D's Two Cents

moved!

2011-06-25T19:12:00.001-07:00

please go to http://daniellemotif.blogspot.com/

Notorious

2011-05-08T19:22:00.000-07:00

If only we still had writers and actors who mirrored the sensibilities of early Hollywood. Alfred Hitchcok's Notorious is a wonderous trip in Miami and Rio filled with suspense, intrigue, and the brillant talents of none other than Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman. The last shot in the film is well worth watching the whole thing for.

There Will Be Blood

2011-05-01T19:08:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately I'm writing this long after watching Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood. It's inevitable that in my quick summation I will leave a great deal out from my initial reaction. While artfully constructed and brilliantly performed I was bored and irritated during the majority of the film. The score detracted greatly by attempting to be so different. I wanted there to be someone to root for, someone with any form of redeeming quality, someone who could take a stand. In the end, the audience is left with nothing. You've been struggling for hours and you're broken. There is one film of quiet evils that I can point to that makes it worth all the darkness. The Shawshank Redemption brings you through the other side in its final minutes that makes the whole journey that much sweeter. I know it's probably unfair to compare the two films. After all, The Shawshank Redemption is one of my favorite films of all time. I suppose I'm just an optimist at heart and the emptiness I felt after There Will Be Blood was distasteful.

Tron Legacy

2011-04-22T19:01:00.000-07:00

Going into Tron Legacy I didn't expect much. All that really took me there was nostalgia from my childhood and an excitement to hear Daft Punk's score. I was shocked to find myself thoroughly enjoying this slick reboot.

It's clean like its predecessor and I feel that is in a way what makes it stand out. It's a family friendly sci-fi, which given the current state of affairs these days is a welcome and refreshing change of pace. The story is simple and the characters aren't terribly complex however the glorious CG landscapes and creative art direction envelop the viewer and draw you in deeper than you really want to go. Regretfully I watched this on a plane on a tiny screen with my headphones on.

No Strings Attached

2011-04-18T18:53:00.000-07:00

Welllllll, I really don't know why I keep subjecting myself (and you) to these movies. Right now, the romantic comedy genre is in a very steep tailspin. The days of When Harry Met Sally seem to be behind us for the time being.

No Strings Attached tells the uninteresting friendship story between Emma (Natalie Portman) and Adam (Ashton Kutcher) and it's dying for a little sass. There are occasional jollies to be had but overall this flick lacked all the sweet charm that makes romance work on the big screen. There was little to no chemistry between the actors and the storyline followed a predictably lame path.

Heartbreaker

2011-04-15T18:47:00.000-07:00

Heartbreaker is a fun watch! It's currently on instant view on Netflix and I highly recommend it. It's a French film that takes place primarily in Monte Carlo. Essentially, we follow a band of break-up specialists whose jobs are to go in and ruin relationships. It's sexy and witty. Trailer here.

Taken

2011-04-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

Taken is the sort of depressing fare that might be a good date movie. I say this because the ladies will be tensely uncomfortable for a couple hours and yearning for some protection afterwards. I didn't really love this one. It was suspenseful overall but everything felt so cliche and tired. Sorry Liam.

Life As We Know It

2011-04-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

I am having a difficult time proving any form of legitimacy as a serious movie-lover with my choices these days. When the going gets tough, Danielle looks for ridiculous. Thus, I present to you dear readers Life As We Know It. Far be it from me to try and deter you from a chill evening at home watching this movie with a bottle of wine while you're drinking away your sorrows over some failed relationship. However, I'd like to suggest you put this one aside and reach for something a bit less...terrible. Seriously.

Morning Glory

2011-04-08T18:30:00.000-07:00

Now for the onslaught of reviews that are short, sweet, and to the point. I've been VERY behind on these. Morning Glory hit closer to home than I anticipated. Rachel McAdams plays a TV morning show producer desperate to save a flailing show. She's stuck with two persnickety hosts (Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford) and a barrage of other difficulties. Overall, not very funny. In fact, even by my standards - it was too fluffy. That's saying something. As much as I love legit award-winning film making I'm far from being above a good rom com or cheeseball summer blockbuster. Next!

The Adjustment Bureau

2011-03-06T18:40:00.000-08:00

So, I was left feeling neither here nor there after seeing The Adjustment Bureau. I didn't love it but there were a lot of things I certainly liked about it. It had the overall effect of a 1950s Cary Grant escapade. In fact I was reminded specifically of North by Northwest on more than one occasion.

The chemistry between Matt Damon and Emily Blunt is dynamic and believable and the dialogue they share together is downright smashing. The film was written and directed by George Nolfi. His filmography is short (this is the only film he has directed) however his writing credits include Ocean's Twelve and The Bourne Ultimatum - both of which are rife with quick-firing dialogue. The film boasts one of my favorite cinematographers, John Toll and its stars are supported by a solid supporting cast of Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker), Terence Stamp (total icon, listing his movies would take all day), and John Slattery (you might recognize him as Roger Sterling on AMC's "Mad Men").

Again, it doesn't knock it out of the park but it's fun and sweet. Trailer here.

3 Flicks 1 Post

2011-03-05T10:57:00.000-08:00

I keep forgetting to post about the flicks on planes that I see...oh well - both forgettable...

1) Love & Other Drugs. What the...totally not as advertised. It's pretty sad and then really over the top. Not a good combo when you think you're signing up for a mindless chick flick. Pass.

2) Due Date. Expectations? High. Reality. Meh. Pass.

3) This one I saw at home...Never Let Me Go. Wow. Super duper duper sad with a sprinking of depressing on top. It is based on Kazuo Ishiguro's book and directed by the awesome Mark Romanek. It's gorgeous to look at but you should really know what you're about to watch before you view it. I saw it right before bedtime and well, it was a restless night of sleep. Trailer here

True Grit

2011-02-26T22:26:00.000-08:00

100% truth. I had no interest in seeing this movie. The only reason I did was naturally because it is a nominee for best picture at the Oscars this year. Here's the deal, I read the book as a kid and I also suffered through the movie. I really hated both of them. Maybe they didn't appeal to my middle school sensibilities, who knows? All I remember was I was bored to tears and I really didn't like the story. Sadly, that still rings true all these years later. The thing is...the Coen Brothers made it much more bearable for me in a couple of ways.

Roger Deakins is the Director of Photography and his eye is simply spot on. This film marks his ninth Academy Award nomination and he stands a good chance of winning. The other notable standout is young Hailee Steinfeld who is nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category. I have to say, I find it interesting that it's the supporting field. Her character seems to own the bulk of the story more so than the marshall (played by Jeff Bridges).

Kings of Pastry

2011-02-25T22:05:00.000-08:00

Kings of Pastry is an inside look at the pastry chef competition in France. It's a great peek at how grueling the preparation is and how much skill is involved to even make it to the finals. The event takes place once every four years and only a few will earn the prestigious title of Best Craftsman in France. Trailer here!

Waiting for Superman

2011-02-20T09:40:00.000-08:00

Waiting for Superman is a documentary that everyone in America should see. It's eye-opening and shocking. If every single person felt even a fraction of the way I felt when I finished watching this movie, something would be forced to change. It's a travesty what has happened to education in this country. Sure, you know it's bad. Sure, you just hope that you live in a place where your kid can go to a good school - or, you make enough to send said kid to a private school. It's really very sad. We're the US! Educating our people so they can participate in society is the most fundamental part of what makes us tick. We're failing, big time.

This film is not lighthearted fare nor does it depress you to the point of no return. There is hope and there are change agents however awareness is key and this film is a terrific jumping off point. Watch it. Tell your friends. Engage people. This is what documentary filmmaking is all about.

The Hurt Locker

2011-02-13T08:57:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to watch The Hurt Locker for almost a year now. I rented it, borrowed it from the library, thought about seeing it in the theater but something inevitably stopped me from watching it. I spent a lazy rainy Saturday morning finally getting through it and after so much hype I'm not sure where I landed on this one.

Director Kathryn Bigelow has always stood out to me because there are such a handful of female directors out there and even fewer who go beyond making romantic comedies. Bigelow helmed one of my favorite guilty pleasure flicks, Point Break and I found the film to be surprisingly masculine. The same can be said of The Hurt Locker. It tells the story of a bomb squad in Iraq who are at the edge of death on a daily basis. It's gripping but I left very unsatisfied without knowing why. The film won an Oscar for Best Picture in 2009 as did Bigelow for Best Director (first woman to win the award). There were 10 films nominated for Best Picture and I remember being very frustrated that Inglorious Basterds didn't win. For me, it was a masterpiece and the best film that year. There were several other films in the category that seemed very worthy, and after finally seeing The Hurt Locker I truly think the Academy made the politically correct choice as opposed to the right choice. But hey - they have a knack for doing that I suppose.

Catfish

2011-02-11T11:06:00.000-08:00

Catfish. This film seemed WAY more interesting to me than The Social Network in terms of the real power of social networking. For those that know absolutely nothing about it - good. I'm not going to tell you too much because doing so would spoil the movie. What I will tell you is simply that Catfish is a documentary about a relationship that blossoms on Facebook. It brings up a plethora of interesting topics that have kept me thinking about it intensely for the past few days. 15 years ago we would never be talking about any of these things but now, in our techie, modern, and connected lives it's one of the most relevant and current films to come along in ages. What do you really know about anyone that you meet virtually? For example - you're reading this blog. I'm assuming that a fair number of you actually know me. You know my quirks and mannerisms, how tall I am, where I work, etc. I'm guessing though that a bunch of you don't know me and somewhere in your brain you've developed some notion of who I am and what I'm like "in real life". Isn't that odd to think about? Watch Catfish and then think about it some more. You won't be able to help yourself. I'm not including the trailer because I really think this film is better the less you know about it going in.

