Read the Book Before the Movie Comes Out

There are a heap of movies coming out the remainder of the year that are based on books. Here's a breakdown:

August:

2 - The Spectacular Now - based on the teen book by Tim Tharp, stars new It-girl Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller [trailer]

6 - Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters - based on the book by Rick Riordan, Logan Lerman reprises his role as Percy in this second installment [trailer]

21 - The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones - based on the teen book by Cassandra Clare, starring Lily Collins [trailer]

 

September:

20 - Wizard of Oz - based on the children's classic by Frank L. Baum, being re-released in 3D [trailer]

27 - As I Lay Dying - based on the classic by William Faulkner, starring James Franco [trailer]

27 - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 - animated movie based on the characters by Judi Barrett, starring Bill Hader [trailer]

27 - Austenland - based on the chick lit book by Shannon Hale (with a wink to Jane Austen, of course), starring Keri Russell [trailer]

 

October:

11 - Romeo & Juliet - based on Shakespeare's play, starring Douglas Booth and Hailee Steinfeld [trailer]

11 - Horns - based on the novel by Joe Hill, starring Daniel Radcliffe

18 - Carrie - remake based on the book by Stephen King, starring Chloe Grace Moretz [trailer]

31 - 12 Years a Slave - based on the autobiography by Solomon Northup, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor [trailer]

November:

1 - Ender’s Game - based on the popular book by Orson Scott Card starring Asa Butterfield [trailer]

8 - Thor: The Dark World - based on the comic book character by Stan Lee, starring Chris Hemsworth [trailer]

15 - The Book Thief - based on the book by Markus Zusak, starring Sophie Nelisse

15 - The Wolf on Wall Street - based on the autobiographical book by Jordan Belfort, starring Leonardo DiCaprio [trailer]

22 - The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - based on the popular teen novel by Suzanne Collins, starring Jennifer Lawrence [trailer]

December:

13 - The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug - based on The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, starring Martin Freeman [trailer]

25 - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - based on the book by James Thurber, starring Ben Stiller [trailer]

Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Greatest Hits

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (JGL) has been a favorite of mine for several years now and he just keeps getting better. He varies his parts, but always turns in a noteworthy performance. Besides being easy on the eyes, he exudes easiness and charm in spades.

Joseph was most famous for his teenage role on the CBS sitcom 3rd Rock From the Sun in the late nineties to early aughts. He has since made a name for himself in the film industry. These are some of his greatest hits:

1. 10 Things I Hate About You: Yes, it's a high school movie. But, it also has JGL, Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles as relative youngsters. Based on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, it's one of the better teenage movies. Find it in the catalog!

2. Manic: The first pairing of JGL with Zooey Deschanel, although this one lacks the cuteness of (500) Days of Summer (see below). Manic is more dark and moody and shows JGL in a much different light than his previous work on 3rd Rock or 10 Things. I'm sure that that was a conscious choice on his part to avoid being type-cast. JGL plays Lyle, who is placed in a mental institution with other teens after some violent incidents. He is a somewhat sympathetic character plopped into the chaos of real teenage angst. Find it in the catalog!

3. Brick: A more cerebral turn for JGL. He plays Brendan, a high-schooler on the hunt for his ex-girlfriend's murderer, and to do so must access the sinister crowd, including the local drug dealer.  The tone is noir, the dialogue Shakespearean, but shot in color with more modern circumstances. It's an odd contrast and I guarantee you won't have seen a similar movie. (This is from director/writer Rian Johnson who subsequently wrote and directed The Brothers Bloom and the upcoming Looper also starring JGL.) Find it in the catalog!

4. The Lookout: A caper with excellent tension and performances all around (especially Matthew Goode with a role against type here). JGL plays Chris, a bank janitor with short-term memory issues as a result of a car accident in high school-- which makes him the perfect patsy. This just might be my favorite JGL film. Maybe. Find it in the catalog!

5. (500) Days of Summer: The second pairing of JGL and Zooey Deschanel. This flick is quirky, but still meaningful and one of the better rom-coms in recent years. This film definitely showcases JGL's lighter side. Great soundtrack. Find it in the catalog!

6. Inception: JGL is one of many, but still manages to make an impression. Check out the Media Corner synopsis. Find it in the catalog!

