Love Happens

 The Story: Burke is a motivational speaker on grief, whose wife died three years ago. His life isn't as together as it seems. He's a closet drinker, afraid of elevators, has child-like mood swings and is very much alone. Until he bumps into a woman arranging flowers in a hotel hallway and attempts to come out of his shell.

Love Happens, there is only 1 reason  why I saw this, Judy Greer. I love her! Whether she is playing a dumb blonde or a killer werewolf, she is marvelous!!!

Judy is not the star, but I ended up really liking this movie.  It's not your typical cheesy "girl" movie and it has a great cast.

For some reason critics have been very cruel to this movie. I think that's because it's not your typical romance movie. It doesn't have that "appropriate sparks are flying, someone que the power balled" moment (can you name the  movie I just quoted?) 

We see only the beginning of the romance that Burke and Eloise could have. What this movie is really about is a man's journey to re-start his life. And that my friends, makes me cry like a baby every time I watch this movie.

If you liked: Return to Me, Elizabethtown

Murder by Numbers

 The Story: Two high school students plan to commit the perfect murder. Instead, they start a deadly game of cat and mouse with a determined detective.

I'm pretty sure that everyone I know, knows about my love for crime movies. Hey, everyone's got their niche right? Sometimes Liz just doesn't get what I see in these movies. They can be a bit predictable at times, but they all stand out to me for a specific reason.

MBN stands out for one reason, Ryan Gosling. Its not what you think. Yes, he is a sexy, sexy man but he is a total psycho in this movie. Its scary how disturbed his character is in this movie. He should definitely play the bad guy in more movies.

Collateral

They Story: A Hitman forces a cabbie to spend the night driving him from job to job.


I've never really been a Tom Cruise fan. I'm a product of the late 80s, so I haven' watched must of his earlier work. I just don't bye the hype. However,  if any of you kids haven't seen him in this movie I need you  to stop what you're doing and go rent it. Now.



This film is dark and gritty and awesome. Tom definitely proves that he has the talent to be amazing. His ability to make you fear and empathize with a monstrous killer shows true skill. I wish he would take more roles like this one.

Credit must also be giving to the rest of the ensemble cast who complete this fast-paced thriller. 

Daydream Believers

... daydream believer and a homecoming queen...

Just had to get that out.

I got caught daydreaming at work today. It wasn't pretty. I was deep into one of those stares where I'm obviously not looking at anything in particular. But, this poor soul pretended like I was watching one of the TV' s in the back of the store. She kindly waited for the next preview to come on before snapping me back to reality.

Side-note:  Watching a constant rotation of the same 10 previews makes daydreaming unavoidable.  

My daydream today was about the comedy we just finished. Ironically, it takes place in a video store.

I've actually caught myself daydreaming about our stories a lot, lately. Thus, my problem. Lots of stories equals lots of characters, and I can't get these people out of my head. I think about everything, their jobs, what music they like, right down to the way they walk. Usually the daydreaming is about what they would be doing at that particular time of day.

I'm pretty sure this is why I'm a bit more scatter-brained these days. My thoughts are constantly consumed with how and eight year old tomboy would terrorize her siblings, or how a young naval officer can earn the respect of his men. I might be plotting the demise of a rival sorority or trying not to think how a psychotic, narcissistic killer could destroy on his family.

I hope I don't end up like John Cusak in Identity.

Oh, to be able to lock myself away and write these people out of my head. For now, I'm a slave to the Buster. So, if you catch me daydreaming be careful, I'm not sure who you'll be waking up.

How do you keep your characters from running wild in your head?

Blind Dating

The Story: A blind young man has his brother set him up on a series of dates in an attempt to find "the one".

Liz made me watch this one night, and I was not happy about it. I mean, a blind guy on blind dates just sounds kind of dumb, but this is another battle I lost. I watched, and I loved every minute of it.

Blind Dating is a funny, feel good kind of movie, with a sweet romantic story. It also has Chris Pine in it, so you know you're going to watch it!

Country Strong

Country Strong comes out on DVD today.

I got excited about this one after watching clips from it at last summer's Nashville Screenwriter's Conference. I like Screen Gems. I liked the concept, but Country Strong got a lot of hate when it was released in theaters back in January. Personally, I don't get it. I kinda liked it. A lot.

A and I watched CS this weekend to make sure we weren't crazy. Maybe we just got some really good popcorn at the theater that affected our mental capacities, but this was not the case. I still like it, and I think I know what the problem was.

