Matthew McConaughey

Blu-Ray Review: Phony ‘Ghosts of Girlfriends Past’ Deserves to Be Dumped

BrianTT — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:59:31 -0600

CHICAGO – Here’s a perfect example of Hollywood filmmaking at its laziest. It’s difficult to imagine anyone in front of the camera or behind it breaking much of a sweat in their half-hearted attempt to satisfy a mainstream audience equipped with the lowest possible expectations. It’s doubly difficult to imagine a time when star Matthew McConaughey didn’t just act with his abs. His last film was named “Surfer, Dude,” and this one could easily be called “Cheater, Douche.”

Blu-Ray Rating: 2.0/5.0

Alas, his latest vehicle has the ungainly title “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past,” which alone would scare off most serious cinephiles. It’s the latest rip-off (sorry, “retread”) of Charles Dickens’ holiday perennial “A Christmas Carol,” and it’s the worst to hit Blu-Ray since “Scrooged.” There’s nothing redeemable about this film’s protagonist, or the film itself.

McConaughey lends his predictable brand of seductive sleaze to the role of Connor Mead, a womanizing photographer who specializes in shooting his female targets through the heart. His belief in casual sex over commitment has led to a lifetime of loneliness, but he doesn’t seem to care. No matter how many hearts he breaks, there’s always more women for him to steer into the sack. He’s the kind of SOB who can’t attend his brother’s wedding without groping the mother of the bride, and offering the groom keys to his Jag (in case he feels the urge to escape).

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on September 22nd, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers Home Video

Faster than you can say “Jacob Marley,” in swoops the ghost of Connor’s Uncle Wayne, materializing in the form of Michael Douglas who gets to utter his latest variation on the “Greed Is Good” gobbledygook. Wayne was Connor’s mentor in the art of seducing and destroying females, but now his spirit is stuck with the Dickensian requirements of summoning wrongdoers from the grave. Thus, Connor partakes in a long night of moralistic haunts straight out of the Ebenezer playbook, interrupted by the occasional rainstorm of condoms.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on September 22nd, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers Home Video

This is the kind of cheap Hollywood product that thinks it’s superior to the cliches it utilizes as long as it openly acknowledges their presence. One ghost announces “And now a romantic montage set to Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Time After Time,’” which leads to exactly that – without a satirical payoff. Even worse, the film feigns a moral agenda while barely concealing its insincerity. The blank-faced McConaughey’s lack of a believable transition sours his heroic final speech, where he convinces a woman to forgive her cheating fiancé because…well, it sure beats being alone.

Since Connor is wholly unsympathetic, the audience immediately sympathizes with his alleged lifelong love Jenny (Jennifer Garner), who clearly deserves better. Garner has elevated formulaic schmaltz before in “13 Going On 30,” and her tender performance is the film’s sole bright spot. Director Mark Waters found considerably more success with his previous spirit-infested comedy “Just Like Heaven,” which benefitted from the chemistry between its two leads. Their “All of Me”-style slapstick was pure genius compared to the ludicrous moment in “Ghosts” when McConaughey attempts to prop up a wedding cake with a wine bottle.

In a year stuffed with awful romantic comedies, “Ghosts” is a worthy addition. On Blu-Ray, the film’s picture quality is second-to-none, but the extra clarity only amplifies the cheesiness of the special effects and the nonexistence of McConaughey’s facial expressions. Don’t be seduced by this polished package. Take Uncle Wayne’s advice: “the power of a relationship lies with whoever cares less.” If nothing’s happening between you and this disc, feel free to chuck it in the dumpster. I promise you won’t be visited by any spirits.

“Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” is presented in 1080p High Definition with a 2:4:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by an English and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 track. Special features include deleted scenes, three paltry behind-the-scenes featurettes, and exclusive footage of the film’s photogenic females via BD Live. The bonus disc includes a Digital Copy of the movie in standard definition, enabling viewers to carry this cinematic virus on their computers.

