And Now for a Brief Notice

My next blog post will be made sometime after Christmas and possibly New Year’s. But, in the weeks leading up to the Golden Globes, I will be reviewing The Social Network, The Fighter (Sometime after I see it), and Inception. Also, I’ll be listing my Top 10 Films of the Year before January comes to an end. So, I wish you all a happy holiday and stay tuned for more Nater-Tainment!

Golden Globe Nominated Performance Review #1: Emma Stone in "Easy A"

I am very critical of an actress’ or actor’s first official lead role. I feel this way because the entertainer must be able to carry a film of their own following a series of well-liked supporting roles. The player should also be required to give a memorably funny presentation if their first essential role is a comedy or make a considerably striking act if it is their first drama; or if their breakout role is a combination of both, he or she must be able to step-up-to-the-plate with a truly superb feat. Finally, the thespian must be able to keep the audience’s attention throughout their film without missing a beat in time or any possible dragging. This is very hard to achieve, especially if the person in question is a young actor or actress; mostly because their performance could determine whether their career will be a long one or not. Happily, my expectations were amazingly met this past September when I saw the intriguing comedy "Easy A" starring the amiable and talented Emma Stone. Her performance was so notable, that when I discovered her Golden Globe nomination for best performance by an Actress in a Musical or Comedy, I reacted with joy. Therefore, I can confidently proclaim that:

Easy A ‘Easily’ Verifies Emma Stone as ‘A’ True Leading Actress


In Director Will Gluck's smart teen comedy, Emma Stone stars as Olive; a high school student who was just another face-in-the-clouds until she tells her friend Rhiannon a small lie about having a date in order to get out of a weekend get-together. But, when her friend Rhiannon played by Alyson Michalka, keeps inquiring about the faux affair, Olive lies by stating that she had sex for the first time with a college student. Unfortunately, the school’s ultra-traditional religious group picks up the lie and their organizer Marion, played with such wicked-energy by Amada Bynes, decides to lead an attack against Olive for her supposedly-dishonest behavior. Now, our protagonist has to either tell the truth or keep up the ruse; with the later proving to be the ultimate choice as she eventually pretends to have sex with gay friend Branden, played by Dan Byrd, to ultimately stop his classmates’ taunting. Soon, Olive’s life begins to emulate the storyline of The Scarlet Letter, which happens to be the very same book that her English teacher; played by Thomas Hayden Church. Subsequently, Olive is seen in a whole new light which turns to be beneficial as her status starts to go way up; but then things get seriously out of control and our heroine realizes that her actions have seriously negative consequences as boys start to scheme her for fake intercourse. And throughout the film, Emma Stone’s authenticity as lead actress never misses a beat.

Image taken from http://thecia.com.au/reviews/e/images/easy-a-7.jpg

Part of what makes Emma Stone’s breakout act so spot on is that she is skilled in exhibiting different forms of comedy. Following her roles in comedies such as "Superbad", "The House Bunny" and "Zombieland", Stone takes this opportunity to further demonstrate her impeccable sense of comedic timing; particularly in the form of verbal humor. Every time Bynes’ Marion made a spiteful comment regarding Olive’s alleged behavior, Stone responds with a zinger of her own with extra flair; particularly in a fashion reminiscent of Vince Vaughn’s performance in "Wedding Crashers" or Ryan Reynolds’ act as "Van Wilder". In addition, Stone proves that she is also skilled in performing acts of physical comedy; particularly in her scene with Byrd’s Brandon. Thus, Stone’s wit and energy make for a winning presentation.

In addition to demonstrating her comedic talents, Emma Stone proves that she can handle complex situations as well. When the film switches gears and shows the serious consequences of her character’s actions, Stone is able to make the transition flawlessly. And I don’t want to spoil anything for you but the way she handles the film’s difficult material allows you to see what she is truly capable of: the ability to put on a performance that is both honest and poignant.

And that’s what completely certifies Emma Stone as a leading actress: her presentation was completely down-to-earth and genuine. In every scene she was in, Stone ensures a true performance that never drags or lulls. Her presence completely dominates the movie; so much so that her aura is palpable even when she is not on the screen. Furthermore, Stone’s portrayal of Olive is so practical that it makes the entire affair seem closer to watching events unfold in real life rather than on the silver screen. In addition, the sequences in which Stone’s Olive interacts with her very open-minded and sympathetic parents, played with such high-energy by Stanly Tucci and Patricia Clarkson, make you believe that you are watching an actual family interrelate with one another instead of trained actors and actresses putting on a scene. And the way she communicates with her actual crush and school’s mascot Woodchuck Todd, played by Penn Badgley, allows you to catch a pragmatic glimpse of a young woman dealing with her feelings while handling her life’s complications at the same time. Therefore, there is never a forged moment in Stone’s performance and her heart and soul are completely ubiquitous. In other words: Emma Stone is a gifted and bona fide actress!

