Movie Week - A Late Quartet

I’ve already mentioned how I’ve been seeking out Philip Seymour Hoffman films.  I very rarely use the search function in Netflix, but when I put his name in, A Late Quartet popped up. 

It’s always a gamble when you try out a film that you’ve never heard of.  It may be a hidden gem or perhaps you haven’t heard of it for good reason.  I happen to dig that gamble. 

So which one is A Late Quartet? 

Sunday Morning Quarterback – Jim Carrey & Iggy Azalea

Canadian Jim Carrey became a household name thanks to In Living Color, a show with a predominately Black cast. Australian Iggy Azalea is a star thanks to a faux Southern accent and a vigorous cosign by T.I. Basically both of these celebrities have realized the American dream with the aid of Black culture. 

This should be an interesting episode of SNL. 

Movie Week - The Savages

Like I said earlier in the week, I was completely blown by the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman.  He impressed me whenever he’d pop up in Paul Thomas Anderson films, which made me a fan of his.   He’s probably the best part of Mission Impossible III and I’m sad that he’s gone. 

If there’s a silver lining it’s that I haven’t seen everything he’s done.  I’m still discovering his roles and films. 

The Savages is one of those films. 

Movie Week - Beginners

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I tend to enjoy a good personal movie.  There’s something about a person really investing, emotionally, in a project that makes me want to at least give it a go.  I mean if they put that much into it, the least I can do is to try it our, right? 

Beginners is one of those types of films. 

Movie Week - In A World

I love films that offer a peek into a world that I don’t really know that much about.  I like that into of something that I don’t really understand.  Those films can be a bunch of fun.

I’m also very interested in writing and directing debuts.  I often find inspiration in see how these artists brought their vision to fruition. 

In A World is one such film. 

Movie Week - Escape From Tomorrow

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Part of the joy of Movie Week is checking out a film that I probably wouldn’t have ordinarily have watched.  Sometimes it’s because I wouldn’t have had access to it in theaters or because it’s not a huge movie and it flew under the radar. 

It’s a fun opportunity to venture outside of my normal comfort zone as a viewer.  Of course sometimes it’s not so fun. 

And so we have Escape from Tomorrow. 

Movie Week - World War Z

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I remember reading stories about how World War Z was doomed.  It was over-budget and had to do extensive reshoots.  Those are never good things and the film sounded like a mess.

Still, it ended up being successful enough to have a sequel announced.  World War Z was a hit, despite all of the things that apparently went wrong behind the scenes. 

I was kind of looking forward to watching it. 

Movie Week - Cold Mountain

I am not much of a reader.  I purchase maybe one book a year and I usually don’t read it.  Case in point; I picked up Jay-Z’s Decoded when it was released and never got around to reading it. 

So the whole idea of a film being based on a book, isn’t really a selling point for me.  Maybe if it’s based on a comic book, I might check it out.  But I guess I’m not the biggest fan of adaptations. 

Cold Mountain is an adaptation. 

Movie Week - Lovelace

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Movie Week - Fruitvale Station

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I kind of put off watching Fruitvale Station.  I think I was worried about what sort of mindset it would put me in, especially given the current climate. 

But I’m always rooting for alums of The Wire.  And especially for “Wallace.”

Watching Fruitvale Station was inevitable.

Movie Week - Filth

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I have an Apple TV.   I’m a fan.  It’s crazy convenient and given the other Apple products that I own, it fits right in.

I also have the screensaver set up to the movie poster option.  So, whenever things have been idle for five minutes, up comes a parade of movie posters.  Some are upcoming movies while others have come and flopped.  Some are new to iTunes, while others are apparently available on other services. 

It’s some great advertising.  And it’s how I first came across Filth. 

Movie Week - Pineapple Express

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Seth Rogen and James Franco.  A decade ago you’d never have guessed that in 2014 those two actors would have one foot firmly planted in pretentious.  I don’t think it’s a scenario that many people would have expected, yet it’s totally true.

Franco’s attempt at achieving polymath status has turned his critics into haters.  I’m fine with dude, because for every book of poetry you get a doc on Saturday Night Live.  He knows how to mix things up. 

Rogen on the other hand, not content to be famous as both a writer and comic actor, has recently ventured into social criticism via twitter.  It’s annoying and shows that he takes himself more seriously than anyone else does. 

Which brings us to Pineapple Express.

Movie Week - Lawless

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I remember being intrigued by Lawless.  Two-thirds of the brothers in this film were portrayed by actors that I first became acquainted with via Showtime shows. 

Tom Hardy played Jack Donnelly on Meadowlands, arguably the most compelling character on that show.  And Jason Clarke portrayed Tommy Caffee on Brotherhood, a show that’s easily one of my top ten all time favorites. 

So, how did I feel about Lawless? 

Movie Week - Step Brothers

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I used to be a fan of Will Ferrell.  I can remember when he was the funniest guy on SNL.  I remember watching the Don’t Fear the Reaper sketch live.

