By the way, a note to the Ryans, I wasn’t complaining. Honest. Keep it up, please!

Jake was still a pup for Donnie Darko – it was released when he was 21 – and while he doesn’t actually take his shirt off, there’s a great scene where he starts to undo his pants while under hypnosis. We thought it was worth stretching the rules a little bit to include it. Donnie Darko is also a fantastic film about a trouble boy who has visions of a demonic rabbit. It’s a sci-fi thriller that gives audiences plenty to chew on. The film is also rife with fantastic one-liners, many of them delivered by the phenomenal Beth Grant. Here’s hoping that director Richard Kelly’s next film is more like Donnie Darko and less like The Box (read Tim’s review of The Box here).

Mental instability aside, who wasn’t won over by Jake’s big eyes and floppy hair in The Good Girl? Directed by Miguel Arteta, who also helmed Youth in Revolt starring Michael Cera, created a mesmerizing relationship between Jake and Jennifer Aniston complete with shirtless sex scenes (for him, not her). And Jake looks much better without a shirt on than Cera does.

It’s still outrageous that Crash beat Brokeback Mountain for Best Picture in 2006, and only slightly less ridiculous that George Clooney beat Jake for Best Supporting Actor. In this “gay for pay” role, Jake is absolutely wonderful as Jack Twist, a man who falls in love with his friend, played so well by Heath Ledger. As the two find their passion for each other in the great outdoors, they also manage to find a little time together in the sack. More than just some eye candy, the whole film is stunning.

The toughest movies to watch tend to have the most scenes in them, and that certainly holds true for Jarhead. Based on the autobiography of Anthony Swofford, director Sam Mendes recreates the often-horrific experiences of jarheads (Marines) in Desert Storm. Strong (and sweaty) performances by Jake, Jamie Foxx, and Peter Sarsgaard make this war movie compelling, and it’s always interesting to see what sort of trouble bored men in the desert with get into.

It’s co-star Tobey Maguire’s turn to play the soldier in Brothers. When Captain Cahill (Maguire) is presumed dead, his widow (Natalie Portman) finds unlikely comfort in her felonious brother-in-law’s arms (Jake). Can you blame her? When the captain makes a miraculous reappearance, the two brothers go at it. Though Maguire bares much more than Jake, there is one scene of Jake so brief that you could easily miss it. However, a shot of hunky, furry, tattooed Jake in only a towel is not to be missed.

We’ll update this post with further details on the film, but I’m sure we’ve all seen what Prince of Persia has in store.

IRON MAN 2: May 7

Iron Man 2 kicks off the summer movie season with an assured bang. Rumors are already starting to speculate that the film could draw more at the box office than The Dark Knight. I’m not so sure about that, but I’m definitely looking forward to this sequel.
 
 

Robin Hood: May 14

Reservations about Russell Crowe aside, Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood is probably not to be missed. The film has the classic blockbuster trappings — brand name cast, big budget, incredible director — so I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s one of the biggest of the season.
 
 

Shrek Forever After: May 21

Why is there another one? Hopefully as the poster for Shrek Forever After states, this will be the final chapter in this worn-thin series.
 
 

Sex and the City 2: May 27

Yes…many will hate Tim and I for putting Sex and the City 2 in the bad category. But, really, what good can come from this quartet of has-been hussies traipsing around Abu-Dhabi? At least the barren setting provides a metaphor for endless ribbing. Talk about dry.
 
 

Prince of Persia: May 28

Not even Jake Gyllenhaal’s ripped physique can save the CGI-mess of a film that Prince of Persia appears to be. The film will most likely still do the well at the box office, considering that it is Disney and the massive marketing behind the project. It’ll also have audiences wishing they could go back in time and change their decision to see it.
 
 

Splice: June 4

Splice is an intriguing little film by Vincenzo Natali, director of the cult classic creep-out, Cube (1997). It’s also executive-produced by monster-maker Guillermo Del Toro, which gives it instant appeal. From what we’ve heard, Splice, promises to step outside the genre traditions. We’ll see.
 
 

The A-Team: June 11

The equivalent of a big ole box of Runts, The A-Team is nothing but cinematic candy, and the biggest (and somewhat embarrassing) indulgence of the summer. Can you blame us for looking forward to this one? Have you seen Bradley Cooper?
 
