Starring: Kevin Sorbo, Danny Trejo, Ross Patterson, Bryan Callen

Written by: Ross Patterson

Directed by: Garrett Brawith

Distributed by: Screen Media Films

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Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury is both far better and far worse than you think it is.

Somewhere in the middle of Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury, a parody/mockumentary hybrid from director Garrett Brawith, there’s a quick cut to a man impersonating Adolf Hitler playing a sexy jazz solo on the saxophone. Out of context that makes no sense, but in context…it makes even less sense. Although the movie had already won me over by the time this scene rolled around, it was then that I knew one thing was for certain: that I would be defending Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury to my movie geek friends (and blogger colleagues) for the rest of my human existence. And defend I will. With pleasure.

So what is Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury exactly? Well it’s two movies in one; first of all, it’s a parody on the cheesy action movies of the late 80′s-early 90′s about a Vietnam vet named Sal Brando (Kevin Sorbo) who returns home to find that Mexicans have monopolized the business of pool cleaning. After his wife and son are murdered by his wife’s Latin lover (Bryan Callen), Sal decides to get revenge on all the Mexican pool cleaners in the city Van Nuys, California the only way he knows how: VIGILANTE JUSTICE. Armed with a modified pool cleaner net, his crusade leads him right to the top of the Mexican pool cleaner ring, a man named Caesar (Danny Trejo) and his mysterious shadowy boss with ties to Sal’s past.

Weird? Yes. Ridiculous? Yes. Insanely, insanely racist? Yes and yes. And if it stopped right there, I would be right with you. But in addition to that plot, Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury is also a mockumentary about the making of said movie, hosted by one eyed director Saint James St. James (Ross Patterson, who also wrote the script). Turns out he directed that movie when he was 10 years old and the studio banned its planned 1990 release…UNTIL NOW. So while we watch Sal Brando’s pool boy crusade, we are also treated to outtakes, behind the scenes moments, and even interviews with members of the cast and crew years later.

And you know what?  Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury ends up working more often than not. Its movie within a movie is a send up of the straight to video movies from that era, right down to its terrible special effects, inane plot, and poor line delivery. So yes it’s bad on purpose, but it also features some legitimately funny and even clever moments. Sorbo, a man my friends and I like so much we named a song after him for our high school rock band, both breaks out of and parodies that generic “action hero” role he’s been forced into since first hitting it big many years ago in the syndicated Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. His comedic timing is a bit hit or miss, but he shows more personality here than he has in anything else I’ve ever seen him in. More this, less Walking Tall sequels please.

Joining Sorbo in Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury are possibly the most random assortment of actors put together this side of Southland Tales. And I’m talking full on strange; people like Richard Karn, Mark Curry, Ahmed Best, Jason Mewes, and Paul Ben-Victor show up seemingly out of nowhere in extended cameos for reasons I can’t quite comprehend. But they’re all decent in it, and provide a good number of laughs, especially Karn whose one scene features him shooting a Mexican valet to death with two shotguns (one in each hand). I can now cross “see Al Borland kill the shit out of somebody” off my bucket list. Also I can’t believe that was actually on my bucket list.

Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury isn’t entirely clever in its humor, but I can’t deny that there were moments where my laughter drowned out what was happening on screen (perfect example: the running joke of a fat guy dressed as a Geisha laughing like an innocent Asian stereotype, a joke that I could not get enough of). There are tons of crazy one-liners and one-off bits that will take you by surprise in that good “shit, now I can’t breathe because I’m laughing” way.

But while it’s certainly funny, Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury also has a lot of jokes that miss the mark completely and crash and burn pretty badly. The character of Saint James St. James himself is also hit or miss; he’s got some funny lines and moments (including all the times he edited himself into his movie in post-production) but he also comes off insanely annoying and unfunny immediately after killing the momentum he had going. Also some of the “mistakes” in the movie are more lame than funny (the dubbing of certain actors as a running joke got old quick), and the running joke of Sal carrying around his dead friend’s arm in the “movie within a movie” was pushed far beyond its shelf life (but it is actually funny in the beginning). And even though the terrible racism/unfunny Mexican jokes were there because that was the point of the movie (it “wasn’t released in 1990″ because the studio found it so racist and terrible), that begins to wear out its welcome too and never was really funny to begin with. More uncomfortable than anything else, really, and sort of a lazy way to approach humor.

Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury is a frustrating movie to watch. It’s funny and even clever at times, and it’s definitely entertaining, but there is enough bad going on at the same time that trying to recommend it to your movie friends or attempting to defend it feels almost like an uphill battle. Hell there’s a good chance you’ll even hate this, and then want to punch me in the face for saying anything nice about it at all. That’s fine, comedy is subjective. But I say at least give it a chance and stick with it; Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury may surprise you. At the very least, you get to see Hitler play sexy jazz sax and that’s pretty much worth the watch alone.

Grade: C+

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]]> http://deeullconshus.wordpress.com/2012/02/19/relax-look-away-go-away/ Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:26:43 +0000 deeullconshus http://deeullconshus.wordpress.com/2012/02/19/relax-look-away-go-away/ The other day I was listening to actor/comedian/podcaster/all-around interesting guy Bryan Callen on his podcast, aptly named ‘The Bryan Callen Show’. Among other things, he and his guest were discussing professional athletes and their mental focus. Some of the techniques to achieve such an elite level of focus were very interesting to hear, and at first appeared to be counterproductive. A prime example, and my personal favourite, was the repetition of a seemingly contradictory mantra. The concept is that when an athlete is in the depths of a mentally and physically draining competition, his or her mind’s voice repeats, “Relax. Look away. Go away.” While this may sound insane (how can I relax when I’m about to kick a game-winning field goal from 50?), when one puts it into context it actually comes across as sound. Here’s how I think it works. In athletics, why would one not want to relax. Does Lyoto Machida strike better when he is tight and tense? No. The looser he is, the more impactful and dynamic the punches and kicks. Well why would you want to look away? Of course, this isn’t meaning to tell yourself to physically look away, but rather to look away from the situation, and almost look outside of your body. Lastly, the “go away” phrase can mean many things. It can be a warning to your fears, certainly, but also a reminder to yourself to not be so conscious of abilities. If you’re able, you know you’re able. So just… Be able. If you’re playing in a hockey game, you know you’re playing in a hockey game. So there is no need to remind yourself you’re playing in a hockey game, or of how your defensive skills can be used in this hockey game. Rather, remind yourself to let it flow. In this respect, “Go away” can be an ego check, since that pesky part of your personality loves to control things. If you have genuine confidence in your technique, then there is no need to worry about it.

I decided to put this approach into practice today  during a challenging cross-country ski course. It wasn’t necessary to break out this mental chant from start to finish; I waited for certain spots in the run to use it. I like to pick my spots because a) it can get a little redundant, and b) I found it best to use it in segments that required the most focus. There was a point after my second or third wind where I was faltering. My physical and mental tank was being drained: I was sucking wind and becoming frustrated that I was falling behind my fellow skiers. This is when I kicked the chant into gear. I began to think, “c’mon man. Relax. Look away. Go away.’ Repeat. Relax, it’s just gliding through snow with long boards on your feet. One foot in front of the other. Look away. I think I did physically look away as well, just to admire nature for a second. Go away. Get outside of yourself; your abilities are well established, if they weren’t then you wouldn’t have a chance. Repeat. I began to time it with my strides. Re-lax. Look a-way. Go a-way. Before I knew it, I was on the downhill towards the home stretch back to the start. This particular mantra is just one way to harness oneself into “the zone”. Funny how much easier this “zone” can be achieved the further you push yourself away from, well, yourself. I assume that a system like this can be easier applied to endurance athletes like cross-country skiiers or runners, but I’m sure it is useful to everyone in the athletic spectrum. Often, the mental side of athletics and exercise is overlooked. But almost all of the time, it is the most important aspect. When we think we’ve reached our peak, we need our mind to convince us we haven’t. And this focus technique is one heck of a positive distraction to help us do so.  When you’ve done all you can do, and you reach that ever-constant plateau, just remember: Relax. Look away. Go away.