Image taken from http://www.filmofilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Easy-A-02.jpg

Following her amazing performance in "Easy A", I am looking forward to seeing Emma Stone appear in more films. At the age of twenty-two, she has many noteworthy parts set for 2011 and 2012; such as starring alongside Steve Carell in the upcoming romantic comedy "Crazy, Stupid Love", one of the primary leads in the forthcoming film adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s novel “The Help” and the crucial part of Gwen Stacy in the much-anticipated "Spider Man" reboot. Yes, "Easy A" has more than definately certified Stone as a leading actress. And I'm not sure if she'll win the Golden Globe due to heavy competition; but, she has definitely won my everlasting reverence.

email me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com

And Now a Heads Up…

This Tuesday marks the announcing of the Golden Globe nominations. If any actresses and actors get nominated for their work in movies that I have seen, I will evaluate their performances as well as review their films. So stay tuned because next weekend, I will review a nominated movie that will feature a nominated performer. It’s going to be interesting to see who gets nominated for their performances this year. Catch my first review of a Golden-Globe nominated film next weekend.

Review #3: "RED"

Bruce Willis has portrayed many coarse, grizzled, shielding authority figures. He played a tough LAPD Officer in the "Die Hard" franchise. He played a former SWAT officer-turned-hostage negotiator in "Hostage". And he also portrayed an elderly police officer in "Sin City". So it wasn’t a surprise to see the box office giant cast as a retired CIA agent in the action-comedy "RED". What I didn’t expect to see, however, was the casting of Morgan Freeman John Malcovich, and Helen Mirren in such an explosively action-packed comedy. Thus, I can declare with rapid enthusiasm:

Red is an Action Comedy That Guarantees a Blast of Fun

In the film, Willis plays former CIA operative Frank Moses who is lonely in his retirement. To pass the time, Moses regularly calls his retirement fund headquarters in Kansas to speak with office worker Sarah; portrayed by Mary-Louise Parker. Unfortunately, his quiet time is threatened one evening when gunmen launch a surprise attack on his house. After thwarting the invaders, Moses runs to Kansas to come to Sarah’s aid; knowing that whoever sent the squad tapped his phone. Unfortunately, Sarah is not pleased to be taken from her own quiet life and brought into Moses’ return to action as he needs to figure out who launched the ambush. The pair later meet up with Moses’ former colleague Joe Matheson; portrayed by Freeman. Eventually, Moses and Sarah convene with overly-suspicious truth-seeker Marvin Boggs, played vividly by John Malcovich, and later visit skilled gunwoman Victoria; portrayed with great enthusiasm by the distinguished Helen Mirren, who wants to join their mission. Together, the group must figure out who’s been trying to eradicate connected people who participated on an assignment to Guatemala that Moses participated in 1981. All the while, the group is being tailed by CIA agent William Cooper, played by Karl Urban, who has been sent to kill Moses. It is an energetic caper and there is always an unexpected turn that promises thrills.

What is interesting about this film is the choice of casting. While we have seen Bruce Willis plays the role of the hard-hitting action hero in many-a-film, it is the majority of the supporting cast that really brings the fire to the film. Morgan Freeman, who has already played with loaded guns in Wanted, participates in some action sequences by making some shots. It is also interesting to see Malcovich and Mirren take a detour from their usual drama route to partake in an action comedy. Malcovich in particular steals the spotlight as a suspicious ex-spy who thinks that the whole world is out to kill him. Just the sight of him firing a bazooka as well as wearing a bomb vest while running towards a bad guy in an exaggerated manner is hilarious and fun to watch.

