TheMovieBanter.com » Jamie Foxx

Snap Review of Horrible Bosses

Alia Haddad — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 04:10:38 +0000

In an era in which our biggest comedies seem to take a basic, relatable theme or question and then exaggerate said theme to the point of comedic hyperbole–to name a few, The Hangover revolved around the questions, “Exactly how drunk did I get last night, and what did I actually do?,” Knocked Up centered on the utter fear-inducing question, “What do I do if I get a girl pregnant?,” and 40 Year Old Virgin answered the most basic question perhaps wondered by all teenage boys at one time or another– Seth Gordon’s Horrible Bosses, out today, takes on a similarly basic question: What would I do to get rid of my unbearable boss?

The film focuses on three best friends as they grapple with that very question regarding their respective bosses– and their solution? Well, clearly to kill their bosses. What ensues is a couple hours of pure comedic hyperbole, and maybe even at its finest this summer. Perhaps it’s because I went in with the not the highest of expectations– I mean, I thought it would be cute, but time has told me not to expect anything too funny from Jennifer Aniston (even though I’ll keep rooting for her til the end)– but I spent the majority of the movie laughing. And not just chuckling– real bellowing laughs, that you can feel in your abs the next day.

Yes, it is definitely true that the three main actors– Jason Bateman (Juno, Arrested Development), Charlie Day (Going the Distance, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Jason Sudeikis (Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock)– play the same roles that they’ve already perfected. But, hey, it seems that so does every comedic actor nowadays (ahem, Jonah Hill, Adam Sandler, Jason Segal, Zach Galifianakis etc.), and in Horrible Bosses, the mix of familiar characters was a perfect formula. And if the three main characters don’t get you laughing (but believe, they will, because let’s be honest, who can resist laughing at Charlie Day?), then the movies slew of stellar supporting actors will definitely prove hilarious– Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, Collin Farrell, Jamie Foxx and Julie Bowen all proved how funny they can really be. And if your still weighing your options– well, the witty, quick dialogue ought to convince you.

So, I definitely understand the hesitation, believe me– I even had it for the first couple minutes into the movie– but it was definitely worth seeing it in the theaters, especially if you’re looking for a kind of mindless comedy that will keep you laughing just thinking about it– a great Summer comedy. SEE IT.

5 Best Movie Quarterbacks

Matt Rosenberg — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 18:50:18 +0000

Today is the biggest football day of the year. The much-likable Green Bay Packers will take on the bullies from Pittsburgh (Steelers). Aaron Rodgers will try to write his name alongside Brett Favre in Packer folklore while Big Ben tries to write his name in the all-time NFL record book. I’ll be rooting for Green Bay today. Something about the Steelers just rubs me the wrong way. It could be Troy Polamalu’s ridiculous hair or Big Ben’s crappy history with the ladies, but the Steelers are just that unlikable bully on the school yard.

So as we all gear up for the big game…buying tons of beer, pizza, nachos, and bringing $$$ to bet with…we will take a look at our favorite movie QB’s. In no particular order lets get to it.

1. Shane “Footsteps” Falco (played by Keanu Reeves in The Replacements) – Falco laid an egg in the Sugar Bowl when he quarterback’d the Ohio State Buckeyes to terrible defeat but he got his second chance as a replacement for the Washington Sentinels. Falco went from cleaning boats to throwing TD’s over night. Jimmy McGinty, played by Gene Hackman, recruited Falco to come back and proved to be a great mentor. Falco had a misfit of a team and took them to the playoffs. “Winners want the ball when the game’s on the line” — Falco you wanted the ball and you nailed it. Screw Eddie Martel…Falco for life.

2. Johnny Moxin (played by James Van Der Beek in Varsity Blues) - After Lance Harbor (Paul Walker) went down with a career ending kneee injury, Moxin took up the post as QB of West Caanan High School. Unlike Falco, Moxin had a terrible coach in Bud Kilmer (Jon Voight) . Kilmer was like Hitler with a football hat on. Moxin became the instant leader on the team even rejecting the infamous whipped cream bikini. WHAT WAS HE THINKING? Moxin had plenty of heart and took his talents to Brown University. ”I don’t want your life” or “Ah don’t want yuuur lahffe.”

