by Logan Butts | Oct 10, 2013 | News Slider
“This is my boat now.” With that one quote, malicious Somali pirate Muse announced his intentions to take over the titular Captain Phillips’ boat. And with that quote, a first-time actor (Barkhad Abdi) showed that he was more than capable of going blow-for-blow with the legendary Tom Hanks. In a rare moment of complete captivation, Captain Phillips (the film, not the character) kicks into high gear. For a story that I already knew the outcome of, I was kept on the edge of my seat for the entire length of the film in a similar way to two of the most successful films of last year (Argo and Zero Dark Thirty). This was partly due to director Paul Greengrass’ ability to craft a moment of tension. Henry Jackman’s score only makes the moments tenser. But, this film belonged to the two lead actors. Once Barkhad Abdi’s character Muse comes aboard the boat and announces his intention to supplant Tom Hanks’ Richard Phillips as captain, Captain Phillips went from a pedestrian thriller to one of the year’s best films. Without the dedicated performances of Hanks and Abdi, this would not have happened. In the role of Captain Richard Phillips, Hanks gives his best performance since 2002’s Road to Perdition (an extremely underrated film). Hanks makes the viewer feel as if you are stuck in that miserable situation with him in an agonizing way. However, the real treat was Barkhad Abdi. No one bats an eyelash at a great Tom Hanks performance. He’s a legend. It’s expected. But when an unknown actor shows up and is able to hold his own with a legend,...
by Sarah McGee | Nov 26, 2012 | Opinion
The tagline “It has all led up to this moment” is no exaggeration. I went into The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 with almost no expectations due to the fear of being disappointed. After watching the film, I can honestly say that my fears were not necessary. The film was broken down perfectly from beginning to end. Things can seem a little rushed in some parts, but that’s expected when trying to fit a huge book into two movies. The movie flies by due to the pace that’s set in place. I found the pacing to be refreshing because in the past, I’ve felt bored in some scenes of other Twilight films. The acting was also infinitely sounder than past films. I didn’t find myself laughing as much at parts that were meant to be serious. Director Bill Condon created such an epic scene towards the end. My adrenaline is pumping just thinking about it! I believe that all major fans of the Twilight series will be very pleased with the outcome. Bring your tissues though, because at the very end of the film, it hit me that the series was over, and I sat in the theater and cried like a baby. I’m also a very tame fan compared to others. So let that be a warning about how high emotions will run. If you have younger siblings, be wary. This violence is nothing like Twilight films from the past. I was a little surprised at how much more intense the violence was this time around. For adults and teenagers, it will be fine, but younger children who...
by Cory Woodroof | Oct 13, 2012 | Opinion
Before I get 500 negative comments based on this review, let me add this important disclaimer. Kevin James’ newest comedy, “Here Comes the Boom,” is a flawed product. It’s ridden with inspiring clichés and could have used about twenty minutes cut out of its 105 minute run-time. It’s also one of the sweetest, down-to-earth comedies I’ve seen in a good while. “Here Comes the Boom” allows the likeable James to really hone in his, well, likeable personality, saddled with a half-way decent script filled with workable comedy and “that’s nice” greeting card heart. The film is also timely, making fairly accurate complaints against the current state of the public education system. Social commentary with effective humor? In a Kevin James movie, nonetheless? Strange times, indeed. After the budget of a Boston high school undergoes massive cuts, the music department led by Henry Winkler’s committed Marty, ends up falling to the wayside in favor of other extracurricular activities. James’ apathetic biology teacher Scott Voss, a friend of Marty, decides to save his pal’s job by entering into the ring of mixed martial arts. (He was a top wrestler in college, now, not so much). Teaming up with Marty and UFC fighter Bas Rutten’s Niko, Voss puts on the spandex and gloves in order to fight his way to somewhere around $38,000 dollars (the amount needed to keep Marty at the composer’s stand). I was skeptical about the prospects of this film simply due to the fact that Kevin James isn’t usually in that great of a movie. Last year’s not-as-bad-as-everyone-said-but-still-not-that-good Zookeeper seemed to become the thought that popped into one’s...
by Cory Woodroof | Aug 4, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
Per Aberdeen News, a film focused on former Lipscomb men’s basketball Coach Don Meyer is being planned. The filmmakers hope to shoot in both Nashville and Aberdeen, S.D. (home of Northern State University – the school where Meyer coached until his retirement in 2010). The film’s producers were scouting on location in Aberdeen this past week. The independent film, currently going by the working title of My Many Sons, has yet to be fully cast but hopes to secure funding and talent to begin production this year. The project is reportedly attracting notable names and anticipates a release window of 2013. The newly founded Moonglow Films will head up the project, with Hollywood veteran Brad Wilson serving as a producer. Carol Miller will serve as the screenwriter and a co-producer. Director Ralph E. Portillo will helm the project. Miller reportedly interviewed former Lipscomb and NSU players and read the biographical books How Lucky You Can Be: The Don Meyer Story and Playing for Coach Meyer to prepare for the screenplay. She also met with Meyer to discuss the project. The script has completed its first draft and is currently being re-written. Lipscomb alum Casey Bond, a former MLB player who recently starred in the 2011 film Moneyball, will have a role in the film in addition to having a producer’s credit. The idea for the film reportedly came to light when Lipscomb administration told Bond last fall that he should pursue making a movie about Meyer. Bond was very keen on the idea, and he pitched the project to Moonglow Films. “I just had an epiphany on how this movie...
by Cory Woodroof | Jul 23, 2012 | Uncategorized
The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan’s iconic follow-up to Batman Begins, has nothing left to prove. It’s one of the few films of the last decade to solidify its classic status – a film that impacted and influenced cinema in a way that will forever shape the idea of what a superhero movie is and what it can be. When plans were announced for a third installment – a follow-up to one of the most successful films of all time – many wondered if Nolan would be able to create a product that could top The Dark Knight. The idea of a sequel being better than its predecessor isn’t that hard to grasp. Time after time, we’ve seen second installments all but eclipse the films they follow. Third installments, though, are another ball game. Time after time, these efforts are written off as money-grabbing exploits that wring out every last bit of creative zest the said franchises have left. Rare films like Toy Story 3, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi managed to give worthy closes to their franchises – beloved products that honor the films that precede them. Thankfully The Dark Knight Rises has joined that small group of worthy “threequels.” In the grandest sense possible, Nolan wanted to give his Batman series a proper send-off – a definitive end to a story that he has spent over seven years crafting. In many ways, Nolan succeeded in giving the franchise an ending worthy of the first two films. This fact alone is worth celebrating. But did he top...
