Nostra and The Focused Filmographer have teamed up and created this blogathon:
I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’m participating in anything like this, so my entry might not be as polished as those who have been doing a lot of these blogathon-type entries. Also, it’s amazing how a deadline set by other bloggers motivates me to actually post something, haha. Self-set deadlines just have me saying, “Maybe tomorrow…? Or the next day…? Or how about in two weeks? A month?” You get the picture. Anyway, onward to…
The Rules:
It’s time to put some movie people in jail. The object is to give a prosecutor’s argument as to why these movie people belong in “Movie Jail” whether it be for violating the integrity of the content source of one their films, or being a sell-out, just making bad movies overall, getting worse as time goes on or not being in a good movie for many years. The baton will be passed to another blogger who will have to do the following:
In order to free someone from Movie Jail they have to do 2 things:
1 – Give a defense attorney argument defending the plaintiff
2 – Pay bail: the cost of which is another case for the court and a prosecutor’s argument against the actor/director of their choice that will replace the one set free.
There must always be 10 people in Movie Jail.
The Participants:
1. My Filmviews / The Focused Filmographer
2. Cinematic Corner
3. And So It Begins…
4. Surrender to the Void
5. Cinematic Paradox
6. The Cinematic Spectacle
7. Being Norma Jean
8. Defiant Success
9. …let’s be splendid about this
10. Lime Reviews and Strawberry Confessions
11. Aziza’s Picks
12. Flixchatter
13. i luv cinema
14. Public Transportation Snob
15. The Warning Sign
16. 3 Guys 1 Movie
The Inmates:
Michael Bay
Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer
Raja Gosnell
Katherine Heigl
Eddie Murphy
Adam Sandler
Kristen Stewart
Jennifer Lopez
Gerard Butler
Damon Lindelof
Who Made Bail
Gerard Butler
(Oh yeah…free jailbird looks free…and cool. Had to do it, haha. Not to mention I also couldn’t find a clean version of the picture that was used to put him in jail…)
This was a very tough call. I think I’ve jumped in at a point where it’s getting more and more difficult to let some of these people out. Still, I managed to find a case for good ol’ Gerry, and not because I’m a huge fan. If anything, I’m more of a casual fan. I just think that out of all the people on this list, he still has the potential to turn things around—like Robert DeNiro, Silver Linings Playbook (2012) style. It was either him or Eddie Murphy and frankly, I don’t see Murphy turning things around any time soon.
While I admit that Butler definitely has more misses than hits, I think that these old clips of him provide reason enough to free him. At least he’s naturally funny. Some of the parts are repeats, but they each have enough differences that make it worth watching all of them.
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Exhibit C
Who’s Getting Thrown in the Slammer
Ruben Fleischer
I had to do a little research before I put Fleischer in jail. Now, while there’s no rule against putting the same person in jail twice (at least, I don’t think that’s a rule?), I didn’t want to seem unoriginal and repetitive.
Aside from Gangster Squad (2013)—which I have never seen and due to the violence in it will probably never get around to watching, not to mention I heard it was a hit or miss with folks anyways—I don’t think this guy has made anything really worth noting. My biggest reason for putting him in jail is for 30 Minutes or Less (2011), the irony being in the title, if you catch my drift. The only time I even laughed in that movie was when Aziz Ansari showed up, and even then I ended up walking out of the movie (a very, very rare occurrence—yes, it was that bad) after about a half hour of it—a half hour that I won’t be getting back. I was on the verge of throwing Jesse Eisenberg in jail instead, since I thought his acting in 30 Minutes or Less was pretty darn awful, but the deciding factor against that is that he’s got a little more on his résumé. A very slim save. If I had things my way, they’d both be in there.
Cutting Edge Creativity 
Thanks for participating! I’m not a fan of Butler, but you made a good statement about why he should be released. As for Fleischer…he did direct Zombieland. I agree that 30 minutes or less was disappointing. Personally I really enjoyed Gangster Squad, but the general consensus was that it was disappointing.
Of course! Adam from 3Guys was the one that brought me in on it. I’m still so behind on topics I want to write and other obligations that life has been throwing at me that I haven’t really had the time to go and catch up on other blogs. Slowly catching up though. This was fun. Difficult, but not impossible. It’s definitely going to get harder from here on out.
