Author: Luke Florence

Luke’s Favorite Films Take Two: #75

On By Luke FlorenceIn Favorite Films, Lists, Movies, The Fighter3 Comments

#75: The Fighter (2010)

The Fighter
Director: David O. Russell
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams
Academy Awards (2): Christian Bale for Best Supporting Actor and Melissa Leo for Best Supporting Actress. Nominated five more times. Best Picture, Amy Adams for Best Supporting Actress, David O. Russell for Best Director, Best Writing and Best Editing.
Plot: “A look at the early years of boxer “Irish” Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s.”
Stock: Holding
Previous Ranking: #63

“I’m the one fighting, okay? Not you, not you, and not you.”

The Fighter earns this spot because of the acting performances, the story-line, and the fact that it is based on a true story.

Both Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg are tremendous in this movie. The chemistry they possess makes you feel that they are actually brothers. That chemistry is the life-blood for this film. Amy Adams and Melissa Leo are terrific as well in supporting roles. Great acting all around.

The story-line shifts often but never loses focus, which is a hard thing to do. Instead of focusing solely on Wahlberg’s character (Micky Ward), it bounces around to Bale’s character (Ward’s brother Dicky), to their estranged family, to Micky’s girlfriend. It’s a delicate tight-rope but well executed.

I had heard of Micky Ward prior to this film, but had no idea all the trials and tribulations he had to deal with. It’s an underdog story if there ever was one. He was fighting battles not only in the ring but out of it as well. A great film that will probably do some climbing in the near future.

UPDATE

Even if Christian Bale is a prick in real-life, it’s still worth watching his portrayal of Dicky Ward. He absolutely steals and owns every scene he is in. The main character is Micky, but Bale is so good as Dicky, he ends up being the center-piece.

The Fighter loses points for not having the most realistic boxing scenes, but the acting, led by Bale, is what has it inside the top eighty.

Fun Fact: Mark Wahlberg waived his own salary and took no upfront fee for this film. Christian Bale was paid only $250,000 for his role.

Hint for #74: This film will teach you how to correctly pronounce Babe Ruth.

Peace Be The Journey.

The Art of Appreciation

On By Luke FlorenceIn Lists, Weekly ColumnLeave a comment

An old saying goes, “you never know what you have, until it’s gone.” Through the first 29 years of my life, I’ve come to find truth in that.

But does it have to be that way? Why can’t we enjoy things as we are experiencing them? Is it because we are too focused on the destination, and not the journey? Or could it be because we take things for granted too often?

Whatever the reason may be, and it certainly could be a combination of those things, as I’m rapidly approaching the big 3-0, I’ve tried to teach myself the art of appreciation. To simply enjoy things as they come. To not take anything for granted. To be more grateful.

It’s an incredibly tough and challenging to do. For instance, a few weeks ago I was rooting for Jordan Spieth to win the British Open which would have been his third straight major. He ended up falling one shot short and my immediate reaction was complete disappointment. And that reaction, is a clear failure to appreciate.

I was too caught up in the destination – of Spieth winning the first three golf majors of the year – that I lost sight of the journey. I lost sight of how awesome it was to watch someone have that opportunity, that I let the ending/result ruin the entire experience.

Next week the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be playing the Clemson Tigers on ABC in primetime. Both football teams should be in the top-ten and both should be undefeated. The atmosphere in Death Valley will be completely electric. And yes, I will be passionately rooting for Notre Dame to win, but if they don’t, I will try my best not to be disappointed. Wish me luck.

With that thought in mind, I decided to unveil a rather unique list.

Top Ten People Whose Deaths Would Affect Me The Most

Rather morbid right?
Continue reading “The Art of Appreciation” →

Luke’s Favorite Films Take Two: #76

On By Luke FlorenceIn Favorite Films, Lists, Movies, Stand By Me1 Comment

#76: Stand By Me (1986)

Stand By Me
Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix and Corey Feldman
Academy Awards: Nominated one time, for Best Writing.
Plot: “After the death of a friend, a writer recounts a boyhood journey to find the body of a missing boy.”
Stock: Holding
Previous Ranking: #66

“It happens sometimes. Friends come in and out of our lives, like busboys in a restaurant.”

This film was based off of Stephen King’s novel called “The Body,” and it reinforces the fact that King is one of my favorite authors. Stand By Me (despite the fact it’s directed by Rob Reiner) is a terrific movie and one that I will always watch whenever it comes on television.