The most intriguing aspect of the film, however, is the ingenious idea of casting the graceful Helen Mirren in the role of a former spy trained in the art of firing a sniper. We can recall how she won the Academy Award for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II just three years ago. Now, the distinguished actress has turned in her royal garments for a sleek white suit and some loaded firearms. In addition, Mirren interacts with her co-stars very well as Victoria; especially in a scene where she gives Parker’s Sarah a strong ultimatum regarding the affections of Willis’ Moses. In short, Mirren steals every scene she’s in and you can just see how much fun the celebrated actress is having; especially when she’s working with weapons.
(Image taken from http://www.filmofilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/red-john-malkovich.jpg)

However, there are a few shortcomings. Even though he performs well in the film, Willis seems to be channeling his John McClane persona throughout the film as he is once again portraying another hero out to protect the one he loves. I also feel that Willis’ and Parker’s development as a couple seemed rushed as there seemed to not be a lot of time devoted to them getting close to one another. I also believe Karl Urban’s performance as Agent William Cooper was nothing special; though his interactions with Moses were decent as a whole. .But there is a great climax at the end that ties everything up nicely and that makes Urban’s entire involvement in the film worthwhile.

Despite its shortcomings, Red is an entertaining, fun-filled escapade with plenty of surprises. Richard Dreyfus appears as a type of character I never thought he would portray and his role in the film is so unique that you will never look at him the same way again. It is also a delight to see Ernest Borgnine back on the silver screen again; it’s a minor role but he serves an important purpose.

(Image taken from http://www.filmofilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/red_2-535x356.jpg)

All in all, "RED" delivers the goods as an action-packed and fun-filled comedy. Bruce Willis proves that he is still Hollywood’s go-to-tough-guy and Morgan Freeman, John Malcovich, and Helen Mirren give great performances all around. In short, action movies have truly never been so charming and fun.

E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com

Review # 2: "Morning Glory"

We have all grown up with him. We cheered as he piloted the Millennium Falcon through the galaxies with Chewbaca as Han Solo. We were on the edge of our seats as he quested for artifacts as Indiana Jones. We have seen him struggle against the odds in different action thrillers such as Con Air and the Fugitive. And now, at the age of sixty-eight, Harrison Ford has returned to the screen; albeit in a more modest role as a reluctant morning news anchor. Accompanied by the amiable Rachel McAdams and the elegant Diana Keaton, Ford puts on a charmingly cynical performance that makes the audience hate him and love him simultaneously. Thus, I can cheerily proclaim that

"Morning Glory" Helps You Wake Up and See The Light

In this enjoyable film, MacAdams stars as Becky Fuller, a determined producer for a television program that gets fired and is impatient to start over again. She eventually gets called upon by executive Jerry Barnes, portrayed by Jeff Goldblum, who is in need of a producer for an under- performing morning show called DayBreak. After she fires the aggravating co-host, she gains praise from the staff; but her success is short-lived as she realizes that they require someone to host the program along with standing anchor Colleen Peck, played by Diana Keaton. So Fuller has to convince veteran journalist Mike Pomeroy, portrayed by Ford. Unfortunately, it isn’t an easy task as Pomeroy has no desire to focus on fluff stories and would rather stick to broadcasting hard-hitting yet too-heavy-for-the-early-morning news. Not to mention the fact that Pomeroy and Peck have no chemistry whatsoever. It’s up to Fuller to make the program a success or the lights go out for DayBreak.

Image taken from http://www.onlinemovieshut.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/morning-glory-movie-harrison-ford-diane-keaton.jpg

As the movie progresses, Fuller works to make the morning program a hit as well as make peace between Peck and Pomeroy. In an attempt to get more viewers, Fuller comes up with the idea to have hapless weatherman Ernie, played by Matt Malloy, broadcast the news while riding a rollercoaster at Six Flags. The feature is a success with viewers and she continues to have him broadcast the weather while getting a body tattoo as well as handling animals. Peck even cheerfully gets into the act by participating in inflatable samurai bodysuit wrestling as well as rapping with 50 Cent and his posse; the latter is quite hilarious as we get to see Diane Keaton prance around with rappers. The only one not enthusiastic is Pomeroy; but as events unfold, things take a turn for the surprising.

What is unique about this movie, is that the three primary leads all work quite well together; providing carefree banter to roll off the tongue quite naturally. Watching MacAdams’ Becky stand up to the towering intimidation that is Ford’s Pomeroy keeps you in your seat; not wanting to miss a beat. And Ford proves that he still possesses the same sharp tongue that was utilized to perfection in his earlier films. In fact, any bickering between him and Keaton or him and MacAdams was very reminiscent to when he first spat with Carrie Fisher in the very first Star Wars film. In short, Ford is the real deal and he continues to charm audiences no matter the role.

