Search results matching tags 'movies' and 'drama'

"Awake" an amazing TV show, cancelled after tonight

professor.knowsitall@evpl — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:48:00 GMT

I'm not a fan of hyperbole...but Awake is, without a doubt, the best show I've seen on TV in a long time.

However, the bean counters at NBC have already cancelled the show. Tonight's season finale will also be the series finale.

Detective Michael Britten survives a horrific car crash with his wife and son as passengers. Following the accident, Michael finds himself living in two realities: one in which his wife survived but his son didn't, and one where his son survived but his wife didn't.

Michael alternates between the two realities every morning when he wakes. Happenings in one reality become clues for the other.

Definitely an interesting concept. But it's the writing, acting, and emotion that make the show so great. The cinematography is excellent as well, always alerting the viewer to which reality they are currently seeing (except for a few scenes that are intentionally vague).

Is one of the realities a dream? Are both? What is going on? We should find out tonight as the 13th and final episode airs.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this series (if you couldn't tell already), but you must watch them in order. They are available for viewing on Hulu.

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My Favorite Sleep/Dream Related Movies

So all this talk about Awake made me think about movies involving sleep & dreaming. Below are 3 of my favs, and as I previously declared my love for all things Christopher Nolan it should be no surprise that two of these are his.

Inception (2010) - Check our catalog

Ambiguous Plot Description: In a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a highly skilled thief is given a final chance at redemption which involves executing his toughest job to date: Inception. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, & Ellen Page.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) - Check our catalog

Ambiguous Plot Description: A couple undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories when their relationship turns sour, but it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with. Starring Jim Carrey & Kate Winslet.

Insomnia (2002) - Check our catalog

Ambiguous Plot Description: Two Los Angeles homicide detectives are dispatched to an Alaska town where the sun doesn't set to investigate the murder of a local teen. Starring Al Pacino, Robin Williams, & Hilary Swank.

Oscar triumph "Slumdog Millionaire" based on novel

MediaPhile@evpl — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:24:00 GMT

"Slumdog Millionaire" is based on "Q & A," a 2005 first novel by Vikas Swarup just re-released in a trade paperback edition bearing the movie's title. Swarup, an Indian diplomat who has served in Turkey, the United States, Ethiopia, and Great Britain, is currently India's Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa.

The story of a young, penniless, and semi-literate waiter who must justify how he managed to win India's biggest-ever quiz show jackpot, "Q & A" was an international bestseller, translated into 36 languages.

The breakaway hit movie ended up winning Best Movie and 7 other Oscars at last night's Academy Award ceremony, including honors for its director (Danny Boyle), screenplay, music, and cinematography. In fact if its stars had been better known, it could have been a clean sweep.

This is one to savor on the big screen -- don't miss it!

"John Adams": HBO miniseries

MediaPhile@evpl — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:56:00 GMT

If you didn't watch this absolutely wonderful series when it was on HBO, do so now!

I just spent 8 glorious hours in the bosom of the Adams family -- from the early 1770s until John's death on July 4, 1826. (In case you didn't remember, John Adams and his good friend/enemy and co-founding father, Thomas Jefferson, died on the same day -- July 4, 1826 -- the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence).

These are my impressions:

My knowledge of Adams is exponentially increased, since I knew little of the man before. Perhaps Adams' constant lament that history would give all the credit to Jefferson and Washington proved somewhat true.
Paul Giamatti as John and Laura Linney as Abigail were fabulous! And Tom Wilkinson WAS Benjamin Franklin! I never did get used to David Morse as George Washington, but then I still remember him as an intern on "Saint Elsewhere." (Also, is playing Washington almost like playing God -- impossible?)
Author David McCullough is now on my short list. I can't believe I haven't read all of his books!
23 Emmy Award nominations and 13 wins makes perfect sense. Awards included Best Miniseries, Best Actor in a Miniseries, Best Actress in a Miniseries, and Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries (Wilkinson).
Being important doesn't spare one hardship and tragedy -- or boredom, for that matter.
Service to one's country is not necessarily lucrative.
The Presidency in the early days of our country was a rather thankless job. One wonders how much better it is now...

The Counterfeiters not an easy film to watch

MediaPhile@evpl — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:12:00 GMT

I don't think that The Counterfeiters made it to the Evansville theatres, but you can now watch it in DVD. Made in Austria, it won the 2008 Oscar for Best Foreign Language film.

Late in WWII, the Germans conscripted a number of concentration camp prisoners with printing experience to produce counterfeit pounds and dollars. The plan? -- to keep their war effort going and to undermine the British and U.S. economies. Leading the project was one of the best counterfeiters in the world, who had earlier been captured and imprisoned for his larceny.

The drama in the film comes from the Jewish prisoners trying to decide whether to help or hinder the Germans. They are given many luxuries -- like clean sheets and good food -- not available to the other prisoners in the camp who face starvation and death. Aren't they just causing more deaths by prolonging the German efforts?

For more detail, read Krueger's men: the secret Nazi counterfeit plot and the prisoners of Block 19 by Lawrence Malkin.

The Dark Knight is way too dark

MediaPhile@evpl — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:16:00 GMT

SPOILER ALERT!

This movie is about a half-hour to one hour too long -- it could have used some judicious editing. Once the relationship between Batman and Rachel is resolved (I won't tell you how), the dramatic tension is gone. They should have just said "And then..." and ended the dang thing. We all know that we will be seeing these characters in the sequel anyway so we will have plenty of time to get to know their latest foibles.

Re all the profound ruminations by critics and the movie's characters of the battle between good and evil, hey, what movie doesn't deal with this eternal struggle? (Well, I guess we can exclude comedies). So one side is bad and the other good. So what? I doubt that anyone was made a better person or a better citizen by watching this flick. And if the point is that a true hero would choose GOOD over LOVE, it's obvious this script was written by a man. The choice ends up being wrong, anyway, since ultimately Good turns to Evil and a new villain is created.

I saw "Dark Knight" in IMAX and by far the best parts were when we were soaring or otherwise doing acrobatic tricks above the Chicago (Gotham) skyline. Awesome!

And of course there is Heath Ledger. His performance was deliciously wierd, but I couldn't stop thinking about how he is dead. Now "Brokeback Mountain," THAT was a GOOD movie!

So, heh, Rotten Tomatoes -- a 94%!?!? Well I guess it will sweep all the Oscars (Not)!