Andy Labis, Author at Entertainment Ave!

Comfortable Socks, American Idol, Celebrity Apprentice, New Jersey, and Movies Nobody Saw.

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I’m sick of winter, and during this episode of our “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast Stu Gotz and I discuss how, with the Chicago Cubs home opener coming up, we have a pretty good idea that the weather will suck for it, mostly because it usually does. We are both watching TV and I dissect “American Idol” for him, and how I think the judges wasted their “Save,” while he and Mama Gotz are hoping that “V” comes back next season and Stu is eagerly awaiting “Doctor Who.”

I saw people celebrating “Wear Your Pajamas” day, Stu had to buy comfortable socks, I’m loving this season of “Celebrity Apprentice,” and we discuss a bunch of movies we didn’t see. All of that and more!

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this podcast! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

A Bachelor Party Survivor, Men in Propeller Hats, Too Much Sex, and “30 Rock” Spoofs Housewives.

By: The Dude on the Right

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Spring has sprung! That means little girls are patiently waiting to frolic in the flowers while men go on bachelor party adventures! Well, some men go, in this case Stu Gotz, and it was for our pal, The Dude on the Left! Me, I stayed back to hold down the fort, but during this episode of our "Weekend Wrap-Up!" podcast, Stu tells some tales of old men trying to be young again, at least those tales he could tell.

Yup, Stu returned from a trip with the boys to Cubs Spring Training, and as I hear about it I’m sad I missed it, well, at least the Cubs Spring Training games part. Me, meanwhile, I was hanging in downtown Chicago with my BFF, seeing men in propeller hats,women with orange hair, and later snuggling with her as we watched "Love & Other Drugs" where I agreed with her that there was actually too much unnecessary sex in the movie, and neither of us could figure out why the brother had a storyline.

I taught my wife about procrastinating, Stu saw "Gran Torino," and both Stu and I watched "30 Rock," thought not together, with me having an even bigger appreciation for the episode, the fan of "The Real Housewives…" that I am.

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this podcast! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

127 Hours

The Dude on the Right really liked “127 Hours” and highly recommends it for your home-viewing pleasure, even if a dude cuts off his arm. Here is an excerpt from his full Blu-ray review of “127 Hours”.

…Now you might also be saying something like “Why in God’s green earth would I want to watch a movie about some dude trapped in the mountains, where he has to cut off his arm? And is it really graphic when he cuts off his arm, or do we just know it happens? Tell me dude!” Well, I’m telling you that “127 Hours” is a great film – of a story of part stupidity, part inspiration, and part of it might have you reflect a bit on your life and the things you might wish you could do, regret things you did, or maybe inspire you, if you had 5 days with just yourself and a small bottle of water to process your mortality. …

127 Hours

MPAA Rated – R
It’s 1:34 Long
A Blu-ray Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

127 Hours Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	James Franco
MPAA Rated:	R
Released By:	Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release Date:	March 1, 2011
Kiddie Movie:	It’s really adult. Put them to bed.
Date Movie:	You can both snuggle and get through the arm cutting scene together.
Gratuitous Sex:	Nah, but promiscuity.
Gratuitous Violence:	Just him cutting off his arm.
Action:	Nope.
Laughs:	Nah.
Memorable Scene:	I got weepy at the ending even though I knew he was going to be rescued.
Memorable Quote:	Nothing really.
Directed By:	Danny Boyle
Cool things about the Blu-ray?	The deleted scenes and alternate ending are forgetable and tedious, but to get an idea of what was going on while Aron was trapped, watch the “Search & Rescue” feature.

If you’re like me, sometimes you like your “alone” time. What if that “alone” time stretched out a little longer, say, 5ish days? Sure, that might be nice if the version was “Alone at a resort where a cute dudette (or dude as might be your case) was serving drinks.” But what if that “alone” time also included limited food and water? “Great, I need a cleanse!” Nope, sorry, not that kind of limited food and water, we’re talking a thermos of water, and that’s pretty much it for the 5ish days, and hey, why not toss in your arm being trapped between a giant boulder and rock wall? Doesn’t sound like that much fun anymore, does it? Well, “127 Hours” gives us the story of Aron Ralston, a dude who, if you remember the story, had that happen to him, and instead of being “easily” rescued, well, it pretty much came down to cutting off his forearm or dying. He’s alive and well, less one forearm and hand.

Now you might also be saying something like “Why in God’s green earth would I want to watch a movie about some dude trapped in the mountains, where he has to cut off his arm? And is it really graphic when he cuts off his arm, or do we just know it happens? Tell me dude!” Well, I’m telling you that “127 Hours” is a great film – of a story of part stupidity, part inspiration, and part of it might have you reflect a bit on your life and the things you might wish you could do, regret things you did, or maybe inspire you, if you had 5 days with just yourself and a small bottle of water to process your mortality.