All About Eve

2011-02-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

I really cannot believe I had not seen this movie through 6 years of film studies. All About Eve is the very definition of classic. Betty Davis stars and Anne Baxter shines as rival actresses on the Broadway stage (oh yes, that's Marilyn Monroe on the background). Our friends at Wikipedia tell me that until Titanic no film had matched the 14 Academy Award nominations that this one did (and it won 6 of them). It's chalk full of drama. Fabulous!!

The Town

2011-02-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Admittedly, I had a Ben Affleck crush since...well okay, a while ago. I'll do my best to be unbiased about this one. What's interesting is that I don't even really need to. He's proven himself a far better filmmaker/writer than actor over the years (unless of course we're counting Armageddon. Come on. Does it get any better than "Harry, for real now, I love her"? I don't think so). He also continues to focus his lens on his home turf, Massachusetts. I keep assuming audiences will get sick of it but they're (I'm) not and his films continue to do well at the box office and gain critical acclaim.

It all began fairytale style with pal Matt Damon with Good Will Hunting. Then just four years ago he released a supremely solemn and strikingly good film starring his brother Casey, Gone Baby Gone. And now, The Town - a look at a band of "townies" who spend their days on a dizzying array of robberies. It's solid. I can't say it was one of my favorites from this year. For me, the story just lacked a certain something. Don't you love it when you can't even pinpoint exactly what it is? Yeah, me too. I think it has vaguely something to do with rooting for a criminal. Sure, but he's a good guy and he can't help his situation. Can he though? I don't know. I wasn't feeling it. Besides my small inner conflict with the premise, the film was engaging and I'd certainly recommend it as a rental. Oh, and if Ben doesn't entice you - maybe someone off this list will: Jon Hamm, Blake Lively, Chris Cooper, Jeremy Renner, & Rebecca Hall. Pretty decent cast, right? See the trailer here.

Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows Part I

2011-02-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

Allow me this nerdarific posting readers. I saw this flick twice and neglected to write about it. Not sure why, let's say for argument's sake that I just forgot to.

It's no secret (or it shouldn't be if you've read any of my other postings) that I love a good story and fantasy/sci-fi certainly enhance that love. It's through that lens that I write this note. When I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows I remember feeling like I couldn't have asked for a better resolution after years of following these characters through their magical fight for justice. After Part I of the movie concluded I was so pleased that there was still more to come, the end had been stretched, yes...but logically - not just to make a quick extra buck, though I'm sure Warner Bros didn't make out too badly.

At the film's conclusion, the young boy in the seat behind me on opening night said to his friends "just when it starts to get interesting, they make you wait months to see what happens". Yes, they do - but I guarantee you - it will be worth the wait. We're so used to getting everything immediately now. You no longer wait for a roll of film to be developed and your prints to come in. We don't need to wait to get a letter in the mail because we can receive one in a matter of seconds via email - forget that - how about immediately via text? The 'nowness' of our society makes the waiting game oh so much sweeter. In the case of Deathly Hallows the waiting yielded three young actors who have grown immensely through the tutelage of such British theatrical icons as Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, etc. It's remarkable really. If you look back at where the journey started with a trio of wide eyed kids and Christopher Columbus' vivid magical tapestry and then you juxtapose it with where it is now the transition is as special as Harry's story. Even the filmmaking techniques have been taken up several notches for this final installment. I can't wait for the last film. I have a feeling that just like the book I will experience a sense of satisfaction that can only come from expertly realized creative craftsmanship. Trailer here!

Good Hair

2011-02-03T13:22:00.000-08:00

If you have ever been remotely curious about the world of hair you MUST see this movie. If you have no interest, STILL see this movie. It will make you curious and it's kind of fun to learn more about it, no really, totally serious. Chris Rock produces and stars in Jeff Stilson's informative journey through weaves, relaxers, and what it all means for little African American girls in the US. Totally enjoyable and ready and waiting for you at Netflix. Trailer here!

127 Hours

2011-01-31T20:37:00.000-08:00

It's amazing that even when you know exactly what is going to happen you can still be caught off guard. 127 Hours tells the real life story of an adventurous outdoor enthusiast who finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place. Okay, WORST pun of all time - I admit that. Sorry. Okay, refocusing. James Franco plays our hero with heartfelt authenticity and director Danny Boyle brings a great deal of visual electricity to the story. A must watch this awards season for sure - just get ready for the inevitable. Trailer here.

Jamaica Inn

2011-01-30T20:38:00.000-08:00

1930's Hitchcock? Yes please. Jamaica Inn tells the tale of early pirates off the English coastline who shipwreck nearby boats, kill all aboard and plunder. It's slow at times and too cutty at others. It can't help it really, film was just getting started. Here's the wondrous thing, it's early in Hitchcock's career - but it's still creepy. Sure, his later classics are more finessed but this one is dark and raw which makes it kind of special I think. Great for a dark and stormy night.

Did You Hear About the Morgans?

2011-01-29T20:43:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry, what's that? Judgment? Oh no no no. You'd better not. Here's the thing. Yes, you had a pretty strong feeling about Did You Hear About the Morgans? You assumed it would be crappy. You thought you could spend your $10 more wisely. But...did you know? That's where I come in. I watch these turds so that you can continue to trust your own judgment and KNOW that something as alluring as Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker on horseback (I'm hoping you're reading this as sarcasm) may be a mirage. Follow your gut on this one. Don't do it.

Winter's Bone

2011-01-23T10:55:00.000-08:00

Well, this one was a real downer. Never ever watch something like this at 8:30 in the morning. Trust me. So Winter's Bone won the grand jury prize at Sundance for dramatic film in 2010. It tells the rather unsettling story of a young woman who has to find her father to save her family's house. There's a desolate realism to the film that makes it that much more difficult to watch. It's hard to relate to the characters. They're all so horrifically entrenched in this culture of drugs, fear, and poverty. The shining light of course is our heroine, Ree - played by Jennifer Lawrence. It's definitely worth a watch, but I recommend a bowlful of cherries and sunshine afterward. Trailer here.

The King's Speech

2011-01-22T09:39:00.000-08:00

Colin Firth just won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of King George VI (father of Queen Elizabeth II, whom we're familiar with in present day) in Tom Hooper's The King's Speech. His performance is fantastic. The king had a speech impediment and sought the help of speech therapist Lionel Logue, played brilliantly by Geoffrey Rush. The two play very well off of one another. They have a splendid script to work off written by David Seidler. Hooper is relatively young (38) and brings a certain sharpness to the edit that keeps this period piece moving in a modern fashion. The cinematography is gorgeous - painterly at times and photographic portraiture in others.

The film is quietly paced and at times frustrating - a clear choice to help the audience feel what this monarch's disability was like. The film builds to an iconic speech the king made as Britain entered the second world war. Trailer here! Check it out before Oscar-time!

The Fighter

2011-01-19T21:55:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm utterly ashamed that work life has taken me away from my fun hobbies such as this blog for well over 3 months now. Thing is, it couldn't be helped. Dear readers. I know there are at least a couple of you. I need a swift kick where the sun don't shine. I write about films because I love them and I think that it's a necessity for me to analyze, discuss, and share my cinematic experiences until the cows come home. It's just...what I do. So without further ado...here's a flurry from the past month or two.

Nothing makes me more giddy then leaving a theater and feeling like I just stepped out of the best thing all year. That moment came after I saw The Fighter, David O. Russell's boxing bio pic film starring Mark Wahlberg and Christan Bale.

Honestly I don't even know where to begin. Bale's performance will haunt you. Wahlberg was solid as a rock. Yeah, I just said that. Supporting roles by Amy Adams and Melissa Leo were utterly awesome. And don't even get me started on the other actors that make up the rest of the family. It's a fiesta of scrappers and they're punching each line as though it was the only one they had in the movie.

Not a moment was unnecessary or a scene out of place. It's sad and funny and dramatic and witty all in one tense breath. I could go on but you get the idea. It's a cinematic masterpiece and I loved every minute of it. The trailer doesn't it do it justice but can be found here.

The Social Network

2011-01-18T21:56:00.000-08:00

The Social Network is based on real events surrounding the creation and fight over the creation of Facebook directed by David Fincher. By the time I got around to seeing this I had incredibly high expectations. It's a fascinating film and the DVD comes with an equally engaging behind-the-scenes. I honestly don't have much to say about it other than it's worth a watch to be sure. The Golden Globes adorned it with best picture of the year. It makes my top 5 but The Fighter wins my number one slot. We'll see what the Academy has to say.

