FRED Entertainment

By Christopher Stipp

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I was able to sit down for a couple of years and pump out a book. It’s got little to do with movies. Download and read “Thank You, Goodnight” right HERE for free.

McCafe MY Day

How often have I asked anything of you? Not much, not many, not very often.

I need something from many of you: votes.

What’s in it for you is lots and lots and lots of movies and, if I actually win this thing, 15 films.

What happened was that I was futzing at home on my computer one afternoon after hearing that McDonald’s was going to be entering the coffee market. I don’t like coffee, I eschew everything coffee, I can’t relate to anyone anywhere when they talk about their morning fix and I certainly don’t understand the long queues that build up for people waiting in line to get that brown beverage.

But what I can and do love is my iced mochas.

That’s a drink I understand kicking down a door to get at if the time’s right.

So, I found out that McDonald’s was offering iced mochas and a short time after I procured one I entered their McCafeYourDay contest. The contest wanted to know why you deserved to have your day, essentially, made better with $50,000.

Well, I was coming off some fairly heady financial woes, those of you who have been affected by the recession know how much this thing has messed around with more than just one aspect of your life, and just wrote a passionate mini-missive about why I thought I deserved to win. They wanted a picture to go along with it and I uploaded one at the same time when I entered.

I forgot about the contest a couple weeks after sending my entry in. Didn’t even give it a second thought.

Lo and behold, a couple of weeks ago I received a FedEx in the mail letting me know I was a finalist in this contest. I had forgotten about what the prize was, forgotten about what I wrote and, just a few days ago, was on a call letting me know that my story was was going to compete with 4 others at Mcdonaldsmccafeyourday.com. I was just as shocked as anyone and was caught completely unaware that I even made it through the gauntlet of over 12,000 people who entered this contest.

Voting goes from now until July 26th and you can use every e-mail in your arsenal once every 24 hours. The longer version of my story will be up at azcentral.com this weekend and I’ll be profiled in the local Scottsdale Republic here if you happen to live in the Scottsdale area. It’s a sappy story, one that’s a little too sensitive for me to copy and paste in here but here is what I want to offer anyone who is willing to toss a few votes my way.

I am giving away a cinematic cavalcade of DVDs to one person who can send me a screenshot of their vote confirmation from their e-mail box. I will enter every screenshot for a drawing to get this pile. There is incentive galore at your fingertips so I hope if you have a church group, a room full of shut-ins with access to a computer or an honest way of spreading the word I will not only appreciate it but I will reward the effort with a glorious compendium of free movies.

Go straight here (http://www.mcdonaldsmccafeyourday.com/) and help me win this thing. Even if you think I suck, shoot a vote my way and help out the cause, please?

Again, I don’t ask much but I’m just looking for a vote. After you read the entry you’ll see what you would be helping to do.

If you win the bushel of movies here is what’s included in the bonanza:

DEATH RACE 2000, BLINDNESS, THE MUMMY 3, PINOCCHIO on Blu-ray, BOLT, WALL-E, CAPRICA, BURN AFTER READING, THE MINDSCAPE OF ALAN MOORE, A GALAXY FAR FAR AWAY, ROLE MODELS, WANTED, CHOCOLATE, SWING VOTE and HELLBOY II.

Good luck to everyone…

COMIC-CON – 2009

So, who’s going next week? I know many of you are planning to descend on the land that is known for its temperate climate and willingness to let hoards of geeks and nerds pick apart San Diego in a frenzy that only would have heightened my sense of geekery had I started attending when I was 13.

Alas, I was in my late 20’s before I went to my very first one and this year celebrates my 6th straight year going to this cavalcade of comics and cinema. Those of you who are going, and have gone before, know what a violent ride we’re all in for as no one is safe from the “red shirts” of Elite Security who seem to know nothing more than their name, their hair color and that, “You can’t enter here!” Even someone like me, who is already being left off the lists of many events where the mighty will mingle I am just happy to be getting the drippings from the table.

