Posts tagged driving
“The Way Way Back” Only Way Way Okay
Jul 21st
“Way Way Okay”
“Hotshots” looks at a movie!
The Way Way Back is another movie about the coming of age for a teenage boy, only this time it is set at a beach during summer vacation.
The title refers to the third seat in those big clunky station wagons which faced backwards and in which Duncan sits at the beginning and the end of the movie.
Yes, when the movie opens, Duncan is in the car with his mother Pam, played by Toni Collette, which belongs to Trent, Pam’s boyfriend, played by Steve Carell, as they are all driving to Trent’s beach house with Trent’s teenage daughter Steph, where they are all going to spend the summer.
Pam and Steph are sleeping, and there is an uncomfortable scene with Trent and Duncan in which Trent humiliates Duncan and displays what an unpleasant person Trent is.
In fact, later Trent is described as a car salesman with bad taste.
When they arrive at the beach house, which is labeled The Riptide, Betty, played by Allison Janney, who is the neighbor in the house next door, comes over and says, “Let’s have a fun summer!”
Betty has a teenage daughter, Susanna, and a young boy named Peter, whom Betty is always criticizing for a physical trait he has.
However, the summer starts out as anything but fun for Duncan, and the first half of this movie is as painful for the audience as the summer begins for Duncan.
But then Duncan starts spending time at the local water park, where he becomes friends with the manager, Owen, played by Sam Rockwell.
Not only does Duncan begin to have fun, but Owen also takes him under his wing and hires Duncan as an employee there.
Meanwhile, back at The Riptide, the relationship between Pam and Trent becomes strained, especially when they all have to stay inside on a rainy day and play a board game.
You begin to think that all the adults in this film are divorced, but there is one married couple in the story, Kip and Joan, played by Rob Corddry and Amanda Peet, but their relationship isn’t so hot and in fact it contributes to the strained relationship between Pam and Trent.
Who would want to come of age in this bunch of unhappy adults?
The Way Way Back is only way way way okay.
I’m Dan Culberson and this is “Hotshots.”
“Before Midnight” What All Films Should Be
Jul 13th
“What All Films Should Be”
“Hotshots” looks at a movie!
Before Midnight is the third in the series of films that began with the 1995 Before Sunrise and continued with the 2004 Before Sunset.
All of them were directed by Richard Linklater and star Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.
First of all, it is refreshing that none of the films in this trilogy has a number in its title.
Second of all, you don’t need to have seen the first two films in order to enjoy and understand this one, although seeing them in order would certainly heighten the enjoyment and refresh your memory about what is discussed in this one.
And third of all, don’t be put off by a description of this excellent film that like the first two it consists mostly of the two lead characters talking. The subjects they talk about are fascinating, they are relevant to the relationship of all couples, and at some point they become surprisingly heartbreaking.
And I don’t mean when Celine tells Jesse, “You never stop ogling girls” or when she says “I’m stuck with an American teenager.”
Yes, Jesse is American, Celine is French, and they met 18 years earlier on a train when they began talking and Jesse convinced Celine to get off with him in Vienna and share his last night in Europe.
Jesse wrote a successful novel based on that accidental encounter, and nine years later they met again in Paris when he was on a book tour, and again they spent a romantic night together even though Jesse was married and Celine had a boyfriend.
And now it is again nine years later, Celine and Jesse are not only together, but they also have twin girls, and they have all just spent six weeks on vacation in Greece with close Greek friends.
This time the extensive dialogue is broken up into four distinct parts.
The first part is when Jesse and Celine are driving back from dropping off his son at the airport, and they discuss Jesse’s son and Celine’s concerns about taking a new job in Paris.
The second part is a long discussion over lunch with their friends, and they discuss sex in the future, gender differences, and family appearances.
And the third and fourth parts are Celine and Jesse talking about their future.
Before Midnight is what films should all be.
I’m Dan Culberson and this is “Hotshots.”
Jack TerHar talks Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, Maserati’s and Jaguars at the 2013 Denver Auto Show
Mar 24th
Jack TerHar shows us the hottest and most luxurious and expensive vehicles at the 2013 Denver International Auto Show, Lamborghini’s, Aston Martins, Maserati’s and Jaguars in particular.
Lamborghini Aventador – Built in Italy. Just arrived from the future. Lamborghini has a history of revolutionary thinking. Whether in terms of design, like the iconic scissor doors or in terms of technology such as the V12 engine and carbon-fiber technology. Going far beyond what was previously thought possible is just as much a part of our brand as our core values: uncompromising, extreme, Italian. The Aventador LP 700-4 represents a whole new level of performance, sets new benchmarks in the super sports car segment, and provides a glimpse into the future. It’s a car that’s already achieved legendary status.
Lamborghini Gallardo – The new Gallardo LP 560-4 combines the aggressive and muscular sportiness of the shape with the elegance and simplicity of its contours. The redesigned front end is characterized by triangular and trapezoidal forms – two shapes that are highly typical of the Lamborghini design language.
Aston Martin Rapide – The World’s Most Beautiful 4-Door Sports Car. A more luxurious and more refined Rapide taking industry leading technology to new heights, with more power and more luxury. An Aston Martin with the power of luxury.
Aston Martin Vanquish – The Best Aston Martin… ever. 100 years of Aston Martin. 100 years of producing the most beautiful and desirable cars in the world. Aston Martin knew centenary demanded something special. Their mission was to produce the greatest Aston Martin in history, the car to lead into a second 100 years – a new flagship and they did it. With the most advanced engineering, the most beautiful design and the finest materials, they created the best Aston Martin ever. The Vanquish. Thinking James Bond ?….
Aston Martin Vantage – The Aston Martin Vantage is a true sporting thoroughbred. By distilling Aston Martin’s unique design and engineering ethos into a compact and handsome sports car, each Vantage model displays its own unmistakable and pure sporting character. Coupe or Roadster, V8 or V12, the Vantage range embodies all that is great about Aston Martin. In 2012, this iconic range continued to evolve, with a comprehensive array of improvements to the V8 Vantage and the unveiling of the exclusive, limited edition V12 Vantage Roadster for 2013.
Maserati GranTurismo Sport Coup – Sportiness and elegance have been redefined with the creation of the Maseratio GrandTurismo Sport, The new model is Maserati’s latest version of the coupe and offers increased performance and an elegant sporty restyling.
Maserati Quattroporte GTS – Maserati Grantour attitude has epitomised the concept of the high preformance luxry saloon since its creation in 1963, when a racing engine was installed into a luxry saloon for the first time, and now after fifty years the all new Quattroporte continues to be the embodiment of the classic grand tourer and remains a celebration of elegance, technology and power.
Maserati GranCabrio Convertible – There’s something very special about driving ‘al fresco’. It’s all about being at one with the environment, savouring the essential pleasures of the surrounding landscape and rejoicing in the ensuing sense of freedom. The Maserati GranCabrio is a sensual lifestyle choice that makes quite a statement.
Jaguar F-Type – Introducing an all-new convertible sports car that will fuel your desire. Jaguar’s long anticipated sports car, the F-TYPE, has arrived. It is agile, powerful, and distinctive. From the crest of the hood to the edge of the spoiler, Jaguar F-Type is their newest sports car and precisely designed and named for desire.
