Jason Segel Meets "The Muppets"

The Muppets are back, and Jason Segel’s got them. The gang’s last appearance on screen was in 1999’s Muppets From Space. Enter Muppet fan Segel & co-writer Nicholas Stoller, who went to Disney in 2008 with an idea for a new Muppet film. Segel wanted to do justice to the characters, and make an old school Muppet movie; well, he got his wish. The Muppets (2011) is lighthearted fun in the classic Muppet tradition, with laughs, songs, star cameos, and of course, the Muppet characters we all know & love.

Gary (Segel) lives in Smalltown, USA with his brother Walter (the newest Muppet, created especially for the movie). They’ve grown up loving The Muppets, and are big fans of their shows & movies. When Gary decides to take his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) on a trip to California, Walter wants to go along, so he can see The Muppet Studios. But when they arrive, the studio is in dilapidated condition, and the Muppets are no longer together. During the tour, Walter overhears Statler & Waldorf (the hecklers from the TV series) talking with oil magnate Tex Richman, who wants to acquire the land where the studio is located. Unless The Muppets can come up with the 10 million dollars needed to save the studio, the land will go to Richman, who has plans of his own for the property.

In the best “let’s put on a show” tradition, it’s up to Walter, Gary & Mary to help the gang get back together, and put on a telethon to raise the money to save the theater. Along the way, we get re-acquainted with Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear & the whole gang. The slightly off kilter humor that appealed to both adults & kids during the The Muppet Show’s original run from 1976-81 is in evidence here, as are some clever songs & parodies (you’ll never think of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” the same way again). Bret McKenzie of the musical comedy duo Flight of The Conchords wrote the original songs for the film. Segel, Adams and The Muppets enthusiastically perform them, along with a reprise of the classic “The Rainbow Connection.” Oh, and The Muppet chickens get to sing Cee-Lo's "Forget You."

Of course, there are also the cameos, from the likes of Alan Arkin, Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Silverman, and many others (look fast for Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters). And it wouldn’t be a Muppet movie without some zany humor & bad jokes, a few tugs at the heartstrings, and some lessons learned by all. Jason Segel & Amy Adams look like they’re having the time of their lives, and Chris Cooper is appropriately nasty as Tex Richman, the villainous oilman. In this age of fast paced & video game based movies, The Muppets is a refreshingly retro film, well directed by James Bobin with a sense of joy & sheer delight that is infectious.

The Muppets really is one of the best films of the year. It succeeds at being exactly what you want: an engaging, funny, heartfelt Muppet story that can be enjoyed by children of all ages. It’s a movie made with love by people who really care about & appreciate these classic characters. They’ve really done right by them, and I think the late Jim Henson would be proud. One final note; make sure to get to the theatre on time, as the film is preceded by a new Toy Story short from Pixar, that pokes sly fun at the “fast food toy” trend. It’s a really great night at the movies.

Love & Other Drugs: A Good Movie Struggling For Identity

Director Edward Zwick’s Love & Other Drugs (2011) is an interesting movie, an adult love story that has more depth than most of the romantic comedies we see from Hollywood these days. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Jamie Randall, who becomes a pharmaceutical sales rep for Pfizer in the mid 90s. Jamie is a smooth talker and a ladies man, and he uses these skills to charm doctor’s assistants into letting him talk to their bosses. He tries to convince them to prescribe Zoloft instead of Prozac, so he can meet his sales goals and get a prime gig in Chicago. On one of his excursions he meets a patient named Maggie, who is suffering from early onset Parkinson’s.

The two have a one-night stand, and initially, neither partner is eager to pursue a relationship. Jamie has never been able to commit, and Maggie doesn’t think anyone can either see past her illness, or deal with the issues associated with it. Meanwhile, a new drug called Viagra is developed, and Jamie becomes a great success selling it. As he develops deeper feelings for Maggie, Jamie tries to show her his feelings are genuine. Maggie tries to come to terms with her feelings about her illness, and finds some empathy and kindred spirits while attending a medical convention with Jamie.

Gyllenhall is good as Jamie, a guy who’s coasted by most of his life on good lucks & charisma, who now has to deal with a real relationship for the first time in his life. Hathaway is excellent as Maggie; she gives a three dimensional portrait of a person struggling with an illness, and the perceptions society has about ‘sick’ people. The script is co-written by director Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz & Charles Randolph. Zwick & Herskovitz were the co-creators of TV’s Thirtysomething (1987-1991), and their writing here has the same strengths (such as strong dialogue & realistic situations) that were the hallmark of that series. An additional note: while the movie is based on the book Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman by Jamie Reidy, the love story portrayed in the film is nowhere to be found in the book. However, the details of how the pharmaceutical industry trains its salespeople, and markets its products, add another interesting facet to the story.

