tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54567023110224853762024-03-14T06:48:27.337+00:00The Cusack ChallengeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-18442216989415862842017-02-19T18:05:00.000+00:002017-02-19T18:05:07.044+00:00Chi-Raq (2015)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Tagline: </b>No peace, no piece</div>
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<b>Cusack plays: </b>Father Mike Corridan</div>
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Was reminded to watch this by a sort of Cusack reference in the new Lego Batman film (yes, really, if you've seen it you'll know that a few of his rom coms get a shout out!).</div>
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The central premise of the film is that the women of Chicago (the Chi-raq of the title, so named because more people were killed there due to gun and gang violence than soldiers in Iraq) unite to deny their men folk sex until they stop the killing. Or as they say..</div>
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<b>"NO PEACE, NO PUSSY!"</b></div>
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Cusack plays a neighbourhood priest who gets to deliver a barnstorming sermon railing against gun violence at the funeral of a small child caught in the cross fire.</div>
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I enjoyed the plot, style and soundtrack - and was engaged from the start with characters largely speaking in rhyming couplets.However it was hard to stick with for 2 hours and my attention did start to drift - but great to see Cusack in something so interesting compared to another rubbish action film.</div>
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<b>Tagline:</b> When everyone is connected no one is safe</div>
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<b>Cusack plays:</b> Comic Book Artist Clay Riddell</div>
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<i>Technically, messing a little with the IMDB order of things here - I'm skipping over Hot Tub Time Machine 2 - the version I watched last year didn't feature Cusack (and it was AWFUL), but he appears uncredited in the unrated version for a few seconds - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBroXRtoRGs">watch here</a>)</i></div>
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<i>I'll also come back to Chi-Raq which is next listed, and skipping on to Cell, which I watched with a (thankfully) free Amazon credit.</i></div>
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After 2007's <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/1408-2007.html">1408</a> Samuel L Jackson and Cusack reunite for another Stephen King adaptation. In this, a weird signal suddenly pulses through everyone's mobile, or Cell, phone, turning them into mad zombie types, bashing each other over the head, planes falling out of the sky etc. Those lucky enough not to have their phone pressed to their ear quickly scarper and band together to fight the evil.</div>
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The start of this is very fast paced, we quickly establish Cusack's situation, living away from his wife and child for a while and at the airport, thinking of heading home to them when the evil Cell signal strikes. Everyone very quickly accepts the situation, rather than running around trying to work out what happened. The rest of the film is given over to grouping together and attempting to fight the evil, with a weirdo apparition turning up in their dreams etc.</div>
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I can barely be bothered writing anymore about this - it is terrible FULL STOP. Interesting enough premise, but I'm not really a fan of crazy zombie type stuff, and no character is interesting or sympathetic enough to invest in. AVOID.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FhvkSdPQqd8" width="560"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-71138807903910878202016-08-04T19:44:00.002+01:002016-08-04T19:44:35.072+01:00Dragon Blade (2015)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Tagline:</b> Where the eagle meets the dragon</div>
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<b>Cusack plays:</b> Lucious, Roman solider</div>
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I was pleased to see this pop up on Netflix recently as I'm not sure that it got an UK cinema release, or if it did, it was very limited. It was also a pleasant distraction and reason for a break from essay writing. Had Cusack not featured this isn't something that would have particularly appealed to me, but I queued it up, poured a drink and got ready to experience<i> Dragon Blade.</i></div>
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The plot sees a Chinese Silk Road protection squad (led by Jackie Chan) encounter a roman legion (headed by Cusack). Initially they square off, but then decide to work together to protect the Silk Road from the nasty Roman Tiberious (Adrien Brody, manically chewing the scenery). Various fights and buddy bonding moments ensue.</div>
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This is a mixed bag. It was primarily made for a non-Western audience, only half of it is in English, and I couldn't manage to turn the subtitles off for these parts, which only made the wooden script more obvious. It's also ridiculously obvious it's on a set rather than location. On the other hand, the action scenes (directed by Chan) are pretty decent.</div>
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We first encounter Cusack riding in, in slow motion, and he's pretty good. Great to see him not playing a vaping baddie for once! He and Chan develop quite the bromance and he's looking pretty good.</div>
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If you can stand a child actor singing like a little cherub, you might want to give this a go. It's fairly forgettable, but probably worth a watch. I haven't a clue how historically accurate it is!</div>
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<b>Tagline:</b> You can't put a price on family/ Reclaim what's yours</div>
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<b>Cusack plays: </b>Benjamin</div>
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I'm calling the movie poster as a little misleading, as at no point are there ever any helicopters hovering over a lit up city...</div>
