Vice (2018)

While I thought The Big Short was an okay film, I was not a fan of Adam McKay's direction. To be honest, it didn't work for me at all. Despite that, I still decided to give Vice a shot because of Christian Bale's critically acclaimed performance and Sam Rockwell. 

The film tells the story of Dick Cheney (Christian Bale), an unassuming bureaucratic who silently made his way through the United States' political hierarchy and ended up having more power than anyone in his position as Vice President to George W. Bush. 

Despite the fact that I've never heard of Dick Cheney before —hold your horses, I'm not from the States and I was a just a kid during the Bush administration—, I found Vice to be one of the dullest, most uninteresting and uncompelling films of 2018 as the plot, which follows both the life and the career of Cheney, is convoluted, contrived, messy, the pace is atrociously slow, the non-linear storyline eventually gets frustrating —and adds absolutely nothing to the film— and the narration by Jesse Plemmons, which constantly breaks the fourth wall, tries to be witty but ends up being annoying as it explains everything rather than showing it and essentially treats the audience like idiots. Not to mention how annoying is the "flow" of the story being constantly interrupted by irrelevant videoes.

The characters too are a mess. Supposedly one of the most powerful men in Washington, Dick Cheney comes off as a dull, uninteresting man. Every single other person in this film is made to look like an idiot; they are cartoonish and unrealistic; they lack characterization, complexity, depth. They are just names. Cheney's wife, Lynne, is probably the only exception as she is slightly interesting.

Surprisingly —or maybe not, maybe he's just one of the greatest actors of his generation— Christian Bale gives a terrific performance as Cheney. Not only he went through yet another body transformation for this role, but his voice, his mannerisms, his physicality, he just looked like the real Cheney. Amy Adams isn't given much to do as Cheney's wife but she still manages to give a good performance, the only savable other than Bale's. As for the rest of the cast, Sam Rockwell is wasted to do a George W. Bush impersonation and he's almost unwatchable, and Steve Carell is difficult to be taken seriously.

Annapurna Pictures

There still is an issue about Vice that I need to address. The editing is absolutely terrible, easily one of the worst of the year —why am I not surprised this is up for a Best Editing Oscar?— as it feels like there are pieces of a linear story played at random. The film just doesn't have a direction, it just feels like watching two hours and ten minutes of unrelated, random clips, and it's beyond infuriating.

Blue Iguana (2018)

After the dreadful Solo: A Star Wars Story and the even more dreadful Sierra Burgess Is a Loser, I decided to go with another 2018 movie, Blue Iguana, a movie I knew absolutely nothing about other than it having Sam Rockwell and its IMDb score being lower than the previously mentioned movies. And guess what, it was better than both.

Eddie (Sam Rockwell) and Paul (Ben Schwartz), two American petty criminals on parole, are recruited by British lawyer Kathrine Rookwood (Phoebe Fox) for a big job in London involving a mysterious package. Things go terribly wrong and the two Americans are caught up in a mess involving a mob boss (Peter Polycarpou), a mama's boy (Peter Ferdinando) and a princess (Frances Barber).

Plot-wise, there's nothing special about Blue Iguana. It's a pretty basic, simple heist story that becomes more and more implausible as it develops --if you give this a try, you'll end up wondering what the hell happened as nothing makes sense. There's also a romantic subplot that adds absolutely nothing to the film.

The characters are the film's strongest suit either. They are thin, lack development and aren't given any background story. But at the same time, they all are quirky and memorable with their foibles and fixations, and they are quite amusing.

The credits, however, do not belong to director and writer Hadi Hajaig, but to the cast. It's indeed the actors that make the characters interesting and memorable. Sam Rockwell gives another of his underappreciated performances as Eddie, a skilled, hardass criminal, amusing with his humorous attempt at doing a cockney accent and delighting with his dancing skills. Yes, he dances and he rocks. Ben Schwartz is quite funny as Paul, Eddie's oafishness partner in crime, and his chemistry with Rockwell is brilliant. Peter Ferdinando is pretty awesome too as the mama's boy. It's Phoebe Fox though that absolutely steals the show as the geeky nerdy lawyer who is constantly eating and basically bosses around most of the men in the film.

Screen Media Films

The soundtrack, which is filled with songs from the 80s that aren't often used in films, is great too. Unfortunately, these few elements alone aren't enough and Blue Iguana ends up being just an okay film. The thing is that the comedy rarely works, the reason being that the writer was unable to make the best out of the subject matter. Someone else, someone like Martin McDonagh, would have made a hell of a difference.

Don Verdean (2015)

As a fan of Sam Rockwell, I decided to check out Don Verdean. The fact that I hadn't heard of the film before seeing it on Rockwell's filmography and that it is considerably new had me thinking that I'd grant myself one and a half hour of suffering. And I was right. 

