They did it once (or twice?) on the old show but this is the first time for The Tonight Show: Jimmy Fallon vs. Paul Rudd in a lip sync battle.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
IMDB 250 - Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)
Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)
As the title suggests, this is a dog story. It's a "G Rated" "Family Film" that's appropriate for the family of all ages.
I went into it quite cynically. Family films rarely make it into the IMDB 250 and this one I'd never even heard of before. Ever. Could it really be that good if it's been out for three years and I've never even heard of it?
The first half is an exercise in formula. Through some sort of mix up a man (Richard Gere) finds a lost puppy. The puppy is about the cutest puppy ever and yet he simply can't find anyone else to take him and nobody comes forth to claim him. So he keeps him despite his wife's disapproval. And, of course, the puppy gets into all sorts of mischief.
But while we've seen the first half in movies before, the second half takes a turn that is a "different take" on things. And even going into it with arms folded, it did get to me. You know how it is... If you've ever owned a dog or simply like dogs or have any feeling towards any animal whatsoever, I think you'd have to be made of stone not to (at the very least) well up at this movie. And it's safe to say I'm definitely not made of stone.
7.8/10.
Total "Top 250" Movies Seen: 377.
As the title suggests, this is a dog story. It's a "G Rated" "Family Film" that's appropriate for the family of all ages.
I went into it quite cynically. Family films rarely make it into the IMDB 250 and this one I'd never even heard of before. Ever. Could it really be that good if it's been out for three years and I've never even heard of it?
The first half is an exercise in formula. Through some sort of mix up a man (Richard Gere) finds a lost puppy. The puppy is about the cutest puppy ever and yet he simply can't find anyone else to take him and nobody comes forth to claim him. So he keeps him despite his wife's disapproval. And, of course, the puppy gets into all sorts of mischief.
But while we've seen the first half in movies before, the second half takes a turn that is a "different take" on things. And even going into it with arms folded, it did get to me. You know how it is... If you've ever owned a dog or simply like dogs or have any feeling towards any animal whatsoever, I think you'd have to be made of stone not to (at the very least) well up at this movie. And it's safe to say I'm definitely not made of stone.
7.8/10.
Total "Top 250" Movies Seen: 377.
Monday, February 24, 2014
The Late Night Premiere
The first episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers premiered tonight and the future is uncertain.
Late night talk shows almost always start slow, they almost always take time to find their groove and get the proper footing. So I don't think anyone can predict anything from just the first show. However it did have noticeable weaknesses.
What should have been the obvious strength of the show was a huge weakness. Seth Meyers comes from the "Weekend Update" desk at Saturday Night Live so making jokes about the news is second nature at this point. But that's also the problem. The monologue is supposed to be direct communication to the audience - it's supposed to be conversational - Seth belted out the jokes in exactly the same "fake newscaster" style that he's been doing on "Weekend Update". Everything he said sounded like yelling and the jokes suffered. That's an easy fix though so hopefully it happens.
Over to desk chat: more yell-talking. The band is also a bit strange, one of the members is Fred Armisen (which would be a bonus) but there's some strange arrangement where he's going to be in the band some of the time but often leave to do other things, I don't know how it works. The comedy was standard cheap late night stuff but at least he stopped yelling for them. The interviews (Amy Poehler and Joe Biden) were fine if a little low on energy.
And that's the show. In summary, it felt like Steps 1-5 on how to do a talk show. It's as if they're simply going through the motions of filling up network time with no passion for originality or personality. I want to emphasize again that the long-term success of a talk show is just about impossible to predict. But right now the point is more about whether I'm suitably interested in following it nightly. I don't see anything to grab onto thus far.
As of now the episode isn't available online. When it is, you'll find it here.
Edit: To be totally fair to the new Late Night, my viewing of it may have been affected by the news that I may have just lost a large sum of money. That isn't good for entertainment, surely. That's a whole other story. You can watch the show and decide for yourself anyway.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
IMDB 250 - Elite Squad: The Enemy Within (2010)
Elite Squad: The Enemy Within (2010)
"Elite Squad: The Enemy Within". If you're like me, that title sends a shiver of awfulness up your spine. Well, I can tell you it isn't as bad as the title suggests. It's a Brazilian movie and the title is probably just a matter of translation.
