Spoiler alert-o-meter: A couple spoilers ahead, but nothing to worry your pretty little head about.
In Cedar Rapids, Ed Helms plays small-town insurance salesman Tim Lippe who, due to the death of a co-worker, is chosen by his boss (Stephen Root) to represent his company, Brown Star Insurance, at the annual ASMI awards in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Lippe’s company has won the coveted Two Diamond award for the past few years, and it’s his job to see his company continues the tradition.
Lippe lives in the house he grew up in, even though his parents are both passed and he’s well into his thirties. He’s set in his ways and easily impressed, but he’s not stupid or a rube, just stuck in his adolescent world. He even sleeps with his 7th grade teacher, Macy Vanderhei. In bed, post you-know-what, he smiles in genuine disbelief in his luck at dating the hot teacher of his dreams. Sigourney Weaver plays Macy beautifully straight – no winking allowed.
Lippe is both excited about flying to the big city and nervous about his one-on-one presentation with the president of ASMI, Orin Helgesson (played by wonderful character actor and That 70s Show dad, Kurtwood Smith). When Lippe gets to Cedar Rapids even his rental car makes him excited. It’s a sign that he’s moving up in the world, that he’s being trusted to represent Brown Star at the conference. When he calls Macy to tell her he misses her we cringe knowing she doesn’t miss him in the same way, but smile because it’s refreshing to see his guileless love.
The motel where the conference is being held is full of insurance salespeople from the region. Lippe falls in with an odd but likable group. There’s genial, nerdy Ronald (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) who talks like a cross between your elementary school principal and a synthesized computer voice. Anne Heche plays Joan Ostrowski-Fox, married with children, who uses the annual convention as a brief getaway from her family obligations. (What happens in Cedar Rapids is nobody’s damn business). Then there’s John C. Reilly as the wildly inappropriate Dean Ziegler (Deanzie) whom Lippe has been warned away from because of a rumor he poached clients from Brown Star.
During the conference we discover that Ronald, Joan, and Deanzie are exactly the way they seem but also not what you expect. Maybe because most movie's stories are written starting with the plot, characters seemingly retrofitted along the way to suit each plot beat. Cedar Rapids has been written like a short story, starting from the ground up with the characters first.
The movie is a collection of wonderful moments. Each scene is a delight, each plot point a perfect compliment to the last, until, by the time the credits rolled I only wanted to stay to find out what happened next (and I did—stay for the credits for some bonus scenes). The ending, while perhaps a little forced, a little too perfect, actually makes real sense considering what we learn about each character and their lives along the way.
The movie doesn’t judge the events contained in its moments, it presents details in such a way that we aren’t watching things happen, we are riding shotgun as a surrogate lens that observes without malice or bias. I knew Lippe would do the right thing, the right thing for him whatever that would be. So I didn’t watch the movie with an eye to interact by rooting for him. I wasn’t emotionally tied to what he did, because as he moves through the weekend, I trusted him to realize who his real friends were, and how the ones in power turned out to be the real backstabbing assholes.
Lippe’s reach is short but attainable: he doesn’t shoot for the moon, because he can only see the top of the roof. And that’s enough. And maybe, if there’s a judgment to be found in the movie, it’s that we should all shoot a little lower for the small successes that mean more, instead of hoping we’ll win the lottery or pray our way into heaven’s boxseat. The chances of either happening are slim; shooting for what you can see can ultimately brings more happiness and fulfillment.
Fearing he’ll lose his job, which up until now how been his life, Lippe does what he predecessor did in order to ensure the Two Diamond award for Brown Star. But of course it’s the wrong thing to do. And when Tim finally does the right thing, both you and his new friends are rooting for him.
Cedar Rapids was released six weeks ago and has only played in a few hundred theaters nationwide. Part of the reason I wanted to see the movie was to find out why a movie that looked mainstream hadn’t been treated like it with a wider release. Director Miguel Arteta whose previous movies include The Good Girl, Youth in Revolt, and Chuck and Buck, here showcases wonderful comic timing and a thoughtful honesty in presenting his characters as real people, who swear and fight and do drugs and embrace or deny religion and cheat on their spouses.
The men and women of Cedar Rapids are flawed, but not depressed about it or alienated because of it. In one weekend Tim Lippe discovers that his fears about people who act and do things differently are not to be shunned. Maybe America likes its funny in easily digestible slices of pap, the same way it likes its drama with feel-good trimmings and well-demarcated narrative beats of tragedy and redemption.
