Movie Recommendation: "Premium Rush" - Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures

Joseph Gordon-Levitt continues to impress with each and every performance. The former Indie darling has expanded into mainstream films over the past two years, with roles in Inception, 50/50, The Dark Knight Rises and now in Premium Rush, where he delivers a physically impressive performance as a bicycle messenger who is being chased by a crooked cop, Bobby Monday (Michael Shannon). Gordon-Levitt portrays Wilee, who is tasked with picking up an envelope from a local University and delivering it to Chinatown. However, after he secures the package, he is stopped by the "head of campus security," (actually police detective Bobby Monday) who says that a mistake has been made and asks for the envelope back. Wilee, sensing that something is not quite right, and living up to his namesake, thwarts Monday's attempt to get the envelope and a chase ensues.

The envelope that Wilee is carrying contains a very valuable claim ticket that is worth a lot of money and has far reaching emotional consequences that could impact a family if not delivered to the correct person. Monday, who has a serious gambling problem and is in debt to gangsters who reside in Chinatown, is offered a chance to clear that debt if he can obtain the ticket. As a result, he frantically races across New York City trying to catch Wilee, who always seems to outsmart the detective. As savvy as Wilee is, he manages to catch the attention of a bicycle cop who experiences that same frustration with catching him as Monday does. Eventually, things get even tougher for Wilee, who then has to request help from his dispatcher and fellow messengers in order to deliver the package.

Premium Rush is loaded with exciting bicycle chases through the streets of New York City that must have been challenging to choreograph. Joseph Gordon-Levitt spends much of the film on a bicycle and looks like a professional, as he navigates through crowded intersections, traffic jams and many near misses with other vehicles (and was even injured during filming). While the tone is essentially dramatic, there is a good amount of comedy, courtesy of Michael Shannon (Bug), who has mastered the art of playing bizarre characters. As annoying and crooked as Monday is, Shannon infuses a degree of sadness into the character, who is desperate to pay off his gambling debt, or face serious consequences. As a result, viewers may find themselves feeling empathy for the hapless detective.

Director and co-writer David Koepp has crafted an exciting, pulse pounding, well acted and entertaining film that never loses momentum. Thankfully, the focus remains on Wilee and his mission to deliver the package, even though he is being paid very little for his considerable trouble. However, he senses that what he is doing is very important and will not be deterred by anyone, including members of the NYPD. Wilee is a character who audiences will want to root for and follow every step of the way on his mission to do the right thing. I am not sure how realistic Wilee is, but I had a great time rooting for him to succeed, nonetheless.

Animation Spotlight: "The Heathcliff and Dingbat Show" DVD

Inspired by the long running comic strip, the not so finicky feline Heathcliff stars in the 1980 television series "The Heathcliff and Dingbat Show," which is now available for the first time on DVD from The Warner Archive. The series is comprised of 13 episodes on two discs, each featuring four animated shorts, two starring Heathcliff and two starring Dingbat, a vampire dog who works odd jobs with his friends, Nobody and Sparerib. Like the comic strip version, Heathcliff is smart, determined stubborn and consumes a lot of fish in the animated series, which features the voice talents of the legendary Mel Blanc.

Dingbat may not be as familiar as Heathcliff, but is clearly inspired by classic horror movies and television shows. Dingbat has fangs like Dracula, exhibits a familiar accent made famous by Bela Lugosi, and can even turn into a "bat," which is essentially a smaller version of himself with wings. His pal Nobody is a pumpkin who wears sneakers and a baseball cap and appears to be the leader of the trio, which is rounded out by Sparerib, who is a skeleton. Sparerib talks like Curly from The Three Stooges and appears to be simple minded, but also displays talents that help his friends from time to time. The pals drive around in a car that is reminiscent of "The Munsters," their phone is located in a small coffin and a "helping hand" is sometimes seen, sort of like "Thing" from "The Addams Family." Collectively, they are known as Dingbat and the Creeps.

For additional information, visit the Warner Archive here.

Watch a clip below.

