Guys of the 90s - Round Two: Brad Pitt (1) vs Michael J. Fox (5)

We've entered ROUND TWO!  The sweet 16 if you will.  I definitely have my own preference for this first opening round, but we'll see who takes it.  


Micheal J. Fox - 90s Highlights: Back to the Future III, Doc Hollywood, For Love or Money

Brad Pitt - 90's Highlights: Thelma & Louise, Legends of the Fall, 12 Monkeys, Fight Club

poll by twiigs.com

Reel Insight Episode 48: Kate Hudson (seriously)

Well, Nick says I sound like a radio talk-show therapist in this episode - I guess I was a little laid back after celebrating a bit harder than usual at my 10th college reunion the night before (and the night after).  But Rachel and I get into the remarkably uninspiring career of a uniquely terrific actress.  Also up - an announcement for a change in TV talk for the summer!!!  Join us if you can.  Gnomeo & Juliet and Hobo with a Shotgun - never thought those would make the same sentence, but we made it happen.  Enjoy.  Also:

VOTE for REEL INSIGHT for a LAMMY AWARD!  Here.

New movies with Kate this week:

Skeleton Key - Kate plays a home health aide who decides to go work for a couple in Terrebonne parish Louisiana.  Gena Rowlands' husband isn't well and Peter Skarsgaard hires Kate to look after them.  It gets weird and then creepy, but stays pretty funny (unintentionally).  I think it was trying to be scary and brings out all the cliches (rain, darkness, creepy music) but if even I was scared, this isn't a scary movie.  However, there were enough "mystical" elements that I was reminded of odd episodes of X-files or Buffy though both are probably better than any part of this.  Still interesting move for Kate.  3 of 5 stars/lambs

Guys of the 90s - Round One: Keanu Reeves (2) vs Guy Pearce (7)

Jason Borne is in it to win in!  Today is the last match-up of Round One.  Round Two will return on Tuesday after the American Memorial Day Holiday.  If this contest was only about who did their best work in the 90s and did nothing terrific thereafter, then I think Mr. Reeves might be a lock, but it's about more than that, right!

Keanu Reeves - 90s Highlights: Point Break, Speed, The Matrix

Guy Pearce - 90s Highlights: L.A. Confidential and many things I haven't heard of...

poll by twiigs.com

DVD Mini Roundup: Gnomeo and Juliet

I honestly had no idea what to expect when watching garden gnomes play out the Shakepearean romantic tragedy Romeo & Juliet.  The voice work was pretty amazing - James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Jason Statham, Michael Caine, Dolly Parton, and the music of Elton John.
But the really charming thing that draws you into the movie and reinvents the familiar story is the fact that they are garden gnomes.  They seem to obey the Toy Story rules where they must act like solid unmoving creatures when people are watching, but in their absence have drag races on lawn mowers and have to obey many laws of lawn ornaments, decay, polishing, chips, and ultimately the possibility of breaking = death.

While inherently a children's story based on the animation and the general tone of the jokes, it's also a movie that adults will enjoy rewatching due to all the double entendres dropped right and left, the semi-dirty talk that goes on under the guise of childish banter.  And there's something for the nerds too with how all the dialogue is an updating of the actual Shakespearean scenes while never feeling forced or particularly contrived.
There were a few times my attention waned, but in general it makes the most of its 84 minute run-time.  If you have kids, I'm sure you'll be watching this sooner than later.  Make them be that kid in 9th grade that says "this is just like Gnomeo & Juliet" when their teacher introduces the original. 4 of 5 stars/lambs

Guys of the 90s - Round One: Matt Damon (3) vs Ewan McGregor (6)

Castor pointed out that hindsight is 20/20 and the fact the McConaughey didn't live up to what might have been seen as potential in the 1990s, but Mr. Clooney has really really really come through on his potential from Dr. Ross on ER.  Thankfully, that's not so much the case with today's match-up.  They both have continued pretty great careers, are part of franchises, and have strong indie cred.  But who is more iconic?

Matt Damon -90s Highlights: Courage Under Fire, Good Will Hunting, Saving Private Ryan and my favorite Dogma

Ewan McGregor - 90s Highlights: Trainspotting, Emma, Star Wars: Episode I

poll by twiigs.com

Wednesdays Movie Mashup No. 29

Thanks so much to the people who made this feature a LAMMY-nominated recurring feature!  I really appreciate it all.  

Hatter came back with a win last week.  He'll be busy this summer, so I'm sure someone can take him down.

Last week's clue: A smart-ass high school girl gives people the wrong impression and they call her slutty while at college a guy sees things that aren't there and people call him a genius

Answer: Easy A Beautiful Mind

Leaderboard
Hatter - 13
David, James, Rachel - 3
Dylan, Nick - 2
Sebastian, Andrew, Andy  - 1
 
New clue: A guy hastily marries someone from a different world and has to figure out how to love and his parents have to figure out how to deal when he's killed, leaving behind a girlfriend and her kids.  

The goal is to figure out the two movies who overlap in some words creating a new movie described by the clue.  Leave your answer in the comments. Good luck! 

Guys of the 90s - Round One: George Clooney (4) vs Matthew McConaughey (5)

I think Tim Robbins has done the best of all the 8-seeds so far, but The Fresh Prince took him down.  Today we get the match up of two of the sexiest guys out there.  However, their 90s resumes are quite a mishmash of their work.  What do you think?

