The Beer Man Review of "The Spectacular Now" 2013 **1/2

    With sly humor and an intensity of feeling, THE SPECTACULAR NOW (directed by James Ponsoldt) creates a vivid, three-dimensional portrait of youth confronting the funny, thrilling and perilous business of modern love and adulthood. This is the tale of Sutter Keely (Miles Teller), a high school senior and effortless charmer, and of how he unexpectedly falls in love with "the good girl" Aimee Finecky (Shailene Woodley). What starts as an unlikely romance becomes a sharp-eyed, straight-up snapshot of the heady confusion and haunting passion of youth - one that doesn't look for tidy truths. The film was written by Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber (500) DAYS OF SUMMER and also features wonderful supporting turns from Brie Larson, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. "Plot summary courtesy of www.rottentomates.com."

     I went into this movie blind.  My wife recommended this film to me so I did some research.  This movie has a 92% on Rottentomatoes.com.  Let me take this short minute to divulge my opinion of rottentomates.  For me as a movie fan this is my go to site and for the most part I have very much agreed with their ratings.  It gives me a great bookmark for the films I'm embarking on.  I'd say that I've agreed with rottentomatoes on a 70% grade ratio.  This film is rated R and classified as a comedy/drama/romance and runs 95 minutes beer transfer is 1 hour and 35 minutes.

    Beer sighting at first glance of this film, yes it's a beer I've mentioned before and apparently is gaining high regards as the American go to beer. It's PBR, and that's not professional bull riding, it's Pabst Blue Ribbon. Hell Yeah, go American beer.  This is a coming-of-age film, you see a young teenager choosing between what is a comfortable situation and a teenager dealing with issues he doesn't want to address with alcohol.  This movie paints a lot of good pictures of the goodness of growing up a naïve teenager but knowing that eventually you'll have to accept the good and bad of growing up. 

   This film delivers very well on the emotional side and connects you to the actors very well.  This is carried out thru great directing and great acting.  With all the positives I've said this is where the story disembarks for me.  There are many "spectacular" scenes in this film but although I was connected and invested at times with this film I had to fight thru the slowness of the film.  I fell in love with so many characters in this film, I was so invested, but I felt like we all showed up at 7/11 to get snacks or nachos or old hotdogs and all of a sudden everyone disappeared. 

     This is a coming-of-age film and if there weren't so many out it wouldn't bother me but since I've seen The Way Way Back I have to recommend it over this film.  This film had some very intense scenes and attacks life, for that I respect it but at times it was very slow.  There are so many stories that I wish would have been addressed more from certain siblings that were never really addressed and I wished we could have been more involved in Aimee Finicky's character which we were left hoping for more.  I do not recommend this film for kids I do recommend this film for teenagers.  For me this film was slow and very depressing at times.  I recommend a PBR for this film of course, it's not a bad film but it's a rare time I disagree with the rating on rottentomatoes.  As always be kind, drink beer, and rewind if you still have a VCR.

Justin "The Beer Man" Bryan

    

The Beer Man Movie Review - "Stoker" (2013) **

     After India's father dies, her Uncle Charlie, who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her unstable mother. She comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives and becomes increasingly infatuated with him.

    I'm just going to be honest this is a tough film for me to review.  I went into this film sorta blind I had heard film critics mention it and review it but really didn't know what to expect.  This film was directed by Chan-wook Park and stars Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode and exasperates for 99 minutes.  It's listed as a Drama/Mystery/Thriller but I would list it as a put on your seatbelt and take some valium movie.  (The beer man does not endorse the usage of valium or a seatbelt made of hemp unless prescribed by a Doctor).  I'm not a horror film fan but try to keep my mind open to any type of film and give every film a chance.  I've been pleasantly surprised by such films as Cabin in the Woods and The Others, which this film reminds me of.

     The imagery and scenery and camera placement in this film was very impressive.  The acting was amazing to me, each actor in this film no matter how big the role, delivered, the story just sent me up and down the stairs literally.  There were many scenes that involved stairs and the importance of being high or low on the stairs.  There were times in this film you believe you're watching a coming of age film, then you're watching a mystery film and trying to figure out the perpetrator, then you're watching a horror film.

     I'm giving this film 2 beer cans and I'm actually hesitant about this rating.  I believe horror film buffs may truly adore this film but this type of film doesn't appeal to me but there were so many great factors in this film that did grasp my interest.  There is no beer in this film but that doesn't mean I'm not going to recommend a beer.  Wait for it, wait for it, sorry I made you wait so long.  Nicole Kidman does a great acting job in this film, and she's Australian, so I recommend Fosters, it's Australian for beer.  I don't think this is a bad film I believe if you like horror/psychological films you may enjoy it. As always drink more beer, watch more movies, and always be kind.  Thanks for reading.

Justin "The Beer Man" Bryan

                              

“Great” Scott’s Pretty Darned Great The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Review…of Greatness

“Great” Scott’s Pretty Darned Great The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Review…of Greatness

Title

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

IMDB Page

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1170358/?ref_=nv_sr_1

One-Sentence Summary

Reluctant hero Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) continues to lead a band of dwarves to reclaim their mountain home from Smaug, the dragon (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch).

What’s Great About It

This movie was just fun to watch.  The “barrels” scene (I won’t ruin it by saying more for the uninitiated.) was a high point. While this movie isn’t going to win any awards for great acting, it has enough of everything to keep a non-Tolkien reader interested and entertained.

What’s Not-So-Great About It

You definitely need to see the first Hobbit movie to get into this one, and you better be ready for two more if you commit to this one.  Also, most of the dwarf characters are pretty interchangeable.  There are a few that stand out, but not so much that I didn’t call them anything more than “the tall one,” “the old one,” or “the fat one.”  I’m sure Tolkien purists are picking up their prop Elven swords to come find me after a comment like that.  Finally, if you’re not a dragons/elves/dwarves movie type of person, this movie won’t convert you.

Rating

GGGg (3.5 Gs)

Explanation

I will start this explanation by saying that I haven’t read any of the Tolkien books.  I am, however, a fan of RPG video games of the knights-and-dragons persuasion, so I’m about in the middle of the field on these types of movies.  I reluctantly went to see the first Lord of the Rings movie and enjoyed it, loved the second one, and liked the third one until the ninth different ending…it just seemed like it ended nine different times.

