Lovelace (2013)

One infamous film revolutionized the entire porn industry. And newly destroyed its star's life. Amanda Seyfried stars as adult film icon Linda Lovelace, a woman coerced into and abused by the porn industry before taking charge of her life.

Lovelace attempts to tell the story of Linda Lovelace, in her own words. Basically things boil down into a he said she said regarding how her adult film career got started and how she's been perceived since. If you aren't familiar with the story, allow me to sum it up for you thusly: 

A young woman meets and falls for a guy who discovers she has an incredible talent for oral sex. Her talents are put on display in a mainstream adult film and she becomes world famous. She attempts to break free from the business and when the dust is settled, she becomes the most famous name in the anti-pornography movement. Her case being, she was drugged and forced into every scene she's ever done and she hadn't received a dime.

Apparently, parts of her story are true and others are wildly embellished so, it's really a he said/she said situation and the truth lies somewhere in the middle. This movie though, contains events mainly from her POV. It's a very curious case and one that I would encourage you to read up on if you're interested.

Anyway, because this movie is told from her pov, her "coersion" is a, bit more heavy handed as we see it.

With Lovelace, it feels like you're watching two films. One being her rise to stardom from what appears to be everyone else's pov and the other from her pov, which essentially fills in some missing parts and characterization. In essence, you're watching the same sequence of events, but one is a dream and the other a nightmare. After Deep Throat becomes a cultural and mainstream success, Linda Lovelace becomes a household name. Six years later, she's renouncing her fame and business and is planning on releasing a tell all about her marriage to Chuck Traynor, claiming he's an abusive scumbag who forced her into the business.

I got into this movie for two very good reasons: Amanda Seyfried and Boobs. Specifically, Amanda Seyfried's boobs. [But I wasn't planning on complaining about anyone else that wanted to put the boobs on screen either. What can I say? I'm a simple man.] I was skeptical of her casting as Linda Lovelace, but she rocked it. I'll shout if from the heavens, "AMANDA SEYFRIED KNOCKED THIS ROLE OUT OF THE PARK!" The highs, the lows, the mannerisms of a woman from innocent teen to strong confident woman who is eventually worn down by the ways of scumbags before she takes control of her life.

Obviously, there's a lot of porn culture in this film and that will probably bring about nostalgia for a good amount of people, but you gotta remember, It was a different time. A braless time. And in my opinion, there was only one thing that cast doubt on the Lovelace story. At one point in the film, she paints Hugh Hefner in a negative light. I refuse to believe he's anything other than a charming gentleman who gets bitches by respecting them and not referring to them as such. So basically her whole life is a lie.

Violence? Yes
Explosions? Heh. No
Nudity? Yes

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Hitchcock (2013)

A love story between influential filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock and wife Alma Reville during the filming of Psycho in 1959.

After finishing North by Northwest, Hitchcock was somewhat depressed. He needed a new project and nothing intrigued him. He came across "Psycho," (which was was a book based on the notorious serial killer, Ed Gein.) And pitches his idea to turn this into a horror movie to Paramount Studios. They pass and claim that like Vertigo, it is a risk and one they will not take because he still owes them money from that film.

Talking to his agent, he estimates that he can get Psycho done for about $800K and decides to self finance, fully aware of the fact that he'd be basically pouring all that he had into it and if it flopped, he'd be in ruins. He doubts himself, of course, but his wife is 100% supportive and he's overall committed to his vision. Everyone else just doubts him as he's never done a horror picture at this point and jumps with both feet in. His first move was to buy every copy of the original book so that no one would know the ending until the premiere of the movie and despite studio and MPAA pressure (He fought hard to get the shower/knife scene in the film) and illness, he gets the picture done.

Paramount, still believing the movie to be a flop, decided to run the film in only two theaters and refused to put any money towards marketing. Since he didn't get the premiere he desired, Hitchcock set about a plan to self market the movie and marketed the fuck out of it. There were  crowds of people lined up for blocks trying to see it opening night.

The reviews came in, the crowds loved it and the rest is history.

Stray Quotage:

"I look forward to this Mr.Hitchcock."
Call me hitch, hold the cock."

"He's a good lookin chap. But plywood would be more expressive."

"Your contract also says paramount doesn't have to release any films that could cause us embarrassment"


"Unlike the last 5 Mitchell and Lewis films you're so proud about."

Hitchcock is a behind the veil look at the creation, filming and distribution of psycho. It also provides a glimpse of the life of Alfred Hitchcock during that time, including his drive, passion and motivations for doing what he does.

There's all sorts of Hollywood in references and a bit history in this film and apparently Vertigo was a shit movie that happened the last time he "did something different" which was why the studios gave him so much shit for psycho. I enjoyed it though. Until the last act anyway.

I still do not believe that Scarlett Johansson can act. They cast her as an actor inside of the film. So we get double of her not acting and none of the breasts. But Helen Mirren as his wife, Alma Reville? She was a completely badass and devoted character and Helen acted circles around the cast. It really wasn't fair. Especially to Scarlett.

Violence? No
Explosions? Of angst
Nudity? No

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Kill the Irishman (2011)

The true story of Danny Greene, a tough Irish thug working for mobsters in Cleveland during the 1970's.

 
Rags to riches to jail to snitches to riches to death story of a Danny Green, an Irish orphan who became a mafia connected union king pin in the 70's. As most mobster biopics, this one starts slow but is filled with gun play and explosions. ALL the explosions.

Heem cahhn't beee keeled!

Oh, hey, almost forgot. Fat Val Kilmer (aka Val Eatmore) also stars in this flick. I Just thought you should know that.

Despite all the action, and explosions this movie bored me. And I'm a man who loves his "actsplosions"

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WWE For All Mankind: The Life & Career of Mick Foley (2013)

For two hours (which flies by very quickly), we are treated to the biography of Mick Foley. One of the most hardcore wrestlers and one of the few who have reached the top of the mountain and held the WWF championship, all while becoming one of the most popular and well liked people ever.

It was a long road to get from Mick Foley, a boy with a dream to Mick Foley, WWF champion and best selling author

Early in his career, he started getting noticed for his hardcore "lay it all on the line" style of wrestling, although that's something he never really wanted specifically, very candidly he states that he got pigeonholed and it paid. He discusses his feud as (Cactus Jack) with Vader and how brutal it was and how each man wanted the feud to continue but it's implied that WCW pulled the plug  after Vader ripped off his damn ear. Shortly after that he took Cactus Jack and damn near built ECW into the hardcore paradise before heading to the WWF as Mankind and the rest is history. 

On topic rant:

I find it interesting that in these films, the subject is almost always found in the stands watching a match a some point. That's usually the match they claim inspired them into wrestle. The camera always finds them somehow. In an arena full of people. It's just weird. Like they somehow had knowledge and sat near the camera just in the case they got famous and that footage could be called on.

These are like the hardest to write about, which is why I so often don't. Sometimes they are better just seen.

The behind the scenes stuff is fascinating. Specifically in wrestling as it's really only recently been exposed, yet is still tightly controlled. It's easy to forget that wrestlers aren't just characters, they are people too, and they are doing a job, just like everyone else.

The cool part of these biographies is that you can always count on everyone involved to to speak candidly and out of character about their experiences and  there's just something about Mick Foley that draws people in. Maybe it's his confidence or his demeanor but there's something there. It draws you in and keeps you entertained. This is one of the few films that I would even recommend to non wrestling fans as it really is enjoyable. There's blood and violence, because that's the style he wrestled, but beyond that, it's a good look  into the man behind the curtain.

 

Violence? Yes
Explosions? No
Nudity? No

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