George Clooney - 90s Highlights: Out of Sight, Three Kings, From Dusk Till Dawn

Matthew McConaughey - 90s Highlights: Dazed and Confused, A Time To Kill, Contact, Amistad

poll by twiigs.com

Guys of the 90s - Round One: Will Smith (1) vs Tim Robbins (8)

Yesterday was an odd pairing, but Eddie Murphy kept Costner from advancing.  I think one of the moments when you're current disrepute takes over your past career.    Today's matchup seems like it too will be a blow out, but at least it means we seeded some people correctly.

Will Smith - 90s Highlights: Bad Boys, Independence Day, Men in Black

Tim Robbins - 90s Hightlights: Hudsucker Proxy, Shawshank Redemption, Arlington Road

poll by twiigs.com

Reel Insight Episode 47: Brad Pitt!! Oh, and Dylan too.

Our fifth new guest on the show - Fletch from the new site, Man I love Films, joined us as the April Quoteable Quotes winner.  His choice was a pretty obvious one and in general had few duds among his stuff.  We dropped TV talk for this episode, and had fun talking about lots and lots of other movies!  If you have feedback, please e-mail us at reelinsight at gmail.com  Thanks!   Oh, and thanks to the people who nominated REEL INSIGHT for the LAMMYS!

Guys of the 90s - Round One: Eddie Murphy (2) vs Kevin Costner (7)

In probably the only matchup I disagree with so far, Patrick Swayze came out on top of RDJ.  But that's my own bias, and not a comment on Swayze's serious icon status.  Today's match up feels a bit off, but I'll let the voters take a crack at it.

Eddie Murphy - 90s Hightlights: Boomerang, The Nutty Professor, Doctor Dolittle

Kevin Costner - 90s Highlights: Dances with Wolves, The Bodyguard, Waterworld

poll by twiigs.com

Guys of the 90s - Round One: Robert Downey Jr. (3) vs Patrick Swayze (6)

In only our second blow-out so far, Charlie Sheen's current misbehavior seems to have prevented even a single vote against action master Bruce Willis.  Today's mashup pits 1991s sexiest man alive against Iron Man.  However, Iron Man wasn't born in the 90s, so vote accordingly.

Patrick Swayze - 90s Highlights: Ghost, Point Break, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar

Robert Downey Jr. - 90s Highlights: Soapdish, Chaplin, Home for the Holidays

poll by twiigs.com

It's an honor...

Just to be nominated for a LAMMY!!!  Thank you so much to anyone who voted for Insight into Entertainment.  Please vote starting tomorrow!

Best Running Feature: Wednesday's Movie Mashup

Best Festival/Awards Coverage: 30 Days of Oscar

Best Podcast: Reel Insight

Thank you!!

Guys of the 90s - Round One: Bruce Willis (4) vs Charlie Sheen (5)

Captain Jack-to-be triumphed.  Johnny Depp's "dreaminess" won out over del Toro's mysteriousness.  Today matches up two guys who have only been really popular for strange reasons (the former Mr. Demi Moore and "winning" of course).  But back in the 90s, they were pretty cool.  And if Willis had hair, I think his 90s resume could beat anyone, and it seems to have been numbered.

Bruce Willis - 90s Hightlights: Pulp Fiction, Twelve Monkeys, The Fifth Element, The Sixth Sense

Charlie Sheen - 90s Hightlights: Hot Shots!, Hot Shots: Part Deux, Terminal Velocity

poll by twiigs.com

Guys of the 90s - Round One: Johnny Depp (1) vs Benicio del Toro (8)

Well Leo had a little competition from Marky Mark, but it just wasn't Wahlberg's day.  Today's match seems appropriate since Depp has a new movie opening, but don't forget, this is BEFORE he was Captain Jack.   And yet again, they share a big movie in the 90s - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Johnny Depp - 90s Highlights:  Edward Scissorhands, Benny & Joon, Donnie Brasco

Benicio del Toro - 90s Highlights: China Moon, Usual Suspects, Excess Baggage

poll by twiigs.com

Reel Insight Episode 46: Whoopi Goldberg

This is a particularly special episode.  First, the Star of the Week was chosen at the request of one of our listeners (yes, this does work eventually).  Second, Rachel and I got the chance to record some of it IN PERSON!!!  Yes, indeed, we finally met.  I know you're shocked that we weren't already besties, but at least now we both know that we're smokin' hot chicks in addition to wonderful podcasting partners.  Eleven months in, we're still going strong!  Thanks for making the trip Rachel (and Brad) - next time I'll drive.

Guys of the 90s - Round One: Leonardo DiCaprio (2) vs Mark Wahlberg (7)

I think Fletch is right - John Cusack may be a dark horse to take this tournament too, we'll see how it comes down in the later rounds.  Today's matchup would probably be really different if we were considering their recent work, but consider their 90s resumes.  And they shared an early film together again - Basketball Diaries!

Leonardo DiCaprio - 90s Highlights: What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Romeo + Juliet, Titanic

Mark Wahlberg - 90s Highlights: Fear, Boogie Nights, Three Kings

poll by twiigs.com