Review: "American Underdog"

To say that Kurt Warner is a great football player is an understatement! As a twelve-season professional quarterback, mainly for the St. Louis Rams and the Arizona Cardinals, and a two-time winner of the MVP (Most Valuable Player) Award in the Super Bowl, his career has been amazing. That said, the story of how he got there is incredible! He worked tirelessly, enduring many disappointments along the way. It’s no wonder that Andrew and Jon Erwin believed that Warner’s story had movie potential. The Erwin Brothers’ latest film, American Underdog (2021), was released on Christmas Day, 2021. Here’s my review of “American Underdog.”

As a young boy, Kurt Warner wanted nothing more than to be a Super Bowl and an MVP Quarterback. As an adult (played in the movie by Zachary Levi), he became a slightly rebellious, though exceptional quarterback at the University of Northern Iowa. While he was desperate to be drafted by the NFL, he was initially rejected and found employment at a Hy-Vee grocery store stocking shelves. During that time, he began dating calendar model, Brenda (played by Oscar-Winner Anna Paquin), a single mom who has two kids that Warner bonds with and helps look after. Warner’s career ultimately gets back on track when he is asked to be the quarterback for the Iowa Barnstormers, and later the St. Louis Rams. However as a result, his relationship with Brenda becomes strained so Warner has a faith struggle: what does he value more, a career as a quarterback or his love-life?

“Underdog,” tells the story of Kurt Warner’s success as a quarterback, which didn’t happen overnight. It was due to rejection that Warner thought time and again that he would never be able to become an NFL Quarterback. He never stopped talking to God about how disappointing it was to be rejected. Though he did not give up his faith in God, it became confusing for him as he was also convinced that basically God gave him a dream that he wouldn’t be able to achieve. He was at the end of his rope.

However, he learns through his faith that disappointment is a big part of life and it’s important to know how to act when you face disappointment. What’s miraculous, though, is overcoming disappointments can lead to great successes! That’s an important lesson for everyone to learn, and it’s what inspired Kurt Warner to write the book (with Michael Silver) All Things Possible (2000), the basis for the movie. 

In addition to Zachary Levi and Anna Paquin, the supporting cast includes Dennis Quaid as St. Louis Rams Head Coach, Dick Vermeil and Bruce McGill as owner of the Iowa Barnstormers, Jim Foster. Co-directed and co-produced by the Erwin Brothers, Jon Erwin also co-wrote the screenplay for David Aaron Cohen and Jon Gunn while Andrew Erwin co-edited with Sean Albertson. Gunn also executive produced. The film’s cinematography was done by Kristopher Kimlin. Gunn and Kimlin previously collaborated on the Erwin’s previous film I Still Believe (2020). The film was scored by John Debney who also scored “I Still Believe.”

All in all, “American Underdog,” is a great movie. I had neither read All Things Possible, nor did I even know anything about Kurt Warner before I had seen this movie. Nonetheless, I appreciated it’s inspiring message. Besides overcoming disappointment, the film is about never giving up on pursuit of what you believe is God’s calling on your life, no matter what obstacles stand in your way. The journey is worth-it no matter how long it takes.  

   

 

Review: "Spider-Man: No Way Home"

Stan Lee first created the character of Spider-Man in the comic book Amazing Fantasy #15, which was published in August of 1962. Four decades later, and the main character is now live-action with several incarnations: first Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man (2002) and then by Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and in 2018, Sony and Columbia released Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse which won the Best Animated Feature Oscar. After Disney’s acquisition of Marvel in 2009, Tom Holland began portraying Spider-Man, first in Captain America: Civil War (2016) and just recently in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), released on December 17th, 2021. Here’s my review of “No Way Home.”

In the aftermath of Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), Peter Parker loathes every minute of being a celebrity as people are accepting his true identity is Spider-Man from Aunt May (played by Oscar-Winner Marisa Tomei) to best friend Ned Leeds (played by Jacob Batalon), to his girlfriend Michelle Jones (MJ) Watson, (played by Tom Holland’s real girlfriend, Zendaya). As Peter continues to deal with celebrity pressures, he summons his friend/fighting partner from Avengers: Endgame (2019), Doctor Stephen Strange (played by Oscar-Nominee Benedict Cumberbatch) to see if he could possibly make the world forget he’s Spider-Man. Strange knows a magical spell that can do that, and follows through. However, the spell goes awry, and winds up giving Peter a battle bigger than “Endgame.” Soon, Spider-man is intermixed with villains from alternate universes including (Spoiler Alert!) Doctor Octopus (played by Tony-Nominee Alfred Molina), Electro (played by Oscar-Winner Jamie Foxx), the Green Goblin (played by Oscar-Nominee Willem Dafoe), the Sandman (played by Oscar-Nominee Thomas Hayden Church), and even the Lizard (played by Rhys Ifans) as well as the alternate Peter Parkers (once again played by Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield).

Written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers (who also wrote “Far From Home,” Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), as well as Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017), and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)), and the film directed by Jon Watts. Watts directed “Far From Home,” and “Homecoming,” but “No Way Home,” is the ultimate “Spider-Man,” adventure. The plot is difficult to follow at times, as it brings back actors who have had roles in “Spider-Man,” long before Disney acquired Marvel in 2009. Despite some confusion, the movie is totally worth seeing. It a touching homage to the character of Spider-Man and his heroic abilities to save the world and still protect his loved ones.

