Apt Pupil fue la peli que hizo Bryan Singer en 1998 justo después de Usual Suspects y que le significó su reconfirmación como estrella de Hollywood.

En esta peli un joven quinceañero se entera que su vecino es un ex oficial de la Gestapo y fascinado por las historias que puede contarle sobre la Segunda Guerra Mundial abusa de su sed de chantaje con revelar su secreto a las autoridades locales hasta tal punto que se le devuelve y desencadena una serie de eventos que marcan su vida y su carácter.

Esta peli tiene un terrible registro de producción. Basada en una novela de Stephen King se buscó producirla en cine a principios de los 80’s pero dos actores que se contrataron para realizar el papel de Dussander murieron. Cuando se lanzó la producción en forma en 1987 tenía tanto lastre financiero que el proyecto se canceló. Después de casi quince años los derechos volvieron a King y fue gracias a él que la peli se hizo con Singer quien redujo la historia, la violencia y cambió el final para finalmente tener el producto que podemos apreciar hoy en día.

La obra no deja más que admiración por un monstruo de la literatura norteamericana como lo es Stephen King. Qué impresión la influencia que es este señor en Hollywood (además que es de mis autores favoritos) y el listado tan extenso de pelis basadas en sus obras. De esta, una notable actuación del actor fetiche de Singer, Ian McKellen quien de la mano de su colega Brad Renfro fueron rotundos ganadores ese año en festivales independientes.

Excelente fotografía a cargo de Newton Thomas Siegel un importante engranaje en el equipo de Singer desde siempre, que lo ha acompañado a lo largo de su carrera cinematográfica e incluso televisiva en el capítulo que Singer dirigió de House M.D. ( si es buena esta serie? Debería seguirla? No se cada vez me parece que me estoy perdiendo de algo verdaderamente importante pero nunca lo tengo muy claro).

Finalmente, el dramatismo se complementa con una cara reconocida en este blog: John Ottman. Compositor de Valkyrie, The Invasion, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, X-Men 2, The Cable Guy, Usual Suspects y Public Access (estas últimas pertenecientes a la opera prima de Singer).

Una buena peli, Singer no desentona, por el contrario entretiene con su trama bien lograda. Me la quería ver hacía mucho tiempo y por fin la pasaron en Cinemax.

Well!? Are you, are you!? I know I am! La la la, lots of exclamations can only mean one thing, you’re right! I’m really high on my friend’s b-day cake, candies and more candies!  Okay seriously, I’m really excited about the new Sherlock Holmes movie coming out on December 25, 2009 for three big reasons:

1.  Sherlock Holmes
2. Robert Downey Jr.
3. Guy Ritchie

I grew up reading the various adventures of Sherlock Holmes and then later watching the Sherlock Holmes TV series with Jeremy Brett.  He did such an amazing job with that character that for many of us he will remain the best Sherlock Holmes ever!  I just loved the “Deductive Reasoning” of Holmes.  Thanks to a fan, there’s actually a two-part video that shows different clips from the series on the “Art Of Deduction.” It’s so much fun to hear Dr. Watson and Holmes discuss it all. check it out!

Ahhh great memories.  You know I was actually on Baker Street (Holmes residence) in London some years ago.  Yeah! I clearly remember standing on the street saying OMG, where is this Baker Street?  Saddened and upon seeing no signage in near sight, I went to lean against this giant statue.  And as I was leaning, I was like hmm…what would Sherlock Holmes do?  and as I started to ponder, my eyes went on the shoes! Well of course the shoes! This is no ordinary statue, I said.  This is the one that wears the shoes! And if it wears the shoes then it must also wear a pipe! Then as I looked up, there he was!  Sherlock Holmes shining in all his glory with his amazing hat and pipe!   It was truly wonderful hmm… Hey do you guys  know that people actually write to fictional characters?  Yes! Believe or not, even though it’s been over a 100 years since the character was created, people are still writing letters to their icon Sherlock Holmes at 221B Baker Street every single day!

Speaking of icons and getting inspired, you guys need to check out some of these fun videos that i found on the topic of Sherlock Holmes.

The Muppets perform a case of Sherlock Holmes - “With no evidence and no killer, there is no murder!”  hahaha

Wassup Holmes? What, son!? lol

By the way if you haven’t noticed yet, this is going to be a long post, so make sure you’re sitting down with an extra large cup of tea or coffee!  I’ll wait if you want to go now?  Ready? Okay so moving on,  did I tell you guys how I’m a big fan of Robert Downey Jr?  Yup, I’m proud to say that I stuck by him through it all. Regardless of what he has gone through in his personal life, he was and still is an amazing actor! By the way,  if Iron Man is your first Downey movie then I really urge you to check out his pre-Iron Man movies.  There are a lot of good ones but two of my favorites are, “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang” (2005) and the classic “Only You” (1994).

Here’s a cool favorite Robert Downey moments video made by a fan.  Enjoy!

So now that we’ve looked at Holmes and Downey, let’s talk about my third reason, which is Guy Ritchie.  I’ve really enjoyed watching his following films.

• Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
• Mean Machine (2001) (executive producer)
• Snatch (2000)
• RocknRolla (2008)

He definitely has his own unique style and you may or may not like it. But If you had to start I would say begin by watching “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels!”  If you don’t like crime, action, drama mixed in with dark comedy type movies then these might not be for you.

So here’s the latest trailer of his version of Sherlock Holmes!

Looks good to me, especially since Robert Downey Jr. is playing Holmes! Hee Hee but for the real deal we’ll just have to see how it rolls when the movie comes out on December 25th! SO! Any of you excited about the new Sherlock Holmes movie? or the original text in general?

My tea for the moment: How about trying some Sherlock Holmes blend from Adagio Teas? I kid you not, this is for real! I think I’ll have to invest in this one for sure but if you guys beat me to it, then please let me know if this is a yes or no

Want more fun stuff?