Warrior, of course, is the classic underdog tale. Times two. Brothers, Tom and Brendan Conlon, haven’t seen each other since they were separated with their parents divorce as children. Brendan (Joel Edgerton) has turned into the responsible one, becoming a high school teacher, and having a family of his own. Tommy (Tom Hardy) has yet to settle down, and his history includes a shady past in the military, and a very violent present. Due to their different reasons, (Brendan needs money to keep his house, Tommy just wants to fight) they both end up in one of the largest MMA tournaments in the country. As the two unknown’s slowly make their way to the top, secrets are revealed (including their relation) and memories and dug up.

After seeing what Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale could do outside of the ring in a fighting movie, the first half of Warrior is disappointing. Obviously, nothing will match the humor, drama, and entertainment of The Fighter outside of the ring. But once the Conlon’s get into the tournament, Warrior becomes a whole lot better. The biggest thing is the juxtaposition between Hardy and Edgerton, while still feeling like they are brothers. Everything about their fights are completely opposite, yet their is a familiarity between the two. And while I was afraid of it becoming too predictable, I never really knew how Warrior would end up. Edgerton and Jennifer Morrison (playing his wife), and Nick Nolte (the patriarch of the Conlon’s) all give great performances, but it is Hardy who stands out with his uncontainable violence, deep rooted disdain for his father, and his overall conflicted feelings toward his long separated brother.

My Rating: A-

Best of Joe Rogan Experience – From recent Bryan Callen podcast, he explains the equality of consumption among an inequality of income.

Best of Joe Rogan Experience podcast – Bryan Callen talks about what inspired him to become a stand up comic and having success.

It’s not too often that I finish watching a movie and almost immediately want to watch it over again.  It’s not too often that I watch a movie and immediately praise it as my probable movie of the year.  I’ve watched nine movies this year that I have rated full marks, five out of five, perfect, would watch again.  Funnily enough, one of them was The Fighter, and that’s the easiest comparison to make, that Warrior evokes many of the same themes and such, but if I’m being completely honest, I think Warrior‘s the better movie.  Five point one.

The funny thing is, it’s a movie rife with sports movie clichés, about a sport that I don’t have more than a passing knowledge of, with a predictable finale that I called within the first twenty or so minutes.  And I loved it.  If I’m permitted – and why the hell wouldn’t I be, it’s my blog – I’m going to reference pro wrestling here.  The best comparison I have for it would probably be the 1990 Royal Rumble.  Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior (unrelated to this movie) were entrants in it, and the match was perfectly booked to have them both in the ring against each other for the first time.  Oh also, SPOILER ALERT if you thought pro wrestling was real.

I’m not even going to tell you about the story, because relating the characters to you will just make you piece together the story yourself.  Watch this movie.  It has Tom Hardy at his most TOM HARDIEST.  Noah Emmerich does his trademark “you know, I enjoy being the asshole of the project” performance.  Former wrestler (haha if you think TNA counts) Kurt Angle is in it, ironically as a Russian Olympian gold medalist (Angle won a gold in ’96 for U S A).  Nick Nolte!  Joel Edgerton who was excellent with his less than twenty minutes of screen time in Animal Kingdom.

Look, this isn’t me being a wrestling fanboy biased film reviewer.  Warrior - right now – is my choice for my movie of the year, not just 2011 movie of the year.  Out of the nearly 365 movies I’ve watched so far, none of them touched me as much as this one.  As of this writing, I only have eight more movies to watch to complete my goal.  There would have to be one hell of a movie in that eight to dethrone Warrior at this point.

5 / 5

[photogallerylink id=125976 align=left] Hangover star, Bryan Callen, stopped by ABC Nissan Lounge to talk with Lady La about.. what else… Food! So of course the two played La’s game: Food Porn… and let’s just say things get a little sticky and juicy… take a listen!