Anyway, while we were in Best Buy, I turned in my Ipod to the Geek Squad to be fixed, for the fourth time. I have discovered that the Geek Squad are not actually a team of technology savvy geeks. They are just nerds with very minimal customer service skills and a lot of gel in their hair. They are not really that helpful.

I am not helpful either. Especially when my mother tells me that she wants the new album by the artist that she calls "the guy from American Idol who does the beat box?" 

Who?

In order to help Karen, the employee that was trying to help my mom, who knew who he was, but couldn't think of the name either, I listed off every single person that I could think of that had come from American Idol. Clay Aiken, Rubben Studdard, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Anastasia and just for kicks I threw in Justin but I felt like that was going to far. All of which I knew were not "the guy from American Idol who does the beat box?" It occurred to me later that naming Simon or Paula would have been funnier. They did not get the joke. Maybe I should have said Randy Jackson?

So the three of us were at a loss for the name of "the guy from American Idol who does the beat box?" and my mother said that we should ask one of the "young" people because they would know, and I thought, Well shit, I am officially out of touch because even though I am sure that I would not want to listen to "the guy from American Idol who does the beat box?" I should probably know his name, or at least who he is. You know like be able to picture him in my head but I know nothing about it at all... whatsoever, nothing, nada, never did.

The skinny, brace faced teenage girl at the register was my mother's chosen "young" person to bestow the pop-knowledge that we pop-seeked. Here is the exchange that took place:

Mom: Excuse me, what is the name of "the guy from American Idol who does the beat box?"

Girl: I don't know

Mom: You don't know? What's wrong with you?

Girl: What's wrong with me? I don't watch American Idol

Me: Hmmm? (eyeing her suspiciously)

Mom: What's wrong with American Idol?

Girl: I don't have time to watch any T.V. I have school and I work thirty hours a week and I have a boyfriend that I have to spend time with.

Me: He makes you spend time with him? 

Girl: Yeah

Me: Hmmm? (eyeing her suspiciously)

Girl: He works thirty hours a week too.

Me: But does he know who "the guy from American Idol who does the beat box" is?

Girl: No

The rest of our brief interaction was a typical customer/employee exchange with maybe, a subtext of irritation but I am not sure. There is always a slight malaise when I am out with my mother, I just can never tell where it's coming from. It's like being under the florescent lights at Wal-Mart for too long.

Borders did not have any of the books I wanted. Neither did Barnes & Noble. I guess that is a good thing. My Ipod will be in the shop for the next four to six weeks, again. I still don't know who "the guy from American Idol who does the beat box" is? But my mother did get the sixth season of Monk on DVD. That quirky OCD detective, Isn't Tony Shalhoub fun!

(Disclaimer: At no point in the "excursion" did the writer feel that he was cooler or better in anyway for his lack of knowledge or not lack of knowledge of... the long running television show American Idol.)

There will be four categories picked today, tomorrow, and Friday. I am going to save the Best Drama and Best Comedy picks for Sunday prior to the show. Here is the first category, chosen at random...Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series.

The nominees are:

• Tony Shalhoub, "Monk"
• Steve Carell, "The Office"
• Lee Pace, "Pushing Daisies"
• Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
• Charlie Sheen, "Two And A Half Men"

I'm sure I am not the alone person that makes a pick like this by using the process of elimination. The first person I eliminated was Tony Shalhoub. I'll be honest, I didn't know that "Monk" was still on the air. Shalhoub has garnered enough praise and plenty of awards for this role, which I was never that impressed with to begin with.

The next to go is Chuck Sheen. The sitcom is dying and, of the four nominees, Sheen's show is the only one that uses a laugh track. This isn't Sheen's fault but, in this day and age, I simply cannot support anything with a laugh track. When something is funny, I'll laugh without the assistance of canned giggles.

Here is where it gets tough. I'm sorry but Lee Pace is out. I adore "Pushing Daisies" and I really feel it's a television breakthrough but this division is too tough for Pace to win, or even get the Wild Card playoff spot. Maybe next year Lee.

That leaves Alec Baldwin and Steve Carell. I don't see the enchantment with "30 Rock", which I find funny but not a beacon of comedic genius that others think it is. However, Alec Baldwin is definitely the funniest thing on the show. I am easily entertained by the obnoxious, arrogant character who in reality, is a buffoon. That is Baldwin on "30 Rock".

That being said, this Emmy needs to go to Steve Carell. It's really been a long time coming for Carell's Michael Scott. Carell's timing is second to none on television. In actuality, if I could give some sort of duel award to Carell and Rainn Wilson, I would do so. The chemistry that Carell has with Wilson, along with the other cast members of "The Office", is amazing.

Should win: Steve Carell, "The Office"
Will win: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

I might have been too young to be worried about What Kind of Real Job I'd Get, too young to realize I was still full of so much of the potential it takes most people their entire 20s to fritter away.  But I remember being fed up with my probable future and said flat out, "I just want to stand there on a street corner and tell people what I think."

