COP OUT

Plot:

After a botched drug investigation, Detectives Jimmy Monroe (Willis) and Paul Hodges (Morgan) are suspended without pay leaving Jimmy in a bad situation since he has to pay for his daughter's wedding or allow her gloating step father to takeover. So while trying to sell his valuable collectors baseball card to get the money he is robbed by Dave (Scott), a wise cracking joker who sells the card to Poh Boy (Diaz), a drug dealer who is trying to locate his Mercedes Benz that was stolen earlier. When the two detectives set out to retrieve the card, they find out that it leads them back to their previous investigation while they must also try to clear themselves from being casted as rogue cops.

Reel Talk:

This is your typical buddy cop movie, yet, it is a hilariously funny one. I got to be honest and say that I didn't have high expectations going into the screening for this movie (cause not a big Tracy Morgan fan), but this is truly some of his best work. The combination of him and Willis playing good cop/bad cop with Tracy citing quotes from various movies, along with the scene steal Seann William Scott, this makes for one of the more funnier cop buddy movies in awhile. Not a great movie, but very funny and worth seeing.

Starring: Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, Seann William Scott, Guillermo Diaz, Kevin Pollack, Michelle Trachtenberg and Ana De La Reuera
Directed by: Kevin Smith
Rated: R

I give it 4 corn dogs

By: Corndog - The Reel Hustler

BLOOD DONE SIGNED MY NAME

Plot:

This film is based on the true story about Henry Marrow, an African American who just returned home to his rural town in North Carolina from the war during 1970 only to be beaten and then shot to death by one of the town's bigot Robert Teel (Searcy) and his sons. This creates an even greater divide among the cultures to the point of a potential race riot brewing while the trial is taking place. It is during this time that a young Ben Chavis (Parker) becomes involved with the civil rights movement by the fiery Golden Frinks (Omilami) to help Negros to achieve equality and also Reverend Vernon Tyson (Schroder) tries to segregate his congregation by welcoming African Americans to the church.

Reel Talk:

Movies that relate to race issues are always heart wrenching because to see what people had to go through by way of humiliation, violence and death because of their skin color is disturbing. But we need movies like these to enlighten us about the way things were regarding racism and how we need to constantly make changes today. This is a must see film, I would also encourage that schools/colleges get behind this film as educational material for their students. Knowledge is power.

Starring: Nate Parker, Rick Schroder, Michael Rooker, Nick Searcy, Afemo Omilami and Lela Rochon
Directed by: Jeb Stuart
Rated: PG-13

I give it 4 corn dogs

By: Corndog - The Reel Hustler

FIVE K ONE

Plot:

Tiger (Forty Da Great) and Remone (Jackson) have been friends since childhood and now have become partners in one of the city's biggest and deadliest drug organizations. Tiger who lives by the code 'once in always in' will stop at nothing to solidify himself as the boss, while Remone is beginning to have second thoughts about his life as a thug and contemplates becoming legit. The two must come to terms so that they can stay steps ahead of the haters and law enforcement that wants to bring the demise of their empire. Applying un-relenting violence and death to anyone that tries to betray or defy the rules relating to life as a hustler.

Reel Talk:

Writer, producer and director Dionciel 'Donny' Armstrong's depiction of the grit and grimy life of a thug in the city is compelling. Filmed entirely and mostly casted in Detroit with the exception of veteran actors Clifton Powell, Melvin Jackson Jr. and A.J. Johnson, the acting was pretty good . Although this was a low budget production, The cinematography was also well done for the young director who also brought us the street documentary film "Street Life" and Rap Files. He says that this is only getting his feet wet as he is gearing up to produce even more films in the future. For his Red Carpet screening in January he brought that Hollywood flair to Detroit by having most of the cast members there including Powell and Jackson who gave great praise and thanks to the promising director for being involved with his project.