 

The Karate Kid: June 11

I long hoped the child played by Jaden Smith in The Day the Earth Stood Still would have been devoured by the nanites. So unless there’s a surprise twist in The Karate Kid that involves Smith’s facing meeting Jackie Chan’s foot, I can’t bring myself to sit through this film.
 
 

I Am Love: June 18

Admittedly, we don’t know much about Tilda Swinton‘s new film. I Am Love seems entirely bizarre, but intoxicatingly beautiful. It’ll be our “healthy” film of the summer, and one that will surely balance the brain after seeing The A-Team.
 
 

Toy Story 3: June 18

Pixar continues the story that made it a household name with Toy Story 3; this time with an impressive inventory of new characters, including a metrosexual Ken doll.
 
 

Knight and Day: June 25

Bleh. Tom Cruise playing a dashing do-gooder. And Cameron Diaz playing the ditsy damsel. Knight and Day looks boring and eye-rolling.
 
 

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse: June 30

Do we really have to say anything about this train wreck? The only benefit of Eclipse is that we’re that much closer to all this Twilight drivel being out of the theaters.
 
 

The Last Airbender: July 2

M. Night Shyamalan definitely has his critics, but I can’t bring myself to be one of them. Since he isn’t working with his own material in The Last Airbender (the first time ever), hopefully his visual creativity will shine through and we won’t have a repeat of The Happening.
 
 

Cyrus: July 9

After seeing Cyrus at SXSW, I described the film as “at once creepy, meaningful and most of all damn funny.” I think you will too. John C. Reilly shines, and Jonah Hill finally shows some depth.
 
 

Inception: July 16

Next to Iron Man 2, Chris Nolan’s Inception is my most anticipated film of the summer. Early footage and the obscure plot give it a Dark Knight-gravitas that I can’t wait to experience.
 
 

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice: July 16

Nicolas Cage might have charmed his way through Kick-Ass, but that doesn’t seem the case for his role as Balthazar Blake in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Cage is a bear to watch in most of his films, and Apprentice smells of following that trend.
 
 

Salt: July 23

Angeline Jolie plays another sexy snake-in-the-grass. This time with a bad wig. No doubt Salt will be a noteworthy dash of summer blockbuster, but the film looks a little bland. I have a feeling Matt Damon‘s crown as top spy diva is safe.
 
 

I Love You, Phillip Morris: July 30

Let’s hope I Love You, Phillip Morris actually makes it to the theater. Despite an enthusiastic embrace at Sundance earlier this year and presently showing in Europe, American distributors are being skittish. Release dates have already been pushed numerous times before, so the latest of July 30 may not hold. Fingers crossed.
 
 

The Expendables: August 13

Let’s call this the male, steroidal version of Sex and the City. It’s incredible how many middle-aged action heavy-weights are crammed into the Expendables. While it’ll be good fun to see the likes of Dolph Lundgren and Schwarzenegger in the same film, the sounds of creaking joints and old-man grunts is sure to be deafening.
 
 

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: August 13

Any affinity I had for Michael Cera has gone to Jesse Eisenberg, especially after his turn in Zombieland. Sorry. I just don’t have the emotional range to care for more than one bookish twink. This is a shame, too, because Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, self-described as “an epic of epic epicness” seems an imaginative, fun tale.

The best film of 2009 seems to be sliding too well under the radar. And we’re not sure why. Time to draw some attention to Tom Ford’s stunning directorial debut.

We put together a little site to stir the conversation. Head over to OscarIsASingleMan.com and let us know what you think!

(And just to be clear, this effort is in no way affiliated with the studio. Tim and I simply feel strongly about this film and want to spread the word. Plus, we’re pissed that it’s not getting the recognition it deserves, and tired of all this Up In The Air nonsense).

BEST

A Single Man – Without a doubt, A Single Man is a wonderful film. The last film that inspired such awe in me was Slumdog Millionaire, but it seems unlikely that A Single Man is bound for the same recognition. Former designer Tom Ford directs Colin Firth and Julianne Moore in performances that are simply mesmerizing. Each shot is beautifully crafted, and together they combine to make a cinematic masterpiece.

