Hockey is one brutal sport! That's the thought Goon leaves you with.
This little sport film is surprisingly funny and enjoyable, and features Seann William Scott in a funny-yet-sweet roleas Doug Glatt (definitely one of my fav. performances) and Liev Schrieber as Ross Rhea, as two enforcers (another name for guys whose job on the ice is to fight -- bare knuckle) on opposing teams with a really soothing demeanor till they instigate a fight on the ice that is.
Written by Evan Goldberg and Jay Baruchel, who also starred as Pat - Doug's "tattooed and profanity driven" best friend; this character's vulgar nature is on par with the violence that heralds the movie's theme. Alison Pill's role as Doug's love interest is a cute attempt at personifying "Doug" thus bringing along emotional weight to this feature. Jonathan Cherry as Marco, was insanely hilarious as the divorced goalie who just had to remind everyone what he was going through; his pep talks are really out of this world in a twisted emotional manner that is; while Marc-Andre Grondin as Laflamme , the fallen superstar of the team also reflects how Doug influences his (LaFlamme) road to redemption, and the effects of team work.
Director Michael Dowse's approach is to applauded as he dove right in, focusing on the players of the game rather than the game itself giving fans and non-fans (like your truly) an insight on the game, thus not over/under-whelming either parties.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Overview - The Aj/Cinephile Project
97 days(originally set for 90 days), 100 movies, The Aj/Cinephile project has finally come to an end. Here are the 100 movies that I saw and reviewed.
- Julie & Julia
- Man on Fire
- War of the Worlds
- The Hangover
- Cold Mountain
- Casino Royale
- Watership Down
- The Bourne Identity
- Warrior
- The Bourne Supremacy
- Blood Diamond
- Schindler's List
- Road to Perdition
- The Incredibles
- City of God
- Million Dollar Baby
- Die Hard
- Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
- The Pianist
- Marley & Me
- The Untouchables
- Winter's Bone
- Star Trek
- Fight Club
- Pulp Fiction
- Zombieland
- The Adventures of Tintin
- Inglourious Basterds
- Precious
- The Godfather
- Scarface
- Hugo
- Midnight in Paris
- Carnage
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
- Princess and the Frog
- Gone with the Wind
- Let Me In
- Snatch
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
- Kung Fu Panda
- Shawn of the Dead
- The Shawshank Redemption
- Up
- V for Vendetta
- The Dark Knight
- The Hurt Locker
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
#100 - The Departed
Frank Costello: When you decide to be something, you can be it. That's what they don't tell you in the church. When I was your age they would say we can become cops, or criminals. Today, what I'm saying to you is this: when you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?
Overtime
The Departed
This is the final film for The Aj/Cinephile Project and director, Martin Scorsese's eighth appearance in this outstanding cinematic experience. Like The Town and Mystic River, Boston plays an integral role in the film as it blends perfectly with the theme - which focuses on crime and police corruption infused with the Irish mob.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
PREVIEWS - March Movies (Limited)
Being Flynn
Nick Flynn is shocked to have his eccentric and long-absent father, Jonathan reach out to him unexpectedly. Still feeling the loss of his mother in the midst of starting a new relationship with Denise, the last person Nick wants to see is his father. But you can't outrun fate and slowly Nick comes to realize he has been given the chance to make a real future not only for himself, but for his struggling father too.
Salmon Fishing In The Yemen
Nick Flynn is shocked to have his eccentric and long-absent father, Jonathan reach out to him unexpectedly. Still feeling the loss of his mother in the midst of starting a new relationship with Denise, the last person Nick wants to see is his father. But you can't outrun fate and slowly Nick comes to realize he has been given the chance to make a real future not only for himself, but for his struggling father too.
Directed by Paul Weitz, and starring Robert De Niro, Julianne Moore, Paul Dano and Olivia Thirlby.
Opens: March 2, 2012 Runtime: 1 hr. 26 min. Genre: Drama, Comedy Rated: R
Movie #99 - The Passion of the Christ
Jesus Christ: Forgive them, Father. They know not what they do.
Overtime
The Passion of the Christ
It may be graphic, bloody and violent, But isn't that what Christ went through? I was shocked to see some reviews as I feel that Mel Gibson's (director) aim was to show the torture and death of Christ in the most realistic manner he knew, and in my opinion he made a wonderful movie in the process.
Monday, March 5, 2012
PREVIEWS - March Movies
Dr. Seuss' The Lorax
This is a tale of a young boy, Ted who lives in a town where nothing is quite as it appears; everything is plastic, including the plants. Hopelessly smitten by the beautiful Audrey, who dreams of one day seeing a real tree, Ted boldly leaves the city determined to find the flora and grant her wish. Along the way, the young adventurer crosses paths with the Lorax, a diminutive, mustached defender of nature who doesn't take kindly to human intruders.
Directed by Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda; starring the voices of Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zach Efron, Taylor Swift and Betty White.
This is a tale of a young boy, Ted who lives in a town where nothing is quite as it appears; everything is plastic, including the plants. Hopelessly smitten by the beautiful Audrey, who dreams of one day seeing a real tree, Ted boldly leaves the city determined to find the flora and grant her wish. Along the way, the young adventurer crosses paths with the Lorax, a diminutive, mustached defender of nature who doesn't take kindly to human intruders.
Directed by Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda; starring the voices of Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zach Efron, Taylor Swift and Betty White.
Movie #98 - The Usual Suspects
Verbal Kint: The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.
Overtime
The Usual Suspects
Usually films about deception keep the viewer in the loop, but The Usual Suspects does exactly the opposite, deceiving the characters and the viewers, except for Verbal Kint (played by Kevin Spacey) who held all the cards and carefully dazzled everyone - me included, till Special Agent Dave Kujan (played by Chazz Palminteri) and the sketch artist's impression figures out for us just who Keyser Söze truly is. Now that's intrigue at its best.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Movie #97 - The Town
Fergus 'Fergie' Colm: You know they either geld a horse with a knife or with chemicals. When your Daddy said "no" to me, I did him the chemical way.
Overtime
The Town
Ben Affleck really knows his stuff, as co-writer, director and lead actor. But the real star is Jeremy Renner whose performance in this film is on par with his acting in The Hurt Locker, which earned him an Academy Award nomination.
The cast - Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Blake Lively and Pete Postlethwaite - were absolutely amazing!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Movie #96 - Bram Stoker's Dracula
Dracula: Do you think you can destroy me with your idols? I who served the cross, I who commanded nations, hundreds of years before you were born?
Overtime
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Now this is how you make a Vampire/Romance film, not the ridiculously depressing Twilight series; though Francis Cord Coppola did overdo it especially on the romantic front, as the story felt a bit overcrowded but certainly made up for it with his approach, making Dracula more than just a blood thirsty vampire but an undead man with heart.
The production was visually scintillating and the art direction is amazing. While the acting department (supporting actors that is) was limp, Gary Oldman totally embodied his director's vision thereby making his performance one of the best portrayals ever!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Movie #95 - Gangs of New York
Boss Tweed: Remember the first rule of politics. The ballots don't make the results, the counters make the results. The counters. Keep counting.
Overtime
Gangs of New York
This is the seventh movie by Martin Scorsese appearing on the cinephile project; which comprises of brilliant production, historical accuracy, impressive screenplay, amazing mise-en-scène and costumes, and superb acting from Daniel-Day Lewis.
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