The film follows Don Verdean (Sam Rockwell), a self-proclaimed Biblical Archaeologist that hunts down religious artefacts to prove that the stories from the Bible are true. When he is hired by a pastor, Lazarus (Danny McBride), to find sacred relics in order to bring more people to his church, Verdean is forced to get creative.

The plot is one of the major problems with Don Verdean. It is far from being interesting and engaging, it doesn't make a lot of sense, it has several uninteresting romantic subplots, and the ending, if you could call it that, is incredibly contrived. It seems like the writers knew they had to end the story but didn't know how and they just wrote something random that makes as much sense as everything else.

The characters too are the result of lazy writing. The film is filled with odd and bizarre characters but unfortunately, the writers didn't make the most of their potential. Their personalities never take over, they aren't as compelling as they should have been and. most importantly, they are not a bit funny.

Neither the cast can fix that as they all give pretty bland performances. Sam Rockwell looks bored from start to finish, hidden behind a beard and terrible clothes. The others are just as bland, Danny McBride and Will Forte being the most disappointing as they fail to make laugh consistently. There's a good chemistry between Rockwell and McBride but it feels like the director, Jared Hess, was not able to capture it.

Lionsgate Premiere

As you probably guessed, Don Verdean is not that funny of a movie and calling it comedy should be a crime. The jokes, a blend of biblical and adolescent jokes, fall flat most of the film, and when they don't they barely make you chuckle.

Unless you really love one of the actors in, whether it's Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Jemaine Clement, Leslie Bob, Will Forte or Danny McBride, my suggestion is that you stay the hell away from this film.

A Case of You (2013)

I added A Case of You on my watchlist a couple of years ago as I wanted to watch it for a Thursday Movie Picks theme and forgot about it. Then I removed it from my list because it was a romantic comedy. And then I added on my list again because of Sam Rockwell. And he is pretty much the only reason A Case of You is worth watching. Unless you are a clichéd romantic flick fan, in that case, you're gonna love it.

Sam (Justin Long) is a young New York City writer who is suffering from writer's block and spends a lot of time at the local coffee shop. One day, he lays eyes on the barista, Birdie (Evan Rachel Wood), and falls for her. Unfortunately, as he tries to casually start a conversation, she doesn't seem interested, and the day after he learns that she was fired for often being late. After finding out something more about her from her former boss (Peter Dinklage), he decides to stalk her on Facebook and becomes everything she is looking for.

I'm not even sure I need to say this, but the plot is utterly predictable and clichéd. It is barely entertaining and it fails completely to engage on an emotional level. It is kind of interesting the way the writers incorporated social media into the story and tried to show what a negative effect they have on us, how much they influence our lives, how much harder and more complicated they make dating, and that we should not believe at everything we see or read on someone's online profile but its delivery is poor. 

The characters too are pretty lazy-written. Each character is a one-dimensional stereotype, and they are pretty unlikable too. It's hard if not impossible to feel sympathy for Sam as he is pretending the whole time to be someone else and later on he can't deal with having nothing in common with Birdie. Dude, you knew it already when you started it all, why do you want our sympathy now? Also, Justin Long once again plays that awkward guy he always plays, and his comedic timing isn't that on point. Back to the sympathy, you can only have some for Birdie as she is the one who sucked into this web of lies. Actually, that's not true as at the end we learn that she knew Sam was pretending all along. Just like Long's, Wood performance is mediocre. And their chemistry isn't that good either. 

IFC Films

There are a few surprises in the supporting cast though. Peter Dinklage is quite amusing and occasionally funny as Birdie's former boss, a gay barista; same goes with Brendan Fraser as Birdie's ex-boyfriend. But the standout easily is Sam Rockwell who plays a guitar teacher and gives an over-the-top but funny and memorable performance. Also, he rocks a beard and plays the guitar. Busy Philips and Vince Vaughn, on the other hand, aren't that good. 

Charlie's Angels (2000)

I never watched the popular TV series and if it wasn't for Sam Rockwell, I would have never watched Charlie's Angels either. I don't know what it is, but there's something about it that seems to be screaming, shitty movie alert. Well, my gut was right. This is a shitty movie.

After stopping a man from blowing up an aeroplane, Natalie (Cameron Diaz), Dylan (Drew Barrymore) and Alex (Lucy Liu), also known as Charlie's Angels --Charlie is a mysterious dude we, the Angels and the audience, are not allowed to see-- are hired by programmer Eric Knox (Sam Rockwell) to retrieve his voice-recognition software that has been stolen. The suspicion falls on Roger Corwin (Tim Curry), Knox's rival. 

That's the storyline. The development is a whole different thing. Actually, there's no development, and the film drags on for way too long with so many subplots it's hard to keep count. It seems like the filmmakers were trying to make the film more complex, but they only made it more laughable. There are some twists but they are predictable *SPOILER*I saw the one about Rockwell coming as soon as he showed up at the beginning of the film*SPOILER* and so many plotholes you need to shut your brain and keep logic away if you don't want to get frustrated. Because of that, the plot is not engaging nor interesting. 