Up in the Air – When a film gets as much buzz as Jason Reitman’s latest, it’s hard to live up to expectations. Starring George Clooney as, well, a facsimile of himself, Up in the Air is a fine study of a man whose life seems to be on permanent lay-over. Co-stars Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga give Clooney a run for his money for best performance in the film. Up in the Air may not be the best, but it’s damn good.

The Hangover – Like a good cocktail, The Hangover sneaks up on you. The surprise hit deserves its cult-like following, and it’s best to live this binge-recovery flick vicariously. Chock full of shocking twists, hysterical scenarios, and one very scary naked guy, The Hangover might give you a headache from laughing, but it’s totally worth it.

Avatar – If based solely on plot and dialogue, Avatar might be on the Worst Films of the Year list, but visually and technically, it’s a revolutionary feat that deserves greater admiration. Once you get past the plastic glasses you have to wear, Avatar should be experienced in 3-D, and a theatrical screening is almost a requirement. And did I mention that Sam Worthington is really hot?

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire – The way-too-long titled movie is one of those films you only want to experience once. Called poverty-porn by detractors, Precious is a wrenching tale of one young woman’s attempts to break the cycle of familial abuse. Mo’Nique and Gabourey Sidibe give Oscar-worthy performances, and even Mariah Carey is good in this one. If that’s not worth seeing, than nothing is.

(500) Days of Summer – Far smarter than your usual rom-com, (500) Days of Summer is a slightly jaded yet still hopeful look at one man’s quest for love. While Zooey Deschanel might not be the girl that everyone longs for, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is so lovable as the smitten guy who becomes a forlorn puppy dog in her wake. Quirky and fun, (500) Days just isn’t enough days.

Up – Can Pixar make a bad film? Touching, visually captivating, and filled with laughs, Up is about devotion and finding new reasons to live. Co-directors Pete Docter and Bob Peterson capture love from start to finish in only minutes using no words. So who cares that it’s a cartoon? If it doesn’t lift your spirits, than you’re even more dead inside than Kevin. (Popscorn’s other author…not the bird in the film).

Watchmen – Devotees of the original graphic novel source material may think including Zack Snyder’s film is a sign that the Doomsday clock just moved closer to midnight, but get over it. Watchmen is a great, macabre film. Not every performance was perfect, but Patrick Wilson and Jackie Earle Haley more than made up for Malin Akerman. And Billy Crudup made blue people fashionable long before Avatar came out.

Zombieland – Fun. That’s all you need to know about Zombieland. It’s a fun, fun film. Original enough to avoid comparisons to Shaun of the Dead, Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson are in the zombie killing business – and business is booming. Add in an inspired cameo, and you have an apocalypse for all times.

The Blind Side – Being a sucker for cheesy films, one had to make the list. Just edging out Invictus, The Blind Side is manipulative movie-making at its finest. Call it altruism or white guilt, a family’s adoption of the local teen in need of a helping hand allows you to wallow in good feelings. Sandra Bullock works the southern accent and blond hair within an inch of her life, but makes it work.

Biggest Regret: The Hurt Locker. Just didn’t make it to a screening, so don’t get on my case for leaving it off the list.

WORST

These films are so bad that it’s not even worth the time to truly bash them:

New Moon – I’m sticking with my initial assessment: Better than the first. Still sucks.
Fame – Completely forgettable.
The Unborn – Should never have been conceived.
The Box – The Box is a complete bomb. Does that make director Richard Kelly the Unibomber?
He’s Just Not That Into You – I just wasn’t into this film.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine – When Hugh Jackman flexing his muscles gets boring, you know there’s a real problem.
Angels & Demons – Dear Tom Hanks, You don’t make a good action star.
Funny People – Not funny. Or endearing. Or watchable.
Friday the 13th – Can I be the next victim, please?
Year One – Michael Cera and Jack Black should really try to branch out.

The Washington Area Film Critics Association, of which Tim and I are members, released their picks for 2009. Like DCist, we’re a bit disappointed A Single Man didn’t make the vote. But I have a sneaking suspicion it will once the actual awards come around. Same goes for Sam Rockwell and his stellar performance in Moon. And while I think George Clooney’s appeal is waning, I wholeheartedly agree with the selection of Sin Nombre.

What do you think?