Retro TV on DVD: Gene Roddenberry's "The Lieutenant" - Starring Gary Lockwood

"Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry's first television series, "The Lieutenant," is now available on DVD for the first time. The series stars Gary Lockwood (2001: A Space Odyssey) as Second Lieutenant William T. Rice (the "T" stands for Tiberius), of the United States Marine Corps, and Robert Vaughn, as his superior officer, Captain Raymond Rambridge. The complete first and only season of the series consists of 29 episodes that originally aired during the 1963 and 1964 television season. While most series take time to establish themselves, "The Lieutenant" starts off very strong, with four outstanding episodes, including "A Million Miles From Clary," guest starring Bill Bixby ("The Incredible Hulk"), and "The Proud and the Angry," guest starring Rip Torn. Both episodes test the mettle of Lieutenant Rice, who is torn between doing a favor for an old friend, while possibly hurting his platoon, in the former, and then goes undercover as a Private to establish whether or not a Sergeant is using brutality to keep his troops in check, in the latter.

 

Gary Lockwood delivers realistic and often passionate performances as Lieutenant Rice, as he is constantly challenged by Captain Rambridge, who understands that Rice is a great officer and expects him to rise to any challenge. For instance, in the episode "Fall From A White Horse," Rice is tasked with defending a fellow officer who has been accused of hit and run, even though Rice has never tried a case before. Rice believes that his client deserves better representation, but Captain Rambridge refuses his request to step down. In another episode, "O'Rourke," guest starring Eddie Albert ("Green Acres"), Rice must entertain a former Marine, who is now a writer and is determined to prove that the Marine Corps is not as effective or as strong as it used to be. Their personalities clash, which prompts Rice to ask Rambridge to assign O'Rourke to another officer, but Rambridge refuses, showing once again that he has faith in Rice to work it out.

While most episodes portray Rambridge as tough as nails, Robert Vaughn has an opportunity to show the Captain's softer side in "The Alien," which centers around a Korean orphan who Rambridge and his ex-wife planned on adopting. When the child finally arrives, Rambridge is taken aback and is not sure he can act as a single parent. Likewise, Lieutenant Rice is faced with a personal dilemma when he has to assist the family of a fallen soldier who died as a result of a careless accident while under his authority. Gary Lockwood delivers great work in the episode, entitled "Gone the Sun."

 

Fans of classic television will likely enjoy "The Lieutenant." The series has the distinctive look of a classic television show, complete with a catchy theme song, and each episode is filmed in black and white. In addition, many familiar guest stars populate the landscape of any given episode, including Katherine Ross ("The Colbys"), Frank Maxwell ("General Hospital"), Ed Asner ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show"), Kathryn Hays ("As the World Turns"), Harold Gould ("The Golden Girls"), Richard Anderson ("The Six Million Dollar Man"), Linda Evans ("Dynasty"), and "Star Trek" alumni Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig. Viewers familiar with Gene Roddenberry will be pleased to learn that he incorporates social issues into several episodes, including race, the role of women in the military, and the growing concerns of a war in Vietnam. "The Lieutenant" features solid performances and consistently good writing which make it a must see retro treat.

"The Lieutenant: The Complete Series," parts 1 and 2, is now available from the Warner Archive. For additional information, go here.

Watch a clip here.



Blu-ray Spotlight: "Agatha Christie's Poirot" Series 6 - Starring David Suchet

David Suchet returns as Hercule Poirot for four full-length mysteries based on the novels by the legendary Agatha Christie. The remastered episodes are in their original U.K. broadcast order and include Hercule Poirot's Christmas, Hickory Dickory Dock, Murder on the Links and Dumb Witness, which I believe is the best of the bunch. Joining Poirot once again are Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson), Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran) and Hugh Fraser (Captain Hastings), who all appear in at least one installment.

Hercule Poirot's Christmas finds the titular detective planning to spend a quiet Christmas alone, until his flat's heating unit decides to fail. When he calls for service, he is informed that the heat will not be restored until after the holiday. However, Poirot then receives a call from Simeon Lee (Vernon Dobtcheff), a very wealthy man, who asks Poirot to come stay with him and his family over the holidays because he suspects that his life may be in danger. Poirot accepts the offer, but only after he confirms that the house has heat. As Simeon Lee's extended family are gathering for Christmas, there is much dysfunction present, so the holiday is not as joyous as it could be. In addition, one of Lee's sons, Harry (Brian Gwaspari), returns after a long absence and no one appears to be happy to see him. On Christmas Eve, Simeon summons his family members together to announce that he plans to draw up a new will that will give a portion of his estate to Harry. This news means less money and property for Harry's brothers, George (Eric Carte) and Alfred (Simon Roberts), and, of course, they are both furious with their father. Later than same evening, Simeon is murdered in his room. Poirot, who, of course, has been observing every guest's behavior from the moment he arrived, begins his quest to solve the mystery. There are plenty of unexpected plot twists and interesting discoveries along the way, including the arrival of a presumed dead family member and the revelation of the true paternity of one of Simeon's children.