Look, the movie’s pretty deep, but there is some fun at the beginning where Aron (in the movie played fabulously by James Franco) sets out on his journey and runs into a couple of girls on the hiking trails, so don’t be too freaked out by the subject matter and yes, although not the most pleasant of scenes, I think most people can get through the point where Aron has to cut off his arm, albeit you might have to watch between your fingers because your hands are covering your eyes. James Franco does great, the reflective, and sometimes losing his mind scenes are very well done, and damn, this movie looks beautiful, even if a lot of it takes place in a crevice.

As a movie it’s 4 1/2 stars out of 5 for “127 Hours.” But what about the Blu-ray? Well, I’ll tell you.

It’s got deleted scenes and an alternate ending. Personally I suggest skipping them, and I’m glad they went with the theatrical ending because the alternate one just dragged on and on and would have killed my getting weepy, even though I knew the dude was going to be rescued, because my thoughts would have shifted to “I get it, already.” There’s also a commentary track with the Director, which is normal fare, but I found fascinating the little feature called “Search & Rescue,” sort of a little documentary about that actual things that were going on to get Aron rescued. There is, also, a very detailed look at the making of the movie (damn, that crevice looks real even though it was fake for the movie), which was nice, but I’m still sticking with the “Search and Rescue” as the must-see extra on the Blu-ray.

So yes, even if the subject matter sounds weird, bland, or lousy, I’m telling you that it’s not the case. Put the movie on your widescreen, turn the volume a little, and get weepy at the end even though you know the dude is getting rescued and will be alright.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Zach is Funny, Class is Not. Paul Looks Funny, Mars did Not. O.H. will Win, I.L.L. will Not.

By: The Dude on the Right

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I had Gmail issues and want to blame Google for e-mail woes, but during this episode of our “Weekend Wrap-Up!”
podcast, Stu Gotz isn’t buying it, and he’s probably right, it was my fault. What was Stu’s fault, though, was watching some made for TV movie called “Class,” a product of The Hallmark Channel, which is so right up Stu’s alley. Not.Neither of us saw movies at the theater, though we both think “Battle: Los Angeles” looks cool in a campy kind of way, and also think, and it appears America agrees, that “Mars Needs Moms” looked stupid. On the upcoming movie front, it turns out the upcoming movie, “Paul,” that I mention during the podcast, will not be good for kids as it’s rated R for language and drug use.

I was in a parade and heard bad sexual innuendo jokes, Stu relaxed, The Apprentice and Survivor are great, and in preparation for March Madness I teach Stu how to cheer for The Ohio State University Buckeyes (O. H. – I. O.), and the University of Illinois Fighting Illinoisans (I.L.L. – I.N.I.). Go Bucks!

All of that, our analysis of Saturday Night Live, and more!

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this podcast! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Brokeback Mountain

MPAA Rated – R
It’s 2:14 Long
A Preview by:
– The Dude on the Right

Brokeback Mountain Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid, Anna Faris
MPAA Rated:	R
Released By:	Focus Features
Release Date:	2005
Directed By:	Ang Lee

Well, I’ll give Ang Lee credit for the varying projects he has chosen to direct. You may have heard about him around the “Sense and Sensibility” time, but for most folks, if I say he directed “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” you would say you saw or heard of that film. He also directed “Hulk,” so we know he’s sensible, crouching, huge, and now, well, he’s directing a film that is catching lots of buzz because, first, it’s supposed to be a great movie, and second, it’s about two cowboys who, as one of the IMDB synopsis’ puts it, unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection. That’s the politically correct version to say that it’s the 1960’s and they are gay. The trailer shows this fact, why can’t they just say it?

Anyway, the movie is set at a time when being homosexual isn’t really a lifestyle you can tell your friends and neighbors about, so our two dudes, Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Ennis (Heath Ledger) go about keeping their true love secret while living the lives of hetero’s.

Visually the movie looks great, and I’m sure some will have problems with the story subject, but in any case, this is sure to create buzz both because of it being a great movie, but also because of the topic. You’ll have to make it your own call if you want to see this one.

That’s it for this preview! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Bring It On

MPAA Rated – PG-13
It’s 1:38 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

Bring It On Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford
MPAA Rated:	PG-13
Released By:	Universal Pictures
Release Date:	2000
Kiddie Movie:	Lots of sexual innuendo – see quotes below.
Date Movie:	She’ll probably just think you’re a pervert if you suggest it.
Gratuitous Sex:	Lots of talk but nothing on screen.
Gratuitous Violence:	A broken leg and bloody nose, but it just goes along with the job.
Action:	Nah.
Laughs:	Quite a few if you’re older and understand them.
Memorable Scene:	When the girls are holding cheerleader tryouts and one girl acts like a stripper, when the girls hire the choreographer, and the final competition.
Memorable Quote:	So many, so little space, but here’s a few: “You’re having cheer sex with him!” “Guys want to touch my chest!” “Is that your band or something” as Torrance checks out Cliff’s t-shirt with “The Clash” on it (boy I felt old). “You speak fag.” “If you stop eating, maybe your body will eat your ass.”
Directed By:	Peyton Reed

Well I’m thinking the ratings board made a mistake in creating the PG-13 rating. Why? Because it has opened up an entirely new group of movies that would probably be rated R except the filmmakers got rid of the blatant nudity and eliminated the sex. The latest movie in this group is “Bring It On.”

