter you could ever ask for. No, every short isn't a winner, but a vast majority are good, with a select few being great. See it soon if you missed in theaters.

2. In the Valley of Elah - Yeah, it's depressing. It's politically motivated. It's also damned good, with Tommy Lee Jones' best performance in years (and that's saying something).

3. Grindhouse - Along with Paris, Je t'aime, the most fun I've had in a theater in a long time. The small screen and the abominable splitting of Planet Terror and Grindhouse into separate DVDs will hurt the legacy and love of Grindhouse for future viewers, but for those who sat there for the 3+ plus hours and loved it, an experience like it won't come again soon. At least we have Machete to look forward to (keep fingers crossed).

4. Knocked Up - Where to start? You all know the story - Apatow knocks it out of the park again, with many of the same players (Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann) that were on board for 2005's The 40 Year Old Virgin. It was so similar in tone and theme that it might as well have been a sequel, but not too many minded - it was obscene, hilarious and was the true star-making turn for Rogen. A winner all around.

5. Southland Tales - Ambitious, audacious, outlandish - throw on any "-ish" or _'-ious" adjective you want, it probably fits Richard Kelly's second film. Just don't try fitting it with a genre, because if you tried, it would probably end up something like "apocalyptic musical dramedy." It's bizarre, horribly acted at times, confusing as can be, and quite possibly...brilliant. A must see for the spectacle of it all, even if you end up hating it.

The Five Films That Barely Missed "The Five Best Films I Saw This Year" List (in no particular order):
* The Savages - heartbreaking, funny, melancholic, brilliant, sad, poignant, true - pick one. From the Squid and the Whale school of familial discontent and growth.

* Once - a simple love story enhanced by some great music, set in Ireland and starring a couple real life musicians (who turned into a real life couple). Independent filmmaking at its best.

* 2 Days in Paris - Julie Delpy took the notion of the romantic comedy and set it on its head with her take on a dysfunctional couple and all the joy and sadness they bring each other. She and co-star Adam Goldberg are smart, funny and rude. One of the funniest movies of the year to boot, and it largely went unseen.

* No Country for Old Men - It got and deserved a ton of acclaim, but that last 20 minutes or so still sticks in my craw. Let the "best Coen Brothers film" debate roll on (note: my pick is Lebowski, followed by Fargo).

* 300 - seems like it was long ago when this came out. Like it or hate it, it's a beautiful film filled with ultraviolent images - if The Matrix showed us how far science had come into blockbuster filmmaking, 300 took that science and made it into art.

The Best of the Rest that Didn't Make Either of the Above Lists:
Breach, Superbad, Eastern Promises, Hot Fuzz, Ocean's Thirteen, Sicko, You Kill Me, Michael Clayton, Sunshine, The Namesake.

The Top Five Films I Didn't Get Around to Seeing This Year (I'm Guessing):
1. There Will Be Blood

2. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

3. Into the Wild

4. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

5. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

The Five Worst Films I Saw This Year
1. Epic Movie - I have no excuse.

2. Spider-Man 3 - Sam Raimi has no excuse.

3. Mr. Brooks - Kevin Costner has some excuse, but Dane Cook
doesn't.

4. Lars and the Real Girl - "Bianca" (the sex doll) has an excuse; Ryan Gosling doesn't.

5. 1408 - John Cusack is more appealing here than he has been for awhile, but it just kind of implodes on screen in the second half. Stephen King wants an excuse.

My Five Favorite Performances of the Year ("favorite" does not necessarily equal "best"):
1. (tie) Michael Cera in Superbad and Juno - Recently, Mrs. Fletch and I watched all three seasons of Arrested Development on DVD (note: best sitcom ever - even better than my beloved Seinfeld), and I really don't care that Cera hasn't showed much range in his roles over the last few years - I could watch him play the awkward teenager well into his 40s. He is a master of uncomfortability (if that's a word) and comic timing, particularly when it comes to his facial features.

2. Ben Kingsley in You Kill Me - Sir Ben continues to surprise me. Granted, I haven't seen that much of his work, but just comparing some of his recent films (this and Sexy Beast, for example) show you (in contrast to Cera) a man with tree-mendous range; I've never given him much credit for comedy, but his turn here is sympathetic and hilarious. (Bonus points to co-star Tea Leoni for being more likable than I've ever seen her before.)

3. Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men - it's hard not to love Anton - much like Teddy, he speaks softly but carries a big stick (filled with air). He has no sense of right and wrong, only the urge to follow his own personal code, which weighs on him like a ton of bricks. It can not be denied. Probably the best villain since Darth Vader and one of the best-ever characters, period.

4. Tommy Lee Jones in In the Valley of Elah - the people who say actors show how great they are when silent should be screaming Tommy's name out. His retired-Marine father of an MIA officer son has a strong sense of purpose, an unrelenting determination, and a need to know the truth. Though the Best Actor trophy has all but been given to Daniel Day-Lewis (and probably rightfully so), I'll be rooting for Jones.

5. Adam Goldberg in 2 Days in Paris - the Woody Allen for those people taller than 5'5", Goldberg (aka The Hebrew Hammer) gets free rein to own the screen in Julie Delpy's comic gem, showing the world that you don't have to be wimpy to be an anxiety-filled intellectual with an acid tongue.

The Five Films I'm Most Looking Forward to for Next Year
1. Cloverfield - it seems as though this is destined to be a letdown given all the hype, but I'm ready to find out.

2. Be Kind Rewind - two words: Michel Gondry. The director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Science of Sleep and Dave Chappelle's Block Party is one of the few directors that's earned a "For Sure" stamp from me, indicating that I'll be in line for whatever movies they come up with next.

3. The Dark Knight - again, high expectations abound here, but with Nolan, Bale, Freeman already in and now Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart and Maggie Gyllenhaal joining the team, it's hard to imagine this being a failure.

4. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - quite the contrary here. Had this come out 10 years ago, we'd be hoping for the moon; now, I think the collective hope is that it just isn't awful ("Hi, Matrix Reloaded/Revolutions!").

5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - in case you don't remember, this was on 2007's list of movies I was looking forward to. What are the odds it will be on the 2009 list as well? C'mon, Fincher....

Finally, here are the "9 1/2 Best Films Mrs Fletch Saw This Year... (no rules)
1. The Lives of Others
2. In the Valley of Elah
3. The Namesake
4. Children of Men
5. Paris, Je t'aime
6. Once
7. Southland Tales
8. Superbad
9. 300 and Across the Universe

Doesn't she have great taste?

And then...

TGITDNMAR (12/28/07)

It's that time again for TGITDNMAR, which (obviously) stands for Thank God It's The Day New Movies Are Released.

Looks like a Tuesday Christmas really threw off the studios this year. Some of these movies came out on Tuesday, some on Wednesday and some on Friday. Either way, a full slate of flicks hitting theaters since last week, with a nice mix of genres to boot. Something for everyone's stocking (together now: "Awww").

The Bucket List
Say what you will about how the movie looks (I'd say it looks like it's probably pretty bad, but might have some fun moments here and there), but that poster to the right is just awful. Totally unimaginative, slapshod and lazy: it appears as though the general thought was "Hey, we've got two big-name stars, let's do a 10-minute photo shoot of them pretending to have fun, Photoshop in a sunset background and call it a day. Nice work, everyone!" Boooo.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 14%

The Water Horse
Earlier, I was looking all over IMDb for the movie this reminds me of - no, it's not Mee Shee or some TV movie starring Ted Danson. There was a movie that I saw as a kid about a boy who discovers a Loch Ness-like creature in a lagoon somewhere (it might have taken place in Australia). Anyway, that was bugging me, and that's really all I have to say about The Water Horse. Oh, except for that the kid from Millions is the star, so if that means anything to you, I'm happy for you.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 8%

The Great Debaters
I really like Denzel Washington. And I really like Forest Whitaker. But I'm having a hard time with this movie being discussed in Oscar circles; hasn't it been made about 1,479 times already? I'm sure it's good and funny and sad and uplifting, but isn't the barrel being scraped a bit too much here (Really? Debate teams?)? I can only be inspired so many times by the same story.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 23%

Persepolis
Now, I'm no expert on France's cinematic history, but this has to be the best year EVER for French films, no? Just off the top of my head, we've had this, Paris, Je t'aime, La Vie En Rose, 2 Days in Paris, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, etc, etc. And those are just the ones that have been critically loved (more or less). Even Mr. Bean went to France on his holiday! Need I say more?
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 77%

Alien vs. Predator: Requiem
If you're counting at home, this is the 8th film to feature either Aliens or Predators - haven't we had enough? If not, I'm ready to see AVPET, in which E.T. joins in on the fun. I'm sure he'd kill them all with kindness and cuddliness. Worst case scenario: he throws Reese's Pieces at them and gets killed, only to be brought back to life by the love of an adorable little moppet. Like you wouldn't go see that...
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 1%

There Will Be Blood
Yes, I saved the best for last. This is only being released in New York and LA this week (to be eligible for the Oscars, no doubt), but I'll be in line when it reaches Phoenix. It's funny: had you told me a year ago that I'd be psyched to see a movie about some early 20th century oil man, I'd have thought you crazy, but that's what the combination of Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Thomas Anderson can do to people. I still think it's a bizarre matching of director to material, and were it not for the rave reviews so far, I might still think it would either be a piece of staggering genius or a heartbreaking failure, but those reviews seem to have already answered that question.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 99%

And then...

Fletch's Film Review: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Overanalysis of a film like Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is not only unnecessary but repetitive, as the makers of the film seem to have done enough analysis as it is, mining Ray and Walk the Line practically line by line for material. The funnier thing is that Walk Hard manages to almost be a better movie than either of its sources.

No, that's not blasphemy. As great as the performances by Jaime Foxx and Joaquin Phoenix were, the films themselves were solid, honest (at least they felt that way) and, oh yeah, completely by-the-numbers, unimaginative and very VH1-like. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed both of them, but I'll take Walk Hard over either of them any day of the week. That might sound somewhat obvious, as comedies traditionally have a much higher rewatchability factor than dramas (especially depressing ones), but it's a bigger compliment than that.

Many are calling Walk Hard a "parody flick" - something that belongs in the category of the Scary/Date/Epic Movies of the world. But as it turns out - that's a tremendous insult, however much you might like any of those movies. I don't know if it can at all or in some part be attributed to budgetary reasons, but Walk Hard feels like a much more professional work than any slapped-together compilation of dumb jokes poking fun at Lord of the Rings or The Blair Witch Project - Hard stays true to its subject matter, not straying (much) for long stretches from its source material. Also, overlooked (in those other flicks) parts of the production such as costumes and makeup shine here - when John C. Reilly's Dewey is a senior citizen, you'd scarcely know that Reilly himself wasn't a septuagenarian. The makeup is just that damn good. An odd thing to laud for a silly comedy, but I was amazed at how much it stood out to me as well.

It didn't hurt that the film was pretty damn funny, too. Though it relies heavily on the magical comedic rule of three (or more), even the most repetitious of jokes still play as well in minute 90 as they did in minute 30 - an impressive feat. Other large factors contributing to the movie's success include:

* a strong, deep cast, including not one but two formers members of the Upright Citizens Brigade, though one (Ian Roberts) has a bit role and won't be recognized by anyone else in the world besides me and his family.
* a number of strong cameos (Frankie Muniz, Eddie Vedder, all of "The Beatles").
* some damn funny songs that go beyond a single line or two (the standout is the double-entendre filled "Let's Duet," with co-star Jenna Fischer).
* its R rating. This movie would not have been a third as funny had it been PG-13.

Though Reilly's singing certainly warrants his place in the movie, the only thing that kept bugging me was the nagging feeling that he was the second choice of writers/producers Jake Kasdan and Judd Apatow, as several scenes scream the name "WILL FERRELL." This may be entirely unfair (as it may not be true), but it almost seems a role written for him. Poor John C. Reilly - even as the headlining star of a big budget comedy, he's still Mr. Cellophane.

Fletch's Film Rating:

"Darn tootin!"

And then...

A PSA (in a way)

I was recently contacted by Reid Carolin, a producer of the upcoming film Stop-Loss. He has asked that I let my readers know not only about the film, but about a side project that they're working on called Sound Off. Though I might normally see this post as simply free advertising for them, I respect the director (Kimberly Peirce of Boys Don't Cry fame) and feel that their project is worthwhile. In Reid's words, their mission is this:

"The site lets you interact directly with director Kimberly Peirce (she answers questions), and with the soldiers and military wives who have made videos of their lives. We're hoping to get the public more connected with the troops, and in the future we will be raising a bunch of money for soldiers, and also allowing users to blog directly with stars Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum, Joe Gordon Levitt, and Abbie Cornish."

As I told Reid, I already plan on seeing the movie when it comes out (spring '08), as I think it looks good, tells an important story and stars a getting-better Ryan Phillippe and already-great Joseph Gordon-Levitt. If any of the above sounds interesting to you, here are the links:

The main film site
The Sound Off project

And then...

Fletch's Film Review: I Am Legend

There's a book-to-film adaptation out in theaters right now that has some people up in arms. It takes place in a world like ours, but not quite. It has an ending that's is alternately seen as confusing and frustrating. It features an animal in one of the main roles.

But I reviewed The Golden Compass a few days ago. (Like you didn't see that one coming.)

The truth is, there doesn't seem to be nearly as many people upset about the adaptation of I Am Legend as there are about Compass. This could be because either not many people have read the book or because those that have barely remember it (it was first published in 1954). However, I think this is more due to the fact that the movie has almost nothing in common with the book. As I read and have seen, this movie shares its lineage more with Cast Away and 28 Days Later... than it does with the story of a man who hunted vampire-like beings in mid-70s Los Angeles.

Not that that should matter much, except maybe to the book's author, Richard Matheson. The film stands up pretty well on its own two feet, thanks largely in part to the charisma of Will Smith. Though he has more to work with than Tom Hanks ever did (who was stuck with only a volleyball to bounce lines off of), Smith is one of the few stars I can think of in today's Hollywood that can not only hold the screen alone (mostly) for 90 minutes, but keep you more than entertained and wanting even more. You heard right - this is the rare blockbuster that left me wishing it was 30 minutes longer; with a 101 minute run time, there were a number of places the filmmakers could have gone with the story or holes that could have been filled.

It's not all wine and roses, though. I Am Legend has a number of problems, the most prominent of which is the undercooked yet overdone "infected" humans. With CGI quality echoing that of a PlayStation 2 game, you are immediately taken out of the movie every time they appear on screen. More vexing, though, is their behavior - I'm not giving away anything when I tell you that Robert Neville (Smith) is "alone" on Earth because most of the humans on earth have been killed. The remaining few that survived are either turned into the aforementioned vampiric infected or the immune (like Neville). That said - the infected are still human at their core. They have a virus that affects their behavior, skin tone, sensitivity to light, etc, but they remain homo sapiens. Why then (why?!?!) are they running, jumping and slamming into things as though they are not only impervious to pain, but have the strength of a rhinoceros, the speed of a gazelle, and the agility of a spider monkey?

If you manage to get past that, though, you'll likely enjoy the film.

Fletch's Film Rating:

"You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you."

And then...

Fletch's Film Review: The Golden Compass

Stealing a page from the brilliantly simplistic Review in Haiku, I present to you my Golden Compass review in 17 syllables. RIH is so detailed with it's commitment to simplicity that I am awed. There are but five grades (Awesome, Good, Okay, Bad and Awful) given. The post tags don't exceed two - the year (or decade for pre-2000 films) and the grade. The "reviews" are the obvious 17 syllables, a picture and a grade. That's it, every time. Gimmicky? Sure. But it's awesome, and I only wish I had thought of it first. Anyway, here's The Golden Compass:

"Where is double O?
No religion ruckus here
Polar bear fight rocks."

Fletch's Film Rating:

"You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you."

And then...

Lots of LAMBs

(Editor's note: I posted this on the LAMB earlier today, but thought I ought to post it here. As you'll see, the LAMBs have made their choices for the top movies of the year - the official (cheesy) title of the awards is "The LIONs." Also, it gives me a chance to post something here without any extra work, and that's always a bonus.)

A few days ago, I asked my fellow LAMBs to give me their top five films (released) for 2007. Well, the results are in, and they might shock you. There were 16 total entries (including my own), and though I like all of the top five entries that I've seen, I'm a bit surprised at how commercial they are (though it should be noted that a few LAMBs specialize in DVD reviews, thereby taking a number of films out of consideration). Another possible big factor? A total of 51 different films were listed - with 16 entries, the total possible field is 80, which means there weren't a lot of shared films. Therefore, a number of films that might have made one or two people's top spot didn't even sniff the top 5. Without further ado:

1. Hot Fuzz
The Simon Pegg/Nick Frost vehicle was the shocking winner, earning two 1st place votes, one 2nd, one 3rd, and one 4th. Total points earned: 19 (5 points awarded for 1st, 1 point for 5th)

2t. Knocked Up
Judd Apatow strikes again! Off the heels of The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up tied with the next entry for the runner-up spot, but get top billing by way of earning one first place vote, also taking one 2nd, two 4ths and a 5th place vote. Total points: 14

2t. Grindhouse
This wasn't anyone's best film of the year, but still to nab the runner-up spot, earning one 2nd, two 3rds and two 4ths. Total points: 14


4t. 3:10 to Yuma
One 1st, one 2nd and one 3rd were enough to vault the Western remake into the fourth spot. Meanwhile, American Gangster picked up one 2nd place vote and nothing else. Christian Bale > Denzel Washington? Hmm... Total points: 12


4t. Superbad
Judd Apatow might as well just stop making movies - it'll be hard to top his 2007. Don't forget - he's also involved with Walk Hard, which is hitting theaters soon. Hit or miss? Wait and see. Same scoring here. Total points: 12

Just to make this post really, really long, I now give you every LAMBs Top 5, in order of the time I received them. Please pardon the lack of italics used here - it would take a day:

http://sirjorgemacabredvd.blogspot.com/
1. Superbad
2. We Own The Night
3. The Simpsons Movie
4. The Condemned
5. Saw IV

Note from Sir Jorge: "I saw only 5...so here are my top 5."

http://sheaofthedead.blogspot.com/
1. Eastern Promises
2. The Mist
3. The Host
4. Sunshine
5. No Country For Old Men

http://insightintoentertainment.blogspot.com/
1. Hot Fuzz
2. Knocked Up
3. 3:10 to Yuma
4. Live Free or Die Hard
5. Waitress

http://afrazier.blogspot.com/
1. Into the Wild
2. Black Snake Moan
3. Eastern Promises
4. Grindhouse
5. King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

http://boomstickreviews.blogspot.com/
1. 3:10 to Yuma
2. Hot Fuzz
3. Black Snake Moan
4. 28 Weeks Later...
5. I Am Legend

http://www.invasionofthebmovies.com/
1. Knocked Up
2. Grindhouse
3. Superbad
4. Hot Fuzz
5. The Darjeeling Limited.

http://joesmoviecorner.blogspot.com/
1. Ratatouille
2. The Lives of Others
3. Paprika
4. Across the Universe
5. No Country for Old Men

http://www.inthespoon.com/
1. In the Shadow of the Moon
2. 3:10 to Yuma
3. Grindhouse (primarily Planet Terror)
4. Knocked Up
5. 300

http://www.watchitmovies.blogspot.com/
1) The Darjeeling Limited
2) American Gangster
3) Fugitive Pieces
4) Into the Wild
5) The Bourne Ultimatum

http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/
Marilyn Ferdinand's picks
1. Once
2. Black Book (Zwartboek)
3. Four Months, Three Weeks, Two Days (4 luni, 3 saptamani si 2 zile)
4. The Host (Gwoemul)
5. Comedy of Power (L'ivresse du pouvoir)

Rod Heath's picks
1. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
2. Zodiac
3. Michael Clayton
4. Amazing Grace
5. The Simpsons Movie

http://dcmoviegirl.blogspot.com/
1. Hot Fuzz
2. No Country for Old Men
3. Talk To Me
4. Once
5. Knocked Up

http://www.mikemachacon.blogspot.com/
1. 300
2. Stardust
3. Enchanted
4. Transformers
5. Seraphim Falls

http://mattehavoc.blogspot.com/
1. Michael Clayton
2. Across The Universe
3. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
4. Reign Over Me
5. Girl 27

http://reelwhore.blogspot.com/
1. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
2. Superbad
3. Hot Fuzz
4. Grindhouse
5. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon

http://blogcabins.blogspot.com/
1. Paris, Je t'aime
2. In the Valley of Elah
3. Grindhouse
4. Knocked Up
5. Southland Tales

I think that just about does it. Email me or comment here if I've made any egregious errors or anything like that. Also, feel free to copy this post to paste on your own site. This was fun, and I look forward to doing it with many more LAMBs next year.

And then...

Rock the vote!

With 179 votes cast, the people have spoken!

The question: You can commit one of these acts and get away with it with no repercussions. Which do you choose?

The runaway winner, with 93 votes (51%): Make George Bush a contestant on that "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" show

Runner-up: Knock Britney Spears out, then perform a tubal ligation (44 votes)

3rd place: Find the real killer, then pay him to have some fun with OJ (12 votes)

Thanks to all who voted. Your new poll is off to the right, with the question this time being "What was the best performance of the year?" There are some tough choices there, so take your time answering.

And then...

Fletch's Film Review: American Gangster

(Ed. note: Procrastination tends to build on itself, and that is surely the case here, as I've been sitting on this review for some time now. Fact of the matter is, I don't have a lot of thoughts regarding American Gangster, so take from that what you will.)

American Gangster is a good movie. No more, no less, really. Though it has little to do with the film itself, I was bothered by the fact that Russell Crowe and Denzel Wasginhton spend less time onscreen together than DeNiro and Pacino did in Heat - a faux pas that can be blamed on either the media or the marketers. The lack of shared screen time doesn't hurt the film terribly, but it certainly hurts its appeal, as what we instead get is a game of cat-and-mouse, with the bulk of the storytelling focusing on the mouse (Washington), Frank Lucas.

Lucas is an interesting choice for a movie character. Though the title and some of the press would have you believe this to be a Scarface-like characterization for the ages, it's really the lack of bravado and violence that sets him apart from your typical mafia-like overlord. Lucas was a professional in almost every sense of the word - smart, calculating and fully aware that showy behavior would put him on the front burner for the cops trying to find out just who was bringing in the large amounts of uncut cocaine to New York - he was the anti-bling before bling was a word. (On a sidenote, Lucas was brilliant with this move, going to Asia to get his supply direct from the source, getting the best product he could provide to his customers while at the same time cutting out the middle man, and therefore his costs.)

Contrasting Lucas is Richie Roberts, the detective played by Crowe. While Lucas is the criminal who looks and acts like a businessman, Roberts is the cop who (by virtue of his being uncorrupted) lives his life more like that of an ex-con - hanging with his old-school mafia friends, parading through women and generally being a deadbeat dad and husband (Carla Gugino has a small role as Roberts' wife). However, when on the job, despite the negative attention it may earn him from his peers, Richie is straight as an arrow and dedicated to his job.

The story doesn't take too many left turns, showcasing the rise and fall (and redemption) of Lucas. The film clocks in at 157 minutes, and surely could have used some trimming, featuring a number of characters/subplots that go nowhere (Richie's partner, Frank's old friend). Also, Josh Brolin leads a group of corrupt cops that more or less harass Lucas, but really don't add much to the tale. Then, with over two hours of buildup, the film ends before you know it, hurriedly rushing through the final 15 minutes to the end credits.

In the end, I felt the things that set American Gangster apart from most mob/gangster movies turned out to be its strengths and its weaknesses simultaneously. You won't find too many cliches or the usual plot devices here (though there is a very Casino-like sequence in which Frank sees the woman of his dreams, the camera locked in on his locked-in gaze, the audience knowing before he speaks to her that he will have her), and there isn't a lot of, well, drama. Washington and Crowe each have their standout moments in overall solid, routine performances, but outside of a scene or two each, there's nothing particularly memorable. The result is a somewhat subdued film that doesn't insult you but also never really grabs you.

Fletch's Film Rating:

"You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you."

And then...

Survivor: China - Episode 14 Recap (The Finale)

If I were into emoticons or smileys or whatever you choose to call them, I might bust out some sort of crying one or say ":weep: - is it that time already?"

Yes, Survivor: China has come to a close, with a finale that seemed to be unpredictable at times, but really ended up right where many thought (and hoped) it would - with the "scheming strategist (fill in alliterative synonym for "scheming" or "strategist" here)" Todd pulling out the victory over Amanda and Courtney.

What's this? Giving away the ending prior to recapping the events? Yes, with such an unpredictably predictable finale, my desire for a cohesive review has gone out the window; instead, I give you a series of unrelated thoughts I had/have about the final episode of this season (and even some about next season). Where to start?

* After the jury had said their peace and prior to the votes being read, I had convinced myself that Courtney was going to win. Amanda blew any chance she had of winning at the two tribal councils - between the Denise/Todd "burn" at the first and her horrible answers/body language/you name it at the final council, she took lemonade and turned it into lemons. Meanwhile, Todd (a scheming strategist, by the way) might have gotten more propers from me for being a scheming strategist had he not pounded anyone in earshot (tribemates and audience alike) with that fact. Son, if you're that good, you don't need to be telling us about it at every chance. Courtney, on the other hand, played it cool, more or less agreeing with the criticism and turning it into a positive: "You don't think I belong(ed) here? Neither did (do) I - but I am - what does that say about you, me and the game?" Well played, Queen Bitch.