The awful characters and the equally awful performances sure don't help. If you are a woman, like me, who is interested in seeing strong female characters and girl power, like me, then stay the hell away from Charlie's Angels. The Angels are one-dimensional and quite offensive, to be honest. They are supposed to be female James Bond but they are more like Bond girls trying to fight crime. Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu can't act. Period. Drew Barrymore is usually a better actress but the poor script doesn't allow her to do much. She is still able though to be funny and kind of sexy at the same time.

Columbia Pictures

The supporting characters are just as bad. The good guys deserve a special mention for being as interesting as watching paint dry. There's even a ridiculous and quite frankly embarrassing performance from Bill Murray. The bad guys, that's a different story. And the actors playing them deserve full credits. Both Sam Rockwell and Tim Curry give pretty awesome performances. They are not phenomenal but they easily steal the show. 

Next up is the action, just as terrible as everything else. The action sequences are cheesy and beyond laughable. How do they even dare to call this action? 

If you want to see Cameron Diaz's ass though and Lucy Liu acting like a dominatrix, Charlie's Angels is perfect for you. 

Frost/Nixon (2008)

I am very ignorant when it comes to American history so whenever I feel like learning something new, I watch historical movies (I love reading but reading about history? Kill me now, please). This time I watched Frost/Nixon because I wanted to know the truth behind the Watergate scandal (and because Sam Rockwell is in it). 

After seeing Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) resigning from the White House, in order to get more credibility and money, British talk show host David Frost (Michael Sheen), who is known for interview Hollywood and pop music stars, decides to set up a series of interviews to confront the questions of the former president's time in office and the Watergate scandal. Nixon agrees as he sees the interviews with the politically inexperienced Frost as a way to redeem himself.

Plot-wise, there's nothing I can complain about Frost/Nixon as it is based on true events. Also, my knowledge of the Watergate scandal is pretty limited and I wasn't even aware of this series of interviews so I'm not really in the position to say whether it is accurate or not. And yet I can say it is a beautifully crafted plot as it was able to hold my attention from the beginning to the end, which is a lot considering I don't have the slightest interest in American history. In spite of the fact that it's "just" an interview, Frost/Nixon never gets even boring as it is filled with tension and suspense (I don't know how I'd feel if I knew how the story would play out though).

The plot, however, isn't very important as Frost/Nixon actually is an intriguing character study of both Frost and Nixon. David Frost is fearless and ambitious and while at first, he is just some shallow entertainer who sees in the former president of the United States his chance to get big ratings, he eventually realises how important to the American people his job is. Richard Nixon, on the other hand, is a fragile, insecure and fearful man who is trying to get back some humanity.

Universal Pictures

Both are made compelling by the actors who portrayed them. Michael Sheen completely disappears into the character of David Frost and does a great job especially in delivering the stress Frost was under, and he makes the transaction from shallow playboy to journalist seriously committed to the job very believable. Frank Langella is terrific as Nixon. I have watched some videos with real Nixon on YouTube and it truly amazed me how well Langella captured every single detail of Nixon's facial expressions and body language.

As for the support, the characters may not be as developed as Frost and Nixon, but the actors give strong performances nevertheless. Kavin Bacon as Nixon's assistant and Sam Rockwell as the journalist determined to make Nixon pay for Watergate are the two standouts, but Oliver Platt and Matthew Macfadyen too do a good job.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)

I'm still on the insane quest to watch every single movie Sam Rockwell has made and, among all those I haven't seen yet (I'm planning on watching some I've already seen, The Green Mile to made one, that I haven't reviewed), I picked Confessions of a Dangerous Mind because this is George Clooney's directorial debut and Charlie Kaufman wrote it. Most important though, I liked the title.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind depicts the life of popular game show host and producer Chuck Barris (Sam Rockwell) who, at the height of his career, was recruited by the CIA as a contract killer. Well, at least that's what he said.

Anyhow, I had never heard of Chuck Barris nor his story before and I found the story interesting, engaging and entertaining. Only at first though. A little after the CIA subplot makes its entrance, the plot loses its grip and focus, and it feels incredibly dragged. It still takes some interesting turns and twists, but it's quite tedious and barely watchable.

The characters aren't that better. While the flawed and quirky characters of Chuck Barris and Jim Bryd, the CIA agent who recruited Barris, are well developed --that's what Kaufman does best, after all--, the others have no substance, and it kinda feels like Kaufman didn't even want them in the movie. Also, it's hard to care about these people. I just can't believe the man behind Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. wrote this.