‘Ghosts of Girlfriends Past’ is released by Warner Home Video and stars Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner and Michael Douglas. It was written by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore and directed by Mark Waters. The film is available on Blu-ray, DVD, On Demand, & Digital Download on September 22nd, 2009. It is rated PG-13. Check out the official site here.

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

Matthew McConaughey’s ‘Ghosts of Girlfriends Past’ Overdone, But Relatable

Ebeth — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:01:00 -0600

CHICAGO – “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” is the cinematic blending of two familiar formulas: the “love, lose and then love again” framework of most romantic comedies with the idea of transforming ghosts from the classic “A Christmas Carol”. The result: an overdone yet relatable story of a man coming to terms with his true desires.

Celebrity photographer Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) makes a high-profile living shooting the scantily clad. Connor’s true fame, however, seems to come from the serial seduction of his subjects: double-booked dates and time-saving breakups via conference call are a way of life for this master manipulator.

Rating: 3.0/5.0

His reputation preceding him, Connor is only a half-expected guest at his kid brother’s wedding. Upon arrival, he makes no effort to hide his disdain for long-term commitment while attempting to convince his brother, Paul (Breckin Meyer), to cancel the nuptials. The presence of Connor’s childhood sweetheart and scorned love, Jenny Perotti (Jennifer Garner), does little to mute his provocative behavior.

Connor’s antics predictably begin to unravel the wedding and those around him. And so begins Connor’s spiritual awakening – literally – as he’s confronted by the ghost of his mentor: the late Uncle Wayne (Michael Douglas). Connor’s cad uncle reflects regretfully (yet comically) on his own life and the way in which he raised his nephew.

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” in our reviews section.

Uncle Wayne announces the pending arrival of the three ghosts and we’re soon whisked away on a journey through time.

This critic feels about the sequence exploring past girlfriends the way she feels about McConaughey’s experiment with his long hair: “eh”. The supposedly 16-year-old ghost, Allison Vandermeersh (Emma Stone), is distractingly over the top.

“Ghosts of Girlfriends Past,” which stars Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Michael Douglas, Breckin Meyer, Lacey Chabert, Robert Forster, Anne Archer, Emma Stone, Daniel Sunjata and Noureen DeWulf, opened everywhere on May 1, 2009. The film is rated PG-13.

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past”.

Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) tries to save the wedding cake in “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past”.
Photo credit: New Line Cinema

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past”.

Slideshow: 29-Image Gallery From ‘Ghosts of Girlfriends Past’ With Matthew McConaughey

BrianTT — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:30:09 -0600

CHICAGO – This 29-image slideshow contains the official images from Warner Brothers’ “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past,” starring Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Michael Douglas, Emma Stone, Breckin Meyer, Lacey Chabert, Robert Forster, and Anne Archer. The film, directed by Mark Waters, opens on May 1st, 2009.

Synopsis:

“Celebrity photographer Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) loves freedom, fun and women…in that order. A committed bachelor with a no-strings policy, he thinks nothing of breaking up with multiple women on a conference call while prepping his next date.

Connor’s brother Paul is more the romantic type. In fact, he’s about to be married. Unfortunately, on the eve of the big event, Connor’s mockery of romance proves a real buzz-kill for Paul, the wedding party and a houseful of well wishers—including Connor’s childhood friend Jenny (Jennifer Garner), the one woman in his life who has always seemed immune to his considerable charm.

Just when it looks like Connor may single-handedly ruin the wedding, he gets a wake-up call from the ghost of his late Uncle Wayne (Michael Douglas), the hard-partying, legendary ladies man upon whose exploits Connor has modeled his lifestyle. Uncle Wayne has an urgent message for his protege, which he delivers through the ghosts of Connor’s jilted girlfriends—past, present and future—who take him on a revealing and hilarious odyssey through a lifetime of failed relationships.

Together, they will discover what turned Connor into such a shameless player and whether he has a second chance to find - and this time, keep - the love of his life.

New Line Cinema presents a Jon Shestack/Panther Production of a Mark Waters Film: Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner in the romantic comedy “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.” The film also stars Breckin Meyer, Lacey Chabert, Robert Forster, Anne Archer, Emma Stone and Michael Douglas.

“Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” is directed by Mark Waters from a script by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore, and produced by Jon Shestack and Brad Epstein. Executive producers are Marcus Viscidi, Mark Waters, Jessica Tuchinsky, Toby Emmerich, Cale Boyter and Samuel J. Brown, with Ginny Brewer as co-producer. The creative team includes director of photography Daryn Okada, production designer Cary White, editor Bruce Green and costume designer Denise Wingate. Music is by Rolfe Kent. Executive music producer is Ralph Sall.

“Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. ”

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos credited to Ron Batzdorff and courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Ghosts_01: Jenny Perotti (Jennifer Garner) and Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) play foosball.
Ghosts_02: Matthew McConaughey as Connor Mead and Jennifer Garner as Jenny Perotti (Jennifer Garner).
Ghosts_03: (L-R) Jennifer Garner as Jenny Perotti and Lacey Chabert as Sandra.
Ghosts_04: Jennifer Garner stars as Jenny Perotti.
Ghosts_05: Matthew McConaughey stars as Connor Mead.
Ghosts_06: Jennifer Garner stars as Jenny Perotti.
Ghosts_07: (L-R) Jenny Perotti (Jennifer Garner) and Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) catch up.
Ghosts_08: (L-R) Matthew McConaughey as Connor Mead, Daniel Sunjata as Brad and Jennifer Garner as Jenny Perotti.
Ghosts_09: Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) realizes he may have just made a big mistake.
Ghosts_10: Director Mark Waters explaining an upcoming shot.
Ghosts_11: (L-R) Matthew McConaughey as Connor Mead and Noureen DeWulf as Melanie.
Ghosts_12: (L-R) Sandra (Lacey Chabert) is devastated by what Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) has done to her wedding cake.
Ghosts_13: (L-R) Jennifer Garner as Jenny Perotti, Tom Kemp as the Minister, Matthew McConaughey as Connor Mead and Daniel Sunjata as Brad.
Ghosts_14: (L-R) Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) is visited by the ghost of his Uncle Wayne (Michael Douglas).
Ghosts_15: Michael Douglas as Uncle Wayne.
Ghosts_16: (L-R) Jennifer Garner and Matthew McConaughey on set with director Mark Waters.
Ghosts_17: (L-R) Matthew McConaughey as Connor Mead and Jennifer Garner as Jenny Perotti.
Ghosts_18: Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) breaks up with three women simultaneously via conference call.
Ghosts_19: (L-R) Matthew McConaughey as Connor Mead and Breckin Meyer as Paul.
Ghosts_20: (L-R) Camille Guaty as Donna the Bridesmaid, Rachel Boston as Deena the Bridesmaid, Jennifer Garner as Jenny Perotti, Lacey Chabert as Sandra, Breckin Meyer as Paul and Matthew McConaughey as Connor Mead.
Ghosts_21: (L-R) Matthew McConaughey as Connor Mead and Emma Stone as Allison Vandermeersh.
Ghosts_22: (L-R) Devin Brochu as Young Connor Mead, Emma Stone as Allison Vandermeersh, Matthew McConaughey as Connor Mead and Michael Douglas as Uncle Wayne.
Ghosts_23: (L-R) Emma Stone as Allison Vandermeersh and Matthew McConaughey as Connor Mead.
Ghosts_24: Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) desperately tries to save the wedding cake from disaster.
Ghosts_25: (L-R) Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) and Jenny Perotti (Jennifer Garner) share a moment after Connor Mead has destroyed the wedding cake.
Ghosts_26: (L-R) Michael Douglas as Uncle Wayne and Matthew McConaughey as Connor Mead.
Ghosts_27: (L-R) Jennifer Garner as Jenny Perotti, Lacey Chabert as Sandra, Breckin Meyer as Paul and Matthew McConaughey as Connor Mead.
Ghosts_28: (L-R) Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) and Jenny Perotti (Jennifer Garner) reminisce.
Ghosts_29: Matthew McConaughey stars as Connor Mead.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Interview: Brandon T. Jackson of ‘Tropic Thunder’ Breaks Out With ‘Booty Sweat’ Calling Card

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:30:45 -0600

CHICAGO – For “Tropic Thunder” star and Chris Tucker protégé Brandon T. Jackson, the fictional Booty Sweat literally is his Hollywood calling card.

