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Arthur: The Remake Film Doesn’t Disappoint!

By Jackie Pilossoph on Feb 14, 2012 in Featured, Film Reviews

I’m a huge fan of the 1981 movie “Arthur,” starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli. What I’m not always crazy about are remakes, which is why I was a little bit skeptical about 2011’s“Arthur,” with Russell Brand and Jennifer Garner, although I do love both of those actors.

What I will say with strong conviction is that the new “Arthur” will not disappoint! Producers had the guts to make it different enough from the first one, that it takes on its own identity, instead of being yet another remake that didn’t quite measure up to the real thing.
The plot is basically the same, carefree, irresponsible, but loveable billionaire Arthur Bach has to marry Susan, a longtime family friend (who he clearly doesn’t love), or his family will cut him off. Here are some of the differences. Susan in the first “Arthur” is sweet, kind and very clueless, (played by Jill Eikenberry, who was fantastic). The new “Arthur’s” Susan is conniving, manipulative, and extremely unlikable (which I credit to good dialogue and great acting).

Another major difference: in the first “Arthur,” Hobson, Arthur’s butler is a man. In this “Arthur,” she’s a woman, who jokes that she’s Arthur’s nanny.

I think what made this movie so great was the casting. Russell Brand is amazing. This is the first movie I’ve ever seen where he really gets to show off his talent. And he truly is talented. So funny, so loveable and adorable, I found myself cracking up constantly and rooting for him the entire time. On a side note, I felt the exact same way about Dudley Moore.

Then there’s Hobson, (played by Helen Mirren). Can I just say, she was probably the best part of the movie! What an amazing performance!! The relationship between she and Arthur was so darn cute, and I wanted to just keep watching. Another fantastic casting move was putting Nick Nolte in as Arthur’s future father-in-law, Burt Johnson. Hilarious, especially a scene where Arthur is playing with a nail gun and he accidentally hits Burt multiple times, leaving the “tough as nails” guy unfazed. The woman Arthur falls for, Naomi, (played by Greta Gerwig) was also a great choice, and so was Arthur’s butler, Bitterman, (played by Luis Guzman.)

The only thing that lagged a bit for me were the dates with Arthur and Naomi. They were a little drawn out. Then again, who am I kidding? I’m a sucker for a good, romantic scene.

I would highly recommend “Arthur,” an adorable, feel-good, hilarious at times, fun fun movie! And if I had to pick between the first “Arthur” and the second? It’s a tough decision. Here’s an idea. Watch both in one night!

The Film The Debt Pays Big: Delivers Action, Suspense & Surprise Ending (film review)

By Jackie Pilossoph on Jan 12, 2012 in Featured, Film Reviews

I can’t think of a better movie rental right now than “The Debt,” a captivating, action-packed drama about three Mossad secret agents who, 30 years after carrying out a mission to capture a Nazi war criminal, must face the consequences of what really happened.

Now, I have to be honest; the first ten minutes of the film, I kept saying, “Huh? What just happened?” Scenes from the past and the present are intertwined, which made it a bit confusing . However, my advice is, keep watching and don’t ask questions. The pieces all come together pretty quickly and that’s when you’ll be completely captivated by this amazing film.

This movie will take you on a wild ride with its gripping plot, its nonstop action and its complicated love triangle. It starts off in 1997, when the daughter of former Mossad agent, Rachel (played by Helen Mirren, who’s amazing) publishes a book about her mother’s heroic capture of a horrific German doctor who tortured Jews during the Holocaust. “The Debt” then takes us back to the past.

The year is 1966, and Rachel, Stephan (her now ex-husband), and David, the man she truly loves are putting into operation their elaborate and well-thought-out plan. But when things go wrong, the three make a decision that will haunt them for almost their entire lives.

The Debt, a film review by Live Fit Magazine Back to 1997, the threat of the truth coming out presents itself, and now they must decide how to handle “The Debt.”

Jessica Chastain plays young Rachel and, let me tell you, she is absolutely beautiful! Her relationship with David (played by Sam Worthington) is done really, really well, to the point where I wanted them to be together so badly I had tears in my eyes. Another great character is Doktor Bernhardt (played by Jesper Christiensen). This guy is despicable! Wicked and evil to the core.

And the ending is amazing, with a scene that is so shocking, scary and creepy, I actually gasped loudly!

“The Debt” is a must-see movie.

Movie Review: Love And Other Drugs

By Jackie Pilossoph on Nov 15, 2011 in Featured, Film Reviews

Having been a pharmaceutical rep for four years, I was very curious to see this romantic comedy about a clueless womanizer who lucks his way into a job with Pfizer, and falls for a patient with Parkinson’s, who he meets while on the job.

