"Stay Cool"

[CHRIS B]

From IMDB:

There is no need to stay away from this movie. I saw it on Saturday, April 25, 2009.

I have not seen info on the demographics. After seeing the movie, it is more for people in their late 30's to early 40's. ie. You went to High School in the 1980's. Current teenagers and twenty-somethings should get its meaning, but it's a long shot for them to know the difference in how we have all changed in the past 20 years, compared to when we were teenagers. They will understand the high school mess message, but the "grown up" stuff will just go over their heads. They know everything...remember.

The plot is relaxing, soothing and gets you into the story little by little until you are encompassed into it's every ritual. The music is played sporadically, with just a touch to remember the name of the song and/or artist. It is a wonderful playlist. Gets you in the mood to back when we were teenagers, no worries, ruled the world, knew everything, yet were afraid to get close to a girl or boy to ask them out or get to know them better.

The film colors are truly amazing. Hues of every known color are tantalizingly moody, yet superb in their vibrancy.

It is shot in an old school (no pun intended) kind of way, made me remember some of the 60's letterbox cowboy and classic movies. The movie is not in a letterbox format, but it has that look and feel. Think of "Ben-Hur" or "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." If this movie was just rated on its format and vibrant, color depiction...it would be a shoe-in for the Oscars.

The acting:
Mark Polish is outstanding and really makes you believe you're in his shoes through out the movie. If you're a guy, you understand his hurt and feel warm inside everytime Scarlet gives him a kiss.

Winona Ryder is the superb 80's sweetheart that you grew up with. She still titilates your heart in her role as Scarlet. If you didn't fall in love with her characters in the 80's, you will now.

Josh Holloway had a small role but spins your head and you end up wishing that his character had had more lines.

Marc Blucas is the legendary a**hole in high school and still one when he grows up; and you get to hate this jerk in the movie. What more do you want. He ate his role inside-out!

Chevy Chase is his usual comic self. 'Nough said!

Michael Gross the dad from "Family Ties" is outstanding as Mr. McCarthy. Gives you chills.

Dee Wallace is the iconic mother every one wishes they had had when growing up. I still love you Mom. But Dee does a wonderful job as Mrs. McCarthy.

Hillary Duff does a good job as a high school senior. This is one budding actress which will do better and better as her experience comes along.

Sean Astin, I love this actor. Keeps to himself, is a good role model, never gets in trouble and has a loving family. Now back to the movie... Sean is not a believable gay in this movie. How did it get past the Polish brothers? I don't know. Maybe gays in Santa Clarita are different than most gays anywhere else in the world. P.S. Hollywood is just a skip and a hop away.
I did like the sing-along at the IHOP, though.

All in all, this is a wonderful story. Compelling, takes you in, you wish for it to continue. Even at about 1 hour and 45 minutes it does not feel long.
I only wish that the ending would have had a different portrayal, more in concert with the 80's movies "The Breakfast Club," "Sixteen Candles," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."
Or, maybe, the Polish brothers will have a different ending when it comes out nationwide! Just hoping...

[ty]

I'm glad the movie and Winona are getting such nice mentions. It's been a while since I've wanted to see one of her movies.

I agree, this is definitely the first time in a while that I want to see a movie of hers not solely because she's in it

[CHRIS B]

The independent twinsThe Polish brothers continue their indie success with the new film ‘Stay Cool’
It’s fitting to talk about the state of independent films with the siblings known as the Polish brothers. The identical twins burst onto the scene in 1999 with the critically acclaimed “Twin Falls Idaho” and continued that success with other such notable small productions as “Northfolk,” “Jackpot” and “The Astronaut Farmer.” And now the 38-year-olds have a new offering — the hotly-buzzed about film “Stay Cool,” which premiered last week at the Tribeca Film Festival.
 
“Mark and I as filmmakers have never known anything different other than making movies ourselves, because that’s the way we knew were going to make movies,” says Michael Polish, who directed “Stay Cool” while brother Mark starred in it alongside Winona Ryder, Sean Astin, Chevy Chase and Jon Cryer. “Right now the economy is tough on independent filmmaking because it’s about finding equity. But independent filmmaking is tough regardless … recession or no recession. It doesn’t matter.”