Now don’t get me wrong, it’s a fun, spirited movie, totally targeted at the teen group, but I’m thinking the younger teens are going to be excited to see this movie rather than the older teens, and for the youngins I just think it’s too adult. Maybe I’m just beginning to become an old fart, but if you’re giving me a movie with cheerleaders running around in their underwear and spouting tons of sexual innuendos, please make it about college cheerleaders, let them be naked, and go all out.

The story kinda plays out like this: Kristen Dunst plays Torrance who has just been elected as Captain of the cheerleading squad. Their squad is the best, has been for years, but the problem is that they have been stealing the cheers of a different school, an inner-city school. Well, for once, the other school is headed to the competition, Torrence finds out about the stolen cheers before the competition, hires a choreographer to draft a new cheer, only to be humiliated at regional’s when another school does their cheer routine first. All is not lost, however, because they still have three weeks until nationals (they get invited back no matter how much they suck because they are the previous champions), and Torrance finds it in her soul to rally the cheerleaders to come up with something brand new. And, oh yea, you also get a “he went off to college and I still love him but there’s this new kid at school who I’m digging” story line, the affluent versus the inner-city school story line, the “is it better to win or not be cheaters” story line, and the “are guy cheerleaders gay?” story line.

So many story lines, so little time, and all the while they might have had the high-schoolers having sex because they sure insinuated it enough.

It was a cheesy movie about competition and motivation (hell, I almost felt like cheering during the final competitions), but still enjoyable. The movie, though, could have had such a more wholesome appeal without all of the sexual innuendos. I’m not saying that I didn’t laugh at them, hell, I found them rather funny, but I’m just wondering if the 12 year olds were hopping in the car as mom would drive them home and ask “What’s cheer sex?” in response to Torrance’s friends egging her “You’re having cheer sex with him!” Maybe they have to learn sometime.

So I see “Bring It On” as this: They should have cleaned it up and made it about competition and motivation rather than sex; or – gone balls out, made them college cheerleaders, and made the movie into a quality skin-flick to be shown on late night cable. It’s too bad sometimes that PG-13 let’s Hollywood tread that line. Maybe they need a PG-16 rating?

The competition scenes were great, the love story was nice, the bickering of high-schoolers was right on, and the poking at cheerleaders was cute at times. It’s too bad I felt a little dirty after seeing it. It’s 2 ½ stars out of 5, but I’d rate it at least PG-16.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

The Bourne Ultimatum

MPAA Rated – PG-13
It’s 1:55 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

The Bourne Ultimatum Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Stratham, Joan Allen
MPAA Rated:	PG-13
Released By:	Universal Pictures
Release Date:	2007
Kiddie Movie:	Leave them at home, this is for teens and above.
Date Movie:	If she liked “The Bourne Supremacy” she’ll love this one.
Gratuitous Sex:	Nah.
Gratuitous Violence:	Lots of fighting but we usually don’t see people die.
Action:	From start to finish.
Laughs:	Some good chuckles.
Memorable Scene:	I loved Jason Bourne leading Simon Ross through the train station.
Memorable Quote:	Agent: “He drove off the roof!” Noah: “What?”
Directed By:	Paul Greengrass

Here’s some helpful advice if you are a nosey newspaper dude, have people trying to kill/kidnap you, and the only person helping to keep you alive is a rogue government agent who just beat the crap out of two of the goons – Do exactly what the agent says, do not deviate, do not think you know more than the agent, and do not open a door unless you are told to do so. Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) tried to help the dude, but sadly the newspaper dude thought he could run for safety. What a bonehead!

Anyway, Jason Bourne is back, still trying to find who made him like he is, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a movie as action-packed as “The Bourne Ultimatum” is, ever. The CIA, meanwhile, is still trying to find him, and as in “The Bourne Supremacy,” there are those in the government who need him dead, especially to hide some dirty, little secrets.

It seems in this installment there is a CIA dude, Neil Daniels (Colin Stinton), who doesn’t like the government program “Blackbriar,” which was born out of the “Treadstone” era, and has been leaking some information to a British reporter, Simon Ross (Paddy Considine). Now, because the government is monitoring all of our phone calls, all around the world, for key words, when Simon utters “Blackbriar” on his cell phone little does he realize the degree of spy-dom that he is about to unleash. Within moments phones are tapped, he is being trailed, and now that Jason Bourne has read Simon’s latest installment about himself, Jason enters Simon’s life, trying to save the dude so he can find out about “Blackbriar” and thus, where he came from.