• Take the Sherlock Holmes Quiz
• The Ten Most Famous Quotations from the Holmes Stories
• Connections Between House and Holmes

Resources:

• Official Sherlock Holmes Page
• Sherlock Holmes on Wikipedia
• Author, Arthur Conan Doyle on Wikipedia
• The Complete Sherlock Holmes
• Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detectives
• The London of Sherlock Holmes
• The Statue of Sherlock Holmes at Baker Street Station
• The Sherlock Holmes Museum Shop
• The Sherlock Holmes Society of London
• Sherlock Holmes International

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang es una peli de Shane Black de 2005. No me queda muy claro si es un enlatado de una peli más vieja o si simplemente es la versión de la novela de Brett Halliday, Bodies Are Where You Find Them.

La peli es protagonizada por Robert Downey Jr. en una excelente presentación. Esta vez acompañado de la bella Michelle Monaghan en un thriller de corte políciaco cargado de un fino humor y una narrativa bastante divertida. Casi que sería mejor catalogarla como un anti-héroe en una peli de cine negro, donde el protagonista es un ladrón, que se vuelve actor, detective, amante de la protagonista, vengador y antes que todo es el narrador de la peli.

La peli empieza con unos créditos magníficos elaborados por Danny Yount y luego un corte a una escena vintage en los 80’s donde un pequeño mago es saboteado por una niña malcriada quien recibe su merecido del supuesto padre.

De ahí en adelante la narración envuelve a Downey Jr, Monaghan, Val Kilmer, Larry Miller, Rockmond Dunbar, Angela Lindvall y Shannyn Sossamon en un vértigo de situaciones circunstanciales que desencadenan en un asombroso acto de magia y un final escalofriante para el thriller.

La razón de la excelente narración es la amplia experiencia de Black como escritor de Hollywood que va desde TODAS las versiones de Lethal Weapon (incluída la 5 que está en preproducción), The Long Kiss Goodninght en 1996 con Geena Davies, Craig Bierko, Samuel L. Jackson y Brian Cox, Last Action Hero en 1993 con Arnold Schwarzenegger, F. Murray Abraham, el finado Anthony Queen e Ian McKellen, y The Last Boy Scout en 1991 con Bruce Willis, Damon Wayans y Halle Berry. No son las pelis más profundas ni más interesantes pero me entretuvieron mucho en la era del colegio.

Entourage’s Emmanuelle Chriqui and Val Kilmer have signed on for starring roles in the Russian conflict drama Georgia, directed by Renny Harlin. That’s right. Renny Harlin of Cliffhanger, Deep Blue Sea, Exorcist: The Beginning, Driven, Cutthroat Island, The Long Kiss Goodnight and Die Hard 2.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kilmer will take the role of a journalist involved in covering last year’s military conflict between Russia and Georgia.

The drama involves an American journalist and his cameraman caught in the crossfire and a Georgia native (Chriqui) and doctoral student who becomes entangled with them.

I like a few of Harlin’s films, but his recent work has got steadily worse. Chriqui was in You Don’t Mess With the Zohan and in the forthcoming Women in Trouble, but Val Kilmer can often bring the goods (then again he can also pick some bad roles). His time in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is true genius though. Check that film out if you haven’t already seen it.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang [2005] [d. Shane Black] [s. Robert Downey Jr, Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, Corbin Bernsen]

Robert Downey Jr. is fantastic in this and from the beginning you know you are in for a great ride.  Downey is hilarious throughout with some really good emotion sprinkled in for good measure.  And rivaling Downey for the best performance is Val Kilmer.  Kilmer is excellent here and arguably steals every scene he is in.  The chemistry between Downey and Kilmer is great and you can just tell they are enjoying themselves very much.  Michelle Monaghan is good as well and adds a lot to the already impressive and entertaining mix.  Influences from old mystery detective novels as well as action films, thrillers and comedy is just the start.  It is really hard to label this film as a certain genre so we won’t do that, it really adds to the film as well as there really aren’t any expectations.  Another great thing is Downey Jr doing the narration for this film.  Very funny and it definitely gives you another perspective.  From what I can tell, this film is criminally underlooked and therefore underappreciated.  This is a great muder/mystery/action/thriller/comedy and so much more.  A great story with some really smart turns and excellent execution.  A fun film with some emotion that needs to be seen by fans of Downey, Kilmer and people who enjoy fresh, unique films.  4.5/5

I chose to do the Kiss Kiss Bang Bang title sequence because I loved the different ideas that the producer had used throughout the 1:36 minute clip. One of the concepts that ran throughout the entire title sequence was the concept of playing with colors. The majority of the clip was in mostly grayscale. It wasn’t exactly grey scale, but it appeared to be. However, the producer used red to accent his key ideas. This helped move the viewer along.

Another concept was the lines. The lines continuously led the eye in the direction that the producer had in mind. Generally throughout the entire title sequence, you ‘read’ the video clip from left to right (which is normal to most people). However, in cases where the video went up and down, ect. the producer used lines to keep the audience moving the correct direction.

Throughout the entire title sequence, gunshots were prominent; either with sound effects or with the splatter showing up on the backdrop. When they were expressing the title of the movie, they showed Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and with the final bang came a splatter throughout the letters.

At one point there are lines spewing out of a gun, and the lines turn to vines covered with leaves. The leaves then lead off in all different directions, throwing the eye all over the place. Slowly they begin to turn into a resemblance of bushes. As they fade down, the audience realizes that they’re viewing a house from behind bushes/trees. They would be unaware of this concept if the bushes hadn’t been built before their eyes.

The way in which they light this building is also very interesting. The use a yellowish color to make it appear lit, even though it’s just the color contrast. It’s a cool way to play with the colors. Another thing that the producer does with the colors is when they switch between scenes. The screen goes black or solid of whatever color was previously visible. It’s a nice transition, without making it seem to choppy.

Towards the end of the title sequence, a woman gets thrown off of a rooftop. As her silhouette is falling, they fade the colors so that it shows up in contrast to the backdrop. Hence, the body is whiter when on the night backdrop and gets dark when on the moon. Once it finally falls to the ground, the producer used run stripes to seemingly ‘cut up her body’. They never once actually touched her, but they did add intensity that she would get hurt again.

I really liked this title sequence because it really appeared to me that the producer had spent a lot of time putting thought into whatever he would design. No one could have just thrown these concepts together to get the end result. And I haven’t seen the movie, and it makes me want—the entire point of the title sequence!