Michael equates making movies with his brother as “creating your own studio.” “You make smaller movies and you put them out. That’s the choice, because the other alternative is waiting three or four years and not getting exactly what you want,” he says. Mark pipes in, “You get answers from each other. We’ve written projects for studios and you don’t hear anything — anything — for six weeks. But [going small], you get answers and can get something going in days.”

Although the two are such gurus of the indie world that they wrote a book together called “Declaration of Independent Filmmaking,” a how-to guide for first-time, DIY moviemakers, it doesn’t mean they wouldn’t like to go big one day.

When asked if they wanted to do a film that is CGI/huge explosion heavy, they don’t even hesitate: “Oh, of course. Yes,” they both answer in near-perfect unison. And then they joke about doing “Godfather 3.”

“But ‘Godfather 3’ has already been done,” says star Astin, who was sitting in on the interview with the brothers. (In “Stay Cool,” the actor plays a stereotypical, flamboyant homosexual hairdresser named Big Girl.) “Right, a remake,” clarifies Michael.  Then Astin deadpans: “Oh, well, can I play Sophia Coppola then?”

http://www.metro.us/us/ar...4/28/23/2152-72/index.xml

[Gary]

I'm glad the movie and Winona are getting such nice mentions. It's been a while since I've wanted to see one of her movies.

I agree, this is definitely the first time in a while that I want to see a movie of hers not solely because she's in it

well I honestly don't care to see movies just because she's in them. if the movies sucks I'd rather not bother with it.

[CHRIS B]

Tribeca Review: Stay Cool
by Erik Davis Apr 30th 2009 // 6:32PM

Filed under: Comedy, Drama, Tribeca, Theatrical Reviews

After Manure quietly (and not-so-quietly) stunk up the scene at the Sundance Film Festival, the Polish Brothers (Mark and Michael) have returned to the festival circuit with Stay Cool -- a film that leaps into your lap with its perky, original concept, but then slowly but surely fails to deliver ... well, pretty much everything. What we have here is an on-the-verge-of-40 novelist (Mark Polish) who returns to his hometown only to find himself stuck in a really bad, cliched '80s movie -- complete with two bonehead best friends, mean teachers, a moronic high school principal and a hardcore crush on that girl whose meat-head boyfriend is named Brad. And I don't mean cliched '80s movie in a bad way -- that's kinda the point with Stay Cool; our lovable, somewhat-awkward novelist learns that he must overcome the fears and regrets he's had since graduating 20 years ago by living his worst moments all over again.

Some have said Stay Cool is like 17 Again in reverse, which it sorta is -- except there's no magical, supernatural element here. Our guy just somehow finds himself re-living those weird, painful high school moments (as an adult) until he finally comes to grips with his past and his present, and, of course, manages to stay cool.

Sounds like a pretty cool movie, right? Don't get me wrong, Stay Cool definitely has its brief moments of laugh-out-loud nostalgia -- and how can it not when the Polish boys populate their cast with some of our favorite '80s movie stars, like Winona Ryder, Sean Astin, Chevy Chase, Jon Cryer and Michael Gross (who practically steals every scene he's in). The main problem with Stay Cool isn't with its idea or intentions; it's with its execution. But let me back up fast.

Henry McCarthy (Mark Polish) is a dick-lit novelist (his book, How Lionel Got Me Laid, is, well, about how Lionel Ritchie got him laid in high school) who's asked to return to his hometown high school 20 years later and give a commencement speech. When Henry arrives, it's almost as if nothing has changed: His two best friends, Big Girl (Sean Astin as the worst flamboyant gay man you'll ever see on screen) and Whino (Lost's Josh Holloway), are still yucking it up and acting as comic relief while our jaded writer slowly slips back into the life he left behind all those years ago. Forced to wear his old high school clothes because of lost luggage and stay with parents who still treat him like he's 18, Henry begins to hang out at the high school in the hopes inspiration for his commencement speech will come knockin'.