Anyway, I can honestly say I enjoyed this movie.  Martin Freeman plays Bilbo Baggins as the skilled, but reluctant hero, really well, even though the movie loses focus from him from time to time.  Richard Armitage plays the leader (and next in line to be king) of the dwarves, Thorin Oakenshield and does a good job as portraying him as a guy walking the line between trying to do what’s best for himself and his men and what’s the best for the dwarves, in general.  He’s trying to reclaim the dwarves’ mountain home, which unfortunately, has been claimed by a squatter in the form of a fire-breathing dragon named Smaug.  Not only is Smaug gigantic and dangerous, he seems better educated than 90 percent of the general population…dragons must have good schools.  Obviously, the dwarves meet all kinds of trouble on the way from point A to point B, getting help from Gandalf the wizard, a guy who can turn into a bear, Orlando Bloom (sorta’), a guy named Bard who’s not a bard, a female elf who’s apparently not really in the books (which is pissing off some Tolkien fans), and a shifty town leader who seems like he’s not a very nice guy.  Most of these characters are played well enough not to be distracting…but this movie’s not looking to create any Oscar winners. 

The movie is fun, relatively well-paced (if not a little long), has some great (and a bit over-the-top ridiculous) action sequences, and is absolutely gorgeous to look at.  I’ve been known to pick apart movies from time to time, but this is the type of movie I just see to enjoy. 

Overall, this is the type of movie that most people either want to see or they don’t.  If you’re in the minority that’s on the fence, make sure you see the first movie in this new trilogy-plus-one, and then give this movie a shot if you like the first one.  It’s pretty entertaining and a fun ride.

“Great” Scott’s Truly Great Nebraska Review…of Greatness

“Great” Scott’s Truly Great Nebraska Review…of Greatness

Title

Nebraska

IMDB Page

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1821549/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

One-Sentence Summary

A schluby guy and his drunken, slightly demented, psychologically broken old man take a trip from Montana to Nebraska to claim a Publisher’s Clearinghouse-esque million-dollar prize.

What’s Great About It

The acting is top notch.  Bruce Dern deserves every bit of praise he’s gotten.  June Squibb (Dern’s wife in the movie) is also phenomenal.  Considering Will Forte also played MacGruber, he does an admirable job in his role as Dern’s son.

What’s Not-So-Great About It

This movie is pretty damned depressing.  Even when it’s funny, which it is, it becomes depressing a few seconds later.  I heard the movie isn’t really in black and white; the color just quit because the movie was so depressing.  While that’s a credit to the actors and the director, this movie won’t be for everyone.  Also, Bob Odenkirk stands out like a sore thumb in this movie…he does a good job, but he’s clearly in “Saul Goodman” overreact-to-everything mode.

Rating

GGG

Explanation

What would you do if your aging, drunken father won a million dollars?  What would you do if you knew damn well it was a sham, but couldn’t convince him otherwise?  Well, that’s the question in this movie.  Bruce Dern plays Woody Grant, a drunken war veteran who is convinced he’s won a million bucks.  He’s so convinced that he keeps “escaping” to walk from Montana to Nebraska on foot to claim it.  Finally, his son, David (Will Forte), figures that driving Woody and proving him wrong would be better than letting him walk on his own.  So, this depressing road trip begins.  Along the way we learn that David is an unmotivated dweeb and Woody and his wife (played pretty hysterically by June Squibb) are only married because Woody was kind of unmotivated to find anyone else.  We learn A LOT more along the way…sometimes even too much, but I’ll leave that for you.  We also learn that Woody’s family is pretty scummy, adding to the depressing vibe of the film.

I won’t get too much deeper into the story, but I will explain why I only gave this three Gs (Good) out of five.  Don’t get me wrong, the acting in this movie is spectacular…Dern and Squibb certainly deserve the acclaim they’ve been getting.  Forte and Odenkirk are both great, and Stacy Keach does a really good job of playing Woody’s former business partner.  The problem this movie has is something I’ve figured out is “reverse synergy.”  The acting is great; the casting was brilliant; and the direction and cinematography do a great job of making everything look cloudy, bleak, and hopeless.  The problem is, it’s too hopeless and the movie just isn’t as entertaining because of it.  The parts work together to make the movie LESS entertaining.  After every humorous exchange, I started to feel a little depressed again.  I know that the movie is just doing its job, but maybe it did it TOO well. 

In summary, if you want to see a good movie that’s well acted, well directed, and well shot, go ahead and try this out…but if your pet recently died or you just lost your job, maybe avoid this movie…it might push you over the edge, if you know what I’m saying…

Beer Man Movie Review-"Drinking Buddies" (2013) ****

     Luke and Kate are co-workers at a Chicago brewery, where they spend their days drinking and flirting. They're perfect for each other, except that they're both in relationships. Luke is in the midst of marriage talks with his girlfriend of six years, Kate is playing it cool with her music producer boyfriend Chris. But you know what makes the line between "friends" and "more than friends" really blurry? Beer. (Summary provided by www.imbd.com)

     This movie is directed by Joe Swanberg and stars Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Ana Kendrick and Ron Livingston.  This movie runs 90 minutes/ an hour and a half and is a comedy/drama/romance/beercomadramaance.

     If any readers didn't realize it's a fact that I like beer.  So I get to watch this movie that is involving brewery workers.  The beer geek in me was overly excited and the film delivers.  This film does a great job of showing the entire brewing process from showing the different types off beer, the hops, the cleaning process and the sales side of beer.  BEER SIGHTING OVERLOAD for this film, I'm going to give a shout out to the beers/brewery's mentioned or involved in this film if I forget any suds I apologize cause sweet beer should never be forgotten.  These are the beers/brewery's that I noticed mentioned in the film: Old Style by Pabst, Abita, Revolution Brewing, Double Fist, 3 Floyds, New Glarus, Founders Brewing.  Beer is a big prop/actor in this film.  I believe it is used as catalyst and subsidiary in many situations in this movie.


     Now it's time to talk about this film as the movie not the beer paradise I previously mentioned.  Immediately I was connected to brewery workers Luke and Kate(Jake Johnson and Olivia Wilde) and then I was introduced to their significant others Chris and Jill(Ron Livingston and Ana Kendrik).  This is where the film starts the captivate me.  I'm totally involved and entranced with the characters because of the great acting.  The director/Swanberg does a great job of introducing and showing the evolution of each of these characters.  I didn't know which actors I wanted to be just friends or  romantic involvement, but this film does a great job of keeping me on the edge of my seat to see what's going to happen.  I'm sure a lot of people may find this film slow or boring but if you commit to these characters they will lead you on an a emotional, physical, psychological ride.