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Rounding off the year by getting up to date with the Cusack challenge and this little action number, which is a step up from my last watch, <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/the-prince-2014.html">The Prince</a>. The blurb for this one is that a couple head to Puerto Rico to adopt a little girl, who has been orphaned as a result of the earthquake in Haiti. They have a jolly holiday on the beach as they wait for their ADORABLE (honestly, I lost track of how many times she was described as adorable) little girl's passport to be processed. They bump into Cusack, apparently holidaying at their result (LOOK OUT HE'S VAPING/SMOKING A GIANT CIGAR) and after the husband (Ryan Phillipe) has a bust up in a bar, the adorbs wee gal goes missing.</div>
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As can be ascertained by the trailer, they have fallen victim to a 'reclaim' scam, where the fake adoption agency has taken the child and loads of their money. They really should have guessed, as Jacki Weaver as the adoption agency lady just screams dodgy to me. The story continues by adding another layer, bringing in the couples past etc, with Cusack's role as chief baddie increasing. I am starting to wonder if he is playing the bad guy so he gets to smoke. Or maybe it's just more fun.</div>
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So, this isn't a great film, but its alright and probably worth a watch. Towards the most dramatic parts I even stopped playing Candy Crush/eating Quality Street and gave it my full attention. So y'know, reasonable praise.</div>
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Here's a trailer that basically shows you the entire film if you don't have a spare 90 minutes.</div>
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Tagline: Mercy is for the weak</div>
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Another release which bypassed a cinema release and headed straight to DVD/Netflix/Amazon Prime et al. Of the 3 men on the poster, Willis and Cusack have really small parts, and only show up 34 and 50 mins into the 90 minute feature. So Jason Patric is the 'star' of this run around, shoot at things, emote, repent barrel of fun.</div>
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The film begins with a flashback to crime lord Bruce Willis (seemingly sporting a CGI beard and/or face) seeing his wife and child get blown up in a car. 20 years or so later, mechanic Jason Patric is chatting with his college aged daughter on Skype. She then disappears, and he has to go investigate what has happened to her, aided by his daughter's sexy friend.<br />
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*MILD SPOILERS INCASE YOU WANT TO WATCH THIS RUBBISH* So we find out that Jason Patric was the one who killed Willis' family - but he's not a total bad guy, he was only planning to blow up Willis. So I assumed that Willis has kidnapped his daughter as revenge, but this was not the case, so not as predictable as it could have been. Instead shes been 'kidnapped' by Drug dealer 'The Pharmacy' played by 50 Cent. In coming to look for her he reappears on Willis' radar, he gets interested in going after the daughter and ALL THE GUNS come out.</div>
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Cusack wanders in at the 50 minute mark, as Patric's old friend (?) who he entrusts with looking after his daughters friend while he goes off to the gun shop etc. Cusack is in serious whisper mode, mumbling something about Hadrian's Wall and why Patric is known as 'The Prince'. Later he shoots some guns and lights up a giant cigar for no reason (cooler looking than the vaping of previous films).</div>
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This is just a bad film, full stop. There is nothing and no one to care about, no story to get invested in, and the only mild amusement I found was in them naming a drug dealer 'The Pharmacy', and that the missing daughter was called Beth Brennan - the name of the character Natalie Imbruglia played in Neighbours in the early 1990s. (If only I could empty my mind of useless facts like this, I could take over the world).</div>
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Tagline: The Life, Love and Genius of Brian Wilson</div>
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Cusack plays: Older Brian Wilson</div>
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After the last two straight to DVD duds, I was cheered by the prospect of an actual UK cinema release and trip to see Cusack on the big screen. The trailer looked promising, and the subject matter of interest. I like a biopic, I like the Beach Boys, fingers crossed I was in for a treat.<script type="text/javascript">
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And *happy dance* this is a great film. It cuts between 1960s Brian Wilson (Paul Dano) and 1980s (Cusack). The earlier years focus on the Beach Boys successes, Wilson's musical genius and the recording of Pet Sounds and other records. It also documents his emerging mental health problems and troubled relationship with his father. The film continually cuts between the early years and a few decades later - Wilson is under the control of a shady therapist (Paul Giamatti) who keeps him heavily medicated. He meets Melinda (Elizabeth Banks), when out buying a car, and she attempts to pry him away from the Dr's grip.</div>
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Dano is fantastic as earlier Brian, embodying the star and even doing some singing. You grin as the familiar songs start to take shape, even if sometimes it's a bit obvious and bordering on cheesy (no prizes for guessing which song emerges after a character mentions animals and moods being affecting by vibrations). I think that's one of the joys of biopics though.</div>
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Alas Cusack doesn't sing, but he wonderfully portrays Wilson's struggles, paranoia and empty, controlled life. I knew less about this period of Wilson's life, and while Giamatti verges on the panto villian, he's pretty scary. You are truly rooting for Melinda to come through and rescue Brian and release his muscial genius once more. And you just want to give Cusack a big hug.</div>
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So it's a thumbs up for this one from me.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-29932071919630180422015-06-27T21:11:00.001+01:002015-06-27T21:11:54.580+01:00The Bag Man (2014)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Tagline: The cat's in the bag</div>
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Cusack plays: Jack. </div>
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I think the fact that I watched this about a month ago but have only just mustered up the energy to post a review probably tells you all you need to know. This is another straight to DVD number, focused around Cusack, Bobby De Niro and some wifey. It's quite dark and whispery, which combined with my tendency to multi task and not concentrate on films meant some rewinding was required. </div>