Wallpaper High Quality 1600×1200

According to THR, Jamie Foxx will be appearing in director Todd Phillips’ new film “Due Date”. Phillips (“The Hangover”, “Old School”), will be re-teaming with Hangover star Zack Galifianakis, but that isn’t the only duo reuniting. Last month it was announced that Michelle Monaghan would be joining the cast, which reunites her with “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” co-star Robert Downey Jr, who plays the lead. Now, with Foxx joining the cast, RDJ will be reuniting with his co-star from “The Soloist” as well.

RDJ is a soon-to-be father who has to hitch a ride with a college slacker (Galifianakis) to make his kid’s birth. Monaghan will be playing RDJ’s wife, while Foxx is his long-time friend who once dated Monaghan and still secretly keeps in contact with her.

Filming will begin this fall with a planned release date on Nov. 5, 2010.

All we need now is for Mike Tyson to join and we would really have some reuniting going on.

Check out this mash-up of posters that Collider cooked up:

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

كوميديا سوداء سريعة جدا
أداء إستثنائي من روبرت داوني .. اذا ماتعرف قدراته الحقيقية فهي موجوده في الساعتين هذي
يميز الفيلم أحداثه السريعة وتقلبها .. وممكن يشوفها البعض زيادتها عن اللزوم عيب

استمتعت بمشاهدة الفيلم (( مرتين )) وغالبا راح أشوفه مره ثالثه لزوم تجميع القطع المتناثرة

8-10

Dirty Dancing

قصة رومانسية كلاسيك
يستاهل المشاهدة اذا ودك بقصة خفيفة ومشاهد رقص ممتعه

8.5-10

ChungKing Express

رسائل حب وشاعريه متدفقه من شوارع هونغ كونغ
قصتين حب .. تبدأ وتنتهي في نفس المكان .. من ذلك المحل في ركن الشارع
إخراج رائع جدا .. يأسر العين مع القلب .. مع موسيقى تصويرية ستكون هي من تستقبلك في بداية هذه التجربة
إعتماد المخرج على كاميرا فيديو محموله كان لها لمسه فنية ساحرة

تقدر تقول باختصار عن الفيلم .. تجربة بصرية فنية معها الكثير من المشاعر

9-10

Michelle Monaghan is in talks to star in Todd Phillips’ new comedy “Due Date,” re-teaming her with Robert Downey Jr. Previously, Monaghan and Downey starred in “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and had great chemistry together that made for a great film. Todd Phillips, fresh off his box office smash “The Hangover,” has also cast Zach Galifianakis, who starred in “Hangover.” Read on for plot details and possible release date. The films pits Downey as the husband of a woman (hopefully Monaghan) who is set to deliver their first child. However, he must make a cross-country trip to get back to her and Galifianakis just so happens to be along for the impromptu ride.

The film is already set to be released by Warner Bros. on November 10, 2010, so expect the hype machine to build slowly once the cast is in place. If you haven’t seen “The Hangover” or “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” I suggest you find a local theater for “Hangover” and rent “Kiss Kiss”.

Catch Me if You Can

Stranger Than Fiction

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Se7en

Panic Room

Dr. Strangelove

Live and Let it Die

James Bond 007 Dr. No

Casino Royale

Casino

North by Northwest

Superbad

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Kiss from Tokyo

Wild Style (Sorry I couldn’t find the isolated title sequence but hey you can watch the beginning of the movie)

This list of movie title sequences/ending credits consists of some of my favorite ones. This semester in graphic design we are working on making a title sequence using flash and/or after effects. During my research I’ve found many title sequences that I have never seen before as well as ones that I’ve always loved (i.e. Catch Me if You Can). Hope you enjoy these and if you know any that are of honorable mention leave a comment and fill me in.

In related news, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is one of the most underrated and under-appreciated movies ever.

This is the first part of an ongoing feature where I’ll be sharing some of my favourite film performances of the decade. It’s impossible to compare and rank these performances, as they’re all very different and equally good, so I’ll just be posting 5 random performances at a time. It will probably be a five part series. My list is a work in progress, and I’ll be taking the rest of 2009 into account later on. These are just the acting performances that I liked best, so feel free to post your own opinions and suggestions!

Ryan Gosling – Half Nelson (2006)

We’re kicking off the list with one of my favourite performances ever, let alone of this decade. Ryan Gosling has proven himself to be one of the best young actors around (he easily could have been on this list for The United States of Leland or Lars and the Real Girl, too), and he earned a surprise Oscar nomination for his turn as Dan, a crack-addicted school teacher, in Half Nelson. The Oscars seem to be all about big “actor’s moments”, but Gosling gives a great subtle, well-rounded performance here. His character is quite likeable, yet you’re left shaking you head as he continues his downward spiral. Gosling does a great job of balancing Dan’s teaching persona – where he’s charismatic, and seems to genuinely care about his students – with his hellish private life. When Dan is caught smoking crack by one of his students, Drey (played magnificently by Shareeka Epps), he develops a special bond with her as both teacher and student try to help each other, and Gosling does a great job with his end of the fragile relationship. Gosling gives the kind of performance where you maybe don’t realise what an impact it has until the film is almost over, and then you’re left thinking about it for days. And in my opinion, that’s the best kind of acting.

Amy Adams – Enchanted (2007)

As far as comedic performances go, Amy Adam’s portrayal of Giselle – a fairytale princess who gets transported to modern day New York City – has got to be one of the best of the decade. Adams basically is a Disney princess embodied in this film. She’s got it all – the sing-song voice, the doe eyes, the bubbly personality. With the right balance of comedy and genuine affection, Adams is wonderful. She’s proven that she can do drama brilliantly, too (her turn as a conflicted young nun in Doubt was great), but I can’t think of many other actresses who could have pulled off this role. And while she is peppy, Adams is not cloying or obnoxious here. She sings and plays Good Samaritan as any Disney princess should – all while she helps Disney gently spoof their own genre.

