I watched four films on one night, Our House (aka Duplex), Death to Smoochy, Wonderland and 12 Angry Men, all but 12 Angry Men I'd never seen before and all but 12 Angry Men could be described anything but lukewarm. Our House and Death to Smoochy are both black comedies directed by Danny DeVito. In Our House, DeVito basically retraces Throw Momma from the Train with the usual likeable leads of Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore, who are honestly not bad, the problem with the film is, it never picks up momentum, Death to Smoochy is better -just- thanks to the lead roles and one genuinely heartbreaking moment, it was made during Robin Williams, dark career period and is certainly a weaker movie then Insomnia, watchable but not completely great. Wonderland, starring Val Kilmer, tells the true story of ex-porn star John Holmes (his story was kind of the inspiration for Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights) and tells the story of a murder of a bunch of drug dealers and their unlucky houseguests from various points of view a lá Rashomon, it never really reveals the surface of the subject or the event in question and leaves you wanting more, there is one scene at the beginning with Kate Bosworth that is so unbelievably sexy. However, 12 Angry Men is a true cinematic masterpiece, excellently performed by the 12 actors, the film draws you in, wanting to know more, a true testement to less been more, this movie is impossible to fault.

Jack Warden

1920-2006

So I'd got an amazingly good value MGM box-set consisting of ten films for £10, earlier in the week, and the first one I watched out of the box was 12 Angry Men (1957) and was going to talk about what a marvellous film was, but a couple of days ago, one of the actors, Jack Warden died aged 85. Warden had a long, long career and it was sad to hear of his passing- I can also remember the Problem Child movies as a kid (also starring the now sadly deceased John Ritter) and in my teens the underrated Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead, films all done in the twilight of his career--- 12 Angry Men is a wonderful film- it should be rightly described as a classic and I'll talk about it more on a later date.

Got MILF?

Yes I am an idiot.

It was an episode of Malcolm in the Middle repeated the other day, can't go wrong with two older women like these.

Let's talk about The Constant Gardener (2005) a bit, the recent batch of "serious" movies have bored me a bit, you know the Oscar baiting (sometimes borderline television movie) though sometimes usually well made and occasionly engaging- just left me with a couple of hours of feeling nothingless. I'm glad the partly British made (or British in spirit) Constant Gardener, changed that. Watched about the same time as Lord of War both make an interesting double bill- Gardener deals with profiting from pharmacetucials, War profiting from arms dealing. Rachel Weisz as never been better (granted pretty much everything else I've seen her in would hardly class as changelling roles) but the bitter poignanticy of knowing her character is killed before the opening credits making Ralph Fiennes plight for truth and justice that all much better. There is one scene towards the end of the movie in the third act, that is just so heartbreaking- words can't truly describe the scene which will stay with me for a long time. Recommended action: watch it.

Entertainment News

• James Gandolfini as gone in for knee surgery therefore delaying the start of the new Sopranos season. Like we wasn't going to wait two years for it anyway.
• Hugh Laurie as been given a huge pay rise for his role in the show "House" upto $300,000 from an original reported mid five figure salary. Rule Britannia.
• Diane Lane chopped off her hair on live television for charity, bless her.

And that's it.

slow news day.

Red Buttons dies aged 87

I was sad to hear of the death of Red Buttons, who died Thursday aged 87.

Many consider his greatest role "Saynora" in which he won the best supporting actor Oscar for in 1957.

However, it's in his roles for "The Longest Day" (a movie in which he stole the show) and "The Poseidon Adventure", as well as his guest spot on "ER" I will probably best remember him for.

A hugely talented performer, Red, you will be missed.

The Return of Captain Invincible

Hello, I'm back finally- I've decidedI've got to take the site in a different way, because of what seems like my extreme ADD, this blog is not particulary holding my interest any more. you'll see the changes coming soon.