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So, big Bad Bobby De Niro pays his shady hit man type Cusack some moneys for a simple job - retrieve a bag and bring it to him, the one very important condition being DON'T LOOK IN THE BAG. This is the one thing going for this film and keeping you interested -what's in the bag???? (you know it's not going to be anything good). Along the way people start trying to kill each other and a sexy laydee turns up to try and disrupt things. Oh, also the midget janitor from <i>Scrubs </i>and a guy with a blingin eye patch.</div>
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I was entertained a little by some links to other Cusack flicks - Crispin Glover as a creepy hotel employee (as seen in Hot Tub Time Machine) and running about around a motel was a bit Identity like.</div>
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So overall, this is another fail, but I am a little cheered by the trailers for upcoming Cusack flicks, Love & Mercy and Dragonblade which both look worth a watch. Also, happy 49th birthday tomorrow Mr Cusack!</div>
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Tagline: This heist is about to go into overdrive</div>
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Cusack plays: Simon Keller</div>
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I think we have a contender. Yep, the highly coveted worst Cusack film category may have a new entry in the shape of Drive Hard. Even on seeing the trailer I knew this was gonna be a bad ‘un but I diligently made the popcorn and revved up the DVD player.<br />
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This is straight to DVD fare, that much is obvious from the get go. Despite the two leads (Cusack and Thomas Jane) being American it is set in Australia for no real reason, other than, I’m guessing they got some money or it was cheaper to make it there. This means the rest of the cast is comprised of no names (I didn’t even recognise anyone from Neighbours lurking in the background).
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The plot. Thomas Jane is a former race car driver who now works as a driving instructor. Turning up for work he find’s Cusack's Simon Keller waiting, in need of a driving lesson. Mid lesson Keller stops off to pop into the bank…..and rob it, turning Thomas Jane into his getaway driver. They drive HARD for a while as the plot, reasoning etc unfolds yadda yadda.
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The positives – Cusack has a few good lines and he hams it up/phones it in as the sort of villain of the film. He is the best thing in it, but there’s not a high bar set as some of the acting is piss poor. The bits in the car between Cusack and Jane are probably the best parts as their relationship develops from hostage situation to sort of buddies.<br />
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The negatives – tries to make what would be a serious and dangerous situation into something funny. Some films can deliver this slick jet black humour well, but alas this is not one of them. Jane’s wife and child react to his potential status as criminal/hostage/life in serious danger by running around laughing and accusing him of infidelity. Also, an old lady pops up with a gun and starts flipping the bird at people. Jolly japes? Not really, just head in hands cringe.<br />
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To take it to a cosmetic level, Cusack is not looking at his best in this film. He’s gaunt, wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses and sucking on a e-cigarette vaporizer throughout the whole thing. Such a badass.<br />
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You don’t have to watch this, I‘ve taken one for the team on this occasion.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-22511889986392537182014-11-30T18:08:00.000+00:002014-12-02T13:23:02.643+00:00Grand Piano (2013)<script type="text/javascript">
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Tagline: Play or die<br />
Cusack plays: Clem<br />
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From the trailers I've watched we're now moving into a fairly gun heavy phase of the Cusack Challenge...<br />
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Grand Piano is a Hitchcock inspired high suspense thriller, which sees concert pianist Tom (Elijah Wood) prepare to make his comeback after suffering stage fright and a breakdown in the past. His wife, friends and family assemble in the audience but moments before he begins he finds a note written on the sheet music - "Play one wrong note and you die" (DUM DUM DUMMM!)<br />
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The mysterious Clem is armed with a gun trained on him, and if he plays just one note wrong people are going to get hurt. Speaking to him through an ear piece he delivers his demands and starts to act on his threats as Tom tries to call for help.<br />
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Cusack is largely off screen in this role as the threatening voice, ably assisted by an accomplice (in the shape of Bill from Bill and Ted!). The film gallops along, and is a brisk 90 minutes running time (10 of which are pretty piano music over the credits), so it's a good pick when you don't have much time to fit in a film. However the speed with which they deal with some of the events and sorta silly reasoning for Cusack's demands, meant I had to go back and rewatch part of it.<br />
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So overall, nothing groundbreaking but certainly worth a watch.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-54956914278924002082014-10-03T22:48:00.000+01:002014-10-03T22:48:21.740+01:00Maps to the stars (2014)<script type="text/javascript">
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<b>Cusack plays:</b> Self-help guru type Dr Stafford Weiss</div>
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This was a double bill with the rather good <i class="yiv0060790772"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2267998/">Gone Girl</a> </i>so I had rather a lot of 18 rated cinematic action for one evening. This also meant sitting through two sets of trailers for horrible jumpy horror films with things like dolls coming to life in them.</div>
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This film might be tricky to review, as I didn’t know too much about the plot going in and I think that might be good for others too, to watch the madness unfold without much warning. So, it’s a David Cronenberg take on the nastiness that is Hollywood. His last few films haven’t been as shocking as some of his earlier stuff, but I would say this is more of a step back towards the shock factor – I’m sure you will both laugh and hide behind your fingers or turn away at certain parts.</div>