     I don't think this is a movie for kids but would highly recommend it for couples and adults.  I think some teenagers would like it for the beer drinking/partying and being free spirited but may be turned off by the relationship complexity.  For readers that don't want anything to do with a relationship movie or parents that let their kids watch this film at the 37 minutes and 10 second mark Olivia Wilde shows her smile aka she is naked.  The beer man gives this film a solid 4 beer cans and I recommend PBR/Pabst Blue Ribbon as the beer for this film because that's the beer I was drinking when I watched this movie.  But to me this is not a film you have to be drinking beer to enjoy, I woke up the next morning and watched this film drinking coffee and it still was amazing.  I think this film gives a great glimpse into characters reacting to everyday life and battling with the decisions of growing up as a person and growing up in relationships.  It's only my opinion but I think this is a great film.  As always watch more movies, drink more beer which this movie will definitely help you do, and be kind.  Thanks for reading.

Justin "The Beer Man" Bryan

Mickster Movie Review - "Saving Mr. Banks" (2013) ****

     In 1964, Walt Disney Studios released the film Mary Poppins to critical acclaim. The story, about a magical nanny who arrives to care for a dysfunctional family in London, is often considered one of the best pictures ever released by Walt Disney. It received an astounding 13 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won Oscars for Best Actress (Julie Andrews), Best Editing, Best Score, Best Visual Effects and Best Original Song ("Chim chim cher-ee"). The soundtrack is beloved by many, and is one of the true stars of the film. The movie also holds an impressive 100% rating on the movie review aggregate page, Rotten Tomatoes. With so much success, it would be assumed that the path to getting the film made was an easy one. Nothing could be further from the truth. The book that the movie is based on was a favorite of Walt Disney's daughters and he promised them that he would get the movie made. The only problem was, the author, P.L. Travers, had no intention of selling the rights to her beloved book and character to Hollywood. It would take Walt Disney over 20 years of reaching out to Travers before he finally convinced her to let him make the movie he wanted. Saving Mr. Banks is the story of the 2-week period when Walt finally convinced her to get the film made.

     Emma Thompson is at her absolute best as P.L. Travers opposite Tom Hanks as Walt Disney. Both thespians are two-time Oscar winners and the talent they bring to these roles is necessary here. Lesser actors would not have worked in this instance. The movie splits its time focusing on the 2-week period in 1961 when Travers visited the Disney studios to hear the sales pitch, and back to Travers as a child in the early 1900's and the relationship she had with her father (Colin Farrell). I was surprised by how much of the movie is flashback to her childhood and how her paternal relationship would shape the focus of this story so much. While I think this portion of the story is definitely necessary for the film to work, it's during a few of these times that I felt the movie slowed down a little too much though. I would have liked to have seen more of the interaction with Travers and Walt, rather than these flashbacks, but it's a minor quibble. It's not that it doesn't work, it's just that I enjoy the other stuff SO much more. When Travers is in Los Angeles working with Walt, scriptwriter Don DaGradi (Bradley Whitfield), and musicians Robert and Richard Sherman (B.J. Novak and Jason Schwartzman), the movie is at its pinnacle and is so great. Travers was a big time curmudgeon and uncompromising in her beliefs and the stress she causes the 4 gentlemen trying to work with her is hilarious at times. She's so hateful at times you just want to slap her, but Thompson plays it with a humor that you can't help but laugh it, while also cringing on occasion. It's obvious everyone gets tired of working with her but the guys know deep down how great this picture could be and they will do all it takes to get Travers to change her mind. It takes Walt opening up about his own past to really understand the importance of the character to Mrs. Travers and why the story is so important to her.

     Saving Mr. Banks is a very good film, but I really think it's only going to appeal to those who loved Walt Disney or the Mary Poppins movie. I'm a huge Disney fan, so I am definitely a target audience for this. I wouldn't be surprised though by someone who didn't care for it. I would understand why they are not as high as I am. I do think Emma Thompson's performance is reason enough to give it a look though. It's a crime she wasn't nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. Hanks is great as Walt Disney and I'd like to see him in that role again in a biopic. Sign me up for that.

Mickster

Mickster Movie Review - "Fruitvale Station" (2013) ****

     Fruitvale Station is based on the real life murder of 22-year old Oscar Grant III, who was shot on New Year's evening in 2009. The film depicts the events of December 31, 2008, the last full day that Oscar would live, before being shot by BART train cops in Oakland after he is detained following a fight on the train. The incident was captured on several cell phone videos and shows Oscar on the ground and being secured, when for no apparent reason, one of the officers pulls his gun and fires a shot into Oscar's back. The officer would later testify that the thought he was pulling his taser gun and was shocked that he fired his pistol. The officer was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and served less than a year in prison. The judgment set off riots in the Oakland area following the verdict.

     Michael B. Jordan, who was brilliant in the tv show "Friday Night Lights", stars as Oscar and carries the film on his shoulders. His portrayal of Oscar is one of the acting highlights of the year and should have earned him more attention at awards time. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Octavia Spencer plays Oscar's mother, who's birthday was on New Year's Eve, and is a pivotal part of Oscar's development throughout the film. Director Ryan Coogler shows that Oscar is no model citizen, he served time for dealing drugs, but that he was perhaps trying to turn his life around before the unfortunate events occurred that ended his life. He was improving his relationship with his mother and also his girlfriend, Sophina (Melonie Diaz). He had a 4 year old daughter, Tatiana (Ariana Neal), who he appeared to love very much and was trying to be an active participant in her life. It's his relationship with Tatiana that is the most heartbreaking moment to me and the last line of the film is just crushing.

     Fruitvale Station is not a perfect movie, but is solid all around. It is under an hour and a half long, and moves at a brisk pace. The movie tries not to be obvious in its judgments, it does a good job of presenting its version of the facts. The officer's version of the events obviously portrays the situation as a little more chaotic with Oscar and his friends posing a real threat to them. It's hard to know the exact truth without being there. It does appear that a young man was shot though who was not an immediate risk to the officer as he was on the ground face first with his hands restrained behind him. It's just a sad situation. I give the film a high recommendation, if for no other reason than Jordan's performance as Oscar.