Black Swan

2011-01-17T22:01:00.000-08:00

I would describe Black Swan as a cinematic romp through someone's bad dream after they went to the ballet and maybe...did some ecstasy right before they fell asleep. It seems unfair to boil it down to such a basic level but it's good to know what you're getting into before you drift off with director Darren Aronofsky. I made that mistake with his movie The Fountain a few years ago and I was depressed for the rest of the day. Today's tip: always know what's in store at the theater when it's an emotional tale. Overall, I really enjoyed the film. It kept me guessing and I followed down the rabbit hole all the way. Natalie Portman was very dynamic, showcasing a wide range of emotion as she flitted from one character to the next. Trailer here.

The Kids are All Right

2011-01-16T22:12:00.000-08:00

The Kids are All Right. This took a couple starts and stops. I'm not going to lie. I'm only human. People fall asleep. Here's the thing though, when I did finally commit to this one, I found it to be pretty charming. At its core it's about family and the complicated messes that they can be no matter who is running the ship. I liked its honesty and the solid performances. Trailer here.

Easy A

2011-01-15T22:25:00.000-08:00

Teen comedy may secretly be my favorite genre. Okay, maybe not so secretly. But when good teen comedy comes along, it's delightful. There's just something about those teenage years that is ripe for all sorts of hilarity. We've all been there. We all know the drill and some things never change. The universality of the themes and the glee and zest with which young talent take on their roles is unique to the genre and special for viewers. If the right director and writer bring that cast to life, it's pure joy. Easy A takes The Scarlet Letter and brings it to California in 2010. It's fabulous and witty on many levels. Emma Stone received a Golden Globe nom for the role and to be honest, the film wouldn't have had nearly so much pinache without her. Trailer here.

All Together Now

2010-09-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

All Together Now is a documentary about the Cirque du Soleil production in Las Vegas called "Love". It's inspired by and blessed by the Beatles and it's a treat to watch the ingenuity and theatricality of the production as well as learn about the process it took to get there. There are wonderful insights from the legendary George Martin as well as commentary from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono, and Olivia Harrison.

Trailer and clips here!

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

2010-09-19T22:47:00.000-07:00

Graphic novel turned movie. Sometimes I cringe...other times, the prospect is appealing. This go around there was certainly some hype among my friends. I had high expectations and they were completely met and surpassed. In fact I'd go so far as to say Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World went ahead and smashed my preconceived notions of what teen comedy had become in the year 2010. It was side-achingly witty with spot on timing from its young cast. The editorial was a character in and of itself with the aide of some delightful animation and illustration that popped the story off the screen. What I found most surprising and refreshing was how incredibly funny the movie was without settling for the lowest common denominator for the usual teen-fare (or any comedy for that matter) - immature 2nd grade potty humor. Instead it relied on a solid comedic script and brilliant performances evoked by director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead). This film is incredibly fun, smart and speedy. It seems like several viewings are a must to get all the jokes going on.

See it for sure. Trailer here!

Going the Distance

2010-09-13T21:34:00.000-07:00

Yes...it's officially a romantic comedy but truly...this was a comedy. Jim Gaffigan. Christina Applegate. Kristen Schaal. Ron Livingston. Charlie Kelly. Those are the supporting actors! Whether or not you are in a long distance relationship there is something super cute and endearing about this current and lighthearted affair. Drew Barrymore and Justin Long have chemistry - there's no denying it. The writing was slick and the delivery was spot on. It's a good watch with friends who have been there, are going through it, or might be in the near future.

Bringing Up Baby

2010-09-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

Hepburn and Grant. It's a win win and a wonderful classic. I can't believe that it has taken me so long to watch this film. There's something so magical about this era of the cinema. It draws you in and delights you with witty banter, gorgeous costumes, and real - honest to goodness - Hollywood stars. No Jersey Shore morons here. Great watch!

Eat, Pray, Love

2010-08-29T17:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I tried reading the book and only made it through Italy. I tried listening to the book on tape and barely got to India. This time around, I was going to finish the story. The film, much like the book dragged for me. The pacing was grueling and the film had a ghastly 140 minute running time. That's just too much. The basic blocks to build a female-friendly story of self discovery were there but in the end, I was left feeling sleepy with dreams of Bali.

Little Children

2010-08-21T23:23:00.000-07:00

Wow. This movie is not a light watch. In fact, it's fitting right in with the majority of my viewings this August - depressing and dark. To be honest, I found the first 30 min or so to be positively mesmerizing. I thought it was clever, funny, and visually engaging. Then everything changed and we plummeted down the rabbit hole to a very uncomfortable story. The filmmaking blew me away. A re-watch? Naa, I don't want to sit through that painful tension again.

Big Night

2010-08-16T23:15:00.000-07:00

What a delightful surprise. Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub play Italian brothers who are trying to get their restaurant off the ground. This movie is chalk full of starts (hello Isabella Rossalini and Minnie Driver) but the winners here are Tucci and Shalhoub who are virtually transformed. Great watch, especially with some vino.

Precious Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

2010-08-09T20:51:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to sugar coat this one and I'll do my best not to be preachy. You have got to be in a safe place in your head before watching this movie. It will shake you. If it doesn't - well, there just might be something off kilter about you. I now fully understand why this film received such critical acclaim. It's quite frankly, earth shattering. It's the kind of movie that literally makes you gasp and desperately try to come up for air. Being a part of Precious' journey makes you feel like you just want to hold on to those around you and squeeze. It's a story that few of us film-goers can legitimately relate to however sadly it's a story that too many people have experienced. See this movie. Support it. Witness. Understand that not everyone is given the same chance when they enter this world. Perhaps you will view things a little differently even just for a moment.

Shutter Island

2010-08-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

Martin Scorsese has a way of just getting under my skin, and generally not in a good way. I want to like him. The man is a truly a film-lover full of knowledge and appreciation of film history and theory. Very few within Hollywood 'royalty' can claim the intensity of his study of cinema. I salute him for that repeatedly however for me - his films always leave much to be desired. Maybe it's because I'm a woman and his films are generally overtly masculine. I really don't know what it is but over and over again, I'm unenthusiastic about all of it. Shutter Island was a bit of a snooze fest. I honestly don't have a lot to say about it. Seems like those couple of hours could have been spent on something more interesting.

Food, Inc

2010-08-06T21:48:00.000-07:00

I appreciate a good investigative documentary however I am always leery of what I'm being told because I know how incredibly powerful and manipulative a documentarian can be to forward their agenda. I despise people reaching gargantuan decisions about the way they live or what they believe exclusively because of what someone manufactured in the edit suite. I don't mean to say there isn't truth in every documentary and I also don't mean to imply that they aren't useful tools to raise awareness for important issues. I'm merely stating that we must all seek out multiple sources for our information and sometimes look in unexpected places. Be your own detective if you must. The truth is out there - a documentary will always be showcased through the biased lens of whoever is telling the story no matter how 'observational' it may appear.

With all that said, Food, Inc is eye-opening and incredibly disturbing. It makes you to want to pick up the phone, call the president and say, "fix this". The truth is, the change will need to come from us. Start little. Clearly, we can't all afford local and organic foods. However little bits will add up if we all try. We live in one of the most bountiful nations in the world and we've allowed it to become driven by corporate greed. In the end, it's leading to our demise slowly but surely.

Youth in Revolt

2010-08-01T22:31:00.000-07:00

Okay Mr. Cera. Can you break free from George Michael's character? Is it indeed possible? That's my only question going into this movie. Umm, you kind of did!? Yay for you! Youth in Revolt was at times hilarious and at times only meant for teenage boys. However, the quirkiness worked to its advantage and overall I was left amused rather than annoyed.

Zack Galifianakis, Steve Buscemi, and Jean Smart were drastically underutilized. They're such all-stars and weren't the scene-stealers that they should have been. However, the movie would have been incredibly flat without them.

Michael Cera? It's time for you to get a new character to play. Hopefully you will surprise us in the upcoming Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World.

Inception

2010-07-18T21:13:00.000-07:00

Inception is a trippy highly enjoyable ride. It's tense and unusual and challenges you to stay with it until the very end. The effects, camerawork, editing, and lighting are simply top notch. I love it when films are visually enthralling the way this one is.

British director Christopher Nolan has certainly gathered a large American fanclub. He brings something new to the screen every time and we have him to thank for such cinematic treats such as Memento and The Dark Knight. He also has a tendency to cast people repeatedly which links his films in an interesting way and furthers his status as an auteur. Next up? We wait for his latest Batman escapade. Can't wait.

p.s. just as enjoyable during a second viewing - although I might have over-thought it - just a little bit...

The Blind Side

2010-07-17T15:35:00.000-07:00

The Blind Side is a true story of a young kid in Memphis who rose to great heights in football largely due to the kind heart of a Leigh Anne Touhy who helped him when she saw someone who needed assistance. It's a sweet story and in many ways unbelievable. Most of us aren't lucky enough to know a person quite as open and kind. While the movie was successful in many ways I don't necessarily understand all the accolades it got this past year during award season. Sandra Bullock certainly stepped out of her comfort zone to be sure, but best performance of the year? I'm just not sure. As for the film as a whole, it's a phenomenal story - not necessarily an incredible movie. It is certainly worth the watch.

The Lovely Bones

2010-07-07T21:13:00.000-07:00

The Lovely Bones is an adaptation of a very popular book of the same name. Having not read the book I thought I might be in a better position to enjoy the movie, as general wisdom is - the book is always better. Sadly, the movie left me feeling a bit...bored, confused, and ready for bedtime.