It didn't make a whole lot of sense at the time: Me standing there, literally on a soapbox, or milk crate, spouting off about philosophy and all.  Tony Shalhoub's possible prophet character from Life or Something Like It became the closest visual analog when it came around.

As time mellowed me and my brain reconfigured my past, as it continually does, that moment of panic became an instance of clarity, one of those rare times when all this fiddle becomes the vapor that it's always been.  The crisis was in the beginning and the end the opportunity to be aware of me being self-aware enough that I more or less do know what I want and have to do with my life and that what my ego has chalked up to be the indecision of a brilliant mind is really the fear and laziness of a man-child who must keep going even if he does not know the way.

Apologies, I have a tendency to digress when I start talking about Wings. If you remember, my original idea for a blog was "Watching Wings with my Twin" but nooooo. You were all for expanding our cultural horizons.

Now onto matter more Middlemarch-ian. I liked how in the midst of nostalgic flashback to our childhood days watching sub-par 70's sitcoms (I can hardly wait for your bittersweet evocation of our viewing of The Partridge Family.) you ever so subtly mention how far along in Middlemarch you are.

And you don't stop there, oh no, I could read the subtext of your vivid description of The Kelly Kids. As a case in point take this portion:

For example you write:
"Blah, blah, blah, Kelly Kids, blah blah Brady Bunch." (Sorry, I had to paraphrase, I couldn't remember your exact words.)

I read
"Ha! Look how far I am. Why do you read so slow? You are the albatross around the neck of this blog. Idiot."

Well, don't worry twin brother, the message came across loud and clear.

I am actually nearing the end of Book I myself. I can't get enough of the Cadwallader's. What are your thoughts on that crazy couple?

Well, I will be back when I finish Book One. So, talk soon.

Justin

Lately though, I have been taking in more tv. Lost is a given, of course, but several shows been rewarded with my time:

Psych: You must check this show out. By far my favorite actor-duo. Incredible writing,wit, and '80's pop refreneces. Starring James Roday and Dule Hill. These guys have incredible chemistry...Dule Hill was also in the movie "Holes" so he is definitely moving up. And its filmed in Santa Barbara.

Monk: A classic, and predecessor to Psych. Completing USA's deadly combo on comedy-drama-crime thrillers. Emmy award-winning Tony Shalhoub heads up an incredible cast and really sets the bar for this genre. And San Francisco holds so much charm!

Law and Order: A recent weekend marathon sparked my interest in this classic show. This drama shows both portions of our justice system in action...Besides who can do without Fred Thompson?

The Closer: Kyra Sedgwick reminds me of Tommy Lee Jones in "The Client"... Down south determination and etiquette. A Southern Belle sending the bats back to hell.

What are you guys watching? Any suggestions?

Regie
Joel & Ethan Coen

Hauptdarsteller
Billy Bob Thornton als Ed Crane
Frances McDormand als Doris Crane
Michael Badalucco als Frank
James Gandolfini als Dave "Big Dave" Brewster
Jon Polito als Creighton Tolliver
Scarlett Johansson als Rachel "Birdy" Abundas
Tony Shalhoub als Freddy Riedenschneider

Handlung
In The Man Who Wasn't There rnimmt Billy Bob Thornton die Rolle des staendig rauchenden aber selten redenden Ed Cranes. Ed ist der 2. Friseur im Herrensalon seines Schwagers Frank und "hat es zu etwas gebracht": Er ist verheiratet mit seiner Frau Doris und sie Leben in ihrem eigenen Haus. Doch Ed langweilt sich in seinem Leben und als ein gewisser Creighton Tolliver mit der Idee der Trockenreinigung in den Salon kommt und einen Investor sucht sieht Ed seine Chance. Er treibt das Geld auf und beteiligt sich an dem Geschaeft. Doch infolge dessen geraet er immer tiefer in eine Zwickmuehle, die fuer die Beteiligten kaum einen Ausweg hat...

Kritik
Der Film besticht besonders durch Billy Bob Thorntons grandios ausdruckslose Mimik gepaart mit dem melancholisch-schoenen klassischen Klaviersoundtrack, der teils von Scarlett Johannson (live?) gespielt wird bzw. im Hintergrund laeuft und die somit entstehende leicht depressive Atmosphaere welche den ganzen Film hindurch praesent ist.
Weiterhin ist Coen-typisch Frances McDormand in der mehr oder weniger grossen Rolle  der Doris Crane vertreten, die sie aber meiner Meinung nach gut gespielt hat. Auch die anderen Rollen wurden gut besetzt und wurden authentisch gespielt. Ich finde es jedoch schade, dass James Gandolfini (einigen sicher bekannt als Tony Soprano aus der HBO-Serie "The Sopranos") nicht seine uebliche Synchronstimme bekam. Da dieser Aspekt jedoch nicht auf den O-Ton zu trifft, nehme ich ihn aus der Wertung heraus.
Eine wunderbare entscheidung der Coens war es, den Film in schwarz/weiss zu veroeffentlichen, weil dadurch noch mehr die negative Stimmung unterstrichen wird und auch irgendwie an den "originalen" Film-Noir mit Humphrey Bogart & Co erinnert. Es ist zwar auch eine Farbfassung des Films auf dem Markt, aber ich rate davon ab, denn gewisse Filme sind in s/w einfach besser.

