Aubrey Up Close

Another episode of On The Flipside is here!! For this edition I used the Pro Football Cheerleader Alumni Reunion in Vegas as the backdrop and filled it with lots of fun!

On this show we’ve got Dwyane Wade at a charity basketball event in Beijing, China, interviews with Brad Pitt for his new baseball flick, Moneyball, a flashback with the SF 49ers on their first Super Bowl win and a SEXY look at the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders and their calendar reveal event! Go now >> http://ontheflipsidetv.com

So, I’m a little late on my “preview/review” of The Devil’s Double, since it’s out already and I watched it before it officially hit theaters, and well, I’m only getting around to it now. Don’t you love how the movie poster photo sort of depicts him as one of those metallic street performers you see acting all robotic for tips!

The film follows the true story of Latif Yahia, a man forced to be Saddam’s son Uday Hussein’s body double — which, unless you wanted to be in that circle, kinda sucks…and Latif pretty much had NO CHOICE but to do what they wanted. Overall, the movie was very interesting, insightful and gave me another perspective into that world. However, it was slow and didn’t ever really feel like there was a “high point” to the movie, sure there was action and drama, but it sort of fell flat…and this chick who played one of Uday’s many “lady friends” seriously annoyed me…LOL I kept thinking why does she make those expressions and talk like that?? haha! So, it was worth it to watch, but really my interest had been peeked when I watched the remix trailer my buddy Mike Relm did for Lionsgate… peep it below!

Last night I caught a promo screening for the new Warner Bros. movie “Sucker Punch” … Honestly, I went into this having skimmed through a trailer and not really being clear what it was about, but it looked like it might be cool. Well, I think the best way to sum it up is that I still don’t get where the title comes from and I feel like the recipient of a “Sucker Punch” after having sat through this mess of a movie for 2 hours! I’m no geek, gamer or comic book freak…is that the audience this is supposed to appeal to???

Let’s look at the ‘bright’ side. Directed by Zack Snyder of “300, ” (which I love), the film shows off a lot of the same great viewpoints, cinematography and awesome post production, special effects and visuals. The female cast is no doubt attractive and make for an alluring clique of ladies – I noticed Vanessa Hudgens and a former MTV Real World-er in the mix. Now before I state what didn’t work for me….this film fits into an epic action fantasy category, and the fantasy was a bit TOO “fantastic” for me. Basically the girls in the film are banished from their families or what not, to work in a brothel-type institution as dancers who entertain male clientele. The movie’s main character, Baby, has a unique, captivating style of dance, that whenever she goes into her “routine” it doubles as these fantasy action sequences where her crew becomes these bad-ass type action chicks who work are fearless when it comes to fighting and shooting. Okay, so that’s cool if you’re into that type of thing…girls and guns…but the whole dance tie-in doesn’t work for me, nor does the cheesy “Sailor Moon” outfit she sports throughout! lol The gals do always have flawless makeup and lashes on though..but overall, thumbs WAAAAY down. The story is just way too jumpy and forced, chemistry among the actors is awkward and the entire premise is too silly for me. Hmmm..maybe that’s why  it’s “fantasy!” I’d classify the whole thing as weird, my advice… save your eyes and 2 hours of your life…go out to eat instead!

They’re billing this film as “The Bourne Identity” meets “Taken” … and you know what? It really is! For lack of better words, I REALLY LIKED THIS MOVIE! I always love when a plot is believable, something that could possibly happen in real life, not matter how crazy and twisted it may be.  The movie has a very intense car chase where I felt myself holding my breath and the fight scenes and other action sequences were perfectly shot, not too overdone or over the top! Liam Neeson is so perfect for these types of roles because he has that air about him of being smart, quick-witted and an in-control demeanor. The storyline is basically, he’s in love with his wife and they take a trip to Berlin for him to speak at a conference, but through a sequence of  mishaps, he ends up in the hospital and starts to question who he really is, because what he thinks is his reality…really isn’t! All I know is, if that ish happened to me, I would’ve been freaked out…no passport, foreign country/language, sketchy memory…I wouldn’t know what to do. See, ya always got to keep an I.D. on you, because you just never know what could and will happen and you don’t want to  en up being “UNKNOWN!” Go to the theater and watch it now…it’s Aubrey approved.