Best Film: Up in the Air | Paramount

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)

Best Actor: George Clooney (Up in the Air)

Best Actress: Carey Mulligan (An Education)

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)

Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique (Precious)

Best Ensemble: The Hurt Locker | Summit Entertainment

Best Breakthrough Performance: Gabourey Sidibe (Precious)

Best Screenplay, Adapted: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner (Up in the Air)

Best Screenplay, Original: Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)

Best Animated Film: Up | Walt Disney & Pixar

Best Foreign Film: Sin Nombre | Focus Features

Best Documentary: Food, Inc. | Magnolia

Best Art Direction: Nine | The Weinstein Company

Out this Friday is Gentlemen Broncos, another quirky little film from Jared and Jerusha Hess, the married minds that brought us Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre. Mr. Hess was in D.C. recently and took the time to chat with Popscorn about their new, eccentric project.

As you can probably tell from the film’s title, Gentlemen Broncos surrounds a withdrawn adolescent named Benjamin (Michael Angarano), who splits his time between selling old-lady nightgowns with his mother (Jennifer Coolidge)and authoring oddball science fiction novellas. When Benjamin’s masterpiece, “The Yeast Lords,” is co-opted by his hero author, Chevalier, Hess takes audiences through a fun, hammed-up and awkward adventure. For inspiration for the film, Hess didn’t have to look far. “My wife has a 16-year-old cousin that lives up in Alaska and for a long time he’s been writing these really messed up science fiction and fantasy stories that have had his parents worried. And so, we kind of ran with that idea. Napoleon proved to us that there are people out there like us that do want to see a film about these characters and this part of America.”

In addition to Hess’ knack for a particular flavor of comedy audiences can readily identify, the Salt Lake City resident seems uniquely skilled at crafting vivid, almost foreign worlds and characters. “It’s just stuff that I know. From a story point of view, most of our characters tend to be underdogs. And I think that’s something I identify with in a lot of different ways. But I like seeing the stories of these people you wouldn’t normally get exposed to in film, whether it’s Napoleon or Nacho or Benjamin, in this film. It’s fun to see their creative ambitions and goals, and see them achieve whatever bizarre dream they’re going for.”

For setting the stage of Gentlemen Broncos, Jess said, “So much of it is drawn from the environment we shot it at. We filmed it in Salt Lake City, where I live now. So many of the details are informed by what exists there already. At the same time, so many of the things in film come from an autobiographical place. [For instance], I made the notebook that has the battle stag on it. We like to be very hands on with the physical side of things. When we’re writing a character, often times we come up with what they’re wearing and how their hair is before we know anything about them. Those details are very important to us, and we have a lot of fun coming up with those things. The details are a big part of telling who these people are.”

One can only imagine the conversations that lead to crafting the characters of Bronco and Brutus, both played by Sam Rockwell. Considering Rockwell’s performance in Moon, and the growing support for him to receive an Oscar, it was interesting to see him in Hess’ film. “We had Sammy in mind when we were editing the script. We thought he would do a fantastic job as Bronco. When we sent him the script he was all, ‘Hey man, who do you got playing Brutus…I’d love to do that too, man.’ He had a real fun time playing both roles. He would say, ‘I’m like a Captain Kangaroo tranny’…with his big blonde mustache and bangs. He’s extremely funny.”

It’s hard to imagine keeping the comedic rhythm considering where Hess filmed notable parts of the movie. “We shot the science fiction sequences on this island in the great Salt Lake, which is a really interesting landscape. And when we were filming there, there are these biting gnats that hatch for two weeks out of the year and it happened to be the two weeks we were shooting on this island. It was miserable. I felt bad for Sam. The bugs would go and get underneath this wig and beard. He was a real trooper.”

As for where Hess’ wacky mind imagines taking audiences next, “It’d be a lot of fun to make a Western sometime. I’ve got notebooks full of junk that I’ve written that I’ve just go to decide which idea I want to pursue for the next thing. We’re having a lot of fun making comedies right now. We try and make the films we’ve always want to see. I don’t know if I’ll ever make a sad movie about suicide; I don’t know if anyone would let me. But for now we’ll continue to make comedies. But like I said, some day I want to make Western.”