Spider-Man was the youngest of the Avengers and as such, still naive; but he still has determination and potential. He was fortunate to receive guidance from Tony Stark/aka “Iron Man,” in “Civil War,” “Homecoming,” Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and “Endgame.” However, with the passing of his mentor in “Endgame,” in “Far From Home,” and “No Way Home,” Peter Parker is having to face challenges without his mentor. Whether or not he can, and ultimately mature into a decent hero/adult man is the challenge. 

In addition to the returns of Maguire, Garfield, Dafoe, etc., the film also includes the return of Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons as disgruntled Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson, and Benedict Wong as Dr. Strange’s sidekick, Wong. The film’s original score was composed by Michael Giacchino, who won an Oscar for composing Disney/Pixar’s Up (2009) and who also scored “Homecoming,” and “No Way Home,”. The Cinematography was done by Mauro Fiore who won an Oscar for doing the Cinematography on Avatar (2009) and the film was co-edited by Leigh Folsom Boyd who edited “Far From Home,” and Jeffrey Ford who edited each of the “Avengers,” movies (2012-2019). 

Overall, “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” is great movie, period. I am not what whom you would characterize as the ultimate “Spider-Man” fan. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the film more than I thought I would because I had grown up on the earlier “Spider-Man,” movies and I wasn’t expecting “No Way Home,” to acknowledge the earlier films in the ways that it did. I wound up liking it even better than “Endgame,” which I didn’t think was possible knowing how epic a film that is. Taking these thoughts into consideration “No Way Home,” maybe the best “Spider-Man,” film ever!

Review: "Being the Ricardos"

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were undoubtedly two of the most popular people in television. Married for more than 20 years, they collaborated together on beloved CBS sit-com I Love Lucy (1951-1957), in which their relationship as husband and wife was always portrayed as happy and loving. Off-screen, however, their relationship was tumultuous. While their relationship has been the subject of two TV movies, it was recently given a theatrical and streaming release: Amazon’s Being the Ricardos, starring Oscar winners Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem as Ball and Arnaz. Here’s my review of that film:

During a hectic production week in the third season of “I Love Lucy,” Lucille Ball is wrongly accused of being a communist while Desi Arnaz is accused of not being faithful to Lucy. The future of their show, as well as their relationship and careers, and even their friendships with co-stars Vivian Vance and William Frawley (respectively played by Tony-Winner Nina Arianda and Oscar-Winner J.K. Simmons) is on the line. Overcoming the backlash they received is the major story line, paired with the stories of how they met, fell in love, got married, and worked together to get their show off the ground at CBS. The film also includes the reflections upon that pressure-packed week years later by “I Love Lucy,” screenwriters Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh-Davis, and Bob Carroll.

Written and Directed by Academy-Award-Winning Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (Winner of Best Adapted Screenplay for The Social Network (2010)), “Being the Ricardos,” tells the story of Lucille Ball’s and Desi Arnaz’s remarkable partnership. During their marriage, they were deeply in love and they never stopped relying on each other’s creative instincts. They ran their show together on their own terms and if the network had a problem on how they were running it, they worked together to remedy it. And although their marriage sadly ended in divorce, they never truly fell out of love with each other.

Although one could argue that Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem don’t look exactly like Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in real life, their skills at bringing realism to every role they play show up well in this movie. Kidman won the Best Actress Oscar for The Hours in 2002 and Bardem won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for No Country for Old Men in 2007, though I would say their performances in this movie are award worthy as well. Nina Arianda and J.K. Simmons are exceptional as Vivian Vance and William Frawley, and the supporting cast includes the talents of Arrested Development Alum Alia Shawkat, Jake Lacy, and Emmy-Winner Tony Hale, respectively as the younger versions “I Love Lucy,” writers Madelyn Pugh-Davis, Bob Carroll, and Jess Oppenheimer (with Linda Lavin, Ronny Cox, and John Rubenstein as their older counterparts). Marvel Cinematic Universe alum Clark Gregg co-stars as fictional network executive Howard Wenke.

“Being the Ricardos,” Cinematography was done by Jeff Cronenweth, who received a Best Cinematography Oscar Nomination for “Social Network,” and it was Edited by Alan Baumgarten who received a Best Editing Oscar Nomination for The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) which was written and directed by Sorkin as well. The music was composed by Daniel Pemberton, who received a Best Original Song Oscar Nomination for the song “Hear My Voice,” written for “Trial of Chicago 7.” Ball and Arnaz’s children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr., also served as Executive Producers of the film.

All in all, “Being the Ricardos,” is a very well-made film. Personally, I got so lost in the film that I forgot I was watching people act. I honestly felt like I was watching the real people who were there tell their own version of the story, which hasn’t happened very often in my life. I would recommend that all “I Love Lucy,” fans see this movie, even if you have reservations about being exposed to the more complicated, not-so-funny truth about the show. Although the truth about “Lucy,” is complicated, everyone who made “I Love Lucy,” in reality were relentless in their efforts and the film makes you love them all even more, especially Lucy herself.