Miramax

That said, there's something about Confessions of a Dangerous Mind that makes it worth watching. It's the acting. Sam Rockwell gives another of his underrated performances as Chuck Barris. He brings so much energy, charisma and humour to the role and captures the paranoia and fulfilment of the character very well. Also good is George Clooney's performance as mysterious CIA agent Jim Bryd. He doesn't have a lot of screen time but definitely gets the best out of it. Drew Barrymore and Julia Roberts, on the other hand, are just watchable. It's not their fault though, not completely. They were just given poorly written and underused characters, that's all.

Another solid-ish aspect of Confessions of a Dangerous Mind is Clooney's direction. The film is kinda stylish and has a surrealist and comedic tone that works well with Barris's supposedly true story. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

My brother and I used to watch the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series all the time when we were kids, and we loved it too. He loved it so much he even wasted money on the new franchise. I, on the other hand, couldn't care less about those movies and I skipped them. This one though, the first movie about those turtles, I checked it out. Not that I thought it'd be good, because it isn't, but because there's Sam Rockwell in it. 

Unfortunately, Rockwell is barely on screen as he plays a thug "working" for the Foot Clan, a mysterious ninja criminal organization that terrorises the streets of New York. It's up to four mutant ninja turtles, Leonardo (Brian Tochi), Donatello (Corey Feldman), Michelangelo (Robbie Rist) and Raphael (Josh Pais) to protect the city. 

If it sounds like a very simple, straightforward storyline it's because there's nothing complex or intricate about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' plot. The film is mainly an origins story, it tells us how Splinter (the giant rat) and the turtles became the way they are (I'm pretty sure there's not a soul in the world who doesn't know that) and how they meet/befriended reporter April O'Neill and vigilante Casey Jones. 

It's clichéd, predictable and not so interesting, but at least it's not stretched to infinity and beyond. Actually, it's got a pretty good pace. It has some drama as well and they both prevent this from being boring. And it shows, mostly to kids, that joining a gang will never be the answer for anything, those thugs will never be family. 

New Line Cinema

The characters are a little better than I was expecting. I guess the filmmakers realized the film would have had a mostly adult audience so there's something resembling character development here. I also like that, opposite to the kid animated series, the characters in this film are more mature. We really get to know them, especially Raphael and his issues. By the way, am I the only one who still wonders why Raphael is the only one without the Italian name? The turtles are named after Italian painters so he should be Raffaello, not Raphael. Am I right?

Anyway, the acting is pretty cheesy, though not terrible, especially Judith Hoag as April O'Neill, Elias Koteas as Casey Jones and James Saito as the Shredder. The latter is a bit over the top but it's in line with the rest of the film. The turtles' voices feel wrong though.

The special effects aren't that good but on the other hand, the turtles' costumes are pretty good and the action sequences are kinda cool and fun. The musical score too is decent and fits the film very well. 

The Way Way Back (2013)

The Way Way Back is yet another of those movies that ended up on my watchlist because of Sam Rockwell. I wasn't sure though whether I would have watched it because (a) Steve Carell is in this and (b) there was something about the film that just seemed off (which is funny considering I had not seen the movie). Eventually, Sam got the best of me. 

Shy 14-year-old Duncan (Liam James) spends the summer with his mother (Toni Collette), her obnoxious boyfriend Trent (Steve Carell) and his annoying teenage daughter Steph (Zoe Levin) at his beach house. Once there, Trent has his friends come over to party all the time and Duncan, ignored by everyone, takes the small girl's bike he finds in the garage and goes to town. That's when he meets Owen (Sam Rockwell), the manager of the local water park, and his summer takes an unexpecting and fun turn. 

As far as the plot goes, there's nothing new here. It's pretty basic, it takes many twists and turns but it's nothing you didn't see coming miles ahead, it's got many plot holes and it's not entirely believable. That being said, as clichéd and predictable as it gets, it's very interesting and entertaining and really draws you in.

The main reason for that is the characters. They don't have a great characterization and the development is even smaller, but they are enjoyable. Though he looks more retarded than shy at times, Duncan is a lovable character and you'll fall in love with him immediately. He is different, he feels like he doesn't belong and can't relate to other people his own age. He is the kind of character is very easy to relate to, at least it was for me. Liam James gives such a nice performance as Duncan and delivers all his awkwardness.

Fox Searchlight Pictures, StudioCanal

As for the supporting characters, there are many clichés and too many carefree adults to be realistic, but there's a standout. It's Sam Rockwell's Owen, of course. He is cocky, a child-man, a laidback joker, but he's also the only person who seems to care about Duncan. And the friendship that develops between Duncan and him is very heartwarming. And of course, he's played to perfection by Sam Rockwell (who fyi has a pretty good looking beard). The charisma and comedy he brings into this film are what makes keeps you watching until the end. And the delivery of his lines? Beyond perfect. 

But it's not only Rockwell who delivers the funny moments of The Way Way Back. Allison Janney does her part too. She is hilarious as Betty, an eccentric, sexually repressed divorce/Trent's neighbour.

