REVIEW of film: "TOP FIVE" -- including PHOTOS of a visit by writer-director CHRIS ROCK himself

REVIEW of film:  "TOP FIVE" -- including PHOTOS of a visit by writer-director CHRIS ROCK himself

2014, 12-29:

     Some questions have been raised about postings to this website.  I still SEE a large number of new film releases each year (50-100 or so)…

        …  But, it’s extremely TIME-CONSUMING to view, create writeups & photos, & then POST the Reviews & Reports online.  There have been a slew of very important “OTHER” projects that have needed to be handled in the past couple of years…

               …  Thus, due to TIME constraints & the like, it’s been vital that my time be spent mainly on those “SUPPLEMENTARY” projects… 

                       …  But, to “reassure” you that I’m still “AROUND” (& “active” in my own “way”), I’m going to herewith provide you with a NEW Review / Report:

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             …  In CHICAGO (as in numerous other locales), a great many of the advance screenings of movies are affiliated with / promoted by various RADIO & TV stations, wherein people can enter contests or call-in to win passes…

                  …  Periodically, those stations “HOST” the general event to varying degrees. Mainly, it’s just to “welcome” the audience.  But, every once in a while, there’s a little “entertainment” before the film starts, usually involving things like questions to win some prizes…

                       …  On December 10, there was an advance screening of CHRIS ROCK’s new film “TOP FIVE”, hosted by 103.5 KISS-FM (iHeart Radio) at a downtown multiplex... 

                              …  Before the film, the audience was greeted by the station’s very personable spokesman “ERIKZ”— who describes himself this way on their Facebook page:  “Starbucks People Watcher. Amateur Goat Breeder. Professional Wingman. (..okay.. two of the three). Keep in touch! Twitter/Vine: @ErikZ Facebook/Youtube: @ErikZonAir ”…

                            … As part of the festivities (which eventually included some trivia questions for prizes), ERIK went into the audience & chose some volunteers to compete in a “DANCE-OFF” contest for one of three $ 50 gift-card prizes…

                                 …  To the surprise of me and I think most other people in the audience, a number of the people chosen – plus ERIKZ himself – turned out to be really EXCELLENT, creative dancers, giving the audience a bunch of enjoyable performances (as you can see in some of my enclosed PHOTOS shot of the event)…

                                     …  Then, shortly before the movie itself was to begin, Erik presented CHRIS ROCK himself, there LIVE in person in the theater…  (Unusually, the theater had NOT restricted people from carrying or using their PHONES to take PHOTOS of him there, as shown by MY photos below…)

                                         …  The audience greeted Chris with HEARTY enthusiasm.  Very comfortable (as usual), he KIDDED around about Chicago institutions, saying things like, “How about those [baseball] CUBS [who did pretty HORRIBLY last year, as usual]?!”, etc…   

                                                …  He did the same re the football BEARS (who had a miserable season), & then added--  of course, the city does have the BULLS in basketball (who do well), and especially the hockey BLACKHAWKS (who’d been doing excellently)…

                                                      …  When the audience CHEERED his comments, he quickly added a typical “Rock-ian” comment, remarking to the mostly-black audience there that, being honest, could those cheering actually NAME even 3 MEMBERS of the Blackhawks squad (which is almost completely a white team)?!, which brought forth appropriately loud laughs…

                                                                 …  Getting to the subject of his film we’d be seeing, Chris said he was very PROUD to have both WRITTEN & DIRECTED his new movie, which he’d very much ENJOYED making with the help of numerous co-star friends… 

                                                                        …  He said, he hoped WE’D enjoy watching it, &, if we did, please SHARE that impression with our friends!...  And, he urged us to use SOCIAL MEDIA to TWEET & POST about our positive reactions...  Chris added, if we didn’t feel really positive, feel free to keep “QUIET” about it!... 

                                                                            …  Chris exited to enthusiastic applause, & the movie soon started…

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     The basic PLOT of the film is, a very popular COMEDY-film performer (CHRIS ROCK as “Andre Allen” who makes low-level “HAMMY”-the-bear films) decides he wants to be taken more “SERIOUSLY”, & works to LEAVE being funny by making a “IMPORTANT” film about an historical black Uprising in HAITI…  

          …  His friends (& some family members including TRACY MORGAN) try to warn him “AWAY” from publicizing the Uprising film…

                …  It also doesn’t “help” his situation by his having plans to marry a REALITY TV star (GABRIELLE UNION as “Erica Long”), with the event being broadcast on her own TV show…

                     …  Adding to the mix is supposed-reporter “Chelsea Brown” (played by ROSARIO DAWSON), who keeps interviewing & “hanging” with Chris all over the New York City area…

                      … There are numerous of Chris’ comedy friends (such as ADAM SANDLER, JERRY SEINFELD, etc.) who are in the film.  But, outside of WHOOPIE GOLDBERG (who makes a comment about the importance of marriages) & short bits by JB SMOOVE & CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER, they really don’t “DO” or “ADD” much of anything special to the overall movie…

                            …  I also liked the small, enthusiastic work by KEVIN HART [who shows his own excellence in “fast-patter” comedy as one of the main stars in the quite funny “THE WEDDING RINGER” film being released January 16, 2015]…

                                  …  Will Chris be able to SUCCEED as a “serious” rather than comedic actor in his movie?...  

