Tag: Steve Carell

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Battle of the Sexes

by MCDave

Following an unusual career path to filmmaking that included nearly two decades of making MTV music videos for accomplished artists like REM, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Weezer and countless others, Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris began their Hollywood career with a bang. The husband and wife’s debut feature Little Miss Sunshine went on to win a pair of Oscars (Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Screenplay) and earn heaps of critical praise. And despite an egregiously overlooked second feature, the superbly told fantasy love story Ruby Sparks, the couple’s latest work has them back in the spotlight.

Battle of the Sexes tells the timely true tale of female tennis great, Billie Jean King (Emma Stone), as she emerged as a beacon of the women’s liberation movement during the early 1970s. While embroiled in a bitter fight concerning equal cash prize payouts for the men’s and women’s tournament winners, King also discovers her inner desires and begins a secret and risque affair with a pretty young hair dresser named Marilyn (Andrea Riseborough). Meanwhile, 55 year old former men’s champion and gambling aficionado , Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell), comes up with a crazy sideshow idea to play King in an exhibition match, and puts on a chauvinistic display to help make it happen.

Caught in the midst of a heated social climate, Dayton and Faris’ Battle of the Sexes proudly parades its pro-feminism and pro-LGBTQ rights agenda. You’ll be hard pressed to find a single scene where King’s character is on screen and neither of those issues are involved. Consequently, the film will assuredly polarize audiences, so it’s important to take all passionate opinions regarding the movie with a grain of salt. And even though Academy Award Winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy’s (Slumdog Millionaire) script comes off as a bit preachy, recent Oscar Winner Emma Stone and co-star Steve Carell both deliver outstanding performances. If anything, Battle of the Sexes could have used a larger dose of Steve Carell, as Bobby Riggs’ energetic character merely lurks around in the film’s first two acts, giving way to a tepid romance story between Billie and Marilyn. Both Austin Stowell, as Billie’s husband Larry King, and Andrea Riseborough fail to offer convincing and meaningful characters, which certainly creates a void in the film. Battle of the Sexes tells an interesting true story in a rather uninteresting way, making it a decent but unfulfilling watch.

GRADE: 3.5/5

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Geekscape Movie Reviews: The Big Short

by MCDave

With every new 2015 cinematic release, insiders and prognosticators are seeking a standout film to swoop in and take over the Best Picture race. In steps Adam McKay’s potential contender, The Big Short, a star-studded examination of the United States’ economic meltdown following the 2008 housing market collapse. But in a bit of a twist, McKay isn’t known for his dramatic appeal. In fact, the director has built quite the reputation as a comedy guru following his synergetic film-partnership with Will Ferrell in collaborations such as Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers and The Other Guys. Yet, perhaps McKay’s humerus touch could be exactly the spark needed to jump-start this Oscar tailspin.

Back in 2005 hedge fund manager Michael Burry (Christian Bale) recognized a dangerous trend in the United States housing market. And when he uses his full contractual authority to go against the wishes of his clients and bet against the power of the highly regarded banking system, word of his antics quietly spreads around Wall Street. While most insiders laugh off the possibility of a structural breakdown, other money managers and investors such as Mark Baum (Steve Carell), Jamie Shipley and Charlie Geller look beneath the surface of the markets and bravely follow in Burry’s footsteps.

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Adam McKay deserves copious amounts of respect as he achieves the remarkable feat of transforming dull and monotonous source material into a laugh-filled and enjoyable affair. The Big Short succeeds on many levels and, at its finest moments, uses unorthodox narrative techniques to capture the audience’s attention and hold it firmly for two plus hours. Be on the lookout for hysterical cameos from rising star and Australian beauty Margot Robbie, Chef extraordinaire Anthony Bourdain and pop-sensation Selena Gomez, all of which cleverly address the film’s nauseating banking and mortgage lingo in a spry and comical way. Furthermore, Steve Carell follows up his Oscar nominated turn in Foxcatcher with another exceptional performance. His cynical character is highlighted perfectly through the constant back and forth with bank trader, Jared Vennett, played by a typically charismatic Ryan Gosling. But through all of these impressive turns, it’s Christian Bale’s supporting work that stands out as the most likely to land in the awards season discussion. All in all The Big Short is a winning drama benefiting from outside-the box storytelling, a sturdy comical undertone and fine acting from its entire cast.

