Archive | February, 2010

Sorority Row Review

26 Feb

Sorority Row

Starring: Briana Evigan, Rumer Willis, Jamie Chung, Leah Pipes

There are a million reason why I should have hated this movie and zero reasons why I should have like it.  I knew I wasn’t going to like it and figured it would just be another opportunity to laugh as I watched this slasher movie.

It actually pains me to say this now – I actually liked the movie.  By no means does that mean this film was good though.  Let me start off by talking about what I did like.  The death scenes were entertaining; there’s definitely a theme in the way the women get offed in this flick.  One of the main characters, Briana Evigan – of Step Up 2 fame – is actually pretty good.  She’s believable which can some times be tough for an actor to accomplish in a horror-type movie.

I will admit that I’m not the bravest of people when it comes to any kind of scary/slasher-esque movie.  I knew that the movie would end up with far less people than it began with, but I wasn’t prepared for actually jumping out of my skin every time one was killed.  Even though I could predict that the deaths were coming, I still found ways to be freaked out when they did.  Maybe that’s why I liked the movie.

So now for the what wasn’t so great in this movie.  How clichéd can you be to base a slasher film in a sorority?  For those not aware, this movie is a remake of the 1983 film, The House on Sorority Row.  Like many other films of this genre, the acting left something to be desired.  The girls in this film all justify a variety of stereotypes as well. 

Is it just me or does Rumer Willis only play characters that are a little off or different?  I’m not sure I buy her as an actress either.  Leah Pipes, who plays the head sorority sister, does play ’bitch’ very well, but I just felt she was trying too hard sometimes.

Overall, I would recommend this movie.  Just don’t expect much and when the movie is over, think about what the common thread is to the girls that are killed?  It will either make you laugh or cringe a little.

Coco Has Risen…Again

25 Feb

 

It’s been about a month now since Conan O’Brien bid a not so fond farewell to his 7+ months as host of The Tonight Show.  There has been much made about what he will do next.  Will he go to FOX, will he go to cable? 

O’Brien definitely can afford to take his time making that decision after receiving a reported $30-40 million as a going away present.  A few days ago a rumor started that he might be ready to start working again.  The talk has nothing to do with running a late night program…yet, but with heading out on a comedy tour.  That’s actually probably a very good plan for O’Brien.

I think that Coco, as he was affectionately named by Tom Hanks, is ready to get his name back out there.  Just yesterday O’Brien signed up for Twitter.  As of today, he has only written two tweets, but as amassed a whopping 348,000 + followers.  The entertainment world was a buzz with the news of his joining the tweeting community.

As Jay Leno gets ready to head back to the show made famous by Johnny Carson on March 1, I think Coco is ready to start making his way back.  Only this time it will be on his terms.

R.I.P Andrew Koenig

25 Feb

Sadly, after a lengthy search, Andrew Koenig has been found dead.  Koenig was best known for playing ’Boner’ on the 80′s sitcom, Growing Pains.  Many celebrities and friends had posted on Twitter that Koenig had gone missing and to report any information they might have.  His parents were in attendance at a press conference earlier today where his father, Walter, confirmed the news.

The Blah Of Lady Gaga

25 Feb

I won’t be surprised if I get a lot of flack for what I’m about to say, but I’m okay with that.  I like Lady Gaga‘s music, but cannot stand her fashion.

Take this picture taken at the Grammy Awards.  She is holding the a death star in one hand, being circled by the rings of Jupiter and I don’t even have words for the shoes.  Look, I know I am not the most fashion forward of people, but I just don’t get how these things constitute good fashion choices.

Everyone is praising her for being a beacon of fashion, but why?  She wears costumes made out of Kermit the Frog’s puppet heads and large plastic shaped bubbles. 

Her image is part of what makes her popular though.  In the music industry or any entertainment industry really, you need to stand out.  She has taken standing out into a whole new stratosphere.  I’ve seen a couple photos of her au naturel and I’ve got to say she looks a thousand times better than the whatever outrageous personality she chooses to take on.

I was listening to the radio yesterday and some DJ was talking about her and her keen fashion sense; I wanted to scream.  I understand that some people take fashion as being an expression of art, but what happens when it becomes more laughable than commendable?

