If I had to pick one movie that contained a character that I could safely say was one of the meanest yet move loveable people all at the same time I’d pick As Good as It Gets.    The degree to how insensitive Melvin Udall (played by Jack Nicholson) is cannot be measured.

He has a complete distaste for virtually every human being which is amplified by his horrible case of O.C.D.   And yet in the most dire situations he shows his humanity and compassion for those in need and for those he truly knows are good people.  However, it doesn’t come without a price and it surely doesn’t come without him spitting out some of the funniest, yet mean lines to ever be uttered on film.

Hope you enjoy this “best lines” clip from the film.

I’ve heard a lot of mixed reviews about this movie and I think I can understand why.   In case you haven’t heard of it,  It’s Kind of a Funny Story is about a clinically depressed teenager who gets a new start after he checks himself into an adult psychiatric ward.   While that one line sentence doesn’t do the movie justice, the premise holds true and how this teenager gets well is of significance.

There are two points of view as to why I think the movie sits well with some and not so well with others.   For depressed and anxious people like myself, the movie is awesome because I think it really hits home how bad depression can be.  It’s something one cannot control and it sucks.   For “normal” people, I can see why this movie is annoying.   “What the hell is up with some 16 year old who has a good life wanting to kill himself?”

Anyway, there’s more than that.   The film is kind of an Indy flick with great music.   Solid performances by Zack Galifianakis, Kier Gilchrist and Emma Roberts.   I don’t want to get into the meat of the film because that would ruin it.   I’m just here to say that I’m on the side for the film, and not against it.

Check out the trailer after the jump…..

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Now, I’ll be the first one to say that anything having to do with Rocky after the movie Rocky IV should probably be stricken from the record completely.   However, you can’t deny that there weren’t some moments from Rocky V and Rocky Balboa that were worth seeing.

I mean you have to think awfully hard on Rocky V but I think that Rocky Balboa was a decent attempt at a closure type of film.   I mean Stallone looked disgusting because of the steroids but there was still some vintage Balboa in there that I clung to.

Perhaps the best moment in the entire movie is this scene right here.  It’s Rocky giving his son a “motivational speech” of sorts.  Truly a life lesson that if you watch you can certainly appreciate.

I know for a fact that I’ve mentioned the character Meathead on this site before.   In fact I know I did in an article about an obscure alien we liked.   Hell I think I’ve even recommended the movie Meatballs II before.   But I never took a step back and recommended the original.

And for anyone who grew up in the late 60s and 70s, they can probably appreciate this movie as one of the classics.    It is an Ivan Reitman film and pretty much got Bill Murray’s film career off the ground.   There’s actually a plot out there that’s only one sentence that I happen to enjoy:  “Wacky hijinks of counselors and campers at a less-than-average summer camp.”   That about sums it up.

Put broadly, it’s a great summer camp movie and really one of the first of its kind.   It explores all that funny crap you see at summer camps like sex, lakes, competition, friends, ridiculous music, pranks, and all that other fun stuff.   It’s a must see.

Trailer after the jump…..

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I debated putting John Hawkes in here because there’s a part of me that feels there’s a ton of people out there that know who he is.  However, that doesn’t mean that a ton of people know his name.   So yeah, John Hawkes is a perfect candidate for “That Guy Actor of the Week.”

Most recently you might know John from the show Eastbound and Down.   He doesn’t have the biggest part as Dustin Powers but you certainly know the guy.   I feel like John just has a likeable quality.   He’s always in some kind of role where you know he’s sort of average, even simple, but you can’t help but to like the guy.

I first liked him in The Perfect Storm and have been following him ever since.  Other notable roles would be him playing a cop in American Gangster and he even played Lennon on Lost!  Anyway, here’s a shout out to you John.   We look forward to seeing you in more than the 112 titles you’ve already appeared in.

A clip of John after the jump

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I’ll start off this post by saying “yes, this is clearly a spoiler” so don’t even bother clicking play if you haven’t seen the movie Hoosiers.   If you have then I guarantee you that this will give you goosebumps.   I mean anyone that’s ever played a sport can appreciate a scene like this.

I swear when he says “I’ll make it” I nearly get tears in my eyes every single time.   And the fact that coach Dale changes the entire play because he knows Chitwood’s gonna sink the shot is amazing.   What a great scene.

OK here’s the deal with this recommendation.   It’s easily one of the worst movies of all time.  However,  I know there’s a contingent out there who once thought that Jim Carrey was the funniest guy in the world.   And during that time that you loved him, you wanted to see every movie he was in before he was famous.   That’s where Once Bitten comes in.

It’s one of the dumbest movies in history about a female vampire who needs to survive by turning a male virgin into a vampire.   While the entire movie can be void if she just bit some little kid, she decides to go after Carrey’s character.   And oddly enough she bits on the groin and not the neck.

Carrey has two ridiculously lame friends.  The female vampire is played by Lauren Hutton and her “butler” is Cleavon Little, the black guy in Blazing Saddles.   Again, this is a horrible movie but you see some vintage Carrey in it.   He does a funny Robert De Niro impression and displays some funny dance moves.  If not for these moments I wouldn’t have brought the movie up.

Anyway, watch at your own risk.  Trailer after the jump….

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Garret Dillahunt is one guy who I guarantee 99% of you do not know by name which is exactly why he’s up here.   It’s hard to describe the type of role that Garrett finds himself in.   But let me try.   Dillahunt is a good looking guy who finds himself in a good looking role but also one of a mischievous nature.   I can’t really describe it.  There’s just always something a little peculiar about his characters.

Anyway, Garret’s got 54 titles to his name.   He’s done a lot of television recently.  In terms of roles I liked him in, I’d have to include No Country for Old Men, and his psychotic character in The Believer.

That’s about all I got.  A clip of Garret after the jump

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Ever see the show Undercover Boss?  It’s a great concept.   On the show CEO’s pose as regular employees of the companies they run.   They do this to get a real sense of their company and not just a false sense that perhaps their subordinates might report.   Well, there’s a movie that hold this exact same concept.  That movie is Brubaker which stars Robert Redford and it came out in 1980.

A mysterious man (Redford) arrives at a prison as an inmate and witnesses rampant abuse and corruption, including open and endemic sexual assault, torture, worm-ridden diseased food, insurance fraud and a doctor charging inmates for care, amongst other things. During a dramatic standoff, he reveals himself to be the new prison warden, Henry Brubaker, to the amazement of both prisoners and officials alike.

What follows is an amazing attempt at transforming the prison to one that is acceptable for human use.  One that is fair, just, and humane.  Along the way we see some tough times for Redford.   And we also get a great psychotic appearance from Morgan Freeman!

It’s a must see and I highly recommend it.  Trailer after the jump….

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I bring up Katie Lowes for two reasons.   The first is that she’s got a great gig on a new show called “Scandal.”  This is by far her biggest break of her young career.   Lowes has been on and off acting since 2004.  I just wanted to give her credit where credit is due because up until now she’s had relatively small parts in films and television.  She played Tina in Super 8 and you might have caught her on Grey’s Anatomy or The Closer.

But the real reason I’m bringing up Katie is because she went to my high school.   Hello there Katie.  It’s Nat.  Just want to congratulate you on busting your ass to finally get yourself a regular part on television.  It’s well deserved.  You’re as gorgeous as ever and I completely regret never making an attempt on you in high school.

Now I’m married and I guess it was never meant to be!  Hahaha.  Seriously though.  Congratulations and I hope the show sticks.   See a clip of Kate after the jump….

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