Sadly, the movie is saddled with a pointless subplot about Jamie’s well to do brother, who moves in with him after being kicked out by his wife. Essentially, the character allows the movie to indulge in the crude humor and silliness that are more at home in recent films like Bad Teacher or Hall Pass. There’s nothing wrong with that type of comedy, but it has no place in this film, and it hurts the rhythm of the main story. You feel like you’re watching two movies, and the hybrid just doesn’t gel. The movie is still worth a look for the performances of Gyllenhaal & Hathaway, and the fine supporting cast, including such familiar faces as Hank Azaria & Oliver Platt. Director Zwick also makes good use of music in the film, using songs of the period from groups like the Spin Doctors & Fatboy Slim.  But the movie's struggle to balance its two sides ultimately makes it a near miss. The film is now available on Blu-Ray & DVD.

The Darkness Inside Us All

Stephen King has long been acknowledged as a master of horror fiction, but what makes his tales resonate with readers is that you can identify with his characters. They are often ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances; some are good, some evil, but King gets inside their heads in a way few authors do. Some critics may vilify him as an author of popcorn fiction, but I think that description sells his best work short. In Full Dark, No Stars, his 2010 collection of short fiction, we get four novella length tales, as well as a bonus short story in the paperback edition. Here’s a brief rundown of the stories:

1922: The opening tale finds a farmer contemplating the murder of his wife, over their disagreement about selling some land. How he accomplishes the murder, with the help of his son, is a scene worthy of some of King’s best short fiction. And what follows is a Poe-style tale of conscience, guilt and terror that could only come from King’s pen. There are some truly chilling scenes in this dark tale.

Big Driver: A mystery writer avenges a brutal attack in this dark tale. Some interesting interior monologues, and a likable main character distinguish this story that asks: how far is too far to go when you decide upon seeking revenge?

Fair Extension: This story is perhaps the closest in style to King’s earlier short fiction, as a cancer-stricken man with bad luck makes a deal with a devilish figure to extend his life, and bring himself some good fortune.  But there is a cost to making that deal, and the man must decide if he’s willing to have success at someone else’s cost.

A Good Marriage: A happily married woman discovers a dark secret about her husband in this story. Do you really know the person that sleeps beside you at night? And what would you do if you found out your spouse had another side you never knew about?  This is an intriguing story that answers that question.

Following a brief Afterword by King, the paperback edition features a bonus short story titled Under The Weather: Just why has Brad’s wife been ill for so long? And why hasn’t anyone seen her? This short tale will give you the answer.

The characters in these stories are all well drawn; some are likable, some are not. But as you read you find yourself wondering if you would make the same choices these people do, given the same circumstances. We may all be just a step away from opening that dark door inside our own souls. It’s to King’s credit that he continues to write compelling fiction that has gone far beyond the “horror” label. If you’re looking for a book that will draw you in, and have you turning the pages all night, Full Dark, No Stars is a worthy addition to your library.

The Night Stalker: Classic Kolchak

Science fiction, fantasy & horror aficionados all have their favorite films & television shows, and will discuss their merits and weaknesses for hours. During the 60s & 70s, many TV movies with “fantastic” themes were produced. You might remember films like Don’t Be Afraid of The Dark, Duel, Gargoyles, Salem’s Lot, and one of my favorites, The Night Stalker. Originally aired in 1972, the movie was produced by Dan Curtis (Dark Shadows, Trilogy of Terror) and directed by John Llewellyn Moxey. It stars Darren McGavin as down & out reporter Carl Kolchak, who is covering a series of murders in Las Vegas by a serial killer who seems to think he’s a vampire. Or is there more to the story? As Kolchak investigates the murders, he begins to suspect that the killer might actually be a vampire. Of course, the police don’t believe him, and Kolchak follows the killer’s trail, leading to a memorable confrontation. Barry Atwater is chilling as the vampiric Janos Skorzeny, infusing the role with menace and terror without a word of dialogue.

McGavin is excellent as the rumpled, acerbic Kolchak, who also narrates the story. His humorous confrontations with his editor, Tony Vincenzo (Simon Oakland), and the various cops & city officials, are witty and well played. In fact, the mix of horror & humor on display here should be quite recognizable to fans of later films in the genre. The film was written by Richard Matheson, based on a then unpublished novel by Jeff Rice. Matheson also wrote some classic episodes of the original Twilight Zone series, including “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” and many science-fiction & fantasy novels, such as the original I Am Legend. When the film first aired, it garnered a remarkable audience: a 33.2 rating and a 54 share, becoming the highest rated telefilm up to that point, a record it held for some time afterward. The success of the movie led to a 1973 sequel, The Night Strangler, written by Matheson and produced & directed by Curtis. Kolchak faced another killer, this time in Seattle, an immortal menace portrayed by Richard Anderson, who's best remembered as Steve Austin's boss Oscar Goldman on The Six Million Dollar Man.