The book came out in 2002 however I was reminded in so many ways of other stories I had recently experienced...that of the LOST television series and The Imaginirum of Dr. Parnassus.

I was with it for the first 20 minutes or so. I thoroughly enjoyed the pace, photography, style, and acting. Then it just lost me. To be fair, a story about a murdered child and a serial killer isn't really my cup of tea but I went in ready for anything and fully hoped I would find it engaging. Director Peter Jackson wowed us all tackling The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Perhaps my expectations were too high, not sure.

Sidebar: The main character of Susie is played by young Saoirse Ronan and if you haven't seen her in Atonement you are seriously missing out. She's phenomenal. At only 13 years old, she was nominated for oodles of awards for the role.

Eclipse

2010-07-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

Twi-hards. Thanks for reading this. Seriously. No one else is. Okay, best thing about the latest installment for Edward, Bella, and Jacob: the wolves - hands down. They were just as beautifully animated and just as believable characters as in New Moon. Worst thing? Probably the addition (or rather replacement) of a an actress. Our heroine Bella has been on the run from a certain pissed off vampire named Victoria for two movies now. This time around, with a bigger budget and more star-power the film's creators opted to switch out actress Rachelle Lefevre for a bigger name: Bryce Dallas Howard (yup, Opie's daughter). I have absolutely nothing against her but she was horrifically wrong for this role. It's like some moron said "hey, she's got bright red hair and she's famous...she's perfect". Fail.

Truthfully, the pacing was a bit off and the transitions lacked subtlety. There were silly close ups and odd cuts but still it was enjoyable escapist entertainment. Was anyone out there hoping for anything else? Overall the movie is pretty true to the book. It's the most slow paced of all the stories to be sure but we finally get to see Jacob make his stand. It's true teenage stuff...sweet, hormonal, dramatic.

patience will be rewarded

2010-07-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

movie friends. you are awesome. you are dedicated. YOU have been waiting for posts for months now. THIS is unacceptable...and this weekend, it all changes. expect not one, not two, but potentially three reviews and there will be more in the future. promise. ;)

Hodgepodge of Movies

2010-03-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

I know...bad blogger...fell behind - by an entire month! Inexcusable. Fast & furious. Go.

So here goes...

The Young Victoria - beautiful, really enjoyed it

Alice in Wonderland in 3D - loved and hated - toss up!

Pray the Devil Back to Hell - intense documentary about women standing together for peace in Liberia - really well done!

Margot at the Wedding - such a downer - couldn't even finish it

Gran Torino - took about an hour for me to get into...but it got better...still didn't love it

Gentleman Broncos - was excited to see this - it was weird - not in a good way

Everybody's Fine - sort of a throw away with a strong cast

Post Grad - silly and pointless

Ponyo - adorable and charming

Bollywood Hero - Chris Katan goes to India. 'Nuff said.

The Men Who Stare at Goats - took 3 watchings to get through, that's not a good thing right?

Broken Embraces - Pedro Almodovar. What happened dude? Completely boring and nonsensical

The Invention of Lying

2010-02-23T20:15:00.003-08:00

Umm, boring? How sad to say that. I love Jennifer Garner and Ricky Gervais. It was tough to get through though, not gonna lie. I think a good night of watching your latest DVR'ed showed would be much more entertaining. Wah. Wah.

Coco Before Chanel

2010-02-23T20:15:00.001-08:00

It appears I DO have a theme this month. Shoddy relationships and fashion. Well, do the Na'vi in "Avatar" have a sense of fashion? Yes, I guess they do.

Moving on. "Coco Before Chanel" is a biopic about the early days of French designer and icon "Coco". It's currently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design which is would rightly deserve if it wins. At times, there were almost snapshots from another beautiful fashionable film - "My Fair Lady". Overall, it was slow moving narrative but the film was gorgeous to look at.

Avatar IMAX 3D

2010-02-23T20:14:00.001-08:00

I am so far behind on these reviews it's not even funny. Call it laziness. Blame a new job. Hate on the super mild somewhat gorgeous winter we've been having in the Northwest. Whatever. I'm sorry. Anyway, just like those awesome animated bunnies who tell complete movie plots in 30 seconds or less (click here, you won't be disappointed)...here are my quick and easy - down and dirty latest 3 reviews.

Avatar. Avatar. Best picture of the year? Really? It bears repeating. Best picture of the year. Give me an effing break. I am not going to deny the impact and sheer beauty of the impressive visuals on display in this film but the story lacks any significant punch. It's almost an afterthought based on basic plot lines that aren't very engaging. The character development disappears after about the first hour or so...and yes - you still have two more hours to go after that. The movie is fun and entertaining to be sure but again...best picture of the year? You be the judge.

A Single Man

2010-02-14T16:51:00.000-08:00

"A Single Man" is based on a novel by Christopher Isherwood and it's easy to see how it would be a good read. As a film however it gets a bit too lethargic for my tastes with long drawn out editorial while the audience is supposed to be disappearing into the narrative. It's the directorial debut of fashion designer Tom Ford and it's clear that his style sensibility was front and center. The design of the film is positively exquisite. With the help of the team from the TV series "Mad Men" the style of 1960s is undeniably its own character in this film.

The most notable and clear standout of the film however is Colin Firth's Oscar nominated performance as George Falconer, a man mourning the loss of his partner. It's tragic and invites you to ache with him as he copes. While not the most uplifting movie it still provides an escape for the viewer as you are transported to another era to experience the painful journey along with Falconer.

The trailer is here.

Love Happens

2010-02-11T20:42:00.000-08:00

Not in this movie it doesn't. Okay, so I was going for a theme this month, obviously. It's officially over. This movie was TERRIBLE. Arg. What a waste of time. I knew better. But I did it anyway.

Margot at the Wedding

2010-02-09T13:01:00.000-08:00

umm, too depressing and boring. didn't even finish it.

New York, I Love You

2010-02-07T15:55:00.000-08:00

"New York, I Love You" is brought to us by the same producer of "Paris, Je T'aime". Like the Parisian love poem, it's also a collaborative film from notable directors, writers, and actors coming together to create short stories of love in The Big Apple. While it was enjoyable to be sure, the artistry and cinematic cleverness present in "Paris Je T'aime" is severely lacking.

Trailer is here.

Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself

2010-01-30T13:26:00.000-08:00

A little too much singing. And a little over the top drama. But "Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself" has at its core, a heart that steadily beats and keeps you watching. It certainly didn't inspire me to write much about it, but that's the beauty of a blog. I can write as little or as much as I want. Fin.

9

2010-01-30T13:25:00.000-08:00

Hmm. After finishing up "9", I must admit I felt like I'd seen it all before. Was that...the strange doll-headed mechanical spider creature from "Toy Story"? Splitting souls? Is this "Harry Potter"? Post-apocalyptic animation..."Wall-E"? What I hadn't seen was animation quite like this so that was a positive. But other than that, the story wasn't all that engaging and I was far from riveted. I wanted to like this film in fact I was really hoping to catch it while it was still in theaters. But in the end, I was left a bit empty.

The trailer is here.

Bright Star

2010-01-30T13:24:00.000-08:00

Directed by Jane Campion ("The Piano"), "Bright Star" chronicles the love affair between real life poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne. It took about 30 minutes for me to engage in this one (which I think is far too long). However once I did I found the two protagonists to be sweet and genuine in addition to their flair for the dramatic. The color palate was gorgeous and rich and was perfectly woven together through the costume design. The music I found fairly distracting which was frustrating. If I worked on a 5 star system (which generally, I don't)...I would likely give it 3 stars. Worth renting, likely on a grey, rainy evening.

Terminator Salvation

2010-01-25T19:36:00.000-08:00

Umm, horrible. Unfinishable. It's $#&(ing awful.

Nine

2010-01-12T09:32:00.001-08:00

Rob Marshall's film adaptation of the Broadway musical "Nine" leaves much to be desired. Well, I suppose there's actually plenty to desire - but it's missing a lot of key elements that would make for a great film. The most important one is, frankly - good music. Sure, the idea of it seems brilliant - a musical based on famous neo-realist Italian director Federico Fellini's "8 1/2"? Why not make a movie out of it? I'll tell you why not...because the trailer for this film was the best part about it (very good by the way if you haven't seen it - it features the only good song in the movie and it's wonderfully edited. You can see it here.).

Here's where I'm confused. The musical won 5 Tony awards. Really? For the music? Yes. It won for best score (which apparently includes both music and lyrics). Wow.

One of the standout efforts of this film adaptation is certainly the use of fantasy which emerged from Fellini's neo-realist period. The cast is the best money can buy: Sophia Loren, Nicole Kidman, Daniel Day-Lewis, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Marion Cotillard, and yes...Fergie. This makes me wonder...if a cast like this can't make a movie truly sing, it must not have been that great to begin with.

Sorry about this review being rather boring. I was rather uninspired and disappointed while viewing it.

