A Dangerous Method

Filed Under: Movie Reviews  by Alan Rapp — Leave a comment
January 27, 2012
  • Title: A Dangerous Method
  • IMDB: link

a-dangerous-method-posterA slow moving drama centered around the science of psychology may initially seem an odd choice for director David Cronenberg‘s latest project, but A Dangerous Method proves to be an engaging study of the minds and hearts of three individuals, each of whom finds themselves at the mercy of their uncontrollable passions and foibles.

Based on the play by Christopher Hampton and the book by John Kerr, Cronenberg and screenwriter Christopher Hampton deliver a character study centered around three people central to the birth of psychoanalysis. Michael Fassbender stars as Carl Jung, a doctor who in the early 20th Century would expand on the ideas of Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen) to create analytical psychology.

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Morning Glories #15

Filed Under: Comics & Graphic Novels by Alan Rapp — Leave a comment
January 26, 2012

morning-glories-15-coverIn the latest issue of Morning Glories Zoe takes center stage and makes a solid case why she might be the most screwed-up member of the freshman class (which, at this school, is saying something!) as the Wood Run storyline continues.

Zoe and Hunter work together to capture their flag, stopping to make camp and to give Zoe a chance for a not-so-comforting lecture the impossibility of a Hunter and Casey relationship. Along the way Hunter meets a new friend who not only has high nerd cred but a pretty obvious crush on Hunter as well. It’s too bad, given the shocking final panels, things between them will never work out.

Once again writer Nick Spencer and artist Joe Eisma give us another weird, but highly entertaining tale, and a terrific value. At an age when content seems to be shrinking as more and more monthly comics seem hellbent on a $4 price-tag, here’s 30 pages of (very good) story for $3. That’s pretty awesome, if you ask me. Worth a look.

[Image, $2.99]

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Cobra #9

Filed Under: Comics & Graphic Novels by Alan Rapp — Leave a comment
January 26, 2012

cobra-9-coverThe “Cobra Command” crossover continues here as Snake Eyes, and his team (Helix, Iceberg, and Alpine) are successful in taking out one of COBRA’s bases in the Southeast Nation of Nazhao, but COBRA has firm control of the entire country and delivers an ultimatum to the entire population of the country to evacuate. At first the JOE’s believe COBRA plans to stay but the more intelligence they gather the more it looks like the new Cobra Commander‘s plan for Nazhao is complete destruction.

Honestly if this hadn’t been a continuation of a story from last week’s Snake Eyes (the only G.I. JOE comic I’m picking up on a regular basis), I probably wouldn’t have picked this one up.

It doesn’t appear that I’m going to have to keep up with all three titles to follow “Cobra Command,” but this issue does give a little more on the inner-workings of COBRA’s hierarchy (Desrto, Baroness, Major Bludd) as each are learning how to deal with the new Commander.

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Michelle Williams Tells GQ Some Like Her Hot

Filed Under: Books & Magazines by Alan Rapp — Leave a comment
January 26, 2012

Michelle WilliamsIn promoting her Oscar nominated role as Marilyn Monroe in My Weekend with Marilyn (one of my favorite films of 2011) Michelle Williams talked with GQ about her early acting career, growing up in Montana, working with Sam Raimi on Oz the Great and Powerful, being emancipated at 15 years-old, sexuality, Brokeback Mountain, Dostoevsky, her role as Marilyn Monroe, her daughter Matilda, Heath Ledger, living a sinful artistic career, Dawson’s Creek, returning to film with Blue Valentine, her parents seeing her on stage for the first time in New York, and the idea of being “rich in loss.” She also took the time to do a cover spread for the magazine. You can find the pics after the jump.

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White Collar – Upper West Side Story

Filed Under: Television Reviews  by Alan Rapp — Leave a comment
January 25, 2012
  • Title: White Collar – Upper West Side Story
  • tv.com: link

white-collar-upper-west-side-story

As Peter (Tim DeKay) struggles over his testimony of Neal’s (Matt Bomer) recent actions the team gets a new case brought to them by an unlikely source – a high school student (Graham Phillips) at an elite private high school who believes money set aside for scholarship students is being stolen by the men (Dylan Baker, John Rothman) in charge of the account.

