I've seen this movie before--it was called Ray.
Every review I can find, here, here, and here waxes positively Academic about this latest attempt at VH1 "Behind the Music" writ hollywood blockbuster.
In case you haven't seen it or aren't familiar with the storyline, let me fill you in. Struggling musician finally makes it big, gets caught up in the hype, experiments with drugs, becomes addicted, neglects wife and kids, addiction grows worse, extra-marital affairs abound, hits rock bottom, friend pulls 'em out of a hole, returns to making music and lives happily ever after etc. etc.
Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon deliver great performances. They do their own singing and (I'm told) are believeable as Johnny Cash and June Carter. However, the dynamite, Academy-Award worthy duo of Paul Walker and Jessica Alba they are not. Walk the Line does not meet the high standard of She's All That or The Fast and the Furious.
Other than that, you'll excuse me if I was disappointed to watch what amounted to a Ray sequel. How about a video biography about someone who doesn't rehash the now-tired theme of sex, drugs and rock 'n roll? I suppose that wouldn't make for a "compelling" enough story.
Are there any good movies playing? Has anyone seen a good movie lately? I guess there's always Harry Potter.
5 comments:
Jake, here's a shortlist of some of my favorites(It's definitely not complete)
Lifechanging: The Color of Paradise (an Iranian film with subtitles...it's incredible and inspiring), Cry the Beloved Country (This is for you, Jake--it's inspiring, thought provoking, and powerful...cast inscludes James Earl Jones...as a side note the book is just as incredible and is a good read before or after watching the film because they're both incredibly well done), Life is Beautiful, The Power of One, Hotel Rwanda
Funny- Bottlerocket (includes Owen wilson with his brother in one of their first hits), Undercover Brother, A Mighty Wind (be ready for a different style because it's a mockumentary)
Drama- Matchstick Men (I think this is one of Nicholas Cage's best performances and it's very witty)
Action- Man on Fire (This is one of my top movies, but I recommend the cleanflix. I haven't seen the unedited version, but I'm not one for closeup blood and gore and Denzel is a Bad-A with some of the bad hombres), Matrix (thought provoking as well as great action)
I've also been wanting to watch Cinderalla Man (heard it's great), New York Doll (heard it's good- it's a mormon movie), Pay it Forward (heard it's a good heart warmer), Pride and Prejudice (both the old one and the new one and the new one did incredible in the theaters under a limited release so it's expanding), A few Good Men, the Pianist, and Schindler's List.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Watch it. You won't be sorry. However, don't watch it with your mother nor your little sister. Val Kilmer as the Private Eye known as Gay Perry. Need I say more? I also recomend The Squid and the Whale. And of course there is Harry Potter. How can anyone not like the Potter?
Don't waste your time with "Pay it Forward." Haley Joel Osment, though "incredible" (your word) in "The Sixth Sense," has done nothing of note since.
My favorites from the past 6 months:
Lords of Dogtown
Cinderella Man
City Of God (Brazilian film, Cidade de Deus)
Batman Begins
If you haven't seen them, do. And when it comes to movies, listen to Morgan. The man knows what he's talking about.
I must say, i have never heard such riduclous movie recomendations in my life.. Lords of Dogtown.. Matt, are you a pothead, surfer, skteboarder, or from california.. i hope not, why would you want to see that movie.. Morgan, movies dealing with homosexual tendanciues... not high on my list.. Peter, i feel since i do not know you i should not thrash your favorite movies, some great choices, some very below par...like Marc's golf game... ooo.. and Jake, Jonny Cash's story may have been alot like Ray, but it was more his influance as an artist on changing the industry.. you cant not talk about his drug problem or his family problems when doing a story like that.. As for your Paul Walker and Jessica Alba thriller... i think you checked out her butt a little too much to think that movie was worth a mention.. we all know paul walker is a washed up teen heart throb that has only two lybbert brothers obsessed with him... I recomend you learn a little more about the Man in Black before you thrash his movie. He was a man who once he got clean became a great man and an inspiration, who afer his wife, june carter cash died, his heart could not go on anymore, he died a short 3 months later, after putting out one last album to support his family, who made the movie you thrashed... and as for the singing in the movie, Joaxquin and Reese both sing and did a remarkable job, almost better on some songs than the man in black himself...
Are you taking a shot at Johnny Cash?
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