Image taken from http://media.daemonsmovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Morning-Glory-550x366.jpg

And Rachel MacAdams performs well as the film’s chief protagonist Becky. As she scrambles from one scene to another, you can feel her pain as attempts to bring Pomeroy’s biting attitude to a standstill as well as attempting to maintain a steady relationship her new boyfriend and fellow producer Adam Bennett; portrayed by Patrick Wilson. And Diane Keaton is just wonderful as co-anchor Peck and her back-and-forth trade of jabs with Ford’s Pomeroy is the icing on the cake. And when it’s time for Becky Fuller to make a life changing decision, Peck brings her surly colleague a serious call to reality. It is simply just an exciting film.

With a straightforward but sincere story and a delightful cast, "Morning Glory" provides us a warm blanket for the cold months. Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton are great together and Rachel MacAdams gives a great performance as the film’s leading lady. Their overall performances combined with the supporting cast and a profound look at the news industry ultimately makes "Morning Glory" an intelligent and heartfelt comedy. Television news has never been more entertaining.

E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com

And now, My First Review

Let’s rewind to summer 2009. The weather outside was warm, people were going to the beach, and the most talked about movie at time was, of course, "The Hangover". Everyone who had seen it spent the summer talking about the blockbuster comedy, quoting the most memorable lines, and yearning to go to Vegas.

Now, fast forward to November 2010. "The Hangover’s" celebrated director Todd Phillips returned with another big comedy. Bringing along his previous film’s comic powerhouse Zack Galifianakis as well as the great Robert Downey Jr., Philips hoped to present the world with another entertaining masterpiece. Unfortunately, the result was the complete opposite as I say with a heavy heart:

"Due Date" is an Appointment that Isn’t Worth Your Money

The premise of the film is quite simple: a hot-headed anticipated father named Peter Highman, played by Downey Jr., has no choice but to tag along with an aspiring actor named Ethan, portrayed by Galifianakis, across the country as quickly as possible to witness the birth of his first child. It should be mentioned that Peter originally intended to travel by plane; but after a series of events triggered by Ethan, the father-to-be has no choice but to travel with the aggravating moron. What follows is a string of unfortunate events that prolong the incompatible duo from reaching the hospital in which Peter’s wife Sarah, played by Michelle Monaghan, will give birth. These proceedings include stopping in Alabama so Ethan can buy marijuana, Peter getting beaten-up by a veteran in a wheelchair as well as hitching a ride with and briefly spending some time with Peter’s friend Darryl, played by Jamie Foxx. The last of which results in a tasteless joke involving a coffee machine and a coffee can belonging to Ethan. I won’t spoil it for you but the “punch line” will leave a bad taste in your mouth. These scenes do not come off as funny at all. They instead appear to be cheap and draining attempts to get you to laugh.

Image taken from http://indiegeniusprod.com/BestMoviesEver/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/due-date-movie-curt-johnson-robert-downey.jpg

This brings me to the main point of the review. When I saw "The Hangover" last year, I was laughing out of honesty. The actors’ comedic performances, especially Galifianakis, were delivered so naturally, that you couldn’t stop laughing. Every scene was genuinely executed and each line was spoken with such impeccable comedic timing. In addition, each scene’s punch line flowed into the next scene so easily that you couldn’t help yourself but to keep laughing. And that makes "The Hangover" a comedy worth watching, talking about, and owning.

Now, let us look at "Due Date". First, the entire film was clearly rushed. The Hangover came out June 2009 and this film came out just a little over a year later. Because the movie was so quickly made, the two main actors were poorly developed. And all the “humor” being supplied just came off as either bad dialogue or acts of violence designed for a cheap laugh. Robert Downey Jr’s Peter comes off as extremely obnoxious as he is habitually paranoid or short-tempered state of mind. The abuse he takes throughout the film on the way to his child’s birth would probably have gotten our sympathy; but it is hard for us to have any compassion for him as he often exhibits irrational behavior towards Galifianakis’s Ethan and other characters. And, I guess we are meant to think that his behavior is worthy of our laughter and our respect.

And Zach Galifianakis, who served as the Hangover’s secret weapon, is the primary source of the film’s obligatory humor. Channeling his performance in last year’s comic blockbuster, he shoots off forgettable exclamations and puts Downey Jr.’s Peter Highman through tremendous turmoil on their route to the hospital. And, unlike in "The Hangover", Galifianakis seems to be phoning in every comedic performance in the film as each scene progresses into the next. In fact, he seems to be playing an unlikable version of the character he played in "The Hangover". And, with "The Hangover Part II" scheduled to hit theaters Memorial Day Weekend, we can definitely expect another similar performance. If he keeps playing this type of role, we are going to get tired of his antics in no time.