Ultimately, this may not be the best coming-of-age of the decade, but it's nevertheless fun and very enjoyable, and if you like/love Sam Rockwell it's a must. 

The Winning Season (2009)

I watched The Winning Season with no expectations whatsoever. To be honest, I watched it to see Sam Rockwell with red body paint, a blue wig and blue thigts dancing. Anyway, I'm still amazed by how sweet and enjoyable this film was.

Once a successful High School basketball coach, Bill (Sam Rockwell) is now a drunk busboy who has a terrible relationship with his ex-wife (Jessica Hecht) and his teenage daughter Molly (Shana Dowdeswell). A friend (Rob Corddry) who is now a principal offers him to coach the girls' basketball team and Bill has a chance to redeem himself. 

Basically, it's nothing new. It's the typical redemption story mixed with the typical sport/underdog story. It's simple and straightforward, it doesn't have any plot twist and it has many underdeveloped subplots and all the clichés one can possibly think of. 

And yet it's not like the other movies of the genre, the main reason being that The Winning Season kind of makes fun of its genre and it works. The film is engaging, fun and heartwarming and manages to deal with tough and quite depressing themes without becoming a heavy watch. Also, it's never cheesy which always comes with these movies. 

Most of the credits for this film's success go to Sam Rockwell. I'm sure it comes without saying that he is one of the most versatile and greatest actors of his generation but I'm going to say it anyway. This time around, he is a drunken asshole, once again a very unlikable character, but he is such a sweet and adorable mess you can't help but root for him. Even when the character keeps letting you and his team down. Also, he is great at delivery dry humour.

Lionsgate

The supporting cast does a good job too --I particularly liked Emma Roberts who plays one of the girls in the basketball team, but maybe it's because I love her-- and the make the girls come off as realistic-ish and believable character in spite of the poor characterization.

A Single Shot (2013)

One of the entries for m.brown's Mt. Rushmore blogathon was Getter's four of Sam Rockwell characters with great beards. A Single Shot was number one. There were several pictures and that beard was basically porn --if you are into beards-- hence I watched the movie. 

With his wife (Kelly Reilly) and kid gone --she took the kid and left, they ain't dead-- and his father dead, John Moon (Sam Rockwell) is depressed, lives in poverty and feeds himself by hunting deer. One day he accidentally kills a woman (Christie Burke), he decides to tell nobody and takes the huge load of cash he finds in her car since he is desperate to get his wife and kid back. Unfortunately, the money belongs to some criminal (Jason Isaac) and John not only will have to fight for his family but for his life. 

It's a pretty interesting story, at least at the beginning. Unfortunately, its execution is very poor and I soon lost my interest in it (and if it wasn't for Sam Rockwell and his beard I would have probably never finished it). The plot lacks originality, it's never completely believable, it has many holes and the plot twists are nothing you couldn't see coming. And boy if it's dull!

The slow pacing is another annoying aspect of A Single Shot. I love slow paced movies when the slowness has a point, whether it is to develop its characters or a relationship, or building tension. The problem with this one is that the characters are poorly introduced and have poor characterization and development. The pace is okay at first and it builds some tension but most of the time it's just annoying.

The dialogue is another problem. It's not like the characters say things that are worth listening to anyway, but many times the lines "delivered" are incompressible. Sure, part of the blame is on me for not understanding the Southern accent that well, but all that mumbling and whispering, I think I'd struggle to understand them even if I knew the accent well. 

Well Go USA Entertainment

On the other hand, A Single Shot has a nice, moody, melancholic cinematography that fits the story very well, and so does the score. These are the two aspects to be thanked for the film's tension and suspense.

Then there's the acting. I'll never get tired of saying this but Sam Rockwell is one of the most underrated actors ever. While the paper-thin character says and does a lot of idiotic stuff --thank you Matthew F. Jones for such an awful script--, Rockwell (unsurprisingly) gives a great performance as simple-minded, down-on-hi-luck John Moon. He shows vulnerability and desperation and he's very believable in the role of his broken man.

The supporting cast also does a good job, especially Jeffrey Wright who plays Moon's alcoholic best friend --I could barely understand a thing of what the man was saying but he plays a drunk so I guess it's okay--, William H. Macy as a corrupt, sleazy lawyer and Joe Anderson as a young thug. Jason Isaac, on the other hand, failed to be menacing. 

Conviction (2010)

"Conviction does give us more beard throughout the movie, and a quite horrible one, that Rockwell yet again pulls off at the end, but overall, it’s a pretty beard-tastic movie!" Getter at MettelRay.com said. Well, if that's not enough to make me want to watch a movie, I don't know what is. 