I even went along with Will when he ventured to the movies.  At least in the beginning.  Old School was dope and the first Anchorman felt fresh.  But something happened and Will Ferrell movies stopped being “must see.” 

And that’s how I missed Step Brothers the first time around. 

Movie Week - Stoker

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I’m really trying to remember how I first encountered the trailer for Stoker.  I want to say maybe it was in the theater?  Maybe The Charles?  I genuinely can’t recall. 

But I do remember being very intrigued.  It was a very well done trailer that gave the briefest hint of what the film was about  but completely captured the tone and mood of the film.  I liked what I saw and I’ve wanted to check out Stoker ever since. 

I’d missed it on HBO Go a couple times, but thankfully the stars aligned for Movie Week. 

Movie Week - Oldboy

The second part of our “remake double feature” is Oldboy. 

I dig Spike Lee.  I’ve basically been down with Spike from the beginning, though I was clearly too young to be watching She’s Gotta Have It.  I’ve grown to appreciate the type of filmmaker that he is.

He can make a studio picture.  He can also make a personal film.  He’s also made a few “message” films.  But the beauty of Spike Lee is that you know what your in for, depending on the hat that he’s wearing. 

So where does Oldboy fit? 

Movie Week – The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

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I’m a longtime fan of Ben Stiller.  I can’t tell you how happy I was when The Ben Stiller Show was released on dvd.  That was like the one show that really defined my sense of comedy. 

I haven’t been overly thrilled with Ben Stiller’s work in film.  More often than not Ben Stiller’s been playing variations of the same character for most of this millennium.  He hasn’t been a “must see” draw for me for a while. 

Still, I was interested in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. 

Sunday Morning Quarterback - Bill Hader & Hozier

Hader is coming home!  This is the one episode of SNL so far this season that I genuinely have expectations and hope for.  When Hader left SNL, I got a bit saddened. 

But now he’s back with some musical guest I’ve never heard of.  Will Saturday Night Live be amazing this week, or is the bar so high that it can only be disappointing? 

My Fall TV Schedule - Fridays

Fridays are a dead zone when it comes to TV.  Gone are the days of TGIF or even Fox’s genre nights, anchored by The X-Files.  Now, more often than not, shows are sent to Friday to die. 

Oh, how the television landscape has changed. 

So, what am I watching on Friday nights? 

My Fall TV Schedule - Thursdays

Oh how I've missed my Thursday nights with the Braverman clan. #Parenthood
— Skip Serpico (@SkipSerpico) September 26, 2014

Remember when Thursday offered “must see tv?”  Seems like so long ago, doesn’t it?  NBC abandoned it’s comedy block.  Fox too.  CBS has a powerhouse with Thursday Night Football, while ABC dominates the scripted tv game via Shonda Rhimes. 

Is it wrong to miss those days?  Is it like longing for vaudeville, something that will clearly never return?  Well, if it is, I don’t want to be right.

So, what am I watching on Thursday? 

My Fall TV Schedule - Wednesdays

I like Wednesday.  Wednesday is when comic books are released.  Wednesday is right in the middle of week, which is pretty awesome positioning. 

But Wednesdays in terms of television, is pretty weak.  I think the only show that I regularly watch on Wednesday night is The Bridge, but not only is that a summer show, but it just wrapped it’s second season. 

Can any show fill that void?

My Fall TV Schedule - Tuesdays

No one really has an opinion about Tuesday.  Everyone hates Monday and loves Friday.  Wednesday is Hump Day and Thursday is known for great television.  But Tuesday?  No one has anything to say about Tuesday. 

I can’t say that I disagree with the lack of identity for Tuesday.  I feel pretty “eh’ about it too.  I also feel that way about the television shows it offers. 

Monday Munchies – Ben & Jerry’s Two Wild & Crazy Pies

Just in time for the Fall we get a new flavor for Ben & Jerry’s line of SNL Batches.  And SNL Batches should be a great thing.  But much like some sketches on Saturday Night Live, the execution of some these flavors leaves a little to be desired. 

Gilly’s Catastrophic Crunch lived up to its name, while Lazy Sunday lived up to its inspiration. 

So, how will Two Wild & Crazy Pies stack up?

My Fall TV Schedule - Sundays

Sorry about slacking off on my Fall TV Schedule posts, but I got caught up in something (which I’ll post about later) that got me tied up. 

But now we’re back with Sunday, arguably the busiest day of the week for television.  Pay cable and AMC roll out their finest hours of programming on Sundays, which marks it as a prestige day for viewing. 

What will I be watching? 

Sunday Morning Quarterback – Sarah Silverman & Maroon 5

Sarah Silverman returning to Saturday Night Live has me kind of excited.  Sarah is known for being outspoken and no blushing violet, so I’m curious to see what she’ll do with the live audience at her former workplace. 

And of course since it’s early in the season SNL’s writers are still optimistic and haven’t been beaten down by the grueling pace of the show.  They’ve still got energy, which means this week’s episode should be an improvement over last week’s debut. 

I mean it’ can’t get worse, right?