John Turturro

New Transformers trailer further desecrates my childhood

/ / Film News & Trailers
  • Title: Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon
  • IMDB: link

I’m pretty sure Michael Bay doesn’t know the difference between robots and monsters. And that’s only one of my complaints with this first trailer for third movie in Michael Bay’s reimagined version of the Transformers franchise. Shia LaBeouf returns (with Victoria Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley standing  in for Megan Fox) for Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon which has something to do with the discovery of Transformers on the moon in the 1960’s (which I’m assuming we used to reverse engineer the Walkman?), a pissed off Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen), and metal bugs and snakes attacking the Earth. Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John Malkovich, John Turturro, and Alan Tudyk also star. Hugo Weaving returns as the voice of Megatron and Leonard Nimoy will voice Sentinel Prime. The further desecration of my childhood will begin on July 1st.

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The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
  • IMDB: link

taking-of-pelham-123-posterAs a director Tony Scott is a bit hit (Domino, Spy Game) and miss (Deja Vu, Enemy of the State) for my tastes. His latest, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, is not the first movie to be adapted from the novel by Morton Freedgood, but does showcase Scott’s trademark style.

I had planned to sit down and watch the original before hitting the screening for the new remake, but couldn’t quite find the time. So I can’t tell you how the film measures up to 1974 film with Walter Matthau. What I can tell you is the film delivers your basic “Die Hard in a subway” scenario, with smart crooks, mostly dumb cops, and a twist or two as well.

Our protagonist this time isn’t a hero. He isn’t John McClane in the wrong place at the wrong time. Denzel Washington stars as Walter Garber, a lifer in the subway bureaucracy who has been demoted pending the outcome of an investigation into his ethics. That puts the unlucky Walter at the dispatch desk when the call comes in that terrorists have taken control of a subway car with 19 hostages and are demanding $10,000,000 which must be delivered in one hour.

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Rounders

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Rounders
  • IMDB: link

“We can’t run from who we are.  Our destiny chooses us.”

Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) is a struggling law student; he’s also a world class poker player, who, in the film’s opening scene, loses all his money in a high stakes game.

Nine-months later Mike has renounced gambling and made up with his girlfriend (Gretchen Mol).  He works a part time delivery job and works towards a law degree.  Life is hard, but good, though he still misses the game and the thrill of playing.

When Mike’s best friend Worm (Edward Norton) is released from prison with a substantial mark to be paid off Mike finds himself pulled back to the tables.

The story is presented from Mike’s perspective with commentary, which comes and goes, giving us a glimpse into the world of professional gambling and his own views on life.  The story feels authentic and real; at no time does the film cop-out with huge twists or unlikely hands.

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Why I Hate Weddings

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Margot at the Wedding
  • IMDb: link

You know I can handle a chick flick, but Margot at the Wedding is a chick flick on speed, (and not that good of one).

The film is centered on Margot (Nicole Kidman) an overbearing and smothering loudmouth who drags her child (Zane Pais) to her sister Pauline’s (Jennifer Jason Leigh) wedding, not to celebrate to to break it up and find some time cheat on her husband (John Turturro) to bone an old school chum (Ciarán Hinds).

Subplots of the film include the averageness of Pauline’s fiancé Malcolm (Jack Black), the cute and seductive neighborhood girl (Halley Feiffer), suggestions of child abuse and incest, and the increasingly odd and crazy argument with the neighbors over the fate of the family’s favorite tree.

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The Color of Money

/ / Home Video
  • Title: The Color of Money
  • IMDb: link

“It’s even, but it ain’t settled.  Let’s settle it.”
 

The Color of Money

The film is a sequel to 1961’s The Hustler with Paul Newman reprising his role as “Fast” Eddie Felson.  By this time out (25 years after the original film) Eddie is the old hustler who has lost a step or two and decides to take a talented but raw pool player (Tom Cruise) under his wing and teach him the ropes of hustling.  Although the film earned itself five Oscar nominations (Newman won for his role) the film has largely been forgotten and ignored by those who feel it is one of Martin Scorsese’s lesser works, but to me it remains a nice reminder that sometimes sequels are worth seeing.

Newman is terrific, and although the film works better if you have seen the original it isn’t a necessity to enjoy the tale.  Cruise is well cast as the not too smart hot shot, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio puts in a strong supporting performance as the film’s smartest character.  You might also want to keep an eye out for some great cameos from the likes of Forest Whitaker, Iggy Pop, and several professional pool players.

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