Sylvester!
On this cold, cold morning, how about dancing beatniks?
Scene straight out of ‘Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.’
American Hustle
American Hustle is all about the 70s look. Amy Adams’s plunging neck lines, Jennifer Lawrences’s hair, Bradley Cooper’s perm. You’ll be too busy being amazed by the costume design to really appreciate the film.
American Hustle purports to tell the tale of the ABSCAM scandal in the late 70s. It was an FBI scam to trick congressman and senators into accepting bribes to make a fake Arab sheik an American citizen.
Amy Adams and Christian Bale play the original con men caught by the FBI and ordered to run the scam. They were small time players, but Bradley Cooper’s ambitious FBI agent wants to make a name for himself by going after big fish. The big fish was a Jeremy Renner’s simple Jersey mayor looking to help his constituents. He wanted to bring jobs back to Atlantic City helping people — a good guy? Cooper, a good guy? Bale and Adams good people? Jennifer Lawrence, Bale’s wife, not so good as she plays a loud, no class girl who when she finds out about the scam tries to needle her way into the action and when she gets blocked out takes it upon herself to destroy everything.
I think Bale did a fine job at portraying a small time hustler caught in a too large scam hustling his way out of the jam. Cooper was good as well playing the FBI agent looking to go big time. He was out of control. The girls, Adams and Lawrence, did well too with Adams and her cleavage edging out Lawrences’s Jersey girl nonsense in the heart of this viewer.
This movie is a Golden Globe nominee for best comedy. While there was a lot to laugh at, I don’t think this started out as comedy. It’s just that the con men got themselves into laughable situations. This isn’t an Adam Sandler film. The funniest part is ‘science oven’ — you burned the science oven!
It’s a good flick. Maybe better than the rating I’m giving it.
3 of 5 stars.
Quote of the Day [1.05.14]
Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
when the snow lay round about,
deep and crisp and even.
Good King Wenceslas, Traditional Christmas Carol
Roasting Chestnuts
Slow and easy. It’s cold out there, and I have a cold. I’m just eating soup and lo mein hoping to be ready for work on Monday. Sucks. We’re almost done here.
Resolution [Rewound]
Are you planning on any? I’m not except for the weight loss thing and getting healthier. That’s it. Or perhaps learning a language in programming or in speaking. Nothing revolutionary just evolutionary.
2013 Movies Rated 4 Stars or Higher
Here’s the list of films I saw in the theatre which I rated 4 stars or more. Actually, these are all 4 star films, because I didn’t see a perfect movie this year. Caveat as I list them, these are from reviews several days after seeing the film. They are 4 stars at that time, but over the year that rating could evolve to a better or worse rating. I would put The World’s End and The Conjuring with higher ratings, and Man of Steel with a lower rating.
The World’s End
The Conjuring
Pacific Rim
Man of Steel
Iron Man 3
Finally, here’s an honorable mention that needs to be seen. I’m advocating that you catch it because it is one of my favorites of the year.
47 Ronin
47 Ronin is a mess. It’s a movie based on a traditional Japanese tale of loyalty and revenge plus magic, dragons, and Keanu.
The Japanese tale was about samurai whose lord had to kill himself for disparaging another. His samurai, now leaderless ronin, vowed revenge because they thought that the offense was not severe. The 47 ronin of the title plotted for years eventually exacting revenge on their target. The Emperor liked the way the ronin conducted themselves and allowed the ronin to have an honorable ending. They all died in the end.
This version adds in Keanu as a mystically half-breed. Yeah, it makes no difference, but they needed him so that they can add the magic, the dragons, and the vile witch.
Everything has to be epic in Hollywood. That’s why there was the magic, the dragons, and the vile witch. Hollywood must make everything ginormous. Unfortunately, not everything needs the ginormity. The original 47 ronin story has all you need. It’s withstood years and years of telling in Japan. It may withstand the magic, the dragons, and the vile witch, but it isn’t that good of tale with it.
3 of 5 stars.
Winter Wonder Landing
It’s snowed just about every week since Thanksgiving. It was never like this, and the last few years there was barely any snow. Now, we’ve got snow. Lots and lots. Snow season has moved in. At least we haven’t had an 18″ blizzard yet. Keeping the fingers crossed.
We’re Living in the Future
2014 Rulez!
Happy New Year to my friends, family, and hangers-on. May you have another successful year.
Old Acquaintances
Let’s get it started early. So long 2013. Hello, 2014. Here’s to everything that happened in the past 365. Here’s to everything that will happen in the next 365. I wish you and yours a safe and happy New Year!