Movie Review Black Los Angeles

BlackNLA Movie Reviews

*****THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*****

by Edwardo Jackson

BIASES: Early 30s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare

WEEKEND PREVIEW: 2/23/07

Capsules for movies out or coming out this weekend…

STARTER FOR 10 (PG-13)
Biases: None – but I like McAvoy.
Players: James McAvoy, Alice Eve, Rebecca Hall, producer Tom Hanks

Logline: Working class brainiac who truly loves knowledge Brian Jackson (McAvoy) gets into posh Bristol University, joins the quiz team with hopes of starring on the televised quiz show battle University Challenge, and promptly falls for unlikely fellow
quizzer-cum-hottie Alice (Eve), while his skeptical, overly political friend Rebecca (Hall) looks on.

The Deal: You kinda feel bad for the British: their country is small, their little brother is now the world's only true superpower, and they've never had John Hughes. Dubbing itself as "the great British teen '80s comedy that never was" in the press kit, "Starter for 10" is most of that – British, teen, '80s, and somewhat comedic. Anchored by McAvoy's versatile, engaging talent as awkward, terribly coiffed,
"general knowledge god" Brian, "Starter" is a pleasantly predictable, angsty coming of age romantic comedy that has its moments of offbeat, subtle charm. The movie truly embraces its '80s-ness, in all its acid-washed, Jennifer Bealsishly off the shoulder, jeans jacketed glory (who can resist poofy hair and the Era of Bangs?), but it's not enough. Call me a "poncey wanker" (a poncey wanker with standards,
thank you), but I'm an American, dammit. We covered this ground with "The Breakfast Club," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," and any other John Hughes film you wish to insert here not starring Macaulay Culkin. Their currency may beat ours ass, but at least we got it where it counts – '80s teen comedies!
@@ REELS (Extra medium)

THE ASTRONAUT FARMER (PG)
Biases: Great, sweet-natured and hopeful trailer.
Players: Billy Bob Thornton, Virginia Madsen, director/producers the Polish Brothers

Logline: Dead broke cattle rancher Charlie Farmer (Thornton) with "bad credit but great character" doggedly pursues his dream of launching himself into space with his homemade, NASA comparable replica Atlas-Mercury rocket. With a month until the bank forecloses on his house, Charlie races to finish building the rocket under the scrutiny of international media camped outside his ranch, his supportive but
straining family (Madsen as wife Audie), as well as the menacing eye of a US government that's just itching to shut him down – or blow him out of the sky. No pressure, Charlie.

The Deal: (Rocket?) Fueled by one of the most singleminded protagonists in modern history (Farmer takes his kids out of school to induct them into the "Farmer Space Program" as his Mission Control), "The Astronaut Farmer" is that rare, likably corny and feelgood (if not "family") flick that's genuinely inspirational, not treacly. Agreeably mixing smalltown Americana with mainstream media, the Polish
Brothers (Michael directed and wrote, Michael wrote and acted) have achieved a throwback jersey of a movie – reverent of the past but with a modern take on our own jaded sensibilities. Once Farmer chooses to "embrace the media" and publicize his dream in the wake of FAA intimidation, the response is overwhelming but realistic.

What really gets you about this movie is its unwavering sense of hope and belief in dreams. Staying on message better than a first term Bush White House staffer, "Farmer's" script and star espouse lines like "Somewhere along the line we stopped believing we could do anything…We stopped believing in our dreams" with nary a snicker or wink, as earnestly and believably as a Make a Wish poster. And it works, due to Thornton's straight arrow, '50s style belief in believing, where dreams and having them were real estate as precious as Times Square. It's interesting to see the meteor-hot, middle-age goddess Virginia Madsen dulled own like a pencil point as Farmer's waitress wife. Anyone who can dim her star wattage so agreeably, so believably, is an act-or. When the gorgeous images of rural Texas run out, the Polish brothers leave room for the scenery of your desires, plugging you
directly into Farmer's dreams while you examine yours. If you ever chased a dream or wanted to chase a dream with reckless abandon, this inspirational, hopeful little film is for you.
@@@ REELS (It's pretty hot – go give it a shot)

Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's
talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel
Deal!) Email him at ejace1@gmail.com!

Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA,
(Villard/Random House), a writer for BlackNLA.com,
UrbanFilmPremiere.com, AllHipHop.com, and an LA-based screenwriter.
Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com where his new novel I DO?
is available NOW.