These two clips were actually created earlier this year during Moon‘s premiere at the SXSW film festival. But, in honor of the film’s expanded distribution this coming weekend — to DC, in fact — I thought it’d be neat to revisit this short Q&A with Sam Rockwell and Duncan Jones. Keep in mind, you may not want to watch these until you actually see the film as the story does have a pretty big reveal. But, really, watching these clips just gets me hyped to see the film again. Duncan Jones has truly done an excellent job with his first big movie. The trailer is embedded at the bottom of this page, as well, which still gives me chills.

Clip 1

Clip 2

Trailer

Fortunately for fans wishing to see Ryan Reynolds’ torso, he’s bared it in quite a few films. Unfortunately for fans, most of these movies are pretty damn bad. So here at Popscorn we viewed the films to highlight the best scenes so that you can enjoy them from the comfort (and privacy) of your own home.

Buying the Cow (2002)
This film definitely falls into the category of “How the Hell Did This Get Made”? Starring Jerry O’Connell, Buying the Cow is about a commitment-phobic guy (redundant?) who believes that his soul mate is somewhere out there. Perhaps even more trite than the main plot is Reynolds’ subplot as the womanizing Mike who wakes up after a wild alcohol-fueled night and thinks he did it with a dude.

Mike’s naked escape from this awkward hangover is the only part of this film that should be watched. Fast forward through the part where he steps in the recently used toilet to see him dangling (in more ways than one) outside the apartment building.

Skip to: 00:51:50
Continued: 00:57:21
Note: Yes, there is a scene early in the film where Reynolds recreates the “testicular tuck” scene from The Silence of the Lambs but it’s just creepy.

Van Wilder (2002)
At least Reynolds headlines this film, which makes it a little more bearable to watch (unless Tara Reid is on screen as the brainy student reporter trying to get a scoop.) Having exceeded the usual allotment of four years to graduate college, Van Wilder has one semester to finish before Sugar Daddy stops paying the bills. Lost in the midst of dog semen jokes and other college capers, Reynolds poses nude for a college art class.

Skip to: 00:31:00

Blade: Trinity (2004)
In Blade: Trinity Reynolds leaves behind his pretty-boy routine for a more harden vampire-fighting persona. He still incorporates his smart-ass shtick, which carries with it a bit of charm, but something about blood and chains makes it less cute and more dirty.

On a whole, the film is lack-luster. Wesley Snipes reprises his role as vampire hunter extraordinaire, but Buffy could kick his ass any day. When Reynolds is captured and tortured by the always fun Parker Posey, it would be a great scene it not marred with lines like, “You made a goddamn vampire Pomeranian?” But he’s shirtless and cut, so it works.

Skip to: 01:22:00
Continued: 01:33:23
*Times based on the extended DVD version.

The Amityville Horror (2005)
If you were looking for a correlation between the amount of time Reynolds is shirtless and the quality of the film, The Amityville Horror would be a prime example. Starring opposite Alias alum Melissa George, Reynolds slowly looses his mind (and clothes) in the haunted Amityville house. It’s a wretched film, but director Andrew Douglas wisely breaks up the “scary” moments with shots of Reynolds walking around in his PJ bottoms soaking wet (00:24:30) or chopping wood (00:40:40).

Skip to: The end. It’s just not worth it.

Waiting (2005)
Reynolds’ abs make only a fleeting appearance in this raucous restaurant comedy — a scene so short it wasn’t easy to find a screen grab of it. The kicker of this brief bathroom encounter is when Reynolds (as Monty) tells his trainee that even though he’s not gay, he’ll “stick his finger in his ass every now and again when he’s feeling squirrely.” Although, later in the film, he confesses to defaulting to anal sex as a means of birth control. Waiting is a dirty film.

Skip to: 08:12

The Nines (2007)
I’d guess most people never saw this indie gem from 2007. And if you didn’t, then you missed out on Reynolds doing smack with a prostitute (Octavia Spencer) and jumping up on a hotel bed. The Nines, actually, is a pretty interesting little film that shows Reynolds as a number of different characters. His shirtless shot here is early on in the film after he comes down from the drugs and showers in his jeans.

Skip to: within the first 10 minutes (It’s best to start at the beginning with this one anyway)

The Proposal (2009)
On the other end of the spectrum, there’s only a brief shot of the Reynolds’ bod in The Proposal, but it’s a thoroughly entertaining film. Check out Kevin’s recent review.

Skip to: The theater