Baby, You're a Rich Man: The Wolf of Wall Street and Pain & Gain

In the family of movies observing and exploring the American Dream and excess and money and power, you could see The Wolf of Wall Street and Pain & Gain as this: the two brothers, one wearing a suit and making lots of money (no matter how illegal that might be), the other being a little brother pumped up on steroids, jealous of his big brother's wealthy life, so goes on to find a way to make money, fast. Add to that, The Wolf of Wall Street is made by "greatest American director ever" Martin Scorsese, and Pain & Gain is made by "butt of every American director joke" Michael Bay. They seem like they're at opposite ends of the spectrum. And while The Wolf of Wall Street is infinitely better than Pain & Gain, there's nothing that really causes me to write off Pain & Gain.

Just to preface this post: each of these films deal with the American Dream. Each of these films have been mistaken for glorifying it. Which of course, you can't ignore when big name stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Dwayne Johnson are in these movies living the rich life. But I'd be hard pressed to find another film in 2013 - save for Gravity and Captain Phillips - which left me with a sick stomach.

A Conversation with Real Steel

Hey hey, here's a movie which I actually liked! This will present a little bit of a challenge, since I've been quite used to conversing with films that I didn't really like. Anyway, I welcome this - and hopefully you will too.
Do I really need to explain what 'a conversation' post is again? Newbies, go here. Let's hope to some Real Steel, guys!

CHRISTOPHER: After being told last week by Immortals that I was a little too pale, I've decided to revert my attention back to robots. I guess they're a lot less judgemental...
REAL STEEL: What you mean to say is boxing robots.

C: Sorry, boxing robots.
RS: We don't just have any robots.

C: So they're not like the robots you'd find in a Michael Bay film?
RS: No. I'm a movie with an actual heart beating through it, which is what robots were intended to be in.

C: Fair enough. So what else sets you apart from the average Michael Bay robotic flick?
RS: Uh, Hugh Jackman being awesome. A female counterpart that isn't just there to look good and do nothing else. Maybe an actual storyline. 

C: What is your storyline?
RS: Imagine your average sports movie. Now set it in the future. Instead of people boxing, have robots boxing. And then have Hugh Jackman train them. See where I'm going here?

C: So basically, it is a sports movie with boxing robots.
RS: ....and Hugh Jackman.

C: And Hugh Jackman. Does he sing in this movie?
RS: No, unfortunately not. 

C: So it can't be a great deal too memorable, then.
RS: BUT WE HAVE BOXING ROBOTS!

C: I guess so. If you ask me, boxing robots sounds like an iffy premise.
RS: So does basing a film on a board game. But this kind of stuff happens. 

C: So does that mean that Battleship will actually be good?
RS: It doesn't look like it follows the source material as it should. I don't remember seeing aliens when I had a couple of robots play the board game in an early edition of the script. 

C: Boxing was the best you could come up with?
RS: For now, yeah. Don't worry, someone will 'reboot' me in a few years and we'll have robots participating in 'the hunger games'. 

C: Sounds like a plan.
RS: Robots are so hot right now.

C: So you said that you actually have a beating heart running through you. How's that?
RS: Everyone loves an 'underdog triumphs' story, don't they? I am one of those. And I don't skip on the heart. Atom the robot and his bond with young Max is truly inspiring. You know, like that movie War Horse? Actually, maybe, if they want to reboot a reboot of me, they can have Atom go off to war and Max try and find him. Write that down.

C: Mhm...you sound like you're quite rebootable.
RS: Reboot and robot sound just about the same. 

C: But will people get their money's worth with just you, the original boxing robot movie?
RS: Of course. But then they'll want to go out and buy a boxing robot to keep as a pet, and that ain't to easy on the pocket. 

C: I'm sure that watching you and buying a boxing robot is more satisfying than watching a Michael Bay movie, though. 
RS: As real as steel, mate.

What I got: