This Is It.!

Seems to be my night for documentary type movies. This is the Michael Jackson movie of his work that was put together after he passed away. It is impressive, charming and illuminating. I have always wondered just how much he put into the music and the rest of his professional life. My doubts have answered. He is a master of his destiny. A control freak that only another control freak can love and admire. He's absolutely wonderful. I "so get him". Would not want him anywhere near my life. (But I have great respect for him, that is before the death scene.) Remember.... control freak. He had it mastered. In fact, I think he took the prize. But that was a digression.

The movie gives us a glimpse of his ability and talent and how he was able to translate to the entertainment world and thus, to us. He brought his songs back to the stage with dancers, carefully chosen. He also had decide to have a segment of the show with brothers... Sadly, this reunion did not take place where he wished it to be.

Overall, in my life, I haven't listened to the Jacksons much, listened to Michael and once in a while seen a video. I do know that that he that he has a huge talent. But tonight, to see him in documentary footage, of rehearsals, I realize how amazing, how talented, how humble he was.

Every Little Step

Every Little Step: It could be the name of a stalker movie. Or a horror movie. But no. It's the documentary of the revival of The Chorus Line on Broadway. The Chorus Line is one of my favorites when it comes to musicals and movies. I've only seen it on stage once. That was in Memorial Theatre, Burlington, VT. It was a great show. A bit far away from Broadway, but we had a great line into some really great traveling shows. I remember I didn't like my seat so I stood up on the side for the whole show to see better. It was fabulous. And I never noticed I stood the entire time.

Then came the movie. It wasn't bad for a made from the musical on Broadway to movie theatre. In fact, I thought it was very well done, considering. So, I thought, I wonder how this backstage look will do.

It was wonderful- especially for theatre geeks and dancers. Or I should have put that the other way around. Dancers first, then theatre geeks. After all it does deal with a chorus line. The spoiler alert- lots of decent commentary from original members. Also, the true origin of the musical. Lots of great stuff for someone like me who wants to know the story behind the story behind the story. Fascinating to me. Must be the history degree.

The bottom line: Geri- If you haven't seen it, I'll wonder why! Everybody else, put it on your list. You can stream it from netflix! That's what I did. Well worth your time and very accessible. Also, you might make it a night with the movie, A Chorus Line.
Happy Popcorn and Movies!

Iron Man the First!

Yes, this time I did things backward. But I think it was good. I really enjoyed watching the first Iron Man by myself especially after seeing Iron Man II. I could concentrate on what was going on and focus on where the story was going. I saw Iron Man II in the movie theatre before I saw Iron Man at home tonight. There is a disclaimer: I am a fan of Robert Downey, Jr. And he was fabulous. There. That's out of the way.

Let's see. It took me a few moments to realize that was Jeff Bridges. Oh, yes. I knew it was Jeff, but my brain said it didn't look like him. Then I watched a bit more and realized he could play that part, a part not usual to Mr. Bridges. I won't say more. If you haven't seen it, I don't want to give anything away.

Gwyneth Paltrow shows up. She's okay. To tell the truth, she's better in the second movie. But then, perhaps it is how the part is written and directed. She works with what she has. It could be more.

Here's the real deal: Iron Man. The movie itself explains how this all happens and how it becomes one man. It is very, very cool. Especially if you are into how to beat up the enemy with unconventional means in a weird way upon having an epiphany and can afford to fund such a project. It's great entertainment that is not going to win a Best Oscar (I am sure of this since time ran out) but it is wonderful entertainment and well worth watching. At just two hours and eight minutes without breaks, a perfect rental. Have fun and enjoy it with popcorn!

Robin Hood- and this time It's Russell Crowe in Tights! or was he?

Ahhhh.... Another Robin Hood movie. Something I am not a fan of, unless you are Mel Brooks, Hi Mel Brooks! That has to my absolute favorite movie that you ever made! I loved it! It hit my funny bone in all the right places. Must be my history degree. Mel, you and Cary and the gang, and that moving mole, BRILLIANT! Ahhh, but once again, I need to focus. So, here we go:

Russell Crowe. Cate Blanchett (Can she do any wrong, I don't think so, she was marvelous), William Hurt, Max Von Sydow. Here's the deal. I know the reviewers have already told you.

No tights. I was so disappointed. Imagine Russell in tights. That's what I was looking forward to, salivating for and instead? Lots of chain mail, tunics, etc. Not so much of the fun stuff. But I must say there was the real stuff.

Realistic costuming.
Realistic sets.
Lots of battle, lots of realistic sets of how life might be in 1199 and thereafter.
There will be spoilers coming. But I don't think anyone will be surprised. Who doesn't know Robin Hood. It's just........


Acceptably historically accurate. Considering what we get thrown at us.
HERE COMES THE SPOILER ALERT******************
PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Here's the problem.....
Braveheart Redux.
Saving Private Redux.

I am not in the mood to look up the technology that the French had in the early 13th century (and they do have intelligence, even though they still can't build a car, I will defend them, I am part French after all- though really I am better called Western European Mutt), but during a scene somewhere in the movie it may remind you of another movie.......

Like Braveheart. There are lots of battle scenes that could have been lifted from the cutting floor of Braveheart if only there were no kilts. And at the end it, the French are invading England in boats that are remarkably similar to those used in the D-Day Invasion of the beaches of Normandy. And to top it all off, the movie ends, it ends, with Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe) being OUTLAWED! It's the Prequel. So, after two and one half hours, you will now be ready to see the next movie.