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Vague plot<span class="yiv0060790772"> </span>- Julianne Moore is a washed up former star, currently trying to revive her career by playing her own (now dead) actress mother in a new film. She hires a new assistant, who upon arriving in Tinseltown takes a ‘maps of the stars’ sort of tour with Limo driver Robert Pattinson.<span class="yiv0060790772"> </span>Moore (looking like an older Lindsay Lohan) tries to tackle her mommy and other issues by seeing Dr Stafford Weiss (Cusack), whose therapy seems to involve rubbing and massaging her problems out of her. That’s all I knew from reviews and all I think you need to know at this point, because the rest of it will reveal itself in both a humorous and horrifying fashion. I hadn't even seen the trailer (below), which like most trailers gives away far too much.<br />
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<a href="http://s59.photobucket.com/user/zippykins/media/Map-To-The-Stars.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Map-To-The-Stars.jpg" border="0" src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/Map-To-The-Stars.jpg" /></a>
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While I know bugger all about what Hollywood is actually like, this feels grubby enough to be close to the truth and there’s an in interesting mix of fictional characters (although no doubt heavily based on real people) and real famous people (Carrie Fisher cameos as herself and there are namedrops galore).<br />
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Cusack plays a complex, but ultimately fairly horrible man (he uses the C word! John!) and it’s definitely one of his best roles and films for a while. I thought it might just be a token small role but he gets a decent amount of screen time. He also wears glasses at one point. I like him in glasses.<br />
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<span class="yiv0060790772" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412371386713_2468" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8666667938232px;">Overall, I would recommend this film, but it does contain a fair bit about abuse and incest and there are some quite violent and gory parts. You have been warned.</span><br />
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<b>Tagline:</b> When life gets hard, rise to the occasion.</div>
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<b>Cusack plays:</b> Writer Rat Billings</div>
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This film is just so ‘meh’ that it’s taken me weeks to bother actually writing about it. Thank goodness I don’t write for a living – which is what the main character, Amy, aspires to do – and become a poet of great renown. Having left college mum and dad don’t want to finance the dream anymore so she has to find employment. Her place of work? Adult World – a rather old-school adult bookstore/ video rental type of shop. Meanwhile a chance meeting with one of her favourite writers (Cusack) leads her to attempt to shape a mentor/protégé type of relationship. Oh, and also there’s a sort of love story with one of the other shop staff.</div>
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There isn’t much to love about this film, unless you particularly identify with the lead character. I’m too old to feel any sympathy for her (just get a job and grow up hen) or enjoy any of the quirky little things like – the transvestite co-worker! The old people who own the shop! Learning life lessons! Zzzzz.<br />
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On the other hand it’s not so annoying that you really end up hating it. It just comes and goes, it’s pretty short and nothing terrible or dark happens. Blah. It’s all just…fine, yeah, whatever. And that extends to Cusack, I can’t imagine this was much of a stretch to act. I’m definitely past my ‘finding myself’ movie phase, but this might appeal to some teenagers and creative sorts out there.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6BpdW7Cvxno" width="560"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-76673944360445284932013-12-03T18:09:00.002+00:002013-12-03T18:09:51.940+00:00The Butler (2013)<a href="http://s59.photobucket.com/user/zippykins/media/TheButler.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo TheButler.jpg" border="0" src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/TheButler.jpg" /></a><br />
Tagline: One quiet voice can ignite a revolution<br />
Cusack plays: FREAKIN Richard Nixon<br />
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I can't believe I had to wait until I was 30 years old to see Oprah and Cusack in the same film. Alas they share no screen time but Lee Daniels I thank you for bringing them (sort of) together on the silver screen.<br />
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The Butler (Or 'Lee Daniel's The Butler' for US audiences) uses the titular character to follow various Presidents through the White House and explore the societal changes that take place over the years they are in office. The character (Cecil Gaines) is loosely based on a black man whose story was revealed in a magazine article a few years ago. Some liberties are taken and details of his life changed to spice things up a tad and elevate the DRAMA.<br />
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And this is a drama and a half. From the Cecil's start in life as a black slave on a cotton plantation who is taught to serve, eventually ends up at 1600 Pennslyvania Avenue during Eisenhower's spell in office, and stays until Reagan's reign. During that time he is the silent observer to the national crises such as JFK's assassination and then goes home to a family struggling with it's own issues, for example his son's involvement in the civil rights movement.<br />
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It would be quite easy to slate this but it's more of an audience than critic pleaser. I've heard comparisons with Forrest Gump which are fair, but hey, I also like that film. The acting is of the highest calibre, particularly Oprah Winfrey as the Butler's wife.<br />
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There is also some light hearted relief from Lenny Kravitz and Cuba Gooding Junior as Cecil's colleagues and watching big names slathered in make up and prosethetics to play the President. Cusack is only on screen 3 or 4 times and I think it's fair to say he looks bugger all like tricky Dicky, but he does get a awesome giant fake nose. Alan Rickman as Reagan looks a bit like a melting waxwork model but Jane Fonda makes for a good Nancy.<br />
