Guns, Girls & Gambling

I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. 2011's Guns, Girls and Gambling.

I never thought I'd have a Christian Slater movie on my blog. A good start - Name of the Rose, Heathers (Awesome!!) and Pump up the Volume - did NOT parlay into a rich acting career, I would argue. I haven't liked anything he's been in since 1990.

Yes, it's got a stupid title and Christian Slater (and Dane Cook) and I am still recommending it if you're in the mood for a kinda cheesy but fun action-thriller.

Christian Slater's character, John Smith, gets sucked into the intrigue of a casino heist. Elvis impersonators, native Americans, corrupt sheriffs, and a blond assassin keep the pace, plot and comedy moving. 

And Gary Oldman is one of the Elvises! He's as good as ever in this movie. Once again proving that (almost) everything he's in is worth watching. The other Gary Oldman axiom remains intact too, for all you Oldman enthusiasts (do his characters EVER survive? - for those not in the loop).

I read a few reviews that compared it to something Quentin Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez would do. I can see the comparison. And yes, this isn't as good as either Quentin or Robert have done. But I do think it can stand on its own. Not the best picture I've ever seen, but a fun, twisty distraction.

Searching for Sugar Man

I cannot possibly recommend this movie more!

2012's Searching for Sugar Man is a documentary about 2 South Africans who try to find out what happened to their musical hero, 1970's American folk singer Rodriquez.

Whoooo? Never heard of him. Why should I watch an hour and a half documentary about someone I never heard of? And a type of music I'm not too fond of, for that matter??

These are the questions I was asking myself when I hit the play button. And believe me, I did have my doubts - even through much of the first third, or so, of the movie. 

But it gets more and more interesting and entertaining as it goes. And by the time it ended...

I don't want to give anything away. But WOW! 

This is a real "Power of Music" story! And a must-rent!