                                   ...  Will he be “ACCEPTED” for his new “persona”?...  

                                    ...  Will his MARRIAGE to Gabrielle move forward as he hopes?... 

                                     ...  What will ever-present ROSARIO’s “position” be in his life?...

                    …  I found writer-director Chris’ film to have a number of FUNNY elements--  mostly from “situational” elements rather than any special “cleverness” re comedy writing…  I found his finely-relaxed ACTING (& character in the film) to be the STRONGEST aspect of his work in the movie…

                             …  I’d rate the film like 7.50 out of 10 stars overall…

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Review of film: ''DHOOM 3'' + CHRONICLE re the MAKING of it in Chicago

Review of film: ''DHOOM 3'', + CHRONICLE re the MAKING of the movie in Chicago     

    Starting on August 7 (&, for me, on August 8) thru October 25th of 2012, I and hundreds of other people worked as “BACKGROUND” extras on filming the Indian film “DHOOM 3” in Chicago… 

         …  Following various instructions I was given by Production people (+ using my own creativity in the parameters presented to me), I had like 7 distinct “roles” over the 9 days I worked on the production…

      …  The film was released theatrically in Chicago on December 20, 2013 (after opening in India like 1 week prior to that), & I went to SEE it on opening (at the AMC River East at 322 E Illinois Street in downtown Chicago)…

                …  I was extremely impressed by the excellent PHOTOGRAPHY & EDITING, plus the effective ACTING (especially by AAMIR KHAN) & fine production & special effects work inherent in it…

               …  Here’s a little “COMMENTARY” on what I saw, & “MEMORIES” it brought back to me:

                  …  The film starts out at the SHEDD AQUARIUM (which was filmed their LAST DAY here);  since it was set up as the home of what they called the “GREAT INDIAN CIRCUS”, that’s used as a “touchstone” thruout the movie (via various different scenes shot at that location)… 

                         …  I think I MIGHT have seen myself as a patron walking up the stairs of that building (shown below) to “attend” the circus--  but, since most “extra” scenes there tended to be “short” and / or fast-moving, I can’t be sure…  
 

                               
                                       ...  There were some nice “lingering” scenes of people at tables in front of the building (but those were of the “fancier-dressed” people)...

                 … Another “theme” of the movie were various buildings made-up to be branches of the “WESTERN BANK OF CHICAGO”…  

                          ...  (As I commented at the time of filming, it seemed someone must’ve “HATED” that particular bank, because ALL the bank actions seemed to involve just branches of THAT specific “bank”!… After I later saw the completed film, I learned whether  I was "RIGHT" about that & WHY!...)

 

                   …  One was a tall building on LaSalle street (208 south; shown below), which was used to show star AAMIR KHAN “RAPPELLING” down the outside of, while paper money floats down on people walking the sidewalk beneath him…

                          …  I was one of the “gang of 5” people chosen to be in a “front line” of people walking there, all of us who PICK-UP mounds of money that’d floated down there (near a “homeless” guy sitting on the sidewalk & begging for money)… 


                                 …  But, while they filmed the scene like 20 or more times, 90% of which were aimed at “us” in the “gang of 5” + of those behind us walking NORTH on the sidewalk there, the edited version used mainly the “HOMELESS” guy + people looking on as they walked SOUTH in front of the building…

                                          …  I recognized my (blonde-haired) friend LAURA BRADLEY (shown below on the right) in that “south-bound” group there, since she’s seen like 3 times in the onlooker group

                                   …  Later-on, the film showed scenes of Aamir ESCAPING from that bank area during an “EXPLOSION” & motorcycle chase there;  I well remember how I stood watching in fascination as the STUNT people FILMED that scene (& of cop cars chasing AFTER him)… 

                
                         …  Further on in the movie, they showed Aamir driving his motorcycle into a GARAGE on Wabash street under the “el” train tracks, followed by COP cars… 

                                                    ...  I was one of the “onlookers” there during my FIRST day of filming on the movie;  the edited version generally looks NORTH at the action, while I was positioned directly SOUTH of the garage (& thus not seen)…

                                                    …  My friend ED BUCHALO did some scenes INSIDE the garage (with his car), & possibly he’ll “recognize” some scenes (& memories) there when he sees the film…

                                                    ...  I well remember how, as we were filming on Wabash (& later on LaSalle), lots of INDIAN people gathered on the periphery of the area to catch a glimpse of Indian superstar AAMIR & later, to call-out & try to talk to & have PHOTOS taken with him (as shown below)...
 