While home, Henry looks up his old crush, Scarlet (Ryder), who's on the outs with her high school flame, Brad (now coaching gym), and ... if you've watched more than one teen-related '80s high school comedy, you can imagine what happens next. My issues with Stay Cool begin and end with its main character, Henry McCarthy. Mark Polish is an absolute bore to watch on screen; it's as if his character almost expected to walk into an '80s movie when the film would've played ten times better if he questioned, well, anything. His two buddies never act as a team; there's barely any comedic chemistry there. And with a concept that naturally lends itself to organic humor, it seemed to me like the film forced the issue (and the comedy) way too often -- not to mention the fact that the characters felt too old for the script. Unfortunately, if you want your film set in 2008 there's nothing much you can do about that.

All that being said, the audience I watched the film with was laughing a whole lot at some of these jokes and situations -- perhaps because they fondly remember their awkward high school years, or the angsty teen films they went to see each weekend. Stay Cool definitely carries a nostalgic vibe (and soundtrack), and easily has enough commercial appeal to open wide in theaters -- but don't expect to get past second base with this prom date; she may look good, but there's not much substance beneath all that hairspray.

http://www.cinematical.co...tribeca-review-stay-cool/

[Gary]

I think I trust the crappy reviews more

[vulcannonibird]

I don't....

[Gary]

Good for you. You can sit through yet another mediocre Winona Ryder movie. It won't effect me at all.

[CHRIS B]

'Stay Cool' at Tribeca on AMC news Fri., May 1 @ 11PM | 10C Sun., May 3 @ 6:30AM | 5:30C Fri., May 15 @ 5:45AM | 4:45

[CHRIS B]

Exclusive clip with Winona and Mark!

http://www.amctv.com/vide...001&bctid=21847556001

[ty]

Exclusive clip with Winona and Mark!

http://www.amctv.com/vide...001&bctid=21847556001

  she's cute
thanks for posting Chris B

[Doris]

Exclusive clip with Winona and Mark!

http://www.amctv.com/vide...001&bctid=21847556001

  she's cute
thanks for posting Chris B

she's cute, but it's so boring! 

[vulcannonibird]

not really boring - but he is stating the obvious....

[CHRIS B]

Pretty positive review from variety! Some GREAT things said about Winona!!!  

Tribeca
Stay Cool
By JOHN ANDERSON

Powered By An Initiate Prods. presentation of a Prohibition Pictures production. Produced by Michael Polish, Mark Polish, Ken Johnson, Janet Du Bois, Jonathan Sheldon. Executive producer, Nick Byassee. Directed by Michael Polish. Screenplay, Mark Polish.
 
Henry McCarthy - Mark Polish
Scarlet Smith - Winona Ryder
Big Girl - Sean Astin
Wino - Josh Holloway
Shasta O'Neil - Hilary Duff
Brad Nelson - Marc Blucas
Principal Marshall - Chevy Chase
Mrs. Leuchtenberger - Frances Conroy
Mrs. McCarthy - Dee Wallace
Mr. McCarthy - Michael Gross
Darcy - Jessica St. Clair

 Swaddle the existential angst of Woody Allen in the baby fat of a John Hughes teen comedy and you get the post-post-adolescent "Stay Cool," based on the supposition that life is always going to be high school -- even 20 years after curing prom-night hangover. Indeed, it's all about hangover of various sorts in this rather likable if tonally unfocused Polish brothers romp, which taps into the current hunger for goofball comedy -- which may boost its B.O. prospects -- while at the same time giving the genre a long, cool stare.
"Stay Cool" is the second project made as part of Michael and Mark Polish's adventure in mini-studio-dom (the production machinery for their period comedy "Manure" was kept in place and rolled over into this pic). Inspired by such classic Hughes comedies like "Pretty in Pink" and "Sixteen Candles," "Stay Cool" is about the very people who grew up on those '80s films, principally Henry McCarthy (Mark Polish), a successful novelist who has returned to his hometown to deliver the graduation address at his former high school.

Why someone who wrote a book called "How Lionel Got Me Laid" (Lionel, as in Ritchie) would be invited to deliver anything at any high school in America is one of 'Stay Cool's" mysteries. As is Henry's motive for taking on the job: Considering the aggravation it causes him, via his old principal Marshall (Chevy Chase) and the dreaded Mrs. Leuchtenberer (a great Frances Conroy), it takes considerable suspension of disbelief to think he wouldn't just quit.