7. 50/50: As I stated earlier this year, I think this movie was robbed at Oscar nomination time. JGL leads as a twenty-something diagnosed with cancer. Joseph was able to run the gammit of emotions: confusion, anger, frustration, humor and thinking it might help you get the ladies (which I was unaware was one of the stages of dealing with cancer ...). Find it in the catalog!

Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not mention his excellent and grounding performance in The Dark Knight Rises. His character's place and purpose was unclear in pre-production, but he becomes the one to watch in the last installment of Nolan's grand trilogy. Joseph also has three more movies in the can: soon to be released Premium Rush, the aforementioned Looper, and Lincoln where he plays Robert Todd to Daniel Day-Lewis' Abraham (now that will be one to watch!). Oh, and did I mention he's currently writing and directing his first movie, Don Jon's Addiction? What a renaissance man.

Scene stealer: Jane Lynch

"I am the coach. I'm the coach and I'm the point guard, I'm the two forwards, the center, and I'm the other guard. I'm the entire organization."
~ Jane Lynch as Gayle Sweeney, Role Models

Currently seen on TV's Glee, Jane Lynch has been stealing scenes in movies for years. I first noticed this actress when I watched Best in Show, the Christopher Guest-directed mockumentary about a national dog show that focused on several dog owners, where Lynch played Rhapsody in White's dog trainer and romantic interest to one of Rhapsody's owners. She was Steve Carrell's boss Paula at Smart Tech in The 40 Year Old Virgin. The scene in which Paula sings a Guatemalan lullaby to Andy (played by Carrell) in the Smart Tech electronics store is without a doubt one of the most hilarious moments of the movie. Lynch also played the founder of Sturdy Wings, Gayle Sweeney, in Role Models. Recently she took on the role of Julia Child's sister Dorothy in Julie & Julia. I put together a list featuring some of her memorable roles. You can find more DVDs that feature Jane Lynch by searching jane lynch and dvd in our online catalog.

Best in Show (2000)
DVD COMEDY BEST
Find it in the catalog!

A Mighty Wind (2003)
DVD COMEDY MIGHTY
Find it in the catalog!

The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)
DVD COMEDY 40

"I'm very discreet... but I will haunt your dreams."

Find it in the catalog!

For Your Consideration (2006)
DVD COMEDY FOR
Find it in the catalog!

Role Models (2008)
DVD COMEDY ROLE

"I've been to prison. Oh, I have. I've been to prison. A prison of drugs, alcohol, and sick thoughts. I used to have sick thoughts." 

Find it in the catalog!

Julie & Julia (2009)
NEW DVD FICTION JULIE
Find it in the catalog!

Part two of New Moon opening night recap: The wait is over

During the break between Twilight and New Moon AMC Peter was back for further audience hassling; he asked if the ending of Twilight was the same or if it had changed since the last time we watched it. Hilarious stuff! He also wanted to see who had more support, Team Edward or Team Jacob. After a short screaming match Team Edward was deemed the winner in our theater, but it sounded like a tie to my ears.

Once midnight hit the waiting still was not over, as we had to sit through trailers (seven total). The trailer for Remember Me (starring Robert Pattinson) ignited freak-outs in a majority of the audience. The audience clapped and then screamed once the trailers ended. When the Summit logo appeared people started to shush each other.

New Moon focuses on Bella's (Kristen Stewart) relationship with her newly-buff friend Jacob (Taylor Lautner), who turns into a werewolf when he gets angry or hunts vampires. In much of the movie Bella is in a depressed state because her vampire boyfriend Edward (Robert Pattinson) broke up with her. When Bella spends time with Jacob she feels better and isn't so down about everything. He cares deeply for her, but Bella only likes Jacob as a friend. Bella still cannot let go of Edward. She realizes that when she behaves recklessly she is able to see and hear Edward, so she rides motorcycles and participates in other dangerous activities. When she cliff dives she sets off a chain of events that leads Edward to believe Bella is dead. He then goes to Italy to offer himself to the Volturi, a group of vampires that uphold vampire laws.