James McAvoy – Rory O’Shea Was Here (2004)

McAvoy has proven himself to become one of the most popular young actors of the latter part of this decade (and has also managed to become an odd kind of sex symbol), but before he was getting starring roles in big films like Atonement, he played a young man with muscular dystrophy in Rory O’Shea Was Here (also known as Inside I’m Dancing). Playing Rory, McAvoy had the challenge of making the character charismatic and loveable, but also exasperating at times. Rory’s friendship with a young man with cerebral palsy is touching, and you’re heart goes out to the boys as you see their daily struggle to live a “normal” life, and deal with the prejudice that they face from others who do not understand their handicaps. Rory has a biting sense of humour, and McAvoy’s performance is both emotional and funny. For both fans and sceptics of McAvoy, I’d recommend checking out this movie.

Frances McDormand – Almost Famous (2000)

Frances McDormand’s role as Elaine Miller, the worried mother in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous, was certainly not the flashiest part of the movie. But while young William Miller is off cavorting with rock stars, his loving mother is the one who has to try and bring him back down to earth. She nags, and she’s a buzzkill, but in the end, she’s the one you’d want on your side. McDormand tackles the role with an interesting combination of humour and intensity. She’s a strictly religious luddite who frustrates her daughter to no end, but William is the one who’s always stuck close to her side. You can see the worry on Elaine’s face as her youngest son takes to the road. McDormand has quite a few humorous one-liners (“I’m sorry, I can’t do this. Rockstars have kidnapped my son!”) and while she delivers them with humour, she avoid the broad, raving-lunatic-mom territory that her character easily could have veered into. McDormand is what keeps this movie grounded in reality, and her finicky character is one that will remind many people of their own mothers.

Robert Downey Jr. – Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

2008 was a great comeback year for Robert Downey Jr. with Iron Man, and his Oscar-nominated work in Tropic Thunder. But my favourite Downey role that I’ve seen from this decade is from a few years back. In 2005, he was no longer the bankable star that he had been fifteen years prior, but Downey seemed to be past the worst of his addiction troubles that had crash landed his career in the nineties. Though it was not a commercial success, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a hilarious crime caper comedy, where Downey plays Harry, a mediocre crook who finds his way to Hollywood posing as an actor, and gets involved in a real life murder plot. Co-starring with Val Kilmer (who is actually pretty funny!), the two have great chemistry. Downey is hilarious, charming, and sexy here. His delivery is brilliant, and he plays the everyman-out-of-his-depth role like no one else. Downey is his best playing a smartass, and there’s plenty of witty dialogue and clever subtleties to compliment Downey’s charismatic acting style. It’s a really fun movie, and a lot of that has to do with Downey’s great performance.

Mark Gorelord – GoreMaster News

The Collector,  directed by Feast, Saw IV and Saw V writer Marcus Dunstan, follows the story of handyman and ex-con Arkin (Josh Stewart), who aims to repay a debt to his ex-wife (Daniella Alonso) by robbing his new employer’s country home. Unfortunately for Arkin, a far worse enemy has already laid claim to the property – and the family. As the seconds tick down to midnight, Arkin becomes a reluctant hero trapped by a masked “Collector” in a maze of lethal invention – the Spanish Inquisition as imagined by Rube Goldberg – while trying to rescue the very family he came to rob. Sound like something a few of you may check out?

Producer Mickey Liddell explains: “Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton have come up with a unique twist on the home invasion thriller that we think will have people gripping their seats,” says Liddell. “With its stylized blend of action and horror, the movie delivers on every level.”

Ralis Kahn (Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Dogma, Progeny, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) is the makeup department head

Gary J. Tunnicliffe (Mission: Impossible II, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Blade, Candyman) is the special makeup effects designer

Claire Jane Vranian (Halloween: Resurrection, My Bloody Valentine, Exorcist: The Beginning) is the special makeup effects administrator

Mike J. Regan (How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Team America: World Police, Men in Black) is the senior makeup effects artist

Frank Ceglia (The Sum of All Fears, Scream, The A-Team, Sorority Row) is the special effects coordinator 

Amazon Specials!

Oh my goodness, I have forgotten thee.

The past few days have been freaking awesome.

Tuesday, I went to the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s show at The Pageant. Before that, I had dinner at Pi with a group of rad people. YYY’s were amazing. Karen O, who is known for her crazy-cool get-ups, did not disappoint. She looked wicked, and I wish I could have her life. If even for a day…

Thursday I was at Pi again, for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Some of the Journey’s crew was there, so that was crazy fun. After KKBB wrapped up, we stopped by a party (or more of a ‘kickback’? ‘get together’?) for a few minutes, then headed home. I’d say all in all it was a pretty successful night.

I’m going to have some photos soon, of some great thrifty purchases I’ve made. I’ll be sure to post ‘em. Oh, and I got a new haircut. Because I am the way I am, I’ll probably post a photo of that too.

From the moment I first saw Robert Downey Jr. play Cybill Shepherd’s reincarnated husband in Chances Are, I’ve considered him one of my favorite actors. Early in his film career, he charmed us with his handsome face, his winning smile, and his witty humor. In more recent years, he’s played a variety of roles, many – but not all – of them more serious than the romantic comedy leads that first brought him fame. After watching The Soloist last month, I was reminded of not only what a great actor RDJ is, but how much I love him! So in the spirit of fandom, I’m counting down my Top Ten Favorite Robert Downey Jr. Movies. I’ve even tried to rank them!

• 10. Soapdish (1991) – I haven’t seen this movie in years, but from what I remember, and from the impressive cast roster (RDJ was joined by Sally Field, Kevin Kline, Whoopi Goldberg, Teri Hatcher, etc.), I am certain that it was entertaining and amusing. I’ve always found real soap operas very comical (mainly because they are so bad), so I am a fan of a movie that uncovers humor behind the scenes of a soap. Robert Downey is in the center of the action as producer of the fictional soap The Sun Also Sets. Much hilarity ensues. I need to watch this one again!

• 9. Heart and Souls (1993) – Someone must have been trying to capitalize off the popularity of Chances Are by making another “life after death” fantasy movie. In Chances Are, Robert Downey was the one who died and returned to earth in another body. In Heart and Souls, he plays a regular guy (Thomas) who has four guardian angels, who have been “attached” to him since the night they died in a bus crash while he was being born. The plot revolves around Thomas helping his angels take care of unfinished business before they can move on to the afterlife, and during that process he learns a thing or two about himself. This isn’t Oscar material, but it is a feel good story with likable characters and a few great songs (most notably “Walk Like a Man”). Another plus is that the story takes place in San Francisco, one of my favorite movie settings. Downey and Elisabeth Shue have good chemistry as the romantic leads as well.