And the baton is passed down. So how long do I have? A week? It’s my first ever Blogathon… so The Shah is nervous.
I agree with your choice by the way. I could care less about Fleischer, but glad to see Gerrard out. He’s a strong actor, and I dig his work. He should stay away from Rom-Coms though!
I’ve started several of these relay races and generally have the rule that you have a week to write your own post. Looking forward to it and I’d be very interested to see what you’ll do. It’s getting harder and harder as it goes along.
Hey Nostra,
Thanks for replying. I won’t need the week as I’ve already started. But good to know I have a bit of time to polish… I want my first time to be amazing… for everyone involved. (too much?)
Hahaha, I’m sure it will be 😉
By the way, it cracks me up that the two of you used my blog as a sort of “virtual coffee shop” of sorts to hang out, hahaha.
Hahaha, your blog is a cool coffeeshop 😉
Thanks! And honestly I think it’s thanks to this blogathon that I got the huge jump in followers I did. Kind of amazing. I had no idea that would happen. I just did it for fun.
Actually, what am I talking about? REALLY amazing, hahaha.
Yes, he most definitely should. I love rom-coms, but that genre is just not his thing. And without the week deadline, I probably wouldn’t have gotten myself to write this entry until well into next month, hahaha.
Leonidas is freed! ooh! haha
Nice. It is now going to continually be a hard choice of who to free. Thanks for being a part of the relay race! So much fun! 🙂
Yes it was! I never hear about these things until someone points it out to me, but I’m glad they did.
I haven’t been following this Movie Jail Race, and it’s quite interesting that the one I checked out actually rescued Gerry 😀 I was actually a fan of his for about 5 years, I was quite devoted to him (just ask Nostra), but after Playing For Keeps I gave up. I thought it was such a stupid and banal *rom-com* that had no romance nor comedy, and he produced the darn thing on top of starring in it!
That said, I agree he’s got tons of potential if he just choose his roles wisely. I mean he’s become a total joke now and it pains me to say that as I’ve seen a lot of his earlier roles like Dear Frankie, Phantom of the Opera, etc. so clearly he had the chops. He’s very funny in interviews, that’s kind of why I was so enamored w/ him, but that’s no longer enough for me.
Anyways, I’d have put Fleischer in jail too, Gangster Squad was an abomination!
Hahaha, well glad you jumped in on this entry, and welcome to my blog!
Yes, I totally agree about him needing to choose his roles more wisely, but to be honest, I think that’s something every actor just needs to do. One person who I think has been doing a pretty solid job with role-picking has been Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I love that guy. He’s amazing.
I’ll probably never get around to seeing Gangster Squad, but I have heard a surprising amount of negative criticisms about it. A shame, because the trailers made it look like it was going to be a cool movie. I guess in that regard I’m glad, since the violence alone would have kept me from seeing it, so it’s nice to know I’m not missing out on much.
Yep, JGL is an excellent example of a wise actor who choose great roles for himself. Even when he did a rom-com, it’s a good one (500-Days of Summer). I do hope GB would have a comeback a la Matthew McConaughey one day, hey anything is possible!
As for Gangster Squad, the trailer is far more interesting that the movie.
Yes, I agree on JGL and rom-coms. I’m not sure if McConaughey has really made a comeback…though that might just be me being biased since I fell out of love with him at some point. I wasn’t that impressed in his role in Magic Mike…but then again I wasn’t really all that on board for that movie overall, despite all the positive attention every other member of the female population seemed to be giving it.
And LOL. Again, I’m VERY glad to know I’m not missing out on anything.
I’m not a big fan of Matthew either, but he was doing stupid rom-coms before and now he seems to be doing intriguing roles. I don’t care for Magic Mike either, not a fan of ANY of the cast on there.
Anyway, glad to make your acquaintance. I invite you to my blog anytime 😀
Haha, thank you! As a disclaimer, I tell anyone who extends an invitation that I am not the best of visitors…for some reason I’m just not very good at Internet multi-tasking! But that I definitely do visit time-to-time! Best place to contact me though is on Twitter, so I invite you to follow me and I shall return the love, if I’m not already!!
Good choice Rae and thanks for taking the baton from us.
Haha, thanks! And yeah, it was a lot of fun! Any time you guys want me to volunteer for something, I’ll be more than happy to do it. I won’t grumble like Mark. :p You can let him know I said so. Puhaha.
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