Invictus

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

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

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

"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

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

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

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

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

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

Horrible horrible movie. Complete waste of 2 hours.

The Garden

"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

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

"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

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

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

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

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

Love in the Afternoon

"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

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

Flirting with Disaster

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

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

"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

"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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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

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

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

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.

Up: 3D

Pixar doesn't make mistakes. Some of the most memorable, quotable, lovable characters in recent cinema history have come from Pixar movies. The company prides itself on storytelling (the foundation of what would eventually become Walt Disney's empire and legacy) and clearly pours heaping spoonfulls of love into their artistry and character development. I'm never disappointed and I never know exactly what to expect. "Up" is a quieter more serious Pixar creation. It's main protagonist is an older gentleman and like "The Incredibles" and "Wall-E" the film's themes are very adult. Yet somehow, the appeal to children is still there. Our hero's sidekick is a sprightly young Boy Scout-ish little tyke who will stop at nothing until he has performed his duties. The film is gloriously beautiful in 3D with colors literally popping off of the screen.

"Up" seems to rely on recent pop culture references more directly than its predecessors, which was my only complaint. Looking at Pixar's complete body of work, postmodernism is either at the forefront of the tale ("Toy Story") or it's subtly sprinkled as a bonus for the more savvy viewer ("Finding Nemo"). Instead in "Up" there are strange homages to "Star Wars" and other films that seem like gags that won't hold up over time.

All in all, "Up" is a lovely treat and I highly recommend seeing it in 3D if it's playing in your area. "Partly Cloudy", the short that opens the film is a gem as well.

He's Just Not That Into You

It's chick movie month!!! Yay! Sorry folks. Looks like you have to endure another review about girlish things. I tried to get through a serious one last week ("Guantanamera") but alas, I could only make it through about an hour and a half. "He's Just Not That Into You" is about the lies we ladies tell ourselves and the crap we put ourselves through emotionally - all because of men. Mars. Venus. All true. We don't speak the same language and the key to sexual freedom? Learn to speak and process the other's language. Break the code.

I must say, the cast was pretty slick. I enjoyed seeing so many A-listers in an ensemble film. There was something refreshing about the tone of the script - there was angst, honesty, and so much hilarity. When you're not in the midst of it, stepping out of one's love life and looking in is a funny scenario...because 9 times out of 10, it's ridiculous - full of farce and likely based on a series of lies we're telling ourselves. Thanks to this movie (and the book it was adapted from) we can sort of go there - gingerly - but go there. This isn't a groundbreaking, earth-shattering, melt your face off kind of film but it will probably make you laugh and remember that one time when...

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Time for your tasty dose of chick-lit turned cheesy movie. Pour your bubble gum pink cosmo skillfully into a chilled martini glass. Check. Slip into those leopard print stilettos. Check. Be sure your lips are just the slightest bit glossy. Check. Good, now you're ready.*

Moving on to the subject of guilt, here's a confession from me, more often than not, I happen to enjoy such girl-power exploits...Bridget Jones is actually a favorite comedic character of mine...but here's the thing - so is Rebecca Bloomwood - the British heroine of the Shopaholic book series. I have to say, it was a monstrous mistake to swap out her nationality to this side of the pond. In much the same way as Bridget...a great deal of the genius of Becky's character is her dry, sassy, Britishness!!! Why on earth would you want to get rid of that? And I'm sorry, but subbing NYC for London & the English countryside is just plain rotten. While NYC has glam, London has so much more history to pull from which is a part of joy of Becky's trials. There's an irreverence to her that is fully played against the stuffy old English stereotype that is perfection. Plus, in the 2nd book in the series...Becky actually heads to NYC providing ample comedic fodder as cultural clashings run rampant. Maybe the film's producers are not going to make a sequel...although it seems like the obvious next step - as there are 5 books and a huge following of bright-eyed readers. Whatever, you've fouled up a good thing. I mean it.

While I'm ranting I have to express my utter horror at the sight of mannequins that came to life at several points throughout the film, coaxing our dear lady into fashion frenzies. It was highly disturbing and not a magical touch. This isn't Harry Potter. This isn't Pan's Labyrinth. Let's keep it based in some sense of reality, shall we?

