Casting the Lost Movie

As some of you know, I'm a big fan of the television program Lost. I love it, watch it religiously blah blah blah. Recently I began rewatching the first two seasons in prep for the fourth season premiere in February (the third season DVD release is something I'm eagerly awaiting). And with recent news that they are ending it after the 6th season, with the next three seasons being shortened to 16 episode seasons (as opposed to the standard 22 episodes in a season), I got to thinking how they would end it. I was thinking maybe leave the series finale open ended, and then wrap it up with a movie, just to milk it a little longer. It could happen.

And that got me even more curious. What if they made a Lost movie? Well, obviously they'd cast the TV actors, which would make this blog posting absolutely no fun. So, I specified it. What if in the Lost universe, they made a movie about the castaways? A film with in a show. Sort of like in the second two Scream flicks they had the Stab movies where Luke Wilson was Skeet Ulrich. Anyway... Who would play the Lost castaways in the Lost universe story of the castaways.

Now keep in mind, the flashbacks would not come into play. That's something we as an audience are privy to, but not the other castaways, and not the producers of said movie. Plus it's just the story of them on the island, not their lives before it. So the whole, Boone/Shannon thing, they wouldn't know about that. So my casting for those roles isn't that crazy, considering they wouldn't play it like Boone and Shannon we know.

So here it is, my cast list for the Lost movie within the show...

Jack Shepard- Robert Downey, Jr.- He's been experiencing a career renaissance lately, and a good juicy dramatic role would be the perfect role for him to take. Plus he tends to play characters with alcohol problems, what with his personal experiences to draw from.

Kate Austin- Rosario Dawson- Has been a go-to leading lady for former indie directors (Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, Robert Rodriguez and Spike Lee have all used her), and could use this as a springboard into full-time leading lady status. Plus her combination girl next door charm and sexy edge would make her right for Kate, if she can pull off that air of mystery.

James “Sawyer” Ford- Ryan Gosling- After playing mostly good guys, or generally likable characters, he would definitely mix it up by playing an anti-hero.

John Locke- David Morse- He's intense. And he's got that, wise older man aura about him.

Charlie Pace- Ben Foster- Ben Foster has made a name for himself for picking his scripts and playing unconventional characters, so a drugged out fading rockstar would be right up his alley. Plus he can show off an accent.

Hugo “Hurley” Reyes- Horatio Sanz- Let's face it, he's comic relief. And they'd go with a comic for him.

Sayid Jarrah- Omar Metwally- He's an intense, serious looking actor of Middle Eastern descent, and would be good to play a jaded war vet.

Claire Littleton- Bryce Dallas Howard- You want a young damsel in distress? Look no further than Howard.

Jin Kwon- Daniel Day Kim

Sun Kwon- Yunjin Kim- These two, I just had to go with the actors from the show, because quite frankly it was hard enough to find Korean-American actors who speak fluent Korean when they were casting the show in real life, do you think they're gonna have it any easier in fictional Hollywood that's still somewhat grounded in reality? Of course not. So it makes sense they'd pick two, and it's entirely within the realm of possibility they'd cast these two.

Michael Dawson-Courtney B. Vance- I think he's got the right intensity to him to play the role of a distraught father.

Shannon Rutherford- Maggie Gyllenhaal

Boone Carlyle- Jake Gyllenhaal- Brother/Sister acting duo playing brother/sister on screen. Makes sense. Again, the flashback scenes would not be part of the castaway's movie, so that subplot would not be known to anyone.

Ben Linus- Paul Giamatti- He can do the evil genius.

Mr. Eko- Djimon Hunsou- Do I really need to explain this one? African character, meet African actor.

Desmond Hume- Gerard Butler- It's certainly different than any character he's played in the past. I think Gerard Butler would take it.

Ana-Lucia Cortez- Michelle Rodriguez- Again went with the show's casting on this one, but Michelle Rodriguez has long been Hollywood's go-to tough chick.

