People Like Us review

Writers Alex Kurtzman and Bob Orci have written some high grossing tentpole movies. Their screenplays include Transformers (2007) and Star Trek. (2009) So it's interesting to see them along with Jody Lambert write the family drama, People Like Us. I mean has Michael Bay ever directed an indie drama? Anyway, the movie is based on true events and Kurtzman makes his film directorial debut.

People Like Us opens up with introducing us to Sam Harper, (Chris Pine) a slick New York businessman who buys and barters overstocked products. One of his deals gets him in trouble with his ruthless boss (Jon Favreau) and the Federal Trade Commission. He also has debts. But Sam has another problem. He returns to his home to find his angelic girlfriend, Hannah (Olivia Wilde), tell him that his father, Gerry Harper has died. Sam has been estranged from his record producing father for years.

Sam returns to Los Angeles for his father's funeral, and stays at the home of his mother Lillian. (Michelle Pfeiffer) We find out from her that Sam's father was not a good husband either. Still, she loved him. While in town, Sam learns that his father has left $150, 000.00 in cash to give to ane eleven year old grandson, Josh. (Michael Hall D'Addario) There's a twist here. Sam had no idea that he had a nephew or a sister. We find that his sister is a half sister, Frankie. (Elizabeth Banks)

Sam decides to find Frankie and Josh. Frankie is single mother and works as a bartender. She's also a former alcoholic whoe's struggling to make ends meet. She's also estranged from their mutual father. Josh is a precocious kid and is suffering from the effects of not having a father. The dilemma for Sam is that if he doesn't tell Frankie about the money, he could keep the money even thought it's dishonest.

In the movie, Sam has rules for life that he learned from his father. I've got some rules for films. So in the spirit of Sam's rules here are mine.

1. Trust your audience and curb the camera gymnastics. During the first hour of People Like Us, Director Kurtzman moves the camera relentlessly. There were whip pans, handheld camera shots and fast cutting. Kurtzman doesn't linger on a scene for more than five seconds. I got motion sickness.

Look, it's time to stop the need to use camera gymnastics to keep the audience's attention. We're not all teenagers with ADHD. People Like Us has a compelling story. There's no need for all that movement.

2. Don't put too many montages with soft rock songs. Putting soft rock songs with montages are momentum killers. You don't need a soft rock song to tell the emotions of the characters. It's especially corny when the lyrics of the song are used to convey the emotion in the scene.

There must have been about three music montages in People Like Us. The soft rock songs interfered with the audience's investment in the plight of the characters.

Now, it sounds like I hated People Like Us. Not really. The film finally worked when Kurtzman slows down the camera for a quiet night scene between Lillian and Sam as they sit on a bench overlooking Los Angeles. It works because we find that as much of a bum that Sam's father was, Lillian still loved the man. Life is complicated.

The dialogue in this movie rings true. People really do talk like that. They have financial problems. And with a title called People Like Us, I was a leery since the cast was so beautiful. But Michelle Pfeiffer gives Lillian the sadness the character needs. Chris Pine conveys a slick businessman then a person in search for his past. And Elizabeth Banks demonstrates she's a great actress. I know people like Frankie. They're survivors. Banks doesn't act like a Hollywood star. She feels real like a single mom trying to raise her son as a bartender.

If you can survive the camera gymnastics in the first hour of People Like Us, you'll find the last hour rewarding. Because the film is about the search for human contact. It's about the need for family. The grade is B +.

Voter ID laws equal voter suppression

In case you don't believe that voter ID laws are about voter suppression, a Republican finally admitted it. Pennsylvania House Leader Mike Turzai said GOP nominee Romney will win Pennsylvania because of its voter ID law. If it weren't so real and awful, it might be a plot for the bad guys in a bad movie. At least, Stephen Colbert can make a little joke of it. And by the way, he cites that there has been no instances of voter fraud in Pennsylvania. It's like that everywhere.

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Stephen Colbert mocks Justice Scalia

The other day, the United States Supreme Court struck down Arizona's immigration law. Justice Antonin Scalia dissented and argued states' rights allowed Arizona to regulate immigration. Stephen Colbert rips Scalia in a brilliant way. Wonderful sarcasm.
Here's Colbert's funny piece.

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Seeking a Friend for the End of the World Review

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World starts out with mild mannered insurance salesman Dodge Peterson (Steve Carell) in his car, listening to the radio. The DJ announces that the mission to stop an asteroid from hitting the earth has ended in disaster. The earth has twenty one days left. Armageddon this aint. By the way, the DJ tells the audience they will countdown the days along with the classic rock hits.