Based on Jamie Reidy’s non-fiction book, “Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman” this movie depicts the pharmaceutical industry PERFECTLY!! Everything from the over-the-top training programs and the money big companies spend, to the persistence needed by the reps to woo doctors into prescribing their drugs in order to make quotas, the writers really got it right, which makes sense, since Reidy was one of them.

Here’s the thing. Producers decided to add this whole other plot to the movie that wasn’t in the book: the relationship between the main character, pharmaceutical rep Jamie Randall, (played by the adorable Jake Gyllenhall) and the woman he falls madly in love with, Maggie Murdock (played by Anne Hathaway with her beautiful lips and sexy voice). Although loveable from the beginning, the power of love changes Jamie from a heartbreaking womanizer to a giving, selfless person who has finally realized how fulfilling true love can be.

It came as no surprise to learn that Edward Zwick directed Love And Other Drugs. After all, two of my absolute favorite films are Legends Of The Fall and About Last Night, both directed by Zwick. And the casting could not have been better. Gyllenhall and Hathaway have a very believable chemistry that had me rooting for them the entire time. Then there’s Jamie’s hilarious newly independently wealthy younger brother, Josh(played by Josh Gad), who moves in with him after his wife dumps him. Gad had me laughing out loud at times. Other really great characters were old timer, burned out pharma rep, Bruce Winston (played by Oliver Platt) who’s hired to train Jamie in the field, and Dr. Stan Knight (played by Hank Azaria) a key influential physician who Jamie’s determined to win over in order to impact his sales.

My very favorite part of Love and Other Drugs is when Jamie starts selling Viagra. A huge fan of historical fiction, I remember when Viagra came out, and all the hype associated with it, and to see it on film was so energizing and funny. Everyone in the film refers to Viagra as the *uck drug, which I found hilarious.

Love and Other Drugs was a super cute romantic comedy and, although I thought there was a little too much nakedness and sex (could have been just as good with less of that), I was inspired by watching Jamie’s journey and seeing him grow and mature into the wonderful person I knew he innately was. There was also the element of Parkinson’s . Getting a glimpse of the disease was interesting and gave me a newfound understanding and appreciation for people who suffer from it.

Love and Other Drugs is a great rental that had me laughing and tearing up throughout. And, I absolutely cannot wait to read Reidy’s book!

“Bridesmaids” Film–Not Just A Chick Flick

By Jackie Pilossoph on Sep 30, 2011 in Film Reviews, Videos

Are you in the mood to sit in front of the TV for two hours giggling and laughing out loud every few minutes? Oh, and having your jaw on the ground for most of it? If that’s the case, you have to see Bridesmaids! I LOVED this movie!!! It was truly hysterically funny.

Bridesmaids is kind of the female version of The Hangover, in my opinion. If I had to pick which movie was better, I’m not sure I could. Very much like The Hangover, Bridesmaids is for both guys and girls–NOT a chick flick by any means! No sappy romance (although there were some cute, sentimental moments) and not a predictable storyline. Read More »

“The Help” Film Will Have You Laughing and Crying

By Jackie Pilossoph on Sep 27, 2011 in Film Reviews, Videos

Since the second I noticed the seven-foot movie poster display for The Help, (about three months ago at my local theater) I’ve been waiting with bated breath to see the movie adaptation of one of the best books I have ever read in my life.

I can say with conviction, The Help is in my top ten best-ever novels. So, out of curiosity, knowing full well that I’d probably like the movie, but that it would certainly pale in comparison to the book, I had an obsession to see Kathryn Stockett’s amazing work on the big screen. Read More »

Love is in the Air

By Phoebe Chongchua on Feb 28, 2011 in Film Reviews, Videos

Live Fit Magazine is proud to feature Sean Hasson & Jenn Collie in the first segment of our LoveBird Legacy Video series. They’re affectionately known as”Shenn”. These love birds are getting married in a couple of months. After working together for more than a year, the two soon-to-be love birds met on a boating excursion… it was destiny. “It’s about if you can marry that person and be with that person for the next 50, 60, 70 years–that’s to me when you know–is when you can spend the rest of your life with that person,” says Sean.

“If I saw him I’d get so nervous,” gushes Jenn. “I never had butterflies like that before.”
You’ll never believe how this couple got engaged!Falling in love is so beautiful. See Sean and Jenn in their self-told love story captured by Live Fit Films.