I watched “The Dilemma” the other night…and laughed! What can I say…Vince Vaughn and Kevin James are a fun pairing in this Chicago-set movie directed by Ron Howard. The story centers around a two guys who’ve been best friends since college and now are business partners trying to pull off a mega business deal. Vaughn is still single, while James is “happily” married. Well, as it turns out, James goes into workaholic mode and his wife, played by Winona Ryder, starts looking for love in other places… Now Vaughn who is preparing himself to propose to his girlfriend (Jennifer Connelly) inadvertently sees Winona fooling around with a hot young thing (Channing Tatum) and from there, “The Dilemma” begins. In true Vince Vaughn form, we are treated to his effortless ramblings and rants, make-believe stories and unassuming charm. It’s pretty funny to see how he handles the situation and it’s easy to put yourself in his shoes, because we’ve all been there at one point in our lives. On the one hand, it’s your BFF of course you need to say something, but sometimes there’s more than meets the eye and just when is it the RIGHT time to say something? And — please, don’t kill the messenger! Needless to say, “The Dilemma” starts affecting Vaughn’s behavior toward everyone around him and leads to several random and uncomfortably (funny) scenarios. I’d say this film is what you expect it to be, and it’ll be a fun trip to the theater.

The Fockers are back for the Holidays…and this time they’ve got the “little ones!” I had a lot of fun at this movie….lots of laughs and careful designed, well written scripting lead you right into the punch line without being too cheesy or obvious! Ben Stiller, still nurse Focker and Robert DeNiro (obsessive, over protective/analytical Dad) continue their uncomfortable chemistry with the son-in-law/father-in-law dynamic. Owen Wilson maintains his out of this world (extravagant/idealistic) character, while Jessica Alba joins the cast to sex it up…as a vixen hot on Greg (Gaylord) Fockers heels. Barbara Streisand and Dustin Hoffman also return to play Stiller’s outrageous parents…now Grandma and Grandpa “Focker.” I’m not going to say a lot about the plot and story, but again, it’s a fun movie with just enough scenes to keep the laughs coming, while still offering a relate-able, realistic storyline. See it in the theater (great date movie), it didn’t disappoint and I liked it!!

The Clint Eastwood directed “Hereafter” starring Matt Damon hits theaters today. I checked out a preview earlier this week and while I didn’t LOVE it..it was pretty interesting. The film explores glimpses of the “after-life” through 3 different story-lines of characters in three separate cities in the world, and the trio eventually collide. Each character is experiencing their own “unique” look into that world and each is troubled by it. I guess I shouldn’t say too much because then I’ll really give it away. Now, the movie does kind of just end, leaving you to wonder…okay, what’s next!?!? But, it’s not as much of a mind trip as Inception.

Here’s a quick Labor Day Weekend 2010 recap. I kept it pretty low key…it started out with a trip to Chi-town for work, then I stayed an extra day to hang out in the windy city and catch up with my good friend Jess.

First up was a pink bus..that was the location for my story shoot…cute, right? What child would not want a part of this??

Then, I took the Metra to Union Station in Chicago to get up with Jess. It was her sister’s bday, so we grubbed on some Filipino food before going to the opening of her nephew’s new restaurant, Chikazawa.

The next day we went shopping in downtown, well actually it was just walking around and then we went by Akira and they were having a buy 2 pairs, get THREE pairs free sale! Serious?? So, that was too good to pass up…needless to say, I walked out with 3, she got 2! We both got this pair below..funky, right? **note – even though the photo would make more sense rotated, that is my foot hanging off the armrest of a chair!**

It was a nice and relaxing in the Chi…we finished the night by heading out to the Icon movie theater where we had “VIP” seating and treatment when we went to see “The American.” Shouts to Mike over there for really taking care of us and hooking it up…drinks, food, dessert, strawberries…AND post-movie he gave us a bottle of champagne! Remember — this is at a movie theater! Wow.

I came back to rain in Miami, but that’s just how it is this time of year… and I did something I really don’t do anymore…go out in Miami Beach! I stepped out to DREAM Saturday night for Jae Millz (Miami) Birthday celebration…and it was a lot of fun!

Millzy (clearly) had a great time too! To see more of his DREAM BDay party pix go to http://forevermillz.com

The rest of the weekend was pretty much spent sleeping…and now, back to the grind!