Wertung
9/10

Mr Monk Buys A House

Like the pulling of a wisdom tooth.

Or

The first speech you have to give in front of your class.

Or

Every time your mom made you eat liver and onions.

Some things are going to happen no matter what and it's just best to get them over with.

This past television season was one of those things. Phewy...it was awful. I've never been so happy to see reruns of reruns on my television screen.

And

By the looks of what the major networks are planning for next season, I could not be more happy for the emergence of TNT and USA as serious competition for original scripted programming.

Who knew summer television would ever be THE thing to be paying attention to?!

But

Here it comes and it appears to be coming with a BANG!

My choice for the top three summer scripters to be watching are:

MONK

This show continues to shine and just keeps getting better with each year. However, I think every treadmill should come with a warning: Watching MONK while operating this equipment could be dangerous. I've fallen off my treadmill twice while watching this show. I get to laughing so hard I lose my balance and off I go! Season premiere is Friday, July 18 at 9/8 central on the USA network.

Burn Notice

If you are like me, you didn't notice this show during its first season. But, if you've caught any of the reruns leading up to the premiere of it's second season, then you know this show is fantastic! Great writing, excellent cast, creative editing, and humorous. I LIKE IT! Season premiere is Thursday, July 10 at 10/9 central on the USA network.

The Closer

Kyra Sedgwick is absolutely wonderful as Deputy Chief Brenda Lee Johnson. Everything about this show is excellent. For a scripted drama, this show holds its own against any of the major network dramas. Storyline, character development, and the "real" factor of human behavior within the main characters is engaging. Brenda Lee Johnson is a character that many people can relate to and that's refreshing. Season premiere is Monday, July 14 at 9/8 central on TNT.

So...

Get ready to leave the mosquitoes behind and bring your lemonade on in for some fun summer television!

Last year, amidst rumors that NBC was going to ax the under-performing Law and Order: Criminal Intent, USA gained the rights to show new episodes, which would then rerun on NBC when/if needed. I personally like CI, although I find that I prefer the episodes with Chris Noth and Julianne Nicholson, because Vincent D'Onofrio's Goren has become a little too over-the-top for me.

New episodes started two weeks ago, and in a few short weeks, the new seasons of The Closer (July 14), Burn Notice (July 10), Monk (July 18) and Psych (July 18) premiere.

I like Monk, and it's amusing and well-written and Tony Shalhoub deserves his Emmys, but honestly, I can only watch so much of the show before I get nervous.

My favorite would have to be a tie between The Closer and Burn Notice, although Burn Notice definitely has the edge in the OMG-he-is-so-hot category. Jeffrey Donovan is just...hot. I have to turn down the AC when watching, and that is only a slight exaggeration. (Plus the show is just awesomely fun. It's like a non-cheesy MacGyver with a much, much hotter MacGyver.)

I never really paid much attention to Kyra Sedgwick before The Closer, but she is really remarkable as Brenda Lee Johnson, and I find that even after three seasons, the show is still fresh and I'm still anticipating where the new season leads us. Her supporting cast is excellent as well. I can see why The Closer remains cable's highest-rated drama of all time.

Then there's Psych. Wow, that show is quirky, charming and hilarious. James Roday is exceptional, and I never knew Dule Hill had such great comic timing.

Cape May's favorite Hollywood actor and screenwriter, Stinson has selected these classics to bring to the big screen with lively discussion to follow. The program will run five consecutive Saturdays beginning May 31 and ending June 28, all at Cape May Elementary on Lafayette Street. The films begin at 7:00 p.m. For more information, contact the Film Society at 609-884-6700.

Stinson says, "These are great films that went unnoticed or in some cases have been forgotten. The reason might be that they were small films or difficult to categorize, but these movies have reputations that only get stronger over time. None of them fit a particular stereotypical mold, and people who have seen them think of them as instant classics."

"We look forward to extending this type of programming out in the community," says Annie Mullock, Events Director for the Film Society. "That's why we're hosting this program at the elementary school-it's at the heart of this community, and we're honored that they invited us. And with JC Stinson as your host, you know that viewing these films will be both entertaining and informative."

Here are the films:

May 31-Touch of Evil: This mystery is considered to be one of the great movies of Orson Welles, who both directed and starred in it with Janet Leigh and Charlton Heston.

June 7-State & Main: David Mamet's seventh feature centers on the havoc wrought on the inhabitants of a small town when a Hollywood film swoops in. Stars William Macy, Alec Baldwin, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

June 14-Sounder: Martin Ritt's big-screen adaptation of William H. Armstrong's Newberry Award winning novel, Sounder stars Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, and Kevin Hooks. Sounder was nominated for a variety of Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

June 21-The Boxer: Released after his 14-year prison sentence for IRA activities, 32-year-old Danny Flynn (Daniel Day-Lewis) returns to his old neighborhood and sees former-flame Maggie (Emily Watson), who has an unhappy marriage and now raises her son alone while her husband is in prison.