Movies And Books To Keep Me Busy

25 Feb

I’ve loaded up on lots of movies and books to keep me occupied for a while.  I currently have Moon and Sorority Row in my DVD player; I’m really excited to see Moon, I’ve heard great things about it.  Sorority Row is an example of how I am not judgmental when it comes to films.  I still want to see it, even if the cast includes a girl from The Hills and an ex-Real World: San Diego cast member.  That kinda makes you want to go and rent it now, doesn’t it?

I’ve also accumulated a few books I need to get through and hopefully I will like them enough to add them to my book list.  Right now, I’m reading Chelsea Handler’s My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands.  If you haven’t checked any of her books out or watched her E! show, Chelsea Lately, you are definitely missing out.

I also have Nicholas Sparks’ The Last Song, which has been made into a movie to be released soon with Miley Cyrus.  The last book I have is Up In The Air, which is what the movie is based on.  I never got out to see it in the theater, but it hits stores March 9.

I’m way behind in my movie watching, but I’m going to try to squeeze in as many as I can before Oscar Sunday.

Looking For Good Gossip?

24 Feb

I don’t have any for you, but that doesn’t mean I can’t tell you who does.  E! Online‘s gossip columnist, Ted Casablanca, is a great daily column/blog to read.  He answers questions from readers and is just all around entertaining.  If you are a Twilight/Robert Pattinson/Kristen Stewart fan, he should become your new go-to guy for the best inside information.  He loves dishing on all things Robsten.

Between his daily Q & A’s, Blind Vices and random gossip, Casablanca’s The Awful Truth is something you should check out if you like keeping up to date on the saucy details of Hollywood’s most infamous.  I know how much I enjoy his site, so I thought I’d pass it on.

Guys vs. Girls: Idol Edition

24 Feb

Tonight it was time to see if the Top 12 guys had what it took to impress the American Idol viewers. 

Overall, I was not thoroughly impressed.  However, I will say that I was more entertained and had a better feeling about this group of singers compared to the ladies’ show last night.  I will say, like I said about the girls, that I understand it’s the first live week, but c’mon on now. 

Idol is now in its ninth season, which means that everyone out there knows what it takes to shine in this world of criticism and glory.  The guys tried too hard in my opinion; there were lots of runs and trying to outshine the one before him.  I did see a lot of potential though.  I definitely didn’t feel that way last night with the Top 12 girls.

As a Chicagoan, I was happy to see that three of the contestants hailed from my area.  I’m a fan of Lee Dewyze; he didn’t do exceptionally well tonight, but I love the raspy tone in his voice.  I actually like John Park too; he’s got a real richness to his voice.  But what the hell was he thinking with his song choice?  “God Bless the Child” is a song that should be sung by women with that powerhouse vocal.  I have a couple other guys that I will keep in the back of my mind (Casey James, Andrew Garcia) as could-be favorites.

Of course we have to discuss who I didn’t care for too.  I can’t jump on the Aaron Kelly train.  Sure, he’s got the David Archuletta thing going on, but he’s not a star.  Alex Lambert can lose the wanna-be mullet any time now.  I am not a fan of Michael Lynche either.  While watching his performance, I felt like I was sitting in a hotel listening to the wedding singer.

Usually when the Top 24 gets narrowed down to the Top 12, that’s when things really start heating up.  I’m really counting on that.  In interviews, Simon Cowell has said he feels like this is the year for a female winner.  I’m going to go out on a limb and disagree.  I’ve got the next three months to change my mind.

How To Pick A Good SNL Host

24 Feb

Saturday Night Live has been having a rough season so far.  Out of the 14 or so celebs that have hosted this season, there are only two that have been very good. 

Taylor Swift and Jon Hamm each brought an energy and excitement to the show that has been missing otherwise.  Swift’s monologue was original and set the tone for a great show.  Hamm’s hosting duties were fun and whenever you can incorporate the musical guest in a way that works, is even better.  Hamm and Michael Bublé’s restaurant skit about “Hamm & Bublé” was funny from top to bottom.  The play on Bublés last name, pronouncing it like bubbly, was genius.