Focus Features, it should be yelled from the mountaintops, are one of the studios who I love, love, love working with at the Comic-Con. They may concern themselves with wondering whether you’re worthy enough to be talking to those they’re bringing to the Con but from getting invited to a cocktail party to help spread the awareness of their film 9 to getting invited to the screening of their new film THIRST to getting a Comic-Con Survival kit in the mail and then following that up with this rather large pouch of simulated blood (one of the best promo items I’ve seen this year) I can’t say enough about this studio who really does have a human touch.

I am still unsure of what I’ll be doing while there, I got confirmation of a possible 1:1 with a director that many of you would dig to read about, a 1:1 with some people who have a film this year that I’ve heard is completely and homogeneously great and a handful of other things that still haven’t been finalized yet. As we head closer just pay attention to my Twitter feed, @Stipp, to see what and where I’ll be.

So, don’t be shy! Shoot me a note and let me know if you’ll be around…

Plus, be sure to stop by Geek Monthly’s booth, 4112. Geek Monthly will be running a piece I did on the John Hughes documentary you’ve seen here in their August issue.

Thanks to Ed Douglas of ComingSoon.net for supplying the photo of his own pouch of Capri-Sun blood.

FUNNY PEOPLE – SCREENING

Many of you in Phoenix and beyond who have been hitting me up for screening passes have been just great in showing up and enjoying these films. Since the response has been so good on my end in getting these tickets out to those who love a good free film I once again have passes to see a sneak preview.

This time it’s FUNNY PEOPLE, starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen, and the screening will be Tuesday, July 28th at 7:00 p.m. at Tempe Marketplace in Tempe, AZ. If you’re interested in seeing this film hit me up at Christopher_Stipp@yahoo.com and just let me know you want tickets. It’s just that simple and I hope to see you there. For those who need a synopsis, here it is:

Over the past few years, writer/director Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up) has shown that nothing – not even losing your virginity or the miracle of childbirth – is sacred. About his third film behind the camera, he says, “I’m trying to make a very serious movie that is twice as funny as my other movies. Wish me luck!” Apatow directs Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann in Funny People, the story of a famous comedian who has a near-death experience.

Adam Sandler, Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman, RZA and newcomer Aubrey Plaza join a cast that reunites Judd Apatow with Seth Rogen, Leslie Man and Jonah Hill in their third comedy together.

HURT LOCKER/LIGHTBULB – REVIEWS

Summer of our Discontent ““ Maybe

Has the droning of explosives and colliding metal have you down yet? Why are so many movie previews starting to look the same with hard driving soundtracks, jacked up heroes that have less personality than a Ken doll without a thought behind their dialogue and special effects that are no longer special ““ merely hum-drum ““ attempting to maintain an artificial heartbeat in a DOA story? You cannot blame it all on the Peter Pan prone movie executives and filmmakers that have not matured since the age of 12. Part of the blame is on the movie-going audience that insists on getting suckered in on what they think is going to be special. The marketing and commercial community has finally taken over the entertainment industry by parlaying crap on a stick and making so many think it is steak on fine china. If that was not enough, now we are about to be inundated with 3D kiddie-fare; some computer animation is getting as mundane as President Obama’s stand-up routines.

I defy anybody to come out of a set of previews from “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (By “Fallen” does that mean the money out of our pockets and our hopes for a better movie?), G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra, Terminator Salvation, Gamer and X Men Origins: Wolverine and tell me they don’t all look like the same movie. It is homogenized action without a thought of creativity and depth.