3. Paul Blake (played by Scott Bakula in Necessary Roughness) – The aged man returned to Texas State to get a degree. The football team had other plans. The Fightin’ Armadillo’s were in dire need of a QB since their former players were all dropped due to scandal. Blake came in and rallied his troops to an 0-9 record. Their field goal kicker (Kathy Ireland) was a girl. However, all the magic came together when they took on their in-state rivals the Texas Colts, the best team in the country. Blake had the balls to go for a 2-point conversion to win the game. The best 1-9 season of all time. “Welcome to Foot….BALL.”

4. ‘Steamin’ Willie Beamen (played by Jamie Foxx in Any Given Sunday) – let’s just imagine that John Elway got hurt in the beginning of the season. His second-string QB gets hurt on the next play. Then a relatively unknown QB named Michael Vick, the third string QB, heads in to the game and just becomes electric. Who knew? Willie Beamen let immediate fame get to his head. His coach, offensive coordinator, running back, and owner all had issues with him. But come on, the Sharks were just a mess of an organization…way too much drama. However, when push-came-to-shove Beamen got his act together leading the Sharks to the Superbowl. “My name is Willie.”

5. Dan Marino (played by Dan Marino in Ace Ventura) – while most people would have to put Paul Crewe (played by Burt Reynolds in The Longest Yard) on this list, I say Dan Marino instead. We are talking about a guy who got kidnapped before the Superbowl, showed up a halftime, and we “think” led the Dolphins to Superbowl glory. I at least hope he did, especially because they were playing the dreaded Eagles. Sure, Marino held the football with laces ‘in’ during Ray Finkle’s missed field goal attempt that lost the Superbowl in years past. But come on, Tony Romo couldn’t even get the snap down. Marino is Marino and somehow got his Dolphins back to the big game. Well, fictionally he did. I hope this time he isn’t holding any snaps. “Laces out”

What are your favorite movie QB’s?

Review of Law Abiding Citizen

Matt Rosenberg — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 01:27:09 +0000

So this will be my first written review in a while. I wanted to get the review on the site and thought it can be best expressed via words. “Law Abiding Citizen” is the new action, crime drama starring Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler.

If you took The Shawshank Redemption and mated it with Saw then you would produce an awkward love child named “Law Abiding Citizen.” Additionally, if the two wanted to have a threesome with another movie then you can add “Silence of the Lambs” in there. “Law Abiding Citzen,” though not nearly as good as Shawshank or Silence, was enjoyable and worth seeing.

Gerard Butler plays a vengeful psychopath who goes on a slaughtering rampage after he feels the legal system failed to bring justice to his family’s murderers. I’d be pretty pissed to if I were him. His character is a cross between Hannibal Lector and the killer in Saw. Trapped in prison, he wreaks havoc on his prey from the four walls of his own cell.

As a viewer you find yourself constantly questioning how he is able to do this. One kill is more shocking then the next. In fact, there are moments you are flat out laughing how shocking and abrupt certain kills are. Foxx plays a tough District Attorney who becomes Butler’s point of contact and ultimate pawn; much like Clarice Starling is with Lector. Butler being in prison and manipulating pretty much every character, is representative of a much more violent Andy Dufresne.

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Sure, some things get completely out of hand and a bit unrealistic. However, the world that is created in this film is kept consistent. In this case, the director is able to get away with telling a story that has some laugh-out-loud scenes that are just completely unrealistic. It is those scenes that also make the movie entertaining as heck.

One thing I really liked about this movie was that it had my attention the entire team. It had me constantly guessing the next move, the next kill, and how the twist would unfold. To sum it up nicely, the movie had me thinking. Sure, this film will not win any Oscars, but it was a good movie for what it was; an enjoyable crime drama that will keep you guessing all the way to the end.

Why do critics have to assess everything from an Oscar standpoint? The negative reviews this movie is receiving are just not true. Critics need to realize that non Oscar-worthy movies can be plenty good. From the person who just enjoys going to the movies, this is what it’s all about. Check out “Law Abiding Citizen

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