Double Feature Duel (Rd3): Adjustment Bureau vs. Source Code

Double Feature Duel (Rd3):
Adjustment Bureau vs. Source Code

The best application of quantum physics in a movie not explicitly about quantum physics against a 6-bug movie who played in a bracket with a 5.5-bug movie, a 3-bug movie and a 1-bug movie. I have a favorite.

Title: OK. First challenge. I like it. Both are a geeky indication of things to come. But Adjustment Bureau threw off the scent, as it could have easily been another courtroom thriller. As evidenced by the fact that I thought it was. (Point, Adjustment 1-0)

Funnier: The Russell Peters cameo isn’t going to reach that far. (Point, Adjustment Bureau 2-0)

Better Turn: I loved the turn in Source Code. It gave the movie the awesome purpose that we’d see over the next hour. But it didn’t make my eyes bulge and my jaw drop. Score one for me not seeing it coming. (Point, Adjustment 3-0)

Better Ending: Whoa! Look who jumped out to an early lead! Kinda like the actual movie before it shot itself in the foot. (Point, Source Code 3-1)

Better Message: Neither really sets out to change the world, but I’m taking away points from Adjustment Bureau for the saccharin-laced pixie stick it forced down my throat at the end. (Point, Source Code 3-2)

Better Acting: I’m trying to figure out a marquee moment in either film and the only one I’m coming up with is the bathroom scene in Adjustment Bureau. So I guess that wins it. Wow. (Point, Adjustment 4-2)

More Creative: I’ll certainly give a nod to Adjustment Bureau for competing. Most movies would get lapped by Source Code in this category. (Point, Source Code4-3)

Poster: After competing against two movies from 40 years ago, Adjustment Bureau isn’t getting the same escape clause here. And it’s a shame that they opted not to compete in this category, because it could have earned this underdog an accidental trip to the Elite Eight. (Point, Source Code 4-4)

Watch again: And it’s over. I may actually watch Source Code and The Nines again before I write the next MvM because I like them both that much. Not the case with Adjustment Bureau, the last 20 minutes of which I wish I could unsee from the first go around. (Point, Source Code 4-5)

Overall: Well, Source Code was never ahead and that was kinda scary. But it survived. And now for the first ever matchup of two 10-bug movies. I know I’m excited. Winner: Source Code (5-4)

Double Feature Duel (Rd3): Body of Lies vs. Big Fish

Double Feature Duel (Rd3):
Body of Lies vs. Big Fish

Who the hell did Body of Lies sleep with to get this far?

Title: Body of Lies is a serviceable title, but I picture a bunch of people sitting around a table going “well, I guess that’ll work” as opposed to “That’s perfect!” (Point, Big Fish 0-1)

Funnier: Neither is really a comedy, per se, but especially not Body of Lies. (Point, Big Fish 0-2)

Better Turn: To be completely honest, I barely remember Body of Lies anymore. (Point, Big Fish 0-3)

Better Ending: And even if I could, there’s very little way any movie outside of Frequency and Sixth Sense would beat Big Fish in this category. (Point, Big Fish 0-4)

Better Message: Ever feel like you were just going through the motions? Yeah, me too. (Point, Big Fish 0-5)

Better Acting: There are now 10 Best Picture nominees each year, but only 5 Best Director nominees. We all know those other five movies will never win, but it’s nice that the Academy recognized them. That’s the motivation behind this. (Point, Body of Lies 1-5)

More Creative: Tim Burton is nothing if not creative. This movie happens to also be good, which is not necessarily true of all his crap. (Point, Big Fish 1-6)

Poster: Make this an 0 for 3 for Body of Lies’ marketing department. (Point, Big Fish 1-7)

Watch again: I will honestly say that I’d probably watch Body of Lies right now. Mainly because I’ve realized that I don’t remember a damn thing about it, but it appears the me from 2 months ago really enjoyed it. (Point, Body of Lies 2-7)

Overall: Not surprising. I’m curious to see if there will be a bigger underdog to get to the Sweet 16 in the other quadrants.

Double Feature Duel (Rd3): Requiem vs. Stranger

Double Feature Duel (Rd3):
Requiem for a Dream vs. Stranger Than Fiction

Two powerhouses of the tournament if the criteria was based on me not being able to figure out how to capitalize the title.

Title: Well, I looked up what requiem means. It’s still a cool word, but I think I liked it better when I didn’t know what it meant. Kinda like the word “prolapse.” (Point, Stranger 0-1)

Funnier: On his best day - trying to be funny - Marlon Wayans couldn’t be funnier than Will Ferrell trying not to be funny. (Point, Stranger 0-2)

Better Turn: Tough one. I do oh so enjoy Will yelling at the narrator trying to kill him, but I kinda knew that was going to happen. Requiem’s turn snuck up on me. Like the one on Northern Parkway to get to the lacrosse field. Trust me. (Point, Requiem 1-2)

Better Ending: Once again, a movie about an author that couldn’t figure out how to end her book imitates life. (Point, Requiem 2-2)

Better Message: This just isn’t Stranger’s category. 0 for 3. (Point, Requiem 3-2)

Better Acting: Wow. This one is tough too. I do so love Will Ferrell but I super love Ellen Burstyn. I didn’t really hate anybody else in either movie. Nor did I love them. I guess I have my answer. And it doesn’t look good for the favorite. (Point, Requiem 4-2)

More Creative: Mounting a comeback and needing the last three to win it, it’s nice to have a lay-up to get you started. (Point, Stranger 4-3)

Poster: Probably the weakest category for both of these films. But I still hate the eyeball and for some reason, I overlook it every time I try to find the poster. I suppose that says all that needs to be said. (Point, Requiem 4-4)

Watch again: This is as close as they come, folks. And on a different day, this answer might be different, which makes this question sometimes the hardest to answer. I’m thinking about sending back in both my Netflix DVDs and getting these two movies just so I can really let it play out. And as much as I’d like to see both of them, I think right now, I’d pop in – well it might be a coin flip which I do all the time. But I did watch Stranger Than Fiction twice when I had it. So I’m going to have to go with the favorite. And I really didn’t do this because it was the favorite, but I can see how you’d think that since I’m making the odds and reffing the contest too. You really don’t think I have the integrity to do this, do you? How vain do you think I am? Did you see Body of Lies get to the Sweet 16? This is why we don’t hang out more. Where was I? (Point, Stranger 4-5)

Overall: This was probably the first contest where I legitimately didn’t know who was going to win. Really, up until the last sentence, which I stopped typing to think about. Anyways, the better team won. And on to face the winner of Body of Lies and Big Fish (see, I kinda know how that one is going to end).