Then there is the promise of action with two great stars and a hit-and-miss director at the helm of, “Public Enemies”. First off, why would anybody cast Johnny Depp as John Dillinger? Would it not make more sense to have him portray “Pretty Boy” Floyd or “Baby Face” Nelson in a different movie? And, did we not just see this story from a less than enthusiastic film, but with at least two bravura performances, Sean Connery and Robert DeNiro? If you can’t do better than the last film ““ don’t even bother. Speaking of which, “Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3” is leaving theaters faster than a speeding subway. Also, below ground and already buried is the absent of laughs comedies “Year One” and “Land of the Lost”. Why does Jack Black insist on undermining himself after gaining our trust with “Tropic Thunder”? The Harold Ramis moaner is more slap-dash than “Mel Brook’s History of the World Part 1” and “Caveman” with far less entertainment value. I’d say wait for the DVD, but I would not suggest wasting one’s time even if it were on free cable. As for “LOTL” no “lol” here, just stupid jokes with dinosaurs that are far less entertaining than the ones in “Ice Age” ““ a bad TV show made into a worse movie.

If there is a glimmer of hope and a reason to get your butt back in a theater seat it began with J.J. Abrams’ re-imagining of “Star Trek”. For all those non-Trekkies, which I can be included, my wife who stays away from anything science fiction ““ especially “Star Trek” ““ actually enjoyed the movie. If you are not a fan, it’s almost as much fun as having seen “Star Wars” for the first time. If you are a fan ““ it’s the wet dream you’ve been waiting for. Following the fun of it all is another Pixar great, “Up” and that’s exactly how one feels coming out. This may be the very best yet from Pixar. For those opposed to “cartoons” it’s time to have an open mind and treat yourself to one of the most lovingly created stories that will have you laugh as well as cry. Even my 15-year-old shed a tear, and that’s a first in a movie. It is wildly creative and may rank up there with, I dare say, “Wizard of Oz”.
As for laughs, “The Hangover” has caught everyone by surprise including myself with a great cast of characters and comic timing that has some doubled-over hysterical. It’s refreshing to go into a comedy and laughing nearly all the way through rather than just walking out with a memorable scene or two ““ kinda like having the experience of buying a CD of your favorite band and only getting two or three worthwhile songs. Speaking of memorable, “the stripper with the heart of gold” is given genuine warmth with an engaging performance by Heather Graham. The Tyson scene is not as much fun as expected, but the rest of the hijinks more than makes up for it, especially the ending with some of the raunchiest, but flat-out funny pictures I’ve seen in years. The film proves to be another hit for director Todd Phillips of “Old School”.

A Hell Lot of Hurtin’ Goin’ On

That’s more than enough commentary, now for a review or two owed to you. If there is one movie that will take you places few ever do and leave you exhausted, yet wanting more it is Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker”. What “The Wrestler” did for Mickey Rourke, “THL” should do for Bigelow. After seeing this monumental achievement of guts, glory, action/drama mixed with a little testosterone humor you may walk away shaken and wondering where on earth has the real Bigelow been. After blowing everyone away with one of the very best vampire films ever, “Near Dark,” Bigelow went on to empty-headed action with “Blue Steel” and “Point Break”. She showed some promise with “K-19: The Widowmaker,” but now, 20+ years later, she proves to be that force to be reckoned with once again with her latest thought-provoking venture into knee-jerking suspense.

THL chronicles the life and death struggles of a bomb disposal unit in Iraq while also giving us a glimpse not only of the unnerving ticking of bombs, but inside the head of the highly-trained men that risk their lives every moment of every day. Talk about adrenalin junkies. Bigelow displays what we’ve turned these boys into and what little they may have to look forward to as they come back home”¦if ever. In that sense, the film nearly echoes the sensitivity of “The Deer Hunter” yet Bigelow is far subtler in her message. The real shell shock of this story is not only does the director make you feel like you’re in Iraq through her documentary-style take, but also ups the ante with freestyle kills. No one is safe in “The Hurt Locker,” not even our lead. I don’t think I’ve been this surprised about characters dying in a film since Hitchcock’s, “Psycho”. This leaves us on edge at every unsettling empty garbage-ridden street, deserted building and even child that may appear to be a friendly street urchin hawking chocolates and DVDs.