• 8. Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) – Robert Downey looks good in black and white! Actually, he looks good in just about anything. He has a timeless appeal, whether he’s playing a Renaissance character in Restoration, a silent movie icon in Chaplin, or a McCarthy-era journalist in this movie. The George Clooney directed Good Night, and Good Luck was surprisingly good, and had a timely message about the role and responsibilities of the news media. Robert Downey portrayed real life CBS journalist Joe Wershba, and the most significant aspect of his character was his secret marriage to co-worker Shirley (secret because of CBS’ policy at the time that no co-workers should be romantically involved). Downey and Patricia Clarkson brought these characters to life, and this subplot humanized an otherwise issue-oriented film.

• 7. Wonder Boys (2000) – This is one of those offbeat, at times bizarre movies that is difficult to describe to someone who hasn’t seen it. It deals with writer’s block, the theft of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia, a transvestite named Antonia, and everything in between. As a story about the difficulties and adventures that come with being a writer, it’s enjoyable. As a tale of lost souls who are searching for companionship, validation, and a sense of belonging, it’s fascinating. Robert Downey, Jr. plays Grady Tripp’s (Michael Douglas) editor, Terry Crabtree. They have worked together for years and so understand each other. Terry is one of the more unconventional characters that Downey has played. Terry brings Antonia, a transvestite he met on the plane, as his companion for a weekend visit to take a look at Grady’s unfinished book. Before long, though, he dismisses Antonia when he becomes infatuated with James Leer (Tobey Maguire), one of Grady’s creative writing students. Katie Holmes also stars, as James’ friend Hannah, who is interested in Grady. But Grady is too busy juggling ex-wives and and a current lover – who is pregnant, and married to his boss – to reciprocate. What follows is a series of misadventures that lead these characters toward their own forms of resolution. A year after this movie was released, Downey’s problems with the law and substance abuse started to subside, as he successfully completed a drug rehab program, and his career had a resurgence (after a slump during his late ’90s personal problems). Wonder Boys, then, marked the beginning of Downey’s rise to critical acclaim that has continued throughout this decade (we’ll pretend like The Shaggy Dog never happened).

• 6. Iron Man (2008) – What a fun surprise this movie was! In addition to being a fantastically entertaining action movie with impressive special effects, it proved that Robert Downey can play any role he sets his mind to. I was more than a little skeptical when I heard he was playing the lead in an action hero movie. My thoughts included, “Don’t those roles usually go to younger, buffer actors? Isn’t he like 40? That’s just weird!” But, it so wasn’t! He was his usual charming self as Tony Stark, billionaire genius and inventor. And in the tradition of comic heroes, we saw how he evolved from a self-centered playboy to an iron-clad beast saving the world. And I needed not be skeptical about Downey’s age or physique. He looked awfully good in his tux and his Iron Man suit.   Click here to read my full review of Iron Man.

• 5. Zodiac (2007) – This movie about the 15+ year investigation into the real life Zodiac killer is part horror, part mystery, part drama, but they all add up to one solid, excellent movie. The murder scenes are some of the most disturbing ones I’ve seen, but as long as you can make it through those, you are in for a gripping account of this criminal investigation, and the toll it took on those involved. Robert Downey, Jr. plays Paul Avery, a crime reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, who becomes wrapped up in the mystery of the Zodiac killer. This unidentified killer starts sending clues to the newspaper through letters with encrypted codes. This draws the attention of political cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), who becomes obsessed with deciphering the codes. Both men eventually connect with Detective Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo), who has been assigned to the case, and this trio struggles over several years to unravel the mystery of the Zodiac killer. I love all three of these actors, so this movie was a joy for me to watch. They all did an excellent job with their roles, but especially Robert Downey. We see Avery go from a spirited, ambitious journalist to a downtrodden, substance abusing recluse over the course of the investigation. So, no, this isn’t a feel good movie. But as a factual account of the Zodiac investigation, it is intriguing, and as a study of the cost of obsession and professional ambition, it rings true and has me engaged from beginning to end. Another winner for Robert Downey!

• 4. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) – I watched this movie for the first time when it came on TBS last summer. Why didn’t I watch it sooner?! It was simply a delightful breath of fresh air! It is billed as a comedy mystery thriller, and I would stress the comedy part of that equation. Most private detective movies are very dark, with only the most deadpan of humor thrown in the mix. I loved how this movie didn’t take itself seriously – at all – and Robert Downey was largely to thank for its fun, quirky tone. He plays Harry Lockhart, a small time thief who stumbles upon an acting audition while trying to evade the cops, at which point he begins posing as an actor who shadows a private eye (Val Kilmer) to prepare for a new role. The ensuing chain of events reunites him with a childhood friend, and involves him in a murder mystery. What makes this movie so entertaining is Harry’s voice over narration, through which he points out the humor or irony of various parts of the story, interjects random sidebars, and occasionally backtracks. Here’s one example of his sarcastic narration: “Don’t worry, I saw Lord of the Rings. I’m not going to end this 17 times.” I love it when Robert Downey plays witty, irreverent characters!

• 3. The Soloist (2009) – Of all the character types that Downey has played, I think I like him best as a journalist. He plays tenacious reporter very well, no matter the decade. (1950s in Good Night and Good Luck, 1970s-80s in Zodiac, and 2000s in The Soloist.) And his character in The Soloist, L.A. Times columnist Steve Lopez, is very likable. He has a strained relationship with his son and wife (Catherine Keener), from whom he is separated. When he isn’t in the office or tracking down his next story, he lives a life of solitude in an apartment where he has never unpacked his moving boxes, and where his only solace is writing his column and listening to old records. Enter Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx), a homeless, schizophrenic musical prodigy, who Lopez encounters on the street and proceeds to develop an unlikely friendship with during the course of collecting information for his column. The more I think about this movie, the more I like it. Like I said before, Downey’s character is very likable, flaws and all. He is a lonely, troubled, but good-hearted man who you root for during the movie just as much as you do for Foxx’s character. I love movies that introduce us to lonely or isolated characters, and show what happens when they let down their guard long enough to let someone else in. Other movies in this category include The Visitor and The Station Agent. Go see The Soloist! It is well worth two hours of your life.