June 28-Big Night: Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and Secondo (Stanley Tucci) have journeyed from Italy to New Jersey in the mid-1950s, determined to make a killing with an authentic Italian restaurant. Preparations for a big night hosting bandleader Louis Prima present behind-the-scenes family comedy spiked with high drama. Highlighted by a strong supporting cast of Minnie Driver, Isabella Rossellini, and Allison Janney.

The Cape May Film Society hosts the Cape May Film Festival, which is New Jersey's premiere film festival dedicated to the support and presentation of creative, challenging, groundbreaking, film/video works by New Jersey filmmakers. The Society is also the region's leading educational and cultural resource for youth and adult learners interested in all facets of the cinematic experience. For tickets to this program, contact the Film Festival office at 609-884-6700 or visit them online at www.njstatefilmfestival.com.

Solid and reliable. That’s Tony Shalhoub’s character in the T.V. show “Monk.” I wish it was still running. That’s one good show, witty but with a mystery that’s light and quirky. It really embodied Monk’s character, the detective with OCD. Oddly yet amusing enough, it’s his OCD that usually helped him crack the cases he’s been dealt with. While Monk’s ways and means of uncovering the mystery of a crime case is rather odd, the BMW 530i (2004 model, I think) is definitely a far cry from that.

This BMW model is actually sleek and refined in every sense of the word. From its exterior to its interior, from under to the hood to under the car, the 2004 BMW 530i screams class and elegance. Wood, leather and aluminum were used for the cabin of the car. It radiates comfort, elegance and a hint of modern stylishness. And guess what? There are eight different interiors to choose from. You might be asking, “So what if there are eight of them? Other car models offer eight different interiors, too.” Yeah, sure they do. For a price. What makes this certain car model stand out is that those eight different interiors? They are offered for… no extra charge. Nope, your eyes haven’t just deceived you. There’s really no extra charge. And for something as sleek and luxurious as those, that’s extremely good news.

Now to focus on what powers this super-looking car… This BMW is actually run by a 3-liter, inline-six cylinder engine. Did you know that this is the same engine that powers the Z4 roadster and the X3? That’s how powerful this car’s engine is. It has a maximum torque of 214 at 3500 rpm. This car can go from zero to sixty within 6.8 seconds. And if you don’t know yet, it has a 6-speed manual transmission. It’s spacious enough, allowing five people to settle comfortably into its lush seats. This luxury sports sedan needs premium fuel to run.

The 2004 BMW 530i is one smooth, sleek ride. That’s all I can say.

source: IMCDb.com

Interested in movies about hair, finger nails, dandruff, flaky skin, blood and urine? This movie has tons! For an hour and a half Jude Law scrapes hair and skin off and pees into a bag. Ethan Hawke sticks Law's 'leavings' all over himself and tapes a bag of urine to his leg. Periodically this is all interrupted by a bizarre Medical Technician who makes off-handed comments about Hawke's penis.

Rating:

After the Wedding (2007)

Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Rolf Lassgård, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Stine Fischer Christensen, Christian Tafdrup

Directed by: Susanne Bier

I had wanted to see this before issuing my Andy Movie Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but sadly, it didn't show up in the mail until the next day. If it had come earlier, it would've scored a nomination. It's a quietly powerful drama of the celebrating-the-human-spirit variety by way of Denmark, starring the bad guy with the bloody tear ducts from Casino Royale. The excellent cast and emotional plot drew me into the lives of the characters, with enough story to have me guessing at what would come next (even though its not a plot-driven movie). It's the sort of smart, adult, interpersonal drama that you don't see much of anymore in American cinema, and when you do, it's usually insipid and manipulative pablum. Thankfully, that's not the case here at all, with the film earning all its big emotional moments.

4/5

Desert Blue (1998)

Starring: Brendan Sexton III, Kate Hudson, Casey Affleck, John Heard, Christina Ricci, Sara Gilbert, Ethan Suplee, Peter Sarsgaard, Isidra Vega

Directed by: Morgan J. Freeman

A nondescript indie from 1998 that barely anyone has ever seen usually wouldn't warrant a write-up, even a quickie one like this. I bring it up to illustrate the downside of rental services like Zip. I'd heard of Desert Blue as its soundtrack is home to the super-cute Rilo Kiley song "The Frug", so when it came up one day on something I was reading on the internet, I decided to added it to my queue (since I was on the internet already). It sat there at the bottom of my queue, but then one day got sent, possibly because I may have been the only member in the entire company to have it on their list. With good reason. It's a terrible film that's like every stereotypical post-Sundance indie you can think of, with a meaningless, yet still overwrought plot, shiftless Gen X characters, the requisite indie rock soundtrack, and absolutely no craft. The lesson here is be careful what you put in your queue, since you just might get it.