This is not a one-note movie ““ just waiting for the next bomb to be discovered. In fact, the first scene is so meticulously set up, one begins to wonder, “Have we just seen the best part?’ It’s one showstopper after another coupled with layers of sub-stories. How dangerous is Staff Sgt. William James to his men? How far will the men back him or will they follow through on plans to kill him so they may save themselves? Who will survive the next day out? Is their life after war and what is it worth? How well can one operate after an all-night drinking binge? What is the value of human life? The list goes on and on.

All the performances are natural and lend credence of realism that few movies match these days. From the street urchin and his adult partner to Anthony Mackie’s strong play-by-the-rules Sgt. Sanborn. The players almost come across organic with the story itself with one exception, Jeremy Renner’s bravado performance of Staff Sgt. William James. Can we say a star is born? His persona captures a cross between a young Alan Ladd and John Wayne. Yet he is able to show a vulnerable side that takes us by surprise. Dare I even say that Renner’s performance will probably prove to be one of the breakout performances of the year? He exudes a charisma rarely seen in film today and infuses it with a natural performance that goes way beyond action hero just like the way Bigelow has orchestrated her film.

This is the “must see” film of the summer. It has all the action one desires out of a summer movie and a great story that captivates us from start to finish. Bigelow, the crew and the cast are to be lauded for a film that may not be as big as “Apocalypse Now” or “The Deer Hunter” but has all the power packed in its small frame. It’s also a testament to our men and women in the Middle East. I encourage anyone 15 and older to see this intense portrait of war.

Speaking of urging one to catch great work”¦

Phoenix Film Festival: Gamer Dysfunction, Breakfast Club Meets Clerks, and a Bright Idea From a Couple of Dim Bulbs

When I last reported on this site, I happen to mention I would finish up my take on a few other gems from the Phoenix Film Festival. I find it sad that so many turds have made their way to the screen with marketing budgets that nearly rival the film itself while smaller and vastly more entertaining fare has been virtually ignored. I guess it’s the way of the business ““ a fine female body draped over a motorcycle and nondescript machinery plowing into one another over a down-to-earth story that could actually makes us feel human again.

While at the festival I had the pleasure of checking out the feature film competition. A combination of quirks, jerks and even Turks. The funny thing is that the titles of some of the better films (and the winner of best picture) were less than enthusiastic. Even the posters were dull and the synopses in the program did not make one want to run out and buy a ticket. Perhaps that’s why some of these features were pleasant surprises, but marketing really needs to step it up a notch or two.

First off, “Corpse Run” the trials and tribulations of a group of dysfunctional gamers and the individual among them that starts to question who, what and where they are. Think of “The Big Chill” fast-forwarded to the age of gamers. It’s an interesting premise that is not as slick as TBC, but has something to say for those then and now. It’s generation gamer angst and if you are a gamer, which there is a whole generation of, you are likely to pick up on the flippant jargon far easier than most.

John-Michael Thomas (writer/director) plays Nick, the young man questioning life outside the box. He opens with a chronicle of how he and his generation became hooked on this alternative, and to some preferable, lifestyle. It’s amusing to see the evolution from the game of “Pong” to “Atari” “Nintendo” and beyond. How the invention of video games has captured a generation while creating a barrier nearly sheltering themselves from real people and emotions can be fascinating. But I have to admit; this reviewer’s age may have caught up with him and the fact that I never went any further than an hour with the game “Diablo”. Perhaps this is why I felt my interest wane on the film.

The players are amusing ““ especially Brea Adams (before “Heroes”). She is fun to watch and adds a bright light to the dark cloud that follows the group that sometimes comes across pitiful. If I sound schizoid with this review ““ it’s because I am. At one point I admired Thomas for his valiant effort and originality, but as the film progressed I found myself getting antsy with an urge to play my PS3 rather than continuing watching others discover themselves outside a world of made up heroes, villains and monsters. It may be too early to consider writer/director/actor Thomas a triple threat, but that does not mean he’s not one to watch out for. He shows promise in all three and most likely has an audience for this film that should really be pushed at any comic con or gamer convention.

