Aylmer to Zazzoo and Beyond: Jennifer Garner

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Saturday, April 12, 2014

Draft Day - Review

Draft Day
(2014 - April 11)
Drama | Sport
1 hr. 49 min.
Rated: PG-13 | Brief strong language including a few of the "F" and its variations and sexual references. Common Sense Media says: Nothing too risque. Ok for teens if the language isn't an issue for you. Read more
Grade: B-
Director: Ivan Reitman
Writers: Scott Rothman, Rajiv Joseph
Stars: Kevin Costner, Chadwick Boseman, Jennifer Garner | See full cast and crew

On the day of the NFL Draft, general manager Sonny Weaver (Costner) has the opportunity to rebuild his team when he trades for the number one pick. He must quickly decide what he's willing to sacrifice in pursuit of perfection as the lines between his personal and professional life become blurred on a life-changing day for a few hundred young men with dreams of playing in the NFL.

Ivan Reitman's Draft Day stars Kevin Costner as Sonny Weaver Jr., the GM of the Cleveland Browns. With 13 hours until the beginning of the NFL draft, Sonny is informed by the team's owner (Frank Langella) that if Sonny doesn't make a splash and generate ticket sales, he's going to be fired. That prompts the GM to take a trade offer from another team that gives him the first pick in the draft, in exchange for three future first-round picks.

The move outrages the Browns' head coach, and forces all of the team's scouts to dig up what they can find about the pick everyone, including the owner, expects them to make -- a highly touted QB from Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Weaver is drawn to a talented linebacker who has family issues to deal with and is known for having a hot temper. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

I am not a big football fan so I dreaded sitting through this film. Surprisingly, this is not a bad film. Not a great film but not too bad either. It held my interest throughout (and that was five min. after my screening of Oculus so I could have been experiencing movie fatigue but I found myself intrigued). Perhaps part of that is because this football film does not take place on the field, bur almost entirely inside GM offices...on the phone...yeah, sounds like a boring premise right? Nonetheless, they manage to pull it off.

Kevin Costner delivers a fine performance as does most of the cast. Chadwick Boseman doesn't get anywhere near the screen time he had as Jackie Robinson in '42',

but don't cry for him, he'll get plenty more in the upcoming James Brown bio-pic 'Get On Up' opening August 1. I don't know if its that I wasn't thinking about him but I didn't even recognize Tom Welling (Smallville, Judging Amy, Cheaper By The Dozen 1 and 2).

Football fans will likely enjoy the plethora of cameo appearances from their team favorites who play themselves in the film, or the fantasy football and statistics fever aspects of the NFL Draft.

Behind the scenes on the set.

Cast

Kevin Costner Jennifer Garner

Sonny Weaver Jr. Ali

Chadwick Boseman Josh Pence

Vontae Mack Bo Callahan

Terry Crews Tom Welling

Earl Jennings Brian Drew

Denis Leary Ellen Burstyn Frank Langella

Anthony Molina Barb Weaver Anthony Molina

Thursday, August 23, 2012

The Odd Life of Timothy Green - Review

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Drama, Comedy, SciFi/Fantasy
Runtime 104 min

Rated PG - for mild thematic elements and brief language.

Director: Peter Hedges

Writers: Peter Hedges, Ahmet Zappa

Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures

Starring: Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, CJ Adams, Odeya Rush, Dianne Wiest

Grade A-

An inspiring, magical story about a happily married couple, Cindy and Jim Green, who can't wait to start a family, but learn that they can only dream about what their child would be like. One stormy night young Timothy shows up on their doorstep. Cindy and Jim and their small town of Stanleyville (pencil capitol of the world) discover that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life's greatest gifts.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green ~ Trailer #1

Academy Award®–nominated director/writer Peter Hedges (Dan in Real Life, and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?) brings enchantment to the screen with The Odd Life of Timothy Green.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green ~ Teaser

I was pleasantly surprised by this film. It is a refreshing delight. Truly a film the entire family can enjoy together. Like the main character, Timothy, it isn't perfect, but it is ideal. It is charming, funny, thought provoking, touching, sad and uplifting. I very much recommend it.

Timothy Green's story is told by Jim (Joel Edgerton) and Cindy (Jennifer Garner) Green in the office of an adoption agency where they are trying to adopt a child. On the line where it asks why they would make good parents they have simply written "Timothy". The agency workers ask them to explain, '...the time is yours to convince us'. Although dubious of the couples qualifications they allow them to relate their incredible experience with the fantastic little boy, Timothy Green. His story is revealed through flashbacks.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green ~ Clip

The couple who live in Stanleyville (pencil capitol of the world wherenhe works in the pencil factory and she works at the pencil museum), have been told they are unable to conceive. They are heartbroken and having trouble accepting the devastating news so in an effort to move on they dream up what their ideal child's characteristics and life events would be and they write them down on pieces of paper. They place the notes inside a box and bury it, along with their dreams, in their backyard.

After a stormy night, a ten-year-old boy arrives at their home covered in mud, claiming the Greens as his parents. They soon realize that the boy, named Timothy (CJ Adams), is in reality a culmination of all their wishes of their perfect child. Timothy continues to be the ideal child, not perfect, but ideal in ways that really matter, like changing the hearts of those who are most important to him.

Timothy is unusual. Leaves grow from his legs. Jim and Cindy intend to protect him from the cruel ways of the world toward people and things that are different. They take him to a trusted friend, a botanist, in an attempt to nip the leaves off of his legs but the stems of the leaves break the man's pruners. 'This isn't going to work, is it.' He says, to the boy. Timothy shakes his head and says, 'No!'

Timothy is unflappable by bullies who pick on him at school. He seems to understand people and know just what to say to make someone feel loved and appreciated.

When he encounters Joni (Odeya Rush) a sort of sullen, loner girl they immediately develop an unspoken connection, they are kindred spirits an soon become fast friends.