3 Razors

The Express

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Express
  • IMDB: link

“And I won’t tell him he’ll be the next Ernie Davis, because there’ll never be another Ernie Davis.”

Sports movies are often filled with cliché and usually fall into one of two categories – the underdog who makes good (Rocky, Seabiscuit, Major League, Hoosiers, Miracle, Blue Crush) or the team facing racial diversity (Remember the Titans, Pride, Glory Road).  Although The Express falls into the later category it has enough of its own voice to separate it as something more than just another Titans knock-off.  It’s not a great film, but it’s better than I expected.

The film follows the college career of young Ernie Davis (Rob Brown) who follows in the footsteps of his hero Jim Brown (Darrin Dewitt Henson) to play football for Syracuse University.

After the early scenes involving Ernie’s recruitment by Brown and head coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid), the film moves to Syracuse, the short scenes involving Davis’ freshman season on the bench, and his break-out sophomore year.

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Religulous

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Religulous
  • IMDB: link

“I don’t believe in Santa Claus.”
“Of course not, that’s one man flying all around the world and dropping presents down a chimney.  One man hearing everybody murmur to him at the same time, that I get.”

In an attempt to better undestand religon, and to make some fun out of the more ridiculous beliefs, Bill Maher takes a trip around the world to discuss relgiion with politicans, scientists, theologians, and the common people.  What results is an often funny, though not that enlightening, experience.

Much like Michael Moore, Maher begins his journey with a preconceived outcome – proving the ridiculousness and dangerous nature of all the world’s various religions.  Although quite humorous with his quips and various well-placed clips from religious films, he’s mostly preaching to those who already don’t believe in organized religion.

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Beauty and the Beast

/ / Home Video

How many shows can you name which center around lawyers, doctors, cowboys, explorers, families and space travelers?  Now how many prime time fairy tales do you remember from television?  Here’s one…

  • Title: Beauty and the Beast – The Complete First Season
  • tv.com: link

“We’re below the city, below the subways.  There is a whole world of tunnels and chambers that most people don’t even know exists.  There are no maps to where we are.  It’s a forgotten place.  But it’s warm and it’s safe, and we have all the room we need.  So we live here and we try to live as well as we can, and we try to take care of each other.”

After being attacked society girl Catherine Chandler (Linda Hamilton) is nursed back to health in the bowels of New York City by Vincent (Ron Perlman).  Here begins a fairy tale love story between a beautiful Assistant District Attorney and her protector, a beast with the soul of a poet.

This first season introduces us to the world of “down below” and the characters who will become staples of the series.  It also sets up Catherine’s world above with her boss Joe (Jay Acovone) and her on-again, off-again, suitor Elliot Burch (Edward Albert).  “Son of Orpheus” reveals Father’s (Roy Dotrice) past and his reasons for retreating from the world above and creating the underground society.  “An Impossible Silence” and “China Moon” are set in the distinct worlds of a deaf girl (Terrylene) and Chinatown.  “The Alchemist” introduces the recurring villain of Paracelsus (Tony Jay), and Vincent’s childhood friend returns in “Promises of Someday”.  The nature of the lovers relationship is put to the test in “A Happy Life”

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Leatherheads on DVD

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Leatherheads
  • IMDB: link

“You’re only as young as the women you feel.”

In 1925 college football was king and professional football was struggling to get by.  Here we join Dodge Connelly (Geroge Clooney) and his desperate last attempt to save the league by wooing college star and war hero Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski) into professional football.

Those familiar with the screwball comedy know what to expect as we’re given fast-talking dialgoue, phsycial hyjinks, and a love story between a footballer and a reporter (Renée Zellweger).  For more on the film itself read the original review.

If you missed Leatherheads in the theater it’s worthy of at least a rental.  The extras alone, though nice (at least on the regular DVD edition), don’t scream must have however.  The special features are nothing special and the commentary gives little added insight to the making of the film.  Fans of Clooney, screwball comedy, and 1920’s era style films will still want to take a long look at this good, though not great, DVD edition.

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Ghost Town

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Ghost Town
  • IMDB: link

“You died.”
“I died?”
“A little bit.”

Bertram Pincus (Ricky Gervais) doesn’t like people.  The dentist has a disdain for pretty much the entire human race, but his life is changed by an unforeseen side-effect of a routine surgery.

The dentist goes in for a routine colonoscopy, dies for seven minutes on the table, and walks out with an ability to see and hear dead people.  And New York it seems has more than its share of ghosts.

Pincus is hounded by the spirits needing closure led by recently deceased Frank Herlihy (Greg Kinnear) who wants Pincus to ruin his widow’s relationship with a lawyer.  Pincus immediately falls for Gwen (Tea Leoni) and agrees, but most overcome his own personality and self-history to win her over.

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