If my heart is a little broken about this, it's only because I was truly invested. I actually once fantasized about making a TV series out of this character. I think she's marvelously hilarious. Isla Fisher (bless her for putting up with fiance Sacha Baron Cohen day in and day out) tries to encapsulate Becky but sadly, I think the script took all the best, sweetest, funniest aspects of her character out of the picture. In the books, she's a compulsive liar. It's 100% out of control and hilarious to see all the many ways she can come up with to hide her shopping addiction. She's incessantly justifying her purchases in ways one would never think possible and it's positively classic...and for so many women - they can relate. It takes a simple "oh, I gave in and bought a pair of shoes I couldn't afford" to a whole new level. The film does so little to play up the absurdity. I think I only had two genuine moments of laughter. That's not acceptable. This character is rife with humor. They failed miserably. I'm outta cosmo now. Needed every last drop to get through this review. I think I'll go watch "Lipstick Jungle" on DVD.

*If you have actually done any of these things, I salute you - you're a true fan of this blog.

Marley & Me

If you don't like dogs do not - repeat - do not bother with this movie. All the things the dog does that are supposed to make you swoon and have a good chuckle about will just remind you why you don't want a dog in the first place. There's a total lack of character development and a helluva lot of nothing going on for almost 2 solid hours. I'm not just giving this movie a less than stellar review because the entire thing is about a yellow lab. I LOVED Benji. There was actual storytelling in that movie and it was all about the little fur-ball. "Marley & Me" is a complete bore...unless of course, you're a total dog-lover...then you've at least got something to giggle at and connect with - a furry, troublesome, licky, yellow blur.

Dog movies worth your time:
the aforementioned Benji
Best in Show
101 Dalmatians (both the animated and live action versions)
Father of the Bride I & II (okay, it's not about dogs, but dogs are funny in it)
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (many animals make special appearances)
Lady and the Tramp
White Fang
Old Yeller
All Dog's Go to Heaven
The Shaggy Dog
Iron Will
Homeward Bound

See? I'm not a dog hater! I just find storytelling to be necessary in cinema. I know, it's a crazy concept.

Wendy and Lucy

Well kids, here it is - brutal and honest admission: I refuse to pretend to like an "arty" or "indie" film just because it sounds somehow intelligent to praise it. Furthermore, I get just as irked when others do it. Maybe I'm dumb and I am just not getting it. Maybe, studying film for 6 years was a complete waste of time. Maybe my ideas of what makes a good film are completely different from what "real" critics determine the criteria should be. But what I know is this...a piece of canvas painted black on a wall is just that and a movie that bores me to tears is lacking something. I can appreciate a calm, quiet, introspective piece but sadly "Wendy and Lucy" is a snore. There is little I can say about it other than I was happy when it was over.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Insert dreamy waves and wiggles...

Hi Mr. Jackman. You have lovely chops going on at the moment and my, you're buff. No, no, you're not intruding at all. What's that? I'm supposed to be reviewing your movie? Oh. Well yes, that's a little bit of a disappointment but hey, I'm a professional. So in that case, I've got a couple questions for you. And yes, I'd be happy to pour you a glass of wine...or 12.

1) James/Jimmy transitions to Logan. When did that happen? Totally noticed the back and forth when it came to names but there was NO explanation - I had to do thorough research on Wikipedia to discover that Logan was your real Pop's last name
2) Why all the confusion with 2 different actors playing Wade/XI? This was confusing as hell (more wine?). In fact, I wasn't even convinced of it until IMDB told me so.
3) Speaking of Wade...is Ryan Reynolds that funny in "real" life? He seems like he would be, after all - he is Canadian, AND he starred in one of the most classic and underrated Nickelodeon programs of the early 1990s - "Fifteen". That says a lot if you ask me. He and Scarlett are cute together aren't they? What? Oh yeah, the movie.
4) I have to say I feel bad for Scott...you know Cyclops. He's not really all that cool of a character - even in this early appearance. What's up with that?
5) Jean Grey is way cooler than the Silverfox gal. I mean, she's pretty and all but c'mon - the story about the moon?
6) Finally, where was all the amazing action? Besides the first fight with the Stryker team...there wasn't a hell of a lot going on as far as mutant mayhem. To date, as far as X-Men action sequences go, I have yet to see one that tops the intensity and sheer coolness factor of Nightcrawler's arrival in the opening of "X-2". That was stellar filmmaking that was well worth the effort to see it in a theater. The choreography & stuntwork of the fight! The editorial! VFX! Performances! Camera work! Music?! It was all going full throttle with phenomenal pacing. "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" needed more of that kind of brilliance. Watch here:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/13013/x2-x-men-united-nightcrawler-warns-the-president