Tom Friendly- M.C. Gainey- Again it's the show's actor, but he's such a prolific character actor, and I can't think of anyone else for the role.

Juliet Burke- Sabrina Lloyd- I can't think of a good reason why I went with her. But she just seems to fit, to me anyway.

Danielle Rousseau- Juliette Binoche- Hey, she's French. That's good enough for a casting director.

Why Scrubs Is the best medical show on television

15 Reasons Why Scrubs is the Best Medical Show on Television

These run in no particular order. Just as they came to me. And a few don't have YouTube videos to further exemplify it, mainly because I either couldn't find clips that did the reason justice, or the point is proven in previously shown videos. Either way, there are plenty of clips to keep you folks more than satisfied.

1. Music: This show really was the trend setter for the use of music at the end of the show. By my count, many shows do it, but Scrubs started it. And they do it best because it's not "Hey, cool little song to play out at the end of the episode." They actually make it a part of the show. From JD's fantasies, to the song pics, to the cast performances. Music is just as much a part of the show as the medicine or the gags. They really make it work. What's more is that the cast hand picks the music they use.
   
   

2. Comedy: They do a mixture of all types of comedy on the show. Slapstick, non-sequiters, witty rapport, one-liners, zany characters and clever quips. I don't think I've ever not laughed at an episode of Scrubs. And that's a testament to it's genius, that it's consistent.
   
   

3. Drama: Because it's a medical show, they can really get you in your heart with their drama, sometimes even better than most dramas. It's a comedy show, that isn't afraid to bare it's soul.
   
   
   

4. Comedy/Drama: I know what you're thinking, "He already did comedy and drama, I think he's just beefing up the list." Well, you sir or ma'am, are mistaken. It's how well the mix the seriousness and levity, the sublime and the ridiculous. It's a perfect amalgamation.
   
   
   

5. Guest Stars: I think I'll just list them: Dick Van Dyke, Barry Bostwick, Michael J. Fox, Colin Farrell, Brenden Fraser, Heather Graham, Heather Locklear, Mandy Moore, Elizabeth Banks, Julianna Margulies, Matthew Perry, Michael McDonald, John Ritter, Tom Cavanagh, Markie Post, R. Lee Ermy, Cheryl Hines, Tara Reid, Freddy Rodriguez, D.L. Hughley, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Scott Foley, Keri Russell, Amy Smart, Ryan Reynolds, Eric Bogosian, William Daniels, Clay Aiken, Colin Hay, Cary Brothers, Polyphonic Spree.
   
   
   

6. Dr. Cox: Would not be the same if it wasn't John C. McGinley playing it. He, above anyone else, brings the balance of the aforementioned comedy/drama dynamic. In the same episode he can go off on his funny rants he does so well, but then show some emotion toward someone/thing and this intimidating image of him is shattered by how fragile he is. He's really one of the more interesting characters on television, and McGinley plays him to perfection.
   
   
   

7. Janitor: Neil Flynn has timing. The one undeniable truth about Janitor is that he's not their for so called comedic relief, as the whole show is the comedic relief. But he initially didn't exist in any other capacity than tormenting JD. As the show progressed, so did his character. He's such a curiously strange and mysterious character that even when he's being serious, there's a twinge in the back of your head that thinks he's BS-ing you. And the dead-pan delivery of his lines is just spot on perfect.
   
   
   

8. Medical accuracy: Push thrombolitics. Sounds professional. It isn't. It's medically impossible. It's fake. And the writers know this. They have no less than three doctors on hand as technical supervisors, making sure everything is medically accurate. And many doctors have claimed that Scrubs is the most medically accurate show on television. Back to the whole "push thrombolitics" thing, the writers try to include that whenever they can, just because they know it drives the consultants crazy.
   