While waiting for the end, Dodge finds out that his neighbor Penny Lockhart (Keira Knightley) has been collecting his mail when it's been incorrectly delivered. He finds a letter from an old flame, Olivia, that professes her love for him. Dodge and Penny escape a riot and she convinces Dodge to find Olivia before the world ends.

There are no CGI asteroids heading to earth in Seeking a Friend, and no action set pieces of car chases or fighting off rioters with guns. This is a dark comedy. For a movie like this to work, it must have good writing, directing and acting. Seeking a Friend, has all three. And it's not just good, it's excellent. Writer-director Lorene Scafaria has written a screenplay that is humorous, smart and touching. All the jokes work because they are not way out of context. The dialogue feels real. Her direction is good because she knows her actors. She focuses on them when the drama requires it. Knightley is charming as the goofy Penny. And Steve Carell gives his Dodge a world weary facade. For a man known for his comedy, Carell demonstrates he can do drama as good as any actor alive. It's a bravura performance.

It's refreshing to see intelligent movies released during the summer. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World asks profound questions. How does one deal with the end of life? What defines civilization? It also raises big ideas. Finding love can happen at any time in a life. The grade is A.

My favorite part in "When Harry Met Sally ..."

I'm looking back at one of my favorite movies, "When Harry Met Sally ..." (1989) That's because Nora Ephron who wrote the screenplay for the film passed away yesterday.

My favorite moment is not what a lot of other people love about the movie. Most of the time they cite the fake orgasm scene in the delicatessen. That's hilarious. But my favorite scene is on one of the New Year Eve celebrations where Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) are dancing. You see it's so supposed to be platonic. But as they dance, they realize they're falling in love. And the song they are dancing to is "I Could Write a Book." Listen to the lyrics. It's about a story of two friends becoming lovers. Harry Connick Jr. does a wonderful version of it with full orchestra. Here's the song from the soundtrack. Thanks cyd007monica for the video.

Farewell Nora Ephron

Writer and director Nora Ephron passed away yesterday from leukemia. She was 71. She wrote screenplays from Silkwood (1983) to the delightful Julie & Julia (2009) which she also directed.

But her greatest work was her screenplay for When Harry Met Sally... (1989) It was an insightful look at how difficult it is for men and women to be platonic friends because the sex thing would get in the way. Funny in Woody Allen way but more romantic than Allen could ever be, it is a classic of cinema. I love the way the film combined rich jazz standards with New York, to create the ultimate romance. Farewell Nora. You will be missed.

Mass Effect 3-Priority: Rannoch, tips for Insanity

We continue our series on how to beat Mass Effect 3 on the Insanity difficulty setting. Today, we go over Priority: Rannoch. As we have done previously, we only go over the most difficult portions of the mission. My general tips for Insanity should cover the other parts of the mission.

1. Your class and weapons. I recommend Engineer. You have as powers, combat drones and a gun turret. But just as important as combat drones is Sabotage. You can hack a synthetic and he can attack your enemies.

My weapons are the M-97 Viper sniper rifle and the M-99 Saber. The Saber does great damage. And the Viper allows for kills without getting too close.

2. The squad. Tali is an engineer and has combat drones and sabotage. I arm her with the Graal Spike Thrower and the Scorpion pistol. I also choose Garrus. I arm him with the M-37 Falcon and Black Widow sniper rifle.

3. Tips for the hardest parts of Rannoch. The toughest parts of Rannoch come at the the end. It comes after you defeat a Geth Prime. You grab the elevator and confront three Primes.

a. The Three Primes. Right in front of you is a Spitfire. There is also one to the right near some crates. And there's one on the left. Grab the one in front of you. TAKE COVER.

Unload the Spitfire on the Prime. You didn't forget you're an engineer, did you? Unleash a combat drone. Get Tali to do the same. As soon as you can, deploy a gun turret. Okay, by now the Prime in front is on top of you. Run to the right. Get into cover. If you have to, sabotage a prime or its combat drone. Just remember you will have to deal with it once the spell wears off. Don't panic, stay in cover and move if you have to. But keep up with the launching of combat drones, and firing the Spitfire. Try to take them out one at a time. Don't spare the Medi-gel if one of your squadmates dies. If this is your third play through, you should have plenty. Eventually, you bring down all three Primes.

b. The Reaper. Okay, you've got to kill the Reaper by painting it with the targeting laser so the fleet can blast it. You must wait for the Reaper to show its big laser cannon to target it. You target it and two vertical bars begin to close. Once they close on the aiming target, the fleet fires.

The problem is that the Reaper is firing its laser at you. One hit and your dead. Here's what you do. Once the laser hits the ground in front of you, run. Running is more important than maintaining your lock. Why? The targeting laser remembers where you left off. After you hit the Reaper five times, it dies.