Now that you've heard me out Mr. Jackman let me just state for the record, I did enjoy your film. I really did. I didn't love it by a long shot but I was entertained. However, if you feel you need to stay for another bottle or two of wine to walk me through all the plotlines and character arcs so that I will perhaps think more favorably about it, I'm fine with that.

The Soloist

"The Soloist" screams Fall release. Why it has been set loose on audiences late April is utterly beyond me. It's a sobering movie that demands respect from the viewer. Releasing it just prior to the summer VFX, blow 'em up, box office monsters seems odd and misplaced and will surely result in low low numbers. It's not an Oscar contender and it's certainly not a dud that you casually throw out in early Spring. It's simply: serious...and serious deserves a viable platform. Bad move studio moguls. Really bad move. You're going to lose money on two very bankable stars who are telling an incredible true-life story of struggle, difficult choices, and hope. These themes ring especially true during these times to be sure but it's just a shame that the film won't get the chance to gather steam.

"The Soloist" is brought to us by director Joe Wright whose only real claim to fame is directing last year's sweeping drama, "Atonement" (a film with has arguably one of the best first acts of any story I've ever seen). Wright nails the tone needed to convey the struggle of musician Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless man haunted by Schizophrenia.

"State of Play" and "The Soloist" might end up being the only cinematic representations of the change in the tides we're currently in the midst of: the death of the newspaper. In subtle ways, "The Soloist" points out the importance of reporters to dig deeper and be involved. Homelessness & mental illness are at the forefront of this specific story but there are obviously so many other social issues that need caring people with investigative minds to bring to the public's attention. Who will carry that torch?

Yes Man

Dear Mr. Jim Carrey,
It has been a long time since I have seen one of your films. Sufficed to say when I was in high school I saw "Ace Ventura" 3 (count 'em 3) times in the theater. "Dumb and Dumber"? I was there. "Liar Liar"? There. "Truman Show"? Yup. I was even there for "The Mask", "Cable Guy", "Me, Myself, and Irene", and "Batman Forever" (you were the ONLY good thing about that film btw). I saw your turn as Andy Kaufman and I loved you in "Eternal Sunshine". The Grinch bored me a little but you were creepy in it, congrats. "Bruce Almighty" was surprisingly cute. And your performance as Count Olaf in "A Series of Unfortunate Events" (what happened to those?) was stellar. Did I mention I even saw "Fun with Dick and Jane"? So why then...with all this history between us, did I have pretty much zero interest in "Yes Man"? Not enough marketing (cough cough "Horton Hears a Who!")? Zooey Deschanel, your love interest in the film? I adore her. She's awesome. Your compadre Bradley Cooper? Are you kidding? He's Will from ALIAS! He's great. Maybe it's your boss Rhys Darby? Not a chance in hell, he's Murray from my beloved Flight of the Chonchords. Crazy sidekick John Michael Higgins? He's HILARIOUS.

So what is it? What I'm getting at, poorly, is that you should choose more wisely. You're at a critical point in your career. It could be over or you could (gasp, not that word, don't say it) REINVENT yourself and smash audience expectation. Don't go the way of a slew of comedians before you who decide that they'd rather settle on sap for a paycheck rather than intelligent storytelling. On paper "Yes Man" should be funny, I would venture to say side-splittingly so...but it isn't. There are some memorable moments but overall it left me feeling like I had just watched a watered down holiday TV movie on the Family Channel. Ouch.

It hurts me Jim to talk to you this way. I wanted to be with you until the end. I'm just not sure I can go on like this anymore with you.