Anyway, Conviction is about two siblings, Betty Anne (Hilary Swank) and Kenny (Sam Rockwell) who have always been very close to each other. When Kenny is arrested and eventually convicted of the brutal murder of a woman, Betty Anne, who firmly believe in her brother's innocence, puts herself through law school in an effort to represent her brother and prove his innocence. 

It's a very simple and yet interesting story that feels authentic not only because it's based on a true story --even though it sounds like it's a made-up story-- but because of what it is: not a courtroom drama --okay, it's that too-- but the portrait of a wonderful brother-sister relationship. That's the centre and the heart of the movie. There's nothing special about the legal drama aspect of the movie, actually, it's pretty average there, but the relationship is so good it will keep you glued to the screen. 

So, Conviction isn't only the story of the American justice system failing, but it's the story of loyalty and devotion of a sister who loves her brother so much she does more than her best to help him. I don't know how faithful the film is to the true story, but the struggles this woman endures to become a lawyer to save her brother is inspirational and uplifting, to say the least. 

As for the characters, they may be flat and one-dimensional, even the siblings, but their bond is so strong it makes up for that. And the credits entirely go to the actors playing them, Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell. They both give great performances --Swank is intense, dramatic but never over the top, and Rockwell delivers the hopelessness and fear of being let down and screwed by the state to perfection-- and their chemistry is on fire. Seriously, it is so genuine and real, it feels like watching real siblings on screen. 

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Tony Goldwyn's direction though didn't make me very happy. I liked that he decided to give us pieces of Betty Anne and Kenny's childhood to show how they developed such a strong bond, why they love each other so much, but I did not like that, at the end of the movie, we are told what happened to Betty Anne but nothing about Kenny who, after spending 18 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, died in a tragic accident only 6 months after being released. This made the film look like a biography of Betty Anne and gave me the feeling the filmmakers didn't care about Kenny at all. 

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)

Though the title would have never, even in a million years, convince me to watch The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as it sounds to me like some dumb movie, I've seen enough pics of Sam Rockwell rocking that wavy blonde hair and that gorgeous ginger beard to convince me to give it a chance. 

Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) is a British everyman who wakes up one day only to find his house is going to be demolished. But that's not all. His friend Ford (Mos Def) shows up, reveals that he is an alien and announces that the Earth will be destroyed in 12 minutes. And guess what, that's exactly what happens: an alien species, the Vogons, demolish the Earth to build an intergalactic motorway. Ford saves Arthur just in time, catching a ride on a spaceship, and they embark on a galactic adventure. 

I've never seen/read any of the formats Douglas Adams's series was adapted to --according to Wikipedia, there are novels, comic books, a TV series and a videogame, and it all started as a radio show-- so I don't know how faithful to the source material the film was, but it didn't make a lot of sense.

Let me explain that. The plot is non-existent, there is just a lot of stuff happening whose only thing in common is the characters, plots are just started and left unresolved, and a lot of time is wasted on a subplot --the capture and rescue of Trillian-- that has no relevance whatsoever to that the thing resembling a plot. 

In spite of the terribly lazy writing, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is interesting, engaging, entertaining and fun. It's no Rear Window (I'm mentioning this because I rewatched it a few days before watching this one), but it still keeps you glued to the screen. The sloppy writing, its leaving all the plot unfinished, is what makes the film kind of unpredictable and enjoyable. 

Buena Vista Pictures

The characters are pretty shallow and underdeveloped, and, just like the subplots, some of them are thrown in for no apparent reason. But at least they have motivations which make them more interesting. 

That and the cast, of course. Each member of the cast did an excellent job. Martin Freeman is once again the everyman but he is funny and convincing as Arthur. Zooey Deschanel is great as the funny, brilliant and adorable Trillian and the romance between her character and Freeman's works nicely. Mos Def does good as Ford and Bill Nighy gives a quite funny performance. The standout, however, is Sam Rockwell. He is clearly having a lot of fun playing the kind of hippie, self-centred, eccentric President of the Galaxy Zaphod Beeblebrox, and he makes you have fun too. And that charisma!

As for the jokes, not always they make sense, like they don't feel in the right context if that makes any sense, but the lines work and made me laugh. Surely can't complain about that. At last, though they are overused, the special effects are good. 

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

I've been meaning to watch The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford for years but I kept putting it off because of the length. Two hours and forty minutes is a long time and you really have to have your head in the game to watch such a long movie. But people over Twitter kept talking about it --mainly posting beautiful gifs of Sam Rockwell-- and then Margaret posted "Sam Rockwell's performance in "Jesse James" is some kind of a miracle" which I wanted to read. And what's the best way to avoid spoilers? Watch the film. 

Just in case you didn't get it by the title, the film is about the assassination of Jesse James (Brad Pitt) by Robert Ford (Casey Affleck). Actually, it's more about the events that led up to the killing. The film is indeed a dramatization of the last seven months in the life of James. 