• 2. Chances Are (1989) – This is an odd little movie, but an enjoyable one nonetheless. Robert Downey plays Alex Finch, a college aged guy who is living in his car when he meets Miranda, who happened to be his daughter in a previous life. Not realizing that, he becomes interested in her, but before long she introduces him to her mother, Corinne, who coincidentally was his wife in a previous life. When they meet, something clicks in his head, and he starts to remember his previous life. The rest of the movie finds humor in young Alex acting like a father figure to Miranda, Corinne trying to figure out if Alex is really her Louie or if he’s just crazy, and family friend Philip trying to finally successfully romance Corinne. The Cher/Peter Cetera duet “After All” is perfect at the end of the movie, and ignoring the potential incest topic, the story wraps up nicely. Robert Downey is at his most charming and funny in this movie. Click here to read my thoughts in a previous post about Chances Are and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which I watched during the same weekend last summer.

• 1. Only You (1994) – Drumroll please……. and the winner is Only You! So why does a silly ’90s romantic comedy earn the #1 spot on my list of favorite Robert Downey, Jr. movies? Well, first of all, it really is a good movie – entertaining, funny, sweet, beautiful… Secondly, I have a nostalgic attachment to this movie. I watched this movie several times when I was in high school. I had the soundtrack. I had a celebrity crush on two of the actors (RDJ, of course, and Billy Zane). A few years later, I spent a summer semester in Rome, Italy, which inspired me to watch the movie again, since many of its scenes take place in Rome and other locations in Italy. This is probably my favorite romantic comedy of all time. All the actors are great for their parts: Bonnie Hunt, Fisher Stevens, Marisa Tomei, and most importantly, Robert Downey, Jr. He plays Peter, a charming man who knows a lot about shoes but doesn’t always tell the whole truth about everything else. I enjoyed the fantastical adventures that Peter, Faith, and Kate experience in bella Italy. Click here to read more of my thoughts on Only You.

So there you have it. My top ten favorite Robert Downey, Jr. movies. It looks like he has some more good ones coming up, including Sherlock Holmes and Iron Man 2. I’ll just pretend like Tropic Thunder never happened, since it’s about the only black spot on the last decade of his career. And, actually, Downey’s character was the best thing about that movie! It’s funny to me that he was nominated for an Oscar for that role, but I suppose he did play it well. Kudos to Robert Downey, Jr., for always doing an outstanding job with any role he is given, for always being thoroughly entertaining, and for overcoming his personal struggles to continue his successful and memorable acting career.

“Top 10?”,  “crush?”, you say? I know, what a superficial topic. But this is a pop culture blog after all, so what’s more poppy than superficial things? Granted, superficial lists on people to have crushes on aren’t my medium of expertise, but because I have papers to write, I believe I should give it a shot anyway.

AskMen.com, what I assume to be a manly site (because reading it makes me feel totally masculine), compiled this list of top ten fellows that hetero men shouldn’t worry about having man crushes on. Now I know I’m not enough of a straight man to judge, but come on, Gordon Ramsey?  A guy who supposedly looks like a “younger, tougher Jean-Calude Van Damme“? Jay-Z? You could have picked any huge-ass hip hop star out there and you went with JAY-Z (although I’ll give them credit for not picking Kanye West)?? Barack Obama? REALLY? (It HAS to be those pictures of him on the beach, isn’t it? I KNEW IT. ) What’s the criteria for being an eligible man-crushee anyway? And with this crazy age of the metrosexual and neosexual (WTF, I know) man, who knows anymore?

Thankfully, most of the comments on that site more or less disagreed with the list. That made me feel good, as I enjoy being right. And it also allows me to construct a different list of my own, because I enjoy plagarizing people’s ideas and having completely different answers suited to my needs so I can have something I can agree with. So here it is, the Top 10 guys you’re allowed to have a man crush on, as nominated by a heterosexual female, who bases her answers on hyped-up, overused stereotypes, and her own biased opinions (and don’t worry, I don’t watch Twilight or High School Musical so you’re pretty safe).

ps. I don’t watch enough sport (as in, I don’t watch sport at all), so I’ll apologize in advance to  guys who dislike LeBron James and would prefer a better sportsman to have a man-crush on.

Moving on to the list…

10. Dylan Moran. Arguably one of the best stand-up comics of his time. Distinctive traits including the recognizable drunkenness, charming Irish voice, witty comebacks, the ability to see vegetables as sinister, and generally insane and oh-so-agreeable-with no-nonsense views of the world. Surprises everyone in every role he plays. He was definitely the best character in Run FatBoy Run, hilariously hateable as an older Harry Potter in Shaun of the Dead, and amazing even when placed next to Michael Caine in The Actors. And don’t get me started on Black Books. I mean, isn’t it every guy’s fantasy to be Bernard Black? He does whatever the hell he pleases, smokes and drinks all day, doesn’t have to worry about personal hygeine or anything else, has a manservant who will always come groveling back, and still manages to live comfortably (one would argue).

Alternatively: Trey Parker and Matt Stone. It’s pretty hard not to admit that The Simpsons is going downhill (even if one can never imagine television without it), and Family Guy’s going a bit too far on the ‘hey, let’s just not make sense’ concept. But South Park is still better than ever. And you don’t get to mock everything cool out there and do it well without them gosh-darned balls of steel.

Rest of the list below the jump:

9. Robert Downey Jr. Could this be me trying to go up against with AskMen’s choice, which is Christian Bale? Quite possibly (actually, I consider this to be one of those oh-so-predictable choices). Why not, I say, since there hasn’t been such a fantastic recent superhero film until Iron Man came along (alright, I would argue that The Punisher was great, but see what happens when they try to come up with a sequel? Nobody watches it, because you screwed up and the original guy drops out. Also, The Punisher didn’t have Tom Morello behind a kickass film score).

