Film Review -- (500) Days of Summer (PG-13)

Directed by Marc Webb
Released July 17, 2009

This was a bit of a pleasant surprise. A little mini independent gem, (500) Days of Summer seemed like it was going to be good film just because the trailer touted its Sundance Film Festival selection and at least in the trailer I saw, Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap melodically wooed me to the movie. I'm a sucker for sad songs.

Although I did have a great time at this film, I did have a bit of a hard time diving directly into the story. Main characters Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Summer Finn's (Zooey Deschanel) unique love story was clouded by the fact that either the writers (Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber) or first time big film director Marc Webb neglected to let those of us who have not spent years living in LA no real clue where the film is set (you're welcome to those who have yet to see this film and believe in the conventional establishing shot). With this mix up and a host of other factors (including garbage supporting cast and an annoying little sister character), I felt like I was really taken out of the story and never felt passionately about it all (take Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as an example - I was captivated from seconds in).

However, this was a pretty masterful performance by both leads and with a few wonderful scenes and a distinctively different ending from most loves stories, (500) Days of Summer is sure to be one of those movies that makes teens and twenty-somethings aroused for years to come. I would definitely suggest all check it out. I cannot believe Joseph Gordon-Levitt is making a comeback. I never thought he would survive the days of 3rd Rock From the Sun. Now if only that weird guy Harry will make a comeback...

3 out of 4

Music Videos -- Eminem

Link: Beautiful
Site: YouTube
Length: 4:19

Wow. This might go down as the all time worst Eminem video. The guy literally could not be more out of the game yet is still trying for some godawful reason and is making a mockery of himself with every move he makes. This recession anthem to Detroit makes literally no sense and although the video has very good production quality, I spent the entire time cracking up at Eminem ACTUALLY wanting the world to take him this seriously. What the hell happened to this guy? He will forever go down as having the most monumental creative/intellectual/musical collapse of all time. He is dead to me.

News -- 2009 Emmy's

The 2009 Emmy Award Nominations just came out. It seems the industry love fest for 30 Rock and Mad Men has not subsided with both getting ridiculous nominations across the board (22 and 16 nods respectively). You can get the whole list here. I will give my perspective on the top categories that interest me the most (My winner prediction will be in bold).

Outstanding Animated Program American Dad (FOX)
Robot Chicken (Cartoon Network)
South Park (Comedy Central)
The Simpsons (FOX)
Is this really a debate? I am surprised Family Guy didn't make this list but as always - I think South Park is THE ABSOLUTE BEST cartoon on TV. All others must bow down and respect their complete toon-dominance and consistency. When was the last time a Simpsons episode had you rolling in laughter? Thought so.

Outstanding Comedy Series
30 Rock (NBC)
Entourage (HBO)
Family Guy (FOX)
Flight Of The Conchords (HBO)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
The Office (NBC)
Weeds (Showtime)
This comedy group is pathetic. This defines why I am so tired of comedy on TV. Family Guy is by definition a great show but it is getting old quick, Entourage and Weeds were barely ever funny last season and The Office and 30 Rock have been in this category dominating for years now. And 30 Rock will continue to dominate with a win.

Outstanding Drama Series
Big Love (HBO)
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Damages (FX)
Dexter (Showtime)
House (FOX)
Lost (ABC)
Mad Men (AMC)
Oh yeah, I am going for it. I know Mad Men is the outright series to win this for the second year in a row but I am standing up and saying NO MORE! Breaking Bad is a killer series that is incredibly rivoting and dynamic. I would love to see it get the title it deserves. BUT LOOK AT THIS GROUP? Besides Damages and House which are both for the weak minded, what a great list of amazing Dramas on TV. Sad to see TrueBlood got snubbed, but whatever. I love you Dexter, I promise I will only turn my back on you this one time.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Breaking Bad (AMC) Bryan Cranston, as Walter White
Dexter (Showtime) Michael C. Hall, as Dexter Morgan
House (FOX) Hugh Laurie, as Dr. Gregory House
In Treatment (HBO) Gabriel Byrne, as Paul
Mad Men (AMC) Jon Hamm, as Don Draper
The Mentalist (CBS) Simon Baker, as Patrick Jane
Dexter I promised you I wouldn't let you down and I came through. Michael C. Hall's Dexter is one of the most captivating characters on TV. I cannot wait for the next season. House? Again? Really? Wow.