* Speaking of bitchiness, the line about Denise "sucking at life" was simultaneously one of the funniest and meanest in the show's history. It was also true. For Denise to play the "woe is me" card to Amanda was purely pathetic. Don't like your place in life? Do something about it - which I guess you did, by going on Survivor and subsequently losing your job.

* Before you think of me as cold and heartless as Courtney, I'll say that I truly feel bad that Denise lost her job. The excuse about her "being a distraction" smacks of utter bullsh*t (really, how long would the "fame" last? A week? Two?); that said, I'm all for Mark Burnett donating to her cause, but it was wrong to do it on national television, especially considering the other losing contestants. How fair is that to them (or other potential charity cases from seasons past)? I'd be pissed if I were in there shoes.

* One potential charity case from a past season is Lydia the fishmonger form Survivor: Guatemala. Earlier tonight, I was reading the rumors for next season, which was said to be an All-Star variety and she was amongst the names listed. So much for the rumor site I read, as it listed a cast of 20 former players to be featured next season. Looks like that ain't happening, as I can't see there being more than 20 total players, and half of them will be "Fans" (which seems a bit redundant - I know not every contestant is a fan of the show, but aren't most?). Anyhow, from the list of rumored names, the ones I'd hope to see next season are: James (China), Yau-Man (Fiji), Ozzy (Cook Islands) and Shane (Panama).

Ok, I'm joking about Shane - I'd only want him if Courtney from this season was also included (both were rumored), as seeing those two personalities on the same season would warrant watching the show on its own.

* The final Immunity Challenge was horrendous. Just plain awful, and made even worse by the fact that the location of the show and the things they were balancing share the same name. But really, who gives a rat's posterior if the survivors can hold a stick stacked with plates and bowls steady for 45 minutes?? I'd rather watch them try to start a fire. Then again, at least there weren't any cheesy special effects this time around.

* Speaking of things the show needs to cut, the "let's go on a tour of the losers and pretend we care that they're gone" segment of the finale needs to go badly. Not much more to add here - it's been the most boring part of the finale since the second season.

* It's really interesting and kind of funny to see which jurors go peaceful with their question/comment and which get nutty. I always expect the ones most recently stung (in this case Denise and PG) to be appropriately bitter, however the nuttiest of them all had to be Jaime, the longest-standing jury member. It seemed as though she was trying to prove a point, but just never really had one to begin with. What exactly were you mad about, Jaime? Your tribe didn't have the numbers, and thus you got ousted (due mostly to your mesmerizing spell over the virgin). What's the problem?

* Finally, on a happier note, I'm thrilled that James not only got featured in People magazine, but that he won an extra $100,000. Hopefully, that will make the pain of his knowing that he made one of the all-time blunders in the show's history go down a little better. Hope to see you next season, John Coffey.

Survivor: China homepage at CBS.com

And then...

TGITDNMAR (12/14/07)

It's that time again for TGITDNMAR, which (obviously) stands for Thank God It's The Day New Movies Are Released.

It's mid-December...where is all the Oscar buzz? Where is the mad rush of SERIOUS DRAMAS that comes every year at this time? I mean, I know There Will Be Blood is still coming, and The Kite Runner is amongst this week's releases. The Hanks-Roberts-Hoffman flick Charlie Wilson's War comes to us next week, but that's really about it. I suppose this is why they're re-releasing The Hunting Party to theaters this week - in a year so devoid of serious Oscar contenders, even a little-seen Richard Gere-Terence Howard movie that no one really cared about has a chance.


To say nothing of my favorites, at this point, I'm forecasting the Best Picture nominees to be: No Country for Old Men, Michael Clayton, Ratatouille, and American Gangster, with either Atonement, There Will Be Blood or Into the Wild possibly being the wild card fifth entry. Who are your predictions (again, not favorites)?


I Am Legend
The title just screams "mock me," doesn't it? Will Smith stars as Tom Hanks, with a German Shepherd filling the role of Wilson the volleyball in this remake of Cast Aw-- wait a sec, that ain't right. It only appears to be that way for the first half of the movie; the second half will be filled with humanoid, virus-infected zombie people (or something). Truth is, there probably aren't a ton of cross-appeal stars that you could/would watch act by themselves for an hour, but Will Smith is one of them. Throw in the muscle and the comedy chops, and you've got yourself Tom Hanks crossed with Bruce Willis. No wonder he's a star.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 92%


The Kite Runner
Marc Forster is getting to be quite the big name director. Here, the helmer of Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland and Stranger Than Fiction takes on a best-selling, beloved novel about a pair of star-crossed best friends. Looks weepy, political and topical all at once. I see this being one of those movies that is loved by all who see it, but nobody really cares enough about it to go see it in the first place. Count me in there, too.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 37%


Alvin and the Chipmunks
Yes, I watched (and loved) this as a kid. Saturday mornings just weren't the same without Alvin and the Smurfs. That said, they let the guy that directed Garfield 2 take on this one! (Disclaimer: I have not seen either Garfield movie, nor do I plan on doing so any time soon. Shoot me for blasting it.) Jason Lee takes on the role of Dale (Breckin Meyer wasn't available?!?!), with actually a few good names in comedy filling out some of the other parts: David Cross, Justin Long, and Jane Lynch. There's potential here, I suppose...but I'll still wait until it hits HBO to find out for myself.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 11%


Juno
Speaking of comedy pedigrees, two of Cross' Arrested Development co-stars are featured in the wildly anticipated Juno, in the form of Jason Bateman and Michael Cera. Hard Candy standout Ellen Page stars as the titular Juno in Jason Reitman's follow-up to the excellent Thank You for Smoking. If that weren't enough, spectacular character actor J.K. Simmons, also in Smoking, joins the gang as Juno's dad. The only downside? Jennifer Garner's on board. Boo.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 95%


The Perfect Holiday
Raise your hand if you've seen so much as a commercial or poster for this, not to mention a trailer. I'm guessing not too many hands are raised. Either this isn't being advertised at all, or it's only being so on BET. Weird, considering some of the names involved (Gabrielle Union, Morris Chestnut, Charlie Murphy, Kat Williams and Queen Latifiah). Tells me it's a stinker...
Fletch's Chance of Viewing: 1%

And then...

Survivor: China - Episode 13 Recap

Call episode 13 the "One with the Lost Opportunities."