The Fall

2010-01-11T08:44:00.000-08:00

"The Fall" seems to almost be a global mash-up of sorts - a dreamy tribute reflecting a true passion for films. Its storytelling convention reads as an homage to "The Wizard of Oz". Its visual artistry has roots in Chinese films like "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers" as well as "Pan's Labyrinth" from Mexico and hints of "Amelie" from France. Its sound design is almost magical akin to Akira Kurosawa's "Dreams". And its pacing and performance seems as though Spanish director Pedro Almodovar was in fact conducting at times. The director is from India - Tarsem Singh - the visionary behind another eye-popping film "The Cell". His career began in music videos and has now covered commercials and films as well. His work can be seen here. His artistic sensibility is very well-defined and his work is clearly artfully crafted. I'm looking forward to seeing more of his vision in cinema.

For every brushstroke of Tarsem's there was an equally talented co-pilot in director of photography Colin Watkinson. It's shocking that outside of commercial work his credits as the DP only include one other film and the TV show "Entourage". This man needs to be hired for more films - my goodness. The film looks like a fine art photographer wrapped it up in his arms and kissed it with light. It's simply beautiful to look at. The opening title sequence alone is positively stunning.

I will say the one thing that was lacking was a powerful and utterly engaging story. The art direction far surpassed the level of the narrative and it would have been a home run with a more intricately involved script. Hopefully that will be developed further in Tarsem's later work.

The trailer can be seen here.

Sherlock Holmes

2010-01-09T10:55:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm breaking with tradition and have decided to write about a movie before I've seen it. Crazy. I know. There is a reason though, promise. I feel with a movie with this much anticipation and expectation on my end, it's imperative to set up where I'm coming from beforehand - lest my opinion be taken less seriously (who out there actually takes my opinion seriously?). Back when director Guy Ritchie hit the US scene he completely wowed us with "Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch". Both films were fun, quick, clever and so...un-American and distinctly British. We loved the stories, the characters, the overall absurdity. Then...he made "Swept Away". Oh. My. God. What a travesty of a movie. Those of us who know what the man is capable of were pretty depressed about that. I mean really...what happened? There have been a couple drops in the pan since then but somewhere along the way, he got on board to direct "Sherlock Holmes" with the star power of Robert Downey, Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Holmes' right hand man - Watson. Now, Holmes is a classic detective character from literature adored by many. Ritchie, please don't muck this up. Also - can Downey, Jr pull off a true Brit? I'm expecting action, comedy, and cleverness - all the usual tricks. Hopes are high. Bring it on!

Post-movie:
Alright. That was fun. Really really really fun. It looked like a storybook illustration at times. It had subtle homages to Hitchcock's genius and Ritchie's own films. It delivered all the wit and quickness that I hoped it would. More than all of that, it was the natural progression of some of Ritchie's old bag of tricks: speed ramps/slo mo, whipping delivery of the lines, comradery, fantastic sound design, and most especially brilliant storytelling techniques - all taken to the next level. As in his early works, virtually everything is a puzzle, a mystery - just waiting to be discovered and unraveled - how appropriate for a film about a detective. Robert Downey, Jr is great as Holmes and together with Jude Law - it's double trouble. They make a great team.

Extract

2010-01-08T19:16:00.001-08:00

True story. I watched the movie "Extract" about 45 minutes after having 4 wisdom teeth removed (I heart irony). Thus, I slept through somewhere between 85-90% of this movie. I had high expectations - Mike Judge helmed...Jason Bateman starring...how could this be a snooze? Well, in the time I was awake - I think it fell a little flat.

It's Complicated

2010-01-03T13:54:00.000-08:00

Yes. Relationships are complicated. Divorces? So much more complicated. Deciding to have an affair with your ex? Oh my! What I love about director Nancy Meyers is that she doesn't shy away from mature romances (just like in "Something's Gotta Give", "What Women Want" and "The Parent Trap" remake) and she always manages to find comedy in things that we so often don't talk about (plastic surgery, divorce). No one else is telling these stories. No one else takes on the subject of age in such an honest and funny way. "It's Complicated" isn't the funniest film from 2009 (I would venture to give that honor to "The Hangover") but it's certainly going to make you laugh. With an all-star cast of Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin you know you're going to get your money's worth. Here's the trailer.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

2010-01-02T12:18:00.000-08:00

I should preface this review by saying I've always been a big fan of director Wes Anderson. With that in mind...I loved "Fantastic Mr. Fox". The movie is adapted from a 1970 children's book of the same name by Roald Dahl (you might be familiar with some of his other whimsical works, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach) . My viewing audience was a smidge too young to fully appreciate the nuances throughout the film but that's okay - the few adults in the theater did. Anderson's signature attention to detail is in full effect in this stop-action animated joy ride and as always the soundtrack is great. The quickly delivered lines and sharp sarcasm came so fast that I think it will take multiple viewings for me to get all the jokes. You can see the trailer here.

Taking Woodstock

2010-01-01T11:45:00.001-08:00

First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome to my first post of 2010! May this year bring wonderful things for you! I've been cleaning shop a little around here and hopefully, you'll like the changes. The biggest thing is that I hope you will comment! If you've seen any of these films and want to add your 2 cents, you are HIGHLY encouraged to do so!

With that out of the way, today's bit of cinematic fodder is "Taking Woodstock" brought to us by director Ang Lee. The film is based on a the memoir of Elliot Tiber and Tom Monte and centers on Elliot's community of Bethel, New York and the planning and implementation of the Woodstock Festival. Elliot Tiber is played by comedian, Demetri Martin and he is supported by a slew of first rate performers - most notably Imelda Staunton (as Elliot's forceful mother), Eugene Levy, Liev Schreiber, and Emile Hirsch.

The split screen style that Lee utilizes frequently gets old pretty fast and honestly, a movie about Woodstock should have more music in it, but overall - it was pretty enjoyable. The performances are great and the story is incredibly fascinating. Imagine for a moment that Woodstock hadn't happened. Sure, things would be the same, but would they? The event was transformative for an entire generation. Also of note, it's billed as a comedy-drama but really it's about 15% comedy and 85% drama - just so your expectations are in check.

Worth a watch. The trailer is here.

Invictus

2009-12-26T20:24:00.001-08:00

If you ever doubted that Morgan Freeman was quality (and why would you?) you must see him in "Invictus" as he takes on the the role of South Africa's courageous leader Nelson Mandela. The film chronicles the true story of South Africa's rugby team and its journey to the World Cup in 1995 while Mandela is faced with challenges of a feuding nation learning to embrace change. Director Clint Eastwood strikes the right chord with a solid script and by bringing together the talents of Matt Damon (as the team's captain) and Morgan Freeman. Oscar contender for sure.

Up in the Air

2009-12-21T17:25:00.000-08:00

Loved this film. Don't want to ruin it by saying too much. It's relevant, funny (and sad), and splendidly performed. Bravo. Go see it.

The trailer is here.

Medicine for Melancholy

2009-12-11T11:06:00.000-08:00

The aptly named "Medicine for Melancholy" is quiet, beautifully shot, and a conversation starter. The film follows a one-night-stand couple as they wander through the-day-after in a haze of silence and discussion centering on racial dynamics - specifically in the Bay Area. It's a meditative watch. The trailer is here.

Nothing Like the Holidays

2009-12-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

"Nothing Like the Holidays" is a holiday family drama featuring the talents of notable actors Alfred Molina, Debra Messing, and John Leguizamo. The plot centers around a Puerto Rican family in Chicago going through some emotional turmoil - a son back from serving in the Middle East, a daughter struggling to find work, another son unable to have children, and parents on the brink of divorce. It's sweet, funny, and sad all in a beautifully wrapped package (seriously, the cinematography made the icy shores of Lake Michigan look pretty, not an easy task). Trailer here.

Paper Heart

2009-12-04T13:51:00.000-08:00

Part documentary - part fiction - comedian Charlyne Yi examines what love is in "Paper Heart". She and her director, Nick travel the country in search of answers from everyday Americans - while none of the interviews yield earth-shattering revelations, the quest for the truth about love is sweetly made more complicated as Yi finds herself in a relationship with actor, Michael Cera. It's a quick watch and lighthearted fare made quirky by Yi's personality, Cera's bankable dry humor, and the fun fantasy sequences that are created with dolls and paper.

The trailer is here.

The Road

2009-12-03T15:52:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have the urge to be thoroughly depressed and disturbed for a couple hours? Yeah? Great! Then go see "The Road". It's just perfect for you!

"The Road" is an adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's book of the same name. Its focus is the post-Apocalyptic journey of a father (Viggo Mortensen) and son trying to survive when there is little left to subsist on and barely any humanity remaining in the world.

It's an extraordinarily well done film full of incredible tension and stillness. It just was very difficult to recover from and is certainly not for the fainthearted. Be sure to have a dose of happy ready for you on the other side.

The trailer is here.