Vicky Christina Barcelona

Is it just me or do Woody Allen films get better as he's getting older? They're not as frenetic and hurried as his earlier work...in general I'd venture to say they are actually like good chocolate. You just want to savor the bites and not rush through them. Perhaps it has something to do with his muse, Scarlett Johansson. In the past few years they have made 3 films together. Surely, that says something.

Whatever it is, I like it. "Vicky Christina Barcelona" is a fun, sexy, and shockingly insightful film that takes us on a summer journey to Spain with dear friends Vicky and Christina. One gets the feeling that Allen actually knows people like these characters that he created - they're a little lost, but very self-aware of their neuroses and conflicting ideas of what love is or what relationships should be. It's a little bit of an emotional joyride that raises loads of theoretical questions on romantic happiness but does absolutely nothing to provide any answers. It's a little treat...a decadent one to be sure.

Man on Wire

Oh my goodness! A dude actually walked from one of the World Trade Center towers to the other on a tightrope in the 70's. How did I not know about this until now? "Man on Wire" is this year's Oscar winner for Best Documentary and it is a strange thrill to watch. You keep wanting to close your eyes but for some reason they remain open as you watch French hire wire extraordinaire Philippe Petit in action. No stranger to thrills, this man has walked along a wire on top of Notre Dame in Paris and the Sydney Harbour Bridge to name a few. The film's focus is on the WTC feat in particular flashing back and forth to help give the proper set up and introduce all the players.

In a post 9/11 world the film takes on new significance as we are treated to stunning photography of the towers in the glory immediately following their construction. There was an inevitable emptiness that I felt in my stomach as some of the stills revealed the levels upon levels of narrow stairways. My brain flew instinctively to the stories of people fleeing down those very stairs decades later. It is difficult to separate that history from the unfolding narrative of Petit and his crew but if you are able to do so, this film is definitely worth a watch. It doesn't really judge or question as often documentaries do...it just gives the viewer a peek into a man's madness/dream (whatever you want to call it) and it reveals an incredible tale. I mean truly unreal. I still can't believe it actually happened.
http://www.manonwire.com/

Doubt

If Meryl Streep weren't in this movie, it would pretty much be a big yawn. You know what? Never mind. It IS a big yawn. There is one notable scene (yes, best supporting actress nominee Viola Davis is in it) and that is just about it. Seriously, the screenwriting (how many times can the characters say the word "doubt"?), the pacing, the silly attempts to illustrate tension (dutch angled shots out of no where)...yuck. I have very little to say - just a big bore of a movie. Sorry. Not feeling it and uninspired to write anymore.

W.

I don't know why but it was incredibly difficult to compose this particular entry. I'm torn between wanting to rant, praise, and maybe throwing up a high five. With that confused set up, let's get down to it. Director Oliver Stone obviously thinks presidents are a little more than fascinating..."JFK", "Nixon", "W."...let's face it, these guys weren't just any old presidents. They were and continue to be iconic figures in America's history. Stone is also clearly obsessed with America in a more general sense...think back to films such as "Platoon", "World Trade Center", and "Any Given Sunday". "Platoon" has been the only one of his films I really could get into..and then came "W." - to my utter shock I was on board from the opening 5 minutes.

Surprisingly "W." takes a scalpel to the caricature of the George W. Bush that has permeated the media for the past few years and it's incredibly refreshing to see that through all the mayhem and subsequent hatred that has ensued there's a man. There's obviously no way to know how much of it is factual or not but to even get a glimpse behind the scenes of what might have happened is somehow intriguing. Don't go into this expecting a Michael Moore witch hunt but give it a whirl.

Sunshine Cleaning

Why bother trying to come up with clever film comparisons when the most obvious and legitimate one already exists? "Sunshine Cleaning" is almost but not quite...very much like...well, sort of kind of in the same family...most definitely like "Little Miss Sunshine". This of course makes a lot of sense since the films share the same producing team. Seriously though, it brings so many of the same elements to the table: Alan Arkin, cute little kid, familial instability, and incredibly sad themes darkly veiled in sheer comedic genius.