Cedar Rapids deserves to be a mainstream hit, but that would mean that America would have to discover this lovely, carefully hand-crafted, beautifully written piece of filmmaking. And that would make me jealous, like a music snob who has to share his favorite underground band with the rest of the world after they get a hit record. But I can tell you, dear audience, about Cedar Rapids because you are few and you are discerning and I want the movie to find people and people to find it. Be the first to see Cedar Rapids in your neighborhood. If it’s not playing at a theater near you then pre-order the DVD release. And tell them the Unreliable Narrator sent you.
Stats:
Theater location: Landmark Theater, Waltham, Sunday, March 20, 1:50 matinee. Price $7.75. Viewed with Liz. Snacks-Twizzlers (fresh), Diet Coke.
Coming Attractions:
Water for Elephants: A Big McHuge Hollywood adaptation of the bestselling novel about a traveling circus, starring that guy from Twilight, Reese Witherspoon, and that guy who won best actor last year. Magical whooey. Made the cover of this week's EW.
The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. Morgan Spurlock makes a movie about making a movie about how to make a movie paid for entirely with product endorsements. Not sure I would watch this movie, based on the principle that if I did I would just be paying to see an advertisement for...oh hell, that's what we do every time we watch a video online, a TV show, read any article or listen to any podcast, and of course watch any movie.
Super. Rainn Wilson plays some shlubby guy who gets dumped by his hot wife, Liv Tyler, who is seeing the much more interesting Kevin Bacon. Rainn decides to become a superhero and his buddy Ellen Page gets in the act as his sidekick. Looks like Juno, but with a different story, and entirely different cast and director. Except for Ellen Page. Also starring Nathan Fillion, Linda Cardellini, Michael Rooker, and Gregg Henry.
Win Win. Getting glowing reviews. Looks cute, in a Sundance kind of way. With Amy Ryan and Paul Giamatti. Synopsis from RopeOfSilicon.com: "Tom McCarthy, acclaimed writer/ director of THE VISITOR and THE STATION AGENT, explores the allegiances and bonds between unlikely characters with a lighter touch in his new film. Struggling attorney Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti), who moonlights as a high school wrestling coach, becomes legal guardian of an elderly client in an attempt to help keep his practice afloat. When the client’s teenage grandson runs away from home and shows up on his grandfather’s doorstep, Mike’s family life and his wrestling team are turned upside down. Mike’s win-win proposition turns into something much more complicated than he ever bargained for. McCarthy’s deft touch balancing drama and comedy, broken hearts and poignant humanity is at play in WIN WIN."
You seem to be lucky today because I am going to introduce you guys with my future friend, she may be as time matters but cannot say with any certainty. Actually it is lucky to be know and get informed about Koenigsegg CCX may be your not so familiar with that, as it is on of the worthy and most expensive in terms of drive. The Koenigsegg CCX is the beautiful and luxurious just for the cause of it acceleration and black beauty. If you guys are in the search to do well with your money for the riding and just do it and get an amazing sporty. How ever I am not yet a market maker for Koenigsegg CCX but I get the clue which I want to share with you guys. As usual it is tow with extra ordinarily designed low profile types and 20+ rim sizes. Just got the clutch and let it be pulled over you and feel the astonishing cry which will definitely put smile on you. The CCX means that: the competition coupe X Adlib hopes you will understand how dash it will be but before making any plane you need $650010 approximately only to drive freely. So don’t be so easy but merely say its amazing coupe. The Koenigsegg assembled, all aluminum, 4700 cm³ with ford engine V8 and it is 806 horse powers at its peak. That’s all from my side and now it’s your turn about Koenigsegg the Coupe
Hey Qasim sahi I was impressed with you last line of the earlier post in which you advised us that" Whatever you do, do it sincerely""
Can I say that, if I was impressed with that line and got an opportunity to do right for society within a day and help a lot of people? I mean to say last night I made a society to collect fund for the poor people and get response but just for a day. Today we collect some money fromUniversity studentAnd used their money for the favor of some people who deserve it. That's well said “does it sincerely” It was very good to know that. Thanks at all.Now Hi again you allHIYATIANSthanks you all for helping me to make you name in the favor of helping people in terms of money. I definitely appreciate as praise you all who do for others Allah will do better for them. So, it’s a general description to help others and help you just by joining hands and be united as one unit.
