Med City Movie Guy

Chris Miksanek: "Invictus"

Read the review in the Post-Bulletin.

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"Brothers"

Read the review in the Post-Bulletin.

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"Big Fan"

  

 

 

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"The Cove"

Everyone loves the king of the sea, ever so kind and gentle is he.
 

     Of course, I am speaking of dolphins -- one (actually five) famous cetacean in particular: TV's Flipper. Back in the 1960s, trainer Ric O’Barry unapologetically spawned an industry – exploitative dolphin shows. Today, he hangs his head in shame realizing the consequence of his success is that his finned friends are horrifically abused: the most promising go for $150,000; the rest, though dangerously mercury-laden, are slaughtered and sold for human consumption.
     The Cove is an amazing documentary that follows O’Barry as he and some confederates use black ops and high tech to infiltrate and expose a secret cove in Taijii, Japan where the worst abuses occur.
 
More here: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810066711/info.

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"Tyson"

A far cry from Leon Gast’s 1996 masterpiece, “When We Were Kings,” James Toback’s “Tyson” is not unsatisfying even if it is, essentially, Mike Tyson reflecting on Mike Tyson. It’s heavy on a contemporary interview and light on clips and interviews from his early days. Still, it’s all we have of this tired and demoralized boxer. Iron Mike’s introspect is surprising at times (who would have guessed he was so deep?), but in the end, it is, and was, all about a paycheck – a revelation that carves an even wider abyss between him and a great like Muhammad Ali. If you’re going to see “Tyson” at all, make it a double-feature with Gast’s Rumble in the Jungle backstory.

FYI: “When We Were Kings” http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1800026798/info

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"Food, Inc."

Arguably a big-screen version of Eric Schlosser's book, "Fast Food Nation" (Schlosser produced and stars) though it was already "dramatized" in a 2006 film (and a very good one, by the way) with Greg Kinnear. Remarkably, there is very little overlap. Whereas "Fast Food Nation" described three concerns -- the animals, the additives, and the shifting sociology, "Food, Inc." introduces yet another by “lifting the veil" on the corporations who’re behind what we eat. And what a surprise: Walmart is actually one of the good guys.

...And see what else the Med City Movie Guy is up to here:
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"Old Dogs"

Read the review in the Post-Bulletin.

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...And see what else the Med City Movie Guy is up to here:
http://postbulletin.typepad.com/med_city_movie_guy/2009/05/chris-miksanek-med-city-movie-guy-happenings.html 
...and on facebook.

"The Blind Side"

In Sandra Bullock’s new film, “The Blind Side,” the romantic comedy star delivers an Oscar-worthy performance in what is sure to be the feel-good tear-jerking movie of the year. That’ll come as welcomed news to not only area theaters who’ll sell-out shows, but also for the new Walgreens who’ll sell-out Kleenex.
 
     Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy (country music’s Tim McGraw and Bullock) live in an affluent part of Memphis thanks to the dozens of fast-food franchises they own. Driving home from their son’s Thanksgiving school pageant one evening, they spot “Big Mike” (Quinton Aaron) wandering along the highway. Reacting, rather than deliberating, Leigh Anne takes him in.
     Michael, they learn, is a classmate at the Toughy children’s Christian school who was accepted there after various public agencies failed him. In that caring, albeit foreign, family environment, he acclimates and it becomes apparent from his rising grades and growing trust that Leigh Anne and the teachers who take a personal interest have accomplished what no government agency can.
     Eventually, his academic progress qualifies him to try-out for the school’s football team, where, if college recruiters are any gauge, he’s a phenomenal success. But it’s not without a cost. Leigh Anne is ostracized from her social circle and when they steer the boy towards their alma mater, her and Sean’s motives come under scrutiny.
     “The Blind Side” is based on Michael Lewis’ book, “Evolution of a Game,” which follows the true story of Baltimore Raven Michael Oher from his hopeless start at the Memphis Hurt Village housing project to his NFL draft. However, it’s less a football biopic than it is an inspirational message that merely giving thanks is not as fulfilling as demonstrating thanks by the way we lead our lives.
     Shedding the characters she’s outgrown, Bullock shines as a genteel mannered southern wife who, when push comes to shove, can shove back just as hard (on one occasion barking acronyms at some project toughs, “I’m in a prayer group with the D.A. and I’m a member of the N.R.A.”). The supporting cast -- Jae Head, as the precious S.J., Tim McGraw, veteran Kathy Bates, even supporting actor Quinton Aaron -- only round-out the ensemble. This is all Sandra Bullock and by far, it’s the best film of her career, and arguably the best of year.
     “The Blind Side” is more than a Thanksgiving film, it’s a Thanksgiving lesson.
     Pass the gravy and pass me another tissue.

4 Honks 
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for one scene involving brief violence, drug and sexual references.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810088176/trailer

...And see what else the Med City Movie Guy is up to here:
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"The Twilight Saga: New Moon"

A very good follow-up to the first film. Local fans seemed satisfied, most hung on every word. What did you think?.

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What you won't see in "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"

What you won't see in "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"
by Chris Miksanek
The Med City Movie Guy

This is no phlebotomy joke: vampires are coming to the Med City. At Midnight tonight, scores of teens will line-up to howl at the New Moon, the second film in the rabidly successful Twilight series.

     Serious fans of the series, “Twi-hards,” they’re called, already know what to expect. Edward and the rest of the Cullens leave Forks. This drives Bella to a reckless pastime: motorcycling. She gets into a bind and is rescued by childhood friend Jacob Black and the foundation for a love triangle is laid. No surprises, to be sure, that’s all in the book. But readers don’t know the whole story.
     As in every other film ever made, there is plenty of material left on the cutting-room floor -- parts left out for any number of reasons. Perhaps they were technically flawed or superfluous to the plot. Maybe they were simply nonsensical, like these scenes you won’t see in the final cut:

• When it becomes obvious that their outdoors baseball games have become too dangerous, the Cullen family stays in and plays Wii tennis together. (cut for time)
• At a sports bar, Carlisle attempts to explain Sammy Sosa’s pallor. (no explanation for cut)
• In a scene originally championed by PETA, a matronly nutritionist visits the Cullens and says, “nice that you’ve evolved to live on animal blood, but you should consider humane alternatives like Hemopure, Ringer’s lactate, or V8.” (cut after an Edwardian focus group whined)
• Midway into the third act, Bella says, “We’re good friends, Jacob, so I can tell you this: You use way too much volumizer.” (background howling spoiled audio track)
• Before leaving Forks, Edward delivers an Oscar-worthy Shakespearean front-porch plea for tolerance, “We expected to be welcomed with open arms, instead, you welcome us with pitchforks and torches. Hath a vampire eyes? Affections? Passions? If you prick us, do we not bleed? Wait a second, I guess we do not.” (cut for time)

 

...And see what else the Med City Movie Guy is up to here:
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