Film Review -- Inception (PG-13)

Directed by Christopher Nolan
Released July 16, 2010

It lives up to the hype. If you have Facebook or Twitter, watch TV or read newspapers, have a brain or don't - you probably have heard now that everyone and their Mom is obsessed with Inception. Usually I find myself a bit undersold with films like this that I don't get to see before the hype (my streak of hitting opening nights of Christopher Nolan films came to a slight end this time). But damn. This is really a good flick.

I am honestly becoming obsessed with Christopher Nolan. This is not only a well thought out script with really fantastic characters, acting, and twists but it is also just perfectly executed. Amazing cinematography, score, effects, editing, etc. Look there I go hyping it up too... End of story - Christopher Nolan is unmatched right now in action/adventure/science fiction films. Untouchable honestly.

My brain only now wanders to what Christopher Nolan's Batman 3 will be like and how many more gems this guy can create. I drank the kool-aid friends - and it tasted like solid filmatic gold.

4 out of 4

Film Review -- Get Him To The Greek (R)

Directed by Nicholas Stoller
Released June 4, 2010

I wanted this movie to be good. I promise you. I went into with a good heart. High hopes. References. Everything. But it failed.

To this day I have heard people say this "sequel" of Forgetting Sarah Marshall was "really funny" and I am still trying to figure out - WHAT WAS FUNNY? Do you still find it funny to hear Russell Brand's erotic songs that aren't that creative? Or are you still riding the "Jonah Hill can do anything he wants and it is funny" bandwagon? Or were you just desperately wanting to see P. Diddy try to act? WHICH ONE IS IT!?

I digress - it is another variety of the ever popular bro-buddy comedies that have become the norm these days. But Russell Brand and Jonah Hill are just two guys who, although different and unique enough to create a good on screen duo, just don't do it for me. And I like Jonah Hill. But I think I don't like Russell Brand. At all.

This is a pretty bad review because there isn't really much to review. From the commercials you have seen all you need to see to understand the plot. And yes - it ends EXACTLY how you think it will after watching 5 minutes of it (with one really, truly awful threesome scene that was made for 15 year old kids who giggle when they think about eating pussy that had NO REASON to be in the movie). And there was this. That was actually pretty damn funny.

2 out of 4

Original -- Gametime: Casey Rabach

This is the piece that won me my Emmy! Check it out!

News -- EMMY WINNER!

I took home the hardware! After a year of working at the Redskins, your favorite blogger/webmaster here at GoodenoughFilms.com took home a NATAS-NCCB Emmy! It was a really great night and the best part for me was not just winning but the fact that our crew won in every category we were nominated (took home 3).

Music Score -- Lions of Puxi

On May 20th The Lions of Puxi blew the roof of The Chinatown Club in Shanghai. The covers and originals that 2010's Best Band in Shanghai (City Weekend Magazine-selected by readers) played filled the space and naturally the party began. The venue which reeked of bourgeois, to their dancers (who were classic showgirls) the atmosphere was truly unique. Reggae is becoming more appropriate in Shanghai as the weather is warms up, and LOP demonstrated their connection to the worlds most joyful music by following the traditions once again. Many bands perform covers because it easier in some ways, while the premiere bands redefine the song. The mixture throughout the show created a laid back vibe that gave newbies the opportunity be comforted and the drinks and dancers did the rest.

It was originals like “Liars” and “Puxi Me” that reminded me why we cherish LOP. After “Shanghai de Faguoren-Frenchman in Shanghai”(a remake of Sting's “Englishman in New York”) the crowd crept onto the dance floor to be close to the delicious dancers and near the stars. All foreigners (“laowais”) can identify with the LOP anthem that caused me to learn more Mandarin. While being a Frenchman is foreign to me, I love their reflections about living in Shanghai.