During the 1974-75 season, ABC produced a weekly version entitled Kolchak: The Night Stalker, one of the scariest shows on TV at the time. It featured the intrepid reporter battling demons, mummies, werewolves, and other supernatural beings. I remember watching and being excited to see what creature of the night Kolchak would battle every week. I enjoyed the creepy atmosphere of the show, the humor, and most of all, McGavin as the cynical but determined reporter who never gave up. In battling the monsters, he also had to contend with the authorities, who either didn't believe him, or covered up the true facts. Many familiar faces, including Tom Skerritt, Cathy Lee Crosby, James Gregory, Keenan Wynn and Tom Bosley appeared on the series. The writers included David Chase, creator of The Sopranos, and Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale, the co-writers of Back To The Future. While the show only lasted one season, it has since become a cult classic, and is cited by Chris Carter, the creator of The X-Files, as a specific influence on that series. In fact, Carter wanted McGavin to portray an older Kolchak on the show, but for various reasons, it never came to pass. McGavin did appear in a couple of episodes as Arthur Dales, an older FBI agent who was “the father of the X-Files.”

Sadly, the original TV movies are currently out of print but the complete television series is available for purchase on DVD. A remake/reboot of the show, starring Stuart Townsend, was produced in 2005 that had none of the style or flavor of the original, and was quickly cancelled. The character has also appeared in some prose fiction & graphic novels from Moonstone Press. Johnny Depp (who is currently starring as vampire Barnabas Collins in Tim Burton’s remake of Dark Shadows) has reportedly purchased the rights to the character, and plans a big-screen update. We’ll see where & when Carl Kolchak next faces off against the forces of darkness. Here's a link to a promo for the original TV movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hedpWMsppE.

From The Night Stalker (1972) :
Kolchak : (regarding the story he's just told): Judge for yourself its believability, and then try to tell yourself, wherever you may be, it couldn't happen here.

From The Night Strangler (1973): Kolchak's opening narration: This is the story behind the most incredible series of murders to ever occur in the city of Seattle, Washington. You never read about them in your local newspapers or heard about them on your local radio or television station. Why? Because the facts were watered down, torn apart, and reassembled... in a word, falsified. 

The Rite: Faith, Religion & The Nature of Evil

The Rite (2011) directed by Mikael Hafstrom seems to be a story about demonic possession and a typical horror film in the “exorcist” genre. But there’s more going on beneath the surface of this interesting drama.  Colin O’Donoghue stars as Michael Kovak, a young Catholic who works as a mortician in his father’s business. He feels something is missing in his life (and his faith), so he enters the seminary. He doesn’t find the answers he’s seeking as he studies for the priesthood. After his ordination, he writes a letter of resignation to his superior, stating his intent to leave the priesthood.

But Father Matthew (nicely played by Toby Jones) talks him out of leaving; he feels Michael is truly called to be a priest. He asks that Michael consider going to Rome and taking a course on exorcism before making his final decision. The church is making an effort to train more exorcists, as incidences of alleged demonic possession are on the rise. Michael agrees and heads to Rome. He takes the class, taught by a Father Xavier, who, seeing the conflict within Michael, sends him to speak with his friend Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins), a renowned exorcist. He wants Michael to see there is real evil in the world.

Father Lucas has Michael sit in on an exorcism he performs (in a chilling scene), and even though Michael still has his doubts about the veracity of what he sees, he continues to visit with Father Lucas, until his faith is tested in ways he doesn’t expect. Hopkins, as usual, is excellent as the priest/exorcist, who has some belief issues of his own. Alice Braga is solid in a supporting role as a reporter who is also taking the class, and becomes involved with Michael’s search for faith & redemption. Rutger Hauer shines in a small role as Michael’s father.

When The Rite came out in winter 2011, it was marketed & sold as a horror film, playing up the more supernatural elements of the story, But this is really a film about faith, belief & redemption; though it does have horror-themed elements, they’re not played for the sensational, and are an integral part of the story. That’s not to say there aren’t some scary scenes here for fans of the genre; but this is a solid, well-acted (especially by Hopkins) film, that tells a thoughtful story about faith, redemption & how our own doubts can open the door to our darker natures. The movie is based on the book The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist by Matt Baglio, which tells the real life story of Father Gary Thomas, the model for the Michael Kovak character. It’s worth a look, whether you’re looking for a scary rental for Halloween, or a nicely done film about the nature of faith.

