'Birdman' Soars High on Performances

Michael Keaton is my Batman.  For today's generation when they think 'Batman' they probably think of Christian Bale.  For my father, Adam West might come to mind.  But I remember when I was young I saw Batman Returns in the theater.  Ever since then I've rooted for this actor to succeed.  I loved him in Multiplicity, The Paper, even when he played the president in First Daughter.  Well now, this Dark Knight is back; in a big way!

In the new film by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Keaton plays a former cinematic icon who has fallen from grace and is looking to rise up again.  Riggan Thomas, played by Keaton, is revising a classic Broadway show thinking it'll be his rebirth, and his last shot at fame and fortune.  But to get there he has to deal with his detoxing daughter, his pregnant girlfriend, an arrogant actor, and the voice inside of his head saying he's worthless.  

Keaton is in talks for a possible Oscar nomination for this role and I believe he may not be the only one.  Edward Norton and Emma Stone in their supporting roles bring a level that makes me think they might get some acting nominations as well.  The best performance for me though came from Zach Galifinakis, because for once he wasn't playing his type-casted Hangover character.  His role was serious, animated, and showed me that Galifinakis can be a good actor if he steps outside the comfort zone Hollywood has put him in.

Truth be told, this isn't my kind of movie.  It's a little too weird for my taste.  But, with that said, I can still appreciate what Inarritu has done, and the performances he has gotten out of his cast.  For instance, I see why the director chose to do a tracking shot for most of the film, but it kind of made me a little motion sick.  I had to close my eyes every once and a while just to regain my composure. 

As a film I can see this one making waves and being admired for what it is, but I'll admit it; my taste is more simple.  I liked the performances, the style, and the constant question as to whether Thomas is crazy or actually has some kind of super powers, but it wasn't enough to make me love the film.  Don't worry though.  Should Keaton get a nomination I'll be there cheering on my Batman.  However, I hear the Prince of Persia has a given a good performance this year too.   

RATING: C

Casting Call: The Awesomes

Last night I finished re-watching the first season of the Hulu show, The Awesomes.  In an age where superhero films and entertainment are more popular than ever I find this show refreshing, smart, and hilarious.  It was conceived by Saturday Night Live alumni Seth Meyers, who voices Prock, along with some other SNL, and notable comedians, lending their voices to the show.   Season two of this series starts in August and I'm excited to see where the characters go after the season one finale.  The other night I was lying in bed and I came up with a few casting choices if The Awesomes ever made it to a big screen live adaptation.  So naturally, I had to think about who I would cast in all the roles instead of actually sleeping.

Micheal Cera as Prock

Prock is the leader of the new Awesomes.  His father, Mr. Awesome, has departed Earth and left Prock in charge of the team.  Because of this, everyone quits, so Prock has to fill his roster with a bunch of reject superheroes.  Prock is a genius, but everyone thinks he has no super powers so no one takes him seriously.  However, his best friend is the only one who knows that Prock has the ability to freeze time for ten seconds increments.

If you need a whiny, self-obsessed, uptight, nerd then look no further than Michael Cera.  He's been great in films like Superbad and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.  I think he'd be a perfect match for Prock. 

 

Chris Pratt as Muscle Man

Pratt has proven he can play the dimwitted best friend of Prock with his role as Andy in the television show Parks and Recreations.  He also beefed up to play Star-Lord in this summer's Guardians of the Galaxy.  Put these two combinations together and we've got our Muscle Man!

Keira Knightley as Concierge

Originally thought of to be more of a babysitter for the Awesomes, Concierge has become the team's know-it-all to any question they may have about super villains and their pasts.  She's super organized and super serious.  Which is good considering she works with guys like Muscle Man and Frantic.  I also think her and Prock have some kind of un-spoken connection, or it that just me?

Knightly wowed us all with her role in the Pirates of the Caribbean films and then went on to do roles in Domino and Anna Karinina.  She's got the build of Concierge, and I think her British accent will add a little more flavor to the character.  I'd even say she can skip the red hair.  I really don't mind.

 

Will Poulter as Frantic

In We're the Millers, Poulter played a doe-eyed kid who believed in everyone, and his comical performance was one of the best things about an otherwise forgettable film.  He'd be great as Frantic, the super-speed hick who joins the Awesomes in search of heroism and fame.

Jonathan Ke Quan as Sumo

Yes, I know Ke Quan is like 40 now, but I couldn't think of any other Asian actors under the age of 13 currently working in Hollywood; can you?  But think of how great the actor from The Goonies and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom would be as the boy who knows nothing about the world and turns into a giant sumo wrestler when he's angry.  I'd love you see that!

 

Emma Stone as Gadget Gal

This was the first casting choice that started all the rest in my head.  I can think of no other actress out there who has the quick tongue and tough skin to pull off this swinging character.  Gadget Gal was enjoying retirement when an aging ray turned back her clock about 50 years.  Now she's back in her prime and fighting bad guys with the Awesomes while still giving them her 1940's attitude.

Stone has charmed us in films like The Help and Crazy, Stupid, Love.  But it's her break-out role in Easy A that made me love this actress and all her talents.  Watch the film and tell me she isn't the perfect Gadget Gal.  I dare ya!

 

Minka Kelly as Hotwire

Hotwire is the daughter of Prock's father's mortal enemy.  She is trying to be a good guy and fight with the Awesomes but her past soon catches up with her.  Which is all a bummer because she's sweet and has left Prock smitten.