Yeah, I do realize I'm basically saying the same thing over and over but the fact is that there isn't much of a plot here. The little there is is also quite disjointed and jumps around a little and it's not always easy to understand what the heck is going on. To that, add the snail's pace that could make you fall asleep at eight in the morning. 

Unless it doesn't. That's the peculiar thing about The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. It's supposed to be boring and unengaging, instead, it's very interesting and engaging from start to finish. Not much happens in the film but I just couldn't take my eyes off of it. 

How does the film manage to do that? It's very simple, with great characters. Their characterization and development are outstanding. The film's main focus is the psychology of the characters. We don't get to know their backgrounds, why they do what they do, how they became who they are. Instead, we learn who they are.

Jesse James is, in a few words, a psychotic family man. He is a cold-blooded murderer considered a hero by many and a loving father and husband, but most of all he is an enigma, even to himself. And this is probably Brad Pitt's greatest performance ever, one very charismatic and interesting. Robert Ford, on the other hand, is a nobody. He is obsessed with Jesse James so much that leads him to an inferiority complex. He doesn't want to be like Jesse James, he wants to be Jesse James. That being impossible, he decides to kill him so to become a hero --he will be the only one to think so as people will keep reminded James after his death and forget about Ford. The performance from Casey Affleck is also great, easily the best in the film. I don't know what it is but there's something about him that makes him perfect for this character. Also, the chemistry between Pitt and Affleck and the relationship between James and Ford are very intriguing.

Warner Bros

Although the supporting characters aren't as complex and developed, the supporting cast does a wonderful job as well. Sam Rockwell is amazing as Ford's not-so-bright but good-hearted brother Charley, giving the magnetic and charming performance required by the role. Also great in the role of other outlaws are Jeremy Renner, Paul Schneider and Garrett Dillahunt. And at last but not least, there's Mary-Louise Parker. She doesn't have a lot of screen time --her character, James's wife is definitely underused-- but she really stands out. 

Another weird thing about The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is that the film is very detached and distant from the characters, hell, the characters are detached and distant from themselves, and yet I somehow felt close to them, and I cared about them --and of course I picked a side.

That's not all. The film doesn't only deliver great characters and performances but an outstanding, Oscar-worthy cinematography by Roger Deakins. The blurry and dreamy landscapes, the wheat fields, the snow, the mud, it's all gorgeous. And the camera movements, the way it lingers on the characters for the perfect amount of time. At last, there's a beautiful and haunting musical score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

There's one thing left to say, go watch this film if you haven't already. 

Galaxy Quest (1999)

I always snubbed Galaxy Quest as I believed it to be some dumb Star Trek parody and I didn't want to waste my time watching it. Recently though I learnt that Sam Rockwell is in this so, yeah, I had to check it out. I wasn't wrong about it being a Star Trek parody, but it's a brilliant one. 

Galaxy Quest is the name of a TV show very similar to Star Trek cancelled 18 years earlier. Now the stars of the show, Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen), Gwen DeMarco (Sigourney Weaver), Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman), Fred Kwan (Tony Shalhoub), and Tommy Webber (Daryl Mitchell), are making a living signing fans' autographs and being cast in awful store openings. But things are about to change when the Thermians, good-natured and intelligent aliens, arrive and, having mistaken the show to historical documents, take them into outer space to save them from the ruthless Sarris (Robin Sachs).

I kinda hate to say this, but this film's plot is way more interesting and engaging than half of the Star Trek movies. It does have some holes here and there and it's not always plausible --sci-fi movies aren't supposed to be though--, but it takes such funny and weird turns, it keeps you glued to the screen. 

The characters aren't anything new. They are just a bunch of stereotypes with no development whatsoever. Each of them has their own distinctive personality trait but that's it. I have to give the writers credit for making them so humane and so little heroic; this way it's easier to identify with them and care about them.

DreamWorks Pictures

What's truly outstanding about Galaxy Quest is the performances delivered by every single member of the cast, that's what makes the film so fun. Tim Allen is amazing as Nesmith, a Shatner-like character, Sigourney Weaver is so good at making fun of Ripley, her character in the Alien series, Alan Rickman is flawless as Alexander Dane, a Shakespearean actor stuck in a stupid role, Tony Shalhoub and Daryl Mitchell also are amazing. There's someone who steals the scene --and I'm sure I'm not the only one of this opinion--, it's Sam Rockwell. Okay, I love him so I could be biased here but he is beyond amazing in this. He is hilarious as Guy, a silly, fearful actor. And he is absolutely adorable. 

Then there's the humour, the element that surprised me the most. It is not the crude, vulgar and bathroom humour I was expecting. Instead, it is very funny, at times smart even, and makes the film very enjoyable. Also, the dialogue is brilliant and there are so many memorable lines.