Hickory Dickory Dock finds Poirot searching for a killer at a student hostel. However, before anyone is murdered, a series of petty thefts occur, which arouse the suspicions of Poirot, who typically does not concern himself with such matters. Among the curious items missing are a stethoscope, light bulbs and a torn rucksack. Poirot is able to find the thief with little effort, however, very little time passes before a murder is committed and during the investigation, there are many strange twists that must be maneuvered around in order to determine who is responsible. As the list of suspects grows, another murder is committed, so Poirot is once again in a race against time to find the perpetrator.

In Murder on the Links, another solid entry in the series, Poirot is joined by his good friend Captain Hastings, as a murder mystery unfolds on a golf course. In this instance, Poirot finds himself being manipulated early on, while Hastings falls for a potential suspect, which makes the situation even more complicated. In addition, Poirot must contend with Giraud (Bill Moody), an overbearing police official, who hampers his investigation and appears to look down on the celebrated detective. Not to be outdone, Poirot suggests that they wager a bet on who is able to solve the mystery first. Both men have their work cut out for them, as there are several suspects, assumed identities and plenty of back story to work their way through.

Dumb Witness is an exceptional mystery featuring a lovable fox terrier, Bob, who holds the key to solving the murder of his former owner, Emily Arundell (Ann Morrish). Emily was a wealthy woman whose last will and testament holds surprises for her family and friends, including two sisters, Isabel and Julia Tripp, who experienced a premonition about her death. The eerie atmosphere is perfectly conveyed and accentuated by the mystical sisters who conduct seances and add a different perspective to Poirot's investigation, but they are also suspects. Dumb Witness shows a softer side to Poirot, who comes to care very much for Bob and is entrusted with his care, at least for a while. This episode also features outstanding cinematography.

"Agatha Christie's Poirot" Series 6 is now available on Blu-ray, from Acorn Media. For additional information, go here.

Alan Ritchson Cast as Gloss in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"

Photo Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

Alan Ritchson has been tapped to portray Gloss in the upcoming film The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Gloss is a tribute who teams up with his sister, Cashmere, for The Hunger Games competition. Ritchson previously portrayed A.C./Aquaman in the television series "Smallville" and then turned to comedy as Thad Castle, for three seasons, in the risque "Blue Mountain State." While I was already planning to see Catching Fire, the addition of Ritchson makes me want to see it even more when it hits theaters on November 22, 2013.

Weekend Box Office Report: August 24-26, 2012

The Expendables 2 (Lionsgate) topped the box office for the second weekend in a row, earning over $13 million, for a ten day take of over $50 million. I suppose a third installment will be inevitable. In its third weekend, The Bourne Legacy (Universal) held strong by capturing the number two spot, with just over $9 million. However, the film is not on track to match any of the previous Bourne installments, but that should not prevent the franchise from continuing. Rounding out the top five is the family friendly ParaNorman (pictured above), which landed in third place with over $8.5 million, followed by The Campaign (Warner Bros.) at number four with about $7.5 million and finally, The Dark Knight Rises (Warner Bros.) at number five with just over $7 million. After six weeks, the final installment in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy has earned $422 million domestically.

New releases Premium Rush, Hit and Run and The Apparition failed to catch on with moviegoers. Premium Rush (Sony/Columbia) faltered in eight place, earning just over $6 million, while Hit and Run (Open Road) languished in tenth place, with about $4.5 million and The Apparition (Warner Bros.) landed in twelfth place, with only $2.8 million. However, The Apparition is playing in far fewer theaters than Premium Rush or Hit and Run. Finally, the film 2016: Obama's America has some support in this election year, earning $6.5 million, which was good enough for a seventh place finish.

Here are the Top Ten Weekend Films (numbers are in millions):

1. The Expendables 2 - $13.4

2. The Bourne Legacy - $9.3

3. ParaNorman - $8.6

4. The Campaign - $7.5

5. The Dark Knight Rises - $7.2

6. The Odd Life of Timothy Green - $7.1

7. 2016: Obama's America - $6.5

8. Premium Rush - $6.0

9. Hope Springs - $5.7

10. Hit and Run - $4.5

"Evenings with Cary Grant: Recollections in His Own Words and by Those Who Knew Him Best" by Nancy Nelson

Press Release:

Charming, witty, effortlessly debonair, and elegant, Cary Grant was the ultimate leading man, a silver screen icon who seemed to embody all that a movie star should be. But beneath the glamour was a real and complicated man—surprisingly vulnerable, unabashedly romantic, an often exacting perfectionist who rose above a traumatic childhood and failed marriages to become an incomparable Hollywood legend.