Those are my big ones. Although I have lots of opinions about the Female Leads in Comedy and Drama I will save that for another debate over dinner (or maybe just another post). Long live the hour long drama.

Film Review -- Bruno (R)

Directed by Larry Charles
Released July 10, 2009

Vassup, world! I’m thrilled to have a chance to write on this exciting blog with some of the coolest people in the biz. I will do my best to provide some interesting insight from a less classically trained movie-watching mind.

After mass global hysteria, I finally saw Sasha Baron Cohen’s Bruno tonight in one of the strangest movie theaters of all time; the seats went about 12 across with an aisle in between that ran about 3,000 rows deep. The screen was taller than it was wide, which may have greatly skewed the sizes of the many genitalia that permeated the screen throughout the film. So rhandum!

Ostensibly the challenge for Bruno is topping Cohen’s previous smash Borat. It’s a blessing and a curse that Borat was such an incredible hit; everyone will certainly see Bruno, but topping Borat and the hype of Bruno may in fact be impossible.

Simply put, the movie is funny. Some scenes are pee-your-pants funny, and many others fall just below that category. What’s brilliant about Cohen is his ability to use Bruno to illustrate the close-mindedness and abrasiveness of some Americans towards gay people, and likewise in Borat towards foreigners. The way in which his victims react to Bruno is funny, but sometimes startling.

I am not suggesting that a person should be considered homophobic if he or she doesn’t want Bruno around their family; that’s the point of the character. However, as also seen in Borat, there are points during the film that display extreme hatred and prejudices towards the unconventional (ok, the extremely unconventional, but still). It seems clear to be more of a joke about Americans than it is about Cohen’s protagonist.

The one negative reaction I had about Bruno was that too much of the movie seemed contrived and too outrageous to actually have happened. There is one scene where Bruno interviews parents whose children are supposedly in the running to be in a photo ad with Bruno’s adopted African-American child OJ. He asks them questions like “So… Can your child (3 year old) be put in a car with no seatbelt going extremely fast?” And the parents respond after a coached hesitation, “yes, I don’t see why not.” These scenes are still very entertaining; however, do not possess the same intrinsic value as other, more authentic scenes; for example, when Bruno attempts to make a sex tape with Republican Congressman Ron Paul in a isolated hotel room interview (This is surely among the pee-your-pants scenes for sure).

I HIGHLY recommend seeing this movie. It’s definitely worth your money and time. It’s also a great reminder that we’re really not all as accepting as we’d like to believe. It is a fun movie and doesn’t need to be analyzed as deeply as I have analyzed it. It is just crucial to appreciate Cohen’s craft for bringing out the shock in all of us.

Totally Fab. Achyah!!

3.75 out of 4
(Review by Luke of Earl)

TV Spotlight -- Entourage (HBO)

As much as last season was a dismal failure - I was as pumped as anyone last night to see the Season Six premiere episode of Entourage entitled "Drive." After beating Vince down to a pulp, the writers decided to give him a little change of fate and bring the show back from the lowly, bankrupt Hollywood story to one the one we all came to love in Season One and Two of fame and success.

The question obviously will be can they find a new story line that isn't 1. Vinny being incredibly successful and happy (been there) or 2. Vinny being broke pimpin' (done that) or 3. Vinny somewhere in between these two extremes fighting with Ari about making another crap movie (Medellin 2.0). Does the show have enough to keep this train running and keep us interested? In an ideal world the writers will have found something interesting to focus on about Johnny Drama or Turtle. Heaven help us if E is the main subject for many episodes (which I am sure he most likely will be).