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However, despite all of the film’s glowing attributes and valiant attempts to withstand such boring source material, the inner workings of the financial and housing markets are an irrefutable turnoff. Industry verbiage and terminology prove to be inescapable as they bog down an otherwise hilarious screenplay and, to varying degrees, wear down the viewer. After repeatedly hearing phrases like “sub-prime mortgages” and “collateralized debt obligations (CDOs)” at nearly every turn for over two hours, disinterest inevitably settles in. Yet, just as The Big Short begins to test its audience’s patience, the movie’s self-aware director recognizes an urgency to wrap up the story. Hitting a wall is unavoidable, but McKay and company are still able to withstand the film’s own self-restricting limitations.

We all know a family or families impacted by the irresponsible actions of our banks and lenders during the economic collapse of 2008. The dark realities of this historical blunder are enough to warrant a dramatic retelling of such events. Adam McKay does an admirable job of oversimplifying a complicated situation and the result is an often hysterical and well-acted account of American greed. The Big Short is far from the Oscar frontrunner that many were desiring, but it’s still a journey worth taking.

GRADE: 4/5

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Geekscape Movie Reviews: Magic Mike XXL

by MCDave

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been three years since critics fawned over filmmaker Steven Soderbergh’s “male entertainer” drama, Magic Mike. While the movie sparked the rejuvenation of Matthew McConaughey’s career, one that ultimately landed him in Oscar history after his Best Actor win for Dallas Buyers Club, I was one of the rare voices that recommended audiences to look elsewhere. However, with a continuation of Magic Mike XXL that’s sure to bring the ladies to movie theaters in massive numbers, I must admit that this second go-around is a more fun and engaging adventure than the original.

The story picks up in real time and Mike’s (Channing Tatum) been out of the stripping game for a trio of years, working hard to keep up with production and costs at his custom furniture company. But after a shocking voicemail puts him back in touch with some “Kings of Tampa” friends from his old job, he learns that the remaining guys plan to take their talents to the Myrtle Beach strippers convention for one last money-raining blowout. Torn between whether or not to join them on the trip, Mike decides he can’t say “no” to a final adventure with his boys.

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First things first, I need to give credit where credit it fully due. As someone who religiously bashed Channing Tatum throughout the early stages of his career, it’s about time that I vocalize my new-found respect for him as an actor. Tatum stood toe-to-toe with the Oscar nominated performances of both Steve Carell and Mark Ruffalo in last year’s Foxcatcher, and he backs it up with a funny and heartwarming reprise in Magic Mike XXL. The sequel succeeds as a wild bachelor-style road trip where hysterical bro-mance banter paves the way for countless unforgettable onscreen moments. Yes, at the end of the day Magic Mike XXL targets lustful female moviegoers, but there are enough hilarious “boys will be boys” moments to keep the after-thought boyfriends and husbands content with the selection as well.

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Despite the film’s modest ceiling, there aren’t many hindrances to Magic Mike XXL‘s overall quality. Clocking in at a lofty 115 minutes of screen time, the movie is paced surprisingly well. Although there’s a noticeable lull in the feature’s mid-section that’s held together by a cameo from former NFL Hall of Famer, Michael Strahan, like you’ve never seen him before, it becomes a distant memory once the story picks back up. Outside of that tiny blemish, my only other miscue would be that Magic Mike XXL provides a somewhat anti-climactic finale. However, these shortcomings are merely bumps in the road for an otherwise effective film.

The franchise’s first installment harped on a more dramatic angle while this new inclusion allows the guys to let loose. As a result, we’re given a highly entertaining and laugh out loud experience. Channing Tatum’s largely developed acting skills lead a collection of odd-ball characters that audiences of all genders will connect with automatically. Magic Mike XXL isn’t anything groundbreaking, but it embraces its absurdity and delivers all the necessary ingredients of a fun-filled summer-time title.

GRADE: 3.5/5

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Geekscape Movie Reviews: Foxcatcher

by MCDave

The sound of a single gunshot shook the city of Philadelphia this past Monday evening. While local residents sat safely in their homes, a packed house at the Prince Music Theater held their collective breath completely enamored with Bennett Miller’s latest achievement, Foxcatcher. Miller’s impeccable credentials speak for themselves. With two feature films under his belt, and both earning Best Picture nominations from the Academy Awards, Miller’s Foxcatcher has all of the necessary ingredients for making it three in a row.