   
   

9. Minor characters: In addition to the great lead cast they put together, the show would be nothing without it's minor, re-curring characters. There's Ted, the hospital's sad-sac lawyer, seasoned Nurse Roberts, The Todd, Dr. Doug aka Nervous Guy, Snoop Dogg resident, Dr. Beardface, Lonnie the speed metal freak delivery guy, Rowdy the stuffed dog, Dr. Cox's ex-wife Jordan, hypochondriac Harvey Korman.
   
   
   

10. JD: I couldn't make this list without including JD, because without JD, there would be no Scrubs. He's at times both poignant and irreverent. He's relatable. I liken him/Zach Braff to John Cusack 20 years ago. He's got that everyman charm to him. But where the character really stands out is in his earnest goofiness. At one point Turk tells him that the reason he likes him, is because he isn't afraid to just be himself. And that makes JD all the more likable.
    
    
    

11. Acting: Everything I've mentioned, from the characters to the mixture of comedy/drama, would be nothing without the acting ability of the entire cast. It's a true testament to their ability to handle the multiple styles of comedy, and the heavy drama they throw at you. NO CLIP.

12. Character development: The characters have grown. Watch an episode from the first season, then watch an episode from the 6th season (or better yet, watch new episodes, Thursdays at 9:30 EST on NBC, and I'm not being paid to say that). The characters have grown/changed and are at where you'd think they'd be at. JD's biggest dilemma isn't medical related anymore, he's now worried about his pregnant girlfriend and his perennial back-burner relationship with Elliot. Turk and Carla have gone from puppy love dating to married with a kid. Cox and Jordan, well, they're Cox and Jordan, but it's undeniable that as they've experienced certain things (an official divorce, two kids, the fact that they're still together) has altered and strengthened their relationship, and as much as they hate each other, they love each other even more now than they did when we first met them. NO CLIP
    

13. Writing Staff: When formulating this list, I spoke with many friends who also enjoyed Scrubs and got their opinion on why it's a great show. And when conversing with my cousins, Elizabeth came up with perhaps the best argument against other shows: algebraic writing. Scrubs lets the characters progress, where-as on Grey's Anatomy and ER the writers want the characters to do something, so they write their scripts to get the characters to do so. Even if it doesn't make sense for the characters to do it. Scrubs lets the characters get to where they need to be. NO CLIP
    

14. Carla/Turk dynamic: I just love their relationship. I want a relationship like theirs. Theirs is one of the best TV relationships I've ever seen. Fuck you Ross and Rachel. That's all I've got.
    
    
    

15. They tell you why: See, here's the thing, it's not enough that they prove they're better than any other medical show on TV, they actually physically tell you they are. This one warrants 2 clips.
    
    FIRST ABOUT HOUSE, M.D.
    
    
    NOW GREY'S ANATOMY
    

Reviews for Gone Baby Gone and Rendition.

Hey Brodie Fanns,

I've got not one, but two reviews for you. It's my October 23rd sales bonanza. Buy one get one free. This week it's Gone Baby Gone and Rendition

Gone Baby Gone

4 Stars

Like most people who follow films, I've been wondering for the past several years when Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were going to follow through with that potential they showed with Good Will Hunting. Well, Damon's been enjoying a damn fine acting career, so we'll let that one slide. But Affleck... he's Affleck, so I was beginning to think it was a fluke. And then along comes Gone Baby Gone.

Based on Dennis Lehane's (Mystic River) novel of the same name, Gone Baby Gone stars Casey Affleck (the Ocean's movies, The Last Kiss) as Patrick Kenzie, a private investigator hired to find the kidnapped daughter of an old high school friend. But the many twists and turns of the investigation soon catch up to Kenzie in both his professional life and his personal life.