<a href="http://s59.photobucket.com/user/zippykins/media/600butler.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 600butler.jpg" border="0" src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/600butler.jpg" /></a>
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Overall, I did enjoy this film. I wasn't quite caught up in sentimentality as much as other viewers judging by the sniffling and muffled sobs I heard towards the end. (The end has a massively crowd pleasing chuckle too). My only quibbles would be that Kravitz and Cuba Gooding Jnr seemed to work there even longer than Cecil Gaines as they were there when and he started and when he left - where's their recognition? Also poor old Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter are completely cut out.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DUA7rr0bOcc" width="560"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-58465338302108736212013-08-01T20:26:00.000+01:002015-12-22T15:00:09.822+00:00The Frozen Ground (2013)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/frozen_ground_ver2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/frozen_ground_ver2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Tagline: The hunter becomes the hunted</div>
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Cusack plays: Alaskan Serial Killer Robert Hansen</div>
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So here we go with the slightly scary real life story of Alaskan serial killer Robert Hansen and the attempts to bring him to justice. Hansen killed at least 17 women, and may be responsible for the deaths of many more. A keen hunter of animals he turned his evil eye and gun to women. One young prostitute manages to escape his clutches and detective Nicolas Cage decides to use her testimony to turn the tables on Hansen and bring him to justice.</div>
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Cage tones down his usual crazy tendencies and plays it straight, and Vanessa 'High School Muscial' Hudgens is prostitute Cindy Paulson, a part which requires quite a lot of sobbing, running around and generally being in peril (also, dancing about in her pants). And so to Cusack, turning in a fairly scary performance as the family man with a dark past and present. A creepy dude indeed, but i did like his glasses.</div>
<a href="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/John-Cusack-in-The-Frozen-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/John-Cusack-in-The-Frozen-001.jpg" /></a>
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The period setting of 1983 doesn't make too much of a difference to things, although we do glimpse a giant mobile car phone and a very dodgy hairdo on 50 Cent (playing Hudgen's pimp). However, the film crew didn't may due attention to removing all signs that this was filmed in the present day - my eagle eyed cinema going companion spied a Trip Advisor (founded 2000) sticker in one scene.<br />
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At times I found some of the events repetitive and a little irritating - why is that person running away again? they would be much safer if they stayed put etc- but as it's based on a true story I suppose it's hard to quibble with things people genuinely did.<br />
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Overall, a decent film, telling an interesting story with a good, if a little terrifying performance from Cusack.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/GZSo12hMuKE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<a href="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/6196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/6196.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Tagline:</b> The Code
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Cusack and Akerman turn up for work one day - all
is not well and people start shooting at them – what follows is them listening
back to the recording of the last shift, and trying to piece together what’s
going on and undo the wrongs that have been done – <b>spoiler</b> – essentially someone sending out some unauthorized
lists of numbers which translate to orders to kill people. </div>
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If you
like guns, lists of numbers and people using words like 'cypher' you will be all over this bad boy. And for the
rest of you, I wouldn’t bother unless I have somehow made that synopsis sound tantalising. Cusack
and Akerman's acting talents probably elevate this slightly
above other similar films, and they both enjoy a lot of screen time as we don’t
see too many other characters, especially when they are in the bunker. Having been binge watching Game of Thrones of late
though I did notice ‘Married to her Dad’ Gilly near the start and "Onion Knight" Davos as one of
Cusack’s fellow agents.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Looking ahead, this weekend sees the release of <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2005374/">The Frozen Ground</a></i> where Cusack plays a serial killer. I have to say I’m pretty tired of
seeing him play killers and cops though so looking forward to “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1327773/">The Butler</a>” where he
plays Richard Nixon…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4bigClSQWNs" width="560"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-45141542146359538202013-07-12T10:55:00.000+01:002016-12-29T17:47:16.176+00:00The Factory (2012)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/The-Factory-DVD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/The-Factory-DVD.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<b>Tagline: </b>'<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12pt;">Based
on actual events'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Cusack plays:</b> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12pt;">detective
Mike Fletcher</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Not
a biopic of Andy Warhol’s studio, the factory in this case is a
baby making factory. A crazy dude is picking up prostitutes, taking
them back to his and them impregnating them and making him call him
‘daddy’. Oh goody.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">As
cop Mike, Cusack has been on the case for a while along with his
partner Kelsey (Jennifer ‘Deb from Dexter’ Carpenter) when it
gets personal after ‘daddy’ kidnaps his teenage daughter.
Daughter is not a hooker but sort of gets mistaken for one and
taken. <i>Taken</i>, incidentally being a far superior film if
you're in the mood for a man looking for his kidnapped daughter.