 

           
                 …  One of the locations I was at for filming was in Chicago's CITY HALL, which was set up (on September 1st of 2012) as still another “BANK” in the film…  Seeing the edited version, I recalled MEMORIES from that day (of walking as AAMIR is pushed thru the main hall in a WHEELCHAIR)…

                         …  While I didn’t see myself there, I saw fellow actor JAMES PETREAN walking in “front” of the building (on Washington street, shown below), & even “interacting” with one of the featured actors via a “high-five” & by speaking some words (which James later told us was DUBBED in--  it was NOT his voice we'd heard!)…  

                                 …  And, James was seen at least 2-3 OTHER times INSIDE the “bank” (shot in other locations), including at a round “information” desk & walking elsewhere inside…
    

                                
                        …  The film has numerous well-done MUSICAL – DANCING numbers...

                                   ...One of those numbers was done at a northside ALLEY (& backyard courtyard) around Diversey Street & Sheridan Road…  At one point, you see 2 older guys playing CHESS, & one of those guys was played by my actor friend FRANK GAGLIARDO…   

                       …  Around 3/4ths of the way thru the film, there are some scenes filmed at NAVY PIER around the CAROUSEL area (shot on October 7th of 2012)… 
                              

                                   ...  Tho set in the “summer”, it was filmed on a horribly COLD nite (requiring fired-up HEATERS outside)--  but, you do not “see” that from the many extras, including the young KIDS doing a synchronized dance number…

                           …  I enjoyed seeing the scenes of AAMIR riding the carousel (which I WALKED around during filming that evening), + people (including one of the female leads) at the COTTON CANDY vendor (which I walked “towards” in the original film-shoot takes done that day, sauntering by one of the ladies who was dancing near the vendor)…

                      …  Later on in the movie, they have various scenes shot at GREAT AMERICA amusement park (in the suburb of Gurnee, IL)…  During some of the various DAYTIME scenes, you once again see JAMES PETREAN walking around there…

                                 …  Plus, I recognized ED BUCHALO (pictured above) as he was walking (in his checkered shirt & medium blue fanny pack that day), near the left side of the screen…  And, “Big MIKE” HAMMOND can also be seen walking to the right in a scene filmed there…  (Below is a photo of both of them, done on the last day of shooting)...

                            …  As the film goes on, it eventually shows NIGHT scenes shot at the amusement park…  

                                    ...  After one of the extra guys announces to the "public" that the park is about to CLOSE, AAMIR walks INTO the park-- & suddenly “jumps” on the back of a guy he sees walking ahead of him, namely, co-star ABHISHEK BACHCHAN [who plays an Indian COP named Jai Dixit who is seen “pursuing” Aamir in the film]…

                                            …  When they filmed the numerous takes of the above-detailed scene (on the rainy nite of October 19th, 2012), I was wearing a green & white checkered flannel shirt + wearing glasses (to “vary” my appearance in the movie roles)… 

                                                    …  I made sure to “time” my walking OUT towards the gate so I could “REACT” to seeing those 2 people (AAMIR & ABHISHEK) walk INTO the “closing” park, & to respond with “surprise” (namely, a bit of a “double-take”) to seeing one “JUMP” upon the other…

                                                    …  And, it was seeing exactly that scene where I clearly recognized MYSELF at the far right-hand side of the screen!…  (Casting assistant BOBBI TAXALI later commented that she ALSO recognized me in that scene…)

                              …  Later in the film, you see still another BANK “ATTACK” scene… This was shot (on August 31 of 2012) at the FIELD MUSEUM (for the “outdoor” shots, including with a HELICOPTER hovering overhead), & was the most “FUN” day I had on sets during the film-shooting I did:

                                     …  Wearing a red Superior Ambulance shirt , I played an “EMT” SUPERVISOR who arrives in an ambulance, as part of a group there to help “rescue” a S.W.A.T team exiting the building… 

                                         ...  (The supposed “inside” scenes were actually shot at CITY HALL, as the corridors there --  as shown below -- “FIT” the looks in a more apropos way)… 

                                          …  In the edited version, there are a NUMBER of scenes of ambulance people outside;  but, the action “moves” too FAST for my being able to specifically see MYSELF there… 

