"The Hangover" Hits #2

"The Hangover" raked in 43.3 million at the box office this weekend. It's a great movie with lots of great laughs. Check out GritsnCheese's film review below, "The Hangover, "A Must See Film."

Film Review: "The Hangover" A Must See, Game-changing Film

By Monica Peters

Trust me, this is not your typical bachelor film. You will not want to make a dash for popcorn or take a bathroom break. "The Hangover," starring Justin Bartha, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis may go down in history as one of the greatest bachelor films of all time. It is outrageous, over-the-top and hilarious taking a cliché topic and elevating it to the next level. The film is a game changer in how bachelor stories and scripts will be approached in Hollywood. What makes this film spectacular is that the story line is intriguing and cleverly written. The plot of the film is incorporated into the film’s credits at the end. The humor has no boundaries and leaves no stone unturned in the comedy department. The whacky, funny characters along the way like the “Asian gangster” give it a twist.

The film about four friends’ crazy bachelor party in Las Vegas, is a new millennium male version of male bonding meets Waiting to Exhale that goes seriously wrong. They have waken up to a trashed hotel room with a rooster wandering around, an unidentified infant baby that was left in the room, a tiger in the bathroom, one of the friends (a dentist) now has a missing front tooth, to make matters worse their friend, Doug, who is the groom-to-be is missing. The film focuses on them searching for their friend, and more importantly investigating why all four of them can not remember anything about the bachelor party. However, they must get this all resolved and get to Los Angeles in time for Doug’s wedding.

Their wild goose chase leads the friends to being placed in a some hilarious situations such as being used for a police taser gun presentation at an elementary school, allowing the students to use them as practice targets-- in exchange for them not going to jail for stealing a cop car. One even discovers that he got married to a stranger in Vegas. Boxer Mike Tyson adds some humor to the film although he is only featured briefly.

Although this film will leave your stomach in pain from laughing so hard, it hits a serious topic after one of the friends reveals why none of them can not remember what happened at the bachelor party (although it is addressed humorously). I will not discuss what that serious topic is because I do not want to give away the film. Parents, this film is not for kids due to the nudity and over-the-top content, but you should definitely have a talk with them after seeing this movie. Other than that, get your “laugh on.” The Hangover will not leave movie goers disappointed. The Hangover hits theaters on Friday June 5.

BAFTA's 2009: Slumdog Millionaire Wins Big. Real Big!

By Monica Peters

The highly anticipated BAFTA's (British Academy Film Awards) took place on Sunday 2/8 in the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London. Slumdog Millionaire won big at the BAFTA's taking home 7 awards including Best Film, Director Award, Best Music, Best Cinematograpy, Best Editing. The film is nominated for 10 Oscars in the United States. Bafta's are a good predictor of who will sweep the Oscars.

Mickey Rourke won the Lead Actor Award for his role in 'The Wrestler." Clear here for a full list of winners.

My Oscar predictions are always right on point. Slumdog Millionaire will dominate the Oscars--just like the British dominated the Grammy's! (just kidding). Big ups to Adele and Coldplay on their Grammy's!

"NOTORIOUS" Interview: Actress Naturi Naughton (Lil' Kim) on GritsnCheese.com

Actress Naturi Naughton who plays the role of Lil' Kim in the movie "Notorious" chats with Monica Peters. What would Naturi say if she had only one minute to speak with Lil' Kim? Naturi also has a bright career in movies ahead of her. Listen to the exclusive 13 minute interview on GritsnCheese.com!

Coming Wed 9/24 to the GNC Dish!: Miracle at St. Anna Interview w/ Screenplay writer and Best-Selling Author James McBride

Best-selling author, James McBride, will talk to Monica Peters Medina about Spike Lee's new film "Miracle at St. Anna" based on his best selling novel. James talks about the making of the film and a whole lot more. An interview not to be missed. Right here on TheGritsnCheeseDish![TM]

Lakeview Terrace, Hilarious but VERY Serious

By Monica Peters Medina

Lakeview Terrace is Samuel L. Jackson’s lighter version of “Training Day.” (You’ll know what I mean when you go see the film tonight). What is supposed to be thriller is just flat out hilarious at times. There is something about Samuel L. Jackson playing “the angry man” that tickles me pink.

Jackson plays, Able Turner, a bitter widow and LAPD police officer who is now a single father. His bitterness stems from his wife’s death in a car accident. He discovers his deceased wife was having an affair with her boss (who happens to be Caucasian) that was also killed in the car accident. Of course, that part is not funny. However, what is funny is the extremely odd behavior exhibited by Jackson upon finding out that his new next door neighbors were a young interracial couple. Specifically what irritates Jackson is the fact the lovely young couple is a Black woman and White male, (played by Kerry Washington and Patrick Wilson) something that reminds him of his deceased wife’s betrayal. Jackson does weird things such as positioning his home security system lights to blare into the couple’s window just for purposes of being the perfect neighbor from hell.

Through various run- ins between the neighbors, which Wilson tries to often resolve amicably, he soon discovers that Jackson is not your average neighbor. Wilson and his wife slowly begin to realize that Jackson is a demented, crooked racist cop bent on terrorizing them until they move. Jackson’s antics escalated from annoying and petty to very serious. Jackson uses his cop status to terrorize the couple-- even conspiring with a local criminal and rapist to break into the couple’s home. NOT FUNNY.

One great aspects of the film is that it reveals the complexity of being in an interracial relationship combination that is not readily acceptable by mainstream society.—a Black woman married to a White man. It also reveals the true racist feelings of Wilson's so-called “I’m not prejudice friends. Frankly, at times I wondered why Wilson’s character didn’t kick his friend out of their housewarming party for making a derogatory dating remark about Asian and African American women.

What makes this story a little complex is that Washington’s father, played by Ron Glass, is not a fan of his daughter being in an interracial relationship which causes underlying tension in the couple’s relationship. Things get especially messy when Washington gets pregnant on purpose against her husband’s wishes.

I won’t say anymore. Go check out Lakeview Terrace for a nice outing and thank God you do not have a neighbor like Samuel L. Jackson!

Submission Deadlines for 2009 Sundance Film Festival

Heads up: The OFFICIAL submission deadlines for the 2009 Sundance Film Festival are:

Sept. 8, 2008 for US and International short films AND Sept 9 for US and International feature films and documentaries.

*NOTE: These are not postmark deadlines but dates the film must be received. Logon to Sundance.org for more detailed information on submission deadlines.

Sundance film festival will be taking place January 15-25, 2009 in Utah Park City, UT.