Starring: Forty Da Great, Melvin Jackson Jr., Clifton Powell, A.J. Johnson, Yukmouth, Big Herk, Christina Usher, Angelo Ashmon and Quest Cody
Directed by: Dionciel 'Donny' Armstrong
Rated: R

I give it 3 corn dogs

By: Corndog - The Reel Hustler

SHERLOCK HOLMES

Plot:

When the world famous inspector Sherlock Holmes (Downey) and his faithful sidekick Dr. Watson (Law) capture Lord Blackwood (Strong) who has done serial murders in the name of black magic and witness his public hanging, they try to adjust to the slowdown in there assignments. Watson who takes the time to prepare for his wedding to Mary (Reilly), while Holmes entertains himself by placing himself in reckless and dangerous situations. But soon they are called back to duty when it has appeared that Lord Blackwood has risen from the grave and set back on his course of murderous evil. To confuse matters Holmes' ex wife Irene (McAdams) re-enters his life with a case that also involves the sinister Blackwood. The great inspector must use all his intellectual genius to match wits with his dark nemesis in order to solve the case before complete chaos overtakes London.

Reel Talk:

Ok this was a very entertaining movie from beginning to end. The combination of Downey and Law was brilliant and I expect that there will be a sequel in the making. Downey continues to dazzle us with his performances, showing that he is truly a great actor who relishes his second (or is it his third chance) in Hollywood. If you have followed Guy Ritchie's work in previous films, you will appreciated it in Sherlock Holmes (the dark visual settings and the slow motion breakdowns), this is probably his best to date. This is the year's end blockbuster close out movie, so be sure to catch it.

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong and Kelly Reilly
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Rated: PG-13

I give it 4 corn dogs

By: Corndog - The Reel Hustler

IT'S COMPLICATED

Plot:

Jane (Streep) is a successful restaurant owner who has been divorced for about 20 years and has had no intimate connection with a man since. But things become complicated when while in New York attending the graduation for their son, Jane and he ex-husband Jake (Baldwin), who is now married to the younger and sexy Agness (Bell), have a sexual encounter that carries over when they return to their city.Soon she realizes that she is now the second fiddle in a relationship with her ex- husband who she divorce for cheating on her. At the same time, home rebuilding contractor Adam (Martin) takes an interest in Jane. Torn between the two situations, she is soon taken on one wild emotional roller-coaster while she tries to remain sane.

Reel Talk:

This was one charmingly funny movie! Seeing these veteran actors and actress still showing Hollywood that age is irrelevant when it comes to good performances, was very rewarding as they were great. The younger John Krasinski who plays future son-law Harley also provides some of the funnier scenes in the movie. Well acted, funny comedy about being in a complicated relationship that you should not miss.

Starring: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, Lake Bell and John Krasinski
Directed by: Nancy Meyers
Rated: R

I give it 4 corn dogs

By: Corndog - The Reel Hustler

BROTHERS

Plot:

Tommy (Gyllenhaal) and Sam (Maguire) are brothers, one a captain in the army who is about to go back for duty in Afghanistan and the other just got released from prison. Sam the soldier brother is married with two beautiful daughters and when he is reported dead while serving his duty during the war, it leaves his wife Grace (Portman) numb with a sense of loneliness with only Tommy to help assist her and the girls. But things get a little hectic when Sam who was reported dead is actually still alive after being rescued from hostile territory and is shipped back home. Since being among his family he has a strong fixation that Tommy and Grace have been romantically involved causing deadly tension among the brothers.

Reel Talk:

This was a very emotionally charged film with some intense scenes depicting the turmoil that the family is going through. Sam Shepard plays the two brother's father who is happy with Sam who followed in his footsteps and joined the army and disappointed with Tommy who constantly got into trouble. The acting was good pretty much all around, even down to the girls playing the daughters. Good film that I highly recommend.

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Toby Maguire, Natalie Portman, Sam Shepard and Clifton Collins Jr.
Directed by: Jim Sheridan
Rated: R

I give it 4 corn dogs

By: Corndog - The Reel Hustler

COMING SOON: District 9

Last night I attended an early screening for the new Sci-Fi alien invasion movie District 9. As I walked up to the theater and witnessed the long line of people that extended out the doors, along with one of the local radio stations coverage and the National Guards on hand as well, something told me the hype for this movie was big. Upon leaving the screening I couldn't help but take in the reactions of the fellow movie goers, who were pretty satisfied with the Sci-Fi thriller, which I will agree was interestingly entertaining.