The Red Bull-like energy drink is a scripted creation of writer, director, producer and star actor Ben Stiller in the new comedy. The film’s talent list, which includes both “A”-list actors and up-and-coming actors, is longer than two or three typical films today combined.

Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller, left) and Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr., right) are shooting an epic war movie and wind up in a real battle in the action-comedy “Tropic Thunder”.
Photo credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace

Rapper Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson) tackles his first serious acting role in “Tropic Thunder”.
Photo credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace

Along with recognized actors Robert Downey Jr. (who plays the memorable role of an actor who surgically blackens his skin), Ben Stiller, Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey, Jack Black, Nick Nolte and rising actors Danny McBride, Bill Hader and Steve Coogan, director Stiller takes a chance on newcomers Brandon T. Jackson and Jay Baruchel.

“Tropic Thunder” serves as the first major roles for both Jackson and Baruchel. The film also features cameos from Jason Bateman, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alicia Silverstone, Jon Voight and Tyra Banks.

While the film is an offensively complicated picture that certainly has figured out how to whirl about a laugh around every corner, so does its complication sometimes force the story to tug about in many different directions.

“Tropic Thunder” sometimes feels like it clearly knows where it’s going and at other times is completely lost in the black hole of Stiller’s uniquely melodramatic brain.

Along with Justin Theroux and Stiller, the film also lists Etan Cohen as a co-writer of the film’s screenplay. This Cohen is not to be confused with Oscar-winning phenomenon Ethan Coen (the brother of Joel Coen) of “No Country for Old Men,” “The Big Lebowski” and “Fargo” fame.

Left to right: Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson), Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) and Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) are actors shooting a war movie who get caught up in a real battle in the action-comedy “Tropic Thunder”.
Photo credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace

Rating: 4.0/5.0

While the drink Booty Sweat is a smash hit in the film and merely serves as one of its comedic asides, in real life the liquid isn’t nearly as renowned. It’s currently selling at novelty stores such as Spencer’s Gifts (as well as Amazon.com) and is one of many ways the movie is drumming up buzz.

Still, it’s trying to explode virally for the film at BootySweat.com and Alpa-Chino.com. Clearly borrowed from actor Al Pacino, Alpa Chino is Jackson’s character name in the film. In addition to Chris Tucker, Jackson names Jim Carrey as another comic inspiration.

HollywoodChicago.com recently interviewed the 24-year-old Jackson about his breakout role, today’s struggle to best the masses competing for Hollywood work and why he’s trying to build his own “star brand” that’s nothing like Kanye West.

“I know how to be funny to black audiences,” Jackson told HollywoodChicago.com, “but the challenge in ‘Tropic Thunder’ was having universal appeal.” He added: “It’s very difficult getting work in Hollywood right now especially for a young black comic. I’m trying to build a brand. I’m not just doing one-off projects. I’m always doing comedy and will never hit up a 9-to-5 desk job.”

Cody (Danny McBride) is a trigger-happy explosions expert on an epic war film that goes awry in the action-comedy “Tropic Thunder”.
Photo credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace

The Detroit born and bred Jackson makes the clear differentiation between how he’s crafting his nascent “star brand” as a “young black comic” in stark contrast to “all that hip-hop stuff” in which people like Kanye West are rolling in fat rolls of dough.

Jackson also says he’s continuing to use the concept of a “class clown” in his branding that he just hasn’t been able to shake since high school.

In 2005, Jackson was also seen in the lesser-known, coming-of-age comedy “Roll Bounce” about rollerskating, which was filmed in Chicago and also starred Mike Epps, Bow Wow and Meagan Good.