Similar to the first Twilight film, Bella's dad Charlie (Billy Burke) and her friends from Forks High School provide some nice comedic moments. In one highlight Bella sits between Mike Newton (Michael Welch) and Jacob at the movies, and each guy has his hand upturned on the armrest while she keeps her hands to herself. In another, Jessica (Anna Kendrick) explains why she does not like zombie movies. Paul, Sam, Jared, and Embry of The Wolf Pack also get some comedic jabs in, although their personalities aren't as clearly defined as those of the Cullen vampire family. I wanted to see more done with the Quileute tribe and the members who turn into werewolves (aka "The Wolf Pack"). And not because they're shirtless most of the time! The movie only briefly touches on their abilities, one of which is how they are able to read each other's minds.

There's no question who got the most screams: Jacob. His first New Moon appearance prompts Bella to say, "Hello, biceps." During the scene where Bella confronts Jacob in the rain someone in the theater even took a picture. Jokes about his bulked-up physique aside, I think Lauter gives a fantastic performance in New Moon. He is such a sweetheart to Bella; audience members went, "Aww" whenever she rejected any of his advances. I admit it: I am switching to Team Jacob after seeing Lautner's performance.

New Moon tallies*:
The number of times...
... the audience screamed: 8
... the audience clapped: 12
... Edward appears shirtless: 3
... Jacob appears shirtless: 5 or 6*
... a member of the wolf pack appears shirtless: 17
... Edward appears to be in pain: 27
... Edward smiles and/or laughs: 10
... Bella mopes and/or has nightmares: 13
... Bella is rescued: 5
... Jasper has a hilarious look on his face: 10
... Edward's image appears before Bella when she is being reckless or in danger: 15

* At certain points my pen was running out of ink and I had to go back and forth over the paper several times. Looking at my tallies now it's hard to tell where I was trying to darken one tally mark or add an additional one (it was pretty dark in the theater, okay?). Can anyone fill in the gaps to these numbers? If not, I guess I'll just have to see New Moon a second time.

The third installment in the series, Eclipse, comes to theaters June 2010!

• The Twilight Saga: New Moon is now playing at theaters everywhere
• 2 hours and 10 minutes; rated PG-13

Part one of New Moon opening night recap: Twilight

Last night I caught a double feature of Twilight and New Moon at the AMC in South Barrington. Several theaters in the area screened last year's Twilight at 9 PM before screening the next installment, New Moon, at midnight. In anticipation of the craziness I bought the tickets online and then picked them before the actual date of the showtime. It was a good deal to do the double feature. My friend and I got to the theater around 8:30 and saw that there were already two holding pens of Twilight fans waiting for the midnight showing, but we were able to go right into the theater. Although I've seen Twilight twice before in the theater I thought it would be fun to see it with a packed crowd of hard-core fans. I didn't see many people dressed as the characters, but plenty of fans (including myself) were wearing Twilight-related shirts.

Shortly before 9 PM an AMC employee named Peter welcomed us and then proceeded to mock our decision to see Twilight in the theater again: "Everyone feeling satisfied you paid $6 to see a movie you already own on DVD?" (screams!) Perhaps he was also trying to give the audience's lungs a workout; he mentioned something about the new Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp (more screams!), and then asked if anyone watched the TV show True Blood (screams!). He asked the audience whether Twilight or True Blood was better (indistinguishable screams!). His response: "The correct answer is True Blood."

By the time the lights went out for Twilight, the screams started up again. I heard audible gasps erupt from the audience the first time we saw the Cullens walk into the school cafeteria. The first close-up of Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) provoked the loudest screams. Interestingly enough the only other character whose appearance caused screams was Carlise (Peter Facinelli). Yep, that's right, nobody was screaming for Jacob, played by Taylor Lautner (yet).

Seeing the movie this time around I noticed things I hadn't before. On Bella's (Kristen Stewart) first day at Forks High School she gets a prime parking spot right in front of the school. Not believable! And, why doesn't Emmett Cullen (Kellan Lutz) like to sit down when he rides in cars? He always stands or crouches. Also, what's with the monkey references? Edward calls Bella a "spider-monkey" and Rosalie (Nikki Reed) refers to Emmett as her "monkey man." Furthermore, the head cocking and air sniffing that Cam Gigandet brings to the role of James is also something he used in the movie Never Back Down. Finally, while I always paid close attention to the hilarious strained looks on Jasper's (Jackson Rathbone) face, I never realized he is doing a sort of jig when he and Emmett burn the body of James in the ballet studio. Dance, Jasper, dance! Things to think about. I also kept a few tallies going during the movie:

Twilight tallies: The number of times...
... the audience screamed: 3*
... the audience clapped: 5
... Bella is helped/rescued: 5
... Jasper makes a painful face: 11
... Edward appears as if he's in pain: 38
... Edward smiles and/or laughs: 33
... there were bad special effects: 8

* I didn't start counting until after the movie began. I wish I would have kept track of all the screams during AMC Peter's "welcome."