“The Waiting List” is an odd piece that seems to divide an audience ““ men enjoyed the sarcasm and witty humor while some women may have laughed but were left unfulfilled. A group of parents attempt to get their kids into the most prestigious pre-school in the area. They have to spend the night in order to get on the school’s precious “waiting list.” I hate to keep making past movie references, but this cries out like Breakfast Club meets Clerks with parental angst. Now that may sound like a possible bummer, but it’s not largely due to the amiable cast and some very clever dialogue.

The standout amongst the parents is Chris played by Jayme S. Hall who also is the comic relief, a stay-at-home dad with no filter accompanying his thoughts regarding sex, kids, pregnant women, Dora the Explorer. This character is written with such glee and Hall gives a very funny, flippant performance that also touches the heart. I would say that his is the primary reason to see the film, but it’s not. There are genuine moments between Teresa Decher as Ella and Audrey Walker as Audrey. Ella is a teen who may or may not be pregnant and struggling with the notion of it while questioning Audrey who could be giving birth that week. It’s a casual and fun dynamic that does not hit us over the head with moral issues. Instead, it allows us to play with the complexities in our heads.

Then there is Ben (Bryce Flint-Somerville), the uptight, blackberry cursed, henpecked/work worn father who just needs a break. Unfortunately, he meets up with an old flame played with evil deliciousness by Kathryn Englund. She is the all-consuming bitch that plays hall monitor and snake, attempting everything she can to claw her way to a higher spot on the list so her son can be guaranteed a seat in the precious school. Ben is a great foil and one cannot help cheer for him at every turn. We feel his pain and laugh at it at the same time.

The film does wander off at times in its rhythm, but just before it loses you Hall breaks in with another funny bit that reels us back in. Budget constraint aside, “The Waiting List” is worthwhile with a cast that is worth the wait.

And, for those of you who might have lost hope in seeing greatness in a small film again, rejoice with another Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) star-turn and voted best feature length film at the Phoenix Film Festival “Lightbulb”. Attention creative parties of this film, can we at least attach an exclamation point at the end to give this wonderful feature a marketing chance? This was truly a surprise hit at the festival along with the background of writer/producer Mike Cramm. Audiences kept growing with every performance and the word of mouth spread like wild fire. Funny, touching, and sincere in its character portrayal, “Lightbulb” wins one over by its simple story telling, but eventually throws you a curve ball with its remarkable ending that goes way beyond the norm of comedies of late. In fact, writer, Cramm and director Jeffrey Balsmeyer (the quirky British comedy,” Danny Deck Chair”) have crafted the closest thing to the comedies of Frank Capra in a long time.

Renner is Sam, a sales and pitchman for his long time buddy and failed inventor Matt, played with frustrating warmth by Dallas Roberts. Their journey into the madness of small time inventions ending up on late night TV is a new twist on buddy movies and road comedies. To couple that with a ridiculous, yet genuine addiction to gambling makes for a story where we end up loving and caring for all involved. The next best thing since the pet rock or gia-pet may be just around the corner, but in the meantime, heartbreak, angst and disappointment are the hurdles one must jump several times over with rarely an end to the race of success. Along the way, Ayelet Zurer (Munich, Angels & Demons) is Gina, a grounding rod for the antics of the two and Matt’s long suffering girlfriend who unfortunately enables all of his foils for her devotion to him.

Writer, Cramm has written a remarkable comedy/drama that sneaks up and attacks from behind. What at first comes across aimless and lighthearted eventually is thought provoking and inspiring. It’s like the title of his piece, “Lightbulb,” it seems like nothing special till it is turned on and sheds a whole new light. Director Balsmeyer knows exactly what he has been handed and plays it with wonderful alacrity. Renner and Roberts make a great team and we feel their frustration with every downfall. It just gets worse by the moment and we are surprised, saddened and laughing at the same time. This film and its cast are too good to ignore. This is Cramm’s first script and he should be applauded for a story that is a step above so many others with carefully drawn characters that touch are soul and make us thankful that there are a still a few artists left in an industry of tinker toys.