Before the set break the show gained new life. The yuppies loosened their ties as the alcohol seeped into their blood, and the locals who work late entered and surrounded the bar. Bob and Damien Marley's “Pimpers Paradise” became a fun sing along followed by a nice set break and a trip to the green room. The defining moment was the first song of the second set when they ripped Sublime's 90's classic “What I got”. Gauthier Roubichou sang Bradley Nowell's vocals without emulating the Long Beach god and the band gave it the appropriate dub flavor. The rest of the night was a dance party. Summer has arrived!

Previous shows at Jz Club, The Shanghai ATP Championship, and “Dance for Haiti” benefit at Zhi Jiang Dream Factory were impressive but Chinatown Club gave LOP an energy that illustrated how their talent. From their perfectly tuned songs to their glowing stage presence and international ensemble of Mauritian (Gilbert Kuppusami-Vocals, drums, Johnny Joseph-drums and Alain Courrone-bass), French (Vlidamir Legay-Guitar , Roubinchao-vocals, drums, rhythm guitar), and Chinese (Jason Yan-keys) members make them fitting representatives of Shanghai. Their common surname is Puxi, which is the western part of Shanghai where most of the culture can be seen, tasted, smelled and heard. Not playing with them that evening was Theo Croker (a new Lion), an American jazz trumpeter who will help rearrange the horns. Croker who played with Dee Dee Bridgewater this year is giving LOP a new dimension to travel with as they perform on stages in four continents. With upcoming shows at the 2010 World Expo French Pavilion in June, a tour of France later in July where they will open for Suzanne Vega and play alongside Shaka Milo, followed by a Mauritius tour in December and shows in America, where The Planetary group is pushing themnext year.

I found that these local lions work during the day and play at night. Sitting in a studio in the Mao's Livehouse space in Shanghai's “Red Town” art district I witnessed LOP's hunger. While Gilbert blasted vocals from a booth and Gauthier followed I saw teamwork. It smelled like focus in the balmy newly equipped studio. “We grew up like a kid...now we are more mature and responsible”, Gilbert clarifies. Later Gautier who gained fame during French Idol included a new ingredient, “We will add accoustic songs in the middle of the set.” Whether they have completely evolved or they are still transforming, time is on their side in many ways. Reggae has been a fountain of youth keeping many artists on tour and recording great music for many decades. LOP could be a band that proves to be like a good red from Bordeaux. Listening to some of the tracks that they had just laid down for “Laowai” a film starring Roubinchao was a pleasure. The film will be in the Venice Film Festival which is chaired by Quinten Tarintino. You can visit their site a www.lionsofpuxi.com, listen to their music at www.myspace.com/lionsofpuxi.

(Review by Thomas Demerath)

New To... DVD -- Book of Eli (R)

Directed by Allen and Albert Hughes
Released on DVD June 15, 2010

The Hughes brothers are quite different than the other tag team directing duo from Minnesota, however they sit in the same elite cinematic ballpark. The Book of Eli is another classic that joins Menace to Society, Dead Presidents, American Pimp and From Hell as solid films. While only Menace is so famous and different that it can be referred to with only one word, The Book of Eli is a movie viewers dream. Silence fills nearly the first ten minutes of the movie as Eli, played by Denzel Washington (Mo' Better Blues, Malcom X, Training Day) fills the screen surrounded by a post apocalyptic world. The earth is barren and not recognizable. The planet, painted by cinematographer Don Burgess (Mo' Money, Forrest Gump, Castaway), is truly breathtaking. A perfectly ambiguous plot emerges before Eli has to kick any ass. Al Green's “How can you mend broken heart” accompanies a gritty weapon montage which alludes to the first blood to be shed.