Anyway, I digress.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">This
is a just about passable, if very predictable watch. There are some
big ‘reveals’ but you will likely see them coming a mile off.
Cusack is looking good with a nice full head of hair and some super
big black coats and leather gloves for investigating. It has a nice
gruesome start when crazy killer Gary accidentally picks up a
transsexual prostitute who is of no use to him and disposes of them
accordingly.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">The
film claims to be ‘based on true events’. Can’t find any real
proof of this after a quick google but I suppose there have been a
few cases where girls have been kidnapped and impregnated by their
captor. Probably not the taking-the-cops-daughter-by-accident though.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-52729652322189831172013-04-22T13:39:00.001+01:002013-04-22T13:39:50.525+01:00The Paperboy (2012)<script type="text/javascript">
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<a href="http://s59.photobucket.com/user/zippykins/media/the-paperboy-movie-poster.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo the-paperboy-movie-poster.jpg" border="0" src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/the-paperboy-movie-poster.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<b>Cusack plays:</b> Death row inmate Hillary Van Wetter<br />
<br />
Here I am making my yearly return to my blog to post the latest Cusack film review. And Blogger has changed and looks different, argh. But anyway -<br />
<br />
The Paperboy, based on a 1990s novel of the same name, is a warm film. Not warm in a a family friendly Christmassy huggy way, but warm, like sticky and hot, dripping with sweat. I went to see it on one of those evenings in Edinburgh where it was snowing every night so it felt odd sitting there in my wellies while Zac Efron pranched about in his pants in a sweaty Southern 1960s summer. If Zac Efron in his pants is something that interests you, seek this film out immediately - it happens a lot.<br />
<br />
The plot - The titular paperboy refers to Efron, college drop out delivering papers, while Matthew McConaughey is his investigative reporter older brother who returns to town to look into the case of death row inmate Cusack, a bad guy for sure, but did he really do the murderous crime? While banged up he has begun a letter writing romance and pledged marriage to trashy Nicole Kidman. The film follows the efforts to exonorate Cusack while Efron falls hard for Kidman.<br />
<br />
This film seems to have received seriously varied views suggesting its an acquired taste - and dependent on how much you like the trashier bits (eg Kidman peeing on the jellyfish stung Efron, Kidman and Cusack dirty talking across the prison visiting room) and alligators being sliced open and their guts flying everywhere. Me? I sort of enjoyed it, but am not in a rush to rewatch.<br />
<br />
Ned Bellamy pops up again, which must surely now make him Cusack's most frequent co-star. Next in the challenge? <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000131/">Imdb</a> suggests we are in for a ropey looking thriller and Cusack playing another murderer..<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Um-JcpaEwEo" width="560"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-51451489506675931902012-03-16T14:33:00.002+00:002016-12-29T17:20:48.813+00:00The Raven (2012)<div style="text-align: center;">
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Over 150 years after his death at the age of 40 mystery still surrounds the death and last days of American author and poet Edgar Allan Poe. This film imagines what might have happened if he'd spent his final days chasing a serial killer around Baltimore who is chopping up and murdering people in the style of some of his stories. The hunt is given extra urgency when Poe's ladyfriend is abducted and imprisoned by aforementioned nutter.</div>
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At just under 2 hours it still felt a bit like it was dragging in parts, and while I won't be adding it to the DVD collection I would probably watch it again in the future. Lots of British actors feature, including (hold onto your hats ladies of a certain age) Mr Bates from <i>Downton Abbey</i>. Cusack drops some weight and gets a reasonably dashing 'tache and goatee, and turns in what I deem a respectable performance.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-27788047458558666242012-02-15T21:05:00.002+00:002012-02-15T21:24:53.428+00:00Shanghai (2010)<script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ?"https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-15426815-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/?action=view&current=220px-Shanghai_poster.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/220px-Shanghai_poster.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div><br /><b>Tagline:</b> In a world filled with secrets, solving a mystery can be murder.<br /><b>Cusack plays:</b> Secret agent/journalist Paul Soames<br /><br />I'm back! Over a year since my last review I have returned to the Cusack Challenge as there are new films to be watched. And even though I've been away its good to know some things never change - Cusack will be there playing a writer, in a suit, standing in the rain. Starting to wonder if these things are contractual...<br /><br /><a href="http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/?action=view&current=VIDEO-Shanghai-John-Cusack-en-1941_image_article_paysage_new.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/VIDEO-Shanghai-John-Cusack-en-1941_image_article_paysage_new.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Shanghai sees Cusack's Paul Soames travelling to Shanghai ("the Paris of the Orient") in the months before Pearl Harbour, initially planning to meet up with a friend/fellow naval intelligence agent, but upon hearing of the friend's murder starts digging into who did it and why. Working undercover as a journalist (his editor being the Earl of Grantham from Downton Abbey!) he falls in with local crime lord (Chow Yun-Fat) and his wife (Gong Li). Tensions rise both personally and politically...</div><div><br /></div><div>This film seems to be aiming for a detective/crime/noir from the 40s or 50s vibe, down to the Cusack voiceover - "Connor was a lot of things, but he wasn't a fool". It's partially successful - I wasn't sure where the plot was going - problem being I didn't really care all that much either. Things only get really entertaining in the last 20 or so minutes when the action is ramped up and the guns , explosions and scenes in the rain kick in.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dvpAdG54fZM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Would I recommend you see it? Nope, not really...</div><div><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-23489883266440667562010-12-05T17:46:00.004+00:002016-12-29T17:22:02.382+00:00The best and worst<div>