1/5

In the Valley of Elah (2007)

Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Susan Sarandon, Charlize Theron, James Franco, Josh Brolin, Jason Patric, Frances Fisher

Directed by: Paul Haggis

I saw this right before the Oscars because of Tommy Lee Jones' Best Actor nomination (without it, I would've kept on ignoring it). I wasn't going to bother reviewing it, but then I wrote a review for Stop-Loss where I discussed why Iraq movies are unpopular (short version: they're aren't good enough to make it worth it). So I figured I'd back that up with a discussion of In the Valley of Elah, a movie that was both not as bad as I anticipated and exactly what I expected. The plotting was interesting enough, and the performances strong enough, that it ended up being a decent movie, but it was still brought down by Paul Haggis' hackery and need to bludgeon the audience with his painful metaphors. I really don't like Haggis' work, but his brand of middlebrow "serious" fare disguised as challenging art will probably be enough to keep getting awards attention, making me feel obligated to see them if for no other reason than to complain about their nomination.

3/5

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand, James Gandolfini, Michael Badalucco, ,

Directed by: Joel and Ethan Coen

Deciding it was time to for me to fill the gaps in my Coen brothers viewing, I added a bunch of their movies to my queue, and this was the first Zip sent me. The Coens have been producing neo-noir films most of their career, so with this one, they decided to go whole hog and do a straight up noir tale. A twisty tale of murder and deception set in stylized 1949 California draped in black and white cinematography and hard-boiled narration, The Man Who Wasn't There plays more like a genre exercise than a complete movie. As a genre exercise, it's pretty good, making it a worthy addition to the Coens oeuvre based on style alone. That said, watching it felt more like an intellectual exercise than a truly engaging experience. Still, Roger Deakins cinematography here is simply amazing, and probably does more to establish mood and character than any other element besides the Coens direction. The story may have mostly bored me, but the photography fascinated me.

3/5

A New Wave (2007)

Starring: Andrew Keegan, Lacey Chabert, John Krasinski, Dean Edwards, William Sadler, Caprice Benedetti

Directed by: Jason Carvey

Besides diligently reading my blog and updating your queue accordingly, another way to fill up your list is to take an actor or director you like, and adding movies of theirs that you haven't seen. But be careful when you do that, or you could end up like my wife, who added this piece of crap due to her oversized crush on John Krasinski. I'm guessing this was filmed several years ago, then released directly to DVD in 2007 to cash in on Krasinski's rising popularity. Written and directed by first time (and hopefully last time) director Jason Carvey for an estimated $760,000, you'll watch it and wonder where all the money went (it couldn't have all gone to Lacey Chabert and William Sadler). It is an unbelievably stupid heist tale about three dumb guys who decide to rob a bank, using information they've gleaned from watching movies (and to give you an idea of how long ago I'm guessing this was filmed, the movies they rent are on VHS... and the music they listen to in their car is on cassette). The quality of filming makes you long for something with more visual flair and competency, you know, something along the lines of Clerks. I'm guessing that it was filmed on Super 8, although it's entirely possible Carvey just used a camcorder. An old camcorder.

This is a bad student film that should have never seen the light of day. The absolute worst element of the production is the framing, which chops off the tops of heads and leaves out important details from the bottom of the frame. I'm guessing what happened is that the movie was originally filmed with a 3:4 ratio, but was converted to 1.85:1 to make it look more cinematic. Either that, or Carvey didn't actually look through the viewfinder while filming. It made the movie that much more difficult to watch due to distraction, not that any of the content made it worthwhile. I'd say that this contends for the title "Worst Movie I've Ever Seen", except that it's too minor an effort to bother doing anything with but immediately forgetting. I'm sure there's tonnes of straight-to-DVD movies out there as bad as this one, but God willing, I'll never see them.

0.5/5

“He gave me booze! Did he take a sip? I can't remember. Or maybe it was the chocolate! Don't take candy from strangers!” - Mike Enslin

Synopses

Mike Enslin is a paranormal writer who spends the night in haunted houses for a living. His books, Ten Nights in Ten Haunted Houses, Ten Nights in Ten Haunted Graveyards, and Ten Nights in Ten Haunted Castles have attracted so him a cult following. He’s not wildly popular, but he makes enough money to live a comfortable life. Despite all of this, Mr. Enslin is a lonely man. His young daughter passed away from a fatal illness and he separated with his wife shortly after. He goes from one haunted hot spot to the next to record his activities all the while, not believing an ounce of it. As skeptical as he may be, he takes his work seriously. So when he receives a postcard in the mail of the dolphin hotel in New York city, with the words “Don’t enter 1408” he is ready for the challenge.

He leaves for New York all most immediately, and checks into the hotel armed with only a cigarette and a cassette recorder to document his night.

Jeff’s Review

Swedish film director Mikael Håfström takes Stephen King’s unsettling story about a haunted hotel room and turned it into an amazing hour and forty six minute fright-fest!

This film is unique because the majority of it is Crusack alone in the hotel room. It has the feel of a Broadway one man show. He takes command of the screen and doesn’t let go.