Star Trek

2009-11-29T18:11:00.001-08:00

I have much love for the Star Trek series. My parents watched it all the time. We owned all the movies. I even watched The Next Generation and a tiny bit of Deep Space Nine. But eventually I lost interest and the nostalgia subsided, or so I thought. I don't think any director besides JJ Abrams could have gotten me interested in seeing this new crack at Star Trek. Because I already love virtually everything he touches I was able to set my skepticism at a revival of Star Trek aside and went into this with an open mind. It was a joy. Sheer delight. I was thoroughly entertained by the character back stories of all the Star Trek fixtures so many of us know and remember so vividly - particularly that of Spock. This film owes a lot to phenomenal casting, terrific writing, and of course Abrams himself, without whom, this movie wouldn't be nearly as engaging. He's a terrific storyteller and a lover of classic filmic conventions. He develops his characters and also gives into the viewer's lust for action with an exciting flare (literally, there were PILES of flares in this movie and the lighting was very reminiscent of films such as "The Wrath of Khan" and "The Search for Spock"). The extras are fun on the DVD and you get the sense that everyone involved really enjoyed themselves. You also learn that Abrams had many of the creatives involved who worked on the series/movies play roles in this production. Wise move, and it paid off. Finally, it is certainly of note that Abrams and his writers made a brilliant decision to include time travel as part of the storyline. Not only is it very common in earlier Trek stories but also by starting with the story at Kirk's birth and altering time, all our prior knowledge of the earlier stories becomes nullified thereby giving Abrams and his team a clean slate with a cast full of vibrant characters to play with indefinitely. Even if you aren't a Trekkie, there is still room for you in this sci-fi romp. Watch the film & live long and prosper.

New Moon

2009-11-22T12:53:00.000-08:00

Before you all roll your eyes. Yes, I'm reviewing "New Moon". Stop judging and shut up. In fact, if you really want to show me, just stop reading this.

Okay, so "New Moon" basically was 1000% better than "Twilight". I mean hyperbole aside, it was truly a much better movie. The sound design: excellent. The beautiful slo-mo/speed ramp fights and chases: magical. The dialogue: did the book proud. The acting: markedly improved from the first installment. I would even venture to say that some of it, surprisingly was good (Taylor Lautner). This all leads us to the obvious directorial shift to Chris Weitz (and likely, a heftier budget). Let's just say he gets teenagers and subtle sarcasm. It was truly a fun watch that did the story justice for Twilight series fans.

Yes Naysayers, guys' shirts were off a lot. If you read the book, that's how it is. Deal with it. And yes, it's teenage fantasy but who cares? It's not pretending to be anything else. The design of the wolves is gorgeous. They're very furry and also full of emotion - a difficult combo to achieve in CG land. Clearly, this is a big reason why Weitz was chosen as director - his previous experience with such creatures was in 2007's "The Golden Compass" which won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

Anyway, if you can stomach the love, heartbreak, and general teenage hormonal-ness...give it a watch!

2012

2009-11-15T15:37:00.001-08:00

Ah yes, the end of the world. Such a bright topic and a perfect way to spend a rainy weekend morning. I'm reminded of 1998/1999 when a rash of Y2K apocalyptic end of days movies took the scene. Ironically, "2012" situates itself as a throwback to classic 1970s disaster films. It's filled with every convention in the book however what it does visually is far from antiquated. It's breathtaking. Truly a must see on the big screen (hopefully without a small child crying from time to time, like in my theater), "2012" makes you want to run out an be a special effects artist, okay maybe it just made me want to, but nonetheless. It's incredible work. Plus, sorry but doesn't everyone secretly want to see Los Angeles fall off into the Pacific (hands in the air, come on...you know you want to)?

Director, Roland Emmerich's filmography largely focuses on the visually challenging: "Stargate" (a notable guilty pleasure of mine from my high school days), "Godzilla", "The Day After Tomorrow", "Independence Day" (sensing a theme here?) but to me his ability to build drama and tension was best executed through his film, "The Patriot" through more subtle avenues such as the quiet performance of Heath Ledger and the father-figure Mel Gibson. "2010" offers us a similar cast of characters to "Independence Day" each with their own moments in the spotlight but no one really stands out except for leads Oliver Platt and Chiwetel Ejiofor (don't ask me how to pronounce it, I have no idea - I just remembered him from being in "Love Actually"). Platt is solid and established and I expected him to control every scene he was in however Ejiofor may have catapulted himself to the next level with this performance. It screams charisma and it-factor.

A word of warning, this is a Columbia Pictures production. Sony advertising is ALL over this puppy. Vaio anyone?

The Ugly Truth

2009-11-13T20:02:00.000-08:00

Horrible horrible movie. Complete waste of 2 hours.

The Garden

2009-11-12T12:24:00.001-08:00

"The Garden" is an Academy Award nominated documentary chronicling the drama of South Central LA Farmers and their struggle to keep their community garden. It's a really engaging piece of filmmaking. This from a person who in general gets awfully bored during most documentaries. It's illuminating, upsetting, and inspiring. As someone who used to live in Los Angeles I was mostly intrigued by the racial investigation that this film lightly addresses as well. In a city as diverse as LA one would think that having a sense of pride in the community would be a relatively easy exercise but the disparity between the rich and the poor in that city is so dramatic and the racial divisions are so clearly defined that instead there's a quiet and passive violent bitterness simmering just below the surface as made evident by explosions such as the LA Riots in the early 1990s and illustrated dramatically in the film "Crash". These tensions are very real and incredibly legitimate. The city always seems perched on the edge of a knife. "The Garden" is one instance of many in which people strive for their piece of the LA community. It's a great watch. Rent it. Trailer here.

Valkyrie

2009-11-05T12:28:00.003-08:00

Tom Tom Tom. Cruise. Hmm. Well? It wasn't horrible. In fact, "Valkyrie" was good. It wasn't a great, amazing, incredible, or knock your socks off kind of film. What it was though, is solid. And for Cruise, solid is about as much as he could hope for these days. At the core, "Valkyrie" is doomed from the start, it was a failed mission and we all know how Hitler actually came to his end. So there's a bit of a flaw in having a suspenseful plot when you already know the outcome. However, there were some moments of believable tension and most notably some beautiful Hitchcockian photography during exterior scenes. Director Bryan Singer ("Usual Suspects", "X-Men") does a thorough job of making you root for these rebels (How can you not? They're trying to take out Hitler) however as someone pointed out...when all your characters are Nazi soldiers, there's little room for character development - they're not allowed to have any. Worth a rental but don't get your hopes up too high.

The Big Heat

2009-11-05T12:28:00.001-08:00

"The Big Heat" is a 1953 classic brought to us by Fritz Lang, mastermind behind such early film-school staples "M" and "Metropolis". "The Big Heat" is simplistic enough...cop gets caught up with a case laced with the mob's handiwork...naturally, the mob is in with the top officials so how's a good guy to win? I'll tell ya...with the help of a floozie with revenge in her heart. It's good stuff. I recommend on a dark night with a good thunderstorm. It's not at all scary...just would be aided by the appropriate mood.

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-10-31T14:21:00.001-07:00

I feel like I've lost the need to write. It might be the current state of things but somehow I feel it's the films themselves that are leaving me so...blah. "Where the Wild Things Are" was neither here nor there. Honestly, I liked it...but I was far from loving it. The cinematography was lovely. Magic hour overuse? Perhaps. But hey, they don't call it magic for nothing. While I did love Max's real-life antics and his energy that leaps off the screen, I think in general go with the book on this one. The rumpus is a bit more endearing on paper.

What Just Happened

2009-10-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

If you have any inclination to know what really goes on in Tinsel Town, "What Just Happened" is a good primer. It's not the most interesting, moving, engaging film but it certainly gives an accurate portrayal of life in Hollywood - specifically the life of a movie producer, played by Robert DeNiro. The film boasts an all-star cast as well as seasoned director in Barry Levinson, however it lacks the style and panache that make a story come to life. The blueprints are there, it just didn't get built with enough care.

Lady for a Day

2009-10-25T11:37:00.002-07:00

What can I say? Frank Capra. The man was a damn good director. He might be best remembered for "It's a Wonderful Life" however the guy made some fantastic flicks besides that. Today's fun fact, Capra was born in 1897 in Sicily, Italy and he lived to 96 years old (thank you IMDB).

Moving on, "Lady for a Day" came out in 1933 and wow, things were different in Hollywood back then. What a sweet and funny film. I adore the sass in the writing and the bite in the delivery. Lines like: "if I had a choice of weapons for you Sir, I'd choose grammar". Come on! Writing today pales in comparison. In fact, there's barely a point in making a comparison. It's kind of embarrassing that we let Hollywood get away with what they shovel at us sometimes. "Lady for a Day" was nominated for 4 Oscars. It tells the somewhat rags to riches story of little peddler, Apple Annie who gets transformed into a woman of high society by a local NY gangster because he has a good heart. The storyline alone is worth watching but honestly, within about 20 minutes you're hooked. The writing and performances are just spot on. Capra's talent was soon showed off even more the next year with one of my personal favorites: "It Happened One Night" which ran away with 5 Oscar wins.

Honestly, moviemaking from the big guns of early Hollywood is stellar and well worth your time.

Year One

2009-10-25T11:37:00.001-07:00

This film doesn't deserve a review. It's that bad.

Love in the Afternoon

2009-10-19T20:19:00.000-07:00

"Love in the Afternoon" is a classic: Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper. Audrey plays a young cellist in Paris living with her private detective dad and Gary Cooper plays a billionaire playboy who steals the young gal's affections. Honestly, the movie was too long. I love old movies and I love Audrey but this one dragged. It's good with some wine on a rainy night but really, if you're in the mood for classic Audrey...rent "Charade" or "Roman Holiday". Aww l'amour. C'est magnifique!

The Proposal

2009-10-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

Brainless. Funny. Good rental on a random Friday night. It's all I've got. Sorry readers, tough day.

