Gladiator
Release: May 5, 2000; Director: Ridley Scott; Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Connie Nielsen, and many more.
Conspiracy. Rome is full of it. When the Roman Emperor(Harris) gives his coveted title to his all deserving Roman general(Crowe) and not the his own son(Phoenix) conspiracy ignites. The general is betrayed, his family is killed, his competitor(Phoenix) takes the empire away from him, and he is sold into slavery. However, opportunity arises when he becomes a gladiator. His next conquest:survive and kill the emperor.
"Are you not entertained?". A gladiator's job was to entertain and that is exactly what the movie did. Maximus'(Crowe) success, although enslaved, is inspiring. His lines: classic. The Coliseum: magnificent! Joaquin Phoenix does an excellent job as well. He plays his character perfectly: greedy, cunning, selfish, and "merciful"? Director Ridley Scott is known to make successful Hollywood movies and this is another, perhaps his most successful. The ending is a bit cheesy but no movie is perfect(unless directed by Christopher Nolan).
The Babymakers
Release: August 3, 2012; Director: Jay Chandrasekhar; Starring: Paul Schneider, Olivia Munn, Kevin Heffernan, Wood Harris, Nat Faxon, Jay Chandrasekhar
A baby-hungry couple, Tommy and Audrey Macklin(Schneider and Munn), are having trouble getting pregnant. Every possible solution seems to fail for them. Only two options remain: adopting, (which cost at least "$10,000") or robbing a sperm bank Tommy donated to years ago. Tommy and his gang decide the latter. With the help of ex-Indian mafia man by the name of Ron Jon(Chandrasekhar) the team sets out to make Tommy Macklin a father.
Although most critics gave this movie a very low rating I actually enjoyed myself! I found myself laughing out loud in multiple scenes! Schneider and Munn's (sounds like a law firm) chemistry is great! As well, Schneider's misfit gang is hilarious. We also have a surprise appearance from the director, Jay Chandrasekhar. The movie is highly sexual but that is the way it was supposed to be made. There was one particular scene with Kevin Heffernan that I almost gagged at because of it's grossness, but very funny at the same time. It's a select movie that only certain people will like and it is a pretty cliche rom-com(just more gross), however, the hilarity was enough for my taste.
Traffic
Release: May 5, 2000; Director: Ridley Scott; Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Connie Nielsen, and many more.
Conspiracy. Rome is full of it. When the Roman Emperor(Harris) gives his coveted title to his all deserving Roman general(Crowe) and not the his own son(Phoenix) conspiracy ignites. The general is betrayed, his family is killed, his competitor(Phoenix) takes the empire away from him, and he is sold into slavery. However, opportunity arises when he becomes a gladiator. His next conquest:survive and kill the emperor.
"Are you not entertained?". A gladiator's job was to entertain and that is exactly what the movie did. Maximus'(Crowe) success, although enslaved, is inspiring. His lines: classic. The Coliseum: magnificent! Joaquin Phoenix does an excellent job as well. He plays his character perfectly: greedy, cunning, selfish, and "merciful"? Director Ridley Scott is known to make successful Hollywood movies and this is another, perhaps his most successful. The ending is a bit cheesy but no movie is perfect(unless directed by Christopher Nolan).
Link for trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol67qo3WhJk
The Babymakers
Release: August 3, 2012; Director: Jay Chandrasekhar; Starring: Paul Schneider, Olivia Munn, Kevin Heffernan, Wood Harris, Nat Faxon, Jay Chandrasekhar
A baby-hungry couple, Tommy and Audrey Macklin(Schneider and Munn), are having trouble getting pregnant. Every possible solution seems to fail for them. Only two options remain: adopting, (which cost at least "$10,000") or robbing a sperm bank Tommy donated to years ago. Tommy and his gang decide the latter. With the help of ex-Indian mafia man by the name of Ron Jon(Chandrasekhar) the team sets out to make Tommy Macklin a father.
5.7
Although most critics gave this movie a very low rating I actually enjoyed myself! I found myself laughing out loud in multiple scenes! Schneider and Munn's (sounds like a law firm) chemistry is great! As well, Schneider's misfit gang is hilarious. We also have a surprise appearance from the director, Jay Chandrasekhar. The movie is highly sexual but that is the way it was supposed to be made. There was one particular scene with Kevin Heffernan that I almost gagged at because of it's grossness, but very funny at the same time. It's a select movie that only certain people will like and it is a pretty cliche rom-com(just more gross), however, the hilarity was enough for my taste.
Link for trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQxJIfBDMmw
Traffic
Release: January 5, 2001; Director: Steven Soderbergh; Starring: Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro, Jacob Vargas, Luis Guzman, Don Cheadle, Topher Grace, Erika Christensen, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Dennis Quaid, and many more.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181865/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast
The drug war between the U.S. and Mexico is relentless. It infiltrates the life of every character. Through family, friends, work, government, etc. Through this journey we encounter multiple view points. View points of U.S. and Mexicans alike involved with this war, personal battles, and how they all intertwine.
7.6
I enjoyed Traffic. Steven Soderbergh is really good at doing movies with many characters. He doesn't go super in depth with the lives of the characters but just enough so that we care about the character or we don't care about them. He does this in the Ocean movies as well. Traffic is very comparable to the movie Crash. Multiple points of view about a certain topic. And all of the points of view interlink. This movie is about the drug war between the U.S. and Mexico. Every life in this movie is impacted by drugs. Whether it's them or a loved one or someone they work with. It's a real life battle. Erika Christensen does a very good job in her role as Caroline Wakefield(the judge's daugher). Her life and perspective gives us kind of a Requiem for a Dream feel as far as her drug addiction goes. I lived in Mexico for a time and the film is very authentic to how things are in Mexico. I loved that! It's a good movie that I recommend. Good acting, good story line, keeps you entertained and guessing. It paints a vivid picture of how things are in the drug world. It's inhumane and cold. We, as an audience, don't need to participate in them to have a taste of how bitter-sweet they are. Soderbergh succeeds in his best to date film.
Link for trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjpadtJs9QA
There Will Be Blood
Release: December 26, 2007; Director: Paul Thomas Anderson; Starring: Daniel Day Lewis, Paul Dano, Ciaran Hinds, and more.
A pioneer in the oil industry, Daniel Plainview, encounters success wherever he drills it seems like. However, what he does not know, is this: tragedy patiently awaits him and his family, death is certain to strike, murders will occur, religious revivals will come forth, and reality will start to lose its grip.
8.0
What else can I say? Daniel Day Lewis. The man's presence seems certain to earn an Oscar. And in this movie he did! This is as good as acting gets. Lewis' presence is craved every time he is not on screen and when he is the craving builds. Paul Dano gives a great performance as well. He does exactly what he was supposed to do. Make us resent him. In doing so does that make us be on Daniel's(Lewis') side? And if we are what does that say about us? Especially after what he does to "poor Eli"(Dano) at the end of the film. There is nothing wrong with wanting to have more. At least to a limit. Question is, when is that limit? Daniel wanted more and more and more. This destroyed him. Neglect, greed, and hate tear him apart. Two reasons of why Lewis won Oscar for this: "I've abandoned my child!" and, "... I drink your milkshake!".
Link for the Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3THVbr4hlY
Daniel Day Lewis' reasons for winning Best Actor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_hFTR6qyEo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9k6Mf-FfXQ
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