Air Force One

Who among us can resist an action movie with Harrison Ford? Not me, that's for sure. It's on TV tonight. I hadn't noticed this before, but the theme music seems evocative, just slightly, of Indiana Jones. Otherwise, it's just the usual action pic with the hero saving the day, or, in this case, America, Air Force One, and the world from Terrorism, this time in the form of kidnapping the President of the United States and the ransom is the release of very, very bad men (I keep hearing what's his name from Seinfeld with the waving finger who got deported to Pakistan in my head). Ah, if it were only true. The film was made in 1997. If we only knew. The cast includes not only Harrison, but my fave Gary Oldman, also Glenn Close, and Dean Stockwell. Oh, and the wonderful William Macy. I give it a B for effort. By the way, music by Jerry Goldsmith.

Iron Man II

I had the pleasure of seeing Iron Man II on Saturday with a friend. I haven't seen the first movie yet but I enjoyed the sequel so much, I'll have to correct that soon. Without spoiling anything for anyone, if you do see the movie, don't leave until after all the credits are over.... there is a final scene after that. Reminds me of one of my favorite television shows: Vicar of Dibley, a Britcom starring the inimitable Dawn French. I love this show. It's hilarious, it's a bit ribald, it's absurd and has the craziest cast of characters to ever populate a village. After the credits, there's always a joke. But I think I've digressed.

The movie, in case you are unaware, stars Robert Downey Jr., as Tony Stark aka Iron Man. Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johannsen, Mickey Rourke and Samuel L Jackson all show up. Oh, and Sam Rockwell. And a few others. The best part? It's only two hours and five minutes long. Not one of those three hours to get the point across movies. It may not be Oscar worthy (hey- after this past year, who knows what will be nominated?) but it's fun. I give it a B+ for fun and action.
Happy Popcorn!
Jane

Football, Football Movies and Jane

The other night I had the TV on (like I do now) to keep me company while I perform various tasks, hang out, read, or do stuff on my computer. The only watchable program at that time was the movie We Are Marshall. Which got me thinking about football movies. And that I actually liked football movies. And that I actually liked watching football at all. Actually.... I like watching the New England Patriots. So, this past football season, when the Pats' season ended, the football season ended. Fini. Done. No reason to watch the superbowl, it wasn't going to be super. But I digress. Back to football movies.

I find that from time to time certain football movies are on TV and I watch them. But before I started the post, I wanted to look up football movies. I was surprised by how many there have been and how many I have seen. I giggled at the very first football movie (to be disclosed at the end of the post). On to the discussion!

The first football movie I ever saw was Brian's Song, the made for TV movie that aired in 1971 when I was just a tiny babe. Well, maybe a little older. It's the story of the friendship between Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers, players on the Chicago Bears, and the illness and eventual death of Brian Piccolo from cancer. I remember liking it and the whole community had as well. It was the talk of the school. This was remade in 2002 but I didn't see this version. Would I watch either one on TV? No. Way too depressing.

I saw the remake of Heaven Can Wait with Warren Beatty, which was made in 1978, on TV as well. In this version he plays a quarterback who is in an accident and dies before his time due to an overly anxious angel. It's a fairly good film. The "bad guys" get their comeuppance in the end. Everything turns out right in the end. Good TV fare.

Remember when VCRs first came out and we all started renting VHS tapes and it was a big thing? I rented All the Right Moves, a Tom Cruise movie. He plays a high school football player, living in a steel town. He has a girlfriend (of course!),there's some sort of moral to the story, someone has to make a decision, etc. The movie was made in 1983, I think I saw it in 1986. Would I recommend it? No. Would I watch it on TV? Not if anything else remotely interesting was on. Including Home Shopping Network.

Ahhh, but Tom redeems himself to the American female population. I've never asked what the American male population have thought of Jerry Maguire. This is a much better film than All the Right Moves. I'm not sure what I really think of this movie now. It has become so trite. It was the big boost Renee Zellweger needed and brought Cuba Gooding, Jr. the exposure he needed. It was one of Tom's finer performances. And the little kid was great. Again, I'd pass over this for something else on TV. Too overexposed.

Here's the one I regret not seeing yet: Any Given Sunday. Why? Al Pacino. It also looks like a grown-up film. So, its on my Netflix list.

The next three are the ones I watch a lot on TV. Haven't grown tired of them yet.
We Are Marshall, Remember the Titans, and The Replacements. The first two are based on true stories. Remember the Titans deals with the race issue and integration. The primary star is Denzel Washington but the various players are very engaging. We are Marshall deals the plane crash that killed all but five members of the football team, its coaching staff and some supporters. Matthew McConnaughey, David Strathairn and Matthew Fox are in the cast. The Replacements deals with a football strike and the men hired to replace the strikers. Actors are Gene Hackman, Keanu Reeves and the inimitable Rhys Ifans who is showing up everwhere. When they show up on TV again, will I stop and watch? Sure! Unless something better is playing.

There is one more football movie that I've seen and discussed here. The Blind Side. Very enjoyable. Will I stop and watch it again. Sure, I'll add it to my list. It has humor and humanity. And it's true.

So, the very first football movie ever made, according the site I checked on the internet? (Not guaranteed by me!)

Horsefeathers. The fourth Marx Brothers movie.
Thanks for spending time with me.