Please check out the attached link to view the trailer for District 9 which is due to invade theaters Aug 14 and be sure to catch my review of it on opening day. www.d-9.com

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE

Plot:

In this sixth installment to the Potter series, Harry (Radcliffe) and his friends Ron Weasley (Grint) and Hermione Granger (Watson) are still attending the school for gifted wizards and also experiencing the leap to adolescence (in regards to dating). This time Harry is taking up potion lessons, when it so happens he comes across a book of potions that use to belong to The Half Blood Prince who has ties to the Dark Lord Voldermort. When Head Professor Dumledore (Gambon) enlists the assistance of Harry ,his most gifted student, to inquire information from fellow Professor Slughorn regarding the evil intentions of the Dark Lord, he realizes that the book also holds some clues that were noted by the Half Blood Prince. Harry must also deal with his nemesis Draco Malfoy (Felton) who has an agenda of evil of his own that would put him in good graces with the dark one.

Reel Talk:

Well the gangs all back for another go round as Daniel Radcliffe, who seems that he hasn't aged since the very first movie (who is he Benjamin Button?), Watson and Grint take on another adventure in the Potter series.Unlike the previous movies this one has more dialog and very little action, which it appears is the set up for the next two installments. Director David Yates who directed the previous one and is tagged for the future movies does a good job with the visual cinematography, that captivates the mystical aura that makes up the Potter story. Unfortunately it's just not enough to hold your interest unless you have read the novels and can follow along. This one has no frills or thrills and makes for a long 2 1/2 hours of a dull moviel.

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Alan Rickman and Tom Felton
Directed by: David Yates
Rated: PG

I give it 3 corn dogs

By: Corndog - The Reel Hustler

I LOVE YOU, BETH COOPER

Plot:

It's graduation day and class Valedictorian Denis Cooverman (Rust) stands at the podium calling out his fellow friends and classmates for their quirks and bullish ways, and professing his love for Beth Cooper (Panettiere) a pretty girl who he has attended classes with but sat behind her never muttering a word. Problem is that she is dating a prior graduate named Kevin (Roberts), a junior jar head who was called out as well and now he wants to beat the crap out of Denis. When Beth accepts Denis invite to his graduation party along with her girlfriends Cammy (London) and Treece (Storm), all hell breaks loose as Denis and his best friend Rich (Carpenter) are in for one wild and interesting night.

Reel Talk:

This is your typical loser boy and pretty girl movie with crazed boyfriend trying to kill loser boy. Nothing new about the concept except the cast. I can honestly admit that I was not a follower of Heroes so outside her name and a few pics I knew very little about Hayden Panettiere, but she is a very attractive young woman who does the cameras justice. Paul Rust as the nerdy Denis was a good casting. This is not the best coming of age film but it is a good coming of age film worth seeing.

Starring: Hayden Panettiere, Paul Rust, Jack Carpenter, Lauren London, Lauren Storm, Shawn Roberts and Alan Ruck
Directed by: Chris Columbus
Rated: PG-13

I give it 3 corn dogs

By: Corndog - The Reel Hustler

PUBLIC ENEMIES

Plot:

It's the early 30's, The Great Depression Era, and crime is rampant with John Dillinger (Depp) and his gang at the very tip of the crimewave. With their ability to rob a bank in quicksilver speed, it makes them that much more elusive that FBI director J. Edgar Hoover (Crudup) assigns a special task force called G Men lead by Melvin Purvis (Bale) that are to hunt Dillinger labeled 'Public Enemy # 1' and his gang down by any means necessary. But with John's quick wits he is able to stay a few steps ahead of the G Men until he falls for the beautiful Billy Frechette (Cotillard), who has such an affect on him that rather than move on when the heat is thick, he stays around trying to figure a way to spring her after she was captured and used as bait against him.

Reel Talk:

This film has all the makings for a great movie: gangster theme, stellar cast and a great director. So what happened??? It was a slow and dulling depiction of a dashing bank robber. Sure Depp provides charm to the role but not flare and the unconvincing accents used throughout the movie by Bale and Crupup were more silly than anything else. Bale as Purvis was just plain boring, they could have taken his gun and let him kill the bad guys with boredom. There are a few action shoot out scenes, with the ones with Baby Face Nelson (Graham) standing out particularly. Even Academy Award winner Cotillard couldn't pull a rabbit out the hat for this one. If you don't mind a watered down Untouchables than you might enjoy this attempt at a gangster movie.

Starring: Johnny Depp, Marion Cotillard, Christian Bale, Stephen Dorff, Billy Crudup and Giovanni Ribisi
Directed by: Michael Mann
Rated: R

I give it 2 and a half eaten corn dogs

By: Corndog - The Reel Hustler