All in all - I had more fun watching last night than I did for probably any episode last season so I am feeling positive. However - without drama that rises above the inner-turmoil-bromance of Vinny and the boys - we could be set up for a snooze.

Site Update -- 15,000!

Hit a mini-milestone today. 15,000 hits. Not very impressive seeing that this blog has been up for almost 2 and a half years BUT, it makes me feel good about myself. Although I am positive that at LEAST 75% of them are from my mother's browser opening. STILL - I am pumped. It took only the last three weeks to go from 12,000 to 15,000. So more people must be tuning in - or my mom is really going online a lot. Keep checking back in and make sure to hit us up on Twitter, Facebook and Myspace.

PS - how great is that picture above?

Site Update -- Luke of Earl

GoodenoughFilms has added a new writer to the staff. Luke of Earl is hot on the scene and ready to bring us up to date on whatever the hell he feels necessary. The only introduction you need to Earl is this hot music video he made for his Prep school's rivalry week straight slaughtering the dreaded Hill School (pee-you!). Earl is sure to bring a nice and younger vibe to the blog that has been a bit too infused with us old heads. With that - I present to you - Luke of Earl. Keep it real, bitches.

Link: In Pottstown
Site: YouTube
Length: 3:49

If you want to become a fan of The Earl himself - feel free with this link to his Facebook fan page.

Did you know you could become a fan of GoodenoughFilms on Facebook too? Right here.

Music Videos -- Michael Jackson

Link: Thriller
Site: YouTube
Length: 13:41

I feel like it is a civic duty of mine since I am on my recent music video craze to post this amazing gem. I am sure 99.9% of the entire planet has seen the music video for Thriller but I figured I would post it just in case you are planning on going out in the not so distant future because every bar I have been to recently has been blazing this track and my ability to do about 75% of the Thriller dance moves has made me one of the more popular guys in the place. So study up and enjoy the best music video of all time.

Film Review -- The Hangover (R)

Directed by Todd Phillips
Released June 5, 2009

My 60 year old father took me to delicious Chinese food and to see The Hangover yesterday. I was surprised because the films target audience did not include him or his fiance. Nevertheless, the three of us went to a theatre last night and laughed together as Todd Phillips (Old School, Road Trip, Starsky and Hutch) delivered another comedy that defines our generation (Next?). The Hangover in no ways matches or surpasses Old School. Actually, it does not come close using my flawless Laugh-o-meter. All but a couple of the characters lacked the stupidity or outlandishness that I crave in a comedy. Do not misread this review please, this is a funny movie. However, I would be fine seeing this movie at home. Please consider that I do not regularly see comedies in the theatre for their lack of explosions and other aesthetically pleasing things. Obviously, I do plan on seeing G.I. Joe in the IMAX.

In The Hangover, the story about a debaucherous bachelor party is classic. However, the B movie stars who form the central characters have little to work with as they struggle to demonstrate consistent comedic attributes easily. Alan Garner played by comedian and rising star Zack Galifianakis (Super High Me, Out Cold) does deliver the needed knee slapping humor in nearly every scene. The other characters are better than others, but nothing extraordinary.

I do think that the dialog written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore was truly hysterical. Many of the funny lines were just great lines that fell into the actors lap. Comedian Mike Epps plays Black Doug and shines as always; while cops played by Rob Riggle and Cleo King are also hilarious. The funniest character was by far the always awesome Ken Jeong (Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, Role Models) who caused the audience to erupt in response to his role - gangster Mr. Chow. Jeong is a physician which earned him the name "Dr. Ken". He is always good as any character and was on tv shows such as The Office, Entourage, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Dr. Ken steals the movie in three or four scenes. An interesting note is that there is already Hangover 2 set for 2011.

It was a fun night at the movies which my father pointed out as we left on an unseasonably cool St. Louis night in July. My only caution is that the pictures shown as the credits roll at the end are not for children or churchgoers. Go see it for sure if you like to laugh.