The film version of 1408 is vastly different and I dare say superior to the book. While King’s novella was good and spooky in it’s own right, the movie takes the story to a whole new level. In the book, we don’t really know what’s going on in the room. All we hear (read) is what Michel records in the cassette recorder. Other then that we are left to our imagination. And while this does work well for a novel, it obviously would not work for the theaters.

The story builds and plays on your anticipation of what is going to happen next. And when it does actually happen, it has you jumping out of your seats with fear. The pacing reminded me of M. Night Shyamalan’s work in Sightings, very slow and methodical.

When you get watch this on DVD, be sure to watch the alternative version of the film too. I would say they are both equally good, while the alterative version is just slightly better. The ending is improved and makes more sense to me then the original.

Cast

John Cusack as Mike Enslin
Samuel L. Jackson as Gerald Olin
Tony Shalhoub as Sam Farrell
Mary McCormack as Lily Enslin
Jasmine Jessica Anthony as Katie Enslin

John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson excel in this masterful ghost story. The scenes with the two of them playoff of each other were one of the most memorable of the film.

Suggestions and Ratings

The MPAA gives 1408 a PG-13 rating for thematic material including disturbing sequences of violence and terror, frightening images and language. But that all sounds good for a ghost story, right? I give this film two different ratings. The original theatrical release gets three out of four stars, however the alterative, directors version gets four out of four stars.

Ten osobnik na zdjęciu obok to właśnie główny bohater serii, detektyw Adrian Monk. Ale napisać o nim detektyw, to jeszcze mało. Znacznie bliżej prawdy będę pisząc - genialny detektyw albo lepiej - genialny detektyw z rozwiniętą paranoją. Monk nie jest zresztą klasycznym serialem kryminalnym, najlepszym przykładem na to niech będzie fakt, że zdarza mu się dostawać nagrody w kategoriach komediowych. Ale też przecież ostatnio największą popularnością cieszą się właśnie produkcje, które z lekkością wykraczają poza sztywne ramy gatunkowe. Bez wątpienia, pojęcie "kina gatunków" ma w telewizji coraz mniejsze zastosowanie.

Monk łączy w sobie cechy najlepszych śledczych świata (ze słynnym Sherlockiem Holmesem na czele) z postaciami ze slapstickowych komedii oraz bohaterami komedii w stylu Depresji gangstera. Jego znakiem rozpoznawczym nie stał się jednak wybitny spryt i genialna umiejętność łączenia faktów (chociaż i tym potrafi zaimponować), ale postępująca paranoja dnia codziennego - chorobliwe zamiłowanie do czystości i permanentna depresja. Rzecz jasna, nie jest to dramat w czystej postaci, mimo że problemy Monka rozpoczęły się wraz z tragiczną śmiercią żony, z którym faktem nie potrafi się pogodzić. Od tego czasu przestał pracować jako etatowy policjant, jest konsultantem przy trudniejszych przypadkach i wraz ze swoją asystentką prowadzi coś na kształt "prywatnej działalności". Cudzysłów tu całkiem zamierzony, bowiem Monk jest najmniej odpowiednią osobą do nawet najmniejszego biznesu.

Adrian cierpi, jeżeli w jego świecie jest cokolwiek niesymetrycznego bądź w jakikolwiek inny sposób zaburza jego harmonię (dlatego zawsze kubki w szafce mają ucho w tę samą stronę, napoje w sąsiadujących naczyniach mają ten sam poziom, na talerzu musi znajdować się idealna liczba ziarenek ryżu etc). Nie lubi żadnych przejawów nieczystości, rękę podaje tylko przez rękawiczkę (ewentualnie wyciera ją w chwilę później w wilgotną chusteczkę jednorazowego użytku), pije wyłącznie wodę mineralną (zawsze tego samego producenta), nie rusza się bez podręcznego zestawu higienicznego itd. itd. Poza tym każdy jego dzień zakończony jest wizytą u specjalisty psychologa, który prowadzi sprawę Monka od wielu lat i zna go lepiej, niż niektórzy członków rodziny. To z nim Adrian analizuje wszystkie swoje (wyimaginowane) często problemy z codzienności, zawiłe relacje ze współpracownikami, a czasem wspomina Trudy, ukochaną małżonkę. Brzmi strasznie? Uwierzcie, Monka nie można nie lubić ;)

Co ważne, a częste ostatnie w dobrych produkcjach telewizyjnych - świat serialu nie zamyka się tylko na bardzo dobrym pomyśle na główną postać, ale mamy tu znowu cały przekrój znakomitych bohaterów drugoplanowych bądź epizodycznych. Mimo, że czasem są to kreacje trącące szablonowością (szczególnie para średnio rozwiniętych policjantów), to i tak budzą sympatię swoim komediowym wydźwiękiem. Osobne miejsce należałoby poświęcić dwóm niezwykłym asystentkom Monka, których poświęcenie dla pracodawcy sprawia, że może on w ogóle funkcjonować (nie piszę "normalnie", bo nie jest to najlepsze określenie w jego przypadku ;) Warto jeszcze dodać, że w niektórych odcinkach trafiają się prawdziwe gwiazdy dużego ekranu, w postaci choćby Johna Turturro w roli brata detektywa (zresztą, równie pokręcone jak Adrian, cierpiącego na bardzo głęboką agorafobię). No i, rzecz jasna, nie sposób pominąć genialnego Tony'ego Shalhouba w roli Monka. Ale to temat rzeka, bo aktora doceniają nie tylko fani, ale również szacowne grono krytyków filmowych i jurorów akademii, którzy przyznali mu Złotego Globa i trzykrotnie Emmy.