The faces of the characters are worn and terrifying from scars and dehydration. The villain Carnegie, played by Gary Oldman (The Professional aka Leon, True Romance, The Fifth Element) reminds the audience why he is still the one of the premier “bad guys” in Hollywood. Mila Kunis (That Seventies Show) gets her big break and depicts a non-ditz pretty well. Tom Waits graces us as a bartender as well as Jenifer Beals (Flashdance). The action mixed with the soundly written screenplay by Gary Whitta make The Book of Eli a must see. While post-apocalyptic movies are somewhat cliche, there is a reason that they always get interest. We love to imagine, and sometimes we think of the worst. There is no clear definition given of what happened to the world during The Book of Eli, in fact there is a great deal that viewers are not told. However, we see the after effects. The physical devastation accompanied by cannibalism and pure mayhem is fun to experience.

The Hughes brothers are back. Albert Hughes is supposed to be making a live action Akira with Leo DiCaprio, while Allen Hughes (New York I Love You) is rumored to be making a series called Gentleman of Leisure for HBO. Despite their future these brothers from Detroit don't direct as frequently as the Coen Brothers, but the movie industry needs more original and innovative films and less comic book, regurgitated television shows and video game movies.

3.25 out of 4
(Review by Thomas Demerath)

Film Review -- The Losers (PG-13)

Directed by Sylvain White
Released April 23, 2010

Without an evil character an action movie sinks and stinks. The Losers is a prime example of this all too common mistake. Jason Patric (The Lost Boys, Sleepers, Speed 2) single handily ruins this somewhat entertaining movie playing a half-assed “bad guy”. The suspension of disbelief fails miserable as a predictable plot and predominantly weak supporting cast attempt to carry a poorly written piece of garbage. Zoe Saldana's (Drumline, Star Trek, Avitar) beauty and a couple of fireworks are the only highlights of The Losers.

The plot is typical in all ways. Taking lace in Bolivia with secret agencies and the CIA assassinating Generals in the jungle. It had similarities to Commando, Predator, Collateral Damage and probably a few other of Gov. Schwarzenegger's movies. Not even Arnold would have made a difference in The Losers. Everything in this pile of manure had been done before. Redundantly relaxing and for an action movie it is unique in that it could put my 5 month old niece Lilia to sleep.

Returning to Jason Patric. There is no reason why such an awful villain should ever hit the big screen. The main problem is that Max appears frequently and is a central role. He is the lamest excuse for an antagonist in anything ever produced. Patric shows why he is seldom cast in movies. Gary Busey (Point Break, Black Sheep, The Prince of Tides, 48 Hours) should have gotten this role. Please take him off the disabled list! The only glimmer of hope is that more than one person saw The Losers and Hollywood blacklists Mr. Patric or limits him to doing voices for animated flicks and modeling for Eddie Bauer.

Watching paint dry, hair fall out, or potatoes boil are better investments of time than The Losers. Google image Zoe Saldana and vote for Jason Patric for biggest loser of the year. Also to be noted, apparently The Losers was a comic book. Seriously. 21st century Hollywood is shamed again making Chinese kung-fu movies better than ever.

0.5 out of 4
(Review by Thomas Demerath)

News -- Happy 3rd Birthday, GoodenoughFilms.com!

GoodenoughFilms.com turned three years old this week! The little blog I created back in school as a project now boasts over 125 Posts, nearly 20,000 hits and 7 writers! Thanks to the those who have been reading since day one and I hope to keep it going for many more years to come.

Thanks!
James Goodenough Heuser
Founder, GoodenoughFilms.com

Location Scouting -- Obama Club (Shanghai, China)

“Yes we can! Party!”

While I haven’t made my way to The World Expo sites yet this month due to crowds and work, I did go to the newest club creating a buzz in China’s cosmopolitan capital. As I sat in a taxi on a rainy morning in late April after taking my girlfriend to the airport I passed a new structure whose space used to be empty, but this time I saw it was celebrating the grand opening of Obama Club. I knew at that moment that I needed to party there. Due to the name alone I wanted to make Obama Club my recreational home.