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<i>"I won? Yay, me".</i></div>
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1. <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/08/high-fidelity-2000.html">High Fidelity</a> - For me, his most iconic role to date. And its a top 5, so, duh.<br />
2. <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/06/grosse-pointe-blank-1997.html">Grosse Point Blank</a> - The one that got me hooked, and where he looks the most handsome.<br />
3. <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/08/being-john-malkovich-1999.html">Being John Malkovich</a> - Fabulously original and playing against type.<br />
4, <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/say-anything-1989.html">Say Anything</a> - So sweet.<br />
5. <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/06/con-air-1997.html">Con Air</a> - So. Much. Fun.<br />
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1. <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/09/must-love-dogs-2005.html">Must Love Dogs</a> - for oh so many reasons<br />
2. <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/tapeheads-1988.html">Tapeheads</a> - badly dated<br />
3. <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/11/war-inc-2008.html">War Inc</a> - utterly wasted opportunity<br />
4. <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2009/12/one-crazy-summer-1986.html">One Crazy Summer</a> - comedy lacking in funny<br />
5. <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/elvis-stories-1989.html">Elvis Stories</a> - I never need to see this again<br />
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The guilty pleasure - <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/08/serendipity-2001.html">Serendipity</a><br />
The one that made me cry - <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/09/grace-is-gone-2007.html">Grace is Gone</a><br />
The underrated (or unheard of?) one - <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/07/jack-bull-1999.html">The Jack Bull</a><br />
The one that I just don't seem to like as much as other people - <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/grifters-1990.html">The Grifters</a><br />
The one that I never pictured him doing, but loved it anyway - <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/11/hot-tub-time-machine-2010.html">Hot Tub Time Machine</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-22747020728326100602010-11-20T12:05:00.005+00:002012-02-15T21:37:51.931+00:00Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)<a href="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/Hot-Tub-Time-Machine_510.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 319px;" src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/Hot-Tub-Time-Machine_510.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tagline:</span> Kick Some Past<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cusack Plays:</span> Adam, recently dumped 40-something<br /><br />So I made it. 50+ Cusack films, done and dusted. And pretty much exactly within a year. Woop.<br /><br />A fun note to finish on with a time travelling hot tub comedy. 3 friends, plus Cusack's nephew, depressed with their lives in 2010 go on a holiday to re-live the fun ski-trips of their youth. A drunken night where they all pile into the hot tub, a Russian energy drink spilled on the controls, and they're back in 1986.<br /><br />I was pretty excited when I learned of the existence of this film, and regularly checked for updated trailers. The moment I saw Craig Robinson say "Must be some kind of hot tub time machine" and stare into the camera, I was sold. The 1980s is ripe for mocking and the laugh ratio is pretty high, and although there is some room for improvement I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. If there is a straight guy/everyman it's probably Cusack (what a surprise) and the characters played by Craig Robinson and Rob Corddy get most of the laughs. It manages to be quite crude, and yet rather feelgood come the end.<br /><br /><a href="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/hot-tub-time-machine.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/hot-tub-time-machine.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Hot Tub Time Machine has high re-watch factor in my opinion - perhaps it will be coming along on my ski holiday next month...<br /><br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fMibL8R4Isw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br />Still to come....reflections on the Challenge...<br /><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ?"https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-15426815-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-23012579811708621862010-11-16T20:11:00.005+00:002016-12-29T17:23:29.338+00:002012 (2009)<a href="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/2012-poster-6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/2012-poster-6.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 215px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tagline:</span> We were warned<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Cusack plays:</span> Writer/Limo Driver Jackson Curtis (50 Cent's real name backwards!)<br />
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2012 - the year the world will end, some say, according to the Mayan calendar. Perfect disaster film fodder. And they really go for it in tearing the world to bits, although I remember the special effects looking a lot better on the cinema screen that watching at home. Its also the film where John Cusack gets to save (some of) humanity, as a failed writer working as a limo driver for a Russian billionaire and his beastly fat children. A chance encounter with crazy conspiracy theorist Woody Harrelson, means he realises whats going down and grabs the family and a plane to get the hell out of dodge.<br />
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There are good bits - the epic distruction! - and it functions pretty well as an action film. But there are also bad bits - distractions like a blonde bimbo and her dog and two old guys on a cruise ship. We also get the fabulous line from a pilot: "Come on baby, lift your pretty ass for Sasha!".<br />