And so “The Bourne Ultimatum” begins traversing the European countryside as Jason looks for Neil, he finds Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles, whom I still have a crush on) in Madrid, the both of them head to Tangier where Neil supposedly is hiding out (and he’s an idiot), an “asset,” a.k.a. assassin, is dispatched to kill Neil, Nicky, and Jason, but Jason will have none of that, well at least not all of that, and in the meantime, back in the states, Noah (David Strathairn), leading the CIA folks in New York City, is pissing the hell out of Pamela Landy (Joan Allen back for more fun) as he crosses a line in the aspects of killing people.

Jason, of course, because we know from the movie trailer, makes his way back to NYC, finds a “friend” in Pam, leads Noah and his people on a couple of wild goose chases, and finally finds out how he became the killing machine he has become.

In following in the tradition of “The Bourne” movie franchise this third installment will give you just about everything you are looking for, and expect, following “The Bourne Supremacy.” You have the sneaky government, with even more internal sneakiness by those thinking they have ultimate power; you have scary technology that can track you anywhere in the world; you have “assets” who lack the skills of the ultimate “asset”; you have car chases that are utterly fantastic and over-the-top; you have action and suspense from start to finish; you get a chuckle or two from some fantastically placed dialogue; and you have Jason Bourne, in ultimate Bourne-ness.

I loved this movie even more so than the “Supremacy” flick. Sure, things were a little over-the-top at times, but the inventiveness (like how Bourne gets into Noah’s safe) eclipsed the previous two, and I liked that Julia Stiles had a larger role in this installment, especially since I’m a stalker of hers.

You will get exactly what you expect in this movie, and then some, because there really isn’t a dull spot from start to finish. The movie starts with Bourne on the run; the movie ends with another movie able to be made if the film folks so choose. Just keep Paul Greengrass directing, keep the writing as we have come to love it, and this franchise can probably continue for a long while.

A great thriller. I’m giving “The Bourne Ultimatum” 5 stars out of 5.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

The Bourne Identity

MPAA Rated – PG-13
It’s 1:59 Long
A Preview by:
– The Dude on the Right

The Bourne Identity Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen, Brian Cox, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Gabriel Mann, Julia Stiles
MPAA Rated:	PG-13
Released By:	Universal Pictures
Release Date:	2002
Kiddie Movie:
Date Movie:
Gratuitous Sex:
Gratuitous Violence:
Action:
Laughs:
Memorable Scene:
Memorable Quote:
Directed By:	Doug Liman

Matt Damon plays Jason Bourne. He wakes up one day nearly dead and not remembering who he is. He also wonders why people are trying to kill him and how he has these great abilities to shoot, hide, disappear, and fight. Bourne has a few clues as to his identity, but not much to go on, he hooks up with a dudette, and runs around Paris wishing he could remember who he really is.

The movie is based on a book by Robert Ludlum, and the trailer looks to be action-packed, but there is some initial word that the movie isn’t that good. I’ll see it anyway, and I’m sure guys won’t have a problem getting to see this movie because the dudettes will come along to see Matt Damon.

That’s it for this preview! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!
—-
Preview update….
I’m sick of this trailer. They seem to attach it before most any movie and I can’t wait for this movie to come out. Not because I think it will be good, my usual inkling is that if they overkill a trailer the movie is going to suck. I’m hoping for more, but right now this movie is looking bad. I just want the trailers to stop.

That’s it for this update! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

No iPad 2 Camping Trip, “127 Hours” of Goodness, Richard Hatch Should be Fired, and Yay Poles!

By: The Dude on the Right

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Stu Gotz isn’t going to camp out for a new iPad 2 when they go on sale this Friday, but during this episode of our “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast I find out that we both agree we should have seen “127 Hours” on the big screen instead of at home. Yup, we both liked “127 Hours,” and Stu also gives a good recommendation for “Love and Other Drugs,” while I tell Stu if he should take Mama Gotz to see “The Adjustment Bureau” (he should).

We are both celebrating Casimir Pulaski Day here in Illinois, and are eagerly awaiting our next special day, namely Fat Tuesday. In the meantime I’m also telling Stu that he better get his TiVo set properly to record “Celebrity Apprentice” because this season looks like a winner, even if David Cassidy got booted in the last episode. I am also loving “Survivor: Redemtion Island,” don’t like Randy trying to be Simon on “American Idol,” and if the producers of “The Amazing Race” want TV gold, they should have Stu and Mama Gotz as contestants.

All of that, Japanese soda, and more!

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this podcast! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!