I've gotta start off with what's good about it, and it's damn near everything. Ben Affleck makes up for his complete lack of charisma and talent in front the camera, by being a genius behind the camera. There's only one way to really shoot a Lehane novel, and that's in the gritty, raw manner in which he wrote it. Ben Affleck took a cue from Clint Eastwood's previous adaptation of a Lehane novel (Mystic River) and didn't get fancy with his camera work, just stuck to the basics, and that's what made it a sight to see. Too often do we get rookie directors wanting to separate from the herd and be known as the “visual virtuoso.” But ultimately it's obvious they're trying too hard and the films look too stylish, without any substance to back it up.

Ben Affleck (I have to say the first name, since there are two Afflecks involved) stuck to the formula that works, yet kept it fresh enough to not be cliché and boring. And in case you're wondering, Good Will Hunting was not a fluke. Ben Affleck and Aaron Stockard (debut as a writer) created an interesting world that keeps the viewer guessing to the very end, and takes you to places you didn't think he would.

Ed Harris (The Truman Show, A History Of Violence) gives an engrossing performance as a hard-edged, New Orleans born, but Boston bred Detective Remy Bressant. Harris has always been one of those actors who never seems to escape second lead status (save for a few projects), despite consistently stealing scenes from the lead. It's most likely that he's just that good of a foil for the lead characters. Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption, Bruce Almighty), who surprisingly doesn't narrate, gives a unique spin on a conflicted police captain. Freeman's always had this regal presence about him, with a goodly nature. To see him play this character who does the unfortunately wrong things for all the right reasons, it's kind of a side step for him from what he's used to, but still lying on the outer edges of his comfort zone, so as not to completely alienate his fan base.

And that brings us to the younger Affleck, Casey. He's shown considerable promise as second, third and depending on the movie, 11^th fiddle to other stars, and I can't tell if he got the lead in this movie on his own merit, or if it was the worst case of nepotism since an Aaron Spelling cast his daughter Tori in Beverly Hills, 90210. He's got talent. I honestly can't think of someone that could have played that character any better, as far as talent, looks, attitude. Unfortunately he's got the stage presence of Hayden Christensen. He needs too loosen up, work with inflection and tone and anything else that goes into making one's voice poly-tonal. I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt, since this was his first time carrying a major motion picture, and he had to stand up against some heavy hitters. But my plea to Casey is, loosen up. Don't be your brother.

When it comes down to it, it was a thoroughly enjoyable flick, and entirely compelling. Don't be thrown by Casey's wooden acting. He's just nervous. That's my theory anyway.

Rendition

4 Stars

It's topical, controversial, has some of the top stars of the day including two recent Oscar winners. Must be awards bait. Well, the fish are biting, but not hard for Gavin Hood's new political thriller, Rendition.

After a suicide bombing in the Middle East kills an American CIA agent, Egyptian-American businessman Anwar El-Ibrahimi (Omar Metwally) is detained while changing flights in D.C. and brought to a secret US prison on foreign soil. Having disappeared mid-flight, Anwar's wife Isabella (Reese Witherspoon) launches her own investigation into his disappearance, appealing to an old college friend (Peter Sarsgaard) who works for a powerful senator (Alan Arkin). Meanwhile, Douglas Freeman (Jake Gyllenhaal), a young CIA agent who was at the scene of the bombing, works with Abasi Fawal (Yigal Naor), who was the intended target of the bombing, in the interrogation of El-Ibrahimi.

Now as I see it, that's the multiple story lines that were being told, and the only worthwhile ones that needed to be told. Unfortunately, as what usually happens in a multiple plot line drama, one ends up being unnecessary to the main thrust of the film, and that was the sub-plot of Fawal's daughter going missing. It all ties up in the end, but I still didn't end up caring about her character anyway, because even after the end, where there's the big revelation, I still fail to see what she brought to the table. She wasn't even a deus ex machina, or a red herring. She was just there wasting time and space.