Aside from those few hits, there have been a huge range of misses.  Nothing better explains that than January Jones’ appearance.  Her monologue was painful to watch.  I honestly felt bad for her, because she was that bad.  I can’t imagine the thoughts going through the minds of the cast that week.  Drew Barrymore, normally a riot, was not good TV either.

There is such a range of comedic and non-comedic talent out there.  A few weeks ago they had Ashton Kutcher on again (fourth time hosting, I think).  I like Kutcher, but how about something fresh and new.  Jennifer Lopez is hosting this Saturday and is doubling as the musical guest.  I already had a few apprehensions about this choice, but now she has parted ways with her record label.  Where will that leave her with song choice?  Are we going to hear a hit from the late ’90′s?

On March 6, I will definitely be tuning in.  They got it right with this choice of host: Zach Galifianakis.  He is one of the newest comedy go-to guys out there right now.  After the success of The Hangover, he is a perfect choice.  The following week’s host will be Jude Law.  I’m not sure how I feel about that.  The last time I remember him hosting was when the debacle known as the ‘Ashlee Simpson incident” occurred. 

I want to see exciting hosts.  There had been lots of talk of SNL trying to get Robert Pattinson earlier this season, but who do we get instead?  Taylor Lautner.  I would rather of waited for the day they got RPattz, then settling for Lautner.  There are so many good comedies on TV right now, how about trying to score someone from The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother or Modern Family. 

The choices don’t always have to be obvious either.  Sometimes the funnier hosts are the ones without a specific comedy background.  Personally, I think it wouldn’t hurt the cast to expand a bit either.  The cast is so small now and is filled with the same people in sketch after sketch.  Plus, you can’t tell me there aren’t more talented women in this country for Lorne Michaels to find.  How about making even one of them a regular and not just a feature player.  Kristen Wiig is probably not only burnt out, but viewers are burnt out on her.

This year is celebrating 35 years of SNL.  It would be great to see them act like they are trying to promote the milestone with better shows.

Dakota Fanning Shreds It Up

24 Feb

Dakota Fanning Dons Shredded Tights.

I realize you just turned 16 and are feeling like a princess, but really with the tights?  I get the ripped jeans things and I could maybe even get a few holes in the tights.  Can someone please tell me why this girl decided to wear tights that had more holes than actual material?  How is that fashionable?  Normally I think Fanning dresses well and appropriately for her age, but this is just silly.  Maybe she’s on her way to a Halloween party?  Oh wait, it’s only February.

Everybody’s Fine Review

24 Feb

Everybody’s Fine

Starring: Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore, Sam Rockwell, Kate Beckinsale

Let me start off by saying that I don’t not see a movie just because it gets poor reviews.  I thought about seeing this movie in the theater, but I didn’t see a point to spending $10 to do so.  When the box office numbers from the first weekend of release came out, I felt I made the right decision to wait for the DVD.

Regardless of what I’d heard about this movie prior to seeing it, I was excited because I really like the actors in it.  For the most part, I felt deceived.  The first 75% of this film was strictly about Robert De Niro‘s character with a few minutes here or there of the other supporting cast.  Don’t get me wrong, De Niro can pull off entire films with no additional cast, but when you have top actors in a film, you kind of expect to see more of them.

Honestly, this was one of my favorite De Niro performances.  I don’t think many people would agree with me, but he was so vulnerable in this role.  He was loving and caring and I didn’t see the man who was famous for saying, “You talkin’ to me…”  I saw a father who was desperate to be reunited with his family after the death of his wife.  After having each child cancel on a family weekend, he decides to go to them.  He wants to try to form a bond with them like the one they had with their mother.

The storyline definitely left something to be desired.  Any family action that was taking place outside of De Niro’s character was done with a voiceover.  That got old very quickly.  I didn’t feel much of a connection between De Niro and two of the actors playing his children: Sam Rockwell and Kate Beckinsale.  There was a better vibe between him and Drew Barrymore, who also played one of his children.  I felt that this film may have been a bit miscast.

The last twenty minutes of the film were better than the preceding seventy.  De Niro is really the only reason I felt this film was watchable.  He just portrayed a sweetness to his character that you don’t get to see very often with the other characters he plays.

 

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