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Moon Knight #9

Filed Under: Comics & Graphic Novels by Alan Rapp — Leave a comment
January 25, 2012

moon-knight-9-coverThe latest issue of Moon Knight gives us a rematch between Count Nefaria and out hero as Moon Knight tries his best to survive against a super-villain far outside his weight class. Inter-cut throughout the battle are sequences between Moon Knight and Buck showcasing Moon Knight asking for the various weapons he’ll use to try and survive the fight with Nefaria.

Once again Brian Michael Bendis gives us an issue full of great moments, including Buck’s realization why his boss is asking him for the weapons of Captain America, Spider-Man, and Wolverine. In true crazy hero fashion our hero starts hearing that personality as he uses the shield, web-shooters, or claws which means his tactics against the villain vary wildly from pulling him in front of a car to trying to cut his head off.

Aside for one panel with Echo where things get real very quickly (and which better be a tease!), I thoroughly enjoyed myself from cover to cover. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Young Justice #12

Filed Under: Comics & Graphic Novels by Alan Rapp — Leave a comment
January 25, 2012

young-justice-12-coverThe follow up to last issue’s Batman and Robin adventure finds the Dynamic Duo battling Clayface. Although the villain is Matthew Hagen, he gets a new origin here as a member of the Legion of Assassins, and the former lover of Talia, who was locked in the Lazarus Pit when she discovered he was using his relationship with her for his own chance at immortality.

Although the rest of the Young Justice team makes an appearance here, as do Batman and Robin, most of the issue sets up Talia’s failed relationships with both Batman and Hagen and teaches readers a very valuable lesson – never trifle with the feelings of Ra’s al Ghul‘s daughter.

Next issue should see less flashbacks and more of the team battling this new version of Clayface but I’ve got to say I’ve enjoyed the past two issues focusing on Batman and Robin and now Talia. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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Castle- An Embarrassment of Bitches

Filed Under: Television Reviews  by Alan Rapp — Leave a comment
January 24, 2012
  • Title: Castle – An Embarrassment of Bitches
  • tv.com: link

castle-an-embarrassment-of-bitdhes

When the judge (Ed Francis Martin) at a dog show is murdered shortly after giving out the prize for Best in Show Beckett (Stana Katic) and Castle (Nathan Fillion) are called into investigate. There are no shortage of suspects as they uncover angry dog owners, dog breeders, drug trafficking, a rabid member of paparazzi (Scott Lowell) with a doggie cam, and a reality-television star (Hilarie Burton) who was seen leaving he victim’s dressing room right around the time of death.

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Happy Happy

Filed Under: DVD Reviews  by Alan Rapp — Leave a comment
January 24, 2012
  • Title: Sykt lykkelig
  • IMDB: link

happy-happy-blu-rayAfter his wife (Maibritt Saerens) has an affair with a another man, Sigve (Henrik Rafaelsen), moves his family and their adopted Ethiopian son Noa (Ram Shihab Ebedy) into the Norwegian countryside. The couple’s only neighbors are the perky Kaja (Agnes Kittelsen) whose sunny disposition is matched only by her husband’s (Joachim Rafaelsen) grumpy disinterest of everything to do with his wife.

Happy Happy, or Sykt lykkelig (it’s original Norwegian title which translates more exactly into “insanely happy” – which can have both a positive and negative conotation) reveals its secrets through Kaja’s intense loneliness and the brave smile under which she hides it.

Kaja’s affair with Sigve reveals both couples’ dysfunction. It’s obvious Sigve would rather spend his nights with Kaja, Elisabeth (Saerens) may have been better off with the man she was having an affair with, and Eirik’s (Rafaelsen) week long trips into the woods have far more to with his closeted urges than hunting game.

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Chuck – The Bromance Made in Heaven

Filed Under: Nework & Cable Television News  by Alan Rapp — Leave a comment
January 24, 2012
  • Title: Chuck
  • tv.com: link

After five years Chuck‘s run finally ends this Friday with a two-hour finale. As sad as it is to say goodbye, this does give us the opportunity to look back and remember. Check out this video featuring the series central bromance between Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) and Morgan Grimes (Joshua Gomez).

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