But really, what this movie comes down to is the exact same thing we saw last year in Babel and the year before in Syriana. Global politics, all coming together in the end so it all fits together like a puzzle. Granted the connections aren't as grand or subtle or even clever as in Babel or Syriana, which is actually a plus in my book. You know everything is connected from the get-go, and they don't try to blindside you with a “everything is connected” moral at the end of the movie. Except with that goddamn daughter plot, shit! They snuck it in with a silly superfluous plot that sucked anyway. I hate you Gavin Hood, you South African, Totsi directing bastard. And writer Kelley Shane. But he hasn't really done anything else for me to turn into an insult.

It's not that this is a bad film. It's very well written, again, aside from that sub-plot. The acting is good all around. I can't think of a bad performance. Witherspoon, Metwally and Gyllenhaal give the best performances, in my opinion (and we're talking a movie with Meryl Streep and Alan Arkin). Amidst the politics of the flick, they all exude the human side of the issue at hand. And that's torture of innocent people. Witherspoon's the wife just looking for her husband. Metwally as the wrongfully incarcerated and tortured man. Gyllenhaal who goes through an existential quandary following said torture. It shows that it's not just about what is right and wrong according to the law and the constitution. It's about what's wrong according to personal ethics and morals and how you treat a fellow human being.

I got a little lofty and soap box-ish towards the end, and I didn't mean to, but it really humanizes the issue. And there are going to be things flung from either side. Liberals saying conservatives are cowboys who through out the constitution on a whim. Conservatives saying the flick is nothing but liberal propaganda. But it isn't so much of a right vs. left issue. It's not playing the blame game. The point of the movie is that it's happening. There's no denying that. It is happening. And that's where this movie succeeds. It doesn't take a political stance either way. It just wants to say “This is happening, and it's wrong.” All politics aside.

So congratulations Gavin Hood. Well made flick. I applaud you. Just, in the director's cut DVD, get the rid of that damn daughter plot. It sucks. I hate it.

Michael Clayton Review

A review today... but next time... a list. Or an essay. Whichever I finish first.

Michael Clayton

3 Stars

Political intrigue and the personal life of the man at the center of it all drive the George Clooney vehicle Michael Clayton, which is unfortunately dragged by severe plot complications and writing missteps.

Clooney (Syriana, Ocean's 13) stars as the titular character, who is a "fixer" for a prestigious law firm handling a class action law suit against a chemical company who released hazardous weed killers. A fixer is a man who isn't a lawyer or partner in the firm, but handles any problems that come up during the course of a case. Clayton is trying to fix a fellow lawyer's mental breakdown during the middle of proceedings, all the while dealing with his financial woes and issues with his son, who lives with Clayton's ex-wife.

As I saw it, there were three separate stories being told in this film. There was the Erin Brockovich-esque class action lawsuit against a major company. Then the mental breakdown of Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson, Batman Begins) that could damage said proceedings. And then there's the personal life of Clayton.

Which story was the primary focus of the film? Well, all three were. Writer Tony Gilroy (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum) makes his directorial debut with Clayton, and he unfortunately could not find a clear focus for the the film. There was too much story being told. At the end of the movie, I honestly didn't care about the characters and what happened to them, because I didn't know I was supposed to. Gilroy spread the film too thin and the only people who get hurt is the audience.

This isn't to say it's a bad film. Each story stands very well on it's own merits. Personally I think both the lawsuit and Clayton's personal life could have taken a backseat to the Arthur Edens plot line. It would have been a much richer and more interesting film.

And the acting is definitely not to go without notice. Clooney has made it known that he is one of the best actors working today, and his work in films like Clayton only prove this. He's already got the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, this film more than shows that he deserves a Best Lead Actor Oscar. Wilkinson gives a quirky performance as a man at his wit's end with modern society and big conglomerations.

It's one of those movies where I could really take it or leave it. There are aspects that are really good and stand out as strong positives. But the negatives are just too prominent.

Where's your blog been, Brodie? Right here, and it's new!

Brodie Fanns!