Channing Tatum takes center stage as Mark Schultz, a 1984 Olympic Gold Medalists in the sport of wrestling and someone who still manages to get lost in his older brother Dave’s (Mark Ruffalo) shadow. But when a multi-millionaire named John E. du Pont (Steve Carell) invites Mark to move into his estate and lead a group of world-competitive wrestlers at his private Foxcatcher facility, Schultz graciously accepts and begins to branch out and form his own legacy. However, du Pont’s powerful manipulation and stranglehold over Mark begins to escalate to the point where even peacemaker Dave Schultz can’t stop an unfortunate tragedy from occurring.

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Foxcatcher‘s cinematic prowess is evident on nearly every level imaginable. Bennett Miller’s finely tuned and nuanced storytelling is a lost art in modern filmmaking. Subtlety is key, and the director carefully places every tiny detail in its necessary place in order to shape this spine-chilling tale of obsession and madness. Channing Tatum gives the performance of a lifetime in a role he seems destined to play. Standing toe-to-toe with his presumably Oscar-destined counterpart, Steve Carell, Tatum reveals a beautifully complex character. A physical beast with a burning desire for another Olympic Gold Medal and a young man determined to pave his own path in life, Mark Schultz is the last person you’d expect to be emotionally frail. Yet, Tatum captures this multi-dimensional character perfectly and, as a result, helps heighten an intentionally unbalanced and disturbing performance by Carell in a rare villainous role. Predatory and shrewd in nature, Carell’s transformational role establishes du Pont’s eerily reprehensible essence and, in many ways, carries Foxcatcher by itself.

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In addition to a well-crafted story and a pair of superb leading performances, Foxcatcher rhythmically mounts an enormous amount of tension that builds like a symphony. Gradual and meticulous in its approach, what some may view as a slow-paced character study can also be described as a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. And when it finally does, your heart will burst out of your chest in one single instance. Similar in vibe to another slow-building and agonizing journey of impending doom with 2012’s We Need to Talk About Kevin, Foxcatcher cloaks its rapacious themes with illusions of patriotism and grandeur. Everyone is in need of something, but as you sometimes come to discover in a real-life tragedy such as this, you must be careful what you wish for.

Foxcatcher is by no means a feel good story or a film you should seek out to enjoy, but rather a deeply insightful and provocative examination into one of our country’s most perplexing crimes. Anyone fascinated by this national story is guaranteed to be utterly consumed from opening to closing credits. With Foxcatcher, Bennett Miller paints a perfect portrait of all his characters, an epic accomplishment that will undoubtedly stand as one of 2014’s most prestigious films.

GRADE: 5/5

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Geekscape Movie Reviews: The Way, Way Back

by MCDave

Things aren’t usually better the second time around. Looking at real world examples like Hollywood remakes, cover songs and leftovers from last night’s dinner, it becomes a pretty difficult notion to refute. Therefore, when I heard about the back story surrounding this summer’s release, The Way, Way Back, I justifiably became a bit skeptical. From the same producers and featuring many of the same stars as the 2006 indie sensation, The Way, Way Back has been unfairly labeled as “the next Little Miss Sunshine“. While in actuality, The Way, Way Back stands tall enough on its own.

Duncan (played by Liam James) is an awkward and lonely teenager “forced” to spend the summer months at his mom’s boyfriend’s shore house. As Duncan’s mom (Toni Collette) appears blind to Trent’s (Steve Carell) harsh belittling of him, the teenager ventures off to be as far away from her boyfriend as possible. Duncan eventually stumbles across a water park and sparks a unique friendship with the manager, Owen (Sam Rockwell). Owen senses the youngster’s loneliness and offers him a summer job at the park. It’s there where Duncan finally learns how to open up and be his true self.

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The Way, Way Back represents yet another fine indie selection from this year’s exceptional Sundance Film Festival class. While it’s inevitable to pit this effort against its festival foe, The Kings of Summer, The Way, Way Back is an overall small step down, but clearly a delightful film all on its own. The heart and soul of the feature resides in the role-model relationship built between Sam Rockwell’s and Liam James’ characters. The vastly underrated Rockwell once again shows why he belongs in the same conversation as Hollywood’s best actors. He delivers his one-liners with remarkably-timed precision and his dramatic moments with profound tenderness. Through the use of his affable see-through “cool guy” exterior, Rockwell commands the screen and demonstrates that he can just about do it all. Furthermore, the always respectable Steve Carell goes against the grain and shows some versatility as a despicable and unforgivable confidence-crusher to the film’s teenage protagonist. Having grown accustom to Carell as an often-lovable character, he is regrettably convincing and most likely setting the stage for his Oscar-bound role in this 2013’s late-year release, Foxcatcher. Although I could continue to go on-and-on in detail about all of the other fine performances in the film, instead I will couple them together by reaffirming that The Way, Way Back is a wonderfully acted and heartfelt coming-of-age film suitable for just about any viewer.