Choke (2008)

When someone tells you there's a movie where Sam Rockwell plays a sex addict and keeps posting gifs of said porn movie everywhere, you just can't sit there and ignore it. That, my friends, is the reason I watched Choke. I wasn't expecting much from it --Rockwell being in it was enough-- and I guess that's why it was such a nice surprise. 

As I was saying, Victor Mancini (Sam Rockwell) is a sex addict. He works in a colonial theme park and runs a scam by deliberately choking in restaurants to extract sympathy and financial support from his saviours to pay for his mother's (Anjelica Huston) hospital bills. Then one day Victor learns that his mother has been lying about his father's true identity all along and, with the help of his best friend Denny (Brad William Henke) and his mother's beautiful physician (Kelly Macdonald), he tries to discover the truth.

It's the kind of story that looks simple and predictable at first but eventually turns out to be quite unpredictable as it takes many implausible and interesting turns and a couple of delightful twists. Of course, if I knew Choke was based on Chuck Palahniuk's novel (the same guy who wrote Fight Club) I would have expected some twisted turns, but I'm sure I would have equally enjoyed the development of the plot.

Though engaging and interesting, it's far from being flawless. There are many subplots that aren't developed as they should have been --and probably as they were in the book. For example, we know why Victor chokes all the time in restaurants, but we don't get to see those people supporting him afterwards, which makes the whole storyline a little disconnected. Same goes for Denny's rock subplot. It looks as if Clark Gregg --who directed and wrote the script-- didn't know how to integrate those subplots into the main story.

Fox Searchlight Pictures

The characters, on the other hand, are good. Not good as in good people. They are quite unlikable, to be honest. They are horrible, messed-up and antipathetic characters with no morality whatsoever but somehow you will end up rooting and caring for them.

I should probably give the credits to the cast though, not the director/writer. Sam Rockwell once again gives an excellent performance. He brings so much energy into the film and he plays the sleazy bag to perfection. It's his performance that elevates the quality of the film. Brad William Henke is a delight as Victor's friend Denny. Anjelica Huston does a good job as the selfish, manipulative but loving mother. Kelly Macdonald is good as the doctor caring for Victor's mother. And Clark Gregg is hilarious as the arrogant Lord High Charlie, an asshole working with Victor at the theme park.

That being said, Choke doesn't work that well as a black comedy. Gregg tried but he wasn't able to balance well the dramatic and comic aspects of the story. Also, the comedy doesn't always work. And I feel like Victor's sex addiction could have been explored more. 

New July Titles (2013)

This month brings a clutch of classic star-driven comedies and thrillers to Netflix Streaming, including a pair of Warren Beatty flicks, two movies with Julie Christie, and a couple of body-swapping romances. All that, and an overlooked oddity that teams writer Charlie Kaufman with Sam Rockwell and George Clooney (and is both comedy and thriller).

Don't Look Now (1973)

One of the prime examples of director Nicolas Roeg's amazing run of early greatness (including Walkabout, The Man Who Fell to Earth and Bad Timing), this Daphne de Maurier-based supernatural thriller is as well-known for its creeping aura of dread as its infamous sex scene--a scene that even today provokes leering discussions of "Did they or didn't they?" (FYI, they didn't.) But along with those tender, erotically charged moments, the film stands out for its disorienting, slow-building sense of menace, haunting Venice locations, and the utterly human heart of the bereaved married couple at its center. Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie are riveting in that quiet 1970s way--casual, messy, unforced, their realistic intimacy almost unnerving compared to the more heightened, on-the-nose theatrics of today's Hollywood. It's refreshing and rare to see such unguarded (emotionally and physically) moments between major stars. You can't help caring for these wounded souls, worrying for their safety as a series of strange events and mysterious premonitions lead them (and us) to believe something terrible lurks within the city's twisty streets. Are dark forces at work? Fate? Or is it only coincidence?

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Sam Rockwell Joins COWBOYS AND ALIENS!!

Jim here. Sam Rockwell has signed on to play a bar owner in the Platinum Comics, Universal championed project COWBOYS AND ALIENS. Rockwell joins current cast members Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Noah Ringer and Olivia Wilde.

Jon Favreau will start lensing this July for a July 29, 2011 release date. It has not been confirmed to be a 3D movie just yet, but all signs are pointing to it so we are watching this property closely. Favreau seems to be a workaholic as he will be ramping up C&A immediately after IRON MAN 2.

Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (TRANSFORMERS, STAR TREK) and Damon Lindelof (LOST) are the writers.

Settlers and Native Americans wage a bloody battle for control of the land. But when the Earth is threatened by alien conquerors, these sworn enemies must work together to save all humanity. The film is set in Arizona during the 1800s.

Here's hoping it goes 3D. The addition of Sam Rockwell is a brilliant move! He is one of my favorite actors of late and always brings something to the table that you just didn't expect. I see many more collaborations between Favreau and Rockwell on the horizon.