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<a href="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/2012_movie_still_john_cusack.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/2012_movie_still_john_cusack.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 179px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 319px;" /></a>And becuase JC likes to revist roles, this is his second time playing a limo driver in a film with Amanda Peet (<span style="font-style: italic;">Identity</span>) and at least his third time playing a writer. Obviously he gets soaking wet, what with the world as we know it ending.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Did you know?</span> This film is appararently banned in North Korea as 2012 is the year designated by the Government for the nation to become a superpower.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-30726589472967605142010-11-11T19:26:00.006+00:002012-02-15T21:02:40.246+00:00Igor (2008)<a href="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/igor_finalteaser-28229.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 319px;" src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/igor_finalteaser-28229.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tagline:</span> All men are not created Evil.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cusack plays:</span> The voice of Igor<br /><br />In this second of two animated outings the voice of Cusack is the hunchbacked lab assistant to an evil scientist with ambitions of his own. When his master dies this Igor (the generic name for them) seizes the chance to enter the annual Evil Science Fair with a fabulous invention.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/2008_igor_003.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/2008_igor_003.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>It's an enthusiastic vocal performace and the plot and script has enough appeal for both a 27 year old and someone 20 years younger (or is it a little too dark for a 7 year old?). Dr Schadenfraude, the kingdom of Malaria...there are some laughs to be had, although its a bit Tim Burton-lite.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SrSX8NYN2x4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ?"https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-15426815-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-43252550678854176842010-11-02T19:26:00.004+00:002010-11-02T21:36:28.595+00:00War Inc (2008)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/war-inc-uk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 319px;" src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/war-inc-uk.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tagline:</span> When it comes to war...America means business<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cusack Plays:</span> Brand Hauser<br /><br />There are some links to <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/06/grosse-pointe-blank-1997.html">Grosse Point Blank</a> in <span style="font-style: italic;">War Inc</span> - Joan Cusack and Dan Aykroyd appearing alonside Cusack's suited killer for hire. Thats really where the similarities end, and the former, fabulous film shouldn't really be mentioned in the same breath as this.<br /><br />A political satire which sees a Middle Eastern country run by private American corporations, with Cusack brought in to kill a big wig in the oil industry. His cover is as a producer of a trade show featuring the wedding of pop star Hilary Duff. Brand Hauser also has a penchant for drinking hot sauce, and a troubled past, including a dead wife. At this rate I should create a tag for that...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/war__inc_movie_image_john_cusack__3_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 213px;" src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/war__inc_movie_image_john_cusack__3_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Now I find the privatisation of war an interesting topic, but sadly it did not make for an entertaining and engaging film. Disappointing.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qSiDZNHo4cA?fs=1&hl=en_GB&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qSiDZNHo4cA?fs=1&hl=en_GB&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ?"https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-15426815-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-56220575768212281202010-10-23T18:36:00.003+01:002010-10-23T18:46:25.408+01:00Summerhood (2008)So I must admit partial defeat on this one, as I haven't seen it and am unlikely to anytime soon. I'm saying only partial defeat though because this film hasn't actually had a proper release and has only shown at film festivals. Also, he's the uncredited narrator, so not actually appearing in it.<br /><br />I wil endeavor to watch it though if it ever gets a proper release. Here's the trailer:<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KR3ss33Wp6A?fs=1&hl=en_GB&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KR3ss33Wp6A?fs=1&hl=en_GB&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ?"https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-15426815-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456702311022485376.post-18142195761225178052010-10-23T17:53:00.005+01:002010-10-23T18:36:36.477+01:00Martian Child (2007)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/Martian-Child.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 319px;" src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/Martian-Child.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tagline:</span> Some fathers and sons grow up together.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cusack Plays:</span> Science fiction writer David Gordon<br /><br />Yet another dead wife scenario, as widower writer David decides to adopt a child. That child turns out to be Dennis, a weird little guy who sits in a box all day, claims to be from Mars and wears a belt of batteries to ensure he doesn't float away. Yes its a PG family film all about 'belonging' and 'finding your place'.<br /><br />I wasn't really rushing to watch this one and had the dvd sitting out for a while. Its all very tame stuff, but putting my cynicism aside it made for an bearable Saturday afternoon watch while doing some ironing. The Cusack siblings team up again to play brother and sister, in a story based on a novel, itself based on a real experience. Although in real life it was a gay writer adopting a son - changing the character's sexuality apparantly caused a bit of bother.<br /><br /><a href="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/martian_child_movie_image_bobby_coleman_john_cusack.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/zippykins/martian_child_movie_image_bobby_coleman_john_cusack.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The kid is ok, despite being one of the annoying ones from <a href="http://cusackchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/09/must-love-dogs-2005.html">Must Love Dogs</a>, and whispering all the time. In fact a lot of this film is <span style="font-style: italic;">softly spoken</span>.<br /><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/poQhUfCNZ2g?fs=1&hl=en_GB&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/poQhUfCNZ2g?fs=1&hl=en_GB&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ?"https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script><script type="text/javascript">try {var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-15426815-1");pageTracker._trackPageview();} catch(err) {}</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577852080486999963noreply@blogger.com2