Right off the bat it was challenge time, with the players taking part in a popularity/arrow-shooting contest. The way it worked was a clever spin on the usual "break so and so's pot to get them out of the game, with each contestant getting 5 or so arrows. But instead of taking them and shooting them, they had to distribute them into jars with the other players' names on them, not being able to give themselves any. As such, the unlikable and outnumbered PG ended up with but one arrow (from Courtney of all people), while Courtney got 12 (Lunchlady Lady received two, Amanda four and Todd six, by the way).

From there, the object was to shoot their arrows at a large checkerboard of sorts, with each players' name scattered about in a number of places. Get the most hits (yours or someone else's) and you win.

Courtney missed out on the first opportunity, hitting mostly Denise's targets with her 12 arrows, but getting Todd a few as well. Can't blame that on a lack of strength, either, as they were shooting their arrows from some sort of Chinese crossbow. In the end, Denise beat Todd 8-7 to win the reward - a trip to the Great Wall.

Denise wasted no time in losing out on another opportunity - this time to repay PG for tagging her along on a prior reward, and quite possibly to earn herself a jury vote from PG in the process. First, Denise was given the choice of one person to take, and she chose Courtney. Fair enough. Jeff then told her a third person could join the reward, with Amanda, Todd and PG all pleading their cases. Todd was the lucky one chosen.

The reward should have been up there with the Shaolin temple reward as one of the best Survivor had done, but again another lost opportunity as the producers spent just about as much time with the winners on their jet ride to their destination as they did while at the destination. What followed was the group walking towards the Wall, oohing and aahing a bit, then immediately getting served their food. The rest of the time spent centered on their food ("Eww! We have to cook in ourselves! Waaah!") and a small bit of scheming (Todd throwing out the prospect of voting off Amanda to the other ladies).

Back at camp, PG then Amanda bitched and moaned about not being taken, then moaned some more about how miserable they were, being "alone" with the other, as they mostly avoided each other for the first few hours. Eventually, Amanda kicked off a conversation and somewhat surprisingly, the two sort of hit it off, bonding while eating and talking trash about Todd. With PG most certainly on board, Amanda threw out the option to knock off Todd. When the cat's away, I suppose.

For the final Immunity Challenge prior to the final four show, the obligatory "rehash of all the other challenges" took place. I typically like these, but was just plain giddy with the fact that the final portion of it consisted of the one from way back where the contestants had to use a sword to break some ropes - in other words, the one where Sad Stick Figure Courtney could barely swing her sword...with both hands. For once, I longed for her to make the finals.

Alas, another lost opportunity, as she was knocked out in the second third round of the challenge, unable to best Amanda or PG at bouncing a ball on a drum while walking. Though she did have to eat the nasty raw baby duck appetizer for the chance to lose, and that was nice. In the end, Amanda barely bested PG, killing PG's last opportunity to stay in the game, as she was eventually taken out at Tribal Council. Once again, however, we were all losers, as the producers used their horrendous "pling light" for both the Reward and Immunity Challenges. I beg you, Survivor producers, please make it stop.

As for the final show, expect shock and disgust if either Denise or Courtney wins. Though I'll be rooting for Amanda, I won't have a problem with Todd winning, though I still maintain that he's only been the "grand schemer" on the outside, with Amanda being his confidante and the one really making the decisions, evidenced a few times during the season. Expect me to unleash hell should Courtney win. See you Sunday.

Survivor: China homepage at CBS.com

And then...

Fletch's Film Review: I'm Not There

You might not know this, but I was named after Bob Dylan (see my Blogger profile). As such, it should come as little surprise that I'm a fan of the man's work, though I wouldn't classify myself as a fanatic. That said, imagine my surprise when my parents (whom Mrs. Fletch and I attended the film with on Thanksgiving) understood less of this highly artsy, ambitious, ambiguous film than I did.

In case you haven't heard, this is probably one of the strangest "bio-pics" ever made, in that it's entirely about its subject while simultaneously not even mentioning his name or featuring a character by the name of Bob Dylan. Instead, 6 actors portray a "role" that Dylan "played" at one point or another in his life (just like I'm currently playing "quotes" guy).

All well and good, and possibly even comprehensible, if that were taken on its own. Unfortunately, that's not the case, as director Todd Haynes complicates matters by jumbling the six (or more?) narratives around each other, leaving just about any viewer in the theater highly confused as to what the hell is going on for at least the first 15 minutes of the film (there I go again being dumb, I suppose).

After some adjustments made to your perception, and with the concept sinking in, the film indeed picks up the pace, bouncing around from the story of a young troubadour (early Dylan, played by Christian Bale) to plugged-in Dylan (Cate Blachett) to high-concept Western Dylan (Richard Gere) and so on.

You've no doubt heard that Blanchett steals the show (she'll earn an Academy Award nom guaranteed, and is likely to win). Indeed she does, though I was also impressed with Heath Ledger, playing the family man Dylan of the 70s. Hiding behind sunglasses much of the time, his Dylan is a man seemingly at odds with himself, raging an internal battle between the love for his wife and kids and his need to play when the cat's away.

Each individual story taken on its own, however, really isn't meaty, showing glimpses of the man's history rather than telling their own story (the Gere one probably comes closest, about a town destined for destruction and a wanted man trying to be noble). But that's really not the point - after all, all Dylan ever did was give his fans and the world glimpses of who he was and what he stood for, so why should a bio of the man be any different. Nevertheless, despite its ambition, one can't help but see a film that alienates a large percentage of its audience as a noble failure. For serious Dylanheads only.

Fletch's Film Rating:

"You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you."

And then...

Belated Birthday Wishes

Blog Cabins turned one year old on Sunday, a day after Mrs. Fletch's birthday. As you might have imagined, it was a busy weekend in Fletchland. As such, I neglected to post anything commemorating the anniversary of my entering the blogosphere.

However, I've done enough celebrating of Blog Cabins lately (all I'll say is "MUCHAS GRACIAS" to any regular readers I've had over the last 12 months - I really do appreciate you). In light of this, I'm handing out presents (awards) to some of my favorite bloggers (movie or otherwise). Some awards are probably wanted; others, not so much - but if you're here, it's because I read you often and love what you do, so keep on doing whatever it is you do.

Best Blogger whose move to New York has temporarily killed his blog: Matt from The Spoon.
In case you don't know it, Matt is one busy guy. As it was, he posted frequently on The Spoon. Then he decided to start up a sports blog (The Athlete's Footnotes). On top of that, he moved to New York and started a third blog (My New York Times), all the while trying to earn gainful employment and go to school. What a masochist. I know his stomach agrees with me. As a result, The Spoon has seen a drastic drop in posts. However, I can hardly blame the guy, and I hold out faith that he will return in a strong fashion - that is, after he's managed to find a way to write while sleeping in his cardboard box.