Mickster

Mickster Movie Review - "Short Term 12" (2013) ****1/2

     Short Term 12 is one of those films that is going to sneak by 95% of the people unnoticed, and that is unfortunate. This is a fabulous film that begs to be seen by everyone, especially if you have ever worked with troubled kids, or have been involved in a children's foster program. I do not fit in either of these categories, so I can't speak to the authenticity of the film, but for the most part it "felt" very real and genuine to me. The film clocks in at just over and hour and a half, but this is the type of film I wanted to see more of. I wished it was 3 hours long. I connected with most of the characters here and I was surprised to find myself nearly moved to tears on several different occasions...alright, there was at least one time I definitely had to wipe the tears away. I can't help it.

     The story focuses on a young, twenty-something counselor named Grace (Brie Larson), who works at a small foster care facility which houses at-risk teenagers. Grace has a tremendous gift because of the poise and control she has in this situation, which would break many lesser people. It's obvious it takes a special kind of person to work with children like this, and Grace is definitely one of those individuals. Mason (John Gallagher Jr.), who also fits the description, works at the facility as well and is involved in a relationship with Grace. He is amazed by her ability to work with the children, but he also senses something from Grace's past that she is holding onto, and he works at encouraging her to open up. Grace is able to keep her secrets to herself, but when a new teen, Jayden (Kaitlyn Dever), arrives with similar emotional issues, Grace must confront her own past in order to help out the troubled teen.

     Since it's completely character-driven, a movie like this is only going to be as strong as its acting. Director Destin Cretton hit a homerun in that regard. I'm not very familiar with any of these actors, but I will definitely be keeping an eye on some of them. Brie Larson was an absolute joy to watch in the lead role, and it's a crime that she is getting no recognition during awards season. John Gallagher Jr. is equally as talented in this film. His character is fabulous opposite Grace and I found myself really rooting for them as a couple. That's the problem with so many romances in movies today, you just don't care about what happens to the characters. Here, I was actually rooting for Grace and Mason, almost as if they were real. They go through struggles throughout the film, but when they get some good news late, I couldn't help but weep for them. You really want these two to succeed.

     While the two main leads are great, I was shocked by the acting performed by some of the teens in the foster care facility. Kaitlyn Dever is wonderful as the troubled Jayden. The movie really relies on her character to work and she nails it. Dever has done previous work and it shows that she has some good training in her background. The same can't be said for Keith Stanfield. This is the first film for Stanfield, who plays a troubled black teen named Marcus. Marcus is the oldest child in the facility, at 17, and a lot of the other kids look up to him, though he is quiet and reserved. One of the best scenes in the film is when Marcus and Mason are in Marcus' room performing a rap that Marcus has written. It is about his life and how he was abandoned, and while the lyrics are foul, the words are very meaningful and it when it is over, you have to just be quiet and reflect on it a second. It's a very powerful scene.

     I can't recommend Short Term 12 enough. I really struggled with giving it a full 5 stars. If it holds up on a 2nd viewing, I may have no choice but to go the full 5 on it. It's that good. It is a pure drama. If you're one of those that needs action, explosions, a lot of comedy...this won't be for you. It's strictly a character-based drama but it's one of the best ones to come around in a while. Most people will not have ever heard of this film, but if this review makes you seek it out, I will have done my job. This movie deserves to be seen by a wide audience. Bravo.

Mickster

The Beer Man Movie Review - "Jack Ryan: The Shadow Recruit" (2014) **

     Jack Ryan, as a young covert CIA analyst, uncovers a Russian plot to crash the U.S. economy with a terrorist attack.  This film is 105 minutes, converted that is 1 hour and 45 minutes.  It was directed by Kenneth Branagh and stars Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Keira Knightley, and Kenneth Branagh. 

     This film grabs you at the beginning and you feel totally connected and invested in the Jack Ryan (Pine) character.  Kevin Costner, as Thomas Harper, controls each moment that he is on screen.  The acting was superb in this movie, although I feel this was a lesser part for Keira Knightley.  She is an amazing actress and I believe her acting abilities weren't fully utilized in this film.  There are some intense action scenes in this film and at times I felt really connected but the story line to me was insufficient.  The evil plot of the end of the world was believable, but at times it became mundane.  It felt like this film couldn't find what it really wanted to be.  At times it seemed like it wanted to be the Patriot Games or Mission Impossible but just didn't hold up.  There were times in the movie that I wanted to check the time on my watch but I don't wear a watch.  There were a few scenes where I was totally captivated but there were also a lot of scenes where I was yawning.

     I went to see this movie with my family.  I'm a family of 4, 3 girls and 1 guy, they loved this film, me not so much.  I just accredit that to them enjoying the fact that they get to see heartthrob Chris Pine on the screen for an hour and 45 minutes.  I would not recommend this film for young kids but would recommend it for ages 13 and up, at parents discretion, because of the intense action scenes.  The acting in the film is great, each actor played their parts well, especially Costner. With that said the plot holes and slow scenes couldn't save this film for me.  Beer recommendation for this film is Samuel Adams lager because this is a very patriotic film.  If you're in for a decent action film, very fast paced at times and good acting, check it out.  The Beer Man gives this film 2 beer cans. It's not a bad film but it's not that memorable.  As always drink more beer, watch more movies and be kind.  Thanks for reading.

Justin "The Beer Man" Bryan

Mickster Movie Review - "Drinking Buddies" (2013) *1/2

     Well, that was a letdown. Drinking Buddies is a small, independent film that I had heard some positive things about on a movie podcast I listen too. That, plus it's 82% favorable rating on Rotten Tomatoes, compelled me to give this little picture a try when it showed up on Netflix instant streaming. I was expecting a lighthearted comedy romp about two friends, one a man the other a woman, who work together and enjoy each others company while drinking beers outside of the workplace. It sounded fun.....That's not what I got. What I witnessed was a much less entertaining story about two people that I really didn't care about. And that's a shame because the actors for the most part do a decent job here, but the story they were given to navigate is very dull.

     Olivia Wilde and Jake Johnson are the two main stars of the film. They play Kate and Luke, two co-workers at a beer production plant. The two get along very well and are close friends, but there is definite flirtation going on between them. The problem is, both are already in committed relationships; Kate to Chris (Ron Livingston) and Luke to Jill (the always beautiful Anna Kendrick). Drinking Buddies examines these relationships and how the lines are blurred once "friendship" isn't enough. That's really all there is to it. It's a real simple premise and the film does a good job of keeping things moving foward as it checks in at just an hour and thirty minutes, I just wish more would have happened. You keep waiting for there to be a conflict, anything exciting to happen, and by the time it comes it's way too late and I just didn't care anymore. Drinking Buddies isn't a bad film necessarily, it's just boring and easily forgettable, and that's a shame. It could have been so much more. The one main positive for me was Anna Kendrick. She brightens up any scene she is in, as she usually does in whatever movie she stars in.