Anyway, why not Robert Downey indeed? It isn’t just Iron Man, he’s played plenty of iconic classics, and he’s played them well. He can sing and dance without looking like he should be hanging with the Village People (which he probably could). He’s an eloquent public speaker- we all know Mickey Rourke thinks so. Even Jason Statham would turn gay for him. AND he had a lovely kiss with Val Kilmer in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and still manages to kick ass.

Alternatively: Jason Statham. Jason Statham is this generation’s coolest Hollywood action guy. Like Arnold, but with greater acting ability and an accent that doesn’t make me want to hear fifty bad impersonations of.

8. Slash. Here’s proof that image on top of talent could win you love. I could name a bunch of BETTER guitar players  (Steve Vai comes straight to mind, as does Joe Satriani), but no one’s as recognizable as Slash. Sure, Hendrix will always be #1 to a bazillion music fans, but he’s kindof dead, and I’m no fan of necrophellia. And sure, there’s always going to be Jimmy Page or Keith Richards or Zakk Wylde, but again, who else could spot a hulking profile as recognizable as Saul Hudson? Despite those years of excess, going sober, selling out in the form of video games, and failure with superbands, Slash will always stand as freakin’ awesome, even if it’s just because he can look badass  by posing around with that unkempt hair that probably smells as bad as Antonio Banderas, a Les Paul and a cigarette. Also, Sweet Child of Mine without that guitar riff would turn into Sheryl Crow’s disaster of a cover (kindof like that version of Blackbird in Across the Universe. Horrible). Sorry, Sheryl.

Alternatively: Aside from Hendrix, David freakin’ Bowie. How else could you explain that apparent Mick Jagger encounter?

7. Ed Helms. What is not to like about him, or the characters he play? Helms has to be the most masculine-looking, if not one of the more memorable/obnoxiously hilarious correspondents on The Daily Show.

Helms is also most well-known as Andy Bernard in The Office, whom I argue, should be everybody’s favourite. See, Dwight’s a fascist, and Jim’s your typical woman’s favourite, Ryan’s an asshole, Michael’s the annoying daddy figure, Oscar’s gay, Kevin is an image of blankness, Stanley’s only into pretzels and naps, and Tobey’s the one that you empathize with. Andy, on the other hand, has realistic manly anger management problems, cool pants, can speak Pig Latin, was outrageously caring to Angela, wins at a capella, and can play the guitar, banjo AND sitar (sortof). And we all know that being able to play a music instrument (in real life) automagically gets you both male and female love. Anyway, looking forward to the release of The Hangover which will feature more than a two-minute cameo of Helms. He’ll be the next Seth Rogen (except cooler) before you know it.

Alternatively: Simon Pegg. Very cool, very heterosexual, lovable Mr-nice-guy who’s hilarious, arguably ordinary-looking but still stands out, and Cornetto’s favourite person. Or Jason Lee, but only when he’s in a Kevin Smith film. Or Dave Grohl. It doesn’t matter how many billion times he sold out, you just can’t hate Dave Grohl.

6. Quentin Tarantino. How many men with massive odd-shaped chins deserve such a title, aside from Buzz Lightyear? Does one need to explain the utter masculinity of Tarantino? Sex, violence, kickass soundtrack, irony. There we go, a winning formula for a kickass man’s man movie.

Alternatively: Judd Apatow, although he’s a bit too obsessed with  bromance movies and predictable endings (but hey, it works for some). My other pick would be Robert Rodriguez, but Spy Kids was kindof lame, but he did make up for that big time with movies such as Sin City.

5. Chuck Palahniuk. Fact: you don’t get recognized as one of America’s greatest contemporary writers by being lame, bitches. Sure, not every single novel he’s ever written is loved by all, but that’s realistic and admirable, right? We all know Palahniuk’s gotten some love in the previous entry, so I suppose I don’t need to emphasize more. What’s already mentioned is the key to his awesomeness- Palahniuk’s ability to gross us out, make us laugh, and be absorbed into his world of excess, insanity and good ol’ satire. No topic is off- limits to Palahniuk. The man is overrated for good reasons.

Alternatively: Irvine Welsh, for more no-limits, kickass writing styles, or Don Delillo, another personal favourite, who’s apparently been compared to Palahniuk a number of times. Delillo is nowhere as disgusting, but just as observant and reflective, and great for a nice, long, read.

4. James “Jimmy” McNulty. Hey, if AskMen could pick some guy from Mad Men, I could pick a random fictional character too. And I reckon my pick wins, but I suppose it’s only because I haven’t actually seen Mad Men (I know, you are hereby allowed to stop reading because of this). I bet The Wire would be equally as awesome, if not more so. And Jimmy McNulty, I would argue, appears to be better looking than Mad Men guy.  McNulty has real problems- I would say that he’s your standard alcoholic cop who drives drunk and all that jazz, but despite all the jerky things he’s done, I suppose somehow we as viewers could still manage to forgive him, because let’s face it, the guy is intriguing. And so fantastically charming.

Alternatively: Jack Bauer. ‘Nuff said.

3. Stephen Colbert. Great American, or greatest American? Move over, Obama. Colbert isn’t just a man. Colbert’s a cult. How else can you explain having a species of beetle named after you? And beetles are pretty damn manly.

Alternatively: A philosophical, ever-so-quotable ladykiller in sharp suits? Who else but Barney Stinson?

2. Hugh Laurie. Nothing seems gets more kudos than he underdog who makes it to the top. No other fictional doctor IMHO is a bigger asshole and more masculine-but-still-so-lovably sarky and respectable. House isn’t just about a bunch of doctor’s sleeping with each other (*cough*Grey’s Anatomy*coughs), it’s about a ruthless antihero who does his job in the most unethical way possible that pisses everybody off, but he still wins in the end (while looking like he he doesn’t give a rat’s ass at the same time). But that doesn’t make Hugh Laurie himself any less cool. The man could play a good number of instruments and sing (rather fantastically), make great comedy, be Stephen Fry’s best buddy, write, and he’d might aswell been a pansy little dumbass back in those Blackadder days. Oh, how did the dopey little guy who was second best suddenly become pure freakin’ win? TALENT, that’s how. And complimentary facial hair.