Flirting with Disaster

2009-10-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

Ahh, 1996. I have no recollection of "Flirting with Disaster" coming out into theaters. It's all for the best anyway, I don't think my college-freshman-self would have appreciated its hilarity. The film stars Ben Stiller (very pre-"Zoolander") as Mel - a man on a mission to find his birth-parents. The cast is stellar and the characters are completely absurd. There's a slow start but once the journey begins it's a fast roller coaster named Ridiculously Funny. The film is aptly named and worth a re-visit - or first time visit in my case.

Whip It

2009-10-10T15:47:00.000-07:00

Drew Barrymore's directorial debut is a ruckus romp through roller derby in the great state of Texas. It stars Ellen Page as Bliss, a teenager full of her mother's pressures and lack of her own ambition. Everything changes when Bliss is introduced to the world of roller derby.

It's an understatement to say that there is star-power in this movie. There are lots of A-listers & almost A-listers who as an ensemble simply rock the film.

- Ali Shawkat (hello??? Maeby from "Arrested Development"???)
- Marcia Gay Harden (glorious in every role she is in - NAILS the role of Bliss' mom)
- Jimmy Fallon & Kristen Wigg (SNL staples)
- Juliette Lewis (are you kidding? perfect bad girl)
- Andrew Wilson (largely unknown but stellar Wilson Brother)
- Eve (yeah, the rapper...who's that girl...na na na na na na na na)
- Ari Graynor (this chick has something...everything I see her in, she's perfect at - well, except for the sister on "Fringe" - boo Ari, I think you should beg for another show...that one doesn't suit you)
- Daniel Stern (Marv from "Home Alone" - yeah, he's the perfect dad)
- Drew Barrymore (last but not least - she's a heavy hitter in this one - literally)

Anyway, go check it out. It's bound to make you cringe, smile, and wanna go out and skate...maybe knock over a couple people too - for fun. :)

See the trailer here...then go to the theater and as the coach says "go getcha some".

Away We Go

2009-10-09T08:57:00.001-07:00

"Away We Go" is a sweet road trip tale of expecting parents Burt (John Krasinski) and Verona (Maya Rudolf). It follows their quest to find a new home for their family. Along the way director Sam Mendes introduces us to a plethora of family dynamics each full of remarkable and unremarkable characters. As the young couple wrestles with how their yet-to-be-tested parenting skills will pan out they are simultaneously being faced with past demons. I thought it was a quiet and surprisingly funny journey.

Paris 36

2009-10-06T09:29:00.001-07:00

"Paris 36" is a reminder of "Moulin Rouge" and "Amelie" but not nearly as spectacular spectacular. It tells the story of an old music hall in Paris and the artists who tried to keep it afloat during the 1930s. It's desperately lacking pizazz, flair, and star quality. What it does have is gorgeous set design, costuming, and cinematography. Sadly though, it drags through the exposition until you are just ready for it to be over with - just like this review. C'est ca.

Rudo y Cursi

2009-10-05T10:22:00.000-07:00

Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal star as brothers who play on rival soccer teams in Mexico. I'm sorry, do I really need to say any more? Fine then. I will. Directed & written by...Carlos Cuaron. Yes, that's Alfanso's brother. "Rudo y Cursi" is a rumpus affair full of brotherly love and family turmoil.
The trailer is here.

State of Play

2009-10-04T10:31:00.001-07:00

Hello Readers! It has been a while. Let's just say I went from having no "spare" time to way too much time to spare in a very quick twist of fate. What does this mean for you? Movies. More of them and in greater frequency.

To start things off (albeit rather lamely), we have "State of Play". Based on a British mini-series from 2003, the film is a political thriller set in Washington DC. It chronicles the story of two Washington Globe writers, Cal & Della (played by Russell Crowe and Rachel McAdams respectively) as they struggle to unravel a corporate conspiracy and a political scandal with Cal's old college roommate and current Congressman Stephen Collins (played by Ben Affleck).

Honestly, the movie isn't that great. I probably won't remember any of the plot by tomorrow morning. However, what "State of Play" does have going for it is a certain reflection upon a small slice of history. Newspapers are a dying endangered species. The film is quietly an homage to reporting and the power of the press. In its closing credits we follow the word on its journey all the way through print through delivery. It's sad and beautiful. Someday soon, it might all be over.

The Hangover

2009-08-31T13:20:00.000-07:00

Intelligent comedy is quite possibly one of my favorite genres yet something I rarely seem to find. Typically, there's...
* potty humor favored by 3rd grade boys (and all boys for that matter - sorry to generalize but c'mon mates - it's true)
* romantic comedies (which guys don't go to unless they're dragged, begged, pleaded with)
* black comedy (ala Coen Bros...there's always that fine line...should I be laughing at this?)
* slapstick (has its time and place, can't say I could have managed without "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" and classics like Chaplin)

Then...there's the ever-elusive/ever-satisfying witty & clever comedy. Guess what? Much to my utter surprise - The Hangover is just such a discovery. It's super funny. On paper...I was set up for the usual potty humor antics and I was, to be fair - as a female viewer - a bit uninterested...I knew the following pieces of the equation:
Vegas (gross)
Bachelor party weekend (grosser)
Hangover (bodily noises on the horizon)

What does The Hangover actually offer? Hilarity & sharp writing. Fantastic characters played by a terrific troupe of actors. And for once, Heather Graham was bearable, don't worry guys - she still shows a little. Our story takes place over the course of a couple days. Our future groom, the bride's brother, and two compadres take off to Vegas for one last hurrah. Chaos ensues. Simple - but yet somehow not as conventional as you would think. The script is truly biting and the punchlines outshine each other as each one is delivered. It's as ridiculous as it is worst case scenario-handbook. You never know what will be revealed next and it just keeps getting better and better. Certainly worth a rental and even worth checking it out in the theater while it's still out.

Inglourious Basterds

2009-08-23T23:30:00.000-07:00

Quentin Tarantino and I have had a curious relationship for well over a decade now. He makes his films, and I find ways to pick at them. I always seem to fluctuate somewhere between love and hate (just like Coen Brothers films)...and afterwards, I whine and complain about the tiniest of things until I suddenly hate the film. It's silly really because mostly, I really like his films. Mostly, I think he's a downright brilliant filmmaker. But sometimes I let my idea of Quentin Tarantino interfere with the real auteur and I'm left practically in tears at the piece of almost cinematic perfection he has just created. My take on "Inglorious Basterds" certainly carries with it many of the same nit picky opinions as our other escapades. It's difficult to just turn that sort of thing off (I've tried). But what this film somehow managed to do in ooooo about 2 1/2 hours is totally win me over. This time around, the genius totally outweighed all my criticisms and for once (okay, twice...no three times) I can truly say, I loved this Tarantino movie.

Typical Tarantino goriness aside, the script is perhaps his most spectacular - spinning a complex web while simultaneously keeping the story simple enough to follow and really dive into. The dialogue I would venture to say is his finest. And that's saying something, his films are some of the most quotable out there. The cast of characters (and the stellar actors embodying them) is a veritable cacophony of circus-like extremes always standing on the precipice between serious drama and hilarity. In fact, I wasn't really sure at times if I was supposed to laugh or not - after all it takes place during WWII in Europe. And then...there's the tension. I felt it, no really...truly...felt it. My body temp rose, I felt heat emanating from my chest and boom...heartbeat quickening - total immersion. Again, brilliance.

The inglorious basterds are an American renegade special ops group led by Brad Pitt. They team up with Brits and take on a special mission to take down some of the highest Nazi officials. Unbeknown to them, another similar operation is already underway. The roulette begins. There are two real standouts from my perspective.
1) There is a bar standoff reminiscent of the Tony Scott-helmed, Tarantino-written gem "True Romance" that is simply perfection.
2) Christoph Waltz. Our main villain. Oh my goodness. Words can't even express the phenomenal performance that he gives. It's...yeah, I just don't have words for it.

After the film, the usual post mortem takes place..."did you like it?" "it was so gross" "I had to cover my eyes" But this time there is so much more to discuss. There is much banter about the psychological prowess that Tarantino possesses. He knows how to really stir up his audience - not with cheap tricks and fake blood buckets (although, he does often pull that out of his arsenal)...but from honest to goodness old school filmmaking techniques. The man has studied, watched, and incorporated so much into his work. You can't help but feel his love of cinema in this film - through every homage, each scene, even the credits. Hell, the cinema is at the center of the plot!

The trailer is here. Check it for sure in the theater, well worth it.

District 9

2009-08-17T22:35:00.001-07:00

So what do you do, if you're slated to direct the upcoming "Halo" movie and the studios yank the rug out from under you? Quite simple, you run off to South Africa with Peter Jackson and make your own movie...with aliens...that are called Prawns. Yup, shrimp-like dudes with cool weaponry.

Basically, a monster-sized alien ship has parked itself right on top of the city of Johanessburg. The aliens are rounded up into District 9, a slum regulated by the weapons-maker, Multi-National United. Sounds like the perfect storm right? It is. Expect splats, ewws, and farm animal carcasses. Not going to say much more so I don't ruin it, just go check it out.

The trailer is here.

