Film: The Wrestler (2008)

Blu-Ray


Review: An amazing character study that gave me a whole new respect for wrestling and Mickey Rourke. Randy "The Ram" is an aging broken-down wrestler still holding onto his glory days from the 1980s as he continues to fight in the ring twenty years later. Marisa Tomei is excellent as an older stripper that he forms a bond with and who is entering the twilight of her career as well. The intense scene of Randy getting patched up in the locker room after his brutal match with the Necro Butcher is a graphic display of the mental and physical toll of his profession after the adrenaline high from the crowd has dissipated.

Quotes:
"As for as tonight, I don't know what you wanna do. I had a few ideas. I was thinking, you know, maybe just for the heat, I would give you a low blow, follow it up with a bulldog."
"Just bring the cheap heat, bro."
--------
"Maybe make your comeback right off there."
"Bang off the ropes, then super kick and, uh, Ram Jam, and then we go have a beer, okay?"
"That sounds great, man."
"You hang in there. You got a lot of ability."
"All right."
"Okay?"
"Thank you."
"Bless you."

"Oh, Jesus. You're bleeding. Oh!"
"Yeah, I got cut tonight."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, it's nothing."
"They say wrestling's fake."
"Look at this. 1986, Denver Coliseum, Billy Bob Banjo hit me with a two-by-four. It had a loose nail in it, split my bicep right in the hell open. Look at that. I got a better one than that. Take a look at this here. 1988, okay? Orlando Civic Center. Mr. Magnificent threw me over the top ropes. I landed on my shoulder and cracked my clavicle right in half."
"Oh, my God. Does it hurt?"
"Well, it hurts when I breath, but, I mean, you know, you hear the roar of the crowd, you just motor through, you know?"

"Yeah! Goddamn, they don't make 'em like they used to."
"Fuckin' '80s, man. Best shit ever."
"Bet your ass, man. Gun N' Roses fuckin' rules."
"Crüe, Def Lep."
"Then that Cobain pussy had to come around and ruin it all, you know."
"Like there's something wrong with wanting to have a good time."
"I tell you something. I hated the fuckin' '90s."
"Nineties fuckin' sucked."

"I use to try and forget about you. I used to try to pretend that... you did not exist. But I can't. You're my girl. You're my little... You're my little girl. And now... I'm an old, broken-down piece of meat. And I'm alone. And I deserve to be all alone... I just don't want you to hate me... Okay?"

"I'm doing my thing. I'm going to work."
"Yeah, but... but your heart."
"My heart? My heart's still tickin'"
"Yeah, but the doctor said..."
"Listen, I know what I'm doing. And, you know, the only place I get hurt is out there. The world doesn't give a shit about me."
"I'm here. I'm really here. What do you call that?"
"Hey! You hear them? This is where I belong. I gotta go."

5 out of 5 Stars

Film: Money Train (1995)

Blu-Ray


Review: This is a perfect little action film. It's got the amazing chemistry between Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson, Jennifer Lopez at her most attractive, and a great loathsome villain in their overbearing boss, Robert Blake. The heist plot to steal from the New York Subway's revenue train is a simple but effective framework for the fun performances, including a small role for Chris Cooper as the Torch.

Quotes:
"You're stopping trains. I wanna know why."
"We got a police action, sir. Six line, south of Wall Street. Decoy cops in the tunnel."
"Where is the revenue train?"
"We're holding it at Wall Street."
"Send it though."
"Sir, we got cops on the tracks down there."
"Send it through! Nothing stops the money train."

"You got any cash on you?"
"What for?"
"Well, if you must know, I'm buying you a Christmas present."
"You're gonna buy me a Christmas present with my money?"
"Yeah, so don't be stingy."
"You know, you never cease to amaze me."
"You don't have to count it. I trust you, man. I'm out, see ya."
"So you're really gonna buy me a present, huh?"
"I love you, man!"
"If you love me, let me keep my money."

"No, you ain't gonna hit him."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm gonna hit him!"

"You do much decoy?"
"Six months in the outer boroughs. I liked it. But this transfer's definitely a lucky break. And they say you guys are the best."
"Oh, well, modesty prevents me from... Well, no, it does not. We are the best. You see the way he's swaying back and forth. He's got his arm swinging, you know, like he wants to take a whiz but he forgot how? He got that from me."

"You're right on the edge. You're a wreck looking for someplace to happen. I'll be there, and I'll fuck you dead."
---------
"Do you think he wants to fuck us before we're dead or fuck us afterwards?
"I understood that when we're dead, that's when he wants to fuck us."
"Either way, it's a pain in the ass."

"Hey Charlie, come back to Earth, man. All right, just... just calm down. Come on. Come on, now."
"What are you talking about?"
"Look, look. Charles, we're not gonna rob the money train."
"Why not?"
"Because, uh, uh... we're cops. And you know, remember: Serve, protect, break a mugger's neck, all of that. That's our credo."

"Hey, don't turn your back on me, bro!"
"Whoa, whoa. Now, we're not brothers, all right? We don't think alike, we don't act alike, and we damn sure don't look alike. Ever since we were kids, I've been carrying you on my back. I wipe your fucking nose, I clean up your messes. And now I'm gonna give up my badge... and my career for YOU? No, no. This is shaking time. You can get the fuck out of my life."

"Oh, now's your chance to turn me in and get a medal."
"Or you can get this damn train moving and get us the hell out of here."
"Thought you'd never ask."
"Charlie, when this is over with, remind me to knock you out."

4 out of 5 Stars

Film: Up the Creek (1984)

DVD: Anamorphic


Review: This was a favorite of mine as a teenager. I see a lot of its flaws now, but Tim Matheson is still entertaining as the charismatic Bob McGraw, the worst student at the worst university in the nation who has to win the intercollegiate white-water raft race to earn a degree from the Dean. It's not worth the 4 stars I would have given it back then, but it has held up pretty well as a knock-off of Animal House.

Quotes:
"Aah, I need a shave, a bath, a cup of coffee and a good woman. Something tells me we've come to the wrong place."

"You get in my way again and you'll be sorry you were ever born."
"He knew then and there that the friendship they had since childhood had died a sudden and tragic death. Destroyed by the love of a woman."

"Hey, watch it..."
"Watch what?"
"Watch what a fool I can make out of myself."
"Is that worth watching?"
"Oh, I'm very good at it. Especially when I'm in the company of such an attractive woman. Haven't we met somewhere before?"
"I suppose that next your going to ask me if you can buy me a drink."
"Ah, ah, he says to himself. Here's a woman who knows a come-on when she hears one. He thinks he has her where he wants her, but he has to make sure... Can I buy you a drink? Oh, she refuses with a shake of her beautiful head. That's perfect. She passed the second test, but she's not an easy mark. Still he must try the last line. What... What is your Major?"
"Gin and Tonic."
"Ah, Gin and Tonic for the lady! Make it two, will ya? So, you want to fool around, you want to get married, perform fellatio or what? If I'm being to forward, just tell me to back off."
"Um, how about a name first?"
"An old-fashioned girl, I like that. Bob... Bob McGraw."

"I guess this means no bedtime story?"
"If I'm not back in two hours, borrow a book."

"This is it guys. We can do it, guys. I can feel it. It's just water and rock! That's all. We'll show this river who's boss. This river will be ours!!"
"This is not a good sign."
"Sorry, guys. I just got carried away."

"Do you need any help?"
"No, thanks. I've been dressing myself for years, but I appreciate the offer. Oh, and when this is over and someone has won this damn thing. I'd like to think I could jump on you again sometime."

3 out of 5 Stars