Today we are in a very hazardous place in which we need a lot of help and support for our country, but we the student can play a good role by getting education and promoting others for the welfare of thesociety.
Have you guys ever thought of being preyed? Do you grasp the threat, fright and defenselessness of being caught?
Let me tell you guys that you guys are yourself the prey and you guys are your own marauder as well. From birth to death humans brawl for the improvement of living conditions and health, we just try to have a good life than others, or we fight with ourselves to get something that is worthy for us, no matters it’s good for us or not. Every day we begin with finding of livelihood, whether it’s in the form of education, labor, managerial work or anything that is related to get income, for what, to improve our life standards, and the surprising part, on which we don’t really concentrate and don’t think of, that is, we spend the earn money again on ourselves, we are the earners and we are the consumers.
for the sake of instance, let me put myself on the place of a laborer, I went to work early in the morning, after a hectic day, a day full of labor, work, pressure and so many other thoughts in my mind, I work hard, even if its rainy or sunny, hot or cold, I work, I try my best to finish my work on time, and try to give my best to the work, I earn money, I earn my deserved income, what should I do now, I’ll spend that money on myself, on my family, what am earning I am again spending, to earn more. We earn and spend that money again in the market to consume commodities and services, and this is how the money is in regulation all the time. This thought came to me, as I was coming back to home, from a marriage ceremony of, one of my uncle`s son, I was thinking about the different ways, and customs, and how we earn and spend.
It is very astonishing experience and good to be appreciated by 170 million people. The sprit we get for the eleven of team is very highly arousing. And the basic reason behind every success is the kindness of creator and logical prayers at mass level. May be, the West Indies lose match due to less population which leads them at fewer prayers. As logic is variable but today we got prominent over world as we are Pakistani. It’s all credit for the hard working, honesty and sincerity of the team. We are qualified for another chance to be qualified for final. Its time to work hard and I appreciate all team players especially Shahid Afridi for his honor of getting 21 wickets within in days and got his name at the top ranking. As I have give you hint about World cup final it was the forecasting of that Indian parrot and we will hope for our next term with India.
Thanks and be happy and feel exiting enjoy cricket at its peak.
Today I will take you people with me to show you like a surprising Grand Canyon. With my personal experience (about listening through vox pox) it was the time of crazy hours to visit such like a canyon. It was very amazing place in America. They got an idea to use such a place which is not useful in any other program. It is the story of a usually uninhabited area which is earning today a lot through its tourism. They was the great thought of such people who use that place which was like the very hazardous and interesting for people's interest. They got talent by using such a sky walk it is a sight of very high altitude but very awesome in design. Grand Canyona crystal clear glass installed to see clearly down this can make you mix up in such embezzlement. A little but puzzling effect is used show as the glass will going to crack down. Well it is an awesome and fabulous designed to earn money and best tourism sight in United states.
A whole story is emerged by Jaguar E type which her own autobiography. It is an old type termed as E type liked by elders and rarely by youngsters. By on the other side many of us just search it over net because it was the working of Jaguar. But somehow beauty can be reflected if care is considered as well. If you are looking for two doors coupe than it may dishearten you that I am saying but scaling may vary in your sense. Just check this out a Jango mango E type. Its jaguar's working about 40 years ago.
"I am little bit funny and may be entertaining for as I am the E type. I mean you can't ask me new in town but looks ugly and much brightening. I feel little bit embarrassing that Jaguar is my owner and manufacturer. I don’t think so that you like me at all. Just the reason is not that I am ugly and old type but it is just the deception of your eyes which does not allow you to see my inner feelings"
Battle: Los Angeles makes a great trailer, complete with mysterious music, shots of aliens blasting at buildings and helicopters, and screaming humans running for their lives. That must account for it’s boffo opening weekend numbers, as they say in the biz (38 million in three days). It’s one of those movies not screened for reviewers beforehand. Which usually means it’s trying to avoid inevitable bad reviews for its opening day.
So is Battle: L.A. bad? It’s not as good as the trailer suggests, but it’s not bad quite enough to hold back preview screenings either. The premise is kindergarten simple: what at first appears to be a meteor shower turns out to be aliens invading earth.
All narrative drive is shown from the view of a platoon of Marines stationed in Los Angeles. We are introduced to each character as if this were a documentary (or a disaster movie from the 70s) with superfluous name titles and ranks. But all of this means nothing when the movie deals only in cardboard characters and boilerplate plot-points.
