Mission Cusack

So I’ve decided to see every movie that Sir John Cusack has ever made – in case you’re wondering it’s a lot.  Around 57 and counting…

 

The most recent entry I viewed was 1985’s “The Sure Thing”, starring a young Anthony Edwards (fresh off the the greatest film ever made – “Revenge of the Nerds”) and the quintessential 80’s icon John Cusack.  The movie also featured several bikini clad cut-aways of a young and surprisingly attractive Nicollette Sheridan, who I find entirely un hot in DHW.  This film like most of the era was predictable and had a hurried ending – but I still enjoyed and recommend it.  Unfortunately for “The Sure Thing,” it came out the same year as the incomparable “Better Off Dead”, and is justifiably forgotten on the food pyramid of Cusack’s filmography.  Watch it anyway - at-the-very-least it shows off his early acting chops. 

I’m going to put together a ranking of my favorite Cusack movies, and right now this is probably in the lower middle-ish. 

Goodnight and good stuff.

The Last Days of Disco

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120728/

I had never heard of this movie, but Netflix told me I would like it.  They were right?  I think I will need a couple of days before I can decide if I approve or not, though I’m leaning towards yes.  Currently, I have the same unsettled reaction I had after watching Closer and Roger Dodger.  I spent numerous hours internally replaying and reviewing those films; and ultimately decided they were good movies. 

The movie was more-or-less centered around the lives of recent college grads: Kate Beckinsale and Chloë Sevigny.  Set during the end of the ‘disco age' and mostly taking place in a very trendy and exclusive New York City night club (maybe it was supposed to be Studio 54 - not sure on that).  The film was about sex, the early innocence of STD’s (Herpes was the biggest scare), drugs, relationships and career politics. 

I’ve been in love with Beckinsale since she first showed up in a nurses outfit and got in between Ben and Josh; but her character was evil and probably a little too skinny.  Sevigny was charming and really cute in this movie; though I was never totally sure where her character was coming from (probably what she wanted). Before watching this, I had only known her for the extremely gratuitous oral-sex scene she had in an indie film (do a Google image search if you don’t know what I’m talking about).  I wonder how she ever justified that scene as pertinent to the integrity of the film.  “Without actually seeing his schvantz in my mouth, the art was completely compromised.”

Anyway, check out this movie if you haven’t seen it.  It was at the very least, a lot better than 54. 

Idol

It’s really sad when they bring in a comedically bad singer for Simon to make a show of publicly lambasting; and all I can think is - I’d really like to be able to sing that well.

Girls vs. Suits

I was seriously tickled by tonight’s episode of How I Met Your Mother.  And we almost met ‘Your Mother’.  Oh, and Rachel Bilson is a cutey (news flash).

Reviews, reviews, (a third seems douchey)

Saw Avatar Friday night at the Science Center in IMAX and 3-D. This was not not a good movie.  Visually it was spectacular - especially at that amazing theatre.  But I never got into this film, never cared about the characters, kind of sympathized with both sides (but not much).  Was annoyed, not amused that Cameron called the mineral unobtainium (it seemed like Giovanni actually had a hard time calling it that).  See it in the theatres, but pay the extra two dollars and see it in IMAX.  I'll bet that once will be enough though.

Also watched The Brothers Bloom tonight (Credit Jessica Hernandez for the recommendation).  Good movie, fun, clever finish.  I found myself spending considerable energy trying to figure out the ending (which I appreciate).  Put it on your queue.

All over again

So I watched this movie last night.  

I vaguely remember it being in the theatres, but never really heard much aboot it (positive, negative or otherwise).  But I have to say this film could have been really corny – and it wasn’t.  The driving scene with the ‘special camera’ was amazing.  i like the ending too – left you doing the math in your head.  Short story, shorter: see it.

I forgot this one.

Please see “500 Days of Summer” also.  This one was almost too real.

Catching (you) up on recent films I’ve watched

Duplicity: not great, but really pretty good

 

Exract:  see it, not Office Space, but certainly not Idiocracy

 

Julie & Julia: i really liked this movie.  Funny, sad, well paced, inspiring

New Year – new… I’ll let you know

So I experienced what I hope was a positive omen on the “first” day of this year.  I consider January 2nd to be the first real day of the New Year (the 1st is relegated as a lost day of recovering, over-eating and football).

Swinging by the neighboring 7-11 for the first coffees of our early morning drive to Crystal Mountain, I handed the owner four dollars and received my exact change as a 50 cent piece.  Ordinarily just getting a half dollar is pretty special, but on this serendipitous occasion the 50 cent piece also happened to share my birthday.  I’m not overtly superstitious - I try not to walk under ladders or open umbrellas inside – but I’m pretty sure that’s a lucky find, and possibly a harbinger of awesomeness for the impending year.