Showing posts with label Rachel McAdams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rachel McAdams. Show all posts
A Fun Game Is Afoot, Again
Warner Brothers Pictures
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Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) is continuing his crime stopping ways. He’s after a mysterious man who has bombed a number of establishments with no trace left behind. And just when he thinks he’s getting to the bottom of it, and getting down to it with the lovely Irene (Rachel McAdams) everything changes.
Now the game is really afoot as despite the impending nuptials for Dr. Watson (Jude Law), Sherlock has other plans and starts digging deeper for clues. Even though it’s Watson’s bachelor party, Holmes finds a clue with the lovely Madam Simza (Noomi Rapace)that gets him deeper into the understanding that his foe is as intelligent as any he has ever faced.
Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris) will be one of Holmes’ toughest foes as he thinks ahead as quickly as Holmes does. What is the plan for this mastermind? He’s trying to incite a war so he can be the supplier and make money from those involved. The criminal plan is almost perfect, but Homes and Watson are on the case.
The second film featuring Downey Jr. and Law picks up with a bit of action that actually is quicker and tighter than the first film. Robert Downey Jr. looks effortless as he goes back to the disguise changing wise cracking sleuth. And with Jude Law at his side, Downey Jr. makes for a likable hero. With the disguises and wisecracking I wonder aloud if they every remake Fletch, how about Robert Downey Jr. in the role? But I digress...
Overall the film moves faster and the action rolls at you in scene after scene. There are witty and fun lines that bring the characters back to life in a way that will leave everyone satisfied. The game is afoot once more and I enjoyed playing along.
B
Warner Brothers Pictures
Director: Guy Ritchie
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Jared HarrisRating: PG- 13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some drug material.
Runtime: 2 hours 9 minutes
Christine Stanford (Rachel McAdams) is an advertising executive who takes credit for an idea developed by her assistant, Isabelle (Noomi Rapace). When Isabelle starts to assert herself -- and sleep with Christine's what-are-they-thinking? boyfriend, Dirk (Paul Anderson) -- Christine doesn't like it and humiliates her publicly. It all leads to bitchery of the extreme kind, as well as betrayal and murder. This is a remake of the mediocre Love Crime and is slightly better than the foreign original, though no world-beater. The film is more homoerotic than the original, but more likely because De Palma finds girl-on-girl action sexy than because of any desire to seriously explore lesbianism -- in fact, it's fairly exploitative and childish when it comes to the subject. The movie even goes so far as to present a lesbian as a blackmailing sexual predator! [In one stupid scene Christine calls an employee, Dani (Karoline Herfurth) a "dyke" and the latter lets her get away with it even though she just witnessed Christine kissing Isabelle on the lips!] Passion holds the attention and isn't badly acted, but it's nowhere in the league of De Palma's best movies, such as Carrie.
Verdict: Only for people who are easily titillated. **1/2.
This Morning Is More Than Fluffy
The life of a morning news producer is filled with celebrity, glamour, fun, and excitement. Or at least that’s what the public thinks when they talk to the person behind the show they love. They get to work with the on air talent that is wonderful to watch and fun to be around. The producer is respected and revered and everyone waits for their every instruction, right? As Becky (Rachel McAdams) will show you, it’s more about working all hours, all the time and making the show you see something you won’t forget.
Whey Becky loses her job at a little station in New Jersey, she finds herself struggling to find another job in television. She’ll take anyone, if they’ll just give her a chance. So when the lowest rated network calls her for an interview, she accepts the job before she even interviews. That interview shows her two things. One she has a long way to go to live up to the credentials that are in the industry. But more importantly that she has heart and drive that is nearly unmatched.
Getting the job is just the first hurdle for Becky. She inherits a staff that has taken bickering to another level. They each are all in it only for themselves and team unity is nonexistent. After firing the co-anchor she searches the roster of those already under contract to the network to find the next fresh face for the morning show. The fresh face she wants is well past being “fresh”. Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford) has seen it all. He’s been in the hard news business for a long time. He’s interviewed world leaders, seen governmental changes and been at some of the most historic moments in history. He’s under contract to IBS and at a point where he has to accept any offer the network makes to get the remainder of his contract paid.