But he does want to come home, not necessarily to see his wacky parents -- played by a wonderfully frothy Dee Wallace and onetime "Family Ties" star Michael Gross -- but to get back in touch with Scarlet Smith (Winona Ryder), the high school beauty who wrote "Stay cool" in his yearbook, and whom he never heard from again.

Pic fits somewhere between the ironic obscurity of "Twin Falls, Idaho" and "Northfork" and the relatively straight "The Astronaut Farmer" in the Polish brothers oeuvre. Henry's reunion with Scarlet seems relatively casual at first, but as the story develops, we get the sense he's been nursing a crush for 20 years -- or perhaps he just begins to think he has. The more surreal qualities of Henry's collision with his past crashes up against outright farce ("It's a school night," his mother clucks, as Henry heads out with Scarlet).

Henry is a mix of Allen-esque observer and emotional investor -- he shakes his head at life's inevitable frustrations and bewilderments, but makes reckless investments. At the same time, Polish's performance is pretty one-note, as is that of Hilary Duff as the high school hottie who seems intent on providing Henry with both a social disease and a long prison sentence.

As might be expected, the comedy sidekicks are the cream: Sean Astin as Henry's very good, very gay friend Big Girl is overtly fabulous without being too impolitic. Josh Holloway is terrific as a substance-abusing Peter Pan among an entire community of people who never grew up. Chase is funnier than he's been in years.

Ryder seems to get lovelier with time, and unlike her anxiety-provoking performance in the recent Bret Easton Ellis adaptation "The Informers," here she's relaxed and perfectly cast as a girl most likely to succeed, who never managed to shake off her old boyfriend (Marc Blucas) or her old life. She adds an ambitiously melancholy element to a movie inclined toward the absurd andsmart-assed, the latter generously provided by Jessica St. Clair, who plays Scarlet's girlfriend Darcy.

Good-looking pic was shot on the new Red-One camera by M. David Mullen.

More than one option(Person) Jonathan Sheldon
Song
(Person) Jonathan Sheldon
Assistant, Associate ProducerMore than one option(Person) Ken J Johnson
(Person) Ken Johnson
(Person) Ken Johnson
Actor
(Person) Ken Johnson
Editor, Special Effects Assistant
(Person) Ken Johnson
Editor
(Person) Ken Johnson
Colorist
(Person) Ken Johnson
More than one option(Person) Dee Wallace Stone
(Person) Dee Wallace
More than one option(Person) Michael Gross
Actor, Producer
(Person) Michael Gross
(Person) Michael Gross
Editor, Screenplay
(Person) Michael Gross
Sound
(Person) Michael Gross
More than one option(Co) John Hughes
(Person) John Hughes
Director, Photography, Supervisor
(Person) John Hughes
Sound Recordist
(Person) John Hughes
Assistant
(Person) John Hughes
(Person) John Hughes
Actor
(Person) John Hughes
Actor, Cinematographer, Consultant
(Person) John Hughes
Actor
(Person) John Hughes
Wardrobe
(Person) John Hughes
Scenic Artist
(Person) John Hughes
Music, Music Coordinator, Song
(Person) John Hughes
Animation Director, Animator, Digital Effects Artist
(Person) John Hughes
PainterMore than one option(Film) Family Ties
(Tv) Family Ties
More than one option(Person) David Mullen
(Person) M David Mullen
(Person) David Mullen
SongCamera (color), M. David Mullen; editor, Cary Gries; music, Kubilay Uner; music supervisors, Gerry Cueller, Greg Danylyshyn; production designer, Clark Hunter; art director, Helen Harwell; set decorator, Peggy Paola; costume designer, Christie Wittenborn; supervising sound editor (Dolby Digital/DTS/ SDDS), Christopher Sheldon; re-recording mixers, Mark Ettel, Jason Brennan; visual effects supervisor, Ken Locsamandi; visual effects, Filmworks/FX; stunt coordinator, Scott Leva; assistant director, Andrew Coffing; casting, Kelly Martin Wagner. Reviewed at Tribeca Film Festival (competing), April 23, 2009. Running time: 108 MIN.
 

http://www.variety.com/re...ml?categoryid=31&cs=1

[CHRIS B]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/7ejABwhulxY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/7ejABwhulxY</a>