"Elite Squad: beh beh behbeh" examines crime and corruption within Rio de Janeiro at all levels. Drugs and guns are rampant, the police are thoroughly corrupt and the people who command them (the government) are criminals themselves. The gangs are out of control and so the police employ extremely draconian measures to fight back... which makes them ever more unpopular with the people they're supposed to protect. There is seemingly no end to the city's problems and no solution in sight.
"Elite Squad: etc, etc" is more about events than characters and has an almost constant stream of world-weary narration. It's gritty, it's violent, it's "action-packed". It's actually well made and well acted. But it's one of those movies that's not bad, but also didn't interest me in any way. There was no point where I cared about what happened. Thus, the two hour running time seemed like an eternity.
5/10.
Total "Top 250" Movies Seen: 376.
"Elite Squad: The Enemy Within". If you're like me, that title sends a shiver of awfulness up your spine. Well, I can tell you it isn't as bad as the title suggests. It's a Brazilian movie and the title is probably just a matter of translation.
"Elite Squad: beh beh behbeh" examines crime and corruption within Rio de Janeiro at all levels. Drugs and guns are rampant, the police are thoroughly corrupt and the people who command them (the government) are criminals themselves. The gangs are out of control and so the police employ extremely draconian measures to fight back... which makes them ever more unpopular with the people they're supposed to protect. There is seemingly no end to the city's problems and no solution in sight.
"Elite Squad: etc, etc" is more about events than characters and has an almost constant stream of world-weary narration. It's gritty, it's violent, it's "action-packed". It's actually well made and well acted. But it's one of those movies that's not bad, but also didn't interest me in any way. There was no point where I cared about what happened. Thus, the two hour running time seemed like an eternity.
5/10.
Total "Top 250" Movies Seen: 376.
Serious Jibber-Jabber - Ken Burns
Conan sits down and talks to Documentarian Ken Burns ("The Civil War", "Baseball", "Lewis and Clark", etc.) about speeches, Lincoln, Presidential History and the history of our nation.
I've said this about other interviews in the past but I'll say it again because it's true.... an hour-long interview with a Documentarian is a big commitment but it really is worth it. It's a great interview.
I've said this about other interviews in the past but I'll say it again because it's true.... an hour-long interview with a Documentarian is a big commitment but it really is worth it. It's a great interview.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
IMDB 250 - Three Colors: Red (1994)
Three Colors: Red (1994)
"Three Colors: Red" feels like the quintessential foreign movie. It's slow, deliberate, nothing but conversation and it deals with weighty philosophical ideas. It's also a French language film set in Switzerland and has a Polish Director.
A model in Geneva hits a dog with her car and looks for the owner. She finds the owner is a retired Judge who now spends his time listening in to his neighbors phone conversations. She's disgusted but also clearly drawn to the man and attempts to know him.
Although this movie is from 1994, it looks like it's from 1984. It looks and feels like Director Krzysztof Piesiewicz's other work "The Decalogue". That's not a criticism exactly, just an observation. In fact, I liked "The Decalogue" so much that I enjoy it. It must be a particular camera or type of film he used.
"Red" is part of a trilogy in which some of the characters in one movie show up in the other two. There's also a suggestion that some of the characters are actually the same character, but at a different point in time. The "Three Colors" trilogy, and this film, are about the interconnectedness of all of our lives and about the way all of our lives are disconnected as well. And it's all up to chance, destiny or serendipity as to which lives touch which others.
8/10.
Total "Top 250" Movies Seen: 375.
"Three Colors: Red" feels like the quintessential foreign movie. It's slow, deliberate, nothing but conversation and it deals with weighty philosophical ideas. It's also a French language film set in Switzerland and has a Polish Director.
A model in Geneva hits a dog with her car and looks for the owner. She finds the owner is a retired Judge who now spends his time listening in to his neighbors phone conversations. She's disgusted but also clearly drawn to the man and attempts to know him.
Although this movie is from 1994, it looks like it's from 1984. It looks and feels like Director Krzysztof Piesiewicz's other work "The Decalogue". That's not a criticism exactly, just an observation. In fact, I liked "The Decalogue" so much that I enjoy it. It must be a particular camera or type of film he used.
"Red" is part of a trilogy in which some of the characters in one movie show up in the other two. There's also a suggestion that some of the characters are actually the same character, but at a different point in time. The "Three Colors" trilogy, and this film, are about the interconnectedness of all of our lives and about the way all of our lives are disconnected as well. And it's all up to chance, destiny or serendipity as to which lives touch which others.
8/10.
Total "Top 250" Movies Seen: 375.
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