PING: NYC and LA Movie-goers

[Logan]

I know there's a lot of movie fans on the board, and we probably have a nice contingent of NYCers and LA people. If anyone that lives in these areas would be interested in seeing a really good movie this weekend, I have one for you (even if it's a bit of a plug).

Last night I was at the US premiere of "The Take" here in NY. The movie is directed by Brad Furman and stars John Leguizamo, Rosie Perez, Tyrese Gibson, and Yul Vasquez (Seinfeld fans will remember him as the "street tough" who mugged Kramer for his armoire, others will know him from American Gangster, Traffic, Bad Boys II, etc). The basic premise of the movie is that Leguizamo plays an armored truck driver who gets robbed, shot in the head, and lives to "seek revenge."

Some background...this is Furman's first full-length movie and it had a lot of issues in the basically political process of getting made, to the point where no one ever thought it would end up being released anywhere. Furman grew up with my brother-in-law Josh, who happens to be an ER doctor out in Philly. Because of all the stuff Leguizamo's character goes through after being shot, it was important to him for the scenes to be very realistic, so he hired Josh as the Medical Advisor. Leguizamo is known for getting very into his characters, and this wasn't an exception. He spoke with Josh everyday for a few weeks as he prepared for the role and learned about what someone with brain trauma would be experiencing. He also followed Josh around the hospital for a couple days, spending time with brain trauma patients. By the end of all this, he asked Brad if Josh could play his neurological rehab doctor, which he did, and he has a couple small scenes in the movie. So my non-actor brother-in-law has two credits in the film, which is pretty cool.

Anyway, because of who bought the movie when it was basically in the dumper, it has a very small chance of getting a full-blown release. However, that could be prevented with a big box office (relatively speaking) this weekend in the theater that it's playing in on each coast. So if anyone lives in NY or LA and wouldn't mind supporting this, it would be great.

In NYC, it's showing this weekend, the 11th to 13th, at the Clearview on 62nd and Broadway. In LA, same dates, at the Mann Criterion 6 in Santa Monica.

I'm not going to lie and say it's the greatest movie ever made, but it's a very solid showing in my book, and I tend to grade pretty hard. Honestly, Leguizamo's performance alone is worth the price of admission. I hung out with everyone associated with the movie, Leguizamo included, until it was almost time for work this morning, and I'd really like to see this get the showings it deserves. Oh, and if it helps, there's a crazy sex scene between Leguizamo and Perez (hxxp://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/04/08/people.rosieperez.ap/index.html). She's still hot and was really nice to meet last night.

Thanks for reading. Here's a Q&A with Leguizamo about the movie if you'd like some more background.

[MikeVic]

I obviously can't watch, but that smiling picture of Rosie doesn't do her much justice.

[Logan]

You actually missed your chance, as it first appeared at the Toronto Film Festival.

But just know that the moving images of her great rack do much justice in the movie.

[Lorena]

Dang, it's such a bummer that it's not being released here in Austin as I would definitely go see it. I noticed Leguizamo's character gets robbed where I grew up so I'm wondering if the movie was filmed there.

Anyway, I'll check it out on DVD when it comes out, or if it gets released here at some point, we'll definitely check it out.

[Logan]

It was filmed all over LA, in primarily Mexican neighborhoods I assume.

[Anthony]

does Rosie Perez get naked?


ok bye.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Hell Atlantic

does Rosie Perez get naked?


ok bye.

Only chest and ass. No vag. No subs either, sorry.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Dodgerchick

Dang, it's such a bummer that it's not being released here in Austin as I would definitely go see it. I noticed Leguizamo's character gets robbed where I grew up so I'm wondering if the movie was filmed there.

Anyway, I'll check it out on DVD when it comes out, or if it gets released here at some point, we'll definitely check it out.

Bump as it's now out on DVD. The lowest price I've seen in-store is $14 at Circuit City (online for $15). Best Buy has it as well.

[korme]

The 4.3 rating on IMdb is hurting my ambition to see this...

[Logan]

Like I said originally, it's not an Oscar winner but it's definitely not 4.3/10 bad. It got pretty good reviews from the LA Times and NY Post, and here's one online that I thought was a well-done review.

[Lorena]

At the top of my Netflix Q

[Logan]

Cool. Shoot me a PM when you get it and I'll tell you which scene my bro-in-law is in and also where the director gives him props on the commentary and making-of special features.

[Lorena]

OK, we finally watched it yesterday:

I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. John Lenguizamo and Rosie Perez were great. I really felt her anguish and his frustrations and sometimes they didn't have to say anything, it was their facial expressions and actions that said it all. Lenguizamo's character was funny, but not comedic funny, it was the way he delivered his lines that had us LOLing. I also liked the "look" of the movie with a sort of yellowish cast.

[Lorena]

dola,

We saw the scene with John Lenguizamo and your brother in law. Ant and I were saying that he "acted" like a doc would.. lol. We also saw the behind the scenes where they gave him props and mentioned that there were scenes where your bro-in-law would yell "CUT! You would never do that with 2 hands!" Which we thought was funny.

We really enjoyed the film and wondered why it didn't get the recognition it deserved. It really was a good movie.

[Lorena]

Originally Posted by Logan

Oh, and if it helps, there's a crazy sex scene between Leguizamo and Perez (hxxp://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/04/08/people.rosieperez.ap/index.html). She's still hot and was really nice to meet last night.

Oh yeah, that scene.. wow. They showed enough of Rosie to get your mind wandering and she does look great.. I can't believe she's 43 yrs. old.

[Logan]

Very glad to hear that you guys liked it. Thanks for giving it a shot.

[Logan]

Major bump...

This doesn't have much to do with my brother-in-law unfortunately but his director friend who I mentioned in the first post has really started getting big. He directed The Lincoln Lawyer a few years ago, he has "Runner Runner" starring Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake coming out in a few weeks, and he just signed on to direct the Pablo Escobar story, starring, once again, John Leguizamo.

John Leguizamo Confirmed to Play Pablo Escobar in Brad Furman's KING OF COCAINE! - Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Vinnie Chase was unavailable?

[Logan]

That's nearly the exact text I sent my bro-in-law when he told me the news.

[DanGarion]

You lost me at Rosie Perez being hot.