Shanghai has more than a million foreign residents. Yes, it’s true. Third on the list are Americans, so it’s fitting that the current US president who visited China in the fall has a club named after him. As a few friends and I waltzed into the biggest and newest club to emerge in Shanghai’s party scene, we immediately noticed the size. It felt like a club in Manhattan with massive amounts of space (2 floors) and hundreds of tables, booths and bars. Attractive scantily clothed women dancing on platforms with gold poles gave Obama Club a bit of a Las Vegas feel, and the decent prices of beers and spirits reminded me of my hometown St. Louis.

As the night progressed, the three DJ’s spinning trance music (which I usually don’t care for) made all of the partygoers dance. The thumping beats were accompanied by a rad laser show and an odorless fog machine. Around 2 o'clock in the morning I realized three critical details for the future success of Obama Club. Firstly, it was a Monday night! That fact gave it parallels to clubs in NYC where people who work in the industry party after the weekend, and I can only imagine what happens on a Friday or Saturday night. Secondly, my friend and I were the only noticeably foreign people there. Most clubs further downtown near the river are constantly flooded with international residents and visitors which creates a less authentic environment. Thirdly, the poles are open for anyone to use as the night/morning goes on, and they also have huge platforms to break-dance, do the robot, worm, pop-lock, or even the nostalgic roger rabbit on with spectators below.

A bottle of Guinness Foreign Extra is modestly priced at 48rmb ($7) and shots of “Obama Flower” are only 30rmb ($4.39). The “Obama Flower” is a scrumptious concoction that tickles your taste buds it was created years ago when Barack’s great uncle was a bartender in Cyprus. With a menu that includes just about everything a party animal could imagine and NO COVER charge it was an affordable night at the club. Yes, it was like we knew someone at the door or a bar back, but we didn’t. Without a doubt the most fun that I have had at any club since I lived in NYC. When in Shanghai, do as the Shanghainese do and throw down at Obama Club!

(Scouted by Thomas Demerath)

Iron Man 2 (PG-13)

Directed by Jon Favreau
Released May 7, 2010

The wait is finally over. The much awaited (at least for me) Iron Man sequel hit theaters this weekend sure to start the summer season with a blockbuster smash. Take the whole cast from the first Iron Man and add Micky Rourke, Don Cheadle, Samuel L. Jackson & Scarlett Johansson - what more do you want? After seeing Iron Man 2 - I want a whole lot more.

There is nothing wrong with this movie really (besides a strange posthumous cameo from DJ AM that was quite odd) but there is nothing really great about it either. I think that is what you get when you take a REALLY good movie and give Jon Favreau a bit too much creative control. Yes - some of the best parts of Iron Man the original were the times when Robert Downey Jr. acted like a super gangster smart guy on the cover of Time and Rolling Stone all at the same time (uber dynamic gent). But that cannot be your bread and butter for a sequel. Favreau's obsession with Tony Stark as the cool guy got old in about the first scene when Tony spoke to a packed audience of 20 somethings who were there to cheer on... his advancements in technology? It was pretty lame. And I can just see Favreau getting a hard on thinking about titillating hot 20 year old girls when really - the entire audience was filled with nerdy comic book teens.

The additions to the cast were all solid. Rourke is a bad ass bad guy, Scarlett Johansson who leaves SO much to be desired as an actress leaves NOTHING to be desired when wearing next to nothing and putting people in leg-tied choke-holds. Don Cheadle did an admirable job stepping in for Terrance Howard as War Machine Rhodey - but really I think I would like anyone in that roll. There was about 30 scenes too man with Favreau as Happy Hogan - I am not sure yet but I honestly might blame him for everything somewhat not enjoyable about this film.

Of course - I recommend you see it. It is flashy, fun and pretty quick. But I would never put it out there as a must see because in all honesty - it paled in comparison to the first and the graphics and animation were about 1/10th that of Transformers, Avatar or anything for people under the age of 12. Expect an Iron Man 3 in 3D that will be much cooler looking but officially and completely suck.

2.75 out of 4