So, some of you are probably wondering why I haven't posted a blog or a list in while. Or you're not, cause you don't read my blog. Who knows? But if you do, then you've noticed it's been a while since I've posted a review or a list.

Well, to be honest, there are several reasons. For one there have been weekends where I just haven't seen a movie. Remember, I'm busy with two jobs and since I have to pay for all this out of my pocket, I can't always afford it. But I try. Rest assured by the end of the week I'll post 3 new reviews. I have one written. What the hell, I'll post that one now. (Scroll to the end of the post to read the review of "The Kingdom"

Another reason is, as some of you know, I'm also a writer of scripts. Screenplays, if you will. I'd say "aspiring", but that means I hope to be one some day. And as I'm currently writing one, that is a full 15 pages in, I think I've moved past the "Hope to be one" to just "I am one." I got in a groove with my script, and I've been focusing a lot of energy on that.

I haven't hit a wall with the writing of the script, I'm still going strong. But that being in the zone with it time period has past. I've got the next few scenes that I'm writing mapped out, so to speak, so I know where I'm going. I can return to telling you what films to watch, and what is cool in the top 10.

Just so you know, I am working on a few HUGE posts that are time consuming, just compiling information, stuff for the lists and what not. One is what currently stands as a "Top 13 Reasons Why Scrubs is the Best Medical Show On Television", but that number could change. I'm also working on what I call a "Love Letter to the Movies." It's a mini-auto-biography on why Brodie loves movies so damn much. This fall's must read. Well... it's the must read as far as myspace blogs written by me go.

Anywho, that's just a little update, so you know I'm not dead. And to give you a taste of the upcoming reviews... Yes, it is possible for me to not think a George Clooney film is not the best thing known to man (shocking, isn't it) and gangland flicks starring Marky Mark kinda peaked with The Departed.

Keep it real, homies,

-Brodie Mann

AND NOW... THE KINGDOM

The Kingdom

3 Stars

Movies covering any war are always a touchy subject. But covering a current one is just asking for controversy. Peter Berg tackles current American/Saudi relations in his new thriller The Kingdom, and isn't exactly the political thriller it could have been.

Following a carefully coordinated series of attacks on an American oil company's community in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, which left several FBI agents dead, a team of agents is sent to collect evidence and find out who was the mastermind of the attacks. American bureaucracy, Saudi traditions and cultural differences hinder their investigation along the way, but the team stops at nothing to catch the perpetrators of the heinous attacks.

At first glance, it seems like a noble effort on the part of Berg (Friday Night Lights, Very Bad Things) to fuse the action and political thriller genres, and on some levels, it works. It really does. But it's also a deterrent, because by that same merit, it seems doomed to fail. Which makes this film hard to pin down. I honestly can't tell which genre to put it into, and subsequently which one to judge it as. It moves around in both with great ease, but never really breaks the two to be it's own film. It fascinates audiences while confusing them at the same time. Ultimately I have to determine which one is more dominant, and write my review as such. Hopefully I figure it out by the time I'm done writing it.

One must give credit to the cast, Jamie Foxx, Jason Bateman, Chris Cooper and Jennifer Garner play the FBI agents sent to Saudi Arabia, while their Saudi escort, Ashraf Barhom, should get equal attention, as he really pulls the story together for the characters. They could have played it as the atypical Americans vs. Saudis, us vs. them type of mentality, with the rah rah governmental attitude, but they didn't, and it's a true credit to their abilities to not do so with a story such as this, considering the geopolitical climate.

The strongest asset this movie has is it's script. It perfects the balance of a political thriller and action war flick, one too few movies have even attempted. And it packs an emotional punch at the end that the general American audience may not even appreciate, but is full of impact none the less.

Overall, it's definitely worth a look. But would I expect any sort of attention come awards season? Probably not anything outside of technical awards, and even that's stretching it a bit, as that didn't stand out. Though in a year of mostly underwhelming films, even the moderately good stand out as the cream of the crop.