We follow the wet behind the ears 2nd Lieutenant and his platoon, bolstered by Aaron Eckhart’s aging staff sergeant on his retirement day who, rumor has it, got most of his last squad killed in Afghanistan. The platoon gets its first mission: to evacuate all citizens from the Santa Monica coast. This while the aliens quickly show their fangs and start to, in the words of one faux scientist on the tube, colonize earth. Meaning, destroy all human beings so the bad aliens can harvest our water supply.
Sunny Santa Monica streets are turned into a war torn tableau thanks to the aliens on a rampage. These are nasty aliens. After we get a good look at them, we see that they act and move like fleet footed chrome soldiers from a Transformers’ sequel. There are various types: the grunts, the captains, and god-like ones that seem to almost float on tendrils like squids. All metal and gun power, they take orders from a centralized communications orb, the size of ten city blocks.
The first half of Battle: L.A. is bad. I groaned, I moaned, I wanted my money back. It was all superfluous setup details that were dated and hackneyed by the time they were used in movies like Earthquake and Airport ’75. But then something happened. I started rooting for Aaron Eckhart as the forty-something sergeant, helping the younger Marines navigate their way through their first war. Dead bodies litter the streets, shots of high rises getting leveled create a frightening backdrop.
The camera work is shaky, and not in a good way. During scenes where we are introduced to the characters, the composition jerks for no reason, reminiscent of this shaky-cam style introduced in TV commercials in the 80s, then co-opted by shows like NYPD Blue. It worked for Blue for a couple years, but quickly became a parody of itself. Here it’s incredibly distracting, even during scenes of chaos as the aliens blast away at anything that moves (how is it their weapons are nearly identical to ours?). I figure the quick cuts and camera shake mask a budget that doesn't have the scope to fully render the aliens throughout the whole movie.
Regardless of budget, there are some impressive effects. At one point the platoon, having picked up some civilians along the way, end up commandeering a city bus and get onto one of the many elevated highways in L.A. Of course they get stuck without a clear exit, surrounded by the deadly killing machines. It’s here the move takes on the not too subtle tones of a war movie and from here on Battle acts as much a movie about Marines on a mission then humans battling aliens.
In quick succession these Marines figure out not only the best way to kill an alien (“Shoot to the left of where their heart would be.”) to how to take out their communication centers. The aliens are not just attacking L.A., but are hitting all the major cities of the world. Each attack coordinated by those floating communications centers. The rest of the movie follows the remaining troops as they fight to take down the L.A. communications center.
The final battle is as exciting as it is preposterous. Perhaps just slightly less crazy than the ending of any number of humans vs. aliens flicks, topped by the daddy of them all, Independence Day. Where Independence Day was mostly about the fun, Battle is a grim, realistic take on what actual ground warfare would be like with an invasive species.
With images of destruction, and, in the beginning, a big wave overtaking part of a beach, it wasn’t the most calming movie I could have chosen for the weekend of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. The movie’s images hit a little too close to home, are a little too disturbing, and a little too realistic at times.
Admittedly, since I was a kid I enjoyed watching destruction on screen: Earthquake, The Towering Inferno, Poseidon Adventure, Godzilla, Them. I like things when they blow up, I suppose like any strapping twelve year old. But those movies from my youth were G or PG rated outings. The PG-13 and R ratings of today's end-of-days disaster movies allow for breathtaking scenes of utter death and destruction, dead bodies rendered much too clearly.
The Towering Inferno
It’s no longer a fun time at the movies, but an overwhelming digital effects experience. Instead of recommending Battle: Los Angeles, even for you twelve-year-olds raised on video games and zombies, I suggest you buy the Towering Inferno instead. At least that movie offered some high rise thrills, star power, and a body count kept below two hundred.
Apollo 18. What really happened on this moon landing (scary stuff) and why we never went back (boo!).
Bad Teacher. Cameron Diaz is a sexpot teacher, a role she was born to play if this trailer is any indication. With Justin Timberlake as a hot, nice-guy sub.
Untitled Cate Blanchett Film. I didn't catch the name, just that Cate's in it. Lot's of special effects, but I didn't catch the plot either. I suppose you can google it (type in: upcoming Cate Blanchett movie).
Priest.I have no recollection of this trailer. Sorry.
