21 Jump Street

In 2005, super jock Jenko (Channing Tatum) and uber-nerd Schmidt (Jonah Hill) are high school seniors with nothing in common.  Years later they meet up at the Police Academy and decide to join forces in order to pass their exams.  Once they graduate, they are assigned bike patrol at a local park.  It is here they attempt to thwart a drug deal and their efforts go horribly wrong.  A re-assignment sends them to 21 Jump Street where they learn they are to pose as high schoolers to infiltrate and crack a school drug ring.

Yes another dreaded re-make of an '80s TV show.  Surprise!  This movie is hysterical!!  We laughed from beginning to end and had a thoroughly enjoyable viewing experience.

Phil Lord and Chris Miller keep the direction and action fast-paced.  The screenplay is cleverly self-deprecating:  the movie opens up with the film logo "Original Films;" the cop who reassigns them says that the program was something they tried in the '80s and no one could come up with an original idea; and there are cameos from Holly Robinson Peete, Peter DeLuise, and, yes, Johnny Depp. 

What makes the movie work is the chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum.  Who knew Tatum was such a comedic actor?!  Their comedic timing is completely in sync and flawless, most notably in the extended sequence where they are forced to take the drug and begin to trip out in the school hallway, running field, and band room.  And although it is one of the funniest pairings in recent memory, they also bring a tenderness to the story as they begin to bond more and more like brothers.

Other cast members include Ice Cube as their put-upon Captain and Dave Franco (James' younger brother) as the atypical (he's eco-friendly and vegan) drug dealer

One warning...this movie has the most "dick" jokes I've ever heard in a movie and some subtle ones at that; there is an on-going gag concerning explosions and when one finally occurs a truckload of roosters is blown up!  And let's not forget their Captain's name is Dickson.

This movie has to be the most surprising movie of the Spring season.  What could have been derivative and humorless arrives as the break-out comedy so far this year!  Highly recommended!

Why I didn't post this year's Oscars

Everyone has been asking me what I thought of this years Oscars.  I didn't post, since it's now over two weeks since the awards were announced..and here is why...

Personally, I thought it was a good show..concise, to the point, and within the time allotment.  My problem is that the Oscars have become superfluous.  Thanks to the internet, Entertainment Weekly, The AV Club (a website I highly recommend), and others, the show has lost its enticement.  When I was young, a movie would be nominated for an Academy Award, and that would be a reason to see it.  Now, by the time the nominations are announced, we already know who won the Golden Globe, the Screen Actors Guild, the New York (and every other major city in America) Film Critic's award, the Independent Spirit Award, and even the Razzie Awards.

However, since you're waiting with baited breath..here are my thoughts:

I'm extremely thrilled that two of my favorite movies of 2011 split the major awards:  "Hugo" and "The Artist."  Both were homages to the era of silent film, and both were fantastic.  "Hugo" won the technical awards (cinematography, art direction, sound mixing, sound effects, and visual effects) while "The Artist" won a mixture of technical and major awards (score, costume, director, actor, and picture.)  As I said in previous blogs:  "Hugo" was the most beautiful movie of the year and "The Artist" will have you leaving the theater with a smile on your face and tapping you feet. (Side note..haven't blogged about "Hugo" yet..guess you know what will be in the future..)

Also, I was ecstatic for the animated short win.."The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore."   Loved this short!!  I hope it will be available on dvd..and it was another homage to old films!

Biggest surprise?  Meryl Streep for best actress for "The Iron Lady."  I have not seen this film, but I think it's another problem with the Oscars....the sympathy vote.  It's been done time and time again... Julia Roberts "Erin Brokovich" over Ellen Burstyn "Requiem for a Dream"..('well, Julia's been making money for us and Ellen already has one for "Alice Dosesn't Live Here Anymore."')...Judy Densch "Shakespeare In Love" over Lynn Redgrave "Gods and Monsters," .....and the most egregious...Roberto Benigni "Life is Beautiful" over Ian McKellen "Gods and Monsters."  (Guess I know what movie I need to add to CinaJim's pics!)

I Love Meryl..have been a fan since the '70's when I first saw her on a PBS play "Uncommon Women and Others."  She is our greatest living actress.  She has been nominated 17 times and has not won since "Sophie's Choice"...14 nominations ago.  Sorry..I wanted to see " The Help"... Viola Davis accept best actress along with Octavia Spencer (who won best supporting actress.)

And I also have to raise a pint to Robert Sherman, who passed this week.  I was unhappy about the "song" nominations this year; why has the Academy turned this into a blah category when we had the Sherman brothers give us the most wonderful songs of our childhood...two Oscars for "Mary Poppins"... (score and song "Chim Chim Cher-ee"), one of my favorite scores, "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," and so many more...
We will remember the Sherman brothers songs for a long time....so, what won this year?  or last year?  or the year before?

So, I am finished rambling..(well almost, that Cirque Du Soliel thing was cool..but what the hell did that have to do with the Oscars?  And what was up with the lame "In Memorium" this year?!?)

Yes, I will continue to have "Oscar Night" as an event in my life, but I will be more critical of it.  Guess the next blog will be a "CinaJim Pic."  Keep it reel everyone!