Highlights of November movies out in theaters

Here are some movies I'm looking forward to seeing in November:

Pirate Radio (now playing): Attention Philip Seymour Hoffman fans! During the 1960s rock radio is banned in Britain and a group of DJs (including Hoffman) broadcast rock music from a ship in the Atlantic Ocean. Written and directed by Bill Curtis (Love, Actually). Also starring Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, and Kenneth Branagh.

Precious (now playing): Sapphire's book Push is the basis for this movie about an illiterate teenager who is pregnant for the second time by her father and living with an abusive mother. Comedian Mo'Nique plays the role of the mother in a performance many critics say is Oscar-worthy.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (November 20): The second novel in the popular vampire series by Stephenie Meyer comes to the screen. Teenage Bella's (Kristen Stewart) heart has been broken by her vampire boyfriend Edward (Robert Pattinson). She finds comfort in friend Jacob (Taylor Lautner), who is quite changed from how we saw him in the first movie.

Me and Orson Welles (November 25 in limited release): Teenage Richard (Zac Efron) is a last minute addition to the Orson Welles Mercury Theater Company's stage production of Julius Caesar in 1937. Claire Danes is the older woman he falls for and Christian McKay plays Orson Welles.

The Road (November 25): Based on the postapocolyptic novel of the same name by Cormac McCarthy, The Road stars Viggo Mortenson as a father traveling with his son through an eerily isolated and lifeless American landscape. My brother informs me that based on the trailer, "The movie looks exactly like the book."

What are some recently released or soon to be released movies you look forward to seeing?

Cornish and Whishaw make Bright Star shine

Bright Star, written and directed by Jane Campion, tells the story of the romance between the poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw from Brideshead Revisited) and his neighbor Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish from Stop-Loss). Despite the sad ending I knew was coming (Keats died at the age of 25) I really enjoyed watching this movie; the cinematography is so amazing that the beautiful images remain clear in my mind.

Keats' friend Charles Brown (Paul Schneider of TV's Park and Recreation) and Fanny's family say that Keats is poor and cannot offer Fanny a stable life. But they share a strong connection and cannot help how they feel. The chemistry between Cornish and Whishaw makes this movie special. Even during the silences the viewer can feel the passion between them. In one scene, after being away, Keats watches as Fanny opens a trunk of clothes for him. The look on his face is that of pure admiration and love. In another scene Keats and Fanny weave their hands together while sitting next to each other and the impact is ten times as powerful as any heavy make-out session found in any number of romantic comedies or dramas. I think both Cornish and Whishaw deserve Oscar nominations for their performances; the movie wouldn't be the same without them. Bright Star had been playing at the AMC in South Barrington but has already disappeared, which I found disappointing; I was able to catch a show at the Glen Art in Glen Ellyn. I'm willing to bet that when Oscar season rolls around more theaters will book it again.

• Now playing at the Glen Art Theatre (540 Crescent Blvd, Glen Ellyn) and Loews Pipers Alley 4 (1608 N. Wells St, Chicago)
• 1 hour 59 minutes
• Rated PG

October movies I want to see

I'm still working on seeing movies from my September wish list, but here are some October highlights that I'm adding to my list of Must-See Fall Movies.

More Than a Game (now playing): This documentary follows the St. Vincent-St. Mary High School basketball team from Akron, Ohio. Current NBA star LeBron James was one of the "Fab Five" players on the team. Hoop Dreams, another documentary about basketball, is one of my favorite movies and I have read several reviews that put More Than a Game near that level of filmmaking. Shot by Kristopher Belman (also from Akron) when he was a college film student at Loyola-Maramount.