Wystraszonych informacją, że to już szósty sezon, uspokajam - każdy odcinek jest zamkniętą całością, można więc włączyć się w dowolnym momencie i nie będzie problemów z odnalezieniem się w serialowej rzeczywistości. Dobra zabawa gwarantowana. A więc w czwartek o 21 wszyscy meldują się przed ekranem Canal Plusa.

Niezdecydowanym polecam jeszcze małą próbkę umiejętności Adriana Monka:

"Free Radio" is a brand new series on VH1. It’s not about radio pirates or the former CBS “Free FM” outlets – it’s an “improvised comedy series” whose takeoff point is the travails of radio-show intern Lance. I’ll let the VH1 release take it from there: “Lance answers the call to greatness by jumping in to host a popular morning show, when the real host defects to satellite radio.” “Lance’s hosting effort, full of botched celebrity interviews, on-air tantrums and all-around buffoonery, is so spectacularly awful that ratings actually go up.” There’s also the expected “dysfunctional staff” at KBOM, the home of the new “Moron in the Morning” show. Guest shots are from the likes of Kiefer Sutherland, Ray Romano, Tony Shalhoub and Fred Willard. “Free Radio” may not do much for the image of over-the-air radio, but strike-weary viewers looking for anything “new” in the TV listings might dig it – starting tomorrow, February 1 on VH1. Hey, at least none of the radio people in the series is in rehab, which has been VH1’s usual prescription for success lately.

Free Radio series webpage from VH1.

"Free Radio" is a brand new series on VH1. It’s not about radio pirates or the former CBS “Free FM” outlets – it’s an “improvised comedy series” whose takeoff point is the travails of radio-show intern Lance. I’ll let the VH1 release take it from there: “Lance answers the call to greatness by jumping in to host a popular morning show, when the real host defects to satellite radio.” “Lance’s hosting effort, full of botched celebrity interviews, on-air tantrums and all-around buffoonery, is so spectacularly awful that ratings actually go up.” There’s also the expected “dysfunctional staff” at KBOM, the home of the new “Moron in the Morning” show. Guest shots are from the likes of Kiefer Sutherland, Ray Romano, Tony Shalhoub and Fred Willard. “Free Radio” may not do much for the image of over-the-air radio, but strike-weary viewers looking for anything “new” in the TV listings might dig it – starting tomorrow, February 1 on VH1. Hey, at least none of the radio people in the series is in rehab, which has been VH1’s usual prescription for success lately.

Free Radio series webpage from VH1.

This is a truly wonderful film for both kids and adults, as all Pixar flicks tend to be. It's about an up-and-coming race car named Lightning McQueen (Wilson) whose priorities are all mixed up. All he cares about is winning races, and he doesn't care who he's got to drive over to get to the finish line. After a three-way tie for the Piston Cup, McQueen and the other two winners must drive cross-country to get to a tie-breaker race. On the way there, McQueen and his driver (a semi-truck named Mack) fall asleep and somehow McQueen ends up shooting out the back of the truck as Mack speeds off unaware anything has happened. Lost, McQueen is racing around looking for the interstate when he speeds into the small town of Radiator Springs, tearing up the blacktop behind him.

He's promptly arrested by Sheriff and sent to court the next day for damaging city property. The judge, Doc Hudson (Paul Newman), sentences him to community service: McQueen can't leave Radiator Springs until he's fixed the entire road -- and unless he works really fast, he'll never make it to the big race in time.

At first, McQueen is furious; he can't believe he's stuck in this hick town with all these losers! But the more time he spends with the residents of Radiator Springs -- including a rusty tow truck named Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), the town attorney Sally (Bonnie Hunt), and Doc Hudson, who turns out to be an old race car himself -- the more he comes to realize there's a lot more to life than just winning races.

In other words: you gotta have friends.

It's a great story -- a classic, of course -- and the movie is loaded with cute and clever characters, as well as lots of "inside jokes" for the grown-ups. Of course, it helps to watch this movie with an absolutely crazy-adorable nearly-two year-old (Luke had all his Cars cars laid out on a tray in front of him while we watched, and each time a scene changed, he'd dig out the cars that matched the characters on the screen and hold them up until it was time to change cars again. Oh man, cutest thing ever!). But even if you are a grown-up alone, there's truly a lot to love. This is another great addition to the Pixar filmography -- truly the best in the kid biz, if you ask me. Highly recommended!