Now, not willing, not eager and definitely not helpful to the cause, it is up to Mike to help bring Daybreak back from the depths and make Becky a success. Together with cohost Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton) the bickering will get a bit more intense as Mike sticks to “hard” news and Colleen does everything else. Can Becky bring the team together in time to make a difference? Or will she soon need to look for yet another job.
Can I just say; I dug this film! Sure, many of my colleagues will probably call it fluff and discount what is done here. Let me make the case for why I dug this.
First and foremost there is some great casting here. Let’s start with Rachel McAdams. She really is the central character that makes the film tick. She exhibits a youthful exuberance in the role of a driven woman trying to succeed in a tough business. Her drive and dedication towards her chosen profession was obvious and she captured her character.
But it’s not only her, Harrison Ford as a grizzled news veteran is exactly the Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw type. You believe that he feels everything going on is beneath him, and what he has to offer. Diane Keaton is a longtime part of Daybreak that just wants to garner the popularity that comes with the position, she just wants to be loved by her fans.
This array of great talent is put through the paces in a light but effortless pace. It’s a nice combination of comedy and reality. It didn’t feel nearly as “fluffy” as some might think. There are many serious films to come, but this one is simply crowd pleasing and it was a fun experience in the theaters.
B+ / A-
Morning Glory
Paramount Pictures
Director: Roger Michell
Cast: Harrison Ford, Rachel McAdams, Diane Keaton, Patrick Wilson , Jeff Goldblum
Rating: PG-13 for some sexual content including dialogue, language and brief drug references.
Runtime: 95 minutes.
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The life of a morning news producer is filled with celebrity, glamour, fun, and excitement. Or at least that’s what the public thinks when they talk to the person behind the show they love. They get to work with the on air talent that is wonderful to watch and fun to be around. The producer is respected and revered and everyone waits for their every instruction, right? As Becky (Rachel McAdams) will show you, it’s more about working all hours, all the time and making the show you see something you won’t forget.
Whey Becky loses her job at a little station in New Jersey, she finds herself struggling to find another job in television. She’ll take anyone, if they’ll just give her a chance. So when the lowest rated network calls her for an interview, she accepts the job before she even interviews. That interview shows her two things. One she has a long way to go to live up to the credentials that are in the industry. But more importantly that she has heart and drive that is nearly unmatched.
Getting the job is just the first hurdle for Becky. She inherits a staff that has taken bickering to another level. They each are all in it only for themselves and team unity is nonexistent. After firing the co-anchor she searches the roster of those already under contract to the network to find the next fresh face for the morning show. The fresh face she wants is well past being “fresh”. Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford) has seen it all. He’s been in the hard news business for a long time. He’s interviewed world leaders, seen governmental changes and been at some of the most historic moments in history. He’s under contract to IBS and at a point where he has to accept any offer the network makes to get the remainder of his contract paid.
Now, not willing, not eager and definitely not helpful to the cause, it is up to Mike to help bring Daybreak back from the depths and make Becky a success. Together with cohost Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton) the bickering will get a bit more intense as Mike sticks to “hard” news and Colleen does everything else. Can Becky bring the team together in time to make a difference? Or will she soon need to look for yet another job.
Can I just say; I dug this film! Sure, many of my colleagues will probably call it fluff and discount what is done here. Let me make the case for why I dug this.
First and foremost there is some great casting here. Let’s start with Rachel McAdams. She really is the central character that makes the film tick. She exhibits a youthful exuberance in the role of a driven woman trying to succeed in a tough business. Her drive and dedication towards her chosen profession was obvious and she captured her character.
But it’s not only her, Harrison Ford as a grizzled news veteran is exactly the Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw type. You believe that he feels everything going on is beneath him, and what he has to offer. Diane Keaton is a longtime part of Daybreak that just wants to garner the popularity that comes with the position, she just wants to be loved by her fans.
This array of great talent is put through the paces in a light but effortless pace. It’s a nice combination of comedy and reality. It didn’t feel nearly as “fluffy” as some might think. There are many serious films to come, but this one is simply crowd pleasing and it was a fun experience in the theaters.
B+ / A-
Morning Glory
Paramount Pictures
Director: Roger Michell
Cast: Harrison Ford, Rachel McAdams, Diane Keaton, Patrick Wilson , Jeff Goldblum
Rating: PG-13 for some sexual content including dialogue, language and brief drug references.
Runtime: 95 minutes.