The Beer Man Movie Review - "World War Z" (2013)

     This film is rated PG-13 and runs 116 minutes. For us non-math conversion people that's an hour and 56 minutes.  It's directed by Marc Foster and stars Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos and Daniella Kertesz. It also contains a lot of guns, explosions, airplanes, helicopters, and...plot spoiler...zombies. I reckon.
United Nations employee Gerry Lane(Pitt) travels the world in a race against time to stop the zombie pandemic that is baffling and crushing armies and governments across the globe and threatening to destroy humanity itself.

     This film captures you quickly with Brad Pitt in the starring role and it's a film you know is going to contain a lot of action and it delivers.  It starts out like a laid back smurf on crack, Papa smurf is a good example, then goes full speed. (Full disclosure, papa smurf nor any other smurfs were shown in this movie and there were also no crack references.)  Its a high intensity action film, but with that said, I was wanting more of a story, more explanations, more character alignment and placement.  At some point you ask yourself is this just to unrealistic? Well Beer Man this is a zombie movie and apparently some people are prepared.  If zombies are your thing, or you like seeing Brad Pitt acting in extremely intense situations, go WWZ. 


     BEER SIGHTING BEER SIGHTING!  I love seeing beer in movies. Wait I love seeing beer period.  There is a scene in the nonstop zombie action where Gerry Lane and his family get one night to feel semi-safe and a beer appears.  They find refuge with a family and they offer them a cerveza, the beer they offer is a Budweiser.  I'm not a huge Budweiser fan but if I'd been running from zombies all day I'd take any beer.  But readers you have to ask yourself what would be your end of the world beer?  This movie puts you in that mindset, I can't blame it, good action.

     This is the perfect movie for a lazy Saturday afternoon.  I don't recommend it for a date movie.  I don't recommend it for kids.  I think this movie is fine for ages 14 and up, again it's always at the parents discretion.  If you're a "Walking Dead" fan I think you would love it.  I've only seen the first season and I thought the acting was great but I'm just not a big fan of that type of film.  The beer I recommend for this film is Budweiser because I give them credit for having a possible end of the world film and taking the time to put a beer in there.  I give this film 2 1/2 beer cans.  If you like this type of film go check it out and as always drink beers, watch movies and be kind.

Justin "The Beer Man" Bryan

Mickster Movie Review - "The Heat" (2013) **

     I guess this was my weekend to pick films that are A.) Comedies  B.) Are pretty predictable C.) Have a few laugh-out-loud scenes  D.) Have language that make a sailor blush...You could take my previous review of We're The Millers, change the plot, and the rest of the review would fit almost identically. The Heat is directed by Paul Feig and stars Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. Feig and McCarthy previously worked together on Bridesmaids, a film I enjoyed much more than this one. Bullock is FBI agent Ashburn who is great at her job but her cockiness has earned her no friends in the department. Her colleagues understand perfectly why she is single. She is up for a promotion but due to her uptight behavior which has alienated her, she is not given the job right away. She is sent on a special assignment to Boston to track down an elusive drug kingpin, named Larsen. If she can solve this case, her chance at the promotion will be much higher. What awaits her in Boston though is more than she can handle, and that comes in the form of foul-mouthed and loud street cop Mullins (McCarthy), who is not happy to see a fed running her case now. The two female officers find their styles clashing, and their heads butting, until they realize they must work together to solve the case.

     McCarthy was new to me when she showed up in Bridesmaids, a role which earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination, and if I had a vote she would have been my choice for the award. She is definitely the funniest part of this movie as well, but it just doesn't work nearly as much. When I say she is foul, I mean FOUL. In my review of We're The Millers, I got on a soapbox about the use of F-bombs in movies when it wasn't necessary. Here it makes a little more sense with her being a Boston cop, but my gosh is it really necessary to have so much of it. She uses the F-word like I use the word "the". It just takes away from things I feel. Don't get rid of it altogether, but cut back. It's just not necessary. Bullock is my early choice this year for Best Actress, not for this, but for her amazing performance in Gravity. I've never been a huge fan of her comedies, but almost always enjoy her in dramatic roles. This performance doesn't change that. Just like We're The Millers, there are some good laughs here but the story is pretty predictable and you really don't care about any of the secondary characters. It's just an average film. If you are fan of McCarthy or Bullock, give it a shot, if not, you can skip it.

Mickster

Mickster Movie Review - "We're The Millers" (2013) **1/2

     We're The Millers is a by-the-book comedy which is very predictable, but it provides enough good laughs to keep you entertained throughout. Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber (Dodgeball), the film stars Jason Sudeikis as David, a small time pot dealer who gets his stash and cash stolen by a group of thugs. Since he is unable to pay his boss and supplier (Ed Helms), he is sent on a mission to Mexico to smuggle a "smidge" of marijuana across the border. To disguise himself as a simple John Q. Citizen, David hires three individuals to pose as family members. Rose (Jennifer Aniston) is a stripper who lives in the same building as David and has had conflicts with him in the past. Kenny (Will Poulter) is a socially awkward nerd that lives in the same building and admires David. Casey (Emma Roberts) completes the "family" as a homeless teen who is rough enough to be able to take care of herself. The foursome pack themselves into an RV, to complete that family look, and it's off to Mexico they go. As expected, things do not go as planned and various hi-jinx ensue.

     As I mentioned at the start, the film is very predictable. There's not much here that hasn't been done before, but that doesn't mean there aren't some laughs to be had. There are definitely some good chuckles, and even a scene that got me so choked up I ended up pulling a muscle in my side as I was laughing so hard. Unfortunately, this is also a movie where most of the laughs are the ones you saw in the previews for the film. Everything else is just okay. I do want to say, this is NOT a movie for the kids. The language in this movie was rather shocking. There were enough F-bombs to occupy a good gangster flick. It's something I really don't get either. I'm not opposed to that word being used in films at all, but when it's put in just for the sake of having it there, it's pointless and harms your enjoyment of the movie. Unfortunately, this seems to be an increasing trend in films. I'll get off my soapbox now. In closing, nothing great to see here but there are some good laughs and it'll keep you entertained. You could do a lot worse.