Image taken from http://media4.comcast.net/thumbnails/m_Warner/453/527/duedatehero_806x453.jpg

To his credit, however, I do believe that Zach Galifianakis is capable of serious acting. There is a scene in the movie that required an emotional performance and he pulled it off quite well. The scene however is unfortunately followed a few minutes later with more strained attempts at hilarity. But for a brief moment, you can see what the comedian-turned-actor is capable of. Also, if you happen to see the independently-released "It’s Kind of a Funny Story", you can see that he is capable of turning in a remarkable performance as an institutionalized divorced father who befriends and enlightens a troubled teenaged boy. If Zach Galifianakis can pick more mature roles like this, he could attract a wider audience. Otherwise, he’s going to be stuck playing roles similar to those he played in "Due Date" and "The Hangover" and he will face overexposure in no time.

Looking back on my review, I have made the following decision: while "Due Date" is not worthy of your $12, it is worth checking out at least once on television; especially if you are a diehard fan of Zach Galifianakis' performance in "The Hangover". However, if you do watch it, prepare to be disappointed as it is nowhere as humorous or monumental as the former.

E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com

A Little Something To Get Things Started

Before I write up my first review, I thought I’d post a set of guiding principles designed to assist you in figuring out what makes-up the perfect comedy. I know that I will be using these guidelines to help me decide what the best comedy of the year was. Hopefully, in the coming weeks, my decision will be made. In the meantime, this system can be used to figure out your favorite comedy and what makes it perfect. Good Luck!!!

What Makes the Perfect Comedy

1. Must have likeable and well-developed protagonists and antagonists

2. Must have a good cast of well-developed supporting characters

3. Must have a fully-developed plot with easy-to-follow events

4. Must have different types of comedy (slapstick, subtle, believable)

5. Must have a good amount of drama or honesty that allows you to sympathize with the protagonist (s)

6. Must keep the audience’s attention at all time; no dragging whatsoever; keeping the audience in tune with what’s going on)

7. Must have an engaging climax that keeps you on the edge of your seat

8. Must have a well-developed conclusion that offers strong closure for characters

9. Good script, sharp dialogue, good environment and a developed beginning, middle, and end

10. The most important rule: You must be able to root for your protagonist(s)

Now keep this in mind:

This is a place for all movie lovers. If you want to share your opinions, please do so. I want this to be a welcoming environment for movie lovers. I love hearing other people’s opinions as it makes for friendly debate. I urge you to share your opinions. I just ask for one rule: no cursing in your comments or reviews.

Thank you for visiting and I look forward to providing an enlightening and fun place for all film enthusiasts.

Now keep this in mind:

This is a place for all movie lovers. If you want to share your opinions, please do so. I want this to be a welcoming environment for movie lovers. I love hearing other people’s opinions as it makes for friendly debate. I urge you to share your opinions. I just ask for one rule: no cursing in your comments or reviews.

Thank you for visiting and I look forward to providing an enlightening and fun place for all film enthusiasts.

About Me

Before I begin reviewing movies, I think it’s important to introduce myself. I graduated Quinnipiac University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications. I wrote opinion pieces for my college’s newspaper regarding different political issues as well as the media. However, as the years passed, I realized that I have a love of imparting my opinions on movies, celebrities as well as the whole entertainment industry. So after deep consideration, it is my pleasure to bring my love of critiquing to you via blogging.

To contact me via e-mail, send messages to thatsnatertainment@gmx.com

Welcome All!

Welcome to That’s Nater-Tainment!!! My name is Nate Sharir and I love to watch and critique movies! Now I know what you are probably thinking: “Oh, this is just another movie blog! There’s nothing special here!” Well, my friend, you are WRONG!!! When it comes to movies as well as actors and actresses, I take everything seriously! When watching a movie, I evaluate everything: the acting, the story, what the movie’s point is, and everything in between. If it’s a drama, I assess actors and actresses’ performances and whether or not they are conveying the film’s plot and purpose. If the movie’s a comedy, I review the actors and actresses’ acting and comedic timing, the film’s script and message, and, perhaps the most important, whether or not the humor is being delivered honestly by the performers or if the hilarity is simply being forced. In other words, I weigh up the whole package. I will be writing full reviews of movies I have seen over the past months as well as mini-reviews of film released over the past years. Also, as awards season approaches, I will be chiming in with my predictions and opinions concerning who in fact deserves to be nominated! So buckle up, grab some snacks, and get comfortable. For the future of film blogging starts now!

E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com