Best View from the Inside: Intermission at Work
Speaking of busy, Joe from I@W works as a theater manager by night, then turns around to be a pretty prolific movie blogger by day. Oh, and he also runs three other blogs during his spare time, all in an effort to dominate the world and make a living via blogging. His determination is nothing if not inspiring.

Best Concept: Reel Whore
With such running features as the "Spank Bank" and the monthly "Gang Bang" where upcoming releases are dissected, the Reel Whore has a good thing going. As he says it, "I am cinema's bitch and herein lie my confessions." Aren't we all.

Best "Non-Fletch Film Rating System" Rating System: Counting Down the Hours
Adam has good taste. Really good taste, taking the FFRS and putting his spin on it. Oh, and he's apparently got a killer 'fro, too.

Blogger That Often Makes Me Feel Like an Amateurish Hack: MovieJohn of (appropriately) John's Movie Blog
If any movie blogger I know is destined to write for a respected media outlet, it's MovieJohn. If you're looking for extremely well-written, cogent, pro-style reviews, his is the site to visit. He knows his stuff, doesn't mess around, and gets right down to writing some great reviews.

The Onion Award for the Strongest Opinion: Joe from Joe's Movie Corner
Joe writes with a stream-of-consciousness style that few can do well, giving the reader a clear insight as to what his opinions are on any number of subjects. He's also apt to using color, caps, differing font sizes, and slang/internets-speak to bring his point across more - never are you in doubt of what his feelings are.

Blog with the Best Not-Really-Movie-Related Running Feature: The Critical Critics
Head over to TCC and you'll find a new poll running every few days. It's simple, straightforward, and possibly sexist, but I don't hear anyone complaining. The "Celebrity Critics Poll" is an NCAA-style tournament to determine the hottest female celebrity in town, and it's currently reached the Sweet 16 round. Oh, and the reviews are pretty darn good, too.

Best Use of the Third Person: Riding with Rickey
Rickey doesn't (usually) write about movies, but just about his life in general. He also happens to have Rickey Henderson as an alias, employing the always hilarious way in which the real Rickey speaks as his writing style. Somehow never gets old (the fact that the content is funny on its own doesn't hurt, either).

Well, that does it for the First Annual Blog Cabins Anniversary Awards (note: name needs work). Please don't feel bad if you didn't get an award - heck, that may be a good thing, considering...

And then...

Fletch's Film Review: No Country for Old Men

The reviews are inescapable, and they are overwhelmingly positive. You get it...you've been beaten over the head with it: No Country for Old Men is superfantabulexcellenterrific.

Well, yes and no.

No Country certainly stands as one of the high points of the Coen brothers career, which certainly says something considering their resume (I'd rank it third probably, after Lebowski and Fargo). That said, it has a giant elephant-in-the-room sized issue that it seems not enough people have a problem with.

The way I see it, there are three types of people with three different interpretations of the last act of No Country. The first group is "people who have read the book." I assume this group is small. They most likely "get" what happens.

The second group is people like me (and the three people I saw the film with). We openly criticized the finale, questioning a number of the choices made, not to mention trying to interpret certain things. We could be classified as "morons who want everything explained," but for some reason I don't like that term, so I'm going to shift blame to either the Coens or the book's author - and considering I don't know how the book ends, I'll just assume both are guilty.

The third group has it all figured out and/or likes the ambiguity. They hate when plot details are spelled out like Alphabits. They like the fact that the movie just kind of trails off...

...and ends when the viewer isn't paying much attention.

Generally speaking, I wouldn't place myself in any of these groups. I obviously didn't read the book (and don't read a ton of books anyway), so I can't go to the former group. I actually don't like cookie-cutter Scooby-Doo endings that insult my intelligence, so I don't usually lump myself into the second group. As for the third - they would probably love Southland Tales, which makes even less sense than the last twenty minutes of No Country. These people generally like to classify those that don't "get" it as idiots, and are themselves considered snobs and/or assholes. I don't usually like those people, either.

Short story long, No Country for Old Men is Fargo in Texas - Humor. Which is fine. In fact, it's more than fine - the performances (by the way, have you heard that Javier Bardem co-stars as Anton Chigurh, and is awesome? No, really!) are top-notch across the board, only leaving you wanting more from all involved (Woody Harrelson and Stephen Root are amongst those that are criminally underused). The setting, mood and cinematography are all spectacular, each overshadowing the simplistic plot. But the end...not the worst ever by a long stretch, but probably amongst the worst ever for such a potentially great film (See Sunshine from earlier this year for another example of this - though that ending probably was amongst the worst ever).

Fletch's Film Rating:

"Darn tootin!"

And then...

Survivor:China Episode 12 recap

No foreplay - let's get right down to it. Expect typos galore.

7:01: "Hooray," said the remaining six tribe members, now that the powerful James was gone. Oh, but wait - after watching the six of them "celebrate" their making the final 6, I can't help but despair the fact these we're left with a really boring group. Only Todd and Courtney bring much personality to the table, and they have a tendency (or in the case of Courtney, a lifestyle) to be pretty annoying. Blah.

7:05: Todd: "I'm not an emotional person at all." Isn't having no emotion an emotion?

7:06: Reward Challenge time already. Surprise! The castaways are paired with family members. Finally, we get to see if Courtney is capable of being decent to another human.

7:08: We get to see where PG gets her looks from. Apparently that family does not believe in dentists.

7:09: Todd's a liar. He's crying like a schoolgirl. And he was doing that before his little sister decided to tell him that another sister of theirs had a miscarriage. Nice timing on the news, sis. Right before the challenge. Oops.

7:10: Courtney's dad is English. Interesting. Nothing to add here, really.

7:10: Denise's husband - shockingly! - looks like Barney Rubble. He goes perfectly with her Fred Flintstone toga thing.

7:11: By the way, Sprint is (horrendously) sponsoring this challenge. Jeff almost vomited as he was schilling. Wait, nope - that was just his soul leaving his body.

7:12: Excerpts from Courtney during the challenge: "Daddy, where the hell are you?" "Oh stop it, Probst!" That British charm did NOT rub off.

7:14: Barney and Fred win the challenge, and Lunchlady Land takes Todd/sis and Amanda/sis on the reward, as well as the SPRINT PHONE that they just won. It's a BLACKBERRY, by the way. This blog post is being sponsored by Chad from Alltell, by the way. The four dorky guys are standing outside my house looking angry right now.