More than 20 years after the first edition, Applause Theatre & Cinema Books publishes a fresh new edition of Evenings with Cary Grant by Nancy Nelson (Sept. 2012), the fan-preferred biography. In 1981, the author first persuaded Cary Grant to make public appearances and then represented and accompanied him and his wife for his superb one-man show called “A Conversation with Cary Grant.” Through those evenings and in many other more private conversations, she produced a book more personal than any other Cary Grant biography. As Gregory Peck said, this is “the first book about the real Cary—lively, warm, always entertaining, totally honest—like the man himself.”

Additionally, Nelson draws on material from Grant’s personal papers, along with loving, revelatory reminiscences from some of his closest friends and loved ones—including Katharine Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Quincy Jones, James Stewart, and many more—to reveal the vaudevillian, actor, lover, and father. With a treasury of both well-loved and rarely seen photographs and a foreword by Grant's wife, Barbara, and daughter, Jennifer, this is the definitive biography of one of the screen's greatest stars.

"The Bourne Legacy" (2012) - Starring Jeremy Renner

The Bourne trilogy, starring Matt Damon, prompted me to once again become a fan of action movies. But the Bourne films were very different from the typical action films that relied on violence, special effects and acts of destruction to entertain the masses, usually at the expense of the acting and the screenplay. Alas, it is possible to make an action movie for adults that is cerebral, well acted and well written and The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum repeatedly proved that. Of course, the success of the series relied on casting a believable and capable lead actor and whoever thought Matt Damon would become an action star? I think it is fair to say that he exceeded everyone's expectations.

After being spoiled with three outstanding efforts, I was disappointed to learn that Damon would not be appearing in The Bourne Legacy. However, I was encouraged to learn that Jeremy Renner would be taking over the lead role, but not as Jason Bourne, but rather another super soldier by the name of Aaron Cross. It would have been a mistake for anyone to try to assume the role of Jason Bourne and the filmmakers clearly understood that. Renner had previously delivered strong work in The Hurt Locker and The Town, so I knew he had the ability to take over for Damon, who is rumored to be considering a return for the fifth installment.

The Bourne Legacy mentions Jason Bourne on a few occasions, for continuity and story purposes, but the plot revolves around Aaron Cross, who is a member of Operation Outcome, along with many other agents. They are all super soldiers, like Bourne, and possess increased physical and mental abilities, thanks to a series of meds that keep them in top form. Early on, Bourne leaks classified information about secret government programs that leaves the Feds scrambling to do damage control. As a result, CIA official Eric Byer (Edward Norton) is enlisted to help contain the fallout and orders all super soldiers, or Outcome agents, to be eliminated. Aaron Cross, who is in Alaska on a training mission, is unaware of what is going on until a cabin that he is sharing with another agent, Number Three (Oscar Isaac), comes under attack from a drone. The cabin is destroyed and Number Three is killed, but Cross left just moments before, so he is spared, but shaken. However, each Outcome agent has a tracking device inserted into his/her body and once Cross realizes that he is still in danger, he removes it and attaches it to an unexpected source, which is then destroyed, thus tricking his superiors into thinking that he is dead.

Later, a scientist responsible for creating the meds that power the agents, Dr. Donald Foite (Željko Ivanek), is brainwashed into murdering his staff and proceeds to go on a killing spree, murdering all but one of them, Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz). Cross somehow finds his way to Shearing, who is holed up in a remote location, and saves her life when government agents arrive to kill her. As a result, Cross and Shearing are forced to run for their lives. Cross also needs Shearing's help to obtain more meds so that he can sustain his abilities. Shearing informs Cross that he has already been genetically modified to sustain his physical abilities, but still needs the so-called "blue pills" to enhance his emotional well being. With few options available to find or manufacture the drugs, they head to the Philippines, where they are produced as needed. Cross also confides that he remembers his back story and understands who he really is and recalls how he and the other agents were manipulated by government officials to keep them compliant and under control. The balance of the film features several exciting action sequences, which were a hallmark of the three previous films, as Cross and Shearing do everything possible to avoid being captured and killed.