What I love about Stand By Me is that the four main characters are all kids. They are just barely teenagers going on a journey together. They do what four best friends would do. They bond. They tell ghost stories. They poke fun at each other. They have serious discussions.

As I get older I appreciate this movie more and more. It’s told as a first-person narrative, but from the perspective of the main character thirty years after-the-fact. He’s all grown up, has kids of his own, and is simply re-living a memorable moment of his childhood. He talks about how they all grew up, moved away, and fell out of touch. Life has a way of doing that to us.

Lest us forget the great song “Stand By Me,” used as the theme for this film … every time I hear it, I think of this movie. They are synonymous with one another.

UPDATE

Every once in a while as I read my old work I’ll think to myself, “you know, that’s pretty good.” I did just that as I went over this Stand By Me review from 2011. There really isn’t anything else to add.

Fun Fact: In an interview by Stephen King in the special features of the DVD, he reveals that the scene with the leeches actually did happen to him, when he was a child.

Hint for #75: Mark Wahlberg takes his shirt off in this movie … a lot.

Peace Be The Journey.

Luke’s Favorite Films Take Two: #77

On By Luke FlorenceIn Favorite Films, Lists, Movies, Mystic River1 Comment

#77: Mystic River (2003)

Mystic River
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon
Academy Awards (2): Sean Penn won for Best Actor and Tim Robbins won for Best Supporting Actor. Nominated four more times. Best Picture, Clint Eastwood for Best Director, Best Writing and Marcia Gay Harden for Best Supporting Actress.
Plot: “With a childhood tragedy that overshadowed their lives, three men are reunited by circumstance when one has a family tragedy.”
Stock: Holding
Previous Ranking: #44

“Maybe some day you forget what it’s like to be human and maybe then, it’s ok.”

Throw Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins, and a murder mystery together in a Boston town and you have all the ingredients for an awesome movie. The three main characters grew up together, experienced a tragic event at a young age, and are now going through another tragic event thirty years later.

Clint Eastwood has an amazing knack for providing such incredible depth to his films. All of the main characters are not only fully developed but superbly acted. There’s a reason both Penn and Robbins won Academy Awards with Eastwood getting a director nomination.

UPDATE

After finally getting a chance to read some of Dennis Lehane’s work, it’s no surprise the plot/story is so well developed. Eastwood had plenty to work with thanks to Lehane. This won’t be the last time we see a Lehane book on this list.

Fun Fact: For the scene where Jimmy wails and thrashes in anguish at the discovery of Katie’s body, Sean Penn requested that a tank of oxygen be standing by after he finished the take.

Hint for #76: Stephen King wrote the short story that was the basis for this film.

Peace Be The Journey.

Luke’s Favorite Films Take Two: #78

On By Luke FlorenceIn Favorite Films, Lists, Movies, This Is The End1 Comment

#78: This Is The End (2013)

This Is The End
Directors: Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen
Starring: James Franco, Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen
Plot: “While attending a party at James Franco’s house, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel and many other celebrities are faced with the apocalypse.”
Stock: Up
Previous Ranking: NR

“What the fuck is wrong with you, Franco? You have iPad’s all over the goddamn walls in your house, but you jack off like a fuckin’ pilgrim!”

If you’ve seen This Is The End, then you know why it’s here. If you haven’t, let me try to explain.

Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, James Franco and a bunch of their friends (Danny McBride, Michael Cera, Rihanna, and Emma Watson to name a few) all play themselves. During a party at Franco’s house, the apocalypse takes place. Earthquakes, fires, raging demons, the whole nine. A select few who happen to survive, bunker down in Franco’s house, where hilarity ensues. Absolute hilarity. Nothing but hilarity.

It’s a ridiculous plot and the acting is even more ridiculous, but the comedy just keeps coming. You could tell that this film was just an excuse for these actors to get together and make fun of each other, because that’s what shows up on screen. You could also tell the actors enjoyed playing some of the stereotypes of themselves (see: Franco’s art pieces or Hill’s flamboyant side). As for me, I just kept on laughing.

The star of the show turned out to be McBride, who despite the impressive line-up of actors, stole every scene. His fight with Franco over the porn magazine is one of the funniest scenes in any movie, period.

Fun Fact: Most of the paintings that can be seen hanging in the background were actually painted by James Franco.

Hint for #77: Based on a Daniel Lehane book.

Peace Be The Journey.