In the previews, Country Strong looks like it's about Gwyneth as a fallen country super-star rising from the ashes in a major comeback, so you think you're in for one of those feel-good, inspiring sort of movies, like August Rush or Where the Heart Is, but with music. In reality, Country Strong is more of a story about three very different musicians trying to make it in the big bad world of country music where things tend turn out more like a sad country song.

The acting is good. The music is good (and that comes from someone who HATES country music). There may be a few cliches stuck in here and there, but nothing you can't live with.

So I say, go ahead. Watch Country Strong. If nothing else, it will give you an opportunity to laugh at the way Tim McGraw cries.

A childhood wrong, FINALLY made right

Memories. We've all got them.

The good, the bad and the ugly. Especially the ugly. Childhood memories though, those are supposed to be good ones.

One afternoon my friends and I started talking about our earliest childhood memories. One of them remembered a favorite toy. Another fondly remembered a family vacation. Me, mine wasn't so happy.

I remember this like it was yesterday. I'm 4, maybe 5 and I've thrown myself against the door that leads out to our garage in a fit of rage.

Why, might you ask, was a young child crying uncontrollable and trying everything she can think of to get out of the house? My mother had just left with my two sisters to go to a New Kids on the Block concert. They refused to take me along. I almost died. God only knows how far I would have chased her car if I would have figured out how to unlock the door (thanks dad).

I know what some of you are thinking, NKOTB? YES!!! I loved them the way that Allie Brosh loves cake.  Almost all of the videos of me as a kid are one's where I'm singing "Covergirl" or "Hanging Tough". NKOTB was the only thing that mattered. And my mother dared to take Liz over me. LIZ! She HATED NKOTB! She wanted nothing to do with them.

And to those of you who are thinking, Get over it! I say no. NEVER. I was far to young to learn that the world could be so cruel. That my own mother could be so cruel (I haven't let her forget this yet).

 But have no fear, I am on the road to recovery.

Today is a glorious day.

I came home from a long day of work, openend my mail and there it was, a ticket. A ticket to this summer's New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys concert. Other Sister, is the best!!! She is taking me for my birthday and I love her so!!!

My mother can not keep me from them this time!!!

Its going to be larger than life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wild America

 The Story: When eldest brothers Marty and Mark convince their parents to let them head west with thier film equipment, younger brother Marshall stows away is the back of thier van. From Netflix.com

This movie takes me back, way back. To like, the sixth grade. When Devon Sawa was a total dream boat and Johnathan Taylor Thomas was everywhere.

I fell in love with this movie as soon as it came out, but not just because of Devon and JTT.

Wild America is actually a really good movie. Its packed full of action and adventure. Plus, its a very relatable story about growing up. The Stouffer's have a hard time letting thier boys go, and the boys struggle to remember how much they need one another.

I definately recommend Wild America for family movie night, especially if you have younger boys. Its family friendly but doens't feel like you're watching a kiddie movie.

Here's a clip showing you just how crazy there brothers can be.

If you liked: 3 Ninjas, Legendary, The Mighty Ducks

Is It Me?

My goal for the last three weekends has been to find a good movie to recommend to you, our loyal, possibly non-existent readers. So far, I have failed you.

I tried watching movies about to be released. (A’s connection at the Buster means we get to watch movies the weekend before they hit the shelves. This is the number one reason why A can never quit her job.) I picked Skyline. Why? Because Battle LA was awesome, and Skyline seemed to be it’s equal.

It is not.

Watching Skyline was basically like watching people decide whether or not to leave their apartment. It took 45 minutes. Seriously. Why? Go or don’t. Stop talking about it!

Skyline also made me temporarily dislike David Zayas from Dexter. I cannot forgive this.

Then I tried going to the movie theater. I picked Red Riding Hood because the trailer looked interesting, and those dang American Idol kids said it was good.

They lied.

The main problem here was that the movie was half of what I expected and half what no one in their right mind would wish for. (Prepare for spoilers….)

Every time I saw the preview for RRH, I was like, she is so the wolf! She has to be. No one will expect it. This will be great on an epic scale!

Turns out, she’s not the wolf. Exactly. What a waste. As A tweeted after the viewing, it made us feel cheap and cheated.

Sigh.

In a last ditch effort, I watched Dance of the Dead, an indy, cheesy, zombie flick because of this interview I read at the Bitter Script Reader. It sort of had some potential, but I ended up cutting it off about half way through. I needed to eat dinner. They needed to kill zombies. It wasn’t working out for us.

And so, my question is this: Is it me? Am I so picky that no movie will ever satisfy me again?

I really, really hope not.

On the docket for this weekend: Lincoln Lawyer or Source code, Slither, The Chronicles of Narnia III, and possibly Return to Me (A hasn’t seen it.)

Feel free to give me some more suggestions.