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Despite the picture’s all-around winning vibe, there are a few blemishes to discuss. For starters, many of the film’s characters feel like completely overblown and animated caricatures. While the “good” are VERY good and the “bad” are VERY bad, The Way, Way Back suffers from a black and white approach to its onscreen roles. Therefore, expressing its characters in such a way creates an inauthentic and disingenuous feel. In addition, the feature opens in a very unusual manner. Although the first act fails to adequately hook the audience, it does serve a unique purpose to the film’s bigger picture. But when all is said and done, The Way, Way Back hurdles these faults and offers laugh-out-loud humor and an assortment of endearing characters.

While The Way, Way Back comes close to, but never quite reaches, the heights of 2006’s Little Miss Sunshine and its festival competitor The Kings of Summer, it’s still a praiseworthy coming-of-age tale all on its own. And since the jokes are abundant and the performances are stellar, there’s plenty to enjoy. When The Way, Way Back reaches theatres nationwide in July, you won’t be disappointed by catching another indie gem such as this one.

GRADE: 4/5

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Watch A New Trailer For ‘Despicable Me 2’

by Derek Kraneveldt

I can’t wait for this.

 

Universal today released a new trailer for their upcoming animated sequel, Despicable Me 2. The trailer is hilarious, and gives us a very good idea of what the film will be about.

 

Gru and the gang return to theatres on July 3rd. Watch the new trailer below, and let us know what you think!

 

 

Despicable Me 2 features an all-star cast, including Steve Carell, Al Pacino, Kristen Wiig, Steve Coogan, Miranda Cosgrove, and more!

‘The Incredible Burt Wonderstone’ Gets A New Trailer!

by Derek Kraneveldt

With just one more week until we’ll get a chance to see The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Warner Bros. has just released a final trailer to excite us.

 

The film’s huge, star-studded cast includes Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Jim Carrey, James Gandolfini, Alan Arkin, Olivia Wilde, and plenty of others. From everything we’ve seen so far, it looks like we’re in for a fantastic time with this one.

 

Watch the new trailer below, let us know what you think, and keep an eye out for our SXSW review of the film in the upcoming days!

 

 

Superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas strip for years, raking in millions with illusions as big as Burt’s growing ego. But lately the duo’s greatest deception is their public friendship, while secretly they’ve grown to loathe each other. Facing cutthroat competition from guerilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), whose cult following surges with each outrageous stunt, even their show looks stale. But there’s still a chance Burt and Anton can save the act—both onstage and off—if Burt can get back in touch with what made him love magic in the first place.

Behold The Trailer For ‘The Incredible Burt Wonderstone’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Well, December 21st is half over, and it appears as though we’re all still here. I guess it’s time to get back to work (sorry Roland Emmerich).

It’s been a good 24 hours for comedy trailers; Last night we showed you the incredibly funny first teaser for This is the End, and now Warner Bros. has treated us to this magical preview.

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone stars Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Jim Carrey, Alan Arkin, Olivia Wilde, Jame Gandolfini, and more. That sounds like a pretty incredible cast to me. It’s also about magicians, and one of them (Carrey), plays the Chris Angel douchbag type. I can’t wait to see more of that!

Check out the trailer below, and let us know what you think! The Incredible Burt Wonderstone will hit theatres on March 15th, 2012!

Superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas strip for years, raking in millions with illusions as big as Burt’s growing ego. But lately the duo’s greatest deception is their public friendship, while secretly they’ve grown to loathe each other. Facing cutthroat competition from guerilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), whose cult following surges with each outrageous stunt, even their show looks stale. But there’s still a chance Burt and Anton can save the act—both onstage and off—if Burt can get back in touch with what made him love magic in the first place.

News Team Assemble! First Poster For ‘Anchorman 2’ Has Been Revealed

by Scott Alminiana

Put on some Sex Panther and get ready because Ron Burgundy and the Channel 4 News Team are back! First it was announced that a teaser trailer for Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues would be shown before The Dictator, which opens today, and now the first poster has been released.  And let me tell you, it’s like a glorious rainbow!

So back your bags, buy some scotch and come on back down to the Whale’s Vagina and lets have a party, but please leave your glass cases of emotion at home. The legend continues next year and the whole news team will be back. Until then stay classy.