3 out of 4
(Review by Thomas Demerath)

News -- MJ Memorial Service

This is one of the most remarkable online video moments in the history of the world. CNN estimates that already over 10 million people are watching this live online with this unique ability to live chat through Facebook Status' and I cannot believe the internet has come to this point in history. I can only imagine what the number of Facebook Status' will be after all is said and done today. Tune in through this link if you are not already. RIP MJ. Way to go out with a virtual big bang.

Music Videos -- LMFAO

Link: Yes
Site: YouTube
Length: 3:10

Yes, I am posting about this group. The music video tops the record books as the worst of all time, but I double-dog dare you to get a little drunk with some friends and pop this jam on and not get to shaking your rump. As a self proclaimed hip hop connoisseur, the lyrics of this summer hit are the dregs. But, just looking at these clowns and the hilarious car ride music video they put together makes me like them one hundred times more. Scope the video or just have it playing in the background while you Gmail Chat at work or Facebook Stalk at home. Yes. It's on and poppin'.

Feel free to learn more about LMFAO here.

Film Review -- Public Enemies (R)

Directed by Michael Mann
Released July 1, 2009

So it appears that the summer movie season is officially upon us. It's a time of year that I usually venture into with trepidation. It seems like Hollywood is always very hit or miss once the days get longer and warmer. Sometimes you get lucky and a movie like The Dark Knight comes along and sometimes you get The Taking of Pelham 123. Either way - you never know whats going to happen. With that in mind, I went to see Johnny Depp's latest, Public Enemies, which is a true story that focuses on the last year of bank robber, John Dillinger's life.

I didn't know exactly what to expect going into this movie. I knew that there would be some good 1930's-esque action which there was. And I knew that there would be some great acting from Johnny Depp, and he didn't disappoint. However, if you're looking for a good action movie with wall-to-wall heart stopping action this isn't the movie for you. Granted the action scenes in the movie were really well done and the sound editing really pulled you into the moment, unfortunately they were too few and far between. What you have left over is a very slow paced movie in between with few flashes of acting brilliance from Depp and Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard (who plays Dillinger's girlfriend, Billie Frechette). Christian Bale wasn't half bad either, although his role in the movie isn't very big. The supporting cast in this movie overall was very strong.

My recommendation would be to wait it out and rent this one when it comes out on DVD, unless you're a die-hard Depp fan and just have to see him on the big screen. Overall Public Enemies is a decent film, but I think it would have been better served starting earlier in Dillinger's life, perhaps give us some back story as to how he became a bank robber. This would have allowed for more action scenes as well which would have helped the movie move along a little faster.

2.5 out of 4
(Review by Chris)

TV Spotlight -- Hung (HBO)

I finally got around to watching HBO's new follow-up to the almighty TrueBlood on my DVR this morning. Hung is the story of Ray Drecker (Thomas Jane), a Detroit native high school basketball coach whose life after divorce and financial turmoil left him in a serious bind. Add to that his house burning down and his fat and ugly kids leaving him to live with his Ex, Ray's life officially blows. But while the rest of us might try and pick up a second job, take a loan or beg family for funds, Ray takes the high road to using his one god given gift (as the title of the series makes pretty obvious) - his wiener.

The series has a very simple look to it - similar production value to other HBO single camera shoots like Entourage or Sopranos. The story flows threw Ray's voice-over narration (which has NOTHING on Dexter Morgan in Showtime's Dexter) and boasts an original film-like score to accompany the plot and move the story right along.

All in all, I am interested to see where Hung takes me and I have always found it funny that I think Thomas Jane is the same person as Aaron Eckhart (Thank You For Not Smoking, The Dark Knight). Really he is just that dude from Deep Blue Sea who seems ready to be the talk of the town this summer with his new series about his big dong. With a lack of reality TV in my life (besides Daisy Of Love which is proving to be pretty fun since I have a serious bro crush on 12 Pack) and only a glimmer of hope still remains that Entourage will be what it once was - you can be sure I will be watching Hung again July 12th for episode number two.