What Just Happened? (2008)

De Niro just doesn't seem to have it like he used to. He's been in a series of underwhelming movies lately but I just can't stop watching anything that has De Niro in it! The movie (click here to add to your queue)  has an interesting enough premise. De Niro is a Hollywood producer who has to deal with moody stars, directors with too much 'artistic vision', and pressure from studios. The supporting cast of Sean Penn, Bruce Willis, and John Turturro is about as good as you can get. Yet somehow the movie just falls short. Most showbiz movies end up just being depressing and this one is no exception.

The most interesting part of the movie is Bruce Willis (playing himself) flipping the fuck out because they want him to shave his Grizzly Adams beard. That part of the movie was awesome, the rest of it was just kinda meh. Not an awful movie, but just not that interesting. Very disappointing considering the talent involved.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? De Niro, Penn, Turturro and Willis.

Is it artsy? Nope, I think it would like to be though.

Best thing about the movie? Bruce Willis flipping out was awesome.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Really bored.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 2 stars.

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Sleepers (1996)

Featuring: Kevin Bacon, Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Patric, Brad Pitt. Director: Barry Levinson.

This is a movie I'm surprised I'd never seen before. With a cast featuring Kevin Bacon, Brad Pitt, Dustin Hoffman and Robert DeNiro I'm not sure how this ever slipped through the cracks. Sleepers is a revenge movie with a pretty predictable plot that contains enough confronting content and good acting to make it work. I was expecting it to be more of a mob movie (mostly because of the cover) but while it had that sort of mob movie setting/feel it was more about these 4 boys who have bad things happen to them in a reformatory and what it does to them as boys/men. It was a good movie if you've never seen it, give it a look.

Click here to add this movie to your Netflix queue.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? The ensemble cast of talented actors.

Is it artsy? Nope, just a good ol' fashioned revenge flick.

Best thing about the movie? Kevin Bacon being evil.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking for a serious drama.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 stars.  

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