The Beer Man Movie Review - "The Wolverine" (2013)

      When Wolverine is summoned to Japan by an old acquaintance, he is thrown into a conflict that forces him to confront his own demons.  This film is directed by James Mangold and stars Hugh Jackman, Will Yun Lee and Tao Okamoto with a few pleasant scenes with Famke Janssen as Jean Grey.  Let me say that I'm a huge comic book fan and love superhero movies.  I've enjoyed seeing comic book stories portrayed on the big screen.  With that said I've left the theater feeling a little cheated from time to time. This film does the same, it's not terrible but it's not great.  It's not as bad as X-Men Origins: Wolverine but it doesn't have the crispness and freshness of X-Men: First Class. 

     The acting and graphics in this movie were good. The story had some plot holes but it was sufficient.  The film really wants you to connect with the traditions of the family in the movie; it's a long shot but possible.  The problem with this film is there are too many plot holes and you can't grasp on to a true villain. With that said there are some good mindless action scenes and I did want to eat with chopsticks afterwards and that is not derogatory at all. There is a scene about chopsticks and tradition. Warning plot spoiler!!!!!!!---Wolverine has claws, and I was not impressed with them in this film. 

     This is a movie for kids 10 and up but always at the parents discretion. Only a couple of semi- intense scenes for your in-laws and grandparents. There is an intense World War reference, but for the most part it's a clean film.  The beers I would recommend for this film are Molson Ice because Logan is Canadian and Yebisu because the film is based in Japan.  The Beer Man gives this movie 2 beer cans. It's a perfect Sunday afternoon movie when you want some action,  little plot to worry about and a little bit of western/eastern love.  As always thanks for reading and watch more movies and enjoy life.

Justin "The Beer Man" Bryan

The Beer Man Movie Review - "The Iceman" (2013)

        A film based on the true story of Richard Kuklinski, a notorious contract killer and family man. When finally arrested in 1986, neither his wife nor daughters have any clue about his real profession.  Directed by Ariel Vromen, and starring Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder, Chris Evans and Ray Liotta.  The acting in this movie is fantastic, amazing and superb... and I'm not at Disney World.  (Readers please listen for the Disney reference if you choose to watch this film.)  Michael Shannon depicts his character perfectly as he IS the iceman, the character and the actor. Winona Ryder plays her part well. She makes you believe what her character stands for and compels you to connect with her role for what her character's placement in this film is.  Chris Evans, of Captain America fame, proves that he can play a character other than a super hero, nice job.  Do you think Ray Liotta can play a tough guy gangster? Well yeah, he's done it before and he does it again.  David Schwimmer also does a nice job in this film. No this isn't a "Friends" episode and he was in the film for a while before I realized it was him, but I was pleasantly surprised.  There are also two great cameo performances in this movie, I'll give you clues of who the actors are.  One of them was in Spring Breakers and the other was in Blade.

     This film grabs you at the beginning and keeps you in a close grip the entire film. There are a few slow moments but the acting makes up for it.  There are also a few plot lines that I didn't get the answer to but with the intense action and great acting I can let it go.  If you love a gangster/mafia/crime/hitman film go out there and grab this one.  The violence is intense. The language is a little explicit but I didn't find it extreme.  This is a film that convinces you to root for a guy you know is a bad but also shows you how crazy this world is and that some people just want a simple family life.  Two memorable quotes for me from the film are "I have no regrets for anything I've done except for hurting my family" and "I feel nothing".

     This is not a date movie,  nor a movie you would watch with your grandparents.  It's also neither a film for kids nor a movie you would watch with your in- laws.  This is a movie with intense acting and violence.  If you're in for a great story and great action film this is a movie for you.  I am going to recommend a beer for each movie I review, but with this movie I have to think outside the can.  I recommend a fifth of Jack Daniels for this film.  I give this movie 3 1/2 beer cans. Check it out and let me know what you think.  This is The Beer Man signing out. Enjoy movies and enjoy life. Thanks for reading.

Justin "The Beer Man" Bryan

“Great” Scott’s Really Great American Hustle Review…of Greatness

“Great” Scott’s Really Great American Hustle Review…of Greatness

Title
American Hustle

IMDB Page
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800241/?ref_=nv_sr_1

One-Sentence Summary
An all-star cast puts on an acting clinic in a crime/drama/comedy hybrid.

What’s Great About It
The acting and dialog are as close to perfect as you’re going to get.  At the risk of sounding too much like a guy, Amy Adams’ and Jennifer Lawrence’s cleavage isn't bad, either.  Oh yeah, there’s also one semi-cameo that was unexpected…and Louis C.K. is in it; people seem to like that guy.

What’s Not-So-Great About It
There are some plot holes and there could’ve been a little better backstory on some of the characters.  For example, one second, Christian Bale’s character is a kid breaking windows so his dad’s glass business can make some extra cash, and the next second, he’s a world-class, unstoppable con man?   Seems like we skipped a few steps there.

Rating
GGGG

Explanation
As I mentioned above, this movie is pretty much a guidebook for good acting.  Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and (completely under-mentioned) Jeremy Renner are all perfect as arrogant, smarmy con men (or women) who can't seem to 100 percent tell the truth...ever.  Actually, pretty much everyone in this movie is pulling a con of some sort, and that’s why the dialog and script are so damned clever…you don’t know who to believe, who to like, or who’s going to come out on top. 

Some people aren’t going to like this movie.  It doesn’t beat you over the head with comic pratfalls, car chases, gun fights, or out-of-nowhere surprises.  It is to crime dramas what Clerks was to comedies.  I mean, the first five minutes of the movie is Christian Bale’s character applying his hairpiece and perfectly grooming his (extraordinarily obvious) comb over.  It doesn’t seem like much, but after watching for a second, I had to chuckle.  It certainly isn’t a must-see-in-the-theater movie, but it is a must-see movie for anyone who’s just a fan of good actors practicing their craft.  Do yourself a favor and see this movie.  You'll thank me for it later!

“Great” Scott’s Grand Entrance

“Great” Scott’s Grand Entrance

Hello, readers!  My name (for the sake of this blog) is “Great” Scott.  My mission here will be to watch movies and provide feedback that will help you pick the good movies while saving your valuable time and money skipping the terrible ones.

