Archive for the ‘Vin Diesel’ Category

2011 Rainman Suite Man of the Year: Vin Diesel

Posted: December 31, 2011 by Keith Stone in Best of 2011, Vin Diesel
0

Vin Diesel isn’t squinting because of his limited mental capacity. It’s just impossible not to squint when your 2011 was so bright. The thing I like about Vin is that he gives the people what they want. OK, he probably just needed the money because his film career fizzled out but rejoining the Fast and Furious franchise was such a genius move. It all crescendoed in 2011 with Fast Five. His love affair with the Brazilian cop was like The Notebook on HGH (not that I’m accusing) and the scene where he and the Rock finally joined forces has to make Vin the odds on favorite for the Best Actor Oscar.

Besides that, Mr. Diesel has been relatively quiet in 2011 but don’t worry, there’s a good reason. He’s busy at work producing F&F Parts 6 and 7. Vin explained, “With the success of this last one, and the inclusion of so many characters, and the broadening of scope, when we were sitting down to figure out what would fit into the real estate of number six, we didn’t have enough space.” That’s right. He’s probably casting for extras as we speak. When I said Vin gives the people what they want, I wasn’t lying. I want more cars, I want more romance, and most of all, I want more Vin Diesel monologues.

When Vin talked about the barbeques his father used to have, I started sobbing so uncontrollably I had to leave the theater. True story. It doesn’t matter that he sounds like a stroke victim. That’s part of his character and it’s the nuanced performance he brings to every fascet of life that makes Vincent Diesel our Man of the Year.

An Oscar For Fast Five

Posted: May 12, 2011 by Keith Stone in Fast Five, movies, Oscars, Vin Diesel
0

After 10 days in theaters, Fast Five has grossed over $300 million worldwide. That’s not a typo. $300 million. It was a great movie. The stunts. The story. The “acting.” When The Rock decided to join the gang in the heist, I nearly shed a tear. As I left the theater, only one thought went through my head: Oscar.

Great minds think alike. This is what Vin Diesel had to say on the matter: “I wouldn’t be surprised if there is some Oscar talk around this. I don’t know, maybe I’m just biting off what some guy from Channel 7 thought. But sooner or later, people are gonna say, ‘Wait a minute, just because they are for the working class doesn’t mean they’re not great.'”

Obviously it’s a ridiculous notion, but the Oscars expanded to 10 Best Picture nominees to attract more interest. Nothing would bring in more viewers than Fast Five being in the mix. It wasn’t anything more than a popcorn flick but it did its job perfectly. Fast Five gave the audience exactly what it wanted. That has to count for something. In the scheme of things, movies are created to entertain us and Fast Five entertained the hell out of me. Why shouldn’t there be Oscar talk?

Los Angeles Times