flagrantdisregard » movies

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John — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:55:41 +0000

Kids are off watching some movie called Cloudy With Meatballs. I “couldn’t go” because I was “working on the car.” I’m a “genius.”
Grosse Pointe Blank is on Netflix watch instantly! *blip! blip! blip!*
My son is now a Taekwondo orange belt.
Just bought a ukulele! Now must wait a week for delivery. :(
Proof that I wore a tie the other night. Jacket too. Oh, I was dapper and a half.
I think I drank my weight in martinis tonight.
You don’t want me on your trivia game team unless there’s a category called Useless Knowledge (Even by Trivia Game Standards).
The bear in the red cape is worth the trip.
The 2010 California Protection of Marriage Act: protect traditional marriage by banning divorce.
Daughter is exploring her creative potential. Consequence: I’m listening to Ricky Martin sing Livin’ la Vida Loca.
Things I wish I’d known in advance: that joining Facebook meant I’d one day be reading about my niece’s cramps.
Two hours of email complete. Now moving on to “real” work: typing things into a computer to make it “do” stuff.
Not hungry but I’m eating breakfast anyway. Hey stomach, you’re not the boss of me.
Received email asking for my computer expertise to spy on a cheating husband. Has it come to this? Very depressing.
9 people getting married at 99 cent store on 9/9/09 because they won a contest. News head says it’s a “very meaningful ceremony.”
Saw Ponyo tonight. We all liked it. If you liked My Neighbor Totoro or Kiki’s Delivery Service I think you’ll like it too.

twitter.com/yafd

Recent Tweets

John — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:31:35 +0000

It’s not that I hate my bank–they’re great. It’s just that every time I have to call them I feel a tiny part of my soul blacken and die.
hunch_staff: Sorry, your topic “Should I eat my children?” was declined. Reason: Gruesome.
Monsters vs. Aliens was good.
Words I never imagined would enter my brain: I’m in the market for a trampoline.
This is what they mean when they say art nourishes the soul (via Waxy). This made me happy. http://soytuaire.labuat.com/
Daughter: I don’t get it. The higher grade you’re in the smaller your playground.
I liked the book fair more when someone else paid the bill.
$20 bills littering playground in form of discarded children’s jackets.
Note: texting someone “mated” when you meant “mauled” changes the intent *completely*.
Today’s most pathetic moment: paged house phone to find it so that I could call my cell to find it.

twitter.com/yafd

Review: Hancock

John — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:10:40 +0000

I was expecting a comedy from beginning to end but Hancock is really two movies mashed together: a comedy in the first half (Superman is an asshole) and an action drama in the second half. It starts out as pretty funny superhero satire. But it’s like they ran out of steam and after Hancock is redeemed it’s a completely different movie. The whole becomes a hero backstory myth that follows a formula similar to Stripes or Batman Begins. Not exactly what I was expecting but it’s a fun popcorn movie.

Hancock (Netflix)

Review: Burn After Reading

John — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:38:13 +0000

Immediately goes for the jugular of awkward social interaction and then combines that with the awkwardness of senseless and accidental homicide. My favorite scenes were between the CIA Supervisor played by J. K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson in Spiderman) and the CIA Officer played by David Rasch (Senator, Flags of Our Fathers) as they comically tried (not too hard) to unravel just what the hell was going on. I liked it enough but, as dark comedies go, it’s no War of the Roses or Being John Malkovich. Fargo, also directed by Coen, was much better.

Burn After Reading (Netflix)

Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

John — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:05:54 +0000

I really enjoyed this one. Benjamin Button is a long, quiet film. Narrated in the first person, it tells the extraordinary epic of a boy named Benjamin who was born old and grows younger as he ages. While focusing on the important people in his life, Benjamin’s story reveals that his strange blend of experience plus youth has unique and emotionally painful drawbacks.

While hurricane Katrina approaches New Orleans, the story is read to us from Benjamin’s diary by a woman as a final request to her dying mother. And as the diary is read, mother and daughter each learn things that change their lives.

Touching, inspiring, filled with humor, sadness, and romance. Pitt and Blanchett are both wonderful. Did I mention that it’s long? Reminded me a lot of Meet Joe Black which I also liked.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Netflix)

Review: Nim’s Island

John — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:41:37 +0000

Cute. An unchallenging story that progresses predictably (but intentionally) just like a children’s fairy tale book. For adults, Jodie Foster was the true star of this movie, playing an agoraphobic and comic Indiana Jones who comes to the rescue of Nim (Abigail Breslin). Dramatic and exciting for young children without being scary. It’s fun to see with kids who will undoubtedly get a kick out of Nim’s treehouse and her animal friends. Older children may appreciate the added complexity of relationships and growth as the characters become the heroes of their own life stories. Recommended for the whole family.

We saw this one yesterday in an actual theater. You might still be able to catch a showing, otherwise you’ll probably have to wait until it is available on DVD (maybe Fall 2008).

Nim’s Island (Netflix)

Review: Balls of Fury

John — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:59:32 +0000

Hm. I only expected it to be funny. That’s not too much to ask of a comedy, is it? I think the cast probably did the best they could with what they were given. A movie about ping pong with Christopher Walken has the potential for greatness. But the quality of most of the jokes only ranged from lame to mildly amusing. Don’t go into this expecting the ping pong equivalent of Blades of Glory or Dodgeball (both of which I enjoyed much more than this). Not recommended.

Balls of Fury (Netflix)

Review: Bee Movie

John — Sun, 04 May 2008 17:53:03 +0000

Bad. Plays more like a slide show than a movie, a series of random jokes set to animation. There were a couple of funny bits but the entire production suffered from spending too much time on all of the one-liners and sight gags, many of which should have been cut in favor of making a fluid story with characters that one could actually care about. Mercifully, musical numbers did not make the cut. Evidence that a film’s quality is inversely proportional to the amount of money spent on advertising it. Not worth your time.

Bee Movie (Netflix)

Review: Dan In Real Life

John — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:53:14 +0000

Steve Carell takes a welcome detour from Noah and Michael Scott to a real-life version of Charlie Brown (all-grown-up and widowed but without the self-pity). Dan’s dedication to his children, especially as a single parent and despite his loneliness, is heroic and very real. Dan’s middle daughter provides a frightening (for a man with a young daughter) but hilarious glimpse at teenage love-induced agony and frustration. All of the characters ring true. And the soundtrack by Sondre Lerche was the perfect complement. Dan In Real Life made me laugh and warmed my heart. Highly recommended.

Dan In Real Life (Netflix)

Review: Juno

John — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:18:51 +0000

It’s been compared to Little Miss Sunshine but I don’t see it.¹ Juno is a much better movie. Sunshine’s dysfunctions were an end unto themselves, their fantasy problems and foibles were the plot. Juno’s characters and situations are authentic and their quirks are a natural extension of their personalities. Sarcastic, witty, cynical. But ultimately brimming with optimism. As the comedy and tragedy progress, a real message about hope and love emerges. I believe in Juno.

You probably already know if you want to see it or not. But recommended anyway.

Juno (Netflix)

Besides the indie vibe or it being labeled “quirky.” ↩