                                                  (…  I hope to eventually buy a DVD copy of the film, so I can try to “FREEZE” images to try to “clarify” if I am actually able to be clearly SEEN in that or other segments, ditto re LARRY HAUGE who played one of the paramedics & who was also in the "CIRCUS" film-shoot…)

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                        …  On December 20th, I went to the AMC River East theater downtown to SEE the completed version of the much-anticipated film…  

                                ...  Per the request of always-helpful BOBBI TAXALI who I chanced to see outside theater 11 there (which holds like 400+ people), I went in to help her try to “HOLD” some of the 20 seats she wanted for people affiliated with making the film who’d sent her an “RSVP” re attending the 6:30 screening…

                               …  She told me how the film’s Production people had invited her to attend a screening of the film in INDIA--  but, it wasn’t feasible for her to do that (time-wise, & because it’d cost her a lot to get a flight to there!)… 

                                    …  We were both pleased by the fact (Bobbi related to me) that, there was so much INTEREST in seeing the film here in Chicago, AMC scheduled a whole ADDITIONAL screening of the film at 6:30 that nite, which they suddenly put in theater # 4 [which could hold like 230 people]!…
                         

      
                                                    [ ...  Later, I read that the film was so popular --  like # 9 in the U.S. receipts that 1st week --, it was held over for a SECOND week... ]

                                         …  In theater 11, using my camera bag & winter jacket, etc. + items from BOBBI, we were able to temporarily “hold” the seats she wanted, eventually occupied for people like JAMES PETREAN (who’d already seen the film at a 9:05 am screening earlier that day at the AMC in CRESTWOOD) & FRANK GAGLIARDO (shown in the center of the lobby photo below)... 

     
                                           …  Another person joining us there was MARY IWANICKI (who commented on how she’d been one of the people with me in the LaSALLE Street “RAPPELLING – money-falling-down” scenes…

                                                    … We all very much ENJOYED & were favorably impressed by the screening, & I commented to Bobbi on some of the “NEW” things I’d noticed in that (2nd-for-me) screening…   JAMES PETREAN & FRANK spoke of memories they’d had in watching the film…

                                                          …  After the screening, I also spoke to CADE CLAIBORNE, who’d handled SECURITY for stars AAMIR KHAN & ABHISHEK BACHCHAN (& discussed some PHOTOS taken of him with them from that time)…

                                                                …  I arranged for (& shot) a number of PHOTOS of our “GROUP” of attendees, which I’ve ATTACHED above…

                                                                      …  Also, to add a bit of “educational” info:  One thing Ed & I learned on our first day of work is how much people don’t fully realize it’s periodically “MAGIC” that can at times go into what we see in movies: 

                                                                               …  For example, it was actually stunt-man JOE DRYDEN who did the initial rappelling down hundreds of feet of the “bank” building on LaSalle street, + the stunt MOTORCYCLE scenes:  

 

                                                                      …  (As you can see in a PHOTO I’ve attached below), Joe had special electronic “MARKS” put on his face, to effect “MOTION-CAPTURE” (as director Robert Zemeckis did in “POLAR EXPRESS” & “A CHRISTMAS CAROL” )...
  

                                                                               ...  That procedure (which is a bit similar to utilizing a “green screen”) allowed AAMIR’S face to later be superimposed onto where JOE’s was in doing the rappelling & motorcycle stunts!… 

                            
                  …  AFTER seeing the film, I created a little REVIEW of it, taking pains to not reveal “too much” plot-wise:                                        

                          ...  I pointed out that the word "Dhoom" means BANG (and / or an "event"), & how the movie has a LOT of those in its many thrill sequences via the way it continues how the series utilizes "ACTION" crime segments... 

                                    ...  Plus the way it also has a number of enjoyable "Bollywood" MUSICAL numbers (such as one pictured below)...

                            
                                     ... The movie (which is 2 hours 52 minutes long) begins with a bunch of "dispute" scenes shot in India (with UDAY CHOPRA & ABHISHEK BACHCHAN), before it moves to various CHICAGO locations....  Overall, the film is like 3/4ths in ENGLISH, with subtitles for certain Hindi sections...

                                            ...   I felt the film was beautifully PHOTOGRAPHED, + excellently EDITED & well-ACTED (particularly by AAMIR KHAN)... 

                                                     ...  I was especially impressed by the considerable number of SPECIAL EFFECTS & STUNTS in the action scenes (where the "bangs" & "events" come from!)...

                                                      ...  I found the MUSICAL numbers to be "catchy", + enjoyable (as were the fine SETS created)...

                                                            ...  Overall, I considered the movie to be a lot of FUN, especially with its unexpected "twists" in the plot...

                                                                     ...  I'd thus rate it at 8.50 out of 10 stars, & heartily RECOMMEND it to those liking action, drama, comedy & musical elements in  their movie-going experiences... 

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