The Time Traveler's Wife

2009-08-16T20:56:00.000-07:00

Expectations can sometimes get the best of us. Take for example Season 2 of "Flight of the Conchords"...funny? Yes. Season 1 caliber? Not so fast! Maybe that was unfair. Comparing "The Time Traveler's Wife" to "Flight of the Conchords" in any capacity is severely inaccurate. It's not anywhere close to the same level of storytelling. Not that I expected it to be "Flight of the Conchords". Oh man, this is getting so far off track. Sorry, just started up Season 2 of FOTC last week.

Okay, here is the deal "The Time Traveler's Wife" was actually boring. Boo, I know. I was expecting some romantic cheesy love-fest that was going to have me balling about 3o minutes into it. Sadly, there were no tears. In fact, other than the occasional "wow, Rachel McAdams really is very pretty and Eric Bana is a handsome devil even with a terrible haircut" my brain didn't invest too much throughout the entire film - and my emotional reaction was decidedly lackluster, which is pretty tough to do. I cry at everything. Skip this in the theater and rent it when you've got a rainy afternoon with nothing to do.

Tomorrow, something with a bit more pizazz. Can't wait.

I Love You Man

2009-08-15T19:34:00.000-07:00

Here's to the nice guy. Poor Peter (Paul Rudd). He's the ultimate boyfriend - he's perpetually and totally in touch with his feminine side. So naturally, like all girlfriends Zooey (Rashida Jones) has to find something "wrong" with her perfect situation. What's the trouble? Peter doesn't spend time with or even have any guy friends. You know, to drink beer with, rock out with, and otherwise be manly with. When Peter does meet that bud Sydney (Jason Segel), there is, as expected backlash from Zooey. There is no groundbreaking filmmaking here but it's fun, silly, and easy to relate to. Good rental fare with pizza and your pals.

Julie & Julia

2009-08-09T16:40:00.000-07:00

Fair warning dear readers: the only humanly possible way to get through "Julie & Julia" comfortably is to eat a HUGE delicious meal beforehand. Otherwise, you'll be destined to be daydreaming of buttery enchantments throughout the entire film - which of course isn't a bad thing, but you'll be missing out on all the rest of the good stuff while you're busy drooling down your shirt.

Part biopic...part comedy...part...okay okay our story...Julia Child as we know was a phenomenal cook and she was responsible for bringing French cooking into American households. This film reveals how Julia turns her love of food into something bigger. We are also introduced to New Yorker Julie Powell...a gal stuck in a rut with a penchant for cooking. To mix up her life as she approaches 30, Julie takes it upon herself to write a blog about cooking her way through Julia Child's cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. The narrative skips lightly back and forth in time following Julia's entry into the world of French cooking while simultaneously revealing more of Julie's life and the challenges she faces while trying to tackle Julia's recipes. The film is marvelous and the performances are every bit as delectable as the food.

Meryl Streep embodies Mrs. Child with unrelenting poise and hilarity. I've generally been impressed with her performances in the past. Heck, the woman has been performing strong for over 30 years but I truly believe she's just starting to hit her stride. Her most recent choices have really shown off her dynamic range - particularly her amazing comedic timing. Julie Powell is played by Amy Adams who continues to surprise and impress me with her lovable gentle performances. She can make me cry in about a second and then in the next moment, I'm laughing. Julia Child's wonderful husband is played by the ever-dapper, always wry Stanley Tucci. And Powell's husband is played by Chris Messina with all the humor you would imagine the real Julie's husband would have to have to survive a year of this gastronomical roller coaster of an adventure.

"Julie & Julia" is a delightfully splendid culinary & cinematic treat! So much so, I ran to the store right after it was over. What's for dinner you ask? I'll tell you this much, it's got butter - and lots of it.

The trailer for "Julie & Julia" is here.

Kicking It

2009-07-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

"Kicking It" is a documentary about the Homeless World Cup. It chronicles the story of several homeless street soccer teams from all around the world and their journey to the cup in South Africa. It's an wonderful piece of filmmaking that will inevitably pull at your heart strings. What's amazing to me is how differently the competitors from around the world view their goals at the tournament and also their perspectives on homelessness. Heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time, the people featured in this film have been through a great deal and their tales are worthy of your time.

Rent it today.
Trailer here: http://kickingitthefilm.com/

(500) Days of Summer

2009-07-26T13:09:00.000-07:00

Like so many others before me, I have loved and lost. Relationships in the 21st Century are more than messy, sometimes they seem downright impossible to maintain and if they fall apart it seems they are increasingly harder to recover from with social networking and all the other forms of communication we've become so accustomed to. Why do our relationships last and why do they end? Can you get someone back? What if there is no such thing as love? Is there no end to this line of questioning?

If we're being supremely general, there are cynics and there are dreamers. "(500) Days of Summer" introduces us to one such cynic and dreamer. Young Tom is our dreamer. He's played by a man who appears to have a thing for numbers, Joseph Gordon-Levitt ("10 Things I Hate About You", "3rd Rock from the Sun", "Numb3rs"). Our cynic is Summer, the always lovely and adorable Zooey Deschanel. Who wouldn't fall for either one of these actors or characters? I mean really, they couldn't be any cuter if they tried.

The film is a wonderful tale of love, loss, pain, and exuberance. As the days go by and jump around you feel as though your own memories are flashing before you. If I'm being 100% truthful, my reaction to this film is biased. Very biased. "(500) Days o Summer" is the kind of film I entered film school aspiring to make (well, that and something along the lines of "Jurassic Park"). My little student film was all about a poor guy who couldn't seem to figure women out, let alone get a grip on his own issues. I think I adored this movie with that bias in mind. Surely, average Joe (or Jill) will find it charming as well though. It's a perfect portrait of boy meets girl.

Check out the trailer:
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/500daysofsummer/

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

2009-07-19T15:01:00.001-07:00

As much as I wanted to flaunt my nerd-dom and stand in line wearing a cape last Tuesday night at midnight...the professional more serious me took hold and decided it was worth the wait & better for my sleep patterns to see it over the weekend in a more peaceful, civil environment. Cue, a Sunday matinee...the crowd spans vast age ranges...the smell of popcorn wafts throughout the theater...and the groups of friends and families that have flocked to this particular movie can barely contain themselves. Knowing what is to come (spoiler alert), I am upset that I have forgotten to bring Kleenex. My reaction to JK Rowling's book 6 is fresh on my mind. I read it a few years ago but the memory remains strong. Will the movie deliver the same intensity of emotion? I wonder.

For the record, I'm still ticked off at Warner Bros. The film was supposed to release last fall but the studio deemed that it would be a better fit for their 2009 lineup. Their reasoning? They had already made plenty of money. GOOD FOR YOU WARNER BROS. So instead you tease, taunt, and otherwise piss off tens of thousands of Harry Potter fanatics, such as myself. Why not? You know we'll still come to the movie. We won't boycott it. I think you're just mean-spirited. You released trailers. You had it on the Fall Movie Preview edition of Entertainment Weekly. You had us primed and ready for magic 8 MONTHS AGO. So I suppose I have you to thank for delving into Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight" series. I'll be sure to take my money over to Summit Entertainment when "New Moon" comes out. Yeah, I'm still mad at you WB. It's unconscionable that you would do that to your fans. And while I'm at it - you should have trusted that your audience can handle and appreciate the glorious and artistic eye of director of photography, Bruno Delbonnel (who's responsible for crafting the look of eye-candy gems like "Across the Universe", "Amelie", and "Paris Je T'aime"). But NOOOOO, you had to tinker with his work too and "re-treat" the footage to make it more pleasing to broader audiences (by that you mean, water it down).

Well, I have news for you, nothing you studio execs could do to Delbonnel's footage would have mucked it up. "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" is GORGEOUS...make that STUNNING! Cinematography is always an essential component to any good film but in this case with a story so chalk full of activity, it is largely responsible for setting the appropriate atmosphere as each scene unfolds. One minute you're moody and a bit sad, then you're having a good laugh, and then perhaps being creeped out a bit, and then all of the sudden you're on the edge of your seat...Delbonnel's work did a great deal of that mood-setting legwork. He in turn was bolstered by some incredible special effects and art direction. Everything was just top notch! And I haven't even started talking about the performances yet!!

In the same endearing way that the books mature and become more complex as they progress so too have the films, and now they have taken us on an incredible journey in their own right. Beloved characters Harry, Hermoine, and Ron are almost all grown up and their interests and focus have matured alongside them. The acting by our three heroes is first-rate. All those years of working with so many of Britain's top thespians has paid off in full. They've really come far and can evoke so much emotional range, front and center in this film is their comedic timing.

Overall, I thought the film was outstanding...and I don't just mean as it exists in the Harry Potter collection. Yes, I do think it's the best effort of the bunch to date but honestly, it's a terrific film on its own. It's a well-crafted, beautifully executed, great piece of filmmaking. And now, broken into two films, the final chapter awaits us to complete the film story of Harry Potter.

Two Lovers

2009-07-18T21:26:00.000-07:00

Drama. Drama. Drama. When I saw the trailer for "Two Lovers" it seemed over the top. I thought perhaps it was the studio's way of making the plot more interesting than it really was. Nope, the film is just as melodramatic as the trailer, and then some. It's moody, a tad depressing, and surprisingly a bit boring. The performances weren't bad but the story didn't seem to have enough depth in the characters for the actors to latch onto. I give it a passing grade but I wouldn't go out of your way to see this. If you want to get a taste...view the trailer here.