Seattle's Pearl Jam At "20"

Brief thoughts on a recent documentary celebrating Pearl Jam's 20th Anniversary:

Pearl Jam Twenty – This absorbing story of the Seattle-based rockers traces the history of the band from its beginnings in the roots of the grunge scene to its’ multiplatinum success in the 90s and beyond. It's directed by Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire), a former rock journalist, who wrote for Rolling Stone in his younger days. The movie gets to the heart of the band’s creative process, and their desire to keep making meaningful music and stay true to their alternative roots while becoming successful. It's a fascinating study of the band.

There’s a treasure trove of performance clips from the group’s beginnings through the present day, as well as incisive interviews with the band’s members, and fellow Seattle rocker Chris Cornell. The movie doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects, including the death of grunge icon Kurt Cobain in 1994, and the group’s boycott of, and court battle against, concert promoters Ticketmaster. But ultimately, this is a story of a band that enjoys making music together, and continues to find themselves creatively energized by one another. Pearl Jam Twenty was originally shown on PBS’ American Masters, and it is also available DVD & Blu-Ray. Here's a link to the film's trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEm5gwxRaKU.

From R.E.M. to Prince and Beyond...Another Playlist from the Eclectic Avenue Jukebox

As fall begins, here's another random "baker's dozen" playlist to plug into your music device of choice:

1. Call Me Rose by Bruce Cockburn. A quirky, satirical tune from the Canadian folk rocker, about Richard Nixon being reincarnated as.....a girl from the projects?! Great lyrics and nice guitar work from Cockburn on this excellent song, which is featured on his 2011 release, Small Source of Comfort.

2. She Walks In So Many Ways by The Jayhawks from Mockingbird Time. The original lineup of the band returns for their first album since 1995, and they haven't lost their knack for making tuneful country-flavored rock.

3. What You Don't Know About The Girl by Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. from Solid State Warrior. Manning was a member of the late, lamented band Jellyfish. On this cut from Manning's 2006 solo album, it sounds like the Partridge Family sent Laurie on a double date with Roger, fellow rocker Matthew Sweet & Karen Carpenter, and they came up with this cool, retro style song.

4. Near Wild Heaven by R.E.M. After 31 years, the seminal Georgia based alterna-rockers recently announced they're calling it quits.  Here's a fantastic song from their classic 1991 album, Out of Time. Thanks for all the music, guys. You'll be missed.

5. Crazy Water by Was (Not Was) from Boo! The soul/funk/rap/rockers groove out on this old fashioned r&b shouter, with vocals by "Sweet Pea" Atkinson. Check out some of their other fine albums, including Born To Laugh At Tornadoes (1983) or What Up, Dog? (1988).

6. Sittin' Pretty by Brendan Benson. Perhaps best known as a member of Jack White's side project The Raconteurs, Benson rocks on this offbeat number from his 1996 debut, One Mississippi.

7. Crimson & Clover by Prince from LOtUS FLOW3R. Prince covers Tommy James & The Shondells, and puts his own stamp on this classic song.

8. It Doesn't Matter by The Orange Humble Band from Assorted Creams. A power pop gem from this group, featuring Ken Stringfellow of The Posies, Daryl Mather of The Someloves and famed indie rock producer Mitch Easter. The whole album is excellent and worth a listen, especially if you're a fan of the power pop genre.

9.  You & Your Sister by Chris Bell from I Am The Cosmos. From the late Big Star member's posthumous solo release: a beautiful, emotional, gentle love song. Sadly, we lost Chris in 1978, and this album wasn't released until 1992.

10.  Knowing Me, Knowing You by The Wondermints from The Wonderful World of The Wondermints. This group, best known for backing Brian Wilson on a couple of albums and tours, gives the Abba classic a rock edge on this cool cover.

11.  That's The Way God Planned It by Billy Preston from That's The Way God Planned It. A gospel influenced tune from Preston, who played with everyone from The Beatles & The Rolling Stones to Ray Charles, and had a successful solo career of his own, with hits like "Will It Go Round in Circles."

12. I Can't Be Without You by Lenny Kravitz. A lover's plea that builds in intensity & emotion as the song goes on; from Lenny's latest album, Black & White In America.

13. Something To Fall Back On by Todd Rundgren. From the 1985 album A Cappella; a unique release from Todd, as every sound on the album was the product of the artist's voice, via some overdubs and sampling. A great song from a talented artist who doesn't always get the respect he deserves.