[Netflix me | Buy me]

Genre: Kids, Cartoon
Cast: (voices) Paul Newman, Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, Cheech Marin, John Ratzenberger, Tony Shalhoub

O plot é sobre dois físicos mega nerds e socialmente incapacitados que têm sua bolha estourada com a mudança de uma nova garota para o apartamento da frente. A interação entre Sheldon, Leonard e sua entourage com a girl next door Penny não poderia ser mais divertida. É literalmente humor inteligente. Mais inteligente impossível.

A série foi bem recebida pelo público e crítica americanos, chochadas apenas pelo uso daquelas annoyings risadas de fundo. Foi interrompida devido a greve dos roteiristas mas retornará para a temporada 2008/09, de acordo com comunicado oficial da CBS.

A dica é recrutar um übernerd para assistir contigo, eu assisto sempre com papai, Engenheiro Químico. Assim eu não tenho que sair correndo para o Google para procurar os absurdos que eles citam, tipo efeito Dooper, e também não perco uma piada!

Notem a atuação de Jim Parsons como Sheldon. Primeiro, finalmente alguém se tocou que o Tony Shalhoub é indicado há 4 anos (seguidos!!) para o Emmy e Globo de Ouro de melhor ator em série de comédia interpretando um portador de TOC e foi beber na fonte. Sheldon proporciona muitos dos momentos mais engraçados da série, com seus ataques e principalmente com seus honesticídios. Agora é esperar para ver se a repercursão do Sheldon será similar à de Mr. Monk.

Foto: Halloween dos Geeks, Sheldon de Efeito Dooper, Raj de Thor, Leonard de Frodo, Wolovitz de Peter Pan e Penny de costas e passada.

Onde? Warner Channel - Terças 20:00; Quartas 00:00, 13:00; Domingos 12:30.

No site oficial dá para assistir dois episódios. Recomendo o do peixe abajur!!

 

Titolo originale: 1408

Regia: Mikael Håfström

Cast: John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Mary McCormack, Jasmine Jessica Anthony, Alexandra Silber, Tony Shalhoub, Emily Harvey, Noah Lee Margetts.

Distribuzione: Key Films. USA 2007

Guarda il trailer

Il film è tratto da un racconto di Stephen King pubblicato nell' antologia del 2002 Everything's eventual e racconta la storia di Mike Enslin, scrittore specializzato in fenomeni paranormali che, in seguito alla tragica morte della figlioletta, non crede più a nulla, nè nell'aldilà nè nei fenomeni paranormali. Nei suoi libri descrive, in un tono tra il cinico e il sensazionalistico, la sua permanenza notturna in vari luoghi famosi per la presenza di fantasmi, poltergeist e fenomeni soprannaturali. Un giorno riceve una misteriosa cartolina che lo esorta a tenersi lontano dalla stanza 1408 dell'Hotel Dolphin di New York, teatro di morti terribili e a detta dello stesso direttore dell'albergo, sede del male. Spinto dall'opportunità di trovare materiale per il suo nuovo libro, Mike decide di pernottare nella stanza. Sarà la notte più lunga e terrificante della sua intera esistenza...

Thriller incalzante e ricco di colpi di scena, 1408  rende sicuramente giustizia al testo originale. L'hotel che fa da sfondo alla trama potrebbe far pensare a pellicole come Hostel o Vacancy, che si svolgono in location simili ma  l'affinità si ferma qui, perché in realtà il film richiama l'atmosfera claustrofobica di Shining, con i demoni interiori che spaventano molto di più di apparizioni sovrannaturali. 

La prima metà del film è praticamente perfetta poiché crea nello spettatore un'ansia continua e lo mantiene incollato alla poltrona. Si intuisce subito che in  quella stanza c'è il male, ancor prima che Mike vi entri e si spera fino all'ultimo che il protagonista accetti il consiglio del direttore dell'hotel e rinunci a questa impresa folle. Ma, come questo genere insegna, la regola del "non andare da solo nella casa disabitata e isolata in cima alla collina durante un violento temporale" o quella del "non aprire quella porta" non viene mai rispettata, e questa pellicola non fa eccezione.

La seconda parte è decisamente più debole e meno riuscita, soprattutto quando le maifestazioni all'interno della stanza iniziano a diventare esagerate e fuori misura. Il ritmo cala inesorabilmente e i 107' di durata  totale della pellicola non aiutano. Inoltre il finale appare un po' scontato e delude le aspettative.

Tuttavia, nonostante i già citati limiti, il risultato finale è un film interessante, un thriller- horror un po' fuori dalla "routine". La stanza è la protagonista assoluta e spaventa proprio perché mette il protagonista di fronte ai propri demoni e gli fa rivivere traumi terribili.

Da sottolineare l'interpretazione convincente di John Cusack, eroe di numerose pellicole romantiche, che ha saputo destreggiarsi con maestria in questo ruolo così differente e sofferto.

Conclusione: Consigliato, perchè non c'è nulla di più terrificante che  guardare dentro se stessi e affrontare i propri demoni.

Voto: 6.5 /7