7:19: It would be too easy to make a joke about Fred and Barney doing all the eating on the boat they're on with Todd, Amanda and their respective family members. So I won't. But all six of them did just scream when a cake appeared. This was immediately followed by the SPRINT PHONE ringing. The Sprint executives are pulling the plug on future sponsorships as we speak. Sprint phones - they make you scream!

7:21: Meanwhile, back at camp, PG bitches about not being chosen. But that's not nearly as bad as Erik and Courtney openly doubting the fact that Todd's sister had a miscarriage. Wow - that's f*cked up. If they're wrong, they're going straight to hell. Well, you know - Courtney's probably headed in that direction anyway.

7:24: No surprise - Todd confirms that it was true. Sayonara, Courtney and Erik.

7:27: I was checking my site statistics just now and saw that someone in Virginia did a Google search for "survivor reaction to baby dying." Okaaaaay.

7:29: Denise is walking around in a tank top. A wet tank top. An olive colored tank top. I think I'm going blind, or at least I wish I was.

7:31: Immunity Challenge! Please don't be brought to us by Tampax. Please don't be brought to us by Tampax. Please don't be brought to us by Tampax.

7:32: What a crock. The first challenge since James got voted off, and it's mostly physical. How convenient. They are asked to wade through a swampy pool, climbing over and under some poles and such, then untie some ropes, get some keys, answer some questions, etc, etc. Todd and Amanda take an early lead. So long as PG doesn't win, I'm fine.

7:36: It's down to Todd or PG. Todd makes his way back and...no dice. PG has a 50/50 shot and...she effing wins. Spectacular. In all seriousness, kudos to her - this was pretty physical, and she whupped 'em all. Erik should be neutered for his performance.

7:37: "Look! It's a Sprint commercial," says Mrs. Fletch. I wish I was joking.

7:43: Erik is trying - poorly - to sway people. Then again, his stammering, quasi-retarded way of persuading people may just work - after all, what kind of a threat would he be to take to the finals? A potential preview:

Jury member at finals: "Erik - you stabbed me in the back all along - why should I vote for you to win?"

Erik: "Well, I, uh, you know, I mean, uh, I'm nice...and, uh, I'm a virgin."

7:48: Oh, the drama - who will go? Unfortunately, since I'm doubting that Courtney will be going, I can't say that I care all that much who goes. But wait - Erik's plea! "I, like, wanna be here tomorrow. It'd be swell and hunky dory and all that. I like you guys. You know, keep me if you want." I've changed my mind - I'm ready for Erik to go.

7:50: Sounds like Todd is headed out...

7:52: And the loser is...Erik. Again, why is it that all the contestants make a big fat hairy deal about the "strong men" dominating in the game? There are five people left - four women and Todd, who's smaller than 2 of the women (at least). Gimme a break - time to start voting off the smallest people first.

7:56: Ever see The Score with Ed Norton and Robert DeNiro? I've decided that Erik reminds me of Norton as "Brian," his mentally challenged alter ego. Stammering, kinda cute, harmless, and slow - yep, that's him alright. I couldn't even tell you one word he said in his final speech. Godspeed, Erik. We'll barely notice your absence.

Next week, however, is the showdown we've all been waiting for - Amanda vs. Todd. Sounds good...

Survivor: China homepage at CBS.com

And then...

TGITDNMAR (12/7/07)

It's that time again for TGITDNMAR, which (obviously) stands for Thank God It's The Day New Movies Are Released.

Finally! After a few weeks of notably un-notable films being released (I'm looking at you, Awake), December brings us a few worth talking about, and maybe worth seeing. And so, TGITDNMAR returns as well, with a preview of four films hitting theaters Friday. Still, the big week comes next Friday, with I am Legend, Juno, and...uh...Alvin and the Chipmunks. Well, they can't all be winners, I guess.

The Golden Compass
The Catholic League does not want you or your children to see this film. As discussed here previously, The Golden Compass has brought on all sorts of contrived controversy, in the form of some overzealous people with nothing better to do attempting to launch a massive boycott, all stemming from fears that kids will read the books from which the film(s) are based. How dare an atheist write a book denouncing/attacking Christianity!

As might be expected, the "boycott" has had the opposite effect on me, turning a movie that I cared little about seeing into one that I feel I must see. Then again, I'm a heathen who thinks it's pretty hypocritical to denounce this but not overtly religious films - what's wrong with the kids hearing the counterpoint every now and then? What are you afraid of, Catholic League?
Fletch’s Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 81%

Grace is Gone
I can't say that I've heard a lot of buzz either way regarding this drama starring John Cusack, but seeing as how it's a drama about a husband whose wife was killed in the Iraq war, this may be the first time in a long time where we really, truly see Cusack stretching himself and stepping out of his comfort zone. That's reason enough for some intrigue. While Cusack has never been an "Oscar-caliber" actor (or at least, he hasn't shown us that potential), it's probably safe to say that most Gen X-ers see him as an extension of themselves, growing up with him and graduating from Better Off Dead to Say Anything... to High Fidelity and so on. "Serious actor" just may be that next progression.

PS - this film ought to make for a great double-feature alongside the Adam Sandler-Don Cheadle buddy downer pic Reign on Me, about a man (Sandler) whose family was killed in the 9/11 attacks. Belly laughs all around from the funny men!
Fletch’s Chance of Viewing: 44%

Atonement
Though it will earn me the ire of a fellow movie blogger (http://joesmoviecorner.blogspot.com/ - who I think has been touting this film since 1998), I can't say that Atonement looks all that interesting or good to me. Keira Knightley remains an underwhelming actress, yet she's asked to do some heavy lifting here, in a period romance co-starring James McAvoy (The Last King of Scotland, and now seemingly everywhere - if you have yet to see the trailer for the Angelina co-starring Wanted, consider yourself lucky).

Anyway, this looks like Love in the Time of Cholera with some crimes and misdemeanors mixed in, but it's getting great reviews and has a lot of Oscar buzz. We'll see if it lasts. I say "meh."
Fletch’s Chance of Viewing: 16%

Revolver
What's this? A Guy Ritchie sighting? Inexplicably, this generically titled follow-up to 2000's Snatch by Madonna's husband (2002's Swept Away didn't happen, if you ask me) has been sitting on the shelf (at least in the US) for two years. It stars Ritchie's go-to guy even, in the person of Jason Statham, and co-stars Ray Liotta, Andre Benjamin (Outkast) and The Sopranos Vincent Pastore. The plot centers around a card shark who gets into some trouble with...ah, who cares - I'll see it regardless.
Fletch’s Chance of Viewing: 69%

And then...