Like the previous films, The Bourne Legacy features an intelligent and intricate screenplay, courtesy of Tony Gilroy (who also serves as director) and Dan Gilroy. Continuity is important to the franchise and several characters, including Pamela Landy (Joan Allen), Noah Vosen (David Strathairn) and Dr. Albert Hirsch (Albert Finney) all play significant, albeit small roles, in the film. New characters, such as the aforementioned Dr. Shearing and Eric Byer, as well as Mark Turson (Stacy Keach), are seamlessly added into the mix. In addition, the action sequences are once again expertly choreographed and are the highlight of the film. Furthermore, the performances by all of the previously mentioned cast members are solid.

Like Matt Damon, Jeremy Renner is physically impressive as the lead character. An early scene featuring Aaron Cross fighting for his life in the Alaskan wilderness starts the film off in style. However, in between the action sequences, something appears to be missing and I cannot say for certain what is it. All of the elements are present to make yet another great film, but The Bourne Legacy loses momentum during the "down time." Perhaps the film is a bit too long and maybe a little too detailed, or perhaps the emotional investment in the new characters is lacking. I was also not thrilled with the ending, which did not feel like an ending to me because of its abrupt nature, but it does provide a decent segue into the next installment. I wanted to love The Bourne Legacy, but instead, I ended up liking it a lot. Perhaps the bar was set too high for anyone to try to match or exceed the previous efforts. With that being said, I look forward to the next film and the possible return of Matt Damon.

Movie Recommendation: "Ruby Sparks" (2012) - Starring Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan

Photo Credit: Fox Searchlight

Imagine that you are a writer and that you have the power to make a character come to life just by writing about her/him? You have complete control over this person just by typing words. When writer Calvin Weir-Fields (Paul Dano) discovers he has such a talent, his world literally changes, in the recently released film Ruby Sparks. Calvin has been a writer for some time and his first novel was a big success. However, he has never been able to complete another book. Now that is a serious case of writer's block. Calvin is also dealing with a recent break-up from his ex-girlfriend, Lila. He does not appear to have any real friends, but has a dog who he clearly loves. In addition, Calvin's brother, Harry (Chris Messina), is one of the few people who regularly inhabits his life.

However, Calvin's lonely existence is about to come to an end. After experiencing a dream about meeting a young woman in a park, he begins to find women's clothing and other strange items around his house. One morning, as Calvin struggles with getting to a meeting on time, he realizes that he still needs to walk the dog. However, Ruby, the girl that he met in his dream, is in his apartment cooking breakfast. Calvin is very disturbed by this revelation and runs away from Ruby. He suspects that he may be hallucinating, but soon realizes that other people can see Ruby as well and, soon thereafter, a real relationship is formed.

Some time passes before Calvin fully realizes that not only did he make Ruby come to life, but he can also make her do whatever he wishes simply by typing the words. Ruby speak French. Ruby stop being so clingy. Ruby calm down. Calvin believes that he can continue to tweak Ruby until she is "perfect." But what kind of relationship is that? Calvin is in complete control and after a while he decides to let her know that he is in charge during a chaotic, dramatic and extremely well acted scene when everything comes full circle.

I read very little about Ruby Sparks prior to seeing the film, so the majority of the story came as a pleasant surprise to me. The screenplay, by Zoe Kazan, who also portrays Ruby, is smart and original. The psychological ramifications of Calvin and Ruby's situation are intensely interesting and well thought out. Their relationship is an unhealthy one because all the power and control lies with Calvin. While I understand that he is lonely and is dealing with insecurity issues, that is no excuse to exact total control over Ruby for his benefit. She literally has no say in anything that happens to her. She is a mere puppet to her master. Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan deliver performances that live up to the quality of the screenplay. I still vividly recall the haunting scene when Calvin reveals to Ruby that she is his creation, in every sense of the word. The result is a chilling, almost frightening realization that is made more dramatic with Calvin's typing and the urgent background music, as Ruby is made to do whatever Calvin decides, which then leads to a fateful decision about their future.

The supporting cast includes Annette Bening and Antonio Banderas, as Calvin and Harry's mother and her lover, and Elliott Gould as Calvin's therapist, Dr. Rosenthal. The few scenes between Calvin and Dr. Rosenthal are terrific and I wanted to see more. Ruby Sparks may not be what you expect, but that is a good thing. The film features elements of romance, fantasy, drama and a little bit of comedy that all conspire to make it one of the most surprising and interesting films of the year.