Just as Unicron is known as the Planet Eater, I would consider myself a “pop culture eater.”  Now, Transformers fans might be the only folks out there who got that reference, so I’ll spell it out for you.  I love pop culture.  I’ve read enough comic books and novels, played enough video games, listened to enough music, and watched enough movies and television to span 10 normal lifetimes.  I own a magic bullet; I own a “Wesley Crushers” bowling shirt; I’ve met and had my picture taken with Biff Tannen (Tom Wilson)…who is one of my favorite movie villains of all time; I’ve seen “Weird Al” in concert seven times.  What I’m basically trying to say is that I’ve been around the pop culture block a few times.  I know what I like and I know what I don’t like.  While I’m no Roger Ebert or Rex Reed, I do fancy myself a fair judge of what makes an entertaining movie.  My tastes might not be totally mainstream, but I think I’m a pretty fair judge of what makes a good movie…even when I don’t enjoy it myself.  It also helps that I majored in English in college.  While my writing is far from perfect, I do know the difference between “its” and “it’s” or “their,” “there,” and “they’re.”

So, now that my “qualifications,” such as they are, are out of the way, let me tell you how my reviews are going to go down.

The Anatomy of a “Great” Review

Here’s how my reviews will be laid out.

Title:  Obviously, I’ll start the review with the title of the movie…clever, huh?

IMDB Page:  I’m too lazy to type out the running time, stars, and genre of the movie, so I’ll let you go look it up on IMDB, one of the finest sites on the inter-web.

One-Sentence Summary:  I figure I’ll provide you with a quick, one-sentence description of the movie.  That way, if people ask you what movie you’re talking about, you can tell them.

What’s Great About It:  My mother always told me to be positive, so I’ll always come up with something good about whatever movie I saw.

What’s Not-So-Great About It:  My father, however, always said that nobody’s perfect, so I figure I’ll offer up some criticism, too.

Rating:  Here’s where I’ll rate the movie on a scale of one “G” (God Awful) to five “Gs” (Guaranteed Classic).  Most movies are going to hit at three “Gs” (Good).

Explanation:  Finally, I’ll provide a little context for my rating.

Before You Go…A Few Things to Know

Before I start posting reviews and you (hopefully) start reading them, let me provide you a little more information about me and my movie tastes.

First and foremost, I’m not an [insert genre here] kinda’ guy.  I don’t like sci-fi more than horror; I don’t like action flicks better than comedies.  I like good movies.  Chick flicks are a borderline exception, but I have found myself enjoying them from time to time…Just Like Heaven and Love Actually were both decent movies.

I’m also not an “I hate [insert actor here], so I won’t go see his movies,” kinda’ guy.  I hate Tom Cruise as a human being, but I rented Oblivion (2.5 Gs…a little boring, but not horrible).  I think Keanu Reeves is a pretty terrible actor, but I enjoyed The Replacements (3 Gs…a movie that I’ll actually stop and watch on TBS).  The only actor I might change this rule for is Shia LeBeouf.  He’s ruined the Indiana Jones franchise, he’s helped ruing part of my childhood by starring in the atrocious Transformers movies, and he stunk in Eagle Eye and Disturbia. 

I’m a big fan of logic within movies.  While I realize that in real life, a man doesn’t dress up like a giant bat to fight a guy with half of his face melted off, I do expect some continuity and internal logic in movies.  For example, in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, you’re telling me they couldn’t have recruited the unbeatable ghost army BEFORE 80 percent of the good guy army was dead?  Maybe go talk to them BEFORE the battle starts?  Huh?

Finally, I realize not every movie is for me, but I go to see some because my wife enjoys them.  She puts up with my undying love for Simon Pegg movies and other weird flicks, so I figure I can go see some chick flicks with her.  In my reviews, I’ll clearly admit when I think a movie’s good, but I didn’t enjoy it.

So, that all being said, I hope you enjoy my movie reviews.  If you’d like to thank me, curse me out, disagree with me, or recommend a movie…feel free.  Thanks, in advance, for reading!

Mickster Movie Review - "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" (2013) **

     Will Ferrell is an actor I like in short spurts. I think he was a genius in his Saturday Night Live skits. And almost every film he has made I can point to certain scenes, or lines, where I laughed out loud. But as a whole, I'm not a fan of most of his movies. After that hour, hour and a half mark, I start to grow weary of him and just want the silliness to end. The one exception to this was the original Anchorman film. That's a film I did not enjoy the first time I saw it but subsequent viewings have enriched my appreciation for it, and I now consider it one of the better comedies in recent memory. It is highly quotable and while not all the jokes work, the ones that do are very memorable and beg to be watched over and over.

     That brings us to Anchorman 2, the long-awaited follow-up film that is in many ways just more of the same...without the big laughs, unfortunately. The sequel finds anchor Ron Burgundy (Ferrell), along with friends and fellow newcasters Brick Tamland (Steve Carell), Champ Kind (David Koechner), and Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd), leaving the 70's behind and entering the 80's. GNN, the Golbal News Network, is launching the first ever 24-hour news station and Burgundy and the gang head to New York to make their mark. It isn't long before Ron and his crazy ideas that will NEVER work (Follow a live car chase??), have changed television and he is living the good life. But we know with Ron, things are capable of falling apart quick.

     Many of the same jokes from the first are rehashed here, usually with a flatter delivery. One of the highlights of the first film was a battle royal between the different news teams. That same idea is used here, with some neat cameos, but it feels too forced this time around. Another problem is the sequel runs a solid two hours, where the original was just an hour an a half. Because of that, this movie drags quite a bit at times and I can't help but think a 30 minute cut might make this more enjoyable. I did mention that I did not enjoy the first movie when I orginally saw it but it grew on me over time. It will be interesting to see if this sequel has the same effect. But for now, I was pretty disappointed in what I saw. Yes, there are some good laughs, and it's not a total failure, but it could have been better.

MICKSTER'S TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2013 - SO FAR....

    Hello everybody. Now that the blog is back up and running, and you have been introduced to myself and The Beer Man (Great Scott should have his introduction up soon), lets go ahead and get this party started. For my first post, I'd like to take a look back at 2013 real quick and give you my top 10 films of the year....so far. The reason I say so far is because I still have a fair amount of films to see from 2013 that are considered top-of-the-line. For those that have known me for a while, I'm a huge fan of the Oscars and every year for the last five years I have participated in AMC Theaters Best Picture Showcase marathon, which shows all Best Picture nominees over the course of one or two weekends, depending on how many films are nominated. I'm a huge fan of that event so as it gets to the end of the year, I try to gauge which films may receive a Best Picture nod and I try to hold off and see all of those films at the same time. This has worked out well in previous seasons and it is looking that way again this year. So my top 10 list is not set in stone as I fully expect at least 1 or 2 movies I haven't seen yet to find their way to my top 10. For now though, here is what my list looks like:

1. Gravity - ***** 
My only five-star (perfect) review thus far this year, and easily one of my top 100 films of all-time, maybe even top 50. It's one of the most visually stunning films I have ever seen. See it on the biggest screen possible.

