Thursday, August 30

(TV) Inside the Actors Studio: Dave Chappelle. (Bravo, 2006) Grade: B+

Thoughts: I really enjoyed the Chappelle’s show when it use to be on Comedy Central. The skits Dave Chappelle did were so funny and right on so I was interested to watch this television special. It is one of the most insightful and honest look into being an actor in Hollywood at the top of your game. He discuss his struggles to get to the top, the struggles at the top and what he needed to do to make it on his terms. It shows the difference between the people who let Hollywood get to them and those who don’t by never comprising who they are. James Lipton was a good interviewer but odd only because he doesn’t come off as being funny but he tried.

FYI ... I'm not doing the TV count anymore. I gave up. I'm just going to watch stuff and review it.

(M) Flags of Our Fathers. (Clint Eastwood, 2006) Grade: B

Thoughts: This is the story of the six men who raised the flag at the battle of Iwo Jima during WWII based upon the book by James Bradley and Ron Powers. Clint Eastwood really knows how to make a film. The war scenes were as real as it could get and the scenery was amazing. John “Doc” Bradley (Ryan Phillippe), Rene Gagnon (Jesse Bradford) and Ira Hayes (Adam Beach) were three of the six men who were still alive to tour the United States asking people to buy government bonds to support the war. Although instantly famous during that period, they faded into oblivion once the war ended. The only flaw with the film was the casting. Although they looked very much like the six men they were playing, the acting just was not good enough by the actors.

(M) The Browning Version. (Anthony Asquith, 1951) Grade: A-

Thoughts: Andrew Crocker-Harris (Michael Redgrave) is forced to retire from the boy’s private school he has been teaching at for many years. Disliked by students, some of the staff and his wife, Mr. Croker-Harris comes to terms with himself as a teacher, husband and man. The best part of the film was Taplow (Brain Smith), a student of Mr. Crocker-Harris, because his childlike innocence and genuine behavior stood out compared to the bitter, disillusioned and cynical adults. A simply engrossing film that is very effective.

(M) Death At A Funeral. (Frank Oz, 2007) Grade: B

Thoughts: Daniel’s (Matthew MacFadyen) father has died and on the day of his father’s funeral a man tries to blackmail the family and chaos ensues with other family members. It is a formulaic comedy situation but I did not mind because it was funny. Even the cast members that included Alan Tudyk, Andy Nyman and Peter Dinklage looked like they were having a great time. Oh and in typical British humor you have to see a man's butt. Man do they love showing that.

Movie Count: 85

2 comments:

Hedwig said...

i've actually seen the actor's studio w/ dave chapelle and i really enjoyed it :) very interesting to hear his point of view on how things happened when he went to africa.

Cup-O-Noodles said...

Glad you liked the Browning Version. I thought it was excellent. A little slow to start but it really takes off eventually.