![]() ![]() Ignoring the newfound work ethic and 25-year flash-forward, I linked the protagonist to Franco's not-entirely-different "Freaks and Geeks" persona Daniel Desario, and invested in the familiar proceedings. How you feel about the film hedges largely on what you think of James Franco, who carries the proceedings by appearing in every single scene. Utterly predictable through each thread, Annapolis is, nevertheless, not unlikable. ![]() Of course, the climax involves a big final fight, which somehow won't surprise no matter what the outcome is. Burton (Donnie Wahlberg, in an odd come-and-go role) and fueling up to qualify for the heavyweight division. All paths lead to The Brigades, an institution-wide boxing tournament where Jake blazes a trail to Cole by training with Ali and Lt. Cole (Tyrese Gibson) assumes the stance of tough-talking foe. Also figuring prominently are a polar-opposite pair of commanding officers: the pretty Ali (Jordana Brewster) offers hitch-free romance while Marine Lt. Along the way, Jake encounters three ethnically diverse roommates: one who gets expelled for lying about an untaken shower (Wilmer Calderon), another who emerges as a by-the-book nemesis (Roger Fan), and, most significantly, a stocky boy dubbed Twins (Vicellous Shannon) who becomes a friend and single-person support group. The crux of Annapolis is observing how Jake responds to the trying environment: will he stick it out or fold under pressure? Complicating the matter is his reluctance to ask for (or accept) help. ![]() We soon learn why: the academy is as physically and intellectually demanding as anything anyone would willingly apply for. While his enrollment at the Navy fulfills a dream held by his late mother and follows some personal persistence, neither Jake's blue-collared father (Brian Goodman) nor his underachieving friends think that he is cut out for the selective institution across the river. The film centers on Jake Huard (James Franco), a young battleship riveter who unexpectedly learns that he has been accepted into the United States Naval Academy (USNA) just hours before he must check in. So, I was quite surprised to find that not only is it not terrible, but it is actually a pretty decent movie. Sneak Peeks: Apocalypto, Goal! The Dream Begins, Stick It, anti-piracy ad, The Shaggy Dog (2006), "Grey's Anatomy": Season One, Glory RoadĪ surface analysis of Annapolis suggests that this Touchstone drama is definitely a dud: it was made by relative newcomers to film, released to theaters in January (long a dumping ground for movie studios' anticipated bombs), thoroughly trashed by critics, and fairly disregarded by moviegoers. Suggested Retail Price: $29.99 / DVD Release Date: J/ Black Keepcase with Side Snaps / Single-sided, dual-layered disc (DVD-9) Carter)ġ.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen (Reformatted fullscreen version sold separately) Dolby Digital 5.1 (English) Subtitles: English, French, Spanish Closed Captioned "Twins" Nance), McCaleb Burnett (Whitaker), Wilmer Calderon (Estrada), Roger Fan (Loo), Brian Goodman (Bill Huard), Charles Napier (Supt. Burton), Chi McBride (McNally), Vicellous Shannon (M.A. Cole), Jordana Brewster (Ali), Donnie Wahlberg (Lt. Finally, the South African drama Tsotsi holds hope for the future of Disney's indie branch in the wake of the Weinstein's exit it claimed the Oscar for Best Foreign at the Academy Awards in March.ġ03 Minutes / Rating: PG-13 / Theatrical Release Date: January 27, 2006Ĭast: James Franco (Jake Huard), Tyrese Gibson (Lt. Lasse Hallström's small town drama An Unfinished Life boasts a cast that's impressive to several different generations (Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer "J-Lo" Lopez, and Josh Lucas) but was relegated to an unceremonious theatrical run as part of the Weinstein Brothers' Miramax departure. Touchstone's coldy-received release Annapolis reports plagued by convention but far from hopelessly so. Covered in this roundup are three smaller movies which recently landed on disc. is here to tell you what's apt for air-conditioned viewing and what would be better left on the shelf in favor of time at the beach. Summer has arrived and with it, a lighter than usual schedule for Buena Vista Home Entertainment. : July 2006 DVD Roundup - Annapolis, An Unfinished Life, Tsotsi ![]()
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