2. The Way, Way Back - ****1/2
A great coming-of-age story that had me smiling throughout.

3. Prisoners - ****1/2
 Hugh Jackman is fabulous as an obsessed father trying to find his kidnapped daughter and her friend.  Great tension.

4. The Hunger Games:Catching Fire - ****
The second installment of the popular series finds Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss Everdeen thrust back into a battle of survival.

5. The Conjuring - ****
James Wan has given us three of the top horror films in the last decade. This, along with Insidious and Saw, have renewed my faith in horror.

6. Mud - ****
 Matthew McConaughey's resurgence continues. I believe Mud is his finest work.

7. Parkland - ****
 A great film showing how the assassination of President John F. Kennedy affected the lives of several individuals in Dallas that day.

8. World War Z - ****
This Brad Pitt zombie pic really surprised me. A lot of fun.

9. Rush - ***1/2
 A true story about a Formua One racing rivalry in the 70's. A weak first hour is saved by an emotional second half.

10. 42 - ***
Biopic about legendary ballplayer Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier.

That's my list for now, but like I said, it is likely to change in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

Mickster

BEER VS MOVIES - INTRO TO THE BEER MAN

Hello, I'm The Beer Man, aka Justin Bryan. I LIKE BEER AND I ALSO LIKE MOVIES, probably in that order.  First, let me say thanks to Mickster for inviting me to a blog where I get to talk about something that I have a passion for and that would be movies.  I'm no genius, I've seen a lot of movies and I've forgotten a lot of movies.  I've drank a lot of beers and forgotten how many times I've fallen down.  I still check the movie listings every week. I search sites like Rotten Tomatoes to see what is hot. I listen to podcasts like Movie BS with Bayer and Snider. Because when you have that one experience of viewing something you could never imagine in your adolescent mind you go wow. (I know that last sentence didn't make any sense. I'm just a yokel from Alabama. Work with me here)  Whether it be Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, or "Rosebud", or "What we have here is failure to communicate", or "yippee ki yay mother trucker" ,or "obviously you're not a golfer".  We live in a world where we do our best to figure out the big picture and impress our boss or spouse or in-laws. But for an hour and a half, or nowadays 3 hours, with movies we have an escape to enter the world of pure void or mental dismissal of worrying about am I going to be late for work (Yeah, I know that didn't make sense either).  Does beer not accomplish the same immediate result? Yes, but apparently it can make you fat and fall down and climb on top of your roof and holler my legs are numb.  So I ask you to get thru this mumble jumble and listen to Mickster and Great Scott.  They will provide you with great information about movies.  We all three love movies, but they will give you educated information about the movies. I will tell you stuff like the beer in The Deer Hunter was Rolling Rock and that movie scared me to death but it's still great.  

So my goal is, being bad at grammar and from a small town in south Alabama, to provide different aspects to beer and movies.  My goal is to provide readers with a movie scale based on a beer can recommendation  with 1 can being the worst and 5 cans being the best. On a personal note, I'm married to a wonderful wife and have 2 daughters, so I want to write reviews that appeal to all ages, genders, beliefs, etc.  I want to be able to tell people what kind of movie they are walking into.  My purpose is to give readers an insight. I just love the fact that I can communicate with fellow movie/beer watchers/drinkers.  Stay tuned, I'll tell you how many beers to drink before you watch a certain movie or how many flowers to buy before you trick your girlfriend into watching Die Hard 12, or her tricking you to watch Madea's Bahama Christmas Halloween special.  I try not to hate on movies because I have my guilty pleasures, we all do.  Don't read too much into this but I liked the movies Ice Pirates and Runaway with Tom Selleck and Gene Simmons.  So go watch movies, share your opinion, and be kind.

Justin "The Beer Man" Bryan

(This post was edited (heavily) by Mickster)

WELCOME TO THE NEW MOVIE REVIEW BLOG!!

Hello everyone. The Mickster is back doing a movie review blog and he's brought a couple of friends along for the ride. Some of you may remember my previous movie review blog, Mind Of Mickster, a project which I was proud of but never felt fully satisfied with. It was missing something. After a lot of thinking, I realized that one of the problems was there was no difference of opinion. It didn't create the discussion and debate I intended it to. Plus, it was a lot of work to keep up with by myself. So how to rectify those problems? Why, bring in two other movie lovers to help you out and provide a different point-of-view, of course. And that is precisely what I intend to accomplish with this blog.

It came together after some phone conversations with my best bud, Justin "The Beer Man" Bryan. I hate talking on the telephone but usually once a week I find myself on the line with The Beer Man for over an hour talking sports and movies. We have a tendency to like a lot of the same movies, with some glaring exceptions (which I'm sure will come up in future posts!). Mostly though, we just liked sharing our opinions on films with each other, and anyone else who is willing to listen. So after talking for countless hours about the film industry, we decided to just start blogging our opinions. We were set to go with just the two of us and then my little brain got to thinking, "What's better than two dudes critiquing movies?" The answer is of course 3 dudes! I approached another friend of mine, Scott "Great Scott" Muller, about adding a third voice to our little project. Great Scott has some "blogging" experience as he has recapped many wrestling shows for a popular wrestling website. That previous work, along with his love of films and pop culture, I felt would make him a great addition to the Critical Dudes. He agreed, so off we go. That's how it all came together in a short amount of time.

This blog is going to be very laid back. One of the problems I had with my previous blog is I felt I had to write a lot about each movie I saw and it became too formal. There are some movies you just don't have a lot to say about, and vice versa. So for the most part, my reviews will be a little more condensed then they were in the past unless I feel like spilling my guts about a certain film or topic. If that's the case, then I will. But I want it to be something that you, the reader, enjoys and will look forward to coming back to time and again. More than anything, I want it to be an interactive blog. Don't agree with one of our opinions about a movie? Fine, let us know. Keep it civil, of course, but debate is good. I hope you find something entertaining here. If you do, let us know. If you think we can improve our game, let us know. Either way, thank you for giving us a chance.

MICKSTER