With her roles on television shows like Almost Human and Friday Night Lights, Kelly proves she is the sweet girl-next-door with a smokin body!  If she were to put on the Hotwire outfit I dare any guy not to be smitten.

 

Lamorne Morris as Impresario

This character is hilarious because of his flaws.  He is a huge mama's boy who just so happens to make anything he wants using his mind; think Green Lantern minus the ring.  So all of his constructs are his mother as a car, a hammer, a missile, etc.  It's hilarious and disturbing at the same time.

On New Girl Morris plays the lovable, yet slightly troubled, Winston.  You like the guy, but you're not sure if you'd really want to be his friend because he's got issues.  That's Impresario.

 

Ben Stiller as Dr. Malocchio

One of the funniest things about The Awesomes is the villain. Dr. Malocchio can hypnotise anyone except Mr. Awesome and his son.  He also has a lot of quirks that make his scenes interesting because you never know what minor detail he'll yell at his henchmen for.

I'm really not a Ben Stiller fan.  I feel like he plays the same character a lot, but when he steps outside of that character in movies like Dodgeball and Zoolander he is quite hilarious.  I think Malocchio would be a nice fit for Stiller to help bring out more of his comedic talent I know he has inside of him.  I just don't want another Night at the Museum sequel.  Dear Lord, make those stop!

Channing Tatum as Perfect Man

Hmmm.  An actor who looks like a guy that is a pretty boy, way into himself, but the actor himself is decent at comedy to pull it off?  Well I'm going with the 22 Jump Street star, Channing Tatum.  Anybody else got a suggestion? 

 

My Favorite Comic Book Film Chemistry

This weekend I, like many others in this country, went to go see The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in theaters.  I'm not a big Spider-Man fan, and I really didn't like The Amazing Spider-Man as compared to the previous Sam Raimi films.  As far as rating AS2 I give it a C-.  It had a lot of flaws in it, but the most redeeming quality was the love story between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy.  The real-life actors are actually dating and you can see the chemistry between them on screen that really helped with their performances.

This got me thinking about on-screen chemistry.  I think it can make or break a film, specifically in the superhero/comic book genre.  I couldn't think of many couples that are good, but the ones that did worked seemed to sizzle on screen.  And some of them aren't even love interests.

5) Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone  (The Amazing Spider-Man 1 & 2)

Like I mentioned above, these two saved The Amazing Spider-Man 2 from being a complete waste of time and talent. The scenes between them seemed very genuine.  If I didn't know that they were already a real-life couple I would definitely be on board for them hooking up.

Not to spoil anything, but if you've seen the movie or read the Spider-Man comics you know Peter and Gwen's relationship does not end well.  I knew from Gwen's graduation speech at the beginning of the film she was not going to make it out alive.  The whole film built to that moment and when it came Garfield's performance was the best I've ever seen him.  You felt his sadness and felt like he didn't have to dig too deep to imagine the pain of losing his Emma Stone.  Without their chemistry in the 3rd film I don't know how the franchise will thrive.

4) James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class)

It takes a lot of skill for actors to try and portray a life-long friendship.  Especially one that is as complicated as Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr.  But it might be even harder to portray that friendship at the beginning; knowing how it'll end.  McAvoy and Fassbender are already good actors, but together they are great.  

My favorite scenes in First Class were the moments when it was just the two of them.  Their yin and yang view points played perfectly on-screen.  I've never been more interested in watching two people play chess.  I'm can't wait for that chemistry to continue in the upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past.

3) Chris Evans and Anthony Mackie (Captain America: The Winter Solider)

Every once and a while you get a bromance that you know will last a lifetime, or at least 3 or 4 films until the actors contracts are up.  Evans and Mackie just seem to click from the film's first scene.  I even choose this relationship over Evans and Scarlett Johansson's, and those two have worked on multiple films together.  

In the film, both of their characters had lost their wing man, and by the end they each knew, along with the audience, that they had found a new one.  Both Steve and Sam have a strong sense of duty and bravery.  These guys are like two peas in a pod, and it plays off perfectly thanks to the actors playing them.  I can't wait for a third Captain America film to see Cap and Falcon back in action together!

2) Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen (X-Men, X2, & X3)

I'm not sure how well these two knew each other before they signed on to play mortal enemies/best friends in X-Men, but ever since their real-life bromance has become legendary.  From their first scene on-screen together back in 2000 you could feel the energy between them.  They're both classically trained actors and it takes such an actor to play characters worthy of Shakespeare. 

Now you can see them all over social media hanging out.  It makes me wish I could hang out with them too.  Professionally, they been in several plays together and they're both coming back to reprise their roles as Xavier and Magneto in X-Men: Days of Future Past.  I think this is a bromance will stand the test of time.

 1) Robert Downey Jr and Gwyneth Paltrow (Iron Man 1, 2, & 3)

Downey as Tony Stark is one of the greatest casting choices in the history of film!  He makes the audience love that character and steals every scene he is in.  This can make it difficult to find a good counter-part to Stark, but when the people at Marvel Studio saw Downey and Paltrow test screen together they must have shed tears of joy.   

Pepper Potts never let's Tony get away with anything and always has a come-back to combat Tony's boyish charms.  Their rapore is thee highlight of the Iron Man franchise, and their one scene together in The Avengers is one my favorites.  These two definitely need to work together again soon.