			BlackNLA Movie Reviews ***THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street* by Edwardo Jackson BIASES: Early 30s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare WEEKEND PREVIEW: 2/23/07 Capsules for movies out or coming out this weekend… STARTER FOR 10 (PG-13) Biases: None – but I like McAvoy. Players: James McAvoy, Alice Eve, Rebecca Hall, producer Tom Hanks Logline: Working class brainiac who truly loves knowledge Brian Jackson (McAvoy) gets into posh Bristol University, joins the quiz team with hopes of starring on the televised quiz show battle University Challenge, and promptly falls for unlikely fellow quizzer-cum-hottie Alice (Eve), while his skeptical, overly political friend Rebecca (Hall) looks on. The Deal: You kinda feel bad for the British: their country is small, their little brother is now the world's only true superpower, and they've never had John Hughes. Dubbing itself as "the great British teen '80s comedy that never was" in the press kit, "Starter for 10" is most of that – British, teen, '80s, and somewhat comedic. Anchored by McAvoy's versatile, engaging talent as awkward, terribly coiffed, "general knowledge god" Brian, "Starter" is a pleasantly predictable, angsty coming of age romantic comedy that has its moments of offbeat, subtle charm. The movie truly embraces its '80s-ness, in all its acid-washed, Jennifer Bealsishly off the shoulder, jeans jacketed glory (who can resist poofy hair and the Era of Bangs?), but it's not enough. Call me a "poncey wanker" (a poncey wanker with standards, thank you), but I'm an American, dammit. We covered this ground with "The Breakfast Club," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," and any other John Hughes film you wish to insert here not starring Macaulay Culkin. Their currency may beat ours ass, but at least we got it where it counts – '80s teen comedies! @@ REELS (Extra medium) THE ASTRONAUT FARMER (PG) Biases: Great, sweet-natured and hopeful trailer. Players: Billy Bob Thornton, Virginia Madsen, director/producers the Polish Brothers Logline: Dead broke cattle rancher Charlie Farmer (Thornton) with "bad credit but great character" doggedly pursues his dream of launching himself into space with his homemade, NASA comparable replica Atlas-Mercury rocket. With a month until the bank forecloses on his house, Charlie races to finish building the rocket under the scrutiny of international media camped outside his ranch, his supportive but straining family (Madsen as wife Audie), as well as the menacing eye of a US government that's just itching to shut him down – or blow him out of the sky. No pressure, Charlie. The Deal: (Rocket?) Fueled by one of the most singleminded protagonists in modern history (Farmer takes his kids out of school to induct them into the "Farmer Space Program" as his Mission Control), "The Astronaut Farmer" is that rare, likably corny and feelgood (if not "family") flick that's genuinely inspirational, not treacly. Agreeably mixing smalltown Americana with mainstream media, the Polish Brothers (Michael directed and wrote, Michael wrote and acted) have achieved a throwback jersey of a movie – reverent of the past but with a modern take on our own jaded sensibilities. Once Farmer chooses to "embrace the media" and publicize his dream in the wake of FAA intimidation, the response is overwhelming but realistic. What really gets you about this movie is its unwavering sense of hope and belief in dreams. Staying on message better than a first term Bush White House staffer, "Farmer's" script and star espouse lines like "Somewhere along the line we stopped believing we could do anything…We stopped believing in our dreams" with nary a snicker or wink, as earnestly and believably as a Make a Wish poster. And it works, due to Thornton's straight arrow, '50s style belief in believing, where dreams and having them were real estate as precious as Times Square. It's interesting to see the meteor-hot, middle-age goddess Virginia Madsen dulled own like a pencil point as Farmer's waitress wife. Anyone who can dim her star wattage so agreeably, so believably, is an act-or. When the gorgeous images of rural Texas run out, the Polish brothers leave room for the scenery of your desires, plugging you directly into Farmer's dreams while you examine yours. If you ever chased a dream or wanted to chase a dream with reckless abandon, this inspirational, hopeful little film is for you. @@@ REELS (It's pretty hot – go give it a shot)** Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at ejace1@gmail.com! Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for BlackNLA.com, UrbanFilmPremiere.com, AllHipHop.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com where his new novel I DO? is available NOW. © Edwardo Jackson 2007