Alternatively: I hate to say it, but I can’t think of anyone else, and Hugh Jackman came straight to mind. Unfortunately, Hugh Jackman didn’t write a kickass satirical crime novel, and he ruined the proper comic book version of Wolverine for me forever. You’re still allowed to have a man-crush on him, I suppose.

1. Bruce Willis. Has Bruce Willis ever failed in any way, shape or form? (you: too many sequels of Die Hard? Me: Okay, point taken). But come on, how many times have we accused Bruce Willis of ruining a film or not kicking ass? I can’t think of any. He was cool even as a diseased freak in Planet Terror, so there. AskMen may have rated Clint Eastwood as the ultimate tough guy, but I’m sticking with Mr Willis.  Sure, he’s starting to look like a younger, buffer, rockstar version of John McCain, but whatever. Everybody loves Bruce Willis. That should be a sitcom, by the way.

Alternatively: Sean Connery aka The Ultimate Man’s Man, best Bond ever, he who gets cooler the older he gets… He would have been on #0.5, but these numbers don’t usually exist so I decided to give him this special mention instead. I only really picked Bruce Willis because the first thing that came to mind after reading that original article was “where the heck is Bruce Willis?”  and besides, every comment on there already mentioned Sean Connery.

Next time I have a big paper to write: Top ten girls you’re allowed to have a woman crush on. Maybe.

Let me be clear from the offing, I love me some James Bond.

I find Ian Fleming’s colorful lead character consistently compelling, notwithstanding the fact that he’s sexist, racist, condescending, narcissistic, and sometimes a bit cruel. Despite his flaws, or perhaps because of them, Bond always seems very human to me. He doesn’t always make the smart decision. He sometimes gets tripped up, either by a wily foe or by his own shortsightedness. He falls in love, quite regularly.  He gets the ever-living-hell beat out of him, quite regularly. Yet he always manages to come out on top, by relying on his wits, his training, or just plain dumb luck.

*Beware of Spoilers*
One of the things I appreciate about the Bond books is that the storylines don’t usually depend on ridiculously cartoonish plots or characters. In Goldfinger, Bond is up against Auric Goldfinger, a crafty gold smuggler who is using precious English gold to help finance SMERSH (the Russian syndicate dedicated to the eradication of spies like James) AND has a diabolical plan to rob Fort Knox. Okay, when you put it like that it DOES sound a bit outlandish, but it’s a tribute to Fleming’s storytelling abilities that the story feels almost plausible. True, Goldfinger is a bit larger than life, and his plan is pretty daring in its scope. But as Fleming explains it:

To Bond there was nothing fantastic, nothing impossible about Goldfinger since he had heard the details of Operation Grand Slam. The theft of a Stratocruiser, as Goldfinger explained it, was preposterous, but no more so than his methods of smuggling gold, his purchase of an atomic warhead. When one explained these things, while they had a touch of magic, of genius even, they were logical exercises. They were bizarre only in their magnitude.

That, to me, is part of the reason why the books are so much better than the movies (although, those are good, as well). At the core of each book is generally a very ordinary crime or theme (smuggling, gambling, larceny, code breaking, counterintelligence, etc.) that has been pushed to the extreme level of plausibility. And, thankfully, there are very few gadgets or gizmos, almost no lasers or missiles (aside from Moonraker), and no corny puns or zingers.

And then, there are the women. In Goldfinger, I was exceedingly amused to discover that the female leads, damsel-in-distress Tilly Masterson and tough-as-nail crime boss Pussy Galore, were BOTH lesbians. I actually cackled out loud. What a great plot twist! Poor, old, lovelorn James! Of course, my initial glee was ruptured in the last few chapters. After Tilly’s untimely demise at the hands of Oddjob, Bond’s reaction is “Poor little bitch. She didn’t think much of men.” That line could very well be the lowest point for me in all the Bond books I’ve read thus far. I thought it encapsulated the very worst in Bond (see those traits listed earlier). I mean, WTF? A bitch? Why? Because she had the gall not to trust the man she (perhaps rightly) blames for the death of her beloved sister? Or perchance it was more because she had no interest in Bond’s legendary lovemaking skills? Either way, I thought it was harsh and very nearly ruined my enjoyment of the book. Still, there’s Pussy right? Nope. Turns out that, in the end, James’ powerful alpha-maleness was more than enough to convince Pussy to give up both her life of crime and her sexual orientation. *sigh* Not the old “all a lesbian needs is a good man” trope! How disappointing.

So, in the end, Goldfinger was much as I expected it to be: a thoroughly entertaining, though nonetheless flawed, secret agent escapade. I only wish it had been a little less predictable. But then, it IS Bond.

P.S. Did I mention the play-by-play account of Bond and Goldfinger’s golf game? It was quite possibly the longest chapter I have ever read. It felt like I was reading it for daaaays. Merciful heavens, how I hate golf.

The Last Boy Scout
Shane Black scripts, Tony Scott directs, Bruce WIllis and Damon Wayans star. Better than I imagined. Something to do with corrupt politicians and American football and private detectives and stuff. Some nice deadpan actioner bons mots.

The Long Kiss Goodnight
Shane Black scripts, Renny Harlin directs, Geena Davis and Sam L Jackson star. Better than I remembered (I saw it at the Odeon when it came out). Something to do with an amnesiac government assassin, before Bourne made it sexy. Geena Davis is most enjoyable as a prim suburban housewife/teacher, and as a foxy stonecold killer. The ending is a bit meh, but everything getting us there is fun.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Shane Black scripts and directs, Robert Downey Jnr and Val Kilmer star. Just better all round. Something to do with a minor crook somehow ending up in Hollywood as a possible leading man in a new blockbuster by way of mistaken identity, and teaming up with a private detective as bodies start piling up. Good, old-fashioned hokey stuff.

Cloverfield
Handycam, destruction of New York, scary stuff, produced by JJ Lost Abrams, cast full of nobody you’ve heard of; I thought it was great, the LLF not so.

Bongwater
Early Frat Packer, with Luke Wilson as amiable weed dealer in destructive relationship with Alicia Witt. Jack Black, Andy Dick and Jamie Kennedy are all in there too.