New York, I Love You (now playing): A little over two years ago I saw Paris, Je T'aime in the theater; made of short pieces by different directors it presented many points of view of Paris as the city of love. This film takes that same idea with the setting of New York City and features vignettes from directors including Mira Nair (The Namesake, Amelia), Brett Ratner (Rush Hour), Allen Hughes (Menace II Society, Dead Presidents), Joshua Marston (Maria Full of Grace), and Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth). Bradley Cooper, Andy Garcia, Christina Ricci, Julie Christie, Shia LaBeouf, Robin Wright Penn, Cloris Leachman, Orlando Bloom, and Natalie Portman (who also directs) are among the stars in the film. And here's to hoping a future installment is named Chicago, I Love You!

Peter and Vandy (opened in limited release October 9; unsure when it will open in Chicago): The plot structure sounds similar to (500) Days of Summer in that the movies jumps back and forth over the course of the relationship between Manhattan couple Peter (Jason Ritter) and Vandy (Jess Wexler), contrasting the good with the bad. However, the movie doesn't sound to be as whimsical as Summer and is supposed to be more realistic.

Where the Wild Things Are (now playing): Based on the popular children's book by Maurice Sendak, director Spike Jonze spent years on this project to get his vision on the screen. The trailer for this movie, featuring the song "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire, makes my heart beat a little faster.

An Education (October 23): Set in London during the 1960s, teenager Jenny (Carey Mulligan) should be concentrating on school and getting into Oxford but instead develops a relationship with an older man (Peter Sarsgaard). I have been hearing about this movie, and Mulligan's star-making performance, for months.

Gentlemen Broncos (October 30 in limited release): After a teenager (Michael Angarano) enters his novel into a science fiction contest his ideas are stolen by slightly-off author Ronald Chevalier (Jemaine Clement). I read that Clement, from Flight of the Conchords, is wonderful in his crazy role. Directed by Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite), who co-wrote the script with his wife Jerusha Hess.

So have you seen anything particularly good in the theater lately? Which movies are you still itching to see? Or did you go into a movie with high expectations and come out disappointed?

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

The children's classic Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs has made its transition to the big screen. Written by Judi Barrett (and illustrated by her then-husband Ron Barrett) in 1978, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is the story of Chewandswallow, an aptly named mythical community where all three meals rain down from the sky each day. The town's unique meteorological phenomena is a blessing that - not surprisingly - becomes a curse.

If you have fond childhood memories of this whimsical book, you may feel a hint of anxiety at the notion of a 3-D film adaptation which now revolves around a would-be super-scientist and his talking monkey. While the film does drastically rework the original story, much of its charm and inventiveness is still intact, and the 3-D effects are not overly intrusive. It doesn't hold a candle to this year's standout animated feature Up, but it is an entertaining family film that will likely amuse you and your children. And seriously, who doesn't want to see gargantuan pancakes fall from the sky?

Cool movies to see in September

Extract (September 4): The title refers to a flavor extract company run by Jason Bateman's character. Written and directed by Mike Judge, with an excellent ensemble cast including Mila Kunis, Kristen Wiig, Ben Affleck, and J.K. Simmons.

Coco Before Chanel (September 18) tells the story of the designer Chanel's life before she found success. In French; starring Audrey Tatou.
***Oops! Turns out this movie won't be released until October 9!

The Informant! (September 18): Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon) is collecting evidence for the FBI at the company where he works. He says he calls himself Secret Agent 0014 "because I'm twice as smart as 007." The trailer for this movie is laugh-out-loud funny. Director Steven Soderbergh once again teams with actor Matt Damon. I can't think of anything in recent memory that Damon has been bad in... to borrow from Food Network cook Guy Fieri, Matt Damon is "money."

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (September 25): Written and directed by John Krasinski, this movie is based on the David Foster Wallace novel of the same name.

Bright Star (September 25) brings to life the romance of poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw) and his "bright star" Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish). Have you seen the trailer? Paul Schneider speaks in a Scottish brogue!

Fame (September 25): This is a new version of the 1980 film of the same name. I am such a sucker for dance movies. As far as I'm concerned it's just icing on the cake if a dance movie has a decent plot because I watch for the choreography. If you are a fan of TV's So You Think You Can Dance, you will recognize season 4 contestant Kherington Payne as one of the students at the New York City High School of Performing Arts.

The Invention of Lying (September 25): The world of this movie is one where no one is able to lie. Mark (Ricky Gervais) suddenly discovers he does have the ability to lie, which he uses to his advantage. Also starring Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Jonah Hill, and Tina Fey.