Super 8. The kind of movie Speilberg (who produced) would have made when he was ten. It's about a bunch of kids making a little home movie, on Super 8 film, about an alien invasion. And then, guess what happens? Do I really have to spell it out for you? Let's just say, they inadvertently capture some cool stuff on film.
X-Men, First Class. An origins story, telling you how Professor X and Magneto met. If those names mean nothing to you, then maybe you should watch The King's Speech again. Takes place during the Cuban missile crisis.
Can anyone ask for be free from time or any one of us can control it? Definitely no one, then why we are forgetting that it is ever changing if you are billionaire today only time can make you beggar in that state you haven’t any specific key to bring it back. I personally have today experience with a young man who was billionaire four days ago but today he was here to sell Pizza product just to get money enough to make him alive. It was very astonishing story as he left his home from Islamabad and I can feel that he belong to such an elite class but begging for getting something to fulfill his basic needs. So you should not have proud of you self as no one knows what the lesson is going to get in up coming hours. And always pray to God for betterment and say appropriate thanks to you creator.
Regarding the trees you guys might have heard a lot, and maybe you have a good hold on such things more than me, but I have something new for you guys to know, I hope you guys haven’t heard, or thought about such a phrase, what I am telling you.
Trees are counted to be a blessing, as they are playing a major part in the survival of human kind and other species, oxygen is an essential element to be alive, and trees reduces the carbon-dioxide in the air, and help keeping us safe from the different kind of diseases and so many other unpleasant things, it provides a fresh and caring environment to the living beings and other species in the world. Plants are sometimes grown up under water, in the sea, on the mountains, in the desert, in the fields, in the meadows and almost everywhere, different in types but yet doing the same job, and the job is to protect us, to give us fresh air, to reduce the harming element in air, to create a friendly environment. All in all trees are helping us.
The main theme that I am going to cover today is a quotation given by “Ataul Haq, Directorate of Information. NWFP" that, "A big size tree can provides oxygen sufficient for 36 infants." I hope that you guys will be amazed to know this unusual phrase.
While 10 big size trees produce cooling equal to the cooling generated by a one ton Air Conditioner. So I guess if we are having 10 big trees so we won’t be using Air Conditioners, as you guys may have had the experience, I do have such experience, that in the summer, peak of hotness, when we sit under a big tree we really do not need an Air conditioner, because the cooling and the cool breeze that tree is producing in enough.
Trees also minimize air pollution, reduce noise and decrease the unpleasant smell by absorbing rotten substances from the drains.
So Adlib says, "Plant a tree in your whole life, even a single one, but do plant it, it will be good for you and for humanity"
Within the hard core competition, the browsers a new version has introduced. The most recommended browser was ever used and supported by all Microsoft machines was the internet explorer. But with the advent of Firefox in the Europe which got prominence with in months and grabs the attention s of users toward fire fox. This takes the credit, and left the Microsoft Internet explorer to catch its dust. But for the competition the Microsoft as it was the most ever used software producer has launched its new product Internet explorer 9 which was searched and download by million of people with in a day. It is very smooth and fastest internet explorer to be downloaded in Windows machines. It is now ready to compete with Mozilla Fire Fox,Google Chrome and other browsers like Safari and UNIX. Get the instant free download link just click and download free ad full version of Internet explorer 9 at.
A piece of guidance for all of you, do memorize that "Never define a word using that particular word".
This epoch is the age of globalization, as this is the most common word in today’s phrases, we use to say, world is a global village, we are being globalized; try to look at the globe where you are standing. So today I thought to tell you something about this word called as "Globalization".
So my readers this word is said to be defined in a most common way, to let you people understand it more easily than going into so many details, I will define it by an example here, as some of the guys, gathered, and join their thoughts, join their customs, traditions, and shrink their limits to understand each other and share some common values, as is the case with the countries, they shrink themselves, to share some common points, and this is known as globalization.
As said to be it is a process of connectedness, and interdependence of the worlds market, as we say it generally, and this has increased and in process with the last two decades, as with the advancement in the technological fields, travelling, media and communication. If we take another look to another way of defining this term, I would like to tell you guys in a way that, Globalization is a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations.
It’s not a new concept, it has been going under process later so many years ago, as the trade, the selling and purchasing, travelling, visiting, war, exchange of goods, exchange of services and with the help of so many factors.
This is the era of globalization, we are living in a global village, try to get something new people.
Again Adlib will say "Never define a word using that particular word".