The young comic describes his first role of prime Hollywood prominence in “Tropic Thunder” as his “most proud and challenging role” thus far. As for working for director Stiller (who also directed 2001’s “Zoolander,” “Reality Bites” and a few others), Jackson said: “Ben knows what he wants. You’d better be funny or go home.”

RELATED IMAGE GALLERY
View our full, high-resolution “Tropic Thunder” image gallery.

RELATED READING
More film reviews from critic Adam Fendelman.

We spoke with Jackson at a time in his career where he describes being in “mystery mode”. He’s attempting to delicately navigate a balance between “taking any work I can just to get paid” and “being selective” with the roles like in “Tropic Thunder” that’d get him the biggest bang for Hollywood’s buck.

While 2008 still has many more performances left to see, in Jackson’s view the two he’d pick for an Oscar would be Robert Downey Jr.’s role in “Tropic Thunder” (yes, he’s biased) and Heath Ledger’s role as the Joker in the epic film “The Dark Knight”.

While Jackson was mostly business in our Chicago interview, he also enjoyed lounging about in the hotel room’s plush couches. He left us with the following line in describing his favorite aspect of being in film as compared to stand-up comedy: “The best thing about doing film is the food. It’s just magical.”

“Tropic Thunder,” which is directed by Ben Stiller, stars Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey, Jack Black, Nick Nolte, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Steve Coogan, Brandon T. Jackson and Jay Baruchel with cameos from Jason Bateman, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alicia Silverstone, Jon Voight and Tyra Banks. The film opened everywhere on Aug. 13, 2008.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson Feel Valentine’s Day Love in ‘Fool’s Gold’

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 02:56:07 -0700

CHICAGO – Check off this list of stock movie characters: the broke rogue adventurer, his sensible love interest, the daffy heiress, her gruff but benign wealthy father, the evil rival, the doltish but loyal sidekick, the evil rival’s goons and the “seems to be evil but in the end turns out heroic” buddy.

These role players appear in every Cary Grant film from 1935 to 1960 along with the current release of “Fool’s Gold”. The buff Matthew McConaughey plays the rogue (nicknamed Finn) who is about to be divorced from his more sensible wife Tess (Kate Hudson).

At the same time, he has closed in on a historic treasure trove off the South Florida coast. It’s funded by the infamous Bigg Bunny: a scurrilous rapper who has a reputation for dispensing his rival enemies (which Finn is about to become).

Click here to read Patrick McDonald’s full review
of “Fool’s Gold” in our reviews section!

Click here for our full “Fool’s Gold” image gallery!

Picture Picks: ‘Body of Lies,’ ‘The Dark Knight,’ ‘Speed Racer,’ ‘RocknRolla,’ ‘Whiteout,’ ‘Fool’s Gold’

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 07:25:17 -0700

Warner Bros. on Monday released the mother lode of new production stills for films slated for release between Jan. 2008 and Dec. 2008. These are our top selections from the batch.

Kate Beckinsale in the 2008 film “Whiteout”.
Photo credit: Rafy

Heath Ledger as the Joker in “The Dark Knight,” which is slated to open on July 18, 2008.
Photo credit: Stephen Vaughan

Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2008 film “Body of Lies”.
Photo credit: Francois Duhamel

Emile Hirsch as Speed Racer in “Speed Racer,” which is slated to open on May 9, 2008.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Christina Ricci in “Speed Racer”.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson in “Fool’s Gold,” which is slated to open on Feb. 8, 2008.
Photo credit: Vince Valitutti

Thandie Newton and Gerard Butler in the 2008 film “RocknRolla”.
Photo credit: Alex Bailey

Shannyn Sossamon and Ed Burns in “One Missed Call,” which is slated to open on Jan. 4, 2008.
Photo credit: Guy D’Alema

Clockwise from top: Alexis Bledel, Blake Lively, America Ferrera and Amber Tamblyn in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2,” which is slated to open on Aug. 8, 2008.
Photo credit: Phil Caruso

Richard Gere and Diane Lane in “Nights in Rodanthe,” which is slated to open on June 6, 2008.
Photo credit: Michael Tackett