"Sunshine Cleaning" tells the story of two sisters (played so believably by Amy Adams and Emily Blunt) and their attempt at going into business for themselves as a crime scene cleanup crew. It's gross, it's hilarious, and it's sad. On many levels I appreciated it more than "Little Miss Sunshine". Perhaps it was the absurdity of the premise (do you know anyone who's into bio hazard removal?) or the more feminine slant this film seems to take - I'm not exactly sure what it was but here are some reasons you should see it...even if you have seen "Little Miss Sunshine".

1) Amy Adams - until this film, I had only seen her in "Enchanted" and was unenthused (by the way, no qualified online dictionary seems to want to call unenthused a word, but it seems like it should be, doesn't it? Anyway, it's in. I'm keeping it). I thought she nailed that role, but it seemed like that would be it for her - bubbly Disneyesque heroines for the rest of her career. Her performance in "Sunshine Cleaning" as Rose is a sympathetic treat though at times you kind of want to slap her - I think that's the point.
2) Emily Blunt - love her! She plays the bratty, troubled, pain in the ass Norah with total conviction. Essentially you want to hold her down and give her a big hug and tell her it will be okay even though you know she'll be kicking and screaming at you the whole time. Through all of that she still manages to leave you with a hint of possibility that she just might need that hug and actually hug you back.
3) Cute little kid (his name is Jason Spevack) - not the strongest little actor but he's right up there in terms of the cuteness factor and that's half the game when you're under 13.
4) Steve Zahn - I don't think I've ever met a Steve Zahn movie I didn't like (ooh, he was in "National Security"...and "You've Got Mail"?). Perhaps I've never seen a Steve Zahn character that he hasn't completely blown out of the water. He is rock solid - serious or hilarious. I must say in this film he is subdued and isn't able to do much with the role - which is upsetting on some levels. Seems like pretty much any Jo Schmo could have played Rose's jack-ass cheating lover and instead it's a complete waste of Steve Zahn. Oh well, they can't all be "Out of Sight" can they?
5) New Mexico. How often do you see a film shot there?
6) A little discomfort can be fun.

Go see it. You might be surprised at how touching it is.

Duplicity

Props need to be dealt first and foremost to the fun and flirtatious trailer that got me to go see a Julia Roberts movie on opening night. (the trailer can be found here: http://duplicitymovie.net/) Secondly, additional kudos on the super slo-mo opening title sequence - highly entertaining and definitely worth my $10 to see it on the big screen.

"Duplicity" feels like a tempered down "Ocean's Eleven" and a much better version of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith". Julia Roberts and Clive Owen play Claire and Ray - lovers and former spies with a new agenda in a complicated and amusing web of misdirection. It's sassy, sexy, and rather fun. The two stars have chemistry and there's no denying the romance that these characters feel - you know, the grown up kind that is messy and driven by mistrust and confusion. That's how I like my relationships...vague and always on the precipice of being a complete and total disaster. I guess you could say I related...not to the lure of millions of dollars or exotic travel...but to the utter tension between the main duo. It's irritatingly hot.

Following this terribly attractive twosome can at times feel exhausting so it's important to juxtapose it with another phenomenal set of opposing forces - the undeniably funny Paul Giamatti and the always brilliant Tom Wilkinson as CEOs of competing corporate monstrosities. They're a joy to watch in action and clearly, they had an absolute blast playing these over the top blowhard heads of industry.

That's the skinny. So your mission: grab some champagne with someone delicious at a local night spot...bat your eyes...flip your hair...go check out this movie. That's it, now you're in play. Go get 'em Tiger. Grr.

Rachel Getting Married

So the movie is about Rachel getting married. I get it. But why did we need to live out the wedding in real time? It was as exhausting as actually going to someone's wedding. That aside, I have to say, I did enjoy this film. Anne Hathaway plays Rachel's sister Kym. Poor Kym is a train wreck fresh out of rehab in time for Rachel's nuptials. As we move through the film we begin to understand why she is such a mess and can't help but feel a little bit sorry for her and a little annoyed with the bride-to-be. The tone overall is sweetly sad as is leaps around the complicated family dynamic that Rachel and Kym are stitched into. Director Jonathan Demme consciously chose talented NY-based theater actors and musicians to round out the wedding attendants. When paired with a lot of hand-held camera work, it feels real. So much so that over the course of this weekend I want to be there with them through all the drama and tears in hopes that there's a big group hug at the end.