After watching Pitch Perfect for maybe the 10th time (or more) I was struck by someone other than "bigger stars" Rebel Wilson, Anna Kendrick, and Brittany Snow, the person who has stood out to me tonight was Anna Camp.
The first time I saw Camp was in the second season of True Blood as Sarah Newlin. As Jason explored his hate for vampires with religious zealots he met the Newlins. Jason wanted to do right by Steve, but the sexual tension between Ryan Kwanton (Jason) and Sarah Newlin (Camp) could be cut with a knife. Camp was under rated performer in the show, and I am excited for her return this season, even though I think True Blood should have already ended.
Like many of the past performers to watch Camp started out in scene stealing roles in television series along with her role of True Blood, Camp had a long arc of the CBS drama The Good Wife, which helped set out the competitive nature within Alicia. Camp was was also criminally under used in The Mindy Project this past season, how this show could not properly use her talent is beyond me, and shows the weakness within this television show.
Along with True Blood, Camp has had guest roles in the television series Glee, Mad Men, Love Bites,Vegas, and House of Lies. Camp's first recognizable film role was a small part in The Help as one of the women was part of Hilly's circle named Jolene. Pitch Perfect is Camp's largest film role to date, and her vomiting scene made a mark!
Camp is going to be heavily courted for numerous television shows, watch she may be a part of the fall line up, but at the moment her main projects coming up this year are two films entitled Goodbye to All That, and Autumn Wanderer. Camp is a performer to watch on the big and small screen, and she deserves it!
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Brittant Snow, Anna Camp, Skylar Astin, and Rebel Wilson
The first thing I have have to get out of the way before I go any further is, I hate a capella. You heard that right, for the most part I find it a bit obnoxious, and the characters in this movie are not far from what those students who a capella are like. Working at a college has provided with interesting insight into the world of the different groups a cliques that form after high school, not much changes. With my admission out there on the table I have to say I loved this film.
Pitch follows Beca (Kendrick) in her first year at college. Beca is greeted by annoyingly chipper girl (not far from reality), and the adventure begins. Beca does not want to be at college; she wants to be a DJ, but her father who is a college professor wants her to get an education. Beca ends up joining the Barden Belles a capella group, trying to get them to break their stifling old school ways and join this centuries musical revolution.
Sounds like a bad cliche ridden poorly made teen flick, right? Wrong! While there are for sure some massive story holes, useless characters, forget about it! This is one of the funniest films of the year, and like the film Easy A transcends the teen flick genre. Like with Easy A the concept of paying homage to the classic films, and concepts is important to making this film entertaining, and a big success.
The director/writer behind this show mainly have television and Broadway credits to their name. Director Jason Moore was the Tony nominated director for the Broadway Musical Avenue Q, and his work on one of the best Broadway shows helped elevate his direction within this film. The wit and charm are also there because of screenwriter Kay Cannon. Cannon has worked on both 30 Rock, and New Girl. Together these two have formed a great team, making one funny film.
Where would the laughs in this film be without the scene stealer Rebel Wilson who plays the self proclaimed "Fat Amy." Wilson has the best lines in the film, and her delivery is so sharp. Throughout the last few years Wilson has proven herself to be one of the up and coming funny ladies out there, with small roles in Bridesmaids; she is now going to host the MTV Movie Awards. This performance reminds me of Melissa McCarthy is Bridesmaids, and it is a shame the Academy does not go for performances like this one more often.
As more of the straight woman Kendrick is less funny, but still proves she can light up the screen; she too is one of those actresses who has so much talent and potential to play a wide range of characters. Who would have thought that anyone from the movie Camp, would be as famous as she has become?
While I have revealed my hatred for a capella I can't help but think that this film has warmed my heart to giving it another try. This film is delightfully charming, and you can't help, but smile, and laugh a lot while watching it over and over again.
This may be one of a very small number of posts for the week. I am on vacation, and have limited access to a computer. I had to give my loyal readers their score card for this week's October movies to see and skip.
Although we need to take a brief look back in time at September's movies. September was another slow month at the box office, but some of the smaller films, in limited release, worked their magic both financially and at pleasing audiences. There were also the disappointments with films like The Words, Trouble with the Curve, Won't Back Down, these maudlin dramas just don not work when you force it. Studios need to realize that there is no middle ground in regard to quality or box office receipts anymore.
On the other hand the genre films do decently at the box office, for example sci-fi, horror, and animated seem to be the most bankable in the slow months. Hotel Transylvania, which somehow escaped my list from last month set September records making 41 million, animated films do well in these slow times. Resident Evil and Looper helped out the sci-fi genre, while they did not have amazing numbers they did well for September, and Looper was a hit with critics. A House at the End of the Street scarred away the critics, but the film pulled in decent numbers, enough to prove Jennifer Lawrence is an it girl.
The name of the game recently for a variety of films was using the limited release to help build up an audience. Films like The Master open in limited release because they come from small companies and are harder to market to larger audiences. The film has done well. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Pitch Perfect did this also. Each film doing well enough, but the question is will they survive? And will October get better? The answer is an emphatic yes, October is going to start strong!
October 5th
Taken 2
Frankenweenie
Pitch Perfect
The Paperboy (limited)
What an opening weekend! While the original Taken was a solid film, this sequel looks just simple bad. Taken 2 will however make a lot of money at the box office. I would wait for DVD. Frankenweenie is going comes from the mind of Tim Burton, and while this has a weird premise it's being released in the perfect month, and will draw in families like Hotel Transylvania did. Pitch Perfect did well at the box office in limited release last week, and people are just excited to see more "Fat Amy" this will perform well. Who wouldn't want to watch Lee Daniels follow-up to Precious where Zac Effron and Nicole Kidman get into water sports....this film was booed at Cannes, can they get anyone to see it? Probably not. Althought the trailer looks solid.
October 12th
Argo
Sinister
Seven Psychopaths
Here Comes the Boom
Argo is a surefire Best Picture contender, and I think has the potential to be the actual winner. Ben Affleck has been building his directorial career much like Robert Redford did. This film has gotten thunderous applause from critics, now will audiences show up? I think based on this weekend the film will perform well. Sinister and Seven Psychopaths will not perform well. Look for the charm from Kevin James in Here Comes the Boom to surprise, but only if the marketing gets better, and quick.
October 19th
Alex Cross
The Sessions
Paranormal Activity 4
Paranormal Activity always owns their weekend, and putting it close enough to Halloween yearly will help once again. This puts Tyler Perry's version of Alex Cross in the cross fires. Perry is a poor choice for this role, and I am a little disappointed in the casting. This film could be good, but I predict failure. The Sessions is another Oscar hopeful, and people will eat up this film as it gets released in limited release.
October 26th
Cloud Atlas
Silent Hill Revelation 3D
Both films have the potential to be pretty solid. Cloud Atlas looks visually stunning, but will the Wachowski's loose the substance for style. I think this is going to be a mixed bag, and something you will have to see for yourself. The first Silent Hill was solid, this one looks subpar.
Must See-Pitch Perfect, Argo, The Sessions, Frankenweenie
Skip: Taken 2, Here Comes the Boom, Sinister, Silent Hill
After watching Pitch Perfect for maybe the 10th time (or more) I was struck by someone other than "bigger stars" Rebel Wilson, Anna Kendrick, and Brittany Snow, the person who has stood out to me tonight was Anna Camp. 
