Win Win

My View:   Win Win (2011)  If you liked Little Miss Sunshine and Juno, then you should see Win Win.  Paul Giamatti plays a small town lawyer struggling to keeps his practice open and supplements his income by moonlighting as a high school wrestling coach. A troubled teenager (played by Alex Shaffer) shows up at an elderly client’s doorstep and through a series of events, Giamatti and his family take in the teenager.  Things start unraveling when the teenager’s mother comes to town.  This film is full of humor, intelligence and warmth, with some great performances by Giamatti and Shaffer. Definitely one of the better feel-good movies of the year.   My Rating:  Full Price  Win Win Info

The 50 (a movie from my best/worst films of all time):
#46 Worst Film:
Can’t Stop The Music (1980)  The disco movement of the 70’s was dying, so what does Hollywood do?...release a disco movie staring The Village People!  This god-awful musical stars perennial bad film actor, Steve Guttenberg as a struggling songwriter, who, to promote his music, forms the infamous 70’s band, The Village People.  Rounding out the stellar cast is Valerie Perrine and one of the worst film actors of all time, Bruce Jenner.  For those of you who have fond memoires of the 70’s, this movie will destroy them.  Can't Stop the Music Info

Forgotten Film:  What’s Up, Doc ? (1973)   Director Peter Bogdanovich made this film as an homage to the screwball comedies of the 1930’s. A mild-mannered research scientist (played by Ryan O’Neal) comes to San Francisco with his fiancée (played by the hilarious Madeline Kahn) to try and win a research grant.  The scientist encounters a wacky, college dropout (played by Barbra Streisand) who turns his world upside down.  A great comedy that ends with a chase sequence through downtown San Francisco that you won’t want to miss.  What's Up, Doc? Info

In Case You Missed It ( A Film Just Released on DVD):  Easy A (2010)  A very funny, star-making performance by Emma Stone makes this a laugh-out-loud comedy to see.  Stone plays an unpopular high school girl who tells a little white lie by claiming that she lost her virginity at a party. She then gets a bad reputation but uses her new, promiscuous reputation to her advantage…until the lies start backfiring on her.  Great use of narration and a good cast make up for the slightly predictable ending.   My Rating: Full Price  Easy A Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Win Win:  Frank’s Cat:  Lilly

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Water for Elephants (2011)   This Reese Witherspoon/Robert Pattinson drama has a lot of people in Hollywood excited.  A young veterinary student (Pattinson) runs away to the circus after his parents are killed in a car accident.  Based on the best selling novel, it is one of the most anticipated movies of 2011.  Water for Elephants Website

Until Next Time!